A Happy Face, A Happy Smile, A Happy Point Of View

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Jackson was easily wrapped up in the spirit of things, in this case the playfulness that Finn was exhibiting. And silliness. ‘Rest in peas!?’ Why didn’t Jackson think of that!? It was so obvious! And of course, he had to jump the bandwagon and think of other ways he could use that pun. Jackson’s smile spread from ear to ear as he held up his right hand like he was praying and did a slow sign of the cross. “May peas be with you. I hope they served you well.” As in, lasted until he got a real bag of ice from home. Well, Finn said he did, because they died in the first place….hee hee, Finn was funny!

Finn’s own declaration that the two were friends – best friends, in fact – reassured Jackson a little about the relationship the two men had. Of course, if they were best friends, then they’d have no problem being close to each other like that, and it didn’t have to mean anything at all. “Best friends are nice, you’re so lucky!” he commented. “I want one! Where can I get me one of those?” His voice had a slight whine in it, but he was still smiling grandly, to show that he was definitely just playing around. Though it was still true that Jackson lacked a friendship with that kind of skinship, a person whom he was close to and trusted completely. It was his misfortune that coming to Hammel kind of ruined the chance for that with any of his old friends, some of whom he’d known since elementary school.

Jackson looked to Rue, thinking about the things they’d done together, and wondering if that meant they were close? Did it? Were they friends? Jackson would be sad if they weren’t, but were they something else too? It didn’t help that Jackson did indeed make the assumption that Rue had ‘tutored’ Finn in the same manner that he was doing with Jackson. Did that mean that if he kept with it, he and Rue could become that close too eventually? He hoped so. Jackson didn’t want to grow distant or estranged from the older man as time inevitably passed. In fact, he didn’t want to be separated from him much at all. If that meant continuing on with the things they were doing in private, then….Jackson was okay with that.

If he stuck around long enough…maybe he and Finn could become good friends as well? Jackson would like that. He was so much fun, a little strange, and incredibly silly. If Jackson knew him better then he would express himself with a giant hug shared between both of them. Unfortunately, Jackson was apprehensive about doing that just with Rue, so the chances of it happening with Finn were even smaller.

They could still have fun together, though. “Ha ha ha! Target practice!” he hollered, kneeling down to scoop up yet another ball of snow. “Butt ball!” How did he come up with these things? Jackson was giggling like made and preparing to throw another at Rue, hoping that Finn would join in, but then…Finn threw the ball at Jackson instead! “Ahh! Traitor! You’ve officially betrayed the butt-ball society! I’ll get you for that!” Jackson shouted this all to a Finn that was already running away. If that’s how he wanted to play it…. Jackson popped to his feet, ball in hand, and dashed after Finn, straight past Rue no doubt. “Get back here! Fiend!” He chucked the ball at his retreating target, narrowly missing the man-child’s feet. Jackson was quick to drop down for another handful of snow and then back up to continue the chase.

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Right after we saw that movie…? Rue thought, trying to recall… Ohhh. Wait, right after that was when he’d…. A faint flush rose on Rue’s cheeks, and he hoped it looked like it was just from the cold. “I… Right,” he stammered slightly. “That was a, ahh… Good movie.” That wasn’t what he was thinking about, though, and he half-wondered if what he’d done afterwards might have been the reason Finn ran into a lamppost. Considering how much he could daydream….

But he wouldn’t dwell on it. He was too busy wondering why they were still talking about peas.

He smiled when Finn agreed with him, and Jackson mentioned his slight envy. “Ah… Best friends aren’t really something you can just go and find, unfortunately,” he said with a sympathetic smile. “But I’m sure you could find one easily if you looked. You’re very… Ah… Likeable.” Rue reached out and put his hand on the teen’s shoulder for a moment, gazing at him for perhaps a second or two too long before catching himself and looking away. What was he doing?

Rue and Finn… They hadn’t done anything together. Apart from the recent kiss on the cheek, the younger man hadn’t really even hinted that he felt something else for Finn. And now he wondered… Did he feel something? Obviously there was something, because he wouldn’t have kissed his cheek otherwise. But then…. What was Jackson? This was what he’d been struggling with for the past few minutes that the two boys were in his presence, and he didn’t want to think about it with them both there, because he was likely to zone out into deep thought and they would wonder what the hell was wrong with him.

As it was, he already got lost in his own head for a minute long enough for the snow balls to be thrown and for Finn and Jackson to be gigglefitting on either side of him. “Aigoo, you two!” he protested, breaking into a louder laugh. He laughed even more when Finn’s ball hit the youngest boy. “Thank goodness, my butt isn’t the target for your shenanigans anymore!” Finn ran past Rue, and then Jackson shortly after, and Rue shook his head and sauntered after more slowly, not joining in the fight. He was too old and sophisticated for this sort of thing, yup. And he didn’t want his butt to get any more soaked than it already was.

“Alright, I’ll see you guys there, then~” he called out to them, crossing the street and starting to head towards his apartment. Finn knew where it was, so if the two went off-course in their play, Rue knew he could find his way back. He just wasn’t as playful as the two of them, and it would take a lot more to get him involved in any roughhousing in the snow. He was just glad Finn seemed to be over his bad period and was enjoying himself again. Rue was almost envious with how they were interacting; he suddenly felt much older than either of them. He wondered vaguely what it was like to be carefree and lighthearted like that. Not that he never was, but… There was always a part of him that reigned in his emotions so that he didn’t risk exploding like he did in his younger years.

[Finn Eogeum]

It was basically Rue's fault that Finn hit the lamppost. The movie was good, and he had enjoyed it fairly thoroughly, but it was the after events that were the most memorable. Who could forget a kiss? Finn couldn't, especially considering his touching problems. He had been replaying the moment in his head, wondering what it meant, why he suddenly did it, if it would happen again and BAM! He hit the lamppost. Finn's carelessness wasn't to blame, no~ no, it was all Rue and his lips. Meanie.

Finn was glad that this Jackson person was silly and fun too. He probably was nearer Finn's mental age, so that may have been why their humours seemed to click together so easily, and why he found that they were both behaving similarly. It was awesome. He snorted, "They were with me. They were very useful and I thank thee for your selflessness." Cue awkward humble bow. But seriously, without Jackson's help, Finn may have had a bad bump on his head, and possibly got into more trouble due to the confused state of his concussion from before. Jackson needed thanking. Was making him laugh a way of thanking him? Finn thought it was.

The artist giggled at Jackson's apparent best friend jealousy. Silly guy. Finn hoped he wouldn't try to steal Rue. Rue was his best friend, no one else's. Jackson wouldn't make a good Rue best friend. He wasn't like Finn (or maybe he was, in more ways than he cared to realise). He agreed at the likeableness Rue mentioned, nodding in certainty, "Anyone would be lucky to have you as a best friend. You're really awesome~" From what Finn knew. But he didn't any more evidence than that.

He didn't notice the little moment Rue had though. He was too lost in his own thoughts.

Finn didn't think he saw Rue in a loving context, not other than platonically, but that was a thin, thin line. He could probably start feeling that way if he thought about Rue differently, and not just as his brilliant friend. As something more. But Finn most likely wouldn't be proactive in that.

"I don't need the butt ball society, my butt's fine without any balls, thank you very much!" Finn didn't realise how a sentence such as that one could be taken, the more sexual way of looking at it. It just didn't come to mind. Finn felt pooey that Rue didn't want to join in, but he could be boring if he wanted. Meanwhile, Finn continued to run away and be a ninja, going in the wrong direction for a bit, "You'll never catch me alive~!" He didn't have the time to ball up any snow, but he did do ninja moves. He was the bomb. His sights eventually set back on marshmallows and he sprinted to Rue's door, cold, wet, panting. He slid down to the ground, absolutely pooped. He curled over a little, lungs burning, "Need... marshmallowy... goodness.... halp." He whined, shivering. Hot chocolate sounded really good right now.

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“Anytime,” he said to Finn. Jackson returned the bow. It was amusing. Grams would probably say that Finn was very nice and polite and that he had such nice manners. Even if he was silly.

But aww, poop. He knew it, and it was just a fun joke, but Jackson was still a bit disheartened by their answers about the best friend business. They said such nice things about him, but…if they were true, wouldn’t he have found that best friend already? Still, Jackson couldn’t help but blush and giggle, suddenly shy from their praise. It made him tickled and gooey in side. Jackson looked up at Rue when he placed his hand on the boy’s shoulder, smiling through their extended gazing and feeling that warm tickling well up in his stomach.

Heh heh heh…Rue was looking at him. Heh heh, Rue touched him on the shoulder. Heh, Rue thought he was very…likable. “Thanks, guys,” he said through a shy smile and embarrassed laugh. “I’ll do my best, then, to find a good best friend.”

Though to be honest, he was already starting to feel like Rue and Finn were turning into a couple of really good friends, if not just really fun friends. Well, Finn was fun, and Rue was…Rue. He was just Rue and the guy that really liked being next to. Not that Rue wasn’t fun, he was just….so much more mature than Jackson. So much older. He really was the epitome of not just an ‘adult’ of also of a ‘man’. Rue was a man. Jackson hoped he could be that cool one day.

For now, Jackson was content with throwing butt-snowballs at Rue’s butt. But since he’d been betrayed, Jackson’s new goal was to pellet Finn with a well-made ball of snow. But boy was that boy nimble! Jackson threw a ball and it missed! He threw another and it missed again! That wasn’t fair! But it did encourage Jackson to try harder. So he kept up the chase until they were in front of a door, panting and trying to catch their breath. Jackson probably in slightly better shape than Finn - he was actively involved in sports, after all - so he wasn’t gasping to the point of having to crouch over like Finn was. “Don’t…don’t worry…Rue will be here soon and then…we can have…..all the hot chocolate ever!” Jackson smiled at Finn, knelt beside the gasping silly-man, and placed his hand on Finn’s shoulder as a form of gentle encouragement.

Jackson had no idea about Finn’s issue with people touching him. He was just trying to be friendly. Honest!

Also, what happened to Jackson's bike? In his excitement to play, he'd left it behind in the snow where he'd crashed not more than 10 minutes ago.

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Yup, Rue was an old fart compared to these two, and now he was vaguely wondering how he’d ended up with two friends that were such dorks. Well… Finn wasn’t always like this, he knew, but when he wasn’t having an episode, it was pretty much how he acted. Didn’t they think he was… Boring? They must…. So why did they like him?

He kept musing over this as the two of them played around, glancing back at them a couple times as he headed towards his apartment. Eventually they passed by him, since he was sort of meandering slowly, but he didn’t speed up as he saw Finn leading the younger boy towards the building. It was then that he remembered…. Jackson had been riding a bike. It had almost hit them. Where was it now? Had he forgotten? He paused for a moment, then sighed, turning around and backtracking until he found the bicycle, right where they had left it. Then he started heading back, bringing the bike with him. The two dorks would just have to wait in the cold until he got there.

He did eventually get back, dragging the bike up the stairs with him. Rue didn’t have a bike lock, and he doubted Jackson had one on him, so he’d just have to bring it inside. “You forgot this,” he told the teenager with a small smile. “Fortunately, I didn’t.” He shuffled past the two of them and unlocked the door, letting them both inside before he trailed in after. Sinbad was perched on one of the couches, and hopped down to sniff at the two boys’ shoes. Andromeda was nowhere to be seen. “Alright, you two, I’ll get some of my old clothes for you to change into something dry, and then I’ll get the hot chocolate going, unless either of you wants to take a hot shower or anything too. Sound good?” He sat the bike in the corner of the room and went to get the dry clothes, along with a different pair of pants for himself, as his butt was pretty wet for certain reasons.

“You guys didn’t get into too much trouble when I wasn’t watching, did you?” he teased playfully as he returned to the living room with his pants and shirts. He was bigger than both of them, so they’d probably be pretty loose on both of the boys, but it didn’t really matter. “Here you go.”

[Finn Eogeum]

Finn was capable of being serious and stern, because of all the rubbish stuff he'd dealt with in life. It made you see things from a different perspective, made you a bit more reflective on things in general - but it also made you aware that if you took life too seriously, things would feel worse. If Finn's was too stern and serious about his actions, he would always be thinking about his bipolar and how to act to counter it. Anyone would know that wasn't a way to living. Acting with the behaviour of a child, who would be carefree, oblivious of life's problems, was more enjoyable. It wasn't his character as such, he had acted in such a way most of his life, but it was the fact that it hadn't begun to fade yet. He was still a kid at heart, and that was fantastic.

He knew Rue didn't act the same as him, but he didn't need to. Interacting with like-minded people such as Jackson was fun, and he liked it a lot, but he did need to satisfy his serious thoughts too, and he felt more comfortable with his best friend being someone who still took him seriously despite his actions. He didn't need to be the same as Finn for the older man to like him.

However, Finn had kind of forgotten about Rue in the midst of avoiding Jackson, and doing an amazing job at it! Man, it was like he had magic, he was so good at this! That is, until he was dying for oxygen. He didn't spend a lot of his time actively - either he was creating in a small space, or curled up in bed. The time when he had the most amount of activity (and less regard for personal contact) was when he was manic, which was a lot less than he was depressive. So Finn was tired. But hot chocolate was good! He smiled, panting, but his reply was taken away by the touch on his shoulder, which made him push himself away from Jackson reflexively, suddenly a lot more tense, with much less of a smile. "P-Please..." He wasn't going to put this lightly, "I don't like being touched, don't... don't touch me, please..." Finn was basically begging and he didn't know why. Maybe because he was begging more in the way of not wanting Jackson to think he was weird because of his touching problem.

He kept a hand on his shoulder protectively, and remained partially solemn, even as Rue reappeared, finally. He nodded, "Kay." He followed him inside, deciding he was going to have a shower, but mainly to get away from everyone. He laughed, "Not really. Pea boy couldn't hit me with any of his snowballs, but he touched my shoulder." He shrugged, trying to make it casual. He was obviously still a little uncomfortable, "Guess that evens us out. I'm gonna shower." He said this without much else of a warning, and left the room fairly fast, going to Rue's bathroom and locking himself in, turning on the water as he did. No more people. Not for now.

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How could anyone think that Rue was boring? He was far from it! Rue was…cool! He was…manly! He was everything that Jackson thought a man should be, tall, cool, calm, smart. And he made Jackson smile. That was the important part. He made Jackson happy to be around. If anything, Jackson wondered what the older man saw in Jackson, that he continued to….do those kind of things to. It was new and exciting, albeit a bit uncomfortable sometimes. But that was just because Jackson wasn’t familiar with doing those sorts of things. Jackson was a good Christian boy who always did the things to make his elders happy and proud of him. They wouldn’t be happy to know that Jackson was doing anything….shameful. They’d probably look down on him even more. And his Grams would….even she might…. That’s why it was important that nobody ever find out.

Around Finn, though, Jackson was feeling very relaxed and very much like they were friends already. Jackson could get very tactile with his friends, as he was used to a bit of rough and tumble. But when he touched Finn’s shoulder and the boy jerked back like he had, Jackson too pulled his hand back and froze, uncertain of what the problem was until Finn told him in no uncertain terms. ‘Don’t touch me’.

Jackson’s heart fell. He wasn’t sure what the problem was, but it seemed like it was something that was particular to Finn and nothing to do with the person who touched him. That didn’t mean Jackson didn’t feel a small stab of hurt from it. “S…sorry,” he said softly, a slight tension in his voice. “I didn’t know…” Was this why Rue was trying to keep Jackson away earlier? But…Finn and Rue were touching back then, weren’t they? Or were they just…Jackson didn’t really know anymore, but he’d grown quiet and wrapped his hand around the one he’d touched Finn with, as if to keep himself from doing it again. “Sorry,” he said again.

His mood was still awkward when Rue came back…with his bike. Jackson’s eyes went wide. “Sorry! I forgot about that!” He hopped up to his feet and twiddled his fingers together, uncertain if he should take it or just let Rue continue carting it inside. “I can’t believe I left it behind….it’s brand new…” He must’ve been really distracted, running around with Finn. And now Finn…he probably hated Jackson….the thought made him sad. “Sorry for the trouble,” he said to Rue. So many sorries…but once he started, it was hard to stop.

Shower? Clothes? Both sounded good, but Jackson wasn’t sure it was okay for him to take a shower in somebody else’s home. And, well…Finn seemed pretty anxious to get there first…probably because he didn’t want to be in the same room as Jackson anymore. “Thanks,” he said, taking the clothes. Jackson hadn’t noticed because he was running around so much, but his clothes were pretty wet from when he was lying in the snow. “….is there somewhere I can change?” he asked softly, his eyes focused on the floor. Since the bathroom was being used, he couldn’t change there.

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Rue didn’t get there in time to see Jackson touch his friend, nor the response that Finn had in return, but he caught on pretty quickly that something had happened to make the older boy more comfortable, and he frowned, wondering what had happened. He could make the assumption that Jackson had probably touched him without knowing about his personal space requirement, and Rue chided himself for not being able to mention it sooner. He hoped Finn would be able to snap out of it like he had earlier.

He chuckled, though, as Jackson apologized for forgetting his bike. Such a kid… “I figured you did,” he replied quietly. Rue rose a brow when he mentioned that it was new. “I’m glad I remembered it, then. It seems like a nice bike.” Not that he really knew anything about bicycles. “It wasn’t trouble, I just had to make you guys stand out here in the cold longer,” he insisted. Which was why he shut the door as soon as they were all inside and made sure there were several blankets in the room to huddle up under after they were all changed and everything.

His suspicions about Finn being touched were confirmed when they got inside and his friend mentioned what Jackson had done. “Ah…” he said worriedly. “Alright, take as long as you need, Finn. We’ll be here.” He sent his friend a smile, wishing he knew something else to do or say, but it was probably best to just let the guy go and get his head straightened back on his own. He’d be okay… He always was in the end. “Just holler if you need anything.”

He watched Finn disappear into the bathroom, then dipped his head, shaking it slightly, before he turned back to Jackson, clothes still in hand. “Of course,” he said gently, handing over a pair of the clothes. Rue had changed into a dry pair of sweatpants himself. “Oh, right, um… My room is fine,” he told the teenager. However, before Jackson could leave, Rue found himself reaching down and gently taking his wrists in his hands. “Hey… Don’t worry too much about Finn, alright? You’re not the first person by a long shot to do something like that. He’s just… Well, there are certain things he has trouble with, and physical contact is one of them. It’s nothing personal to you, I promise.” He hesitated, then leaned down and pressed a reassuring kiss against Jackson’s lips. He’d wanted to do that since he’d first caught sight of the kid in the snow, but…. He hadn’t wanted to cave in with Finn there. Now, though…

Now was fair game. When he pulled away, Rue hesitated only a brief moment before going in for another, cupping his hand around the base of Jackson’s neck and toying with the ends of his hair. Whoops, sorry Jackson, someone got distracted.

[Finn Eogeum]

"I... I know you didn't." Finn replied, mildly trying to assure Jackson, despite being concerned with his own mental state, "It's happened a... a lot to me." He was trying to show he understood, and that it was... well, not okay, obviously, but that Finn knew that not everyone understood his situation. It sucked. That was all. And that wasn't necessarily Jackson's fault at all.

He knew Rue understood though. From the tone of his voice. And from the fact they knew each other so well - he excused himself without another word, hoping vaguely that Rue might explain what the problem was in a bit more detail to Jackson. Because Jackson was nice. He'd be a nice friend. Finn didn't want to lose that opportunity. It would be a huge shame.

Finn didn't realise the intimacy between his best friend and his new friend though. The holding and assurances and kissing were, obviously, not seen by him, and he didn't hear anything. He didn't exactly suspect a thing.

He stepped into the shower, not washing much, basically just warming up and thinking to calm himself down. Coco was probably restless at home, unless Vicky had taken him home. Maybe he should have suggested going to his house instead of Rue's apartment. It was bigger. It was... well, it was nicer, but that would be unfair to say. It wasn't too far from here... hmm. If he still felt uncomfortable after this shower, he could excuse himself home. Rue probably wouldn't mind, especially if there was someone else to keep him company. He seemed to get on well with Jackson. Finn was glad of that.

Hot chocolate soon. Mmm...

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Jackson messed up, and he didn’t even know it until it was too late. He should’ve known, he should’ve been able to pick it up somehow, from body language or…..that was silly, he knew, but Jackson wasn’t going to get over the fact easily, that he’d possibly ruined a perfectly good friendship before it even started. He’d keep his hands to himself from now on…hopefully that would be enough.

“Yeah….Grams spent a lot of money on it. She’d be upset if I lost it after only one day.” Jackson was trying to sound casual, but it was no use. The light had gone from his voice and it was painfully obvious that despite being able to carry on with conversation, his mood had been brought down considerably. There was something wrong…

Really, Jackson needed to snap himself out and away from this incident as well. It was rude to Rue, who had invited him inside for something warm to drink, and even given him a change of clothes to replace the ones which had gotten wet from the snow. Jackson shivered, feeling the cold much more now than when he was running around. “Thanks,” he said, and the boy started in the direction where he thought Rue’s room was. He was halted from his departure when Rue took hold of his wrists, and looked up at the man, who began explaining more about Finn’s ‘condition’. “I know…I just….I…” Before Jackson could get out any more, lips pressed against lips, and Jackson was promptly silenced from surprise.

He kissed him! Rue kissed— And then it happened again, before Jackson could really process the first one, and he opened his lips to let Rue in, taking little thought in what he was doing in a desperate need to try and keep up with Rue’s sudden, intimate affection. Jackson wrapped his arms up and around Rue’s neck, letting the clothes Rue had given him fall to the floor between them and covering their feet. When they parted again, Jackson finally smiled again, his face a rich shade of red. “…I was wondering when you would finally do that.” He stretched up and pecked Rue quickly on the lips once more.

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“You just got it?” Rue chuckled, even more glad now that he had remembered to get the bike. Jackson seemed to usually be more responsible than this, so Rue wasn’t going to get after him too much. It was just a bit amusing, especially since it had been entertaining to watch his friends mess around like a couple of kids. He hoped they would both get along and be friends.

But…. That would mean spending more time with both of them together, or them hanging out without him, and… Something about that made Rue’s stomach churn a little in discomfort. He’d… Think about it later.

Because right now, Jackson was obviously upset, and the last thing he needed was something else to be worried about. Rue just wanted to make him feel better, since he himself had accidentally broken into Finn’s comfort bubble before and knew what it was like to feel awful about making the older boy so uncomfortable. He wasn’t exactly why he thought kissing the younger boy was the best way to make him feel better, but… It just happened.

He was vaguely aware of the soft plump of the clothes Jackson was holding as they dropped to the floor, but he ignored it. Rue smiled as he felt the teen’s arms wrap around him, and took advantage of his openness, stroking his fingers through the boy’s short hair as he fell deeper into the motions. Eventually, finally, he pulled back, slightly out of breath and his own cheeks blushing faintly. His palm brushed over the top of the shorter boy’s hair, and Rue smiled with a touch of embarrassment. “Yeah, I uh…. I was just waiting for a good moment, I guess,” he replied, one arm tightening around Jackson’s waist. He hummed as the boy pecked him again, and without really thinking, Rue’s arms slipped down to Jackson’s thighs and lifted him off the ground. The aura reader carted him over to the couch and laid him down before climbing over him with a wide smile. “Want me to make up for the time it took me to make the first move?” he teased, tilting his head down as he began mouthing along the boy’s jaw. He kept his senses alert for the sound of the water turning off in the shower, indicating when Finn would return. Rue had forgotten about the hot chocolate and the fallen clothes in his current mindset.

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Jackson nodded in confirmation. Yes, the bike was brand new. He should be taking better care of it. And right away he’d already crashed it and left it behind in the snow. Grams would be so disappointed. He suspected that Rue must be too, and waited for the scolding that he knew would come…would it come? Pondering it as one way or the other seemed to be more nerve-wracking than it would be to just get yelled at like he expected.

Either way, Jackson didn’t want to have any more reasons to feel bad, especially not after he’d messed up so horribly with Finn. He was glad that Rue was trying to make him feel better, but….it was Finn he needed to….

Or maybe he didn’t. Suddenly all thought seemed to be chased out of his head as their lips warped over each other, tongues twisting, and mouths making all sorts of embarrassing squishy sounds. Jackson couldn’t help but giggle into every single kiss. “Ahh!” he yelped when Rue suddenly picked him up. Jackson’s heart pounded in his chest, in his ears, out to his fingers, he couldn’t believe how strong it was right now. He couldn’t believe what Rue was doing right now. Anticipation was eating away at him from the inside out, and….Jackson was enjoying every moment of it….but what might happen after all that anticipation was over, Jackson didn’t know. What could he expect? Should he….? “Okay…” he breathed up to the man looming over him, after the boy had been settled down across the soft cushions of the couch. Jackson arched his chin up and closed his eyes, once again feeling the unbearable tickle of anticipation. Of not knowing just how far this was going to go.

It was so strong, so intense, that Jackson was shivering all the way out to his fingers and toes. Was he scared? ….maybe just a little. Or a lot.

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Rue had already scolded Jackson enough, he didn’t need to do it anymore. Despite this incident, the teen had always seemed mature and put-together for his age, and Rue didn’t suspect that he had been mistaken. Everyone messed up sometimes, it wasn’t a big deal.

And… This wasn’t either, right? Rue was allowed to kiss whoever he wanted, as long as he had consent, and all the signals that Jackson was giving him so far told him that he did. He chuckled at the boy’s reaction when he picked him up, grinning in amusement down at their two auras, which were playing around with each other. “Don’t worry, I won’t drop you,” he breathed. His own heart was beating steadily, and his breath had deepened, so that a low rumble seemed to echo through his broad chest with each inhale. His kisses trailed from Jackson’s jawline down to his neck, where he spent a good amount of time mouthing on the side, suckling and biting gently until he was certain he would leave a dark purple welt. Unfortunately, he’d seemed to have forgotten that someone might see it and wonder where it had come from.

He wasn’t planning on doing much more than that, though, for a number of reasons. Not because he didn’t want to, because he did, but a) he remembered how nervous Jackson had been in the closet last time, and was noticing how nervous he seemed now, and b) how the hell would they explain it to Finn if he came out to see them partially or fully undressed on the couch? Nope, Rue had at least that much sense left. Not a lot more, though.

His hands still found their way up under the hem of the younger boy’s shirt, and he let his palms smooth over Jackson’s stomach, nails scratching gently. When Rue finally came up for a bit of air, his cheeks were dark pink and his eyes heavy-lidded with longing. “You… Are wonderful,” he breathed. Rue vaguely remembered they were supposed to be doing something else, but his brain wasn’t working well enough to register that his butt and Jackson’s clothes were still damp.

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Jackson tried to be mature and put together. If he wasn’t then there were too many people who would get on him about it. It was expected by too many people that he would fail. That he would end up just like his…his dad… So if Jackson messed up in even one area, then someone would have something to say about it.

But Rue didn’t. He hadn’t. Instead, he’d tried to make Jackson feel better. Not in the most conventional of manners, but whatever works, right?

Jackson clung tightly to Rue’s back, his fingers gripping at his shirt, while the older man carried him to the couch. Just like he promised, Rue didn’t drop the boy. Jackson had to wonder how much Rue must work out to be strong enough to carry the him. Jackson wasn’t exactly light. In fact, he’d gained more weight over the winter, due to inactivity and holiday eating. He wanted to ask if he was heavy…but instead said nothing, simply letting himself be laid down and kissed by Rue. Jackson could hear himself breathing, slow and steady, while Rue sucked on his neck. What else could he do but just stare at the ceiling and wait for Rue to move on? The waiting, combined with the sound of his own breath, and still the beat of his own heart in his ears, was hypnotic. Jackson couldn’t even hope to think about anything except the lips of the man currently latched onto his warming skin.

He was only vaguely aware that the sound of running water had stopped in the room beyond, and that the only sound in the room now was of Jackson and Rue’s unsynchronized breathing.

His breath caught when Rue’s fingers played across Jackson’s soft belly. It wasn’t toned by any means, far from it in fact, and there were small bumps of scarring scattered across it. Jackson was suddenly self conscious of these marks, and he tensed into himself slightly because of it. It also didn’t help that he was quite ticklish there as well. Jackson started giggling underneath Rue’s seriousness and his hands over his tummy if firm little fists. His face was speckled with a red and pink blush, half from embarrassment, half in shame, half in pure delight, and half in…in something else he couldn’t quite identify. “Heh heh heh heh….” he continued to giggle, curling in even more and rolling slightly onto his side to protect his sensitive stomach. “That tickles….!” Jackson looked over his shoulder up at Rue, smiling about with about ten kinds of glee.

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Mmmm…. Rue couldn’t remember the last time he had let himself simply enjoy someone like this. That he’d let himself get carried away enough to not worry about where this was going or wonder what the person was going to think afterwards, just…. Enjoying himself. Of course, he was in tune with how Jackson was responding just to make sure something didn’t go wrong, but based on the boy’s deep breathing and rapid pulse under his kisses, he was happy too.

Rue, too, was too distracted to realize the sound he’d been hearing in the bathroom for the past several minutes had turned off. And he would kick himself for it later, because it was something he had told himself not to forget.

He liked the softness of the younger boy’s flesh under him. It was… Cuddly. Adorable. Rue just wanted to squeeze him in his lap and hold him late into the night. In a way, he was vaguely reminded of Phoenix. He had been skinny as a twig no matter how much he ate, but his tiny frame had made him amazing to snuggle. But now Jackson was starting to giggle, and a low rumble of a laugh started in Rue’s throat too, wondering what he found so funny. “What is it?” he chuckled, pulling back slightly to grin at the laughing boy. “Hey! Where are you going?” Jackson had rolled over so that he was a smaller target, and that just wouldn’t do! Once Rue realized what the issue was, his grin widened, and his hands started rubbing and tickling even more. “What, this?” he teased, trailing his hands up and down his stomach and sides, then one went down and tickled his thigh through his pants while the other lifted the boy’s shirt enough so Rue could lean over and blow a huge raspberry against his stomach. So much for being mature. He was allowed to enjoy himself like this every once in a while!

He would still be continuing his tickle-onslaught when Finn exited the bathroom. And upon such event, Rue would jerk up and stare at his best friend in guilty, embarrassed horror, realizing how dumb he’d been to do this with the older boy still in the house.