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It’s been years since everything settled down, since Alvis was finally found safe to be released by the High Entia. Despite all his feelings for him, that bit surprises Egil. If it was him, he would keep Alvis under at least house arrest for a few more years. He had been working with Zanza, after all.
Maybe he was biased, though. Alvis had broken his heart, only to return and start mending it all over again. What was he, some sort of art project? Something to glue back together slowly and gently?
He’s not sure why, but he can’t even hate that thought. Can’t hate Alvis.
They sit across from each other, Alvis doing Meyneth knows what to keep himself entertained. All while Egil thinks in circles, over and over, trapped coming to the same conclusion. He loves Alvis, still, and likely always will.
“Egil,” Alvis says, his voice like sandpaper and like a chorus of angels all at once. “You’re staring.”
“Am I?” He turns away, face heating. “I suppose I cannot help it. You are beautiful.”
“You really think so?” Alvis stands and walks over to Egil, cupping his face with both his hands. “I’ve missed hearing you say things like that.”
“You’re the one who made it hard to do so,” Egil snaps back. “You’re the one who hurt me so badly, who decided to return when I was ready to move on. Alvis, you..”
Alvis lifts Egil’s face towards his own, holds it so gently. “I know, Egil. I am sorry.”
Egil pushes on the back of Alvis’s neck, pushing him into a kiss. They have not kissed in so long -- he missed the feeling of his lips against his. Missed the warmth that fills his stomach when they do kiss. They’ve done it so little, and yet he can not get enough of it.
Alvis continues to cup his face in his hands as he returns the kiss, eyes fluttering closed as Egil holds him there. He’s been waiting for this, for so long. Waiting to feel like they can be close again. Hand in hand, lips on lips.
Waiting to feel like Alvis had finally glued his heart back together. Feel like he’s safe with him.
He kisses Alvis, until Alvis finally pulls away. Of course he pulls away -- he’s no doubt stronger than Egil could ever be. Sometimes he forgets -- forgets that Alvis is not just a Homs. He is so much more, something so different.
Egil is miniscule compared to him, a speck in the grand scheme of things. Not even a star in the universe Alvis has come to represent so wholly. Not even an eternal presence in the world he hopes will continue forth for countless years to come.
Machina live long lives, but the day they go offline will come. It comes for all of them, through natural means or otherwise. One day, he will be gone, and Alvis will continue on. Burning bright, like a guiding star in the night.
“Don’t look so down,” Alvis says after a moment. “We just kissed. I had assumed you would be happy.”
“I… I am happy,” Egil argues. “There is just… Moments like these, they will not last forever.”
“You’re right, but that means we should make them all the more special,” Alvis rubs Egil’s cheek with his thumb. “Don’t you agree?”
Egil opens his mouth, closes it. He supposes Alvis is correct -- but Egil is not one who is… good at looking at the bright side. Ever the pessimist, Vanea would say if she heard how he was thinking right now. And he supposes he would deserve it.
“It is alright, Egil,” Alvis leans closer. “I’m right here, right now. That’s what matters right now.”
Egil nods. “Right here, right now…”
Alvis kisses him again, and Egil melts against his touch. No matter what comes next, what tragedy inevitably befalls them millennia in the future… This moment is what matters. The right here, the right now.
