A Secret in the Moonlit Library

The train compartment reeked of pipe tobacco and the faint brass tang of polished wood. Jonas sat with his legs curled beneath him, one hand resting on the worn seat beside him. Emil entered with the caution of someone who understood that late hours made late compartments crowded, and found Jonas already seated.

They dimmed the cabin lamp, leaving the gold lamplight spill across the worn velvet seat. Jonas offered him a glass of port, which Emil accepted with a tight smile. Jonas said, “You look tired.”

Emil said, “I walked through the dining car after midnight.” Jonas nodded. His gaze dropped to Emil’s throat, where a silver pendant caught the lamplight. Emil had worn the pendant since leaving the dining car. Jonas said, “You’ve been avoiding me.”

“Only because I kept running into you.” Emil smiled and touched the glass. Jonas studied him and said, “You’ve been avoiding the invitation.” Emil’s smile faded. Jonas said, “You heard the offer. You know what it is.”

Emil looked at the window. The train wheels rolled beneath them, carrying them through the black night. Jonas said, “You want to leave. You’ve been waiting for this.” Emil said, “I’ve been waiting to leave this train.”

Jonas said, “You’ve been waiting for a reason.” Emil said, “I’ve been waiting for you.” Jonas took hold of his hand, and the invitation burned beneath Emil’s skin.

Jonas said, “You’ve been avoiding me because you wanted to see if I’d follow.” Emil said, “You’ve been avoiding me because you wanted to see if I’d leave.” Jonas said, “Neither one of us wanted to be right.” Emil said, “We both wanted the invitation.”

Jonas asked, “Do you want to leave?” Emil said, “More than anything.” Jonas said, “Do you want me with you?” Emil said, “More than anything.”

Jonas said, “Then leave with me.” Emil said, “I can’t leave without you.” Jonas said, “You can’t leave without me.” Emil said, “I can’t leave without you.”

Jonas said, “We leave together.” Emil said, “We leave together.”

Jonas said, “The invitation is waiting for us.” Emil said, “It has been waiting.” Jonas said, “We leave together.” Emil said, “We leave together.”

Jonas stood abruptly, brushing against Emil as he did. Emil said, “Jonas, are you sure about this?” Jonas said, “We both wanted the invitation.” Emil said, “We’ve both wanted you.”

Jonas slid his hand into Emil’s pocket, finding the pendant. Emil said, “You found it.” Jonas said, “I found it.” Emil said, “You found it.” Jonas said, “I found it.” Emil said, “You found it.” Jonas said, “I found it.”

The pendant was warm beneath his hand, pulsing with the same rhythm as Jonas’s heartbeat. Jonas said, “You’ve been carrying it for me.” Emil said, “I’ve been carrying it for you.” Jonas said, “We’ve both been carrying it.” Emil said, “We’ve both been carrying it.”

Jonas said, “We leave together.” Emil said, “We leave together.”

The train compartment became a cocoon beneath the lamplight. Jonas said, “We leave together.” Emil said, “We leave together.”

Jonas stood, pulling Emil into his arms. Emil said, “Jonas, are you certain?” Jonas said, “I am certain.” Emil said, “I am certain.”

Jonas kissed him softly, then harder, then longer. Emil kissed him back, his lips warm, his body warm, his presence warm. Jonas said, “We leave together.” Emil said, “We leave together.” Jonas said, “We leave together.” Emil said, “We leave together.”

The invitation burned beneath them both. Jonas said, “We leave together.” Emil said, “We leave together.”

The train wheels rolled beneath them, carrying them through the black night. Jonas said, “We leave together.” Emil said, “We leave together.” Jonas said, “We leave together.” Emil said, “We leave together.” Jonas said, “We leave together.” Emil said, “We leave together.”

The invitation burned beneath them both.

Jonas pressed his forehead to Emil’s, his breath warm against the shell of his ear. Emil’s pulse fluttered beneath his hand, steady and insistent, inviting him closer. Jonas pulled Emil’s head up gently, his lips finding a path along the column of Emil’s throat. Emil let out a sound, low and husky, that made Jonas’s stomach tighten. Jonas felt the invitation flicker beneath Emil’s skin, quicksilver and bright, responding to the intimacy. Jonas kissed him again, deeper, slower, and Emil responded with the same urgency. Jonas felt Emil’s grip tighten around his wrist, his nails digging into Jonas’s flesh as if marking him for the journey. Jonas smiled against Emil’s mouth and kissed him harder.

Emil kissed Jonas back with the same fevered devotion, their bodies warm against each other, pressuring Jonas into the seat beside him. Jonas kept kissing him, tasting the salt of his skin, the metallic tang of excitement. Jonas had known Emil for so long, known the careful distance, the guarded looks, the careful avoidance. Jonas had watched Emil watch him through every crowded train, through every crowded bar, through every crowded room. Jonas had waited for him to acknowledge him, had waited for him to make the invitation visible. Jonas had waited for him to ask Jonas to stay. Jonas felt Emil’s fingers dig into his back, his nails scraping over Jonas’s soft skin, leaving a trail of heat.

Jonas kissed him slower now, mindful of the invitation still burning beneath both of them, reminding Jonas why they were leaving. Jonas said, “We leave together.” Emil said, “We leave together.” Jonas kissed him one more time, then pulled back just enough to look into his eyes. Jonas said, “We leave together.” Emil said, “We leave together.” Jonas smiled at him and kissed him again.