Work Text:
Lee sighs, frustrated, looking up into the gray sky. The falling rain slicks the sidewalk, the thud of rain drops pelting the canopy over his head.
He stands at the edge, watching the way the cobbled sidewalk glistens, drops rippling in the forming puddles.
“This is what happens when you don’t check the weather,” he shakes his head, putting his phone back into his pocket.
“Oh,” the voice next to him is soft but still startles him, turning his head sharply to see Ghlaijai standing next to him, one hand holding an umbrella tightly, the other gripping the strap of his book bag, “Lee, what are you doing here?”
“Oh,” Lee echoes, the smile on his lips already spreading, “I uh, I forgot my umbrella. Just waiting for the rain to stop.”
He points at the sky, as if Ghlaijai isn't able to see the falling rain.
“Ah,” Ghlaijai nods, looking at where Lee points, then back at Lee, “if you want we can walk together?”
Lee blinks, has to look away or else he's afraid his expression will give away how pleased he is.
“I don't want to inconvenience you…” Lee trails off, clears his throat.
“It's okay,” Ghlaijai's gentle voice edges with a smile, “I don't mind at all.”
“Hmm,” Lee pretends to think about it more, then nods, “okay.”
Lee is not sure what he's expecting, but for some reason it's not to have Ghlaijai step closer to him, close, close, close, until their shoulders bump together and they are both under the same umbrella. The smell of rain is strong, but Ghlaijai's own scent permeates through the nostalgic headiness. Peppermint, sandalwood, ginger.
They stand still, the sound of the rain hitting the umbrella the only thing between them.
The stillness warps into their own little world and Lee is sure he never wants to go back to the rushing and blaring existence he knew before he met Ghlaijai.
Until Ghlaijai tilts his head in question, nodding towards the distance. Well? Lead the way.
Lee laughs, nervously, shy, right.
The walk is quiet. So quiet Lee thinks Ghlaijai must be able to hear his beating heart. Beating in tandem with the unrelenting rain drops exploding on the concrete of the sidewalk.
“Besides the rain,” Ghlaijai starts softly, “how has your day been?”
The smile thrown his way is kind, and Lee swallows down his nerves.
“Good…” he manages to say, “...just classes…the usual. What about you?”
“Good,” Ghlaijai repeats, “started reading a new book.”
“Oh,” Lee tries to sound enthusiastic, “a book about what?”
“Outer space,” Ghlaijai smiles, Lee watches as his eyes turn bright and then his expression reeling back, clearly trying to hold back, “the cosmos, stars, planets, moons, all that.”
Lee tries to think of what to say, something that will stop Ghlaijai from holding back talking about himself.
“We're here,” Ghlaijai says, stopping in his tracks. Lee can see his motorcycle parked alongside other cars. The fact that Ghlaijai knows his bike isn't lost on him.
“I'll let you go,” Ghlaijai says, offering another small smile.
Ghlaijai starts to turn back, Lee panics, hand moving on its own to grab at the other, fingers wrapping around a slim wrist.
“Wait,” he says too loud, “I would offer you a ride if it weren't raining so much.”
He sounds stupid, he knows, but for some reason he needs Ghlaijai to know that he wants to spend more time with him.
“Okay,” Ghlaijai's smile widens, “I mean if the offer still stands.”
“You’ll get sick,” Lee says stupidly, his brain betraying him and trying to stop the other from spending more time with him.
“You can't get sick from getting wet,” Ghlaijai looks at him, “it's a myth.”
“Ah,” Lee nods, “okay, then.”
He offers the other his extra helmet, puts on his own. As he's gripping the hand clutch he turns back to look at Ghlaijai and realizes too late that the other will be holding on to him again.
His body stiffens the moment Ghlaijai climbs in after him, arms going to wrap around Lee's waist.
His heart feels like it's trying to leave his chest as he waits for Ghlaijai to get comfortable, shifting around and then scooting closer and closer until his chest presses alongside Lee's back.
“I’m ready,” Ghlaijai says.
-
Sometime during the ride Lee makes the decision to take them to his house. The rain starts falling too hard, the road too dangerous.
Ghlaijai holds on tighter, his chin hooking over Lee's shoulder, helmets bumping together.
When they park in the garage, it takes a second too long before Ghlaijai lets him go.
Lee takes off his helmet, hopes Ghlaijai doesn't notice the blush speckling his cheeks.
“Where are we,” Ghlaijai asks after he takes of his own helmet, hand going up to fix his hair.
“My house,” Lee answers, “it's too dangerous right now to keep driving…I thought we could wait for the rain and then I can take you home.”
“Okay,” Ghlaijai nods, “if it's not a big trouble for me to stay with you I mean.”
“It's not,” Lee says quickly, “do you want to go inside and change.”
Ghlaijai nods, looking down at his wet clothes.
Lee successfully dodges everyone on their way to his room. Now he's pretending to be struggling looking for clothes while Ghlaijai looks around his room.
He knows he can't stall forever, eventually he's going to have to go out and Ghlaijai is going to be wearing his clothes.
Lee holds the change of clothes tight to his chest, takes a deep breath and steps out of his closet.
“Sorry that took so long,” he apologizes, offers the clothing in his hands to Ghlaijai, “you can change in the bathroom.”
He's been trying really hard not to look but with just them, in the low light of his room's lamp, he can't help the way his gaze lingers on the way Ghlaijai's white shirt has gone translucent and how he can just faintly make out the fullness of Ghlaijai's pecs, the swell of his biceps, the imprint of a nipple.
Impure thoughts, totally impolite. Everything Ghlaijai isn't
“Thank you,” Ghlaijai says gently, turns to change in the bathroom.
Lee changes quickly while the other is away, a random pair of pajama pants and a t-shirt.
He sits at the edge of his bed, stands up when it doesn't feel right, tries sitting again.
He’s nervous, unsure of what to do now that he has Ghlaijai in his room but nothing between them.
In the days they have spent together he hasn't been able to move along the relationship as much as he wanted. In a perfect world where Lee was more courageous they would have been in a point of their relationship where perhaps they could have an accidental kiss that would lead to a confession.
But Lee has been too afraid to scare the other way. And so had drawn out the pace in such an agonizing way it physically hurt him.
The handle of his bathroom door turns and he jumps up from the bed, hands behind his back.
“Thank you again for the change of clothes,” Ghlaijai is sure to say again, smile still there.
Lee is stuck between answering and being in awe of having Ghlaijai in his clothes. They're pretty similar in frame, but Ghlaijai is a bit taller, and so the cuff of the pajama pants reach just a bit higher at his ankles.
He hadn't realized he own such cute pajamas but there they are, little teddy bears printed over and over against the dark blue of the pants, in a neat row of three on the matching white shirt.
“Is it okay for me to borrow a towel,” Ghlaijai asks when Lee doesn't respond, “to dry my hair.”
“Of-of course,” Lee swallows, goes into the bathroom to retrieve a dry towel, “do you want me to do it?” he asks in a valiant effort to be normal but also finally start something concrete between them.
Ghlaijai looks at him carefully, quiet, it makes Lee's insides feel hot, chest burning with it.
“Sure,” Ghlaijai finally says, he goes to the bed, pats it, “you can sit here?”
Lee nods, hands clutching the towel too hard, his knuckles white with the effort.
When Lee sits at the edge of the bed his heart nearly explodes when Ghlaijai drops his body between his legs, sitting on the floor, looking away from him, at just the right height for Lee to dry his hair.
“I'm ready,” Ghlaijai says helpfully, always so thoughtful.
Nothing happens for a couple of seconds and then Lee clears his throat, nods, “right.”
He's careful with his newly acquired job, tries to be gentle as he tries to dry Ghlaijai's hair.
His mind is all over the place, bouncing between dealing with Ghlaijai being in his room, being this close to him, wearing his clothes, how his clothes are going to smell like Ghlaijai once he leaves.
“Ow,” Ghlaijai jerks away, the towel falls from Lee's hand followed by rushing apologies, Lee dives down to get the towel now on the floor not planning on Ghlaijai doing the same.
Their hands touch and Lee turns to look at the other. It's a mistake, he realizes too late. They're close, too close.
Their noses bump together and if Lee moves just a tiny bit the press of their lips would be inevitable.
His heart is too loud he knows Ghlaijai can hear it.
Their eyes meet and Lee realizes he's trapped. Under Ghailai's unwavering gaze, under the thoughts he keeps trying to push away, under his true desire.
He's going to do it, he thinks, chants in his mind over and over in hopes of making himself believe that he can do it, he can close the distance and-
Ghlaijai's eyes are closed, and his lips are on Lee's.
And they're kissing.
A chaste, innocent press of lips that makes Lee's pulse race and his brain short circuit.
He feels the way Ghlaijai smiles into the kiss, cruel and inconsiderate of Lee's heart.
He's building up the nerve to kiss back but he takes too long, Ghlaijai pulls away, watching him quietly before smiling again.
“Why haven't you kissed me yet?” he asks, more of a whisper, “all those other times I've given you a chance?”
Lee thinks of all the times they've been close, all the shared space, the lingering looks, the centimeters between them in the coffee shop, around campus, on the yacht, seconds ago, right now in his room.
“I thought,” he starts, stops, can't figure out words.
“You thought what?” Ghlaijai coaxes.
“I thought I was just making up things in my head,” Lee confesses.
Ghlaijai reaches for Lee's hand, places it carefully over his chest, “see?” he asks.
And the beating of Ghlaijai's heart matches the frantic pace of his own.
So Lee kisses him again, afraid this isn't real and he'll wake up alone.
Ghlaijai starts giggling into their kiss, bubbly and sweet and happy.
“I need to breathe,” he huffs between them and Lee is forced to move away, eyes searching Ghlaijai's face for any trace of doubt, misunderstanding but all he gets is Ghlaijai smiling at him and his own smile breaks onto his lips, wide and unstoppable.
“There's so much I want to do with you,” Lee confesses.
Ghlaijai nods, smiles, “okay.”