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The noise of the engine fades; the interior of the car is plunged into darkness. Neither of them speaks. Neither of them moves.
Silent, each alone lost in thought, they sit there. Silence and darkness surround them.
Ilya is the first to snap out of it and turn his head to Shane. A single tear escapes his pretty freckled face. Gently, Ilya raises a hand and runs his fingers feather-light across his cheek.
This finally seems to bring Shane back to the present. He closes his eyes for a few moments and takes a deep breath, then another. When he opens his chocolate-colored eyes again, they immediately search for Ilyas.
Ilyas's hand is still on Shane's cheek; this time Shane leans into the touch. A smile plays across both their faces.
“I can’t believe that this really happened today.”
The words are whispered, almost too quietly. But Ilya understands them nonetheless and begins to stroke Shane's freckles with his thumb.
“Yeah, me too. But you did so good. You were so strong.”
Shane closes his eyes again, this time to fully embrace Ilya's touch and savor it. Shane is glad that its that late and dark already, so that Ilya can't see the blush spreading across his face.
“I’m sorry, because of me you-”
“Stop. Whatever you want to say. Stop. You do not need to be sorry for anything.”
“But because of me you had to come out, because of me my parents now know that you-”
“Shane.”
“-you were deprived of the opportunity to decide for yourself. Russia-”
The hand on Shane's cheek disappears, leaving an unpleasant chill where before there had been a comforting warmth. Slowly, he opens his eyes again, only to immediately look into Ilyas's. Even in the darkness, he can see the Russian's soft features. The moles, covering his entire body and his beautiful face, stand out even more.
“Shane.”
At the mention of his name, his eyes wander from Ilyas's broad shoulders back to his face. Even though Shane has become quite good at interpreting Ilyas's facial expressions over the years, he can't tell what's going on in that beautiful curly head right now.
“I do not care.”
Ilya speaks these words so simply, yet there's so much more to them. Before Shane can get lost in his thoughts again, dissecting and reassembling each word, Ilya leans over the center console and pulls Shane closer.
Their lips touch. This kiss is so different from any they've ever shared. So light, so tentative, yet so decisive. He gives Shane no chance but to surrender to the kiss.
Shane completely loses track of time. Hours may have passed before they finally separate. But it has probably only been a few seconds.
Shane keeps his eyes closed, leaning his forehead against Ilyas, who hasn't moved.
“Shane, I do not care about all of that. Is your family, yes? I do not care. I love you.”
Another tear escapes his eye and rolls slowly down his cheek. But this time he's not the only one. He feels Ilyas's damp cheek against his as he presses another small kiss to his lips.
This time it is Shane who takes Ilyas' face in his two hands and pulls him towards him.
“Say it in Russian, please.”
“Я тебя люблю."
His heart begins to beat faster; a broad smile steals across his face.
“Я тоже тебя люблю."