Chapter 21

Messiah was at his apartment trying to study but he couldn't focus. His phone lit up with a FaceTime from Javier.

"I miss you," Javier said as soon as he answered. He was in bed, looking tired from work.

"You just saw me yesterday."

"And? Can't miss my baby?"

Messiah fought a smile, adjusting his phone against his pillow. "You being extra."

"You love it though." Javier was sketching something, but his eyes kept coming back to the screen. "You coming over tomorrow?"

"Maybe. If you act right."

"Oh I gotta act right now? When you the one who ain't been here all day?"

Next day at Javier's place, Messiah walked in to find him drawing at his desk. Without saying nothing, he came up behind Javier's chair and wrapped his arms around his neck, face pressing into his hair.

"Oh now you want attention?" But Javier was already pulling him around to his lap. "After ignoring my texts all day?"

"I was in class." Messiah settled against his chest, letting Javier's arms wrap tight around his waist. "Plus you was doing too much in them texts anyway."

"Mhm." Javier kissed his neck. "You still ain't respond though chiquito."

"Whatever." But Messiah tilted his head, giving him better access.

They stayed like that for a minute, Javier's arms secure around him while he worked on his drawing. Every now and then he'd press kisses to Messiah's neck or shoulder, like he couldn't help touching him.

"You hungry?" Javier asked after a while.

"Nah I'm good right here." Messiah was feeling too comfortable to move.

"Look at you being all soft."

"Shut up before I get up."

"No you not." Javier's arms tightened. "You staying right here baby."

Later they was on the couch, Messiah laid against Javier's chest while some movie played. Javier's hands was in his hair, gentle but possessive like always.

"Dom keep asking when we coming to his kickback," Messiah said.

"You want to?"

"I don't know. You know I don't really do parties."

"We don't gotta stay long. Plus..." Javier's voice got low. "I kinda want people to see you with me."

"You being possessive again."

"Can't help it." Javier pulled him closer. "Want everybody to know you mine."

Usually that kind of talk would have Messiah pulling away. But something about how Javier said it, all protective and gentle at the same time... it just made him feel safe.

His phone buzzed with a text from Dom: "You and lover boy coming through Saturday or what?"

"Maybe"

"You so different now. All soft cause of Javi 😂"

"Mind your business"

But Dom wasn't wrong. Messiah was different now - still himself but softer, more open to letting somebody take care of him. At least when that somebody was Javier.

"What you thinking about?" Javier asked, noticing how quiet he got.

"Nothing." Messiah turned to kiss him instead of answering.

"You sure? Cause you got that look-"

"Javi."

"What baby?"

"Shut up and kiss me."

And Javier did, deep and slow like they had all the time in the world. His hands stayed gentle in Messiah's hair but there was that possessive edge too, that way he had of making Messiah feel completely his.

When they pulled back, Messiah stayed close, face pressed against Javier's neck. Something about being held like this, being wanted like this... it made all them walls worth breaking down.