Remaining

[Aspara Tsvetkov]

It has been a long day, it was the end of a long week, a long cold week for Aspara whose work kept busy and kept him outside, and also today was the first day back at work adter taking a week off to spend time with Wren. It had been so enjoyable, just spending his time with the warmth and comfort of the other man. Aspara had been sad that morning when he'd said goodbye to Wren, knowing the man wouldn't be there when he returned. It had been fun, Aspara had enjoyed Wren's company and enjoyed being able to sit with the man and just talk about things. Aspara had very few other friends, he knew plenty of people and was friendly with a lot of them, but they weren't his friends, instead they were just people that Aspara knew, Wren was his friend first and foremost, and knowing he had someone who didn't just want to leave him or that didn't make him feel a little lonely was the best thing. Aspara looked forward to ever letter he received from the man, he kept them, read them over when he felt himself miss the man, it wasn't often, Aspara was usually so busy he didn't have time to feel like that, but today was a little different, he was cold, wait, weary and just wanted his bed.

After arriving home, or well, at the front dorm of the apartment complex he lived in, Aspara lit a cigarette and despite the coldness and the wetness the man slowly smoked the cigarette, he needed it right now, he felt comforted by it. Needed it when considering that he was now once again alone. Aspara finished the cigarette quickly and with cold shaking hands he opened the door and wandered up the steps to his house. He walked into the house and shut the door behind him, finally able to take off the soaking jacket, off the soaking hat, the scarf, and he just grabbed a towel and dried himself off, and put on freshly washed pyjamas and then decided to just go lay in bed where he could hug his douvet and not even have to think about anything else. The man was still shaking, and he yawned loudly, closing his eyes and as got into bed, immediately realising as he did so that he wasn't alone in the bed and glanced round and saw that Wren was still in the bed, where he had left him earlier in that day, "Wren," he said softly, a question clear on his lips he was surprised and pleased that the man had remained, "You're still here?" Aspara had spent so long alone that he hadn't expected Wren to remain, but it brought a smile to his face, and a warmth to his heart which didn't help how cold he was but made him feel good.
​

 

[Wren Louise]

Wren woke to the weight of another body pressing into the mattress, and it immediately lifted as Aspara sat up to regard him with pleasure. He blinked wide, brown eyes slowly and let the natural smile spread across his face at the sight of his friend- lover- boyfriend? Something, near him.
"Vegiepatch," he cooed happily, dragging himself over to drape a skinny arm over Aspara's waist, as though he was somehow surprised to see the man in his own bed. Wren yawned mightily and rubbed his face into his friend's waist.
"Mmm," he snuffed, trying to wake up properly. "Mmmy apologies, Chou Chou. I could not seem to wake up after you left, and I rather made myself at home. Do you like stroganoff?" asked Wren, making it clear that he'd abused Aspara's kitchen.

"Ah, I am so thoughtless," sighed the Professor, apparently lamenting his own selfishness despite the fact he seemed to be creeping closer to the activist's warmth. "You would want your space back. I had such a good time, though! It is hard to leave." Never mind that he was (perhaps foolishly) coming to regard Aspara's tiny apartment as home, seeing as that was where he spent most of his time when not teaching.​

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[Aspara Tsvetkov]

To say that Aspara was surprised when he'd come to realisation that Wren was still in his flat, and still in bed, in virtually the same position he'd left him in that morning, was an understatement. Aspara's life post the community had been a constant stream of just being alone, of having very little to really count on and living very much day to day. His comrades were the only solid people in his life, and there was a little bit of movement there, they were his comrades but not all were his friends, and very few were people that he would want to bring back to his place, Wren was so comfortable, so abnormal to him and yet it was one of the better things in the socialists life. He couldn't help but snuggle into the man, relaxing into him and the bed when he put an arm around his waist and the warmth of the bed and of Wren cause little tremors to course through Aspara's body as he slowly got used to the warmth, "Hmm," he said in reply, he didn't think he'd ever had it, "I don't think I've ever had it, has it got meat in it?" the man inquired as he gave a small sound of content moving his own arm around Wren, really longing for the closeness that this provided.

The words that he spoke cause him to shake his head, he lead a solitary life, he was alone for so much, and for such a long period of time, the company of this man was nothing more than welcome, "No, I'm glad you're still here," he spoke softly, the tiredness seeping into his tone, "I'm glad you stayed," the man didn't want to say out loud how much he preferred this man's company to just being alone in his flat, it was such a welcome surprise. He just hoped he could show it in the way he was close to Wren, with his eyes fluttering easily closed, feeling comfortable with him, "It gets lonely here," he muttered tiredly, a clear thank you in his tone, thanking Wren for having remained.
​

 

[Wren Louise]

"You are so cold," whispered Wren in the quiet. The Frenchman essentially wrapped himself around Aspara in response, and though his bony body didn't do much good, he'd created enough of a warm patch while the activist was away to draw him into the thick of it. "There is no meat in your cold cupboard, of course, so I made it on mushrooms- it is a good meal. One of my better ones," he laughed in deep tones. "Never mind that, though. You can have it later when you are hungry."

Wren's hair was forever in the way, and whisps of it were trying to curl up Aspara's nose. He gave another rumbly laugh and stroked them away, leaving his thumb on the faint lines of Aspara's forehead.
"I am glad you are not angry. Sometimes I feel I overstep, but you have been very kind and accommodating to me. I should stop acting like a runaway, though, I have a bed at the school." Wren yawned and dropped his head into the crook above Aspara's armpit. "Hnn. I don't feel like a runaway here, though. This feels like ..." Home. Suddenly shy, the Divination Professor smothered his face in skin and fell silent. He had no idea what had gotten him so chatty, especially since his lover was cold and exhausted. He rarely spoke in casual company, even amongst the Professors he was friendly with. What was it about Aspara that made that invisible barrier within him recede? He was probably getting too close to the poor man who just wanted some pleasant company and the occasional chat.​

 

[Aspara Tsvetkov]

Aspara could only hum and nod at the statement, it had been very cold all day, he had been stood out in the elements for far too long, and no amount of coffee would help warm him up, it was why rather than seeking food he had sought his bed, and consequently Wren. The man nodded as said man spoke, glad the food was suitable for him to eat, though he didn't know how Wren might've gotten meat considering that it now felt obvious that he had not left the apartment, but it wasn't Aspara complaining rather he was happy, he couldn't wipe the tired smile from his face, and though he was cold and still shaking because of it, he finally felt like his apartment was kind of like home, and he knew that Wren had a role to play in that, without him remaining Aspara would've returned to home to a quiet, empty apartment, and lay in bed for a while warming himself up, here he got the comfort and warmth of another. Aspara hadn't felt this comfortable in a long while, he was never lonely with Wren, and the man had gone from just some guy to the man he'd like to remain with in his bed.

Aspara just listened to him speak, his eyes fluttering closed as he just nodded, the activist couldn't understand how any person could be angry, he couldn't be angry at Wren, he liked that he had stayed, he knew the feelings of needing to run, and the worry over no longer being welcome, but to Aspara such a thing could never be true of Wren, and while Aspara had never really ran from anything, he had isolated himself, blocked out others, not even attempt to be just normal, allow himself this closeness. As the man continued Aspara muttered, "home," finishing the man's sentence tiredly. Aspara hadn't had a home in a while, ever since being cast out, he'd just been living in places, but a home? There was so much to lose in a home, "Haven't had a home since I got kicked out," Aspara muttered tiredly as he seemed to be drifting to sleep, "You are home," Aspara seemed to try to snuggle in further as he began to fall asleep.
​

 

[Wren Louise]

Wren was no longer tired, having slept for most of the day anyway, but watching Aspara's eyes drop closed made him feel peaceful and contended. He was happy to stay as long as his friend would have him for. In truth, the activist was far more than a friend to the Professor. Aspara seemed to be asleep, so he deemed it safe to kiss his brow and confess.

"Je t'aime, beau garçon."*

Wren kept his feelings close to his chest, though he never hesitated to express general affection. What he said then was utterly true, and spoken in the serenity of a warm bed in a cold room. There was still a faint fear in the bottom of his stomach. They'd been so comfortable just as they were, and perhaps he'd ruined it by becoming too invested. He didn't expect Aspara to fall at his feet and say the words back (especially since he was likely asleep by now). He didn't expect romance, flowers, rings and sweet-nothings. All he wanted was to be as they were; just the two of them and no one in between. If he could have that, Wren had all he needed in the world.

*I love you, beautiful boy.​

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~FINIS~​

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