1.4 - The Morning After

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This time, it was Cali to wake up first, fairly early in the morning. He stirred feeling much better than he thought he would after consuming so much alcohol. He once again thanked the Elder God for ensuring he was always wake up able to work.

Opening his eyes, he quickly realised that he had ended up in Jim's bed again and smiled, looking over to see his still sleeping companion. Looking over what showed of him under the light grey covers, Cali's face felt warm as he spotted many purple bruised that had formed on his neck, collarbone and shoulders and wondered if he had matching blue ones anywhere on him. Biting his lip, he smiled contently through his embarrassment at the sight of Jim sleeping peacefully.

After a few minutes, Jim began to stir. Remembering what he was like the last time Jim had woken up to Cali in his bed, he pretended to sleep, hoping to make it less awkward. He knew that Jim had asked him for drinks but the anxiety of whether or not he actually wanted it to go in this direction still caused Cali to close his eyes.

As he woke up, Jim quickly became acutely aware of three things. One, his head was killing him, he'd obviously overdone it on the drinks again. Two, there was someone else in the bed with him. Three, he knew that that someone was Cali, who he'd been out with and could actually remember sharing the bed with the night before.

Opening his eyes and looking over, he couldn't help but smile as he was greeted with the sight of an angel in his bed again. Jim could see a dark blue love bite on Cali's lower neck and realised he very likely had several as well if Cali's extreme biting last night were anything to go by.

Luckily for Cali, his one looked low enough that it would be completely covered by his uniform collar.

Unluckily for Jim, he was not confident that he could say the same.

He also noted that Cali's hair was messier than last time and yet somehow still elegantly laid out on the pillow, only one lock out of place as it trailed down his cheek and tickled his eyelashes. Lifting his hand up slowly so not to disturb the sleeping angel, he gently brushed the loose strand of darkened silver from his eye and behind his blue tinted ear.

Cali couldn't stop the content smile that forced itself onto his face and decided that he wanted to see Jim's beautiful face again, pretending to stir. Opening his eyes, he was very pleasantly surprised to see his smile matched on Jim's lips rather than the confused look he had feared he would see. "Morning." He smiled in a sleepy but content voice, slightly gruff from the sleep still in his throat making Jim's insides shiver.

"Good morning." Jim quickly replied, equally as content, a satisfied smirk on his lips.

"I half don't want to move but I have classes to prep for." Cali thought aloud causing Jim to smirk even more satisfied.

"We'd better get changed then." Jim replied, though very reluctantly, as he sat up slightly. Cali followed his lead, and both got up fully and began searching for clothes.

Once again, Jim finished quickly after putting on a fresh set of clothes from his wardrobe while Cali had barely found his underwear from the strewn clothes all over the floor. Settling comfortably at the end of the bed, Jim watched in disappointment as each bit of skin was covered as Cali found and replaced his clothes. Cali, of course, noticed his audience but continued casually, though with a slight smirk, as if he couldn't feel Jim's hungry eyes on him.

When he finally had his waistcoat on, he joined Jim sitting on the bed to finish with the last few buttons of his shirt. "I had fun last night." Cali said as he settled his arms behind him and leant back, looking at Jim next to him.

"Same," He replied honestly, actually remembering it all this time, before smirking jokingly, "more than I ever thought I would with a guy."

"Right, not gay." Cali nods with a laugh as Jim lets out a "Nope" while shaking his head with an equally amused smile. "Well, for a guy that's not gay, you're very good at it, love."

"Of course I am." He replied knowingly with a satisfied smirk, not wanting to admit that the words made him feel pleasantly warm.

The two both laugh but are interrupted when there is a knock at the door. "If you're not decent, say now!" Bones called through the closed dorm door.

The sound of his friend's voice at the door of their room made Jim suddenly freeze up. He'd forgotten that he'd likely be getting back early. What was he going to do? He still wasn't sure in himself and sure as hell didn't want Bones finding out. Not yet. Maybe not ever.

Cali noticed Jim freeze and realised what was wrong immediately. Quickly taking over, knowing it would only look worse for him if they didn't answer while obviously able to hear him, he responded in a warm voice, already thinking up excuses in case the roommate was suspicious. "It's safe."

At the unknown voice, Bones entered, and was confused to see a man sat on his friend's bed with him. Turning to his friend, he gave a greeting, "Hi. I thought you had a date?"

At the confession, Cali turned to Jim with a cute smirk while Jim just got more flustered, knowing how this all looked. Quickly trying to think of something while his mind had gone blank, he stuttered out his words, "Yeah... I—"

"My fault!" Cali quickly interrupted, saving Jim from making it worse, "I recently broke up with my partner and we share a dorm. Jim was kind enough to let me sleep over with him tonight while the academy sorts out my request to transfer. I hope you don't mind."

Realisation suddenly covered Bones' face and he smiled kindly, "No, of course, just got confused for a second." Approaching the new man, he held out his hand, "I'm Leonard McCoy, but my friends call me Bones."

"I'm Cali, pleasure to finally meet you." He replied kindly, flashing one of his famous warm smiles he'd perfected and shaking the offered hand, "I've heard quite a bit about you."

"Really?" He asked, looking over at Jim with a scandalous look.

Seeing the look, Cali laughed. "All good things, I promise." He assured before looking to the clock and standing up, "Anyway, I'll leave you boys be, I've got a class I need to prepare for." Looking down at Jim, who had relaxed significantly and was giving Cali a thankful smile, "Thanks for looking after me last night, see you soon?"

Jim cleared his throat and smirked casually, having picked up on the insinuation, "No worries, feel free to come to me if you need help again."

"Will do." Cali nodded, making his way to the still open door before giving one last goodbye to the two men and going on his way.

After the door closed, Bones looked back over at Jim casually asking how he knew the man, never having seen them hanging out before. Jim quickly thinks and answered with a half-truth, "We met in the little library a while ago and kinda just got talking. He's an interesting guy." Bones shrugged, thankful that Jim had made some more friends, and got on with gathering his stuff for his classes later in the day. Jim was very thankful that he didn't push on the topic more, not sure if he'd be able to keep himself together while talking about Cali.

As he went to get ready as well, Jim couldn't help but let his mind wander back to Cali and last night. He really hadn't expected it to necessarily go in the direction it had but at the same time, he couldn't deny now that he didn't not want it to have done. Especially since he remembered it.

Despite his hangover, which seemed very dulled in his happy buzz, he hadn't blacked out. There was no denying now that he liked the silvery man. But what did that mean for him? He still only liked women. But then there was Cali. He couldn't look at any other men and think they were attractive but there was no denying Cali's beauty. He knew for certain he'd never thought of having sex with men but at the same time, he couldn't deny that he was the one that had initiated it with Cali, likely both times. It made his head hurt trying to think on it all.

Jim decided he shouldn't bother thinking too much on it for now. He may like women, but he also liked Cali. Whether Cali was the exception or the start of something new, he didn't know but he did know one thing for certain. He could be as straight as he wanted but that wouldn't stop him from being very gay for the silver-haired-angel.

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I'm not gonna make Jim label his sexuality cause there isn't a need to. You shouldn't focus on trying to label yourself and just be happy in who you are.