InsaneJournal

The first kiss had been an awkward thing. Angeal had not expected it, and Genesis seemed to have surprised himself as well with his daring.

Still, the satiny brush of lips on skin counted as a first, and so lingered in Angeal’s memory with other such firsts. If he thought about that moment, he could still smell the earth and the bark and the leaves of the trees that guarded them like a fort.

Moments after had come the next first: lips met lips, and Genesis was trembling.

Angeal had always been the larger boy, taller and sturdier and expected to act strong in all things. He hadn’t thought twice about holding his friend so Genesis wouldn’t fall. The kiss had deepened, bringing with it the sweet taste of apples.

Genesis always seemed to taste like apples.

Beneath the stars, the two boys had explored each other with innocent curiosity: Genesis pointing out each new bit of “man-hair,” and Angeal marveling at the other’s soft, uncallused hands.

With no cause for shame, their friendship only deepened, each following the other wherever he might lead. Every year brought new firsts, some erotic, some simply tender.

Neither saw the fateful line drawing nearer before them. Neither realized that some boundaries can never be uncrossed.

“I love you.” Just that, nothing more; those three words, said for the first time, changed everything.