Antauri was sitting in a meditative position in the center of his bed. He was periodically taking deep breaths as he tried to find peace, only to have that peace interrupted when he heard a knock at the door. Antauri sighed as he uncrossed his legs and stepped off of his bed and walked towards the door. “Come in.”

The door opened and a red monkey stepped inside before the door closed behind him. “Sparx, I didn’t expect you here at this hour.”

Sparx approached Antauri before stopping a few feet away from him and placing his hands on his hips. “Well, I just got my butt whooped by Mandarin. Let’s just say our training sessions have been a little more... brutal lately.”

Antauri held his hands behind his back. “I understand the nature and necessity of our training, but... yes, I do agree that Mandarin’s tactics have been a bit harsher lately.” The black monkey examined Sparx’s body. “You look very bruised. Are you alright?”

Sparx shrugged his shoulders. “I’ve been through worse in battle, but yeah, I’m aching a little here. I figured you’re the master of relaxing. You’d be able to help with my tense muscles.”

Antauri nodded his head. “Well, I do know a few remedies that might be able to ease your pain. Some teas, a few meditative practices. Perhaps some yoga.”

Sparx chuckled before rubbing Antauri’s arm and slowly leaning in to kiss the black monkey. “Or you know, we could do a group activity where we both lie in bed in each other’s arms and talk crap about Mandarin behind his back.”

Antauri became flustered. His relationship with Sparx was still only a few weeks old, so the idea of being touched, kissed, or even just cuddled with still felt a little foreign. “Perhaps there will come a time where ideas like that will be at the forefront of my mind.”

“That’s what you have me for,” Sparx said as he grabbed onto Antauri’s hand and led him to the bed before sitting down. “You can think about all of the yoga positions you want, and I’ll still find a way to get you into bed with me.” He lied down, guiding Antauri to lie down next to him.

Antauri let out a soft chuckle. “I feel like that’s a small euphemism for something else that might be on your mind, Sparx.”

I don't ship Gibson and Nova in the slightest but talking through the process of nuclear fusion (the way starts generate light and heat) would be an amazing way to describe feelings during like a first kiss or something

Talk about how no machine is 100% efficient, there will always be energy lost to heat in terms of Otto crushing on Nova and messing up on work.

Sparx woke up with a heavy breath as he sat up in bed. He took a couple of soft breaths as he tried to calm down from the nightmare he just had. Sparx turned to his left and climbed out of bed, heading towards the door. The door opened automatically and Sparx was about to leave, but was stopped by a voice.

“Where are you going?”

Sparx turned to see Antauri leaning up in bed and leaning on one arm. Sparx tried his best to fake a smile and said, “I’m, uh... getting a midnight snack, you know? Stomach calls. Um... you want anything?”

“It’s the same nightmare again, isn’t it?” Antauri asked softly. “The Fire of Hate dream.”

Sparx frowned as he stepped away from the door, allowing it to close. “You can read me too well, Antauri... yeah.”

“That’s the third time this week,” Antauri said. “It’s happening more frequently again.” Antauri climbed out of bed and walked towards Sparx and grabbed onto his hands. “I think it’s time we did something about it.”

“What, are we going to meditate or something?” Sparx asked.

Antauri shook his head. “No. I need to do something that might actually work for you. I think that these nightmares might go away if you forgive yourself for the Fire of Hate incident.”

“What?” Sparx asked. “How would that make a difference?”

“If it’s no longer a burden to you, then it won’t weigh so much on your mind as it does in your nightmares.” Antauri rubbed Sparx’s arm. “I know you’re still guilty about what you did to Nova.”

Sparx gently rested his hand on Antauri’s wrist. “Antauri, I’m guilty about what I did to all of you. In that time... I was evil, and I hurt you all. I’m guilty, because it was my fault. I should’ve never touched that stupid Fire of Hate.”

Antauri shook his head again. “None of us could’ve anticipated what the Fire of Hate would’ve done to any of us. It could’ve easily been Gibson. Or Otto. Or even me.” Antauri leaned forward and kissed Sparx’s cheek. “You have to forgive yourself, Sparx.”

Sparx’s breaths slowed down. “... I couldn’t have controlled it?”

Antauri smiled. “No, you couldn’t have. That was the Fire of Hate.” Antauri grabbed Sparx’s hand again. “Come to bed with me. I’ll make sure that these nightmares stop.” Antauri led Sparx back to their bed and they both went under the covers. Antauri led Sparx’s head onto his chest and slowly wrapped his arms around him.

“I love you, Antauri,” Sparx whispered.

As the hours pass

I will let you know

That I need to ask

Before I'm alone

How it feels to rest

On your patient lips

To eternal bliss

I'm so glad to know

…

It's been a hot minute since I drew any Spantauri lol. Figured why not draw my boys again with a color palette? Shibari versions below