Even compared to when he’d crashed on Maisie’s couch, Caspian slept more soundly than he had in a while. He’d fallen asleep facing the edge of the bed, but at some point during the night, he’d rolled onto his back and then once more onto his other side with his arm draped limply over Iris. The warmth of her body that was pressed comfortably against his sent him into a deep sleep in which he was visited with fleeting dreams that weren’t vivid enough to remember. This was where he stayed until he eventually stirred at the feeling of something gently touching his cheek.

Coming out of the depths of slumber, he shifted and stretched languidly on the bed, reluctant to open his eyes. Unconsciousness had been so pleasant that he would have drifted off again if not for the sound of Iris’s whispery voice beside him. Recognizing belatedly that he was holding her in his arms, a tired smile crossed his lips, and he pulled her to his chest. [color=#b97703]“Morning,”[/color] he murmured back to her. Waking up next to someone else was a brand new experience for him, but it was one that he felt like he could get used to. He enjoyed the way her smaller frame fit against his body as if it was meant to be there.

When she kissed his cheek and said spoke about having breakfast, he yawned and rubbed his eyes with the heel of his palm, already missing her warmth as she got out of the bed. [color=#b97703]“Okay,”[/color] he said groggily, forcing himself to sit up. He’d never been a morning person, but it was even harder for him to convince himself not to sleep in when he’d been so incredibly comfortable just seconds before. [color=#b97703][i]I wish we had coffee,[/i][/color] he thought, arching his back in another stretch as he tried to get his blood flowing again. Unfortunately, it seemed like coffee was yet another luxury that he wouldn’t be able to have unless he went back to the capital. If there was any in the other districts, he had yet to find it.

Leaning back against the headboard, he took the opened can of fruit from Iris when she handed it to him. [color=#b97703]“Thanks,”[/color] he said appreciatively. Part of him felt a little bad for only giving her one-word replies when she was trying to talk to him, but he needed to wake up a little more before he was capable of holding a coherent conversation. It was a marvel to him that she was already so energetic after she’d just rolled out of bed a minute ago. He was happy to see her looking so chipper though. Compared to the day before, she seemed to be feeling much better. By contrast, he felt like he’d just come out of a coma.

Hoping to catch up to her, he stabbed a piece of juicy melon with his fork and brought it to his lips. [color=#b97703]“How’d you sleep?”[/color] he asked after he’d swallowed the first bite. Privately, he was sure he already knew the answer to his question, since she seemed to be doing well, but he wanted to at least try to reciprocate her friendliness, so she wouldn’t think he was just a grump in the mornings.