Innocence

Title: Innocence
Author: Kalika
Summary: Zadei, a high school drop out, meets a young man named Tetius one night on his way home from work.
Warning Codes: Yaoi, AU, H/C, Language
Pairings: Zadei/Tetius
Author’s Note: This story is kind of slow isn’t it? Sorry about that, but I promise a lemon in the next chapter. To be honest it should have been in this chapter, but that would have made it way too long.
Disclaimer: Characters owned by You Higuri. I wrote this simply for my own entertainment.

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Chapter 5


It was Wednesday before Zadei was able to see Tetius again. He had been working every day, but that wasn’t the only reason. After what had happened at their last meeting, Zadei hadn’t felt right going to see Tetius. He had considered calling but, despite the fact that he didn’t have Tetius’ number, he figure that it just wasn’t right. So he had decided that it would be best to wait for Tetius to call him.

It had been a painful few days, but on Tuesday night when he had gotten home from work there had been a message. Tetius had asked if Zadei would like to get together at his Grandmother’s house to study on Wednesday and had left a phone number that he could be reached at.

So Zadei had called him back just that morning to tell Tetius that yes he could come by. He hoped that it was his imagination, but his friend had sounded extremely nervous. Perhaps, he had been upset by what had happened. But if Zadei needed to apologize, it would be best to do in person. As soon as he had finished with work he had headed over.

And so here he was, twenty minutes early for their three o-clock meeting, staring up at the huge building. He pressed the buzzer and was only mildly surprised that it was the grandmother who answered. He walked up to the door and knocked. Again it was Tetius’ grandmother who let him in. The fact made him feel slightly depressed, perhaps Tetius didn’t really want to see him.

“Oh, Zadei, I’m so glad that you’re here. Tetius has been acting so strange lately, but he wont tell me why.”

Zadei felt badly for Tetius’ grandmother. She was obviously quite worried and, if Zadei was right, it was his own fault. Wanting to talk to Tetius now more than ever he asked where the younger man was.

“You’re a bit early, so he’s still in the shower. He should be out soon. You can wait in his room” She gave Zadei the directions, up the stairs and down the hall to the second last door, before heading off to the kitchen to start work on dinner.

Zadei stood outside of the bedroom door for a few moments before finally knocking. There was no response so he let himself in. The room was empty, though because of it’s size he had to take a few second to confirm that. Stepping inside, he closed the door behind him, before turning to study the room carefully.

It was very nice, all done in greens and whites with very classic looking furniture. There was no stereo or television. No stacks of CD’s or current trashy novels. There was a computer, but Zadei suspected that it ws only ever used for work.

Not really certain what to do while he waited, Zadei seated himself on the edge of the bed and picked up one of the study notebooks, flipping through it idly.

He was still toying with the pages when the bedroom door opened. Tetius walked in dressed in jeans and a sweater. The ends of his hair were slightly wet and stuck to his clothes. The boy froze as soon as he saw Zadei and a light blush crept across his cheeks.

“It’s nice to see you.”

The less than enthusiastic greeting made Zadei feel uncomfortable. Wanting to keep things from becoming awkward he smiled lightly and indicated the book in his hands, “Shall we get started?”

He watched as Tetius nodded and moved to settle himself on the floor. Perhaps this was best, if they just went back to the way that things had been before. With that thought in mind Zadei began to read off questions.

xxxx

By dinner time Zadei wasn’t entirely certain how to feel. He was glad that things were getting back to normal. He was glad that Tetius seemed to be much more comfortable in his presence again. But he was disappointed that the pale figure beside him seemed to be completely ignoring what had happened between them on Saturday. Though, if Tetius was ignoring it then at least he wasn’t being upset by it.

Or so Zadei thought until Tetius’ grandmother had asked for one of them to pass the potatoes. They had both reached for the bowl at the same time and their fingers had brushed against each other.

Tetius’ reaction would, probably, have been comical to anyone else. The pale arm had been jerked back so quickly that Tetius had ended up knocking his water glass over. The liquid had poured across the table and onto Zadei’s arm. This had, of course, caused Tetius to begin apologizing endlessly as he used his napkin to sop up the water.

Zadei assured him that it was all right as he cleaned himself up with his own napkin. It was almost painful to see how uncomfortable Tetius was around him now.

After a bit of convincing from his grandmother, Tetius stopped apologizing and they all continued eating their dinner. But Zadei couldn’t help noticing that Tetius’ shoulders were tense as he sat and barely a word was spoken between the three of them for the rest of the meal.

xxxx

It was nearing ten o-clock as Zadei got himself ready to leave. After dinner had been finished he had helped Tetius to wash the dishes. There had been little chance that they would have been able to keep studying with the awkward tension that had now sprung up between them.

Zadei sat on the landing pulling on his shoes. Tetius was standing nearby waiting to let him out so that the security alarm could be set. Once Zadei had finished tying his shoes, he stood. Perhaps he had moved too quickly, because he saw Tetius jump out of the corner of his eye.

That was it. He couldn’t let this go on anymore. They had already agreed that Zadei would come back in two days, but what was the point if Tetius was so uncomfortable around him.

“I’m sorry.” Zadei tried to make the words gentle. It’s wasn’t that he wasn’t sorry, he was just frustrated. But he needed to try and make things right.

“For what?” Tetius’ voice was soft, but Zadei still couldn't bring himself to look the younger man in the eye. He was angry at himself for his stupidity, and he didn’t want Tetius to think that anger was directed at him.

“For kissing you. I shouldn’t have done that. I didn’t mean to upset you.” He focused his eyes on Tetius’ hands, watching as the pale fingers fidgeted.

“You didn’t.”

Surprised, Zadei jerked his head up to meet Tetius eyes. I didn’t? That can’t be possible. “But you’ve been so…” He trailed off, uncertain of what to say. He watched as Tetius shifted nervously turning away.

“I didn’t really mind. I was just embarrassed.”

Zadei couldn’t believe that excitement he felt when he hear those words. “So the way you were acting was just because you were embarrassed?” He watched as Tetius nodded. Feeling heartened, Zadei took a step forward. “Then could I do it again?”

He watched as Tetius’ eyes widened in surprise. The blush on those pale cheeks darkened as he nodded slowly.

Zadei took another step forward, reaching out to take hold of Tetius’ hand. He raised his other and brushed it lightly across one flushed cheek before leaning in to touch his lips softly against the pale young man’s.

He was about to pull away when he felt Tetius begin to lean into his touch. Zadei pressed back a bit more firmly before pulling back to find Tetius watching him, looking embarrassed.

Zadei brought the hand in his up to his lips and kissed the knuckles gently. “I like you, Tetius.” He kissed each finger individually watching Tetius swallow nervously.

Releasing his hold on the pale had Zadei moved towards the door. “I’ll see you on Friday.”

xxxx

Tetius knelt on the floor of Zadei’s apartment doing one last run through of his notes. The entrance exam was tomorrow and he had memorized everything that he could.

The last two weeks had simply flown by. It hadn’t been what he had been expecting the last two weeks before the test to be like, but he wasn’t about to complain. It had been pleasant studying with Zadei. Not only had it helped him to memorize the information quickly, but there had been other perks.

Ever since that night at his grandmother’s house things had changed between he and Zadei. The study sessions had been interspersed with Zadei’s gently touches and kisses. Surprisingly, this had actually worked to Tetius’ advantage. It had made his determination to learn everything he could stronger. He wanted to do well for Zadei, because Zadei had put so much time into helping him.

Of course, by now Tetius knew that he was in love with Zadei. Every touch, every kiss, every heated glance made his heart flutter. And he wanted more. With this thought in mind he took a quick look at the clock. Two in the afternoon. Good, that meant that he had enough time to go through the last book before Zadei got back from work.

The older man had insisted on taking him out for dinner, stating that he needed to relax or he’d be too nervous to write. Tetius had tried to object (he didn’t want Zadei to waste his hard earned money on him) but Zadei had insisted that it was a reward for all of the time spent studying.

So, they were going out to dinner, and then afterwards Tetius would be spending the night. Zadei had suggested that, since his apartment was so mush closer to the university, it would be better for Tetius to stay over. It would give him a bit more time to sleep. It had sounded like a good plan and both Tetius and his grandmother had agreed.

It wasn’t much longer before Tetius was finished and packing up his books. He had just finished placing them all back on the kitchen table when the door opened and Zadei entered. Tetius couldn’t help the smile that stole over his features. It made him happy just to be near Zadei.

xxxx

Dinner had been wonderful. It wasn’t that they had gone anyplace special, or even overly expensive. It had just been nice to sit down with Zadei and talk while they ate. No worrying about studying or anything like that. Maybe this is what it would be like for them all the time once he was in university.

Now they were just walking through the park. It was getting dark out, but Zadei had insisted that Tetius needed to fresh air after having been cooped up inside for the last few days. Feeling more content than Tetius had ever though possible, he reached out and slipped his hand into Zadei’s.

He was quiet surprised to find himself being spun around suddenly. Zadei’s lips pressed tightly against his own and Tetius pressed back slightly. He was still rather new to this whole thing, and Zadei had been limiting his kisses to simple pecks ever since that night at his grandmother’s house.

Zadei pulled his lips away and Tetius, certain that they were about to return, was surprised to feel the kisses move down to his neck. He gasped in pleasure at the unexpected sensation. Who knew it could feel so nice to have someone sucking on the flesh of your neck?

Eventually, Zadei moved back up to Tetius’ lips pulling him close. Tetius was just slipping his own arms up around Zadei’s neck when it began to pour. They pulled apart sharply and, barely able to see each other through the sheets of rain, ran towards home hand in hand.

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TBC


I don’t know how it works for other people but I’ve found that if I don’t know something by the evening before a test then I can’t memorize it anyway. It’s just easier to take the night off and relax.