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Hunk Jackson’s never kissed a girl and that was a known fact. Even Aunty Em knew of his pitiful luck with ladies. Matter of fact, everyone knew on the farm.
Dorothy, Uncle Henry, Aunty Em, Zeke…Hickory.
It was the worst when Hickory found out about Hunk's embarrassed little factoid out of all of Gale family farm residents.
Because he was so damn weird about it.
-🌾🧹-
Hunk & Hickory swept the barn floor together every spring. Hunk usually slacking behind while Hickory scolded him, yet this time it was nothing of the sort. The two men simply chatted amongst themselves as they cleaned. Hickory rambled about machines and in turn Hunk would respond with related stories he of his own.
“And one time—!” He began whilst sweeping a stack of hay to the north-east corner of the barn. “This lad from the town -bless his heart- said he'd nevea’ been kissed! So he wanted me ta make him a lady out of scraps. Obviously I said no but I introduced him to ma’ cousin. I think they've been going well since.” Hunk began to laugh at the ridiculous story. Nearly dropping his broom in the process still Hickory walked over and smacked him in the back “Aw come on! I ain't gonna tell ya stories if ya ain't gonna do yer part!” He chastised.
Hunk wiped the tears from his eyes and patted Hickory's shoulder. “Yeah, I know! It's just so funny that a grown man hasn't had… um.” He shuffled away from Hickory and straightened up. Immediately starting to sweep again almost robotically with how stiff his motions were. Hickory raised a brow and stepped closer. Only for Hunk to step away yet again.
“What's the matter with ya’ boy? Yer acting like a highschooler. Getting nervous around the word kiss?” Hickory chuckled and as he walked back to his pile. Sparing the boy from his ‘looming’ presence. (Despite being a centimeter shorter than Hunk.)
“Nah! I ain't no chicken ‘bout the word kiss. It's just that uh… I ain't had my first kiss yet either. Just um… never got the chance I suppose.” He muttered his words as though the whole world was going to overhear his pathetic statement.
Hickory snorted, making Hunk begin to internally panic as confusion graced Hickory's features. Before Hunk could begin to stammer and stutter an excuse Hickory started.
“...Wait yet not lying...How? Yer the most attractive ‘n funny man I know, that makes no sense?”
“Well it's uh—” Hunk tried to interrupt, only for Hickory to keep going.
“Not to mention yer charmin’ as the devil, and yer sharper than people give ya credit fer!”
“Hickory it's jus—”
“Utterly ludicrous!”
“Hickory ladies just don't like me!” He finally managed to stammer out.
Hickory stared at him in disbelief. “I just can't believe that… makes no damn sense.”
They didn't chat much after that. Just a few check-ins on the other one's progress. Before walking out of the barn and going their separate ways.
Neither Hickory nor Hunk ever brought up the embarrassing topic again.
Although Hunk swore he heard Hickory arguing with Zeke a week later about how it wasn't possible Hunk couldn't have been kissed with Zeke explaining how dumb that idea was.
It seemed like Hickory just couldn't understand Hunk's lack of experience
He probably just couldn't fathom a 21 year old never having been kissed.
…Yeah, probably just that.
-🌾🥚-
Hunk shuttered while reminiscing on the memory. Hell, it wasn't even all that embarrassing but just something about the way Hickory reacted made him want to go hide in a corner. He had always been somewhat embarrassed about that dumb little fact but after that day in the barn he's always felt far more insecure. Maybe just because Hickory found it so unbelievable? Like there's was no way someone his age could have never been smooched?
Hunk strode over to the chicken house with a piece of straw between his teeth.
Surely it wouldn't be all that hard to get a kiss, right? Then maybe Hickory would be proud of him. It always did kinda send a jolt through his body whenever the 43 Year old complimented him. Probably just because he liked the recognition for his work.
“I reckon I could find a lassie…” Hunk chuckled. Now finding the determination to actually get that first kiss. Just to show Hickory he infact did have his first kiss before 22. He grabbed Bill —his favorite chicken— and began to stroke his feathers while grabbing some eggs from the coop. “Zeke's heading to the bar after work anywho. Might as well tag along.”
One, two, three, four…. Five. Five eggs from the hens today. Not bad considering winter was coming and they usually slowed down production during the cold months. Not bad at all.
“Hey, Chicken Boy!” Dorothy called. Hunk jumped and hit his head on the overhang of the coop at the call of his nickname. That damn nickname was something Dorothy had been calling him for years, although occasionally she accidentally called him too Scarecrow for some reason.
“What do ya need Dorothy?” He grumbled while smoothing his head over.
“Aunty Em said work’s over early! Something about the weather I think…”
Hunk smiled and jumped over the fence from that surrounded the coop since the storm. He passed the basket of eggs to Dorothy as he walked past her. “Go give those to yer uncle alright?” He directed. Dorothy nodded enthusiastically and began to skip back to the house.
Now Hunk just had to find Zeke— Then his plan was in motion.
-🌾🍻-
The bar in their small Kansas town wasn't huge but you could guarantee at least twenty people to be there if it's a Saturday night, and luckily it was. Hunk had managed to convince Zeke to let him tag along with the promise not to bother him all too much. Zeke didn't mind and decided to bring the man with him telling him that he didn't mind the chatter so their was no need for his promise. Which was good considering he knew that there was no way he would actually be able to fulfill it.
“Why'd ya’ come with me today sonny?” Zeke questioned as they slid into the bar stools. Hunk chuckled as he passed Zeke a few cents to cover the drinks.
“Cause I'm gonna get kissed tonight! No more kissless virgin Hunk.” He winked.
Zeke raised a brow but didn't ask any questions. Hunk could tell he didn't exactly believe him but he elected not to pay it any mind.
An hour or two passed in the bar with Hunk chatting with several women. A ginger, two brunettes and a blonde. Yet no fortune came his way. One was in relationship, two were just not interested and one didn't even look his way once he mentioned being a farmhand.
So much for
“I don't get it! Hickory thinks I'm cake eater…” (An old term for someone who's good with woman.)
“I think you just don't know your onions Hunk… listen I'm gonna head out but feel free to stay here.” He slid some change to the bartender and rounded up his things as Hunk weighed his options. On one hand, he could throw in the towel and head back to the Gale Family storm shelter (Which he had been renting out since he started working there. Although the money just came out of his salary.) On the other hand however; he could keep trying to flirt and embarrass himself further.
…
Yeah no, not happening. Today would just have to be marked as a bust.
And of course it started to rain when he got back home.
-🌾🏚️-
Stiff mattress, cold stone floor, a rickety old shelf and a closet missing a leg post; all sights of home to Hunk Jackson. Sure there was no restroom but the Gale’s didn't seem to mind him stepping through their kitchen to relive himself.
He fell onto the mattress and stripped till he was in his boxers before slipping between the paper thin blankets Hickory had lended him. Something about how he didn't need them because he didn't really even sleep under the covers because of his bad knee. A generous gift despite it still smelling like Hickory even months after he got it, but maybe that was just placebo.
Hunk stared at the ceiling as he tried to rack his brain on how to finally snag that first kiss.
…
He could ask Hickory.
It sounded dumb, and gay but he already but it's not like it would make him gay. Nah, not how that works at all. Surely he wouldn't mind helping his (probably) best friend practice kissing, I mean it wouldn't even count as his first! Just give him some practice.
Yeah, practice sounded good.
…
How do you ask for that kinda favor though?
-🌾🤎-
It wasn't long till he found Hickory alone the next day. His shirt half unbuttoned as he oiled a machine he had been working on all week. Hunk tried not to stare at his chest as he walked up to him.
He tipped his hat as he spoke. “Hickory! Mind meeting me in the storm cellar?” He chirped.
Hickory looked up at him and smiled with a sigh. “Sure, but ain't that yer house? Wouldn't wanna intrude.”
Hunk shrugged and rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah but it's private… I don't want Dorothy or Zeke overhearing.”
Hickory looked surprised but stood up and waited for Hunk to lead the way. Which he gladly did.
Hopping down into the cellar Hickory shut the door behind them and locked it for privacy before sitting down on the bed as Hunk stood parallel to him with his hands behind his back.
“...So what am I here for?” Hickory questioned. Hunk looked at him with rosy cheeks and sighed. “I'll tell ya, but—! ya haf’ta promise not to say no till I finish speakin’” Hunk nodded calmly and waited for Hunk to continue. Hunk was just glad Hickory was a good listener.
“Okay so ya know I've never had my first kiss and I was thinking I should probably get some practice so I came to ya to um… like practice with? C-cause yer like super experienced and it doesn't even really count if it's two guys right?” Hunk made frantic & comedic gestures as he spoke. Rambling on and on about what could be summed up as a “No Homo” speech in the terms of the 21st century. Hickory slowly got up from the bed and Hunk barely even had time to fear he was about to leave before Hick grabbed him and pulled him closer.
“Ya sure ya wanna do this? No harm in backing out, I'll forget this ever happened if you want.”
Hunk glitched as he looked anywhere but Hickory. “Can we forget this happened like um… after it happened?”
Hickory chuckled and nodded. Right as Hunk was about to say something else he seized his lips and slotted them between his own.
Hunk startled at the sensation. It was a bit awkward as he didn't quite know what to do with his mouth or hands but fuck, if it didn't feel like heaven. He decided to slot his thumbs into Hickory's belt loops in the spur of the moment as he melted into the kiss, which made Hickory smile against his mouth. They slowly found a rhythm that worked for them. Even when Hickory broke away to breath Hunk found himself pulling him back. Like he couldn't get enough of his taste. His mind nearly broke when Hickory slotted his tongue into his mouth, fuck could he even do that? Hunk sure didn't know but didn't care all that much either. He pulled Hickory as close to him as possible as one of his hands drifted up to the older man's chest. Hunk could tell how much experience Hickory had, strange for a Christian man but he couldn't really be bothered to think about that right now, matter of fact he wasn't thinking much at all with Hickory's lips against his.
He whined once Hickory properly tore away and wiped the spit off his chin. Biting his tongue the second he did to try and prevent anymore embarrassing noises. Hickory looked nervous, scared even once Hunk finally floated back down to earth.
“I-I should go, that wasn't fair to you— fuck I-I'm sorry I should have declined your request—” he mumbled as he pulled Hunk's hands off him. “Wait why!? I'm the one who asked anyway!” He yelped. Hickory flinched and bit his finger in thought. “Cause I'm a uh…” he looked away. "....faggot.”
…
“What?”
Hickory began to move to the door. Before Hunk grabbed his shoulder and pulled him back.
“Fuck— FUCK— S-sorry Hunk I really shouldn't have that wasn't fair to kiss ya if I like ya and you don't—”
“What if I like you too?” Hunk interrupted. His words sounded more like a statement than a question. Hickory tore away from him and looked at him like a prey animal in front of it's predator.
“No you don’t— that would just be plain wrong. A boy doesn't like a man ain't that in the Bible!? Come on, don't play with my feelin’s like that. I've….” Tears streamed down his face as he looked away from Hunk. Trembling as he croaked out every word.
“I've spent so fucking long trying to get over you Hunk. Ya can't make me fall back to the start like this.”
Hickory felt his cheeks burn as salty tears ran down his face onto the cold floor. His eyes stung as he looked for any sign of disgust, rejection, horror or rage on Hunk's face.
He found nothing but some odd twinkle of realization in his eye. Like something in his brain just clicked for the first time.
“...No, Hickory I… I think I genuinely like you too. Hell I know it! I mean yer kind and pretty and so very careful… I don't care that yer a man or that yer older than me! I like ya! I would shout it from the rooftops if I could!” He grabbed Hickory's shoulders and beamed with joy, like this wasn't life changing news. Hickory couldn't even think. He couldn't do nothing but laugh and laugh and laugh. He uncontrollably laughed just in sheer disbelief at Hunk's words. Once he calmed down he made hunk reassure over and over that he was in fact telling the truth and wouldn't regret this before he grabbed Hunk's face and kissed him as many times as he could. Falling onto the bed and taking off his gloves as he patted his leg for Hunk to sit down on his lap— which he did as soon as he got the order.
Hickory kissed every bit of skin he could find on Hunk, his lips, nose, cheeks, neck, adams apple, eye lids, forehead. Anything he could get his hands on like he was trying to confirm this was even real. Like this was just some strange dream like the one Dorothy had been talking about since the twister that had swept through.
It couldn't have been less than 15 minutes till Aunty Em called for the two. Yelling something about how slacking off wasn't allowed. They quickly got off each other once the call registered in their heads and the pair tried to tidy themselves up before they hopped back up the stairs.
For the rest of the day Hunk & Hickory would never work more than 25 feet apart from one another. Smiling to each other and sneaking off to kiss like highschools who weren't allowed to date because of their strict parents.
Maybe it wasn't okay to be like Hunk & Hickory according to their times.
Yet they couldn't care less.
-🌾🫀-