Inside Justin's room—
Justin opened the door, breath shaky from the marks burning inside him.
Justin:
"What…?"
He didn't even finish the sentence.
Because Eric didn't wait.
He grabbed Justin's face with both hands and kisssed him —
eyes full of panic, guilt, fear—
and crashed into him.
Eric:
"—!!"
Justin froze, shocked so badly his brain blanked.
For a moment he forgot the pain, the curse, everything.
Eric's grip was trembling, desperate—
like he was holding on to the last thing keeping him alive.
Justin's back hit the wall.
He instinctively tried to push Eric away—
But Eric held him tighter.
Not rough.
Not forceful.
Just desperate.
Outside, the house was quiet now.
Everyone had rushed Amber to the hospital.
Only Megan and the kids remained.
In the living room—
Lussy:
"What the hell happened in one hour…?"
Emily smirked:
"Congratulations."
Lussy:
"Huh? For what?"
Emily:
"Eric is technically your brother now."
Lussy:
"…wait—
WAIT—
WHAT?!"
Her scream echoed through the house—
and directly into Justin's room.
Inside—
Eric broke the kiss, breathing hard.
He rested his forehead against Justin's, refusing to pull away completely.
Their breaths tangled in the tiny space between them.
Justin's voice was a shaky whisper:
Justin:
"Y-you… how dare—"
But his voice cracked when Eric's hand reached up—
not improper, not low—
but gently gripping Justin's shirt at his chest.
That small touch alone sent a jolt through him.
Eric's fingers were cold.
His touch was trembling.
Justin's breath hitched.
Justin (soft, confused):
"W-what are you doing…?"
Eric didn't answer.
He simply slid his hand upward—
over Justin's ribs, to his sternum—
feeling his heartbeat pounding under his palm.
Justin's eyes fluttered shut despite himself, a soft gasp escaping.
Justin:
"Ah—"
Eric's heart threatened to explode.
He had never heard Justin's voice sound like that.
Not angry.
Not guarded.
Just vulnerable.
And it made his chest warm and tight and terrified all at once.
Eric swallowed, trying to speak—
but his voice came out shaking.
Eric:
"I…
I thought you hated me.
I thought you'd kill me.
I thought—
I thought I lost you."
Justin opened his eyes slowly.
The marks on his body pulsed again—
not from pain this time.
From something else.
Something confusing.
Something he didn't want to name.
They stayed like that—
breathing each other in.
Foreheads touching.
Eric trembling.
Justin speechless.
The world outside forgotten.
---continue