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" ... Dude, " quietly does Edric say. Hunter's hands are on his face, holding him not gently, but firmly, and he can feel the sweat rolling off of them; as if Edric was a flame and getting too close to him would melt his face off.
Hunter's not moving. Hands stay firm as if stuck to Edric's face. Edric's face is burning and so is Hunter's, and in a way, it feels like they're moths; just drawn to the beauty of the flame.
Then again, is it the beauty or is it the ruin that they're drawn to? The destruction the flame brings? The way it moves, not gracefully, not like a poem, but like a famine.
It should hurt Hunter's hands to touch him, Edric thinks, and yet all they do is sweat nervously. Being held by him is a reminder that he's not something that's been turned to ash, not yet, there's still hope for him to be something beautiful. It's like Hunter has a halo over him and Edric is the only one who can feel it, touch it, truly appreciate it. He touches him kindly and it feels like he's The Titan's muse.
And then, Hunter pulls his hands away, pulls himself away from Edric. "I–"
Edric looks at him confused. "Hey, man, what's wrong?" And then his mind starts to wander, a rush of panic spiking in his chest, "Did I do something? Oh God, I'm so sorry, I didn't–"
"What? No! No. " His reassurance doesn't quite lessen the panic Edric feels, "You didn't do anything wrong!" And then he repeats himself, "You didn't do anything wrong. You're... You're perfect! You're good and you're kind and you're so great, Edric! I'm just... " he takes a deep breath, "not ready yet."
"Oh... Oh."
Hunter's expression is insecure and guilty, causing aching and yearning in Edric's chest that replaced the panicking. "Sorry. I'm-"
"Dude, it's fine! Don't wanna force you to do anything you're uncomfy with," and for the first time; it's not like Edric did anything wrong. "Never ever, okay? And besides" their hands touch for a moment, and then they interwine, it feels like hugging a bonfire. "I'm glad just being here with you."
"Huh... cool... cool..." Hunter says softly and squeezes Edric's hand tightly. Small smile makes its way on his face as he leans on the other boy's shoulder, almost looking like he was ready to sink in any moment. "I'm... glad you're here with me, too."
Edric thinks he loves him, a whole lot, and he thinks if it would take eternity; he was willing to wait that eternity just for a chance for Hunter to hold his face again.