The lights were bright, laughter filling the large ballroom as Moon walked around the groups of people on the edges of the room. His jet black hair falling into his eyes as he moved gracefully.

Moon glanced around the ballroom, his eyes taking in the sight of masked faces and elaborate costumes. He adjusted the collar of his tailored suit, the fabric feeling foreign against his skin as he navigated through the sea of swirling bodies.

As he passed by a group of giggling nobles, their conversation hushed at his approach, Moon felt a familiar weight settle in his chest. The mask he wore for such gatherings felt suffocating, a facade that hid his true self from prying eyes.

Moon excused himself from the nobles, his steps quick as he made his way to the balcony overlooking the moonlit garden. The cool night air kissed his skin, offering a brief respite from the stifling atmosphere inside.

Leaning against the ornate railing, Moon gazed up at the star-studded sky, his mismatched eyes reflecting the shimmering lights above. In the hushed tranquility of the night, he allowed his mind to wander, thoughts drifting to a time long past.

A soft rustle behind him drew his attention, and he turned to see a figure emerging from the shadows. Moon's breath caught in his throat as recognition dawned on him, his heart pounding in his chest.

"You shouldn't be here," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper as he locked eyes with the figure approaching him.

The figure stepped closer, their silhouette illuminated by the pale moonlight. Moon's breath hitched as he recognized the familiar contours of that face, the memories rushing back like a tidal wave crashing against the shore.

"I had to see you," a voice, soft yet haunting, whispered through the night air. Moon felt a shiver run down his spine at the sound, a mixture of longing and sorrow intertwining in those words.

He turned fully towards the figure, his mismatched eyes searching for answers in the darkness that surrounded them. The mask he wore felt heavy, the weight of secrets and unspoken truths pressing down on him with each passing moment.

"I thought we agreed to stay away from each other," Moon said, his voice tinged with a hint of desperation. The pain of their shared past lingered between them like a ghost, haunting every interaction they had.

The figure stepped closer, their presence casting a shadow over Moon as they stood in the moonlight. Moon's heart raced in his chest, the memories of their past echoing in the air between them.

"I couldn't stay away," the figure confessed, their voice a soft melody that tugged at Moon's heartstrings. "Not when every night feels like an eternity without you."

Moon's breath caught at the vulnerability in those words, the raw emotion laid bare in the flickering light of the moon. He searched the figure's eyes, finding a depth of longing and regret mirrored in their gaze.

"We can't keep doing this," Moon whispered, his voice laced with pain. "We both know where this path leads, and it only brings destruction."

The figure reached out a hand, fingers trembling as they brushed against Moon's cheek. The electricity between them crackled in the air, a potent reminder of the undeniable connection they shared.

“No. We can’t.” Moon slapped the hand on his face, making the masked figure take a step back. Moon looked to the side, refusing to make eye contact with the other, trying to stay strong.

But the figure refused to be deterred, their eyes filled with a mix of anguish and determination. Moon could feel the intensity of their gaze like a physical weight on his shoulders, the unspoken words hanging heavy in the air between them.

"I know we've hurt each other," the figure began, their voice cracking with emotion. "But can't you see...can't you see that we're meant to be together? Despite everything, our souls are intertwined, bound by a love that refuses to die."

Moon felt a surge of conflicting emotions well up inside him, memories of both joy and heartache flashing through his mind like lightning in a storm. The scars of the past felt raw and exposed, but beneath it all, a flicker of yearning remained.

"We can't keep repeating the same mistakes," Moon said, his voice a mixture of pleading and resolve. "I can't go back to that darkness, to the toxicity that consumed us both."

Moon watched, helpless as the figure took off the ornate mask resting on their face, revealing his ex-lover Cyrus.

Cyrus stood before Moon, his hazel eyes filled with unshed tears that shimmered in the moonlight. His sandy blonde hair tousled by the gentle night breeze, Cyrus looked at Moon with a mix of longing and regret, his emotions laid bare for Moon to see.

"I know I've caused you pain," Cyrus spoke softly, his words carrying the weight of a thousand apologies. "But I can't deny what my heart feels, what my soul yearns for. It's you, Moon. It has always been you."

Moon felt a surge of conflicting emotions course through him, memories of their past love intermingling with the scars they had inflicted upon each other. He reached out a hand, hesitating before resting it against Cyrus's cheek, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath his touch.

"We were fire and ice, Cyrus," Moon whispered, his voice barely above a breath. "Passion and destruction intertwined.”

But as Moon gazed into Cyrus's shimmering hazel eyes, a whirlwind of emotions threatened to consume him. The memories of their tumultuous past flickered like shadows in the night, each one a painful reminder of the love they had shared and the wounds they had inflicted upon each other.

Cyrus closed his eyes briefly at Moon's touch, a single tear escaping and trailing down his cheek. The vulnerability in that moment mirrored Moon's own inner turmoil, the battle between his heart and mind raging on in the silence that enveloped them.

"I know we've both been consumed by our demons," Cyrus said, his voice tinged with regret. "But what if...what if we can learn from our mistakes? What if we can rise from the ashes of our past and build something new, something stronger?"

Moon's gaze searched Cyrus's face, his heart a tumultuous storm of conflicting emotions. The memories of their past love and the scars they had inflicted upon each other mingled in his mind, a bittersweet symphony that echoed through the corridors of his heart.

The night seemed to hold its breath around them, the moon casting a silvery glow over the pair as they stood on the balcony, suspended in a moment that felt both endless and fleeting.

“I’m afraid.” Admitting that was hard on Moon, who was the one that Cyrus could come to when he gave up.

Cyrus's eyes widened at Moon's confession, a mix of understanding and heartache flickering in his gaze. He reached out to gently grasp Moon's hand, his touch warm and reassuring against Moon's skin.

"I'm afraid too," Cyrus admitted, his voice soft but unwavering. "Afraid of losing you again, of falling back into old patterns. But I don't want to let fear dictate our future. I want to fight for us, for what we could be."

Moon felt a swell of emotions rise within him, a maelstrom of doubt and longing warring in his chest. The past felt like a heavy chain around his heart, tethering him to memories he both cherished and despised.

"I don't know if I have the strength to try again," Moon whispered, his voice tinged with vulnerability. "The wounds we've inflicted...they run deep."

Cyrus's grip tightened on Moon's hand, a silent plea in his gaze as he searched Moon's eyes for a glimmer of hope. The night air was heavy with unspoken words, the tension between them crackling like the electricity in the air before a storm.

"We don't have to have all the answers now," Cyrus said, his voice gentle but resolute. "But we can't let the fear of the past dictate our future. We can work through this together, heal together."

Moon felt a mix of emotions swirl within him, his heart torn between the safety of solitude and the yearning for connection. Memories of their shared laughter and whispered promises mingled with the echoes of pain and betrayal, creating a tapestry of emotions that threatened to overwhelm him.

As he looked into Cyrus's eyes, he saw a vulnerability that mirrored his own, a shared history woven with threads of love and heartache.

Moon let out a heavy sigh, the weight of the past pressing down on his shoulders like a burden too heavy to bear alone. He studied Cyrus's face, searching for any sign of deceit or manipulation in those familiar features. But all he found was raw honesty and a vulnerability that mirrored his own inner turmoil.

The ocean breeze carried the scent of salt and wildflowers, intertwining with the electric tension that crackled between them. Moon knew that the path ahead would be fraught with challenges and uncertainties, yet a glimmer of hope sparked within him—a hope for redemption and healing.

With a trembling hand, Moon cupped Cyrus's cheek, his touch gentle yet charged with unspoken emotions.

Cyrus leaned into Moon's touch, closing his eyes briefly as if savoring the moment. The cool night air seemed to still around them, the world shrinking to just the two of them standing on the balcony, their past and present colliding in a tumultuous dance.

"I understand if you need time," Cyrus said softly, his voice a mere whisper in the silence that surrounded them. "But know that I'll be here, waiting for you. Waiting to show you that we can rise above the shadows of our past."

Moon felt a surge of conflicting emotions well up inside him, a whirlwind of doubt and longing raging within his heart. The wounds of their shared history felt raw and exposed, yet beneath it all lingered a flicker of hope—a hope for a future where they could find solace in each other's arms.

As he gazed into Cyrus's eyes, he saw a reflection of his own uncertainty and yearning, a shared vulnerability that bound them together even though both were afraid.

Moon brought them together, letting their lips touch gently for the first time in forever.

Even though their both afraid, at least they have each other, and sometimes that’s all you need.