Change of Pace

"...Woah, easy there Nickel..."

Paper propped up the stumbling coin when he landed on the ground, face down, rolling his eyes at the drunken, lopsided smile on his face once he wandered off somewhere else. This... 'party' - if he could even call it that - was such a colossal waste of time, in his opinion. What even was there to celebrate?

Normally the parties they hosted weren't all that bad. He understood the appeal; getting to hang out with your friends and loosen up a little. But they just - weren't really for him, he supposed. Sure, they could be fun if there was actually something worth celebrating, and the noise levels weren't outrageous; but this one in particular was just SO damn loud. And don't even get him STARTED on those blinding lights... those would surely be the death of him.

No matter what he tried, he just... couldn't get behind this party. Maybe it'd be better If he let himself get drunk, but he obviously doesn't drink. He didn't like the feeling it gave him, of control slipping away from his fingertips. It reminded him a bit too much of a certain someone.

He was only really here because he had to be. As co-manager, it was technically his job to make sure everything was running smoothly, that no accidents would happen and that the hotel wasn't completely wrecked by the end of it. But when he couldn't find any enjoyment in the festivities themselves, it turned into nothing more than a tiring chore that he just wanted to end already.

After breaking up a fight between Trophy and Silver Spoon he'd just about had enough. If he was going to suffer like this any longer, he'd at least want OJ by his side so he wouldn't be suffering alone.

He wandered around the repurposed living room, eyes scanning the area for his boyfriend, finding him standing by the drinks with his arms crossed over his chest, watching their son mess around with Cheesy and Yin-Yang. Paper made his way there, having to push past all the other objects from various seasons dancing their hearts out.

When he reached OJ, he practically fell right into him, burying his head into his shoulder and letting an annoyed groan escape his throat.

It earned a chuckle from OJ, who wrapped his arms around Paper and began to gently caress his back, whispering to him in such a low, tender, relaxing voice; one that Paper knew he'd been the only one to ever hear.

"Sorry, Paps, I know this party isn't exactly your thing..."

Paper sighed to himself, but he already felt his frustration start to die down, just by being here in OJ's comforting embrace. It was astonishing just how much a few words and his lover's gentle touches could quell his irritation... like he was coaxing the anger right out of him.

"It's fine, I guess. Not like you're the one that arranged this... it was Pepper, wasn't it?"

OJ nodded along, glancing around the room. He still couldn't help but feel guilty for making Paper put up with this, every single damn time... this environment was nothing but overwhelming. Even he was starting to feel anxious.

"I don't know what everyone's obsession with these parties is, anyway. It feels like we have one every single week."

Paper pulled away from OJ enough to look around the living, room... at all the drinks, food, the dance floor, lights... no banner, party hats, or any real decorations anywhere. shrugging to himself.

"No, but really... what's this one even for?"

"I wish I knew."

OJ suddenly looked back to Paper, seeing how much happier he seemed to be in his embrace. Even if they both hated being here, at least they had each other.

And then he had an idea. A wonderful idea, if he did say so himself.

"Wanna get out of here?"

Paper's response was immediate, perking up and nodding along. He couldn't even be bothered to question the logistics behind the spontaneous idea, all he knew was that he ABSOLUTELY wanted out of here.

OJ took Paper by the hand, and when he was sure nobody was looking in their direction, made a run for it out of the room.

They were grinning and giggling like little kids; he really underestimated just how fun this would be. It was a miracle that they didn't stumble once the whole way out of there.

"Hey- Paper, slow down! Hahah!-"

"Shhh! Come on, or else Salt's gonna notice us and try to drag you back."

The idea actually made OJ shiver, and Paper felt the smallest sense of victory when his boyfriend actually picked up the pace.

Soon enough, they'd made their way up the stairs and back into their room, breathing heavily as Paper immediately collapsed onto the floor.

OJ stared at him for a few moments, rolling his eyes and pulling him up.

"What did we say about collapsing on the floor, love..."

"Come on, this time it was warranted, that whole experience was pretty exhilarating."

"Sure, sure..."

He held Paper close for a few moments, basking in the comfort of his lover's warmth... before he had yet another idea. Somehow it was even better than the last.

"Hey... why don't we have our own little party? Up here? Just the two of us?"

Paper saw that excited glimmer in OJ's eyes, and he couldn't help but feel a little... nervous. Curious, but definitely nervous.

"Haven't we done enough 'partying' for one day? What do you mean?"

OJ swiftly grabbed his phone from the nightstand, scrolling through his playlist and opening up one of the calmer, slower songs he had in there. A piece that was soft and shy, poetic and thoughtful... with warm vibratos and confident trills.

And the way Paper's eyes lit up... like every last star in the sky, twinkling together in harmony... perfectly matching that smile on his lips, so delicate and awestruck...

Every moment of hardship and suffering in the world was worth living, over and over and over again, if it meant he got to see that smile at the end of it all. He'd do anything - Hell, he'd probably sell his whole damn hotel if that was what Paper needed. How could there ever have been a time where he took this man for granted?

Paper placed his hand into OJ's, wrapping his other hand around his glass and moving to the song's steady, soothing rhythm. They had done this so, so many times before, their feet simply naturally knew where to step or where to dip or where to let the other object take the lead. Dancing was something they'd both grown to love over the years.

Neither of them wanted the song to end at all. It was like they were in a trance, moving as one, gliding across the cramped space of their room together until the music began to fade. And just as the melody began to die out, as the last note was played...

Their lips locked together in a gentle kiss. It was passionate, but not rough, and perfectly intimate. It drowned out the chaotic, jumbled mess of thoughts and worries in their heads, placing them in a world of their own. A world where they were free to express their love for one another, drown in the comfort and bliss their love provided... to forget about the rest of the world and its glaring issues. It was the kind of kiss they only really ever shared during special moments.

And as the loving couple pulled away, as OJ gazed into Paper's eyes, he could only think of one thing.

And he was about to lean right in again and murmur it, in that same soothing voice, when his boyfriend's panicked shriek filled the room and cut his train of thought off before he had the chance.

"ssshhHIT WE FORGOT ABOUT CHERRIES-"