8. Sharing Vulnerability Again

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It was a quiet evening when Gemini found himself standing outside his apartment building, his hands shoved deep into the pockets of his jacket. The rain had come down suddenly, washing over the streets, as though nature itself was determined to cleanse something. It wasn't an unusual occurrence—this sort of unpredictable rainstorm was common in the city—but something felt off. The weight in his chest was heavier than the downpour, a feeling he couldn't shake, and tonight, it felt suffocating.

Gemini had been avoiding a lot of things lately—his emotions, his past, and most notably, Fourth. Ever since their last conversation, that heart-to-heart about trust, things had been different. There had been a shift, something unspoken and yet undeniable. And in the wake of that shift, Gemini had done what he always did when things got too close—he retreated.

But tonight was different. He couldn't hide from his emotions anymore. Something had happened earlier that day—a conversation with his mother that had cracked open old wounds. The kind of wounds that never fully healed, no matter how much time passed. His mother had asked him, as she always did, if he was seeing anyone. When Gemini had replied with his usual, non-committal answer, she'd probed deeper, her voice soft but persistent.

"Gemini, why do you keep pushing people away? Why can't you let someone in? You're so closed off, and I worry you're going to let life pass you by."

It wasn't the first time she'd said something like this. But today, it hit differently. His mother wasn't just commenting on his love life. She was pointing out the way he approached the world, how he kept people at arm's length, even those who tried to get closer. And more than anything, it left him questioning why he couldn't let someone in—why he couldn't let himself be vulnerable, even when the desire was there.

There was a knock on his door that interrupted his thoughts. He turned, startled, unsure who it could be at this hour. When he opened the door, there was no one there at first. Then, as his eyes scanned the hallway, they landed on a figure leaning against the opposite wall—Fourth.

Gemini's heart skipped a beat. He hadn't expected to see him tonight, certainly not under these circumstances. Fourth, dressed casually in a jacket and jeans, raised his head from his phone and gave Gemini a small smile, his eyes twinkling with that mischievous glint Gemini had come to both enjoy and dread.

"Hey," Fourth said, his voice soft but purposeful. "I was in the neighborhood and thought I'd check on you. You okay?"

The simple question hit Gemini like a wave. He hadn't realized how much he needed someone to ask, how much he needed to be seen. But that made it worse, didn't it? If he let someone in, if he allowed Fourth to see him, really see him, he was opening a door to something he wasn't sure he could handle.

"I'm fine," Gemini replied, his voice tinged with the usual edge of indifference. "Just... a long day."

Fourth didn't seem convinced. His eyes, always so perceptive, studied Gemini with a look that said he wasn't buying it. "You don't look fine," he said, taking a step closer. "Mind if I come in? We could talk, if you want."

Gemini hesitated. The temptation to say no was strong, but the longing to connect with Fourth—to have someone understand—was stronger.

"Yeah, sure," Gemini finally muttered, stepping aside to let him in.

As Fourth walked past him into the apartment, Gemini felt that familiar mix of tension and warmth. The space between them had always been charged, full of unsaid words, unspoken desires. But tonight, there was something else in the air. Something heavier. He could feel the way Fourth's presence seemed to fill the room, like gravity pulling him closer, making everything feel both intimate and fraught with possibilities.

The apartment felt quieter than usual. The rain outside had started to taper off, leaving a misty fog over the city. The soft hum of the refrigerator and the distant sounds of traffic were the only things breaking the silence between Gemini and Fourth.

Gemini led Fourth to the small kitchen area, offering him a seat at the counter. "Can I get you something? Tea? Coffee?" he asked, his voice still guarded, still trying to maintain some distance between them.

Fourth shrugged off his jacket and sat down, his expression neutral but kind. "I'm good. But I'd rather talk. What's going on, Gemini?"

Gemini froze for a moment, his hand hovering over the kettle. He could feel the weight of the question hanging between them. Fourth wasn't asking in a casual way. He wasn't just making small talk. He was offering Gemini a chance to open up, a chance to share the things that had been eating at him. And that was exactly what Gemini was afraid of.

He could hear his mother's voice in his head, see the disappointment in her eyes when she said he was too closed off, too unwilling to let people in. Was this what he was doing now with Fourth? Pushing him away even when everything inside him wanted to pull him closer?

But no, that wasn't it. Not entirely. Gemini's hesitation wasn't about Fourth. It was about him. His own fears. His past. His scars.

"I... I don't know how to do this," Gemini said quietly, his voice strained. He didn't want to say it. Didn't want to admit it. But it was there, hanging in the air like a confession. "I don't know how to let someone in, to be vulnerable. Every time I try, I mess it up. I get scared. I pull away."

Fourth didn't say anything at first. Instead, he leaned forward slightly, his gaze softening with understanding. "Gemini," he said gently, "you don't have to do it all at once. You don't have to be perfect. I'm not asking for you to spill everything right now."

Gemini felt a sharp pang in his chest. He wanted to believe Fourth, wanted to believe that maybe, just maybe, he could open up without everything falling apart. But the fear, the old familiar fear, was still there, gnawing at him.

"I'm just... I'm afraid," Gemini admitted, his voice almost breaking. "Afraid that if I let someone in, I'll get hurt. I've been hurt before. And I don't want to feel that again."

Fourth was quiet for a long moment. He didn't rush to fill the silence. Instead, he let Gemini's words hang there, giving him space. He knew this was important. He knew that this moment was the kind of breakthrough Gemini needed. It wasn't about forcing answers out of him; it was about letting Gemini feel safe enough to speak his truth.

When Fourth finally spoke, his voice was steady, warm. "I get it," he said simply. "I've been there. I've been hurt, too. But I don't think that means we should stop trying, Gemini. We don't have to rush anything. We don't have to have all the answers. But I think... I think you can trust me. And I think you can trust yourself, too."

Gemini swallowed hard, trying to fight the lump in his throat. He wanted to believe him, wanted to believe that someone could see him, truly see him, without judging or running away. But it was hard. Harder than he wanted to admit.

For a few more moments, neither of them spoke. The air felt thick with unspoken words, with emotions hanging between them. Gemini could feel the warmth of Fourth's presence next to him, his steady gaze reassuring, though he still felt so uncertain.

Finally, Gemini broke the silence, his voice barely above a whisper. "Why do you stay?" The question was simple but loaded. It wasn't just about the moment. It was about everything between them, everything he couldn't fully articulate. "Why do you keep trying to get close to me when I push you away?"

Fourth didn't hesitate this time. He leaned back slightly, his hands folding in front of him as he considered the question. "Because I see something in you, Gemini. I see someone who's been hurt, yeah, but also someone who deserves more than just the walls you've built around yourself. I'm not saying it's easy, but I think you're worth it."

The sincerity in Fourth's voice caught Gemini off guard. He wasn't sure if it was the honesty in the words or the gentleness behind them, but something in his chest eased. It wasn't much, but it was something.

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♡to be continued...