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Kiku and Herakles often spent nights stargazing together. Both liked cats, and Herakles was pretty calm, which Kiku appreciated a lot more than he'd actually say aloud.
Oftentimes, cats would come sit with them, attracted by the warmth the bodies of the nations generated.
The air was cooler tonight, though. Because of that, the two were huddled closer than usual. One particular cat, one Herakles had named Larry, stayed put on his lap, letting the Greek man scratch behind its ear.
Silence was comfortable, Kiku found. It wasn't the awkward silence he often found himself trapped in with others. There was never any pressure to speak. Herakles actually respected the quiet.
The only noises right now were the purring of cats, and the slight breeze blowing the leaves. Above them, stars stretched endlessly across the sky. Kiku couldn't actually name most of the constellations, but he found himself looking at the familiar ones, or following Herakles' gaze upwards.
"Do you ever wish things were always like this?" Herakles asked, his monotone voice breaking the silence.
"Hm?" Kiku hummed, looking at the Greek man in curiosity.
"It's so calm now. Even the cats have stopped their meowing,"
And so they had. Kiku hadn't even noticed, truthfully. He was too focused on going between searching the constellations and studying the Greek's face and praying (to who, he didn't know) he hadn't noticed.
"So they have... Hai, it is quite peaceful right now. It would be nice if it was like this all the time."
"I agree... I always look forward to these nights."
They settled once more, though Kiku noticed that Herakles leaned into his space ever so slightly. He wondered if it was on purpose.
"I agree... I always look forward to these nights."
The words settled warmly in Kiku's chest, but before he could respond to Herakles, Larry stretched and hopped down from the Greek's lap. Kiku expected the cat to wander off somewhere, to disappear until the sun came up once more, but instead, Larry climbed directly into his lap. His breath hitched, clearly not expecting this show of affection from a cat this quickly.
"Ah," Herakles breathed, watching as the cat curled up comfortably in the Japanese man's lap, its tail flicking before settling around its legs, beginning to purr contentedly. Herakles smiled, tilting his head, letting his chestnut hair fall ever so slightly over his face.
"He likes you, doesn't he?" The Greek murmured, his green eyes locking onto the Japanese man's dark ones with a mixture of amusement and something Kiku couldn't quite name.
Kiku carefully rested a hand on the cat's back, beginning to stroke its carefully groomed pelt, eyes coming up to meet Herakles'. "He likes everyone, does he not?" He asked.
"No."
Kiku glanced up.
"He doesn't." Herakles replied, smiling softly at Kiku.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. These types of moments happened quite often.
Then Herakles added quietly,
"I think he knows you're kind."
Kiku's heart practically stopped.
"..."
Him. Kind.
Of all the things Herakles could have said, it was that word that left him absolutely speechless.
The compliment was so simple. Anybody else would have just taken it and moved on with the conversation. But Kiku didn't receive compliments that often, and somehow, it felt more sincere than any elaborate praise.
For a moment, Kiku found himself unable to look away. The Greek's features were.. Attractive, to say the least. Those deep green eyes, the tanned skin, the freckles dotted here and there...
But then reality came back and slapped him in the face, and he realised he was staring. His face flushed, and he hoped it wasn't as visible in the dark.
"Are you alright?"
Kiku nearly jumped, dark eyes widening as he was addressed by the Greek man. Oh, it was that obvious. That was a bad thing. He should be composed, but instead, he was a flustered mess! "Hai." He replied, probably too quickly.
"You seem warm." Herakles noted, tilting his head in geniune concern.
The Japanese man immediately looked away, heat settling quite uncomfortably in his face. "It is a summer evening." He murmured, refusing to meet the other's eyes.
Herakles glanced up at the sky, where stars twinkled above.
"But it isn't that warm." He replied.
Kiku wished the ground would open beneath him. What an absolutely laughable lie! What was he even supposed to say to the Greek? That he was staring at him because he found him absolutely stunning?
The thought alone was enough to make his face burn hotter.
Stunning.
When in the world had he started thinking of Herakles in that way? But then, he had that world-shattering realization.
It wasn't the first time he'd caught himself staring at Herakles, or thinking of his beauty.
Oh..
He was devastatingly in love. And he was only realising it after months of these evenings.
Kiku forced himself to look back at the sky, attempting to calm him and his nerves down. The stars had not changed, and the breeze had not changed. Herakles had not changed, either.
Yet somehow, everything felt different.
Because now Kiku knew.
Or perhaps he had always known, but had simply refused to admit it to himself.
Beside him, Herakles shifted slightly, getting comfortable once more. Their shoulders brushed, and Kiku nearly forgot how to breathe. Herakles had been looking at Kiku the entire time. Those watchful emerald eyes had noticed some sort of realisation — at least, that's what it looked like. But he rathered not jump to conclusions. He was quiet for a moment more, before he spoke, his calm voice slicing through the now heavier silence like a knife. "You know, you've been coming out here with me for months." He said, a small smile gracing his lips as his gaze remained fixed on the stars stretching out above him. "I'm glad you do that." He continued, leaning closer to Kiku as what he thought would be interpreted as a friendly gesture. Oh, how wrong he was.
"I don't think I'd enjoy them as much with anyone else." Herakles looked back from the stars, his eyes sparkling with a geniune happiness.
Kiku stared at the Greek. The stars blurred together, though he was hardly paying attention to them at this point. His heart was beating far too fast for him to act normal. "Hai," he said automatically, nodding his head.
A beat..
"I think I love you."
Silence. The breeze seemed to stop for Kiku, who froze in realisation. The words had left his mouth so naturally that it took several seconds for his brain to catch up, and for him to begin panicking.
Oh. He just said that.
Herakles blinked slowly, surprised. Whatever he expected to come out of Kiku's mouth, wasn't that. But he wasn't complaining, at all.
"You... Love me?" He murmured.
Kiku's face flushed so hard, he was sure Herakles could see the red, even in the dark. But it wasn't as if he could take it back, say 'No, I don't' and continue like nothing had happened. "...Yes."
Herakles mouth opened, as if to say something while he was still processing those words, that truthfully? He'd always wanted to hear.
"I do, too." Herakles tilted his head, a small smile appearing on his face.
Kiku froze. Did he hear that correctly? Herakles.. Loved him back? Loved the quiet Japanese man, who barely even spoke to most Western countries, back?
"You do?"
"Uh-huh. I love you more than I love cats, Kiku."
Herakles replied. It hadn't occurred to him that the average person probably didn't want to be compared to a tiny, fluffy, four-legged animal, but then again, Kiku wasn't the average person.
A small, rare laugh escaped Kiku, the raven-haired nation finally meeting the Greek's eyes again.
It would be so easy for Herakles to just lean in and close the gap between them, kiss the Asian nation until the sun came up again. But he knew how Kiku felt with sudden touch. So, being mannerly (and having common sense and morals; you don't just kiss somebody without their consent) just like his mother always taught him, he murmured "Kiku.. May I?" His eyes dropping down to look at the other's lips, just for a split second, before coming up to Kiku's dark eyes, which now shone with a hopeful, renewed light.
"You... You may." Kiku nodded, noticing the way Herakles' gaze dropped, if only for a second. He hadn't been looked at with such a gaze since... Forever. It wasn't a new feeling, not at all, but with Herakles, it felt as if it was. Inhaling softly, he closed his eyes in anticipation, leaning forward ever so slightly as he prepared for Herakles to close the gap between the two men.
And the Greek did just that. It was nothing like Kiku had experienced before, nothing like the experimental kisses in his younger years, or the crushes he'd hidden away until they died out because of fears of being 'improper'. Right now, none of that truly mattered to either of them.
Herakles interlaced his fingers with Kiku's, deepening their kiss slightly before pulling back.
Kiku stared into Herakles' eyes, which were lit up by the stars overhead, and a look of quiet adoration. He reached up, brushing a strand of Herakles' chestnut brown hair.
There was a moment of quietness, broken only by the two's breathing returning to normal.
Then Herakles said something, in a voice only Kiku could hear,
"I love you, too."