Work Text:
They fall in love that summer. Sejanus invites Coriolanus to Pride with him, but his partner gently rejects.
”Not really my thing. I don’t like the crowd and the noisiness. But you should go.” He decorates the breakfast table with a small rainbow flag, and flowers, and kisses Sejanus on the forehead.
”You look good enough to eat”, Coriolanus tells him later, burning blue gaze traveling from Sejanus’ curls down to his toes and back up. It’s nothing special, a crisp white t-shirt, and a pair of black shorts. His sunglasses hang from his collar, and a small rainbow has been printed on the hem of his shirt. It’s good to hear the compliments, knowing that for Coriolanus they are always solid and real.
Sejanus kisses him again, letting his heart rest in the scent of watermelon and Coriolanus’ familiar, fresh cologne. ”Do you miss me?” he is asking, suddenly so needy.
”I always miss you, baby. Go now, and have fun. Call me if you need anything. You have cab money?”
Late in the evening he is back, tipping the cab driver, and walking up the stairs. Sejanus has a crown of plastic flowers, a few phone numbers from people he’d be hopefully learning to know better, and a bunch of memories warming his heart. It’s late, but the lights are still on, Coriolanus waiting for his safe return. Sejanus doesn’t need to doubt that if he was later than usually without texting, his phone would ring. Coriolanus is not controlling, and wants them both having their own things too, but he is concerned of Sejanus being safe.
”So pretty”, Coriolanus comes to greet him with his phone in his hand, snapping a quick photo.
”I have food if you want to eat before going to bed.”
”Sounds great.” Before that he changes clothes, and has a quick wash in the closest bathroom.
”Did you have a good time?”
Sejanus tells him about the parade, and going to see an art exhibition too. Later he was in a park, talking to some new people, and getting that different kind of attention too.
”One guy just wanted to give me his phone number even though I told him about ten times that I'm not available.”
”Ah. Annoying, but I can’t say I’m surprised.” Something possessive flashes across Coriolanus’ handsome features, faint arousal touching Sejanus’ abdomen. He pushes it away. He wants to shower properly and fall asleep on the cool sheets, not to get all hot and sticky with his sexy lover.
He doesn’t understand being a muse for Coriolanus’ photography. With his privileged background he has no need for a daily job, but as a teenager he had picked up a camera, starting something that was impossible to stop or slow down.
But there Sejanus is, on Coriolanus’ Instagram, captured in different colors, the upper part of his face always cropped from the images, or face hidden in the shadows.
People actually adore the postcards of the color collection, Coriolanus telling him with a cheerful grin that Sejanus in a turquoise outfit is the most popular print.
The next day they work again, Coriolanus driving them to small, quiet forest. Sejanus is in different shades of green, looking away from the camera. He climbs up a small hill, and leans on a piece of rock.
Coriolanus has a big exhibition coming, everyone wanting a piece of this exciting talent.
”They keep asking about you.” It’s far from the first big milestone on his lover’s career, but Sejanus has never attended the opening nights with him. He doesn’t mind sharing Coriolanus’ passion with him, but prefers keeping his anonymity and supporting him at the background.
Coriolanus likes dressing up for the big night, and having the attention. He is a fish in the water, confidently moving from one group to another, and easily posing for the media, but after all that he comes home to Sejanus, and they fall asleep souls finding peace in each other's presence.
”Oh, is it getting frustrating then?” He is only making a conversation, Coriolanus having made his thoughts clear a long time ago.
”Not at all. I like keeping you to myself. But I have had this idea. We could have a shoot, when Lucy Gray is free in July… You’d be beautiful together.”
He can see the vision, Coriolanus and Lucy Gray both helping each other, and Sejanus has no problems with being a part of the new project. The publicity would be good for Lucy Gray and the band, and it could bring some fans of the Covey to take a look at Coriolanus’ other work.
Coriolanus holds him on the picnic blanket, running slow fingers through Sejanus’ curls, gentle fingertips touching his face and neck. The first rain drops fall just when Sejanus is so deliciously comfortable and sleepy, wondering how he could make the walk back to the car. Quickly they gather their things and trash, jogging back to the parking lot.
Their time in silence had been a good memory, but Sejanus prefers this, living in the heart of the city that never sleeps. He drinks some water, and heads to the balcony then, wanting to be close to people, but still away from them. Soon Coriolanus joins him, sitting close and quickly kissing him before opening his laptop. He is working on the new photos, Sejanus distantly notices. He takes a photo, putting a heart in the Instagram caption. #grateful is his only tag.