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They walked in step behind Maddy and Scott, idly listening to Cam ramble on about something as he stared at his girlfriend ahead, talking vibrantly with the other, his brows furrowed as they had been for the length of their walk.
The park was beyond nice, lots of trees with large, strong trunks forming a canopy over all the dirt paths which were bordered by varying flora. Gaps in the leaves had streams of sunlight creeping through from above—it was almost romantic, but nobody had labeled the outing as a double date so he’d had to settle for any moments alone with Maddy whilst trying to not look like a lovesick puppy.
Cam’s accented voice trailed off without Jack noticing, the taller only startling when a hand was placed on his shoulder. Blue eyes flicked to look at Cam, expression morphing into confusion as they stopped walking in turn with him.
“Hey man, you’re acting kinda weird today, still jet-lagged?” He offered Jack a thoughtful smile.
Was his mood that noticeable? The brunette quickly shook his head with a quiet laugh, briefly looking to see that the other two were still walking ahead—continuing on without them.
“No, I’m… it's nothing, really dude, I swear.” They brushed Cam’s comforting hand from their shoulder, opting instead to cross their arms and look back at his friend—who clearly wasn’t buying it. Jack chewed the inside of his cheek.
“Okay, there’s something,” they watched Cam carefully, leaning in the slightest bit closer, voice dropping. “It’s to do with Maddy.”
Cam tilted his head, a bit of worry etching itself into his features. “Maddy? Are you two having problems?” The shorter blinked, eyes shining behind his glasses similarly to how Jack’s did, they looked nice in this lighting.
Checking again, Jack was sure both their partners were out of earshot now—he sighed and pinched his nose, elbow still cupped by their other hand.
“This place is so nice and I want to treat her nicely on this trip, but—I can’t kiss for shit.”
They felt like an idiot admitting it, he was a great kisser, but quick pecks only got him so far and he’d lost trust in his own abilities. To kiss, of all things.
But the way Cam was looking at him didn’t feel judgmental or seem like the other was about to crack a laugh, in fact, his gaze seemed almost calculating, like he was already figuring out a solution to Jack’s problem.
The silence stretched on for a beat too long to be comfortable, just as Jack went to open his mouth, Cam beat him to it. “You could always practice.”
What?
“Cam, I can’t just kiss Maddy for practice—I want it to mean something.” A thought crossed his mind. “And I can’t kiss some random person for practice, I wouldn’t do that to her.”
“Well, I’m not a random person.” The shorter’s words immediately caught Jack off guard, did Cam expect them to… he was sure his face looked akin to a loading screen, barely registering when Cam tugged at the sleeve of their shirt and pulled them off the main path.
“Pyro?”
Jack was still thinking too fast. Kissing Cam? No. No way. Their hands fell to their sides like his arms were suddenly boneless. His friend was attractive, by all means, but it wouldn’t be right. Part of his brain disagreed with that conclusion however.
Cam flicked their cheek. “Jack.” The world snapped back into focus, Cam’s voice ringing in his ears. “Are you alright? I’m sorry—I shouldn’t have just suggested that and sprung it on you—“
“I’ll do it.”
The birds chirping distantly filled what Jack was sure would’ve been the worst silence in their life, they shifted on their feet awkwardly and sucked in a breath.
“If you’re offering to let me try, I’ll… accept.” For Maddy. He was doing this to be a good boyfriend to her, a small kiss wouldn’t hurt after all, Cam was a good friend.
His eyes studied Jack carefully for a moment at his explanation, Cam’s lips parted and he let out a small, soft laugh. Both men were hidden behind one of the huge trunks of a towering tree, off the beaten path and illuminated by spots of sunshine. “…Only if you’re absolutely sure, Pyro.” Was he?
Cam tilted his head up and moved closer to Jack, only a few centimetres shorter than his friend. This was it, then.
More hesitantly, Jack followed up on Cam’s movements, trying not to stiffen at the hand that found itself at home on his hip. They did tense when Cam’s other hand cupped his face and Jack leant into the touch. This was far too much for a simple ‘practice’, too intimate and absolutely not helped by the way his face was turning red, ears warm.
But as Cam’s breath ghosted his lips and mingled with his own shaky exhales, Jack couldn’t find it in himself to pull away.
The moment played out in slow motion, Cam’s hand bunching up their shirt, grip more grounding than anything. His opposite palm was warm against their face as their lips met. Jack’s eyes fluttered shut, he didn’t want to commit what their friend looked like kissing him to memory.
Cam stayed like that, not going further and giving Jack the opportunity to break it or keep going. They continued before Cam could think he was indecisive, pushing against the other harder, noses brushing as he teasingly nipped at Cam’s lips, habit more than anything. He tilted his head minutely when they felt some of Cam’s facial hair tickle their face—trying to avoid cringing. It was a new, but not fully unwelcome feeling.
Teeth scraped together for all but a second before Jack adjusted his course, taking advantage of the opening they’d been given by swiping their tongue over Cam’s teeth experimentally. His head felt fuzzy, he didn’t hear the small whimper that escaped Cam at his actions.
Jack shifted, both men’s chests pressing together from the proximity as Jack’s hands finally moved from his sides to cup the sides of Cam’s face, both firmly holding him there, eyes closed.
For Maddy. This was for Maddy. He chanted internally, like it was a motto he couldn’t forget. They were doing this for her and nothing more.
But the reason he didn’t break the kiss? It was because he needed a longer period of practice, it wasn’t due to Cam shutting off his brain briefly, warm mouth capturing theirs like a missing puzzle piece.
Cam was just a helpful friend.
Jack’s hands started to slide down from Cam’s face, drifting over the other’s chest and resting there, faintly feeling the rapid heartbeat underneath.
Too long. Too much. They were out in the open, Cam had a boyfriend, Jack had a girlfriend—what was he doing?
He shoved the other back firmly with a gasp, face flushed as he watched Cam stumble slightly. He pushed up his glasses, not caring for the slight fogginess of them. “We-we should go back and find the others.”
They turned away from Cam, walking out from behind the trunk without looking to see if he was even following them, missing the blank, wide-eyed look Cam had. Jack could feel the eyes on his neck anyways, the short hairs there standing on-end.