Fandom: Backstreet Boys
Pairing: AJ McLean/Howie Dorough
Prompt: 066. Rain
Word Count: 805
Rating: PG
Author's Notes: Title taken from a song from The Who.
AJ only seems vaguely surprised when Howie emerges from his bedroom dressed in only a pair of swimming trunks, even though it's raining outside. When Howie's home in Florida he tends to do weird little things, AJ realizes as he gathers the sheets of notebook paper that are littering the coffeetable. Like, immersing that tiny metal thimble-looking thing filled with tea leaves into his tea cup, instead of using a Lipton teabag. Or, pouring his can of gingerale into a glass filled with ice instead of just drinking it straight out of the can like he does anywhere else. And it's not that AJ minds the ice-filled glass because it is really nice, with Howie's initials engraved into the glass. In fact, he really likes drinking his soda out of it too. It's just... weird. And the oddest thing to AJ is, despite the usually immaculate state of the condominium, when Howie undresses for the night and then just leaves his clothes littering the bedroom floor, and not even looking guilty about it. As far as AJ can remember, Howie doesn't even do that on his bus when they're touring and when it's perfectly acceptable to be rather messy.
AJ does grow a little concerned though when Howie opens the slider off the living room and steps out onto the concrete porch, pushes the chairs back into their proper places at the table and then leans out and over the waist-high railing. As he steps closer to the porch AJ can hear Howie sighing with pleasure as Howie's upturned face is instantly covered with the fine rain.
"Are you drunk?" AJ steps out and shivers just a little as his bare arms and his own face are peppered with the slanted spray. "Because I know Kevin brought a bottle of wine and left empty-handed."
Howie lifts his head and a slow smile spreads over his lips. "I only had one glass. One glass over four hours. I'm not drunk. Come here."
AJ frowns a little and his step is hesitant at first, but as soon as Howie holds out his hand to him, he covers the last few feet rather quickly, despite the greater exposure to the rain.
Howie's arms wrap around AJ's waist. "Have you ever been kissed in the rain? Loved in the rain?"
AJ's hands settle on Howie's shoulders, but move soon thereafter up into Howie's hair because he can't resist the wet curls. He grins and shrugs. "Not by a guy in a bathing suit. So... you're gonna kiss me and love me out here, huh? You had this planned?"
Howie's chuckle against AJ's cheek is warm and it makes AJ shiver again, but not from being damp and cold this time. "We spend four hours writing love songs, and you think I'm not going to get all mushy and romantic on you?" His lips pucker slightly and press against the corner of AJ's mouth as his fingers wind underneath the hem of AJ's shirt. "I love how your eyes practically sparkle when you like the way the lyrics are flowing. I love the way your fingers hold tighter to your pencil when an idea suddenly filters through your mind."
AJ's shirt is up as far as Howie can get it without having to pull his mouth away from AJ's mouth. He moans softly as AJ's lips part for him. Their warm breaths mingle and the last of AJ's cold chills evaporate.
"What else do you love?" AJ asks softly, his lips torn between curving into a smile or just clamping themselves over Howie's, and since he can't decide, he briskly pulls his shirt up and off, and a small gasp escapes as Howie's fingers flutter over his chest.
"I love the way you press your hand against your heart when you sing... right here," and Howie's palm flattens against AJ's wet skin. He smiles and kisses away the raindrops from AJ's eyelashes. "As if you're reminding yourself that it's precious, like the love you give me."
AJ can't help it, can't hold it back... he smiles, brightly, and wraps his arms around Howie's shoulders, pulling the wetter man tight against his body. He turns them, so that Howie is more shielded from the rain than he is. And as the rain falls harder, soaking his back and his head, his heart beats faster and his whole body fills with an incredible warmth. "I love you. I love every single little weird thing about you."
Howie laughs against AJ's neck, nips it and then finds AJ's lips for a tender kiss.
"I'm not weird. I'm home. I'm relaxed. I'm happy. I got you." His fingers pop the button of AJ's jeans. "You're not suitably attired to be loved in the rain."
And AJ can't disagree with that.
