... Gemini walked away from the café feeling more conflicted than he had in weeks. Every step away from Fourth felt like a small release, but also an ache that deepened the farther he got. His chest felt tight as though the interaction was still suspended in the air around him, an electric hum that he couldn't shake. The casual, playful comments they had exchanged were nothing new. But this time, it had been different. This time, it had been laced with something more—something real. Something he wasn't sure he was ready to confront.
He ran a hand through his hair as he moved down the street, lost in thought. His mind kept replaying Fourth's words, that grin, the way their proximity had felt so charged. And yet, despite everything, Gemini still felt the impulse to retreat, to hide behind his walls. He could feel his emotions pulling him in two directions. One part of him—the part that was drawn to Fourth like a moth to a flame—wanted to lean in. But the other part, the part that had learned the hard way not to trust, was screaming for him to turn away before he got burned again.
What am I doing? Gemini thought to himself, his thoughts spinning like a carousel. Why can't I just let myself feel this?
His mind drifted to memories—old ones, ones he'd tried to bury. Past mistakes, betrayal, the feeling of being vulnerable only to have someone use it against him. The last time he'd opened up to someone fully, it had ended in heartbreak. He had promised himself that he wouldn't make that mistake again, but now, standing at the edge of something with Fourth, he wasn't sure if he was making a mistake by holding back or if he was simply protecting himself from the inevitable hurt.
He found himself at a quiet park, sitting on a bench beneath the shade of a tree. His fingers absently traced the edges of his coffee cup, the warmth of it doing little to quell the chill of doubt running through him. He needed time—time to think. But time was the last thing he seemed to have in abundance when it came to Fourth.
Meanwhile, Fourth was dealing with his own mix of hope and uncertainty. He had spent the past few days trying to make sense of the dynamic between him and Gemini, sensing the hesitation in Gemini's every word and movement, yet he refused to let that hesitation define their connection. He wasn't going to force Gemini to open up; he wouldn't pressure him. But he wasn't going to let this opportunity slip away either.
Sitting at a small table at his favorite café, Fourth spoke to his close friend, Noah, a fellow artist with a sharp eye for reading people.
"I don't know what to do, man," Fourth confessed, stirring his drink absently. "Every time I try to get closer to him, it's like... he retreats. But at the same time, there's this pull between us. And it's getting stronger."
Noah raised an eyebrow, his usual knowing smile forming at the corners of his lips. "Pull, huh? Sounds like you're already in deep."
Fourth rubbed the back of his neck. "It's not that simple. Gemini's... complicated. I can tell he's afraid, but I don't know why. And the worst part is, I'm not sure if he even knows how much I care. Or if he even wants to know."
There was a pause, and Noah leaned forward, his voice becoming more serious. "Then you've got to show him. If you really care, you've got to give him the space to be vulnerable, but also show him it's safe to do so. No more games. Just be honest with him."
"I've been honest. I just don't know if he's ready for it yet," Fourth muttered, staring into his cup. "I want to be patient, but it's hard when all I want is to be close to him."
Noah gave a small chuckle. "Man, love's never easy, especially when it's someone like Gemini. But you can't keep waiting forever. The moment's going to slip away if you don't take a risk."
Fourth smiled wryly. "I'm all too familiar with slipping moments. But I'll figure it out."
As he left the café, Fourth couldn't shake the feeling that Noah was right. If he really wanted something to happen between him and Gemini, he would have to step up. He just didn't know if Gemini was ready to meet him halfway.
Days passed, and their paths crossed again. This time, they were both at a mutual friend's barbecue, a casual gathering where people mingled, talked, and drank. The mood was light, but the tension between Gemini and Fourth was anything but.
Gemini had tried to keep his distance—consciously avoiding Fourth for most of the evening. But it was impossible. Their eyes met across the backyard, and before he could look away, Fourth was already heading toward him, a confident stride that was almost impossible to ignore.
"Gemini," Fourth called out, his voice smooth, carrying across the noise of the gathering. He stood a few feet away, his hands casually tucked into his pockets, but his expression was unreadable.
Gemini took a deep breath and forced a smile, masking the flutter of nerves that ran through him. "Well, if it isn't Mr. Persistence."
Fourth's smile was playful, but there was an edge to it. "You make it sound like a bad thing. How about I take that as a compliment?"
"Depends," Gemini said, leaning against the fence, crossing his arms in his usual defensive posture. "If persistence means chasing after someone who doesn't want to be caught, then maybe not."
Fourth raised an eyebrow, stepping a little closer, his voice lowering slightly. "And if I'm persistent because I do want to catch you?"
Gemini's heart skipped a beat, but he quickly masked his reaction with a smirk. "Well, lucky for you, I'm always hard to catch."
The banter flowed easily, like it always did, but it was laced with something else this time. A sort of intensity in the way their eyes locked, in the lingering pauses that stretched just a little too long. Each word seemed to have double meaning—flirty, playful, but also layered with something deeper.
"You know," Fourth said after a beat, a soft laugh escaping him, "I think you're just scared of letting anyone close. Afraid of what might happen if you actually let someone in."
Gemini froze at the remark, but he quickly recovered, tossing back the rest of his drink. "And maybe you're just scared of what might happen if I let you in."
There was a brief silence as Fourth's gaze softened, and for just a moment, it felt like they were standing on the edge of something monumental.
As the night wore on, their playful exchanges grew deeper. Neither of them intended for it to happen, but the words started slipping out—words that revealed more than either was willing to admit.
While everyone else was distracted, Gemini found himself alone with Fourth by the grill. The smell of smoke hung in the air as Fourth flipped burgers, but the conversation shifted into quieter territory.
"You don't really let anyone in, do you?" Fourth said, his voice suddenly serious, though his smile remained.
Gemini looked away, the vulnerability in Fourth's words hitting him harder than he cared to admit. "I let people in... just not the way you think. You wouldn't understand."
Fourth's eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn't push. "You know, you could let someone in. If you wanted to. It doesn't have to be a big deal."
Gemini bit his lip, conflicted. His voice was almost a whisper. "It's not that simple. I don't just trust anyone. It's... hard to let go."
Fourth leaned closer, his presence suddenly overwhelming in the best way. "Maybe it's not about letting go. Maybe it's about letting someone see you for who you are."
Gemini felt the weight of the words settle between them, the moment stretching long enough for them both to feel the emotional charge. But before either could say more, someone called Fourth away, breaking the fragile moment they had just shared.
The night wound down, and soon Gemini found himself walking away from the gathering, his mind spinning. He couldn't deny it any longer—there was something undeniable between him and Fourth, a pull he couldn't escape. Yet, there was still that fear, that wall that kept him from fully stepping into it.
As he walked away, he couldn't shake the image of Fourth's face—his quiet intensity, the vulnerability he had offered without even realizing it. It was there, lingering, pulling him back in.
Maybe I'm not the only one scared, Gemini thought as he stepped into the quiet night. Maybe we're both just waiting for the other to make a move.
And yet, even as he pondered that, he couldn't help but wonder if this was only the beginning of something that would either burn him or change everything.
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ꨄ the end of chapter 7 ❦