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Jason sucked in his breath, "Fuck … what is wrong with me…" he had to seek refuge in the bathroom after Salim smiled at him. He felt his face burn up and flushed an ungodly red. Now he's by the sink and no amount of water on his face could get rid of the heat.
Screw this wriggling in his stomach. Maybe it was the alcohol. Him and the team decided to celebrate before their departure back to the US, the pressure of being questioned for days on end gave them no breathing time to process the horrors they've witnessed underground. If there was a good reason to drink and relax, now was the time.
They sat around the campfire outside of their base, Nick and Salim supplied drinks, Nicky obviously got them American beer, while Salim got them some local drinks, none of the names Jason could remember or pronounce. Only thing he remembered was Salim’s stupid smile, that kind, warm, and caring smile. He didn’t want to overthink what was underneath the smile, but if he had to pinpoint what he saw, he could almost… Ugh what does it matter, he’s reading too much into it. There is no way Salim would look at him lovingly, tenderly, or whatever fuck else flowery language people use to describe love, it’s just not for him. It’s never for him.
Jason decided to stop staring at his fucking sorry self in the mirror and slump down to the cold tiles with his back leaning against the sink. He almost laughed, what kinda teenage romance musical is he reenacting huh? Pathetic is what he is.
“Jason?”
Oh fuck no.
“Salim! What’s up brother?” yikes, too much bravado, tone it down you dumbass.
“Are you alright? Do you need anything? I’ll go get you some water if you want.” Salim studied him carefully, worry was written clearly on his face. Jason forced himself to laugh, but sounded more like a snort.
“Nah I’m goooood. No need to worry man! Go! Enjoy the food and drinks, I’ll just… ” his brain was no good coming up with words, not with Salim there looking at him with his sweet worrying eyes. Salim obviously didn’t feel persuaded enough to leave, instead he plopped down and sat next to Jason. Without warning he reached out his hand and felt Jason’s forehead.
Jason flinched at the contact, but he forced himself to relax while Salim took his supposed temperature, checking for a fever. He looked and felt the part alright, but it was a different kind of sickness entirely.
“You are burning up, you really shouldn’t have just sat here on the cold floor. Come, I’ll take you to your cot, you can tell me which bed is yours when we get there alright?” Whatever words Salim spouted out means nothing to Jason, as of now he’s way more invested in the roughed skin yet tender touch of Salim’s hand. It’s dangerously addicting, and Jason wanted more.
Maybe it’s the alcohol, or maybe he’d just had enough of his frustration, Jason was no pussy, and he made up his mind. Screw duties, screw the army, fuck everything. Jason took Salim’s hand and held it carefully in his palms. He wasn’t a pussy… but he was still too scared to look up at Salim’s surprised expression. There was an audible, stunned silence.
“...Jason?”
Fuck what was he going to say?
Then an idea like no other struck him, say what? He’ll write instead!
Jason lifted a finger and wrote letter by letter on the rough skin of Salim’s palm. Salim let out a surprised little “oh”, and spelled out each letter as Jason traced his palm some more.
“Sa… ah ok that’s my name. You… are… amazing? Why thank you Jason! Can… I… ” Salim stopped and swallowed. The silence was back again, this time heavier than the last. Jason’s heart almost stopped when Salim stopped spelling out the question he wrote down on his palm.
Jason fucking couldn’t stand the silence anymore and lifted his face up to glare at Salim, demanding to get an answer out of the Iraqi. What he saw made him burst into laughter, Salim’s face was turned to the side and his other hand covered his mouth, his whole face and ears were redder than Rudolph’s fucking nose. He couldn’t help himself, he laughed some more and watched as Salim’s brows furrowed together out of bashfulness. When Jason had finally stopped howling, Salim took his palm and spelled out three letters:
Y. E. S.
Jason didn’t have enough time to react from the answer, for Salim had abandoned his palm and cupped his face, inching their faces closer and closer by the second. Jason could definitely say for certain those eyes now looked at him with-
Salim’s lips were rather dry, and his was moist from all that water on his face, their lips grazed against each other with the right amount of water. People say kisses were sweet, but it didn’t taste like that to Jason, it was the feeling that comes with the kiss that was sweet. The kiss itself tasted like cheap beer and smoke from the campfire. Jason made a noise in the back of his throat, it wasn’t an attractive noise, however Salim heard the sound and growled back, his teeth latched onto Jason’s lower lip and nipped lightly.
The two men parted and Jason let out a small gasp, it’s so hard to think or to breathe around this man yeesh… Salim snaked his arm around Jason’s shoulder and pulled him close, all the while tracing his lips around his neck and ear with tiny kisses. Jason shivered and let out a nervous chuckle, “You looking for a snack Iraqi? You can’t eat me ya know.”
Salim stopped what he was doing and answered, “Why a snack when you are the whole meal?”
Jason thwacked playful at Salim’s head and flushed red hot, second time this night. “Shut up!”
“Make me shut up ... redneck.”
Okay for that horrible pun alone Jason had to punch him … with his lips.