The world stopped in a way that couldn't be explained with words. The planet ceased its constant rotation the same way his heart ceased to beat, blood running cold, frozen in place by an unexplainable, untouchable force. A celestial being at best case scenario. His entire body ached, as if he had been swimming and crashed against a pile of rocks, the harsh waves pushing him forward and down and into discord every time he tried to open his eyes or reach the surface to breathe. He had jumped off a cliff just for the adrenaline rush. Went down a waterfall just for the split second feeling of flying.
And he kissed him.
He kissed that goddamn buffoon. He kissed him and symbols crashed and his lungs collapsed and his legs gave out under him. It was short lived, short sighted. Something he'd regret the very moment he opened his eyes. The moment he pulled away.
It had felt right, it had felt like something in the world had finally made sense. Felt as if he had finally found something that couldn't be explained with scientific experiments. Dictionary definitions burning holes into his brain in between the rows and rows of library shelves, pushed against the cold walls with his head in his hands and his heart on his sleeve, silently crying his goddamn eyes out as his friends slept peacefully in their dorm rooms. They need not worry about him, for they knew exactly what he was doing.
25 hours a day ever since they arrived at Beacon Academy. He had exhausted the collection back at his school's library. Perhaps they had something here.
Everything could be explained with scientific experiments and dictionary definitions, right? Everything had to have an explanation. Everything save for that damn feeling that consumed his heart and his head and his hands. His soft hands gripping onto rough, calloused ones that felt like they fit perfectly in his. Chapped lips and hair as in as much disarray as the inner workings of Neptune's mind.
Reciprocation was never a feeling felt towards him, and relief that would've washed over him like a wave was an ecstasy filled nightmare of a lie.
It lasted longer than it felt like, or maybe it was the other way around? The touch was swift and fleeting, his subconscious egging him to retract and run as fast as his own two legs could carry him.
"Nep?..." Even after that, the blond huntsmen was still unable to call Neptune by his proper name, resorting to his affectionate nickname he had used since the day the first met. Neptune would've laughed if he wasn't resisting the urge to start crying.
"I-I have to go." The older boy stated curtly, turning on his heel and practically breaking into a sprint. Ignoring his close friends pleads for him to come back, he kept running.
Everything in this world could be explained. Everything but the damn feelings Neptune had for Sun. From the butterflies, to the muddled thoughts and the stuttering, to the urge to kiss that goddamn idiot every waking second of the day. How the moment he did it he realized the repercussions he'd be sure to face because of his reckless actions, and the fact that Sun didn't even like him in that way. Damn, Neptune was positive Sun would stop liking him in any way after what he just did.
Everything in the world could be explained with scientific experiments and dictionary definitions.
Everything except for how and why Neptune fell in love with Sun Wukong.