Apology Not Accepted

Chapter 14: Smoke

Philip shut the front door and sighed. "Finally," he groans. Hazel eyes shift over to the dark man with slight sorrow. "Sorry about the show, Eacker."

George hummed and shrugged. "It's fine. As long as you're alright," he replied, shoving his hands in his coat pockets. He lifts his head up towards the sky and begins walking down the road. Stars littered the dark night and brings a more comforting glow to the city. The occasional cloud drifts by and blocks out the light but it's not too long until it comes back. Eacker felt a hand brush his arm and flinched out of his daydream (night dream?), only to see a both amused and confused Philip, smiling like an awkward madman.

"Woah there, man. Relax, it's just me," the boy chuckled, eyeing him up and down. George breathed out a sigh of relief before sending a scornful gaze at the other. "Don't do that," he said. Philip nodded and running a head and turning to face him, walking backwards. "Yeah, seriously," he smirked. "Looked like you were about to punch me for a second."

George rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. "I was ready to."

"And if you did, you'd be right back at square one. You wouldn't want to risk my mom's wrath a second time, would you?" Philip taunted. The older male had to fight back a shudder. Instead of responding, he reached deep into his pocket and pulled out a cigar and match. Watching the freckled one's eyes widen in shock, George chuckled and dragged the match along the brick next to them, lighting it. He watched as the boy's eyes narrowed as he lit his cigar. 

"Those are bad for you."

"How so?"

"They make you smell like smoke and your breath will stink," Philip huffed, crossing his arms and stopping. Eacker smirked and kept walking until he was in the other's face, blowing a puff of smoke in Philip's face. He barked out a laugh when the other jumped back and forced himself to cough, as if forcing the smoke from his lungs.

Philip felt his cheeks flush in both frustration and embrassement before he shot his hand out to snatch the cigar from the taller male. Eacker moved the tobacco close to his chest before taking another drag, eyes twinkling in amusement, but that didn't deter the young Hamilton. He kept reaching for it and even jumped up once to snatch it from the man's mouth. Lucky for him, it was night time and none was out to see this other than he and Eacker.

George blew another cloud of smoke out from his nostrils, briefly reminding Philip about his fears of dragons when he was little with the action, and shook his head. "Relax, Hamilton. It's just one cigar. You'll understand when you're older about how it resembles both status and maturity."

"I'll have you know I'm going on twenty-one in this upcoming January," Philip announced, pausing in his attempts to steal the tobacco. The older boy's eyebrows raised in surprise. "Oh, really?" He questioned. The younger nodded in annoyance before seizing his chance and snatching the cigar, dashing down the street.

"Hey!"

It was a good five minutes before Eacker caught up and snatched Philip up, swinging the young man around and pressing him up against the wall. Philip smirked and held the cigar low, loose between two fingers. A silent threat. Sadly, George noticed and yanked it back, careful not to burn either of them. "Give me that."

"Smoking is gross, Eacker," The freckled boy groaned.

"Whatever, Hamilton," was the reply. Eacker took a long drag and held his breath. Philip had is nose scrunched up in distaste and made this weird noise in the back of his throat.

With an idea coming to mind, George began bending down, face getting closer to the freckled one. He waited until his lips brushed the other's before exhaling, eyes watching the smoke spread over Philip's face as the boy refused to breathe. Deciding to play with him, Eacker shoved his cold hand up the other's shirt, enjoying the sharp intake of air and smoke.

"See? Not that bad," he purred. Philip blinked once or twice before pushing him away. "Don't do that," he whined, pouting and turning away. He, honest to every god there is and isn't, hated smoking. His father found it distasteful as well and often ranted about how every cabinet meeting smelled like a fireplace and a steaming pile of something that his mother covered the man's mouth for. Eacker should've respected his opinion. Then again, he should have respected Eacker's.

George saw the frown on the other's face and bit his lip nervously. The young Hamilton had just started to warm up to him and he did something stupid. Nudging Philip's arm, George tried to clear up the situation. "Look, I'm sorry about blowing in your face. I shouldn't have ignored your choice not to smoke-" Philip waved his hand and shook his head. "It's alright. I should have just let you smoke."

"Yes, but I did puff in your face before you took it," Eacker insisted, only to be stopped by the younger once more. "George," he said, grabbing onto the other's arm, looking up at his with a soft smile, "I'm serious. It's alright. Just don't do that to me again and I won't steal your smokes. Got it?"

He noticed Philip called him by his first name and internally screeched. There was fireworks and lots of yelling going on in there. He decided to keep it cool on the outside, so Philip wouldn't know the true effects of how much that made him feel. "Okay, if you insist," he murmured.

Philip shrugged and resumed walking, the older boy falling in step with him. "Where do you live?" Eacker pointed in front of them to a house up one block from where they were. "Right there actually. It's pretty late out and I wouldn't want you out here alone. You can stay the night and go back in the morning, if you'd like," he said, eyeing the other. The freckled boy nodded and put his hands in his pocket. "Sure, Pops would rather I wait until morning anyway."

Coming up the stairs to the front door, The men jogged up onto the porch just in time for the rain to really pour. "Oh shit," Philip chuckled. "We got here just in time right?"

He didn't get answer when Eacker grabbed him by the waist and kissed him deeply.