Peter and Adam sat in their cozy apartment, engrossed in watching a show on TV. As a loving couple, Adam had noticed that Peter seemed down that day. Whenever he asked what was wrong, Peter denied any issues and insisted everything was okay. Peter had been lost in thought all day, so Adam took it upon himself to create a warm and comforting atmosphere at home before Peter returned from grocery shopping. He lit candles, adjusted the lighting to create a cozy ambiance, and played some calming music that he knew Peter loved.
When Peter opened the door, he greeted Adam with a grumbled "hello" as he kicked off his shoes and headed to the kitchen to unpack the groceries. His gaze remained fixed on the floor, mirroring his melancholic state. Concerned, Adam looked at Peter and noticed the dark circles under his eyes, his gloomy expression, and the profound sadness in his demeanor. Adam's stomach sank, and he abandoned whatever he was doing, quickly pulling Peter into his arms.
"What's wrong, Peter? Please tell me," Adam whispered anxiously into Peter's hair, his thumbs gently caressing Peter's cheeks, catching a few tears. "Oh, Peter..." Adam's heart shattered as the tears on Peter's cheeks intensified, and he began to sob quietly, clutching the fabric on the back of Adam's shirt.
"Oh, my love... what's wrong?" Adam whispered, his warm breath caressing Peter's hair, his golden skin providing comfort to Peter's tired complexion as he embraced him tighter. "Let's go to the living room, sweetheart," Adam suggested, carefully removing Peter's hands from his own, and guiding them both to the couch.
Gentle music played in the background, and the flickering candlelight created a soothing atmosphere as they settled down on the couch. The moment they sat, Adam pulled Peter into a warm hug, resting his head on top of Peter's and planting a tender kiss there. He gently rubbed Peter's back, waiting to see if Peter wanted to open up or not. Peter took slow breaths, trying to calm his crying. Adam held him closer, his voice soothing as he whispered into Peter's curls, "It's okay, Peter. Just let it out. I'm here for you, and I'll always be here for you."
Gradually, Peter began to relax, his head tilting gently onto Adam's chest. Adam continued to stroke Peter's back in the way he knew Peter enjoyed. After a while, Peter let out a soft sigh, and Adam could feel his own heartbeat against Peter's skin. Adam leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to Peter's forehead.
"You know... I checked the calendar, and today marks the anniversary of losing a dear friend of mine..." Peter whispered hoarsely after a few moments, his voice trembling, tears threatening to spill over. "No one knows about my friend... I haven't really talked about him much with anyone, but he was a very important person in my life. I can't believe our friendship abruptly ended over something so trivial that I did and it happened a couple of years ago..."
Peter fell silent, drawing a shaky breath, afraid to start crying again. He shifted his position, resting his head in Adam's lap, allowing Adam to look down at his tear-streaked face. Adam felt a profound sadness as he observed Peter's red, puffy eyes and cheeks. Cupping Peter's left cheek, he gently brushed away some tears. Peter shivered under Adam's tender touch and the constant warmth emanating from Adam's golden skin.
"I wish I could undo the things I did, so we could have continued our friendship... I don't think I'll ever have a friend like him again... We had so many wonderful times during the years we were friends, and I miss him so much it's unbearable!" Peter suddenly moved away from Adam, finding a spot on the other side of the couch. He faced Adam but curled into a ball, silently weeping.
"I understand, Peter. I can see how much you're hurting," Adam whispered, his voice filled with empathy. He reached out and gently touched the top of Peter's hand, their connection allowing Peter to feel the pain mirrored within Adam. "Carrying this burden alone must have been incredibly heavy. I can't believe none of us noticed it before..."
Peter jerked, surprised when Adam mirrored his pain. "How..." he started, his voice trailing off as he breathed, tilting his head to the side while looking at Adam. He was impressed with himself that he still got surprised by anything, having experienced so many different and peculiar things in space. But with Adam, everything was different. Every aspect of him was new and exciting to explore, and Peter found himself wanting to delve into every little piece of Adam like a book, eager to learn everything he could about him.
"Our strong bond allows me to feel what you feel if I allow it," Adam explained. "I could easily take away the pain you're carrying and carry it myself, but I'm not sure if that's what you would want."
Peter shook his head. It wouldn't feel right to have Adam take away his feelings, even if it was just for a limited time. "No," he murmured, his gaze fixed on their intertwined hands. Adam continued to caress Peter's hand, his touch comforting and reassuring. "But even if you won't let me carry your pain entirely, you don't have to bear it alone anymore, Peter. I'm here to share it with you. While you may never get your dear friend back, I'll always be here for you. Always, as long as you want me by your side," he said, his voice filled with love and care. Adam gazed deeply into Peter's eyes, conveying his sincerity. "I know I can never replace your precious friend. His presence was unique in your life, and your bond was irreplaceable. But I can support you through your loss and be here whenever you want to talk about him and the friendship you shared. If that's what you need. And if not, that's fine too. Whatever you need, Peter, I'm here for you..."
A lump formed in Peter's throat as he absorbed the weight of Adam's words. What had he done to deserve the love of such an incredible person? In that moment, he desperately grabbed Adam's hand, afraid of losing him, and allowed Adam to pull him into a warm and tight embrace. Peter straddled Adam, feeling his heart pounding against Adam’s chest, and an overwhelming urge to kiss him surged through Peter. Leaning closer, Peter captured Adam's soft lips in a fierce yet emotional kiss. Adam responded by tugging the back of Peter's head, pulling him even closer, his heart now racing irregularly against Peter's chest. Peter knew Adam's heart worked differently, but it still worried him whenever it raced. They kissed passionately, momentarily pausing only to catch their breath.
Peter placed his hand on Adam’s chest, feeling his heart pounding hard against his palm. “Are you okay, goldie?” he whispered, his voice tinged with worry, he knew deep down he didn’t need to have, but still. Adam took a deep breath, nodding with a soft smile. “I’m okay, sweetheart. You've got nothing to worry about.” He leaned forward and gave Peter Eskimo kisses, which made Peter chuckle.
For a few blissful moments, they simply gazed into each other's eyes, drowning in the love they shared and feeling the searing warmth of their bond. "I love you so incredibly much, Adam. Thank you for being everything you are, for everything you do for me, and for your constant love and comfort," Peter finally spoke, his voice filled with genuine appreciation. "I know, Peter. I can feel it," Adam whispered softly, intertwining their hands. "You don't have to thank me for anything," he added.
Peter shivered as he felt the warmth radiating from Adam, sending pleasant shivers down his spine. They could sense their bond pulsing with love and affection. Peter leaned in once again, catching Adam's lips and kissing him softly. Adam replied with a kiss just as soft and passionate, his hands on Peter’s hips. Peter leaned his forehead against Adam’s forehead, closing his eyes, the pain of losing his friend still present. He groaned from the emotional pain, tears filling his eyes again. He felt Adam’s eyes on him, worry from him waving through their bond.
“Ssshhh, Peter… It’s okay,” Adam said soothingly, rubbing circles into Peter’s back, hoping that would calm him. Peter sniffled, a few tears escaping his eyes. Adam draped his thumb over Peter’s cheeks, drying the tears away softly. “I’m here. I’m always here. Let’s rest, hmm?” Peter nodded and slid off Adam, walking slowly to the bedroom hand-in-hand with Adam. They lay down together on the bed, Peter cuddling into Adam’s warmth. Adam held Peter in his arms as Peter rested against his chest. “It will be okay, Peter. I promise. Just give it time…” he murmured into Peter’s curls, humming one of Peter’s favorite songs. They lay there for the rest of the evening, savoring each other’s warmth and love for one another. With time and Adam’s support, maybe the pain Peter felt over the loss of his friend would decrease, but it would never disappear entirely. The friend Peter had lost was too close to his heart to ever disappear from him, but he would try to remember and cherish their happy moments together and share them with Adam. Maybe that would make it a bit easier to carry.
Soon enough, Peter was relaxed enough to let his body take over and fall asleep to the sound of Adam’s humming mixed with the soft thumps of his heart. Adam held him close through the night, not letting sleep take over. He wanted to make sure Peter felt safe and comfortable, his increased warmth enveloping him like a soft blanket.
As the night wore on, Peter's breathing steadied, his body finding solace in Adam's embrace. Dreams and memories intertwined in his mind, and Adam remained a constant presence, providing unwavering support.
The morning light gradually peeked through the curtains, casting a gentle glow upon the room. Peter stirred, slowly opening his eyes to find Adam's gaze already fixed upon him, filled with tenderness and love. A small smile curled at the corners of Peter's lips as he realized how fortunate he was to have Adam by his side.
"Good morning," Peter whispered, his voice laced with warmth and gratitude. Adam brushed his fingertips against Peter's cheek, a soft touch that spoke volumes of his affection. "Good morning, my love," Adam replied, his voice a gentle melody.
They remained in each other's arms, basking in the tranquility of the moment. The weight of grief still lingered, but together, they were forging a path towards healing. With Adam by his side, Peter felt a glimmer of hope. He knew that, somehow, they would find their way through the pain and come out stronger.