“Are we ever going to tell anyone? Anyone at all?” Aspen’s voice broke clean through the kind silence, jostling Romell a bit into raising his head.
      “About what?” Romell asked, confused.
      Aspen threw a gentle look around, shifting on the door frame. “About...y’know?” His voice was quiet as though he was scared someone might hear. “Us.” He said it in an almost whisper. Romell sighed, rolling his eyes a little as he tossed his gaze away from Aspen.
     “And why would we?” Romell asked with a furrowed brow, obvious confusion on his face. He sat on the couch, one leg folded over the other.

      He was so feminine in the way he sat, the way he moved. Aspen really did like that about him. Aspen liked how gentle Romell was, how every time he spoke his voice was smooth and his eyes were soft. He only wished other people could see the Romell he saw.
     “Why?” Aspen repeated, his eyebrows raising. His form felt itself sinking in the doorframe, his arms folded tightly over his bare chest, he was in nothing but his boxers. “I mean why not?”
     Romell rolled his eyes, how very cliche of him.
     Aspen scoffed a little in the back of his throat. “I see people out and about all the time holding hands and kissing and I-I can’t help but wish that that... that was us, you know? I don’t like hiding my feelings Romell.” He looked almost sad when Romell turned around to look at him over the back of the couch. “I don’t like hiding.”
     Romell glanced up, his eyes almost sad. “I know.” He said quietly. “But I just don’t think... I don’t think we need that attention, you know?” He said gently. “Shifters aren’t all that understanding if you understand me...” He was looking at Aspen with needy eyes. Aspen took that as an invitation to pull himself off the wall and come over to sit beside Romell on the couch. Their eyes glued together.
     “But I do,” Aspen said, voice hard. “I want the world to know.” He reached out to Romell with a gentle hand, cupping his cheek. “I want the world to know that you’re mine and that I’m yours.” He ducked his head a little. “You know... if you want me.”
     Romell smiled a little, leaning his face into Aspen’s palm. “Of course I want you.” He said, almost surprised that aspen could ever think he wouldn’t. “And they will.” He replied. “When it’s time.”
      Aspen sighed. He respected Romell’s wishes, he always would. So he nodded, agreeing. “Yeah... when it’s time.”
      Romell smiled, his voice quiet. “Thank you.” He leaned in a little. “I love you.”
     Aspen smiled, gentle. “I love you too.” Then they met in the middle for a chaste, tender kiss.