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 Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2025 8:25 am
There was a split second when Riker drew away that Cassidy almost considered he might have overdone things. He was already working through the mental list of ways he could brush this off when Riker held his face.
Gently. It wasn’t a threat, there was no attempt at retribution.
In a rare turn of events, Cassidy was stunned to silence. There was no time for confusion, not when Riker diminished the distance between their lips.
At first, Cassidy thought it might be an accident. In what world did Riker actually give in to his desires? Was that what this was? Or was he just teasing him?
…Could Cassidy play this game when the tables were turned?
Yes. He wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth.
He just needed to remember how to breathe.
Well, kissing came more naturally. It didn’t matter if he could breathe. What if he never got to kiss Riker again? He had to make the best of it.
He had to make sure Riker wanted to kiss him again.
It didn’t matter how inexperienced Riker was, Cassidy was prepared. He had faith in his kisses. With his arms free, he placed his hands on Riker’s hips to hold him close. The thought of tickling him now never crossed his mind.
He liked the harshness. He liked the desperation. He’d kiss away any confusion and uncertainty.
Cassidy wasn’t shy. Maybe he could teach Riker not to be, too.
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Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2025 8:25 am
There was something strangely electric about everything. The softness of Cassidy’s face and lips was a stark contrast to the heavy beating of his heart.
And Cassidy was kissing him back. He still wasn’t sure where the teasing ended and the actual desire to be so close started. He supposed there didn’t have to be any point defining what was happening. It was strange and enjoyable and confusing and comforting. It wasn’t as though he had a chance to be so close to many people. He could count the number on one hand.
Riker smoothed his hands over Cassidy’s face, as though wanting to experience something for the first time. He wasn’t sure what to do beyond what he felt. He didn’t know if it was right. He didn’t know if Cassidy would laugh at him for doing something stupid, or something that he wasn’t supposed to do.
So he kissed him. Once, twice, letting it linger, letting Cassidy take the lead. It was obvious that Cassidy wasn’t shying away from it. Whether or not he was going to tease Riker later, he didn’t know. But for now, Riker just kissed him until his heart felt like he really needed a moment to breathe, and only then did he pull back with closed eyes and a shaky breath and expectation of Cassidy saying something to make fun of him.
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Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2025 8:26 am
For someone so inexperienced with kissing, Riker sure did put a lot of effort into it. He could have been the worst kisser in the world–he wasn’t–and Cassidy would have loved it. He felt warm, like an ember floating in the wind.
He kissed Riker for as long as his lips were offered, well after his lungs started to burn. He couldn’t get air quickly enough, so in some ways it was a relief when Riker drew back. Cassidy gulped one great breath as quietly as he could, but he had to hold it for a few seconds before exhaling.
“Wow.”
His words were wispy, a testament to his breathlessness. He was seeing stars, but not so many that he didn’t see Riker trying to pull away.
No, that wouldn’t do. They might be done kissing–for now–but that was no excuse to let Riker slip away. He wrapped his arms around him and pulled him back down again. Oh, it probably wasn’t as comfortable as Riker as it was for Cassiy, who was at least laying on the bed.
With Riker in a tight embrace, he wriggled a little more onto the bed, keen on bringing Riker with him so he could actually relax. Cassidy’s legs felt weak and he was laying down; he could only imagine what Riker’s must be doing.
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Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2025 8:26 am
His legs were shaking. He hadn’t planned on kneeling over Cassidy for so long. He certainly hadn’t planned on kissing him!
Riker tensed at the quiet breath from Cassidy, ready for something-- anything-- that would make him regret getting so close. Maybe he could use that code word with Evan. Have him come pick him up.
But before he could pull himself back enough to escape, Cassidy had his arms around him, pulling him closer.
He winced and tensed again, having to use his arms to keep himself from crushing Cassidy entirely. But after kneeling over him for so long, his arms were shaky too. Eventually he caved and allowed himself to rest more fully against him. Although… maybe that wasn’t a good idea.
If his ears weren’t already burning, they definitely were now. Every movement from Cassidy, Riker expected to be teased. There were certain things he knew he couldn’t hide from him. Especially not like this.
“My family would make my life even worse if they knew,” he mumbled hoarsely, hiding his face in his hand over Cassidy’s shoulder, forehead firmly against the bed. “I’m not even sure if-- I mean… I don’t know how to explain or--”
He was struggling. Maybe if he said something now, then Cassidy would take pity on him and not harass him like his family would.
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Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2025 8:26 am
“Um, I wasn’t planning on telling them anything,” Cassidy said, half turning to try and see Riker a little better. It was impossible with the way Riker was hiding away like that, so Cassidy could only assume.
Riker’s weight didn’t feel like much atop of him, but he knew Riker was probably being careful because he thought Cassidy was too fragile to support him. Cassidy forgave him for the assumption but only because he might have been right.
For now, he felt no pain. He didn’t feel much of anything, except for the pounding in his chest and the dizziness in his mind.
And warm, he felt so warm.
Placing his hand on Riker’s back, Cassidy rubbed in small circles as if to reassure him.
“They don’t have to know. Technically, nobody does. I told you before, I’m really good at keeping secrets. What are you trying to say? I’ll listen, I won’t even interrupt.”
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Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2025 8:27 am
Riker was pretty sure he would rather die of embarrassment than have to explain to Cassidy what he was trying to say. He was surprised that Cassidy was trying to reassure him, and that he hadn’t started making fun of him.
Maybe he wasn’t being fair to Cassidy. Maybe his own self doubt was the problem.
“I don’t know--” he tried again, sucking in a breath of air as he tried to force words to work for him.
“I liked-- that. I mean-- obviously,” he groaned, once again wishing he could just disappear. Did he have to say anything? Wasn’t it pretty clear what he was trying to say? He could say some pretty stupid things, fully expecting a teasing comment like ‘duh’ in return. He obviously liked kissing. And it was pretty obvious that he liked Cassidy, too.
And it wouldn’t have been the first time he thought about others the same way he thought about Dawn. He would have liked to kiss her, too.
“You’re going to call me dumb or whatever, but I think I’m-- I don’t know-- I guess bi or something I don’t know,” he groaned, once again bracing himself for the comments that would surely come.
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Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2025 8:27 am
Of course Riker had liked that, it was obvious. Cassidy was a good kisser, Riker would have been stupid not to enjoy himself. Cassidy kept the thought to himself, because this seemed very personal and heavy for Riker.
He listened patiently but didn’t nod along. Maybe it was for the best that Riker was hiding his face–not because he was doing himself a favor by avoiding Cassidy but because he was doing Cassidy a favor by not looking at him.
Cassidy’s face was screwed up in disbelief and confusion but he kept rubbing Riker’s back, anyway.
“Why would I call you dumb for that? I was hoping you were. I mean, you could be whatever you wanted to be, I don’t care. As long as you kiss me like that again. Are you insecure about it?” he asked, but his voice was markedly devoid of snark or sarcasm.
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Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2025 8:27 am
“Shouldn’t I be?” he sputtered in disbelief, although his voice was still muffled by his hand and the bed. “I haven’t exactly been, you know, nice about anyone who, you know--”
He felt stupid. Elliot hadn’t made fun of him for his confusion, but he was still struggling with his own thoughts and feelings. There were a lot of things that he’d done in the past that didn’t give him any right to suddenly decide to come out of some closet, just because he got to kiss someone. He’d teased or made faces or scoffed at displays of affection. Granted, he did that with any display of affection regardless of genders involved, but it was more common at Azure for there to be, well… it was an all boy’s school.
“Wait, you were hoping I was?” he frowned, his face flushing darker still. It made sense. All of the teasing Cassidy did--
Had he really meant it? Every time he said things to him, had it really been flirting instead of making fun of him? How did that work? Was he just oblivious? Was kissing him really something Cassidy wanted more of?
“Am I crushing you?” he mumbled into the bed. Cassidy had pulled him on top of him, but Riker was waiting for him to regret it. Even if he was trying to keep some of his weight off of him.
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Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2025 8:27 am
“Just relax, you’re not going to crush me. You’re so tense. You’re not going to break me by laying on me.” He bit back the ‘probably’ that threatened to come out. He was trying not to tease Riker right now, he was vulnerable!
“Just let me hold you for a minute. That’s what you’re supposed to do after you kiss the breath out of someone.” Mostly, he just wanted to hold Riker while he sorted through whatever mess of thoughts he was grappling with right now.
“I’ve been trying to get you to kiss me for ages. You weren’t taking me seriously? Oh,” he chuckled to himself and stroked down Riker’s back. “Well, I guess I can’t blame you. I thought you were blowing me off all this time. I was teasing, because it was fun. But I was serious, too. You should have kissed me sooner, though. Well–no, actually. I found out my old chapstick had coconut oil in it so that might not have ended well for you. I switched as soon as I found out. You know, just in case.”
It must have paid out.
“Lots of people who are in denial about who they want to kiss have a bad habit of bullying the people they want to kiss. So I was optimistic! I just had to be patient, haha. Oh, sorry. I shouldn’t laugh, I can’t help it. I am only teasing you a little but I do mean what I’m saying. All I’m saying is, better late than never. And if you feel bad about being totally oblivious to all my flirting, you can make it up to me with kisses.”
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Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2025 8:28 am
The mention of coconut had him groaning, because he hadn’t even thought about that. Why did everything have coconut in it?? But it was a relief that Cassidy was conscious enough to find an alternative. For the sake of kissing him?
Riker wanted to ask why. Why him? Why would anyone want to kiss him? He knew it was in his head. He knew that there were people who obviously liked him enough to want to kiss him. Or used to want to kiss him. Or maybe just his cheek. But that was fine! And he knew how Evan felt about him, so it’s not like he was completely oblivious that people liked him for one reason or another. He was just having trouble getting it to make sense in his own head.
He grumbled and scoffed at Cassidy’s shameless attempt at getting more kisses, so naturally Riker had to finally lift his head so he could press a kiss to Cassidy’s cheek. And then his nose, and chin, and pecked here and there while purposefully avoiding his lips. After all, Cassidy didn’t specify what kind of kisses he wanted.
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Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2025 8:28 am
Cassidy had fully been expecting a kiss on the lips and, unsatisfied by the little pecks he was receiving, had puckered his lips expectantly. It took a few more kisses before he realized Riker was avoiding him, and where he’d let his eyes flutter shut before he now cracked an eye so he could squint at Riker.
“Oh, you tease,” he muttered but laughter was close behind. “I changed my mind, you are crushing me!”
Oh, but poor Riker was probably so self conscious. Cassidy had hardly finished the last word before he was insisting, “Just kidding,” and he’d only just finished saying that by the time he was leaning up to try and kiss Riker himself. If Riker wasn’t going to do it for him, Cassidy would do it himself.
…As long as Riker wasn’t as good at dodging as he was at aiming, but a little competition never dampened Cassidy’s spirits.
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Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2025 8:28 am
Riker allowed the kiss, pretending not to be amused at how expectant Cassidy seemed. Although it was a bit concerning if he really was crushing Cassidy.
So he allowed the kiss for a short while, before shifting his hands down to brace himself and pushed himself up a bit with the intention of getting up off of Cassidy. And to guarantee that Cassidy would allow him, Riker used one hand to dig his fingers into Cassidy’s good side.
He didn’t go far! He just sat up so he was on the bed next to him, smoothing out the apron he’d already put on.
“So…” he frowned a little, trying to decide what he wanted to ask and if it was even worth it. “Do you just, you know, kiss people for fun?” It wasn’t like he had a lot of experience.
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Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2025 8:28 am
Cassidy hadn’t been expecting the tickle, so when Riker attacked his side he was completely at his mercy. He had little time or energy by which to retaliate, so laughter filled his throat for the brief moment that Riker harassed him.
When Riker pulled away, Cassidy pushed himself up with a long groan. Since Riker had his apron on, Cassidy decided he should probably do the same. They could get dinner started now so they could still eat at a reasonable time.
Standing, Cassidy slid the apron over his head and grabbed both ribbons, however he made no effort to tie it himself. Instead, he turned his back to Riker and held out the strings. Cassidy didn’t need to explain that it was a range of motion he wasn’t comfortable attempting. He could have done it, but Riker was there, he could have done it faster, and without any awkwardness.
“I think that’s the best reason to kiss people, but I don’t kiss just anyone. I have to like you. Or you have to be really cute. Thankfully, you get two checkmarks. I think you probably take kissing more seriously than I do but don’t think that this doesn’t mean a lot to me, Riker! You’re my white whale.”
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Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2025 8:28 am
Riker frowned thoughtfully, but reached out to take the strings offered to him. Teasingly, he pulled Cassidy closer, as if he needed him right in front of him so he could actually tie it properly.
“You know, Ahab doesn’t survive his obsession,” he reminded, because despite what anyone might think, he actually did pay attention in Mr. Reid’s class. “Have you considered that maybe this is a bad idea? Or now that you’ve gotten what you want, aren’t you going to find someone else now?”
Cassidy could do better than him. Riker knew he had a lot of baggage. And, well, kissing didn’t have to mean anything, did it? Although he didn’t dare tell Cassidy that he happened to meet those same criteria for him.
Done with the bow, Riker somewhat awkwardly placed his hands on Cassidy’s hips. And then lowered them because that was probably too much. He was still trying to feel things out, after all. He didn’t want to make things weird.
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Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2025 8:29 am
Cassidy didn’t quite stumble but he wasn’t expecting Riker to be so playful so he had to shoot him a look over his shoulder.
“You know, I was kind of hoping you’d have to ask me to explain so I could make a d**k joke but I’m actually impressed.”
Impatiently, he patted his hips, like he was inviting–expecting–Riker’s hands there again. He crossed his arms over his chest petulantly as he waited.
“Poor Mr. Reid really had a rough time with that one, huh? But I guess that’s what you get for trying to make a group of teenagers close read a book where a bunch of men are after sperm and getting affectionate with each other while squeezing it out.” Okay, oil, yeah, but. The words were in the book. He was pretty sure Mr. Reid’s head was going to pop off. The jokes wrote themselves. Cassidy still wasn't over hoe-cake. Shuttlecock. Spermaceti. Yeah, sorry Mr. Reid. He did pay attention.
He’d read the book. And Riker must have, too.
“Just because Ahab doesn’t survive doesn’t mean I wouldn’t. I don’t want to kill my white whale! Just kiss it! Very different.”
He rested his cheek on his shoulder as he peeked at Riker as best he could without turning around.
“Anyway, you wouldn’t try to drown me. Or eat me. So how could this be a bad idea? I told you, I won’t tell anyone if you’re nervous. You think I’m satisfied with one kiss? No. Now that I’ve got a taste for your lips, I want more! You’re not some one-and-done trophy. I said I like you.”
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