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Noah has always hated his birthday.
Not because he doesn’t like attention—though he doesn’t—but because it’s another year of being reminded that he’s getting older, that time is passing, and that the people he loves might not always be there. Finn knows this. That’s why, this year, he’s planned something quiet. Something just for them.
The apartment is dimly lit, the only illumination coming from the string lights Finn hung up earlier. Noah walks in, expecting a low-key dinner, maybe a movie. Instead, he finds Finn sitting on the couch, a guitar in his lap, his fingers nervously strumming a few chords. His knee bounces, just slightly, and Noah notices the way Finn’s jaw is clenched, like he’s trying to steel himself for something.
“What’s this?” Noah asks, raising an eyebrow, though his voice is softer than he intends.
Finn pats the spot next to him, his smile a little too tight. “Sit down.”
Noah does, though he’s suspicious. Finn’s hands are trembling as he adjusts the guitar. “I, uh… I wrote something for you.”
Noah’s breath catches. Finn doesn’t write songs. Not like this. Not for him.
Finn takes a deep breath, his fingers finding the first chords. The melody is soft, familiar in a way Noah can’t place. Then Finn starts singing, and Noah’s world stops.
Must be the night, must be the night,
I don’t know, Once in a while, once in a while,
I feel like I’m not so alone…
Noah’s hands fly to his mouth. He knows this song. He’s heard Finn humming it in the shower, playing snippets of it when he thinks Noah isn’t listening. But he’s never heard the words before. And now, hearing them, he realizes—this is about him. About them. About the way Finn looks at him like he’s the only thing in the world that matters.
Light in your eyes, finding it hard and it shows,
Watching you change, feeling the same,
Closer than I’ve ever known…
Noah’s vision blurs. His chest aches, his throat tightening so much it’s hard to breathe. He doesn’t move, doesn’t speak, doesn’t even blink. He just listens, his entire body locked in place as Finn’s voice wraps around him like a warm embrace.
No matter where you are,
I’ll follow, You’re like a shining star,
I’ll follow…
Finn’s voice wavers, just for a second. His eyes flick up to Noah’s face, and the look there—uncertain, almost vulnerable—makes Noah’s heart clench. Finn’s been nervous. He’s been worried. Worried Noah wouldn’t like it. Worried he’d messed up.
Deep in your heart, you know,
I’ll follow, I’ll follow…
The last note fades, and Finn finally looks up fully, his expression raw, almost pleading. “Noah?”
Noah doesn’t answer. He can’t. His breath is coming in short, sharp gasps, his hands shaking as he presses them to his mouth. Tears are streaming down his face, hot and fast, and he doesn’t even try to stop them. Finn’s face falls, just a little, his fingers tightening on the guitar like he’s bracing for rejection.
“Noah, say something,” Finn whispers, his voice breaking.
Noah finally moves. He lunges forward, his hands grabbing Finn’s face, pulling him into a kiss that’s desperate, almost bruising. Finn gasps against his lips, his hands flying up to grip Noah’s wrists, like he’s afraid Noah will disappear. When they pull apart, Finn’s eyes are wide, his breath ragged.
“You—” Noah’s voice is a wreck, thick with tears. “You idiot.”
Finn blinks, confused. “What?”
Noah lets out a broken laugh, his thumbs brushing away the tears on Finn’s cheeks—tears Noah hadn’t even noticed until now. “You thought I wouldn’t love it? You thought I wouldn’t feel this?” He gestures wildly between them, his other hand pressing against Finn’s chest, like he can physically push the words into him. “Finn, I—I can’t—” His voice cracks, and he gives up on words, pressing their foreheads together instead, his body shaking.
Finn exhales, his own hands coming up to frame Noah’s face, his thumbs brushing away the tears there. “You scared me,” he admits, his voice rough. “You just… sat there. And I thought—” He swallows. “I thought I’d fucked up.”
Noah huffs a wet laugh, nodding against Finn’s forehead. “Yeah, well. You did fuck up.”
Finn’s breath hitches.
Noah pulls back just enough to look him in the eye. “You should’ve known I’d cry.”
Finn lets out a shaky laugh, his forehead dropping to Noah’s shoulder. “God, you’re such a mess.”
Noah wraps his arms around him, holding him close. “Yeah,” he murmurs. “But I’m your mess.”
Later, after they’ve moved to the bed, tangled together under the blankets, Noah’s phone buzzes. He reaches for it, frowning at the notification. It’s a text from Millie.
Millie: OMG have you seen Finn’s announcement???
Noah sits up, his heart pounding as he clicks the link. It’s a post from Finn’s social media—a teaser for his upcoming album. The caption reads: "Follow – out next month. The first single is for someone who means everything to me."
Noah’s breath catches. The song title is Follow.
He looks at Finn, who’s watching him with a soft, knowing smile, though there’s still a hint of that earlier worry in his eyes. “You—” Noah’s voice cracks. “You wrote this for me? And it’s going to be on your album?”
Finn nods, his fingers tracing circles on Noah’s back. “Yeah. Figured it was time the world knew how I feel about you.”
Noah swallows hard, his chest so full he thinks it might burst. He buries his face in Finn’s neck, his body shaking with silent sobs. Finn just holds him, his hands gentle, his presence steady. Like a promise. Like a song.