#yono

"Hey," Youngblood said as he entered the room.

Noise just hummed in acknowledgement.

Youngblood watched them stare, unblinking, at the ceiling for a moment, before he spoke again. "You alright?"

Noise shrugged, much as he could shrug while lying down. "Yeah, I was just... thinking."

"Well, don't hurt your pretty little head," Youngblood said, sitting down on the bed beside them. Noise looked beautiful, with his indigo hair spread out on the pillow, although one curl remained on their forehead. Youngblood reached out to wipe it away.

Noise moved their arm to petulantly flick his hand away, which Youngblood took as a good sign.

Noise still didn't look at him, keeping their gaze fixed on the ceiling, when they spoke. "We were in rehearsal earlier today, and in the break I sat with Andante and Viola."

"Mhm?" Youngblood prompted. He didn't usually have much patience for the giggly, popular bards college, but he knew Noise had something of a tentative friendship with a group of girls in his class.

"Dani was talking about when she made out with her girlfriend at the party last Saturday, and it just got me thinking... I don't think I'm interested in any of that." Noise's voice was strained, anxious almost.

Youngblood shrugged. "I don't like parties either."

"No, I mean..." Noise waved their hands vaguely above their face. "Making out and stuff like that. The thought of it just makes me feel..."

He trailed off, but the vaguely ill look on their face was enough to communicate his feelings on the matter to Youngblood.

"I really like you," Noise said quickly, sitting up. "This doesn't change that, but I don't think I'll ever be ready for that, and um... I guess I understand if you were expecting something else, but..."

"Noisey, look at me," Youngblood said, tilting their chin up. "I love you, ok?" The words scratched at his throat, heavy with emotion. When was the last time he told someone he loved them? When was the last time he trusted someone enough to even consider expressing those feelings? He pushed those thoughts aside - focusing on Noise was the most important thing right now. "I'm not dating you because I want someone to make out with, I'm dating you because you're you. And our relationship is ours, you know? We don't have to do anything other couples do. We can just be us."

"Oh," Noise said, their eyes watering. "I'd like that."