(14. Boyfriend, 826 words)Ā @hollanovmicrofic
If Ilyaās being honest with himself, he never pictured what itād look like to have a long-term relationship. His life always felt like it was moving too fast in order to settle down, he never considered people he hooked up with to be someone whoād stick around longer than the sheets cooling. Even with Svetlana, when they were consistently sleeping with one another, a part of him wondered if heād just wake up one day and sheād stop messaging him. That sheād stop caring. Relationships always felt like something out of reach, something he convinced himself he wasnāt interested in. He was too busy, too lazy, too fussyāwhy have one of something when he could have many? Too unlovable. Too scared.Ā
He never pictured being someoneās boyfriend because he didnāt consider himself someone who could be good at it. In turn, who would want to be with someone like him? Who would want to be his girlfriend or boyfriend when they peeled back the mask he always wore and saw what was underneath? A gruesome painting hidden in someoneās attic. A haunted house. Something broken.Ā
Shane, as his boyfriend, has never once looked at him like that.Ā
Shane never treats him like heās too muchāno matter what emotion he might be embracing. Even if itās something wholeheartedly ridiculous.Ā
Ilya lifts his foot in the air as he stands on the patio, a huff leaving his lips as he tries to squint in the sun to see the damage. This is what he gets for caring about the variety of animals that live around the cottageāheās pretty sure a dog would never do this to him butā
A frog ribbits from where Ilya set it on a rock near the lake before jumping right in. He narrows his eyes at it, āYes, you are welcome.āĀ
āAre you arguing with that frog again?āĀ
Ilya turns his head to look up at his boyfriend, leaning his hip against one of the patio chairs because he doesnāt want to put his foot down. āNo.ā Then, āHe keeps getting stuck in flower pot.āĀ
Shane smiles a little, āMaybe he wants to live there, Ilya.āĀ
āHeās too fat to live there, Shane. Ribbits all night in distress.āĀ
āOh, so you speak frog now?āĀ
Ilya crinkles his nose, waving his hand at him, āWell no more rescues because now Iām injured.āĀ
Shane gives him a onceover before taking a few steps closer, attempting to figure out what heās being dramatic about, āIāll call the paramedics immediately.āĀ
āThere is large splinter in my foot.ā Ilya whines, bending his knee to try and get a good look at the pad of his foot again.Ā
He nearly loses his balance and Shaneās hand comes down on his waist to steady him, āAlright, cāmon. Letās go inside and take a look.āĀ
Ilya pouts, āCarry me.āĀ
Shane snorts, āCome on. Big baby.ā But his voice is warm and soothing as his hand slides down Ilyaās spine and back up to massage the muscles near his shoulders.Ā
āYes,ā Ilya agrees, wobbling inside and making his way to the couch. He plops into the corner, waiting for Shane to come back with the first-aid kit. āYour big baby.āĀ
His boyfriend hooks his fingers around Ilyaās chin, drawing him into a soft kiss that confirms that statement before he sits on the coffee table. He digs through the first-aid kit for tweezers before picking Ilyaās ankle up and examining his foot. He squints at his skin, drawing his thumb down the arch in one fluid motionā
And Ilya nearly kicks him, āOstanavlivat'sya.ā He huffs.Ā
Shane grinsā āStop? Are you ticklish here and never told me?āĀ
āIām about to lose my foot and this is how I am treated?āĀ
A chuckle sounds out of Shaneās throat, āOh my god.ā He doesnāt tickle him again but he does hold his foot closer, trying to find the splinter Ilyaās talking about. Thenā¦ āOkay hereā¦ā He purses his lips, āYou know what? Youāre right, we mise well just amputate. Canāt be saved.āĀ
Ilya covers his face with one hand, āI knew it. Justāouch!ā Shane pulls the splinter right out, a smug look on his face when Ilyaās gaze falls to him again.Ā
āThis is the tiniest splinter I have ever seen.āĀ
āLzhets,ā Ilya shoves at Shaneās knee with his other foot. āGood thing you are not real doctor, terrible bedside manner.āĀ
Shane smirks, setting the tweezers down in the first-aid lid. He does grab a small antiseptic wipe and very gently (with much care and affection thatās obvious in his hands) cleans where the splinter was before pressing a kiss to the top of Ilyaās foot.Ā
āDonāt need a band-aid, I think.ā Shane raises his eyebrows, closing the first-aid box.Ā
Ilya purses his lips, āThink the kisses have healed me, maybe one more.ā He hooks his fingers onto Shaneās shirt, tugging until heās leaning over him on the couch, their lips joining in a smile.Ā
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