backdated for Frederick

[iwasmore]

Noah feels really guilty that his present to Freddie is late. He's seen firsthand how sucky a birthday can be here away from family and friends, and while some are lucky enough to have people from home in Darrow, Freddie isn't one of them. Though, Noah can't help wondering if there's even a person he misses badly. Every now and then he'll catch Freddie thinking of someone, but he's never brought them up.

Anyway, he's late because Whiskers had to be old enough to leave the care he was getting at the shelter. Noah couldn't have expected Freddie to bottle feed a kitten around the clock, he doesn't even know if Freddie will want a kitten at all, so he had to wait until Whiskers was ready.

And he's so not telling Freddie that that's her name, because it's super unoriginal.

So Noah has As Of Yet Unnamed Kitten tucked into a small basket underneath a blanket to keep her warm from the cold. He knocks at Freddie's apartment door, hoping he's home. He hadn't texted or anything first, wanting to make up for the belated gift by making it a surprise. "Special delivery!" he calls in a high-pitched voice.

Comments

[thisfaceismine]

Noah's laugh isn't harsh or cruel in any way, but Freddie flinches all the same and stares down at his hands. It might be what he wants, but it's still not a fair thing to request. Noah's set up his boundaries and is in love with someone else; just because it's Freddie's birthday doesn't mean he can ignore that.

So he shakes his head.

"Don't even know what I want," he says, putting that thought into words for the first time before finishing off his beer with one last swallow.

[iwasmore]

"It's not that I don't want to," Noah starts to say, but stops before continuing. He just doesn't want Freddie to think he's not desirable, but he probably already knows he is, at least in that aspect. He can't not know how attracted Noah is to him.

"You don't have to have everything figured out," Noah adds, changing the subject. He suspects Freddie means more than just him or sex, and more than just his birthday. He thinks about what Freddie likes, what makes him happy, and smiles. "How about you take an art course with me this summer?"

[thisfaceismine]

Some part of Freddie believes that, but it's all also fucked up in his head. Because Noah's in love with someone else and Freddie's available, but Freddie also has no fucking clue how to be in a relationship even if he wants one and maybe he could try with Noah, but maybe he'd just fuck it all up again and Noah deserves someone good for a change. Someone who can give him everything he wants.

His lips curve into a deeper frown when Noah changes the subject, though it's only a slight change, really. "What sort of art course?" he asks because that's not something he's considered before. He hasn't taken any class at all since uni. For a number of reasons.

[iwasmore]

Noah doesn't say anything at all, not wanting to make it about him. But it's not like anyone is lining up to date him. It's not like anyone ever has. Who's ever been interested in him? A couple girls in high school because he was friends with Barrington Whelk, a guy who ended up interested in literally everyone else, his best friend who's already with someone, and...Freddie, who's interested in literally everyone else, too, or at least sleeping with them. Freddie practically had a heart attack when he thought he'd asked him out on a date, so that's answer enough.

Noah still wants to be Freddie's friend because he cares about him, more than he wishes he did, but he's not holding his breath for anything else.

"I don't know, anything. Whatever you like. Drawing, or painting, photography," he suggests.

[thisfaceismine]

The trouble is, once again, Freddie doesn't know what he wants. He'd been into art back in secondary, enough that Sir had encouraged him into architecture. Which hadn't panned out, obviously. But even at uni, he'd liked some of his courses. Art history and drawing. He's never done photography, but there's something appealing in that as well.

"You're in school for it, aren't you?" he asks because he's fairly sure he remembers that. "What d'you want to take?"

[iwasmore]

"No, man, this is about you," Noah says, jabbing a finger (softly) at Freddie's chest. Which is slightly difficult since he has Freddie sitting against his own chest so the position is all wrong. "What do you want to take? Because I'll take whatever."

Noah wasn't actually planning on taking any summer courses, he doesn't even know if Barton offers them to be honest, but if it doesn't then the community college will and they can take something there.

[thisfaceismine]

It's not a particularly hard poke, but Freddie reaches up to wrap his hand loosely around Noah's finger and holds on. They're still pressed together and it's strangely comfortable. This isn't a thing he does often, touch normally reserved for the bedroom or activities leading up to the bedroom. Rarely for just... sitting and talking.

For friends.

"Photography then," he decides because he already knows how to draw for the most part, but he's never done much with a camera. "Or have you done that already?"