Victor's heart pounded in his chest as he sat across from Damien, the man who seemed to exist in a world all his own. The coffee shop around them buzzed with the soft hum of conversation, but for Victor, it felt like the noise was miles away. He couldn't tear his gaze away from Damien, whose confidence was so effortless it was almost unreal. The way he leaned back in his seat, the slight smirk on his lips—it was as though the world belonged to him, and everyone else was just passing through.
"So," Damien's voice broke through Victor's swirling thoughts, smooth and teasing. "What's on your mind, bro?"
Victor's mind scrambled for words, but all he could do was glance down at his coffee cup. He wasn't used to this—he wasn't used to being seen, not like this. Damien made him feel like there was more to him than the weird, cynical guy in oversized clothes who always hid in the back. But how could he explain that? He rubbed the back of his neck, his usual defense mechanism when nervous.
"I—I don't know," he stammered, his words barely audible over the clink of cups. "I don't usually... do this kind of thing."
Damien's smirk softened, and he leaned in just a little closer, as if the space between them could be shortened even further. "No worries, man. I'm not judging." His voice dropped a bit, smooth and intimate, as he continued. "I just want to see what you're about."
Victor's chest tightened, and he shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his mind racing. He wasn't used to being asked about himself, at least not in this way. Damien made it sound so... easy, like it was nothing at all. But to Victor, it felt like stepping into uncharted territory. "I mean... I'm into some pretty weird stuff," he muttered, avoiding Damien's eyes.
Damien raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Weird stuff? I'm all ears, bro. Tell me more about your... truth-seeking thing. I wanna hear it."
And with that, Victor's guard dropped just a little. Damien was actually interested in hearing him out. He wasn't mocking him or looking at him like he was insane. No, Damien was leaning in, hanging on every word.
"Well," Victor started, his voice picking up momentum as he fell into his element. "I've always believed that there's more to the world than what we're told. The government, the corporations, the media—they control everything, manipulate everything. They want us to stay quiet, to follow the rules, but there's something underneath all that, something they don't want us to see. It's all connected, and I—" He stopped himself, feeling a little embarrassed at how quickly he'd dived into his usual rants.
Damien didn't interrupt, didn't even look bored. He just smiled that damn smile, the one that made Victor feel like the center of the universe, and nodded along. "Yeah, I get it. The system's rigged, right? I like how fired up you get. It's... kinda sexy, actually."
Victor's breath hitched at the unexpected compliment, but he quickly shook it off, brushing it off as just another joke. He had to be careful here. Damien had that effect on him, made him forget to second-guess himself.
The conversation flowed on, through deeper topics, touching on conspiracy theories and the broken systems of society. With each passing moment, Victor felt himself growing more comfortable, more confident. But just as quickly as the conversation had become intense, it shifted to lighter moments—quiet, private exchanges where Damien's smile never left, and Victor started to notice things he hadn't before. The way Damien's eyes sparkled in the dim light of the coffee shop, the way his voice held an almost hypnotic charm.
"So, uh," Victor said after a pause, trying to gather his thoughts as the conversation started to wind down, "you're not... you're not judging me for all this, right?"
Damien tilted his head, his grin widening as he leaned in even closer. "Nah, bro. You're real. That's what I like about you. You're not pretending to be something you're not. That's rare, you know?"
Victor was taken aback by his words. Most people either dismissed him or gave him that look—the one that said they thought he was crazy. But Damien? He saw him. He actually saw him.
Before Victor could respond, Damien's hand brushed against his, the touch lingering just a moment too long. Victor's pulse quickened. The warmth from Damien's touch seemed to spread through his entire body, and his breath caught in his throat. Was this it? Was Damien going to—
Damien's gaze flickered down to Victor's lips, and then back up to his eyes. "You ready for this?" he asked, his voice suddenly low, laden with something Victor couldn't quite decipher.
Victor swallowed hard, heart racing. The world seemed to pause for a moment. He wasn't ready for this. He wasn't ready for any of this. But he also couldn't look away, couldn't stop himself from inching forward just a little. "I—I think so," he whispered, barely believing his own words.
Damien chuckled softly, the sound a mix of amusement and something deeper, something more intense. Then, without another word, he closed the distance between them. His lips met Victor's with the same smooth confidence that seemed to radiate from every inch of him.
It wasn't like the movies, wasn't the slow, drawn-out kiss Victor had always imagined. It was fast, bold, and so full of energy that it left Victor breathless. For a second, he forgot everything—his thoughts, his insecurities, his entire sense of self. All that mattered was the kiss, and the way Damien's lips moved with such ease against his.
When they pulled apart, Damien's smile was smug but soft, as though he knew exactly what that kiss had done to Victor.
Victor's heart was still hammering in his chest, and he couldn't find the words. He just stared at Damien, wide-eyed and breathless, unsure of what to do next.
Damien grinned, his eyes dancing with mischief. "Told you you'd be ready," he teased, leaning back in his seat. "And next time? We're skipping the coffee shop."
Victor, still processing, nodded dumbly. "Yeah… sure."
Damien's silhouette melted into the night as he walked away, and Victor was left standing in the doorway of the coffee shop, a strange mix of thrill and confusion coursing through him. What had just happened? And why did he want more?
He couldn't quite answer either of those questions, but one thing was for sure: Damien was a force, and Victor wasn't sure he was ready for the storm that was coming—but he also couldn't seem to stay away.