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The invitation for the high school reunion was clear enough.
Saturday. 4pm.
It shouldn’t have mattered so much to the blonde that he went out of his way to pick his outfit 3 hours before the meet and style his hair in a way that mattered. It shouldn’t have.
Yet Claude kept catching himself looking into the reflection of any store he passed by just to make sure he at least looked decent. Who would he be able to face if he made a fool of himself after all these years?
The restaurant place wasn’t big nor fancy, but it was enough for young adults to come by and reminisce in larger groups, so he wanted to present himself right.
He came in when most of the people were seated already, his eyes taking in the familiar yet now more mature faces before landing on a certain grey head. Has he always been so small?
The taller guy could swear he felt his heart jump when Leo looked up, his peach coloured eyes burning into him, making the tips of his ears turn red. Oh, how Claude had missed him.
It’s been ages since they’ve graduated and went their separate ways, but he found himself thinking of Leo whenever he could. Whenever he was overworking himself, he’d remember what Leo used to tell him. ”Dummy, you should rest! It’s not good for you.” And that somehow became Claude’s driving force to keep his old habits at bay. To allow himself to relax.
For now, the blonde forced himself to sit down on the empty chair beside his old classmates and engage, though he mostly listened. He didn’t feel like talking a lot today, so he simply observed and talked when spoken to or nudged. All the while, his eyes followed Leo’s every movement across the table.
Every small “hi” or laugh made Claude wonder how to start a conversation. He wasn’t a drinker, he didn’t join them, so it was harder to find it in himself to speak, but when he caught Leo’s eyes straying towards him, he felt his heart beat a little faster. He wished he’d talk to him. Oh, he was so fucked.
The evening sky darkened and with the right amount of alcohol in the air, everyone’s inhibitions became lower, including Leo’s. Claude, still, didn’t touch anything except his juice and while engaged in a conversation about games, he got startled by a weight dropping down in the seat next to his. When he looked over, his heart rate spiked.
There he was, Leo, in his full glory with flushed cheeks and parted lips. Claude had to swallow down a lump in his throat. “Hey.” He choked out.
“Claude! It’s been so long.” Leo exclaimed happily, leaning closer, knee accidentally brushing over Claude’s. Which shouldn’t have mattered, but it did and the blonde forced himself to smile. “It has. How have you been?”
Leo beamed. “You knoww, it’s been boring, but work is doing fine.” He seemed to pout like a child, but when another drink got served to him, he happily downed it. Claude watched that with careful eyes, reprimanding the other boy in his mind, but didn’t comment as they fell into steady conversations about either the past or their hobbies.
Over the next hour, Leo drank more and more, until finally, Claude took his glass away. “Okay, you’ve had enough.” That earned him a whine from the other boy who leaned heavily against his side and god, how much Claude wished he could just cradle Leo in his arms and never let go.
“But Claudeee!” Leo whined out, tugging on Claude’s sleeves. “No, enough.” The blonde shook his head, fixing Leo’s clothes, but that didn’t come easy due to the other boy always writhing in his seat like a bug. “Stay still.” Claude reprimanded, which made Leo pout, but also obey.
“You always take care of me.” He whispered, looking at him with half lidded eyes and Claude had to bite back a smile. “Who else would?” He replied, patting Leo’s head who only clung to the blonde’s arm, intertwining their fingers under the table. God, Claude felt like he might melt on the spot, glad that the others didn’t pay enough attention to them to notice.
Once the reunion ended and everyone dispersed either in groups or alone, the duty to drag the flushed, grey haired boy home landed on Claude when others exclaimed “You know him the best!”
Now Claude found himself sitting on the steps of Leo’s apartment complex, watching the other one dance around before him clumsily, allowing him a moment to enjoy his drunkenness with a fond smile. Leo was adorable.
However, after 5 minutes, the shorter boy plopped down next to him, hugging into Claude’s side. “I missed you.” He mumbled, making Claude’s heart stutter. “Did you?” The blonde replied which seemed to turn on Leo’s brain and made him pout once again. “You didn’t miss me?” He looked up, meeting Claude’s gaze.
“You’re impossible.” Claude exhaled and let out a soft chuckle. Leo frowned at that. “I’m not! I’m fine!” He trashed childishly. “I thought you missed me too, but it seems like I’m the only one who even thought of th-“ He got abruptly cut off by Claude’s lips pressing onto his.
Leo froze, eyes wide, but once his alcohol fuelled mind caught up, he kissed Claude back. Not hurried, not hungry nor claiming, but a gentle press of lips meant to soothe and shut a beautiful mouth up.
Once they pulled back, Claude kissed Leo’s cheek and spoke. “Let’s get you to bed.” He stood up, scooping Leo up into his arms which earned him a startled shriek from the younger. “Put me doooown!” He whined.
“You’d trip over your own feet.” Claude teased with a smirk, carrying Leo all the way into his apartment where he made sure to take his shoes off, give him water and settle him into bed.
However, when he turned to leave, a weak grip wrapped around his wrist. “Claude.. need you. Stay..” Leo whispered, mind so hazy he could barely register what he was saying, but the effect seemed to work. Claude was a weak man, after all.
He doubled down as easy as a dog for a treat, slipping beside Leo under the covers. The grey haired man wiggled his way into Claude’s arms, nuzzling into his neck before he eventually fell asleep as easily as if he was breathing. “I’ve got you.” Claude whispered against his hair.
Claude didn’t know what the morning would bring, but he knew one thing for sure.
He never wanted the sunshine in his arms to dim because he loved Leo.
And Leo loved him.