Chapter Text
“Slower, please..!” She begged.
Ivan adjusted, placing both of her wrists in one hand so that he could push back his own sweat slicked hair that was getting in his eyes. He was more than capable of slowing this rough pace but he didn’t have any desire to be participating in this necessary medical act any longer than he absolutely had to. The faster he got through it, the faster he could take a shower, get something to eat, and go to bed. He was utterly exhausted from two days in an S-grade dungeon that had cropped up just as he had been about to enter another with Sua and Mizi. They had made the quick decision to split up but, even for him, doing a sudden high tier dungeon without a guide was a grave undertaking.
“You’re so hard on these poor things. I even got you two to celebrate your victory but you’ve already ruined one of them.” Came a laugh from behind him as the thick scent of cigar tobacco wafted towards the messy bed.
That’s right. The first guy was already passed out next to the woman struggling on her knees with her back bowed, having taken the first several rounds as the senior ranked guide to wear him down before he got to the young thing that was losing her mind every time Ivan slammed into her from behind. It was impossible for them to satisfy the mounting instability within him from excessive use of his powers. After all these years, he had yet to be matched to a single guide that had a higher than 50% affinity with him and had been forced to make due with multiple partners at a time or utilizing skilled general use guides frequently throughout the day. Just about every guide in his company had at least held his hand for ten minutes at one time or another.
He much preferred when Mizi was available and would simply exist attached to him until her fighter came to retrieve her. Those were the best moments of his exhausted, miserable life.
“Forgive me the cruelty.” Ivan replied.
Treating his psyche with these low affinity guides was like trying to quench his thirst in the desert with nothing but a shot glass. It was a never ending cycle of working for hours to bring himself back to baseline every time he came back from a mission. If he could help it, he often completed tasks with raw physical force and strategy to minimize how much he drained himself. This wasn’t one of those times he could get away with just being an effective leader. He had been the entire squad.
Finally, Ivan felt that body around him spasm and squeeze just enough to help him to reach his only orgasm of the night. It had only taken seven rounds. That was surely a sign of how exhausted he was that it happened at all. He’d been trained better than that.
Just as he was pulling out of the woman that had gone limp against the mattress, he felt a large hand smooth up his bare back until heavily ringed fingers gripped his hair firmly to drag his gaze up and back. Ivan was left looking at his owner’s scarred face so close to his with no choice but to inhale a lungful of that bitterly sweet smoke. His one good eye that hadn't melted off squinted in approval, lips curling as he took in Ivan’s damp body and his soft cock still confined in a soiled condom.
“Feeling lonely back there, Unsha?” Ivan asked as he reached back to push his owner away just far enough to allow himself to lay back against the mattress with his head hanging off the edge. Upside down, he could see that Unsha was still wearing his overly shined shoes that cost just as much as the fee for these two skilled guides that were unconscious before him.
“Oh, Ivan, I know you didn’t forget me.” Unsha chuckled as he placed his cigar back between his teeth so that he could use both hands to release his throbbing erection right on Ivan’s face before petting his entire head.
Ivan could still remember the very first day that he had met this now-retired fighter. He’d just finished a particularly rough training session at The Institute, his face covered in bruises and his very bones aching with the weight of a power too great for his tiny body, for his isolated mind. Unsha had taken his head in his hands much like now as if to feel the weight and shape of his skull before he attacked him just to see if Ivan would release his own power. When he hadn’t even flinched from the feeling of a thousand invisible hooks dragging his body in all directions, Unsha had laughed and purchased him on the spot. Back then, he’d still had both sides of his face to show twice as much desire.
The lessons at The Institute were nothing compared to what the mercenary top 3 fighter put him through to ensure that his brand new agency would succeed in gaining the coveted few government contracts to enter the horror of the dungeons at will. Ivan’s very first dungeon was the next week from his purchase.
That hot organ slid easily into his mouth, stretching out his throat as Ivan completely relaxed his body to simply accept the brute force thrusts that came only seconds later. Using his face as nothing but a fleshlight, Unsha worked off the tension that had grown in him from watching Ivan’s guiding treatment so intensely today. His hands gripping his jaw kept his head in place to make sure that he went as deep as possible each time while Ivan pressed his tongue dutifully up against him.
His first dungeon had left him in a hospital for nearly two weeks, handcuffed to a bed to keep him from hurting the series of guides that Unsha progressively pressured into providing deeper guiding services to speed up his recovery. Anything to get the physically and mentally tattered child back in the sparring arena to fight and be fought against sunup to sundown day in and day out. He very quickly learned not to feel even the little bit of humanity he had cultivated as a copycat in The Institute. That was useless in reality.
All he needed was a body that could keep going and a mind that wouldn’t bend towards self destruction again. As long as he obeyed, he would remain operational. If he acted silly, he may very well find himself in a tub full of blood again.
All too quickly, the retired fighter slammed right into his face to release his seed directly down his throat. Ivan swallowed with a sigh of relief when he was finally allowed to breathe without obstruction once more. At least his owner was a one and done man. That meant that he was free to get up from the bed and head to the shower after tucking Unsha back into his pants. “Will you order dinner?” He called out behind him.
“It’ll be up here when you get out. Go on.” Unsha hummed as he called in the attendants to clear the bed and take away the drained guides.
—
“The biometric security on these damn new phones is too much. A simple code is more than enough.” Unsha complained loudly as Ivan returned in his robe, looking over his owner fiddling with the state-issued device. Once Ivan was close enough to sit across the dinette from him, the phone was shoved in his hand. “Unlock it. It keeps going off.”
Ivan looked from the food he very much wanted to eat to the annoying government collar Unsha was demanding that he answer. If he didn’t have to unlock it with his face at a very specific distance, he would probably only carry this on missions. As it was, he had to keep it close by to monitor his own messages and relay them to Unsha.
Resigning himself to delay his meal a little while longer, Ivan raised the device to allow it to unlock before scanning the first few lines of the first of several messages. Very quickly, he lost his appetite. Bullshit. This had to be a mistake. A heavy, thick silence fell around him despite the protestations of the man leaning across the table. His eyes devoured the words with only increasing doubt as his thumb swiped up rapidly to reveal a medical result table.
“Let me see it!” Unsha growled in irritation as he snatched the phone out of Ivan’s hand to see for himself what had taken Ivan’s entire attention away from him. His jaw dropped immediately as he stood. Why he always had to think about serious topics from a higher vantage point, Ivan never knew. Perhaps it was just to be ready to fight. After all, even as excited as he was, he was in a stance as if he anticipated an attack at any moment.
“98% affinity?! Ivan, we’re accepting– Go get dressed! We have to meet this guide right away.” Unsha ordered, in an immediate uproar over the alert that Ivan had finally, after fifteen years of owning him, been matched to a guide. “He’s S-grade, lost his useless fighter last week– Ivan, this is perfect! Think of the contracts you’ll be able to pull with a guide that can match up to you!”
Rather than get up immediately, Ivan reached out to take a sandwich in his hand before Unsha slammed his fist against the table to force his gaze back up at him. “Get. Dressed.” He hissed, the scarred expanse of his left eye socket crinkling with the force of his scowl before he straightened back up. “I’m calling them right now saying we’re on our way.”
Ivan didn’t bother to mourn his loss of sleep and nutrition. It was Unsha’s body, after all. Ivan had no right to tell him what to do with his property. He was only alive because Unsha deemed him useful enough to continue breathing. If he didn’t think it was important to feed his investment, so be it.
Bowing his head in submission, Ivan left to get dressed once more. He wasn’t sure how to feel about this news. Objectively, it was very advantageous for him to be matched to a high level guide with such unheard of affinity with him. Most pairs ranged between 65-85% but to be matched up to 98% after nothing but poor excuses for a guide… Ivan should simply accept it and be done with his thoughts.
As he pulled out a black sweater, he hesitated. Instead, he pulled out a white summer turtleneck and his lone pair of white slacks. If all went well, he was being given away today. Unlike his potential partner, he had never been part of a pair. Ivan had a well recognized name and a face that many found quite attractive but his temporary guides had never liked him once they had fulfilled a deep guiding contract. He was too ravenous, too deeply wrong to be accepted. Even if they accepted a new contract, it wasn’t the same again. They were on guard against him rather than star struck.
If he was assigned a permanent guide, would he have to look into the eyes of someone that many times a week that didn’t care for him? Would this guide wish that Ivan was his former fighter every time he had to guide him?
… What did it matter?
Ivan took a deep breath as he slipped on his socks before going to blow dry his still slightly damp hair in front of the mirror. He hardly looked to be at the best of his game. Why would he, just coming off of a solo S-rank dungeon into an unsatisfying guiding session? Nevertheless, he forced his lips to quirk in the corners and patted a little powder beneath his eyes to appear in better health. This first impression was important. If his guide didn’t sign the partnership agreement, he would likely never get a chance like this again.
Whatever happened, he needed to endure. He would always survive because he had no other choice.
“Are you ready?” Ivan asked pleasantly as he returned to the main room to retrieve his fighter identification badge from the nightstand.
“I’ve been ready for years.”
—
Ivan ignored the surprised expressions that greeted him at the Dungeon Regulations Office. It was no secret to anyone that he had only just emerged alone from his mission a mere five hours ago so it was more than strange to see him back here dressed in clean, bright white with his agency’s CEO beside him. Any other fighter would be passed out for a full day but not him. Not the all-business-all-the-time Ivan, heir to Unsha’s political hunger.
They were quickly ushered up to a conference room where they were told that his potential guide and his employer were waiting with the government official that would oversee negotiations during their follow up testing. Unsha had responded so quickly to the news that the pair hadn’t had the chance to go home after completing the testing. Ivan could imagine that the other party felt that this was moving a little too quickly. After all, the guide’s fighter had only just died. This was likely his first public outing since that demise and he was already being thrust into a possible new partnership.
On reflex, he opened the door to the conference room that they had been directed to, allowing Unsha to enter the room before him. Perhaps that was a mistake in this instance as an all too familiar voice exploded into the air in a most unpleasant tone. This was going to be a very, very long day.
“You! You cocky bastard, get out of here–” Came the high, crackling voice of the fighter that Unsha hated more than all his dislikes of the world combined.
“Urak, what the hell are you doing here?!” Unsha boomed in response as he rushed into the room to undoubtedly start a fight.
Ivan felt even more exhausted as he glanced down at the carpet with the thought that it looked very soft. Many years ago, the two had at least acted civil when they were assigned to the same squad but their retirements had only removed any barrier of professionalism they had once pretended to have. As leaders of opposing agencies, they felt they had all the excuses necessary to verbally and physically spar every single time they had the misfortune of meeting. For two people that hated each other, they were surely obsessed.
“Me? I’m assigning my guide a new–”
“Your guide? I won’t give my best fighter to any of your trash–”
Gathering himself again, Ivan straightened his spine to enter the room and attempt to diffuse the situation as he had done many times before. It was a difficult task to soothe both of their egos without bruising Unsha’s but Ivan was a man that often accomplished the impossible before lunch. “Please, sirs, let us sit down and hear what the–”
Ivan nearly choked when his eyes locked directly with a tired, teal pair. His smile faltered for just a moment as he took in the owner of such beautiful eyes. Till. It had been fifteen years since he had last glimpsed the man he had once obsessed over, the only person that had ever managed to tear him apart so easily. His mouth went dry as memories of a young Till in The Institute flashed through his mind with the velocity of a firehose. Till sticking his tongue out in thought as he scribbled on homework pages. Till smiling beside their mutual acquaintance Mizi when guides and fighters were separated, leaving Ivan cut off from them. Till looking at him with unfathomable emotion in his eyes as he hurt him again and again.
“-- what the report says and what our potential contract looks like.” Ivan continued, only missing a single beat as if he were merely pausing to acknowledge the others in the room out of politeness.
“Ivan is correct, please sit down and let us get started.” The government employee spoke as she gestured to the two empty seats at the table across from Urak and Till.
“Over my–” Unsha started before Ivan carefully, gently touched his pinky to Unsha’s to catch his attention.
“Ma’am, may we take one more moment of your time to confer in the hall? I did not have adequate time to debrief from my mission before coming into this meeting. It will only take a minute, I assure you. We greatly value your time.” He spoke smoothly.
“... Please take care of your business quickly, then.”
“Thank you.”
Unsha stormed out of the room first, barely waiting for the door to close before he had a hand gripping the back of Ivan’s neck. “What was that all about? Don’t you get in the middle of my business.” He hissed.
Ivan remained in place, only reaching out to casually smooth down Unsha’s jacket lapels. “I have no intention of meddling in your affairs, Unsha. I only ask you to remember your enthusiasm before and explain why it is different now. Is this not an excellent opportunity to see what Urak’s agency is up to first hand? Is it not exactly what we have been waiting for to enable me to use my full power and have you at the top once more? Your experience and knowledge is invaluable to me.”
The older man’s mouth worked open and closed like a fish, the excess flesh around the corner flapping slightly. Perfect. That was all the hesitation Ivan needed.
“I worry that if we don’t give this a full chance, we may lose out on the opportunity we have been working so hard for. Your agency is so successful and the staff so well compensated, we may even gain an experienced guide if we can show the benefits well over this partnership. Please tell me if I am thinking of this wrong..?”
Of course, Ivan knew there was no chance that Till could be persuaded to sign a contract with them. Ivan knew that Till was likely in the very same position as himself with no agency over where he went or what he did. Those that came from The Institute weren’t employees but company property. Even if he wanted to come over to Unsha’s side, Urak would never relinquish him for spite alone.
“You young thing…” Unsha sighed, squeezing the back of his neck with a little shake before releasing him. “Fine, we’ll hear them out. You know well my distrust of that filth peddler… I doubt his guide has any skill.”
“Thank you for humoring my inexperience. Shall we go back in?” Ivan asked, gesturing to the door for permission before actually opening it again for him.
“Get talking.” Unsha grunted as he sat himself down as far away from Urak as he could.
Ivan, in contrast, made sure to shake Urak’s hand, the official’s hand, and then Till’s. Except Till wouldn’t look back up at him or extend his hand in return. Ivan felt that familiar sting as he pressed his hand over his heart to extend his verbal greetings instead before taking his place beside his owner. That same chasm opened up inside of him that he knew so well, undeterred by how hard he had worked at receiving guiding just thirty minutes prior.
He had forgotten in his moment of shock that Till didn’t care for him. Back then he had been barely put up with. It was possible that Till didn’t remember him and was just wary of a new fighter while he was still mourning his last one– who was he? Had Till looked at him the way he used to look at Mizi? Was he able to love Till in a way that Ivan was incapable?-- but that didn’t feel any better in his heart than the certainty that Till simply didn’t have the patience for him as when they were children.
“Thank you both and your agency sponsors for coming today. Please have a look at these affinity reports and the CVs of your prospective partner. Ivan, please forgive me that your mission today isn’t listed. The S-Rank dungeon you completed hasn’t been declassified down to internal notes level yet. Congratulations on your success.” The official explained as she handed out multiple packets to each of them.
“As you can see, your affinity is unusually high at 98%. As you are both S-Grade and highly experienced, we are prepared to offer a very generous package for this partnership to be contracted. While Ivan has gained considerable respect being in the top three fighters without a guide, Till is highly valuable for his direct combat skills that he has consistently displayed as an on-site partner to his former fighter. We believe that this partnership has the chance, under close supervision, of bringing a level of safety to our country that we cannot afford to lose. So, gentlemen, if you agree, let’s send these two off for a final resonance test while we discuss the package. Are there any objections?”
“What is the base rate for this package?” Urak asked quickly.
“Last page.”
“... I am always a proponent of working across the aisle for the sake of our great country. I hope that my colleague can say the same..?”
Unsha grunted, swearing under his breath as he took Ivan’s paper from him to shoo him away. “Let the adults work this out. Go do your testing.”
Ivan opened the door for Till in silence and followed him to the 6th floor where the lab rooms were. Not a word was exchanged between them as the lab tech brought them to a small room with two plush, padded chairs where they were hooked up by many sticky tabs and wires to a big machine. It was clearly meant to be a more comfortable atmosphere with the lighting that lowered, the soothing classical music, and the admittedly comfortable chairs that they were asked to get settled on facing each other.
Their knees just barely brushed against each other if they weren’t careful when they sat down. Even directly facing each other, Till wouldn’t look at him. Ivan could only smile as a calm, soothing voice came on the speakers to begin to instruct them how to complete their testing. This was Ivan’s very first time experiencing this test but he had heard often enough from others that this was usually a magical moment to receive guiding for the first time with a partner. It was pure pleasure and comfort, Sua had once confided in him just a little too sharply.
Ivan almost felt his hands shake when he was instructed to reach out to hold Till’s. Till had his eyes closed but Ivan’s were wide open and gazing directly at that face that looked as tired as he felt. Slowly, a strange feeling flooded into him. It was almost hot, entirely unlike anything he had ever felt. It coursed through his veins and spread through his muscles like a potent relaxant but his heart began to thud so hard that he felt he might be sick.
“--Ivan? Ivan? Your heart rate spiked, are you alright to continue?” The voice over the speaker repeated, sounding concerned.
It was only then that Till’s eyes snapped open to look directly at him. As always, his expression looked so unreadable to him when Ivan was on Till’s mind for a brief moment. What was he thinking, Ivan wondered. Was he remembering every time he had pushed him away or was he imagining that he might have to spend the rest of one of their lifespans’ together– and dreading it?
“Yes, I’m fine. Just a little nervous for my first guide.” Ivan excused himself. “Please continue.”
“Please lightly embrace each other and hold for twenty seconds. I will count.” The voice resumed.
Time seemed to go in slow motion as Till leaned forwards to wrap his arms around Ivan’s chest, leaving Ivan to encircle his shoulders tightly. This was far worse than all the unsatisfying guiding he had received in his life. This was painful. The heat spread to his chest, leaving his heart to race that searing sensation throughout his body. Suddenly, Ivan had the urge to let it out. He felt panicked, regretful, and overjoyed all at once. He hadn’t been this out of control of his own body in so long that, for a moment, he thought he could taste iron on his tongue and feel cold porcelain against his back.
Then all at once, Till was pulling away and everything subsided to leave him feeling even emptier than usual. Gone were the aches in his body, the drag in each breath of air to his lungs, and the heaviness of his shoulders. It was all gone, leaving nothing but an echo chamber in its wake. He had never felt more healed in his life.
“... Thank you for participating with me.” Ivan breathed.
“Sure? You good?” Till responded hesitantly, only glancing at him for a second before looking back down at his hands. Still, he had spoken to him. Acknowledged his existence for the first time since Ivan entered that conference room.
“I haven’t had a guiding session with someone above 50% affinity before. It’s a new experience for me.” Ivan responded, his tongue moving before his lagging brain.
“Damn, that sucks.”
“It does.”
—
Ivan looked out over the empty expanse of his new apartment, taking in the low profile sectional and big box store bar stools in such unnecessary shapes that were the only real furnishings. Just through a doorway on the left, he could see a large bed swathed in neutral gray for just a moment before another figure stepped in front of his line of vision to obstruct his inventory of the bedroom. Yes, he was no longer merely a belonging in a flat owned by Unsha.
This was his government-issued dormitory that he would share with his new guide. With Till. How strange to think that they would be sleeping so close to each other once more. At any moment of the night, Till would just be a short walk across this lifeless living room in a building completely off limits to anyone without pre-approved security clearance. He couldn’t think of a time he had ever been this inaccessible to his owner. At least, while he was on loan under contract. He held no expectations that he did not hold any responsibilities to Unsha even now. It would likely just be troublesome to have to leave this residence when he was summoned.
Ivan had a good idea what was expected of him now that they were alone, he thought as he watched Till walk the length of their apartment to inspect every corner. This may be his first time being assigned a permanent guide but he was far from new to the expectation of guiding. He needed to perform maintenance on this tool of Unsha’s. The entire purpose of this partnership was to extend his usefulness but, for the first time in ages, he felt hesitant to obey.
As if weights were tied around his ankles just like when he was a child in training sessions, Ivan approached his guide. A man that had once been his light in darkness, his god, his fiery stars in the endless sky, and now was tasked with making Ivan a more efficient weapon of war. It was ironic, that he had once been ready to give up his life and future for a chance at Till’s freedom only to have that very man now making sure that nothing short of death would keep him from clocking in again the next day. Despite how he himself had argued to be given to Till, it made him wonder if the makers of fate had a sense of humor.
Is that why it burned when he was receiving guidance?
If he was lucky, maybe that fire would hollow him out so completely that he wouldn’t even know to feel it as he fell head first into that chasm.
Ivan stopped just behind Till beside the expansive windows leading onto the terrace. For just a moment, Till didn’t react at all before he finally noticed his existence beside him and looked up with a questioning expression.This should be so easy to do. Ivan had taken countless men and women into his arms without question, drawing them in and using them as he was expected to until they could barely find their way home. He craved to feel Till’s skin against his own so why was this the only instance where he faltered?
Reaching out, Ivan cupped Till’s face between his palms. He felt no resistance as he looked at those tired eyes that held no expectation of him even as he closed his eyes to bring him close. It hurt. It hurt so much. Why did he feel so choked before those lips ever met his? Why did his chest tighten and his stomach flip just at the feeling of a little guidance from the one that was supposed to make all his physical and mental ailments wash away like dirt in a spring shower? From everything he had heard again and again from every fighter around him– even from Sua herself– this wasn’t supposed to hurt.
It was him, wasn’t it? He’d long known that he was the broken one. If everything was one way and he was another, it only made sense that he was the one in the wrong. Why else had he been alone ever since his very first memory of his bleeding feet walking through burning rubble in a destroyed town? Unsha had told him before that he had chosen him because there was nothing inside of him but a violent instinct to survive. A condition that made him uniquely suited to be molded for his ambition. He was so easy to be stuffed full of anything and everything because there was an endless pit threatening to swallow him at–
“... Was that your stomach?” Till asked, pushing against Ivan’s chest to distance them enough for them both to completely lose the trajectory of the moment.
Ivan’s stomach repeated the loud protest at the reminder that he hadn’t eaten anything in two days. Ah, he’d nearly succeeded in forgetting that he had been denied his meal and a good night’s sleep to rush into this partnership. It was embarrassing enough to have it come back up now of all times but he almost felt a little relieved.
Ivan’s expression shifted into the face of a silly young man for the first time in years, donning the mask of someone that Till would interact with. There was no point in thinking about these silly things. Ivan had to survive and now he had his most precious person back to care for. There wasn’t any time to indulge his weakness. “Hah, you heard the official. I just came off a mission and right into our meeting so I haven’t had a chance to eat yet.” He laughed off the awkward atmosphere.
“You’re still such an idiot…” Till scoffed as he smacked his hands away lightly. “I’m gonna order some food and take a shower. Did you at least see a guide?”
“Hmm, I saw a couple.”
“Looking at them doesn’t count. Damn, how did you even get this far..? Fine, go lay down and we’ll do some light guiding while we wait for food. No wonder you look like shit.” Till ordered as he shook his head at Ivan’s lack of self care. Undoubtedly, he thought of him as just as much of a workaholic as everyone else. It certainly wasn’t a wrong assumption.
“Yes, yes, I’ll go wait for you.” Ivan agreed easily.
Accepting the roll of Till’s eyes, Ivan slipped off his shirt and folded it neatly over his arm as he headed into the bedroom. While there were two, Ivan figured it didn’t matter much which one he chose. They could assign rooms later when their belongings were delivered. For now, he set his shirt and then his trousers over the dresser in a neat folded stack before crawling onto the bed to wait for Till to return. It was best to have as much skin contact as possible but Till said they would do light guiding so it was proper to at least preserve a little modesty, he considered.
This bed was incredibly comfortable. The government dorms spared no expense on the health and comfort of their best soldiers, it seemed. If he wasn’t careful, he would…
Ivan blinked his eyes and suddenly found the room bathed in moonlight. His brow creased as the sleepy gears in his head slowly came back online to start working him through this loss of time. Had he passed out while waiting for Till to come out of the shower? Why was he feeling so hot if he wasn’t even under the covers– Ah.
His eyes slowly focused on a peaceful face right beside him and a gentle pressure holding his hand. Till had been guiding him through the night, even though Ivan had so rudely fallen asleep on him. Ivan couldn’t remember a single time he had fallen asleep before any guide. He’d only slept in front of one person other than the one holding his hand right now. It was strange how at ease he felt despite how unsettling this service felt deep in his veins.
He almost thought about getting up but his body felt too heavy to move. It would be alright to go back to sleep for just a little while longer, he decided. Maybe if he exposed himself to this unsettling guidance long enough, he would become used to it. Yes, this wasn’t just laziness. He was self administering exposure therapy with the help of his unconscious partner. It was perfectly reasonable. It most certainly wasn’t that Till looked so beautiful sleeping so close to him. He wasn’t reminded of how much he obsessed over this man and had craved to feel his skin on his.
Carefully, Ivan scooted closer until their foreheads could press together and their connected hands drew up between their chests. Like this, Ivan could feel his scarred forearm press fully against Till’s bare skin as their hot breaths began to mingle. His entire body felt tense even with just the gentle eb of healing power coming from the sleeping guide he held so close. He really had to wonder if something wasn’t deeply wrong here but he didn’t care. Even if it hurt to hold him like this, Ivan was content. At least, that is what he told himself.
It was a pain well worth enduring.