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Skeptic didn’t know how he got so lucky.
It had been six months, six wonderful months, with Opportunist. Even all this time later it still felt like a dream.
At first, Opportunist had just been a curiosity. He was like a case that Skeptic wanted to solve. He had spent all his time in the earlier days of their shaky friendship just trying to figure out what made the slimier voice tick. He doesn’t know how or when, but at some point, he had gained the other’s trust and later love.
So yes, Skeptic was very lucky. There was, however, one issue.
“I think you’re overthinking this, brother.
”Probably.”
Skeptic had noticed it earlier on in their days as friends. Affection was something of a sore spot for Opportunist. It was something he wanted desperately but it was also something that made him nervous. In a moment of vulnerability, he had confessed he didn’t believe he deserved it.
Over their six months together, Skeptic had done everything in his power to prove how wrong that idea was. Some days he believed Opportunist believed him. Other days however…
“Explain it to me again.”
Currently, Skeptic was consulting with Smitten about his little issue. Certain types of affection still made his lover nervous.
Chief among them was their first kiss.
They tried. Oh, how they tried. Plenty of times. But Oppy would panic and push his partner away every time.
Skeptic didn’t mind. He’d wait forever if it meant Oppy was ready. Hell, even if it never happened, he’d be fine. But he could see how it was tearing his lover apart. It wasn’t until their latest attempt though that he realized how much it weighed on his lover.
“I know you says it’s ok,” he had confessed almost in tears after another failed attempt. “But I can’t help but feel like the more I push away, the more you’ll realize how much of a mistake being with me is.”
“I just don’t know how to approach this,” Skeptic explained again. “It genuinely doesn’t bother me. I just don’t know how to convince him of that.”
Smitten hummed in thought. He could see his brother’s predicament. How do you convince someone who is terrified of being abandoned over something they can’t fully help?
“You’ve only talked about this with them, correct?”
Skeptic nodded. Of course, he had. There was no other way to convince the other.
“I might have an idea.” Smitten leaned in to whisper to his brother. As the taller voice listened to his brother’s plan, a small grin grew on his face.
Yes. That might work.
Perhaps he was wrong on words being the only way to convince his lover.
***
“Can I kiss you?”
Opportunist turned to look at his lover as he started to flush.
He doesn’t know where exactly this idea came from (Smitten, probably) but Skeptic had been doing this thing recently.
Affection, but kissing more than anything, made Opportunist nervous. Skeptic said he understood but it still didn’t ease any of the shorter voice’s anxiety.
Then out of the blue Skeptic had asked if he could kiss him. The anxiety that was always there started to crawl up his throat.
Opportunist at the time had watched with bated breath as his wonderful, amazing, darling partner intwined their fingers together as Skeptic brought the offending limb to his lips. Opportunist continued to watch as his sweetheart, his other half, the man he thinks he could spend the rest of his life with, turned their hands over and pressed his lips against Opportunist’s wrist.
Opportunist could still remember the feeling of his heart practically beating out of his chest. “I’ll let you take the lead on this,” Skeptic explained when asked what the hell was that, “When you’re ready, you let me know. Until then though, I intend to prove how much I’m ok with waiting.”
It was possibly the most romantic thing the stoic voice could come up with. The entire rest of that day he could barely look at his lover without becoming giddy.
Since then, whenever Skeptic wanted a kiss, he would ask and find a new spot to pepper with affection.
He’d been keeping count. His forehead, cheeks, and hands were popular spots. When they cuddled in bed, Skeptic would pepper his neck and shoulders and between his wings. His ears, and knees when he could reach, and even once all eight of his fingers individually.
It was a game to them. Where would Skeptic pick next? The feathers on his neck were already starting to rise in giddy excitement.
”Of course, Skeptic.”
The shorter voice watched his lover place both hands on the sides of his face as he instructed, “Close your eyes.”
He does as he’s told, thinking about how the old him of – Dear Shifting Mound, how long has it been since leaving the Construct – would have never.
A bright smile engulfs his face as he feels Skeptic press two kisses to his eyelids. How on Earth did he get this lucky?
***
Their first kiss was honestly a surprise to both of them.
They’d both been planning their first anniversary for weeks now. It wasn’t anything particularly extravagant. Just a quiet picnic under the stars. Opportunist had even found the perfect gift for the occasion! What better way to look at the stars but with a brand-new telescope!
The day had been wonderful so far. Waking up to kisses peppering him from face to shoulders. Making and feeding each other breakfast together. The rest of the day was spent quietly together, with Skeptic placing pecks whenever he could.
By the time night rolled around, Oppy was practically bouncing out of his skin. All their favorite foods were prepared, and his gift was being hugged tightly to his chest. Skeptic could obviously tell what it was, but was pretending it was still a secret, intentionally guessing wrong.
“Sooo…?” he trilled. “What did you get me?”
Skeptic chuckled. “Impatient, aren’t we?” He started shifting through the basket of food
“But fine. I’m excited to see your reaction.
From the basket came a small box that was quickly stolen out of the taller voice’s hands, causing Skeptic to chuckle again.
The taller voice watched his partner as he opened his gift. “Skeptic? What is this?” Inside was an emerald necklace and earrings set.
“Well, since you love stealing Smitten’s jewelry-,” the shorter voice rolled his eyes,
“-I thought I’d make you some of your own.”
Opportunist’s head shot up. “You made this?” he quietly asked.
Skeptic nodded. “Do you like it?” Skeptic watched delightedly as Opportunist shyly nodded. “Do you want me to put it on you?”
Opportunist nodded again, his neck feathers fluffing up as he felt Skeptic’s hands play around his neck. As he looked down at the beautiful gift his lover made just for him, one thought popped into his head.
“Skeptic? Can I kiss you?”
Opportunist watched as a wide grin crossed his lover’s face. “Of course, Oppy.”
That grin only grew wider as Oppy wrapped his arms around his lover’s neck and dragged him so their lips could meet. It was everything both imagined it would be, gentle and full of warmth.
Both of them couldn’t imagine how they got so lucky.