Work Text:
Nox was having a great afternoon nap. He was warm, snug, and relaxed. He let out a deep content sigh and snuggled deeper into the warmth. This was truly heaven, the soft hum of the clothes dryer going in another room, soft breathing, and a calm heartbeat under his ear were lulling him into unconsciousness. His bedroom had never felt so tranquil before.
Until that heartbeat sped up, breaking the relaxing rhythm that Nox was mentally counting along to. Then the breathing wasn't so soft. Then vibrations rang throughout his body. "Ugh! Dude!"
Nox wearily blinked his eyes open, half lidded and confused. He slowly shifted his head and eyes up to look at his living pillow, questioning.
Chase had his phone sideways in both hands, and an upset expression on his face. Nox didn't like to see that expression on Chase, especially if he didn't know the cause of it. He would ask what was wrong if he didn't think that his vocal cords were also nearly asleep. The movement was enough to get the blond's attention. He lowered the screen away from his face and whispered "Sorry Buds, go back to sleep."
Nox didn't have to be told twice, he tightened his grip around Chase's back and snuggled his head into a warm chest once again. Chase moved one hand to play with dark strands of soft hair, and that made Nox sigh again in approval.
The heartbeat and breathing evened out again, now harmonizing with soft movements of fingers down his scalp. He lay there timing each sound and feeling, anticipating the next, until his mind was muddled and all he could think was warmth.
Until, once again, his peaceful symphony was ruined. One part was now out of tune—or changing rhythm, really. The beating against Nox's cheek sped up the slightest bit. It wasn't noticeable usually—but if you were listening as intently as Nox was, you'd be able to pick it out just as quick.
He could make do, though. It was easy to get used to, to time for, to count. Until it sped more.
It was not the comforting backbeat anymore, but a suspenseful increase that made Nox's consciousness jolt back to him. It wasn't much louder than before, but to Nox it sounded like a fire alarm at a piano recital. The up and down movements of his chest-shaped pillow were less cradling and more earthquake.
He let his distaste be known with a tightening of his arms and a shifting of his head—now lying face down when previously had his head turned to the side. The heartbeat didn't get the hint and slow down, which was disheartening. The true breaking point was the warm hand leaving his hair, cooler air rushing to fill its place and sending shivers down Nox's spine. Now he was disoriented, awake, and cold.
He let out a whiny noise and opened his eyes to see what on Earth could disrupt his perfect nap time like this. He was met with the same sight as before, Chase held his phone too close to his face, now using Nox's petting hand to tap aggressively on the screen.
This time, the movement of his head wasn't enough to gain Chase's attention. So, he huffed some air out of his nose, eyes still glossy. That still didn't drag his beloved's eyes away from that awful screen. Nox watched as he continued to tap, arms becoming more tense, eyes moving frantically. Desperate times call for desperate measures, so Nox finally spoke. "Hmmm." Well, he didn't really speak. It came out more of a grumble—but it was louder and more intent than any other noise he's made in the last half hour, so that has to count for something.
Chase didn't look at him, but responded to the sound. "What's wrong, Buds?" He tapped his thumbs again.
With a direct question asked of him, he actually had to talk. Not that the little idiot deserved it anyway, after all he put him through. "What…'re you…doing..?" The drowsiness in Nox's voice was audible, maybe Chase would hear it and go back to what he was doing before. Y'know, being calm and petting Nox and not whatever this was.
He didn't. He responded in a voice louder than before, most likely thinking that Nox was awake enough for normal speaking volumes. He wasn't. "I'm playing Flee the Facility… And the stupid beast is right there ohmygod." Nox felt him tense up even more beneath him, as he frantically moved his thumbs and phone.
Nox was now frustrated, the amount of audacity he had to wake him from such a good rest was insane. He would never understand Chase and his attachment to these stupid newfangled things. Back in his day, the only "Ro-blocks" There were was whatever ex-love Rose had blocked out of his head space to make room for another.
"Well stop your fleeing and pet me." Nox fought his body, it wanted to stay melted in place around Chase, he wanted to get that phone out of his sight then melt into Chase. He pulled one arm out from underneath the boy, shaking it a little to regain feeling, and reached for the phone. Chase giggled and pulled it away. "Ok, ok just let me finish this round." That didn't deter Nox, though, as he reached for the phone again.
Chase pulled back further, holding the phone over his head and turning at the most awkward position so that he could still see the screen. Nox was forced to get up even more, pulling out his other arm and sitting up on his knees. He reached over Chase's entire upper body towards the extended arm. He could see the little character on screen that Chase was controlling with his thumbs, it was blonde and had a little red hoodie on. Cute.
Not cute enough to be spared, though. Nox grabbed the phone, nearly falling on Chase as he did so, and yanked it away from Chase's grasping hands. "Hey!" Chase acted upset, but Nox knew he could never hide a smile to save his life. Chase lunged for his phone back but was left reaching for nothing as Nox stood up and held the phone in the air. Chase stood up as well, but the attempts he made at the phone were in vain.
This was his favorite way to win, the little idiot can't reach anything this high up. He doesn't have the vertical for it.
"Not cool, dude! I'm gonna die!" Chase was now clawing at Nox's arm, trying to get it to move down but really only stretching out the sleeves of the red hoodie Nox was wearing. Nox angled the phone towards his face, still holding it high out of Chase's reach. He didn't register at all what he was seeing, so he turned the screen to face Chase so he could see, too. Then he turned it off, right in front of him. "Oops. Guess you won't have to worry about dying anymore, darling." He had a smug grin on his face.
The grin was wiped off and replaced with a look of absolute confusion and mild terror. Chase picked him up, arms wrapping around his midsection and clasping around each other in a firm lock. Then he threw them both onto the bed, still holding tight. Nox let out a sound he didn't know was possible, something in between a choke and a dying sea lion.
Reflex took over as he tried to flee from Chase's grasp, rolling them over and prying to get tan hands apart. "God, how are you so strong…ugh…you're so..tiny." He struggled from above Chase. Chase giggled. "You underestimate me. In high school- " Nox didn't hear what he was saying, not after that beautiful laugh and before the kiss that was currently taking Chase's vocal cords away.
The arms around Nox's back eased, unclasping from each other and moving to hug instead—hands feeling dips in shoulder blades and warmth. They pulled apart after a while to breathe, look at each other, and lean back in. Nox's hands moved on autopilot to his favorite place, the soft locks of gold on Chase's head.
Apparently Chase's vocal cords had returned, because Nox could hear and feel the giggles that were coming from Chase's mouth and being absorbed by his own. He loved it, he could live for nothing except kiss Chase and be content forever. Seconds felt like minutes that felt like hours, and Nox never wanted it to stop.
Maybe it was worth the noble sacrifice of a good nap if he got to kiss Chase like this.
They got closer and closer, like two opposite charges with their own magnetic pull. Eyes opening and closing, soft smiles and quiet giggles. Nox got lost in the feeling. The feeling. Being able to feel Chase like this is something he would be grateful for long after he is gone.
Their kisses were soft, gentle, and long. Absorbing each others very essence with every contact. Chase's hands moved from Nox's back to cup his cheeks, pressing their mouths together firmer in a final kiss. He pulled away and Nox's hands remained in Chase's hair as he stared into beautiful brown eyes. Chase giggled again "You're so annoying."
"You love it." Nox knew he had a stupid lovesick look on his face, he didn't do anything about it. "I love you. Big difference." Chase replied. Nox moved off of Chase and laid on his pillow. "Not really. Now come, it's nap time." He held his arms out and Chase looked at him with a glare that had no heat behind it, but was still warm.
He let out a sigh and crawled into his spot—crawling over Nox before going limp, face buried in soft red cotton. He closed his eyes and Nox followed. There was a moment of silence, the two catching their breath, before Chase spoke up again. "Where's my phone?" Nox didn't react, only pulling his arms up to interlock his fingers on the crown of Chase's head. When Chase followed up the silence with a whiny "Buddyyy…" He responded "We can find it later, dear. Go to sleep."
This time Chase didn't retort, only obeyed—sighing and snuggling up into a warm chest and taking the position Nox was earlier. They both took deep breaths and Chase started to count the seconds between his heartbeat and Buddy's.