Work Text:
"Dad said I need to get a haircut soon," Cove sighed as he threaded his fingers through his front locks. "Something about looking nice for the new school year."
At ten years old, a haircut means mostly nothing to him. His dad seemed more excited for it than he is, looking up different styles that he could get to freshen up his look. Cove only initially agreed because the back of his neck felt so itchy and irritating with the loose hairs curling into it, feeling that the best solution is to just trim it now.
When he told this to Jaime, however, he wasn't expecting his best friend to whine in protest. Jaime scrambled off his bed to start touching the back of his head, feeling the soft skin of his hands brush across his nape as he combed his fingers through his hair. Cove fought the rising heat in his cheeks down, suddenly feeling that they were way too close for his comfort.
"Jaime?" Cove croaked out while he whipped his head around to get him to stop, his hands clenched into fists in his lap trying not to shake from it all the attention. "What are you doing?"
Jaime sighed back in small protest, his voice tiny and miniscule unlike his usual direct and forward tone, "Just… I'm gonna miss your long hair. You look cuter with longer hair and I get to practise braiding and doing fun hairstyles- Wait, is that too weird to say? Sorry..."
He thinks it's… cute?
Cute?!
Cove smacked the sides of his face with his hands, shaking his head rapidly in a fruitless attempt to will the colour off his beet-red face. Jaime so casually mentioning that he looks cute is a direct attack on his heart, beating so rapidly in his chest that he fears it'll break out of his ribcage and offer itself to his best friend with no hesitation.
He knew this bubbly sensation expanding across his body wasn't the normal response one gets when their best friend calls their hair cute but that's a problem for future Cove Holden to deal with.
"Are you really going to cut it all off?" Jaime muttered under his breath, a pout formed on his lips and Cove can't seem to break eye contact with it. Watching him gnaw on his bottom lip, Cove swallowed down a lump in his throat and averted his gaze to whatever random toy was in Jaime's room. "Sorry if I'm being a little weird…"
The words escaped him before he could catch them, "I mean, I could always not cut my hair…"
Wait, what am I saying? Cove's internal panic struck as he processed what he just said, the urges to yank out his hair grew enough that maybe he doesn't even need to go to the barber store anymore. No, I need to go get my haircut. Come on, it's time to say you're joking-
"Really?!" Jaime's bright smile stopped Cove right in his tracks, spanned from ear to ear while his entire front got engulfed into a big hug. Cove only hoped that Jaime couldn't hear how loud his heart was drumming in his ribcage, his arms awkwardly dangling off his sides with nowhere to go. "I mean, I think you'd look cute no matter what but I think you look cutest when your hair is all grown out. It suits you, you'd look like a merman."
Well, I guess I'm growing it out now, Cove groaned internally, his lips thinned out into a straight line as he remorses about having to deal with the loose ends tickling his neck for a while longer. Screw you, Jaime. I don't know why but screw you.
When Ciff asked why his son suddenly wanted to grow his hair out instead, all he got in response was Cove glancing off to the side with a light flush on his cheeks, mumbling about wanting to look like a merman in an embarrassed tone.
"Ooo, there's my baby!"
Cove rolled his eyes playfully before he brought his mum into a firm hug, unable to stop himself from smiling while she struggled to even reach the top of his head. Even at fifteen years old, seeing his mother for even a short while is the same equivalent to opening presents on Christmas morning. It's always such a treat to see her.
"Mum, stop-!" He whined in embarrassment as she leaned up on her tip-toes to press kisses across his entire face, her giggles echoed into his ears as he heated up bashfully from all the attention. "Mum, there's someone with me right now-"
Like clockwork, Jaime chimed up from behind Cove like it was scripted. "Hello again, Kyra! Don't mind me, this is fun to watch for me."
Kyra's smile grew larger at the extra company, her arm reached out to yank Jaime into an equally bone crushing hug. He watched as he squeezed her even harder back, a cheeky grin plastered on his face. It's nice to see both his mum and Jaime in the same room again, being almost a whole two years the last time she came back to Sunset Bird, at least to stay for a whole block of vacation like she did when they were thirteen.
At least this time, it wasn't so much of a surprise.
"How have you two been? Do we want to go into town to get something to eat while we catch up?" Kyra suggested as she tugged her son towards the end of the street, her eagerness has infected him too as a dopey smile spread across his face. He felt Jaime closely following beside him, the same expression plastered onto his own face. "Maybe we can try a new place, unless you guys are still up for the same Tropical restaurant- Wait a moment. "
The sudden stop to her sentence zapped out all the energy from the other two, Kyra's eyes squinted into two lines as she stared hard at her own son. Cove's spine shook under the sudden and intense focus from his mum, his mouth wiggled into one of his apparently signature 'frowns' that he does when he's extremely nervous (according to the one who makes him the most nervous).
She turned to look back at Jaime too, her eyes calculated and controlled as she inspected him thoroughly too. The sly grin that suddenly stretched across her face meant trouble, Cove didn't know what yet at the time but it always went one or two ways and always ended with him flustered and hiding his face into the palm of his hands. His mum was up to something and he didn't particularly want to find out what.
"I thought my baby was just being lazy when he refused me and his dad to take him to the salon. I mean, I don't mind how long it is but I thought he'd want a cut eventually," Kyra started as if it was a normal thing to tangent to, she ruffled Cove's seaweed green locks through her fingers for further emphasis whilst he stood still awaiting what she had up her sleeve. "Looking at you though, Jaime, I understand completely why. Far too much of a coincidence for both of you to be on a salon strike."
Oh.
Of fucking course.
Cove shoved his face into his bent arm, his burning red cheeks hidden from both his mum and his best friend. Why did she have to bring it up now?! He remembered how both his mum and dad tried to get him to get a haircut in the past in two separate attempts, his younger self determined to evade all scissors even if it meant chucking a temper tantrum. He isn't proud of resorting to that but it worked out in the end, his longer hair neatly tied back in a low ponytail akin to like a symbol of success from the battle he fought.
Cove can't even refute his mother's words on the matter because it's the truth. Those words Jaime confessed to him back then as children still ring loudly in the back of his head, especially whenever he needs to tie it all back for convenience's sake. Sometimes even when he played around with the ends of it as he studied, he's hit randomly with his cheery voice calling him cute with his hair grown out, ending his studying promptly as he crashed onto the bed in a flustered heap.
Now with his own mum calling him out, he doesn't know how exactly to react besides hiding himself away in his own tangle of limbs. Better than bolting out of there.
"Oh? I mean, I can guess where you're coming from but yeah, it's a coincidence," Jaime laughed as he twirled one of the stray orange locks framing against his face, a light smile graced on his lips as he glanced back to check on Cove before continuing. "I grew up playing around with Lizzie- Elizabeth's hair and it sorta just transfered to me too as we grew up. Not complaining about matching with the best person in the world though, now everyone can know for sure we're besties!"
Fondness bloomed in Cove's chest, Jaime really does know how to calm him down even indirectly. He noticed the small thumbs up from him while he shook out of his mini-panic, shooting up his own in reassurance. His mum then simply cooed at his reply, chatting up and asking what styles he's done with his hair and Jaime was always happy to geek out over his more fashion-based hobbies.
Now that he's reminded of it, he took the time to look at Jaime's own orange hair while he walked behind them. It does… bare a resemblance to his own, especially now as it stook out from barely above his nape, only held together by a bright neon red scrunchie. Jaime regularly does try to do something with it but it's only now that Cove noticed that it's always simple when he's just hanging out with him.
He still looks very beautiful though, no matter what he does with his hair. Cove isn't sure there really is anyone else that shines brighter than Jaime, at least according to him and only him.
Jaime suddenly turned around to face him again, his eyes closed into two crescent moons looking amused, "Have anything to add to our hair conversation? We still don't know why you haven't had a haircut, not complaining though."
It's because you said I was cute if I didn't cut my hair when we were ten. You probably forgot.
But I didn't.
His fingers instinctively went up to tug at the end of his hairs that touch the sides of his reddening face, the impulsive urge to confess on the very tip of his tongue. That he's always cared for his appearance only if to maybe catch his eye, selfishly keeping his attention all to himself. Any grasp of it that he can have, he'll treasure more than the fish in his aquarium.
"Makes me feel like a merman…" Cove lied between his teeth, biting down on his bottom lip to keep himself from giving his facade away. He doesn't have the will to say the real reason, not right now anyways. Hearing Jaime snort at his childish answer is enough. "If they aren't real, I should at least try and replicate it."
"That's my baby, never grow up!" Kyra cackled before she ruffled Cove's hair once more, earning a pained groan from her child as she did. She shot him a knowing look at her son, a gentle twinkle in her features that felt like she was staring straight through his mask of lies. If she did know, she didn't let anymore show as she relaxed back. "Anywhoozies, I have a whole lunch to catch up on the rest of your stories. Even if Cove did spoil a little of them from his last visit."
"Hey, it's only been a couple of months! I didn't spoil all of what we were up to!"
Cove playfully nudged his mother, grinning from ear to ear as Jaime giggled at their antics. He needs more time but he hopes that one day, he is able to confess to him properly. In a way that Jaime deserved, where he doesn't have this awful urge to bolt in the opposite direction at even just a slight touch of his hand brushing across his skin.
Just more time. That's all he needs.
Bzz. Bzz. Bzz.
Cove shook his head as he opened the door to his apartment, taken aback as Jaime launched himself into his front. A snort him as he brought his arms closer to hug him properly, sighing as he took his presence in. He smelt like home — white linen poppies and wet sand on the asphalt on a hot sunny day.
It's been far too long since the last time they've seen each other. Life gets busy when you're twenty years old, especially when you're juggling working full time and studying marine biology on top of that. His dad has helped as much as he can in the store, even offered him to go back to part-time at the shop but he told him he can handle it.
Still Cove was relieved that his best friend Jaime lived close by his sole apartment, constant excuses made by the both of them to keep visiting each other whenever they had time or needed someone to talk to. It helped a lot with transitioning to a new place, Cove was glad to know at least seeing Jaime on an almost constant basis wouldn't change even if everything else was.
"How's my favourite busybody doing?" Jaime pulled away so he could stand on his tip-toes, arm outreached to ruffle his hair. Cove huffed as his hair frayed in all different directions, he didn't have any time to tie it all up and now he had to go get a brush. His friend only snickered in response, invited himself inside the apartment like it was his own home. "Did Mr Holden manage to get it through to you that you can take a break? Or must I remind you harder this time?"
With a sly smirk, Cove whistled out a half response, "Dunno, I'm curious to know how you'd explain something so complicated to me."
Jaime only shook his head in response, his shoulders shrugged up while he dramatically crashed down onto Cove's couch. Cove mockingly rolled his eyes at his behaviour, making his way to the open kitchen to get something to drink for the both of them. He treated Cove's apartment as if it's own home, immediately sucked into the cushions as he poured them both a cup of orange juice.
Well… Cove isn't opposed to the idea.
If you told fresh-faced adult Cove that he'd be considering letting his long-time crush move in with him, he would've melted into a puddle on the spot from how hard his cheeks would've run. Now though, he feels more than ready to take that leap, hammering away the invisible wall that's stopping him from expressing how he truly felt about Jaime.
It's no longer some overwhelming feeling that could dangerously spill over the edge at any moment, it nurtured into more of a comforting squeeze in his chest whenever he sees him. Of course he still gets flustered whenever Jaime starts to playfully flirt with him out of the blue but it's become easier to deal with, even shooting off his own teasing retorts in return without shaking in his seat from pure nerves.
After a huge breath, he sat down next to Jaime. His friend is being swallowed by the vast amounts of throw pillows on his couch, presents from Kyra when he threw that first house party. A hand shot itself out and gestured for the cup, Cove snorted before he gingerly gave him the cup. The mop of orange hair soon followed, Jaime's grin infecting even him as he gulped down the juice like he was dying of thirst in a desert.
"You are too good to me," Jaime sighed as he wiped his face with the back of his palm, gently placing the cup on the floor before he submerged himself back into the abyss of his couch. "I was craving a drink for so long but y'know, classes are expensive and I refuse to waste money."
"Sounds like you," Cove snickered as he sipped his own juice slowly, taking a bite out of his fudge right after. The acidic citrus and the chocolate is a comfort pair of flavours he loves, easing into the conversation. "Didn't even turn twenty dollars away at the ripe age of eight. You should've hustled for more so it paid dividends."
Jaime groaned at the reminder of how they initially met, the other laughing hysterically as he whacked him with one of the pillows. "You will never let that go, will you? I wanted to buy that cute turtle toy when I was younger so of course I took it."
Reminiscing about it all, Cove's gaze lingered onto Jaime's hair. The same brightly orange hair sparkled under the sun's setting rays that shone through his windows, all tied up neatly in a high ponytail.
Neither of them seemed to have gone to a salon ever since they met.
Cove glanced at his own hair in the reflection against the glass, a similar style to Jaime's but more unruly and messier. His seaweed green hair stuck out in all different places even if he tied it up just like his mum taught him, a shudder ran through him as he reminded himself of how hard it is to brush the knots out of it. Don't even get him started on what the beach has left inside of it, he isn't even sure himself if he washed it all out.
Yet whenever he brings his scissors up to his hair, he can't bring himself to do it. It meant much more than being a minor inconvenience in his life, the sentimental value of it outweighed any of the bad that came with it. A comment from almost ten years ago manifested into some sort of symbol of Cove's own feelings, growing stronger and stronger yet easier to tame with every year that passes.
Still not as neat as Jaime's but hey, he's trying.
Well, here goes nothing. Cove took in a deep breath as he fumbled his hand into the pocket of his jeans, searching for the small object that has weighed him down for days now. It's gonna be really awkward if he says no but he's seen me grow through puberty. There's nothing worse than a thirteen year old me.
Jaime didn't even notice anything until Cove tapped the top of his head with the object, a silver shining key mirrored in his widened golden eyes. Cove's mouth curved into an embarrassed smile, the tip of his ears reddened as his grip on the key shook slightly. Taking in another deep breath, he turned to face Jaime properly.
"I was thinking about this for a while since you're graduating next year and all…" Cove wobbly started off, having to cough into his other fist to clear off all of his shaking nerves scratching against the inside of his throat. The hand that held the key started to sweat profusely as he tried his best to keep steady, unable to read his best friend's expression as he continued on. "You basically already live here unofficially and that will never change but-"
"Are you kidding me?! Of course I want to live with you!" Jaime cut him off before Cove had any time to reach, jumped out of his pillowy cocoon to tackle his taller friend into a strong hug. Cove squeaked in surprise whilst Jaime looked up at him with the fondest smile, his cheeks warmed from seeing him so breathtakingly gorgeous up close. "I would've lived on your couch anyways whether you like it or not. You're not getting rid of me, Cove Holden, I was paid to always look after you after all."
Cove rolled his eyes affectionately before he finally squeezed Jaime back, "Still should've asked for more. We could get take out now instead of using our hard earned cash for bills and rent."
"Of course you think about food first," Jaime snickered while he took the key out of Cove's hand, pocketed them into his own pants before he snuggled closer into his chest. "My shout for dinner tonight then. I should impress my new roommate so he keeps me longer."
The wink he sent his way doesn't go unnoticed but Cove only sighed in relief. It went over better than he thought, settled into a comfortable silence as the sun finally rested behind the horizon. He hoped Jaime couldn't hear how fast his heart beat was, it took everything in him to not bolt out of the couch and lie onto the floor.
He needs more time. It took so much of him to extend his home to Jaime, he doesn't know how he will extend his heart too. Maybe it's simpler than he's made it out to be but he wants to feel ready.
"Good morning, space cadet. How was your sleep?"
Cove only mumbled a 'good morning' in response, mostly yawned through it as he chugged his orange juice and inhaled his toast. He was up all night trying to organise the necessary forms needed for an ORCA event coming up, calculated numbers for expected patrons and finances and everything that he did not expect when he joined the organisation initially. The curses of being twenty-five years old.
Anything for the ocean.
Jaime probably felt all the exhausted vibes bouncing off of him that he dropped the usual banter, worry coated over his words that reminded him of their early times together. When Jaime used to be careful with what he said to the new kid, when he knew what he was going through and only made sure to keep him happy that summer.
"That bad?" He asked while not expecting any sort of verbal response, his hand gently caressed his cheek. Cove instinctively nuzzled into it without any thought, too tired to react and only going off on semi-autopilot. "Want me to brush your hair at least? No offence, Cove, but you like one of those bushy Christmas trees right now."
"Maybe you could hang ornaments on me so we don't need to buy one of them," Cove laughed at his own joke, tiredly smiling when he heard a snort from Jaime in response. "I'd like that, thank you. I can barely brush it myself nowadays."
Cove's hair hit the middle of his back with ease, mimicking the harsh nature of the ocean waves in the middle of a raging storm. Normally he would tie it up in a large bun, enough out of sight and out of mind to not bother him as he went about his day. He's learnt better to take care of it, Jaime having had a minor stroke in the middle of the bathroom when Cove initially explained that he thought it'd be quicker to use the 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner.
Needless to say, he knew now why his youth was filled with him tugging at his own hair with too much force.
Jaime only rolled his eyes at his bad joke, a brush seemingly whipped out of thin air and carefully working on his hair. It wasn't the first time things ended up like this. Cove recalled how stressed he was going to several interviews post-graduation, only calmed down whenever Jaime forced him to sit down and he worked whatever magic he did to his hair that made him feel infinitely more confident as he stepped out the door.
The feeling of Jaime's fingers gently parting through his hair almost lulled him back to a comforting slumber, akin to a massage as he brushed through his hair thoroughly. Cove noticed that he recently chopped off most of his hair, only left enough to comfortably leave down without needing any further styling to look good.
Cove was equal parts shocked and flustered, forcing himself to keep his eyes off the sliver of Jaime's nape whenever he had to walk past him for the first few days. Nothing had changed at all besides the new cut yet Cove always saw differently with his long-time best friend and crush. There was something different with how the expanse of skin is teased between his short locks of hair barely covering it, enticed him to stare (and perhaps wanted him to act on whatever impulse that he felt deep within his gut).
"-ve? Cove!"
Snapped out of his thoughts, he sheepishly turned back to look at Jaime. His eyebrow is raised in a silent question: Are you listening to me?
"Sorry, what were you saying? I was lost in thought…"
An exasperated sigh followed while Jaime continued to bunch up his hair in his grasp, "I was asking if you were gonna go get a haircut soon."
Oh.
Oh, not this question again.
Cove wanted to bury his hands into his face, the embarrassment of the real reason reemerged in his mind. Jaime's ten year old face comes back to view, mouthed the words that haunted him for years now. It's been twenty five years since then, the proof currently held within the palms of the very same man who still affects him largely to this day. To any other person, Cove would think they were insane to keep at their word for so long for something so miniscule like what he's doing right now.
But Jaime, he really wasn't like any other person Cove had ever met.
He couldn't count on his fingers the amount of times Jaime had been there during the hardest moments of his life or how much he's supported him throughout any choice he made for himself to proceed forward into the vast future. It scared him alot not knowing what to expect despite wanting nothing more than the freedom to change but as long as he was assured that Jaime would be right there next to him, with that same smile that Cove has embedded into his brain.
I think… I'm ready? At least to… confess to one small thing…
Cove took in a deep breath, his palms started to sweat in his lap as he fiddled with his thumbs. "W-well, you did say I looked cuter with longer hair. Might as well make myself look good infront of you…"
The air felt thick as his words trailed off into an overcompassing silence. Cove swore he could hear his own heart beating rapidly in his chest, his nails dug into the leather of the stool he was sitting on. Fidgeted with the loose threads with his fingers, he wanted to keep his head down and hunched over unassumingly but yet something compelled him to turn around and face Jaime head on.
The look on his face is not one Cove has ever seen before.
Those golden eyes of his always gave away his secrets, Cove could always read him through them. They're practically swimming in a mixture of surprise and something rare, something that always eluded him for years. Jaime kept looking at him in the quiet moments like that, almost like they're trying to reach out to him specifically, that they have a message that only he can read.
For years, he didn't want to hope. The relationship they have right now is already more than he could ask for, he's so glad everyday that they decided to keep close like always. If Jaime still wanted him as his best friend, then it's what he'll be forever for him and he'll be okay with. He never wanted to jeopardise what they already had.
Yet he always wondered what if. What if Jaime felt the same way he did? What if he dipped him down right now in the middle of the living room and kissed him, what would happen next? Would he regret it? Or would he revere it being the start of something he's always known he wanted for sure since age thirteen?
"I can't believe you still remember that-"
Cove reached out and took Jaime's hands in his as he stood up to face him properly, the brush dropped down to the floor with a 'clack' yet he paid no mind to it. He remembered that time too? After all this time? He needed to know why he still knew that, it may mean a lot to him but in the grand scheme of things in the world, it was a harmless comment Jaime said as a kid when life-altering things were only simply things like haircuts.
"Of course I remember." The confidence oozed itself out as Cove continued to maintain eye contact, never wavered for a second whilst Jaime freezed in his hold. He hasn't moved even a muscle as he slowly turned pink, edgining Cove further to continue. "I never wanted to cut my hair again after you told me that."
After a few beats passed, Jaime quietly muttered under his voice, "But why? That was so long ago… We were both kids and didn't know any better…"
He realised he needed to say more, that he needed to break down this wall he has between him and Jaime. Now. It's crumbling down in front of him the longer they're stuck in this moment, ready for him to take that next step forward. Cove can't keep letting this feeling fester inside of him, he needed Jaime to know how he really felt for him. Even if it meant being shut down, that he didn't return them, Cove needed him to know.
With a shaky breath, he locked eyes with Jaime and gripped tighter onto his hands. His palms were clammy and he must've been slightly shaking from all the nerves built up inside of him, it's been so many years of build up attempting to expel out of him like a ticking time bomb of emotions. Which isn't wrong to assume, he bit down on his lower lip to try and ground himself before he completely combusts in place.
"I c-cared a lot about what you thought of me…" Cove was sure his entire face resembled a ripe tomato, his skin burned where Jaime's fingers gently brushed across his. He couldn't stop now with Jaime's whole attention on him, feeling his gaze laced with worry and curiosity as he looked into his eyes. "Because I wanted you to like m-me, more than being f-friends. Since I like you, since way back then…"
It was out.
Jaime knew now.
Cove withdrew back to give him more space, he thought he'd need some time to process. It's a big deal after all. He cannot begin to imagine how he might feel about this bomb he dropped between them, exploding the wall in one swell swoop and left no rubble in it's wake. All he can do is wait for Jaime's answer and hope he can deal with the aftermath of it all-
"You are so fucking dumb! The dumbest man alive!"
Suddenly a warmth ran across his torso, arms winded around his front and back in a tight, bone crushing hug. Cove made out the orange from the top of Jaime's head, frozen in place unable to comprehend anything at all. His brain fried itself the moment Jaime snuggled closer into his chest, felt his hands ball themselves into fists whilst holding onto his shirt. Naturally his arms are already wound against Jaime, comfortably linked around his waist like they were always supposed to be there.
He didn't even get to ask another question, Jaime cut him off as he looked at him with a tender expression that had his throat drying from the pretty sight. "You don't go to a hair salon just so I could like you? I mean, I have no room to judge since I did the same for a while. I can't believe you remembered for this long though."
Wait… What?!
"You did the same thing? Is that why you had long hair until like this year?! Wait… Then, you like me too?! Hold on, since when-"
Jaime's light laughter instantly killed what other questions he had left in his mind and died on the tip of his tongue, Cove blushed hard looking down at dopey-smile plastered on Jaime who only looked back at him with such adoration in his eyes. His knees buckled under his intense gaze, butterflies swarmed his stomach while everything in his body kicked into overdrive.
Jaime likes him.
Jaime likes him….
Jaime likes him!
Relief is the first emotion that washed over him, followed by happiness and glee as he suddenly picked up Jaime to hug him closer in the middle of their living room. His heart felt like it finally bloomed out completely, the petals of his love revealed to the sole person they belonged to. Cove felt nothing yet everything as he cradled Jaime's face in his hands, there wasn't anything in the world that could diminish the brightness in either of their smiles.
Cove couldn't believe it at all, the only thing keeping him grounded was Jaime's hands that pulled him closer by the shoulders. All he saw is the same beautiful neighbour he got to know and grew to love for seventeen years, right in his arms like he was meant to be there all this time. He couldn't fathom it otherwise, not without Jaime staring back at him with the biggest grin on his face.
To be fair to himself, Cove was drunk on the moment and let it guide his every move. Everything needed to come out in one way or another, he held this urge to pounce for years and now he got a chance to chase it.
The urge to get closer thumped harder in his chest as his hands gently brought up Jaime's face until they were merely a breath away from each other. Cove noticed how rapidly the expressions changed on Jaime's face, from light confusion to mild surprise and ending on a reassuring chuckle. The hands travelled upwards to loop themselves around Cove's neck, the weight of what comes next doesn't seem so daunting.
It was easy.
When his eyes shut and closed the little gap between them, it felt like ecstasy. Jaime's lips were chapped and Cove could taste the hint of minty toothpaste left from when he brushed his teeth yet he didn't care, in fact he revelled in it. Desperate to earn back all the time he could've been kissing Jaime, he pulled him in impossibly closer, smiled lightly into the kiss when he felt Jaime's gasp quivered against his lips.
Cove didn't want to pull away, he hadn't even begun to feel like he was done, but his lungs begged for air. Begrudgingly he sulked as he let Jaime go, snuggled his face into the crook of his neck as he moved his arms to keep him close. He doesn't want to let go of him at all, not when he has a whole load of catching up to do now with Jamie and his mouth.
"Come on, Cove," Jaime laughed as he tried to pry Cove's arms away from his waist, he shook his head when he wouldn't budge even a little from the force. "I said I was gonna tie up your hair, wasn't I? Don't you want your boyfriend to tie it up?"
"Boyfriend?" Cove beamed from the word, bolted straight up with pleading eyes at Jaime. "We're boyfriends now, right? I want to be at least…"
Jaime took the time to plant another quick gentle kiss on Cove's lips, smirking at how much more flustered he was this time, "We are. I want to be too. Now please let me tie up your hair, it's an absolute mess still-"
Instead of listening, Cove pulled him down onto the couch with him following in tow. A yelp could be heard but Cove brushed it aside in his mind, all focus trained onto Jaime underneath him. His olive cheeks are painted a light pink, his lips parted as he started to breath heavily from the impact, his gaze not meeting his while he tried to cover his face.
Leaning down, Cove breathed one last remark before he dove down hungry for more.
"I'll get a haircut later."