Part 1

***

Context: You are a photographer and your bread and butter tends to come from models. They've come in all shapes and sizes and you've learned how to draw out what makes them themselves before the lens. It's a challenge, but you've never met a client you couldn't make shine. Not even in Aden, a burned firefighter battling depression and loneliness. A chance photoshoot brought the two of you together and, for over a year now, you've grown to be good friends. Today, you're hosting an arts festival and expect to see him there, but... where could he be?

Setting: Your arts festival

Tags:[MF4A][Burned Firefighter Speaker][Jealous Ex-Girlfriend Speaker][Photographer Listener][Ex-Drama][Power Move][Confession][Wholesome][Kiss][Mentions of Adoption][Himbo Energy][BFE][Supportive][Sappy][Heartfelt][Mostly Wholesome][CW: Toxic Ex-Drama/Implied Abuse/Angst]

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[Scene opens at a fancy arts festival]

[SFX: Moderate chatter and fanfare/wine glasses]

[...]

[SFX: A phone dialing for a bit…beep ]

[A] “H-Hey, it’s Aden, you have my mail voice! My voice… Um. Leave a message, please, thank you.”

[SFX: The call ending]

[You frown at your phone and glance around the festival for the arts, then glance up to try and spot him.]

[SFX: Fill-in chatter as a pause]

[...]

[SFX: A phone dialing for a bit…beep ]

[A] “H-Hey, it’s Aden, you have my mail voice! My voice… Um. Leave a message, please, thank you.”

[SFX: The call ending]

[You wiggle your way into the crowd and start the hunt, keeping an ear out for a distinct accent]

[SFX: Fill-in chatter as a pause]

[You pause, something hitting your ear. It’s faint, but you hear the sound of a woman shouting and hurry that way]

[SFX: The Listener running]

[You race through the crowd and follow the sound of drama before coming to a stop near the RV that serves as your temporary office. Aden stands, looking petrified, as a woman yells in his face]

[W] “-even doing here?! You don’t like anything to do with art!”

[A] “A-Ava, I’m here to support my friend. They’re a really great photographer and they even directed a f-”.

[W] “Don’t you DARE lie to me! You’re stalking me, aren’t you?!”

[A] “W-What?! No!”

[And, there it is]

[SFX: The Listener stomping forward]

[You march your fine ass up and nearly elbow your way between them]

[A] “Lens??”

[W] “Excuse me, who do you think-?!”

[Pause]

[SFX: A sharp finger snap]

[You snap your fingers once and the woman’s mouth goes slack]

[W] “W-Wh… Did you just snap at me like a dog…?”

[Pause?]

[Her nose wrinkles. Some of that fire creeps back in]

[W] “Do I know who you are?! Of course not, why the f-”.

[You see the exact moment it dons on her. She looks around at all the event posts dancing gleefully in the wind with your big, dumb, happy face on it]

[SFX: The posters flapping, if desired]

[...]

[W] “...Oh God.”

[Pause.]

[A, confused] “Do… you two know each other?”

[W, quiet] “...They’re the director of this festival…and one of the judges…”

[A] “Oh, shit!”

[W] “...How do you even know Aden? He’s never been the artsy type!”

[A] “Oh, uh, I did a photoshoot with them for the firemen-themed calendar. I-It’s gonna be featured here since the money is going toward burn victims, well…disabled servicemen, as a whole, really.”

[Her face twists with fury]

[W] “What?! You’re just parading around, shirtless?!”

[Aden blinks, taken aback]

[A] “I-I… I like being shirtless every chance I get…? Wait, no, t-that was the worst thing I could have-! U-Um… It’s for charity!”

[Pause?]

[W] “Why do I care?! It’s embarrassing to have people see something they don’t have a right to see!”

[...]

[A] “...A…Are you jealous that I-? Wait, but you broke up with me!”

[You hold up a hand and both of them fall silent. All of the eavesdroppers freeze]

[Pause]

[A] “Lens? W-Why are you saying it doesn’t matter?”

[W] “Yeah, what exactly-?”

[Pause]

[W] “What do you mean he’s taken?! There’s no way!”

[A, confused puppy energy] “I…I am?”

[SFX: Aden getting yanked down by the accursed shirt, into a kiss]

[You make eye contact with his ex before turning, grabbing him by his shirt, and pulling him down into a kiss]

[A] “Mmhh?!?”

[His ex lets out a stringe of incoherent rage, stomps her feet, and stomps off amidst a very confused and awkward crowd of art nerds]

[Pause]

[You let Aden up after a bit and he nearly stumbles, eyes wide and face flushed]

[A] “...G-Godamn…”

[Pause?]

[A] “Am… Am I taken?”

[He looks down at you. The blush reveals a very faint spattering of freckles on his cheeks]

[A] “...Yeah, I… Mmhm, sure am. Wow. Are you… Were you just born that powerful or should I expect a supervillain to kidnap me here soon?”

[Pause <3]

[His eyes go from fogged to horrified]

[A] “Oh my golfers! I mean God, for fuck’s… I am SO sorry that I didn’t call you back. Ava just backed me into a corner and… and I just didn’t want to do anything that could look like I wanted to hurt her. I don’t! I just… I want to be done…”

[Pause]

[He takes a breath and smiles shakily]

[A] “I’m OK. Mostly… I mean, heck, I just got the most kickass partner on the planet. I just… I know we’ve been talking for, what, a year now?”

[Pause]

[A] “And two days, sure… The talks we’ve had… How comfortable I feel being my dumb, awkward self around you… I know how I feel.”

[Pause <3]

[His face turns an even darker red]

[A] “Lens! Why do you always have to bring up our perfectly wholesome cuddle sessions?”

[Pause ~<3~]

[A, stern] “Perfectly. Wholesome.”

[<3]

[He laughs, running a hand through his hair]

[A] “What I’m trying to get at is that… we haven’t even been on a single date. You’ve been respectful of me wanting to take things slow… and then you seduced me in front of my ex-girlfriend, fuck it, I don’t even know why I’m protesting.”

[Pause <3!]

[He laughs as you hug him, wrapping his big, old arms around you]

[A] “Hugs? Hugs! Mmh! Wow… Wow, this is a lot of, um…dopamine… Almost making me a little dizzy.”

[Pause]

[A] “Sit down in your office? Yeah… OK. Good idea.”

[SFX: Them transitioning to the Listener’s office/door shutting]

[Aden sits with a sigh, rubbing the back of his head]

[A] “Geeze… I feel like such a shitty friend-”.

[Pause]

[He smiles]

[A] “Shitty boyfriend, fine. I’ve been so wrapped up in my own drama that I didn’t even realize how much of all of this is… your efforts. I mean, I should have known, the moment I saw it I just thought of that perfect beauty that’s welcoming but alive. I’ve never seen anyone do it like you though but, man, when something comes close… Makes me smile. Whoops, motormouth, sorry.”

[<3 <3 <3]

[A] “Ooh, I’ll sweet talk you a lot more, then. But, hey, let me pull it back a little and be a good boyfriend. How have you been? You feeling OK?”

[...]

[A] “Been mostly good? Mmh… Mostly, huh?”

[Pause…]

[He cocks his head to the side]

[A] “You’re worried about the future? May I ask why?”

[Pause…]

[For almost anyone else, you might avoid the question, even lie. But everything in his eyes tells you that you’re safe]

[Note: Recommend Aden acknowledge the Listener is talking as VA prefers]

[A] “Oh…”

[Pause]

[A] “You’re thinking about maybe adopting a kid one day?”

[Pause…]

[He ponders for a moment before he smiles and shrugs]

[A] “Well, I don’t know if I’m ready to move that fast just yet, but… I don’t want to stand in the way of your dreams if you want it sooner rather than later.”

[Pause]

[He gives a sigh of relief]

[A] “You’re willing to take things slow for me…? Phew, Jesus. I cannot tell you how refreshing whatever…this is. Functional! Godamnit, Aden…Sorry.”

[Pause <3]

[A] “Heh… Yeah, I would love to help you present the calendar. Why not. I’m so full of endorphins and chill that I think I’d punch the sun in the face if you asked me.”

[Pause]

[A] “No, I… I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your confidence and patience and just… godamn, you’re sexy, annnnd the endorphins have betrayed me. Excellent. Yes. How’s about setting up the presentation, yeah?”

[Pause <3]

[A] “I am chill! I am totally relaxed. See?”

[Pause]

[A] “I… OK, but… No, you?”

[Pause <3]

[You chuckle together and move to step out of the little RV, before Aden pauses]

[A] “Before we go…”

[Pause?]

[A] “I, um… I wrote you a, well, uh, letter that… that I never really had the courage to send. If you really want me and…and this is real. I, um… I’d like to read it to you. I mean, I have it memorized, but-”.

[<3!]

[He laughs]

[A] “OK, OK! Here goes…”

[He takes a breath. His voice deepens and steadies]

[A] “...Lens, I met you in one of the darkest times of my entire life. I was barely able to get out of bed most days, and then you showed me that I could own it. And then you became my best friend so easily, and… I need you to know that every time you put your hand on my chest and say, ‘It’s you’, I want to tell you that it’s you, too. Cause… you feel like a part of my life. A part of me… Sorry if that’s too intense, um…yeah. The point is…I love that you’re a part of my life and… I hope it stays that way for a long time because I’m in love with you and… I love you.”

[<3 <3 <3]

[A] “Oh, thank the Lord I didn’t nuke the relationship with that speech… I’ll learn to talk one of these damned days.”

[Pause <3]

[He laughs and shakes his head]

[A] “Yeah, yeah, Lens…C’mon, let’s get ready for your presentation. A whole bunch of people are going to be singing your praises after that, you know.”

[<3 Pause]

[A] “Hehe, yep! And I get to stand there, looking like a smug cat, and say, ‘Eyup, that’s MY partner’.”

[The two of you head back out into the festival, the mood much more in your favor, and the view even more so]

[To be continued]

Note: What do y’all think Aden looks like? I’m curious how my headcanon compares.