(no subject)

[cravating]

You'd think by now, I wouldn't get nervous before these things.

[He's showing some pieces at a gallery thing. idk art stuff. but his instinct when he's nervous beforehand is to text Matt. Like clock work.]

Comments

[byrned]

No [ he answers quickly, and reaches over to hold him a little bit closer, like it's really important that he does right now. ] No I'm really not, babe.

[cravating]

[Nate's not complaining about being held closer.]

I like that. [he says quietly] The way you call me babe.

[byrned]

[ Truth be told, Matt hasn't noticed that he's started doing it. Somewhere it switched, and yet it's entirely natural. He finds himself smiling. ]

Yeah I like it too.

[ He reaches out, hand finding Nate's so he can lace his fingers between his. ]

Nate... [ he starts, almost cautious ] Don't date anyone else, yeah? [ Not that he expects that he would, not that he thinks he's that sort of guy, but it's his somewhat awkward way of saying that he wants this to be a thing, a real thing, even if he's not quite ready to use the word boyfriend. ]

[cravating]

[He knows what Matt is trying to say without actually saying it. And it doesn't bother him that the words are harder for Matt to manage. He can be patient with that.]

I won't if you won't.

[They don't have to call this anything, but he doesn't want it unclear that it should all be fair.]

[byrned]

[ He's a touch hesitant, not because he doesn't want to, but because it feels like an extra huge step. It's not like Matt is really seeing anybody properly. Oh people here and there, but nothing more than friends with benefits. But that's not what he wants this to be. ]

You've got yourself a deal.