Colin's apartment was small but welcoming, its walls adorned with posters of classic films and bookshelves packed with well-loved paperbacks. The two friends settled on the couch with a bottle of whiskey Colin had produced from a cupboard. It didn't take long for the alcohol to loosen their tongues and pull them into memories of the past.

"Remember when we tried to build that treehouse?" Colin asked, laughing as he poured another round. "We were so proud of it, and it fell apart the first time we climbed in."

Trench smirked, the warm haze of the whiskey taking the edge off his usual guardedness. "I told you not to use nails that were already bent."

"And I told you to ask your dad for help," Colin shot back. His smile softened. "He'd probably have done it, too."

The mention of his father brought a pang of sadness, but Trench pushed it aside. "Yeah. Maybe." He raised his glass. "To simpler times."

Colin clinked his glass against Trench's. "To simpler times."

Hours passed, the bottle dwindling as the night wore on. Laughter gave way to quieter conversations, the kind that only happened in the small hours when walls came down. Colin leaned back against the couch, his gaze on Trench. "I missed this. Missed you. I mean, not the drinking part; we were too young then, weren't we?"

Trench hesitated, the weight of the moment pressing down on him. Then, before he could second-guess himself, he closed the distance between them, their lips meeting in a tentative, searching kiss.

The morning light filtered through the blinds, casting a soft glow over the apartment. Trench woke with a start, the events of the night before flooding back as he registered Colin's sleeping form beside him. His mind churned with uncertainty—about what had happened, about what it meant.

Colin stirred, blinking awake. He met Trench's gaze and offered a sleepy smile. "Morning."

"Morning," Trench replied, his voice rough. He hesitated, then said, "About last night..."

"Yeah?" Colin propped himself up on one elbow, watching him carefully.

Trench took a deep breath. "I don't know what I'm feeling. I've never... thought about this before. About... guys."

Colin nodded slowly. "It's okay. You don't have to have it all figured out right now."

Trench let out a shaky laugh. "Thanks. I just... I think I might be bisexual. Or something. I don't know."

"That's a start," Colin said gently. He reached out, resting a hand on Trench's arm. "Whatever this is, we can figure it out. Together."

Trench nodded, the tension in his chest easing slightly. "Yeah. Together."

Trench curled up against Colin, feeling their hearts beat together under bare skin. For the first time in what felt like years, he allowed himself to feel a flicker of hope.