Work Text:
A love like fire burnt in their veins. It was like a burning heat coursing through them every time they saw each other.
Her eyes locked with his on the other side of the room. It was crowded, the alcohol only just starting to buzz their heads. Just enough to let them go near the other. A slow fight, a quiet one too. Slowly he made his way to her side, not obvious to anyone but her. The others already drunk, mindlessly dancing to the newest bass-thumping, bone-shattering party hit that no-one even cared about for the lyrics just the beat. The beat of the song did not help slow the thump of their hearts.
A look was shared as he stopped in front of the plush chair, she sat in. Her already hooded eyes looked into his keen icy blues. The stop and the look did not even take a second, a half at best, and the boy moved again.
She looked away and raised herself slowly from the chair. Straightening her dress and picking up her haphazardly thrown cardigan, she walked away from the crowd in the direction of the boy. She walked slowly, taking step for step, not hurrying, even though she wanted to, she wanted him to wait even more.
The air outside was on the cold side, a warm night for late October. The terrace looked as always, the railing wooden and in just the right height to lean down on and look out into the backyard. Just the right height to lean down and see the moon mirrored in the lake water, only disturbed by the water plants and the slight wave now and then.
So, she did just that, adjusting the arms of her cardigan to cover her arms on the railing. It was a beautiful night; some would have called it magical even. The two young people standing beside each other, enjoying the serenity and the other’s silent company.
He moved a step nearer, the foot they had between each other now only a few inches. She closed the last space between them, their arms touching, warmth spreading through them even though they barely were touching.
"How have you been holding up?". The words pierced through the night, though they were softly spoken. An owl could be heard somewhere in the trees on the other side of the backyard.
The girl looked into his eyes, looking for a hint, a sign, anything to tell her something.
“Better I guess. I sleep better now knowing that... You know..." her words could barely be heard over the deafening silence of the garden. "Are you... " better, okay, indifferent, in love. She did not finish her sentence, just trailing off, trying to break the contact she had into his soul.
He did not answer, just wrapped his arms around her in answer. It was enough for her, having known each other for years he did not need to elaborate. Having been falling for each other for several of those years he especially did not need to. The answer was clear as day for the girl.
He took a shuddering breath, for while they had known each other for so long, and been falling for each other for half of that time, best friends for the whole of their time together, they had only been this close twice. Thrice with this time. They had not dared. Had not been willing to test if the other was in just as deep as themselves.
Their eyes were still locked, still caught up in mapping every little fleck of color in the dim moonlight though they could recall it in their sleep. They dared not break the moment they shared in fear of what would come after.
She was the first to move, her hand, limply hanging, coming up to hold his that rested on her waist. A slow caress on his fingers had him moving as well. His hand, from its place resting on the railing, coming up to hold her face. He held her like she was a piece of colored glass, reverent and scared of breaking her. A flicker of doubt crossing both pairs of eyes, still locked.
"Why is it that I always find myself coming back to you?". Their breaths were mingling at this point, the words only coming out in whispers. Their hearts beating with each other faster and faster.
"Because I am your best friend, and you need me as much as I need you". Her voice was airy and she felt breathless as she saw the awe and fondness in his eyes. It reminded her of the quote, 'he looked at her like she was the sun' but that was not right. He hated the sun, always too bright, glaring and burning. No, he looked at her like she was the moon. Her thoughts were disrupted by the soft touch of his lips upon hers and her eyes closed. A tender kiss full of the love she knew he felt, and she knew she needed.
They parted slowly, opening their eyes and filling with joy, and love. She leant in for more, chasing the love and tenderness.
As they stood there, caught up in the embrace of a lover, the stars shone dimly and the moon smiled down on them, assuring them.