Nate let out a soft relieved chuckle, stating lightly. "You say that, like it's a bad thing." Sean stared into Nate's eyes showing no emotion. For him, it was a bad thing. He didn't want to fall in love again. He didn't want to lose anymore. Falling in love with Nate was exactly what he was trying to avoid. The humor left Nate's face, when he saw his guarded expression. Sean released Nate's wrist and backed away from him. Nate started to follow him, asking him completely confused. "Sean...? Would it be so bad to love me?" Sean backed around the kitchen island to keep something between them, while he stated out firmly. "Yes... No. Nate, it's not you. I just... I can't do this again." Nate put his hands on the island, giving him a pained look as he stammered out. "W-w-wait a minute. I don't understand. What are you saying exactly?" Sean swallowed, then told Nate in a slight rush. "I'm sorry, Nate. I have to go." 

Sean dashed around the island, trying to make a break for the bedroom. He needed to pack up and leave. He refused to let himself go through this again. Nate lunged for him, snatching his arm as he was passing. Sean tried to twist his arm out of Nate's grip, but Nate grabbed his wrist to hold him more firmly in place. Sean leaned away from Nate, trying to avoid his eyes and warmth. All the while, Nate questioned him in a startled voice. "What? Where are you going? What did I do? Sean, talk to me?" Sean shook his head, closing his eyes tightly to fight off how Nate's scared voice pulled at his heartstrings. Nate pulled his arm closer to his chest, saying sweetly. "Sean, look at me. Talk to me. Please?" Sean didn't look at him, but reluctantly uttered out. "I can't do this... I can't go through this again. I'm sorry... It's not going to work out." Nate's grip on his arm loosened up, but he didn't let go. Sean wanted to yank his arm free... Only his body refused to move.

Nate's hand stroked the length of his arm in a calming manner, stating out in a half-joking tone of voice. "Are you trying to break up with me? Shouldn't you date me first?" Sean smirked despite his desire not too. There was a few seconds of silence between them, before Nate told him lovingly. "Don't go. Give me a chance? I won't make you any promises. I won't say that we'll be perfect together. What you see, is what you get. I just want to see if we can make this work. Please, Sean?" Nate stroked his arm one last time, then let go. Sean straightened up, taking a deep breath and eyeing the hallway ahead of him. He could feel his desire to run fading away. Even though Nate had let go of his arm, Sean could still feel his touch on his skin. Closing his eyes for a brief moment, he turned his head and opened his eyes. Nate stood a few steps away from him, rubbing his own arm and watching him anxiously. Sean let out the breath he was holding and told Nate in a soft wisp of a voice. "What I see, is what I get?"

Nate spread his arms out as if to show him that he wasn't hiding anything from him. Sean looked Nate over for a second with a weary expression. Nate tilted his head a little to lock eyes with him for a time as he told him honestly. "I've got nothing to hide. There isn't much to me... but what you see is truly me. The good, the bad... All me." Sean let a serene smile spread over his face, telling Nate in a heartfelt voice. "Nothing to hide?" Nate nodded seriously. Inhaling silently, Sean moved closer to Nate. He wanted to believe Nate was being honest with him. Stepping over a line of no return, Sean bravely relented. He still wasn't sure he could handle this... but he decided to give Nate the benefit of a doubt. Desperate to break up the tension, he sassily asked Nate in a wicked voice. "If you've got nothing to hide... Prove it. Where is your porn?" Nate's eyes quickly avoided his, his cheeks turning a bright red in response.

Sean chuckled softly to himself. Nate clearly hadn't expected him to ask about that. Nate curled his lips over his teeth, causing his dimples to stand out in the cutest way. Sean leaned in toward his ear, whispering slightly accusingly. "No secrets between us, right? So...? I'll show you mine, if you show me yours." Nate rolled his eyes, shuffling his feet as he mumbled out in a reluctant undertone. "Ya... Alright... It's... It's in my bedroom." Sean flashed him a quick smile and bolted for the hallway. Nate jerked his head up with a start, chasing after him as he shouted out. "HEY! Oh, god!" Sean made it to Nate's bedroom door with Nate at his heels. Nate wrapped his arms around Sean's hips just as Sean got the door open. Clinging to the door frame, Sean tried to enter the room. He only managed to get a foot in, when Nate got the upper hand. Lifting him away from the door, Nate chuckled into his ear. "Oh no, you don't!"

Sean flashed Nate an evil smile over his shoulder, lifting a foot to brace on the wall. Using the wall as leverage, Sean pushed Nate back against the other wall. Nate grunted and Sean twisted himself down to the floor to escape Nate's hold on him. Living with older brothers and having a slender frame was his saving grace in times like this. Nate cursed as Sean slipped his grip and crawled off across the ground. Staggering to his feet the second he was out of Nate's grasping range, he rushed into the room and leapt onto the large bed with a victory cry. Nate sauntered into the doorway, giving him a playfully scolding look as he crossed his arms over his chest. Sean grinned back at him, until his attention was drawn to something poking his arm. Shifting up me pulled a strange plushy out from under him. It appeared to be a... Pokemon. A Cyndaquil... but it was dressed funny.

Sean turned the little plush around in his hand admiring the black cloth that was safety pinned over its face like a bandit mask and the green tape over its little hands that acted like gloves. One of which, had a little thick red sword held in place by the green tape. Sean looked at Nate with curious eyes, asking him playfully. "What the fuck is this?" Nate's hands fell to his sides, his voice cracking a bit as he rushed for the bed, saying a little embarrassed. "Easy now! He doesn't like to be manhandled!" Nate leaned over the bed, trying to snatch the little creature away. So, Sean held it out of his reach, teasing out. "Oh? And what makes him so special?" Nate climbed up onto the bed, answering completely distracted. "His name is Cyndakill and if you aren't careful, he will end you while you sleep!" Sean chuckled, letting Nate take Cyndakill from him. Nate sat back on his legs, fixing Cyndakill's mask with an adorable smile. Sean laid back across the bed, stroking the outside of Nate's thigh as he told him playfully. "I think Sam could take him."

Nate's eyes slowly drifted away from Cyndakill to give Sean a narrow eyed look. Nate pointed to Cyndakill, stating back smugly. "Oh, really? I don't think so. Cyndakill has limbs. What does your eyeball have?" Sean slowly sat up, staring into Nate's soft brown eyes as he answered in his best creepy voice. "He's everywhere. He'll see him coming. See?" Sean moved his eyes to look over Nate's shoulder to his dresser. Nate glanced over his shoulder and blushed again. On Nate's dresser was a small Septic Sam plushy. It made Sean's heart swell to see that Nate had bought a little Sam of his own. Nate hung his head, mumbling out embarrassed. "Ya... I forgot he was in here." Sean chuckled, brushing Nate's bangs out of his eyes to kiss his forehead. He meant for the kiss to be brief... Instead, it was longer. His lips lingered, until Nate tilted his head to seek out his lips with his own. Sean welcomed the kiss. Savoring it. If he had defenses, than his mind forgot to put them up around his heart.

Nate cupped Sean's cheek leaning him back across the bed. Sean's body complied to Nate's wishes, adjusting more comfortably as Nate moved over him. Sean set a hand on Nate's shoulder to push him up enough to break their kiss for a second. He felt so vulnerable. His emotions had been so dull and distant, until now. His heart wasn't aching anymore. It was beating wildly. He had never wanted something so much in such a long time. Excited and frightened, Sean moved his hand from Nate's shoulder to his neck. Nate closed his eyes, leaning into Sean's touch. Sean slid his fingers up Nate's neck into his hair, then pulled him down into a more confident kiss. Nate's hand drifted down Sean's ribs to his leg, raising his leg to his hip. Sean hooked his leg over Nate's hips, pulling him down. He needed him closer. He needed to feel his comfort and his warmth.

After the kiss, Sean buried his head in the nape of Nate's neck. Nate slipped his hands under Sean's back, burying his own head into the nape of Sean's neck. Sean's wild heart slowed down to a much calmer beat. Slowly falling into time with Nate's steady heartbeat. Against his neck, Nate whispered to him in the softest voice. "Sean... I feel silly asking this... but I need to hear you say it. Are we... Together now?" Sean curled his fingers on Nate's back, taking a handful of his shirt nervously. His heart fell out of time with Nate's as it sped back up. Lifting his head slightly, he kissed Nate's ear briefly and forced himself to answer wholeheartedly. "Yes, for as long as you'll have me." Sean felt Nate grin against his throat, his arms tightening around him as he told him happily. "For as long as we want each other." Sean relaxed his hand against Nate's back, a sense of fuzzy playfulness bubbling up inside him, until he asked Nate sweetly. "Now that we have that out of the way... Are you going to share your porn with me? I'm dying to know what you're into."

Nate growled against his throat, muffling out. "If you must know... It's on my laptop on the dresser." Sean wiggled beneath Nate in the hopes that he'd let him up. Nate didn't. Nate's hold on him tightened, telling him with a light chuckle. "Wait here. I'll get it." Sean obeyed, watching Nate pull away and taking his body heat with him. Nate got off the bed to retrieve the laptop and Sean snatched up Cyndakill off the bed. He didn't know why, but the little pokemon was growing on him. Nate slipped back onto the bed, opening his laptop and typing in his password. Sean pulled the laptop to balance between them on their legs. Nate's hands shook a bit. Was he nervous about what he'd think about his interests? Sean bit his lip, pushing Nate's hand away to show him something he was interested in. He was only curious, because he wanted to see how honest Nate was about hiding nothing from him. Nate hid nothing and it made Sean boop Nate's nose with Cyndakill's sword tip.

They didn't stay on the sites long. Just long enough to learn something new about each others interests. Eventually, drifting over to watching movies together. Nate snuggled against Sean's side, stroking his chest. Sean didn't know that he had fallen asleep, until he opened his eyes sleepily. He was laying on Nate's side now. Nate stroked a hand through his hair, while searching or playing something on his laptop with the other. Sean didn't care what he was doing. He was too busy listening to what Nate was singing in a low voice in the hopes that he wouldn't wake him. "Sound off for a wanted man.

Slip of the tongue with a taste of sleight of hand.

Head held high.

Feet on the ground.

Telling you, 'I'm all ears,' but don't hear a sound.

And I'm losing it!

So sick of it!

The door's open, but I built up a wall.

Already done.

I'm on the run.

Rise up for the fall.

I could never say the words it takes to make your heart break. And I can't live it down.

So, I'm living it up for you!

And I could never write a line that shines as bright as your eyes.

And I can't hold it up.

So, I'm laying it down for you.

Sound off for the criminals, wanted for stealing hearts and crushing souls.

Head kept low.

Blend into the crowd.

Wearing your shame like jewelry.

Behold your crown!

Well, I'm losing it!

So sick of it!

The door's open, but I built up a wall.

Already done.

I'm on the run.

Rise up for the fall.

I could never say the words it takes to make your heart break. And I can't live it down.

So, I'm living it up for you!

And I could never write a line that shines as bright as your eyes.

And I can't hold it up.

So, I'm laying it down for you.

Sound off for a wanted man.

Slip of the tongue with a taste of sleight of hand.

Head held high.

Feet on the ground.

Telling you, 'I'm all ears,' but don't hear a sound.

And I'm losing it!

So sick of it!

The door's open, but I built up a wall.

Already done.

I'm on the run.

Rise up for the fall.

I could never say the words it takes to make your heart break. And I can't live it down.

So, I'm living it up for you!

And I could never write a line that shines as bright as your eyes.

And I can't hold it up.

So, I'm laying it down for you.

I could never say the words it takes to make your heart break. And I can't live it down.

So, I'm living it up for you!

And I could never write a line that shines as bright as your eyes.

And I can't hold it up.

So, I'm laying it down for you."

Sean didn't stir or show any signs that he was awake. He wanted Nate to continue stroking his head and sing him back to sleep. It was even working... Until Nate stopped singing and ruffled around with an Oreo tray. He knew that sound and could smell them now! Jerking his head up, he stared at Nate with wide eyes. Nate froze with a cookie half in his mouth and stared back at him with a guilty look. Where had he been hiding THEM?! And more importantly... How long had he been eating them without his knowledge?! To Be Continued...