Soulmates // open

"Um…" What did he know. He understood the basics of what Mrs. Baxter taught but applying all the principles and theories to everything else made him want to smash his head through a wall. "I get what everything is, I just… I don't know how they all fit together." His eyebrows were furrowed together in thought as he tried to explain it, completely focused on doing what Jude had asked. It was almost childish.

"So this is going to be like teaching a four-year-old what multiplication is." Jude muttered to himself. He flipped through the textbook until he came across a previous chapter about simpler theories. He slid the book towards Fiori. "Read that. If it doesn't make sense I'll pull up some YouTube videos for you." He grabbed another cookie off the plate. He hadn't eaten dinner. Besides lunch, the cookies were all he'd eaten.

Fiori bristled slightly at the comment, skimming the chapter with an annoyed huff. "I know this. I just don't get how it applies. Like… in this one!" He pointed to one of the example problems with a frown. "Why do you use it here, wouldn't the other one work better?"

Jude groaned and slammed his head against the table. He pulled out his laptop and searching on YouTube. "No, it really wouldn't work better. You can use it but it's not going to give you the correct answer." He clicked on a YouTube video. "Let's start with this one. And we'll go from here." He placed the laptop in front of him. He took Fiori's homework to see what he had gotten done already.

He'd gotten about halfway through, but most of his answers were incorrect. He didn't seem to have a problem using the theory, he just couldn't seem to match the right theory to the right problem. Fiori watched the video with a small frown that deepened as the man explaining droned on and on. All this was doing was making him frustrated. "I know this! I just… I don't know why it applies. Can you explain that part of it to me?"

Jude grabbed his pencil and started erasing everything that was wrong. He grabbed his notebook and flipped through his notes then looked back at his paper. "Just shut up okay? I'm concentrating." He pulled his bottom lip between his teeth as he read over the problems and Fiori's work. He used his notes for references and started scribbling on his homework. "Alright…" Jude started explaining why what the different theories were used for, concentrating on the paper in front of them. "Does that make any sense to you?" He asked finally looking up at him.

Fiori started listening with a dark scowl but by the time Jude was wrapping up, he seemed almost in awe. For this first time this year, he actually understood what he was supposed to be learning. It felt weirdly good, especially because he hadn't cared this much about school until Jude sat him down and actually took the time to explain things. Of course, he might just feel good from being around Jude. He smiled brightly for the first time all year, looking up at Jude with sparkly eyes. He looked fine when he scowled, but when he smiled his whole face lit up and he was absolutely gorgeous. "Yeah! I understand it!!"

Jude stared at him for a moment. His smile had him awestruck. Fiori should definitely smile more often. He looked beautiful. Jude snapped out of it when he realized he was staring too long. He cleared his throat and pushed the homework towards him. "Good. Do your homework then. If you need help I will be munching on cookies and finishing my RomCom."

Fiori was looking at him like he'd hung the moon, all starry-eyed and sappy, and he didn't really realize it until Jude brought up the work. He glued his eyes to the paper, cheeks flushed despite his darker skin, and berated himself for acting like a lovesick idiot. Still, the smile lingered on his face for a few more minutes, disappearing into a determined expression once he started working in earnest.

Jude got up, the chair scraping against the floor. He grabbed the cookies and jumped over the couch. He pressed play on his movie that he was watching. He started eating the cookie again, his eyes glued to the screen. But he couldn't concentrate on the movie that was playing. He just kept thinking about Fiori. He swallowed, his breath a little shaky. Why was he feeling so attracted to Fiori? He rubbed his chest.

"Jude?" Fiori called, looking up from his paper and peering curiously over at the couch. He tore his eyes away after a few minutes to look over the homework one last time. It all seemed right to him, but he knew he'd probably gotten one or two of them wrong. "I think I'm done, will you check it for me?"

Jude jumped slightly, startled. He set the cookies back on the table, his appetite gone. He took a seat down at the table. He grabbed the paper and went over it. He put a star next to the couple things he did wrong. He handed it back to him. "It looks good. Just fix the things that I starred." He refused to look at his face. He needed to calm himself. He felt like a fourteen year old boy just discovering porn.

Fiori nodded and glanced over the list before he looked up to ask a question and realized that Jude wasn't looking at him. Did he do something wrong? Was it the stupid smile earlier? Had it made Jude too uncomfortable? There was a pang in Fiori's heart and he set the paper down with a tight frown. "Hey… I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt you or anything. You can go watch your movie, I won't bother you anymore."

Jude shook his head. He put his notebook and laptop back in his bag. He got up and got some water from the fridge. "No, no, I'm fine. I've watched it at least twenty times before, maybe more." He gulped down the water then placed the glass down in the sink. He pulled his bottom lip back between his teeth and started chewing.

"Oh," Fiori replied lamely, tapping the pencil against the table as he tried to concentrate on the homework. It wasn't working. He was too worried about this thing between him and Jude to do much more than correct a couple simple mistakes. "Um… I'm sorry for that whole mess earlier too. I didn't mean to upset you, I shouldn't have looked at you like that."

Jude looked up at him surprised. He hadn't expected him to say anything, much less apologize. He released his lip after a moment. "What? Like you wanted to kiss me?" He raised an eyebrow and lenaed against the counter, watching him.

Fiori blushed but didn't break eye contact. There was something searching in his eyes, something warm and needy and hopeful. Did Jude feel the same way he did? Did Jude feel the same fluttering in his chest when their eyes met? Or was he about to be rejected by the only person he'd ever really liked? Because that was what this was, right? A crush. "I… yeah." He swallowed nervously, looking down at the table instead of at Jude. "Yeah, I'm sorry about that. You probably think I'm disgusting."

Jude gulped. He looked into his eyes, staring at them. Why was it that everytine he look at Fiori his heart started beating faster? His breath always picked up. Why did his stomach flutter so much? He leaned back against the counter for support. He took a deep breath before speaking. "Come here." He hoped this wasn't going to backfire on him. He didn't think his body could handle anymore beatings.

Fiori looked up at him in surprise, trying to figure out if this was a joke or if this was real. Jude was so sweet. He wouldn't hurt Fiori, right? Wouldn't try to get payback for all the awful things that had been done to him. Fiori's heart beat faster as he walked towards Jude, boxing him in against the counter. It was a strange reflection of what had started this whole mess and Fiori wasn't sure if he even deserved what Jude was about to give him. "I'm sorry," he whispered.

Jude held his breath as Fiori neared him. He tipped his back to look up at him once he was close enough. He pressed himself further against the counter. He took a shaky breath, then anorher one. Hesitantly, he raised a trembling hand and placed it on Fiori's chest, on his heart. Both of their chest started glowing, a faint light at first. He looked up at him, his lips parted. His flickered to Fiori's lips. "Kiss me." He whsipered

Fiori's breath hitched softly and he raised a hand to cup Jude's chin. He ran his thumb idly over his cheek, staring down at Jude with disbelief. He looked beautiful up close, Fiori almost couldn't believe he was real. Then again, he doubted he could dream up someone this perfect. He leaned in slowly, sealing their lips together in a gentle kiss.

Jude's eyes fluttered shut at the sensation of his hand on his cheek. He was completely at the mercy of Fiori. He could do anything he wanted to Jude and wouldn't object. They were so close he could feel his breath. He tipped his head as soon as he felt Fiori's lips on his. He pressed both of his hands to his chest. He tilted his head to the side for better access.

Fiori deepened the kiss slowly, moving closer and closer to Jude until their chests were touching and he was crowding him up against the counter. The hand on Jude's cheek slid to his neck, then his waist, and then Fiori braced both hands under his thighs and picked him up, never once breaking the kiss.

Jude slid his arms around his neck, gripping his hair. He whimpered softly at the deepened kiss. He held on tight to him. As he felt himself being picked up he gasped loudly. He wrapped his legs around Fiori's waist and kissed hin harder. This…this was the most amazing thing he had ever felt. He never wanted to stop.

Fiori walked over to the couch, gently spilling Jude onto the cushions and crawling on top of him with hungry eyes. This kiss was different from the first, all desperation and need. Everything felt like it was going a million miles an hour and it was all he could do to keep up.

Jude let out a yelp as he was suddenly sprawled on the couch. He glared at Fiori but their lips were molded back together before he could insult him. He kissed him as if there was no tomorrow and he needed him right then and there. His hands pushed up Fiori's shirt and his nails scrapped down his back.

Fiori shuddered under his hands, moaning softly, and pushed up Jude's sweater until his stomach was exposed. He ran a hand up over the pale skin, hit by the sudden urge to mark up Jude until it was clear he was Fiori's and Fiori's alone.

He almost laughed at the idea, fingers trailing softly over the bruises he'd left there in the bathroom. Jude wouldn't want that, not when Fiori had spent most of his time in high school painting him black at the blue. This was probably all temporary anyway, a one night deal where Jude was too nice to reject Fiori and find someone who was worthy of him. "Why?"

Jude shivered, feeling his fingers on his skin. It made him want to do very dirty things with him. He gripped his hair tighter, pulling on Fiori's locks. He wanted more. More of everything.

Jude was left gasping for air when Fiori stopped kissing him. He could already feel his lips welling and he was sure they were bruising from thier brutal kissws. He traced a single fonger down his cheek. "Because you can't help who you love can you?" He whispered.

Fiori let out a wavering little breath, leaning into the touch unconsciously. "I hurt you," he murmured in disbelief, running his fingers carefully over the bruises to prove his point. "I'm not good, I don't deserve your love. And you don't deserve to get stuck with me." He gave Jude a pleading look, silently begging him to remember all the reasons why Fiori was bad news. "I don't want to hurt you but if you stay with me it's going to happen."

Jude gripped the sides of his face. He leaned up and bumped their noses together. "You're right, its not okay. But this…" He pressed his hand to Fiori's glowing heart. "This is something worth fighting for. This is something to work through. It's not something that you walk away from." He said firmly.