Chapter 18

The shop was almost empty when Messiah walked in after his last class. Just one artist finishing up with a client while Javier was at his station drawing. He looked up when Messiah came in, that smile spreading across his face.

"I thought you was gonna be stuck in class all day," Javier said as Messiah dropped into the chair next to him.

"My professor let us out early." Messiah leaned back, keeping some space between them but his eyes stayed on Javier. "What you working on?"

"Just some designs." Javier moved his chair closer, showing him the sketches. Their shoulders brushed and Messiah felt that warmth spread through his chest. "You tired?"

"Yeah these classes been killing me. Plus I had practice this morning."

"You eat yet?"

"I grabbed something after class."

Javier looked at him for a minute, then glanced around to make sure they was alone before leaning in to kiss him. Messiah tensed for a second - still not used to somebody being this gentle with him - but then melted into it, his hand coming up to grip Javier's shirt.

When they pulled back, Javier stayed close. "I been wanting to do that all day."

"Yeah?" Messiah's voice was quiet, still holding Javier's shirt.

Instead of answering, Javier kissed him again, deeper this time. Messiah let himself get lost in it for a minute before pulling back, remembering where they was.

"I got one more appointment today," Javier said, his hand on Messiah's neck. "But after that you wanna grab food?"

"Yeah that's cool." Messiah moved back slightly but stayed close enough for their knees to touch.

They fell into comfortable silence, Javier drawing while Messiah watched. Every now and then Javier would look up and catch him staring, would lean in for another quick kiss that left Messiah fighting a smile.

"Dom know about us yet?" Javier asked after a while.

"Nah not yet." Messiah tensed slightly. "That cool?"

"Whatever you comfortable with chiquito." Javier squeezed his knee. "I ain't rushing you."

The bell rang as a client walked in. Messiah pulled back, putting that little bit of space between them while Javier worked. He pulled out his phone but kept watching Javier, how focused he got when he was tatting.

A few hours later they was walking to Javier's car, shoulders bumping. The night air was cool and Messiah found himself walking closer.

"You cold?" Javier asked, already shrugging off his hoodie.

"I'm good," but Messiah took it when Javier handed it over. It smelled like him.

In the car, Javier reached for his hand but Messiah just looked at it for a second before turning to stare out the window. He wasn't ready for all that yet. Javier just nodded, understanding like always.

At the restaurant they got a quiet booth in the back. Messiah was still wearing Javier's hoodie, trying not to think too deep about what that meant.

"What you looking at?" he asked when he caught Javier staring.

"You." Javier's voice was soft. "I like seeing you in my clothes."

"You saying some real soft shit right now."

"Only for you chiquito."

After they ate, they sat in Javier's car for a minute. Messiah was fighting with himself about moving closer, about letting his walls down more. Finally he turned and kissed Javier, quick but real.

"I gotta go home," he said quietly. "I got early practice."

"I know." Javier kissed him one more time, slow and deep. "Text me when you get there?"

"Yeah." Messiah got out, glancing back to see Javier watching to make sure he got in safe.

Later in bed, Messiah was still wearing the hoodie even though he told himself he was gonna take it off. His cat was curled up next to him while he texted:

"Home"

"Sweet dreams baby"

Messiah touched his lips where he could still feel Javier's kiss. His walls was still up but they was coming down little by little. Something about Javier made him want to try, even though it scared him.