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In his dreams, they walked hand-in-hand. The sky gleamed above them in shades of purple; neon colors raining down with visions of experiences his mind couldn’t fathom as anything other than magical. Yet, when he awoke, it was only the closeness they’d shared that lingered. Black and white is where he’d live for an eternity so long as he could once more walk hand-in-hand, feeling the warmth of Jean’s palm and the rhythmic beating that was life flowing through him. Never had he found someone who could make even the wildest of dreams seem so small in comparison.
Who other than Jean could make someone so crazy?
“It’s a good day for a swim, don’t you think?” Jean had said earlier, stretching as he spoke from the workout they’d just finished. Keeping in shape was an important part of the Scout regime and Floch was fine with making sure he did so, especially when his daily workout routine started to include doing it with Jean. The other wore an old pair of shorts with a white shirt that had gotten far too tight for his growing physique. He had let his gaze linger upon his muscles, larger than normal as they still swelled from having just been exerted.
Floch nodded. He couldn’t offer words at least not while his gaze was still distracted.
“Think I’ll head down to the lake now.” He grabbed his towel and wiped his forehead as he spoke. In the sunlight, the gleam of sweat upon his skin was obvious. “Come with me, yeah?”
“Yeah.” Floch breathed the agreement out as casually as exhaling.
It hadn’t even occurred to him that it was just the two of them going. Not until they’d begun walking, only a towel in each of their hands, that it sunk in. It wasn’t peculiar to do something alone with Jean, at least in the sense that they were indeed friends. But he wondered if the other realized the way the alone time impacted his mind.
Their chatter was consistent as they walked. The lake was just a few miles away from the base, the path veering into a forest on the way. It allowed for the lake to be quiet, without any risk of passersby. Floch’s free hand rested at his side as he walked next to his friend and his fingers itched with the desire to reach out and tug on the other’s. The hill going down to the lake was decorated in tall grass and wildflowers, which danced side to side as a breeze flew gracefully through it. Floch felt the air shoot through his hair, making his bangs bounce and revealing his forehead.
Jean turned and laughed at the way his hair was sticking up while he had to move his own from blocking his vision. “Ah shit,” he grumbled as he looped a finger around his strands.
“Serves you right,” Floch retorted with his tongue out. Jean didn’t hesitate to shove him with his hand, which caught the redhead by surprise, and before he could fall the taller grabbed ahold of his wrist to stabilize him.
“My bad,” Jean apologized, genuinely. Floch couldn’t stop focusing on how warm his hand felt and how irresistibly close it was to his hand. “I thought you saw that coming.”
“Don’t apologize,” Floch snapped out, though not intending to sound angry. Jean offered a soft smile and rubbed his thumb gently across the inside of Floch’s wrist before he let go. Is this how he treats girls? The redhead’s thoughts were loud.
“Alright then,” Jean shrugged, “then you better see this coming.” He shoved both his hands toward the redhead who managed to dodge this time, taking a few steps back and unable to stop laughing as his friend landed firmly on the ground. Jean’s white shirt picked up some of the dusty color of the ground and it matched the color that was now on his hands.
“Oh, you think this is funny?” Jean pretended to be mad but his amusement was obvious.
“Hilarious actually.” Floch folded his arms proudly.
While still on the ground, he reached out and grabbed ahold of Floch’s ankle, a move that the redhead hadn’t been able to anticipate. He tried his best to catch his footing again, but as his friend tugged, he felt his body collapse and he plopped right on his bottom. Jean grinned with pride as he crawled over to where Floch landed and shoved him back so that he was laying down. Jean pressed his hands into his wrists, pinning him completely in place. Floch gulped and immediately pleaded with the universe that Jean hadn’t heard him. Roughhousing like this wasn’t something entirely uncommon, though, there was something particularly arousing by the way that Jean was touching him this time.
Floch’s feelings overwhelmed him as Jean hovered above him, his lips only inches away from the other’s.
“I think I win,” Jean said with a smirk and Floch genuinely couldn’t decipher if winning entailed holding him on the ground or making him blush profusely.
“Doesn’t count, I was underprepared,” Floch remarked, turning his head to the side.
Jean laughed but the sound of it wasn’t laced with pride. There was something soft about it that seemed to match the feeling that was residing in his gaze. The redhead thought for a moment about asking but determined he didn’t want to complicate. At that moment they were friends, which was more than he would’ve expected possible. Complicating that felt inexcusable.
“You stink,” Floch blurted out, “get off me already so you can rinse off.”
“Asshole,” Jean said out of the side of his mouth, releasing Floch of his grasp as he rose up. The water was only a few feet from where they were. Jean spun on his heel and stared at him for a moment. There seemed to be something on his mind but he didn’t speak, instead, he started to walk toward the water’s edge as his fingers grasped the bottom fabric of his shirt.
He pulled the material upward and over his shoulder, curving his head to fit through the neck hole. Floch stared at the way the muscles of his back shifted from the movement. He slowly rose up from where he had been pinned down, trying to look as Jean removed his shorts as well, all while still facing the water. The redhead gulped before heading closer to his friend, whose body was only covered by the bit of fabric he still wore around his groin. Jean turned just his head back as he threw his shorts off to the side.
“Aren’t you coming?” He called out. Floch responded with an ‘obviously’ as if he wasn’t completely stationary. Every part of him hesitated to venture any closer and the task of stripping himself of his own clothes felt daunting. He removed his shorts first, discarding them on top of a log. He watched as Jean began to enter the water, the dropoff rather close to shore and he fell down below the surface. The redhead slowly removed his shirt, trying not to overthink the way that his stomach wasn’t nearly as defined as his friend’s. Against his better judgment, he dropped his shirt and headed into the water.
Jean splashed him as soon as he got in, Floch’s bangs sticking to his forehead as a frown formed on his face. Still, he played along immediately, quickly splashing him back.
“Alright, I deserved that,” Jean said with a chuckle. Floch nodded and offered a smile.
“I’m relieved you’re finally acknowledging your incessant teasing,” Floch said sarcastically, watching as Jean leaned his head back so his hair was in the water. “Feel good?”
“Ahh, yes. Such a good idea.” Jean said with a smile as he closed his eyes. “You’re fun to tease.” He added with a cheeky grin.
Floch started to stare at him, feeling the cold water on his skin emphasizing the way he was beginning to heat up inside. Being with Jean was fun, the easy kind of simple fun that he’d never had before. The other’s eyes peered open and the redhead turned as quickly as he could but the feeling he’d been caught was making his cheeks burn.
“You haven’t gone under yet,” Jean said, moving closer to him. Floch could see the shape of his muscles even while the water distorted them. He looked so intimidatingly nude with his underwear barely visible. The visions of his dreams returned to him.
“Don’t even think about it,” Floch warned when he realized what his friend was insinuating. Jean lunged forward and Floch quickly dodged, similarly to what had occurred on the hill, laughter erupted between the two of them as he continued to try and grab him, the water inhibiting their movement. Jean finally got close enough to actually reach him and Floch pushed down onto his friend’s shoulders to keep himself above water. He gripped his shoulders tightly, noticing the strength he could feel within them. He realized his stomach was lined up with Jean’s mouth and immediately felt embarrassed but the other’s grip was too strong for him to wiggle out easily. The feeling of Jean’s breath on his abdomen caused a chill that shot up to his neck, and the intensities of hot and cold started to overwhelm his senses.
Jean laughed again and slowly lowered Floch down so they were at eye level with each other. They were always doing this. So strangely intimate but laughing, like somehow they were still just friends that way. His friend’s hands found a place on his waist and he didn’t shake him off, instead taking note of how he felt even when the contact was underwater. They were practically naked and now so close that their lips could touch if only they tilted their heads forward. So many thoughts raced through his mind but he focused on the look in Jean’s eyes, like he once again had something he wanted to say.
“You play too much,” Floch filled the silence with meaningless complaining.
“It’s my birthday today,” Jean’s voice was quieter now.
Multiple questions entered his mind but the one at the forefront was why aren’t you spending it with your friends?
“Well shit, I’m sorry. I had no idea.” Floch’s voice cracked as he responded.
“You don’t have to apologize,” Jean said with a soft smile. “Nobody really makes a thing of birthdays around here so I didn’t expect anything.”
Floch wasn’t sure what to say. He couldn’t figure out why Jean was telling him this now or what he was hoping Floch would do now that he knew. Without thinking, he placed his hands on Jean’s biceps, resting his palms against his muscles. Touching him was overwhelming but he couldn’t get himself to stop. Without any words to say, he didn’t know what else to do. He noticed the other’s eyes dart away for a moment when he first made contact, but Jean only moved his hands further around Floch’s waist in reaction.
Was this what he’s like with girls too? Floch thought. But he wasn’t a girl and yet...
“I’m glad we came to the lake,” Jean continued, “I was hoping I’d get to spend my birthday with you.”
It was as if suddenly the world was full of color for the first time. The vibrant, colorful feelings of his dreams began to grow inside him. Jean wanted to spend his birthday with him. Only him? He knew he had plenty of friends for he was a very likable guy but he didn’t bother to invite any of them. The feeling inside him was so unbelievably soft he almost felt disgusted with himself. They were practically naked, so intimately close, and now Jean was telling him his only birthday wish was to spend alone time together.
“That’s embarrassing, Jean.” Floch reprimanded him but couldn’t keep up with the guise as he spoke with a smile. “If you want to spend time with me just ask, you weirdo.”
“Hey, give me a break,” Jean defended and Floch could see the blush on his cheeks, “I didn’t want to assume anything.”
Floch blinked. He felt a funny feeling in his stomach and blinked again. There was a strange rush inside of him, some sort of burst of confidence that was too strong to ignore. Without giving it another thought he leaned his head forward, pressing his lips into the other’s. Jean froze as Floch pulled away. The redhead opened his mouth, preparing to explain himself for being so weird, but he couldn’t get a word out because Jean’s lips were once again on his.
His friend wrapped his arms even tighter around his waistline, pulling him so close that his legs wrapped around Jean’s. Floch squeezed tightly against his biceps, feeling the muscle contract as he moved his arms around him. Jean’s lips were soft and wet against his own and as they kissed the corners of his mouth kept rising. He didn’t have time to properly consider what was happening, instead too busy thinking about the sensation that was growing between his legs as his groin was rubbed against Jean’s firm thigh. He gasped as he felt his erection begin to form.
Jean pulled away only to catch his breath but neither one let go of the other. The reality of the situation was starting to set in and he couldn’t ignore the butterflies that had intruded his insides. He had spent most of the afternoon desperate just to hold his hand and now he had managed to kiss him and it was so much better than he ever could’ve imagined. He stared at Jean bewildered for a moment until he noticed a gleam in the other’s eyes. In an instant, Jean shoved Floch underwater. He re-emerged to the sound of giggling from his friend, who helped by pushing his wet bangs off his face.
“I told you, you play too much,” Floch complained and shoved against Jean’s shoulder.
“Can we keep spending time together, just the two of us?” Jean asked bluntly, taking the advice Floch had given him earlier. Though, when Floch had told him to ask he hadn’t realized that time together meant touching and kissing and feeling completely embarrassed. The same confidence from earlier returned and for the first time, Floch felt a bright feeling, one akin to the magical illusions in his dreams.
“To be honest, I am constantly trying to spend time with you,” he responded too quickly. They laughed, as they always did, but this time the laughter ended in another kiss.