Even the way Cole talks about the range of affectionate nicknames people have for one another makes Ben's heart skip a little. Thinking of himself as among that number - a person who has someone they can call their something - is thrilling and new. The words themselves mean nothing to him (well, that one sounds a bit like Latin almost?) but he thinks he gets Cole's point. The sound itself isn't as important as the feeling behind it.
"So... you're okay with me using whatever word for you feels right, once I find it?"
Ben is a careful sort of person. He isn't going to decide all at once, if he knows that Cole won't mind him trying out a few options. After all, the meaning in his heart won't be changing.
It is a relief that Cole says he looked for clean clothes for his own sake, because he realized that there might be something better, more comfortable, available to him. It doesn't really surprise Ben, that his shoes had finally fallen apart. They were only being kept in one piece by pure luck, at this point. Ben makes a mental note to himself, to find Cole some good shoes, and the fuzziest socks he can scavenge. Nothing to be done about it now, though, with the strange cold keeping them confined here.
Besides... Ben can't imagine wanting to move anywhere just now. He nestles himself in closer against Cole, tucking his face against the curve of Cole's neck where it meets his shoulder, pressing near him so that they are holding each other, sharing warmth. The cold can't reach them now and Ben's limbs feel heavy and exhausted from the series of intense emotions - worry and then relief and extreme happiness.
"I know outsides don't matter as much to you, but for what it's worth... you look really cute, in this."
And Ben lets himself feel it, without his mind flinching away, without trying to hide it from Cole or himself or anyone. That feeling of thinking that Cole looks good, in these new clothes. Of not just intensely wanting to be around Cole, wanting to make him happy and talk to him and be near him, but of liking the way the outside of him looks and feels. Being attracted to him.
"'m gonna give you one of my hoodies. I've got more than one and - and I know how nice they are and I want you to have one."
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"So... you're okay with me using whatever word for you feels right, once I find it?"
Ben is a careful sort of person. He isn't going to decide all at once, if he knows that Cole won't mind him trying out a few options. After all, the meaning in his heart won't be changing.
It is a relief that Cole says he looked for clean clothes for his own sake, because he realized that there might be something better, more comfortable, available to him. It doesn't really surprise Ben, that his shoes had finally fallen apart. They were only being kept in one piece by pure luck, at this point. Ben makes a mental note to himself, to find Cole some good shoes, and the fuzziest socks he can scavenge. Nothing to be done about it now, though, with the strange cold keeping them confined here.
Besides... Ben can't imagine wanting to move anywhere just now. He nestles himself in closer against Cole, tucking his face against the curve of Cole's neck where it meets his shoulder, pressing near him so that they are holding each other, sharing warmth. The cold can't reach them now and Ben's limbs feel heavy and exhausted from the series of intense emotions - worry and then relief and extreme happiness.
"I know outsides don't matter as much to you, but for what it's worth... you look really cute, in this."
And Ben lets himself feel it, without his mind flinching away, without trying to hide it from Cole or himself or anyone. That feeling of thinking that Cole looks good, in these new clothes. Of not just intensely wanting to be around Cole, wanting to make him happy and talk to him and be near him, but of liking the way the outside of him looks and feels. Being attracted to him.
"'m gonna give you one of my hoodies. I've got more than one and - and I know how nice they are and I want you to have one."