Archive of Our Own

It was a regular Friday afternoon when it happened. Lovro and Ivan had gone to the skatepark after school like they often did these days. Lovro was practicing tricks on his skateboard and Ivan was sitting on a bench drawing in his sketchbook. They loved spending their time together like this, both doing something that they loved while still being near each other.

Lovro was doing a trick that he had done a hundred times before. He didn't really have to think about it anymore, it was like muscle memory to him now. But that was the problem. He was so used to it that he had gotten a little sloppy.

The trick started off the same way it always did, but suddenly the front wheels of his board hit an uneven piece on concrete. The board jerked sideways in an unnatural way, making it feel like the ground shifted underneath him. He lost his balance and slammed into the ground. He did try to catch himself, but to no success. The rough concrete scraped against his skin and the impact of the fall knocked the air out of his lungs, almost leaving him breathless.

"Fuck," Lovro choked out in pain. He had never fallen this hard before. His ears started ringing from the pain and the loud thudding of his own heartbeat quickly started to overwhelm him.

"Lovro!" Ivan yelled at him, his voice edged with worry. But Lovro could barely hear him while he was trying to focus on his breathing, trying to convince himself that he wasn't in bad shape. Ivan kneeled by his side and immediately started patting Lovro's body as if to check if he didn't lose any limbs. His usual calm expression was replaced with a panicked look.

"Hey, look at me," Ivan said as he gently held Lovro's face. "Are you okay?"

Lovro forced out a breath and nodded, "Yes. Just give me a moment."

He inhaled and exhaled a few times, trying to steady himself. But when he tried to push himself up, a terrible pain shot through his right arm. It was sharp and dizzying. He winced as he collapsed back to the ground. It wasn't just pain, something felt wrong.

"You're hurt. We need to go to the hospital," Ivan said as he leaned closer.

Lovro stared at his arm, afraid to move it again. A cold realisation hit him then. His arm didn't look obviously broken. No bones were sticking out, but it was starting to swell now.

"You're right. I think my arm is broken." The admission of his reality made Lovro feel even worse.

Ivan didn't hesitate as he carefully placed Lovro's left arm over his shoulder, slowly lifting him to his feet and making sure his other arm stayed untouched. "I got you."

Lovro let out a shaky breath as he got to his feet. His legs felt wobbly as he instinctively leaned against Ivan's solid body. He felt like the world would collapse around him if he didn't have Ivan to hold him up.

They didn't talk much on their way back from the hospital.

Lovro had indeed broken his arm and he was now rocking a cast that he had to wear for about eight weeks. He wouldn't be able to skate for all those weeks which he was pretty bummed about, but he tried not to think about it too much.

By the time they finally reached Ivan's place, the adrenaline that had pumped through his body for the past few hours had worn off, leaving him feeling heavy with exhaustion.

Ivan closed the door behind them and turned to look at Lovro with a worried look on his face, staying very close to Lovro like he was ready to catch him if he were to fall again.

"How are you feeling?" Ivan asked carefully.

Lovro stepped towards him, closing the already small distance between them. He reached out with his uninjured arm and gently grabbed Ivan's hand, lacing their fingers together. Warmth immediately spread through Lovro's body.

"I'm okay," he said softly. "You don't have to worry so much." Lovro had already reassured Ivan that he was okay a million times in the past hour alone, but it warmed his heart that he cared this much.

Ivan softly squeezed Lovro's hand. "Of course I worry. I don't want you to be in pain," he replied.

Lovro's expression softened. He lifted up their intertwined hands and pressed a light kiss to Ivan's knuckles. "It's just a broken arm and a few scratches," Lovro said. "In a few weeks I'll be as good as new."

A gentle smile appeared on Ivan's face, though the concern was still there. "Let me help you take off your jacket," he said as he let go of Lovro's hand.

Ivan reached towards the zipper of Lovro's jacket, pulling it down slowly, like even that might hurt him. Since Lovro couldn't wear his jacket the normal way, it was just draped over his right shoulder, making it easier to remove.

Lovro accidentally made a sudden movement as the fabric moved over his body and winced slightly. Ivan froze and immediately stopped what he was doing, "I'm sorry. Did that hurt?"

Lovro exhaled softly. "I'm fine, I promise. I'm just feeling sore all over." 

Ivan didn't look convinced and the worry wouldn't leave his face. Lovro watched him for a moment before he reached out and gently placed his thumb on Ivan's forehead, pretending to wipe the frown away. Lovro then moved his hand downwards to caress Ivan's cheek.

'Hey," he leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to Ivan's lips. "Really. I'm okay." Ivan was about to argue but Lovro kissed him again before he could say something, "But thank you for caring so much."

Ivan smiled back at him, it was a careful one, but it was real.

"Someone has to keep you alive," he said as he carefully continued taking off Lovro's jacket before hanging it next to his own.

"Does your mom know what happened? And that you're here?" Ivan asked. Lovro looked at him, "Yes. I texted her when we were in the waiting room. She wanted to come but I told her that you were with me and that everything was okay. She trusts you." Ivan exhaled softly, "Okay, I'm glad."

He then crouched down and started untying Lovro's shoes, slipping them off his feet while Lovro balanced himself with one hand on Ivan's shoulder. 

Ivan took off his own shoes as well and neatly placed them next to Lovro's. He then reached for Lovro's hand, slowly pulling him towards the bedroom. With a nod of his head he gestured for Lovro to sit down on the bed. The mattress dipped under Lovro's weight as he lowered himself onto it. He looked up at Ivan who was now standing in front of him at the edge of the bed.

He stayed there for a moment, just staring down at Lovro, studying him as if this was the first he ever saw him.

"I'm going to take good care of you now," Ivan said suddenly, breaking the comfortable quiet that had fallen between them. 

Lovro tilted his head slightly, a tired smile tugging at his lips, "You always take good care of me." Ivan smiled back as he stepped forward, closing the distance between them even further.

His hands then reached for Lovro's shirt, first easing it over his left arm and then carefully moving onto his broken arm. He deliberately removed the fabric while trying not to hurt Lovro. Once Lovro's shirt was removed, Ivan crouched down in front of him.

"What's the plan?" Lovro asked.

"I want to see your other injuries," Ivan replied. "You said you only have a few scratches, but I want to double check."

Lovro nodded.

First Ivan grabbed Lovro's left hand, carefully turning it around as he examined it. He had scrapes on his palms from trying to catch himself from his fall, but luckily no deep cuts. Ivan leaned down and pressed a kiss to Lovro's damaged palm, his fingers moving slightly from the sudden contact.

Ivan then moved upwards, his hands slowly gliding across the soft skin of Lovro's uninjured arm. He had a few shallow cuts on his skin and his elbow was pretty scraped up too. Just a type of injury you were bound to get when you skated a lot. Ivan bent down and started leaving a trail of kisses on his arm, tickling Lovro's sensitive skin.

Ivan then carefully placed Lovro's left hand back onto his lap before moving to the other side.

His right hand was partially covered by his cast, making it harder to inspect, but Ivan still held it close to his face to check for any injuries. Lovro was looking at him through his lashes, quietly admiring the gentleness with which Ivan handled his injuries.

Lovro's knuckles were a bit scratched up, but it was nothing too serious. The rest of his forearm was covered in his cast. Ivan leaned down again to press a kiss to Lovro's skin at the edge of the cast before placing his hand next to his other hand that was resting on his lap.

Ivan then got up slightly and placed both hands on Lovro's shoulders, softly squeezing them while he leaned forward to look at Lovro's torso, but the skin was undamaged.

"Can I see your legs too?" Ivan asked carefully as he leaned back a little.

"Sure," Lovro replied without hesitation. 

Lovro went to undo the button and zipper of his jeans, which were also damaged by the fall, but Ivan carefully moved his hands away, "Let me do it."

Lovro obeyed and let his arms fall to his sides.

Ivan undid Lovro's jeans and gestured for him to stand up from where he was sitting so he could ease the pants down his legs. Lovro was now left in only his underwear and socks, making him feel a bit shy all of a sudden, but in the back of his mind he knew that Ivan didn't care. He always looked at Lovro like he was a statue carved from perfect stone, something to be handled with care.

Lovro sat back down as Ivan went to sit on his knees in front of him, carefully placing his hands on Lovro's legs.

"Ivan, your knee," Lovro said as he nodded towards Ivan's injured knee.

Ivan looked up at him, "I'm fine. We're taking care of you now." Lovro didn't argue.

Lovro's knees were pretty scratched up too, they took the brunt of the fall, next to his right arm of course. Ivan carefully traced his fingers over the scrapes and cuts on his knees. They were worse than the ones on his hands.

"You need band-aids," Ivan said suddenly.

"Don't be silly," Lovro huffed. But before he could protest, Ivan stood up and walked to the bathroom. Lovro could hear him rummaging around in cabinets and drawers before he returned.

Ivan went to sit back down in front of Lovro, a strip of band-aids now in his hand.

Ivan peeled open one of the band-aids, removing the piece of paper that was protecting the adhesive. He studied Lovro's left knee for a moment before carefully placing the band-aid on top of his wounded skin. He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to Lovro's knee before moving on to his other knee and repeating the same steps.

After attentively placing the band-aids on Lovro's knees, Ivan slid his hands upwards to rest on Lovro's thighs, softly squeezing them in the process.

Lovro was in awe with how gentle Ivan was being. He couldn't believe someone was willing to take care of him like this. He never thought he deserved it.

"My thighs are fine," Lovro murmured softly, but he didn't mind the feeling of Ivan caressing his thighs with his warm hands.

"I know," Ivan said as he rubbed his hands up and down over Lovro's thighs, "I just love your thighs. I'm glad they're okay."

Lovro laughed as he reached down to thread his fingers through Ivan's dark hair, gently pulling to lift up his head.

"Thank you for taking such good care of me," he whispered as he looked down into Ivan's eyes.

Ivan stood up slowly until he was on eye level with Lovro. "Always," he whispered softly before placing a kiss onto Lovro's forehead. "Let's go to sleep now."

Lovro was laying in bed staring at the ceiling. He wasn't able to find sleep. Every time he almost dozed off, the dull ache of his broken arm kept him from actually falling asleep.

He turned around and looked at the alarm clock on the night stand. 

2:22

The numbers started back at him like they were judging him for still being awake at this hour. He groaned softly and rolled onto his other side.

Ivan was next to him, fast asleep without a care in the world. Lovro was relieved to see Ivan sleeping so soundly. He was so worried about Lovro all day it must have been draining for him as well.

Lovro studied Ivan. He was a quiet sleeper, always staying on his side of the bed and he never hogged the blanket, unlike Lovro who loved to sleep sprawled out in every direction, arms and legs splayed out like he was a starfish.

The moonlight spilled through the curtains and cast a soft glow across Ivan's face. He looked so peaceful in a way Lovro didn't get to see often. Ivan always kept his mind busy during the day, always thinking, always doing something.

The worried expression that he had worn all day had melted into a calm one. His eyelashes rested softly against his cheeks and his nose was perfectly situated in the middle of his face, like it was carefully placed there.

Lovro felt something tighten in his chest, but it wasn't pain, it was a much more complicated feeling.

One year ago, Lovro wouldn't have even been able to imagine himself sleeping next to a man like it was the most natural thing in the world. And especially not next to someone he was so unbelievably in love with.

Back then, that kind of intimacy only belonged in the deepest most private parts of his imagination, the kind he never let linger for too long. He was still so deep in the closet that even the memory of that time of his life made him feel heavy-hearted. He felt sad for that boy.

He thought about that version of himself for a moment. He used to be so careful with his words, his gestures, even his glances. Always afraid he would accidentally reveal something about himself that he was trying so hard to hide.

But that version of him didn't exist anymore.

Now there was Ivan, who loved him without hesitation. He didn't feel scared anymore now that he had Ivan. He no longer had to hide from himself and it felt like he could finally breathe again.

And it wasn't just Ivan. There was also his mom and his closest friends who loved and accepted him. They had seen him for who he truly was and hadn't turned away. That was the only thing that mattered to him.

While getting lost in his own thoughts, Lovro mindlessly reached out and brushed the hair off Ivan's forehead. He didn't mean to wake him, but Ivan started stirring almost immediately.

"Lovro, why are you awake?" Ivan whispered as he turned his head slightly to fully face him, eyes still half closed.

"I can't sleep. I can't stop thinking about yesterday and I'm scared I'll hurt my arm even more in my sleep," Lovro admitted quietly, his hand still resting on Ivan's hair. "You know how much I move during the night."

Ivan laughed softly, his breath fanning over Lovro's face, "Oh, I know."

He shifted even closer towards Lovro until they were fully facing each other, their noses almost touching.

"If you try to sleep on your back, I think you should be okay," Ivan said quietly, reaching out to place a hand on Lovro's neck and softly tracing his thumb across the skin.

Lovro shook his head a little against his pillow, "But that's such an uncomfortable position to sleep in. Who even sleeps on their back."

"I do," Ivan scoffed jokingly.

Lovro let out a quiet, tired sigh. "But if I sleep on my back, I will just turn in my sleep."

Ivan pursed his lips, looking like he was thinking really hard to come up with a solution. Then a small, almost mischievous smile appeared on his face.

"Okay, here's what we're going to do." And before Lovro could ask, Ivan leaned back towards his night stand and turned on the light. Lovro groaned dramatically, covering his eyes with his forearm. "Ivan, was that necessary?"

"Absolutely," Ivan said without hesitation, seemingly fully awake already. "Now get on your back."

Lovro peeked at him from under his arm. "Why?"

"Just get on your back and you'll see," Ivan said while vaguely gesturing with his hands. Lovro stared at Ivan for a few more seconds before finally moving his body.

"Fine."

He obediently laid on his back, carefully placing his left arm next to his body and draping his broken arm over his stomach. "Happy? What exactly are we doing?"

Ivan didn't answer right away. He moved to the foot of the bed and grabbed the blanket with both hands.

"Just be patient."

He lifted up the blanket and started waving it up and down, sending little gusts of wind towards Lovro. "Stop, that's cold," Lovro mumbled while scrunching his face.

Ivan ignored him. He lifted and lowered the blanket a few more times with a determined look on his face before finally letting it fall perfectly on top of Lovro's body.

Before Lovro could react to what was happening, Ivan moved towards him with quick movements.

"Let's take care of this little problem of yours," he said while leaning over Lovro's body. He started tucking the blanket snugly against Lovro's left side.

Lovro let out a quiet laugh, squirming a little. "That tickles."

"Stay still, I'm doing something very important here," Ivan said as he smiled down at Lovro.

He then moved on to Lovro's right side. He was extra careful not to touch his injured arm, gently tucking the fabric into his right side. A slight bump showed where Lovro's right arm was resting on his stomach.

Ivan made sure the blanket was perfectly tugged into Lovro's sides before moving on to his legs, smoothing the fabric down and pulling it just tight enough to make sure that it wouldn't budge.

After Ivan was done tucking Lovro in, he leaned back to admire his creation. "Perfect," he said proudly.

Lovro stared at Ivan. "I can barely move now."

Ivan laughed. "Isn't that kind of the point? Now you don't have to worry about moving in your sleep and accidentally hurting your arm. You're safe this way."

Ivan laid back on his side of the bed, crawling underneath the small piece of fabric that was still left after he used the rest of the blanket to tuck Lovro in. He turned to look at Lovro, a comfortable silence falling between them.

"You look like a worm," Ivan laughed after a moment. "A very cozy worm."

Lovro let out a soft laugh and turned his head to smile at Ivan. "Would you still love me if I was a worm?"

"I already do," he said.

Lovro's smile spread even wider. "Good."

They listened to the sound of each other's breathing for a while before they eventually fell asleep. The night remained quiet and peaceful and Lovro didn't hurt his arm in his sleep.

Lovro woke up from sounds coming from the kitchen. The space beside him was empty meaning Ivan was already up. He reached towards his night stand and grabbed the nasal spray and pack of tissues that he always had at the ready. After he blew his nose, a bit louder than he meant to, he let his head sink back onto his pillow.

He decided he wasn't ready to get up yet. The memory of yesterday still lingered on his mind. The fall, the hospital and Ivan taking care of him, even deep into the night.

His body felt heavy, his injured arm feeling like it wasn't a part of him anymore. He tried stretching his body, wincing as a mild ache spread through his arm. His knees and hands still stung a little from where they scraped the concrete and he felt even more sore than he did last night, but it was still manageable.

After a few minutes of quiet staring, he lifted his painful body off the bed and walked towards the sling that was hung over the back of a chair.

He struggled putting it on, not being used to it yet, but after some fumbling he eventually got it. His arm immediately felt lighter and more supported.

The floor was cold underneath his bare feet as he walked towards the kitchen, but it felt nice, it made him feel grounded. Reminding him that he was here, and that despite everything he was okay.

Ivan noticed him immediately. He stopped what he was doing and stepped towards Lovro, carefully wrapping him into his arms.

"How did you sleep?" He mumbled into Lovro's neck.

Lovro leaned into him, softly inhaling. "Fine," he sighed. "I need to take a shower. I didn't even wash up after everything that happened yesterday," he added with a grimace on his face.

Ivan pulled away slightly and looked at Lovro, "Okay, we can take care of that."

He let go of Lovro and moved towards one of the kitchen cabinets, opening it like he had done many times before. After a bit of searching, he pulled out a roll of trash bags and tape.

Lovro blinked at him in confusion.

Ivan held up the items, motioning towards the bathroom, "We can use this to cover up your arm so your cast doesn't get wet," he said.

"Oh. Yeah, that makes sense," Lovro replied.

They walked towards the bathroom, their bodies staying close together like neither of them wanted to be too far away from each other.

Ivan opened the bathroom door and switched on the light. The small space immediately filled with a soft yellow glow. "Sit down for a second," Ivan said, nodding towards the closed toilet lid.

Lovro did as he was told. He carefully started removing his sling and shirt without Ivan having to ask. He dropped both items on the floor beside him. That would be a problem for later.

When he looked up, Ivan was tearing one of the trash bags off the roll with a focused look on his face, as if this was the most important thing he would be doing today.

Ivan then turned and grabbed a small stool from the corner of the bathroom, placing it in front of Lovro before sitting down. He stared at Lovro's arm for a second, looking like he was contemplating how they were going to do this.

"Give me your arm," he said after a moment.

Lovro stretched his arm out in front of him and Ivan took hold of it carefully. His hands felt warm and familiar and his touch feather light, as if afraid to hurt Lovro.

He grabbed the trash bag that he placed in his lap and shook it open before carefully guiding Lovro's arm inside of it. The crinkling sounds of the bag filled the quiet room.

"Tell me if it hurts," Ivan said softly.

"It doesn't, don't worry," Lovro replied, smiling a little.

"Hold this for me," Ivan said, pointing towards the bag. Lovro gently placed his left hand on the edges where the plastic met his skin. Ivan reached towards the sink to grab the roll of tape, pulling off a long strip and tearing it with his teeth.

"Okay, let's secure the bag so water doesn't get inside. Keep holding the bag for me."

Lovro held the plastic secure against his skin as Ivan started wrapping the tape around the plastic, close to the edge, but careful not to put it on his skin.

"There," Ivan said proudly when he finished. "It's not perfect but I think it will do the job."

Lovro stared down at his arm, examining it. "Have you done this before?"

Ivan smiled softly. "No, not exactly. But I had my fair share of injuries from when I still played basketball," he replied, a look of sadness washing over his face.

Lovro noticed, but didn't push the subject.

"Let's get you in the shower," Ivan said after a moment. He helped Lovro get up from where he was sitting before reaching down and resting his fingers on the waistband of his pajama shorts. "May I?" he asked gently.

"Yes," Lovro replied.

Ivan carefully slid down Lovro's shorts and underwear, leaving him naked. The cold air made Lovro shiver. Ivan noticed and quickly walked towards the shower, reaching over to turn the shower handle. He started adjusting the temperature to make sure it was perfect for Lovro.

Lovro watched him, a soft feeling settling in his chest. He felt so lucky.

Ivan glanced back at Lovro. He was standing in the middle of the bathroom looking like a lost puppy, his arms hanging awkwardly by his sides.

"We'll take it slow, okay?" Ivan said softly as he moved towards Lovro, placing a reassuring hand on his waist, ready to lead him to the shower.

Lovro nodded.

"Step in," Ivan said.

Lovro did, sucking in a quiet breath as the warm water hit his sensitive skin. It stung for a moment, but as soon as he got used to the sensation he let out a breath of relief. His shoulders immediately let go of the tension that they were holding.

Ivan stayed outside of the shower, his hand now resting on Lovro's lower back. "You okay?"

"Yeah," Lovro exhaled as he stepped further underneath the spray of water. "This feels good."

Ivan smiled as he let go of Lovro's body.

Lovro could hear the quiet rustle of Ivan taking off his own clothes before he stepped into the shower with him. Lovro immediately felt the extra warmth of Ivan's body infiltrating the space. The shower was cramped, but they made it work. Their bodies were nearly pressed together, not completely, but enough for Lovro to feel his comforting presence.

Ivan reached for the bottle of shampoo, squeezing a good amount of product onto his palm before lathering it onto Lovro's hair.

"Lean back a little," Ivan said, the sound of his voice startling Lovro a little.

Ivan's fingers moved slowly through Lovro's hair, massaging his scalp with care. He took his time making sure to cover every part of Lovro's hair with the vanilla scented shampoo.

Lovro closed his eyes, welcoming the comfortable feeling.

After he was done applying the shampoo, Ivan pulled the shower head off its standard and started carefully rinsing Lovro's hair. His fingertips brushed across Lovro's scalp, methodically rinsing out the suds and making sure the shampoo wouldn't get into his eyes.

During this moment, neither of them spoke, only the sound of the water falling one the tiles filled the small space. After the shampoo was completely rinsed out of Lovro's hair, Ivan placed the shower head back in its position before reaching for the bodywash. "Tell me if anything hurts," he said again.

Lovro turned to face Ivan. He let out a quiet breath before he stepped forward and dropped his forehead against Ivan's shoulder.

"Can we take a minute?" he asked quietly.

"Of course," Ivan replied as he wrapped his arms around Lovro, moving them a little so they were both standing directly underneath the shower head. The warm water softly poured over their bodies.

"This is nice," Lovro murmured into Ivan's wet skin. "We should do this move often."

Ivan's body shook a little as he laughed. "Yeah, I think we might have to do this a few more times the next few weeks," he said as he gently touched Lovro's arm.

Lovro groaned a little, "You're right. My cursed arm."

"Is it really a curse if it means you get to shower with me?" Ivan teased.

Lovro pulled back and looked at him, trying to hide the smile that was trying to escape from his lips. Ivan leaned down and gave him a quick kiss. Warm water continued to flow over their bodies as they held each other impossibly close until Lovro eventually broke the silence.

"You can continue now."

Ivan started by washing Lovro's chest and stomach, carefully spreading the soap in slow circles. His touch was gentle, making Lovro close his eyes as he leaned into it. His good hand came up to rest against Ivan's skin to make sure he wouldn't lose his balance.

Without a word, Ivan worked his way down Lovro's body, making sure to be gentle around the places that might be tender. 

Lovro leaned into Ivan a little more, letting himself be taken care of in a way he didn't know he needed. The water kept running, steam curling around them like it was protecting them from everything outside these shower walls.

Ivan started running his hands along Lovro's back, ending at his shoulders. "You're tense here," he said as he gently started massaging them.

Lovro hummed at the touch, "It's been a crazy twenty-four hours."

Ivan couldn't argue with that. He continued massaging Lovro's shoulders, pressing his fingertips gently into his skin. Lovro closed his eyes and exhaled like a weight was getting lifted off his shoulders, his body suddenly starting to feel too heavy to stay upright.

Ivan noticed the sudden slouch in Lovro's body and grabbed him by the waist.

"Don't doze off now," Ivan almost whispered.

"Would that be so bad?" Lovro mumbled.

"In the shower? Yeah, probably." Ivan laughed.

Lovro huffed out a small laugh as well, "Shouldn't you get washed up as well?"

"Are you planning to return the favour?" Ivan teased.

Lovro raised his eyebrows, "With one hand? I'll just observe."

Ivan winked at him as he reached for the shampoo bottle again. He was much quicker this time, not using the same care as he did with Lovro. 

Lovro stayed close to him, his hand occasionally touching Ivan's skin like he needed to keep that point of contact between them.

After Ivan was done lathering his hair with shampoo, he turned and leaned towards the stream of water to quickly rinse his hair. Lovro looked at Ivan's back and saw this as an opportunity to brush his finger against his skin, softly tracing patterns onto it. Ivan's body visible relaxed into the touch.

They stayed underneath the warm spray of water for a few more minutes, just enjoying each other's presence. They bathed in the warmth, the care and the trust between them.

Ivan then turned off the shower and stepped out, Lovro was right behind him. Ivan grabbed a towel and immediately draped it over Lovro's shoulders, rubbing it slightly to keep him warm.

"Come on," he almost whispered. "Let's dry you off before you get cold."

Later that day they were lounging on the couch. Empty plates and half-finished tea cups from their lunch long forgotten on the table in front of them.

Lovro's head was resting in Ivan's lap while the sound of the TV softly hummed in the background. Ivan was gently running his fingers through Lovro's hair, tracing soft circles across his scalp and distracting Lovro from whatever they were watching on the TV. He honestly had no clue.

Lovro closed his eyes and let himself enjoy this peaceful moment. He was still tired, more tired than he usually was on difficult days. He started dozing off when Ivan's deep voice startled him from his near slumber.

"Are you awake?" Ivan asked as he leaned forward to find Lovro's eyes.

Lovro groggily shifted in Ivan's lap, turning his head just enough to look up at Ivan who was already staring back at him. "I am now," Lovro said with a sleepy voice.

Ivan smiled down at him. "I have an idea," he said, not being able to hide the excitement in his voice.

"You always have ideas," Lovro laughed softly.

Carefully, he pushed himself up from where he was laying, wincing a little before Ivan's hands were on his body to help him sit up. Once he was settled next to Ivan, he couldn't contain his curiosity any longer.

"Okay, tell me."

Ivan's smile widened immediately, but there was also a hint of uncertainty hidden behind it, like he wasn't entirely sure how Lovro would react.

"Can I draw on your cast?" he finally asked.

Lovro tried to hide his smile, but it was an extremely difficult task. He leaned in slightly, lifting his left hand to place it on the side of Ivan's neck, his thumb absentmindedly brushing against his skin. 

"That depends," Lovro smirked. "What exactly are you planning to draw?"

Ivan's gaze flickered away for a moment, like he was deep in thought.

"A bat," he answered finally.

Lovro grinned. "A bat?" he repeated.

Ivan glanced back at him. "Yes. Would you like that?"

They both knew the meaning behind the bat. After the first time Lovro spent the night at Ivan's place, he had found Ivan painting in the morning. He referred to Lovro as a bat before adding a small bat to the corner of his canvas like it belonged there. Like Lovro belonged in every space of Ivan's life.

Lovro's hand moved from Ivan's neck to his cheek, gently tracing his skin. "Of course," he said. "I like anything you draw."
 
Ivan placed his own hand over Lovro's, squeezing lightly. "Okay. Let's do this."

Ivan then got up from the couch and disappeared into his room without a word. A minute later he returned, arms full of art supplies.

Lovro playfully raised his eyebrows. "Are you planning to paint an entire Van Gogh painting on my arm?" he teased.

Ivan huffed softly as he set down his items. "I just want to make sure I use the right supplies. You have to walk around with this for many more weeks," he said.

Lovro found himself staring, his heart once again filling with adoration for the man standing in front of him. He took in the quiet focus on Ivan's face while he was rummaging through his supplies, double-checking each marker to make sure it was working.

It hit him again in that moment. That overwhelming feeling of love. It felt like everyday Ivan revealed something new about himself. A type of softness that he didn't show the rest of the world. Habits and gestures that were only reserved for Lovro, making his own heart and body also discover new feelings. It was overwhelming at times, but so worth it. He never wanted it to stop.

"Okay, this should do," Ivan said while holding some markers in his hand, breaking Lovro's train of thought.

Ivan sat down on the couch again, placing the markers beside him before looking at Lovro. He patted his own thighs lightly. "Come sit."

Lovro didn't hesitate as he got up and moved over to carefully sit on Ivan's lap. Ivan grabbed a pillow and placed it on Lovro's own lap, then reached forward to carefully remove the sling from Lovro's arm and guiding it onto the pillow.

Lovro watched him the whole time, a smile forming on his lips. "You really thought of everything."

Ivan glanced up, a look of pride on his face. "Of course I did," he said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. 

Before Lovro had time to respond, Ivan leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to Lovro's nose, lingering just a bit longer than necessary.

Lovro scrunched his face, letting out a soft chuckle. "That tickles."

Ivan's eyes lit up at the response. "How about this then."

And before Lovro could even guess what he meant, Ivan leaned in once more and gently bit his nose. Lovro gasped softly, surprised more than anything, then broke into a grin.

"Wow. I can't believe you just did that," he said while shaking his head.

Ivan smirked, clearly pleased with himself, and before he could do or say anything else, Lovro leaned forward and pressed his lips to Ivan's. Ivan immediately melted into the kiss, his hands grabbing Lovro's waist. The kiss was soft and unhurried, warmth spreading through Lovro's chest. Ivan kissed him back like he felt the same way, like the weight of the past day had brought them even closer somehow.

When Lovro pulled back, he didn't move far. Their noses brushed and Ivan's fingers absentmindedly traced over the fabric of Lovro's shirt.

"You're distracting me," Ivan murmured, but there was no real complaint.

"You started it," Lovro replied with a grin.

Ivan returned the smile before leaned back and reached for one of the markers that was placed beside him. "Now sit still, or your bat is going to look very questionable."

"Impossible," Lovro said as he leaned back a little as well, giving Ivan full access to his arm.

Ivan popped the cap off the marker and started sketching the outline of his drawing, carefully mapping it out at first.

Lovro watched Ivan's face instead of the drawing. He frowned in concentration, trying not to put too much pressure on the marker. Every now and then Ivan would pause, tilt his head, and look at his work.

They fell into a comfortable silence as Ivan continued. The TV was still humming in the background and the world outside was going on without them. Here, inside this room, on Ivan's couch, it was just them. Ivan's caring hands and the soft sound of the marker scratching against his cast.

Ivan leaned back and studied what he had done so far before reaching for another marker. He began filling in his sketch with deliberate strokes. The marker moved steadily and every so often Ivan would gently touch Lovro's wrist to adjust the angle. He continued grabbing some more markers to add more details before finally placing the cap on the last one and leaning back against the couch.

"Done!" he beamed with pride.

Lovro was so focused on Ivan this entire time that he didn't remember if he ever looked down at his arm. So when he finally did, he tilted his arm slightly to properly look at Ivan's drawing.

The bat stretched across his cast, it was neither big nor small. Ivan's clean lines and soft shading made it look far too good for something that was drawn onto a medical supply. Lovro's expression softened as he took it all in and Ivan was impatiently waiting for him to say something.

Lovro finally looked up at Ivan and leaned in to give him a quick kiss, "I love it. Thank you."

Ivan smiled at him. "I'm glad you like it."

They settled back next to each other on the couch, their arms and legs touching comfortably. Lovro was still turning his arm to study the drawing, tracing the edges of the wings with his eyes. After a moment he lightly nudged Ivan. "You should sign it. Artists sign their work, right? It might even be worth something one day."

Ivan shook his head as he laughed. "If you insist."

He reached for the marker again as Lovro held out his arm expectantly. Ivan reached over, his hand steady as he added a small signature underneath the bat.

"There," Ivan said. "Now it's official."

Lovro leaned his head on Ivan's shoulder and held his arm out in front of the both of them, showing off the drawing. "Thank you, again, for taking such good care of me."

Ivan didn't reply right away. Instead he gently grabbed Lovro's hand before lacing their fingers together and resting their hands in between them.

"Of course," he said softly as he leaned his head onto Lovro's.

Outside the sun had begun to set, filling the room in a warm orange hue. Neither of them moved to turn on a lamp or reach for their phones. They just stayed there, their bodies pressed together, fingers still intertwined. The ink on Lovro's cast had now dried completely, the bat a sign of something that only belonged to them.

And for the first time all day Lovro didn't think about his worries, the dull ache in his arm, or the soreness in his exhausted body. He let it all fall away and focused on what mattered in this moment. Ivan beside him, warm and steady, like there was no other place in the world where he would rather be.