Gavin

[nola_sirius]

This was it: moving day. It was real. Dominic knew it was real because he was standing inside their apartment, surrounded by boxes, and the door was closed to the world and all that remained in the space was Dominic, and Gavin, and all of their belongings.

Their handwriting on the mostly labeled boxes. Their pocket detritus scattered on the counter: wallets, keys, phones. A mixture of bed and bedding set up first, from a mixture of their collections. What was Dominic's was also Gavin's now. And Dominic couldn't be happier.

It was hot, busy work getting the bed set up and boxes in, and Dominic was taking a water break, drinking a swig from his water bottle, holding it in his teeth while he interrupted himself to tie his sweaty hair back.

They were home. Something deep and unknowable inside Dominic, a sharp and constant ache, started to ease.

"Honey," Dominic chirped, when his mouth was free again, "We're finally home."

Jourdaine

[nola_joshlyman]

It shouldn't feel like a date. This really, really shouldn't feel like a date. It was a study session with an accomplished lawyer and political insider who was generous enough with her time to help Diego out on his well-overdue journey.

But there had been a spark between Diego and Jourdaine, right? Something remarkable, like a tap on the shoulder, like a reminder, like a direction?

Maybe Diego was just imagining things.

Right now, though, he had to just live in reality. He was standing in Jourdaine's doorway with a carefully arranged cheese plate, smiling as she opened the door.