Who: Everrett Mac and Ky Janes What: A Sunday in the park discussing sunburn, being raised by wolves, and love--which turns to sexy time--and eventually changes to a nightmare When: Sunday July 13, 2008 Where: Hyde Park and then Everrett's flat Rating: NC-17 for a brief bit of sex Status: Closed, complete
Ky was incredibly bored. He had taken the day off because Everrett said it would be his day off as well. He figured they could have a full day of fun together. But now it was almost two in the afternoon, and the blond still slept.
Ky spent his morning looking through some more magazines full of the naked boys, reading Everrett's comics, attempting to play video games and failing, and sketching the sleeping boy. But the longer he sat in the house doing those things, the more and more restless he grew. While he was drawing Everrett, his foot began to tap until his whole leg was shaking. So much energy had grown inside him, especially after so many of their nights had been spent in after how tired Everrett's new job training was making him. Ky just wanted to get out of the house, to run and play somewhere with the other boy.
With a sigh, he shoved the sketch aside, just studying Everrett without a purpose. He wanted to go outside, but not alone. So he made a decision and without giving it too much thought. he stood from his spot on the couch before running in and jumping on the bed beside Everrett. He was bouncing up and down on the mattress, grinning brightly.
"Wake up, sleepyface!"
Everrett's gentle snoring elevated into a quick, sharp snort and he rolled over from his front to his side, still half-asleep. "Sssin the red box," he mumbled. "Number... four. Deal."
He opened his eyes and squinted against the light that poured in through the large windows of his attic flat. Confused for a moment, he gazed across the room, then glanced at Ky who was shaking the mattress with his bouncing beside him. "Time's it?" he mumbled, pulling random strands of blond hair from his face and blindly searching for his glasses on the shelf above his head. He was completely naked except for a pair of cartoon boxers, his white body poking out from underneath the heavy blue duvet of his bed.
Ky was already dressed, having done so in hopes it would take up more time and allow Everrett to wake on his own but no such luck. His eyes roamed over Everrett's body though, taking in each pale inch happily. He tugged lightly on the leg of the boxers the blond was wearing.
"Almost two," he murmured, leaning up to grab the glasses and place them in the searching fingers. "I've been awake forever and I'm bored." His tone wasn't whining but truthful, and the bouncing didn't stop.
"Should have woken me up earlier," Everrett said, and his voice was still scratchy and thick from sleep. He didn't discourage Ky's touch as the other boy's fingers snagged under the leg of his boxers. Instead, he pushed his legs down against the duvet and kicked it off, his bare knee brushing against the side of Ky's arm.
"Can't believe it's two... I never normally stay in bed this late." He stretched a bit, yawning without covering his mouth and then relaxing, running his hand up Ky's side gently from where he lay flat on his back. "You're bored? What do you want to do today?"
"You looked tired," came the simple reply, Ky's fingers brushing along the inside of Everrett's thigh, and his head cocking slightly. He swore he could content himself with touching Everrett all day, just brushing soft, warm skin and being able to look his fill. "I wanted to let you sleep."
"But yes, I'm bored. Played video games, drew, read--I want to go outside," he said, elbow jutting out, encouraging the soft touch. "I want to climb trees and walk with you and yeah--too much time inside," he murmured again.
Everrett hated the fact that he was always too tired these days to do anything - it wasn't fair on Ky, or himself. He had to find better ways of managing his energy - and his sleeping patterns.
"Alright," he said with a lazy grin, tickling the inside of Ky's elbow before moving his hand so he could slide it up the side of the other boy's t-shirt. "That sounds like fun. We could go to Hyde Park, if you like. Need to get the tube there, though."
Ky giggled, squirming a bit which interrupted his constant bouncing. He hadn't really minded that Everrett was so tired lately. He couldn't be upset about something the boy couldn't help and besides, it made him sleep deeper, which made it easier for Ky to sneak out like he wanted. Going outside and running about would likely tire Everrett out again and make it so Ky could go out tonight like he needed to.
He leaned over Everrett, kissing first the tip of his nose, then the jut of his chin, the bump of his adam's apple, and then in the middle of his smooth chest before sitting up again and bouncing, his fingers sliding down behind Everrett's knee. "I don't mind the tube. It'll be fun, promise!"
Everrett's fingers closed around the skinny top of Ky's arm and he pulled the other boy down as he began to sit up, finding his lips with his own and kissing him. He kept the kiss constant as he finally managed to drag himself out of bed, covers falling away from his legs. "Okay, I'll find some clothes and... stuff," he said, prying himself away from the darker boy and scuffing through to the bathroom for a wash.
Ky sight contently into the kiss, staying seating on the bed as Everrett stood. "Kay. I'll be here," he murmured, resuming his bouncing again as he watched the slightly shorter boy head into the bathroom, eyes lingering down the length of his body before he was on his feet again. He made his way over to Mew's cage, running his fingers slowly down the snake's back before he moved back beside the bed, hastily making it. Then his pacing took him to the kitchen, and he made a couple sandwiches--what looked like peanut butter and chocolate chips--for him and Everrett. He kept moving around the apartment, just waiting for Everrett to get ready.
Everrett wandered around his bedroom area for at least five minutes before he was able to find something to put over his t-shirt if it decided to get cold - or rain. London had a habit of changing its mind that way. He managed to pull out a grey, slightly crumpled cardigan from the bottom drawer of his dresser, slinging it on unbuttoned over his logo shirt. Looking decidedly rumpled but nevertheless much more alert than he had been twenty minutes ago, he walked through to the kitchen once his trainers were on and tied his hair into a knot at the back of his neck.
"Ready?"
With his mouth half-stuffed with a sandwich, Ky nodded, swallowing down what was in his mouth without chewing any more. "Ready," he said thickly, licking peanut butter from his lips, holding his partially eating sandwich in hand. "Made you a sandwich," he added, pointed to the sandwich sitting on a napkin, "if you're hungry."
Everrett had already picked up what Ky had made for him before he added "if you're hungry", the bread sticking out of his mouth as he bowed his head and patted his pockets, making sure he had everything - wallet, keys, Oyster card. "Wanabringbook?" he asked, then again once he'd shovelled the rest of the food down his mouth and swallowed. "Do you want to bring a book or something?"
Ky giggled, covering his mouth and ending up smearing peanut butter from his fingers across his cheek unknowingly. "No, I think I'll be okay. Do you want something?" He already had plans for running around until his lungs hurt and climbing as many trees as he could. He longed for stuff outside and the fresh air--or as fresh as it got within the city.
Everrett laughed softly and reached up, smearing his thumb along Ky's cheek and wiping the peanut butter off, holding it in front of Ky's eyes and then his lips. "No, I think I'll be okay," he repeated, his eyes sparkling. "Got your card to get on the tube?"
Ky smiled brightly. "Thanks," he murmured, before leaning forward enough to swipe his long tongue over the pad of Everrett's thumb before sucking it between his lips and licking off the sweet, sticky substance. His on eyes were really bright and he briefly considered that maybe they should just stay--but the restless feeling inside him said first running about and then seeing what could follow. "Um, it's here somewhere," he said, brushing his now clean cheek against Everrett's palm, fingers searching his pockets until he closed around the little card and pulled it out. "Here it is!"
Everrett deliberately brushed his fingers against Ky's cheek before pulling away, reaching for the other boy's free hand and guiding them out of the door. The tube station was less than five minutes away from his flat, and by the time they had got there Everrett was feeling considerately more awake and alert. Without much trouble, they got through the station gates and just managed to jump on a tube on the Central Line that would take them down to Marble Arch.
"Have you been to Hyde Park before?" he asked the other boy, speaking over the ongoing screech of metal against metal as the tube rode the underground at speed, shaking the entire carriage subtly.
The sound made the hair on the back of Ky's neck stand up and he kept flinching when it got particularly loud. He practically clung to Everrett's arm, fingers tightening around the other boy's. He always assured the blond that he had no problem with the tube but then every time he got on it, he acted pretty much the same, like he was holding onto Everrett as though his life depended on it.
"No, I don't think so. Is it big?"
"It's very big," Everrett said, his arm looped around Ky's back where they were sitting, fingers rubbing in tiny circles at the small of his back reassurringly. "There are ducks there. And lots of grass, and trees. Ponds. It's a royal garden, so the decor is all a bit... well, regal." He spoke over the monotone drone of the announcer, leaning in close so that he could talk in Ky's ear.
The next station is... Marble Arch. Please mind the gap when boarding and alighting the train...
"Lots of room to run then?" Ky leaned against Everrett, smiling as Everrett's breath puffed over his ear. "Royal garden?" he asked softly, turning his head just enough to look at him. "Am I allowed to climb the trees?" He asked before they got to their feet and shuffled out onto the platform.
It was like trying to squeeze sardines out of a tin, but they finally managed to stumble out, heading for the escalators and standing to the right, Everrett on the taller step, his hands resting on Ky's shoulders, back facing the way that they were moving. "Probably not," he admitted, but then grinned. "But I won't tell anyone." A gust of wind in the steep downward tunnel forced some hair to fall out of Ev's ponytail and it brushed into his eyes, over his glasses.
Ky tilted his head a bit to press a kiss to Everrett's chin, smiling before brushing his hair back. "You're the best," he murmured, pressing a soft kiss to his lips then. "I'm glad you were up for this," he added softly, nuzzling the blond's neck.
"Instead of wanting to stay inside and play Mario Kart all day?" Everrett asked, pretending to be surprised and ignoring some of the looks they were getting from nearby commuters. Once they got outside of the station, he held Ky's hand tightly and proudly, walking them across the road in the direction of the park, away from the high street.
"It's not that I mind playing Mario Kart. But--I just wanted something different for today. We can go back to that tomorrow if you want." His hand didn't loosen at al in Everrett's grip, the way he always got when they went to knew places. Before he had been able to see the places without being seen but now with Everrett, he just had to rely on his boyfriend and follow him to stay safe. He didn't even bother looking at other people when they were together though, and never saw the stares, and wouldn't have cared even if he did.
Unfortunately for both of them, Everrett was back at work tomorrow. He kept that to himself, though - perhaps Ky would remember when they got home.
They approached one of the entrances into the park, a small gate that led onto some stone steps. Leading Ky inside, he tugged gently on his hand, walking him across the gravel path toward a grass hill. At the bottom of the hill the grass stopped at a very short iron fence circling a stone courtyard and three giant water fountains. Nearby, some ducks wandered around, apparently oblivious to their human visitors dotted around the park.
That was one of the things that Ky was letting himself purposely forget. Right now it didn't matter because he was getting a whole day with Everrett--well, maybe it was more of a half day but that didn't matter terribly. As soon as they stepped inside the park, his eyes widened, sparkling brightly as he glanced around. "Wow--I didn't think there'd be this much green in the city," he said, sounding awed as they looked over the fountains. It was comforting and disconcerting all at once, because it was so much nature around them but it wasn't naturally made. He began bouncing on the balls of his feet, putting his hand down and trying to get a duck to come over.
"Er, I wouldn't do that if I were you," Everrett said, amused as a duck waddled past and completely ignored Ky. "When I was little I tried to make friends with a duck and it bit my finger, before chasing me around my Uncle's garden." He shook his head, stepping forward and further down the hill. It smelled so good here.
There were a few benches lining the courtyard, and just beyond it the path that they were on earlier wound round and deeper into the shaded areas and another large green field. Beside them, there was plenty of trees, big and small.
"It really bit you? I guess ducks here are different than any I've met before." Ky frowned slightly, looking just a tad slighted by the fact that the duck ignored him so. But then they were walking in and he was taking in deeper breaths, visibly relaxing with each puff of his chest.
He was beaming by the time they reached the trees, and without even giving pause, he was gripping a low branch on one of the bigger trees and hoisting himself up almost effortlessly. "These trees are pretty old," he murmured, seeming surprised.
"The park's old," Everrett said, not trusting himself to climb the tree without falling. He looked around himself, tucking loose blond hair behind his ears before perching on one of the old roots, his back resting against the bumpy bark. "I'm not sure how old, but I'd say more than two hundred years, at least." He smiled stupidly as another grey duck waddled past, following a kid with a loaf of bread and what he presumed was his parents.
"Don't fall," he added, before he could help himself
Ky giggled, feet swinging slightly as he peered down at Everrett. "Older than that," he added, fingers smoothing over the bark slowly. It was something he decided he needed to figure out for sure later. But right now he was just enjoying being able to move about and climb around.
"Oh, I won't. Don't worry." He laughed again, legs hooking around the branch as he swung down. His face started getting a little red as he stared at Everrett with a big grin.
Instinctively, Ev reached out but he stopped himself, his arms hanging in mid air before dropping to his lap. He winced. "Promise," he said slowly. "Because it's a hard drop." He knew - he tried to climb the trees here years and years ago when he was younger - a day out in London with his parents. He broke his arm falling down from one of the branches.
Face falling slightly, Ky chewed his lip, slowly pulling himself upright again. He'd fallen before when he was climbing, but he hadn't in years. And besides, that had only been when branches actually broke. "I promise," he said softly, eyes on the bark as his fingers moved over it.
"Okay," Everrett said, slightly relieved when Ky stopped hanging upside down. His pulled his legs closer to himself, wrapping his arms around his knees and looking out to the bottom of the hill, watching the fountains.
Ky just sat for a while, chewing his lip as he looked off over the field. Then, with a glance down at Everrett, he carefully slipped off his trainers, wiggling his bare toes and slinging them over the branch. As he got to his feet, he glanced down one more time. Gripping the branch above him, he pulled himself up, getting a better look around them, standing on that one too.
Everrett watched as Ky's shoes fell to the ground, one after the other, about two yards from where he was sitting. He squinted as he glanced up through the branches, his heart skipping a small beat as Ky continued to climb upward.
"Ara was always the one to do this," he said, more to himself than anyone else.
Ky couldn't make out the words hat Everrett said, and he looked down, just as he was pushing himself upwards onto an even higher branch. "What?" he called down softly, arms folded over the next branch up as he peered down at his boyfriend.
"Just talking to myself," Everrett called up, loud enough this time for Ky to hear. "Nothing important." He squinted up at the other boy just as the cloud that was covering the sun moved away, sunlight pushing behind the branches and framing the other boy in yellow light. He looked perfect.
"Remind me to let you borrow the Jungle Book if you haven't already read it."
Ky cocked his head, the light shining off his dark hair. He straddled the branch he was on, kicking his feet out again, leaning back against the trunk. He breathed in even deeper, the air seeming even cleaner up here, fresher. He kicked out his feet again, squinting a bit in the sun.
"What's the Jungle Book?"
"It's about this human kid who's raised by wolves in a jungle in India. He can do most of the things that animals can - like climb trees and stuff. He talks to animals, too." Everrett crossed his legs underneath him, picking at the laces of his trainers and looking straight ahead, watching a couple walk around the fountains, hand in hand.
Ky frowned thoughtfully, swinging his feet again. After a minute of looking around again, he began to climb down again. "Raised by wolves?" He asked, voice getting quieter the closer he got to Everrett. Eventually, he reached he branch he started on, slowly lowering himself down until he reached the ground beside Everrett.
Everrett moved aside to let Ky settle beside him. "Well, that's one of the stories, anyway. It's a collection of shorts. But that't the one I remember the best because Disney made it into a film - I never liked the film, though. The elephants in it scared me." He grinned, running a hand through his hair and retying the knot in it. "I think you'd like the book."
"Disney?" Ky scooted closer, so their sides pressed together. He knew what 'film' was, that was what DVDs could also be called. But he wondered if Disney was a person or a DVD title. "If you think I'd like it, then I'm sure I would." He wiggled his toes slightly in the grass, glancing over at Everrett. "So did you used to come here a lot?" Everrett seemed to know so much about the park, so it couldn't have been his first time there.
"They make movies for kids," Everrett explained, placing a warm hand on Ky's knee and rubbing his thumb gently over cloth-covered skin. "Whenever our parents took us to London, we came here. Here, or the zoo. And I've seen a couple of bands play here, too."
Ky smiled, reaching out to run his fingers down the back of Everrett's hand, warmer despite how warm Everrett's felt for once. "The zoo--isn't that where they keep all the animals in cages?" He read about it once, but the idea scared him really. That wasn't how animals were supposed to be.
"Not all of them are in cages," Everrett said as gently as he could. "Some of them are out in big open spaces - like the giraffes and the monkeys and stuff."
Wrinkling his nose, Ky rested his head on Everrett's shoulder. "But they still aren't free to go where they want, are they?" he asked, sounding much like a little kid as his fingers fiddled with the hem of Everrett's shirt.
"No, I guess they aren't," Everrett murmured honestly, sighing a little. He ran his hand up Ky's leg, squeezing his thigh gently. "I've not been to the zoo in years, though. Maybe it's different."
"I'm not sure I'd want to go. It's nice to see animals in the forest, running about, in the open," Ky murmured. He tilted his head, kissing Everrett's cheek softly. "You okay?"
Everrett tilted his head also, meeting Ky's lips and kissing him gently, curling his knees in toward the other boy. "Yeah," he mumbled, sliding the hand that was on Ky's leg to behind his back, fingers brushing up underneath the hem of his t-shirt. "I'm okay. Are you?"
Ky twisted his body enough to face Everrett more, kissing his lips again softly. "I'm with you. Of course I'm okay," he said softly, shivering just slightly under the touch. He trailed his fingers up Everrett's arm, up to trace the line of his jaw slowly. "It's nice spending time with you."
Everrett moved his hand up, out of Ky's t-shirt, and wrapped it around his shoulders and neck. He pulled the other boy in close, his hand petting through dark hair. "Don't feel like you have to stay in my flat all the time," he mumbled. "Especially if you'd rather be outside."
Ky curled closer, one leg half draping over Everrett's lap, his face burying into Everrett's neck and just breathing deep. "I know that. But I like being there when you're home. I can find other times to be outside." Like the nights, when he would sneak out and do what needed to be done, but could run about too if he wished.
"Just don't feel like you have to be there," Everrett murmured, tugging Ky's hair gently. "All the time, I mean. I won't get upset if you want to leave." He realised then that he'd never been to Ky's flat before - they'd never even discussed it. "Where in London do you live?"
Sighing softly, Ky kissed the soft skin at the base of his neck. "I want to be there." And it was true. Every moment spent near Everrett made him happy, and the only time it didn't was when he hurt Everrett with his power. He didn't want Everrett to ever hurt, and only wanted to be near him and happy and smiling together. And he also didn't want Everrett to know what he was, or what he did some nights when they were supposed to be in bed together. "I live in a flat off Moor Street."
"What borough is that in?" Everrett asked curiously, leaning back a bit to look at the other boy. His fingers still worked lazily through his hair and his own hair was starting to fall out of his ponytail again. "Westminster?"
"Yes," Ky murmured, his eyes closing. The feel of Everrett's fingers in his hair made him relax slowly, nose pressed to the hair just behind the blond's ear, lips pressing against the skin yet again. "It's not much really. 'S little and not anywhere as nice as yours."
Still, Everrett couldn't help but feel curious. He 'hm'ed in the back of his throat, though, deciding to say no more of it. If Ky was happy sticking to his place, then that was fine with him - he just didn't want the other boy to feel like he didn't want to see his flat.
"Have you ever had sunburn?" he asked randomly, curiously.
"You can see it sometime, if you want," Ky murmured lazily, though he wasn't sure why Everrett would want to see it. There was odds and ends covering every surface, no television, no game system. All there was were his books and his snake. "You haven't seen Accalon yet." He remembered that much. He'd gotten to see Mew after all so it seemed fair.
"Sunburn?"
"Your snake?" Everrett asked, untangling his arm from the back of Ky's shoulders and squeezing it between them instead, taking Ky's hand and lacing their fingers together. "I'd like that."
"And yeah - sunburn. It's when your skin goes all red and sore after being out in the sun too long. Mine doesn't really burn." He stuck his free arm out, rotating it left and right slowly. "I'm starting to get a bit of a tan, though."
"Yeah. He doesn't get any visitors. I think he'd like it, too," Ky said thoughtfully, giving Everrett's fingers a light squeeze.
His eyes followed the movement of the other boy's arm, looking at the skin and not seeing it the red Everrett was talking about. "I don't think so," he murmured softly, holding out his own arm. It was just as pale as it had always been, and never seemed to change in colour, certainly not to red either. Of course, he had always been the type who was out more at night than during the day, so perhaps that had something to do with it. "And what's a 'tan'?"
Everrett pursed his lips thoughtfully, still holding his arm out for the other boy to see. "It's when your skin darkens a little bit due to radiation from the sun - radiation called ultraviolet light. It's not bad for you, necessarily, and not everyone can get a suntan. But if you stay out in the sun too long, that's when you get burned, and it's not very good."
Ky poked at Everrett's skin slightly, watching it turn white before fading back to a normal colour. "Oh. Huh. So a tan is good and sunburn is bad. . ." He glanced back at his own skinny, pale arm. "Mine's always looked like this. I don't think I tan or burn. But--I'm not much for the being out in the sun for long," he said softly, wondering if that made sense to Everrett or if it was another thing that made him odd.
"Me neither," Everrett said. "Being out in the sun is bad for your skin, anyway. It can lead to all sorts of diseases." He bumped his knees lightly against Ky's. "I just tan really easily." Without much thought, he bent his elbow and rested it on the point of his knee, bringing their joint hands to his face and resting his mouth against Ky's fingers.
That was enough to bring another smile to Ky's face, wiggling his fingers just slightly against Everrett's lip. "Well, I like you tan or no tan. You're still lovely he murmured, bending to press a kiss to Everrett's temple, a bit of fine hair sticking to his lips. "Nothing bad can come from being out in the moon, can it?" he asked after a silent moment.
"No, the UV radiation isn't strong enough," Everrett mumbled, biting Ky's thumb gently. He turned his head and leaned back a bit, just enough to catch Ky's lips in a kiss. It began softly, and he was going to pull away to make it brief but something made him push into it, his hand untangling from Ky's and moving to wrap his arm around the other boy's neck.
Ky didn't want the kiss to be brief. He pushed back, one arm sliding around Everrett's waist. Twisting his body again to push closer, his tongue teased Everrett's, moving into those deep kisses he so enjoyed. He didn't care where they were, he never did. All that he cared was that Everrett was his and that everything they did together felt incredibly good. His other hand slid onto the other boy's hip, fingers splaying and slipping under fabric just a bit, covering the gentle curves of the ribs under soft skin.
They may have gathered a bit of an audience - of ducks, most likely - but Everrett, too, didn't care. He didn't stop until he was desperate for air, and when he did finally break away, his lips and generally mouth... area, was wet and tender, a bit sore. It felt nice.
"I love you," he mumbled, without thinking.
Licking his own wet lips, Ky's breaths were soft little pants as he recovered from the kiss that had just ended. His fingers didn't move from under Everrett's fabric, but instead pressed tighter to skin as his brow furrowed slightly. Love. It was a word he heard before, and that he may have used once or twice but that was more in mimicking those who said it without really knowing the meaning.
So studying Everrett's face, the fingers on his free hand moved up to trace along one arm of the glasses he wore, and over the top of his ear. "What does love mean?"
Everrett cleared his throat uncomfortably. He only realised what he said - and how he said it - when Ky repeated it to him. It was too soon, too rash, too bold. He instantly felt foolish, pulling away gently and fixing his glasses where they lay slightly squint on the bridge of his nose.
"It's complicated," he said quietly, his cheeks burning up. He frowned at their audeince of ducks, willing them away. This was a private conversation, after all. "I guess it's just really deep feelings for another person." I think.. "But it's complicated.
When Everrett pulled away, Ky dropped his hands to his lap, brow still furrowed. He didn't think asking would be a mistake but it seemed like it was, if it made Everrett so uncomfortable. His lips pursed and he shifted, glancing at the ducks and then back at Everrett.
"I think," he said slowly, trying to think of the words. "That everything good is complicated." The words were soft, as though he was testing out the words as he said them which he pretty much was. There were so many times he doubted what he said made sense. "And I think, if the really deep feelings are good feelings--like the ones deep in here and here," he pointed to his stomach and chest, "then I love you too."
The corner of Everrett's mouth tugged up in a shy, half-smile and he bowed his head, reaching for the other boy's hand again and lacing their fingers together. "You're so sweet," he said, all in one breath. Then, looking up, he leaned in and gave Ky another kiss - softer, slower. "If there was no risk of getting caught, I'd want to have sex with you right here," he added with a tiny cheeky grin, pulling away again.
The deep lines and thoughtful frown on Ky's face instantly melted away, shifting back into the bright smile that was different than his normal one--adoring and wanting and happy all in one. It was Everrett's special smile. "I'd like that. But being caught means not being able to keep going. . . we could always go home," he offered softly, giving his best cheeky grin in return though it looked much that same as his other one.
"Yeah," Everrett murmured, snorting softly at Ky's grin - looking utterly adrorable, as usual. He pinched the other boy's nose playfully before running his hand down his side and squeezing his hip, the touch as possessive as Everrett could make it. He glanced at Ky's shoes, still lying in the middle of the grass. "You want to do that?"
Ky leaned in and gave Everrett a soft kiss, letting it linger and nodding before shifting enough to snag his shoes. He shoved them onto his feet, half undone but on at least. "Yes, I want to. Very much."
Everrett looked around himself, his hands pressed to the grass beneath him. "We'll spend longer time in the park next time - I promise," he said, feeling guilty all of a sudden. Ky had wanted to get out of the flat, after all.
Flashing Everrett a huge smile, Ky gave the boy's hand a squeeze. "Okay. I'm okay with leaving now though, so you know. Tree climbing and fresh air is good for any amount of time." He giggled slightly as he ran a hand through his hair. "Besides, time with you is better."
Everrett smiled thoughtfully, stretching his legs out before him and making sure all of his laces were tucked in before getting to his feet. As they began walking out of the park, hand in hand, he asked, "Do you ever get sad?" It was a serious question asked curiously, his voice small and rising in pitch with each word - tentative.
Sad. It was the opposite feeling of happy,that's what Ky had learned early on. And there were times when he wasn't happy, when he didn't feel good. When he gave Everrett nightmares, when he found out what nightmares were, when he thought about what his real job entailed. "Yes, sometimes," he paused for a moment, as though considering if he should keep speaking. "Do you?"
Everrett nodded, his hair swinging slightly, falling out of the hair tie. "Yeah, sometimes," he repeated. "What makes you sad?" They were close to the station and, despite the thick, warm air, Everrett felt cold.
Ky chewed his bottom lip, turning the skin red as he worried it between his teeth, wondering how he was supposed to best answer that without upsetting Everrett. "When you get those bad nightmares. Stuff like that," he murmured with a shrug.
Everrett tutted softly and let go of Ky's hand, swinging an arm behind the other boy's shoulder and squeezing him close against his side. "You shouldn't feel sad about that," he mumbled, his mouth close to Ky's ear. "I can't help what my subconscious creates - so you have nothing to be sorry for, Ky."
He kissed the other boy's cheek before taking his hand again as they went through the tube station and onto a train inside.
After the kiss, Ky stared at his feet as Everrett led them onto the train in an attempt to keep him from seeing the sadness in his eyes. Part of him wanted to tell Everrett right then and there that while Everrett couldn't help what his own subconscious created, Ky could. Wanted to tell the boy what he was and what he did--but the other part of him was too afraid. What it it ruined everything they had and Everrett didn't forgive him? He wasn't sure he'd be able to take being away from him.
So instead he tried to move the conversation on. "What makes you sad?" he asked softly.
Everrett thought about that for a moment, the sound of the train moving along the tunnel loud in his ears. "Not seeing my sister every day," he finally answered, leaning in close to the other boy. "Continuously doing my best and having my parents expect more of me."
Ky frowned slightly, hand tightening in Everrett's a their shoulders brushed together. "I wish I could fix it for you," he murmured softly, not sure what there was to say to that. They were all family issues and Ky, as far as he knew, had no family. Though the expecting more bit he did understand rather well.
Everrett's shoulder jutted up in a half-shrug. Before he could elaborate, the tube doors were sliding open and it was their stop. He didn't say anything else until they were outside of Camden Town Station, walking along the road toward his flat. It was getting dark already. "I didn't mean to bring the mood down."
"It's okay," Ky said, giving Everrett's hand another squeeze as they walked along the sidewalk, his shoelaces dragging along the pavement. Stopping them for a moment under a street-lamp near Everrett's flat, Ky tilted his head down and kissed him softly. "If you want," he murmured softly, "we can just cuddle on the couch or go to bed," he offered, though really he wanted to do more than just cuddle.
Skinny arms looped around Ky's waist and Everrett pulled him in, their lower bodies pressed together as he leaned back a bit to look up at Ky's face. "Nah," he said, smiling. "Wanna do more than that."
Ky gave Everrett a smile in return, kissing the end of his nose before giving it a soft nip with his teeth. His hands trailed over the blond's shoulders and down his back. "Mm, good. Me too." And with that he kissed Everrett again, as though to make sure neither changed their mind on the matter.
Everrett was pretty sure his neighbours wouldn't apprecaite them making out right outside their windows, so he broke the kiss with a grin and spun around a bit, still holding onto Ky's hand so that when he started walking, Ky's arm slung over his shoulder. "Alright, come on then, tree climber boy."
It really was a good thing Everrett's thoughts were on his neighbours, because they didn't even enter Ky's thoughts. He walked as close behind Everrett as he could without tripping the boy, following him up the stairs carefully. As keys jangled in the lock, he playfully bit the side of Everrett's neck with a little pretend growl. "Grr, I was raised by wolves!" he whispered with a huge grin.
"You really need to read the Jungle Book," Everrett said with a laugh, biting his lip and tugging Ky further inside until they both collapsed on the end of his bed. Skinny limbs flew everywhere.
"Wolves don't climb trees - at least, I don't think they do. Maybe you were raised by cats."
Ky squirmed slightly until he wound up straddling Everrett's waist, fingers already worming their way until the hem of his shirt and pushing up. "I will, maybe tomorrow, if it's at the library," he murmured, palms flat on Everrett's stomach.
"Like a big leopard?" Like Fred! came the thought that was quickly pushed back. Another secret he had to keep from Everrett.
"Yeah, like those," Everrett replied with a grin, blowing some hair away from his face, his hands immediately cradling Ky's waist and squeezing rhythmically. "What else climbs trees?" he asked himself thoughtfully. "Monkeys." He laughed, helping Ky with his own shirt and tugging it off, his glasses flying to the floor with it. He found his wand, muttering that vision correction spell before flinging that to the floor, too.
"Snakes," Ky offered. "They can slither up the trunks." And just in case Everrett didn't know what he meant, Ky made a slithering motion, effectively rubbing down against the blond while he smiled. And then, the shirt and glasses were gone and he just stared. It was always the same way when he saw more of his boyfriend--it was like he was seeing the most interesting thing in the world every time and it never got old for him. He tugged his shirt off, tossing it back behind him before trailing long fingers up the skin he could now see, eyes following them and then flicking up to Everrett's face, more visible without the glasses in the way.
Everrett pushed his elbows down against the bed and used his upper weight to push himself up, lifting his hands underneath Ky's shirt to pull it off and then cupping his face, sitting up properly and kissing him deeply. His hands slid over his jaw, into his hair, before moving down to undo his belt blindly.
Ky held the kiss, eyes closed as he let out a soft moan into Everrett's mouth. His hands moved down Everrett's back, nails dragging on the skin a bit before reaching his waistband and moving back up. He tried to touch Everrett everywhere he could without stopping him from getting the belt open, hips rocking down slightly, already wishing the clothes were out of the way. As soon as he could though, he was tugging open Everrett's belt and pants.
Soon enough, Everrett's clothes were in a crumpled pile on the floor on top of Ky's and their legs were tangled in the sheets, Everrett's knee pressed against the mattress as he half-lay on top of the other boy, pressing soft kisses along his upper torso. Fingers were clumsy but sure as they fiddled with packets and bottles, and suddenly it was wet between them and Everrett's fingers were inside the other boy, moving slowly but not that awkwardly.
Ky just ran his hands through Everrett's hair, over his cheeks and jaw and down to his shoulders as he moved with the touch. Each time they tried something they already had, it got smoother, a bit easier and less awkward despite the way their arms and legs still seemed to stick out everywhere. Soon, Ky moaned softly--a needy sound to tell the boy he was ready, head falling back to the pillow and hips rocking up.
Everrett's hair seemed to get everywhere and, after slowly sliding inside the other boy with a barely contained grunt, decided to roll them over - albeit a bit awkwardly, sitting up and cradling Ky's waist so that they were sitting together, Ky in his lap. "This okay?" he asked, shaking his head a little so that blond hair fell away from his eyes.
Reaching up, Ky slowly pushed the soft strands from in front of Everrett's eyes, tucking them behind his ears. He sat with his lips open slightly, shining from their last kiss as he got used to the different feel of it like this. "Yeah, yeah, s'good," he murmured, leaning in to kiss Everrett soundly as he rolled his hips achingly slow before lifting up and pressing down, a bit awkward and trying to get the hang of the whole moving bit, to find some rhythm.
All Everrett could think of was the fact that God, it really was good. He ran his hands down bony ribs that he could feel under delicate, pale skin, his fingers hooking over Ky's hips as they moved. He opened his mouth, as if to say something, his eyes bright on Ky's. But after a moment he just leaned in, pressing his lips to the base of the other boy's throat and running a hand gently up the centre of his back.
Ky made soft little whimpers and moans in his throat, vibrating against Everrett's lips an his chest rising and falling with short breaths. His arms clung around the other boy's thin shoulders and he arched his back a bit more, tilting his head out of the way so Everrett could kiss more skin if he wanted. But the movement made a burst of pleasure shoot through him and he gasped, never having felt it so intense despite all they'd done. So he did it again, falling into a faster, smoother rhythm, his stomach tingling and tight, close and he knew it.
Everrett's blunt nails gripped into the skin on the centre of Ky's back, his other hand moving up to meet the left and bracing him still, trying to catch his breath before he came too soon like he had done so many times already. "Ky," he whispered on a breath, squeezing his eyes shut and pressing his nose to the crook between the curve of Ky's neck and the start of his right shoulder. He could smell forests, damp and heady, and just before the scent could distract him - worry him - he came with a soft grunt against pale skin.
"Everrett." The name was soft, almost broken on Ky's lips as he came with a small gasp, right with Everrett, his whole body tense and shaking as made their skin sticky between them. His arms were locked tight around Everrett still, and it took him a while before he could finally pry them free, feeling a bit like the pudding like snack people talked about enjoying so much. He didn't want to move from Everrett's lap, but wanted to stay there, just like that. He kissed Everrett's temple and his hair, right behind his ear and all he could smell was sweat and shampoo. "I love you," he whispered softly, repeating the words from before and believing them, and how deep they went.
The words made Everrett's fingers tingle and he loosened them from Ky's back, rubbing the skin gently. "I... 'm glad I didn't roll us off the bed," he said sheepishly, biting his lip over a small grin as he glanced from Ky to the edge of the bed, inches away. "And I love you. Never thought I'd say that."
Ky giggled softly, his own fingers running over Everrett's chest, mapping the skin with his fingers so he could draw it later from memory. "It wouldn't have been that bad if you did. It's a short fall and we could have kissed the bruises away," he murmured as he glanced at the same spot. He sighed happily and brushed a soft kiss over Everrett's lip. "I never thought I'd understand what it meant, let alone be able to say it and mean it like this."
Everrett's mouth opened and he was ready to tell Ky that it was scientifically impossible to kiss bruises away, but instead he just smiled, reaching up to scratch the back of his head ruefully. "Are you staying the night?" he asked hesitantly, gently.
Seeing Everrett smile did wonders for Ky. He could survive off the happiness of seeing that for days, he was sure of it. "Yes," he said softly, very slowly rolling himself off to the side of Everrett that wouldn't put him off the bed, letting out a soft hiss. At least, for part of the night, he thought but knew better than to add. Once Everrett was asleep, he could sneak out and do what he had to and then get back before the boy realised he was gone.
Everrett took care of the used condom, grabbing a box of tissues from his bedside table and using them to wipe his stomach before throwing everything into the waste basket by his bed. He was worried of keeping the other boy up all night, but the aprehension didn't show - he simply crawled under the sheets after Ky and leaned on top of him for a moment, their faces close. "My alarm's set for work - that okay?"
"S'fine," Ky mumbled, making it sound much more sleepy than he felt. He rubbed his nose along the side of Everrett's before kissing his cheek and giving him a smile. He didn't try to snuggle closer as much as he loves curling up with Everrett. The more distance between them, the easier it was to sneak in and out of bed. "I put the last of the coffee in the machine so it can be ready in the morning." He had tried to help Everrett with a routine in the morning, though he really didn't have one of his own. His own was mostly spent watching Everrett go through his.
"Thanks," Everrett whispered, kissing Ky's lips briefly before settling down beside him, one arm slung heavily over the other boy's chest, his nose buried against his shoulder. "G'night," he mumbled, trying to remember if he switched his computer off earlier that afternoon.
The smile that came from the kiss quickly faded as Everrett threw his arm over Ky. He chewed his bottom lip, feeling a slight panicked feeling replacing the nice, tingly afterglow of the sex. He needed to use his power tonight or else it would start to show tomorrow, and that would raise questions and likely make Everrett want to be near him even more. He waited patiently, eyes shut tight and trying to will himself not to use it on Everrett, to wait and see if the boy would move. But if he didn't--he didn't have much choice, and that made Ky feel awful.
Everrett fell asleep almost as soon as he closed his eyes. His whole body turned log-like and heavy and he was whisked off into his subconscious, dark and vague at first before finally focusing on something that his mind could grab hold of for more than ten seconds.
The park, its lake wide and blue. The sky was that awful pink colour he had seen so many mornings when waking up at six a.m. - but it was quiet, serene. He was sitting with his legs crossed in the grass, Ky behind him, whispering words he couldn't hear.
"I lost my bed," Everrett said, his voice quiet.
Ky squeezed his eyes shut tighter, trying to fight it but it was instinct, necessity. Before he even knew what he was doing, he was pushing his own way into Everrett's mind, slow and sluggish because of his want not to.
He pressed kisses to Everrett's neck, along his jaw and to his ear, still whispering away, seeming not to hear what the blond had said. There were no ducks this time holding audience, there didn't even seem to be the chirping of birds from above them. Just the gentle puffs of their breathing, the soft smack of lips on skin, and the pink in the sky, mirrored in the still water. It was quiet--but too much so, like the calm before a raging storm.
Everrett bowed his head and raised his knees up against his chest, pressing his mouth against the skin of Ky's arm where it rested across his front.
"I'm going to do something stupid," he guessed, his voice small. He shivered against Ky's kisses, reaching up to carress the back of the taller boy's head with skinny fingers. "I can't think without it."
Suddenly, his bed appeared, as if on a platform on the middle of the lake. The sheets were rumpled.
Ky began to nip and suck at Everrett's skin, whispering in his dark language in the boy's ear. But suddenly, the blond was no longer sitting under the tree but in the middle of his rumpled sheets. Ky was still sitting where they both were moments before, looking around but seeming to look right through Everrett as if he wasn't there.
From around the sides of the lake, two wolves appeared, staring at Everrett before turning their attention to the two on the bank and stalking over, growling loudly and yet still unnoticed by the pale boy sitting by himself on the shore.
Everrett crawled forward on the bed, careful of the edge, and squinted out onto the shore as the dogs got closer. "Ky!" he shouted.
"It's what you wanted, though, isn't it?" a familiar voice came from behind him. Everrett turned to see himself sitting cross-legged on the head of the bed, his hair tied back in a neat ponytail, wearing no glasses. He looked prettier than he did in real life - perhaps a little bit older.
"He's gone, Ev. Just leave him - you don't understand each other, never will. He's like a kid, and you know that. Let him play with his own."
The shout seemed to do nothing, but when Ky saw the animals on his own, he was beaming. It seemed he had forgotten all about what they had been doing earlier. He let them lick his face and then began to wrestle with them, his light laugh ringing out as the creatures nipped and tore at his clothes. They fell off at his feet and it was something else he didn't seem to mind, the trees behind him seemed to thicken as he grabbed one and began to climb, the wolves whining and waiting down below.
Out of the woods emerged another figure though, with broad shoulders, skin as pale as Ky's, and just as naked. He seemed to smirk directly at Everrett before he began to climb the same tree with surprising dexterity, calling to the boy in the higher branches.
Everrett recognised the face of the older man but before he could dwell on it, they both disappeared amongst the branches.
"He didn't leave you for him," older Everrett said softly, now crawling forward to sit with the younger version of himself. "He left you - he left me - for all of them. All of the ones who understand him. You're just too worldly. It's like you speak in different languages, you know?" Everrett looked at his older self, unable to respond. His mouth felt dry.
More boys and men seemed to slowly emerge from between the trunks of trees, all with dark hair and pale skin. The tree seemed to sway slightly, and from between the leaves emerged all the voices in song. The words seemed dark and ancient and mysterious, dripping the deep colours of the forest and above them all, Ky's voice could be heard.
And then it suddenly stopped with a clap of thunder overhead. The flash of lightning that followed showed the tree to be empty, somehow all the figures suddenly disappearing from it's branches. It was as though they had never existed in the first place as the storm started to build, making the water ripple and the bed rock.
Everrett blinked, suddenly soaking wet, and he couldn't see for the raindrops gathering on his glasses. "I don't want to be with anyone else," he said.
Older Everrett moved forward and cupped is face, tilting it upward and brushing wet hair from his cheeks. "It's not a case of wanting to, Ev - you have to." Then, he said something that Everrett didn't understand. "You're different species. That's kind of sick, if you think about it."
Another flash of lightning and Ky was back on one of the higher branches, visible through the leaves. Only this time he looked different, sadder, lonely. He was shivering and perched on the branch like a little bird trying to weather the storm. His chin was tucked down to his chest, hair plastered to his face before those big eyes lifted and looked right out at the two Everretts.
His mouth opened and closed but his words were lost between them, only his eyes showing some sort of pleading. The only sound was the pattering of the rain and the thunder booming, followed by a sickening crack of breaking wood. The branch where the boy was sitting was no longer there, and instead he lay in a crumpled heap beside it on the ground.
Before Everrett could scream Ky's name, his older self was pulling him in closer and kissing him. It was a strange sensation - mirrored. Everything felt the same and yet nothing quite fit. He was being held tightly and the kiss was deep and invasive - he couldn't breathe.
Waking with a start, Everrett rolled off of Ky suddenly and sat up, blinking. His flat was flooded with light.
Ky slept peacefully beside Everrett, oblivious to the other boy's panic. His only movement was the gentle rise and fall of his chest as he slept peacefully on, as his powers intended. When the morning came and he found what he'd done, his peace would be shattered then. But for now, he was blissfully unaware of the pain he caused.