Chapter 22

3rd person pov:

Gemini was starting to lose the battle with himself. Every day, it became harder to keep his feelings in check, especially when Fourth's actions began to shift—small gestures, fleeting moments, that seemed to mirror his own unspoken emotions.

It started with little things.

Fourth would linger in the kitchen while Gemini prepared meals, leaning against the counter and watching him with a soft smile. He no longer hesitated to reach for Gemini's arm when he felt tired, his fingers curling lightly around Gemini's sleeve as if seeking silent reassurance.

"Do you want help with that?" Fourth asked one evening, watching Gemini struggle with a stack of plates.

Gemini laughed, shaking his head. "You're supposed to be resting."

Fourth huffed but stayed close, his presence alone enough to fill the room with warmth.

The shift wasn't one-sided. Gemini found himself seeking Fourth out more often, even for the smallest reasons. He would place a blanket over Fourth's shoulders when he fell asleep on the couch, his fingers brushing against his skin longer than necessary. He'd bring him tea during their quiet afternoons, always adding the exact amount of honey Fourth liked.

But the clearest sign came one quiet evening when the two of them were on the porch, watching the sunset. Fourth had grown more comfortable leaning against Gemini's shoulder, but this time, he reached out and entwined their fingers.

Gemini froze, his breath catching at the unexpected touch. He looked down, their hands resting together on the wooden bench, Fourth's fingers small but firm against his own.

"Is this okay?" Fourth asked, his voice barely audible.

Gemini swallowed hard, his heart pounding in his chest. "Yeah," he said softly, his voice unsteady. "It's okay."

They stayed like that as the sky shifted from orange to deep blue, the stars beginning to appear one by one. For the first time, Gemini let himself hope that maybe Fourth's feelings were starting to align with his own.

Later that night, as they sat inside, Fourth spoke up again.

"You're always looking out for me," he said, his tone thoughtful.

Gemini smiled, his heart aching with the weight of everything he couldn't say. "Someone has to."

Fourth met his gaze, his eyes warm and searching. "It's not just that, though. You make me feel... safe. Like I don't have to be afraid anymore."

Gemini's chest tightened, the sincerity in Fourth's words nearly undoing him. He reached out without thinking, tucking a stray strand of hair behind Fourth's ear.

"You deserve to feel that way," Gemini said quietly.

Fourth didn't look away, and in that moment, the air between them felt heavier, charged with something unspoken yet undeniable.

Gemini knew he needed to tread carefully, but with every passing day, it was becoming harder to deny the clear signs of affection growing between them—both in Fourth's actions and his own.

For now, he would hold onto the moments they shared, savoring the quiet warmth of Fourth's presence and the hope that maybe, one day, those unspoken feelings could become something more.