Work Text:
Aristotle
He loved Dante. In a scary certain sort of way. Knowing Dante, being with him, being close to him, it made him so happy. The smell of his hair when he comes back from the pool made his heart feel a certain sort of way, that Dante smells like that, that he can recognize it as Dante, that it’s his.
Knowing he cared about him, that he loved him, he quite simply adored that feeling.
Even with all the adoration though, he doubted he’d ever have the strength to tell Dante so explicitly, so wholly, that’s why when his parents went out to Chicago for a sudden speech for a night, he used every ounce of bravery in his body to ask such a simple, small question that would lead to so much more.
“Can I stay the night at your place?”
“Of course! Have any plans~?”
When Dante looked at me like that I knew what he was thinking, the way his eyebrows moved and smile got so crinkled, like the same level of playfulness as when he throws his shoes. It had to be in the same vein as ‘the’ letter. The embarrassing one. Ari hated that he was in that mind so often. Not that he had ever said that he disliked it or didn’t want it, it was such a crude and vulgar thing to think about in his eyes. Isn’t that not love, not proper?
Just that ... sex was just. Gross. Being naked with each other somehow draws people closer together. He knew how that happened physically but didn’t know how emotionally it would bring people together. He didn't mind not understanding.
“I just wanted to go over, y’know, talk to you. Spend time together.”
Dante’s face somehow lit up and frowned at the same time but it was simply so sweet Ari still loved it nonetheless, how his best friend slash maybe boyfriend was so emotionally open, how fun it was to watch.
“Fine by me! See you soon Ari! I’ll make any preparations we need!” His voice sounded teasingly sweet.
Hanging up the phone had never felt as suffocating as it did then, being toyed with wasn’t his favorite thing but he would love to do nothing but sit and listen to that voice for hours, the stars above them, it would be so delicate and so to each other. Reading poetry to him, so deliberate and soft, care simply dripping from the tone.
Tonight though, tonight he’d see him again. Tonight he could sleep in his arms and not have to worry about any nightmares, it would be just them.
—
After arriving at Dante’s house he saw a small loving surprise, just a tiny set out of menudo.
“Ta-da! I said I would prepare, didn’t I?”
“Dante, you sweet adorable boy,” I just had to hug him so so very tight, burying my face in his neck and laughing, “you’re amazing.”
“I know, aren’t I? Plus, this isn’t even the best thing, look there’s more upstairs!”
Following him up to his room, it was so fun to see him with so much excitement but when he opened the door to let him in, it was such a small subtle excitement. The lighting and the curtains, the blankets and new art he had hung up, with the setting sun everything looked so orange, so carmely. So cozy, so. Safe.
“Wait, how’s the room different?”
“This!”- Dante, silly, goofy, Dante, dove straight for the bed and laid on it, limbs spread out before sitting up to look at Ari. “I’m the surprise…”
“Dante..” Sitting on the bed next to him, his face is so soft. “I love you..”
He’s . crying?
“Dante, Dante, are you okay why are you crying?”
“It’s because,, I’m happy,! I’m so happy to hear you say that, my angel,,”
"An. Angel? Your angel.??"
"Ari Mendoza.. I love you I love you I love you,, there's no reason you wouldn't be.,"
I could feel his arms on my back before I registered anything else, that I was crying too.
The softness of his shirt and skin, the motion of his hand on me.
I could feel his warmth soaking me up, a ray of sun just for me. An angel to a god.
I can feel my hands holding anything around me, mostly Dante.
"Dante,, you're. Not going to leave again, are you?"
"No, Ari. I'm not leaving. I'm not."
At this point I can hear him crying too, so I pull my knees in and slot myself into the space of his chest, fitting him. We're puzzle pieces. Not perfect, nothing ever is. But we're together.
In and out, the rise rise gentle fall, the melody of his living, beating heart. The sound he makes when he breathes a tiny small noise that reminded Ari of the noise Legs makes, a high airy tone of happiness.
His arms are hugging Dante. Dante is is hugging him.
They are alone, they are together.
They are safe.
Ari breaks out just long enough to pull a blanket over them, basking in their reflected warmth of the two of them.
"Do you remember, when you were sketching me?"
"Yeah?"
"This feels like that moment."
Dante didn't respond, he kind of just. Smiled. And Ari would sacrifice everything he had for that smile, it looked at him like everything made sense.
All the questions were answered.
All it took was someone else, not to fix them, but to be with.
His one sided life now had two, a coin.
And his parents support, and Dante's family's support. He had people.
People. Were there for him.
"Can I kiss you, Dante?"
His gasp sounded like what dreams would wish they could be, it made him so happy to hear him like that, to hear Him. Happy.
"Of course, please do."
It was nothing big or deep, he had seen kids do worse, Dante might have done worse, but that didn't matter. It's complexity didn't count for anything. Like how Dante's parents kissed each other's heads. So caring in such a small motion.
It was that they were!, there it was them!,, The bubbling heat in his eyes, the curve of Dante's smile, together they felt.. fitting.
Connected.
They lay like that for who knows how long, holding each other and saying small words of reassurance and affection. Time and time and time over they always felt so sweet.
At some point Dante fell asleep, Ari liked that. Looking at his face. He trusted Dante so much and was sure Dante trusted him too. So weakly open, asleep, revealed in his arms.
The night closed over them both, together with each other. Such a gentle intimacy in the small moment of togetherness.
"Sweet dreams, Dante, sweet dreams."