It was warm...

Really warm...

Jones smiles a little in his unconscious state.

Rain is pouring outside as darkness falls across the island. All was quiet in Pleasant Park when Midas returned from his imprisonment with Jones in his arms. Closing and locking the door behind him he breathes a heavy sigh of relief, glad to be home.

"Oh Jones... you don't know how thankful I am for you right now..." He hums softly.

As he puts Jones down on the couch he stretches his arms and his back, both aching because of how long he was in such a cramped space for.

And with a click of his fingers his outfit returns to what he was wearing before;

His torn up work attire.

"So with a click of my fingers I can switch between my clothes and Oro's outfit... good to know..."

He collapses on to the couch next to Jones, sighing softly. When coming home, he was half expecting Jules to welcome him and his saviour with open arms...

But Midas knew she couldn't. The imposter had turned everyone he knew into gold... well, except Jones of course. With the sceptre he had finally been able to obtain thanks to Jones he had the power to reverse it.

Although he should do it now...

For the time being, just for the rest of the afternoon and evening...

He only wanted Jones.

Picking him up again Midas heads upstairs into his bedroom and puts Jones in his bed, wrapping the covers over his body.

"I'll be right back. I need a moment."

---------

Roughly half an hour rolls by, and Jones finally wakes up from his unconscious state. Needless to say, he ached everywhere and was exhausted from his rescue mission.

And he was cold from landing in the ocean. And it was possible he may have caught a cold because of it.

"Ugh... Midas...?"

*sniff*

"Where'd he go..?"

He falls silent for a moment...and suddenly hears humming coming from the bathroom. The light was on so someone was clearly inside. Hugging his arms Jones goes to investigate. The bathroom door was slightly open, so he peeks inside.

"Midas? That you humming?"

The mastermind jumps in surprise and pulls back the shower curtain with a blush on his face.

"Jesus! Jones, a little privacy please?"

"Oh, sorry."

He sits outside the bathroom while he hears Midas moving around. He eventually opens the door, revealing himself wrapped up in a towel. Jones blushes slightly at the tattoos strewn across his chest and arms.

"I'm happy to see you finally awake my friend." Midas hums. "But I must say, you don't look well."

Jones couldn't deny that. He felt terrible.

"What were you doing? Shower?"

"No, actually I had a bath. Being stuck up there without a change of clothes or sanitary stuff was...not pleasant." Midas explains. "Besides, a shower wouldn't do much for the scars on my body."

Jones nods in agreement, before blushing slightly again. Midas hums with a small smile, brushing a hand over his cheek softly.

"Oh dear, you're freezing." He sighs. "Come. Wait in here a moment."

Midas lets Jones into the bathroom while he briefly disappears somewhere. He quickly returns in a dressing gown and slippers and closes the door, going over to the bath tub and running the taps again.

"Here. It's only fair you get one too."

"Midas...y-you didn't need to do this..."

"Jones you're under the weather and freezing cold. You deserve a steaming hot bath to warm you up."

The water level reached halfway up the bath tub and Midas turns the taps off. Turning around he lets Jones get undressed and hop in. The blond immediately melts into the warm water, sighing in satisfaction.

"Right. If you need anything at all, I'll be in my room getting dressed or downstairs lighting the fireplace." Midas informs him. "Does takeaway sound good to you?"

"Ooh, I'll have takeaway any day of the week."

"Very well. I'll leave you to it."

"Wait!"

Midas turns back around. Jones looked like he wanted to ask something, but his stuttering and blushing weren't helping.

"I..uh... well..."

"Yes?"

"Could you...d-do my hair?"

Both men go a bright red in the face. Midas tries his best to hide it.

"W-What? Jones, I'm not your mother. You can do it yourself."

Jones smiles cheekily at him, gazing into Midas' golden iris. He begins to sweat but eventually isn't able to resist his looks and gives in.

"Oh alright. Only this one time though."

Midas sits on the edge of the bath tub, putting shampoo in his hands and begins washing it into Jones' golden locks. He felt slightly awkward about it since it's something he doesn't normally do, but if Jones was happy he didn't mind.

After a few seconds he slowly begins to get used to it, smiling as Jones lies his head on Midas' lap.

"Uh...I wanted to ask...are you alright?" Jones questions.

"I'm alright now that I've been reunited with you my friend."

"Well...I wanted to apologize..." He sighs sadly, hugging his arms. "For not getting there faster."

Midas stares at him with disappointment in his eyes. Why was Jones beating himself up over not being quick enough?

"My friend you have nothing to blame yourself over. Whether you were fast or slow with how you got there, it doesn't matter."

Midas turns Jonesy's head around, a soapy hand under his chin.

"What matters is you formed a plan and came. In a point in time where no one else could come to my aid, YOU stepped in and did the right thing."

Tears brim in Jones' eyes. No one had ever congratulated him this way before.

"And I believe, even in death, Janice is smiling at how far you've come. I'm so incredibly proud of you. So don't blame yourself for being slow, okay?"

Jones smiles happily with tears going down his face. Midas smiles as well, washing his hands and getting up.

"Alright. You can do the rest yourself. I'll wait for you downstairs, order dinner and give you some cold remedy."

"Okay."

Midas closes the door, leaving Jones alone. He continues to relax in the warm water, until he realises something he forgot about;

"Crud! I forgot to ask about the love letter he wrote me!"

-----------------------

1 hour later...

Midas eventually settled on pizza. Although he didn't know Jones' preferences he could tell he wasn't a fussy eater, so he ordered a pepperoni and meat lovers with a bunch of sides.

With Jones out the bathroom dried and dressed, plus dinner waiting for him in the living room the two men settle down on the couch and dig in. Midas had the blond wrapped up in a blanket for extra warmth, plus giving him some cold remedy.

The room was filled with a warm comforting aura, the fireplace crackling in the silence while the rain outside worsens. But it didn't bother them. All they needed in this moment was each others company.

"Mmm... You know how to treat someone when they aren't feeling the brightest Midas."

The mastermind chuckles lightly watching as Jones finishes his 3rd slice and another chicken strip, whereas he was only just finishing his 2nd.

"Well I'm glad you're enjoying it, but please slow down. I don't need you choking on anything."

They smile at each other warmly. Midas briefly gets up and puts a bit more kindling on the fire, poking it inside with the fire iron to keep it going. Jones sighs, his mind thinking back to the love letter from Midas.

"Should I ask him about it? I don't want to make him uncomfortable."

He sighs yet again.

"Midas? Could I ask you something?"

"Hm? Of course. What's on your mind?" Midas hums, putting a potato wedge in his mouth.

He hesitates, but eventually spills the beans.

"I found the love letter you wrote for me..."

Midas' eyes widen in fear. He was afraid of this. He swallows his food and turns to Jones.

"O-Oh! I-I see..."

His heart pounds in his chest, sweat forming on his face.

"I read all the things you wrote about me in there and-"

"N-No! It's okay! If you don't want to be with me, t-that's fine!" Midas interrupts him, not giving Jones a chance to finish.

"But-"

"No! Y-You deserve better! Why would anyone..."

He lowers his voice to a whisper as he covers his face.

"..W-Why would anyone want a freak like me as their romantic interest anyway..."

Jones bites his lip. He could tell Midas was lying with his words. He knew what he was afraid of, and was trying to push him away as if he already thought he knew what Jones' answer would be.

"Midas I know you don't mean that. You're only saying that because you're afraid."

"Haha, I-I'm not afraid of anything Jones. What are you on about?"

The blond takes his golden hand, rubbing his thumb with his own. He could tell Midas was distressed and trying to hide his true feelings for him. Midas looks into his eyes, uncertainty in his own eye.

"You were afraid of being rejected... weren't you?"

He looks away from Jones, ashamed of himself as tears stream down his face. He's immediately worried and goes to comfort him.

"I don't know why I'm struggling so much to ask you a simple question." He sniffles. "I love you so much John, I really do. I love everything about you."

Jones blushes with a smile as Midas continues to finally confess his feelings for him.

"Ever since I met you my emotions have been in a spin. I don't know what it was about you...but when I saw you that day I escaped the Loop momentarily and landed in your office, I instantly felt attracted to you."

His eyes widen. Midas' crush on Jones stretched as far back as the device!

"That's how long you had your heart set on me?"

He nods. Midas breathes in a long sigh, then breathes out.

"But yes...I was petrified you would reject me. Any chance I had of asking my question, something got in the way."

"Well no one's here right now. Go ahead. Tell me what you want."

Jones leans closer and smiles.

"What you TRULY want."

Midas sighs, fiddling with his hands out of nervousness and stress. Even with no more distractions present he was still struggling.

"Well... I-I...uh..."

Jones wraps his arm around him comfortingly, taking his golden hand with his other free one. Midas melts into his arms, lying his head in Jones' chest.

"It's okay. Take deep breaths."

Midas does just that, collecting his thoughts and feelings and taking a deep breath.

"Okay. The truth is Jones...I don't know where I would be without you here by my side. I'm not sure what this world has left in store for me, but I would be so happy if you were in it."

He takes both of Jones' hands and asks the question that's been burning in his heart for so long.

"John Jones... would you be interested in being my boyfriend and going out with me?"

A moment of silence drifts between them as Midas nervously awaits his answer. He closes his eyes, expecting his nightmare to become reality.

"Midas..."

He grips on to Midas' shoulders. He opens his eyes.

"You have no idea how long I've been waiting for you to finally ask this question."

Before he can react Jones presses his lips against Midas', giving him a passionate but gentle kiss. Overwhelmed with emotions, Midas quickly deepens it. They part lips briefly to catch their breath.

"Of course I will. There's no one else I'd rather be with right now."

Midas smiles, wiping away his tears.

"That's all I ever wanted you to say my dear."

For the rest of the evening they continue to enjoy one another's company, eventually falling asleep on the couch to the sound of crackling fire and the tap of raindrops on the window.