Chapter Text
The speed at which Steven walks back to the building makes the view at his periphery blur. Many are leaving the party; headed to their next location. He maneuvers around them as best he can, most people just jumping out of his way.
He parked on the street behind the venue and had not noticed anyone’s car he knew near the entrance. But when he turns the corner there he is. Three cars down on the other side of the street, leaning against the right side of his car, head tilted up from what Steven can see.
A bubble of nervous hope erupts in his chest, feet moving toward where is heart wants him to be. He crosses the street carefully, shuffling in between a green Prius and red Jeep. He can hear is heart pounding in his ears as he turns to take in Andrew’s profile.
Thumbs hang loosely from his pockets, his body leaning heavily on the car, the line of his back hugs the car as if it were the only thing holding him up. His round nose is turned up. It looks as if his eyes are closed, but the distance makes it hard to tell.
The closer Steven gets the more details he sees; his eyes are in fact closed, lips are pressed into a barely there frown, chin wrinkled. The streetlight catches on the faint tear tracks on his cheeks and Steven’s heart clenches.
“Andrew,” he says when he’s close enough, not wanting to startle him. Dewy eyes blink open and his brow pinches in confusion.
“Steven…”
Steven draws close to Andrew, like he always seems to do, but Steven is somehow just now noticing.
“Steven, I’m so sorry for ambushing you like that. It was uncalled for and way out of line and I would understand-“
He places his left palm on Andrew’s warm chest, silencing him immediately.
“Andrew,” Steven says, stepping into Andrew’s space, leaning down to rest their foreheads together.
“Can I?” He whispers into the small space between them.
Andrew barely moves, rolling his head forward as if to nod, which only tilts their lips closer. Steven tentatively rests his right hand against Andrew’s cheek, thumb slowly stroking away the tear tracks. A nervous thrill runs through him at the feeling of Andrew’s stubbled cheek under his fingers, so different than what he’s used to.
Steven leans in, brushing against soft lips. The touch shoots a spark through his heart, making it race. He leans his body into Andrew, capturing his lips and everything seems to fall motionless. The air around them feels so gentle and present that Steven worries he’ll break the moment. Andrew is still, Steven can feel how hesitant he is to ask for more.
Then Andrew makes a small, desperate noise in the back of his throat and all bets are off.
Steven presses in closer, legs slotting in between Andrew’s, using his right hand to tilt Andrew’s face up while his left grabs hold of the button-down under his palm. Andrew finally makes a move, gently resting hands on Steven’s waist before wrapping his arms around them, holding him close.
A rush of need spreads through Steven’s chest, he presses deeper into the kiss, tongue quickly asking for permission. Andrew opens up for him, giving back the same amount of energy he’s receiving. The first caress of tongue sends a spark into Steven’s heart. Warmth blossoms there, making him shiver.
The sensation is heady. He doesn’t want to stop kissing Andrew, solid and steady Andrew, even his kisses are so. He wants to touch and kiss till his body feels weak and his lips feel numb. But he needs to stop, to breathe. He needs to talk to Andrew before they both get lost in each other.
Steven releases the kiss. When he opens his eyes he sees Andrew’s lips parted, brow creased and shining green eyes blinking. The sight makes Steven’s heart swell. He leans in again, pressing a kiss to the corner of Andrew’s mouth then resting their foreheads together once more.
Letting go of Andrew’s face, he places his right hand next to his left. His hands smooth up his chest and hoop around his neck.
“What happened, Steven?” Andrew whispers. He sounds lost, trying to get a grip on the moment.
Steven breathes in, “Your kiss… I liked it too much.”
Andrew huffs a laugh, Steven can imagine him smirking. He doesn’t check, but he does nudge their shoulders together.
“Oh my god. I mean, I liked it too much and I knew I shouldn’t have,” he pulls back to look at Andrew. “I felt like I was cheating on Ying.”
A guilty look passes over Andrew’s face, “I know… I-I got caught up in the moment and I know that doesn’t make it okay but… why are you here?”
Andrew lightly squeezes his arms around Steven’s waist. The gesture makes him want to press in close once more and continue kissing. Instead his arms slip down, hands coming to the back of Andrew’s neck to cradle his head to draw his attention.
“I talked to Ying.”
Andrew’s eyebrows quirk up.
“She knew. She knew before I could bring myself to recognize that I have feelings for you— that I like you, Andrew.”
Andrew’s eyes warm at the confession, a hopeful smile on his lips before it slips and a more serious look takes over. “So what does that mean? Are you and Ying over?”
Steven‘s eyes cast down. The reality of the past hour hitting him. “Friends now, but yes.”
“Are you okay?”
And that’s just it. When it matters, he’s not cruel or joking, underlined in the air in front of him. A tired smile appears as he looks up. “A lot has happened tonight, honestly. Can we just, take it slow?”
Now Andrew is smiling. He leans up to press a kiss to Steven’s cheek. “Okay, Steven.”
He can feel tears pricking the corners of his eyes when he smiles. Steven’s tired mind settles. There is still a lot to talk about, but for now he wraps his arms around Andrew’s shoulders and let’s head drop into the crook of Andrew’s neck, breathing in the cedar and musky scent of his cologne. Andrew pulls him in close, running a soothing hand up and down his back and Steven sags into the strong and steady man, knowing everything will be alright.