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Aiden's necklace was not the kind of necklace you would notice unless you were deliberately looking. It was a simple silver chain with a single silver leaf looking thing hanging from it, the edges slightly worn from months of restless fingers turning it over and over. He almost never took it off. He only took it off during challenges, or while bathing.
It was just part of him, like his pretty smile or the way he always looked so serious before asking a question.
Sam just noticed it on a Tuesday, or was it a Wednesday, he didn't remember or care. But it was odd because they'd seen each other a lot since he had gotten swapped over to his team. But it wasn't until Aiden leaned over Sam's shoulder to grab something that the necklace swung loose from his collar, seemingly falling in slow motion for a moment before Sam caught it and grinned.
Sam's fingers curled around the silver leaf before Aiden could react, tugging just hard enough to make the chain press into the back of his neck before it came off slowly and slid into his hand. "Huh," Sam said, turning the pendant between his fingers as if inspecting it for secrets. "Didn't peg you for the jewelry type, at least not in the necklace department."
Aiden froze, his breath catching, not at the touch, but at the sudden obvious panic of someone else handling his prized necklace. "Give it back," he said, too quickly, and immediately regretted the edge in his voice.
Sam's grin only widened as he leaned back in his chair, the necklace still hooked around one finger. "Or what?" The challenge was playful, but the glint in his eyes was something else entirely, like he'd just found a game he didn’t know he’d been waiting to play.
Aiden reached for it, but Sam tilted his wrist, letting the chain slip just out of reach. "Come on," Sam murmured, voice dropping into something teasing, almost intimate. "What's the rush? It's just a necklace."
Except it wasn’t, and they both knew it, Sam from the way Aiden’s pulse jumped visibly at his throat, Aiden from the way his stomach twisted at the realization that Sam was watching for exactly that reaction. The air between them shifted, and for a heartbeat, neither of them moved. Then Aiden spoke.
Aiden exhaled sharply, fingers twitching at his sides. "It was my mom's," he said, voice quieter than he meant it to be. The confession felt weird as he said it. Like he was spilling his whole world. "She gave it to me, when i- ." He stopped and didn’t elaborate. He didn’t have to. He had already been out as trans for a while now. And he was close with Sam, they were practically boyfriends after all.
Sam’s grin softened, but the mischief in his eyes didn’t fade. If anything, it deepened, it became something warmer too, and softer. He let the necklace dangle between them, the silver leaf catching the light as it spun lazily. "Hm?" he hummed softly, tilting his head. "So it’s sentimental." His thumb brushed over the pendant’s worn edges, slow, almost reverent. "Explains why you’re so jumpy about it."
"I’m not jumpy," Aiden muttered, but his pulse betrayed him, thudding unevenly under the skin of his throat. He gulped after a second and stared at Sam. He wanted to say something else but couldn't for some reason. He didn't know why or what was happening.
Sam laughed in a specific knowing way. "Sure." He leaned forward, close enough that Aiden could smell the faint citrus on his body. Where that came from he didn't know, but it was close enough that the chain was limp again between them. "Guess that means I should be extra careful with it, then." His voice now took on a teasing flirting tone as he continued, "Wouldn’t want to break your heart."
Aiden’s breath hitched ever so slightly. He should’ve reached for the necklace again, should’ve brushed Sam off with a joke or a shove, but something in the way Sam was looking at him. It felt different than usual, much more personal for a few seconds. A way barely anyone looked at him before.
Aiden should’ve moved. Should’ve pulled back, should’ve scoffed, should’ve done anything but stay perfectly, stupidly still as Sam’s fingers slowly put the chain back around Aiden’s neck, his knuckles brushing the hollow of Aiden’s throat. The contact was light, soft and gentle, but it sent a jolt through him anyway. A good jolt.
"You’re staring now, too quiet. Have nothing to say?" Sam murmured, voice a bit lower than usual, his breath warm against Aiden’s jaw. Aiden swallowed. "You were holding my necklace hostage."
Sam’s grin widened quickly again, the kind that made Aiden’s stomach do a strange flip and feel like it was buzzing. "Hostage is a strong word," he said, letting the pendant slide through his fingers until it rested against Aiden’s collarbone. His thumb lingered for a heartbeat too long against the skin there. "More like… borrowing it."
"For what?" Aiden asked with a now dead panned expression. Sam grinned more and leaned in close with his hand still on Aiden's necklace, his brown eyes close to Aiden's sea green ones.
“You know, to get closer. Maybe a bit of… fun. If you get my drift." Aiden stared for a moment, everything was quiet before both of them started laughing as the tension broke now. Aiden shook his head before nudging Sam gently, not like he could do much damage anyway.
“Damn it Sam, seriously?" He said in a lighthearted tone. Sam grinned and rolled his eyes. “Hey. It's the truth. And I had to get that out." Aiden smiled at him before gently tugging the taller Thai man back down and kissing his cheek. Sam had a shit eating grin when he did so.
“Just flirt normally next time, I could do something drastic if you don't."
“What if I like drastic things?” "Shut up.”