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It felt like the ground has went up and the sky has came down. As if the time and place have interchanged their meanings and everything hovers above the ground of... uncertainty? he opened his eyes.
To the soft light of gray clouds on his beautiful husband's face. His lashes rest pretty atop his cheeks but not as pretty as he himself
looked while resting. His mind threw everything off the table just for a moment so he could take in his face. Nothing but him. He subtly shifted in his place, feeling his body move after hours of motionless blackness. Gosh, how do humans deal with this?
He then reached out, his fingertips touching his face ever so gently. Tracing his freckled skin like how a warm day's breeze would go through a tree's leaves. His hand went down, down his neck, over his collarbone, and onto the chest. Feeling his heartbeats on his palm but wait! didn't he... forget something?
He rolled away from Stanley and lied on his back, his neck crooked as he looked at the curtains barely open for a piece of view from the outside world. Usually he would leave a spot open so the early sun's light would wake him(or occasionally both of them)up but now it's like, the sky is a canvas and it's only showing the evening hours. It's gray, almost dark like a blanket not too thin to let the light through it but also not too thick so you know there's light out there.
He checks the time. The clock ticks red, showing nine and something, Narry's eyes are too tired and unfocused to care.
This isn't the usual nine... he turns back to his lover and like a metal to magnet, scoots closer. Holding his shoulders with one arm, he leans into his hair, breathing the barely present smell of shampoo in his locks. The pressure on Stanley's body draws out an incoherent sound out of him and as his hands move up to sign, perhaps? they touch Narry's chest instead. Change of plans, whoop, Stanley hugs him back.(Narry will never admit how this move made him giddy it nearly woke him up and motivated him to do umm... something, anything, with his day.)
Narray like any other day, wishes he could stay like this forever and ever on.
So that was the reason to his earlier disoriented feeling. After possessing control over this body, sensor and motion was his first thought-to-be difficult task to overcome and get used to. But as time goes on, the more Narry realizes there's not one thing or one hundred thing... or even thousand things to discover about this limited flesh of a machine. I mean can you blame him, who really thought just a cloudy weather would tackle you into the urge to turn into sleeping beauty? the thought brought a yawn to Narry again as he slid a hand under his glasses and rubbed his eyes. The coffee machine worked as Narry ran his hand down his face, letting the sound and smell of it ground him.
“Tastes good?” Narry asked as he brought the mug to the table, pushing his chair back with his foot. Stanley only nodded as he enjoyed a bite of pancake with a touch of sweet syrup and blueberries peppered on it. If he'd say he's eating healthy because of Narry's never-ending fascination with humans and their traditions(breakfast as one), he wouldn't lie.
He liked this. Loved, to put it better. Waking up to the smell of coffee and something alongside it, whatever Narry found interesting in his online recipes website. He liked this domesticated version of his(formerly?)god because it suited him. He was a natural and to be honest, this is a really weird way of putting it but it felt like he always lived this way. He's a natural at being human more than Stanley is, funny right? He popped a blueberry and looked at his husband which was... staring at him more than a little fondly. He held his stare and watched Narry's eyes take in his face as his mouth worked on the fruit.
“Narry?” he called to him, trying to grab his attention. “You know,” Narry said thoughtfully as his finger traced the rim of the bowl, his other hand holding his chin. Narry's eyes looked focused but not sharp behind his glasses as his irises moved slowly. “The humans and the whole system in them is weird.” His jaw stopped in its tracks. What now?
His hands rose and fell with confusion. His fingers wiggled as a sign of hesitancy, “Um...” before he went: “Why did you look at me like that?” What did he find out this time? Stanley thought as he let out a breath and twirling the spoon between his thumb, pointer and middle finger. Narry put his mug down and cleared his throat, his hands ready to perform with his words. It was a habit he picked the moment he had a body, he didn't sign but he used his hands all the time. “You see Stanley,” Oh there he goes. Stanley smiled, his eyes turning upward a little as the smile reaches them. He separates a small piece of pancake from the rest and brings it to his mouth as he listens:
“So this... this whole concept of having a physical existence and being a part of the world and the cycle of it as a human is not what i thought it would be, you understand?” He nodded and watched Narry take a sip of his coffee, oh he certainly does.
“You see, back in the Parable i used to read of people, and by people. I needn't to elaborate on this I know yeah, but oh... Stanley, as far as I knew the weather only could affect two kind of people: students and workers. A day off? oh good jolly! unbelievable beatitude!”
"Can relate." Stanley jumped in exaggerating his compliance by doing the SAME sign over and to that, Narry huffed half-serious. “Thought you would.” Stanley narrowed his eyes and squeezed another blueberry under his teeth, feeling it break slowly until it popped and bled on his tongue. “What do you mean?” He didn't miss the way Narry's eyes was fixated on his jaw.
“You see love,” the tingle never stops spreading in his chest and down his stomach when he calls him like that, with that accent, does it? he looked at his lips as his teeth came on the plush of his bottom lip when he pronounced V. Wait, he signed aloud. "Wait wait, got distracted." They both paused.
“Agh, nevermind. I knew it, I bore you dear.” His face twisted in a frustrated mental groan, a pang of guilt in his chest. “Narry...”
“Just pulling your leg haha. Let me finish this- OW! Ou- You kicked me?!” Stanley pointed his two fingers at his own eyes, then at Narry's in a threatening ‘watch yourself...’. “Never pull a leg that kicks.”
It was a gray cloudy day. Afternoon? Stanley stretched himself and arched his back up on the couch, enjoying the rippling feeling in his muscles. He couldn't care less about time, it was a nice day and he could rest at home. He knocked on the table to get Narry's attention as he waited while gently kicking and pushing the the blanket to spread it the right way. He wouldn't let him slide without a goodbye kiss. Ever. It was a must, it was a ritual, it was a rule, a divine one. And Narry did show up. With pajamas.
“Can you umm...” he flapped his hand back and forth a few times, waiting for his husband to make space. Stanley gave him a puzzled look but sat up anyway. “Aw, why are you looking at me like I stole the while couch from you?” He snorted as he laid back. “Your work...?” his brows furrowed, signaling a question. Narry nearly jumped off from the leisurely position he was, which kind of startled Stanley. “Oh... Ooh Stanley, my sincere apologies love, I forgot to inform you...” He slowly relaxed back into the leaning posture he was and flashed the sexiest(apologetic)smile ever witnessed to humankind. “I took the day off.” What.
“You couldn't even tell me that?!!” A vase was thrown in the air, the explosive crashing of it muffling his words. “-Now i did- Don't you dare throw another thing...” “My whole life you played and played and played me! how can i not be angry?!” “Sam let's be rational-” “I'd throw hands, hell even throw YOU down if i could!” She pointed at him sharply, the veins in her hand popping from anger and the rush adrenaline. The man then stopped there. Tired. “Samantha...” They looked at anywhere but each other as the broken pieces of glass winked bright in their blurry eyes, just like their broken hearts. A melodic song began to play.
“She's a fierce one.” Stanley interjected, cozy as he was leaning on his husband wrapped in the thin fuzzy blanket. “I know” Narry agreed. “Just like you.” Stanley nodded before realizing and jerking his head back, looking at him offended.
“You know I've always loved you deeply right, honey?” “Love won't excuse action.” She replied, voice trembling but words cutting through the tension like dagger. That left no words.
“Damn.” Stanley and Narry both exclaimed fixated on the TV before they locked eyes. Stanley's eyes drooped into an unamused look. “Excuse you?” “Well come on!” Narry hooked an arm around his hips and pulled him closer, his other hand moving with his words. “See, even then at The Parable, you used to go on your way. In no time you successfully helped me reach to this conclusion that you are indeed obstinate! That's no ordinary achievement.” His hand froze in the air as he focused on the show for a while, his glasses reflecting the light but from side Stanley was watching, he could see his eyes shifting and blinking. He waited. “And,” There's more... why am I surprised...
Stanley's expression remained the same as he watched him go on with no regards to the movie at the moment so he wiggled out of the sushi he made out of himself in the blanket and swinged his leg over Narry's. Getting comfortable in his lap, Narry's mouth changed places with his eyes as it went shut and his eyes went wide open.
The woman sniffled. “I think it's better this way... It always was.” Stanley stopped dead in his tracks and looked behind curiously to see how far they've progressed while Narry's whole view was covered by him almost straddling him.
Yep, she's packing and leaving. Good for her. Stanley turned to the matter at the hand, bringing his other leg too and cramming his calves in the space between Narry and the armrest. Then he sunk down on Narry like a cat and curled in on himself slightly. "Not too heavy?" It took a moment for Narry to reply. "...No love, not at all. Suit yourself." He watched the old man blush as the TV splashed bright lights of colors on his features with every changing scene. It was obvious as it spread down to his chest. He could feel the warmth, could feel the color. And Stanley leaned into him, resting his head over his shoulder. He felt his heart beat like the ticking of clock, every throb reminding him of their time together. Of being together and spending it together. So lovely.
“Lovely what?” Shit did he say that out loud?
“Nothing. Just thinking of you.” Begs and promises of compromising kept creeping between their moments. Narry wrapped his arms around him and they cuddled nicely, fitting into each other like pieces of puzzles or fingers when you lock them together; close and warm. This big space they were sitting in right now couldn't afford to give him the feeling of home the way Narry's embrace did. And he didn't want it any other way.
The flashback of the mess they've made stood broken and staring on the floor, the pieces of the vase. Broken, just like what's left of their love. The man cried, tears rolling down his face in a cinematic way. “Aww.” Narry got a bit emotional but Stanley felt cheesy as he watched the man go through a heartbreak with a straight face(but he did not comment on it and let Narry have his moment).
“How are your flowers?” Stanley asked randomly, lying with his head on Narry's lap. “Hm? flowers were you asking? well, outstanding. I take care of them profoundly, with every ounce of food and every drop of water i feed them. Not expecting any other result but prefect, were you?” Narry's hand carded through his hair patiently, as if he has all the time in the world to do this and do it right now. Stanley felt precious for some reason. He checked his inbox as Narry was watching the show he had switched on right after the movie ended. “No.” Putting his phone down on his chest for a moment to sign, Stanley looked up and their gaze connected. Was he staring him whole time?
“You... have a knack for gardening. You make things want to grow.” Narry smirked with snob dripping of it but the joy was practically radiating from him. He was awfully clueless about body language it made Stanley reconsider telling him about it at all. “Why thank you.” “You make me want to grow out my hair too.” He sighed, forgetting about picking up his phone as he nuzzled his face into Narry's shirt(or to be exact, his belly). “Out of all the people I never imagined you to say this, Stanley.” He could hear the raised eyebrows in his voice and that made him laugh but hey, good thing Narry didn't stop. His fingers went in his hair, all the way, then retracted and did it again.
“I like it when you play with my hair.” Narry's finger hooked in Stanley's hair right by his ear and then he pushed it behind his ear, scratching his scalp as he did so. Stanley visibly shivered. “You're like a cat.” Stanley raised his hand and signed sharply. “No.” His fingers circled around his ear again before they went down to his nape.
Was this on purpose?? “You're nuzzling into me love, I think you're about to purr at any moment.” The hair on his nape, exactly where Narry was touching stood and no way in hell he wasn't getting teased for that. He peeked at him and came up with another plan. “I'm gonna go bald, then.” Narry stopped and his expression was filled with dread and horror immediately. “For the love of god...”
“Relax.” Narry took a part of his locks between his fingers, looking at them with the sadness of a wife watching her husband go to war. “That gave me the chills.” Stanley burst out laughing, his phone slipping onto the sofa as he turned to his side and shook. Narry watched him with confusion and that made it even funnier to Stanley.
The sky began to really turn dark now. It went from cotton-covered light to a beautiful fade of violet, orange and yellow. Still not so bright, but as dazzling as every sunset he spent with Stanley. “Stanley, Oh... i'm feeling so emotional now.” he turned back to see his response. “Sappy.” Stanley said and his face dropped. “I- Well you don't need to be mean about it!” Stanley rolled his eyes lightheartedly. Narry turned back to the sun and the gorgeous colors emitted in the space around it. He sighed.
“I wanna write poems. About this, about us.” he paused with thoughtfulness in his tone. “About you, more than the latter. You know, I'm feeling so many words dear; Two whole dictionary of words and descriptions. I feel like songs, even. Like melody is in my chest or in my... my fingers. I wanna hold a page right now, I- Sigh, Stanley. Why does my body feel bigger than the world?” He turned back to Stanley which noticed he was waiting for an answer a bit late, because he thought he was done.
“It's your heart that is big.” Narry chuckled sweetly. “Because it fits you in it.” Stanley bit his lip and smiled, his shoulders shaking. “Narry... what should I do to you?” Narry rubbed his chin and felt the contagious smile catching to his own lips too. He felt proud of what he said if it got that kind of reaction out of Stanley. He looked out and at the view once again, relishing the silence they shared together amidst the shuffles and sounds of sizzling and clacking here and there.
“Oh speaking of songs, my love, could you turn on the speakers?” The taps on the surface brought his attention back to the man he would endlessly love until the end of world. “Sure, but come help with dinner.” Stanley pointed to the table. “Gladly.” Narry said as if it was a very obvious fact and with a push, leaned away from the window.
He pointed to the TV's screen. “Yes this one! You see, something... melodramatic, romantic, with piano please.” Stanley went down the options until he stopped on Narry's choice. He pushed the play button and waited until the song began. “Expensive restaurant's music.” “... Was that supposed to be offensive Stanley?” He shrugged.
Before he could turn back to kitchen, Narry took the remote from his hand and put it down on the coffee table gently, knowing if it was Stanley he would just simply toss it on the sofa(and it would bounce off and ruin the moment... kind of). Replacing the remote with his own hands, Narry guided his other hand to the small of his back which led to Stanley's hand instinctively going up his arm. Stanley held his hand and squeezed his shoulder softly and to the confusion in Stanley's eyes, he just simply swayed. “Let's dance.”
Stanley giggled, the sound small and jokingly fed-up with the way he shook his head. “Come on, I'm feeling generous!" Stanley gave him an ‘Oh?’ with the way he raised his brow but despite all that, he planted a chaste kiss on his cheek as they stepped back and forth. He let his face stay only a breath away from Narry. “Fine.” Stanley quietly mouthed to him, his expression turning softer as they longingly gazed at each other in the close proximity of their faces.
They swayed gently as the sunset illuminated the living room a pair of lively, emotional orange and red. Love was palpitating in that room and it went into their lungs as their breathed it in and out. The amount of roses Narry felt in his chest... Stanley was like the rain to him, gifting growth to the hidden plant in the depth of Narry's yearning heart. Ah there he goes, getting poetic again.
They slowly turned and right there Stanley pulled him in, bending his back so Narry was leaning into him. Stanley pressed his lips to him and every rose bloomed to their fullest, and Narry truly felt like his chest was expanding. It wasn't anything rushed or playful or sexy, it was calm. He was the rain to him. Stanley was like the dew that gracefully sat on the petals of his existence, he was the blessing running in the rosy red into his veins. He, was the life. Narry snaked his hand over his backside and pulled him flush against his body as the sunset even produced a romantic background.
The violin and piano kept playing and going like the lifelines of them both intertwined together. They pulled back, Narry panting letting out little huffs with his mouth and Stanley blushing. This time, Stanley prompted to move.
He stood straight and moved languidly stepping in tandem. Narry was drunk from the kiss they shared, he loved the colors swirling in his husband's eyes more than the ones he saw outside the window. "You make everything so dreamy Stanley." Narry blurted out and Stanley's smiled simply widened. "And this dream never felt more real." Stanley gently broke his hands away. “Write that down,” He signed. “I wanna read your poems.”
He took his hand and Narry followed him to the kitchen. Narry felt butterflies both in his stomach and also on top of his head. It was like a spell- could humans cast a spell? “Your scheme almost worked,” Stanley left Narry by the door and went to fetch his apron. “Was about to give you another score with burnt dinner.” Narry laughed deeply as he played along. “Aw damn it! but admit it. I'm the better cook.” “N-E-V-E-R.” He fingerspelled with full defiance. "
“Jeez, fine.” He's never gonna back down from his stance, is he?
He helped Stanley put the apron on and then hugged him from behind, watching him fry and flavor over his shoulder. He stealthily took in the smell on his neck. The roses felt hot now, angry and fiery. It was like they were set ablaze. He couldn't help it, he kissed above the part that connected his shoulder to his neck. “Okay, I can't do anything like this.” Stanley glared at him and Narry tightened his arms stubbornly. “Let me have my moment, you didn't even dance for long.” “At least stop brushing your crotch on my ass?” Narry gasped in genuine shock, the tip of his ears turning as hot as the food on the pan. “Vulgar!”
Stanley side-eyed again and pushed him back a little to sign with more ease. “I'll show you vulgar in bed-” “STANLEY!!”