A Sunset Just for Two

By the evening, the storm had passed, leaving the world washed clean. The air smelled fresh—crisp with the scent of wet sand and salt. The streets glistened with puddles, reflecting the golden light of the setting sun, their surfaces rippling with every passing step.

Gemini and Fourth found themselves back on the beach, where the ocean stretched endlessly before them, its surface shimmering like liquid fire beneath the sky's fading hues of orange, pink, and lavender.

The waves were calmer now, rolling in soft and steady against the shore, as if the storm had never touched them. The wind, which had howled through the town just hours ago, was now only a whisper, carrying with it the distant sound of laughter from families lingering by the water's edge.

Gemini kicked off his sandals and dug his toes into the cool sand. He leaned back on his hands, tilting his face toward the sky. "Feels different, doesn't it?"

Fourth, who had been quietly watching the waves, turned his head slightly. "How?"

"I don't know." Gemini exhaled, stretching his legs out in front of him. "The air just feels lighter."

Fourth hummed in quiet agreement, his gaze never leaving the horizon. The fading sunlight caught in his hair, turning it a warm shade of chestnut. It softened the sharp lines of his face, making him look almost… peaceful.

For a while, neither of them spoke. The silence wasn't awkward—it was easy, like the lull of waves against the shore.

Gemini absentmindedly picked up a small shell, rolling it between his fingers. The smooth texture was oddly comforting, grounding him in the moment.

Then, out of nowhere, he nudged Fourth's shoulder. "Favorite color?"

Fourth blinked, as if caught off guard by the sudden question. He glanced at Gemini, considering his answer. "The color of the ocean at sunset."

Gemini raised an eyebrow. "That's oddly specific."

Fourth shrugged. "It's peaceful."

Gemini smiled, shifting so he could rest his chin on his knee. His fingers played idly with the shells in the sand. "Mine might be this." He gestured toward the sky, where streaks of coral and gold stretched across the clouds. "Sunset after a storm. Feels… new."

Fourth turned to look at him, brows slightly furrowed. "New?"

"Yeah." Gemini let out a slow breath. "Like anything is possible. Like the world reset itself, and now we can start over."

Fourth didn't say anything for a moment. His fingers traced absentminded shapes into the sand, the patterns disappearing just as quickly as he made them. The wind played with his sleeves, lifting the fabric slightly.

Then, in a voice quieter than the waves, he murmured, "I like that."

Gemini glanced at him. "Yeah?"

Fourth gave the tiniest nod. "Yeah."

A comfortable silence settled between them again, the kind that didn't need to be filled with words.

The sky deepened in color as the sun inched closer to the horizon. The last bits of golden light stretched across the water, painting everything in a soft, warm glow. The festival lanterns from the town flickered to life in the distance, dotting the streets with tiny specks of light.

A gentle breeze rolled in, ruffling their hair. Gemini closed his eyes for a moment, letting the sensation sink in. The coolness of the sand beneath his hands, the warmth of the sun lingering on his skin, the quiet yet steady presence of Fourth beside him.

For the first time in a long while, he felt truly at peace.

Then, without thinking, Gemini whispered, "This is nice."

Fourth didn't respond right away.

But when Gemini turned his head, he caught it—the smallest, softest smile on Fourth's lips.

It wasn't much. Barely there.

But it was real.

And somehow, that was enough.

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