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It's a quiet, peaceful night on Bread Bridge Two.
Joel hums to himself, his legs dangling over the edge. He's not got any particular song in his head, really, just a tune he'd made up on the fly. Moonlit clouds drift by in faint wisps, the cool breeze against his skin, tussling his hair.
He's been up here for about an hour, he thinks. Not really sure. S'not like he was looking at his timer the whole time, stupid, broken thing.
("Not broken," Grian would repeat, more tired of it than anything. "Time's just different for the audience.")
(Joel makes a face. Whatever that means.)
Whatever. Doesn't matter, really, because what matters is he can't bloody sleep.
So, he rests his weight on the palms of his hands, leaning backwards as he kicks his legs, half-wondering if he should've taken his shoes off for this.
…He's not gonna accidentally kick them off, is he?
And as he thinks about that…
He hears familiar footsteps, light talons on hardwood. Not all stomp-y like Grian's, so really it can only be–
"Joel," Jimmy asks, his face illuminated by torchlight. "Why're you– what're you doing there?"
Joel turns to look at him, raising an eyebrow.
"Dunno," He replies, just to be an ass. "Why're you awake?"
Jimmy huffs. He makes his way over to him, careful with the crops, before placing down the torch. "Got woken up," He says, then scowls. "Grian's sleep talking again."
Joel snickers, "Loud, innit?" Jimmy sighs, sitting cross-legged at his side. His yellow wings stay folded at his back.
"Very."
They lapse into silence, staring out at the horizon. At the back of his mind, Joel thinks he's just glad they're high up enough not to hear the damn crickets.
Jimmy clears his throat.
"Hey, Joel?"
Joel turns to him, "Hm?"
Jimmy's looking at him, a slight furrow in his brow. He's chewing on his lip all nervous, the soft pink of it shining a little with spit–
Joel's eyes flick back up. Is Jimmy blushing–?
"You gonna say something or what?"
Jimmy swallows, his throat bobbing a little. Joel almost laughs. It's kinda funny, really. Jimmy's so cute.
Joel's about to say so, a grin forming on his face–
"D'you ever…" Jimmy clears his throat again. He rubs the back of his neck, averting his gaze. "D'you ever take your sunglasses off?"
"Is that seriously your question?" Joel asks, incredulous. "What, you missing my pretty eyes or something?"
Jimmy shoves him lightly with his knee, muttering something under his breath. Joel's eyebrows jump up.
"Is that a yes?"
Jimmy sputters, "How'd you–"
What.
Joel laughs, high-pitched and a little strangled. "I didn't hear it, but you kinda gave yourself away there mate, I'm not gonna lie," At Jimmy's grumbling, he adds, "I– do you want me to take 'em off?"
"Not like they're hiding much," Jimmy huffs, "You never wear them right."
Joel rolls his eyes.
Then, quietly, "But yeah, take– take them off."
Something about how he said it makes Joel pause, a tremor in his bones. It's soft, strangely vulnerable– and Joel, for the first time, doesn't want to break it.
(Has he always been this soft? He wonders, glancing at the night sky. Does he hate it?)
He takes them off.
(No, Joel thinks, letting out a breath. No, he doesn't think so.)
Joel sets them aside, and his face feels– kind of empty, he's not gonna lie. He's gotten used to wearing them all the time.
"Weird that you wear them at night, though," Jimmy's feathers twitch, "Like, dude, can you even see–?"
Ugh. "Babe, I already took them off, so stop whining, yeah?" Joel says. He turns back to Jimmy, then frowns, "…What?"
Jimmy's face is pink, his mouth slightly agape. He looks a bit like a fish– an adorable one, at least, but Joel doesn't think he'd appreciate the comparison—
Joel's brain stutters to a stop.
Oh.
"Babe?" Jimmy echoes, "I thought that was a bit."
Joel swallows. There's an itch under his skin, a restless hum in his veins, oh my gosh, "S'just what Bad Boys do," He replies, and immediately wants to hit himself, what the heck– "I mean, uh. Was that weird? You can tell me if it's weird, Jim, I won't–"
"It's not weird," Jimmy cuts in, big brown eyes meeting his. Has he been getting closer–? "I like it."
Huh. "Huh."
Joel really wants to whack himself in the face. Smooth.
"I mean– you do?"
It takes him a second to notice he's been inching closer, too.
Jimmy huffs a laugh, "A little bit, yeah."
"Good," Joel replies, strangled. Are his hands sweating–? "That's– that's good, babe. Uh."
Jimmy giggles, the bastard.
"You good, Joel?"
"Shut up," Joel hisses, his cheeks burning red. "Was there even a point to this?"
"I…" Jimmy furrows his brow, "I was thinking."
Joel wills his hands to stop shaking, please.
"We've not got much time left," Jimmy whispers, eyes flicking down. His feathered ears twitch a little, his legs shifting as the space between shrinks. "Just a bit more and we're on red."
He thinks he's starting to get it, now.
Joel's heart races in his chest, banging against his ribcage like a war drum. "Not much time left to relax," He mumbles in reply, warmth at the tips of his ears. He's never felt so– so shy.
It's just Jimmy, he tells himself, eyes drawn to the curve of his cheek, the small smattering of freckles on his skin. Just Jimmy.
Cute, adorable, pretty Jimmy.
Joel damn near groans. For goodness' sake, this isn't bloody helping.
Jimmy licks his lips, his tongue darting out for a moment–
Joel's eyes follow the movement, drawn to it like a magnet. He jolts, just a little, when a warm hand cups his cheek.
Oh, Joel thinks, melting like putty in his hold. Oh, this is nice.
He's not super used to the whole– gentleness thing. Go figure.
"Can I kiss you?" Jimmy asks, his breath warm against his lips. Joel suppresses a shiver.
His heart pounds in his ears, "It's now or never, right?" He says, "Yes, Jimmy, now can you please– mmf!"
Jimmy kisses him soundly, smiling into it as Joel grabs him by the front, scrambling for purchase. Jimmy's lips are soft against his, careful where Joel decidedly isn't as he kisses back, swallowing the sound Jimmy makes as his eyes flutter shut.
Joel swears his mind melts with every lingering touch, Jimmy's hands setting him on fire as Joel kisses him, again and again and again.
They're still right by the edge, and for a split, heart-racing second, Joel wonders if he's gone tumbling off, his head rushing like he's fallen–
They break apart for air.
They stare at each other with wide eyes, lips parted and gasping. Their chests heave, and Joel can't help but stare at the way his spit shines on Jimmy's lips, so pretty it's unfair.
"I've always wanted to do that," Joel blurts out, too far gone to feel embarrassed. Jimmy gapes at him, "Just– kiss you stupid, 'til neither of us can think."
Jimmy nods his head, so frantic it's almost funny– "Gods yes," He gasps out, reaching for Joel again, "That's–" He lets out a breathy little laugh, "We're halfway there already, I reckon."
Joel laughs, and gosh, his cheeks hurt from smiling. He lets himself be led forward, sunlight bubbling in his chest.
"Guess we ought to finish the job."