Morning After
Summary: Bit retro in my previous storyline. Takes place the morning after Wash stayed with Maine for the first time.
Washington sensed something was wrong before he even opened his eyes. No, not wrong: different. Very different. His dreams had faded away and while he was not fully awake yet, he knew he was not in his bed. He didn't know where he was, though the usual panic that might accompany that realization had not set in. Cracking his eyes open, he noted he was in standard quarters, but what made him suddenly freeze in fear was when he felt someone move beside him.
His eyes snapped open the rest of the way and he turned to see the male body beside him, fighting to keep his calm as the events of the previous night began to form in his mind with stunning clarity. Maine. Their kiss, their talk, their... what? What the fuck was he doing here? He should go. He should just get up and go. His movements clued the other in that he was awake and he felt a warm arm slide around his stomach. He tensed.
"Hey." The voice was soft, almost... loving. "Morning, handsome."
Wash closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
The arm around him moved, Maine's hand brushing up his chest to touch his cheek. "Wash?"
"Just... orienting," he mumbled. He felt stiff and awkward having slept in his clothes, but mostly he was trying to delay having to really accept where he was and why. The brief, gentle touch of lips to his made it very hard to do that. He opened his eyes again to find Maine looking at him with a warmth to his eyes that was quite disarming. More and more the feelings that had succeeded in keeping him here last night were beginning to resurface.
"Wash?" Maine asked again, his lips curved into a half-smile. "You okay?"
Wash found he could not hold the other's gaze and turned his head away. Morning seemed to have broken the spell he had been under the night before, but he was not entirely sure he wanted it broken. "Is this real?" he asked.
Maine cocked his head to the side. "What?"
"This," Wash repeated, finding the strength somehow to look back at Maine. "Whatever this is. I don't know what it is, I don't know what... what it means or what I'm supposed to do, but... I need to know if it's real."
"Yeah," Maine replied, understanding in his voice. "It's real."
Both were quiet for a few minutes. Maine was waiting to see what Wash would do, and Wash was waiting to see what he'd do himself! He closed his eyes and just tried to make sense of what he was feeling, of what had happened. Maine was certainly not an eye-sore, but he knew so little about him. Was he here only because he could be? Did he really want to be here?
He was startled somewhat when Maine pulled him up close to his chest, wrapping his arms around him and just holding tight. Wash could not deny the leap of his heart at this simple act, could not pretend that the warmth spreading in his chest was caused by anything else. He rested one hand over Maine's and felt the overwhelming surge of emotions once again that had last night threatened to sweep him away entirely.
Wash had known that if he had left last night, he never would have come back. He had made that choice to stay because... because this was where he wanted to be. A smile at last began to warm his face. "Maine?"
"Hm?"
He took a deep breath, steadying himself. "This feels good."
Maine gave a low chuckle and tightened his arms. "Yeah it does."
They fell silent again, and Wash just relaxed into Maine's arms. He felt warm and content, and most of all, he felt safe. Turning, Wash came to face Maine, their legs entwining as they lay side by side. Maine was still holding him, and Wash carefully slipped his arms around Maine as well. It did feel wonderful to be here, to be held, to finally have someone to feel this way about. He hesitated but a moment, then his eyes began to close as he leaned in. Their lips met.
Instantly he was consumed with warmth, sending his mind into a delightful fog. The upside down twist his world had taken last night had not yet righted itself, but rather it twisted even tighter as their kiss continued. He pulled back a little and steadied his racing thoughts and emotions. Tried to pretend there wasn't really a growing 'concern' in his pants.
"Maine," he began softly, not looking him in the eye. "I just... I want to give you the chance to .. um... that is, I may not be able to..."
Maine silenced him with another kiss. He had a feeling he knew where Wash was going and he really didn't want to talk about it yet. Right now he was just delighted at finding Wash still with him when he had woken up. He had half expected he'd be gone by morning.
Their kiss finally broke, Maine's lips moving to his cheeks, his forehead, pulling him close against his body. He nustled his face into his hair and just breathed him in.
"I know," he murmured softly. "I know you've never done this before," Maine continued. "But it's okay, Wash. I won't rush you. Won't do anything you're not ready for."
Wash was silent, uncertain what to say or how to respond. Finally he just sunk into Maine's arms and let himself be held, trying to push away the constant voice in his head that told him all the reasons why he shouldn't be here doing this and instead let himself listen to the one reason he should.
Because he wanted this.