Slacking Off (Gavin/Andy)

[Andy Moreau]

Andy wondered if a book could really be that helpful. He figured he'd learn everything one way or another. He didn't want to say that, though. What if Gavin decided he didn't like him? He moved forward and tried to slip his hand into Gavin's again. "Is there a lot of stuff in the lake?" he asked. I'm interested, really!

[Gavin Kent]

Gavin accepted the hand, but for the moment he was in full Ravenclaw form. "The book said that there's a whole group of mermaids, which was difficult to accept. I mean, when I think of mermaids I think of The Little Mermaid, but they're nothing like that. They have their own language. And there are other animals, too. It isn't normal fish like tuna or bream...and I'm rambling, aren't I?" He glanced over at Andy, suddenly self-conscious about his interest.

[Andy Moreau]

Andy's eyes widened slightly at Gavin's sudden attention. "Um, no, it's fine," he said. "I didn't know that either." He didn't know anything about any of this, and it was frustrating, but that wasn't Gavin's fault. He blamed the damn squib who'd broken his wand, blamed the system, and blamed the fire that had killed Tam's dad. "Sorry I'm not talking much. I like listening, though." Listening absolved him of the need to hold up his end of a conversation.

[Gavin Kent]

"I don't mean to be...I don't know...I'm just excited," Gavin said. Did Andy really like listening, or was he just saying it? He was so used to his boarding school friends who were equally happy discussing serious issues and which football team would win the next game. "I'm not used to such change. I'm used to knowing exactly what I'm supposed to do and what will happen, and now it's all up to me." And one of his first acts of independence had been to kiss a guy. Well, he might as well hit the ground running.

[Andy Moreau]

"Me too," Andy said softly. He looked back out at the water, trying to see what Gavin saw. It was beautiful, but he didn't see all the possibilities like Gavin did. "Well, or maybe I'm just used to being on my own and not knowing what to do. As long as I kept out of too much trouble, it didn't matter what I did." The weirdest part was being away from Tam. He wondered if that tall professor with the blue hair would let him use his phone to call Tam.

[Gavin Kent]

"Don't get me wrong, I love my life, but it's always been so scheduled. I really couldn't have gotten into trouble even had I wanted to," Gavin said. "During school it was class, practice, homework, perhaps a little free time. Holidays are more practice and a summer course or two to get ahead." Vacations were nice, but also often focused in some way on education and cultural expansion, with visits to concerts and museums and historical sites.

"They've given me a year here, and I want to make the most of it." Maybe after a year, if he still wanted to stay on, he could talk his parents into letting him finish magical schooling at Hogwarts. He looked out over the water, wondering how much of the wizarding world he could take in in one year. "You've given me a good start, I'd say."

[Andy Moreau]

Andy gave a blushing smile. "I didn't really do anything," he said. "It was just regular hanging out stuff." He'd talked Gavin into messing around at the bookstore, and he'd been crazy enough to kiss him, but that didn't even seem real anymore. He looked aside and up. He didn't think he could do it again, unless Gavin helped him out. He was so tall...

[Gavin Kent]

Gavin knew that look. Though the Ravenclaw-ness and excitement at the lake, he knew he'd seen it before. In movies, in telly shows. He'd read about it in books. Not that it took prior knowledge for him to be drawn in all over again by that bloody blush.

"I don't think kissing is regular hanging out stuff," he said. "I don't think I mind breaking the mold a little, though." The distance was further this time, but he didn't think about any discomfort that could come from a half foot height difference during kissing as he leaned to take a kiss.

[Andy Moreau]

Andy pulled a quick breath in the moment of realization at what was about to happen. Then he was pushing onto his toes to meet Gavin halfway. It made him feel even smaller, made him feel almost delicate in comparison. It made him feel special. He hadn't realized that Gavin was thinking so much about their first kiss, and that was as exciting as the feel of solid muscle beneath his hand as he caught Gavin's arm for balance. This couldn't really be real, could it?

[Gavin Kent]

More on instinct than due to any real thought, Gavin slipped his arm around Andy's waist for support and turned to face him better. In any other circumstances, he might not have been thinking so much about the kiss. But his blood was rushing and adrenaline was coursing through him from the new environment, and Andy was do different from what he was used to. Andy was slender and small and still managed to stand out.

[Andy Moreau]

It was all Andy could do not to let out a squeak at the feel of that arm around him, or just to melt completely. "Wow," he breathed when he pulled back a little, just enough to look at Gavin. Was it okay that he was a little dizzy? Was it okay that part of him wanted someone to brag and show off to? Wherever Gavin's shyness and insecurity had gone, it was welcome to stay there!

[Gavin Kent]

Gavin's eyes drifted over Andy's expression, a sense of wonder flooding him at the feeling that little squeak and the feel of the guy's waist beneath his arm had brought. He shouldn't want to kiss Andy again, and after a moment his mind won out over his body and he stopped himself from dipping his head again. "This has been the oddest day."

[Andy Moreau]

"You keep saying that," Andy noted. "Maybe I'll make you kiss me every time you say it." He closed his eyes and tipped up his chin expectantly Maybe it was partly a tease, but mostly he just wanted another kiss. For as often as Gavin said that things were odd or strange, Andy thought a little reassurance would do nicely.

[Gavin Kent]

Well, considering the structure and planning that was part of his life before coming to Hogwarts, this really had been the oddest day. He'd seen notes flying through the hallways and a barrage of owls deliver the mail over breakfast. He'd sort-of defiled a bookstore and then sort-of defiled the area just beneath its front window. Gavin's lips curved and, unable to resist such obvious temptation, dipped his head for another kiss.

[Andy Moreau]

Andy gave an almost inaudible hum of pleasure at the feel of Gavin's lips on his again, and brought up his arms to link his hands behind Gavin's neck. That brought their bodies closer and he was suddenly struck with indecision. Should he take the space back and not push too hard? If not, could he risk how obvious his physical reaction would be?