[center][h3][color=cyan]『𝕊𝕒𝕟𝕕𝕖𝕣』[/color] [color=8493ca]『ℂ𝕙𝕣𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕞𝕒𝕤』[/color][/h3][/center]
[center] [img]http://i.imgur.com/xp0eIcQ.png[/img][img]http://i.imgur.com/Kxn0drf.png[/img][/center]
[hr][center][color=silver]ℂ𝕠𝕝𝕝𝕒𝕓𝕠𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 ℙ𝕠𝕤𝕥𝕤   / /   [@RedDusk][@January][/color][/center][hr][hr][center][color=silver] 𝔽𝕣𝕚: 𝕊𝕖𝕡𝕥. 𝟚𝟝, 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟘   / /   𝔹𝕒𝕝𝕕 ℍ𝕖𝕒𝕕 𝕀𝕤𝕝𝕒𝕟𝕕    / /   ℤ𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕘'𝕤 𝔼𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕥𝕖   / /  ~ 𝟙𝟝𝟜𝟘 [/color][/center][hr]
[hider Recalibrate]
Sander let out a breath eventually, tension slowly bleeding out of his shoulders as he finally turned back to the bed. Christmas was still where he was, half-buried underneath the mound of blanket, so Sander stood at their bedside, waiting, expression remorseful. The healer peeked out eventually, looking up at Sander.

[color 8493ca]”S-sorry.”[/color]

The blood mage didn’t respond, simply reaching out to his roommate with an upturned hand. Christmas took the hand automatically, wincing as several of the open needle pricks reminded him of their presences. He had tried to move minimally to avoid the deep pains from badly positioned syringes, but that hadn’t helped as much as he had thought. He sniffled involuntarily, a few of the sharper stings welling tears up in his eyes.

Sander held on to the hand in his just as he sat down onto the edge of the mattress. The bandages from the other day had been undone, the loose end hung limply, so Sander reached out for that with his free hand, quickly wrapping it back into place. 

“[color cyan]I should have been more insistent.[/color]” -He mumbled, eyes glued to the leaking dots on Christmas’ arm -”[color cyan]She doesn’t need healing at all.[/color]”

[color 8493ca]”It’s—it’s okay. I don’t…mind…”[/color] the healer trailed off, remembering the last time he had said so. [color 8493ca]“Sorry…”[/color]

“[color cyan]I would never leave you, you know?[/color]” -Sander tucked the gauze in more tightly this time, smoothing out the edges. It looked slightly better than his last attempt. Still, he did not let go of Christmas’ hand, instead holding it in both of his -”[color cyan]You won’t have to go to her. Ever.[/color]” 

Promises were not something he made often, just because he knew he could never keep them. This one, however, he would like to. Even if…

“[color cyan]I will be here with you. Or I won’t be anywhere at all.[/color]”

Christmas held onto Sander’s hand as well, clutching it tighter at the implication of death. [color 8493ca]”If…you’re gone…I’d…be, too…”[/color] The reality of that statement surprised him. [color 8493ca]”D-don’t go a-anywhere I can’t…can’t follow…please.”[/color]

“[color cyan]I’m staying.[/color]” -The words were firm, and Sander pressed a kiss against the white gauze –“[color cyan]With you.[/color]”

He sighed then, because he knew how unpredictable the future could be. There were instances where even his fire couldn’t save him. But he didn’t voice that concern. He knew how distressed Christmas was, and he just wanted the healer to relax. 

“[color cyan]Are you still tired?[/color]”

The blond shook his head, scooting out from under the blankets to rest against Sander. 

[color 8493ca]”I…”[/color] he trailed off, hugging Sander’s arm instead. 

“[color cyan]Yeah?[/color]”

[color 8493ca]”I…w-want to sit in your—your lap again…if…if it’s okay.”[/color] He mumbled the request into the sheets, trying not to be heard.

But Sander heard him anyway, so he reached for the PS Vita discarded nearby and patted a spot on his lap, the corner of his lips quirking up into a smile.

“[color cyan]Let’s finish that game then.[/color]”

Happy to have his request obliged, Christmas tucked himself into Sander’s lap again, adjusting himself to avoid resting the worst spots of needle marks again Sander’s chest. He sighed once he had become comfortable.

[color 8493ca]”Th-thank you.”[/color]

“[color cyan]I wish…you would tell me what you want all the time.[/color]” -Sander looped an arm around Christmas’ waist, sighing into the nape of his neck -”[color cyan]I would like to know them.[/color]”

“[color cyan]I would like to know you.[/color]”

[color 8493ca]”I…um…like hearing y-yours more.”[/color] Christmas stared at the paused game screen as he spoke, trying to avoid giving in to the soft touch and warm breath on his neck.

“[color cyan]That’s not really fair.[/color]” -Sander reached over and pressed the start button for him, leaning his chin on Christmas’ shoulder -”[color cyan]Please?[/color]”

Christmas gave in easily. He couldn’t hold against Sander’s “please,” after all.

[color 8493ca]”Wh-What should I say?”[/color]

“[color cyan]What do you like?[/color]”

[color 8493ca]”Y-you.”[/color] It was an easy answer and he was glad that was it for the question.

“[color cyan]And?[/color]” -Sander exhaled, amused.

[color 8493ca]”H-huh?”[/color]

“[color cyan]There must be other things.[/color]”

[color 8493ca]”…R-ribbons. And…and dresses…”[/color] He seemed to shrink into a tighter ball in Sander’s lap. [color 8493ca]”S-sorry…”[/color]

As Christmas curled in on himself, Sander only kept his touches firm and steady, started caressing motions on the back of the healer’s hand.
 
“[color cyan]Yes. Those. I would like to know about those.[/color]” -He kissed the shell of Christmas’ ear –“[color cyan]Anything else?[/color]”

[color 8493ca]”Wh-what about you?”[/color] the smaller boy replied, trying to steer his thoughts out of more explicit territory when Sander kissed his ear.

“[color cyan]I’m simple. I like running. I like drinking.[/color]” -Flashes of what happened at the bar the other day almost changed that, which was exactly why he had been avoiding the place -”[color cyan]And I like you.[/color]” 

“[color cyan]I think it’s your turn, again.[/color]”

[color 8493ca]”What—what kind of drinks?”[/color]

“[color cyan]Sweet.[/color]” -Sander smiled, then followed up -”[color cyan]What kind of dress?[/color]”

Christmas turned his face to hide in Sander’s shirt, realizing he had never once told anyone what [i]kinds[/i] of dresses he always stared at in the women’s section of the large department stores his parents used to shop in.
[color 8493ca]”L-lace…and—and l-lots of decorations…”[/color] Most of the dresses he had seen were stitched together with the chests of women in mind and while he had entertained small daydreams about wearing them, the sight of the dress’s sagging torso, even in his thoughts, was just one more thing wrong with him. He didn’t want to be a girl—the thought had never crossed his mind as a desire, though certainly as a curiosity—but he wanted what they were allowed to wear.

“[color cyan]I think…you’d look pretty in one.[/color]”

Christmas clutched at the shirt under his hand, breath catching in his throat at the comment. He looked up at Sander, eyes wide like he was expecting a punch line to the joke—perhaps a “Just kidding” or that old “Psyche!” But Sander was serious and he smiling and it all felt so perfect. The healer didn’t realize how long he stared until almost a minute had passed. With a shaky breath he nodded, leaning into Sander while gratitude broke the words on his tongue. 

[color 8493ca]”Th-thank you…”[/color] He sniffled again, but not from the little pains this time. 

Sander’s hand went up to press against Christmas’ cheek immediately, already trying to wipe away any wet traces of tears.

“[color cyan]Don’t cry. Please.[/color]” -He mumbled hastily, trying to change the topic -”[color cyan]What about other things? Your favorite places? Do you like animals?[/color]”

The sniffling didn’t subside for several more minutes, but by then Christmas had calmed enough to release his clutch on Sander’s shirt, absentmindedly rubbing his cheek in small, slow motions against the palm pressed to his face.

[color 8493ca]”I like…s-sunset. Like in the…the photos of big fields. And…s-stuffed animals.”[/color]

He blinked, realizing he had been enjoying Sander’s palm a bit much and stopping.

[color 8493ca]”Wh-what about you?”[/color]

“[color cyan]I…didn’t get out much.[/color]” -Sander shrugged, trying to keep his voice light -”[color cyan]I think I saw a field on the way here.[/color]” 

“[color cyan]Do you want to go see the sunset then? Later?[/color]” 

Christmas nodded, pulling Sander’s hand near his face towards his mouth and pressing the knuckles against his lips. He remembered the half conversation at the hospital. The last five years for Sander had been “not nice.” He wanted to and didn’t want to ask—it felt like something Sander would tell him if he trusted him enough and asking seemed like cheating. So he kissed the hand and leaned into the embrace, game forgotten.[/hider]

[hr][center][color=silver] 𝔽𝕣𝕚: 𝕊𝕖𝕡𝕥. 𝟚𝟝, 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟘   / /   𝔹𝕒𝕝𝕕 ℍ𝕖𝕒𝕕 𝕀𝕤𝕝𝕒𝕟𝕕    / /   ℤ𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕘'𝕤 𝔼𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕥𝕖   / /  ~ 𝟙𝟟𝟜𝟘 [/color][/center][hr]
[hider Reprise]
Around two hours later, Sander came back to their room with a giant picnic basket in hand and backpack filled with essentials for a night out under the stars with his boyfriend. Or so he was told. The staff was kind enough to pack everything for him, so he didn’t really have an opportunity to check what exactly these bags contained. As far as he knew, there was at least a small container of blood in there. They must have figured its connection with his power. Though he doubted he would need it tonight.
 
Once the door clicked shut behind him, Sander put everything into a neat pile on the floor before walking off toward Christmas who was dozing on the bed, blue-striped sweater askew on his shoulders and handheld console laying beside him playing what sounded like general scene music on repeat. They had snacked on fries and burgers earlier, prepared by request when Christmas seemed intimidated by the display of food in the dining hall and a maid had asked him if there was anything he had wanted. Sander had needed to relay the question before the healer would answer, but by the end of it they had procured freshly prepared fast food—though “gourmet” was likely the closer term for what the maid had returned with on a silver platter. Christmas had eaten his entire meal set, so it was no surprise that by now he was sleeping off the food.

Wordlessly, Sander crawled into bed beside him, throwing one arm around Christmas’ waist and rubbing a spot on his stomach, the touch light but insistent. Christmas stirred, soft breaths increasing in pace as he blearily opened his eyes. He turned to look at Sander, smiling in his half-dreams before trying to fall back asleep.

“[color cyan]Wake up, dreamy.[/color]”

A quiet noise answered him, but Christmas was having a hard time stirring from the feeling of eating well.

Sander couldn’t help but lean forward to place a kiss on Christmas’ eyelids. That finally woke the sleeping blond and he blinked up as Sander withdrew. 

[color 8493ca]”S-sorry…I thought…I heard you say something.”[/color]

“[color cyan]Nothing.[/color]” -Sander smiled -”[color cyan]Just thought I’d wake you up. Almost sunset.[/color]”

Silence passed for seconds before sleep finally gave way enough for Christmas to remember that he wanted to see the sunset with Sander. He sat up, groggy but eager, pulling the loose sweater back onto his shoulder where it had slid off to one side in his sleep. He looked at Sander expectantly, like he was waiting for permission to be excited.

“[color cyan]I got everything.[/color]” -Sander’s smile widened into a grin as he pushed himself up and gestured at the bag and basket on the floor -”[color cyan]Cmon. It’ll be a…date.[/color]” -He used one of those forgotten words that he had only read about and saw in movies, but it was the only one he found appropriate, now. After all, Christmas [i]was[/i] his boyfriend.  Several silver squares tucked into the outside mesh pocket of the bag along with a tube that looked similar to toothpaste, but was very much not drew Christmas’ attention and by the time he fully realized what they were, his neck and shoulders felt like they were on fire. 

[color 8493ca]”P-prepare…?”[/color] he ventured, eyes still glued to the items.

“[color cyan]Uh…[/color]” -Sander looked dumbfounded for a few seconds -”[color cyan]I…yeah. I got…stuffs.[/color]”

Misinterpreting the answer, Christmas nodded, scampering off the bed and snatching up the tube from the bag’s outer pocket, then disappearing into the bathroom.

Sander remained puzzled, but he left the blond boy to his own devices. Christmas actually didn’t emerge until half an hour later, face flushed and breath short, which only served to confuse Sander even more, especially when the scent of coffee flooded every corner of their shared room.

“[color cyan]Are you…okay?[/color]” -Sander was at Christmas’ side in an instant, pressing a hand against the boy’s forehead -”[color cyan]If you’re feeling sick, we can go…another time?[/color]” 

There was a quick shake of his head, and Christmas clutched Sander’s arm. [color 8493ca]”Want to—to go.”[/color]

“[color cyan]…Okay.[/color]” -When Christmas asked like that and looked like that, Sander couldn’t really say no. 

He ended up letting the blond boy lean on him like the other day, the healer’s legs were again strangely uncooperative. Regardless, they pressed on, arriving at their destination just a few minutes before sunset. It was a large clearing on a nearby hilltop that overlooked an edge of the island, probably a field of sort before, now abandoned and occupied by overgrowth. Nearby, there was a small shed, emptied long ago but most of the structures were still intact. When he asked about a good place to see the sun set, one of the staff had suggested this place. Sander was glad he had asked, because the view in this place was amazing. Enough of the original trees hemming the clearing had been removed to allow for a breathtaking view of both the beach and the sunset glancing in orange and gold off the waters.

Christmas’s gaze was fixated on the twilight sun, the image so similar and so much more than what he had seen through pictures. It was different from watching the sun set behind the rooftops of houses, or disappearing behind mountains. But the single most important change was that Sander stood beside him. He breathed out eventually, remembering that he had held his breath for the past few seconds of silent gazing.

[color 8493ca]”…It’s beautiful,”[/color] he murmured, watching the rays of light filter around distant clouds.

Sander had been looking at Christmas for the past few moments, and when he heard the blond boy’s comment, he smiled like it was the most natural thing, and said -”[color cyan]Yeah. It is. You are.[/color]”

It took a few moments for the comment to process, but when it finally did Christmas turned sharply, surprise on his face and something of a half-smile he was trying to suppress. [color 8493ca]”N-no…but—uh—I…th-thank you…I…y-you are, too. H-handsome, I-I mean.”[/color] He slipped and slid all over his words, looking down instead and clutching at the hem of his sweater. [color 8493ca]”H-happy to be with you,”[/color] he finished, trying to put his giddy feelings back into place.

Sander opened his mouth, trying to come up with a reply before he decided against it and just leaned in, pressing his lips against Christmas’s, who would have cried out in surprise if his voice wasn’t muffled through the rush of lips and tongue. Instead Christmas whimpered quietly at the initial shock before holding on to Sander’s shoulders and leaning into the kiss. He liked it, he was ashamed to say. Liked being pampered. Liked being spoiled with affection. He didn’t deserve an iota of it, but Sander gave it all anyway and with every gentle moment he thought he’d give in at last—decide to be horrible and think it was fine to be happy even if he shouldn’t be. 

Terrible.

And he was afraid Sander would change his mind.

Despite the fact that he initiated the kiss, Sander looked rather dazed and a bit surprised when he pulled back, eyes glassy and lips still slightly parted. He was quiet for the longest of time, just staring at Christmas, hands pressing warmth against the blond boy’s cheeks, the setting sun forgotten. 

“[color cyan]I wish you would smile more.[/color]” -He breathed, a thumb reached out to brush Christmas’ lower lip -”[color cyan]I really like it when you do that.[/color]” 

At that Christmas couldn’t help the small smile spreading on his face. It was so easy to feel happy around Sander and being alone for those days ringed by people who only saw him as an easy way to help others had broken something down—he couldn’t name it, but it was easier now to tell himself he really wanted Sander beside him especially after thinking he had been left alone.

“[color cyan]It fits you.[/color]”

The smile trembled a bit, threatening to turn into happy tears, but Christmas fixed that with a forward shove, wrapping his arms around Sander’s torso and squeezing his eyes together, because handling emotions had never been his strong suit and Sander brought out so many of them—all of them good, even the lurking fear of red eyes; they were aspects he had associated with Sander by now and with Sander, even the bad was good.

“[color cyan]You’re missing the sunset.[/color]” -Sander said, rubbing Christmas’ hair gently. 

[color 8493ca]”You’re—you’re better than the sunset,”[/color] a muffled voice spoke into Sander’s shirt.

Sander just laughed softly at that, the sound low in his chest. He indulged the blond boy, letting Christmas holding onto him as long as he wanted. Then again, it felt nice too, having another constant warmth by his side. He hadn’t even realized he missed that until Christmas. 

After a few moment though, his wandering gaze caught sight of the picnic basket lying to the side. Reminded of food, he started rubbing small circles on Christmas’ back, patting him -”[color cyan]Hungry? I brought snacks.[/color]” 

The small boy nodded, but didn’t move, face still hidden in the hug.

“[color cyan]I can…feed you. If you want.[/color]”

[i]That[/i] made Christmas look up and his face was that strange mix of panic and anticipation again. His tongue still tied, the blond only nodded instead, relaxing his hold on Sander and stepping away.

Sander turned to the basket then and returned with a bag of chips and the sleeping bag. He laid the latter out on the ground, spreading it wide so they could both fit on it before lying down, leaning his back against the plump backpack. He patted the space next to him, smiling at Christmas. The healer smiled back, sitting down beside Sander and snuggling into the allotted space. When Sander had made sure Christmas was comfortable, he brought a chip to the blond’s lips, urging him to eat. Mumbling a shaky “thank you,” Christmas did, nibbling away at the piece until it was gone, only to have Sander’s fingers trace his lips in the aftermath, wiping away crumbs. He tried not to focus too much on that sensation, but his mind rarely listened to him and before long the heat was creeping onto his neck and shoulders once more. [/hider]

[hider Ravish] [url=https://www.dropbox.com/s/7pvvcrkw73mniud/Ravish.docx?dl=0]Ravish[/url][/hider]