riptide_asylum: (In need of constant supervision.)
riptide_asylum ([personal profile] riptide_asylum) wrote2009-10-16 08:47 pm

"Coffee Cups" (Out of the Dark, 1985)

Title: Coffee Cups
Rating: PG
Summary: Matching whale mugs.



Late one night after Cody's been at the tequila and Nick's reached his limit on lite beer, Cody tries to talk about the mugs. It's late, really late, nearly-light late, and even the ocean is sleeping.

"My granddad," Cody begins, and Nick's attention is immediately his. "He and Grammy had..." Cody swallows. "Nick, he and Grammy had these mugs, they had starfish on--"

Cody chokes and Nick rises, crossing the room, pulling his partner close, apologizing for his hellish childhood, for not getting there sooner and saving Cody from his father's expectations. Nick feels the terror and the triumph warring under Cody's skin.

They both wish Cody's grandfather was still around, some days more than others, and as Cody breathes Nick in, steaming coffee untouched on the salon table, safe in Nick's strong arms, the beatings and the anger washed away by patience and humor and a love that is stronger than scars, Nick wishes he could have had one day with Cody's grandfather. Hell, one hour. Just to tell him he understands, he gets it; this beautiful, terrified man amazes him at every turn, takes his breath away, and makes him so intensely grateful for each simple cup of coffee.