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"Honestly Daryl, you're pissing me off."
Aaron continued to rant while nursing the various cuts on Daryl's face.
"Dude, it's not a big deal, I just caught a branch while running behind a rabbit."
Aaron harrumphed, "I so wish you would take a little more care of yourself. We finally get a chance, you and I, to enjoy a quiet life and you still find ways to hurt yourself."
He gently dabbed each small cut with a small cotton ball soaked in disinfectant.
He saw that Daryl was holding back from reacting to the feel of the disinfectant and said softly, "Hey, you know you don't have to pretend with me, right?"
"What are you talking about?" asked Daryl, unsettled by Aaron's change of tone.
Aaron looked at him with a tender look and replied, "I'm talking about the fact that when I put disinfectant on your wounds, you force yourself to remain stoic when it's clearly painful."
"I..." Daryl shrugged, unsure of how to respond.
He was disarmed as he was every time Aaron showed him how well he knew him.
At times like this, the feelings that invaded him were overwhelming.
And tonight, he could not contain them, as if Aaron had dismantled his barriers one by one.
"There, it's done." Aaron stood up and was about to walk away when Daryl, responding to his instincts, held him back by the sleeve, "Aaron... wait, please."
Aaron turned around, "Is there a problem? Did I miss a spot?"
Daryl shook his head, "No, no, I-I have something to tell you."
Seeing his hesitant look, Aaron came and sat down next to him and said softly, "I'm listening."
"Well you see, pal... ah no this is off to a bad start... fuck... I don't know how to do this..."
Aaron put his hand on his arm and said softly, "Hey Daryl, you can talk to me about anything you know, I mean..."
Daryl ran his hand over his face, "I know man, but this is different, I..." he swallowed several times, "I...I think I'm in love with you. But the thing is, I don't know what it is. I've never been in love. I have no idea what to do, what to say. In fact, now that I've told you, I don't think I should have. Actually, you know what? Just forget it. Forget everything okay?"
Aaron didn't answer and Daryl didn't dare look at him, thinking to himself that he had ruined everything.
Suddenly he felt Aaron's big, warm hand take his gently and he ventured to look up. Aaron was looking at him in a way he had never looked at him before.
Planting his gaze in Daryl's, he whispered, "What if I don't want to forget?"
"What?"
Aaron squeezed his hand and repeated louder, a soft smile on his lips, "I said, what if I don't want to forget what you just said?"
Aaron let go of his hand, then raised his hand to Daryl's face, gently pushing a strand of hair back behind his ear. He smiled fondly as Daryl leaned naturally into his hand.
"Daryl, I'm in love with you. I know I am. Not because I once was, because I know deep down that you're the only person I want to be with right now. There's no instructions about it. This is all learning by doing. Just be yourself, the same Daryl as usual. That’s the one I’m in love with. Things will happen naturally. At your own pace."
He slid the hand that was on Darryl's cheek behind his neck to pull him closer, until they were forehead to forehead and their noses were touching. Smiling, Aaron rubbed their noses together.
"What are you doing?" asked Daryl.
"I'm letting you get used to the idea." whispered Aaron against Daryl's mouth.
Daryl grumbled, "I've gotten used to the idea enough, so kiss me right now."
Aaron chuckled before pressing his lips to Daryl's. They kissed slowly and gently, lips sliding over each other. It was simple and light, until they broke apart to catch their breath. Daryl knotted his hands behind Aaron's neck and he whispered against his mouth, "I didn't say I got used to the idea of your kisses, so don't stop there."
Aaron snickered again, "I see you got the concept of doing things at your own pace." before leaning in to resume the interrupted kiss.