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It was morning again, and Kabru's body lying beside him was the first thing Laios saw, bathed in the gentle, warm light. His vision was still a little blurry, and his eyes still a bit itchy, but as he continued to blink and rub his eyes, the body stayed there, real and so close that he could touch it if he just reached out his hand. He had been waking up next to Kabru most nights now, sometimes in his bedroom, where Kabru's body helped fill out the too-large bed, and sometimes in Kabru's small, dark room, down the stairs, where the two of them barely fit in the bed together and neither of them minded having to huddle together, bodies almost too close for comfort. The fact he should have been used to the sight didn't mean that he was, though. He worried that, even if they fell asleep together, he would wake up alone, like the first time, when Kabru got up and left in the middle of the night because he was too embarrassed to face him after what they did together.
Laios couldn't particularly blame him, either, and wouldn't blame him if he got embarrassed again. There was a similar feeling within Laios, at least he assumed it must have been similar. There was something scary about what they were doing, and they both knew that from the start. They both refused to budge, but it was comforting to know that he wasn't alone with that fear. The king and his future prime minister should keep a professional relationship, but weren't they already breaking that rule before all this? Laios let Kabru be his advisor because they were friends. He got in trouble for that, too, in the past. Maybe this wouldn't be that much worse. There were also other matters of concern, of course. Back in his village, everyone told him that it was wrong to be physical with someone without marriage. Not that anybody back home was an authority on morality, of course, they were scared of Falin and her abilities, so whatever else they were scared of was probably not that bad. But somewhere deep inside him, that fear and guilt remained.
Well, he was going to marry Kabru one day, so that problem would solve itself eventually. The thought of being married to Kabru made him feel warm inside. He hoped that it would happen soon. He almost asked about it the other day but couldn't get the words out. Kabru already said that he would marry him, so was it even necessary to ask? It felt like something he should do. Knowing that they both wanted to do it wasn't enough. It had to be planned, and that idea intimidated him away from bringing it up anytime soon. To be frank, he wasn't even sure if they could get married in Melini, and he didn't want to ask, because that felt like a question that would raise a lot of questions. It was probably something he could change if he wanted to, in any case. He was the king, after all. But it would also feel wrong to change the law just for himself.
He looked at the back of Kabru's head, with its gorgeous curly, dark hair, and he decided that he would do whatever he had to in order to keep him by his side.
Laios inched just a bit closer. He wanted to at least catch a glimpse of Kabru's profile, his long eyelashes and soft, slightly parted lips, and the rest of his body, hands curled up on his chest, almost perfectly flat belly, legs bent at the knee, smooth skin covered in thick, dark hair. He had never seen anybody else who looked like this, and he could never get enough of the sight. Kabru was beautiful in an almost otherworldly way. Laios caught himself wondering how he would look in ten, twenty years.
Looking back, it was obvious to him that he was naturally drawn towards men, at least, men who were nice to him, men he thought he could be friends with, who wouldn't hurt him or mock him. Often he was wrong, and would wind up getting hurt anyway, but he still pursued that male company. He didn't think much of it when his childhood engagement was broken, and he was oblivious when another woman tried to flirt with him. Chilchuck's rule of banning workplace romance made it even less of a viable thought. But he felt close to Shuro in a way that, in hindsight, made his heart ache. And when Kabru came along, he felt like he found a kindred spirit, for the first time in his life. He was wrong about some things, sure, but the fact remained that there was a spark there, and he was surprised and overjoyed that the spark remained even when he understood that Kabru didn't actually like monsters as much as he did. It was about him, in the end.
Laios remembered the vision from the magic mirror. A female version of him that was nothing like Falin, and didn't seem much like him, either. A young married mother who never went on adventures. She didn't seem happy, and he couldn't blame her. It didn't sound fun at all. He couldn't help but wonder if that version of him would feel about women the way he felt about men. Who could know, really? It wasn't as if he could ask, and he would never truly understand it himself. All he knew was that he would probably be miserable, too, if he married that girl and had to stay home.
He subconsciously reached for Kabru's belly, but stopped just before his fingertips touched it. Kabru said that he would give him heirs. It wasn't an unpleasant thought at all. He was glad that it was something they could do together. He wouldn't want it to be anybody else. It was another thing they would have to talk about sooner or later, and it was perhaps even more intimidating than marriage itself. But it was also very, very exciting.
Suddenly Kabru's body shifted positions, leaning back on him. Laios froze, with his hand still hovering above Kabru's stomach. Was he waking up, or just moving in his sleep? His eyelashes fluttered and his mouth let out a soft gasp, but he didn't seem to be awake yet. His back pressed against Laios' chest and stomach and he pushed his hips back, rubbing against Laios' thigh. Laios watched him, stunned, face flushed. Was this... okay? Should he try to wake him up?
As gently as possible, Laios touched Kabru's shoulder. It felt like the most neutral part of his body to reach for. “Kabru?” he whispered softly, looking at his profile.
Kabru scrunched up his nose and let out an impatient noise. Slowly, he lifted his arm, revealing his chest. Laios always found it endearing how small his breasts were, with just a bit of fat and pointy nipples. He could cover the entire breast with his hand easily. Was that what Kabru wanted him to do? It certainly sounded like a nice way to wake up. Laios watched his face closely to check if Kabru was still asleep. His eyes were closed, but that didn't mean he was still unconscious. He had to make sure, but he had to do it gently, to avoid waking Kabru up if he really was asleep.
“Kabru, are you awake?” he whispered, resting his chin against Kabru's shoulder.
Deep breath. Kabru let out a soft hum, and lightly nodded his head. He rubbed himself against Laios' thigh once again and puffed out his chest. Well, that was an answer...
Laios decided to be careful anyway. He took Kabru's hand in his and kissed each of the knuckles, before moving on to kiss his shoulder and the side of his neck. He put his hand on Kabru's side and felt his ribs through his skin. Kabru had gained a fair bit of weight since they left the dungeon, but he was still fairly skinny, especially compared to Laios, whose belly was pressing against his back now, big and round, a healthy combination of muscle and fat fuelled by insatiable appetite. Kabru always assured him that there was nothing to worry about, that he was naturally lean and always would be. Laios tried to believe him, but still worried sometimes. Secretly, he cherished every noticeable change in Kabru's body over time, and made sure to eat with him as often as possible.
Another impatient noise made him finally reach under Kabru's armpit and grab his breast. It really fit perfectly in his hand. Kabru let out a soft gasp of pleasure and his lips curled into a relaxed smile. Laios sighed with relief. It was okay to touch him. He buried his face against Kabru's shoulder and pressed his lips to his skin. Kabru always smelled so nice, and tasted nice, too. He'd told Laios before that he used some kind of perfume, but it couldn't have been that, not after a full night's sleep. It was his natural smell, rich and sweet and enticing. Laios pressed the tip of his tongue to Kabru's skin and closed his eyes. He was so lucky to be able to start the day like this.
Kabru rubbed himself needily against Laios' thigh again. It was unclear what he wanted, but it was probably best to keep touching him and gauge his reactions. Laios lightly pressed his palm against Kabru's breast and massaged his nipple for a few moments, drawing a pleased sigh out of his lips. Good. That was probably what he wanted him to do from the start. Laios sheepishly rubbed his cheek against Kabru's shoulder. Sorry, he thought, for being so slow, so hesitant, so scared.
He carefuly moved his hand down onto Kabru's stomach. He felt around it with his fingertips and stroked it with his palm. There were so many interesting processes going on here, he thought. Some of them he knew about already, and some Kabru would excitedly tell him about while poking around it with his finger. The stomach, the liver the kidneys, the intenstines, the lungs, they all had their functions, they were all working hard, right under this thin layer of skin and fat. A perfect mechanism, it sounded like, from Kabru's description. Laios was glad that it worked on its own, because he certainly couldn't keep track of all of it consciously. He would definitely forget about something essential. He still wasn't sure where the spleen was or what it did. He would definitely end up neglecting it.
Reluctantly, he dipped his hand in the bush that spread from Kabru's belly button to his inner thigh. Thick, fluffy, damp hair, curling around his fingertips instantly. He always liked to touch it, much like he enjoyed touching the hair on Kabru's head. Like most things, it was very different from his own. Kabru explained that to him, too, more than once, but those explanations didn't stick as much as the sensation of running his fingers through it and burying his face in it.
Kabru let out a gasp and spread his legs slightly. That was definitely an invitation. Feeling his face burst into flames, Laios reached between his thighs, searching for the wet, warm spot.
“Oh!” he blurted out without thinking. “You get it too, huh?”
The spot between Kabru's legs was indeed warm and wet. Drenched, in fact. The sticky fluid got on his fingertips immediately, making him shudder. Above the hole, he felt Kabru's little erection. He really wasn't expecting him to get those in the morning, too, but Kabru did say they're actually pretty similar... Usually, he only got to see it or touch it after they had already started the day with a flurry of kisses, so he thought that Kabru had to work his way up to the state. Then again, maybe he did. Maybe that was what all the grinding against his thigh was about.
“Hold on. I'll help you,” Laios murmured, catching the miniature erection between his fingers. His fingertips rubbed the sensitive folds below. He hadn't done much of this before. He usually used his mouth – he was more confident in it. His fingers seemed large and clumsy and imprecise, and he worried if his nails were too long. But Kabru showed him how he usually did it himself, and he hoped that this would be close enough. He wanted nothing more than to make him feel good, and relieve him of this pressure. “Is this okay?” he asked anxiously, glancing at Kabru's face.
Without a word, Kabru reached back to stroke his cheek, as if to reassure him, before reaching for his wrist. He grabbed it firmly. There was no doubt that he wanted Laios to keep his hand right where it was. Not that Laios had any intention of moving it at all.
That was when Kabru switched from grinding against his thigh, to grinding against his hand. He scrunched up his face, trying and mostly failing to stifle quiet, desperate noises. Laios' heart beat faster in his chest. He needed to help Kabru get that release. It must have been painful.
Suddenly Kabru lifted his leg and threw it back over Laios' hip. His lower body rocked back and forth, indecisive and desperate. His butt bumped against Laios' groin in a distinctly demanding way.
“Oh, do you want...?” Laios' eyes widened. Kabru must have known he was erect, too. Laios was aware that he accidentally poked his thigh more than a few times while Kabru rubbed himself against him. Laios tried not to think about it. Kabru's pleasure was far more important to him than his own. But if he could use it to help Kabru, then maybe it would work out for the both of them. If that was what Kabru wanted from him, then... “Give me a moment,” he pleaded sheepishly, awkwardly reaching his free hand between his legs. He couldn't move the one Kabru was holding, after all. “I'm going in,” he whispered softly, guiding himself into what he hoped was the right hole.
Kabru let out a gasp as he arched back, pushing his hips further into Laios' groin. His fingernails dug into Laios' skin, and it only hurt a little. His lower body rocked back and forth, bumping into Laios' hand, moving against him in a fast, desperate rhythm, He didn't have to move at all, but he didn't want to leave all the work to Kabru. He moved his hand up and down, just a bit. He kissed Kabru's shoulder, and the side of his neck, and left little bite marks all over his skin. Kabru turned his face away from him, but he still heard his gasps, and moans, and whimpers. It was the first time he had seen Kabru let himself make so much noise. He decided not to mention it to him later. He would probably be embarrassed, even though it was really, really cute.
His entire body stiffened in Laios' arms as he let out a final long, hoarse gasp. Laios thrust inside him another few times, just due to the built up momentum, and paused as well, burying his face against the nape of Kabru's neck, breathing heavily. It didn't take much to make him bust. He simply followed Kabru's lead, as he usually did, and now he filled him to the brim, holding him gently in his arms. They were drenched in sweat, and so were the bedsheets. The smells were only reaching his senses now, the usual smells of intercourse. They would probably have to take a bath together, and that was a nice thought, but for now, his senses were overwhelmed.
Slowly, he removed his hand from Kabru's groin, now that his grip had loosened. He wiped his hand on his own thigh and then put it on Kabru's chest, right over his heart. Kabru's face was still turned away from him, partially buried in the pillow, but he could tell that, just like him, Kabru was struggling to catch his breath. Ocassionally he would cough or wheeze. His chest rose and fell with each laboured breath, and so did his belly.
Laios carefully pulled out of him and let Kabru's hips rest on the bed. Only then did Kabru turn his head, enough to look at him from the corner of his eye. Almost immediately, he squeezed his eyes shut again, and flipped onto his back, with his thighs closed, probably to prevent leaking onto the mattress – at least, more than they already did. He hid his face in his hands and sighed deeply.
Everything was quiet for a few moments. Laios lay on his side, with his hand still on Kabru's chest, and watched him curiously. His cheeks were flushed, his brow covered in sweat, his hair damp and stuck to his scalp, except for the side he slept on, where it was sticking up in a funny way. It seemed that he was embarrassed again. Laios wanted to tell him that there was no reason to be so. He wanted to tell him that he was relieved that they both had morning needs like this. That his noises were really cute, and that he wished he wouldn't hide them so much all the time. That he looked really handsome like this, dishevelled and blushing. But he wasn't sure if saying that would make things worse or better. Maybe he should draw attention to Kabru's state at all. He cleared his throat and leaned towards Kabru's ear. “Good morning, Kabru!”
After a moment, Kabru withdrew his hands from his face and turned his face to Laios, cocking an eyebrow. It was nice to see his eyes again, so big and blue and pretty even when Kabru was obviously still groggy. He cracked a small smile and leaned towards him, too. “Good morning,” he whispered, before kissing Laios on the cheek.