#stepka

is that a *inhales* metro au??

Stepka had never really been good at sitting still-- yet here he was, sitting as still as he could for a man he’d grown more than a little attached to. It was nice, watching him draw. He  seemed to be enjoying himself so much, absently smiling as he hummed a tune to himself. It wasn’t one that Stepka could recognise, but that wasn’t anywhere near a problem. He could remember how they met, how despite everything the other still had the same smile.

Alexei already knew he wasn’t cut out to be a sailor. He knew it from the moment the war had broken out. He wasn’t a soldier, either, but at least the ocean was calming to him. Something about the endless blue was soothing. Spacing out and thinking about that didn’t help either, tripping over his own feet and landing face first on the deck. He glanced around briefly, hoping no one had seen, only spotting the one familiar sailor as he pushed himself up a little.

---

“You new?” Stepka sighed as he looked at the other man on the floor, offering him a hand up. A hand that was cautiously accepted by the younger sailor. He’d almost fallen back down as soon as he was back oh his feet.

“Ah, yes! Was it really that obvious?” He dusted himself off as he stood, readjusting his hat before extending an arm to shake and flashing a wide grin. “My name’s Alexei!”

Stepka stared at him for a moment. There was something about the smile that made him feel… Something. It was such a bright and genuine smile and he found his own cheeks lifting in response. The initial pause had clearly made the other man a little concerned, but seeing his smile returned seemed to alleviate his worries.

“Stepan,” he began, only to snort a little. “but most people call me Stepka. I think it’s cause they knew me when I was a kid and my face hasn’t changed much since then.”

“Well, baby face or not it’s good to have a friend here!” He laughed along with him, giving his hand a firm shake before returning it to his hip. Although his posture soon deflated with Stepka’s response; a deadpan ‘who said I was your friend’. He almost couldn't form words in response at such a gross misunderstanding-- and then he laughed.

“Relax, Alexei!” Stepka laughed, slinging an arm around the other’s shoulders. “If you want to make the poor choice of being my friend then I’m not going to stop you.”

---

“You’re a good model, Stepka.”

He was snapped out of his memories by the other, looking confused before laughing a little.

“Am I? This is the first I’m hearing of it!” He chuckled, leaning over and resting and elbow on his shoulder to scrutinise his work. It was beautiful, of course, but he couldn’t just tell him that, despite the stupid grin on his face telling Alexei all he needed to know. “Wait, do I have freckles? I suppose I was never really going to get away from them with this hair colour.”

“Yes! But you can only really see them if you have a good eye~” He hummed, pointing to Stepka’s cheeks. “Or if you’re this close!”

Stepka hadn’t realised just how close they were until that moment. There was maybe a few inches between their faces-- Maybe more, maybe less. The exactness didn’t exactly matter. What did matter was that Alexei hadn’t moved further back yet, if anything it felt like they were even closer now.

“Alexei, I…” He couldn’t even think of words right now, suddenly overcome with Anxiety about losing a friend for something that was probably a misunderstanding. Surely this wasn’t actually some kind of attraction, right? He didn’t actually want to kiss him, right? Shit. He needed to think of a distraction. “I think my nose looks a little off.”

Stepka had turned away, trying to get away from the uncomfortable situation. He hadn’t expected a hand to gently yet firmly turn his head back to face Alexei who now seemed even closer somehow. Their noses were almost touching and he found himself yet again distracted, this time by his eyes. They were such a nice shade of blue….

He hadn’t even realised that their lips were together initially, but once he had he put his other arm around him. He could feel whatever anxiety he’d had, that both of them had had, sinking away. It somehow seemed to last forever but yet be over in a flash as the two of them awkwardly pulled back, avoiding eye contact. Part of Stepka just wanted to pull him back into another, instead stopping himself by running and hand through his own hair.

“You know….” Alexei began, looking over at the sketch he’d been drawing. Stepka could feel the anxiety building up as he looked back to him, not sure if rejection was coming. Part of him wanted it to come so they could both forget this ever happened. Only it never came. “I think you’re right. Your nose is a little off.”

Stepka just stared at him, a little dumbfounded, trying to find words to address what happened as he watched Alexei change the sketch like nothing had happened. Stepka wanted to say something. He HAD to say something, only no words were coming out.

“You have beautiful eyes,” He blurted out suddenly, Alexei looking up at him in surprise for a moment. He had a look of pleasant confusion on his face.

“Thank you… So do you,” He smiled. Only to look a little nervous again, “Do you want to… Maybe get lunch together, sometime? After all this?”

Witch House Halloween video that accompanies a story for Cake Magazine, out in a couple months.

Styled by Angel Johnson

Hair & Makeup by Juxta