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V had said that he wanted to go to sleep. He had said that quite some hours ago. And he had meant it. He wanted to catch some Z’s before their plan was coming into action the next morning. A little sleep deprivation wouldn’t throw him off (he had endured worse than just one night with little sleep) but he wanted to be in the best shape for this. The veteran nomads (and Panam) had asked him for help. So he didn’t want to let them down in any way.
He had already said his goodnights but he just couldn’t manage to get up. The chrome in his legs was working properly, don’t you worry. But it was the circumstances that held him back. So close, next to Panam, shoulders touching, upper bodies next to each other. He felt her body heat radiating next to him. Some of her hair touched his naked arms slightly.
Yes, they had said to go slow. Not to risk what they had. And that they would stay friends, for the time being. At the same time, it had been obvious that Vince had hoped for more. He liked Panam. He was into her. And although he wouldn’t push her and was alright with her taking her time, he would be lying if he would say that he wasn’t enjoying this. Quite a lot actually. It let his heart flutter a little, it felt warm, and he really wanted it to last longer. So he stayed where he was and didn’t move an inch.
The others had kept them company for quite a while, drinking together, telling stories, that had Panam hide her face in shame more than one time while V had to hold back the loud laughs.
It had been great. But by now they had gone to sleep as well.
“V?”, said Panam after a while in silence.
The merc was still staring up into the sky, watching stars you couldn’t see in the city (and V wondered how long it had been since he really had seen them last). “Mh?”, he said, without looking at her directly.
She spoke silently, so she wouldn’t wake the others. “If you would describe your perfect kiss, what would it be like?”
“What?” His drifting thoughts immediately came back to him. His head slightly flew around, him watching her. Surprise was prominent on his face. “Perfect kiss?” He must have misheard? Hadn’t she just said that she didn’t want to rush things?
“Just in general, you gonk!”, she laughed and hit his shoulder slightly.
“Oh.” He sounded a little disappointed, and honestly, he was. Vincent took a deep breath, forcing his thoughts in the direction they were supposed to go and not the one they liked right now. He nodded, looking up at the stars. “I don’t really know”, he had to admit and he frowned. He was not too good with words. Surely, he had this idealistic idea, but he felt like he couldn't find the right words. So annoying.
“Just try!”, Panam encouraged him and V nodded.
“Nothing special, actually. Just in a moment where you didn’t expect it. That is amazing. Your heart flutters, and from one second to the other everything feels warm. You are close with your partner. Doesn’t have to be a long kiss, no tongue either. Just that little surprise that makes your heart nearly jump out of your chest.” For a moment V thought about it. Yeah, that was the perfect one. He had his fair share of kisses in his life so far and he really had to admit that those surprises had been most exciting.
V stared up, a short smile on his face, remembering the feeling, not a specific person. “What ‘bout yo-” He was just about to turn his head, keeping the conversation alive, as he felt Panam scooch closer and her lips on his.
Forget everything that he had said before. Or no: don’t forget it, but multiply it by a hundred at least. The idea was still the same, but it had been a while and V had forgotten how great a kiss could feel. Or perhaps it was like this because it was Panam. Her distinct smell, a mix of engine oil and hints of fruity shampoo, was stronger to him. Her lips were warm and soft, fitting perfectly on his own. His heart started to race, pounding in his chest in excitement. And after the first second of surprise, V closed his eyes, leaned in a little. Yeah, this was what he had in mind and even better. This moment put all his words from before to shame. Time was standing still and V could stay like this for forever, but as he felt the slight touch of Panam’s fingers on his chest she pulled back.
As soon as her lips were gone, V already missed them. He kept his eyes shut, hoping she would come back, embrace him with her scent again, her warmth, force the hair in his neck to tingle again. Oh, he was getting greedy. And that just from one single kiss.
With a husky cough and a short lick over his lips, he opened his eyes, greeted by Panam’s warm ones, laying on him. A smile was on her face and for the first time, V felt a simmering uncertainty in her expression. It was cute. It was really cute. He loved how tough she was, but this side was new and was not any worse.
“Just like that?”, she asked and the smile turned into a cheeky grin. There, she was back. And again V’s heart fluttered a little. If he kept going like that V might cause some relic malfunctions himself tonight.
“Ye-”, V had to cough. His voice was all rough in his throat. He felt a slight blush rise on his cheeks. Keep it together, man, you are not a shy teen. Although, he was undeniably behaving like one. “Yeah, just like that.”