The days that followed were nothing but a slow descent into hell for Aru. Every step he took in the professional world seemed to be followed by treacherous whispers, furtive glances that stripped him of his hard-won dignity.
Yesterday's allies transformed into cautious strangers, extremely close to his gaze, casting worried glances. The weight of social rejection was almost tangible, a shadow growing larger with every hour. That evening, as he came home late after a tense meeting, his phone vibrated insistently. On the screen, a simple, urgent message:
"Come. Now." Signed Kio.
Aru felt his heart sink. Without thinking, he grabbed his keys, got in his car, and sped through the city animated by neon lights and drizzling rain.
Every second that brought him closer to Kio's loft gave rise to a melee of emotions: fear, anger, desire, but above all, a visceral need to be with him. When he arrived, Kio was there, leaning against the bay window, his face grave, his dark eyes lit with fierce determination. The door closed softly behind Aru, like a lock against the outside world.
"I can't hide this anymore," Kio said,
turning slowly toward him.
"Articles, rumors, threats… They've launched a campaign against me too. It's become personal."
Aru felt a lump form in his throat.
"They want to destroy us, Kio. They want to break us, erase who we are."
"They think we'll pinch," Kio murmured,
moving toward him.
"But I won't let it. Not this time."
Aru's breath hitched as Kio placed his hands on his shoulders, holding them firmly, as if to transfer some of his strength to him.
"We have to fight together,"
Aru breathed, his voice shaky but resolute. Kio nodded slowly.
"And you, are you willing to lose everything for me? For us? "
Silence fell, heavy, charged with an almost painful intensity. Aru searched his own eyes, searching for the answer to the question that haunted his nights.
"I'm willing to lose everything… except you,"
he finally replied, the words coming out like a promise. A breath escaped their lips as they moved closer, their foreheads gently touching. Then, as if the outside world no longer existed, Kio kissed him.
The kiss was tender at first, almost tentative, a fragile bond forming between them. But quickly, passion soared, burning their skin, awakening every fiber of their being.
Their hands intertwined, exploring, caressing, as if to anchor their mutual presence in reality. Kio slid Aru against the wall, their bodies pressing against each other in an embrace as ardent as it was desperate. Every kiss, every touch, seemed a challenge to those who wanted to separate them.
They fell onto the couch, surrendering to a mixture of urgency and gentleness, where each gesture was charged with multiple meanings: desire, rebellion, fear, and above all, a forbidden but unwavering love. In this night where everything seemed to be collapsing around them, Aru and Kio found refuge in each other, a silent promise that they would face all obstacles together, no matter the pain.
The loft was nothing but shadows and silence. The city lights filtered through the large bay windows, drawing pale, shifting lines on their skin. Kio had removed his shirt, revealing a tense figure, marked by the stress of the last few days. Aru observed him with an almost religious slowness, as if rediscovering every fragment of himself.
He moved closer, placed a hand on her bare breast, and kissed her again, with a gentleness that made her tremble. Their clothes fell off one by one. Nothing was rushed. Everything was casual, intimate. They took the time to touch, to taste, to breathe together. Aru slid Kio against the silky sheets of the sofa bed, his gaze boring into hers.
"Tell me to stop," he murmured.
Kio took the lead, his eyes shining with trust and desire.
"Don't stop."
Their skin brushed against each other, burning hot. Aru caressed Kio carefully, tracing each line of his body with his fingertips, as if he wanted to engrave it within him. Kio responded with slight shudders, his breath quickening with each movement.
When Aru settled against him, their bodies perfectly adjusted, a gentle, deep tension settled. Kio opened her thighs, inviting him, and Aru kissed him gently, again and again, until their whole world shrank to that contact, that connection.
They moved together slowly, fluidly. Their breaths mingled, their sighs becoming louder, more irregular. It was a silent dance, a shared offering. Kio clung to Aru, his hands on her back, his lips on her breasts, while Aru whispered his name under her breath.
The sun had risen silently over the city. A wisp of golden light pierced the loft curtains, brushing against the undone sheets and tangled bodies.
Aru woke slowly, his breath still warm against Kio's bare skin. Kio was sleeping soundly, his brows finally relaxed, as if the weight of the world had momentarily slipped from his shoulders.
Aru remained like that for a moment, contemplating him. He could still feel the warmth of their night on his skin, but even more strongly, he felt the calm that had followed. Not that of a simple carnal act, no… that of an indestructible bond, born in intimacy and forged in the fire of rejection.
Kio slowly opened his eyes. He didn't say anything right away. He simply reached out to Aru and placed his fingers against his cheek.
"I never want to wake up alone again," he murmured.
Aru closed his eyes at the contact, his hand covering his own.
" You won't have to do it anymore, And now "
They stayed like that, without speaking, their breaths locked on each other. The outside could wait. But the outside struck faster than expected.
The phone vibrated against the coffee table. An alert. Then another. Dozens. Kio jumped up, grabbed the device. His face froze. Aru, naked in the sheets, sat up slowly.
" What is it? "
Kio handed him the screen. A leak. Photos. Blurry, but recognizable. Them. Together. In the building's private parking lot. Aru holding his hand. A stolen embrace in the headlights. A clearer image of a half-hidden kiss. The scandal had just emerged from the shadows. Aru felt the cold creeping over him, despite the morning heat.
" They know. "
" And they're going to attack ", said Kio
His jaw tense. My company. Your partnerships. The media will make us into freaks. A silence. Then Aru reached out, grabbed Kio's hand, and squeezed it tightly.
"Then they'll see this too: that I won't let go of you."
Kio's eyes softened. He sat on the edge of the bed, rested his forehead against Aru's.
"We fight together. Until the end."
They kissed again. Not with the passion of yesterday, but with a solemn slowness. Like two soldiers before the war. A silent promise. The world was ready to judge them. But they were ready to love despite everything.