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Kiran stood outside Alfonse’s bedchambers. By that time in the evening, he would have changed out of his armor for the night, which was just perfect for Kiran’s intentions. Kiran knocked lightly on the door, announcing himself. “Alfonse? I had something I wanted to discuss with you.”
A few moments later, Alfonse opened the door, a soft smile on his face. “It’s rather late, you know. If it were anyone else...”
Kiran invited himself in, closing the door behind himself. “But you can’t say no to this face, can you?”
Alfonse sighed heavily. “So what did you come to discuss with me?”
“Right, it was regarding something you said earlier. That you hadn’t forgotten your promise to send me home once we achieve peace. But you know, it’s been nearly 9 years since I was summoned to Askr.”
“I- well yes, I know it’s been a long time, but-”
“Alfonse,” Kiran cut him off, “I’m not mad that I’ve been here so long.”
“Then... what is the issue?”
“It’s too late for me to be able to just return home as if nothing happened. If I go back home after all this time has passed, I’ll have missed too much to even know how to live my life again. And even if I return to the moment Anna summoned me to this world, I’ll be almost a decade younger than I am now, I’ll have to relive all of those years all over again with memories of the life I lived here. I’m not like the Heroes, you know. They have reasons to return home once their contracts are up. I... have more to lose by leaving than I do by staying here.”
“I-I can’t just...” Alfonse frowned. “We’ve already relied on you so long with the understanding we’d return you home one day. But to steal you from your world...”
“And I’m telling you to stop thinking that way.” Kiran grabbed Alfonse by the wrists, tugging him towards the bed. “It’s not about what I’ve lost, or being stolen, or any of that. I just want you to stop thinking of... of this, of our... friendship, as it were, as something temporary. It’s far too late for that.”
Even if Kiran had a bit of height on him still, his strength was nothing compared to Alfonse’s. Overpowering him would have been easy for Alfonse, physically speaking. Of course Alfonse failed to resist when Kiran pushed him down onto the bed.
“I... Kiran, we can’t...” Alfonse’s face flushed, betraying him.
“Then stop me. Push me away.”
“You know I can’t do that.”
“That’s true, I do. You could tell me to stop, too. I would listen.”
“I... you know I can’t do that, either.” Alfonse looked away.
“Tell me, Alfonse. If I were from Askr, if we were as close as we are now, would you still hold me at a distance like this?”
“You already know the answer to that.”
“I do, but I want to hear it from your lips.”
“You’re... quite cruel, sometimes.”
“Perhaps. But you say that as if you aren’t. It does hurt when you refuse to consider any sort of future with me in it, Alfonse.”
Several moments of silence passed, all while Kiran hovered atop Alfonse.
“... I wouldn’t. I likely would have given in long ago.”
“Good boy.” Kiran turned Alfonse’s head to face him before leaning in for a kiss. Alfonse responded eagerly, returning it as he wrapped his arms around Kiran to pull him closer.
“You really can’t resist this, huh?” Kiran teased.
“How could I? I... I love you. I have for so long. Holding back all this time was hard enough, if you push me like this I can’t...” Alfonse held Kiran tighter. “You win. Stay with me, please. I want to spend the rest of my life with you by my side.”
“That’s all I want. I love you too, you know.”