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He felt his ears clogged, his mind clouded, and his eyes tired. The spandex suit felt like a second skin, and he was pretty sure the mask covering his face had glued itself to it. Plus, he probably smelled terrible from miles away because of the sweat.
Forty-five minutes. That was how long he had been at the party, and he already felt overwhelmed and exhausted. He had promised Jobe one hour, and he was going to keep that promise no matter what, but he was very tempted to steal the car keys and get out of there as fast as he could.
“Hey, Spider-Man!” a girl shouted nearby. He just glanced sideways, finding a redhead wearing an overly short nurse costume. “You’ve been alone for a while. Wanna dance with me?”
He grimaced, and for the first time all night, he was grateful to be wearing a mask so she couldn’t see it. She batted her lashes, biting her lip as she checked out the way the thin spandex clung to his body. Jude, not wanting to make any unnecessary comments, simply pushed off the wall and started walking in the opposite direction, scanning the crowd for his brother.
“Asshole!” she shouted after him, but he ignored her again. He just wanted to go home.
He moved people out of his way with a patience he didn't really feel. His chest felt tight, and the lump in his throat wouldn’t go away no matter how many times he swallowed. He didn’t even know why he felt this bad—it wasn’t like this was his first party.
Maybe it was the fear of being recognized. Maybe it was just that being around drunk college kids wasn’t his thing. Or maybe it was the fact that he’d been alone all night, even though the only reason he came was to not leave his little brother alone. But the traitor had run off with a Harley Quinn ten minutes after they walked in.
He knew they hadn’t gone off to a private room, because the upstairs of the house was closed off—and Jobe wasn’t like that anyway. So, with the advantage of being tall but the disadvantage of barely seeing through the suffocating mask, he searched the living room, kitchen, and backyard.
It took him about ten minutes to find him. Jobe was in the backyard, near the pool, one arm around the same girl’s shoulders, chatting with a small group of people. Jude didn’t focus on anyone else—just on how his brother’s mask was pushed up to his nose. Panic surged as he hurried over, terrified that Jobe’s girl-crazed brain had made him take off his mask and expose Jobe Bellingham.
“Hey” he called out loudly, interrupting whatever story his brother was telling. “We’re leaving.”
“What are you talking about?” Jobe replied. From the shape of his mouth, Jude could tell he was frowning. “It’s way too early!”
“I told you one hour” Jude said, pointing at him. “Keep your part of the deal.”
“Ooh, multiverse moment!” said a guy playfully as he joined the group. Jude didn’t even glance at him, keeping his eyes firmly locked on his younger brother.
“Let’s make it another hour” Jobe said in a teasing tone. Jude noticed a slight slur in his words, so he figured Jobe was a bit drunk. He didn’t even get a chance to scold him before Jobe and the girl ran back into the house, laughing, disappearing into the crowd.
Jude let out a frustrated yell, raking a hand through his hair and scratching his head hard, tempted to rip off the mask and throw it to the ground. Thank God he didn’t.
“Frustrated, Miles?” the same guy teased again. This time, Jude did look at him, glaring despite knowing the guy couldn’t see it.
He was surprised to see someone dressed in a costume with floppy ears and a dragging tail. A full cow onesie covered the guy’s body, his big brown eyes full of mischief and his grin so wide it revealed a dimple on one side.
“Excuse me?” Jude muttered.
“You look stressed. We could find you a Catwoman to help.”
Jude frowned. What was this guy on?
“Catwoman’s from Batman” he clarified, not sure why. “Spider-Man’s is Black Cat.”
The other guy’s amusement only seemed to grow, causing Jude to bite his lip.
“Well, we can find you a Black Cat. Or would you rather a Green Goblin?”
He scoffed, shaking his head and looking back to where his brother had disappeared, not understanding the absurdity of the conversation. The others who’d been around earlier were now gone, leaving him alone with the cow, who didn’t seem like he had any intention of leaving.
“I’d rather the other Spider-Man come back and give me the damn car keys so I can leave. If you can’t help with that, thanks and goodbye.”
His heart skipped a beat when he heard the guy laugh, but he refused to look at him again. He felt the other one get closer, and for some reason, his nerves spiked even more.
“I could keep you company until he comes back” the guy insisted. Jude glanced sideways and noticed the boy radiated confidence with that relaxed smile, his body leaning toward him slightly and his hands behind his back.
“With all the people at this party, and you choose to bother me?” he grumbled, so quietly he wasn’t even sure the other guy heard it.
“You’re the only one who looks like he needs bothering” he said with a grin, completely unfazed by Jude’s mood. Jude just sighed, still not daring to look directly at him. “Why don’t you and your friend take off your masks? Hiding from something?”
He swallowed hard, scrambling for a quick excuse under those curious eyes that hadn’t left him for a second.
“Someone, more like” he improvised, finally looking at the boy next to him. “I’m not taking off the mask” he added firmly, making the other chuckle.
“Who? Some crazy ex of yours or your friend’s?” he asked, intrigued, ignoring the final remark.
“Not telling you that either. And I still don’t get why a damn cow won’t stop bothering me.”
“Well” he said, shrugging, unfazed. “The cats were busy. You got the fabulous cow instead.”
A genuine laugh slipped from Jude’s lips before he could stop it. It was a dumb joke, and he didn’t even know why it made him laugh—but along with the laughter, the pressure in his chest finally eased a bit.
Maybe this guy’s presence wasn’t so bad after all.
They stood in silence for a few seconds, only the background noise of music and conversations around them. But they just stared at each other, which oddly helped calm Jude down.
“I wasn’t gonna ask, you know? For you to take off the mask, I mean” the boy said after a while, still wearing that soft smile. “Did you know that if someone looks really closely, they can see your eyes through the fabric?”
Jude squinted at him, panic creeping back in. It seemed the guy was telling the truth because his smile grew even wider—if that was even possible.
“Don’t worry, you can only see the eyes” he said, shrugging. “And I doubt anyone’s paying that much attention.”
“You did.”
For the first time all night, the cow guy’s smile faltered. A nervous twitch and a slight blush, like a kid caught sneaking candy. He smiled and leaned in a little, clearly more relaxed, causing Jude to frown again.
“Are you at least going to tell me your name?” he asked, trying to steer the conversation elsewhere. Jude let out a nasal laugh.
“Miles Morales” he joked. “And you? Lola the Cow?”
“I’m the one bothering you, not the other way around” he replied, the blush fading as his confident smile returned. “Are you seriously not going to tell me your name?”
“You’ll have to earn it. Not telling me yours either?”
“Hmm. I’m not as mysterious as you. I prefer to be free and out in the open” he said, gesturing to his cow costume like that proved his point. Jude felt a bit envious at those words—just a bit. “I’m Pablo.”
“Pablo” Jude repeated, testing the name on his tongue. He hummed in approval and nodded. “Don’t you have friends to go bother, Pablo?”
In truth, his company didn’t bother him anymore. He didn’t want to admit he liked being seen and heard by this guy, let alone that he’d rather wait with him than alone for his brother to come back.
“I’d rather stay with the handsome and strong Spider-Man” he joked.
Jude raised his eyebrows, surprised by the bold comment. He felt a slight blush rise to his cheeks and had to look away momentarily, though the urge to look back came quickly.
“You haven’t even seen my face” he said. He wanted to say something witty too, but his embarrassment won in the last second.
“Who said I was talking about looks?” he teased. He seemed to know exactly how nervous he made Jude. “I don’t need to see someone’s face to like them.”
“Does that mean you like me?”
“You’re a bit grumpy, but I’ll assume it’s because you’re being forced to be here. Otherwise, I like a challenge.”
Silence fell again. Pablo waited for a response—something Jude didn’t know he was supposed to give. So they just stood there, quiet, until the younger one’s soft snicker eased the atmosphere again.
“Well, since you won’t show me your face or tell me your name... will you at least dance with me?”
“I don’t know how to dance” he mumbled. The other’s big brown eyes looked at him, heavy with a pleading softness."
"No one knows how to dance here. Just one song."
He smiled widely when Jude only let out a sigh. Taking it as a yes, he grabbed his hand and started dragging him inside the house. His pace slowed when they entered the sea of people, but their hands stayed together the entire way.
The music pounded against the wooden floor, vibrated through the walls, and seeped into every pore of Jude's body. The heat was suffocating and the air reeked of alcohol, sweat, and cheap perfume, yet somehow, he didn't feel the same discomfort he had felt all night.
Pablo, ahead of him, walked confidently through the drunk college students. Their hands were still intertwined, and neither stopped until they found a spot with more space, away from the loud music, where the boy in the cow onesie turned to face him.
"One song" the older boy reminded, feeling his nerves on edge. Pablo smiled at him, stepping closer.
"One song, but with my rules" he said, placing his hands around Jude's neck and lacing them there. He chuckled slightly when he felt the other's tension and had to help him by grabbing one of his hands and placing it on his waist. "Relax, your ex won’t find out you’re dancing with me."
His lips tingled, aching to tell him the truth. Still, he stayed silent and indulged him, placing his other hand on his waist and giving it a gentle squeeze, feeling the softness of the pajama fabric between his fingers.
The song playing wasn’t slow, nor meant for this kind of dancing, but that didn’t matter. Pablo wasn’t about to waste the chance to dance close to him.
He hummed along with the rhythm, resting his head on Jude’s chest. He smiled as he felt the other’s racing heart, enjoying being the only one who knew that both of their hearts were beating equally fast.
"This isn’t so bad, see?" Pablo spoke, unsure if the other could hear him over the music.
"No, it’s not" Jude admitted. He hadn’t meant to say it, but it slipped out.
Pablo's hands around his neck tightened slightly. Jude did the same with his hands on his waist. He felt completely dazed, as if he had no idea how to deal with this boy, and he didn’t know if that thrilled or scared him. What he did know was that he had gotten used to his company far quicker than he should have.
"I don’t know what you’re doing to me" he muttered, trying to calm himself down. Pablo let out a small laugh, lifting his head from Jude's chest to look him in the eyes.
Jude bent down to meet his gaze, giving Pablo a better view of his eyes through the mask because of their closeness. Pablo was completely mesmerized, staring into those dark eyes that returned his gaze with overwhelming intensity.
"Can I?" he whispered, bringing his hands to the edge of the mask. He regretted it the moment the older one swallowed hard and pulled away, not even waiting for the song to end.
"I’m sorry" he said, turning around, feeling a knot in his throat and his heart pounding. He started walking, trying to get away from the boy, but didn’t get far before his hand was grabbed again, making him stop.
"Okay! Okay. No seeing your face" he exclaimed, stepping closer to where Jude had backed away. He hugged him from behind, burying his face into his back. "Just... don’t leave yet, please."
Jude swallowed again. He looked down, seeing the younger boy’s arms clinging tightly around his waist. What the hell was he doing? He didn’t even know him. He was annoying, irritating. And yet here he was, feeling more vulnerable than ever.
"Sorry" Pablo spoke again, holding onto him even tighter if possible. A soft, touched smile escaped Jude as he took his hands and turned around, lacing their fingers together.
"You’re shaking" he noted, happily but not mockingly. Pablo shot him a glare, clearly relieved.
"I hate you" he grumbled, resting his forehead on the taller one’s chest. Jude chuckled softly, releasing their hands and wrapping his arms around Pablo’s shoulders.
He tried to calm his racing heart by looking around, searching for an excuse, a way out, a distraction. But nothing worked. All he could feel were Pablo’s arms around him, his warmth, his fast breathing. He shut his eyes tightly for a second and then said it, in a low voice, almost like he didn’t want to hear himself.
"I want to kiss you."
Pablo didn’t move right away. Their hands were still intertwined, his face hidden against his chest. The only thing that changed was the pressure in his grip—it grew gentler, shakier.
Then, very slowly, he pulled back just enough to look him in the eyes. Pablo looked up, searching for those dark eyes behind the fabric. He brought one hand to Jude's covered face—not to take anything off, but just to rest it on the cloth cheek.
"Okay" he whispered, with a half smile. "But like this."
He stood on his toes and, with the same gentleness one would use to kiss a wound, brushed his lips against the part of the mask where Jude’s mouth would be. It was a chaste kiss, nearly invisible. Just a soft touch, a brief brush. But it was enough to knock the air from Jude’s lungs.
Pablo pulled back a little, smiling broadly, though his cheeks were flushed. But Jude shook his head, lowering his gaze.
"Not like this" he said softly, almost sadly. "I want a real one."
Pablo parted his lips slightly. For a few seconds, he said nothing. He just looked at him, feeling something in his chest twist and expand at the same time.
"Then come with me" he finally whispered. Jude looked at him, confused, but when he saw the boy wouldn’t explain further, he gave a small nod.
That was all Pablo needed. He fully pulled away, dragging the other boy with their joined hands. Jude hesitated for only a second, but his legs moved before his mind could decide.
They climbed the stairs in silence, weaving through the crowd unnoticed. Pablo led him confidently, never looking back, as if everything was already planned, as if he knew exactly where they were going.
The room they entered with a key Pablo had pulled from somewhere was already dark. So much so that Jude had to squint when Pablo locked the door behind them and let go of his hand, moving across the room.
With some effort, Jude saw him fumbling toward the only window. Once there, he grabbed the shutter cord and lowered it completely, plunging them into complete darkness.
"Pablo?" he murmured, raising his arms to find him. "Are you going to kill me or something?"
He heard a soft laugh nearby and didn’t hesitate to step toward it. He couldn’t help but smile when his hand bumped into the other’s head, and he grabbed his shoulders, pulling him close.
"Found you" he said quietly, smiling. He squinted again, trying to see, but had no luck.
"Hi" Pablo replied at the same volume, happy. He hummed as Jude brought his hands to his waist, stroking gently over the pajamas. Pablo, in turn, brought his hands to Jude’s jaw, sliding his fingers down to the edge of the mask. "Can I?"
A shiver ran down Jude’s spine as Pablo slipped his cool fingertips under the mask edge, tentative. He didn’t answer—just tightened his grip on Pablo’s waist, pulling him a bit closer, which Pablo took as a yes. He began lifting the mask slowly, giving Jude time to stop him if he changed his mind.
But he didn’t. He closed his eyes and leaned forward, heart beating faster with each second.
Pablo took his time, like he wanted to stretch the moment out. When the mask was above Jude’s lips, he traced the lines of his jaw, chin, and lips with his fingers. Jude let out a shaky breath.
"You’re enjoying this, huh?" he murmured, tightening his grip even more. Pablo giggled softly and leaned up to kiss his jaw.
He kept lifting the mask until it was on Jude’s forehead. As he did, he gently traced his nose with his thumbs, caressed his closed eyes, and applied more pressure under his eyes. He hummed in approval, brushing Jude’s eyebrows with his thumbs. Another shaky breath escaped Jude’s lips.
Finally, he removed the mask completely, clutching it in one hand and burying his other hand in Jude’s curls, massaging gently. He stood on his toes again, pressing their foreheads together a bit more forcefully than intended, brushing their noses.
"You’re shaking" Pablo whispered, his breath hitting Jude’s lips.
"It’s not from fear" Jude whispered back, almost immediately. He didn’t know it, but he imagined the huge smile on Pablo’s face—the one that had caught his attention from the very beginning.
They stayed like that for a few seconds, feeling each other’s quick breaths against their lips. And, without knowing who leaned in first, their lips met.
At first, it was a brush, a timid, almost shy touch, but even that made them both gasp at the heat of the moment. Their mouths met gently, exploring with caution, their tongues seeking each other with sweet, nervous curiosity.
Shortly after, Pablo gently tugged on Jude’s hair—a gesture that sparked a wave of trust between them. Their kisses grew deeper, more urgent, as if they were trying to say everything words couldn’t reach. Jude’s hands began to move tenderly; first tracing the outline of Pablo’s face, pausing to caress his cheeks with unexpected gentleness, as if he wanted to memorize every curve and every line.
He left his hands there, cradling the boy’s face with care and delicacy, counterbalancing the intensity of their lips. He noticed how Pablo’s body trembled slightly and softly tightened his hold, trying to reassure him with it.
He pulled away just slightly—just enough to sink his teeth into Pablo’s lower lip, stretching it delicately. The soft moan that escaped Pablo filled the room, making Jude press their mouths together again with urgency, as if they were running out of air and time.
They didn’t know how long they stayed like that, standing in near-total darkness, lost in deep, desperate kisses, exploring and caressing each other over their costumes, feeling the warmth through the fabric. At some point, they stopped hearing the music altogether. The room was filled with their breathing, soft gasps, and the sound of their lips meeting and dancing. That’s why they both jumped when a phone started ringing.
They stood still for a few seconds, breathing heavily, still pressed against each other. Until Jude moved. Pablo stayed put, watching as the other boy’s face was briefly lit up by the glow of the phone—but not enough to truly see it.
"What do you want?" he growled as he answered, his voice much deeper than it had been earlier.
"Where are you? We can go home now."
"What’s wrong?" he asked, hearing that same drag in the voice from earlier, but now way more intense.
"Harley Quinn left with a Joker, dude. I want to diiie..."
Jude sighed, running a hand through his hair. Pablo, on the other hand, stopped breathing, feeling sadness wash over him despite the other boy still being there.
"I’m going to kill you. Give me 2 minutes."
And he hung up.
The atmosphere in the room was now uncomfortable—almost heavy. Pablo tried to see the other boy in the darkness while tightening his grip on the mask, now wrinkled in one of his fists. He heard another sigh from the older boy, followed by a soft clearing of the throat.
"I have to go" he murmured.
"You’re not going to tell me who you are?" Pablo whispered back, biting his lower lip.
There was no immediate answer. They stood in that uncomfortable silence for a few more seconds, until Pablo felt hesitant fingers brush against his arm.
"I can’t" Jude whispered, though his voice didn’t sound as sure as all the other times he had said no.
He didn’t even get to say anything else when, distracting him with a kiss on the forehead, Jude took the mask from his hand and slipped it back on.
"I’m sorry" was the last thing he said before walking to the wall, finding the door, unlatching it, and slipping out.
Gavi stayed there longer than he would’ve liked. Probably in shock, or maybe hoping the other boy would come back after all.
He didn’t.