The air outside smelled faintly of roasted beans and fresh paint, a sure sign of the newly opened coffee shop at the corner. Its windows gleamed in the afternoon sun, a handwritten chalkboard sign announcing Grand Opening Special! Buy one, get one free.
Altair and Levi strolled side by side, their steps uneven—Altair's light, bouncing, almost skipping, and Levi's steady, unhurried, like he had all the time in the world.
Levi's arm was draped casually across Altair's shoulders, his thumb tapping lightly against Altair's upper arm in a steady rhythm. For anyone else, the closeness might have seemed invasive. For Altair, though, it was routine. He was used to Levi's warmth, used to his physical way of expressing affection. It had always been like this, ever since the year above them noticed Altair hanging around the library and decided to adopt him as a kind of honorary junior.
"You really shot up in popularity, huh?" Levi teased as they reached the café door. "Every time I hear about you, it's some dramatic proclamation or another. Honestly, I half-expected you'd be too busy to spare me an afternoon."
Altair puffed up his cheeks. "Don't exaggerate. I only proclaim when absolutely necessary!"
"Which is… every other day?" Levi arched an eyebrow.
Altair coughed into his fist, eyes darting away. "That's beside the point."
They slipped into the café. Inside, the air was cool and smelled richly of espresso. Warm wood tables dotted the space, soft music playing overhead. It was busier than expected, students and office workers alike filling the seats, but Levi managed to snag a small booth in the corner.
He gestured for Altair to sit first before sliding in across from him. "What'll it be? Still into anything overly sweet?"
Altair raised a finger. "Caramel latte. Extra whip cream. Extra drizzle. Extra sugar."
Levi chuckled. "So basically dessert in a cup."
"Life is too short for bitter coffee," Altair sniffed.
"Or bitter rivals?" Levi teased lightly.
Altair's face heated. "Don't even—!"
Levi raised his hands in surrender, smirking. "Fine, fine. Caramel latte. I'll get mine black."
When he returned with their drinks, Altair had already taken out his phone and was scrolling. Levi slid his coffee over and nudged Altair's hand away from the screen. "No games. Catch up with me instead."
Altair rolled his eyes but pocketed his phone. "Fine. What's there to catch up on? You're the one who's been gone."
The teasing softened from Levi's expression. "Yeah. Sorry about that."
Altair blinked at him. "You mean… the hospital?"
Levi nodded. His fingers curled loosely around his cup. "It wasn't anything permanent, but… yeah. I didn't want to worry you."
"You idiot," Altair muttered, his voice sharp but his eyes softer. "You should've told me. I'm not some fragile little flower you need to protect from bad news."
Levi smiled faintly. "I know. But I didn't want you losing sleep over me. You're too kind for your own good."
Altair's cheeks warmed. He ducked his head into his cup, taking a sip of caramel-laden sweetness. "…Don't make me sound like a softie. I'll lose my reputation."
Levi chuckled. "Right. The fierce, untouchable genius Altair." His tone was fond. "Still, I'm glad we can do this again. Just sit and talk. I missed it."
Altair glanced up. "…I guess I missed it too."
The words slipped out before he could stop them, and his ears instantly went pink. Levi's gaze softened further, catching on the blush.
And then, without hesitation, Levi leaned forward slightly. "Altair. You know how I feel about you."
Altair froze, latte halfway to his lips. "…W-What?"
Levi's smile was gentle but certain. "I like you. I've told you before, and I mean it just as much now. You're brilliant, funny, impossible not to notice. You light up every room you walk into. I like being around you, and I… want to be more than just your friend."
Altair's face went crimson. His brain scrambled for words, anything to cover the heat rushing to his ears. He slammed his cup down on the table, nearly spilling caramel foam. "You—you—you can't just say things like that out of nowhere!"
Levi's chuckle was quiet, patient. "It's not out of nowhere. It's been years."
Altair buried his face in his hands. His heart was hammering, not unpleasantly, but confusingly. He wasn't good at this—emotions, feelings, anything outside the clean rules of logic and rivalry. Levi was steady, dependable, kind. He was, objectively, perfect boyfriend material. And Altair did like him—he laughed with him, trusted him.
But…
But.
Something in his chest refused to click into place the way Levi wanted.
Peeking through his fingers, Altair groaned. "You're going to make me die of embarrassment."
Levi's hand stretched across the table, brushing Altair's wrist lightly. "Then at least let me keep embarrassing you. I'm patient, Altair. I don't expect an answer today."
Altair's blush deepened. He yanked his hands down, pouting furiously. "…You're impossible."
"Maybe. But I make you laugh, don't I?" Levi grinned, sipping his black coffee.
Altair huffed. "Sometimes."
They ended up talking for nearly two hours, trading stories, laughing over small things, Levi listening with patient interest to Altair's latest "epic rival battles" with Cassian. By the time they left the café, the sky had deepened into twilight, warm gold bleeding into soft purple.
As they reached Altair's street, Levi slowed his steps. "I'll walk you to your door."
Altair waved his hands. "You don't have to—"
"I want to," Levi said simply.
And he did. They stopped outside Altair's house, and for a moment, silence stretched between them. Levi's gaze lingered on Altair's face, soft, almost searching.
"Thanks for today," Levi said at last.
"…Yeah," Altair mumbled. "Thanks for the coffee."
Levi leaned down. Before Altair could react, he pressed a gentle kiss to Altair's cheek.
Heat exploded across Altair's skin. He stumbled back, eyes wide, ears scarlet. "Y-Y-You—! You can't just—!"
But words failed him. With a strangled noise, he spun on his heel and bolted inside, slamming the door behind him.
Levi chuckled to himself, hands in his pockets, and walked away.
---
The Window
From across the street, one floor up, a pair of eyes had caught everything.
Cassian stood by his bedroom window, book forgotten in his hand, gaze steady as he watched Levi's retreating figure and the faint outline of Altair's flustered exit.
His expression didn't shift. Not outwardly.
But his grip on the book tightened until the leather cover creaked.
And still, he said nothing.