I'm trying so hard to not reuse names, but it's getting hard to find new names, so if you see any repeat names, just... pretend it's not a repeat. Also if you have any name suggestions, leave them here —>
⊜
"We only have a few hours to get this place decorated, let's get a move on!"
Harlan's brother Andrew is coming home from base camp, which in their mother's mind equals a surprise party. So now, it's ten o'clock in the morning and Harlan, his parents, his siblings and Andrew's best friend, Akira, are in the space that was rented for the party to decorate.
Akira wants to find time between now and before Andrew arrives to talk to Harlan; he's been avoiding Akira like the plague recently, which isn't normal. Akira is Andrew's best friend, yes, but he's also very close with Harlan.
"Hey Harley," Akira calls from across the room. 'Harley' is Harlan's nickname, and he only allows a handful of people (including Akira) to call him that.
Harlan looks up. "Yeah?" He calls back.
"Come help me with this table cloth, please!"
"I need to talk to you." Akira says when Harlan is standing next to him.
Harlan's heart kicks into high gear. "Why?"
"What's been going on between us, Harley? Why have you been avoiding me?"
"Please do not ask me questions that I can't answer." Harlan says lowly, turning on his heel and walking away.
Akira watches Harlan walking away, determined to figure out what's been going on lately before the party starts. He just has to get him alone.
Which he does when Harlan goes in the room that they call a closet, but is very large for a closet.
Harlan jumps when the door closes, looking up as Akira approaches him.
"I'm not mad at you, Harley." Akira says softly. "I just wanna know what's up. Did I upset you?"
Harlan shakes his head. "No— No, you didn't do anything. I just— I've been doing a lot of thinking. That's all."
Akira nods, pushing Harley back against the workbench.
"I'm going to ask you one more time." Akira mutters softly, grabbing Harlan's chin. "What's this between us? What's going on?"
"Nothing." Harlan replies, looking up and meeting Akita's gaze.
"I don't believe you, Harley. Something's up."
Harlan glances over Akira's shoulder. "Look, can we not do this here? Can we talk about this later?"
Akira shakes his head. "Harley, you're worrying me."
Harlan makes eye contact with Akira, not breaking it, trying to convey what's going on in with just his eyes. Harlan pulls Akira's face closer to his, leaning in until their noses brush against each other. Neither one of them moves an inch.
"You want to know what's been going on?" Harlan says after a solid minute of this. "This is what's been going on. There is nothing between us."
And he's right, because he pulls Akira's face to his kissing him hard; there's nothing between them, between their lips, not even air.
Akira pushes back, his head still resting against Harlan's. "What about—?" He begins.
"It's okay," Harlan whispers, his voice barely above a whisper, closing the gap again.
Putting his hands on Harlan's waist, Akira lifts him off the ground and onto the work bench, Harlan wrapping his legs around Akira's waist.
Akira pulls away slowly, looking at Harlan.
"No—" he begins. "No. Harley... I—"
"Ssh," Harlan soothes, putting a hand on the side of Akira's face, using his other to guide Akira's hand to his heart, pounding, still, in his chest.
Akira looks at Harlan, feeling his heart beating under his palm. Akira pulls Harlan closer, scooting him to the edge of the work bench.
Akira is literally speechless, unsure what to say.
"If you don't like this, I'll never bring it up again," Harlan says quietly.
Akira shakes his head, pulling Harlan closer to him, nearly pulling him off of the workbench. "I need some time to think." Akira mutters. "I just need a little bit..."
Harlan nods. "That's okay," he tells Akira. "Take as long as you need."
Akira pulls Harlan off the work bench, setting him down on the floor, pressing a soft, quick kiss against his lips.
⊜
Harlan is standing with Andrew and a couple of their cousins, talking about who knows what, when Akira approaches their group. Harlan avoids eye contact, a little embarrassed after what happened earlier. Akira brushes his hand against Harlan's, his fingers wrapping around his wrist.
Harlan excuses himself to go to the bathroom, walking away from the group. He stands in front of the mirror, taking deep breaths as he leans on the counter.
After leaving the bathroom, Harlan walks outside, down the path, stopping in front of the pond, sitting on the log. He doesn't turn around when he hears the footsteps walking up behind him. Akira puts a gentle hand on Harlan's back, taking a seat beside him. The birds chirp overhead as the sun is just beginning to start its process of setting.
Akira takes a deep breath, watching the reflection of the sun in the water.
"I'm scared of hurting you." Akira says, shattering the silence. "I don't want to... be with you and hurt you. I've been thinking a lot, too, Harley. And what I realized is that, no matter how hard I try to not think about you, you always come back to me. I tried. I tried so hard, but..." he pauses, shrugging.
Harlan turns to look at him.
"But then you look at me. Like that. And I... I remember why I fell in love with you. I love the way your eyes light up when you see me, and the way that you sneak looks at me when you think that I'm not looking," Akira continues. "I love that you're so gentle with everyone and everything that you do. I love how much you love your family and your friends..." Akira pauses again, leaning in closer. "And... I loved the way it felt, earlier, when you kissed me,"
Holding his face gently, Akira leans in to kiss Harlan.
"I never want you to stop looking at me," Akira says against Harlan's lips. The butterflies in Harlan's belly stir up again when he says it and he smiles against Akira's lips.
⊜
It's late.
Akira is driving Harlan home from the party.
When they pull into Harlan's driveway, he looks over at Akira.
"You wanna come in?" He asks, unbuckling his seat belt.
When Akira stands up, saying he should head home, Harlan grabs his wrist, pulling him back to the bed.
"Stay here," he says softly. "It's late,"
Akira smiles, leaning over Harlan. "It's only ten o'clock."
"That's late," Harlan protests. "I want you to stay." He looks up at Akira sleepily. "Stay," he says again, softer.
Akira reaches out his hand, tipping his chin up.
"I can't think straight when you look at me like that," Akira mumbles, kicking off his shoes again, crawling back into the bed with Harlan, who smiles, turning to face Akira.
"But I love it when you look at me like that," Akira adds, holding Harlan's chin in his hand.
Harlan bites his lip, Akira's heart lurches in his chest, and he leans forward, kissing him.
Harlan buries his face in the crook of Akira's neck, pressing a smiling kiss against his skin when Akira mumbles the words, "I love you,"
"I love you too," Harlan mumbles. "Now gimme a kiss and let's go to sleep."
Akira laughs, smiling, as he kisses Harlan goodnight.
10/13/2022
