Dee’s hopes have been dashed so many times that when Ryo actually says yes instead of no, when he actually responds wholeheartedly to Dee’s kiss instead of freezing up, panicking, or pushing Dee away, for a moment Dee honestly isn’t sure this is really happening. Maybe he fell asleep on the sofa and now he’s having a really vivid dream, the kind with surround sound, touch, taste, smell, the whole enchilada. The kind of dream he’s had about his partner more times than he cares to admit.

And yes, even in those dreams, there was always some clue to the fact that he WAS dreaming, and in this one, all he can feel is the softness of Ryo’s lips against his own, the warmth of his partner’s skin through the thin cotton of the borrows pyjamas… He can smell the shampoo Ryo used on his hair; the kind Dee himself uses instead of the vanilla scent that’s Ryo’s usual brand.

He's not dreaming, this is real, even though it’s something he’s been dreaming about practically since he met his partner. He’s not going to suddenly wake up and find himself alone in his bed. Ryo pulls him closer, and they lay down together on top of the covers, kissing, touching, hesitantly on Ryo’s part, confidently but carefully on Dee’s, always alert for anything that might make Ryo tense up, or change his mind. It might kill Dee to stop now, but he would if he had to, because he doesn’t want to mess this up.

He prays that this first time won’t be the last, that it will be the start of the next stage in his and Ryo’s relationship. He’s determined to make this night as good as he can for his partner, so he’ll come back for more.


The End