Work Text:
William tapped and clacked on his keyboard, lost in his writing. He knew Dakota was next to him, watching his every move, but barely paid any mind. It was oddly comforting. Dakota was usually the type to sit restless, having to move at every moment, so seeing him so engaged in what William was doing made him feel confident in his writing abilities. Maybe it’s easier for Dakota to read when it’s being typed out for him live. He doesn’t have anything to jump ahead to. No other words to distract him.
As he spilt words onto the page, William felt himself getting entangled in his own story. He hadn’t realized just how long he had been typing away. He looked at the time, shocked to realize that he had been writing with minimal breaks for just under two hours.
He needed to pause. He lifted his hands from his keyboard and stretched his hands, cracking his knuckles in the process. He glanced around, trying to ground himself and remind himself where exactly he was. He was suddenly very aware of the feeling of the couch beneath him, the weight next to him, the plush cushion both against his back and under him, and the sturdy armrest brushing against his side. For once, he was sitting normally, legs down, feet touching the tile floor, thighs supporting his computer.
He blinked a couple of times, becoming aware of the morning sun shining through the kitchen window. It was early for William, especially on a Saturday, but Dakota had asked nicely the previous night if he could watch the boy write the next morning. William noticed that the lights above them were not on, remembering that they had come into the living room around when the sun started to rise, so they had no need for lights.
“You okay?” Dakota whispered lightly, his voice faintly raspy, clearly not having spoken in well over an hour. William turned his head to Dakota. His bright red hair was tied back into a ponytail and he wasn’t wearing his bandana. He was wearing a t-shirt with pizza on it and classic plaid pj pants. He looked tired but eager at the same time, interested in William. He was pretty. Dakota’s head tilted slightly at William’s silence.
“Mmm yeah, sorry. Just grounding myself. I got a little lost in my own writing.” William whispered back before cracking his neck lightly and shaking his silly thoughts about Dakota away.
Dakota raised his eyebrows, seemingly remembering something and copied William’s movements. William snickered softly.
William looked back to his writing, remembering what he was doing. He was writing about this show he really liked, Riptide. It was about pirates and freedom and stuff. Right now he was writing something about if two of his favorite side characters, who had never interacted, were in a romantic relationship. William liked to write about romance. For some reason it just intrigued him. Not more than mystery, but it was still fun to write about.
William tapped away at the keyboard for a couple more minutes, feeling Dakota watching him once again, before stopping. He didn’t know how to write this. Writing kiss scenes was never his thing.
“What’s up?” Dakota had noticed that William stopped writing.
“Uh. I just don’t know how to describe… this.” He vaguely motioned to his computer before turning his head to Dakota.
“Well… maybe just do whatever you’re describing? I think it would be easier if you’ve done it before.” Did Dakota know what he was saying right now? Did he know what William was about to write? William felt his own face heat up slightly. William figured, it’s true, he had never kissed someone before, so he guessed it would be easier to write after experiencing it… William searched Dakota’s eyes for anything. It looked like he just genuinely wanted to help. Is Dakota really that dense?
Dakota raised an eyebrow, seemingly confused at William’s shock.
William moved a hand to Dakota’s cheek, cupping it softly.
His heart was pounding.
“Tell me to stop if this makes you uncomfortable.” William said sternly before tilting his own head slightly and pushing it towards Dakota, connecting their lips.
Dakota let out a small muffled shout of surprise, clearly not expecting it. Soon after, though, he relaxed into the kiss. William tasted raspberry on the boy's lips, the raspberry chapstick he uses rubbing off onto William. They kissed softly for a few more enjoyable moments before William pulled away. He got a good idea of how to write that.
William moved his hand from Dakota’s cheek and rubbed his own lips with his thumb. He looked at Dakota once more, his face was practically as red as his hair and his eyes were wide.
“Thanks, Kota. I think I understand how to write this now!” William smiled, pretending he hadn’t been waiting to do that, before turning back to his computer, beginning to describe the kiss he just experienced. Anxiety filled his stomach.
William felt hot.
Did he really just do that?
“What..?” Dakota blinked a few times.
“Hmmm?” William barely looked up from his writing, trying to act cool.
“Did you just kiss me for… writing purposes? Or…?” Dakota seemed to be in a different world currently, barely able to make steady eye contact with William.
“Well, partly yes. Uh- sorry. I do like you if that’s what you’re asking. Sorry- I should’ve asked or something, I just thought you knew what you were doing.” William started to doubt if this was a good idea. He scratched his neck and looked away from Dakota. His leg started bouncing.
“No- listen- that was- fucking- smooth as hell. And I enjoyed it. You’re fine.” Dakota put a hand on William’s shoulder.
“Really? You enjoyed it?” William shakily asked, slowly looking towards the red-haired boy again.
“Yeah. I mean if it was really just for writing- it’s- it’s not like we have to do it again…” Dakota paused, a hint of sadness filling his eyes. “I just think it was nice!” This time Dakota was the one scratching his neck.
The two made steady eye contact for a few moments.
William’s throat felt dry. He blinked a few times nervously before slowly reaching his hand up to the other’s chin.
“Would you like… to do it again?” William was wide eyed looking at the beautiful red-haired boy in front of him. The way his hair was draped across his face was so perfectly imperfect. His light moles and freckles were just barely noticeable on his face, like little stars draping the night sky. On top of those stars were jagged scars, some small and almost entirely healed, some larger and more recent. His eyes looked exhausted from the past few days of school and hero work, but it was clear he was enjoying his time with William. His yellow irises encapsulated William in a trance.
He watched Dakota nod carefully, his tan skin quickly changing to a shade of dark red.
William just blinked. He forgot what was going on, he had gotten so lost in Dakota’s beautiful appearance.
This time, Dakota surged forward to connect their lips. He was much more passionate than William. It felt like fire against cold ice. It melted William. He held onto Dakota’s face softly, being overwhelmed by the boy’s love. William was sure his heart would beat out of his chest, even more sure that Dakota could hear it. At first, Dakota’s scarred and calloused hands were gently planted on William’s cheeks, but he slowly moved one of his hands to the back of William’s head, deepening the kiss somewhat. It no longer felt like anything existed around William. It was just him and Dakota, sharing a moment he certainly wouldn’t forget.
Dakota pulled away, breathing slightly heavier than before. He looked William in the eyes and smiled brighter than the sun. It could’ve blinded William. The dark-haired boy just had a second to smile back before being enveloped in a passionate kiss once again. A shiver of electricity ran through William’s body as Dakota’s lips moved against his. William couldn’t help but smile into the kiss. Every hair on his body was on end as he shook with excitement.
Right now they weren’t heroes.
They weren’t students.
They were just William and Dakota.
That was enough for William.
When Dakota finally pulled away, taking a moment to catch his breath, he started giggling.
“That was so cool!” He could barely get out through the childish laughter.
“Yeah…” William looked at Dakota in awe before Dakota’s chuckling spread to him.
Dakota pecked William’s lips. The dark haired boy felt his face redden.
Dakota pecked William’s lips again, and then his cheek, and then his nose, and then his forehead, and then just below his eye, the side of his ear, his jaw, and his lips once more.
“I think you deserve kisses!” Dakota announced proudly.
“Really? I think you deserve kisses, Dakota.” William smiled before repeating what Dakota had done to him, kissing every little space on his face he could reach.
“How about that Dakota Cole?” William was grinning. He reached his hand away from Dakota’s face and softly closed his computer without looking away from the boy’s face. He set it down on the floor before collapsing on top of Dakota.
“Aah! Hey-“ Dakota exclaimed.
“Whaaat! I’m tired. You got me up too early for this. Now, my revenge is falling asleep on top of you. I mean you do this to me all the time, I really don’t see the problem, Kota!” William situated himself to become comfortable on top of the boy below him.
“Fair. We could just cuddle this morning. I’m also kinda tired…” Dakota admitted.
“See! Perfect plan. Who cares if anyone sees this. Who cares if Tide asks questions later!” William joked.
“Oh yeah… other people… yeah whatever!” Dakota almost instantly closed his eyes and wrapped around William.
William instantly assumed that the red-haired boy was asleep, but was quickly proven wrong with a quick peck near his ear.
For right now, this was perfect. William felt happy. It worked out.
And for right now,
It was just him and Dakota.