Buck had been tossing and turning in his sleeping bag for what had felt like hours. His anxiety had continued to increase throughout the day only for him to miss his opportunity to talk to Jenos in private. He was too nervous to ask Jenos to go stargazing in front of Io, so he waited until they got into their tent. Jenos seemed tired, so Buck decided he did not want to bother him, and he ended up falling asleep before he could say anything. Now, he felt as if he missed his best opportunity to tell Jenos how he really feels. He sighed and turned to face him. It's not really that big of a deal, right? He tried to tell himself. Defeated, he closed his eyes and tried to rest. He had started to fall asleep when he heard some rustling. He opened his eyes to see Jenos reaching out of his sleeping bag and into his backpack. He pulled out a flashlight and a book, sitting himself up to read. He froze with shock. Jenos was awake. He felt the adrenaline start to kick in. This was his chance.

However, Buck laid there, frozen and hesitant, staring at Jenos in the low light. Eventually, Jenos turned to him, slightly startled.

"Oh, Buck, you're awake?" he asked awkwardly, clearly put off by how intently Buck had been staring.

"Uh… yeah!" He answered, snapping out of his shock. You can do this.

"Okay." He returned to reading his book. Buck kept trying to speak, but his throat felt dry. He couldn't bring himself to say it. Jenos sat there, seemingly reading his book with an absent mind, not even turning a page after a considerable amount of time. After a few minutes, Jenos put down his book.

"I'm bored. You want to do something?" Buck blinked, surprised that Jenos had not taken interest in

"Uh, sure, what did you have in mind?" he asked nervously.

"Stargazing, maybe. The sky should be nice and clear here." Buck had to stop his jaw from dropping with shock. Io must have talked to him too. There was no way this was a coincidence. If not, it was just too convenient. He tried to tell himself it was just Jenos being Jenos, that he just wanted to stargaze normally, but that didn't stop Buck's heart rate from ramping up at the possibility that Jenos had a similar plan to his.

"Sounds great," he said, trying to keep calm. He got out of his sleeping bag, slipping on a hoodie over his pajamas to keep warm and some shoes. Jenos quickly made his way outside, barely taking any time to tie his shoes.

"Let's go," he said, excited but quiet. His hushed tone excited Buck. It made him feel like they were in on some sort of secret. Jenos led him through the campsite to a trailhead nearby, his flashlight illuminating the way.

"Just up here there's a good clear spot on top of the hill." Buck followed his light up the hill, starting to fall behind his friend's nimble pace. Jenos, after turning around to check on him and discovering him lagging behind, moved down towards him and let out his hand.

"I'll help." Buck was relieved that Jenos could not see his flushed face in the dark as he grabbed his hand and used it to get himself up to Jenos. The two proceeded at a slower pace, walking side by side up the hill.

"You don't have to slow down for me, you know," Buck said.

"It's alright. I'd rather not lose you in some dark woods." That made him chuckle. He looked upwards and realized that the trees almost blocked out the entire night sky and surrounded them on all sides of the trail.

"Yeah, it is pretty dark, good thing you brought a flashlight." They continued walking for a while in silence. Just as Buck noticed the trees start to give way to a clearing, Jenos seemed to quicken his pace, eager to reach the top. It's so adorable when he gets excited like that. He smiled and tried his best to keep up, making his way to the top of the hill to see Jenos staring up in awe at the myriad of stars above.

"Look at how many there are!" Jenos shouted, throwing his arms up in the air. He'd never heard his friend speak that loudly before.

"It's so beautiful," he continued. Buck scanned for a place to sit down. He spotted a fairly large rock that would act as a good back rest, and leaned down onto it. Jenos turned and sat down next to him, also leaning back.

"I can see so many of them, all the constellations," Jenos started. He pointed up at a cluster of stars. "There's the one I think looks like a lotus. I read about it, it's actually supposed to be a crown. The story is pretty long… you probably wouldn't want to hear it," Buck stopped him.
"Tell me about it."

"Really?"
"Yeah."

"I don't really remember all the details, are you sure?" Buck didn't mind. He just wanted to hear Jenos talk.
"Yes, it doesn't have to be perfect."

"Basically, there was a princess named… uh, I want to say her name was Alaras, but I don't exactly remember. She never had any need to study or try to gain wisdom, since she had all the riches one could ever want and the most handsome prince, Prince Karonus, lined up to be her husband. However, she being the spoiled brat she was, didn't treat him well once they were married. I think there was even a part where she had an affair with some dark wizard, I don't remember. Anyways, the prince finds another princess and she turns evil out of anger or jealousy or something like that, and the Gods punish her by taking her crown away and putting it in the sky so her lineage can never bear its power again" Jenos had looked up to the sky throughout his story, furrowing his brow when he struggled with details. Meanwhile, Buck had stared at him the whole time. He liked Jenos when he was in this talkative state, especially when it was because of something he really cared about. He found it endearing.

"That's a cool story. I like that a lot," Buck said, "lots of interesting lessons there."

"Yeah, I think so too. There are a couple different interpretations across different cultures, but that one is the most popular." Jenos continued to search in the night sky. He pointed his finger to another constellation excitedly. "Oh! There's the triangles, remember them? The two hearts?" Jenos asked energetically. Buck's face turned warm as he recalled the story Jenos had told him over the phone.

"Yep. That's the one with the two friends, right?"
"Correct." There was a pause. This is a good time…

"About that, Jenos…" he started, Jenos finally looking to him, intrigued, "I wanted to tell you something." He nodded slowly, letting him speak.
"Lately, we've been getting really close and all, and… I really like that. Like, a lot. More than I should, you know? I mean, not that it's wrong or something, or not normal, but… I don't know. I really appreciate your company and all, you're a great friend, but, not just a great friend…" he trailed off. Buck, what the hell are you saying? There was a brief silence, which was broken when Jenos let out a slight chuckle.

"Oh Buck, you're being silly as usual. I get it now."

"Huh?"
"I like you too"

"You mean, like more than as a friend?"
"Yes." Buck could have sworn his heart stopped.

"I thought it was a little bit obvious. At least, that's the sense I got from Io's teasing," Jenos continued.
"She talked to you too?" Buck spat out, surprised. Jenos laughed.

"Yes. Let me guess, she told you to talk to me?"
"How did you know?"
"It's something she would do." Buck exhaled, feeling relieved that he was not rejected, but still slightly put off by how quiet Jenos was after he had been so lively earlier.

"I'm cold." His friend said after another long pause.

"Do…do you want to go back to the tent?" Buck asked, unsure of how to navigate the situation.

"No." At this moment, Buck noticed that Jenos had drifted ever so slightly closer to him. He decided now would be a good time to make a move. He took a deep breath and rocketed his muscular arm around his slender… friend?

"You had to work up to that, huh?" Buck blushed with embarrassment, but was also refreshed that the sarcastic Jenos had returned. He sensed he could be honest now, that his nerves were mostly gone.

"I'm sorry I couldn't say it directly," Buck started, "I've been nervous about this all day."
"Me too."

"Huh?"
"I wanted to tell you also. During this trip." That explained his silence.

"Well, I'm glad I missed that party then," Buck quipped.

"Party?"
"Khan threw a Halloween party, a lot of people wanted me to go… but when you wanted to hang out, I just couldn't refuse." Buck could see Jenos smile ever so slightly, the dim light of the stars illuminating his face. He moved closer, turning into Buck and leaning his head onto his bicep

"You're warm," Jenos said, looking up to him. Buck could see the entirety of the night sky reflected in his blue eyes, which in the dark resembled the black seas that sailors conquered in storms.

"Thanks?" Jenos exhaled, amused, then closed his eyes. Buck still felt the need to tell him how he really felt, without undercutting it with a joke or beating around the bush.

"But seriously. I… like you a lot. More than a friend, best friend even. You're really special to me, I mean it. Who else is gonna tell me about constellations and math and stuff?" Close enough. Jenos turned his head away.

"You're flattering me."

"Is there something wrong with that?" The other boy paused.

"No." They sat again in silence, Jenos trying to keep warm as he stared up at the stars with Buck. Gradually, Buck could feel the smaller boy start to shiver.

"Are you still cold?" he asked.

"A little bit." Buck moved his other arm to feel Jenos's hand, which was cold to the touch. Buck proceeded to take off his jacket and present it to Jenos. His eyes widened when he realized what was happening.

"Are you sure? Will you get cold?"
"No. Take it." Jenos grabbed it and put it on quickly, seeming excited. His hands were buried in the oversized sleeves, his form drowning in baggy cloth meant to fit a man much larger than him. He put the hood over his head and tucked his long hair in, which almost made him look like a monk because of how it drooped over his face. He shifted to kneel next to Buck, turned towards him.

"Thank you." He turned his head away for a second, the voluminous hood casting an ominous shadow over his face. Then, Jenos reached his cold hand out of his sleeve and onto his cheek, caressing it as he planted a soft kiss on his face. Buck's face was hot against the other boy's full lips, and his heart was set aflame. Jenos really did feel the same way about him. As Jenos moved away to lean on Buck's bicep again, his slender fingers became entangled with Buck's own. They again fell into a silence, but this time, it was a relaxing, flexible silence; a silence that allowed them to enjoy each other, and would yield when that included speaking to each other.

Buck never wanted this night to end. However, he knew it would have to eventually, so he decided he would try to make the most out of it and speak purely to make conversation.

"How long have you felt this way?" Buck asked. He got no response from Jenos.

"Jenos?" The heaviness of the slimmer boy's form on his suddenly lifted, signalling that he had woken up.

"Yes?"
"Did you fall asleep?"
"I don't know, I think so. What were you going to say, though?"
"How long have you felt this way about me?" He paused for an unusually long time, as if he was struggling with what to say, furrowing his brow as he usually did. Finally, he spoke.

"I don't know exactly, but I became aware of it that night we got dinner. I usually spend most of my time alone, since it is most peaceful that way. I felt just as at peace when I was sitting with you in my backyard as I would alone. Then, you were so caring afterwards, after Lian tried to ruin it. You didn't let her ruin it. I wished I could be like that, but I think too much. I realized I like that about you, not that you don't think because you clearly do, but that you don't let other people ruin things for you." Buck had sat there, astonished by his kind words. It was rare for Jenos to speak so much, let alone be so open about his emotions. He wanted to beam with triumphant joy.

"That's the nicest thing anyone's ever said about me."
"I try." The pale-haired boy sighed, satisfied. Then, he yawned.
"You're tired, huh?" Buck asked.

"I'm fine." Buck could see through his lie.

"We should make our way back to the tent." Buck suggested. Jenos's expression shifted to a subtle pout.

"I don't want to leave." Buck didn't either, but he also didn't want to have to make his way back to the camp without Jenos's guidance."
"Don't worry. We can always stargaze back at your house. We can always spend time together." Jenos furrowed his brow again, as if he was trying to think, but his expression soon returned to being neutral. He was too tired to argue.

"You're right. I just wanted to hold onto this as long as possible."
"You don't have to." Buck responded, "I'll always be here." That made Jenos smile. He started to get up.

"Time to hit the hay then?" Buck asked, also getting up.

"I'm exhausted from today. But I had a great time." The two carefully made their way down the hill, through the campsite, and back to the tent. Jenos slipped off his shoes and tucked himself back into his sleeping bag, not bothering to take off Buck's jacket. Neither of them minded. Buck tucked himself in too, and was just about to fall asleep when Jenos shifted his sleeping bag closer to his. He could barely make out Jenos's features but he could sense his gaze focused on him.

"Yes?" Buck asked expectantly. Jenos reached his hand out to caress his cheek again, this time stroking his chin and sculpted jaw with his thumb.

"I love you." Buck smiled softly.

"Love you too." Buck took his friend's slim hand and planted a soft kiss on it. He saw Jenos move his hand back into his sleeping bag, holding it close to himself. "How adorable" was Buck's last coherent thought as he drifted off, his newfound love providing warmth and comfort that knocked him into a stupor.