Niko's face burned harder, and he rolled his eyes, crossing his arms in mock indignation. "Laugh all you want," he muttered, though a smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "It was… blunt, yes, but in its own way, I thought it was sweet. And hey, the important thing is, I'm with the man I love, and he loves me back."
Elian wiped a tear from his eye, his laughter softening to a chuckle. "I know, I know. And I really am happy for you, Niko. I just… I didn't know Dillon had it in him to be so… straightforward!"
"Oh, trust me, I didn't either." Niko sighed, running a hand through his hair. "But… that's Dillon, isn't it? No games, no fuss, just says what he means."
Elian nodded, a soft smile on his face. "I suppose that's true. And, in a strange way, it suits you both." He nudged Niko with his elbow, grinning. "But just so you know, if I ever tell Izan about this, he'll probably laugh just as much as I am."
