they all fall down

Dex instinctively moved his cheek to Adam’s hair the moment the other man drew closer to him. He listened quietly, breathing slowly through his nose, a gesture that helped him focus, be patient and be calm. As Adam spoke, Dex moved a hand to his lap where he let it stay palm up, asking for Adam’s hand.

Adam intertwined his fingers with Dexter’s without a moment’s hesitation, almost always accepting the comfort the other man gave to him. Just being in the presence of the love of his life was always calming and comforting, but the extra gesture was much needed and appreciated to keep Adam grounded in this moment.

Dex’s eyes followed Adam as the other man stood. He appreciated the gesture, but he let out a soft sigh through his nose before peeling the suit coat from his shoulders as he walked towards Adam. He dropped the coat on the bed before sitting down beside it and patting the bed on his other side. His eyes were still on Adam, requesting that the other man join him instead of making things harder for them both.

Adam sighed, all but flopping onto the bed beside Dexter. He immediately felt himself drawn to Dexter’s warmth and comfort, the same way he’d been comforted by the other man’s presence before they even had their first date. Adam gently rested his head on Dexter’s shoulder, unsure of how to even start - what could he say to fix this? It wasn’t the first time it’d happened and he knew it wouldn’t be the last, but this was supposed to be a special day.

Dex liked holding out hope no matter what and that was his main problem. He waited six, seven, nine minutes thinking to himself maybe Adam was just making sure he looked just perfect. But at the ten minute mark he couldn’t stop fidgeting and had to bound up the stairs of his-their home to see what exactly Adam was up to. He was hoping to walk in on the man he knew and loved half dressed and ready to yell at him for just barging in instead of knocking even though they were more than familiar with each other’s naked bodies.

Adam had been so caught up in his own mind that Dexter’s voice caused him to jolt slightly, pulling him back to reality. There was a moment when he was sure that Dexter was going to sit beside him, and they could just stay like that, but then he took in Dexter’s appearance, how polished but relaxed he looked, and Adam remembered where they should be heading now.

You’re very much welcome, milady. Well, pranking people can be rather fun if you aren’t too extreme, of course. Maybe we should prank someone, it’ll be fun. Well, what can I say? I want to stay on your good side, Lyla. I’d be heartbroken if you disliked me. Oh, really? You’d me my poor office? Then maybe I’ll mess with yours, maybe I won’t.

You are quite the charmer, mister. Roy, we are grown adults, do you really think it'd be okay for us to pull a prank? Or appropriate? How could I dislike you? You've been nothing but good to me. Well looks like someone's already beaten you to it- and then my dad'll beat you to it again, so nice try.

Hey, you’re doing that thing again. Stop avoiding things you don’t want to talk about.

Y'know, dad, there's nothing wrong with not wanting to talk about certain things.

Complaining is perfectly okay. It’s a healthy thing as long as you don’t do it too often cause you turn into a grumpy monster. Well, I can’t say I didn’t do a prank here and there when I was a kid so damn my younger self for making messes. Well, that’s good. You look even more lovely when you smile, dear.

Thank you, I don't feel like such a whiny baby any more. I never pranked people, I was too scared to. Kinda wish I did now. You're just saying that to get into my good books- just know that if you find that your office is in complete ruins, it might've been me, it might not've.

I’ll take you up on that challenge. If you can go all of tomorrow without talking to me once your next trinket is on me.

Deal.

Bad genes! Come on, Ly, we just had this conversation, keep up.

They're your bad genes kiddo, I'm a good little apple.

Can you hold a grudge though, Lyla? Can you really?

Probably not. But I can try.

He won’t. Because you won’t tell him. Cause if you do I’ll tell him you passed that kid that one time cause you were too lazy to grade his paper.

Oh, c'mon, why is this family obsessed with blackmail?!

I feel like you will though because I’m your dad and you love me, also because I’m the best.

Maybe I will. Maybe I won't. You'll never know.

Watch me, baby girl.

I will never forgive you if you do.

I wasn’t that bad. I blame dad. Bad genes.

Ouch. Wait until he hears you said that.

Kids are crazy like that, pretty lady. But no matter how messy things get, with a couple of spells everything will be back in it’s place. Don’t get frowny, pretty please? With a cherry on top?

Oh, I know, I just like to complain sometimes. Damn kids these days. And every day before and after that. I'm actually in a much better mood now, no frowns seen here.