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Therion wasn't the perfect roommate. He had an atrocious sleep schedule and came and went at odd hours. He was very possessive of his things, little as they were. He was cagey about himself, despite Alfyn really, really wanting to know.
But he also stepped softly so as to not wake Alfyn up. He didn't mind Alfyn's snoring, either. And little by little, he was opening up to others, and especially to Alfyn.
When they first started sharing rooms, Therion refused to undress or sleep when Alfyn was around. It took a month for Therion to even rest in Alfyn's company. Sleep came a few weeks later, though Therion refused to as much as remove the poncho. He didn't start doing so until the second time they hit the Sunlands. They wound up staying a long time in Wellspring, and Therion was finally miserable enough to take the poncho off when he went into their shared innroom.
Alfyn… had to work hard not to stare the first few times. He knew that Therion was skinny under the poncho, but not much past that, as it hid Therion's figure well. So getting to see his bare, scarred arms and his open mostly open collar was…
He had to work really hard not to stare.
It got easier, as time passed, as the sight became commonplace. Therion relaxed more and more, especially after Northreach. They still traveled together, despite his freedom, and had become really good friends.
And then one day… Alfyn woke up to Therion doing stretches.
Alfyn knew that Therion did them—he'd seen him doing them in camp a few times, but that was usually from afar, and not this up close.
Waking up to Therion bent at the waist, hands on top of his feet, ass in the air… It changed something in Alfyn that day.
He didn't mean to, but Alfyn found himself waking up earlier and earlier to catch more of Therion's stretching routine. He wasn't bold enough to sit there and ogle, and instead started organizing his satchel in the mornings. He could easily sneak glances that way, and he would have a properly sorted satchel every day! It was a win all around!
Except for the fact he started staring.
He didn't mean to! His eyes would just drift over and he would see Therion bent in a tantalizing way and he would lose all track of thought and time and decency and stare. Ogle, really, but Therion must not have noticed him, because he didn’t comment or rebuff Alfyn. Alfyn still felt embarrassed about it once he caught himself, but so long as Therion didn’t say anything, Alfyn wasn't going to either…
Until one hot summer morning in Marsalim, where Therion took off his pants to do his stretches.
"Uh," Alfyn had succinctly protested.
"It's hot," Therion had replied.
Alfyn couldn't even hide the fact that he was staring. He couldn't stop staring. Therion only wore his shirt and his underclothes and Alfyn's brain refused to function. Sorting herbs? Not when almost all of Therion was on display. The way he bent his back, the way he bent his legs, the way he bent his body—
Alfyn's thoughts were hotter than the desert outside.
And then Therion did a full split—while standing! He stood tall on one leg and the other was bent all the way up and touched his head, toes pointed to the sky.
Dohter above, how do ya bend so well?, Alfyn thought to himself—or so he thought, because he must have said it out loud, since Therion teased.
"I can bend in more interesting shapes than this, medicine man, wanna see?"
Alfyn was ready to eat his fist to keep himself from talking. But then Therion lowered his legs and came over to lean over Alfyn, a victorious smirk on his face, and Alfyn broke.
"Uhuh," he squeaked. He could feel how hot his face was and he knew it had nothing to do with the desert.
"About time," Therion murmured and leaned further in. Alfyn had the distinct impression that he was about to be kissed and raised his head in accordance.
Therion's lips were as warm as the weather outside and clammy with sweat. They sent a sensation of electric pleasure down Alfyn's spine though, so he didn't complain.
"About time?" he asked instead when they broke apart.
"I've been timing my stretches to match your schedule for months, Alfyn," Therion mused, "you really thought I haven't noticed you watching me?"
Alfyn's reply was to blush harder and stammer nonsense.
"Let's have a late start today," Therion purred, "so you can find out just how flexible I am."
Alfyn nodded eagerly, repeatedly, and let Therion take his hand and pull him off the chair. He let Therion push him on the bed and laugh at his worsening blush, a soft little sound that made Alfyn's heart flutter.
Therion didn't get to keep the lead much past that, however, because once Alfyn got over the shock of the situation, he became a very enthusiastic partner.