Page 55 of Spoonful

He saw Hiro’s eyes widen as he continued to flip through the book. Saw him exhale softly as he read about Captain Kuwabara’s adventures, about how hard he worked to do the right thing, how hard he fought, even when the odds were against him. How he met Kirah and was determined to help, even when everyone else tried to warn him away. How he and Kirah continued on in the next adventure together, side by side.

When Hiro got to the last page, he closed the book and ran a finger down the spine of it. “This is incredible,” he said, hushed, as if he didn't want to break the quiet spell. “Jaylin, wow, I…”

“I made it for you,” Jaylin said again. “And I—I asked Aditi to help me make it nice once I finished it, and she got me to tell Diego about it, and Diego wanted me to tell his not-Aunt Dorit about it, and Dorit works at Scholastic? And she pitched it and now it’s, um, it’s being published? And I didn’t mean to keep it from you, I just—it kind of just happened—”

“It’s amazing,” Hiro cut in softly. He reached out to cup Jaylin’s cheek. “You’reamazing.”

“You are too,” Jaylin said. “And I just wanted… I just wanted you to know that. How amazing you are.”

Hiro made a low sound, and Jaylin leaned in to kiss him. He was getting better at taking initiative. He had never wanted to before, but Hiro enjoyed it so much when he did, and Jaylin loved giving him that.

Giving.

Jaylin had spent so much of his life running in place, exhausting himself and stagnating. Now he was going somewhere good, so fast it sometimes made him dizzy. But he was so, so happy.

This was what flourishing felt like. This was what flying must feel like.

“Hey, Hiro?” Jaylin whispered.

Hiro’s eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled. Jaylin loved that he had gotten to learn Hiro’s face so intimately. “Yeah, sweetheart?”

“I’m happy,” Jaylin said. Even with the anxiety and panic that still reared its head, even with the bad dreams about how things used to be, even with the self-doubt and self-flagellation that still crept in. “I’m really, really happy.”

Hiro’s lips parted. “I’m so glad.” He sounded breathless. “I’m so glad.” And then, nuzzled into Jaylin’s temple. “Me too.”

Jaylin turned to kiss the corner of Hiro’s mouth. Hiro was still careful with him, and Jaylin had been happy to take thingsslow, to let himself heal a little from the fingerprints Brent had bruised into his skin. But the happiness and pride zipping down his spine made himwant.

He wanted to give more to Hiro. It wasn’t because Hiro gave him so much, because what they had wasn’t transactional. It was simply because Jaylinwanted. He liked Hiro so, so much, and was happier with him than he could ever remember being.

And now he wanted to be closer.

“Would you—” Jaylin licked his lips, suddenly shy. But he wanted Hiro more than he wanted to hide. “Would you want to… touch me? If I wanted that too?”

They were so close that Jaylin heard Hiro’s quick inhale. Saw the way Hiro’s eyes darkened. “Yeah,” Hiro rasped, only ever honest with him. “If you wanted it? Then yeah, sweetheart. Every damn day.”

Jaylin almost gasped at the admission. At the raw desire in Hiro’s voice. He wondered if he’d ever stop being surprised by the fact that Hiro liked him, wanted him, as much as Jaylin liked and wanted Hiro.

“Take me to bed?” Jaylin asked, and it came out clumsy, but Hiro didn’t seem to mind. Instead he was eager, eyes bright.

“Yeah?” Hiro said, voice rough. “You want that?”

Jaylin nodded. Returned Hiro’s admission with his own. “I-I want everything with you.”

Hiro quickly stood, taking Jaylin’s hand and pulling him to his feet.

Jaylin let out a laugh as he was tugged up, gratified at Hiro’s eagerness. Excitement had settled low in his belly, residual sparks fluttering through him. He and Hiro had slept together in the same bed almost every night, but they’d only ever slept.

Jaylin was looking forward to sex in a way he never had before. He’d never done it freely, when it wasn’t a transaction.He looked forward to learning what Hiro liked. Learning what made Hiro feel good.

Maybe Jaylin wanted to learn some things about himself too.

They tripped their way to the bedroom hand in hand, stopping for breathless kisses along the way. It was only once they were inside the threshold, bed in sight, that Hiro pulled back.

“You’re sure?” He asked Jaylin, cupping his face. “I’m not—I’m not pressuring you or—”

“I’m sure,” Jaylin told him in a rush. “I want this. I want you.” He met Hiro’s eyes. “More than I’ve ever wanted anyone before.“

Hiro let out a groan and tugged Jaylin forward, catching his mouth again as his hands started to wander. They touched him in a way they never had before, every brush against Jaylin’s skin lighting him up with hot want. Jaylin eagerly returned the favor.

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