The late afternoon sunshine bathed the room in a golden glow. Blinking against the brightness, Jake glanced around, groggy and disoriented. 

 He’d fallen asleep. In Damien’s apartment. On top of him. 

Oops. 

Damien shifted underneath him as Jake carefully sat up, sliding out from between his legs to sit on the edge of the couch. Letting out faint snores, Damien’s face was calm and peaceful as he slept. Jake reached over to brush a stray curl off his face, catching himself just in time. 

Face burning, he turned away. What had come over him? He barely even knew Damien and here he was opening up to him, trusting him. Taking his shirt off in front of him. 

With that thought, he scanned the room, finding his shirt where he’d dropped it on the coffee table. Tugging it over his head, he yawned, every part of his body aching. Stretching – a whole body experience – Jake realized it was a bad idea a moment too late. His back made a little pop, sending blinding pain spiking through his leg and spine. 

Gasping at the sensation, he lost his balance, crashing to the ground. His right shoulder hit the floor – at least it was carpet this time – and his head snapped back as it made direct contact with the coffee table. 

Staring up at the ceiling, Jake let out a pained laugh.

“Jake! What happened?” Damien’s panicked face came into view. “Are you— Why are you laughing?” 

Damien’s surprised confusion made Jake laugh even harder. “Your coffee table is so sturdy. I don’t know how it’s holding together.” 

“Sturdy. Yes. But are you okay?” 

Apparently Damien wasn’t appreciating the humor in this situation. 

“I’m fine. Just thought I’d lay down here for a second,” Jake replied. 

The sarcasm didn’t even seem to register. Scooping Jake up, Damien carried him the ten steps over to his bed. Carefully setting Jake down, he sat next to him. 

“What happened?” Damien asked.  

“I stretched and fell.” 

Damien narrowed his eyes. 

“And my back twinged and I almost died on your coffee table,” Jake finished, rolling his eyes. 

Damien ran his hand over his face. “Old or new injury?” he asked quietly. 

It took a moment for Jake to understand what he was asking. “Oh. Umm, new?” 

“And your chances of going to a doctor?” Damien’s voice was pleading. 

Jake snorted. “Zero.”

“Figures.” Damien rubbed his face again. “Is there anything I can do to help?” 

Reaching over, Jake twined his fingers through Damien’s, eliciting a sound of surprise from him.

“Come lay down and cuddle,” he requested, point blank. 

For a moment, Damien seemed frozen in place, but a smile bloomed on his face, bright and sweet. “Okay. I can do that.” 

Jake watched lazily as Damien kicked off his pants, replacing them with a pair of sports shorts. He was enjoying the view, enjoying whatever came from today. The strangest day. And somehow still the best. 

“Would you like a pair of shorts?” Damien offered.

“Too much effort.” There was no way he’d let Damien see the bruises on his legs now that he’d calmed down. “Thanks, though.” 

Sliding in next to Jake, Damien rearranged his pillow and pulled a blanket up. He turned on his side, staring at Jake thoughtfully. 

“You are... a force to be reckoned with,” Damien finally stated, voice hushed in the stillness as the evening light dissipated. 

It was technically a compliment, but Jake laughed under his breath. “Pretty sure I’ve already been reckoned.” He shifted closer, nestling his head onto Damien’s shoulder. 

It was the strangest feeling to trust someone this much. But it just felt so… natural. Damien curled around him almost protectively and fizzy bright happiness flooded through him. 

After sleeping most of the day, Jake wasn’t expecting to be tired, but his eyes drifted shut anyway. He smiled as he listened to Damien’s steady heart beat and tried to forget the rest of the world existed.