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“I might have to
battle my sister over this, and it would be all worth it!”
Krel took another
slice, stuffing it into his mouth. “It’s just so
unequivocally good!!” He
hummed contently, already grabbing another one. “How do you
call it again?
Pep-pep-roni pizza?”
Seamus snickered,
because darn it, if the Latino genius in front of him wasn’t
absolutely
adorable with tomato sauce all over his face. He couldn’t
bring himself to tell
him, maybe it was seeing such a usually stoic and apparently
uninterested
person getting himself so into something that wasn’t code
numbered. Like that
wasn’t enough, it was a big victory for pizza lovers like him
against the evil
burrito fans.
Not in his house.
Here, they are all pepperoni knights.
Seamus lied down
on his side of the couch, grabbing the last piece from his carton. The
everlasting
ending credits were still rolling on the screen, they had since the
pizza guy had
arrived.
“It’s super tasty,
isn’t it? I know the best pizzeria of Arcadia! After the
advent of the Mexican tracks
it’s getting less clients, but I’m still loyal. My
Saturday night for you. No
matter what I do, it always involves pizza.” Going to the
disco with the guys,
getting a movie right after dinner, being forced to do scavenging with
Steven
and Eli – man things had changed since they used to stick
that little nerd into
the locker. After that, always the circle of life and
mozzarella cheese.
Krel hummed, a
drop of tomato caressing his cheek. And that went to weirdly alluring
to cute
as soon as the Latino finally noticed the inappropriate condition of
his face,
pouting and stuffing his nose into a towel when he noticed Seamus
giggling
quietly.
“That is not the
right behavior of a landlord.” He smirked, taking another
towel. “It was kind
of you to invite me to your weekly recurrence.” He tossed it
to the other,
right on his face.
Seamus laughed
more, rubbing his fingers on the cloth.
“You’re welcome, I
wanted to watch that movie anyway. It’s better in
company.” Animation wasn’t
his cup of tea, but an astronaut getting on a fully populated alien
planet?
that was his jam.
Krel huffed, crossing
his arms.
“A pretty
unreliable one, if you ask me.”
“What? Come on,
like you know better! I’m sure astronauts out there are doing
their best to try
and find life on other planets. Give it a few decades, we’ll
get a better
movie.” Seamus winked at him. “Trust a cadet from
the space camp. Besides,
there are other movies about aliens. Sometimes I get the others to
watch them
with me, I’m an expert.” He gave him a superior lo-
Brown. Deep. Bright.
“…
I know Steve wasn’t available, since he’s
out with my sister. And Eli got hurt at his foot during their last
adventure in
the forest.” One would think would learn after Battle of
Bands. “I guess the
girls are doing girly things, but your other
friends…” Krel shrugged slightly,
between his fingers the crust of the last piece of pizza.
The music at the
television changed. Seamus came back to his blank mind and managed to
lower the
volume, swallowing. He should know at this point, not to cross eyes
with him. He
had no control over it, and his brain just loved to mess with him
whenever it
got the occasion, especially with thoughts that definitely
couldn’t be included
into a nice evening between friends.
He spied to other,
hoping he wasn’t thinking so hard he could be heard. Krel was
looking down,
tapping distractly with his foot. In a pretty defensive position.
Seamus couldn’t
help but smile, mouth half-opened.
Was that
insecurity? From him?
“Tarron, I invited
you because I wanted you to come. You’re not some rebound,
don’t even think
about it! Besides…” He looked down at the table,
near the cartons of pizza,
where a book of math exercises was left untouched. “I can
assure you, no one I
know could bare the thought of being a room with math, alien movies and
pepperoni pizza at the same time.” Those traitors Mexican
lovers.
Krel gaped,
blinking rapidly. Slowly he smiled, tossing the crust into the carton.
“I see. In that
case I am delightful to be that person.” Seamus found very
hard not to grab his
hand, now that would had been extremely not evening between friends
related.
“So you weren’t kidding, your father really did
leave you exercises for
practicing.”
Seamus shrugged,
sitting back beside him.
“Space camp is
safe, but let’s just say ‘winning’ with
such a narrow margin really got on his
nerves. It’s not a big deal though, it won’t take
long for me.”
“It would take
even less for me.” Krel smirked at him.
Seamus grinned
back. After the Math Duel it became routine, and it was extremely
stimulating.
“I smell some good
challenge over here, I’m sure we can arrange something. But
first, do you want
some ice cream? I think we have some chocolate and raspberry left in
the
freezer.”
“… what is an ice
cream?”
Seamus gasped
loudly and literally launched himself into the kitchen. Five minutes
later he
was back on the couch, two big cups on the table with one scoop of each
flavor,
chocolate dressing and whipped cream on the top. In a flash of
creativity, he
decided to add some crumbled nuts. The first time needed to be
absolutely
perfect.
Krel gave him a
weird-out look, before taking a spoon and have a taste. He widened his
eyes, his
eyes getting lucid.
“… I believe I
just found humanity’s reason to live.” That guy
understood him so much. “Though
I think this amount of calories is a bit excessive, especially at this
hour.
You do this every Saturday?”
“Well we don’t
always have ice cream, but the neighbor likes to bake,
so…”
“Isn’t that a
little unhealthy?”
Seamus shrugged, digging
in his cup.
“I wouldn’t mind
dying of this. Besides, I do a lot of jogging, I train with Steven at
least
twice a week, and I don’t have that much of a messy diet. I
would say I’m keeping
myself pretty fit.” He sneaked a glance at his guest, proudly
smiling, showing
his most charming sid-
“That’s
undeniable.”
Barely a whisper.
It gave him goosebumps.
“What did you
say?”
“Uhm! So,
equations? I love those!” The Latino quickly opened the book
on the table,
turning pages over and over again without even looking, laughing
nervously out
loud.
Seamus swallowed, sitting
back again.
That.
That was the
reason he really invited him.
Being a third
wheel for Steve and his new-found gorgeous girlfriend was one tough
burden –
maybe a second third wheel, since he always got called only when Eli
wasn’t
available –, and Seamus was mentally prepared to at least try to pretend he was enjoying himself
between the two love birds. He
did not expect to share the infamous title with said hot
date’s brother,
especially not with the one
that completely destroyed him at math, and did the only selfless thing
someone
ever did to him at the same time. What to do in this kind of situation,
if not
interacting hoping to forget whatever mess their
“bros” had put them in?
… forgetting?
Talking to Krel felt like the entire
world disappeared. Yes, they shared a pretty darn good brain.
Yes, they
were both really into music – DJ Kleb had been amazing, the
only good thing
happened during that crazy day. Yes, Krel was the only one he could
talk about
space camp and not have his pitiful glare directed on him, like being a
space
geek was a curse.
It felt nice. Too
much, maybe. That probably drove him crazy enough to invite Krel over
for
dinner and math. Because it was a thing now. Pizza and math.
… man he was
pathetic.
Seamus got closer
to him, clearing his voice. If he really had something close to a
chance, it
was focusing on that. Nothing wrong and unpredictable could happen into
the
exact science that math was. He was in a safe territory.
“Any interesting
ones?”
“Negative, they
don’t have more than three unknowns! What’s the fun
in that?”
Seamus half smiled
at that. That was a first.
“You have fun at
math? The evil mathematic?”
“Of course I do. I
wouldn’t even try to excel otherwise.” Krel looked
at him. “Do you?”
Seamus held his
breath, hearing his dad’s angry shouts back at primary
school, at his first and
only b on a math test – at least before the Tarrons advent.
Going to bed
without dinner. Having his phone confiscated. Grounded for a week. And
yet it
all felt like nothing, compared to the look of furious disappointment
in his
old man’s eyes, red with anger. Making mistakes in a mark
this accurate, that
was inexcusable.
With that reminder
always in the back of his head, it was hard to concentrate sometimes.
Seamus looked up,
hearing an annoying echo in his mind.
“I like to be the
best. And having the entire world being explained with numbers and
symbols makes
me feel good, you know? Like there’s nothing to be worried
about. I don’t think
I love it, but I guess I enjoy it.” He sighed, feeling light.
It wasn’t normal,
talking like that about his specialty, something that was supposed to
get him a
job someday. But who cared? He never did, that’s why he never
said it out loud.
There was no one he could talk about it. Not Steve, not Logan, not the
girls, no
one.
But him
.
Krel nodded,
getting his notebook and writing down an equation. He smiled a little,
tracing
the numbers mechanically. There was a certain elegance into it.
“I love math
because it’s universal. Everyone uses it and cannot deny it,
it’s like the
ultimate law of the universe. When I feel left out or… even
alone sometimes, I
focus on my work and how everything completes everything in a massive
equation
where we are all part of it.” He stopped, giggling.
“Apart from the technical
part, this kind of inspiring speech is more my sister’s
thing.”
That sound, darn
it. Seamus had it bad. So bad.
Inviting
him over had been such a horrible idea. And he still, still
couldn’t regret it.
Being alone at home doing dad’s exercises wasn’t
fun. With him, it was the best
he could had ever hoped for.
He grinned at him,
trying to ignore the press in his stomach.
“Pepperoni and ice
cream combined gave you some kind of elocutios power?”
“That stuff is
better that calculus. I’d say, I wouldn’t be
surprised.”
Seamus laughed.
His cheeks were on fire, his mind was just full of him. The house was
empty,
and on the background in a low volume the music of the credits was
still
rolling. It was Saturday night, and his phone was flashing of probably
all the
messages Steve left of whatever adventure he went to this time.
He sighed
contently, smiling at the other.
“You know, I
usually do this on my own. It’s nice to have someone around.
Someone like you.”
No. Wait. Was that too explicit? Maybe too much? No way to tell, his
dating
skills weren’t exactly impeccabl-
Wow
.
If Seamus wanted nothing but capture this moment and held it forever
inside of
him. Was it because of his tan skin? The blush got stronger only right
under
his eyes, and those deep brown irises shined so much that for a moment
he
thought a shade of light blue covered them. Like the sky mirrored into
his eyes.
Beautiful.
Krel cleared his
voice, his lips parted, his movements not that convinced anymore. He
concentrated on the book, but his shoulders were moving timidly.
“Well, y-you did
point out a valid concern, I also often find myself on my own during
this kind
of activities. I guess I never found… I don’t
know, someone with my superior
intellect?” Seamus almost elbowed him, but stopped when they
locked eyes again.
“What I’m trying to say is, I also think it is nice
to be here… with you.”
Oh man.
Oh man
.
Was that a hint?
Could he really go for it?
Krel looked simply
astonishing, out of himself and shy, tapping nervously his pencil on
the table.
His hold wasn’t correct, almost like he barely used writing
tools at all in his
life. Was Seamus really that over the heels to find even that little
detail
incredibly cute?
They stayed silent
for a while, while Seamus wrote down the equation as well. It was a
pretty
simple one, wasn’t the Latino that lost in thoughts he would
had done it in a
second. Was he uncomfortable? Making Krel feel bad was not an option,
not after
all the jealousy and discrimination of the very beginning.
Not matter what
happened, things were different between them. Starting from this.
Seamus looked
at the exercise. He smiled.
“How about Math
Duel take two?”
Krel animated all
of the sudden, giving him a surprised look. Then he smiled with
superiority,
and darn it, the blush was still there.
“You’re on,
Johnson.”
To be fair, he did
his best. Already knowing not to stand a chance. Somehow as soon as he
got to
read it once, like it was just some dumb poetry, the Latino immediately
got to
work. His eyes were fixed and kept shifting all over the paper, while
the
solution kept getting bigger and bigger, the numbers less many and more
specific. His focus and enthusiasm were something Seamus could only
dream of. And
it was fine. Somehow, it felt nice that someone genuinely fascinated by
math was
better than him. It felt right.
Krel finished and
hit the table, smirking in victory.
Seamus shrugged, going
for the solutions sheets at the end of the book. No doubt it was
correct, he
wondered if the Latino was an A+ math student in Cantaloupia as well.
If he won
contests, seeing just how good he was. At least one award was needed
for
someone this fas-
Oh. Oh. An
idea. A really cheesy, out of
character idea.
His heartbeats got
faster. He looked at the answer.
“… correct.”
Krel huffed with
satisfaction.
“That was
obvious.”
Seamus swallowed,
feeling his hands getting sweaty. That wasn’t his usual
style, that sounded
like the silly and pretty embarrassing stuff… Steve would
do. But he did score
with the beautiful Aja, didn’t he? Not like Seamus did much
to improve the
situation between them anyway. He could try. Just try. He could think
of a
backup plain during the ride.
… hopefully.
He invited him
just for that, right? He saw many hints from him, right?
“I think you
deserve a prize.” There was no turning back. Holding himself
together was
incredibly hard, his voice was cracking horribly. Outside math nothing
was easy.
His usual world was simple to read, because he spent all his life
studying it.
But now, it was unpredictable, impossible to foresee, almost everything
involving-
The Latino
frowned, circling the right answer with the pencil.
“For such an easy
exercise? I’m sure we could find a better challenge to
determine an actual…” He
looked incredible from this close, his widened eyes, his thin lips.
“H-huh?! I…
you’re… what…?”
His caramel skin, the
warmness radiating from his skin. “S… Seamus…”
His name. This
near. This low.
Seamus closed his
eyes and kissed him. Just one peek.
His
lips were tender and tasted like ice cream. Just
a little longer. It felt warm and light. Is
this really happening? Then, he felt Krel’s hand
timidly reached
his. It is. It is! He sighed on his
lips, feeling more, wanting more, while his arm went on his own around
the
Latino’s back. Slim, light. Krel’s head inclined a
little, and he hummed as the
kiss deepened, while his hand climbed his back and grabbed his shirt.
A sweet sigh came
out of his mouth as soon as Seamus pulled away, staying close enough to
make
their noses brush together. His lips got immediately cold. Right in
from of him
was Krel’s beautifully reddened face, his eyes half-lidden
and unfocused. He
was so close he could hear his breath, his hands shaking.
He leaned once
again, his heart screaming for it, his mind unable to hold it back. His
heartbeats were loud, echoing in his blank mind. It felt like flying,
it was like flying.
Krel’s other hand went
to his neck, sighing softly, giving him shivers.
This time it was
the Latino that backed down, holding Seamus’ arms and leaning
his forehead over
his shoulder. He was panting softly near his ear, it made his chest
warm.
Was him his first?
“… Krel?” His
voice was so low he barely recognized himself. “Are you
okay?”
He nodded. His
hands went down, around his torso, hugging him close. His constitution
was so different
from his. It was perfect in his own way.
“I never… I
mean… it
took me by surprise. How kissing can, huff, take your breath away.
But…” He hid
his nose into his neck, making him shiver. “I really liked
it. I really… like
you. You know I do, right?” He laughed weakly, snuggling
closer, like he couldn’t
help but search for that connection, again and again.
Seamus felt his
mind reconnecting, enough to put his hands on Krel’s
shivering back. But his
thoughts were still randomly wondering over that warm mist inside his
head.
Feeling beautifully numb over the situation.
“Was I supposed
to?” The Latino gulped in his arms. “How?”
“I thought I was
feeling it so much you were going to notice. I was…
am… burning inside. I can
barely process it, and it makes me really uneasy.” He sniffed
a little, his
cheek on Seamus’ shoulder was warm. “In a good way.
If that even makes sense.
It probably doesn’t, the world outside math and machines is
so confusing.”
Seamus swallowed,
his hands started to caress his back on their own. He felt shivers
under his
fingers, it woke him up from his torpor. It
was actually happening.
“It is, does, uhm.
It’s okay.”
“If you say so.”
“I mean it, come
on.” He pushed his shoulders a little, looking at him.
“Look at me.” He wasn’t,
and it was torturing him. Everything was out. He wasn’t going
to spend another
minute without having everything about him.
Krel tightened his
lips together.
“Only if you stop
doing that thing with the eyes, you… you keep staring at me,
continuously! That
distracts me, okay? As soon as I notice you, I can’t help but
thinking about
you…” He crossed eyes by mistake, and
couldn’t look away. “And… my mind is so
full of you already, I… I’m afraid it might
explode.” He grabbed the other’s
shirt, his fingers trembling.
Seamus melt
inside. He couldn’t resist, he leaned and kissed him on the
cheek. It was like
the red on his face was making his tan skin more vivid. His eyes were
magical.
“I don’t think I
can stop, I just… really like you too, you know.”
“… was I supposed
to?” Krel giggled nervously.
Seamus smiled,
feeling all he had in his chest coming out.
And Krel noticed,
somehow. His smiled disappeared, but his brown eyes got more intense.
And then
he put his arms around his neck, kissing him slowly, sighing softly
between
their lips. Seamus closed his eyes, letting himself go, feeling good
and calm
for once in his life. His hand caressed the Latino’s cheek,
then slowly went
down to his hip. The music disappeared from his ears, there were only
Krel’s
sweet hums and the heartbeats up on his throat.
Seamus lost
himself into him, warmer and deeper, to the point he almost felt like
fainting.
So he pushed Krel a little, letting him fall with his back on the
couch. Their
bodies were entangled, warming each other.
When they parted, Seamus
felt like he woke up from the most amazing dream. He opened his eyes
again, looking
down. Krel left in wait, biting his lip. His face was beautifully
colored, his
eyes were almost too much to look at.
Seamus smiled and
hugged him, putting his chin on his shoulder, sniffing his hair.
“You’re out of
this world, Krel.” Weirdly the Latino gulped even more than
before. Did he say
something wrong? Again with the cheesy stuff, he needed to stop
frequenting
Steve and Aja for a while. Then felt him embracing back.
“… you have no
idea.”
Seamus just laughed
it off and hold him closer. Feeling ecstatic, overwhelmed, warm.
Maybe too much to
notice just how tight was the grasp over his shoulders, and how
troubled those brown eyes had become.