Through the mess of group hugs and linked arms and pats on the back that are just a little bit too forceful Stag finds Shadow, or Shadow finds Stag (he's not quite sure which), and he's pulled into a hug, arms wrapped around his back and pulling him close, Shadow's face crushing into the angle of his shoulder.
They stay like this for a while, unmoving, while all around them people continue to sweep past them, as if they've managed to carve out their own temporary corner in time, and...
...and Stag should be backing away, should be extricating himself from Shadow's surprisingly strong grip, but.
But he doesn't.
He stays on, holds on, and when Shadow raises his head, lips brushing dangerously close to edge of his cheek, Stag doesn't move, doesn't say a thing.
For now Shadow's fingers brush against Stag's cheek, and Stag reaches out to curl his hands in Shadow's untamable hair, and.
It's perfect. It's absolutely perfect.
———
follow the main character Shadow on discord
#1895 🙈