((You're very welcome lol :))
Atlas stood, starstruck. He let go of Nikolas' hand and went up to the railing, resting his elbows on it. Sure, he'd seen the night sky scattered with stars and planets, but that had all been in the city. That held streetlights, cars, houselights, and anything else. But here, it was so… perfect. It felt like every star in the universe was visible. The pond out in front seemed like a hole through the middle of the world, making it possible to see through the other side. Atlas glanced back at Nikolas, a wide, but soft smile on his face. "It's beautiful." He whispered back.
Nikolas grinned brilliantly and came up behind Atlas, wrapping his arms around the male's waist. "I knew you'd like it," he whispered into Atlas' ear, then rested his chin on his shoulder. His eyes flicked back over to the pond, scanning the beautiful reflection with awe. No matter how many times he saw it, no matter how long he stared, he was always captured by the beauty of it. He just adored the night sky, the stars and the moon, the peaceful calm of the night, the freedom he had to be himself when no one was around or awake to see him. Nikolas nuzzled into Atlas' neck while keeping his eyes on the stars, arms tightening a fraction around the man's waist to hold him close.
Atlas placed his hands on Nikolas' hands that were around his waist. He leaned his head back, resting it on Nikolas' shoulder and looking up at the stars right above them. He was so glad Nikolas had brought him here. Nothing he had ever done or seen compared to it, nothing he could do will ever compare. "Thank you for bringing me here. I never knew something could be this… perfect." He whispered. Even if they talked, the silence was amazing.
Nikolas glanced over at Altas, then kept his gaze on the man, flickering up and down, as he smiled and murmured, "Yeah… Me neither." Now he had two beautiful things to gaze at tonight, both together, both amazing and unique and special in their own ways. Nikolas intertwined their fingers while keeping his arms where they were, reluctantly shifting his gaze back to the sky and lake as he continued to hold Atlas close and breathe in his scent.
Atlas smiled, turning his head to face Nikolas. He lightly kissed right below the man's jaw, then turned his head again to look at the sky. He had definitely forgotten about the situation with his music, but it was good that he did. He wouldn't want to make this wonderful time and place unhappy. It gave him a nice break from anything and everything stressful.
Nikolas hummed happily at the kiss, lightly tracing mindless circles over the back of Atlas' hands with his thumbs. After a stretch of comfortable silence, he tucked his face into the crook of Atlas' neck and whispered, "I love you." It was still strange to be saying that phrase, but he only felt a thrill of childish joy when he said it. He actually had someone to say it to, someone that he knew felt a similar way. It made him feel happy, wanted, loved.
Atlas smiled more than he had been. "I love you, too." He whispered back before removing his hands from Nikolas' and turning around in his arms. His arms wrapped around the man, smiling up at him while doing so. Instead of looking at the sky, he looked at something equally amazing, perfect in his opinion, Nikolas.
Nikolas smiled back at Atlas, eyes analyzing every bit about the man before him. His one hand came up to slip over Atlas' face, thumb brushing over his cheekbone as his featherlight fingertips caressed his soft skin. Nikolas had fallen so fast for this incredible man before him, so fast and so hard that he could barely keep up with his own feelings. But he was glad it was Atlas. He didn't need to spend an eternity with him to know that he adored his quirky and impulsive neighbor.
Atlas gazed into Nikolas' eyes, they seemed to be glowing like the moon was and it was beautiful. He couldn't believe how lucky he was to be in love with, and have the feelings returned by, someone so amazing. He smiled just thinking about it. He glanced at Nikolas' lips before leaning up to kiss them softly.
Nikolas happily melted into Atlas' lips when the man kissed him. He was just so happy to be here with Atlas, to be at a place he loved with a person he loved. It was just like magic. Falling in love, having that returned, the rightness he felt when he was with Atlas… It was all like magic, and he wouldn't give anything in the world to have it change. Everything was perfect.
What a strange feeling it was to be feeling these feelings about someone, and about a place. It was as if his whole life was building up to this. He only expected his relationship with Nikolas to improve. He thougt he had all he'd ever wanted, the perfect man and a perfect place. Atlas pulled back after a while and smiled. "Hey, how's the pond? It's calling me." He whispered with a small laugh.
Nikolas laughed softly, his grin as brilliant as the stars, and nudged his nose against Atlas' playfully. "Always warm and ready to swim in, if that's what you mean," he whispered. If it would give Atlas the perfect night, give him a way to momentarily forget all the bad that happened today, then Nikolas would give him the world if he asked. He cared a lot about Atlas, he realized, and wanted to make him happy for as long as he was allowed.
"That's definitely what I mean. Can we go swim sometime tonight?" Atlas asked excitedly, gazing into Nikolas' eyes. He loved swimming, ever since his so-called friends pressured him to join the swim team freshman year. He didn't think he was going to like it, but it ended up being his favorite thing, after singing. Senior year he became swim captain, leading them to many victories.
Nikolas laughed again at the excitement he saw and heard from Atlas. "We can go now if you want. I've got some swimsuits in the bedroom if you want to see if any'll fit you." Nikolas remembered learning how to swim when he was a kid. His father had tossed him into the ocean, then proceeded to properly teach him after little Nikolas—or Alexis at the time—thrashed and half-assed swam back to the beach. But he wasn't bitter about that. His father had been adamant about learning through instinct, adaptation, and observation. "What good of a father am I if I don't teach you how to teach yourself when you're older?" he had said after Nikolas questioned his methods. With that reasoning, he grew to value those three things, and was eternally grateful for that.
"Let's do it then!" Atlas said a little louder than they had been talking before. He pecked Nikolas' cheek before letting go of him and taking one last look at the view. It was unbelievable, no matter how long he stayed out looking at it. He wished he could see it more often when in the city. But it was reserved for this special place.
Nikolas watched Atlas gaze at the view for a bit, then ducked down and stole a kiss from the adorable man's lips before slipping away with a chuckle. "I'll get the trunk out, then," he said as he wandered back into the bedroom, leaving the balcony door open. He got down onto his hands and knees and ducked under the bed, reaching out for the small trunk that held his swimsuits. He did keep smaller suits just in case he ever worked up the motivation to invite his friends, but… Nikolas looked over his shoulder at Atlas, smiling, then went back to pulling out the trunk. This place was only his and Atlas' now, he decided. It just felt right.
He flipped open the latches and lifted the lid, then looked back over to his boyfriend. "Come and get 'em before they disappear," he teased with a grin.
Atlas smiled and turned to walk back into the bedroom. He watched Nikolas get the trunk and open it. He giggled and dropped to his knees to look through the swimsuits. He dug through them, eventually finding one. He held it up, deciding it would probably fit him. It was ombre, light blue to maroon. He hung it over his arm and stood up. "Where was the bathroom again? He asked.
"Downstairs, the only door in the living room," Nikolas said, lightly poking Atlas' leg just because he could. He randomly grabbed a simple black swimsuit with grey seams, tossing it onto the bed so he could close the trunk and latch it back up. He, too, stood up, though he waited for Atlas to leave before changing into the swimsuit.
Atlas smiled down at Nikolas, then up at him when he stood up. He followed Nikolas' directions and found it. He went inside and changed into the swimsuit. It ended up fitting very well. He looked up into the mirror, combing back his hair with his hands. His lilac color was starting to fade, that means it's time to redye it a new color. He decided he was going to ask Nikolas what color do try next. He smiled at his refection then left the bathroom.
Nikolas tugged off his shirt when Atlas left, staring at his scarred torso in the mirror for a bit, then got completely undressed and changed into his swimsuit. Once he was changed, he headed downstairs to meet Atlas, as the only staircase to the ground was at the entrance. His eyes lingered on his beautiful boyfriend for a split second before he smiled and came over to him, running his fingers through Atlas' hair. "Starting to get a bit dull, darling," he murmured, using that as an excuse to touch his soft hair.
"Ah, I know. I was actually going to ask you what color I should dye it next. I've thought of colors that I want to try, but I can't remember any of them." Atlas said smiling. He reached his arm around Nikolas' waist, his fingers lightly running along his bare back. "I've had dark red, dark purple, mint green, and of course my natural color. Among more, I think, but that's a good taste of some of the colors I've had. I have some pictures on my phone if you ever want to see them."
"Hm," Nikolas hummed, smiling as he continued to comb his fingers through Atlas' hair as he thought about it. "Y'know, I think you'd look cute with pastel rainbow," he said with a crooked grin, picturing it as he played with the soft strands. Really, he thought Atlas was just naturally cute, but that would add onto it. "And I'd love to see them, but maybe later. I want to swim," he murmured, then used his grip on Atlas' hair to tilt the man's head back so he could plant a kiss on his lips.
Atlas smiled into the kiss then continued looking up at Nikolas. "That sounds like it'd be fun! I might have to get that professionally done though, unless you help me with it." He said, smiling. "I always dye my hair myself, it costs less that way and it's fun, but that'd be a lot to do and it sounds a bit more difficult than one color… but yeah, let's go I want to swim as well."
Nikolas chuckled and kissed Atlas once more, then let go of his hair in favor of taking his hand and pulling him towards the front door. "I might be able to help you. I've been dyeing my hair for a pretty long time, so I know my way around it, for the most part." He glanced over at Atlas with a tilted head. "But, I think a professional will be able to pull it off better than we can. No offense," he added with a lopsided smile.
Atlas nodded. "Yeah, I agree. I'm really excited now!! I know dying my hair this much with such little breaks in-between colors is bad for my hair… but I can't help it, I love it so much!" He said smiling. He looked up at the sky again as they got outside and headed to the lake. It wasn't too chilly of a night, which was perfect.
