Archive of Our Own

   Aesop woke up early that morning. Or, rather, was harshly woken up by the blaring scream of an alarm. The beeping resounded in the room and he rolled over, hitting the clock with his fist. He groaned, displeased with the departure from dreamland. His mind drifted involuntarily to his plans for the day, and, upon remembering the main events, his eyes shot open.

   “Joseph! Joseph wake up!” He proceeded to shake the still sleeping man next to him, who only murmured in protest. His arm rose to push away the disturbance, but Aesop only grabbed onto it and began pulling. “Get uuuup!”

   “No.” Joseph’s voice was small, drowsy with sleep, and he refused to open his eyes. He attempted to snatch his arm away, though he only ended up with a body crashing on top of his. He felt a huff of breath approaching his ear. Oh, dear god.

   “Jojo, mon coeur.” The whisper was suspiciously affectionate, and Joseph only sighed. He opened one eye and pointedly looked at the other. He raised his eyebrow, waiting for the other to elaborate, only meeting a pout. “Our flight is booked for today, yet you don’t seem in any way interested.”

   There was silence. Joseph analyzed the words, realization finally dawning on him. “Oh, mon Dieu, Aesop! The honeymoon!” he might have forgotten. Just might. That could have been the reason why Aesop was so fidgety for the past week. Or why so many clothes were missing from the closets. He’d been preparing.

   Aesop shook his head disappointingly. “Unbelievable.” His voice betrayed the words, as he merely sounded amused. He couldn’t blame the other, honestly. He had been busy the past days, with both office work and commissions. It was late at night when they met most of the times, and it slightly bothered Aesop. He was just a little too excited to have Joseph all for himself for the next two weeks.

   Had their honeymoon not been postponed for such a long time, the photographer wouldn’t have found himself buried in such a workload. However, he had a very specific place in mind, one for which they couldn’t find reservations sooner. Plane tickets were another problem as well, but they finally managed to squeeze the little vacation into their schedules.

   “Anyway,” Aesop sat up from the bed, stretching, “I’ll prepare breakfast.”

   When Joseph made his way to the kitchen, Aesop was indeed standing in front of the oven, stirring eggs. On a farther counter, only the coffee machine grounding the beans broke the silence. The toaster smelled of warm bread and Aesop was humming a silent tune. Joseph approached the figure and wrapped his arms around the other, planting a kiss on the nape of his neck.

   Aesop picked up a spoon and pointed it at the other’s face. “No hugs.” He then pulled himself from the embrace.

   “But—!”

   “No.” Silence. Aesop moved to place the food on the plates, before filling two cups with the steaming coffee. He then turned towards Joseph. “Is it a milk-in-coffee morning or nah?” Joseph only gestured to the milk bottle with a smile. Aesop nodded.

   “Bébé, I’m sorry.” They sat down at the table. Aesop did not reply. “You know I love you, come on.” There was slight pleading in his tone and Aesop had to bite back his smile. “I’ll do anything, just don’t be upset!” right into his trap, it seemed.

   Aesop hummed. “Anything? Really?” Instantly, Joseph squinted his eyes, realizing his mistake.

   “Wait, no. I’m taking it back! Nope, no-no. Non.” Aesop couldn’t suppress the laugh that came out. Joseph was now pouting childishly, mockingly displeased with the conversation. He sat up and turned to leave the room, faking an offended strut.

   Aesop only sprung up and followed. “Wait, love, I’m joking!” he was still giggling, and now that he couldn’t see, Joseph let the amused smile brighten his face. The other tackled him into a hug. “I love you too!”

———

   The airport was just as jammed as they had anticipated. Checking in took an inconveniently long time, yet it passed, finally, as the two were now sitting on one of the benches. Aesop was munching on a bagel, while Joseph was lazily scrolling through his phone. He stopped when seeing one of the pictures that popped up, and leaned in to show it to the other.

   “Since when are Martha and Vera dating? Wasn’t Martha the babysitter Vera needed for her cousin?” he pointed at the screen. Under the photo of two intertwined hands, the caption read ‘Who would have thought you’d be my soulmate? @martbeh’.

   Aesop only hummed. “Huh, I had no idea. It was high time, though. The tension was unbearable, God.”

   “Any take on who made the move?” Joseph resumed his scrolling, occasionally tapping on photos that caught his interest. “My bet goes to Martha.”

   “How so?”

   “Have you met Vera? She’s definitely the type to wait for the confession.”

   “What if she didn’t wait, though?” Aesop leaned on his back, taking out his phone as well. “Looking at how you act right now, I’m surprised it took me confessing first to even initiate anything.”

   “Mon amour, what are you implying?”

   “You can make surprising decisions because of love.” He shrugged. There was a small smile on his face, as he looked at the screen. A photo of him and Joseph greeted him, taken on a beach trip with the others a couple of years prior. They weren’t even dating at the time, yet they had clicked suspiciously well. There they were now, years later, in their honeymoon phase.

   Finding their seats in the plane was easy enough. Aesop was now looking out the small window, with Joseph’s hand on his thigh. There was a slight tremor in his body, and a childish glint in his eyes. He would be lying if he said he wasn’t nervous, yet the enthusiasm definitely won over.

   They turned their heads when a new person approached. The man gestured to the empty seat next to them, and sat down. He then turned to Joseph with a smile. “Guess we’ll be seatmates for this flight. Name’s Norton.” He extended a hand, which Joseph reluctantly took. Oh, mon Dieu, he’s a talker.

   “Joseph. It’s nice to meet you.” He replied instead, “This is Aesop.” He moved to point at the other, who only raised his hand in a greet.

   “Nice knowin’ ya!” the man was loud enough for the entire plane to hear. He didn’t seem to mind, however, and only engaged further into the conversation. “Say, how come y’are headed to such a tropical destination?”

   Aesop shifted uncomfortably. He was eyeing the man, definitely bothered by his attempt at socializing. “Well, we’re on our honeymoon actually! We thought it’d be suitable enough.” Joseph replied for the both of them, and Aesop mentally thanked him.

   “Ooh! You’re married?” there was surprise dancing in his eyes, though his smile never faltered. He then turned to Aesop with a frighteningly teasing grin. “Hey –“ he pointed at Joseph “—bet’cha this dude’s a real pain in the ass, if ya know what I mean.” He winked.

   The look on Aesop’s face was incredulous. Joseph pinched the bridge of his nose and let out an exasperated breath. All while Norton almost suffocated on his laughter. It drew unwanted attention on them.

   When his little fit died down, he waved a hand. “No hard feelings, I was joking.” Aesop refused to look at him, and he slightly frowned. “Hope I didn’t offend ya in any way.”

   “Non, non.” Joseph replied. “Your sense of humour is… quite peculiar should I say. Don’t get discouraged by Aesop here, he’s a special one.” Norton only nodded in response.

   “In any case, enjoy your time! I’m actually visiting a friend of mine there. He was invited to perform for some sort of show.” Norton started rambling, and Aesop turned to look out the window again. It’s going to be a long journey.

   “Oh? What does he perform?” Joseph wasn’t entirely interested in the man’s story. On the contrary, he wished to end the conversation as soon as possible, though he couldn’t help giving him the satisfaction of a reply.

   “Acrobatics!” Norton scratched the back of his head. “He doesn’t know I’m going though, kinda wanted it to be a surprise.”

    “I’m certain he’ll appreciate your efforts.” Joseph’s smile was small, but it definitely ignited light into the other’s dark orbs.

   “You think? Thanks, Jo!” a fist playfully hit his shoulder, and Joseph had to bite back the grunt that rose in his throat. Jo... “Oh! You should come too! It’s going to be so good!”

   Joseph nodded. “We’ll consider your invitation.” Norton was close to beaming at the other.

   The rest of the flight was peaceful per general. Norton’s unnecessary comments weren’t as frequent, all to the lovers’ relief. They had talked, however, and it had been a lot more enjoyable. They had even found out about this game Norton was playing. The name slipped from their minds, but they could remember the story about a cave Norton blew up on a server. And how he had got banned for killing so many other players.

   An interesting individual… to say the least.

   Hours later, sunshine greeted the passengers, as they finally stepped out of the airship. The tingling smell of salt was carried by the breeze, which was barely even felt under the scorching heat. They could hear a distant crash of waves, accompanied by the cries of birds.

   Aesop and Joseph had just collected their luggage. Aesop was searching for the directions to their cabin, while the latter fiddled his thumbs. Anxiousness before a vacation was a long-forgotten memory, and he felt like a child again, with the sleepless nights he’d spend thinking of the upcoming day. There was a lopsided smile on his face, his excitement involuntarily shown through his actions.

   “Hey! Jo! ‘Sop!” a voice called. When they turned their heads to the figure, they only saw Norton sprinting towards them. His baggage was loudly rolling on the ground, and the backpack on his back swinging. “Glad I got to see ya again!” he wheezed once finally reaching the two. “I just wanted to say bye for real I guess. It’s been fun!”

   Joseph nodded. “Indeed. Thank you for your company.”

   “Nah, man! Y’all the real ones!” Norton extended a hand to shake. “Have fun you two!” Joseph gladly took his hand, followed by Aesop, who then quickly returned to his phone. He tugged at Joseph’s sleeve after.

   “The cabin is half an hour from here. We can take the bus from here, and change it at this stop.” He pointed at everything on the screen. “Or, we could rent a car, but I’d rather avoid the responsibility.”

   Joseph hummed, thinking. They had arrived early in the afternoon, so they still had time. A third pair of eyes joined them. “You need a ride? I can give you a lift, or, rather, an acquaintance of mine can. I’m waiting for him right now, actually.”

   “Ah, no, don’t worry. We’ll manage. Thank you!”

   “Nonsense! He should be here any minute now.” Norton assured, swinging an arm around Aesop’s shoulders. The man stiffened in response.

   “We’ll just take up space. Really, it’s alright.” Joseph insisted, stopping himself from laughing at the other two.

   “Doubt it!” Norton proceeded to eye him up and down. “You’re small enough to fit just well!” at that, the photographer’s eyebrow twitched. His reaction fed another laughing fit from their companion.

   The two finally accepted the offer, seeing that Norton did not intend to leave them alone. It was, truthfully, a lot more convenient for them, especially when it came to carrying the luggage. Sure, they’d definitely have to pay the man back, despite the constant refusal.

   From the car that parked just in front of them emerged a man, probably in his late twenties. His hair was tied in a high ponytail, and on top of his head rested a pair of sunglasses. “Oi, Campbell! How was your flight?” he made his way towards them, patting the man in question on the back.

   “Balsa! Good enough, had great company!” he gestured towards the lovers, who only greeted awkwardly. The newcomer nodded at them.

   “Friends with this dude? Had I not seen you with my own two eyes, I’d say he was lying!” he laughed. “My name is Luca Balsa, freelance artisan.”

   “He does DIYs on IdenTube…” Norton scoffed, and the other clicked his tongue. “Anyway, these two lovebirds need a ride to their, uh, cabin, I believe? Think you can drive ‘em there?”

   Luca nodded in response. “Sure thing. I’ll just need the address.”

———

   “That’s the last one!” they had arrived at their destination soon enough. Luca handed the last bag to Aesop and slammed the trunk of the car shut. He clapped his hands and placed them on his hips. “You should be good to go!”

   “Merci beaucoup again! “ Joseph gave a small bow. “We really appreciate the help.” Aesop nodded alongside his statement to emphasize the message. An arm wrapped around his shoulders for the millionth time that day.

   “Aren’t they the sweetest lads?” Norton laughed as the smaller man struggled out of his hold. He then turned towards the building behind them. “Damn, you’re gonna have this entire thing for yourselves… I’m almost jealous.”

   “You can come in for tea. It’s the least we can do in return.” Joseph suggested, to which Luca only smiled.

   “Man, that’d be great. I have some errands to run, though, so I’ll have to turn down the invitation. Maybe some other time.” He then fiddled with his pockets. “We can keep in touch.” He handed them a business card once he finally found it. Joseph took it with a nod, and turned to Norton, ready to speak up.

   “I think I’ve been enough of a headache for you today.” Norton waved a hand. “We’ll see each other again!” he moved towards the car, before stopping abruptly. “Oh, yeah! The show I’ve been telling you about is in a few days.”

   “Oh, good call!” Luca replied instead. “Haven’t seen Mikey in ages. Dude really be pursuing that dream of his, eh?” he smiled. “You’re coming too? It’s a whole-ass festival! It’s the talk of the town at this time of the year!”

   Joseph glanced at Aesop for a confirmation, yet the man didn’t seem entirely pleased with the idea. “We’ll see.” He made no promises, considering that neither of them were fond of the crowds or hustle in general.

   “Not the party animals, I see.” Luca laughed. “If you make a decision, hit me up. I’d be more than happy to take you there. The more, the merrier!” he concluded, finally taking his seat in the car. Norton waved as well, claiming shotgun. The other two returned the greet, and they parted ways.

   The cabin Joseph chose for their holiday was spacious to say the least. Aesop still considered it to be too extra, seeing that they were barely two people. The master bedroom, that Joseph had been so excited about, was on the second storey. It extended with a balcony that watched over the ocean, equipped with an artificial garden of tropical flowers.

   Outside, secluded from the main sitting area, was an uncovered hot tub. An interesting design choice, as it was surrounded by glass panels, painted in different colours to mask the steaming bubbles. It added to the liveliness of the place, where everything glowed under the sun’s touch. Joseph couldn’t wait to set up his camera and take photos.

   When Aesop hit the mattress, he almost sunk into it, and he closed his eyes with a contented sigh. Joseph only watched him in amusement. “We’ve barely arrived, and the first thing you do is go to sleep?”

   Aesop hummed. “It’s been a long day.” He then rolled on his side and patted the space next to him. “C’mere.” He slurred sleepily.

   Joseph complied, letting go of the bag he had been holding. He laid next to the other, closing the distance with his arm. When the smaller body snuggled closer to him, he laughed. “You’re a big baby, you know that?”

   “No, you.” The mumble was almost inaudible, yet Joseph caught it anyway. He only pressed a smile against the top of Aesop’s head in response. There was silence around them. The sound of crashing waves was muffled, yet it was there, strangely comforting. Proof of a beating heart, of soft breathing was more than enough to put their minds at ease. They relished the moment, caged in each other’s arms and so far away from the rest of the world.

———

   “Can you smile for me, bébé?” Joseph mused as he paced around, in search for good light. Aesop scoffed at his words, merely folding his arms over his chest and sighing. Instead of fulfilling his lover’s request, he let a frown paint his features. Joseph pouted in his direction, lowering the camera from his face.

   “This is the seventh picture you’ve taken.” Aesop pointed out, just as Joseph’s shoulders slumped in defeat. He smiled at the reaction, making his way towards him. The sea’s breeze fluttered his hair gently. “I promise I’ll let you take more later; can’t we just spend time together? I missed you.” He wrapped his arms around Joseph’s torso, and buried his face in his chest.

   He failed to notice, but Joseph’s eyes had widened, and he stared at the figure hugging him for a while, before mimicking his actions. He sketched a tired smile, and Aesop’s hold tightened. “I’m here now, Aesop.” A kiss on the top of his head followed his whisper, which caused Aesop’s breath to hitch. “I’m here.”

   There was a rather unfamiliar tug at Joseph’s insides. Had he neglected Aesop that much? He’d been busy indeed, since his office hours had him waking up early in the morning, with so many of the times leaving Aesop still sleeping. He’d also taken extra work, receiving commissions from rather known figures or proposals from agencies. Aesop had never really complained before, though. And Joseph hadn’t questioned it either.

   But those hadn’t been happening for long, had they? If Joseph thought back to the first week of working overtime, he’d be brought back to… late January, perhaps. That couldn’t be it, though. Joseph bit his lower lip; so he’d been indeed caught up in this for more than half a year, no wonder Aesop was so glad to be together again.

   He ran a hand through the gray locks soothingly. “I’m so sorry.”

   “You’re an idiot, you know that?” Despite his words, Aesop was smiling, and his hand rose to stroke the other’s cheek tenderly. Joseph could see the glassy twinkle of Aesop’s eyes and his heart shrunk. Even his voice had broken in the end.

   Yes, Joseph knew he was an idiot. The biggest idiot there was. “I know…” He cupped the other’s hand, and turned his head to leave a kiss on his palm. “…I know.” He smiled against the ring hugging Aesop’s finger, and the other giggled in return. “What can I do for you to forgive me?”

   “Well…” and Aesop moved to take his hands, before dragging him towards the sea behind them. “You can let down that camera of yours and focus on reality for a change.” There was no hesitation in Joseph’s movement as he carefully set the device down. He let himself guided by the other, who currently had a relieved smile painting his features.

   The sun was setting right behind the calm waves of the sea. The water was warm, giving just enough chills to keep them stuck to the reality they lived in. The trail their steps left was washed down, and they continued their stroll on the shore. A lonely seagull followed from above, crying distantly. Otherwise, they were all alone.

   And maybe the silence was just enough for them to relish the seclusion, just enough to realize how right being by themselves was. It was what they had grown accustomed to, was it not? Searching for comfort in one another and one another alone; discarding the outside to find shelter in each other’s arms.

   It could almost be considered funny how dependent they had grown to the other’s presence. But they didn’t mind. They had laid their hearts bare before, and would continue to do so in the future as well, with the guarantee that it wouldn’t be broken in the end.

   That was what love meant, right?

   Love… a powerful word for them both, a word that stole family, and a word that ripped a part of their humanity from them. The road they took to healing was harsh, but not without end. Whatever mattered now was just how strong they had become, leaning on each other’s shoulders when life was tough. Oh, cruel was love, but sweet was passion.

   And yet, they wouldn’t have it any other way.

   “Hey, Aesop?” Joseph stopped in his tracks, turning towards the water. Aesop followed his movements, prompting himself by the photographer’s side. He eyed the other curiously. “Do you see how far the sea stretches from here?”

   Aesop hummed, gazing at the sunlight that was slowly bleeding into the horizon. He shook his head. “It sort of feels as though it will never end.” And Joseph smiled at his words; leave it to Aesop to give the most poetic of answers.

   “That’s how loving you feels.” Silence followed, but mild enough to find them both contemplating the confession. It took Joseph a few more moments to notice that the hand in his hold was trembling. His head snapped to his side next, just in time to catch the single tear travelling down Aesop’s cheek. The finger wiping it away was soft, and seemingly, just enough to break the dam that Aesop had been struggling to keep together.

   The smaller man threw himself in the other’s arms, hiding his face in the fabric of his shirt. He shouldn’t be crying. Not then, and not there. And yet, there was no stopping it, because with every sob, every hitch of breath and every tender stroke of Joseph’s hand against his head, he found it harder to keep his composure. Joseph didn’t scold him, however; he never did.

   And Aesop would blame everything on the understanding he had received all those times. Because Joseph was a sentimentalist, and he’d encouraged Aesop to express his feelings freely, to cry and laugh without a care, to cherish and despise alike, to be human. If he had grown to let feelings guide him in his path, it was nothing but Joseph’s fault.

   Aesop both appreciated and loathed it.

   What he could never get tired of were the warm embraces he’d seek when his own mind became too overwhelming. Nothing would compare to the security of being protectively guarded from both the world and himself. Once in Joseph’s arms, thoughts dissipated, leaving only the shadow of consciousness to vainly haunt him.

   Was that what trust meant?

   Trust too, had played the villain’s role so many times before. People came and people left, some with bittersweet memories, while others with painful scars. And yet, they tried again, after finding each other. And trust would tie them together, or break them apart. Only time will tell.

   Under the final burning rays of dusk, they kissed. And there was relief in that kiss, there was passion that had them both clinging onto one another desperately, as if afraid of losing the other. They smiled, and it was enough, since in no other way could they convey the heat flooding their chests. Just being was enough in that moment.

———

   “You woke up early.” Joseph pushed his hair to the side, as he left a kiss behind his ear. Goosebumps ran down Aesop’s neck in response, and an amused breath tickled him further. “Bonjour, dearest.”

   Aesop had been on the balcony when Joseph woke up. A gush of wind had played with his shirt just enough to expose the bare thighs, now painted in faint blues and purples. The man paid it no mind, only leaning on the railing and absent-mindedly gazing at the scenery.

   Joseph could tell his thoughts were flying somewhere, alongside the birds’ dance, and he knew it was the perfect time to make his way to him. And there he was now, following Aesop’s line of sight. He had trapped him in a hug, and was slowly swaying side-to-side.

   “So did you.” Aesop pointed out, leaning back. He received an agreeing hum in return, before they fell back into the silence. They hadn’t realized before then, but they had found themselves engulfed in silence rather frequently. It brought comfort and serenity, especially when all that they needed was each other’s presence.

   It was the same silence as they drank their coffee outside. A couple of exchanged kisses here and there only happened as they waited, and as they dressed for the day. Aesop was afraid they wouldn’t even make it out of their room from how eager Joseph had been to drag him back into slow dances across the room.

   But seeing the situation at hand, he actually wished they wouldn’t have made it out of their room at all. “Last one to reach the shore doesn’t get dessert later!” Joseph had yelled before taking off towards said destination. Aesop hadn’t even had time to react.

   With a shake of his head, Aesop smiled. He followed right after the other, not particularly interested in winning the race. Joseph was already far ahead, and without even looking back, he splashed the first waves that hit his bare feet. Sometimes Aesop wondered what child was trapped in his husband’s body.

   He stopped. It was their honeymoon, but he’d never really considered their position until then. No, they were no longer “just dating”, Joseph was not his “boyfriend” anymore, and that change still needed time to settle in Aesop’s mind. His hands fiddled anxiously, involuntarily moving to play with the silver band wrapped around his finger.

   That was the proof of their commitment, was it not?

   Commitment was frightening, the thought in itself bringing responsibilities and promises they’ve both sworn to keep. Although that was not a difficulty; there was nobody else in their eyes other than themselves alone, and such certainty rose comfort.

   What was not raising comfort at the moment, however, was how dangerously happy Joseph was as he ran towards Aesop. The man had been caught in his train of thought for a while it seemed, and Joseph was most likely planning something, if Aesop could guess from the look on his face. He instinctively took a few steps back once the photographer approached, lifting his arms to block what was coming his way. His eyes were shut tight.

   Instead of having anything collide into him, he felt himself losing contact with the ground. The sudden movement caused him to let out a yelp, but soon enough recognized the arms that gripped at his back and legs. Damn Joseph for being able to pick him up so easily. “Joseph…!” he squeaked when the other started running again.

   The response he received was laughter. “I won the race, so I rightfully deserve the promised dessert, no?” When Aesop felt the first droplets of water splash against them, he pushed himself against Joseph more, attempting to keep his clothes dry.

   “Why would you—Joseph, we’re still fully dressed!”

   “So?”

   “What do you mean ‘so’? Put me down this instant!”

   “As you wish.” And Aesop already felt hopeless the second he caught a glimpse of Joseph’s grin. Not even a moment later, he felt himself surrounded by the body of water, and he jumped right back to his feet. The glare he sent in Joseph’s direction did nothing but feed the other’s amusement.

   “You are unbelievable.” He muttered after, shuddering at the chills that ran down his spine. His clothes clung uncomfortably to his skin now, and he sighed in defeat. He eyed Joseph, who was just a little too pleased with the situation, and thought of his next move. He swiftly draped himself around his shoulders next, making sure to push himself against the other as much as he could.

   “Wait, you’re cold!” Joseph shrieked, attempting to remove the now giggling leech from him. He only ended up tripping and causing them both to fall in the water. Him on his ass, and Aesop, still hugging him, right on top. They looked in each other’s eyes for a while, before breaking down in a fit of laughter.

   It was almost funny how they brought out the child in each other with every small action.

———

   “Ah, Joseph… Wait!” Another shudder from Aesop and Joseph's previous moves quickly came to a stop. He waited for the approval to resume his actions, but Aesop just refused to make eye contact. When the other finally gave a small nod, he grabbed his hand again. “Be gentle! It hurts!” Another hiss and the photographer clicked his tongue in annoyance.

   “I told you to wear more sunscreen, now stop squirming!” he prevented the other from retracting his arm, which only had Aesop whining in return. Oh, and how cocky he’d been when insisting that he would not get sunburnt. Joseph would almost laugh at him now, though he didn’t quite feel like adding to the other’s misery.

   He skillfully spread the lotion on Aesop’s tender skin, with gentleness so surprising even for himself. Aesop was not to blame for reacting so harshly to it either, since the burns were in no way mild; his milky white complexion did not help either. “…I’m sorry. I never got sunburnt before, I didn’t think it would be possible to happen.” He spoke after Joseph was done, to which the other only smiled.

   “We’ll just have to be more careful in the future.” He put the products back in their bag before taking some others for himself. He took off his shirt next. “But no more sunbathing for you. Ever.”

   “I never agreed to it in the first place?” Aesop tilted his head, clearly recalling Joseph coming up with the idea. For Aesop it was good enough to just build sandcastles under one of the umbrellas. He never did, however, he just realized.

   But even so, he couldn’t help but admire what work the sun had done to Joseph’s body. Now, as he was massaging different moisturizers down his arms, Aesop’s eyes were glued to each stroke.

   He knew Joseph had noticed his stares. And he knew he was merely putting on a show for him. Aesop gulped drily, before averting his eyes. But Joseph had the audacity to laugh at him, when he knew fully well that he was deprived of his touches too. Maybe Aesop would have considered himself a masochist some other time, but not now, when the burns bit at his skin with every breath of a touch.

   “I’m sorry bébé, I won’t be able to cuddle you for a while it seems.” Joseph smiled apologetically. It would only be a couple of days. No, that couple of days sounded rather painful for the two of them. He shrugged anyway, snorting when Aesop whined wistfully.

   “What do we do, then?”

   Joseph hummed, placing a finger on his chin. His eyes lit up the very next second and he rushed to his coat to search its pockets. “Wanna see what those guys from back then are up to? Maybe ask when that festival is.”

   The reaction Aesop gave him was definitely expected. And Joseph understood; yet there was an itch in his hand to reach out to the man from before anyway. Norton had been a headache for them, too, though the photographer considered the event as a refresher. They could try to break out of their comfort zone.

   At the same time, Aesop could use the change in pattern. Joseph knew he could discard the discomfort, because he had done so before. And that had brought them together.

   Aesop was a fresh graduate when they had first met, at some house party. While he was Naib’s friend, Joseph was Jack’s colleague, and they had had the chance to interact because of those two. Jack even admitted to plotting the matchmaking for months prior, but the photographer couldn’t even be mad at his friend. It was a good call in the end, and he regretted none of it.

   So now, when Aesop was throwing him that unimpressed look, Joseph couldn’t help but press on. He knew just the pout that Aesop could never say no to, and the puppy eyes that glittered with mocking hope and pleas. Joseph knew he had achieved his goal when the other let out an exasperated sigh. “Fine. Whatever.”

   And Joseph called Luca then. It was surprising how glad the man seemed to be to receive the call. He’d told them all the information that they needed to know, making sure to address even the topics regarding dress codes. His enthusiasm was definitely overwhelming, even for Joseph, who was constantly exposed to tiring workmates and personalities.

   He had attempted to cut the conversation short, which only worked once Luca stated he had some work to finish. The man announced that he’ll pick them up the very next day, alongside Norton and some other friends Joseph forgot the names of.

   He turned to Aesop in the end. “Ready for a party?”

   “Absolutely not.”

———

   Maybe he wasn’t entirely ready, just as he said, though, once there, he was definitely awed by the attractions. Luca hadn’t been exaggerating when describing the place; in some ways though, it was even more grandiose than his words.

   The music booming from the stage vibrated in his chest, his ears and his head, and he could barely hear anybody who was talking around him. The crowd was unbearable as well, and he squeezed Joseph’s hand as he guided them through the endless waves of people. He himself was having difficulty in trying to keep up with the others, who were clearly unbothered by slamming themselves against the rest.

   The festival was held in what seemed to be a theme park of sorts. The area was ginormous, but, with the event happening, it was filled to the brim. Aesop would have already grown nauseous at the sight, though he attempted to keep himself on his feet for a while longer. It was enough that with every person pushing past him, the painful sunburns would only needle at his skin.

   Aesop despised the sun then, and grew to hate it more and more as seconds passed. He mentally thanked the circumstances for the meeting to be at dusk, when the coolness of the upcoming night slightly soothed the discomfort.

   They reached the covered stadium just in time to occupy their reserved seats. Everything had seemed to be taken care of, it was almost reassuring. The evening until then had been chaotic to say the least, only worsening as the night advanced. Norton definitely had too many mojitos to drink, and they had lost Andrew, one of Luca’s friends, in the crowd more times than they could remember. Waiting to use the bathroom once had them stalling for almost an hour.

   Being able to finally settle down took away a good amount of the tension that had been built up until then. There was a significantly smaller amount of people gathered in the makeshift circus as well. It wasn’t long until the spotlights started flickering, and, soon enough, figures made their way to the centre of the room.

   Music marked the start of the show, and all eyes focused on the synchronized dancing on the stage. In the lead, a woman set the rhythm of the group, who copied her moves with flawless accuracy. Ribbons flew around them, and, with the costumes they were wearing, they resembled wings, fluttering and colliding into one another. It was hypnotic how the colours shimmered across the room, bouncing and swirling with no end.

   Then, from above, metal circles swung to the pace of the song, the people holding onto them twirling and spinning in the air. They stopped for a moment, and a new silhouette joined. His body was a mere flash of light in the scene, jumping from one platform to the other and lifting himself right up.

   The sight of blond hair had Norton almost jumping from his seat, all while excitedly screaming encouraging praises. Luca joined him right after, although lacking the wildness the other possessed. Aesop glanced at them, with a concerned frown plastered on his face. He quickly considered ignoring the two, and he scooted closer to Joseph. The man was calmly watching the play of movements unfurling in front of his eyes, and Aesop smiled at the contented expression on his face.

   The suspended figure from before hooked his legs around one of the metal circles, swinging upside down. With his hands, he caught the balls thrown in his direction, swiftly flinging them in the air and skillfully grabbing them from their fall. He juggled with them for a while longer, all while the surrounding dancers fluttered their props.

   The circle dropped, alarmingly close to the ground, which earned a few gasps in surprise. He never stirred from his tricks, however, only using the acquired boost to change the position. Still upturned, he held himself with one arm, while the other continued the juggle with frightening precision. His legs bent to the tune, a minimal dance to accompany the rest of the movement.

   Ending their moment with a dangerous flip, the acrobat landed on the ground, posing for the public alongside the other performers. The music stopped then as well, followed by the thunders of clapping coming from the audience. Norton had started cheering again, and it seemed as though he unintentionally caught the attention of the blond on the stage. His eyes widened for a second, still glued on his spot, before he reluctantly followed the others to the exit.

   Was that the ‘Mike’ Norton had talked about?

   The question had been answered later, as they waited behind the tent. When the acrobat reached them, his surprised smile stretched wider. He greeted them individually, but then turned to the beaming Norton. “You’re here-! How are you here?”

   The other merely threw himself against the smaller man, caging him in a suffocating hug. Mike laughed at the small gesture, hugging back. “I booked a flight the second ya told me the date! I just had to be here.”

   “This was your first big show, ay?” Luca inquired once the two stepped away from each other. Mike nodded excitedly.

   “It was nuts! I think I exploded on the inside. The entire circus seemed to be on fire, the adrenaline was so much! Oh boy!” he chuckled at his own giddiness, then turned to the others. “I’m so happy you all came, it’s an honour!”

   Victor, who had also joined the group, raised his hands to wave them. He drew a few symbols with his fingers, while also nodding a couple of times. Andrew cleared his throat when he was done. “He said that you were amazing and congratulates you on your career.” Victor smiled in approval.

   Mike scratched the back of his head. “Aw, shucks, it’s rather mediocre work. Thank you, though!” he gave a small bow, taking a few steps back afterwards. “Are you doing anything tonight? It’d be nice to catch up!” he quickly changed the subject afterwards. “Aaaand…”  he turned to Joseph and Aesop, who had been silently watching the exchange before them.

   “It would be nice to get to know each other better. That is, if you two wish to.” He finished.

   “Hey, can’t we come over? These dudes got a huge-ass cabin we could destroy tonight!” Norton suddenly joined the conversation. The looks on the lovers’ faces had him laughing once again.

   “Oh, no. Nort, that’s disrespectful. Do not mind him, we don’t plan to invade your privacy.”

   Joseph’s hum interrupted Luca’s speech, and he shrugged. “It wouldn’t be a problem, actually.” He felt Aesop tugging at his sleeve as a hidden warning. “You may come over.” The next tug was definitely more irritated. He ignored it.

   “Party rockers in the house tonight!”

   Mike deadpanned. “Uh, Norton… It’s ‘party rock is’.” Norton stopped and threw the same gaze at the acrobat.

   Oh, dear God…

———

   Thankfully, their cabin hadn’t suffered any damage, even after the surprise house party they had thrown. They had arrived late enough to lack the energy for any raucous activities, and the night merely found them chatting at a neon’s light on the patio. The wine barely had any effect on their tired minds, other than unsealing the barrier of their words.

   If Norton and Luca could be considered the talkative ones, it came as a surprise that Andrew had so many stories to tell. Sure, most of them made almost no sense, but to his sleep-deprived listeners, the information was rather interesting… or, as interesting as grave digging could be.

   “I do not steal corpses!” he yelled at some point at a mocking accusation he had received. “A dead person should be respected and cherished. I, by no means, have disregarded a body in my life.” And, following his words were blabbers about burial ceremonies, about the care routine of freshly preserved corpses, and details the others could really do without knowing. Aesop had joined on the topic of embalming, for some reason, and Joseph couldn’t really remember a time when he’d seen him so eager to speak.

   He may try to initiate more talks over wine in the future.

   Their guests had left with the sunrise, and the lovers found themselves tidying up in silence. It was Aesop’s sudden hiccup that had Joseph snort and turn to him. “You good there?” There was no answer, and it seemed like Aesop was deeply concentrating on… staring into nothingness? The photographer approached slowly. “Aesop?”

   After placing the palm of his hand on his shoulder, the other jolted with another hiccup. Aesop whined, and Joseph ruffled his hair. “I’m tired.” he then mumbled, rubbing one of his eyes sleepily. Slumping against Joseph allowed the other to cage him in a hug, before pulling away and taking the smaller hand in his.

   “Then let’s sleep.” He offered, and Aesop nodded, accepting the hand and following him upstairs. The cool touch of the bed sheets knocked them out almost instantly. From the slightly opened balcony door, the crash of waves lulled them to sleep, and somewhere from behind, the sun was creeping its way on the sky.

   Birds cried their greeting to the new day then, a welcome that the two sleeping men only heard in their dreams.

———

   “Luca said he’ll arrive shortly.” Aesop’s voice resounded in the kitchen, as he searched for the other. “Joseph? Where are you?” he had just brought the last bags from upstairs, yet there was no sight of the photographer. Only after glancing outside had he noticed the lonely figure sitting on the shore. He quietly made his way there.

   Joseph was in his own mind at the time. The calm of the sea drove his thoughts to infinity and beyond, and he merely looked ahead, letting the wind rush through his locks. He hadn’t tied his hair, Aesop had noticed, and smiled at him. He quietly sat down beside the other, taking in the scenery.

   “It’s over already…” Joseph let out a breathy laugh. “What if we never returned home?” he jokingly inquired, leaning back on his arms. He turned his head towards Aesop, who made no move in exchange. Joseph recognized the twinkle in his eyes, and tilted his head.

   “I wouldn’t mind...” Aesop mumbled. He shook his head after, playing the sand from below him through his fingers. “As long as I’m with you.” He finished before pushing himself back to his feet. He dusted his clothes off, and offered his hand to Joseph.

   The photographer smiled, hoisting himself up and using the extended hand to pull the other in his arms. “Well, good news…” he whispered as he brushed his lips over Aesop’s. “I’ll forever be by your side.”

   “You promise?”

   Joseph caught his words in the chaste peck. He ran his thumb over Aesop’s cheek as he deepened the kiss, while his other hand rested on the other’s lower back. Arms were wrapped around his shoulders in return, and he smiled.

   “I swear on my life.”