“Teddy?” Ollie whispered, wetting his bottom lip. “Stop pushing me away.”
Teddy shuffled, but he didn’t open his eyes.
“I know that’s what’s been happening, and I know you don’t really want to. You care about me. Acting like you don’t won’t suddenly make it so.”
Teddy’s throat thudded as he swallowed.
“And I care about you.” Ollie’s eyes were scratchy. “I care about you so much, Teddy, and I can’t bear you pushing me away anymore. Do…do the opposite.”
Teddy’s brow scrunched.
“Please, Teddy, do the opposite. I want you to do the opposite. I need you to.”
Ollie leaned in as the match went out, then pressed his mouth the rest of the way, finding Teddy’s lips.
What would it feel like to kiss Teddy Saul?
Ollie got his answer.
Teddy’s lips were dry but warm, and his beard tickled Ollie’s chin and top lip. He felt Teddy’s surprised intake of air, the slight parting of Teddy’s lips beneath his own.
It was a quick peck to the mouth, brief, light, but Ollie’s insides fluttered, filling with warmth. That heat travelled up his neck, to his face. It swept over his scalp, and the sensation made him pull back.
What he was doing caught up with him.
It hadn’t been planned, and he didn’t regret it, but still, he shouldn’t have assumed Teddy would be okay with the kiss.
“Sorry. I…”
Teddy slapped his hand on the floor, trying to locate the matches. He growled in frustration.
“Oh,” Ollie blurted, lighting another one. “I have them.”
Teddy vehemently shook his head. His eyes were comically wide.
Ollie blinked. “Are you saying no to…what I did?”
Teddy kept shaking his head.
“Or no to me apologising for it?”
Teddy stopped, then started nodding with the same enthusiasm.
“I shouldn’t apologise because you…liked it?”
Teddy’s eyes practically glowed. Yes, yes, yes.
Ollie lowered his gaze, blushing. Teddy took the match from him, then lifted Ollie’s chin with his other hand, getting a good look at him. Teddy looked at him like he was precious, fragile, sacred even.
“I’m not,” Ollie whispered. “I’m nothing special.”
Teddy’s expression disagreed.
You are, you are, you are.
“I’m not, Teddy. I don’t know—” Ollie composed himself with a breath. “I don’t know why you care about me. I don’t… I don’t deserve it.”
Teddy nodded.
Ollie didn’t think he’d ever believe that, but he didn’t want to argue, not when Teddy was back to looking at him like that again.
“Does this mean you’ll stop pushing me away?”
Teddy’s focus shifted to the flame. He bit his lip, slowly nodding.
“Promise—”
The match was held in front of Ollie’s lips, cutting him off.
Ollie frowned, then obediently blew it out.
The Artwork was done by the wonderfully talented Lenle-g over on Tumblr: https://lenle-g.tumblr.com/commissions and is actually an animation. If you'd like to see them moving (Trust me you do), see it here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DI61ZC5ohBy/?utmsource=igwebcopylink&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==