Cassiopeia

The killer is caught?

Sunday 17th November 1958

Earth's dreams got better, no longer plagued all the time by Neo's death every single night, instead, he dreamt of those damn lips. Soft, pink and plump as they touched his and that would have been well and fine were it not for Mix pretending that nothing had happened the following day. They had made it to the station again, the team more welcoming this time including Louis who looked shy and clearly regretful of what he said. Earth couldn't remain silent for more when it looked like Louis was going to break down in sobs in front of him, instead, he gave him a pat on the shoulder and a nod, and he couldn't be mad with Louis for long. The rest of the days that followed were spent trying to gather all the loose threads they had, theories thrown into the air for something that might make sense.

Only nothing came up that they didn't already know, and Earth wasn't yet ready to share his theory yet. Without a miss for the next days Mix would invite Earth to have coffee together at the first café they visited, sharing memories of the amazing cakes they had. That would have been well and fine were it not for Mix never bringing up what happened between them in front of his door and Earth would be damned before he brought it up himself. But he can't deny that it was eating him up inside, he wanted to know what it meant, what Mix meant by it. He wasn't blind or oblivious as others seem to think, but damn it takes a lot of courage to be upfront with your feelings especially when things are complicated already. "You have been staring at my lips for a while, is there something on my face?" Mix teased, having been caught a resultant blush appeared on Earth's cheek matching the strawberries of the cheesecake in front of him.

"There is something in your mind, tell me," Mix asked again, but this time Earth could feel Mix's shoe as it grazed along his leg causing him to sigh in frustration. "You know what I am thinking about?" Earth responded, a fork loaded with dessert swinging in the air "You are teasing me". Mix smiled again grazing Earth's leg this time a bit further up not at all threatened by Earth pointing a fork in his direction "It's fun teasing you" Mix quipped satisfied. "So, you aren't going to stop?" Earth said, this time no longer threatening Mix with a fork but instead he leaned a bit forward on his chair, his shirt having been unbuttoned opened more exposing his chest as he rested his elbows on the table. Two can play the same game and if it was a challenge Mix wanted then he will get a good challenge in return. Earth's legs were far longer and so he easily reached Mix's side repeating the same movements he did unable to hide the upturn of his lips as he saw Mix's intake of breath. Mix hid his blush behind his cup of tea downing it in one go, Earth will give it to him that it was fun to tease too.

It's been a week of this, a week filled with seeing Mix every day in the name of work and the investigation but really they didn't need to go someplace else to try after they finished with Off and Louis, but they did. No matter what Earth cannot lie to himself and pretend that the reason why he is still worked up about what happened last Monday is that he wanted more. It's terrifying to think about how strongly he feels about this, but every time Mix looked at him and gave him this particular gaze fully knowing what he is doing, Earth wanted. He wanted so much and for the first time in years, he wants to put effort into it. It doesn't feel wrong when Mix's hand touches his and when all is said and done in the end Earth can't imagine himself in a world without Mix in it. But everything is still complicated, there is still an investigation going that is taking a toll on them slowly as more time passes, Earth's trauma though it's better after sharing it isn't magically gone into the air, it will come back sometimes and Earth has to deal with it, and Mix.

Well, Mix is complicated, he doesn't give a damn what other people think about them but if there is one thing Earth is aware of it's his fragile heart. He hates getting hurt and he's sure that Mix hurting him would be the biggest dagger to his heart and he's not sure that he'll survive the wound if that happened, "Mix we need to talk" Earth said seriously, no longer teasing. He was terrified but seeing Mix immediately look at him, his eyes serious as well as he straightened and listened attentively, he knew he wouldn't forgive himself if he never tried. "You're right we do need to talk but can we not do it here," Mix said, already rising from his seat at Earth's nod. This was between them and them only, it was hard not to take Earth's hand in his as they walked back to the main street but from the way Earth kept accidentally touching their arms together, he knew that Earth felt the same way too.