Iii

iii

accidents happen. especially when it's late at night and there's alcohol involved. this isn't an excuse or a stretch of any kind, really - it's quite logical if you think about it. so, following that train of thought, what happened between him and eoin was an accident. a one time thing. until it wasn't. it was a little awkward at first. meeting the irish the next day, facing him after what they'd done. paddy's there with him, too, and the guilt the french feels is overwhelming. augustin barely acknowledges them, sticking to greeting them with a curt nod, choosing instead to focus on the maniac rambles of one david stirling. the guilt, which doesn't leave, turns into something else when he notices eoin's hand on paddy's leg. an attempt at calming him down, surely, as the words he exchanged with stirling grew more vapid. a simple, slow brush of the thumb and augustin is all but whining, suddenly faced with a hunger, a fire he has never felt before. this irrational reaction embarrasses him greatly and he downs the pint in front of him, excusing himself from the group gathering to go work on his thesis. later, when he's in his room, a bunch of nonsensical scribbling now adorning his newest draft, he hears a knock on the door. it's eoin mcgonigal himself, greeting him with a costa cup and a gentle smile. '--figured you could use some coffee if you want to pull an all nighter.' they stare at each other for a moment, idiotically so, in silence. then, somehow, a compromise is reached, and they stumble together into the room, lips locked together in a passionate fashion. augustin doesn't even know where the cup of coffee is dropped, for all he can focus on now is how incredible it all feels: the brushing of their lips, the pressing of their bodies; eoin shivering under his touch.

it doesn't make sense. they're not drunk, it's not the end of a long, tiring night. yet here they are, fervently kissing and seemingly unable to stop. he wraps his arm around the irishman's waist and tugs him closer, basking in his warmth, his receptiveness. eoin responds by moaning against his mouth, weakly, beautifully.

when they fall into bed together, augustin promises nothing serious will happen. it's just kissing.

it's just kissing, isn't it?