In The Dark

After that little run in, Kai steered clear of Gray as much as he could. Which was a good thing, meaning that he and Cliff didn’t have to be inconvenienced with his presence as much. Things still weren’t normal, because they couldn’t sleep in the same bed or walk around the room naked, because he still was liable to pop up at any time, but he didn’t run his mouth as much any more.

One evening when Kai was still out at the snack shack, Cliff and Gray slipped into the bedroom one after another. Cliff grabbed the lube, and they quickly disrobed, and then went into the bathroom together. Gray approached him, kissing at his neck from behind. Cliff blushed and squirmed, and Gray tugged at the string holding his ponytail together. It came loose and Cliff’s hair spilled out over his shoulders. He turned around, and their mouths met, kissing furiously. Gray backed him up towards the sink, pressing him up against it as he explored Cliff’s body with his hands.

He suddenly turned Cliff around, making him face the mirror. He snatched the lube out of Cliff’s hands, spreading some all over himself. Cliff’s breathing became heavy as he tingled with pleasurable anticipation. Gray brought his mouth close to Cliff’s ear and whispered, “I want to see your face when I take you from behind.” Cliff moaned in desire as Gray’s hands grabbed at him, parting his flesh. He nudged the tip of his hardness into Cliff’s entrance, and they both groaned in pleasure. Gray’s eyes were fixed on Cliff’s image in the mirror, thoroughly enjoying the expressions that flitted across his face as Gray pumped in and out of him. Gray held on tightly to Cliff’s hips, pulling them back onto him as he slammed into him again and again. One of Cliff’s hands held on to the edge of the sink, and the other gripped his own manhood firmly, stroking frenetically.

Cliff whimpered with pleasure, and Gray hissed in his ear. “You like it?” Cliff nodded, and a satisfied smirk spread across Gray’s face as he continued to stare at Cliff’s in the mirror. Cliff’s breathing became erratic, and Gray grunted, “You close?” Cliff managed to gasp out a yes, and Gray picked up his pace, thrusting faster into Cliff. The bathroom tiles echoed with their cries of ecstasy as they climaxed at the exact same time.

Gray kissed Cliff’s trembling back, as Cliff carefully washed his release down the sink. They entered the shower together, which thankfully was still running warm. Cliff sighed happily, leaning into Gray and nuzzling his face into his muscular chest. Gray just smiled and stroked at Cliff’s long hair. Then he pushed Cliff back into the water, getting his hair wet. Gray got a handful of Cliff’s shampoo and plopped it onto the top of Cliff’s head, making him laugh.

“What are you doing?” Cliff giggled.

“I’m washing your hair, stupid,” Gray said, smiling. He rubbed the shampoo in a circle, tangling up Cliff’s hair.

“Stop! You’re messing it up!” Cliff squealed as Gray continued to wash his hair all wrong.

“Naw, it’s cool,” Gray chuckled, as he continued to mess with Cliff’s hair.

“You’re not the one that has to brush it out later!” Cliff retorted, trying to swat Gray’s playful hands away from his head.

Gray grinned. “I could brush it for you,” he offered.

Cliff pouted. “No. You’re too strong. You’d probably pull it all out.”

Gray pouted back. “I would never pull out your hair.”

“You’re pulling it out now!” Cliff squealed in pain, as he tried to dislodge Gray’s tangled fingers from his hair. He finally got free with minimal loss of hair, and sulked as he rinsed out all the shampoo.

Gray picked up the conditioner bottle. “What about this stuff? Can I put some of this in?” Cliff hesitated, then agreed. Gray grinned, opening the bottle and dumping half the contents onto Cliff’s head.

“What are you doing?” Cliff screeched. He frantically rinsed his scalp. “Not at the top! Only on the rest of my hair! Now it’s going to be all greasy looking,” he wailed.

Gray kissed him, shutting up his complaining. “Don’t worry, I’ll still think you’re cute.” Cliff pouted for a minute more, then smiled.

Cliff picked up the shampoo bottle. “Now let me wash YOUR hair.”

Gray smirked down on him. “Can you reach that high?”

Cliff rolled his eyes. “I’m not THAT much shorter than you.” He squeezed out a bit of shampoo, and Gray turned away from him. Cliff reached up and lathered up Gray’s short hair.

Gray groaned. “Aw, you’re using that fruity stuff of yours. I’m going to smell like you!”

Cliff huffed. “I thought you liked the way I smell.”

“Yeah, I do. On you. It wouldn’t be right for me to smell like flowers and sunshine. That’s your thing.”

Cliff burst into laughter. “Flowers and sunshine? That’s what I smell like to you?”

Gray grinned lazily. “Yeah.” He was silent for a moment. “What do I smell like?”

Cliff didn’t hesitate to answer. “Sex.” Gray chuckled at that, and Cliff brought his hands around Gray’s waist, hugging him tightly. “You always smell so manly and good. Even when you come home, and you’re all dirty. You smell like sweat and burnt metal, but I love it.” Gray chuckled again, tilting his head back to rinse out the shampoo.

Cliff soaped up the washcloth and scrubbed Gray with it. “Hey now, you’re washing off my man scent!” Gray teased him. He snatched the washcloth out of Cliff’s hand, and grabbed Cliff’s shampoo, squeezing it out over the cloth. He rubbed it all over Cliff’s body. “Now you can smell even more like flowers and sunshine.” They continued to banter back and forth, until the hot water ran out and they were forced to cut their fun short. They got out of the shower, drying off and then wrapping towels around their waist.

They exited the bathroom together, totally forgetting about their usual plan to exit separately. Since that one time, Kai had never been in the room, so it didn’t seem as important. They stepped out, Cliff backing into the room as he tugged at Gray’s towel playfully, laughing lightly. They both froze, however, as they became aware of another person in the room. They turned their heads stiffly to see Kai on his bed, his eyes bugged out in disbelief. Cliff shrieked, stepping back behind Gray, who just glowered at Kai.

“What the fuck?” Kai was totally bewildered. “Are you guys…” he broke off in fear as Gray advanced on him menacingly. “No, man, I’m not into that!” he sputtered as Gray reached for his collar.

Gray jerked him sharply to standing. His muscular build made him intimidating, even when wearing nothing but a towel. He was a head taller than Kai, and he stared him down as he hissed threateningly in his face. “You say one damn word to anyone, and I’ll smash your face in. Got it?” Kai nodded, sweating profusely. Gray let go of him, and he slumped back down onto the bed. He looked in amazement back and forth between Gray and Cliff, who was clutching at his towel nervously.

“Whoa…” Kai exhaled sharply. “I never would have guessed it. I mean, I guessed that he was,” he said, pointing at Cliff, then his eyes returned to Gray, “but you, no way!” He widened his eyes again. “What about your girlfriend, man?” he asked Gray. Gray just stared back coldly at him. Kai’s eyes slid back over to Cliff, whose wet hair spilled out over his shoulders. “Long brown hair…blue eyes…” Kai muttered as he realized things. “Man, I’m a doofus.”

“Yeah, we know,” Gray grunted at him. “Now, get the fuck out!” Kai scurried out, like a dog with his tail between his legs. Gray locked the door behind him, and sat down on Cliff’s bed, burying his face in his hands. Cliff quietly stepped over, sinking down next to him.

“Urg, he’s going to tell everyone, I just know it!” Gray muttered angrily.

Cliff rubbed his hand soothingly over Gray’s back. “No, I don’t think so. He looked pretty scared of you. And think of it this way…the worst is over. He knows, but I’m pretty sure he won’t tell anyone. So maybe we can work out a deal with him so that we can have some privacy once again.” Gray looked at Cliff, and some of the worry melted off his face. He smiled and leaned in for a kiss.

They sat for a moment, and Cliff sighed heavily. “What‘s wrong?” Gray asked him.

Cliff picked at his towel. “Are you embarrassed to be with me?” he asked in a small voice.

Gray snorted. “No. Are you embarrassed to be with me?” Cliff shook his head. Gray spoke again. “The only reason I want it to be secret is because of my stupid old grandfather. He’d murder me for sure. He always says that relationships just impede a blacksmith and hold him back from his true potential. Which explains why he drove my grandmother away.” He snorted again. “I think he’s wrong. I didn’t start getting serious about my work until I met you.” He looked at the ground, a flush of crimson spreading over his face. “I didn’t care about anything before…but now I do.” Cliff just scooted closer to him, leaning his head on his shoulder.

After a while, Cliff spoke up again. “Gray?”

“Hmmm?”

“I’m cold. Can we get dressed now?” Gray chuckled, lifting his hand and ruffling Cliff’s hair. Cliff pouted at him. “You’re tangling it all up again! Now, you really have to brush it!”