#serenateing

CRISSCOLFER

Prompt: Fluff. Darren had just belted out an impromptu song about his new glasses and how he could see better now and Chris had fixed some minor part of the lyrics and now they’re here. 

Words: 1073.

MASTERLIST | AO3

It started out simply.

Darren had just belted out an impromptu song about his new glasses and how he could see better now and Chris had fixed some minor part of the lyrics and now they’re here.

His fingers work fast on the guitar for a few seconds and he sings, “Sweet home Alabama.”

“You’re not from Alabama. Next.”

Darren considers it for a second shrugging and then -

“I can’t feel my face when I’m with you,” Darren sings, looking at Chris, hands more tapping the guitar and snapping his fingers rhythmically.

Chris sticks his forefinger out and pokes Darren’s cheek.

“Can you feel that?”

Darren freezes and looks at him with the earnest face and wide eyes, completely concentrated on the man in front of him, “Yes.”

“Then you should change the song, because you’re lying to me right here,” Chris says.

And, as much as Chris wants to laugh at Darren’s horrified-with-realization expression, he holds it together and waits, settling back more comfortably on the bed.

Darren loves how into this they both are, how so personal and them this feels. How Chris pays attention to him and how he can serenate Chris so easily.

“I drive a beat-up car, a caravan, the color blue. Reminds me of your eyes and all the places we've been to,” Darren tries again.

“Your car is black. Next.”

Chris is not exactly mean and he doesn’t snap, he simply points out what is wrong about the song when it comes into their circumstances.

Darren thinks for a few seconds, face drawn in in concentration before launching into another song.

“I'll wake with coffee in the morning, but he prefers two lumps of sugar and tea,” Darren changes the pronoun and Chris’ heart flutters, but he still considers it for a second.

“You don’t drink coffee if you don’t extremely need to,” Chris says, “But I do. Next.”

Darren also loves the challenge this imposes to his brain and his music knowledge.

“I’m just a kid and life is a-“Darren begins, but Chris interrupts, trying to hide a smirk.

“You’re thirty years old,” Chris deadpans, rolling his eyes fondly. “It doesn’t count that you act like a child most of the time.”

“Mama, I'm in love with a criminal, and this type of love isn't rational, it's physical. Mama please don't cry, I will be alright. All reason aside I just can't deny, I love the guy,” Darren belts out, fingers playing and screwing up the chords, but it’s perfect to Chris’ ears.

“I’m a criminal?”

“You stole my heart, man,” Darren grins at him. His fingers mindlessly strumming the guitar now.

“You’re such a sap,” he laughs. Then he tilts his head to the side. “But I don’t think that’s written on my criminal record.”

Darren’s fingers still and he looks at Chris.

“… You have a criminal record?”

“Next!”

Darren narrows his eyes at the man.

“I’m letting it go for now, but we’re most definitely coming back to this.”

Chris remains quiet as Darren thinks of another song, which comes ten seconds later.

“People say,” Darren grins, “We shouldn’t be together. We’re young to know about forever-“

“Have you been paying attention to what the fans say about our characters? It’s been over for two years and they still want us to be together. Next.”

It comes faster than he expected.

“Hello,” Darren voice drops an octave as he shuts his eyes. “It’s me. I was wondering if-“

“Try it next time we’re talking over the phone or skyping,” Chris shakes his head, smirking. “Next.”

Darren exaggerates his facial expression when he opens his mouth.

“Are you gonna stay the night? Doesn’t mean we’re bound for life.”

Chris quirks an eyebrow. “Considering I live here,” he motions to around, as if saying the house, “Yes, I’ll stay. And those,” he lifts his left hand, holding out his ring finger, the one sporting a silver band that matches perfectly to Darren’s, the band that only leaves the house if it’s tucked into his wallet or pocket, “Certainly means we’re bound for life.”

Darren beams at him and caresses the edges of his own ring with his thumb.

“They do mean that, don’t they?”

Chris nods. “Next,” he says, smiling softly.

It proves he’s not bored yet – and “I would never be tired of you, Dare, I keep you because I actually like you”, as Chris said many times - and it makes something inside Darren warm up. Chris isn’t completely comfortable with laying himself out there, so unlike Darren, but he has his moments and his husband can fully appreciate those.

“Some things just, some things just make sense, and one of those is you and I,” Darren practically lies down on the bed as he looks at Chris upside down, still playing, “Some things just, some things just make sense and even after all this time… I’m still into you.”

“Well, I can’t really complain about that.” Chris points out, rubbing his chin in a pensive manner. “Next,” he gently boops Darren’s nose with his forefinger.

Darren smiles wickedly and rests his guitar next to him, crawling over to Chris. “When the night has come,” he takes Chris’s hand and guides him off the bed, “And the land is dark,” Darren smiles triumphantly when he looks at the window and sees it’s night still – yet? “And the moon is the only light we’ll see,” he guides Chris’ hand to his shoulder and wraps an arm on Chris’ waist. “No, I won’t be afraid. Oh, I won’t be afraid.” Darren begins to sway and Chris follows without fighting, “Just as long as you stand, stand by me.”

Chris rises his eyes to search for Darren’s, but finds two hazel orbs already locked on his face.

“Always,” he promises.

The smile he is presented with is mesmerizing and he joins in when Darren’s voice starts singing again, his lips stretched on a smile of his own. He clutches Darren’s hand and sways with him.

“So, darlin’, darlin’. Stand by me, oh, stand by me.”

They work, they are criticized, they have almost none to zero privacy, but they do what they love and they have each other. It’s not always easy, but they’re good for each other. They care, they miss, they are there, they support, they are together. It’s not easy between them, but it’s as easy as this is should be.

Songs: 

Sweet home Alabama, Lynyrd Skynyrd

I Can’t Feel My Face When I’m With You, The Weeknd

What We Live For, American Authors

Cold Coffee, Ed Sheeran

I’m Just a Kid, Simple Plan

Criminal, Britney Spears

Hello, Adele

Stay the Night, Zedd feat. Hayley Williams

Still Into You, Paramore