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~This is home~

"You don't have to hide anymore," he said.

Bruce didn't answer. Just looked at him with those tired, hopeful eyes.

"You still leaving for a while?" Vance asked, voice softer than usual.

"Maybe," Bruce murmured. "But I'll come back. If I have something to come back to."

Vance didn't flinch. He reached out, steady, like he always was when it counted, and cupped Bruce's jaw. "You do."

The kiss was brief, but certain. A seal on something that didn't need more explanation. When they pulled apart, Bruce didn't look away.

"I'm scared," he admitted.

"I know," Vance said. "But I've got you."

And they stood there as the school emptied behind them, as the summer opened its arms wide and uncertain. But together, they took the first step forward anyway.

FINNEY'S POV

The sky was on fire.

Not literally, but close. Orange bled into peach, peach into pink, and somewhere on the horizon, the sun kissed the edge of the world like it knew it had to leave, but didn't want to. They kissed just like how I feel when I kiss Robin... made for one another. It was the kind of sunset that made everything feel still, like the earth paused to take one last look before night settled in.

We were all piled onto the hill behind the school. The one that overlooked the football field, where the grass grew uneven and wildflowers sprouted like they were tired of being ignored. Someone had laid out a blanket, probably Gwen, judging by the floral print, and someone else had brought snacks, definitely Sofia, who always had something tucked into her bag "just in case."

Bruce sat beside Vance, legs tucked up, chin resting on his knees. His hoodie sleeves were pulled over his hands, like always, but he didn't seem like he was hiding today. Just... comfortable. Safe.

Vance was leaning back on his elbows, quiet as usual, but I caught him glancing at Bruce now and then with this look in his eyes, like he couldn't believe Bruce was real and sitting right there beside him.

Robin had an arm slung over my shoulders, thumb absently brushing the side of my neck like he didn't even realize he was doing it. He smelled like smoke and mint gum, and I didn't know how I ever went so long without being near him.

Sofia was lying flat on her back, sunglasses slipping down her nose, humming some song only she knew the words to. Gwen was sketching something in her notebook, probably us, and pretending not to be smiling every time Sofia flicked a blade of grass at her.

No one said much. We didn't need to.

There had been enough noise this year. Enough fights, tears, whispered rumours, and slammed lockers. This silence wasn't the kind that made your chest tight. It was the kind that filled you up.

"I think I'm going to miss this place," Bruce said suddenly, so softly we all almost missed it.

We looked at him.

He shrugged. "Not all of it. But this. Right now."

Vance didn't say anything, just bumped his shoulder lightly against Bruce's.

"I don't know where I'll be next year," Vance admitted. "I don't think any of us do. But... I think I'm okay with that now."

Robin gave a small hum beside me, pulling me just a little closer. "Welp.. at least we've still got time. No need to rush anything."

"And we've got each other," Sofia added, sitting up and tossing her sunglasses into Gwen's lap.

Gwen smirked. "For better or worse."

"For chaos," Sofia said with a grin.

"For glitter pens and all," I muttered.

Gwen laughed, light and real.

The sun slipped lower, painting everyone in gold. Robin's hand found mine. Bruce let his head rest on Vance's shoulder. Gwen leaned back into Sofia, who didn't hesitate before wrapping an arm around her.

And I just sat there, watching all of it. All of them.

The people I'd somehow found, or maybe they found me.

The ones who didn't care about who I used to be, or what I'd been through. The ones who stuck around anyway.

I watched his eyes, the eyes I fell into the moment I saw them. They were steady, intense, but there was something softer in them now, something just for me.

I smiled, tilting his chin gently, and kissed him. The warmth of his lips was everything I needed. He kissed me back, just as slowly, just as sure.

When we parted, I leaned closer, more into him, letting the air between us thicken with that unspoken connection. I inhaled his scent, a mix of something familiar and something entirely him. It made my heart race.

And for a moment, nothing else mattered.

And for the first time...
I felt like I belonged.

Like they were my second family.

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