Work Text:
Asa sits in the bookshop on a slow Friday afternoon. He wishes to be knees deep in work, in questions, customers, and tidying up, but there hasn't been a customer in the last hour.
Really, he’s just trying to distract himself from the agonizing feeling of anger, as he straightens up each book that was already straight on the shelf. It’s starting to get a little hard to ignore the anger, though, because another flower delivery person shows up at the door, like clockwork, as they have for the last three days.
Asa shakes his head slightly, pursing his lips at the door as it swings open. He really shouldn’t be mad at the delivery person, but at some point, he hopes they’d take the hint and just keep the flowers for themselves.
He walks towards the counter as ‘flower guy’ places the vase down. He forces a smile on his face and rubs his hands together in an attempt to sooth the anger from his body. The flower guy looks up at him.
“I know it’s not my place, but he’s getting a little desperate each day when he comes and orders the flowers,” He gives Asa a small, fake sympathetic smile, “Maybe you should hear him out, so we don’t have to.”
Asa feels his lips move into a thin line again as he rolls his eyes slightly, the flower guy leaving without another word. His eyes shift over to the bouquet of flowers now sitting on his counter, and then over to the other three bouquets it would be joining in the bin later.
He twists the vase around, looking for the note attached. The notes had all said something different so far, and he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t curious about this one.
Asa finally found the letter, shaking his head a little when he opened it.
Asa Fell
1 Hope Cres
Edinburgh, UK
Asa,
I know I've sent at least four bouquets by now, and I'm sorry for being so persistent. I'm really upset with how we left things.
I'm really trying to put forth the effort to fix everything. Please let me.
I don't want to bother you at work, and I don't think Derek would even let me passed the doors if I tried.
Please let me know what happened so I can fix it.
I know we haven't been together long, but I would do anything to go back to the way we were.
Let's discuss this, please. Let me fix this.
I'll end this note the same way as the last three I've sent.
I miss you. I'm sorry. Please call.
With every bit of love I have in me,
Anthony
He folds the letter back up, releasing a quick sigh. He wouldn’t even be mad if Anthony had just been honest.
A few days ago…
Asa nears Anthony’s flat, sending a quick text to him.
Great! See you then.
🥰
Today 5:32 PM
Hey! I'm almost there. Ready to go?
He walks up the stairs, taking each step carefully until he reaches the door. He lifts his fist, and just as he’s about to knock, something in the window catches his eye.
There’s a tall, brown-haired man pulling Anthony into a tight hug, holding him there for a little too long, and then handing him a glass of wine.
Asa drops his first down to his side, his face curling into one of disgust and embarrassment. He drops his gaze to the floor, suddenly feeling like an intruder, as he walks back down the stairs and away from the man he, so stupidly, hoped he’d spend the rest of his life with.
It was silly, falling for him this fast, but what could he really do? He was so charming when he first arrived in the bookshop. He caught the look he had given him the second they saw each other. Was it really so naive of him that he thought something was there?
Asa shakes his head again, growing extremely frustrated at this situation. He wishes he could just get over it, and Anthony would leave him alone.
He pulls his phone out of his back pocket, tapping on the text thread of his and Anthony’s. He had blocked Anthony’s contact the second he was safely down the stairs attached to his flat, and while he didn’t really want to unblock him, he had to somehow tell him to stop sending the flowers.
Asa taps Anthony’s contact, and he hovers his thumb over the Unblock button. He realizes that he could just keep receiving flowers and throwing them in the bin each time, and that might even be easier than sending a quick text and blocking the number again.
He quickly taps the unblock button, and his phone immediately starts buzzing with new texts from Anthony.
Four days ago 5:35 PM
Yes! I'll be out in a second!
Angel? Are you alright? Where are you?
Asa?
Please call me when you get this.
Three days ago 9:21 AM
I'm sorry.
I don't know what's happening.
Please call me.
Two days ago 3:03 AM
dontt knw wat happnd.... thouggt we got onn wel.
Two days ago 2:54 PM
Sorry, please ignore that.
And... Please call?
Yesterday 7:36 PM
I'm sorry. I know I look really desperate right now, but I don't know what happened to us and I miss you. I'm worried.
I just want to fix things.
Please call.
Today 9:56 AM
I miss you.
Sorry. Please call.
Asa clenches his phone in his hand and purses his lips, glancing around the bookshop at nothing in particular. Should he really be so quick to forgive Anthony? He locks his phone, pushing it back into his back pocket.
He moves the bouquet of flowers to the floor behind the counter, not quite ready to part with them yet. As he does so, he feels another buzz in his pocket.
Today 11:32 AM
Angel??
Asa swipes out of the message thread as quickly as he can, tapping Derek’s name instead.
Today is Derek’s off-day, but he definitely doesn’t mind getting a text from Asa relating to the professor who had broken his best friend’s heart a few days ago. He said so himself!
He takes a quick screenshot of all the missed messages from Anthony, sending it off before a few texts to Derek.
Today 11:34 AM
Derek.
Gonna lose my shit
More flowers at bookshop...
Wtf do I do??
Another text from Anthony comes through, and Asa curses Derek’s slow typing hands. He waits a moment, hoping Derek will send his text before he has to face Anthony’s.
No such luck, however. Asa slides out of Derek’s text thread and back into the one between him and Asa.
Today 11:32 AM
Angel??
Please, let me meet you somewhere???
I want to fix this, I don't know what happened to us, Angel.
I can be at the bookshop in 10. Please let me know.
Asa shakes his head, debating on whether or not to let Anthony back into his life. He misses him, too, but there’s no way he’s going down without a fight. He will not get hurt again.
He lets out a small breath, and types his response to Anthony.
Be here in 10 minutes or I'm not letting you in.
He sends the message quickly, locking his phone immediately after. His nerves are shot, he feels like he needs to sit down, and he feels like he needs to run a marathon, all at the same time.
Asa’s phone buzzes again, and when he reaches the counter to pick it up, he clumsily drops it to the floor.
As he’s reaching down to grab it, the door swings open, and hurried footsteps rush towards him.
“Angel!” Anthony yells out through panicked breaths, “Sorry I– I ran as fast as I could.”
He doubles over and places his hands on his knees. He pushes out another breath, stands up straight, and leans against the nearby wall. He holds up a finger at Asa, gesturing for him to wait just a second.
Anthony chuckles awkwardly, “Still have…” he checks his watch, still breathing a little rapidly, “six and a half minutes to start talking.”
Asa angrily folds his arms over his chest, “Oh! This is a joke to you?”
Anthony opens his eyes wide, taking another deep breath before saying, “No! Not a joke.”
He walks a little closer to Asa, who takes the same amount of steps backwards, pointing an accusatory finger at him.
“Tell me what happened, Asa.” Anthony holds up his hands in defense and stays in his place, “Please, let me fix it.”
Asa lowers his finger, but stays on guard. He squints his eyes a little and says, “Who was that man in your flat?”
Anthony furrows his brows a little in confusion, “When?”
“You’ve had multiple men in your flat?” Asa purses his lips at him, this is all going terribly. He wishes he would’ve just kept his number blocked.
“What?” Anthony gasps a little, “No! It’s only been me and you in my flat since we met, Angel–.”
“No more of that!” He holds out an accusatory finger again at the petname, but Anthony sounds so sincere, “He had brown hair! And– and he was hugging you; giving you wine!”
“That was…” Anthony sucked in a breath, lifted his chin a little, and dropped a little lower than before, like he had finally realized the problem, “That was Gabriel. I told you about him, though, I thought.”
Gabriel. He did recognize the name a little, yet he still didn’t remember any context, if he had any at all. He curls his face up a little, trying to keep calm but still quite angry, muttering, “What… a bit on the side?” and then a little louder so Anthony can hear him clearly, “Who’s Gabriel?”
“A bit on the–...” Anthony takes a step back, and Asa sucks in a breath, instantly knowing that he’s wrong about all of this. “A bit on the side,” he repeats with a small chuckle, “You think I have no respect for you? Okay...”
Oh, Asa thinks about what the context could possibly be for Gabriel, suddenly feeling like an asshole for not remembering any conversations about him.
“What, you didn’t stop to think that he could be a roommate?” Anthony twists around to look out of the window, shaking his head a little, “A best friend, maybe?” He looks back at Asa, and he’s clearly upset, but is trying extremely hard to hide it. He purses his lips, “My brother? Told you all about him, Asa.”
Asa releases the breath he, now realizes, had been stuck in his lungs for quite some time. Brother. Gabriel is his brother. And Asa is an asshole.
“A bit on the side.” Anthony mutters, pursing his lips a little. He glances behind the counter, clearly looking for anything to look at that isn’t Asa.
When Asa sees his eyes land on the tulips in the bin, he sucks in another breath, “Anthony…”
Anthony drops his gaze to the floor, turns back towards the door, and he’s out of the building just as quickly as he arrived.
A few hours later, Asa drops down on his couch after downing his fifth glass of wine. He and Derek had just had an ‘over-the-phone’ conversation, where Derek tried to cheer him up, and all he could really say was, “Well, it could be worse…”
“How could it have been worse, Derek?” Asa sighs.
“He could’ve… actually been cheating?” Derek responds, his statement sounding more like a question. “I’m sorry, Asa. I know you must feel horrible.”
Asa takes a long sip of his wine and says goodnight to Derek, and Derek tells him he can text him all night if he would like.
He appreciates the sentiment.
Asa pulls his phone off of the table in front of him, sending off a quick series of texts to Derek.
I can be at the bookshop in 10. Please let me know.
Be here in 10 minutes or I'm not letting you in.
Today 11:32 PM
I just feel stupid.
I knew he had a brother... I don't know why I let my jealousy get the best of me.
But, can you blame me? Look at him...
He locks his phone and clasps it in his hand, taking another large gulp of his wine. He’s definitely feeling a little something from it. He really wants to text Anthony, and debates it for a while, arguing with his thoughts.
He doesn’t want me to text him, clearly. I ignored him for four days, why would he still want me? But… it’s only fair that I send fifteen texts to him after he sent fifteen to me, right?
He shakes his head, wishing he could just sober up and think clearly. At some point, he decides, fuck it, and opens his texts. He realizes then that he had already sent some drunk texts to Anthony, instead of Derek.
Well, he thinks, what’s twelve more?
Sorry... that was for Derek.
Little bit tipsy, miss you.
He shakes his head, pursing his lips a little, such an idiot.
Sorry. :(
He locks his phone again, tipping the last of his glass onto his tongue. He should really just go to bed, he thinks, but what if he misses a text from Anthony? His phone buzzes again, and he sits up straight, unlocking it as quickly as he can.
Be safe, Angel.
Asa, sorry.
Be safe, Asa.
Asa smiles at his phone a little, a small tear dropping on it. He types a text back to Anthony, sending it quickly before he can think twice about it.
Can I come over?
He doesn’t lock his phone this time. Instead, he stares at the screen nervously and starts fidgeting with the blanket around him.
No.
Asa shakes his head and sighs.
Please?
He sends another text, receiving one from Anthony at the same time.
Key under black plant pot outside.
Let me fix things.
Asa locks his phone and stands a little too quickly for his tipsy brain. He puts his shoes on quickly, walks out the door, and locks up his flat.
He’s halfway down the stairs when he receives another series of texts from Anthony.
You have 10 minutes to get here, or I'm kicking you out.
Kidding. Be safe.
❤️
When he arrives, he quickly grabs the key from under the pot and shoves it into the keyhole. He gives the handle a nice twist and pushes the door open.
Asa looks around the flat, looking for any sign of Anthony. He has no luck, and calls out his name a little louder than he should.
“Anthony?”
The fluff of ginger on the end of the couch moved, and Anthony pokes his head up from the arm rest.
The pair locks eyes, and Anthony responds with a soft, “Over here.”
Asa smiles shyly at him and removes his shoes before walking to the other end of the couch.
Anthony sits up from his laying position and grabs the TV remote from the table in front of them. Asa catches him glancing over.
“Do you wanna…” Anthony pauses, “watch something? Or…”
Asa sighs, “I owe you an apology.”
“No… no, you don’t,” Anthony forks his fingers through his ginger hair, “I overreacted earlier. I’m sorry.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for. We wouldn’t have been in that situation if I had just given you a chance to explain, though,” Asa can feel tears prickling in his eyes, “I’m sorry, Anthony.”
“Well,” Anthony gives him a small smile, moving closer to Asa on the couch and laying his head on his shoulder, “Let’s just call it even.”
Asa smiles and wipes his eyes, hoping no tears actually fall. He’s a little tired of making a fool of himself in front of Anthony.
Anthony moves out of Asa’s shoulder and grabs his phone, then quickly leans back into the little nook between Asa’s side and his arm. Asa runs his fingers through the ginger hair.
He 'accidentally' (he’s nosy) watches as Anthony types a quick text to Gabriel.
Some privacy?
Sorry. :)
A few seconds later, he hears a door open somewhere in the flat, and a man emerges from the hallway. Gabriel.
“I’ll be next door,” he says, as he walks towards the front door, smirking a little, “Have fun.”
Asa feels Anthony tense a little below him and hears him whisper a soft, “Oh, shut up.”
Gabriel chuckles and pulls on his shoes.
“Tell Beelz I said hi.”
“I will,” he responds, and moves swiftly out the door, locking it behind him.
They sit in a comfortable silence for a few minutes, and Anthony is the one who finally speaks up first, “Do you wanna talk about it, Asa?”
A soft smile plays on Asa’s lips, “‘Angel’ works, actually. I like ‘Angel’.”
“Oh, really?” Anthony teases, lifting his head to look Asa directly in the eyes, “I never would have guessed–...”
“Don’t start!” Asa interrupts him, launching a hand forward to cover Anthony’s mouth.
Anthony kisses his hand softly, and when Asa removes it, he continues softly, “... with how quickly you came inside me the first time I let the name slip.”
Asa’s cheeks grow red, but he can’t help but keep his eyes on the cheeky smile of the man in front of him.
His smile is contagious. He lights up rooms with it every time he enters. Asa thinks there's absolutely no way Anthony can leave a room without everyone around him smiling back.
So, Asa smiles. And, when he does, Anthony leans in and captures his lips with his own, giving him a soft, quick kiss, and muttering, “Missed you,” softly against his lips.
Asa returns the kiss and giggles softly, “Yeah? Fifteen texts?”
“I'd send fifteen thousand more if it meant I would end up right here with you,” Anthony whispers.
Asa chuckles and connects their lips again, slipping his tongue between them and placing his hand on Anthony's lower back.
He kisses back just as eagerly, allowing Asa to explore his mouth, leaning back into the couch a little, pulling Asa on top.
The kiss becomes gradually more heated with each second it takes for Anthony's back to hit the soft bottom cushion of the couch.
Asa moves his kisses to Anthony's jaw, nipping at the bone a little as he works his hands under Anthony's shirt.
Anthony groans softly, also fighting with the other's shirt, almost like it's a competition to see who can undress the other faster.
They both finally strip each other's shirts, and Asa presses kisses into Anthony's chest. He uses his left hand to work open his pants button and zipper, having no luck at all.
“Fuck, need these off.” Asa places one more kiss on Anthony’s chest, before pulling back a little and quickly using both hands to unbutton and unzip.
When he does, he taps the outside of Anthony’s thigh, motioning for him to lift. Anthony does, and Asa pulls his briefs down with his tight jeans, tossing them to the floor.
Asa launches forward again, stealing more kisses from the ginger under him, earning some soft laughs and moans with each one.
“Oi,” Anthony starts, “Yours too.”
Asa creates space between them, allowing Anthony to snake his hands under him to undo his pants while he places soft kisses on his neck.
Anthony reaches into Asa’s briefs, running his hand up and down on his cock. He presses small kisses to Asa’s chin, and he feels himself growing hard quickly under the touch. The pair hadn’t had sex in almost two weeks at this point, and it’s safe to say they had really missed each other.
“Fuck, Angel…” Anthony whispers between kisses, “Need you.”
Anthony strokes him quickly while he’s hardening above him, stealing more kisses and pulling moans from Asa’s mouth.
“Gonna need the ‘angel’ name to pause for a minute, dear.” Asa whispers quickly between moans. Anthony smirks, pressing their lips together and whispering another ‘angel’ into Asa’s mouth.
They break away for a second, Asa wiggles out the rest of the way out of his pants, and Anthony searches through the side table for a small bottle of lube. When Anthony finally finds it, he squeezes a generous amount on Asa’s fingers, and places the bottle on the floor.
The pair locks eyes, and Anthony smiles, whispering a soft, “Slow?” between them.
“‘Course, dear,” Asa smiles back and moves his lubed hand to his entrance. He rubs circles over the rim, hoping to sooth out the nerves a little, before pressing the tip of a finger inside.
Anthony groans at the intrusion, and immediately replaces the sound with a soft moan. He leans his neck back over the arm rest, and Asa sinks his finger in a little more.
He feels Anthony tense around him, but doesn’t see any discomfort in his face. Asa pushes another finger in slowly, still keeping an eye on the man below him.
Asa begins scissoring his fingers lightly, picking up speed a little when all he can hear are content moans from Anthony.
“Alright, dear?” Asa asks, keeping the same small pace with his hands, pressing a kiss to Anthony’s raised knee.
“Yeah, ngk–...” He says through small, breathy moans. “Ready for you, please.”
Asa removes his hand carefully and grabs the bottle of lube he’d watched Anthony place on the floor some time earlier. He squirts another generous amount into his hand and slicks up his cock, a soft moan escaping from his lips. He was already aching and dripping for Anthony below him.
He lines himself up with Anthony’s entrance, carefully and slowly pushing in, allowing him to adjust to every bit of him, and earning more soft moans from the man below him.
Asa bottoms out inside him and takes in every noise Anthony makes, waiting for him to give the ‘okay’ to start moving.
“Alright?” He asks again, still examining Anthony’s face for any signs of discomfort.
Anthony nods quickly, groaning out, “Move, Angel. Please.”
And, he does. He rocks his hips softly into the other, gripping at his thighs to keep them close. A few moans escape him with each thrust inside, and the pretty ginger below him responds with moans of his own.
Asa angles his hips slightly, his thrusts getting a little sloppier throughout. Eventually, he starts thrusting into the nerves deep inside his partner, earning a pretty moan from him.
“Fuck! Angel–...” Anthony shouts out, “Feels so good, Angel, please.”
Asa thrusts into the same spot each time, feeling a familiar warmth pool in his stomach.
“Gonna start bringing men over– ngk… and arguing with you about it, if this is how you’re gonna fuck me.” Anthony attempts a joke, but is quickly shut down by the grip on his thigh tightening.
“You wanna play games?” Asa chuckles at him, slowing his thrusts down to an agonizingly slow pace, “We can play games, dear.”
“No! Angel, please. No games,” Anthony locks eyes with Asa, “was just messing about. Please.”
Asa smirks, speeding up again and thrusting into the same nerves that made Anthony moan out earlier.
“Ngk–, you’re perfect, Angel.” Anthony whispers to himself. Asa’s unsure how he even heard the compliment, with how quiet it was.
Asa’s eyes flutter shut, the pool in his stomach growing more and more, “‘M close, dear.”
Before Asa can even finish his sentence, Anthony is releasing white strips between them with a loud moan. Asa feels him clench around his cock, giving him the last bit of pressure he needs before he buries himself deep in the other with a low groan.
“Fuck, Angel…” Anthony starts, “so good.”
Asa holds himself above the ginger, regulating his breath a little before pulling out of the tight space and collapsing on Anthony’s chest.
Anthony immediately runs a hand through his hair, pressing a soft kiss to his head.
When Asa regains his consciousness a little, he notices his partner is a little lost in thought. He runs a finger over his cheek, lifting his eyebrows a little, “You okay, dear?”
“Don’t leave me again, my Angel…” he whispers, “Please?”
Asa nods. He knows they’ll have to actually have a conversation about everything later. But, right now, he’s never been more content with just falling asleep in Anthony’s arms.