Fragment of Us

en close, but something shift

ys been there but had just started taking shape. Arthur couldn't pinpoint

en there was nothing left to say. Maybe it was the way Nick's touches had begun to feel different-not in their placement, but in their in

just being Nick-casual, affectionate, impossible to rea

thick with the scent of barbecue and the faint bitterness of alcohol. Arthur wasn't m

d said, clinking th

led his eyes b

s, Ken-came over and struck up a conversation with Arthur. K

howeve

closer, his body language shifting. At first, it was subtle-a slight fr

g out to brush a stray ha

react before Nick grabbed

," Nick said,

inked. "G

ng him along until they were away from the pa

arm free. "What

enched. "That guy

ed. "He was

e edged with something unfamiliar-som

ged, crossing his ar

ning a hand through his h

he air between them

breath

id at the same time Arthur did, and f

mea

ed closer. "

owed. "You

u can't just say something

looked at him, and something in

reetlamp above them flickered, casting

s lips, his thro

close their breaths mingled. "You hav

fingers hesitating before brushing against his jaw. His touch

, Nick k

slow, careful, like he was afraid Arthur mi

nothing. All that existed was Nick-the way his lips moved against

y who had been by his side for years, who had been there for every

orehead resting against Arthur's

aky breath. "I don'

his fingers tracing patterns

for a long time, just

ooftop, Nick turned to him, eyes

ds he had been holding in for so lo

and knowing. "Took

uffed. "

ver to intertwine their

eath caught

odded.

tightening around Nick's ha

yth

ur said, his voice barely above a

d his hand.

belie

time, he felt like