"Hey, you're fine?" Alec slightly raised brows and leaned slightly forward, almost completely half-irritated sigh from Vince. Well, Alec usually truly tried to respect his boyfriend's strong desire to appear stoic, calm and confident even when Vince was pretty clearly unwell, but had no intention of showing it. He guessed, it was sort of a game where they both trusted each other, but still were too new and awkward in their relationship to act and feel absolutely comfortable and both felt not quite sure that they should insist on getting closer.
But tonight Vince definitely felt worse than usual, tossing his pasta around the plate and hardly eating even half of it while usually it was his favourite position in his favourite restraunt. And that was odd.
"Yeah, sunshine" Vince's lip corners raised a bit - weekly and not too convincing, but clearly asking not to dwelve into this topic "I'm just lost in my thoughts a bit, nothing to worry about. Sorry for acting distracted with how carefully you planed this date"
"You sure you don't want to go? If you feel unwell or anything, we can head home and spent time there..... Together or separated, surely. If you kinda want to be alone.... Okay, I'm not asking"
"No, it's fine, I swear. I shouldn't ruin the night you wanted so much. How's the book I've gifted you? I hope you liked it, I'm still not too aware of your literature tastes" Vince smiled brighter and warmer for a few seconds, then slightly shifting and shoving another fork of pasta into his mouth.
"Oh, it's fantastic, you must read it, or I'll never forgive you for committing that sin!" Alec bit his lip, immediately starting chattering about characters ("Allan is so close to me, you can even imagine? That's absolutely fantastic, like the author knew me!), language and how Vince was obliged now to read that book too so Alec was able to associate them with the main couple. And Vince laughed with him, and promised to read (even if they knew he unlikely will) and asked more and more, and Alec completely melted, shifting his chair closer to lean on Vince's shoulder and murmur something like "what a miracle you are in my life" and "I love youuuuu so much". Vince shifted, for a second closing eyes, but only shook head at Alec's confused gaze - a silent plea not to ask more. Surely, Alec didn't, just ordered ice cream for himself. Surely, more than half of his portion was fed to Vince.
"My heart, you're pale" another ten minutes later, Alec confirmed, slightly frowning as well, and pulling Vince's hand "I don't care what you say, we're heading home" he lowered voice to almost whisper "You don't feel good, right? Sure you can walk on your own? We could take taxi or I could carry you there. Maybe you have some sort of fever or cold or..." That sentence was interrupted by a wet, clearly upset gurgle as Vince immediately blushed
"Don't pamper me" he almost scoffed "I can handle minor stomach ache, I don't.... I mean I can get home, okay? It's a shame to act like that in front of everyone, I'm not a baby to be that sensitive" even with such words, Vince's hands slightly and almost unnoticeably wrapped around his distended - goddess, and how Alec could be so blind?! - stomach in half soothing, half protecting gesture "it's fine. Just something's not sitting right, not that much of a deal, I swear" he flinched as Alec's hand rested on top of his stomach "Just don't touch me" Vince almost exhaled - and Alec heard familiar tones of close tears.
"Shhh, my heart" the smile was as reassuring as Alec could manage, melting over how cute Vince was again and again. He planted a soft kiss on Vince's lips, wrapping both arms around his neck and resting forehead against other's "How you feel? You see, everyone else will just think that we're whispering some romantic things, okay? It's not too much to sit in an embrace on a date, right?"
Vince moved his head, burying face in Alec's shoulder and slightly, almost impossibly to feel, nodded. He still was shy and tried to act like nothing ever bothered him, Alec perfectly got it, not used to being all touchy with someone else, but right now Vince looked miserable and that mattered much more. "I'll touch you, okay?" another nod, letting Alec's hand rest on top of Vince's stomach - and even to such light and soft touch it answered with a deep, wet and unwell gurgle, followed by a stiffled burp that escaped Vince's lips
"I'm so sorry, I know it's gross, I just, I couldn't help myself" Vince murmured softly and almost whiney, even his ears burning with shame "I didn't want to ruin our date"
"It's fine" Alec pressed his lips to his boyfriend's temple, softly patting his stomach and smiling a bit "Wait for me in the toilet room, okay? I'll just pay and then find you there. And take care of that sensitive tummy of yours" he lovingly teased with a chuckle "It's fine. You're not gross, you're even a bit cute"
"What a pervert you are, Al" Vince leaned back, still holding his stomach, but nodded "I can handle that, you don't need to... But still thanks" he swallowed another burp "I hate how attentive you sometimes are, you know?"
"I know. And you know that you're pretty adorable like that?"
"Shut up" Vince sharply (at least as he could) turned back, heading to the toilets with the same unreadable expression he always had when felt vulnerable - Alec had already learned that one. Maybe, one day his heart would stop because of sheer amount of love he felt towards his absolutely best partner. And he wouldn't even mind such death if Vince understood the reason, really.
Vince was standing in front of the sink and the mirror, eyes shut, teeth clenched and face, hands and even shirt on his chest wet. As Alec's arms wrapped around his frame from behind, Vince flinched and tried to straighten his back. All his efforts to appear fine died as the slightest pressure on his middle made him moan and grab Alec's hands, stopping from any other motions.
"Please, don't. It hurts" he leaned back on Alec, deeply breathing "You really don't feel disgusted, sunshine? You don't have to..."
"No, I don't feel disgusted" Alec smiled, almost dying on the inside from the mere thought of Vince ever thinking this way "I could never be disgusted by you, I swear. Come here" he planted another soft kiss on Vincent's shoulder, softly pulling him towards the nearest cabin and locking the door behind them both. Now they stood like that, Vince's back pressed against the door, Alec's hands on his stomach and they both flushed and almost unable to look at each other. They still never were that close. Alec didn't feel completely comfortable at being touched and Vince just wasn't a touchy person at all. Maybe, they also fell awkward to touch the person who, as they thought, would never even look at them.
"You're bloated" Alec finally whispered, leaning to kiss Vince once more, but stopping and just breathing out into his lips "I guess that belt and shirt must feel pretty uncomfortable, you know? I just...." He blushed again "Can I..? Please. I'll be careful not to touch you harshly"
"Yes, please. My sunshine. I'm sorry"
"Don't be. It's fine, remember?" his stomach was firm to touch and almost doubled in size, what made undoing all clothes harder than Alec initially thought - at least when he tried to be careful and still made Vince flinch and bite lower lip for several times. For each Alec apologized with a soft kiss and a few seconds of simply holding palms over his skin and even like that feeling and hearing churning underneath. Each button was a struggle to undo; clothes that usually perfectly fitted Vince's slim figure were too small now and Alec's hands were shaking every time Vince showed the slightest sign of pain.
"Better?" he finally undone the buttonnon jeans, pulling them lower on Vince's hips. After a nod, his fingers softly traced aggressively red marks on the other man's stomach, left by all that too tight clothes and pressure. It was still taut and round, and Alec softly patted it, which was immediately followed by another burp, that Vince didn't succeed in suppressing "I can feel all that food being churned in there. It must hurt pretty bad, I'm sure, your poor tummy doesn't sound good even a slightest bit. I guess it's so, so angry at you, right? Why did you not call me to cancel the date? Or at least spend this day at home, where you could take meds and wear something comfortable?"
"You wanted that date. I couldn't say no and I thought it wouldn't be that much of a trouble for you. I didn't want to upset you, you were so happy about it" he groaned once more, as he tried to clench stomach, but was stopped by Alec's hands "I'm gross, disgusting and weak right now. Why you're doing all that?"
"Because I love you. Please, show me where it hurts, okay?" Vince all stiffened and turned his face away, but hesistantly grabbed Alec's palm and softly placed it right under his ribs "Here? Okay. I'll try to make it better, I promise, my heart. I love you so, so damn much. Can you tell me how you feel? No need to vomit? Or like anything that you can imagine?"
"No, not like that. It's all just doesn't sit right. From the morning. And I think the food I ate recently didn't help that at all. It hurts awfully, sunshine. It's unbearable now, I wanted to make you happy, but we ended like that and it's... That's not what I wanted. It hurts, like its stretched too much and churning and spasming and I just... It doesn't feel like it's properly digesting, but I don't think I could make it come out either" he almost whined, embracing Alec and pressing himself closer, as close as he could, leaning heavily and with face wet from tears "I hate it, I hate it, I hate it. Sorry, sorry, I just want it to stop" he breathed out, pressing his belly into Alec's palms "Could you... Rub it a bit? Maybe it'll help... And your hands. They are warm, you know? It's pleasant and it all just hurts so much"
"Sure, my heart. You're so, so strong and brave, okay? Thanks for trying to make me happy. And let all that air out. Please. Your tummy is stretched and you both are not enjoying that" he pressed slightly, moving hands in slow round motions, firmer rubs followed by gentle caressing or light pats. Maybe, he only imagined, but it almost felt like everything inside Vince slowly started to move a bit, his breath and standing becoming more relaxed as Alec softly worked on all sore spots "You feel any better, honey?"
"A bit. It's more bearable, but all I want now is taking off all that clothes and cuddling with you for the whole night. Can we go home?"
"I'll call for the taxi, don't worry. Can you handle a short drive home? And I promise there I'll bring you some warm tea and won't take hands off untill you feel fine again" Vince nodded, trying to breathe deeper and steadier and still not letting Alec's neck
"Just a few more minutes like that, okay? I'll walk on my own, just a bit later. And I love you"
(My first attempt at writing something like that, hope you like both it and my sweet boys!! They have their lore, so if you want I may answer questions about them or make a post with general information.
