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“Oh, fuck you, Hugo.”
They were currently battling in the highest-heat battle of wits, the challenge of the brave, the trials of the remarkable!
(a.k.a., a game of Mario Kart in Varian’s basement, sitting on a pair of ratty old beanbags that he had probably owned since 1200 BCE…)
Hugo, was currently winning. Not naturally, of course. He used lots of cheats to even get this far.
…Well, there was no actual concrete proof, but Varian decided that the fact that he’s an ex-convict is a reason enough to accuse him. Either way, Hugo was winning, and he was not being humble about it.
Like, at all.
“Gotta learn how to finish your sentences, Goggles. Don’t worry, I’m a professional at this kind of thing. I’ll help you, just this once, with no charge, because you’re annoying and I hate you. It’s supposed to sound like: ‘I’m going to fuck you.’”
“...I mean, if that’s what you really want.”
Huh??
Well, out of all the words in the English language, Hugo did not expect those 8 to be the ones that came out of Varian’s mouth right now. Or ever, actually.
Hugo’s eyebrows raised in an emotion somewhat close to shock. “Wow, Goggles, very forward of you indeed. Was that a promise?” He attempted to hide his slight flusteredness behind more snark and teasing smiles.
And that’s when Varian got up and started walking towards him.
“If you want it to be,” is the only thing he said. Hugo was getting more and more confused by the second. And why exactly was Varian getting closer to him, moving like a lion on the prowl?
I mean, he wasn’t exactly brain dead, so he could come up with a few different answers to that question.
“Var, wait, I didn’t actually mean that-”
Varian grinned hungrily. “Well, you said it, so I’m only doing what you said. I could care less if you didn’t mean it. I thought you wanted this.”
“I do, but-”
“...Then don’t hold yourself back.”
And one of those theories was confirmed as Varian sat down next to him, grabbed the front of his shirt, and kissed him. Harshly. Very harshly. What the heck is going on right now?
‘Kiss back, you idiot!’ His brain screamed at him. Right. He was just standing there like a statue. If Hugo didn’t do something to prove he was enjoying and actually OKAY with what was going on right now, Varian might get the wrong idea…
Hugo let himself wrap his arms around the shorter boy’s waist, and relaxed into the kiss. The moment felt like it was put in 2x speed, because, before he knew it, Varian was already breaking away from him. Hugo instinctively leaned back in and chased his lips for a second. Varian pushed him back slightly.
“So, you do like me, huh?”
“What? I…” Hugo’s face morphed back into one of confusion, then realization. “-oh. That was just a test? You’ll just try ‘n find any way to get your lips on me, won’tcha?”
Varian rolled his eyes. Typical. “Okay, no, it wasn’t a test. I’m just… tes- uh, trying something out. For science.” he retorted.
“Well, what if I made out with you and then told you that it was just for science? You’d believe that?”
Varian looked up at the ceiling. “Well, no, obviously, ‘cause you just told me how it would go. I wouldn’t believe it because you literally already told me.”
That fucking smartass.
Hugo swore, he was gonna find some way to put that mouth to a better use- no. It’s too soon for that. That could wait.
“Fine. What if I kissed you, and then-”
“What if you stopped saying ‘what if’ and actually do what you’re saying?”
So, naturally, Hugo obliged. Hugo pushed Varian back onto the ground (as gently as possible) and dived back in, this time, going for his neck. Making sure to leave the nastiest bruises so everyone who saw would know that Varian was his. Call him a bitch, he wouldn’t deny it. Varian let out the softest whimper when Hugo hit that specific spot on his neck, and, oh, Hugo was so done for.
“Hugo, uh, you are aware that we have school tomorrow, right?” Hugo paused his attack and looked up at Varian, who he was now on top of. He realized that one of Varian’s hands had found its way into his hair.
“Mhm.”
“And… you are aware that you are purposefully leaving marks, correct?”
“Yup. Like I said, just for science.”
Varian huffed out a small laugh. “I don’t see what part of this makes it science–”
Fucking hypocrite.
Hugo cut him off with another kiss. Too much talking was happening, he decided. Varian parted his lips, allowing Hugo more access. He let his tongue roam free around Varian’s mouth, then bit on his lip softly. The alchemist moaned in response as they parted for air. Fuck, his voice was beautiful. The thief was already aware of this, of course, because of the countless times he’s caught Varian singing while working in his lab. He snuck a glance at Varian. His cheeks were extremely flushed and his pupils were the slightest bit dilated.
‘Damn,’ Hugo thought, 'I did that to him.' His ears pinkened a bit at that. ‘I barely did anything and he’s already breaking.’
But what Hugo also noticed was that Varian was shifting around a lot. He pulled back a bit further so he could look into Varian’s eyes (with a somewhat normal distance between them). “Uh… V, you okay?”
Varian broke eye contact, and looked to the side a bit sheepishly. “Yeah! Yeah, um, I’m good…”
And that’s when Hugo decided to look down.
…
Oh.
Well, that made a lot more sense. Hugo was a teenage boy, he knew what boners were. It’s what half of his jokes were based on. The reproductive system. Because what isn't funny about dicks?
…Yes, boners usually do lead to sex, but, the problem was, they were both virgins. Still in high school. Hugo wasn’t exactly sure Varian wanted to do... that, right now. Would he want to spend his first time with Hugo? On a Sunday night in his basement? With his best friend?
Would Varian delight in getting railed on the floor? Probably not, honestly. That last one sounded more like something Hugo would enjoy.
So, they both worked out their problems. Side by side. Y’know, a normal activity for two homosexuals homies.
All that was left afterward was a pair of horny teenage boys who basically had just had sex. Maybe they skipped a few steps, but they were basically there.
Weirdly enough, the experience felt way more intimate than it needed to be.
Varian grabbed Hugo’s (washed and clean, at this point) hand, and intertwined their fingers. Hugo could feel the energy flowing from Varian's arm to his.
“So… when did you realize you liked me?”
Hugo exhaled through his nose. “Well, I can’t pinpoint an exact moment, but-“ Varian poked him on the cheek with his free hand. “You little liar. I see the look on your face, Hugh. You’re not as good at hiding your emotions as you think you are. Tell me.”
Well, Hugo had technically been in love since he first saw the boy with the hairstripe, but, he couldn't say that for 2 reasons:
1. He couldn’t really say that he loved him, because love is a very strong word and he (thought) that neither himself nor Varian were ready for it.
2. Actually, the first reason was the only reason. He was just scared to screw things up.
So, he settled with this.
“Okay… remember that one time that we went on a field trip to the planetarium? Seeing you geek out about all the nerdy science stuff… It awakened something in me. That glint of excitement in your eyes, the pure happiness in your smile— you- you just had this aura radiating off of you, like absolutely no one could ruin the mood you had right in that moment. That adorable curiosity… then you looked at me, really looked— and honestly, I folded. That moment, along with many others, is what made me realize I… liked you.”
...
He paused for a second, then rubbed the back of his neck. “Sorry, that was kinda a lot to just throw at you like that, I understand if you don’t feel the sa-“
“No! I mean, yes, I do feel the same, but you’re definitely not doing too much. That’s honestly really sweet. I appreciate it. Me realizing I liked you went basically the exact same way. Except the fact that it didn’t, because you are literally none of the qualities that you described me as.”
Hugo ruffled the blue-eyed boy’s hair with his free hand. “Right. Because all the qualities I said about you are bad. I’m the only one who possesses the good ones. Which is why you’re lucky to have me.”
Varian rolled his eyes, but softened his gaze on Hugo a little. “You’re right,” a small smile crept its way onto his face, “I am lucky.”
Hugo mirrored the expression on Varian’s face for a beat, then furrowed his brows. "You are sure about this, right? You’re not just acting like you like me to please me? I don’t want to force you into anythi-”
Varian broke off his sentence by kissing him (Hugo was starting to notice a pattern) again, but this time, it was a bit different. It wasn’t hot and fast-paced like the other ones. It was more soft and sweet. Just enjoying the moment. They broke apart after a few seconds, with Hugo’s hand lingering on Varian’s cheek.
“...So, that’s a yes?”
“Absolutely.”
They stared into each other’s eyes for just a beat more, before they both turned back to the TV and picked up their controllers again. The boys continued to play together, with the occasional insult, and the occasional flirt being shot to throw each other off their game.
Varian had won that time. The shorter boy was downright dangerous when he learned how to flirt back.
If you take a glance at this situation, it may look like nothing changed between them.
But, if you truly look… You‘ll see that they have a newfound trust in each other, a bond just a smidge stronger than ‘just friends’.