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Valentine's Day had never been easy for either of them.
Anouk had learned to hide his feelings easily. A smile here. A cheeky comment there. If something got too close, he turned it into a game. Closeness was safer when it wasn't too serious. When you could back away at any time.
Tarn, on the other hand, had learned to be strong. Reliable. The one you lean on. The one who holds you up. But strength didn't mean that doubts didn't exist. He had often remained silent when words carried too much weight. For fear of wanting too much. Of feeling too much. Of overwhelming someone with his intensity.
That evening, they stood facing each other, both with hearts pounding, which the other couldn't see.
Tarn had thought long and hard about whether he should ask. Whether it was right. Whether he could burden Anouk with something so serious. He knew how sensitive the little fox was, how deeply he felt, even if he hid it behind playfulness. He was afraid of upsetting the balance.
Anouk, on the other hand, sensed that something was different. Tarn was quieter than usual. More focused. As if he were carrying an invisible weight. And that made him nervous. When things got serious, it hurt. When things got serious, you could lose them.
"I wanted to ask you something.", Tarn finally said. His voice was calm, but his heart was beating faster than he would admit. He had practiced these words in his head. Discarded them. Put them back together again. He didn't want to be dramatic. Not overwhelming. Just honest. "Will you be my Valentine? Not just today. But... for real.", Tarn forced himself not to look away. He wanted to see how Anouk would react. He wanted to know if he had gone too far. What he saw made his own heart tighten.
Anouk's smile trembled. His ears drooped slightly. And then that moment... that blink that lasted too long. Tarn hadn't expected his question to trigger so much. He had hoped. But he hadn't known.
Anouk swallowed. "You're serious?"
"Yes.", replied the tall Bernese with a slight tremor in his voice. That word took effort for Tarn. Not because it was difficult. But because it meant everything. He wasn't good at being so open. At saying he wanted to stay. That he wasn't just looking for closeness, but commitment. He was afraid Anouk would pull away.
Instead, he saw tears. And in that moment, Tarn realized that he had been trembling too. That his own fear of rejection had almost prevented him from asking the question at all.
Anouk quickly wiped his eyes, as if ashamed of his reaction. "I'm not used to this...", he whispered. "Someone staying. Someone asking without... expecting anything."
Tarn stepped closer. His hands rose slowly, cautiously, as if to show that they were not making a demand. Only offering support. "I expect nothing but honesty.", he said softly. "And I don't want to lose you just because I was afraid to say it." That was his own admission. He, too, had hesitated. He, too, had nights when he wondered if he was too much. Too intense. Too present. Two hearts, both believing they had to be strong.
Anouk finally stepped forward. Not stormily. Not cockily. But with that quiet determination that only comes when you decide to be vulnerable. "Yes~", he said. His voice was soft but clear. "I want to. And I'm afraid. But I want to. I want to stay... to be your Valentine."
Tarn closed the distance and pulled him into his arms. Not possessively. Not triumphantly. But gratefully. When their foreheads touched, they exhaled simultaneously. As if a weight had been lifted from both of them. The kiss that followed was not hot with desire. It was hot with meaning.
A promise.
Not a game.
Not a test.
Just two beings who had learned that feelings are rare. And that you should hold on to them when they are genuine.
This Valentine's Day was not about roses or candles.
It was about both of them daring to say:
Stay ❤️─═ڿڰۣڿ═──═ڿڰۣڿ═──═ڿڰۣڿ═──═ڿڰۣڿ═─Character: Awww, a surprise that melted my heart when I got it from 
TarnB ~ Thank you my big silly doggo~ <3
Artist: Such a big surprise from a really awesome artist~ Big thanks to 
ButteredShep
Category Artwork (Digital) / General Furry Art
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 2134 x 1726px
File Size 2.54 MB
Listed in Folders
That's so heartwarming and lovely! You two are just the sweetest.
Remember friend: Distances of miles, meters or anything else are just meaningless numbers when two hearts are connected and waves are not from the ocean, but the feelings you are safe to show to each other.
Hugs, to the both of you.
Remember friend: Distances of miles, meters or anything else are just meaningless numbers when two hearts are connected and waves are not from the ocean, but the feelings you are safe to show to each other.
Hugs, to the both of you.
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