Yours To Control

Chapter 6

Soren stood there, Juno had just told him it was really good to see him, It was all over his face. Soren stood in the middle of that restroom with those words hanging between them and didn’t know what to do with them, so he did what he always did.

Nothing.

Juno didn't seem to need a response, he just looked at Soren with those dark eyes and waited patiently like someone who's comfortable with silence and not in a hurry.

Soren was the one who spoke.

"You shouldn't be in here," he said.

"Neither should you," Juno said, "and yet.."

Soren kept quiet.

Juno tilted his head slightly, "I still don't know your name."

"I know."

"It's been days and I still have nothing to call you except hey you." He looked at him for a moment then nodded like he had just made a decision and stuck out his hand.

"Okay hi I'm Juno, I'm going to call you handsome because you won't give me anything else to work with."

Soren looked at the hand, "no."

"No to the handshake or no to the name?"

"Both."

"Too bad," Juno dropped his hand, "handsome it is."

"Whatever happened between us ended that night," Soren said.

"Did it?"

"Yes."

"Then why are you here?"

"I needed to use the restroom."

Juno smiled,"right." He pushed off the sink and took a step closer, Soren didn't move back. "It was a good night though you know that."

"That's not the point," Soren replied.

"What is the point?"

"That it was one night and it stays that way."

Juno looked up at him, "do you mind if I kiss you?"

Soren stared at him, "I just said…"

"I heard you."

"Then…"

"Do you mind," Juno said again, "if I kiss you."

"You're not listening."

"I'm listening and I'm still asking anyway." He looked at him again, "do you mind?"

Soren kept quiet.

So Juno moved closer and kissed him.

He started softly, just his lips against Soren's, giving him the opportunity to pull back and for a moment Soren didn't move nor respond. Juno stayed right there, his hand moving up slowly to rest on Soren's chest.

Then Soren's hand came up, gripped his jaw and everything changed.

He kissed Juno back like the moment of not responding had cost him something and he needed it back deeply and intensively. His thumb pressed against Juno's jaw keeping the angle exactly where he wanted it. Juno made a little sound against his mouth kissing him back just as hard, his fist curled into the front of Soren's shirt and pulled him closer.

Soren walked him back until Juno's back met the cool tile wall kissing him there, one hand still on his jaw and the other placed on the wall beside his head. Juno's free hand came up and gripped the back of his neck and held on. Soren bit his bottom lip lightly and Juno's breath hitched, his grip tightened and Soren did it again just to get that reaction once more.

Juno pulled back just enough to breathe, his chest rising a little faster than before.

His fist was still in Soren's shirt, their faces were close enough that Juno could feel his breath and Soren was looking at him with those grey eyes that were considerably less composed than usual, Juno looked back at him and smiled slowly.

"Hi handsome," Juno said quietly.

Soren moved back.

He straightened his jacket, then his tie, then his jacket again even though it was already straight. Juno watched him do all of that from the wall without moving.

"This can't keep happening," Soren said.

"And yet here we are."

"Go back to your friends."

"In a minute." Juno pushed off the wall and leaned against the sink, "are you this cold with everyone?"

"Yes."

"Everyone?"

"Yes."

"Your colleagues? Your family? Everyone just gets this version?" Juno gestured at him generally.

"I don't see how that concerns you."

"It doesn't," Juno looked at him, "I'm just trying to understand you. You're very confusing for someone with such a straightforward face."

"What does that mean."

"It means you look like someone who has everything figured out but you showed up in this restroom," Juno shrugged. "Anyway, I wouldn't be surprised if you had no sibling because you act like someone who grew up with nobody to bother them."

"I do have a younger brother," Soren said.

Juno was quiet for a bit then he smiled slowly, "sorry?"

Soren repeated himself.

"A younger brother," Juno said.

"That's what I said."

"You said it very fast."

"I said it normally."

"Well...you said that like I offended you."

"You made an inaccurate statement," Soren replied.

"And you corrected me immediately?" Juno laughed, his laughter filled the small restroom, that's the most human thing you've done since I met you."

"I wasn't being defensive, I was just correcting you."

"Does he know you do that?"

"Do what."

"Get defensive on his behalf."

Soren opened his mouth then closed it.

Juno laughed again and didn't even try to stop it.

"Stop," Soren said.

"I genuinely cannot."

"It wasn't funny."

"It's extremely funny," Juno pressed his lips together and failed. "You went from whatever happened between us is over, to I have a younger brother, you did this entirely to yourself."

Soren looked at the ceiling trying to hide a little smile.

Juno picked his phone up from the counter, slipped it in his pocket and looked at Soren one more time, this man who had just kissed him against a wall like that.

"A younger brother," Juno said quietly, "that's the first real thing I know about you handsome."

"Don't call me that."

"Why not."

"It's not appropriate."

"More inappropriate than what just happened in this restroom?"

Soren had no comeback for that and it showed.

Juno moved to the door, pushed it open, stopped and turned back.

"For what it's worth," he said, "I think your brother is lucky. You corrected me too fast for it to be anything else." He smiled, "see you around handsome."

He walked out.

The door shut behind him.

Soren stood in the middle of the restroom then turned to the mirror, straightened his jacket and his shirt where Juno had gripped. He ran cold water over his hands, dried them and walked out into the restaurant. He sat at his table, picked up his water looking at nothing in particular.

Across the tables, Juno dropped into his seat between Yuna and Tae and reached for his drink. Yuna looked at him, he looked back at her. Her eyes moved to his hair, he smoothed it once and she opened her mouth.

"Don't," Juno said.

She closed it but she didn't stop smiling for the rest of lunch. Tae looked between them, opened his mouth too to say something and Juno pointed at him without looking.

"You too," Juno said.

Tae closed his mouth, picked up his fork looking extremely pleased with himself about something he hadn't even said yet. Juno looked at his drink, said nothing but couldn't stop smiling either.