(Untitled)

[out_of_realm]

On the couch in the common room, Tom was sprawled out in sweatpants and a wife beater, blankets pooled around his hips and an old buddy cop movie flickering on the projector screen. He wasn't used to this, being so god awful sick. Once in the last five years, maybe, and that had been when the flu had hit him in the middle of snow storm out in the

Comments

[little_moons]

It's been going on a week now, and no matter how much he tries to shrug it off, I know he's gotta feel like total shit. Can't fuckin' believe it. A goddamn winter cold in the middle of a fuckin' tropical island. Former tropical island. It'd be sorta funny if I wasn't worried for the guy. No matter how much I don't wanna be, I can't really help it.

Giving the other guy a glance, I sit down on the tiny bit of empty couch in front of Tom's hips, lifting a corner of the pillow and peeking up under it. "Hey there, sunshine."

[little_moons]

"Mad Max. Post-apocalyptic hell, you sure you want it?" I ask, turning to him with an arched brow. Now that I think about it, maybe that one's not such a good idea.

[out_of_realm]

"Bring it on," Tom said, laughing. "Me and Mel Gibson can compare notes."

"Heard you and Mike went out and got a Christmas tree for the girls."

[little_moons]

"You're hotter than Mel Gibson," I decide, grinning as I move over to switch out the reels, ducking me head a little when he mentions the tree. It seems sorta... lame, when I think about it, but the whole Christmas tree seems important for reasons I can't explain.

"Yeah. It's not much," I shrug, "Kinda funny lookin' on one side."

[out_of_realm]

"Right back at you," Tom said, because sleeping with Mike was one thing, sleeping with Neil was another, but he still couldn't bring himself to even consider Hollywood headlining men as anything to get tripped up by. And, besides, even if he did, Neil still won by miles.

"Put all the extra ornaments on that side," Tom said, lifting an arm for Neil to get close. "Man...that's what we have to do. Have the girls make some..." He yawned deeply, "Some of those cute macaroni and cardboard ornaments. It'd be cute, you know?"

[little_moons]

Sliding back onto the couch, I settle against him, even if he's hot and sticky and making this weird rattling sound when he breathes in deep. I'll probably get sick, and I'll be kickin' myself then, but right now I don't really care. The dirty tissue I find crumpled up underneath my hip is kinda gross though.

"Yeah, we should. Had a bunch of shell and sea glass ornaments last year. Logan got 'em all in the divorce," I say, snorting out a laugh and tossing the tissue to the floor with a wince.

[out_of_realm]

"Well make new ones," Tom promised, breathing quietly through his mouth as the movie rattled to life. "Memories and ornaments, I promise. It'll be a good year."

"What do you want, anyway?" he asked, even though wheels were already spinning, trying to figure out how to broach it to Mike. "Got anything in mind?"

[little_moons]

"I dunno," I answer with a shrug, listening to the thick wheeze of his breath, "Mike asked me earlier, I couldn't think of anything."

[out_of_realm]

"I could give you my illness," Tom joked, grinning to himself. "Think that counts as generosity for the season?"

[little_moons]

"Wow, man, you are so fuckin' hilarious," I mutter dryly, rolling my eyes and giving him a look that's not nearly as annoyed as I wish it was.

[out_of_realm]

"Better come up with something better, then," Tom sighed, settling into the pillows. "I'm feeling kind of uninspired."

[little_moons]

"Fine then. What do you want?" I ask, "You send your list off to Santa yet?"

[out_of_realm]

"In red crayon, just like every other year," Tom said, coughing into a tissue away from Neil.

"I don't know, man. What does a guy need on a tropical Island? Get me a coconut sculpture. Some paper mache. I don't care. I got just about all I need."

[little_moons]

"So don't ask me if you don't got any idea for yourself," I say, my hand sliding around to settle between his shoulder blades, feeling the cough rattle through his chest.

"I'll figure out somethin'."

[out_of_realm]

"We'll get there," Tom said, watching muzzily as figures flashed across the screen. He'd seen this about once a day for an entire summer, way back when, and he could mostly keep up without any effort.

"I love you," he added, "I'd kiss you, you know, but the plague is probably a turn off, right?"

[little_moons]

"Sorta, yeah," I murmur, leaning in to press my lips to his sweaty temple anyway. Biting back a teasing grin, I add, "You're gettin' sorta rank, too. That's not exactly helpin'."