Brian parked the car in front of his house, turning to Jaxon with a smile. "Estamos aquí. Ready to go inside?"
Jaxon blinked at the unfamiliar Spanish, but he guessed from the context. "Yeah, I’m ready," he said, though he stumbled a bit trying to get out of the car.
Brian quickly got out and rushed to Jaxon’s side, grabbing his arm to steady him. "Whoa, careful there. You okay?"
Jaxon chuckled, trying to play it off. "Yeah, yeah, I’m fine."
Brian didn’t let go, his hand lingering on Jaxon’s arm as he smiled. "You’re not as steady on your feet as you thought, huh?"
"I should’ve sobered up by now," Jaxon muttered, looking at Brian. "Maybe something, or someone, is making me weak in the knees?"
Brian raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth lifting into a sly smile. "¿De verdad?" he teased, his voice lowering. "And what could that something or someone be?"
Jaxon looked Brian straight in the eyes, his gaze locking with his. "I dunno," he said softly, a little grin tugging at the corner of his lips.
Brian’s smile widened as he returned the gaze. "You’re not very subtle, you know that?" he teased, his voice carrying that warm, affectionate tone.
"I never claimed to be," Jaxon replied, leaning into Brian’s hold slightly.
Brian chuckled and began leading Jaxon toward the front door, still keeping a firm hold on his arm. "Fair enough," he said with a smirk. "But you’re pretty cute when you’re not being subtle."
Jaxon raised an eyebrow. "You think I’m cute?"
Brian nodded, his tone light but sincere. "Yeah, I do. You’re very cute when you’re blushing like that."
Jaxon let out a soft laugh, trying to cover his blushing. "I don’t have much choice with you grabbing and touching me like this."
Brian’s laughter was soft and deep. "Perdón, hermano. I’m not trying to make you uncomfortable," he said, though the teasing smile on his face showed he knew exactly what he was doing. "I just couldn’t resist teasing you a little."
"Nooo, don’t stop!" Jaxon protested, pouting. "I didn’t mean it."
Brian grinned, clearly amused by Jaxon’s reaction. "Oh, so you like it when I touch you, huh?"
Jaxon nodded eagerly. "Yesssss," he slurred slightly, his grin widening.
Brian’s voice dropped to a whisper as he leaned closer to Jaxon. "Well, I like touching you too."
"Yayyy," Jaxon said, his voice filled with playful excitement.
Brian’s hand gently slid around Jaxon’s waist, pulling him closer as they reached the door. "You’re really enjoying this, aren’t you?" he asked with a smile.
Jaxon giggled softly, leaning into Brian’s embrace. "A little bit, haha."
Brian’s hand slowly moved up Jaxon’s back, the touch sending a shiver through him. "Only a little bit? I’m not sure I believe you."
Jaxon smirked, glancing around. "Shouldn’t we be heading inside?" he asked, trying to sound practical but clearly distracted by Brian’s closeness.
Brian grinned, his hand still resting on Jaxon’s back. "We should… but I’m having too much fun teasing you."
Jaxon rolled his eyes, a playful glint in them. "I thought I was the tease here?"
Brian laughed softly, the mischievous look in his eyes returning. "You are, but I’m just giving as good as I get."
"You’re evil, you know that?" Jaxon teased, shaking his head. "Torturing a drunk guy like this. Tsk tsk."
Brian smirked, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Oh, I’m evil now? I’m just having a little fun with you. And honestly, you’re a pretty cute drunk."
"You think so?" Jaxon asked, blinking up at Brian.
Brian nodded, his tone softening slightly. "Yeah, you’re adorable when you’re drunk. All flustered and giggly. It’s kinda cute."
Jaxon grinned wider, leaning into Brian. "Well, I guess I’ll drink more often then."
Brian laughed again, shaking his head. "Don’t drink too much, or you might do something you’ll regret."
Jaxon’s gaze softened, and he looked directly into Brian’s eyes. "I don’t regret anything I did with you tonight."
Brian’s teasing faded as his expression grew more tender. He gently caressed Jaxon’s cheek with the back of his hand. "Neither do I," he murmured. "Tonight’s been pretty amazing."
Jaxon smiled, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Can we go inside now?"
Brian nodded and took Jaxon’s hand, leading him toward the door. "Of course. Vamos, let’s go inside."
Once inside, the warmth and coziness of Brian’s house surrounded them. The clean, minimalist decor was accented by a few scattered plants and framed photos, a mix of Brian’s family and travel adventures—Jaxon couldn’t help but notice one picture of a younger Brian at what looked like a family gathering, surrounded by a mix of family members, there are so many of them they barely fit in the picture, but their expressions warm and welcoming.
"Wow," Jaxon said, looking around. "Your place is nice."
Brian smiled, following Jaxon’s gaze around the room. "Gracias. I like to keep it clean and organized. Makes it feel more welcoming, you know?"
Jaxon glanced at him with a soft smile. "I do feel very welcome."
Brian grinned, pleased by the compliment. "Me alegra. Can I get you something to drink? Water, maybe?"
"Yes, please," Jaxon replied, leaning against the doorframe.
Brian disappeared into the kitchen and quickly returned with a glass of water, handing it to Jaxon. "Aquí tienes."
Jaxon took the glass and drank, pausing when he noticed Brian watching him intently. "What?" he asked, his voice slightly slurred from the lingering effects of the alcohol.
Brian shrugged, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Nada. Just admiring how cute you look right now."
Jaxon blinked, feeling his cheeks warm. "You’re a lot more forward now," he teased, though his voice was softer, almost shy.
Brian grinned, the mischief in his eyes returning. "Maybe I’m just more relaxed now that we’re alone. And you’re so cute when you blush."
Jaxon’s gaze softened as he looked at Brian. "So… where should I sleep?"
Brian gestured to the couch. "You can sleep on the couch. I’ll take the floor, don’t worry."
Jaxon frowned, his brow furrowing. "Why would you do that?"
Brian shrugged, rubbing the back of his neck. "I don’t want you to be uncomfortable, and I’m used to sleeping on the floor. Plus, I want you to get a good night’s sleep."
Jaxon shook his head, clearly unimpressed with the idea. "We can just sleep in your bed."
Brian’s eyes widened slightly in surprise, though he quickly composed himself. "Are you sure? I don’t want to make you uncomfortable."
Jaxon smiled softly, shaking his head. "No, if you’re fine with it, I am."
Brian nodded, a small smile creeping back onto his face. "Alright then. If you’re okay with it, we can share the bed."
"Yayyyyy," Jaxon cheered, his excitement making Brian laugh again.
Brian led Jaxon into the bedroom, a clean and cozy space with soft lighting. "Just don’t hog the covers, ¿vale?"
"I promise I won’t," Jaxon grinned as he stripped down to his underwear, clearly feeling comfortable.
Brian’s eyes widened again, his gaze lingering on Jaxon’s body for a moment longer than intended. "Wow… you’re… very comfortable around me, huh?"
Jaxon turned and smiled. "You told me to make myself comfortable, didn’t you?"
Brian laughed, still a little flustered. "I did, didn’t I? I just didn’t expect you to take it so literally."
Jaxon smirked. "Am I making you uncomfortable? I can get dressed again if you want."
Brian shook his head quickly, his voice steady but a little breathless. "No, no, it’s fine. You’re not making me uncomfortable. It’s just… I’m not used to seeing someone so comfortable around me. It’s nice."
Jaxon grinned as he crawled into bed. "Alright."
Brian slid into bed next to him, making sure to leave some space between them. "Just… don’t try anything funny, okay?"
Jaxon chuckled, rolling onto his side. "I promise."
Brian smiled, feeling the warmth between them settle in. "Goodnight then. Sleep well."
"Nighty night, handsome," Jaxon said, his voice sleepy but sincere.
Brian chuckled, flustered once again. "Thanks. You’re not too bad yourself."
After a moment, Brian glanced at Jaxon, noticing how quiet he’d become. "Hey, are you okay? You’ve gone quiet."
Jaxon stirred slightly, mumbling. "Just trying to sleep."
Brian nodded, understanding. "Alright, I won’t keep you up. I’ll try to sleep too."
Jaxon shifted, his voice still quiet but with a playful edge. “I think you need help sleeping."
Brian raised an eyebrow, a small smirk forming on his lips. "And what do you mean by that?"
Jaxon chuckled softly, turning his head to meet Brian’s gaze. "I dunno. I think your mind is somewhere else."
Brian laughed, realizing Jaxon had caught him. "You caught me. I was thinking about something else."
Jaxon grinned. "Hey, do you wanna… cuddle?"
Brian’s smirk softened into a genuine smile, and he shifted closer. "Yeah, I’d like that. Come here."
Jaxon scooted closer, and Brian wrapped his arms around him, pulling him in snugly. Brian rested his chin on the top of Jaxon’s head, sighing contentedly as their bodies settled into the comfortable embrace.
"This is… nice," Jaxon murmured, his voice barely above a whisper as he nestled against Brian’s chest.
Brian smiled, feeling a wave of warmth wash over him. "Yeah, it is. I don’t know why, but this feels right."
Jaxon closed his eyes, holding onto Brian a little tighter. "Didn’t know I could like a guy like this… until tonight."
Brian chuckled softly, his breath warm against Jaxon’s hair. "I didn’t know I could like someone as much as I like you either."
Jaxon shifted, holding Brian a little closer, his face nuzzling into the crook of Brian’s neck. "You smell so good."
Brian blushed slightly at the compliment, feeling his heart skip a beat. "Thanks. You smell good too," he replied, his voice soft and almost shy.
Jaxon let out a quiet hum of contentment as he inhaled Brian’s scent, the soothing mix of warmth and security wrapping around him. "I could stay like this forever."
Brian’s grip on Jaxon tightened ever so slightly, his own voice dropping to a gentle whisper. "Me too."
They lay there together, their breathing slowly syncing as the comfort of being in each other’s arms settled over them like a warm blanket. For the first time in a long while, they both felt at peace—wrapped up not just in each other’s warmth, but in the quiet, unspoken promise of something deeper.
Jaxon murmured sleepily, "Hey, Bri Bri?"
"Yeah?" Brian whispered back, his voice full of affection.
"You’re the best," Jaxon mumbled, already drifting off into sleep.
Brian smiled against the top of Jaxon’s head, his heart full. "You are too, Jax. Goodnight."
With that, they both let the silence of the night take over, comfortable in each other’s presence, their breaths soft and steady as sleep claimed them.
