Fern feels rooted to the spot, caught by the steadiness of his stare. Admittedly, getting right to baking is a bit far from their mind. “Funny how that works, yeah? I’m sure there’s much I’ve yet to learn about you too.”[break][break]

And he’d like to find out as much as he can. Serious and somber as he is, Fern is convinced there’s so much hidden under that placid surface he presents. His smile widens, obviously pleased. “Good. Can’t have you growing bored.” of me, Fern doesn’t add aloud.[break][break]

They draw their hand back, though not in any sort of desperate attempt to pull free of the hand that has clasped around their wrist. The trust exists there now. Rather, they pull back and twist their hand. Lifting it toward their face so that their lips might dust along his curled fingers.[break][break]

Fern peers up at him over the ridge of his knuckles, the curl of their smile just visible. “Do I-? What, want an excuse? Definitely.”

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] jayden cross | :3c [break]

"i wouldn't grow bored of you," he says with simplicity, as if it was foolish to even consider such a thing, same as it was foolish to think about whether water was blue or fire was red.

[break][break] "i like you for more than your humor, you know."

[break][break] at the latter question, jayden shakes his head.

[break][break] "no — i mean — "

[break][break] and this time, he steps forward, closing the distance between them.

[break][break] he angles his head down.

[break][break] "do you want to touch me?"

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] fern delaney

A grin splits across their face. “Is that so? Good news for me.” A little exhilarating, hearing as much. Maybe boring hadn’t been the proper word. Maybe he’d rather jayden cross not grow tired of him. His antics.[break][break]

“Like what?”[break][break]

They can’t help but look up, chin tilting up to compensate for those few inches they lack.[break][break]

Fern inhales, quiet but heavy, as they try to parse out the look they find on his expression.[break][break]

“Think it’s a bit of an obvious answer, that.” A breathless laugh then. “Yeah. Is that okay?” He’s not about to make the same mistake twice.

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] jayden cross | :3c [break]

it will occur to him later, how it's the first time he's said such a thing outloud. it'll occur to him later that maybe he should've put more thought into what is essentially a confession, for the two of them.

[break][break] but — here, now, in the warmth and soft light of fern delaney's home, all he can think about is the teal-water gaze of the other's eyes, and how he'd like to get lost in the ocean of them.

[break][break] 'is that okay?'

[break][break] a silly question, just as silly as it was for jayden to ask it of him.

[break][break] "of course." and then, as if it isn't enough, he says it again. empathetically, hands sliding up to his cheeks, and then once more - as he presses his lips against theirs.

[break][break] "of course it is."

[attr="class","ooc"] fern delaney

Fern is not thinking about the confessional nature of it all, or expecting to be told in a specific way. In all actuality, the nature of their own interest is a new thing. While affection is nothing they’ve never experienced, they’ve never found themselves emotionally attached like this.[break][break]

Nor have they felt so nervous over the potential of being told no.[break][break]

“Of course.”[break][break]

For all of their clever composure, they can’t quite keep from watching him with wide eyes. Their hands hover, as if undecided over what to do or where to go. All they can focus on is the slow blaze in his eyes. Like the bloom of new violets in spring, or the bloom of a fresh bruise.[break][break]

But then warm hands brush over warmer cheeks and Fern stills. Breathless before the kiss even meets their lips. Then they are leaning into it, even if just a short brush. Their own fingers finally rouse to life again, slipping up to wind around the other’s wrists in a loose clasp. “Well now, I think you’ve left me speechless.”[break][break]

The corners of Fern’s lips curl upward, smiling against his mouth as the repeated sentiment shivers through them. Arms wind around his neck to drape there, pulling themself closer as they snag his lips with their own again.

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] jayden cross | :3c [break]