[C] Visiting

Hayden padded up the stairs to Dario's apartment, a little smile on his lips, he had enjoyed today so far, the boy had taken to visiting the community garden to lend a hand.

He had met a lovely older woman and had helped her by watering her vegetables because the watering can was far too heavy for her and as a small reward she had given him a large basket full of fresh fruit and vegetables that she had picked from her own garden and invited him to come down any time he wanted to help out and he could take some food home as payment.

This would make meals much cheaper, neither he nor Dario had much money to throw around for this kind of produce.

He finally reached Dario's door and knocked on it firmly to ensure the man heard him, he didn't like standing out in the hallway, some of the neighbors here freaked him out a little.

The boy rocked on the balls of his feet as he waited for the man.

Dario had just got done stripping his bloody sheets off the bed and shoving them in the small, half-dead washing machine.

He'd cleaned everything away and hidden the evidence of what had happened the night before.

The human's head perked up as he heard the knock on the door.

A grin curled his lips as he set down the glass he was drinking from and padded to the door. He pulled open the door, greeting Hayden happily. He had been excited to see the boy since he'd left to go back to wherever he went when he wasn't at his place.

"Come on in. How are you, sweetheart?"

He closed and locked the door behind him, leaning over to press a kiss to the boy's cheek.

Hayden looked up at Dario and smiled as his cheek was kissed, getting onto his tip toes to kiss the man's cheek in return with a small chuckle.

"I'm good."

He replied as he stepped into the apartment, lifting up the basket of goodies that he had brought with him, his arms growing tired of carrying all that weight the entire distance here.

"Spent this morning in the community garden, they gave me all of this as a gift, looks like we're eating well tonight."

He really did look forward to cooking with a lot of this stuff, it would take them all week to get through it all, even with the four of them.

Dario's lips curled up as he peered into the basket.

He'd appreciate the change from cheap ready meals to some good proper home-cooked food. Pina and Desi, though, may not be so pleased. Fresh fruit was not junk food nor was it meat.

"Can't wait for dinner tonight."

Good home cooked food.

Today was going great and it was just getting better.

Hayden didn't like the food they ate, it was bad for them and though he liked sweets he had the mentality that three proper meals should be eaten each day and it was the one thing he had been enforcing with Dario, making sure the man took a proper meal with him to work on the nights that he stayed over.

"Me either, should be nice, even if Pina and Desi get snippy."

It happened every time without fault, he would cook, they would all sit down, and the two of them would end up saying something nasty, though he had gotten accustomed to ignoring them.

Desi had taken a liking to picking on him when ever he could, though he wouldn't linger if Dario was near enough to hear him.

"They can go up themselves if they have anything to complain about."

He was excited for the food and that was all that counted. He was going to enjoy his meal.

Dario took the basket, setting it onto the kitchen counter before guiding the boy into the livingroom.

Dario curled up on the couch and pulled Hayden down to sit in his lap.

He wanted cuddles.

Hayden thanked him when Dario took the basket off of him it really was heavy to carry around, next time he went there he would have to bring a basket with wheels, or get Dario to carry them all home for him, which seemed like a very appealing option.

He followed the man to the couch and curled up in his lap comfortably as he was pulled down, his arms wrapping around Dario's neck as he held him close.

"I missed you."

Hayden murmured, nuzzling in under his neck as his body curled closer to the warmth of Dario's body, it had been chilly outside.

"I missed you, too," he murmured, pulling the boy closer.

His large hands rubbed the boy's arms gently. He was cool. Obviously a product of being out all morning in the cool weather.

He pressed a kiss to the top of Hayden's head.

Dario loved having Hayden close like this. He loved feeling the boy curled in his arms.

This was something that he couldn't have from anyone else.

He gave a soft purr as the top of his head was kissed, his hand stroking Dario's cheek softly before guiding him down for a tender kiss on the lips.

Dario was always so tender and gentle with him, he couldn't imagine the man any other way than when they were like this.

"I don't like being away from you."

It sounded a little clingy but he felt safe in Dario's arms, as if nothing else mattered and nothing bad could possibly happen.

His head rested against the man's broad chest, his small body almost completely encased in Dario's.

Dario smiled to himself.

He loved hearing that Hayden didn't like being away from him. Dario thrived with being able to protect those under his care. Hayden was such a small, fragile creature that he couldn't help but want to protect the boy.

"You can come around whenever you want."

He wanted the boy to know that he could come over whenever he wanted. He liked Hayden around.

Hayden smiled and snuggled in closer, he really did adore the man.

"Say that and I'll never leave."

He replied with a little chuckle, he would come over more but he didn't want to intrude plus Dario slept at odd times and he didn't want to wake the man while he was resting from work.

"Any requests for dinner?"

He asked as he looked up at the man, his bright copper eyes shining with delight by simply being in the man's presence.

"You say that like it's a bad thing."

Dario would love having the boy around at all times. Coming home to the boy curled up on the couch or in bed or in the kitchen. Waking up to Hayden curled against his chest.

"Really, you can come around whenever you want."

Dario's eyes flickered up to the TV, currently shut off, and he chewed on his lip a little.

Hayden flushed a little, suddenly feeling a little bit embarrassed.

"I just, don't want to intrude or over stay my welcome, I know I can't steal away all your time."

Dario had things he needed to do, he had work and clients to take care of. Truth be told Hayden didn't want to come over unannounced and walk in on something that he wasn't meant to see, he could go a life time without seeing Dario like he was in the club again.

"You couldn't over stay your welcome if you tried."

Hayden was the sweetest kid Dario had ever met. He couldn't become a bother if he tried. Ever.

"Look, I really mean it when I say you can come over whenever you want. I, uh..."

The human's eyes flickered down, slightly embarrassed as his words faded into silence.

"If it's not a bother then I guess I could come around more often." He would definitely enjoy that.

Hayden nestled closer to Dario, slightly worried by the man's sudden silence.

"Are you okay?"

He murmured softly, pressing a gentle kiss to the man's neck, it was odd seeing Dario embarrassed, he always seemed so confident and sure of himself.

Dario usually was pretty sure of himself.

There was little that could make him feel embarrassed like he was feeling now.

"Yeah." He smiled down at Hayden, ruffling the boy's hair gently.

"I got you a key cut the other day," he admitted with a little grin and a slight blush on his cheeks.

"So you really can come over whenever you want."

Hayden purred as leaned into the hand ruffling through his hair, he always enjoyed
being petted, no matter the situation.

The boy's eyes widened as his gaze shot up to Dario, a dark blush spreading over his cheeks.

"You did?"

He muttered, Dario locked his bedroom door so that his own family couldn't get in, yet he was going to give him his own key?

Hayden felt giddy with excitement at the thought of being able to come and go as he pleased, he could only imagine the sweet surprises he could plan for Dario.

Leaning up he pressed a kiss to the man's lips, his small hands gently caressing Dario's cheeks.

The human nodded, trying to hide the blush slowly colouring his own cheeks.

This was new. Embarrassing. He hadn't dated anyone for long enough to want to give them access to his room at will.

He was certain that he'd be able to get down on one knee and propose to the boy right now and it wouldn't seem as awkward as this.

Dario returned the kiss happily.

He was pleased that Hayden seemed excited about this.

"You're so sweet, Dario." He murmured.

He hadn't expected this to happen anytime soon, it really was a pleasant little surprise.

He pressed a small kiss to each of the man's cheeks as he gave a soft giggle. Seeing the man blush was an adorable sight, one he didn't get to see.

"About a sweet as a lemon," he chuckled softly.

The man leaned down to press a little kiss to the boy's forehead, stroking his copper hair gently out of his face.

"You're sweet," the man purred, pulling Hayden closer. "Sweet as honey."

His lips caught the boy's own in a slow, lingering kiss.

"Definitely honey."

Hayden shook his head dismissively, Dario was definitely far sweeter than a lemon.

He kissed the man back eagerly, melting into the kiss as his small hands stroked the man's cheek and jaw.

"If I'm honey then you're sugar."

He replied with a little grin as he nuzzled up against the man.

The human chuckled softly.

Their adorable little fights were giving the man cavities. The boy was so cute.

Dario nuzzled against him, nipping gently at his ear.

"All right, I'm sugar." His tongue laved up the boy's neck slowly. "Mmm, honey," he purred.

His fingers tickled at the boy's sides as he grinned.

Hayden chuckled as his neck was licked, squirming in the man's lap with a little smile on his face.

"That doesn't mean you get to eat me up."

He replied with a soft laugh, worming away from the man's tongue playfully.

Hayden giggled as his sides were ticked, trying hard to wiggle from Dario's lap.

"Are you sure?" he growled playfully.

His fingers continued to run over the boy's side, tickling him mercilessly as he wriggled and writhed in his lap.

He wasn't going to let the boy escape any time soon.

Dario loved seeing the boy struggle to get away from him.

It was now a personal challenge for himself to tickle the boy so much that his eyes watered.

Hayden gave a loud squeal as his sides were tickled, trying more valiantly to get away.

His small hands tried to grab Dario's and yank them away from his body and when that failed he went back to writhing and trying to scurry out of his lap.

His giggles filled the apartment as his eyes watered, he had no doubt that most of the apartment build would be able to hear the two of them playing.