Kong didn’t like that he hadn’t been able to find Sean as they Carnival evacuated. The worry was evident on his face, in his features. Stiff shoulders were as flat as his expression. Even the wind wasn’t helpful in allowing him to pick up on anything out of the ordinary which might involve his friend.
Outside the wagon he stood, waiting. Around him hair would billow lightly, clothing still loose from the performance rustled. Since he’d left straight from the tent his face was still adorned with the white blindfold, hair pinned up so as to keep it out of the way, with a bit of makeup on.
In the distance things seemed to have settled down. There was still tension and unknown. This was one of those times he regretted being in such a state, blind and unable to search openly for his friend. Little else mattered to him, his own life included, if Sean was in danger.
Thankfully Sean was between readings as he saw people rushing to exit the Carnival. Hurriedly, he blew out the candles in his reading tent and exited to move towards Kong’s show area. He feared for his friend considering the tension and mild panic that seemed to even touch some of the spirits that moved about the grounds during open hours.
Not finding Kong at his show, Sean began to move swiftly against the flow of the patrons and towards the wagons.”Go...see about your loved ones, friends,” he whispered to the spirits who had kin among the other carnival performers. Sean tightened his jaw and his shoulders as he briskly made his way on the path where he hoped he would find Kong. His attire was his dark trousers and soft white button down shirt. He had forgone his shoes before the panic began.
He turned the corner of wagons and stored items and caught sight of Kong. Sean breathed shallowly out of relief as he approached and whispered his friend’s name.
The wind carried that whisper to his ears and Kong turned in the direction it had come. Relief. A breath and he was descending the few steps from his wagon, determined to reach his friend. Hurried steps, a flutter of costume, and Kong ventured closer and closer to Sean.
“Thank goodness,” he breathed, concern still weighing on him. “I looked for you and was not able to find you.” It seemed to him that whatever had happened concluded quickly, but he was glad his friend was unscathed.
Pausing before Sean, hands would lift and find strong arms, squeezing them with gratefulness. “I am glad that you are alright.”
Sean stepped towards Kong as well, wanting to make sure he was alright despite the initial evidence that he was. No tears to the fabric, no injuries to see. Thank goodness. Then he stopped as his friend spoke and came up to him.
“I looked for you too, but you had already left your show area.” Sean continued to keep an ear listening to any sounds around them. He didn’t want anything to sneak up on them.
“I’m glad you are as well.” Sean gently cupped Kong’s elbows as the other man’s hands found his arms. He gazed at Kong, smiling softly at the makeup, hair, and loose-fitting clothing. “I think we should take shelter until any more word comes our way.” He wanted to hold Kong in that moment, kiss his forehead, but he refrained.
There was danger and those within would not have allowed him to stay. Kong would have protested had things been different but as it was they both were there and safe. It was all he could have asked for. “They would not allow any to stay.”
Nodding at the idea to take shelter, Kong began to pull away. “I think that idea is fine. Where would you like to go?” His wagon was closer but it was dark and would be hard for Sean to navigate through.
Being closer would have to wait until they were behind closed doors. A hand would lift, unwind the ribbon holding his hair in place and it would cascade down the way he usually wore it.
“I wouldn’t if I was in their position.” Sean nodded. Yet he would have gone against them and hurried into the danger to find Kong. “But I am glad you are safe.”
He let Kong go, but did not back away. “Perhaps your wagon. I do not want to risk any further danger.” Darkness didn’t worry him as long as he had someone with him to navigate an unfamiliar space.
“Let’s go inside?” Sean whispered and gently rested a hand on Kong’s left shoulder.
Without hesitation Kong would nod and twist, leading the way back to his home. Back up the few steps and then he was leading the way into his humble abode. The wagon was no bigger or smaller than any other and it came with the same commodities one would expect. Where some would have books or other things Kong had trinkets, scrolls, many items picked up on the journey to where he was now. A few books did line the shelves though they were untouched mostly.
“Please, make yourself at home. There are candles on the shelf to your left, light as many as you would like. I would ask that no furniture be moved if it can be helped.”
Door closed behind them, Kong would find a place on the floor to sit. Large, comfortable pillows were what he used to perch upon. Nearby was his modest bed and the woodburning stove he never used.
Sean followed Kong, careful going up the steps and going inside. Letting his eyes adjust as much as they would in the darkness, he caught sight of the furniture and commodities. The medium liked seeing small objects, noting the scrolls and a couple of the trinkets. One could learn things about people that way. But he kept his learning at bay.
“I shall light one,” he spoke softly as he turned and found a candle and a match. Moving carefully, Sean found the stove and struck the match on it - igniting the tip and lighting the candle. He blew out the match and slipped inside the stove for safety before turning to see where Kong sat.
The light from the candle did its job and illuminated the small area of Kong’s wagon. “You have a beautiful place,” Sean continued and slowly sat down on a stool near his friend.
“Thank you,” he replied. “You are the only person who has been inside of it.” To those he held close his door was always open, and yet Sean was the only one he wanted to be there. Hands would come up and remove the blindfold he wore for his act, setting the strip of cloth aside.
Fingers would move through his hair, settling the strands. “Please, make yourself at home. You are welcome to examine what you would like.” Why not share a little bit? They needed to get to know each other better, after all.
“You’re welcome.” Sean lifted an eyebrow at being the only person who had been inside Kong’s wagon though a part of had suspected it. From the time he first met the other man, he had gotten the impression that he kept to himself. And he understood more since Kong had come from a faraway place.
“Alright,” he breathed and slowly moved to sit down on the floor beside Kong, using a bit of warm wax that had dripped down the side of the candle to stabilize it on the seat of the stool, before letting go of it. Then Sean looked about, seeing the books, trinkets and scrolls again, and where Kong’s bed was. It was sparse but nice. “I like it here. It seems to breathe more than my wagon.”
“You are welcome here anytime.” He meant it. Sharing his home was like sharing a deep part of himself and he was happy to do that for Sean. Kong liked Sean’s place, too, mostly because it felt lived in and homely where his was sparse and barren. They seemed to be a good balance in many ways for each other.
Hand would creep toward one of Sean’s, searching a moment for the limb and taking hold of it. His head would come down to rest upon his friends shoulder and those uncovered eyes would open though they remained sightless.
A soft smile spread across his lips. Acceptance was something he liked. “And you are welcome in my wagon anytime,” Sean nodded. Being with someone and a part of their life warmed his heart. Simplicity was good. He often feared he had too much in his wagon.
Gently squeezing Kong’s hand, he sighed. Sean gently reached behind his friend to smooth the other man’s hair. “I was born in Queens, New York,” he whispered as he opened up himself a little more.
Those little touches were what he lived for. Leaning into Sean’s fingers, squeezing that hand, Kong listened. “I have not been there,” he explained. Though now he was curious to see it. Maybe the Carnival would travel there.
“I am from a small village in China,” Kong explained. “We kept to ourselves, did not allow outsiders if it could be helped.” The place thrived until recently. “But war was upon us.” It was dangerous to stay. “I am glad to have come here. Glad to have met you.”
Having Kong’s head resting on his shoulder calmed Sean and he loves it so. He also felt more at peace when they were comfortable like this. “It is a busy place. New York City is much more so.” Sean was sure the Carnival would venture back towards the Big Apple.
Sean listened, concern reaching his face making his eyebrows temple at the mention of war. Leaning back a little, he looked down at Kong. “I am glad you are here. Glad you are safe,” he whispered and leaned down to press a kiss to the top of his friend’s head. “But I think China must be beautiful.”
“It is,” he assured the other man. “Very beautiful. Rich with heritage. I wish that you could see it. But it is not safe there.” He was glad to be there too. “Tell me more of New York, please.” There was still so much he didn’t know about the places in America.
Many glamorous sights were left to be discovered. Kong longed to actually see the places for himself but he trusted Sean’s words.
Sean breathed in softly through his nose, a little saddened that Kong’s homeland wasn’t safe. “I wish I could see it too. New York..at least New York City is very spread out but also compact with buildings. Where I’m from...Queens, it has shops and apartments. There are trees and some fields here and there. The main city section has buildings that seem to touch the sky and there are so many people. There is this large section that is a park. So many different people live through the city.”
He couldn’t imagine buildings touching the sky; while he was sure the larger, more densely populated parts of China were progressing forward, his childhood memories were filled only with temples, shrines, small huts for the villagers. “That sounds like a beautiful picture.” Now he wanted to experience Queens, if not New York itself.
While his time in America was slight he was beginning to understand why people fled to the country, leaving their own place of origin behind. Opportunity was here to prosper and flourish.
“It is. But I think I would like to see more open spaces, different types of buildings, more green.” Sean spoke. He wouldn’t have seen the places he had without joining the Carnival. He hadn’t even been on a boat.
He squeezed Kong’s hand and smoothed his hair with his fingertips lightly stroking his friend’s scalp.
Lifting his head slowly, Kong considered what Sean had said about landscape. He had an idea that many different types of places were apt to be seen though American style was far different than his own. Or at least that was what he had come to assume. “You will see many places,” Kong assured his friend.
If anything, the Carnival itself was a wealth of sight seeing. Kong would live through Sean and hear of the places while doing his best to imagine what would be told to him.
“I hope so,” he smiled. Seeing the world and meeting new people and cultures sounded quite interesting. Sean also would like to find a more relaxed and less judgmental place to just be. Yet he felt the pull of his spirit-seeing gift. There was an expectation that seemed to stick with him over the years - do good by using your gift.
Sean would be more than happy to tell his friend of the places they would see by traveling in the Carnival. Slowly he leaned against Kong, keeping an ear to any noises outside.
He sat there in the comfort of the silence with his friend. Sometimes the quiet was much needed to balance out the noise of the Carnival - which even at the darkest hours seemed alive and thriving - and such moments could be rare. While he couldn’t pick up on the sounds of the unliving the way that Sean was able to, he caught sounds of his own offered by the wind.
“I know it to be true.” Finally he broke the silence though he kept the tone of his voice at a quiet hum.
There were spirits whispering, some Sean could hear calling out in the distance - some about whatever was happening on the grounds while a few were out of their own personal torment. “Any new spirits from within the grounds?” He softly asked any spirits that were outside Kong’s wagon.
“Thank you,” Sean whispered to Kong and pressed a kiss to the man’s forehead.
The question about spirits he found a bit confusing. He had never known to communicate with any spirits, and so it caused Kong to turn and look at Sean as if he could see. “Do you hear anything new?” Kong knew very little about what Sean’s realm of gift was.
That little kiss upon the forehead had his smile blooming. “You are welcome.”
“Only the good news of no new spirits from within the grounds,” Sean replied. “There is still a bit of panic.” He sighed. Sometimes he had a good system with the spirits who roamed the grounds when he had the ‘door’ open to communicate with him.
Looking down at Kong, he smiled. “You’re so wonderful and beautiful.”
Relief was offered. “I am glad that you are not overburdened with the spirits.” He didn’t like that panic was still abroad but he could hear similar circumstances on the breeze. “It will pass.”
At the compliment his cheeks would flush with color. “Thank you. That is so kind. I feel the same way about you.”
“I usually ‘close’ my door to them in the next hour,” Sean nodded. “Yes, it will.” He smiled softly.
“You’re welcome. Thank you.” He lightly rested his head against Kong’s. “I hope my talking to the spirits just now didn’t upset you.”
“I do not understand your gift,” he explained, peering at Sean. “But that would not leave me to judge you.” He couldn’t hold that against anyone. Especially someone he had feelings for. If they were truly wrong he would say something.
But Sean was perfect as far as he was concerned.
“You would have to work hard to upset me, Sean.” Nor could the spirits.
Sean nodded gently against his friend’s hair. “I am glad you do not judge me for my gift.” He echoed. Pleasing his friends was a fault in him that he tried to not let him get into trouble.
“Alright.” He squeezed Kong’s hand and sighed. “What shall I speak of next?” Sean whispered with a soft smile.
He was in no place to judge anyone. He was not perfect, nor more gifted or entitled than anyone else. Judgement was a human trait that happened far more often than he liked, especially when it came to himself. “How could I hold that against you?” He doubted that Sean had any real choice in the matter.
“Whatever you would like.” The subject didn’t matter to him as long as they were conversing together.
And Sean tried his best to not let any judgment cloud his thoughts or emotions. He felt passionately about people being treated equally and with kindness. He smiled at Kong’s response.
“Do you have any favorite things?” Simple subjects can often be fun.
“I enjoy many things,” he began, nodding. “Hot tea, relaxing, music and dancing. I like flowers and animals. What about you?” Could you count a favorite thing as being one of the physical kinds? That felt too forward of him.
Kong shifted a little bit to better accommodate his friend.
Sean smiled as he listened to Kong list off the items. “Mmm? The stars, sky, open spaces, coffee, hearty meals, candles, trees,” he nodded, “being in the company of a friend, music, yes.”
So many things came to light when Sean began to divulge. Kong found they had many small things in common and he was delighted to find out as such.
“I enjoy many of those things, as well. Though I wish I could remember the way they looked. The sky, I can remember it vaguely. Little trees. The grass. What mountains look like.”
He liked that they agreed on nature. Sean was a simple man with a healthy sense of curiosity. There was so many more favorites to discover.
Then he breathed at Kong’s wish. “I wish I had the ability to let you see again..even if it were only for a little while.” Sean pressed another kiss to his friend's forehead.
“We have the same wish,” he explained, offering a small smile. “Though my wish would only be to see you. Even for a second, I would give much.” Just a glimpse, a peek. Anything.
“But until then I will take what you have given and be grateful.”
Sean bit back the sorrow he felt. Then he slowly brought their clasped hands up to his face and rested the back of his friend’s hand against his cheek.
He felt their hands moving, ascending. That skin was warm upon the back of his limb and he relished in it. His smile only grew though there was a humbleness to it. Sean was a good man, he deserved many good things.
“You are special to me.”
“Thank you. You are special to me, Kong,” Sean whispered and turned his friend’s hand to press his lips against Kong’s knuckles. He imagined how it could be if they were walking the streets of New York City. He’d be describing the sights and all.
A smile tugged at his lips and he sighed. “I hope I get the chance to show you New York City.”
Color would sit high in his cheeks again. He felt humbled by the gesture and was glad for the contact. “I am glad.” The words were soft. “Are you cold? You may start a fire if you would like.” He didn’t get cold easily, mostly because of his ability, but like anyone he could perish from exposure if enduring the cooler temperatures for too long.
“Ah, that would be lovely.” Getting a tour of where Sean was from sounded delightful, even if it wasn’t exactly Queens.
Smiling, Sean was happy that Kong was as well. Dimples depended on his cheeks as he listened and then blinked. “I am a little.” Begrudgingly he let go of Kong, slipped away, took up the candle, and went over to the stove. Finding some wood already inside it, he used the candle to get a fire going.
“And we could go to Queens.” Sean bit his lower lip as he sat back down beside along and placed the candle on the stool once more. The spirit medium turned his head towards the door as a spirit outside spoke to him.
Once he felt Sean settle beside him, Kong would lift a hand and the fire roared before settling down. The wagon filled with warmth and illuminating, casting an amber glow across the expanse of Kong’s home.
Hand would find a place in his lap and he would settle once more against his friend. “Would you take me?” Would Sean’s family be there? Would they be glad to see him or vice versa? The idea was concerning yet intriguing.
Sean turned his attention back to Kong, ‘closing’ the door to the spirits for now. He smiled as the fire roared. He was amazed by his friend’s ability.
“Yes,” he smiled and gently curled an arm around the back of Kong’s shoulders. “Of course I would.” Sean wasn’t sure how his father and brother would react towards Sean bringing a man, an exotic one home. If they hadn’t realized how different Sean was by now, then they were living in a bubble.
They had never really spoken about the abilities of each other; Kong did what he normally would in that circumstance and didn’t try to hide what he could do or who he was. He had an idea that many knew his talents though they only observed a fraction of what he really could do.
As that limb wound around him, he found himself leaning closer to Sean. He was comfortable, he could’ve died there in those arms and gone happy. “That means a lot to me.”
Sean’s ability to see and communicate with the dead was second nature to him, having seen his first spirit when he was a mere child. He marveled at the talents he’d seen Kong demonstrate.
He sighed as Kong leaned closer. Sean held his friend warmly, protective as he took one of his hands in his. “It’s a promise.”
Being this close to Sean was exhilarating. When they made love for the first time that was unlike anything he’d ever felt with anyone. “Then I will hold you to it,” he promised.
Turning, Kong nuzzled at the side of Sean’s cheek with the end of his nose. Those empty eyes would close as he basked in the closeness.
“Are you warm enough?”
Sean loved every moment he spent with Kong. He felt at peace with him after their first time together in his wagon. Nodding. He smiled. There was that pull to never want to leave his friend’s side.
Leaning his head against Kong’s at that nuzzle, Sean turned to brush his nose against the other man’s.
“I am. Are you?”
“I am now,” came the reply.
Nose would brush upon nose, Kong’s smile would blossom and turn a bit sheepish. He braved a lean forward, catching Sean’s mouth in a chaste but sweet and simple kiss.
Sean smirked and blinked as he saw Kong’s smile change. He was so beautiful in his eyes. Color rose in Sean’s cheeks as Kong kissed him and he returned it in kind. Breaking the kiss, he sighed.
“Thank you.”
The draw was intoxicating. Inevitable. He found himself yearning for Sean in many ways he could not describe. Physically, mentally. As the kiss ended he found himself better for it. Eyebrows would raise a touch at the word of thanks.
“I cannot help but be drawn to you,” Kong confessed, offering Sean insight as to what was on his mind and in his heart just then.
Sean wanted to close to Kong, to indulge in this attraction again. But he tempered himself to not overwhelm his friend in fear of harming their connection.
“It is alright. I can’t help how I feel about you. I like this.” He continued to temper his words as to be true but not too forward despite having been as close as any two people physically could.
Again Kong would lean forward, catch Sean’s mouth in a kiss, though this time it was a bit more heated and forward than the previous one. It, too, was chaste and once it had ended he took a breath upon pulling back.
“I do too.” He liked it a lot, more than he knew he should. But he wanted it all the same.
Sean’s hand at Kong’s shoulder moved to cup the back of Kong’s head as he leaned in and returned the kiss. He felt the chasteness of kiss wasn’t going to last long as Kong pulled back.
He squeezed Kong’s hand and whispered, “Do you want more?” Sean did, but would not push if it wasn’t mutual.
At the question, Kong found himself nodding. He did want more. While he didn’t think it would hurt them or tarnish their friendship, he still wanted to be careful with their delicate situation. “Yes. I want as much as you will give, and in return I will offer the same.” Whatever context that meant was fine. Just being able to sit like this together was refreshing.
Sean smiled. They were going slow and learning about one another. “I am grateful.” He whispered then leaned in to kiss Kong. He urged his friend closer, wanting to keep him warm but also excite him.
There was no doubt he was excited. The nearer to Sean he got the more the excitement grew. Their frames were as close as could be - without being a single entity he could unfortunately get no closer. But the kiss didn’t cease this time, not the way it had before.
He felt a sense of calm curled up in his own excitement. Sean let a soft moan echo in his throat at their closeness. Parting his lips, he kissed Kong and slowly drew his friend’s lower lip between his lips for a gentle moment.
A soft groan escaped him. Tongue would slip out of his mouth and lap suggestively at Sean’s. “Sean,” he breathed. Eyes had closed though he saw only darkness regardless.
Hands would lift, fingers gripped at Sean’s clothes.
Humming with a slight smile, he parted his lips and met Kong’s tongue wit this own. “Yes.” Sean groaned softly.
At Kong’s hands gripping his clothes, he slipped his hands into his friend’s hair.
Helpless. He was literally helpless to Sean. “Please,” he groaned. Kong had an idea that Sean knew what he was after. Fingers would release Sean’s clothes, moving to his own to undo the loose fabric.
Those hands in his hair was driving him near the edge of insanity.
“Yes,” Sean rasped at Kong’s groan. He had an idea as he combed his fingers through his friend’s hair did a few more moments before shifting to sit on his knees and slip his hands away to peel off his clothes and rid himself of his shoes.
Soon he leaned in to kiss Kong once more, hungry but also gentle as his desire built, and push the fabric off his friend’s shoulders.
All the while the connection continued to grow between them. Kong pulled from the kiss as Sean leaned back to rid himself of obstacles. Waiting with impatient patience, he would sit silently. Those milky eyes would open and stare blankly down at the floor of the wagon.
And then they were kissing again. Kong lifted his head and leaned into the connection, groaning again. Hands would come up and begin the same task of removing barriers, flush skin exposed to the warm air.
Sean never looked away from Kong as he himself took off his clothes. He couldn’t help how he felt for his friend. But his desire was tempered so they could enjoy each second.
Telegraphing with brief taps of the tip of his tongue against Kong’s lips, Sean groaned in return and ran his fingers over the other man’s chest.
The lack of chill was a sweet bonus to an already heated moment. Shedding the loose garments he cast them aside gently, only to lift his hands and set them on Sean’s shoulders. Fingers would curl into skin for a moment, lingering, before they slid up and into that brown hair.
All the while the kissing continued. He loved the attention, the secretiveness of what they were doing. Giving himself to Sean only made it worth the risk.
Sean’s fingertips were light as they danced along Kong’s breast bone and collar bones. He felt a flush of heated desire as his lover’s fingers touched his shoulders. His hands moved to cradle the other man’s face.
The acceptance and the secretiveness surrounding his need, want for Kong drove Sean as he continued to kiss him. He took in each moment.
His desire grew as he brushed Kong’s cheekbones with the pads of his thumbs. Soon he broke the kiss to breathe. “Kong.”
They had journeyed down this path before; Kong was familiar with the steps and the distance. Shed of the last of the linens, strong yet delicate hands would find skin to caress.
“Sean,” would come in a breathy reply, heart racing. “Make me yours in all ways.”
“And I am yours.” Sean would rasp against Kong’s cheek.
He wanted to be one with his lover again and to give him pleasure and connection. A hand slipped away to curl around Kong’s waist while the other reached around to stroke his arse.
With guidance he would move toward Sean, eventually pulling the other down onto the pillows on the floor. There was no loud noises; he wanted to keep the moment sacred and between them. Quickly the heat in the wagon rose and Kong found himself eventually coated in a sheen of sweat and satisfied.
Arms would wind around the other man. Kong would curl close, wind himself into Sean and tumble into the chasm of exhaustion. Perfect exhaustion.