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Summer break was going great so far, at least for him it had. Jimmy got to chill in a nice big house filled with working air conditioning and a big strong man beside him. If you asked him, he was living the dream. He’d been laying in Russell’s bed beside him, relaxing his eyes with his arms behind his head. He preferred to be in his own bed during summer breaks but his mom and stepdad weren’t back from their trip yet, which forced him to shack up with someone else.
Which made him settle on Russell. He could’ve asked Petey but he didn’t want to have to go on a trip with him and his family. Petey explained that his family constantly went on summer trips and if he wanted to stay with them, he’d have to go with them. He’s less of a trip guy and more of a stay at home and sleep guy. Nine months of school just to have to pack up and travel somewhere? Fat chance, he was right where he wanted to be, in a bed.
He looked at Russell beside him, who was laid out on his stomach while snoring into the pillow below his face. He could see the drool pooling onto the pillow cover, creating a wet spot that had been getting bigger for the past hour. Seeing Russell in this way was jarring for him. When they first met, he almost got his shit kicked in and now here he was, laying next to him in his bed. It was almost laughable thinking about the sharp change in their friendship.
“Mmm… Russell… smash…” Russell murmured, burying his head further into the pillow. Jimmy wondered how much longer he’d be asleep, he didn’t want to necessarily wake him up but he did want to watch TV. It was something he’d always do to start the morning on weekends.
He leaned over Russell’s body and reached out towards the bedside drawer that held the remote. His fingers grazed the remote as he stretched himself fully over, his chest pressed against his back before he successfully grabbed the remote, settling back down beside him.
Thank god he didn’t wake up.
Right as he pressed the on button on the remote, he felt a dip in the bed, as if a weight was shifting on it. Russell had turned onto his back in his sleep, the movement caused his hair to stick up in different directions. He quickly turned the volume down, not wanting to disrupt him any further.
The TV played quietly in the background, some random sports channel, as Jimmy kept his gaze focused on Russell’s back. He wanted to reach out towards him, maybe to run his hand through his hair, or maybe to just rub his back to soothe him and keep him asleep. Even with how tempting it was, he kept his hands in his lap, coming to the conclusion of it not being worth it.
He turned his attention back to the TV, pretending to be interested in the sport that was displayed across the screen, which looked like swimming. He suddenly felt a hand reach out and latch onto his thigh, putting pressure onto it as Russell turned his head to look at him. Their eyes met as Russell blinked at him repeatedly, trying to clear the sleep from his eyes.
“Look who’s finally awakened, Did I wake you up?” Jimmy hoped he didn’t but he was sure it was because of him. He’d been moving around constantly on the bed, it’d probably wake anyone up.
Russell pulled his body up into a sitting position, his shoulders brushing against Jimmy’s as he settled. “Russell…. wake up because of little buddy.”
No matter what Jimmy tried to do, he couldn’t get Russell to stop calling him little buddy. It was like his new name he had for him. He wasn’t totally against it, it would just be nice to hear his name a bit more.
“Sorry Russ, I didn’t mean to wake you, just wanted to watch some TV. That okay?” Jimmy asked, hoping he’d want to watch with him instead of falling back into the mattress.
Russell nodded and adjusted his position next to Jimmy. He wanted to sit close to Jimmy while watching, he liked being close to his buddy.
Jimmy stayed completely still next to him, not wanting to make Russ feel the need to move or be uncomfortable. They both sat in silence as the TV continued to play the swimming competition. He quickly noticed the hand that Russell placed on his thigh earlier hadn’t moved, it had instead tightened. He wasn’t upset about it, it was just a bit jarring as they never interacted in this way before.
It was usually Russell attempting to protect Jimmy—or his little buddy—it was never touches like this. His hand on his thigh made him feel different in a way.
He already was aware of his attraction to men, that wasn’t a surprise to him. He’d been holding hands with the boys in the playground ever since he was younger, even giving them pecks on the cheek. Although it did end up with their mothers storming over towards him and whoever the boy was and take said boy's hand to lead him away from Jimmy.
His mother never cared though. Everytime she saw it happen, she never reprimanded him for it. That was probably the only thing he could thank his mother for. He’d rather have a neglectful mother than a hateful one, it made his life easier.
“Little buddy? Russell’s worried, you're not talking.” Russell had turned his head to face him fully, giving him his undivided attention. It felt a little unnerving with Russell’s eyes set on him like that. The entire situation felt compared in general to him. He was so used to them fighting together side by side, he wasn’t used to relaxing in bed together.
He cleared his throat and slowly turned his head to face him as well, “I’m alright Russ, just a bit tired I think.”
“Russell thinks little buddy should sleep instead of watching TV.” He’d squeezed Jimmy’s thigh a bit firmer as he provided him with the advice. It ran a shiver down Jimmy’s spine at the feeling. He couldn’t tell if this was Russell trying to comfort him or if it was something he hadn’t noticed. Now, Jimmy could go back to sleep but he’d never be able to with him wondering what Russell had been trying to do.
A part of him was wondering if it was the first option he thought of, maybe he was trying to indeed comfort him, but in a more intimate way.
But who was he kidding? This was Russell. The big block head who everyone knew as a fighter rather than someone who could initiate intimacy. There was no one in the world who thought he could comprehend that. Although this was all coming from outsider points of views. They could all be wrong about him, maybe Russell could understand things beyond fighting and smashing stuff.
There was only one way to find out.
Jimmy hesitantly lifted his hand from his lap and placed it on top of Russell’s hand, interlocking their fingers together on his thigh. He marveled at the sheer size difference in their hands. Russell’s were huge with thicker fingers while Jimmy’s had been big in their own right but his fingers were slightly longer.
Russell turned his head downwards and stared at their hands before turning his attention back to the TV, not caring enough to comment on the movement from Jimmy.
Did he just not care? Maybe he doesn’t understand what he’s trying to do, but he doesn’t know how else to make it more obvious for him. He could hit him over his big head to get it through to him that he’s attempting to flirt with him, maybe that’ll get a reaction.
His tongue darted out to wet his lips as he prepared to try again. He slid both of their hands further up his own thigh before stopping at a relatively safe point. He didn’t want to force anything or assume he’d be okay going further.
“Russell? Look at me man.” Jimmy pleaded.
Russell finally turned his head to acknowledge him, “Little buddy? What’s wrong?” Jimmy opened his mouth but he couldn’t get his voice to work. What did he even want to say to him? Are you flirting with me right now? Do you even know what you’re doing?
“Do you know what you’re doing right now?” He didn’t mean to sound so direct to the point of sounding like an ass, but he was desperate to know what he was trying to do.
Great job on subtlety Jimmy, great fucking job.
The confusion on Russell’s face made him want to immediately eat his words. He could’ve just been misreading his signals, or lack thereof. He huffed and was about to pull his hand back but was tugged closer to Russell, hands moved to his waist as they pulled him into his lap. Jimmy lifted his hands in the air, not sure of where to place them.
“Russell knows what Russell is doing, little buddy.”
Well color me surprised.
He looked down at their position and slowly placed his hands on Russell’s shoulders. He tried to adjust how he sat in his lap but ended up pressing his hips against his, unintentionally providing pressure to his southern region. He decided to stay still instead of moving, he did not want to become hard against Russell as he knew he’d feel it for sure. That wouldn’t be something he could pretend to ignore.
“Russell… wants to kiss little buddy. Can Russell do that?” The question came out in the softest voice Jimmy had ever heard Russell use. It was jarring to hear a tone of voice that wasn’t shouting coming from him.
Wait wait wait— he wants to kiss me?
“Kiss me? Russ, are you sure that’s what you want? And…why?” Jimmy had been confused throughout this entire conversation, and with him being pulled into his lap, he was even more confused on what his intentions were.
Russell nods and pulls him closer. He did look serious, but he couldn’t tell if it was a genuine serious face or that dumb expression he displays all the time.
Jimmy let out a deep sigh and mumbled, “okay then.” Before he leaned forward and pressed hips lips against Russell’s. They felt a bit dry, but the plumpness of his lips made up for it. Russell had surprised him by knowing how to move his lips against his own, it made a rush of excitement travel through his body knowing that he was the first one to find that out.
They both moaned against each other's mouths as the kiss grew deeper, lips colliding with each other with growing desire for one another. He could feel his chest press against Russell’s, his hardened nipples brushing against his, forcing a gasp from him.
Russell pulled back, his mouth hung open as he panted softly against Jimmy’s own mouth as he spoke. “Russell really liked that, but Russell is tired too.”
Of course he wanted to go straight back to bed, just as Jimmy was becoming more and more into the moment they were sharing. But he wouldn’t rush anything so he lifted his leg off of his lap and laid down next to him, sliding down on the bed.
He watched Russell slide down and turn onto his side, tugging him into his body. He allowed himself to be maneuvered into a position that rested against his body while on their sides, nestling closely into his neck.
He would’ve never thought that Russell of all people would be the one to initiate anything with anybody, least of all him. Everyone at Bullworth assumed he was stupid or just mentally impaired, but he was glad to have come to the conclusion that he wasn’t the big dumb kid everyone saw him as. He was instead just a big kid who just communicated differently, and Jimmy was the one to realize that.Though he’d rather have been in his own bed, he was glad to have had the chance to be in Russell’s instead.