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"ENOUGH!"
The soft-spoken boy's shout still hung in the air like the aftershock of a Thunderbolt. Florian's hands trembled at his sides, his breath ragged—he barely recognized his own voice. Across from him, Kieran's dark eyes widened behind his messy bangs, his lips parted mid-sentence. Carmine's usual sharp retort died in her throat.
Florian felt this frustration before many a time since arriving to Kitakami Island. He would have already caught the first ferry back to Paldea had it not been for a certain boy with the most cutest features in the world keeping him anchored to this place.
============
He remembered the first meeting he had. Upon stepping into Mossui Town, he was immediately greeted by a taller girl whose battle instincts reminded him of a champion-classmate he was well-acquainted with, except that her personality was nowhere as refined. Carmine had a way of talking that made Florian feel like he was being interrogated—her arms crossed, her gaze sharp enough to peel paint off a wall.
As she approached him without warning, she had already put on uncomfortable airs. "So you're those students who came from the Paldea region, huh?" she'd asked, her tone implying he'd already done something wrong before she'd even finished the sentence.
"Oh great—another snooty trainer," Florian kept the thought to himself, and was about to reply but spotted another figure hiding behind the girl. The boy peered around Carmine's shoulder—all nervous energy and bitten lips. His dark hair fell unevenly across his forehead, and when their eyes met, he flinched like a startled Pokémon. Florian's irritation evaporated instantly, his focus entirely shifted on the other boy.
"Whoa..." The amazement in his voice was enough alone to make Florian's heart skip a beat immediately. "...Way cool..."
"Hush, Kiki!" the older girl yelled at him.
It hadn't registered how rude she continued to be as a thousand thoughts flashed through Florian's head. "He's cute. He's so cute. He's very cute. I want to kiss him. Wait, first I should to get to know him. But I definitely want to kiss him. I hope we can be friends. I hope we can be more than friends. He thinks I'm cool, we have a good chance. I hope I can impress him more. Gosh, he's cute—"
Kieran ducked back behind Carmine’s shoulder, but Florian had already seen him—even noticed he was staring at him. The way his fingers twisted nervously in the fabric of his oversized hoodie, the faint flush creeping up his neck when their eyes met. Carmine, oblivious or just indifferent, snapped her fingers in Florian’s face. “Hey! I’m talking to you. You got a problem or something?"
"Can this girl shut up and let me daydream?" Florian had kept his thoughts to himself again. He knew if he let himself go unfiltered, there would be problems—not just to make enemies, but mainly he did not want to look bad in front of his new crush.
"Listen—" Florian only half-paid attention to her at this point, "I'm sorry but I can't just let an outsider like you wander into Mossui Town. If you insist on sticking around, you'll have to battle me first!"
The boy stepped to the side, looking up at her meekly. "C-C'mon Sis... You just wanna battle. Makin' this big fuss over nothing..."
"I told you to hush, Kiki!" Carmine cleared her throat and turns her gaze back at him. "Just ignore my little brother."
He was definitely not going to ignore him. It wasn't that hard for Florian to figure out the situation at hand, given how emotionally sensitive he was. He had already come to the conclusion that the two had a terrible relationship—or rather, it seemed more like the sister often bullied her brother, and Florian definitely did not like that. Compounded with the fact she was just another battle-infatuated trainer—and he had met plenty of those annoyances in his entire Paldean journey prior to coming—he was ready to sweep the battlefield as quickly as he could so that he could have a chance to talk to the boy. Also, the boy's name was Kiki—that's is an absolutely adorable name and hoped he could utter it as soon as the conversation was in his control.
"All right, let's do this. Get in position." Carmine tossed a Poké Ball in the air with practiced ease, her smug expression already anticipating an easy victory.
Florian barely spared her a glance—his attention was still locked on Kieran, who had shuffled a few steps away, shoulders hunched as if trying to disappear into the background. But right before Florian sent out his Pokémon, he made sure to lock eyes with the boy and give him his most charming smile. Kieran quickly averted his eyes, but not before Florian saw the faintest quirk of a smile at the corner of his mouth.
The battle was as easy as Florian expected—and came to a complete and utter shock for everyone else. Throughout the battle, Carmine had trash talked and patronized the younger boy, only to be met with swift losses from each of his Pokémon's attacks. Turn after turn, and ball after ball, Florian had decimated her entire team. To add insult to injury, most of his focus was not on her, but the boy watching and cheering from the sidelines.
"Impossible! Just who ARE you?" Carmine's voice cracked as her last Pokémon fainted, her hands gripping the hem of her shirt like she might tear the fabric.
"Wowzers! You went and beat my sis?!" Kieran jerked back in surprise. Even if it was a genuine reaction, every word and move he made only made Florian fall harder.
"I can't believe it... there's no way you should've been able to beat me!" Carmine took an immediate deep-breath with closed eyes, not noticing how the disappointment that laid on Florian's face until she recovered. "...Fine, I guess you pass. Barely. Seems I've got no choice! I'll let you into town, but only if you become one of my grunts and do every little thing I—"
"I'll pass," Florian immediately cut her off.
"Wh-What?" Carmine sputtered, her face twisting into something between outrage and disbelief. Florian didn’t wait for her to recover—he sidestepped her entirely, striding toward Kieran before she could block his path again. The boy stiffened as Florian approached, but he didn’t retreat this time.
"Hi, you're Kiki, right?" Florian reached out a hand, ignoring Carmine's squawk behind him. Up close, Kieran smelled faintly of crushed berries—Florian had to consciously stop himself from leaning in closer. The boy's fingers twitched toward his before jerking back once, and then slowly eased their way back as if he had never touched another hand before.
"Um... it's Kieran, actually."
Florian’s grip tightened around Kieran’s hand just slightly—not enough to trap him, but enough to linger. “Kieran,” he repeated, softer now, testing the shape of the name on his tongue. It fit him better: less childish, more mysterious, and all the more cuter. “I’m Florian. From Paldea, as you can guess.”
Kieran's hand was warm, slightly damp with nervous sweat, and Florian couldn't bring himself to let go. Behind them, Carmine made a disgusted noise. "Ugh! Don't just—don't just stand there holding hands like weirdos!"
Florian ignored Carmine’s outburst, his thumb brushing lightly over Kieran’s knuckles before reluctantly releasing his hand. The moment their fingers separated, Kieran’s shoulders hunched again, as if bracing for another verbal lashing from his sister—but Florian stepped subtly between them, blocking Carmine’s line of sight. “So,” he said, voice low and conspiratorial, “what’s fun around here? I’m guessing you know all the best spots.”
Kieran's fingers twisted in his hoodie sleeves again, but his eyes darted up—brief, hopeful. "W-Well, there's... the festival grounds," he murmured, "but Sis says it's—"
"Boring!" Carmine shouldered between them, her glare bouncing between Florian and her brother. "And off-limits to outsiders until the festival starts tomorrow. Which means—" she jabbed a finger at Florian's chest, "—you're stuck following me today."
Florian caught Kieran's flinch at the word "stuck," saw the way his shoulders curled inward like a wounded Pokémon retreating into its shell. Something hot and sharp coiled in his gut. "Actually," he said, too sweetly, "I think I'd rather get lost." He turned back to Kieran, pitching his voice just loud enough for Carmine to hear. "Unless you want to show me around, Kieran?"
Carmine's scoff was immediate. "Oh please, Kiki wouldn't know how to—"
"Kieran." The correction came out sharper than Florian intended, and Carmine blinked like he'd slapped her. Kieran's breathing froze—Florian saw it in the sudden stillness of his throat—but when their eyes met, there was something new there. A flicker of... recognition? Gratitude? And Florian's pulse thrummed at the sight.
Carmine’s face twisted into something ugly—her lips peeling back in a snarl, her fingers curling into fists like she was about to grab Florian by the collar. "Excuse me?" she hissed, stepping forward until they were nose to nose. "Who the heck do you think you are, correcting me about my own brother?"
Florian’s jaw clenched. He could feel Kieran shrinking behind him, could practically hear the boy’s quiet, panicked breathing. He opened his mouth, ready to unleash every petty insult he'd swallowed since stepping off the ferry, but a sudden "OI!" came rushing at them. A man dressed in full purple rushed out from the nearby building.
"Tch—Kiki, we're going!" Carmine runs off without another word, leaving Florian standing there with Kieran. The boy hesitates, glancing between Florian and his fleeing sister, torn between obligation and something else entirely.
Ultimately, his body instinctually reacted and began making steps towards her. "Sis—!" Kieran stumbled, but his head whipped around toward Florian, dark eyes wide and uncertain, before turning back forward so as to watch his steps. Florian saw the split-second hesitation.
"Kieran!" Florian called out before he could stop himself, taking two quick steps forward. His voice carried sharper than intended, but it worked. Kieran froze mid-step, only looking back at him.
Their eyes locked across the distance—Florian with his fingers curled into loose fists, Kieran with his lips slightly parted. The moment stretched, fragile as a bubble. Then Florian smiled—not the charming grin he used earlier, but something wide and real to follow his shouting. "Let's talk more later, okay?"
Kieran's shoulders relaxed just a fraction before Carmine yelled from a distance, snapping the tension. "Quit dawdling!" she barked, but Florian didn't miss the way Kieran smiled back at him, before he resumed heading away.
Florian watched until their figures disappeared around the corner of the road, clutching his chest tight. He knew this wasn't over. Carmine's glare had promised retaliation, and Kieran... Kieran had looked back. That meant something. Florian replayed the fleeting warmth of Kieran's hand in his. If he could, he would retreat to a room and bed, and scream into a pillow with both fury and adoration, remorsing the fact he couldn't spend more time with Kieran all because of an exasperating sibling.
The next time he found himself with either of them again, he decided he should speak his mind without holding back.
The day passed by in a blur of unfamiliar streets and forced smiles—Florian's classmates chattering excitedly about Kitakami's traditions while he mentally replayed Kieran's fleeting smile on loop. Then, the next morning, he found himself in the care of the two Blueberry Academy students. He took the chance to battle Kieran—and took it easier on him, much to his sister's disdain—and paired with him for their photo scavenger hunt. With Carmine out of the picture for the several hours they had, Florian noticed Kieran's defining traits in better light, and without any interruption. He couldn't have been happier—and he believed Kieran's unrestricted joy showed the same.
During their scavenger hunt, Florian did not miss an opportunity to get close to him. He urged Kieran to stick along with him rather than watch from a distance—and was successful. As they traveled, he noticed Kieran's battle technique, and gave him pointers. He encouraged him, helped fix his errors, cheered him on, and complimented every single little thing about him. When they took photographs of their assignment, Florian made sure Kieran was always in frame with him, and preferably standing close. It was a fulfilling day that Kieran wished didn't end, although it only got better when the evening arrived. They had exited the cave of the ogre's den, discovering that there was no ogre, and that the sun had already set.
"Today's the first day of the Festival of Masks over at Kitakami Hall," Kieran stated. "It's this biiig event where everyone puts on masks and runs around celebratin'." He hangs his head low, fiddling his fingers together as if to distract himself from the excitement he tried to convey. "It's not like you gotta go or anything, but if you wanted to... y'know... check it out..."
Without hesitation, Florian steps forward and takes Kieran's hands into his own. "Let's go together!" he confidently replies, squeezing the boy's fingers gently. The sudden touch makes Kieran jump slightly, but he doesn't pull away—his face flushing crimson beneath his bangs. As he waits for him to answer, he repeatedly runs thoughts about the boy in his clasp: "Cute. So cute. Please say yes. Please take me with you. Please for the love of Arceus, don't let Carmine be there."
Kieran's lips shift into a wide smile, realizing how eager his new friend was. "Y-Yeah! Together." He realized he was still holding hands with Florian, "Ah! But—I guess not like... 'together-together', like a... date or anything... unless... you wanted—no, that's probably not what you meant..."
"—I would love for it to be a date," Florian immediately says. No hesitation, unlike yesterday. He wasn't going to miss this chance.
The words hung between them for a silent moment before Kieran let out a sound halfway between a gasp and a choked laugh, his fingers tightening reflexively around Florian’s. "R-Really?" he stuttered, eyes darting up just long enough to catch Florian’s unwavering gaze before looking away again. "W-wowzers... I'm... you're... I didn't expect you to..."
The boy couldn't finish his sentences, but the beaming smile that laid on his face said enough. However, his breathing shifted into shallow bursts, his chest rising and falling too fast beneath the fabric of his hoodie. Up close, Florian could feel Kieran’s pulse fluttering through his fingers. He was unraveling, right there in Florian’s hands, and the realization sent a protective surge through Florian’s veins.
"Kieran, breathe. You're gonna pass out before we even get to the festival." The teasing in his voice softened the command, and Florian retracted his grasp—slowly, giving him every chance to pull away at his own pace. The messy-haired boy inhaled sharply through his nose—too quick at first, choking on the crisp evening air—before forcing himself to slow. One breath, two. Florian watched the rise and fall of Kieran’s chest. Even something as simple as breathing looked delicate and cute on him, and as much as he craved to physically touch him more, he knew better and restrained himself.
Kieran finally caught his breath, his fingers still twitching where Florian had held them moments before. "S-Sorry," he mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck with a sheepish grin. "I just... never had a date before. Or—or anyone want to go on one with me. " His voice creaked on the last word, like he still couldn't believe it was real. "And we only met yesterday, so I—I didn't think that... you would feel the same as I did."
Florian exhaled sharply through his nose—half-laugh, half-nervous release, and put in extra effort to make sure he didn't sound like he was mocking him. "Same as you?" he repeated. "Actually, I did. The very first moment I saw you, hiding behind your sister like that, I thought, 'Oh no, he's cute. He's really cute.'" He watched Kieran's reaction closely—the way his lips parted with another grin. Florian grinned back, "And then Carmine started talking, and I thought, 'Oh no, I'm gonna have to fight this girl just to talk to him.' Which, well." He gestured vaguely toward the path they'd come from. "You saw how that went down."
Kieran’s laugh bubbled up unexpectedly—a quiet, breathless sound that made Florian’s chest tighten. “You—you really thought that?” he stammered. “Even though I was just… standing there like some kinda scaredy-Pokémon?” His eyes flicked up to Florian’s face before darting away again, as if he couldn’t bear to hold the gaze for too long despite everything now laid out.
Florian couldn't suppress his grin. "Especially because of that," he admitted, stepping closer until their shoes nearly touched, and he could smell the sweet berries off of Kieran again. "You were like a startled Eevee. All big eyes and twitchy fingers." He mimicked Kieran's hunched posture exaggeratedly, then straightened with a chuckle when the boy playfully swatted at his arm. Their laughter mingled together, flying away into the cool night air as Kieran's fingers brushed his sleeve—hesitant, electrifying. The contact lasted barely a second, but it sent heat crawling up Florian's neck. Kieran's hand lingered near his own, hovering as if unsure whether to retreat or reach out again.
Florian made the decision for him—he closed the gap, tangling their fingers together with deliberate casualness. "C'mon," he confidently calls out, tugging him. "I want to see this festival you're so excited about." Kieran tripped forward with a startled noise, his grip tightening instinctively. For a moment, Florian feared he'd gone too far—until he caught sight of Kieran's face. The boy wasn't pulling away. His flush deepened, but his fingers curled tighter around Florian's, anchoring them together.
"First, um..." Kieran slips the word out after they had already taken a step. "...There's a few things we have to get ready before heading to the festival. So we should swing by my house."
Florian squeezes their grip and nudges their hands forward just slightly. "Lead the way."
===================
And what was supposed to be the greatest day of Florian's life—of course it had to be Carmine who ruined it.
The two boys had reached Kieran's house without a problem, with the latter happily by his side showing the way. They had gotten dressed in jinbeis—courtesy of Kieran's grandparents—and Florian obviously couldn't help but comment how cute Kieran was, out loud this time. But what Florian didn't expect was Kieran didn't hesitate to reciprocate, and he swore his heart skipped many beats afterwards.
The two were ready to leave together, until Carmine casually forced her way in between. She challenged Florian again, she took the only other mask that was available that Kieran wanted to reserve for both himself and his date, and she needlessly included herself as their guide at the festival. Florian held his tongue each time out of courtesy for Kieran's sanity, but each aggravating instance burned at his patience.
The last straw was right after he had found the ogre of legends, wandering the festival grounds. For the one time he was separated from Kieran, he was excited to run back and tell him about it, until it was Carmine who found them first and tagged along on the chase. The ogre had run up a flight of stairs leading into the mountains, leaving behind its mask in Florian's hands.
"Could that have been the ogre?! From the story on all the signboards?" Carmine had come to the realization on her own, despite Florian's attempts to sway her from the thought. "I mean, they did drop a mask, so it must be—"
"Florian, Sis!" Kieran casually approached them from behind. "What're you guys doin' here?"
Florian was about to hold up the mask in his possession. "Kieran, check it out! We just bumped into the—"
"HEY! Wait—stop stop stop!" Carmine hopped in the way between them to obscure the view. Whatever she was trying, Florian already knew he wasn't going to like it.
Kieran tilted his head, "What's going on?"
Carmine whipped around with a theatrical gasp, "We were just—uh—talking about you!" she blurted. "Right, Florian?" As her head turned, her eyes flashed with warning, a silent 'play along or I’ll make you regret it'.
"What?" he hissed in a low voice with displeasure, but Carmine quickly cut him off again.
"Yeah! We were just saying how nice it is that you finally made a friend! That you of all people has someone that actually likes you for who you are!" She obviously growled the next words as another warning, "Right, Florian?"
Kieran's shoulders tightened with anxiety. "O-Oh..." His fingers plucked jinbei's sleeves, gaze dropping to the dirt. "You were... talking about me being... weird again."
Florian tried to stick his neck out to the side, but it was obscured by Carmine reacting fast to block his view again. "No, Kieran, that's not—"
"Wow, way to jump to conclusions!" Carmine rolled her eyes, but Florian saw the way her fingers twitched toward Kieran like she wanted to shake him. "Nobody said you were weird, just that—"
"—That what?" Kieran's voice cracked, his hands balling into fists at his sides. "That I'm too quiet? Too clingy? That I ruin everything?" His gaze darted to Florian, searching for confirmation, for betrayal. "Is that what you two were talking about?"
Florian's stomach dropped. "No—Kieran, listen—"
Carmine stomped forward, "Oh come on, don't be so dramatic! We were just—"
"Dramatic?!" Kieran's voice ripped through the air harsher than he had ever tried in his life—not so loud as a yell, but it carried a tone sharp enough that Florian flinched. The boy's hands trembled at his sides—not with their usual nervous energy, but with something raw and jagged. "You always do this! Twist everything until I'm the one who's crazy!" His breaths came in ragged bursts, "You hate that Florian li-likes me, that anyone likes me—so you ruin it!"
Carmine recoiled like she'd been struck, her mask slipping askew. "Excuse me?" Her voice climbed an octave, fists clenching. "I'm trying to protect you from—from—" She gestured wildly at Florian, who froze in place still processing Kieran's outburst, the ogre mask dangling forgotten from his fingers. "He's just some stranger who pities you—"
"ENOUGH!"
The words tore from Florian's throat before he could stop them. As Carmine turned back, he stepped in between them, shoulders blocking Carmine's view of Kieran's crumbling expression. "You don't get to twist this," he snarled, low enough that only she could hear. "Not this time."
Carmine's mouth snapped shut, her pupils shrinking as Florian’s voice lashed out. The mask in his grip creaked under his tightening fingers. Behind him, Kieran breathed unevenly, only able to watch what was about to unfold.
"You don’t know anything about how I feel," Florian bit out. "And you don’t get to decide what’s best for him." Florian stepped forward, threatening Carmine's space. "You've been nothing but cruel since the moment I got here," he said, voice low and trembling with restrained fury. "Demanding battles like I owed you something, belittling Kieran every chance you got—acting like you own him." His fingers twitched around the mask's edges. "You think I pity him?! You're the one who treats him like some pathetic Poochyena instead of a person!"
Carmine's mouth opened ready to retort, but Florian barreled on. "Remember when we first met? You wouldn't even let him speak—just shoved him aside like he was in your way." Kieran made a small, wounded noise at the statement. Florian didn't turn around—couldn't, not when Carmine's face was twisting into something ugly and defensive. "And today? You stole the mask he wanted for us. You forced yourself into our date like you couldn't stand him being happy without you controlling it."
"Date?!" Carmine spluttered, cheeks flushing dark beneath the mask on her face. "No, you—! You can't just assume—"
"Oh give me a break! You knew. That's why you kept interrupting—why you're still trying to ruin this." He pointed a finger toward her chest, as if jabbing at her without touching her. "Here's the truth: Kieran doesn't need your protection. He never did. All you've done is make him afraid to breathe wrong in case you decided he wasn't doing anything right."
Carmine reeled back dramatically like she was hit. Her hands fluttered uselessly at her sides before clenching into fists. "You don't—you have no idea what—"
"I know enough." Florian finally turned, reaching blindly for Kieran's wrist. His fingers closed around trembling skin, gluing them together. "Come on," he mumbled, tugging gently. "Let's go before—"
"Kiki! Don't go!" Carmine's voice cracked like a whip. Kieran froze mid-step, shoulders hunching instinctively. Florian felt the tremor that ran through him—saw the way Kieran's free hand rose halfway to his chest to stop himself from hyperventilating again. And then something in Florian's ribs snapped.
He whirled back to Carmine, throwing the ogre mask at her feet with a clatter that made both the brother and sister jump. "His name," he snarled, "is Kieran."
The silence that followed was thicker than the festival's loud ambience, and heavier than the mask between them. Somewhere beyond the lantern lights, the real ogre was watching from a distance—but Florian only had eyes for Carmine's crumbling defiance, and Kieran's trembling fingers tightening around his own. But Florian didn't wait any longer for Carmine's next set of words—he simply tightened his grip on Kieran's wrist and pulled, marching them both down the lantern-lit path with single-minded determination. Kieran stumbled after him in his hands, but Florian didn't slow down until the festival's noise faded behind them. Only then did he realize how violently Kieran was shaking—not just his hands, but his entire frame trembling like a leaf in a storm. He pulled him off to the side of the main road, hiding behind the darkness of trees and tall grass.
Florian gently grabbed the other boy by his bicep, "Hey, Kieran, look at me." The boy's eyes were wide and glassy, tears clinging to his lashes but refusing to fall. "Breathe," Florian murmured, repeating with the same reassuring tone he used on him earlier in the day. "Just breathe with me, okay?" He exaggerated the rise and fall of his own chest until Kieran's stuttering inhales finally synced with his.
They stood like that for a long moment, and Florian didn't mind. All he cared about was the boy's well-being, and he would have stayed an eternity by his side if he needed it. As Kieran's breathing calmed, the boy's hands slowly found their way to grabbing Florian's own shoulders, gripping tight like he held on for dear life.
With enough breath to finally speak, Kieran sniffled wetly and whispered, "You... you really yelled at her." The awe in his voice made Florian's stomach flip.
"Yeah," Florian admitted, grinning crookedly. "And I'd do it again." He looked to the side and shrugged. "Honestly? Been dreaming about that since yesterday."
Kieran huffed out a laugh—weak, but genuine, and Florian felt the exact moment his fingers shifted from a desperate clutch to something softer. He then slid upward, brushing the nape of his neck with hesitation. Before Florian could react, Kieran pressed forward, burying his face against Florian’s collarbone with a muffled sniff. The hug was sudden and clumsy, his arms looping awkwardly around Florian’s waist like he wasn’t sure how to fit them there, but Florian didn’t move. He folded around Kieran instantly, one hand cradling the back of his head, the other splayed between his shoulders. Kieran melted into the contact with a shuddering exhale, his whole body going docile against Florian’s.
"Tell me," Kieran mumbled into Florian’s jinbei after a long moment, "Did you—did you mean it? All of it?" His fingers twisted tighter into the fabric at Florian’s back. "The compliments. The… the wanting me. Not just trying to be with me to make Carmine angry? Not because you... pity me?" The question cracked halfway through, fragile as ice underfoot.
Florian tightened his hold, pressing his lips Kieran's cheek without thinking. "I meant every word," he whispered against messy strands of hair. "I don't pity you or anything. I like you for who you are." He felt Kieran tense up from the gesture and admission, then relax shortly after like all the knots that defined him unraveled all at once.
"And just so you know, I don't mind if you're quiet," Florian adds. "And I do like that you're clingy. Oh, I also especially like the part about you being cute. That one’s my favorite."
Kieran snorted, but didn’t pull away. "D-Dork," he said muffled, though the way he nuzzled closer betrayed him.
Florian grinned against Kieran's hair, fingers tracing idle circles between his shoulder blades. The festival's distant laughter and music felt worlds away—here, in this pocket of stillness, there was only Kieran's warmth seeping through their jinbeis and the tickle of his breath whenever Florian's fingers caressed his neck.
"Florian," Kieran mumbled, voice muffled against his collar. "Can I—" A shuddering inhale. The words came out in a rush in that one breath, hot against Florian's skin: "Can I kiss you? Just once. To see if—if it feels like I think it will."
Florian's pulse spiked. He leaned back just enough to see Kieran's face: flushed scarlet, near-obscured with his hair glowing violet under the night. There was a wet streak on one cheek from earlier tears, and Florian swiped it away with his thumb.
"You don't have to ask," he responded. "But yeah. Please do."
Kieran leaned in—too fast at first, their noses bumping, then adjusted with a nervous laugh, tilting his head. The first press of lips was tentative, dry from the night air, but when Florian sighed into it, Kieran melted forward. His hands slid up to clutch at Florian's shoulders, fingers digging in like he was afraid Florian might vanish.
Somewhere beyond the trees, a firework exploded—crimson lights filtering through the leaves to dance across the boys' closed eyelids. Kieran broke the kiss with a gasp, forehead resting against Florian's as the colors faded.
"...Wowzers," he breathed, followed by a giggle.
Florian laughed along with him. "Yeah. Wowzers."