The boat halted suddenly. Luke's head shot up from Layton's chest.
Layton awoke with him. "Luke, are you okay?"
He nodded, sighing with relief when he realized where he was. He was on a lowly cruise boat with a few other mere passengers with him. The dapper professor had secretly planned a special trip, for only them, to go to a remote island. It seemed far from the bowels of London; Luke could practically smell the crisp air as they exited the room and the boat; to which he compared to a regular day in London, which seemed to be much cloudier.
Luke jumped up and down in excitement. "So professah, what are we gonna do first?" He tugged rapidly at Layton's coat sleeve.
"Well, first I though we should eat somewhere." He hinted to the restaurant that was down the same road. At this, Luke's jumping increased. He dragged Layton across the road.
"WE HAVE TO GO NOW!"
"Alright alright," he said. His sudden assertiveness made Layton's face slightly redden. He knew it was awkward to have an interest in someone as young as Luke, but both of them were aware of its mutuality.
They arrived at the restaurant, opening the door to reveal a crowded room that was overwhelmed by chairs, tables and various customers. Once again Luke tugged at Layton's sleeve, ushering him to an empty table after the hostess led them there. Their orders were placed, and they sat, waiting. Luke stared at Layton for a short while, yet Layton kept staring forward, his face turning darker shades of red as he became more aware of Luke's undying gaze.
Their food arrived, consisting of a series of local food and strawberry flavored cake. A short while of eating followed. Upon Luke's occasional request, Layton would feed him himself, smiling awkwardly when trying to hide his now dark red complexion. Luke sighed contently when they finished, holding Layton's hand as they walked to their hotel for the night.
They were about to enter when a glimmer of light caught his eye. It was a particularly radiant star that simply stayed stationary in the night sky.
"Professah, can we stay out here?" He immediately sat down in the sand next to the gleaming water of the ocean, patting the ground next to him. "Can we?"
"Okay," he replied, knowing how easily he could say yes to his apprentice. "You wouldn't want to... swim, would you?" He awkwardly blushed.
"We could do that!" Luke smiled enthusiastically.
And so it began: Luke and Layton were swimming in the now dark blue ocean, with waters only illuminated by the rising moon. Layton kept his hands subtly carressed around Luke's waist as he paddle further into the ocean.
Luke shortly after got tired of swimming, and proceeded back to the beach to make what was supposed to be a sand castle. Layton awkwardly commended his efforts, despite the castle looking deranged and tattered.
"One day," Luke said, "I'll be a princess in that castle, and you'll come to rescue me, won't you!"
Layton's face turned a prevalent shade of crimson as he drew Luke closer to his chest. "I will Luke, I will.
Luke leaned against him, pressing his head into his neck. "Professah," he began. "I love you."
Despite his now turning to a deep carmine, he smiled as he looked down at Luke. "I love you too, Luke."
They cuddled in blissful silence for a short but euphoric while, afterward heading to their hotel to cuddle in their bed.
It seseemed indifferent to what their normal cuddles were- Luke pressed his body against Layton's, the comforting smell soothed him. Occasionally his smiling lips would brush against Layton's, to which he didn't object. But tonight seemed slightly different.
Luke wanted to try something he hadn't before. He wanted to make out with Layton.
Layton had advised him about this before. "We'll do that... one day. Just not now."
"But you said when two people really love each other...!"
"I do love you," he said, nuzzling his nose against his,. He tried to hide the fact that he wanted to do something of this degree with Luke. "I do love you," he said again. "Just... we aren't ready for that."
"Alright, professah!" He kept into his welcoming arms.
But tonight seemed different than that. Luke tried kissing Layton while laying across his body on the bed, to which Layton didn't mind. The kissed started to grow more intimate, until Luke inhaled deeply and suddenly whispered.
"You're so hot professah..."
Everything stopped for a brief time. Both of their faces were the deepest shades of red possible on their fragile skin. Layton tried not to tell Luke he was hot as well. "He's merely eight!" he said to himself before, smiling despite his quirky obsession. He knew Luke was obsessed with him too.
"Luke," he began, starting to rise slightly.
But Luke kept him down. "Cuddle," he said, opening the nearby window. "Just... cuddle."
Layton gave no objection. The frigid breeze from the night air entered the room, compelling them to cuddle closer, until Luke could feel Layton's soothing breath against his hair.
"I love you, professah..." He trailed off as both of them drifted into slumber.
