Work Text:
New years, A day to celebrate… well the new year. Barely anyone was at the apartment building probably due to the fact that new year parties were a thing too so people could be at parties too. But two men decided to plan their celebration on the apartments rooftop, one of them was in charge of setting up the area while another one was tasked to bring food and some drinks. Mainly alcohol.
Andrew came up with a mini six crate of alcohol with a bag of some cheap takeout, one that he would always get when he and Ivan had no idea what to eat. The bag smelled like a sweet and savory sauce with an herbal smell combined, Andrew was pretty neutral about new year’s celebration since he never could’ve imagined anything crazy happening the next year. It was just a repeat on the focus of the game and Andrew trying to find some financial stability from it, but his progress has been slow due to Ivan. Ivan hasn’t been in the best condition… he recently recovered from a cold but he had no motivation to even get out of bed, Andrew had to take care of him… feed him… help him take his medication, even to help Ivan bathe himself.
But Andrew erased that from his mind for now as he opens the door.
“Oh, Andrew… I thought you said you were going to come a bit later, no?”
Ivan sat up from the rooftops surface, he made the place look like a picnic layout. A warm heavy blanket with two pairs of gloves in case of the cold, two plates with included silverware, and Ivan’s notepad and writing utensils laid out on the blanket. He always cared them when he gets a sudden boost of creativity in his veins.
“Yeah but the place wasn’t that busy, but… holy shit did you set this all up?”
Andrew was in awe at the arrangement, he’s never thought Ivan as the type of guy who knew how to decorate like this!
“Oh uh… yeah, I was just thinking of nice ways to arrange the set up. Oh! I forgot to mention that I also added some pillows so our asses won’t be sore.”
“Heh. Yeah can’t imagine the concrete is that soft.”
Andrew said, like he wasn’t point out the obvious.
…
Ten more minutes…
Andrew was down one full bottle and onto his next one, Ivan was down half a bottle. His tolerance for alcohol isn’t great… so isn’t his tolerance for loud noises. He flinches every time a firework goes off… a scare almost enough for Ivan to jump into Andrew’s arms for comfort. But that was unrealistic, Andrew would just set him down instantly and pat his back. Maybe…. Probably…. Definitely.
“Aw sweet! They didn’t forget to add the fortune cookies!”
Andrew smiled as he passed a fortune cookie to Ivan, Ivan thanked Andrew and unraveled the cookie out the plastic cage. Both of them exhaled cold breath, Andrew adjusted his pink PWN sweater and Ivan tipped down his red visor. Both of them ate the fortune cookie and put the fortune away in their pockets, Andrew ate some of the takeout and wiped his mouth.
“Want some of my chicken?”
“Hm? Sure…”
Ivan’s plate was almost finished, he doesn’t have a lot on his platter… he’s been a light eater. Andrew has been neutral, but he gets a full plate of desserts when he can.
Munching… Gulping… a slight hiccup… then an excuse me.
Two more minutes…
“Yeesh… We already finished it?”
Ivan curiously looked over the bag seeing the empty containers as Andrew checked the bag as well. Seems like they both ate all of it and left no room for leftovers.
“Mhm… I guess so…”
Andrew takes a sip of the bottled alcohol, he’s feeling a little light headed but not enough to the point where he can’t comprehend his actions.
“Andrew…”
“Yeah?”
…
“Remember when I had to pick you up one day from your parent’s house?…”
Andrew grimaced at this being brought up. He wanted to forget that day… He hated it.
“Yeah… what about it.”
“…Why… did you leave? I know your parents couldn’t accept you about… something. Was it with the game? Did your parents not want to accept you for your job?”
…
Andrew tapped his fingernail onto the glass bottle, he was very vague about what happened that day. All he said to Ivan was that his parents couldn’t accept for who he was, nothing about his job, nothing about his education, nothing….
Nothing….
About his…
“Sickness”.
Picture day: Senior year.
Andrew’s parents were constantly saying that romantic should only be with the opposite gender, no exceptions and no excuses. Also saying how blue is for boys, pink is for girls, men wear suits and women wear dresses. Taking him to church so he could be reminded of those things. Andrew was still in the process of figuring himself out during his senior year, being 17 means a whole truck load of tasks, applying for colleges, letters of recommendations, grades, graduation… and…this one guy he saw. He was getting his picture taken of for the yearbook, he can still remember the repeated commands of “Smile!” Then that camera flash. He saw the boy looked embarrassed and chewing on his fingernail out of shame. Andrew went to the boy and tapped his hand.
“Hey… I like your smile…”
God damnit… he didn’t think it’d sound creepy when he said it out loud.
“… Thank you.”
The boy smiled, Andrew nodded and sat down in the chair and followed the camera man’s commands. For some reason that boy stuck with him, his awkward smile made him giggle inside.
“Alright… and… Smile!”
Andrew looked to the side and saw the boy again, the boy smiled at him… Andrew smiled at the camera, seems like the boys smile worked. He got up and walked away before taking one last glance at the boy. He saw a sticky note name tag on him.
“Ivan”
Andrew smiled at the name… but he also remembered something.
Ivan had scars on his arms, why is that?
…
One more minute…
“… Andrew?…”
“…”
“Can you hear me-“
“How about let’s make a toast? The countdown is almost over.”
Ivan watched as Andrew held out his almost finished glass bottle, Ivan grabbed the half finished one and held it up too.
“How about let’s make a toast… to us, and the game.”
“The game?”
“Mhm… it’ll soon be a legacy. You will be a legacy.”
“Pfft… Alright… if you say so.”
They both clinked their bottles together.
“Cheers!”
Both took a few sips.
Andrew sighed…
“They found out that I was different, Ivan.”
“… What?”
…
“They found out that I was gay, Ivan.”
“… That’s the reason they kicked you out?”
Andrew chuckled as he swirled the alcohol in the bottle, but it was more bittersweet.
“Yep… They found that Valentine’s Day note you gave me. My mom yelled my name… she was yelling like a lunatic, saying how I’m a devils child… saying how I need to be cleansed. And my dad… god, I don’t even want to remember it. He used that damn slur so many times, he even used it on you… I got so defensive.”
Andrew smiled at Ivan… the same smile from that day.
“It was worse when they opened my closet, seeing all my secret dresses and heels plus makeup I wore. They were furious… they threatened to chop my long hair and buzz it, but at this point… I knew what the outcome would be.”
Ivan stared at Andrew, Andrew ran a hand through his shoulder length hair…
Andrew glanced over and clicked his tongue, and shrugged.
“Eh, at least they haven’t contacted me in a while. So I don’t gotta worry about them.”
Andrew smiled briefly as he went to take another sip.
shuffle... shuffle...
Ivan… got closer and moved the mouth of the bottle away from Andrew’s lips. Andrew made eye contact.
“Huh, Ivan-“
Ivan gently kissed Andrew… closing his eyes as to try to even think about what he’s doing.
Finish…
A firework exploded, causing Ivan to flinch and tense up. He pulled away from the kiss and a look of fear yet admiration was plastered on his face.
“… We should probably uh… h-head inside.”
Ivan quickly got up and not even one step, he was suddenly tugged back from Andrew… Ivan fell onto Andrew’s lap, both grunted from the impact. Andrew genuinely wanted to shut down like a computer, he gently wrapped his arms around Ivan’s waist. Ivan felt like he was towering over Andrew, his next action was to try to face Andrew. But he liked his position. Ivan slouched so he can let
Andrew rest his chin on his shoulder.
“… Andrew?”
Ivan mumbled, a hand belonging to Andrew gently cupped Ivan’s face and turned it towards him. Their noses touching… eye contact.
Andrew leaned in, then Ivan did.
It felt gentle, the sound of a firework going up in the air was echoing… Ivan braced for the loud sound… but his hearing was blocked from Andrew’s fingers moving to his tragus and pressing it against both his ear holes…
It’s now muffled, they both are enjoying this moment, Ivan pulls away first to take a deep breath. Andrew is about to ask if he’s okay before going in for another kiss. Then another, then another, then another, then a peck on the neck from Andrew.
Midnight….
Andrew and Ivan are now cuddled together in the bed, After gathering everything from the rooftop they decided to call it for the night. Andrew could see a little paper from Ivan’s pocket, he curiously grabbed it and opened it.
“Something new will come into your life, embrace it.”
It was the fortune, Andrew remembered that his was in his sweater pocket and read his.
“You will have amazing experiences in your life, like today.”
Andrew looked down at the scars on Ivan’s arm, he felt… upset at those scars... Andrew wished he could pluck off those scars... for some reason it reminded him of a tumor, eating away at Ivan. Andrew kissed Ivan’s forehead before kissing his scar filled arm, a whispered “I love you” before heading to sleep.
Bonus!:
11:53 PM
“Hey Andrew, I learned about this new years tradition that people do. If you eat twelve grapes and make twelve wishes… they’ll come true.”
Andrew watched as Ivan placed down two plastic bowls with 12 grapes filled up, Andrew was curious at this tradition.
“Really? Well then let’s start before the end of the countdown!”
And so… they ate.
They were meant to eat the grapes AFTER the countdown… whoops.