[Anni MP] you could be my love - niek

Nieks shifted anxiously as Tane's arms wrapped around him, and the Dutch boy's fingers dug deeper into the fabric of Tane's shirt. The younger Ombrelune did have a point; this was exactly like the stupid little haunting maze Nieks dragged him through one summer, maybe two or three years ago. He had to remind Tane, multiple times throughout the maze, that they were just actors, and that they weren't actual ghosts. Muggle things made Tane weird, Nieks thought. It calmed him a little. His shoulders relaxed and the older Ombrelune's fingers slackened. Tane untangled himself and the Dutch boy nodded at his words, "R-Right," he murmured. He still felt nervous, unsure, but now he wasn't alone. He was never alone with his best friend next to him. His fingers moved from Tane's shirt to his hand, lacing their fingers before Tane told him to stay. A look of confusion crossed over his face -- what did he mean stay here? They weren't going to split up, were they? The panic rose again, his eyes widening as his fingers gripped onto Tane, but even before he could say something, his best friend was gone. He had dived into the ball pit and was gone.

But true to his word, Nieks stayed where he was. He anxiously fidgeted with his sleeves, chewing on his lip. He shifted on his feet, this way and that, left to right and right to left. His heart pounded hard in his chest and the lights around them were making him feel nauseous. He wanted to vomit. He counted the seconds, trying to wait patiently for Tane. But it was getting too close. He was nervous. He hesitated, calling out, "T-T-Tane?" he questioned. He wasn't sure if his voice could be heard through all the balls, but within a minute after, Tane was back up. He grabbed at Tane with desperation, basically wrapping himself around his best friend as he saw the plug. He nodded at the words, and clung tighter to his best friend. He felt Tane pull the plug. One pull. Two pulls. Three pulls. And then... and then the floor was gone.

The floor wasn't actually gone, but as Tane pulled the plug out of the socket, the balls started to roll. A force had pulled them, like they were being sucked up into a vacuum. Of course, it would take the two boys with them. Nieks tried to dig his heels into the ground, but with the balls pushing against their sides and his back, it was hard. They stumbled. And soon enough, they swirled down the tube, too. It was like a glorified slide, speeding them up more, and more, and more, and a loop, and at one time, upside down, before they landed.

Spring.

And then they were moving again, this time, they landed on Niek, his entire breath being pushed out of him as Tane's body weight landed on him. And another bounce, this time on their sides. A trampoline. They were in a room filled with trampolines, and a ton of colorful, still slightly bouncing but nowhere as nearly confined as before, balls from the previous ballpit.

It hurt his pride a bit that it took him three full tugs to get the plug out. He comforted himself with the knowledge that he could hardly throw himself into it with Niek clinging to him like a baby monkey. Despite his internal complaining, Tane rather liked having Niek stuck on him like glue. It made him feel secure, strong, needed. Theirs was always a two-way relationship. As much as Niek needed Tane, the half-Maori boy needed him. They were a strange pair, constantly twisting and wounding each other until they had come to this point.

Here, though, in this moment, there were just two boys. Friends, occasionally lovers, trying like hell to get out of this fun house. The plug finally popped free, and down Niek and Tane went in a great swirl of colored balls. While Niek tried to stop their headlong rush down, Tane only concerned himself with wrapping his strong arms around Niek. He didn't particularly care where they ended up as long as they went together. Rolling on the balls, cascading down a dizzying slide and then hitting a soft surface which bounded them up again.

They impacted, Niek under Tane, catching his full weight. "Sorry!" he cried, hoping the smaller boy wasn't hurt. With an attempt at cat-like grace, Tane twisted in the air so their next landing would be on their sides. Momentum spent, he carefully released his hold on Niek, slowly rolling to his knees, leaning over his lover. "Are you alright?" he asked quickly, hands running down Niek's chest and sides in a protective and possessive gesture. "Sorry. I didn't mean to land on you. I'm kinda heavy..."

He looked around, a smile tugging his lips as he watched the balls bouncing across the trampolines. "Well, this one seems like a good deal more fun," he commented. "Although, I think I need to catch my breath for a moment." Having said this, he laid back down on the trampoline, pulling Niek to his side as if they were cuddling in bed. "This isn't so bad... private, at least, and comfy." He turned his head to look at his best friend with a little grin. "I was planning on waiting to try and make out with you on the Ferris wheel but maybe I should just use this lull in the action to it's full effect..." Tane kissed Niek playfully, his word clearly teasing. He was about to lean in for another kiss when the trampoline they were on bounced them up, tired of their presence.

Luckily, Tane grabbed Niek's arm before they were bounced to separate trampolines and who knew what happened again. He looked at Niek, a look that clearly said 'I figured out the last one.' It was the Dutch boy's turn to get them out of this mess.

Nieks nodded as Tane asked if he was alright, and reveled in the feeling of warm hands dancing over his body. It was partially possessive, and partially in worry. Nieks loved that. He loved that Tane loved him so much, needed him so much, that he worried about the simplest things, "I'm o-okay," he breathed out, a little breathless. In reality, all of the air he had felt like it was knocked out of him as they tumbled along the trampolines. He shook his head and nudged Tane gently, murmuring, "No n-need to apologize. I'm o-okay, I promise," the Dutch boy whispered. He gave a shy smile towards the other boy before he watched as Tane commented on the room. Nieks hadn't sat up; not only was he enjoying the moment to catch his breath, but this room was quite bright and obviously very playful. A lot different than the last few rooms. Tane settled down against him, pulling Nieks close, and the Dutch boy's face painted itself red as he realized what was happening. Oh, Merlin. He could feel Tane's breath along his skin and then the soft lips against his own, and then they were being flung back up into the air.

Tane grabbed onto him, and the Dutch boy flailed before latching on again. Nope, not fun anymore. He huffed and pulled himself and Tane up to their feet and looked around the room. There didn't seem to be many options for how they were going to get out, save for two options: the first was a rather five-story high door that looked impossible to open without some sort of secret magic code that was hidden inside the room, and a two-person long crawly cave with a latching door that, as Nieks stepped over to it, could be opened from the trampoline side, but not once they were inside. It was also extremely dark, and they'd have to use their wands to cast lumos as they crawled. He thought about it for a long moment before he squeezed Tane's hand, a reassurance thing, not necessarily a call for help. He pondered the pros and cons, and then tugged Tane towards the small crawly-cave. It was better than the door, which would drain both of their magics.

"I f-figure I can um... I c-can cast L-Lumos and that gives y-you the ability to c-c-cast in case we n-need a wand?" he stumbled. Anxious feelings were creeping into his chest, making it hard for him to focus, but he knew that they'd be able to do it.

Once inside the crawly-cave, they'd crawl straight and then reach a four way tunnel, in which a silver button lies. Once the button is hit, the follow words resonate.

Only one way leads the path to glory
the others lead the path to the gates
choose your path wisely
or you might find yourself as ate.

Tane hadn't even seen the small crawl-space that Niek found fairly quickly. He kept a hold of his best friend's hand, following without hesitation. While Niek doubted and wondered about his abilities and capabilities, Tane never doubted, He trusted Niek to get them through things because he saw far more inside his boy then Dutch boy himself did. He saw potential and force and sometimes a fierceness that surprised him. His boy was something special, he knew, and the knowledge was a secret light in Tane's heart.

The half-Maori nodded at the older boy's suggestion, pulling out his wand and gripping it securely in his hand. "I should be able to take care of anything that comes our way," he shot Niek a warm smile, all confidence and trust, "as long as I have you beside me." He squeezed Niek's hand in his, tugging him close into a quick but loving kiss. He really wished the room could have wait a bit before deciding to push them towards action. Those trampolines seemed to be the perfect place for a few heated moments. The potential for a little bouncing added some excitement to the moment. Ah, well. He supposed he would just have to hold off on his more affectionate endeavors until they were out of here.

Taking the lead, Tane went first into the crawlspace so anything coming towards them would have to get through him before it could get to Niek. Tane's first objective was to keep Niek safe, always. There was barely enough room for them to sit shoulder to shoulder as he pressed the button and listened to the riddle. He felt quite a bit of pressure, since he hadn't done so well on the last riddle. He thought in silence, his brow furrowed in deep thought.

"Okay, riddles always have the answers in them somewhere..." He carefully though about every word, the number of doors, and what it could all mean. "The first door," he declared with conviction. "It said 'only one way' so I think it's the first door. It's the only number mentioned explicitly." He looked at Niek, eyes serious. "There's not enough room for both of us to go in side by side. I'll go first. Stay close, sweetheart. If we get seperated, I swear I'll find you." Gathering his confidence, he pushed open the first door, crawling through, trusting Niek to be right behind him.

It felt like he crawled forever. He could hear Niek behind him, or what he hoped was Niek. The tunnel took several sharp turns, seemed to loop back on itself, and changed colors every few feet in a dizzying display of shifting shades. Finally, Tane came to the end of the tunnel. It emptied into a room that was striped gold and white, lights sparkling in the air, blinking and zipping like fireflies. It seemed slihgtly foggy in here, and Tane couldn't really see the walls in the distance. He knew they were still in the fun house, but the room felt expansive and open.

He got to his feet, turning to see Niek coming out of the tunnel right after him. Reaching down, he helped his lover up, keeping him close. The sound of music drifted through the air, as if being played by an orchestra in the distance. "Wow," Tane murmured, taking in the sight. "This room is my favorite so far..."

Nieks wasn't quite sure where the tunnels would lead, but when Tane reassured him that he'd be able to handle whatever came there way, the Dutch boy's shoulders relaxed just a little. He didn't quite want Tane's hand out of his, but he knew that moving through the crawlspace would be tight otherwise, and he stayed as close as possible with his lumos in one hand, and Tane on offense in the other. They were a good pair, despite being almost total opposites. Nieks didn't have much self confidence, but when he was with Tane, he could literally accomplish anything that stood in his way. When he was with Tane, he was smarter, quicker, stronger, able to do anything. He wondered about that as they crawled through the tunnels, slow and steady but always together. When Tane hit the button, and the riddle resonated through the metal crawl spaces, and Niek's eyes swung towards Tane as he spoke. He was trying to solve the riddle. There was really no clear answer in Tane's words, even though the younger 'Lune tried to use a solid reasoning. There were literally just trial and errors. Nieks' wand traveled over the four entrances as he listened and watched as Tane started to go towards the first one. The words Let's think about it were on the tip of his tongue, but then Tane was lost in the darkness, and Nieks had to literally scurry on hands and knees to catch up.

The crawlspace was far too narrow for them to fit shoulder to shoulder like the other pathway was, so Niek's fingers tangled gently into the ankle hem of Tane's pants as they crawled, so they wouldn't get separated. Thankfully, it was a mostly clear shot towards the end, and Nieks hesitated until Tane was up on his feet to crawl out. The younger boy helped him up and Nieks squinted in the light, the music oddly comforting, a welcoming silence. Maybe they had finally reached the end of the fun house. Somewhere, Nieks really hoped that was the case, but a little part of him told him that it was otherwise untrue. If he squinted, he could see the foggiest of wall outlines in the distance, through the angel dust that floated through the air. The Dutch boy's head swiveled slightly to Tane as he murmured and the Dutch boy couldn't help but nod, "It's... not as scary as the other rooms," he had to admit. No stutter, mostly because this fun house was starting to make him exhausted. It was too much. He wanted to just get out and leave and do other things. While he didn't mind the quietness and the closeness he kept sharing with Tane, the house was far too challenging for him, with pieces by pieces constantly pushing and pulling.

But this room was just like the rest, and it lured the two Beauxbatons students in, before snapping in half and changing all together.

Above them, a dark shadow swooped over, and it was Nieks who caught the feeling first. The room became unnaturally chilly, and the music slowed to a terrible, dark tune as the music almost crept to a stop but didn't. The figure swooped again, closer; the stench of death lingered in the air. It made Nieks' stomach roll and he shivered as goosebumps danced over his flesh. He tugged on Tane's hand, pulling them a little deeper into the fog when it happened. As if it sensed Niek's nerves, the large, spiraling dark figure danced up from the shadows on the floor in front of them, dark and death and all things terrible loomed. A lethifold. Not a real lethifold, as it was conjured by an illusionist so good that this whole fun house breathed it in, but did it sure feel like it. Nieks heart stopped.

or you might find yourself as ate.

They were going to be eaten. He had heard stories about it. He backpedaled, his heart jumping in his chest. He tried to pull Tane back, the words getting caught in his mouth as panic literally overtook him, "T-T-Tane I ca-can't I want o-o-out this i-i-i-isn't fun anymore p-please..."

He could barely cast a patronus. How was he always supposed to rely on Tane for everything. He was so weak. He was so useless. He tried pulling Tane back. Maybe they could find that crawlspace and find another pathway. Anything was better than this.

For a moment, Tane thought they might have finally found a place to pause for a few minutes and collect themselves. The area seemed innocuous and still. Nothing in this fun house seemed to remain the same from one moment to the next and it was just as true of this room as any other the pair had made it through. There was a sudden chilly, clutching darkness and the feeling they were no longer alone. The music slowed and screeched, a feeling of palpable malice filled the air. Shadows formed a crawled at their feet and the corners of their eyes. One separated from the others, rearing up into a form Tane recognized only from lessons and textbooks. A thing of darkness that consumed sleeping victims, eating them while they slumbered. A fearsome beast to counter. Lethifold.

Tane was stunned still, even as Niek tugged frantically at his hand. He had never felt death come at him as certainly as this moment, knew without a doubt that they could die here, both of them. He forgot the fun house around them, the swirling lights of the carnival and knew only the inescapable nature of his own end. He was frozen, unable to move or speak, a statue as witness to the horror about to come.

It was Niek who saved him. Niek's voice, stuttering and waivering through the noise of the menacing music and the almost inaudible howl Tane was sure was coming from the lethifold's shadow flesh. He turned, like moving through molasses, and saw the paper-white face of his best friend, lover, love. And what he hadn't been able to do for himself, he could suddenly do for Niek. He hadn't been able to break free of the creature's hold to save himself, but Niek was here and Niek needed him. He couldn't survive without Tane. Something surged inside the half-Maori's blood; a fierce need to protect his boy, to live.

His stance shifted, more balanced and steady. He squeezed Niek's hand in his, not letting the older but lighter boy drag him away. He turned, focusing on the lethifold, and on the one spell that would send it fleeing. Eyes steely, wand raised and pointed, Tane looked deep in his heart for the one happy memory he would need to summon a patronus and drive off this terror...

It was spring of their fourth year at Beauxbatons. The sun coming through the stained glass of their favorite nook painted Niek's sleeping face a myriad of colors. They were suppose to be studying, but Niek never could focus on warm afternoons like this. Instead, while Tane read aloud from their Transfiguration textbook, Niek was dozing. Head resting in Tane's lap, face turned towards the sound of the younger Ombrelune's voice. Looking at his sleeping best friend, Tane huffed quietly. He ran a hand through Niek's hair, just like his best friend liked to be touched. "What am I going to do with you?" he muttered quietly, only a little frustrated. Niek, however, made a noise like a sleepy puppy and mumbled, "L-love you, Tane..." It was the first time Tane had ever heard Niek say it and he knew in his heart that the Dutch boy meant it.

"Expecto Patronum!"

It was Tane's best patronus, the first he had ever cast with clear form. It was an animal, although as it ran towards the lethifold on two spindly legs, Tane was at first hard-pressed to make it out through its own spectral glow. Then he saw it: round, ball-like body; short neck, long beak, and fuzzy feathers. It was a kiwi. A kiwi. He was expecting a tiger or an eagle or a wolf; something to reflect his hidden warrior and the fierceness of his soul. Instead he got the world's most ridiculous flightless bird. A kiwi.

The lethifold, however, seemed to not notice the less than imposing shape and screeched like a banshee, vanishing in a puff of shadow. The lights brightened, the music picked back up to it's initial rhythm and the fairy lights twinkled merrily. Tane turned and not caring if his lover was feeling shy at the moment, he pulled him in and kissed him. It was a long, deep kiss and it held all of the relief and love Tane was feeling for the boy in his arms. Finally pulling away enough to murmur against Niek's lips, "I can't believe it was a kiwi..."

He would have kissed him again, but a line of bright light formed in thin air, and a trumpeting fanfare played. A voice, loud and brassy, called, "WINNER! A BRAVE SOUL HAS BEATEN THE LETHIFOLD'S CHALLENGE!" The light widened and cleared to reveal the fairgrounds, the man at the end of the fun house holding out a giant teddy bear to Tane, whi took in in silence. "Fine job, young man! Enjoy the rest of your day at the carnival!" And with that they were out, standing in the lane and blinking in confusion.

"Well," Tane said at last, "What would you like to do next?"

Tane wasn’t moving. Why wasn’t he moving? The nerves welled up quick and deep inside Niek’s chest, and the Ombrelune tugged harder at his best friend’s hand. His other wrapped itself in the back of Tane’s shirt, and he tried, oh so desperately, to move the other boy. He was like a wall; tall, sturdy and immovable. Nieks could literally feel his heart in his throat and he tried in all desperation to move away, but as he let go of Tane to run, Tane kept him close. Kept him tethered to him. His heart hammered; skittish like a little child afraid of the dark. But this, to Nieks, was something that scared him. Lethifolds were terrifying; he could barely do basic magic because of his lack of confidence, but the patronus charm? It was out of the question. He couldn’t do it. He couldn’t. He couldn’t do this. He couldn’t always rely on Tane. Internally, he was shutting down. Pressing his emotions outwards was not a good sight. Panic turned into quiet apathy, and he stood there, letting the mix of emotions run its course. Tane, on the other hand, looked far more determined than his roommate.

The spell left the tip of Tane’s wand as Niek shifted more behind him, watching with silence as the little figure appeared. He knew that Tane could cast a semi-corporeal patronus, but this was the best; little legs rolled the round body and long beak of some sort of bird. And then, Niek, too, realized what it was. He couldn’t help but suppress a little giggle that tried to escape from his lips as he realized how ridiculous it was: Tane’s patronus was a Kiwi. The lethifold, though, didn’t seem to think it was all that funny as the flightless bird puffed right through it, sending the shadows scattering to all edges of the room. The mist around them grew thinner, breathable, and the music and lights seemed to return to normal. Tane was moving, pulling the older Ombrelune towards him and for a minute, the more stoic friend didn’t realize what was happening until after Tane’s lips had left his. He could feel the warm breath of his best friend linger, the taste that sent shivers up Niek’s spine. Unconsciously, he licked at his lips, wanting – no, needing – more. He hated the way that Tane put him into such precarious situations, and that his needs and wants were so deep and wrapped so easily around the younger boy.

And then Tane was pushing back in for another, only partially stopped by the door to the fun house opening and a brassy voice echoing throughout the room. Thank Merlin in a heartbeat. Niek pulled away from the public display of affection with a quick movement and shoved Tane out first, using all of his effort to move him. His heart still hammered in his chest, as Tane collected his prize (apparently defeating the lethifold wasn’t that easy, judging by the size of the stuffed teddy bear Tane got). As Tane asked him what he wanted to do next, Nieks couldn’t help but laugh a little, nudging his best friend gently, trying to lighten his mood, and stop his heart from hammering so hard in his chest.

"T-That b-bear is b-bigger than y-you," he muttered. Now that he was out of the fun house, one anxious habit turned into another. The fun house had spat them out right into the center of a large pathway, filled with people pushing and bumping in all sorts of different which ways. Nieks was not a fan of that, not at all. He anxiously chewed on his lip before he tried to steer Tane out onto the side of the path, where less people trod because there were too many people for him, "S-Snack, m-m-maybe?" he stammered, trying to give Tane an idea. Maybe he could sit with the giant ass bear while Tane went to grab snacks, and Nieks could decompress by being so overly stressed. He didn’t know, but he sure as hell wanted this to be over.

The way Niek licked his lips after their kiss had all kinds of ideas chasing through Tane's head but the first one was that he needed to get Niek somewhere safe. He could read his best friend like no one else could, like the way Niek could read him, and he knew the older boy needed space, time to sit and just be. So he followed Niek's tug to the edge of the little path. He nodded at his lover's suggestion, too, wrapping an arm around him and steering him to a spot between two attractions where a path dead ended and was almost completely deserted.

Cupping Niek's cheek, he leaned in and pressed their foreheads together like he had done in the fun house. "Stay here? I'll be right back with something." A quick, affectionate kiss and Tane was pulling back, presenting Niek with the giant bear. In halting Dutch, Tane pronounced proudly, "Dit is... is de heer Knuffels. Hij vindt je leuk.¹" He gave his lover a cheeky wink. "My Dutch is getting better,
leraar!²" With that, he headed across the way to a group of food vendors hawking their wares.

He scanned the offerings quickly, deciding on a couple different items for the two of them, sparing no expense on his first date. He came back laden with food and two drinks for the two of them. Once he was closer, he called, "There's a table over here!" Tane waited until Niek was close before heading to the table, giving a dark look to a couple of snotty kids who were trying to get to it first. They backed off quickly and the half-Maori put down his haul, sitting next to his lover.

"This is yours," he told his boy, smiling. "It has hazelnut spread in it. I know you like that. These are fried potatoes. That's cheese and a kind of savory cream? The vendor was not clear. And these are a kind of pepper filled which cheese and wrapped in bacon! This food is incredible! Did you know they had a stall and they were coating these chocolate and cream cookies in batter and frying them? It was madness! This has some kind of sausage in it!"

Ever the growing boy, Tane began to sample the food happily, sipping his color-changing iced drink. A bit impulsively, he took Niek's hand under the table, pausing in his food feast to lean in close and murmur against Niek's ear, "Thank you for this day, Aroha. I know you're not a fan of crowds and you only came for me." He kissed Niek's ear softly, breath lingering against his skin. "My sweet Aroha." The younger boy pulled back before he did anything too outrageous and made Niek even more uncomfortable, taking a bite of his dough-covered sausage thing.


1. This is Mr. Cuddles. He likes you.
2. Teacher

As they sort of bee-lined away from the main path and towards a more deserted one, the stress on Niek's face -- and shoulders -- started to visibly disappear. He was easing out of the scared and anxious mindset and more open and willing one, content to just follow around Tane's lead and enjoy their little carnival. Honestly, though, after that fun house fiasco, Nieks was completely ready to leave. He blinked, slightly lost in his thoughts, before he felt the warmth and roughness of Tane's fingers carded over his cheek. He felt the warmth settle on his face and he shifted towards, his forehead gently bonking against Tane's as they reveled in each other's closeness on that cool evening in December. Lights flashed and people talked loudly, and music played, but all Nieks wanted was to be close. To tuck up against Tane and enjoy him. He blinked as Tane spoke, and then a kiss and he was pulling away. The Dutch boy, unconsciously, followed for the warmth, and frowned as the bear was presented, followed by Dutch, although shaking and not quite right in the pronunciation way. That was the good thing about the carnival: they didn't have to speak one specific language, like at Beauxbatons.

"Bedankt," Nieks breathed, taking the bear with hesitant arms as he gathered up his own courage. His stutter was less pronounced while speaking Dutch sometimes, a more natural language than French in his opinion, but it still seemed to come out every once and a while. He felt the "fur" of the bear with his fingers, reveling in the softness of it. For a moment, it reminded the Dutch boy of the soft hair at the back of Tane's neck while they cuddled, the way it twirled so naturally around Niek's fingers as he idly enjoyed it, "Ik hou van hem ook..." he murmured. Before he even got a moment to respond to Tane's statement about how his Dutch was getting better, the half-Maori was gone and that left Nieks alone.

Niek felt rooted to the ground, face painted red as he suddenly felt so awkward. A few seconds turned into several minutes, and the panic started to well up in his chest. Did Tane just ditch him? Was he going to come back? Was this a ploy? He knew Tane wouldn't have done that to him, but it was just the way Nieks thought. He was always the last person people wanted around, and realizing how useless and stupid he was in the fun house, maybe Tane thought better of being with him and left. He squirmed anxiously, his heart hammering harder and harder in his chest. Oh, Merlin, he was being stood up. It was a ploy. It was all a lie. Tane had led him here, and had ditched him once he knew how underrated the other Ombrelune was. After all, Nieks would ditch himself, if he had a chance. The bear fell to his feet, propped up against his legs, because his hands needed to fiddle with his sweater, so warm and safe. He wanted to curl up, to disappear, to --

"There's a table over here!"

It was Tane. It was Tane's voice echoing, and it took Nieks a long moment to realize what was going on. He was panicking so much he was shaking, but eventually he gathered up some of his nerves, picked up the bear and shuffled to Tane. He couldn't look at his best friend, he couldn't. His mind told him no, told him to distance more, to pull away. His mood had done it, and he had reacted on instinct. Tane's control was strong on this one, but he didn't know if the younger boy could pull him out. Not yet. He settled himself at the table, Tane's warmth so close as the other Ombrelune settled next to him, yammering away about the foods and drink he got. Honestly, Nieks wasn't even paying attention. He was lost in his thoughts, looking at the wood of the table in front of him, feeling the anxiety bubble in his chest, making it hard to think, to feel. He wanted, still, to curl up and disappear, although it really wasn't as bad as a full blown panic attack.

After another few minutes, Tane's fingers laced with his under the table, and the breath of his lover was against his ear. He shifted a little, partially in reaction but partially because he was feeling... something. Something outside of anxiety, out of his comfort zone. Love. Dedication. Need. Submissiveness. It was the way Tane was speaking, his voice soft and commanding, but not powerful and rude. A lull that made Niek's anxiety seem small in comparison. He pressed himself closer to Tane, trying to tuck himself under his best friend's arm, trying to burrow up against him, a need to be safe, to be held, to be reminded he was loved, "S-Sorry..."

(Nieks' translated sentences: "Thanks; I like him too.")

Niek was quiet again as they sat, distant. It worried Tane a bit, knowing how stressed his lover got in crowded spaces. And of course their previous ordeal inside the fun house was most likely not helping Niek's mood. He was quiet and seemed uninterested in the food and drink the half-Maori boy had brought back to the table, despite that it had been his idea to get them in the first place. Tane sighed softly, wondering what was going on inside his lover's head. He wished Niek was more likely to confide in him but he seemed just as reticent in that way as he had always been.

But then something rather miraculous happened. As Tane leaned in and whispered, holding Niek's hand in his, the other boy responded. He pushed himself up against the larger boy, almost like they were snuggling in their favorite nook, nestling himself closer. Without thought, Tane lifted his arm so Niek could settle against his chest, his limb dropping back down to wrap around Niek's body protectively and possessively. He kissed the top of the older boy's head, nuzzling into his hair. "There's nothing to be sorry about, Aroha. I'm thanking you for being so good about coming out."

Tane smiled, his voice teasing. "The proper response is 'You're welcome.' I'm grateful for this day. Our first date." The Ombrelune gently reached out, tilting Niek's face up to his. "I want more dates like this. Moon-lit picnics and muggle movies and entire days spent with you. Just you, Niek." Tane bit his lip, feeling rushing through him as he looked at Niek. The older boy looked so much smaller and more vulnerable like this, eyes looking up at Tane out of a pale, freckled face. He couldn't help it, didn't care about the people around them.

He leaned back in, brushing a light kiss against Niek's lips. This was not a deep or passionate kiss, but soft and chaste. It was an expression of devotion devoid of Tane's usual need to dominate and possess. It was a rare thing, but Tane wanted Niek to know how he felt wasn't just something physical but was deeper than that. "You were my happy memory," the boy murmured against his roommate's lips. "In the fun house. It was you I was thinking of when I cast that patronus." He wasn't sure if telling Niek this was a good idea, if it would make his best friend retreat even more, but he needed to say it. He needed Niek to know how important he was.

The closeness was needed, and even though Nieks didn't like open affection, his mind was... well, elsewhere. Tane's arm around his more lithe body was comfort, and he settled closer, their thighs touching and his head partially against Tane's shoulder and just... he was warm, and safe, and loved. Just like this. To humor Tane, because he knew his best friend was becoming quickly worried with his more distant actions, the Dutch boy shifted only slightly and finally took a bite out of the wrapped food that Tane claimed had hazelnut in it. Nieks really was a sucker for hazelnut. It was one of those flavors the older Ombrelune truly liked, and while it was a mostly unspoken enjoyment, he didn't realize how much he liked Tane knowing his likes and dislikes. He savored the flavor in his mouth and sighed happily. Man, it really, really was good. He was in the process of taking another bite when Tane shifted closer, and the younger boy was being nuzzled up against. It made Nieks' face tint itself red, and the Dutch boy slowly moved to put the hazelnut crepe down, although he didn't want all the hazelnut to squeeze out.

"I u-um I... I j-just..." Tane's voice teased, and Nieks knew it. He knew that Tane was teasing him, was just pushing subtle buttons, but the Dutch boy felt weird -- it was like a mix of need and want, and nerves and anxiousness. He shifted, murmuring more shyly, eyes downcast as he realized how stupid he sounded, "T-T-Thanks?" he wasn't paying attention. He felt stupid. His face was so red. He moved his hands, pulling them into his lap, fidgeting awkwardly with the hem of his sleeves, an idle twist and turn he couldn't stop doing. Tane was watching him, talking about their dates, about other ones he'd want, but Nieks, honestly, was gone. He was lost in the gentle warmth that radiated from the half-Maori boy next to him. He sighed, shoulders tensing for a moment before they relaxed.

But then Tane threw him for a loop. Tane's fingers danced across his jawline and he felt his face being tilted up. Tane's lips brushed against his own, and the Dutch boy's face turned red. It was a kiss that made Nieks' heart skip a beat, and he unconsciously shifted closer, wanting more, just another little brush of lips against his. He chewed on his lip as Tane murmured against them, explaining what his happiest memory was. He wasn't sure how he felt, so he just shook his head, trying to shake off the needy feeling in his chest, "W-W-Why m-me...?" he questioned, unsure of his answer. A part of him didn't even want to know.

Tane felt Niek snuggle into his side. There was no hesitation or shyness in the gesture, just a simple need to be closer. He felt like his heart was expanding rapidly in his chest. He liked this. He wanted more of these innocent little touches. He wanted Niek to come to him for comfort, for warmth, for love. The half-Maori boy had no idea how very much he wanted to be Niek's everything. It was a desire sunk deep in his subconscious. He wanted to see Niek happy, and he wanted to be the source of that happiness as well. The sudden rush of joy he got from the simple act of his lover settling against his body made him feel dizzy. This is love, he thought, looking down at Niek with a joyous and dumb-struck expression.

"You're..." Tane voice caught for a moment in his throat, tight with emotions he was only fully realizing. He took a drink, swallowing the lump down, tried again. "You're welcome, Aroha." Again, Niek's term of endearment, Tane's own little pet-name for his best friend. He thought about maybe telling Niek now what it meant, here, on their first date, but decided against it. There would be other times to reveal the secret he'd kept since he was twelve. It could wait a little longer.

The kiss was gentle, and Tane couldn't help but catch Niek's lips again as his lover leaned closer after the first kiss broke. A second kiss, then a third. Tane couldn't get enough of these kisses. His mind finally wandered back to the question Niek had asked, and he shook his head slightly, to clear it. "Why?" he repeated, working through his thoughts slowly. He wanted to give Niek a good answer. "Well, the simple answer is because you make me happy." He cocked his head, trying to be more specific. "Being with you makes my days better. Spending time with you just brings me joy no matter what we're doing."

Tane blushed a faint shade of pink, almost undetectable on his darker skin. "If you want the exact memory I thought of," he replied quietly, "it was the first time you said 'I love you.'" It was almost embarrassing how sappy it was, but it was honestly his happiest memory. Niek might have thought it would be something more physical but to hear Niek say the words and know in his heart that the older boy meant them had made Tane happy like nothing else had. It still did. "I'm lucky. I get to relive my happiest memory every time I look at you."

Tane's kisses were addictive. The Dutch boy didn't know what to do, how to think as the older boy's lips kept dancing over his own. Honestly, Nieks loved the taste of Tane's lips dancing over his own, and he just wanted more. More and more and more and more. His eyes fluttered a little, half distracted by the warmth that Tane's body left against his own, and the Dutch boy's face flushed, too. More food went into his mouth only once Tane stopped showering him with kisses. He was starting to feel a little on spot, a little out in the open -- which wasn't a surprise, as a group of kids their age from another school seemed to wander by; loud and obnoxious. Plus, hazelnut flavored things were, quite honestly, Nieks' weakness. He loved them so much, and didn't want to waste it.

But Tane was going on, telling Nieks about the specific memory: the night that he had admitted his love to Tane. He didn't remember it quite as clear -- it was said in the midst of the tugs of sleep. He scratched his head a little before he shifted himself and scooted just ever so slightly away, a little bit of breathing room between himself and his best friend, "O-Oh," he murmured, unsure about himself, and what he was feeling, and the relationship between them, "I just... I..." I meant it then, he wanted to say, although the words felt like they got stuck in his throat. He swallowed the lump hard, and shifted again, fidgeting. Fingers went to the hem of his shirt, and he twisted the long strands of sleeve between his fingers. "I just I..." I'm really not that important, that special, he wanted to add. He didn't know what to do.

He shook his head and stood up. It was time for them to move on, at least from this awkwardness that Nieks felt himself sinking into. He chewed his lip and stepped from the bench, his nervous fingers held out to Tane, "L-Let's go?" he questioned. He was trying to take control, trying to show Tane he wasn't worthless and stupid and pathetic as other people thought of him as. He tugged the older boy after they cleaned up towards the ferris wheel. The height alone didn't make Nieks all that nervous, but it was chilly and it would be a good time to sit and snuggle. Plus, the sunset was looming, so they would be able to hopefully watch from the top, "S-Shall w-we? You want to d-do that, right?" he questioned.

Tane managed to keep from kissing his lover long enough for them to finish their respective food stuffs, but only barely. It was definitely a challenge. It was always hard to keep his hands off Niek when they were out in public but when their connection was so emotionally charged, it got significantly harder. Niek seemed to want to say something, starting but stuttering to a halt more than once. Tane didn't feel like pushing or forcing Niek to voice something he was obviously having difficulty expressing. This was a nice outing, a good date. He didn't need to take things from Niek he wasn't ready to give. So he ignored the starts and stops, keeping one hand close to Niek's, not-quite-touching, and smiling at Niek to let him see how happy the half-Maori boy was right now.

The younger boy rose easily and gracefully when Niek tugged on his hand to bring him to his feet. Tane carried their trash to a bin, dropping it in while the walked towards the Ferris wheel. His eyes lit up when he realized their destination. "Yes! I wanted to go on this one before we left." He squeezed Niek's hand affectionately, smiling at him with love. "You always remember things like this. I have the best boyfriend." That might have been not quite true, since they weren't strictly an official couple. Although if someone asked Tane, he would only avoid giving them an official title because he knew it made Niek uncomfortable.

The line was long for the ride, and filled with couples looking for a nice view and a private place to be with each other. "Seems like this is a popular idea," Tane murmured to Niek, smiling. "What do you say? Is this the last ride for tonight? I'd be up for some games afterwards if you want to stay a bit longer. I want to win you a ridiculous prize to remember this date by."

In all honesty, he was glad Tane wasn't pushing for more information. He wasn't sure if he'd be able to get the words out or not, so when Tane didn't push and just simply let Niek pull him up and started to get going, the Dutch boy was very glad. He squeezed Tane's hand gently as they walked, a little uptight and anxious about the way they walked, but... in Nieks' defense, he didn't want to let go. He was afraid that Tane was going to float away, and that was the last of him. He was afraid that if he let go, Tane would be snatched by the fun house -- a long, dangerous hand that would reach out and pull him away. It was irrational, he knew, but it still made his heart hammer hard in his chest. He chewed on his lip and thought about it long and hard as they walked, not even paying attention all that much to where they were going. As they neared the ferris wheel, though, Tane was talking. Nieks shook his head and focused on what the younger Ombrelune was saying -- at the same time that Tane was saying something about Nieks being the best boyfriend. That made the Dutch boy drag his feet a little, face beet red in an instant. Were they boyfriends? They were both boys, that was for sure, but they weren't... together. Not together-together, were they? They hadn't really kissed before, and they never had sex. They weren't together then, right?

Nieks shuffled a little as they ended up in line, an anxious feeling settled in the pit of his tummy as the groups around them chattered excitedly. He was still throwing around the word boyfriend in his head when Tane started to talk, but in all honesty, he was only partially paying attention. "H-Huh?" he blinked a few times as Tane grinned at him, confused, "I um... u-uh..." again with the decisions. He shrugged his shoulders nervously, not wanting to make the wrong choice, and he definitely did not want Tane thinking he was so incompetent that he couldn't make a decision. They shuffled forwards, only two couples left in front of them before they, too, got on the ferris wheel and he chewed on his lip.

"M-Maybe s-s-see how we feel?" he questioned, "p-plus we have that g-giant t-t-teddy b-bear you already w-won..." he pointed out, about Mr. Cuddles that Tane got from surviving the fun house. Nieks suddenly felt inadequate. He beat the fun house, too... why didn't he get a lesser prize?

He was feeling like a bad boyfriend.