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A dull thud sounds through the bathroom door as Harry turns the shower off. He went to rinse off after his morning run. Not Kim, though. He reveled in being able to sleep in while he ran, the whole bed to himself without the trumpet snores of Harry next to him. A completely carefree day.
The rich aroma of coffee fills Kim’s lungs as he hugs his mug and takes a sip. There on the coffee table is the latest book of the *In System* series that he picked up over a week ago. The mid-morning sun is beaming on it angelically, as if Dolores Dei herself brought about the perfect circumstances to warp Kim into the Folded M dimension.
He planned their day off ever since he bought the book, ensuring all their errands were done throughout the week between calls or in the evenings. All so he could relax and read without a care in the world. He puts down his coffee and picks up his book. The pages flutter delicately across the pad of his thumb as he flips through it and brings it in close to waft in that new book smell. Time to read.
Harry steps out of the bathroom with just a towel around his waist, his hairy chest glimmering with beads of water as he beams at Kim, high on adrenaline from the cardio. Kim notices him standing there in his peripheral vision, seemingly waiting for attention and trying to entice Kim with his damp, almost naked self, but Kim is dedicated to his book today.
Though a little peek doesn’t hurt. He takes a quick glance at Harry’s broad, sparkling chest, following the water travelling down Harry’s happy trail.
Oops, bad idea, Kim. Harry’s eyes glint when he spots Kim dash a glance his way. And with Harry, if you give him an inch, he takes a mile. He’s next to Kim in a flash.
He leans into Kim, who readjusts himself, squeezing himself back into the corner of the couch with one foot nestled under him. “Whatcha reading?” he coaxes, wet hair dripping onto Kim’s exposed thigh, who then lifts his book higher to shield it from the horrors of being soaked and ruined.
This unintentionally gives Harry a better look at the cover. “Oh I see,” he says playfully, grinning as he pulls the book back down to reveal an irritated glare aimed at him from Kim.
“Harry,” Kim warns in a low tone.
“Kim,” Harry smiles menacingly. What Jean calls the “shitkid smile”. The one that bewitches you.
Kim’s lip twitches, but he brings his book back over his face in a move he tells himself is to read, though it’s mostly to cover up Harry’s taunting face and chest with hair glistening in post-shower bliss. He ignores Harry spreading his moisture throughout his own shirt.
Harry squirms his way under Kim’s arms and rests his chin on Kim’s chest, looking up at him from beneath the book. Kim pretends not to notice the gesture, letting an arm rest on Harry’s slightly damp bare back while he holds his book in his other hand.
“Kim?”
Kim ignores him, head turned to the side, facing his book.
“Hey, Kim?”
Kim stretches his arm over Harry and turns the page. Harry comes up a little higher and nuzzles his face into Kim’s neck to huff him in.
“Kim. I’m so horny,” he says quite pathetically, maneuvering a leg so that it straddles Kim’s thigh resting over the edge of the couch, albeit somewhat awkwardly.
“I can tell,” Kim says bluntly, feeling Harry’s crotch, still blocked by a towel, exceptionally warm against his thigh.
He shouldn’t have responded, because now that Harry got a reaction, he won’t stop. Kim pressed the Harry attention button two times now. Harry starts kissing sloppily at Kim’s neck.
“Jack me off???” Harry smooches into Kim’s neck.
“Wow, Harry, you're such a romantic,” Kim snides and rolls his eyes, turning a page in his book. Truthfully, Kim really likes how forthright Harry is. There’s no guessing with him, he tells you exactly what’s on his mind. Unlike himself. Sure, maybe that means Harry says some mildly problematic things, but he’s also easy to correct, mostly listening without the need for any explanation. That’s pretty rare nowadays. It’s refreshing.
“Please? Can you?” Harry whines rubbing his hard-on into Kim’s leg, the towel slowly becoming undone.
“Can I? Yes. Will I? No.” Kim keeps his air of disinterest, but he’s in a good mood today, and he’s having fun.
“Come on, Kim, pleeeeeeeeaaaase?” Harry is trying to force Kim to look at him, but Kim is staying true to his task, keeping a firm gaze on his book.
“You're a big boy, Harry, you can deal with your own problems.” He pats him on the head condescendingly. “I’m trying to read.” But he’s only half-reading now, as he’s starting to enjoy teasing Harry.
“But it’s so much better when you do it,” Harry complains, cocking his head to get a better look at Kim, sure that there’s a stifled smirk beneath that stoic expression of his.
“Harry, I’ve been waiting to read this book all week now. Go tend to your horny problems alone.”
Harry frowns and looks up at Kim with the most pitiful puppy dog eyes he can muster up, but Kim doesn’t waver, he shoos Harry away like a fly and keeps on “reading”.
Harry pouts, then starts to peel himself off of Kim, his chest and stomach sticking to Kim’s white shirt. “Fine,” he groans out, like an angsty teen as he gets up off the couch.
Somehow, against his will, Kim finds himself tugging Harry back by the towel, which then falls into his lap right before Harry falls back into him. But he doesn't say anything, continuing to read his book with Harry’s back against his abdoment now.
Harry is a little taken aback but doesn’t have a chance to collect himself as Kim slinks his free arm around him and down his waist, cradling Harry’s soft gut. Kim readjusts his leg to straddle Harry from behind, so Harry can lean back against him comfortably, but he does it so nonchalantly, all while still glued to his book.
Harry bends his head back to look up at Kim, but gets nothing back, when suddenly he feels the pressure of a palm on his dick.
“Aahh,” he gasps in surprise, looking down to see Kim now tracing his fingers across his thighs, getting close to his cock, but never quite getting there. He watches as Kim continues when he suddenly flicks the head of his cock before suavely sliding his middle finger into Harry.
“Ugh, Kim,” Harry moans, throwing his head back and grabbing Kim’s arm for leverage.
“Be quiet, I’m trying to read,” Kim scolds. Truthfully, he’s probably read the same sentence five times by now. His hand is compressed against Harry’s groin as he circles Harry’s cunt a few times, where he can feel Harry’s pre-cum forming a wet spot on the towel beneath him.
Harry nods, closing his eyes as Kim splits Harry open to expose his firm, throbbing cock. The chill of the air sends a shudder through Harry, which gets heightened by Kim grazing a single finger up Harry’s perineum through his labia right to the tip of his cock.
“Mmmmm,” Harry holds back his pleasure as best he can. If Kim is taking a peek, Harry can’t tell. When he cranes his neck to look at Kim, his face is still turned fixedly in the direction of the book. Almost as if Kim can sense Harry watching him, he quickly juts a finger into Harry, who jerks up in surprise, eyes squinting shut as he squeezes Kim’s arm.
Kim uses his thumb to turn a page in his book, even though he hasn’t technically read anything, but he has to keep an air of indifference going. He’s actually focusing on Harry, slowly sliding another finger into him and reaching deep inside to find the warm internal ridges of his g-spot.
“Ah,” Harry gasps as Kim crooks his fingers and starts quickening his pace. Harry is starting to soak everything, Kim’s hand, the towel, Kim wouldn’t be surprised if a wet spot was forming on the couch beneath him.
Kim pulls out his pre-cum covered fingers and uses the slick to rub the entrance to Harry’s asshole.
“Ahhhh, Kim,” Harry groans, turning his face to the side to touch more of Kim’s chest.
“Shhhhh,” Kim scolds, “Be good, Harry.”
Harry nods frantically, eyes clamped shut as the tingling from his asshole spreads up towards his crotch. He uses his other hand to grasp Kim’s thigh, the other still gripping Kim’s left arm doing all the work. Kim still hasn’t let go of his book, but Harry’s too aroused to notice anymore.
Kim slides his fingers through Harry’s dripping pre-cum up his perineum and straddles Harry’s cock with his fingers. He starts to rub the shaft from the sides up and down.
“Mmmnnnnn,” Harry is trying to hold back, being good for Kim, but his body can move quietly. He thrusts into Kim’s hand, sliding his cock between Kim’s fingers as his eyebrows furrow from the stimulation.
Kim wants to put the book down and get one hand in Harry while the other works his cock, but half of the pleasure comes from the fact that he’s “disinterested”.
Harry’s moans are getting more strained, his grip on Kim’s arm tightening. Kim is matching Harry’s pace, pumping his hand to match Harry’s thrusts upwards, all while seemingly invested in his book. He’s impressed at his own composure, but he’s beginning to falter, his own erection growing against Harry’s back, getting harder with each of Harry’s thrust recoil.
Harry is trying his best to be quiet, but animalistic grunts are forcing itself out of him in short bursts. The pulse of Harry’s cock throbbing against Kim’s fingers tells him he’s getting close. He knows Harry needs one last thing to get him over the edge, but he wants to dangle it over Harry for as long as possible. The book is almost shut, hanging limp in Kim’s other hand, but neither notices.
Harry is starting to dig his ass into Kim’s groin as surges of pleasure overcome him in waves. He’s trying to maneuver himself to get the head of his cock under Kim’s hand, but Kim is one step ahead of him.
“Kim,” he says breathily, “Nnngh, Kim, I need-,” he begs softly, turning to nuzzle his forehead into Kim’s neck as he squeezes Kim’s thigh.
“Be good and shut up, Harry,” Kim hisses but he gives in to what Harry wants, first dipping his fingers into him to get more lubrication before finally grazing the tip of Harry’s cock with a gentle flick of his finger.
“Ahh, fuck”, Harry yells, thrusting hard into the air, and Kim finally places his book onto the arm of the couch, placing his hand over Harry’s mouth while the other continues to rub the head of Harry’s dick in strong circular motions. As he continues to stroke his cock, Kim can feel Harry’s forced breaths on the back of his hand, the vibrations of Harry’s moans emanating through his palm.
Harry lets go of Kim’s leg, flailing his arm as if trying to find something to stabilize the overwhelming feeling of his cunt tightening and throbbing while his breath is stifled. Kim then lowers his hand to Harry’s throat, quickly finding his beating pulse on each side of his neck and putting gentle pressure right on it. Harry clutches Kim’s arm with both of his hands, his thighs quivering and squeezing Kim’s hand between them. He’s left feeling light-headed as blood leaves his brain and rushes to his cock as waves of pleasure overcome him, gasping before finally going limp into Kim’s arms.
Kim takes his hand off Harry’s neck and carefully brushes at his hair. Harry is breathing heavily as he leans into him with his eyes closed for a moment to catch his breath and allow the oxygen to reach his brain again. He hums and strokes at Kim’s arm across his chest, who’s other hand is still gently stroking around Harry as the throbbing subsides.
Kim kisses Harry on the head and pulls his hand up, completely covered in Harry’s cum. “Great, now I’m a mess,” he complains, a small smirk across his face.
Harry knows what to do. He grabs Kim’s hand and licks at each of his fingers delicately. “Thank you, Kim,” he says between each finger, “You’re so amazing and perfect. I love you so much, Kim.” Harry has to turn his body awkwardly to look up at Kim in adoration.
“Hmm, “ Kim snobs him, but doesn’t pull his hand away as he picks his book back up with his available, dry hand.
“Do you want me to suck you off?” Harry asks affectionately, after sucking a little too hard on Kim’s middle finger. Kim avoids Harry’s gaze, though they are both painfully aware of his erection pressing into Harry’s back, but he wants to pretend he put aside his own interests for Harry only.
“I’m trying to read,” Kim states, pulling his now “cleaned” hand back to his book.
Harry adjusts himself to sit facing Kim, keeping himself situated on the towel. “But you’re so hard,” Harry ogles Kim’s hard-on and gently grazes it through his boxers with a finger. Kim purses his lips, desperately fighting the urge to react.
“I can control my urges, Harry, unlike you.” Kim keeps reading, tight lipped. He’s actually not totally sure. He truly does want to read, but the throbbing between his legs is distracting.
Harry smirks but keeps rubbing at Kim’s dick, gradually adding more hand surface area and pressure. Kim doesn’t stop him, but he pretends he’s unbothered. Internally, he’s screaming at how hot this all is. Harry’s large hands can encompass so much of his dick. The small wet spot at the top of his boxers ruins his facade.
Harry lowers Kim’s boxers, slowly revealing his stiff cock. Kim has positioned the book so that it looks like he’s reading, hiding his eyes as he watches Harry beneath the pages. Then what Harry does next makes Kim want to scream. He fingers himself, gathering up as much cum as he can and rubs it all across Kim’s shaft and head. Kim attempts to stifle his impulse to inhale sharply, but it only makes him breathe deeper and heavier, which is just as obvious.
Harry’s eyes gloat at Kim, whose face is now completely hidden by the book, ears flushed red. He pumps Kim a few times before shuffling off the couch to kneel in front of Kim.
“Khm,” Kim clears his throat nonchalantly, changing his position from laying across the couch to sitting normally, except with his legs spread open a little more than normal. Purely because he just wanted to readjust, nothing more. It just so happens that Harry is kneeling there, between his legs. Why? Kim wouldn’t know.
Harry smiles even though Kim can’t see him, bending over to gently lick at Kim’s tip, right in the slit. Kim’s cock jumps, but he remains stoic, turning a page even though he hasn’t read a single thing on it.
Harry smiles a little before quickly putting Kim’s whole cock in his mouth as deep as he can. Kim inhales sharply, but briefly, through his nose. Harry can see his knuckles turn white as he grasps his book tightly, drawing it closer to his face, yet he remains, mostly, unfaltered. For now.
Harry mouths Kim up and down, occasionally sucking at Kim’s tip and licking more pre-cum off. “Mmmm, Kim, you taste so good.”
Kim can feel the sweat forming at his temples. He won’t give in yet. He’s going to win this somehow. Whatever that means in this particular situation.
Harry spits on Kim’s dick and Kim has to close his eyes for a second, still masked by the book. Harry rubs his thick saliva all around Kim’s cock and Kim fights back the urge to whimper.
Kim now has his eyes fully closed and the book is practically touching his nose. He hasn’t turned a page in awhile to feign reading.
Harry once again deepthroats Kim and bobs a few times with Kim deep down his throat. Fuck, Harry is so good at that. Then he grabs the base of Kim’s shaft and starts pumping while vigorously sucking at Kim.
“Fuck, fine,” Kim shuts his book and tosses it to the side, throwing his head back into the couch.
Harry takes his mouth off, a crooked smile on lips as he looks up at Kim wickedly. “Sorry. Did you want me to stop so you can read?”
Kim glares down at Harry in warning, his nostrils flared.
Harry’s eyes twinkle and he gets back to work, looking up at Kim teasingly.
“You better make this worthwhile, Harry, I put down my book for - ah,” Kim tries to reprimand, but Harry surprises him with a gentle bite right beneath his corona, a crooked smile and mischievous eyes aimed at Kim, before going back to stroking and sucking at the same time.
Kim clutches the back of Harry’s head and leans into the couch, allowing himself to succumb to the pleasure. He can feel the pressure mounting in his balls as they tighten up towards his cock. Harry squeezes at them gently with his other hand and Kim knows he won’t last much longer. Harry can sense this and takes his mouth off of Kim’s dick to suck on his balls. He then nibbles his way up Kim’s dick with his lips over his teeth and Kim is throbbing so hard, he feels like he’s going to explode.
Harry licks up the underside of Kim’s shaft and ends by putting his mouth over Kim’s tip and rolling his tongue around the edge while jerking Kim’s shaft. Harry sucks one last time at Kim’s head as Kim comes straight onto Harry’s tongue.
“Aaaahhhhh,” Kim moans, squeezing his eyes shut as he tugs at Harry’s hair. Harry swallows everything eagerly, watching Kim melt away for a moment.
After a few moments, Kim comes to, and raises his eyebrows at Harry, a look that says, *Well…What do you want?* Harry understands, grinning up at Kim while pulling his boxers back up neatly for him.
“You're such a menace, Harry,” Kim glowers, but he can’t hide the twinkle in his own eye.
Harry grins and wipes at his chin with the back of his arm.
Kim brings his leg up onto his knee. “Ok, I want to read my book now. Really,” he peers at Harry over the rim of his glasses as he picks his book up again, smoothing out the pages he accidentally bent when he hastily threw it to the side.
Harry kisses him on the knee and gets up, heading to the kitchen for his morning coffee.
It takes Kim a moment to figure where he actually left off in his book, but he finally gets a groove going. He feels really good about the day. Now he really has nothing on his plate.
However, this lasted only a few minutes before Harry was back at his side.
“Hey, Kim?”
Kim furrows his brows. Wasn’t the last distraction enough?
“Kim?”
Kim closes his eyes in annoyance. “Harry, please, I’m trying to read.”
“I know. I was just thinking-”
“What, Harry, what were you thinking?” he snaps a little too quickly. But Harry’s thinking almost always leads to some kind of shenanigan or another.
Harry frowns a little before continuing. “It’s a nice day out. Why don’t we go to the park? Have a little picnic? You can bring your book. It’ll be so nice.”
Kim glances at the window. It wasn’t a particularly nice day, but it wasn’t bad either. A faint cloudy grey, but that might burn off in a few hours. It is spring, though, so it could go either way.
He turns back to Harry. “And what will you do?” Meaning, how will you occupy yourself so I can actually read.
“Don’t worry about it, Kim,” Harry reassures him. “I’ll let you read, I promise.”
Kim’s mouth purses as he contemplates the idea. He can’t determine if Harry is more or less likely to disturb his reading here or at the park. He’s obviously got a lot of pent up energy today. Maybe his dog really does need a walk.
“Fine, Harry, but since you suggested it, you get everything ready. My main purpose for the day is to read this book.”
“You got it, lieutenant,” Harry salutes Kim as he heads back to the kitchen. Kim only grimaces in response, hoping this decision wasn’t a mistake.
Clearly excited, Harry hums loudly as he clanks dishes together, preparing sandwiches and snacks nicely in a lunch box. His racket messes with Kim’s focus, reading the same sentence over and over, flinching at every random clatter. Harry’s obliviousness is starting to irk him.
“Are you done yet?” Kim snaps.
“Oh, yeah, just about, sorry!” Harry calls back.
Kim puts the book down. He’ll just wait til they get there. There’s too much commotion right now. The best option is to just close his eyes and breathe.
When they get in the Kineema, Kim’s mood takes a turn for the better. It is a nice day, not too hot, slightly warm, but still crisp. It smells like rain, but there’s sun peeking through the clouds. Plus, driving the Kineema always perks him up.
They arrive at the park around noon. Harry takes a little too long to unload the Kineema and halfway to the park, he turns back because he forgot the picnic blanket. Kim glances at his watch in irritation, tapping his foot. Half the day is gone and he’s barely read one chapter of his book.
They find a flat spot on a shallow incline and Kim stands and watches impatiently as Harry meticulously sets up the picnic blanket, carefully unpacking the basket he packed and laying the various dishware out in picturesque fashion, as if setting up a photo shoot. Kim finally rolls his eyes and sits down on the blanket, Harry reflexively retrieving a plate out of the way.
Harry readjusts his arrangement as Kim pulls out his book and starts reading. Then Harry slowly begins pulling out the food one by one.
“Hey Kim, you want any grapes?” he asks, holding up a purple grape bunch.
Kim sighs heavily. “No, Harry,” he says through the pages of his book.
“What about some cheese and crackers? I can spread it for you.” Harry asks, not noticing the wrinkles in Kim’s forehead getting deeper as he fishes in the basket for the cheese.
“No, thank you, Harry, I’m not hungry.” Kim says tersely, clutching his book harder.
“Really? But it’s lunch time. I made sandwiches,” Harry holds up the nicely wrapped turkey sandwiches he prepared.
“Yes, Harry,” Kim says through gritted teeth, eyes laser beamed at Harry over his book.
“Oh, I’ve got some jam, too,” Harry says while pulling out a small jar.
“Harry!” Kim says sharply, slamming his book onto his lap.
Harry dips his head down to look up at Kim in shame. A bad dog. “Yeah?” he musters out.
“If you’re not going to eat, why don’t you go and take a walk? Go and find out if the ducks have migrated back or something.” In other words, sit and spin.
Harry nods in understanding and quietly gets up, sulking down the hill towards the small walking trail in the park.
Kim finally feels at peace. He lays back into the blanket, resting his head on the basket, and overenthusiastically wiggles as he gets cozy and holds his book across his chest. He half-mindedly picks at the grapes next to him as he reads, staring fixedly upon the text, grapes sometimes missing his slightly agape mouth as his hand wanders, trying to figure out where it is and what it’s doing.
Harry was right, this is nice, Kim thinks after a while, not noticing Harry making his way back over.
Kim is so immersed in the story, he lets out a small gasp when Harry speaks his name, towered over him.
Kim eyes Harry up and down and notices Harry’s bell bottoms drenched up to his thighs.
“What the hell happened?” Kim asks incredulously.
“I accidentally walked into the pond,” Harry says foolishly, scratching at the back of his head.
Kim shakes his head, flabbergasted. “What?”
“I -”
“You know what,” Kim interrupts, holding a hand up, “I actually don’t want to know. I just want to read. Please, Harry.”
“Oh, right, ok,” Harry says glumly. He sits at the edge of the blanket, keeping his wet pants and shoes off of it, and leans on his knees, looking out into the park.
Ignoring him, Kim checks his watch. Itʻs only been half an hour. All he’s asking for is two, god forbid, three hours of uninterrupted reading time. Why is that so hard for Harry?
Harry sits there quietly like a good boy, trying his best to munch silently on crackers as Kim reads.
Just as things seem to be going well, the sun starts to disappear and a dark shadow starts to creep over the park. Kim imagines it’s just a cloud passing over the sun, but the chill is unmistakable. He notices Harry starting to shiver, still wet from his incident.
Kim keeps reading, but Harry keeps letting out shudders and brrrs, his upper body occasionally overcome with trembles.
“Harry, do we need to go home?” Kim asks dismissively.
“No, no, I’m fine,” Harry turns and shakes his head, moving to take off his wet socks in the hope that it will help calm his shivers, quickly failing as a gust of wind sends another up his spine and rattles the pages of Kim’s book.
Then, a mere moment later:
*Plop*
Kim turns to see a water droplet running down his forearm. Then a more muted *pat* as one falls onto his open page. He sits up quickly and looks up. Harry has turned to face him, but is looking beyond, eyes big.
In a flash, the spring rain shifts over them dumping an onslaught of fat, heavy drops.
Harry hurriedly works to put his socks and shoes back on while Kim, flustered, tries to reassemble the picnic basket contents as quickly as possible. Finally, Harry snatches the blanket up, the book flying off into the wet grass, forgotten.
Kim folds up his collar and hunches his shoulders as he runs toward the Kineema, Harry following behind with the blanket over his head.
Kim fumbles with the keys before finally getting it open and they both scurry inside.
“Wow, that came out of nowhere!” Harry exclaims, hyped up by the sudden shift.
Kim tries to push back some of the water out of his hair and removes his soaked jacket. It’s then he notices the large inner pocket is missing something important. “My book!”
Harry, now on high alert from the commotion, is quick to the draw. “I’ll get it!” he says while jumping out of the Kineema and running full speed to their picnic spot.
His heart sinks when he finds a completely soaked book laying open in the mud.
He saunters back slowly, Kim watching from inside the Kineema as Harry becomes completely drenched by his slow pace. Harry can’t look Kim in the eyes as he stands in the open door, holding the sopping book up for Kim to see.
Kim’s face goes taut. He turns forward and roars the Kineema on. He barks at Harry to get in. Harry obeys, still holding the ruined book.
Harry looks pitifully over at Kim. “We can probably dry it on the radiator. It’ll come out ok,” he tries to comfort, but Kim doesn’t say anything, eyebrows angled fiercely, eyes remaining focused on the road.
When they get home, Kim, half-soaked, angrily marches to the shower. He comes out to see Harry has changed and is pointlessly tending to the book at the dinner table.
He’s gently patting it down with a towel, but the spine is so wet, the adhesive pulls apart, with chunks of pages splitting apart. Kim huffs and turns away to the couch, hastily turning on the TV.
“Just throw it away. It’s ruined.”
Harry doesn’t say anything. He’s adamant about fixing it, separating the chunks to dry individually. He tries to separate some of the individual pages from each other, but they’re so enmeshed together that it’s impossible to distinguish. In the process, he splits a few of the pages. No ripping sound is heard due to their sogginess, yet Harry still flinches.
“I’ll uh, I’ll glue it back together once they’re dry.”
“It’s pointless, Harry. Throw it away. Now.” Kim snaps.
Harry looks sadly down at the carcass, now in several pieces strewn across the table. “K,” he resigns, slowly picking up the pieces and watching them stick to the sides of the trash bag as he tosses it in the bin.
Kim feels Harry’s weight shift the couch next to him. “I’m sorry, I just wanted to have a nice day with you.”
“And I just wanted to read my book.” Kim is staring at the tv, trivia game show airing, distorted in half-static.
Harry grazes his hand across Kim’s nape. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to ruin your day.”
Kim brushes his hand away pettily, “Well, you did.”
Harry gazes somberly at Kim. Kim can see his pathetic pout in his peripheral vision, which just annoys him further. It was his book that got destroyed. He’s not in the mood to coddle Harry’s guilt.
The TV keeps distorting. The rain is affecting their reception.
“Ugh, this damn rain ruins everything,” Kim grumbles, flipping through the channels to find one that isn’t as staticky. Harry, in an attempt to make amends, jumps up to fiddle with the antennae.
“No, Harry, don’t touch that, you’ll make it-”
*Full static.*
“Goddamnit, Harry.”
“No, no I got it,” Harry says, continuing to fiddle with the long metal probes. He adjusts them this way and that, finally forming a clear picture, but Kim can tell that it’s not stable. Harry knows it, too, and he just stands there awkwardly, holding the antennae up.
“Let go, Harry.”
“It’s fine, Kim, I got it.”
“I’m not going to watch TV with you standing over there staring straight at me.”
“It’s no problem, Kim.”
Harry is pissing him off now. Kim doesn’t know why he can’t just get that he just needs to be mad for a little while. His obsession with trying to fix everything is always tampering with Kim’s process.
“Harry, let go of the damn antennae now,” Kim orders slowly and quietly. His most dangerous warning tone.
Harry retracts a little into himself but nods silently. He slowly removes his hand, hoping the antennae will stay in balance, but it doesn’t. One of the arms isn’t jointed properly and shifts downwards, immediately rendering the TV obsolete with complete white noise.
Kim sighs heavily as he shuts the tv off and Harry sombers over back to the couch. Kim grabs the untouched newspaper and starts to do the crossword.
Harry just sits and stares straight ahead. Literally twiddling his thumbs, sniffling in boredom every so often. Attention seeking behavior. Each sniffle makes Kim’s blood pressure spike.
“Are you just going to sit there?”
“Oh, um no, sorry.” Harry stands up and does a double take, unsure of which direction to head. “Um, what do you want for dinner? We didn’t really get to eat lunch.”
Kim dramatically flaps his crossword down and pinches the bridge of his nose. “I don’t know Harry, and I don’t want to have to think about it.”
He stands there in silence for a good minute. Kim is piercing holes through his crossword with his stare, determined to ignore Harry.
“Is there anything you’re craving? I’ll get whatever you want.”
“Goddamnit, Harry, all you do is hover. Can’t you leave me alone for 5 minutes? I swear to god, it’s constant with you.”
Kim immediately feels bad as he sees Harry look down, brows furrowed. “Sorry,” he manages to croak out. He gets up quickly and retreats into the kitchen.
Kim can hear the water running as Harry gets himself a glass. Harry turns the water off and sniffles, gulping back the whole glass of water and letting out a sigh of relief. Then he goes back to rummaging through the cabinets. The sound of cans being shuffled around and plastic packaging carrying over into the living room.
“We’re out of bread, I'm gonna run to the store,” Harry says loudly.
Kim swears he remembers there being at least half a loaf when he made toast this morning, but he just hums in annoyance.
Harry puts on his raincoat and leaves.
Kim can’t concentrate on his crossword. He feels bad for snapping at Harry, but he’s also immensely frustrated by the whole day. Harry meant well and it’s not like he caused the storm. But why can Harry never sense when Kim wants space?
Harry comes in with a bag and silently walks over to the kitchen to make an early dinner.
After about 15 minutes, he walks over to Kim with a dinner tray of tomato soup and one of the sandwiches he prepared for lunch. Next to it, Kim notices, is a book. A new copy of his book.
Suddenly, Harry trips over a kink in the rug. He stumbles a little but catches himself, but, unfortunately, some of the soup splashes out of the bowl and right onto the new book.
He hurriedly places the tray down on the coffee table as tears start to run down his face. “Fuck, I’m sorry, Kim, I’m sorry,” he says as he rushes to the kitchen to grab some rags and wipe down the book, desperately trying to save it. Kim's eyes follow Harry’s movements with pity.
Harry’s crying as he wipes the book down. “I’m sorry, Kim, I fuck everything up,” he chokes out, trying to scrub the red stains off the side of the book with the rag.
But Kim starts to laugh quietly, biting at his thumb as he watches Harry clean his book through a mess of emotions. The whole situation is ridiculous. The whole day. Of course Harry would walk into a pond, somehow choose the worst day for a picnic, and spill tomato soup on his brand new book. He doesn’t know how, but these things just happen to Harry. Kim guesses he’s going to have to get used to being dragged into Harry’s snafus by proximity. It definitely makes life more interesting.
Harry still has tears rolling down his cheeks as he hands Kim the book, “I think I saved it this time,” he snivels. Kim notices that there’s some red staining but only in the top corners of the first small portion of the book.
“Thank you, Harry,” he says warmly, grinning as he graciously accepts the newly ruined new book.
“I’m sorry I ruined your day, ok?” Harry pleads, “I promise I’ll leave you alone for the rest of the evening so you can read.” Harry sniffs, heading back over to the kitchen for his dinner.
Kim examines the tray of food Harry prepared him and thinks about the picnic Harry put together earlier. It’s nice to have someone who cares for him so deeply, even if he misses cues obvious enough to be seen from space. Maybe Kim needs to work on being more straightforward about his needs with Harry, the way Harry often is with him.
Kim turns to look for Harry and sees him hunched over his own dinner alone at the table, facing the wall. His poor Harry.
He gets up and moves behind Harry, wrapping his arms around his neck and chest.
“Oh, Harry,” he says softly, pecking at Harry’s jaw and cheek. “My sweet, sweet Harry.” He turns Harry’s face to him and can see his eyes starting to water again. He gives him a few more pecks on the cheek and then the lips. “What are you doing eating here all alone? Come and sit with me.”
“Really?” Harry asks timidly.
“Yes, really,” Kim smiles, bringing Harry’s food to the coffee table and motioning for Harry to join him.
Harry joins Kim on the couch, but noticeably droops when he sees the stained book again.
“It’s fine, Harry, it’s just a small stain, I can read everything just fine.”
Harry's mouth contorts a little, but he nods.
“I’m sorry I snapped at you earlier, Harry. You didn’t ruin my day, ok?” Kim says, rubbing Harry’s back.
“Ok,” Harry says quietly, before grabbing his sandwich and biting into it slowly.
They eat in silence for a while before Harry breaks it. “I promise I won’t bother you anymore until you finish reading your book, ok?”
Kim smirks. “I highly doubt that.”
“No, I swear, I got my own book to distract me,” Harry jumps up excitedly and brings over a book from the table. A book of cryptids. Kim smiles.
After dinner, Harry goes to clean up. Kim thumbs through the book, fully assessing the tomato soup damage before diving back in.
Harry comes back with his book, sitting down next to Kim, and Kim places his down.
“Aren't you going to read your book?” Harry seems confused.
Kim shakes his head and scoots closer to Harry. He snuggles up into Harry’s chest and puts a hand on his neck. “No, the book’s not going anywhere. I want to hang out with you instead.”