Emery stopped breathing for several seconds, emotions still washing through him and over him. And the fact that he'd actually had the nerve to kiss Samir. It felt almost too adult, but also completely right. The string around his fingers always tugging him forward and towards the other boy; also, pushing him into action to affirm the bond between them. Samir's words didn't register at first, still so dazed by what he'd done.

Once they did, he was quick to respond, "Of course, Samir!" Because that's what this all meant. The emotions zinging through him, the flutterings from every point of contact, the bright and glowing red string tangled between them. It meant they'd always be together; they'd always have each other. There was no need to question that.