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Aurelio is rocking back and forth on his feet nervously, his hands tighty gripping the wrapped box behind his back. He's in the observatory, which has sort of became Aurelio and Teo's place.
Teo flies in just on time, lightly panting. When he sees Aurelio, he smiles, his dimples showing. Instead of a verbal greeting, the two kiss.
"Happy birthday," Aurelio says with a small smile and hands Teo his present.
"Thank you!" Teo immediately starts unpacking the box. He tears the wrapping paper carefully and opens the shoe box.
Aurelio thought about that present for a long time. In the end, with Niya and Auristela's help, he came up with what Teo is holding in his hands now. There are multiple things inside. Mazapán. A few other pastries Aurelio made. Many pictures of Teo and his friends, of Teo and Quetzal and of Teo and Aurelio, mostly provided by Niya. A handmade necklace. A letter. A piece of paper with a message from all of Teo's friends, Aurelio, Huemac and even Quetzal from when Aurelio pulled her aside during her last festival.
"Relio," Teo whispers in awe. "This is amazing! I love it!"
Aurelio smiles and blushes. "Thank you."
They sit down on the bench on the observatory, Teo leaning his head on Aurelio's shoulder.
After a while, Teo says, "Huemac's made a cake. Well, hopefully he has. Wanna go try?"
Aurelio nods ans they venture down the stairs into the temple's kitchen. They found Huemac there, but no cake. Instead, there’s a burnt mixture on the counter in front of the old priest. When he sees the two boys, he sighs.
"No cake, I suppose."
"We can make another one," Aurelio suggests. "There's this recipe we've been trying out in school."
Teo beams. "Amazing idea."
So they spend the next hour and a half making that cake. They laugh and giggle. To Aurelio, it seemes like Teo is having a lot of fun. At one point, Teo's wings twitch, making the flour fly all over him. When Huemac and Aurelio laugh, he throws some flour at them. Aurelio keeps laughing, and Huemac fondly shakes his head, whispering, "Troublemaker."
When the cake is baked and cooled off, they all bite into it.
"From now on," says Huemac to Aurelio, "I call you when I need to bake something."
Aurelio smiles.
Teo, with his mouth still full of cake, says, "I've got to show you the city, Relio. I still haven’t done it properly."
So when half of the cake is eaten, they take a walk through the city. Teo takes Aurelio to see the bird sanctuary. There, he talks on and on about birds, and Aurelio listens intently.
At certain points, Teo's voice cracks. Aurelio always grabs his hand, then, and holds it until Teo's voice returns to normal.
Then they go to the cinema, since Aurelio has never been before. Teo chooses the movie they watch, some cartoon about birds.
Aurelio watches the movie only partially, watching Teo more closely. Sometimes, in the darkness of the movie theatre, Aurelio is sure his boyfriend's eyes shine with tears.
It must be because it's Teo's first birthday without his mum. Of course it is. Teo loves Aurelio, of course, but Aurelio is his boyfriend of less than a year. Quetzal had been his mum for over seventeen. Aurelio can't fill that gap.
Then they go into a small café that, according to Teo, was Quetzal's favourite, and talk. And though he noticed it before, Aurelio is still fascinated by how every citizen of Quetzlan has their own bird companion. His homecity doesn't have an equivalent. Probably because his mum is the goddess of fire. It would be hard to come up with an equivalent of this for fire.
Their next stop is a pastry shop which is Teo's favourite and buy two chocolate muffins. They continue walking through Quetzlan, eating the muffins.
"They’re not as good as anything you can make," Teo says. "But it's something."
Aurelio blushes.
They hold hands and chat about nothing and everything. Teo tells him stories of his childhood, since they've stopped being friends at eight. He tells Aurelio about Niya and Quetzal. About his favourite birds, Pico and Peri, who helped them in Venganza's temple. He recounts all the trouble he's gotten into and Huemac's lectures. His school friends and late-night talks with Niya. How Huemac, even after his lectures, always made sure Teo had everything he needed. He mentiones his stuffed tucan, Tuki. Aurelio remembers the plushie from their saving-the-world adventure. Teo tells stories of pranks he pulled and all the walls he covered in graffiti. About how much fun he had everytime he saw Niya. About Fantasma and Chupa Chups. About Pan Dulce's hot chocolate. His dad died soon after he was born, so he doesnt remember him, but he admits he never even thought about him much.
"Mum was always enough. And when I didn’t have her, I had Huemac, and when he was busy, the people of Quetzlan weren't. I didn't need him."
He doesn't mention his mum that often, but when he does, he gets sad and starts speaking a bit slower and quieter.
"You don’t have to talk about her if you don’t want to," Aurelio says.
"I want to. She was just such a good mum despite all her obligations as a diosa and—" Teo's voice breaks a little. "It's just so weird without her. Like I'm missing something."
Aurelio nods. "That's how I felt when the Obsidians had Auristela. Like... there used to be someone who was always there for me, who had my back, and then she was gone."
"That's what Niya is to me," Teo explains. "Mum is... she protected me, always. Even when she wasn’t physically with me, I could feel her presence. Now, unless it's one of her holidays, I can't. I know she still watches over me, but her presence isn't there."
In return, Aurelio tells stories about Auristela, mostly. He talks about his dad, too, and about his days at the Academy. He focuses more on their friends there, and less on everything else. He can see Teo enjoys listening to him talk, so he does. He talks about how Auristela and Ocelo would paint each other's nails and how they once spilled nail polish all over Aurelio's bed. How he almost walked in on Auristela and Niya making out on Xochi's gender confirmantion ceremony, but how Ocelo pulled him away. How Atzi followed Xochi around during her first weeks at the Academy because she liked Xochi's clothes. About Marino's desperate attempt to flirt with Dezi once when they were both drunk. About learning sing language with Dezi and Marino. About Ocelo talking on and on about their jaguars. About Ocelo sneaking in a jaguar cub into their dorm. About Xochi hidding her clothes in other people's closets so the instructions at the Academy wouldn’t find out about her hobby. About Atzi sneaking in her siblings' dorm rooms for the first month because she was scared. How she once accidentally entered Aurelio's room and god so terribly scared, but he offered her muffins he tried making and sat with her on the floor until she calmed down. Aurelio mentions his dad, too, but there aren't many stories of him, unfortunately.
Teo takes Aurelio to a park and they lay on the grass, Teo's head leaning on Aurelio's chest. Aurelio is absentmindedly playing with Teo's locks of hair, while Teo's fingers trace lines on Aurelio's arm.
"My mum and I would have monthly trips to this park," Teo said. "We'd have picnic and play games. I loved it."
Aurelio smiles. They both enjoy the sun shining in the sky—that's thanks to them—and ato one point, they both fall asleep like that, but some people wanting to talk to Teo pass and wake them up. After answering the questions patientky, Teo asks them to leave as he's on a date.
A bit after that, Teo recives a video call from Niya. She sings Happy birthday to you off key instead of saying hi or happy birthday like any other person.
"So, birthday boy," she says. "How does it feel being eighteen?"
"Same as seventeen," he replies. "Well. Hopefully not the same as seventeen. But you know what I mean."
They chat for a while, Aurelio chiming in every now and then. Before, in the Academy, Aurelio envied Niya for being able to be friends with Teo. He wasn't sure she liked him either. But now, especially after all of the saving-the-world-together business, they were friends. Good friends, even.
And Aurelio sees how Teo is around Niya. Around most people, he was polite, kind, composed and ready to take action. Around Niya, like around Aurelio, he let himself be messy. He laughed so loudly. He allowed himself be weak. He looked comfortable.
...someone who was always there for me, who had my back...
That's what Niya is to me.
Niya is to Teo what Auristela is to Aurelio.
As if on cue, Stela texted Aurelio
Auristela Aurelio
how did it go
did he like the present
Yes, he loves it
I told you so
hes head over heels in love with you
and youre so much in love with him too
I know
But you arent the one to speak
haha.
very funny
lets change the subject from my relationships with Niya
ik im probably boring you out with this
but youre not with him often in person
hows he treating you
Yes youre boring me out Stela
Of course hes treating me well
his head over heels in love with me
yk I always worry
I know
Might as well ask you the same question
Teos treating me fine thank you
Not Teo, Niya
good
she can be a bit annoying from time to time
but gods is she hot
and a good kisser
and I like her very much
I know, I know, I know and I know
Okay Teo hang up on Niya
Im going to hang out with my boyfriend now
HE WAS ON THE PHONE WITH NIYA
Yes, she was wishing him a happy birthday
Got to go now
Bye
bye
As the days ended, Teo and Aurelio start walking back towards the temple. People start swarming Teo as they got closer to the temple. The entire day, Teo got questions from the citizens about this and that, but now, they are actively surrounding him, for whatever reason.
They are loud, getting louder every second. The setting sun, which Aurelio found beautiful minutes before, was now overly bright. Every accidental touch sets Aurelio off.
Teo is obviously trying to be polite, but he noticed Aurelio is more than uncomfortable with the situation. He shields him with his left wing, but without touching him. Aurelio is thainkful for that.
Teo is saying something, but Aurelio's ears are buzzing. He can’t hear him. His chest feel smaller, like he isnt getting enough oxygen.
Soon, they’re in the elevator leading to Quetzal's temple. It doesn’t take them long to get up, nor to come in Teo's room, but Aurelio isn’t registering any of that.
The colours are too bright, too pronounced. The sounds are too loud. Every rustle of Teo's wings, the hum of the elevator, birds chirping, people talking below them, the traffic. The air around Aurelio seems to be touching him the wrong way. He flinches at everything and anything. His hands are shaking.
When they are in Teo's room, Teo sits Aurelio down on the soft bed and gently puts soundproof headphones over his ears. He plays white noise on TúTube offers Aurelio Tuki. Aurelio takes the plushie and hugs it as Teo leaves the room.
Teo returns soon after, carrying a tray with the cake they made before and two glasses of water. He sets the tray on the table and sits on the opposite side of the bed. He waits.
When Aurelio sets the headphones down—they appeared to be gaming headphones—Teo smiles slightly at him.
"What do you want to do now?" Teo asks gently.
Aurelio shrugs.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
Aurelio shakes his head.
"Do you want me to explain what happened?"
"That'd be nice," Aurelio whispers weakly. He has an idea, of course, but he wants to hear Teo explain it.
"You had an autistic meltdown," Teo says. They both know Aurelio's autistic, but nothing like this has happened before, not in that intensity. Something similar, but of a smaller intensity, happened anytime Aurleio went out on Hero duties, but he would shut down beofre it got too bad. "You got overstimulated with all the senses coming in. All the questions people were yelling at me, the light, the touches. It's normal and it's okay."
Aurelio looks at Teo, but doesnt manage to hold eye contact. "I'm sorry I ruined your birthday," he muttered, barely audible.
Teo comes closer to Aurelio, but not too close. He's careful not to touch Aurelio. "You didn't ruin my birthday. I loved it. I love how we spent the day. I always love being with you. Yes, I miss my mum, but this day was still amazing. And it's not your fault that you had a meltdown. You can’t control it, okay?"
Aurelio nods.
"Are you sure you understand? It's not your fault, Relio."
Aurelio nods again.
Teo sighs. "Okay." After a beat, he adds, "Can I touch you now?"
Aurelio takes a second to think. "After the cake," he replies.
They eat the cake in silence.
"You could stay over, if you want," Teo says. "You still got break tomorrow, right?"
Aurelio would love to stay over at Teo's, but... if he asked him to—
As if he read his mind, Teo adds, "We wouldn't be doing anything... like that." He blushes. "Especially if you don't want to. And... I'd like to talk about it, at least once, before we ever do it."
Aurelio nods. "Okay. I'll stay. But... can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"What if I don't ever want to have sex?"
"Then that's okay. It doesn’t change anything between us, Relio."
"Are you sure?" Aurelio asks. He knows people are usually eager to have sex. Not like him.
"I care more about you than I care about having sex."
Aurelio nods, pauses, then adds, "I'm demiromantic and demisexual." Teo reaches out and takes Aurelio's hand, squeezing his fingers. "It's not like I don’t want to have sex with you, I'd like to try it at least once," Aurelio continues, but he’s not looking at Teo. "After we... talk about it more. But... I'm scared. Of doing something wrong. Of one of us not liking it. Of getting hurt."
Teo rubs circles in Aurelio's hand. "Hey, Relio, that's alright. I didn't want to have sex for the longest time too, because of the dysphoria. And if one of us doesnt like it, if you don’t like it, or if one of us gets hurt, we don’t have to do it again."
Aurelio nods.
After checking with Huemac that it's okay Aurelio stays over ("Just dont do anything funny. I want to give you the talk again." Teo blushed.), the two boys showered and brushed their teeth. Teo lends Aurelio his biggest pyjamas, that are still a bit tight on him.
They lay down on the king sized bed with Teo's laptop in between them, a baking show playing.
Teo reaches out and puts his hand on Aurelio's cheek. He kisses him gently, slowly. They keep kissing like that for a while.
"Thank you," Teo whispers. "For everything."
Aurelio smiles against Teo's lips. "Thank you, too."
Their kisses go from gentle to hungry. Teo's hand slides to Aurelio's hip as he pulls him closer. Aurelio keeps his hand on Teo's ribcage. Aurelio feels himself going warm in places, but when he thinks about sex, about what that means, he freezes.
Teo immediately stops kissing him. He places a soft peek on Aurelio's lips and adjusts himself so he is laying with his head on the crook of Aurelio's shoulder. They watch the baking show in silence that's broken by Aurelio's comments.
At one point, Aurelio realises Teo is crying silently, tears falling down his cheeks without a sound. He places a gentle kiss against Teo's temple and starts rubbing circles on his arm. Teo wipes the tears of his cheeks and sits up. Aurelio sits up, too, and pulls Teo in a hug.
Teo starts full-on sobbing then, his tears soaking Aurelio's shirt. Aurelio rubs his back, whispering sweet nothings in Teo's ear.
"I'm sorry," mumbles Teo through sobs and hiccups. "I miss mum."
"I know."
"It's my first birthday without her."
"I know."
"I had a great time with you."
"I—" The words get stuck in Aurelio's throat.
"I really did."
Slowly, as Teo stops crying, Aurelio moves the laptop in Teo's desk and lay back down, this time under the covers. Teo lay with his leg thrown over Aurelio's, so their limbs are tangled. One of Teo's wings is one Aurelio's chest. Aurelio can feel the tension in Teo's body, so he massages his back until he relaxes and falls asleep. Aurelio soon follows.