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Demian took comfort from Sinclair’s presence, the warmth of his arm around his own, as the two walked through the park of the town they grew up in. He felt content, satisfied with the time they spent together. After all they’ve been through, to finally be able to stop fighting, to be able to simply walk together in peace with his soulmate.
It was bliss.
“It’s such a nice day today, isn’t it?” Sinclair spoke as he moved his hand to Demian’s, which held his crutches, and let his thumb gently trace the scars that adored his skin.
Demian nodded, a smile curling his lips as he looked out to the beautiful scenery of the park. “Yes, the air’s fresh and the sun’s not too harsh today. I’m so happy that we get to enjoy this day together,” he said, his grip tightened slightly on Sinclair’s arm, as if trying to savor the moment. The trees seemed vibrant, the sky bright and blue. The sun beamed down on them softly, the breeze rustling the leaves in the surrounding trees, and they could hear the birds chirping... It truly was a wonderful day.
Sinclair smiled softly and held Demian’s hand a little tighter. It really just was so peaceful. “I’m happy too, Demian...”.
Demian turned his head to face Sinclair, a soft blush spread across his cheeks. Sinclair’s smile was so warm, filled with love and affection. He couldn’t believe he was lucky enough to have him as his husband. “I...I love you so much...” he whispered softly, his voice sweet and tender. He was content with everything, and he only wanted to hold the man he’s loved for so long, just a little bit longer.
Sinclair’s smile only got wider as he leaned his head on Demian’s shoulder. “I love you too... So much...” he responded quietly, as if these words were supposed to be heard only by Demian, as if these words were only for him.
Demian gave Sinclair’s arm a squeeze, as much as he could, his grip still being quite weak since the coma. Their bodies leaned against one another, enjoying the feeling of comfort and security, like they were never meant to be separated. Demian looked into Sinclair’s green eyes and was lost in their beauty, mesmerized by the warmth of their glow. His heart melted, feeling the love and connection between them was something so pure and innocent.
They were meant to be, and he was happy that they were finally able to be together.
A bird flew overhead, and they watched it as it slowly passed through the sky. The sun was beginning to set, and the sky took on a vibrant orange and pink color as it dipped below the horizon. The sun’s last rays bathed them in its warmth.
As the two walked through the downtrodden path, some bricks missing since their childhood, Sinclair smiled as he slowly clung to Demian’s arm. The two just enjoyed the fresh air of the park, the chirping of the birds perching on the trees, the small quacking of the ducks by the side of the lake...
The ducks caught Sinclair’s attention, his gaze towards the lake.
Demian noticed Sinclair looking at the lake. Their shared history and connection allowed him to recognize exactly what Sinclair was thinking. Feeding the ducks, It was an activity they both used to enjoy when they were younger, and something they had continued to do throughout the years.
Demian slowed his pace. The park was becoming quieter now, and the only sounds were the birds chirping, the gently lapping waters and their footsteps until Demian opened his mouth. “Sinclair, would you like to see the lake a bit closer?” he asked, surprising Sinclair.
Sinclair blushed, a bit embarrassed, Demian always knew him so well, he always had the uncanny ability to notice what others are thinking of, ever since they were children... And even after he knew how Demian did that, he couldn’t help but still be a little disturbed by it, yet, he was completely charmed by it too. “Yes... I would like to see the lake closer, if you don’t mind us extending our walk a little longer,” Sinclair said timidly, with a smile.
Demian chuckled as he reached out to stroke Sinclair’s hair, “Of course, I don’t mind at all, silly. We have all the time in the world.” He smiled warmly at his lover. “We had fond memories at this lake, didn’t we?” he asked softly as they slowly walked. He wanted to remind Sinclair of their memories, so that they can relive it together, for the sake of both of their happiness.
As Demian took a step with his crutches, Sinclair took a step, too. It felt like every step they made was in sync, as if their lives were synchronized with one another, a rhythm as the two got closer to the lake. They had spent a big part of their lives together, from childhood up until they were currently living as a married couple. It was a sense of familiarity and comfort.
The lake was quiet, with the gentle sounds of the birds and the ducks. It stretched out in the distance, and the sun slowly sank into the horizon. It was a serene sight.
“What a beautiful lake,” Demian commented softly before chuckling to himself. “Oh, I know, the reason you are so interested in this lake must be because of those little ducks, is it not, Sinclair?”
“Oh? Was it so obvious?” Sinclair chuckled back nervously. “They are so adorable... Just swimming in the water with the little ducklings following them around...”
The ducks quacked as some swam closer to the edge of the lake. They didn’t look scared of humans. They must have gotten plenty of affection from the park visitors.
Demian chuckled again, amused by Sinclair’s excitement in the cute little ducklings. But he couldn’t help but think Sinclair was right as he watched them. There was nothing more adorable than baby ducklings, especially when they were following their moms in a cute line like this. “I don’t blame you. Those little ones, swimming around with their parents, are too adorable to resist watching,” he said calmly, before turning to face Sinclair. “Do you remember what we used to do by the lake?” he asked softly, his tone nostalgic and sweet.
Sinclair looked at Demian. “I remember we used to feed the ducks when we were younger,” he answered softly. “I remember this one memory vividly... You, pouring seeds into my hands, telling me to not feed them with bread,” he recalled.
Demian nodded, his eyes warm with fondness as he remembered the good old days. “That’s right, we used to get out of school, then come straight to the lake to feed the ducks,” Demian replied, his voice filled with nostalgia. “Would you like to feed them some seeds now, too, Sinclair?”
“Oh, I would love to,” Sinclair smiled before he produced a bag of seeds from his bag, the same one he had been using to feed the birds that would visit the park before.
Scattering some seeds into the water, the ducks quacked and more and more birds gathered, mother birds feeding their little hatchlings, little ducklings eating voraciously, all the ducks happily flapping their wings in the water. They looked so happy, so cheerful and delighted.
“They are so adorable!” Sinclair giggled as he scattered some more seeds in the water, watching as the ducks feasted on his little offering. “They are such big eaters!”
“They are indeed. So adorable,” Demian responded, amused by the ducks’s enthusiasm, watching them greedily eating every bit of the seed thrown into the water. He laughed, feeling Sinclair’s happiness infecting him. “Hm, they are reminding me of someone I know,” he said, glancing at Sinclair, seeing his eyes sparkling.
Sinclair blushed, realizing what Demian meant, but he tried to brush it off. “W-What a lovely sight today is,” he said, looking back at Demian as the birds below them swam away from the edge of the lake when he stopped feeding them. Only a few left by the side as one of the ducks got up from the water, followed up by the cute ducklings waddling behind their mother. Sinclair smiled at the sight. “It is so peaceful today.”
The ducks, as much as they had gotten used to humans, didn’t like to be near the shore for a long period. Instead, they chose to rest somewhere more secluded. But they came to the shore to greet the visitors, especially those with treats for them.
“It is, isn’t it? The calm and serene scenery of nature, and the beautiful sky... Everything is so beautiful and comforting,” Demian smiled, feeling a sense of calm within himself. He looked at Sinclair, admiring the way the sun’s last rays illuminated his gentle features and glowed on the green of his eyes. He was the one that finally brought colour to his world and filled it with love and light.
Sinclair looked back at Demian. “Let’s go sit on the bench. I don’t want you to strain your legs...” he said softly.
Demian couldn’t believe it had been so long since they had come to this park, yet it still felt nostalgic, like it was yesterday, that they were children walking alongside the water. The ducks were still a constant in their lives; cute, adorable and gentle.
“Right, you’re right, I’m starting to get a bit tired from all the walking we did,” Demian agreed. He had been struggling with his legs and limbs in general ever since he woke up from the coma, having spinal injury had been hard to move around without any support or help, but luckily Sinclair has always been there for him, supporting him and making sure he doesn’t overexert himself. “Let’s take a rest,” he said, leaning onto his crutches as he let Sinclair lead the way to the wooden bench by the side of the lake. It was a nice, peaceful spot overlooking the lake and the ducks swimming by. They sat down in front of the water, enjoying the quiet atmosphere, the peacefulness of the nature surrounding them.
Demian leaned his head against Sinclair’s, content in the quiet moments that passed between them. It was peaceful to just be there with him. Nothing needed to be said as they sat together and soaked in the beauty of the sunset. Their bodies were close, their hands were still held together, and their breathing slowed as they relaxed in each other’s comfort. Their eyes would meet briefly, a soft expression on each of them as they looked into one another’s eyes.
Once they broke the eye contact, they took in the scenery of the lake, its calm waters reflecting the orange hue of the setting sun. The breeze that passed gently cooled them slightly, making the evening pleasant and comfortable. They remained silent, each lost in their own thoughts, enjoying the moment of calm and tranquility. The atmosphere was peaceful, like time stood still for them as they took in the setting sun and basked in each other’s company.
“Did you see that bird that flew by before?” Sinclair asked suddenly, looking back at Demian. “I think it was a bullfinch, it had this red belly and blueish wing feathers...” he added.
“I did... It was beautiful. It looked as if an artist had painted it, the way the light caught its vibrant feathers... And the way it flew, so gracefully,” Demian said softly as he looked back at Sinclair, a small smile on his lips. “Ah, you’ve got the bird watcher’s eyes,” he added. He loved listening to Sinclair talking about birds. The way his face brightened when he spoke of them, the way his eyes glittered, it was obvious the topic was of great importance to him. He seemed so passionate about it.
Sinclair’s face blushed a little at the comment, looking away shyly as he rubbed his hand against the back of his neck, still holding Demian’s hand with the other. “Oh, um... Thank you. I was reading a lot about birds these past few weeks. I... Want to get into bird watching, wanted for a while,” he spoke, sounding timid. “I find it beautiful, you know... The fact the birds are recovering from the chaos of the war too, just like us, humans.”
“Birds are truly fascinating creatures. The way they move, the colors of their plumage, how they can sing and fly so freely, free to go anywhere they desire... how they’ve adapted to their environments even after the war... And to know that they are recovering as we are, makes it seem as if we are all part of the same cycle, living, and growing, in harmony with one another,” Demian spoke before he frowned.
If only humans could do the same.
Instead of war and strife, instead of division and hatred amongst one another, if only we lived in peace with one another, just how we live in peace with nature, just how birds live in peace with one another... that would be truly a wonderful world, he thought.
He looked over at Sinclair, seeing his innocent smile. His heart melted seeing him and his shy reaction. The way he blushed, the way his words sounded, how his eyes darted away and he fidgeted with the hem of his jacket... it was adorable. Even after many years of being close to one another, Sinclair still had those moments where he behaved like just his old self, a timid schoolboy, afraid of his own shadow. He was just pure and innocent in nature; it seems.
Demian gently brushed the strands of hair from Sinclair’s face, making him look into his eyes. His expression was so soft, so innocent, so beautiful. He was like a ray of sunshine to Demian, brightening the world by his presence alone. “Though... It... it is truly an inspiring thing. The hope of life, of recovery, of the world getting better... Birds represent that very same thing,” he said, keeping his gaze on Sinclair.
Sinclair looked at Demian in silence, the soft blush on his face not disappearing. It took him a few seconds before he knew what to say.
“Sometimes... Sometimes I wish I was a bird, Demian,” he said softy. “I’d love to soar into the skies and see the world from the top... Fly freely without any responsibilities.” He pauses, as if trying to see on Demian’s face if he understood what he meant. “Maybe I’d have eggs of my own to take care of, maybe I’d be busy flying around, bathing in the lake, eating the seeds... But I know one thing...” he pauses again, taking a deep breath. “I would sing out to my love... Would you... Find me? Amongst all these birds that’d sing the same song as me...” he asked, still staring into Demian’s blue eyes.
Demian’s heart fluttered like a bird’s wings in response, hearing Sinclair’s words and the way his voice trembled slightly as he spoke them. It was endearing, and at the same time breathtaking. His words stirred something deep in Demian’s heart. To see Sinclair wanting such freedom and wishing to have things be different, wanting a world with no conflict, no war, only living to sing and fly in the sky. Sinclair has painted an image in his mind, of his gentle calls, his sweet song ringing through the skies as he flew. The thought was so lovely; he was certain he’d recognize Sinclair, regardless of what form he took.
“I would.”
He whispered with no hesitation, his voice filled with emotion as he reached out and cupped Sinclair’s face in his hand, pulling him closer gently. “No matter how many birds there would be, no matter how small your voice would be, I would find you,” he added. “I would search through the sky until I found the bird that sang in your voice, whose beautiful song echoed through the clouds. And then I would find you, because your voice is like no one else’s, and after that I would never let you go, cherishing you in my arms forever.”
Sinclair could only smile as their lips gently brushed against one another. He reached to Demian’s hand on his cheek, remembering their first kiss, one that left a trail of blood on his lips. He thought that after that kiss, he wouldn’t see Demian ever again, yet... Here he was, in front of him, alive, kissing him again and again.
The kiss was tender, gentle, sweet, like two birds gently brushing their beaks together as a sign of affection. The things they had to face and endure through the war, the pain and heartbreak they went through... It was all worth it for the moments like this.
Demian brushed his thumb against Sinclair’s face, feeling the faint scar on his cheek, his skin still as soft and smooth as before the war. He felt grateful for the time they had together, for the love they could build. It was all thanks to the miracle that he survived. He held Sinclair close, as if he wanted to be one with him, so that nothing could ever pull them apart. He kissed Sinclair, letting their lips linger on one another as they savored the flavor of their love.
A soft sigh of satisfaction escaped from each of them as they looked at one another after pulling away, their lips slightly parted as the two were still stuck in that moment.
“I missed you,” Demian whispered as he stared into Sinclair’s eyes, his thumb moving to lightly rub his lips, as he was still feeling the sensation of their kiss.
Sinclair smiled a sincere smile, his eyes closing, before wrapping his arms around Demian, hugging him close. “I missed you too...” he whispered back.
Demian pressed himself against Sinclair, clinging to him as if he was afraid of losing him. He wanted to remain there, feeling his warmth, smelling his scent, enjoying the way he felt in his arms. The two remained in this embrace, comfortable and at ease. There was safety and sanctuary in the love they felt for one another, and they wanted to maintain that, to stay sheltered from the cruelties and hardships that the world could offer. There was no place either of them would rather be than in one another’s arms.
Sinclair rested his head against Demian’s chest, listening to his heartbeat, slow and steady, a proof that he’s alive. It was like a comforting lullaby that soothed him... He still could smell that scent of soap from his neck. It was comforting, familiar, like it had never changed. There was nothing he would’ve rather wanted than to remain in this moment with the man he loved, lost in each other’s embrace, as the sun set and a beautiful sky of pink and orange filled up the sky.
“Demian...?” Sinclair asked as he looked towards the lake that reflected the orange sky.
Demian turned to look at where Sinclair was looking, taking in the magnificent view of the sky and lake. The birds from the nearby trees were getting quieter as the night approached. It was truly a serene scene, the way the sunset painted the sky in bright orange and pink hues, the sun’s rays still lingering on it. The lake was calm, with tiny ripples forming where small waves crashed against its shore. There was a peacefulness to the air, a soothing serenity.
“Yes, my love?”
“I’m really living my best life.”
Demian couldn’t help but smile at the way Sinclair had spoken. It was heartfelt and genuine, as if he was truly feeling the depth of his words. The way he spoke, like it was a revelation. They really were living their best life, he thought, despite everything that had happened between them. They faced a war, a painful separation, a long time of uncertainty. Yet, still, they remained together. Their love had survived it all and come out stronger. Sinclair was alive. He was here, in his arms, and that was all that mattered.
“So am I. I couldn’t agree more, Sinclair... I couldn’t be happier than I am right now,” he agreed, his voice filled with affection as he leaned down to kiss Sinclair on the lips once more.