Title: Unconscious Grace
Author: Liat
Disclaimer: Not mine
Summary: the title indicates Ephram of course! Bright and Ephram *get it on* yumm yumm!
~*~
Part 1:
~*~
He slipped in as quietly as possible, moving towards the back of the room, towards the wall of mirrors, where he could observe.
Watching Ephram play was like watching a ballet. Perfectly coordinated, unbelievably graceful, overwhelmingly passionate.
Leaning against the mirrors, hands resting on the wooden bar, he watched the boy sitting at the piano with his eyes closed, swaying gently, nimble fingers caressing the keys, teasing out a slow, heart-rending melody. When the composition faded to an end, he held his breath. Slowly, Ephram turned around as he sensed someone else in the room. Gray eyes met blue ones and, with out a word, they held.
"Was that for Amy?"
Ephram stared.
"What?"
Pushing off of the wall, Bright came forward.
"Was that for Amy?"
Ephram shook his head,
"What do you mean?"
Bright kept his arms crossed and shrugged, fighting a blush,
"Well, that song. It's like.pretty."
Ephram looked down at his lap, trying to hide a smile.
"Thanks, but it's not for Amy."
"Oh." Bright paused, staring down at the shiny hardwood floor, "Okay, good, then. Because, she and Colin are, like, gonna get married and live happily ever after."
Ephram's smile faded and he looked up at Bright.
"I know."
They stared at each other in silence, then Bright walked up to the piano. Nudging Ephram, he sat down next to him on the bench.
"Play for me."
Ephram sighed, glancing sideways at Bright. Then he rolled his sleeves up, shook his hands, closed his eyes, and placed his hands over the keys. At first he just stroked random keys, not making a sound, with long, agile fingers. Then, he eased into a light song. Bright smiled, listening, watching him sway elegantly with the music, the corners of his lips turned up in a soft smile as he counted beats, silently mouthing them. When Ephram had finished, he waited a few beats with his foot on the pedal until the last note faded away, then he opened his eyes, dropped his hands onto his knees, and turned to look at Bright.
Bright graced Ephram with a pleased, slightly lop-sided smile, still watching him. Ephram turned his body towards Bright, placing his hands on the bench to his sides for support. Ephram smiled back,
"Well?"
Bright held the look, the grin,
"That was great. Who was it?"
Ephram shrugged,
"Tchaikovsky."
"I like it."
Ephram snorted, rolled his eyes, said sarcastically,
"Well, I'm glad."
Still smiling, Bright watched Ephram. Ephram smiled awkwardly under Bright's intense gaze,
"What?"
Bright leaned forwards, then stopped a couple inches from Ephram's face, his gaze centered on Ephram's lips. Then, giving Ephram plenty of time to protest, he slowly closed the rest of the distance. He fitted his lips clumsily over Ephram's and felt him begin to tremble. Bright made to pull away, but Ephram buried his other hand in the curls on the back of Bright's head, holding him close. Tilting his head to the side, Ephram opened his mouth under Bright's and returned the hesitant kiss.
Feeling Ephram relax, Bright scooted even closer, letting go of Ephram's hand to loop it around Ephram's waist and pull him closer. Ephram wiggled around, trying to ease the discomfort of his position on the hard piano bench. Giving up, figuring there would be no comfort in the solid wood of the bench, Ephram wrapped his other arm around Bright's shoulders, his fingers lightly brushing the back of Bright's neck. Bright shivered, tightening his hold on Ephram and taking the kiss even deeper.
They didn't know how long they had been in the ballet room making out, but by the time they came to their senses and realized that they were still inside the school, the halls were empty and a very impatient Amy was standing in the front parking lot, arms crossed, foot tapping, teeth grinding. When she saw Bright and Ephram walk out of the school, she threw her hands up and walked over to them. Grabbing Bright by his collar, she said,
"Where the hell have you been? I've been standing out here forever! I looked everywhere for you! Can we go home, please?"
Then, without even a glance at Ephram, she proceeded to drag Bright across the lot to their car.
~*~
Amy leaned against the doorjamb, watching Bright preen in front of the bathroom mirror. She smiled to herself and said,
"Whatcha doing?"
Bright glanced at Amy in the mirror, absently tugging on one of his curls.
"Getting ready to go out, dumbass. What's it look like?"
Amy scrunched up her nose and stuck out her tongue. She was about to turn around and walk out of the bathroom with "an injured air about her", but curiosity got the better of her.
"With Gemma?"
Bright snorted, looking at Amy again,
"No, Gemma and I have been over for, like, ever. And maybe if you'd stop sucking face with Colin for, like, a minute, even, you'd notice that life is still going on around you."
Amy scowled, but continued trying to ignore Bright's biting sarcasm.
"So, then who are you going out with?"
Bright's eyebrows lowered and he mumbled,
"No one."
Amy grinned and cooed,
"Aww, does wittle Bright have a wittle secret girlfriend?"
Bright didn't look at Amy, though she noticed his cheeks turn a bit pink. Still grinning madly, Amy turned around and went back into her room.
Bright was just slipping on his lightweight jean jacket when the doorbell rang. Smiling, Bright dashed out of his room and bounded down the stairs. He skidded to an abrupt halt when he saw Amy standing in front of the open door, staring at Ephram. He could just imagine what she was thinking. Bright slowly walked up to the door. He patted Amy's shoulder and said,
"Later, sis."
As he passed Amy, she grabbed a handful of his jacket and said,
"Ah-ah, I don't think so." To Ephram: "Give us a minute, okay?"
She shut the door rudely in Ephram's face and turned to Bright, her arms crossed. Bright said, his eyes wide, his expression incredulous,
"Amy! It's snowing outside! Did you see what he's wearing?! Let him inside!"
He moved to open the door, but Amy grabbed him and said,
"What are you doing, Bright?"
Bright frowned,
"Letting Ephram insi---"
"You know what I mean, Bright! Why are going out with Ephram?"
Bright shrugged,
"Cuz we're friends."
Amy cocked her head to one side and stared Bright down. He mumbled,
"Damn little sisters." He said more clearly, "I'll be back later. Good bye."
Bright opened the door and stepped out, shutting the door firmly behind him. He saw Ephram leaning against a pillar and he said,
"I'm really sorry about that. Amy's stupid."
Ephram half smiled and walked with Bright to the car. Even once inside the car, he resisted the urge to lean over and kiss Bright because he caught a flick of the curtains and saw a stripe of honey-colored hair and a curious brown eye watching them. Rolling his eyes, he fastened his seatbelt and, knowing she couldn't see it, he reached over and squeezed Bright's thigh. Bright looked over at Ephram, smiling warmly as he started the car.
~*~
They came out of the theater laughing. "Bringing Down the House" had been a good choice, as Ephram had continually tried to convince Bright for days before they went to see it. Bright smiled widely at Ephram and said,
"That was great."
Ephram raised his eyebrows,
"Really? Now, what have I been telling you for the past week?"
Bright rolled his eyes,
"Okay, okay, I'll trust your judgement next time. Jeez."
Ephram grinned, bumping shoulders with Bright companionably. They walked out to the car, sliding in and immediately turning it on, along with the heater. Bright smiled, turning to look at Ephram,
"So, coffee?"
Ephram nodded,
"Sure. Something hot would be nice."
Bright grinned wickedly,
"Well if you wanted something hot, why didn't you just say so?"
Ephram laughed and sat, watching Bright expectantly. Bright leaned towards him, crawling awkwardly over the stick shift, and placing his hands on either side of Ephram's head on the headrest, effectively holding Ephram's head in place. Ephram tried to turn and see if anyone could see them, but Bright was cupping his face in his hands now, and he wouldn't let him look away.
"Bright, people could---"
"Who gives a damn, Ephram? Besides, no one's here this late. Just.relax."
Ephram sighed, but smiled encouragingly up at Bright. With an answering smile, Bright leaned close, his mouth barely a hair's-breadth away from Ephram's. He paused, breath held, lips barely parted, staring sweetly into Ephram's eyes.
Ephram shifted impatiently, waiting for Bright to kiss him. When he didn't, Ephram titled his chin upwards, effectively bringing his lips in contact with Bright's, then wrapped one arm around Bright's waist and tugged. Bright's precarious balance over the median gave way and he tumbled gracelessly into Ephram's lap. Ephram smiled, wrapping his other arm around Bright and, after helping Bright right himself, pulled him closer. Bright's hands dropped, sliding down to Ephram's chest, massaging muscles lightly. Ephram lowered his grip to Bright's hips and intensified the kiss, swiping his tongue over Bright's bottom lip, then nipping. Bright made a sound deep in his throat and rewarded Ephram with a slight brush of his thumb over one of Ephram's nipples. Ephram gasped, hands clenching on Bright's hips. Pleased, Bright repeated the action, more firmly. Ephram tensed, his hands still gripping Bright tightly, deepening the kiss even more. He pressed back against the seat, drawing Bright closer, silently begging for more. Bright leaned into Ephram, allowing his hand to wander lower, over Ephram's abdomen, lower still. His fingertips were just brushing the waistband of Ephram's pants when there was a sharp rap on the car window.
Startled, Bright leaned back, looking at Ephram inquisitively. Ephram was staring out the window in horror. Frowning, Bright turned his head and felt all of the blood leave his face. Standing outside looked very, very pissed were Dr. and Rose Abbot.
Author: Liat
Disclaimer: Not mine
Summary: the title indicates Ephram of course! Bright and Ephram *get it on* yumm yumm!
~*~
Part 1:
~*~
He slipped in as quietly as possible, moving towards the back of the room, towards the wall of mirrors, where he could observe.
Watching Ephram play was like watching a ballet. Perfectly coordinated, unbelievably graceful, overwhelmingly passionate.
Leaning against the mirrors, hands resting on the wooden bar, he watched the boy sitting at the piano with his eyes closed, swaying gently, nimble fingers caressing the keys, teasing out a slow, heart-rending melody. When the composition faded to an end, he held his breath. Slowly, Ephram turned around as he sensed someone else in the room. Gray eyes met blue ones and, with out a word, they held.
"Was that for Amy?"
Ephram stared.
"What?"
Pushing off of the wall, Bright came forward.
"Was that for Amy?"
Ephram shook his head,
"What do you mean?"
Bright kept his arms crossed and shrugged, fighting a blush,
"Well, that song. It's like.pretty."
Ephram looked down at his lap, trying to hide a smile.
"Thanks, but it's not for Amy."
"Oh." Bright paused, staring down at the shiny hardwood floor, "Okay, good, then. Because, she and Colin are, like, gonna get married and live happily ever after."
Ephram's smile faded and he looked up at Bright.
"I know."
They stared at each other in silence, then Bright walked up to the piano. Nudging Ephram, he sat down next to him on the bench.
"Play for me."
Ephram sighed, glancing sideways at Bright. Then he rolled his sleeves up, shook his hands, closed his eyes, and placed his hands over the keys. At first he just stroked random keys, not making a sound, with long, agile fingers. Then, he eased into a light song. Bright smiled, listening, watching him sway elegantly with the music, the corners of his lips turned up in a soft smile as he counted beats, silently mouthing them. When Ephram had finished, he waited a few beats with his foot on the pedal until the last note faded away, then he opened his eyes, dropped his hands onto his knees, and turned to look at Bright.
Bright graced Ephram with a pleased, slightly lop-sided smile, still watching him. Ephram turned his body towards Bright, placing his hands on the bench to his sides for support. Ephram smiled back,
"Well?"
Bright held the look, the grin,
"That was great. Who was it?"
Ephram shrugged,
"Tchaikovsky."
"I like it."
Ephram snorted, rolled his eyes, said sarcastically,
"Well, I'm glad."
Still smiling, Bright watched Ephram. Ephram smiled awkwardly under Bright's intense gaze,
"What?"
Bright leaned forwards, then stopped a couple inches from Ephram's face, his gaze centered on Ephram's lips. Then, giving Ephram plenty of time to protest, he slowly closed the rest of the distance. He fitted his lips clumsily over Ephram's and felt him begin to tremble. Bright made to pull away, but Ephram buried his other hand in the curls on the back of Bright's head, holding him close. Tilting his head to the side, Ephram opened his mouth under Bright's and returned the hesitant kiss.
Feeling Ephram relax, Bright scooted even closer, letting go of Ephram's hand to loop it around Ephram's waist and pull him closer. Ephram wiggled around, trying to ease the discomfort of his position on the hard piano bench. Giving up, figuring there would be no comfort in the solid wood of the bench, Ephram wrapped his other arm around Bright's shoulders, his fingers lightly brushing the back of Bright's neck. Bright shivered, tightening his hold on Ephram and taking the kiss even deeper.
They didn't know how long they had been in the ballet room making out, but by the time they came to their senses and realized that they were still inside the school, the halls were empty and a very impatient Amy was standing in the front parking lot, arms crossed, foot tapping, teeth grinding. When she saw Bright and Ephram walk out of the school, she threw her hands up and walked over to them. Grabbing Bright by his collar, she said,
"Where the hell have you been? I've been standing out here forever! I looked everywhere for you! Can we go home, please?"
Then, without even a glance at Ephram, she proceeded to drag Bright across the lot to their car.
~*~
Amy leaned against the doorjamb, watching Bright preen in front of the bathroom mirror. She smiled to herself and said,
"Whatcha doing?"
Bright glanced at Amy in the mirror, absently tugging on one of his curls.
"Getting ready to go out, dumbass. What's it look like?"
Amy scrunched up her nose and stuck out her tongue. She was about to turn around and walk out of the bathroom with "an injured air about her", but curiosity got the better of her.
"With Gemma?"
Bright snorted, looking at Amy again,
"No, Gemma and I have been over for, like, ever. And maybe if you'd stop sucking face with Colin for, like, a minute, even, you'd notice that life is still going on around you."
Amy scowled, but continued trying to ignore Bright's biting sarcasm.
"So, then who are you going out with?"
Bright's eyebrows lowered and he mumbled,
"No one."
Amy grinned and cooed,
"Aww, does wittle Bright have a wittle secret girlfriend?"
Bright didn't look at Amy, though she noticed his cheeks turn a bit pink. Still grinning madly, Amy turned around and went back into her room.
Bright was just slipping on his lightweight jean jacket when the doorbell rang. Smiling, Bright dashed out of his room and bounded down the stairs. He skidded to an abrupt halt when he saw Amy standing in front of the open door, staring at Ephram. He could just imagine what she was thinking. Bright slowly walked up to the door. He patted Amy's shoulder and said,
"Later, sis."
As he passed Amy, she grabbed a handful of his jacket and said,
"Ah-ah, I don't think so." To Ephram: "Give us a minute, okay?"
She shut the door rudely in Ephram's face and turned to Bright, her arms crossed. Bright said, his eyes wide, his expression incredulous,
"Amy! It's snowing outside! Did you see what he's wearing?! Let him inside!"
He moved to open the door, but Amy grabbed him and said,
"What are you doing, Bright?"
Bright frowned,
"Letting Ephram insi---"
"You know what I mean, Bright! Why are going out with Ephram?"
Bright shrugged,
"Cuz we're friends."
Amy cocked her head to one side and stared Bright down. He mumbled,
"Damn little sisters." He said more clearly, "I'll be back later. Good bye."
Bright opened the door and stepped out, shutting the door firmly behind him. He saw Ephram leaning against a pillar and he said,
"I'm really sorry about that. Amy's stupid."
Ephram half smiled and walked with Bright to the car. Even once inside the car, he resisted the urge to lean over and kiss Bright because he caught a flick of the curtains and saw a stripe of honey-colored hair and a curious brown eye watching them. Rolling his eyes, he fastened his seatbelt and, knowing she couldn't see it, he reached over and squeezed Bright's thigh. Bright looked over at Ephram, smiling warmly as he started the car.
~*~
They came out of the theater laughing. "Bringing Down the House" had been a good choice, as Ephram had continually tried to convince Bright for days before they went to see it. Bright smiled widely at Ephram and said,
"That was great."
Ephram raised his eyebrows,
"Really? Now, what have I been telling you for the past week?"
Bright rolled his eyes,
"Okay, okay, I'll trust your judgement next time. Jeez."
Ephram grinned, bumping shoulders with Bright companionably. They walked out to the car, sliding in and immediately turning it on, along with the heater. Bright smiled, turning to look at Ephram,
"So, coffee?"
Ephram nodded,
"Sure. Something hot would be nice."
Bright grinned wickedly,
"Well if you wanted something hot, why didn't you just say so?"
Ephram laughed and sat, watching Bright expectantly. Bright leaned towards him, crawling awkwardly over the stick shift, and placing his hands on either side of Ephram's head on the headrest, effectively holding Ephram's head in place. Ephram tried to turn and see if anyone could see them, but Bright was cupping his face in his hands now, and he wouldn't let him look away.
"Bright, people could---"
"Who gives a damn, Ephram? Besides, no one's here this late. Just.relax."
Ephram sighed, but smiled encouragingly up at Bright. With an answering smile, Bright leaned close, his mouth barely a hair's-breadth away from Ephram's. He paused, breath held, lips barely parted, staring sweetly into Ephram's eyes.
Ephram shifted impatiently, waiting for Bright to kiss him. When he didn't, Ephram titled his chin upwards, effectively bringing his lips in contact with Bright's, then wrapped one arm around Bright's waist and tugged. Bright's precarious balance over the median gave way and he tumbled gracelessly into Ephram's lap. Ephram smiled, wrapping his other arm around Bright and, after helping Bright right himself, pulled him closer. Bright's hands dropped, sliding down to Ephram's chest, massaging muscles lightly. Ephram lowered his grip to Bright's hips and intensified the kiss, swiping his tongue over Bright's bottom lip, then nipping. Bright made a sound deep in his throat and rewarded Ephram with a slight brush of his thumb over one of Ephram's nipples. Ephram gasped, hands clenching on Bright's hips. Pleased, Bright repeated the action, more firmly. Ephram tensed, his hands still gripping Bright tightly, deepening the kiss even more. He pressed back against the seat, drawing Bright closer, silently begging for more. Bright leaned into Ephram, allowing his hand to wander lower, over Ephram's abdomen, lower still. His fingertips were just brushing the waistband of Ephram's pants when there was a sharp rap on the car window.
Startled, Bright leaned back, looking at Ephram inquisitively. Ephram was staring out the window in horror. Frowning, Bright turned his head and felt all of the blood leave his face. Standing outside looked very, very pissed were Dr. and Rose Abbot.