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The first thing Martin notices as he awakes is that Jon is gone. The empty space beside him is still warm, so they can't have been gone long, but still, Martin worries. He has...trouble, with being alone.
The second thing Martin notices is the music. His rising anxiety is joined by confusion, but the former of the two is quickly alleviated when he realizes the source of the music. It's quiet, coming from the common room down the hall, a light and gentle guitar melody that seems to brighten alongside the rising sun. Above it, softly, floats Jon's voice.
Martin has never heard Jon sing before. Frankly, he had never thought it possible. But Jon's voice is smooth and clear and lovely, and Martin realizes he would gladly wake up at five AM every morning if it meant he got to hear it again.
Martin gets out of bed and creeps toward the sound, careful to not draw attention to himself. Jon is sitting on the floor in the center of the room. They're wearing one of Martin's t-shirts, the too-big neckline slipping off his shoulder. An old acoustic guitar is balanced on their lap. They continue to sing, not noticing Martin in the doorway. Their voice is almost hesitant, as though they're afraid someone might hear, but there's a shy look of contentment on their face.
"ohh, oh woe is me..."
Martin freezes as he recognizes the song.
"The first time that you touch me..."
Martin doesn't dare make a sound, terrified of shattering the beautiful calm he suddenly finds himself in.
"Ohh, will wonders ever cease?"
No, Martin thinks. No, they certainly won't.
"Blessed be the mystery of love..."
It isn't until Jon abruptly stops playing, freezing as they finally notice him, that Martin realizes he had also sang the last line.
"M-Martin! I, uh..." Jon's face is red. They scramble to their feet, still unable to look Martin in the eye. "I...didn't think you were awake..."
Martin can't help but smile as he looks down at them. Their flushed cheeks, Their bare shoulder sticking out of Martin's t-shirt, their soft dark hair flowing loosely down their back. They're adorable, Martin thinks, even though Jon would never accept it.
Martin laughs softly and wraps his arms around Jon. He presses a kiss to the top of their head. "I didn't know you played guitar," he says when they pull apart.
"I, uh...I was in a band, back in uni."
Martin blinks. "Wait... what?"
"I haven't practiced in a while, but I found the guitar in some of Daisy's old things, and-"
"A band? You?"
Jon blushes even more. "Why are you laughing?!"
"Im sorry, it's just-" he tries to say through his laughter. "Out of all the things I don't know about you, Jonathan Sims, that is the most unexpected."
"It's not like it's a big deal!" Jon says indignantly.
"Why'd you stop?"
"...I dont know, just got busy with work and-"
"No," Martin clarifies, "I meant just now. Why did you stop playing?"
"Oh." Jon looks down. "I haven't played for anyone since college. I don't really tend to sing anymore. Especially not in front of anyone. I guess I get a bit...self-conscious about it."
Martin says nothing.
Jon quickly backtracks. "I'm sorry, I know it's stupid-"
"Jon." Martin cuts them off. "That is so cute."
"W-what?!"
Martin plants an insistent kiss on their cheek. "You're adorable."
"Martin!" A small laugh escapes Jon's lips, even as they desperately and hopelessly try to sound stern. "What are you talking about?"
The way they try to sound angry despite the flustered shade of red he turns only makes Martin grin wider. A mischievous glint sparkles in his eye as an idea enters his mind.
Jon yelps as, in one swift motion, Martin lifts them into the air, twirling them in a circle, and triumphantly presses their lips together, still holding him aloft. Pulling back, Martin laughs at the surprise clearly written on Jon's face.
He sets them down with a smug smile. Jon, still unable to form proper sentences, attempts to stammer something out but fails, eyes darting wildly around the room.
"Well, there," Martin says as though he's won something, "now you can't ever deny it."
That broke them out of their daze. "Deny what?"
"That you're the most adorable person on this entire planet."
"God, Martin, you're insufferable." Jon brings a hand to their face as if in annoyance, but Martin sees a corner of the smile they're trying very hard to suppress.
"I love you," Martin says. He's said it countless times before. That doesn't make it any less meaningful.
Jon sighs. "I love you, too."