No Better Version of Me Than When I'm With You

Chapter 3

"They're just trying to help, y'know." Newt looked down at him.

"I know, but can they just let us do our own thing?"

"It's not like we have anything to prove."

"You're right," Thomas sighed, the fight and annoyance going out of him, "I just want to show them we really know what we're doing. That just because everything's happening at once doesn't mean we're struggling."

"They know we know what we're doing, but they're your parents; obviously they're going to worry." Newt reminded him, tugging absently at a lock of Thomas' hair.

"Hmmph," He made a sound of begrudging agreement, looking up at Newt from his position with his head in his lap. He met his gaze with a small smile, hair flopping into his face. The urge to reach up and brush it away hit Thomas then, but he ignored it and redirected his gaze to the yet-unpainted wall against which sat the tv stand and tv. "Should we start on the living room today? Then we'll just have the kitchen and we're done."

"'Bout time, we've only been painting for a week now."

"Well when we both work full-time jobs, and are also figuring out all this green card shit, not to mention trying to have some semblance of a social life; when else are we supposed to do it?" Thomas replied with a chuckle.

"True,"

"Shall we, then?" Thomas looked back up at Newt to find him still watching him, slight smile still on his face. The fingers that had been playing with his hair had begun tracing small circles on his scalp and he was suddenly less inclined to move.

"Don't you fall asleep on me, Tommy." Newt warned playfully a minute later as his eyes drifted shut.

"Or what?" Thomas asked without opening his eyes, fighting down a smile.

"Or I'll take pictures of you and post them to Facebook so your grandmother can see how much you enjoy sleeping in my lap."

"You wouldn't dare!" His eyes opened wide to see a smirk gracing Newt's features, phone held threateningly above him in his free hand as he saw his finger hit the shutter button several times. His grandma was the only one of his extended family that didn't know of Thomas' bisexuality, and he resolutely wanted to keep it that way. The only details she heard from him were through his mom about how he and Newt were best friends and roommates, and whatever he posted to Facebook about work and various things with his friends. He used Instagram more than Facebook, but liked to keep in touch with other family that way.

He knew the second she found out would be a storm of bible verses and snide, horrid remarks about how disgusting his "lifestyle" was. He liked his grandmother perfectly fine – aside from the blatant homophobia – but that was one thing he'd never tell her. He and most of his family had tried to no avail to educate her, but there was no changing her mind.

"I wouldn't be obvious about it, but you know she'd draw her own conclusions when she sees this." Newt tapped his phone against Thomas' hand that rest on his stomach, lingering on the ring. His expression turned faux-serious, and Thomas glared back in mock anger, reaching for his phone. He held it out of reach, laughing when Thomas sat up and pulled at his arm, draping himself over him to grab at it.

When he couldn't, he flopped back down with a huff and rolled his eyes, crossing his arms and elbowing Newt in the chest. His husband grunted, still laughing as he set his phone back down. "Better fucking delete those."

"But you're so cute, look." Newt teased, unlocking his phone and showing him a photo of himself lying there, eyes closed, pale fingers tangled in his dark hair and his own hand resting on his stomach, very clearly showing the wedding band. "You're even smiling a bit. I think I'd caption it. . . 'Nothing like a midmorning cuddle with this one.' Winky face emoji."