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Nate’s eyelids grew heavier as he stared at the dimly lit road ahead, sitting on the bus stop bench. Damian casually rested his head on Nate’s shoulder.
Nate held his breath for a moment, feeling a wave of heat run through his face before exhaling. He shifted from where he sat, trying to let Damian rest comfortably.
He glanced at Damian’s hair, the familiar scent of his shampoo lingering in the air. Nate then glanced down at the school ID hanging by his neck, the laminated card pressing against his chest.
Right. Prom.
He perked up from the reminder, though his attention drifted back to Damian who seemed more quiet than usual.
However, the silence didn't stay for long.
“Nate,” Damian said quietly without looking at him.
Nate blinked. “...Yeah?"
Damian hummed like he was thinking out loud more than speaking. He took Nate’s hand, tracing his knuckles. "Y’know… in the moments of danger, the body will act on its own.”
He squeezed Nate’s hand absentmindedly.
“And that's what it means to be in love.”
Nate didn't answer immediately. Damian’s chest slowly rose and fell against Nate’s arm as he breathed quietly.
Nate opened his mouth, then closed it again. “...Where did that come from?"
The last thing Nate remembered was the honking of a truck, the yelling of the driver, the bright sunlight, and the look on Damian’s face when he pushed him away from death.
Nate stared at his bandaged arm and the hospital gown he wore. He glanced at Damian who sat slouched on the neighboring hospital bed, repeatedly running a hand through his hair.
Katia stood up from her chair beside Nate. "I'm going home, I'll be back tomorrow evening.”
“I'll be back." She stood still for a moment, when neither of them responded, she approached the door. “Oh—and I'm telling Damian’s dad about this." She added without looking at them.
The door clicked quietly, followed by an overexaggerated sigh and footsteps fading away.
"Wow Nate…!” Damian lifted the blanket off of himself, revealing his bandaged leg. “You really stretched my leg ligaments, huh?” He said as if he were complimenting Nate, but not quite.
“...I'm really sorry.” Nate mumbled.
“What an amazing ending.” Damian smiled as he gently patted his leg.
Nate rubbed his temple, almost poking his eye with his thumb.
I didn't mean to get him hurt. We ended up getting hospitalized, and the medical fees are probably insane—
"Well,” Damian started, as if they weren't in the hospital right now. “At least we're alone together now, yeah?"
Nate inhaled as if he had just made a decision before grabbing the bedsheets at his side.
I can't just keep running away from Damian. I have to man up, and be honest.
“You… almost got hit—because of me.”
Damian shifted on the bed, turning to face Nate properly. “Yeah, Captain Obvious.” He said, as if it were the most normal thing ever. “Did you just realize?”
“No…” Nate stared at the blanket twisted in his hands. “I’m—I’m pathetic,” his grip tightened slightly. “...You may dream of our future." He swallowed. “You may think that we're happy."
“But eventually you’ll get tired of me.” Nate’s shoulders tensed slightly, looking down the tiled floor.
"I ruin everything."
“If I were never here, maybe Kate would be having fun right now.” Nate began biting the inside of his cheek.
"And maybe… you would’ve found someone better than me."
Nate finally looked up to see Damian sitting on the edge of his bed.
“Oh? Who?" Damian leaned back. He laid his head on Nate’s lap, silver strands splaying there.
Nate’s hands flew up, lingering in the air before settling at his sides. "...W-well, someone who you don't even know exists?”
Both went silent for a moment.
Damian sighed, a visibly annoyed expression grew on his face. “You done listing imaginary boyfriends for me yet?"
Damian finally sat up, "Look,” he said without looking at Nate. “If I wanted someone better, I wouldn't have risked my own life for you."
“Yeah but… you don't deserve me.” Nate responded quickly. "You deserve someone who takes care of you. Someone who supports you.”
"Someone who…” He trailed off quietly as his gaze lowered.
Without turning around, Damian reached back and rested his hand over Nate’s.
“...If you really think I deserve the best." He turned his head to look at Nate over his shoulder.
“Just become that sort of person.”
Nate felt his breath hitch.
“I—am I even capable of doing something like that?" He looked at Damian.
"If you're willing to, then yeah.” Damian finally turned his body towards Nate.
"...Until then, I'll wait. Sounds unbelievable, yeah? But as long as you try.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” Damian whispered quietly, as if it were a vow. "I want to see you happy.”
Damian’s figure began to blur as a lump grew inside Nate’s throat. A tear dropped down on their joined hands.
Damian looked up at him. “Why are you crying?"
"I-I don't… I don't know.” Nate sniffled, watching the tears fall down. "...Maybe I just—really needed to hear those words.”
Damian wrapped his arms around Nate and pulled him closer, fingers splaying wide against his spine.
Nate rested his head in the crook of Damian’s shoulder, snot stuck to his hospital gown, though Damian didn't seem to care.
“Can we really be happy together?" Nate asked quietly.
"Yeah," Damian patted his back gently. “I'll even buy you infinite coffee when we get married.”
Nate laughed quietly through tears. "Don't be silly."
Nate stared outside the window at the edge of the bed, Damian sat close beside him, his thigh touching Nate’s.
Damian’s grip on his hand tightened. “Everyone else is probably having fun at prom." Damian watched the sky.
“...Sorry. You're missing out 'cause of me.” Nate said without looking at Damian.
“It’s fine.”
“But you were looking forward to it."
“Yeah, because I thought you were coming too.”
There was a brief pause before Nate felt Damian’s grip shift from his hand to his wrist.
“Since you’re so eager…” Damian tugged on his wrist lightly, forcing Nate to inch closer toward him. “Why don't we dance right here right now?”
Nate’s eyes widened slightly.
“...I can't dance." Nate glanced at Damian’s injury. "And your leg.”
Damian smirked as he huffed dryly. “You worry too much."
“Follow along, Nate." He said as he shifted his position from where he stood.
"Raise your arms. Look me in the eyes. And follow the tune of the song…"
Nate watched Damian close the remaining distance, his lips hovering over his own before finally pressing down.
Nate froze for a second before melting into the kiss, his chest tightening painfully at how gentle Damian was with him.
The door swung softly. “Nate—" Katia almost yelled when she didn't see Nate on his bed. Her gaze settled on the second bed.
She let out a quiet sigh of relief at the sight before her. Nate slept soundly against Damian’s arm, facing him beneath the blanket, while Damian lay on his back beside him, still fast asleep.
Katia wiped a drop of sweat on her forehead before slipping her phone out of her pocket and aiming it at the sleeping boys.