Baby Bird (Unfinished)
Kalel had continued to keep his relationship with Cassian a secret from Jacobi for the four days following Lyra’s birthday. One afternoon, the brothers were having a casual conversation in Jacobi’s garage. Jacobi, while working intently on a project with his hands, remained attentive and actively spent time with Kalel. As their conversation shifted toward the topic of relationships, Jacobi made a snarky remark about Kalel's supposed inexperience. In response, Kalel, feeling infantilized as he often did in such situations, became defensive and abruptly blurted out, “I’m not a virgin.” Caught off guard, Jacobi immediately paused his work, visibly stunned and confused at the revelation. After a brief moment, Jacobi laughed and began asking Kalel a series of rapid questions, not knowing he was backing Kalel into a corner.
Kal just, well, "blue screened”. Not intentionally. Unlike the infamous city advertisement incident, this bout of paralysis was shorter and less intense but still made Jacobi feel confused, then concerned.
“Hey Bro? You okay? … Kal..?”
After a beat, Kalel let out a laugh, a very forced, nervous, loud laugh that made Jacobi go from feeling concerned to unsettled. “I-I uh… Didn’t mean to tell you that,” Kalel insisted.
“Kal… did something happen to you”? Jacobi's voice was deep, holding a suppressed growl. His body noticeably tensed somewhat.
“No! No. It’s not like that!”
“Bro, you're freaking me out”
Kalel didn’t say anything for a moment, one that felt longer than it actually was. “It’s… Cass.” This time Jacobi froze. “It’s completely consensual, Jac. You know he wouldn’t do that. … Jacobi?”
Jacobi looked his brother in the face, locked in on him, reading every microexpression. He sat down somewhere in front of his brother. He clenched his jaw and looked away from him at the ground. “How long were you two keeping this from me?”
“I didn’t know how t-”
“Just answer the question, Kal!” Jacobi hadn’t meant to get aggressive. He held it back together. “How long...?”
“... a month”
“...Why? Why did you… Did you think I was going to do something? To him!? Holy, Kal, I'm not some brute!”
“I know. I didn’t want to upset you. You don’t approve of us-”
“You’re fucking right I don’t. A month!? Do you have any idea who you’re messing around with!? He’s not-he’s-”
“He’s what?” Kalel asked sharply. “Like you?”
Jacobi stared at Kalel with his eyes furrowed. His brother unexpectedly matched his expression. He relented, letting his shoulder fall somewhat. “…Yeah.”
The garage fell silent. Jacobi stood up abruptly and walked back over to his rig, silently continuing the task that brought them there. Kalel’s heart sank. He looked down at the floor. When he looked back up at him, Jacobi had his back to him, his tail flicking harshly from side to side as the rest of his movement stayed controlled and focused. “Jac, I-”
“Get out, Kalel.”
I made a Cassian POV about what happened shortly after the last flashback left off in this story!
“Cassian, I… want to kiss you again.”
What…WHAT! What did he just say!? Holy Moly! No, no way. Okay Cass, keep it together. “What?” Oh holy hell, why did I say it like that? He curled tighter into himself. Kalel’s hair was still in his face, his body tensed as if I just hit him. Fuck! “I… really? I mean, Kal… I… I mean,” dammit, just say it, Cass! “I wouldn’t mind.” Wow, you wouldn’t, huh? I just gotta play it cool, right? Right. … Dammit, why is he still looking away from me!
I sat and looked at him for just a moment before I hesitantly reached my hand toward his face. When my fingers reached his chin, he slightly turned his head and looked at me. His beautiful green eye locked onto my face with an intensity that didn’t feel intimidating. My fingers slid across his face till my hand gently held the right side of his jaw. I turned his face to mine when, unexpectedly, I felt a hard, not quite cold metal hand on the small of my back, pushing me. I was jolted forward toward Kalel as his other hand held the side of my face, gently grabbing the back of my neck. His soft, plump lips collided with mine. My eyes closed shut, quick and tight, as I pushed my face forward, fully embracing the spontaneity.
When he pulled back separating us for a moment I jumped back on his mouth, taking the lead. It’s so obvious that he hadn’t done this before. It’s so adorable. I wrapped my arms around his neck, keeping him close. His hands wandered uncertainly, like he wasn't quite sure where they belonged. His grip would tighten involuntarily, then soften again, almost tickling me, teasing me. He truly didn't know what to do with himself. He just knew that he wanted to.
He broke free, not giving in when I attempted to pull him back. He looked at me, brow furrowed with concern.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…”
“Sorry? I’m sure you know now that I like, like you.”
“Cassian… I want to-”
“I know.” I smiled at him, cupping his face with both hands. I wanted to reassure him the best way I could that I wanted him the same way. “I do too.”
I kissed him again, laughing softly against his lips as I whispered, “Just follow me, baby bird.”
The Morning After
“WHAT!?”
-
Cassian had made coffee that morning and gave Kalel a fruity, sweet drink in a large cup. They both sat on the front room couch. Oddly, Cassian didn’t have a dining table. Their food sat on a small coffee table in front of them. Kalel promised his mother he’d line her in as soon as he woke up. He held his communicator close to his face as Aria’s voice came from its speaker. “Your father practically had to hide the thing from me to make me stop,” she said through a chuckle. “I know. After two missed calls…I don’t know, honey, I just kind of panicked. I’m so sorry, baby.” Kalel frowned at the sound of his mother's apology. He should have picked up last night. He should have paid attention. He shouldn't have been distracted by-
“Please don’t apologize, Madame.” Cassian's voice interrupted Kalel’s thoughts. Kalel looked at him with quiet concern. “I kept him safe and sound! I’ll never let anything happen to him!”
Aria’s laughter burst loudly through the speakers. “Of course you won’t, Cassian.”
“You’re heading off to the border soon, right?” Cassian asked, looking directly at Kalel.
“Yeah,” Kalel answered.
“Well, I won’t hold you on the line.” Aria paused for a moment. “You get yourself ready and moving! … be safe, okay, sweetheart?”
“I’m okay, Mom.” Kalel wore a soft, lovingly amused smile. “I’ll be leaving from Cassian's apartment in an hour or so”
“Still, I can’t just sit here. … I have to go. I’ll see you soon, baby. I love you!”
“I love you too, Mom.”
The speakers of Kalel’s communicator cut out as the call ended. Cassian stared up at Kalel with his eyes, wearing a closed, playful smile. “An hour?”
“I need to take a shower.”
“Oh yeah. Buut, that doesn’t take you that long?”
“I know,” Kalel said, looking down at Cassian with just his eyes, giving him a soft, small, playful smile. Cassian moved even closer to Kalel, leaning into him. Kalel moved his cybernetic arm over and around Cassian, pulling him in close. As Kalel leaned back into the couch, Cassian pressed himself against his abdomen and chest, adjusting himself until he was practically lying on top of him. His face relaxed a bit as the vibrations coming from Kalel’s chest cradled him.
They stay in that position for longer than either of them expected. Cassian had almost lost his battle with sleep by the time Kalel started to make his way up, making him groan in disapproval. “Hey!” Cassian grumbled, pushing his face into Kalel’s chest. “I was using that!”
“Come on, Cass,” Kalel chuckled as he continued slowly standing up, leaving Cassian to dramatically flop onto the couch cushion with the back of his hand pressing his forehead. Kalel turned and laughed when he saw Cassian’s ridiculous pose. “Really?”
“How dare you!? I’m clearly in distress, and you laugh!”
“Oh yes, I take pleasure in cruelty, I forgot.” Cassian giggled at Kalel’s sarcastic comeback. Kalel made his way to the bathroom. Cassian’s bathroom didn’t scream humble. It didn’t even know the word. Normans have a knack for overkill. The shower was large, even by Hyome standards. Kalel ignored the wall jets and just used the embedded ceiling shower head. He was never much of a fan of getting his hair wet every time, but frankly, water bursting from the walls to hose his body freaks him out. His shower was quick, as quick as it could be for someone his size. He dressed himself in a separate shirt that Cassian had in his size for some reason.
“No, this is staying here!” Cassian snatched the shirt Kalel had worn when he got there from his hand as he was heading out the door. Kalel looked down at Cassian, raised an eyebrow, and smiled. “What.... Don’t judge me!”
“Oh okay, I won’t.”
Still smiling, Cassian looked down at the ground. A shade of deep purple softly grew and spread across Cassian’s cheeks. “I’ll miss you.”
Kalel leaned down, lifting Cassian’s head by the chin. He pressed their lips together, giving him a soft kiss that lingered somewhat. Cassian leaned forward unconsciously, chasing Kalel when he parted. “I’ll miss you too.”
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“I didn’t hurt you?” Kalel gently touched Cassian’s face, moving his hair out of his eyes. They made their way to Cassian’s room. Kalel didn’t expect his bed to be this big. They both lay on it comfortably, even having space left over. A lot of space.
“You’re not my first. Do I look hurt?” Cassian laughed. Kalel noticed the faint reddish-purple marks appearing on Cassian’s skin. His expression tightened with concern. Cassian held the side of his face, shifting his gaze to his eyes. “You didn’t hurt me.” Kalel studied his face, letting his cybernetic eye scan Cassian’s biometrics and tuning into his olfactory sense for good measure. He wasn’t lying.
Kalel relaxed a bit and placed his hand on Cassian's side, below his waist. “Cassian… I…” The word trailed off. Kalel just looked at Cassian, softly admiring him. “You’re so pretty.”
A large, amused smile grew on Cassian’s face. He held his chin up despite the faint heat growing in his cheeks. “I know,” he said confidently, following it with a giggle. He then jolted straight up, his eyes going slightly wide. “Oh man, I have to go to the bathroom!” He literally crawled to the end of his bed, jumped off, and hurried out of his bedroom. Kalel smiled at that, scoffing out a quiet chuckle. He turned to lie on his stomach, hugging a large soft pillow to his face. Just then, his communicator chimed nearby. He didn’t notice it was still on the bed. He stretched his arm to reach it and opened the messaging page. He scanned through the messages they had exchanged earlier that day, shortly after Cassian found him alone, before reading the one responsible for the chime.
Jacobi
-dude! i’m succh a dickhead tho.
-I’m fine, Jac. Seriously.
-Cass reall chrewed my ass out. Hey, i trust you! u don’t gotta repeat yourself
-Sav me a burg!
— — —
-hey bro! you better4 saved a burger for me! Im on my way
The color drained from Kalel’s face. He frantically looked for and gathered his clothes before rushing to the bathroom, abruptly stopping when his hand grabbed the handle of the closed door.
“Cassian?”
“I’m just getting ready for a shower now. You can come in if you want, baby bird!”
“Jacobi is on his way.” Kalel cringed at how words shot out of him with such a frantic urgency.
“Oh? Oh! Well… get in here!”
Cassian’s smile at Kalel dropped when he saw his face. Kalel was holding his clothing tight to himself, almost like a security blanket, his eyes screaming what do I do!?
“He’s going to know.” Kalel's words came with a silent plea.
Cassian placed a hand on the sink countertop. “Put your clothes right here.” Kalel complied. Cassian took his hand and led him into the shower. He set a shower cycle on the digital touchpad. When the water from the wall jets shot out, Kalel's breath hitched. His body tensed tightly, curling into himself. His tail shot up straight, the hair running along it and down his spine puffing up. Cassian quickly changed the water direction setting. The jets shut off and water fell from a wide shower head directly above them. Kalel relaxed somewhat, pulling his hair away from his face above his head, stepping away from the water.
“I’m sorry, baby bird. It’s pretty much impossible to not get your hair wet at least a little. Here I can help you.” Cassian did his best to do that. Even still, both of their heads were soaked by the time they finished, as Kalel quietly insisted they be quick. Cassian explained that the other holes in the wall were drying vents that blew out heated, filtered air and asked Kalel if he was okay with that.
Kalel stared at the vents on the wall and held together a creeping tremble. “I don’t think so.”
“That’s okay! We’ll go old school! I got towels in here. I know it!” Cassian carefully got out of the shower and went to a cabinet on the other side of the room. He grabbed three towels and handed Kalel two. Cassian turned on the room’s built-in dehumidifier, and they rubbed themselves down with their towels. Cassian wrapped the towel around himself and took the second towel from Kalel’s hand to help him dry off his large body. Cassian turned around to grab two more towels. They both aggressively rubbed them on their heads. “Whoa, don’t pull your hair out, Kal!” Cassian teased playfully.
“Please don’t tell Jacobi.” Kalel was hunched down, still holding the towel over his head, gripping it tight. His eyes were wide with pleading fear as he looked at Cassian. Cassian felt a lump grow in his throat that he quickly swallowed.
“Kal… it’s going to be oka-”
“PLEASE!” The unexpected aggression made Cassian jump a little. Kalel dropped his towel and put his hands in front of him toward Cassian, stopping himself before he touched him. “I’m sorry-”
“No! I mean, it’s okay… I won’t tell him.”
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