Dani approached Ace with two glasses of red wine balanced in one hand, his steps light and unhurried through the milling crowd. "Not even a hello or anything to an old acquaintance?" he said softly, voice carrying that familiar teasing lilt, eyes sparkling under the gallery lights.
Ace turned fully, heart skipping like a faulty engine, surprise flickering across his face. Dani held both glasses possessively, swirling them gently, no intention of sharing evident in the way he cradled them close. It was a subtle claim, a quiet signal that tonight's indulgences were his alone.
"You still remember me... shocker," Ace bellowed awkwardly, running a hand through his tousled hair, fingers lingering as if to steady himself.
Dani's lips curved in a wry smile. "Of course I'll remember the man who rejected me without me making any advances to him," he replied blandly, punctuating with a soft sigh that spoke volumes of old frustrations.
Ace coughed into his fist, cheeks warming with embarrassment, his usual charm cracking under the weight of memory. He shifted his weight, suit jacket pulling tight across his shoulders.
"So how have you been?" Ace asked quickly, overriding the awkward beat in a rush to smooth the tension humming between them like live wire.
Dani tilted his head, taking a slow sip from one glass. "I've been well, obviously," he said with a casual shrug, then followed up: "How have you been?"
Ace's mind raced at the question, hope flickering bright in his chest, a sheepish smile breaking through his gloom like sunlight piercing clouds. Confidence surged back, warm and familiar, making him stand taller, eyes locking on Dani's with renewed spark.
But Dani caught the shift, his expression turning awkward in an instant. "Come on, Ace Harlan, it's just a question," he said with a light laugh, though his sigh carried a hint of exasperation.
Ace's breath hitched sharp, smile crumbling back to a sad frown, the brief high crashing like a wave against rocks. He looked away for a second, gathering himself, the gallery's hum fading to a distant buzz.
They slipped into deeper waters then, words flowing easier than Ace expected. Dani spoke of his art's evolution, how those early fires inspired canvases that sold out shows, his voice soft with vulnerability when admitting the loneliness of success. Ace opened up too, sharing the weight of his promotion, the scandals that chipped at his reputation, the quick marriage that burned out faster than a faulty fuse. Emotions hung thick, heartfelt confessions bridging four years of silence, laughter mixing with sighs as they unpacked regrets and growth.
Ace felt the pull stronger than ever, desire simmering under every shared glance, but he kept it leashed, focusing on the warmth of reconnection. Dani listened intently, nodding, his free hand gesturing animatedly, the wine glasses forgotten in his grip as stories wove them closer.
Yet the moment stretched thin when Frederick appeared at Dani's side, tall and polished, sliding an arm around his waist with easy affection. Dani's eyes lit up, turning to introduce him. "Ace, this is Frederick, my fiancé."
Ace's stomach twisted, but he forced a nod, masking the devastation with a tight smile.
What a nice way for Dani to rub it all on his face; he thought...Frederick shook his hand firmly,and tight as if signalling to him that he knew what he was about and that Dani was uncharted territory. His polite small talk filled the air like smoke.
Dani squeezed Frederick's arm, then glanced back at Ace with a soft, lingering look. "I'll see you around Ace it was nice seeing you," he said warmly, before turning away with his fiancé, leaving Ace alone in the crowd.
***
They collapsed onto the mattress side by side, bodies sinking into the comfort of memory foam and shared warmth. Frederick rolled onto his side, propping his head on one hand, dark curls falling across his forehead as he traced lazy circles on Dani's bare arm with his fingers. Dani stretched out, hair fanning across the pillow, staring up at the ceiling fan whirring slow circles. The city lights twinkled through floor-to-ceiling windows, casting playful shadows that danced across their skin.
Frederick's voice broke the quiet first, low and curious. "So, that guy at the gallery. Ace Harlan. How do you know him?"
Dani's breath caught for a split second, but he kept his expression smooth, turning his head to meet Frederick's gaze. "Old acquaintance. From years back."
Frederick's fingers paused mid-circle, brow furrowing just enough to show genuine interest. "Old acquaintance? He looked at you like you'd just walked out of his dreams. Spill it, love. What's the story?"
Dani chuckled softly, the sound light but laced with a hint of old ache. "Nothing dramatic. We crossed paths a few times. Fires, parties, the usual city chaos. He was a firefighter then, all hero vibes and charm."
Frederick nodded slowly, eyes searching Dani's face for the unspoken bits. "And now? The way you called his name, it felt like unfinished business. Did something happen between you two?"
Dani shifted closer, tucking one arm under his head, his free hand finding Frederick's to intertwine their fingers. "Something almost happened. He got scared, pushed me away. Told me to stay back because I was messing with his head. Classic denial dance."
Frederick squeezed his hand gently, thumb stroking the back of Dani's knuckles. "His loss. But you okay seeing him again? Looked like it stirred something up."
Dani smiled faintly, rolling to face Frederick fully, their foreheads nearly touching. "I'm good. Really. It was a lifetime ago. We've both moved on." Yet as the words left his lips, a quiet flicker of curiosity lingered in his chest, warm and insistent.
Frederick leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to Dani's temple. "Good. Because you're mine now." He pulled back with a playful grin. "But if he shows up again, I might have to flex a little."
Dani laughed, the sound genuine and bright, easing the subtle tension. "No need. Let's just enjoy tonight. Your support at the show meant everything."
They talked longer into the night, voices weaving through dreams and plans, Frederick's questions fading into shared stories. Dani felt the comfort wrap around them like a blanket, secure and real.
Yet as Frederick drifted toward sleep, Dani's eyes stayed open a moment longer, staring at the city lights. Ace's face flashed unbidden, that shocked devastation from the gallery. A whisper of what-if tugged at him, faint but persistent.
Frederick murmured one last thing, half-asleep. "Love you."
Dani whispered back. "Love you too." And meant it, even as old embers glowed quietly in the dark.