Chapter Text
One.
Ted was staring at the ceiling of Schlatt’s bedroom.
He had been staring at the ceiling for a while.
This was not, in itself, unusual. Technically speaking. He had been struggling with sleep lately, too busy mulling over his own thoughts. If he really wanted to, he doesn't even need to sleep. He could be powered by will power, energy drinks, and looming deadlines for days on end.
But that doesn't mean he doesn't want to.
Especially now, especially here. This place he thought he would never reach, this place he never dared to hope he could rest in. With a person he’s wanted to be with for so long–
A warm hand tucked a little tighter over his bare torso.
“You’re still up,” Schlatt said. His voice was sleep-hoarse and heavy. It rumbled over Ted in hot tangible waves, like a blanket of warmth tucked tightly all around him. Comforting.
There's a hundred different things he could say. A hundred different ways things could play out. But he’s scared, a painful twist in his chest, forcing the question back down in his throat, because in most of those scenarios, he could lose this- all of this, so easily.
And so,
“Can’t sleep.” Ted replied instead. “Dont worry about it.”
“What’s wrong?” Schlatt asked, tone serious. Like he really wanted to know.
Almost two years, they had been doing this thing. Two years, and slowly their friends had figured it out slowly. Tucker and Charlie at first, then Connor, then through him, Ludwig and then everyone else.
Schlatt had been especially tight-lipped for most of those two years, still struggling with himself and utterly terrified, but had slowly but surely eased out when he realized Ted was here to stay. At least, Ted hopes so.
They had taken it for granted. Had learned to roll their eyes ( -Tucker especially who was unfortunate enough to always be around ), when Ted and Schlatt would bicker and fight like an old married couple.
Their friends had learned to take them for granted- but not Ted. Never.
Ted didn't think he would ever get used to it.
Didn't think he would ever learn to clamp down his heartbeat when he touched Schlatt in public, even if it was only a touch of his palm against his shoulder. Get used to the way their bodies would lean together far closer and longer than Schlatt would have allowed anyone else. Ted would always find Schlatt after a long day; recording, editing, or otherwise, and Schlatt would let him lay a palm against his cheek, tracing a path from one mole to another with a drift of a thumb.
He would watch him smile at him, feel that cheek warm against his palm, and Ted would tilt his head coyly and follow him to his room.
It made his heart beat faster even now.
“Nothing’s wrong,” Ted said softly. He found Schlatt’s palm pressed against his ribs and laced their fingers together. Tugged that hand up, pressed a kiss to his knuckles sweetly, inhaling deeply before settling their intertwined fingers against his heart again.
He resisted, as he always does, to trace the base of Schlatt’s bare ring finger.
There was a velvet box at the back of a drawer in his apartment in LA.
He doesn't think about that either.
Truth be told, it was an impulsive purchase.
It had been a month into the relationship when Ted had spotted the ring. He had been walking around after a night out with friends, and deigned out on getting a ride home, opting to walk instead for some fresh air.
It had been so new then, this thing with Schlatt, when he had seen the ring in the storefront window of a pawn shop; platinum band with bevelled edges rimmed in gold. Simple, unassuming. Bold. He had stopped, staring at that ring and his mind had run away with it. He imagined that ring on Schlatt’s hand, and that feeling of rightness had slotted deep in his chest.
‘No,’ he told himself somewhat hysterically, standing there on the pavement, staring at the ring like a lunatic. ‘No, it’s too early, it's presumptuous, pathetic, you shouldn't . What the fuck is wrong with you? ’-and then he had imagined that ring on someone else's finger, someone, anyone who was not Schlatt and the next thing he knew, he had been striding into the pawn shop, setting a bell tinkling above him. It was too loud in his ears and it had set his heart beating in a frenzy.
The old asian lady who manned the counter squinted at him.
Fuck he was really doing this.
“T-the ring,” he stammered out. “I’d like to buy it. The uh, the one by the window?” he pointed to the window awkwardly, feeling his palm start to sweat.
“You have cash?” She demanded.
Shit. “No, no uh- i don't. Do you take Chase? Uhm, card??”
She rapped the back of her hand against a bright yellow sign behind the till. CASH ONLY, it said. “No card. Cash only.”
So that was a hint, wasn't it?
That was a sign from the universe, telling him to come to his goddamn senses. This was insane! Schlatt didn't even need to know. He should walk back out and forget this ever happened-
“I don't- I've got- i can go get it!” What is he doing?! “There’s an ATM around the corner. I'm going to go get it.”
She stared up at him unimpressed and raised an eyebrow, Ted hesitates. “Please dont sell it to anyone in the, uh, next ten minutes?”
“Go get cash.”
Ted nods rapidly before dashing to the nearest ATM and almost emptied his entire checking account. He paused for a moment and stared at his reflection on the screen. Fuck, this is so stupid. Was he really doing this? Was he- Yep, alright. He was.
Afterwards, he didn't even deign to haggle and simply handed the money over. It was worth it, he said to himself. You couldn't put a price on forever.
The lady had tucked the band into a velvet ring box and slid it halfway across the counter before stopping. Ted had tried to reach for it but hesitated with the way she stared at him.
With her hand still on the box, she had asked, “This ring. For you?”
“No,” Ted had replied hesitantly.
She stared up at him some more. “Engagement,” she concluded with a nod of her head, decisive. “For your boyfriend?”
His heart caught in his throat.
Now that was a word they didn’t use often. “Yes,” he said instead, unable to contain his smile, soppy and too wide, and he nodded eagerly. “Yeah, it's for my- it's for my boyfriend, yes.”
“You need a ring for you too, then.”
Oh.
Right.
Fuck he was really bad at this.
He tried not to feel chastised, and she must’ve seen this on his face as she sighs exasperatedly.
“Wait,” she commanded imperiously, and then bustled back to the back of the store. Some ten minutes or so of Ted just fidgeting in place and staring at the velvet box wondering if he should reach for it or not when the lady returned. Shuffling back to face Ted and slammed another ring on the counter.
“Look.”
Ted obediently looked and gawked. “It matches,” he marveled, starting to feel incredibly giddy.
“Yes, you keep both.”
He looked back up in confusion. “Don't I have to, uhm, pay?”
“No,” she waved off simply. “I charge you too much for first ring, keep both.”
“Oh,” he smiled again and bowed his head slightly in gratitude. “Uhm, thank you. Really.”
She snorted and shooed him off, muttering under her breath. “Your boyfriend. Rich?”
“Oh yeah,” Ted admitted breathlessly, and she finally cracked a smile, nodding in approval.
“Good,” she said. “Good. because you are very dumb with money. Lucky boy.”
Ted managed not to say anything totally horrifying like, ‘I'm really the lucky one. ‘ or, ‘Lady, the size of his bank account isn't what gets me going.’ But he had not managed to stop smiling like a lunatic the whole way back home.
Two.
Schlatt was watching him now, alert.
“Ted.” There was a warning in his voice, an edge of a threat. Dont lie to me, was what Schlatt wasn't putting in his words.
But then, that's what Schlatt was always good at, wasn't it? Not putting things into words. Schlatt preferred waiting for everyone else to figure things out, to make the first move, so he never had to concede safe ground.
He never fucking says anything.
Ted wasn't bitter at all, what are you talking about?
The beginning of their relationship had been like that too. Schlatt’s twenty-third. It had been a quiet affair, just an evening at home, alone with a drink in his hand. Well, at least that’s what Schlatt was planning on doing.
Ted didn’t mean to intrude, really. It’s just that no one should be lonely on their birthday. He was just being a good friend, see?
Logically he knew Schlatt was more likely than not, at home, alone on his birthday. Had rather celebrate it -or not truth be told, by himself rather than going out partying with friends. But Ted just wanted to make him feel special at least. It's what best friends do for each other right?
So here he was, rocking back and forth on his heels, with a small gift bag in one hand and a bottle of whiskey outside of Schlatt’s home. Unannounced.
“Ted?” Schlatt had questioned as he opened the door to let him in. He had a drink in his hand, which explained the bare shock of disbelief on his face. Ted then sees his eyes brighten, the brown of his irises honeyed and warm. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“Happy birthday, man!” Ted grinned and swooped in to give him a tight hug and dared not to linger. Counting down the seconds, long enough to still be considered platonic.
Ted pulled away and handed him the bottle of whiskey, snorting at the dumbfounded look on Schlatt’s face. “What? You already started the party without me?”
Schlatt frowned but moved out of the way nonetheless to let him in. “I never told you it was my birthday.”
“There's no need when you’re an online personality,” Ted pulled out his phone to an open wikipedia tab and waved it in Schlatt’s face, smirking. “Read your wiki.”
“Hn. Careful Ted, you’re starting to become a little too parasocial for my taste.” Schlatt smiled, eyes crinkling with mirth. It was wide and showed off a little too much teeth, genuine. “Now come on, help me finish this bottle of whiskey with me.”
He had actually looked happy, happy to see him. Ted’s heart skipped a beat. He quickly looked away, hoping Schlatt didn't catch the longing look he had sent him and masked his misstep by depositing his gift next to the couch and followed after Schlatt.
—
Much later and a couple shots deep. They had relocated outside on the balcony. Ted had his back against the railing and swirled his drink thoughtfully. “So. Twenty-three huh? Big number.”
Schlatt snorted from where he stood next to him. “Thanks. You’re no help.” he gestured with his empty glass again and Ted rolled his eyes.
“Okay,” he chuckled instead, poured Schlatt another drink and handed it back to him. “You’ve done pretty well for yourself already for twenty-three though. Nice place, loyal fan base, haven’t been cancelled in awhile either. You should be happy.”
“Nothing to be happy about in my life, Ted,” Schlatt muttered, taking a sip from his refilled glass. “Just got fucking older. One step closer to death.”
“Oh come on, not even the gift I got you?”
He heard Schlatt turn minutely, and felt the weight of those eyes on him. “Depends. What else did you get me?”
Ted thinks about the little cat figurine in the little gift bag and chews on his lip. “Nothing big, just,” he met Schlatt’s eyes, felt that old familiar jolt through his chest, the almost sweet hurt of it. “Well,” he smiled sheepishly, “it’s hard to shop for a guy who’s got it all, okay?”
Schlatt kept watching him. There was something in his eyes Ted couldn't quite discern. “Do you really think that’s how it is?”
Ted paused, setting his drink off to the side. “No,” he said quietly. There was something here now, something simmering between them. They were standing so close. If Ted was reading this wrong, he was about to end the most important relationship of his life. But if he was reading it right…
Oh god, please let him read this right.
“The most important things, the things you really want,” Ted starts and his gaze dropped helplessly down to Schlatt’s mouth, to the soft line of those lips,”those things you can never buy.”
“No,” Schlatt said, and his voice was shockingly low, enough to send liquid heat pooling in his stomach. “You can't.”
And Ted had– had taken a half step closer, and leaned in a few inches– His heart had been a jackhammer on concrete, thumping wildly out of control. His breath stopped when his lips met the corner of that beautiful mouth. Schlatt’s moustache brushed against his top lip. It was a gentle press of his lips against his, struggling to keep himself still. Softly, tenderly, with everything that he got.
Terror and adrenaline roared through his veins. One of two things could happen now. Either Schlatt was gonna deck him in the face or he was gonna kiss him back.
The moment hung for a second too long, then turned to two, then three. Schlatt was stiff as a corpse. Shit. Ted swallowed the bile rising from his throat and pulled away.
The glass of whiskey fell from Schlatt’s slack hold. Ted flinched at the sound of glass shattering.
Fuck.
He couldn't lift his eyes from the ground. Couldn't feel anything but shame. The hot vicious surge of embarrassment, blazing up his throat, across his cheeks.
“I'm so sor-,” he started to say and before he could finish the word, a pair of hands grasped him by the back of his neck and shoved him back against the railing, and that mouth had crashed back against his with a hungry, shaky groan. Ted’s body had thankfully caught up before his mind, had held Schlatt tight, had practically sobbed with it, with the roar of desire. With the rush of aching relief.