Nothing Left To Lose

Danny glanced at Noah’s phone as he posted the picture. It was nice having a documentarian around. He couldn’t express how much his heart would swell watching those stories tomorrow morning while Noah snoozed beside him. Any moment with Noah was worth reliving and it was nice that he didn’t have to rely on just his memories. Danny already knew he’d be screenshotting most of the moments Noah was capturing. Truthfully, tonight felt surreal and he’d be needing those images to be confident this just wasn’t some dream.

“I don’t work in the morning, no,” Danny confirmed but he knew Noah already knew that and he gave his hip a squeeze before letting Noah go. There would’ve been no way Danny would’ve been able to pull off an opening shift after the night market. Maybe when he’d been single but he was already getting close to his typical bedtime and there was no way he’d hit the hay anytime soon. He was on too big of a high to feel any sort of fatigue and he was eager to share some of that with his partner. “I’ve already got a load of your laundry to do so you might as well throw this outfit in. It’s pretty dusty here,” Danny reasoned. He wouldn’t have even invited Noah out tonight had he not planned on spending extra time with him afterwards. He was a workaholic but it would be terribly unfair to only hang out with Noah while he was working. Danny was starting to value his breaks more often and Noah was tempting him to close up earlier than anticipated.

It didn’t take long for them to get back to the stall and it was becoming clear to Danny that there weren’t many potential customers left at the market.  People were starting to tumble out of the beer garden and he was the first to know how disastrous plastered people could be around pottery and that was the last nail he needed to officially call it a night. The pair already were packing up what few pieces didn’t sell when Danny stopped Noah for a minute. “This is for you,” he sad slipping three twenties from his money clip and offered them to Noah. “A couple of pieces you influenced sold tonight and it only seems fair to tip the muse,” he explained. Not that he was entirely ready to confess which ones. 

Noah only hoped that he wasn’t being totally annoying by snapping pics of literally every moment that had even a spark of significance for him. This was definitely a big one, and the fact that Danny hadn’t pouted, hemmed, or hawed at it was a good sign. He was used to being told to “put the fucking camera away” by his ex time and again. With Danny, he felt the liberty to take photos of these beautiful moments.

When Danny confirmed that he didn’t work the next day. He had in-fact known that, but asked on the off-chance Danny needed time for himself, or simply wasn’t in the mood for company. It had been a long night, after all, despite their current excitement. Not that he felt tired in the slightest, but he felt revitalized when Danny gave his hip a squeeze. It felt reassuring. The curly brunette bit his lower lip and smiled, having forgotten all about the clothing he’d left at the other’s house. No one had ever been this sweet to him, and Noah wanted to wrap his arms around Danny and smother him with kisses for it. “That sounds great, babe,” he said sweetly. It felt damn good to call Danny babe.

Once they got back, Noah began to help Danny carefully pack away the remaining ceramics that hadn’t sold for the night. Noah had a delicate touch, wrapping them carefully before setting them in a box. He hadn’t expected Danny to slip him any money, and when he did, Noah laughed softly and tucked them back into Danny’s pocket. “I couldn’t! I didn’t have any part in creating it, and if I was your muse for something thennn... Gosh, honestly, I’m really fucking flattered,” he said, his face flushing as he straightened his shoulders a little proudly. He let out a quiet laugh and shuffled closer to Danny, wrapping his arms around him in a tight squeeze.

“Although I wanna see what I inspired! That’s... REALLY awesome. Like, nobody’s ever said I helped inspire their art??? That’s... honestly the biggest compliment ever. Thank you,” he said, pulling back and smiling happily. He felt giddy, and floaty, and with Danny being this sweet, he also felt like he couldn’t wait to get back to Danny’s and strip down to nothing.

Danny’d crossed the point of no return long before he’d slapped a bracelet on Noah’s wrist. Despite his art being filled with dread and decay; Danny was full of love and enthusiasm that he yearned to express. It wasn’t hard for Danny to fall for a pretty face who didn’t mind keeping him around  for a while only for them to inevitably leave him on read. This wasn’t one of those instances, fortunately. Noah was as interested in him as Danny found the shorter man interesting and it still was throwing him for a loo even though he was comfortable how things were progressing. 

Danny could still feel the warmth of Noah’s kiss on his cheek as he responded with a joke. “You should spend more time with me then. A lot of what I do is incredibly boring,” Danny insisted.  Methodically throwing mugs for hours had to be an extremely boring task to watch and he had a feeling Noah would hate being around him when he to set up a coffee bar at six in the morning. Still, Danny was glad Noah wanted to stick around even though it would be another hour of Danny hawking his wares. Time would go by quicker getting to watch Noah bent over with his camera capturing the world through his special lens. 

“You can post it wherever you want,” Danny permitted before he wrapped an arm around Noah’s waist to pull him in closer for a picture. It was no secret to most people in his life that Noah was more than just a friend. Landon had suffered through plenty of Danny’s chatter and his coworkers knew any time Noah strolled in Danny’d be taking his break early and returning with a button or two undone. If Danny actually used his personal instagram in any sort of fashion Noah would’ve made a cameo by now.

Noah smiled softly and leaned into Danny, snapping a photo, looking at it, then snapping another one with his face held a little higher, then immediately uploaded it to his Instagram with a few happy emojis and a few multi-colored hearts. He slipped his phone back into his pocket, but didn’t let Danny pull away. Instead, he wrapped his arms around the other and tiptoed up to steal a long, sweet kiss from his lips. He lingered a few moments before pulling away and letting his big, seafoam eyes flutter open again.

Danny was handsome to look at, and Noah couldn’t believe he’d gotten so lucky. He had nice, full lips, and big eyes that turned to crescents when his smile reached them. The lithe photographer loved that Danny’s belly was soft, and that there was real weight behind his hugs. Most of all, he loved that Danny had a good heart, and that he genuinely cared about Noah in a way that other people hadn’t really seemed to. He was perfect, and part of Noah was afraid that Danny would change his mind about this whole thing... but he pushed that tiny voice aside, focusing on the happiness of the moment.

“C’mon... let’s go back to your stall. Do you have to work tomorrow morning?” he asked curiously, raising his brows. “Because... I was wondering if I could spend the night with you,” he admitted, biting his lower lip and giving Danny a little look. It was a memorable evening, and Noah wanted it to be even more so with what he had in mind. Danny was someone special, and now that they were “official”, Noah wanted to give him something to remember the night by. Not only that, but he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t feeling selfish and wanting the night to end with Danny’s arms around him.

“You’re like dessert before dinner, do you know that?” Danny asked.

Every moment Danny spent with Noah was a treat. The doe-eyed photographer was like a warm batch of chocolate chip cookies and Danny felt delightfully naughty getting a sugar rush off him even when his life had a pile of steamed broccoli waiting for him on his plate. Having Noah around made things more palatable. Waking up at dawn didn’t suck so bad anymore now that he had messages from Noah the night prior to read. Saturdays went by quicker in the Cali sun knowing a snow cone would be on it’s way before it got sweltering. Even his days “off” no longer consisted solely of working elsewhere and were instead filled with laughter, and cooking, and the occasional click of a camera. 

And best part of all? It didn’t all come crashing down around him the moment Danny sought to put a label on it; not that he expected Noah to act adversely to the proposition. Danny didn’t know everything about Noah but he knew enough and wasn’t completely blind to this sort of thing. He could follow the gumdrop trail of signs Noah left for him. 

Danny could already feel new crows feet forming from the smile plastered on his face as he dug into his pocket for the bracelet. He gave the stone a quick kiss before offering his token to Noah for this little love ritual the shorter man sprung on him. Danny slipped the original bracelet off Noah and replaced it with “his” and admired how it looked on him. For two identical pieces of jewelry it was remarkable how much better this one looked on Noah’s wrist. 

Danny unceremoniously slipped the other bracelet on his own wrist and presented it to Noah. “How’s that?” Danny asked feeling his cheeks go red. He only let Noah take a glance at the bracelet before he was hiding his hand in his pockets. He felt awkward shifting the attention to himself even if it only lasted a moment. 

“You don’t have to stick around all night if you don’t want to,” Danny informed him shifting the conversation. “I can give you my key if you want to hang out at my place. Packing stuff up’s pretty boring and I don’t think I’ll sell a ton more tonight.” 

.

Noah chuffed when Danny called him ‘dessert before dinner’. It was one of the sweetest things anyone had ever said to him, and he couldn’t wipe the big, toothy, happy smile off of his face. He felt his heart swelling, feeling full of happiness and hope for a new chapter in his life that was no longer lonely or wrought with worries about walking on eggshells. Danny was perfect for him in every way, and if this was a dream, Noah didn’t want to wake up.

After Danny swapped out their bracelets, Noah glanced at Danny’s wrist, feeling happy to see his bracelet on him. Danny’s hand shoved back into his pocket, and after him giving Noah the option to head back early, he shook his head. Noah shuffled closer and slipped his slender arms around Danny, burrowing his cheek into his warm chest. Danny felt like home, and Noah wanted to do something special for him soon. “I don’t wanna leave yet,” he said with a little nod, pulling away slowly and looking up at the other.

“I wanna stick around, if that’s okay. Plus, I can help you pack up once you’re done, if that’s alright,” he said, hoping that Danny didn’t mind him sticking around. Noah was excited, riding so high on his emotions that he felt like he could jump over the moon if he got a running start. “Besides,” he mused, leaning in to press a kiss to the other’s cheek. “Nothing’s ever boring when I’m around you. Those are just facts. Mind if I take a selfie?” he asked with a cheeky little smile, wiggling the camera around his neck. He wanted a photo of this important moment for himself. “I don’t have to post it anywhere if you’d rather not.”

Danny couldn’t help but laugh. Noah was like a wind up toy and Danny had cranked the key just enough to watch him putter about. Danny wouldn’t have been able to get a word in edgewise though the taller man made no effort to cut in and chose to wait until Noah’s gears finally came to a halt. “Noah, the only handful I see is what you’ve got back here,” Danny joked letting his hand slide around to his rear and gave him a small squeeze. He wasn’t a very gushy person and he couldn’t help but cut in a little humor if only to buy him a little time to figure out what to say. 

So now what? Danny’s feelings for Noah didn’t change now that he’d slapped a label on it. He already knew about the “baggage” Noah was trying to caution him of. Everyone had something and Danny was nowhere near a perfect partner. He was busy and it probably didn’t surprise Noah in the slightest that this conversation was happening while Danny was working. Things felt completely unchanged and it was what he’d hoped to happen when finally lifting this weight off his chest. 

“I probably should’ve waited until after this conversation to buy you a bracelet, huh? I kinda did that backwards,” he apologized with a little chuckle. Truthfully he felt a little robbed not having any sort of token to give Noah now that it was decided what they were. 

Noah laughed as Danny grabbed his rear, and he helped himself to the same. Danny had a nice ass that Noah was a little more than jealous of. He was beyond happy knowing that Danny knew what he was getting himself into with Noah, and that he liked Noah regardless of everything else. Maybe Noah was a little more on the emotional side than Danny was, but that worked out for them. Danny helped keep Noah grounded and calm, which was something he needed in his live, given all other circumstances.

There was still a lot that Danny had to learn about him, and a lot more that he himself had to learn about Danny, but Noah was ready for this. When Danny tried to apologize over the order in which he’d done things, Noah shook his head. “No! It’s okay, really. Here... I have an idea,” he said, pulling away from their embrace. “Let me see your bracelet?” he asked, gesturing to the pocket where Danny had slipped his own bracelet into. “You put your bracelet on me, and take the one I’m wearing. That way, we’re trading bracelets. They might look the same, but this one’s actually mine, and you can carry a piece of me with you,” he said with a soft little laugh. He had a handsome, sleepy-eyed boyfriend now who was an artist and a complete sweetheart. Noah was too happy to care too much about whether or not he sounded dumb or not in that moment.

Danny’s face lit up as he watched Noah. Time slowed down as he watched him smile. It seemed like Noah was dipped in honey and Danny felt like he had plunged head first in his sticky sweetness made of summer blossoms. Honeybear. Danny wanted to buy every damn bracelet they were vending just to watch Noah ooh and aww forever. Danny supposed he would just settle on two. 

“Yeah?” Danny confirmed as he tried to contain his own smile but he already felt like squinty mess as he gingerly took the bracelet he’d selected off Noah’s wrist and returned it to it’s spot on the holder. “If that’s the case then maybe this one,” Danny said gently sliding off two matching leather bracelets. This time instead of being set with a rich red garnet they had beads of shimmering moonstone. Once more he slid the bracelet on Noah’s wrist for him to examine. “I like the moonstone better. It sparkles the same way your eyes do when you smile,” Danny informed him giving the bead on his wrist a rub before crumpling the one destined for his wrist in his hand. Frankly he didn’t care how it looked on himself. 

“We’ll take these two off your hands,” Danny said pulling out a crispy 50 dollar bill that’d just came into his possession tonight to pay for the matching bracelets. The vendor grinned at the sale and smiled as they broke change for him. 

“You know they say if two-” The leatherworker began before Danny quickly cut them off. 

“It’s good luck, yeah? Moonstones are supposed to bring you good luck on a full moon, right?” Danny cut in not wanting to hear what words were probably going to fall from their lips. He didn’t need anyone telling him about how if two people are wearing moonstones together on a full moon they were supposed to fall passionately in love. Danny hadn’t even built up the courage to ask Noah to be his boyfriend yet. The last thing he wanted was to ruin this moment (and his game later on quite frankly) by scaring with some spiritual hocus pocus. 

Once his change was back in his pocket he finally slipped his own bracelet on his wrist. “You want to keep walking? There’s usually a quieter spot towards the back where the music doesn’t quite reach,” he explained as he reached for Noah’s hand once more as he lead him away from the stand and towards a structure that’d been erected from woven branches of iron and light with strings of multi colored string lights. Danny stopped them once they were under the arch. 

“Noah, I want to be your boyfriend,” Danny began and he wished he’d been able to stop right there, “And I know that you probably aren’t looking for that with… how shitty your ex is and everything and I completely understand if… relationships aren’t your thing. I know they aren’t a lot of people’s thing but I really like spending time with you. You coming out here has been the highlight of my week,” he admitted shaking his head a little as he smiled down at the ground. He felt as nervous as he was excited but he figured now was as good a  time as any to lay it out there. “But like if none of that’s your thing like exclusivity or relationships and stuff  I just want you to know that I really like spending time with you and want to continue spending time with you. That’s probably pretty obvious but I just want to get it out there before it feels like an even bigger elephant in the room,” he said managing a little chuckle as he pushed back his hair from his face.   

If the leatherworking vendor was going to spoil anything, Noah was completely oblivious to it. He was absolutely happy with the garnet stone bracelet, but smiled when Danny said the moonstone looked better, and that it complimented his eyes. That made Noah’s heart beat a little faster, and knowing that Danny was opting to have a matching one too made him feel warm inside. Noah smiled, feeling like he’d been the lucky one to wind up at a night market like this with someone so incredibly sweet and handsome, from the way he thumbed over the bead, to the way his face looked when Noah smiled up at him.

Danny didn’t even have to ask, but Noah nodded happily anyway when asked if he wanted to keep walking. The little bubble of anxiety began to float around inside his belly as he tried to muster up the courage to ask Danny if he’d even be interested in being something more than just a casual make-out session or date here and there. Noah felt like the two had connected on a level he’d never connected with anyone before. Danny treated him like maybe he could mean something. He never pushed for sex if Noah wasn’t feeling it-- which was rare, if ever. Maybe just after he’d had his major meltdown after the whole mess with his ex, and once after having had a bad egg salad sandwich. Other than that, the two were like rabbits. He also didn’t try to hide Noah, or control him. Danny always had something nice to say, whether it be about his curly hair, his big, bright eyes, or the clothes he wore. Noah never felt like he had to be somebody else when he was around Danny. Just being Noah Watson, as is, was enough.

Noah gently laced his fingers with Danny’s, feeling a flutter in his belly again at the mere warmth of the other’s hand. There was a beautiful arch of woven branches and lights just up ahead, and a smile spread over his lips, debating on whether or not to stop for a photo. Looking up, the lights illuminated the curly photographer’s face, but when Danny stopped them, his attention snapped to the other. Danny didn’t ask at first. He stated that he wanted to be Noah’s boyfriend, and Noah wasn’t sure if he was dreaming it, or if it was real. His big, sky blue eyes widened slightly, peering into the other’s gentle eyes as he continued speaking.

Everything Danny said felt like being wrapped up in a warm blanket on a cold night. Noah had been Danny’s highlight tonight? That alone was enough to make him want to cry, and he could feel the pins and needles in his eyes as emotion began to rise. Noah let Danny ramble for a minute until he seemed like he was finished speaking, then Noah wrapped his arms around him tightly, burying his face into Danny’s chest. He wanted to cry, and he really didn’t want to ruin such a lovely moment with his stupid tears, so he took a few deep breaths, inhaling Danny’s warm scent before finally looking up and tiptoeing to catch the other’s soft lips in a kiss. Noah’s hands came up to the back of Danny’s neck, fingers carding into the hair at his nape until he needed to breathe and pulled away slowly.

His eyes were misty, but Noah nodded happily. “I wanna be your boyfriend, too,” he admitted. “I wan-wanted to tell you earlier, but I didn’t know how to, and I didn’t think that you’d-- you know, after everything that happened, if you even wanted to because I know I can be a handful sometimes, and you don’t need any drama in your life, but you-- Danny, whenever I’m with you, I feel so fucking happy. Happier than I’ve ever felt around anyone else, and you get me, and you’re so fucking sweet and good to me, and I’m sorry if I’m a bit selfish but I wanna keep you around for a long, long time and get to know you more and just BE with you. So yes, I want to be your boyfriend, too,” he said, not realizing he’d been talking fast and rambling all the while.

It boosted Danny’s confidence hearing Noah found him more attractive than Landon. That was usually not the case. Landon always seemed to find himself a girl or had someone wishing they were his in high school and that was an experience Danny never had. It wasn’t as easy being out in high school claimed to be in the movies. It was just nice now that Landon was dipping his toes into the same pool as him didn’t mean he’d snatch a good thing away from him. 

“Well like I’ve said already, I want to spend my hard-earned money on you,” Danny insisted. Regardless of how sweetly Noah was pushing the offer away it was something he was firm about. He wanted to get Noah something that maybe he’d wear more often than a borrowed tee shirt he’d sleep in when he stayed over or a hickey that would fade in days. 

Once they approached the booth Danny slipped his hand free from Noah’s back pocket and made small talk with the vendor before focusing his attention on their array of bracelets. He slipped one of it’s holder and turned it over in his hand running his thumb across the smooth stone beads. “I like this one, it’s garnet. That’s a good luck stone,” he explained before reaching for Noah’s wrist to slip it on him to see how it looked. He didn’t elaborate with how it was good luck for love but he didn’t think it mattered in this moment and didn’t want to scare Noah away with some imposed symbolism. Good luck was good luck and at the end of the day a stone was still just a stone. 

“What do you think?” Danny asked letting go of Noah’s hand so he could examine the bracelet himself.  

Noah let out a soft laugh, nudging into Danny shyly when the other said he wanted to spend his hard-earned money on him. He knew that Danny was being truthful, but even if he wasn’t, the thought alone was one of the sweetest things anyone had said to him. It only bolstered his courage to try and ask Danny to be his boyfriend a little later in the evening. They walked together towards the booth Danny had talked about, and Noah leaned into him happily. loving the way his tall, warm physique felt against him. Noah felt safe and cared for, and he wanted to hold on to that for as long as he possibly could.

When they arrived at the booth, Noah’s curious baby blues scanned over the different pieces of leather on display. From jewelry to things like book covers, luggage tags and pet collars. He was so busy looking at everything that he didn’t notice Danny going for the bracelets right away until Danny caught his attention and Noah turned to him again. He let out a quiet little gasp, and smiled broadly, unable to hide his pearly whites as Danny explained the garnet and placed the bracelet on him. “Oh my gosh, I love it so much... holy crap, it’s so pretty,” he said, bringing his wrist up closer to his face so he could inspect the craftsmanship. His fingers gently ran over the glinting, burgundy garnet and he bit his lower lip, looking back up to Danny. “It’s honestly really perfect. What do you think, does it look good on me?” he asked, making a few playful poses before chuckling again and running his fingers along the leather once more. “Maybe you could get one, too,” he added quietly.

“Maybe we can all go bowling sometime,” Danny offered as a parting message. He did want Noah and Landon to get together properly. If Noah was going to become a big part in his life like he hoped he wanted the two to mix. He was just glad Landon got the hints tonight before Danny had to drop them. Landon’d never been a cockblock before and he knew his best friend wouldn’t step in as one now with Noah. Landon’d heard enough about the curly haired brunet to know he was more special to him than Danny wanted to admit. 

He was the only person he ever sculpted after all and the money he’d made off Noah’s backside was burning a hole in his pocket and his arm slipped around Noah once more the second Landon was out of view. “Landon’s great. He cooks, he cleans, he’s a writer. I’m just glad I saw you first,” Danny joked pushing a rogue curl back behind Noah’s ear. It was no denying that he and Landon went for the same guys. Both literally and figuratively and he was glad he’d snatched up a catch like Noah before his best friend could get eyes for him. 

“Can the question wait until after I buy you something pretty? I’ve made a lot tonight and it wouldn’t feel right if I didn’t put some back into the economy here,” Danny insisted taking one last glance at the booth to make sure the register was secured before he started leading Noah through the market. He already had an idea of what he wanted to get for Noah and he could feel a knot forming in his throat. He wished he’d brought a beer with him to was away his nerves but his hands were empty and he slipped one into Noah’s back pocket to keep from fidgeting. 

“There’s a really cool leatherworker here, they make really great stuff,” Danny explained already seeing the destination he had in mind. 

Noah chuckled softly when Danny said he was glad Noah met him before Landon. It made his butterflies come back, and his big, baby blue eyes peered up at him happily. “Well, Landon looks and sounds like a dream boat, but I think you’re the dreamier of the two, if I can be completely honest,” he said, feeling the warmth of a blush coloring his cheeks. Noah loved the way Danny pushed his hair back and held him there. Nobody had ever been this sweet to him, and he counted himself as extremely lucky.

When Danny asked if the question could wait, Noah pressed his lips together for a moment, then smiled and gave a soft nod. “Mhm! Yeah, it can wait,” he said quietly, wrapping his arms around Danny’s waist and giving him a little squeeze. The question could hold off for a little bit, but he made himself a promise that tonight would be the night he finally mustered up the courage to just ask.

“Aww, you don’t have to buy me anything! That was your hard-earned money! But I mean... I wouldn’t say no to a little souvenir,” he said with a teasing smile as Danny led them back towards the market. Noah had his little brown bags in one hand, while the other rested gently around Danny’s hip. HE was happy to have the other’s hand in his back pocket, hoping Danny could feel a little more firmness back there from all the little squats he’d been doing lately. “I knew you’d sell a lot. Your pottery’s beautiful, and this time of the year? Is totally your time to shine.”

“I know I don’t but I want to,” Danny insisted letting his hand linger on Noah’s hip for a moment. He wasn’t a huge fan of displays of blatant PDA. A kiss here, a hand held there was different from what he saw some couples engage in in broad daylight. Not that they were a couple. What he and Noah shared was certainly art in Danny’s mind some masterpieces were best kept in a private collection and when he heard that all too familiar voice Danny felt like he was caught in the act and he quickly uncoiled himself from Noah to greet his best friend.

He was glad Danny didn’t suffer from rosy cheeks even though he could feel the temperature rising to his face. Outside of his family or possibly his boss at the coffee shop he couldn’t think of anyone else he’d be embarrassed to be seen getting cozy around Noah with. The curly haired brunette was no secret Landon. It was hard to keep it a secret as their nights of playing Overwatch became few and far between and Danny had to share his excitement with someone. He feared that if he kept it completely hidden all this with Noah could vanish into thin air and there’d be no mark of the other man in his life like so many other almosts in Danny’s love life. Landon wasn’t great when it came to advice surrounding Noah often insisting he should throw a label on it.

“This is Noah, he’s… well you know about Noah,” Danny said clearing his throat a little and instantly reached for his beer to wash down his words. He knew Landon was coming out tonight and he knew that there was a chance of the two finally meeting. He’d talked about Landon to Noah as well so he shouldn’t be a surprise but watching his worlds mix… well was nerve wracking even in such a casual manor and he almost felt bad not warning Noah. What if he didn’t want to meet any of his world? What if Noah wasn’t talking about him to his friends? He was glad those worries hadn’t reared their ugly heads prior to this moment because at least he wouldn’t have to wait long to judge Noah’s reaction to Landon. “I don’t think that’s bad as long as he isn’t your ride home,” Danny said finishing off his current brew. “I know where you live but I’m gonna be here until the end of the night,” Danny explained and while he wouldn’t mind giving Landon a ride home he was kinda hoping to ask Noah if he wanted to spend the night and that was an invite that definitely wouldn’t be extended to his best friend. 

Landon thought it endearing to finally see his best friend with someone that wasn’t a same day Tinder date, or someone who’d vanish in the morning. As far as he could tell, Noah had been around for a little while now, and seemed to be interested in hanging around Danny. Just seeing the way the two were attracted like magnets to one another was enough for Landon to judge that whatever was going on between them, he liked it and approved of it.

“Yeah, ofcourse! I’ve heard nothing but good things,” he said with a soft chuckle. “Nah, don’t worry about me. I can Uber home, and I’m gonna check out the bar across the street anyway,” Landon said when Danny danced around the topic of taking him home. He would never intervene in his friend’s date like that, and smiled at Noah, who looked a little flushed, but bright-eyed. “It’s really nice to meet you, Noah. Make sure he doesn’t get in trouble, yeah?” he mused.

Noah grinned softly and nodded rubbing the back of his neck lightly. “He’s the one keeping me out of trouble, if anything.” It was nice to meet someone in Danny’s inner circle, and he wished he had people around that weren’t his co-workers to introduce Danny to. It made him feel starkly alone by comparison, but he tried not to think about it too much.

Landon got a text, pulled his phone out, and scrunched his nose a bit. “Welp... gotta go. I’ll see you guys around, yeah?” he said, giving a little wave and heading off.

“He seems really nice. I’ve seen him before, but never really met him in person,” he said, looking up to Danny with a soft smile. He felt happy that Danny didn’t introduce him as ‘just a friend’ like his ex used to do, and didn’t look particularly uncomfortable. It made Noah feel happy and gave him the stomach butterflies a little. “Um... hey, you wanna walk around for a little bit? I kinda wanted to ask you something.”

Danny knew the moment that he gave Noah permission to take pictures the camera would be turned on him. It hadn’t been an invite but he hung around Noah long enough to know that inevitably if he had his camera with him there was bound to be pictures taken of him. Danny was just glad that Noah didn’t feel compelled to share them with him. He didn’t mind how he looked in the mirror but frozen in a picture he hated it and he wasn’t even the only one who thought that way. In fact, his senior year book still remained closed and tucked in a box back at his parents home never to be opened again because not one but two of his friends told him he looked constipated in his picture. 

“For most of the night, yeah. But you go out and have fun. You know where to find me,” Danny said with a smile watching Noah go off and explore. Even if this was one of his favorite events of the year Danny was still working and he wished he could be out there with Noah wandering the booths though any feelings of yearning dispersed as people wandered to his booth. His sales were even better than he anticipated and he was selling some bigger pieces that put quite a bit of money in his pocket he wasn’t expecting. He even sold the piece inspired by Noah which had been over 100 bucks right there. As a maker he couldn’t ask for more and as his stock dwindled down each time Noah swung by with a new goodie to hide behind the register. After a sale of some pipes Danny made preparations to close up shop for a moment and was glad Noah wandered back over with impeccable timing. 

“Hey,” Danny greeted Noah as he wrapped an arm around his waist for a little hug. “I’m closing up here for a bit. Sales have been so good I’m afraid I’ll sell out before the end of the night if I don’t take a break,” he explained, “And I want to buy you something as a thank you for coming out tonight and well,” Danny shrugged, “I don’t know, ‘cause I like you. I guess that’s part of the reason too.” 

Noah thought that Danny was the handsomest guy he’d ever known. It was hard not to train his camera on him to capture the way the corners of his mouth and eyes crinkled when he smiled really broadly, or the fullness of those lips when deep in thought. It didn’t hurt that he his hair looked like a 90s heartthrob. Danny sent him off to go exploring for a while, and Noah was admittedly a little sad that the artist couldn’t come with him, but it was still a fascinating experience. As he wandered through the market, he saw a lot of interesting booths, and would return with snacks every once in a while as the little brown shopping bag in his hand grew heavier with small goods, like jams and candies that would be gone within the next two weeks.

Finally, he returned to Danny’s booth and set his bag down on the table, letting the other wrap him up in that little hug. He felt like his heart could float. When Danny offered to buy him something for coming along, and more importantly, because he liked him, Noah stood on his tiptoes and pressed a small kiss to Danny’s lips. “You don’t have to buy me anything. Just being invited to hang out is a reward on its own,” he mused, looking down shyly for a moment.

Just then, someone approached the table with a big smile on his lips. ”So that’s why you’ve been asking for my carbonara recipe,” Landon said, walking up to Danny’s booth and grinning softly. His brows raised, and he slid his hands into his pockets. He turned to the petite curly boy and smiled, raising his hand in a greeting. “Hi, I’m Landon. Allegedly Danny’s best friend,” he mused with a quiet chuckle. “I’m just kidding, he’s pretty great.”  Then, he looked up at Danny. “I kinda lost track of my date, and lowkey think he probably ditched me. Is it bad for me to say I’m kind of hoping that’s the case? Anyway, I’m not gonna linger around too long, just wanted to say hey,” he said, smiling softly.

Danny handed Noah a beer before taking a sip of his own. Even in his element he still got social anxiety and he knew as people flocked into the marke he’d be asked and prodded and commended for his artwork and a little liquid courage was needed for him to get through it. Confidence is what people came for from the artist especially with such macabre influenced pieces surrounding him tonight. That was part of why Noah had been invited. Even in the company of others Danny felt able to be a bolder version of himself with Noah in the mix. Maybe it was because he still was trying to woo the younger man or possibly Danny just felt more present and happy when he could feel those baby blues on him.  

“Take as many pictures as you want people don’t mind here,” he insisted knowing that Noah wouldn’t be the only person photographing the spectacle tonight. “This particular market only happens during the fall, once a month. The two weeks before Christmas the market stays open everyday sorta for a Holiday thing but that’s all day and into the night so it’s different,” Danny explained. “This is a lot more… witchy for lack of a better word,” Danny joked taking a sip of his drink once more. “I think most of this stuff you’ve probably seen in my place. I wasn’t able to get some pieces I wanted glazed in time,” he shrugged. There was at least one piece that was new in his collection up for sale tonight but Danny intentionally wasn’t bringing much attention to it as the influence for the wall hanging was quite apparent. Danny wasn’t even able to admit to Noah he had proper feelings for him, there was no way he wanted Noah to know he was a muse. 

Noah took the beer Danny offered and took a sip, then smiled when the other confirmed that he could take as many pictures as he wanted, and that people wouldn’t mind. It was all the permission he needed to set his beer down for a moment and bring his camera up to snap a photo of the wares at Danny’s booth, then the artist himself. He wondered when and if Danny would get tired of Noah snapping photos, but in Noah’s opinion, he was VERY photogenic, and certainly the most handsome guy he’d ever been with... not that they were official or anything. Which also wasn’t a thought far from his mind. Maybe he’d ask Danny tonight, if nothing caught fire, or aliens didn’t decide to attack. Noah set his camera back down around his neck and grabbed his beer again.

“I love it! Autumn is my favorite season, and I love the witchy atmosphere,” he admitted. Noah's heart was a little hummingbird in that moment, and he forced himself to look away from Danny at the pieces he’d brought over. “Everything looks amazing. I just know you’re gonna sell out, and I’m just glad I got to see them all. You basically have to stay glued to your table all night, right?” he asked curiously. “Cause if you can’t go with me, I might wander off to that apple stand at the other end. I saw some cute apple butter jars and I totally wanna get one,” he mused happily. Noah loved the scents and flavors of the fall, and as much as he loved the summer too, he was just happy for the changing of the seasons. More importantly, he was happy that he got to see this market with Danny when otherwise he wouldn't have really known or paid much attention to it.

Danny tried not to hype up the Night Market too much but tonight was a big deal for Danny. His work had officially erased the summer drink specials and had scribbled on some autumnal offerings Danny was able to showcase more of the stuff he loved to make. People were more likely to purchase a blood shot eyeball trinket tray, or a ghoulish figurine. There was something extra satisfying having someone take home a piece that he put a little bit of himself in. Tonight he was an artist and it was a high point in his year and naturally he wanted Noah to be there to experience it with them. Noah’d been experiencing some lows lately and he hoped that tonight would be fun for him too even if he didn’t hang out at Danny’s booth he was sure some apothecary good or salsa sample would be a fun distraction. 

Danny’d been at the market setting up and socializing with other vendors over beer but he was quick to check his phone when he felt a buzz in his pocket and dropped his convos in favor of greeting Noah. “There he is,” Danny greeted finishing up the last of his bottle and chucked it in the recycling before wrapping his arms around Noah in a hug. “I’m glad you came, I’m still setting things up but I think it’ll officially open in 30 minutes,” he explained leading him back towards his booth. “I’ve got some beers if you want one,” he offered as they approached his booth which seemed to have an extra spooky flair to it this evening. “They’re good, I bought ‘em from one of the vendors here tonight. Their brewery isn’t far from where I rent kiln space,” he explained opening another bottle for himself. 

It had been a few weeks since Danny and Noah began to see each other regularly, and Noah quiet frankly loved it. Nobody this into his forays in relationships had treated him as well as Danny had been this far. The idea to formally ask him to be exclusive quietly bloomed in his heart after the whole fiasco the previous week, and only intensified with each passing day. He’d never felt so much calm as when he was in Danny’s arms, and even when he had an unrelated asthma attack, Danny helped him with his breathing and didn’t make the mistake of infantilizing him throughout it. It was one of the things he hated most about his ex. Noah didn’t sit and compare the two very much, but Danny was clearly raising the bar for Noah, and the curly brunette wanted to keep him.

Noah happily wrapped his arms around Danny in a hug, giving a little squeeze before walking beside him and wrapping an arm around his waist. “Thank you for inviting me. I managed to get off work just in time, and I got my camera to take a few pics if that’s okay,” he said, looking up at the other and smiling. Noah nodded when Danny offered him a beer as they approached his booth. “I’m super excited! I wanna see all your little creations and see what the night market’s all about! Do these happen often? I’ve never come here after hours,” he admitted.

Noah strapped his camera around his neck and drove himself there. Once there, he texted Danny to let him know he’d arrived, and headed towards the front entrance where they agreed to meet up.