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Brandon’s body was covered in cold sweat. His eyes opened, greeted by the grey view of the ceiling. Brandon takes a deep breath of fresh air before pinching himself slightly, making sure that he’s woken up from the nightmare.
A sunny day, scorching hot, burning in the atmosphere, a great contrast from Brandon’s cold sweat. The air covered in lingering heat, his body might as well be burning to the couch.
All alone in his house, his mother needs to tend to an errand that day. And almost all of his friends have errands themselves, but almost all of them are attending summer school, including Ozolog. Well at least he’s supposed to be.
The sound of the bell ringing echoes throughout the house, startling Brandon. To his surprise, he saw his boyfriend slinging his bag ‘stylishly’ like he usually does. Without waiting further Brandon opened the door. “There you are, gosh you look messy” an annoying smirk plastered on Ozolog’s face.
“I thought you were supposed to be at school? You know, summer school and stuff.” Brandon tilted his head a little.
Ozolog lets out an annoying chuckle for a little bit before waving his hand. “Psh trust me, I handled it.” They both walked into the room, Ozolog casually threw himself into the couch, then he patted the spot beside him. Not long before Brandon sat down beside Ozolog.
“Hey what’s wrong?” Asked Ozolog with a worried look on his face. It doesn’t take long for Ozolog to see that there’s something wrong with his partner, albeit it’s not unusual for his boyfriend to be all gloomy, but it mainly happens at night.
“I’m just.. I don’t know, I got nightmares again.” Brandon murmured the last words.
Nightmares, it’s nothing new for Brandon, in fact, it’s almost an everyday occurrence for him. The bitter consequences of his trauma from his messed up place he called ‘home’ and the twisted indoctrination coated with false truth.
The cocky expression on Ozolog's face dimmed slightly as he pulled Brandon closer to him to the point where they’re basically cuddling. Surprised, Brandon responded with a little ‘eek!’ under his breath.
“Cheer up big champ” Ozolog’s hand slides between Brandon’s messy hair, ruffling it. “I don’t have the energy to deal with you when you’re all sad like this. Afterall, I’m sure it’ll disappear eventually.” Comforts Ozolog.
It’s a bit mean, really. But Brandon knows deep down Ozolog cares for him, alot. “I guess so” A small smile grew on Brandon’s face. Gently, Ozolog pulled Brandon’s closer, giving him a small and quick peck on the cheek. “Ozo! That tickles!” A tint of red paints Brandon’s face.
“Oh, really?” He gave him another peck, longer this time. “Gosh you stink, have you taken a bath today?”
“I mean, have you?” Brandon countered.
“Psh,” Ozolog scoffs, which earned a short snickers from Brandon. They continued to cuddle for a bit before Ozolog came across a ‘brilliant’ idea, well at least that’s what Ozolog called it himself. “How about.. we take a bath together?”
Reasonably, Brandon got shocked by Ozolog’s sudden request. “W-what?! No, that's like gay..”
“Dude, we’re gay!” Ozolog chuckled. Brandon, clearly embarrassed, seems to avoid making eye contact with his boyfriend.
“You just want to see me naked, don’t you..?” Accused Brandon as he babbled his words. His face grew completely red at this point.
“What?! No!” Ozolog denies Brandon's sudden accusation. Though, a snicker later before his expression became a little bit ‘naughty’. “Well, if you put it like that. I mean isn’t it so romantic?”
“W-Why are you being such a pervert all of a sudden!” Brandon complained.
“Pervert?! Me? I mean you’re free to refuse,” Ozolog taunted. “To be honest you’re the one who is making this weird.”
A pause later before Ozolog cuts in, “Chop-chop my guy, the answer is..?” he bragged.
“..Well, fine. But we’re keeping our pants on!”
“I mean, that’s kinda my plan already, but sure I guess.”
Without wasting any more time, Ozolog pulled Brandon to the bathroom, in which received another ‘eek!’ from him, louder this time.
The sound of the water running filled the room, filling the bathtub with refreshing-cool water, perfect to wash away sweat from the scorching temperature outside. Ozolog unbuttoned his shirt and his plain T-shirt under, tossing it aside. Brandon hesitantly does the same, leaving them with only their shorts.
“Hey quit being a nervous wreck okay? If you’re uncomfortable just tell me.”
“N-no, I want to do this”
“Well then,” Ozolog is the first one to take a dip in the water. “C’mon, what are you waiting for?”
Gently, Brandon dips his feet into the water, the chilly feeling climbs across his body, startling him a little. But slowly, he began to sink his body into the cold tile of the bathtub.
An awkward silence filled the room as they waited for the water to fill the bathtub. Brandon, hugging his knee tightly. Trying to hide his nervousness, even though it’s as clear as the cold water that slowly fills the bathtub.
“So like,” Ozolog’s voice ripped through the silence. “Can you like, move closer or something? Please?” There’s a hint of embarrassment in Ozolog's words.
Brandon obeys, but Ozolog can feel the tension on Brandon’s body. “Hey so, just relax alright. Take it easy.” He assured his embarrassed boyfriend.
Even though there’s no verbal response from Brandon, his body slowly starts to uncurl from the nervousness. Ozolog smiled at the sight of his boyfriend getting comfortable around him. He grabbed an apple scented shampoo from the counter. He squeezed it lightly and began to wash Brandon’s hair.
Brandon, slightly startled at the gesture, closes his eyes. For someone so upfront and cocky like Ozolog, it’s almost shocking that his hand gently caresses Brandon’s brown-curly hair. “You don’t have a problem with me washing your hair right?” Ozolog clarified.
Brandon nods weakly, before faintly mumbling “...No I don’t.” under his breath. His body starts to unwind slowly but surely, though his heartbeat isn’t going any slower.
The pleasant smell of apples softly blends in the atmosphere. A bunch of bubbles form on Brandon’s head before Ozolog caresses Brandon’s forehead, making sure the shampoo doesn’t get into his eyes.
Not long, Ozolog scoops the water with his hands and wash Brandon’s hair delicately. “Turn around.” Brandon opened his eyes and yielded, turning his body around, facing away from Ozolog.
Ozolog squeezed the soap beside them, scrubbing Brandon’s back. “...Ozo, that tickles,” Brandon squealed in his first full sentence after all of this. Which earned a chuckle from Ozolog. “Hey! Don’t laugh! It really tickles.”
Even though Brandon is facing away from him, Ozolog knows that Brandon is currently indirectly pouting at him. “Alright, alright. I’m going slower okay…”
The change in pace along with the gentle gesture and soft gaze from Ozolog allows Brandon to be more comfortable. Said calming gestures displayed by Ozolog drifts softly in the atmosphere, staying afloat and harmonizing with the water.
Not long after, Ozolog washed Brandon’s back, leaving a fragrant smell lingering in the space between him and Brandon. Though slowly but surely, Brandon softly leaned his back against Ozolog, closing the gap between them two. “So, Feeling better?” Ozolog asks.
There’s a huge stretch of silence before Brandon responds. “Ozo, can I ask you something?” He questioned, with a pitch–pathetic like before.
Even though it’s not the response that Ozolog wanted to hear, he still cracked a smile for his partner. “Sure, what is it?” Ozolog said with a comforting tone.
“And please be honest with me, Ozo” Brandon pauses for a second, weakly biting the edge of his thumb. “Are you sick of me?” Brandon’s voice muffled, a result of his previous gesture.
Surprised by the somber question, Ozolog reflexively yelled “Of course not!” but quickly, he changed his volume before continuing. “Why would you ask that?”
Brandon doesn’t respond, a gloomy scenery for Ozolog, striking a contrast with the previously cozy atmosphere around them. Deep breath, Ozolog tenderly holds Brandon’s hand, intertwining his finger between his with a pace so gentle and deliberate. The motion earned a quiet whine from Brandon’s mouth.
“It's just that… you’re being so kind to me,” Brandon swallowed hard before continuing. “It’s almost sickening to see you always trying your best to comfort me, while I’m never doing anything to pay you back.”
Brandon’s fingers tightened between Ozolog’s, a shriek escaped from his mouth colder than the water. “Aren’t you tired Ozo? It’s okay if you do, I promise I’ll keep smiling for you.” He continued.
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Ozolog snapped, he usually isn’t the type to swear, especially around Brandon. Though, he quickly cleared his throat and lowered his intonation, clearly afraid of hurting Brandon’s feelings. “Never in a million years I would be tired of you, Brandon. Like I’ve said a thousand times already, I’ll always be here for you. Whether you like it or not.”
Ozolog pulled Brandon closer, hugging him from behind. “I’m not going to lose you again, never will. I will never be tired of you, I will never be tired of comforting you, I will never ever be tired of being kind to you if that's what it takes for you to be beside me.”
A suffocating quiet descends the room, stretching the mellow scene between them two before broken by a soft yet delicate voice of comfort. “So promise to me Brandon.” The voice of Ozolog’s heartbeat blends with the constant and rhythmic sound of the running water surrounding them. “Promise to me that you’ll stay, and I’ll promise that I’ll never be tired of you.” His voice felt so genuine, so firm.
Ozolog’s assurance basically lit a golden hue deep inside Brandon’s heart, washing away his pessimistic thoughts. After a while, Brandon’s face gradually grew his usual pathetic and innocent smile. He lifted his head, and his hands slowly reached for Ozolog's cheeks, touching it dearly. “...I promise, Ozo.”
Brandon’s hand struck a distinct warmth on Ozolog’s cheeks, forming a quiet whisper of blush on his face. “Then, I have another favor to ask.” Brandon looks away shyly.
“What is it?” There’s a curious tint painted on Ozolog’s words.
Brandon closes his eyes, embracing his boyfriend’s presence by listening to his quiet heartbeat. “Can we… Stay like this for a little longer?”