The Beginner's Guide to Love

Valentine's Day was always just… Pointless. Simply, it was a day where people would celebrate higher-level intimacy with another person; or, in other words, Love. It never was, and never would be something that Sarge would fully understand.

That's why, when the day itself came around, he was so confused as to why Fillmore would want to spend it with him. Valentine's Day was just like any other day, except with hearts and sickly-sweet candies. It really didn't seem to be Fillmore's cup of tea; but, then again, nothing was ever as it seemed to be with him.

As it would naturally unfold, Sarge would find out that he was right in thinking that Fillmore wasn't into all of that traditional Valentine's stuff. Their evening didn't even come close to being archetypal to anything Valentine's Day related. The summative outcome of the night would just end up with them in Fillmore's tent-home, just enjoying being around each other. Of course, the evening wasn't just that, there was much more to it. Like all things, there were little details that made it seem special.

At one point in the night, they'd given up all talk entirely to sit silently, much closer to each other than they'd allow themselves to be in public. The experience was simultaneously the best and worst thing out of Sarge's entire life. It was so serene, so calming, so perfect that it felt as if he was standing on thin ice and he might fall through any moment.

And then there was the whole ordeal after that. It was so incredibly surreal that sometimes, Sarge could barely even fathom that it had happened at all.

The Kiss.

During that instantaneous moment, it was as if the world was reborn, and he finally began to understand. He understood why Fillmore was always saying love is the most amazing and beautiful thing, because he found that love was this feeling of just absolute happiness and that of being content with another person. It was as if the world was a snowstorm, and they—they were the only source of heat.

When it ended, Fillmore was looking at him questioningly, anticipating any response.

And, Sarge could have said literally anything. A 'Holy shit,' or even a simple 'Wow,' would do. But, instead, he tackled Fillmore like he was begging for more. More of that orange-y taste, more of the weightlessness he would get, more of that feeling. Every nerve in his entire being was on fire when they kissed, and it was the most amazing thing.

They broke apart a bit later, both breathing a little bit heavily. Fillmore had this dazed grin on his face, mumbling something about how he "didn't know Sarge swung that way." Sarge himself sat there quietly, awestruck.

Valentine's Day is still pointless, sure. But Love is such an atypical thing that maybe, just maybe, it does deserve its own day; even if Sarge still couldn't understand it.