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The evening was dark except for the occasional flicker of fireflies, the glowing approval of the man on the Moon, and the bright smiles of the two teen boys standing in the green field, which was alive with love and activity.
"You've really never seen these before?” Monty caught one of the buzzing fireflies between his callused hands, peeking through the cracks in his fingers at it as it flickered more frequently. "I thought everywhere had 'em. I used to catch ‘em all the time when I was a kid. I'd take out the glowy part and smear it o– hey, don't look at me like that!"
Sun's look of horror was replaced by amusement as Monty playfully nudged him with his hip, throwing Sun off balance and nearly making him fall. "Why would you do that?!" Sun asked, some horrified disbelief lingering in his tone but asking mostly good-naturedly.
"It would make a good temporary glow bracelet! Or a ring, or whatever ya wanted. I didn't know it hurt them or nothing. I was only, like, six." Monty moved the firefly into one carefully closed fist. With his now free hand, he reached out for one of Sun's, taking it and unfolding his ring-covered fingers gently.
Sun's face flushed, and he cursed how one of his cheeks was paler than the other, hating that the blush would be visible and give away his feelings towards the other. He watched, hoping Monty didn't look up at him and notice, as the other placed the firefly in his hand before curling his stylish fingers gently around it.
"There." Monty pushed Sun's fist up and closer to eye level, his touch lingering on his wrist to both Sun’s delight and trepidation. The blush was only gonna grow with Monty touching him so sweetly and carefully. "You should take a look through your fingers. It's real pretty up close– you can see the red on it this way."
Sun hesitated, his fist shaking for multiple reasons. Monty's eyebrows creased in worry, and he rubbed the others wrist soothingly, his eyes flickering to Sun’s but unable to see his face as Sun immediately turned away. "It won't bite? Or jump out?"
Monty shook his head a little. "Nah, you're good, sunshine, don’t worry.” Monty called him that all of the time, but recently--as in a few months ago--it had started to affect Sun differently. Instead of the simple joy it used to cause, he now felt a pleasant fluttering in his chest every time Monty said it. "Take a peek! It's hella cool, I promise."
Sun took a deep breath before finally bringing his closed fist up to his eyes, separating his fingers just a little so that he could peek in at the little insect. "Aw, it is cute!" He said, and Monty nodded, finally letting go of Sun's wrist so that he could try and catch another one. "It's too bad Moon couldn't be here because of his home ec project." Sun stated, looking at the insect from multiple different angles. "He loves glowy stuff."
"Yeah, that's, uh–" Monty stopped his hunt for fireflies, awkwardly standing in place a few steps away from Sun. He tried to put his hands in the pockets of his studded leather jacket, as he did whenever he was feeling nervous, but forgot that he had left it at Sun’s house. All he was wearing right now was his black binder and some camouflage cargo shorts, along with his typical black platform boots (which still didn't make him taller than Sun, who had been tall and lanky since he first met him Junior year and was now hovering around 6’5”)
Monty cleared his throat, nervously rubbing the shaved sides of his head instead. His pinky traced slightly over the star design that Sun had shaved into his fade. Sun had started doing his hair for him a few months after they had first met, after the chick who he previously went to tried to give him a feminine cut, and the other barbers in their shitty town didn’t know how to handle his 4c dyed red curls. It went really badly at first, but Sun quickly got the hang of it, being as artsy as he was. Now, he was basically Monty’s personal barber, but he cut other people’s hair, too, sometimes. "That's too bad." He said, knowing the real reason Moon didn't come and biting his lip hard enough to bleed. It would be all for naught if he couldn't control his nerves. "We can come out some other time, if he's down."
Sun nodded rapidly and excitedly, looking up at Monty now. "I think that'd be fun! If we come when it's light out, we could make crowns and bracelets out of the flowers!" Sun was distracted and didn't notice the firefly sneaking out of his grasp until it was too late. "Oh, shoot! I'm sorry, wait, I'll catch it!" Sun tried to grab the firefly again, but it didn’t flicker any longer, easily blending in with the growing darkness. "No, come back!!"
The golden beads at the end of Sun's short box braids clinked together as he frantically looked around for the firefly, eyes full of growing panic. Monty smiled reassuringly at him as he said softly, "Hey, it's okay." He stepped closer to Sun, cupping his elbow so that those nervous brown eyes focused on him. Nodding his head to the side, Monty directed Sun's attention to all of the blinking lights still hovering over the flowery horizon. "Look at the field, there's millions of 'em! We can catch more later."
Sun sighed out in relief, calming as he looked over the scenery. It really was beautiful. Wildflowers grew in bunches as well as dandelions. Fireflies flew over them all, cicadas chirped in the distance, and clouds passed to reveal bright and twinkling stars. He looked over at Monty, and the already beautiful scene became absolutely perfect. He didn't have his shades on tonight, and Sun could see into his dark brown eyes, soft and caring and glowing despite the lack of light. Monty didn't like his eyes–swore they made him look too feminine–but Sun absolutely adored them. He liked the softness they brought Monty, but he understood how much Monty struggled with his self image at times, so he didn't push for him to keep the shades off. He only wished, sometimes, that Monty would stop constantly comparing himself to tough, burly men and accept that even the most masculine men looked soft sometimes.
Monty's hand slid down from Sun's elbow until he was gently holding his hand. This wasn't uncommon for them-–they tended to hold hands while weaving through crowds together–-but when he intertwined their fingers… Sun looked down at their held hands. The juxtaposition of Monty's black nail polish and Sun's yellow was beautiful and reminded him of a bee, which would most certainly thrive in a flowery field like this one. "I, uh, actually had a reason for bringing you out here. Don't get mad, but I even asked Moon to stay behind. He was real happy to do so, though, because he, uh, knows I.." He was momentarily distracted as Sun stepped closer, sliding his free hand down Monty's muscular bicep and forearm--causing him to shiver–before intertwining their other hands as well. "Sunny," Monty laughed out, nervously and breathlessly, as Sun's smile turned more knowing.
"He knows you what , Monty?" Sun questioned, his eyes crinkling with joy and playfulness. Monty was certain that Sun knew, now, because there was something else in those eyes that made his smile grow.
"You really gonna make me say it?" Monty asked as Sun pulled even closer somehow, bumping his forehead gently against Monty's and closing his eyes. This close and through his own half-lidded eyes, Monty could see Sun's perfect eyeliner and long eyelashes. He was so handsome– beautiful, even.
He remembered when Sun and Moon were new to school. Sun had immediately been bullied or ignored by most of the class for his vitiligo and fashion sese, while Moon had been completely avoided by many for beating the fuck out of the people who bullied his twin. Monty had found them huddled near a tree during lunch one day, and Moon had been immediately suspicious of him while Sun had cowered away. He couldn't blame then for their reactions– after all, this was Junior year, and Monty had earned a fearful reputation around the school from his constant suspensions for fights and property damage. To them, he had probably looked like just another bully. Regardless, Monty had crouched down next to them, removed his shades, and pulled back his shirt collar to show them his binder strap. "I get it." He had told them, in a voice that cracked from testosterone and anxiety, "They don't like me, neither. I’m Monty." He had jerked his chin to the picnic table behind him, where his friends were enthusiastically waving. "Come on ‘n’ I'll introduce ya to the only people worth it around here." And so he had. Freddy and Bonnie, the only out couple in their grade, and Roxy and Chica, who weren't dating then but eventually got together (like everyone knew they would). The friend group had welcomed them with open arms, and they had all become inseparable after that moment, especially Sun and Monty.
"I'd really like it if you did." Sun spoke softly, but his voice was all that Monty could focus on, so he had no trouble hearing him. Everything around them–-every sound, every beauty, every feeling–-they all faded away as though they were nothing to him--nothing to his senses--when Sun was here, filling them all up. He smelled like cedarwood and literal sunshine, he felt so warm and so safe, he tasted– well, he didn't know how he tasted. But he wanted to. And their lips were so irritatingly close that he only needed to incline his head to find out.
"I love you." Monty finally breathed out, laughing with the relief saying it brought. "I've been–"
"Can I kiss you?" Sun interrupted, squeezing Monty's hands to still his shaking and show his excitement. "Sorry, I–" He swallowed, and his Adam's apple bobbed with the motion as Monty watched, glad he wasn't the only one nervous. "I didn't mean to interrupt, I'm just--"
Monty laughed more, absolutely giddy with love for the other, "Yeah," he said, grinning, "Fucking please , actually."
Sun leaned down, Monty tilted his head up, and their lips met right there in that beautiful field. As fireflies lit up the night in their efforts to find mates and cicadas played their beautiful chirping songs for the same reason, Sun and Monty held each other and knew they, unlike all of those insects, had already found their perfect match.
When their lips, both now shimmering under the moonlight with the orange creamsicle-flavored lip gloss Sun wore, finally retracted from each other, Sun again leaned his forehead against Monty's. "I love you, too." He spoke, sweetly and breathlessly, while looking into Monty's loving eyes.
The night grew darker and more still, but the two hardly noticed, completely lost in each other and their love.
When they arrived at Sun's home later that night, covered in sticky lip gloss kisses and love bites, Moon surprised them at the door with a cake that said "congrats, you finally confessed, dumbasses" on it with green and orange frosting. He had made it himself– he was quite the baker. They all gathered around the center kitchen counter and ate the cake joyfully, not even caring how early in the morning it was. Moon's excitement for the others (and general nocturnal tendencies), and Sun and Monty's love gave them the energy to stay up and enjoy each other's company.