AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey, guys! Those of you who are reading "Angie, Baby" are probably screaming that I get back to the Owen in that fic. BUT, I wanted to try a Yaoi with Owen, too. (Angie Baby has an update coming soon, though. Don't worry. It's almost ready.)
Hopefully, this has a decent start to it. If you like it and want to see more in the future, just let me know. Feedback and constructive criticism are always welcome and appreciated. Thanks for stopping in and reading! Much love, guys!
xxxxx
"Why is it so hot out? Fuck..."
Stripping off his drenched T-shirt, Kasey panted under the unforgiving Summer sun. High in the sky, it beat down on him with a vengeance. Sweat ran down the exhausted farmer's brow, his sight going blurry for a moment as he tried to wipe away the perspiration. His felt as if his body heat was rolling off of him in steam clouds.
Castanet Summers were nothing to be messed with. Starting early in the morning before sunrise, Kasey had tried to beat the heat but it simply couldn't be done. Noon rolled around, to his dismay. His field was harvested, finally. But, now he sat in the soil close to heat exhaustion.
"Yo! You doing alright?"
Too tired to be startled at the sudden voice, Kasey looked up lethargically from his seated position and nodded to the best of his ability.
"I'm alright, Owen." Kasey called out across the way. "It's hot out here."
The blacksmith's apprentice came walking back from Marimba Farm, delivering an upgraded tool. On the way back, he noticed Kasey off in the distance. Coming in closer to approach the field, the red-haired man of large build eyed the brunette farmer with mild concern.
Dazed for reasons that had nothing to do with exhaustion, Kasey stared up at Owen who stood right before him. Massively tall already, Owen looked even bigger from the ground. The hot weather left a thin layer of perspiration along his bulging muscles, catching the sunlight. With pink cheeks, Kasey averted his gaze off to the side to stare at the ground.
"Get out of the sun for a little, Man." Owen suggested, seeing the color sprouting along the farmer's flushed face and mistaking it simply for oncoming heatstroke. "You look like you're going to pass out."
Extending a large hand down, Owen brought Kasey back up to his feet.
"You need to take care of yourself. C'mon, let's get you a drink of water."
"It's okay, I'll get it. You should get back to work...you and Ramsey have been up to your necks in orders lately." Kasey reasoned, dusting his pants off. "I wouldn't want to waste your time or anything."
"Waste my time? Kasey, you're funny."
Clapping the brunette on the back in a joking, friendly gesture, Owen immediately regretted it when Kasey staggered forward from the hit. Owen caught him before he could fall.
"Either I don't know my own strength, or you're really going to pass out. You need to get inside."
Inside his home, Kasey sat at the kitchen table as Owen got a glass from the cupboard. He filled it with cool water from the tap.
"That should wet your whistle. Get to it. You look like you could spit dust if you tried hard enough."
Kasey gulped it down, absolutely parched just as Owen suspected. Once the glass was empty, Kasey nudged it aside and rested his face along his folded arms on the table.
"Woozy?"
"Little bit."
"You don't need to see Jin, do you?"
"What? Nah... I think I'm going to take a shower and have a nap."
"That sounds like a good idea but you need to eat something, too. You were out there working hard. Gotta refuel."
Trying to recall the contents of his fridge and shelves, Kasey concluded he could put something together when he woke up. Owen watched him for a good moment, making sure the farmer was okay. His blue gaze then went to the wall clock. Like Kasey correctly assumed earlier, Owen had to get back to work.
"Now that I know you're okay, I have to head out. If I stick around any longer my Gramps is going to wonder what the holdup is." Owen announced, pushing his chair back. "Take it easy, you hear me? See you around, Kasey."
Owen left and Kasey watched the door longingly. As much as he hated watching his crush slip from his sight, it was for the better. Goddess forbid the man ever caught him gawking...Owen could easily have his throat in a vice and knock his teeth out if he were that opposed to a man's interest.
Dejected, the brunette farmer scraped himself up from the table and trudged to the bathroom. Washing away the workday, Kasey let cold water rain down on his body. Too exhausted to get dressed after, he just dried off and pulled on a pair of blue briefs. Dropping his weight down in to bed, he shut his eyes and gave in to his exhaustion.
Xxxxx
Knocking on the front door woke him up hours later. Due to it being Summer time, light still shone in through the window despite the wall clock stating it was Dinner time. Balling a fist up, Kasey rubbed his eye groggily and mumbled he was getting up to answer the door. Dragging his feet, Kasey crossed the floor of his home to let in his visitor. It was Owen, again.
"Yo, Kasey-" he started, before blinking his grayish-blue eyes a few times. "...You always open the door like that?"
"What do you mean?"
Having no clue what Owen was talking about, Kasey scrunched his face. Owen darted his eyes down and Kasey followed his gaze, yelping upon seeing himself.
"O-Oh!"
He quickly shut the door, yelling he was going to put some clothes on. Coming back a second time, Kasey opened the door with a pair of jeans and a light, cotton shirt.
"I'm really sorry about that..." Rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly, Kasey chuckled uncomfortably. "I was half asleep. I forgot I didn't have clothes on..."
"We're both guys, not a big deal. Just be careful next time."
"Will do. Anyways, what can I do for you?"
"Came to double check that you're okay. You were looking rough earlier."
"Other than being a little groggy, I'm better."
Owen leaned up on the doorframe with arms casually crossed, nearly taking up the whole thing with his wide shoulders. Kasey's mouth went dry and he struggled to swallow as Owen's biceps flexed.
"Just woke up, huh? I take it you haven't eaten yet, then."
"I just woke up, so...no, not yet. There's some sandwich stuff in the fridge, I'll go make one."
Thinking it was the polite thing to do, Kasey asked Owen if he wanted one. He didn't think Owen would say yes.
"I could go for a sandwich, sure."
"Come on in, then..."
Pulling some plates down from a shelf, Kasey left them on the counter to open a bag of bread. He pulled mayo, lettuce, tomato and cheese from the fridge with his back to Owen. The redhead sat leisurely at the table, arm rested on the back of his chair.
"You didn't come all the over here just to check on me, did you?"
The question was nonchalant but inside he was hopeful.
"Was heading over to the bar for happy hour, figured I'd drop in and make sure you're still breathing."
Feeling silly for even having been hopeful that Owen may have gone out of his way to go see him specifically, Kasey finished putting together their food. With two sandwiches, Kasey joined Owen at the table. He slid one over to him, going back for drinks. Owen didn't hesitate to eat. Kasey took a bite, clearing his throat. He had Owen's attention right away.
"Thanks for checking on me. You didn't have to..."
"Don't mention it. What are friends for?"
"Wellness checks and sandwiches, apparently."
Owen coughed a bit on his food, laughing. With a fist, he tapped his chest. Kasey smiled despite the disappointment he was still coping with. Owen's smile almost warmed his face but he managed to will away the flush by avoiding looking Owen in the face.
"They're for sharing a cold one with, too. How about you tag along with me to the bar?"
"I've got work in the morning."
"So do I. Never stops me."
Grinning widely with his pearly white teeth, Owen insisted Kasey kick back with him for Happy Hour at the bar. There was that smile again. Having a hard time saying no to the handsome face, Kasey agreed to tag along and excused his pink cheeks as a result of the Summer heat, getting up to open a window.
Xxxxxx
"Owen, my man! Looks like I'll be making rent, tonight."
Hayden, the bar's owner, gave a boisterous laugh at his own joke when Owen and Kasey walked in together.
"And then some." Owen shot back, going up to the bar with his tag along. "Get Kasey and I a round to start."
Sliding over an envelope, Owen took his seat.
"That's for my tab last week." Owen grinned. "Time to start a new one! Get started on next month's rent."
"BWAHAHAHA!"
Hayden roared with laughter and got Owen his usual rice cocktail. Setting the cocktail down in front of him, Hayden polished a clean glass for Kasey's order since the brunette was known to vary his orders when visiting the bar. Almost always with Owen.
"What can I get you, Kasey?"
"Eh..." Scanning the menu, the brunette deciphered between the fruity options. "Blueberry sounds good. I'll start with that."
"Coming right up."
The sweet, fruit cocktails weren't typically ordered by male patrons. Hayden teased Kasey lightly about it when he served him his blueberry cocktail dolled up with the tiny paper umbrella and the rim dipped in sugar.
"Here you are, Miss."
"Very funny..." Kasey rolled his eyes a little. "I'm a big sissy, I know."
"I'm teasing ya! Enjoy it. Something a little stronger will put hair on your chest, though."
Accepting his fruit cocktail with no interest to choke down what Owen could easily toss back for hours, Kasey sipped his sweet selection. The bar's part-time cook, Chef waltzed by behind the counter in his apron. Owen lifted a finger off his glass to greet Chase. The peachy-haired man nodded. Kasey meekly greeted Chase to be nice. He and the chef didn't exchange many words, normally.
"Look who's here." Chase observed aloud, stopping. "Owen here drag you over, again?"
"He sure did."
Sliding his eyes over to Owen, Chase quirked a brow.
"Such a pest, bothering people. Pick on someone your own size, big boy."
"Where's the fun in that?"
Rolling his violet eyes with thinly veiled amusement, Chase shook his head and walked away.
"Enjoy your night." Were his parting words as he went to start food prep.
A few rounds of drinks passed and Kasey felt the effects immediately. Coherent but spacey, the farmer's limbs got a little heavier and his belly felt warm. Owen was jolly and flush, looking down to his companion who pushed an empty glass away and turned it upside down to signal he wasn't accepting any refills. Four glasses had collected on Kasey's side of the counter while Owen had seven and was working on his his eighth.
" You're done already? Nights just begun!"
"I can't drink like you do. Any more and I won't able to walk home."
"Don't worry about that. My hammer might weigh more than you, ha! I can carry ya nice and easy. Hayden-'
Obviously Owen's hammer didn't actually weigh more than Kasey. But, with how much smaller he was than Owen, it wouldn't have been an issue at all for the blacksmith to toss the farmer over his shoulder like the heavy hammer he was notorious for waltzing in to the mine with. He always made it look so easy, carrying on with a smile.
Owen was always the type of man Kasey had been attracted to his whole life: Big and strong, with an outgoing friendly attitude. Someone who could overpower him and be the boss…all with a pearly white grin.
Just thinking about having Owen's body pressed so closely to his stirred a reaction inside Kasey. Between his legs he felt his cock threatening to come to life. Goddess forbid Owen actually held him close with their chests pressed up against one another … Kasey interjected Owen's call for another drink.
"I really don't want any more…I had enough." He drunkenly grabbed Owen's arm, keeping him from summoning Hayden. "I'm already really drunk."
His diaphragm popped with a hiccup, eyes growing heavy.
"You sure?" Owen checked, disappointed.
"Yeah, I-hic! Am. No more for me."
Respecting the farmer's wishes, Owen let him be. In a friendly gesture, Owen gave Kasey a pat on the back between the shoulders. His palm was huge and heavy, and it felt heavenly rubbing him even if the touch was innocent.
"Just ride the buzz out, that's cool." Owen comforted him as Kasey laid his head over his arms atop of the counter. "Feeling good, at least?"
"Yeah, I feel good. The drinks hit the spot."
The counter hid the fact Kasey was growing fully erect. Owen would have had to really look under to see it but Kasey squeezed his legs together protectively none the less. The doors to the bar opened as Owen placed an order for another drink for himself. Kasey flinched from the loud sound of it slamming shut from being swung open.
"Sorry, I'm late Dad!"
"Kathy...you know I need you here."
The bartender's blonde daughter came walking up to the counter, easy and uncaring over her father's scolding. She sashayed past Owen, her short skirt tight around the swell of her thighs.
Her full bosom bounced with her steps. Kasey sneered internally as he rested his head on the counter to face the other way when she came running over to hug Owen around the shoulders. He'd really been enjoying the man's attention.
His excitement deflated. With nothing to hide now, Kasey's thighs unclenched. In turn, his teeth clenched.
"Hey, Owen~"
Not wanting to stick around and watch the blonde suck up all the red-head's attention, Kasey began pulling himself up from his bar stool. He put some money on the counter, alerting Hayden it was there, and excused himself to use the bathroom before he could get hurt feelings.
When leaving the bathroom, Kathy was bent at the counter chatting it up with Owen about whatever. It was most likely horseback riding, or she was asking about his work. Either way, that wasn't what bothered Kasey. It was that she always put her hands on him when they spoke, making sure her breasts were her focal point. Owen probably wanted to grab and squeeze at them if he hadn't done so at some point, already.
The thought made Kasey sick with jealousy. It could have been the alcohol, but his stomach actually churned.
"I'm going home." Kasey stated, passing the bar without so much as giving the two another glance. "Night."
Outside, the air had cooled when night rolled in. Kasey put his hands in his pockets and walked away dejectedly. It wasn't like he expected any less of the two, but watching them flirt was getting old. And it hurt a little more every time he saw it. Lack of suitable partners didn't make it any easier. Being gay out in the middle of nowhere sucked.
"Don't know what I expected moving out to the countryside..." Kasey grumbled to himself.
In the city, there were gay bars that made dating easier. Not that any conquests that came of it lasted very long, hence the reason packing up his entire life and moving out to an island had no strings attached. However, the loneliness that came with moving so far away was becoming increasingly unbearable.
Walking home in the dark inebriated wasn't a pleasant experience, either. Kasey moped out of town, thoughts bouncing between depressed and annoyed. Getting back to the farm, Kasey noticed his animals still grazing around.
"Looks like I forgot to let you guys back in."
Patting one of the cows that came up to him, Kasey crouched down to nuzzle her head with his. The docile creature chewed its cud idly, laying its body down in the grass to sleep. Kasey gave her a scratch on the head before going inside to put himself to bed whilst still drunk.
He wrestled himself out of his shirt, leaving it on the floor wherever it landed when he kicked off his shoes. Prepared to take off his pants, Kasey hung his head in aggravation when there was a knock at his door.
"Kasey?" Owen called out, knocking again.
Opening the door, Kasey couldn't hide his annoyance.
"What are you doing here, again?"
"You left..."
"Yeah? And? I told you I was leaving."
"You just said bye then left. A little more heads up would have been nice."
Rubbing at his face tiredly, Kasey sighed. He was tired, aggravated, and for the first time since arriving at Castanet, he did not want to see Owen's face. When he first set eyes on that chiseled, manly piece of art... feelings were a lot different.
"I figured it was time for me to leave." Kasey reluctantly confessed to the man before him whose face was still flush with booze.
Only, Owen wasn't jolly or boisterous anymore. He looked...disappointed?
"Huh? Why did you think that? I went to the bar to hang out with you." He insisted matter of factly.
"Could've fooled me. Flirting with Kathy and all."
Owen visibly recoiled from the accusation. Whether Kasey realized it or not, his tone was abrasive.
"Look, I'm going to bed. Careful on your walk home. Not that you can't defend yourself or anything, obviously."
Shutting the door, Kasey flinched when something kept him from doing so. It was Owen's heavy work boot. The redhead pushed the door back open and let himself inside, much to the farmer's annoyance.
"Kasey-"
"What, Owen?" The questioned rolled off his tongue, sourly. "What do you want? I'm tired."
Dizzy, Kasey swayed on his feet a bit. He staggered but regained his footing, batting away Owen who had reached forward to catch him. The blacksmith tried to put his hand on Kasey's shoulder but Kasey rejected that, too.
"I'm not in a buddy-buddy mood. Just tell me what you want so I can go to bed."
"I'm bummed you ran off on me the way you did. I thought we were having fun…like I said, you cut our night short."
"Wasn't like I was going to drink anymore. I don't drink like you do, you already know that. I had enough."
Kasey gestured to himself.
"Clearly." He emphasized, intoxicated. "If I drink the whole night-"
"You don't have to drink the whole time. You could've just stayed."
"Even had I stayed, you would've just spent the rest of the night flirting with Kathy."
"I didn't go to the bar to see Kathy. I wanted to see you."
Thinking he misheard, Kasey looked at Owen from what moonlight shone in from the window. His vision was blurring a bit and he rubbed his eyes with one palm, grimacing as he did so.
"You what?"
"I wanted to see you." Owen repeated himself.
"You did?"
Owen nodded, getting no response from Kasey. The brunette didn't know how to respond but hearing Owen say that...
Before he could get carried away and get excited, Kasey internally berated himself. Owen was a social guy. If he wanted to see him, it wasn't anything special. The redhead thrived socially. He loved drinking and preferred not to do it alone Being invited to come along wasn't anything to brag about.
"I wanted to see you." Reaching out to touch Kasey's arm gently, Owen tried to reassure him. "Not Kathy."
"If you wanted to see me, you should've told Kathy that." Kasey finally responded, bitterly.
He was hit vividly with the memory of Kathy encroaching on Owen's personal space to which there was no resistance. Kasey pulled away with a huff, almost childishly. He turned away from Owen a little, giving him a cold shoulder.
"There's a time for friends and there's a time for flirting." Kasey continued scolding Owen for his actions that night. "She's always all over you when we go to the bar."
"Kasey-"
"And, I'm getting tired of it!"
"Kasey."
Owen's voiced dropped. His own words catching up with him, Kasey realized how emotionally invested his little purge was with jealousy just pouring off of him. Fearing that Owen was catching on to him, the brunette stammered.
"...Y-Yeah?"
"You're cute when you're jealous."
Feeling his face get hot, Kasey tried to stammer out something else. He failed miserably. Owen came in closer, reaching out for the brunette's arm again. Kasey's first instinct was to pull away and run, but Owen wouldn't let him.
His large hand gripped the farmer's forearm with a cemented grip as he pulled Kasey in, leaning his mouth down to the shell of his ear. Kasey's skin goose bumped, fine hairs standing up at the back of his neck.
"A man ever tell you that before?"
"S-Stop messing around."
Putting his mouth along the skin of Kasey's neck, Owen kissed softly. Kasey shivered despite the warm temperature. Owen took hold of his chin, guiding him in for a kiss on the lips. Kasey could have died of shock, forget happiness. Well, better Owen's lips touching him. Could've been a fist.
"Could I stay the night?" Owen murmured to Kasey as their mouthes parted.
"You want to-"
Owen then smirked, tone becoming huskily amused
"Since you wanted my attention so badly."
Kasey nodded mutely, leaning back in to resume the kiss. Owen picked him up easily, just how Kasey suspected he could. He walked him to the full-sized bed that laid in the corner of the house. Laid along the sheets, Kasey watched as Owen freed himself of his shirt and boots before climbing over him. Moonlight shining in from the window gave him just enough of what he wanted to see.
"I spend a lot of time at the bar." Owen decided to explain as he got out of his shirt. "If the barkeeper's daughter likes you, it's best to humor her."
Owen sucked the skin of Kasey's collarbone, explaining away Kathy as some trivial inconvenience.
"She's a friend. All she can ever be is a friend." He boldly palmed at Kasey through his jeans. "Catch my drift?"
"I hear what you're saying." Kasey shuddered as Owen paused to snap open the button keeping his jeans closed.
"Good. I'm glad we're on the same page."
Not shy at all, Owen helped himself. He slid his entire hand under the elastic of Kasey's briefs. His bare skin met Kasey's throbbing arousal, flesh that hadn't been touched by another man in months. Kasey hissed pleasurably.
The blacksmith's massive build outsized the farmer dramatically. Running his hands over Owen's bulging, well-defined pectorals, Kasey felt the raised contour of the muscle group. Owen took his hand and led it south with confidence. Taking the invitation to return the favor, Kasey freed Owen's erection to stroke it.
He was long and girthy- lot more than Kasey had ever encountered in any prior hookups. Kasey didn't have long to appreciate it in depth, however, because Owen stroked at him briskly with his large, calloused hand. It swallowed the farmers entire length, easily leading him towards the brink of climax. Kasey's hips arched up in to Owen's touch.
"Owen! I'm going to…f-fuck…" Kasey tried to caution him but was lost to the sensation he'd missed for so long. "Fuck!"
Unable to keep up servicing Owen as the man, himself, touched at him insistently, Kasey had no choice but to let his hand fall to the bedsheets. Embarrassed he was going to lose his seed so fast, Kasey whined under Owen's relentless touch. Owen chuckled in perverted amusement, carrying on with no sign of easing up, and without a care to his abandoned erection.
"Been that long for you?" The redhead pried knowingly. "Oh, we're going to fix that right now."
A few firm, assertive yanks and Kasey's chest lurched, hips thrashing up in the throws of orgasm.
"Ahh!...Ahhh."
As he came, his moaning sounded almost relieved. Kasey's release soiled Owen's hand, in which was cleaned up with some tissues from the nightstand as Kasey still drifted amidst the afterglow. Owen laid himself down next to Kasey, letting the brunette catch his breath and recover. Kasey was fully aware of the unsatisfied erection he'd unwillingly abandoned.
"I'll return the favor, I promise." Kasey panted, almost paralyzed in his intoxicated, afterglow. "I need a minute."
Running his fingertips over the expanse of Kasey's flat abdomen, Owen explored leisurely.
"Take your time. We have all night." Owen found Kasey's mouth and began kissing him, still exploring his body with a wandering hand.
Not the tallest guy around, Kasey wasn't any taller than maybe five foot eight inches. His light muscle tone gave him shape, but he was notably slender. Owen caressed the lithe curve of his hips, feeling the dips and grooves of the farmer's lean hips. Owen's hand could cover one hip entirely.
"You're pretty small."
"I'm average. You're just really big."
Owen squeezed possessively at Kasey's hip.
"To me, that makes you small."
"C'mon..."
"Oh, I like it."
The hand on Kasey's hip moved to Kasey's ass, cupping it fully.
"I like it a lot, Kasey."
When Owen began raising himself up over Kasey again, the brunette knew exactly where his interest laid. Owen went to grab the waist of Kasey's jeans and pull them off.
"I-I want to blow you." Kasey intercepted him, pulling himself up. "Um, Lie on your back."
Obliging, the man retreated and did as he was told. Kasey went to his lap and began working at the heavy belt buckle there. At the back of his head, he questioned how he'd managed to find himself in bed with a man he could've sworn was straight.
Owen's erection sprung from its confines and Kasey eagerly layered his mouth over it. He couldn't remember the last time he's been so eager to suck a man off. It probably helped that Owen was gorgeous and he'd been drooling over him since Spring.
"Oh…that's it."Owen groaned, twining his fingers in brunette locks.
Guiding Kasey's movements, Owen urged him in closer to take more. The tip of his erection hit the back of Kasey's throat, gagging him slightly but he quickly recovered and relaxed his throat muscles to service him. Beads of precum rolled off the tip, dripping down Owen's shaft as Kasey pulled up deliberately slow. He licked it all away before plunging back down.
"Damn, you know what you're doing...naughty little city boy. Hell yeah."
Kasey blushed but tingled all over. Owen's natural musk wafted past his nostrils, neatly groomed red pubic hair brushing his nose as he bobbed. Stroking at it lightly with his finger, Kasey's wet mouth coated Owen's length quickly. The moaning coming from above him warned of what was happening, and Kasey had no intentions of pulling his mouth off.
"Kasey…I'm going to cum."
Getting a pleasurable shiver throughout his body, Kasey sucked his cheeks in and picked up speed. Owen's hold on Kasey's hair tightened.
"That tight, wet mouth…that's what I'm talking about."
Owen abruptly held his head in close to his groin, blowing his load down Kasey's throat with a low, guttural groan. Kasey sputtered a bit but quickly relaxed and graciously received the proof of Owen's satisfaction. Sliding his mouth off of Owen's wet cock, Kasey swallowed as wiped at the corners of his mouth.
Owen wiped at his brow, intrigued as Kasey crawled in towards him to lay himself down atop of his chest. Owen's broad chin rested on the top of Kasey's head and they caught their breathes, listening to the crickets chirping outside. The night catching up with him, Kasey tiredly plopped himself back down to the sheets and fell asleep.
Xxxxx
Morning light shone in through the window kissing along Kasey's skin…along with a pair of lips. Cracking his eyes open groggily, Kasey stirred awake. There was an arm thrown across his waist and a warm chest pressed up against his back. Someone was kissing his shoulder.
"Morning." A deep voice greeted him, warmly.
Kasey did a double take with wide eyes. He looked absolutely dumbstruck.
"...What?"
"Last night actually happened...Could've sworn that was just a wet dream."
"Nope. You definitely sucked my dick. Great job, by the way."
Kasey snorted, putting his head back down on his pillow.
"…I'm surprised I'm not hungover. I cut it really close with that fourth drink, last night." Kasey's voice was still raspy with sleep. "What time is it?"
"Almost Eight."
Both men had on just their briefs, sheets tossed off and a mess around their feet. Before Owen went to sleep, he had stripped both himself and Kasey of their jeans. Kasey squinted at the wall clock to verify what Owen told him.
"I have to get up and water the crops before the sun's all the way out, or I'll be out there in the scorching heat again." Kasey grumbled.
"Listen closely."
"Why?"
Owen urged him just to do it and Kasey could hear rain lightly hitting the roof.
"...nevermind."
"Looks like you've got the day off."
"Well, not totally. I have animals. Better than watering crops in scorching heat, though."
Falling silent, Kasey cleared his throat. Owen played with the hairs at the back of Kasey's neck.
"How about you get those animals fed then we go get something to eat?"
Xxxxx
"Morning, boys. How are we this morning?"
At the Inn, Colleen poured out two cups of coffee, setting down a tray with cream and sugar for Owen and Kasey's table.
"We're great." Owen answered her, broad grin. "Couldn't be better."
"You two look tired. Too much fun last night?"
"Yeah, you know it."
Colleen set down two menus and Kasey looked horrified as she walked away.
"I'm a regular here. She knows I drink over at the bar a lot, relax." Owen leaned on closer to whisper. "Nobody knows."
"..."
Scoffing with a small smirk, Owen shook his head.
"You have a dirty mind, Kasey."
Reflexively, Kasey kicked at Owen's boot, pink in the cheeks.
"You're still cute."
Colleen came back to take their orders. She walked away with the menus, refilling their coffee mugs before leaving. Owen drank his coffee black, which Kasey noticed to be strange. If not appalling.
"You like it like that? Isn't it bitter?" Kasey questioned, stirring cream and two spoonfuls of sugar in to his own mug.
"I hate sweets." Was Owen's reply, bringing the hot drink up to his lips. "This is just the way I like it."
The Innkeeper's daughter, Maya, came prancing over with an order of plain omelet over mushroom rice and a side of savory hashbrowns that she placed in front of Owen. She left and came right back with a plate of Cheese omelet over white rice, and a short stack of sweet, blueberry pancakes for Kasey.
"You two must be hungry!" she giggled. "It's probably because you guys work so hard."
"Might be on to something." Owen agreed with her.
"Need anything else while I'm here?"
Kasey looked down at his omelet with rice.
"Could I get a bottle of ketchup, please?"
Maya went to go and get it. Owen found something about Kasey's request to be funny. Before Kasey could ask, someone cleared their throat loudly. Kasey and Owen looked up to see Chase at the counter, holding a bottle of ketchup away from Maya.
"Um, excuse me. I know you're not about to ruin a perfectly good omelet with ketchup." Chase scolded, eyes on Owen. "This better be for the hashbrowns."
"Don't look at me."
Owen snickered and pointed at Kasey. Chase slowly turned his head an inch, blinking in an unimpressed manner. Realizing he'd been thrown under the bus, Kasey smiled nervously.
"I like ketchup on my eggs...no offense to your cooking."
"Well, offense taken."
Kasey shrunk in to himself.
"What happened to 'pick on someone your own size'?" Owen accused slyly.
"I am." Chase bluntly retorted. "I'm not much bigger than he is."
"Just let him eat his breakfast, Peachy."
Bristling, Chase handed off the ketchup to Maya.
"Fine, insult my cooking." he relented. "And, don't call me that."
Assuming the nickname was due to Chase's peachy hair, Kasey chuckled. Maya gave him his ketchup and their meal continued. Kasey left Chase a good tip as an apology, leaving with Owen. When they made it back to the farm, Kasey looked up towards the road leading towards Owen's district.
"Heading to work?" he asked casually.
"Grandpa will jump on my case if I don't show up."
"Uh...When will I see you, again?"
Kasey was reluctant to ask that, worried over sounding clingy. He didn't even know if Owen wanted to see him again. At least, in THAT way. To his relief, Owen winked as he walked away.
"Soon."
xxxxx