extent | duplicitynet

[ A little paper bird flies into Nick's house, and circles every room until it finds him. It avoids giving the jewellery box it's carrying to Chester, despite the latter's best efforts. If Nick's lucky, he'll catch them in time to see the bird dancing out of Chester's grabbing arms and pecking the back of his head with an indignant beak.

The package gets delivered directly to Nick. Once its job is done, the bird explodes all over him in a shower of red and pink paper hearts.

Inside is an earring, with a slight dangle. The diamond is white, which is unusual for Nate's work, but Nick wears pale colours and pastels so much that it just seemed like a safe bet. The diamond is, of course, twistable.

There's a note alongside it that says: ]

Euphoria. Pure, unadulterated. Not a true high, just a shot of good feeling. It lasts about 20 mins, needs an hour to recharge.

If I could make you happy every day of every week of every year, I would. Call this a work in progress.

Love,
Nate.

( a short while later, nate gets a message. there's no message attached, just a photo of nick in bed. his head is tilted enough to centre the main attraction, the earring situated snug in nick's ear, and there are little paper hearts covering his shoulders, chest, on the pillow around his head like a crafty halo.

the earring is, of course, still deactivated. the soppy, bright smile on nick's face has nothing to do with the effects and everything to do with nate. )

[ That smile could power suns, Nate thinks. ]

it suits you

hey i love you, nick.

i know, i can feel it

( it's not like nick has ever had any regrets about the bit of magic linking his emotions to nate's. moments like this though, where nick can feel every bit of love radiating through him and knows that nate can feel nick's radiating right back, that he's so much more glad that they've done this.

he knows nate loves him, of course he does. how could he not, at this point? but it's a different beast entirely, to feel it. )

happy valentine's babe. i love you.

even if you kinda put my flowers to shame.

nothing ever puts your flowers to shame.

[ Nick's flowers feel like Nick. They're full of him, they're bright and full of life because of him. Nate loves them.

He loves everything about Nick.

He can feel it, too. Others had told him that the empathy bond was a bad idea, but Nate had never seen it. Nick has never judged him, he's only ever made him feel loved. He feels seen. He feels understood. ]

do you know how happy you make me
like
do you understand how much better my life is with you in it, than before?

i think i do know, just a little.

no one has ever believed in me like you do. like right from the beginning, you backed me.
i don't know how i would have gotten through the last year without you nate, i really don't. and i'm glad i don't have to know. if i can give you even a little of that back, it's something.

i like the person i am because of you.

good. the person you are is worth loving, don't ever think anything different

as long as i'm in this world i'm going to be here for you
what's stupid is i don't even remember when i fell for you
i just remember there was this day when i knew that i had, and that it had been that way for a while

you stood by me when other people didn't, when i was doubting myself. there was always you.
if i can be half as loyal to you as you've been to me, i'll be doing well.

i was in so deep by the time i knew what it was, there was no going back. and i wouldn't want to.

it was the stupidest thing though. i don't even remember who we were talking to, but you called me one of yours and like
i don't know, something about it
i was just like......ohhh, i'm in trouble arent i

never mind that i'm pretty sure you told me to my face for months that you loved me before i got it.

you're amazing. i've got you, through anything. everything. and i know you've got me too.

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Valentines!

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