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It’s really just the awful weather of Ketterdam that for once makes Jesper want to stay inside instead of slipping into the narrow streets, finding the shortest way to the gambling parlour. It’s just the fact that he’s left the window open while sleeping and now he feels cold and all damp because of the heavy rain outside that brought the chill along. It’s only him craving a cup of hot tea or chocolate, and not the fact that he catches a glimpse of Wylan napping at the table with papers sprawled around, his own cup forgotten dangerously close to the edge. Jesper lets out a deep sigh while he’s leaning against the door frame. He still does not dare to step inside as he tries to come up with any reasonings for doing so, if suddenly asked.
The windows rattle at especially strong blow of wind, and Jesper sees Wylan shudder awake, his elbow going right for the still half full cup and–
“Careful there, pretty boy,” Jesper calls as he jumps to his feet, his long arms moving on reflex to catch the cup before it falls, “break it and you’ll have to drink from your own hands next time. Or mine.”
He gives a smile, okay , a smirk maybe, but it’s a light gesture, and yet Wylan scowls.
“Jesper,” he acknowledges the taller boy, a pink dust painting his cheeks. “How come you’re here?”
Jesper shrugs, looking into Wylan’s cup, cold tea still there, an ugly shade of greyish brown clinging to the white ceramics. He takes it with him and walks to the sink.
“Making hot chocolate. You want some?”
“ You have hot chocolate? Or are you stealing it from someone’s cupboard?”
Jesper turns around to make sure Wylan sees the roll of his eyes and the curl of his lips when he says, “Oh please . It’s not always that I lose while gambling, alright?”
Wylan looks at him dumbfounded, Jesper’s not sure if because of what he’s said or because of the fact that he’s here and not out as per usual.
“So?” Jesper holds up the cup, “Hot chocolate?”
-
Sipping chocolate from his huge mug Jesper feels warm, even though he has to admit it’s not from the drink alone. He’s watching Wylan draw, a few pages with different sketches set aside while he works on something new.
“What are you drawing?” Jesper asks, both actually interested and simply wanting to hear Wylan’s voice.
“Rain” is all what Wylan says and, defeated, Jesper leans slightly forward to look at the papers – one is filled with raindrops of different sizes only, the other with a big puddle in the street, drops making its’ surface wobbly. Jesper shifts his eyes to the drawing appearing under Wylan’s fingers now. It’s more complex than the others, a bridge with some kind of a tunnel below, and shadows of two people in the rain instead of searching for shelter. Jesper is impressed; he’s not sure how Wylan even makes all the details with but a simple pencil.
“You’re good,” he says, and he means it, not a note of teasing in his voice. Wylan pauses and lifts his head, disbelief written all over his face for some reason.
“I-,” his eyes meet Jesper’s for a moment and then he’s looking down again, his voice small when he says, “I like drawing. Thanks.”
Jesper watches him a bit longer.
“You shouldn't hold back with what you like,” he says, eventually.
The tight line of Wylan’s mouth slightly shifts upwards. It’s not much, but it’s a smile nonetheless, and it makes Jesper feel warm.
“I’ll try.”
-
It becomes a sort of habit in the following days as Jesper beelines for the kitchen table more often than straight to the front door and paths to gambling parlours. There’s something mesmerizing about Wylan drawing peacefully, even more so than just seeing him on any other occasion, and Jesper is not that strong of a man to stop himself from doing what he enjoys the most.
“Wylan van Sunshine!” Jesper chirps, striding into the kitchen.
“You’re here again ,” Wylan comments, but Jesper can’t really place a finger on the note in his voice. It doesn’t sound too annoyed at least, so he takes it as invitation to keep the conversation going.
“I can’t help it,” he says, offering a wink to Wylan. “I do get addicted fairly easily.”
Wylan snorts, and Jesper smiles wider when he spots the other trying to withhold a traitorous beam, his ears and cheeks getting red. That’s the winning prize.
“What are you drawing this time?” he asks, coming closer to steal a look at whatever Wylan’s pencil is creating today. What he finds is a small figure walking on the rope, arms stretched out to keep the balance. The face doesn’t have the details yet, but even without that Jesper can easily tell it’s Inej.
“You said it yourself,” Wylan says. “Not to hold back with what I like,” he explains and when he realises what he has just said, his eyes widen. “I- it’s not what I meant. The Dregs,” he says, his eyebrows furrowed, “I like the Dregs, so I wanted to–”
“How would you draw me?” Jesper interrupts, and he knows he’s staring at Wylan’s face, but he can’t help the fact that he finds Wylan cute, that he likes him very much.
Wylan shuts up, and then, suddenly, he’s picking up his things, readying to leave.
“Wy..? What did–”
“Stop teasing me,” Wylan breathes out, keeping his eyes down. He stands up and adds, “Don’t flirt with people if you don’t mean it.”
Jesper wants to grab Wylan’s hand, but he dares not to do so. He groans, and before Wylan can turn around, he says, “But I do!”
Wylan stops, finally lifting his eyes, even if only for a moment.
Jesper takes a deep breath and rests his hands on his pistols to stop them from trembling. His heart is beating fast, loud in his own ears. It’s not how he’s planned things to go, but he really doesn’t want any more misunderstanding or bad decisions on his account.
“I do mean that,” he repeats, slowly.
The sudden warmth in his cheeks matches the bright blush on Wylan’s face.
-
“It’s a nice place,” Wylan says, looking at the sun slowly moving towards the water, still a little bit shy of the touch. Jesper hums, happy and satisfied.
“I thought you might like it,” he says, bumping his shoulder against Wylan’s that for once is almost at the same level as his. Perks of them both sitting down.
“For inspiration perhaps,” he adds, smiling.
Wylan chuckles. He takes a deep breath, catching one last glimpse of the sky, uncharacteristically colourful for Ketterdam, before turning to face Jesper.
“Remember when you asked how I’d draw you?” he asks, just above whisper.
“Couldn’t forget.” Jesper nods with a little puff at the memory of how that has ended. His lips involuntarily stretch into a wider smile, but Wylan doesn’t mirror the expression.
Instead, he licks at his lips, worriedly nibbling at it a bit before he gingerly lifts up his hand and reaches for Jesper’s face with his fingers.
“Like this,” he says, breathes as a secret, as a confession. He slowly brushes his fingers across Jesper’s skin as if it was paper under his pencil, and his eyes shine with passion as if he’s trying to commit every detail to his memory. “I’d like to draw you like this.”
Jesper looks at Wylan, at his hair now burning with the bright red of the sunset, at his cheeks yet again dusted with blush, at his lips, slightly bit parted as if he’s, well– waiting.
“I’d gladly pose for you any time,” Jesper says, a smirk audible in his voice.
Wylan snorts.
“Goodness,” he mutters under his nose, “I don’t even know why I attempt to be romantic with you.”
He’s smiling, however, bright and beautiful, and silly, and Jesper can’t stop himself.
He leans in for a kiss and it feels wonderful when Wylan meets him halfway, his hand warm on Jesper’s neck, pulling him closer.
Jesper smiles into a kiss, getting a tiny complaint from Wylan.
It’s true that he gets addicted fairly easily, but he thinks, this time it’s a lot better than gambling.