The question hung in the air, sweet and delicate. Ricky's heart skipped a beat, his stomach doing somersaults. He had been waiting for this moment, wanting it more than he could put into words, but hearing Ni-Ki ask it so softly made him feel like he was living in a dream.
Ricky nodded, his voice trembling but steady. "Yes. Please."
The words had barely left his lips before Ni-Ki closed the distance between them, capturing Ricky's lips in a kiss that was soft at first, tentative, as though both of them were savoring the moment. Ricky's heart surged, his hands instinctively reaching up to thread through Ni-Ki's hair as he kissed him back, deepening the contact, pulling Ni-Ki closer.
The kiss was everything. It was slow, like they were both learning each other's rhythms all over again—every shift, every movement, every beat felt like a silent conversation. Their lips moved together, finding a harmony that mirrored the connection they shared, their hearts syncing with every tender touch.
When they finally pulled back, breathless and wide-eyed, they stayed close, their foreheads resting against each other. Ricky could feel Ni-Ki's heartbeat against his chest, and for the first time, it felt like everything in the world was right.
"You make me feel like I'm finally where I'm supposed to be," Ni-Ki whispered, his voice low and filled with emotion. "With you."
Ricky smiled, his hands still holding onto Ni-Ki's, unwilling to let go of the moment. "Me too. I've never felt more at home than when I'm with you."
They stayed there for a while, simply holding each other, their hearts still racing from the kiss, but also from the overwhelming sense of connection that had settled between them. It wasn't just the physical closeness that made Ricky's chest swell with emotion—it was the knowledge that they had found something truly special in each other, something that couldn't be easily put into words.
But words didn't matter right now. They were in sync in a way that felt natural and effortless, as if this was exactly where they were meant to be. They didn't need to rush. They didn't need to figure it all out.
"I'm happy," Ricky murmured, his fingers gently tracing Ni-Ki's jawline. "I'm happy we're doing this, together."
Ni-Ki smiled softly, his hand resting over Ricky's, holding it in place. "Me too. Together, always."
The sound of footsteps suddenly echoed from the hallway, and they both stiffened slightly, realizing that they had gotten lost in each other. But neither of them wanted to pull away. They stayed where they were, their hands still interlocked, their bodies still close.
"Let's not let this be a one-time thing," Ni-Ki said with a grin, his thumb lightly brushing Ricky's hand. "We can figure this out, take it slow. But... I want this. I want you.
Ricky's heart swelled, his smile wide and sincere. "We will," he replied, his voice full of certainty. "We'll figure it out, step by step. But for now... I just want to be with you."
Ni-Ki nodded, his eyes shining with affection. "Yeah. Me too."
And so, in the quiet of the practice room, with only the sound of their shared laughter filling the space, Ricky and Ni-Ki knew this was just the beginning. There was a lot ahead of them—training, schedules, and challenges—but together, they felt unstoppable. Their connection, their romance, had become something deeper than they ever expected.
They were ready to face whatever came next. Together.
