Chapter Text
New York got exhausting after some time. The crowded streets and blinding lights tended to get on Marvin’s nerves. He craved a day free of loud horns and general annoyance surrounding him. Even Broadway could get tiring, whimsy and all. The Playbills above his and Whizzer’s TV were pretty, but they reminded him of the anxiety seeing shows could induce. In other words, he was desperate for a vacation.
One of the few European countries Whizzer hadn’t been to was Portugal. This revelation led to more stress, seas of travel brochures, and a shortage of Marvin’s comfort tea as they organized a trip to said country.
Despite all of this, the commute to the airport was fairly calm. Whizzer had insisted on a suitcase as well as a backpack entirely for himself, but it was a whisper of a problem to Marvin. Fashion and hair-care wasn’t a priority to him; all he needed was toiletries and a few outfits. Their taxi was quiet in the early morning, the radio silenced and the driver herself mute. The only sounds were the buzz of the car tires on the rainy ground and a sleeping Whizzer’s slow breaths. Marvin watched water droplets rolling down the window, his arm around Whizzer as he leaned against him. Absently, he ran his hand back and forth over Whizzer’s shoulder, his fingers catching on the pink fabric of his sleeve every so often.
While not completely dark, the city was quiet for once. Funny how Marvin was finally feeling serenity in the wet, bright streets as they were on their way to the airport. It was probably all due to the peace he felt with Whizzer in his arms, though.
The roads started to get less crowded as they trailed closer onto the highway towards the airport. Green signs claimed road names and lengths in miles, lit by headlights as opposed to the sun.
Whizzer adjusted his head, causing Marvin to look down at him. His unkempt hair leaned towards his forehead, hastily brushed in his sleepy haze. His eyelashes brushed against his cheeks, and his mouth was a gentle shade of peach.
There was rarely a time that Marvin was not in awe of Whizzer’s beauty. The admiration consumed his thoughts. Checking to make sure the cabbie wasn’t watching, he pressed a kiss to the top of Whizzer’s head. When it came to domestic tendencies, self-control was basically out of the question with Marvin.
A quiet roar of the tires signalled their arrival. The cabbie looked at Marvin in the rearview mirror. She tightened her ponytail and told him his total for the drive, glancing apprehensively at Whizzer sleeping in his arms.
He tapped Whizzer’s shoulder with the same hand he had been running across it with earlier. “Whiz.” Marvin said in a stage whisper. “We’re at the airport, we gotta go.”
Whizzer’s eyes fluttered open and he sat up, steadying himself by placing a hand on Marvin’s thigh. A subtle pout graced his lips as he squinted at the streetlights casting a yellow-white glow over him. Marvin reached for his wallet and handed the cab driver cash, avoiding her suspicious glare and muttering a half-hearted “thanks.” She took it and popped open her door, walking over to the trunk.
Making sure she was out of earshot, he looked back at Whizzer, who was rubbing his eyes. “We’re going to Portugal, princess. All we have to do now is get on the plane.”
Whizzer yawned and rested his cheek on Marvin’s shoulder. “Kiss me.”
Marvin made a sound between a sigh and a groan. “Don’t think the cabbie would like that. Get out of the car.”
Fortunately, they were parked under a shelter from the rain. The cabbie set Marvin’s suitcase on the ground as he climbed out. She shut the trunk and turned towards him.
“Your friend getting out?” she huffed.
Marvin nodded, checking the luggage tags and pulling at the sleeves of his hoodie. “He’s not a morning person, give him a second.”
“How would you know that?” she leaned against the car, her ponytail bouncing.
He made fearful eye contact, his mouth hanging open as he struggled to respond. Whizzer stumbled around the car, brushing wrinkles out of his shirt. Marvin took advantage of his approach, gripping the handle of his luggage and speaking to him instead. “Come get your stuff, Whizzer. We have a plane to get on.”
The cabbie eyed Marvin before marching back into her car, muttering under her breath and driving away.
Whizzer knit his eyebrows and watched her drive off. “What’s her problem?”
Marvin stuffed his free hand into his jacket pocket. “Dunno. Come on.”
The airport lobby was uncomfortably empty. The blue and white colour scheme seemed sterile and unsettling. Whizzer strolled ahead, his suitcase rolling behind him and his backpack guarded, balancing on the crook of his elbow. Marvin followed him, trusting his airport knowledge implicitly. If he could take a plane and go through security on the way to a different continent, so could Marvin. Whizzer slowed, letting him catch up.
“Coffee?” he pointed in the direction of a café with his head, his messy hair bouncing.
Marvin relaxed slightly, loosening his tense muscles. A red imprint blossomed over Whizzer’s cheek from leaning on Marvin’s shoulder. His melted-chocolate eyes were warm and confident. Beautiful.
Whizzer poked him in the side. “Marvin, I asked if you wanted coffee, I didn’t tell you to stare at me.”
Marvin chuckled. “Sure. I liked holding you while you slept, but it’s up to you if you wanna stay up.”
Failing to hide his blush, Whizzer turned towards the café and walked.
Light chatter filled the space, the warm lighting soothing. Marvin stayed a few feet away from Whizzer, like a lost puppy. Or as if the space-time continuum would rip apart if they were too far away from each other.
The cashier handed Whizzer a paper bag and told him to wait for drinks at the counter. Marvin raised an eyebrow.
“Did you get a donut?” he asked.
Keeping his field of view ahead of him, Whizzer answered, “Donuts, plural. I’m not so selfish that I would only get myself one.” he looked over his shoulder at his boyfriend, gripping the smooth countertop. “Go sit. I’ll be there in a sec.”
Marvin followed his suggestion and found a two-person table. He tucked the suitcase under the table and flicked his curls off his forehead. The chairs did not look comfortable, but he sat anyways, his eyes following Whizzer. It took a great deal of composure to keep his gaze from wandering down to his ass. Instead, he traced his eyes over the classy patterns on his expensive bag, distantly remembering how much it cost. How good Whizzer looked holding it outweighed any price of any physical item, though. The view was priceless.
Apparently his eyes had unfocused during his thoughts, because suddenly Whizzer sat down across from him. He opened his coffee and sipped it.
“I got decaf.” he said, holding the paper cup to his face. “For your enjoyment.”
Leaning his cheek on his fist, Marvin gently toed his sneaker against Whizzer’s under the table. “Thanks, kiddo.”
“Hey! Don’t get ‘em dirty.” Whizzer’s eyes sparkled despite his words. He shuffled the cardboard cup-holder towards Marvin “Um, these are yours, doll. Coffee with milk and a chocolate donut.”
“You seem to be awake.” Marvin placed his hand across the table, offering it to Whizzer, who took it and squeezed it.
“Extremely prepared to fall asleep on you again. Just gotta eat my donut and get on the plane, baby.”
Marvin hummed, watching pink stretch over Whizzer’s face as he stared at him. He opened his coffee and savoured the first sip. Sometimes he thought about how different his life was now compared to the past. The guilt and discomfort seemed like a different life. All he knew now was beauty and safety. There was the occasional invalidation from strangers when they saw his and Whizzer’s hands clasped together, but embracing himself and his sexuality overpowered any fear. He wouldn't sacrifice anything if it meant Whizzer's company. He couldn’t imagine himself with anyone else.
“How many times are you gonna stare at me this week?” Whizzer asked into his coffee cup.
“Is there a limit?”
“Nope. Just wondering so I can watch you whenever you stare at me.”
“Probably a hundred times.” Marvin pulled his hand away, intertwining his fingers over his drink. The heat of the cup made his fingers tingle.
“Alright, cool.” Whizzer slumped in his chair, donut crumbs sprinkling his chin as he ate. “I’m gonna shove this in my face and then we should probably go through security.”
Marvin nodded, continuously flicking the rim of his coffee over his bottom lip. His vision unfocused, the early morning finally starting to hit him. He just had to get on a plane and then he and his boyfriend could leave this chaotic city behind, however fleetingly.
Almost there. Bliss was on its way.