I trudge all the way from my truck up to the apartment, feeling absolutely drained. Not only am I physically exhausted from training, Im also worn out mentally from the added changes of moving to a new place. It isn't until I'm standing at the door that I can finally let go of all those stresses and I sort of get an energy boost, like I've been revitalized.
I stop stressing about adjusting to my new routine and about improving and meeting weight requirements before my next practice fight. I love this door and what it usually means. I unlock it and head in. "Tweek, I'm back!" I call, kicking off my sneakers at the door. I can hear Tweek in the kitchen.
He doesn't respond until I'm around the corner and he can see me. I go for a hug and he stops me with a hand to my chest. "Ew. Shower first. Why didn't you shower at the gym?" I pout. Because I just wanted to get home to see you. Tweek makes a face like he can tell what I'm about to say. Before I can, his hand drops and he allows a small half hug.
"How was training?"
"I love being an adult."
"We're barely adults," Tweek says. "Actually, yeah, we're technically still teenagers until we're twenty."
"Technicality, my ass. Some twenty year olds don't even have their own place."
"...What the heck is wrong with that?"
"Training was amazing!" I change the subject before we get sidetracked. "Dan says I have a lot of potential for a novice."
Tweek snickers. "Do you say his name like that when you're talking to him too?"
"I've never had to yet. But thanks for pointing that out so I don't do it accidentally." Tweek just continues to laugh, imagining such a scenario. "The other guys seem cool too. A bit intimidating, honestly. Not looking forward to getting my ass kicked by them."
"They can't be better than me. I'm sure you'll be fine."
This time I laugh. "How was work? Did that guy come in again?"
Tweek's smiles fades quickly and the corners of his lips twitch in disgust. "Yeah," he says. There's this guy that's been bothering Tweek at work. Bothering- No, more like harassing. Tweek's been doing his best to thwart him off but, he's persistent.
"I can come in next time if I'm free."
"Please," Tweek says. "I keep telling him I have a boyfriend."
"You're too nice," I tell him.
Tweek looks at me, skeptically, "Is that it? I'm really not nice and I've been giving him dirty looks and everything. I'm as rude as I can be on the clock but, I can't help it. He's gross." Tweek shivers.
I rephrase, "You look too good."
Tweek remains unsure. "I don't know about that either but maybe if he sees you, he'll stop." I assure him he's stop after seeing me. "Yeah... but don't get me fired, Craig."
"This guy's lucky I haven't already kicked his ass." Playing out his own little fantasy of courting the cute coffee shop guy. Doesn't even care that he's already in a happy relationship. "How'd he even know you were gay?"
Tweek looks annoyed, "That's what I wanna know. Is it obvious?" I decide it's best not to tell Tweek that he has gotten a bit more... comfortable? He's definitely far from flamboyant but, I could see someone picking up on him being gay. Especially if they were also gay. I don't think Tweek thinks about that stuff enough to want to hide it.
"I can handle the girls. They're actually pretty cute but, this is getting obnoxious... Why are you making that face?"
"You often flirt with the girls at your job?"
Tweek looks a bit shocked like he hadn't realized what he said. "It's not flirting! I just let them down gently and play along a little for a better tip but, that's normal! All the baristas do that!" So, does he let them down gently or play along a little?
"Maybe I will come in... for a while."
"Craig, do not come and sit in the cafe for my entire shift. Or I'll fucking... come beat you up in front of all your boxing buddies."
Whoa, I'm actually kind of threatened. Though, I doubt Tweek could take me at this point. Maybe on a good day. "It's not as fun without you. Feels like work."
"Isn't it? And you made new friends, right? Fight them. I'm tired. Boxing was a hobby and it was fun but I don't wanna do it anymore really. I've found better ways to exercise."
I smirk, "Text me the next time that guy shows up, I'll take care of it for you."
"Okay," he says. He was doing the dishes and finishes the last one and turns towards me. I think if I weren't sweaty he would have kissed me. Instead he says, "Thanks."
"Mhm," I hum, getting lost in his eyes.
His eyes shoot off elsewhere avoiding my gaze. "...Wanna take a bath together?"
"Mhm."
Something Tweek made sure of: An apartment with a nice bath! I mean, it's not huge but it fits us both. When I realized that I wondered if that was Tweek's real goal with the bathtub hunting.
Firstly, I take a quick shower as per Tweek's request. And then he starts filling the bath.
"Bath bomb or Bubbles?"
"Toss em both in," I tell him. "And don't make it so hot this time."
"It's a bath it's supposed to be hot."
"Hot, not fucking boiling."
"If I don't make it hot enough, it'll get cold."
"You're so weird. You take your shower freezing cold and your baths boiling hot."
"Do you wanna bathe together or not?"
"Not if it's gonna melt my dick off," I mutter.
"You're so dramatic." He strips and we get in. "There, did your dick melt off?"
"I don't know," I say stubbornly. "Why don't you check if it's still there?"
"Pervert..." We relax as we soak. Tweek sinks further and further as he leans into me. I take his hand and intertwine our fingers. Tweek just watches. I still can't believe this is real. And I'll be sad once it feels, 'normal'. I wonder if Tweek and I are in a honeymoon phase? We used to fight so much, I assumed the trend would continue, especially now that we share a space but... I don't know... I thought I already liked him so much. I didn't think I could like him more. Even when thing's aren't great, I just want to fix it together. And Tweek's an avid problem solver (and borderline therapist).
I kiss his head. "Hey..."
"I know, I know," I sigh. I won't say it. Tweek hates when I say it and he has this keen instinct on knowing exactly when I want to. But I guess that's fine. In a way, it's the same thing as saying it, isn't it? I feel like part of Tweek remembered his drunk confession. Some parts of it, at least. I'll probably never hear him say it again but, that's fine too. I already know he does and he says it in other ways. Like this... Tweek keeps staring at our hands. "Hm?" I nuzzle into the side of his head.
"Should we get matching rings?" My eyebrows raise a little. Tweek's always calling everything we do gay... I'm surprised he's asking about rings. He's not very romantic. So this is pleasantly weird.
"Do you want matching rings?"
"Maybe I would get left alone if I was wearing one?" Tweek explains kinda dampening my happiness from before. He just doesn't want to deal with the unwanted attention. "And then... I wouldn't have to worry about you either." He adds. Whoa, whoa! I don't think I get hit on a lot but I've been told I'm pretty dense when it comes to those things. Regardless, I never bring it up with Tweek. I started to catch on that maybe this was something that bothered him. Well, okay, Kenny told me. Anyways, what's the use of talking about that stuff to him? Besides trying to make him insecure about it. We talk about that douchebag from the coffee shop because he's been basically harassing Tweek. I'm honestly glad he'd share that with me, rather than try to hide it. "It doesn't have to be anything fancy..." he says.
They should be nice though, I think. It's gonna be the first ring I give Tweek. But just the first, so I shouldn't go wasting all my money. "Do you wanna go look together this weekend?"
Tweek shifts and thinks. Then he says, "Do we really have to go together?" I sigh. Here we go... "Just, why don't we get them online?"
"Wouldn't it be better to see in person? And we don't even know our sizes, so we'd have to do that too."
"If we go together, won't it look weird?"
I think I get what he means but it's so hard to hear and understand at this point in time. How long have we been together and he still says this shit. "Weird how? Like, we're getting matching rings together? We will be!"
"But we're two dudes... in a jewelry store together."
"People are gay, Tweek. Its not weird. We won't be the first gay couple in there and we won't be the last."
"No matter how I think about it. It's so weird. It's gonna feel weird too. And people will definitely stare at us."
"Then, do you want me to get you a ring? And you can go get me one?"
Tweek stays quiet again, probably considering. He says, "I don't like surprises, I wanna pick it out. And..." he sighs and tries again. "They're matching rings! I want matching rings!" Cute. I see his point.
"Then, when you work this weekend, I'll just swing by and we can go then."
"Alright," he sighs. We get out and dry off
"I'm hungry. What's for dinner?"
"I can make pasta. Wanna help?"
Tweek laughs. "I'm too much of a safety hazard." He tells me. "But I'll clean," he promises.
"Yeah, yeah," I roll my eyes. It was just an excuse... Hm... "Stay in the kitchen and talk to me while I cook?" I try again.
"Yeah, okay," Tweek says, unbothered although my face heats up a little.
"I can show you how to boil water, at least. You can make the noodles."
"Well, this is starting to sound like cooking and not standing in the kitchen talking to you..." I can't help but chuckle a little. Tweek smiles, having made me laugh. "Fine, see for yourself. Have the fire extinguisher ready..."
I laugh the rest of the way to the kitchen.
A/N This is technically the last chapter, I guess? I still have a few to post. Kinda afterwards and then the epilogue, right now it's about 5 chapters but I've already thought of another one. They're kinda side stories which is why there's so many and because they're pretty easy to write.
I'm still working on that twitter thing, I have the account set up I just need to post my art and ... I'm shy (/ \)
XD anyways Im sorry about the shortness of this chapter but yeah the rest aren't very long chapters either so just a heads up. And if I finish them before the three weeks then I'll probably post them earlier
See you next time ~
