Carlton/Nick Drabble
IDEK.
This was sort of a response to Megan_Moonlight's prompt "Carlton not sure of what to get Nick for his birthday" which was supposed to end in a cute scene w/ an old photo, and a left-turn commentfic helped along by Rispacooper, but, i suck and it's just...not good. Like I can't even finish re-reading through it.
I quit.
Nick returned from the kitchen with a second cup of tea and frowned as
he stopped in the doorway to the living room, watching Carlton on the
couch, still so put-together, with a deep-set frown aimed at his
Blackberry.
He looked to the television against the wall, with its volume low and
picture perfect newscasters telling old news before looking back to
Carlton.
"Did you get called in for something?" He asked, approaching the couch
with quiet steps. It wasn't as if he didn't understand the nature of
the job, really, he did, but the way Carlton flinched and got that
momentary deer-in-the-headlights look as he snapped his phone shut and
slipped it into his breast pocket concerned him.
"No--it's nothing." He said quickly, his eyes darting away to fix on
the television screen, squinting intently at a clip about some traffic
accident.
"Oh." Nick said softly, carefully stepping over Fenway who had wedged
himself between the couch and coffee-table to resume his place next to
Carlton on the sofa.
He settled down slowly and looked up, noticing the furrowed brow
remaining, as if he were thinking about something. Nick leaned against
him lightly, letting his cheek rest against his shoulder as he
continued to stare, a pang of confusion hitting him as Carlton's arm
didn't lazily rest along the back of the couch, or across his
shoulders the way he normally would.
Despite being an optimist--coupled with the fact that Carlton hadn't
mentioned any particularly interesting/troubling cases or
Spencer-Related Incidents lately--Nick momentarily wondered if this
was one of those signs all of those talk-show gurus warned about: the
signs of the coming end.
Nick sighed again and tugged on Carlton's tie gently. "Are you okay?"
He asked as Carlton looked down and nodded quickly and gave a
half-smile.
"Fine, why?"
Nick managed to not pout, and shifted his mug of tea to the other
hand. "Why? Probably because you've been a space cadet for the entire
evening?"
"I have?" He almost sounded surprised, looking around bashfully before
moving his arm from under Nick and draping it across his shoulders
slowly. "Sorry...just thinking."
Nick relaxed a little before speaking up. "About?"
"Nothing."
"Really?" He said flatly, as Carlton's arm shifted to the back of the couch.
Carlton made a noncommittal noise and directed his concentration back
towards the television.
Nick made a grouchy noise of his own, sitting up straighter and
sipping his tea, feeling Carlton flinch again. Fenway raised his head
and looked between the two of them before getting to his feet, tail
lowered.
"Fine, don't tell me." He sighed softly and got up, collecting the
scattered dishes on the coffee table, and Fenway moved out of the way,
following him into the kitchen.
Nick took a deep breath and waited, turning on the tap and washing the
dishes that had accumulated in the sink. The tightness returned to his
chest as he ran through the scenarios--he'd found someone else, the
inevitable hetero freak-out, or worse the realization that this
wouldn't work.
After a few minutes Carlton was hovering at the doorway of the
kitchen, running a hand though his hair.
"Nick..."
"What?" He snapped, shutting off the water and putting the last dish
in the drying rack, wiping his hands off with a dish towel.
He didn't bother turning around when Carlton stayed silent, only a
soft whine coming from Fenway.
After another agonizing moment Nick tossed the towel down and turned,
feeling his temper flare. "Damnit, Carlton, spit it out if something's
on your mind."
Carlton looked a little shocked, stepping forward, the frown returning
to his face. "Nick..."
He huffed softly and frowned back. "What?"
Carlton mumbled something and stepped closer, arms crossed against his chest.
"What?" Nick snapped again, leaning against the counter wearily.
Carlton's mouth opened and shut quickly before he grumbled loudly and
leaned against the kitchen island. "I don't know what to get you for
your birthday, okay?!" His face was scrunched in annoyance and he was
looking at his shoes.
Nick started to argue before he realized what he'd said. "Wait, how'd
you know my birthday is coming up?" He frowned as Carlton looked up
confused.
"Because, it's the same as it was back then...unless you changed it,
or something." He rolled his eyes as poked at some crumbs on the
counter-top.
"No, but...how did you...? You never like did anything..."
"What are you nuts? I gave you half of my sandwich and I let
you drive. However, now, since we're..." Carlton sighed again and
waved his hands quickly. "This. You know. Us." He shrugged
self-consciously and looked back down at his shoes. "I figured I
should probably do something more...fitting."
Nick relaxed against the cabinets and felt himself smile as he
remembered the day, Carlton's bashful, cranky smiles, the odd
gestures. "Oh, Carlton." He sighed, laughing softly before pushing off
the counter, feeling a bit foolish for jumping to conclusions. He
stepped closer and tugged on Carlton's tie, causing him to look up,
his face full of confusion and embarrassment. Nick tugged at the knot
and slipped the silk loose, coiling it on the counter-top before
leaning against him. "Sorry." He said as Carlton made a questioning
noise. "You don't have to get me anything, I've got you." He smiled up
at him and gave him a kiss on the lips.
"Are you sure?" He rested a hand on Nick's hip. "That's not a trick
statement is it?" He quirked an eyebrow skeptically as Nick smirked
and took his hand.
"No, it's not a trick." He told him, leading him towards the stairs.
"Now, come on, it's late." He reached down with his free hand and gave
Fenway an affectionate pat.
"Are you sure?" He asked again as Nick gave him a playful shove up the
first step.
"Move it, Detective." He ordered, his laughter echoing in the stairwell.