#cille

Before his life drawing class had even finished, Sander had seen Robbe’s signature brown jacket standing outside of the classroom. There was a flash of purple standing next to him—likely Celeste who had spotted him on her way out of her class down the hall. Once Sander had spotted his boyfriend’s side profile and his backpack with a tiger patch through the large windows, he could not get out of the classroom fast enough. Sander scrambled to put his supplies away early, earning a nasty look from his professor as he did so, and practically raced into his boyfriend’s arms when they were dismissed.

As the two of them kissed, their masks pulled over their chins, Celeste giggled as she shook her head. “Couldn’t you have let me have him for a few more minutes, Driesen?” Celeste asked.

“Why?” Sander asked, tugging Robbe closer to him. His boyfriend let out a melodious giggle, one that sent butterflies and joy through his body like it was the first time, and buried his face into the crook of his neck. There was a faux-annoyed look in Celeste’s eyes, but Sander could still make out her cheekbones turned upward from beneath the black fabric of her mask. “So, you can steal my boyfriend away? Too bad, you can’t have him.”

Celeste rolled her eyes. “That’s okay, I’ll just talk to him later then.”

“You can talk now.”

“No,” Celeste said, a teasing look in her eyes as she started to move away from them. “Now that you have decided to join us, we cannot talk about this further.” Before she stepped away, she leaned towards Robbe and whispered, “Text me tomorrow and we can continue to talk about it, okay?”

Robbe giggled. “Of course, I can’t wait.”

Celeste winked and disappeared down the hallway.

“What was that about?” Sander asked.

Even with the forest green mask covering his nose and mouth, Sander could make out the smile on his features, bright and beautiful and his. Robbe shook his head, firmly grasping at the lapels of Sander’s jacket, before turning his gaze back to his. “I can’t tell you that.”

Sander pouted. “Why not? You tell me everything?”

“I do,” Robbe agreed.

“So, why won’t you tell me?”

“Because it’s a surprise.”

“A surprise? Is it for my birthday?” All it takes is the bashful look in Robbe’s eyes to know that he was on the right track. With how his last birthday went—having to see Robbe through a screen without being able to hold him—Sander knew that this year would be loads better than the last... and his last birthday had already been one of his best ones. Grinning down at Robbe, Sander smiled. “What did you get me, Robin?”

Robbe smirked. “Whatever it is, you’ll find out on the 27th.”

“Oh,” Sander said, matter-of-factly. Robbe smiled brighter and Sander wished that he didn’t have that piece of cloth over his mouth, obscuring it from view. “Well, I, for sure, can’t wait until my birthday to see what you have in store for me.”

Robbe giggled, the sound sending a flood of warmth through Sander’s heart. Stepping closer to him, Robbe tugged on Sander’s black mask, bringing it down to his chin again. Even though Robbe was always talking about regulations and following the rules, neither one of them seemed to not care about them in the current moment, in an empty hallway with only them and no one else to see. After tugging down his own mask down, Robbe stepped closer to Sander, sliding their lips together so effortlessly and flawlessly as they had done so many times over the past year.

Still, after a year of love and devotion, Sander could never tire of kissing Robbe, feeling all of Robbe’s feelings against his lips—without question or hesitation about how he felt. Even though a professor would likely come around the corner and scold them, and they would deserve it so, Sander sunk into Robbe’s kiss, pulling him closer by the hips, and Robbe leaned against him, his lips tugging up into a smile. Sander cradled Robbe’s face, pulling him closer, before running his fingers through his hair and swiping his thumb across the stud earring that he had—

Wait.

Pulling away from Robbe, who looked dazed and confused, Sander turned Robbe’s head by his chin to find a brand new earring in place of the normal stud—the one that Sander had bought him once Robbe’s ear was healed enough to switch them out. It was a small, dainty lightning bolt-shaped out of stainless steel. In the white light of the hallway, it glittered and shined.

“That’s new,” Sander said. He swiped his thumb over the earring which caused it to skew slightly and he moved to correct it. “When did you get that?”

“Last week,” Robbe said, sheepishly. “When Zoë and I went shopping at the mall, I saw it in the shop and... I thought of you.” Robbe’s cheeks flushed a bright shade of pink. “And, I decided that I wanted to wear it today. Do you like it?”

Sander smiled. “Of course, Robin,” he said. Bringing Robbe closer, he pressed a long kiss against his lips before dragging them down his jaw to the new earring. After pressing a gentle kiss against the new lightning bolt earring, Sander whispered, “I like everything on you, baby.”

Robbe scoffed. “More like everything off me.”

“Both is good.”

Robbe giggled, tossing his head back. His mess of curls shaking around him. Reaching up, Robbe tugged up on his mask, pulling it over his nose again. Sander couldn’t help to pout before Robbe reached out to cover his face as well. “Come on,” Robbe said. “We better get going before we end up being scolded by one of your professors again.”

Sander snorted, letting Robbe grab him by the arm and lead him to the exit. Tucking his portfolio between his side and his arm, Sander wrapped his other arm around Robbe’s shoulders and pulled him closer to him. Robbe smiled over at him, falling against his side easily. The two of them walked together, swaying on their own axis together. “So,” Sander asked, leaning close to his boyfriend. “What are our plans for this Wednesday?”

Robbe shrugged, nonchalantly before turning to Sander. “I don’t know quite yet.” Wrapping his arm around Sander’s waist, between the fabric of his shirt and his leather jacket, Robbe added, “Let’s find out.”