Lucien held back a chuckle at his silence, noting Faolan's light embarrassment. Even through his silent, he knew the Irishman was happy about what he had said. 

They had stayed around the campfire for a little while longer before they began to clean up to get ready for bed. He had picked the child up to take him back to the trailer before placing him back on the cot. The snakes had crawled back by then and had settled around him. It was still a sight he’d have to get used to. 

In terms of sleeping arrangements, he knew they’d have to change it up a little. He tried to convince Faolan to sleep on the bed, but he had none of it, saying he’d sleep in the passenger seat instead. His lover was a stubborn man, so he let it go. He could not deny that he missed Faolan’s presence beside him. 

He hadn’t fallen asleep immediately, keeping an eye on the boy to make sure he was comfortable and able to sleep well. It was only when he was sure the boy had fallen asleep that Lucien had done the same.

—

Snake had woken up the next morning with a strong headache. Throughout the night he had wrapped the blankets he had been given tightly around himself.. but it had not eased the coldness he felt as he still trembled under his blankets. This.. had almost become a normal for the boy.. at least.. for the days he did not have to perform, while on the road, this always happened to him. He didn’t want to sit up because he felt that he’d get nauseous, and so he tightened the blankets around himself. 

Part of him had almost forgotten. The way the circus worked had always been the same. They traveled, he drank, he performed, and then they traveled again. That time gap between travels was when he always felt this way.. because he didn’t drink. He knew the feeling would go away if it did but.. would they give him any? Johan had always called it his medicine, because it would help him feel better, but he wouldn’t let him have it while on the road because it would be ‘wasteful,’ and it had to be saved for when he needed it. This made him scared of what might happen now that he now longer had access to it. 

[b]”Are you feeling it?”[/b] The snake at his side asked, causing him to nod. 

[color=#a7d3d4]”Y-Yeah..”[/color] He responded quietly.