noah had just returned from his morning job. his headband still tight around his sweaty face, the bodyguard jogs in place, cheeks puffed out as he exhales.

"dude, i just came back and you're sending me away again?" noah jogs around the couch to the backrest. he lunges over the boundary and abruptly drums his hands on kyle's stomach. "be riiight back."

the barking outside stills after noah leaves. weeks ago, calming them would have taken some time. some exasperated words of pleading. some sighs of ill patience.

but now, the dogs seem to understand that noah is becoming more of a mainstay. a permanent fixture— the scent of the home overtakes noah's own origins.

as he returns, noah balances letters on a small cardboard box. he sets the package down and flings one envelope to kyle like a frisbee. the paper crackles as it lands.

"letter for you. the rest is junk." noah kicks his box to the side before leaning over the couch. "it's from the pokemon contest association. weird. can you imagine yourself being a coordinator? i can't, but that'd be stupid funny to watch."

kyle lopez

as the handheld falls away from kyle's face, noah can't help but laugh. his laughter fades into softer gradients as he cherishes the red.

"the b-day pics were very cute," noah admits, "but all you gotta do is pose them for those." he grins self-assuredly- but he's caught off-guard.

noah's limbs scramble in the air as kyle's legs grapple him over the couch's back. he slides forward as if on a surfboard. not one to be subverted, noah grabs the edge of kyle's tank top and pulls it up. he burrows underneath the fabric until he pops his head through the collar.

"yes." the shirt is surely stretched. noah's sure kyle has more anyway. caught in this webbing, he kisses kyle's jaw, "do you think it's a photoshoot? or maybe they want to rent one of your mightyena."

kyle lopez

noah's hair parts, laying bare his forehead for kyle to kiss. his gaze softens too. blue-grey eyes search for pain: any growing bump

"sure, but are you okay? you hit your head pretty bad, man." noah's arms wriggle around, held down tight by the stretched fabric. but he manages to sneak a hand out to grab the envelope. "ah-"

he angles the envelope to his mouth and after some trial and tribulation, noah manages to tear an end strip off with his teeth. noah's other hand peeks to pull the letter out- but he's preoccupied with another matter. his lips fit against the other, pulsing softly kiss after kiss as the paper is tugged out.

noah pulls away half-drunk. dreamily, he smiles. an impish snicker tickles kyle before he sets the letter between their faces, using kyle's head as a desk.

"dear kyle lopez," noah's eyes follow the lines as he recites the contents, "hmm, mm..." he drops the letter, pulling himself out of kyle's shirt before dropping on him once more. "huh. are you qualified for this, man?"

kyle lopez

cradled this close, chuckles fall from noah's smile. perhaps he's a little ticklish— but frankly, it's his happiness that falls in surplus notes from his vocal toy box. noah forgets that he's in hoenn.

forgets that he's away from what home once was. the stresses and responsibilities of everyday life fade until noah grabs a bouquet of stretched fabric.

"my bad, man."

noah wants nothing but to kiss the smirk away, but he refrains with terrible patience. instead, noah's smile raises alongside the apologetic shrug of his shoulders. it nestles into his cheeks. the corners of his lips hide there.

"yeah, i'm surprised. but like," noah breathes before cupping the other's face. "now you can't dress up in those cool coordinator outfits like dawn grandier." he squishes the other's cheeks together, forcing kyle's lips into a pout. "should i come watch? i'll remind you to smile."

kyle lopez

noah conforms to that bare warmth with ease. with his defenses lowered by simple touch, kyle's kiss comes as a surprise. his eyelashes flutter in the stutter of his blinking, and like a cracked glowstick, a blush gleams from his skin.

"yeah, i do—" again, he's silenced. noah's fingers drag loosely across kyle's skin before tensing, as if to hold on to the moment.

as kyle tucks away with frustrating distance, noah seizes him by the arms— and by softened eyes. noah shifts his weight to his center and hoists kyle upright and away from the coffee table. he shimmys himself into kyle's lap, legs stretched out on either side of him as if he were on a swing.

"duh, i'm coming, dummy." noah wraps his arms around him. resting his head on the other's shoulder, his voice tickles ear and neck with cheekiness and consolation: "should i come in just poochy boxers to help you get over stage fright? y'know, so you don't need to play pretend and shit."

kyle lopez

noah is shaken off like a flea. pinned by kyle's back, his legs whisk in the air before curling around the other's torso. his hand stays close and remains almost unmoving, as if to move would cause the kiss' lingering sensation to slip.

ever the affectionate gardener, he plants kisses of his own on kyle's head. "naw, don't got anything, man. but even if i did, i'd clear the schedule."

he squeezes his legs tight: a punishment for introducing the mechanics of some economy to what should be only natural.

"you owe me nothing, dude. it's not like it'll be boring or whatever. and 'sides, i can take pics of all the—" noah exaggerates kyle's deadpan lips, unimpressed eyes, serious voice: "—kyle faces you make."

kyle lopez

noah does not resist, allowing kyle to mold his arms to his liking. their muscle squeezes him as he sinks heavily into the couch. he lets his body shift into place. caught in this early morning cuddle, noah refuses escape.

"flash photography isn't allowed at contests." noah says, rubbing his chin on the other's head to noogie him. "but for private performances? i'll allow it."

he grins. that expression chimes its own unique note as noah smiles stupid. but it's swiftly replaced by a softer lip. made tender by the proclamation of love and its liberal delivery, noah trips on kyle's pulse. noah grunts soft as the weight returns to bury him into the cushions.

"i love you too, man." his admission spills forth, untangling into something earthy and fragrant. noah's arms cross loosely behind the other's neck, and his head tilts to gain a sweeter look at the other's face. "you don't even need to ask." he tickles his nose against kyle's. "you wanna reserve me for today too?"

kyle lopez