Work Text:
a strand of coffee-colored, curly hair gets tucked behind a flushed ear. shy eyes dart around the colorful space while hands scoop popcorn for the hundredth time that day. as the young boy reaches for a large popcorn bucket, he smiles and tells the customer to have a good time. straightening his posture and clearing his throat, he tucks the same strand against the same ear and finally makes eye contact with the man who has him so flustered.
nigel. hes wearing a green and white washed out flannel with a grey shirt underneath, dark wash denim as always. he's wearing sunglasses over his eyes. although adam cant tell, he can feel them on him. nigel approaches his booth, arms resting on the glass as his mouth turns to the side. "hello, gorgeous."
adam grins, fingers tapping away on the glass, trying to not mind his shyness. they've been doing this for nearly 5 months now– nigel spending money on snacks and movies he doesn't actually care about to see his lover's face nearly everyday. adam has asked him why, pointing out that its not logical to spend such money on things he finds pointless. nigel responded by swinging an arm around his small waist, hands rubbing against fabric. "youre funny. and pretty. and i love every-fucking-thing you say."
"hi, nigel. why are you wearing sunglasses in a building?" nigel smiles and laughs, removing them. he pushes them into long, ashy hair and sighs. his eyes are a light red, half closed. oh , adam things to himself. nigel hums, practically undressing the younger with his eyes before speaking.
"how's your day been, gorgeous? you seen darko around here, lately?" his words are drawled out, voice laced with something sing-song like.
adam shakes his head, "give me your cash please." nigel squints his eyes, teeth bearing as he grins.
"why would i do that? not that i mind throwing money at you, b–"
"if you dont pay," adam starts, looking around the small, but forming line behind his boyfriend, "i'm gonna get in trouble. you're starting to form a line. you have to make it look like an interaction, and less like conversation."
nigel hums again, like hes considering either saving adam the trouble of going through beth for the third time, or causing a line. "is that an invitation for me to get behind the counter?" the older has a shit eating grin on his face, yet somehow makes adam love him even more. adam sighs, beckoning the other to where theres a locked opening for his booth. nigel slides in, smacking the smaller's ass before entering a small backroom. he hears adam mutter something, but the door shuts in front of him before he can ask what it was.
adam returns to his actual customers, helping out families pick the best snack options. he checks the clock, taking off his apron as his coworker approaches.
"hi, beverly. im going on break. nigel is here, as well."
beverly smiles, hands still occupied with tying the uniform apron in the back. "hey adam, and yeah i know. you two need to invest in some air freshener, it reeks of cigarettes." its lighthearted, but adam still frowns. "im joking, dude. i don't really care." the other mutters an oh, before turning to the office door, getting greeted by nigel's cigarette smoke.
"i told you that smoking wasn't allowed in the office. we have smoke detectors, you know."
nigel stands up, cigarette in one hand as he takes his other over the smallers fluffy hair. "i know, i know..." he mutters, bending down to kiss his boyfriend's lips. unlike his darkened, cold ones, adam's are always soft and delicate. he's just perfect. adam smiles into the kiss while bruised, rough hands graze over his work shirt. "hate this fucking uniform of yours, gorgeous. makes it hard to bruise your pretty skin easily."
"i find it a bit unstylish, but its practical." nigel takes another drag, hands trailing down adam's arms as he backs his way into a chair.
"lets go."
"where? i still have work."
"to the park, cosmo. its not that far and i'll have you back in time so beverly doesn't hit me again. that bitch hits hard, by the way."
"shes not a bitch, nigel. shes our friend."
"baby," nigel says between laughs and coughs, "term of endearment. i like bev, obviously." he puts the cigarette out on the floor with his boot, standing up and clapping both hands together. he wraps an arm around adams neck, kissing his crown. they walk out the room, nigel telling he's taking adam out for a minute.
they leave the building, nigel asking adam about darko again. "you sure you ain't see him around, cosmo? i really need to fucking talk to him." adam says no, asking why the other needs to talk to him so bad. it's simply out of curiosity, but he does know about their relationship. darko is one of adam's work friends. he has the morning shift while adam works right after him at the same snack booth. nigel used to visit him on breaks to smoke together, which is how he and adam met.
"he's got some stuff for me, thats all."
"like cocain?" nigel stops their walk, arm unwrapping itself around adam's neck and going behind his back. nigel stares at him for a moment before saying anything.
"excuse me?" and its a genuine fucking question too.
"well, your nose has started bleeding alot randomly the past 2 months. like when we were at your house watching a movie. or having sex. you're also energetic at times, which you never used to be. another sign of cocain usage is r–"
"okay, adam," nigel interrupts, placing his sunglasses over his eyes again. maybe to cover up the fact that he was high and adam was spilling out all his fucking business on the street, or maybe the sun was just that blinding. "i get it. you're a smartass. just- just don't say shit like that out in the fucking open, alright?"
he starts walking again, shoulders stiffer. while at his side, adam looks up at him with those puppy eyes nigel cant get enough of. "i don't mind you doing drugs, nigel. i actually find it quite attractive, although i don't think drug usage is good for anyone. i don't care if im dating a drug addict..or friends with one...i love you. and darko, but mainly you."
as they cross the street, nigel breaks out into loud laughter, hand cradling his chest. "holy shit, you're," he says between breaths, "you're fucking precious, you know that? god, i love you so much. i mean, usually i'd be pissed if someone besides you said that shit to me but, you're just...so precious."
adam smiles, not completely understanding why the taller man is laughing, but he doesn't question it. adam and nigel go hand in hand, deeper in the park until they reach a tree. nigel places his flannel down, mainly for adam to sit so he doesn't get his uniform dirty. he takes a seat just on the edge after adam does. he pulls out another cigarette, lighting it as he falls onto his back, one leg up staring up at the sky.
they don't share words for a few moments, company is more than enough. adam plays with nigel's much straighter hair, twisting strands into his slim finger.
"do i really act like a fucking drug addict...?" his voice comes out more concerned and small than intended, but even after clearing his throat his face is still in a frown.
adam hums, lips forming into a small pout. "sometimes. i notice you're agitated alot, and paranoid. you don't eat as much as you used to...but i never wanted to say something to you because it's not really any of my business. i'm sorry if i insulted you earlier."
"no," nigel repeats, shaking his head. "its fine, gorgeous. i try not to, you know? like...end up like my fucking dad or some shit. it's just hard, sometimes– most of the time." nigel fights the urge to tell him how he feels like hes dying most of the time, like hes a fucking basket case. he'll save that for another time (he hopes will never come up).
nigel sits up, adam kissing him on the cheek. its fast but sweet, and nigel can't hold back his smile. "addictions are hard to beat, nigel. you know what you put in your body, and i know you've been trying to quit drinking and weed for a while. im very proud of you."
nigel takes his lover's smaller hand, thumb rubbing circles into knuckles. "hows your day been, hm? you never answered my question."
"oh! it was okay. i talked to a cute girl today about space. she had a nasa shirt on. she gave me her number, but i dont know if i will call her. and beverly said we need to buy air freshener because you reek of cigarettes."
"cute girl, huh?"
adam giggles, knowing the curious yet jealous-like tone in the older's voice. he looks out at the grass fields in front of him. "her name is alana. she was with another girl who was touchy, so i don't think she was romantically interested in me."
"good, can't have any one trying to steal my boy from me." a hand meets adam's face and he leans into the touch. "let me drive you home, hm? we can watch another movie or paint."
"oh, beverly and i were going to walk back to my place after work." the other puts out his cigarette, hand that was placed on his cheek now under his chin, forcing the smaller to hold eye contact.
"okay, let me rephrase. im going to drive you home, and we're going to do fun, exciting things together at your place." adam blushes, eyes suddenly interested in the scar just below nigel's hairline.
"my dad will probably be home. i don't think he likes you that much."
nigel lightly taps adams face. "im starting to think none of your folks enjoy my presence. but, okay. we'll hit my place, do fun and exciting things, and you'll spend the night. okay? i'll drive you to work." he doesn't ask adam if he's okay with it, because he knows he likes that kind of thing. adam likes being told what to do and what he's going to do. nigel likes being bossy.
nonetheless, adam nods. he takes nigel's hand, standing up from the flannel and nigel shakes off any dirt or grass caught on it. he puts an arm around adams neck again, this time adam takes his lover's sunglasses off and puts them on himself. "so damn cute," nigel mutters to himself.
he drops the brunette off at his booth, beverly muttering a "gross" under her breath as she watches the two kiss eachother goodbye.
-♡-
the couple enters the older man's room, nigel locking the door behind them. he throws his keys on the stand next to the tv. he guides adam by his waist to the couch, words right behind his ears, sending vibrations all over his thin body.
"you gotta stop being so shy, cosmo. this is like your millionth time coming over here."
adam smiles as he's placed onto the the beige couch. nigels living room is spacy, but full to capacity. next to window is another couch, beige as well but covered in a navy blue blanket with a single pillow. he assumes darko sleeps there, knowing his coworker crashes at his boyfriend's place from time to time. he thinks its sweet. in the middle of the room is a small wooden coffee table, littered with different ash trays, lighters, and empty soda cans.
the curtains are a darker brown, nothing harsh. he has pictures of him and darko, a girl with red, short hair, as well as family ones on one wall. adam smiled to himself when he first came over, wanting to know the background of every picture. he kept his curiosity to himself though. nigel wasn't too keen on explaining his life and adam respects that.
"i am sorry. i'm not used to being at new homes, but i really enjoy yours. it's very you." nigel puts on some music, none to adams liking but he keeps it on low just to have something in the background. he sits on the couch next to adam, patting his leg.
adam scoots over, just close enough to nigel but thats not enough for him. nigel takes it upon himself to grip adams waist and place him over his lap directly. adam's face is now a bright pink, eyes darting around the room for anything to be interested in.
nigel runs a hand over adam's hair, ruffling it. he smiles as adam shys away, head leaning into the crook of nigel's neck. hands rub against flesh, eventually beckoning the others shirt off. adam complies, removing his head from its comfortable position on a shoulder and takes of his shirt in one motion. he shakes his hair, placing the fabric neatly on the couches arm. he's still avoiding eye contact, but nigel doesn't seem to mind.
he starts a trail of kisses on his face, to his neck, over purple and orange bruises on his bare chest. adam bites his lip and whimpers, feeling slight overstimulation from the others mouth sucking on old and creating new hickeys. nigel scoots forward on the couch, finding balance to pick the smaller boy up and move him into his room. he places him (more like gently throws) onto the unmade bed, flannel and shirt hitting the ground.
adam, breathing hard, scoots back a few inches from the headboard as nigel makes his way onto his body. they kiss, intimate and hungry but never rushed. adam takes this moment to run his own hands against flesh, hands running through the other's hair. nigel kisses and sucks at his skin even more, just on his neck when adam feels something drip onto him. nigel doesn't stop his activity, so adam chooses to ignore it until it happens again, right after.
"nigel," he says, only getting a distracted "i love the freckles on your arm" in response. he says his name again, this time nigel's face is directly above his. he flinches as another drip settles just above his eye. "youre bleeding, nigel."
nigel reaches a hand to his nose, muttering something in romanian before he gets off of adam and makes his way into the bathroom. adam heres shuffling, drawers opening and closing so he sits up against the headboard fully until the other comes back.
"sorry, gorgeous. another fucking nose bleed."
adam gives him a small smile, shaking his head. "no, its okay. you shouldn't apologize for taking care of important things." nigel laughs, tissue dabbing under his nose still.
"still, sorry for ruining...you know. is there supposed to be this much fucking blood?"
the last part wasn't a real question but adam answers anyway. "you didn't ruin anything, but i would rather we continue this another time until your nose stops bleeding. i dont think theres any issue with excessive blood from your nose besides your drug addiction. if it lasts longer than 20 minutes, we should go to the hospital."
nigel chuckles, running a hand through his hair and sitting on the edge of the bed. "smartass. well, why don't we watch a movie, hm?"
-♡-
nigel awakes alone, he grunts as he makes his way out the bed and into the bathroom. his eyes are still bloodshot. his nose has dried blood around it, he looks fucking gross and tired. how does adam put up with him? he hears talking from the living room, making his way down the hall and standing in the door frame.
he smiles, seeing adam in just his flannel talking to someone at the door. the conversation ends shortly after he arrives, adam turning around. a smile plants itself on his face as well.
"good morning, nigel. i ordered some medicine because i figured your head would hurt after last night. and i can't drive." adam lifts up the bag and walks towards nigel, smile turning into a frown. nigel hasn't said anything, just silently smiling for the moment. "is there something wrong?" adam goes to feel for a fever (another symptom of cocain usage. no he doesn't mention it).
nigel lifts his hand to trail up the others wrist, kissing his hands. "lover of mine," he starts, other hand moving long hair behind ears, "you look so perfect in that shirt."