Breath and Count to Ten (Aneirin and Landen)

[Landen]

Landen sat contently in a small little coffee shop at the corner of the street, just across from his apartment. He was sipping on a hot chocolate, since coffee just wasn't sweet enough for him, and some cookies as he worked on some homework that he'd been assigned at his final lecture of the day. He was studying to become a veterinarian, but this was his first year of college so things were going a bit slowly.

The brunette looked up from his rather large textbook to glance around the room in a bored manner. No one interesting ever came in here, he learned, only people going to, or on their way back from, work. Sometimes, he really wished his life was more exciting...

[Aneirin Gwynne]

He was trying his best to stare as little as possible as he walked the streets of this unfamiliar place. It wasn't what he had expected after he had read up on it, not in the least. The notes emphasised caution above all else, but he didn't see how that applied to this bunch of creatures, rushing mindlessly in all directions. What he could see was how it applied to him

'I swear to everything I hold dear that I will strangle the next person who looks at me like that.' he thought to himself, his fingers twitching. 'You would think I had a tail swishing behind me, the way they stare.'

No, Aneirin was not happy to be on this planet, he felt out of place and more importantly, lost. When he had been asked to make a brief stop on Earth, he had been excited. He always was when there was a new world to explore, but this was not quite what he had had in mind. All those people, looking at him. It was driving his instincts wild. And did those humans not smell how incredibly awful those machines of theirs were? He quickly wiped the frown off his face, 'blend in, I have to blend in' was foremost on his mind. But what he would really like was something to drink. Did he trust himself to interact with these creatures? He would have to. Trying to recall everything he had read and heard, he headed towards that place Sessek had told him about, the coffee shop thing.

He looked down at his clothing and sighed resignedly. He had not seen anyone wearing anything like it. He would really like to kick that stupid computer of his for telling him it would be fine. But who knew that leather drew so many stares? It didn't matter, he would just have to bite his tongue and ignore it. With that resolution he pushed the door open and stepped inside.

[Landen]

Landen sighed in boredom before glaring down at his book. He hated the damn thing. It was too big... and heavy, too. Do you have any idea how hard it was to carry a book with a spine three inches wide? Landen would be very happy to tell you that it was hard!

The brunette was distracted from his thoughts at the cute little bell above the door to the shop rang... to reveal a man clothed almost completely in leather... or at least that's what it looked like. Besides drooling, Landen's first reaction was to quickly turn his face away, burrying himself in the work he'd been trying to put off earlier. He eagerly stuffed a cookie in his mouth before staring back down at the book because, really, no one wanted to get their asses kicked by a sexy man in leather... nooo way.

[Aneirin Gwynne]

Aneirin stiffened momentarily at the sound of that bell but quickly composed himself. He really didn't like announcing his presence but it was done. His usual reaction to a new place was a quick scan of the layout and occupants but on an unfamiliar planet, this was intensified. He took in every smell, every movement and truly, he wished he hadn't. This sandy-haired youth had noticed him and Aneirin was sure he had been terrified. His eyes had widened and he had turned away immediately leaving Aneirin feeling a twinge of...was it guilt? That was odd, he usually welcomed fear in others - it minimised the chance of interaction.

So what was different? Something inside him tried to crawl out but he pushed it back fiercely, he could not afford to lose control. 'Blend in, damn you,' he thought to himself. It would not do to rush the boy and demand an explanation, or even worse- transform. He forced himself to keep his eyes averted and took a seat. It was of course just his luck that he was rather close to the boy but he remedied that by sitting with his back to him. It would have to do.

A perky woman skipped over to him, a notepad in her hand and smiled. "Hello there! What can I getcha?"

"Coffee," he said and then quickly added "please." She grinned and scribbled it down before racing off. Those things were weird, weren't they? Women. Very weird. And did that damn boy have to make noises as he ate? It was making it damn hard to ignore him.

((you will tell me if I am being too long-winded, won't you? ^_^))

[Landen]

Landen almost gaped when he noticed the man sitting just a few tables away, though with the coffee shop being so empty as it was, that really wasn't all that far away at all. The man had his back turned, though. The brunette huffed silently at him before stuffing another cookie into his mouth.

He wondered, again silently (as wondering tends to be), why the strange man had decided to come into the cute little shop to begin with, when he seemed to rough and gruff, himself. Also, he wondered why he seemed so caught up in learning so much about a man he hadn't even talked to. He twitched his nose as he own thoughts before going back to his huge textbook to futilely try to finish his homework. Psh, as if.

[Aneirin Gwynne]

Aneirin was not doing very well. He had his back to the boy, true, but he could still see his reflection in the windows. And the boy was looking at him. He very badly wanted to turn around and see him more clearly. Those emotions confused him greatly, since when did he care? He watched the reflection though and squinted in a futile attempt to find out what he was reading. The book looked awfully large in those slim hands, and the boy’s nose was slightly scrunched up as he read.

The way he glared at the book made Aneirin want to chuckle, he seemed to be willing the thing to catch on fire. Ah, but the boy was beautiful, there was no way around that. His slim figure made Aneirin want to protect him, he seemed awfully fragile. The serving woman showed up and demanded his attention again, causing him to growl slightly. He glared at her but she only giggled and set the cup down.

“Anything else darling?” she asked.

“Would you perhaps have…cookies?” he said before he could stop himself. What had possessed him to ask for those?

“Of course! Cookies, cakes, what would you like?”

“I...just cookies,” he said, the word sounding strange even to him when spoken in such a raspy voice.

She nodded and left to fetch a plate of them and Aneirin closed his eyes, mentally berating himself for his odd behaviour.

[Landen]

Landen frowned at the book, suddenly realizing that the words that he was reading... weren't making sense. Maybe if he had really been paying attention when he'd read the rest of it, it would fit together better... Landen doubted it, but started the section over anyway.

He was distracted again, though, when the man spoke. He deeper, raspy voice sent shivers down the brunette's spine for one reason or another; though, Landen wasn't really complaining... even though all the guy did was order cookies. 'Mmmm.... cookies...'

Reaching for his plate of cookies... he hand touched nothing but glass plate. He pouted in confusion before looking up to find that all his cookies were gone. He huffed before whining something along the lines of "Stupid damn cookies letting me them all before I'm ready to eat them!"

[Aneirin Gwynne]

Aneirin accepted his cookies with a nod and set the plate in front of him. He looked up at the window when he heard noises from behind them and listened. When he heard the boy muttering at his plate he chuckled. Before he realised what he was doing he had turned around in his chair, plate of cookies in his hand.

“You can have some of mine, if you want,” he said to the boy.

He was going insane, there was no other feasible explanation. He was going mad and it was all that child’s fault. No, not a child. Now that he had gotten a proper look at him he could tell that the boy was perhaps close to his own age. He forced himself to remain still and not turn away from those eyes, lest he embarrass himself even more.

[Landen]

Landen almost jumped when the man turned around. The brunette's face turned bright red in embarressment... He really hoped the guy hadn't just heard him swearing at an empty plate of ex-cookies.

Then, he focused on the man's face for the first time, finally being given the chance. His face was marred with scars, though, to Landen, it didn't marr the other's attractiveness... if that was a word. The brunette bit his lip, trying hard to fight off his embarressed blush, but it really didn't help any.

"Ah... uh... th-thanks! Thanks a lot!" he exclaimed, taking two cookies from the plate, "I'll you some more ones... if you want..."

((^^; Delayed a bit-Sorry! But, no, you're fine ^_^ ))

[Aneirin Gwynne]

His heart was beating in his damn throat, how it had found its way up there, he didn’t know. The boy was absolutely adorable when he blushed and Aneirin tried a non-threatening smile. He wasn’t sure it worked very well, but he wanted the boy to feel comfortable. He was glad the boy had accepted his cookies, it made him feel warm inside.

When the brunette bit his lip Aneirin was instantly convinced that he would die within a matter of moments if he didn’t get the chance to taste them. He wanted to lick cookie crumbs from them and wrap the slim boy in his arms, hiding him from the world. ‘I have to stop this, I can’t let this control me!’ he thought, but he knew it was pointless. The urge to be close to the boy was overpowering.

His voice, it was musical. At least, to him it was. It took him a moment to register what he had actually heard.

“It is fine, take as many as you wish. I offered them, did I not?” he said. “You seem to be in need,” he added with a smile, looking at the large book.

[Landen]

Landen try very hard not to blush, honest, but it seems his blood cells were stronger than his will against their apperance. He decided that the man talking to him made his voice that much more delicious. He glanced over at the book after seeing the stranger do so. "Ah... Yes... that... well... uhmm...," he mumbled before clearing his throat nervously. Glancing back over to the man, he smiled weakly. "I... I'm Landen."

[Aneirin Gwynne]

Aneirin had a short inner debate with himself about giving the boy his name. Looking at that nervous expression and that delicious blush, he decided there was no harm in it.

“I am called Aneirin. It is nice to meet you, Landen,” he said. He wondered where that sudden compulsion to speak so much came from. He had spoken more to the boy – no, Landen- than he had ever been known to do to anyone. That is, anyone besides his ‘adoptive’ parents. He offered his hand and instantly regretted it. Would Landen mind touching him? He would hate himself if he scared the cute brunette.

[Landen]

Landen tilted his head curiously to the side, interest obvious on his face. "I've never heard anyone else with that name before... I like it. It's very unique," he stated, reaching out slowly to take the other's hand. It wasn't that he didn't want to touch the man, Aneirin's, hand; he just didn't want to blush anymore than he already was. "Where are you from? Not around here, I hope, then I'd feel bad for not noticing you sooner," he stated lightly, his smile slowly, but steadily, growing.

[Aneirin Gwynne]

The feel of the boy's skin was intense, it made his head spin and he roughly ran a hand through his hair to steady himself.

"It is an old family name," he replied breathlessly. "My father insisted." He watched Landon's smile unblinkingly, determined not to miss a single moment. This creature, he held his core in those slim hands. "I only arrived today, I am from a far place. You live here?" he asked, wanting to know everything about the beautiful boy whose smile would be imprinted on his mind forever.

[Landen]

Landen blushed darkly again, mentally cursing himself since he almost completely had it gone. He'd never seen anyone so affected by a hand shake; though, honestly, he'd never been so affected by a hand shake before, either. It was like electricity had shot through his body, leaving a warm, content feeling in its wake. "Ah... Well... I think it suits you... It... it... eh.... I... yeah...," he rambled stupidly for a moment before biting his lip to keep himself quiet. "Sorry. I think I ramble a bit too much sometimes," he admitted before giving the man a curious look. "A far place, huh? How far? What's it like?" he inquired, accidentally ignoring the question about himself. He was too engrossed in learning about Aneirin.