As usual, Moon was the first to wake up. It had always been that way. Ever since they were kids who would beg their parents to let them stay at one another’s house, Moon would wake up first. It was the same when they were high schoolers and Nate would climb through his window to escape his family for the night. Every time, without fail Moon would be stuck watching the slow, steady rise and fall of his friend’s chest, eagerly awaiting the moment honey, hazel eyes would open and he could finally leave the bed without running the risk of waking the other boy.
This morning proved to be no exception to the continuing trend, sunlight creeping slowly in through a dusty window above the mattress and ghosting across his face until its presence began to bother his sensitive eyes. The Asian boy groaned in protest, burying his face into something soft to escape the dawn’s probing rays and returning blissfully to sleep’s embrace as he breathed in the sweet smell of white chocolate mocha and let it lull him. His arms encircled something warm and he pulled it closer to himself as the night’s chill settled over the room, snuggling closer to the much needed heat and letting out a contented sigh as the warm thing wiggled back into him, letting their combined heat accumulate until the cold was no longer uncomfortable. Now, if only the boy didn’t have something soft tickling right under his nose he could perhaps get some damn sleep.
Moon reluctantly blinked himself into wakefulness, the incessant tickle of the unknown fluff becoming unbearable until he was unable to ignore the irritating feeling and he unhappily forced his dark eyes to open. He wished he hadn’t. His gaze was filled with the familiar mousey tones of Nate’s untamed hair and Moon became acutely aware of their situation, his arms having wormed their way around the middle of the other boy sometime in the chilly night and pulled him close until they were practically spooning, bare skin pressed against bare skin. They were both wearing nothing, save for a flimsy pair of boxers, and they were cuddling. Fuck his life.
“No homo!” Moon shrieked in pure horror, springing away from the bed like a cat out of water and pushing off Nate like a launching pad, sending the younger male rolling off the mattress with a dull thump. Honey eyes blinked slowly in confusion, the haze of sleep still hanging over the smaller boy as he pulled himself up from the floor and stretched his arms over his head in a lazy yawn, the situation not having dawned upon him. Everything about the kid seemed to say “tired.” His scruffy, brown hair stuck up at odd angles and fell down into his half-lidded eyes, which caught the light perfectly, the weak glow of dawn picking out unseen golden flecks in the orbs. The boys lips were parted slightly as he tilted his head, wakefulness slowly beginning to settle over him and realization suddenly jolting him into awareness, eyes widening as a pink flush ghosted across his cheeks.
“It's probably just because we forgot to grab any blankets.” Nate suggested squeakily, the words catching in his throat as he kept his gaze locked firmly to the floor boards. “No homo.” He clarified certainly, beginning to get over his initial shock and both of them relaxed at the words.
“No homo, man.” Moon nodded surely, shaking off the experience quickly. They were just two bros that happened to get cold during the night. Cavemen huddled for warmth, right? It was totally manly. Not gay.
“You wanna go for a morning run?” Nate inquired, wholeheartedly soothed by their declaration of straightness and ready to get on with the day.
“That party isn't until late, we've got time.” Moon agreed eagerly, already moving to a nearby cardboard box that still held his running clothes. If there was anything better than a morning run, it was a morning run with Nate.
The two managed to get dressed relatively quickly, though Nate did nearly faceplant trying to pull on his jogging pants and it was only thanks to Moon’s quick reflexes that he didn't start the day by busting his nose off the floor. They decided to opt out of breakfast, Moon merely grabbing a slice of toast and an apple on their way out the door for them to eat later, both equally eager to get on with their run. The pair was quiet as they moved down the wet, dew stained steps and into the empty street, sharing a silent, private, look then a quick smile before Moon nodded and they took off like a shot.
They moved in sync, Moon leading in the beginning but Nate quickly coming up to take a place at his side as he shook the last reminding tendrils of sleep that clung to him. The steady drumbeat of their feet pounding against the cracked asphalt was the only sound that prevailed in the empty streets as the sun climbed over the horizon and drowned the world in an ocean of fire, driving away the deep purples that still clung to the orange stained clouds. Their breath aligned, the long practiced ritual of running together a familiar song that their bodies harmanozied to on instinct, their movements fluid. It’d been that way since they were running buddies on the elementary track team; a right, speed up, a left, turn here, slow up… They moved as one, as if they could sense the other’s movements before they were made.
The sharp, ear shattering sound of squealing tires broke through the familiar song, shattering the quiet of dawn like a rock sent through a stained glass window, the sound of rubber burning against pavement causing Nate and Moon to stumble as their rhythm was interrupted. A black sedan screamed into view, turning down their tiny street at top speed, tilting slightly on its side as the driver whipped it into the tight turn before slamming back down on all four wheels and roaring onward. Moon darted to the left, leaping out of the street and to the safety of the sidewalk as the car rocketed towards them, but Nate stood frozen, his honey eyes blown wide like a deer in the headlights as the thing came at him, swerving across the street with no regard for the yellow line.
“Nate!” The dark eyed boy called out, desperation evident in his strained voice as he realized his friend hadn't moved and he turned back to help him. The boy’s scream jolted the brunette from his stupor and he stumbled toward him but the car was too close, as if the driver hadn't even noticed the teen or simply didn't care enough to stop. Moon lurched forward, moving toward the boy as fear gripped his heart and it pounded angrily against his chest, threatening to burst if he didn't get Nate out of harm's way immediately. He gripped the smaller boy by the sleeves and yanked him towards himself as hard as he could, sending them both stumbling backwards as the weight of his friend hit him.
The momentum of the brunette slamming into him was too much and Moon could do nothing but wrap himself around the kid for protection and brace himself as they fell against the concrete underfoot, the sound of the car roaring past and the driver’s horrible cackle ringing through the air. The Asian boy gasped as the breath was knocked from his lungs as first his back slammed into the ground and then his friend fell atop him, effectively breaking every bone in his body - Or so it felt like - But he didn't try to escape the pinned position. He felt Nate’s fingers twist into the material of his shirt as the boy whimpered out a breathy “oh god,” and he couldn't bring himself to worry about the bruises that would undoubtedly mar his poor back later, too concerned with his friend to get up at the moment.
“You okay, Nate?” Moon questioned softly, propping himself up and running his eyes over his friend, checking the boy over for any visible injuries and only allowing himself to relax slightly when he found none.
“Yeah. Thanks, Moon.” Nate replied quietly, a slight waiver to his voice as he stared earnestly into dark eyes, as if he were trying to communicate everything he didn't know how to say with that one look. The boy pushed himself up so his arms lifted his chest from Moon’s but his movements were slow and shaky and it wasn't until the Asian began to follow his lead and pulled them both to their feet that they finally made it up.
“Come on, let's go home.” Moon suggested, forcing his voice to be light and uplifting, smiling to himself in satisfaction when his friend nodded in agreement and stood a little straighter, apparently taking comfort in Moon’s stability. Despite that, the Korean kept his arm slung securely over the younger boy’s shoulder and didn't let him go. He told himself it was for Nate’s benefit but really he couldn't convince himself to release the kid, not when the near disaster still played behind his eyes. As they walked through the once again quiet streets some small voice in the back of his mind told him he should probably take his arm off his friend's shoulder or at least say “No homo” but he could still feel the boy shaking slightly as he pressed against his side - So he didn't.
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