My Protector
Title- My protector
Pairing- Neil/David
Summary- Neil comes home to find David exhausted from his day, re-training to be a chef.
Wordcount-781
Disclaimer- Just my imagination- I own nothing
Rating- pg
Notes- I've read some fics where David looks after Neil so I thought I'd have a go at twisting it round and showing Neil comforting David. This is my first RPS for these two so it's not very good. I particulalry found it hard to capture Neil's voice, so sorry for any errors. Please let me know what you think.
Neil checked the time as he went up the drive into his house. Half-eight, two hours later than he’d originally planned. He’d texted his boyfriend to say he was running late but this didn’t appease his guilt. David had been planning to cook for them tonight, some new recipe he had been eager to try and it was hard enough as it was for them to fit in meal times together, both working such irregular hours with Neil’s filming and David starting up again as a chef. He knew David would forgive him in an instant, but that settle his conscience, it just made it worse,
As Neil opened the door he noted the absence of the aroma of any food David would be cooking. Thinking little of it then he headed quickly towards the kitchen but as he turned the corner he saw that the light was off in the kitchen. That was strange. Had he upset David by working late so he wasn’t cooking or was he so late that the meal had been ruined?
“David?” He called to no response. Confused he went in search of his boyfriend. Seeing there were no lights on upstairs he moved across the hall and peered into the dimly lit living room. There, half curled up on the couch lay his boyfriend, blinking up at the door.
“Neil?” His innocent confusion was heart warming. “What, what time is it?”
“Just gone half eight, I’ve just got...”
“Half eight?” David sat up quickly before a wave of head rush made him lie back down again. “Shit, I was meant to cook wasn’t I?”
“It doesn’t matter.” Neil hurried in from the doorway to come and kneel beside the couch.
“David, are you all right?” Up close he could see how pale his boyfriend’s face was and the bags that hung under his eyes. “It’s not like you to sleep in the day. You’re not feeling sick are you?” He placed his hand on the David’s forehead and was relieved to find there was no temperature.
“No Doogie, I’m not.” Neil aimed a playful swipe at his boyfriend, more relieved than anything to hear him well enough to tease him. However the teasing wasn’t done in David’s usual, playful style, it came out more as hard work than anything.
“What is it babe?” He asked softly in a serious tone.
“It’s nothing, I’m fine,” David slowly sat up and to interrupt Neil’s inevitable protest amended, “Well, not fine, I’m just exhausted, you know. It’s hard starting up a new career, I mean I knew it would be and everything but I’m tired.” The end of the sentence was said so quietly, Neil had to lean in to hear it.
“It’s knocking my self-confidence,” David admitted in the same muted whisper. “I thought I could do it but right now it seems so hard, I keep making silly mistakes, then worrying about them so much I make more and you’re away at work and I’m just... I’m so tired.” Neil wrapped his arms around his boyfriend and held him. They didn’t speak, they didn’t attempt to communicate in any way, David just rested in his arms feeding of Neil’s strength. Time passed slowly and at length the latter spoke,
“David, it’s ok to be exhausted. That’s what you keep telling me isn’t it? It’s all right to feel tired, to doubt, to want nothing better to collapse and sleep. You alone know how often I can feel like that, particularly when we’re apart for so long lately, but you’re always there for me when it gets too much. Encouraging me, giving me strength.” He felt David, nod his head gently, against his shoulder, listening silently to what the other man had to say.
“Let me be here for you. I know what an amazing chef you are and just how amazing you have the potential to be and soon you’ll be up and motivated again but now, just rest a while.” They sat a while longer until David heard his boyfriend’s stomach rumble. He smiled made to get up and go to the kitchen but once again Neil stopped him offering instead to make dinner himself.
“Oh no, Neil, anything but that.” Neil laughed, relieved to hear genuine playfulness come back into his boyfriends voice.
“Hey, I’m not that bad, Mr Chef.” David lay back down smiling. He dozed lightly until a faint nudge to his shoulder informed him of Neil’s return. A tray was gently placed on his lap and he couldn’t help but smile at the sight of beans on slightly burnt toast.
“Thank-you,” he murmured, pressing a soft kiss to Neil’s cheek.