Hiraeth

Elliot wasn’t quite sure was even that sure that Cindy Lou was able to sit and wait. Elliot definitely wasn’t, but hey, he wasn’t the one who was supposed to wait right now. He was the one on the run and he had to be home before Emory. There was no other choice than be there before him.

As the bus moved Elliot stared at his phone, trying to figure out how much time he’d have before Emory would reach him. He even glanced out from the windows, sort of waiting to see Emory running next to the bus all Captain America -style in super speed.

He hopped out of the vehicle thanking the driver and as the first thing he glanced around to make sure Emory wasn’t anywhere there. And he wasn’t. Elliot grinned victoriously and headed home. Once he was inside both of the dogs were there saying hi to him. “Okay, okay, scratches later, I gotta hide now”, he told the dogs, kicked his shoes off and just dropped his jacket on the floor as he rushed from room to another to find the best hiding spot. And in the end he ended up going to the clothing closet in the guest room. He sat to the bottom and it probably didn’t take longer than two seconds when Cindy Lou was poking the door with her nose. “No, Cindy Lou Who! Find your own hiding spot!” Elliot told her and just heard a huff in return. And then he heard the front door open and Cindy Lou quickly rushed to the door to see who came in. And Elliot tried to stay extremely quiet in the closet.

The run home was short. Though it was more of a jog than an actual run. Despite the fact that Emory did want to get to Elliot as soon as possible, he still wanted to play around with the man and let him think he really was getting away. It would be all the more satisfying when Emory did catch him, and teach him a lesson for teasing him.

Emory opened the door to their house. “Honey, I’m home,” he jokingly announced. He threw his keys in the bowl by the door and could hear Cindy Lou and Charlie Brown pattering towards him. “Hey guys,” he greeted the dogs, “You know where Elliot is?” He knew it could be considered cheating by asking the dogs, since they would more than likely would rat the man out. Especially Brown since Emory was training the dog to be a hunting dog.

After Emory gave both dog a light pet, Brown took off in the direction of the guest bedroom and Cindy followed. Emory followed the dogs. He took off his shirt and tossed it on the back of the couch before making his way into the room. Emory could be heard asking, “He’s in here?” He chuckled a bit since he noticed Elliot was clearly in sight. His first thought was under the bed, but before he could look he noticed Cindy sitting in front of the closet door. Emory smiled to himself knowingly. “You gonna come out, babe? Or am I going to have to come in there and get ya?” The drawl in his words coming out more as his voice grew more playful in tone.

“What birds do you have outside of yours? None of them sounds pretty. Especially the ones that tweet outside your window the moment the sun comes up.”

“Well other than a hummingbird and a robin, I don’t really know the names of the other ones. Except that you can call ‘em a songbird. I was never much into duck hunting, so I never bothered to really know their names.” Emory gave a shrug of his shoulders. “And I guess they don’t bother me much, since I’m usually up before the sun and we have double pane windows at our house.”

Elliot’s grin only grew wider as he took few steps back towards the door. “What if you will never catch my ass?” he asked wiggling his brows. “Although you need to give me a head start. I ain’t gonna run and I know you are. So you sit here and wait. At least five minutes. Maybe more.” He pointed at the bench next to him, pretty much telling Emory to sit and wait like a dog. “See you home. Maybe.” He flashed him a new grin and headed out. Where he realised he had no car. He was on foot and there was no way he would get home before Emory if he’d decide to run. Especially since Elliot definitely wasn’t going to run. He eyed around him, pondering how quickly he would get a taxi or an uber. Might take over the five minutes Emory was going to sit at the gym. And then Elliot noticed the bus stop. He walked to the stop and eyed the timetable and before he even found out when the next comes it actually arrived almost like ordered. A  victorious grin spread on his lips and he hopped in the bus hoping he’d still be home before Emory would get there.

Emory quirked a brow at Elliot’s comment on whether or not he would actually catch him. Especially considering it was a safe bet that Emory would in fact catch him, and the challenge would only ensure it. In fact, Emory was certain that even Elliot knew this.

He could only chuckle when Elliot said he give him a head start. It was most likely for the best. Since Emory felt he couldn’t exactly be held liable for what he might do when he go his hands on the man. “Sit here and wait? You know that only works for Cindy Lou.” Emory didn’t sit, but he did back up and give Elliot the space he asked for. “You’re luck I need to go to the locker room to grab my stuff and I know you will be gone by the time I get back here.” He shook his head as he turned around to walk that way.

The brunette could still see Elliot in the corner of his eye. The blonde’s smile making it hard for Emory not to do the same. “Oh you will definitely see me at home,” he countered before completely turning away and taking a leisurely pace back to the locker room.

It only took him, but a second to grab his keys and wallet. He placed them into the pocket of his pants, downed a water bottle, and then started running home.

“I’d be more excited about it being spring if I didn’t have to wake up to all the birds trying to get laid.”

“Which birds do you have hanging outside your window?” Emory asked curiously. “I take it it’s not the pretty sounding ones?”

Elliot

Elliot

Elliot

Elliot

Winter

“I can’t tell if you actually want the answer or if I should be finishing a song lyric. But assuming you actually want to know the answer, I’m a Taurus.”

“Tell me something I don’t know.”

“That’s for Elliot to know and you not to find out.”

Elliot didn’t say anything else to Emory, he just kept grinning at him. Of course he was being a tease and he knew Emory knew it very well. Honestly this was one of the many things Elliot loved about their relationship – they both were able to tease the other and not get mad about it. Plus they could goof around a lot and the other would go along with that instead of being all serious. It really was just perfect.

The green eyes just kept looking into Emory’s eyes, grin playing on his lips as he stood so close to him. “I am.” Although since Elliot didn’t have his car anymore since he sold it because he used it so rarely, so he’d need to take a taxi or walk. But if he’d walk Emory would surely catch him before he’d even get home. But Emory didn’t need to know that.

“Fine. You wanna play? Let’s play. But just so you know when I catch your ass, all bets are off.”