Bossnoeul ff <Meant to be mine>

13-Weird Proposal

"I understand how hard it must be for you to open up to someone new after what you've been through," he continued, his voice softening. "But I promise you, I'm not going to give up on you. I believe in you, Rayal. I know you're strong enough to work through this and heal."

Rayal felt tears well up in his eyes as he heard Atlas's words. He had never felt so cared for and supported before, and it was both overwhelming and heartwarming.

"Thank you," he whispered, his voice choked with emotion. "I...I don't know what to say. I just...I need some time to sort through everything."

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Atlas nodded, his expression full of understanding. He knew that Rayal was going through a lot, and he didn't want to pressure him into opening up prematurely.

"I get it," he said, his tone gentle. "Take all the time you need. I'll be here when you're ready."

Days passed, and Atlas had been true to his word. He had given Rayal space to sort through his thoughts and feelings, but also made sure to check in on him regularly and let him know that he cared.

He had been patient and gentle with Rayal, always respecting his boundaries and never pressuring him to open up before he was ready. He had also started to show small gestures of affection towards Rayal, like reaching out to hold his hand or putting an arm around his shoulders.

At first, Rayal had been hesitant and wary of Atlas's attempts at physical affection, but over time he had slowly started to relax and let his guard down. He found himself feeling more comfortable around Atlas, and even started to look forward to his visits and gestures of affection.

One evening, as they sat together on the couch, Atlas reached out and gently took Rayal's hand in his own. He intertwined their fingers, his touch firm and reassuring.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, his voice low and gentle.

Rayal took a deep breath, feeling his heart flutter at the feel of Atlas's hand in his own. He had been feeling surprisingly calm and relaxed around the other man lately, his fears and anxieties slowly starting to fade.

"I'm...I'm feeling better," he said slowly, looking down at their hands. "Better than I have in a long time."

Atlas smiled, his eyes softening at Rayal's words. He squeezed his hand gently, feeling a sense of warmness spreading through him.

"I'm glad to hear that," he said, his tone gentle. "You've been through a lot, and I know it's not easy to overcome that kind of trauma. But you're so strong, Rayal. You're making progress, and I'm proud of you."

Rayal felt a lump form in his throat at Atlas's words. No one had ever praised him so genuinely before, had never told him that they were proud of him. It felt like a weight was lifted off his shoulders, like he had just been given a light at the end of a dark tunnel.

"Thank you," he whispered, his voice shaky. "I...I don't know what I did to deserve someone like you."

Atlas chuckled softly, his eyes glinting mischievously.

"Oh, trust me, you deserve so much more than me," he said, his tone playful. "But I'll take being the one to shower you with love and affection."

He leaned in closer to Rayal, his hand still holding his.

Rayal felt his heart skip a beat as Atlas leaned in towards him, his own hand still intertwined with the other man's. He could feel the heat radiating off of Atlas's body, could smell the faint scent of his cologne.