Work Text:
The waves lapped gently against the shore — slow and rhythmic, like a soft lullaby hummed under one's breath. They broke against the shore, the deep blue's edges unraveling into white before leaving only the darkened sand behind.
The sea sparkled a golden yellow under the late afternoon sun. The light fractured against the surface — too bright to look at for long.
The wind came sharp and clear, both salty and fresh. His bangs fell over his face, tickling his nose. He brushed them behind his ears, carefully adjusting his hair pin as well. He spun it slightly, until it sat comfortably.
The caw of a seagull passing overhead caught his attention — its white and gray wings flapping against the darkening blue sky. His gaze followed it as it flew, watching it soar down the beach, swift, graceful. It faded with the growing distance.
Before long, the seagull had disappeared from his sight, but he stared a moment longer — watching where it had been.
He lowered his head again and started walking along the beach, letting the waves wash over his feet. It was cool, but not cold. The water slipped between his toes — enough to wake him.
A light scratching sound turned his gaze upwards.
Sunny was sitting on a flat rock that stuck out of the sand, his sketchbook balanced carefully on his lap as he penned out his drawing. His black hair caught the light in bands. It was messy, windswept in a way that looked natural.
He furrowed his brows, spinning his pencil around to the eraser and undoing a stray line.
Basil stood, watching him draw until Sunny looked up, meeting his eyes.
Basil looked away, holding his arm. His thumb pressed into his skin, almost enough to hurt.
Neither moved.
The breeze blew gently, rustling the leaves and pushing their hair into their eyes. The waves continued stroking the shore, quietly
Sunny’s sketchbook closed with a light plop. He slowly slid to the side, patting the empty space beside him.
Basil stared down at it, eyes unfocused. He blinked, fingers curling at his side. Then he smiled, and sat down next to Sunny.
Their hands brushed gently, and Basil stared straight ahead at the horizon. The deep blue sea and the purplish sky began to blur together.
He buried his feet in the sand, coarse and rough, but comfortable all the same.
Sunny leaned his head against Basil’s shoulder.
Basil tensed for just a moment, then relaxed again — a smile spreading on his face. The sun kept shining, warm against his skin — settling somewhere deeper.
Sunny's hair brushed against him, soft. The fragrant scent of his shampoo cutting through the salty air.
Basil put his arm around his shoulder, and the subtlest smile grew on Sunny’s face — almost unnoticeable.
The sun was dipping, just beginning to touch the sea. Orange and purple took over the sky — but they too, slowly faded.
The air chilled — the breeze now cutting through their clothes and biting at their skin.
But they didn't move, didn't budge, didn't even shiver at the cold air pressing on them.
Sunny had drifted to sleep, resting his head on Basil’s lap. Basil gently ran his fingers through his hair, letting him rest even as his legs ached and tingled.
He let the sun bid its farewell, leaving the sky to fade to black. But no sooner than it left, did the stars rise to take its place, led by the full moon hanging above them.
Basil lightly shook Sunny awake. He rubbed his eyes as he sat back up from Basil’s lap.
Their hands found each other without looking, as if the space between them had never existed.
They smiled at each other before turning their gaze above — the sky, the stars, the moon and the vastness of it all.
The rock and sand, the ocean before them and the trees behind them — all just as far off.
It was only them — and their hands, held tight.