Chapter 6: Crossing The Line
It was raining heavily the night everything changed again.
Not the soft kind of rain that felt peaceful.
This was the violent kind.
The kind that slammed against windows and swallowed the entire campus in darkness.
Than adjusted his glasses as thunder cracked outside the library windows, irritation written all over his face as he saved the last revision of their project.
"We're done," he said finally.
Kit stretched dramatically across the chair beside him."Finally. I was starting to think you wanted us to graduate inside this library."
Than ignored him and began organizing the scattered papers neatly into folders.
Then—
The lights went out.
The entire library plunged into darkness.
A loud buzz echoed overhead before silence swallowed the room.
For one second, neither of them moved.
Then the emergency backup lights flickered on weakly, casting dim orange shadows across the bookshelves.
Kit blinked slowly.
"Well," he said cheerfully, "looks like we're trapped."
Than sighed deeply, pulling off his fogged-up glasses."Wonderful."
Outside, rain hammered against the windows hard enough to sound almost violent.
The campus beyond the glass had completely disappeared beneath the storm.
Neither of them could exactly leave now.
So they settled on the floor near the windows, backs against a bookshelf while thunder rolled endlessly outside.
For once…
neither of them argued.
The silence between them felt strange tonight.
Heavy.
Alive.
Every accidental glance lingered too long.
Every tiny movement felt painfully noticeable.
Kit rested his head back against the shelf and looked over at Than quietly.
"You ever wonder why we're always fighting?"
Than glanced sideways at him."Because you're insufferable."
Kit laughed softly.
"True."
Then his smile faded slightly.
"But that's not the whole reason, is it?"
Than opened his mouth automatically, ready with another sarcastic response...but stopped.
Because Kit had shifted closer.
Their shoulders brushed lightly.
Than's heartbeat immediately betrayed him.
Fast.
Loud.
Embarrassing.
He swallowed hard.
"What are you doing?" he whispered.
Kit looked at him differently this time.
Just… serious.
"Figuring something out."
Than barely had time to process the words before Kit leaned in.
And kissed him again.
This kiss wasn't rushed like the first one.
Wasn't reckless or impulsive.
It was slower.
Softer.
Worse.
Because this time, Than felt everything.
The warmth of Kit's hand against his jaw.
The slight tremble in his breathing.
The way he hesitated for half a second like he was giving Than a chance to pull away.
Than didn't.
Instead, his fingers curled into Kit's shirt as he kissed him back.
Harder this time.
Like weeks of tension finally snapped all at once.
Thunder cracked outside.
But neither of them cared anymore.
The world narrowed into warmth and breath and shaking hands.
Kit pulled Than closer carefully, slowly, like he was still trying to figure out whether this was real.
Than's mind felt completely ruined.
Because this was Kit.
And somehow Than wanted him closer anyway.
Their kisses turned messy quickly.
Desperate.
The storm outside only made everything feel more intense rain pounding against the glass while the emergency lights flickered dimly around them.
Kit's fingers tangled into Than's hair.
Than grabbed the front of his jacket without thinking.
Every touch felt dangerous.
Every breath felt stolen.
It was reckless.
Wild.
Completely unlike Than.
And maybe that was exactly why he couldn't stop.
When they finally pulled apart, both of them were breathing hard.
Kit rested his forehead lightly against Than's.
Their noses brushed.
Neither moved away.
For once, Kit looked genuinely affected too.
No teasing smile.
No cocky comments.
Just slightly messy hair, flushed cheeks, and eyes that looked entirely too soft.
"Still a mistake?" he whispered.
Than's breath hitched painfully.
Because he didn't know anymore.
Didn't know when this stopped being just tension.
Didn't know when Kit stopped feeling like a rival and started feeling like something dangerous.
Something he wanted.
"I…" Than looked away briefly before meeting his eyes again. "I don't know."
Kit stared at him quietly for a second.
Then laughed softly under his breath.
Not mocking, just relieved.
Neither of them spoke after that.
They simply sat there together on the library floor while rain battered the windows beside them.
Their shoulders touched.
Their breathing slowly steadied.
And somehow the silence between them no longer felt sharp enough to cut.
Hours later, after the storm had finally weakened, they ended up lying side by side near the window, exhaustion settling heavily into the room.
Kit lazily traced patterns against the back of Than's hand.
The tiny movement sent warmth all the way up Than's arm.
"You're not gonna freak out tomorrow, are you?" Kit asked quietly.
Than stared up at the ceiling.
"Probably."
Kit laughed softly.
"At least you're honest."
Than rolled his eyes slightly, but didn't pull his hand away.
Outside, the rain finally began to slow.
Inside the library, surrounded by dim lights and unfinished feelings, neither of them realized yet that this was the exact moment everything between them had truly started.
The emergency lights still flickered faintly above them, casting soft orange shadows across the empty room. Outside, the campus was silent now wet pavement shining under streetlights, the world looking strangely peaceful after all the chaos.
Than lay beside Kit on the cold library floor, staring blankly at the ceiling.
His heartbeat still hadn't settled.
Every time he closed his eyes, he could still feel Kit's hands on him.
Still feel the warmth of his breath.
Still hear the way his voice sounded when he whispered his name like it actually meant something.
It was dangerous.
Because Than had spent years building himself carefully piece by piece, rule by rule, expectation by expectation.
And Kit somehow destroyed all of it in one night.
Beside him, Kit shifted slightly, turning onto his side.
"You're thinking too loud again."
Than exhaled slowly. "You can't hear thoughts."
"I can hear your judging silence."
Than rolled his eyes weakly. "Maybe I'm judging myself."
Kit's expression softened for half a second.
Then the teasing returned.
"Wow. Mr. Perfect finally discovered character development."
Than shoved his shoulder lightly. "Shut up."
Kit laughed quietly, the sound warm enough to make Than's chest ache.
The silence that followed felt different now.
Like something invisible had changed between them and neither of them knew what to call it yet.
Than adjusted his glasses and finally sat up, trying to regain at least a little dignity.
"We should leave."
Kit stayed sprawled on the floor dramatically. "We almost died in a storm together and THAT'S your takeaway?"
"We did not almost die."
"The power went out."
"In a library."
"It was traumatic."
Than snorted before he could stop himself.
Kit immediately pointed at him. "There. That. You laughed."
"I did not."
"You literally did."
"I breathed aggressively."
Kit grinned so hard it should've been illegal.
Than hated how easy it was becoming to smile around him.
Hated it even more because some part of him didn't actually want to stop.
Kit finally sat up too, close enough that their knees brushed.
The teasing faded from his face slowly.
"You know…" he murmured, quieter this time, "you're really different when you stop trying so hard."
Than looked at him carefully. "Trying hard at what?"
"At pretending you don't feel things."
The words landed softly.
But somehow hit harder than all their arguments combined.
Than looked away first.
Because that was the problem.
Kit noticed everything.
A faint breeze drifted through the cracked library window, carrying the scent of rain inside.
Kit leaned back against the bookshelf behind him, eyes never leaving Than's face.
"So what happens now?"
Than's throat tightened slightly. "What do you mean?"
"I mean…" Kit shrugged casually, even though his voice wasn't casual at all. "Do we pretend tonight never happened again?"
Again.
That word lingered between them.
Because this wasn't just one reckless kiss anymore.
It wasn't just tension.
It wasn't just curiosity.
Whatever this was —
it was becoming real.
Than swallowed hard.
"I don't know."
For once, Kit didn't joke.
Didn't smirk.
Didn't tease him for being emotionally constipated.
He just nodded slowly like he understood.
And somehow…
that made Than's chest hurt even more.
A few moments later, Kit stood and held out his hand dramatically.
"Come on, Mr. Perfect."
Than stared at it suspiciously. "Why are you acting like a prince in a low-budget romance movie?"
Kit gasped dramatically. "Wow. After everything we've been through?"
"We did a project together, Kit."
"AND made out during a thunderstorm."
Than's face immediately burned.
Kit looked way too satisfied about that.
Still muttering under his breath, Than took his hand.
And the moment their fingers intertwined—
something inside both of them went painfully quiet.
Neither let go immediately.
The walk back across campus was cold and quiet.
Streetlights reflected off puddles.
Their shoulders brushed occasionally.
Neither moved away.
For once, there were no arguments.
No competition.
No walls sharp enough to cut each other with.
Just the sound of wet footsteps and two hearts trying very hard not to say things out loud.
Halfway to the dorms, Kit suddenly spoke.
"You know what?"
Than glanced at him carefully. "What?"
Kit shoved his hands into his pockets, looking unusually serious.
"I don't think I regret it."
Than's breath caught.
Because the terrifying part?
Neither did he.