Chapter Text
Today is an unusually busy day at the shop. Not as much as on holidays, but close enough. He gets antsy, looking up at the queue, then at the clock and back, losing focus on work. He will be here soon, they agreed already, but at this rate it’ll be for nothing.
It’s been a week or so, maybe more, since they agreed on that arrangement.
Grace, as it happens, usually went to school by a route near the shop, but did not pass it. The new route (with shop included) wasn't much longer, so he started stopping by every other evening just to say hi, and to talk longer when he wasn't too tired or covered head to toe in work.
That was not so convenient though: they couldn't often align on the workload, and, as Grace learned pretty early, Simon wasn't always working here. That is how Grace and David met, and how the latter swiftly gained and then lost his “asking ‘what’s with this Tall Blonde and Simon’ ” privileges.
So that was what led them to exchanging numbers and arranging meetings in advance. And the problem now was that Simon has grossly underestimated demand for flowers and plants on a random thursday evening. And it's hot too (summer is coming), why didn't they want to stay at home??
Maybe today was a holiday, but he forgot? He doesn't really keep up with any that don't interfere with shop business…
***
It was nearing nine, and another concern creeped in: Grace is very late. Maybe he texted him about it, but he didn't have a second to check his phone. He heard the doorbell chime another time, and it wasn't a customer leaving. He swears, if this doesn't end soon…
“Sorry I am late you wont believe… Oh, um, hi?” A pleasantly familiar voice cut the murmur of the room, making Simon turn to the door sharply.
The door is still held open, so what he sees is an outline of a person in the setting sun light. Grace is sunbathed in golden rays, and he truly believes now that god must exist somewhere. He wishes the moment lasted longer.
Other people also turned to see what's going on, and Grace, noticing attention, shuffles uncomfortably to the side of the room and stays near the wall. Simon can understand not wanting to talk near all these random people, but all he can do for now is wave and cast an assuring smile at him and try to finish with his current task faster.
There are some people still five minutes later, and he feels really guilty, as if he was solely responsible for this situation. He also sees Grace wilting and in general looking tired. He wonders what happened this time, and talking with him was now a highlight of his day, but, guess what? he's got all those people still in line!.
Usually there were not none, but less of them here. Then Grace would sit near him and talk nonsense or listen to Simon, and when he’d be preparing an order he’d just look, but still be near him. Now he has to stand in a corner like a piece of furniture. This is ridiculous.
He finishes with the current customer and, telling the next one to wait just a second, goes to his friend. He seems out of it, but reacts when he reaches his periphery. His gaze is still a bit foggy when he looks up.
“Oh, hi again,” he smiles, “are you…” he looks behind Simon, apparently expecting him to be free, but is disappointed.
He kinda expected this. “Hi, yes, I'm still busy, and I think I'll be free soon, but I don't know for sure. Maybe today isn't a good time?.. You pr–”
“No, it's okay! Don't worry. I just didn't think it gets this crowded. Um, not like– …you know what, nevermind. All I'm saying is I don't mind waiting a few more minutes.”
Simon has to consider his options at that. He is glad he wants to stay, but he is obviously low on energy, and probably already tired of people around him (he tries to not include himself in that category, he said he wants to stay). He continues in lowered voice. “If you don't mind, you could wait in the other room?”
He takes the opportunity with relief. “Yeah, no, I'd like that…” he sees cogs turn, “what do you mean by ‘other room’? I thought you only have storage back there?”
Well, he didn't exactly mean the shop. “No, and do you really think I'd let you sit in a storage room till my shift is done?” He gets an apologetic smile in response. “You could wait in the apartment upstairs, I'll give you the keys. There's a couch, I think it–”
“What upstairs?”
Ah yes. “Um, my apartment? Second floor, above the shop?” He probably forgot to tell that before. He still doesn't know a lot about Grace, too.
He expects suspicion or caution, but Grace’s eyes light up. “Are you serious? That’s so cool! How did you never… is that why you stay here when i go home? Of course it is, stupid question.” He notices that his excitement is attracting attention again, and quiets down. “Ahem, sorry. Yes, that would be perfect.”
There's a surge of fondness in his chest, and he huffs a chuckle. “Sure, here you go,” he holds his keys with the correct one for the lock apart from others. “On the left side of the storage there’ll be stairs, go up, this key is for the upper lock. You don't have to lock it from inside, since you'll be there, and you can look at anything and sit wherever. Feel at home.” Grace takes the keys, thanking him again, and follows directions.
He hears the door open and close, and returns his attention (as much as he can) to his work.
***
He is again let down by his gut feeling, as he is not free to go until half to ten, at which point he already has to lock the outer door and quickly clean (he’ll do it properly tomorrow), then he hurries up the stairs. He hopes Grace isn't bored or upset. Well, he likely is, but if he was really disappointed — Simon's insides didn't like that idea — he would already leave. Maybe he got interested in one of his herbariums… or he saw Ellie. Simon thinks he would really like her.
The apartment is unnaturally dark and silent. His eyes get used to it slowly, and he looks around for a ray of light or a movement. It's eerie that he perceives neither. The only source of light is the aquarium. It casts pale dim light around the main room and on the couch with all the things on it. Damn, he forgot how messy he left it. Was it the clothes pile? He doesn't even remember putting it there, or are those blankets? It's difficult to see still, but he thinks he sees a sleeve or a pant and an arm.. jeeeesus christ. He thinks he had a heart attack for a second. He really didn't expect to see a body here.
Well, not a body either, just a sleepy teacher.
Simon tries to calm down while walking towards him. Grace, now that he can see him better, took one seat on the farther side of the couch, and is leaning on its back sideways, facing the other, free space there. So he did find Ellie. And probably fell asleep watching her do… probably nothing. Simon turns to look at the axolotl, and yes, she is floating motionless above her favourite patchy stone (he likes to think it’s because he brought it from an actual beach, and it reminds her of the world outside. or because she reaches food from there faster). He sighs and shakes his head. “You’re a terrible host, you know it?” It’s directed at Ellie, but he sees how she could ask him the same.
Well, he should wake him up. Sad that they didn't get to talk, but one of them has to get home still.
Simon sits down to wake him up, reaches his hand… but is mesmerised by the peaceful expression on other’s face. It’s the only time when he isn't rambling, being excited or nervous, when he is truly at ease. But that isn't entirely true, is it? Because he remembers seeing that before.
When Grace comes in not exhausted, but just mildly tired and annoyed, because parents are overminding their business, Stratt asks to write that report and students.. just being normal kids, he guesses? which is already much, but Grace somehow makes it sound manageable — when Grace comes in and sits down and just talks for minutes, he sees that weariness recede, and by the time he runs out of things to tell he is relaxed and content.
He can't stop himself from feeling pride at that realization. He is helping. He is proving his worth. That should buy him some time.
Simon continues observing for a while. He wants to remember as much as he can. He doesn't know when will he get another chance to simply look at him like that, unobscured, again.
After minutes? seconds? he turns with a sigh to the fish tank. “How did I get here, Ellie?” How did he end up with this wonder in his life? Ellie can't answer, obviously, he isn’t even sure she's awake (creepy fish-sleep and all), but he appreciates her presence anyway. “You think it'll be alright?” She, again, is mostly motionless, but she floats slightly up and down in the light water current from the filter, and he decides to take that as a nod. What’s one more delusion. “Thanks girl. I knew I could rely on you.”
He falls to the back of the couch, closing his eyes. He can pretend just for a few minutes that Grace is just sleeping over, and that he won't wake up in a minute and leave (apologising, no doubt), and that he’ll shift over to his side and be a warm comforting weight at his side. The last one he must've thought of while drifting off, because he can almost feel it, and Grace’s breath, and his sleepy murmurs… wait what.
Simon apparently has fallen asleep, because as he opens his eyes, that last part is very real. When did..? He must've dipped the cushions, and Grace gravitated naturally to him (sounds true, he doubts the other has that much weight in him, despite being taller). Yes, good enough of an explanation for now. He doesn't have the brain energy to think more.
He… really isn't even stressing anymore. It's more of a delayed reaction, he thinks. It somehow still feels like a dream.
It’s been a while… no, closer to never, since he sat like this with anyone. He didn't know it was so nice. He got a thought that he could shift a bit, press him closer, but he didn't want to risk waking him up. And what if he didn't like that… Oh, here stress comes and sleep goes. Had to ruin it.
Simon has to get away immediately, and he tries. He slowly pushes Grace’s body aside, and, voila, it's done!
Except that sleepy Grace doesn't like that, and he moves back, taking Simon's entire arm in his hands, and pins his shoulder firmly to the couch. Okay. Okay. Now what.
Simon decides that he should just accept it. At least he now knows Grace doesn't mind, so… let it be.
He looks at the clock. It's almost ten. He blacked out for a few minutes here, that's for sure. It's really late for Grace to go home now. Or he thinks so; he doesn't know where the man lives. It surprisingly hasn't come up yet in conversations. But he assumes it shouldn't be far, he rides a bike daily. Still, he'd rather not let him go at this hour alone and not fully awake. Good thing Grace feels like a person who likes sleepovers.
He sets a quiet alarm for another ten minutes (there really isn't a reason to hurry now, but he wants to be able to fall asleep at a normal hour, thank you), and allows himself to relax this time. He feels Grace settle into his side more. He thinks that this is too perfect, but that thought is small and far, and Grace’s warmth is close and it wraps him until he doesn't feel anything anymore.