Song of Pebble Lake

[Cristoval de Azcarate]

Wow.

Cris was kind of awed—by his own power. By the power of his mouth to make Edel cum like that, arching off the float, his body a beautiful, perfect curve. He didn't think he could forget the sight if he wanted; it was kind of burned into his brain in excruciating detail. Everything was crystal clear. The glint of sunlight off of Edel's earring, the way his hair curled and looped, the shimmer and sheen of dewy skin, that... look of bliss on his face.

Shit. If he wasn't already hard, he was close to bursting now. Without knowing how, he swallowed and the taste was kind of foreign in his mouth. Strange. But swallowing a few more times cleared it, and then—ah. Cris wasn't nearly so stingy with being vocal about his pleasure. He moaned into the clear, pretty skies as he bucked into Edel's hand.

"Just like that... yes..." A string of encouragement followed as he slid onto his back with a half-drunk grin. Yesss... just like that. Fuck. Edel knew how to touch him just right. Did he practice on Rey? Hm. Don't think about Rey—definitely keep that guy out of his mind. Cris grabbed the back of Edel's head and pulled at him, kissing him hungrily as his body tensed. He shivered; it felt so damn good. The sun, the breeze, the hand on him. Edel's hand on him like a wet dream come true.

It didn't take long for him to lose it too, and with a wanton moan of Edel's name, right into his ear. His labored breathing moved a few curls and mindlessly he kissed the side of Edel's head. Cris didn't know how it was possible to feel this good—it was like he'd been holding it in for... years. Since the first time he looked at Edel and felt that throb in his chest. He'd been holding these feelings in for so long and finally he had found an outlet for them.

[Edel Ziegler]

Well, shit, fuck. The way Cris moaned his name right into his ear sent shivers all down his arms and the back of his neck. And it felt like it was getting to him again, heat forming in his groin all over again. How the hell did Cris manage to do that? Fuck.

Even after they had both been spent, Edel felt like he was still on fire, inside and out. Did his skin feel hot to the touch when Cris touched him, when he kissed him? Slowly, he let his eyes close in contentment, trying to catch his lost breath. This... wasn't what he expected. And then he had to push that away; did he expect this? Something like this?

Maybe.

Maybe sometimes.

But they were drunk. Tipsy, really. Not drunk enough to forget what happened. So tipsy though. The smallest spike of guilt ran through his chest. It turned out that Rey had every reason to be worried then, didn't he? And this... was more than drunk kisses.

Yet he couldn't find himself to regret it. At least, not in the moment, not basking in the afterglow, lying there in that inflatable rainbow, feeling mostly satiated and... happy.

He kept parting his lips, to speak. But he didn't know what to say when he did and so he ended up sighing and closing his mouth. Was there anything to say about this? It wasn't as if this would become a regular thing. Cris was adamant about marrying his sweetheart. Edel had Rey.

But as the golden warmth of the afterglow began to dissipate and the sky began to change from the afternoon sunshine to dusk, he shivered.

"...are you getting cold?" he asked after what felt like a year of saying nothing of substance.

[Cristoval de Azcarate]

Maybe he did that on purpose. Moaning Edel's name into his ear. It made what they did so much more intimate than if he just groaned nonsense... And he did want Edel to remember this moment, subconsciously, so the alcohol helped liberate his desires. With no inhibitions it was easy to do what he wanted. Cling to Edel. Kiss him, touch him, lick him, nuzzle him.

Long after the high of orgasm faded, Cris was still buzzing. His head lolled gently against the top of Edel's shoulder and he kept looking over when he saw movement out of the corner of his eyes but Edel didn't say anything. There was nothing to say. Their actions said it all.

It felt like alcohol and euphoria had replaced all the blood in his veins. For the first time in almost a year he felt happy and content. His body laying side-by-side with Edel's, everything was warm. Hot. Inside his chest, it was burning, the same way Edel's skin burned against his earlier when they were pressed together.

Doing this with Edel scratched the itch but... only slightly. Briefly. It wasn't enough.

"...no." Still hot. Cris pressed a hand to his own chest; burning. He reached over to touch Edel's, over his heart. Burning. But it was getting dark and they couldn't actually stay here overnight... "Let's go back inside?" He was already sitting up, though... only to grab the booze and to take another pull from the bottle. "I need something stronger..."

[Edel Ziegler]

"Back inside?" Edel laughed as he wobbled up to a sitting position, leaning against Cris as his head swirled dangerously for a moment. The fact that they were on a none-too-stable float didn't help the sensation. It made him feel like he was about to fall off a ledge, hence the leaning. Don't let him fall.

His unfocused eyes sharpened and he focused in on the bottle that Cris picked up to drink from. Something stronger than... what was that shit again? Champagne? In his estimation, champagne was kinda weak. Kids could drink it.

"I haven't even been inside yet," he said, and he was referring to Cris' cabin but realized a beat too late that it sounded an awful lot like a double entendre. As drunk as he was on alcohol and what just happened, he couldn't help laughing at that. Terrible. That was terrible. For some reason, that made him slap Cris on the chest, as if it was his fault.

"You're terrible," he told him, even though it was his own words. "Let's go to your cabin." He didn't know what made him say it or why he winked like a goddamn flirt--he was goddamn flirting--when he added, "I want to be alone with you. Those two are so squeaky clean, aren't they?"

Unless they went and had sex in the lake. Then... he might change his opinion of them.

[Cristoval de Azcarate]

Ohohohohoo no he hadn't been inside yet. Edel certainly hadn't been inside yet. Cris caught that; he caught it straight away and he was laughing like a maniac even before Edel slapped him like it was his fault. Hey—they were best friends for a reason, all right? And that reason was that they connected on a much deeper level than anyone else. Even with dirty-sounding comments.

Especially with dirty-sounding comments.

"You're freaking terrible!" He sputtered, laughing into the next sip of champagne. The tiny bubbles shot up his nose, causing him to double over, snorting and laughing. But when he straightened, the subtleties seemed to have gone out the window. Alone with him? Cris eyed Edel, suddenly serious—but there was something meaningful in his gaze too. Something a little coy, maybe unspoken acknowledgement that he, too, wanted to be alone with Edel.

"They probably went home to fuck," he grinned as he tossed the champagne bottle aside. It had done its job, keeping him still floaty, keeping the barriers and inhibitions down. Cris grabbed onto Edel again for another passionate kiss, then pushed off. "C'mon let's get back to the cabin."

Er. How did they—he paddled uselessly for a second with his hands, shrugged and then leapt off the side, striking out for shore. It wasn't that far to the bank and soon he was up, shouting over his shoulder, "Race you back!" But by then he was off and running—payback for what Edel did to him earlier!

[Edel Ziegler]

Yeah, they did. They were probably fucking right now. They certainly didn't seem to be anywhere around them anymore. When did they even leave? Probably when they realized that he and Cris were... fucking... in a way. A kind of way.

"Sh-shit..." His head spun wildly as Cris left--nothing to lean against--and he leaned forward, grasping onto the rubbery float bottom. The whole thing shook and wobbled as Cris took off in the water. Edel looked up, only to howl with laughter at just how badly Cris swam. He never was much of a swimmer.

Rolling off the side, Edel swam, probably only slightly gracefully with the alcohol in his system. But still, nothing like how hilarious Cris looked. He didn't even make it to shore before Cris ran off like a bastard, but at least his game didn't involve body shots. (Was that a good thing or a bad one...?)

Racing after him, Edel was quick on his feet once he was on nice, solid ground. Quickly, he caught up to Cris and... like an idiot, he leapt onto his back, naked as hell, legs wrapping around Cris as he clung to him.

"Not so fast."

[Cristoval de Azcarate]

What the fuck?! Cris was sure he was going to win! He was SURE he was going to WIN because all he did was WIN! (He didn't, assuredly not.) But somehow Edel caught up with those damn long legs of his, and long arms reaching out for him, and suddenly his knees were buckling and he was stumbling forward, looking even more drunk than he actually was. Quite a feat in and of itself.

"You bastard!" He could have dropped Edel but Edel was too precious a burden to be dumped. And the way his body pressed up against him was... nice. (Hot. His skin felt hot and in turn, it made Cris' skin light up too.) Too nice to get rid of. Cris stupidly carried him the last few steps up to the lake house—luckily he wasn't far from it or he might have really collapsed.

"I still win!" Cris huffed as he shifted Edel higher up on his back, for easier portage. His hand just happened to end up under his ass, and he didn't even bother to look innocent as he groped Edel shamelessly. Checking out the merchandise. That he'd been checking out since they were about fifteen.

[Edel Ziegler]

Edel only laughed because they were both terrible and they were both bastards. He clung to Cris as he was hefted up higher. Felt weird when they were both naked, with his... parts all rubbing against Cris but not weird bad. Good enough to not even care that he had "lost." (Only Cris cared about winning, Edel was more of an imp when it came to games, not caring if he won or lost as long as he had fun.)

"You're in front, so..." He leaned his cheek against Cris' shoulder. Still clinging on with one arm, the other reached out for the door. "Keys?"

Did he even have keys on him? Because he was like... totally naked right now.

"Tell me you left it unlocked," he whispered. Otherwise... His gaze lazily moved toward the other cabin, with its lights on. The door was closed now, though. Those two were soooo at it right now.

[Cristoval de Azcarate]

"Damn straight!" Cris stuck out his foot to touch the door, just to cement his sham victory. Because—winning. It was kind of a thing with his dad. He had to prove that he was The Best Son. It seemed like that was the only thing his dad noticed, when he came home with top marks or when he won things. Then he got the attention he craved. Otherwise there was... not much. His dad was always so busy with work, with travel... and then getting himself into trouble.

Luckily alcohol blocked out thoughts of his fractured family and destroyed home life. Alcohol only left the good parts, like naked Edel on his back and naked Cris kicking open the door which was, indeed, unlocked. What did he care if thieves came in? There was nothing to steal. Cris had been living here alone, mostly off the liquor in the cabinets and some random takeout when he got sober enough to feel hungry.

"HYAH!" He shouted goofily as he did the kicking—the latch was loose already so it didn't take much—and then stumbled clumsily into the open-plan kitchen and entertaining area. The kitchen counter was littered with empty bottles, some standing, others on their sides, collecting dust. Cris grinned as he navigated around the long counter, through the doorway into the hall, and into the nearest guest bedroom.

This was going somewhere very dangerous now, but he couldn't see the warning signs. All he saw was—the bed. He laughed wildly as he threw Edel down onto it and eagerly scrambled after him, over him, onto him. "I have a seeecret~" Cris sang softly into his ear. "Wanna know what it is?"

[Edel Ziegler]

No arguing with Cris there. Edel saw where it led when it came to Cris and winning. He had to be the winner, the top dog. Edel mostly didn't mind it. He was more mild mannered and didn't have that driving force to WIN. Besides... even drunk as he was, he thought his best friend deserved a win now, more than ever. Everything else was caving in on him, so what did it hurt to let Cris just have this?

The somber thoughts passed as Cris kicked down the door with a shout and Edel lowered his head against Cris' shoulder to muffle the sound of a laugh. All of this was ridiculous beyond belief but for some reason, that was what set him off. That kick. That shout. Even when he lifted his head, he was grinning like a fool, not even really looking at what they passed.

Where were they going, though? They were inside. Cris could put him down any time now. And just as he was going to say as much, they were entering one of the guest bedrooms. Edel remembered it; he stayed in this same one all those ages ago. Weird coincidence. He smiled, about to say something--again interrupted, only this time by being thrown down onto the bed. Oh? Cris was going to join him?

Edel looked up at him, turning his head slightly as Cris whispered into his ear, sending little tickles through his fuzzy, alcohol addled brain.

"You don't have any secrets from me," Edel said, quite confidently. "But I'll humor you. What's your big seeeecret?"

[Cristoval de Azcarate]

He had secrets. It was a pretty big secret, too, even if he was almost sure that the others knew. Jen knew—Cris saw it in her eyes, heard it in her tone when they discussed 'other partners.' She kept pointing out handsome men, kept bringing them back but the problem was they were all more into her than him. Maybe they lied to get into her bed, Cris didn't know—or they didn't find him attractive enough.

Jaime probably knew too. His jokes, that little glimmer in his eyes... The parties. He kept inviting strippers like he thought Cris would eventually be tempted by one of them. Joke was on him—Cris was tempted by all of them. And yet he held on to his 'secret' even though he was almost sure everybody knew and nobody cared. Jen knew they were going to end up together; she seemed more frustrated by his lies than by the thought of him turning to another man.

And Edel... He was one of the reasons Cris had secrets. Edel and Rey, whose sharp eyes saw what everyone else did and whose sharp tongue refused to be stilled. Cris would have given anything for him to just shut up about it, because it was true. The others assumed he wanted 'men' in general but Rey knew he wanted one most of all.

Grinning foolishly to himself, he flopped down against Edel, kicking his legs out against the cool sheets. Cris slept here instead of the larger master bedroom; it was less lonely here. "Wrong~ I do have a secret~" he sang into Edel's ear, and then nuzzled against the side of Edel's head and kissed it.

"I like men. And I really like you."

[Edel Ziegler]

Edel was pretty sure that he knew Cris better than anybody and that he had no secrets, at least from him. After all, they did everything together forever, it felt like. Cris had been in his life for far longer than he'd been not in it, after all. More than half his life. They knew all the stupid shit and the bad shit and the good shit. They had so many inside jokes that half their conversations probably shut out everybody who hadn't also been there, like... Well, like Rey.

But Edel promised him that they were just friends. Super close friends. Like... brothers from different mothers. Whatever. Nothing to worry about. But, oh Rey... He was so insecure. So, so insecure. Sometimes it fatigued Edel to constantly have to baby-sit Rey's feelings. It was tiring to make sure he didn't inadvertently hurt him over some casual comment just because it was about Cris.

Secrets, though. He was still half laughing at the idea of secrets as Cris laid against him like he was his personal body pillow. Edel let out a pfft sound--secrets--and ran his fingers idly over Cris' naked back. Briefly, he closed his eyes as he was kissed on the temple. Nothing new; Edel kissed him like that all the time, too.

"So..." He was going to poke the secret out of Cris but Cris continued on and Edel's eyebrows shot up involuntarily. Men? And him? Edel blinked, trying to process. His mind decided to process this as a joke and he pushed Cris off him and half sat up, slapping him soundly on the chest and then just because he could, pinching a nipple while he was at it.

"Stop," he said through a laugh, because it was too ridiculous to be true, "stop fucking with me, you monster." He leaned in closer. "And look at me. I'm not Jen, tonto." He said it affectionately, though. Some people could make fun of his sexuality and it might sting but Cris, he was just messing around.

[Cristoval de Azcarate]

"EY!"

That wasn't half the reaction he thought his Big Reveal would garner but he was too drunk to care. In the moment things were funny. He liked men. He really liked Edel. All those years of insisting that he was NOT gay and that he was NOT into men sexually, emotionally or spiritually turned out to be a big joke! Because he was. All those things.

"I'm not a monster! Unless you mean... a sex monster!" He laughed too, because it was hard to feel things like shame or hurt—that his confession wasn't being taken seriously—when he was drunk. Cris looked up at him, grinning, nodding. "I know you're not Jen. Your breasts are... what? A-cup at best?" He reached up to tweak a nipple in return—just because.

"But." The hand stayed at Edel's chest, flattening out over it. Over his heart. "I like you."

[Edel Ziegler]

"Is that all she is to you?" Edel asked in amusement. A pair of tits? He rubbed his tweaked nipple absently before dropping it and sighing. Then looking down at the palm over his heart. What did he even say to that? He was too drunk, really, to think too hard about it.

Edel slowly stretched an arm over the bed, leaning until he half fell onto his side, his head resting on his own arm. But his eyes were still on Cris and his other hand slid over the one that pressed against his chest.

"So you're a sex monster. A bisexual sex monster. And you like me?" He slid an ankle over Cris' with a smirk. "That can't be your secret. Everybody's already been saying that for... for years!" Yeah he couldn't think the exact time when it started but sure, people said it. Rey said it, anyway.

[Cristoval de Azcarate]

"No!" Defensive. He dropped his gaze but not his hand, and Edel held on to it anyway even after he laid back down. "She understands me. She's like my soul mate." Nobody knew him better than Jen--which made lying to her somewhat pointless, but he made a go of it anyway.

"Everybody made a joke out of it. But only I knew it was true. Well... and now you." Not like he wanted Edel to do anything with the knowledge. Honestly, he didn't know what he wanted. Maybe some more drinks...

"You didn't believe the jokes either."