Seen and Unforseen (Michael/Dare)

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare looked up at Michael then, his grin returning full-force. "Not if I have anything to do with it," he said. He'd be sure to remind Michael every chance he got. Dare's tongue swept briefly over his lower lip, unconsciously anticipating for just a moment before he dropped his gaze to safety again and his smile tempered. He reached out, though, his hand catching one of Michael's and threading their fingers together, then tugging lightly to pull Michael close again.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael's hand tightened around Dare's and slid closer to him, pressing lightly against him. "I think I can live with that," he said, watching Dare, his eyes sparkling. The day had ended much better than it had started, the unpleasant nerves of the day had been replaced by that most definitely pleasant tension and those warm waves that pulsed through Michael's body. Even thinking back on it he couldn't replicate the all-encompassing nerves of before.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare raised his gaze to Michael's, warmth showing in the mossy depths. "It's pretty amazing, isn't it?" he asked, his lips quirking into a half smile. His free hand rose, lightly pushing Michael's hair aside to let his fingers trace against the mark he'd left on Michael's neck. "I've never been this close to a guy before, you know." He didn't let his eyes search Michael's again, but watched his fingers, let himself take comfort in the feel of Michael's skin and the press of his hand. "That passing the quaffle was a girlfriend." Dare wondered if it was as big an admission as it felt like.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael smiled, his eyes closing at the touch on his neck as he nodded. Then, when Dare continued speaking, they opened again to look at him. He brought up their hands to kiss the back of Dare's lightly. "I never would have guessed," he said, his eyes sparkling in humor as he brought their hands back down before he could get any more ideas. Dare seemed comfortable enough that Michael had just assumed he wasn't the first to do so much with him.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare lowered his gaze as he relaxed against the tree, letting himself speak like he was just thinking out loud, but taking comfort in Michael's touch. His hand lowered to trace absently against the back of Michael's. "I've kissed...a couple guys," he admitted, "and one was like, years ago, so I've already, you know, thought everything to death." He looked up at Michael, surprised at the humor in his eyes, and at the immediate relief of some of his own tension in response. His lips curved lightly.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

"You already know I've never been with a guy," Michael said, "Though there was one time, forever ago it seems, before I was even a follower, Emilian had me about convinced to try it. Then we were called for dinner." He shrugged, nothing had happened, but they had gotten as close as Michael could remember ever getting, until he had met Dare, of course. "Guess I was just waiting for the right guy to come along." He smiled and glanced up at Dare, then back down to watch Dare's finger trail over his hand.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare's hesitant smile widened at that, and he looked back up at Michael just in time to see Michael's gaze drop. "Then I'll count myself lucky," Dare said, the words soft, but backed with emotion. It was amazing to think that Emilian had tried for so long, and the closest he'd gotten was almost, but for some reason Dare couldn't imagine, he'd gotten a friend and a boyfriend. Dare's hand lifted to tip Michael's chin up, then he leaned to press a kiss to Michael's lips.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael returned the kiss softly, a silent thanks for the opportunity Dare had given him. When he pulled away he gave Dare a warm smile before settling against him in the same comfortable position he had before. Michael wasn't sure why he felt so comfortable slid down with his head on Dare's shoulder. There was a faint memory, but it was more a feeling than anything he could pick through and figure out. Instead of the sarcastic you should that would have come out at some points in time, his voice was soft as he spoke, "I really do like you."

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare felt warmed to the core, and his eyes closed as he took in a slow, deep breath, savoring the moment. "I really like you too, Michael," he said. It blew him away every time he thought about how close they'd gotten, how fast, and most surprisingly, how easily. Michael had confessed, if not his deepest, darkest secret, then they key to that secret, the first time they'd met. And the second time, they'd kissed. Michael had kissed him. Dare was sure Michael didn't realize how much he gave, how much he did for Dare, but he was grateful for it all.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael smiled and kept his eyes down on their hands. It didn't really occur to him how fast everything had moved, his relationships had usually moved quickly so he didn't think on it too much. The thing he thought most about was that he wasn't with a girl, which had stopped bothering him sometime during the last week. He was also used to talking about his past, though he didn't usually let people see how it bothered him until he had known them for a little while, and none of them had ever talked about it like Dare had that day in the Room of Requirement.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare's thoughts had shifted along similar paths. The Room of Requirement had been a changing point, a moment in their brief relationship where things could have swung about a thousand different ways, but somehow, Michael had talked him back from a breakdown, and a tentative friendship had been made undeniable. Dare's mind couldn't help looking off into the shadows, where the source of that breakdown lay, and part of him wondered, part of him felt almost guilty for not sharing when Michael had shared so much. But he told himself, that wasn't his secret to tell, and that part of it that was his was still too painful.

Dare leaned his head against Michael's, his fingers still stroking Michael's hand, and worked to distract himself, to pull himself away from those thoughts. What mattered was now. Now, where he had someone he could talk with, joke and tease with. Someone who was so incredibly different, and yet so similar that they could feel like they knew each other, but always have something to learn, always find a surprise. It was, in a word, amazing.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael sighed lightly, his eyes closing. He barely spared a thought that Dare might not have shared as much as he had, it felt like Michael had known him his whole life instead of feeling like he was missing something. Dare was unique in that Michael, for a change, felt like the one who was safe. He had gotten so used to trying to protect that he had forgotten, or perhaps just never known, what it was like to feel safe with someone else, because of someone else.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

It was nearly full dark before Dare even considered stirring. He knew it was past curfew, and for once, he couldn't have cared less. The day had been an emotional rollercoaster, and he'd just wanted to soak up as much of the warmth and the peace that Michael brought him as he could. But as the sunset faded back behind the rolling hills, Dare shifted slightly, lifting his head to look down at Michael. "We ought to go in," he said. It was dark enough now that it wouldn't even matter if they were a little disheveled.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael shifted, opening his eyes but not pulling away just yet. How was it that they could spend hours together and still not want to leave? His hand tightened around Dare's and looked up at him. "Yeah, I know," he said, tilting his head to press his lips to Dare's again. He wasn't ready to go in, but he knew they needed to, not to mention he had realized that Dare wasn't one to really want to go against the rules.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare took the kiss Michael offered without hesitating, and without rushing. The afternoon had gone on so well that there was no reason to cut it to a harsh end. He let the kiss flow as it would, no pushing for more, and when it ended of its own accord, he pulled back, smiling. In the near-dark, the gleam in his eyes wasn't visible, but he felt it, and he hoped Michael felt it, too. "Come on, let's go," Dare said at last, pushing to his feet and offering Michael a hand up. He didn't want to go in any more than Michael did, but on the chances they'd be missed...he could always see Michael tomorrow.