[nap] for your muse to fall asleep against mine // Â @lunaticreignââ
â Well, look at that. Finally found your way out from beneath the paperwork, huh? â Axel let the chakram dissolve in his hands as the portal closed behind him, gloved fingers swiping back the hood, before wiping some residue from his cheek. The common area seemed empty, with the surprising exception of Saix sat on one of the couches, face mostly hidden behind a book. No response came forth to his lightly mocking question. That was alright: Axel hadnât really been expecting one anyway. Didnât stop him from continuing, though. â Seriously, man, Iâd almost started to wonder whether it was time to stage an intervention. Check if you were still alive â existing â or whatever it is we do nowadays. Ya know I actually saw one of your beserkers mopinâ âbout the kitchen the other day? â
Off come the gloves, shoved unceremoniously into his pocket as he moved in closer; only stopping when sullen golden eyes glared at him from over the top of the book ( space-related, of course, good to know some things never change ). His brows rose, a stab of something akin to worry tightening his gut: not at the glare, but the obvious exhaustion writ into every crevice of Saixâ features â from the bruises beneath his eyes only a shade darker than his hair, to the sickly pallor of his skin making the scar across his nose stand out all the redder. Even the disapproval in that gaze seemed dull and listless, more like instinct than actual effort.
Whatever plan of needling Saix was promptly shoved to the wayside; what fun was getting beneath his skin when the guy clearly lacked all the bite and energy to make it even remotely interesting? Â That, he told himself, was the only reason he even made the move to sit down next to him, a little closer than strictly speaking necessary. The only reason why his tone softened considerably, despite the flippancy of his next words.
Right. Who was he even trying to fool? Â
â You look like shit. â
Again, no response except for the tightening of his lips, hunch in his shoulders growing more pronounced. Axel shifted a little closer, gently, leaning forward to pick up a magazine someone had left laying around. Zexion, probably, if the science mumbo jumbo on the first page was anything to go by; still, only a smokescreen. Another inch closer, his weight now pressing into Saixâ own. A not so subtle offer he was sure would have been turned down the moment Axel had sat down, if Saix didnât look two seconds from keeling over.
Or maybe not. It was hard to see where they stood from day to day.
One moment turned to two turned to three when Saixâ weight became heavier, a soft, weary sigh escaping the otherâs lips. Axel caught the book before it could slip from slackening fingers, small, triumphant smile curling his lips as Saixâ slumped against him, head coming to rest on his shoulder. Â His own hand came to rest over Saixâ wrist, giving it a light squeeze.
He wouldnât deny it felt at least somewhat validating to know Saix still trusted him enough to let his guard down like this. He really was a fool, wasnât he? LoserÂ
He swallowed down the sour taste in the back of his throat, settled in a little more comfortably, hoping and resigning himself to at least a few hours before things would go back to usual.
