#veridith

“...it can only lead to two outcomes”

Droplets of water continue to slide down his chest toward his lower abdomen.

You can feel the moisture and heat in the air.

“Then tell me… what are the two outcomes?” you ask, growing more daring with each passing second.

“One is that we try to hold back until we calm down, then spend the rest of tonight in unbearable regret,” he pauses, “the other is that we submit to the impulses and let the flames swallow us whole, allowing them to burn until nothing is left.”

His golden eyes fix yours with an indescribable weight, overflowing with passion and something more. 

“Which ending do you think is more fitting for us?” 

The room is silent, save for your ever-heavier breaths and the long-forgotten shower. Although he posed a question, you had an idea that surpassed both options he had laid out for the two of you. 

“Vyn… I think there may be a third outcome.”

“Let me take the lead. You don’t have to think about what happens next. I’ll respond to anything you decide to do. It’ll be fine even if you lose control… I want to see you let go of everything and be completely obsessed with me.”

With his shirt in the way, you kiss Vyn’s neck through the wet fabric. Your body comes alive as you feel his breath catch in his throat, fueling your actions even further. 

He’s only able to utter fragments of a sentence with your continued caressing, defenses starting to falter as he braces a hand against the glass. 

Your hands, however, have a different goal as they snake around his waist, tracing meaningless shapes onto his abdomen as you work further down. Another protest dies in Vyn’s throat, replaced only by a groan as your knees hit the tile floor. 

“In the end… I still cannot say no to you”

-

You both share an apartment, and although it was small, it’s well kept and clean, music and memories lingering in almost every corner. Polaroids stuck haphazardly to cork boards display adventures from summers upon summers ago, detailing when you met for the first time, when he confessed his feelings for you, your first (mildly disastrous) date, etc. 

Alright, maybe disastrous is a bit of a strong word, but almost everything that could go wrong, did go wrong, but that didn’t stop either of you from having a wonderful time. What once was planned to be a romantic dinner under the stars, ended up being more of an impromptu ramen night as the storm prevented anything from happening outdoors. 

But a sound brings you back to the present, his back hitting the couch with a muffled thud, wasting no time and beckoning you over to join him with open arms. Motioning for him to wait a second, you slipped into your shared bedroom to grab something a little more comfortable to wear. 

Although his drawer of black hoodies is as inviting as usual, the apartment was warm enough already and the thought of donning a sweatshirt was unpleasant. So, after a bit more searching, you manage to locate one of his t-shirts in the void of his closet. Exchanging your clothes for his, you make your way back to the living room to enjoy the rest of your evening. 

Chan, now comfortably sprawled out on the couch, looks up as you re-enter the room. His eyes widen as he acknowledges your new attire and narrow in playfulness as he recognizes the shirt.

“Wait a minute.. Isn’t that mine?”

He says, a teasing lilt to his voice as you walk over to him. A smile gives away how pleased he truly is, always one to enjoy seeing you in his clothes, just another reminder that you're his. Chan’s arms snake around your waist, swaying to a silent melody as he looks up at you with a playful grin. 

Without a warning, he pulls you on top of him by your waist, and you yelp in surprise as you land in his arms. Now warm, comfortable, content, and undeniably at home, it’s only a matter of time before you surely fall asleep. He notices this, taking care to hold you tighter and sing to you softly.

You couldn't help but smile, laughter muffled on his shoulder as he hums the familiar tune. The song recounts falling in love, comparing it to the changes of seasons and the little things that become important in love. Although you've heard it what feels like a million times now, it never fails to give you butterflies.

Moving impossibly closer, he looks at you fondly through your sleepy haze. His fingers card through your hair gently, and that's all it took for you to doze off in his arms. From the subtle rise and fall of his chest to the way he traces mindless shapes on your back, just his presence made a miserable day into a beautiful one.

Home isn't a place, but a person.

And that person is yours.