"They do." A simple statement of the fact. Veli looked at a Starbucks and shook his head. How silly.

"Humans move so fast and change so quickly. It's amazing."

"Not me," Noah smiled, "Things are best nice and slow. Life's too short to rush. ...for us, I mean."

"It is." Veli agreed, mind drifting to other things. He hummed under his breath and leaned against Noah, looking at the development.

"That's one of the reasons I love you so much. You know how to take time and enjoy things."

"Mmhm," Noah smiled, leaning over to kiss the top of Veli's head.

"We still have a good hour before we have to catch our flight. Whaddya wanna do?"

"Mmm. I'm not too particular. There are a few aquariums nearby, or there was, at least. We could walk around in a park, see the local flora. It is pretty here."

A while of sight-seeing later, Noah and Veli were on the plane, the former with his arm around the latter. Noah was smiling softly, completely hiding the thoughts in his head.

Veli hummed to himself, glad that he'd be able to leave this place again. It was easier with his Noah, but he still hated it.

"Thanks for coming with me, Noah."

"It's no problem," Noah said, letting his smile fall as he wriggled into a more comfortable position, his head resting back against the seat.

"Wake me up when we land, alright?"

"Of course." Veli said, kissing his chest.

---

He was as good as his word, and woke him up upon landing. He chattered happily on the way home, going to inform Lizzie and Artie of the new arrival as soon as he got in the door. Happy Veli.

Noah, however, went to the blinking answering machine. He leaned against the wall to listen.

Every message was his foreman, and every one made his heart fall further and further into his gut.

"Hey, Noah, where are you? You left quick today. Is everything alright? Call me back. I'm worried about you."

"Hey, still haven't called. Is everything okay? Noah, call me."

"Missed you again at work today. What the Hell's going on? Call me, Noah. Now."

"James. Call me. Where the fuck are you?"

"Alright, yenno what? Don't bother coming back to work when ever you get back. God, James, I expected better from you."

Noah gritted his teeth and beat the back of his head against the wall. He was fired. No severance pay. No job. No money at home, none in the bank, none in his retirement fund.

...how were they going to eat?

Veli listened too, stopping the playing with the fish.

Oh no. He'd made Noah mess up. But now wasn't the time for apologies. He sighed, knowing what a stubborn man he was with.

"...Let me cover the bills until you get a new job."

He had a feeling that wouldn't fly.

"No," Noah said, shaking his head and standing, beginning to pace the kitchen and gnaw on a thumbnail.

"No, I have enough for that."

"This is my fault." Veli didn't try to approach him. Didn't think Noah would expecially like being coddled. "If I hadn't been such a dumbfuck, you wouldn't have had to drop everything to come help me save my ass. I know you won't let me pay you back for the tickets, so just let me help until you get something else."

"No. No, Veli," Noah said sternly, "I can do it. I got it. It's all good." Oh, but it wasn't. It was horrible.

Nose twitching, Veli just watched him.

"No it's not." His eyes told him that. "I fucked things up for you."

"You didn't fuck anything up," Noah said, "but you should probably go back to living at your own place until I get everything sorted out."

Leave him? Oh no... Noah, you couldn't ask your Veli to do such a thing.

"Noah, don't make me leave." He said, looking worried. what if Noah didn't eat while he was away? "I'll cover everything of my own, just don't make me leave..."

Noah ran a hand back over his head and heaved a heavy sigh.

"I don't need any of your money, Veli."

Of course you didn't, Noah. You never needed help, of course not. You were a big, strong, masculine man. And Veli loved that, and he loved you, but he wasn't going to just step aside and let you get hurt if he could help it.

"I know you don't. Just don't make me leave, please. I'll take care of myself."

"Fine," Noah said with a dismissive hand-wave as he headed for the bathroom, "Fine, you take care of yourself." He slammed the door behind him and disappeared.

Veli made a little sad noise, nibbling on his lower lip and moving to sit on the couch. He'd fucked things up for Noah so bad. Words couldn't express just how guilty he felt.

And strange, muffled noises emanated from the bedroom. Oh my...that was...unusual...

...Oh no.

Not caring what Noah cared, Veli tested the door, and when he found it unlocked, he pushed his way in.

Noah was kneeling beside the bed, as if he couldn't quite make it up, and sobbed into his crossed arms on the mattress. Not once had he ever shown this kind of weakness.

Oh, no...

Veli went to him, arms moving around him.

He'd made Noah lose his job. His job that he loved. He said he never wanted to do anything else. But because Noah was a good man, he'd dropped everything to go with him, because he'd been a fool and hadn't done it earlier. His poor Noah.

Nuzzling against him, Veli kissed and loved softly. His poor Noah.