Two More Years 25

Alfred had never been a big fan of the lottery, and as he logged onto the computer checking the previous night's numbers, he remembered why. He could never win the stupid thing when he really needed it. And so, there he was. His roommates were at their respective classes for the day. Arthur had gone out to get gas in his car, or so he had claimed. Jack was in the shower; the last shower he was going to take at the apartment that year. And all Alfred had was a losing lottery ticket and a jack ass, heartless brother who had no concept of what love was and no respect for it. He sighed, snapping his laptop shut as he heard the water turn off. He at least had enough money to offer to take Jack to a nice lunch before he had to go to the airport.

He jumped as a damp hand trailed wet fingers up the side of his neck.

"Aw. Didn't want to come take a shower with me? Not even for a lil root?"Alfred looked up at Jack, jaw dropping slightly when he realized he hadn't even bothered to stop for a towel on his way to the bedroom. "Come on then. You chucked a sickie from classes to spend time with me. The least you could do is give me a kiss."

Alfred could only nod dumbly as he watched droplets of water dripping in rapid succession off of tousled strands of hair, creating a small stream down Jack's chest. He wondered if anyone else would agree with him that the water accented ieverything/i just the right way. He drank in the sight greedily, lending further to his stupor. This was the last time he would see this; experience it, and he was just staring. He swallowed heavily and leaned forward, lapping at a drop of water that had latched onto a nipple and stayed there stubbornly. He wished he could do the same.

A hand tangled in his hair as he caught the nipple between his teeth lightly, tongue flickering over the small pebble-like nub. He'd always chuckled to himself when he read anything to referred them that way, but, as Jack's breath hitched above him with each lap of his tongue, Alfred could feel where the description came from. There was a light tug of his hair, and Alfred pulled back, letting Jack pull him out of his desk seat and shove him back onto his bed. Their limbs moved in so many ways, so quickly, it could only be called a flurry as hands groped over skin and cloth and legs tangled in themselves.

His clothes were more than damp, soaking up the water that lingered on Jack's skin, but he didn't care. He didn't want to break the contact Jack had initiated between their lips to remove them. He needed more button down shirts. It wouldn't matter anymore after this if he got them. Finally Jack pulled back, straddling Alfred's waist as he looked down at him.

"You have no idea how sexy you look from here."

Alfred smirked weakly, not feeling as confident as he tried to look. "Not nearly as amazing as you do."

Jack grinned, sliding a hand up his side, pushing his shirt with it. "That's because you're wearing too much."

He didn't wait for any instructions before sitting up and helping Jack pull the shirt off, tossing it aside. He looked up at Jack; still above him; water still dripping onto his chest and now onto Alfred's abdomen. "Jack, I…" He trailed off, not sure what he was trying to say. There was so much he wanted to tell him. He didn't want to say anything at all. Words wrestled each other as they tried to tumble out of his mouth, and he wanted to bite down on his tongue to avoid saying anything at all. Words would lead to a good bye that he would never be ready for. Jack leaned over him again, pressing his lips against the corner of his mouth. Alfred felt his words more than he heard the murmur.

"I love you, Alfred."

His heart stopped beating. He felt it. It just stopped cold. It fell like lead into his stomach, and he could already feel the acid eating away at it and destroying it. He'd never been in love before. He'd never known heartache. He'd always walked away from relationships feeling nothing, the same nothingness he felt when he was in them. This hurt more than Lizzie telling him he was a one night stand after he thought he had a chance with her. He knew that he never had a chance with Jack, and he'd leapt in anyway. He never should have gone on that hiking trip last weekend. He wouldn't be hurting so much now. Except he would, but he would silently be pining and lamenting alone and Jack wouldn't be sitting here, pressing a slow, ghosting trail of kisses down his neck.

A hand cupped his cheek gently, fingers still cool from air hitting rivulets of water as they gently guided Alfred's face – his lips – to join Jack's. Alfred could feel the tips of Jack's fingers warming as they slowly slid down the side of his neck. There was a nip at his bottom lip and he parted them to lick lightly at the spot. Where everything had been a whirlwind of rapid movements, desperate kisses and groping, it felt like everything was moving in slow motion.

Like the final moments before the end of the race.

Jack's hands moved down Alfred's chest as he leaned into him, pushing him down into the mattress. There was a hitch in his breath against Alfred's lips as his fingers hooked in the elastic of his pants, sliding them down. He was so happy he'd just opted to stay in pajamas today. Someone groaned as the fabric slid over him, revealing that he was already half hard and it took him a moment to realize it was him.

"Jack…" Alfred didn't know he'd closed his eyes until he opened them to meet the deep green one's hovering over him.

"Alfred…" Jack glanced down as he trailed a finger along the underside of his shaft, coaxing him stand erect. He was even happier that he had also taken to going commando at night.

Alfred swallowed the heavy lump in his throat, already feeling himself tightening up defensively. "I can't…I don't want…"

Jack pressed a light kiss to his lips to silence Alfred as he positioned himself over him. "We won't do that again."

Before Alfred could ask what he meant, Jack thrust himself against him, creating just enough friction between them to stop his thoughts. Lips seared down the side of his neck and a hand wrapped around them, holding them together. Alfred's eyes clenched shut as he tried to remember breathing was just as important as what Jack was doing to him. He kept thrusting into his hand, rubbing against Alfred with every movement. He rocked his hips upward into Jack's hand awkwardly and took a shaky breath in before moving up into him again. The pace was unsteady, and didn't sync with Jack's thrusts at all, but it didn't have to. Alfred's head fell back against his pillow as he groaned. His stomach coiled and tightened in knots; tighter and tighter as he felt the pressure build behind his eyes.

Wet lips pressed loose kisses over his skin between thrusts, and Jack's nose burrowed into the junction between neck and shoulder. Alfred brought a hand up, fisting it in his hair as he thrust up into him again, seeking release. Let go. He had to let go. His hold on Jack tightened as he thrust up harder against, each time more urgent than the last.

"Jah-Jah-…ah…" Jack's only response was a low groan of his own before he suddenly jerked his head upwards, latching onto that groove where he had been burrowed just seconds before. Nanoseconds? Whatever. It didn't matter. Jack was sucking lightly at the skin, pulling it into his mouth. It was like a vacuum and the sensation sent a shudder through Alfred's body. It was the push he needed, and he threw his head back. He couldn't vocalize what he was feeling as the tidal wave rushed over his senses, knocking the breath out of him. He was only vaguely aware of the warm substance splattering between them as his hips held their raised position against Jack.

As he was coming down from the short-lived euphoria, Jack reached his climax, riding it out above him. Alfred panted heavily as he opened his eyes slowly. He swallowed as Jack lapped gently at the mark he'd left on his neck before pressing shaky kisses along Alfred's jaw line. He sighed, feeling a sense of loss as Jack's hand slid off of them, fumbling around on the blankets for Alfred's damp shirt.

The room was silent as Jack cleaned them off slowly, carefully, caressing the fabric over Alfred's skin. No words were spoken as he tossed the soiled shirt to the floor and shifted to lay beside Alfred, curling around him. None were needed. Alfred knew that their thoughts were similarly aligned. It was ending; just as quickly as it started. Emptiness was already starting to chill Alfred from the inside against the warmth of Jack as he lay beside him.

Alfred wasn't sure how much time they spent there, just enjoying the feeling of being pressed together before there was a knock at his door.

"Jack! Hurry or we'll miss your flight." Alfred supposed it must have been a while if it was that time already.

Jack moved slowly as he pushed himself up from the bed, extracting himself from Alfred. The bitter chill spread across his skin quickly. Alfred couldn't find anything that seemed right to say as he watched Jack pull one last change of clothes from his bag and dress himself. Jack didn't look back at him as he picked up his bag, until he was almost out the door. He glanced over his shoulder, hesitating.

"…Goodbye, Alfred." Alfred swallowed and nodded.

"Bye, Jack." Jack nodded and closed Alfred's door behind him. "…I love you, too." Alfred stared at the door for a moment before rolling onto his back again and staring at the ceiling. He didn't feel anything. It was different from feeling nothing.

It was worse.