World's Best Protagonist [BL]

Claude didn’t move at first. He patiently waited for the go signal. His weight was balanced perfectly, so he wasn’t touching Jade more than necessary, though the air between their bodies had already gone thick with heat.

The small fire meters away flickered softly, casting dancing shadows across Claude’s back, his arms braced on either side of Jade’s head. Their breaths were uneven, and the tension trembling between them like a taut wire.

Jade could still feel where Claude had pressed against him. It burned into his thigh like a brand, like a question left hanging, or a hard iron rod that scorched him.

Claude’s voice was hoarse, low, as if he was holding something back with every word.

"Say no, and I’ll stop. Say yes, and I won’t hold back anymore."

Jade’s heart thundered. The firelight played against Claude’s sharp jaw, his flushed neck, and the bare skin peeking from the loose neckline of that old tunic. Claude was trying. He was trying not to cross a line. He was trying to be good.

However, after Jade witnessed that bulge in the captain’s trousers. He suddenly did not want to be good. He wanted to see Claude flushed under his touch as well, or hear him moan because of him.

The only thing holding him back was the thought that after this night, what? How the hell are they going to act if they’re going to do the nasty now?

Claude tilted his head. He licked his lips. But why did it look so seductive to Jade? No, why was the captain gazing at him with a different kind of fire lit in his eyes, with that lip movement, and that anticipation plastered on his face?

Jade couldn’t help but wonder if he liked it too. That wonder was what pushed him to finally answer.

"Then...don’t hold back."

Claude inhaled sharply, like the words had undone something inside him. His restraint, maybe. Or his oath. He lowered himself, and their bodies finally touched—chest to chest, hips to hips.

Jade gasped, his back arching instinctively when he felt Claude’s arousal pressing against his. The sensation was maddening. When Claude leaned back to take off his shirt, Jade was finally shutting all the doors of reason in his head and just letting whatever would be.

Claude cupped the back of his head and kissed him again—slowly at first, then deeper, hungrier, like he needed Jade to feel every ounce of what he’d been holding back.

Jade responded just as eagerly, wrapping his hands around Claude’s manhood without thinking, needing more pressure, more heat, and more of him. Claude’s left hand supported his weight, while his right hand guided Jade’s. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Jade rubbed them together, their erect members touching. Their hips ground together, skin sliding against skin through thin layers of fabric, the heat between them building fast.

Claude was panting now, small groans leaving his throat every time Jade rubbed them in just the right way. His own voice caught in his throat, too overwhelmed to even moan properly.

The cave felt too small, too hot. Their shared breath fogged in the air, their sweat-slicked skin glinting orange in the firelight.

They rutted like that, tangled in each other, whispering names, curses, pleas—until Jade couldn’t hold back anymore. His body tensed, his breath hitched, and then he came with a soft cry, arching up into Claude, who didn’t stop—only followed him over the edge moments later, groaning low against Jade’s neck.

The cave went still again, save for the crackle of the fire and their ragged breathing.

Claude didn’t move right away. He stayed like that, resting his forehead against Jade’s, their bodies pressed together, clothes damp and hearts pounding in unison.

Several hours later, after multiple tries of successful shooting and unloading, after the fire finally died, and the only thing providing them light was the ancient sword, the two collapsed. One drifted into sleep as if running away from a confrontation, while the other was having post-nut clarity, again.

Jade lay still, chest rising and falling beneath the lazy press of Claude’s weight next to him. The light of the sword was nearby, throwing soft light over the cave walls and over the mess of them.

Sweat clung to his skin, his breath still hadn’t quite evened, and his lips were sore in the best and worst ways.

And somehow, his brain still worked enough to form thoughts—terribly unhelpful, painfully self-aware thoughts.

In the span of a few days, his entire life had flipped upside down. He had gone from existential identity crisis to half-accidentally accepting a whole new gender, then not only flirting with a guy, but doing all sorts of masturbation with him, to the point all his limbs were dead tired.

He blinked slowly at the cavern ceiling, still a little dazed. Was there some kind of invisible achievement board above his head, marking all the wild milestones he’d hit in rapid succession?

"Gender change—check. Accidental gay awakening—check. Making out in a cave with a hot guy—double check. Grinding until my brain short-circuited—achievement unlocked. What else will this gay awakening make me experience?" he whispered to himself.

All that deed cleared his mind indeed.

So, is there perhaps a study that says contaminated energy inside a Minder’s body was attached to dopamine or oxytocin, because releasing those hormones after orgasm truly brought him clarity, and a heightened sense of awareness?

He shifted, turning his body to the side and his back to Claude. Then, his mind wandered somewhere again, instead of sleeping.

Normally, queer folks took time to come to terms with stuff like this, didn’t they? There were supposed to be tentative steps, moments of denial, a slow-burn pining arc maybe. Something a little more dignified than tripping face-first into gay panic and moaning about it under some guy with a sharp jaw and dangerous hands.

Was this normal? It couldn’t be normal.

He snorted quietly to himself, shaking his head. The sound made Claude stir a little, nuzzling his shoulder in sleepy contentment.

Oh, right. And now this guy was being sweet.

Jade stared up at the ceiling again. "Everything happened so quickly," he muttered in his head. "Did someone press the fast-forward button in my life?"

And yet... he didn’t feel regret. His body was exhausted, his pride somewhere back at the mouth of the cave, and his dignity lying in shreds underneath Claude’s shirt—but his heart wasn’t heavy.

If anything, it felt lighter than it had in days. Like some part of him, the part he kept hidden under sarcasm and tightly buttoned shirts, had finally breathed.

Maybe it wasn’t how it was supposed to happen. But it was his way. Fast. Confusing. Unapologetically and unbothered Jade.

He closed his eyes and decided to sleep. Tomorrow, he should ask Claude to be his exclusive helper. Because there was no way he’d do these kinds of things with someone else, unless his life was at risk.

However, when the sun peeked behind the mountain walls, Claude was already gone.