"Kevin wake up! It's nearly 7:30." Edd shook Kevin awake in a flurry. They lived close to school but only 30 minutes to get ready wasn't enough time, he'd expected him to have woken up while he was getting ready, his own shower longer than normal to soothe the ache in his back and hips.
"Huh- what?" Kevin blinked open his bleary eyes.
"You managed to actually sleep through me getting off the bed and showering. Go brush your teeth and get dressed." Edd said and kissed his cheek.
"Ugh. How did I sleep so late." He squinted at the sunlight through the window.
"Well… I did wear you out."
"Wow, shit my legs are sore." He winced when he sat up.
"I bet. If it's anything like my lower back I'd wager today will be rough."
"Your back hurts? Anything else?" He dragged Edd over to him by his hips and rubbed his lower back with his fingertips.
"My thighs too." Kevin's hands skated down to his ass in a way that seemed to ask about how it was feeling. "Don't worry- you prepared me very well and used plenty of lube. It was probably just holding strenuous positions for so long."
"Hopefully it won't be too painful sitting in class. Those chairs suck." Kevin squeezed once before letting go and standing.
"It won't be pleasant but… well it might be." Edd had on a cheeky grin.
Kevin snorted and swatted Edd's ass. "I'll be back. Meet you downstairs."
Edd chuckled. "Be quick. We've only got-" he looked at his clock, "20 minutes." A panicked edge came to his voice and Kevin figured he better hop to it before he made his boyfriend late. He was certain he wouldn't be having sex again any time soon if he did.
"Shit. Okay." He dropped a quick kiss on Edd's cheek, his stubble scratchy.
Edd touched his cheek and his heart fluttered. He didn't think he'd ever stop falling in love with Kevin's casual sweet gestures.
Kevin rushed and sped downstairs. "Bike?" He asked.
Kevin hadn't shaved in the rush and Edd blinked. His facial hair wasn't thick or anything but Edd had to admit he was enamored with the slightly darker stubble. Morning kissing always felt special because of it and the idea he could feel the rough texture all day was distracting and all too appealing.
"Sure." Edd said. Kevin was in too much of a rush to notice the awestruck face Edd was wearing.
Edd had ran to his class after getting his bag from his locker and luckily he'd not forgotten his inhaler today.
Tray and Mic laughed at seeing him burst through the door less than a minute before the final bell. Huffing and bent over.
He might have had more time but Edd hadn't been able to resist grabbing Kevin's face and kissing him thoroughly before the first bell brought him back to his senses. He had just opened his locker when Kevin kissed his cheek and told him he was going to go to his class and Edd practically pulled him down. He wasn't into beards per se but the dusting of bristly facial hair was driving him insane.
Mic elbowed him and motioned to his chin.
"You're all red."
Edd took out his compact mirror from his bag and was met with the image of stubble burn on his own smooth face. The teacher cleared his throat and Edd put his mirror away. He'd need to moisturize later and it did kind of itch but he couldn't help but imagine if he'd gotten it... elsewhere.
He was lucky he'd studied ahead of time because he absolutely wasn't able to pay attention the rest of class.
By the time lunch rolled around Edd was unimaginably turned on. Between the still stinging bite, the pain in his lower back, and the light stubble burn he couldn't keep his mind off of sex and had been caught out not paying attention a handful of times. The teachers would have been worried but the obvious happy look he wore was so new and refreshing. Instead they were pleasantly teasing. It might have been worse actually because the comments made everyone acutely aware of him.
"What's up with your face?" Marta asked. "You're all red."
Edd patted his cheek, surprised it was still irritated. Kevin returned from the cafeteria line and came up behind him and pecked Edd's cheek and without thinking Edd leaned into it, happy to be making contact with the object of all his fantasies for the last few hours.
"Ha!" She said. "Stubble burn. Too busy this morning?" Marta teased.
"D was almost late this morning." Mic added with a cocky grin.
"Woh-oh-oh." Marta added. "Very busy morning!"
Edd rolled his eyes. "We just woke up late."
"So busy night?" Nazz responded.
Edd pinkened but it was Kevin's red cheeks that gave them away. Mic and Tray whooped at the obvious look on his face before Kevin buried it in Edd's shoulder, who could only chuckle at Kevin's sudden shyness. The redhead nearly dropped the tray in embarrassment but Edd was able to right it before anything could fall off and kissed his temple.
Nazz grinned knowing they'd put those condoms, and likely list, to good use.
When they made their way to what had become their spot Kevin sat in his usual place and was surprised when Edd crawled into his lap. He wasn't expecting it after they'd agreed it tested their resolve too much but who was Kevin to look a gift horse in the mouth so he ate his food with one hand around his boyfriend's waist.
Kevin talked football with his friends and Edd laughed with Marta but any lulls in conversation he'd lean in and peck Kevin's cheek.
The first time the redhead lost his train of thought and before he could return the gesture Edd was back talking with one of the girls or Tray. By the third or fourth time he continued to speak but would give Edd a light squeeze.
Kevin wasn't sure what exactly had gotten into Edd, besides himself of course, but he liked the sweet attention. Edd on the other hand was struggling not to just drag Kevin somewhere and get stubble burn all over his body. Every touch from his bristly face spurring on Edd's already overactive hormones.
Frank and Mic eventually decided to split to get a soda from the vending machines in the cafeteria and Marta and Nazz were arguing over something ridiculous. Kevin leaned in to kiss the back of Edd's neck when they weren't in any conversation but instead of smooth skin his lips met something hard and it took a moment to realize it was a buckle. His straight A, perfect student boyfriend was wearing the collar, at school. Kevin's mouth went dry. This minx was going to kill him.
Edd froze as Kevin's arms stiffened around him and he took a bashful glance backwards. When they locked eyes Kevin could tell exactly what Edd was thinking.
If Tray hadn't asked Edd about how his therapy appointment had gone Kevin would have dragged Edd off to be ravished.
"Quite well. I'll be seeing her again next week." Edd said. He might have been turned on and flustered at being caught out with the collar but he wasn't rude.
Marta looked over at that. "Oh shit, you're fucked up too?" She asked, sounding oddly excited.
Nazz slapped her arm. "Rude!" She hissed.
Marta ignored her. "What're you in for? You seem like the anxiety type to me."
Edd gave a half shrug. Edd may have appreciated her open, kind of off colored demeanor but this wasn't exactly a 'in front of others' conversation.
"Something like that." Was all he answered.
Marta took that as good enough or maybe she got the hint, either way she dropped it and turned away to continue her argument.
"I don't care what you say, uncrustables are not ravioli." She said to Nazz who had obviously only brought it up earlier to make the other girl mad. They fell back into conversation leaving the boys to their thoughts.
Soon the sun had come out from behind a cloud and the heat was starting to get unbearable.
The last of the group decided to leave and Kevin and Edd agreed it was getting too warm to stay.
In the stairwell Edd saw his chance and took it. He grabbed Kevin's wrist and motioned to hang back. When the door shut Edd grabbed his boyfriends face and attacked his mouth with his own. He ran his fingers across his cheeks and sighed in bliss.
Kevin was more than happy to return the kisses. Edd's hands all over his face had given him a clue to what was making him so handsy today and he almost wanted to tease his boyfriend about it. Almost. He'd much rather continue making out though.
Kevin chuckled low in his throat and nuzzled his face into the crook of his boyfriend's neck nipping lightly, his stubble scratching at Edd's sensitive skin and backed him into the wall.
"Yes." Edd wrapped his arms around Kevin and whimpered.
Kevin grinned at how quickly he could turn his once uptight boyfriend into a puddle of arousal and ran his hands up Edd's shirt. Testing.
Edd's knee came to grind up into Kevin's growing hardness and Kevin groaned and rutted down into it. So it seemed canoodling at school wasn't as off the table as Edd had made it seem.
They both rocked together and Kevin peeled down the high neck of Edd's shirt so he could see him in his collar.
"Fuck pet. So good." He let go to swallow down the small whimpers Edd was making.
Edd's legs started shaking and they both were so close. So close they didn't hear the door to the stairwell open. They did however hear the teacher that walked in yell.
"What are you two doing?" The shrill voice of Kevin's English teacher shouted. Edd yelped in surprise and Kevin jumped away, nearly falling. Edd managed to grab his arm and while he almost toppled over himself they only just managed to stay upright.
They looked at Ms. Enburgh with sheepish faces. Edd was bright red and his shirt was rucked up, it was too obvious what they'd just been up to. Out of all the teachers Kevin was most embarrassed to be caught out by her. She seemed to think the football team had it too easy and tried to find any reason to get him in trouble, deciding he was her errand boy since the start of the year.
"Well?" She asked.
"Uh." Edd said and looked away. "S-sorry ma'am."
"Yeah, Uh, sorry." Kevin added.
"I'd expect something like this from Kevin, but Eddward- I thought you were better than that." She put her hands on her hips.
Kevin rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed at his teachers words and Edd's temper flared.
"Excuse me, ma'am? Expected this from him? I'll have you know I started this. That's quite a rude thing to say about one of your students."
"D, it's okay." Kevin said, shocked at Edd's sudden surge of protectiveness.
"It's not." He said to Kevin, then turned back to the teacher. "Us being unruly doesn't give you the right to say something so dismissive to someone under your tutelage." He said, wagging his finger in her face.
Ms. Enburgh blinked in surprise at the tables being turned. The usually quiet honor roll student standing with his hands on his hips and anger on his face was weird enough to completely throw her off.
"I… apologize?" She started before realizing she was supposed to be the one repremanding them. "Wait- You two are in trouble! To the office!"
"Very well." Edd said and grabbed Kevin's hand to pull him along. The teacher followed to ensure they went where they were meant to, she shook her head at the odd and brazen behavior.
"That was… really hot." Kevin grinned, whispering.
Edd glared but it was light. "We're already in trouble. Don't make it worse." He hissed.
Kevin leaned over to kiss his cheek, Ms. Enburgh snapped her fingers at them but didn't separate them.
"Thank you for that. You didn't have to."
"I did, though." Edd squeezed Kevin's hand.
Kevin smiled all the way down to the office.
"I caught these two with their hands up each other's shirts." The teacher said to the office woman in the dean's. Both of them were relieved she hadn't suspected, or noticed, more.
"All right, take a seat." The woman said to the pair, barely looking up. "We'll take it from here." She said, waving the teacher off.
The bell rang and Edd frowned. "Do we really need to be here for this? I'd rather not miss class."
"I'll give you a pass." The worker said as she flipped through files. "Names?"
"Eddward Vincent." Edd sighed in annoyance.
"Barr." Kevin simply replied.
The woman pulled out their files and brought them to the dean who called them in a second later.
"Eddward and Kevin." The man said with surprise in his voice. "I never would have thought I'd see you two here together. What have you done to get sent here? I hope no fighting." He said seriously. An older gentleman with a white mustache and a round belly, he was about as nice as a dean could be. It didn't make it any less daunting to admit what they had been up to though.
"Quite the opposite, sir." Edd replied with a sheepish cough. Kevin knew Edd would be better at talking to the teachers and decided he'd not ruin anything by saying something out of turn. If anyone could talk their way out of this, it was Edd.
The dean folded his hands and raised an eyebrow at them. "Oh?"
"Ms. Enburgh caught us kissing."
"I don't think simple kissing would have landed you here." The dean said with an amused smile.
"Yes, well. Making out might be a more apt description." Edd responded with a blush.
"You've been awfully quiet, Kevin." The older man said, directing his attention to the football player.
Kevin shrugged. "I mean, what is there to say?"
"Ms. Miller?" The dean called.
"Yes?" The aide peeked her head through the door.
"What did Ms. Enburgh say they did to get sent here?"
"Caught with their hands up each other's shirts." She quoted.
Edd went red. He wasn't lying but being caught out under-representing what happened did embarrass him.
"Well, I understand teenage hormones are hard to control, I will have to call your parents. If it was just making out I would have let it slide but that kind of inappropriate touching isn't allowed here." He scolded lightly.
"I understand." Edd demurred, still pink in the face.
Kevin just nodded.
"I'll start with you, Eddward." The man said.
Edd wondered how many calls he'd make before he gave up.
He called the number listed but it was sent directly to voicemail. He tried again but the same thing happened. He read the file and frowned.
"Do you have another number for your mother?"
"No sir. She's probably busy."
He read the file again. "I see your father is out of the country. I assume he can't be reached. I guess I'll just have to leave a voicemail."
He called again and again it went to voicemail.
"Hello, this is Mr. Marks from Eddward's school. I'm calling to inform you that your son was caught doing indecent acts with another student. He and the other student were making out and had their hands up one another's shirts. As this is a first offense for him I see no reason for further punishment, however we thought it best to inform you and the other students' parents. If you have any other questions you can call me back. Thank you."
Edd wanted to laugh. As much as he hated getting in trouble that was a message he'd like to see his mom get, if she cared to listen past the opening line that is.
Kevin saw the amused smile on Edd's face and smiled back. He was a bit miffed being interrupted but he expected Edd to be more upset at getting in trouble. Seeing him holding back a chuckle made him relax a bit. They were only getting what amounted to a slap on the wrist and he had to be thankful for Edd's reputation among the teachers.
"Well, your turn Kevin." Mr. Marks said after hanging up.
"Good luck." Kevin smirked and the dean sighed.
Mrs. Barr was well known for being a pain to talk to. Actually Kevin wondered if their light punishment was because of his mom's reputation for always taking her son's side, even when he was in the wrong.
The dean dialed and held his breath. He hoped he'd be put through to voicemail again, but no such luck.
"Cathrine speaking." Mrs. Barr answered.
"Yes, hello Mrs. Barr. This is your son's dean."
"Here we go." She snapped immediately and Mr. Marks frowned.
"I just called to tell you your son got caught with his hand up another student's shirt."
"And?" She asked in a sharp tone.
"This is a first time offense so no action will be taken but we had to inform you."
"It's not like he was caught having sex on school grounds. This really wasn't worth calling me over."
Kevin and Edd tried not to look at Mr. Marks. Maybe they weren't having sex per se but they were very close to getting off and they didn't want it to show in their faces.
"Yes, well. School policy." The man said but she had already hung up on him.
"Pleasant as ever." He said to Kevin. Edd was holding back on his laughter. He wasn't nervous to meet her before but now he was equal parts excited and scared.
"Well. I guess you're free to go back to class. Just…. don't do it again. For my sake." He said with a pleading look.
They both went to collect their bags but Mr. Marks called out to Edd.
"Could I talk to you alone for a second Mr. Vincent?" He asked.
Kevin paused but when he was obviously being dismissed he squeezed Edd's hand for a second but refrained from going for a kiss after having just been caught out.
"I'll see you after class." Edd smiled.
"I was wondering how you've been? This is the first time you've been in here since freshman year." Mr. Marks said when the door closed behind Kevin.
"I'm… better. Good." Edd responded. "Thank you for your concern."
"I'm just worried because we couldn't get a hold of your mom back then either."
"Yes. She's a busy woman." Was all he could think to say.
"Well, please know you can talk to me or the counselor if you ever need."
"Thank you sir. I'm seeing a therapist so it won't be necessary, but I appreciate the concern."
"Of course. As odd a pair as you make I'm glad you're happy." The dean said with a smile.
Edd looked away and left the room with an awkward nod.
He accepted the pass to his next class, nearly 20 minutes late.
Strangely, at the lockers Marta was there instead of Nazz.
"What brings you here?" Edd asked as he put in his combination code.
"Just wanted to follow up after lunch. I realized it was probably not 'lunch talk' and maybe not text talk either."
"Oh so there is text etiquette now?" He smiled, hoping to change the subject.
"I just figured… well I get it you know. Don't know what you're dealing with but like, I'm here."
Edd gave her a smile. "Thank you. It means a lot to me. I… had a lot of problems but I'm working on them. Kevin helped me a lot and your and Tray's friendship has been very important to me."
"Do you mind me asking about it?"
Edd shuffled his stuff around in his locker. "My parents left me alone… I already had OCD and everything got worse when they moved out. When Ed was forced to leave and Eddy decided I wasn't worth his friendship I didn't know what to do. I just… gave up."
Marta looked thoughtful and nodded. "I have to ask- you're always wearing long sleeves and you seemed nervous to change your shirt that time. Do you-?" She made a quick motion over her wrist.
Edd closed his locker and stared at the metal, smudged and dirtier than he'd like, but cleaner than any other locker in the school. "I… did. Back in freshman year. I haven't since but it scarred over. I don't really want to advertise anything."
"I'm bi-polar." She said after a beat. "My aunt has chronic back pain and I used to swipe her pain meds when I was manic. Eventually I was caught. That's when we moved to Peach Creek. My parents tried to ignore the problem. They didn't want to admit anything was wrong. Tray was the only one that seemed to know there was an issue. When he got me to go to therapy it was without my parents knowing about it. Now that I'm taking medication and doing better they realize how shitty they were being about it."
There was a pause as Edd regarded his friend. She seemed tight lipped and nervous, but she made eye contact. "I'm glad mediation has worked for you and that you're better." Edd said finally.
"Tit for tat. Now we know each other's secret."
His eyes widened a fraction, he didn't originally understand why she would say that out of the blue. Making herself vulnerable for his comfort though wasn't something he expected from her. He felt something strong in his stomach, this kind of friendship felt foreign and warm.
"Thank you… as bad as it might sound that does make me feel better. Less alone."
"Life's easier when you know everyone is going through their own shit."
"I suppose it does." Edd said thoughtfully. He hadn't realized how many other people had their own problems behind closed doors.
Kevin draped his arms over Edd when he finally got there. Ms. Enburgh had been extra hard on him and he had to help bring papers to the office and make copies. It was annoying and he was happy to finally be out of there and holding his boyfriend. "Hey gorgeous."
"Oh, hello." Edd leaned back and kissed his strong jaw, still obsessed with the tickle of stubble. Even being caught couldn't completely put out the fire.
"So… my mom wants to meet you after earlier."
"Ohhh. Meeting the parents. Big step." Marta smirked.
Edd blushed and buried his face in his hands. "Oh what a terrible first impression."
"I don't think she cares. Actually she thought it was pretty funny, if her texts were anything to go by."
"Wait, what happened?" Marta raised an eyebrow.
Kevin and Edd both looked in different directions, guilty.
Marta snirks. "I'm guessing something dirty."
"We were just caught kissing and…there might have been a little bit of groping."
"A lot a bit of groping." Kevin leered.
"That's hilarious." She said not laughing, instead with a bawdy grin. She shook her head and started walking away. "Well have fun explaining that away. See ya tomorrow." she walked away shaking her head and chuckling.
Edd bit his lip. "Your mom is really okay with it?" He asked.
"Of course. I mean I don't think she knows I'm bi but my sister is and my parents didn't really care when she came out."
Edd looked thoughtful. "And you're okay coming out like this?"
"I never came out because I never felt the need to. Now I have a good reason." Kevin stated while leading Edd out to the bike, giving him a soft look. "Anyway she won't be home for another hour or two. I suggest we finish what we started earlier." His hand trailed from his waist, down.
"Really now! Before meeting your mother?" He slapped his boyfriend's arm lightly.
"You know… Get it out of our systems." He grinned and hopped on the bike.
Edd wrapped his arms around Kevin's back and nuzzled his nose against the back of his boyfriend's neck and remembered how much he wanted that scratchy facial hair to scrape against far more sensitive skin than his face.
"Hm. I guess my mind has been… clouded… all day. I don't want to face your mother while so hormonally charged…"
Kevin smiled, glad he wasn't the only one so affected. "Then it's decided.
They got back to Edd's house and as calm as they tried appear it was obvious they were rushing. As soon as the door was shut Edd was picked up and laid out on the couch, the door was now a no-go. Neither wanted to relive that embarrassing encounter. Kevin had pulled off his shirt to see that damned collar.
"God that's so hot. I can't believe you wore that all day." Kevin leaned down to suck a pink nipple into his mouth. Edd gasped and put his hands around Kevin's neck.
Edd ran his fingers over the short hairs at the back of Kevin's head. Kevin kissed his way up to Edd's ear.
"Kevin… I want…" he moaned when Kevin bit just under his ear, hard.
"Yeah baby?"
"I want… your stubble on my thighs."
Kevin smirked. "Are you asking me to suck you off?" He'd never asked for that in so many words. Usually preferring to be rimmed or fingered. He was definitely a bottom.
"I… yes. Please." Edd cupped Kevin's face in his hands. "After I want to return the favor. I want to take you to the back of my throat."
Kevin dropped his head to Edd's shoulder and grinded himself down. "Fuck. Yeah."
He dragged his tongue down Edd's chest and stomach and unbuttoned his pants. When he only pulled him out of his pants Edd whined and Kevin chuckled and shuffled his pants off. He rubbed his cheek against the supple thigh under him.
Edd let out a fluttery breath at the brush. "Oh. That's wonderful."
Kevin watched the pretty face above him with pure lust. Edd's eyelids dropped and his lips parted. His cheeks were flushed and his little moans were too sexy.
He hadn't even had a chance to put him in his mouth and he was already like this.
Kevin licked up his shaft. Edd's dick wasn't as big as his own but it was perfect. It was a pretty pink at the head, slightly curved and the dark hair surrounding it was trimmed. Kevin sucked the head into his mouth and put his hands under his knees to pull his legs to his ears. Every movement and bob of his head and the scrape of the stiff bristles had Edd squeezing his thighs tighter. Kevin could barely move his head and he wouldn't have ever thought about it but he was very into being crushed between his long lean legs like this. He snaked his fingers down and rubbed at the tight ring of muscle.
Edd trembled and moaned. "Yes! Oh! Kevin!"
Kevin chuckled around him leading to another loud moan. He pressed the finger in slowly. It wasn't difficult but he was tight around his finger and he couldn't not remember what it was like to have his dick buried there. He moaned low in his throat and Edd's chest heaved.
"I'm close." Edd gasped, his nails digging into the couch cushions.
Kevin crooked his finger into his prostate and sucked hard, tossing Edd over the edge. Edd's legs shook as he released into Kevin's mouth from the double attack. Kevin immediately swallowed. He pulled his finger out and Edd twitched, cum beaded at his head and Kevin lapped up the last bit before sitting up.
"Gorgeous." Kevin said, looking at Edd's placid body language. The soft skin of his inner thighs was an irritated red that looked just beautiful on him.
Edd reached up and tugged at Kevin's shirt.
"Take it off for me."
Kevin didn't need to be asked twice and kicked off all his clothes. Edd sat up and looked up to lock blue eyes with the hazel.
"Fuck my throat?" Edd asked and opened his mouth as an invitation. Kevin gulped at the face he was making. Flushed and calm but eager to please.
"Shit, that's hot." He groaned and held Edd's head and guided his dick to the waiting parted lips.
Edd's mouth sealed around him and without thinking Kevin's hips surged forward. He hit the back of Edd's throat and the nerd's eyes watered but he refused to gag. He breathed away the tight feeling through his nose.
"Beautiful pet. You're so perfect." Kevin had pulled off Edd's beanie at some point and buried his hands in the glossy dark hair. It was as soft as it always was and Kevin raked his nails over Edd's scalp.
Edd closed his eyes in pure pleasure. The words, the feeling of his throat tightening up around the thick intrusion and the collar that felt tighter than normal every time he took his dick just that bit further. It was all perfect.
When it seemed Edd was no longer near choking Kevin pulled back and started thrusting slowly and Edd moved along to the rhythm he set.
Kevin started slow but eventually picked up pace and soon enough he was fucking his throat harder and harder before he remembered that they'd need to talk to his parents and Edd's throat would definitely be raw. The thought would have been hot in any other situation but in this case, not so much.
He slowed down and Edd whined.
"Gotta- fuck… you're gonna have to talk later." Kevin tried to warn but Edd didn't seem to care as he sunk back down.
Kevin pulled on his hair and came. Mildly disappointed it wasn't over his face.
Edd licked his lips and sat back on his feet. "I need-" he started in a raspy voice that sent a thrill up Kevin's spine, his throat was too raw to continue though and he tried to clear it.
"Water?" Kevin asked. Edd nodded.
Kevin quickly went to the kitchen to grab a bottle and opened it for him. Edd shook his legs out as he stood.
"I think my legs are asleep." He said, low with a small smile. Kevin let him drink, pulling his clothes back on and sitting. When Edd finished he pulled him into his lap sideways.
He didn't really know why but Kevin suddenly felt sentimental. His boyfriend was happy and smiling, even while shaking off pins and needles. Kevin knew that recovery wasn't linear and that there'd be rough patches but he was just so overcome by how good everything was now.
Edd looked at the odd expression Kevin was wearing with confusion. "You okay?" He asked, brushing back his fringe.
"Yeah, I'm just… it kinda hit me all at once that you're meeting my parents. I'm just feeling… emotional?"
Edd waited for Kevin to continue, the way he had for him. He linked their fingers together and kept his eyes on his handsome face.
"I thought I never cared much about coming out but now that I'm about to do it I'm… really excited for it? It's like a relief?"
"Cathartic?" Edd supplied.
"Yeah… cathartic. I'm getting to share a part of me and it's weird, but good. I'm not afraid but I might be a little nervous. I'm not really sure why though."
Edd used his free hand to stroke Kevin's cheek. "You're allowed to be nervous." Edd said.
Kevin brought their conjoined hands up to kiss the back of Edd's hand.
"Your voice is rough."
"I wasn't even thinking about it. How noticeable do you think it is?"
"Very. Do you think a cough drop would help?"
"Maybe." He hummed. "Do you… think they'll like me?" He asked in a small voice.
"I think they'll love you."
Edd fiddled with the strap around his neck. "I'm guessing wearing this will be… hard to explain if they saw it?"
"Yeah, probably."
Edd looked conflicted.
"Here." Kevin said, unhooking it from his neck. Edd let him but didn't look happy about it. He pulled up their hands, still held and wrapped the collar around his wrist. It needed to be folded over twice and was still loose on his bird-like wrists but it stayed on.
"There."
Edd stared at the grey material. "Oh." He said with a pleased expression. It looked normal enough, even if his shirt sleeve rolled up.
"I need to bring something to dinner to make a good impression." Edd said resolutely after a few more minutes of cuddling together. "Do your parents like wine?"
"Uh, I think so but you really don't need to bring anything. Do you even have wine here?"
"My mom went through a tasting phase so we have a wine cabinet."
"If you want. But I don't think you need to."
"I'm going to." Edd said, firm in his decision. "After a call like that I don't want to come across any worse. Does she like white or red?" He asked.
"I don't know. I think I've seen both in the house before."
"Do you know what your mother is making for dinner?"
"She said she's making salmon."
"White it is then." Edd went to a cabinet in the kitchen and opened it up. There were several rows of different wines. He looked through some options, not knowing much about the wines but purposely choosing something that seemed expensive, just to spite his own mother. He eventually just chose the oldest vintage white, hoping it would do.
He showered, changed, changed again, and paced for the next hour until it was finally time to go. Kevin kept trying to lure him into more cuddling but Edd wouldn't allow it.
"Are you ready?" Kevin asked. He'd shaven his face in the interim. As much as Edd liked it Kevin knew his mom would call it scruffy. Edd was torn, on one hand he didn't want him to get rid of something so amazing but on the other it was a relief that he wouldn't have a distraction at the table.
"Maybe the other outfit was better-"
"Nope. We're going." Kevin said and led him across the street by the elbow. Edd didn't want to be nervous. He wasn't before but now… oh boy.
Now or never, he told himself.
Sorry this took so long. Got some new pets of the buggy variety After thinking I'd lost one and then actually not, another had a difficult molt, so I've had a ton of anxiety lol