#idk hahahaaa...

He didn’t think to take any allergy meds or for some reason, bring any with him. It was January. Usually he was only a little sneezy in January. 

Oliver saw it immediately. He always noticed. Even from across the room, he caught the subtle pinches and grabs that Nolan made for his nose. Or the faint tremor of his shoulders as he tried to sigh away a sneeze. The way his hand drifted toward his jacket pocket–where Oliver knew he kept at least two handkerchiefs tucked, always “just in case”. 

Nolan tried, valiantly, to keep up conversation with Director Eunwoo and his colleagues, voice steady if just a little nasal. But eventually, the need to sneeze became too incessant to ignore. 

“ExcuhH–excuse me, I’ll b-be righH–t hH– right back. I just –need –hHhh– need the restroom.” Nolan made his escape through the double doors. 

Oliver wanted nothing more than to follow his love instantaneously, but they agreed to both try their best at hiding their newly established relationship. 

Laugh, nod, pretend everything is fine. He finished his glass of champagne, trying to wait even just five minutes before excusing himself. 

He made it about 45 seconds before excusing himself as well.

The bathroom was empty save for the muffled, desperate sound of someone trying very hard not to be heard. 

Nolan had barely made it into the furthest stall from the door before the dam broke. He locked the door and slumped against the cool partition, handkerchief pressed hard over his nose and mouth. 

“hhehHaH’Tschxx–! hn’Tchx! –ehH’GT’xch! hehHh’hHh’Tschh–h’tschh! –tschht!!” 

Each one tore out of him, leaving his chest heaving and his nose still trembling in anticipation of the next set of itchy sneezes. He blew his nose as quietly as he could manage, though the sound echoed through the empty tiled room. He shook again as the itch clawed its way to the t-tiHhp o-of hihHh–hihh–his n-noHh–se!!

“hHH’KTSchuu–! ehH’Tsch’uu! hH’Gtsch–n’Gtcht–n’Gtch’tch’tch! hhHA’TSC’CHUuh!! hHaH’Tschxx–! ohhH g-goHhds– hhehH– hhHhh–....hhahhH! hhH’AGHTSChhuuhh!!”

Gods, what a mess he was making of himself. He leaned his head  back against the stall wall, furiously scrubbing at his irritated nose. The itch would not let up. He blew his nose again, hoping it would help with the itch. 

Good news, it did help it a bit, remove the pollen that is. Bad news, the vibrations tickled his nose like mad, making the need to sneeze return full force.

“hH–hh…hH’tCHshh! eHT’Shh–! hehH–aH’ADSCHhh–iew!!” They were getting harsher now and his nose still tickled more than he’d like for it too. At least being away from the flowers, the itch was beginning to die down. 

Nolan hears the doors open and internally, he screams for whoever it is to go away. He tenses, trying to muffle yet another sneeze quietly into his handkerchief.

“Nol?” Oh, that voice was familiar.

Nolan’s heart sinks, yet warms at the same time upon hearing Oliver’s voice. He pressed the handkerchief tighter against his nose, trying really hard to quell the pending sneezes.  He doesn’t answer right away–he’s too flustered, too breathless. 

A sharp itch broke his walls though. He pressed the handkerchief tightly over his nose. “HHM’PFShh! hhahH’hha–MPFSHhuu! ahH–hhehH’MPFSHHuu! Hh’mpgktchh!! H’gktchh!...hhHh–!...hhh…ahhH…hhH…hhh–....”

He groaned into the soiled handkerchief, miserably congested, “O-Oliver, you shouldn’t snFff snFF! hHh–snff– you shouldn’t be here. I-I’m okay.”

There was a pause. Was he grossed out? Was he going to leave him because he found him too annoying? Then the soft taps of Oliver’s footsteps across the tiles grew closer to his stall. “You don’t sound fine, please let me in. I want to help you.”

Nolan clenched his eyes shut, his heart still beating in his eardrums. “N-no, I’m really okay. My allergies will calm down soon.”

Oliver gently knocked on the stall door, his voice warm and coaxing, “I don’t mind, love. I want to take care of you and help you. Please… don’t hide from me."

Nolan’s chest tightened, not just from the sneezing. He wanted to keep the lock in place, he knew it was silly though. Oliver had seen him sneeze plenty of times in the office before. It just felt different, now that they were actually dating. His hand betrayed him though, trembling as it  turned to unlatch the lock with a faint click. 

The door opened, and Oliver slipped inside the cramped space. For a moment, Nolan couldn’t bring himself to look Oliver in the face. He hunched against the wall, handkerchief still pressed tightly to his nose, cheeks blotched red with allergic tears running down them. 

“I’m sorry, I’m such a mess,” Nolan croaked, congested and embarrassed. 

Oliver didn’t flinch however. He didn’t hesitate to reach for Nolan, tender fingers brush his tussled brands out of his face. “There’s absolutely no need to apologize. I truly do not mind. You’re beautiful no matter what,” he murmured, “and for the record, you’re my mess. And that’s all that matters.”

Nolan gave a small laugh that broke off into another sneeze fit, muffled into the cloth in his hand, “Hh’mpgktchh! hHah’MPgtkchh! mM’Gkchh! hH’Gkchh! ahhH–heh– hh–...hehH–... hH’MPFSHHIEWW! Ughhh, make it stoooop.” 

He blew his nose again, a wet, productive sounding blow. His nose did actually feel better after that. When he surfaced, Oliver kissed the top of his head tenderly. 

“There,” Oliver whispered, “my poor baby.”

The words made Nolan’s heart flutter. Gaining more confidence, he slumped forward into Oliver’s chest, slowly bringing his arms up to hug Oliver. Oliver embraced him right back in a tight hug. His embrace was steady, grounding him in a way that made his heart ache for more. 

Nolan felt his nose drip and instantly tried to pull back from the hug. 

“I’ll ruin your suit, I’m so, so, so sorry,” Nolan said frantically trying to get away. 

“I don’t care about my suit,” Oliver replied without missing a beat. He held Nolan close to him in a vice grip, not letting him wiggle free. “I only care about your well-being.”

Nolan froze, then melted against him again, no longer resisting the embrace. The fabric might have been damp, his nose still a little tickly, and his eyes streaming, but neither of them made a move to pull away.