Work Text:
“Austin.. Austin..”
As Austin dozed on the couch, he could have sworn the voice he was hearing was an ethereal being. Just familiar enough to be comfortable, but distant and whimsical. He smiled a bit in his sleep imagining it.
X sighed, and shook him vigorously, her voice taking on a more scolding tone as she woke him.
“Austin! You just missed, like, the best part of the movie!”
“H- huh? What?” Austin stuttered, his eyes blinking open uncomfortably. He carded his fingers through his hair sheepishly.
“Oh, yeah, I was just resting my eyes, y'know,” he said, making a point to ignore X’s disbelieving eyebrow raise. “It's ah. Been a long day, yeah?”
“But you've been waiting to see this movie for months! I know we've done a lot today, but surely you could stay awake for this one!” She insisted, shaking his shoulders dramatically, causing his glasses to briefly fall to the edge of his nose.
“Yeah, I have..” he acknowledged, pushing his glasses back up. It was the new Superman movie that had premiered recently—and although at first he was skeptical of the new actor’s talent (after all, not just anyone could be Superman), he was pretty pleased.
… With what he had seen of the movie, at least. He couldn't quite stay entirely focused on it. He kept dozing off, and eventually he had fallen asleep leaning on X’s shoulder as she played with his hair absentmindedly.
“Then why did you fall asleep?” She questioned, tilting her head to the side like a confused puppy, “Surely you can't be that tired. All we did was go bowling and downtown with Ilya! Be honest with me—was the street vendor's food so bad that you're sick and dying now?”
Austin laughed, pushing her away gently, but not fully. He still took her hand on his own and squeezed it in a reassuring manner. He would never get sick of her sense of humor—how her neuroticism matched his own down to earth demeanor. Though he supposed that maybe there was some validity to the statement that opposites attract.
“No, X, it’s not that,” he shook his head, a small amused smile playing at his lips, “Though I’ll admit, that food was pretty bad. I can’t say it made me feel good. It’s just..”
He hesitated, struggling to put words to the feeling. But he wanted to think about what he was going to say fully. Besides, he knew how patient X was with him. She would never interrupt or cut him off snappily.
“I don’t know. It was.. nice, going downtown and stuff, but I..” he cut himself off, his voice fading into a dull mumble as his last words came out hushed and garbled. X sighed, giving him a sweet smile before cupping his face in her hands.
“But you..?” She prodded, gently rubbing her thumbs on his cheeks, “I won’t be mad, Austin. Go ahead.”
He sank into her hands, finding comfort in the warm touch. He almost just wanted to brush it off, claim that he was okay, all so he didn’t have to move from her embrace. But he understood that wasn’t what she would want. So instead of doing that, he used her touch the way one would with liquid courage and opened up.
“Well.. we spent a lot of time out with the others, right?” He noted, with her nodding in confirmation, “Even with the movie and stuff.. They only left an hour ago, you know? And for my birthday and all, I was.. Kinda hoping we’d get to spend more of it with just the two of us..”
Although his voice once again faded out somewhat as he concluded his statement, he was proud of himself for being able to express his thoughts. And it seemed that X felt similarly, as the smile on her face only grew. She squeezed his cheeks once again reassuringly, before pulling him into a tight hug.
“Aw, honey, why didn’t you say so before? We could’ve ditched those guys a long time ago,” she chuckled. However, there was a hint of guilt in her voice. “I just figured it would have been something you’d like.”
“X, don’t feel bad. I should have spoken up,” he shook his head, feeling bad for potentially working his partner up.
“No, I should have noticed. That’s kinda my responsibility, yeah?” she rolled her eyes, pulling out of the hug. Though there was still a trace of worry in her expression, it was quickly replaced with a blaze of determination. Austin knew what she was like---once she got her mind set on something, there was no talking her out of it.
And based on the look in her eyes alone, he could tell she was thinking up some kind of plan already.
“But don’t worry, love! The night’s not over yet!” she grinned, swiftly taking him by the hands and hoisting him out of the bed. Though he was taller than her, she still always managed to find the strength to pull him up. He honestly thought the effort she put into subtle gestures like that to be adorable, even if he’d never say something so blase aloud.
“In fact, I think I know just the perfect thing we can do. There’s this place I’ve been meaning to take you lately that you are going to love,” she gestured with her thumb to their apartment’s door, and Austin’s eyes flickered to it curiously. Typically she didn’t wait to take him places; she’d just sorta drag him along.
What could it possibly be?
“What’s so special about it-?” He tried to question, though he was interrupted by X making a shushing noise and holding a finger to his lips.
“Why don’t we keep it a surprise, yeah?” She smiled innocently, though the mischief in her eyes was evident, “Surprises are always more fun! And I know how much you loveeeee them.”
She said the last part sarcastically, earning her an eyeroll. He pushed away her finger, though he entwined their fingers together instead of removing it entirely.
“Yeah. You know me. Famous for my love of surprises and all things fun.”
“Aw, you’re so cute when you’re snippy!” She cooed, bopping him on his freckled nose with her free hand. He wasn’t caught off guard by the action, as he had at this point long since grown used to her small acts of affection, but his nose twitched in turn and he sneezed softly.
“Pfft, you sneeze like a kitten,” she teased, her snickering resulting in an embarrassed flush forming on Austin’s cheeks.
“No I don’t,” he said, using a powerful technique he liked to call lying. Though X paid this no mind, instead taking the time to drag him out the door rather than responding. She giggled, sending him a look of adoration and humor, before looking back ahead and continuing on her way.
He stumbled after her, one foot after the other as they made their way down their apartment’s hall and down the stairway. It wasn’t until they reached the lobby at the bottom when Austin realized something.
“Hey, shouldn’t we have like.. Put on shoes?” He questioned, finally taking note of how the cool concrete felt against his bare feet. She just turned back to him and shook her head, the self-assured smile still plastered on her face.
“Oh trust me, where we’re going we won’t need shoes,” she said mysteriously, pushing open the lobby’s front door with a forceful shove.
Wow.. she really isn’t giving up this whole surprise angle, is she? Austin thought, adjusting his glasses so they weren’t falling off the bridge of his nose, Honestly it’s cute..
Feeling the cool night air against his skin, he suppressed a shiver; it wasn’t particularly cold out, but he was still just in a tee-shirt and basketball shorts. Even though he lived in a place that was warmer during fall months, he wasn’t sure he’d ever get fully used to the feeling of cool air. He much preferred wearing long sleeve tees and jeans, thank you very much.
X seemed to notice this, and she turned back to look at him, a subtle challenge in her gaze.
“Aw, is poor little Austin cold?” She chuckled, trying not to sound too teasing, “So you want to borrow my jacket?”
“I’m not cold, nor am I little,” he snorted, lying once again. Though he knew she wouldn’t be too hurt by it; she could see past his stubborn facade better than anyone, after all.
“Also, you’re smaller than me. Wouldn’t your jacket look.. Y’know, silly on me?” He pointed out, though X just scoffed at the obvious fact laid out in front of her.
“No way. You’d look adorable in any of my clothes, no matter what they were,” she confidently stated, pausing in her tracks to put one hand on her hip and point the other at Austin’s chest.
“Oh… anything?” He hummed, raising an eyebrow as he thought of the potential meanings that wording could have taken, “I mean… I wouldn’t be opposed--”
“Pfft, you know what I meant silly,” she shoved him lightly, laughing at his classic dirty mindedness, “Leave it to you to always bring it to that, huh? No.. we’ll save something like that for later, hm?”
She winked at him pseudo-seductively, though she came short in her attempt to look sexy as she was still wearing her pink and white cartoon cat shirt, and her makeup was slightly smudged. Austin chuckled, deciding to let the topic rest for now. After all, he was curious to see what her surprise was. And something told him that going down that path of lustful fantasy would derail that plan.
“I’ll hold you to it,” he shook his head, taking her hand again. He nodded, insinuating that he was ready to be led to whatever place she wanted to take him. She smiled giddily, almost as if she had forgotten the reason they were out there in the first place. X’s airheadedness never ceased to amuse him; it was one of the many reasons he was endeared to her in the first place.
They began walking again, Austin slowly getting used to the night’s air and feeling of grass on his feet, and X humming along to a tune that wasn’t really playing. They had taken a turn off the main road to their apartment, X slowly bringing him down a trail in the woods nearby. He raised an eyebrow.
“You know, if I didn’t know you any better I’d think you were taking me out here to murder me,” he commented bluntly. He knew these woods relatively well; they were small, and connected to a main hiking trail in their town’s park. Though as he walked on, he was beginning to realize that he recognized the area he was in less and less.
“Ha, you wish. If I murdered you, whose mustache would I get to admire and kiss on?” X smirked, never one to not tease back at his blunt remarks.
“Touche,” he relented, holding up his free hand in a form of non-confrontational apology. She hummed smugly, knowing that she had won the short lived battle between them on whether or not she was trying to kill him.
“Though.. If I were to be killed by anyone, I’d rather it’d be you,” Austin said quietly, almost to himself, “Is that bad, do you think? It’s, y’know.. I just wouldn’t want it to be anyone else doing it.”
“Do you really mean that?” She cooed, holding a hand to her heart in awe, “That is so cute, love. I’d want for you to kill me too, if I had a choice in the matter! Though I think we both know you’d never be able to go through with it.”
Austin nodded in solemn agreement. It was true---he’d let her kill him a thousand times over, and never even lift a hand in retaliation. He couldn’t imagine a world where he’d fight back against her, even at the cost of his own life. She was just.. Too perfect, too beautiful, too--
“Love, am I losing you again? Do I need to go all the way back home and get the spray bottle?” She snapped her fingers in front of his face a few times, getting him to blink his eyes back to reality. He shook his head, giving her a small but reassuring smile. And this time, opposed to earlier, it was genuine.
“I still don’t know why Ilya thought that was a good idea for a birthday gift,” he murmured, always fascinated by his friend’s supposed sense of ‘humor’. This year for his birthday, he was given a spray bottle full of water and labeled ‘wakey wakey, Austin’ in black sharpie. He still couldn’t figure out if it was intended to be a joke, or if his friend actually thought his disassociating was so bad that he needed to get sprayed with water just to get him to stop.
“But no. I’m alright. Really.”
“Okay. I trust you,” She nodded in turn, deciding not to press him on this. After all, they were getting close to their destination. The last thing she needed was for either of them to smile before they could conclude what (she hoped) would end up being the best birthday of his life.
Once again she gently dragged him by the hand, though this time he didn't stumble. He was safe. He was with her, and he knew she'd never lead him astray.
Eventually, the path—which had previously been narrow and covered in weeds and shrubs—widened out, opening to a clearing that Austin had never seen before. At first glance, it just seemed like a random field, but when he glanced upwards at the sky, his eyes widened.
It was a beautiful array of stars, glimmering white amongst a night sky that blended blue, black and a deep purple.
“Woah..” he murmured, in awe of the sight before him. He and X lived in what was usually a city with lights that never fully shut off. So to see such pretty stars, in such a secluded field was..
“Beautiful, right?” X smiled, finishing his thoughts for him. She always knew what he was thinking, and this time was no different. Her expression was soft, for once lacking the tease that tended to stick most often.
“Yeah.. it is, isn't it?” He agreed, still perplexed by the beauty in front of him. He looked back at X, a soft glow emanating from her tan skin and turning her typically pale hair a dusty lilac.
“Though.. as beautiful as it is, y'know...” he murmured, wrapping his arms around the shorter woman and pulling her into a tight hug. He buried his face in her hair, inhaling her sweet scent like it was the most intoxicating thing on Earth. His voice was muffled, but in an open field where the only sounds were the quiet chirps of cicadas and hum of the breeze, his voice rang clear in her ears.
“It doesn't hold a candle to your beauty, X. I mean that.”
The words were simple and sweet, something that you'd likely hear in a cheesy romance flick, but something in them caused X’s heart to stir in her chest. Austin was a very flighty person; someone who could be snippy and sarcastic, but struggled to say things sincerely. Not the way X could, at least.
But this.. his words were soft, not a trace of sardonicism to be heard. He didn't just mean everything he said. He felt it too.
“O-oh, was that too much? I didn't mean to get too real..” he quickly stammered, feeling a newfound wetness on his shoulder. He pulled back to look at her, somewhat expecting tears and a glare, but all he saw was the brightest smile from X that he had seen in a long time. And though her eyes were damp, he instantly recognized that it wasn't from pain or despair.
She had just felt his words as deeply as he did.
Swift as a fox, X wrapped her arms around Austin again, finding the strength to spin him around in a moment of impossible bliss.
“Austin, you're a real sweetheart, you know that?” She laughed, the playful alto of her voice mesmerizing to his ears, “You had me crying there, love! But.. I didn't mind it. Not really.”
She slowed down her excitable spinning when she realized that Austin was beginning to get nauseous from the swirl he was in. She chuckled amusedly, dusting off his shoulders lightly.
He was beautiful too, she realized. She had always thought so, of course, but.. tonight was different. Maybe it was the way the stars reflected in his glasses, making his eyes a constellation of love and longing. Or maybe it was the drinks that they had shared earlier, both bitter and sweet at the same time.
It didn't matter what the reason was. All that mattered was that she really wanted to kiss him.
Without warning, she tackled him, smashing her face against his in a motion that was messy yet gentle. Her hands tangled themselves in his hair, wrapping around him as though he were the only stable force left in the world.
Austin quickly followed suit once he got over the mild surprise of being kissed so suddenly, holding one arm to her waist and the other to her shoulder. He kissed back with equal force, feeling the way her tongue lightly brushed against his lips, a subtle ask for invitation. Without hesitating, he obliged, allowing her saliva to intertwine with his. She tasted familiar; the taste of the drinks they had earlier were obvious, as well as the pasta that they had gotten from the street vendor.
Austin gripped her tightly, like an anchor in a world that he was always left adrift in. The stars danced overhead them, a silent yet watchful audience for two people who could never trust anybody as much as they trust each other.
They pulled apart for breath, a small trail of saliva still connecting their mouths. X smiled, disconnecting herself and wiping it away from her face. Her breathing was heavy, as was Austin's. They could both feel each other's hearts beating in sync, connecting them even when their mouths weren't.
“Happy birthday, Austin,” she said softly, lightly booping him on the nose again. He flinched lightly, but laughed quietly along with her.
He was glad that she had asked him to speak up. Had she not, this birthday would have just been another day that came and went.
But he was with just her now. His girlfriend, his life partner. His anchor.
“Now..” she continued, her classic playful smirk returning to her face as she leaned back in, “Kiss me again, will you, love?”
And Austin was happy to oblige.