Closed An Unavoidable Tradition

[Kasim Safir]

Vaguely, Kas knew he should feel something about tonight, knowing it would be his ever Yule Ball, but he couldn't really muster up the energy to care. Most of his attention tonight already had been spent on trying to act normal around a Connor, a strain that was really starting to grate on Kas the longer the semester went on. He was well and truly ready to spend the Summer surrounded by nothing but Lysander and far too many creatures at the Menagerie to give himself a break. The animals at the Menagerie might have been needier than Connor, but they didn't require nearly as many mental gymnastics.

For now, Kas was taking a break from the general crowd of the main dance floor, content to lurk under a jumble of decorations and watch the rest of the school for the moment and sip his punch. He was pointedly not trying to look for where Connor or Freya had gotten to, distracting himself for the moment with trying to work out what Chloë Thompson was carrying across the hall for a moment instead.

 

[Connor Holland]

This year felt like it was happening impossibly fast. Connor's final Yule Ball had crept up on him, and now here he was, celebrating the end of the year with his schoolmates for the last time. He didn't know where he had hoped to be at this point when he was younger, but somehow it felt like he had failed and succeeded all at once. Sure, he was Head Boy. He had friends... somehow. And he was... well, he had always expected he would be in love by this point in his life, but his situation with Kas felt... messier than such a simple word. He didn't know how to want what he wanted, just that he wanted it, and every day Kas spent close enough to touch but just out his reach hurt more than the last.

Looking around the hall for one of his friends, he spotted Freya busy bothering Poppy and spared the two of them a quick smile before his eyes shifted and fell on Kas, sitting away from the fray. Of course Connor would see him. He didn't even pretend to resist the pull, sliding over to his roommate quickly and elbowing him in greeting. "Thinking of stealing Chloë's date?" He asked, following Kas's eyes and cursing himself mentally a moment later for mentioning dates. This time last year the two of them had been kissing and dancing, and Connor had been pretending desperately that it was all for Eric's eye. And now... Connor felt like he would never know where they stood again.

 

[Kasim Safir]

Kas raised his cup in greeting as Connor joined him, glancing back over to Chloë and snorting with the realization of what she had with her. "Oh definitely. Imagine the conversations one could have with it," he said, trying to let his shoulders relax with Connor settling next to him even as his arm brushed Connor's as he raised his drink back to his lips. Part of him wished he'd never agreed to that stupid joke with Connor, if it meant he couldn't even touch Connor without his heart running off on him with the mere motion. Kas knew it'd been all for show but apparently going through the motions had been enough to trick himself into believing it for too long and now Kas was struggling.

He raised his eyes overhead in a quick moment of supplication, flinching when he spotted a sprig of mistletoe lurking over their heads, eyes flicking back to Connor, Connor's lips, and then back before Kas could stop himself. Couldn't Professor Carter pick Southern seasonally appropriate decor for once. He wouldn't have this problem under a Pohutukawa.

 

[Connor Holland]

Connor chuckled at Kas's comment about the cutout, wondering how Chloë had even wound up with the cutout. He'd have to catch her in the Prefect common room some time to ask her. He kept his eyes on the cutout as he felt Kas' arm move against his, desperately trying not to think about it. Two years ago this proximity would have just been a normal part of their friendship, and he couldn't help regretting how thoroughly everything had changed. Or maybe his feelings for Kas would have changed naturally over time anyway, maybe this had been inevitable. He didn't know, and didn't totally want to think about it.

Feeling Kas move, Connor looked over just in time to see his roommate looking up and follow his gaze. "Oh..." Connor said hesitantly, heart leaping into his throat as he saw the mistletoe hanging right over them. Had Kas been waiting here on purpose?! He looked at the other boy in disbelief, turning the thought over in his mind. If it was on purpose, had Kas been waiting for him, or someone else? He gave an awkward laugh, trying and failing to conceal the turmoil in his mind. "One more for old times?" He asked, trying and entirely failing to carry it casually.

 

[Kasim Safir]

Kas was starting to rethink his personal policy on wearing sunglasses indoors (even ironically) when Connor was able to easily follow his line of sight up the mistletoe above them, clearing his throat at the bugged out look on Connor's face. He tried to forcibly remind himself that nothing had changed since he'd last kissed Connor, they were still just friends who messed around and a little mistletoe wasn't anything to let himself get bent out of shape for. It'd be easier to believe if Connor didn't look like he'd just offered to kiss a grindylow. "Your knack for romance still knows no bounds, huh," he offered with a quirked eyebrow, glad his voice came out as dry and smug as always despite the pit in his stomach. If only he could get his heart to chill out as easily as his expression. "But, who are we to deny tradition," he added wryly, hoping the joking would stop Connor from running off on him as he leant forward to brush his lips against Connor's. As much as Kas could tell this was going to hurt later, he let himself close his eyes for just a moment and enjoy this. "Merry Christmas, Connor."

 

[Connor Holland]

Connor snorted softly at Kas's comment, giving the other boy a pointed look. "You know me, king of romance, I'm so good at romance and dating and managing not to make everyone I date feel terrible." He said pointedly, trying not to let himself become actively miserable at the reminder of his horrendous dating history. It was true though - he could hardly be expected to get things right, even if he was trying. He tried to ignore the disappointment at how unenthusiastic Kas seemed about the idea of kissing him, focusing on the moment itself as Kas leaned in. He kissed back, heart fluttering at the feeling of Kas's lips on his again, and when the other boy pulled away Connor lingered, lips chasing Kas's for a second. He looked at Kas nervously when he realised, surprised that his roommate still had his eyes closed. "...Merry Christmas." He responded quietly, more confused now than ever.