this is mint!

He used to joke that only dogs could hear the words Lando would try get out in between his giggles. All high pitched and wheezy as his cheeks burned a deep pink that spread to his ears and neck.

Now it was George's favourite sound.

He loved how Lando's laugh travelled. Loved the way it sounded first thing in the morning even when the volume of it made George wince. He missed the sound of it when Lando was absent or when he was sad and lost in his head.

Years ago, George would have welcomed a silent now, and now he dreaded it and did everything he could to keep Lando smiling and giggling like a demented gremlin.

Daniel was cackling with Lando, arm wrapped around the smaller man's shoulders, and all George could do was watch with fond eyes and hide his smile in his drink as Alex gave him a knowing side-eyed glance.

"How the years change, eh Georgie?", Alex teassed, nudging him in the ribs, "A few years ago you'd be rolling your eyes at them, and now you have heart eyes"

George didn't stop looking at Lando.

He didn't have to now. He didn't have to pretend to "just tolerate" Lando like he did before he grew up and realised how misplaced his feelings were. Now he could look all he wanted, knowing that when their eyes met, Lando would fluster before smiling so sweetly for a moment.

That was a feeling that never got old.

"As if you don't look at Lily the same way"

Alex just grinned at him and shrugged.

"Yeah, but we are engaged. I'm going to marry that woman", Alex sounded so proud and sure. It was how he always sounded talking about Lily. It was nauseatingly cute.

And it was exactly how George talked about Lando these days.

"Who says we wont do the same?"

The words were out of his mouth before he could even dwell on them. They came from a place of honesty that George rarely shared with anyone, even Alex, but he couldn't help it when Lando's finally glanced at him and grinned, waving a hand for George to come join him.

"George, come back here!"