Her eyes glazed the window. His eyes glazed the window. He was completely preoccupied with what he wanted to see rather than what was actually around him. He sat on a plush sofa, that he had owned since he moved to New York City. Around him was a blanket, which covered him completely, besides his hands, which were kept warm by a cup of hot chocolate. His feet were covered in wool stockings, and he wore a tattered red sweatshirt. Usually this sweet looking man would care a bit more about his looks, but nowadays; there was no need to. He dressed up, and made himself pretty for one reason, his true love. This young man sat in the cold, staring down the tent city of New York City for his lover. He hadn't seen him in a week, off on something to do with NYU, he wouldn't have understood. His lover's name was Tom Collins, a computer philosophy teacher for college level, an anarchist, and an AIDS victim, like the young man peering out the window. The young man who was in love with him. Angel, Angel Dummot-Schunard. Collins' Angel.
He sat on the couch, and just stared. His lover was going to return to him soon, and he didn't want to miss a second. He would got and take a shower, and pluck his eyebrows, and shave his legs, and put on make-up, and find an outfit, but Angel didn't want to miss Collins. He wanted to be there when Collins arrived. He was going to run outside of his apartment, and hold him tightly, and feel his warmth, that Angel had missed this past week.
He yawned softly, closing his eyes for a second, and heard a laugh, muffled by the window and snow. Angel sat up, and placed his hot chocolate on the table beside the couch. He clutched the blanket wrapped around him, and walked to the window to see if it were who he hoped it would be. His big brown eyes lit up, when he saw the familiar tall man down on the street, just below him. Angel squealed, and ran to get a pair of shoes so he could infact run out to his lover, when he heard Collins say something.
"Oh, don't start that now! Come on, don't be nervous, it's too late to back out now." Angel heard these words, and looked back out his window. Collins was talking to someone a few feet from him. Angel looked, and a tall blonde boy stood, just shaking his head. He had never seen this man before, how did Collins know him? Angel backed away from his shoes, and walked over to the couch. Collins was an only child, so, it wasn't his brother, and it wouldn't be easy to assume they were even related, due to the fact that Collins was black, and this boy was the whitest thing Angel had ever seen. He wanted to greet his lover, but was left a bit awkward feeling when seeing Collins talk to this boy. He sat down, and pouted a bit, wondering about it.
The door to his apartment opened, revealing a shaking Collins, who was brushing himself off, and chuckling lightly. "Angel baby! Where are you sweetie? Daddy's home!" He shouted, and looked around, seeing a very mixed up Angel on the couch. He looked at him and bit shocked, since he was in so much thought, but he smiled, and stood up, and ran over to him happily. "There's my Angel." Collins said, and kissed him sweetly, and, hugged her. Angel's face, once saddened, and confused, was bright and warm; now that he was in the arms of the man he loved. Angel let go of the kiss slowly and looked into Collins' eyes.
"I've missed you so much." He said softly, with a sweet smile, the one that actually made Collins' heart jump out of his chest.
"I've missed you too baby." He said, mesmerized by Angel's smile. "That smile of yours…" He said, reminding Angel of a puppy dog, making her squeal, as Collins put a finger on her cheek, and rubbed it softly. There was a faint cough at the doorway, and the two lovers turned. That blonde boy was standing there; the one Collins was talking to. "Oh God, where are my manners? Angel baby, this is Adam. He worked with me on my trip back to NYU. I invited him to stay with us for a few days, he's new in New York, and doesn't have much of a place to go, so I figured, why not? It's almost Christmas." As Collins explained who this boy was, Angel's smile plummeted. Collins invited a boy to live with them during Christmas? This was their special time together, and now Angel had to deal with a new man? A bit of jealousy sprung in Angel's heart, but she didn't say anything, she just stared at this Adam boy. "And Adam, this, is Angel." Collins continued happily. The boy smirked.
"He isn't anything like you described." Adam mused, and walked over to Angel, smiling, and held out a hand for Angel to shake, and Angel took it, a bit confused at his comment. Adam looked at his fingers, and chuckled lightly. "Oh…now I see." He said, commenting to her sparkling fingernails. Tom smiled happily, and kissed his sweet lover's cheek, and Angel giggled, looking at Collins.
"Well, now that we've met, make yourself comfortable Adam." Collins said, pointing to the sofa, where Angel had just been. Adam smiled thankfully, and walked over to the plush piece of furniture, and sat down thankfully. Angel looked up at Collins, and brushed the snow off of the top of his head, and his jacket.
"You two must be freezing." He said happily. "I'll go make us some nice hot chocolate, and get a fire started." He said kindly, and began walking to the kitchen. He was thinking about what he would rather be doing, if Collins hadn't invited a boy over that Angel didn't know, when Adam cleared his throat.
"Actually, could I have some tea?" Angel spun around when he gave his request. "I can't drink milk." He told her simply. Angel frowned in sympathy.
"Allergy?" He asked him kindly, feeling bad for him. Allergic to milk? That's terrible.
"No, I can't, because I choose not to. I refuse to drink something that hurt a cow." Adam explained, and Angel gave him a deranged look of confusion.
"He's a vegan sweetheart." Collins explained to him, noticing the expression. "He's like me, but a tad more extreme. I'll go out shopping tonight for some Adam-friendly food." He said, and added a chuckle. Angel gave a light, very fake one, pretending that he thought what Collins said was cute, instead of wanting to break his neck.
"Sounds great. Well, I should make some tea in that case, but I need Collins to reach the tea bags." Angel said, with a nervous giggle, and stared at Collins intently.
"But baby, the tea bags-"
"Come now honey, we need to get you two warmed up." He said, and grabbed Collins' hand, before he could give another argument, and walked into the kitchen, and Collins knew that this had nothing to do with teabags. Angel shut the door, and looked right at him. His eyes were full of anger.
"What did I do now?" Collins asked him, giving a sigh.
"Oh, don't give me that." Angel told him. "You know exactly what this is about." At the roll of Collins' eyes, Angel growled. "Collins, why do you think you can do this? Just invite some boy you met while you were gone? Someone I don't even know? Did you stop to think that I wouldn't agree to this?" Angel nagged, and Collins sighed out again, frowned at him, silencing his lover with a finger to the lips.
"Baby, shh…I'm sorry. But it's not like he's going to live with us. He'll be gone most of the time, looking for a new place to live. I'll probably dump him on Mark in a few days, now that Roger's moving in with Mimi. Don't worry." He told him comfortingly, and stroked Angel's soft cheek. Angel gave him a sigh and leaned in on him, resting his head on Collins' chest.
"I just wanted this Christmas to be just you and me." He said softly, pouting up at his lover, who kissed his forehead.
"I know baby, I know. We'll have our Christmas, don't you worry." Collins assured him and ran a hand through Angel's hair. "You better now?" He asked, and Angel gave a sigh, and a nod. "Good, now, I want to see a bright and shining Angel from now on." Collins said happily, and turned Angel's head up. "I want that bright smile you always wear." He said, and Gave Angel's side a light pinch, making Angel laugh, and smile happily.
"Stop that!" He squealed, and with his hands, squished Collins' cheeks together, squishing his face. "You need to make tea for your guest." He said simply, and kissed Collins sweetly.
"Hey, since when? I thought you were making it." Collins whined, and Angel smirked at him.
"He's your company." Angel told him, and let go of his grasp on Collins' cheeks. "Besides, I have something to do.' He told him, and walked to the kitchen door.
"And what is that?" Collins asked, not wanting him to leave.
"I'm going to find a way to scare that boy out of here." Angel said, with a twisted smile, and walked out of the kitchen to their bedroom.
