"Right back at you," Nick said, which might have felt like a lazy reply except Nick's fingers kneaded more firmly into Rav's back as Nick continued. "I'm really grateful for this moment. Thank you."
As Nick sighed contentedly, Rav wondered what might happen next. Maybe they would veer back toward a sensual direction or maybe this would be the end of it. Rav decided he didn't need to know, and on this front, he needed to let Nick lead anyway.
Nick pulled away from the hug slowly, and Rav mirrored his movements, pleased that Nick's fingers kept contact, moving down Rav's back and dancing briefly over his hips even, before moving over to his wrists and landing in his palms. It was pleasant to be explored this way, and Rav felt a shiver building, though he suppressed it gently. He didn't want Nick to feel like Rav was getting too excited again.
Rav kept his palms open, allowing Nick's fingers whatever access they wanted, but unlike their times at contact improv, Rav didn't reflect Nick's movement and energy. He felt still and stiff, afraid to move.
When Nick sought Rav's gaze, he relaxed somewhat, enjoying the curiosity and interest he saw there.
Road to Repair: Rav and Nick
Re: Road to Repair: Rav and Nick
Rav seemed open to Nick's touch, but stiff--welcoming Nick's exploration, but holding something back. It made Nick feel a little bit sad, but not enough to stop him enjoying the feel of Rav's open palm beneath his fingers. As Nick's gaze settled on Rav's eyes, Nick relaxed a little bit, finding more contentment in the exploration that Rav was allowing him to simply do. Maybe Nick could enjoy just dancing his fingers over Rav, getting to know the topography of his body in a new way--bravely, or impulsively, or both, his hands caressed up Rav's arms, thumbs admiring the curve of his biceps--but, perhaps standing in the park bathroom was not where he wanted to do such a thing.
Nick gently squeezed Rav's upper arms before caressing his fingers back down to the man's palms, and he nodded gently toward the door with a soft smile.
"Want to keep walking?"
Nick gently squeezed Rav's upper arms before caressing his fingers back down to the man's palms, and he nodded gently toward the door with a soft smile.
"Want to keep walking?"
Re: Road to Repair: Rav and Nick
Rav tried to will his body to soften, to be less awkward, but he wasn't sure he was relaxing much. Still, the warmth and subtle pressure of Nick's fingers on his hands was pleasant, and perhaps it was enough to focus on that. If he could keep his mind there, maybe the rest of his body would follow. And, it certainly became easier when Nick moved again to explore Rav's forearms. Nick's thumbs moved over the curve of his biceps, and Rav impulsively flexed in response to give Nick more to feel.
But Nick's hands briefly squeezed Rav's arm muscles before they left and skated back down to his palms, giving Rav the distinct sensation that something was ending.
Sure enough, Nick nodded toward the door and issued a smile that held a hint of apology. Rav withheld his sigh, but his shoulders fell slightly.
"Want to keep walking?"
No, Rav thought, perfectly content to remain in this unlocked park bathroom.
Taking a deep breath and withdrawing from Nick's hands, Rav nodded--less as affirmation and more in confirmation of his earlier sensation. Rav stared down at the ground off to one side where a crumpled bit of toilet paper lay in the corner, feeling ridiculous about having taken his jacket off and now craving the comfort of its pockets.
"Yeah, that's probably wise," Rav said quietly, his voice carrying some of his lament. But, he tried to tell himself, this probably wouldn't be the end of their exploration. It seemed like Nick was still in this, and Rav thought it unlikely that this would be the last chance Nick gave him to show he could control himself.
He just needed to figure out how to not be so gods-damned awkward.
But Nick's hands briefly squeezed Rav's arm muscles before they left and skated back down to his palms, giving Rav the distinct sensation that something was ending.
Sure enough, Nick nodded toward the door and issued a smile that held a hint of apology. Rav withheld his sigh, but his shoulders fell slightly.
"Want to keep walking?"
No, Rav thought, perfectly content to remain in this unlocked park bathroom.
Taking a deep breath and withdrawing from Nick's hands, Rav nodded--less as affirmation and more in confirmation of his earlier sensation. Rav stared down at the ground off to one side where a crumpled bit of toilet paper lay in the corner, feeling ridiculous about having taken his jacket off and now craving the comfort of its pockets.
"Yeah, that's probably wise," Rav said quietly, his voice carrying some of his lament. But, he tried to tell himself, this probably wouldn't be the end of their exploration. It seemed like Nick was still in this, and Rav thought it unlikely that this would be the last chance Nick gave him to show he could control himself.
He just needed to figure out how to not be so gods-damned awkward.
Re: Road to Repair: Rav and Nick
Rav took a deep breath and withdrew from Nick's hands, and Nick's smile faltered toward sadness. Somehow, he suppose he'd hoped to remain in contact while they walked--but, he realized, they'd need to re-don their jackets anyhow. Rav was stalling out right where he stood, though, gaze tossed down at the floor to the side.
"Yeah, that's probably wise," Rav said, lament heavy in his voice.
Nick let out a soft sigh, breathing out the impulse to try to soothe Rav's mood somehow. Reassure him that they could interact in private again back at Nick's house, or maybe ask if there was something that Rav would regret not doing while they were here exactly where they were at. When his lungs emptied, he closed his eyes, finally thinking to reflect those thoughts back at himself. Imaginations flickered into view of kissing Rav, as a way of seizing the moment maybe. Maybe Rav would even push him against the wall--but, no. They'd looked over that cliff already, and weren't quite ready for it. Nick drew in a breath and let out another soft sigh, this one shaky with the many different emotions that swirled through him. But, he felt calmer afterward. And, decidedly ready to move on to the next thing.
Nick opened his eyes with a smile, and all but skipped over to the door. He grabbed Rav's jacket, and initially intended just to hand it to the man, but then with a playful twinkle in his eye, he held the jacket up and open for Rav, silently inviting the man to slip his arms into the sleeves.
"Yeah, that's probably wise," Rav said, lament heavy in his voice.
Nick let out a soft sigh, breathing out the impulse to try to soothe Rav's mood somehow. Reassure him that they could interact in private again back at Nick's house, or maybe ask if there was something that Rav would regret not doing while they were here exactly where they were at. When his lungs emptied, he closed his eyes, finally thinking to reflect those thoughts back at himself. Imaginations flickered into view of kissing Rav, as a way of seizing the moment maybe. Maybe Rav would even push him against the wall--but, no. They'd looked over that cliff already, and weren't quite ready for it. Nick drew in a breath and let out another soft sigh, this one shaky with the many different emotions that swirled through him. But, he felt calmer afterward. And, decidedly ready to move on to the next thing.
Nick opened his eyes with a smile, and all but skipped over to the door. He grabbed Rav's jacket, and initially intended just to hand it to the man, but then with a playful twinkle in his eye, he held the jacket up and open for Rav, silently inviting the man to slip his arms into the sleeves.
Re: Road to Repair: Rav and Nick
Nick sighed, and Rav worried that Nick might try to reassure him, which would mean doing exactly the thing Nick was trying not to do. What would Rav say if Nick veered that direction? Would he chastise Nick? No, maybe he'd just ask him to check in with himself instead.
And then Nick closed his eyes, giving Rav a lot of comfort in knowing Nick was doing exactly that. Rav waited patiently, trying to check in with himself as well. He was distracted as he heard Nick sigh again, this one more shaky than the first, and Rav's eyes snapped open, wondering if Nick was the one who needed reassurance.
But, Nick was smiling and skipped over to Rav's jacket. For a split second, Rav thought Nick was going to put it on, which simultaneously gave Rav a thrill and caused him some lizard-brain panic. His whole life was in there--wallet, keys, phone. Despite it all, he liked the idea of Nick wearing it. It would look good on him, Rav thought.
However, Nick didn't put it on. Instead, he turned the jacket around and held it out toward Rav as though to help Rav into it. Rav smirked and obediently turned around, shrugging the sleeves over his arms and immediately feeling less exposed. His hands quickly found their way into its pockets, taking quick stock of the inventory there. Everything was accounted for.
As they approached the door together, however, Rav felt the urge to ask for at least one more thing. After giving it some thought, he said, "Would you enjoy it if I kissed your cheek?" That was harmless enough, right?
And then Nick closed his eyes, giving Rav a lot of comfort in knowing Nick was doing exactly that. Rav waited patiently, trying to check in with himself as well. He was distracted as he heard Nick sigh again, this one more shaky than the first, and Rav's eyes snapped open, wondering if Nick was the one who needed reassurance.
But, Nick was smiling and skipped over to Rav's jacket. For a split second, Rav thought Nick was going to put it on, which simultaneously gave Rav a thrill and caused him some lizard-brain panic. His whole life was in there--wallet, keys, phone. Despite it all, he liked the idea of Nick wearing it. It would look good on him, Rav thought.
However, Nick didn't put it on. Instead, he turned the jacket around and held it out toward Rav as though to help Rav into it. Rav smirked and obediently turned around, shrugging the sleeves over his arms and immediately feeling less exposed. His hands quickly found their way into its pockets, taking quick stock of the inventory there. Everything was accounted for.
As they approached the door together, however, Rav felt the urge to ask for at least one more thing. After giving it some thought, he said, "Would you enjoy it if I kissed your cheek?" That was harmless enough, right?
Re: Road to Repair: Rav and Nick
Rav smirked on his way to sliding his arms into the jacket, and excited warmth splashed all over the inside of Nick's belly. He enjoyed feeling the gentle pull on the jacket as Rav shifted into it, and he allowed his grip to follow the pull pliantly. He finally released the jacket altogether once it was firmly in Rav's control, though he did allow himself to trail his fingers down the man's shoulders and the backs of his arms, feeling the texture of the jacket as he went.
He felt a little bit heady after that, and, perhaps to help himself focus, he bit his lip gently when Rav finished settling into his jacket and turned toward the door. Nick sensed hesitation in Rav before they exited, though, and his teeth pressed into his lip a little more firmly, anticipation buzzing within him.
"Would you enjoy it if I kissed your cheek?"
Nick erupted into a huge twinkling smile, a light airy giggle escaping from his chest.
"Yes."
He felt a little bit heady after that, and, perhaps to help himself focus, he bit his lip gently when Rav finished settling into his jacket and turned toward the door. Nick sensed hesitation in Rav before they exited, though, and his teeth pressed into his lip a little more firmly, anticipation buzzing within him.
"Would you enjoy it if I kissed your cheek?"
Nick erupted into a huge twinkling smile, a light airy giggle escaping from his chest.
"Yes."
Re: Road to Repair: Rav and Nick
The fact that Nick was biting his lip gave Rav a moment of pause--what was Nick holding back? Was he worried? But Rav couldn't deny that it was a good look on Nick, hesitant as he was to run away with that thought.
"Yes," Nick answered, a little hastily, with a massive grin on his face. Rav smiled, a flurry of butterflies erupting in his stomach.
It's just a kiss on the cheek, some part of his mind chastised.
With a mischievous grin, Rav leaned forward and positioned his lips between Nick's cheek and his ear, a hair's width of distance from making contact.
Quietly enunciating all of his consonants as they passed softly over his teeth, Rav whispered, "Are you sure, Nick? Did you take the time to check in with yourself?"
"Yes," Nick answered, a little hastily, with a massive grin on his face. Rav smiled, a flurry of butterflies erupting in his stomach.
It's just a kiss on the cheek, some part of his mind chastised.
With a mischievous grin, Rav leaned forward and positioned his lips between Nick's cheek and his ear, a hair's width of distance from making contact.
Quietly enunciating all of his consonants as they passed softly over his teeth, Rav whispered, "Are you sure, Nick? Did you take the time to check in with yourself?"
Re: Road to Repair: Rav and Nick
Rav leaned in with a mischievous grin, and chills danced down the side of Nick's neck as Rav's lips hovered ever closer to his skin.
"Are you sure, Nick?" A jolt of surprise stiffened Nick just slightly - he'd been braced for physical contact, not quiet, enunciated speech. "Did you take the time to check in with yourself?"
Nick blinked at a bathroom sink for a breath, in some parts stunned by this turn of events. He felt a bloom of defensiveness rise from his stomach - an impulse to answer yes all the more definitely, all the more hastily, but he managed to breathe through it and let it deflate. He let out a slow, quiet breath and closed his eyes, silently asking himself the question again: would he enjoy it if Rav kissed his cheek? A fresh gentle smile graced his lips as he felt anticipatory tingles light up again on his skin near where Rav's mouth tantalizingly hovered. He drew in a deep breath, inviting more of his awareness into that surface area and the network of places the tingles seemed to touch from that spot - his temple, the nape of his neck, the dip between his shoulder and collar bone, the back of his upper arm, and even down into his stomach. They all pulsed with excitement, openness, glee. Nick's arms spread just a little at his sides as he began to let out that breath, and with it, he exhaled his slow, soft, serene reply, almost a sigh unto itself.
"Yes."
"Are you sure, Nick?" A jolt of surprise stiffened Nick just slightly - he'd been braced for physical contact, not quiet, enunciated speech. "Did you take the time to check in with yourself?"
Nick blinked at a bathroom sink for a breath, in some parts stunned by this turn of events. He felt a bloom of defensiveness rise from his stomach - an impulse to answer yes all the more definitely, all the more hastily, but he managed to breathe through it and let it deflate. He let out a slow, quiet breath and closed his eyes, silently asking himself the question again: would he enjoy it if Rav kissed his cheek? A fresh gentle smile graced his lips as he felt anticipatory tingles light up again on his skin near where Rav's mouth tantalizingly hovered. He drew in a deep breath, inviting more of his awareness into that surface area and the network of places the tingles seemed to touch from that spot - his temple, the nape of his neck, the dip between his shoulder and collar bone, the back of his upper arm, and even down into his stomach. They all pulsed with excitement, openness, glee. Nick's arms spread just a little at his sides as he began to let out that breath, and with it, he exhaled his slow, soft, serene reply, almost a sigh unto itself.
"Yes."
Re: Road to Repair: Rav and Nick
Nick stiffened, and Rav momentarily worried that Nick might think that Rav was trying to make fun of him, but Nick soon exhaled and closed his eyes--genuinely checking in. In the meantime, Rav enjoyed hovering, even if the angle of his body was not exactly ergonomic--shifted as he was forward but holding himself away from making contact with Nick's shoulder or cheek. Nick moved his arms away from his sides a little as he exhaled again into one, gently emphasized word--Yes.
Rav smiled but took his time, choosing exactly the place on Nick's cheek that would feel most enjoyable to his lips. He decided to aim for the part of Nick's cheek closest to his ear, at the back of his jaw. Pressing his lips there, Rav closed his eyes and enjoyed the tingling sensations of the contact, managing to hold the crashing wave of wanting more at bay for the moment--his metaphorical sandbags were holding. He pulled away from Nick's cheek before long--kisses there became awkward quickly--and huffed a smile at Nick, shaking his head about whatever kind of chastity they were playing at with the backdrop of the park bathroom.
"Thank you for indulging me," Rav said, referring both to the kiss itself and the question. Rav licked his lips, satisfied with himself and feeling blissful.
Rav smiled but took his time, choosing exactly the place on Nick's cheek that would feel most enjoyable to his lips. He decided to aim for the part of Nick's cheek closest to his ear, at the back of his jaw. Pressing his lips there, Rav closed his eyes and enjoyed the tingling sensations of the contact, managing to hold the crashing wave of wanting more at bay for the moment--his metaphorical sandbags were holding. He pulled away from Nick's cheek before long--kisses there became awkward quickly--and huffed a smile at Nick, shaking his head about whatever kind of chastity they were playing at with the backdrop of the park bathroom.
"Thank you for indulging me," Rav said, referring both to the kiss itself and the question. Rav licked his lips, satisfied with himself and feeling blissful.
Re: Road to Repair: Rav and Nick
Nick hovered in those tingles that lit up in connection with the spot on his cheek, which continued to go untouched for a long, breathtaking moment. Nick felt suspended in water, a gentle wave of uncertainty and anticipation sparking a gentle sense of motion in his stomach--a tantalizing rise and drop of Will it happen now? No, not yet. Will it happen now? It never seemed like Rav wasn't going to, though--the tingles on Nick's cheek felt too alive, too sure that Rav still hovered close with intention. He just had no idea how immenant it was.
So, even with all of Nick's tingling anticipation, the moment still came as a surprise when Rav's lips did finally make contact with Nick's cheek. Nick's body jolted just subtly--a brief, gentle, fleeting ghost of a sensation of falling--his lungs drawing in a quiet gasp as a fresh wave of tingles danced in all the places that had been awaiting this moment. A brand new, even brighter and more refreshing wave of tingles also caressed his ear and the back of his neck, Rav's lips having made contact closer to his ear than he'd anticipated. It was a delightful, wonderfully intimate surprise.
Nick rode a pleasant wave of excitement and bliss as he exhaled, a new layer of warmth settling in from where Rav's lips lingered, letting the kiss play out a depth of richness on Nick's skin before finding a feeling of closure and pulling away. Nick felt thoroughly satisfied, a celebratory joy swirling happily in the core of him as he opened his eyes slowly, finally shyly meeting Rav's gaze with a smile.
"Thank you for indulging me," Rav said. Briefly, Nick felt a small lurch of franticness threaten to bubble up--some worry that if Nick didn't respond appropriately, then Rav wouldn't fully comprehend just how happy Nick was to have indulged him. But Nick swallowed to slow it down, and took in the sight of Rav licking his lips and his own blissful smile, and he remembered the way that Rav had said slowwwwww in the coffee shop, and Nick finally just nodded and gave a soft, drawn-out "Mm-hmm" of a hum, finding that he didn't actually want to say anything else.
Actually, he found that what he really wanted was to touch Rav, but he was feeling shy--the weight of the bathroom was heavy, and Nick was ready to be free of it. So, blinking away some of the nearly-drunken heaviness in his eyes, he finally took the step to open the bathroom door, and gave a playful little bow and gesture much like he'd done when they'd first entered. Only once they were both outside and Nick's hand was entirely free of the door did he reach toward Rav's hand, his body subtly leaning toward the man as he looked up at him, just a small, playful hint of pleading in his eyes as he waited to let Rav make to final gesture toward contact.
((OOC: I think we may have made a couple assumptions near the end, so happy to retcon if anything seems out of place.))
So, even with all of Nick's tingling anticipation, the moment still came as a surprise when Rav's lips did finally make contact with Nick's cheek. Nick's body jolted just subtly--a brief, gentle, fleeting ghost of a sensation of falling--his lungs drawing in a quiet gasp as a fresh wave of tingles danced in all the places that had been awaiting this moment. A brand new, even brighter and more refreshing wave of tingles also caressed his ear and the back of his neck, Rav's lips having made contact closer to his ear than he'd anticipated. It was a delightful, wonderfully intimate surprise.
Nick rode a pleasant wave of excitement and bliss as he exhaled, a new layer of warmth settling in from where Rav's lips lingered, letting the kiss play out a depth of richness on Nick's skin before finding a feeling of closure and pulling away. Nick felt thoroughly satisfied, a celebratory joy swirling happily in the core of him as he opened his eyes slowly, finally shyly meeting Rav's gaze with a smile.
"Thank you for indulging me," Rav said. Briefly, Nick felt a small lurch of franticness threaten to bubble up--some worry that if Nick didn't respond appropriately, then Rav wouldn't fully comprehend just how happy Nick was to have indulged him. But Nick swallowed to slow it down, and took in the sight of Rav licking his lips and his own blissful smile, and he remembered the way that Rav had said slowwwwww in the coffee shop, and Nick finally just nodded and gave a soft, drawn-out "Mm-hmm" of a hum, finding that he didn't actually want to say anything else.
Actually, he found that what he really wanted was to touch Rav, but he was feeling shy--the weight of the bathroom was heavy, and Nick was ready to be free of it. So, blinking away some of the nearly-drunken heaviness in his eyes, he finally took the step to open the bathroom door, and gave a playful little bow and gesture much like he'd done when they'd first entered. Only once they were both outside and Nick's hand was entirely free of the door did he reach toward Rav's hand, his body subtly leaning toward the man as he looked up at him, just a small, playful hint of pleading in his eyes as he waited to let Rav make to final gesture toward contact.
((OOC: I think we may have made a couple assumptions near the end, so happy to retcon if anything seems out of place.))