Title: In the end
Author: Lauren
Rating: High PG, low PG-13
Pairing: Jake/Cassie
Summary: Jake reflects on the state of he and Cassie's relationship.
Spoilers: No spesific plot points, but set late in the series, just implying that their relationship was a little more passionate than we saw.
Author's notes: This is my first completed animorphs ficdrabble thing. It's unbeta'd and feels a little bit awkward, but I'd love feedback and constructive comments. Can drabbles get constructive comments? I guess we'll find out.
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Sometimes, Jake reflects, he's glad the war started when they were younger. Because even though in some aspects, the naivety of middle school years was yanked out from underneath them, some things have been preserved.
At thirteen, Jake would not have the audacity to kiss Cassie like he does now. At thirteen he was clumsy, he was awkward and tentative and caring. Now, he is still tender and caring.
But he is rough also, lips on hers with a bruising sort of need. Now Cassie's fingers claw at his hair, breaths fast and sharp on his skin. Her body, smaller and softer than Jakes, still seems to pulse with the same sort of desire.
Some people might scoff. They might still call this tame, because Jake and Cassie do not have sex. Jake and Cassie touch and kiss and breathe, but in the end, that's all they do. While some guys go home feeling frustrated, Jake leaves feeling satiated. Soothed. Because Cassie's hair has brushed his cheek, and her lips touched his for long, breathtaking stretches.
In the end, Jake and Cassie are still a kind of innocent. Not as much as Jake thinks he would like, but enough. Because holding and kissing and touching skin to skin is still able to give Jake quick jolts and make Cassie gasp like it's the first time.
Jake is grateful that somehow, they still have that. He wants to share this with Cassie, but all he can really do is breathe against her hair and hold her like he'll never have the chance again.