Chapter 2: A Stolen Kiss

"Cousin Luna, I think I'm on top of the world!" Luka giggled as he leaned back against the bar counter where Luna was cradling a Virgin Mojito. 

"Oh really? Well, good timing, I think it's the right time to call a cab and get you home" Luna replied, giving Luka a side-eye.

Luka's shirt was open to his belt buckle and while Luna imagined that Luka was trying to come across as sexy, he looked more like a kid flapping around with his sleeves falling past his hands. 

As Luka tried to make the most out of his bargained two hours, he had managed to consume seven dubious beverages offered to him by several keen men however like the social butterfly he is, Luka flitted from person to person, never fully committing to anyone's attention, and getting himself thoroughly wasted in the process.

"One more dance?" Luka pleaded however Luna, being the responsible one of the two, grabbed his cousin by the elbow and pulled him towards the exit. A few guys in the crowd who had been paid for drinks for the pretty blond spotted the pair but Luna was out of there before they could make their move, leaving them behind with the dance beats and the heavy fumes of vape and smoke.

Just as they turned the corner towards the taxi stand, Luka dropped against Luna's body in a dead weight, sinking to the ground as he became increasingly groggy.

Luna groaned in exasperation and hauled his cousin onto his back, flopping the sleepy prince upwards so that he could piggyback him to the taxi stand. Luka's head flopped over Luna's shoulder as his hand swung freely, his eyes fluttering closed as Luna struggled with his cousin's weight. 

"This is why no one goes clubbing with you Luka! Why are you such a sleepy drunk? Do you even remember the address to your new apartment? I have 20 minutes to get back to my dorm…" 

"I'm a Bird.." Luka mumbled in response, drifting off to sleep as Luna trudged slowly towards the taxi stand which was still quite some distance down the street. 

As it was late at night and visibility was low, Luna tried his best to walk along the lit pavement, however before he knew what was happening, his foot collided with a rock and they went tumbling down into the grassy field on the side of the road.

"Ow~! Oh gosh, oh I'm so sorry, Luka. Are you ok?" Luna gasped, scrambling to his feet and rushing over to his cousin. 

Just then a low voice called out from behind them, footsteps ran towards them, getting louder and louder.

Luna looked up just in time to see a pair of sweater-clad arms reach down and pick up Luka like he weighed nothing. Slung over the right shoulder of a stranger, Luka continued to mumble nonsense as he was still fast asleep. The stranger secured Luka with a firm grip on his shins with his left hand and offered his other hand to Luna.

Luna accepted the outstretched hand gladly and was a little shocked at how strong this stranger was as he pulled Luna up to his feet, as well as a little relieved since he had been struggling to carry Luka on his own.

"Umm…thanks I just need to get to the taxi stand, do you think you can help me carry him over there?" Luna asked, feeling embarrassed that he had struggled to do so himself.

"Sure, the stranger replied and placed his right hand on Luka's back, just to keep him from moving to much " I'm Ryan"

"Luna" Luna said " And that lump of wasted space is my cousin Luka"

"Ah, nice to meet both of you. So, where should I dump the body so that I can get your number?" Ryan grinned.

Luna laughed and felt his face flush a little "Over there at the taxi stand if it's not too much trouble. He has a horrible family weekend ahead and I wanna get him home so that he doesn't miss a minute of it!" 

"Alright, sounds like he's been more than a little inconvenience to you this evening, did he drag you away from a good time before coming to the club?" Ryan asked as they walked towards the taxi stand.

"Yeah, my studying! It's finals week and Luka suddenly had the bright idea to go partying instead of letting me study" Luna replied.

Having reached the taxi stand, Ryan eased Luka off his shoulder and lay him down on the bench.

"There you go sleepyhead" Ryan said as he carefully made sure to balance Luka's body in the middle of the bench so that he didn't roll off onto the floor. 

Luna sat down and propped his cousin's head up onto his lap. 

Luka's eyes suddenly fluttered open, looking up to see Luna carefully pulling Luka's body closer to him to keep him in place. Luka smiled, reassured that the person holding him was his cousin, and slurrily said " Lil bird go sleep now…" and fell asleep again.

Having pulled Luka further towards him, Luna had freed up some space on the taxi bench, which Ryan took the opportunity to sit down at. Immediately Luka kicked up his feet, and entirely unwelcomed, placed his feet on Ryan's lap!

"Hey watch where you are putting those feet!" Ryan said, but then laughed as he saw Luka drooling on Luna's lap " Man, your cousin is out cold huh" 

"Yeah, I am so sorry about all of this. Luka can be quite the handful. Even when sober, he's a lot to handle" Luna said sheepishly.

"No problem, it's refreshing to see other gay guys being kind to each other, moreover you guys are related. Most people don't even have that, so this is a blessing, even if he is a handful" Ryan replied.

Luna sighed " Yeah well, he is the only supportive person in my family. I got kicked out and cut off by the rest of them. Sometimes I think Luka is overcompensating for them because of how everyone treats me, so really, Luka is technical all the family I have left that still talks to me"

"That's the rough man. Where do you stay now? Do you need like help or something?" Ryan asked, concerned.

"No no, I'm going to university, so I have my dorm room, and this person who helps me with my tuition fees. I'm good, no worries" Luna replied reassuringly.

As Luna and Ryan spoke, a few taxis started coming by. It was close to 12:30 am, around the time most people started stumbling out of the clubs, so taxis that do late-night rides started showing up to get customers for the evening.

A taxi turned into the taxi stop area and started to pull up to the boys.

Ryan stood up first and scooped up Luka's limp body in bridal style, as the taxi drew to a stop.

"Seriously thank you so much for helping us out like this" Luna said as he stood up and rushed over to open the taxi door.

Ryan carefully stooped low and eased Luak's body into the backseat of the cab.

"Are we home yet?" Luka mumbled in his sleep.

"No, not yet love" Ryan replied as he strapped Luka's seatbelt into the holster before backing out of the cab. 

"Thank you so much for helping me out tonight, I appreciate it," Luna said again as Ryan straightened up and smiled at Luna.

"I'm glad you feel that way" Ryan replied "Because I hope you will forgive me for this…"

"For what-" Luna asked but was cut off as he felt a firm grip on his right forearm before being drawn firmly against Ryan's taller, lean frame. 

With the other hand, Ryan caressed Luna's face gently and then leaned in for the gentlest of kisses.

Luna, lost in the most dazzling green eyes, and then rivers of long blond hair that curled around Ryan's face, did not know how to respond. He felt his heart pounding in his chest and he knew he should push away, he should resist, but the butterflies in his stomach and the rush of blood to other parts of his body made him want to stay, in that moment, and may…see where this would go?

Ryan pressed his lips against Luna's deeply, the aggressive hold on Luna's body was a sharp contrast to the gentleness of the kiss. Luna started to move his hands to touch Ryan's waist, sinking and loosing himself in the feeling of Ryan's warm body against his chest. 

However, just as quickly as Ryan drew him in, Ryan released him. With a sheepish smile, Ryan stepped back from him and waved " Have a safe trip home" and turned away to walk off. 

Luna stood there in shock, watching Ryan's willowy figure retreat down the street towards the town areas, and all Luna could think was how long Ryan's hair was. He had it tied up in a ponytail...what if he took that hair tie off, and let all those fair strands fall…"

"Hey, kid, the meter's running! Are you coming or aren't you?" The taxi driver yelled out, slicing through Luna's reverie.

"Omg sorry yeah right ok err yeah let's go" Luna said as he quickly climbed into the cab and shut the door.