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[i][sub]i fell for you in the rain
and i'd fall again and again
to smell like petrichor on your lips
and speak parseltongue in your mouth[/sub][/i][/center]
[hr][hr]

Sneaking out, day two.

Ashton was never much of a rebellious youth, yet here he was: sneaking out against his parent’s wishes when there was a murderer out and about in the streets. As stupid as it was, it was kind of thrilling. The day before, he never really got a chance to check up on his friends in the clinic, so that’s what he jumped out the window for today. Everyone had looked rather worse-for-wear when he had last saw them.

And Jesus Christ, he had put someone in the clinic. Ashton’s insides churned when he recalled that white-hot sensation streaking through his arm, out of his fingers and into the defenseless back of a dear friend. It had been a necessary attack, but one that had kept him up last night nonetheless. He’d have to go apologize to Jade sooner or later; the thought of seeing her gripped him with guilt and made him feel uneasy.

Based on various posts on social media, it seemed that while some people were discharged from the clinic, others remained. There was no harm in visiting the clinic, right? Murderers wouldn’t stalk a clinic. And he knew that because...

.....................

Well, he supposed that he didn’t know. But he was restless enough to risk it. Ashton was brave enough (or perhaps foolish) to walk along the empty streets of the normally bustling town, with no one knowing where he was. The empty streets were rather eerie, and fear was lingering in the air. It was to be expected; the town was reliving its darkest hours once more.

The momentum of the decision was enough to send Ashton leaping out his window, but he still glanced around uneasily. Yes, it was a foolhardy idea to go sneaking out again, but it was too late to go back now. He was closer to the clinic than he was to his house. If anything--

[color=32CD32][i]Oh fuck, is that dad’s car!?[/i][/color]

A familiar dark sedan was cruising a few blocks away. Ashton’s heart dropped as panic washed over him. If he was caught out here, he was so fucking screwed. Immediately he leapt into action, sprinting away from the car on instinct. His heart was pounding as his feet propelled him further down the street. Right before rounding a corner, he risked a glance over his shoulder and saw that the car was thankfully turning the opposite way.

Before he could expel a relieved sigh, Ashton slammed into something solid. With a slight gasp of shock, he barely had the time to register the wall of pain as momentum continued to carry him forward, even as his body screeched to a halt.

Now, prior to this entire fiasco, Fox, the lone object that had the misfortune of getting in Ashton’s way, had been having quite the ordeal. Not only had the streets been literally empty on his walk back toward the clinic, enhancing that ‘someone’s definitely following me’ feeling, but it had also decided to rain. Thus, umbrella-less with another sweater thrown on (this one had a fox on it, with a rabbit knitted under its tail; cute grandma, cute) meant he’d be soaked through the minute he walked out. Luckily, before he’d even stepped foot outside his home, the elderly shop owner shoved an umbrella into his hand and told him to be safe before opening his antique store—the rain somehow drew the musk of old furniture out from the inside. It confounded him, too.

With the umbrella clutched in one hand and his cell phone in the other, Fox prepared himself for just about anything. Be it a mugger or a rabid dog or, God forbid, a serial killer. From Utah to backwoods Washington and not two days would pass before someone wore his skin and danced to Buffalo Bill’s Goodbye Horses. The thought, and partially the cold, gave him chills.

And then the moment he stepped into the clinic yesterday, Fox immediately knew he wouldn’t have a fun time. And then he didn’t. Because cute boys kissing. And something inside him told him, ‘Oh, yes, please,’ while everything else screamed and raged inside. The conflict tore away at him and, well, after a few words, Fox forgot the basket he’d been told to retrieve and got the hell out of there, ignoring the nurse’s odd stare at his probably red as fuck face.

To think he’d have to face either one or both because he'd been stupid enough not to actually do as told. Once he’d slipped in, almost literally, had an argument with the nurse and promptly sneaked into King’s room to face a salacious wink and kissy face, Fox bolted just as before. This time the nurse made note and screamed at him the entire way out.

Now, not even bothering to pay attention and rather screamed internally while running through rain and wind, it shouldn’t have been a surprise that he smacked right into someone. Literally. Faces met, the umbrella fell to the ground, the basket sounded like it hit something, and Fox found himself face-to-face with bright, green eyes. [i]And also lip to lip. Jesus Christ[/i].

After the initial shock of falling, Ashton had to take a couple of seconds to register what had just happened. While the force of the impact had been slightly painful, the fall had been cushioned by a pair of blue eyes and soft lips. The moment the two hit the ground, Ashton’s chapped lips landed on something soft.

[color=32CD32]“!?”[/color]

With a jolt, Ashton realized that he was literally on top of someone, with their lips locked in an accidental kiss. He froze in shock, his mind grinding to a halt as he assessed how ludicrous this situation was. It was like something out of a cheesy romantic comedy--crashing into someone, falling on top of them, their lips accidentally meeting… And he supposed that the man underneath him was his soulmate, right? Heh. Fox didn’t take the situation any better, either, though he supposed that assumption would be right.

For a moment, Ash swore that his limbs absolutely refused to move. His mind was racing now, trying to figure out how the hell he was going to apologize for this, and more importantly, how he was going to disengage himself from this collision. Normally, the proper response would be to scramble off of the poor man as fast as possible, help them to their feet and apologize profusely.

For reasons Ashton couldn’t fully explain, a spontaneous idea came to head. [i]Might as well own this accident.[/i] Ashton leaned back, separating their mouths for the slightest moment before brushing turning this accidental meeting of their lips into an actual kiss with the slightest bit of pressure. Fox responded in kind with a brush of his nose against Ashton’s cheek, savoring the feel of the soft glide of a pair of strange lips. Ashton carefully disengaged their tangled limbs, supporting his own weight above Fox’s, letting him slide a leg between Ashton’s. A gasp was all it took to keep Fox going, nodding his head lightly to bump it against Ashton’s. He bit down a curse against his lip before silencing any anxious reluctance from Ashton.

It was a daring, and unexpected move from Ashton, only spurred on by how responsive, albeit amateurish, Fox beneath him. Ashton surprised himself when he went leaned in to fully capture Fox’s lips. A gentle glide of lips that willed Fox’s hands to grip the dampness of Ashton’s shirt. Their bodies moved automatically, before either thoughts could catch up with their motions; a hand planted on ribs, careless of the rain soaking them to the bone, and lips fervent and pressed in soft, compliant sounds. 

The lull and mesmerizing feeling of two bodies pressed together had Ashton’s eyes slowly sliding shut before he realized that [i]holy shit, I’m kissing a complete stranger.[/i] Panic clouded his mind once again, and his eyes snapped open.

[i]What the hell am I doing!?[/i]

Sheepishly, Ashton lifted his face off of Fox’s, surprised at how reluctant he was to break away from the kiss. His heart was pounding from this unexpected development, as he stared down at the face below him, close enough to feel each other’s huffs and gasps brush against their lips. Their breathing came out heavy and labored, and it was all Ashton could do to maintain this position—unable to get off of Fox in spite of his mind screaming that what he was doing was bad, wrong, no. He felt his limbs lock into place, and the only thing Ashton could do was pray that his heart didn’t fall out of his chest.

After a pulse and a breath, Fox tilted his head and furrowed his brows. To Ashton, it probably looked as if everything caught up and Fox seemed ready to absolutely pummel him. Before the larger half could seriously consider taking flight over fight, Foxtrot let out an annoyed whimper, blinking away the rain in his eyes and smashed their lips together. His hands found the light stubble invigorating against his palm, chin rubbing against the five o’clock shadow while his hands slipped further back to play at the blonde strands of hair in their grasp. Just absolute insanity and all thoughts be damned. The consequences, at this moment, looked minor to how it would feel if he didn’t take the chance, didn’t go all in. Well, all in for him, the innocent little closeted gay boy.

Ashton could feel the blood rush to his face, the heat radiating from his cheeks somehow managing to warm up his entire body. He completely forgot the fact that it was raining, and managed to ignore the fact that the raindrops were seeping into his clothing, and dripping down his face. He was completely focused on the pair of reddened lips pressing against his, the slight tugs at his hair, and the warmth of a cheek brushing against his own. Ashton’s fingers curled on the damp sidewalk to support his weight, as he placed his other hand on Fox’s cheek. It was crazy - making out with an absolute stranger was so wrong. But despite the grossly overused cliche, [i]it felt so right and natural.[/i] 

Their noses bumped together as Ashton readjusted his lips, and his tongue slid out to drag along Fox’s lower lip. A light gasp of breath at the warm press had Fox lurching forward, hands clamped against the side of Ashton’s face before they slid behind his shoulders to rake his fingers against Ashton’s damp shirt. He complied wholeheartedly and let Ashton take the lead in commanding the kiss. Each sweep of tongue against teeth and lip sucking on lip drew out responsive sounds from Fox, urging Ashton on to continue for the sake of pleasing them both.

Later on, Fox would likely look back at this moment and dread the fact that he gave a complete and utter stranger his first kiss. Honestly, he probably came off terrible, sloppy and lucky that the rain soaking them to the bone (he’d likely catch a cold from all this) covered the wetness of his responding kisses. Just awful smacks in his mind and odd movement, but he quickly caught on to the rhythm that Ashton set. From the moment they started kissing, Fox instinctually knew who needed to lead and he followed willingly in his shock. When things turned sour, Fox reassured Ashton with the firm pressure begging the other to continue, not to stop because everything so far in his life had been a shitstorm. He wanted this one thing for as long as he could take it—just one good thing in this flurry of crap the world threw at him.

Feeling the ache in his back, Fox pushed upward, a hand grasping the collar of Ashton’s shirt to pull himself up once the other got the message. He brought them both upright, letting Ashton’s hands curl around his waist and pull him close while Fox’s fingers gripped Ashton’s damp shirt clinging to his chest. More and more, Fox grew the courage to press his luck in the slide of their kisses, biting down on Ashton’s lower lip, anxious for the most part, but not lacking in assertiveness. Nonetheless, the eagerness took Ashton by surprise and the moment Fox backed off, eyes half open and full of anxious indecision, Ashton went in with a growl on the tip of his tongue.

Honestly, Ashton wasn’t quite sure what he had expected when he decided to honest-to-god kiss Fox, but this probably wasn’t it — not that he was complaining. There were many potentially disastrous ways this could’ve ended. Fox was responding to the kiss as much as he could, but there was a certain stiffness, perhaps, to the way that Fox’s lips moved against his that suggested he wasn’t completely well-versed in the art of making out.

When Fox paused again, Ashton took the opportunity to take the kiss into a new direction; less of an aggressive lip lock, and more gentle, unhurried, sweet. His hand slipped to the base of Fox’s back, his fingers gripping his shirt as Ashton’s eyes fluttered open to meet lidded brown eyes. Anticipation and petrichor urged Ashton onward, delighting Fox with the soft, sensual meet of their lips. The pitter patter of droplets splashing against them and the sidewalk thankfully seemed the only noise aside from the quiet whispers and heavy breaths between them. No cars rumbled on in the distance, leaving the two alone in an otherwise odd predicament.

The held breath—anticipation, anxiety, you name it—expelled itself through Fox’s nose the more they furthered their kisses. Only  quiet huffs between quick pauses in their touches heard, enough of an insistence to continue unhurried, lingering and unrushed in their heated movements. More and more like the old movies his mother used to watch. The thought of him and this utter stranger featuring in black and white grainy crackles of film that accompanied the sweet sounds of their lips meeting had Fox’s heart pounding a fervent beat against his ribs. And yeah, it did feel amazing and cheesy, and yeah he'd admit that he’d chase that feeling for the rest of his life because, however long this lasted, he knew he'd be chasing this feeling for the rest of his life. He just hoped to God Ashton would too and maybe with him in particular, however dumb that sounded and would sound later. Who knew. Who the fuck knew.

Fox took a pause to lean in, lifting on his knees and smiling at the whimper below him before a rush of green blurred his vision. Their noses bumped and they both huffed a laugh cut short by the insistent smack of lips. The short, playful burst of kisses grew sloppy in the lightening mist of rain. Teeth clacked in the way of smiles and Fox found himself curled into Ashton’s lap, feeling the burst of amusement hitting his jaw line. Ashton seemed enthused by the change of pace, content to wrap his arms around Fox’s waist and trail light kisses against Fox’s jaw. They let the moment sink in, breaking apart ever so slowly to stare brown into green flecks of gold.

A laugh, more so a quiet rumble, broke the silence between them and Fox lifted himself slightly and slowly, not caring that Ashton’s hands still held tightly to his hips. He tilted his head and bit his lip, not really certain what exactly could be said in this moment.

[color=32CD32]“Um, so… Hey. I’m Ashton,”[/color] Ashton offered, sheepish and self-conscious in the instance between their kisses and the brief silence. He lifted a hand from Fox’s hip to rub his back lightly — was it too awkward of a gesture? Probably. His lips twisted upwards in an abashed grin. Now that the spell was broken, the mortifying feelings that he probably should’ve felt earlier were creeping up and overwhelming him. But it was too late to run off and hide now. He had to own up to his--well, their hasty decision. As strange as their first encounter was, he didn’t regret the kiss. Ashton’s first one in, well, who knows how long at this point. He hadn’t realized how much he had missed intimacy with someone — even if this person did happen to be a complete stranger. [color=32CD32]“Nice to meet you?”[/color]

[color=#20b2aa]“You could say that,”[/color] Fox replied with an equally abashed look. He took a deep breath, still smiling in spite of the current thoughts all centered around his idiocy—certainly not around the kiss ‘cause, huh, that was probably the highlight of his day. [color=#20b2aa]“I’m Foxtrot. Fox for short,”[/color] he introduced himself, responding to the pat on his back with a pat of his own, his hand squelching slightly in the dampness of Ashton’s shirt as it hit his chest. [color=#20b2aa]“That’s a great way to lose a first kiss, that’s for sure,”[/color] Fox muttered, though he glanced up at Ashton with a quick smile, [color=#20b2aa]“I wouldn’t change it, though. If that’s… not weird, at all. I mean, if it is… then yeah? I don’t—um, I’m not exactly sure how to act in a situation like this.[/color]

[color=#20b2aa]“But I know the second one requires dinner and a movie,”[/color] Fox recovered, adding on an anxious smirk that barely tugged at the corner of his lip.

[color=32CD32][i]Oh fuck.[/i][/color] Ashton managed to keep that awkward grin on his face, even if he wanted to grimace. That was his first kiss? If he had known… No, it was too late for thoughts like that now. Besides, Fox said it himself, that it was a great first kiss. And he meant that, hopefully. For both their sakes’. [color=32CD32]”It’s an unconventional way to make a first impression, I admit.”[/color] Ashton admitted with a light chuckle, [color=32CD32]”It’s a bit weird, but… Good weird, I guess. I don’t regret it either.”[/color]

As if suddenly noticing the water dripping down his face, Ashton pushed back his wet hair and glanced upwards at the falling rain. He got to his feet with slightly shaky legs and offered a hand out to his new friend. [color=32CD32]”I don’t know how to react either, but maybe we should start by getting out of the rain.”[/color]

[color=20b2aa]“Unconventional just makes you more attractive,”[/color] Fox said, if a little too truthful there. He dropped the [color=20b2aa][i]And so does all that rain dripping down your very nicely toned body.[/i][/color] The effort to not look down took its toll and eventually, upon taking the hand and standing, Fox did take a cursory glance downward. Added with a sharp intake of breath he quickly turned around to grab the basket he dropped who knows how long ago and turned back toward Ashton.[color=20b2aa] “But, yeah, you’re right. I’m just starting to notice the freezing cold,”[/color] he said grabbing Ashton’s hand without thinking and escorting him into the building.

After grabbing a pair of rather hefty looking towels from a nurse who looked this close to done with teenage bullshit, Fox laid everything out and sat huddled as close as he possibly could to Ashton. Not… not because of any like sexual intentions, but… hey drying rain in soaked clothes left people frozen solid. Don’t blame him for wanted some body heat. Now, it was just a matter of texting his mother that he’d be a bit late.

Haha. How is that gonna work out.

[color=20b2aa][i]Hey mom, just got done making out with a boy I just met in the pouring rain. I might be a little late so put lunch in the microwave![/i][/color]

Nope the fuck out. Nope. Nope.

So, instead of doing the responsible thing, Fox merely pouted right up into Ashton’s side, straining for any kind of topic of conversation for two individuals who just got done making out. In. The. Pouring. Rain.

Jesus what was he thinking. [color=20b2aa][i]He’s a good kisser,[/i][/color] was exactly what he was thinking (and is, haha. Ha). Lord save him—he needed a lengthy talk with Mal and the nearest Catholic church after this.