Solis's Smile

Solis and Noir had a very productive afternoon. Not only were they able to sample some exquisite food, but they were also able to land a very beneficial and profitable deal for Rosea and official collaboration between Rosea and Nerium, and also established a formal cooperation between Chaos Demon and Dragon's Breath so that the two gangs could work together to help with the legitimisation process.

The news of the two giants Rosea and Nerium – one the representative of new achievement and innovation, and the other the representative of traditions and old school style – shook the markets by surprise. It was considered to be one of the most powerful collaborations in the world of business in the last century!

When faced with the media, Solis would take the stand of "My fiancé brought me good luck" and refuse to say more. It caused businessmen of all cadres to sigh (and be nagged by their significant others, more often than not) and it caused the romantics all over the world to cheer for the young couple and send ample blessings their way!

Noir was quite amused with the situation. "I didn't have anything to do with you getting a brilliant deal with Nerium, you know," he said to Solis. "You are the one who impressed CEO Alex with your skills."

Solis shook his head stubbornly.

Noir laughed and pinched the older man's cheeks with his long fingers, his chocolate brown eyes sparkling with mischief and a hint of teasing. "Modesty is as much a departure from the truth as an exaggeration, you know," he told Solis. "CEO Alex told me all about how he's been keeping track of your career since you founded Rosea when you were still in college, and he's been wanting to work with you for a long time. It's just that he never had a suitable opportunity until recently," he said. "That man must be your biggest admirer – well, after me, of course. I'm your number one fan and the president of your fan club!"

Solis couldn't help but laugh at that. Noir had taken a great liking to anime recently, and was becoming rather obsessed with high school themed ones. And while Solis was slightly concerned about rapidly growing pile of anime collections in the house, he couldn't bear to stop Noir when he was so obviously enjoying them! And thanks to Noir, even Solis had ended up watching quite a few, so he could identify it easily when Noir spoke in 'anime language' or made anime references!

Noir beamed at him. He loved seeing Solis smile and laugh – it transformed his handsome face from an ethereal, aloof immortal to a charming, impossibly attractive heartthrob and made him much more approachable. In fact, Noir found his own pulse rise whenever Solis smiled at him – his smile was just beautiful when it was faint – the one he showed in public. But when he smiled at Noir in private, within the secure walls of their home, it was something else altogether. Solis's special smile for Noir wasn't just a movement of his lips; he smiled with his entire face – his lips curled up into a seductive arc, his eyes softened into pools of soft, fluffy, shimmering silvery clouds, and a faint tinge of colour brushed his high, perfect cheekbones. Wasn't it natural that Noir's heartbeat sped up?

Solis's laughter was similar. In public – and only when he was accompanied by Noir – he would sometimes chuckle or let out a small, amused laugh. Noir had been told a million times by now that this was a consequence of Noir's arrival and their relationship – apparently, before Noir turned up out of nowhere and fell into Solis's lap, no one had seen Solis laugh for years and years! It saddened Noir, but it also made him feel a little proud of himself. His lovely, wonderful man deserved to be so happy that he would laugh and smile all the time, he thought, and he decided that he would use all his efforts to achieve this! He loved seeing Solis laugh freely when they were together. Solis's whole face would light up like the sun, as if he was luminous himself, and he would throw his head back in a carefree but strangely attractive manner, and his deep voice would resonate like the smoothest honey in Noir's ears. Noir would never, ever be tired of it, he knew. He could – and he was determined to – spend a lifetime listening to this beautiful laughter that was more melodious to his ears than the most popular concert he had ever seen!

"Earth to Noir," Solis said, waving his hand in front of Noir's face, and waking up the younger man from his warm daydream of a lifetime.

"What are you thinking of so seriously?" Solis asked.

"Your beautiful laughter," Noir replied absently. "I was thinking that I want to spend my whole life listening to you laugh freely every single day." Molten chocolate brown eyes fixed on Solis. "You probably have no idea how utterly alluring you are when you laugh…"

Solis couldn't be blamed for pulling Noir into his arms and kissing the living daylights out of him.

"You're the alluring one," Solis told Noir when they finally broke apart for air.

Noir was in a daze again. He caressed Solis's cheeks with his fingers. "You're never allowed to abandon me, Solis," he murmured in a soft voice. "Never ever. You have to keep me with you till I die."

Solis pulled him into a hug again. "I will never abandon you," he promised in a solemn voice. "We will spend our lives together…but Noir, you have to promise not to abandon me or leave me alone, either. What should I do if you want to run away?"

Noir frowned. "Why would I run away from you? I love you."

Solis froze for a moment and then proceeded to kiss Noir into a daze again.

"I love you, too," he whispered in Noir's ears when he was done.