Work Text:
RUFUS
"Hey, Roof?"
Mateo was sitting on the grass against a big oak, phone in hand and only the left earbud in. Rufus leaned his bike against the tree and crouched next to him. "What's up?"
Mateo unraveled the mess of cords from his pocket and handed Rufus the other earbud.
"I think you'd like this."
Without questioning, Rufus slid it into his ear. It fit snuggly and when Mateo hit 'play', he could hear a tinkling musical buildup. Like a music box being spun too quickly.
A minute or so later, Rufus caught himself grinning. Mateo was right, he did love it. It was powerful and witty and had just the right amount of cursing. He looked over at Mateo to find him leaning back against the trunk of the tree, eyes closed, a smile slowly spreading across his face. This was perhaps the happiest Rufus had ever seen him.
Maybe he sensed Rufus staring or maybe he just felt it was an appropriate opportunity but, with his eyes still closed, he said: "Reminded me of us."
Rufus' eyes widened the slightest bit. It wasn't like Mateo to be so open. But stranger things had certainly happened, even in the last few hours. "Oh yeah?" He teased. "How so?"
Mateo opened his eyes and turned to face him. Rufus realised this was the first time he'd seen him without his glasses. His eyes seemed glassy and his cheeks were redening. "The song. It's called 'Say Yes To Life'. By an Australian band called Gang of Youths." Rufus raised an eyebrow. He still didn't get it, although it was definitely a cool song.
Mateo waved his hand over the phone. "Just listen, you'll see." Rufus tried to concentrate on the lyrics:
And I won't leave you hanging in the wind
So let me love with a vengeance
My sad sweet and unfinished friend
He felt his face flush but decided to ignore it. He kept listening:
You wanna feel absolved tonight
I've heard what you're saying
It's ok not to be so alright
But don't be alone
Did I tell you that I spent most of my sister's wedding stoned?
"It's a 'don't give up' song." Mateo was staring at him now, his eyes reflected specks of gold from the setting sun. "The singer, David, he had some difficulties with mental health and he, well..." He turned away, but only slightly. "The song's about continuing. Continuing to live because there's always something out there to look forward to. Continuing to go on and do what you love. Just...continuing."
Rufus nodded. "You mean like 'carpe diem'?"
"Right. But also, like, seeing the beauty in every day and understanding that shit stuff can happen to anyone. Sometimes it's just a matter of who was unlucky enough to be standing closest to the explosion..."
"Kind of like us." Rufus tilted his head back and cast his eyes to the trees above. All the individual branches stretching across the sky, criss-crossing between the leaves of the oak.
"Yeah," Mateo whispered, almost breathed it. "Like us."
He leaned, almost cautiously, into Rufus' shoulder and let his hand fall on the grass between them. His hair was blowing in the wind, framing his face, and he'd removed his glasses so Rufus could see his eyes properly.
Rufus looked at him, really looked at him. This wasn't the Mateo who had been too afraid to leave his apartment. This wasn't the Mateo who had broken down in his own grave. No. This was a new, more defiant, more self-assured Mateo.
He turned his head and Rufus saw tears pricking at the corners of his eyes. But his face was bright and his lips weren't trembling.
These were tears of joy.
MATEO
He felt his breath catch in his throat at his touch and looked down at his hand. Rufus wrapped his fingers gently around Mateo's palm and held it to his chest.
"It's going to be okay," he whispered, and squeezed his hand. "You're going to be okay."
And suddenly Mateo couldn't wait any longer. The feelings that had built up over the course of the day were suddenly magnified by the wild impermanence of it all. It seemed if there were ever to be a more romantic moment than this it would have to be at the end of the world.
And, in a way, it kind of was.
He leaned into Rufus and pressed his lips against his.
He felt an electric shock run down his spine as Rufus reciprocated and in that moment, he knew. It had always been him. From the moment he read his profile to the moment they first met in person to the moment happening right now, he had always been more than a friend.
Mateo wanted to laugh and sing and shed tears of joy all at once as Rufus curled a hand gently around his neck, cradling his cheek. Mateo linked his hands together behind Rufus' head and leaned further into the kiss.
So overwhelmed with feelings, the next part was a blur for Mateo but when they managed to pull apart, they were both lying on the grass. Rufus's hand was pressed against Mateo's bare chest beneath his shirt as he tried to catch his breath. Mateo was laughing, tears streaming down his face.
"Mateo? Are you okay? I'm sorry, if I went too far I–" Mateo kissed him again and ran a hand through his hair.
"I just..." he spoke between breaths, half giggling. "I just can't...see...without..." he laughed and gestured to the abandoned pair of glasses propped up against the tree. Rufus reached over and picked them up, then slid them tentatively onto Mateo's nose. He blinked a couple of times before finding Rufus again. Then cupped the back of his neck with his hand.
"Better?"
"Much."