Breathing In (Pepper/Björn)

[Pepper]

To say that the day was a complete flop was quite possibly the understatement of the century.

Pepper had awoken to a room he didn't recognize at all, until he realised he had moved into an apartment 2 streets down from his parents just yesterday. His favourite shirt had been dyed purple after being thrown in with the colours and due to the unimaginable sleep-induced terror, he was at least 40 minutes late for the first lesson, not to mention he was still trying to get a licence for his shiny new motorbike and was thus unable to get to school any other way but walking four blocks.

When he had finally arrived at school, (two detentions and a brilliant purple shirt later) he was promptly met with the sight of his boyfriend of two days pressed up against the wall with a guy who was definately not threatening him. The two 'conversed' briefly (read: screamed at each other and threw some punches before Pepper decided he really couldn't be bothered.) before parting ways.

Pepper sat through two hours of hopeless rambling before a bell announced lunch time, whereupon he was met by his EX-boyfriend grovelling desperately. The brunette kissed him lightly on the head, punched him in the gut and left, the very first smile since he had woken up plastered firmly on his face.

On top of all this, it looked like it was going to storm. Not that it mattered much, Pepper loved the rain, but his textbooks were going to get soaked and he looked like some drowned kitten when his hair got wet.

No, this day definitely hadn't been the best, but, it would get better, right?

Pepper pushed past a couple of students in the doorway to get to his locker. He traded some of the books and stood up, stretching happily. Now fully relaxed, he didn't even see the guy standing in the way until it was too late, sending them both sprawling to the ground as Pepper bowled into him.

"Oh Christ! I'm sorry! Are you okay?"

[bjorn]

"You have got to be kidding me" Bjorn thought to himself as he sat during his lunch detainment. The teacher, Miss. Runnardottir had caught him staring at the new student during her lecture, and assigned him lunch detention for not paying attention.

The rest of the day had been a blurr, the cold Icelandic air had set in, causing Bjorn to belive it would snow. The other students began to slowly file out of the school, just leaving to odd dwadler standing around.

Thoughts of the upcoming holidays, knitting, and having his family together again made him loose his attention to the real world. Not knowing what had happend, he all of a suddenly found him self on the ground, with someone on top of him.

"Oh, i'm terribly sorry, I didn't mean to be in the way!" he stammerd out. He heard the other boy ask him if he was allright. "Yes, i'm fine, are you ok, do you need medical attention?" he asked, and waited for the boy to reply.

[Pepper]

Pepper heard the boy saying he was alright, but he still did a quick check, running his hands down the other guys stomach and chest, before realising this was probably a large invasion of his space and stumbled backwards, rolling of him.

When his brain fully processed what his victim had asked, he almost laughed, but settled for chuckling quietly.

"Medical attention? If anyone needs medical attention its gonna be you! I flattened you! Are you sure you're alright?"

He peered through his lashes at the boy next to him, and smothered a gasp of suprise. The raven black hair was utterly adorable, but it was the green eyes that sent his head spinning, almost painfully.

"I feel so bad, I'm really sorry. I should have been watching where I was going...How can I make it up to you?"

[bjorn]

Bjorn was about to reassure the young man that he was not injured. As he began to talk, he felt the hands of the other boy gently caress him. It was the single best moment in his life, the touches, even though short, seemed to last ages. Regaining composure, he began to study the other boy's features, his thin frame, silky hair, and blue eyes that were like two little oceans in his head.

He was all of a suddenly reminded of his favorite song, he felt like almost slipping into a daydream, but was brought back to Iceland by a soft shaking. "I feel so bad, I'm really sorry. I should have been watching where I was going...How can I make it up to you?", the other boy said. He began to work up a scheme in his head, and fast. "WOuld you walk me home? I've heard rumours from the news of strange large cats in the area." all rubbish he knew, the American on the news had nothing to do but make up stories. "I've become quite fearfull, and would feel alot safe.....and if you would like, you could stay at my house. My family is in town, and my mother is cooking traditional Icelandic food. "

Feeling almost bad for this cheap ploy to get to know the blue eyed, venus as a boy, he pushed the thoughts out of his head. Besides, he heard rumours from his friends about this young man, he lived alone, and had no company. He hadn't lived here for long, comming from....America? he belived. "Well, if they are true, he certainly has nothing to loose by spending time with me" he thought to himself, and waited for the other boys response.

[Pepper]

Pepper tried to stop the huge grin, he really did, but it slipped out. The chance to walk this utterly adorable guy home was to good to resist!

"Sure! That'd be awesome, Emerald Eyes. As long as I'm not imposing... I'm Pepper by the way, Pepper Reese. I just moved here from America, so you'll have to forgive me for not knowing your name...?"

He flushed in embarrassment when he realised what he had called the other boy, and tried to hide it by scratching his nose and looking away.

Pepper scrambled to his feet, tongue sticking out in concentration and held out a hand to his new acquaintance. Truthfully it was just so he could feel the others' hand in his own, and maybe stumble backwards slightly and pull him to Pepper's chest...

[bjorn]

Bjorn smiled at his name, "Pepper" he mused to himself. He had noticed him being called "Emerald Eyes", he would use that as a way to be playfull later.

Noticing the sheer glee on Peppers face as he agreed to his suggestion, he took the hand that was helping him up. "My Name's Bjorn Sigurosson, but please call me Bjorn, it's not common for Icelanders to go by their last name."

He thought Pepper an enigmatic, but then, he always thought that of people he didn't know well. He wouldn't to get to know Pepper, his life, his secrets, his hopes, and his fears. To think someone he knew so shortly could have such an effect on him, was mind blowing! There was somthing there, underneath it all, and he was determined to get to the bottom of it.

"My house is a bit of a long walk, do you mind? And should you like to stop at your place, that would be fine" he was glad the walk was long, it might hold a chance from him to uncover, all that was unknown.

[Pepper]

Pepper held Bjorn's hand for a bit longer than he was probably supposed to, but was to busy marvelling at the name and softness of the palm. When he realised the lengthy space of time he had zoned out, he gently released Bjorn and smiled happily at him.

He considered the intelligence of dropping at his house to dump his bag and collect some clothes, seeing as how everything was covered in sheets of printed paper for his creative writing assignment. Then again, it would give him a chance to make sure his 'baby'/motorbike was in shelter, just in case it rained.

"Would it be alright if we could head over to mine to put some of my stuff away? I just want to dump my school bag, if thats okay. I don't mind walking the distance."

The temptation to have Bjorn alone in his apartment was far to great to pass up, and he could probably shuffle most of the papers into a pile as they walked in.

"Bjorn." He couldn't resist rolling the name around on his tongue, "sorry, just wanted to try it out."

[bjorn]

He got bubbly every time Pepper said his name. The sheer blisses of being alone in his apartment spoke volumes. Allthough as much as he wanted to, he wasn't that kind of boy. He had a plan, fall in love, stay in love, then do it. He was going to stick to that plan at all costs. Of ocurse, nothing wrong with a bit of touches, kisses, and hugs from now till then, right? He didn't think so.

The walk was nice, allthough a bit awkward, much of it filled with silence, both of them scared to speak. Bjorn decided it was he who should break the silence, and he found the perfect exscuse.

"See that cemetary over there", he motioned to the left, "my father is buried there. He passed 6 years ago, when I was 10. I figured I would tell you before you wondered where he was tonight." a silent tear fell down his cheek, remembering all the holiday memories with his Mother, Father and his Brothers.

He didn't want to turn the mood somber, but he truly wanted to sure his life with Pepper, his enigma, with eyes like blue oceans.

[Pepper]

At the sound of Bjorn speaking, Pepper was delighted, until it hit what the other boy had said.

He stopped, biting his lip in apprehension, wondering if he should do what he was about to. He gave into the overpowering feeling that hurt as though he was the one reliving the life and death of this mystery man.

Pepper closed his eyes and pulled Bjorn into his arms, holding onto him like a lifeline. The other fit perfectly in his arms, pressed against his chest and snuggled in his arms, he didn't want to let go.

"Ah, Emerald Eyes, you've done it now I'm afraid."

He pushed Bjorn at an arms length and smiled softly.

"My name is Pepper Lucas Reese, I am 17 years old. My father Zharque, passed away exactly one year from today, leaving my papa, Michael and I alone. I own a motorbike which I can't drive and my favourite colour is green, just like your eyes. I moved out of my papa's house just yesterday and I broke up with my boyfriend of two days this morning. And for some reason I can't comprehend, you make me feel so insanely...warm, that none of this seems to matter."

Pepper took a deep breath, wrenching his eyes away from the stunning emerald and biting his lip nervously.

[bjorn]

Bjorn thought as though the world stood still when Pepper grabbed him, and pulled him into his embrace. They fit perfectly together, for some odd reason everything in him screamed for Pepper to go anywhere, and he would follow.

"Wow, I had no idea you lost your Father too! I know I don't know him, but to raise such a fantastic son, he must have been a fantastic guy".

Bjorn didn't know what else to say, with Pepper turned away from him. When all else failed, he just did what he knew to do.

"I'm Bjorn Sigurosson, I don't have a middle name. I'm 16 years old, i'm way to feminine for my own good. I can knit like a nut, and I do it often. I've knitted several different things, and if you would like, I want to knit somthing for you. My mother is a barmaide and a bus driver, I have three brothers. And i'm feeling very warm with you, too."

He gave him this little peice of his life too, share for share. He was going on in his blisses when suddenly it hit him.

"Wait, you have two fathers? Oh, you must have been adopted, that's so nice! It's good that your fathers were able to be in love long enough to make that decsion. How did you deal with that, knowing you were different from the other kids?"

He hoped he hadn't asked to many personal questions. He figured he would use his play fullness now. He grabbed Pepper, turned him around, kissed his cheek, and whisperd in his ear....."My eyes are Olive green, not Emerald green".

[Pepper]

Pepper stared in complete shock at Bjorn for about thirty seconds, before clutching his shoulders and doubling over in laughter.

After he had sobered up, eyes glittering with tears of laughter he mock-bowed and grinned mischieviously at the other. "My apologies sir, but how could I possibly relate your eyes to anything less than a precious gem when they sparkle like that?"

He grabbed Bjorn's hand and pulled him to his front door, muttering distractedly as he fiddled with his keys, "I don't have any problems with being different from the other kids, I do get a lot of remarks about the sin and vulgarity of my fathers' relationship, even more so now that he's living with yet another man. But I learnt to deal with such things a long time ago."

Finally working the door open, Pepper pulled them both through, kicking it shut behind him and toeing his shoes off.

"Feel free to help yourself to a drink or something to eat while I go get changed, sorry about the mess..."

He grinned again before heading towards the bedroom, leaving Bjorn in the lounge room. When he reached his bedroom, he slammed his back against the wall and took large gulping breaths, hand raising automatically to the cheek that had not long ago been kissed.

The surge of power and unadulterated...lust that had run through him when Bjorn had kissed him was almost painful, and his heart was beating itself against his chest so loudly he thought it would burst.

[bjorn]

Bjorn was glad that his playfullness was recived well! As he was pulled into Pepper's apartment he noticed three things, the sheer hugeness of it, the fact that there were papers everywhere and the fact that there had to be over ten cats in the place.

"Oh, you have beautifull cats! I hope you don't mind, but we'll stay up really late tonight. It's not Icelandic tradition just family tradition, we always do when holidays begin and my brothers come into he town." he informed Pepper.

Being near Pepper was sheer and utter euphoria! We imaganed ghosting his lips on Peppers, not touching, just close enough to be dangerous. Every part of him screamed "THIS IS SEX WITHOUT TOUCHING" he was about to explode. This whole scenerio suggested exciting sex, but he knew this wasn't the time.

"Hey Pepper, it's snowing! It snows all the time in Iceland, but I get so excited when it happens!" he hoped his childish side didn't scare Pepper. He was begining to fall for him, no doubt about that and he didn't want to scare him off. Besides he still had to meet his Mother and Brothers and he still hadn't explained the course of the nights meals.......

[Pepper]

Pepper laughed at Bjorn's eager comments, snagging some clothing off the floor and stuffing it in his now empty schoolbag whilst attempting to pull on a black shirt.

He stumbled out of his bedroom, tripping over Arkie, one of the cats, on his way. He dropped the bag and pulled the shirt over his head correctly before grinning at Bjorn cheerfully.

"Yeah, my dad is pretty much the crazy cat lady, but his boyfriend is allergic so I took them with me."

Pepper stepped over Arkie and several papers to reach Bjorn by the window. He wrinkled his nose at the falling snow, imagining easily the soaking wet cold, and the fact Bjorn was only wearing his uniform and would probably freeze to death.

"Yeesh, let me get you a jacket, theres no way we're going out in that without you wearing something warmer."

Pepper grabbed a jacket from the hallstand and kissed a ginger kitten on the head before tugging Bjorn out the door again by his hand, his other hand occupied with locking his apartemtn up.

"Alright, lead the way Bjorn! I'd take the motorbike, but we'd probably get caught and I'm still learning."

[bjorn]

He tried to protest, but Pepper insisted on him wearing a jacket. It was nice though, very warm. The walk to his house was very pleasent, light snow falling over the farming feilds, little kids on their way to the sledding hill. It was like somthing out of a movie, he felt very nostalgic.

The air was icy, the mood was so charged that before he knew it, he was slipping his hand in Pepper's. They still had a bit of a way to go, so Bjorn began to point out all of the spots in his childhood memories.

"I broke my ankle on that skating pond when I was 5. Oh and over at that tree, I feel out of it and broke my other ankle when I was 7." he told Pepper, he wondered how Pepper felt, ZBjorn remenicing the way he was. After a few more fun facts, Bjorn stopped and Pulled Pepper close to him.

"See the little lane down there, my father tought me how to ride my bike there, when I was 10.....it was the last time we spent together before he got sick." a lone tear fell down Bjorn's cheek, as he smiled sadly at Pepper. As they continued walking Bjorn asked Pepper a question, and he hoped it would be recived well.

"What was your father, Zharque, like? I hope you don't mind my asking.....I was just really curious....." he trailed off, and waited for Pepper to respond.

[Pepper]

Pepper smiled down at Bjorn, heart racing with the feeling of the other's hand slipping into his own. He liked hearing about the younger, it relieved him to know that Bjorn could say something about himself without being awfully awkward around a guy he'd just met.

"Ah, Zharque. My father was very...strange, I guess. He was stern, and very proper, where Michael is very laid-back and cheerful. They both worried about me a lot, always asked me whether anything strange had happened recently. There was always cat fur on their bed, even though we didn't own a cat, for which I have no explaination for."

He smiled again, gazing off and imagining how his father would have reacted to Bjorn. He tightened his grip on his hand, and pulled him closer, revelling in the warmth and affection the boy seemed to give out.

"You'd probably like my dad, Michael. You guys would most likely spend the entire time embaressing me hopelessly."

A flake of snow landed precariously on his nose, and he stopped, eyes crossed in an attempt to see it. Pepper pouted and looked at Bjorn, no doubt looking ridiculous, with a childish pout on his lips and snowflake on his nose.