Anderson Estate – Rooftop Garden, Morning
Characters Present: James & Oliver
POV: Oliver
The rooftop garden was quiet — not the perfect kind of quiet, but the kind after a storm.
The sun hung low, gold streaks warming the flowers that survived last night's drama.
Oliver sat on the edge of the balcony wall, his legs swinging slightly as he stared out at the distant city skyline. The wind played with his hair.
He didn't turn when James approached.
But he knew it was him.
He always knew.
James stood beside him for a few seconds in silence before finally speaking.
James (quietly):
"You always go silent after you fix everyone else."
Oliver gave a small shrug.
"Just thinking."
James:
"You mean breaking your own heart while trying to stitch theirs together."
Oliver looked up then — not annoyed, not angry — just tired.
Oliver:
"Sam needed someone to stand between him and the world. That's all I've ever done."
James:
"And who stands for you?"
Oliver blinked, his throat tightening.
James sat beside him, close enough for their shoulders to touch.
James (gently):
"You don't have to keep carrying everyone. Sam has Noah now. He's not yours to protect anymore."
Oliver (voice low):
"I know. But he'll always be mine."
A pause.
Then softly:
James:
"And I'll always be yours."
Oliver turned sharply to look at him.
James (firmly):
"I don't care how many walls you have. I don't care if I have to wait for you to look at me like that."
He reached out, took Oliver's hand in his.
> "But you are mine, Oliver. And I don't plan to stand in your shadow while you break for everyone else."
Oliver swallowed hard.
Oliver (whisper):
"I don't know how to let someone choose me."
James leaned in, forehead resting lightly against Oliver's.
James (softly):
"Then I'll choose you until you remember how."
And in that moment, Oliver let his walls down — just a little — and leaned forward.
A kiss that wasn't fiery or desperate.
But real.
And finally, Oliver let himself be held.
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