promise.
Title: Promise
Pairing: Sergio Ramos / Fernando Torres.
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Imagination - it's a beautiful thing, no?
Feedback > life. If you feel the need to give constructive criticism, please do.
Fernando's suitcase was open on the bed as the television at the end of the room blared a loud story about Liverpool's last Champions League match. He dragged off his shoes and socks, watching Sergio's eyes fixated on the screen, his own smile stretched across it as Sergio smiled absently back.
Pulling his shirt over his head, Fernando's heart jumped a little as he saw Sergio's smile slowly disappear with the end of the highlights, the match footage replaced by an interview with the Liverpool captain. Fernando bit his lip as Sergio continued to watch, his lover never showing signs of discomfort or dislike, but the stiffness in his shoulders nonetheless washing a fresh wave of guilt over Fernando.
"Did I remember to pack my towel?" he called from the doorway of the bathroom.
He saw Sergio drag his eyes off the television, his fingers reaching into the suitcase to rummage through the clothes which were still compressed into the square shape of the box enclosing them.
"Doesn't look like it." Sergio looked up, smiling again as Fernando bent over to take off his pants and underwear. "Don't worry - I've got one for you."
Steven Gerrard's voice penetrated the silence while the goals were replayed again, Sergio's soft shuffling feet across the carpet not enough to drown it out as he reached up into a high cupboard to pull out a fluffy towel. Fernando caught it swiftly as Sergio threw it over.
"I didn't hug him or anything this time." Fernando said, nodding up towards the television screen.
Sergio turned around to glance briefly at the screen, before looking back at Fernando - bashfully, somehow. "I know. I know you didn't."
Sergio's eyes remained on Fernando's for a few instants too long before Fernando dropped the prolonged gaze to turn and start up the shower. As the water began to pound down, he headed back out for his suitcase and pulled out his toiletries. Sergio was still standing by the cupboard, looking at him, smiling, yet his eyes as troubled as they always were when reminders of distance - suitcases, and Liverpool - were thrown in his way.
Fernando bit his lip for a second before straightening up briskly and making his way over to the television to turn it off. Sergio's eyes fluttered in embarrassed blinks as Fernando raised his eyebrows, with concern rather than frustration.
"It's just hard," Sergio said apologetically, his gaze automatically drifting back towards the blackened television. "You know, to see you over there. Playing, and laughing, and having fun over there." He sighed, as he looked up at Fernando again. "Instead of here."
Fernando barely exhaled as he turned back to his suitcase and picked up his soap and shampoo, his thoughts coming easier in the renewed peace of the room. He could hear Sergio's soft breaths from a metre away, he could feel his desperation ringing through the air that separated them.
Lifting a hand to rub his neck, Fernando tilted his head as he looked at his lover.
"I want you to come in the shower with me."
Sergio stared for a second before blushing deeper and releasing a breathy, awkward laugh, his eyes travelling the length of the floor. "Don't be silly," he said softly and uneasily. "I've already showered and -"
"I want you to come in with me," Fernando repeated, stepping closer to Sergio.
Their faces were but inches apart as Fernando tossed one bottle to join the other in his left hand, and softly wrapped his right around Sergio's fingers. Gazing at him imploringly, Fernando waited.
Sergio sighed. "You - you look at me with those eyes, and I just can't - it's - it's -"
"It's wonderful, isn't it?" Fernando's mouth spread in a long, triumphant smile, as he let go of Sergio's hand to tug at his shirt and lift it up.
Sergio's chest heaved as he reluctantly obeyed Fernando's appealing fingers and dragged his shirt over his head. "It's not fair," he mumbled, defeated, the lingering argument of his words not lost on Fernando, who merely smiled and shushed the childish echo of his lover's words, helping him undress before pulling him into the awaiting heat of the shower. "That's what it is. Not fair."
The water fell onto their dry bodies with a hiss, the heat coming in wet waves of shock at first, until their bodies adjusted to the liquid enveloping them. Breathing lightly into the misty air, Fernando smiled softly, Sergio looking weary but unable to help smiling back.
Fernando's fingers remained entwined with Sergio's as they moved their bodies closer, their skin sliding against each other so easily, their sighs of contentment overpowered by the roar of the shower. Fernando moved his hand upwards to cup Sergio's face, and their lips met in a soft, wet kiss as they held each other, close and warm, under the cascading droplets.
Sergio lifted his chin slightly as Fernando turned his head, nuzzling Sergio's neck, both of them closing their eyes and simply savouring each other's touch. Fernando pressed his mouth against his lover's neck, eliciting the faintest gasp of pleasure as his hands moved over the muscular body he knew so well, not touching Sergio where he wanted to be touched, but where he needed to be touched - his cheekbones, the fall of his hips, the curved skin under his ear. All those places which were neglected by everyone's fingers but Fernando's - insistent fingers now threading through hair which was rapidly growing wetter, as a palm rested gently on his back, as lips moved upwards to his jawline, his cheek, his mouth.
Their bodies turning under the water, they devoured each other, not knowing what moisture was their own and what had been created above them. Fernando's torso pushed right up against Sergio's, their hearts racing together in a haphazard rhythm with no rhyme, they kissed each other with the complete and hungry passion that a mere week apart had instilled in them, keeping their sleep light, making them long for such tangible comfort, for lips and hands and embraces.
"I still need you, okay?" Fernando murmured, pulling back and lowering his arms further down Sergio's back, linking his fingers together to hold Sergio with him.
"I know," Sergio replied with the gentlest of smiles kissing his lips.
"I'll need you for - for a long time," Fernando said, more firmly this time, leaning his head closer just a little to bring his lips closer to Sergio's as he whispered his promise.
"I know," Sergio repeated. "I know." He chuckled slightly as he spoke, again turning his head to look away into the fog, rather than at Fernando.
"Why are you laughing?" Fernando asked, self-conscious concern in his voice as he lifted a hand to softly hold Sergio's jaw and turn it back towards him. "What's funny?"
Sergio shook his head, Fernando lowering his hand again. "It's just ridiculous, isn't it?" Sergio asked hopelessly, somehow sad beneath his smiling exterior. "Needing someone so much. I feel like I'm..." He hesitated. "Like I'm going round the bend," he concluded with a vague appeal in his expression.
Fernando came in closer and kissed his man again, feeling Sergio's eyelashes flutter closed against his face as the water continued to fall between them. "So let me go there with you," Fernando said, his words almost as desperate as Sergio's.
Sergio sighed through the vapour as he raised his hand and just gingerly traced a finger along Fernando's lips, Fernando weakening at the touch, that familiar warmth swelling in his chest as his arms wrapped further around Sergio and pulled him yet closer.
"Come back?"
Sergio's whisper was barely audible through the noise of the shower, but Fernando knew the plea well. He lifted an arm to sling it around Sergio's neck; two naked bodies exposed to nothing but the elements, trying for a few minutes to cocoon themselves away.
"I never left," Fernando replied with such softness that Sergio merely frowned slightly and leaned closer into Fernando.
And Fernando held him; cradled him gently under the river of tears that they would never cry, as long as they had each other to cling onto. Running his hand over Sergio's dripping hair and kissing him softly on the temple, he kept him in that loving, comforting embrace as he repeated that promise he'd always kept silent and secret, until this moment when he knew Sergio couldn't hear it. "I never left you."
Pairing: Sergio Ramos / Fernando Torres.
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Imagination - it's a beautiful thing, no?
Feedback > life. If you feel the need to give constructive criticism, please do.
Fernando's suitcase was open on the bed as the television at the end of the room blared a loud story about Liverpool's last Champions League match. He dragged off his shoes and socks, watching Sergio's eyes fixated on the screen, his own smile stretched across it as Sergio smiled absently back.
Pulling his shirt over his head, Fernando's heart jumped a little as he saw Sergio's smile slowly disappear with the end of the highlights, the match footage replaced by an interview with the Liverpool captain. Fernando bit his lip as Sergio continued to watch, his lover never showing signs of discomfort or dislike, but the stiffness in his shoulders nonetheless washing a fresh wave of guilt over Fernando.
"Did I remember to pack my towel?" he called from the doorway of the bathroom.
He saw Sergio drag his eyes off the television, his fingers reaching into the suitcase to rummage through the clothes which were still compressed into the square shape of the box enclosing them.
"Doesn't look like it." Sergio looked up, smiling again as Fernando bent over to take off his pants and underwear. "Don't worry - I've got one for you."
Steven Gerrard's voice penetrated the silence while the goals were replayed again, Sergio's soft shuffling feet across the carpet not enough to drown it out as he reached up into a high cupboard to pull out a fluffy towel. Fernando caught it swiftly as Sergio threw it over.
"I didn't hug him or anything this time." Fernando said, nodding up towards the television screen.
Sergio turned around to glance briefly at the screen, before looking back at Fernando - bashfully, somehow. "I know. I know you didn't."
Sergio's eyes remained on Fernando's for a few instants too long before Fernando dropped the prolonged gaze to turn and start up the shower. As the water began to pound down, he headed back out for his suitcase and pulled out his toiletries. Sergio was still standing by the cupboard, looking at him, smiling, yet his eyes as troubled as they always were when reminders of distance - suitcases, and Liverpool - were thrown in his way.
Fernando bit his lip for a second before straightening up briskly and making his way over to the television to turn it off. Sergio's eyes fluttered in embarrassed blinks as Fernando raised his eyebrows, with concern rather than frustration.
"It's just hard," Sergio said apologetically, his gaze automatically drifting back towards the blackened television. "You know, to see you over there. Playing, and laughing, and having fun over there." He sighed, as he looked up at Fernando again. "Instead of here."
Fernando barely exhaled as he turned back to his suitcase and picked up his soap and shampoo, his thoughts coming easier in the renewed peace of the room. He could hear Sergio's soft breaths from a metre away, he could feel his desperation ringing through the air that separated them.
Lifting a hand to rub his neck, Fernando tilted his head as he looked at his lover.
"I want you to come in the shower with me."
Sergio stared for a second before blushing deeper and releasing a breathy, awkward laugh, his eyes travelling the length of the floor. "Don't be silly," he said softly and uneasily. "I've already showered and -"
"I want you to come in with me," Fernando repeated, stepping closer to Sergio.
Their faces were but inches apart as Fernando tossed one bottle to join the other in his left hand, and softly wrapped his right around Sergio's fingers. Gazing at him imploringly, Fernando waited.
Sergio sighed. "You - you look at me with those eyes, and I just can't - it's - it's -"
"It's wonderful, isn't it?" Fernando's mouth spread in a long, triumphant smile, as he let go of Sergio's hand to tug at his shirt and lift it up.
Sergio's chest heaved as he reluctantly obeyed Fernando's appealing fingers and dragged his shirt over his head. "It's not fair," he mumbled, defeated, the lingering argument of his words not lost on Fernando, who merely smiled and shushed the childish echo of his lover's words, helping him undress before pulling him into the awaiting heat of the shower. "That's what it is. Not fair."
The water fell onto their dry bodies with a hiss, the heat coming in wet waves of shock at first, until their bodies adjusted to the liquid enveloping them. Breathing lightly into the misty air, Fernando smiled softly, Sergio looking weary but unable to help smiling back.
Fernando's fingers remained entwined with Sergio's as they moved their bodies closer, their skin sliding against each other so easily, their sighs of contentment overpowered by the roar of the shower. Fernando moved his hand upwards to cup Sergio's face, and their lips met in a soft, wet kiss as they held each other, close and warm, under the cascading droplets.
Sergio lifted his chin slightly as Fernando turned his head, nuzzling Sergio's neck, both of them closing their eyes and simply savouring each other's touch. Fernando pressed his mouth against his lover's neck, eliciting the faintest gasp of pleasure as his hands moved over the muscular body he knew so well, not touching Sergio where he wanted to be touched, but where he needed to be touched - his cheekbones, the fall of his hips, the curved skin under his ear. All those places which were neglected by everyone's fingers but Fernando's - insistent fingers now threading through hair which was rapidly growing wetter, as a palm rested gently on his back, as lips moved upwards to his jawline, his cheek, his mouth.
Their bodies turning under the water, they devoured each other, not knowing what moisture was their own and what had been created above them. Fernando's torso pushed right up against Sergio's, their hearts racing together in a haphazard rhythm with no rhyme, they kissed each other with the complete and hungry passion that a mere week apart had instilled in them, keeping their sleep light, making them long for such tangible comfort, for lips and hands and embraces.
"I still need you, okay?" Fernando murmured, pulling back and lowering his arms further down Sergio's back, linking his fingers together to hold Sergio with him.
"I know," Sergio replied with the gentlest of smiles kissing his lips.
"I'll need you for - for a long time," Fernando said, more firmly this time, leaning his head closer just a little to bring his lips closer to Sergio's as he whispered his promise.
"I know," Sergio repeated. "I know." He chuckled slightly as he spoke, again turning his head to look away into the fog, rather than at Fernando.
"Why are you laughing?" Fernando asked, self-conscious concern in his voice as he lifted a hand to softly hold Sergio's jaw and turn it back towards him. "What's funny?"
Sergio shook his head, Fernando lowering his hand again. "It's just ridiculous, isn't it?" Sergio asked hopelessly, somehow sad beneath his smiling exterior. "Needing someone so much. I feel like I'm..." He hesitated. "Like I'm going round the bend," he concluded with a vague appeal in his expression.
Fernando came in closer and kissed his man again, feeling Sergio's eyelashes flutter closed against his face as the water continued to fall between them. "So let me go there with you," Fernando said, his words almost as desperate as Sergio's.
Sergio sighed through the vapour as he raised his hand and just gingerly traced a finger along Fernando's lips, Fernando weakening at the touch, that familiar warmth swelling in his chest as his arms wrapped further around Sergio and pulled him yet closer.
"Come back?"
Sergio's whisper was barely audible through the noise of the shower, but Fernando knew the plea well. He lifted an arm to sling it around Sergio's neck; two naked bodies exposed to nothing but the elements, trying for a few minutes to cocoon themselves away.
"I never left," Fernando replied with such softness that Sergio merely frowned slightly and leaned closer into Fernando.
And Fernando held him; cradled him gently under the river of tears that they would never cry, as long as they had each other to cling onto. Running his hand over Sergio's dripping hair and kissing him softly on the temple, he kept him in that loving, comforting embrace as he repeated that promise he'd always kept silent and secret, until this moment when he knew Sergio couldn't hear it. "I never left you."