THESE ARE DELIBERATELY OUT OF ORDER.
Suggested music to listen to: Isaac Shepard (Gentle, Letting Go, Leaves in the Wind, Back to the Basics, Felicity, Before Dawn). Extra double phantasmagorical points if you can match the song up with the parts they go to.
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.Two.
'Everyone knows the only way to become skilled at something is to practice.'
.Two.
'Everyone knows the only way to become skilled at something is to practice.'
Gene is 12 and a tad bit curious for a young boy...
The first time the question is posed between them, it’s as a joke, nothing serious. Gene laughs at how ridiculous it sounds, just to make sure he isn’t embarrassed by it. Tophe laughs too, until their laughter dies down and Gene is left thinking...
He tilts his head at Tophe, half in thought. Well, they’d need to know how to kiss, when they got older and wanted to go date people. It was a good idea, actually. Practical even. He tells Tophe this, and the other boy blushes so red Gene could almost see the roots of his hair turning orange. Before Gene can shoot the idea down though, since Tophe looks nervous and unaccepting of the idea, the other blond nods his head slowly.
Says that neither of them wants to be humiliated when the time actually comes. And besides, who else could they possibly learn this from, besides each other? Other people might laugh! But they were best mates. They wouldn’t laugh at each other’s awkwardness, right?
Gene nods at this, a determined look on his features. Right. He bites his lip and shifts closer to Tophe on the bed. Tophe, despite what he said, still looks uncomfortable and nervous. After all, they only recently found out that not only was Tophe gay…but Gene wasn’t so sure of girls and boys.
Tophe’s closer now, their knees bumping into each other. Gene reaches up and runs a nervous, shaking hand through his hair before letting his other hand touch the side of Tophe’s face. Tophe bites his lip.
So…was it like this?
Gene licks his lips, so nervous but determined, and cups the other blond’s face gently.
…Okay? Okay. Is this alright? …Ready?
He barely waits for the faintest of nods Tophe gives him and leans forward, making sure to tilt his head so their noses wouldn’t bump. He brings his lips daringly closer to Tophe’s, pausing for a moment to mentally prepare himself. Tophe seems to be doing this too, his eyes already glazed over from the gentle puffs of Gene’s breathing over his mouth. So, for better or for worse, Gene closes the gap between them and briefly presses his lips against Tophe’s.
They lean back, mirroring each other’s chuckles. Not so bad, right? They both blush in embarrassment and acknowledge, but nod in agreement.
But one could hardly call that much of a kiss, could they? Tophe suggests they try a stronger kiss, cheeks still a-flame. So they do; Gene brings himself back closer to Tophe, though this time Tophe winds his arms around Gene’s neck. It makes Gene wobble a little, since they’re still kneeling, but he manages to keep them both from falling over by resting his hands on Tophe’s waist. They hesitantly meet each other’s lips, but soon grow bold enough to strengthen the kiss.
Tophe seems to like to run his hands through Gene’s blond hair, while Gene settles for running his hands along Tophe’s sides and back. Gene doesn’t know who had their tongue against whose lips, but it isn’t long before their tongues shyly meet in their kiss. It brings weird sounds from both boys, and neither of them seems to care.
It’s nice, Gene decides. There’s nothing bad about kissing, no. But then they hear the sound of loud footsteps running past the Slytherin dorm room, and suddenly Tophe and Gene are reminded of their surroundings (kneeling together on Gene’s bed, with the bed curtains drawn closed), who exactly they are (still a Hufflepuff and a Slytherin) and what they should and should not be doing (kissing...butitfeltgood).
The boys mirror each other’s blushing faces and look away from each other, until Gene suggests they go to the kitchen and ask the house elves for a little snack before they go to dinner. Tophe nods his head and the memory (of lips and touches and looks) is stored away for another time.
(Another moment of curiosity.)
-TBC-
