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Once again, Dylas’ boyfriend had talked him into something humiliating.
His internal organs felt like they were cooking under the pressure of his own body heat while his tail betrayed him, flicking against the blankets with each treacherous wag. What was he, a dog?
“You look like a cherry right now,” Lest’s cheerful voice chimed from behind him, tickling his ear. The sensation nearly made him jump out of his skin, heart hammering as he tried to keep his face flat, trying to keep his voice level as he retorted.
“Shut up.” Alas, his voice cracked, his simple words escaping as a strange mix between a whimper and a squeak he would never live down. All this because that adorable bastard had his arms around him from behind, while the clock ticked down and attempted to lull him into sleep. But how was he meant to sleep when his body couldn’t calm itself?
Earlier that day, they had been fighting. Not each other, Lest had found a request in the mailbox - which he dubbed Eliza, strange yet endearing somehow - and they had ventured to a dungeon. They hadn’t been alone, if it wasn’t another townsperson then it would be a monster ally from one of Lest’s monster barns.
Lest thought it would be amusing to bring along one such monster he dubbed ‘Thunderbolt’. That was how he ended up being trampled by himself in the middle of combat.
And his boyfriend had found it the funniest thing in the world, apparently, so much so they nearly both got sent to the clinic. Fortunately their combined savings did not end up lost in the void (read: Doctor Jones’ bank account), but Lest swore he would make it up to him.
For the entire evening, the affection spike had threatened Dylas’ heart and composure.
He thought he would get used to this after three seasons of dating, three seasons of wrangling monsters and protecting their home while Lest snuck in more and more moments of emotional intimacy. Yet his pride seemed set on making every gentle moment a survival horror novel.
He wouldn't trade it for the world, but he still felt like he was going to burst into flames with prolonged contact. He took a breath that was more shaky than he'd like to admit then exhaled, curling up as Lest's leg hooked around his hip. Usually he was the one hooked around him, the smaller man fitting against him smug like the perfect puzzle piece. But being on the inside felt nice… Even if the thought of anyone walking into the doorless room had his stomach tightening. Castle be damned, the lack of privacy was alarming.
As he closed his eyes, he listened. Lest's breathing was peaceful, the clock fading into white noise. The warmth was soft and tender even if his body heat tried to counteract it. And though their shared nightwear did its damn best to conceal it, taking away his sight seemed to emphasise the feeling of Lest’s skin on his, the weird yet pleasant tingling of his slightly calloused fingertips stroking the back of his hand.
Lest mumbled, it sounded breathy, muffled by an incoming yawn. After a long day, he was falling asleep too yet gathered his consciousness enough to fluster him one more time. “Your tail’s tickling me. It’s wagging a lot, how cute!”
“Shu-” His automatic response was interrupted with a wave of exhaustion, yawning as he leaned into his arms and gave in. His tail wrapped around Lest’s leg. No, this wasn’t a fight he had to pick. No one was around to tease him, he was safe to melt away. “... I’m- I’m just happy.”
His boyfriend quietly, sleepily chuckled and kissed him on the cheek. “I’m happy too.”