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Bottles emptied of their liquid were tossed down into the deep hole that was dug for this purpose. The three had been at Jackson's Island for about 4 years now (Tom and Joe now being 16 and Huck 17), and they had managed to call it home. They had the same camp they claimed when they were around 12 and it still somehow looked as it did when they called it here.
Obviously not being able to survive without drinkable water, one of them had to go into town and snatch some for them, and the person who was stuck with that task was Joe. He never wanted to admit it, but Tom and Huck both knew that even though he was committed to this kind of life, Joe still wanted to visit home every once and awhile to secretly see how his family was holding up with his disappearance.
Seeing his family wasn’t the only reason Joe was always the one stuck with going for water. Unless you aged with him, you would have no idea that Joe was the same person he was when he was 12. No one would suspect a thing when he went into town and got water since no one could recognise him. While bringing back water from the well, Joe had managed to steal some alcohol every once and awhile.
After Tom had hit 14, he managed to tower over the others, now having to tilt his head down to talk to Joe, the shortest of them. Unlike Joe, Tom and Huck’s appearances had mostly stayed the same, apart from Tom’s hair getting redder and curlier and Huck’s growing at a puzzling pace, it now reaching his chest.
Now, the only thing that casted light in a starless sky was the raging fire, which glowed a furious red and some blue even shining in the middle. Huck had poured some of his liquor into the wood which made it erupt into a madder fire than they had ever seen before, causing Huck to fall back with a loud, “ Oof! ”, and Tom bursted into laughter. Joe was out on another water trip, since night was the best time to, as he wouldn’t be seen.
Huck turned to his left and wanted to tackle him for his laughter, but the sight begged to differ. Other than the fire, Huck felt warm with Tom’s bright face and smile and the look in his eyes, and the shadows of his face from the flame, the special swoop of his eyes, his long curls that fell from his face and never lost their shape and the colour of them that matched the fire before them. He was just perfect. Once Tom’s laughter had died down his eyes were half lidded from tiredness, yet showed an striving energy he had never yet seen in him or anyone else. The sight had made Huck’s face grow hot and a deep crimson that he prayed would be hidden by the darkness of night that was fading due to the fire.
Then Tom smiled, a big, toothy smile that made Hucks stomach do summer-saults. He brushed it off thinking that was probably just the alcohol, yet half of him still knew it was more than that.
It wasn't a surprise to be feeling like this. Tom and Huck had been closer than ever since leaving for Jackson's Island, now being isolated from anyone else other than Joe (who usually kept to himself). They knew more about each other, like Tom being there for the events from Huck's father and his other past.
Huck was snapped back into reality by a pressure on his legs and looked down to see Tom resting his head in the slim man's lap. Huck’s countenance grew a dark red and his face felt as hot as the burning fire in front of them. “Uhh-h, Tom?” He stuttered, eyebrows furrowed together.
That same smile was even wider and Tom started to chuckle a bit, “Yer’ always so cute when yer’ confused.” Huck took a deep breath as he saw Tom take another sip from his liquor bottle and Huck forced it away from him, “You've had too much ta’ drink.” Huck said, trying to drive away whatever else he thought the words ment. “C'mon Hucky,” Tom started, making the other's cage of butterflies be released in his abdomen. Tom knew what kind of effect that Nickname had on Huck and knew just how to use it against him. When he first called him ‘Hucky’, the other didn't have a problem with it, thinking it was just a shortened version with the y in the -Berry. But now, it felt different .
“Don't tell ya’ haven't even thought of it.” Tom continued, leaning up to see Huck better, “I see the way you look at me, and I reckon you know that I look at ya’ too.” The red-head placed his cold hand on hucks cheek. Huck knew that Tom was a flirt the day he met him, but he never thought of him to be this outgoing. “I feel how hot yer’ face is and ya’ know I got cold hands. Yer’ face ain't red cuz’ a’ the fire either.” Huck could hear how shakey his breath was and could tell he was as red as a tomato.
He looked away from Tom and placed a hand on his, “Oh ‘nuff with this nonsense. Ya’ know we… can't .” The words hurt more than the lashings from his father and he could see Tom’s grin grow wider. “Tell me, Huck. Why? We stole when we were young. We've robbed without a second thought, hell we've seen a man be murdered and spoke none. Why is this any different? I reckon you like all the illegal things so how about this one. I'll go to hell with you any day.”
With every word, he inched closer and with every word, Huck’s thoughts raced. He had a point but why did this feel so hard ? Huck knew that his relationship with Tom was more than friendship, but just could accept that. He wanted to more than anything he has ever wanted but he just couldn't. “What's gotcha stuck Hucky? It yer’ past? Is it me?” Tom was so close that the raging fire felt like ice compared to Tom's warmth. So Huck just layed all his cards on the table and risked it all.
He placed his hand on the back of Tom's neck and pulled him in for just a small peck on the lips. Though he pulled away quickly, it was the best kiss of Huck's damned life. Tom's eyes were wide with happiness and surprise, “S-so how do ya feel now?” He asked.
The other confidently smiled, leaned in and said, “More.” And without hesitation, Tom pulled him back with him and gave him a deep, passionate kiss. Though it was sloppy, this was the best kiss the two had ever had. “ God, yer’ as addictive as the liquor,” Huck commented, and felt Tom's lips curl against his at that statement. Tom slowly pushed Huck down onto the forest bed, finding himself on top of Huck.
At this moment, all the problems Huck worried about were gone. He didn't care about how bad he was right now, he didn't care what anyone else would think if they were seen, all he cared about was Tom Sawyer and how good of criminals they were being.
They could both be criminals together.