Evening at Chip'n'Dan's (some days pre-Halloween)

[Kat]

Ace was glad Chip picked up on his needs so easily, that he could read his actions and reactions like an open book. That was very important to the blond, to be with someone who could understand what he needed without actually having to say it out loud. So he clung to Chip, one arm around his waist, the other drawn up so he could hold Chip's hand that was currently around his shoulders. He felt safe and protected when Chip held him, so he relaxed a little as they drew closer to the other two. He watched silently as Chip and Dan spoke, picking up on Dan's slight hesitancy. When he mentioned Halloween, Ace supposed that was Dan's way for patching things up, not wanting to talk about the issues but just bury them and move on. Or so he hoped. He glanced up at Chip and saw his smile, glad that the tension between the two seemed to be lessening. At the mention of the day his mind also briefly wandered to thinking about whether or not Chip would wear his costume to school. He knew most of the teachers were dressing up, or at least his favourite teachers were.

[Cres]

Dan smiled also; visibly happy that Chip was taking him up on his offer. He had decided that they'd talk, or, well, exchange a few words, when they were alone the next, but what he wanted to say was not for anyone else's ears but Chip's and so he planned to wait until later. His eyes now fell on Ace, as though only now realising the blond's presence in the room. His other brow lifted just a little as his eyes went over both Chip and Ace, snuggled up like that. Then both brows pulled into a bit of a scowl. He still hadn't had his chance to talk with Ace, but he was going to get it sooner than later. With everything he had heard about Ace, he wasn't about to trust to the blond's intentions with Chip, and his best friend looked too much in love for Dan's liking.

"I see he's starting to settle in," Dan said a little dryly, then nodded to Ace. "G'Morning."

Collie rolled his eyes.

"Oh, gosh, really, Dannie, loosen up," he said. "We're all very happy that Chip has finally found someone. Don't you go scaring him away." He smiled to Ace. "Don't mind the old gruff, sweetheart, he's always like that, and you remember what I told you last night... bit of a protective streak, you know."

Dan glowered at Collie now.


[[Oh, I just remembered, Collie will want to give his presents before Ace goes. I'm thinking he didn't give them last night because Dan wasn't there, but now that he is, he'll insist upon it. ^-^]]

[Kat]

From the moment Dan's eyes passed over him, Ace felt a little panicked. It seemed that while the older male was ready to make ammends with Chip, he wasn't feeling too welcoming to Ace's presence. The blond couldn't help but squeeze Chip's hand a little tighter as he felt like simply hiding behind him. As nice as it was to feel protected by Chip, Ace realized that his dependence on the other was making him more vulnerable in the face of opposition. It wasn't exactly the best trade off, but he'd take it for now.

He couldn't bring himself to acknowledge Dan back, and he could barely force a smile for Colorado. It was painfully obvious to Ace that for whatever reason, Dan absolutely did not want him here. Dan did not approve of him. He wondered if there was any reason for it, aside from Dan simply being his gruff self. He remembered what Collie had told him about Flash, but even so, he couldn't help but feel like this was still more personal. Had Sweetheart made some comment about him perhaps? But what reason would they have to talk about him? Maybe she'd complained about him when he and Starlight had broken up, and Dan was remembering that? If so he supposed he would have reason to distrust him. This news did absolutely nothing to make the blond worry less, if anything it simply made him more upset and he turned to look at the wall. Would he always be followed around by such a bad reputation?


*Yay presents! The boys definitely need something cheery to distract them, hehe.*

[Cres]

[[Yes indeed. ]]

Chip almost lost his good humour toward Dan again when the other man behaved in such a threatening, disapproving way toward Ace. He'd have to talk with Dan about that, and it couldn't wait. It was ridiculous, and though he was sure he understood Dan's reasons he still didn't like it. The suspicion was unfounded, and sooner Dan understood that the better.

Colorado had decided to lift up the mood obviously, since he clapped his hands, pretending not to notice all the tension in the air.

"Now, boys, we're all here - it's time for some presents!" he said and skipped across the room to the door that led to the guest room. It was Collie's room now, and his things had been taken there last evening. Chip smiled after him, knowing what a fuss Collie was about to make about the presents.

Chip squeezed Ace tighter against himself and kissed the blond on the head, trying to wordlessly tell him that he'd be okay. Dan, for his part, patted Ronny once more and then walked to the kitchen, grabbing an apple from the tray Colorado had left visible after getting Ace's breakfast. He hadn't eaten anything yet and was hungry.

Colorado scuttled back into the room, dragging one of the bags he had had with him. He put it down and beamed at them.

"Ace, Ace, you first!" he said, his face a little flushed with excitement. It was obvious that he wanted them to love his presents. He bent over and dug out a rather large square box, wrapped in green giftwrap and decorated with several small curls of ribbon. The artist presented it to Ace with a bit of a flourish.

[Kat]

Ace calmed a little as Chip hugged him tighter, trying to put Dan and his disapproval out of his mind. When Collie mentioned presents, Ace watched with amusement as he pulled a bag along behind him. He had forgotten that Colorado had mentioned that he'd brought presents the night before, and was surprised when the first one pulled out was for him. Glancing at Chip and smiling curiously, Ace stepped forward a bit to take it from Colorado, wondering what it could possibly be. It wasn't very heavy, at any rate.

Setting it on the table, Ace set about carefully taking off the wrapping paper. He'd never been the type to rip paper off of his presents, so he carefully took it off and laid it on the table next to the box. He eyed the square box that lay underneath the paper, opening it quickly and looking inside. It was a soccer ball. But it wasn't just any ball, it was an official ball used during the matches in the Spanish league. As he pulled it out of the box and his eyes widened, he realized it wasn't just any official ball either. It was an official ball signed by David Beckham, his favourite player. He looked over at Colorado, shocked. How had he known? He was so shocked he could barely speak, and he just stared down at his present. While he'd met quite a few professional players, thanks to his cousin Pelle being on the Swedish national team and playing for the top team in the Swedish league, he hadn't yet had the chance to meet his beloved Becks. But now he had an autographed ball, something special and personal and exactly what he would have wanted.

Carefully putting the ball down, he practically threw himself on Colorado, finally getting over his shock and letting his excitement come out. "Collie!! That is so perfect, you have no idea! I mean, Beckham!! He's my favourite! I can't believe you got me an autographed ball!" He then kissed the artist on the cheek, his arms still tightly wrapped around him. This was definitely the kind of distraction he'd needed to get his mind back on happier things. Calming down a little he pulled back to look Colorado in the eyes. "Thanks." His expression was happy and elated, the present obviously being very important to him.

[Cres]

Chip, of course, knew already what was in the gift, having been the source of Colorado's information, but he kept his face expressionless as he waited for his boyfriend to open the package. Dan stood a little aside, watching with curiosity - he wasn't big on gifts.

Colorado hovered nervously nearby when Ace unwrapped his gift, and seemed most nervous throughout, especially when Ace simply stared at the ball for such a long moment. He even thought for a moment that he might have made a wrong choice after all and had been just about to give a glare to Chip when Ace got off his stupour and jumped at him. Colorado's face lit up, giving a distinct impression of a little boy who has just heard the best news of his life. He wrapped his arms around Ace as well and took in the kiss happily, grinning madly. When Ace drew back a little and thanked him, he took a hold of the blond's hands and squeezed them in between his.

"I am so happy you like it," he said, a little breathless since he'd got quite excited and his physique wasn't the best possible. "I was so worried... it came with such short notice, you know, I mean, I didn't know anything about you. I was worried you might think it impersonal or something." He smirked toward Chip. "You should really thank him, though, he's the one who told me all about you." Colorado winked.

[Kat]

Ace smiled and glanced at Chip. Of course he'd been the one to suggest it. But when had he ever told Chip that Beckham was his favourite? He realized it was probably on some lazy weekend day spent at his own place, cuddling on the couch with Chip but his eyes glued to satellite fed soccer coverage. He'd probably rambled at some point about how much he loved Beckham. He looked back at Colorado and grinned. "Don't worry, it's totally not impersonal at all. In fact, I don't know if anyone has ever really given me anything more personal, to be honest. It's so perfect." He hugged Colorado again before finally letting go and then turning and throwing himself on Chip. Dan be damned, he wasn't going to hold back his affection because of the other male. He pressed his lips to his boyfriend's and placed both hands on the back of his neck, kissing him very passionately and very excitedly. He wanted Chip to know just how much he appreciated the suggestion for a present and how much it meant to him.

[Cres]

Colorado continued beaming when he was hugged again; he had been very worried about how Ace's gift would compare in the blond's mind to the gifts he had prepared for his two friends. After all, Ace was now part of the "family", and Collie didn't want him to feel left out in any way. But seeing Ace so excited convinced him that he had made the right choice with the ball. It had cost a small fortune, but Collie wasn't worried - he had money enough to throw away.

Chip had been about to make a comment, but he forgot all about that when Ace suddenly threw his arms around him and kissed him. In fact, he forgot entirely what he had meant to say and that he had even meant to say anything in the first place. Surprised, but pleasantly so, he reciprocated the kiss, holding Ace very tightly round the waist. The passionate kiss took him off guard, though it also blew his mind away.

It had definitely been worth it to tip Colorado off about Ace's soccer hero.

Chip was grinning rather stupidly by the time the kiss came to an end, and even Dan had to smile to the ecstatic expression on his friend's face. Colorado giggled. Chip ignored the both of them and looked at his boyfriend affectionately.

"All I did was give him the name, really," he said, sort of half defense out of duty - it had been mostly Colorado's idea, after all, and Chip didn't want to steal all of Collie's thunder.

[Kat]

Ace too was sporting a rather silly grin after the kiss and wasn't about to let Chip off without explaining to him why it really had him excited. "You didn't just give him a name, Chip. You just proved that you really pay attention to me when we're together. After all I've never actually outright said that Becks is my favourite player and that I worship the ground he walks on, but you obviously deduced that from listening to me ramble on whenever I make you sit and watch soccer with me. Most of my friends just kind of tune out when I talk about that stuff, but you obviously must be listening to me. I just wanted you to know that it means a lot to me." He kissed Chip again, but this time it was a little softer and sweeter. "You just keep proving to me that falling in love with you was the best thing I've ever done for myself." He hoped he wasn't making the other two uncomfortable by expressing how he was feeling, but he couldn't quite help himself.

[Cres]

Colorado looked as though he was watching a sappy movie, wiping one corner of his eye discreetly - he was very easily touched. Dan, however, turned his eyes away, obviously slightly uncomfortable. He wasn't used to such open displays of emotion, and never quite knew how to react to them. He turned his eyes on the newspaper on the table and pretended to read.

Chip smiled and enjoyed himself in the kiss, not even remembering there was anyone else around at the moment. He hadn't expected Ace to get so excited over the present and him paying attention; to him it was only normal, to pay attention to these things when you loved someone. Still, he realised that not everyone worked that way. Dan, for instance - you often needed to be pretty obvious before the man understood that there was something he should have paid attention to.

"Best thing you've done for me, too," Chip said as a sort of reply to Ace, kissing him back.

"All right, all right," Colorado then said, clapping his hands a little. "You two, get a room." He grinned though as he said it, and was obviously only pleased with the situation. "Chip, you're stealing my thunder, I was going to give presents!"

Chip glanced at Colorado, not letting go of Ace though, a smile on his lips.

"Aw, I'm sorry, Cols," he said though he didn't sound sorry at all. Then he glanced at Dan with an amused expression. "Maybe you should start with the Old Grump, he seems like he needs a distraction from all this cuddling."

Dan looked up from the newspaper, his expression hard to read, but didn't get a chance to say anything when Colorado jumped up and down a little and cried: "Yes, yes, he needs his present next."

The artist dove into his bag again and produced another parcel - this time much, much smaller than Ace's. Colorado bounded to the table while Dan straightened himself, a rather suspicious look in his eyes - and truth be told, slightly disappointed. It was obvious he thought the size of his gift implied smaller emotional content compared to Ace's. Chip had to smile a little; no matter how hard Dan might claim that he didn't really like Colorado at all, underneath it all he'd grown quite fond of the eccentric artist.

Collie placed the gift carefully on the table.

"Careful," he advised Dan. "I don't want you to break it."

Dan lifted an eyebrow, then looked down at the parcel. He took it in his hands and opened it - carefully, like he had been instructed. After the giftwrap fell off, his eyes widened. In a glass case, on a black velvet stand, stood a perfect miniature replica of his motorcycle.

Colorado held his hands to his mouth, looking very anxious as Dan simply stared at the gift, turning it around in his hands. Then, gleefully, Chip caught the slightest glimmer of moist in the older male's eyes as he looked at Collie again. Chip always liked it when Dan was caught off guard actually showing emotions.

"How... it even has all the dents that..."

Colorado grinned.

"I made it myself," he confessed. "It was damn difficult, I can tell you, to get all the details in with only photographs to help, but I think I did all right."

"All right?! I love this!" Dan's face spread into a wide grin and, quite unpredictably, grabbed Collie into a bear-hug. From Colorado's shocked face this was a rare event.

Chip, knowing that Ace was not very familiar with Dan, leaned his head down to whisper to the blond's ear: "Dan collects miniatures of motorbikes. He's pretty... obsessed about bikes."

[Kat]

Ace grinned as Colorado commented on their display, easily able to tell that he enjoyed presenting them with the opportunity, even if it had detracted the attention away from his presents for a moment. So the blond turned around, still pressed to Chip, to watch as Collie gave Dan his present. As the other man opened it, Ace was quite happy to see that once again Colorado had hit the mark. He was even more impressed that he'd actually made the bike himself. He also remembered, when Dan mentioned the dents, one of the very first conversations he'd had with Chip, about Dan's love for "vintage" motorcycles, especially the beaten up one he drove. Now he had a little replica of it, and Ace was happy for it. Maybe Dan would curb the grumpiness this morning now. Or so he hoped.

[Cres]

Dan released Colorado after a thorough hug which seemed to nearly suffocate the fragile artist. The red-headed Italian only seemed to realise what he'd done after he let go of Collie, and cleared his throat, blushing rather cutely around the ears. This served to make Collie giggle.

"Uh, I mean... thanks," Dan said, looking rather uncomfortable.

Chip gave a laugh.

"You just can't admit to having feelings at all, can you, Old Grump?" he asked his best friend, his eyes glimmering with amusement.

Dan gave Chip a glare, but almost instantly the glare melted into a smile and the man looked at the glass case again.

"It must've taken you forever," he said.

Colorado shrugged it off.

"I've been planning it for some time now." He smiled gently. "I'm only happy you like it." Then he turned to look at Chip, and suddenly looked much more serious, meaningful. "I made your gift myself, too."

Chip's grin smoothed over to a more controlled smile, and he looked curious when Collie went to the gift bag and dug out another present. It was a little larger package than that of Ace's, but it was flat. Chip raised an eyebrow, guessing at once that it must be a painting or a photograph; the shape of frames were practically visible through the pretty gift-wrap. He let go of Ace - a little reluctantly - and took the package. Carefully, he unwrapped it, not having any idea what it could have been.

When the last of the papers fell on the floor, a rich coloured oil painting surfaced. It depicted two males, looking up from opposite corners of the painting, at two fighter planes sweeping over them. It looked exactly like a painted movie-poster, and it sported the text Top Gun in the exact style the text had been in the old posters of the movie, and down below there was tiny text, just like in movie posters, with the name of the movie and two very familiar names after the text "Starring".

The male on the right, obviously Maverick - Tom Cruise's character in the movie - had Chip's face, and the other, equally obviously Ice Man - Val Kilmer's character - had Colorado's own face. This was confirmed by the text below.

Chip's mind went back to those times in the boarding school, him and Collie, running the hallways, pretending to be Maverick and Ice Man. They'd always said someday they'd fly together, they'd both go to the air force or something. It had never been serious, since Chip had issues with authorities and Colorado had issues with military and anything physical in general. And then, being gay in the military was not the best possible choice, if you had a choice.

But it had been something private between the two of them. It symbolised something in their life, and this painting brought it all rushing back to Chip's mind. He looked at Collie, not bothering to hide the tears that found their way to his eyes.

"Col..."

Colorado hadn't been worried this time. He had waited anxiously, and when Chip looked at him, he jumped forward and clasped his arms around Chip's shoulders tightly. Chip reciprocated the embrace, holding on to Collie as tight as he could. After a few moments of an embrace, Collie pulled back and looked at Chip, his hands on both sides of the bigger male's face, smiling.

"Now you can't forget your wing-man again," he smirked.

Chip gave a laugh and then kissed Colorado on the forehead.

"I love it, Col, and I swear, some day I'll get that flying licence and take you to the clouds." He ruffled Collie's hair, and the artist giggled.

Dan, who had turned his attention away from his own gift when Chip had got his, was leaning to the kitchen table and now smiled to Ace.

"The two of them had some thing about Top Gun way back, apparently," he noted, feeling jovial enough to tip Ace in a little on what was so special about the painting, though he guessed that Chip'd give a more thorough explantion himself at some point.

[Kat]

*Awwwwwww! That was so cute!*


Ace watched as Chip took his present and opened it, also figuring that it had to be a painting of some sort. He could see the look on Colorado's face, guessing that Chip's present must be the one the artist had been looking forward to giving the most. When Chip unwrapped it and Ace saw the painting, he was extremely impressed. Colorado really was an amazing artist, everything was perfect on the painting. He remembered Chip having mentioned Something about loving Tom Cruise at one point, and figured Chip must be painted as Tom's character in the movie.

When Dan made the comment to him, Ace glanced at him and after a moment of shock that Dan had actually spoken to him nicely, he smiled at him and nodded. "Yeah, I remember him mentioning Tom Cruise once." He looked back at Chip and Collie, the smile still on his face. They were cute, in only the way best friends could be. And as much as he enjoyed watching them interact, it only mde him miss his own best friend even more. But his longing for Sascha wasn't anything upsetting enough to ruin the moment for him, so he walked over to the table where Dan was, wanting to get a better look at the motorcycle the artist had crafted. He picked the case up and studied it for a moment, even more impressed seeing it close up. "Wow, Collie you really are amazing..." His voice trailed off as he studied the details, amused at the dents put in to resemble Dan's own bike.

[Cres]

[[ ;D]]

Colorado turned to look at Ace when the blond complimented him - by now there was in fact a slight blush on his cheeks.

"Well I try," he said, surprisingly modestly.

Chip smiled and lifted Collie up from the waist once more with a tight hug, then set the artist down again and kissed him, on the lips this time. It was not much more than a quick smooch, after which he pulled his head back with a grin. Colorado looked shocked beyond measure, and Chip laughed.

"That's for the great gifts, Collie," he said affectionately and ruffled Collie's hair a little. That caused an instant squeak this time and the artist struggled to get off Chip's arms, his hands on his hair. The hair was always the first thing Colorado took care of in the mornings, and he was most careful about tending it.

"Not the hair, Chip!" he protested. Chip let the artist go and laughed as he made his way to the table as well, setting the painting carefully aside. he came to Ace and wrapped his arms round the blond from the side, leaning his head against the side of the blond's head.

"Don't be too impressed," he said with a smile. "Usually he just brings a bunch of clothes or something he's picked up from various corners of the globe."

Collie stuck his tongue out at him, but it was clear he wasn't upset - though he had pulled a mirror from the pocket of his morning gown and was trying to reassemble his hair.

Dan was leaning against the table and looking surprisingly jovial. He hadn't been on that good mood for days - maybe even for years. Chip briefly wondered about that in his mind.

[Kat]

Ace put the motorcycle case back down when Chip came over to him, happily slinging an arm around Chip's waist. He also noticed that Dan was looking quite happy, or at least happier than Ace could ever recall having seen him yet. That just made the blond even happier himself. As much as he was looking forward to the day, he really felt as though he would have rather skipped school and stayed here with Chip and Colorado, even Dan given his present state. The day would certainly be rough, not being able to interact as freely with them. But he'd be free to hang around with them all weekend, once the party was over tonight. Not to mention, given the size of Gin's mansion, perhaps they'd wander off and find themselves a secluded area during the party. He smiled as the thought entered his mind.