“You’re surprised?” Solo asked, cocking his head slightly. “You really think I woke up this morning expecting a ho— an attractive— person I had been pining after to kiss me and call me by my real name?”
He sucked in a deep breath, setting down the bag and carton to return the action of wrapping his arms around Val. He tried his best to intertwine his hands behind the man’s back, the bandage posing just a bit of trouble, but none he couldn’t ignore.
“Honestly, I think I’m more surprised than you. You probably have people falling all over you every day. I wouldn’t doubt that for a second. Meanwhile, you managed to score a hobo alligator of a dead man who dwells a mile beneath the city, who is considered a threat to the entire country. You could do so much better.“
He wrinkled his nose as he smirked, narrowing his eyes tauntingly.
“I’ll say it again. You think you’re surprised? Reconsider.”
With that, Solo took up the ingredients again and brushed past Val, pressing into him on the way forward. He set them down on the counter then, turning back and propping his hip on the side of the table.
“And you better watch out. Once I get used to this whole thing, I’m gonna be the one making you all stuttery and dazed. Got that?”
“Hey! I scored myself a very handsome, charming, wonderfully intelligent hobo alligator, and I’d prefer it if he stopped putting himself down to make a point.” He pecked Solomon on the lips with a small smile.
“And I really wish you wouldn’t talk about me like I wasn’t just as gone on you as you are on me. I told you earlier, I’ve been pining after you for most of the time we’ve known each other and despite what you seem to think, I never imagined that you might feel the same way about me because I’m basically a fucking ken doll and you’re…” He sighed quietly, suddenly very aware of how passionate he sounded, and reached up to smooth down his hair. “… well, you’re special.”
He was quiet for a while, watching Solomon sweep through his chicken and prop himself up against the counter all cocky, just sort of collecting his thoughts.
It was the threat—if you could even call it that—that snapped him out of it. He laughed, all bright and sincere, reached over to set his hand on top of Solo’s, and started pouring pancake mix into the bowl. “Yeah. I’m looking forward to it Solomon, it’s been a long time since a boy’s gotten me properly flustered.”
“Are you saying I’m not a ken doll?” Solo asked jokingly. “I never said I didn’t have the looks. I just meant personality. I’m drop-dead gorgeous.”
He flicked his hair out of his face, running his free hand through it and sort of slouching back, almost posing for some kind of edgy model shot. He couldn’t keep it long, though, his sultry eyes turning much more humorous as he gazed over to Val.
“And if I’m just so special, then do I get to know what it takes to get you all flustered and fuzzy? Or do I still have to figure that out myself… like the rest of them. Hmm?”
He didn’t drawl the words out hatefully, even at the mention of Val possibly being with other people. Frankly, Solo didn’t care. He had never been the jealous type, at least if he trusted the person. Apparently Val’s story was valid enough to induce that trust. He said the words slower, though, almost as if challenging the previous relationship… quality. His voice was a lower purr, trying his darnedest to keep his demeanor as provocative as he could.
"I like your personality!" Val protested playfully, because he wasn't going to be able to stop if he actually let himself think about how good Solomon looked. It didn't turn out to matter of course—he was gone the second Solomon started posing like the sort of leather-jacketed "bad boy" he always seemed to fall for at shoots—but it was the principle of the thing. He had to at least make an effort.
"And… well… I wouldn't want to rob the joy of discovery from you, but if you really want to know…" He flushed a bit, stepping into Solo's space again. Val's hands settled on the counter on either side of him, practically boxing him in. "… I suppose I could let you in on a trick or two. Unlike the rest of them, I think you've earned a couple hints."
Solomon already had him wrapped around his finger, whether he knew it or not. All he'd need to do was push back when Val pushed him, maybe toss in a few compliments if he was feeling generous, and Val would melt into a little puddle on the spot. Even that smoldering look had him a bit weak in the knees, though his smile was bright enough not to show it. He was easy, he always had been, it was just that Solomon didn't take advantage.
Solo took into account what was happening, registering it all and fighting himself on every edge of wanting to just drop. But, alas, no. He was stubborn, he was competitive, and his drive to accomplish this was probably more serious than it should have been. He was all it, no chips left on the side of the poker table as he turned to face Val, resting his lower back on the edge of the counter. He held up a hand, tracing the other man’s jaw with a gentle finger.
“I don’t know,” he hummed quietly, eyes flicking from feature to feature. “I am quite the adventurous person.”
Just like that, it was game time. At least, for Solo’s mind.
His hand slid down, hooking on to the collar of Val’s shirt as he tugged his face closer, his own body sliding only slightly forward so they could be relatively the same height. He propped himself more on an outstretched leg, still holding Val’s shirt with one hand and having the other tucked beneath his arm across his chest.
“But… maybe a hint wouldn’t hurt. Normally I enjoy the pieces of the puzzle, but maybe I want to cheat this time.”
Val’s breath hitched in his throat, quiet enough that he could pretend Solomon hadn’t heard it. The soft touch had him leaning in, angling his djaw to press closer as his eyes flicked up to Solo’s. This felt a little contrived, but not like a joke—not like Solo was going to pull away and say “just kidding” and leave him feeling dumb—so he didn’t feel ashamed when his face went pink and he went eagerly as Solomon reeled him in.
His heart was beating so loud he almost didn’t hear the request. His unbothered facade was falling apart as quickly as it had taken him to toss it on. He barely managed to stutter out a response, too busy hanging on Solomon’s every action, his every breath.
It felt like he was waiting for something. A kiss, maybe. A conclusion of some sort. Anything. He wasn’t too proud to admit that he was desperate.
“Oh. I… um… I think you’re doing… really really well, but…” His voice was breathless. “… I think you should know, when I… ah… when I kiss you, or… or push you down or up against the wall, it’s only because I kind of want you to push me back. Kiss me harder. That… um… that sort of thing.”
Now, this. This didn’t seem so hard, now that he could do it. It wasn’t so threatening, it wasn’t so scary. Initiative wasn’t a thing he had to tiptoe around anymore. He could just do it. That kind of thought was both worrying and insanely freeing.
“Is that so?” he almost whispered, his eyes still adverted to study the man’s face. “In that case…”
He dropped his hand, reaching back to grab Val’s hands from the counter and standing up, stepping briskly forward and reversing their positions. He let go of Phantom’s hands, resting his own on the counter like Val had done before. Solo was close— closer than before, at least, pressed up against the front of the man. He was feeling daring, of course, and had to admit this was kind of fun. Sure, he didn’t mind being the dazed and fuzzy one, but this seemed more like him, at least. A leader, or whatever. He didn’t know the right word. He didn’t need too, considering he saw whatever he was doing was clearly working, and it just kept feeding him that newfound pride and confidence.
His eyes were now locked on Val’s, unlike before. The lights above cast a warm hue down on the two, but Solo’s blue eyes were nothing short of freezing. Not in a cold-shoulder way… more like a leopard watching from a branch, all calculating and unpredictable. Even so, he couldn’t help but smile. Though, this time it was smaller, clearly his attention more focused on Val than his own facial expressions.
Val had liked being in charge, but he liked this too. Liked how it was familiar enough that he wasn’t overwhelmed but not boring either—not with Solo pushing him around. There was something new to it, something electric that had him on edge in the best of ways as he was pulled and pinned and left dazed, staring helplessly into Solomon’s eyes.
They were nice eyes. Left him shivering, almost. Left him feeling stripped down and a little helpless and exactly the way he liked feeling.
His cheeks were hot and his head was spinning a bit and yeah, he really fucking liked this. He reached up, looping his arms around Padlock’s neck because he needed to hold on somehow, and did his best to meet that stare head on.
It was hard. Part of him wanted to bare his neck and melt up against the counter—a big part of him—but he’d learned a while ago that it was always more fun when he pushed.
Pushing got him more of those sharp blue stares, got him all of Solomon’s attention. He leaned back against the counter more than Solo had, made him lean in to keep close, and did his best to put on a smirk. “Wow. You… ah… you certainly got… confident.” He didn’t quite manage to keep his voice steady, but that was okay. He could roll with it. “What’re you gonna do now, Solomon? I’m not half as fuzzed out as you were and you don't have any more of my moves to copy."
“Oh, so you noticed?” Solo muttered, but it wasn’t nearly as off-guard as he assumed it would have been. His voice was steady, almost uncannily so, considering his heart was still beating too fast for its own good. Sure, he had gotten called out, but it’s not like he would just back down now. He had to… get creative. As Val kept talking, Solo was almost losing hope, wondering if it was actually working. But when the man’s voice hitched like it did, he just smiled, those doubts washing away as quickly as they had leached themselves ashore.
But the smile was still different. It fit in perfectly with the whole charm he currently drenched himself in. It wasn’t sweet like before, more… hungry. Calculating. Slick, for lack of a better word.
“Oh, no more moves to copy, you say?” he asked smoothly, taking a hand and gingerly beginning to explore the lengths of Val’s side with it. He had actually mustered up the courage to slip his hand beneath Val’s shirt, and although his hands were slightly cold, he hoped it was… permitted. The man’s skin was warmer, certainly a nice change.
“Then, looks like I’ll have to be creative..,” he continued, cocking his head as he leaned in. He propped himself on the hand holding the edge of the counter, face only inches away from Val’s. He wanted to keep this drawling on as long as he possibly could. Until Val finally broke, of course. He couldn’t be the one to lose this so-called standoff. His eyes flicked down for a moment, but otherwise kept attentively locked to the other’s.
Solo had never seemed so put together in private and Valentine had to admit that he was loving it almost as much as he loved getting a look at his soft side. It was the same mix of familiar and different that had him weak at the knees, heart beating hummingbird fast in his chest as Solomon smirked. He was so put together it made Val want to fall apart. So slick and confident and effortlessly beautiful that Val could barely keep from kissing him and losing their little game.
He trembled as Solomon’s hand slid up his shirt, cold enough to raise goosebumps on his stomach, and couldn’t keep from leaning into it. Couldn’t keep from letting out the softest little sigh of happiness. His eyes flicked shut after a few seconds. They were a little hazy when he opened them, a little dazed.
The smile on his lips was a soft thing, nowhere near the smirk he’d intended it to be.
“This is what you call creative?” His voice was too breathy but the challenge was there. He met Solomon’s gaze head on. Or… he did until it got to be too much. His attention flicked around, from Solomon’s touch on his ribs to the stare he was being pinned with to his lips. They lingered on his lips and he wanted so bad that he went red when his eyes made their way up to Solomon’s again and he realized he’d been staring.
It was pretty hard to keep challenging eye contact after that. “You know, I can… ah… I can think of something you could do.” His eyes slipped down to Solomon’s lisp again, then back up to his eyes, and then across the room to the little kitchen table. “Something that’d really… really leave me breathless.”
Solo resisted the urge to counter Val on his remark. Solomon was working with basically what he knew. Comfort zones were still a thing, but ones he was breaking out of at every single turning point. Mainly because he was dull in this kind of situation. Not entirely stupid, just didn’t hold all the tricks of the trade under his belt.
And suddenly, that was all pushed away by the new suggestion. Some instruction. That’s all he needed.
He let his eyes follow Val’s as they flickered away, then back to their previous resting place upon his lips. His heart jumped at the notion— the possibility. His mind curved into a race, thoughts springing around of what to do, what he could do. He took a somewhat shakier breath this time, still calmer than he expected but on the cusp of being audible. His heart continued its tempo, the metronome close to some kind of elevated bpm.
“And what is that?” he asked after a much drawn on silence, just his breathing filling the quiet gaps.
He didn’t move, just kept his station where he was. He wasn’t still like he usually was, though. No. Normally he was uncannily still, barely even breathing. Normally his heart was calm, his body cold and distant.
Now was different. Now, he was anxious. Waiting. His skin grew warmer, his eyes shifting around. His hand still moved, the pain long gone in his mind. His eyes were alive, his body still moving closer to Val’s with each passing moment.
Val felt a little bit like he was on fire. The quiet had all his nerves on edge, every sense alert, every tiny touch and movement registering in his head. He wanted to bounce, to shake, to throw himself over at Solomon and kiss him hard, but that would shatter this thing they were playing out, this scene where Solo was in charge. It felt too important to ruin, so he forced himself still and waited with bated breath until Solomon handed him the question like a little invitation to speak.
He leaned in a little, so Solomon wouldn't be startled, and pulled him in gently with the hands still looped around his neck. It was a careful movement, more guiding and less pulling around, one hand gently carding through Solo's hair until they were millimetres apart and he was pretty sure what he wanted was obvious. "You… um…" It was hard to find his voice. He wanted to show Solomon how to do this, wanted to give him a little guidance, but it was hard when he'd never done that before. Normally people just went for it, and he let them, and that whole experience was very far away from this because Solomon was so sweet. So reluctant to do anything before he knew it was okay. It made him feel warm all over, and that feeling was what finally got him talking. That little prickle of happiness as Solo's eyes swept over him, as Solo waited for him to give an answer. "You could… kiss me. If you wanted."
Solomon nearly cut Val’s words to a halt prematurely, kissing him the exact second after he heard the first affirmation.
In truth, he hadn’t been waiting for the confirmation. Sure, consent was a great thing for him to know about audibly, considering he would probably not do anything from the start if he was suspicious. Though, that wasn’t the case this time. He had known what Val wanted from the start. The man didn’t exactly stifle it well, but Solo couldn’t blame him— he was practically begging for it himself, too.
Solo’s hand slid down from Val’s side, wrapping around his lower back and drawing him even closer. He tilted his head down and to the side, icy eyes long closed.
His lips were cold, but in more of a passive usual way— not in a eerie inhuman way. He never knew why, and nor did he care, until he had realized how warm Val was. It made him want to be closer, closer, if that was still even a possibility.
Despite his colder skin, fire tore through him like an unhindered torch, but it didn’t have the bite like flames usually did. No, it was sort of an elevated electric buzz, but his mind wasn’t blurry anymore. It was tuned, like he had finally found the right clear radio station, and it was wonderful. All throughout his body was simply numbness, hand absently crawling up Val’s back to hold him.
This didn’t seem much like the previous kisses. Of course, that could be because Solo was the one leading, but he didn’t think so. There was something else there, too. Something heavy and heated and slightly sloppy, sure, but that added to it.
It was all Val could do to kiss him back. He'd wanted this so bad but now that it was actually happening he could barely make him reciprocate through the buzz of adrenaline and endorphins. Luckily for him, Solomon seemed to have a pretty good handle on what he was doing. The arm around his waist was steady and strong and even though he missed the feeling of Solo's skin against his he was grateful for the extra support. His head felt very far away at the moment but it didn't really matter. It wasn't like he was thinking much anyways, too caught up in the here and now for his mind to wander which was just wonderful, honestly. He liked the here and now, liked the way Solo's lips went warm against his, the way the other man pressed close.
The kiss did feel different than the other ones they'd shared. It was close to something they'd done before, hot and heavy with the two of them pressed close, but they'd never been in these roles. Never kissed in a way that might lead to anything more. He really wanted this to lead to more.
His hands slid down, clutching at Solo's collar to keep him close as he broke away to breathe. "Fuck, that's… that's so good, can…" He gave Solomon a soft tug, barely thinking about his words. "… can we lay down somewhere? I want you on top of me."
If his mind was anywhere else, he may have found the nerve to laugh. To just step back and curl up and start giggling like a drunken idiot. But he wasn’t, because he was here, and his mind was focused solely on the person before him. He felt like a little boy again, before he understood what his truly odd life had in store. He felt like life was unpredictable and new and enjoyable and had some kind of special meaning now.
It was hard to hear Val’s words over his mind’s internal screaming, that stupid treble mixed with the bass of his thrumming heart, all tied together by his breathing in a sort of dodgy symphony. He was still shaky, his skin an odd mix of colder in some places and extremely warm in others, a flash of ice through his hands and fire through his core.
It took him almost a full minute to understand those words. They induced something extremely exciting and new and thrilling, but also something slightly worrying. After all, Solomon had no clue what he was doing. He didn’t know the reasons for his heart beating so fast and his body flashing those odd colors. Sure, maybe he had some understanding through those cheesy movies he pirated when he was bored, but otherwise, this was new.
That’s not saying he minded it at all. It was all just a cacophony of curiosity and thrill and his fast-beating heart.
Maybe he wasn’t cut out for this. Maybe because he had no clue what he was doing, he couldn’t take the lead. But… he was too far in to give up now, so he’d try to just play it the best he could. After all, seeing Val all caught up like this was the best view he’d ever witnessed.
“Lead the way,” he whispered.
Val smiled and didn't turn away as he started towing Solomon over to the couch. He couldn't tear his eyes away from Solo, not yet, because part of him was terrified that they'd stop and he would, if Solomon asked, because right now he'd do anything that Solomon asked, but he wouldn't want to. It was new territory, all this caring about the other person stuff, and he was desperate to explore it. Maybe it would be different than other times, now that there was a thread of emotion caught up in it. Solomon got him messed up so easily and he couldn't think of any other way to explain it.
When his legs hit the couch he toppled backwards and barely managed to pull Solomon down with him. It was a nice, clean landing, Solo tucked neatly on top of him. He probably looked a mess. His dark hair fanned out around his head, free of it's messy ponytail. His lips were red, cheeks pink, chest moving up and down as he panted. There was still something hazy in his eyes, something hot and needy that came to a head as his focus settled on Solo's face.
New territory for both of them, probably. Solo wasn't used to intimacy and he wasn't used to be being liked while he was intimate, but they could work it out. He knew how to do this. He could teach. It would be hard, sure—even the tiniest brush of his skin against Solo's sent a shiver down his spine—but he had faith.
"Kiss me again?" It was a soft question, a bit hesitant. Enough to give Solo a guide but not enough to shift the balance of power. He could. He could give Solomon an order, maybe. Pull him down into a kiss, flip him over the way he'd done so many times before when pinned, but he didn't. He wanted Solomon to know that he was still in charge, that he could say no and tease and take all the time he needed to go further. "And… um… I'd really like it if you could touch me."
Solo hoped being this worried was normal. If not, he would probably have expected to have a heart attack long before this, but for some reason, his heart kept speeding.
Well, if he was to go, this would be one hell of an end.
He also had to mind where he stepped, even though that attention was much more absent, the rest of it locked firmly on Val. He sort of stiffened as he was tugged on to the couch, pushing the man down in front of him so Val couldn’t quite get the satisfaction of tugging them both down. If he wanted to be in charge, Solo had to act like it.
Part of him longed to step back, though, to be the one pushed. To be that little subservient man he felt like. Outside, he hated the vulnerability it brought, but for some odd reason, it sounded so appealing when Val was the subject.
But this. This was fun. Although it was uncertain and hesitant, and Solomon waited just another moment before slipping his hands, both, back beneath Val’s shirt and tracing the arc of his body, it was right. He didn’t seem to hold much confidence, but he could get used to it. He was getting used to it. It was right, and he could lead. He’d get the hang of it.
And, well, if he had to practice often… that didn’t seem so terrible either.
Without saying a word, Solo pressed another kiss to Val’s lips, but it was more of a gentle brush as he continued down to his jaw, then his neck, then along the length of his collar. It was inconsistent, though, growing less and less chaste as he continued. His hands roamed the length of Val’s chest, then wrapped around to his back, finally sliding down and resting near his hips. He didn’t dare go further, just yet. That was a whole different comfort zone he wasn’t too keen on confronting himself alone.
(Sure, or timeskip. Your choice)
(I think I'll set set up a private chat, if that's alright with you. Just give me a second!)
