#cellis

There’s a quiet hum in Cecil’s blood as he rushes towards the beach. Darkness sweeps over the camp, night consuming the demigods. It’s almost curfew time and Cecil knows he shouldn’t be going to the campfire right now.

But Ellis is waiting for him. He needs to be there. 

Will and Lou Ellen are waiting for him by the campfire, but they can wait for a little bit. They don’t know where he’s going, but Cecil knows they’ll be making their guesses. No doubt they’re going to tease him about whatever happens at the beach when he returns to them. 

Brown leaves crackle under his bare feet as he runs towards the beach. A soft breeze caresses his skin. Moonlight spills over the trees. He feels electric tonight, waiting for some kind of ignition to spark his fire. 

Within the matter of moments, the beach comes into his view. Dark water sparkles under the stars, flowing in a mesmerizing manner. The crunchy leaves give way to soft sand under his toes, and the smell of the salty breeze infiltrates his nose. Cecil’s heart thuds, thuds, thuds with the promise of seeing his new boyfriend.

And there he stands, his body facing the ocean, looking out to the distance, awaiting Cecil’s arrival. Ellis’ skin glows under the moonlight. 

He looks like an ethereal being, a god. He looks like he could rule the world. 

And Cecil wants to rule the world with him.

The son of Hermes opens his mouth and speaks his boyfriend’s name, savoring the feel of the letters. He pushes faster, almost running now, sand flitting across his feet as he makes his way to Ellis. 

The son of Ares turns, eyes mimicking the glow of the moonlight. A smile blooms over his lips as Cecil approaches, a look of pure kindness balancing gently across his features.

Cecil’s chest heaves as he catches his breath, suddenly feeling the exhaustion catch up with him. Ellis stands before him, still smiling, a softness consuming him. He looks as though he wants nothing more than to simply stare at Cecil, watch him exist.

A warmth envelops Cecil. He’s fallen for tons of people before, but never has he felt such euphoria just by standing in front of Ellis. He feels almost high, giddy, excitement humming in his blood. 

Ellis takes his hand, his warmth seeping into Cecil’s. A blush spreads through the son of Hermes’ face. “Hey,” he says simply.

Cecil laughs, though he’s not quite sure why he does. Maybe it’s the manic excitement in him; he feels as though nothing could make him sad again. “Hi,” he responds shyly. 

Their fingers mingle together, competing for some kind of dominance. “So,” Ellis murmurs, “you look cute.”

Cecil blanks for a moment. Then he laughs. “Is that why you invited me here? To call me cute?”

“Perhaps,” says Ellis. “Maybe I wanted to bring you here just to tell you that I like your hair.”

“You could have said that to me at any point in the day.” Cecil gently smacks Ellis’ shoulder, causing Ellis to yelp in pain. “You made me think we were doing something cute and couple-y. We’re missing the campfire for this!” 

Ellis rolls his eyes. “Oh, please, what’s one night going to do?”

Cecil opens his mouth to argue, but he can’t quite say anything else. He has a point. Instead, he opts to swing their hands together, feel the weight of the other’s hand in his. “So what are we doing here?”

“I feel like we haven’t actually been alone in a while,” Ellis complains, an irritated look coming across his eyes. His fingers pull Cecil’s closer to his chest, placing them right over his heart. Cecil’s face heats as he feels Ellis’ chest under his fingers. He can practically feel the heart beating in there. A heart beating for him. 

“Well, I mean, we’ve only been dating for a week,” Cecil says. “Not much time to truly be alone.” 

Ellis rolls his eyes. “Ever the romantic, Cecil. I’m trying to be sweet and loving and you’re here being a smartass. But what else is new?”

A laugh bubbles out of Cecil’s chest and he leans closer to Ellis, his other hand reaching for the son of Ares’ elbow. “Okay, dumbass. I’m just being honest.” 

Ellis smiles, his teeth flashing in the moonlight, and Cecil’s breath hitches. He’s overcome with some kind of happiness, some kind of excitement by merely being here with Ellis. It’s not that their relationship is necessarily a secret, and they don’t plan on making it one. It’s just the euphoria of knowing that they’re here in their own separate world from the other campers, doing something that no one else knows about. Only they exist right now.

For a moment, Cecil and Ellis just stare at each other. There’s a moment of hesitation; neither boy is sure of what to do next. It’s been a bit of a ride, Cecil thinks, trying to get through these hiccups in their relationship. As much fun as it is dating someone new, there’s still that awkward stage where neither is sure of what moves they’re allowed to make. They’re still getting used to each other, trying one another out like new clothes. They just need to get comfortable.

Then Ellis pulls closer, his arms circling Cecil’s in a tight embrace, and the son of Hermes wraps his own limbs around Ellis’ waist. They bask in each other’s warmth, protecting one another from the cool chill of the night.

Then Ellis pulls away, just a little, and gazes at Cecil. His dark eyes bore into Cecil’s own, searching for something within him. The son of Hermes isn’t sure what he’s looking for, yet he stands a little straighter, hoping Ellis will find it. 

Time stills between them, as if Time itself is scared to do anything. Then it happens: Ellis removes one of his hands from around Cecil and places his fingers over the son of Hermes’ face, his fingertips pressing gently against his skin. Butterflies create a storm in Cecil’s stomach as a wave of anxiety washes over him, and he almost pulls away with the overwhelming sensation. 

Then Ellis leans in, his lips mere inches from Cecil’s, almost as if awaiting permission to go in.

Cecil meets him halfway; their lips crash together. Color explodes in Cecil’s mind, saturating his emotions. He feels like he’s a firework, shooting into the sky and exploding into all kinds of colors, sparkling in the sky. Ellis’ mouth fits against his; it’s almost as if they were made to fit each other’s. 

Cecil doesn’t ever want this moment to end. He wants to stay right here, surrounded by Ellis’ warmth and never leave his arms.