A Kiss Before the Pyre

Killian took a deep breath, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides. "I... I've been searching for you for a long time. Not just because of the curse or the runes or whatever it is you're hiding. But because... because I couldn't stop thinking about you."

Ru blinked, taken aback. "What are you talking about?"

Killian stepped closer, his rainbow eyes locking onto Ru's. "I've been drawn to you since the moment I first heard your name. Your voice, your music, your... everything. I tried to ignore it, to focus on my duty, but I can't. Not anymore."

Ru's heart pounded with anticipation. He opened his mouth to respond, but before he could say anything, Killian closed the distance between them and kissed him.

It was soft at first, tentative, as if Killian was afraid Ru would pull away. But when Ru didn't—when he instead leaned into the kiss, his hands finding their way to Killian's waist—the kiss deepened, becoming something electric between them.