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That question asked with such sadness and self-pity nearly launched Rictor out of his seat. "¡Claro! More than that, I . . ." He took a deep breath to steady himself, the same tactic he had mastered to effectively use his gift. He was calm, cool, collected, sturdy as stone. "It's a long story and I can explain more later, but basically, the flower I told you about that Harriet gave me? It's home to a spirit of some kind. A person, actually. And he was angry . . . well, was angry, he's calm and demure now . . . ugh, sorry, this is very complicated." Rictor took a breath and started again. "The ghost of an angry plant-man trapped me in a vision of everyone important to me telling me they hate me and they regret knowing me. I almost believed them until I saw you. And you—well, this spirit's idea of you—he said he does not want to be with someone worthless and cowardly like me. And I could almost believe other people saying that, but not you. Never you." Shatterstar scoffed. "I should hope not. I do not think you are worthless or cowardly at all. I am glad you know I would never think such a thing." And inside, he was glad that he had been the one to drag Julio out of his vision. It was selfish, terrible, but it was true. Softly, he added. "I could never regret knowing you." "And I realized something, too," Rictor continued, daring himself to look into Shatterstar's eyes and hold his gaze. "Harriet mistook my friendliness for something else. But I don't feel that way about her. I don't think I can. I . . ." Say it, he ordered himself. This is the time. Do it. Prove you really are as valiant and audacious as he thinks you are. "It's not her. It's not anyone else. Star, It's you." Shatterstar met Rictor's eyes seriously, palms flat against his thighs. Could he mean...? But Shatterstar did not want to be wrong, make the wrong assumption. "What is me?" He asked, voice quiet with fear that this did not mean Rictor did not return the feelings that Shatterstar had only managed to untangle the meaning of when he had been aching from missing just being around him. Rictor's heart beat with the same intensity of the biggest quake he could summon. But he was steady on his feet when he stood and approached Shatterstar. "Te quiero. I don't know if you feel that way to me, too, and it's okay if you don't, as long as we're still friends, but I will hate myself if I don't tell you now that I'm in love with you." Shatterstar's face was impassive as he processed. It did not seem like a real thing for a moment, instead something like out of a movie. Inside though, he felt a mixture of elation and trepidation. "You love me?" He loved Julio and Julio loved him. It would change things between them, but surely... Surely it would be worth it to be brave in this moment. When Rictor said it's okay if Star did not return his affection, that was a lie. Something he said to make them both feel better, although with Star's silence, it was a failed tactic. He could feel his heart actively shattering. Should he ask the Earth to open up and swallow him whole so he could get away? Rictor could feel his gift rumbling inside him, ready to hide him away forever. But no. He hadn't succumbed to Ted's onslaught, and a real man did not hide just because his love went unreturned. So, he held his ground and reaffirmed his heart. "Yes, I do." "Julio." Shatterstar said, swallowing and setting his shoulders back. He didn't know what he to do with his hands. "I would like to kiss you." It took a moment for Rictor to process that request. For a second, he wasn't sure he understood English anymore because did Star actually say that? "I would like to kiss you, too," he whispered, his mouth mere inches from Star's. "But if I start, I may not ever stop . . ." "That's okay." Shatterstar leaned right in. |
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