Chapter 1 The River
The tall grasses swayed as the the bare feet passed through them. The chilly midnight dew didn't bother him as he wandered aimlessly near the river. The chirruping of crickets and the roaring of the might Mississippi was soon drowned out by the sound of running boots on mud.
Three forms shot past him toward the river, and the third made him check and look back. The friends were soon aboard their log raft, ahuling in ropes and pushing with their oars.
Two of their names he couldn't recall, but one was fat and the other skinny. The fat one: "Ready?" The skinny one: "Yeah!"
Almost to himself, he murmured, "What're you guys doin'?" In answer, he heard a voice he hadn't in what felt like fifty years, "We won' stop 'til we reach the ocean!" Tom Sawyer.
As he began to walk again, the night quiet was shattered once more. This time by screams. Huckleberry Finn drew in a breath of icy fire, feet already flying toward the bank. The two accomplices had already managed, coughing and sputtering, to heave themselves out of the water.
"Wait," asked the skinny one, "where's Tom?" They turned back to the water as the raft overturned on a rock. Then began to wail the other's name. Huck skidded to a halt, looking at them. He shouted over their chorusing, "Are you two going to do something?" They could only stand and stare, dull as two sacks full of curls, as the raft crashed into more rocks.
The bare foot one raced along the bank after the craft. His eyes caught the brief appearance of a head, then it was gone, forced under as the raft jammed into a space between two boulders. He jumped into the silty water without a second's pause.
Beneath the surface, Tom flailed, caught in the ropes they'd used to tie down the way of escape. Bubbles surfaced without him as he stared up at the surface. So...this is it... I'm gonna drown... This realization renewed his efforts to be free, entangled him more, forced out the remainder of his air.
A form penetrated his dimming vision, his numb body hardly noticed the ropes being loosed. Can't...be... The other's head floated down to his chest as he began to sink. An arm dragged him out of the water, eyes wide as he drew in deep lungfuls of air.
The boy next to him lay where he'd been thrown, too small and too quiet. He pressed his head to the still chest, listened intently. He gritted his teet at its slowness, pushing down on his stomach forcefully. "Come on!" he repeated it. "Come on..." He shoved down again harsly. "Breathe, damn you!"
Water surged up and out in a weak cough and gasp. Eyes opened partway, looked at him, blinked in confusion. A smile ghosted over the kneeling teen's face as he drew the other into a bear hug. "You're okay!"
The same smile shuddered over the face of Tom Sawyer. Voice choked with exhaustion and water, he wheezed, "You're...back..." Words sapping the last of him, he tumbled back to the ground.
"Ah!" Reassuring himself that he wouldn't have to explain anything to the boy's aunt, Huck lifted the limp form into his arms, barely repressing a shudder at the closeness as the dumb asses ran up.
The fat boy fell to his knees at the sight of the body hanging in the wanderer's arms, wailing, "He's dead! Tom's dead!"
"He ain't dead!" Huck snapped, the light in his eyes shutting Porky up. "He just passed out." Both let out relieved sighs. "What'll we do with 'im?" This was asked a long minute after the sighs.
"Well," Huck paused to shift his grip on the dead weight, "I'll stay with 'im for the night if'n you guys don't want to."
"Fine." They spun and raced for home. Huckleberry Finn cast a long lok at the boy in his hold, turned on his muddy heel and struck out for home.
Chapter 2 Catching Up
Tom Sawyer, so used to awakening and detesting everything in sight from the walls to the bed to his cousin, was surprised that morning. Trees and open sky. No Sydney.
"Wha'...?" He pushed himself up on a hand. Two things were rapidly realized in his mind: he was naked and he was lying on the bed of none other than Huckleberry Finn. Tom felt his face heat as he moved to a sit, wrapping the blanket around himself. He looked around a little faster. The one his eyes were searching for then entered the more-or-less room.
"Ah...Tom!"
"Huck..." Tom panted to try to slow his heart. "...Why the hell am I nekid?"
"Well..." He almost laughed at seeing Huck's face turn color. "I 'ad t'hang yer clothes out t'dry, so..." Tom flushed, looking down quickly to hide it. Why the hell am I actin' like this? It's Huck! Least he's not Aunt Polly...Or Sydney. 'Specially not Sydney. He glanced up.
A smile brushed over Huck's face. "Feelin' better?" Tom shifted, keeping the blanket over himself.
"Yah..." He did a double take, face blossoming like a red currant. "Why the hell ain't ya got clothes on?"
"Well, I drove in after you. 'Ad t'hang my clothes up too, y'know." Huck sat, crossing his legs and sitting easy.
Tom jerked his eyes up and kept them locked on the other's face. He swallowed. He was fifteen! Summoning up all the manhood he could muster, he went and sat with his friend.
Huck looked at him. his voice was quiet as he spoke, "What're y'doin', Tom? You need t'stay in bed 'n' rest..." The boy glowered at him.
"You ain't restin', an' yer the one pulled me outta the damn Miss'ssippi!" Huck threw him a grin, then looked away. Tom blinked and cast his eyes toward the ground, sighing. "What're ya doin' back here, Huck?"
"I...dunnow...I'm just...passin' through..." That was always the answer.
"You...gonna stay long this time 'round?" Always his question. This time his fingers inched toward the other's hand.
"Maybe..." The hand moving went unnoticed, the one it had aimed for lifted up and ran through the shaggy brown hair. Tom sighed and wrapped his arms around himself, shivering. Huck put his hand back down and stretched, arching his back and releasing a low moan. The others eye riveted on him, face scarlet.
"Huh?" Huck looked at him. "Why is yer face red, Tom?" He was only answered by the continued stare of those giant hazel eyes. "You got a fever or sumthin'?"
Tom snorted. "Nah, I'da known if'n I did...right?" He managed to put the question on his face. "Right?"
Huck leaned over, pressing their foreheads together. "Hmm. You don't feel warm..."
Oh, God... The smaller teen barely kept himself up. A warm nose pressed against his as the wanderer smiled at him. His eyes widened slightly before he returned it. "Wha?"
"Miss me?"
" 'Course." Huck pulled away and his smile widened.
"You need t'rest, Tom."
"How wou'ya know wha' I need?" Huck's look turned pleading.
"Please? I'd...feel better if'n...ya did..."
Tom looked back at him and nodded. If only to get that look off his face.
"Okay..." He stood. "But only cuz it's y--ah!" He fell. and was caught in a strong grip. He looked up and smiled wryly. "Okay...maybe I'm not so fine..." His feet left the ground as his friend lifted him up.
He glanced up at Huck through his sandy bangs. His chest was still smooth, same as his face. God, he's purty... Tom stopped the thought and mentally smacked himself.
Huck smiled down at him as he set him down on the bed. Why am I...all of a sudden...lookin' at him diff'rently? I mean...he's my best friend...has been fer forever...but there's sumthin' 'bout him now...what is it? I can't seem to put my finger on it...
Tom lay back, looked up at him and smiled. "Hey, Huck? Y'stayin'...here, right? Mean...if'n some nosy body comes by...dun wanna hafta go on 'splainin' this..."
"Y-yeah...hey...Tom?"
"Yeah, Huck?"
"C-can I sleep...here? I mean...here with you?" He blushed. "Y'know...it won't be weird or nuthin'...I mean, hell we're both guys, right?"
"Heh... Yah, y'can..." Tom pushed himself up and blushed. "Mind y'know, Huck, only you. I don' do this fer nobody else."
Huck nodded. " 'Cause we're...best friends...right?"
Tom nodded in agreement. "Y-yeah, best friends..." He scooted over, then thumped back down. Huck climbed into the bed, going under the covers and lying down on his back.
Tom reddened dustily before moving closer and laying his best friend's chest. Huck gasped quietly before settling in. Tom glanced up at him. "S-sorry. If'n y'want...I'll move." Huck's newest smile seemed to be private.
"Nah. It's okay. It's prob'ly gonna get cold tonight anyway..." The smaller boy pressed against his side and closed his eyes.
"Yah..." Tom slid an arm around Huck's waist and hid a smile. "Thanks, Huck..." Huck stared toward the sky. He wasn't normally one for for deep thoughts or sharing said thoughts if he had them, but this was a time excepted.
"Y'know...when i was...out by myself...I thought about you a whole lot..."
Tom's sandy bangs fell across his eyes as he turned his head upward. "Y'did?"
"Y-yeah...I know it sounds stupid 'n' all, but..." He pushed the hair back from Tom's face. That was one of the things that irked him something fierce--not being able to see Tom's eyes--and if his aunt hadn't had that rule about cutting it at least once a month he'd've cut it then and there himself. "There would be nights when I was all on my own...and I would just sit in a field and look up at the moon...I wondered...if back home...you were lookin' up at it too...and it made me feel...closer to you...but I guess I was just stupid 'n' young back then..."
"Nah...Y'not stupid...I was...doin' th'same thing..." Tom tightened the hold he had on Huck's waist. "I...I did miss you, Huck...sumthin' sore awful..." Huck prssed back against him, putting an arm across Tom's chest just under his arm.
"Same here." He watched the eyes half close. Tom opened his mouth, shut it, and opened it again slightly. Say sumthin'! DO sumthin'!
"I...Huck, I..." A shrill voice cut him off.
"TOM! TOM!"
Chapter 3 Follow Huck's Lead
Sydney stood prim and polished in his school clothes, hair slicked to one side. Tom lifted his head and glared at his cousin. "Go home."
"No! Aunt Polly says you have to come home!"
"I think ya got a brown on yer nose, Sydney!" Tom snarled as he jumped over Huck, falling flat as Sydeny ran for home. He coughed the dirt from his mouth.
"Tom, you okay?" Tom pushed himself up.
"Yah..." He leaned back against the bed and sighed, looking down at the ground. "Guess I gotta get home..."
"No..." There was a pleading sadness in his voice. "Stay here...please..." Tom looked up at him and was caught in the clear brown eyes.
"Huck...?"
"Please..."
"Okay..." He closed his eyes, breaking the spell as he leaned his head into the other's chest before crawling back int the bed. Huck looked at him and flushed embarassedly but knew what he was going to do.
"Tom...can I...do sumthin'?"
"Wha' kinda sumthin', Huck?"
"Well...y'have ta promise y'won't think any diff'rent of me...if'n I do..."
" 'Course I won' think nuthin' diff'rent!" Huck nodded at the reassurance and swallowed.
"H-here goes..." Tom nodded briefly and swallowed. Huck leaned closer to him. The kiss was gentle, if a little awkward. Tom stared, face heating like a sunburn. Huck closed his eyes. Tom squeezed his own shut tightly, puckering his lips against the other's. He felt utterly stupid. All the knowledge he'd gleaned on kissing had vanished. Huck pulled away. "Tom...have you never...kissed before?" Tom breathed in heavily.
"Nah...Not never..." Not like this. "...'Ceptin' by Aunt Polly an' tha' was nuthin' like this..."
Huck's lips brushed against his as he said softly, "Just...open your mouth a teeny bit...and press your lips up against mine..." Tom for once did as told, whispering, " 'Kay." Huck started kissing him again. Tom closed his eyes, sliding his arms around Huck's waist like he'd seen a couple do, pressing against him.
The kisses continued, short, hot, and sweet. He tried to keep the returns in time, but it was still awkward. Huck spoke between kisses, "Just"--kiss--"follow"--kiss--"my lead." Tom gasped on the breaks, "I'll"--break--"follow you." Huck finally broke away, panting in time with his "best friend."
"Tom...all my life I've wanted this..." Tom surprised himself by throwing his arms around his neck. Huck moaned into the kiss, blinking and blushing afterward at what he'd done. Tom blinked and blushed also, then shrugged and moaned back, grinning against Huck's lips.
Next chapters gonna come up.
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