Work Text:
"Asa, you're staring at him again. Ah, to be young and in love."
Asa turned to Derek, looking perfectly innocent. Inwardly, however, he was annoyed because he knew exactly what the old bookseller was implying.
"I have absolutely no idea what you mean," he replied, looking everywhere but at the spot where Anthony was tending to the plants in Asa's living room.
Derek chuckled without answering; the explanation seemed obvious to him.
For several years, Derek and Asa had had dinner together at Asa’s place once a week, and that habit hadn’t changed since Asa and Anthony got together.
After dinner, the three of them were sipping alcohol—sherry for Derek and Asa and Talisker for Anthony—and chatting cheerfully when Anthony suddenly stood up, shocked by the state of Asa’s plants.
Amused, Derek and Asa watched him fuss over the plants.
Anthony was now wiping the leaves with a damp cloth and once he was done, he put away the watering can and walked over to them.
When he reached them, he said, rolling up his sleeves, "I’m going to wash my hands and I’ll be right back," brushing against Asa’s shoulder as he passed.
Asa followed him with his eyes, fully aware that another pair of eyes was scrutinizing him, and trying his best to ignore it.
"Boy, you’re literally drooling!"
Asa wiped his mouth instinctively and protested, "No, not at all, Derek! You’re completely delusional!"
Derek snickered mockingly before replying, "Yeah, right. Because what's so special about Professor Crowley?"
"What?!"
Asa nearly spilled his sherry when he slammed his glass down on the table.
Offended by Derek’s words, Asa began speaking loudly and gesturing wildly with a vindictive look. "Anthony is amazing! Deeply good, smart, very smart, in fact, much smarter than you and me put together and handsome, much more so than you and me put together too, and that’s not all. He makes me smile or laugh for no reason. He sees the best in me, even when I don’t see it myself. He never compromises on his ideals. He works so hard that he sometimes forgets himself. He lets me take care of him in those moments. He accepts my flaws and failures. He…"
He was interrupted by another snicker from Derek.
"Damn it! I can't believe I fell for that. Hmph!"
When Asa turned to face Derek, however, he saw that his friend’s smile had lost all trace of mockery. The older bookseller said kindly, "You know he’s not perfect either, don’t you, Asa? Don’t idealize him. Don’t put him on a pedestal. It wouldn't be good for either of you."
Asa appreciated Derek’s concern; like Anthony, Derek could read him and besides he had known him for a long time, so he knew that his advice came from the heart and from the fact that he truly cared about Asa and, by extension, now about Anthony as well.
In a tone that was both gentle and firm, he replied to the man who was like a father to him, "Oh, I know he’s not perfect, but precisely his imperfections... He’s not afraid to show them to me. He shows me everything: his mistakes, his fears, his demons. In fact, he’s perfectly imperfect. Or rather, we’re perfect for each other."
Derek nodded before replying, "Well, Asa, it looks like you really love him."
Asa rolled his eyes at the obviousness of it, then nodded. "Of course I love him. How could I not?"
Derek chuckled softly and said, "It sounds like you're living your own Jane Austen–style romance."
Asa shook his head. "In some ways, maybe, but it's real, and that's better than a novel. The only thing I ultimately regret is not having met him sooner."
Derek nodded again and said in a soft, serious tone, "Take it from an old man with experience, make the most of the time you've been given."
He placed his hand on top of Asa’s on the table and squeezed it gently.
"I’m happy for you, my boy. Really."
They looked at each other, nodding and smiling, then Derek stood up.
"I'm going to get some fresh air on the balcony. The alcohol's hitting me a bit."
Asa watched him go, touched by the support of the person he cared about most in the world, after Anthony.
"So I’m not perfect?"
Two hands rested on his shoulders and slid down his chest.
"Anthony!" Asa tensed slightly. "Don't tell me you—"
"...heard everything? From amazing to perfect for each other. I don’t think I missed a thing," Anthony replied.
Asa couldn’t see him, but he was certain from the tone of his voice that he was smiling.
"Okay..."
Asa couldn’t help but blush slightly. He’d gotten carried away defending Anthony and couldn’t remember everything he’d said, but he remembered enough to feel a little embarrassed.
Anthony pressed a kiss to his hair. "Don't be embarrassed. It's nice to hear you compliment me. Even if it’s not good for my ego."
Asa laughed softly, tilting his head back to look at Anthony, who was staring at him and smiling tenderly.
"Hey, handsome," his lover said, leaning in to kiss him.
Just like every time they kissed, Asa forgot about everything else. A few feet away, behind the glass door, Derek was still on the balcony. But to Asa, he no longer existed. All he could sense were the woody scent of Anthony’s cologne, the warmth of his hands against his arms, and the softness of his lips on his own.
Anthony pulled back slightly and whispered, "Derek might be back soon," although he made no effort to move.
Asa smiled and placed his hands on Anthony’s arms, holding him close for just a moment longer.
"In a minute," he replied, parting his lips for another kiss.
Anthony couldn’t resist, closing the distance between them and capturing his lover’s lips in another kiss.
Derek was a few feet away and had turned to go into the living room when he saw the two men through the glass door. Their silhouettes were intertwined in the dim light, and a small, amused smile spread across Derek’s lips.
He retraced his steps and leaned on the balcony railing. The night was mild, so he could grant them a few more minutes of peace.