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Gemini and Fourth have been academic rivals for as long as they can remember. Primary school , High school and now University.
Fourth thought that once he gets into the literature department, he wouldn't have to deal with being second best anymore.
So tell him why Gemini Norawit Titicharoenrak was in his major, once again proving to be a thorn in Fourth's side.
The lecture hall, yet another one of their many battlefields.
With Fourth's sharp wit and instant retorts and Gemini's need to never back down from a debate, the tension was always thick and fiery.
Leaving everyone watching and waiting to see if a spark would one day light a flame.
By their third year, everyone knew the pair.
Gemini and Fourth, a never ending rivalry that other students seemed to either avoid or find humour in.
Professors resorted to deliberately pairing the two together as a way to retain a semblance of peace.
These two never actually interacted outside of classrooms , a distance that seemed deliberate, no hostility behind it.
Until one day, Professor Emi was assigning a project that needed a group of two.
Gemini already moving to catch Fourth's eye, a smirk tugging at his lips.
When Fourth seeing the glint in his eye, immediately went , "No."
"C'mon Fourth, you know if there's anyone who can guarantee you a good grade in this class, it's me," Gemini answers , smug.
Fourth sighs and breaths out, " Whatever, I guess you're tolerable."
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Well, now you might think "these two will never get anything done" because of their rivalry and all right? Wrong.
They're too good together. A unit, one might even say a Powerhouse.
They're overly in sync, arguments about citations aren't fruitless, they're smart. Late nights in libraries turn into late nights at Gemini's condo.
It's both infuriating and exciting.
Soon Fourth comes to a realisation that stops his mind in it's tracks.
He has started noticing things about Gemini.
The way his mouth curves when he smiles , the slight pout when he concentrates. The tick in his jaw when he realises the essay structure is all wrong. The way his name sounds softer when Gemini calls him.
The way Gemini knows his coffee order and how the silence stretches differently now.
Like this rivalry has softened into something more akin to a friendship, maybe more.
The thought settling heavy onto his chest but he brushes it away.
One night, they're at Fourth's condo, the rain softly hitting the windows. They've been at it for hours at this point, their shoulders sagging with the tiredness.
Suddenly, Gemini looks up from his laptop screen , his gaze landing on Fourth.
"Do you think we could ever be more than just rivals?" He asks, his voice coming out softer than usual.
Fourth is taken aback, "what do you mean, what else would we be then?" He asks, his throat tightening slightly.
"I don't know, I just feel like maybe we could be something more," he says, "something different."
Fourth clears his throat, trying to find the words until he says, "That's a dangerous way to use that smart brain of yours Gemini."
Gemini stares at him, like really stares, like he sees Fourth for who he truly is.
"Or maybe you're just scared of what it could mean," he says, turning back to look at his laptop screen.
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The question clings onto Fourth for days like a second skin.
He finds himself unable to make sense of the sudden 180° that him and Gemini's relationship has taken.
Especially now when Gemini acts like he didn't just shake Fourth's world with what he said.
His now controlled world, splitting into two.
"Have you eaten yet?"
"Are you tired , should we take a break?"
"Is there anything you want to change?"
Those are the types of questions Gemini asks now. Questions that leave him even more shaken and confused.
Confused at why his heart seems to keen at the attention, at how he seems pleased at Gemini wanting his opinion instead of making the choice himself.
His carefully contained life slowly expanding and Gemini? Oh, Gemini is at the centre of it.
The unravelling doesn't seem to come until one day, a classmate named Zoë starts getting handsy with Gemini, being all up in his space.
It starts when her leaning closer, acting like she's trying to catch what Gemini is saying. Her hand landing on his arm, fingers brushing at his sleeve as she laughs way too loudly.
Now Fourth isn't jealous.
Why would he be jealous?
That would be downright absurd. Right?
Except that he is, the green monster rearing it's head out leaving a bitter taste in his mouth.
Why is Gemini letting her touch him like that?
Gemini looks up, their eyes meeting, a flicker of something passes through his eyes.
Fourth looks away, visibly annoyed.
Later when they're about to leave class, he quickly moves to pack his stuff, hoping to avoid a conversation with Gemini.
Before he could even get anywhere, he feels a hand on his wrist, holding and steady.
"Going somewhere?" he asks.
Fourth tuts his tounge, "Class is over, I'm obviously going home."
"You're annoyed," Gemini says, stating the obvious.
Fourth tries to pull his wrist out of Gemini's grip, " Aren't you observant?" he says with a roll of his eyes," You seemed to be paying attention to Zoë too earlier."
"Oh, is that what this is about?" He asks, amusement flickering in his eyes, "Intresting."
Fourth finally manages to pull of out of his grip , the tips of his eyes turning red, "This isn't about anything, I'm leaving."
Gemini doesn't move to stop him, instead he let's a knowing smile play in his lips.
That night Fourth lays awake, sleep a distant thought.
He felt jealous of that girl today.
What does it mean?
Should he even give it meaning?
Him and Gemini have been dancing around whatever this is for months, years even. Ever since they knew each other. Slipping it under the guise of a rivalry.
He's tired of pretending that it's all it ever was.
There's always been something under all the banter.
And now he wants to know what it is–what it means.
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The next night, they're at the library, busy with the finishing touches to their project.
Fourth losing the internal battle he's been having with himself finally snaps.
"Why do you look at me like that?" he demands.
Gemini looks up at his,confusion painting his features, "Like what?"
"Like you know that, like you've been waiting for something," Fourth answers, "Like you've been waiting for me to realise something."
Gemini freezes, unsure how to answer.
Of course Fourth had finally figured it out, after all these years.
"Maybe I have been trying to tell you something all these years, "Gemini says, his voice soft.
Gemini thinks back to how this rivalry turned into more of wanting Fourth's attention during their last year in high school.
How he waited for Fourth to finally see him as something more, that he'll finally see the difference in his eyes.
"I like you Fourth," he blurts out, shocking both him and Fourth.
Fourth looks at him , his heart stuttering a little, " Y-you like me?" His eyebrows raising.
Gemini reaches out, his hand landing on his cheek.
"I have, for years now," he answers honestly.
Fourth looks at him, searching his face for a sign of anything that could mean he's joking.
He finds nothing but vulnerability and sincerity.
So he decides to be honest, not just with Gemini but himself too.
"I think I've always liked you too but I was scared," he starts "You made me feel and question a lot of things, things I didn't understand so all I knew was to push back but i think deep down I knew that it was more."
Gemini moves closer, "Are you ready for what this realisation means?"
"I think I am, yes," Fourth breaths out.
They both inch closer, breaths mingling softly until the lips meet in a soft kiss.
With Fourth's fingers in his shirt and Gemini's on his neck rubbing soothing circles.
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The kiss doesn't change anything instantly, at least not everything.
They still find themselves bickering over footnotes and whose supposed to be getting coffee that day.
Yet there's something softer underneath.
Gemini doesn't hide the softness in his eyes anymore and Fourth finds himself smiling easier at Gemini's lame attempts at humour.
A softness of something they're still scared to name.
The second time they kiss was in Gemini's apartment, studying together.
Gemini was sprawled on the couch trying to stay awake and Fourth was on the floor, working on something on his laptop.
Suddenly Fourth turned to look at him and the sight he's met with is breathtaking.
Gemini looks so soft like this, his bangs framing his face, a slight pout gracing his lips and his face relaxed with sleep.
"You're staring," Gemini suddenly says while cracking one eye open.
Fourth is startled at this , "You're not sleeping?" He asks.
"I was then I felt you staring, thought I'd let you commit my pretty face to memory a little longer," a teasing lilt in his voice.
Fourth doesn't focus on that, his eyes fixed on the way Gemini's lips are moving, finds himself moving closer until he feels his breath fanning against his face.
"What do you want us to be?" Gemini suddenly asks him.
"Boyfriends," Fourth answers, almost breathes out as if not thinking about what he's saying.
This causes a small smile to break out on Gemini's face as he inches closer until their lips touch—slow and deep, the hesitation from before non-existent.
Fourth kisses him back, his heart thudding loudly in his chest.
Gemini pulls back, breathless, " How about I take you out on a date first?"
Fourth blushes darker and nods a yes.
Their date goes surprisingly well, they don't argue about what to order and conversation flows, both realising how much they actually have in common.
Gemini drives Fourth back to his condo at the end of the night, as Fourth moves to step into his building Gemini calls out to him.
"Hey," he starts, "Good night, Boyfriend."
Fourth thinks he stops breathing for second, wondering if he had heard him correctly.
After he realises, he finds himself making his way back to Gemini, pulling him into an intense kiss that leaves him seeing starts behind his eyelids.
After a while he pulls away just to breathe, "Good night, boyfriend." He says with a smile so big that his eyes are shaped into pretty crescents.
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They don't announce their relationship right away but people start noticing.
How they leave together even though they got to class separately, how Gemini shows up to Fourth's other classes even when he's not enrolled.
How Fourth starts mentioning him and Gemini as a unit, the way Fourth seems to be constantly swallowed in Gemini's hoodies now that it's colder.
The professors noticing how the back and forth has lost it's earlier bite, soft smiles now playing between the two when they are trying to "prove" their points.
The first time Fourth sleeps over at Gemini's condo was purely accidental.
They were watching a movie he's been raving about, curled into Gemini's side on the couch when he suddenly fell asleep.
When he stirred in the middle of the night he was in Gemini's bed, tucked under his chin with Gemini's arms around him holding him close.
He moves closer into the warmth and goes back to sleep.
The second time, they are in Fourth's condo.
Gemini had showed up with food.
"Had to come make sure you're not dead from hunger," he says when Fourth opens the door.
Fourth laughs softly at this, opening it wider so his boyfriend can come inside, "How romantic," he says rolling his eyes sarcastically.
He takes the bag , gets on his tippy toes and pecks Gemini's lips, "Thanks Baby," with a smile on his face.
Gemini of course—malfunctions.
I mean, they have kissed so many times by now but this simple gesture almost has him fainting from how light headed it has him.
His whole face burns red, "Sure , no problem," he says, clearing his throat and moving to the living room.
They both eat, conversation flowing and when they're done, they're on the couch, watching a random documentary when Fourth falls asleep, again.
He feels Gemini move to carry him to the bedroom and mutters out a quick, "Stay."
How could Gemini say no to this? ( The Hamilton girlie in me laughed at this.)
One day Gemini gets to his condo and finds Fourth in his kitchen.
He's wearing one of his hoodies that is too big on him, making it look like he isn't wearing shorts.
He's struggling to get a jar open, tounge sticking out cutely in concentration.
Gemini stops to stare at his pretty boyfriend.
"Since when do you live here?" He asks teasingly.
Fourth doesn't say anything as he approaches him, handing him the jar, silently asking for help.
"You have better snacks here," Fourth shrugs.
Gemini sets the Jar down and pulls Fourth closer by his waist into a hug. A kiss on his temple, enjoying this moment.
He thinks of a future where he comes home to Fourth everyday.
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It's obviously not all perfect.
They still argue, challenge and frustrate each other but they have a place to come back to when everything is all said and done.
Gemini knows how to deal with an overwhelmed Fourth, cuddling him until his breathing evens out.
Fourth knows how to deal with a sulking Gemini, coaxing him with his now new favourite activity which includes Fourth on his lap and kisses.
They make space for each other.
That's what their love is, a soft glow when the sparks settle.
One evening , they're in Gemini's condo, Fourth is on the counter watching Gemini as he attempts to make something edible on the stove.
"Remember the first we realised we picked the same major," Fourth asks, laughing a little.
Gemini snorts, " How could I forget , you told me the closest thing I'll ever come to a brainstorm is a slight drizzle."
"Well you told me that I have an emotional range of a stapler," Fourth says back.
Gemini laughs and walks over to where Fourth is on the counter, caging him in, " Well baby, I was wrong. You've got the emotional range of a least a paper cutter."
Fourth chuckles and smacks his chest lightly, "Dork."
They kiss softly, giggling in between.
"Gem, you're gonna burn our dinner," Fourth says between kisses.
Gemini deepens the kiss, pulling away slightly, " We can order pizza later."
Safe to say, dinner was had much later that evening.
The next morning, Gemini stirs first, his arms wrapped tightly around Fourth's waist , legs drapped over each other and sheets tangled. The sun spilling into the room casting a soft golden glow over Fourth's features.
He doesn't move and kisses Fourth's forehead, falling back asleep.
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Months later, they're in their shared apartment.
Well it was at some point Gemini's until one day he asked Fourth to move in saying he basically lives there anyway since he's always there.
Saturdays are for Grocery runs and laundry.
Weeknights are for Fourth cooking while Gemini tries to sneak back hugs and kisses.
Playlists made for cleaning.
There are quiet nights of them wrapped in blankets on the couch, legs tangled and a conversation.
There are louder nights that involve karaoke sessions, dance breaks and arguments about Gemini's choice of pineapple on pizza.
There are days where they fight, miss deadlines and miscommunicate.
Apologies quickly following after, the love staying.
One evening they're in bed, Fourth lying half on Gemini, breathing him in. Gemini running his hand down his back soothingly.
Fourth looks up to Gemini staring at him.
"What?," he asks.
"Just thinking about how this is love," Gemini answers honestly. "You here with me—everything I could have ever wanted."
"I wouldn't want to be anywhere else," Fourth says , smiling softly.
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