#fun side note

He didn’t really want to make Austin feel bad either, it was only that sometimes the time apart was too much, it stretched too far, and Callum missed him. He wanted more in a way that was hard for Austin to give. So, it was Callum’s issue, too. 

Callum closes his eyes and lets Ann Peebles’ ‘I Can’t Stand the Rain’ fill the quiet corners of his flat, the rain battering the windows from outside offering a rich addition to the warm crackle of the music. Pointedly, he doesn’t think about his phone on the coffee table and how he should try to phone Austin.

The doorbell startles him out of his thoughts. Golo’s ears perk up, and he offers a lazy woof, but makes no move to investigate from his spot on the couch.

“Some guard dog you are,” Callum tsks when he makes his way to the door.

It’s past eight o'clock, and he’s racking his brain trying to think who could possibly be on his doorstep at this time of night. He gets his answer when he opens the door without checking the camera first, a sopping wet Austin standing in front of him, plastic bag and a bouquet of flowers clutched tight in his hand.

“Hey, Cal.”

“What…?” Callum flounders, but when he can’t think of something to say immediately, he shakes his head and holds the door open wide, “Jesus, get inside, would you?”

Austin smiles and steps in, letting his backpack fall to the floor and pressing the other things he'd brought into Callum's waiting hands.

Callum laughs disbelievingly, a smile on the corner of his mouth as he holds the flowers awkwardly in the crook of his arm. Curious, he opens the bag to find a six pack of beer and a box of his usual brand of cigarettes, "What's all this for?”

“An apology,” Austin winces.

Callum starts to shake his head, “Austin. You don’t have to apologize. It’s…I’m fine. Promise. If anything, I should be the one-”

“Don’t you apologize, too,” Austin interjects quickly, placing firm hands on Callum’s hips as he looks up at him, voice dipping lower, “Just. Let me tell you how sorry I am?”

Austin is using that built in Butler-charm on him. Callum sighs, but knows it’s futile to resist. Of course it works on him. It’s something akin to drowning in warm honey, and Callum lets it take him.

One arm full of flowers, he lifts the other to Austin’s cheek, thumbing at his jawline thoughtfully. His blonde hair is dark from standing out in the rain, he’s drenched and shivering, but his eyes are so pleading as he looks up at Callum. So full of love. 

Callum kisses him gently, a response to Austin’s plea in itself. Bad communication and all, he’d forgive Austin for anything. 

“I’m so sorry. So sorry, baby,” Austin murmurs against his lips, taking the in he’d been given.

Callum hums, tilts his head to the side and lets Austin kiss along the span of his neck. It's real and physical, and the hurt from the past day melts away, revealing something hot and wanting in its place.