From the Very Beginning (Ming)

[BASTIAN RAY HAWTHORNE]

It was a cloudy day in October. The fall air was settling over Maple Hallow. The leaves turning brown and beginning to fall. Bastian wouldn't have minded so much if it weren't for the fact of how dark the sky looked. The forecast said there would be rain by the evening time with the chance of it becoming a heavy storm. This worried Bastian a bit. His family had to go out of town for the weekend and the only reason he was staying was because he had a project he needed to finish. Well, it was more the fact that it was a partnered project if not he could have just finished it while with his family. He couldn't do anything about it now, it was more the idea he would be alone in the house. He didn't mind being alone, he lived on the streets for so long on his own that it wasn't a big deal really it was just the idea of being alone if there was a storm. He'd have to deal with it when the time came if necessary.

Bastian got the living room set up for him and his partner to work on. It still kind of surprised that he happened to get partnered up with someone that although he's only known a little over a month he found himself growing rather attracted to other boy. At first Bastian just thought it was because they had similar interests in art but it's become a bit more than that. Bastian hadn't ever felt this way before so he really didn't know what to think. He put his feelings aside for now and finished setting up. He'd order pizza for lunch since he wasn't sure if Ming would have eaten before coming. He hoped he didn't have trouble finding the place. The Hawthorne residence resided in the upper side of Maple Hallow but it was still a bit smaller compared to some of the other houses. Checking the time he saw that it was the time that Ming should be getting there and as if on cue the doorbell rang. He we go. Bastian walked to the toward and opened it up, seeing Ming standing there. His usual smile appeared on his face. "Hi."

[MING HUA TSE]

OUTFIT

Ming could always feel a storm coming. It was a feel that went deep into his bones, causing him to spark from time to time if you will. He huffed a little bit as he walked and the dark clouds because to move faster along the sky. Storms didn’t bother him at all, he could tune them out whenever he wanted to really. Perhaps being a thunder kid during a storm was a total advantage? As he continued to walk on, Ming felt the cold drops of rain start to land on him. “Shit…” He began to run at this point. Heading all the way to Bastian’s place to work on a project for school. Ming assumed the boy lived in the dorms as he did, but then again a lot of kids lived with their families.

Ming made it all the way to the boy’s home and pushed the door ball, keeping himself under the over hanging so he wouldn’t get wet. He hummed softly and couldn’t help but smile when he saw the other boy. Over the past month, due to their love of art they actually became good friends. A common ground was easy for Ming to work with, he was able to open up a little bit more and smile twice as much. He was happy to have a friend his age, someone he had so much in common with. “It’s raining, I can feel a storm in my bones.” He didn’t want to come right out and say it but it was possible he might need to crash at Bastions for the night. Ming walked to his house so, walking to his dorm in a storm wasn’t really an option if it got to bad.

He moved an arm around the boy’s thinner and smaller frame to give him a sort of lopsided hug, then came a pat on the head which Ming purposely ran his fingers through the other boy’s hair. “Anyway, thanks for letting me come over. I won’t be much of a bother.” He smirked and removed his shoes at the door before stepping inside. He looked around and nodded slowly, getting a good feel for the house and he turned to look at the boy. “I brought some other things to make us procrastinate.” Another wicked little smirk. “I also brought some noodles, I didn’t know what you wanted to do for lunch and I felt bad with the idea of you paying for it all so.” He shrugged and made his way into the room where they would do their history assignment.

“How are you, Bastian? Feels like it’s been to long.” It had been what? A day at most? Ming already missed seeing the boy bouncing over to him and smiling at him. Bastian was his spoonful of happiness for the day and the thunder boy almost depended on him, but in silence. He didn’t want Bastian to think he was weird or something.

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[BASTIAN RAY HAWTHORNE]

As soon as Bastian had opened the door the sound of water drops reached his ears. Getting things together must have made him oblivious how bad it was getting outside. Bastian felt a small shiver run up his spine at Ming's words about a storm coming. He didn't let the idea show on his face but it did worry him if what Ming came to be true. "Well, if the rain hasn't stopped by the time we're done then you're welcomed to stay here the night. My parents aren't home but they wouldn't mind." When they had set this whole thing up he hadn't exactly counted on there being a storm. Despite that though it wasn't as if he could just let Ming go walking back to the Academy in the rain. Now that he was thinking about it it would have been better if Bastian had just stayed at the Academy for the weekend.

He closed the door behind Ming and turned to face him but was surprised by the thunder hugging him. His shyer side came out for a moment when he couldn't meet Ming's eyes when the thunder ran his hand through his hair. "Y-Y-You could never be a bother." he stumbled out as he led Ming to the living room where they would be working on their project. He looked at the things that Ming had brought and he couldn't help but smile a bit. "Yum. I ordered some pizza as well. At least this way we won't be hungry." he said with a light chuckle and then as if on cue the door bell rang. He excused himself to go get it and there was the pizza delivery guy. Bastian paid and they after shutting the door returned to the living room, placing the pizza on the table. He couldn't help giggle a bit at Ming's words, his smiling shining as it usually does. "And yet it's only been a since class yesterday. I'm sorry about making you come out here. If I had known my parents weren't going to be here or that the weather was going to be like this I would have stayed at school." he said apologetically. He was happy that it had just started to rain when Ming got here instead of during his walk. Bastian would have felt worse.

"Would you like anything to drink? Soda? Water? Juice?"

[MING HUA TSE]

OUTFIT

“Thanks Bastian, I’ll try not to be a burden so much if it does come to that.” He smiled and then smirked, purring a bit. “Or, maybe I will? I’ll dress you up in a cute little maid outfit and you’d work for me.” He teased and then blushed. Actually the thought of Bastian in a maid outfit made his heart beat just a little faster. He shifted and moved to sit down on the couch while the rain began to pick up. His body was reacting to the on coming storm. Like he said before, he could feel the thunder in his bones, but what he was thinking about way to much now was Bastian dressed up. Coughing softly he smiled at the other boy. “Pizza is good, and we have other stuff just in case.” He said.

As Ming was thinking about what he wanted to drink, lighting flicked badly outside and thunder rolled in right after, enough to cause the whole house shake with it. “We might lose power, better get as much done as we can right?” He said and slipped onto the floor to sit down by what they needed to do. He didn’t even consider how Bastian felt during thunderstorms as another roll of thunder came through, shaking the house a little less than before. Ming siged softly and gave the other boy a smirk. “Looks like I’m staying the night, if this keeps up anyway.”

Ming began to jot down some notes from their textbook as well as set up a small picture of what their poster should look like. Should was a very leaning thing though, Bastian had a say in it as well and Ming was always asking him if he liked what he drew for their project. After a while the storm got worse, however Ming’s attention was easily diverted from the storm. He was use to the clashing of thunder and the brightness of the lighting, but he didn’t know how Bastian felt about it. After a moment the low hum of the electricity turning off filled his ears and he sighed. Well crap, hopefully it wouldn’t get to dark.

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[BASTIAN RAY HAWTHORNE]

Bastian chuckled a bit. "I doubt you'd be a burden." His ears started to burn at Ming's next comment. Bastian in a maid outfit? It wasn't so much the idea of the outfit that began to make him slightly blush but the fact that Ming had said the way he did made his heart race. He shied away his gaze as they walked into the living room and got settled. Bastian fetched them some drinks so they could eat and work. They wouldn't go hungry that was for sure which was good. The pizza and whatever Ming brought would definitely keep them satisfied.

The storm was picking up outside and Bastian to do everything in his will power to keep from loosing it in front of Ming. He focused on the task at hand. When Ming would ask him about the ideas he would generally agree with them or give a suggestion that could work with it. It was a partnered project after all so it had be visible that both parties had input in it. A small blush lit up on Bastian's cheeks at what Ming said. "There's more than enough so it's not..." Bastian didn't finish that sentence because another flash of lightning lit up through the curtains followed by the crash of thunder. It surprised Bastian to the point that he nearly jumped. He could hear it getting worse by the minute outside. The lightning caught him off guard and caused him to cut himself on one of the pages of his notebook. It wasn't a big cut but there was a bit of red seeping through.

After a couple more minutes the lights began to dim. Fantastic, not only would have have to deal with a storm but also being in the dark. The dark didn't scare him as much as what was going on outside but it didn't help considering the purpose of Ming coming. "Why don't I get us some more to drink and find us candles? If anything we can always light the fire place if the lights to go out." He said with a smile as he got up to head towards the kitchen. His mother had some candles in there in case of situations like this. He opened the cupboard and started pulling out the candles, placing them on the counter. Then as if nature had set him up to capture him alone a flash of lightning lit up the darken room. It felt as if it was right outside the window and made Bastian jump backwards into the refrigerator, causing his hand to try and grab something for support. His hand crashed into some cups and things. His breathing was quickening as his heart was racing, his eyes filled with fear. His walls that he had been using to stay calm in front of Ming were crumbling as if the lightning had literally hit them in an attempt to destroy them. It wasn't over yet though. The following crash of thunder made Bastian knock down a bowl of fruit. With the mess on the counter and around him the floor he sunk to the ground, hiding his in his knees and covering his ears, shaking at the growing terror outside the house.

[MING HUA TSE]

OUTFIT

“Alright, candles would be cool.” He said with a smile and watched the boy go to get them. After a moment a clutter came from the kitchen and he frowned. Was it because the boy couldn’t see or what happened? Slowly Ming stood and walked into the kitchen. A few things scattered on the ground and Bastian was sitting against the counter, trembling. The boy moved quickly and grabbed the blanket from the couch and returned to the kitchen, slowly he draped the blanket over the wind boy before sitting down beside him. His arms wrapped around Bastian and pulled the boy into his lap, were he held him tightly almost like he was protecting him. “I won’t let anything hurt you, especially the thunder, alright?” He murmured and smiled.

Ming gently took the boys hand to inspect the cut he’d attained a little while ago and without even needing to think about it his lips presses gently to the injury. His heart was racing at this point. In reality he had no idea why he suddenly had the urge to do this, but he just waned to comfort the boy in anyway he could. He kept murmuring how he would keep Bastian safe over and over again. His chest soon felt lighter and without even knowing it, Ming’s hands travelled around the base of the other boy’s back and to his cheek. He cupped his face and pressed their lips together for a soft kiss. “Don’t look so sad, it’s killing me here, Bastian.” He smirked.

He liked the boy so much. It was nice having someone he could spend time with and that person not be a total pain. Over the month they knew each other Ming just grew attached. At one point he thought about seeing him even when it was impossible for them to see each other that day. That’s when Ming knew, how much he needed Bastian and how much he realied on him.

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[BASTIAN RAY HAWTHORNE]

Outfit

This wasn't anything new to Bastian. It happened basically every time. The rain would start and Bastian would get a bit anxious. He'd hear the beginning onslaught of thunder and lightning as it began to grown and he'd get nervous. Then when it came in full force he would retreat inside of himself, curl up, hide under the blankets with a tremble as he felt the vibrations of the storm as if they were trying to break through a door to get him. He'd stay inside his bubble until it was over and it was safe again to come out. For the longest time he'd face it alone. Then he came to Maple Hallow and he found himself not having to face the storm by himself. His parents would take care of him and even at school he would hide in his room and was okay.

Tonight though he felt as if he had retreated to the days of the orphanage, alone, trying to survive the night. He was so lost in trying to hide away from the storm that he was lost to what was going on around him. He didn't feel the movement that was happening. It wasn't until he suddenly felt the blanket being placed around him that he woke up to reality again. He jumped a bit, startled by the feel of the fabricate and looked up at the person who placed there with slight tears in his eyes. Ming, his friend, his crush, remembering that he wasn't alone in the house. The tremble didn't go away as the Bastian watched Ming sit next to him and then felt himself being pulled into the thunder's lap, Ming's arms wrapping around him. He didn't fight it. He let it happened, although surprised he couldn't help himself to nuzzle into Ming's chest as if trying to hide in Ming's embrace. He stilled trembled but began to feel a sense of warm and comfort in Ming's protective embrace as the thunder murmured calming words. Bastian placed a hand on Ming's chest and when another flash of lightning and crash of thunder reached him his hand scrunched Ming's shirt in fear as his eyes shut again.

It was when he felt Ming's touch, his hand being brought to the thunder's lips that his eyes began to open. As fearful as he was he still managed to be very surprised by Ming's action. His heart simply continued to race as felt Ming's hand move from Bastian's back to cupping his cheek. He looked at Ming and melted as his lips met Ming's in soft kiss. He could feel his cheeks burning, silently thanking the darkened room for the cover. This had not been what he had expecting to happen tonight. Far from it. "Ming, you...I...I mean, why..." Bastian's mind was being pulled every which way and couldn't put together a cohesive sentence. "Can you...kiss me again? Just so I know this isn't a dream that I'm going to wake up from alone." his voice had a bit of pleading and fear. He was very vulnerable right now, storms always bringing out the worse in him, leaving him completely open to be hurt and here he was with someone that he had come to adore and he didn't think he would be able to handle it being all in his head. Not now.