leo_rooks | Eliot

"She's nice, Leo. Just go for dinner with her. My treat..."

Leo had such a hard time saying no to his mother. She was always so sweet, so gentle compared to his father. When she did things like this, it wasn't for appearances, it was because she hated him being alone. She worried, hated seeing him so stressed and unhappy. ...And so he said yes, even though he wasn't really interested.

Maya was nice. She was pretty, and she was funny. Had he not been dealing with the stress of school and whatever it was he was feeling about Eliot, he'd have likely been smitten. As it was though he just felt awkward and unsure, even as he invited her back to the flat for a cup of tea.

"If you can spare the night, I could get us tickets to see it," Maya was offering as they stepped inside. "My father is one of their top doners, so we usually get offered tickets. It looks like it's going to be an amazing production..."

And Leo did sort of want to go. He liked the theater, loved seeing up and coming productions. It just felt a bit wrong to say yes.

"Yeah, if I can get time," he nodded, clicking on the kettle.

Maya wandered over, leaning against the counter and toying with his hair. It felt nice to have her full attention. To have those soft brown eyes focused on him.

"Do, erm, you like milk in your-"

He was cut off as she leaned in and kissed him softly. Her hair was in perfect tiny braids, and a few fell forward and tapped against his cheek. They smelled amazing. ...She smelled amazing. Like honey and chocolate. ...Or, not chocolate, but something just as sweet and rich.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

leo_rooks

"O-kay. So, I can't drink enough to unpack that baggage with you tonight, I really do have work tomorrow, but... So what?" Maya shrugged. "If you like him, just try not to fuck it up too badly. That's all any of us can do."

She finished her drink, then glanced at her phone. "I better go. Tell Leo I can still get tickets for that show if he wants to go. I might be missing out on a 2nd date, but I'm not ghosting someone who'll actually go to the theater with me and not be on their phone the whole time."

From:

eliot_thespectacular

“Um, nice meeting you,” Eliot said, and then slowly cleaned up the kitchen after she left, before going to the couch.

He sat on the edge by Leo’s waist. “Hey,” he said softly, “You should get into bed. You’ll wake up with a sore back if you don’t.”

From:

leo_rooks

Leo looked groggy, squinting a bit at Eliot, then sitting up.

"Did Maya go?" he asked, fighting a yawn.

From:

eliot_thespectacular

"Yeah, she... said she had to work early." Eliot tilted his head a little, watching him. "How do you feel about that? Do you wish she'd stayed?"

From:

leo_rooks

"Why are you looking at me like my therapist?" Leo asked. Though he hadn't actually seen his therapist in years now.

Sitting up a bit more he pushed his hair back and slumped low in his seat. He didn't want to go to bed, if he did he'd just lay there all night thinking about what he and Maya had talked about.

"I don't think there's going to be a second date, let's just leave it at that. ...Do you want to watch the rest of this film with me?"

From:

eliot_thespectacular

"She said she could still get tickets for that show if you want," Eliot offered. "And sure, let's watch the rest. Scooch to give me some room?" He picked up the remote.

From:

leo_rooks

Leo moved over, making space for Eliot.

"She's nice," he said quietly.

From:

eliot_thespectacular

Eliot settled in beside him. "She's just the kind of person you want to be with, right?" he said, not quite looking at him. "I mean, she's perfect. Pretty, nice, rich, your parents approve... just the kind of relationship that wouldn't be... stressful."

From:

leo_rooks

"...Yeah," Leo said, though the way he said it made it painfully obvious that he just wasn't that interested in her. "No, she's... She's great. I just don't think it's going to work out. She said the same thing. ...It's nice she still wants to hang out though."

From:

eliot_thespectacular

Eliot was glad that it seemed like the little nap had sobered Leo up a bit. Because he really did want to ask... "Well ah, what kind of person do you think you want? Or... no one at all? Too focused on your studies?"

From:

leo_rooks

Leo looked down at his hands, shrugging a bit.

"I don't know. I'd like to think I have room in my life for love," he said. "I don't- I don't know what I'm looking for. Do you look for something specific?" he asked in return.

From:

eliot_thespectacular

"If we're talking about love and not sex, then I... don't think I'd really trust myself to know what I wanted anyway," Eliot said. He hesitated, and then confessed, "I haven't gotten close to anyone since I left New York. I mean... emotionally close. He... the guy who killed Margo, he really did a number on me. So I guess I don't know what I'm looking for either, I just have trouble thinking i could be good for anyone."

He believed Maya when she said that Leo told her he liked him. And it made him feel kind of... warm and fuzzy, but also terrified. Leo was the best stable thing in his life in a long time. What if he fucked it up?

From:

leo_rooks

Leo nodded slightly, picking at the hem of his now untucked shirt.

"I'd probably make a dreadful boyfriend at the moment anyway. I'm so focused on school... I'd rarely have time for dates. ...And I'm a bit prude compared to you. I'm not exactly the hooking up in public sort."

He fidgeted a little, then glanced over.

"This is nice though- Being flatmates. Sharing a space. ...Yeah?"

From:

eliot_thespectacular

Eliot should have just said yes. Should have just said, yes this is perfect, let's not ruin a good thing.

But instead he said, looking right in his eyes, "But you wanted to kiss me the other night."

From:

leo_rooks

Leo looked away, visibly embarrassed.

"I- I mean, yes, but... You're very sexual, and I'm.... You'd be disappointed, I think."

From:

eliot_thespectacular

Eliot didn't look away from him. "You don't like sex?" he asked, the question genuine, as he reached out and slid a finger down Leo's face.

From:

leo_rooks

"I like it, I just- Last time I was with another man we'd spent nearly a full month flirting at his father's boathouse before we even kissed. We only had sex the last night we were there," Leo confessed, going still as Eliot touched him. As though unsure what to do. "And that was a fling. That's my version of impulsive."

From:

eliot_thespectacular

Eliot's finger slipped down his neck and then he pulled away. "Leo, we've been dancing around sexual tension for months. I might typically be impulsive, but... not with you."

From:

leo_rooks

"I just worry I wont be exciting enough," Leo admitted. "That you'll be bored, and things will become awkward. I like you, Eliot. I don't like the idea of you not being in my life anymore."

From:

eliot_thespectacular

"That's a lot of worry for something that hasn't even started yet," Eliot said quietly. "I'm not suggesting we get married."

From:

leo_rooks

"What are you suggesting then? What is it that you want, Eliot?" Leo asked.

From:

eliot_thespectacular

"I don't know," Eliot sighed. "I honestly don't know, except that... I really want to kiss you before I explode."

From:

leo_rooks

"I want to kiss you too, but I didn't - Because it's serious for me. I have feelings for you, Eliot, and I don't think I could handle kissing you if it wasn't serious for you too," Leo confessed.

From:

eliot_thespectacular

If Eliot was a better person he would stop this now. He could keep from hurting him just by not letting this go any further.

He was not a better person.

"What... what could I promise you, so that I don't hurt you after?" he asked. "I care about you, Leo. I don't want to hurt you."