(no subject)

[iwasmore]

Noah wakes up to something warm tucked up against his neck, under his chin. Without opening his eyes he reaches to feel for whatever it is, and discovers fur. It's followed by a tiny mew. That's a sound Noah recognizes, and he opens his eyes, still groggy and sleep-muddled. Even recognizing the meow, it's still a shock when he picks it up and moves it to see a small ball of grey fur in front of his face. The kitten bites his hand, a futile effort for something so little, and all Noah can do is gape. Carefully, he props himself up on his side to get a better look. There's a familiar feel to the kitten, and he realizes he recognizes what it is. The kitten isn't alive. It's a ghost, like him.

"Where did you come from?" he asks in awe, as the kitten just gazes up at him with big yellow eyes. Noah's own eyes well up with tears, because he already knows, and he knows it means the kitten is especially for him.

Quickly, but with care, Noah gets out of bed, picking the kitten up and tucking it against his chest. He carries the kitten out of his bedroom and into the common room. "Ronan?" he calls, needing to make sure.

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[iwasmore]

Noah promptly re-positions himself a little and drapes his legs across Ronan's lap. "No," he admits, remembering his conversation with Freddie about what a bad friend he's been. He wonders not for the first time if he should drop his job at the dispensary now that he's taking classes to free up some time, but he really likes it there.

"We could go see it later, if you aren't busy. And I could help. Do you need any?"

[thedreamthief]

Swallowing his sip, Ronan lowers his hand to rest it on Noah's leg, the butt of the bottle nudging his shin as he gives an easy shrug.

"Not too much to do any more," he admits, settling his other hand on Noah's bare foot, curling around the arch. "Might need help dragging the kids over in a few weeks though if you want to help there."

[iwasmore]

Noah wiggles his toes, hoping to elicit a foot rub from Ronan.

"Of course I'll help," he says, wondering exactly how they're going to do that, especially with Cinnamon. A U-Haul, maybe? But the feeling that he isn't doing enough still nags. "I'd be happy to help with anything."

[thedreamthief]

Ronan answers with a light squeeze before turning his wrist enough to rub his thumb into the arch of Noah's foot.

"I know you've got class and shit," he says then, honestly not too bothered if Noah pitches or not. It's been almost entirely Ronan's project aside from Adam's help at the start. He's the only one of them without anything else to do, after all. He doesn't mind it. "But once it's done, you'll have a new place to do homework or whatever if you want it."

[iwasmore]

Noah makes a soft sound without meaning to, but even that one gentle movement feels so good.

It's also a relief to hear that Ronan doesn't mind that he hasn't been doing any of the heavy work. "That will be nice," he says with a smile, relaxing back against the couch pillows. "Is there a fireplace? It's almost winter."

[thedreamthief]

It's only a quick, quiet sound, but Ronan falters briefly, forcing himself not to acknowledge it or the affect it has on him before he continues giving Noah's foot another squeeze.

"Yeah," he replies none too proudly. "In the main room. A real one, too. Well, dreamed to be real at least. Takes wood, all that shit." For a moment, he's tempted to lay down a rule that Noah's not allowed to bring anyone there. Mostly Freddie. But he manages to bite it back, to swallow it down. Despite how much the idea of that shitstain stepping foot in his farmhouse makes his blood boil.

[iwasmore]

Noah hums appreciatively, but purses his mouth in protest when the foot rub is, again, just a tease. He nudges Ronan in the side with his other foot, a tiny smile forming.

"That sounds nice," he says on a sigh. He won't invite anyone, not to Ronan's house. He doesn't say so, doing his best not to reply to thoughts, though part of him wants to reassure Ronan. Instead he judges nudges at Ronan again with his foot. "We can make s'mores inside. Roast hot dogs. Um. Pop corn in one of those pop corn tins?"

[thedreamthief]

With a grunt, Ronan squirms against the press of Noah's other foot before grabbing it and setting it with the other across his lip, one thumb still digging into Noah's arch.

"Yeah, all that shit," Ronan agrees with a faint smile, glancing over at Noah then. He likes the idea of all of that, if he's honest. With Adam and Noah both. With Gansey if he can bother to be around. "Tell ghost stories," he adds with a wider grin as gives Noah's big toe a yank. "Or is that racist?"