Closed Reopened Unresolved Jealousy pv P. Rainwood

Percival had felt annoyed since the game had come to a close. The fiery annoyance clung to his chest. Burning his ribs inside out. Unable to say or do anything to stop Hanako from leaning in towards the other boy and accepting that drasted kiss. He wasn't too sure why it had bothered him so much. It wasn't like they were dating or anything, but...maybe this was normal? Percival could not help but explain away the jealous annoyance that clung to him like a guilty shroud. Right! It was completely normal for him to get jealous when someone got close to his friend. Percival's eyes narrowed as he thought of that no-good foreigner. What a lowely thing to come and try and outperform him. Percival knew Hanako better than anyone else. The two of them knew things about one another that no one could even fathom.

The boy blinked in surprise as Hanako grabbed onto him pulling him off to the side. Percival stared at the boy as if he had grown another head. A bit confused about why the other had pulled him off the dirt path and behind a tree. The leaves rustled in the breeze as he waited for the boy to speak. Finally, Hanako broke the silence between them. At the reminder of his own kiss, his lips tingled vaguely as he remembered the pressure of the other boy's lips. His ears turned slightly red as he opened his mouth to speak. Though, no words would come to his aid.

After a second, Percival closed his mouth and swallowed deeply. His eyes widened minutely as the boy leaned in closer to him. The other was so close that he could feel the boy's breath slightly grace his cheek. Despite being taller than the other boy, he could not help but feel like Hanako was towering over him. "I-" he stuttered out as he tried to force his tongue to move. The boy's face felt far too warm to be normal, and he had no doubt a small blush had crept across his face.

Percival felt a sharp tug in his chest as the boy teased him. A heat grew in his chest, something less warm and innocent. The want to prove himself was strong. Had that not always been what their friendship was? Percival trying to prove how he was not something weak and insignificant? The boy's eyes narrowed in determination as he leaned in slightly closer to the boy. Black eyes met dark brown, and he could not help but feel somewhat intimidated by their closeness. Nothing could be hidden between them at this moment. Percival swallowed thickly his brows furrowing ever so slightly. "I'm not scared." he proclaimed haughtly. His arrogance clear in his tone. "I'm not the one with something to prove." he reminded with a smirk.

Interacting: @Hanako Tone

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28. 8 . 21 [ summer backdated ]
Right after this thread
Currently: 2nd Year Hanako [ summer ]

He didn’t bother to hide his cheeky smirk as his words seemed to have an effect on the taller boy for a second there. It was too dark to see his features properly, but the way he seemed to forget how to speak only made Hanako lean in closer in hopes of hearing it again. To his mild disappointment, that was the end of Percival’s temporary shyness. In response to Hana’s tease, he seemed to have grown absurdly confident in the next second. It was Hanako’s turn to be momentarily stunned by the closeness his friend seemed to encourage.

"I'm not scared." he proclaimed haughtly. His arrogance clear in his tone. "I'm not the one with something to prove." he reminded with a smirk.

Hanako had to use all his energy to not cough out uncomfortably, suddenly feeling a bit weak in his knees. Pull yourself together! This isn’t the time to get shy!Much less right after Hanako had been anything but. That was what he thought, but his heart that had suddenly raced faster didn’t seem to think so. Percival was right. It was Hanako that had been so bothered by the other boy kissing someone else. Percival wouldn’t be gaining anything out of their kiss when he had his fun earlier. With someone else.

The memory of them together crossed his mind once again and Hanako found it easier to stand confidently. “ Hmm~” he hummed in response to Percival with a faint devious smile. They were already so close there was no need to lean closer. Just a little bit more and they would’ve locked lips, as Hanako intended to do. To prove a point, of course. Yet, he seemed to have taken his sweet time before actually doing it.

He was but a mere boy whose experience only came from romance movies, dramas, and a short game of spin the bottle just now. However, he was more than determined to prove his earlier point. To be a better memory than whatever that dunce gave Percival earlier. So he had full intentions of doing it very well. Using all his current resources at his disposal.

Percival would have to endure the moment of silence for a little longer, before Hana rested his hands on both of the boy’s shoulders. Slowly but gently, he’d feel ticklish. One of Hana’s hands seemed to find themselves near his ear. Sliding up to the short locks of his dirty blonde hair. While his fingers twirled between the strands of his hair, Hanako took the opportunity with his other hand to tug the taller boy’s clothes until they were a mere breath away. Frankly, he was incredibly worried Percival would be able to listen to Hana's heart, which honestly sounded as loud as drums. They were..really really close. It took everything to stay in this position and not crumble into an embarrassed puddle. He never thought acting confident would be so difficult when he had been doing it all his life. But this moment with his best friend right now? He was incredibly thankful he had Percival’s shoulders to support his arms because he was sure they’d be shaking by now. Excitement or fear? He neither had the time nor luxury to dwell on the thought.

His hands left his hair to the edges of Percival’s cheek, leaving faint touches as if Hana was a ghost. “ Challenge accepted ~” Percival would hear a low whisper from the other boy before he felt a bit of a push from the back of his neck. The next thing he knew, he’d feel Hanako’s soft lips on his, taking him in a loving yet clumsy kiss.

With no idea what he’s doing, he went for his instinct hoping his inexperience wouldn’t show. It was a challenge he was trying to win. He didn’t plan on breaking it short nor would he take too long with it. Another thing he definitely didn’t plan was how he subconsciously poured his feelings into the kiss. What feelings, exactly? Whatever he had whenever he was Percival, that’s what. All those minor thoughts he forced himself to tuck at the back of his head. Even the ones he had shown clumsily. Like all the excuses he made whenever those thoughts came up just went quiet at this moment. The undeniable truth just hangs over Hana’s head like a blaring alarm. Alas the flutter in his heart reached up to fog his thinking, just enough to be distracted once again. Whether Hana liked it or not was an undetermined battle that had no resolve. No real winner. No real answer.

Of course the kiss was nothing that special. Movies and a couple of loveless kisses wouldn’t help him much in this department. But at least compared to the prior people he kissed, he would have certainly placed more care and time in this one. It was gentle, quick to respond to any sort of sense that Percival expressed was uncomfortable, as well as encouraged. In the midst of Hanako’s frantic thoughts, there was one thought that stood out the most. Unlike his earlier kiss, this one felt genuinely nice. It wouldn’t take long before he pulled himself back, beyond uncertain about what to do more than just clumsy kissing. But the last thing he wanted was Percival to catch on that fact.

Still, even when he pulled away, he wouldn’t completely tear himself away from Percival. He had basically wrapped his arms around the boy’s neck and honestly good for him, because if not he was certain his knees would just drop right now if not. Despite just a simple kiss, he felt like he had just run a marathon. His heart raced with adrenaline, an unfamiliar buzz in the air that made his head spun slightly, and the uncomfortable urge to break into a smile. That was just…because of his victory wasn’t it? He merely felt good because he knew it was… alright. At least more than that dunce, right? Hell, actually. Did Percival even enjoy it? Suddenly the urge to smile faded.

Hesitantly, he pulled back his arms and took a step back, allowing distance between the two to process what just happened. It didn’t matter if the other boy enjoyed it or not. As long as Hanako was ‘better’ than the other guy, they could call it a night. “ Well now~” Hanako shrugged, attempting to ignore the urge to step close again. He tried to appear as confident as he always did. His demeanor may have fooled the other boy, but his voice certainly did not. It wavered ever so slightly, seemingly exhausted and on the verge of breaking into a coughing fit. Which was why his voice was much lower and raspier than usual. At least raspier than how most young boys sounded like. He just didn’t want Percival to know he was this close to just melting into a puddle.

How had this kiss affected him so much? Earlier, he couldn’t have cared less who or how he was locking lips with. He barely even blushed whenever he was kissed, but now? He thanked the darkness for hiding how red he must’ve looked. “ I know I did pretty good~” 'Did you enjoy it as much as I did?' He couldn’t find it himself to ask when he was barely getting the strength to keep his cocky smirk on his face. “ Come on~. You agree, don’t you~? ”

Please say yes. Hanako would not be able to have a re-do. At the very least, the kiss Percival and that dunce earlier shared was the last thing on his mind right now.

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@Percival Rainwood
Mentioning:
Special thanks to @Katherine Labraouder for helping me write this post<3

Song Inspiration

As Percival stood in front of the dark-haired boy, he began to find himself doubting his decision. He wasn't too sure why he had felt the need to act tough. To act as if a little kiss would not be significant in any way. It had seemed right in the moment. Not wanting to appear weaker to the other boy, but now... Percival could not help but regret his quick words of confrontation as he watched Hanako hum thoughtfully. The tension in the air felt palpable as he waited to see what the other boy would do. It seemed crazy that the other boy would actually do it. I mean they were friends, weren't they? Hanako was simply pulling his leg. Trying to pull him into a trap where he would feel embarrassment heat his face up his face.

Each passing second felt far longer than possible. Dragging slowly but surely as Hanako stood so close to him. If he wanted he could have closed the distance between them, but something kept him rooted in place. He wasn't the one who had appeared upset over him kissing someone else, and he definitely wasn't the one who claimed to be a better kisser than some random foreigner. Percival had nothing to prove. So why was he still so fucking nervous? Percival swallowed thickly glancing quickly down toward Hanako's hands as they rested upon his shoulders. It seemed insane. They were actually... Oh god, Hanako was actually...he's going to... Percival's brain raced a mile a minute as he felt the boy's hand slide up into his hair, caressing it gently. Goosebumps appeared across his arms, and he was rather glad that he was wearing a long-sleeved shirt. Percival let out a surprised huff as the boy pulled him closer. His eyes blatantly displayed his awe-struck nature. His eyes were a bit wide and his lips slightly fell open in surprise.

Percival's heart rate rapidly increase as he swallowed thickly. His heart pounded loudly in his ears as he felt the boy's hand grace his cheek. The other boy seemed so confident, pulling him about where he wanted him. It through him for a loop. He was used to the other bolstering false confidence, but this...it seemed so real. As if he did this every day. So focused on the other boy, he hardly heard the quiet words the boy whispered to him. The only clue as to what was about to happen was the soft pressure on the back of his neck. Pulling him in and sealing his fate. He wasn't too sure what he should have expected when the other caught his lips against his. The boy was fairly certain he had gone into shock. His eyes had widened incredibly, and a blush bloomed across his face in a fiery heat. As if he was standing far too close to the flames he enjoyed playing with. Percival's eyes slid halfway shut after a second or two. Pushing ever so slightly into the kiss with little thought into the action.

The boy would blink his eyes open as he stared at Hanako as the boy broke apart the kiss. His cheeks refused to calm down to a more acceptable color. Remaining a dark pinkish color as the two stood close to one another. Not by any real choice. Even if Hanako's arms weren't still wrapped around him he doubted that he'd have the strength to pull away. When the boy finally stepped away from him a weird feeling bloomed in his chest. Was it that he hardly felt such affection that he was feeling this way? A part of him wanted Hana to come back, but that part of him didn't get a say right now. Percival stood up a bit straighter, his fingers came up to touch his lips. Trying to ease the electrifying feeling he felt buzzing away. Percival couldn't remove his gaze from the boy as he watched the boy shrug haphazardly.

The boy could not help the blush on his face as the boy poked him for how he felt about the kiss. He wasn't too sure what made him blush harder. The fact that Hanako kissed him or the fact that the other boy had actually enjoyed it. Percival swallowed quickly his hand falling down by his side as he mustered up words from his throat. "That.." he started off weakly. Percival quickly cleared his throat again as embarrassment hit him like a truck. "I have to say that other boy pales in comparison to you." he said giving the other a weak smirk as he attempted to appear cool. "I guess your bite is as strong as your bark." he hummed out. Percival could not help but feel impressed. The boy had risen to his challenge, and he had honestly won...fair and square. Percival's lips tingled again at the thought, and he felt his ears become slightly warm.

Interacting: @Hanako Tone

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28. 8 . 21 [ summer backdated ]
Right after this thread
Currently: 2nd Year Hanako [ summer ]

The more seconds passed, the more Hanako wished the ground would just swallow him whole. He had never been so grateful for the dark. A comforting blanket. Just enough to hide the turbulence of conflicted emotions that washed over him. And yet he couldn’t stop himself from wondering what the other boy looked at right now. Would it have given him more insight into what he thought of their kiss? Damnit, why isn't he say anything? Sure the darkness provided solace to him given that Percival wasn’t able to see him. But at the same time, Percival’s expression- a gateway to his thoughts, was hidden in a shroud of darkness.

Could he have been unfazed? Thinking of the right thing to say that could politely say ‘ That was the worst kiss I ever had '- I wish we never did it’? Hanako shouldn't be this worried anyway. It’s not like it meant anything. It’s not like it could forever alter their friendship. Or even ruin it. Out of the many reasons why they could stop being friends, a meaningless kiss should be the least likely.

The term swirled over his mind continuously. Meaningless. In a desperate attempt to fill in the silence. An anchor to the turbulent thoughts threatening to urge Hanako to say things he knew he was going to regret. It seemed to be his talent lately. Even now, the internal battle within him was debating whether or not he was going to regret their kiss or not.

“That” Percival slowly said, and Hanako’s heart raced. He kept his hands in his pockets. Hoping the gesture would be enough to show he wasn’t freaking the hell out. And yet, his attention was solely on Rainwood’s hidden figure. Fragments of his expression subtly shifted in the night, and Hanako found himself squinting his eyes hoping to see through the darkness. He held his breath as Percival said his next few words. When he did, it was Hanako’s turn to stay silent.

On instinct, his hand covered his mouth. The darkness was plenty enough to hide his features. Due to that, Percival missed a chance to see a rare genuine expression of happiness on his face. A smile etched so wide it almost hurt.

“ Well, duh” Hanako retorted, the casual tone betraying the hint of relief and joy he tried to downplay. “ Told you I could do it. How could you ever doubt me?”. He jested, pretending his cheeks weren’t flushed with a shade of pink.

But really it was like he was taken over by an unfamiliar surge of potent emotions. A concoction of them, from the nerves that almost made him lose strength in his legs, to the joy that came with Percival’s words. On one hand, he wanted to scream. And on the other, an urge to kiss him again that lasted for only a few milliseconds. Just to see if it wasn’t a dream. Now his only worry was to hide all this from Percival.

The other boy kept his tone cool. It’s not like he sang praises about their kiss. It was just better than some other bloke. The last thing Hanako wanted was to take that acknowledgment and sprint with it. Percival absolutely cannot know that Hanako might have enjoyed the kiss more than he had. Blissfully unaware that perhaps, Percival was thinking of the same thing.

“ I admit it doesn’t always happen,” Hanako retorted to the comment about his bite being as strong as his bark. “ But hey, I suppose I have my strengths”. He shrugged, still able to hear the subtle sounds of his heartbeat in his ears. With whatever confidence he had left, he took a close step towards the boy, giving a casual smirk. “ If you liked it so much, wanna do it again?”

How own tease took momentous effort to not crumble just as he said it. Was it really that necessary to make a show? Hoping it could further emphasize how unaffected he was by it all? A part of him might’ve been a tad bit resentful. While Hanako’s hands were shaking, his legs close to giving out, and his headache lingering from the earlier thoughts in his head, Percival was just - chill. Or so he thought, considering he wasn’t able to see him clearly. But the tone of his voice at least, signified a casualness Hanako envied at the moment.

Just another act to play. To distract himself from the possibility that envy might not be the only reason Hanako was pushing a tease. Its not that serious anyway- he tried to tell himself. All Percival had to do was shove him away and they could both have a jolly time, and continue on their friendship as usual.

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@Percival Rainwood
Mentioning:

Song Inspiration

The silence that seemed to stretch between them was almost palatable. The atmosphere so thick he could have sworn he could have used a butter knife to slice through it. Percival's cheeks burned away, admitting the enjoyment of the act seemed almost worse then enjoying the act itself. A part of him was glad for the shadowy nature of their environment. His cheeks and ears burned brightly, and he doubted they would calm down any time soon. The boy swallowed harshly at that understanding. A smirk slowly wormed it's way as the boy retorted in his usual manner. Always unbothered, as if they had not just locked lips with one another. It was comforting the familiarity and one that pulled a soft laugh from his lips. "My apologies Hana. I'll make sure to never doubt you again." he joked.

Percival was not too sure how common it was for friends to kiss one another. Weird pride mixed the tension filled air. Neither of them wanting to back down, their pride far too large to allow them to admit defeat. The night seemed to press in on them, the only sound filling the air being that of the distant hum of crickets and the soft rustle of leaves. Any semblance of noise seemed to disappear as the other boy stepped closer to him. Brows furrowing a confused look would over come him. His mind raced forward trying to quickly understand the situation he now found himself in. The tension building until exploding in a torrent of emotions that smacked into him like a wild beast. Percival's eyes widened slightly lips slightly open as he stared at the other. Struggling to comprehend what the boy had just asked of him.

It seemed unreal, a part of him wondered if maybe he was simply just dreaming. The urge to pinch himself wiggled it's way to the forefront of his mind. His heart beat heavily in his ears drowning out the world as he tried to wrap his brain around what the other had just asked him. It seemed crazy that the boy wanted to kiss him, much less again. The Hanako he knew did not even like hugs.

His lips still buzzed from their previous kiss. The only remants that this was indeed truly happening, and that he was not imagining it. A smile wormed it's way onto his face, he wasn't too sure why the other wanting to kiss him again made him so happy. It left his chest feeling strange and uncomfortably tight. A feeling he had only experienced when talking with Ileen. Was he simply happy that the other did not find him too gross to kiss again? Was he just happy the other was giving him attention so willingly?

It seemed so long ago that the boy had abandoned him to cry alone in the dark, but now here they were standing together in a raw sense of vulnerability and mutuality. He would be lying if he said he did not find a permeating pleasure growing within his chest. A part of him did not want to give up the closeness that now stood between them. His stomach churned with concern. Scared the other would change his mind or admit that this was all a joke. Percival swallowed thickly looking towards the boy darkened form. "Why, is it your turn to judge my ability to kiss?" he asked in a joking manner. The boy leaned forward slightly doing his best to play down the nervousness and excitement that thrummed it's way through his veins. "I mean it's only fair for you to get a chance to judge me." he said excusing and explaining away. Trying to gain without losing his pride.

Interacting: @Hanako Tone