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ROSS: It was relatively obvious that Ross would want to room with Troye, well, it was at least obvious to Ross. It had been a while since they were able to spend any quality time together, barely getting a word in at the Grammies after party — Fiji was a very welcomed reintroduction in Ross’ mind. The hotel room was far grander than what Ross would probably have gone for if he had booked this trip himself - it made the trip feel a little more special, especially upon knowing he’d be sharing it with him. Unpacking his things – he had already got himself ready in his swim trunks and a t-shirt. When he finally heard the door open; he struggled to hide his smile - not so much that he’d even want to. Immediately shooting up to meet his friend at the door. “Troye!” An excited voice exhaled, barely giving the other any time to step in before, quite literally, engulfing him in a hug. He held it for a while, not necessarily wanting to let go anytime soon.

TROYE: Troye rolled his suitcase beside him, looking forward to rid it in the room of the resort before he went off to explore whatever called to him first. He held the key against the door, allowing it to flash green before entering, a smile coming across his face as his roommate turned almost immediately. “Hey, you didn’t bail,” he teased, his arms wrapping around Ross as he breathed in the familiar scent of his cologne. He wasn’t quite sure who was going to break first, but in an effort to not seem too clingy right off the bat, Troye eventually pulled away and lifted his suitcase with a sigh. “There’s no way I’m unpacking this now, if you had any plans you wanted me to crash.” He spoke in a joking tone, though wishing he might offer up something as Troye’s gaze shifted down to the swim trucks Ross had already slipped on. “Going for a swim already?” The question didn’t leave his lips without an awkward clear of his throat, trying not to let his stare linger.

ROSS: Despite the pull away, Ross didn’t allow his hands to leave the back of Troyes neck - stroking his fingertips over ends of his hair gently. “Of course I didn’t bail, dude.” The wide grin on his face of course failed to be wiped off – finally being able to have a moment with Troye was something Ross had been looking forward to for longer than he’d care to admit. He noticed all of Troyes stolen glances - from the ones that he caught on the Music Video shoot to the one that had just occurred. Slowly; and with a little reluctance - his hand pulled away from Troye’s hair; a soft smile grazed his lips as he looked down at the shorter boy – his arms folding. “I was thinking of a walk on the beach, it’s pretty out there – you wanna join?”

TROYE: Troye could almost feel the blush creep up on his cheeks as he felt Ross’ fingers through his hair. His blue eyes moved back up to his smile, the way it brightened the room. He doubted anything could be prettier than that, but he was open to the challenge, nodding his head at the offer to walk the beach. Luckily, he was already in decent attire like his company, able to settle with the shorts and tank top combo he had lazily tossed on. With nothing but his key and phone in the pocket, he allowed Ross to lead the way, gesturing towards the door as he stuck out his arm. “Lead the way, beach babe,” he said with a soft laugh, knowing there was no where else Ross would rather be — and truthfully, Troye wouldn’t want to be anywhere else other than right beside him.

ROSS: Ross smiled warmly at the nickname Troye had bestowed onto him, not being able to deny the twinge it gave his heart. It was a nickname that had been gifted to him by plenty of other people in the past - but none of them were quite Troye. After guiding their way out of the room - the gentle sound of waves crashing could be heard in the distance as he stepped onto the soft sand of the beach. The fading sunlight from the days end casted a golden glow amongst the surroundings, and Ross couldn’t help but steal glances at the other. The way the sunlight made the blue hues of his eyes even brighter, the pink shades of his cheeks and lips even more vibrant - it was useless denying the way he felt as he noticed, and really, stared for a while at these features. He found Troye beautiful, even moreso then. "You know, I've always found walking by the ocean to be a great way to clear your mind. Something about the waves, you know?" He spoke suddenly - truly living up to the stereotype of his appearance, but maybe needing to clear his mind was even more relevant at this moment.

TROYE: It wasn’t a quick walk to the beach, given they were right near it, the ocean heard from the open windows. It was incredibly peaceful, even more so once their feet were in the sand and the waves came crashing down closer to them. He looked up at the sky as they walked, taking in the last bit of the golden hour of the sun before it fully set. He was too fixated on the sight to catch Ross, only eventually turning to him as he spoke, his voice like a soft melody in his ear compiled with the breathtaking views. “Hard not to love it, right?” Troye said, familiar with the beaches of both Australia and California, but this? It was another level, a level of beauty he hadn’t experienced before. “Do you have something on your mind?” The question left his lips before he could really put much thought into it, knowing if anything, it likely would have been something he was hoping to quell by being out here, and Troye more or less inviting himself along wouldn’t have helped matters to begin with.

ROSS: Ross gave himself a second before responding to Troye’s question - gifting some time to discuss with himself on just how much he could share; he hesitated, glancing out at the depth of the sea before turning back to meet Troye’s gaze. A conflicted look flickered in his eyes - a battle so loud in his head, so silent on the surface. “Oh, nothing serious,” he replied rather casually - the tone of his voice a little strained in a poor attempt to disguise the inner turmoil he had been feeling. “Just the usual stuff, you know? Work, life… just stuff.” It was a terrible attempt at diversion - but he didn’t know how to have this conversation, really. In truth, none of it was the usual worries. The presence of Troye there, the pull he felt towards him - truly didn’t help with his desire to share more.

TROYE: Troye nodded his head, rather slowly, trying to make it believable. Truly, he had an inkling he was holding something back, just from the way he spoke, to the way he met his eyes, but there was no room for him to be pressing him. Instead, he made a promise to himself to focus on making the night worthwhile, pulling Ross out of whatever funk he may have found himself in. “I hear you,” he said in response, hoping to make him feel seen. “I mean, I don’t have much for work right now, the Grammys were the big thing and now that that’s all over with, I’m honestly not all that sure what comes after this.” He wasn’t sure where he was going with his own words, either, but, they were enough to fill any silence as he continued walking at a leisurely pace, swaying his hands with the rhythm, the tips of his fingers brushing over Ross’ hand unintentionally. Even the mere touch sent a shiver up his spine, like he was suddenly chilled by the ocean breeze, craving the feeling of being back in his arms again, but knowing it wouldn’t likely happen until they embraced with a goodbye at the end of their trip. Too long. “I’m really happy to be here, though,” he said, now too well aware of his hands, shoving them in his pockets. “Spend time with you again, y’know, out of drag or when you’re not presenting me with an award in front of hundreds of people,” he thought out loud before fluttering his lashes back up at Ross again with a smile painted on his face. “Still working out the details on how to give you that second best lap dance of your life, though.”

ROSS: Ross couldn’t help but be drawn into Troye’s words - the casual jesting providing a momentary break from the seriousness of his emotions - and as the other spoke about the uncertainty post Grammys, Ross found a small sense of relatability in their shared uncertainty about the future. As the dance was mentioned, his lips curled into a small smirk, a flicker of amusement played in his eyes. “I have full faith that you’ll figure it out,” he replied, his voice laced with a hint of flirtation as he met Troye’s gaze, a subtle glint of desire hard to hide. Ross took a small step closer to Troye, the distance between them diminishing slightly - his eyes perked down, locking onto Troye's own. “But in all seriousness, I’m with you. Being here with you, away from, well, work, it’s — - Refreshing.” Ross admitted, his words carrying a sense of sincerity that was lacking in their prior, more casual conversations. He let the confession hang in the air, part of him hoping the other would pick up on his shift in tone. "It's really nice."

TROYE: The blush Troye successfully dodged earlier was now back in full swing, heating up his cheeks as Ross spoke, only deepening as Ross inched closer and looked back in his eyes like he could see right through him. His words were even more welcomed than the sound of the waves at the shore line, and suddenly, Troye could feel a sense of shyness in him. It was funny, really, given how forward he was in his jokes just a moment before, but with the shift in Ross, something had changed in him, too. It had him stop in his tracks, silence washing over them, but a welcomed one as his smile did the talking. “Maybe we should pause time for a little bit, then, just me and you,” Troye suggested, pulling his hands out of his pockets to grab onto Ross’, this time deliberately. It was only in an effort to guide him further up the beach, running in the sand with his hands in his until they reached a quiet spot up top. He couldn’t help but get lost in just how his hand fit in the other’s, soft to his touch before he reluctantly let go. He knew he had to play it off like it was just for direction, and not a way to justify holding him closer. He plopped down on the warm sand, laying out on his back before looking up at the sun officially setting in stunning shades of orange and pink. “It’s so pretty,” he mused aloud, “Don’t know the last time I’ve seen anything this beautiful.”

ROSS: The further away from the resort they seemed to get, the more it truly felt as though it was space that was just for the two of them - away from anyone and anything else. Ross all too willingly allowed Troye to guide him - the feeling of finally having some physical contact with the other aside from their reunion hug all too tempting; and when Troye released his hand, Ross couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment. The gentleness of his squeeze lingered in his fingertips, almost like a burn. As Troye laid back, gazing up at the vibrant sunset, Ross no longer found it in him to care if he was caught staring. The hues of the setting sun seemed to paint Troye in an artistic light, highlighting the beauty that Ross had been too afraid to fully acknowledge. As he spoke of the scene being so beautiful, Ross realised he related, although, his definition of beauty extended far beyond the canvas of the sky. “You’re right, it is pretty.” He spoke softly, laying down next to Troye - allowing their arms to graze each others ever so slightly. “But I gotta admit, the sunset has some tough competition tonight.”

TROYE: When Troye turned on his side to see Ross there, the slight touch of his arm alerting him of his presence, he couldn’t help but smile again. At this rate, his face would soon begin to ache, but he had no care in the world. Ross just seemed to have that hold on him. He buried his face in the palm of his hand, hoping the dimmer light would work towards his advantage. “Competition, huh?” Troye repeated, biting down on his bottom lip as if he were making an effort not to continuously beam at him like he were utterly captivated. He shook his head, stealing glances at the sky, then back towards Ross, caught up on which he would rather look at. “I don’t think so,” he dropped his head back down, not caring that he’d have sand to pick out of his hair, or that he’d have to brush it all off his knees. He’d sit here all night if he could. “What makes you say that?”

ROSS: Ross found himself in uncharted territory, about to spend a week with Troye, their interactions infused with constant flirtation, his uncertainty of Troye's awareness regarding the realness of his feelings lingered in the air. A question mark that had, somehow, landed to them being here, on their first night together. The prior nights of yearning for Troye, filled with missed opportunities, had led to the dilemma he faced in that moment. Ross exhaled softly, his jaw clenching as he looked up at the sky before tilting his head towards Troye’s - potential sand in his hair was a problem he was used to and didn’t care too much about. “I mean, just — - you. The way the sunlight catches in your hair, the glow in your eyes. It's like every colour of the sunset is reflected in you. It has nothing on you.” Ross took a moment to choose his next words carefully. "It's just... you make everything feel different, you know? Something about you, about this,” he admitted, the sincerity in his tone matching the quiet honesty of the moment. If it weren’t for the waves of the beach, it would all feel so silent in that moment. Ross's eyes held Troye's, a silent proposal lingering between the two of them. He couldn't fight with the yearning within him, the desire to bridge the gap between them. Leaning in slightly, Ross pressed his lips to Troye's forehead, a tender gesture that carried the weight of his feelings. "Whatever this is, I'm glad I’m here with you, dude.” he mumbled a little, before pulling away - but not too much.

TROYE: Troye didn’t bother to look back up at the sunset. Now, his attention was solely on Ross, glued on the way his jaw clenched before he spoke to let him know just what was on his mind. This time, it felt sincere, sealed with a kiss as Ross’ lips pressed softly to his forehead. As cliche as it seemed, he could feel the sensation of butterflies in his stomach, fluttering away as Ross pulled back from him without leaving much of a gap. And it was just how he wanted it. He fought not to lean in himself, instead his hands reaching up to his hair, catching blonde locks between his fingers. He was right, it was different. A good kind of different. It had been a while since Troye felt a desire so strong, and boy, did he want to chase after it. The details Ross noticed about him were some no one would even bother to see, let alone point out. He let the words that fell so easily off Ross’ tongue play on repeat in his mind once more, and in that moment he let his eyes fall closed. He let his other senses work overtime, taking in the sounds of the peaceful beach and the smell of the sea air, tangling his fingers deeper in his hair. “If you feel all that for me,” Troye started, sucking in a breath, blinking his eyes open to peer at him with a pleading look. “You should probably kiss me," he suggested, a slight smirk upon his lips, "See if it feels different."

ROSS: The sensation of Troye's fingertips intertwining with the strands of his hair sent a shiver down Ross's spine - he remembered how Troye had picked up on his fondness for this during the One Of Your Girls shoot, and now, in the privacy of the beach, it held a different significance. It was as if they were testing the boundaries of their relationship without the presence of cameras - here they were, sand and sea their only witnesses. With some newfound confidence, Ross shifted slightly forward, not willing to allow the moment to pass him by again. Delicate fingertips traced the contours of Troye's skin, Ross's gaze alternating between the others eyes and lips, each movement charged with the words he had yet found the confidence to say. "I've wanted to do this for a while, you know?" Ross confessed, a soft gulp sabotaging his forever ’cool’ expression. His hand moved to cradle the underside of Troye's chin, holding him in place ever so gently. Slowly, he leaned forward, his lips brushed against Troye's barely enough to feel a thing - and he continued his sentence, so quietly “I just didn’t know if you’d want me to…” - Slowly, after looking at Troye one last time; his eyes fluttered shut, and he leant forward with much more determination - finally pressing his lips to Troye's, fully.

TROYE: Troye had an idea of how Ross would react, given his words and how close he was to him in proximity already, but at the same time he braced himself for the possibility of him turning his back and bailing. Instead, he was welcomed with the idea of Ross wanting this just as much as he did, even potentially as long as he did. He thought back briefly to when they first met, wondering if Ross picked up on his yearning back then, how even when the cameras weren’t rolling Troye had always seemed to keep an eye on him and allow his stare to linger until there was a chance he took notice. As Ross kept a gentle hand beneath his chin and leaned forward, he felt his lips ghost against his own, allowing himself to finish before he fully committed and took him in. His eyes fell shut once more, fingers lightly tugging at the hair at the nape of his neck before his hand rested on his cheek. He kissed him soft at first, but quickly poured in the passion, as if he were making up for lost time. “Always wanted you to,” he confirmed after pulling away hesitantly for air, as if he were worried he’d get up and leave, the fantasy over. “From the moment I got to touch you,” his hand trailed down his chest, as if emphasizing his words, “I knew I’d regret seeing you leave without scripting in that fucking kiss.”

ROSS: Ross felt a surge of relief riding through his body as their lips finally met. Troye's soft and warm kiss was like a gift from the Heavens to him - each movement carrying the weight of the pent-up longing that had silently grown between them for far too long. Troye's words, though not entirely surprising, resonated deeply with Ross. The exchanged glances from the other hadn't gone unnoticed by him; in fact, he had been as guilty of stealing looks too - it’s how he knew about Troye's own ones. As their lips parted, the blonde couldn't resist gently stroking his fingertip up, his thumb lightly grazing Troye's lip, almost as if to affirm the reality of the moment, solidifying the fact that it was really his lips he had just kissed. A subtle blush crept onto Ross's cheeks as he felt Troye's hand press against his chest. He laughed softly, the sound breathy and filled with a mix of emotions, partly apprehensive about the impression his racing heartbeat might convey. The comment about the kiss, or the lack thereof, in the video prompted another soft shake of Ross's head. "I have regrets from then too," he hummed, his hand moving from Troye's face to rest against his shoulder before gently gliding down to settle against the curve of his stomach. "But I'm grateful for every moment, every glance, every touch," he spoke, his gaze shifting down to where Troye's hand now rested against his chest.

TROYE: Troye’s hand stayed rested on his chest, the corners of his mouth turning up into a smile as Ross’ thumb stroked over his lip as they parted. As his hands came in contact with Troye’s body, he felt like even the most gentle touch ignited a fire on his skin, and it burned for him. He could only hope it wasn’t a fleeting moment, that once the pair had found themselves back in their shared room they would brush it off. Selfishly, he wanted it to go further, he wanted to have both of his arms wrapped securely around him, he wanted to wake up to the feeling of the warm morning Fiji sun on his face and the taste of Ross on his tongue. “Glance? I never looked at you, don’t know what you’re talking about,” Troye said, unable to get the words out without a giggle in between, leaning forward to bury his face in Ross’ chest, the fabric of his shirt caressing his cheek as Ross glanced down at him. He hummed happily at the closeness, picking his head up to kiss at the slightest pink tinge of Ross’ face. “You’re cute when you blush,” he said, sitting back up with a sigh as he noticed the sky quickly begin to darken. “We should probably find our way back before we get lost the first night here." It didn't sound too pleasing, but, he could only have faith that it was the beginning of something more.

ROSS: Ross's fingertips stroked ever so gently along Troye's waistline, his touch delicate yet filled with a intense sense of longing. The barrier of fabric between them felt borderline cruel, denying Ross from the luxury of touching Troye's skin. He could sense the warmth radiating from Troye's cheeks against his chest as his face nestled in - Ross's hands ventured upward, finding solace in the strands of Troye's hair, fingers gliding through as if savouring the texture of the softest cushion. A chuckle escaped him at the comment about his blushing, a blend of embarrassment and amusement colouring his cheeks; he secretly hoped these intimate moments wouldn't be confined to their vacation. Yet, as the realisation of needing to return to reality set in, a twinge of disappointment tugged at Ross; the prospect of leaving the privacy of the beach and potentially encountering others fuelled a reluctance within him. He nodded in agreement, though the gaze in his eyes betrayed a silent plea for this to not be the end. “How about a deal?” He begun, his voice a little more playful - a mischievous grin on his face. “No more regrets, okay? No more missed opportunities.” As he spoke, he finally sat up, his head tilting to the side with a playful curiosity; “and—" he began, his voice displaying a hint of shyness, a contradiction to his earlier boldness. "Don't worry, actually." Ross mumbled a little, an unspoken invitation lingering in the air. His words hinted at a desire that dared not leave his tongue.

TROYE: Troye listened to Ross’s deal and the silent promises he left behind with his fingertips. To finally have his hands on him felt like a dream, one he didn’t want to stretch too far from his reality as he stood on his feet and prepared to head back. Reaching his hands out, he laced Ross’s fingers with his own and pulled him up, straightening up his posture so he could reach the taller man more easily. He pressed his lips to his ear, the feeling of Ross’s soft mouth still on them. “Deal,” he whispered, Australian accent hushed in his ear, but he couldn’t help but hang on Ross’s last few words — how he started his sentence, but it was like he couldn’t bear to string together enough syllables to finish whatever was on his mind. “No more missed opportunities.” He repeated Ross’s words as if it were an oath, looking up at him in an almost beseeching manner. Like one flutter of his eyelashes and he would be granted his wish. “So, what shouldn’t I be worried about?”

ROSS: Despite the hot embrace of the Fiji air, the warmth of Troye's breath against Ross's ear sent shivers down his spine, the goosebumps on his skin rivaling even the chilliest of nights. Ross's thumb naturally gravitated to caress the silky skin of Troye's wrist, their fingers entwined in a firm grip that showed no inclination on Ross’s part to be released anytime soon. It was as if Ross sensed an urgent need to maintain physical contact with him in some form. One look into Troye’s eyes was all it would take for him to melt - one flutter of eyelashes and he was practically putty in the others hand - an uncontrollable urge to confess to Troye all of his secrets, desires, wishes - everything. With each step closer to their resort, he knew he had to say it. “I just — I was wondering if you planned on sleeping alone tonight?” He asked in a way that was almost a little too polite: wanting to leave the decision entirely onto the other. Ross knew what he wanted - but the hints of doubts that were so prevalent prior to their kiss still toyed on his mind slightly: he wanted Troye to be comfortable. “No pressure, if you don't want to - but, y’know... Regrets. Opportunities… I had to ask.”

TROYE: Troye didn’t bother letting go of his hands. Maybe when they neared more people, but not yet. The way they fit in his was something he could grow to get used to, the soft palm of his hand and guitar callouses on his fingertips caressing over his. Once they began walking back to their resort, he was once again stealing glances at him, much like Ross had accused him of, but this time around he was welcomed to getting caught. When the question of where he planned on sleeping tonight left Ross’s lips, a smile couldn’t help but pull at his own. It was like the blonde’s way of asking him to finish the night off by his side, sleep off the jet lag and start fresh in the morning, maybe even in his arms. Had he planned on it? Yes, but did he want to? Not with that invitation, every bone in his body aching to sprint the rest of the way and prove that to him. He shook his head at feeling pressured, as if his smile didn’t already give away his stance on the idea. “I could use your company.” The confirmation came at a time of silence, the wave slowly crashing in soon after, like time was stilled for a mere moment. “Or… the opportunity.” He corrected, smile fading to a smirk.

ROSS: Spending the night together could mean a million different things for them - they had a week to get any pent up emotions and desires out of their systems; and Ross only hoped that they would both leave the trip content with the outcome. As they continued on their walk through the beach, Ross would catch Troye’s eyes whenever he could - every little detail about Troye seemed to captivate the taller man; from the way he walked to the slight crinkle in the corner of his eyes when he laughed. Anxiety, nonetheless getting the better of him - as he realised just how much Troye’s presence made his heart thump: he really hoped that Troye’s own attraction to him wasn’t only physical. But Troye's smirk, and that playful glint in his eye banished Ross's uncertainties in an instant. It was as if Troye was giving him permission to indulge in this moment, to embrace whatever was left to come from their story. The silence was deafening, and Ross would have been concerned if the smile imprinted on Troyes face hadn’t told a thousand words. “Well, I’m glad I asked.” He spoke, a small, breathy chuckle escaping him as they neared back to the resort.