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“You're really beautiful.”
[Name] chokes on their spit, almost falling off the branch they're sitting on. Their cheeks heat up from the compliment. This was unexpected, considering Nico rarely complimented them. Not that he didn't want to— he would praise and compliment them every chance he got, if he was less awkward. Probably worship them, too. Woah, that's too much (though nothing is ever too much with [Name], but, whatever, he's getting sidetracked in his own thoughts) —, but he had trouble articulating his thoughts into speech when he had a literal deity in front of him, or so he claimed.
“Well, thank you,” they say, their voice cracking at every syllable, which Nico finds oddly endearing (well, Nico finds everything that [Name] does cute or endearing, so it shouldn't come as a surprise). He always finds [Name’s] reactions adorable, mostly because of how sincere they are. [Name's] sincerity and honesty is one of the many things he fell in love with. Wow, he's being a complete sap today.
He shifts on the sturdy branch, leaning against where it connects with the rest of the tree trunk and sits criss–cross, [Name] occupying his whole view. (And mind. And world, now that we're at it.)
“And, you're also very handsome,” Nico continues, smiling when he notices their ears flare up, and their eyes start to avoid him, looking at the ground below. “Also, I really like your hair today,” he adds, his smile now looking more like a small smirk. Does he enjoy it when [Name] gets awkward and shy at his compliments? Absolutely. Will they find revenge for his relentless teasing? Probably, but the look on their face— their very, very pretty face, might Nico insightfully add— is worth whatever revenge they come up with.
They let out an awkward laugh, which in turn makes Nico's blood rush to his neck and ears. Thank the gods his hair is long, covering most of his nape and ears (unless he has it tied up, which [Name] seems to particularly like). It's funny, Nico thinks, how a small laugh from [Name] has the same effect on him as his words have an effect on them.
“What's gotten into you?” [Name] asks, finding the courage to turn and look at him.
“Me? Nothing,” he replies. A cheeky grin dances on his lips as he looks at them.
“Right.”
“Mhm,” he nods, his elbow resting on his knee, propping his cheek on his open palm, unashamedly staring at [Name].
[Name], oh so oblivious and cute [Name], continues looking down at the flowers and fallen fruits on the forest path, admiring how the summer breeze blows delicately the flower and its petal to the direction it's going, taking it along with it. A small smile tugs at [Name’s] lips, but when they try to suppress it, it turns wonky. ‘Dork’, Nico thinks.
They break the short lived silence. “You're staring,” not an accusation, but a statement. Nico doesn't respond immediately, taking in how their eyes crinkle at the corners when they smile, how their eyes shine, how their hair dances softly along with the wind. Oh, he has to reply. Shit. Human socialization. Right.
“Maybe,” an airy laugh escapes [Name], Nico following. Another silence follows, in which [Name] and Nico look at eachother. [Name] breaks away first, feeling their cheeks heat up from the intensity of the moment, a lopsided smile adorning their face. A smile tugs at Nico's lips, too, as he holds their face by the chin, guiding them to look at him again with his finger. Then, he leans in, softly kissing them.
Their lips are a bit chapped, thanks to the colder months before and them forgetting to put on chapstick most days— not that he's any better —and from always biting and pinching them when they're anxious. Nico tastes the faint flavour of strawberries in [Name's] lips. He feels his face heating up when they touch his bicep so as to not fall.
Nico can't tell if the warmth in his face is because of all the blood suddenly rushing to his cheeks and ears, or [Name's] warm hands that moved to hold him. He doesn't mind either way, especially the latter. He moves his hands on their thighs, keeping them both stable on the tree branch.
Nico hears their breath hitch when his cold hands move to touch their face, smirking into the kiss. He moves from kissing their mouth to the corner of their lips, then on their jaw— chest tightening with delight when he hears them sigh with content. His kisses trail to their cheek, which he bites playfully, placing two quick pecks on each one. Then under their eyes, to their nose and temples, barely below their hairline.
[Name] moves his hair back, placing a kiss of their own on Nico's temples. “You're very affectionate today. Should I be worried?”
“And–” he drags the vowel– “, here you go, ruining the moment,” Nico pouts. He pinches their cheeks, making them move away from his touch, shooing his hands away.
They roll their eyes. “Whatever. But it's still true, you're being a dork.”
“... I'm contemplating pushing you off this branch.”
[Name] gasps, “You'd never!”
“You're right,” Nico sighs, shaking his head. “I love you too much to do that.”
At that, [Name] laughs, a quiet, private laugh for the two of them, but a laugh nonetheless. Nico squeezes them close again, kissing them, wanting desperately to show all the love he can't muster to say with words. Still, he's pretty sure [Name] understands him as they kiss back.