Elisop/Aeseli Summer Week Day 1: Beach

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The feeling of sand between his toes, the salty smell of the sea and an almost unbearable weather if it were one degree higher. Honestly, even if he was the manager of the club, he doubted that all of this was for a so-called training but more for their own entertainment.

They had just finished setting their luggage at the hotel that all the members rushed to the sea to do anything but volley. Some were building sandcastles and others were having swimming competitions. It was almost a wonder if he wasn't in charge of a daycare instead, and a faint sigh escaped his lips at the thought.

"Everything okay, Aesop?"

The young man widened his eyes for a second, startled by the appearance of someone behind him, then turned his head to the culprit, Eli Clark. A smiling, selfless man who also happened to be one of the best players on the team and incidentally a good friend of his.

Not wanting to worry him for silly things, the gray-eyed male gave him a nod before turning his gaze back to the sea, looking from time to time at the thin line drawn by the other's abdominal muscles.

Eli sketched a faint smile knowing his friend was fine but his expression quickly changed to a curious look, the tip of his index finger coming to point at the jacket Aesop wore.

"Aren't you hot like that?"

"Maybe... a bit."

"Then... Wouldn't it be best if you took that off?"

"I feel more comfortable that way, I don't really like showing my skin..." he muttered.

"Oh, my bad! I should've known better than anyone else."

Eli gave him an apologetic look and Aesop answered with a slight chuckle.

"So, did you come here for a reason, Clark? I bet you're not just there to comment about my outfit?" he said sarcastically.

"Of course not!" he laughed. "I wanted to ask you if you wanted to get a walk on the shore later at night?"

"After dinner?" Eli nodded and he thought for a bit before giving his answer, "Sure."

"Good then, I'll come to pick you up in your room when it's okay."

"Alright."

The brown-haired man smiled one last time to him before walking away to finally do what they were supposed to do at first, train at volley. Nonetheless, there was a weird feeling lingering in Aesop's chest, Eli seemed weirdly enthusiastic about that walk and he wondered if there wasn't a misunderstanding somewhere but couldn't point it out.

Though, he eventually discovered why when the night came.

Aesop brushed his hair once again in front of the mirror, the wind having messed with his previous ponytail, then tied them neatly. Right on time, he heard a knock on his door and went to open it to see the blue-eyed man.

"You good?"

"I just finished preparing."

Eli smiled and Aesop closed his door before following his friend out of the hotel, however, after a few minutes of going down the wooden stairs leading to the beach, the gray-eyed noticed that it was only the two of them.

"Where are the others?" he asked confusingly, trying to appear as unconcerned as possible.

"Hm? It's only the two of us, is it a problem?" answered Eli, seeming slightly anxious.

"Not at all... I just thought you meant a walk with everyone because I don't really see a reason for you to want to be alone with me..."

"What are you saying 'Sop?" the man laughed, "Aren't we childhood friends? I am closer to you compared to the rest so I don't think it is that unfathomable."

"I-I guess so..."

None of them said anything after that and they finally reached the shore. Meanwhile, it felt like a storm was raging inside Aesop's head. Right, it was completely normal for two childhood friends to spend time together on their own since they knew each other for a long time.

Even so, he couldn't help but feel like his blood pressure rose a notch. There was something weird in the atmosphere they were in and he kept looking at the prints his feet left in the sand while walking to avoid meeting the other's gaze.

"Oh look, the moon is pretty beautiful at this hour don't you think?"

Aesop rose his eyes and was welcomed with the sight of the shiny sphere and it's glittering light in the darkness of the night.

"That's right..."

The two men stopped to look at it a bit more and while they were doing so, Aesop was so focused on it that he didn't notice Eli looking at him since a few moments until the latter softly grabbed his hand, earning the man's attention in doing so, before kissing the tip of his fingers.

Aesop's brain just froze at the gesture, not prepared for such a thing at all. What was that? He felt so flustered by what happened that his face turned red but thankfully to the dark coat of the sky, it wasn't noticeable.

He didn't move his hand away, maybe because of the shock, but he also felt faintly reluctant about letting go and so he just stayed like that, waiting for the other's explanation.

"Sorry." answered Eli shyly, still grabbing his hand.

"No, it's okay." he supposed?

"Really?" his expression brightened a bit at those words and his hold tightened, "My bad, I didn't really planned it that way but I'm not good with this kind of thing either so I'll just make it short, Aesop, do you want to date me?"

Date... him?

"As in... lovers...?"

"Yes."

"I... never expected that."

"Ahh! You don't have to answer right now if it makes you uncomfortable!" panicked Eli.

"It's not that, I mean..." he covered his mouth with his hand, looking away, "To think you of all people would confess to me..." he didn't mean it like the man had made a mistake, he was just genuinely confused but it wasn't like he hated the situation and to let Eli know about it, he squeezed his hand in turn a bit.

"I am serious about the matter, Aesop. If you accept, I swear to do everything to make you happy."

"Eli..."

Aesop widened his eyes, he still couldn't believe all of this was real nor that he apparently had so much importance to the other man. They were friends and he always thought it would stay that way so he never bothered pondering further.

Though the unthinkable was no longer a dream.

A dream... What should he answer? He couldn't let him hang on forever but all of this was so sudden. Did he like Eli more than as a friend? He liked him too but was this love platonic or romantic? Would it be an error to accept these feelings when he wasn't sure?

At the same time, he felt like he couldn't bear the idea of the man leaving him. He knew it was egoistic on his part to put a chain on him when his thoughts weren't clear and he feared what could ensue if it was indeed a mistake but he wanted to believe in this so-called thing named love.

"So... what is your answer...?"

"You've always been so impatient," Aesop laughed, "But I guess that's something I like about you. Maybe that's why my heart beats so fast when I'm with you."

Aesop closed the distance between them, his fingers entangled with Eli's slightly shivering, and his lips softly brushing against the man's. His cheeks burned at how astonishingly eager he acted, it wasn't like him but it was Eli's fault for spouting crazy things out of nowhere too.

Eli returned his kiss with quite some vigor before coming to a halt and making their mouths part.

"Is that... a yes...?" he whispered.

"Shamefully impatient." The gray-haired male replied with sarcasm.

"M-My bad, I just wanted to be sure..."

"Of course, silly."

Aesop laughed as he let his arms slide around Eli's shoulders to bring him into another embrace, the cold wind of the beach cooling the heat rising to their heads.

Dating was one thing but the rest could surely wait until Aesop would finally be able to say confidently that he loves Eli.