A/N: not me posting a felso fic when i havent updated WNBJB hehe (but fr tho dont ask about it plz i swear im working on it ok!!). Anyway this ship needs more writers/fics im bEGGING YOU
"Oh my God, on the front page there's a picture of me kissing Kelso by the lake"
"Fez, why are you kissing Kelso by the lake?"
"We caught a fish! I was excited! I kissed the fish too, but of course they don't show you that!"
"Man, I still can't believe Jackie's datin' Hyde," Kelso complains to Fez for what seems like the tenth time today. They're standing in the Forman's kitchen with a clear view of Jackie and Hyde sitting outside the glass doors, smiling with their arms wrapped around each other. "Look at 'em, acting all cute and happy. It's not right."
Fez is silent, watching Kelso stare at the controversial couple. He has mixed emotions about this whole thing, if he's being honest. He really doesn't understand Jackie and Hyde's relationship- in fact it somewhat creeps him out- but they seem to be happy and that's all that matters, he supposes. However, that doesn't mean that he doesn't feel bad for his best friend. Kelso's been taking it pretty hard, and Fez can't blame him; he has to watch his ex-girlfriend fall more in love with his childhood friend every day. That's rough.
On the other hand, Kelso's whining is starting to get on his nerves. It bothers him, maybe more than it should, and in ways he doesn't quite understand. All he knows is that he's more than a little annoyed by now.
So there it is, Fez both feels bad for Kelso and also just wants him to get over it. He's not sure what to do about it, but he's sure of one thing; he's heard enough of Kelso's complaining for one day and he needs to help get his mind off Jackie and Hyde. Somehow.
He looks around the kitchen for ideas- something, anything to distract Kelso. His eyes land on the fishing pole leaning against the kitchen table. It looks like Red was re-stringing it for a fishing trip. Bingo.
"Hey, I have an idea, let's go fishing at the lake! You like fishing, yes?" Fez asks, thinking of the time they went ice fishing at Kelso's uncle's ice shack.
"It's alright, I guess," Kelso shrugs, gaze still locked on Jackie and Hyde sitting on the back patio together.
"Let us go, then!"
"I don't know, Fez."
"Oh, please? I just need to get out and do something," he lies, hoping Kelso will agree to do it for his sake.
"Fine, let's go," Kelso sighs, and Fez smiles. Step one of Mission Cheer Up Kelso is accomplished.
It's a beautiful sunny afternoon in Wisconsin, the light glittering off of the lake's surface like the finest jewelry. There's no wind and the temperature is just right; not too hot, not too cold. Everything makes for a perfect day at the lake.
Except for the fact that the fish aren't biting. Fez and Kelso have been trying for over an hour now with no bites to encourage them. It's beginning to feel like the fish have a vendetta against them.
To make matters worse, Kelso didn't leave his complaints about Jackie and Hyde back at the Forman's. He brought them right along with the fish bait.
"I guess I can't blame Jackie for hookin' up with Hyde over the summer. I mean, she musta been pretty lonely and desperate without me," Kelso says. "But I don't understand why she chose to stay with him. And Hyde; man, I can't believe he would do that to me in the first place. We had a pact in the third grade, you know. And he knows I love her."
Fez gets that familiar feeling in the pit of his stomach; annoyance and...something else? He's still not sure what it is exactly, but once again all he knows is he doesn't like it one bit. "Oh my God, Kelso! Can you shut up about Jackie and Hyde already? I am sick of hearing you whine about them! I just wanted to spend some time with you without hearing about your sad love life! Is that too much to ask for?"
Kelso stares at Fez, stunned. He hadn't realized how much it's been bothering him. Maybe he has been talking about it a little too much lately. But that's only because he's really upset about it and he doesn't know what to do. "I'm sorry, Fez. I guess I've been a real drag, huh?" he asks, and Fez nods. "It's just...I really love her. Or I did. And it hurts, you know? To see someone you love, love someone else."
There's a gnawing at Fez's heart. Somehow that sounds familiar, like he knows that feeling. He's not sure how, but he does.
"And I thought she loved me too," Kelso continues. "So I don't know how she could have chosen someone else."
"Kelso," Fez starts with a sigh, "you and Jackie were not good for each other, you said that yourself. You both did things to hurt each other, and when you left for California she realized she didn't want to put up with that anymore so she found someone else. That is all."
Kelso looks away, knowing Fez spoke only the truth. It's something he's always known, but just doesn't want to accept. Because it hurts.
"But I cannot say I wasn't surprised she chose Hyde. If I were Jackie, I would have chosen to be with you, flaws and all," Fez says with a smile to cheer him up. Of course he'd choose Kelso, he'll always choose Kelso.
"Thanks, Fez," Kelso says with a smile of his own, touched at the sentiment. "And I promise not to talk about it so much anymore. I shouldn't be so caught up with someone who doesn't want to be with me anyway. The right person will want to be with me for who I am."
"Amen, brother," Fez agrees. After all, anyone who doesn't want to be with Kelso is crazy.
"Well, no more talking about this today," Kelso concludes. "We can talk about whatever you want for the rest of today. And let's catch a damn fish already!"
"I don't know man, I'm pretty sure the Hulk could take the Six Million Dollar Man. He's got those huge muscles that can break through walls!" Kelso says. The sun is low in the sky now and there's still no luck with the fish. But now that Kelso and Fez are actually having interesting conversations, the time flies. They're both talking about things that they like, things that make them happy, and all thoughts of ex-girlfriends and backstabbing friends are lost. They're just two best friends enjoying each other's company.
"But can muscle beat machine parts? That is the question," Fez replies. He likes this, just the two of them having fun and talking. He loves spending time with all their friends of course, but there's just something about Kelso that makes him feel warm and happy. He feels more comfortable, like he can truly be himself without judgment.
"Hey, if you're telling me I don't have a chance in case of a robot invasion then I'm gonna stop workin' out, 'cause what's the point?" Kelso remarks all too seriously.
"Well I- did you see that?" Fez asks suddenly.
"See what?"
"My bobber! It moved," Fez explains. They both stare at the bobber at the end of Fez's fishing line in the water, holding their breath. After a long tense moment it moves. "There it goes again!" They both stand up, ready for action.
"Reel it in, Fez!"
"No way, I gotta play it cool! He's only thinking about it and I don't want to lose him."
"But Fez! He'll get away!"
"Wait!"
The bobber goes under the water, pulling the line.
"NOW FEZ!"
He does as Kelso says, reeling in the fishing line. He struggles a bit as the fish fights the pull. "I think it's a big one!" Fez says.
Kelso moves closer to Fez, helping him by also grabbing onto the fishing rod. With their combined efforts they make progress, gradually pulling the fish closer to shore. "Woo hoo! We got 'em!" Kelso whoops as they reel the fish in.
Finally, the fish is pulled from the water, flopping around for freedom. "YEAH, BABY!" Kelso cheers as they both excitedly take in the sight of the large catch.
Joy surges through Fez's system in the adrenaline rush and he can't contain it; he's here with his best friend who he cares for dearly, and they're both so happy. Before he realizes what he's doing, he grabs Kelso's face and pulls him in for a kiss. Their lips crash against each other in the passionate moment, and Fez is briefly aware of how soft and sweet Kelso's lips are. It isn't something he knew he wanted to do until he was suddenly doing it. In this moment, everything is right; the sun is setting against the water's surface behind them for a picture perfect moment, and their prize catch is on the end of their line to show for the afternoon's efforts.
But it's over all too soon as Fez pulls away, a little surprised by what he just did, and for a moment he thinks he went a little too far and messed up this perfect day. His lips are slightly tingling, the feeling of Kelso's against them still present like a ghost. He looks up at Kelso, who also looks a little stunned, eyes wide and- wait, is he blushing? It looks like he's about to say something, like ask him what the hell that was or to calm the hell down. But to Fez's relief he appears to just smile and brush it off; after all, this isn't the first weird thing he's done when he's excited, or the first weird thing he's done, period.
It's cool, apparently, so Fez pushes it aside and continues to smile broadly, still caught up in the excitement of the moment. He picks up the fish they just caught and lifts it close to his face so he can look it right in the eye. "Thank you for letting us catch you, Mr. Fish!" he says happily, and gives the fish a quick kiss as well. He regrets it immediately: it's cold and slimy and pretty much the exact opposite of Kelso's lips.
Fez wipes his lips off with the back of his hand, trying to undo the damage.
"Whoa, Fez! EW!" Kelso exclaims. "Kissin' me was one thing, 'cause who wouldn't enjoy that, but I draw the line at you kissin' a fish. You know that's how you get salmonella, right?"
"Is that true?" Fez asks, suddenly scared.
"Yeah, man. That's why it has the name 'salmon' in it; 'cause the first guy who got it kissed a salmon," Kelso explains.
"Ai, no," he groans, worried he just made a fatal error.
"Don't worry, Fez. Just wash off your mouth real quick," Kelso advises.
Fez quickly hands the fish to Kelso, who puts it in the bucket they brought, and crouches near the edge of the lake. He splashes some water on his face and scrubs at his mouth, desperate to get off any 'salmonella' contamination. He stands back up and faces his friend. "Do you think I got it off?"
Kelso grabs Fez's chin, inspecting his mouth for any traces of fish slime or 'salmonella'. His thumb gently brushes over Fez's lips, and they both grow silent at the act that suddenly feels all too intimate. He swallows hard and looks up into Fez's dark brown eyes, and Fez finds himself holding his breath- why, he's not sure. But the close proximity is both intoxicating and overwhelming.
Suddenly Kelso clears his throat and steps away. "Think you're good, man," he answers Fez's initial question, but he doesn't meet his eyes anymore.
"Oh thank goodness, now that would have been bad," he laughs nervously.
"So," Kelso claps his hands together, ready to change the subject, "are we gonna take this bad boy home for dinner or what?"
Fez looks down in the bucket at his feet, seeing the fish swimming in what little water he has. He frowns. "Eat him? I don't know, Kelso…"
"Don't tell me you've gotten too attached to the fish already."
"Fine, I won't say that...but it is true."
"Fez, I thought the whole point of going fishing was to catch something and eat it!"
Fez glares at him. "No, the whole point of going fishing was to get you to think about something else besides how sad you are that Jackie is dating Hyde!"
Kelso's eyes soften, once again touched. He often takes for granted just how big of a heart Fez has. It's something he really admires and something he really loves about him. Where Kelso's faults lie in his shallowness and focus on instant gratification, Fez's is there to make up for with his thoughtfulness. "Yeah, okay. You're right, man. We can let the fish go if you want," he agrees.
"Yes, please," Fez smiles. Together they ease the bucket over to the water and slowly pour it into the lake. "Goodbye Mr. Fish!" Fez calls as they watch the fish eagerly swim away.
Kelso waves. "Maybe we'll catch ya again sometime."
The two friends continue to stare at the water even after the fish swims out of sight. After a minute Kelso turns to Fez with a smile. "You know, this whole spending the day fishing with you really worked, I feel a lot better. Thank you, Fez."
Fez smiles. That's all he wanted to hear. "Anything for you, my friend."
They gather up their fishing rods and tackle boxes and start to walk home.
"So Fez, you enjoyed kissin' me more than kissin' that fish, right?" Kelso asks.
"Oh, of course," Fez reassures him with a laugh.
"Oh, good. I'd hate to think a fish is a better kisser than me," Kelso laughs with him.
And with that, the best friends head home, ignoring the fact that feelings between them have slightly shifted in a way that is bound to bring questions and confusion bubbling to the surface sooner or later. Of course, conflict will also accompany the confusion when the two eventually realize the very thing that caused those feelings to shift was caught on camera.