Winter was coming, but the weather was still warm. During the days in which they had nothing to do, the Dragontamers used to meet up at the lake under the waterfall to chill together.

Mira loved those moments and, since Leif had become his boyfriend, he loved them even more.

Everyone was relaxed and friendly, and even Elin seemed to open up a bit more.

When they arrived at the lake, that day, Rorik and Lynae were making out on the shore, Elin was sunbathing and Yorick ran up to them.

- Leif! You stole my cutie?! I could never have thought you would do something like that! - he exclaimed in a dramatic tone, pretending to wipe a tear. He turned to Mira. - Sweetheart... you let Mister Fire steal your heart? Oh poor, poor me!

Mira blushed, embarassed, and Leif snorted. Yorick burst into laughter.

- Congratulations, guys - he said with a big smile.

When Elin saw them, she frowned and tightened her lips.

- Hello, Elin - greeted her kindly Mira. Leif tensed up and squeezed involuntarily his hand.

- Hello... Elin - he imitated him, nervous. He knew that expression. He knew all of her expressions. Sometimes he still couldn't believe that, after loving her so much, she treated him almost like a stranger.

The expression on the Dragontamer's face became even harsher.

- Hello - she replied coldly. And closed her eyes a little, letting them know that she wasn't going to congratulate them and that she wasn't feeling like talking.

The boys walked away to greet Rorik and Lynae, then went in the water and started splashing each other.

Mira could never get enough of his boyfriend's laugh, his carefree smile. He smiled so rarely, during the first days after his shipwreck.

Leif stopped splashing him and caught him, lifting him up.

- Mira... - he muttered, biting his own lip and staring at his lips. He wrapped his legs behind his back and got lost, fascinated, in admiring his boyfriend's wet hair that looked like gold and fell on his face, the water drops that like stardust ran on his cheeks and tickled his mouth.

They kissed. Their friends clapped, but nothing existed anymore for them, only the hungry lips of the other.

When Leif got tired of holding his boyfriend they went to dry up in the sun, together with Rorik, Lynae and Yorick. Only Elin didn't join them.

- I'll go talk to her - announced Leif, unsure. Mira nodded, giving him a cheering smile.

- I don't understand her - grumbled Yorick. - Since your arrival she's become distant. We've done everything we could to make her feel like she still belongs to our group, but she...

- She isn't acting much like a friend - said quietly Lynae.

- It's not our fault - added Rorik. - And it's not Leif's either. It wasn't him who broke up with her.

- Maybe she thinks you're trying to make her feel like she still belongs just because you're Leif's friends... or maybe she needs some time alone - hypotized shyly Mira. The other Dragontamers shook their heads. The boy reflected a bit more and looked up at Leif, who was now sitting next to his ex.

- With the newcomer? - was saying Elin. - Wow. Congratulations.

- Spare me the sarcasm, Elin - sighed the fire Dragontamer. - What do you have against Mira?

- Nothing, I just don't understand what makes him special. But it's not up to me to judge who you date.

- Well, to me it looks like you are exactly doing that - retorted Leif, irritated. - Mira is an amazing guy and you're unfair towards him! And also towards Yorick, Lynae and Rorik...

Elin looked away, tightening her lips.

- Listen, if you want nothing to do with me no more, even though I don't understand why and I'm not okay with that, fine. But stop judging Mira and stop acting like this with our friends! If you still think of them as such.

- You understand nothing - hissed the girl.

- Do I? Maybe because you don't tell me what goes on in your mind! And you gradually stopped telling me since we started dating! - exclaimed Leif. A distant voice in his mind told him to calm down, but he ignored it. He had kept quiet for too long. - I would have done anything for you! And you... you! You were always so indifferent! If I was there or not, to you it made no difference!

He got up, feeling the tears tingle in his eyes. It hurt so much to remember. He had cried after she left him and also in the following days, on Ruby's back, without ever showing those tears to anyone. He wasn't going to make an exception.

He left and went to the beach. But he didn't think about a certain someone who, on the contrary, cried easily and wasn't afraid to show his tears.

- Try to have fun for us too - said Mira to Rorik, Lynae and Yorick, hurrying up to follow his boyfriend. - Leif!

- Don't follow me! Stay with the others.

He followed him anyway, silently, without trying to stop him. The fire Dragontamer was walking and trying to cry the most quietly way possible, while keeping on rubbing his face to stop the tears.

- Leif...

- Go away, please.

- No.

A sob.

- I'm not leaving you alone while you're like this - Mira grabbed him gently by the wrist and gave him a look full of affection and apprehension. - When two people love each other, they should take care of each other.

- And who said that I love you?

Mira smiled softly and wiped his tears.

- You. You, with your kisses, with your looks, with your actions.

Leif hugged him, sobbing loudly.

- Can I take care of you? - asked softly his boyfriend, caressing his back. He nodded, hiding his face in his neck.

They hugged for a long time, and then they sat on the sand. Mira put his hand on the Dragontamer's.

- Leif, you know it, don't you? - he asked quietly. - That I feel what you feel.

Leif looked at him and slowly leaned in, before putting his lips on his. Nothing said I love you like that tender kiss.

- What happened with Elin? Do you want to talk about it?

He was kissed again.

- Leif, I'm serious...

The blonde sighed, then put his head on his shoulder.

- I told her... some things I had to get off my chest for a long time - he muttered. - I had never said them to anyone. After we broke up... I thought I had to deal with everything alone. I wanted to deal with everything alone, to prove that I was strong. If externally I looked the same as always, internally I shut everyone off. And then you came along...

He smiled fondly.

- You, that understand me even without words, that ask me if you can take care of me like you haven't been taking care of my heart since the day we met...

Mira blushed and placed his head against his.

- Take care of me for a long time - whispered Leif. And I will always take care of you, he thought.