He thinks about his dreams. The repeated image of the Volcano, what it meant when it finally blew up, when all the world rushed in and the hot rush of lava rushed out. It was Eden. It was a dark omen as much as it was a promise, pain that would be followed by something wonderful, suffering that would clear away until a gift had been left in its place. It still shakes him to know that while he was dreaming about Eden, Eden was seeing him in turn. He existed in their mind before he had any right to be there, before they had really met, before they had decided he would be something important. Heâs been considering the fate of it all, and theyâve both spoken about the universe wanting them to know each other, but the fact that theyâve both seen each other in visions is more proof still of it all. The sun. A volcano. The two of them together, with heat and warmth and care. He hums, softly, at the thought of it all. âThe universe had to know what it was doing at some point, I suppose.â He says.
He means it to smoothe over the soft weight in the air, the sensation of there being more to the story that he doesnât know yet. But that feeling is kind of exciting too ââ the idea that they always had moreto share with each other, that their connection wasnât done growing. Sol wanted to know each and every thing about Eden, wanted to know them down to their core, the heart of every atom in their body and in their mind. He wanted to know Eden like a well-loved book, to know every twist and every turn and to cherish every word that spilled from their pages. But he wanted to discover them slowly, too. He wanted to take his time with them, cherish it, savor the experience of getting to know them and revealing the most intimate parts of himself in turn. They were two conflicting instincts, but they were both powerful, tugging him in different directions so that he never knew if he was going to hold back or push for more. He almost wants to push, to ask why Eden seems so heavy about it sometimes, what the signifigance of the volcano was deep in their heart. He almost wants to push, but he feels like its worth taking his time, he feels like he can be patient here.
After all, they have all the time in the world.Â
Sol feels even better about the decision when Eden smiles at him, that lovely smile, that perfect smile. It makes him feel bright and warm, happy and full of so much potential that it almost hurts. Thereâs a twinkle of potential in their eye, a distant want, and Sol feels the butterflies errupt in his stomach, feels the low and casual pull of a wanting in his gut. Half excitement, half anticipation, all so good that it makes him feel bright and warm. He doesnât even notice the gentle flapping of the butterfly wings in reality, not until Eden points them out. He spares a glance down to watch them, to feel them move, and a startled laugh slips out of him, his smile growing softer. Oh. Well, that cleared things up even more than anything else could.Â
Eden was thinking about kissing him. It made him feel flushed, made him feel even more excited. Made him feel wanted. He glances back up at Eden, and knows that his smile has turned to something teasing in it now. âWeâre not dreaminâ this time.â He says, and arches an eyebrow as he considers it. He had wanted to kiss them then, as well. Had wanted to press close and feel the warmth of their lips against his own. Had wanted it in a dream, had wanted it in the club. But heâd wanted it to be different, as well. Something perfect and private, something real.
There was no moment more real than right now, with the solid confirmation that Eden wanted to kiss him, wanted to kiss him right now. âWhich gets me thinkin. Thereâs been something I wanted to try.â He says, still soft and teasing, as he inches just a little closer to them. Like he had in the club, when they had almost gotten there. He takes the leap of faith and leans closer, presses his lips against Edenâs in a kiss that says far too much, that makes it clear just how deeply hes been wanting this, just how long heâs held this longing in his chest. Itâs only been a couple of weeks, but he feels it like a fire in his stomach. Their lips are soft, and perfect, and all he wants to do is kiss them for hours.Â
It is a new sensation to be able to look at someone and consider that there is time. They have never been someone who is patient, even if they always do try to wait until the right moment for things, and they think now that that had something rather big to do with their own inability to see a future for themself. In the absence of certainty, they had taken to living in the moment, not letting their thoughts stray to their future, to things they could not guarantee they would have. It made them probably seem rather a lot, to some people, the way they were so wholly in so quickly with other people, but it was that they wanted to take what they could for as long as they could, not one more moment of their life guaranteed. They have feared the future, and coveted the future for so long that they have not allowed themself to consider it might be there, for fear of what the future waiting might be. But now, now it feels like the future stretched wide in front of them, because Sol has seen them, has seen little pieces of their future, happy pieces, after so much pain. They do not even need to know anything about their future, for that to be revolutionary. And so it makes them want to take their time, enjoy each moment, and consider the next.Â
It would be so simple to spill everything out for Sol here now, and they want to, they want him to know every little detail of their life, just like they want to know his. But there is something so nice about having the knowledge that there will be a next time, that there is more of this for both of them. Because the universe has shown them both that fact, the universe has shown them both each other, showed warm, soft futures on the horizon. And that is just as thrilling as laying everything out immediately, the thought that they have time, that they can wait until the perfect moment for everything that could come, and they will still have more time after that.
This is one of those moments, they realize as it stretches out before them. Theyâre not dreaming this time, and those words make them smile softly back at him, because it feels like a miracle, like something revolutionary that they are sitting here together, that they have found each other now. That they can stop running. He keeps going, and thereâs a teasing lilt to his voice that makes their smile sharpen just a little, as they consider what they want, what they have been wanting to try, too. And he moves closer just slightly, the suggestion of more. Before they can take the moment, take what theyâve been thinking about for what feels like a small eternityââbecause this is the perfect moment, that they are certain ofââSol does so first, leaning forward and bringing their lips together in a kiss. And his lips feel even better than they had considered they might, fitting against theirs so well. The kiss itself says so much, they think, sends a jolt of electricity through them, twists the heat in the pit of their stomach. Heâs wanted this, too, for as long as they have, they think.Â
Eden doesnât hesitate before responding in kind, hand moving to his neck, to let their thumb brush over the tattoo he had showed them, just like they had been thinking of, deepening the kiss. And he tastes good, sweet as honey, no, not honey, but something sugary and nice, and his skin is warm, and he feels just about perfect like this, kissing them. Thereâs a vague thought in their mind that they are glad they were interrupted, because this is exactly what it should have been, their first kiss together, something private, and meaningful, something just for the two of them to share, just like everything theyâve been speaking about. The kiss is more than just a casual thing, too, that they are certain of, because the way he kisses says as much, and they have a feeling he will be able to tell in their kiss, too, that they are thinking the same. This is someone they want to hold onto for a very long time.
They do not want to stop, but they pull back just slightly for a second, little out a small breathe of laughter, but staying close, thumb rubbing over the tattoo behind his ear. They look at him, at his long lashes, the beauty of his eyes, and they wish they could see him more fully, but then, it feels like they see him better than theyâve ever seen anyone else, especially in this moment. âAh, you beat me to it. I have also been wanting to try that,â they hum, unable to keep the grin from their voice. They lick their lips, despite themself, tasting the sweetness there from Solâs lips. âYou taste sweet as sugar, zaichik. I cannot say I am surprised.â