The Treehouse [BxB]

twenty six

Christmas morning came, and River cooked breakfast for his parents before the three of them took turns opening presents in the living room. They had bought him clothes, some new posters for his bedroom, and a bottle of cologne. He felt guilty again - he didn't deserve to get anything after all he had put them through. He was the worst son ever.

But when he cried, and told them this, they just hugged him. They were so happy to finally have their son home, they didn't care about anything else.

At midday, they all got dressed, and headed next door, Dominique welcoming them in with open arms and glasses of wine. Mickey was wearing a knitted sweater with the collar of a white shirt peeking out at the top. He looked cute. So did Audre, in a frilly green dress, and socks pulled up to her knees.

He hugged Dominique, Audre, and then Mickey, perhaps for a second longer than he should have. When he pulled away, Mickey was smiling that crooked smile of his, "You look nice." He said.

River looked down at his outfit. He was wearing a pair of linen trousers, and a loose sweater. He didn't look nice, he looked the same as he always did, Mickey was just being polite. "Thanks." River smiled nonetheless, "So do you."

They followed their parents into the kitchen, and Mickey handed River a glass of sparkling wine before pouring one for himself, "Merry Christmas." They cheered.

"Hey, I got you a present." River told him quietly, standing away from their families.

"I thought we said no presents?" Mickey rose his brows.

"Fine. Think of it as a late birthday present then." He grinned, wrapped his fingers around Mickey's wrist, and dragged him upstairs. In Mickey's bedroom, River shut the door softly behind them, and smiled at his best friend.

"We can't be too long. My Mum wants us to play a game before lunch." Mickey told him, "Monopoly or something."

River responded by rolling up his sleeve, and revealing the brand new tattoo on his arm. It was the same as Mickey's - a treehouse. "Do you like it?" He grinned.

Mickey's eyes widened, his fingers intertwining with River's as he tugged his arm closer to inspect the fresh ink, "I love it." He murmured back, pulling him in for a tight hug and laughing softly. "I love it." He repeated, the words muffled by River's shoulder.

When they pulled back, their faces were inches apart, their eyes connected through the stars that swum between their fixed gaze. Without thinking, River placed a hand on Mickey's cheek, and pulled him in for a kiss.

Their lips met, and everything felt right. The warmth, the softness, the familiarity of each other's bodies, pushed together, and souls merged as one. River was kissing his best friend, and when he realised that, he pulled away suddenly.

"Shit." He murmured, "I-I'm sorry." His cheeks reddened in embarrassment, "I don't know what I was thinking..."

"River." Mickey's gentle voice cut him off. There it was again - the way he said his name.

"Sorry." River reached for the door handle.

"River." Mickey said again, placing a hand on his best friend's shoulder, and twisting him around. His fingers combed through River's soft curls, and with his other hand, he grabbed a fistful of River's sweater, and pulled him in again, slamming their lips together. It was slow, but needy, desperate, and full of passion.

River's hands pressed against Mickey's hard chest and he backed up against the wall, Mickey pulling him impossibly closer with every breath. Their lips moved in sync, tasting every inch of each other's mouth for the first time, savouring the sweet sensation that shot up their spines. Every touch was full of affection as they tugged at each other's hair, their sleeves, their collars. Exposed skin pushed together, flushed and hot, itching for more.