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1. Sweet as Sugar
Nico cooks and it’s never something that is discussed, it just is, that’s how they’ve always done things. But one day he comes home to their apartment and Gideon is stationed at the stove, Nico immediately notices nothing is burning and is confused by what he’s seeing. When Gideon turns around Nico can’t help but laugh.
Gideon has some substance in his hair, there’s a brush of what looks like flour on his cheek and the apron around his waist is splattered in flowers and sunshine. He looks adorable and Nico can’t hold it in.
“You look -” He laughs and he has to double over and put his hands on his knees while Gideon glares at him. Max, chuckles from over on the couch. “A mess is the word you’re looking for, Nico. He has made a travesty of the kitchen.”
Nico smiles fondly at Gideon and ignores Max who lays back down on the couch and promptly goes to sleep, only awoken because of Nico’s arrival home.
He walks over to Gideon and squeezes his shoulder, his eyes roam over him, as he takes in his unruly hair and the muscle shirt he has on under the apron, short workout shorts showing off his legs.
“Actually, I was going to say adorable.” He watches Gideon try to keep a straight face but completely fail because for some reason he can’t resist Nico’s smile or the sparkle in his eyes.
He chuckles and shoves Nico away with a hand on his chest, keeps it there for just a second too long to be what’s considered normal and goes back to what he’s doing.
Nico watches him for a second and then goes to grab a bottle of water from the fridge, he leans against it once it’s closed. He drinks as he watches Gideon work what looks like a ball of dough into some shape, he kneads his hands into it and Nico watches, his attention rapt.
Gideon grunts as he pounds into the dough and then spreads more flour on it, the kitchen is a mess and Nico knows it’s going to be a bitch to clean but -
“Sandman?” He watches Gideon slightly turn his head, his ear pointed more towards Nico but he doesn’t turn to face him.
“Hm?” It’s cute and sweet and he’s very concentrated on what he’s doing. Nico unreasonably wants to give him a hug, flour and all smeared across him, he doesn’t care.
He walks up to Gideon and places a hand on his back, high on his spine and pins his chin onto Gideon’s shoulder. Gideon hums at him again and leans back into him without thinking. It’s an automatic reaction, their physical neediness over a year in the making.
Nico has never been this touchy with his other guy friends, not even him and Max touch that often and Max spends half his life as a dog.
“Whatcha making?” He points to the ball of dough now completely stretched out on the counter. “And why? I’ve never seen you bake in your life.”
Gideon scoffs. “I bake?”
Nico chuckles and moves to stand next to Gideon with his back to the counter so that he can face him. Gideon’s posture is terrible as he makes the dough pliable. “Is that a question? Because I think I already answered it.”
Gideon makes a frustrated noise in the back of his throat and plants his hands flat on the counter. “It’s for a class. We are having some kind of gathering and we need to bring something. I signed up for cookies.”
Nico raises an eyebrow at him. “You could have just gone to the grocery store, Gideon.”
Gideon reaches past Nico for a cookie cutter shaped like a cat. “No, I couldn’t, Nicky. That’s cheating. I need to like, make this with love and shit.”
Nico full belly laughs at that, he brushes a hand down Gideon’s arm and squeezes. “Okay, okay.” He watches Gideon’s face relax just a tiny bit and smiles. “How can I help?”
Gideon catches his gaze and there’s something there, it’s soft and real and Nico can feel his heart stutter. Gideon’s gaze was not something to be trifled with, it always stopped Nico in his tracks.
Gideon shoves his hip with his hand, taking him out of his gaze and he reaches over to grab an oven mitt. He opens the oven door and he pulls out a tray full of sugar cookies shaped like bunnies and places them on the counter over a towel.
He throws the oven mitt to the side and delicately picks up a little bunny, it’s really cute and doesn’t look disastrous at all, Nico is intrigued.
“Here.” Gideon says as he breaks the cookie into a single bite and holds it up for Nico. “It’s going to have icing but you can help by making sure they are edible.”
Nico scoffs. “So, if I don’t die they’re not poisoned?”
Gideon smiles at him brilliantly. “Exactly.”
Nico chuckles and leans forward to take the cookie, Gideon watches him the whole time as he brings it to his mouth. Nico thinks nothing of Gideon feeding him until he’s pressing the cookie into Nico’s mouth and his fingers brush his chin.
He’ll go cross-eyed if he looks down, he knows what Gideon’s fingers look like, he practically has them memorized. He also knows how they feel on him, but for some reason the shock of skin on his chin, the warmth of his hands makes his stomach flutter.
Then Gideon’s thumb touches his lip and something bursts in his stomach, like a fucking galaxy has exploded inside of him. They are still looking at each other and he tries so hard to not take notice of it, or at least not show what is happening inside him.
Gideon gives him a curious look and then after what feels like a lifetime pulls his hand away from Nico’s mouth and smiles at him. He takes the other piece of the cookie and pops it into his mouth, fingers brushing his own lips to press away any crumbs.
Nico follows them, he can’t seem to look away. “Nicky? Are they okay? Nico?”
Gideon grabs his wrist to get his attention and Nico snaps back to himself. “What? Oh, yeah. Delicious actually. You should add baker to your resume.”
Gideon rolls his eyes at him and turns back to the dough. “Get the icing out of the fridge, dumbass. Help me make them cute.”
Nico nods and goes back to the fridge for the icing, he feels the cool air from the open door on his heated skin and takes a breath. When he turns back to Gideon he’s humming some song and there’s a gentle sway of his hips as he starts to cut the cookies into cats.
Nico brings a hand up to his lip and brushes his thumb over the skin, he blushes.
That’s the first time he realizes he wants Gideon’s fingers in his mouth.
2. Derby Challenged
Don’t ask Nico why they are rollerskating because he could not tell you, he does not know how he ended up here and would rather much prefer if they went home.
It’s not that he can’t roller skate, he has incredible balance and can literally control the ground beneath his feet, it’s that he hates the smell and the children and the loud music. He knows it should be something he enjoys, being able to get out his energy and move, but there’s just something ridiculous about it he can’t stand.
But a friend of Gideon’s from class had invited them for his birthday, which Nico had raised an eyebrow at because who was going to a roller rink for their 20th birthday? But Gideon had given him a puppy eyed look and there was no arguing with that.
Max tagged along because there would be free pizza and beer and he was a sucker for watching people fall on their ass.
Nico did not intend to skate and he honestly did not think Gideon would want to either, he thought they’d show up to do their due diligence as friends, well Gideon would, they’d eat and drink and then leave.
No dice. Gideon had immediately dragged him over to the rental counter and pick pocketed his wallet out of his pants and paid for two pairs of skates. Nico had whined and pleaded but Gideon had just smiled at him with that mischievous look and how could he resist, it wasn’t fair.
Almost two years with Gideon had taught him how to easily get what he wanted from Nico, it was simple. He just had to ask. Nico was fucked.
“Why are you making me do this, Gideon? Haven’t I been a good friend to you? Don’t you love me?” He whined as they made their way back over to Max, who was able to and had denied Gideon the fun of putting on any skates. Goddamn Max and his resistance, it was like he was made of steel.
“Poor baby, can’t believe I’m making you suffer through this horrendous ordeal.” Gideon cooed at him as they sat down. He pressed close into Nico and kissed him on the cheek. Nico scowled but the blush on his cheeks called him out.
Gideon didn’t notice but Max did, he chuckled and Nico reached over to smack him upside the head. He just moved out of his reach and Nico glared at him. Max always gave him that look whenever Gideon gave him any physical affection, but Nico could not give him an inch.
It was a reaction that Nico couldn’t control, Gideon was his best friend he shouldn’t make him blush like that, he should be able to receive a kiss on the cheek and be normal.
He looked over at Gideon who looked back up at him and gave him a 100 watt smile. Nico sighed and put on his skates.
Gideon stood up when he was done and waddled over to the area to enter the rink, Nico watched him with amusement. He was cute with his jeans curled over the top of the skates and his long sleeved blue button up open over a gray t-shirt.
His hair was as unruly as ever and when he turned to look at Nico the lights splashed him in a rainbow of colors. Nico could not calculate why he felt weak in the knees.
He reached out a hand and Nico got up from his seat like he was pulled by some force and joined Gideon.
Gideon wrapped his hand around Nico’s wrist and pulled him forward until they were both inside the rink. Nico didn’t struggle to walk and then to skate in little paths, he used his power to slightly alter the ground beneath his feet, just enough so he didn’t fall on his ass.
Gideon wasn’t so lucky, the minute Nico took off he followed him slowly. It wasn’t long before he heard a screech behind him and a loud crash. He turned around quickly at the sound as did a couple kids and saw Gideon sprawled out on the floor.
Gideon, who could be graceful and was long limbed and lean was on his ass, giggling up a storm. Nico raised an eyebrow at him and just stood there and watched as Gideon sat up and bent his knees, skates flat on the ground.
“Gideon?” He laughed. “Do you not know how to roller skate?”
Gideon gave him an incredulous look. “Nicky, my dear friend, does it look like I know how to skate?” Nico tried to hold in another laugh. “I never learned, never really had the chance.”
That stopped Nico’s laughter, now he understood why he had wanted to come and not just because it was his friend’s birthday. Gideon had not always been afforded opportunities that other children had, when Nico first met him there were many things they had had to try and do. Gideon just didn’t have the same experiences as other people his age.
Nico gave him a soft smile and slowly skated over to him. He held out his hand when he reached him and watched Gideon’s small frown turn back into a genuine smile. “Want me to teach you?”
Gideon swallowed, Nico swore that if he cried there would be no hope, he’d burn down the world. “Thanks, Nicky.” Nico’s heart almost broke at the soft voice, at the way Gideon gave him a grateful look and nodded his head.
Gideon reached up and grabbed his hand so Nico could pull him up, they wobbled a bit and Nico chuckled but they were able to stand up straight eventually.
Nico then taught Gideon how to skate. They looked silly, two twenty year olds slowly going around the rink, but Gideon’s smile was worth it.
Nico started out by skating backwards in front of him with both their hands tangled together, he watched Gideon’s skates to make sure they stayed straight. Gideon’s hands were warm in his and Nico held on tight so he would feel safe.
Eventually, Nico started to go faster, the circles turned smaller and Gideon started to laugh and look less worried. He would squeeze Nico’s hand and in turn Nico would keep him steady.
Before they realized it Gideon was skating easily, a natural at something he had never done before, which wasn’t a surprise to Nico seeing as Gideon was always good at everything.
They skated together around the rink and talked about class and what they were going to do that weekend and didn’t speak about Gideon’s mother or his lack of childhood activities.
Nico didn’t notice for a while but their hands stayed together. Somehow, they had ended up skating side by side, Nico’s right and Gideon’s left hand pressed together down at their hips. Their fingers intertwined on their own and if Nico concentrated hard enough he could feel Gideon’s pulse.
Neither of them reacted to it, at least not to each other, Nico’s heart was trying to escape his chest. He felt the overwhelming need to pull away, his brain saying too much over and over again. Did boys just hold hands like this? He knew they could but he had never had this. This was new, he liked it, he didn’t want to let go.
A piece of hair fell in Nico’s face and he tried to blow it away, Gideon laughed his beautiful laugh and reached up his free hand to brush it away. They stopped in the middle of the rink to keep balance and Gideon swiped away the strand.
His finger lingered on Nico’s skin and Nico wanted to melt through the floor. They stared at each other and there was a moment, just a small one where Nico felt gravity pull them together.
And then the music blasted and the roller rink announcer came over the speaker to introduce a game of red light, green light.
They didn’t snap apart or even move for a couple seconds, but eventually Gideon just smiled at him and pulled him off the rink.
It was a while before Nico realized they could have let go of each other’s hands so he could have fixed his hair or that they could have let go as they walked off the rink. Or that after they took off their skates and walked home, they didn’t have to relink and hold hands the whole way.
Max said nothing. Nico thought about Gideon’s fingers on his temple and then in his mouth.
3. Hot Pocket
New York winters could be hell and even though Nico was the only one in their group who could heat up temperatures he was the only one who never forgot his fucking gloves. Gideon for the life of him always lost one somewhere and Max just never had any at any point in time. It was a wonder to Nico.
Gideon would steal his all the time, because “Nicolas you can control your body temperature, do you want me to get frostbite?”
And no, Nico did not, but could Gideon just remember his stupid gloves for once. He would always return the gloves to Nico and they would always be warm and Nico had the silly urge to put his hands in them, like he could somehow still feel Gideon’s soft skin if he did.
One particularly cold day they were out to run errands and then they went to see a movie and then had dinner at some hole in the wall pizza place. It was late by the time they were done and they were alone without Max.
A whole day to themselves was rare and Nico cherished the time with his best friend, he liked having Gideon’s undivided attention, loved having his eyes on him and only him.
It didn’t matter if someone tried to flirt with him on those days, it was like something in Nico turned off, or on, when he was with Gideon. No girls made it into his vision no matter how cute they were.
It was always Gideon, Gideon, Gideon.
Gideon and his stupid cold hands. Nico shrieked as he felt the cold tip of fingers touch the back of his wrist, that was in his own jacket pocket. “What the fuck, are you serious right now?” His voice was higher than normal thanks to Gideon’s icy touch.
Gideon whined at him as Nico turned to look at him. “Warm me up, Nicky.” His eyes were slightly teary from the cold and his cheeks were a shade of red that tested Nico’s willpower. Could you be gone on a friend, platonically, like Nico was obsessed with this man. Did that happen?
Nico shook off the thoughts and glared at Gideon. “Where are your gloves, Sandman?”
Gideon rolled his eyes. “Nico, you know for a fact that I do not have them. We’ve been over this.”
Nico scoffed. “Yes, and I’ve told you to stop stealing mine and remember your own.”
Gideon pouted. “But I’m cold, Nicky. Please.”
Nico glared at him half-heartedly. He shook his head and licked his lips as Gideon continued his pout. He wanted to stamp his foot like a child, he wanted to run the pad of his thumb over Gideon’s bottom lip.
“No.” He said, final.
“But Nico.” That whine, the hand wrapped around his forearm, that fucking look in his eyes.
“Jesus Christ you menace, fine.” He pulled off his glove and grabbed Gideon’s hand, intertwined their fingers and shoved them in his pocket. He used a small amount of magic to warm up the small space and listened to Gideon hum.
Nico sucked in a deep breath as Gideon pressed into his side as they continued to walk down the street. He hummed happily and squeezed Nico’s hand in his pocket. He leaned forward and pressed his cold nose into Nico’s neck. “My own personal hand warmer, my little heater.”
Nico wanted to bash his head into a wall.
They stopped in quickly to grab a hot snack and a coffee from a corner store, they ate and drank leaned against the wall outside as they watched the sky flutter and then snowfall.
Gideon leaned his head back and opened his mouth to the snow and laughed sweetly when one caught on his tongue. He turned back to Nico and gave him a smile that Nico knew he’d see in his sleep, Nico turned away and looked at the ground.
He felt Gideon’s hand creep back in his pocket and hissed. It was cold again, Nico needed to check Gideon’s circulation, he could see where the veins were a little bit more prominent than Nico’s own.
He pulled their hands out of his pocket and then untangled them. Gideon watched him with hooded eyes, tired from their day out and the cold around them. Nico reached down and grabbed Gideon’s other hand and curled them into a ball.
He cupped both of his hands around Gideon’s and leaned close, their eyes did not stray from each other as Nico blew on their hands, his mouth extremely close to Gideon’s knuckles.
Gideon watched him the whole time, eyes slightly widened and his mouth open on an “oh”. Nico could not think about what that meant right now, he just blew hot air onto Gideon’s hand and tried his best not to think too hard.
His lips brushed Gideon’s skin and heat burst inside of him. Gideon’s eyes fluttered closed for just a second and Nico pulled away. For the rest of the night Gideon’s hand stayed in Nico’s pocket, fingers intertwined, keeping them warm with his powers.
Nico wouldn’t quickly forget the soft skin of Gideon’s knuckle across his bottom lip.
4. Like a French Girl
Gideon was an amateur artist and he chose an art study and drawing course as an easy elective for him to pass along some time between other classes. It was something he could enjoy and not worry about, it gave him some peace and he was actually quite adept at painting and sketching.
Nico had watched him paint countless things, they had art hung up all over their apartment and Gideon just improved each time he drew something new. There were portraits of Max as a dog, flowers, the sunset, anything Gideon felt inspired by.
There were also pictures of Nico, but most of those were hidden in a sketchbook Nico had accidentally found hidden in a drawer. Why Gideon didn’t want him to see them wasn’t immediately clear because there was one of him painted last month hanging in the kitchen. It was an easy portrait of him, one he had posed for at the start of Gideon’s class.
The sketches and paintings in the sketchbook were not that, they were times Nico could not recall, there were sketches of him sleeping on the couch, paintings of him making dinner in the kitchen, a particularly enchanting one of him laughing, head thrown back, big smile over his face.
He hadn’t meant to snoop but it was an accident and he had never brought it up, Gideon didn’t want him to see them for a reason, so he left it.
He didn’t get to watch Gideon paint enough so when he did get the opportunity he took it. One late night Gideon was at their coffee table spread out on the floor sketching, he looked frustrated and stressed over what seemed to be a still life piece.
Nico watched as he finally got fed up and closed his eyes as he let the pencil roll out of his hand. Nico would have chucked it at a wall, but Gideon had better anger management than Nico did, that’s why his pencil wasn’t in pieces right now and Nico’s would have been ruined.
The kettle for the tea whistled and Nico quickly silenced it, poured water into two mugs, put in tea bags and brought them over to the living room. He set one down on the coffee table next to Gideon who had his head in his hands and back hunched over. His posture absolutely terrible.
Nico sat down next to him on the floor and patted his back as he sipped his tea, he hissed at the heat and set it down on the coffee table as he continued to rub Gideon’s back. Gideon finally looked up at him, hair a mess and face slightly red from rubbing his hands over it. He kept one hand on his cheek as he reached for the mug.
He didn’t grab it immediately, just placed his hand on the outside to leech the heat into his skin. “Thanks.” His voice was small, frustrated. Nico wasn’t sure how to help but he’d figure it out.
He watched as Gideon closed his eyes and sighed, a piece of hair fell over his eyes and Nico felt an overwhelming sweep of adoration crawl over his heart. He reached forward and before he could stop himself he brushed the hair away from Gideon’s eyes and pressed his palm to his cheek.
Gideon’s eyes fluttered open and Nico could have sworn he pressed into his palm, but it was quick and it was only what he wanted to believe. “How can I help?”
Gideon shook his head and then brought the mug to his lips to finally take a sip. He hummed appreciatively at the taste and set it back down on the coffee table. “I don’t know to be honest. I had a couple options for this project, still life or full body portrait. I figured still life would be easiest but -”
He sighed and ripped the paper from his sketchbook, crumbled it up in a ball and threw it in the direction of the trash can, he missed but Nico would leave it there till later. “It’s terrible, there’s no life to it, I can’t feel anything from it.”
Nico brushed a hand through Gideon’s hair because it seemed to calm him down and took another sip of his tea before he set it down on the table. The idea formed in his head quickly, he stood up abruptly and Gideon’s head whipped up to watch him.
Nico smiled down at him. He pointed to his chest and smirked. “Paint me, Gideon.” He gave him a wink and then bounded over to the couch. He tossed himself onto it and laid down on his side, head propped up in his hand, his other hand falling to the couch.
He wasn’t wearing much, just some sleeping shorts and a tank top with sleeve holes that came down past his ribs, Gideon tracked his movement and Nico ignored the heat in his gut.
“Paint you?” Gideon said slowly as he swallowed and moved his gaze to Nico’s face. He felt heat creep over his cheeks and felt silly but if he could help Gideon he would do anything.
“Yeah.” He said excitedly. “You said you could do a full body portrait. Do me.” The words came out super wrong and Nico cursed himself in his head.
He heard Gideon’s laugh and knew that it was worth the mistake. “Do you?”
Nico nodded and decided to go with it. “Exactly. Do me. Paint me like one of your french girls, Gideon.”
Gideon rolled his eyes and caught Nico’s gaze with an annoyed look that was less annoyed by the second. “I hate you.”
Nico raised an eyebrow at him. “Well?”
Gideon stood up and went to their room to grab some different supplies and came back with a different set of pencils and the sketchbook he kept in his hidden drawer. Nico didn’t say a word about it as Gideon moved the coffee table so he had room to sit on the edge and not be on top of Nico in front of the couch.
He sat down on the edge, pulled a sturdy notebook from his stack of supplies, put the sketchbook on top and grabbed a pencil. He stared at Nico, tracked his gaze down the length of him and tapped the pencil on his chin.
Nico watched how his fingers held it, how they wrapped around delicately, the length of them covering a greater area than Nico’s would.
“Kate Winslet had her tits out.” Nico choked on his spit as Gideon bit his tongue as he tried not to burst out into laughter.
“Gideon!” Nico laughed and watched as Gideon’s eyes sparkled with mischief.
“You don’t want to get yours out for me Nicky?” He then tilted his head slightly to the side. “Well, more than they already are.”
Nico looked down at his chest and yep, one of his nipples was out courtesy of his shirt being slit down the side. He looked back up at Gideon and gave him his best sultry look. “Did the professor specify that it couldn’t be a nude painting.”
Gideon threw a pencil at him and Nico cackled. “Okay, okay are we doing this or not?” He tried to be serious, but failed as he saw Gideon’s smile.
They both laughed and then settled down into their normal comfortable banter as Gideon decided what to do. “If you’re sure.” He said and Nico nodded. “Of course, anything to help.”
Nico watched Gideon take a big breath and then he leaned forward to move Nico around slightly into a better angle. Nico kept his eyes on Gideon’s face as Gideon concentrated on making sure Nico was where he wanted him.
After a minute he quickly got to work, he scolded Nico a few times so he would stay still and Nico tried his best to behave and be patient. It was hard for him to not move around so he tried to find something to focus on.
Gideon’s fingers filled his vision. Long and almost all knuckle as they quickly sketched on the pad. They were efficient and partially covered in graphite from his pencils, Nico watched and couldn’t look away.
They were elegant and Nico knew they were soft to the touch, Gideon had not worked up calluses or rough skin. Nico had always been fascinated by his hands, the way they touched Nico or how they messed with his hair, but this was something different. It was Gideon in an element he was very good at and Nico felt heat simmer down his spine.
He wanted to touch Gideon’s fingers, he wanted to wrap them around his own and feel how they moved as he drew. They looked good wrapped around the pencil and there was something inside Nico itching and pulling at him to get closer.
He stayed in his spot. When Gideon was half way through he stopped and looked up at Nico. His gaze was serious and focused on the task at hand, Nico looked at him astonished. The sketch so far was beautiful and Nico was not sure how Gideon made him look like he did.
Nico knew what he looked like, knew he was attractive, but this - He looked otherworldly. Was this Gideon’s gaze? Was this what he saw?
Nico’s thoughts were interrupted when Gideon’s hand touched Nico’s neck, he pushed slightly so Nico would turn his head. He pouted his lips in concentration and Nico’s heart cracked into pieces.
The fingers on his neck trailed down to his collarbone and then pushed at his chest to get him to sit back a little, Nico’s whole body reacted to that light touch, even over his shirt.
Then Gideon got back to work and Nico got back to watching his hands and burning from the inside out.
His thoughts turned to what the graphite might taste like in his mouth.
5. Cherry Red
Gideon loved sweets, it was something about him that Nico supported and was constantly finding new things for him to try. They were always trying out some new bakery or treat they saw at a coffee shop.
Gideon didn’t have a favorite, he loved most flavors and was not picky about what Nico picked out for him. He gladly tried everything and it made Nico feel good when he smiled sweetly at him after trying something new.
It also helped that Gideon always came home smelling of cherries or oranges or a flowery scent because he had stopped at some bakery on the way home. Sometimes he smelled like fresh bread and pastries and Nico knew he had studied at the coffee shop down the street from NYUMA waiting for Nico to get out of class.
It was nice and Nico indulged.
They were at the coffee shop together this time, Nico had gotten out of class early and Gideon still had a paper to finish. He was less likely to fall asleep in public with all the noise and commotion than at home on the couch in the warmth.
Nico happily sat across from him and watched him work, adding commentary when Gideon asked for suggestions or editing help. He tapped his foot to the beat of the soft music playing through the speakers, his foot sometimes tapping out the rhythm on the top of Gideon’s chucks, and watched people come and go.
At one point Gideon got up and went to the register to order them more coffee and some treats. Nico watched him diligently as he smiled at the cashier and as he waited for their items. He was typing something out on his phone when he looked up and caught Nico watching him. He smiled at him, eyes bright and open and Nico felt his whole body light up at the look.
He was still trying to, after two and a half years, figure out why he couldn’t just be normal about Gideon’s smile or his eyes or any part of him really. It was ridiculous, it burned Nico up inside trying to figure out why it was happening.
Gideon finally got their items and walked back over to the table, when he sat down he handed Nico a coffee and pulled out the treats he had gotten. One looked like a simple blueberry muffin and another was a sour cherry scone that Gideon knew Nico favored.
Nico sipped his coffee and smiled into the lid at the fact that it was perfect and exactly what he had wanted, Gideon hadn’t even needed to ask. He knew him well, knew his moods and when what kind of coffee was preferred.
He watched Gideon get back to work, watched him hunch over his laptop and take sips from his iced coffee and then bites of the muffin. After a little while Nico still hadn’t touched the cherry scone, Gideon nudged it towards him.
“Eat it.” He was slightly distracted as he worked but it was a clear demand. Nico ignored it and just raised an eyebrow at him. “I’m fine.”
Gideon scoffed. “I know you haven’t eaten today.”
Nico brushed the tip of his booted foot against Gideon’s converse and then tapped his ankle with it. “And how do you know that, you’re not my keeper.”
Gideon gave him an annoyed look. “I know that when you get out of physics early you don’t eat lunch so you can meet me here. I know that you didn’t grab breakfast this morning and were probably too focused on one upping Libby to feed yourself.”
Nico opened his mouth for a rebuttal but nothing came. “You don’t know me.” He scoffed, it was a lie obviously.
Gideon laughed. “Nicolas, of course I do. Eat the fucking scone.”
Nico grabbed the fucking scone. Gideon smiled at him. “Shithead.”
Nico took a bite and almost moaned, it was perfect like always and he really was hungry. Gideon was right, as always, he had not eaten anything today.
He ate most of the scone in a couple bites and then kicked Gideon’s shin lightly to get him to look up at him. “Do you want a bite?”
Gideon’s eyes were soft and his smile sweet. “I’m fine, Nicky. Finish it, please.”
Nico finished the last bite and then Gideon pushed the rest of his muffin towards Nico. There was a part of Nico that wanted to reach across the booth and squeeze Gideon tight to him, he was usually the one forcing food on Gideon, but Gideon had a motherly streak and it was showing now.
He picked at the muffin as he watched Gideon finish his paper and then put away his laptop and notebook. He looked up at Nico, ready to ask him if he was ready to leave, but he stopped.
Before Nico knew what was happening, Gideon was leaning across the table, hand raised in the air. His hand lifted to Nico’s lip and Gideon brushed his thumb over the corner before he sat back in his seat.
His face was passive, a slight chaotic look to his eyes. He showed Nico the little bit of cherry jam that Nico had not caught.
Nico watched, astonished as Gideon put his finger to his mouth and licked it clean. His eyes widened at the sight and Gideon just licked his lips.
An urge came over him, one he had had so many times before and still could not explain. He wished Gideon hadn’t licked off the jam, he wished Gideon had slid his thumb inside Nico’s lips so he could lick it off himself.
He imagined the sour taste of the cherry against the saltiness of Gideon’s skin. They needed to leave, Gideon looked like he had no clue Nico was having a crisis.
He quickly grabbed his bag and then their trash, Gideon raised an eyebrow at him as he rushed to leave the coffee shop.
He was right behind him out the door before he wrapped his fingers around Nico’s wrist and pulled for him to face him. “Nicky, you okay?” There was amusement in his eyes but also a tinge worry.
Nico nodded his head and slid their hands so he could clutch Gideon’s in his own. “Yeah, perfect. Let’s go home.”
Gideon smiled at him, squeezed his hand once and then let go. Nico tried to settle the disappointment in his gut.
6. To the Beat of my Heart
Nico had never really thought about drummers, or any musicians really. It wasn’t that they weren’t his thing, it was just that girls usually tended to be singers, the front men or women. He liked music, but he had never felt the need himself to learn any instruments or work on his own vocals.
His magic was his pastime and hobby and career, but Gideon funnily enough did know how to play one instrument and that’s where Nico had learned a valuable lesson, drumming was hot, frustratingly so.
They had been hanging out with a friend of Max’s, who was in a band, one that played out of a garage and got gigs of like ten people in seedy bars downtown. They weren’t great but they were fun to hang out with occasionally and Nico didn’t mind tagging along.
The band had been practicing one night as they all hung out, when their drummer had an emergency and had to run out. They were left with no way to fully practice their new song cover and that was when Max pulled out a piece of information that made Nico snap his head at him.
“He’s what?” Nico was surprised at the information Max had that Nico did not, especially about Gideon.
Gideon was sitting, reclined, in a bean bag munching on chips when he glared at Max. “What did I tell you, Maxamillion?” His voice was low and Nico wanted to join him on the bean bag.
“What?” Max laughed. “I don’t understand why you don’t like people to know you can drum. It’s not like it’s embarrassing.”
Gideon threw his head back into the beanbag and Nico stared at him wide eyed, Gideon could drum. How did he not know this? “How did I not know this?”
Gideon turned his gaze to him and gave him an apologetic look, like he had broken some code of friendship for keeping this secret for three years. “I don’t know, I’m weird about it. Max only found out because he saw me like air drumming to a song one day. It was stupid.”
Nico just watched him, he shouldn’t have felt weird about not knowing this, but not knowing things about Gideon felt wrong and made him want to peel back every layer of Gideon so he could see every piece of him.
“Nico, It’s not a big deal.” Gideon assured him. Which he shouldn’t have had to do because it wasn’t a big deal and Nico was being weird about it.
Max watched them, a look Nico couldn’t decode in his eyes. “Gideon can fill in for tonight, guys.”
Gideon glared at him again, his gaze torn from Nico’s as they held a staring contest, trying to communicate to each other through some telepathy they had not yet figured out how to do. Gideon was getting better at knowing his thoughts though, and Nico was getting better at just knowing Gideon in general.
“No, I can not. I don’t even know why you mentioned it.” Gideon was flustered. Nico wanted to know why. Was he bad at drumming, was that it?
“You should do it, it would be fun.” Nico raised an eyebrow at him. “If you don’t I’ll just think you suck.”
Gideon’s mouth dropped open, offended at the implication. He got up from the beanbag and sauntered over to Nico. He put his hands on the back of the chair he was sitting in and leaned close to his face. Nico felt his warm breath wash over his lips. Heat raised a fire in his chest.
“I don’t suck. I just haven’t played in a really long time.” He glared at Nico as he smirked at him. He shrugged a shoulder, the challenge set.
“Prove it.” He winked and Gideon stood back up and straightened his back. He looked behind him at the guys and they just shrugged their shoulders and agreed.
“Drumsticks?” Gideon asked and a pair was produced quickly. He walked over to grab them and then walked quickly over to the drumset.
The guitarist of the band told him what song they were practicing and if Gideon knew it, he did. Nico held in his excitement, he tried not to smile too big, he failed.
Gideon listened as the band talked quietly to each other and then he sat down on the stool behind the drums. He looked at them like he had no idea what to do with them and Nico was sure this was going to be a disaster, even though he knew Gideon was very good at most things.
Maybe this was just something he had done in the past and didn’t think he was good enough to keep going.
The guitarist started up their beat, the bassist came in and then the keyboard. Nico kept his eyes on Gideon as he nodded his head to the beat.
Nico smirked, Gideon’s right foot stepped on the pedal underneath the drums. Nico watched the drumsticks in his hands, they were steady.
And then -
He twirled the wooden sticks in his hand and then changed Nico’s world. He drummed to the beat easily, banged his head to the rhythm and seemed to know exactly what he was doing. He was good, exceptionally so and Nico was lost.
He watched as Gideon became one with the drums and the music, as he tapped out the beat with his foot and closed his eyes to really take in the rhythm. Sweat started to drip down his temple and his blonde hair grew darker from it.
He straddled the stool as he drummed and his t-shirt rode up slightly on his stomach and Nico noticed, not for the first time that day, that Gideon’s biceps were just this side of too big for the shirt. His muscles pushed at the material and caused it to strain, the shirt sat tight across his chest and his lean body was sat up straight.
The jeans on his legs were black and ripped at the knee, threads that Nico had pulled at earlier scattered along his skin. His legs were spread and Nico had the weirdest urge to go stand between them.
Instead of thinking about that he watched Gideon’s hands, watched as they gripped the wood in his hands, his fingers wrapped tightly around them and occasionally twirled or flipped the sticks in the air. He held on tight and his knuckles turned red as he played.
He had painted his nails a deep plum recently, it stood out against his skin and made his hands even that more noticeable to Nico. They looked nice painted, he took care of his nails and Nico wondered what other colors would look good on him.
He didn’t want to focus on the rings around his fingers, just a few but enough to add an extra something to his look. He had started wearing them regularly recently and Nico had found himself thinking about Gideon’s hands an exorbitant amount. It wasn’t healthy, it wasn’t normal.
Nico was in a trance, he watched Gideon’s grip. He wondered what those rings would feel like, they were probably cold, the metal leaching out any warmth. He thought about how that grip would feel on things other than wood. On his wrist, because Gideon had never gripped him that tight. On his arms, on his waist, his thigh, his c-
Nico snapped out of his daze when he heard a cymbal crash and the song ended abruptly. He watched Gideon as he finished, at the sweat dripping down his skin, the way he placed his hands, still holding the drumsticks on his thighs.
Nico swallowed and licked his lips, his mouth was dry, he needed to find some water, he needed to go home and take a cold shower.
He watched as a band member handed Gideon a water bottle, he took a big swig from it and set it down next to him on the floor. He twirled the drumsticks in his hands and then caught Nico’s gaze.
Nico wasn’t sure what he’d seen there but Gideon gave him a smirk that seared Nico’s insides and then he winked at him.
They started another song, Gideon played with them for another hour. Nico suffered in silence and reevaluated his stance on drummers and the grip of a specific boy’s hands.
7. Mother Hen
It was the morning of graduation and Nico was rushing to get everything he needed before he had to leave for campus. Gideon and Max had already graduated a couple days before him and he was the last of their little group to have his ceremony.
He did his best to get all his clothes on, pack his bag and then grab something to eat in the kitchen before his alarm screamed at him that he was going to be late. He had been so comfortable in bed that morning, Gideon had fallen asleep next to him and they had woken up wrapped in each other. Normal, best friend things, Nico assured himself.
He didn’t think about how he never slept as well as he did when Gideon was in bed, or how good it felt to have Gideon’s back pressed against his chest or how his hand had fallen to Gideon’s stomach and rubbed at the soft skin.
It would just be one of those things they didn’t talk about. “Fuck.” He screamed as he rammed his toe into the leg of the kitchen table and Gideon came running out of the bathroom. He had a pair of black sweatpants on and nothing else.
His chest was wet from his dripping hair and he had his tooth brush half way in his mouth. “What happened?” He mumbled as he ran over to the kitchen sink to rinse his mouth out. He put the toothbrush next to the sink and Nico scowled.
Gideon just gave him a look and leaned against the counter. There was an amused look in his eyes as he took in Nico. “Sorry, I should have woken up sleeping beauty this morning.”
Nico scoffed and shuffled over to Gideon, he was still tired because they had stayed up too late last night playing cards with Max and getting drunk on cheap beer.
He pushed his forehead into Gideon’s chest and whined. “You’re the one that’s sleeping beauty, Sandman.”
Gideon chuckled and brushed a hand through Nico’s hair, he pulled slightly so they could look at each other. “You good? Libby is gonna give you shit if you look like a mess.”
Nico groaned. “Ugh, Rhodes can go jump off a bridge.” He smiled mischievously at Gideon as he tried to finish buttoning up his shirt.
Gideon rolled his eyes at him and slapped his hands away. “Be nice today.” He helped Nico do up the buttons of his shirt, Nico tried to suppress his shiver as Gideon’s knuckles brushed against his abdomen.
The cold metal of the one ring on his finger caused an involuntary reaction in Nico and nothing to do with it being on Gideon’s finger at all. No sir.
Gideon waited for him to agree. “Fine, I’ll be not mean.”
Gideon scratched a hand over his eyebrow and huffed, it was amused as it usually was at Nico’s antics.
Nico waited for him to continue helping him get ready. Gideon finished the buttons on his shirt and looked down at his pants. “Do you need help with those too?”
Nico slapped his hand and let out an indignant squawk. “I think I have that handled, thank you very much.”
Gideon smirked at him and yanked on his tie. Nico fell forward and couldn’t hold back the gasp as Gideon winked at him. “I am just here to help.”
Nico swallowed and didn’t deign that with a response because he honestly couldn’t get his mouth to work. Gideon pulled at the tie, arranged it under Nico’s collar and finished doing it up.
He worked quietly with a small smile on his face, Nico’s eyes flitted between his face and his hands. They delicately worked at the knot, making it as perfect as he possibly could, even knowing Nico would definitely mess it up eventually.
He finally finished tying it, pushed it into place and then went to flatten out Nico’s collar. His hands brushed softly at the material as he laid it down. The moment was charged, something that had been happening more and more frequently.
It was weird because it was a comfortable moment, Nico wasn’t nervous, but there was tension there. It was an unsaid thing, something they skirted and moved past every time it happened. Nico couldn’t name it, it would make it real and then it would probably break his heart.
Being Gideon’s best friend was the best thing that had ever happened to him, but being Gideon’s best friend could also possibly be the worst thing that ever happened to him. If he was to lose him Nico’s whole world would be gone.
He felt the brush of Gideon’s fingers along his throat right above his collar. He looked up to Gideon and saw his smile, there was a sadness to it, a longing Nico pretended not to notice.
Gideon brushed his hands along Nico’s throat again, Nico swallowed against the action and Gideon caught his gaze.
“I’m proud of you, Nico.” He said it confidently, but Nico was sure it wasn’t what he wanted to say. Things unsaid was their love language after all. Nico took it to mean something else, something closer to a more intense confession.
Their affection for each other was splashed all over the moment. Nico reached up and gripped Gideon’s fingers against his throat. He didn’t think as he lifted them to his lips and kissed the tips of Gideon’s fingers.
Gideon held in a gasp at the action and Nico quickly moved away. “Thanks for the help.” He stuttered as he grabbed the rest of his things and then his blazer. Gideon coughed and turned toward the kitchen. They would be okay by the time graduation was over, Nico knew this because this is what always happened.
It was like a missed bus, the time would come again. The question was would Gideon still be there waiting at the stop.
He patted his pockets for his keys and then looked up at Gideon who had resumed his lean against the counter, still in his sweatpants, hair almost dry and incredibly unruly. Nico wanted to give him a hug, instead he turned to the door.
Before he left, he turned back to Gideon as he fumbled with his phone in his hand. “Are you still coming?” He didn’t know why it came out almost shy.
Gideon rolled his eyes and walked over to Nico, he slapped his hands on his cheeks and smiled, it reached his eyes this time. Then Gideon leaned in, kissed his cheek and released Nico from his grip. “Don’t be stupid.”
Nico nodded and grabbed the door knob without looking away from Gideon. “Just making sure.” He didn’t like feeling unsure of himself.
Gideon licked his hips and then crossed his arms over his chest. “Nicky -”
Nico’s alarm went off before Gideon could finish. “What were you going to say?”
Gideon shook his head. “Nothing. You’ll be late, go, go.”
Nico wanted to pull it out of him but he did need to go and Gideon didn’t seem like he wanted to give up the information so he just nodded.
Right before he went out the door he felt Gideon’s hands on him and he turned around to face him. Gideon reached up and fixed Nico’s tie one more time. “Mother hen.” He joked just to see Gideon scoff. “Always taking care of me.”
Nico turned and walked out the door but he swore he heard “Always, Nicolas, Always,” as he walked into the hallway. He turned but the door was closed. He touched the knot of his tie and thought of Gideon’s knuckles brushing his throat.
He went to graduation.
+1. Finally.
Nico was on fire, not physically, though he could swear it felt like it. Gideon was in his lap and it wasn’t new, this wasn’t the first time, and it wouldn’t be the last, but it always felt so intense. Like there was a part of him reaching for him and straining to be in his presence.
He had felt this many times before they had gotten together, there was always a part of him that wanted to be touching Gideon, that wanted Gideon touching him.
He felt like he was molten, like if he moved too much the Earth would crack beneath them. It was terrifying and exhilarating and Nico was so greedy for more at every turn.
Gideon was over him, surrounding him and Nico couldn’t help but stare, he saw him and saw the whole world in his eyes, in the tan of his skin, in the unruly mess of his hair, in the lines of his hands. He felt like it was always taking over him, Gideon’s essence.
His hands were on Gideon’s ass and they helped him move in his lap, Nico lifted him so that Gideon’s thighs wouldn’t be too sore the next day. Nico still had his shorts on, Gideon did not. He was bare and Nico felt every time his cock brushed against his abdomen, the wet slide of precome staining his stomach. He wanted to run his finger over it, put it in his mouth, but he couldn’t move. Every roll of Gideon’s hips felt so good and it left Nico shaking and wanting.
He brushed one hand up Gideon’s back and groaned as Gideon rolled down into him, hard. He squeezed his ass, sure there would be bruises on the sensitive skin. The urge to get completely naked swept over him, but he wouldn’t ask Gideon to get off of him, not now.
Gideon watched him, his eyes were completely glazed over with lust and hazy with want. Nico felt the breath escape him, he ran a hand up Gideon’s back and pressed into his spine. Gideon’s breath hitched and he arched into Nico, who used it to his advantage and attached his lips to Gideon’s chest.
He licked over his collarbone, into the dip of his clavicle and then down until he got a nipple into his mouth. Gideon groaned and pushed more into his mouth. “Nico.” His name was a breathy sound that he could barely hear.
Gideon panted and Nico moved over to the other side of his chest to give it the same treatment. Gideon’s skin was red from heat and Nico’s ministrations, Nico loved the color on him. Gideon’s hands gripped Nico’s shoulders and pressed down so that he could have more leverage to grind down into him.
Nico breathed him in, the way he smelled, the press of his hands, the feel of his cock along his abs.
It was boiling in the room and Nico was so on edge it wasn’t going to be much longer before he needed to change positions.
One of Gideon’s hands slid from his shoulder and reached down to grip Nico’s chin, he lifted his head up, pushed against the bone and Nico’s mouth opened without his permission. Gideon leaned down and gave him a filthy kiss, his tongue pressing into Nico’s mouth without hesitation. It was devastating, Nico responded with enthusiasm.
Gideon started to roll his hips in tight circles, their cocks pressed together, one piece of material between them. Nico was starting to become annoyed at the barrier.
Gideon pulled away from the kiss but he did not release Nico’s chin. He just brushed his thumb over Nico’s lips and Nico had the urge to bite down on the pad of his thumb but he just licked around the skin instead, the taste of salt pressed onto his tongue. His legs shook at the need that coursed through his body.
Gideon was taking his time getting them ready and going, Nico was beyond ready. He needed to be inside Gideon or have him in his mouth or -
Gideon pressed their foreheads together and then Nico felt his index and middle finger press down on his lips. His mouth dropped open again and Gideon slipped them inside. Nico groaned around them and he swallowed.
Nico was obsessed with Gideon’s fingers, with the long lean digits that did wonders to Nico’s body. He could come just like this, Gideon’s fingers in his mouth, finally after so long thinking about it. With Gideon on top of him, this was like a dream come true.
Gideon thrust his fingers inside and Nico licked between them and got them wet, it should have been gross but Nico couldn’t help the satisfaction at the idea of Gideon fingering himself with Nico’s spit. He wondered if that’s where this was leading, was Gideon just torturing him or if he was getting ready to prepare himself.
Nico would gladly let him stay in his lap while he did it.
All Nico could think about was the fact that a part of Gideon was in his mouth, with all his brain power and knowledge all he could think about was how much he really wanted it to be his cock.
He feels himself strain in his shorts and it almost hurts, he can feel how wet he is with precome, but he won’t move and he’ll let Gideon take what he needs.
Gideon’s fingers press down on his tongue and Nico almost gags, but then Gideon pushes them further into Nico’s mouth and Nico can’t take in steady breaths.
Gideon begins to thrust his fingers inside his mouth and Nico can’t help but think of the time Gideon fucked his face. He wants that now. The simulation of it isn’t enough, he needs to taste him, wants to feel the weight and heat of him on his tongue.
Gideon shoves his fingers down farther, Nico feels a tear slip down his cheek. Gideon’s other hand comes up to swipe it away, he leans down to leave a trail of kisses down Nico’s face as he fucks his face with his fingers.
“Baby.” Gideon’s voice is as wrecked as Nico feels, it’s rough and low and Nico moans around his fingers. Gideon drags his fingers along Nico’s tongue and then he pulls them out slowly. They are soaked in Nico’s spit, Gideon grabs his chin and it smears across his chin.
He leans down to kiss him and it’s wet and open and so hot Nico whines into the heat of it. Gideon licks around his teeth and then sucks his bottom lip into his mouth. When he bites down Nico’s hands grip his waist so hard Gideon gasps.
Nico moans at the feel of him, how Gideon presses down into him, how their chests brush together. He reaches down to palm at Gideon’s cock and the other man has to pull his mouth away to bury his face in the crook of Nico’s neck.
Nico presses a hand to the back of his head and curls his hand in his hair. “Baby.” The endearment slips off his tongue easily and Gideon sucks a mark into the skin of his neck in appreciation.
Eventually, Gideon pulls away from his neck, a smirk stretched across his lips. “Need something, Nicky?” Nico can tell how gone he is just from the way his voice shakes, but he’s still a tease and Nico wants him shaking apart in his lap, or on his back.
Nico groans as Gideon rolls his hips up and presses his cock more into Nico’s hand. Finally, Nico takes him off his lap by grabbing him by the waist and throwing him down on the bed. He hovers over him as Gideon laughs and looks up at him with adoration. “Yeah, Sandman, your cock.”
There’s a wink from Gideon and then Nico is sinking down his body, pressing kisses into his skin. There’s no more teasing after that, only Nico’s happy hums and Gideon screaming his name.