Take Off Your Mask Now.

[Jimmy Pu]

Sitting alone in his rather spacious apartment, Jimmy just stared at his hands blankly. He'd made it pretty clear to Noah that he wanted something more. He wanted commitment. He wanted exclusivity. He wanted a relationship. All of the physical stuff was nice...but Jimmy wanted to feel love and importance. He wanted to be someone's one and only...and he wanted that someone to be Noah.

But Noah had seemed not as keen on the idea...

And Jimmy hadn't seen him in a couple of days. He wasn't sure what was going on between them now...but he knew he missed Noah with everything in him. At least they had practice in a couple days...surely he'd see him there. The two both played for Busan and for Korea's world cup team. So Noah couldn't avoid him forever.

And then Jimmy could apologize for bringing it up...

But...he certainly wished he didn't have to apologize...

[Noah Sop]

Ever since school, Noah had a particularly keen focus on Jimmy Pu. In their younger days it was a soft protection, making sure he was happy and taken care of. He and Jimmy had similar home lives in the sense that their parents weren't really there - Noah had no mom and his dad spent all his time working to make sure they had a good home life. Jimmy's parents were never there because of work. Perhaps initially he had bonded so well thanks to that, but after a while it became so much more than that.

They'd never gotten to the point of a relationship, but Noah was never against the idea…but their culture looked down on the relationship. Noah…perhaps did it because he wanted to protect Jimmy's image, what with his parents in the ministry and all. His own father had been okay with him dating whomever…but he didn't want to draw all that negativity onto his love. Did he love Jimmy? Absolutely. Would it be easier to love him in the open? Yes, of course. But being in the open would be adding so much pressure…

And that's where the Falmouth Falcons bid came in. Their seeker was retiring and they wanted Noah…and Noah didn't want to leave. But lately Jimmy seemed sad, like he thought Noah didn't want to be with him. Perhaps he didn't, not now, not when it could cause so much drama. But the more he thought about it, the more he talked to Falmouth, the more he thought that he could work something out that Jimmy could come too…but Falmouth wouldn't make any promises until they had his confirmation. So…he accepted the bid, on the promise they could figure something out and he and Jimmy could be together. In the open.

And his dumb ass didn't talk to Jimmy before he did it.

But now he was standing outside Jimmy's apartment, raising a hand to drop a few soft knocks on the outside of the door. ”Jimmy? It's Noah…”

[Jimmy Pu]

Jimmy hadn’t expected any company today. He’d planned on just sitting alone and thinking about everything. He knew he was in love with Noah. He never doubted that. But what was he supposed to do when the man he loved didn’t love him in the same way?

The knock to his door jostled him from his thoughts and the accompanying voice made him leap up…moving quickly to the door. He opened it, seeing Noah there and he just couldn’t help himself.

He flung his arms around the man, hugging him tightly as he walked them backwards into his home. He flicked his wrist, silently closing the door as he hugged Noah. He wanted to tell him he was sorry.

They didn’t have to be in a relationship if Noah didn’t want. They could just go back to fooling around secretly and being best friends in the open.

But no words came. He just…held him a while before slowly letting him go and stepping back a moment to shoot him an apologetic smile. Surely, Noah had come here for a reason. Best to let him get it out.

[Noah Sop]

Noah hadn’t seen Jimmy in a few days, so it was almost needless to say that he didn’t expect the way that his best friend greeted him, wrapping his arms around his neck and pulling him backwards into his apartment. He would have expected this from before he had just slipped off the face of the earth, but not now. He was thankful, though, all the words on the tip of his tongue. I’m going to Falmouth. I’m working on getting you a bid too. So we can be together in the open. I want to be with you. Noah’s hands went to Jimmy’s waist and he stood there a moment, just taking in his scent before he backed away, Noah’s hands dropping loosely at his sides.

Jimmy smiled, and Noah wanted to smile back, but he couldn’t find it. He also couldn’t find the words that he had just worked through in his mind, everything just lost or a mindless jumble in his head as he stared at Jimmy, feeling like a little school boy again with a damn crush. He wanted Jimmy, but he also thought Jimmy deserved the world. Noah wasn’t sure he could give him the world, but he would try his absolute hardest. He needed to.

”Did I disturb you?” he asked, softly. He probably should have dropped Jimmy an owl to let him know he would be stopping by, but he’d never had to do that before…so he supposed he hadn’t even thought about it. ”There was something I wanted to tell you…” he said, chewing on his lip. Jimmy’s eyes were so sweet, so happy. His smile always forced a smile out of Noah, even when that was the last thing he wanted to do. He wasn’t sure why it was so hard for him to tell Jimmy that he wanted to be with him…perhaps that was part of why he’d been so hesitant this whole time? He couldn’t just come out and say he wanted to be with him, so he felt like Jimmy deserved more? ”I’ve never…I don’t…” Noah took one of his hands, practically numb from nerves and ran it through his dark hair. ”I’ve never seen three chasers work so well together…” What? ”I’ll. I’ll be sad to leave…” WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

[Jimmy Pu]

Noah hugged him back and Jimmy relaxed slightly in his embrace. Perhaps not everything was ruined. Perhaps they would be okay. But as they two finally broke apart…and as Noah didn’t return Jimmy’s smile…the chaser felt his heart drop a bit.

He shook his head no when Noah asked if he had disturbed him. He never could. Jimmy would always make time for him. He loved him.

But…

The string of words that came next…

Jimmy felt his heart shatter in his chest as realization set in. Leaving. Noah was…leaving.

”What do you mean?” he choked out finally, tears welling in his eyes. ”Y-You’re leaving? Where are you going? I…why? Is this because of me? I’ll take it back. I’ll take it all back, I promise.”

The tears spilled from his eyes as it all set in. Jimmy had confessed his need for more. And now Noah was leaving. He had ruined everything.

[Noah Sop]

The look on Jimmy's face was not one that Noah ever wanted to see. He didn't want to be the cause of such pain, yet here he was, watching Jimmy cry. He wanted to reach out and hold him, he wanted to tell him he was doing this for him, for them, but he couldn't find the words. And Jimmy was here blaming himself and his beautiful soul hadn't done anything wrong. Yet…Noah couldn't find the words to tell him he didn't do anything wrong.

”It's not because of you -” it's for you, he thought. ”You didn't do anything wrong. I received a bid from the UK - the Falmouth Falcons…” he said, his mouth dry as he weaved his own fingers together, keeping himself from reaching out. ”You should come with me. To the UK…” he wasn't Sure how Jimmy would take it. His brain wasn't registering that he should tell Jimmy about the bid, how he wanted him to come with so they could not be roommates, so he could wine and dine him.

[Jimmy Pu]

Jimmy could feel the panic setting in. He had pushed his best friend away. All cuz he had to admit he wanted more. Noah stumbled through trying to convince him that he hadn’t done anything. Trying to convince him that this wasn’t because of him.

But Jimmy didn’t buy it.

He was going to the UK. Falmouth.

His hands shook slightly as the tears streamed down his face. They were supposed to be best friends. Together forever. Leading Busan to the East Asian Quidditch Cup…and then the South Korean National Team to the World Cup.

But Noah was leaving.

You should come with me…

Jimmy stuttered slightly…tears clouding his vision.

”What? I…I don’t have any bids…Busan is home…what am I…what am I supposed to do? I can’t…”

[Noah Sop]

The last thing Noah wanted to happen was to see Jimmy cry. To be the reason that he was crying. Noah didn't want to leave Jimmy - the goal was to be together forever; they had always said so when they were kids. He didn't want to leave Busan but…it was for Jimmy. It was so he could be the man Jimmy deserved and not just his best friend turned lover that he was now.

“What? I…I don't have any bids…”

Oh, he was supposed to tell him -

“Busan is home…what am I…what am I supposed to do? I can't…”

”Come with me,” he repeated, reaching forward to wipe Jimmy's face, if he let him. ”Their chaser. They're losing a chaser…we can still…” Falmouth said they would get a bid for Jimmy if Noah signed…as of now he hadn't heard anything but it was still soon after. ”Come with me…”

[Jimmy Pu]

Come with me.

The soft touch of Noah’s hand wiping away his tears just made Jimmy cry harder. Nothing that Noah was telling him was making any sense. Falmouth apparently was looking for a chaser…but they hadn’t said anything to Jimmy.

And he couldn’t just leave on a “maybe”.

But Noah repeated himself, eliciting a single sob to echo from the back of his throat.

He couldn’t. None of this was making sense…

[Noah Sop]

nothing Noah seemed to say or do was quelling the tears falling down Jimmy's cheeks. Falmouth promised they would look into the additional bid when he signed the papers. It was that or Noah was done with quidditch and no one wanted that. Noah's main focus right now, though, was Jimmy and he couldn't get him to stop and listen…any of what Noah was going to say had gone out his brain through his ear and the sob absolutely broke Noah's heart.

With one step he was on top of Jimmy, wrapping strong arms around him. ”Please do not cry, Jimjam,” he cooed softly. ”You're my best friend. You've always been my person…” he placed a poorly timed kiss to the top of Jimmy's head. °

[Jimmy Pu]

Noah’s arms closed around him and Jimmy instinctively wrapped his own around him in return. He was entirely unable to shut the tears off and all he knew was that Noah was leaving and he would never be able to believe it wasn’t his fault.

His words were soft and even though Jimmy didn’t want them to, they soothed him slightly. The kiss to the top of his head caused him to look up at Noah through big doe eyes and…

He leaned in, capturing his best friend’s lips in a kiss. He just…couldn’t help it. He loved Noah. He always had and he just knew he always would. If Noah was going to leave…Jimmy was going to do his best to show him one last time just how much he loved him.

[Noah Sop]

Noah wasn't entirely thinking. His complete focus was on Jimmy, and seeing him cry was the absolute worst thing he could have expected to happen. He didn't know what would happen when he showed up to tell Jimmy he was leaving…he didn't know what he expected, honestly. Not this. Not to want to comfort him in any way possible.

Jimmy looked up at him and for a moment, the words were there. I want you to be with me, but the expression on his face, the pools of tears brimming at his lids…all he wanted to do was make the pain go away. He would do anything for Jimmy…but telling him that?

Noah always got lost when Jimmy captured him like this. He always had some kind of magnetic control over him, so it just made sense in the moment to bring his hands up to the sides of Jimmy's neck as he deepened the kiss, his thumb running along Jimmy's jaw.

[Jimmy Pu]

As Noah's hands raised to cradle Jimmy's neck, he fell into the kiss as it deepened. He had never known a love like he had known with Noah. Honestly, he had never known love before Noah. Noah was the first...the only. Not everyone was lucky enough to find the love of their life so young...hells, not everyone was lucky enough to find them at all. But Noah and Jimmy had found each other when they were just school boys.

Jimmy had always thought they would be together forever. Whether that be as best friends or as partners. But now Noah was going off on his own...and Jimmy was staying in Busan. He didn't know how to cope with this kind of a world.

But standing here in this moment, lip locked with the man he loved, seemed like an okay start.

They could figure out whatever else they needed to figure out later. But for now, Jimmy ran his hands shakily up Noah's chest as they stood there kissing...and as his hands found Noah's shoulders, they crept behind him to tangle in his perfect head of hair. Nothing else mattered tonight...just him and Noah.

"Please...can I have you once more before you leave?" he whispered against Noah's lips as he pulled back slightly. His eyes remained closed as he begged...terrified to see Noah's expression if he denied him.

[Noah Sop]

In Noah's mind, his logic was sound. Since Jimmy's parents worked in the ministry, it was likely they would frown upon them being together. Hell, the whole country might look down on the relationship. It shouldn't have mattered…what mattered was right there between Noah's hands. But he wanted Jimmy to know he was willing to give him the world…and that was why he was going to the Falcons. They'd be under the scrutinizing eye, but no one would care. It was hard being in a position where everyone knew you and your situation. Maybe Jim didn't read the hate but Noah had, and he didn't want Jimmy in a position to be hurt by it.

They would be welcomed by the Falcons…

Jim's hands ran up his chest and made their way into his hair. Noah let out a soft sigh through his nose, his skin pricking at Jimmy's words. This wasn't what he came here for, but he wanted to give Jimmy the world and if this was what he wanted…this would be what he got. Jimmy's eyes were closed and Noah reached up to wipe a tear, since his love hadn't stopped crying. ”I'm yours, Jimmy,” he said, softly, his eyes searching Jimmy's features, silently begging him to open his eyes.

Easily scooping him up like he'd done so many times before, Noah set him down on the edge of his bed and planted a kiss on his lips. he paused a moment to see if he could read his response, waiting for his permission to proceed.

[Jimmy Pu]

The sigh from Noah was something that Jimmy was used to and it was something he loved. There were so many things about Noah that he just absolutely loved. So as he felt the soft touch to his face, wiping away another tear, Jimmy just leaned into it. He leaned into Noah. The words were as soft as the man's touch and as he felt Noah's hands slip behind his thighs to lift him up, Jimmy whimpered softly as his arms wrapped around Noah's neck and his face buried into his shoulder.

He didn't want Noah to leave at all...but if he was going to...

Jimmy felt the contact of his bed as Noah set him down. He felt the soft kiss to his lips and finally, his eyes fluttered open, staring up at Noah almost pleadingly. His hands moved to the waistline of Noah's jeans and Jimmy never broke eye contact. He tugged slightly, popping the button loose effortlessly as the world around them faded away...

Jimmy was content to spend the next few hours showing Noah just how much he meant to him...