|
|
Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 5, 2008 21:12:40 GMT -5
"I'll bet," Michael said, grinning and examining Dare's hair, all of the different colors. "I like your hair," he declared, "I can't imagine you with it longer." Michael's hair had always been the same, pretty much since he had won the battle of keeping it longer it had stayed the same.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 5, 2008 21:23:21 GMT -5
Dare's eyes rose to Michael's again, and he wondered again at how permanent his smile seemed to be around him. "I'll have to get hold of the picture for you," he said. "I'm pretty sure Silver's got one in his trunk." Silver had been all knowing smirks when Dare walked out the door that night, as though he'd known how miserable wearing a tux would be--which he hadn't. It was an easy guess, though. "And what about you? Are there any pictures of you all decked out in gold chains, or is that stuff all kept secrets from the unwashed masses?" Dare's eyes shone with a silent chuckle.
|
|
|
|
Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 5, 2008 21:32:34 GMT -5
"I'm sure there's one somewhere, I don't have one, unless there's one stashed in my trunk somewere." Michael thought back, mentally digging through his trunk and drawers. "You know, there is one." It was of him and Emilian on one of their good days, one of the few times Michael would have called him friend, well, would still call him friend. At the time he had considered Emilian his only good friend.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 5, 2008 21:47:48 GMT -5
Dare gave another brief grin at that assurance. "You'll have to find it then. We can trade up and have a laugh. Be kind to my date, though. I don't think she knew what she was getting into when she said she'd go along with it." They'd turned their fair share of heads that night, and suddenly their individual reputations for artistic oddity had shifted into those two who went to the ball as Muggles.
|
|
|
|
Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 5, 2008 21:56:58 GMT -5
"I'll dig it out," Michael promised. "I'm not with a date, it's just Emilian and me." Emilian always came with his family, Emilian's family wasn't much to actually attend the balls but still wanted Emilian to go. He had almost forgotten about their hands until he reached up to try to tuck his hair behind an ear, though it was almost too short and fell out nearly immediately. It was odd, how comfortable he had been just sitting there with their hands together.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 5, 2008 22:04:23 GMT -5
"Who's Emilian?" Dare asked, his eyes catching that stubborn lock of red hair. Dare hardly spared a thought before his free hand reached up, smoothing the hair back, coaxing it into place, since he could see where the hair fell. He brought his gaze back to Michael's before he'd even realized what he'd done. His hand paused in mid-air, then began to lower slowly, unsure whether he should apologize or just go on.
|
|
|
|
Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 5, 2008 22:16:22 GMT -5
Michael had seen Dare's hand coming up and had watched his face as he had messed with Michael's hair. He grinned an almost shy grin and looked down, "He's an old friend of mine, he'd always go to the balls with my family and he always stayed at the house. He was quite the ladies' man, and the man's man, in all actuality." His eyes flicked back up to Dare's.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 5, 2008 22:26:06 GMT -5
"Really," Dare said more than asked, his gaze catching on Michael's. He thought about asking if Michael and Emilian had ever crossed the line, and maybe the question showed in his eyes, but he didn't ask. Strangely enough, he didn't think Michael had ever crossed the line. If he had, would he have shied so badly in the forest? Dare's tongue moistened suddenly dry lips, and he broke eye contact, looking down at the safey of his hands, both of which had found Michael's. He let his fingers explore now, no intention other than comfort and curiosity. "So what's he like? Are you guys still friends?" he asked, trying to temper his thoughts with others.
|
|
|
|
Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 5, 2008 22:34:34 GMT -5
"Not really, I mean, I've talked to him a couple of times, but I stay away from him." Michael looked down and watched Dare's fingers exploring, their movements causing a pleasant tingling sensation. He had seen the question in Dare's eyes, and the quick answer was a firm no. "We didn't do anything, not to say he didn't want it, apparently he had feelings for me, though I can't imagine it. I mean, he raped someone, I can't imagine him having soft feelings for anyone."
|
|
|
|
Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 5, 2008 22:51:49 GMT -5
Dare's eyes lifted again, widening slightly at that, his hands slowing. He couldn't imagine a friend doing something like that, couldn't imagine how hard it must have been for Michael to hear. The rest was by the wayside; he'd figured Michael hadn't dabbled, though the confirmation did make things easier to accept. So he focused on the only part of Michael's words that he thought he had something constructive to say to. "You're a great guy, Michael. If you guys were together that much..." Dare shrugged lightly. "I can see it, is all."
|
|
|
|
Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 5, 2008 22:58:29 GMT -5
Michael shrugged and went silent, still watching Dare's fingers. He was wondering, should he try to go back to where they had been in the forest? "I think it was more that I was the only person he had, no one else really cared for him, except for the people that liked to spend the night with him." He looked up finally, meeting Dare's eyes.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 5, 2008 23:03:57 GMT -5
Dare's hands slowed further at the eye contact. He imagined for a moment that Michael's thoughts were in tandem with his, that it wouldn't ruin things to bring it up, playing chicken with himself, since he knew he couldn't act. "If it mattered to him that he had you or that you cared, then it mattered, and maybe he did, you know? You're not that hard to care about." God, the tension! Dare looked down at their hands again, resumed his attention to focus the tension somewhere constructive, having ended his game.
|
|
|
|
Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 5, 2008 23:12:23 GMT -5
Michael fell silent, debating. He chewed his lip and his muscles tensed. He wanted to, he actually wanted to, but he didn't know if he could bring himself to do it. There was no reason to be afriad, though, Dare wouldn't turn him away. He did it. He leaned forward to press his lips to Dare's, swallowing the doubt and discomfort.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 5, 2008 23:20:22 GMT -5
Dare froze for just a moment, disbelieving shock cutting through his thoughts, then dying away, unable to compete with the sudden well of excitement, the sudden swell of his chest. His lips relaxed, then firmed against Michael's as he returned the kiss, as simple as it was. His hands stilled, then his left rose, pausing, then touching Michael's hair, purposefully now.
|
|
|
|
Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 5, 2008 23:27:43 GMT -5
Michael continued the kiss, refusing to listen to the part of his mind screaming that it was insane to kiss Dare. He was amazed at how relaxing it was, how much of a relief it was to have the tension gone. When he finally pulled away, barely breaking contact, he looked into Dare's eyes, his own sparkling, "I hope you don't mind, I decided to try."
|
|
