The fourth kiss changed everything.
Not because it was sudden.
Not because it was unexpected.
But because neither of them tried to stop it.
Elias had spent most of the night convincing himself that every step forward was temporary, something he could still analyze and step away from if he needed to.
But the moment Dominic kissed him again slow, deliberate, unhurried Elias felt something inside him quietly give up the fight.
His hands moved before he realized what he was doing.
One of them caught Dominic's shirt near his waist, fingers tightening slightly in the fabric as if anchoring himself.
Dominic felt it immediately.
And that small movement made the kiss deepen.
Not aggressively.
Just naturally.
The kind of closeness that had clearly been waiting beneath the surface for far longer than either of them had admitted.
When they finally separated, both of them were breathing a little heavier.
Dominic's forehead rested lightly against Elias's.
For once, he didn't tease him.
He just stayed there.
"You know," Dominic murmured quietly, "this is the part where you usually panic."
Elias let out a slow breath.
"I'm aware."
"And yet…"
Dominic lifted his head slightly so he could look at him.
"…you're still holding my shirt."
Elias blinked.
He looked down and realized his hand was still gripping the fabric of Dominic's shirt.
He slowly loosened his fingers.
"That was unconscious."
Dominic smiled faintly.
"Sure it was."
Elias rolled his eyes, though the warmth in his chest made the reaction weaker than usual.
"You're interpreting things again."
"I'm observing."
"You're exaggerating."
Dominic chuckled softly.
"You're adorable when you're defensive."
Elias immediately frowned.
"I'm not adorable."
Dominic's smile widened.
"You absolutely are."
Elias opened his mouth to argue again, but Dominic stepped a little closer instead.
Close enough that the distance between them disappeared once more.
The familiarity of that closeness was becoming dangerous.
Elias noticed it.
So did Dominic.
But neither of them moved away.
Dominic's voice softened.
"You know what's funny?"
"What?"
"I spent months trying to forget what it felt like to be this close to you."
Elias looked at him carefully.
"And?"
Dominic shrugged slightly.
"Turns out I failed."
Elias's voice was quieter now.
"You left."
"I did."
"Why come back now?"
Dominic studied him for a moment before answering.
"Because running stopped working."
The honesty in his voice made Elias pause.
Dominic rarely sounded that open.
"Distance didn't fix anything," Dominic continued.
"If anything, it made things worse."
"How?"
Dominic's smile faded slightly.
"I kept comparing everyone else to you."
Elias blinked.
"That seems inefficient."
Dominic laughed softly.
"You really just said that."
"It's an objective observation."
Dominic shook his head.
"You're unbelievable."
But his expression softened again.
"Still true though."
Elias crossed his arms slightly.
"That doesn't necessarily mean anything."
Dominic tilted his head.
"Elias."
"Yes?"
"You kissed me four times."
"That number seems inflated."
Dominic smirked.
"I counted."
Elias sighed quietly.
Dominic leaned closer again, his voice dropping.
"You know what the real problem is?"
"What?"
"You're still trying to pretend this is complicated."
"It is complicated."
Dominic shook his head.
"No."
His hand lifted slowly, resting gently against Elias's neck.
The warmth of his palm made Elias inhale softly.
"This part isn't complicated."
Elias felt his pulse quicken again.
Dominic watched him carefully.
"You feel that too."
Elias hesitated.
"Yes."
Dominic's smile softened.
"That's the simplest answer you've given all night."
The machines behind them continued humming quietly.
The system still displayed streams of data across the monitors, silently recording patterns and anomalies.
But neither man was paying attention to it anymore.
Dominic's thumb brushed lightly against the side of Elias's neck.
The movement was slow.
Careful.
Elias felt the small shiver run down his spine again.
Dominic noticed immediately.
His voice lowered.
"You're very sensitive there."
"That's not relevant information."
Dominic chuckled quietly.
"It's very relevant."
Elias tried to regain control of the situation.
"You're distracting me."
"Good."
"That wasn't a compliment."
Dominic leaned even closer.
Their foreheads touched again.
"Tell me something honestly," Dominic murmured.
"What?"
"Are you still trying to convince yourself this doesn't mean anything?"
Elias looked into his eyes.
For once, he didn't deflect the question.
"I don't know what it means yet."
Dominic nodded slowly.
"That's fair."
Elias studied him.
"You're not worried?"
"About what?"
"That this could complicate things."
Dominic smiled faintly.
"Everything with you is complicated."
"That's not reassuring."
Dominic shrugged slightly.
"But it's real."
Elias was quiet for a moment.
Then he asked softly,
"You're really not leaving again?"
Dominic's expression softened in a way Elias hadn't seen before.
"No."
"Why?"
Dominic stepped even closer.
Their chests pressed lightly together now.
"Because this time," he said quietly,
"I'm staying long enough to see where this goes."
Elias felt something shift inside him.
Something unfamiliar.
Something that felt suspiciously like hope.
Dominic noticed the change in his expression.
His smile became softer.
"You're thinking again."
"Yes."
"What about?"
Elias hesitated.
Then he admitted quietly,
"That you might be right."
Dominic raised an eyebrow.
"About what?"
Elias met his gaze.
"That I missed you."
For once, Dominic didn't tease him.
He just smiled.
Then he kissed him again slowly, like they had all the time in the world.