Basil realized he was holding his breath as he watched the expression on Lissington’s face change. The encouraging smile he saw there made the brunette release what felt like ten tons of pressure from his chest. This really wasn’t the time to be pushing boundaries but something inside of Basil didn’t particularly care anymore. He was tired after nearly a year of confusion, misunderstanding, anger and resentment. These past few weeks had proved to him it was all in vain anyhow, because without Gus there was no reason to fight anymore. For anything, really. He didn’t know… what that looked like. Or what it meant. But he did know that right here, right now, the whole bloody world could mind its own business. Basil leaned into Lissington’s touch as the pretty redhead wrapped his fingers around Basil’s neck. Their foreheads pressed together and Basil was careful, alert, as he watched the other’s movements. It wasn’t until Lissington made to press forward into another kiss that Basil finally let go of his reservation.
It was sweet, and comfortable, and well overdue, this sense of longing that settled into his gut. Basil wasn’t sure he’d ever kissed Gus like this, fully aware and fully understanding the rational behind his own ridiculous impulses. He’d always felt the draw, the need, but before this disastrous month, he’d never understood how essential for life the pretty redhead had become. It was not healthy in the least, and he’d have to work on that, sure. But right now, as he pressed closer, invading Lissington’s personal space, Basil couldn’t be bothered.
He released his hold of Gus’ fingers and brought both his hands up to gently cup the redhead’s cheeks. There was an urgency behind Basil’s kiss now, a driving force that was overruling any semblance of modesty or tact that he ought to respect that this man’s father had just died. If he could distract Lissington from his own grief just for a moment, wasn’t that reason enough to press on? Basil let one hand slide down the other’s neck and over the front of his robes, tangling his fingers there to tug Gus even closer. There was no more space between them that could possibly be filled, and yet Basil tugged. He tugged against the hair at the back of Lissington’s neck too, desperate and urgent and altogether slightly unhinged. He pulled away abruptly then, foreheads still pressed together, as he realized exactly what he wanted.
“Are you— Is this— alright—?” He asked, panting a touch. Something self preservative in the brunette wanted to slide backwards, away from Lissington before everything could catch on fire. The selfish, needy part of Basil’s brain refused. Instead, he waited with bated breath to be sure that Lissington was alright. It was worth nothing to Basil if in the end, he just hurt the pretty redhead more.
![[Image: 7DQFAEf.png]](https://i.imgur.com/7DQFAEf.png)