The Little Things Arc
Part Fifteen: The Leaving Kiss
by D.C. Logan
It was supposed to be a light kiss, the same as usual.
It was our ritual, every morning, or whenever we parted;
"love you" and a quick shared kiss. When we left each other
after lunch, at the door of the apartment, on the shuttle
platform; wherever and whenever we separated for any length
of time. Like an old couple married and living in each
other's pockets for years, it was just one of the many
established routines in our life together. All those little
repeated things added structure to our days in and days
out: arguing playfully over who washed the dishes and who
dried them, deciding when to ignore the call of the outside
world versus adhering to duty, debating the merits of one
form of entertainment over another. Tiny, insignificant
moments that tiptoed through the pattern of our time
together and stamped it as 'ours.'
But there was something different about him that
morning--or maybe it was me, I'm not really sure. He was
leaving early, and I'd shuffled along with him to the door;
feet in slippers, wearing my old patchwork robe, my hair
loose and tangled down my back. I remember being soft with
sleep and the wonder of a dreamless night.
Okay, I don't know why exactly--he smelled wonderful--warm
and solid. Maybe that's what triggered the thought. It
started out innocent enough, a gentle kiss--a nearly
routine press of one set of lips against another. Right,
sure, as if anything between the two of us can be described
as 'routine'. I followed a sudden impulse to expand upon it
by trailing a string of tiny nibbles down the length of his
throat.
Really, I was going to leave it at that--or at least see if
Heero would be able to leave it at that. Honest. But, not
following the set protocol we'd established for weeks now;
he dropped his bag, kicked the door shut behind him, and
seized the back of my neck in a firm hold. My gut clenched
briefly with the speed of him--he could move so quickly!
And then, before I realized it, he had tilted my head to an
angle that pleased him, and I was pressed hard against the
wall with Heero, all that glorious Heero, holding me in
place.
Don't tease dragons; waking them can be a bad idea. Not
that I was complaining mind you. He took my mouth, and I
let him (like I'd any say in the matter at this
point)--taking the time for some tasting of my own. I
carefully explored the varied flavors of his
mouth--toothpaste, coffee, and something else that was
indescribably and wonderfully Heero. And I was lost.
Everyone should have the opportunity to start the day like
this.
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