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It's been a month since they've last seen each other in person. Adam went away on tour while Ricky stayed behind for his own health and to take care of Starks. It hurt Ricky to stay behind, even though they both knew it was the best option for him. Still, the whole time where was a hole in his chest he couldn't quite fix. The house was too quiet. Everything just didnt feel right. Ricky worked in his studio as usual, working on projects here and there to keep his mind busy. It worked for the most part. Until he had to go to bed and stare at the ceiling until he eventually passed out. And he did it all again the next day.
It was hard to set up video calls due to the timezones and their schedules never lining up. If Ricky was free, Adam was busy, and vice versa. At some point, Ricky just let it be and focused on the house and work. He didn't wanna bother him too much.
When Adam came back, suddenly everything seemed a little brighter. Ricky picked him up from the airport and instantly hugged him so tight. They talked the whole car ride catching up on everything the other person did while they were separated. Ricky listened with intent and politely nodded along as Adam told him the places they explored and excited to show him some sightseeing photos he took. Ricky tried not to let it show that he still felt a small pit in his stomach the more the conversation went on.
When they arrived out the house, Ricky helped put Adam's bags in the living room and kept glancing at him. He was maybe too obvious with his staring cause Adam noticed right away.
"What, is there something on my face?" Adam said with soft chuckle.
Ricky felt his face heat up, "No no it's nothing. I'm… I really missed you bud."
Adam gives him a reassuring smile and pulls him into another hug, "I missed you so much dude." He feels Ricky tighten the embrace just the slightest. He will never get over how affectionate Ricky is to the people he cares about.
"If you wanna put your stuff in your room, I can start making us dinner," Ricky is the first to pull away and gesture towards the kitchen, "I'm sure the pets will be excited to see you again."
The younger man nods and starts collecting his bag and suitcase to his room. Ricky watches his back until Adam is out of view and lets his shoulders drop. He sighs to himself, alone again, and walks over to open the fridge.
•|•
Adam is a little surprised that his bedroom door is already slightly opened. He thinks nothing of it and easily pushes through with his bags to see that Harlow is napping on his bed. Which, he notices is a mess with the covers strewn around. He swears he made the bed before he left?
He walks up to where his cat lays and gently pets her little fuzzy head. She slowly opens her eyes and meows at him, clearly happy to see him again with the way she purrs into his hand.
"Hey sweet girl," Adam giggles, "I missed you so much."
She nuzzles her face in his palm, and Adam internally melts at how cute she is. He lets her be for now and focuses his attention around his room again. Everything else seems in its place, albeit a few clothes on the ground and the messy bed. He wonders if Ricky went into his room while he was gone.
He shrugs it off for now, unpacking a few of his essentials from his suitcase to give Ricky some time to cook their dinner. The younger man is exhausted but wants to be somewhat productive now that he's here. While unpacking, he picks up the clothes that were on the floor to get them out of the way. The moment he brings it close to him, he catches a very familiar scent from it. His stomach does a small flip when he recognizes what it is: Ricky's cologne. Adam isn't sure how Ricky's hoodie got into his room in the first place but the dots start connecting in his head.
Adam knows it's very weird to do this, but he sniffs the sheets on his bed to confirm his suspicions. They smell like Ricky too. He can't help feeling his cheeks getting warm at the thought of Ricky going into his room to sleep in his bed when he isn't here. Adam loves Ricky, of course, but it's always been in a platonic way. Right? They're just very close and appreciate each other's company. They live together and share pets, for fuck's sake. He's missed Ricky a lot when he went on this tour alone and sometimes even wished he was back home with him instead. But this sudden realization of something weird and new catches him off guard. He doesn't get how he's never really noticed before.
His hands clutch the hoodie close to his chest. He nervously bites his lip debating with himself if he should bring this up to Ricky. He sits down on the bed, Harlow now getting up and scoots close to him. She softly headbutts his hand for more pets and attention. He hums, lightly scratching her head. At least he isn't alone while he waits.
•|•
Ricky was too lost in his own thoughts to not even hear Adam come downstairs. He felt a hand on his back before he straighten up and suddenly was aware of his surroundings again.
"Sorry," Adam mumbles, "I didn't mean to scare you like that."
"No no its's all fine, was just a little distracted is all." Ricky was gonna have to get used to someone else in the house again. He peers down and sees Harlow held like a baby. He smiles and presents his knuckles to her as she slowly rubs his face on him. "She was oddly so clingy to me while you were away."
Adam giggles to himself at the thought of her and Ricky getting along for once, "See, I told you she likes you. She's just.. very particular. Where is Starks, anyways?"
"In my room, probably. He's been chilling in there a lot more. But, he's been doing alright. Just an old man like me."
Adam lets out a small exhale, a smile forming on his lips. "What're you making?"
Ricky turns back to what he's been working on, stirring the food in the pan, "Just some pasta, cause I know you probably want something quick since you've been on a plane all day."
Adam lets Harlow go and scamper off into her tall cat tree in the corner, "That sounds nice. Thank you seriously, you really didn't have to do this for me."
"I wanted to—" Ricky pauses when he looks back at the younger man in a new hoodie. His hoodie. His mouth suddenly goes dry. "Where did you find that…"
Adam blushes, not making eye contact by staring at the ground, "Uh— it was my room when I went in. And I noticed my bed was unmade too…"
Ricky scolds himself for not picking up after himself. He rubs his face with free hand trying his best to hide the fact that he's flustered. How do you explain to your best friend that you slept in his bed cause you missed him so bad? And slept there so often that it felt more right to be in his bed than your own? He knows he's in too deep. He's felt this way for who knows how long, but Adam leaving him for a month made it even worse. He liked having Adam by his side every day. It killed him knowing he was off living his life in another continent while Ricky was stuck in the same mundane routine alone. He just wanted his bandmate back with him.
"I know, I know it's probably strange and sorry for going into you room but," Ricky quickly turned off the stove heat and put the kitchen utensil to the side, "I missed you so much. Everything felt so… off when you weren't around." He leans against the counter, eyes glued to the floor. He could feel his heartbeat quicken.
Adam fidgeted with the strings on the hoodie before stepping closer to his roommate, "Honestly, I was so used to you being next to me all the time but ending up feeling disappointed when I turned and you werent' there."
"Adam… I'm sorry—"
"Please don't apologize. You stayed behind for a good reason. It wasn't your fault."
Ricky clenched his jaw at feeling his throat tighten, trying to hide the fact he's getting emotional. "I think… when you were gone, I realized something. Well, I always knew in the back of my mind but you being away just made it more real."
"And what's that?"
"That I fell for you." Ricky blurted out, looking straight at the younger man.
A beat of silence took over the room. Adam suddenly felt his face flush. The eye contact between them was intense and Ricky continued on, still holding his gaze.
"And I should have told you this forever ago but didn't want ro ruin anything. You're the most important person in my life, Adam. Being away from you for that long is something I never want to do again. I understand this is a lot and you don't have to feel the same but… I needed to get that out there."
Adam stared at him for a moment, silence filling the air once again. His eyebrows were slightly knotted together and his mouth parted open, looking like he was scamrbling to find the right words. Instead, he simply raised a hand to gently hold Ricky's cheek. The older man instantly melted into the touch, almost tearing up at the sweet gesture.
"Rick…" Adam whispered, like if he spoke any louder it would break the man in front of him. Ricky tried to hide his face in Adam's hand, closing his eyes. He didn't wanna cry right now. He was prepared for rejection, until he felt the softest kiss on his lips like a ghost and it was gone just like that. Ricky opens his eyes, eyebrows furrowed.
"I fell for you too."
Ricky's eyes widened and his cheeks warmed up. His scattered mind finally stopped turning and all he could focus on was the man right in front of him. He sees Adam nervously bite his lip, suddenly being all too aware of how close their faces are.
"Sorry if that was too much—"
Adam gets interrupted when Ricky leans forward to kiss him again. Ricky hears Adam's quiet gasp then quickly feels him melt against his lips. The older man gently wraps his arms around his waist, bringing him closer so their chests are pressed together. The hand on Ricky's cheek brushes his beard, earning a small hum that makes Adam's heart flutter.
"You're so cute, you know that?" Ricky giggles, pulling away slightly but still keeping Adam close.
"Shut up," Adam buries his red face into Ricky's chest, "dont't start flirting with me now."
Ricky chuckles and kisses the top of his head. He can't help but bring a hand up to softly brush back Adam's hair. They stay in silence for a bit to fully process everything. It feels like such a big change for them but like nothing has changed at the same time. They were already close before, so it just feels so natural to be almost cuddled up like this. It felt so right.
"Your heart is beating fast," Adam teases while looking up at Ricky.
"Can you blame me when a cute guy just kissed me?" Ricky tilting his head to one said with a subtle smirk.
Adam rolls his eyes but gives the older man a small peck on his lips, "I think the food got cold during all that. Should we just reheat it in the microwave?"
"Yeah, obviously we got… distracted. You get settled on the couch and I'll bring it to you. I still wanna treat you." Ricky warmly smiles at him.
Adam nods and looks at Ricky so fondly that it makes Ricky's stomach do a flip. He reluctantly lets go of the younger man and watches him head towards the living room. Harlow is sitting on the couch, and Adam immediately goes to scratch her chin.
Starks must have came down earlier because Ricky feels something brush against his leg and looks down to see the corgi staring at him with big dark eyes. Ricky chuckles to himself as Starks waddles into the living room. Ricky hears how excited Adam is to see Starks again, petting him with both hands and talking in a cute voice he reserves only for the pets.
Something in the older man's chest starts to feel warm and fuzzy looking at the little family he's got. The house feels lively. Ricky feels complete again. He isn't alone anymore.