Keep Talking

Steven had never considered himself much of a romantic. On the contrary, he’d never really paid any attention to it. He had much more important things on his plate. He’d been on a few dates out of complete obligation, but he’d never really clicked with anyone, and honestly, he was fine with that.

Until he met Aarune, that is.

He hadn’t recognized the feeling at first- but he’d had a crush since they first met. His enthusiasm, his genuine willingness to listen to his rambles. He was utterly head over heels. He wasn’t entirely sure how to go about telling him, though.

Should he even tell him to begin with? He couldn’t tell if he felt the same, and he wasn’t about to ruin one of his closest relationships with something hasty. So, he contemplated it. For a while. Weeks, actually.

He never came to a conclusion, though.

“I went on for too long there, didn’t I?” Steven apologized.

Aarune blinked. “What? No, you didn’t! I wouldn’t have showed you it if I didn’t wanna hear what you had to say about it,” he said, pointing to the rock in Steven’s hand.

Steven laughed, a little awkwardly. “Sorry, sorry… Instinct.”

Aarune crossed his arms. “Quit it, man. I like to hear what you have to say, alright? I don’t know who put it in your brain that you gotta apologize for talking.”

Steven looked away. It wasn’t any singular person, really. It was just a lifetime of being, at best, ignored. “Honestly speaking… You’re the first person I’ve met who’s really matched my passion for… anything, really,” he looked down at the stone in his hand. “I’ve sort of learned to simply shut my mouth.”

Aarune frowned. “…Same here. The thing is, I never learned to shut up!” He said with a laugh.

Steven laughed back, though it had a tinge of sadness to it.

“Seriously, though. Don’t apologize. Not to me. I like to hear what you have to say.”

As Steven looked at the smile Aarune was giving him, he couldn’t help but look away to hide the blood rushing to his cheeks. “Alright, alright. I understand.” His crush was usually manageable enough. Or, at least, not obvious. (He hoped.) But at this moment, he could barely stop the urge to kiss him. Against his better judgement, he kept talking. “…Aarune?”

“Yeah?”

“I…” He avoided eye contact, barely able to look in his general direction. “I’ve been contemplating for a while. You’re one of the first people to ever truly give me the time of the day. And…” He gripped the stone in his hand, debating if he should even say what was on his mind. He briefly looked at Aarune’s face, and he got the idea that he understood what he was getting at already.

“So, what I’m trying to say. is-” he just barely choked out the words. “I love you.”

“… I love you too.” Aarune replied, his voice much, much softer than usual. “I was waiting for you to say it.”

“Did I go on too long?”

“No, I mean, like- for months. I didn’t wanna say anything… I’m not the best with people.” He chuckled a bit, taking a step closer to the other.

Steven, almost on instinct, leaned in closer, only to collide with the rim of Aarune’s hat. The two laughed about it for a moment, Aarune quickly taking his hat off and taking the initiative to kiss him himself.

Admittedly, neither of them had much experience with kissing. More than anything, they were pressing their noses together, but the two were still enjoying it.

After a few seconds, Aarune pulled away, cupping Steven’s cheek in his hand. Neither of them knew what to say, but… both of them were okay with that.

They didn’t need words right now.