Finn Haynes (finnigan_h) wrote in shadows_rpg, @ 2018-10-12 19:56:00 |
|
|||
Entry tags: | #november 2017 |
Who: Neilan and Fin
Where: Books and Beer, then Fin’s Apartment
When: Wednesday, 15th November, evening
Warnings: Language
Status: Complete
It was as if Neilan was trying to stalk Fin, but he found himself at the shop with the violin his student had sold to him in his hand, and a grin on his lips. He walked in and made his way to the bar, violin in tow in a case Neilan had purchased for it and sat down toward the end, waiting until the moment Fin had noticed him sitting there. Keeping it well hidden behind the bar, he’d wait for a bit to show it to Fin. The truth was he didn’t want Fin to pay him back. What with the move he was making he probably didn’t have a lot of money to spare and Neilan liked the idea of giving him something. When Fin finally took notice of him Neilan smiled. “What does a man have to do to get some service around here? Get naked?” He teased.
Fin had heard the bell jingle to alert him to someone entering or leaving, usually he'd turn to see who it was and which section of the store they seemed to be heading towards, but he was busy with helping an older customer get a book off a shelf that she couldn't reach that he didn't notice it was Neilan until he had put the books through the till and the lady was on her way. All day he had this strange feeling, he was generous to his regular customers and a few of them were currently enjoying a drink ‘on the house’. Walking over to the bar he smiled, well it was more of a goofy grin than a proper smile. “Getting naked would help but it might be distracting for the other customers. Your usual?” He asked, turning slightly towards the scotch section that was behind the bar with him.
He chuckled a bit at Fin's response and shucked off his jacket. They had talked about him stopping by toward the end of Fin's shift so he decided that he would just stop by without sending a text. Besides which, he didn’t have a chance to check his mobile much at work so he assumed Fin wouldn’t be able to either. “Yes, please. Don’t worry about the book though, I just came to chat you up.” He said with a smirk, “oh and I brought you something.” He said, leaning down to grab the violin and placing it on the bar.
They had talked about Neilan dropping in towards closing time one evening but had only had brief text message conversations since they parted after spending Monday night together, needless to say he couldn't stop grinning for the rest of Tuesday. Fin got a glass out and poured the scotch, he didn't mind the surprise visit in the least. “Chatting me up, hey? I think I can get behind that idea.” He smirked back, keeping the banter playful because there was still a few people in the store. “You didn't have to…” His voice drifted off as he was sliding the glass towards Neilan when the familiar shaped case was placed on the wood. He looked down at it and then back up at Neilan, his eyes asking a silent ‘may I?’ as his hand moved to the case.
When Fin slid the glass to Neilan he let his fingers brush lightly at Fin's, immediately taking a sip of his scotch. “Good because I plan to do a lot of it.” He flirted shamelessly. It had barely been a day since they last saw each other but Neilan had spent a lot of that time thinking about the other man. Especially when he finally purchased the violin for him. At the look that Fin gave to him Neilan nodded and watched in anticipation as he did. “I put some extra rosin in there because I wasn’t sure if you had any.” Especially considering that he’d told him it’d be years since he played.
That brief brush of fingers sent a tiny jolt through Fin, probably just a bit of static in the air or his imagination. He had thought about the other man too, occasionally wishing it was the weekend already so they could spend some time together, even if it was just having breakfast or brunch, playing a bit of music together or just sitting and talking. Fin's fingers brushed over the lines of the case before he unlocked the snaps and opened it to look at the violin inside, a soft gasp escaping as he saw it. It appeared to be in good condition, the timber shining at him in the light of the store. “Neilan… I…” He looked up from the violin to the man on the other side of the bar, he was pretty much speechless.
Neilan put up his hand to stop Fin in case he were to say he couldn’t accept it. “Before you say anything, I got it for a very good price.” He said, pointing to the top tuning peg. “This was broken, the strings were old and it was a bit tarnished so I fixed the peg, restrung it and polished it.” He had actually spent the entire night working on it if he was going to be totally honest but he’d rather want Fin to think it was nothing. He bit down on his lip as he waited for Fin to speak. “Please tell me you like it.” He pleaded, toying with the liquid in his glass. He took a hazardous sip of it to help calm how nervous he was. This was quite a big gesture for having only known him over the course of a week and a half and he only hoped it didn’t come off too desperate.
He looked at the areas where Neilan had pointed out that he had repaired, the job was so good he honestly thought it was all original. His fingertips lightly ran over the edges and curves in a soft caress, it was beautiful. What Fin did next was probably too reckless but at that moment he didn't care. Leaning over the bar he grabbed Neilan’s collar and pulled the other man closer before kissing him firmly for a few moments, not caring that they were in public, if he couldn't think of the words hopefully gestures spoke for him. There was a whistle and whooping from two of the customers who were sitting in one of the booths nearby and had seen the kiss.
Neilan’s eyes closed when Fin pulled him into the kiss and kept them closed after it ended for a moment, stunned by the abrupt thanks. When he opened his eyes his cheeks were red and his pupils were slightly dilated. “So…” he began, a little flabbergasted at the response but insanely happy about it. “...I take it that means you like it then?” A big smile crept onto his face and his heartbeat began to quicken a bit, having just been kissed by the one person he wanted it from the most. “Cause I could just keep it myself if you’re not interested.” He teased a bit with a chuckle.
Letting go of Neilan's collar Fin moved back so he was standing upright again, he was kind of glad there were other people still in the store, it saved him from doing anything more reckless than just a kiss. Though there was a red creeping into his cheeks from the response from the customers about the public display of affection. “Yeah… I like it.” He smiled back, glancing down at the violin again before giving Neilan his full attention. “Now I'll just have to find time so I can get lessons from this cute tutor you keep telling me about.” He was trying to ignore the fact his own heart was beating a bit faster.
His smile grew wider as he lightly placed his fingers over Fin's. “Well, turns out that for the time being you both live quite close to each other so I’m sure he can find some room to squeeze in a lesson or two.” He took his scotch in his other hand and sipped down the rest of the liquid. “Can I have another?” He asked, placing the glass down in front of Fin. It felt odd asking Fin to be his bartender now since it seemed like he was taking advantage of Fin's work but he was behind the bar and Neilan did like a neat scotch whenever he was there.
Fin rolled his bottom lip between his teeth, he was glad that they weren't talking about squeezing in lessons at that moment because he had other things on his mind, things he probably shouldn't be thinking about until at least another date or two, like having the gorgeous man spread out naked underneath him and that look of ecstasy. When asked for another scotch Fin went back into his work mode and poured the amber liquid into the glass. “On the house.” It was the least Fin could do, after all Neilan had just bought him a violin.
“Thank you.” He replies, taking the drink and sipping on it again. He really did like a good scotch and it seemed that Fin wasn’t sparing him the cheap stuff. None of it was as good as it was back home but he’d realized his favorites in the US pretty quickly. “So what time are you done tonight?” He asked, wondering if maybe they’d have enough time to sit around and watch a film or something. Getting take out was also nice too, the opportunity to stay at either’s homes and snuggle up together.
While scotch wasn't as popular as bourbon he still kept a few varieties behind the bar, including what he now knew was Neilan's favorite, if people wanted the cheap stuff they could go elsewhere. “Thirty minutes til I close up and another twenty to do closing duties.” He really did hope that they'd be able to spend some time together that night and curling up on the couch sounded like a real nice idea. “That too late?”
“Not at all.” Neilan replied, taking another sip at his scotch. He would honestly wait all night and just suffer an uncomfortable day at school tomorrow if that meant he got to be around Fin some more. It was beginning to worry him actually, how much he actually wanted Fin, like something else was at work here but for now he’d just enjoy that the feelings seemed mutual. “Care to take in a film and order some take-out after?” He asked, taking the last gulp of his second drink and asking Fin for another. He normally didn’t drink so fast but he was enjoying himself and Fin didn’t seem to mind.
Take out even without a movie sounded like a good night to Fin. “How about we order something and eat it here while I close up?” He suggested, it kind of scared Fin too, just how well the two of them had clicked, still he didn't want to rush and end up in a mess like he was a few months ago. Pouring another scotch he looked at Neilan, he was sure the man could handle his liquor but three shots in a short time was still a lot. “Last one, we’re eating and I'm driving you home.” He added in a whisper.
Neilan could hold his liquor, even when he was drinking it pretty fast and he wasn’t drunk yet, even if his inhibitions were a little bit lessened but it stirred something warm in his stomach to know that Fin cared enough to drive him home himself instead of just insisting he take a taxi. Not wanting to stir up any sort of argument, Neilan nodded. “Alright, I respect that. Food actually sounds really good and yeah, I’d love eating it with you.” Although he did remember that Fin was a decent cook as well. Not having to wait as long for food was usually bearable but right now seemed not so. Neilan hummed around his glass as he sipped some of the amber liquid down. “God you’re pretty when you’re responsible.” He said absentmindedly. Maybe he was getting a little bit of a buzz after all.
“How about after you finish that drink you go out, find us something tasty for dinner and bring it back here? I eat just about anything so get whatever you're in the mood for. “ Fin said with a wink and a slight smirk, this strange mood was making him feel really impulsive but still he managed to stop himself from just pulling Neilan over the bar and ravishing him, maybe later after he had closed up the shop for the night. A bit of color appeared again in his cheeks when Neilan said he was pretty when he was responsible. “And you’re just as nice when you're generous.” He winked.
He chuckled as he finished his drink, standing to make his way out of the store. “Alright, but I expect you to be still incredibly attractive when I return.” When he walked out of the store he thought for minute what he’d like. Chinese actually sounded good and so he pulled out his mobile to call the local chinese restaurant to order some food. It was only a short walk and thankfully they didn’t take too long with their orders. As he walked he felt a sort of overwhelming happiness come over him. The night was beautiful and he’d met somebody for the first time in a long time that he could actually see himself with. He made quick work of picking up the food and walked back to the shop, thankful that it wasn’t raining today. When he walked back in he placed the food on the bar and leaned over the bar, framing his own face with his hand. “Good, you’ve followed instructions quite well.” He teased Fin.
While Neilan was out getting take out for dinner Fin went about his usual duties when closing time got closer, the pair who had seen the earlier exchange gave him a wink as they left and by the time Neilan returned there was only one customer left - Mr Franklin who was just about finished his usual glass of wine and Fin had done the tills so that he wouldn’t have to do it later. He had tried not to think of all the reckless things he could do with the cute Scot but it seemed like the other man was constantly on his mind that day. “What? You mean I wasn't attractive beforehand?” He smiled as the bag was placed on the bar. “Mmm, Chinese. Go and choose a booth, I'll be a minute.” He nodded in the direction of the final customer, walking over Fin thanked Mr Franklin and said that he’d be over at the booths having some dinner if the man wanted anything.
Neilan walked over to the booth and took the food out of the bags with a couple of paper plates and plastic utensils. He began opening the boxes to check to see what was inside and shoveled some brown rice and beef and broccoli onto his plate. When Fin walked over he smiled, really enjoying getting to see Fin so soon after their second date. Would this be considered a third? He wasn’t sure, he felt so much closer to Fin that he normally would by this point. “You are just a fucking sight you are.” He said, almost without thinking. He didn’t want Fin to think that Neilan only thought about his looks but he just couldn’t stop himself from commenting. “Also, you’re pretty cool as well.” He added, hoping that offset his objectification.
After making sure the customer was alright Fin walked back to the booth and smiled down at Neilan before sliding in on the seat on the opposite side where the plate was set up. There were a few choices and spooning some rice and then some beef in black bean on to his plate he smiled across the table. “A sight huh? Hopefully I'm a nice one and not the type that sends you running away screaming.” Though he was sure Neilan would've run away already if he had any inklings. “You're pretty cool as well.” He said before putting the first fork full of food into his mouth.
He flicked his eyes up at Fin when he asked if he would run away screaming. His look was one of shock, that Fin would even remotely think that was incredible. “I’d never run from you. I like you a lot.” He said, reaching his hand across the table to grab Fin's. “Actually, I’d quite to see you every day.” That was something he never thought he’d say, least of all now after they’d barely known each other more than a week but he’d meant it, all the way down to his bones.
The bell at the door jingled and Fin looked up over the back of the booth to see Mr Franklin leaving and he gave the older man a wave before turning his attention back to Neilan. When he reached over and took Fin's hand Fin looked down at them and back at Neilan, hearing that he'd like to see him every day. It was at that moment an idea came into his head and as impulsive as it was Fin couldn't stop what came out of his mouth. “Well let's do it. It's reckless of me but I don't care...” He squeezed Neilan's hand and reached for the other one. “Be my boyfriend.”
While normally going into things so quickly would have been a big red flag, this time Neilan liked it and they’d already kind of been going fast anyway. A smile slowly crept up to Neilan's face and he nodded his head to the request. “Yeah, I’d quite like that.” And with that he stood to lean over the table and press a kiss to Fin's lips. He sat back down and let go of Fin's hands, reaching down to his meal to continue eating. “Wow, I’d thought I’d be the one to ask you so thanks for taking that off my shoulders.” He added with a bit of a chuckle as he stuffed some Chinese food into his mouth.
It usually threw up red flags for Fin as well but this mood that had sat with him all day was telling him to screw the consequences and just do it. So Fin had, several customers got free drinks and a few regular customers to the bookstore left with free books during the day and now after just two (or was this three ?) dates he had asked Neilan to be his boyfriend and he couldn't stop smiling, even after the quick kiss. “Well you can ask too, doesn't hurt to just make sure we're both on the same page with this.” Fin just hoped he didn't wake up in the morning to discover that it was all a dream, a joke or some weird phenomenon had torn down his inhibitions.
He laughed at the silly idea and chewed and swallowed his food before he spoke again. “Finnigan you Irish bastard, be my boyfriend please oh please oh please.” He teased and even though his buzz was fading he still felt a bit on the lightheaded side, like none of this was real and that he was living in a very vivid dream that would be over quite soon. “I’m sorry I shouldn’t call you that, you’re obviously not that Irish.” He chuckled again, realizing now that even though he felt embarrassed by his words sometimes that Neilan never seemed to make Fin uncomfortable.
Fin smiled as he ate another mouthful of food while Neilan called him an ‘Irish bastard’, though he was a few generations removed from being a full blood Irishman he was still proud of his roots. “Hmmm…” He rubbed his chin as if he was considering what answer he was going to give to Neilan’s request. “Well considering you asked so nicely I guess I can say yes, you daft Scottish wanker.” He didn't feel uncomfortable by Neilan's teasing. “I'm Irish enough.” He winked.
Neilan then decided he’d rather sit next to Fin then across from him and grabbed his plate to move over to the other side. “You know I did wank quite a bit as an adolescent, mind you I’m sure everyone did but I suppose that means at one point I was actually quite a wanker.” He teased, scooting in closer to Fin. He shoveled more of the food in his mouth, feeling the buzz wear off but not his good mood. “I’m happy I finally spoke to you, you bastard.” He added with a little smirk as he swallowed his food.
Seeing Neilan stand up with his plate Fin figured out that he wanted to sit next to him so moved further into his seat to make room, adding some more rice to his plate to soak up the sauce before he ate some more. “I think wanking ‘quite a bit’ was part of being a teenage male no matter where you live.” Except maybe in really religious families or communities where self pleasure and exploration was seen as evil. “Are you? I’m happy you finally got the nerve up too.” He was glad that it had happened now instead of when Neilan had first showed up in town.
Neilan smiled when Fin said he was happy about him finally getting the nerve and laid his hand on top of Fin's. This feeling was incredible, it was almost as if he were high on Fin. “Who did you wank to as an adolescent?” He decided to ask, since they were on that subject anyhow and he tried not to think too hard on the image of that. “It was Scarlett Johansson for me, or Mika Kunis.” Of course there was also Josh Hartnett and Ryan Gosling too but those he never quite admitted to anyone until much later.
It was almost like a high, Fin didn't know what it was or if it was the chemistry between the two of them that made him want to do silly things and any consequences be damned, though now - for the first time in absolute years he had a boyfriend and it almost made him feel giddy. Fin just hoped that neither of them would wake up in the morning and regret what they had done. “Honestly, I don't think I had a celebrity fantasy. I just had a few rather smutty books and an overactive imagination. “ He couldn't remember what books they were either. “But stop it, you'll put ideas in my head and I want to finish dinner.”
He chuckled and forked some beef into his mouth, chewing and swallowing before he spoke again. “What about your first time with the same gender? Or when you came out?” He asked, he’d never really bothered to ask Fin if he was gay or bisexual because it didn’t matter that much to him. Fin was Fin and that’s all he really cared about. He remembered his first and he really hadn’t had many men since then so for him it had to be someone really special.
“I was sixteen and he was a senior. We were in band together and had a sports event coming up that we were playing for, so one afternoon I went over to his place to practice, one thing lead to another and he ended up on his hands and knees on his bed.” They had done it a few more times in the following month or so but were never a couple, just two guys exploring their sexuality. “I think he's married with a few kids now.” Fin chuckled a bit. “As for coming out, I didn't do that til I was in my twenties. My family and a few friends knew but didn't announce it to the world until my first serious relationship with a guy nine years ago.”
“What was his name?” Asked Neilan, curious if it was the guy he was talking about that night at Dragonfly. Neilan had only really discovered he liked men in his twenties so to know at such a young age seemed so interesting to him. It could have saved him a lot of heartache. He took another forkful of food and shovelled it into his mouth, realizing now his plate was almost done, which would honestly be enough for him since he was trying to exercise portion controls
“My ex? Daniel.” He tried not to let the sadness show on his face, losing Danny was still quite fresh and it still hurt to talk about him. But he had to move on, hell he had a boyfriend now and Neilan deserved to be the only man on his mind, not competing with the ghost of an ex that Fin still cared for. “We actually met in this store, he came in looking a job but my grandparents said he wasn't old enough. I said hi and a few days later he came back in and asked if I'd like to grab a bite at Moxie's with him. We talked, we clicked and things went from there.”
Neilan looked at him as his demeanor changed. This was obviously the one that got away and while Neilan himself had been through that, it still allowed a pang of jealousy through. “What happened to him?” He asked, remembering Fin talk about Danny once before. It was obvious something hurt him about the memory and Neilan wanted to know what it was, so he could try not to trigger Fin in any way. There was still a lot he needed to learn about Fin but he wanted to know it all.
Fin nudged the last bit of food on his plate around with his fork, suddenly his appetite had left him. He glanced over at Neilan before returning his gaze to the plate. “No one knows. He was here one day and gone the next, like he simply vanished off the face of the earth.” He said with a sigh. “They said he just left town, but I know Danny, he'd never leave his sister behind, not after how much he fought for her.” Looking up his eyes had that slight sheen that came when tears were threatening to form. “He's alive, I know he is.”
His eyes softened as he heard the story and he brought a hand up to Fin’s face, brushing a tear away with his thumb. “Fin…” He said with complete empathy. The same thing had happened to his baby brother and he knew that he had to be out there somewhere. He leaned in and pressed a kiss to his cheek just below his eye and put an arm around him to comfort him. “How long ago?” He asked, wondering if it at all coincided with the disappearance of his brother.
“Seven weeks.” Well he found out seven weeks ago but it was more than likely eight from when Lucy had seen him last. “I… I didn't take the news well.” His fork was still pushing the grains of rice around, needing something to focus on as he spoke. “I drunk a bottle of bourbon and went down to the beach. I don't remember much but they said I was found the next morning hypothermic and nearly drowned.” Not to mention the score of mental health issues that arose from that event. Leaning against Neilan a bit he sniffed, the other man didn't need to know about what had saved him, that Fin had his father's ghost protecting him and was probably watching them now.
Suddenly the lack of drinking made sense. Neilan had been in an ugly place with alcohol a few times when his brother had first gone missing but he’d never nearly killed himself like that. He wrapped both arms around Fin at this point to pull him closer and kissed his temple. “I’m so sorry.” Was all he could possibly say. He’d lost his brother sure, but he’d never lost a lover like that and have him slip away right underneath his nose. “Seems like quite a few people end up missing round here.” He added, petting the top of Fin's head with one hand.
Alcohol and Fin were never really friends but after that Thursday evening he hadn't touched a drop and had no desire to, Neilan's bottle of Scotch that he had bought over last Thursday just sat in the cupboard until Neilan came over again. Dropping his fork on to the plate he leaned against Neilan as the other man held him, just that hug was comfort enough for him. There was something in the way Neilan had mentioned people going missing that made him think that there was something going unsaid. “Who?” He asked softly, it made sense because why would anyone leave their home country or town for this place?
Neilan looked down at his lap when Fin asked that, now it was his turn to be somber. “My brother Torsten. Taught science and went missing a year ago. We spoke everyday and then one day it just stopped and he disappeared.” Neilan confessed, since he’d never even bothered to tell Fin about that part of his life before. “Seems we have a lot in common.” He said, intertwining his fingers with Fin's. After a year it was becoming more and more hopeless to him and he still had no leads at all. Had a mountain of Torsten’s things not enough time to really delve into it.
Fin remembered the news of a teacher going missing the year before but as he didn't have at real connection to the school hadn't really known the man - Torsten. He wrapped his arms around Neilan just as he had done a minute beforehand to comfort Fin, sorry didn't seem to be the right words so he said nothing and just held Neilan. It was scary how much they had in common, maybe fate or whatever gods watched over them had decided that now was the perfect time for them both and made Neilan finally say something. Whatever it was he was glad that Neilan was in his life now and he didn't want to let go any time soon.
He looked up then to see those beautiful blue orbs looking back at him and moved his hand to his jawline. He just looked at Fin for a moment before he leaned in to press a kiss to his lips. This one was unlike the ones before, it was careful and sweet like it said a hundred things without saying anything at all. His brows knit together when they pulled apart and he pressed his forehead against Fin's. He sniffed away any tears that might have fallen and bit down on his own lip. “You’re sort of special, you are.” Foot in mouth again, they’d only just become official only to themselves and already he was becoming possessive.
Fin's heart rate picked up a bit as they kissed, he could hear what Neilan was trying to say without words and the softness and carefulness of it all made his heart do a little flip. He was quite content to just sit there for a while with their foreheads resting together though in the back of his mind he was cautious of the time, he didn't want to keep Neilan up all night and hear he had fallen asleep during class. “A good kind of special I hope and not the…” he tapped his temple to indicate ‘special in the head’ “type.” Though some would argue that point.
Neilan laughed at that, nudging Fin a bit as he did so. “Will you shut up and let me shower you with praise already?!” He complained humorously. “I have half a mind to just stop altogether if you keep doing it.” Which of course he would never do but if a little playful threat helped boost his confidence then so be it. While the mood was somber only moments ago he still felt that overwhelming feeling of contentment, especially with the decision to start a relationship with Fin. There was something so insanely perfect about the timing of their courtship and the events that had brought them both to a place where they could meet.
While he was still feeling pretty sad and somber Neilan managed to make him smile a bit, sitting back upright he looked down at their uneaten food. “What do you say we put this in the staff fridge and get out of here?” Fin didn’t really feel like staying around the store for much longer, especially when the idea of curling up in bed and cuddling his new boyfriend sounded like a much better idea. He gave their hands a little squeeze, Neilan would have to move because he was sitting on the outside but at least all he had to do was lock up and go home.
Neilan nodded his head and scooted out of the booth to let Fin out. He didn’t quite know the shop well enough to know where the fridge was so he’d let Fin take care of that. At this point the buzz had completely worn off and he was feeling a bit tired. “Sounds good. Shall I meet you back at your flat?” He asked, knowing he’d need his vehicle the next morning to go to work. He’d have a hard time concentrating at school tomorrow but it was all worth it to know that Fin was now his boyfriend.
“Sounds good to me.” He said, giving Neilan a quick kiss as he gathered up the containers and scooted out of the booth. “I'll leave the door unlocked when I get home, so let yourself in.” It wasn't like there would be anyone creeping around the halls at that hour so it was pretty safe to leave the door unlocked for Neilan. With the containers in hand he took the rest of the Chinese food out through the back door of the store into the storage and staff area and put them in the staff fridge, at least he wouldn't need to worry about what he was going to eat while working tomorrow.
He walked out and went to his car, getting inside for and sitting for a moment to look at his mobile. He called the landline to Torsten’s flat that he’d been keeping to store all the things he’d left behind. His voice was still on the answering machine. “I know you can’t hear this but I met someone and I think you’d like him.” He paused, looking down at his hands. “I miss you. Come back to us.” And with that he hung up the phone and started the car to head back to the apartment complex. Most of the time Neilan was able to function without thinking too much about Torsten but when it was brought up he realized he hadn’t forgotten at all and that it still hurt. As he pulled up he lit up a cigarette and smoked in the car for a few minutes before heading up to Fin's apartment where he let himself in.
After putting the food into the fridge and the money in the safe Fin locked up the store and went out to his car. With a bit of a smile still on his face he drove back to Castleview and his apartment, leaving the door unlocked he fed his two pets and and shut the kitten in the guest bathroom which was the usual evening routine. Part of Fin still couldn’t believe what had happened that evening, that now he had a boyfriend and yes it was crazy, they barely knew one another but wasn’t that the whole point of dating someone, get to know one another. He had just boiled the kettle and was making a mug of the herbal tea he liked to drink before bed when he heard the door open, looking towards the small hall that lead from the front door to the living area he saw Neilan walk in. “Hey. Feel like a relaxing cup of tea?” He asked.
“Tea sounds lovely.” He said, letting out a bit of a yawn as he said it. He’d have to get up and go to work in the morning so naturally his energy levels were a bit drained. He placed his keys on the key rack near the front door and walked into the kitchen where Fin was. As he walked up to him he grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him into a kiss. “Thank you boyfriend.” He said with a bit of a smirk. “I’m fucking lucky I am.” He added, pressing one more before letting him go to finish making tea. He looked into the living and saw the violin in its case. He’d almost forgotten that he’d given that to Fin but was happy to know that he was happy to accept it.
Fin had heard Neilan lock the door after coming in so that was one less thing to worry about. He smirked into the kisses, boyfriend would take some getting used to, it was so many years since he was with Danny that just hearing it from Neilan's lips sent a little tingle through his body. Another mug joined the first as he made tea for them both, a nice blend of herbs that helped relax and induce sleep and Fin's usual night cap. With both mugs in his hands he handed one to Neilan with a quick peck on the cheek. “Come on, let's get ready for bed. I'm not going to keep you up all night and hear you've crashed out in the middle of class. “
“Ta.” He said to the tea and began sipping on it as he made his way to Fin’s bedroom. It felt normal now even though he’d only done it once, stayed over but Fin made him so comfortable that he didn’t feel as if he was in a strangers home but in a home he’d been in many times. “Trust me, I couldn’t pass out if I tried. Too many out of key instruments to correct and such.” He yawned as he walked over to the bed and put the tea down before he began to undress himself for bed. Neilan was also very much a person that if he woke up tired he’d still stay up until that night when he was ready to go to bed. He didn’t nap.
Fin took a long sip of his tea as turned the lights off and walked to his bedroom with Neilan, the tea was just the right temperature where he could drink it without burning his mouth or having to wait for it to cool down, usually he loved his tea hot but not his nightcap. “I remember that too well, which was why I took my own guitar. How can a single instrument get so out of tune in the space of a day?” Well he knew the answer - people just wanted to fiddle with the knobs or whatever and leave it for the next poor soul. Following suit Fin put his tea down and stripped down to his boxers, getting completely naked would be too tempting and tonight he just wanted to sleep cuddled up to Neilan. Pulling the covers down he sat on the mattress, back resting against the solid wooden frame as he reached for his mug again.
By the time he’d gotten all of his clothes off Neilan stepped into bed and wiggled underneath the covers. He yawn as the lights were turned off and cuddled up close to Fin. “Goodnight.” Was all he managed to say before he drifted off into sleep.