The-Greatest-Showman

The sound of the wind, the sound of hunting; the setting sun, burning; the breath, lingering on the nose.

The rhythmic beat of the heart was unmistakable, echoing clearly in the chest, thumping, thumping—each beat making the fingertips tremble ever so slightly. The pulse of dopamine surged through the blood, as if in time with the rhythm. The skin began to warm, a subtle heat spreading beneath the surface.

Renly gazed at Rooney.

Rooney looked at Renly.

The corners of their mouths were still curved upward, but the smiles had begun to fade, as both minds were consumed by the connection in each other's eyes. The clear pupils reflected the fading glory of the sunset, the vibrant hues slowly dimming, replaced by a golden hue that gently traced the lines of their faces, outlining their features with a soft glow.

A quiet pause lingered between them, and they both stared, immersed in the unspoken moment. The warmth of the setting sun brushed their skin as their breaths mingled—soft, delicate, like mist rising in the morning sun. It seemed insubstantial yet slowly worked its way into the bloodstream, infiltrating every pore, becoming something intoxicating.

The subtle scent of shared chemistry drew them closer.

Without fully realizing it, their smiles returned, mirrored arcs, as the space between them shrank. The golden sunset seemed to blossom between them, but as they drew nearer, it dimmed—darkening, lightening, until it was consumed entirely by the closeness of their embrace. Their faces came together, the outline of their silhouettes merging in the play of light and shadow.

A soft touch.

Their lips parted—tentative, shy, but eager. The setting sun slipped between their lips, almost blinding, the light flickering between them like a spark, revealing the growing joy in their smiles.

As they leaned toward each other again, their lips met in a deeper kiss. The light vanished, leaving behind nothing but the soft embrace of their breath and the heat of their skin pressing close, locked in the moment.

For a long time, they stayed like this, until their breath grew more rapid. Reluctantly, they pulled apart, their foreheads resting together, gasping for air. Their eyes met, a smile rising in their gaze.

"So, are you still thinking about the Nutcracker?" Renly asked softly.

"So, are you still thinking about Dr. Phoebus?" Rooney replied, her voice equally soft.

Renly paused, his face turning serious. He thought for a moment, and then, in all sincerity, said, "Yes, I was thinking about Dr. Phoebus. You know, it's a really interesting movie..."

Slowly, the distance between them returned as they sat upright, facing each other, the setting sun bathing them in a more intense glow. It enveloped them, creating a world of their own along the Hudson River's banks.

Rooney furrowed her brow, curious, "What were you like in high school? Were you super funny? Lively? A genius? Or, like now—elusive?"

"You still haven't said a word, right?" Renly grinned.

"Are you a nerd?"

"That's what you said, not me." Renly teased.

Rooney raised her hands in mock surrender but couldn't hide her smile.

Renly thought for a moment. "I was pretty much the same as I am now. I guess I was like Professor X, quietly controlling the room from behind the scenes. If you ask Matthew, he'd probably call me 'evil.'"

"Evil?" Rooney laughed, thinking, "But I always thought Magneto was the evil one. Oh, wait, now I get it. You really are Professor X!"

Renly chuckled. "Hold on—there's something wrong with that sentence. I don't have a bald head yet, okay? And besides, our family doesn't have issues with hairlines, so no worries about me going bald like William."

Rooney burst into laughter. Renly couldn't help but smile at her reaction.

"If you want," Renly continued, "I can introduce you to Arthur. You'll see, we really don't need to worry about hair."

"Arthur?" Rooney asked.

"Arthur Hall," Renly confirmed.

Rooney's attention shifted. Renly had mentioned Arthur but not George, and it was clear he was avoiding the latter's name. She didn't press, though. She knew all too well how complicated family dynamics could be.

Renly offered, "If you're curious about the Hall family, feel free to ask."

Rooney raised an eyebrow.

"But," Renly added with a smile, "I don't promise to answer every question."

Rooney laughed, a lighthearted, carefree sound. "I like that answer. Maybe next time I'll borrow it!"

Renly returned her smile. "What were you like in high school?"

"Hmm..." Rooney thought about it. "Are you sure I can't borrow your answer?"

Renly shook his head, then asked with a playful grin, "Were you voted 'Most Indifferent'? 'Most Arrogant'? Or 'Most Difficult to Get Along With'?"

Rooney snapped her jaw shut, her face turning mock-threatening, before cracking a smile and reflecting. "I was voted 'Most Striking'."

"It doesn't sound like you," Renly remarked, puzzled.

Rooney laughed at herself. "It doesn't, right? During my rebellious phase, I felt like my family didn't understand me. I dressed goth and did the whole exaggerated hairstyle thing just to annoy Kate."

Renly raised an eyebrow. "Kate? As in Kate Mara?"

"Yeah," Rooney said with a nod. "She's my sister, the one from Brokeback Mountain, The Martian, Fantastic Four, and Iron Man 2."

Renly was impressed. "Goth?"

"Yes, just like The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo... but not quite so extreme. David actually saw photos of me from high school and thought I'd be perfect for the role. He believed I had that rebellious energy."

"I'd agree with that, even without seeing the photos," Renly said, his smile teasing.

Rooney narrowed her eyes playfully. "You're teasing me now. Your eyes aren't fooling me."

Renly stayed silent, staring at her with a smile that only deepened her blush.

"I didn't know staring at someone like this could make them nervous," Renly murmured. His voice was low and unexpected, causing Rooney to flinch. Before she could react, his lips met hers once more, soft and gentle, pulling her into the kiss.

Rooney closed her eyes, surrendering to the moment, until he pulled back slightly.

When she opened her eyes again, Renly's face was close, bathed in the light of the sunset. Her emotions—panic, shyness, excitement, joy—flooded her gaze, mirrored in his eyes. Her cheeks flushed deeper, and she buried her face in his shoulder, feeling the heat of the moment against her skin.

But she didn't want to move away. She took a deep breath, the scent of wood lingering in her nostrils, and all at once, her body seemed to come alive. Even the grandeur of the sunset seemed to pale in comparison.

Rooney bit her lip, but the thrill in her chest didn't subside. She knew, without a doubt, that she was falling deeper than she ever imagined.

She raised her head, her lips brushing Renly's cheek in a soft kiss, then another, and another, moving gently but insistently. Renly didn't pull away. Instead, he pressed his hand to the back of her head, drawing her closer as their kiss deepened, each moment pulling them further into each other.

The sunset burned on above them, and the quiet rush of the river flowed beneath, as their connection grew ever stronger, more intimate.