‘Do you need some help?’

‘Nope. One second.’ 

Erik was adjusting the camera he had brought from home, even though Cas insisted his phone would do just fine. He was reading through the sheets and notes again, running the piece in his mind as he had practised many times before. 

A small click resonated in the small room. Erik was pointing the camera at him, his expression indifferent. 

‘Did you just take a picture of me?’ 

‘Just testing,’ Erik said lightly. ‘Looks like it’s working now.’ But he made no move to set the camera on the tripod. 

‘Delete it before I come at you.’ 

There was another click as Erik pressed the shutter. ‘Oh, it would seem the delete button isn’t working. I’ll need to take a look.’ 

In the small room, Cas reached Erik easily without hesitation. His hand extended toward the camera, but the latter was a beat faster. They continued like this, a tangle of limbs and quickened feet across the frayed carpet and the challenge and laughter in each other’s eyes.

The stalemate broke when Cas finally grabbed the device, only for Erik to swiftly pin him against the wall, his face inches away from the other. The brief victory fizzled out, overwhelmed by Cas’ pounding heart. 

Staring up at him, Cas was suddenly aware of their strained breathing from the chase. Heat flushed his body, and all he could focus on was Erik’s impossibly soft breaths against his face, and neither of them moved. 

‘Um.’ Cas offered the camera. ‘Here.’ 

Erik didn’t take it, his gaze fixated on him. Warmth pulsed against Cas’ wrist where Erik gripped him, and he didn’t protest when Erik slowly closed the distance, threading the thin line of yearning. A pause. His gaze lowered to Cas’ lips, torn between plea and question. 

The brief hesitation was crushed by urgency when Erik pulled him close and kissed him. Sweetness flooded Cas’ mouth, the faint tang of peppermint warming his throat. 

In the dark, his lips were gentle as Cas imagined them, and he felt Erik smile at the clumsiness of his tongue. Cas weakened. Yielded. Fragility beckoning at Erik’s knowing touch. Their bodies were pressed together but it was nowhere close enough, breathlessness and hands fumbling over the back of necks, angled perfectly around waists, as if they were meant to be. But a touch of fear remained, ever so slight. They were like trembling flowers opening up to a new dawn, ripe and young and hopeful. 

Reeling, they parted, breathing heavily from kisses. Both clung to each other, savouring the freedom of gazing upon the other without restraint. Erik leaned forward slightly, forehead meeting Cas’ own. His eyes seemed to smile.

Time was incomprehensible until the heat of pleasure diffused into the cool air, the transition soothing as a balm. The strange tenderness remained, for every graze of fabric and the cold settling on skin were more than Cas could take. The room grew still and quiet, and there was only the rise and fall of their chests as they sat with their backs against the wall.

Erik reached for Cas’ hand, and neither spoke. A knowing passed between them; the transient lightness pulsing beneath flesh, intoxicating as it was relieving.