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It had taken three months for Anthony to agree to a date at the observatory, despite Asa’s near constant asking. He kept insisting he didn’t want to bore Asa, but they both knew that was a lie. Whenever they settled on Anthony’s rooftop garden with a telescope they’d settle into easy conversation about the stars and their myths until Anthony stopped and blushed like he might scare his partner away by getting overexcited.
Now, though, as they held hands through each exhibit, Anthony was like a kid in a candy store, sharing details the signs had left out and grinning widely at each picture of a flowing nebula or interesting formation.
They lingered beneath a mural of the constellations, Anthony pointing out the stars Altair and Vega. Asa squeezed his beau’s hand, voice full of affection as he shared the story of doomed lovers separated by the river of the Milky Way.
With every display and every massive printed photograph of the cosmos, Anthony just glowed with pride like he’d set the stars in their places himself.
With time, they found themselves alone in a mirrored room, reflective walls, floor, and ceiling turning the videos played across one wall into an immersive vortex of swirling stars and nebulae. Nestled against Anthony’s chest as they watched the vibrant clouds of dust and gas roll and curl around each other, Asa rather thought he’d like to run away so they could live among the stars. A group of the two of them, at home on Alpha Centauri or tucked into the Pillars of Creation, free to cling and sway together until the very end of time. Oh, but wasn’t that a thought. Anthony pressed a kiss into Asa’s hair, and they both smiled. This was exactly where they were meant to be.