The apartment was still and quiet, the weight of everything unsaid hanging in the air as Skyler and Ocean stood there, hands still intertwined. The tension between them was palpable—something fragile, something new, but something real. Ocean's heart was racing, his mind spinning from the weight of Skyler's confession, and yet... there was something comforting about Skyler's presence. Something that made him feel like, for the first time in weeks, the ache in his chest might finally begin to ease.
Ocean didn't know what to say, didn't know how to navigate this fragile space between them. But he didn't pull away. He didn't retreat behind his walls, and for once, that felt like a victory.
Skyler gave Ocean's hands a gentle squeeze, his blue eyes soft but filled with uncertainty. "I... I know this is a lot," Skyler said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't mean to throw all of that at you. I just—"
"It's fine," Ocean interrupted, his voice a little shaky. He wasn't sure if he believed it, but somehow, standing here with Skyler, it felt like it could be true. Maybe it was fine. Or maybe it could be.
There was a long, heavy pause. Both of them stood still, neither moving, neither daring to break the fragile peace between them. But then, as the silence grew thicker, Skyler took a slow, deep breath.
"Ocean," he began, his voice soft, almost hesitant. "Would it be okay if I stayed? Just for tonight?"
Ocean's heart skipped a beat, the question hanging in the air between them. He hadn't expected that—hadn't expected Skyler to ask to stay. But even as his mind wrestled with the uncertainty, there was a part of him that didn't want Skyler to leave. Not tonight. Not after everything.
For the first time in weeks, Ocean felt like maybe, just maybe, they could begin to heal. And maybe having Skyler here, just for tonight, was the first step.
"Yeah," Ocean said quietly, his voice trembling with the weight of the decision. "You can stay."
Skyler let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, his relief visible in the soft smile that tugged at the corners of his lips. "Thank you," he whispered.
The two of them moved through the apartment in quiet understanding, a gentle sort of silence settling between them as they prepared for the night. Skyler had been to Ocean's apartment before—back when things were simpler, back when their world hadn't been shaken by blackmail and misunderstandings. But tonight, everything felt different. The air was thick with unspoken emotions, with the lingering tension of what had been said and what still remained unsaid.
Ocean moved through the motions of the evening with a quiet calm, but inside, his heart was racing. His mind replayed Skyler's words over and over—I've loved you for years... I'm already taken... I'll wait as long as it takes.
It was almost too much to take in, but at the same time, it was exactly what Ocean had needed to hear. For so long, he had convinced himself that Skyler didn't care—that the kiss had been proof that he was nothing more than a passing interest. But now, knowing the truth... it was hard to reconcile the pain he had carried with the love Skyler had quietly held all these years.
As the night settled in, the two of them found themselves sitting on the couch, the dim light of the apartment casting soft shadows across the room. It was quiet, but not uncomfortably so. There was something peaceful about the silence now, something that felt like the first step toward mending what had been broken between them.
Ocean sat with his legs curled up under him, his body still tense but beginning to relax. He could feel Skyler's presence beside him, close but not too close—giving him space, but still offering the comfort of his nearness.
For a while, they didn't speak. They just sat there, the quiet of the night wrapping around them like a blanket, both of them lost in their own thoughts.
But then, after what felt like an eternity, Skyler broke the silence.
"Do you remember the first time we talked?" Skyler asked softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "In the library?"
Ocean smiled faintly, the memory flickering in his mind. He nodded. "Yeah. I didn't think you'd even noticed me."
Skyler chuckled softly, shaking his head. "I noticed you, Ocean. I always noticed you."
Ocean's heart skipped a beat at the words, and he glanced over at Skyler, his expression softening. "I didn't think you... I mean, I thought I was just invisible to you. To everyone."
Skyler's gaze was steady, filled with a quiet intensity that made Ocean's breath catch. "You were never invisible to me."
The silence stretched between them again, but this time, it wasn't heavy. It was comfortable, filled with the warmth of shared memories and unspoken emotions. Slowly, without thinking, Ocean shifted closer to Skyler, their shoulders brushing just slightly.
Skyler's heart raced, but he didn't move, didn't push. He just sat there, allowing Ocean to come to him, allowing the quiet closeness to grow.
It wasn't long before Ocean's head rested against Skyler's shoulder, a soft sigh escaping his lips as he allowed himself to relax fully for the first time in what felt like forever. Skyler's arm moved carefully, wrapping around Ocean's shoulders, pulling him closer in a gentle, protective embrace.
For a moment, neither of them moved. The world outside seemed to disappear, and all that remained was the quiet sound of their breathing, the warmth of their bodies pressed together, the steady rhythm of their hearts beating in sync.
"I'm still hurt, you know," Ocean murmured, his voice barely audible. "I'm still angry. But... I don't hate you. I could never hate you."
Skyler tightened his grip on Ocean, his heart swelling with a mixture of relief and regret. "I know. And I'm so sorry for everything, Ocean. I'll never stop being sorry for hurting you."
Ocean didn't respond, but the way he leaned into Skyler, the way he allowed himself to be held, was enough. It wasn't forgiveness—not yet—but it was a start.
They stayed like that for what felt like hours, the quiet of the night wrapping around them, their bodies pressed close as the weight of their shared past began to dissolve into something softer, something healing. For the first time in weeks, Ocean felt like he could breathe again. And Skyler—Skyler felt like he had finally found his way back to the person he loved most in the world.
When the night grew late, they moved to Ocean's bed, still silent, still careful, but now connected in a way they hadn't been before. Skyler didn't push for anything more—didn't need anything more than the quiet comfort of being close to Ocean. They lay side by side, the space between them shrinking until Ocean finally shifted closer, resting his head against Skyler's chest.
Skyler's arms wrapped around him, pulling him close, and for the first time in months, everything felt right. Everything felt like it could be okay again.
As Ocean drifted off to sleep, Skyler pressed a soft kiss to the top of his head, his heart filled with love and quiet determination.
This was only the beginning.
TBC. 🩵
