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The train car reeked of sweat and damp cloth from too many packed figures, and too much spring heat leaking in from the windows, turning the whole crowded carriage into a busy furnace. Every bench was full, people pressed together uncomfortably, luggage blocking the aisles.
Javier had no choice when he stepped foot on the train but to take the last empty seat…beside Micah Bell.
Their shoulders touched, thighs jammed close, little space. Javier stiffened, arms folding tight across his chest as he faced directly at the window, not daring to even peek at the man far too close to him.
He was so engrossed in the feeling of Micah’s leg against his that the view of hills and grass went unnoticed.
Seconds, minutes, dragged by. Wheels of the train clacking rhythmically. A woman laughing somewhere behind them, some men chattering.
‘’Pinche gringo…’’ he muttered under his breath, then just slightly louder, ‘’Always stuck with the worse company.’’
Micah’s low chuckle rumbled close to his ear, and the man shifted deliberately, pressing a knee harder into Javier’s for an unnecessary long tense moment, “Whining already? We’ve been sitting here two minutes and you’re already acting like I ruined your whole day.’’
Micah leaned forward just an inch, enough that his breath hit the side of Javier’s head, ‘’What’s got you so wound up, pretty boy?’’
Javier turned sharply at the word, almost bumping noses with Micah for a second before Micah leaned away a bit, “You’re too close, cabrón, move.’’
‘’Move? There ain’t much space here, unless you’d want me to stand in the aisle.’’ Micah shrugs as he continues, ‘’Though that’s more of something your kind should be doing.’’
Javier’s eyes narrowed into a sharp glare at the remark. Cállate!’’
As if on cue to make Javier more irritated, the train sways, causing them to brush closer together for a moment, “Shush now, don’t want anyone here thinking we’re having a lovers quarrel now, huh?’’
Javier scoffs with a roll of his eyes, ‘’As if…I’d sooner kiss a rattlesnake.’’ Micah’s face curled into an absolute shit eating grin, amused by the response.
‘’Yeah? Then why’re you always looking at me like you can’t decide to kill me or kiss me.’’
Javier blamed the way his face heated on the sun glaring through the windows, and not on the words. ‘’Kill you. I’d rather kill you.’’
‘’Sure. That’s why you’re red right now and haven’t moved away.’’ Micah said while shifting again, to Javier, purposely pressing his leg into Javier’s. Javier’s breath hitched before he could stop it, aware of every touch of fabric against his…and of course Micah had to notice.
Javier is quick to mutters before Micah can irritate him further with another line, “Move.’’
‘’Mm. I would, but,’’ Micah gestured lazily with a hand at the proximity and lack of space around them, both between them, and in the crowded carriage of people huddled in seats or shuffled in the aisle. ‘’No room.’’
‘’You’re enjoying this.’’ Javier glares with clear annoyance at him, accusing though he was already prepared for Micah’s response.
‘’Maybe. Hard not to when you’re squirming like that.’’
As the words left his mouth the train suddenly jolted, bodies around them shouting with it, including Javier who ended up briefly leaning harder into Micah’s side, faces lingering far too close for the smallest of seconds before Javier bolted right back to the edge, basically cowering in the window with pure flusteredness.
He sucked in a breath, shoulders rigid while Micha only grinned more and leaned in, voice soft as he innocently asked, “Problem, Escuella?’’
Javier swallowed hard, eyes flickering down for a quick second, to where their legs were still pressed together, before he snapped his gaze right back up to Micah still watching him closely. “...I need air.’’
‘’Air,’’ Micah repeated, clearly amused by the answer, ‘’I think we all do on this packed train.’’ Wasn’t a lie...The air was thick with stench.
‘’Don’t start.’’ Javier muttered while pushing himself up, finally removing his leg from where it had been sitting beside Micah’s. He steps onto the aisle, passing by Micah who looks far too pleased...And eyes that Javier felt gaze a bit downwards for a second.
‘’Don’t take too long, I was enjoying our talk.’’ Micah called after him, but Javier didn’t look back, just kept tensely walking over, stumbling a bit as the train rocked and mentally hoped Micah did not notice that…He could already hear Micah’s irritable laugh at it in his mind.
He came up to the door leading to the restroom and was silently grateful it was unlocked. He stepped inside, shutting it quickly.
It was barely bigger than a closet, the air thick and stale, the mirror desperately needing a proper clean.
Javier gripped the edge of the small sink, staring into his reflection like it had personally offended him. ‘’Idiota…’’ He mumbled under his breath, not really knowing who it was aimed at though.
Although his hair was already neat as always, he still adjusted it with a hand, fingers smoothing the dark strands back, then again, then again, like repetition might settle the heat under his skin.
It didn’t help. He could still feel it.
The press of a knee, breath hitting him, Micah’s voice dropping low as he spoke. Javier exhaled sharply through his nose and focused on straightening his collar and speaking to himself hushed as if it would make his brain listen, “it was nothing, nothing.’’
His little panic session was disturbed when a sudden knock hit the door. Then another one, more quiet and slower. Javier frowned as he glanced over, ‘’occupied..’’ He muttered loud enough for whoever was behind it to hear and get the message and leave.
Unfortunately the next voice was no surprise, “Yeah,’’ It was Micah. Voice cutting through the wood, sounding low and amused as before. ‘’Figured.’’
Javier hesitated, glancing back towards his face, red, and silently cursed at himself for acting so…pathetic.
Still...Against better judgement he took a step over, unlocked the door, and pulled it open.
Micah looked slightly stunned for a moment as the door opened, a hand braced against the frame as he stood, eyes already locked on Javier.
He didn’t miss the newly smoothed hair and straightened collar. His mouth curved and Javier’s eyes lidded. “Aw. You made yourself look nice.’’ Micah’s face grew into the usual same amused grin, ‘’For me?’’
‘’No.’’ Javier’s jaw tightened with annoyance.
Micah’s expression only grew as he assessed Javier more, eyes flickering, ‘’I was thinking about what you said before.’’
Javier raised a brow slightly, trying to pinpoint what Micah was remembering. ‘’What?’’
‘’The rattlesnake thing.’’ He paused before continuing, ‘’Got me wondering.’’
Javier eyed him suspiciously, noticing the curve of expression, Micah slightly leaning forward a bit instinctively, as if drawn towards Javier.
‘’Wondering what?’’ He knew that was a stupid question. But it left him anyway.
Micah looked real pleased over that response as his gaze averted down to Javier’s mouth for the quickest of seconds before returning back up to Javier’s sharp dark eyes. ‘’If you’re a liar.’’
Javier’s eyes widened a fraction, stomach turned slightly, as he let out a quick scoff to act like the response hadn’t rattled his nerve worse than before, ‘’You are…unbelievable’’ He mumbled out slowly and unsurely.
‘’Ain’t a no.’’ Micah murmured the reply quickly.
Then, he abruptly pushed off the doorframe, a step closer to Javier. Javier was forced back half a step, further into the cramped room, door shutting behind them as Micah entered.
The two ended up like back at the seat, far too close, too much tension, and too much pure amusement from Micah.
‘’Go on then,’’ He said in a hushed voice, ‘’Prove it. Still wanna kill me…Or did you change your mind’’
Javier, flushed, red and already glaring at Micah, let the words hang there for a pause. They were too close. And it was too quiet as Micah awaited for whatever answer Javier would give. Another punch, a shove, a curse.
They were close enough that Javier could feel Micah’s breath, warm, steady, right against his mouth now. Close enough that if either moved even the slightest inch…
‘’You talk too much, cabrón.’’ Javier bluntly muttered out, then followed it immediately by grabbing hold of Micah’s coat collar, and forced him closer.
It wasn’t careful. It wasn’t gentle. It was pure impulse and frustration boiled into a deliberate pull as Javier practically smashed his face onto Micah’s.
Micah didn’t pull away, that was the first thing Javier registered, dimly and distantly through the heat rushing quickly up to his neck and face.
The second thing was that Micah kissed back. Hard.
What started as a clash, all teeth knocking, breath catching and sharp edges and bad angles, shifted fast as Micah reached a hand up, gripped onto Javier’s jaw, thumb pushing just under it as he tilted Javier’s head properly, forcing the kiss deeper, steadier and all too hotter and no longer a clumsy mess.
Javier let out a rough huff of breath against the mouth, half in frustration, and half of something else entirely that he couldn’t name. Fingers curled tighter into Micah’s collar, like he had to anchor himself.
Micah’s other hand moved with pure purpose and certainty, finding Javier’s side, then his waist, dragging him impossibly closer in the small space until there wasn’t an inch between them. Hips slotted, chests close.
Too close. But still not enough for either.
The train rattled beneath them, metal clanking, and them swaying slightly, but it was all too distant. The only thing they were focusing on was the feel of them locked together, feel of a scrape of stubble against Javier’s skin, the heat of Micah pressing into him.
Javier shifted forward without thinking, pressing his lips more into Micah, who let out a low, amused sound against him, leaning harder, turning things more messier and hungrier within seconds.
Javier’s back hit the wall with a dull thud as Micah stepped in closer, the small space leaving very little space to move away, if they even wanted to.
Javier’s mind was half screaming at him, half completely deaf to him. He knew he should back off, never should’ve done this. He hated Micah, and hated that he still didn’t stop.
Instead, one of his hands left Micah’s collar and rose over Micah’s shoulder before closing around his coat again, trying to pull him in again, like proving a point he had no name for.
Micah responded instantly, grip tightening at Javier’s waist, fingers pressed in enough to be grounding, keeping him there, like he were just expecting Javier to gain a conscious n bolt.
Javier didn’t. Not at all.
The train jolted for a moment, knocking slightly off balance, yet the two still remained unmoving, neither wanting to pull away just yet.
It felt as if the sharp words, insults, fights, every shove and glare, had just snapped into something more challenging. Twisted into a tight, breathless mess neither were able to pull away from.
For just a brief second they broke apart, enough for some air. Javier's chest rose sharply, uneven breathing and lips parted, mumbling a tiny “Dios mío”.
But he was quickly interrupted when Micah leaned back in, desperate for more, ‘’Thought you’d rather kiss a rattlesnake.’’ He muttered low and rough and hoarse against Javier’s mouth.
Javier’s mouth twisted into a frown as he answered, more quieter and breathless, ‘’Shut up.’’
And then pulled Micah back right in for more.