Archive of Our Own

Darwin woke up in a whole new world. 

The last thing he remembered was being betrayed by the person he trusted the most. Victor, his childhood friend, had whacked him upside the head with an ore and left him for dead. The one he could always rely on ended up being his downfall. 

How naive he was. He was supposed to be intelligent. Arantha’s future leader. Nobody could pull the wool over his eyes. And yet, he had a rat hiding right underneath his nose for so many years. The enemy was always right by his side, plotting on his downfall. And he'd been dumb enough to fall for his dastardly plot.

Who would agree to go on a tiny boat in the middle of the ocean when he already wasn't a great swimmer and was prone to seasickness? 

And now, he was stranded on an island, surrounded by unfamiliar faces. He was forced into this role of Wave, the commoner with no memories. That was what everyone expected of him. But he didn't even know who Wave was. He didn't know how to act. He didn't know what Wave’s bonds with these people were like. They'd carved out spaces of their lives for someone who'd forgotten all about them. 

Nobody was rude to him. In fact, everyone was very accommodating. But they were used to addressing him by a name he wasn't familiar with. And even once they adjusted themselves and started speaking more formally, it still didn't feel right. They didn't know him as a prince. Their tone was stiff and uncomfortable when referring to him as such. He was sure it wasn't like that before. Was talking to Darwin such a displeasure compared to Wave?  

Everything was off. He didn't fit in. He was never raised to be an island boy. 

To him, three months flew by in the blink of an eye. He had no proof that the time had even passed, except for the bullet wound in his chest. It still ached every time he moved. But he was taught to never show weakness. So when asked if he was in pain, he lied that he couldn't feel it at all. 

It was easy enough to hold back his winces. He was trained to stand tall with good posture. It came second nature to him. 

What he wasn't trained in was dealing with a sad, defeated man who was acting like his shadow. This man he knew nothing about wouldn't stop following him around. 

He felt bad for Lava. It must be difficult to build a life with someone, then watch everything get erased. To become accustomed to a loving gaze, only for that same person to look at him with nothing but confusion. Their life together had gone up in a puff of smoke that slipped through Lava's fingers and could never be returned to its original state. To Lava, Darwin had changed overnight. The person he loved no longer existed.

He couldn't give Lava what he wanted. The fact that he couldn't return the feelings made him feel useless. Maybe there were some remnants of Wave dwelling within him. Because every time Lava turned those sad eyes on him, he felt a painful twinge in his chest. It wasn't easy to ignore, like his bullet injury. Because it wasn't a physical pain. It was a festering internal wound that burned from the inside out, threatening him with spontaneous combustion. 

He wished he could be Lava's Wave. He wanted to fill the void that had formed in Lava's soul. For as long as he could remember, he wanted to be free. He wanted to find a true love that would rise against any obstacles. An everlasting bond that nobody could break. 

But when he finally found just that, he'd forgotten it much too soon. It may as well not have happened. 

But it did happen. The proof was in Lava following him around like a kicked puppy, eager for attention from someone who was long gone. Wave was nothing but a ghost of the past, haunting both of them. 

The silence was deafening as he followed Lava to their bedroom. He could hardly believe he'd shared a room with someone. Just how close were Lava and Wave? Judging by the hopeful glances Lava kept aiming his way, they must've been crazy in love. 

The first thing he noticed about the room was the abundance of blue. The bed sheets, the curtains, the shelf, even the trash can. Different shades of blue captured his eyes everywhere he looked. 

Was it possible that Wave’s favorite color was the same as his? 

That was when he learned that Wave and Lava had shared a tiny bed. The mental image of Lava pressed close to his back with an arm wrapped around him was… odd. He'd never cuddled with anyone before. Then again, apparently Lava had taken so many of his firsts. But did they even count when he didn't remember them? He may have been Wave's first boyfriend, but Darwin still hadn't ever dated anyone. 

“You can stay in this room if you want. It might help you remember something.”

Lava's earnest tone was like a punch to the gut. He wanted Darwin's memories to come back so badly. He looked at Darwin like he knew him. But he didn't. Lava didn't know the first thing about him, and it made his insides twist in discomfort. Because the person Lava thought he was this entire time, wasn't the real him. How many times had Darwin wished to find someone who would look at him like he was their entire world? But now that he had that, everything was all wrong.

Lava didn't love him. Those loving glances weren't for him at all. They were for Wave. 

There was a mirror right beside the doorway that he happened to be standing right in front of. The person staring back at him was familiar but different. His skin had become more tanned and he'd built up some muscle from the manual labor he had to endure. It was bizarre, seeing the changes to his body without experiencing what caused them. 

Once he got back to Arantha, he'd return to his normal self in no time. He'd lose the physical reminders of his time on this island. 

That should've been a good thing, but why did it send a pang through his chest? This was Wave's body. Wave’s room. Wave's friends. Wave's boyfriend. Wave's life. 

Nobody cared to know who Prince Darwin was. They didn't ask for his likes, dislikes, or interests. They didn't even ask why he'd run away from home in the first place. Because they didn't care about Darwin’s experiences. They just wanted their precious Wave back. But what if those memories never returned to him? What if the past three months were simply erased from his brain forever? 

He didn't belong here. They would only ever see him as Wave.  

“I don't want to trouble you. I'd rather stay at the resort. It's probably more comfortable.”

What he didn't say was that his discomfort wasn't because this room was too small for him, or because he was used to sleeping in a huge bed. He simply didn't want to endure sharing a space with someone who was constantly comparing him to a version of himself that no longer existed. He didn't want to share a bed with a stranger. And even if Lava offered to sleep on the floor, he would still be peeking over at Darwin every two seconds, wondering if he'd remembered anything.

Darwin was no stranger to being put under pressure. He already had to hide bits of himself to play his part as the heir to Arantha’s throne. And now, he was expected to act like someone else. 

Darwin was a lonely star, so distant that nobody could catch a glimpse of him. Not even Lava. 

In a way, he envied Wave. He found freedom and people who cared about him without relying on his status. They liked Wave for who he was. But who exactly was Wave? How similar was he to Darwin? He had no royal background. He wasn't brought up with strict rules. He had no money, no home, no family. He had nothing. 

But somehow, he actually had everything Darwin had ever wanted. He never desired the fortune and power that came along with being a prince. He only became the perfect heir to please his parents. To serve his country. But in doing so, he had to whittle down his personality. He had to wipe himself clean, ignoring parts of his true self that didn't fit with the image of royalty. 

Wave didn't have to hide anything. He could be himself without fear of disappointing those around him. He was out and proud about his sexuality, and he'd even found himself a boyfriend. Darwin could only dream of accomplishing that. Back home, he only had Anya and Victor as his companions. But Victor betrayed him. So really, he only had Anya. 

He wanted to go back to being the Wave who didn't know he was a prince. The Wave who could love freely without worrying about disappointing an entire nation.  

The Wave that Lava loved.

Lava had just shown him to his temporary room in the resort. He'd have to stay for at least a few more weeks, as the situation in Arantha was still calming down. Any room was better than Lava's, which was filled with so many memories that Darwin couldn't remember. The air of that room was suffocating, like even the atmosphere was begging for him to recall something. 

The hotel room wasn't stifling. It was just the perfect amount of impersonal that he needed. Something untouched by Wave's hands. So Darwin wouldn't feel like he was taking something that didn't belong to him. 

But Lava was flitting around the room, fretting over this and that. First, he checked the temperature of the air conditioner. All he really did was switch it on, which Darwin could've done himself. Then, he inspected the firmness of the pillow by smashing his face against it. Was that really the best way? Now, his face germs were all over the pillow. 

And if that wasn't enough, he had to test the bounciness of the mattress too. He looked so silly, bouncing up and down like a child. It pulled a laugh out of Darwin. It was the first time he felt an ounce of joy since he woke up. He placed his hand on Lava's shoulder to stop his bouncing. 

“Khun, you don't have to find excuses to stay. Just because I don't have memories of you, doesn't mean I don't want you around.” 

Lava perked up, his eyes regaining some of their light. He placed a hand on top of Darwin's, which was still resting on his shoulder. “Thank you, Prince Darwin. Even just being close to you is enough to make me happy.”

Although Lava's hand was larger than his, his touch was gentle. His eyes were soft and besotted, dripping honey down his freckled cheeks. When his lips pulled into a smile, Darwin felt something. An electric shock straight to his heart, which altered its rhythm forever. A spark lit up in his chest that could keep him warm all night. His cheeks suddenly felt warmer. Shyness. Giddiness. Was this how Lava made Wave feel? Was this why Wave fell so hard for him? 

He found his body relaxing, completely trusting the man who sat before him. In that moment, he found Lava adorable. But was it really him thinking that, or was it remnants of Wave's thoughts floating around in his mind? Was Wave truly gone, or had he left permanent marks on Darwin’s psyche that caused him to feel some attachment to Lava? 

His emotions were all jumbled up in his brain. He didn't know which feelings belonged to him, and which belonged to Wave. Was he falling for Lava? Or were Wave's feelings so strong that they bled over into Darwin as well? 

After all, Wave and Darwin shared the same heart. And that heart only beat for Lava.

Darwin had been doing well with hiding the pain of his injury, along with the dull ache that plagued his soul every time he glanced at Lava. The only thing he couldn't hide was the dark circles under his eyes due to his sleepless nights. Lava didn't have any concealer he could borrow, and he didn't have the courage to ask someone to buy it for him.

Several nights of his fitful sleep had passed. He'd lie awake in bed, staring up at the ceiling. He wasn't a big fan of the dark. Back in the mansion, he slept with a nightlight. But he didn't have one here, so he just left the bedside lamp on all night.

Though his eyes remained stuck on the ceiling, his mind wandered all over the place. He wondered when someone would finally come pick him up from this island. He wondered if that was even what he truly wanted. 

Of course, he wanted to see his family. He missed his parents and his sister. He knew they were worried about him. But didn't that mean he'd lose contact with Lava forever? 

The idea of never seeing Lava again somehow hurt worse than anything else. Even though he'd forgotten their time together, he felt safe with Lava in a way he didn't experience with anyone else. He could only truly relax when Lava was by his side. At the same time, he felt uneasy being so close to him. He didn't want to be a shoddy replacement for Wave. 

Lava was still determined to follow him around, doing everything for him. Doting on him like a… boyfriend. Even though he kept reminding Lava that he didn't remember who he was. A week of the lover’s treatment had Darwin's head spinning, and he didn't know what to do with himself anymore. Having Lava's smile aimed at him made him happy and sad at the same time. 

He fell asleep while imagining Lava's smile. Only to be woken up an hour later by a loud noise. He sat bolt upright in bed. His room was completely dark. Everything was quiet. 

He'd never experienced a blackout before. At home, the lights were always blasting so bright that there was no dark corner for any thieves to be hiding in. 

But he wasn't in the safety of his mansion, surrounded by guards who would protect him from all harm. He was in a hotel room on an unfamiliar island, all alone. And his life almost ended twice in the span of three months. In movies, the lights going out was a sign that someone didn't want to be seen. For all he knew, Victor could've escaped and came to finish the job.  

There was another noise, coming from outside the window this time. The window was on the far wall, opposite to the door. It sounded like… someone walking with heavy steps. His half-asleep mind attributed it to Victor or some other assassin attempting to break in through the window. He ran to the door, flinging it open and throwing himself into the hallway. 

He didn't expect to be met by a solid weight. A set of arms wrapped around him. At first, he thought the assassin’s backup had caught him. He struggled, attempting to squirm out of the hold. He didn't want to die. He'd already cheated death, wasn't three times a little too lucky? And the first two saves had only been thanks to Lava. 

“Your majesty, it's me.” He stilled, immediately leaning his weight against the person he'd just been fighting. He'd recognize that voice anywhere. His heart was still beating in his ears when he looked up to see Lava's concerned face. 

“Lava? You came for me?” 

That was the first time he called Lava by name. Lava must've noticed that, too. For his eyes widened slightly and his lips twitched like he was fighting off a smile. “I'll always come for you,” he soothed, his voice softer than clouds as he stroked Darwin's hair to calm him down. “I’m here. I won't let anything happen to you.” 

He didn't know why that phrase drained all the tension out of his limbs. His body trusted Lava implicitly, as easily as breathing. He felt safe in his arms. 

Lava had already saved him twice. And just as he was starting to feel frightened, Lava came to his rescue again. Was it his personal mission to save Darwin at every opportunity, even now that he wasn't the Wave he knew? Lava hadn't known him at all when he saved him the first time. He saved him as a stranger, then later as his boyfriend. And he would still save Darwin, even as… whatever they were now. Neither strangers nor boyfriends. 

“I heard a noise outside the window…,” he trailed off, feeling silly for exposing how frightened he'd been. 

Lava squeezed him in his arms. “It was nothing, your highness. Just some other guests wandering around since the power went out.” 

He allowed Lava to lead him over to the bed, where they sat together. Lava rubbed his back up and down, still comforting him. He wasn't as scared anymore. But he didn't want to say that. He didn't want the touch to disappear. 

He trusted Lava. If he said there was nothing to fear, he'd believe him. As long as Lava stayed with him. He didn't want to be left all alone. 

It was then that he noticed Lava was carrying a portable fan and a handheld lamp. Lava switched on the small fan and aimed it towards Darwin's face, providing him some relief from the heat. He set the lamp down on the bed beside them. It let off a faint glow, just enough to cast golds and honeys over Lava's face. “The power will be back on soon. I'll stay with you until then, okay?” 

With or without memories, Lava was still the one who saved his life. Darwin owed him a lot for that. He took Wave in like a stray kitten, soaked from the rain with nowhere else to go. He gave Wave a home and kept him safe. He was dependable and caring. The least Darwin could do was accept his company.

He tried to appear calm, but he was shaken up. Although he didn't clearly remember the two attempts on his life, he was still traumatized by them. He needed a distraction, before he became paranoid about the possibility of a third murder attempt. 

As if Lava had read his mind, he gently grabbed Darwin's chin and guided his head so that he was looking at Lava. That was one way to get him out of his thoughts. Nobody had ever held his chin like that. Nobody would dare to. 

Lava leaned closer while looking into his eyes. For a startling second, he thought Lava was going to kiss him. But he didn't pull away. Instead, his gaze dropped to Lava's lips. Maybe he was curious. After all, his lips were apparently claimed by Lava's multiple times in the past. He wondered what kind of kisser he was. 

Lava was a good guy. He protected Wave and Darwin alike. And Lava had already taken his first kiss, so would it be so strange if he allowed a repeat? 

Lava was so close. All Darwin could see were his puffy lips and his pretty freckles, constellations drawn over his cheeks. What he wanted more than anything in that moment was for Lava to calm him down by pressing soothing kisses to his lips. Before he could second-guess himself, his eyes fluttered shut. 

But the pressure he expected against his lips never came. Instead, a delicate touch was traced underneath his right eye. Lava's thumb, perhaps. “You're not sleeping well, Prince Darwin? Is something bothering you?” 

Darwin didn't dare open his eyes. He was already embarrassed enough that he assumed Lava wanted to kiss him. Worse, he was even going to allow it to happen. Just because Lava used to kiss Wave, didn't mean he wanted to kiss Darwin. 

“These dark circles… You can talk to me, your majesty. You must be feeling stressed.”

“I'm okay. I think my body just isn't used to the resort bed.” That wasn't the real reason, but his flimsy lie was much better than telling the truth: he couldn't sleep because he couldn't stop thinking about Lava.

All too soon, the touch left his face. He allowed his eyes to open, only to find that Lava was still looking at him. 

“You might sleep better in my room. Your body is used to that bed. You can have the room all to yourself, if you want it.” 

He shook his head slowly. “I won't kick you out of your room.”

“It's just as much your room as mine.” 

Lava really had an answer for everything. And each response was sweeter than the last. He could see how Wave would fall for someone who cared so much about him. 

“Khun, can I ask you something?” 

“Anything! I'm here to help, 24/7.”

Lava was so eager to please. Darwin could probably ask for anything, and Lava would find a way to make it happen. That was how much he loved Wave. 

“Do you regret falling for Wave?” 

Lava's eyes widened in surprise, and he made a sound half between a snort and a laugh. “Of course not. You- Wave taught me so many things.” 

For the sake of his sanity, he chose not to mention the slip-up. “Like what?” 

Lava hummed thoughtfully. “He taught me how to be gentle. How to be more considerate of others. He showed me that love can come from the most unexpected places.”

Lava looked off into the distance, as if gazing into his faraway past. “Thanks to him, I know I don't need to pretend to be something I'm not. My whole life, I've been looked down on. Wave showed me that I could be accepted as the real me. He gave me the courage to face the world without a mask.” 

Lava's eyes sparkled in the soft lamplight, his mouth relaxing into a calm smile when he talked about Wave. It made Darwin envious. He wished someone would speak of his current self with even half as much fondness. He wished he could change someone's life in the way Wave had.

“Then, is it true what they say? It's better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all.”

Lava reached out and placed his hand on top of Darwin's, which was resting on the mattress. He scooted closer, ensuring their thighs touched. He was so warm. 

“It is. I would fall for you again and again.” 

He had to look away from Lava's eyes. They were shining with too many emotions that weren't meant for him. Darwin shouldn't be the one witnessing Lava's lovestruck gaze. It was reserved for Wave alone.

He looked down at Lava's hand, which covered his so completely. His heart was beating frantically in his chest, like he'd just ran a marathon. The only man to touch his hand like this has been Victor. And that touch didn't send a heat wave to his face like Lava's did. His body was reacting to Wave's feelings. How was that possible when he no longer held Wave's memories? 

The warmth of Lava's thigh against his made it difficult for him to think. He felt like he was a snowman thrown into a sauna, slowly melting with each second that ticked by. Maybe he should've asked for the air conditioner to be turned to a higher setting, after all. 

Lava didn't expect anything from him. He didn't try to hold Darwin or kiss him, or anything else couples did. At first, he was grateful for that. But now, he found himself wishing Lava would at least try to rekindle the spark he had with Wave. If he loved Wave so much, how could he give up so easily? Or had he already determined that Darwin wasn't worth his time? 

When he was Wave, he wanted his memories of his old life back. Now that he had that, he wanted nothing more than to recall all of his moments with Lava. So he wouldn't feel like an outsider in Lava's life.

As they say, the grass is always greener on the other side.

Slowly, he pulled his hand out from under Lava's. He shifted away from him, putting some distance between them. “You mean you'd fall for Wave again and again. Not me.” 

The words felt like glass on their way out, cutting into his vocal cords and leaving his throat a bloody mess. Lava was the one having to hear such cruel words, so why did it feel like Darwin was really the heartbroken one? Why did speaking the truth feel like jabbing himself with a hundred tiny knives? 

Lava pulled away and looked down at the floor, dejected. “Right. I'm sorry, Prince Darwin. I shouldn't have touched you like that.” 

He didn't want Lava to apologize. He wanted Lava to grab him again, to hold his hand and look into his eyes and pour his feelings out for Darwin instead of Wave. As bizarre as it was, his heart was beating to the rhythm of Lava's name. He may not know Lava well, but his body did. And his heart did. 

His heart still wanted Lava. But Lava's heart yearned for Wave. 

Darwin could only bring Lava disappointment. What did Wave have that he lacked? Filling the void Wave left behind was an impossible task. He had big shoes to fill, and he wasn't equipped for it. He wasn't well-socialized. It was hard to form lasting bonds when everyone only wanted to be close to him for money and prestige. 

He didn't know how to love. He could never measure up to Wave. 

Nobody wanted him around, they wanted Wave. He could see it in their faces when they looked at him. A quick spark of positivity, hoping he'd remembered something, followed by a yawning abyss of disappointment when they realized he was the same blank slate he'd been since he woke up in the hospital.

Because at the end of the day, he wasn't the person they loved. He was some prince from a distant land that they didn't even know how to pronounce. He was a pompous and entitled elite with clean hands that never had to work a day in his life. He didn't know what kind of work Wave did, or how he helped everyone around him. All he knew was, Darwin couldn't help anyone. He was useless on this island. 

He wanted to experience the same kind of unconditional love that Wave had. But maybe that kind of love was unattainable for a prince like him.

Was he really so unlovable compared to Wave?

Lava had been acting strange lately. Seemingly overnight, he'd transformed from soft-spoken and accommodating to a strict boss who barked orders and forced Darwin into doing chores. He even woke him up every morning by banging pots and pans right beside the bed. He claimed he wanted Darwin to earn his keep, as he had when he was Wave. But it felt more like he was getting revenge on Darwin for forgetting about him. 

Every harsh word dug into him in the worst way. He wasn't some crybaby who couldn't handle the pressure. But he was confused. Why did Lava no longer look at him with soft eyes and an even softer smile? Why had his voice grown harder and his mannerisms more aggressive? 

The truth was, he could handle earning his keep on the island. He could learn to do chores to make it up to Lava and Peng for taking him in. But couldn't he be taught nicely? Why did Lava have to berate him instead of patiently showing him the correct way to do things? 

It only took a few days for him to reach his breaking point. 

Lava had him scrubbing barnacles off a boat. His hands weren't made to do such laborious work. They were already cramping up five minutes in. It didn't help that Lava was in his ear, complaining about how terrible a job he was doing. 

“You really need me to show you again? Give it here,” Lava griped as he yanked the shovel out of his hands. He shoved Wave out of the way with a bit too much strength. His shoulder caught Wave right in his chest.  

His bullet wound was still in the process of healing, and being whacked sent a pang of pain through his body. But what hurt the most wasn't his wound. It was his heart. 

The bullet had just barely missed his heart. But Lava's harsh treatment burrowed right into it. He must have realized that Wave was truly gone. To him, Darwin was just a cheap imitation. An imposter walking around with the face of the man he once loved. He probably hated Darwin for looking just like Wave with none of the characteristics that made him fall in love. 

He clutched at his chest and groaned in pain. He felt tears pooling in his eyes, and he was mortified. The last time he cried in front of someone, he must've been a baby. He was taught to always appear strong and put-together. He couldn't besmirch his family name by coming across as weak. 

“Prince Darwin?” Lava had the audacity to sound concerned. He dropped the shovel to the ground and placed his hands on Darwin's shoulders. “Are you okay? Where does it hurt?” 

He angrily wiped his tears away. He refused to let them fall in front of Lava. Try as he might, he couldn't keep the waver out of his voice. And that only made him feel more humiliated. “Why are you treating me like this? Are you that mad that I can't be Wave for you?”

Lava's face fell. “No, that's not it… I just thought it could help you remember.”

He gritted his teeth to keep his emotions under control. He pushed Lava's hands off his shoulders and glared at him, teary eyes and all. “I thought you loved Wave. If this is how you treated him, I'd rather forget all about you.” 

He turned on his heel and stomped off before Lava could say another word. Lava called after him, but he didn't dare look over his shoulder. His tears were already falling. He couldn't allow anyone to see him like this. He had to retreat to his room in the resort and hide under the blankets until someone was sent to bring him to his real home. 

Once he was safely in his room, he crumpled against the door like a puppet with its strings cut. Bitter tears stung his eyes and left burning trails of misery down his cheeks. He felt like his heart was ripped out and stomped on. 

As painful as it was to admit, his feelings for Lava had never gone away. Even though he was a different person now. His emotions had simmered down, sitting low in his gut, so that they weren't immediately recognizable. But once Lava changed how he acted towards him, he could no longer contain himself. He may not remember what their relationship was like, but he knew this wasn't right. He wanted Lava to speak nicely to him and wrap him in his arms, not talk down to him and push him away. 

He trudged over to the bed and landed face-down on the mattress in a way that wasn't befitting a prince. He didn't care about anything in that moment, least of all his social status. All he could do was bury his face in his pillow to drown out the sounds of his sobs. He didn't want anyone else to hear him. 

His suffering had always been silent. Back when he was living in that ornate mansion, he made sure to wait until nightfall to cry into his pillow about whatever struggles he faced during the day. He couldn't let anyone see him like that. It was shameful for a figure of pride to break down in tears. 

Sometimes, he felt stripped of his humanity. Wasn't it human nature to feel? To allow sadness and grief to pool in his chest, until the only way to get rid of it was through his tears? But in Arantha, he was a prince first and a human second. His reputation was put above everything else. 

Even away from home, he couldn't allow his melancholy to be on display. He had to maintain a facade of strength. The only witness to his tears would be this resort pillow. The very same one Lava had pressed his face against to test its firmness. 

That memory only made him cry even harder. This fabric, which had once caressed Lava's cheek, was now wet with his tears. Just as everything Lava and Wave had shared. It was all a jumbled mess, a shoreline that had once been dry and calm but was now flooded with tears. 

And who knew if the low tide would ever return to bring back the comfortable stillness he longed for? This was just how things were now. He was left foundering around, trying his best not to drown in this ocean of sadness. Just as he'd nearly drowned twice before. And he would have, if Lava hadn't saved him. 

But now, his hero had become his downfall. 

He shouldn't be affected like this. He was a powerful prince, the heir to the throne. He only had a little bit of time left on this island before he'd go back to having everything done for him. He'd never again have to worry about getting shot or having his heart trampled on. 

He would forget all about Lava, Wave, and this island.

He spent the next day mostly milling around in his room. He didn't have the courage to leave in case he ran into Lava. 

Admittedly, he may have been a bit harsh on Lava. He knew Lava didn't mean to irritate his wound or break his heart. After all, Darwin may have forgotten the time they spent together, but his heart was still the same one that had beat in Wave's chest. Lava wouldn't want to cause it any harm. 

He still didn't understand why Lava had been so harsh. But he couldn't stay angry at him for long. Guilt was already eating him from the inside out. It was like Wave was constantly reprimanding him for saying something cruel to his love. 

Unfortunately, he couldn't maintain his privacy for long. He only had a little bit of food in the mini fridge. He had to sneak out at dinner time and hope he didn't come across Lava. 

That proved to be easier than he thought. When he sought Peng to ask about dinner, Lava was nowhere in sight. He didn't show up the whole time Darwin was eating. He was starting to get worried. As much as he was anxious to see him, it was odd that he’d disappeared.

After dinner, Peng insisted on taking him somewhere. Night had fallen, so the sky was dark. He wanted to continue sulking in his room until he could fall asleep, but he didn't want to be rude by refusing. Peng had done a lot to help him. 

He was led to a spot on the deck that had a projector set up along with a single chair. 

“Khun Peng, what is all this?” 

Peng gave him an empathetic smile and gestured towards the screen. “There's something Lava wants you to see. But I think you should watch it alone. I'll be in the resort if you need me.” 

Peng handed him a remote then walked off, leaving Darwin alone with his thoughts as his only company. This was bizarre, but it must be important for Peng to bring him here. With a resigned sigh, he sat in the chair and turned on the projector. 

The video opened with Lava sitting in front of the water at night. His eyes were shining from the luminescence of the stars in the sky above him. Darwin felt like he was one of those stars, lending his light to Lava. “Your highness, I bow to you. I don't really know the proper way to speak to you. When you were Wave, you hated it when I called you a prince.” 

Darwin felt himself softening at the sight of Lava. Even just the sound of his voice was enough to calm the nerves that had been running through him all day. It was intriguing, hearing new information about Wave. Darwin himself had never been strict about prestigious labels, and it seemed like that carried over. 

Lava took a deep breath, as if he was gearing up for something. “Prince Darwin, I'm sorry for berating you. I thought maybe if I treated you how I treated Wave when we first met, you'd remember something.”

Lava grabbed the camera, pulling it closer to him. Darwin had to focus to not get distracted by how handsome he was. “How about we start over, again? I'm Lava Tiwakorn Rapeepong. My mom sent me to this island to fix my behavior. Back then, I wanted to go home every day.”

Lava snorted, shaking his head fondly at the memory. “It's true that Wave and I got off on the wrong foot. I didn't know it at the time, but he was used to being a prince. And I was used to doing whatever I wanted. Two people like that sharing a space, we were bound to argue.”

Lava's lips spread into a fond smile as he described their dynamics. The very same smile that Darwin had been itching to see. “But slowly, we opened up to each other. We came to love each other, faults and all. He made my time here the happiest it's ever been. I want to show you Wave’s story, so you can understand what you've been through these past three months.”

Lava never had any malicious intentions towards him. Everything he'd done had been for Wave's sake. For the sake of their love. He might've gone about it the wrong way, but he was just as lost as Darwin was in this situation. Nobody knew the right way to approach it. Reenacting their first days together was a logical idea. 

What followed was a compilation of videos of Lava and Wave. Others also made appearances. Tum, Kratae, Uncle Peng, Dr. Wut. The family Wave had found while on the island. 

Lava was the narrator, providing context to the clips. He summarized the last three months so quickly. Darwin couldn't help but think it was sad how fast the clips came to an end. Wave's entire life could be shown in a minute-long compilation. He'd only been here for a short time, yet he managed to forge such strong bonds. 

Lava reappeared on the screen. “Now you understand why I don't want to go back home anymore, right? It's because Wave made me want to be an island boy forever.”

Lava was so… sweet. He loved Wave so much. Darwin had never seen such a display of dedication. Lava had taken time away from his chores to put together this video, just so he would feel less in the dark about his time on the island. 

Wave really did look so happy in the clips. Happier than Darwin had ever been. He was a beloved member of the community. Wave didn't have to wonder if his true self was accepted. He knew everyone around him adored him. He knew his boyfriend would do anything for him. 

He found himself tearing up as he watched. He placed his hand over his chest. What was this feeling? His heart was aching, but he couldn't tell if it was a good or bad ache. The video was bittersweet. He was happy that Lava loved Wave so much, but he was upset that those feelings weren't for him. 

At least, he knew Wave had always been in good hands. Ever since he woke up, he had people looking out for him. Lava and Peng kept him safe. He owed his life to them. Especially Lava. 

“See you at Nava Mahasamut.”

The screen faded to black with that bizarre phrase echoing in his mind. Darwin was still processing what Lava could've meant when the video looped, starting back at the beginning. He pondered on it as he rewatched. 

Was that a place on the island? He didn't recognize it. Of course he didn't. He didn't have Wave's memories to help him out.

The video played two more times before he decided to turn it off and look for Lava. But he couldn't find him anywhere. And when he asked Peng where Nava Mahasamut was, all he'd gotten in return was a blank stare. It must've been some secret place that only Lava and Wave knew. 

But how was he supposed to crack the code when his memories were still in a lock box in his brain? 

After sleeping on it, he decided the best course of action would be to ask Lava directly by showing up at his room. But Lava wasn't answering the door. No matter how much he knocked and introduced himself, no noises sounded from the room.

It was fine if he walked in, right? Lava had said the room belonged to him, too. 

But when he opened the door, he found the area to be empty. Lava was still nowhere to be seen. He took a step inside anyways, now curious more than ever about what their once-shared space was like. 

He scanned his eyes over every inch of the room. He ran his fingers over the wall, the bedsheet, the clothes hanging up on a rack in the corner of the room. He wondered if Wave ever wore Lava's clothes. 

Some things felt familiar, but not quite. Like an itch he couldn't scratch. A movie he saw in the past but couldn't recall the name of. Distant feelings of a life that once was. The answer to a question sitting on the tip of his tongue, just waiting to be spoken. But he didn't have the ability to string the jumbled words in his brain together.

It was like a record that had been scratched, deleting the important lyrics of his existence and leaving only the dull background music, remnants of a past life that he couldn't make sense of.

He hadn't given the room a fair shot before. He was too eager to escape this space, which belonged solely to Wave. But this time, he allowed himself to linger. He breathed in the air of the room he once slept in. 

Maybe Lava was right. This room could help him remember something.

There was a shirt sitting on the bed, as if Lava planned for him to find it. A tug in his gut urged him to pick up the clothing and press it against his nose. He didn't know why. It was like muscle memory. 

The smell was distinctly Lava. His brain recognized it, and a surge of dopamine rushed through him. He was comforted by the scent. Was Wave really still inside him? Could he regain his memories and become the Wave that Lava once knew?

There was a notebook on the bed, too. He opened it up and flipped a few pages, until something caught his eye. It was a drawing of him. It was unmistakable. His features had been perfectly recreated. His expression was soft, and each line was drawn with a precise delicacy. 

This was how Lava saw Wave. He treasured Wave with every stroke of his pencil. He adored every part of Wave's face, from his rounded, dimpled cheeks to his soft lips to his sparkling eyes. 

As his fingers traced over the page, his mind was transported to a different place. Somewhere outside, with the sun beating down on him and the water lapping at the shore nearby. Lava's voice played in his mind. “I like your eyes. They're beautiful. But I don't draw people much. You're the first I've drawn.” 

Lava had fixed his hair then grabbed onto his chin, turning his face this way and that. Using his drawing as an excuse to admire Wave. Wave had simply closed his eyes with a cheeky smile and allowed it to happen. In this memory, Darwin even heard his own voice in his head, Wave's thoughts. I hope he'll keep wanting to draw me forever. 

It was bizarre to hear his own mental voice, but attributed to someone else. Did this memory even belong to him anymore? If not, then why did it make him feel warm all over? As if Lava had really said those words to him, regardless of what name he was going by at the time.

The drawing was undeniably beautiful. It was hard to believe this was the first time Lava drew a person. But he knew deep in his soul that Lava wouldn't lie to Wave. 

He flipped to another page in the notebook. This one showed a drawing of an arm, with Nava Mahasamut spelled out on the forearm. 

Another memory played in his mind. “You said you wanted a real name, right? I found one with a nice meaning.”

The happiness he felt when he heard those words returned to him tenfold. No wonder Wave had fallen for Lava. He'd researched to find a suitable name just for him. One that matched Lava's. Because Lava and Wave couldn't be separated. 

Nava, meaning “boat.” Mahasamut, meaning “ocean.” Wave had felt so proud at the time, even coming up with a story to link their names. “A boat floating in the ocean. Until one day, it crashes into an island with a volcano. That's how Nava met Lava.”

When he thought about it, that was pretty much what happened. He'd washed up on the shore of Lava's life, like a stray boat that had gone missing in the ocean. He was lost, until he found his Lava.

Lava’s voice sounded again. “Fire and water, how can they ever coexist?” 

Wave didn't know either. But he knew one thing. He would make sure they worked out, even if he got burned in the process. His thoughts made that clear. If you're fire and I'm water, I'd let you boil me until you're satisfied. Once I'm warm enough, you can embrace me. 

Wave was really crazy in love with Lava. 

The hazy memory-Lava wrote his shiny new name in neat letters on his arm, then leaned in for a kiss. But the memory was cut off before their lips met. He found himself disappointed. He wanted to remember what kissing Lava was like. 

He spotted a blue bandana on the ground. He picked it up, running his fingers over the fabric. He recalled securing it around Lava's foot when he was injured, and holding him in an attempt to calm him down. He remembered tying it around Lava's neck like a bib the next day before attempting to feed him. Wave's thoughts reverberated around his skull: I'm happy I can do this for you. I just want to take care of my love. 

He clutched the bandana to his chest like he was coming home. In a way, he was. He was coming around to this home Wave had found while Darwin was on some other plane of existence. 

He laid down on the bed, just as he must've done as Wave. A faint breeze moved the curtain, and he remembered hearing that soft shuffling sound before. When he was fighting off sleep with Lava wrapped snugly around him. His body felt warm. Cuddling in the heat wasn't ideal, but he wanted to anyways. His happiness came before his comfort. 

There was nowhere else he'd rather be than in Lava's arms. At least, that was the case when he was Wave. Was that still the case now? 

He turned to face the other way. He spotted a boat figurine on the bedside table. At one point in time, he had laid on Lava's stomach while moving the boat over his chest, as if Lava was the ocean his boat was sailing on. 

“Ow, that tickles!,” Lava had complained when the boat brushed against his nipple through his thin shirt. But he was smiling. He stroked Wave's hair as he rested his head against Lava's stomach. 

Wave's thoughts said what his mouth didn't dare to. I want to stay like this forever. Nothing else can make me as happy as I am now. 

He allowed flashes of memories to wash over him. All of them came along with Lava's voice and Wave's inner thoughts. The more he saw, the more he knew he couldn't just leave this island. He couldn't leave Lava.

Maybe his memories as Wave and his life as Prince Darwin could combine, transforming him into a secret third thing. Someone who was brought up in royalty but could still find the love he desired. Maybe Lava could help him figure himself out. 

He could be useful after all. He could make Lava happy.

Amongst his sea of racing memories, two words stood out the most: Nava Mahasamut. Lava had given him that name on a secluded part of the island. Lava must've trusted him to put the pieces of the puzzle together on his own. He just needed a little push, reminders of the times he'd forgotten. 

Now, he knew what he must do. 

He asked Peng to drive him to where he was hoping Lava would be. All the clues pointed to Lava waiting for him at that special spot. They had to park the car a bit away from where the road gave way to sand. 

“Should I wait for you here, Prince?” 

Darwin shook his head. “I'll go home with Lava. Thank you, Khun Peng.”

Then, he was off. He felt like he was racing against the clock. He didn't know what he'd do if he showed up and Lava wasn't there. Maybe that meant he'd failed Lava's test of his memory, and he'd lose his chance of reconciliation. 

He was flooded with relief once he spotted Lava on the beach. Everything clicked into place, and he knew he'd rather be nowhere else than by Lava's side. 

Lava was sitting on a blanket that he'd set on the sand, with a dejected expression on his face. He was packing away containers of food into the cooler he'd brought. He looked like he was getting ready to leave. Darwin had taken his sweet time to decode his message, and he was almost too late. Lava thought he was being stood up. 

It felt like Wave was inside him, banging against the walls of his existence, begging to be set free. He wanted to return to his true love. The Wave deep inside him couldn't stand to see Lava looking so sad. It made Darwin sad, too. 

His body remembered what his mind didn't. He felt warm when Lava was close to him. His heart sped up in his chest. When he found things Lava did cute, was that Darwin or Wave speaking? When he felt butterflies in his stomach when Lava treated him kindly, was that the ghost of past feelings or new ones blooming? 

In his heart, he knew the answer.

He had fallen for Lava, again. But would Lava still want to be with him? The man Lava fell for wasn't a prince. He didn't live by the same rules of royalty that Darwin adhered to. He didn't have memories of having the entire world on his shoulders, being the heir to Arantha's throne. 

But his current form was all he had to offer. 

“Why are you leaving so fast? You're not waiting for me anymore?” 

Lava glanced up, surprise registering across his face. Then his lips relaxed into a smile, and his eyes regained their usual playfulness as he stood. Wave approached him and looked down at the cooler. “Don't give up already. Your secret code took time to figure out, you know.”

Lava's smile widened, his eyes crinkling in the corners from the force of it. “How did you even get here? Did you remember everything?” 

Darwin felt his smile slipping. This was the moment he was dreading the most. Lava looked so hopeful, as if a yes would be the answer to all of his problems. But Darwin still couldn't give that to him. No matter what he did, he still couldn't fill in all the spaces left behind by Wave. 

Lava wasn't excited to see Darwin. He was eager to know if his Wave had come back to him. 

“Not yet. Just bits and pieces. It's still blurry.” 

Lava’s expression shattered, along with Darwin's heart. Lava looked so defeated. But he tried to brush his feelings away with a half-hearted smile. “It's okay. I've done my best. Just the fact that you remember this island makes me happy enough.” 

Something inside him was screaming at him to get closer to Lava. To console him. To wipe that sad look off his face. He listened. He stepped closer and looked into Lava's eyes. “From what you've shown me, Lava and Wave must have shared so many good memories together, right?”

Lava nodded, his eyes roaming every inch of Darwin's face. Memorizing his visage. Or perhaps, comparing his expressions to Wave's. Did his smile look the same? Did his eyebrows move differently when he made certain faces? 

He didn't really want to know the answers to those questions. What he wanted to know was if Lava was constantly comparing him to Wave, or if he was simply happy to spend time with any iteration of him. 

“It's a shame I'm the only one who remembers them.” Lava’s throat moved, like he was trying to swallow down his feelings. “I once said I envied Wave because he got to restart his memories from zero. But not anymore. Now, I want to remember everything about us forever.”

Emotion swelled in Darwin's chest, threatening to choke him. He felt like he was riding on some fast-moving wave, searching for safer waters. Desperate to find the place where he belonged.

A love like this only came once in a lifetime. Wave had hit the jackpot on his first try. That only left Darwin aimlessly wandering around, wondering if he would ever find someone to complete him like Lava completed Wave. 

He didn't even have to search to know that it wasn't possible. If he separated from Lava, he was doomed to live a life of solitude. 

He felt tears pooling in his eyes. He was dragged under by the same kind of rough waters that had brought him to Lava in the first place. A rush of adrenaline surged through him, with hints of despair around the edges. 

“This isn't my life. I don't belong here. I'm not Wave.” The words were bittersweet on his tongue. Sweet, because he was safe in the knowledge that one version of him was so loved. Bitter, because he wanted that for every rendition of himself. Not just Wave. He wanted to be loved as Darwin, too. 

His shaky voice seemed to bring the emotion out of Lava that he'd been trying to hold back this whole time. Matching tears filled Lava's eyes, spilling over and drawing lines down his freckled cheeks. Those tear tracks only made the constellations dotting his face more obvious. His mouth was still drawn into a wistful smile. The sunlight hit Lava's dewy eyes just right, the sun reflecting off his tears. 

Lava was beautiful, even when he cried. 

“I'm sorry, I can't forget. You're my first love. To me, you'll always be my Wave, my Nava Mahasamut, my Prince Darwin. Everything wrapped into one.”

His heart stopped in his chest. He hadn't expected his given name to be mentioned in the list of renditions that Lava adored. He swallowed the lump in his throat and placed his hand on Lava's cheek, gently wiping away his warm tears with his thumb. He looked so much like a sad puppy, wet from the rain. Darwin always had a soft spot for puppies. Too bad he wasn't allowed to have any pets. “How can you smile even while you're crying?”

Lava let out a trembling breath and leaned into his touch, and it made his heart ache. “Because these past three months have made me so damn happy. I've never smiled as much as I have since you came into my life.”

He wanted to be the reason Lava smiled. He wanted to be Lava's other half. 

For once, he allowed someone else to watch as tears fell down his face. It was the ultimate gesture of surrender. He'd already given himself over to Lava. Not once, but twice. The first time, he was Wave. This time, he was Darwin.

“Can you really accept me like this? Even if I don't remember everything?”

When Lava placed his hand on top of Darwin's, which was still resting on his cheek, he didn't pull away. He wouldn't, not anymore. 

“I still love you, just as you are.”

Lava wasn't lying. His genuine feelings were present on his face. Maybe Lava could still love him, whether he remembered their months as Lava and Wave or not. Either way, the emotions were still there. They'd lingered in Darwin's heart, just waiting to be acted upon. 

Maybe, they were meant to be, no matter what form he presented as. Maybe he didn't have to be completely Wave or completely Prince Darwin. He could be both at the same time. Some new being that held both Darwin's memories and Wave's feelings. 

It was Lava's turn to cup his cheek and brush away his tears. As he did so, he was entranced. Every facet of his gaze spelled out how enamored he was. “You look so pretty when you cry.”

Darwin gave a watery laugh. “Funny, I was just thinking the same thing about you.” 

Darwin’s tears were falling more steadily now. They blurred his vision. It was like Lava's touch had encouraged his emotions to burst forth the rest of the way. The warmth of his hand was just what he needed to let everything out. He blinked the tears away because he wanted to see Lava properly, but they just kept falling. “I'm sorry for saying I want to forget you. It was a lie. The truth is… you're the one thing I want to remember the most.”

“It's okay. You don't have to apologize to me.” His voice was so soft, but his eyes were even softer as he leaned his forehead against Darwin’s. “I won't give up on helping you remember. Even if I have one day, one hour, or one minute left, I'll make you remember what happened between us.” 

He stroked Darwin's cheek again, looking reverent. Almost worshipful. “But if you really can't remember, then we can make new memories together. I just need you.”

Darwin couldn't deny such a sweet assertion. Gingerly, he placed a hand on Lava's neck. “Can I try something?,” he whispered into the negligible space between them. 

“Anything,” was Lava's immediate answer. And he meant it. That was evidenced by the fact that his eyes fluttered shut the moment Darwin leaned in. 

Their lips touched, and a bolt of electricity was sent through his body. He may not remember Lava completely, but his mouth did. His lips knew the perfect way to slide against Lava's. Darwin didn't know how to kiss, but muscle memory from his time as Wave served him well. 

It was a slow but passionate kiss. Lava's lips were warm and familiar. He tasted the saltiness of their tears, which had trailed down to their mouths. It tasted like salvation. 

A pleasant feeling washed over him. Memories flashed through his mind; seconds-long playbacks that left too quickly for him to hang onto. But the important thing was, he remembered each and every time Lava's lips pressed against his. He lost count of the kisses that played through his mind. One thing was certain: he loved kissing Lava. 

In several of the memories, he was holding onto Lava's neck. Just as he did now. He'd followed his instincts, which seemed to be the same as Wave's. He used his grip to pull Lava closer, to turn his head and deepen the kiss. He poured all of his feelings into it. He knew now that those emotions came from deep within his soul. They belonged to him, truly. 

Lava responded in kind, expressing his relief through his lips. He might've thought he would never get to kiss his love again. Now that he was allowed to, he clutched Darwin to his chest like he didn't want to let go. But it wasn't a suffocating hold. Instead, being in his arms felt like freedom. 

Even once the kiss ended, his head was still filled with glimmers of a life he once knew that he desperately wanted to hold onto. And maybe, that would be possible. If Lava wanted that, too. 

“Things are clearer now. I think I'll regain more memories with time.” 

Lava couldn't contain his smile as he brushed Darwin's hair back. “Does this mean you still want to be with me?” 

Darwin answered in the form of another kiss pressed to those lips he was now very acquainted with. “I wouldn't kiss someone I don't love.”

He was rewarded for his response with kisses pressed to both of his cheeks, then his forehead. Lava truly adored every part of him. “Can I still call you Wave?”

It was a valid question. He hadn't responded well to the name before. But Wave and Darwin weren't entirely separate beings. He was Wave. He was just also Prince Darwin Everett Delroy of Arantha.

He reached down to grab Lava's hand, giving it a comforting squeeze. “I'll always be your Wave.” 

Sometimes, a forest needed to be burned down to allow new, stronger growth. Maybe that was why he had to endure so much in these past few months. After every traumatic event he was subjected to, he never wanted to be alone again. Stars were only beautiful when seen. And he wanted Lava to see him. He yearned to feel the warmth of Lava's love as he showed off his starlight. He wanted Lava to be the sea that reflected his luminosity.

“Let’s sit and enjoy the food you brought. It would be a shame to let it go to waste, right?” 

Lava grinned and used his grip on Darwin's hand to gently tug him towards the blanket. He didn't notice it before, but Lava had weighed down the corners with rocks to ensure it didn't blow away in the wind. He was so considerate. 

As they sat side-by-side, feeding each other while taking occasional glances towards the calmly-moving water, he realized something. If Darwin was a star, then this star was willing to die if it meant staying by Lava's side.

~🌋🌊~

He woke up the next morning feeling on top of the world. Sharing a bed with Lava, he was finally able to get a good night's sleep. Who knew that a cramped bed would allow for more comfort than the larger resort mattress? Only because Lava was a warm presence in his arms all night long, ensuring he felt protected. They'd faced each other as they slept that night. Darwin didn't want to be the only one who got to be held. Lava deserved to feel safe and comforted, too.

Darwin had woken up first. Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating Lava's sleeping face. He traced over Lava's cheeks with a single fingertip, not wanting to disturb him. He drew invisible lines between those freckles that he so adored. He only stopped when Lava's cheek twitched, registering the touch. 

After getting his fill of staring at his boyfriend's face, he climbed out of bed. He felt refreshed in ways he hadn't since he woke up on the island. He stretched and let out a satisfying yawn before pausing to look in the mirror again. The vibes were completely different this time. He no longer felt disconnected from his reflection. Wave was a part of him that had been integrated into him, rather than tossed to the side. 

“Wave, will you entrust Lava's heart to me? I promise, I'll take care of him.” 

A pair of arms circled him from behind. He didn't notice when Lava woke up. His voice was deep and rumbly beside Darwin's ear, rough from sleep. “Are you talking to yourself, Khun Faen?”

“I'm talking to Wave.” 

“So, you are talking to yourself, Wave.” Lava pressed a kiss to his cheek. Being referred to as Wave no longer sent his insides into a panic. If anything, he felt warm and cared for. He was Wave, and always had been. Just because he'd gone by a new name when he had no memories, didn't mean that part of him was erased now that his memories were back. 

“You're so clingy. Didn't you say I have a gold-plated body that made me impossible to touch?” 

“You're remembering things!”

“I remember kneeing you in the crotch. Should I repeat to see if I'll remember even more?” 

Lava hooked his chin over his shoulder and held him tighter. “I think that's enough for now, Khun Faen. You can remember more tomorrow. Maybe something sweeter?” 

“Something sweet? Like what?” 

“Remember all the times I did this.” Lava grabbed his chin and turned his head to the side, just enough to plant a kiss to his lips. Darwin was startled into silence, having forgotten what he was going to say next. A quick peek in the mirror showed that his cheeks were turning pink. Could he really be blamed? Until very recently, he never thought he'd have someone who would want to randomly kiss him for fun. 

Lava poked his reddened cheek and cooed. “How did you manage to stay single this long when you're so cute?” 

Darwin huffed and turned to face him properly. Which meant Lava's arms fell away from him. The tradeoff was that he got to look at his lover’s beautiful face. “It wasn't exactly a choice, you know? What prince could be gay?” 

“Why not? What's wrong with it? You can be a gay prince. Who says you can't?”

Lava was speaking a mile a minute. A sudden memory came to mind of Lava arguing with the homophobic lady at the food stand. When he got all worked up, there was no stopping him. He placed his hands on Lava's shoulders to catch his attention. “Calm down. I'm not saying it isn't possible. But society might not accept me so readily.”

“Screw society! You can be anything you want to be. As long as you stay my boyfriend.”

“As long as you stay with me, I'll be okay.”

Lava's fieriness subsided, and he placed his hand on top of Darwin's. “I'm not going anywhere, Nava.” 

Since their meeting on the beach, Lava had started cycling between calling him Wave, Nava, and Darwin. Lava wanted him to know that every version of him was accepted and loved. He was so sweet. He would never let someone like Lava slip through his fingers.

He knew they should probably get dressed and get to work, before Uncle Peng burst down the door and dragged Lava out by his legs. But he wanted to stay immersed in this moment. He wanted this warmth to stretch on forever. 

Lava stroked his thumb over the back of Darwin’s hand. “Do you remember why I named you Wave?”

He shook his head with a slight pout. Memories returned to him in flashes, mostly when he encountered something that triggered them. It sucked that he couldn't remember things at will. But that was okay, because Lava could remind him of what he'd forgotten. 

“Because a wave brought you to me. Romantic, right?”

“You've used that line on me before, haven't you?” 

“Hey, it hits better the second time around.”

“No, it doesn't. Should I lose my memories again and see if the third time’s the charm?” 

Lava whined and wrapped his arms around Darwin, giving him a squeeze. “Don't forget me again, Wave. But even if you do, I'll make sure you remember me again.” He squished his cheek against Wave's shoulder, acting all cuddly like a baby sloth. “Even if you forgot me a hundred times, I'd keep taking care of you and make you fall for me over and over.”

“Wouldn't you get tired of me by that point?”

“I would never be tired of you. You're the only person who can handle me.”

Okay, maybe Lava knew what he was doing. He was able to get Darwin to fall in love with him again, after all. But he refused to be defeated. He wouldn't be flustered alone. 

He wrapped his arms around Lava's neck, embracing him in return. “If we have to go through this a hundred times, don't give up on me, okay? Under the confusion and defensive walls is a man who loves you more than anything in this world, Khun Faen. And that man will always come home to you.” 

He was successful in getting Lava to stare at him with dazed eyes, a faint redness crawling across his cheeks. When Wave looked closer, he could see that Lava's ears were turning red too. How cute. 

“Where did you learn to talk like that? I should've known a prince would have a way with words.”

“This prince was never taught how to sweet-talk. I must've learned it from you.” He grinned, then sealed Lava's lips with one last kiss before pulling away. “Let's go, Lava. If we take much longer, your door might get broken down.”

Lava's bottom lip jutted out, and he tugged lightly on Darwin's arms. He was so adorable that Darwin didn't know what to do with himself. If anyone else saw Lava like this, they'd be stunned that he had this hidden side. He wanted to keep it all to himself. “Dar, I don't want to leave. Let's just stay in bed all day.”

Dar. That was a new one. Nobody back at the mansion would dare to shorten his name like that. But Lava did it without permission. He assumed Darwin would be okay with it, since Lava had special boyfriend privileges. And he was right. He wanted to hear Lava call him every variation of his name. Every iteration of him belonged to Lava.

He cupped Lava's face, squishing both of his cheeks. “I would love to, but you know Khun Peng would get angry. You don't want him to yell at you, right?” 

Lava begrudgingly shook his head, and Wave released his cheeks with a laugh. “Take a shower first, so we can go.”

Lava did a slight bow, gesturing towards the bathroom. “After you, your highness.”

For once, that name spoken from Lava's lips didn't fill him with dread. Instead, he only laughed again and lightly slapped Lava's shoulder. “What a loyal servant you are!” 

He picked out some of Lava's clothes to wear after his shower and disappeared into the bathroom. Once the door was closed behind him, he peered at his reflection again.

He looked happier than ever. His smile was so wide, it threatened to split his face in two. Nothing that brought him this much joy could ever be wrong.