𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝐝'𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥𝐨⠀ ... .ᐟ⠀

He looked at him with a sweet smile, resting his hands on his hips when he nudged him against the counter. He kissed him back, gently, moving one of his hands up to cup his cheek. "I have nothing up for tomorrow morning, no. I..." he smiled sheepishly. "I'd love to stay with you, darling."

  "very subtle."  he muttered at the kisses,  laughing as he led his partner to his kitchen to get them both a drink to take.  before he did,  though,  to make jon happy,  he nudged him against the counter and leaned in to give him a gentle kiss.  "i have a nice wine if you wanted to stay.  if you aren't up to anything tomorrow morning,  that is."  
            
            /   @-NEVERALONE 

Like a mirror, he was left admiring his boyfriend in return. The way his eyes lit up, the smile on his face... the way he moved, the way he spoke. He's *soo* very beautiful! "I'd love a drink before we go, sweetheart. Buuut— I'm going with you to the kitchen, because I hadn't had enough greeting kisses yet," he said jokingly, pressing a few over his face and then let him lead them.

   he openly scoffed at the compliment,  leaning forward to press a kiss to his cheek even though he was talking rubbish.  because the tone of his voice was addictive,  and he was willing to ignore the ridiculous compliment in order to relish in the sound of him.  he took another cookie when he received the prompt,  and was infinitely flattered that he was on jon's mind when they were being made.  it almost made them taste better!  but he wouldn't comment on whether his mum's were better or not,  he'd need to keep taste testing both batches just to be sure.  "how is your mum,  anyway?"  
            
            /   @-NEVERALONE 

"I'm a work of art?! Babe, you should be right next to Mona Lisa, if you wanna know what I think," he commented with a charming tone of voice, with a playful wink sent his way. "She'll be very happy with the praise, though," finishing his cookie, he went for another— encouraging his partner to do the same. They were indeed good! Not as great as his mother's, but good! And if he spent a long time trying to get it perfect for his boyfriend... well. It was definitely worth it!
            Jon loved Tom's souvenirs and kept a collection of them in his bedroom. It varied from keychains to the famous leather jacket that became his favourite, instantaneously, amongst his nice collection of jackets. Jon loved getting him souvenirs, too, so they had plenty of things to surround themselves with that reminded them of each other when they were apart.
            "It'll be my pleasure, sweetheart."

   it was sweet to know jon felt the same way tom did about him—  with every journey and activity having some sort of relevance to the love of his life.  his partner was his everything,  and tom couldn't go on journeys or eat food without at least considering jon a little bit in the little things.  he'd buy him souvenirs thoughtlessly,  as if absently thinking  'oh,  jon would find that funny or cute or sweet or nice'  whilst jon would receive them and truly understand how much thomas thought of him.  vice versa,  of course,  with the cookies.  "perfect."  he half-heartedly corrected,  because either way he could eat a million of them!  "your mum is a genius,  and you are a work of art.  so this was bound to impress me,  i'll order these from you routinely."  
            
            /   @-NEVERALONE 

He didn't see that coming and when the high pitched line reached his ears, the keeper couldn't help but laugh, too! He did say he would be the Kiki Dee to his Elton John, though, he couldn't say he hadn't been warned! The Scouser reached for his hand and brought him closer, so they could dance while singing to the song. He put no effort, either, to sound like a The Voice competitor— he was just having fun and, following his boyfriend's lead, changing how he sounded at every line... but with different accents, instead.

   they'd end up being the infamous inseparable duo as teenagers that they could've been now,  except much more boisterous and loud and teasing.  and less private about everything,  he supposed,  about that friendship.  the midfielder couldn't help but laugh at the way he led into the song,  only stepping back to direct the laugh at his boyfriend and feed back with his  'i couldn't if i tried'  line.  he made his voice a higher pitch to try to achieve the kiki dee sound,  which ended up sounding ridiculous but he still found it funny—  he wasn't trying to prove himself as a top secret vocalist,  anyway.  mainly because he wasn't even that.  
            
            /   @-NEVERALONE 

Oh, he thought that if they had met when they were younger, it would be chaotic and super funny! Teenage Jon had no confidence issues, and he teased and joked every damn minute. He was pretty sure they would've started off as rivals, too, till they eventually bonded and fell in love with each other. It would've been super cute. Not much different than now, since they're super cute now, too! The keeper was quick to hug him back just as tightly, pressing a kiss to his temple— and smiling when he hid his face against his shoulder. "...Don't Go Breaking My Heart..." he started singing, grinning on how that very much suited as a response to his teasing.

   it was ridiculously hypocritical,  obviously,  but it wasn't like tom was utterly against the flattery.  he was usually better at accepting compliments than jon was,  at the very least,  and tended to return them both out of gratitude and honest adoration.  because jon  *was*  like modern art—  he was stunning,  every part of him,  and tom didn't let a single day go by without thinking about it.  about him.  about them.  "well,  that's the important part.  i'm a very lucky man."  
            
            /   @-NEVERALONE 

And of course Jon knew he would think that! The very reason why the Scouser constantly joked about hanging mirrors everywhere around his house. Because he *always* refuted the compliments, yet, applied all of them back to Jon himself! ...Which made the two of them a couple of hypocrites, for the keeper, too, refuted the compliments and applied them back to his boyfriend, so he didn't know how much he could truly protest Tom's move there... well, he would protest them, either way! "You loved it," he pointed at his direction and laughed along with him, before tilting his head and paying attention to his partner's following words. "Nooo! No, they don't. And even if they did, though, it doesn't matter— because *I* want *you*. And *you* only."

  he knew jon would think that—  that he looked beautiful as he woke up and everything else was just even as gorgeous,  but he thought that was ridiculous.  even if that logic applied to jon himself  (  obviously  )  he didn't imagine it would make sense with him.  even as he woke up,  immediately grasping for jon again with a smile and a tired look,  he didn't think it was anything special,  even if jon constantly complimented him in that very moment.  because,  in the end,  he was looking at  *jon*.  his gorgeous boyfriend.  his perfect boyfriend.  the point of which everyone else's beauty was compared to.  "that's awful."  he said,  even as he laughed,  poking his arm and continuing to hide his smile pointedly.  couldn't let him win.  "anyone could say it and it'd be true,  babe.  look at you.  everyone wants you."  
            
            /   @-NEVERALONE 

  "aw,  baby,"  he beamed with a lovesick smile,  putting a hand on the back of jon's neck when he kissed his forehead to keep his boyfriend close in the moments after.  "it's okay,  i wouldn't expect you to do that.  that's the unspoken part of our relationship."  thomas rubbed his arm and laughed,  stepping away and getting them both a beer.  "we'll get onto the other stuff later.  i have a new bottle of spiced rum,  i'll be making you try that in a minute."  
            
            /   @-NEVERALONE 

"You do, huh?" he batted his eyelashes to him. "That's for you to know... the kind of thing I'd do for you." he grinned, then, leaning forward and pressing a kiss to his forehead. "There's nothing I wouldn't do for you— except trading Liverpool for United, so there's the only exception to the rule," he chuckled, tilting his head to consider the question. "I don't know— a beer for starters, maybe? Or whatever you're having, sweetheart, you have great taste."

  "hey!  that's too modern for you!  i like it."  anything jon played was beautiful,  through his sweet voice and his gorgeous face,  and tom was entirely smitten.  particularly when they were modern songs,  which he  *knew*.  "well.  let's get us something to drink.  what do you fancy?"  
            
            /   @-NEVERALONE 

He was a hero in his own terms. He had a lot of people, especially kids, looking up to him and getting inspired by him, believing they could change their reality via sports? That's essentially what heroes try to do. It's all about bringing hope to others... and footballers do that. How many people don't go to a match and, during 90 minutes or so, are able to forget all about their problems and connect with thousands around them who are all doing the same thing when visiting the stadium and cheering for their clubs? She has a huge respect for athletes. She admires them a lot. "You bet! I'm dying to actually watch a game. *At the stadium*. So I'll be doing my best to go, and watch you play at the world cup! Who knows, maybe I'll even go to England someday! Is it possible to visit the stadium even when it isn't a matchday?"
            
            
            // HAHAHA I LOVE IT !! even better, knowing that Tom and Jon basically started itttt !! HAHAHA

   he would definitely argue that a superhero life had unbelievably more risk than his own footballer life,  because there was quite a big difference in the possible injuries there...  besides,  superhero-ing was more noble,  he just kicked a ball around for a job.  although he himself would never simplify it down to that,  because every footballer knew it was so much more.  "good!  then you'll know which team to look out for,  we've done a few pre-seasons across america too.  and the world cup is here next year,  hopefully i'll get to play in that."  
            
            /   @-HAWKEYES   can imagine dex and kate watching games together in their respective shirts and having no idea why it's BLASPHEMY 

"I believe you!" she said right away and laughed, throwing her hands up as if saying 'I wouldn't have liked to be in your place' —even if she gets thrown at *literal* walls sometimes when doing her superhero stuff. Nothing is ever as glamorous as one thinks. *Especially* not a superhero life. *Espeeeciallyyy* if that superhero has no superpowers... you get the idea.
            She didn't seem that convinced that it wasn't that bad, as he said it, and she might have narrowed her eyes at him for she has watched enough games to see players getting hurt, to the point where they were even bleeding! But she didn't say anything, she just beamed at him in the sequence for mentioning a shirt. "Wait, for real?! Wow— I'll wear it whenever there's a Manchester United game. You're awesome! I can't believe it!"
            
            
            // HAHAHA and Kate would be like 'whyyy? why I have to choose? I can't do that, how can people even do thatttt?!'
            OFCCC, love that for him, he deserves all the love <333 (':

   "good."  he muttered victoriously,  smiling against jon's forehead as his face went to the crook of his neck.  every movement intoxicated him,  and he lifted his hand to brush through jon's hair as he accepted the kisses.  the way he whispered something so private and meaningful made him shiver,  and his fingers flexed against the skin of jon's arm where he was holding onto him.  "i love you."  he repeated,  echoing their own words between them over and over again,  watching his partner with an undeniable reverence that pumped through his body.  "you're too much."  
            
            /   @-NEVERALONE 

Now that was so poetic that Jon was lucky he hadn't said any of that out loud... a touch or a look from his boyfriend was enough to make him all emotional, but to know he thought of the keeper that way? ...Well. It would've definitely been impossible to avoid the tears if he heard any of that.
            "...Like that, you make it difficult for me to dismiss you either," he said, almost tearing up already —you get what I mean? Tom 'messes' with his heart in inexplicable ways... but there's nothing to be ashamed for, in front of him. If he were to cry, he would cry! But he decided to 'hide' his face on the crook of his neck, instead. "I love you," he whispered close to his ear, slowly peppering him with kisses. First on his shoulder, then over his face. Taking his time with every single one of them.

   he always leaned into every touch and kiss he was granted,  like it was a shooting star gliding past him and he needed to catch it in his hands.  he supposed jon,  in his essence,  was tom's own version of a shooting star.  he radiated wonder and beauty and seemed divine in more ways than one,  except tom never let him slip away—  he always held on,  out of fear that he'd shoot past.  with each day,  though,  there was an understanding that jon was more like the sun.  the brightest star there was,  that always stayed in place,  and of which tom was almost blinded by his brilliance and beauty every time he looked at him.  or perhaps it was more acccurate to say he was something orbiting,  like a planet,  because he did go his own ways and yet always came back.  they always crossed paths,  because you couldn't have one without the other.  "i would dismiss you,  but you put it too beautifully.  i only have stars in my eyes when i look at you—  it's a reflection of you.  everything is a reflection of you to me."  
            
            /   @-NEVERALONE 

"Exactly!" he agreed, snapping his fingers at the word he used right there. "It is *devastating*," he nodded, trying really hard not to grin. But, y'know... there's no avoiding it. He never succeeded at it. Which was also devastating, because his jokes would reach a next level of humour if he mastered that deadpan look. "Would you? Oh, goodness— of course you would. You're my knight in shining armour, after all."

   perhaps they could read each other's minds,  because tom almost anticipated that unique and silly charm that jon radiated with as he made his slightly insane point.  disarming had totally been the right word.  "devastating.  well,  the good thing is,  i don't think that's actually something you need to worry about.  i would obviously come and save you if that happened.  so it doesn't count." 
            
            /   @-NEVERALONE 

"Well, depending on the perspective, it can kinda be a very serious, very deadly, health concern, if you think about it... I can't think *straight* —ha!— because you're always in my mind. What if I'm walking down the street, daydreaming about your perfect, heavenly smile, and I end up falling down a manhole like in those classic cartoons? I would be trapped there forever, later dubbed in the history of urban legends as the gay ghost that recited poems about missing his handsome partner— while also complaining the ninja turtles are a lie."

It was very sweet of him of doing it! Jon collected all the CDs and cassettes Tom got him, often playing some of them in his car when he picked Tom up so they could drive around. It was lovely, really. The car being an extension of their homes, protecting their privacy at the same time that offered some of the freedom that they couldn't experience otherwise. And the soundtrack? Perfect. "How dare you?!" he playfully (and very lightly) pinched him, then, as a form of 'retaliation'.

   tom often laughed about jon's preference for physical media,  because it was sweet and of course it made sense for how he was raised surrounded by it.  and,  additionally,  it was a contagious habit—  he'd even taken to browsing cds or cassettes to get jon to listen to new stuff in the way he preferred to.  "i was giving you some grace.  you're aaalways wrong.  delusional,  even."  he laughed,  moving another card on his phone in the meantime despite his teasing.  
            
            /   @-NEVERALONE 

Solitaire is probably the only game he plays in his own phone, and probably the only digital game he actually plays and likes it, really. Although, only because, moving a huge line of actual cards around a table is really a pain... (and, yes, he's done that plenty of times...) every other game he plays involves actual cards and physical board games, because he likes having things *there*. Truly existing in the real world— as he keeps on saying it. "*This time*," he repeated in a mocking tone. He couldn't keep up his own dramatics, though, and laughed. "I'm *always* right, I dunno what you were trying to imply..."

   the midfielder slipped his hands into jon's as soon as the option was given to him,  slow yet purposeful as he leaned forward again and smiled at the beautiful grin on his partner's face.  it was a blinding sight that never got old,  he remained as in awe as the very first time he'd noticed it.  maybe he didn't linger on it too much when they first met,  it might've been more of a subconscious reaction,  but that was only because the whole gay thing had been a mystery at that point.  it was,  obviously,  not as much of a mystery to him when he thought of his life in hindsight,  of course.  with his desperate admiration for his best friend when he was younger or even that weird desire to make his academy captain look at him all those years ago.  "well,  if this is what i get for cheating,  i can't imagine what i'll get if i play fair."  thomas found the laughter contagious and the little gestures adorable.  "i'm not sure how your whims work,  but i like them.  i'll free up my whole schedule for your games."  
            
            /   @-NEVERALONE 

And Jon loved to listen to him talking about his video games, the way he got excited about them, gesturing around and answering every question Jon would ask him— because he didn't play video games, at all, always doing terribly at them whenever he joined his boyfriend and gave them a try. But he got quite intrigued about those focused on storytelling: they felt like books, but interactive, which is super cool. It's true that he loved listening to his partner, really, so it's always a pleasure to engage in any conversation with him, including technology topics that surely are his Achilles' heel. It's great, because he always learns something!
            
            Jon's hands travelled up and down his boyfriend's thighs and, at last, rested on them— palms up— so Tom could place his hands into his, if he chose to. He laughed along with him, just as out of breath, shaking his head fondly to him. "I thought so," he grinned when he expressed his agreement, before quirking an eyebrow in that teasing way of his. "I'll let you figure that one out next time we play... how about that?" he wiggled his eyebrows, then, laughing yet again.

   and if tom were to read in general,  including that book,  he would probably agree.  he'd nod along as jon spoke about it,  because he always did that if the goalkeeper ever wanted to discuss anything about the things he read,  even if tom himself hadn't.  he was good at conversations,  anyway-  always knew what questions to ask,  always had  *something*  to say,  even if it was just to encourage his boyfriend to continue.  because he found it sweet,  and god knows the midfielder had rambled on to him about his video games every now and then.  they did compliment each other in a lot of ways,  that much was true,  jon felt like the voice of reason and the force that grounded him—  he always knew just what to say and what to do,  and tom admired him endlessly.  he was so intelligent,  had also been faced with so many struggles and yet brought joy to everyone else like it was a natural thing for anyone to want to do.  he felt honoured to see a side to the goalkeeper that others didn't get.  "very wild."  he laughed,  even if it was slightly futile with the lack of air he actually had access to.  every breath was given to jon readily,  both physically and metaphorically.  but that was the kind of lovesick thing that jon would say.  one of his hands went to the keeper's shoulder,  still trapping him between his legs,  and he tilted his head back to look up as he got his breath back properly.  "you don't have to tell me twice.  maybe next time i won't let taz cheat.  although,  if this is what you do every time you catch a cheater,  i'd have to rethink it.  i'm all for learning the rules again." 
            
            /   @-NEVERALONE