Archive of Our Own

Wave smiled down at the drawing in his hands. It was clearly made by a practiced artist. If he hadn't watched Lava as he dragged a pencil across the paper, it would've been hard to believe it was his work. He didn't know Lava was so creative.

Every line was placed with careful precision, so that Wave immediately recognized the setting it depicted. It was the rundown noodle shop that Lava had taken him to before. Only, it looked a bit different. He'd taken it upon himself to redesign it. He must've felt bad for the owner, who struggled to make a living and couldn't afford to fix the hole in the roof that leaked water when it rained. 

“This looks great, Lava! I didn't know you could draw so well.”

Lava rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, and the corners of his lips twitched briefly. Wave only noticed because he paid special attention to Lava's expressions. He could read Lava's face like a book at this point. 

Obviously, Lava didn't know how to take compliments. He probably didn't receive them often, which caused him to shift in discomfort when Wave spoke highly of his drawing. After all, he did admit that he'd been looked down on his whole life. That was why he was so desperate to be useful to the people around him.

Wave wished he'd realize his worth went far beyond what he could do for other people. He shouldn't forget to take care of himself amidst his worries over everyone else. 

Lava managed to pull himself together and plastered on an arrogant grin in seconds. “I studied architecture, of course I can draw.”

Unfortunately for Lava, Wave had already seen that split-second of hesitation. Lava could fool anyone else with his cocky act, but not Wave. He secretly craved praise, and Wave was going to give it to him. “Really, this is even better than a typical architecture student's drawing.” 

Lava scoffed, his eyebrows wriggling in that ridiculous way they did when he was trying to make a point. “What do you know about architecture students? You can't even remember if you went to university.”

Lava had a sharp tongue. But that was okay. For Lava was like the prettiest of roses, soft and delicate on the inside. Wave just had to brave the thorns he wore as armor before he got to witness his hidden sweetness. “I may not remember, but I know a good artist when I see one.” 

“You're exaggerating,” Lava grumbled, but his ears were turning red. Wave wanted to reach out and touch them to feel their warmth, but he held himself back. Lava would only get defensive and run away to hide his embarrassment if Wave pointed it out. 

Lava was really talented. He did manual labor without issue (aside from his constant complaining), he woke up early to go fishing (he complained about that too), he took care of Wave (if making him do chores counted as taking care of him), and he could even draw well. Was there anything he couldn't do? Aside from dropping his bad attitude, of course. 

Not that Wave really wanted him to do that. Admittedly, he liked how rough Lava was around the edges. That was something he'd recently come to learn about himself. 

When he first woke up, his sexuality was the last thing on his mind. He didn't remember his name, where he came from, who his family was. He was more focused on trying to regain his memories than anything else. 

But once he settled into this new life of his, finding out his past didn't seem so important anymore. Instead, he'd rather look towards his future. Thus, figuring out his sexuality moved to the forefront of his thoughts. He examined how his body responded when he was around certain people. Amongst his interactions, there was one stand out. Lava. 

Even though his mind didn't remember his sexuality, his body certainly did. That was proven when Lava pulled his little stunt in the bathroom that morning. He burst in while Wave was taking a shower, barely giving him enough time to cover himself with a towel. Only to show off his entire back as he stood in front of the toilet. 

Wave tried to act unbothered, but he couldn't stop his gaze from straying to the expanse of skin that was fully exposed. It was like a feast for his eyes. But his staring must've raised Lava's ego too much, for he decided to stand chest-to-chest and nose-to-nose with Wave as soon as he was finished handling his business. Like he was playing some game with Wave's feelings. 

It was easy enough to play it off and pretend like his heart wasn't racing in his chest at Lava's closeness. He excused the sweat sliding down the back of his neck as being from the heat of his shower that had been rudely interrupted. He kept his composure enough to assert that Lava had no effect on him, despite the sudden dryness of his throat. 

After that, it was safe to say he was attracted to men. Especially to one very specific man who liked to run his mouth too much. But it wasn't accurate to say he was drawn to bad boys. Because even though Lava acted tough, he always helped those in need. Even when they didn't ask for it. That was why he'd saved Wave when he washed up on the beach, helpless and alone. 

Lava really was kind. If anything, he was a good boy. He just showed his care in a different way. So, Wave concluded that he liked soft-hearted men who hid their weakness under layers of insults. That was no matter. Every curse word from Lava only meant Wave was getting closer to him. 

His thoughts were interrupted when Kratae showed up. She wanted to check on his condition. Once he reassured her that he was alright, she started a conversation with Lava. Wave didn't feel like his input was required further. He returned his attention to Lava's drawing. He felt drawn to it. Perhaps he was an artist in his past life. Maybe if Lava showed him how to make art, he'd remember something. 

“Kratae is cute, isn't she?,” Lava asked as soon as she left. 

And just like that, Wave's pleasant mood flew out the window. The last bits of joy he'd been clinging onto were snatched away as quickly as they'd come. He'd already desperately tried to hang onto his sanity by tuning out Lava's and Kratae’s voices once he'd gone quiet. “Sure, I'll draw you. Pretty faces are easy to draw.” What a charmer. Lava made him sick.  

Mostly because he'd rather Lava say that to him. Why couldn't Lava compliment him instead? He was an attractive guy. He deserved Lava's praise. 

He handed Lava's notepad back with a huff. Even though he'd come to terms with his feelings, he didn't know if the sentiment was returned. He wasn't sure if Lava was attracted to him as his hints seemed to imply, or if he was just messing around. And even if his hints were genuine, just how far did that attraction go? He didn't want to be another notch on Lava's bedpost. 

“Don't you want to draw me too? Or do you only draw girls to hit on them?”

Lava snorted as he went back to drawing. “If you think that's a good way to flirt, you really are clueless.”

“What do you mean?” 

Lava didn't answer his question. Instead, he narrowed his eyes in suspicion. “Why are you asking about flirting? Do you like her? Tum would have a problem with that.” 

Wave sputtered in surprise. He didn't know a nice way to say, “Actually, my type is the exact opposite. I'd rather be roughed up by an annoying jerk who can't keep his mouth shut.”

He elected not to answer the question. “What about you… Would you have a problem with it?” 

Lava's jaw tensed, and his eyebrow twitched in irritation. “Why would I give a fuck what you do?” Then he stood and marched off, like Wave had personally offended him. 

Why did he seem upset? Maybe he really did have a crush on Kratae but was hanging back out of respect for Tum. That was something Lava would do. As much as Lava tried to paint himself as a bad guy, he was always doing good deeds for other people. He helped others more than he helped himself. 

Even if Lava did like Kratae, he wouldn't give up. He would hinge his hope on being able to win Lava over. 

He reached his breaking point sooner than he would've liked. He couldn't help but be agitated when Lava was splashing around with Kratae in the water, looking like he was having the time of his life. Wave had never seen him smiling so hard. He already had to endure watching him put sunscreen on her back. She could've asked Tum or even Wave, so why was Lava her immediate choice? And now, Lava was playing around in the water like a child. 

Tum was standing on the sideline, looking defeated. Wave was beside him, so they looked like a couple of outcasts. He rolled his eyes as he watched Lava laugh and send another splash Kratae’s way. Surprisingly, Lava didn't notice Wave burning holes into his back with his intense glare. All of his attention was focused on Kratae. 

He didn't see Kratae as his rival. She was always nice to him. His annoyance was reserved solely for Lava, who dared to get close to him and shake his feelings up, then act like nothing happened. What was he supposed to think when Lava would step into his space one second, then completely ignore him for someone else the next?

He was tired of sitting back and allowing Lava to play with whoever he liked. Why should he be pushed to the side, getting grumpy over some guy who was giving him mixed signals? If Lava was going to tease him, he'd better know how to put his money where his mouth was. 

“Wave, what should we do?,” Tum whined. “What if they get together and leave us alone?” 

Wave wiped the irritation off his face. “Um, why should I care about that?” 

Tum sighed in exasperation. “You think I don't see the way you look at Lava? I'm an expert in love.”

He didn't think Tum, of all people, would have the emotional intelligence to pick up on Wave's feelings. Maybe he wasn't as subtle as he thought. “If that was the case, wouldn't Kratae be your girlfriend already?” 

“Whatever! Let's focus here… How do we make sure TumKratae and LavaWave are endgame?” 

Tum was ridiculous. But in a way, he was Wave's ally in this situation. And Wave would take all the help he could get. “Just follow me. I'll get Lava's attention, and you can take Kratae to a different part of the beach.”

Wave approached the two playing in the water. Lava was facing away from him. He took this chance to jump onto Lava's back, holding onto his shoulders and wrapping his legs around his torso.

Lava stumbled, but quickly regained his balance. “Wave, what are you doing? It's too hot for this.” Lava protested, but he didn't shove Wave away. Which he considered a win. 

Kratae was already being dragged away by Tum. Hopefully, she liked him back. If not, he'd apologize later for helping Tum bother her some more. 

“You're right, it is hot.” Wave agreed, only as an excuse to remove his shirt. Lava gripped onto his thighs to ensure he didn't topple over as he was squirming around. That was all the sign he needed to lean forward once the shirt was removed, pressing his bare chest against Lava's back. 

“You're always bragging about being strong, right? Carrying me must be no big deal, then.”

Lava didn't say anything for a moment. Since Wave's arms were locked around his neck, he could feel when Lava swallowed around nothing and took a deep breath. “I can carry you just fine. I just wasn't sure you'd be able to handle it.”

“Handle what?” 

He couldn't see Lava's face, but he could hear the grin in his voice. “Being this close to me is dangerous, you know. You might fall in love with me.”

“You wish,” Wave scoffed, but he only held onto Lava even tighter. His body spoke the truth his mouth wasn't willing to admit yet. He refused to let go of Lava, both literally and metaphorically. He wanted to be the only one allowed to cling to Lava like this. 

The fact that Lava didn't shove him off was already a good sign. He seemed content enough to allow Wave to do whatever he liked, at least for now. Wave wasn't one to squander such an opportunity. Subtly, he placed his hand over the left side of Lava's chest. He acted like he was readjusting himself into a more comfortable position and needed the touch for leverage. 

Lava's heart was beating hard and fast underneath his palm. It made him smile. Because he knew his own heart was beating in tandem. 

A few days later, he found Lava sitting by the resort’s pool again. This time, he was holding a big sheet of paper. He was so focused on it that he didn't even notice Wave creeping closer. When the paper was within reach, he grabbed it to see what it was. 

Imagine his surprise when he turned it over to see a giant photo of Kratae’s face. 

“Ew, you're a creep! Why do you have this?!” 

Lava snatched it back with a glare. “Who's a creep? Don't go accusing me for no reason. She gave it to me to use for reference.” 

Lava gestured downwards. Sure enough, on his lap sat his notebook with a half-finished sketch of Kratae on it. Every line was carefully placed, highlighting her soft features. Is that how Lava would draw someone he had feelings for? Or would he be that diligent when drawing anyone? 

He sat down next to Lava without bothering to apologize for the misunderstanding. “You're really drawing her? I thought you said that was a terrible way to flirt.” 

“You don't know the first thing about flirting, so shut up.”

“You don't know that. You've never seen me flirt.”

Lava raised an eyebrow. “If you want me to draw you so badly, then stop talking so I can focus. You can be next in line if you're so desperate for it.”

Wave sputtered, and he turned his face away to hide his temporary embarrassed flush. How did Lava know that he secretly wanted a drawing of himself too? Only because Lava was the artist in question. And he treasured everything Lava did for him. 

“I don't want you to draw me. In fact, I forbid it! My face is copyrighted. If you try to draw me, I'll sue you.” 

Lava laughed sarcastically as he returned to sketching. “Go ahead and try to sue me. I have no money to give you. Your watch says you're richer than me.”

Wave looked down at his watch. Although it was the only thing he had that belonged to his past life, he didn't have any long-lasting emotional attachment to it. He didn't remember who gave it to him or how long he’d owned it. The only reason he wore it was because… Lava had given it back to him. He could've sold the watch to buy himself a new phone, but he didn't. He put it on Wave's wrist in hopes it would comfort him over his lost memories.  

He wanted to honor Lava's good intentions. 

“That doesn't count, since I can't remember. I'll just take all your possessions.” 

“Go ahead. I don't get attached to items. I'm not materialistic, unlike some people.”

Wave clenched his teeth. Another thing Lava was good at was arguing. They could go back and forth until they were both out of breath. He wanted to kiss that smug smirk off Lava's face. 

“Anyways, who even said I was flirting with Kratae? You're making up stuff in your own mind.”

Wave leaned over into Lava's space, watching his hand as it drew lines over the paper. It seemed to move on its own, as if it already knew the perfect shapes to form. Had he studied Kratae's face enough to not need the reference photo? 

“Why else would you be drawing her?”

“I have to practice or I might lose the skill. I don't expect someone with no artistic abilities to understand.”

“I could have artistic abilities. You know nothing about me!” 

“I know as much about you as you know about yourself.”

He couldn't argue with that. Lava knew him better than anyone. His entire life practically revolved around Lava now. 

But his point still stood. Lava could practice by drawing anything: another building, the beach, a flower field. So why did he have to pick someone else as his subject? If Lava wanted to draw a portrait so badly, Wave was right there, ready to be the perfect model! 

If only Lava spared a glance his way. But he didn't look up from his drawing again. 

“Lava told me to give this to you.” 

He held out the drawing to Kratae. It was beautiful. Wave expected nothing less. Lava had belittled his own talents again, claiming he was better at drawing buildings than people. And yet, what resulted was a perfect recreation of Kratae's face. The only thing that wasn't accurate was the lack of color. Lava preferred working with a pencil alone. 

He wished Lava would draw him like that. He wanted Lava to give him even half the attention he gave to this drawing. 

“Woah, it looks amazing! Thanks, Wave!” 

He offered a subdued nod. Lava should be the one she thanked, not him. He didn't know why Lava asked him to hand off the drawing instead of doing it himself. 

Kratae took a second look at him and frowned. “Wave, you've been looking down lately. Is everything alright?” 

Admittedly, he hadn't been in the best mood. He didn't know what Lava was thinking. Every time he found Lava alone, he was working on that drawing. It was a bitter feeling, knowing he was so dedicated to doing something for somebody else. He didn't know if Lava would show the same level of care if he was doing something for Wave. 

As he looked at Kratae’s concerned expression, he felt guilty. She had no idea that he was mentally grappling with the idea of Lava having feelings for her. He wanted to be close friends with her, but this was only creating distance between them. “Kratae, do you like Lava?”

Kratae choked on air, and he realized he could've been less forward with it. But the question just burst out of him, since he'd been wondering for so long. 

“That's what you're worried about? Wave, I know you like him. I'm not a homewrecker.”

He should probably be worried that both Tum and Kratae could tell he had feelings for Lava. But really, he was only annoyed that everyone but Lava could figure it out. 

“Wait, you know?” 

Kratae smiled proudly. “I'm the queen of gossip. I know everything.” She shifted the drawing to one hand and placed her other hand on his shoulder. “Trust me, he's all yours. If there's anything I can do to help you get through his thick skull, let me know!” 

He let out a sigh of relief. Some of the tension that had been weighing on his chest loosened. He didn't like feeling awkward around Kratae when she'd done nothing wrong. 

“Thank you, Kratae.” 

She cooed and pinched his cheek. “Look at that cute smile and those dimples! How could Lava not fall for you, huh? He'd be a huge idiot if he didn't.”

He felt vaguely like he was being fussed over by a mother figure, but he didn't complain. It was nice to feel cared for. 

A week later, Wave was no closer to determining if Lava had real feelings for him. Sure, he would shove himself into Wave's space like he belonged there. He would tease Wave like he'd been given permission to do so. But he never actually made a move. The push-and-pull was driving Wave crazy. 

They were lounging in the hotel lobby. Uncle Peng was off doing something or other, and he'd left Wave in charge of the counter. No guests had shown up for the last half-hour, so Wave was getting restless. “Did you really ditch your chores just to sit here with me?” 

Lava didn't even look up from his phone. It was a cheap flip phone, so what could he possibly be doing on it that was so interesting? “Don't act like you weren't giving me that begging face when you said you had to work the counter today. You didn't want to be alone.”

Okay, maybe Wave had employed some form of puppy-dog eyes to ensure Lava would spend time with him at the risk of getting chewed out by Uncle Peng later. But he was hoping to get closer to Lava and find an opening to grab Lava's heart in his hands and never let go. Instead, they'd just been sitting there with Wave talking about whatever he could think of as Lava offered half-hearted hums. He wanted some attention, damn it! 

“Who said I wanted you to sit around like a bump on a log? At least be useful and do something entertaining.” 

Lava sighed and tucked his phone into his pocket, making a big deal out of turning to look at him. “Alright, your majesty. I guess you see me as your court jester whose job it is to entertain you.” 

“Exactly, now you're getting it.” He reached out to grab Lava's arm and lightly tugged on it. “Come on, do something. I'm so bored, just staring at your face all day.”

“I know you can't help yourself, but nobody told you to look at me. You've been burning holes in my face all morning.”

“It’s because you look so weird.”

“Oh, is that it?,” Lava asked in a patronizing tone. He patted Wave's head like he was a child. “Poor spoiled Wave, you can't even stop yourself from staring at me. Am I that handsome?” 

He yanked Lava's hand off his head, only to hold his hand instead. “You're calling me spoiled, but aren't you the one who's spoiling me so much? Even skipping work to come hang out with me? That says more about you than me.” 

Lava paused, the corners of his lips twitching, like they didn't know whether to smile or frown. His hand tightened around Wave's. “Maybe I just felt bad for you. You're still new on the island. Last time I left you alone, you were wandering the streets at night. Do you have no self-preservation skills?” 

Indeed, Lava had found him wandering the streets that night after one of his memories had been triggered by Tum’s dumb idea to hit him upside the head. And then he carried him home and held him all night as he cried. That was just further proof that he had a huge heart, even though he tried to hide it. 

“It sounds more like you're worried about me. Is that your hero complex acting up?”

Lava’s eyebrow twitched, and Wave knew he had a smart comeback on the tip of his tongue. But a noise caught their attention before he could say it.

Someone cleared their throat. A guest had walked up to the counter while he was distracted. He dropped Lava's hand and stood to greet the stranger. But the guy didn't take his eyes off Lava. 

“Hello, my name is Mai. I’m the new doctor on the island.”

Lava stood beside Wave with a customer service smile that he'd never worn before. Why did he suddenly care about looking civil? “Nice to meet you, Dr. Mai. You're moving to the island? Dr. Wut must be happy to have another doctor around.”

“Yes! I've met Dr. Wut. The place I'm moving to isn't ready yet, so I'm staying here for now.” 

He didn't like the way the guy looked at Lava. He’d just cleared things up with Kratae, and now someone else had joined the fray. When was he going to have Lava's attention all to himself? 

Wave still had a job to do, so he tried to remain professional. He couldn't let Uncle Peng down, no matter how much he wanted to turn Dr. Mai around and tell him to find somewhere else to stay. “I can show you to your room.” 

He intended to walk Dr. Mai to the first available room on his own, but Lava insisted on coming along. “I know the layout better than you,” he'd said with a grin, although Wave had suspicions about that. He'd been on the island for just as long as Lava had! It seemed to be an excuse to keep chatting up the new doctor as Wave was left lagging behind them, wheeling the guest’s suitcases. 

How rude! Lava dared to make him deal with the luggage just so he could flirt with the new doctor in town who had an atrocious mustache. Did that mean Lava was into guys after all? Or was he just into everyone else except for Wave? 

He grumbled under his breath as he dragged the suitcases along. Lava was making a big show of speaking animatedly to Dr. Mai, making him laugh at something Lava had said. Wave didn't hear, but he bet it wasn't funny at all. Certainly not funny enough for Mai to go into a laughing fit. 

Wave was exhausted by the time they got to Dr. Mai’s room. Which meant Lava was the one to unlock the door as Wave caught his breath. “If you need anything, let me know! I'm very helpful,” Lava added with a smile. It gave Wave the chills. He'd never seen Lava looking so… polite. 

“I'll definitely let you know.” Mai placed his hand on Lava's arm, smiling like nobody's business. Wave saw red. He was seething. His heart beat frantically in his ears, drowning out whatever Lava said in response. It wasn't fair. Lava had claimed Wave's heart for himself. He made a home out of Wave's arms. He got Wave addicted to his presence, to the point he never spared anyone else a second glance. 

Why, then, was he flaunting himself like anyone could have a piece of him? Like he could take and take from Wave without giving anything in return? 

At least Kratae never showed any explicit interest in Lava. But this newcomer was blatantly throwing himself at Lava in front of him, and he didn't turn down the advances. 

Rather than kicking Mai’s bags over like his instincts told him to do, he plastered on a fake smile. “We'll go get some extra towels for you, Khun Mai!” He grabbed Lava's wrist and dragged him off before he could say another word. Mai’s hand, which was previously resting on Lava's arm, hung awkwardly in the air at their retreat. 

He shoved Lava into the linen closet down the hallway and closed the door behind them. There were clean towels stacked as far as the eye could see. But he didn't actually intend to grab any. He just wanted to get Lava away from the competition. 

“Wave, this is getting ridiculous. Why are you so clingy lately?” 

He rounded on Lava with a scowl. “You’re the ridiculous one. How could you let him touch you in front of me? How shameless are you?” 

Lava looked him up and down, then his infuriating smirk returned. “Oh, poor little Wave. If you're jealous, just say that.”

Wave was beyond jealous. Something dark was pumping through his veins, urging him to act; possession. He needed to claim Lava for himself. He needed Lava to need him. 

One of Lava's hands trailed down his arm. “You look so tense. Relax a little. Or I'll start to think you really did fall in love with me.” Although Lava's tone was teasing, Wave could see the vulnerability in his eyes. It was almost like he was hoping his words were true. 

He grabbed onto Lava's shoulders, pinning him against the wall. Lava went along with the motion easily. He didn't resist. If anything, he backed himself against the wall to help him out. It was like he wanted to be caged in by Wave. 

“I’m tired of sharing your attention with other people. I want you to only look at me.”

Lava didn't seem surprised. Instead, he ran his fingers through Wave's hair, as if he wasn't bothered at all about being shoved against the wall. “Was that so hard to admit?” 

Lava's fingers made it to the nape of his neck, where he played with the short hairs there. His voice was a touch softer when he continued. A gentle tone, reserved for Wave's ears only. “Listen, I'm not interested in anyone else. If you knew me as well as you claim to, then you'd know that.” 

Wave was a little dumbfounded. Before this, Lava only teased him with lingering touches and suggestive glances. Yet here he was, allowing Wave to push him around and looking like he'd been waiting for it. His gaze kept straying to Wave's lips, like he wanted to taste them. 

He didn't expect this whole claiming thing to be so easy. “If you aren't interested in them, then why did you make it seem like you were?” 

Lava pulled him closer with a daring look in his eyes. “Have you ever thought that I was trying to get your attention, hmm? That I like the way you look at me when you're jealous?” 

There was something else simmering underneath his skin now: desire. He was burning up with the need to stake his claim on Lava, so nobody else could even think about touching him. Lava may be irritating and cunning, but Wave wanted him so bad that he was nearly choking on his feelings. 

“If you wanted my attention so bad, why didn't you just ask for it?”

“It's more fun to rile you up.”

“You're so annoying.” 

Lava smiled like he'd been given a compliment and cupped one of Wave's cheeks. “And your type is annoying guys, so who really won here?” 

Lava was intentionally getting on his nerves. Instead of admitting his feelings, he decided to mess around with Wave's until he couldn't take it anymore. Until Wave was forced to confront him. 

“You're a real piece of work. What if I had given up and left you all alone?”

“I knew you'd break eventually. But shoving me back into the closet, really? I've always been out and proud. I won't hide my sexuality from anyone-”

He only knew one way to shut Lava up. He held tighter onto Lava's shoulders to ensure he stayed in place and leaned in to press their lips together. A rush of adrenaline filled his entire body as Lava wasted no time kissing him back. 

Lava was nothing if not an eager participant. It was like he was running his mouth with the express purpose of getting Wave to kiss him. And he took everything Wave gave him, yielding to the demanding presses of Wave's lips. Wave always knew he was a good boy. It just took some work to get through his playful tests of Wave's patience. 

Lava wanted to be wanted. He strung Wave along because what he needed more than anything was for someone to desire him to the point of sealing his lips with rough kisses. Wave wouldn't disappoint. If that was what Lava needed, he'd give it to him. He'd overflow with so much need that Lava wouldn't even know what to do with it. 

He wouldn't have to question if he was wanted anymore. Wave would make sure he knew how loved he was. 

Briefly, he sank his teeth into Lava's bottom lip. Not enough to break the skin, just enough to sting a bit. Lava pulled away with a groan. “Ow! What was that for?!”

“For making me jealous on purpose. Don't do it again.” He grabbed onto Lava's chin, tilting his head back. “If the puppy wants attention, just bark for it.” He pulled Lava into another kiss, swallowing any further complaints. Dr. Mai would just have to wait for those extra towels until he was done stealing Lava's breath away. He had to make sure Lava was thoroughly claimed before they returned to the outside world. 

(Dr. Mai never ended up getting those towels.)

~🌋🌊~

Wave took a deep breath, inhaling the salty scent of the sea. He felt so at ease now that his feelings were out in the open. Now, he could rest his head against Lava's shoulder without fear. He could even lean over to press a kiss to his cheek if he felt like it. 

They were enjoying some leisure time on the bench overlooking the ocean that Lava seemed to love so much. He could sit there for hours and watch the water move, forming random waves at its own will. 

Wave never thought he'd be one to stare at water. But he found that anything could be interesting when he was leaning against Lava's side. Now that he knew Lava was his to take care of, he'd happily sit and do nothing with him. 

Lava kissed the side of his head. “I have something for you.” 

He sat up properly to see what Lava pulled out of his bag. He should've wondered sooner why Lava had a bag when he usually only carried things that fit in his pockets. But he was too focused on the warmth of Lava's hand wrapped around his as they made their way to the bench to question it.

Lava handed him something. He took it without thinking. The first thing he noticed was a pop of color in the center: a soft pink set of lips. Just above it sat a very familiar nose and bright eyes with a clear fondness shining in them. 

It was a painting of him. He was smiling warmly and had dimples poking into his cheeks. Lava had even captured the sunlight glinting off his hair. 

Was this how Lava saw him? He felt his face getting warm. He already thought Lava's drawings were good, but this was on a whole different level. The colors blended together perfectly, recreating his image. It was as if he was looking at a photo. Speaking of photos, Lava didn't even have any references to work off of. His cheap flip phone didn't have a camera.

Did that mean Lava painted him from memory alone? 

“It took a long time to finish, because someone was always in my space. Try hiding something from your shadow.” 

Lava must've been working on this at the same time as he was drawing Kratae's portrait. Wave brushed his fingers lightly against his painted counterpart’s gentle smile. Lava's love was clear in every brush stroke. There was no reason to be jealous of Kratae's drawing when Lava had made this masterpiece just for him.

“Lava, it's beautiful.” 

Lava ducked his head to hide his embarrassment. He still didn't know how to take compliments. Wave found it adorable. And it only made him want to drown Lava in even more praise, until he saw himself in the same positive light Wave saw him in. 

“I just captured your beauty, that's all. Pretty faces are easy to draw, remember?”

“You're so sweet. What a doting boyfriend.” 

“Ohh, say it louder, why don't you? I don't think the whole island heard you yet.”

He pressed a quick kiss to Lava's lips. “I will. I want everyone to know that you're off the market. They don't have a chance with you.”

Lava hid his smile by tucking his face against Wave's neck. But he could feel the upward curve of Lava's lips touching his skin. “So confident, aren't you? But you deserve to be. Thank you for showing me what love is.”

Wave placed the painting back in Lava's bag to keep it safe from the elements. Then he wrapped his arms around Lava, giving him a squeeze. “Thank you for letting me love you.”