“Finn?”

“Tweeeeeeeeee!”

Ethan jumped as a multicolored, paper party horn was the first thing to greet him. Standing in front of him was a 5'4”, blond-haired, blue-eyed fanboy with a loudly colored party hat on his head. He stood in his socks, boxer shorts, and favorite Hot Blood T-shirt, his apple cheeks puffed out as he smiled against his plastic toy. Behind him, a shiny, dollar store sign was strung on the hallway ceiling, reading CONGRATULATIONS in big tinfoil letters. When Finn had no more air to blow, he took the party horn away and clapped his hands together. Finn's smile was so big it physically hurt his cheeks.

“I watched the whole thing!” he swooned. “You were so awesome! I even rewound my favorite parts to re-watch! I'm so proud of you, it came out so great!”

Ethan took a second. His eyes went from the hat to the sign and back down again to Finn's expectant face. “Is that what all this is about?” he asked blankly. “It was just a TV interview.”

Finn looked morally affronted. “Wha --?! No, no! It wasn't just a TV interview! It was Midnight Oil! Everyone who's super famous goes on there! And it was your first appearance, too! It's a crazy big deal!” He then turned and pointed to the couch. “See? Even Oscar's celebrating!”

Oscar, Ethan's fat, brown, squish-faced cat currently sat on the headrest of Ethan's couch, an equally offensive party hat drooping off one side of his head. How he had the patience to allow Finn to try and put one on him in the first place was beyond Ethan.

Ethan couldn't help himself. He began to snicker. One hand on his stomach, he snorted into laughter. When he had calmed down enough to catch his breath, he turned his smiling eyes to Finn, and leaned in. The two shared a tender, sentimental kiss.

“This was very sweet,” Ethan said. “Thank you.”

Finn lit up like a lightbulb. “Well I know how hard that might have been for you. So I thought a little pick-me-up was needed when you got home.”

Ethan's smile softened. “Thank you,” he repeated. “But I think I want to go to bed. You should have been asleep hours ago.”

“Huh?” Finn looked over his shoulder at Ethan's wall clock. “Oh, but it's not even three!”

Ethan chuckled. “Some of us need to get on a regular sleep schedule soon. In fact, all of us do. Shannon is probably going to want you up at the crack of dawn in the mornings for hair and makeup.”

If at all possible, Finn actually grew happier at the thought. For yes, while their (admittedly very short) romance had given them a vacation from responsibilities and work, season four of Hot Blood would be shooting very soon. Both Ethan and Finn had their parts to play, Finn having been hired as a makeup assistant for the show.

“She wants me with her as much as possible,” he said. “I'm mostly going to be responsible for the little things on set. Might end up doing some gophering too, but I don't really care. I'm just glad I get to go back with you!”

“Shouldn't you be happier that you're going to be a paid artist?” Ethan teased.

“Oh don't worry, I'm plenty happy!” Finn hugged Ethan around his middle, chin resting between his pecks. “I plan on working the hardest I've ever worked, trust me! But nothing makes me happier than watching you do what you do best. There are times when I still can't believe that this is my life now.”

Ethan wrapped his arms around Finn's shoulders, the two of them gently swaying together. “Well, we're roommates. Might as well believe it.”