Ri – I got this idea sometime around midnight and had to write it down. I spent the rest of the night playing Tetris, see if you can beat 95530, yep, I suck, a whole night and that was my highest score ~ . Well beginneth mine story, and cuteness ensues!

Archaeology

Archaeology - the scientific study of historic or prehistoric peoples and their cultures by analysis of their artefacts, inscriptions, monuments, and other such remains, esp. those that have been excavated.

Zip woke to a strange aching in his back, one that threw him completely off guard because since the purchase of his new mattress in Croft Manor, nights had been utter bliss. A few moments of shifting to find he was devoid of the usual comfort of his own bed, his eyes snapped open, all remnants of sleep giving way to cold, hard reality.

He was on a couch.

A quick search with his hands confirmed this, and Zip was immediately thrown into confusion. Sitting up slowly, rolling his shoulders to work out the unwanted cricks, he took a quick look around. He was indeed in Croft Manor still, in the homely lounge in the large main hall, and although primarily this was a good thing, the affirmation of his location did nothing to settle his confusion.

For one, where was his bed, and, most importantly, why wasn't he in it?

Zip made sure to stretch in his usual cat-like way before standing, a hand rubbing at his spine as it complained. But as he stood, the rug that had been covering him as he slept fell to the floor, and Zip was immensely glad to find himself wearing boxers because the thought of Alister, who was an early bird, walking down the stairs and seeing him in his birthday suit was not one he wanted popping up every time he saw the book geek.

Berating himself a little for not checking he was wearing some form of clothing before standing, as you always should, really, he walked over to his station where many computers and other technological gismos sat humming contentedly at him.

"Morning beautiful," he smiled at them before noticing a new message in his inbox. Quickly moving to the screen, he double clicked it, and a message box sprang open.

"Zip, I have to be in Brussels for 8:00 for a meeting contact me at 10:00, I have work for you boys if you're not too busy.

Lara"

Eyes widening a little, Zip hastily checked his watch and relaxed a little to see it only read 08:30.

8:30! That meant he could and should still be in bed for at least another 30 minutes. With that in mind, all thought of what tedious work the day may have in store for him dissipated as he walked through the computer room to a door that led to his own bedroom.

Licking his lips and yawning widely, he pushed the door open, stepped into his room revelling in the familiarity and disarray. That was, until his eyes fell on the bed and its current occupier.

This was the source of his previous discomfort? The reason he had slept on a couch!

Zip couldn't believe it, but as blue eyes fluttered open, he found himself drawn into their depths, captivated by the strange, tranquil innocence that they held.

Alister's blush deepened as he came slowly yet fully to the awareness of the apparent non existence of apparel under the covers, and was more than a little troubled by the look Zip had just adopted as he bashfully pulled the covers closer to him.

"Zip," Alister squeaked and nervously pulled the covers right up to his chin as the dark man stepped closer to the bed, nothing but curiosity lighting his searching gaze. "Zip, you said you wouldn't. You did promise."

This stopped him as he looked into Alister's pleading eyes.

Yes, the night before he had promised.

He was surprised he had stopped, considering the amount of alcohol he had consumed combined with the passionate hunger to explore the, as of yet, unexplored.

Zip let himself smile goofily as he jumped onto the bed causing the Englishman to let out a small squeak. Giving Alister the 'not gonna touch' sign as he settled back, happily content as Alister timidly moved closer to him, he thought for a moment about Lara and her never ending passion to discover the undiscovered. However interesting Lara's endeavours might be, Zip could safely announce with infinite certainty that he preferred archaeology of a different nature; the one in his arms.

Ri- REPOSTING HAS RECOMMENCED