Archive of Our Own

✧*⁠･ﾟ⁠+⁠ ───── +ﾟ･*⁠✧

The night was made of gold - literally.

The chandeliers dripped light like molten honey, the laughter of people he'd known for years echoed through the marble hall, and everything shimmered as if joy itself had been dressed for the occasion.

But for Nani, it was noise.

Beautiful, overwhelming, exhausting noise.

Everyone looked so alive.

Win was in the middle of a crowd, head thrown back in laughter, surrounded by actors who had once shared dorm rooms, cramped dressing spaces, and the kind of memories that smell like coffee and cheap perfume.

Bright stood nearby, one hand in his pocket, that same lazy smile softening whenever someone new joined the circle.

Dew, ever the reluctant social butterfly, was half-hidden behind Tee, pretending to look for snacks just to avoid small talk.

Tu and Prim - god, those two - were inseparable, dancing like the world had spun only for them.

Tay and New were laughing with Off and Gun, their warmth infectious even across the room.

And Nani...

Nani was sitting in the corner with a glass of champagne that had long since lost its bubbles.

He looked like he belonged to the scene -white knitted crop top, blue cargos with belt, polite smile, calm eyes - yet somehow entirely apart from it.

His smile was a mask tonight, the kind he'd worn too many times before.

Not because he wanted to deceive anyone, but because he didn't want to ruin the joy he'd built for everyone else.

It was, after all, his birthday party.

He was supposed to be happy. Supposed to be the star.

But the truth sat heavy in his chest, unspoken.

He hated parties.

The noise, the flashing lights, the endless chorus of "Happy Birthday, Nani!" made him want to disappear behind the curtains.

He'd thrown this one not for himself, but for them - his friends, his team, his world.

He told them earlier that he wasn't feeling well, that he might take a short break in between, and everyone laughed and said, "Yeah right, you and your introvert excuses."

Maybe it was an excuse.

Or maybe he truly wasn't feeling well.

Because he wasn't there.

His body was here, wrapped in expensive fabric, surrounded by lights and laughter.

But his heart - his heart had taken a detour somewhere else entirely. Somewhere quieter.

Somewhere that smelled like mint shampoo and soft cotton.

Somewhere Sky existed.

His best friend.

Or maybe his boyfriend.

The lines between the two had blurred so completely that even he wasn't sure what word to use anymore.

But "his" - that one always felt right.

His Sky.

His impossible, unpredictable, infuriating Sky.

He tried to smile at the thought, but it came out wrong.

It wasn't like they hadn't said the words.

They'd said I love you before - whispered, messy, sometimes in between laughter, sometimes in the middle of silence.

They'd kissed, once, twice, and then so many times that counting felt ridiculous.

And still, every time, it felt new. Worshipful.

Sky loved him with an intensity that terrified and healed him at the same time.

For Sky, even the ground Nani walked on seemed to matter.

Nani used to tease him for it, calling him dramatic, but secretly, quietly, he had always basked in it.

Because who wouldn't want to be loved like that?

And yet, here he was.

Alone at his own birthday party.

Because Sky hadn't come.

He tried to tell himself it didn't matter - that Sky was probably busy, maybe tired, maybe working late.

That he wasn't obligated to show up to a party Nani himself didn't even want.

But that logic didn't stop the sting.

Because it wasn't just anyone missing.

It was Sky.

And that absence was louder than the entire ballroom.

He caught himself scanning the entrance every few minutes.

Every time someone new walked in, his heart tripped, only to steady again when it wasn't him.

He'd tell himself to stop looking, to stop hoping, but his eyes refused to listen.

They had a mind of their own - a habit built over years of waiting for Sky to walk into the frame.

And when he didn't...

A small part of Nani cracked. Quietly.

He wondered, not for the first time, if he was too much - too sensitive, too needy, too Nani.

Maybe he shouldn't expect so much. Maybe love wasn't meant to soothe him every moment.

But then there was Sky - the same Sky who would kneel, without a care for the world, if Nani so much as frowned.

The one who'd once said, "If you ever cry because of me, I'll spend my life making you laugh again."

That's why tonight hurt differently.

Because Nani knew that if he let this ache show, Sky would break himself apart trying to fix it.

So he wouldn't. He couldn't.

Instead, he'd do what he rarely did - he'd sulk.

Not dramatically, not publicly. Quietly.

The kind of sulking that comes wrapped in elegance.

He'd lean back in his chair, play with the rim of his glass, and smile at whoever approached him - a smile too perfect to be real.

He'd laugh when needed, say thank you when someone complimented him, even raise his glass when the DJ announced, "To our birthday boy!"

But deep inside, he'd let himself ache.

Because tonight, he missed Sky.

Because tonight, even surrounded by hundreds, he felt the weight of one person's absence more than everyone's presence combined.

Because tonight, the boy who hated noise found himself wishing for a single voice -the one that called him Ni, soft - only for him - and sleepy, like a secret only the two of them knew.

He looked around the glowing room one more time.

The lights, the people, the laughter - they blurred.

It was all too much and yet not enough.

So he took a slow sip, exhaled, and told himself, quietly -

Fine. He'll sulk.

And he did - beautifully, heartbreakingly, the way only Nani could.

✧*⁠･ﾟ⁠+⁠ ───── +ﾟ･*⁠✧

The party finally began to dissolve, like a glittering dream slipping back into the dark.

The laughter that once spilled through the halls now turned to softer echoes - warm goodbyes, the shuffle of heels, the creak of the front door opening and closing again and again.

Nani stood by the entrance, his expression politely fixed in place as each guest left with hugs and sleepy smiles.

Win was the last to go, of course.

He hugged Nani with that knowing grin, the one that made it impossible to hide anything.

"You're still waiting, huh?" he teased, voice low, playful.

Nani rolled his eyes, but the corner of his mouth twitched. "Waiting for what?"

Win laughed. "For who, you mean." And before Nani could protest, the others joined in.

Bright's smirk was lazy, mischievous. "Just admit it already. The whole time you kept glancing at the door like a puppy."

Tu giggled, clutching Prim's arm. "He's totally missing Sky! Look at him pretending not to care!"

Even Dew - shy, quiet Dew - chuckled softly. "It's okay, Phi. You can say it. We won't tell."

"Say what?" Nani tried, his voice light, teasing, pretending his heart wasn't caught in his throat.

"That you're hopeless," Prim said, smiling gently, "and that Sky's got you wrapped around his finger."

The teasing rolled on for a few more minutes - warm, affectionate, harmless - but when the laughter faded, so did the noise.

They wished him happy birthday one last time, hugged him close, and slipped out into the night.

The click of the door shutting behind them felt final.

And just like that, silence returned.

He stood there for a long moment, his hand still resting on the doorknob.

The echo of their footsteps slowly disappeared, replaced by the hum of the city outside his window.

He exhaled - slow, uneven.

The kind that starts in the chest and ends somewhere deep inside the ribs.

Sky hadn't come.

He didn't come.

The words sank heavy.

They didn't sound like anger, only ache.

Because no matter how hard he tried to convince himself that it was fine - that Sky was probably busy, that it didn't mean anything - it still hurt more than he wanted to admit.

He pressed his forehead lightly against the wooden door, closing his eyes.

The lights behind him felt too bright now, the room too big, the air too still.

He let out a soft, humorless laugh. "You're ridiculous," he whispered to himself. "It's just a party."

But his heart didn't agree.

He turned away from the door and walked toward the window.

The moonlight spilled across the floor in long, quiet strokes of silver. He reached up, stretching his arms, a quiet yawn escaping his lips.

The white knitted crop top he wore - soft and delicate, the kind that clung like a whisper - lifted with the motion, revealing the subtle curve of his waist.

 

His skin caught the light like silk, faintly glowing, and right above his hip, the small tattoo peeked through - the word Sky, tangled beautifully with a cloud and a butterfly.

His fingers brushed over it, a habit he didn't even notice anymore.

A quiet smile touched his lips, the kind that hurt a little. "You missed your own name's birthday," he murmured under his breath.

And then - a sound.

A soft click.

Faint, almost hesitant.

The door unlocking.

His heart froze mid-beat.

For a moment, he thought he imagined it.

Maybe it was the wind, or the echo of some leftover noise from the party.

But then he felt it - that unmistakable burn, that quiet awareness that came only when he was near.

The room suddenly felt smaller.

The air heavier.

His pulse quickened, a trembling rhythm beneath his skin.

He turned around slowly, still half in disbelief, still half hoping he wasn't dreaming.

The faint light from the window brushed over his face, highlighting the surprise in his eyes.

And there - leaning lazily against the wall beside the door, one hand still in his pocket, the faintest smirk curving at his lips - stood Sky.

But God...

His outfit stole the breath right out of Nani's lungs.

Sky stood there wearing a white ribbed tank top clinging to him like a second skin - torn, stretched, and stained with smudges of red and dark patches that looked like dried paint or stage blood, the kind that made him look like he'd stepped straight out of a fight scene or a nightmare he won against.

The fabric hugged every contour of his shoulders and chest, the rips exposing warm skin beneath, bruised with soft shadows that made him look even more devastatingly intense.

His hair was damp, messy in that way that looked sinful without trying - sticking to his forehead, falling over his eyes, making him look both dangerous and heartbreakingly young.

His knuckles were marked, his arms dusted with bruised patches, and his collarbone glowed beneath the tank top's stretched neckline.

He looked raw. Powerful.

And impossibly beautiful.

His gaze - God, that gaze - burned straight through Nani.

A slow, deliberate drag from the tattoo on his waist... up his chest... his throat...

Until it hit his eyes and stopped there like it had been waiting all night.

Heat flooded Nani so fast he forgot how to breathe.

Sky didn't move at first.

He just watched.

And then, he stepped forward - slow, heavy, intentional.

Each step felt like a weight pressed into the floor, like gravity was bending around him, like he was walking with the full knowledge that Nani was watching him fall apart.

His eyes flicked down again, catching the hem of Nani's knitted crop top - the way it lifted, the way it hugged him.

Something unspoken darkened Sky's gaze.

Something warm.

Something reverent.

Something that made Nani's pulse stutter painfully.

Sky kept walking.

And walking.

Until there was nowhere left for Nani to go.

The counter pressed into the small of his back.

Sky raised both arms and braced them on the marble on either side of Nani's hips -effectively trapping him.

Caging him in.

Not touching.

But holding him completely.

Nani felt it immediately - the heat rolling off Sky's skin, the faint scent of something metallic from his shirt, the warmth of his breath hitting his cheek like a promise.

Sky leaned in.

Slow.

Closer.

Closer.

Nani's breath hitched when their foreheads nearly brushed.

His fingers trembled before they rose helpless, instinctive - to Sky's chest, fisting weakly into the torn tank top.

"S-Sky..." he whispered, voice breaking even though it was barely a sound.

Sky's lips twitched.

He lifted a single finger and pressed it softly against Nani's lips - quieting him instantly.

The touch wasn't rough.

It wasn't teasing.

It was... worship.

Like he was asking for silence so he could breathe him in properly.

"Shh," Sky murmured, so close that Nani felt the word on his mouth.

Then Sky leaned in more, until their noses brushed - just barely, just enough to send a shiver curling through Nani's spine.

Nani's knees wobbled. He felt it; Sky definitely felt it.

His entire body went loose, breath catching in little gasps he fought to keep quiet.

Sky whispered, his voice warm and low and healing all at once-

"Happy birthday, angel."

Everything inside Nani clenched at once.

Something fragile. Something tender.

Something that had missed him all night.

His fingers tightened desperately on Sky's shirt, knuckles white, heart thundering.

Sky didn't move.

Didn't blink.

Didn't step back.

He just looked at him - like this moment, this closeness, this breath shared between them was the real celebration.

Then his voice dropped even lower, softer, as if it was meant for only Nani's bones to hear.

"Today..." Sky whispered, brushing the tip of his nose against Nani's again, "let me. Let me try to make your birthday the best one."

Nani couldn't speak.

Couldn't think.

Couldn't do anything but nod - small, trembling, helpless.

Sky's lips curled into the faintest smile warm, relieved, full of something he wouldn't say out loud yet.

Then, gently - painfully gently -Sky stepped back.

But the air he left behind still clung to Nani like a second skin.

Sky leaned back against the wall again, just a little distance away - but the kind of distance that still felt like it carried heat.

The dim light slid over his bruised collarbones, the cuts in the fabric, the dark stains clinging to him.

He let his head fall back for a second, chest rising with a slow breath as if grounding himself... and then he looked at Nani again.

That look alone could've ripped the air right out of the room.

"Last Halloween..." Sky began, voice low, warm, almost amused at the memory.

He tilted his head, running his thumb lazily over one of the tears in his tank top as though he could still feel Nani's voice there. "You told me you wanted to see me as a zombie for the next one."

Nani's eyes widened - just a fraction - but Sky caught it. Of course he did.

Sky pushed off the wall, walking forward just enough to let the overhead light catch his body.

The shadows dragged along each muscle, each bruise, each ripped thread.

"So," he continued, tone dropping even lower, "this Halloween... I guess this is it."

He spread his arms slightly - letting Nani look. Letting him see all of it.

"Torn tank top. Fake blood. Bruises. A little mess." He stepped closer, voice softening. "And you're the first person who gets to see it. Birthday privilege."

Nani's breath hitched - loud enough for Sky's lips to twitch.

Sky lifted his chin slightly.

"Come here, angel."

The words weren't loud. But they hit Nani like a pull in his bloodstream.

Nani moved forward - slowly, every step careful, his knitted crop top lifting subtly with each motion.

The soft fabric clung to his waist, sliding along the curves Sky loved staring at far too long.

His earrings glinted; the little rise of his stomach as he inhaled made Sky's jaw tighten.

And then-

He stopped right in front of Sky.

Close enough that Sky could feel the warmth radiating from him, close enough that something inside Sky snapped into focus.

Sky waited a moment - drinking him in slowly, deliberately, like he wanted to memorize the sight before touching.

Then his hands came up.

Warm palms sliding over Nani's waist... Stopping. Then tightening.

Pulling him forward.

Chest to chest.

The air cracked between them.

Nani gasped, fingers instinctively pressing against Sky's torn shirt, his tiny frame trembling just a little as he felt Sky's heartbeat slam against his own.

The tension between them sharpened -sweet, painful, electric.

Sky dipped his head, noses brushing, breath whispering against Nani's cheek. He didn't rush. He didn't blink. He just let the closeness burn.

"Listen," Sky murmured, so soft it vibrated against Nani's lips, "if I tell you something right now... something to clear all the fog between us... would you believe me?"

The question wasn't casual.

It was fragile. It was raw. It was everything Sky had been holding in the quiet parts of himself.

Nani felt his pulse stutter, throat tightening. His hands curled weakly into Sky's shirt. His knees almost gave.

Sky's eyes searched his - waiting, needing.

Nani nodded.

But Sky didn't let him off with that.

He leaned closer, angled his face until their breath tangled, until Nani could feel Sky's eyelashes brushing his skin.

"Don't nod," Sky whispered. "I need words, princess."

The nickname hit Nani like a spark under his skin.

His heart slammed against his ribs. His lips parted, breath shaking.

"I-I would believe you, Sekay," he whispered, stumbling softly over the name he only used when his heart couldn't help itself.

Something in Sky broke.

In the gentlest way.

His grip on Nani's waist tightened - warm, protective, hungry, relieved. His forehead dropped against Nani's for just a second, breath shuddering out of him.

Then one hand rose - sliding up Nani's spine, along his neck, to the back of his head. Gently guiding him closer.

Sky pressed a kiss to Nani's forehead.

Slow. Lingering. Almost reverent.

An exhale trembled out of him.

"Okay," he whispered into Nani's skin -voice cracked open, soft in a way Sky rarely let anyone see. "Okay, angel."

His fingers curled around Nani's waist again, pulling him even closer until there was not even a breath of space left.

And in the quiet between their heartbeats, something changed.

Something deep. Something dangerous. Something beautiful.

Something Sky wasn't going to hold back anymore.

✧*⁠･ﾟ⁠+⁠ ───── +ﾟ･*⁠✧

They didn't move.

Not even a breath's worth of distance.

The world around them went still - too still - like even the air didn't dare interrupt whatever was happening between the two of them.

Sky's fingers stayed curled around Nani's waist, warm and steady, holding him as if Nani were the only thing anchoring him to the floor.

Their chests brushed with every inhale, every exhale, every tremble that neither of them could hide anymore.

And then...

Sky's hand moved.

Slowly. So slowly it felt like the air thickened around the gesture.

He lifted his fingers toward his face, eyes steady on Nani's, and removed the fake zombie lenses one by one.

The soft click of the lenses peeling away felt oddly loud, like it echoed-like it mattered.

His real eyes blinked open.

Nani froze.

Because Sky's real eyes were never just eyes. They were a whole language. A whole storm. A whole truth Sky hid from everyone else.

But tonight... they weren't cold. They weren't guarded. They weren't razor-sharp like usual.

Tonight, they were gentle.

Painfully gentle.

As if every layer Sky had ever built around himself had melted the moment he looked at Nani.

Nani's lips parted - just a tiny, soundless inhale - but his heart was loud enough to make his whole chest ache.

His lashes quivered.

His fingers curled tighter in the fabric of Sky's tank top, clutching it without even realizing.

Sky blinked slowly, letting reality settle back into his eyes.

Then he tilted his head.

A small, impossible tilt. But it changed everything.

His expression softened - softened so much that Nani felt something inside him break open, wide and helpless.

Sky stayed silent.

He didn't need words.

Not when his eyes said every truth he'd run from.

And Nani... God.

Nani trembled. His lips wobbled.

His throat tightened.

His eyes shimmered with a shine that burned from the inside.

Then, in one slow, aching second, the tears gathered.

His breath hitched.

Sky inhaled sharply - not because he was surprised, but because the sight of Nani crying felt like something that tore him apart from the inside. Something he'd never learned how to handle.

Sky's hand lifted toward Nani's cheek -slow and hesitant, as if holding something sacred.

He hovered. Waiting. Asking silently.

And then he spoke.

Barely.

"Nani..." His voice cracked. "I can't pretend anymore."

The words fell between them like something heavy, something final, something inevitable.

Nani's breath caught, chest tightening as Sky stepped even closer - impossibly close -until their foreheads pressed together.

Their noses brushed, breaths mingling in warm, shaky exhales.

Sky's voice was a whisper that hit harder than any scream.

"I've always loved you," he said, breath trembling against Nani's lips. "Not like a friend. Not like some easy feeling."

He swallowed, closing his eyes for a second like the confession physically hurt him.

"Not in a way that makes sense."

Nani's tears slipped, warm and slow.

Sky's hand caught one - gently, instinctively - thumb brushing the softness of Nani's cheek like he'd been waiting his whole life to touch him like this.

"For me," Sky whispered, "you've never been human."

Nani's breath broke.

"You're an angel, Nani. The only angel I've ever been blessed with."

Nani let out a soft, shattered sound - half gasp, half prayer.

Sky didn't stop.

"I don't worship people," Sky said quietly. "I've never worshipped anyone."

He leaned in, lips brushing Nani's cheek, barely there but enough to steal every thought Nani had.

"But you..." Sky breathed against his skin, "you were different. You were the one thing I couldn't control. Couldn't forget. Couldn't stay away from."

His hands slid up Nani's waist, warm, grounding, holding him like he belonged there.

"You're it for me. You always have been. The only one."

Nani's tears fell harder - silently, helplessly -as Sky leaned in until their lips brushed.

"You're my love," Sky whispered, voice trembling.

He shifted closer.

"You're my life."

Another warm breath.

"And you're everything I ever wished for."

Nani didn't get to respond.

Because the next tear hit the corner of his mouth-

And Sky's control finally snapped.

He pulled Nani into him with a soft, desperate inhale and kissed him.

The first kiss was soft.

So soft it made Nani whimper - a tiny, broken sound that he tried to swallow but couldn't. Sky's fingers gripped his waist, steady but trembling, pulling him closer, closer, closer.

Their lips brushed again.

And again.

And then hunger curled up inside both of them.

The kiss deepened - slow, slow, then suddenly hungry - Sky tilting his head, lips parting, breath shuddering. Nani kissed back hard, fingers sliding into Sky's damp hair, clutching him like he needed him to breathe.

Sky swallowed Nani's gasp.

Nani tugged Sky closer with both hands.

Their breaths tangled. Their chests pressed.

Their lips chased each other with a need that had been building for years -unspoken, buried, now flooding out all at once.

Sky murmured something into Nani's mouth - too soft to catch, too tender not to feel.

And then-

Sky moved.

In one smooth, instinctive motion -

He lifted Nani.

Nani gasped, legs wrapping around Sky's waist with a desperate, automatic instinct.

Sky's hands held him - strong, sure, almost shaking - as he kissed him with a deeper, breath-stealing force.

Sky walked.

Nani kissed him harder.

They entered the guest room - dim, warm, quiet - the light falling over them like a secret.

Sky didn't take him to the bed.

No.

He carried Nani straight to the small wooden table near the window - and set him down gently, lips never leaving his.

Nani arched toward him instinctively, feet dangling off the table, fingers sliding down Sky's shoulders as Sky stepped between his legs, holding him steady.

Sky kissed him once more - soft, slow -before pulling back just enough to breathe against his lips.

"Happy birthday," Sky murmured, voice warm and wrecked and smiling.

He pressed a soft kiss to Nani's swollen lower lip.

"Princess."

Nani froze.

Eyes wide. Tears still clinging to his lashes. Lips parted in shock and heat and something almost painful.

Then-

His gaze drifted over Sky's shoulder.

Into the room behind him.

And he went still.

Completely still.

His breath stopped.

His fingers loosened in Sky's hair.

His lashes fluttered, heart stumbling into something sharp and breathless-

Because what he saw in that room-

Made every remaining breath in his chest falter.

Nani's gaze lifted over Sky's shoulder, just a small shift - but enough.

Enough for his breath to freeze in his throat.

The room-

The whole room-was glowing.

✧*⁠･ﾟ⁠+⁠ ───── +ﾟ･*⁠✧

 

Soft pink and gold lights twinkled from every corner, warm and dreamy, like the inside of a secret fairytale made just for one person.

Golden ribbons curled from the ceiling; pastel balloons drifted lazily in clusters; tiny fairy lights ran across the walls like captured stars.

And everywhere - everywhere - sat plushies.

Nani's plushies.

The ones he adored.

The ones he used to point out in stores.

The ones he thought Sky never really noticed.

But Sky had noticed everything.

Every single one of them was here -arranged carefully, lovingly - propped on chairs, perched on shelves, piled into soft nests on the floor like they were waiting to greet him.

Nani's eyes widened more, his lips parting in a silent gasp.

And then he saw the desk.

A medium-sized basket sat there - yellow, bright, unmistakable - full of bananas.

Every single one perfectly placed, decorated with tiny bows or stickers, like they were part of the celebration.

Nani's heart lurched.

There was food too his favorites - laid out neatly: noodles, mochi, cakes, tiny bowls of fruit, even the silly candy he always stole from Sky's bag. Little candles were scattered everywhere, some unlit, some flickering, the soft glow painting the room in warmth.

But it was the bed that made his breath break.

In the center of the rose-decorated bed - soft petals everywhere, fragrant and glowing in the warm light - sat bags.

Not one.

Not two.

Many.

Different sizes, different shapes, stacked beautifully, wrapped with ribbons that shimmered when the breeze from the window touched them. Every gift clearly chosen, packed, and arranged with care.

Sky's care.

All of this was Sky.

Nani's throat closed.

His vision blurred.

He was still sitting on the table, legs dangling, fingers weakly gripping the edge - too overwhelmed to move, too full to breathe.

And then Sky stepped forward.

He walked right between Nani's legs, slow and deliberate, placing himself directly in front of him again. His hands came to rest lightly on Nani's hips - not pulling, just holding, grounding.

Nani tore his gaze away from the room and looked at Sky instead.

His lips trembled.

He tried to speak - to say his name, to ask why, to say something, anything -

"Sk-"

But Sky leaned in and pressed the softest kiss to Nani's nose, quieting him with a sweetness that made Nani's chest ache.

"Shh..." Sky whispered against his skin.

"These are all your gifts for today, angel."

Nani's breath shook.

A tiny tear slipped.

Sky caught it with his thumb before it could fall.

He didn't say more.

He didn't need to.

Because the next moment, Sky's hands slid around Nani's waist - slow, careful, waiting for even the smallest sign of hesitation.

Nani didn't give any.

He leaned in instead, hands resting on Sky's shoulders, eyes still shining with disbelief.

With his consent clear, Sky lifted him -effortlessly, gently - holding Nani close to his chest, Nani's legs wrapping around him again for a moment before Sky set him softly onto the floor.

Nani's bare feet touched the warm rug, his knees wobbling.

He stood there, breathless, his crop top still slightly lifted, his heart racing so loud he could hear it in his ears.

Sky kept one hand on him - steadying him by the waist - as if he knew Nani might collapse from the softness alone.

Then he guided him toward the bed.

Not pushing. Just leading. Step by slow step.

Nani stopped at the foot of the bed, staring at the mountain of gifts through a fog of emotion. His fingers curled into Sky's arm, grounding himself because the moment felt too big, too tender, too unreal.

Sky stepped beside him.

Their shoulders brushed.

Nani didn't look away from the gifts.

Sky didn't look away from Nani.

After a moment, Sky reached over and picked up the first gift bag - a medium-sized one wrapped in cream ribbon. He placed it gently in Nani's hands, his fingers brushing Nani's knuckles.

"Let's start slowly," Sky murmured. His voice was soft.

Warm.

Intimate.

Like he wasn't giving gifts - he was giving pieces of his heart.

"One by one," he said. His thumb stroked Nani's waist unconsciously. "Everything here... is for you."

Nani's breath trembled.

His lashes fluttered.

And Sky... stood so close Nani could feel every word in his bones.

✧*⁠･ﾟ⁠+⁠ ───── +ﾟ･*⁠✧

Nani stood in front of the bed like he was afraid to breathe too hard and ruin the moment.

Warm pink light brushed over his cheeks, making the dried shimmer of tears glow faintly.

His fingers curled nervously into the edge of the first gift bag Sky had placed in his hands.

Sky didn't step away.

Not even a little.

He stayed right beside him, one palm resting on the gentle dip of Nani's waist, thumb drawing unconscious circles on his skin through the lifted hem of the crop top.

His touch was light, warm, grounding - like if he stopped touching, Nani would float away.

"Open it," Sky murmured, voice low enough to melt into Nani's shoulder.

Nani swallowed, nodding faintly. His fingers trembled as they hooked under the ribbon.

Sky noticed - of course he noticed - and his hand at Nani's waist tightened with a quiet reassurance.

The ribbon slipped open with a soft whsshh.

Nani peeked inside.

And froze.

His entire body jerked with a tiny inhale the kind of breath that comes when the heart gets hit too hard, too fast.

Because inside the bag...

was the stupidly huge...

ridiculously oversized...

mime-ready plushie he had pointed at more than a month ago.

The one he stood in front of in that fancy store, holding Sky's hand, giggling, saying,

"Look how silly that's, Sky. That's so big... but so expensive." His voice had lowered slightly, as if convincing himself something. Then he had shook his head, facing Sky again, "No way, forget it."

He didn't buy it.

Sky didn't say anything that day.

Not even a hint.

But now-

now the plushie sat in his hands.

Soft, squishy, comically round, the size of a small pillow, with a dopey smile and floppy limbs.

The exact one.

Down to the tiny purple bowtie.

Nani lifted it slowly, chest trembling.

Sky watched him with an expression that softened and deepened and warmed all at once - something between pride and fear and reverence.

"You... remembered," Nani whispered, voice small, cracking. "Sky... you- remembered."

Sky stepped even closer, chest brushing Nani's shoulder as he leaned in.

"I remember everything you look at longer than five seconds."

Nani's breath caught. His fingers sank into the plushie's fur, holding it close to his chest like a child clutching comfort.

His knees wobbled.

Sky immediately steadied him, both hands sliding to his waist now, thumbs sweeping gently against his skin.

"Careful," he whispered. "You're shaking."

Nani blinked quickly, tears threatening again.

"Because- because how could you...? Sky... it was so expensive... I just- I just liked it-"

Sky lowered his forehead to Nani's temple, their breaths tangling, lips a dangerous inch from brushing.

"I know," he murmured.

"That's why I bought it."

Nani let out a trembling exhale, clutching the plushie tighter.

His face pressed into Sky's collarbone for a second - just a tiny, helpless lean - breathing him in.

Sky's hand stroked the side of his waist slowly, gently.

"Want the next one?" Sky whispered into his hair.

Nani nodded, unable to form words.

Sky brushed his nose along Nani's cheek -a slow, intimate stroke - before lifting one hand away to grab the second gift.

It was a sleek black box, heavier than the first.

Sky held it with both hands for a moment, his expression shifting, warming, something more serious entering his eyes.

"This one..." Sky said quietly, "is because it's what you love. And I... want to give you everything that makes you happy."

Nani blinked away another tear.

Sky placed the box carefully into Nani's free hand - he kept the plushie clutched in his left arm, pressed to his chest like a heartbeat protector.

Sky's fingers brushed Nani's as he guided the box into his hold, their skin gliding slow and warm.

"Open it," he murmured.

Nani inhaled shakily and lifted the lid.

The inside gleamed.

A full gaming set.

Not just a controller.

Not just headphones.

Everything.

Top-tier wireless headphones cushioned in black velvet.

A matching controller in shimmering

pink-and-gold gradient.

A high-end handheld console in a custom pastel case.

Even a tiny charm of a banana hanging from a corner loop.

Nani's mouth fell open.

"Sky..." he whispered, voice cracking in disbelief. "No... no way... this is- this is too much- this is-"

Sky stepped in.

Close.

Closer.

Until Nani had to tilt his chin up to look at him.

"It's not too much," Sky said softly, firmly. "It's yours."

Nani's lower lip trembled.

Sky reached up with one hand and cupped Nani's jaw, thumb brushing along the soft, damp skin beneath his eye.

"You love gaming," Sky whispered. "Whenever you play, you smile. Even on bad days."

Nani's lashes fluttered, breath shaking.

"I wanted... to give you more reasons to smile."

The words hit Nani like an arrow straight through the heart.

His knees nearly buckled again.

Sky pulled him closer by the waist instantly, their bodies pressed warm and full against each other.

The plushie was squished between them, but neither moved it.

Nani whispered, voice faint, broken, "Why are you... doing all this for me...?"

Sky leaned down, his lips brushing Nani's ear, his breath warm, steady, intentional.

"Because you deserve everything," he whispered.

"And because-"

His hand slid up Nani's spine, slow enough to set every nerve alight.

"I want to be the one who gives it to you."

Nani sucked in a breath.

The gaming box trembled in his hands.

The plushie pressed harder into his chest. And Sky held him like he was afraid Nani would disappear if he let go.

Sky lowered his forehead to Nani's again, whispering-

"Do you want to open the next one, angel?"

✧*⁠･ﾟ⁠+⁠ ───── +ﾟ･*⁠✧

Sky didn't move.

He stayed with his forehead lightly touching Nani's, breath warm against Nani's lips, their chests brushing with every little tremor in Nani's shaky inhale.

Nani nodded once tiny, hesitant, soft.

"Y-Yes... next one..."

His voice was barely there, breathy, shy, the words curling into Sky's skin.

Sky's lips curved a quiet glow not a smile, more like and he let his hand slide down Nani's back again, slow enough to make Nani's knees wobble.

He steadied him instantly, thumb pressing into the small of his waist in a protective glide.

"Stay here," Sky murmured against his cheek, voice low, warm, intimate.

Nani didn't dare move anyway.

Sky stepped back only half a step - enough for space, not enough to break the tension and reached toward the bed.

His fingers brushed through rose petals as he searched the pile of carefully wrapped presents.

He found the one he wanted. A soft pink bag with gold ribbon.

He held it for a moment staring at it, at Nani, back at the bag - like he was reliving the memory that inspired it.

Then he walked back to Nani.

Right back.

Close enough that Nani had to tilt his chin again to keep looking at him.

Close enough that the warmth of Sky's chest brushed Nani's toy-plushie-hugged body.

Sky lifted the bag between them slowly.

"This one..." his voice softened even more, "... is very you."

Nani blinked, shy and confused. "Very... me?"

Sky hummed quietly.

He loved when Nani sounded small like that.

"Open it, angel."

Nani shifted the plushie to one arm hugging it like a shield - and reached for the ribbon of the new bag. His fingers trembled slightly from all the closeness, the attention, the heat of Sky's eyes on him.

Sky noticed. Again.

His hand came up, steadying Nani's wrist lightly.

A warm touch.

A grounding one.

"Slow," Sky whispered. "Breathe."

Nani bit his lower lip and exhaled softly, opening the ribbon.

Inside the bag was soft fabric.

Pink.

Gold.

Pastel glimmers catching in the warm light.

Nani reached in and pulled it out - slowly, carefully - revealing the hoodie.

A pink-and-golden hoodie, custom-made, the fabric unusually soft, luxurious. On the center chest was My Melody - drawn in Sky's chosen art style - sitting with little sparkles around her...

...eating a tiny banana.

Nani froze.

Like he'd been hit with a memory and a shock at the same time.

His lips parted.

His breath slipped out.

His eyelashes fluttered up at Sky, eyes full of disbelief, affection, and a shy sort of embarrassment.

"Sky..."

His voice came out almost whisper-thin. "You... actually... remembered that?"

Sky tilted his head, his expression softening in a way so tender it hurt to look at him.

"How could I forget?"

His voice was low, smooth.

"Your laugh was... different that night."

Nani's cheeks heated immediately. "Sky... it was a joke, it wasn't-"

Sky stepped closer, cutting the space again.

One hand slid around Nani's waist.

The other lifted the hoodie slowly between them.

"You were giggling so much you snorted,"

Sky said, full seriousness in his tone but warmth in his eyes.

"You said"

He leaned down until his forhead brushed Nani's temple.

""Sky, imagine My Melody eating a banana on my shirt. I would die."

Nani hid half his face behind the plushie.

"D-Don't say it like that..."

Sky chuckled - low, warm, vibrating through Nani's chest because of how close they were.

"I asked a creator I know," he murmured, holding the hoodie up so Nani could touch it.

"Took them two weeks."

Nani's fingers brushed the soft fabric, trembling at the realization.

"It's... it's perfect."

His voice trembled, shy and small.

The hoodie trembled in his hands as he held it to his chest.

"It's really for me...?"

Sky's hand slid from Nani's waist to rest on the curve of his hip, thumb brushing a little higher, skin-to-skin where the crop top lifted.

"All of this is for you," Sky whispered. "Everything tonight."

Nani swallowed.

The hoodie pressed to his chest, plushie pressed to his stomach, Sky pressed everywhere else.

Sky took the hoodie from Nani gently, careful not to pull it or wrinkle it. He brought it up between them and let the soft fabric skim against Nani's cheek, deliberately slow.

"Feel it," Sky murmured. "I wanted it soft. You like soft."

Nani's breath shook.

Sky's hand stroked his waist again - slow, intentional, tracing the dip of Nani's curve.

"I'm not asking you to wear it now." Sky's voice lowered.

"I just wanted you to see it first. Before anyone else."

Nani's heart thumped hard.

"Why me?" he whispered.

Sky leaned in.

Closer.

His breath brushed Nani's lips.

"Because you're the only one I think about when I choose things," Sky whispered softly. "When I plan anything. When I... feel anything."

Nani's knees nearly gave out again.

Sky caught him instantly, one arm sliding firmly around his waist, pulling him in with quiet control.

"Careful," Sky said softly, breath brushing Nani's temple.

"You always fall when I tell you the truth."

Nani's fingers tightened in the plushie, shy and overwhelmed.

"Sky..."

He whispered it like a confession.

Sky pressed a feather-light kiss to Nani's hair.

"Do you want the next gift, princess?"

The hoodie still rested in Sky's hands close to Nani, soft against his skin, a memory turned into fabric.

And Sky waited.

✧*⁠･ﾟ⁠+⁠ ───── +ﾟ･*⁠✧

 

Sky didn't hand this one over immediately.

He held the small box in his palm for a moment, thumb brushing its velvet edge as if weighing something invisible.

Nani noticed the hesitation instantly - his eyes flicked from the box to Sky's face, puzzled, lips gently pursed into that natural pout Sky kept pretending didn't destroy him every single time.

"What is it?"

The soft call. Curious. Sweet.

A little shy.

Sky exhaled, slow. "Wait."

He shifted closer - not dramatically, not suddenly - just a steady, unhurried inching forward until Nani's bare knee brushed against Sky's sweatpants.

The contact was quiet, warm, enough to send a shiver up Sky's spine.

Nani felt it too; his breath stuttered, but he didn't move away.

He tilted his head like he always did when he was trying to decipher Sky's intentions, eyes blinking slowly, lashes trembling just a little.

Sky lifted the box.

Nani's fingers twitched, reaching, but Sky kept it just out of reach.

"Not yet," Sky murmured, voice low.

Nani froze - not in fear, but in that soft, trusting stillness he had only around Sky.

Sky opened the velvet lid.

Inside, nestled like something sleeping, was a set of jewelry - not extravagant, not loud but delicate.

Thoughtful. Warm.

A thin chain bracelet with tiny gold banana charms, each one custom-shaped, curved perfectly, shining like they were dipped in sunlight.

A soft rose-gold pendant shaped like My Melody's bow, not childish, but elegant, almost minimalistic.

And earrings shaped like tiny crescent moons the exact ones Nani once stared at in a video and whispered, "These are so cute, Sky."

The shop had been sold out. Sky had a similar pair made by the same creator who made the hoodie.

But Sky didn't hand it to him.

He picked up the bracelet first - carefully, as if the metal would bruise - letting the charms dance softly against each other. The sound was faint, like bells, almost too gentle to hear.

He looked at Nani.

Nani's breath caught.

"This one," Sky murmured. "Give me your hand."

Nani didn't give it immediately.

He lifted it slowly, hesitantly, almost shy, as if offering something vulnerable.

His fingers trembled the moment Sky's palm touched his.

Sky turned Nani's wrist upward, thumb stroking the inside where the skin was thin, warm, impossibly soft.

"ky..." Nani whispered, though he didn't really finish the thought.

Sky fastened the bracelet around his wrist.

The metal kissed Nani's skin. The charms settled against the pulse point, shimmering when he moved.

Nani stared at it like it wasn't real.

"It-" He blinked, eyes already glassy but in a quiet, overwhelmed way. "Sky, it's... so pretty."

Sky didn't answer.

Instead, he lifted Nani's wrist and pressed a small, barely-there kiss right above the bracelet - soft, slow, warm.

Nani's entire body jolted.

He curled his fingers instinctively into Sky's shirt, holding onto the fabric like he needed it to stay upright.

His voice came out breathy, tiny- "Thanks..."

That sound alone nearly undid Sky.

Then Sky picked up the pendant.

"My Melody," Nani whispered, delighted, voice rising just a bit like he couldn't contain how happy he was. "Sky! She's wearing the bow- It's so cute-"

Sky tugged him gently forward by the chain.

"Turn."

Nani did, cheeks puffed, ears already warm.

Sky lifted the pendant to Nani's throat. His fingers brushed the nape of Nani's neck - feather-light at first, then firmer as he swept Nani's hair aside.

A nervous little shiver ran through Nani's shoulders.

Sky clasped the necklace slowly, intentionally, fingers grazing every inch of skin he touched.

When it was done, he let the pendant fall softly against Nani's chest.

The small weight made Nani gasp not from surprise but from how careful Sky had been.

Nani brought his fingers to it immediately, touching it like it was fragile.

Then Sky reached for the last piece - the earrings.

His fingers brushed Nani's earlobe before the earring even touched him.

Nani's breath hitched so sharply Sky almost paused.

"Does it hurt?" Sky murmured, voice gentler than velvet.

Nani shook his head fast. "No. Just... you're... touching me."

Sky smiled - tiny, soft, something he didn't let many people see.

He slid the first earring in, then the second, slow and steady, his fingertips warm as they skimmed Nani's skin.

Every time he touched Nani's ear, Nani's shoulders curled inward, as if he couldn't handle the closeness.

When Sky finished, Nani didn't move.

He just sat there - necklace resting against his collarbone, bracelet glittering at his wrist, earrings catching the light like little moons impossibly soft. staring at Sky with eyes

"Sky..."

Only his name. Nothing else. But the way he said it-

It felt like the room itself softened.

Sky reached out and adjusted the pendant one last time, fingertips lingering on Nani's chest.

"Do you like it?"

Nani nodded immediately - aggressively as if Sky had asked the most ridiculous question ever.

"I-I love it," he whispered. "It's all so pretty and cute and.."

He leaned forward, forehead almost touching Sky's.

"You... you think of everything."

Sky didn't say yes. He didn't say no.

He just lifted Nani's wrist again, turning it slightly to watch the banana charms catch the light, and whispered-

"You deserve things made only for you."

And Nani...

He melted.

Literally melted - shoulders dropping, breath softening, eyes half-lidded, cheeks glowing, lips parted like he was seconds from falling right into Sky's chest.

The jewelry didn't make him bright.

It made him soft.

Small.

Warm.

Loved.

✧*⁠･ﾟ⁠+⁠ ───── +ﾟ･*⁠✧

The gift wrapping rustled somewhere behind them, forgotten.

Sky didn't pick up another gift this time.

He reached for the fruit basket.

His hand moved slow, deliberate, almost lazy - but the moment he lifted the banana, something in the air tightened.

Shifted.

Nani tracked the movement with his eyes.

Not innocently.

Curiously.

Warmly.

A little dangerously.

Sky held the banana up between them.

"For you," he said quietly.

Not teasing.

Not dramatic.

Just... intentional.

Nani blinked, then gave a tiny pout, "Sky, I already ate so many bananas today."

"Then one more," Sky murmured, voice low enough to vibrate between them. "This one."

Nani stared at him - really stared - like he could tell Sky wasn't talking about fruit anymore.

He took the banana from Sky's hand.

Their fingers brushed for a second too long.

Nani's breath hitched.

Sky saw it.

He didn't comment.

Instead, he slid one hand around Nani's exposed waist warm skin, a light sheen of sweat from all the emotions and closeness.

Nani gasped softly when Sky's thumb pressed into the dip just above his hip.

"Sky..."

His voice wavered.

Just a little.

"Eat," Sky whispered.

Nothing else.

Nani nodded slowly, swallowing, his throat moving visibly.

His lashes lowered as he peeled the banana the sound soft, the movement slow, deliberate.

The peel fell open and the fruit glowed pale under the room's warm light.

Sky didn't look away.

Not for a second.

Nani's lips parted as he brought it closer.

He glanced up at Sky through his lashes.

"You're staring too much."

Sky stepped closer.

Chest almost touching Nani's.

His hand at Nani's waist slid just a little higher, fingers spreading across warm skin.

"Because you're beautiful," Sky said, barely audible.

"And I like watching you."

Nani's ears turned pink.

Then he bit into the banana.

Slowly.

Sky felt the breath leave his own chest.

Nani's lips curved around the fruit, soft and plush, stretching around each bite.

His mouth closed gently before he pulled back, chewing slowly, throat moving, eyes never breaking away from Sky's.

Sky's fingers tightened at his waist unconsciously.

Nani took another long, unhurried bite.

A tiny smudge of the soft fruit pressed against the corner of his lips - melting, sweet, glistening.

Sky's breath cracked quietly at the sight.

Nani noticed.

Of course he noticed.

His voice dropped, soft but steady.

"... don't look at me like that."

"Like what?" Sky asked, stepping even closer, chest brushing Nani's with a warm, steady pressure.

Nani took a breath, lips brushing the fruit again.

"...like you're about to eat me."

Sky's palm slid along his waist - slow, warm, gentle, spreading heat up Nani's spine.

"I might," Sky whispered.

Nani bit into the banana again slower this time, almost deliberately slow lips closing fully around the fruit, eyes on Sky the whole time.

Sky's pulse snapped.

His other hand rose, fingers brushing the side of Nani's jaw, thumb hovering near his cheek as he watched every movement of Nani's mouth.

Nani swallowed, chest rising with the breath he didn't know he was holding.

He whispered, firmer this time "You're making me nervous."

Sky leaned in, nose brushing Nani's cheek, lips hovering unbearably close.

"You're making me crazy."

Nani froze. The banana slipped a little in his hand.

Sky took the half-eaten fruit gently and placed it on the table beside them - eyes never leaving Nani's lips, especially the soft streak of banana still clinging to the corner.

With his fingertips, Sky touched the smudge.

Soft. Careful.

Nani's breath stuttered.

Sky whispered, "Hold still."

He rubbed the smudge lightly until it spread into a soft shine on Nani's skin.

And when Nani gasped quietly at the touch, Sky felt it - felt it all the way down to his bones.

Nani whispered, almost pleading, "Sky..."

That was it.

Sky leaned in and kissed him.

Hungry.

Not rushed.

But hungry.

The kind of kiss that happens because two people have been standing too close for too long, breathing too much of each other, holding back far past the point of safety.

Nani's hands slid up Sky's chest and curled into his shoulders, pulling him closer, deeper, until their bodies aligned fully chest pressed to chest.

Sky's palm warm on Nani's waist, Nani's breath shaking into Sky's mouth.

Their lips moved together in slow, warm, breathless sync tasting of banana, sweetness, and the heat they'd both been drowning in for minutes.

Sky kissed him again, softer this time, then deeper, then slow again - his thumb brushing Nani's jaw, his hand squeezing gently at Nani's waist, guiding him closer, closer, closer.

Nani made a tiny sound not loud, not dramatic just a soft, helpless exhale against Sky's lips.

Sky almost lost his balance.

When they finally broke apart, barely an inch, their breaths were tangled, hot, shaking.

Nani's cheeks were still flushed, his breath shaky, lips swollen from the last kiss when he whispered, half-complaining, half-out of breath:

"You made me drop my banana..."

Sky's laugh was soft warm, low, a little dangerous - brushing right against Nani's lips.

"Doesn't matter," he murmured, voice dipping like velvet sliding against skin. "I got something sweeter."

Nani swallowed visibly, beautifully and Sky felt that movement against his fingertips still resting on Nani's jaw.

Their lips almost touched again.

Almost.

Nani breathed, "Mhmm.."

That was all it took.

Sky leaned in and kissed him again -deeper this time, but still slow, still sensual, lips molding like they had all the time in the world and still not enough.

Nani made a sound a soft, surprised whimper from the back of his throat - and Sky's hand immediately tightened around his waist, pulling him closer.

Closer.

Close enough that Nani had to rise slightly onto his toes to keep up with the kiss.

Sky didn't stop kissing him.

He couldn't.

Instead, without breaking their mouths apart, Sky started walking him backward slow steps, firm steps - steering Nani across the soft carpet, their chests sliding warm against each other with every movement.

Nani's breath hitched between kisses.
Sky pressed a soft kiss to the corner of his mouth, then another to his lower lip. "Shhh princess," he whispered against his skin.

Nani did.

He always did.

The back of Nani's legs brushed the wall first a tiny gasp left him - and then Sky pressed him fully against it, guiding him gently until Nani's spine met the cool surface.

Nani's hands flew up, gripping Sky's shoulders as if grounding himself.

Sky kissed him again - lips deeper, warmer, catching Nani's lower lip between his before letting it go with a soft sound that made Nani shudder.

Pressed against the wall, Nani couldn't escape the heat of Sky's body.

And Sky didn't give him a chance to.

His hands slid down, both palms framing Nani's waist - warm skin under Sky's touch, a faint sheen of sweat making every contact feel electric.

Sky rubbed his thumbs in slow circles along the exposed skin just above Nani's hips. Nani's breath trembled against his mouth.

"Sky..." he whispered, voice cracking in the sweetest, breathiest way.

Sky dipped his head, lips brushing Nani's again, slower this time.

"You okay?" Sky murmured, even though he already knew the answer just from the way Nani was holding onto him.

Nani nodded, breath unsteady, forehead pressing lightly against Sky's. "I'm... yeah... I just you're so-"

He couldn't finish.

Sky didn't need him to.

He kissed him again - deeper, firmer, their mouths meeting with the kind of hunger that came from minutes of tension finally snapping.

Nani's fingers slid into Sky's hair, gripping him gently, tugging him closer. His back arched slightly against the wall when Sky's hands roamed up to the soft skin at his ribs, thumbs brushing lightly under the lifted hem of his crop top.

The kiss spilled heat between them - slow heat, intoxicating heat.

Sky's voice broke against Nani's lips, soft and hoarse:

"You're shaking again."

Nani exhaled a tiny laugh into his mouth. "Because you keep- kissing me like- like- "

"Like I want you?" Sky whispered.

Nani's knees almost buckled.

Sky caught him instantly, pressing him firmly back to the wall, his hands holding Nani's waist with the gentleness of someone who worships.

"That's because I do," Sky whispered against his lips.

Nani's heart stuttered.

Then Sky kissed him again slow and deep and warm, the kind of kiss that left no space, no thoughts, no air.

Just them.

Just heat.

Just two breaths melting together.

✧*⁠･ﾟ⁠+⁠ ───── +ﾟ･*⁠✧

The kiss unraveled slowly - not because either of them wanted to stop, but because breath finally forced its way between their mouths.

They parted by a whisper.

Barely.

Just enough for air.

Just enough for their lips to brush with every shaky inhale.

Their noses grazed, foreheads pressed together, breaths tangling in the inch of warmth between them.

Sky's arms were still around Nani's waist, holding him close enough that their chests rose against each other in a shallow, trembling rhythm neither could steady.

Nani's lips were pink, swollen, still parting with every uneven breath.

Sky whispered first, voice raw, a little breathless.

"...ready for the last gift, princess?"

Nani's eyes fluttered open - barely and he nodded.

A small, fragile movement, but it carried the weight of everything between them.

Sky's hands slid slowly from Nani's waist, smoothing down his sides before letting go.

Nani let out a quiet, involuntary sound at the loss of contact, but he stayed still against the wall, palms braced lightly behind him as if he needed something to hold onto.

Sky stepped back only enough to turn, reaching for the last package.

The one he had saved.

The one that mattered.

He didn't speak as he picked it up.

He just exhaled a low breath - before he knelt down on the soft carpet, right in front of Nani.

Nani's eyes widened at the sight of Sky kneeling for him again not teasing, not playful, but reverent.

As if he were about to hold something precious.

Sky placed the box between them and unwrapped it slowly, carefully, fingers brushing over the little lock that fastened it shut.

A faint click filled the room when it opened.

Nani inhaled sharply the instant he saw what was inside.

A waist chain.

Gold. Delicate.

Fine links catching the warm room light like tiny stars strung together.

Charms dangling lightly - small shapes, tiny glimmers that looked like they would

sound like soft wind chimes if touched.

His breath hitched, almost audible.

Sky lifted the chain with both hands, letting it drape from his fingers.

It shimmered in the air as he held it up, and Nani's stomach tightened, nerves and warmth mixing so quickly he didn't know where one sensation ended and the other began.

Sky looked up at him from the floor - eyes warm, soft, sincere.

"Can I?" he asked quietly.

Nani nodded again - faster this time, unable to speak.

Sky shifted closer, still on his knees, until he was right in front of Nani's hips.

His hands came up to the waistband of Nani's pants. He paused - waiting.

Nani's fingers curled lightly in the air before he let his hands fall to his sides.

"...yes," he whispered.

Sky's touch was gentle, almost reverent, as he hooked his fingers just under the waistband and eased the fabric slightly lower - not exposing, not indecent, just enough to reveal the smooth line of Nani's hips.

The air felt different there.

Cooler. Sharper.

And then warmer when Sky's fingertips brushed across that newly revealed skin.

Nani's breath broke.

Sky leaned in.

He pressed a kiss to Nani's hip bone - soft, placed with a kind of care that made Nani's knees nearly give out.

"Sky-" His voice cracked helplessly.

Sky's hands shot up, steadying him, palms warm and firm on his waist.

"I've got you," he murmured, kissing another spot.

This time just a little higher.

A little slower.

His breath dragged across Nani's skin like a warm wind.

Nani shuddered.

Sky kissed again, following the curve of his waist, his lips brushing over every small tremor in Nani's body.

His hands held Nani gently but securely, supporting him as he leaned back against the wall, chest rising in small, shaky waves.

When Sky finally lifted the chain, Nani stiffened the anticipation itself was overwhelming.

Sky brought it around his waist, letting the metal kiss his skin.

Nani gasped softly at the first touch of the cool gold against his warm body.

Then Sky leaned in.

He didn't use his hands.

He used his teeth.

He tilted his head, caught the clasp delicately between them, and closed it the faint, metallic click punctuated by the brush of his lips and teeth against Nani's skin.

Nani's entire body trembled.

Heat shot through him so quickly he had to grab Sky's shoulder to stay upright.

a quiet, before he Sky smiled against his waist breath-warm curve of his lips pulled back slightly to look at him.

The chain sat perfectly. Resting low on Nani's hips.

Charms dangling like tiny stars right above his skin.

Sky moved in closer again, still on his knees, and pressed his mouth just below Nani's stomach - right above where the charms hung.

A soft kiss.

Then a slow, warm swipe of his tongue. Just enough to taste skin.

Just enough to make Nani's fingers fist tightly in Sky's hair.

A sound escaped him small, desperate, breathy. "Ahh-"

Something inside Sky ignited at that sound.

He rose slowly, hands sliding from Nani's hips to his waist, pulling him forward as he stood.

Their chests brushed again, heat meeting heat, the chain glimmering faintly between them with every subtle movement.

"You like it?" Sky whispered, voice slightly rough.

Nani nodded, breath catching, unable to form a word.

Sky smiled not teasing, not smug something softer.

Something that looked like pride and adoration and hunger woven together.

His hands lingered at Nani's waist, fingers pressing lightly, feeling the warmth, the subtle tremble beneath his touch.

He leaned in, their noses brushing gently, close enough to feel each other's breath mingle, a silent conversation that didn't need words.

"Angel," he whispered, voice low and soft, almost a caress. "Now... let's move for dinner."

Nani blinked, a soft shiver running through him at the nickname, his lips parting slightly in a fragile smile.

Sky guided him gently by the waist, steady, deliberate, until they reached the table.

The soft glow of the candles flickered across Nani's features, making his skin glow, the charms of the chain catching the light with every step.

Sky pulled out the chair for him, hand brushing lightly against Nani's hip as he did.

"Sit, princess," he murmured, tilting his head in that quiet, reverent way.

Nani eased into the seat, the weight of the evening pressing warmly against him, and Sky followed, sliding in across from him.

The table was set with simple elegance: soft white linen, the faint scent of herbs from the dishes, warm light reflecting off the cutlery.

Sky picked up the first plate, sliding it gently toward Nani, his fingers briefly grazing Nani's hand.

"You like this?" he asked softly, eyes flicking up to Nani's face, reading every subtle reaction.

Nani's lips curved into a small smile. "Smells... amazing."

Sky smiled, a quiet, knowing curve. "Then taste first, angel."

Nani brought the fork to his lips, and Sky watched, breath catching at the subtle way his tongue brushed the food.

He leaned forward slightly, almost without thinking, and brushed a tiny smudge from Nani's mouth with his fingertip.

Nani froze, a small hitch in his breath, eyes fluttering as Sky's touch lingered just long enough to make it intimate, deliberate, safe.

"Always messy," Sky whispered, a smile in his voice. "..but mine. "

Nani giggled softly, a delicate sound, and reached for his glass.

Sky's hand hovered for a moment before lightly brushing against his, fingers entwining briefly before releasing.

They ate slowly, deliberately, talking in quiet murmurs.

Sky leaned across the table to point out a detail on the plate, brushing a strand of Nani's hair from his cheek as he did.

Nani's fingers twitched, reaching instinctively toward Sky's hand, and Sky's thumb met his in a soft squeeze.

At one point, Sky picked up a piece of food and brought it to Nani's lips, brushing it gently against him. "Open," he said softly.

Nani obeyed, eyes soft and trusting, and Sky fed him, their gazes locking in the intimate closeness of the moment.

"You always make everything feel..." Nani started, voice catching. "I don't... I can't explain."

"You don't have to," Sky murmured, leaning forward to press a brief kiss to Nani's lips, soft and lingering, the warmth of it lingering even as they pulled back. "I'll take care of the rest."

Nani's fingers fisted lightly in Sky's shirt at the gesture, his chest rising and falling rapidly, heart hammering.

Sky noticed, and his smile deepened, gentle and knowing.

He brushed a small crumb from Nani's chin, leaning closer so that their noses touched again.

"Princess," he whispered, voice tender, "relax.."

The meal continued in that rhythm: quiet murmurs, soft laughter, fingertips brushing, little stolen kisses, the delicate intimacy of two people entirely present with each other.

Every bite became a shared moment, every laugh a connection.

Sky noticed every small reaction, every subtle tilt of Nani's head, every shiver that passed through him when their skin brushed.

When the final dish was finished, Sky reached across the table, covering Nani's hand with his own.

Sky smiled, lifting their joined hands to brush a gentle kiss to Nani's fingers.

"Dinner was perfect," he murmured, and Nani's lips curved into a small, shy smile, eyes glimmering.

They lingered at the table, the soft clink of cutlery long gone, replaced by the quiet rhythm of breaths and the warmth of closeness.

The night felt endless around them intimate, unspoken, yet full of words carried by touch, gaze, and heartbeats.

✧*⁠･ﾟ⁠+⁠ ───── +ﾟ･*⁠✧

The music shifted, soft and melodic, notes drifting through the room like a caress.

Sky's gaze flicked to Nani, and without a word, he extended his hand. Nani's fingers brushed against his, tentative, and then slipped confidently into his palm.

Sky's thumb traced gentle circles on the back of Nani's hand as he guided him to the small space cleared for dancing.

"Ready?" Sky murmured, voice low, warm, almost vibrating against Nani's skin.

Nani nodded, a shy, breathless smile curling his lips. "I... I think so."

Sky's hands immediately found their place on Nani's waist, fingers resting lightly on the curve just above his hips.

Nani shivered at the contact, the cool metal of his chain brushing against Sky's palm as he shifted slightly.

Sky noticed and let his fingers trail over it teasingly, tugging lightly, eliciting a soft gasp.

"Sky..." Nani's voice wavered, soft and unsure, yet there was a spark in it, like fire trapped in fragile glass.

"Mm?" Sky hummed, leaning closer so that his lips were brushing against the shell of Nani's ear, his warm breath tickling him.

"Just... follow me."

And Nani did.

The music moved them slowly, deliberately, a rhythm that felt like it was written for them alone.

Nani's delicate frame pressed against Sky's solid chest, his crop top exposing a sliver of skin that made Sky's hands restless.

Sky's thumbs grazed over the curve of Nani's navel, teasing gently, and Nani bit his lower lip, a soft stifled noise escaping him.

"Stop being so distracting," Nani whispered, a tremor in his voice. "I... I can't-"

Sky laughed softly, low and amused, a vibration that brushed across Nani's shoulder.

"Can't what, princess?" he teased, tightening the hold just enough to pull Nani closer without letting him panic. "You're perfect like this... perfect for me."

Nani's breath hitched, the words slipping past him like sparks catching on dry wood.

He tilted his head, brushing his lips against Sky's jaw, and Sky pressed a fleeting kiss to Nani's temple, gentle and deliberate, letting the warmth linger.

Sky's hands didn't stay idle.

They roamed lightly over Nani's waist, teasing the chain again, skimming over the small plane of his stomach, and every brush of his fingers drew soft gasps, subtle shivers, and tiny goosebumps.

Nani laughed quietly, breathy and fragile, and leaned into him more, pressing against Sky's chest as if it was the only safe place in the world.

"You feel... so soft," Sky murmured, his voice low, almost reverent, as he tilted his head down, letting his lips brush along Nani's jaw, tracing the line toward his neck. "And warm."

Nani's hands moved of their own accord, tangling in Sky's hair, holding on as if to anchor himself.

Sky responded by leaning closer, his lips grazing the tender skin at the base of Nani's ear, pressing soft, lingering kisses along his neck.

Nani tilted his head to the side, exposing more, a shiver running down his spine.

Sky's hands squeezed gently at his waist, fingers skimming over his hipbones and teasing the small gap between skin and crop top, sending little sparks of sensation dancing through Nani.

"You're not being fair, Sky.." Nani whispered, voice trembling with a mix of awe and want, and Sky chuckled, a low, satisfied sound that vibrated against Nani's ribs.

"Not with you..," Sky murmured, tilting his chin down to brush their lips together while still swaying to the music.

The kiss started soft, exploratory, almost teasing.

Nani's lips parted instinctively, breath mingling, heart hammering against Sky's chest.

Slowly, Sky deepened it, brushing his tongue gently against Nani's bottom lip, inviting, coaxing, letting the kiss grow in intimacy without haste.

Nani responded with a soft sigh, his fingers digging lightly into Sky's shirt, pulling him closer.

The warmth of their bodies pressed together, the subtle friction of skin against skin, the steady thrum of each heartbeat -everything amplified the connection between them.

Sky tilted Nani back slightly, guiding him with one hand on his waist, the other lingering at the small of his back, fingers teasing lightly against his spine as they danced.

Nani's body pressed more fully against him, the delicate lines of his torso fitting perfectly against Sky's, every movement syncing with an unspoken rhythm.

They paused for a heartbeat mid-song, foreheads pressed together, breaths mingling, and Sky traced the outline of Nani's lips with his thumb.

"You taste... like home," he whispered, voice thick with quiet hunger.

Nani's laugh was soft, almost a breath, and he tilted his head into the touch. "Home..." he echoed, the word fragile but charged with feeling.

Sky leaned in again, kissing him gently at first, slow and sweet, exploring, letting the warmth of the moment build.

Nani responded instantly, lips parting, fingers threading through Sky's hair.

Then, without breaking rhythm with the music, the kiss deepened, hungry now, lips pressing, tongues brushing, teeth occasionally grazing in a teasing, tender dance.

Sky's hands roamed, tracing the curve of Nani's waist, teasing the chain again, feeling the soft pull of fabric against skin.

When the song reached its chorus, Sky pressed Nani's chest fully against his, letting their bodies mold together perfectly.

He kissed the curve of Nani's neck, sucking softly at the pulse point, fingers teasing over the exposed skin of his stomach just above the crop top.

Nani's hands fisted at Sky's shoulders, shivering into him, gasps escaping his lips between words that made no sense, all just sounds of surrender, trust, and pleasure.

Sky tilted his head, capturing Nani's lips again in a kiss that started tender, soft, exploratory, and turned into something hungrier-more urgent, yet never rough.

Every brush of teeth, every slide of tongue, every sigh and shiver was an intimate conversation, a private language only they understood.

Nani melted against him, moving with the rhythm of the music, pressing closer, and Sky guided him effortlessly, hands always on waist, tracing curves, teasing, savoring, grounding them in the warmth of each other.

Finally, the song wound down, but they didn't stop.

Their foreheads rested together, breaths ragged, chests pressed close, and fingers entwined, playful and delicate even in exhaustion.

Sky brushed a thumb over Nani's jaw, tilting his chin up to meet his gaze.

Nani's eyes were soft, glimmering, lips slightly parted, still glossy and Sky smiled -slow, gentle, full of quiet triumph and affection.

"Perfect," Sky whispered, voice low, warm, brushing his lips over Nani's once more, soft and lingering. "Absolutely perfect."

Nani pressed a soft kiss to Sky's chest, sighing, and murmured, "With you... it always is."

Sky laughed softly, a rich, warm sound, and pulled Nani closer again, spinning gently in the fading music, their bodies still pressing together, the afterglow of their intimacy wrapping around them like a soft, endless blanket.

✧*⁠･ﾟ⁠+⁠ ───── +ﾟ･*⁠✧

The music had faded completely, leaving only the faint hum of the city beyond the window, soft and distant.

Sky's hands lingered on Nani's waist as he leaned down, eyes searching Nani's, heart hammering in rhythm with the unspoken pull between them.

Slowly, almost instinctively, they moved toward the bed..

Nani sank back onto the mattress, the soft linen cool against his skin, and Sky hovered above him, hands bracing lightly on either side.

Nani's crop top had ridden up slightly during the dance, exposing the curve of his torso, and Sky's gaze lingered, soft and awed.

"Nani..." Sky murmured, voice low, almost reverent, fingers tracing the outline of his jaw. "I... I love you."

The words were quiet, deliberate, carrying every ounce of feeling that had grown between them over years of stolen glances, quiet admiration, and moments of unspoken yearning.

Nani's eyes softened, glimmering in the dim light.

His hand rose, trembling slightly, to rest against Sky's chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart.

" I love you too Sky," he whispered back, the words almost fragile in their tenderness, but fierce in their truth.

Sky's smile was slow, full, and he leaned down to press a soft, lingering kiss to Nani's lips.

Their mouths met with gentle urgency, full of warmth, trust, and relief, a kiss that spoke of years of quiet longing finally finding its place.

They lingered there, bodies pressed close, hands roaming over familiar curves with a tender reverence.

Nani's arms curled around Sky's neck, pulling him closer, and Sky's hands rested lightly on Nani's waist, feeling every shiver, every sigh, every heartbeat as if memorizing them.

The night stretched on, unhurried, peaceful.

Their kisses turned slow and languid, brushing lips again and again, turning, shifting, holding, whispering each other's names in the quiet dark.

Skin pressed against skin, hearts pressed together, warmth flowing through them like an endless, unspoken promise.

That bed became their sanctuary, a place that held every laugh, every gentle brush, every sigh, every tender word.

Sky hovered above, Nani pressed below, and yet the world outside ceased to exist.

Time slowed, giving them the space to simply be-together, intimate, safe.

They turned, shifted, pressed into each other, murmuring words of affection between kisses.

Their bodies spoke a language older than words, a rhythm of give and take, of closeness and trust.

Every movement, every glance, every touch felt deliberate, sacred, and tenderly familiar.

And in the quiet of the night, Nani's birthday became unforgettable.

Not because of anything extravagant, but because of the simple perfection of being with Sky-the warmth, the closeness, the surrender, and the absolute certainty of love.

Their story, once written in stolen glances, heavy silences, and misunderstandings they never voiced, had finally transformed.

It was no longer defined by hesitation or distance.

Every whispered word, every kiss, every touch was a testament to what they had found in each other:

nothing but true love, complete, unwavering, and endlessly tender.

As the night stretched on, they held each other, hearts beating in sync, eyes closing against the glow of the city, and the world outside no longer mattered.

Every moment, every sigh, every soft laugh and soft kiss wove itself into the fabric of a love that had finally found its home-here, together, in the quiet eternity of the love once whispered in silence, now shimmering proudly in their hearts.

✧*⁠･ﾟ⁠+⁠ ───── +ﾟ･*⁠✧