Friday finally came, and the campus felt lighter, somehow. Not because classes were over, but because routines we'd carved out seemed easier to follow—comfortable, predictable.
Today wasn't about taking photos. We were sitting in the coolness of Pond's apartment, the kind of quiet that feels rare in the middle of a week full of noise and expectations.
Pond leaned back against the sofa, white hoodie loose, oversized pants comfortable, headphones hanging around his neck. I sat cross-legged on the floor, camera in my lap, watching him scroll through the shots he had taken over the last few weeks.
-Some of these are really good, - light said, trying to sound casual.
Thanks, - pond replied, shrugging lightly. - Took a few tries to get them how I wanted.
Light reached forward, pointing at one of the photos on his laptop screen.
-This one… the lighting is amazing. How did you catch that?- light asked
Pond smiled faintly, leaning closer to look. His shoulder brushed on lights, just slightly, but it made me aware of it immediately.
Just timing, - pond, voice low. - And a lot of patience.
I nodded, trying not to think about how close he was. I adjusted the camera in my lap, letting my fingers play over the buttons.
-Can you show me how you edited this one? - light asked, pointing to another photo.
-Sure, - pond said, and we both leaned closer over the screen. The apartment smelled faintly of coffee and whatever he had for lunch, a soft warmth that made it feel… safe.
We spent the next hour moving through images, comparing shots, swapping tips.
Every so often, our hands would brush as I adjusted the camera settings or scrolled through the photos. Small, accidental touches that lingered a little longer than necessary.
Light couldn't stop thinking about how… natural it felt. How easy it was to be near him, to sit here without the chaos of the campus, without cameras or expectations hovering over us.
-Remember? - light said suddenly, pointing to a photo from last week.
-Which one? - pond asked, tilting his head, curious.
-The one from that courtyard, - light said, a small smile tugging at my lips. - The light hit just like this, and you stood there, trying not to laugh at my horrible framing.
Pond's lips quirked up.
-Oh yeah… I remember now, - he said softly. - You were terrible at keeping the horizon straight.
-Hey, - light said, laughing lightly, - I was concentrating!
Pond leaned closer over the laptop, shoulder brushing mine again, just slightly.
-You did better than you think, - he murmured. - The shot was… good.
-You always know what to say, - light muttered, but couldn't stop the warmth spreading through him.
-Maybe, - pond said with a faint grin. - Or maybe I just remember better than you.
Light glanced at him, and then back at the screen.his hands fiddled with the camera on his lap, trying to focus on something else, anything else, but he stayed aware of how close he was. How easy it felt to sit there like that. How dangerous it was to enjoy it so much.
-Want to try editing it together? - Pond asked.
- Yeah, - light said, voice quieter than usual, -
He glanced at me, eyes soft, but didn't comment. Instead, he slid the photo across the screen toward him, and somehow, just the gesture—so casual, so unassuming—made light chest tighten in a way I couldn't ignore.
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After hours editing, it was late, past eleven, and Light knew he could hardly get a taxi home.
-I… don't think I can get a taxi home, - Light admitted.
Pond's eyes softened.
-Don't worry, - he said. - You can sleep over. My bed is big. And I have extra pajamas.
Light blinked.
-Are you sure? - he asked.
-You're not a problem, - Pond said, shrugging casually. - It's late, and getting home now is a pain. That's all.
Light nodded slowly.
-Okay, then. Just for tonight.
Pond disappeared into the hallway and came back with a folded pair of dark, soft pajamas.
Light noticed immediately how big they were.
-These should work, - Pond said, brushing his hair from his forehead. - Bathroom's down the hall.
Light pulled them on slowly. The fabric was enormous, so loose it slid gently over his shoulders. One side fell farther than expected, revealing the curve of his collarbone. He froze for a second, tugging it back, telling himself it was nothing.
When he returned, Pond was already on the bed, hoodie gone, t-shirt simple and casual. The bed was big, just as he said, and the space felt warm.
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Pond perspective:
Pond watched quietly from the bed as Light disappeared into the hallway with the oversized pajamas in hand.
When Light came back, the fabric was huge, sliding loosely over his shoulders. Pond's eyes caught the way one side had slipped, revealing the curve of his collarbone for just a second before Light tugged it back into place. He felt a faint pull in his chest—not lust, not exactly—but a quiet awareness that made him pause
-You can take that side, - he said said. - I don't move much.
Light nodded, careful, climbing onto the bed and settling at a deliberate distance. The loose pajamas moved slightly with every small adjustment, and Pond couldn't help but notice the soft way the fabric rested against him, the slight hint of skin at the collarbone catching the dim light.
He told himself it didn't matter. It wasn't supposed to.
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Good to know, - Light murmured, settling carefully.
Silence stretched, only the soft hum of the city outside filling the apartment. Light stared at the ceiling, heart louder than it should be.