Sammie and I stand over the bed where Valan lays unconscious. After a rough encounter with some ash spawn on Solstheim he returned with a massive cut on his right side and likely a broken rib. After surgery the wound was able to be closed and is healing yet Valan is still asleep. “I wonder what he was thinking wandering around the Ashlands at night.” Sam murmurs to no one in particular “I don't think he was thinking. And if he was he was probably looking for those werebears over near the temple.” I respond looking around the room. We don't often use this part of the house, it's mainly for guests and storage along with my fathers study and a tiny armory. Sam continues speaking but I get too absorbed in my own thoughts to hear what she's saying. Finally she says “I'm going to talk to your mother and father, see you later Yuuri.” I wave goodbye and she closes the door after her and locks it so we're not disturbed.
Valan sleeps rather peacefully which is strange at least to me.You'd think someone with a large wound in the right side and other assorted bruises and cuts would sleep poorly. The sun begins to set into the sea outside the window, slowly sinking down into the blue-grey water. I stare at Valan for a moment before getting an impulsive idea he'd probably hit me for, but impulsivity gets the better of me and I do it anyways.
Sitting on the edge of the bed I lean over and place a soft kiss on his neck then wait for a reaction before continuing. He doesn't immediately awake or even flinch, but smiles slightly. Odd, he usually doesn't like affection. Taking a breathe and moving a lock of hair out of the way I lean in again and kiss him on the lips-
To my surprise, he kisses back.
I always had an inkling he would be a good kissed but this is better than I'd imagined. Slowly I move onto the bed, pick him up, and sit him on my lap, holding him to my chest. After a few minutes more we both stop, coming up for air, and Valan collapses against me panting. His head falls against my shoulder as he regains normal breathing. “What just happened?” He asks in a voice barely above a whisper, but it doesn't sound angry, just curious. “Um well...you were alseep and then I uh then I kissed you and you kissed back and ummm here we are?” I reply fumbling with my words as embarrassment suddenly hits me. “I'm sorry...I shouldn't have done that. I wasn't thinking.” I add after a pause and loosen my grip around him slightly. Valan just moves closer, not farther away. “I don't care.” I look at him confused “But you hate romance.” He shrugs “I don't consider this romance though. Yes I know, you're attracted to me, and that you probably still like me. But what just happened I consider not romance, just...what's the word? Oh right, affection. It's not like we're in a relationship or anything, you just happened to kiss me.” I process his words and while they're somewhat hard to understand due to his still slightly slurred speech because he was asleep, they make sense. “I always assumed you'd be a good kisser, by the way.” Valan grins “and why'd you think that? I've never kissed anybody, well, besides you.” I lean back against the headboard with a sigh “I don't know actually. Just something about you. Made me think of it. I didn't ever think it'd be actually right.” I continue to ramble while Valan sits on my lap looking at me through hazed sleepy eyes until he leans forward and falls against my chest again, closing his eyes and falling once more into a peaceful sleep. The sun has set by now and fireflies travel throughout the yard and the lights in the city below have come on. Dinner is probably almost ready but I do not have the heart to wake him. Valan rarely shows affection to others and so it's a nice change, it might be because he rarely receives it. Most people either want him to help them or want to hurt him. I gaze out the window watching Masser and Secunda on their nightly trip through the sky mindlessly running a hand along Valans back until I hear a knock on the door and the rattle of a key in a keyhole.
My uncle and Sammie push open the door and I look at them. “Good evening.” I say and they look between myself and the sleeping Dunmer on top of me. “Long story, I'll explain later. It's not what you think.” They both nod slowly. I tap Valan on the shoulder and whisper in his ear it's time to get up. He opens his eyes and looks around stopping when he sees Sammie and Takayama. “Hi sleepy head. Have a nice rest?” Sam asks in a falsely innocent voice. Valan scowls at her for a second before resuming his usual expression and gets up “For your information yes I did.” He still is having some trouble walking and so Sam helps him downstairs. Takayama comes and sits next to me with a sigh “What did you do?” He asks after my friends leave the room. “Impulsively kissed him, he kissed me back it went from there, we had a nice little explanatory chat and took a nap. It may have been started on my part but after that it was mutual.” Takayama smiles and pats me on the shoulder “now that's a way to spend an afternoon. Let's go eat!” I grin and follow him downstairs where Valan and Sammie have already started and seem to be having a little contest on who can make the best face out of their food, which consists of noodles with broccoli, chicken, and carrots. Valan and Sammie might both be AroAce but their tolerances of affection vary drastically. Sam is fine if you hug her or hold her hand or simple things like that but sometimes will flinch if something like a hug happens without warning. Partly I think is because of her isolated upbringing. Valan on the other hand has a very relaxed standard and while repetition of today likely won't happen it shows he's much more comfortable giving and receiving affection. Reasoning I think is his childhood was much better than his former princess counterpart. I think I might have just figured out my next papers topic...
Well, I hope you liked it! Xavier and company are next on the publishing list!
Until next time,
Max
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