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“What’s this?”
Kyle looked up from the textbook sprawled out across the kitchen table to where Eric was stood in the hallway, halfway out of his coat and staring at something, his face scrunched up distastefully.
Kyle grinned.
He knew exactly what Eric was looking at because he had seen the same look on his own face when Ethan had dropped it off that morning.
He wasn’t going to tell Eric that though.
He was going to have a little fun first.
“It’s stunning right? Really takes your breath away when you see it.” Kyle started, setting his pen down and making his way over to Eric. “It came this morning; do you like it?”
“You brought this?” Eric asked sceptically.
“Yeah, you said that I could get some art to add to your collection.” He smiled, linking his arms around Eric’s as he looked at the monstrous crime against canvas.
Eric looked at him, his face scrunched up in confusion but didn’t say anything.
“I saw it in this little coffee shop just off campus a few days ago. I was drawn in by the vibrancy of the colours and the subtle shadows that sweep across the canvas. It took my breath away and I knew that you would love it just as much as me.” He sighed dreamily and shook his head. “I knew it would be the perfect addition to your collection. You love it right?” He added, fluttering his lashes under his glasses as he looked at Eric.
“Uh, well. If you like it.” Eric said, tightly. He hated it.
Kyle hated it too.
“I was thinking about hanging it in the bedroom, opposite the bed so that we can look at it every day.”
‘Or the dumpster,’ Eric thinks but doesn’t say it out loud.
Kyle stifled a laugh when Eric tried to straighten his face and look a little enthusiastic about Kyles questionable purchase. “You haven’t really said anything?”
“What is there to say?” Eric mumbled. “I think you’ve said enough for both of us.”
“Come on, we both know that you’re the one with an eye for detail between us.” Kyle carried on, letting go of Eric and moving towards the painting propped up against the wall. “Look at the brush work here, it looks heavy handed sure. But I think it invokes passion and a drive and all these colours, such dedication to the palette and the use of space.”
Eric is a laid-back guy, he gets antsy about things being a certain way or when his routine is thrown off, even after his retirement. He’s usually indifferent to Kyles antics and taste, but art is where Eric draws the line.
So it’s funny for Kyle to watch him try so hard to be nice and supportive when he knows inside Eric Bennett is probably having a melt down and questioning their whole relationship. Eric’s distaste is so clear and obvious that Kyle can’t help but laugh at him.
“I’m kidding.”
“Thank god!” Eric breathed, his shoulders relaxing as Kyle laughed. “It’s horrible! Why is here?”
“Someone on campus gave it to me, he’s moving away at the end of the semester and is dumping his junk on everyone. Apparently because I like art this would be perfect for me.” Kyle shrugged. “I’m pretty sure he stole it from a motel or something,”
“It’s nice that he thought of you.” Eric said, smiling.
“Eric,” Kyle said dryly. “He dumped this ugly thing on us.”
Eric laughed.
“Anyway, I thought we could just pawn it off on Kip and Scott.”
“Why?”
“Scott’s always banging on about getting some art for his apartment, he’ll think it’s some kind of masterpiece and he’ll love all those garish colours. He knows nothing about art; Kip will just have to adapt.”
“True, Scott would like it.” Eric said, chuckling when Kyle grinned at him.
“And it’s going to be really funny watching Kip’s face when Scott is bragging about it at parties.”
“You are a bad influence.”
“Isn’t that why you’re with me?” Kyle teased, kissing Eric on the cheek as he returned to the kitchen and his textbooks. “We can hide it in the garage until we see them again, I can’t have that ugly thing assaulting my boyfriend every time he comes home.”