Archive of Our Own

Wave peeked around the corner, glaring daggers at the figures of Lava and Dr. Wut, getting awfully cozy in the otherwise empty hospital room.

Lava seemed perfectly happy to allow Dr. Wut’s hands to roam over him, gently grasping his wrist and turning it this way and that. Wave knew for a fact that if it was him in the doctor’s place, Lava would push him away without a second thought.

He tried not to let that sting. 

Ever since he washed up on the beach, Lava was the only person who captured his attention. 

At first, Wave thought the inexplicable need for his eyes to always land on Lava was born from amazement that this crass, foul-mouthed man was the same one who saved him. The man who performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on him with the softest lips mankind had to offer, then gently carried him from the shore to the hospital, was the one who now treated him as nothing more than an errand boy. 

Wave wasn’t fooled by Lava's outwardly harsh actions. It was all an act, a ploy to keep people from getting too close to him, Wave was sure of it. He’d caught a glimpse of something soft and gentle that first day, and he longed for that tenderness to make itself known to him again. 

He wanted to stubbornly grasp onto that elusive kindness, to hold it tightly between his fingers and drag it back out kicking and screaming, until Lava had no choice but to acknowledge his secret soft side. 

Or perhaps he was delusional, and what he’d seen that day was fueled by the haziness in his mind due to his near-unconscious state. Maybe Lava’s arms hadn’t felt that nice around him, strong and protective, as he was whisked away like a prince. Maybe Lava hadn’t been sparing him concerned glances as he laid in a hospital bed, and the presence he felt beside him when he once again succumbed to the darkness behind his eyelids was a figment of his imagination.

But that didn’t feel right. Though his mind and eyes could’ve played tricks on him, his heart was sure. He felt inexplicably safe around Lava, in a way he didn’t feel with anyone else. He was determined to get Lava to drop his defenses around him, to once again feel those warm arms surrounding him, have those complex eyes focused on him. 

So yeah, Wave’s attention had been laser-focused on Lava ever since he showed up on the island. 

He couldn’t say the same for Lava, who hardly ever glanced his way, except to order him around. Meanwhile, he was seemingly happy to allow Dr. Wut to fret over him, a fact that had Wave’s hackles rising like no other.

He ducked back out of sight before he could be spotted, retreating for now. If Lava refused to pay attention to him, he’d just have to get creative. He wouldn't go down without a fight.

He waited until the weekend, when Lava was free to hang out on the beach without his uncle forcing any work onto him. Then he set his plan into motion. 

Lava liked to be alone often, that was something he learned early on. But Wave knew he could break through those lone wolf tendencies and make a home for himself by Lava’s side, if only he was given a chance. If only Lava would allow the walls surrounding his heart to crumble for one measly moment, Wave could sneak inside, claiming it for himself. The ultimate heist. 

With that hopeful idea in mind, he walked down to the beach, sitting a ways away from Lava. He heaved a deep breath before taking his shirt off, exposing his upper body to anyone who wished to look. He wasn’t used to showing off his body like this, so he had to resist the urge to cover himself. 

It was all a part of his master plan. He knew he was an attractive man, and surely Lava wouldn't be able to keep his eyes off him when he was half-naked. Lava would be so overcome with attraction that he wouldn't be able to stop himself from approaching Wave and asking him out right then and there.

Well, a boy could dream. So far, all his efforts had earned him was a few stares. It was difficult to school his expression when he could feel Lava’s eyes on him, and his heart was already pounding.

He grabbed his sunblock and began spreading it over his chest. He felt beyond awkward, fingers clumsy, and he dropped the bottle in the sand a few times. He swore he could hear an amused snort off to his left. 

This wasn't going as well as he'd hoped. He wasn't wooing Lava with his body, causing him to get down on his knees and beg for a chance to bask in Wave’s affection. Quite the opposite, in fact, he was making a fool of himself. The object of his desires was laughing at him. 

He should run away with his tail tucked between his legs before things could get any worse for him. 

But then, Tum happened to pass by, a blessing in disguise. A new scheme popped into his head, one that may have been even better than the original.

“Tum, can you help me? I can’t reach my back.”

Tum was confused for a moment, briefly glancing at Lava, as if wondering why Wave wouldn't just ask him. Lava certainly was closer, and perhaps having his hands on Wave would spark some feelings on Lava’s part.

But Wave would probably die before that could happen. There was no way he'd survive having those strong hands on him, because all he'd be thinking about was how those same hands held him so delicately, once upon a time. 

As odd as it sounded, Wave treasured that memory. Sure, he was concussed and quite out of it at the time. But Lava's hold on him had been the only thing anchoring him to this Earth, serving as the thin line between life and death. He was sure that without it, he would've slipped under the depths of unconsciousness, never to return again.

Besides, he didn't have many memories to cling to these days. He had to take what he could get. It just so happened that a good majority of the memories he had to latch onto were connected to Lava in some way.

So yeah, Lava was his savior, and all that. Wave didn't mean to be a walking cliché by falling for the man who saved him, but such is life. There was nothing he could do about it now.

“Sure.” Tum shrugged, approaching him and sitting behind him on the sand.

“So, how’s island life treating you?” Tum started small talk as he messily slathered the sunblock over his back. 

Wave shuddered, partly because the substance was cold and partly due to the feeling of Lava's intense stare burning holes through him. 

“It’s great.” He answered absent-mindedly, resisting the urge to turn and meet Lava’s gaze. He couldn't show his hand and let Lava know how badly he craved his attention, not yet. He'd lose this little game they were playing, tip the delicate balance out of his favor, and he'd never be able to gain the upper hand again.

He was already playing a losing game, trying to get the closed-off man to spare him more than a glance. Weaseling his way into Lava's heart wasn't easy, but Wave wasn't one to back down from a challenge.

“You burn easily, right?”

Redness was creeping along his cheeks, but not because of Tum's touches or words. The weight of Lava’s gaze was simply overwhelming, threatening to crush him, heating him up more than the blazing sun. 

Ah well, the blush probably helped with the act, anyways. 

“I do. That's why I really needed your help. Thank you, Tum.”

He may have overdone it a bit, pushing a bout of affection into his voice that was reserved for the man sitting feet away from him rather than the one right behind him. 

He just couldn't help it, he was sure this was the longest Lava had looked at him ever since he showed up on the island. His heart was pitifully skipping beats, his palms were sweating, and he was one second away from jumping up to sit next to Lava instead. If he was bold enough, he’d ensure their thighs would touch and their shoulders knocked together, maybe he'd even have the courage to ask for Lava's help with the sunblock.

But then, just when he was starting to let himself have foolish hopes, Lava stood and left without a word. 

Was that a good sign? Maybe Lava was bothered by how close Tum was to him. In his wildest dreams, Lava was jealous that Tum was the one touching Wave, instead of him. Maybe he'd stomp away to stew in his room, and emerge in a few hours with a newfound determination to claim Wave for himself.

Something suddenly struck him in the back of the head, causing him to pitch forward and earning him a mouthful of sand as he fell on his face. That was a brutal wake-up call if Wave had ever heard of one. 

“Wave, are you okay?” 

Tum helped him up, brushing some of the sand off his face, until Wave held a hand up to stop him. “I'm fine.” He spat all the sand out of his mouth, and finally caught sight of the offending object.

A fucking beach ball. 

He turned to where the ball had come from, and there stood Lava, with a challenging glint in his eyes.

“What the hell was that for?” 

“Sorry, it was an accident.”

“Accident, my ass!”

He stood, grabbing the ball and hurling it towards Lava with all his might. But Lava was too high up on the beach, and the ball landed only a few feet away.

“Is that the best you've got?”

Lava was so arrogant, crossing his arms over his chest without a care in the world. It was as if he knew the ball would never reach him. That Wave wasn't capable of hurting him or even shaking him up in the slightest.

Like Wave's existence had no bearing on his life at all. 

Apparently, Lava wasn’t taking special notice of him, but was instead annoyed by the interruption of his alone time. And his choice of retaliation was pelting him with a beach ball, the most childish response.

He couldn't believe he'd gone and fallen for such a jerk, lacking a single kind bone in his entire body. His initial reading must have been way off. No matter how safe and warm he'd once felt in Lava's arms, they now caused nothing but pain and malice. He was probably just so out of it in his halfway-conscious state that he'd completely imagined the sacred softness in Lava's actions.

He didn't even want to look at Lava's stupid face anymore. He held up his middle finger in Lava's direction, then stomped off towards the house, haunted by that conceited grin. 

He was so stupid. He should've known better than to try to see the good in someone who was so determined to push everyone away. 

If Lava wanted to be that way, then Wave would just have to beat him at his own game. Lava hadn't even seen how petty he could get. 

Lava would rue the day he crossed him. 

If Lava wasn't going to surrender and fall to his feet, declaring his undying love, then Wave would just do the next best thing. He'd make the object of Lava’s affections fall for him instead, so Lava would feel the same heartbreak Wave was now experiencing. 

“Nurse, I'm feeling faint.” He put his best acting skills to use as he entered the hospital, stumbling around the reception area. The place was empty, it was practically a ghost town, so Wave wasn’t worried about taking the doctor’s attention away from potential patients.

He was brought to a hospital bed and Dr. Wut appeared soon after, clipboard in hand. “Hello, Wave. What are your symptoms?”

Wave hadn't thought that far ahead. He was kind of hoping the doctor would take one look at his made-up sorry state and immediately start treating him, which would give them a reason to be close together. And surely, it would only take a batting of his eyelashes here, a brush of Wave’s hand against his arm there, for the man to fall for him.

How hard was it to get someone to fall in love with you? Well, Wave didn't know, or Lava would be head over heels for him by now. 

“Um, I feel so nauseous and lightheaded. I'm sweating a lot, too. Please help me, doctor.”

Dr. Wut started taking notes on a paper that was attached to his clipboard. “Do you want me to call Lava?”

Of course, with no family on this island to speak of, Lava was his only emergency contact. Having him there seemed counterintuitive, if Wave really wanted Dr. Wut to pay special attention to him. But he couldn't pass up the opportunity to see Lava's face when he walked in on them. He was sure Lava's betrayed expression would soothe his intense heartache. 

He hadn't been able to think about anything other than Lava's uncaring grin and the taste of sand in his mouth, along with the sound of his heart shattering into tiny pieces. What hurt the most was the knowledge that Lava wouldn't even care if he knew that he broke Wave's heart that day. He'd simply side-step the jagged shards and continue about his business as usual. 

Such a monster didn't deserve to experience love. Not from him, not from Dr. Wut, and not from anyone else who may happen to fall into his clutches.

“Yes, please call him. But in the meantime, can you help me cool off? I just feel so hot…”

He felt ridiculous, intentionally weakening his voice, sounding like a fair maiden in desperate need of help. But it must have been convincing enough, for Dr. Wut quickly called Lava, informing him of the situation. 

The doctor then started preparing a bowl full of cold water. “It seems you're experiencing heat exhaustion. Does that sound right?”

Wave nodded vehemently, latching onto the first plausible excuse that was being handed right over to him. This was too easy. “Oh yes, I've been outside for hours. Doing chores for Lava, you know.” 

The doctor set the bowl on a table beside Wave’s bed. “It's going to be cold, okay? Don't be shocked. We've just got to get your body temperature back down, and you'll be fine.”

The doctor dipped a small towel in the water, and he was just about to touch it to Wave's forehead when someone dramatically burst through the door.

“Wave, are you okay?”

Lava was panting as he made his way over to the bed Wave was resting on. He seemed to have run all the way over, for some reason. He'd arrived at lightning speed, like he dropped everything and took off as soon as he heard the doctor’s voice on the phone.

Moreover, Lava wasn't paying any attention to Dr. Wut. His focus was entirely on Wave, which he didn't expect. He sputtered, struggling to form words in the face of Lava's undivided attention, his gaze intense and unwavering.

Just then, Dr. Wut’s pager went off. “I have a heavily injured patient. Wave, you’re just overheated, right? Lava, you lower his body temperature.”

Wave sat up in a panic, watching his genius plan go up in smoke in front of his very eyes. “Wait-”

But it was too late, Dr. Wut had already stormed out. Now, he was all alone with Lava. 

He was about to abort the mission and run away to- somewhere, anywhere but here, but Lava spoke before he could make a move. 

“Why didn't you tell me you were feeling sick?”

He sounded… genuinely worried, and Wave didn't know how to feel about that.

Okay, that was a lie. His pitiful little heart was already beating faster in his chest, willing Lava to hold out his hand so it could jump into his awaiting palm. All it took was one display of concern for the sharp shards of his heart to piece themselves back together, good as new and beating for Lava once again. The bar was really on the floor.

He was so pathetic. He was supposed to be getting revenge on Lava, not falling even deeper in love with him. He laid back down on the hospital bed, armed with a scowl. “Why, so you could shove my face into the sand again?”

Lava's mouth twisted to the side, and his eyebrows pinched together in agitation. “You were bothering me first, you're lucky you got off that easy. The last guy who got on my nerves left with a bloody mouth.”

“How classy of you to threaten me with violence when I'm lying here, defenseless.”

Lava rolled his eyes, and to Wave’s horror, he picked up the forgotten wet towel. “I'm not threatening you. And I didn't mean for you to eat dirt.”

Lava pressed the cold fabric against his forehead with a surprising softness, gazing down at him with an expression Wave couldn't make sense of. “I only meant to smack you up a little bit, how was I supposed to know you were as light as a feather and would fall over?”

Though his words weren't inherently pleasant, the tone they were spoken with was a soft one. The gentle sweeping of the towel over his forehead was soothing him and, against his better wishes, his body became completely relaxed. “Is this your way of apologizing for smacking my face in the dirt?”

Lava snorted, a grin overtaking his face. But it was different this time, not laced in arrogance. Instead, it was bathed in good-natured humor, and Lava looked so much more handsome like that.

“I guess so.”

Wave couldn't hold back a smile. His wayward lips simply refused to listen to him, curling up in the corners without his permission.

This wasn't how this was supposed to go. Here he was, throwing lovesick glances at Lava as he took care of him. When he’d set out with the mission to rip Lava a new one.

But Lava was being so gentle with him, just like when he washed up on the beach. It was a tender reminder of his secret softness, hidden deep under layers of bravado and a bad attitude. The side of Lava that he’d fallen in love with at first sight, the security of Lava’s arms burned into his memory. 

Some lonely nights, Wave would lay in bed with his arms wrapped around himself, transporting him back to that stable embrace. He’d felt truly safe, even when he didn’t know the identity of the man who was carrying him. 

Now that he knew Lava, he could only say he was doomed to fall more for him every day. There was nothing he could do about it, not when he was being provided with undeniable proof that he'd been right all along. Lava really did house a lot of care in his heart, he was just a master of hiding it. 

Lava delicately dabbed the towel across his neck, cooling the heated skin. Except, his skin wasn't hot from some kind of heat sickness. No, his whole body was heating up from having Lava so close, tending to him like this. 

It felt like a tender moment between lovers. 

Just when he was attempting to get over Lava, the universe threw this wrench in his plans and only made him fall even harder. It wasn't fair, how stupidly pretty Lava looked under the bright lights of the hospital room. The intense lights should wash him out, make every imperfect blemish on his face abundantly clear. 

Instead, they only illuminated his good qualities. His thick eyebrows, the wide slope of his nose, those delicate freckles smattered along both cheeks and the bridge of his nose. Those full lips, which Wave had spent his fair share of time catching glimpses of. 

“What are you looking at?”

Wave didn't answer immediately. He couldn't. He was entirely too warm, suffocating under the weight of Lava's careful attention. His lips spread into a wide smile, eyes closing from the force of it, and he was sure his dimples were pushing into his cheeks. 

“Thank you, Lava.”

The coolness of the towel abruptly disappeared, prompting him to open his eyes. Lava was looking off to the side, clearing his throat and avoiding his gaze.

“You seem cooled off enough now.” He attempted to hang the towel over the side of the bowl, but it slipped out of his fingers. It landed on the ground with a splat, and Lava just left it there, awkwardly shifting his weight from foot to foot. 

If he didn’t know any better, he’d say Lava was… flustered.

He wasn’t sure if he was imagining the flush that was spreading across Lava’s cheeks, subtle yet undeniable to someone who spent way too much time looking at him.

He was becoming delusional. Maybe he really was suffering from heat stroke, after all. “I’m okay now, I think you should take me home.”

He'd be lying if he said referring to Lava's place as home didn't make him a little giddy. As if he were more than a mere houseguest. He wanted to be someone who would leave his mark on Lava’s place. And maybe he’d even claim Lava’s heart, while he was at it. 

Lava gave him a questioning look. “Are you sure? Weren't you feeling sick?”

He stood, fixing his hair where Lava had brushed it aside to cool off his forehead. 

“I just overheated, I’m alright now.”

Lava didn’t appear entirely convinced, but he offered a shrug. “If you say so. But next time you aren’t feeling well, call me. I’ll bring you to the hospital, you don’t have to go alone.”

Wave would love that. If he was ever in mortal peril, it would be his pleasure to once again be encased in Lava’s strong arms, carried away to safety. It almost made him wish for such a moment to occur, if only so he could experience that euphoric security once again. 

“I will.”

Lava often found himself mentally replaying the moment he first saw Wave.

He looked so fragile, shattered into pieces on the shore. Tossed aside like a broken toy whose moving parts no longer functioned correctly. Abandoned, thrown out, discarded like yesterday’s news. 

He looked as defeated as Lava felt on the inside. He was a physical manifestation of all of Lava’s internal issues. No matter how stubbornly he pushed his insecurities down, he could never forget about them. They left a mental scar on him, a constant reminder that he was a useless piece of trash.

As much as he never wanted to admit it, Lava badly needed someone to hold him, to tell him that everything would be okay. To reassure him that he had more value than literal trash, sitting at the curb, waiting to be thrown into a truck full of similar garbage.

But that wasn’t going to happen. Still, his first thought upon catching sight of the delicate body washed ashore was that someone finally needed him. This man, whom he’d never seen before, badly needed his help. His aid could mean the difference between life and death.

Of course, Lava jumped at the chance to be of worth to someone. To mean something. But his usefulness only extended as far as ensuring the man received medical attention. He couldn’t do anything else.

Lava yearned to piece the man together, to glue his jagged fragments back into a whole being, sealing him with gentle caresses and dreams.

But he knew his hands were only made to destroy. His existence wasn’t put on this Earth to heal. Quite the opposite, the only thing he brought everywhere he went was misfortune. In fact, perhaps saving Wave was the only divine purpose his useless life had been given. The one good thing he had to offer this world, before continuing on with his miserable existence, meaning nothing to anyone.

Wave was much better off without someone like him skulking around, sinking his greedy fingers into him, corrupting him. His presence in Wave's life would only earn him a one-way ticket to damnation. As such, Lava elected to stay as far away from him as possible, for Wave’s sake. 

Which was a lot easier said than done, given they both now stayed in the place owned by his uncle. Still, he gave it his best shot, spending most of his days working and the rest seeking solitude on the beach.

Wave wouldn’t realize it, but the spot Lava always retreated to was the very same spot Wave had washed up on that fateful day. It brought comfort to him, somehow. He'd sit and stare at that very patch of damp sand that had once served as Wave’s saving grace, offering him a respite from the harsh waves that drew him in and pushed him to the shore. 

He knew very well that the sand Wave had actually touched was long-gone by now, carried away by the ebbing and flowing of the tide. Still, the area held significance to him, and he refused to let it go. If nothing else, once Wave was out of his life for good, he'd still have this spot to return to. 

He'd named the man after the very thing that brought him into Lava's life, changing everything without even knowing it. A rolling wave, gently lapping at the shoreline of his meager existence. Except, Wave’s arrival was much larger than some tiny wave. It was a cataclysmic event, a devastating storm that tilted Lava's entire world on its axis, threatening to drown him in torrential downpour. 

Because Lava had somehow gone and fallen in love with the man. It was pretty pathetic, how quickly he'd developed feelings for him despite trying his hardest to stamp them out. 

It wasn’t that Lava had fallen in love at first sight. He didn’t believe in such a silly ideal. While he had an undeniable interest in Wave from the first second of his arrival, the strangely heart-warming feelings came later. 

Wave was as lost on this Earth as he was. In fact, Wave may be the only person who was even more lost than him. Wave’s arrival forced him to hold up a mirror to himself, to analyze the innermost workings of his sensitive soul, which he tried so hard to repress.

Wave was much more headstrong than Lava expected. While he did go along with the chores Lava assigned to him, he made it clear it was out of nothing more than some sense of obligation he felt towards Lava for saving him, and Lava’s uncle for allowing him to stay at his place rent-free. There was nothing else between them, and Wave made that abundantly obvious through his sassy actions.

He wasn’t shy to roll his eyes when he was given a task he deemed beneath him. He never hesitated to throw annoyed glares Lava's way when he got on his nerves. He was feisty and lively, a firecracker that threatened to set Lava's heart on fire and burn him to the ground. 

Strangely, that only made Lava’s admiration grow stronger. 

He knew it was a bad idea to foster any kind of emotions for Wave. Someone like him just wasn’t meant for love. He was supposed to live as a lone wolf, ensuring the least amount of people were affected by his actions as possible.   

Garbage human beings like him should stay far, far away from beautiful souls like Wave. But Wave just seemed so determined to stick his nose where it didn't belong.

Lava had started to give him increasingly ridiculous tasks to complete, just to ensure Wave would be off somewhere else, free from his terrible influence. But it never worked out as he planned, because for all of Wave's complaining about washing underwear and cleaning the grout in between tiles, he always seemed to seek out Lava's company at the end of the day.

It didn't make sense to him, why Wave was so hellbent on spending time with him, getting to know him. He must have some kind of death wish, to condemn himself to the role of a companion to a damned man.

And it certainly wasn't helping temper the flames of his increasing infatuation, which only meant Wave was encroaching on dangerous territory. If he knew what was good for him, he'd keep his distance from Lava and abandon his attempts at having anything more than an awkward acquaintanceship with him. 

He was once again seeking the solace of quiet solitude on that very specific stretch of beach he'd grown attached to when he spotted Wave in the distance. 

He had to let out a sigh as Wave bounded over, taking a seat on the sand a ways away from him. Lava wasn't sure what game he was playing, because usually Wave would just walk right up to him and engage him in conversation, not even giving him the chance to opt out.

But this time, he elected to put some distance between them. And before Lava could even register what was happening, Wave was removing his shirt. If that wasn’t bad enough, he started spreading sunblock over his bare chest, palms stroking tantalizingly over his golden skin. 

As much time as he spent on the beach, he'd never seen Wave shirtless before. This seemed like some cruel joke the world was playing on him, dangling the object of his affections in front of him, tempting him to look, to come closer, to touch.

But he couldn’t do any of that. One well-placed touch of his cursed hands would be more than enough to crumble Wave to dust, relegating him to nothing more than a regretful memory of times past, when he’d dared to go against his destiny of solitude at the detriment of the man he loved.

Lava swallowed around nothing, and it took every ounce of control for him to avert his gaze, focusing on the calm waves rolling over the shore. But that didn’t really help, because those deep waters only made him think even more intensely of Wave.

There was a soft thud from Wave’s general direction, commanding Lava’s attention. Wave had dropped the bottle of sunblock on the sand, and he was attempting to pick it up with his slippery fingers. 

Wave was undeniably attractive, but even when shirtless, he had a certain silliness to him that had fondness spreading throughout Lava’s chest, without his permission. 

Unfortunately for him, Tum had chosen the absolute worst time to pass by, which somehow ended with him having his hands all over Wave’s back. Despite his agenda of staying away from Wave, he was offended that Wave had asked Tum for help instead of him. 

They were making conversation as Tum slathered sunblock on Wave’s back, not that Lava could hear a word. They were too far, voices carried away by the wind, so he only had his wildest imagination to rely on.

What’s more, Tum was doing a terrible job. He was using way too much sunblock, making a sticky mess that would require a ton of work to rub it all in. 

Then again, maybe that was intentional. Perhaps he was purposefully extending his skin-on-skin connection with Wave by ensuring his help was needed for longer. What a scummy action, a manipulation tactic to take advantage of Wave’s innocent plea for help.

But Wave was a grown man who could fight his own battles. Whether Tum was a good match for Wave or not, that was none of his business. All he knew for sure was that he wasn’t good enough for Wave, so he had no right to stop Wave from interacting with anyone else.

But something about the way Wave shuddered under Tum's touch, cheeks dusting red, had his hackles rising like never before. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from the scene, even as misplaced anger was burning hot inside him, transforming him into a vessel of volatile acid that would corrode anyone who came into contact with him. 

The breeze carried a whisper of Wave’s voice to him, and his sweet, affectionate tone had bile rising to Lava’s throat. “I do. That's why I really needed your help. Thank you, Tum.”

His hands clenched into fists, an unearned sense of possession swirling in his gut. Wave wasn’t his, and he never would be, so it really wasn’t fair of him to want nothing more than to pry Tum off him and toss him into the ocean for even daring to lay his corrupted hands on Wave. 

He stood with a flourish, guided by some prehistoric, primal instinct. He marched up to where he knew an abandoned beach ball sat, hidden under a table belonging to the little drink bar that served beach-goers all day. He’d seen the offending object earlier, it must have blown under the table and gotten stuck there. 

He returned to the beach, holding the ball in front of him, aiming for the back of Tum’s head. He cranked his arm back and released the ball with a forceful throw, sending it hurtling towards his target.

The only problem was, Tum happened to lean back at a very inopportune moment, resulting in the ball viciously smacking into Wave instead. Even worse, Wave was so caught off guard that the sudden impact threw him off balance, and he fell face-first into the sand. 

Lava’s first instinct was to run over to Wave, apologize for his mistake and make sure he was okay. But Tum was already lending his aid, picking him up and dusting him off. Lava wasn’t needed, as always. And Wave wouldn’t want his help, anyway. Not when he was the one who caused the issue in the first place. 

Wave spat the remaining dirt out of his mouth, and turned his head to see who’d dared to attack him. In a split second, Lava easily slipped on his usual facade of arrogance. Acting out was the only thing he was good at, so he was sure Wave would be fooled, just like everyone else always was. He crossed his arms over his chest, challenging Wave to say something.

Which he did, of course. Wave wasn’t one to take a beating sitting down.

“What the hell was that for?” 

“Sorry, it was an accident.”

That was true, it really was an accident, seeing as he’d hit the wrong person. But Wave understandably didn’t believe that. Lava didn’t exactly come across as trustworthy, he was well aware of that fact.

“Accident, my ass!”

Wave attempted to get his revenge by way of tossing the ball back at Lava. Unfortunately for him, the downward slope of the beach worked against him, as did the wayward breeze. The ball didn’t get very far.

It struck him that this was the perfect opportunity to expose his true nature to Wave, to protect him from being shredded to pieces by the shackles of bad luck that Lava carried around like a security blanket. He only had to paint himself as the bad guy, the antagonist in Wave’s story, who did terrible things to him like commanding him to do ridiculous tasks and pelting him with beach balls. 

That made him sound like a cartoon villain. Oh well, he may as well play the part. 

“Is that the best you've got?”

The words burned his throat like acid on their way out, but he didn’t take them back. Things were better this way, with Wave thinking he was some uncaring bastard who smashed people's faces in the sand and didn't even bother to ask if they were okay afterwards.

Wave could go on about his life, free from Lava’s contaminated hands. Lava could stay safe in his solitary existence, just him and the open water. There was no risk of him hurting anyone when there was nobody around for him to sink his venomous fangs into. 

Surprisingly, Wave didn’t rise to the bait. He simply flipped Lava off then trudged away, not bothering to utter one more word. Like he didn’t think Lava was worth the effort of forming a sentence.

Lava’s insecurities were validated. This incident further proved that all he could do was cause pain and destruction. He’d lost a handle on his emotions and resorted to throwing things, a childish coping mechanism. He didn’t think the ball would be that strong, and he certainly hadn’t meant to hit Wave with it. But it just goes to show that his actions have unintended consequences that hurt the people he cares about. 

Wave really was much better off without him. 

He watched as Wave stomped away, his regret only growing along with the distance between them. He stared until Wave was nothing more than a dot in the distance, a mere blip on the map, like he'd never been there in the first place. 

But he had been there. The proof was in Lava's elevated heart rate, which was always a surefire way of telling Wave was nearby. Lava couldn't control it, his pesky heart seemed to love getting a workout where Wave was concerned. Not to mention, his eyes were still trained in the same spot, like he was hoping Wave might turn around and come back.

Not that he had a reason to do that. It would even be reasonable if Wave never wanted to see his face again. That would sting, but at least it would ensure Wave would be safe from his clutches. 

A sudden presence joined his side, and he glanced over to see Tum. He'd honestly forgotten the man was there, too wrapped up in his lovesick musing. 

“What was that about? You made him eat dirt. What did he do to you?” 

He narrowly avoided cringing at the unpleasant reminder. He was surely a thorn in Wave's side, a nuisance that only caused him strife, but he didn’t need other people telling him that. He knew it good and well on his own.

He didn't want to discuss his mishap anymore, so he deflected.

“Do you want to be hit next? Why were you all over Wave just now?”

Tum gave him an odd look, like that was the weirdest question he could’ve asked. “All over him? I have a girlfriend, you know?”

Lava definitely hadn’t known that. He was so wrapped up in his own self-pity that he didn’t even know this basic information about his only friend on this island.

His singular friend, whom he’d just attempted to smack with a beach ball, rewarding his friendship with violence. He was not only a terrible person and a terrible romantic prospect, but a terrible friend as well. 

“Oh… why didn’t I know about this?” 

“It was none of your business. Anyway, I’m not trying to steal your boy from you.” 

Lava’s blood ran cold, like a bucket of ice water had been thrown over him, as he stammered out his response, flustered from the chosen phrase. “My boy?”

Tun shook his head, like he couldn’t believe how clueless Lava was. “Why else would you be asking about him and throwing longing looks while he left, like a lovesick puppy?”

He gazed at the discarded beach ball, which held about as much use as Lava did. 

“Is it really that obvious?”

“To me, yeah. But Wave hasn't noticed. You should fix your attitude first, though. He probably thinks you hate him.”

Tum clapped him on the shoulder after offering his helpful advice, then he was off, leaving Lava alone once again.

What Tum didn’t know was that making Wave hate him was intentional. 

But that didn’t make it hurt any less.

He grabbed the stupid beach ball, opening the plug and allowing it to deflate until it was as empty and useless as Lava’s heart. 

Wave was so beautiful when he was lying in the hospital bed. 

Even when Lava was so choked up with worry that he’d dropped everything to run over, he couldn’t help but notice how pretty Wave was. His beauty was the type of thing you’d see written about in ancient scripts, detailing every flawless dip and groove of his appearance, likening him to angels and gods. Wave possessed a level of beauty befitting a prince. 

Lava may have accidentally let his emotions slip out when he was tracing that wet towel along Wave’s warm skin. It could hardly be helped. After all, having the man of his dreams, who’d quite literally crashed into his life, so close and vulnerable was dragging out his protective instincts. He wanted nothing more than to protect Wave, wrap him up in bubble wrap so he would never be at risk from injury.

He worried that he’d shown too much of his hand when rushing over here, out of his mind with concern, exposing the mushy feelings he had for Wave. But he couldn’t just stand around after knowing that Wave was laid up in the hospital. After all, Wave's safety was his top priority, any false pretense of not caring be damned.

Luckily, Wave didn’t seem to catch on to his heightened emotions. He wasn’t sure how he’d survive if he was found out. He didn’t know how Wave would react if he knew there was a special spot reserved solely for him at the center of Lava’s heart. 

He’d probably be weirded out, and maybe then he’d stop trying to capture Lava’s attention. Because he’d finally know how gross and sensitive Lava was on the inside, the most fragile being in the universe, held together by nothing but hopes and dreams. 

Even in his wildest dreams, he never allowed himself to hope that Wave could come to love someone like him. 

“Do you want to catch the movie with me tonight?”

Lava looked up in surprise. He hadn’t heard Wave approaching, his steps made silent by the soft sand. He quickly stood, embarrassed at having been caught staring at that sacred spot where Wave had washed up. 

But Wave likely didn’t remember where he’d landed. He probably didn’t remember much of anything from that day, which was good for Lava. The tender embrace he carried Wave with would live on in his memory alone. 

Now that Wave mentioned it, there was going to be a beach movie night, put on by some theatre group that set up camp on the island. He hadn't planned on going, and he certainly didn't think anyone would ask him to, least of all Wave. It seemed like their little moment in the hospital encouraged Wave to extend an olive branch, hoping that Lava would accept it and clutch it in his hands.

Lava’s gut instinct urged him to agree to go with Wave, to do whatever he wanted, anything to make him happy. But spending an extended amount of time sitting next to Wave, watching the lights from the film playing over his beautiful face, sounded like a terrible idea. He wouldn’t know where to look, what to do with his hands. He surely wouldn’t be able to focus on the screen.

So, he said the first excuse he could think of. “I can’t, I have to go see Dr. Wut.”

Something about that made Wave bristle, and his eyes narrowed in thinly-veiled rage. “Oh yeah? Well guess what, I’m sick of being your errand boy. If you like Dr. Wut so much, then have him wash your underwear.”

Lava’s mouth dropped open, and he spent a few seconds dumbly staring as he processed the sudden topic change. “Why would he do that? He’s a doctor.”

That only made Wave’s eyebrow twitch in annoyance, and he crossed his arms petulantly. “Oh, and I'm a professional underwear washer?”

He was so confused. He had no idea what Wave was getting at. He scratched at his head, offering a shrug. “Well, you are pretty good at it.”

“You’re an idiot.” Wave scoffed, sparing him one last disappointed glance before brushing past him, purposefully knocking his shoulder against Lava’s.

Lava was used to the slight animosity between them, fostered by bickering that had no root in actual malice. But this felt different, Wave seemed genuinely upset. And as much as he knew Wave’s life would be a lot easier if he stayed angry at Lava and avoided him, he didn’t like seeing him that way.

He wanted to ask what was wrong, to see if he could do anything to help. Even though he was quite sure anything he did would only worsen Wave’s mood. His point was proven when, instead of expressing his concerns in an understanding way, what came out of his mouth was: “What’s your problem?”

That was clearly the wrong move, because Wave rounded on him with the harshest glare he’d seen on that pretty face. “You’re my problem! Will you tell me what’s going on between you and Dr. Wut already?”

Wave’s expression was twisted in anger and something else, something raw and painful to look at. Lava’s heart clenched in his chest when he realized what it was, hurt. Wave was hurt because of him, and he didn’t even know what he’d done to deserve it. 

He was at a complete loss.

“Nothing’s going on between me and Dr. Wut.”

“I don’t believe that. You’re visiting him a lot lately.”

He’d reached his limit, all he wanted was to wipe that pained expression off Wave’s face. It was jabbing his heart like a million tiny knives, cutting into his skin and embedding needles beneath his sensitive flesh. 

“It’s because of you!”

The words slipped out of his mouth, with no way of sucking them back in. He regretted them immediately, and he wished he could hide away in a hole for the rest of eternity, where he belonged. At least then, Wave would be safe from him and his stupid mouth.

Some of the hurt had eased off Wave’s place, replaced by immense confusion. “What are you talking about?”

Lava sighed deeply, looking down at the sand in shame. He’d really tried to keep this from Wave, for his own sake, but he was just so nosy and stubborn. And Lava was so weak to his wishes, willing to bend over backwards for him.

Wave had gotten under his skin, made a home for himself in Lava's heart and soul, to the point that if Wave commanded him to “jump,” he'd ask “how high?” 

“I heard some idiots bad-mouthing you, so I punched them.” He held up his hand, allowing Wave to spot the faint bruising around his knuckles. It had faded quite a bit in the two weeks since, purplish hues giving way to yellow. 

“I was just so angry, I couldn't let anyone speak badly of you. It was two against one, not exactly a fair fight. But I walked away with only a sprained wrist.” 

He was transported back to that day, the satisfying crack of his fist against someone's stomach still fresh in his mind. If he had to do it all over again, he would. He refused to allow anyone to say one foul word about his Wave, who snuck his way into Lava's world and turned it all upside down. 

Wave would never hurt a fly. He was lovely and delicate, all things Lava decidedly wasn't. He was only good for channeling his aggression into violence, jumping at the chance to prove that he was still able to do the one thing he'd always excelled at: fighting. 

“I told Dr. Wut there was no way I was wearing a brace, because I didn't want you to know about it. He only agreed to let me go without one if I came to him for checkups.”

Well, there it was. Lava had told the entire dreadful truth, even down to how angry he'd been that someone dared to raise their tongue against his precious Wave. 

Silence fell upon them, and Lava hadn’t so much as glanced up. Wave was probably going to be weirded out, wondering why he would go through so much trouble for him. 

He'd tell Lava that his aggression was off-putting, his penchant for violence was too much to deal with, and his misplaced sense of heroism was laughable because he was no hero. He was more fitting to be the villain, the one who beat down the protagonist until he was on his last legs, gathering every remaining ounce of his strength to deal with his biggest foe once and for all. 

The one good thing about villains is that they’re usually defeated at the end. So, too, would Lava’s ridiculous hopes and dreams be torn down, wasted away to nothing. Eroded like the sand, carried away on the waves the same way they'd drifted towards him in the first place, with Wave's body in tow. 

He'd be nothing more than a fever dream of times past, wisps of a memory too foggy to see clearly. Wave would forget what he looked like, what his voice sounded like, how it felt to be in his presence.

And that was just as well. For as much as Wave would forget about him, Lava would remember that much harder. He'd hold the memories of these summery months in his wicked hands, clutching them to his chest like precious diamonds. He'd never let them go, for Wave would've taken Lava's heart with him when he left the island for good. 

All Wave had to do was tell him off for fighting battles that weren't his to fight. That would set this entire falling-out in motion, and he'd be able to mourn the loss of what could've been, if only he were brave enough to bare his entire heart. If only he was confident that he wouldn't destroy Wave in the process of loving him. 

The next thing he knew, gentle fingers were wrapping around his wrist. If Wave so wished, he could dig those fingers into Lava’s injury, causing him to hiss in pain and setting back weeks of his recovery progress. He would certainly deserve it, after treating Wave like a mere servant when he was so much more. 

Instead, Wave held him with all the care in the world, looking down at his wrist in concern. Delicate fingertips brushed along the sensitive skin of his wrist, the touch soft and almost ticklish. “Lava, you’re an idiot.”

Lava let out a breath he hadn't known he was holding. Wave didn't appear angry. Not enough to cause some nuclear fallout between them, at least. 

“So I’ve been told. By you, many times.”

Wave’s other hand raised, tucking his fingers under Lava's chin. “Look at me,” he beckoned softly, gently tilting Lava's chin back until their gazes were locked. 

Though Wave had just insulted him, he was smiling. He seemed relieved, for some reason. He even let out a little laugh, soft and incredulous, dimples pushing into his cheeks. As if willing Lava to fall even deeper in love with him.

“You saved me. Aren't you the one who said I owe you my life? And you haven't taken responsibility for that at all.”

Wave's topic switches were going to be the death of him. It was already hard enough to keep track of a conversation when the love of his life was so close.

Now that Wave was touching him, and looking at him with eyes dripping with honey, it was a wonder how he managed to string any two syllables together, choking out words that were even halfway-intelligible. 

“I have to take responsibility for saving you?”

Wave's hand met the center of his chest, and his warm palm trailed towards his left side, until it came to rest directly over his heart. His touch left a burning trail in its wake, Lava's skin erupting into flames, along with his face. 

Because Wave was gazing at him with such tenderness, and his touch was so gentle. Lava didn't know what to do with himself. All he could do was stare into those beautiful eyes he'd come to adore, which he could get lost in for hours and hours. He'd happily drown within the depths of Wave’s irises if given the chance. 

“You have to take responsibility for making me feel things for the very first time.”

Lava struggled to swallow down the sudden lump that formed in his throat, threatening to suffocate him. His heart was thundering beneath Wave’s merciful palm, willing to beat right out of his chest, if that was what Wave wanted. 

Lava couldn't speak even if he wanted to. He was tongue-tied, struggling to recall how to form words. His body was failing him, his throat was closing up and his tongue was too big for his mouth. 

Luckily, Wave didn't appear to mind his silence. It seemed like he had a lot to get off his chest, so perhaps he was even grateful for the lack of interruption. 

Wave took a deep breath, psyching himself up for something. His gaze was gentle, yet unwavering, hinting at his determination to get his point across. 

“Lava, this isn’t my life. I’m not even supposed to be here. 

With one hand still resting over Lava's heart, the other came to rest against his burning hot cheek. Wave stroked the warmed skin, ever-so-gently, even rubbing his thumb over Lava's freckles.

“I only feel like I belong when I’m with you.”

He had to be imagining things. Because if he didn't know any better, he'd say this sounded like the beginning of a love confession. The countless iterations of Wave that had appeared in his dreams had never said anything like this, never cradled him so carefully and wrote his sense of belonging by Lava's side in the stars.

Those very stars that were reflected in Wave's eyes, a kaleidoscope of galaxies coming to life in his bottomless pupils. Lava was so busy counting them (an impossible feat, there were simply too many sparkles for him to wrap his brain around them) that he almost forgot to listen when Wave spoke again.

“So, will you take responsibility?”

He wasn’t a complete idiot. He understood what Wave’s words were pointing towards, but he didn’t want to let himself get bogged down by wishful thinking. 

Whether Wave meant what he was assuming or something else entirely, he offered a timid nod. He'd do anything, anything at all to make Wave happy. “How do I do that?”

“I'll show you.” Where Lava's voice was shaky and uneven, Wave's was soft yet confident. 

A slight breeze was tousling Wave's hair, pushing soft strands out of place, but he was no less beautiful. His touch stayed firm, warming Lava's cheek and heart. The sun was setting in the distance, bathing Wave in soft golden light, tinting his silhouette in honey. The sunlight was giving him a halo befitting an angel, a crown befitting a prince. 

Wave's beauty marks stood out beautifully against his skin, dotting across his neck and throat, a singular wayward mark on the tip of his nose. Lava has memorized the locations of all of them, for he'd always drop his gaze to them when Wave wasn't looking. 

To his surprise, Wave started leaning in. Seeing him up so close was mesmerizing, and he felt like he was gazing at a forbidden image, taking a peek past heaven’s gate to catch a mere glimpse of Wave, sitting pretty on the fluffiest cloud. 

He was stuck in a trance, a spell had been placed on him that turned his body rigid. He couldn't do anything but stare as Wave got closer and closer, until Lava could see nothing past the blazing stars in his eyes, those tempting twinkles dragging him under the depths of Wave's pupils.

It wasn't until Wave's eyes fluttered shut that Lava mimicked the action, and suddenly there was a warm set of lips pressing softly against his. 

Wave’s kissing style was surprisingly gentle, a stark contrast to his bold and unabashed personality. His lips moved slowly against Lava’s, savoring the moment, extending the tender exchange for as long as he possibly could.

Lava felt himself melting into the kiss, surprise giving way to desire, and suddenly everything made sense. His entire world clicked into place, and all at once, he knew he was made for exactly this. His ever-elusive purpose in life was to be by Wave’s side. That was the reason he'd felt so empty before; he didn't have Wave filling in the missing pieces, rounding out his jagged edges and cushioning his sharp curves. 

For once, the chaos of his mind had gone blissfully silent. His head was empty of all thoughts, leaving plenty of space for Wave to creep in, filling every dip and groove of Lava’s brain with pure, unadulterated love. 

When Wave finally pulled back, breaking the trance, he didn't go far. His hazy eyes were glued to Lava's face, his cheeks had taken on a pinkened hue and his hand on Lava's cheek was the only thing stopping him from floating off into the clouds. 

“Lava, I have feelings for you.”

Wave dared to break the stifling silence, barraging Lava with an onslaught of so many complex emotions. Wave had kissed him. Wave had confessed to him. 

Lava had spent so long believing he wasn't worthy of love. But as he stared into Wave's eyes, what he wanted more than anything was just one chance to prove himself wrong, to show that he could do more with his hands than destroy. He could build, he could cherish, he could protect. If only he’d allow himself to try.

The soft, encouraging smile on Wave's face paired with the adoration spilling out of every facet of his gaze was what gave Lava the courage to take the plunge. To throw away his shackles and surrender himself to the warmth blooming across his chest, which originated from his heart, where Wave’s hand still lay. 

Wave was no pushover. He was strong, he wouldn't allow some silly curse or unlucky charm to drag him down. He'd hold his own against whatever evil force was controlling the strings of Lava's life. 

Wave wouldn't be destroyed by him. And just maybe, the two of them would become even stronger if they were together. They'd take on whatever challenge life threw at them head-on, all while never letting go of each other's hand. 

“I have feelings for you, too.”

And just like that, a massive weight was lifted from his chest. He felt so light that he really was concerned about floating off like a hot air balloon, never to be seen again. His lips curled up all on their own, forming the biggest smile he'd worn in ages. 

Wave was equally relieved, so much so that he decided to get something else off his chest, too.

“You asked me what my problem was. Well, I was jealous of how close you seemed to Dr. Wut.”

Lava couldn't help but laugh. It started out small and bubbled up from there, serving as an outlet for the relief building in his body. Wave hadn't been upset at him. He was just jealous and wanted to drive a wedge between him and Dr. Wut. 

Lava couldn’t help but find his jealousy cute. 

Wave gave a little huff, lips pouting out slightly. “I'm glad you're finding so much humor in my pain.” 

His laughter tapered off, and he shook his head, taking pity on Wave. “I told you, there's nothing to worry about. Dr. Wut is dating my uncle.”

Wave’s eyes widened, mouth gaping open as he processed the new information. His shocked expression only made Lava laugh again, even harder this time, until he was doubled over and his stomach started to hurt. He was sure he hadn't ever laughed this hard in his entire life, his face was even turning red. “You should see your face! I can't believe you thought I liked Dr. Wut!”

After he'd had his fun at Wave's expense, he straightened himself out, letting loose a few stray laughs until he could speak normally again. He figured, since Wave had spilled his guts about being jealous, it was his turn. 

“About the beach ball incident… I was aiming for Tum, not you.”

That finally snapped Wave out of his reverie, his expression turning to confusion. “Why would you try to hit Tum?”

Lava sheepishly scratched at his head, stubbornly ignoring the heat crawling across his cheeks. “I was jealous of how he had his hands all over you.”

Wave's eyes lit up, a delighted smile curling about his lips. “Really? You were jealous?” He looked so cute and excited that Lava couldn't even try to deny it.

“I wanted him to get away from you, but I hit you on accident. I really am sorry about that.”

Wave's smile was so wide that it threatened to break his face in two. “I guess you'll just have to make it up to me.”

“How do I do that?”

Wave grabbed onto his hand, interlacing their fingers, his palm warm and comforting in Lava's grip. Wave was looking at him with so much love that it almost hurt; pouring out of his eyes, dripping down his rosy cheeks, hanging from his plush lips. It was as if Wave was able to hold an ocean-full of love, all for Lava. 

“Be my boyfriend.”

Lava was overcome with a surge of emotion, tears pricking his eyes and heart accelerating in his chest. The answer came easily to him. So easy, in fact, that he didn't think twice about it, he didn't even think once. The word was out of his mouth before his brain had even registered it.

“Okay."

Then Lava was cupping the back of Wave's neck with his free hand, pulling him in for another kiss. Wave was surprised at first, but his lips quickly got the memo, moving perfectly against Lava's.

Lava was drowning in so much emotion that he didn't know what to do with himself. All he could do was continue kissing Wave, pouring every ounce of his indescribable feelings into their divine connection. He wanted to live and breathe with Wave tied to him just like this; his other half, his missing puzzle piece, his guardian angel.

For Wave was the sun that would keep away the darkness that attempted to shroud Lava's heart. He'd chase the negativity away with pools of celestial light, love pouring from every crevice of Wave's being to temper the destructive flames Lava previously thought he carried everywhere he went. 

He was sure that if anyone could be his perfect match, it was Wave. There was nobody else for him in this world.

When they pulled away this time, it was with heaving breaths, as the kiss had gone on a little long. Neither of them was willing to sever their otherworldly connection, to stop themselves from claiming every facet of each other. 

Suddenly, sneaky fingers found their way to Lava's bicep, squeezing it. 

“What are you doing?”

“Humor me, I've wanted to do this since the first time I saw you.”

Lava allowed himself a fond smile, and he stroked a hand over Wave's hair, smoothing it down where the wind had blown it out of place. “Go ahead, you can squeeze me all you want. You can do whatever you want with me.”

Though he said that, he had to admit he was a little shy to have his body openly admired. Especially by someone as beautiful as Wave, who'd captured his breath from the very first glance and never returned it.

Wave took his invitation to heart, squeezing his bicep with a vengeance, and he may as well have been squeezing Lava's heart while he was at it, for the tightness spreading through his chest from Wave's touch was nearly suffocating.

“Didn’t you want to watch the movie?”

Wave grinned, and luckily Lava's distraction was successful, for he leaned in to place a chaste peck to Lava's lips.

“I have a better idea. Let's go home and watch a movie, just us.”

That sounded worlds better than dealing with a crowded beach, listening to the loud comings and goings of excited bystanders. And this way, he'd be able to fully enjoy the weight of Wave's presence beside him, warm and soothing. 

“Are you asking me on our first date?”

Wave didn't falter at the question, squeezing Lava's hand in his. “Yes, I am. The first of many.”

The promise of not only one date, but many other dates to come, with his boyfriend was enough to steal Lava's breath from his lungs. Not to mention, Wave was still looking at him like he was something special, like he held the answers to the universe’s most pressing questions, should Wave only ask for them. 

And with Wave's hand firmly clasping his, he finally allowed himself to believe that he could actually have this. He could love Wave without consuming him, he'd overcome this ridiculous fear that everything he touched crumbled to dust.

“Okay, let's go.”

Wave's gorgeous smile was more than enough to convince him that this was the right decision, that he was hand-crafted to be Wave’s partner, to have and to hold. And as Wave excitedly dragged him away, throwing glances over his shoulder every few seconds to ensure Lava was still there, he knew one thing for certain.

He would protect Wave until the end of time.