Pierce closed his eyes and held his breath.

Kyle noticed—and stopped the motion.

“Why did you stop?” Pierce asked, nerves slipping into his voice. “Are you having doubts?”

“P,” Kyle said quietly, “I don’t want you to be uncomfortable. If I take it all off, things will change—and you know that.”

Pierce let out a slow breath. He placed his hands over Kyle’s, steadying them, guiding them away as he removed the mask himself.

A few seconds passed.

Then he opened his eyes and met the electric blue gaze that had trapped him that night.

Damn it.

They’re even more captivating than I remembered.

The silence stretched between them, thin but charged, pressing against his ribs until he felt it in his breathing.

No mask. No distance. No reason left to lie.

What are you thinking, Kyle?

He swallowed.

“Well,” Pierce said at last, a hint of a smile tugging at his mouth—more nerves than humor.

“Noah missed you.”

Kyle laughed quietly, the sound barely there, and the tension finally loosened its grip.

“Noah?” he said. “As in our imaginary French Bulldog?”

Pierce’s eyes widened with something close to happiness—surprise flickering right behind it. He nodded.

“I missed him too,” Kyle added softly. “A lot.”

Kyle brought his hand back to Pierce’s face—but this time, he didn’t wait.

This time, his touch came without hesitation.

Pierce closed his eyes, leaning into the touch, his head tilting further into Kyle’s palm. A smile escaped him before he could stop it.

“Kyle,” he murmured, “what happens now?”

Kyle tilted his head, considering.

“Now?” he said. “I was thinking we’d move away from the entrance and sit on the couch. But if you’d rather stay here—or go somewhere else—we can.”

Pierce rolled his eyes and walked past him toward the couch without waiting.

“P.”

Pierce stopped and turned back, surprised.

“What?” Kyle asked quickly. “Did I say something wrong?”

“No,” Pierce replied, a little embarrassed. “I just didn’t think I’d hear you call me that again after the mask came off.”

Kyle cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck as he spoke, stepping toward Pierce once more.

“If you want, I can stop calling you that.”

Before Pierce could answer, Kyle was standing in front of him again—closer than before, the space between them noticeably reduced.

“Now,” Kyle said softly, “we do whatever we want.”

He took Pierce’s hand and laced their fingers together.

“Ky—Kyle,” Pierce said, voice faltering. “My job… it’s still the same.”

“I didn’t mind in the past,” Kyle replied without hesitation. “And I don’t mind now either, P.”

“Kyle, this is more complicated than you think,” Pierce said.

He stepped back—but didn’t let go of Kyle’s hand.

“I can’t run from this. I can’t walk away.”

And the world stopped the moment the words left his mouth.

Kyle didn’t react.

He just stayed there—existing.

Then his grip on Pierce’s hand tightened. Not to pull him closer—just enough to say he was there.

“I’m not asking you to run,” he said quietly.

“Just don’t pretend this doesn’t matter.”