Summer Heat [Yaoi]

Dell flushed, glancing away. "Well... Iunno. Still decidin', I guess." He took off the cock ring, after remembering it, and pulled the blankets up around them both. "Just warn a fellow next time." A chuckle.

The blush didn't escape the blond's notice. He couldn't stop a triumphant grin on his face as he knew he'd gotten the man to enjoy it. Of course...he was going to rub it in.

"Next time...? So that means you liked it enough to have it happen again...?" he asked, running his fingers through his now tangled blond locks.

"Well... Maybe... If you ask me nicely." An embarrassed grin.

What he probably meant was, "If I ask YOU nicely."

Thomas smirked. Like hell he would.

"Hmm...I'll be sure to remember that..." he said, falsity clear in his voice as he draped his arms about the man's shoulders, leaning down to deliver a small kiss to him before relaxing again, laying beside him.

A few weeks later, Dell was paying Thomas a visit after a weekend of working in his shop and staying in his quaint little apartment. He rang the doorbell, but entered anyway, having a key that Thomas gave to him a while back.

"Thomas? I'm back, and I brought fried chicken!~" Dell sang, grinning. It didn't take him very long in their relationship to realize that good food would get him a lot further than flowers or fancy candies.

In an almost comical manner, Thomas' blonde topped head popped out from his room at the mention of the food, eyes focused on Dell with interest. Something seemed a tad off though.

He held a box of tissues in one hand, his nose reddened by them no doubt. His usually healthy complexion pale, uncharacteristic of the man who took such obsessively good care of himself. He'd caught a decent cold, and was taking care of it the best he could. Dell bringing food over was certainly nice though. He didn't know how something like fried chicken would feel against his sore throat...but he was definitely willing to find out.

"Welcome back...you can set that in the kitchen." he croaked softly.

Dell gasped and set the bucket down, eyes wide with alarm. "Th....Thomas! You feelin' alright, darlin'? Oh, look'it you..." He rushed right over and started fussing over the blonde fretfully. "You just march right back up to bed, Mister. I'm bringing you breakfast in bed, and I ain't takin' no for an answer."

Thomas squirmed slightly.

"D-Dell, I'm fine, it's just a cold..." he said, giving the mechanic a skeptical look. This was a bit much, this babying...

"Honestly, I'm fine..." he said, trying to reassure him.

"Well, it's better safe than sorry..." A tiny frown. "C'mon - I don't want anythin' bad to happen to ya. You know I love you..." A soft smile, and a kiss on the blonde's forehead. Dell disregarded the fact that he had to stand on his tip-toes just to reach Thomas's forehead.

"C'mon - just for one day. If you don't think it's workin' out for ya, I'll leave ya 'lone."

Thomas frowned slightly, receiving the small kiss.

"Fine, fine..." he muttered, turning heel and heading back to bed without further complaint.

Dell gave an embarrassed, but relieved smile, and began getting to work making Thomas's breakfast. He came up the stairs with a tray holding a huge plate of chicken, waffles, eggs, and toast. Along with a huge glass of sweet tea and syrup and jelly if Thomas needed it.

(( This is what I want to be served every day for the rest of my life. :\ Maybe I wouldn't hate breakfast then... ))

Thomas didn't eat a great deal of it, his appetite slightly lessened. He was sure to sample a bit of everything though, to make sure the other was happy with it.

He did nurse the glass of sweet tea though, continuing to sip gingerly on it. He liked the cool feeling against his throat, and continued.

"I'll take care of whatever you don't finish. Then I'll run out and get you one of them fancy humidifiers, and the tissues with the lotion in 'em and stuff. And maybe some cough drops..." The man sighed. "Hold on - I gotta make a list."

The man dashed off, obviously a little distraught over the sickness.

Thomas gave a skeptical look to his lover.

"Dell...I'm honestly fine...I don't need all that..." he muttered quietly, not wanting to receive any sort of motherly scorn out of the man for his protests.

"I know, I know..." Dell wrung his permanently-stained overalls in his large hands, looking down at the ground with embarrassment and distress. "I just... I just want ya to be okay.... And I wanna feel like I'm doin' somethin'. I feel better knowing that I'm kinda helpin' you... in some way..."

Thomas sighed gently and gave a small smile.

"I appreciate you Dell, honest. You don't need to do all this...just you being here is very comforting." he explained, looking the man in the eye.

Dell smiled sheepishly, twisting his thick overalls some more. "Well... Alright. I'd still like to make sure I got everything I need to properly take care of ya... But if you really want me t'just stay here with ya... well, I'm not gonna complain..." A gentle smile. The man's affection for his younger partner was tangible.

Thomas smiled lightly, beckoning the man with a finger.

"I love having you around. It brightens the room." he said, hoping to flatter the other. "If you'd like to help me, just make sure I have enough tissues...?" he asked.

Dell smiled and blushed at the compliment, obviously deeply pleased. "Well, alright... You want me to read ya somethin' or.... Turn on the TV...?" The man perked up suddenly. "Ah! I know! I could play you songs on Lucy May?"

(( His guitar has a name. I tried to make it sound as hill-billy as possible. I am utterly pleased with myself. ))

Thomas' eyes seemed to light up at this proposition, quickly straightening his back, almost at attention.

"Yes, please." though his body language betray his excitement, his voice remained calm, collected as his pale blue eyes became fixated on his partner, waiting for him to play.

"Good thing I brought 'er..." Dell chuckled, pulling the well-loved guitar out of its case. He strummed her lightly as a warm-up and to make sure she was still in-tune, then began playing soft, relaxing music that did well to mask the silence, yet didn't hinder conversation, should the two men decide to talk.

Thomas closed his eyes momentarily and listened, his usually tense shoulders slacking a moment in response to the gentle sound.

"Hmm...you're talented Dell...you know that...?" he asked, opening his eyes again to gaze affectionately at his lover. It was rare that his love for the man showed...it was mostly subdued, pushed down. But it did show through his eyes, on the rare occasion.

Dell flushed slightly, and sheepishly gazed down at his shoes as he continued to play. "Naw - I'm not really no big deal... Thank ya for thinkin' so, though.... Yer so kind...."

Thomas felt a small smirk tug at the corner of his lips, making him look away momentarily. It hadn't occurred to him before how Dell reacted to compliments. He might have done it more had he realized how well it effected him...

He turned and slid out of bed, quickly running his fingers through his hair to assure he didn't look terrible before getting to his feet. The action however made him cough, pausing in his advance to another room.

Dell gasped, setting the guitar aside momentarily. He chewed his lip, obviously not wanting to offer his help unless Thomas asked for it, but obviously on stand-by in case anything went wrong.

"... Um... Thomas..." he started carefully. "Are you sure you don't want... uh..."