Work Text:
The sound of gentle brush strokes gliding across a canvas, the breeze howling — tickling the surface of their skin, the rays of the sun kissing the smiles on their lips, and the yellow-ish green grass swaying with the motion of the wind. It all looked like a sight from a painting, worthy to be put in a museum, or a scenery gotten directly from a cliché yet romantic film.
Speaking of paintings, it is so coincidentally that a certain brunette was sitting down on a picnic blanket, covering the part where the soil was supposed to touch his skin. Shu Yamino, a college student who majors in fine arts, is currently doing his long-time project.
And that project happened to involve Luca Kaneshiro, also a college student who studies Physical Education. He wanted to help his friend with his design, offering to be the model that Shu supposedly had to replicate, only with colors and a brush.
They were sitting under their own canvas of blue, the sky and the clouds mixing together was the perfect description for autumn, along with the cozy coolness of the atmosphere that engulfed them.
Shu turned his attention back to the blond, who displayed a funny looking face, clearly growing stiff from not moving at all. He softly chuckled at the sight, putting the brush down as a sign he was done. “I’m finished, Luca.” he announced, and almost instantly, the latter let out a deep groan and plopped himself down on the blanket.
He soon got up, stretching and exercising his muscles to regain his senses back. “Can I see it?” Luca asked, seeming to be enthusiastic and excited about the piece of work the other created.
“Oh, sure!” Shu replied, turning the canvas around to show Luca his project. The blond stared at it in awe, mouth agape from astonishment.
“Shu…” He breathed, loss for words. The brunette visibly stiffed, as if he was nervous about the other’s thoughts. “Do you like it?” He quietly uttered, fiddling with his fingers.
Luca turned his head around to like at Shu, expression still indescribable. “Like it?” He repeated, a smile forming around his face. “I love it, Shu!” The enthusiasm made the brunette sigh in relief, soon joining his friend’s laughter.
“I’m glad you do.” Shu said to himself, but Luca heard it nonetheless and looked at him with a fond look. Luca noticed how proud Shu must be feeling — he can’t lie, the piece was amazing. He managed to capture every detail, every feature of him.
Shu painted Luca like he was an ethereal god.
And Luca captured Shu in his mind like a beautiful butterfly floating by.
They enjoyed each other’s presence around the breath-taking view of a field full of tulips. It was both of their favorite flowers and since it was the season of autumn, the said flower can be seen everywhere. They laid down on the blanket, watching as the orange to yellow leaves fell out of the trees, swaying back and forth onto the ground.
They loved this. They told themselves they will cherish this moment forever in their hearts that beat only for each other.
It was a moment where all their troubles fleeted away like the seeds of a dandelion. It was a moment where they could smile freely, laugh freely. It was a moment only for them.
Only for them.
—
There was a small get-together with Shu, Luca, and their three other friends. It was their break from college and a celebration for all of them turning 21-years old. They couldn’t drink together often, due to a certain someone not being allowed to. But now, they can finally enjoy the night to their heart’s content.
Mysta was currently drunk and hazy, screaming on the top of his lungs with Ike, who also had a bit too much to drink and kept clinging onto the detective; poor Vox who was in the middle of it all.
On the other hand, Luca and Shu were having a time of their own. Shu is a light-drinker, so he did his best to stay away from consuming too much alcohol. Despite his efforts, he couldn’t say no to an offer. Especially if it came from a certain blond.
“Come on, Shu,” Luca urged, nudging the latter’s elbow, “let loose for a bit!” He gave him a pleading look, handing out a can of beer that had the littlest alcohol known to man (since he knew that the brunette easily gets drunk).
Shu sighed in defeat, accepting the attempt. “Fine,” he mumbled, opening the can and smelling the fizz of the acid, “just a bit though.” He reminded himself not to go overboard.
“Cheers?” Luca asked, holding his own drink up, waiting for the other’s response. Shu giggled and nodded, raising his beer and letting it hit the Luca’s, a small clank emitting out of it. “Cheers.” He said, before taking a sip, feeling his chest slightly burn from the alcohol.
Then and there, they locked eyes; both of their gaze never leaving each other’s. Two purple eyes connecting two hearts by an invisible string that tied them together. It was as if time passed by like a snail, it waited until they were done falling through the moment.
They only snapped out of their trance, when they heard a novelist do his usual metal-scream, causing everyone in the room to flinch. The room soon filled in with laughter, jokes ran around the area — it was the cringy kind of advancement, but it was enjoyable nonetheless.
It felt complete.
—
“I like you, Shu.” The blond suddenly breathed out.
The latter was taken aback, but kept his gaze towards the view in front of them, not daring to look at him. Luca didn’t know why he blurted that out, it was the heat of the moment.
They were sitting at the edge of a small cliff, Luca asked the brunette if he wanted to accompany him. At first, he didn’t have any intention of confessing. He really did just want someone to hang out with, and that someone just happened to be Shu, the long-time crush he had been secretly hiding. Honestly, he couldn’t tell if it was just merely a crush at this point.
He can’t deny the fact that he keeps taking glances at him, sometimes even getting lost in his eyes. Can you blame him though? Who wouldn’t drown in the softness of Shu’s gaze. His smile, his laughter, his aura, his everything.
It all felt warm and cozy. Like a true home for Luca.
“I like you too.”
And just like that, Luca felt his home turn into his world. He instantly turned his head around to face Shu, who was already looking at him with a fond smile. A pink blush tainting his face, mixing in with the sky above them.
“You- I-...” Luca stuttered, struggling to come up with simple words. “You… are you serious? You’re not- you’re not joking with me, right?” He felt his heart beat faster when the other laughed and nodded his head. ‘God, his laugh. I could listen to it everyday.’ He thought to himself, getting lost in the melody of Shu’s giggles.
“I’m serious.” Shu replied, reaching out to hold Luca’s hand, intertwining their fingers with each other. “I like you too, Luca Kaneshiro. Very, very much.”
He heard the latter let out multiple breaths of reliefs, before feeling two strong arms pick him up from the ground and turn him around to carry him. “L-Luca!” Shu exclaimed, holding tightly onto the blond’s shoulders for support.
Soon enough, Luca put Shu down yet kept his grasp around his waist, burying his face on the crook of the brunette’s neck. “You don’t know how long I’ve waited for this, Shu.” Luca choked out a sob, feeling the latter’s fingers caress his head.
“I may not,” Shu breathed, seeing soft visible air come out every time he spoke, indicating that the weather was cold, “but what I do know is that I want to be with you… for the rest of my life.”
Luca’s eyes stung, tears threatening to fall out as he just gripped tighter onto Shu. “I want to be with you too.” He mumbled, voice slightly breaking. “Until death and beyond.”
Shu let out a deep breath and laughed, pulling Luca closer, and watching as the leaves fell out of the trees. It was a moment they would never trade for anything. They would repeat it over and over again if given the chance to.
Indeed so, fall is for falling in love.