Chapter 8: The talk.

Lukas didn’t remember getting up and walking back; he only remembered the cruelty of the cold and the quiet that followed every step, as well as how loud everything in his head felt compared to it.

By the time he reached the door leading to the balcony, his hands were still shaking slightly. He didn’t bother turning on the flashlight, he just stepped inside and shut the door behind him, leaning against it for a second like his body needed something to support his very existence. His chest still felt tight.

“…get it together,” he muttered under his breath.

But even his voice didn’t sound convincing… not even to himself. He pushed off the door and tried moving slowly, grabbing his bag by the hand. His clothes were scattered, his shirt half inside-out, his laces still loose but he didn’t care. He wiped his face with the back of his hand, but it didn’t do much. He didn't move far before he stopped.

His eyes still burned and his chest still hurt. “You didn’t come…”

The words slipped out before he could stop them. He swallowed hard, shaking his head as he could physically push the thought away, but it didn’t work.

“Of course, he didn’t come. Why would he?” Lukas laughed at his own thoughts 

He let out a small, empty laugh, before properly slinging his bag over his shoulder. His fingers tightened around the strap as he walked away from the door, his head lowered, his steps slower than usual. He couldn't trust his face or his voice anymore. He couldn't trust anything right now so he just kept walking.

The stairs leading down the balcony blurred slightly as he descended them, his vision not fully steady yet. He wiped his face again, sniffing lightly, trying to at least look normal before he stepped outside and it didn’t work but he tried anyway.

One step, two and three—

“You’re still just a lost kid, aren’t you?”

Lukas froze. His heart stopped first…then slammed back to life so hard it almost hurt. Slowly, he looked up and there he was.

Viktor.

Standing right there like he hadn’t just torn him apart minutes ago. Like he hadn’t just walked away… as he came back but his arms were wide open and a stupid, soft smile on his face and for a second, Lukas forgot everything.

The anger, the pride, the hurt.

All of it. Because his body moved before his mind could catch up.

“Viktor—”

He rushed forward, crashing into him without hesitation, arms wrapping around him tightly like he was afraid he’d disappear again. The force of it made Viktor laugh, slightly stumbling back as Lukas pulled him close.

“You’re—” Viktor started, his voice shaking, but he didn’t finish. Instead, Lukas kissed him for the first time. It was messy, desperate and relieved. Everything hit at once.

Viktor laughed softly against his lips, his hands coming up instinctively to hold him, fingers tangling slightly in his hair.

“Hey. Hey..m” he murmured, breath uneven. “Easy—”

Lukas didn’t listen. He lifted him again, like it had become a hobby, holding him close like he weighed nothing, like letting go wasn’t an option anymore.

“I thought you—” Lukas tried again, but his voice cracked.

Viktor reached up, brushing his hair back lightly, his expression softer now.

“I was right there,” he said.

Lukas blinked, his grip tightening slightly.

“What?”

“I came up,” Viktor added, quieter now. “You just… hid.”

There was no accusation in it…Just the truth and that somehow made it worse. Lukas looked at him, really looked at him this time, and for a moment, he didn’t know what to say. So he didn’t and instead—

“You cried,” Lukas muttered, his voice still a little rough.

Viktor blinked once… then huffed out a small laugh.

“I can say the same about you.”

Lukas sniffed lightly, trying to look annoyed, but it didn’t land.

“You did,” he insisted.

“and I didn’t deny it.”

That caught him off guard… Lukas stared at him for a second too long… then laughed. Soft at first… then a little more and Viktor joined in, shaking his head slightly as he leaned his forehead against Lukas’s.

Both of them are still very emotional and still a little wrecked but lighter now in that space. There was a small pause after that.

Not awkward, just… quiet.

Lukas didn’t put him down immediately or pull away.

He just stayed there, holding him, like he needed to make sure this was real. That Viktor was actually here.

That he didn’t leave again.

“…my place or yours?” Lukas asked finally, his voice lower now, but steadier.

Viktor smiled.

“Yours this time.”