Chapter Text
“So then, I joined a new match right? And the craziest thing happened.”
Avery was sprawled over Derek’s legs, gesturing with his hands as he spoke about an intense skywars match. The two were on Derek’s bed, Derek’s hands in Avery’s hair.
Very normal activities to do with your friends.
“And then, this guy was hacking. I swear to you, he did! He was flying around the map and destroyed everything in seconds. It was so scary.” Avery shuddered and blinked up at Derek. “I was on the green team, okay, and red and yellow were gone.”
Derek nodded along, just content to listen to Avery. He carded his hands through Avery’s hair, gently playing with it. “Mhm..” he hummed, rubbing Avery’s head.
Avery closed his eyes. “”And..and..agh, I can’t focus.” He reached up and stopped Derek’s hands for a moment. He tapped his fingers against Derek’s palms while he caught his train of thought.
“Oh! Right. And then, I beat the dude’s ass.” Avery nodded to himself in pride. “It was a scary fight. I almost died a couple times. But I managed to get a few lucky hits in.”
Derek ruffled Avery’s hair. “Good job,” he said earnestly. “Hackers suck, and I bet they’re even worse in bedwars.”
“Don’t even get me started on the Hypixel hackers, man.” Avery’s brows pinched together in irritation. “I hate them so much. Why do I always get the hackers?”
Derek shrugged. “That’s why I play in survival. Nobody to grief anything unless you play with others. And I…usually don’t,” he admitted.
Avery blinked in surprise. “Really? You seem like the kind of guy to have a bunch of friends. You’re smart, funny, nice, cu–..uh, yeah, you get what I mean.”
He rolled onto his stomach, stretching his arms out in front of him. There was a lull in conversation as Avery thought about something to talk about. Derek could practically see the gears turning in his head.
“Do you want some cookies?” Avery suddenly offered. “I promise these ones aren’t burnt. I made them, like, yesterday. I meant to bring them over yesterday, but I forgot.”
Derek nodded. “Cookies would be nice.” Especially if they’re from you.
“Okay!” Avery slid off Derek’s legs and ran over to the door. “I’ll be right back.” He practically flew out the door with his excitement.
Derek watched his beautiful not-slime love friend leave, a heavy feeling settling in his chest. He knew Avery would come back, but the feeling of being alone was a lot. Especially being left alone with..him.
Do you dislike me so? Why, I thought we had finally bonded.
Go away. Stop listening to me think.
Your thoughts are loud. Always thinking about my vessel. The vessel that was rightfully mine, until you got in the way.
Whatever makes you sleep at night.
I shall have you know that a divine entity such as myself does not sleep. You disgrace me again, comparing me to those of your stature. You are quite lucky that I cannot currently take you over. I would inhabit the pathetic object of your worthless affections within mere seconds.
..
Are you ignoring me?
Acknowledge your king. Do not be a fool.
Do you ever shut up?
Why, you—
Derek’s door opened again, and he blankly watched Avery come back in with a plate of cookies. He blinked a few times, pushing away his headache.
”I’m back!” Avery announced. “I brought the best looking ones.” He set the plate on Derek’s desk and helped the man to sit.
Derek raised a shaky hand and took one of the cookies, biting into it with only a little difficulty. The cookie was perfect, tasting so much better than what he’d been eating for months. Anything was better, honestly, but the cookies were amazing.
”This is so good,” Derek sighed in happiness. “Might be the best thing I’ve eaten in a while.”
Avery grinned. “That’s good to hear! I’ll try to cook more often then.” He took a cookie himself and started eating it.
The pair munched on cookies together, making small talk until they were finished. Derek ate most of them. He just couldn’t get enough of Avery’s baking.
”Oh yeah, there was some stuff I wanted to do when I first saw you. Like, in real life, I mean,” Avery said, brushing his hands on his shorts.
Derek raised a brow, leaning back in his chair. “And what might those things be?” He had an inkling, of course, but he preferred to hear Avery tell him things.
“Well..” Avery looked a bit embarrassed. “I wanted to punch you. And yell at you. And hug you. And then cry. In that exact order.” He crossed his arms. “But you looked like you were about one second away from falling over, so I had to postpone the yelling and punching and all that.”
That got a laugh out of Derek. “I’m grateful for you waiting to unleash your wrath upon me. Though, I feel a whole lot better now.” He started standing up from his chair, and Avery instinctively grabbed his arm to support him.
”Uh..oops.” Avery released Derek’s arm, but hovered his arms around him. “I know you can walk a little now, but I can’t help but worry that you’re just going to drop.”
Derek shook his head, successfully making it back to his bed. “I understand. I’d be worried if you could barely walk too.” He scooted into the middle of his bed, making space for Avery.
Avery sat cross-legged, facing Derek. “Are you feeling well enough that I can punch you?” He asked in a joking tone. He made a show of cracking his knuckles and rolling his shoulders.
Derek smiled. “Yeah. Go for it.”
Avery stared at him. “You’re serious? Like, for real? Deadass?”
Derek nodded. “Of course. You deserve to let out your emotions.” He slid within Avery’s punching range.
Avery hesitated. “...I..well, I’m not that angry anymore. Maybe a little. I’ll do it gently.” He drew back a fist, winding up for what seemed like what was going to be a hard punch.
Derek instinctively flinched and tensed, bracing for the impact of pain. His eyes shut as he ducked his head to the side. The punch that hit him, though, could barely be considered a hit.
He cracked an eye open, seeing Avery’s fist on his arm. He let himself relax, taking Avery’s hand into his. “You…that was lighter than I expected.”
Avery laughed. “Like I said, I’m not that angry anymore. And you’re still in pretty bad shape.” He turned Derek’s hand palm-down, idly swinging their hands together.
“So..are we skipping the yelling part?” Derek asked with a slight amused tone.
“Yes.” Avery suddenly looked a little nervous. “Can..I, uh, hug you?” He poked at Derek’s fingers, wiggling them.
Derek gently pulled on Avery’s hand, pulling him closer. “Of course,” he said softly. “Anything you ask.”
When Avery got pulled forward, he braced himself with a hand by Derek’s side. He looked at Derek, then at the bed. He sat up and slowly wrapped his arms around Derek’s torso. It was a little awkward at first, but Avery slowly leaned more into Derek. His breath hitched when Derek’s arms wrapped around him, holding him firmly.
Avery pressed his cheek to Derek’s shoulder. It felt..nice to be in somebody’s embrace. Especially Derek’s. It was warm, comfortable, and safe.
“It–it’s been a long time since I’ve hugged somebody,” Avery admitted quietly. He closed his eyes and let himself rest against Derek. “This feels nice.”
Derek moved a hand to caress the back of Avery’s head. “It’s been a while for me too.” He let his fingers run through Avery’s hair.
Avery mumbled something way too quietly for Derek to hear. He heaved a large sigh and let all the tension bleed from his muscles. He felt like a slime.
They stayed like that for a little while, both needing the physical comfort. Derek quite enjoyed seeing Avery in his arms and feeling his body against his own. It was peaceful.
Avery suddenly shifted, beginning to pull away (much to Derek’s disappointment). “Ugh..if I stay like this any longer, I’m going to fall asleep.” He yawned and distangled himself from Derek fully.
Derek internally sighed. I wish he stayed there longer. Perhaps the whole night.
Can you PLEASE stop thinking when I am trying to rest?
I thought you said you didn’t sleep..
I did. Resting and sleeping are different. You of all people do not know the difference?
I was joking,
Derek looked at Avery, who seemed like he wanted to ask something. “Yes, Avery?” He inquired, tilting his head.
Avery’s eyes dropped to Derek’s lips, cheeks warming. “Can I, uh, do something stupid?” He whispered, too shy to meet Derek’s eyes. “I mean, I always do stupid stuff because I am stupid, but–”
Derek shook his head and took Avery’s hand. “You’re not stupid, Aves,” he interrupted. “And yes, you can kiss me.” Derek grew amused watching Avery turn red.
“Who–who said I was going to kiss you?” Avery hid his face in his free hand, squeezing Derek’s hand with his other. “Nobody said that. I mean, I could change my name to nobody–who said that? WHO said that..”
Derek brushed Avery’s hand away from his face. He smiled and booped Avery’s nose. “I said yes, you know,” he teased, leaning in closer. Maybe he liked to see Avery flustered. Perhaps.
Avery’s eyes widened, hands settling on Derek’s shoulders. “I know!” He squeaked quickly. “Forward today, aren’t we..” he laughed nervously, looking away from Derek.
Derek cupped Avery’s face, turning it to face him. His expression softened. “It’s okay if you’re nervous. We–you’ve only really known me for about a week. And also, kissing somebody is kind of scary. So–”
Avery cut off Derek’s rambling by surging forward and pressing their lips together. It was quick, and Avery pulled back swiftly. He sighed. “Sorry, that was bad. Like, a bad kiss–”
Derek drew his beloved’s face close again, kissing him properly this time. He could feel the other man melt into him, hands lacing behind his neck. Derek pulled away for just a moment to get some air, then kissed Avery again. And again. And again, and again, until Avery had to slide a hand between their mouths.
“Derek,” Avery breathed out, “let me breathe.” He inhaled deeply, taking air into his lungs. He eyed Derek, who was just watching him. Then Avery broke into giggles, resting his forehead against Derek’s.
“I think I’m in love with you,” he admitted breathlessly. He let his hand slip away from Derek’s mouth, laughing all the while.
Derek listened to his love laugh for a few moments longer before kissing him again. What a beautiful sound it was.
Hopeless. That is what you are.
“I’m in love with you too,” Derek mumbled between kisses. “God, I’ve loved you for so long.” He buried his face in his darling’s neck, pulling his body closer. He peppered kisses up the column of Avery’s neck, making him laugh harder.
“That tickles,” Avery giggled, tipping his head back. He hugged Derek close, smiling wide. “I’m glad to know that you love me too.”
Derek kissed the underside of Avery’s jaw. “How could I not?” He murmured. “From the first time I saw you, I knew I loved you. I knew that I loved you then, and I knew that I would love you now. You alone stood out to me. You’re beautiful, inside and out.”
Must you do this in front of me?
Avery twirled a strand of Derek’s hair. “With all that knowledge, you would’ve known everything about everyone, right?” His expression morphed into a thinking one. “Why me, out of everyone in the world? Surely somebody else would have caught your attention.”
Derek shook his head. “You stood out to me because I knew you would find my laptop, and eventually find that cursed world. Also, I thought you were really cute when I saw you.” He hid his smile in Avery’s neck.
“You’re such a..a..what’s the word?” Avery pressed his cheek against the top of his lover’s head. “A sap, or something like that.”
The two held each other in comfortable silence, just enjoying each other’s company. A future that Derek had glimpsed, and a present that Avery had looked forward to.
“So..what are we?” Avery’s voice broke the quiet first.
“Lovers, if you’ll have me,” Derek met his beloved’s eyes.
Yuck.
Avery nodded rapidly, squeezing his arms around Derek. “Of course I want you. You’ve helped me through so much, and most of it happened in just one night. You reminded me that I’m real and that I’m special. Not many people would do that.”
“I would,” Derek said softly. “I would do it in a heartbeat. For you, my love, I’d do anything for you.”
You disgust me. Stop talking. Now.
Avery flushed. “Don’t just say things like that.” He rubbed his cheek, perhaps wanting to rub the redness away.
“Why not? It’s true.” Derek grinned and laughed.
The new lovers chatted about meaningless topics, wasting the hours in each other’s presence. Though to them, no time was wasted.
They promised each other, whenever they arrived at a crossroads, they would move forward together.