Cobra walked, slowing down at the storefront of a place selling fresh candies, the smell coming from it had drawn him…and now he was watching a man in the window working making chocolates…fascinated by the process, he shifted his weight a bit, the wind off the ocean was cold, and he was in a good coat, pants, boots, two sweaters, but he'd always had a low tolerance for the cold.
Warm arms wrapped around him and he smirked faintly, leaning back against Farron.
"We should buy some…they have these little coffee liquor chocolates…Dad buys them when he visits here." He said, kissing Cobras cheek and the redhead nodded. This vacation…had been probably the best time he'd had in his life. Capressa was gorgeous, a beautiful city by the sea, and they had visited museums and gone to plays and Cristoffs photo shoot and the fashion show and now it was Christmas eve and they were walking this magical looking place all lit up with little lights and people were doing last minute shopping and he was here with his…first real boyfriend.
Farron was attentive, affectionate…and it was all real, not that the last weeks of school before break hadn't made it clear Farron was serious about their relationship, Erik hadn't slacked though…he had a good thing here and he knew it. He wasn't alone on Christmas…he was in fucking Minstrel…not lurking at bars looking for meaningless hook ups and drinking himself stupid like he'd done last year.
"Think it would be a nice gift?" He asked quietly and Farron smiled "You found him that scarf..he's going to love that, especially while we're here and it's so chilly."
"Yeah…just…he paid for my ticket and…" Cobra started and Farron leaned him to one side, angling him so he could kiss him.
"A gift as much for me as for you…you don't have to buy him much. That scarf is really nice." He said as Cobra caught his breath, smiling up at Farron.
"We'll get the chocolates anyway." He said and Farron grinned at him. "Some cocoa bombs too, we'll all relax by the fire after dinner tonight, everyone opens one present on Christmas eve…then I'm getting you naked…" he purred and Cobra shivered, but smirked.
"You're insatiable." He accused.
"Good thing you are too." Farron countered and the redhead snorted
"Touche." they went into the shop and browsed, sampled a few of the chocolates…Cobra bought everything he tried because he had no self control where candy was concerned. Farron got a couple boxes of cocoa bombs to make hot cocoa with that evening and then they were walking the streets again hand in hand.
Something caught Cobras eye then, the glint of honey gold almost exactly like Farrons hair had him stopping in front of a jewelry store, Farron stood beside him, following his boyfriends gaze curiously and he saw a bracelet then with a flawless gold hand making the sign for "I Love You."
Blinking he smiled faintly then drew a breath when Cobra released his hand and went into the shop without a word. Unsure what to make of it he followed the man inside and smiled as he watched Cobra sign to the shop owner…who signed right back…
You have beautiful things here. Cobras hands moved fluidly
Thank you, it's lovely to meet someone who signs, every time it happens I am happy for days. The man behind the counter replied.
I want to get that bracelet in the window. Cobra said and the man smiled,tilting his head.
I hope it's for someone truly special. The man said and Cobra smiled, blushing and nodded toward Farron.
It's for him.
Farrons hand went to his mouth as the sheer…rush of emotions from that one admission hit him…He'd had days…when the two of them had been just…wild in bed, sex over and over and Cobra had seemed to be unable to get enough that he wondered if the fire would burn out…if the handsome redhead would feel more than lust toward him, though he hoped he did…it seemed like he did…
His eyes were misty when Cobra collected the bracelet from the man and put it on Farrons wrist. Looking up at him.
"I….I mean it…" He said quietly.
Farron was speechless, pulling the man into his arms and kissing him.
"I love you too Erik." He said in a voice shaky with emotion and Cobra looked up into his watery eyes, his own pretty bright and cleared his throat at a soft chuckle from the shop owner.
"I…I need to pay for that…" he said and turned a bright red face toward the man, but he was smiling…couldn't wipe the smile off his face…paying for the bracelet.
You look happy, Merry Christmas…keep each other close. The shop owner smiled to them as they left, Farron admiring the bracelet and sweeping Cobra into another long kiss not two steps from the shop door.
"I love you.." He said softly and Erik drew a breath, meeting those soft blue eyes
"Love you too, now get walking…I'm fucking freezing, lets get back to the house, I'm not buying your brothers or sisters any more presents or I'm gonna have to work in the school kitchen to pay for books." he grumbled and Farron chuckled, arm around the mans waist as they walked through the chilly wind back to his Fathers townhouse on the north side of the City.
Cobra didn't have a Christmas alone…he was loved, and spent Christmas eve with Farrons family and hot cocoa and then sprawled on a bed under the moonlight while he and Farron made love well into the night. No more old men and bars….
The rest of the school year had passed pretty uneventfully. Lucy and Laxus had it out during Christmas break when he'd walked into her room and found Kaleb asleep in her bed instead of in his own room…curled up with Lucy, and Makarov himself had gotten involved to stop the fight that had started with Laxus attacking Kaleb…and ended with Lucy decking her brother and then kicking him in the nuts when he went down…
"I…wasn't going to hurt him…" Kaleb had said, wide eyed a little ways away.
"Yeah…that's why I stepped in because he fucking needed to hurt so he'd fucking LISTEN!" Lucy had shouted over her brother as he'd writhed on the floor. Makarov had pushed her back, taking in the tears running down her angry face, his grandson cupping himself trying to remember how to breathe…Lucy in a little nighty still, Kaleb in sleep pants but nothing else.
"So…Laxus…you're going to let your sister make her own choices from now on. If I hear about you interfering, harassing her or Kaleb, or trying to impose any sort of control over what they…as adults…want to do together I will force YOU to come home for the rest of the school year so you can recollect your thoughts and remember you are Lucys Brother…NOT her parent and you will not act as such in my absence." Makarov said firmly once Laxus was on the couch downstairs, an icepack on his groin. Lucy sitting across from him on the other couch, now dressed with Kaleb beside her, also dressed.
Lucy looked smug until her grandfather looked at her then Kaleb.
"This is Lucys first real relationship. I know your father Kaleb…I also know the Dean of the university and most of the professors there…don't bring about me asserting my authority." The small gray haired man smiled and Kaleb actually paled a bit.
"Grampa!" Lucy whined and Makarov narrowed his eyes on her.
"Birth control. No missing class because you've stayed late with Kaleb, no missing classes to spend time with Kaleb…am I clear?" He snapped and Lucy stared at him, blushing beet red.
"Yes sir…" she managed
"Good, now, during break I don't care what you two do together as long as I don't have to hear or see it…am I clear? Kaleb you can move your things into Lucys room, it was rude of Laxus to make you stay in the guest room anyway." Makarov said and Laxus' mouth fell open but he snapped it shut when his grandfather shot him a look.
"Laxus it is Christmas. Your sister has a boyfriend who left Minstrel to be with her. Don't be a wet blanket." Makarov said firmly and stood clapping his hands together and going to make cocoa.
THAT had changed a lot between Lucy and her brother, it had also sort of mended the way Laxus had been keeping a bit of distance between himself and Kaleb and they were friends again…though that seemed to mean now Laxus left bruises on Kaleb during Rugby practice…which aggravated Lucy until she saw Kaleb did the same to Laxus…
5 years later.
-
Cobra leaned back, smiling faintly, eyes closing as his head rested against a firm shoulder, when he turned his head he was nicely tucked against Farron's neck and he moved his hand along one of the thighs he sat between, liking the smooth tanned skin over hard muscle that he was very familiar with now. A gold ring glinted on his left ring finger, a matching one on Farron's. The familiar bracelet on Farrons wrist that the man almost never took off.
"Think they'll be on time?" Farron asked softly, looking out over the water, an arm around his husband and Cobra snorted.
"Fuck no, they're all chaos with fucking legs." He responded "I just want to enjoy this vacation before we have to get back to work." he yawned, then reached up to pull Farron's face so he could catch the soft warm smiling lips, the couple kissing lazily. They had had their ups and downs, but had stayed together through University and both of them getting their doctorates, Cobra was still completing his second one.
Farron had proposed three years ago and they had gotten married pretty soon after that and Cobra hadn't looked back. He wasn't the frightened bullied deaf gay kid…he was now the husband of a frightfully successful lawyer and being in love…and being loved, had done a lot for him. He was still him…but was more relaxed. He never had to wonder if he'd have a home, or get lonely, he had a husband who loved him and a big family with more brothers and sisters in law than he knew what to do with.
Farron's arms settled around him and he just laid in those arms, keeping those lips on his greedily.
"Gonna come up for air soon?" The chuckle preceded giggles and Cobra opened his eyes, releasing Farron and smirking.
"Only for survival." He replied.
"Kind of how I feel most days too." Lucy grinned, the blond coming to spread a blanket on the sand. A diamond glinted on her finger…no wedding band yet…but as she stood up straight Kaleb's arms slid around her and she leaned against him. They were getting married when Kaleb completed his Masters, though Lucy had already started working herself. The vacation to Bosco to spend time with her soon to be father in-law was very timely…since she was needing a break after finishing her novel.
"Want the umbrella set up?" Lucy looked over, grinning as Cris held up a large beach umbrella and Levy came over to him, hand sliding over his bare chest
"Yes, you know how easy I burn." She chuckled and Cris smiled, nodding and setting up the umbrella while Levy set out a blanket. Levy had both a diamond, and a wedding band on her finger…Cris didn't wait, though he was still in medical school and Levy had one more year for her doctorate, neither had wanted to wait, their wedding had happened over spring break last year right on the beach they were all getting ready to relax on. Cris was still modeling, the work paid so well and they were saving for a house and Cris was making sure their tuition was all paid so there were no student loans or anything hanging over them when they graduated.
"Hey Lucy…did you pack my Chemistry book?" Laxus asked, walking over and Lucy smiled
"In my blue suitcase." She replied. Laxus and Kagura had not lasted, after the first year Kagura had started seeing other people, Laxus though…had not done badly…
"Baby…lay down, no studying until we've had some sun." A purr came and Laxus smirked, returning to the blanket beside Emzadi. They had now been together for 4 years and Laxus had proposed last month.
Vander was still single, very much active, now in his first year with the Rangers he'd been accepted before he'd even graduated and offered an investigators position. It was one he was doing well in. He was stretched out on the sand nearby, making sure his tan didn't fade with all the working nights he'd been doing the last couple of months.
"I brought you all new swimsuits!" They all looked up, grinning as Cana came onto the beach, running to sweep Levy into a hug, then Cris, making the rounds.
"I designed them myself and Cris…I know you're busy as fuck but I meant it when I said I would get on my knees and beg if you would model for me…it would help so much!" She said
Cristoff chuckled, "I said I would."
"But your brothers…" Cana smiled hopefully and Kaleb narrowed his eyes.
"I'm in the middle of a thesis…and I have work…" Kaleb protested.
"And you look incredible in a bathing suit and yes Cana we'll do it." Lucy said, smiling fondly when her fiance's mouth fell open.
"Yes, I'll do it…don't cast a shadow on me…I need my rays." Vander said when Cana hovered.
Cobra was the hold out, glaring at Cana "F.U.C.K NO." he said firmly
"Oh come ON, you have perfect skin, a swimmer's body, eyes that make cameras cry and you come with this sexy blonde…" Cana got on her knees "Pleeeeease."
"She's going to keep after you this whole vacation." Farron smiled, kissing his husbands shoulder and Cobra snorted
"She can keep on for fucking ever, I'm not a damned model. Only one I want looking at my body is YOU." Cobra said, poking Farron's chest and Farron smirked.
"Every chance I get." He said and Cobra smiled.
"Damn right."
Cana was smiling, she'd finished school with a degree in fashion design and a minor in small business management and Cris…had helped her get her business off the ground as a silent investor. Now she was doing pretty well with it and had managed to get a slot in Fashion week before the Elluris show…it was huge, and she needed models she could depend on…and not have to pay a lot…
"I don't want to." Cobra said firmly. Farron smiled fondly at him hugging him.
"Again, not asking."
"You can't pressure me, when has that ever worked?" Cobra asked leaning his head to the side to eye his husband.
"You've gained 4 pounds of muscle and can swim faster by 3 seconds per lap…because I pressure you." Farron countered.
"That was just a few good parties with nice food and me wanting to make the hussy from Toxicology eat shit." Cobra snorted waving a hand.
Lucy looked over, so did Cana as Zen walked up the beach, a man with long black hair who was actually as built as Zen was to his side, Kayliss was Zens closest friend from school and walking between the two big burly men was a slender man who had been Zen's first actual client from when he'd graduated..well…right before, the man's doctor had contacted the school seeking a trainer for him and Zen had been recommended…the two had become fast friends…though they bickered like an old married couple at times, Zens friend Kayliss had actually fallen in love with the man, and Hestor wore a very beautiful blue diamond engagement ring that Kayliss had put on his finger just a few days before the trip.
"Zen! You know a lot of beautiful people with great bodies and I need models for the show next month…" Cana called. The silver haired man beside Zen froze as Cana jogged to them.
"You'd both work…you're stunning." Cana said looking from the slender pale skinned man to the big deeply tanned one holding his hand, and steel blue eyes narrowed.
"I do not model." Hestor snapped
"You could." Cana countered
"No I really would not."
"You have the body for it."
"Irrelevant."
"It is sooo relevant." Cana smiled "You and your man here would look amazing in my swimwear!"
"Cana…" Zen's warning tone had the brunette holding her hands up.
"I don't do that anymore…I'm not trying to hit on him…I'm trying to recruit him."
"He can tell you pressure doesn't work on me." The silver haired man said, patting Zen's broad chest and heading to the cooler to see what drinks were in it while his fiance chuckled and…did not get into it. He knew Zen well…and knew Hestor well, loved them both and had learned the hard way not to get into their…bickering… his fiance had recovered beautifully from the accident that had happened while he was collecting coral samples off the coast of Enca that had almost cost him his left leg. Zen was a talented physical therapist and personal trainer, who had been managing Kayliss' own body building, Kayliss was involved in mixed martial arts and extreme sports, he was the crown prince of the Tian Xian Empire in the north…and Zens best friend.
He'd met Hestor through Zen, and had never looked back, enjoying the slender Stellans sassy attitude and fearlessness when it came to diving, swimming and any and all things involving racing fast cars, horses and motorcycles.
"Yes, it does." Zen smiled
"Never has." The man countered.
"Always does…you just don't acknowledge it." Zen replied.
"I'm not doing chest day tomorrow, I want to go to the shoe sale at Ferragamo." The silver haired man said
"Wait…did you say there's a shoe sale?!" Emi bolted up wide eyed and Laxus groaned
"Fuck…Zen!"
Zen snorted "I didn't say it, I don't care if there's a shoe sale."
"Heathen." The silver haired man said in unison with Emi, Lucy and Levy.
"Hestor…" Zen frowned at the man who was opening a cold beer and looking innocent.
"I need boots…specifically red thigh highs with a 6 inch heel and they will have them…60% off. That is more important than modeling or chest day." The silver haired man sniffed.
"What if I buy you the shoes?" Cana asked, Hestor narrowed his eyes.
"And carry any others I find?"
"Deal." Cana said and Hestor smiled.
"I suppose I'm modeling."
