... The city lights cast a warm glow against the sleek interior of the lounge, but for Gemini and Fourth, the world outside seemed to fade. They found themselves standing near the bar, the crowd thinning as the night wore on. The air between them was thick with an energy neither could quite put into words.
Fourth leaned casually against the counter, his amber eyes locked on Gemini with an intensity that was anything but casual. It was the kind of look that left Gemini feeling exposed, as if Fourth could see past his carefully constructed facade and into the parts of himself he kept hidden.
Gemini shifted his weight, his fingers brushing against the edge of his glass. "So," he began, his voice low, "you seem like the kind of guy who always has something to say. What's on your mind?"
Fourth smirked, but it didn't reach his eyes. "You, apparently."
The words hung in the air, startling in their honesty. Gemini's breath hitched, and for a moment, he wasn't sure how to respond.
"That's bold," Gemini said finally, his voice steadier than he felt.
"Maybe," Fourth replied, his gaze unwavering. "Or maybe it's just the truth."
Gemini couldn't help the small smile that tugged at his lips. There was something about Fourth—something disarming in his openness, his willingness to say what he meant without hesitation. It was both intriguing and terrifying.
"You're hard to figure out, you know that?" Fourth continued, his tone softer now. "One minute, you're all sharp edges and teasing remarks. The next, you're..."
"What?" Gemini prompted, leaning slightly closer without realizing it.
Fourth's eyes flickered downward, as if the answer was written somewhere in the space between them. "Something else entirely."
The tension was palpable now, the kind that made the air feel thicker, the room quieter. Gemini felt his pulse quicken, the space between them shrinking with every second.
Fourth shifted, his hand moving slightly as if to reach for Gemini—but instead, it brushed against his own glass. The faint clink of glass against metal seemed to echo louder than it should have, grounding them both for a moment.
"Careful," Gemini said, his voice dropping an octave. "You're starting to sound like you care."
Fourth's lips quirked upward, but there was no humor in his eyes. "And if I do?"
The question struck Gemini harder than he expected. It wasn't playful or teasing; it was genuine. Honest. The kind of honesty that left him feeling exposed in a way he wasn't prepared for.
Gemini hesitated, his hand tightening slightly around his glass. "Then I'd say you don't know what you're getting yourself into."
For a moment, neither of them moved. The weight of everything unsaid hung heavy between them, pulling them closer even as their own fears threatened to push them apart.
The music in the background seemed to soften, the dim lighting casting long shadows that danced across their faces. Gemini found himself leaning against the counter, Fourth mirroring his stance. Their shoulders brushed, the contact light but enough to send a jolt through Gemini's veins.
Fourth turned slightly, his amber eyes searching Gemini's face. "You keep saying that," he murmured. "But you haven't scared me off yet."
Gemini met his gaze, the corner of his mouth curving into a faint smirk. "Maybe you're not paying attention."
"Or maybe," Fourth countered, his voice steady, "I'm just stubborn."
The words hung in the air, and Gemini felt something shift. The banter, the teasing—it was still there, but beneath it was something deeper, something raw.
As Fourth reached for his drink, his hand brushed against Gemini's arm—a fleeting touch, but it lingered longer than it should have. Gemini's breath caught, the heat of Fourth's skin searing into his own.
Neither of them moved, their gazes locked. The sounds of the lounge faded into the background, the world narrowing to just the two of them.
Gemini wasn't sure who moved first. One moment, they were standing apart, the tension between them unspoken but undeniable. The next, they were close—too close.
Fourth's hand hovered near Gemini's, his fingers twitching slightly as if he were considering closing the gap. Gemini's eyes flickered downward, his focus drawn to the curve of Fourth's lips, the way they parted slightly as he exhaled.
For a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath.
Gemini leaned in, his pulse pounding in his ears. The scent of Fourth's cologne was intoxicating, a blend of warmth and spice that seemed to wrap around him, pulling him in.
Fourth's hand brushed against his, the contact light but electric. Their faces were inches apart now, the space between them charged with unspoken desire.
But just as Gemini closed the gap, a sudden burst of laughter from across the room shattered the moment.
Gemini jerked back slightly, the spell broken. His heart was racing, his breath uneven as he struggled to regain his composure.
Fourth's expression was unreadable, his amber eyes clouded with something Gemini couldn't quite place.
"Looks like we're not as alone as we thought," Fourth said finally, his tone light but strained.
"Guess not," Gemini replied, forcing a smirk.
They stood there for a moment longer, the tension between them still simmering beneath the surface. Then Fourth stepped back, creating a deliberate distance that felt like a chasm.
The rest of the night passed in a blur. Gemini found himself replaying the moment in his mind, the almost-kiss that had left him reeling.
As they parted ways at the end of the evening, Gemini couldn't bring himself to meet Fourth's gaze. There was something raw and vulnerable in the way Fourth looked at him, something that mirrored the confusion and longing Gemini felt but couldn't bring himself to acknowledge.
"Goodnight, Gemini," Fourth said softly, his voice tinged with something Gemini couldn't quite name.
"Goodnight," Gemini replied, his own voice quieter than he intended.
As Fourth walked away, Gemini stood frozen, his mind a whirlwind of emotions. The night had shifted something between them—something neither of them was ready to face but couldn't deny.
And as he watched Fourth disappear into the night, Gemini couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of something far more complicated—and far more dangerous—than he'd ever anticipated.
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❥ the end chapter 4 ✫