A year went by so quickly, that it was soon summer again, and their PT sessions were outdoors once more. Jim and David ran as fast as their lungs would let them. Their legs pumped with a great amount of force as they sped for the finish line. They were neck and neck with four other officers. The boys sped down the track, hearts pumping and leg muscles throbbing. As they were turning the final corner and passing the finish line, Jim tripped over his own feet. To save himself from falling he started hopping on one foot and waved his arm out to catch his balance.
"Look out!" David called; but it was too late, and the two of them tumbled over each other and rolled onto the grass. David covered his head and came to a halt on his side. He looked up to see Jim had landed flat on his face. When Jim looked up, he had grass stains on his face. The two of them exchanged shocked and worried glances before Jim burst into a fit of laughter. David started laughing and crawled over to Jim. The younger brunette rolled onto his back and held his stomach to contain his laughter. Tears started to pool from his eyes from laughing so hard, even though he hadn't the foggiest idea of what was so funny. David was hovering above him, with a big goofy grin on his face. "What the heck happened?" he laughed.
"I dunno." Jim bit his lip to stifle his giggles, but they soon subsided when he noticed David staring. But not just staring. He was looking into his eyes and smiling. David's green eyes were so soft and inviting, and Jim couldn't help but examine every part of them. Jim felt a heat rise in his cheeks, causing him to feel incredibly vulnerable. He felt the need to put a hand between them. But he hesitated. The thought of touching David made him blush even more. His chest brushed against David's which made his breath catch. He wanted to laugh it off and roll over, but he couldn't move.
David's smile faltered. He moved so that he was hovering directly over Jim before gently closing the distance between them. Jim held his breath; his heart pounding a million miles a second. He closed his eyes, bracing himself for whatever would happen next. He felt a pair of lips gently press against his, and Jim kissed back.
"Hawkins! Mogtrevo!" a voice called from nearby. Jim's eyes shot open. David was sitting beside him, smiling at their approaching comrade. "Are you guys alright?"
"Yeah, I was just making sure Jim's ankle was okay." David lied before getting to his feet. He looked down at Jim and offered a hand, which Jim took gratefully. The friend shrugged and jogged off. They were flushed, and Jim looked down to see he was still holding David's hand. He and David locked eyes and David bit his lip. In a flash, Jim was pulling David off the field, and hiding behind a shed.
Jim pushed David against the shed wall, his heart pounding. David's breathing was heavy, his eyes wide and expectant. Jim put his hands on David's face and pulled him into a kiss. He screwed his eyes shut but Jim heard himself moan. David took that as a sign to kiss him harder and pulled Jim's hips to meet his. Jim moaned again, feeling his erection press against David's leg.
David broke away first, breathless. His hands were on Jim's face, cradling it. "You keep moanin' like that," he paused when he saw Jim's eyes were hazy, his face looked so desperate. "Oh-" David crushed their lips together. Jim put his hands around David, pulling him close. Jim broke the kiss to breathe, and David shifted, putting his knee between Jim's legs. Jim almost whimpered. He began grinding himself against David's leg, his breaths turning to panting.
"Ahh- I can't breathe." Jim let his head fall back, trying to get some air. David started kissing his neck, which made Jim jump. The jump made the two grind together, which had Jim moaning, a little too loud.
"Shush!" David kissed Jim's lips, but kept an eye out on the field. "Gotta be quiet, now." He whispered gently and put one of his hands over the seam of Jim's pants. Jim started shaking his head.
"Day, if you start that-ah!" he bucked into David's hand.
"Responsive, aren't ya?" David chuckled. "Come on, then." He scooted to the side and pulled on Jim's hand for him to follow. They tried to stay conspicuous as they hurried across the training field and into the dormitories. They quickly entered their dorm, saw it was empty and locked the door. David was on Jim in an instant. He kissed him again, this time taking off his shirt and tossing it away. He made quick work of Jim's pants, as well as his own, before the two stood naked, chest to chest. "Fuck," David whispered and took Jim's face in his hands. "Jim," he breathed and kissed the shorter brunette. Jim smirked. David pulled Jim into his bunk and rolled on top of him. He started kissing Jim's cheek, and neck, while his hand moved once more, between Jim's legs. Jim bucked again. David's hands were rough, and big, and warm. With one of them preoccupied, the other ran down Jim's chest, down his stomach to his hip and back up again. Jim grabbed David's shoulder blades, pulling him flush against his chest. There was an ache in him, an ache to get closer, hold David closer. An ache that shook through him, a dizzying need to lay like this, without a second thought for tomorrow, and just breathe. He dug his hands into David's muscled back and buried his face into the former's neck. He felt David's head turn.
"What is it?" he kissed Jim's neck. His hands gently rested on Jim's sides. "You wanna stop?"
"No, I just," Jim moved his hands to David's face and kissed him. "Nothing." He smiled. "It's stupid." David rested his weight on his elbows and looked down at Jim.
"Tell me anyway."
Jim shook his head and had to look away. "Just," his heart wanted to clam up. "Just don't,"
"Don't what?" David pulled back more and looked all over Jim. "Did I hurt you?"
"No!" Jim insisted. "I just wanted you to stay." He said a tad quieter. "That's all." Something in David's eyes, melted. He nestled himself on top of Jim and pressed the two of them closer.
"I'm not going anywhere." David kissed Jim's forehead. It was such a gentle action, but it had Jim crushing their lips together and thrusting up his hips to meet David's. Both reached down and gripped the other, rubbing and pressing until they were out of breath, finishing in each other's hands. David rolled off Jim, and the two tried to awkwardly sprawl on the bunk. David turned onto his side and pulled Jim close. Before he could pass out, David threw part of Jim's blanket over the two of them.
"What are you doing?" A voice rudely awoke them. David lifted his head to see one of their roommates, Vinny, staring.
"Sleeping." David nestled back down and nestled his nose into Jim's hair.
"You didn't wanna put a tie on the door, man?"
"We're just sleeping." David felt the blanket over his hip, making sure Jim was covered too. The younger brunette was snuggled against him, beginning to stir. "You're gonna wake 'im."
"Yeah okay," Vinny threw his duffle onto his bed and plopped down to take off his shoes. "Is Jim-" he bit his tongue when he saw David's partner roll over and stretch. "Never mind." He smiled and returned his attention to his shoes.
David whispered into Jim's ear before sitting on the edge of the bed and pulling on his boxers. He got up to shower, leaving Jim to stretch and get up by himself. He met Vinny's gaze and smiled sheepishly.
"So," Vinny cleared his throat. "Is this," he gestured between Jim and the bathroom door. "This a thing now?" Jim looked over at the door and smiled.
"I guess it is."
He nodded. "Alright. But dude," Jim raised his eyebrows in acknowledgement. "Get a fucking tie."
"You got it!" Jim laughed as David emerged from the bathroom. He looked between the two of them and walked back to his bunk. David reached down and cupped the side of Jim's jaw very gently. Jim looked up to give him a crooked smile in return of the affection.
"Jeez, I feel like I'm interrupting something." Vinny disclosed.
"Got nothin' to worry about, Vin." David smiled at him. "Unless this makes you uncomfortable."
"Nah!" Vinny lifted himself into his top bunk and laid with his hands behind his head. "I'm never here. Doesn't bother me." He stretched out his legs and closed his eyes. "G'night guys."
David and Jim shared a smile before David climbed into his bunk for bed. Reaching over to pull the ceiling lamp's light string, he gave Jim another smile. "Goodnight." Jim looked up and waved his hand sheepishly.
"Goodnight, David." Jim laid back down in his bunk and rested his arm under his pillow to lay comfortably on his stomach. After a few minutes of silence, they all heard the door open. Their other roommate, Killion, tip toed in, carrying his over-stuffed book bag and multiple textbooks in his arms. Jim peeked open an eye to watch Killion set his bag on the ground, and scurry under his covers like a little mole. When Killion's head popped out from under the covers, he caught Jim's eye and smiled. Jim smiled back before closing his eye and falling into an oblivious slumber.
…
There was a loud knock at the door before it opened. "Get up Mogtrevo." His commanding officer stood in the doorway. "You've got a call."
Jim heard David stir from bed and watched him get to the floor. He pulled a shirt down over his head and took the phone from his commander's hand. The commander turned to go and closed the door. "Hello?" His brows furrowed together. "Hello, sir." He looked at Jim, who was sitting up and motioning to him. He read the word speaker on Jim's lips and put the speaker on the phone.
"So, I heard you graduated." A gruff voice spoke from the receiver.
"Yes, sir."
"Good. And what are your extra curriculars this summer?"
"I have some extra engineering courses I'm going to take along with some boxing and mythology class, sir."
"Mythology class?" His father enunciated. "Don't waste your time with that rubbish. You need more sport, and more technical training." Jim put a hand on David's shoulder.
"Well, I was also thinking that I might do some community service projects-"
"What for?" His father snapped. "Your priorities sound all wrong. No, no." He sounded exasperated. "It's a good thing I'm coming down there." David tensed at the announcement. "Well straighten this out. Oh! I heard the school did a dance. Who'd you go with?"
"Well, I," David started sweating.
"It better have been that Catherine girl. I talked to her father, who's said she's taken an interest in you. After some research into her I'm convinced she'd be a good match." David and Jim looked at each other. "David. Did you hear me?"
"Yes, sir. I did. But-"
"Good. I'll see you in a few days." The line clicked and David hung up the phone.
David opened his mouth to speak and closed it again. He didn't have words to explain his father's intentions for him. He opened their dorm door and returned the phone to his commander, saluted him, and closed the door.
Jim was looking at David sympathetically, and shrugged. "Sounds like we'll see him soon."
David moved to Jim and placed his hands on Jim's shoulders. He was gentle, rubbing his thumbs against the t shirt Jim wore. "Jim," he gave him a regretful stare. "Jim. My father is a man who gets what he wants." He shook his head. "If he's coming here, there's gotta be a few changes." Jim gave him a skeptical look and huffed a laugh. "He's going to expect me to be with this Catherine girl so there's no time to waste. I'm going to go find her, have a talk and maybe we can get through this thing." David started to look frantic. "Yeah, and until then," he gestured between them. "we are going to act completely normal. I might have you meet him if he barges in on study group but I'll probably be with Catherine while he's here." He was talking more to himself than to Jim. He pulled back and started rubbing his chin in thought. "I better go find her." He got his jacket and pants and started dressing.
"Day," Jim turned toward him. "What do you mean, normal?" he crossed his arms.
"You know," David buttoned his pants. "Normal. No high fives or side hugging or messing around. My dad would have an aneurysm." He saw the look on Jim's face. Guarded and angry. "No, wait-"
"No, I get it." Jim grabbed his stuff and went into the bathroom.
"Jim!" David had the door shut in his face. He sighed.
"Yikes." Vinny hissed. "You dug your grave with that one." David looked at his friend. The alien shook his head. "I'd uh- I'd go do what you gotta do if I were you." They heard the shower turn on and music playing loudly from a speaker. "And uh, I would stay somewhere else for a bit." David rubbed his face in frustration.
Jim pressed his forehead against the shower tiles. 'Normal.' David had said. He felt like such an idiot. Images of the other night came to his mind. The great night's sleep, the kissing, the way he felt when David held him. His heart was constricted. His breathing was becoming labored. Jim faintly heard the dorm door close. The music was playing loud but not loud enough to silence his anger. What was he going to do? He rubbed at his face to keep his tears at bay. Yesterday on the training field. That kiss. Jim was the one who pulled him to the shed. What was he thinking. Horror and embarrassment rushed through him. He had moaned when David touched him. Moaned. Oh no. And David had told him that he wanted to pretend to 'be normal.' Jim felt crushed. He supposed, with David's father coming around, he'd do what David wanted.
"That couldn't have gone any worse." David mumbled to himself as he walked into the rec room. "You idiot. Jim is going to rip me a new one." He looked around the room for Catherine and found her lounging with some friends. He waved at one of the friends who saw him, and they got Catherine's attention. "Hey, Catherine." They'd met once or twice in their classes, which made this a little easier, but David couldn't help but panic.
"Hey! What's up?" Catherine had long chestnut hair and blue eyes. She was on the taller side with a sporty physique and high grades in all her studies. She was friendly, family oriented, and talented.
"Could I talk to you for a bit?"
"Sure!" She got up and the two walked over to a set of chairs. "I had my dad call me today. I was gonna try and call you later, actually."
"Yeah, my dad called me too. He's uh," David scratched his neck and avoided eye contact. "He's gonna be down here in a few days and I was wondering if you'd have lunch with us." Catherine smiled. "He and I, ya know. He wants to meet you."
"Yeah, my dad told me to expect something like that." She pushed some loose hair behind her ear and leaned toward David. "So, is there any way we could practice that lunch?" David blinked at her a few times. "I mean, its not quite lunch yet," she started to twiddle her fingers. "but I wouldn't mind switching up my lunch routine. That way we could plan what to say around our dads. If yours is as intense as mine, we've got a lot to work out."
"Well," he thought about how mad Jim was at him. "Sure. That could work."
"Great! I'm glad we're doing this. And since our dads kinda know each other, if we give each other the basics then the lunch should go super smooth." She stood and started walking back to her friends. "I'll see you later!"
David waved gently. "See ya. And thanks!" His arm fell to his side. "Oh boy," he sighed. "I hope this works." He didn't bother going back to the dorm. Instead, he occupied his time by sitting in the library and reading up on some of the things he needed to study for. When it was lunch, he sat in the courtyard with Catherine. The two of them swapped details about their fathers and shared a platonic lunch date. Jim, however, was not convinced. He saw the two of them thanks to a friend who'd spotted them on the benches outside. At the sight of them, he wordlessly turned away and sat back down with his friends to eat.