Theo waited nervously for what Nike would do. He hoped and prayed that for once, he got it right. He didn't want to damage any relationship that was building between them just because he assumed that the gray-haired man liked him. He had been wrong in the past about some relationships, way before he even met Flynn.

He knew as soon as he acted on his feelings, everything would change. His past relationships would become less controlling of his emotions. He knew he would be able to breathe better without constantly grieving for her. He wanted to move on and keep her in his memories. Nike was right; she would want to see him happy. So he willed Nike to do something, anything.

He noticed the blush and gave a small smirk in response. He loved seeing his cheeks become red, he looked rather cute. The gang leader ran his thumb against the side of his cheek, where the blush began.

Then Nike's free hand on the back of his neck. A jolt of excitement passed through his body before the newbie's lips were on his own. The smirk faded as he kissed him back, leaning into the kiss a little more to deepen it and to make it last a little longer.

Damn, Nike was a good kisser.

Theo's hand on his chin slipped to his hip. He gently cupped the side of Nike's hip with his hand, trying to avoid potentially sore areas from the city journey.

Theo felt like a kid again, kissing a man for the first time. Everything from the crush to the kiss reminded him of high school. He used to go around kissing everyone and flirting with everyone. But Nike's kiss, although it reminded him of that, was different. It was addictive and it was the type of kiss that could never be forgotten. Theo never wanted this moment to fade.

But yet, the two needed oxygen so after a bit of hesitation, he pulled back just enough where their lips weren't touching anymore. However, he didn't change the distance between the two, choosing to stay close. He wasn't ready to lose the warmth that came with being close, not yet.

So the gang leader leaned his forehead against the other's, taking in a few deep breaths that he had lost during the kiss as well as using that method to try to calm the excitement and lust of the kiss, as well as his racing heart.

Not that he was fooling anyone, that is. The emotion was heavily written on his face. It was probably the first time anyone had seen real emotion expressed. For once, the gang leader wasn't trying to hide what he was feeling. He wanted Nike to know exactly what the kiss meant and did to him. He wasn't afraid to let Nike see past the mask.

Theo wanted nothing more than to stay right here, stay close and gaze into Nike's eyes. This moment was perfect and felt so right. All the stress and worry about the Rebels, the gang's reputation, the police...all that faded from his mind. His past seemed to fade with it. All that mattered was here and now, and right now? All he could think of was Nike.

He wanted Nike to know everything he was feelings, everything about him-even his secrets he held. He knew that this crush was simply more than a rebound or finding somebody to hook up with. He wanted more than that.

He was feeling more like wanting to continue kissing the man in the moonlight, yes, but also craving to get close to him. He didn't want to hide anything from him, he wanted to hold his hand, he wanted to spend time with him...he wanted to go on a date with him. The only thing is was that the gang leader was broke. He had barely saved up enough money to work out a deal about hot water and heat. He also wasn't about to steal for a reason that wasn't deemed necessary. That might be the man police thought he was, but that wasn't who he was. So a date would have to wait.

"I think that the one you're interested in has similar feelings for you…”

Theo both smirked and blushed at the statement when Nike finally caught his breath and spoke. The gang leader's hand on the side of his waist gently pulled him closer. He was thrilled to hear that, and thrilled he had taken a chance. At this moment, he couldn't imagine anything but being close to Nike.

"Mhmm, that's great," He whispered, his gaze never once leaving his. Well, it did for a second, to glance down at his lips,"I think I might be interested to, but I'm afraid that I'll need another kiss to be certain."

That was a tease. He had never felt more certain in his life.

His gaze flickered back up, the smirk growing. He pressed his lips against Nike's again. This time the kiss was a bit heavier and rougher. Emotions of excitement, love, and wanting slipped into it as he deepened it more automatically at the feeling of his lips against Nike's. Kissing him...it was like a drug.

Theo wasn't sure what exactly he was expecting out of the kiss, he just wanted to kiss the gray-haired man a thousand and a half times. He never wanted this moment to end.

He felt Nike's body move and frowned into the kiss. He was worried the man was going to pull away but instead, he did the opposite. He climbed onto his lap. The leader was met with a little pain from where is thighs were burned, causing him to grunt into the kiss. But yet, he didn't pull away or tell Nike to stop. He didn't want to. So instead, both his hands slipped to his lower back. He pulledd him into his body and off of the burned area, meeting his rough kisses with the same amount of passion and roughness.

His hands slipped into Nike's sweatshirt, his thumb starting to caress his lower back. The newbie pulled back, leaving Theo breathing heavy and frowning from the absent feeling of his lips on his own. When the man met his gaze, butterflies flew to the pit of his stomach. He had never seen anybody give him a look like that before,well at least one that consisted of the same amount of intensity. But yet, at the same time the gang leader's gaze reflected those same emotions of lust and love.

"Was that enough to convince you? Or do you need something else?”

The butterflies went dancing again, his heart racing in his chest. Then Nike's lips were on the skin of his neck.

"Mhm," He tilted his neck into the strange and nice feeling. A shiver passed through his body, trailing from his spine to his lower back. This was like addiction, fast spreading and never wanting to stop. Never wanting to lose the sensation of Nike's body against his own, the sensation of his lips on his own, the warmth and happiness that spread throughout him. For the first time, Theo felt content and happy.

How could one little walk of fresh air lead into this?

"I wouldn't mind if you wanted to..." The leader blushed as he heard himself say,"...Convince me a little bit longer. I might just need a few more minutes..."

The leader had never opened himself up to anyone. He had never gotten close to anyone again. He had never kissed or experienced being kissed in the way that Nike kissed him. Each kiss left him craving for more. Each touch drew him more into the man.

He had forgotten what it felt like to kiss somebody, to hold somebody, to blush or smile at somebody else. All those emotions, he had tucked away to the point he where he had no longer bothered to express them. Well, up until tonight that is.

Now here he was, asking a man to kiss him more. Not just any man but the newest member of the gang. It was somebody he didn't know very well but one he definitely wanted to know more of. Maybe that's why he enjoyed the kissing and touching...it meant that he didn't have to talk. He didn't have to listen to anyone asking about his family, his hobbies, and his interests. He didn't like talking about himself. Everything about himself screamed broken and unfixable.

"You're a needy man Theo…”

He barely had time to register the tease before the slight roughness of Nike's lips pressed against his neck. Desire and pleasure surges through his body. His head fell back against the tree, tilting to allow Nike more room to explore his neck.

“But I don't mind… I think I can spare you a few minutes.."

A hand went to his hair and another surge of desire. He began running his hands up and down Nike's back, tracing every outline of muscle that he could. Then he felt something that felt so good that all movements ceased and a loud groan came from his lips. He squeezed his eyes shut, taking in the feeling of great pleasure. The gray-haired man had nibbled on his neck.

When he calmed down enough to open his eyes, he was met with the gaze of the other man. His own eyes were dark with lust, craving more and more. Then he kissed him and he kissed back hungrily. He wanted Nike more than anything right now...

But then he also had to be reasonable. He had just started considering Nike as a crush. As an interest. He wasn't ready for more or what asking for even more might entitle. It took great control for him to not drive his tongue down the newbie's throat and rip off his clothing.

Map instead of asking for more, he pulled back from the kiss, one of his hands slipping to guide Nike's chin back, pulling the man away from the kiss. He panted, letting his thumb slip up to other man's lips to trace them. He sighed, studying him briefly. He didn't want to stop. He had to. They had to.

"I-I-" He stuttered, his gaze dropping. He wasn't ready. How could he voice that? Kissing was one thing...the things going through his mind right now was another. Those things scared him. He wasn't ready.

He wasn't ready. He might never be. Kissing was okay...but anything more? That was something he couldn't do. Last time he did it...well it lead to death. Thinking about that brought back the memories of Flynn. He hadn't thought of her during...the kissing but now it's all that he could think about.

If she was alive, what would she have said? If their kid was alive, what would have happened? How could he go off and kiss somebody else? He had been persuaded by Nike that she would have wanted him to be happy but what if...what if that wasn't true? Never before had he invisioned himself with somebody else. He hadn't allowed himself to act on any of those feelings but now? Here he was, kissing somebody he barely knew. What was wrong with him?

What was more surprising was that he didn't regret kissing Nike. Even though he had stopped the kissing before it advanced, he still didn't regret that it happened. Kissing Nike made him happy, he enjoyed every moment of it. He did fear that he would ruin that happiness by pulling away instead of letting Nike continue. But he feared what would have happened if he did let Nike continue more. He didn't want this moment to be diseased by regret.

"Sorry… I got a bit carried away…”

Nike's mumbled tickled against his fingertips. He was saved from explaining himself. The explanation wasn't coming out anyway. He didn't know what to say or how to act. He didn't want Nike to be mad. Hearing the other man say that made him feel better. It brought him relief in a sense. He wasn't mad at him. So he wasn't being a jerk for stopping it before it got too far.

"Maybe one day but not now," The words felt heavy on Theo's tongue. He blushed again, dropping his gaze down to the grass and the shadow of the two of them that the moonlight created. The other man's weight lifted off of him and he frowned at the lost of warmth. He thought that perhaps he was going to leave but he didn't. Instead, he sat next to him. After a moment he felt his soft hair against his neck. He stole a glance and smiled at him.

Theo's arm went around his shoulders, pulling him against his side more. He leaned his own head to rest on the side of Nike's, sighing softly.

"Let's not mention this to Alleya, she’ll never shut up if she finds out."

"Let's not mention this to anyone," Theo whispered back,"It can be our little secret."

He needed time to figure out what this was and what it meant.