Chapter 1 – Leon #3
“How was therapy?” James asked, and Leon had to give him credit for his self-control—or at least his ability to deflect.
“It was fine. Caden wants to know if you’ve noticed any improvement in my anxiety since I started using the breathing techniques, and also if you’ve noticed any signs of ADHD outside of work.”
James glanced at Leon, then at his phone on the counter, and then back. “Well…I don’t think I have much to offer about your anxiety. But, if it would be helpful, I can compile a list of things I’ve noticed that might be related to ADHD.”
“Damn, there’s enough you need to make a list?” Leon asked as he poured their sodas.
“It’s not a bad thing,” James said. “Just like anxiety isn’t a bad or shameful thing.”
“Yes, my little mensch. I know,” Leon said, allowing the affection he’d felt for months when saying the nickname to seep into his voice.
During the first few years they worked together, James and Leon had hated each other because of a misunderstanding.
Leon still blamed James’ former piece of shit boss, Antonelli, for all the years they’d lost to animosity.
Back then, Leon had said “mensch” with a definite edge of sarcasm and bite.
After their conflict mediation session, their relationship had turned cordial and then affectionate.
His use of “mensch” had followed suit. Nowadays, Leon always tried to put all of his warm, gooey feelings into the nickname.
A soft hand touched the bare small of Leon’s back, and he looked over his shoulder to find James standing behind him, his own phone in hand.
“How about you let me order the food tonight. You got us drinks and are playing host, as always.”
Leon didn’t mind doing either of those things, but if James wanted to pay, he wouldn’t argue. “That’s fine, darlin’. I think I have some ice cream in the freezer, so I’ll get drinks and dessert, and you do dinner.”
They huddled over James’ phone, Yarmen’s slowly swishing tail occasionally getting in the way. After the order was placed, Leon flopped down on the middle seat of the couch and grabbed the remote.
“I’m not even sure what streaming service it’s on,” he admitted, as he waited for James to settle in the seat to his right.
For months, that had been James’ chosen seat, with Leon sitting in the far left spot. Occasionally, Leon would get up the courage to scoot into the middle, always under the pretense of wanting to pet Yarmen, who also preferred the right seat and would sit in James’ lap.
Leon didn’t have to pretend anymore. As James gently took the remote from his hands, Leon lifted his arm, waiting as patiently as he could for James to lean into his side.
As James clicked through the various channels on Leon’s smart TV, Leon idly stroked his hand up and down James’ bare arm.
“That feels really nice,” James said as he finally found the right channel. Now he just had to enter his ridiculously long email address and somehow even longer password.
“I like making you feel nice,” Leon said.
James leaned more of his weight against Leon’s side, resting the hand not clicking away at the remote on Leon’s thigh.
Leon watched placidly as James scrolled through listings until he found the right show. “Do you want to go ahead and get started while we wait for dinner?”
“Sure,” Leon said, picking up James’ hand to play with his fingers.
“You’re feeling touchy today.”
Leon froze.
“I–I like it! A lot! I was…just saying,” James said, shrinking back into the couch and, subsequently, away from Leon.
Well, he wasn’t going to have that. Leon dropped his arm behind James’ back to grab his waist and pull him firmly back against Leon’s side.
“Good,” Leon said again, as the opening music began to play on the show.
They managed to watch almost an entire episode before their food arrived, and they moved to the kitchen table. While Leon would have preferred staying snuggled up on the couch, Yarmen would have found a way to get his paws in their box of feta fries.
After eating half his meal, Leon grew bored of it, which happened a lot, but he was pleased to see James finish most of his wrap and a good number of fries. He cracked open the beers, and they brought them to the couch.
On a whim, Leon took the far lef seat, and James followed his lead, sitting down in the middle, while Yarmen jumped up onto the right seat like a king on his throne.
“I thought maybe we could try a more advanced position,” Leon said.
“I am way too full for any positions,” James groaned, tipping his head to rest on Leon’s shoulder.
“Alright, darlin’, that’s fine. You just stay put, and I’m going to arrange myself a bit.”
Leon shifted so his back and shoulders wedged into the corner, allowing him to turn halfway onto the couch and collect James in his arms.
“Oh,” James said as he settled onto Leon’s chest. “I guess this position is okay.”
Leon pressed a soft kiss to James’ forehead. “I think at some point we should probably discuss other positions,” Leon said, and James nodded his head against Leon’s chest.
Leon placed another kiss beside the first before turning the show back on.