I don't wanna miss a single thing you do [Alex]

[ALEX AKIHIKO GRAY]

Red-soaked fingertips dye the atmosphere with fluttering butterfly tears
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It was in Graham’s strong hold that Alex let his mind wander for a while. He had never had a proper boyfriend or girlfriend, but he always knew that he’d do everything in his power to become a good lover. I could totally be the girl if I was with a guy, he joked to himself. Alex was a talented cook, and the special deserts he came up with matched the extravagant tastes of his meals. He took care of the house, as well as the garden. He even made little treats for his students and offered them to take flowers from the garden if they liked. His nursing skills matched Jessica’s and he always had a soft spot for children. Alex was fully capable of being romantic as well. He has always loved candlelight and often went for walks in the moonlight on his own.

As Graham kissed his finger, Alex moved it to rest on the other boy’s chin. He couldn’t ignore the fact that Graham made the cool water turn warm, that he robbed the air of oxygen, that he made Alex want to pounce him to the ground and fiercely kiss him. Yes, this one boy made the lynx tense up with sexual energy that screamed for a way out. But when it came to making the first move, Alex grew slightly nervous. Would he like me to… take it a bit further? I really don’t want to cause trouble… He didn’t want this to end, but fighting with himself wasn’t helping him either. Graham’s touches on his skin made him shiver, feeding his desire. What sounded like a slow moan came from Alex as he gasped. Don’t take your touch from me… please…

“It isn’t flattery if it’s the truth,” he winked. Alex called things as he saw it. If something was beautiful, he would say so. If something was absolutely nauseating, he wouldn’t hesitate to let it be known. The feeling of Graham’s fingers intertwined in his hair made Alex’s head spin. “Song-writing is something we have in common. But like I said before: actions speak louder than words. And, just maybe…” he trailed, pulling himself up to Graham, his fingertips firmly under his chin. “…the lyrics don’t need music as the voice is enough.” Without letting himself be kept back by a second thought, Alex closed his eyes and gently kissed Graham. I hope I’m doing the right thing…

[graham]

(Tell me dear, are you lonesome tonight?)

The moan had him tempted to capture his lips, swallow down any other sounds that might come from this young males mouth, but before he could do anything, Alex started talking again, giving him sweet words and making him smile as he said he wrote songs too. Graham always got along so well with musicians, it was like they had a common language through notes and rhymes and rhythm. It built friendships too, sometimes, when songs could give away so much.

He had his lips parted a little to answer when the other moved up and kissed him, a very gentle press of lips. His fingers in Alex's hair tightened before his mouth even responded, though when it did it was with a quick quirk of his lips and a soft press back. Graham had been kissed before, he'd fooled around some with guys, but he had never felt this quick connection that he did with Alex. This boy was someone he could see himself having feelings for, and though that briefly made him feel bad, he quickly pushed away the thought. It wasn't that his feelings for Kai weren't real, it was just that they were .. well, rather pointless.

Kai was going to find a girl that made him so very happy, and Gray was going to smile at their wedding and be the best man and make a toast, and he was going to mean all of it, because that's what love was, wanting someone to be the happiest they could possibly be. Even if deep down a part of him would be unhappy, would be screaming inside, he knew that it had never been a case of him not being good enough. He was simply the wrong gender for Kai, but he wasn't for Alex, and God help him, the blonde was cute. Maybe it was time he stopped being hung up over Kai, and found someone that would actually want to be with him.

It had been easy, his crush on Kai Durant. Because crushing on him meant he didn't have to officially come out, meant that he didn't have to face the stares and sneers if he held someones hand in the hallway. It meant he didn't have to face rejection, which was a big thing despite his brawny attitude. But he wanted a boyfriend. He wanted to love someone and be loved in return. And who knows, maybe Alex wanted all of that too. If not, well, at least it was a very good night and a very good kiss.

Smiling, Gray tilted his head a little, allowing the kiss to deepen as his fingers brushed back and forth over Alex's hip, his large warm hand covering his hipbone where it jutted out just above his jeans.

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[ALEX AKIHIKO GRAY]

Red-soaked fingertips dye the atmosphere with fluttering butterfly tears
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The only kisses that Alex had recently given and received were those from his mother. He’d kiss her on the cheek every morning before he left for school, every time he went out and when he returned home. She would usually be sleeping throughout the day, so Alex opted to kiss her forehead instead as to not wake her. When Shizuma did kiss Alex back, her felt a kind of coolness from her lips, like the feeling of a cool breeze brushing against his skin. But Graham? Graham’s kiss felt far from cool. It was warm, filled with a passionate electrical current, gentle and almost demanding all at once.

Feeling the other’s fingers tighten around his damp, blonde strands made Alex smirk to himself, the intensity in his body building up. Alex was into a bit of rough play, and hair gripping was the one thing that topped his list of what he liked the most. In a moment of courage, the lynx draped his arms around Graham’s neck, not wanting this to come to an end anytime soon. Even if it’s just this once, let this be… just for today… he prayed. He had been desiring a moment like this for as long as he can remember, but he knew that there was a possibility of it starting and ending right here.

It was in this moment that Alex thought about how this would feel if it was with Cyan Satou-sensei. But just as quickly as the thought had made itself known, he dismissed it. Why did Alex crush on the older man? Well, there were two distinctive reasons. One was that for as long as he was still in school, he was dedicated to his mother. Loving his sensei meant that he couldn’t possibly have a proper relationship with him beyond the standard student-teacher one. Reason two was that the Japanese instructor was just so appealing. Alex couldn’t help himself. But as appealing as he might have been, the realization of this instant connection with Graham erased everything else from his mind.

Feeling Graham tilt his head a little bit, Alex felt himself let go. He wasn’t going to allow himself to hold back, not when the opportunity presented itself to him. He ran his tongue over Graham’s bottom lip, asking permission. The feeling of Graham’s touch on his body made him want more. Unfortunately (or fortunately, as Alex couldn’t tell the difference), it would seem that the other boy knew exactly where Alex was sensitive. Even if it was just by coincidence, Alex couldn’t help but lean in towards Graham. His hand on my hip… he’s making my heart beat so fast… You could say that this was a typical teenage moment for Alex, this rush of sexual excitement. His cheeks were stained with a red flush, but right now he could care less.

[graham]

(Tell me dear, are you lonesome tonight?)

Had Graham known that Alex had feelings for someone else, he might have stopped. Maybe. The truth was, he was much the same. As much as he knew that being with Kai was impossible, it hadn't been able to stop him from wanting exactly that. To hold his hand in the hallway, to be the only one that got to kiss him. He wanted to be there when Kai had a nightmare, not just the one he'd go to but the actual one waking up next to him, so he could tug him into his arms before Kai was even properly awake. He wanted all of those things and knowing that he couldn't hadn't been enough to make his feelings fade away. Maybe they would, in time. Kai was set to graduate in less than a year, and because Gray had to repeat a grade he figured it would probably lead to them losing touch at some point or another. The wolf shifter hated that thought, but he couldn't deny that it'd be easier than having to watch him court a woman, let alone marry someone and start a family.

Oh well, who knew? Maybe he'd find someone else. Maybe said someone else was Alex, who knew? No one could predict the future, or if they could, they were probably locked away in some special school for the gifted like all the shifters were, taken from the regular world until they knew how to fit in. Graham knew he shouldn't feel guilty about kissing Alex, he hadn't made him any promises, and for all he knew, Alex could just be looking at this as a night of fun.

Somehow he doubted that, though. He couldn't deny the attraction they had, but it felt as if they had made a connection too, one that was just strengthened by their tongues meeting and dancing together. It went deeper than Grays hand on Alex's hip and the tightening of his fingers against his skin. He wanted, but that had never been something he couldn't handle or force away. It was the fact that he wanted to softly stroke his skin, maybe wrap his arms around him and keep him safe, that had him a bit more worried. Though, if it was just that, he didn't mind. He was affectionate with his friends, and he had always been someone who would give out hugs and offer comfort and protection to anyone who needed it. The question was, would Alex allow him? Or would he think him strange for that fierce protective instinct that was stirred by his presence?

He'd deal with that later, Graham decided. For now this was just a kiss, despite any feelings (good or bad) that he might have about the whole ordeal. So he kept kissing back, changing deep swipes of his tongue up with little pecks on the blondes lips, his fingers starting up an almost soothing rhythm in Alex's hair.

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[ALEX AKIHIKO GRAY]

Red-soaked fingertips dye the atmosphere with fluttering butterfly tears
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Even though Alex was not tied to anyone on an emotional level, he couldn’t help but wonder if Graham had someone that he loved, and who loved him back. A boyfriend? A girlfriend perhaps? Alex identified himself as being bisexual, but he had to admit that he found guys more attractive than girls. Maybe Graham was the same as he was? He hated giving people labels, but if Graham kissed him like this… He couldn’t shake the feeling of guilt that washed over him. He had been in this kind of situation before. Alex had played the part of the ‘secondary lover’, as he liked to call it. Those feelings of being cheated made Alex’s heart sink.

He soon managed to clear his head. There was something about Graham that he just… trusted. It wasn’t like him to let someone into his personal space in such a sort space of time. Sure, when he was younger and still in his experimentation phase, he let people far too easily. But he has learnt from his past mistakes. Every one of the friends he kept up until now has undergone many of his own, formulated trials. He couldn’t help it. His emotional wounds ran too deep. In the back of mind, he wished that someone he’d meet would heal him. Maybe this person that he has been waiting for all this time was Graham? Who knew that possibilities that laid themselves before him…

Alex pulled himself closer to the other shifter, their bodies moulding to each other. He didn’t want to drag himself away from Graham. This kind of intimacy is the kind that he has always wanted. Even without sex, this passionate flare was something that he could not live without. That was just the kind of person he was. The feeling of their skin meeting made Alex melt. Skinny jeans were already meant to show off the shape of one’s legs, and now that his was drenched with water, they clung to him. This did not help Alex at all, as the excitement bubbling in his veins was not easy to hide. But this time, he didn’t care. He promised that he wouldn’t fight himself from the moment he pressed his lips against Graham’s. The foreign feeling that invaded his mouth brought on another low moan.

Feeling the soothing rhythm that Graham’s fingers started in Alex’s hair made him smile into the kiss. He removed his arms from around the other shifter’s neck, trailing his touch down his spine. His touch eventually landed at Graham’s lower back. Alex’s slim fingers teased the band of the other’s swim shorts, the tips of his fingers slipping barely an inch under the band. He broke their rhythmic kiss, his lips finding themselves at Graham’s ear. “You’re rather good at what you do,” he whispered, trailing a line down his neck, placing a kiss there firmly. He soon started to nip at Graham’s neck, his hands not moving from his waistband.

[graham]

(Is your heart filled with pain, shall I come back again?)

Graham couldn't help laughing throatily at the boys statement, his fingertips stroking up and down his side. "So are you" He hadn't really had a lot of practise. Sure, he'd been with guys, he'd done some things. Handjobs, blowjobs, he was just another gay kid finding out what he liked. It had been a while since the last time though. He'd kissed some guys, desperate for someone that would want to touch him, desperate for their touch to make him forget about Kai Durant. This, tonight, was different. It may sound strange but it wasn't about Graham. It wasn't about him trying to forget something or make something happen. It felt like it was about Alex instead.

Humming under his breath, approval for the nips at his neck, Graham loosely held the boy in his arms, angling his head to give Alex better access to his skin. "I don't know what it is about you" He started softly, cocking his head a little to look at the blonde in his arms. "But you make me want to take care of you." Gray laughed a little at himself, shaking his head a little as he bent down to press a soft kiss to Alex's lips. "That's probably weird, isn't it?" It wasn't something that was typically said when a boy met another boy and they were making out within half an hour of their first meeting. It was supposed to be about sex then, and not about feelings or friendship. But that's how it felt and Gray had always had his heart on his tongue - except when it came to telling a certain friend about his crush.

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[ALEX AKIHIKO GRAY]

Red-soaked fingertips dye the atmosphere with fluttering butterfly tears
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There was something about Graham that made Alex want to be near him. Sure, if Alex was the kind of person just looking for fun, it could have been the fact that Graham help him, touched him, kissed him… But no, Alex wasn’t like that. Even though he felt that for once he wanted to be protected, he wanted the honour of being a protector-like figure to Graham. He was the kind of guy that would watch from afar, but would readily step in if anyone hurt someone close. His mother had jokingly called him a ninja, saying that he displayed an almost killer-like instinct when defending a loved one. Remembering this, he smiled to himself. I promise that I’ll always be with you, Graham…

Alex giggled at what he took as a compliment. Even though Graham thought he was good at this, he has had ample time to practice. Having had so many ‘non-relationships’, as Alex had categorised them as, he had been open to many kinds of experimentation. He loved to blame his behaviour on his feline shifter form, but even a common fool could see that Alex enjoyed himself far too much. Having also been involved with both sexes, his range of ‘skills’ had time to strengthen and vary. “Why, thank you, my dear,” he teased, biting on Graham’s earlobe. It’s a pity that he doesn’t have any piercings, he thought. Alex had always enjoyed tugging on hoop earrings. Another giggled escaped him as he mentally reprimanded himself for being oh so overly naughty.

Graham’s humming was soothing to Alex, allowing him to close his eyes and just enjoy this moment. His scent, even in water, tickled Alex’s sense of smell. He liked it, maybe even a bit too much. Listening to him speak and then feeling Graham’s lips against his made him feel giddy. He shook his head, his blonde locks resting untidily on his head. “I don’t think that’s weird at all,” he answered smoothly, his light-brown eyes fixed on the other boy. “I’ve actually been thinking the same thing.” This was far from any normal thing Alex would say on a first meeting, especially to someone of the same sex. Even though his words could drip with naughtiness, he was always a bit shy around a guy that he found attractive.

Holding on to Graham a bit more tightly, he felt a cold shiver run down his spine. He couldn’t help letting his nails dig slightly into the other boy’s back. With the feeling of numbness in his legs, he leant up to his ear. “Gray, do you think you could help me out of the water? Looks like my legs can’t take much more of this,” he laughed. He always laughed at the fact that he was a feline shifter, but the shape of part of his body wasn’t in the best of conditions. That was totally lame of you, Alex...

[graham]

(Is your heart filled with pain, shall I come back again?)

Gray had to admit he was pretty pleased with the fact that Alex didn't push him away and called him weird for being protective. It honestly wasn't something that happened that often, not to people he hardly knew, but he had always been a protector, ever since he was a young boy. He'd grown up with an older brother - ten years his senior - and parents who were happily married, or so he'd thought. Until his father left to 'go get a present' the day before Grays ninth birthday, and never returned. Ever since then Gray had felt the need to protect his mum. Arthur had been away at art school at first, and Graham hadn't wanted his mother to see how upset he was, not when she could barely stop crying. So he'd taken on the role of the man in the house, making sure that there was food around when his mother grew ill and eventually blind. Moving to London and being initiated in a gang (of which he was pretty much the leader these days) had only made his protective instincts more intense, and combined with his fierce loyalty he had a good group of friends back home. It was nice that someone new wasn't afraid of that part of him, but instead seemed to return the favor. And Gray had to admit that he wouldn't really mind if there was someone protecting him, occasionally.

He couldn't help laughing a little when Alex asked him for help to get out of the water, unable to hold back the teasing comment. "I know you said I'm a good kisser but I didn't know I was that good" Though of course, as he'd said it, his arm had already slipped around Alex's waist, pulled him close to his body to take some of the weight off Alex's legs. He was strong, not overly muscled but definitely strong from all the exercise he did (no, wanking off had nothing to do with the muscles in his arm, thank you very much), so he didn't mind helping Alex out at all. "Do you need me to carry you?" It could've sounded like another joke but he was serious, though trying not to make a big deal of it. He wanted Alex to be comfortable around him and not feel like he couldn't ask him these kinds of things.

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[ALEX AKIHIKO GRAY]

Red-soaked fingertips dye the atmosphere with fluttering butterfly tears
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Alex swung his legs absent-mindedly in the water, even though he couldn’t feel a single fibre in them. Even though he was a strong-willed person by nature, not depending on anyone to help him, he couldn’t deny the fact that he’d like a bit of help for a change. Crutches were a part of his daily life since his childhood days, and even though it served as a sign of disability to some, Alex saw them as a symbol of power. As a staff or a sword assisted a warrior in battle, Alex learned to use his crutches in the same manner. In his late elementary school years, he had gotten into numerous fights at school all because he was ‘different’. It was during this time frame that he learnt to make use of his crutches to hurt, instead of heal or support. He was obviously not as fragile as he looked. Through the years, Alex had gone through numerous pairs of crutches (because he broke most of them in fights), and each time he’d personalise them in some way. His current ones were black with white handles and rings.

A giggle escaped his pink-glossed lips at Graham’s self-flattery. With the amount of people Alex had ‘been with’, if he said someone was good at what they did, he really meant it. “Well, I think you’re…” Alex said, placing a kiss on the wolf shifter’s cheek. “…just that good.” Feeling the other’s hold snake around his waist, Alex stopped his swaying, breathing a short sigh of relief. Even that small act took a lot of energy out of him. He playfully nuzzled his nose beneath the other’s jaw, purring softly. Alex arms formed a ring around Graham’s neck for extra support; after all, he didn’t like being completely dependant on someone else. It was definite that Alex liked Graham and that he could see them becoming really close friends, and even though they had already shared a kiss, he wanted that more than anything else: a deep friendship. That was always a first in Alex’s mind.

Being offered to be carried made the blonde male blush. Of all things, he had never been carried before. Graham’s question made him feel a bit nervous, which was quite new to him in terms of emotion, but despite it, he nodded in response. “Um… if you don’t mind? I think I’ll regain the feeling in my legs once out of this cold water,” he murmured. “And-then-you-can-put-me-down,” he added a bit too quickly.

[graham]

(Is your heart filled with pain, shall I come back again?)

Graham chuckled softly, carrying the blonde in his arms out of the water, and setting him down at one of the lawn chairs that were grouped together. He'd left his own towel on there and went to grab it so he could brush the worst of the water from his hair, dropping the green towel back onto the lawn chair and kneeling down next to where Alex was sat. "You okay?" He asked it softly, having gathered from the way the boy quickly said he could put him down whenever they were out of the water that he wasn't really comfortable with having to be taken care of. Graham didn't mind taking care of people, he had always found comfort in the fact that he could be helpful to someone, could mean something to them, even if it was something as simple as carrying someone when they needed it. "If there's anything I can do.." He shrugged a shoulder. He'd already said that Alex brought out a protective streak in him, and Alex hadn't seemed to mind, but he didn't want to assume that just because they'd kissed and started what could be the base of a beautiful friendship (and maybe, just maybe, something more) he was allowed to just do whatever he wanted to take care of him.

So he just sat down on the cold tiles instead, looking up at the blonde and smiling faintly. He was still clad in jeans, which must be heavy with water now, and Graham briefly wondered if he should offer help in taking them off, then thought about how that might sound. If Alex asked for his help, he decided, he would gladly help him out, but he didn't think it was proper to assume that he needed help with everything, just because he had needed help getting out of the pool. So instead he just looked at him through damp eyelashes, taking in the boys figure and the way his hair stuck to his face. "You're kind of really pretty, you know"

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[ALEX AKIHIKO GRAY]

Red-soaked fingertips dye the atmosphere with fluttering butterfly tears
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Having Graham help him out of the water… no. Having Graham carry him out of the water made him feel a bit too feminine. Guys carried girls, not other guys. Alex definitely wasn’t a girl, but he sure did have many feminine traits. Besides his androgyny in terms of his physical body, Alex enjoyed straightening, curling and colouring his hair, applying eyeliner, eyeshadow and lipgloss to himself, along with painting his nails. He found no shame in engaging in these activities, as he felt comfortable with being what he is. But it was times like this that he felt a bit too much like ‘the girl’ in a relationship, whether is be a friendship or something deeper. If there was one thing Alex had a fear or losing, it was his masculinity. Not that I’d mind if it was for Graham, he thought. Looks like he doesn’t mind me being this feminine.

The blonde’s blushing hadn’t subsided, especially when Graham asked him whether he was alright in that sensual voice of his. Alex shook his head violently, spraying water droplets in a wide radius from their short-lived home of his hair. This ended up in the shorter strands of the back layers of his hair to stand up in spikes. In one swift motion of his hand, Alex removed his wet bangs from over his hazel eyes. “I’m perfectly fine,” Alex replied, offering a reassuring smile as he brushed droplets off of his bare skin. He bent himself over to rub his calves, attempting to warm them up at a faster rate, which did not help much as his jeans were drenched with water. Alex, you need to learn to keep an extra change of clothes in your locker, especially pants, he mentally reprimanded himself. Really, you of all people should be better prepared.

A smile came to Alex’s pink-glossed lips upon hearing Graham offer his help for anything in future. Never had he met someone so dedicated, if dedicated was the correct word to use. Besides his adoptive mother and the stay-in nurse, no one had ever offered this much assistance to Alex. It was touching to say the least, his heart swelling with joy. The blonde affectionately traced the back of his right hand over Graham’s cheek, the warm smile not leaving his face. “You’re a really sweet guy, Graham,” he said softly. “I appreciate it that you want to help me. You’ve made me realize that I do not have to be ashamed of asking for help.” He then ruffled the other boy’s wet hair. “Lighten up!” he chirped, giggling.

Alex propped his chin atop an open palm and gazed at the boy sitting on the cold tiles surrounding the pool’s edge. He briefly wondered if Graham felt the cold as much has he did. The lynx shifter hated the cold, hated being cold. The thought of asking Graham to sit next to him to share body heat flitted through his mind, but was instantly cast away. After all, Alex wanted to build a good relationship with him, and didn’t want Graham to think that he was being like this just to get into his bed. “Aww, only kind of?” he teased, offering a small wink. He then slid off of his chair to sit next to Graham, legs straight out in front of him, leaning on his back-stretched arms. “You know, this could be my own curiosity getting the better of me…” he started, biting is bottom lip. “But I was wondering what your shifter form is.” Tilting his head to the side, his hazel gaze was locked on the other boy.