Prompt: Neric - You heard me. Take it off.
He surveyed the disaster around him, thinking that it looked like Hurricane Eric had swept through the area. Earthquake Eric? No, Apocalypse Eric, that's a good one. Anyway, the contents of his suitcase were strewn all over his room. Okay, not his room, but the room he was currently occupying. As a guest.
In Nell's parents house. On Christmas. As the not-boyfriend that everybody thinks is the so-boyfriend.
This was a nerve-wracking enough situation already, without having lost one of his most prized possessions in the process. Not that anybody else would see the value in his tattered old tee shirt, but to Eric Beale, it was special. It reminded him of simpler times, of when he had enough free time during his last semester of college to work at a video game store. The extra money was nice, but the perks were better - like the twenty percent discount and free video game stuff.
Which led him back to his current predicament…where the hell was his pajama shirt?
"Ahem."
The high-pitched voice startled him and he spun around, covering his exposed chest with the clothing currently clenched in his fists. That's when he saw her - Nell had snuck into his room with tiny ninja-like stealth and closed the door behind her without him even noticing. Oh, but he definitely noticed her now. He noticed as she rested her small frame against the faded white paint of the bedroom door, as her slender fingers turned the antique bronze lock, as she coyly bent her knee and bit her bottom lip…but the most noticeable thing was what she was wearing.
A formerly black, but now beautifully worn and gray, Metal Gear Solid tee shirt. And nothing else.
He cleared his throat and looked at his hands, immediately dropping the koala and robot boxer shorts he'd been using to shield his bare skin from sight. The boxers were more embarrassing than his nipples. "Um. Impressive, Snake," he stuttered, reading the words written across his favorite shirt. Even if it wasn't his favorite before, it definitely was now.
Nell shrugged her shoulders, causing the shirt to ride up her thighs even more. "I do aim to please."
He still couldn't figure out how to react to her; she had already proven herself to be the queen of mixed signals, and he wasn't going to fall for her tricks unless her knew for sure that she wasn't playing him. "I, uh, can I have my shirt back?"
She shook her head. "Nah, I think I like it."
Clenching his jaw, he chose a different approach. "Take it off, Nell."
Her eyes widened briefly and she smirked, holding a hand up to her ear as she slowly walked towards him. "I'm sorry, could you say that again?"
Alright, Beale. It was time to sack up and just do it, potential rejection and embarrassment be damned. He met her halfway across the small room and twisted his fingers in the hem of her (his) shirt. "You heard me. Take it off."
Wordlessly, she lifted her arms straight up in the air and cocked an eyebrow at him. His ears were ringing and his heart was pounding out of his chest, but he swallowed hard and took the plunge, unwrapping what he was pretty sure was the most awesome Christmas present he'd ever gotten.
His earlier statement rang true - she was impressive, indeed.