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The apartment was too clean.
Cleaner than a clinic.
Omega walked around in his white socks below the ankles, sliding nervously between the kitchen and the living room, carrying useless things just to have something to do with his hands, which were trembling, cold as if made of ice. He straightened objects that were already perfectly symmetrical, moved the frames around, both the ones on the wall and those on the shelf, then put everything back exactly where they had been before. He fiddled with the cutlery drawer for no reason. He opened and closed the fridge at least six times without taking anything out.
And the floor was so clean that his socks stayed white, maybe even whiter than when he had first pulled them from the drawer.
His head was a pressure cooker without a valve. Everything was boiling inside: the words he wanted to say, the thousand ways they could come out wrong, the fear of seeming needy, or worse, pathetic, in Terzo’s eyes.
It was just another night with Terzo, in theory. But it wasn’t.
It was the night.
The night he was going to try to break that lukewarm bubble where they lived, where everything was half a joke, half true, half danger and half shelter. Omega wanted more. He wanted to call it love without stuttering, without fearing to corner Terzo. He wanted to stop measuring affection in small doses, as if it were medicine.
At three in the afternoon, he took a shower. At four, he took another, because he realized his mind was so far away that he forgot to use soap, spending twenty minutes rubbing himself only with his hands and staring at the shower glass without blinking the whole time, his mind so empty from being too full. His head was so noisy that all he could hear was silence, too much information for his brain to filter.
Then, he sprayed perfume on his wrists and kept testing different scents until he completely lost track of which was which and the fragrances blended, to the point where his nose protested. He chose one outfit, then another, then went back to the first, only to finally decide he didn’t want either.
It couldn’t be too casual, too lazy, like pajama shorts and a band t-shirt. But he couldn’t receive Terzo wearing a damn suit either.
He texted Alpha: "What do I wear for Terzo?" only to get the reply: "Don’t wear anything. It’s not like you two are going to keep clothes on for long anyway."
It didn’t help, even if it was true. Well, partially. They spent more time cuddled up in bed or on the couch than actually having sex, laughing like idiots at their own inside jokes.
Omega ended up choosing a light beige t-shirt, thin enough to show the outline of his shoulders. The short sleeves exposed his muscular tattooed arms, and the color matched his tanned skin and blond hair. It was comfortable but good-looking. The neckline was a little lower than it needed to be, and he pretended not to notice as he put it on. The pants were black, light linen with a drawstring waist, ones he almost never wore because they wrinkled easily. But he ironed them. Properly. They looked good. Almost too good. But still, something felt missing.
So he put on a necklace: a thin gold chain with a round pendant the size of a coin. A sun was engraved in the center, an Apollo talisman he had worn since his teenage years, as a lucky charm. He had worn it when he won that surf competition, before quitting everything and diving into his studies for good. On his feet, just the same white socks. Still way too clean.
Five fifteen. The sky was already starting to turn peach and lavender, that lazy gradient that comes before sunset. For some reason, it made him think of childhood. A strange feeling was growing in his chest, a mix of nervousness and a warm kind of longing, almost comforting, as if that sky knew exactly who he once had been. But now Omega knew who he had to be. He would have to be brave, daring.
Yes, brave.
He would be brave!
The intercom rang at the exact second Omega was tilting the water pitcher over his glass.
"Fuck!" he exclaimed, jumping in place.
The scare was so sudden that he lost control of his hand, spilling water right onto his chest, and the shirt stuck to his skin, revealing the shape of his chest through the now see-through fabric. There was more water on Omega’s shirt than in the glass, his secret special Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles glass, hidden on the top shelf so Terzo would never see it.
He cursed under his breath and dropped the thick glass pitcher into the sink so fast he almost shattered it, the thud echoing like it might break. He rushed to the intercom, still shaking his wet fingers, and answered with his damp hand, his voice coming out far too thin for someone trying to sound calm:
"Hello?" Omega heard himself say, and swore he sounded more like a kitten learning how to meow.
"Good afternoon… there’s a guy downstairs, says his name is ‘Terzo’," the new doorman informed. Omega could almost picture the way Terzo must have been tapping one foot on the floor with his arms crossed, cheeks puffed out, more annoyed at the change of doormen than Omega himself. "Should I send him up?"
"Yes, he can come up. Thank you."
He hung up.
He stood right there in front of the device, chest still wet, very wet. The feeling of the shirt stuck to his skin was agonizing, like putting a sock-covered foot into a puddle and having to keep walking, making that plop plop sound while stepping, feeling the water around his toes, gathered in the damp fabric.
He shivered, uncomfortable. For a whole second, maybe two, he considered closing the curtains, turning off the lights, running to his room and pretending he had canceled. Saying he wasn’t feeling well. Making up a crisis. Any excuse would work, as long as it delayed that moment by a day, a week, a lifetime.
But it was too late.
Omega knew, deep down, that none of that would help. Not the countless times he had rehearsed in front of the mirror, not the speech he had tried earlier to recite to the neighbor’s cat, who, by the way, abandoned him halfway through, as if it had better things to do. Nothing changed the fact: he would never, absolutely never, be ready.
The doorbell had barely finished ringing when he flung the door open too fast. The edge hit his leg with a sharp crack, so loud even Terzo, standing outside, winced in solidarity.
"Shit!" he complained, clutching his knee.
The pain was sharp, throbbing, but he tried to brush it off, lifting his gaze. And the moment he saw Terzo there, he forgot all about the pain.
"You okay?" Terzo asked, with genuine concern and a hard-to-hide amusement.
The blond’s eyes clung to his lover, moving up and down, and he wondered if Terzo could see the sparkle filling his eyes. That was it. Terzo was the sparkle in his eyes.
And damn, what a sight he was!
Terzo wore a black fuzzy sweater, tucked halfway into straight-cut, high-waisted gray dress pants, reminding Omega of how easily he could grab Terzo’s waist with one hand. The sleeves were pulled up to his elbows to show the golden bracelet he wore, matching the thin golden necklace with a small inscription engraved on it that read "Lūna sōlis soror est."
"It’s fine now," Omega replied, trying to tug the wet shirt down and compose himself at the same time, but the fabric clung even tighter to his skin, and when his eyes met Terzo’s mismatched ones, he realized he would never truly compose himself in his presence. Not when he smiled like that, with the upper lip a bit thin and the lower one fuller, lips that pulled Omega’s toward them. Not when he looked at him that way, with those large eyes and long lashes, one crystal blue and the other emerald green. Not with that black hair, slightly tousled and silky, the hair Omega loved to run his fingers through while they lay together, Terzo’s head resting on his bare chest.
He was torn out of the trance when Terzo stepped inside, bag in hand, swinging it.
"I brought you something," he announced, excited. It was so adorable when he couldn’t quite control his enthusiasm, Terzo smiling involuntarily, bouncing slightly as he walked. And the best part was he didn’t even notice. But Omega did. Then the words finally registered.
Omega blinked, surprised.
"For me?"
Terzo’s smile widened. He reached into the bag and pulled out a bottle of sophisticated perfume, sky-blue glass with a wood-colored cap, weighty but simple, with nothing but the brand’s logo on a small white square.
"I did the campaign for this perfume. The brand sent a few units to the team and… you came to mind right away."
Omega almost lost his breath. For a second he thought that if he didn’t control himself, he’d end up bouncing in place like an idiot. Since last night, when he had left the park without Terzo, there had been an uncomfortable pang in his chest, because Aether had been pale in the back seat, and he couldn’t exactly drag his lover along. He had to spare Terzo the chance of being showered in vomit like Alpha had been. Omega made Aether clean the whole car in the morning.
"You have no idea how badly I wanted to take you home yesterday," Omega murmured.
Terzo raised his brows, smirking.
"Missed me?"
The blond nodded, chuckling nervously as he rubbed the back of his warm neck.
"Like hell."
Smiling, Terzo set the perfume carefully on the shelf beside them. Then he did something Omega considered progress. Terzo opened his arms and smiled, waiting.
Omega didn’t need to think twice. He stepped forward and wrapped him in a tight embrace. He breathed in the perfume and thought he wanted everything in the world to smell like Terzo.
The younger man stroked the blond’s back tenderly, one hand holding his shoulder, the other sliding down his back, while his lover’s arms wrapped around his waist.
Then, in the hallway, a familiar voice cut through the air, the couple’s most infamous mood-killer.
"Well, well…" Alpha said, leaning against his own doorframe like he owned the building. Omega wondered how they hadn’t heard him open his apartment door. Leather jacket covered in pins, worn-out jeans, wrinkled white t-shirt. The blond almost wanted to ask who he was going out to screw, after already starting by screwing up his and Terzo’s moment. "Already starting at the door? What’s the rush? Were you two born premature or something?"
Startled, Omega and Terzo both jumped, still clinging to each other.
"We were just saying hi!" Omega insisted, but didn’t step back.
"Sure…" Alpha arched a brow, the corner of his mouth curling into a cynical smile. "Just call me if there’s dessert. Preferably not the kind that involves you two licking each other."
"ALPHA!" they protested in unison, laughing, but Omega was already pulling Terzo inside before their friend could come up with another wisecrack.
He shut the door with his heel, and as soon as the sound of the lock echoed through the apartment, the world shrank back down to just two bodies in the same space. The hug hadn’t really ended. Terzo was still close enough for Omega to feel his warm breath against his neck.
Omega closed his eyes for a moment, just to stretch out that feeling. He wanted to hold on to every detail: the way Terzo pressed lightly on his back, the steady beat of his heart through the contact, and that unmistakable scent that, suddenly, his mind filed under “home.”
When they finally pulled apart, it was like dropping a warm blanket on a cold day. Omega sighed, trying to mask how badly he wanted another minute, or ten. A whole lifetime.
He glanced at the perfume bottle and walked over to it, picking it up almost reverently. It was a gift from Terzo. He took the cap off carefully, like it was a rare artifact, and sprayed lightly on his wrist.
He inhaled deeply. The scent was sophisticated, enveloping, with that unmistakable touch that carried him straight to Terzo. When he lifted his head, he realized he was so flushed that even his tan seemed to vanish, betraying any attempt at composure.
“Great… now, on top of missing you, I’ll be smelling you everywhere,” he said with a shy smile, his voice a little softer than usual.
Terzo laughed, his shoulders relaxing as his eyes wandered around the space like someone revisiting a familiar place after a long time. He took a couple of laps around the room, let out a short whistle, impossible to tell if it was approval or teasing—honestly, Terzo was a terrible whistler—and turned back to Omega, who was following him slowly, a goofy grin on his face he didn’t even try to hide.
“Man, you really cleaned this place up, huh?” Terzo commented, pointing at the floor, practically shining. “Looks like a fancy hotel lobby.”
“Ah, not really…” Omega replied, setting the perfume back on the shelf as if it were a work of art. “I just put things in their place.”
“‘Just put things,’ huh? Sure…”
Omega didn’t let the silence stretch too long.
“You came pretty early. I thought you’d show up at the usual time, seven-thirty.”
“Only when you pick me up,” Terzo shrugged, shoving his hands into his pockets, his sneaker toe tapping against the floor, drawing a half-circle. “I came with Secondo today.”
“I thought your brother wasn’t allowed to drive anymore,” Omega said, frowning.
“Yeah, but Primo made an exception when Secondo promised to clean the whole house for the next two months and cover him every time we go out. Gas money included.”
Omega scoffed under his breath.
“And he brought you here willingly?”
“He said it was on the way. I don’t know what he came here for, didn’t ask. Honestly, I’m afraid to find out. But when I walked into the building, he stayed out front.”
“Weird,” Omega commented.
“As hell.”
Terzo was already heading straight for the kitchen. Omega only noticed where he was going when he heard the cupboard door open and a cup slide into the sink. And it wasn’t the sound of glass. It was plastic.
His blood ran cold.
Cup.
Ninja Turtles cup.
My Ninja Turtles cup.
The very same one he kept hidden in the top cupboard, away from Terzo’s teasing eyes. The very same one he had left on the counter in his rush to answer the intercom, like it was nothing.
“No, no, no,” Omega muttered, rushing toward the kitchen. “Don’t look at the sink!”
But it was too late.
When he rounded the counter, Terzo was standing there, holding the cup in his hands. Donatello, Raphael, Leonardo, and Michelangelo printed across it, a little faded but still proud, flaunting all their cartoon glory. The cup was damp inside, abandoned after the intercom scare. Terzo turned it slowly in his fingers, examining it with amusement.
“Well, well, well… why keep a relic like this hidden?”
“I didn’t hide anything,” the blond lied, but his red cheeks betrayed him, which only amused Terzo more. “I just keep it in the top cupboard!”
“The cupboard I can’t reach and would never be able to see. But today, seems like fate betrayed you, didn’t it?” Terzo gave the cup another glance and laughed. “Childhood relic?”
Omega nodded. Of course it was. That cup was more worn out than his boots, maybe even more worn out than his grandmother’s joints. He folded his arms and looked away, blushing to the roots of his golden hair.
“How cute,” Terzo remarked.
“Excuse me?”
“I said I think it’s cute.”
“I don’t feel the truth in your words,” Omega narrowed his eyes, arms crossed.
“What do you feel then?” Terzo arched a brow, twirling the cup in his fingers, staring at Omega.
“I feel mockery. But it won’t last long,” the blond said, lips twisting, almost carefree.
It was Terzo’s turn to squint, his expression twisting in confusion as he started to form a question—but he was abruptly cut off when Omega lunged at him, scooping him up as if he weighed nothing. The younger man squealed, kicking his legs as Omega laid him down on the marble counter, still clutching the cup tightly in one hand. With that, Omega let go and started poking his ribs, moving from the bones to above his hips, giving Terzo no mercy with tickles. The black-haired man laughed until he was red, writhing and trying to grab Omega’s hands, finally dropping the cup. Only then did Omega stop the attack, panting, though no more than Terzo, who wouldn’t recover anytime soon, his cheeks aching from laughter.
Satisfied, Omega picked up the cup, rinsed it under the tap, dried it, and put it back on the top shelf, before turning back to Terzo, who sat on the counter, still floppy.
“You’re so cruel, you know that?” the younger murmured, pouting.
Laughing, Omega stepped closer, stopping between Terzo’s legs.
“Me?”
“You!” the smaller one accused, folding his arms as the blond slid his around his waist, unable to hold back a smile at Terzo’s pout. “Look how you treat me! I bring you a gift, show up early, and you poke my ribs! You know, back in the golden days, you used to kiss me first.”
Omega’s smile softened, his blue eyes dropping to Terzo’s lips for an instant before returning to his eyes. He felt the shift.
“Is that what you want?” the blond whispered, leaning in slowly until their foreheads touched.
Terzo’s answer was a silent nod. He closed his eyes, letting out a soft sigh, brushing the tip of his nose against Omega’s in a sweet, inviting gesture.
With care, the older man held Terzo’s chin between his thumb and forefinger, tilting it up just enough for their lips to meet in a calm kiss, both of them sighing heavily, as if the gentle touch were a relief. Eyes closed, chuckling softly when their noses bumped, they deepened the kiss, lips moving against each other as their tongues entwined.
Omega brought his hands to Terzo’s face, holding him between his palms, his thumbs brushing gently over the younger man’s soft cheeks. Terzo clutched Omega’s shoulders, pulling him closer, then hooked his legs around his waist.
Omega was already gone. The weight of Terzo’s legs dragged him in, and he didn’t resist—he didn’t want to. Every touch from the younger man, every muffled laugh between kisses, that wonderful sound that was music to Omega’s ears, like a melody plucked from Apollo’s lyre. The god was present again in Omega’s life, reflected in Terzo just as the Sun reflected on the moon.
And it only made him more certain that tonight everything had to change. But that would come later.
His mouth trailed down Terzo’s jawline, scattering soft kisses until it reached the corner of his ear, where he bit lightly, enough to draw a playful little “hm” from the younger man. Then Omega let his kisses descend to Terzo’s neck, lingering in the curve between shoulder and throat until Terzo chuckled under his breath and pushed at his shoulder, pulling a groaning protest from the taller man.
"You’re gonna leave a mark", Terzo said, laughing lightly.
" So what?", Omega raised his head, one blond eyebrow arched, the corner of his lips curling into a sly grin. "What, are you gonna pretend you don’t like it?"
Those ocean-blue eyes caught Terzo’s gaze for a moment, a pure blue, the color of ruin. He could drown in that look and never be found again, and he’d be happy like that, lost in Omega’s eyes, swallowed by his own feelings for the blond.
Terzo rolled his eyes but didn’t hide his smile. His legs still hung around Omega’s waist, feet swinging in the air like he was far too comfortable to move.
But Omega knew it wouldn’t last. Terzo always remembered his quirks. And sure enough: he unhooked his legs, braced his hands on the counter, and shifted with a sigh.
"I’m going upstairs", he announced, like it was obvious. Like it was natural for him to go alone, as if the apartment already belonged to him.
" Upstairs?" Omega echoed, surprised, still holding his waist.
" Shower", Terzo said "You already know, I can’t sit on the couch like this. Street clothes don’t touch the bed or the sofa."
Omega let out a short laugh through his nose.
"I’ve never seen anyone so allergic to the outside world as you"
" It’s not an allergy, it’s… well, it’s something", Terzo hopped off the counter in a little jump, which Omega watched while imagining the Super Mario sound effect of hitting a block and grabbing a mushroom to grow. The blond chuckled at his own thought, watching Terzo patting his hips to adjust his pants, before turning and adding:
"You should be thankful. If it were up to you, we’d wear the same clothes for days."
"What an exaggeration", Omega followed him down the hallway, arms crossed. "This couch has never seen a speck of dirt."
" I’m starting to think no room in here has", Terzo stopped at the foot of the stairs, throwing a quick glance over his shoulder.
" Won’t be long."
The blond stood there, his shirt still marked by the water from earlier, watching as Terzo climbed the stairs, his hips swaying just enough to leave Omega dizzy, hypnotized. What could he do? He was only a weak man, and his eyes stayed fixed on Terzo’s ass. He didn’t even try to fight himself, didn’t bother to scold his own brain. “Control yourself” wasn’t an option. “Stop staring at that ass like a dog at a steak” even less so. He almost clapped for it. Almost. Instead, his hands found the gold chain around his neck, twisting the pendant between his fingers.
His head was spinning, but for the first time that day it wasn’t unbearable noise. More like a good kind of expectation, even though the anxiety still churned in his stomach. And, of course, his friend down below already eager to raise the tentpole. Or rather, the tent was already up.
After a few minutes, he realized he couldn’t stay there forever. He grabbed the perfume Terzo had given him, his palms sweaty, and went upstairs slowly, his footsteps light as if to hide the anticipation, though his heart was racing. He set the perfume carefully on the shelf, almost reverently, then stripped off his damp shirt, tossing it aside to dry. He lingered, lips pursed, really taking in his room for the first time.
Day-to-day life had made him blind to it. He’d always seen it as “home,” but never looked deeper. Now he noticed. It was his memories that made it his: the childhood photos in small frames, the Ninja Turtles cup in the kitchen, the black guitar hanging by the shelf, the stack of records ordered by favorites. The faint scent of candles he lit now and then. A single crystal on the bedside table—a big raw black tourmaline. He didn’t really believe in crystals. But he believed in his mother. And if Delphi told him to keep a black tourmaline in the bedroom, well… Omega kept one.
When he heard the shower stop, a shiver ran through him. Terzo walked in wearing nothing but black pajama shorts, loose enough not to hide much, his dark hair damp and tousled.
The bastard had been more subtle at the start of whatever this was between them. Now he looked straight at Omega, grinned, and even nodded in approval. Before the blond could speak, Terzo walked up to him.
"You know, you should give me a warning before going shirtless like that", Terzo murmured. Oh, what a coincidence, Omega thought, he could say the same. Terzo took another step, brushing his hair back casually—casual enough for Omega to know it was calculated in that devilish little mind.
Omega blinked, cheeks burning instantly.
"Uh, yeah… I…", he stammered, unable to finish the sentence.
Terzo chuckled softly, and Omega felt his whole body react to the sound. Then, without ceremony, the younger man went to the wardrobe, slid open a door, and pulled out one of Omega’s favorite T-shirts.
"Oops", Terzo said, holding the fabric between his fingers. "Looks like I’m taking this with me. Hope you don’t mind."
Omega’s mouth fell open, his heart pounding in a strange, almost happy way.
"Terzo… that’s my favorite!", he protested, too slow to stop the theft. Maybe he didn’t really want to.
Terzo flashed a victorious smile, already sliding the shirt over his head, and Omega just scoffed, laughing and rolling his eyes.
"See?", Terzo said, tugging the hem down, the shirt reaching halfway down his pale thighs, completely covering the shorts " I can steal your stuff and you won’t do a thing. You don’t even react."
Omega mocked him, arms crossed over his bare chest.
"Kid, if I wanted to toss you across this room, I could. You’re lucky I’m not in the mood."
Terzo only stepped closer, arms wrapping around Omega’s waist, the blond’s hands automatically finding his smaller hips as Terzo murmured against his chest:
"Then I guess I’ll just keep pushing my luck."
Omega sighed, chuckling softly, already surrendered to his lover’s charm and mischief. This was the kind of moment he wanted to bottle up forever—even if he knew he’d regret letting Terzo steal his favorite shirt. That klutz was bound to spill something on it, no doubt. Omega often wondered how the idiot had ever learned to walk at all—probably by accident. Still, he stayed there, unmoving for a moment, basking in Terzo’s warmth pressed to him.
"You woke up with a fire up your ass today, huh? Testing my patience already", Omega muttered, trying to sound serious, but his voice cracked halfway.
Terzo arched a brow, smirking with mischief.
"Testing or not, you let me, didn’t you?", he teased, raking his hand through damp hair, the strands sticking to his forehead. "And look… it suits me."
Omega scoffed, half laughing, half trying to hide the blush creeping up his face.
"Suits my ass, I never said you could."
" You didn’t say I couldn’t either. You just said it was your favorite."
Terzo rose on tiptoe, brushing his lips over Omega’s cheek in a quick, provocative kiss, then chuckled, satisfied with the blond’s stunned reaction—mouth open, eyes wide.
"Close your mouth before a fly gets in, big guy", he teased, his rare playful gleam destroying any hope of control. Omega had wanted their evening to start soft, even romantic. But that damned little devil rubbing against him wasn’t helping one bit.
He even tried to pull back, but Terzo’s hands gripped his waist, holding him in place.
" I…" he began, but the words died when Terzo’s fingers skimmed over his bare chest, sparking goosebumps.
" Relax", Terzo whispered. "I’m just teasing. For now."
Omega shut his eyes, sighing. He knew he’d lose himself completely if he stayed, but at the same time, he didn’t want to step away. Not for a second.
Terzo sensed the hesitation, and with a sly grin, slid his arms up to wrap around Omega’s neck.
"You should just admit it…" he goaded, "that you like when I steal your stuff."
Omega’s eyes snapped open, a soft laugh escaping, too weak to protest.
"I… maybe… a little…" he muttered, embarrassed.
Terzo seized the moment, tugging him down just enough to press their foreheads together and steal another kiss, their bodies fitting together as naturally as breathing.
Omega rested his head lightly on Terzo’s shoulder, his heart still racing.
"But I’ll never let you forget that shirt’s mine."
Terzo chuckled low, holding him tighter.
"Don’t worry…" he murmured, voice low and sweet. " I’ll remember… every day."
“Every day”? Omega wasn’t about to get all emotional… but did that mean Terzo saw a future with him? Well, those words only confirmed the choice he’d made for tonight was the right one.
Omega’s hand stayed firm on Terzo’s waist as they left the room together, the stolen shirt still hanging off the younger man’s body. Terzo tried to match the blond’s stride, but their height difference was clear with every step down the stairs.
"You know, I still don’t get how you manage to go up the stairs without tripping," Omega said, raising an eyebrow and glancing down at Terzo’s feet. "Seriously, you look like one of those spring toys, all clumsy."
"Clumsy?" the shorter one repeated, pretending to be offended. "Me? You’re the clumsy one! You look like a dog balancing on a wall, you giant."
Omega let out a low laugh, squeezing his waist lightly as he adjusted his grip.
"Giant and clumsy? You’re the size of a beetle. I have to be careful not to step on you, look at this…" He exaggerated a step, pretending to stumble as he almost stepped on Terzo, brushing his foot against the younger one’s ankle, who let out a playful "ouch!"
"See?"
Terzo clicked his tongue but didn’t protest. He knew Omega was absolutely right, and the precise jab only made the moment funnier.
Time slipped by quickly, almost without them realizing it. After the teasing, they ended up sprawled on the living room sofa, still laughing and poking at each other, their bodies so close it seemed impossible to pull them apart. Terzo curled up in Omega’s lap, his head resting on the blond’s chest, while Omega played with the dark strands, stroking gently and breathing in the scent of shampoo mixed with the perfume Terzo still carried.
Later, Omega decided it was time to prepare dinner. Nothing too fancy, just salmon fillet with grilled vegetables. Terzo, curious as always, leaned against the counter, watching every move as Omega worked with the pans, his blond hair catching the soft kitchen light.
"That smells amazing," Terzo said, fiddling with his hair that was no longer damp. "Almost makes me want to eat you along with the food."
Omega laughed, shaking his head.
"Stop joking, or dinner’s going to end up burned."
Dinner didn’t take long. They ate sitting on the couch, plates balanced on the coffee table, since Omega would never allow them to rest on the arm of the sofa. Afterwards, almost instinctively, they went back to clinging to each other, fingers intertwined, arms wrapped around waists, heads leaning against one another. Nothing out of the routine they had built together.
When night finally settled in, Omega took them out to the balcony. The city glowed below, never asleep, but it was the sky that held both their gazes. Shy stars began to appear, and the crescent moon cast a soft glow with a hint of shyness. Sitting side by side, Terzo rested his head on Omega’s shoulder, and the blond felt the weight of closeness deepen the tension already building inside him. The time was near.
When he thought about it, Omega’s heartbeat went straight to hell. He had no idea how he hadn’t gone into cardiac arrest already, with how fast it was pounding.
The night breeze played with Terzo’s hair, and Omega realized suddenly that this was the right moment. Now or never. Every detail seemed to conspire in favor of it being the moment: the beautiful night, the scent of the perfume, the warmth of Terzo’s skin against his, the racing heart, the way Terzo gave in to his touch without stiffness. Everything pointed to this being the time to break the bubble between them and turn what they had into something more, something real.
Omega drew in a breath, feeling butterflies in his stomach and warmth flooding his arms. He knew the choice was his, and there was no more room for hesitation.
He wouldn’t hesitate anymore about what he wanted.
And he wanted Terzo.
Omega breathed slowly, but his heart seemed ready to burst out of his chest. The night air caressed his face, and Terzo’s scent, still mixed with the perfume, made everything more intense, almost unbearable. He tightened his grip lightly on the younger one’s hand resting on his knee, pretending it was casual, but his palms were sweating so much he feared Terzo would notice his anxiety.
The blond felt the pressure build, the old sensation of a pressure cooker without a valve exploding inside his head. He thought about every gesture, every smile from Terzo, every look, every laugh. It wasn’t just desire, it was fascination, it was a deep affection that had taken root in his soul. He had never felt like this before.
At 24, he was in love for the first time, and it wasn’t a light love, it was the kind that consumed him every day since that afternoon they danced in the living room.
Omega ran his tongue across his lips unconsciously, his hand trembling slightly as he held on to Terzo. He wanted to say so many things, but fear outweighed courage: fear of sounding desperate, fear that Terzo didn’t feel the same intensity, fear of ruining what was already perfect. He imagined himself living every moment with Terzo, not only nights like this one, but walks, laughter, confidences, lazy mornings together, trips, little everyday adventures… even a family. And the thought of the future only tightened the knot in his throat.
He wanted Terzo to be the first person with whom he would share every piece of himself, every quirk, every fear, every triumph. But he also feared that such openness would be too much, that the younger one wouldn’t be ready to walk alongside such intensity. He knew Terzo. And Omega knew himself enough to understand he was in love and ready to give himself completely.
He wanted to laugh, he wanted to cry, he wanted to run, he wanted to touch, he wanted to speak, he wanted to kiss. But above all, he wanted this moment to last forever. Each star appearing in the sky seemed to prove this was the right time, and still, Omega remained fearful.
Never in his life had he felt something so overwhelming. And as much as his mind screamed at him to act, his heart, he knew, had already made the choice: he loved Terzo.
Omega squeezed Terzo’s hand harder without realizing it, their fingers intertwining almost too tightly, as if holding on to him could somehow help organize his own mind.
"What if I rush it? What if he doesn’t feel the same? What if everything changes after this?"
But then he also thought: "What if I do nothing? What if I lose the chance? What if I regret it for the rest of my life?"
Time seemed to stretch. A second expanded into minutes, and Omega could feel every beat of Terzo’s heart vibrating in his own chest.
And still, he said nothing. He couldn’t. Every word felt useless compared to the force of what he felt for Terzo. All he could do was wait, feel, suffer, and long at the same time, anxiety coursing through his body like an electric current.
Omega knew, in every fiber, that this was the moment. He realized the anxiety no longer fit just in his head; it now trembled in his arms, in his legs, in the hands holding Terzo’s. The weight of closeness was both delicious and painful. He wanted to move forward, but every second felt too precious not to savor.
He leaned slightly toward Terzo, just enough to feel the warmth of his neck brush against his own shoulder. The movement was almost imperceptible, but the electricity between them intensified. Omega felt Terzo’s hair graze his cheek, and a wave of tension surged through his entire body, from his toes to the roots of his hair.
Without realizing it, he squeezed Terzo’s hand again, holding tight, and then slowly let go.
He began to sway slightly, almost unconsciously, a tiny gesture. The younger one didn’t notice at first, but he felt the change in posture and glanced up, curious, saying nothing.
The blond slid a hand over Terzo’s shoulder, almost imperceptibly, then down his arm, testing the reaction. Terzo let out a soft sigh, shifting closer, and Omega felt his whole body respond.
Still without words, still fighting his own nerves, he began moving his face closer to Terzo’s, almost touching foreheads, feeling the rhythm of his lover’s breathing, letting passion guide every gesture.
Omega stayed there, frozen for a few seconds, their foreheads nearly touching. His other hand still rested on Terzo’s, fingers interlaced almost without thought.
His heart pounded in his chest, each beat so loud it seemed to echo in his head. Every cell in his body begged for action, and at the same time, his mind pleaded for patience, for restraint, for perfection. If he stuttered, he swore he’d throw himself off the balcony.
He inhaled deeply. One, two, three… and on the third attempt, his lips trembled. He wanted to speak, to let it all out, but his voice refused to obey. The first sound came out almost inaudible:
"T-Terzo…"
Great. He had stuttered already. His eyes darted toward the balcony.
The syllable barely formed before Omega swallowed hard, his throat dry, his mouth strangely full, his tongue heavy. The silence that followed felt bigger than any sound could be. He drew another deep breath, steadier this time, and continued, hesitant.
"I… I just…"
He stuttered again. He wanted to blurt out "nothing" and jump off the balcony straight into hell and never return.
His eyes locked on Terzo’s, searching for a sign, any gesture that might confirm he wouldn’t be rejected. Terzo only blinked, curious, motionless, waiting.
Omega’s chest tightened, the air thinning, and he swallowed hard before trying again:
"I… I like… you."
What a childish confession. As if Terzo couldn’t already see it stamped across his forehead.
If Alpha, Aether, and Ifrit were there, they’d start clapping and say: thank you for finally telling us, Mr. Obvious.
The world seemed to stop, the night suspended just for that instant.
Omega closed his eyes for a moment, trying to gather the words. He felt Terzo’s hands still laced with his, the weight of his body so close, and at the same time, the whole world seemed to shrink to that touch, to that instant. His throat burned from swallowing, and his mind spun in circles, searching for a way to begin without stumbling over his own emotions.
"Terzo…" he whispered. "I… I need to tell you something."
Terzo only tilted his head, like a curious cat, letting Omega gather courage, without rushing or interrupting. Omega drew a deep breath, air filling his chest, his heart racing painfully fast.
"Before you…" he began, pausing, swallowing hard, searching for the right words for something he had carried for years. "Before you, I… I slept with other people. Enough people." His voice came low, shaky. His face burned, but he kept going. "And… it wasn’t many, but I regret every single one. None of them… taught me anything I wanted to learn. I was just… trying to figure myself out, trying… I don’t know… to keep up with my friends."
Omega swallowed again, feeling Terzo’s hand squeeze his.
"After that…" he went on, his voice firmer but still trembling, "after that, my life turned into studying. Studying, working, focus. For years. I didn’t want to lose myself again. I didn’t want anyone else… taking my time without meaning, without bringing purpose. I threw myself into everything I could, dedicated myself, and for months… even just a few months ago… my world was only that. Only work, only study. No room for anything else."
Omega inhaled again, trying to calm the storm of thoughts spinning in his head. His body was tense, and Terzo’s closeness only made it worse. He tilted his head, staring at the night sky before him, though he could still feel the warmth of the other at his side.
"And now…" Terzo said suddenly, voice soft, almost shy, asking the question Omega had been expecting. "And now? What about now?" he repeated, locking eyes with the blond. "What do you want? What’s your focus now?"
Omega’s chest thumped so hard it felt audible, and for a moment he closed his eyes, as if he needed every ounce of courage in the world to answer. The silence was so loud even the city below seemed hushed.
When he opened them, his voice came out barely a whisper:
"Now…" Omega began slowly. "Now… it’s you."
He let the words linger between them. He felt Terzo’s body shiver slightly, his fingers tightening around his, his gaze fixed, almost begging him not to break the moment. Omega drew in another breath, leaning closer, but not yet touching Terzo’s lips, leaving the truth of what he felt hanging in the air.
The silence stretched, and Omega wanted to say more, to pour everything out, but the intensity already spoke louder than words. Everything he wanted, everything he had sought, learned, experienced over the years, every regret, every effort, every achievement, had been distilled into one truth now: Terzo was his focus, his desire, his priority, his choice.
Then Terzo took a breath, as if gathering courage to finally speak. His voice came low, hesitant, almost stumbling over the words:
"I…" Terzo began, turning his head slightly, avoiding direct eye contact. "I’ve… been with other people too."
Omega tilted his head, silently encouraging him, holding Terzo’s hand firmly, letting him continue at his own pace.
"But…" Terzo paused, breathing slowly, eyes still downcast. "But it was never comfortable." His voice wavered, and he squeezed Omega’s fingers, seeking silent support. "It was always… always idiots, or I… I felt uneasy. I always hoped it would be quick and that I’d never see them again. I don’t know… it was never like… like it is with you."
Omega felt a warmth flood his chest, a mix of relief and tenderness. He squeezed Terzo’s hand. Terzo took another deep breath, finally looking at Omega, eyes wide and sincere, shining in the soft night light.
"I… never thought I’d have someone like this." The words came low, but honest. "Someone who… who makes me feel… that it’s easy, in a way I didn’t even know existed. That it’s easy to be with, to imagine being together without feeling uncomfortable."
Omega swallowed hard, chest tightening with emotion.
"So…" Omega murmured, leaning in, his forehead brushing gently against Terzo’s. "So you… like me the same way. Right?"
Terzo gave a timid smile, almost a nervous laugh, and nodded, feeling the words come easier now, after carrying so much weight, the release streaming down in small tears from his eyes.
"I like you. A lot." And, as if to emphasize it, he added softly: "And I never thought anyone could be like this for me."
Omega closed his eyes for a moment, letting his heart, his chest, every nerve in his body feel the truth of the moment.
The moon bore witness to what was happening now.
Omega leaned his lips closer, but didn’t kiss yet, letting the tension grow, feeling every breath of Terzo. It was sweet, slow, and finally, after so long a wait, it felt like they were exactly where they were meant to be, stripped of fear, with only truth and desire pulsing between them.
But it wasn’t over yet.
He wouldn’t confess and leave it there. Not at all.
He took a deep breath, feeling Terzo’s hand holding his, and finally, after so long, he found the courage.
"Terzo…" he began, voice trembling, low, almost a whisper only the other could hear. "Do you… want to…" He paused, swallowing hard, throat burning from nerves. "Want to be my boyfriend?"
The silence that followed was almost unbearable. Omega could hear his own breathing, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it would explode. Each passing second heightened the tension, and he felt his anxiety threaten to turn into tears, but he held them back, breathing deeply, keeping his eyes fixed on Terzo.
Terzo looked at him, eyes wide and shining, and for a moment Omega thought he would never be able to breathe again. Then, with a timid, almost shy smile, Terzo answered:
"Yes. I do."
The single word made Omega feel as if all the weight he had carried for the last twenty-four years had lifted in a second. It was surreal, real, human. He couldn’t believe someone was finally looking at him like that, and that someone was Terzo. For the first time, he felt life flowing through him. He felt what it meant to be alive. And he loved feeling it.
Without thinking, Omega pulled Terzo close, carefully sitting him on his lap. He felt Terzo’s body mold to his, small and warm, so familiar yet still full of novelty. His scent, the touch of his skin, his uneven breaths—all of it exploded in Omega’s senses.
Then, finally, their lips met. A slow, deep kiss, carrying everything that had been held back, contained, and waited for so long. No longer kissing a lover or casual partner.
He was kissing his boyfriend!
Inside, it was a whirlwind. He wanted to laugh, cry, shout that he finally belonged to someone. He held back tears. He held back the urge to sob, to scream with happiness, because in that moment, everything had to be felt fully, but silently.
Omega felt Terzo’s hand travel up his arm, gripping his shoulder firmly, as if to say, I’m here too. I want you too. And that was enough for Omega to feel a wave of emotion threatening to knock him over.
He rested his forehead against Terzo’s, breathing together. And in that lap, in that tight embrace, in that long kiss, he finally realized: he finally belonged to someone. And more than that, he belonged to Terzo.
The kiss only ended when Omega needed to breathe, but he didn’t pull away. He kept Terzo close, running his hands through his hair, holding his face, feeling the warmth of his body against his chest. For the first time in a long while, he could close his eyes and just feel. Just be. Belong to someone. Be with someone who truly wanted him.
Omega thought about life before Terzo. He had always felt a space inside him that no one could fill.
Then Terzo appeared and brought forth everything Omega never thought existed, or rather, never thought was for him.
And there he was, realizing for the first time, with absolute clarity, that he no longer needed to measure love in small doses, no longer needed to fear his own vulnerability.
Omega closed his eyes, feeling hot tears threaten to fall, but controlling each one, silently absorbing the magnitude of what it meant: to finally belong to someone, to finally feel like he belonged to someone who wanted to be there too.
And as the moon softly lit the balcony, he allowed himself to just think, to hold that moment, to breathe in Terzo and feel, finally, that he belonged. Omega realized, with a sweet, absolute weight in his chest: now, he had a boyfriend. Terzo. His boyfriend.