Part 17: Something More

A few days passed since the conversation outside Kion's car. Things weren't perfect, but they'd settled back into an easy rhythm, and the weirdness between them had started to fade. Kion still had his walls up, but AJ was patient. He wasn't going anywhere.

That night, they were back at Kion's place, chilling like usual. The movie was on again, but they weren't paying attention. They were sitting on the couch, closer than they had been before, both of them lounging, but there was a subtle change. AJ kept looking over at Kion, catching his eye, and every time he did, Kion looked away quickly like he was still trying to fight whatever the hell this was.

"You good?" AJ asked, nudging him lightly with his shoulder.

Kion didn't respond right away, his mind clearly somewhere else. "Yeah," he muttered, still avoiding AJ's gaze.

AJ didn't let it slide this time. He turned toward him, his body now facing Kion, and placed his hand on Kion's knee. "You sure?" he asked again, his voice softer this time, more understanding.

Kion shifted slightly, still not meeting his eyes. "I'm straight. Just tired."

AJ could see the way Kion's lips were pressed tight, the way he kept looking down like he was avoiding something. AJ wasn't having it this time.

He leaned in, just close enough for Kion to feel the heat of his breath on his skin, and whispered, "You ain't foolin' me, Pa."

Kion froze, his breath catching in his throat. That word-'Pa'-AJ had been calling him that so naturally, like it meant nothing. But now, when he said it like that, all soft and quiet, it hit different.

AJ moved even closer, his face now inches away from Kion's, and Kion could feel his heart pounding harder than it had in a while. The air between them was thick, like they were both waiting for something to happen, but neither of them knew who would make the first move.

Kion opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, AJ's lips were on his. It wasn't slow. It wasn't tentative. It was urgent, like the moment had been building up between them for weeks, and neither of them could hold it in any longer.

The kiss was deep, and for a second, Kion couldn't think about anything but the heat of AJ's body against his, the way AJ's hand had found its way to his neck, pulling him closer. Kion's hands rested on AJ's hips, unsure but needing to touch him, needing to hold him in some way that made it all feel real.

AJ pulled back slightly, his breath heavier now. "You feel that?" he asked, his voice raspy, eyes searching Kion's face for any sign of hesitation.

Kion didn't say anything at first, just stared at AJ, his pulse racing in his chest. He didn't know what the hell this was, but the pull toward AJ was undeniable. He could feel it in his bones, in the way AJ made him feel seen without saying a word.

"Yeah," Kion whispered, his voice low.

AJ smiled, the playful edge back in his eyes. He leaned forward again, pressing his lips to Kion's in another kiss-gentler this time, like he was savoring it, trying to make Kion feel everything he couldn't say.

When they finally pulled away, Kion's hands moved instinctively to AJ's sides, pulling him closer, his face inches from his. The words Kion was looking for were stuck somewhere deep in his throat. He couldn't explain what he was feeling, how everything in him wanted this but at the same time felt like he was losing control of something that had always been so locked down.

AJ's hand slid up to Kion's jaw, cupping it lightly as he stared at him with a soft smile. "I'm not goin' nowhere, Pa," AJ said, his thumb brushing Kion's bottom lip.

Kion's heart skipped at the sound of that. AJ had said it so many times, but now, it hit him different. It wasn't just a nickname anymore. It felt like AJ was grounding him, like he was giving Kion something to hold onto, something to trust.

Kion took a deep breath, shaking his head slightly. "This shit's weird," he muttered.

"Yeah, I know," AJ said with a shrug. "But it don't have to be. We just... gotta figure it out."

Kion swallowed hard, unsure if he was ready for this, but the way AJ was looking at him made it harder to turn away. He hadn't expected this-hadn't expected to feel like this with someone, not a dude, not like this.

"You don't gotta figure shit out if you don't want to," AJ added, his voice softening, pulling Kion back in with that damn smile that made Kion's chest ache.

Kion let out a long breath, trying to steady himself, trying to ignore how right everything felt when AJ was around. "I don't know what I'm doing," he admitted quietly.

"Neither do I," AJ replied, leaning in to press another kiss to Kion's forehead. "But I know I'm here. And I know I ain't goin' nowhere."

For the first time in a while, Kion felt like maybe, just maybe, he didn't need to have it all figured out. Maybe he could let go and just see where this thing went.

"Alright," Kion said, his voice quieter now, less guarded.

AJ's grin widened. "Good."

They sat there for a moment, just looking at each other. Kion didn't say anything else, but the way he held AJ's gaze made it clear: he was starting to trust this. He didn't have to understand it yet, but maybe he didn't need to. For the first time, he was just letting it happen.

And for now, that was enough.