Chapter Text
Small towns really did have a certain feel to them. Gueira was learning that rather quickly with each one he passed through, the feeling in the air so incredibly different from his hometown in Miami. He was used to large crowds, lots of energy and loud music. The close knit communities where nothing ever seemed to happen were jarring, and it made him long for home.
But Gueira had told himself that he would stick it out until the end of the year, and here he was with about a week left before he could turn around. Pulling his car into the mostly empty lot, Gueira's forehead thumped against the steering wheel. He let out a breath. Wherever he was right now, he'd have to see whether or not it was worth staying before he really committed for at least a few days. Future Guiera will deal with that. Present Gueira just wanted a shower and some food, since he started driving ever since the sun peeked over the horizon.
Newly in possession of a cheap motel room for the night, Gueira pocketed the key to his room before heading back out to his car, ruffling his freshly washed hair and shivering a bit at the cold wind nipping his nose. It was a bit frigid this week, with December in full swing by now. A quick stop at the closest fast food joint sated his hunger, and on the way out he finally noticed the building across the road. A bar? It looked huge, the building lit up with large string lights, a sign illuminated on the roof. The light shone down on the parking lot, glinting off the numerous cars. A full house, then. He felt himself being drawn towards the place and decided not to resist. It had been a while since he'd had a drink anyway.
The first thing that hit him upon stepping inside was the noise. The buzzing of various conversations could be heard over the music blaring in the background, and the warm lighting inside made it easy to look out over the expanse of the place. Christmas lights had been hung strategically throughout the place, giving it a more festive vibe. Movement caught his eye, and Gueira peered past the crowded tables to see what looked like a dance floor. Now that was unexpected. A grin started to creep onto his face as he headed towards the bar, already peering around at the people drinking and chatting. Maybe if he got lucky, he'd find a dance partner for the night.
Working his way to the front, he managed to find a space at the counter to order his drink. The glass slid in front of him a few moments later, and he savored the first sip. Tapping his foot on the barstool in time with the music, he made it about halfway through his drink just listening to the ambiance of the crowd around him, before someone new came to stand right next to his stool.
A curtain of indigo hair obscured the stranger’s face at first, but a tilt of his head revealed dark eyes that made Gueira’s heart stutter. This guy was absolutely gorgeous, and he was smiling. At him.
“I haven’t seen you around before.” The comment broke Gueira out of his reverie enough to nod, scratching at the back of his head nervously.
“Ah, yeah, just passing through.”
"Just passing through? Where are you from?"
"Florida, actually." Gueira took a quick sip of his drink, grinning lightly.
"Florida, huh? What brought someone like you this far out west?" The sly smile on the man's lips had his heart leaping in his chest. "I'm Meis, by the way."
"Oh, uh, Gueira. Nice to meet you."
"Same here." Meis glanced over his shoulder briefly. "Do you like dancing?"
"Is that an invitation?" The least he could do tonight was spend an hour or two dancing with a hot guy, and Meis was definitely his type.
"Maybe. Depends on your answer."
Gueira lifted his glass, gulping down the rest of his drink as fast as he could before sliding it back across the bar and out of the way. “Is yes too straightforward?”
A smile pulled at Meis’ lips. “C’mon.” A hand slid over his own before wrapping long fingers around his palm, pulling Gueira towards the dance floor. Gueira grinned, waiting until they reached a good spot to tug on their joined hands and pull Meis close to him. His free hand fell to a slim waist, keeping their chests pressed together. Meis smiled, laughing softly, His own hand rested just below Gueira’s shoulder, slightly over his heart. After a few minutes he shifted to wrap his arm around Gueira's neck as he rolled his hips in time with the music. Gueira briefly tightened his grip, eyes darkening as his thumb slipped over a sharp hip bone. Meis hummed, fingers digging into the back of his shirt before he turned around, pressing his back against Gueira's chest. His hand slid back along Gueira's neck, brushing over the skin before his fingers twined themselves in the short hair at the base of his skull.
Gueira pulled back in surprise at first, but once he realized what Meis intended he tugged on his waist so they were pressed flush together. His cheek pressed against dark hair as they moved, fingertips brushing over Meis’ stomach briefly as he held him close. A hand on his thigh sparked warmth in Gueira’s stomach, but he didn’t try to push any further just yet.
It was hard to tell how much time actually passed, all of Gueira’s attention focused solely on Meis. The music changed, slowing down as Meis suddenly turned, eyes dark as he pulled Gueira out of the crowd and into a side hallway. He was crowded up against the wall as Meis stared at him intently, hands pressed against his stomach. “Do you want this?”
Gueira gawked at him for a moment before slowly starting to nod, already reaching out to pull him closer. “Hell yes.”
Their lips met roughly, too eager to take their time for anything sweet as Meis moved closer. Gueira pulled him in until their chests brushed, a hand drifting down his side before moving further down. He was met with no resistance, only a quick gasp and fingers winding back into his hair before his breath was stolen again. He squeezed Meis’ ass—which felt as nice as it looked—as the kiss deepened. By the time they separated he was panting, foreheads pressed together as their eyes met.
“D’you wanna go somewhere, uh, private?”
“Yeah.” The grip on his hair disappeared as Meis’ hand moved to the side of his neck. “Come home with me.”
“Shit. Seriously?”
“Mhm.” Meis kissed him again, a thumb grazing Gueira’s jaw. “Is that okay?”
“Fuck, yeah. Yeah, let’s go.”
They left the bar in a daze, Meis sucking a hickey into the bottom of his jaw while they stood waiting for the taxi. By the time they stumbled through the front door Gueira was already tugging at Meis’ jacket, trying to pull it off his shoulders and failing. A soft huff of laughter against his lips made him smile, finally managing to push the jacket off, which fell to the ground with a low thump. Hands on his waist slid under his shirt, Meis’ palms moving along his stomach and sides before pulling at the hem. Gueira pulled back and lifted his arms just enough to get the shirt off before kissing Meis again, squeezing his ass once before crouching down and picking him up.
Meis let out a small noise of surprise as he was lifted, before grinning and wrapping his legs around Gueira’s waist. “Do you know where you’re going?”
“Not at all. Which way?”
Laughter trickled over his shoulder. “Turn right. No, left, sorry. Down the hall, second door.”
They managed to make it inside with no incident, Meis flopping down on the bed before reaching up towards Gueira and pulling him down on top of him. Gueira squeezed Meis’ shoulder, nipping at Meis’ lip before pulling back slightly. “You still sure about this?”
Meis nodded eagerly, smiling up at him. “Definitely.”
Gueira smiled back, leaning back down so that he could make Meis fall apart under his hands.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gueira woke slowly, the sun’s bright rays softened by the curtains draped across the window. His eyes stayed closed for now, letting himself drift within the warmth pressed against his back and across his chest. Eventually that warmth started to move, soft huffs of breath against the back of his shoulder signaling that his partner was waking up. Slowly, Gueira rolled over, staying as close as possible while doing his best not to jostle them too much. Once he was settled on his other side, he was met with a sleepy gaze. Only one eye was visible from where Meis was half-buried in his pillow, a soft smile curling at his lips.
“Morning.” Meis’ voice was still rough with sleep.
“Morning.” He brushed a few strands of hair over Meis’ shoulder, a smile of his own on his face. “We should probably shower.”
“Probably.” Fingers brushed over his shoulder, leaving goosebumps behind before Meis snuggled back up to him. “But in a few minutes.”
“Ohh, someone’s cuddly.”
“You like it.” Meis started tracing patterns into Gueira’s shoulder. “So...last night was nice.”
“Yeah, it was.” Gueira’s hand settled on the small of Meis’ back, thumb sweeping back and forth.
“I’d like to do it again. But I’d like to get to know you better too.”
Gueira pulled back, surprised. “You...wanna go on a date? After sex? You know it’s usually the other way around, right?”
Meis rolled his eyes, settling back against Gueira’s shoulder. “Of course I know that. But I like you, and you’re interesting. If I didn’t think something was there, I would’ve kicked you out last night.”
“Ohh, that would’ve been mean.” That earned him a knee in his thigh, and Gueira’s resulting groan made Meis laugh softly.
“House privileges. So?”
“So?”
“What do you think?”
Gueira hesitated for a moment, thinking. The sex was really good, and Meis gave off a certain cool confidence that pulled him in. It certainly wouldn’t hurt to try a date or two. If it didn’t work out, he’d be gone after a week anyway.
“Sure, why not?”
The smile he was given left him momentarily awestruck, and when the urge hit he couldn’t resist pulling Meis in for a kiss. A hand cupped his cheek, thumb brushing just under his eye as lips pressed against his. When they separated he sat up, pulling Meis up with him. “Seriously though, we need a shower.”
Meis grumbled a bit, but let himself be tugged into a sitting position. “It can wait a few more minutes…”
“Or, we go now and we can make out in there.”
“...That’s playing dirty.” But Meis swung his legs over the side of the bed, standing up and stretching briefly. Gueira smirked, taking the opportunity to lightly smack his ass before darting off. Meis yelped, but snorted as he watched him vanish through the door frame. “Wrong way!”
After cleaning up they had to go back to the bar to get Gueira’s car, Meis looking amused at Gueira’s slight embarrassment when they walked up to it. “An old car isn’t a bad thing. It’s better than no car at all, yeah?” Gueira didn’t really have a retort for that, but he did make sure to open the door for Meis.
“Oh, he opens doors for people too?” Meis grinned, starting to laugh as Gueira’s ears turned red.
“I’m trying to be polite, here!”
“And it’s very sweet, you’re such a gentleman.”
Grumbling, Gueira started the car. “So where are we going again?”
Driving directly through town gave Gueira a very different view than the one he'd had the night before. Christmas lights were strung up along the street, with greenery wrapped around the lampposts. Shop windows were decorated with various designs, with one proudly proclaiming itself to be the North Pole, sign and all. Gueira glanced at Meis, one eyebrow lifted. "They take this pretty seriously, huh? Looks like a movie set here."
"Always." Meis smiled. "When I was a teenager it was pretty overwhelming, honestly. But I have a better appreciation for it now."
"This is your hometown, then?"
"Yeah, born and raised. I'm just visiting for the holidays right now, then I'll head back home."
"Where's that, if you don't mind me asking?" They pulled into the parking lot as they were talking, and Meis smiled teasingly.
"So polite. No, I don't mind at all. I live in Promepolis right now, I split an apartment with a friend of mine and his boyfriend."
"Ohh, so you're a northerner now. How's the cold treat you up there?" Gueira laughed as Meis made a face.
"It's the worst. I have a ridiculous amount of blankets and a space heater. That's definitely one thing I'll never get used to."
Meis guided them to a small restaurant nearby, and the smells wafting from inside made Gueira's stomach growl loudly. Sitting down at a booth, they took some time to order their drinks and food before Meis spoke. “So, what are your plans for the rest of your trip?”
“I didn’t really have anything in particular in mind. I was gonna turn around and start heading home after this, gotta go see my folks for Christmas. But I don’t really stop anywhere because I planned to, it’s more about where the wind takes me.” Gueira paused, taking a sip of his drink. “What about you?”
“I’m staying here through Christmas, then heading back home for New Year’s. My parents are out of town for another week, but I wanted to come home early this year. It paid off too.” Meis winked at him over the rim of his drink, and Gueira felt his cheeks go red.
“Yeah, same here.”
They got to know each other better as they ate, mostly sticking to basics until the topic of jobs came up. Meis didn’t even hesitate, fork halfway to his mouth. “Oh, I’m lead guitarist in a band.”
Gueira stared at him for a moment. “...Did you mean that seriously or…?”
“Yeah, I know, sounds fake right? But I promise I’m telling the truth.” Meis dug out his phone, scrolling through before holding it out to Gueira.
A picture of Meis and three other people stared back at him, a guitar slung over the raven’s shoulder. They looked like they just finished playing, exhilarated and still riding the high of performing. “You look good.”
“Thanks.” Meis grinned, pocketing his phone and taking another bite of food. “We’re starting to get more fans with each gig, so it’s looking better for us. So, what about you?”
Gueira frowned lightly, poking at his food. “I uh, don’t really have anything steady right now. Whole reason I’m out here is ‘cause I was taking time off to think about what I might wanna do.” It was embarrassing to say after seeing how much better Meis was doing.
Fingers brushed against his, making him look up. “Nothing wrong with taking your time. Not everyone’s gonna figure it out early.” Meis’ smile had softened. “So tell me what you like then. What are you into?”
“Other than you?” A smile crept back onto Gueira’s face as Meis’ cheeks pinked lightly. “Well, I like football…”
They ended up sitting in the cafe for over an hour, swapping stories as the sun crept higher in the sky. Meis, eager to show him around town, dragged him off to spend the rest of the day learning the various nooks and crannies of the city. There was a record shop on the street corner that Meis had visited so much the owner knew him by name. The small park with a fountain where he used to play guitar for strangers back when he was a teenager. A sweets shop that sold the weirdest flavors of ice cream, including the one Meis gave him that tasted like sweet potato. Local specialty, he said. By the time they fell back into bed together that night, Gueira was unable to remember any of his original plans for the week.
The days passed quicker than Gueira would have liked, but each one brought more new experiences. Most memorable was their short horseback riding trip, in which Gueira learned Meis could wear anything, including a cowboy hat, and still look incredibly hot. He might be a little biased, but that didn’t matter.
One night, they even went back to the bar, Meis dragging him out to dance after only a few drinks. Gueira felt his heart flutter every time Meis smiled at him, and if they didn’t get back until 3 am because Meis kept asking for just one more song, that was nobody’s business but theirs.
Waking up the next morning was a slow, gradual process. Gueira was warm, and very comfortable, with nowhere in particular he had to be. So instead of opening his eyes, he let himself drift, snuggling closer to the warm body pressed against his. There was a soft puff of air against his collarbone just before his sleeping partner started to shift. Groaning out in protest, Gueira turned, pulling Meis close again. “Not yet. Too early.”
He was met with a bit of grumbling, the two having to adjust themselves back into a comfortable position before falling still again. Gueira had just started to drift off when two fingers started to trace along his jawline, feather light and just barely grazing the skin. Cracking one eye open, he was met with a pair of sleepy eyes and a sweet smile. “Morning.”
It took a moment for Gueira’s tongue to start working again. “...Morning.” Turning his head, he pressed a kiss to Meis’ palm. “How do you feel?”
“Like we were out til 3 am at a bar.”
“Well, someone kept insisting we stay and keep dancing.”
“You say that like you weren’t having a great time.” Meis leaned forward, brushing their lips together briefly. “You had fun, admit it.”
“Okay, maybe.” Gueira chased after him for a second kiss, lingering just a hair’s breadth away. “This whole week has been pretty amazing.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment to my hosting skills.” Meis nudged their foreheads together as his hand slid over Gueira’s arm. “You’re leaving in two days, right?”
“Yeah, gotta head home. Promised I’d be back for Christmas.” Gueira pressed a kiss just below Meis’ eye, hesitating. He’d been going back and forth about this for the last day or so, weighing his options. He really liked Meis a lot, and even after a week he still felt drawn to him enough that he felt ready to actually consider something long term.
The question was, did Meis feel the same way enough to make any kind of commitment?
Pushing himself up onto his elbow, his lips found Meis’ temple. “So...I have something to ask you.”
“Hm? What is it?” Meis pushed himself up to match Gueira, looking a little concerned.
“So, I uh...wanted to talk to you about what’s gonna happen after.”
“Oh.” Meis sat up completely, pushing his hair behind his ear. “Yeah, I guess we should talk about that.”
Gueira reached out, squeezing his arm to coax Meis to look at him. “Hey, Meis?” A smile pulled at his lips when Meis looked at him, despite his nerves. “I like you a lot. A lot more than most of the other people I’ve been interested in, and way more than just a fling.” His heart skipped a beat. “I know once the holidays are over it’s gonna be pretty long distance, but...I’d like to try if you’re willing.”
Meis was quiet for a minute, studying Gueira’s face as if he was searching for something. His free hand reached out and touched Gueira’s chest, hesitating before pressing his palm flat over his heart. He looked away before speaking, unsure. “...I don’t know. That's a pretty long distance for a relationship, and we don’t even know when we’ll see each other next. I like you a lot too, don’t get me wrong. But I’m not sure we can build an actual relationship over a phone or a computer after one week.”
Gueira pressed his own hand over Meis’, keeping it against his chest. “I don’t know either. I’ve definitely never done anything like this before, it’s just as crazy and new to me too. But I know I’d regret it if I didn’t at least ask you if we could give it a shot.”
Meis took a deep breath, nodding slightly before meeting Gueira’s eyes again. “Let me think about it?”
“Yeah, of course.” Gueira pulled their hands up to press a kiss to Meis’ fingers. “I don’t wanna pressure you.” He smiled, earning a small one in return. “We should probably get up and eat something since we’re both awake.”
“Coffee first.” Meis pushed himself close enough to kiss his cheek. “Thank you.”
The somewhat serious mood passed as they got themselves ready, leaving the house before noon. They were just tired enough that any real activity seemed like too much, so much of the day was spent rather quietly compared to what they’d been up to before. Meis brought him to a new cafe, insisting on paying for their drinks despite Gueira’s protests. The light, fuzzy feeling returned to Gueira’s stomach as Meis ordered for them both, watching eagerly as the cups were set down on the table.
Gueira’s eyebrows slowly went up as he stared at it. “So are you gonna tell me what it is now?”
“Nope, I said you had to try it before I told you.”
It certainly looked like a regular drink. Cradling the cup carefully between his hands, Gueira took a sip. It tasted like...wait.
His expression twisted, Meis muffling his laughter behind his hand as Gueira managed to swallow. “Meis, what the hell is in this?”
“Cayenne pepper.”
Gueira stared at him. “You’re joking.”
“Nope.” A few giggles leaked past the hand still covering his mouth, Meis’ eyes scrunched up from smiling. “Do you like it?”
“Why is there pepper in a coffee?”
That set Meis off again, Gueira shaking his head as he set the cup down. The laughter slowly tapered off as Meis calmed down, reaching for the menu again. “Okay, I think I owe you a dessert now.”
Gueira, whose eyes had been tracing Meis’s smile as soon as he’d dropped his hand, made a noncommittal noise. Meis paused, menu laid out on the table. “What is it?”
“Why’d you cover your mouth this time?”
The question seemed to catch Meis by surprise. “Uh...I guess I didn’t wanna be too loud. Why?”
“I like seeing you smile, so you shouldn’t hide it.” A cheeky grin spread across Gueira’s face as Meis immediately flushed red, hiding his face. He was still grinning when their desserts arrived, Meis’ cheeks still burning.
Night fell, and with it came the warmth of lights strung along the roads and rooftops, forming into snowflakes that crested over the sidewalk and road itself. The small plaza held a festive air with a fully lit Christmas tree, and the illuminated sleigh and reindeer gave the whole area a colorful glow. Even after a few days it was still quite the sight, and Gueira’s staring had almost caused him to walk into a pole a few times. Only Meis’ gentle grip on his arm saved him each time, soft laughter making Gueira’s cheeks flush in response.
A pause in their easy pace gave Gueira time to glance at the man next to him, eyes drifting over Meis’ features. His face was still half hidden by his hair even when it was pulled up into a ponytail, but the obvious smile on his face made Gueira’s heart do a small flip in his chest. Dark eyes met his and it took him a moment to realize he’d been discovered, clearing his throat and looking away. “I, uhm...let’s go this way.”
He started walking again, studiously ignoring the soft snickering from next to him as they headed off rather aimlessly. His cheeks had almost stopped burning when he felt a gentle brush against his palm, sliding along his skin in a barely there caress before fingers interlaced with his. Gueira stopped short in surprise, glancing down at their hands before turning to Meis. He was watching one of the light displays, seemingly not paying any attention, but the pink in his cheeks gave him away. Gueira’s own cheeks began to heat up again, but he managed a small squeeze of their hands. It seemed so ridiculous for them both to be this embarrassed over holding hands in public when they’d already had sex multiple times, but at least it wasn’t just Gueira making an idiot of himself again.
Gueira felt eyes on him and looked around, noticing a few of the people nearby were looking at something above where they were standing. Glancing up, he found himself holding in a groan. Mistletoe, really? Was this some kind of movie?
Biting his lip, he glanced at Meis, who had shifted a little bit closer so their arms were pressed together. He normally wasn’t one for really sappy stuff like this, but...well. First time for everything, right?
Gueira gently tugged on Meis’ hand to get his attention, turning to face him. “So, uh...I don’t know if you follow this tradition but…” He inclined his head up, watching as Meis glanced up himself. Surprise crossed his face before a smile pulled at his lips, meeting Gueira’s eyes once again. “Is this your way of asking to kiss me in public?”
“I didn’t plan this, but I can’t say this isn’t working out in my favor.” Gueira rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand, stepping a little closer. “So?”
Meis started laughing, which made Gueira deflate a bit. “Hey!”
“We’ll work on the romantic stuff.” A hand cupped Gueira’s cheek before lips pressed against his, soft and sweet. Gueira leaned into the touch, his own hand sliding to the small of Meis’ back to pull him closer.
They separated slowly, lingering as their noses brushed lightly. Gueira honestly didn’t care how many people were nearby anymore, not when his focus was on the thumb smoothing over his cheek in slow strokes. “So...work on it, huh? Are you saying we’ve got more time?”
“Yeah.” Meis squeezed his hand. “I want to give it a try.”
Gueira grinned as his chest swelled with warmth, and he couldn’t help but pull Meis in, lifting him up just enough to spin him around once. He didn’t think he could ever get tired of hearing Meis laugh, especially when he was the cause of it. “Thank you. Thank you thank you thank you.” He buried his face in Meis’ hair after setting him back down, arms wrapped tight around his waist still. “I’m gonna be the best boyfriend ever, just you wait.”
A pleased noise drifted up from where it was muffled in Gueira’s neck, making Gueira squeeze him just a little tighter. He’d make the most of this, not just for himself but for the man currently in his arms. He couldn’t wait to give him all the love and attention he deserved.
