HE WAS PROPPED UP, ONE ARM RESTING on the elbow and supporting his head. laying next to him, james, looked a picture of calm. which was a nice change. usually he had a look in his eyes that caused some concern from august. between the pills they were told to take, the therapy sessions, always knowing there was something wrong with them – it was so nice when they could just sit together and feel like nothing was wrong. august watched his face, eyes moving over the relaxed features. taking in his eyelashes, laying against his cheeks from closed eyes. the soft scruff on his face, the bags and wrinkles. he loved it all. loved? yeah, he loved it all. ONE HAND CAME UP IN ORDER TO TOUCH. he couldn’t resist. the back of his knuckles brushed gently over his cheek, fingertips tracing down over his nose. his eyes were half lidded, just. looking at him. he remembered the night before. the rush, the lack of hesitation. he needed to feel him, to taste him. the sweet sounds that flooded out of james’ lips as he pressed him into the mattress. the way he said his name as august sunk his teeth into his neck, as he marked him. they weren’t friends anymore, they were more than that. i’m yours, august. HIS CHEST WAS SO FULL, AND FOR ONCE it wasn’t anxiety. he barely heard james’ real words leave his lips, so focused on the memory of him he didn’t even realize he was awake. lifting his gaze from where he’d been watching his lips, they made eye contact. thinking it a joke, august cracked a smile. “you think you were going somewhere?”