"--wow, it is a lot easier to do this with someone who knows what they're doing." He's laughing.

"I bet — sorry, I've never —" 

Asher was hot before but it is suddenly apparent that Asher is extremely hot.

"Not your fault for making less stupid career choices!"

He tries a pirouette and a jump. 

He does his best to keep his balance; his heart is racing for reasons that have nothing to do with feeling like he's about to fall. 

He doesn't have to try. Asher is holding onto him firmly; he won't let him fall. 

Oh. 

He — relaxes, goes sweet and soft and pliant in Asher's arms. 

Asher puts him down. They're very close. Asher's nose is in Sasha's hair.

This is the point, part of Sasha's brain thinks, where he would sink down to his knees and -- thank him. 

Not now. Not yet. 

He leans heavily into Asher's chest, presses his face into Asher's shoulder. Breathes deep. 

Lev has read this sentence four times but he hasn't processed it yet.

Asher picks Sasha up and puts him on the ground with his head in Asher's lap.

Sasha closes his eyes and sighs happily and nuzzles Asher's thigh. 

Asher pets his hair, as normal heterosexual men do. 

"Why are you studying?" he says to Lev. "It's the summer."

"I'm doing something that can't go on my college application this summer," Lev says, "so I have to do all my SAT studying this summer so I can have more time for extracurriculars during the school year so I can go to Harvard and stop living in a rat-infested apartment and not disappoint my parents."

"C'mere, I need to hug you." 

He puts down the book and very cautiously hugs Sasha in a way that involves touching him as little as possible.

This is not a satisfactory hug. He pulls Lev closer, hugs him tighter. 

He makes an involuntary whimpering noise.

He puts one hand between Lev's shoulderblades and one on the back of Lev's head and holds him. 

Because Sasha is lying with his head in Asher's lap, this involves lying on the ground with his entire body pressed into Sasha's and his head on Asher's leg.

His brain is currently a small pile of mush.

"You need to be hugged more." He's rubbing circles on Lev's back. 

"I don't get hugged at all."

He squeezes. "Then you need to be hugged a lot more." 

They physically cannot get much closer without removing clothing which Lev is probably not ready for, but Sasha does his best, starts rubbing smaller circles into Lev's scalp with his fingertips. 

Lev makes small happy noises.

He's kind of staring at Sasha's lips.

This is really a very adorable thing to be happening in Asher's lap.

This is maybe not the best plan but Lev is right there and keeps staring at his mouth and — Sasha kisses him, gentle and soft.