Chapter Text
The beach was quieter than Damian expected.
Waves rolled lazily near the shore while warm afternoon light shimmered across the water. A line of large rocks stretched near the edge of the beach.
Damian set down the plastic bags beside the rocks. He continued to climb onto one before plopping down with a dramatic sigh.
“If I fall and die, tell everyone I fought bravely.”
Nate stepped onto the rock beside him without difficulty. "You almost slipped twice.”
"Details."
Nate sat down beside him, close enough for their shoulders to bump occasionally.
Nate watched Damian take off his cap, letting his silver hair dance with the breeze.
"This is nice,” Damian admitted as he leaned back onto his hands, staring at the sun slowly descending ahead.
"Yeah.” Nate responded, still looking at him.
"You’ve been saying yes to me a lot lately.”
Waves crashed softly as distant voices echoed farther down on the beach, filling in the space between them.
“I guess." Nate said finally.
Damian looked toward the water.
“We should go in."
Nate blinked. “What?"
“The water. We're at a beach. It’d be criminal not to.”
"We don't have swimsuits."
Damian immediately dropped down from the rock onto his feet. “Coward logic." He said before kicking off his shoes.
“That's normal logic." Nate sighed as Damian walked closer to the shore, though he took off his shoes anyway.
Nate followed behind Damian who was rolling his pants up. He did the same before testing the water with a foot—cool, gentle.
Damian ran in the water, almost stumbling. “IT'S COLD—GOSH, IT'S COLD.”
Nate carefully stepped in the water as he let out a short breath through his nose, watching Damian shiver from the cold.
A wave crashed over Damian’s leg, nearly throwing him off balance.
Nate stepped closer and grabbed his wrist before he could stumble backward.
“Wow. Nate, my prince charming." Damian held a hand to his chest, as if he were some damsel.
“...You're so corny, Damian." Nate smiled.
Damian laughed quietly.
But Nate didn't let go immediately.
The water shifted around them as the evening sunlight reflected around them in uneven gold.
Damian looked down briefly at Nate’s hand around his wrist.
Then at Nate himself.
Nate's rolled up pants were wet now. The shirt clung slightly from the water, making the entire thing even more ridiculous.
“You actually wore it," Damian smiled.
“Well, you bought it."
“Yeah but usually you would judge me for the rest of my life.”
"I am judging you.”
"Fair.”
Nate’s grip loosened, though he stood in front of Damian, close enough to remind him of his presence.
Damian swallowed.
“Nate."
“Yeah?"
Damian glanced at the water before speaking again.
“In the car, I meant it.” His voice softened. "But I don't think I actually said it properly, so..."
“I love you."
Nate didn't answer immediately.
The sounds of waves suddenly felt louder, as if the world had stepped back to make space for them.
Damian almost regretted saying it. Almost.
Then Nate exhaled softly.
"...You're really bad at timing.” He said quietly.
Damian let out a nervous laugh. "Yeah, I know.”
Nate’s hand was still around his wrist.
Then it shifted—slowly, carefully—until their fingers laced instead of just holding on.
Damian stopped laughing.
Nate stepped closer.
Not fast. Not sudden. Just enough that the space between them disappeared little by little, like neither of them was fully deciding to stop it.
Damian didn't move away.
Nate looked even more beautiful close up. The blond strand of hair sticking to his forehead. The sky blue eyes that were always filled with justice. The lips Damian would always stare at.
"Say it again,” Nate whispered.
Damian blinked. "What?”
Nate didn't repeat himself. Instead, he leaned in.
And before Damian even knew it—
Their lips met.
Nate’s against his.
For a moment, even the ocean itself felt distant. Everything else didn't matter anymore. It was just him and Nate.
The kiss felt like a decision more than an action, like something finally being allowed after being held back for too long.
When Nate finally pulled back, he didn't go far.
None of them spoke, just yet.
Damian stared at Nate as if the world had just tilted sideways, though he was the first to breathe out a laugh, shaky and disbelieving.
“Okay," he said. “That's one way to respond."
Nate, still close, finally looked at him properly.
"Shut up," he said—but there was no bite to it.
And this time, none of them looked away.