♤SPRING SHIELD (MxM) ~fantasy~♤

What are you afraid of?

Elijah

"Obviously,I'm going to be competing in the interior design section of the competition."he says reaching into the back of my car and getting his bag,he pulls out a couple of papers and starts to arrange them,
"Naturally."I agree,parking in front of the company and getting out,it's already quite late in the afternoon,we don't have much to do here except picking up my equipment and laptop,
When we enter my office,he takes out all he's planned and sets it in front of me. As I skim through I keep up our conversation,"It's been well over eight years since you competed,I hope your aware that the rules have changed."
"Yeah,of course. Do you know the rules?"
"I was on he panel of judges for the past three years,Red."
"Are you on the panel this year too?"
"No."I say,looking through his sketches and mood boards. He's good and laying it all out,I can see his vision,feel his dream. But its all so raw still,it has yet to be polished.
"Why not?"he asks me,leaning onto the table,his head in his hands,
"I turned them down because I wanted everyone to know,including you that you won't get any special treatment."
"The lengths you go to make me suffer,Lewis..."my eyes flick upwards to look at him,
"Were you counting on it?"
"I'd rather choke to death,I'll make it all on my own."he tilts his chin upward and his confidence emanates from him,
"It good that you believe in yourself and all that but this is far too unprocessed to present."I give his notes back to him and he snatches them away,
"I'm not done yet."he grumbles stuffing them into his bag,
"And when will you be done?"I ask,pushing to my feet and putting my equipment in its rightful space,"This years theme is galactic dreams,how come it only whispers in your design?"when I ask this his head remains down like he's contemplating,
"I'll work on that."
"When this all started,I promised to help you. I'm a man of my word. I'll help you tonight."
"Tonight?"he nearly yells at this,his gaze fearful,
"Yes,tonight."I frown at his reaction,as I take my laptop with me and start the trip down the elevator,
"But- where at a café or something?"he chases after me and I roll my eyes,
"That is far too chaotic of an option,I might get spotted by someone and Lyria knows what happens then."
"You want me to go back to your house then?"he asks,
"My mother is still visiting us,if you make yet another appearance I'm afraid the both of us are doomed,Red,"
"Then what?! Where can we possibly go?"
"To your house,where else?"when I snap at him he goes blank like I just told him I drown children for fun. His cheeks glimmer with a slight pink sheen and he stammers. "What seems to be the matter with you. All day today,you're just stuttering,avoiding my gaze and looking embarrassed."I scold and he holds his back up to his chest,
"I-"
"Either you tell me what the problem is or get over it,Kristian."we stare at each other for a good three seconds with his pushed up against the wall of the elevator. I can hear his heart thumping,his breath running short.
When the elevator chimes his eyes dive once to my lips and screams,"Gahh!"he runs off and I sigh.
Just what have I gotten myself into?

________________

"Make yourself at home then,"Kristian tells me after fumbling around with his own keys. His apartment is small like I had expected but the interior is surprisingly... empty.
It feels like a hotel room he's about to check out of. There's a packet of instant ramen on the counter of a tiny open kitchen that leads to a even smaller two seat couch.
"Do you even live here?"I ask,genuinely concerned running my finger against the counter as a dust test,
"Yes,is it too small for you?"he asks placing both his hands on his hips,
"No its just deserted- "I'd spent the phone calls when my children called him thinking that he was cuddled into mountains of pillows and blankets. I mean I pay him enough to do that,right? "Did you not buy something to atleast bring some colour? Warmth?"
"I didn't open my door just so you criticise me."he sets up on his coffee table with his laptop and other notes he had,"And I didn't have time to decorate and work for you,perfectionist."
"Oh,why thank you lazy bones."I keep scurrying around his space and open up the fridge. One single spec of dust falls out telling that the jug of water is the only thing there.
Take out it is then.
I join him on the couch but he slowly slides into me because,apparently I'm too big for his couch. He's connected to my chest soon and pretends to not notice its ridiculous.
"This isn't going to work."I say sliding down onto the floor,I sit cross legged like I used to when I was studying for my exams. This is what that feels like,"So tell me about it? "
"About what?"
"What position do you want,Red?"
"One of the top three,I guess,there the only ones that matter."he starts to type vigorously on his keyboard,not looking at me,
"Why not a specific number though?"
"Because that could be harmful for me if I go under that."
"A point,a good point-"Before I can continue with my questions his door bell rings and I stare at it,
"Can you get that for me?"he asks and I roll my eyes before obliging and walking to the door,it's my take out anyway. Except when I open the door there's two delivery guys with  different meals in their hands. I pay for both with confusion on my face,
"Did you order takeout,Kristian?"
"Yeah,why?"
"I already ordered some."we stare at each other for a second before he bounces between both bags,
"What did you get?"he asks getting up from the couch finally and opening his bag of fried chicken and soda then my bag,
"Sushi,from the restaurant on the west side of town."
"They have take out?"he asks,his eyes wide like he didn't expect that,
"Yeah not everyone has time to make reservations."
"I've never had sushi before- it's not around at Tiliger."
"Where's that?"I ask,never having heard of that name before. I start unpacking my sushi and rubbing the chop sticks together,
"It's a small town on the side of country,super hot and full of nice people,only nine thousand inhabitants."I practically memorised each corner of the country when I was looking for my children's father,but I had never heard of Tiliger before. "It's technically its own state,special English,special food."
"That explains it,"
"Yeah,it's a shame they don't teach that stuff in history."
"I guess so."I put one single piece of sushi in my mouth and instantly,I feel lighter,less annoyed. I put my head in my hands,and look at him now level with me because he's also seated on the floor,"So tell me,"
"About what?"
"You're website."I say and his eyes going wide and beady as he bats his eye lashes at me. This man...
"What website?"
"You don't have a website."I say rubbing my eyes shut. "Okay fine,what about a social media page?"he reluctantly shakes his head,"Seriously?! Do you not have anything?"I demand,and he just looks ambushed,
"I don't actually need that-"
"You do,ACTUALLY,believe it or not. Once you're done with me after this over what next? This competition is your official entry back into the work force and you don't even have a website,Kristian."
"Was I supposed to... I don't know,you never-"
"Told you? Again,give me a damn break. Tell me when this over,will you go back to a low paying assistant job?"he doesn't answer and I groan,"Red,"I warn,
"I still have a lot of time,Lewis."
"No,no you really don't. We've already spent a whole month together. Tell me where it went."A pause,"All you have is eight months. They'll go so fast,you won't believe it."he takes in what I'm saying. I can tell he understands. I do more than any one,if someone were to ask me where all the eight years with my children went,I simply,wouldn't know.
"Okay,I'll make one,"
"Good. Let me see you're notes then,"
Before we both know it time has raced away. I've been his personal consultant and critic,he's threatened to chase me out more than three times. We've actually gotten to the door once. We finished all the food,he tried to force me to drink soda and I refused.
"Can you come look at this?"he tells me,I look up from my phone. About seven minutes ago,he changed his clothes and pulled his hair up into a funky pony tail. I get up and look down at his lap top,"Do you know how to connect those two objects into one photo?"
"Easy..."I whisper getting behind him and placing my hands onto his key board,my arms resting over his shoulders. It feels incredibly... comfortable,having him wrapped into me. His back is warm against my chest,but I don't think about it as I finish helping him.
Pulling his hands into mine,I guide him into the function. "... press that key right there- then double click that one... then your done. Got it?"
"... yep-"he looks back at me and flinches when his nose bumps into mine. I feel his gasp against my skin,see each blemish and freckle on his skin. And still he seems so... perfect. I watch so carefully as his skin goes from its normal golden tan to pink,each hue saved into my mind,"Can you... get off me?"
I jerk away and twist further,reopening the distance between us. Until I'm far,far away. Far away from the sweet smell of oranges and apple candy.
I pretend nothing happened and it just makes it worse. I get up and start stretching."What are you doing?"
"Getting ready to go home,why?"I try not to look normal,nonchalant. Not bothered.
"O- oh. Okay,thanks for letting me try your sushi."
"You're welcome."
"Good night,Lewis."
"...night."I don't sleep when I finally make it home. I think about him looking at my lips I the elevator convincing myself it means something.