Noah didn't turn to face Veli, but didn't try to pull away either. He just cried, hiding his face, leaning back into Veli. Yeah, he needed this...

And Veli just hugged and loved as best he could. Poor, Poor Noah.

A long while passed before Noah turned, holding Veli to him and kissing his forehead meekly. He wanted Veli to know it wasn't his fault, to know that he wasn't allowed to pay him back...and yet he was too hideously embarrassed to say any of this.

Veli just smiled and kissed and nuzzled. He was easy to read.

"I love you, Noah. More than anything." He said softly. Oh, Noah, if he could make you happy by doing something, he'd do it. Anything at all.

It was nearly a month later when Noah came home from yet another interview to punch the living shit out of the poor wall.

Well, didn't sound good.

No, it didn't. Veli sighed, not trusting to go in and attempt to love just yet. Poor Noah. Finding jobs was hard.

Nah beat his head twice against the wall and then ulled away, moving to the fridge. He grabbed a beer, popped it open, and stated chugging.

Huh, he usually went fishy-watching...

Ugh. Poor Noah.

Veli sighed, deciding to test the waters with an arm around his middle and a little squeeze.

Noah put his arm over Veli's, a bit roughly, but not meant to remove him.

"Guess what their excuse was today," he said after pulling his lips from the damn bottle and breathing.

"What?" Veli asked quietly, wrapping the other arm around him and loving.

"I'm over-qualified," Noah laughed cynically. Granted, Veli had never seen his resume, but still.

Veli didn't really understand that but okay!

"Oh, No'..." Veli sighed and hugged. "C'mon, have another. Have yourself a good night."

"Nah," Noah said, shaking his head and wiping his lips on his sleeve before tossing the bottle into the sink.

"I'm done fer now."

"Okay." His hands moved up to Noah's shoulders, rubbing.

"If it's okay to ask... How are you overqualified for something. doesn't that just mean you're really good?"

"They...don't want someone too smart...or something," Noah groaned, "'It doesn't take a rocket scientist' they say. Well, it apparently can't."

"....?" Veli blinked, still rubbing his shoulders. "You're a rocket scientist?"

"I could be," Noah sighed, "Rather not be, but I could be. Majored in astrophysics."

"Yeah. Rockets are dangerous." Veli nodded,somewhat surprised that his man had majored in something like that.

Noah shook his head.

"That's now why. I just prefer construction."

Veli nodded, pushing Noah slightly. "Go sit down on the couch. I'll rub out your shoulders."

Noah walked over to the couch and ell with a grunt. He was not so much "tense" and "petrified muscularly", and not so much "knotted" as "lumped beyond repair". Poor man, so much stress...

Veli moved behind him, working his shoulders in his hands. The man had more power than you could expect.

Sighing, he leaned down and kissed the back of Noah's neck. Poor Man.

Noah gave a groan of pain, but hey, it was good pain. Nothing better than a nice strong massage.

"You'll find something." Veli said softly, working his back good. "You're a smart man. A good one." He sighed, kissing the back of his neck again. "I love you, Noah."

Noah just gave an inarticulate "yeah" and grimaced, teeth gritted. Oh, he knew he'd find something. He was just afraid of what it might be.