[Anni MP] you could be my love - niek

Niek's mood shifted so suddenly it gave Tane whiplash. The other boy had seemed so much more relaxed and natural while they sat together at the table eating and cuddling. Now he was tense again, anxious energy rolling off him in waves. The half-Maori boy wondered what had changed. Maybe going back into the crowd, but no. It seemed like more than that. He draped a reassuring arm about Niek's shoulders as they moved forward in line. He refrained from kissing the top of his lover's head. That would certainly be overstepping his bounds with so many people around. He though he had seen Niek's demeanor change the most when he mentioned the currently forbidden 'boyfriend.' Tane felt suddenly awkward, like he had said something he shouldn't have. He self-consciouslly patted the pocket that held the currently shrunken Mr. Cuddles.

"Sorry," he murmured quietly to his lover. "About saying we were boyfriends. I know..." He didn't realize that this would ache his chest so much, the knowledge that Niek wasn't comfortable being official. Tane had given himself to the older boy but it seemed Niek didn't want this last step yet. "I know we're not official. I don't want to tie you down like that." The half-Maori boy would tether his life to Niek's in a heartbeat but now must not have been the right time. "I shouldn't have said that so casually. Sorry."

Now it was their turn, the empty carriage open to them. Tane let Niek step in first, a hand resting protectively on the small of his lover's back, before he too stepped in. The seats were comfortable, the bench wide enough for two to snuggle. He settled in next to Niek, wanting to put his arm around him but suddenly feeling shy. "The view is nice," he commented rather lamely, looking out the large viewing window on the side of the carriage.

The Dutch boy shook his head as Tane's arm draped over his shoulders, and the half-Maori boy apologized. No, no, no this was all wrong. Tane didn't do anything. It was, as always, Niek's own fault for feeling self conscious and awkward and weird. He chewed his lip before he gently nudged Tane on the side, his words hushed, more or less under his breath, "N-No it's just... s-s-sorry... I'm... I j-just..." I'm the failure here, he wanted to say, to reassure Tane that he truly didn't do anything wrong, I'm the one who should be apologizing... He just shook his head and laced his fingers with Tane's that was over his shoulder and gave a reassuring squeeze. A squeeze to remind his lover that he was okay, that they were okay; this was just one of Nieks' issues he had to suck up and get over.

He stumbled into the carriage first, and slid over to allow Tane enough room, too. Their thighs brushed against each other, and Nieks' realized how warm Tane was. Again. So warm. He leaned quietly into the half-Maori boy, a sign of quiet affection as the started their ascent upwards, towards the top of the ride. The skyline was gorgeous -- dotted with mountains and an orangey-purple skyline and some deep, rich grey clouds. Even the rides were starting to light up. It was truly gorgeous. Nieks had nobody else he wanted to share the ride with. He felt the tugs of calmness and anxiety-induced nerves finally settle, a quiet mix of emotions in his chest. He sighed, moving to lean against Tane. More warmth. More safety. He murmured something, his voice soft, quiet; like he did when he was settling in for a nap, or for their bedtime. It was definitely passed eight; he was surely just feeling the tugs of broken habits happening now. He just consciously didn't realize it.

"Mmm... nice..." he murmured, repeating, trying to settle against Tane. He gave a frustrated sound as his lover didn't put his arm around him to cuddle, and he moved Tane's arm for him to settle closer. His head rested in its favorite spot on Tane: right on the collarbone, low enough to hear Tane's heartbeat, but high enough that he was comfortable. This was nice, Nieks thought, the tugs of sleep trying to sway him, "Y-You're nice... s-s-sorry I'm s-stupid," he murmured. Stupid because he wasn't good at the fun house. Stupid because he got butt anxious over the crowds. Stupid because he got upset at the mention of being 'boyfriends'. Nieks was so stupid. "S-Sorry..."

The gentle squeeze to Tane's hand relaxed him a bit, putting a smile on his face and easing some of the tension there. Little gestures like that had always been Niek's way of letting Tane know that things were okay even if he was still a bit anxious about something. The half-Maori boy liked that his best friend could read him so well, could convey thought and emotions with such simple gestures. Deep down, Tane liked the idea of being known completely. It made him feel like he belonged to someone. "It's alright," he murmured, squeezing back. "You don't have to apologize."

The view was very nice, but Tane was more distracted by looking at Niek: the set of his shoulders, the way the last light of the day played across his face, the subtle expressions that chased themselves across cheeks and brow. He loved this boy, wanted him like he had never wanted anyone before. When Niek lifted Tane's arm to settle against his chest, he felt his heart constrict painfully inside him. He pressed a kiss to the top of Niek's head, cuddling him closer, silently encouraging him to crawl into Tane's lap if he wanted. Niek was always so cold but Tane was warm enough for the two of them. "Very nice," he replied with a smile, his free hand coming up to card through Niek's soft hair.

Shifting his hand down, Tane tilted Niek's face up to his, his voice low and serious. "Never say that about yourself, Aroha," he told him, frowning slightly. "Believe me when I say this: you are perfect. You are absolutely everything to me, Niek. I won't let anyone disparage the man I love, not even himself." Tane kissed him, softly and lovingly, an echo of the kisses they shared at that picnic table earlier that day. "I knew you were special the moment you bumped into me during the sorting ceremony. I was right. I found my Aroha that night." Leaving aside all subtlety, Tane pulled Niek into his lap, hugging him close. "You see only the worst in you, but I see everything and all of it is perfect."

The ride lurched forwards, cascading them upwards. Nieks was glad that Tane was willing to sit here and listen to his apologizes and allow what was to happen and all that. He was glad that Tane didn't turn down his need to cuddle, and the older boy felt the need to get more. If he could, he'd climb onto Tane's lap and settle, and there he'd sleep. He'd always found comfort in Tane's warmth surrounding him. But, of course, he felt awkward if he did that. He didn't want to intrude, or push too far. He was already a bit of a mess. He chewed on his lip as Tane murmured at him, and then as his face was brought up. He sighed as Tane's fingers dragged through his hair, and he settled even deeper into the warmth that consumed him. He sighed, blinking sleepily at Tane as he spoke. He saw the way his friend's lips moved, and the soft lulls of his voice, but... he wasn't paying attention. He didn't listen to the actual phonetics that Tane was using. The lull of the voice was addictive, though, and Nieks murmured something unintelligent as he settled into the warmth.

And then, without realizing it, Niek was pulled into Tane's lap. His strong arms wrapped around him, and the warmth of Tane's body and arms and legs were there, surrounding. Consuming. Needy. The older Dutch boy sighed almost in heaven as he settled, his eyes struggling to stay open. The ends of the sunset casted below the horizon, and the night was progressively getting darker. Nieks struggled to stay awake as the ride continued. Between Tane's heartbeat, his steady breathing and the gentle rocking of the ride they shared, the Ombrelune was finding it hard to focus. He murmured, "W-Warm..." It was. It was so warm. It was like being tucked up in their bed, and their body heat warming them both. Tane was always so hot, so warm, that it was really no surprise that as the ride started to come to an end, Nieks eyes closed and he had drifted off to sleep.

[[niek end]]

Tane held his lover in his lap, hands stroking through Niek's hair and down his back in a soothing way, lulling him into a more relaxed state. He made little sounds of contentment as he cuddled his best friend close. This was how it should be. Tane knew that in his heart, this was where he belonged: with Niek, caring for him and making him feel safe. He'd never seen Niek drift off against another person like this. He wasn't big on being touched, really only Tane could expect to be allowed to be this close. The half-Maori cherished these moments, loving his boy so much, listening to his soft breathing, feeling the weight of him on his chest.

He heard Niek murmur something, almost unintelligible, before the soft sounds of Niek lightly snoring caught his ears. He smiled to himself, hummed tuneless melodies, and watched the last of the daylight sink behind the mountains. When the ride came to an end, he kept Niek in his arms, carrying his sleeping lover all the way back to the carriage that would return them to Beauxbatons. Niek didn't stir, not even when Tane stripped him to his boxers and tucked him into their bed, crawling in to settle next to his lover, wrapping him back up in his arms before falling asleep himself. Mr. Cuddles guarded them all night from the edge of the bed.

[[tane end]]