Kiss #01: Knuckles

Words: 584

Disclaimer: Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and all characters therein © Shane Black and Co.

Warnings/Rating: Just PG-13 for this first one. Overall, the rating will range from PG-13 to M for language, sexual content, and adult themes. Perry/Harry/Harmony

Prompt: Based on deviantArt's two kiss memes, which offer a total of eight different kiss prompts. Originally the memes were intended for drawing, but I wanted to try my hand at practicing writing kisses. I've also added several more kisses not originally on the meme.

Author's Note: I've been contemplating different ideas about relationships and sex and romance for several years, and my personal beliefs are kind of constantly in flux. I think a lot about the nature of sexuality in and of itself, and about sensuality, about what it means to take pleasure from touch, or from an emotional connection. I constantly am pondering the human soul, and the different ways of loving and caring about/for someone, platonically, sexually, and everywhere in between. I've not really tried to talk about these ideas to other people before, not tried to define these things straightforwardly. I'm coming to believe that it's not something that can be defined in words. So this is an experimental effort to try to explain some of my thoughts via example. When you read this, please remember that the focus is not just the act of the kiss itself, but exploring what that particular kiss means, what the characters feel and think about each other. I can only hope that I've expressed my ideas well enough that you get what I'm trying to say.

It was all at once hysterically funny and ridiculously sweet, Harmony couldn't help but think, how traditional Harry was when it came to romance. He was actually, seriously, trying to woo her. He'd had flowers sent to her at work yesterday. The other girls at the catering company had giggled and sighed and simultaneously mocked Harry for being a 'proper suitor' while bemoaning that they had no smitten little puppy to follow them around and bring them flowers. L.A. girls they may be, but they were still lonely women.

And now today, she was walking up Perry's driveway to pick Harry up for their date. Harry, undoubtedly, was still pouting about being the one getting picked up, but the simple fact of the matter was that Harmony had a car, Harry did not, and Perry would not allow him to drive the Mercedes. "Yet!" Harry would protest, "He won't let me drive it yet!"

She knocked, and within five seconds Perry had opened the door. "He still in his room," he said, motioning her in. Harmony smiled and shook her head in exasperation and would've said something, except that Harry promptly appeared from the hallway.

"No, I'm not. Perry, I told you to let me get the door," he said, scowling.

"Well maybe you should do it faster, then, instead of leaving your girlfriend on the doorstep all night!" Perry said snidely.

Harry shot him an irritated look. "She rang the doorbell like ten seconds ago. You were waiting in the hall so you could get it as soon as she got here, just so you could annoy me."

Perry grinned and didn't deny it. "Hi guys," Harmony said in amusement, adjusting her purse. In perfect unison, the two men turned to look at her, and, simultaneously again, they blinked in surprise. Harry smiled blindingly as he moved closer, eyeing her dark blue cocktail dress and strappy silver heels.

"Harmony...you look amazing, honey," he said reverently, gently grasping her hand and kissing her knuckles, brown eyes locked on hers. The gesture was so tender, so heartfelt, so thoughtlessly impulsive that it turned a cliché into something uniquely Harry's, and Harmony smiled even wider. She moved to curl an arm around Harry's waist. He leaned into the hug, still staring at her with that intensely fond half-smile.

Perry made a gagging noise in his throat. They glanced at him, unimpressed, and he immediately looked away. Perry schooled his face into something nonchalant, purposefully sorting through the stack of mail on the sideboard. Then Harry started laughing, and Perry's face cracked into a small smirk, still avoiding looking at them. Harry stepped out of Harmony's embrace and went to clap a hand on Perry's shoulder. "Don't worry, Perry. You're still the second-most fabulous one here!" he joked.

Looking at Harry as he was right now, Harmony had to disagree. Perry was definitely good-looking, but Harry was just as handsome. When he actually put some effort into how he was dressed, like he had for their date tonight, the effects could be mind-blowing. (Granted, it probably helped that he had Perry helping him pick out clothes that fit properly and were actually in style nowadays). Harmony wondered how difficult it would be to get them both to attend some event or another in fancy dress...

Judging from the way the detective was looking at the younger man when Harry had his back turned, Perry had taken notice of Harry's attractiveness as well, with great interest.

How intriguing...

End Chapter 1

See you all in a week for the next installment! And if you're waiting on part three of Skins and Hearts, I hope to have that done this week, and yes, I know, I'm ridiculously late.