#pedrossi

He knew who he really wanted. He had seen them. Their banter, their insults. The glances they threw at the other when no one was looking.

He knew the man Dani truly wanted was younger, a bit too cocky and overconfident. He was still too aggressive, too over tbe top for Dani. But the tension between them had been undeniable, for everyone to see... Except them.

Still, he didn't care. Not really.

He loved Dani.

Not in the way a man loved his husband. Not in the way a man loved his boyfriend. Not in the way a man loved a brother.

It was something different. Something between a brother and a lover.

It was just what he felt for Dani

He said down next to him, both having grown tired of their hook ups, both unable to keep the facade up that there was something more between them.

Maybe they both had wished for it. Dani had. He had wanted to find something in Vale that he had only found once before - in someone he couldn't stand.

But since then that feeling had never truly left, no matter how deep he buried it, it always shined through.

"You know..." The older started, trying to put everything into words.

They had been fun. For a short whole it had been perfect.

But not anymore. And both knew it. Both knew the other knew.

There was no need for Vale it put it into words.

"I hope you settle down, I hope you marry rich" he said and he meant it. He wanted Dani to be happy. He wanted him to find tbe man he wanted.

"I hope you're scared of all the ordinary shit. Like murderers and ghosts and cancer on your skin." He couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle.

He looked at the rookie and he almost felt ridiculous for saying it.

Their job was the definition of standing on a line between life and death, waiting for a strong wind called life to swing them one way or the other.

Yet here he was, hoping that this young man never feared that. No injuries. No death. Nothing

He hoped he'd be scared of everything else. Supernatural creatures, childish nightmares, the risks lurking in the darkness around them.

"And not your soul... And what he might do with it."

They both knew who he was talking about. They both knew who Dani belonged to. And they both knew that it scared Dani.

Dani looked up.

There was a question on his brown eyes. A hesitation he couldn't surpress. He wanted to ask something.

He wanted to ask if he thought tbe younger man would ever change. If he could truly entrust him with his heart, his souls, his everything.

But he didn't. The words never left his mouth.

He didn't need to.

Instead Vale just pulled him closer. He pressed a kiss to his head, where his skin met his hair. He kissed the side of his face. He breathed in his smell for one last time, knowing the next time he wouldn't get to do that.

He would never get to do that - probably.

And when Dani looked up, the Italian leaned in.

One last time.

His lips met his.

It wasn't a longing kiss. There was no lost love. No regret.

Just one last kiss for what they were willingly handing away, both hoping the other would find what they could only give the other for a little time.

Both hoped the illusion of the other what they had been would come true... One day.