phonic.

     There is no hesitation now, only the soft laughter that follows their kisses, as well as the smouldered gasp that escapes his parted lips. Evan tastes of summer and heat, and Jupiter feels himself igniting underneath his colder skin. Jupiter would not be afraid of showing such immense adoration for a man he loves now and he will love even more in the future. 

His first and only other relationship -- if you could even call it that -- prior to Jupiter had been completely void of any true emotion. One-sided and lifeless, even simple hand holding was exceptionally rare. But the man standing before him -- his boyfriend (Evan’s heart skipped a few beats at the thought) was much more generous with his affections, and Evan was already addicted.

Head tilting back ever so slightly to welcome each little touch given, a contented, breathy sigh escaped him. Arms still wrapped comfortably around Jupiter’s waist, the corners of his lips curve upwards as he gently rests his forehead against the other’s once more, seeking out as much intimacy as he could get.

     ( If he deserves this at all. )

     But not long after, Evan begins to pull away, and Jupiter’s heart lurches at his throat, terrified that he’ll have to let go. And yet, he feels the begging urge to steal his lips once more. He lets the other speak for a moment, before he answers his question with a shallow breath. Jupiter’s hand reaches for the side of his neck, brushing his thumb gently on the musician’s skin as he corners his mouth in another kiss. 

“Well, up until very recently, I’ve only been able to make guesses, y’know?”

Voice playful, he snickers gently while resting his forehead against Jupiter’s once more, a sudden weight lifted from his shoulders as the doubts from their past interactions instantly melted away. Looking back, their feelings had been rather obvious, though each of them were seemingly too afraid to act on them. Now, there was no need to hold back. Evan couldn’t remember the last time his pulse raced with such joy.

     As for now, however, he simply pushes the thought away. Instead, he holds Evan’s face in his palms, and feels his name burn in his mouth. He surprises himself with the thought that he has managed to contain such longing, as if he had been keeping stars in his pocket, in the hopes of exchanging them for something more. Jupiter leans closer and presses a fleeting kiss at the line of Evan’s jaw. 

     I want to burn for you.

Taking in a slow breath in an attempt to keep his composure intact, Evan only watches in enchanted silence as Jupiter brings his hands to cup the sides of his face, pupils undoubtedly dilating from pure attraction as he meets the other’s gaze.

Arms still curled around Jupiter’s waist, the musician parts his lips slightly as if ready to speak; to question if this was really the path he wanted to take -- each of them haunted by relationships in the past with bad experiences that lingered overhead like a dreary raincloud. But before even a syllable of doubt could be muttered, the soft lips that pressed against the line of his jaw effectively silenced him, save for the gentle hum of appreciation that escaped as the kisses traveled further along to the corner of his mouth.

Pulse racing and cheeks burning red at Jupiter’s words, despite his own nerves, it was impossible for him to leave the kiss unreciprocated. Eyelids fluttering to a close, Evan closed what little distance remained between them, returning the kiss hesitantly at first -- as if testing the waters -- before following up with another that held a little more confidence.

     He is vastly aware of the hand gripping at his collar, and Jupiter takes his time in drawing himself closer. He uses his free hand to clutch the fabric of Evan’s shirt; he holds it with clear desperation, as if he’s asking the boy if he’s allowed to take a step further. For now, Jupiter refuses to say it with words. When he breathes, his heart burns. 

     A spare hand reaches to cover Evan’s neck; it begins to tremble, fingers seizing and his thumb brushing over the corner of the musician’s jaw. Jupiter touches him, as if he’s tracing his steps, silently asking: have you been kissed here before? Jupiter tilts his head to the side and leans a little closer. He pauses, only for a moment, before he pushes away his hesitation. 

For a brief moment, Evan appears to be awfully pleased with himself. While it’s true that Jupiter’s real social standing and list of career achievements completely slips the musician’s mind on most occasions (he wasn’t even aware of it at all, for the longest time), for some reason, it was a little harder to ignore at that particular moment.

Perhaps it was because of their surroundings; a formal gathering being the perfect place to show off in terms of appearance and class, whether intentional or not. In Evan’s eyes, Jupiter looked every bit of the idol he was definitely well known for -- even despite his tipsiness, which the musician not-so secretly finds equal parts hilarious and adorable.

With the blush on his cheeks growing stronger by the second, it takes all of his willpower to keep his voice from shaking out of nerves alone as Jupiter’s fingers brush against the skin of his neck. Their shared gaze is broken momentarily as the musician steals a glance at the other’s lips, already managing to figure out his intent before he can voice it in words.

Unsurprisingly, despite his somewhat bashful disposition, Evan had no objections whatsoever.

     Jupiter takes a step forward, narrowing the distance in between them once more. Not that there has been plenty to begin with, as their shoulders had brushed more often than he’d expected, and the loving touch of warmth shared. With their fingers crossed, palms pressed together like a bud, Jupiter is irrevocably drawn. 

     For a moment, he sways – but only slightly, a foot misstepping and his head unexpectedly lurches forward. This causes a hand to grab a hold of Evan’s shoulder; if he weren’t so drunk ( tipsy, in his defence, although it’s quite obvious that he’s unable to tell the difference ), he would have blushed in embarrassment. 

     Slowly leaning forward, he presses their foreheads together, and soon he begins to close his eyes. Their lips are far apart, however, and Jupiter is far too shy to manage a kiss. But only for now. 

Jupiter’s sudden loss of footing catches the musician by surprise, his free hand instantly reaching out to gently grip at the side of his arm, acting like a crutch in case the other is clumsy enough to trip up for a second time. Letting him hold on until his balance was regained, Evan’s lips curved upwards in mild amusement.

Part of him wished to make a comment about the trip; poke fun at just how awful Jupiter is at holding even a single glass of alcohol whether it was the drink’s fault or not, but the close proximity between them, he finds, is infinitely distracting.

A blush flares across his cheeks as their foreheads touch, but he makes no attempt to back away. Instead, Evan lets himself indulge in the unexpected closeness, breaking his hand free in order to tentatively cling to the fabric of the front of Jupiter’s shirt while the other reaches up once more to carefully brush strands of jet black hair from his line of vision.

     An eyebrow is cocked in question, as if he’s daring Evan to continue in order to prove the musician wrong. While he sounds insistent, however, he knows better than to press for unimportant matters. Jupiter is known for accepting only the best quality anyone can provide, and so he does not understand how Evan can assume that he does not fit the ‘requirements.’ Perhaps, it is his social status that hinders him, although Jupiter has already forgotten his fame and riches. 

     As of now ( and in the future if the time comes ), he sees only Evan – a boy who had played a song that Jupiter had found oddly familiar, a boy who had tried to teach him how to ride a bike ( admittedly, he had failed, but nevertheless ), a boy who had practically impressed him with such an appetite, a boy who made him fall in – 

     Well, perhaps another time, he can admit it so freely -- perhaps, even then, with more actions than only simple thinking. 

     As he feels Evan sliding away from his grip, he instantly turns to retrieve the warmth, before the hand settles carefully on his cheek. A surprised inhale escapes him; shaken and of disbelief, he feels almost nervous to breathe. Craning his head, he offers Evan’s palm another kiss, mouth warm and infinitely inviting. 

It is easily shrugged off, however, as the two continue to walk, with Evan deciding to respond with only a shake of his head and a gentle huff of laughter, pushing the topic aside entirely in order to fully indulge in the others presence once more, shoulders brushing as they moved at a slow pace along the Fields.

“I mean, the way you’re actin’ is kind of telltale,” Evan teased, smile widening somewhat as the kiss is pressed against his palm this time, his nerves escaping him in the form of gentle laughter. “You’re more bold than usual today, after all.” 

Not that he was complaining. In fact, as strange as it may have seemed, Evan couldn’t help but feel a little grateful. Even if Jupiter was a little tipsy, the sudden confidence of his made for a more relaxing atmosphere. Letting his hand drop back down to his side, he reached out to find Jupiter’s own yet again, threading their fingers together without a second thought.

send me “#” for cell phone headcanons about our muses including:

     Darting at a height closer to his own, dark skinned and quite a nice complexion ( slightly burned in certain places, although understandable from the heat ), and not to mention a personality that is satisfyingly adorable - there is no reason for Jupiter to think of Evan as mediocre. 

          “I don’t see why you would be so surprised.” He tugs Evan closer - perhaps, for warmth, although he knows very well of the truth. Raising Evan’s knuckles to his lips, he presses a kiss once more. However, this one is lingering, and how good it burns. “I find you vastly attractive.” 

“Y-Yeah, but--”

The surprise of being suddenly pulled a little closer was enough for him to bite his tongue; words silencing before they managed to escape. But, unlike the last time this scenario had panned out (with the both of them growing increasingly tense from nerves alone) the musician put up no defenses -- even leaning into the other ever so slightly as they walked.

The kiss pressed against his knuckles was still just as embarrassing, however.

“Hah? Come on, now...” By some stroke of a miracle, Evan manages to keep his voice steady this time, but the blush of his cheeks gives him away rather easily. Still, he carefully slides his hand free from Jupiter’s grip, only to cup his palm against the other’s cheek, turning his head ever so slightly so he was facing him properly to meet his faux-serious stare.

“How much did you drink before I got here? I know you’re a damn lightweight.”

     This is the first where he doesn’t have to upgrade his reputation. Although, he still has a boy he wants to impressed, if it’s even possible considering half the humiliation he’s brought himself. 

          “I suppose the party is all right,” he muses. Glancing around the room, he considers the amount of people diving inside. Jupiter had seen plenty, and yet he feels as if there are far too much. “I’m certainly hoping the garden is much better.” 

     He reaches for Evan’s hand and offers it a small squeeze, before leading them in the direction of the exit. Jupiter’s hand is warm, a bit too clammy for his liking. Lifting the brim of his scarf over his lips, he stands at the center of the garden. Flowers bloom around them, light filtering through the sky and touching their feet. 

     Glancing at Evan, there is a smile on his lips - uncertain, and yet so real. 

Luckily, the sudden tangling of the other’s fingers with his own was enough to silence that train of thought, hazel eyes quickly glancing downwards at the soft squeeze of his palm before looking up to meet Jupiter’s expression with a bright smile of his own. Nodding in agreement, Evan let his fingers curl around the other’s in return, lips still curved upwards in contentment as he allowed himself to be lead away.

He was slowly growing accustomed to this, he thought. The first time the two had attempted something as simple as join hands, the embarrassment had been almost too much to handle. But this time it felt different. More comfortable -- natural, even.

If only he could say the same for compliments.

“E-Eh?”

Handsome? Arceus, when had the last time something like that been directed at him, of all people? No, surely this had to be a first as well? A quiet, short-lived huff of laughter escaped him, born from nerves alone as a faint flush of red appeared on his cheeks to match Jupiter’s own.

     The party is horrendously boring. 

     Of course, he hadn’t expected anything less, considering that he’s attended enough of these events to conclude them to be nothing but dull and tiring. His father had forced him to walk through those doors like royalty, one of the very few to arrive with a red carpet. Now, if he’s fortunate ( a long run, if he’s asked, but he can try nonetheless ), he’ll be able to survive the evening without being recognised. The worst care scenario is having to plan an escape route in order to avoid getting caught, although that would more or less require him to leave. 

     In other circumstances, the idea is vastly tempting. As for tonight, however, he has other plans. One he’d like to enjoy, if he allows himself. 

     Stealing a drink from the tray, he takes a sip, in the hopes of regaining the confidence he’d left behind. After nights of exchanging texts to arrange a meeting for the evening, Jupiter has been careful, although he’s also undeniably eager. Shy, perhaps, would be the better word. 

     Once he spots Evan among the crowd, he places the glass back on the table and walks forward. 

Evan wasn’t used to attending these kind of events. In fact, he was pretty sure it was the first dance he’d ever been invited to in his life, so there was no surprise that he had spent the first fifteen minutes of the event simply wandering around and sticking to the outskirts as to not draw attention to himself.

How the hell he’d even gotten an invitation in the first place was completely beyond him -- probably due to a mistake on the host’s behalf, which was infinitely more believable than himself becoming suddenly relevant, somehow. Not that he was complaining too much. As alien as everything was, it made a nice change of scenery. And a good excuse to spend the rest of the day with Jupiter, once they managed to find each other among the masses of other guests.

Lurking near the refreshment table (no surprises there) the musician idly chewed on one of the rather fancy looking snacks, ready to pull his phone from his pocket to text Jupiter in a somewhat lazier attempt to locate him, before the tap on his shoulder captured his attention.

“Ju--?”  Whipping his head around, Evan soon turned to flash a wide smile of both relief and genuine joy of seeing the other again; his expression lighting up almost instantly. “Y-Yeah! I mean, I was about to start lookin’ around for you as well..." Kind of. Sticking to one place and hoping for the best totally counted. “Fresh air sounds good, though. I really didn’t expect this thing to be so... lively.”

     And - 

          oh, God, does it hurt.

          “Evan, I - I didn’t mean it like that,” he admits, softly, voice thick and fervently shaking. “I just wasn’t sure if … if you would be all right with my company as you sleep.” Admittedly, he doesn’t sleep much to begin with, considering that his thoughts at night have always been terrifyingly overwhelming. “But I a-am … all right with yours.” 

     Fiddling quietly with a thumb, he allows the short pause in order to catch a breath, no matter how uneven. Swallowing, chest tight and lungs wrought, he closes his eyes shut and speaks the words with fright and hope. “I would simply like to be with you,” he continues, glancing once at Evan and then towards the floor, “that’s all.”

     If anything, he wants nothing more than to ask for permission to do something else, perhaps even a kiss. But he keeps the words neatly tucked at the bottom of his tongue, the longing in his glance hopefully unnoticed. He’s aware of the consequence: rejection, more vicious, perhaps, than anything else. ( Although, their feelings have been awfully obvious. ) And still, he is terrified that Evan will leave. He can’t help but feel so fucking pathetic. 

     Once he’s been given the Pokemon egg once more, he places it safely on the seat beside him. He offers the tiniest smile; soft and brittle, but genuine all the same. 

          “I suppose,” he says, eyes turning shortly to glance at Evan’s hands, “that would be best.” 

     He feels his hand moving to capture one of the other’s, fingers trembling, the pulse in his wrists starting to beat half a second faster than before. His hand stops merely inches away from a touch, and then he slips it towards the end of the couch. He clasps the remote control, cheeks flaring and neck flushing in the same shade, and he retrieves himself to sit farther away.

     Breath stiff, heart almost crowded in his ribs ( as if he’s been choking on thin air ) he grips the remote tighter as he speaks. 

          “Are you hungry? I have food in the kitchen if you’d like. I’m s-sorry I haven’t been that accommodating.” Gaze shifting to the item in his hand, he swallows hard in hesitation. “Do you want to watch television? I think there are good movies out during this time. Or did you just want to talk? We can do that, too, if you want.” He pauses, tilting his head. 

“I-I know, I know!” A lie -- probably the first he’d ever managed to tell in front of Jupiter since the two had met, but he had to at least try and look composed somehow after almost inhaling the water of his drink in sheer surprise. “But, uh... I wouldn’t mind either. In fact, I’d kinda... like it. Y’know?”

Constantly trying to gauge Jupiter’s reactions, Evan continues to let his gaze linger on the other’s face, anxiously chewing on his lower lip with a gentle frown that could only be perceived as concern. While not the smartest person out there, the musician considered himself to be somewhat adept at picking up on other people’s feelings. He’d have to be blind to miss the signals of longing Jupiter had been showing him (each one causing his heart to flutter a little more than the last, he was sure) but at the same time he seemed reluctant; holding back for reasons Evan was unsure about.

It confused him -- a simple brush of fingers seemed like a monumental task in this atmosphere when in the past, they’d spent a good portion of the evening walking hand in hand. And while he wasn’t going to question it outright, the more selfish part of him wished for nothing more than a sense of intimacy between the two, craving more of the taste he got back in Heather Fields...

The offer of food from Jupiter is enough to pull him from his thoughts, and for once, Evan shakes his head to turn it down.

“Nah, don’t worry about it.” A reassuring smile, followed by a soft snort. “’sides, you’re my friend, not my babysitter. Not really hungry anyway.”

A damn miracle considering his appetite, but it seemed as though the bike ride there had taken it out of him more than he’d expected, feeling too exhausted to even stuff his face for once.

What did he want? Ha. That was one hell of a loaded question.