The Painting I Called 'You'

Ch-15: Home

Astrella

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I woke up to the smell of beer, paint, and Kaiser.

My eyes flit open at the realization. I was met with grey fabric as soon as my eyes opened, I tried to push back from Kaiser but a weight on my waist prevented me from doing so.

He was hugging me.

We slept in the basement.

I tensed and relaxed in quick succession; I didn't have the luxury of panicking at my situation because the onslaught of my hangover hit me like a speeding truck.

I groan out loud before I could help myself, on instinct I bury myself into Koa's embrace, not just because I didn't want to wake up but also because the basement was cold, and he clearly wasn't. But most importantly I was too lazy to get up and off the floor.

Not like I could do that anyway.

Kaiser's arm weighed down on my body for God knows how much longer. I had fallen asleep again before I knew it, and only awoke when I lost warmth.

Which meant Koa woke up.

"Good morning!" I turned to my side, now that there was no reason for me to be asleep anymore, "Morning," Koa mumbles back, voice husky.

I bought over a dozen beers yesterday, we'd finish them all, although I drank less beers than Koa, it was safe to say the hangover was bad.

Kaiser opens the door and shuts it just as quickly as he pulled it open, the light that floods in makes me shut my eyes instantly, "Fuck," he groans.

"We should make soup," I tell him, massaging my temples.

"You know what to add?" he asks me, mirroring my actions.

"My parents had a tradition to make a soup together after events," I say, scrambling to my feet.  Kaiser is quick to hold my arm before I trip over a beer can.

"Thanks." I mutter.

"We should shower first," he says, "we reek of beer." he adds on.

I nod, neither of us say much more. With astronomical effort I ignore the pain the light brought on to my already raging headache as we go into separate rooms. 

I didn't take an hour in the bathtub as I usually did and actually showered. I figured with my meagre self-restraint I'd have Koa waiting for a long while if I chose the bathtub.

The hot water had done its job at soothing my headache to an extent, I spent a good five minutes just letting the water spray over my body solely because it was satisfying, and also because I remembered last night and needed another excuse for my red cheeks.

"You said I could do it again," I mutter, not really knowing what I was saying, the bubbly champagne had left me bubbly.

"Huh? Do what?" Kaiser asks me, confused, and distracted.

I didn't reply, instead leaning up to bring our noses in contact, my lips graze past his, I pause, processing my own actions.

I was going to pull back and apologize thanks to the only somehow operating rational part of me before Kaiser pushes me back against the cold pool tiles, his mouth hot on mine. His hand trails up my spine, sending a jolt of sparks through my veins. 

His fingers eventually tangle into my hair, pulling, angling my head up to deepen our kiss, I respond in earnest.

I don't realize what I'm doing and simply function on instinct, my hand shifts from his shoulder to bury into his hair to pull him closer, completely pressing his body to mine. I was sandwiched between the pool and Kaiser. I felt so much, too much even, a frenzy of his mouth on mine, his hands on me, my hands on him, the cold, the alcohol buzzing through my system, everything.