Basil took in a harrowing breath as Nee neared. He was glad the other didn’t pull his hand away; it gave him something to potentially hold on to if he felt he was going to fall endlessly again. The scent of Nee close was calming in itself though, and Basil felt that same giddiness from before begin to rise. He gazed openly, expectantly, at his friend as a hand was put to his face. (Now there was a good, steadying idea.) For some reason this time felt easier. Maybe it was because he wasn’t himself in the spotlight, or maybe because he knew what the initial impact would be like. Either way, Basil felt blue-grey eyes slip closed automatically as Nee gently pressed their lips together.

Even though he almost expected it, the initial impact hit him like a load of Christmas crackers all exploding at once. His stomach flipped over and Basil felt that insistent urge to push back claw at him. He didn’t act upon it, instead letting Nee take the lead, and more fluttering fireworks tickled his insides. Nee was so soft, and gentle, and sweet. Maybe they had both been overthinking this for much too long. As his mouth moved to answer his friend, Basil again felt that strange instinct pulling at him to take command and he couldn’t help himself.

Acting of its own volition entirely, his tongue moved forward and, cautiously, pressed against Nee’s lower lip. Basil felt warm all over and he was actually rather pleased with how this kiss was going. Perhaps he had been too hasty before; perhaps it really wasn’t as… complicated as he’d expected. Just then, Nee’s hand moved marginally on his thigh and Basil lifted his own from overtop of it. It was strange, the feeling of invitation he felt all of a sudden to let Nee’s hands go quite where they pleased. His own hands, for their part, settled one in the crook of Nee’s outstretched arm, and the other gently on the back of Nee’s head, at the base of his neck. He too, was trying to stabilize as best as possible.

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