My Other Half // PRIVATE with Crocs

Nikolas barked a laugh against Markus' lips, grinning as well. "Markus," he said slowly, looking up at the boy holding him, the boy that wanted to kiss him despite his faith, that was kissing him. "I think we should get some food before you decide I'm a great appetizer." He didn't make a move to pull away, though. Not that he could, with how Markus had him pressed against him and was holding on tightly. Again, not that he was complaining. This was better than he could imagine today turning out, especially with the cause of those bruises Nikolas had sneakily healed some more while they made out, erasing the pain while keeping the discoloration.

((three dashes, babe. ---))

"The thing?" Nikolas questioned, trying to look calm and cool even as he felt his cheeks warm with a slight blush. He didn't try to pull away or convince Markus to let him go, too happy with the feeling of Markus' arms holding him close. It was unfamiliar, sure, but they just fit so right and he felt so comfortable right here. Nikolas slowly wrapped his arms around Markus' waist, resting his chin on his chest as he continued to look up at him.

Nikolas smiled softly, even as he felt his blush deepen some at how much Markus seemed to pay attention to his eyes. It was strange, receiving compliments and hearing observations like that. He wasn't quite used to it, but he had a feeling that he never will. He couldn't muster up a response, so he settled for pressing a light kiss to Markus' chest, right over his heart, his tongue poking through and brushing the metal of his piercing against the skin.

Nikolas sighed, the sound more like a whine than anything, and forced himself to unwrap his arms from around Markas' waist. He pressed his hands against his stomach instead, lightly pushing as his eyes traced over those muscles just like he had done last night. "Oh, there's a whole meal I'd love to eat," Nikolas murmured, mostly to himself, then looked up at Markus as if he hadn't said anything, eyes amused and teasing as he said, "Well, I'd love to provide you with your food, but I'm currently trapped and have no desire to break out of my prison."

Nikolas bit his lip and stayed where he was, not caring that they had to eat and Markus likely had other places to be. "Didn't I just say I don't particularly want to?" Nikolas finally said, gazing up at Markus even as he looked away, a teasing grin spreading even as he kept his lip trapped between his teeth. He really should pull away, but just a few more seconds? Besides, Nik had to grab Markus a spare shirt or something because it's not like he could go shirtless in public, mainly because of those bruises.

"Eventually being the key word." Nikolas grinned brightly, taking advantage of the closer distance to steal a quick kiss from Markus. He felt more and more comfortable with this, more confident in… whatever this was between them. His eyes drifted down to Markus' jaw and neck, his pulse just barely seen. Nikolas wanted to just toss away all responsibilities to just spend all day with this boy, to keep kissing him and sinking into his embrace. But he refrained from that, unfortunately. He simply stood there, their faces mere inches apart with their foreheads pressed together.

Nikolas smiled and lightly jerked his head up to bump his nose against Markus' nose, 'accidentally' brushing his lips against the other's. "Meet at the treehouse?" he murmured, not drawing his eyes away from those soft brown eyes. Cuddles sounded like an amazing way to finish off the day, even if Markus didn't stay very long. And even if it was more than cuddles—or just being in the same room as him—he'd be happy.

"You're not making me want to move away any," Nikolas huffed, still reluctant to move. He had just kissed Markus—kissed him on the lips. Not on his neck or chest or face, but on his lips. And he hadn't even been the one to instigate it. Yes, he had likely jump-started Markus' decision with his kissing, but it was ultimately Markus to start it, to ask. How could he ever want to leave now? To pull away when he felt so comfortable–felt so… safe?

"Hmm," Nikolas hummed with a small smile, pretending to think about it. Really, he was just savoring Markus' touch and closeness. If the other boy paid attention, he might feel the slight bumps on Nikolas' arms from old track marks and scars–whether that be from incisions or razors. "I'm thinking one last kiss might be enough…" he paused and actually thought about his second condition, "and maybe figuring out what we are now?" He lifted his gaze from Markus' chest—he had dropped it while he was thinking—to his face, the silver questioning.

Nikolas let out a small breath and hung his head. He rested forehead against Markus' chest as he looked down at those hands on his arms, tracing the scars and marks without any hint of malice or ill-intent—so unlike the treatment he was used to. He watched in silence for a bit, then lifted his arms to loosely wrap his own hands around Markus' arms, holding him. "I… I want us to be more, I really do. But I don't want to force you into doing anything you don't want because I'd really hate to do that, and I'm just…" He groaned and closed his eyes, clutching at Markus even more. "I'm a mess."

If Nikolas hadn't already been head over heels for Markus, that would've done it. Even with Nikolas laying it all out to Markus, even with Markus being the one that had the most to lose from this, he was still putting Nikolas' wants before his. He was still giving him a choice—a chance to back out without repercussions. "In that case," Nikolas finally murmured after a moment of silent fawning over the boy in front of him, "then I think we should make this a more official thing. To just ourselves, at least for now." He'd draw the temporary line there, give Markus some breathing room and a chance to sort things out.

Nikolas grinned against Markus' chest, his heart fluttering and soaring with happiness. He's honestly never felt happier, even with any other relationship he's been in. With Markus, it was different—it was better. He didn't care if their whole relationship was fated or set up by the gods, or whatever had jurisdiction over mates and soulmates. Being with Markus just felt right, and making that rightness official was better than it should feel. That's because he's treating you how you should be treated in a relationship, giving you something you long deserve. He could feel his dragon in the back of his head purring at the turn of events, approving of Markus in a way that was different than the rest.

Nikolas looked up at the boy in his arms, at the boy that was tracing his scars and not once asking about it with a look of pity or disgust or judgment, at the boy that was going against everything he was taught to be with him, at the boy who unknowingly gave Nikolas what he never thought he deserved to have. "Well, then I think we should seal this with a kiss," he murmured, using his grip on Markus to make it easier as he went on his toes and stopped just before his lips brushed against the other boy's.

Nikolas couldn't stop smiling. "Just a little longer. Can't hurt any." This time, Nikolas was the one to kiss Markus, having teased him enough. He just wanted to kiss the amazing boy in front of him, so it'd be pointless to deprive himself of that. Gods, he loved kissing Markus already. It felt like he'd need to be surgically removed from him at this rate because he just didn't want to pull away anytime soon. Nikolas just got everything he could ever ask for and more, and now stupid food and hunger gets in the way. Not to mention Markus' work.

Nikolas let the kiss drag on for some time, then groaned and pulled away to drop his head onto Markus' chest, falling back onto his feet. "I love kissing you, but we should eat." Before Markus could say anything, Nikolas pulled away reluctantly and ran a hand through his hair, messing it up. His cheeks were slightly flushed, and his eyes were almost dazed as he opened the trunk again and rifled through his duffle bag to find a shirt or sweatshirt for Markus to use.

"Well," Nikolas said, frowning as he continued to dig through the bag. He likely already found a sweatshirt that was big enough to fit Markus comfortably—he often bought bigger clothes to hide bruises and such, or just because—but he was stalling. He needed to get his head back on straight, even if he clearly wasn't. He was already anxious for their plans for this evening, and they just made them. It wasn't helping his erratic heart any. He finally got to a semi-okay state and pulled out the black hoodie he had found. "I can't exactly let you put your bloody shirt on. Try this for size."