Chapter Sixteen: Indian Summer and Winter Flowers
Toris stood behind the counter of the campus bookstore, leaning on his elbows and staring somewhere past the small selection of clothing emblazoned with the university name and mascot. He chewed on some stomach medicine and agonized. What happened last night still weighed heavily on his mind and twisted his poor stomach in knots. A boy, a high school kid, and a brother to one of his classmates ran away from home and was now hiding out in his room, shacking up with his roommate. Toris let out a low groan and popped another tablet into his mouth. "Maybe I should go tell Yao," he muttered under his breath, though he knew that he never would.
As if speaking his name somehow summoned him, the older Chinese student half-ran, half-walked into the bookstore, muttering to himself, frazzled annoyance clearly written on his face. Still admonishing himself in Chinese, Yao frantically looked around the store then jogged up to a display of basic school supplies. After rummaging through it for a second, he hurried up to the counter carrying a pack of cheaply made pens.
Toris's heart tightened in his chest as he watched Yao approach. His mouth was suddenly dryer than the Błędów Desert and he subconsciously wet his lips. He had always liked Yao, but because of Ivan he had always held his tongue, always kept his distance. Maybe now that Ivan was involved with Yong Soo Toris could... but, no. Yao could never like a guy like him.
"早上好," Yao said distractedly putting the small, overpriced pack of pens on the counter and pulling out his wallet. "I can't believe myself, aru. I left in such a hurry this morning I forgot my pencil case," he told Toris with a frown.
"These things happen, I suppose," Toris said and he frowned right along with Yao. He felt terrible. Yao's usually well-maintained hair only looked about half-brushed and dark circles sat beneath his normally bright eyes. He yawned as he pulled the money out of his wallet, half-heartedly hiding it behind his other hand. He probably hadn't slept at all last night and Toris knew why. He wanted to tell Yao where Yong Soo was, to lift that anxiety from his mind, but he knew what Ivan could, and would, do when he was upset.
But as he watched Yao shuffle, shoulders slumped, out of the bookstore, Toris could help but call out to him. "W-wait!"
Yao turned, only a few steps from the exit. "Hm? Did I forget something, aru? That sounds about right today..."
Toris's tongue suddenly filled his entire mouth. Why? Why would he do that? And what was he supposed to say now? It's not as if he could actually tell Yao about Yong Soo; Ivan would killI him! As the seconds ticked by and Toris gaped silently, he could tell that Yao was starting to get impatient. Desperate to say something, the words suddenly tumbled from his mouth like an avalanche. "W-would you like to-to do something sometime?" he asked, his question barely audible over the soft mechanical whir of the refrigerated display of drinks near the register.
A deep blush covered Toris's face as Yao stared at him in shock. Why did those have to be the words to come out of his mouth? He almost wished he had told Yao about Yong Soo instead. Ivan's pipe couldn't be anywhere near as painful as this horribly long awkward silence.
When Yao finally began to speak, it was slow and cautious, as if he was still considering it even as he answered. "Well, there is a lot going on in my life right now, aru, but-"
"No, I-I understand," Toris interrupted, trying to ignore the stabbing pain in his chest and get this rejection over with.
"But," Yao repeated, emphasizing the word and looking at the Lithuanian pointedly. "When it all works out, I'd really like that, aru." He gave Toris a tired, but sweet smile and pulled a pen out of the new pack. "Give me your hand, aru."
Toris stuck his hand out, automatically responding to the request, though his mind was still reeling. That-that was kind of like a 'yes', wasn't it? His stomach fluttered like a small bird and his face reddened even more. Yao said 'yes'. It wasn't a yes-'yes', not a resounding, excited, elated 'yes', but it was more than Toris had ever hoped for, ever dreamed of. And for the few seconds it took for Yao to finish writing and cap his pen, Toris floated.
"There," Yao said, smiling again at Toris and slipping the pen back into his bag. "Give me a call sometime, aru."
Toris stared in shock at the neatly written number on the palm of his hand. He barely managed to stutter out a 'goodbye' as Yao, highly amused by the younger's reaction, left the bookstore, now surprisingly energetic.
-o-o-o-
Yong Soo sat beside Ivan in the huge lecture hall and stared blankly at the white board, unable to understand a single word written there. He wasn't even trying to listen anymore to the droning voice of the middle-aged lecturer as he droned on about concepts that just refused to click in Yong Soo's mind. He had tried to listen at first, thinking he'd impress Kiku later with what he learned, but he was just so confused and the professor was so dull he soon drifted into inattentiveness.
He couldn't stand sitting there doing nothing for another second. He was bored and confused and, despite Ivan's assurance it wouldn't happen, he was worried that Yao or Kiku might see him and drag him home.
He looked over at Ivan who was writing something in his notebook that Yong Soo couldn't read. He looked at the professor again then immediately bored with that, looked back at Ivan. He tapped his pencil, looked at the ceiling, and then glanced around the room for people he might recognize. Seeing no one, he huffed and rested his chin on his hand. If he didn't do something soon, he was going to burst.
Yong Soo tore a piece of paper out of the notebook he borrowed from Ivan, not even noticing the irritated look from the professor as the sound echoed through the nearly silent lecture hall, and scribbled a note to Ivan.
how much longer is ur class?
Ivan glanced down at the note as Yong Soo slid it over to him. A wash of guilt came over him. Yong Soo was bored. Of course he was bored; this class even bored Ivan out of his mind.
Am sorry. Should not be much longer.
Yong Soo nodded and tried not to look too upset as he passed another note over.
its ok. so r u getting ne of this?
Ivan shrugged his board shoulders with a look on his face that clearly showed how much he cared and quickly wrote another note back.
Sort of. Is little confusing. What are you wanting to do after the class?
He thought it over for a moment, but this time it was Yong Soo's turn to shrug.
idk. probably shouldnt really go newhere that yao-hyung or kiku-hyung might c us. guess that means no arcade...
Yong Soo pouted as he passed the note back to Ivan. He went to the arcade almost every day, so realizing that he didn't when he'd be able to go again was a bit of a downer. But the arcade would be the first place his brothers would look for him so he didn't really have a choice.
Oh that is being true.
Ivan was having a hard time deciphering what Yong Soo was writing. Some of the words were just so, so weird. Was it some Korean thing? He wasn't sure, but he did know that Yong Soo was obviously upset about not being able to go to the arcade. Ivan didn't really care what they did, he just wanted to be with Yong Soo. So when the brunette passed his next note over, Ivan had no objections.
wanna just go back 2 ur dorm + watch a movie? i brought sum wit me
Ivan smiled and nodded. A movie sounded like fun. After all, movies are what people do on dates!
-o-o-o-
Ivan sat on his bed with Yong Soo resting in his lap. He loved he warmth and just noticeable pressure of the slender Korean against his chest. He sighed contentedly and wrapped his arms around Yong Soo's waist. Despite the fact that the movie the younger boy brought was, of course, a Korean drama and Ivan had more than a little trouble reading the English subtitles that flew off the screen way too quickly, Ivan couldn't imagine being happier than he was right now.
Romantic music swelled as the characters on screen gazed lovingly into each other's eyes. Yong Soo gasped excitedly and Ivan didn't need the ability to read the impossibly fast subtitles to know what was going on now. The characters leaned in close and the man suddenly swept the woman in a long passionate kiss.
Ivan's face blazed hot as thoughts of Yong Soo's mouth, his lips and his tongue danced teasingly through the Russian's mind. Tentatively, Ivan kissed the back of Yong Soo's head, wishing he had the courage to do more.
Yong Soo giggled and tore his eyes away from the screen to look back at Ivan. "The movie's getting you all mushy, huh? It'll do that da ze. Aren't the romantic scenes really-"
Yong Soo stopped short as Ivan's lips found his and one pale hand raised to gently cup his cheek. The tender kiss lasted only seconds, but when Ivan pulled away, face hot and flushed, he could feel his heart beat in his ears.
Yong Soo's looked of shock quickly melted into a feral grin and he leaped onto Ivan, pushing him back onto the bed.
"Vhat-"
Yong Soo tangled his fingers in Ivan's hair. "Hey, you started it, da ze," he purred as he nuzzled into the crook of Ivan's neck. He felt the Russian's heart beating fast in the side of his neck and gently kissed the pulsing skin. He pressed his lips gently, teasingly on the corner of the older man's mouth. Then, with a smirk, he tugged on Ivan's hair and covered his mouth with his own in a hungry passion. Ivan let out a low moan that sent shivers down Yong Soo's spine. He had never heard Ivan sound like that before, his voice all deep and low. It was... Sexy.
Ivan's hand slipped under Yong Soo's oversized hoodie and the smaller boy gasped at the feel of the cool hand on his bare back. Ivan pushed his tongue into the warmth of Yong Soo's open mouth and let out another muffled moan. The Korean tasty spicy and hot, like Indian summer. It was like nothing Ivan had ever experienced before.
Ivan's arms wrapped tighter around the younger's slender waist and pulled him close. He felt Yong Soo's body press into his and the action almost seemed to meld them together.
Yong Soo's arms trailed down to wrap around Ivan's neck and he caressed the Russian's tongue with his own. Their tongues met and danced a wet, sticky, warm dance until Ivan submitted and laid back to give Yong Soo full access to his mouth. Yong Soo set upon the task with enthusiasm, lovingly caressing Ivan's mouth and tongue with his own. Yong Soo pulled back slightly and nipped Ivan's bottom lip.
"Я люблю Вас," Ivan murmured breathlessly.
"What-what does that mean?" Yong Soo asked, also out of breath and settled down to lie on Ivan's chest.
Ivan blushed and looked away, then shook his head. "Is nothing."
Yong Soo looked up at the Russian and raised an eyebrow. "Nothing? It means nothing? So it was complete gibberish, da ze?"
Ivan flustered uncomfortably. "V-vell... Да?"
The Korean scrunched up his face in a pouty frown, trying to force Ivan to give it up by way of puppy-dog eyes. When Ivan only shifted uncomfortably, Yong Soo sighed then laughed a little. "Okay, okay. It doesn't mean anything," he consented, deciding to let the poor guy off the hook. It didn't really matter anyway; if it was important he had faith that Ivan would tell him when he was ready. Putting it out of his mind, Yong Soo kissed Ivan softly on the lips and curled into him, breathing in the unique smell of sunflowers blooming in the snow.
-o-o-o-
A/N: *peeks out from behind corner* Okay, no excuses for the lateness of this chapter. I hope you enjoyed it though. I have to say that writing Yong Soo's notes almost killed me. I'm so not good at chat-speak. It's how I think he'd write casually though. *shrugs*
Oh, but a question. When I'm writing and I hit a block, I sometimes doodle what I want to happen. I was wondering if I posted these somewhere, would anyone want to see them? Just a thought.
Well, 'til next time readers!
Translations and Notes:
早上好- Good morning (Chinese)
Я люблю Вас- I love you (Russian)
Błędów Desert- A small desert in Southern Poland.