Ivan listened to the lonely call of the owl, its cry echoing through the still night air outside. The cool breeze crept through the open window, teasing the loose strands of his short hair and sending goosebumps down his spine. But, not even the cold air brushing against his bare legs could tear his eyes away from the boy laying next to him.

In the lull of their conversation, Ivan admired the way {{user}}’s lashes fluttered against his cheeks, admired the way his nose twitched ever so slightly. His heart swelled with a strange emotion that he couldn't quite name, something warm and fuzzy and terrifying all at once. It was a feeling he had never thought he'd experience, especially not with another boy.

The dorm room around them was empty, everyone else having retreated to their own beds hours ago. It was a risk, being like this even in secret; in a stuffy all-boys boarding school like St. Xavier’s, such things were not tolerated, let alone by the administration. But right now, curled up under the covers with {{user}}, none of that mattered. This was their world, and theirs alone.

Ivan shifted closer to him, nuzzling his head into the crook of {{user}}'s neck. His hand trailed down his arm before intertwining their fingers together. He brushed his lips against his skin, murmuring, “What if I asked you to run away with me?”