A Deeper Connection

Part Four

"Brenden?" Copper murmured from his bed, where he was coated from neck to toe with blankets.

"Yes?" Brenden halted before fully exiting the placid room. Copper hesitated, his rigid breathing becoming more noticeable. Copper opened his mouth to continue yet Brenden's actions surpassed him.

He closed the door, dropped his jacket, removed his shoes, and climbed up the ladder. Copper felt his face glow and he hustled to the side, making space for the larger male. Said male slid underneath all the blankets that Copper was concealed with, turned towards Copper, and reached out to nestle his chest. He gently tugged Copper into his bigger chest, allowing the diminutive one snuggle his back against it.

"You do know the last words, right?" Brenden whispered lowly while toying with the end of Copper's pajama shirt. Copper did not say anything, he only squirmed at the weird sensations pulsing through him.

"I-I do." He said at last, relaxing onto the mattress.

"Would you like to continue then?" Brenden subtly smooched Copper's ear, allowing his hand to go under the pajama shirt and rub the empty stomach. He could only nod, leaning into whatever contact he felt, the most being from his back against Brenden's torso.

Brenden suddenly stopped and placed his hand on Copper's chest, directly over his sore heart. He felt the weary organ beat rapidly, drumming against the younger's ribcage. Copper could feel it too, making him slightly self-conscious and insecure about what his pair thought.

"Your heart is a lot calmer than mine, I love the fact that it's still beating." Brenden moved his other hand that was not occupied through the dark, shaggy hair, running his fingers through the silky locks.

Copper shifted his body to face Brenden, adequately to Brenden's surprise, and steadily held eye contact. "I would h-have requested a k-k-kiss," he swallowed thickly, "b-but I am ill, and I do not want to contaminate y-you."

Brenden closed his eyes in glee and laughed softly. "So thoughtful of you poor infected thing." His sarcasm did not go unnoticed, it made Copper pout.

"N-next time I will not be so considerate then."

It took Copper a few weeks to recover, not only from whatever sickness he had, but all the time he missed with Brenden. Each time Brenden would spot Copper in a hallway, the gym, or multipurpose room, he would wave at him and Copper would calmly walk up to him and hold his hand. Except for the locker room. He simply was not comfortable enough, and Brenden's teasing swayed him to despise him for long hours without end.

Zinc had felt better and less stressed when her son told her about their improving relationship. She would jump with joy, accidentally spill tea on anyone but herself, and do a silly performance of what seemed like an ostrich mating dance.

His brother had returned to attend his decent university, yet his regular video calls home did not allow him to miss anything that might have transpired.

"So guess what stirred up again with your brother." Zinc smiled and pointed the camera at Copper, who plastered a strained grin and waved.

"Does it have to do with his boyfriend?" Copper could basically feel the amusement from the computer screen, but it was still enough to make his face blush. "N-no!" He twirled away and plugged his ears, abundant to his family's delight. They laughed at his embarrassment but thankfully discarded the subject to other pending events.

"Hey, mum?" He spoke up when his mother hung up the video chat.

"Yes honey?" He lightly hugged her overworked body and clutched her fuzzy sweater.