A Love For History

Disclaimer: I do not own any Tomb Raider locations, characters, elements or settings. This story is purely of my own imagination.

Chapter 1: A Break From Work

Zip put his hand to the wooden door as he heard light breathing coming from the other side. Slowly, yet rather elegantly, he put his hand onto the brass knob and clicked it open… being careful as to not rush it and make his presence noticed.

Winston had just left to go out for some groceries and Lara was out to an auction, leaving only him and lovely Alister in the homestead.

Once the door was open to a fair extent, he peeked in to see the man he was so greatly attracted to with his face to its left cheek on a book… sleeping away. The light from the windows behind him gave off an almost angelic glow onto the brunette haired man, light dancing off his glasses which lay very near him.

Stealthily, the hacker made his way over to the man as not to wake him… a smirk of both love and trickery playing dangerously on his lips. Truth be told, lately Lara had been overworking him… in his opinion anyway, but it's not like Alister didn't mind being surrounded by piles and mountains of texts containing unknown knowledge. In fact, it was pretty much his hobby… though, lately he had noticed him digging deeper into his work then usual.

Anyways, currently his computers were downloading some very valuable software onto them, (legally acquired mind you), and it was taking quite sometime, so, since he hadn't placed his lips upon Alister's silky soft skin in about two days, he felt it was right to do so.

Within moments, the sneaky man was behind the bookworm… staring hungrily down at him. Now, it was time for some fun.

Slowly, he bent his body down… letting his arms wrap around the main part of Alister's chest the same as if a bouncer was catching a punk from behind his back.

Then, he let his head descend down so that he was only inches away from his delicate hair… then took in a deep breath. For an archeologist that spends most of his time around old, dusty books and computer screens, he smelt lightly of lavender… Alister had always said he hated strong scents like 'Axe' or 'Old Spice'. Where as Zip couldn't leave home without a couple of sprays, though he didn't bathe in the stuff like most men nowadays.

The more the hacker inhaled the intoxicating aroma, the more he examined it… the soft smell mixed in with the brunette's own naturally sweet scent. This was quite an amazing find since most of the time Alister smelt of his lover from all the cuddling and kisses. What could Zip say, he wanted people to know specifically who owned the beautiful young creature… no one could touch him, not while he was around, not while he wasn't around; not ever.

As the last mental restraint began to snap in his mind, he dipped down and gently kissed and nibbled upon the top of Alister's upward facing ear.

A sensual murmur was heard from the sleeping beauty, Zip smiled to himself once again as he forced the man to wake up… biting at the ear now and setting off all the delicate nerves the little crevasses held within.

With a small whimper finally erupting from Alister's mouth, the silence of the study was broken and Zip knew that the man was awake.

It took the archeologist a few seconds to realize the tight grip his lover had around his chest… limiting his movement greatly.

"Zip… huh… is that you? What's going on, what are you doing?" the brunette moaned in sleeplessness rather then pleasure. Zip felt it was his duty to change that.

"Nothing much… just… visiting my favorite archeologist" the lover responded, taking his mouth from the man's ear.

With a shiver, Alister felt one of Zip's hands go up his chest and enter his wide collar shirt, massaging the side of his collar-bone. "You're as horny as a 16 year-old boy aren't you?" spoke the man as he raised his bent over body from the table.

The bigger man shrugged, "I always am around you… but let's save that for when Lara and faithful Winston are gone out on longer trips" spoke the Hacker, kissing a trail from the top of Alister's right shoulder to his jaw-line.

"Hmm… they're gone?"

"Yup, Winston's out doing a grocery run and Lara is at an auction… which gives us free reign over the house until they get back."

"I see… and you thought you would just make your way up here, away from your beloved computers and gadgets… to see me napping?" said Alister softly.

"I couldn't help it… I hate the fact we have to hide this from Lara and Winston, so I deal with it by kissing you at any chance I get. Plus, you look cute when your sleeping… especially on the job" the man added in.

The thought of Zip watching the brunette as he slept sent another shiver of pleasure through his body.

"Ya… I know what you mean, but we've discussed this. We just can't take the chance of losing our jobs for each other, not to mention I'm not quite sure how it would go over."

"Still, I love you… and you love me. Do we really need to explain anymore then that?"

The man had to admit, when Zip put it that way… everything seemed simple, but that was the problem; simplicity. The fact that it was so simple scared him… he didn't trust it, and he wasn't going to risk Zip on it.
"Are those mental gears of yours spinning at high-speed again?" the larger man asked. He didn't like it when Alister thought too much… especially when he was worried; it would be an understatement to say that he had a panic-attacked.

"Umm… just a little" said the brunette modestly.

"Uh-huh…"

"Erm… can I have my arms back now?"

"With gusto" Zip chuckled, letting his arms leave the man… though, missing the feeling of his lover's soft skin.

The brunette obviously missed the feeling, but he wanted a little more then just a touch.

As Alister got up a bit and stretched, the silence returning to the intellectual library. Then, the man turned around and smiled his 'always too cute smile' at Zip.

Seeing this to be a prime opportunity, the masterful Hacker quickly grabbed his boyfriend and pulled his quickly toward his chest and wrapped his arms around the archeologist's waist. "This better?" he spoke softly, his voice and breathe showering down onto the lovely creature before his eyes.

Alister only had to look up a bit to see Zip, but he couldn't help but widen his smile when he looked into the Hacker's beautiful eyes. I mean, what wasn't to like about him! He could cook extremely well, fix anything with exceptional skill… and though big and tough sometimes… could be so tender… so sweet.

With one last look into his lover's eyes, the brilliant technician closed the distance between them and finally set his lips upon that of the brunette's.

At the soft tickle of Zip's facial hair, the man smiled as their lips pressed against each other… closing his eyes, feeling as though he was in some amazing dream.

The Hacker's hold tightened upon Alister as the kiss deepened, the man pushing him against his center… trying to absorb him… trying to protect him. As much as the brunette would never admit, he could be so naïve and innocent at times… of course it was always cute. Though, no matter how cute, it was dangerous… and he had promised his boyfriend from their very first kiss that he would always guard and protect him and there was nothing more important to Zip then a promise.

Within the following moments that seemed like hours their lips slipped away from each other like a romantic couple fleeing from each other in the pale moonlight and the smaller of the two men let out a gentle sigh of content; resting his head against the technician's shoulder.

"I love you…" he whispered, breathe hot against Zip's neck.

"Same to you" the robust young man soothed, taking one of his hands and gliding it up the bookworm's back and into his hair.

These were the things that historic romances were made of…