#apprentice daniel

“I... I am.”

I roll over into a pair of strong arms, large hands roaming down my back. My eyes widened as a slow, yet thunderous heartbeat disturbed the quiet of my room. I lived with my parents. I couldn’t have boys in my room... not that I had any boys to invite in. Not that this was a boy at all. More like a man.

“Did you sleep well?”

I looked up at the stranger’s face... realizing it wasn’t a stranger at all.

“W-wait... Daniel?”

My mind was racing, running a marathon. Was that really who was in bed with me? I looked the man over in the dark. Large, muscular arms. A sturdy chest, warm through an old shirt. Deep brown eyes. The beginnings of a 5 o’clock shadow... prickly hairs growing on his face and neck. Even the scent seemed to be familiar... even though I had never smelled it in real life before. Smelled like my hair. Smelled nice and warm and comforting. Like...

Cinnamon and coconut oil. 

“Yeah, it’s me.”

He was acting like this was normal. It was definitely not normal. As pleasant as this was... it was not normal.

“How are you.. even here right now?”

I looked up at him, bringing my messy hair off one of my 6 pillows. If I wasn’t so shocked, I’d be embarrassed. My hair was a mess, I wasn’t wearing my nice pajamas, and I’m sure my breath smelled like the cheese crackers I had before bed. But thank goodness I showered last night.

“It’s a lot to explain.” He spoke in brief sentences. Just like I knew him to do.

His large hand cupped the back of my neck, his finger meddling with my mole I had there. It was almost he knew it was there. He brought me to his chest, my cheek vibrating with his heartbeat. This made me quiet, very quickly. It was comforting, to have someone next to me like this. I hadn’t slept next to someone this way in... over a year.

“Could you.... explain it? Please?”

We did have the time.

The man next to me sighs. I feel the warm puff of air on my neck as he holds me closer. Even though this is his first time holding me... it felt routine. It felt right. 

He grunts, beginning to stroke my hair in a way that made my lids flutter against the fabric of his shirt. “So... ugh, how do I put this...”

I stay silent, letting him find his words. I was getting used to the idea of Daniel in my bed like this. I don’t know why I’d ever complain.

Daniel moves underneath the comforter and the additional quilt, getting the two of us more comfortable. The bedsprings struggled under his weight. He held me to his chest, more of my weight on top of him. His hands were warm as he grabbed my bare thigh and brought it around him, fitting our hips together. I whimpered through parted lips at his nurturing and protective touch. I let him move me; he did so quite easily.

The bed wasn’t exactly meant for two: much less a giant of a man who looks like he eats 6 eggs for breakfast and a college aged girl who could barely crack one. But we were making it work. After he had adjusted us, he spoke again. 

“Basically.... You needed me. You had a bad day yesterday... So I came.”

Trying not to fall asleep against him was very difficult to do. It had to be at least 4 in the morning, no later. The hum of my diffuser and his deep, gravely voice was a pleasant lullaby. The music had become almost silent. Beside the fact I was almost asleep... he wasn’t making any sense at all.

“Came from where, exactly?” I asked through lazy lips. The part about needing him was totally correct, and my day yesterday was certainly not the best... but where did he come from? Last time I checked, he existed only in the messages between me and someone who lives 7 hours in the future. 

A delicate touch moved some of my messy curls from my temple. He was referring to my brain.

“From here.”

I swallow a noise as he touched me. It was a nice feeling. Calloused finger pads on my soft skin. I leaned into his touch and I felt him smile. 

“How long can you stay, Dani?” I ask him. The nickname rolled off my tongue so easily. 

“However long you’d like.”

I remembered a conversation he and Salice had once before, laying on the sofa of her house. Salice and I are practically the same... so we share the same feelings definitely. We think the same things, say the same things, love the same people.

“Forever... forever is how long I want.”

Daniel let’s out a soft noise of his own, one that made my stomach explode like confetti. It sounded content, relieved, happy. All of the things he was making me feel. His hands coasted down by back, resting right at the base of my spine. His fingers found the two wells that were the dimples there. He let them coast in and out of the indentions in my flesh, being careful with the way he touched me. He was making my insides play musical chairs.

“Forever sounds perfect...”

I quickly let myself be comforted by Daniel, our breathing growing more and more syncopated with the passing time. I knew I wasn’t going to go anywhere or do anything later... now that he was here. Hiding him from my parents would be an absolute nightmare... considering he took up the same amount of space as a grizzly bear. Though, while I laid there in his arms, him hugging me tight, none of that mattered to me. I was just happy my hours and hours of imaginative toiling had finally come to something.

“Dani?”

“Yes, Sisi?”

I was silent for a moment. Did he call me that because he didn’t know my name... or because that was who I was to him? Was I his Salice? Or was I me? Or were those two separate things becoming less and and less distinguishable?

“Uhm.. Nothing. Nothing...” 

“You know you can tell me anything, right?”

Another one of his lines... Lines that had been made up days, weeks before now. Beautiful lines from a beautiful mind halfway across the world. I speak to him softly, placing a small kiss to his throat.

“I know... I just wanted to say... I love you. And thank you for coming.”

He chuckled a little bit, fitting my head under his chin after a long, soft, open mouthed kiss to my forehead.

She had been up there for a while. Her brother had come to ask her if she wanted dinner but she politely declined. He decided to leave her be, to not press the issue, but the look in her eyes as she gazed out over the city made his stomach contract. There wasn’t much there. He couldn’t tell what she was thinking... but he knew it wasn’t so good.

So he had gone back down, into the kitchen and fished around for something to eat. He hadn’t made anything in a while so, maybe something they both liked... for when she was feeling hungry. Daniel made her favorite. 

A knock on the door sounded and Daniel went to go open it. 

“Hey, handsome devil.”

Daniel smirked a bit when the biggest smart-aleck he knew popped his gum and called him that stupid nickname. Daniel reached out and pushed him in the chest, causing a breathless laughter. The blue-eyed bastard was leaning against the door, a lanky arm reaching the sill above the frame comfortably. He could almost touch the porchlight. 

“Pfft Yumi, shut up.”

Daniel moved to let him in, closing the door behind him. Yumi took a few steps inside the house, stretching his arms above his head, his shirt coming up a bit. He raked his hair waist length hair back and took a deep breath, appreciating the smell of Dan’s cooking.

“Okay, okay,” he started in his assured and tranquil voice. He shrugged off his haori and put it on the coatrack. “Smells really good in here. Making me a little hungry. Got room for one more?”

Daniel turned his back and made his way back to the kitchen. “For you? Always.”

Yumi followed close behind, sitting on an open counter, dangling his feet off the side. Him and Daniel had known each other for a short time, but they were already good friend. They got along well and they always felt at home with each other. 

“So.... what’s been goin’ on?” Yumi asks. He plays with the hair tie on his wrist as he watches Daniel cook. He couldn’t help but notice the new ripples of muscle in his back... had he been training more? Without him?

Dan shrugged, reaching up in the spice cabinet for something. “Nothing, really. Uh. Work is work... and the liquor still flows around here.”

Yumi sighs. “Ain’t that right... how’s your pretty girl? Sisi.”

Dan smiles to himself at the thought of that green-eyed girl he’d been seeing. Salice wasn’t his girlfriend or anything, not yet, so it was an overstatement when Yumi called her that. It made his heart do a thing, regardless. Salice and Charlie were good friends, especially after her and Dr. Halloway helped her with the broken arm. They hung out often, when she had the time of course. So Daniel saw her quite a bit too. She liked Daniel a lot, and the feelings were mutual, but the two were slow to get around to anything. Daniel wanted to take it slow. He wanted to do things right with her. 

“She’s good. She’s been really busy with her surgery and everything... haven’t gotten to see her much. You just missed her actually. She came by earlier today to bring those,” he gestured to an open tin of spongy lemon pastries with powdered sugar on top. “They’re over there if you want some.” 

He gestures to the tin and Yumi gets up to inspect them. They smelled reaaaaaally good. Yumi liked good food. And he really liked good sweets. He picked one up and didn’t hesitate to take a big bite, closing his eyes and groaning lewdly. This was probably the best lemon pastry he’s had ever. The ones in the Kawabata bakeries were good, but not like this.

“Oh. I like her. I like Sisi a lot. Marry her, please.”

Daniel snickered, Yumi really catching him off guard with his comment. He couldn’t hide the blush on his face. That seemed to be a little far away, but the idea of marrying that girl... it made him really warm.

“Ah.. you like them then?”

“Yeah, I’m taking some of these home. That’s final. That’s fucking law.” Yumi finished he one he was holding, and shoved another one in his mouth. They were so chewy. 

“She made them for Charlie, so don’t take too many. You know how that girl likes her lemon things.”

Yumi perked up when he heard Charlie’s name. He had been talking to her and the two had grown pretty close. It was pretty clear they felt things for each other, but Yumi was just waiting to see if she’d be comfortable with a relationship. To be honest, he didn’t know if he was ready... but he knew they were gonna fall in love sometime. He’d seen it in a dream. His dreams never fall through.

Until then though, they were really good friends. And she was a hell of a sparring partner.

“Charlie.... Where is she?” Yumi talked with his mouth full, coming up behind Daniel and putting a hand on his back. He puts his head on Daniel’s shoulder, nuzzling his neck. 

Daniel had gotten used to Yumi’s touchy nature by now. It was strange to him at first, and a little comical... but it was kind of nice. Daniel noticed Yumi kept a respectful and comfortable distance with Charlie. Never touched her unless she initiated it. Never stepped out of line. Yumi was one of the better male friends she’s had... nothing like the guy guys of her past. Daniel had no complaints about that. 

After Yumi swallowed his current occupation, he placed a chaste kiss on Dan’s neck and he tasted what he had going on the stove. Daniel tried not to flinch at his cold lips, but he was a little ticklish there, he had to admit. Yumi was impressed with his cooking. Fucking delicious.

“She’s up on the roof... She didn’t really want to talk to me, though.” Yumi noticed the forlorn look in his friend’s eyes and immediately sobered up. He knew how to read a room. Yumi slid a hand up to Dan’s shoulder and squeezed in reassurance. His hand was cold, unusually. They ran cold like his sister’s hands.

He knew a little about their situation. About how they didn’t have any parents. How he was raising his sister the best he could. They had shared things with each other slowly, over drinks normally. Shared things they couldn’t really afford to tell anyone else. Daniel knew about Yumi’s demons... and Yumi knew about Daniel’s. They were bound to each other that way. Always close. 

Knowing the things he knows, Yumi never spared the acknowledgement and recognition of Dan’s strength. He was really a good man to his family. The man from Kyoh never missed an opportunity to tell him that.

“Hey, don’t take it personal... There’s just some things that aren’t easy to share. I’ll go and ask what’s up, if you don’t mind it?”

Dan nodded, watching Yumi’s hand slip off the taught fabric of his shirt. “Yeah, go knock yourself out. I’m worried about her.”

Yumi nodded, picking up a few lemon bars and cradling them in his hand. “Don’t worry too much, Dane. You’re doing all the right things.”

Yumi made his way to the door to the roof. He rattled it, since it always stuck. After getting it to budge, he bounded up the steps pretty quick, using his long legs to go three at a time, careful to make sure the lemon bars didn’t topple out of his hands. He shielded his eyes against the bright Vesuvian sunset, looking around the roof for Charlie. He spotted a toss of red curls, blowing gently in the whisper of the breeze. She was sitting on the edge, her legs dangling off the side. He sighed in relief and sashayed over to her.

“Sunsets here are pretty, but the ones in Kyoh are better.” He starts, walking up behind her and leaning on a metal railing. He picked up one of the snacks in his hand and nibbled on the square corner, real blasé. 

She turned around and looked at him in surprise. She wasn’t expecting him to come around... at least not today. He was busy a lot, with work and stuff. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw his cool smile and the way he crossed his legs. His hair was blowing in the wind like a dark horse mane, it was always so pretty to Charlie. Shiny and silky and gleaming in the sun.

“Really?” Charlie asks, turning to look back at the sinking sun. Yumi tentatively comes up to sit next to her, dangling his own legs off the side of the roof. Heights didn’t scare him, but he didn’t like Charlie so close to something so dangerous. He felt better now that he was next to her.

“Sure they are. And where I’m from, these pesky buildings aren’t in the way. There’s mountains and rolling hills and a really pretty river...”

Charlie sighed, thinking of how pretty that would look. Yumi didn’t talk about his home country a lot, but she liked it when he did. “I’d love to see that,” she mentions. She looks down at his hand. “What’s that?”

“These?” Yumi gestures to his snack, the ones Sisi made. He holds them out to Charlie. “Your friend made them. Dane said she came by today to drop them off for you.”

Charlie takes one and bite into it, the lemon flavor bursting in her mouth. It was really good. Sisi loved baking for them, both her and Daniel. Charlie smiled. 

The two of them ate their snacks in silence until all of them were gone. Yumi looks at Charlie from the side of his vision. Her eyes weren’t glued to the sunset... they were staring down between her legs at the several story drop. He understood what Dan meant when he said he was worried. He recognized that look.... he’s seen it in the mirror.

“I could jump right now,” she said. She says it with a shrug, licking the powdered sugar from her fingertips. Yumi tensed up, trying to see if she was as nonchalant as she sounded. He just stares at her, trying to figure it out. He didn’t want her to have those thoughts running rampant in her mind like that. swirling around threatening to consume her. He didn’t want her to ever feel like had felt. That was something he wouldn’t wish upon his greatest enemies... so he definitely didn’t wish it for his greatest blessing. She catches him staring.

“Don’t look at me like that.”

Yumi snorts, not letting his concern bubble to the surface of his serene composure. He decides to keep it light. He knows she didn’t like to get too deep. He wasn’t up there to lecture her. He knew that. He was up there to try to help her feel better. So that’s what he was gonna try to do.

“Kinda hard not to when there’s crumbs on your face.” 

It was always hard not to stare at her. She was so beautiful, so raw and gorgeous and unrefined. But he’d tell her about just the crumbs... for now.

Charlie wiped them off quickly, a little embarrassed. 

“Did Dani send you up here to check on me?” She asked. It was a pretty nifty coincidence that Yumi shows up when she’s all alone on the roof. She wouldn’t be mad if Daniel did send him... but she also wanted him to know that she was fine. He didn’t have to worry. What she didn’t know is that he’d always worry, no matter what she told him.

“No, no. Your brother didn’t send me. I came over to see you and you weren’t downstairs... but he is worried, Charlie.”

She huffed, looking at the people below. They looked so small, like raisins in a loaf of bread. Small, dark and indistinguishable. She squashed a person with her index finger and thumb, squinting one eye. “Yeah... I know. I’ve told him I was fine... but he doesn’t ever believe me.”

Yumi put his hair in a ponytail, and Charlie watched. His hair was mesmerizing. He blinked open his eyes, squinting against the bright light. It made his irises look silver. He bit his lip, his flyaway hairs rolling over his forehead like tumbleweeds. “He’s gonna worry. That’s what your loved ones do... if they’re any good at least.” 

He looked down at his pinky tattoo. He had to train himself not to worry about Shuhei. He had to banish him from his mind every time he wedged his way in, for his own sanity. He was in good hands. Besides, there was someone here who needed him more. Someone that he needed more. 

“It’s a pretty long drop from here...” Yumi said. He placed his hands on either side of him, is fingers laying on top of Charlie’s. Their hands were both cold, he couldn’t decided who’s were colder... but her touch made him warm. She blushed too, but she didn’t let him see.

“So...” He tried to find something to say. He was lost for words, but you never would’ve known it. “If you ever did want to jump.... Lemme go ahead of you, so you know what you’re getting into. You know me, I always land on my feet.” He turned and winked at her.

Charlie shakes her head, scoffing and smiling. It was getting harder and harder to hide her feelings for him, especially when he said shit like that. What he said was... sweet. And he said it in a way that made her believe him. She heard it in his voice. But she didn’t want to think about her friend doing that for her. She loved him too much.

“I’m not letting you jump first.”

They locked eyes for a minute as the sun finally sunk down behind the farthest rooftops of Vesuvia. Yumi watched as the waning light turned Charlie’s eyes from dark brown pools of honey, to the trunks of mahogany wood trees. They were beautiful no matter what. She turned away, feeling like he was staring for too long. It made her feel things in her stomach. Things she wasn’t ready to confess.

“Ahem.. anyways... I missed you. I didn’t expect you to come today.”

Yumi lets himself smile. Charlie took it in. He didn’t smile often, not genuinely. There was always some coy or smart ass quality to it. This seemed real. It made her melt.

“Aw... you missed me? You’re getting soft, Charlie...” 

The smart ass was still there. Charlie punished him by punching him in his bony chest.

“Shut up.”

A beat of silence was shared between them, the start of the night sounds kick starting the busy streets. People hollering trying to sell their last wares of the day, rikshaws making their cluttered noises, horses whinnying. There was a lot going on down there, but it was just him and Charlie up on this roof. Him and the girl he was falling in love with.

Yumi took a breath before deciding to say something else. He felt around for her hand, finding it in her lap, hidden in the sleeve of her oversized bomber jacket. He pulled it up to his lips and placed soft little kisses on her knuckles. She had little marks and bruises on her hands from beating him up on the mat. The girl was good. It made Yumi’s head spin. 

Sometimes though, he had to remind her she didn’t need to be so tough all the time. It was okay for someone to love you, for someone to worry, for someone to care.

Daniel was reluctant to leave her, but Salice grabbed his jacket and pushed him out the door. “Go, shoo. Goodbye.”

Daniel was laughing at her. She’s gotten strong since he met her. He barely managed to grab his housekey as his girlfriend planted her hands on his back and shoved him with all her might through the front door. He turned around and caught her in the doorway, his hands coming down and gripping her right underneath her thighs. She squealed as he hoisted her up on his waist and held her close to him. His face was close to hers, lips brushing against her ear. His stubble tickled her cheek as he placed a few kisses by her ear. The sound of his love’s laughter made his stomach flutter. He definitely didn’t want to leave her now.

“Don’t drink so much that you can’t find your way back home,” she whispered, squeezing him with her legs. Salice placed her hands on either side of Daniel’s face, delicately dragging her fingertips down from his temple to his jaw. He pressed his lips to her face again, holding her up with ease. 

Daniel separated from her for just a moment to admire her pretty face. Her green eyes glittered in the porchlight, which cast gentle shadows on her smooth brown skin. Her button nose twitched and her lips turned up gently into a sweet smile. This was the girl of his dreams. She looked at him for moment through lidded eyes. She adored the way he looked and all of his features: his own chestnut skin, kissed by the sun; his sharp nose, crooked from a few barfights; his dark eyes and long lashes that she thought were prettier than her own; the scar that ran down his cheek, down through his face like a river. Her man. She loved the sweet, yet rugged look of her man.

“Don’t worry about that, love. I’ll always come home to you.”

Gently, he let her down, her feet were bare against the cold concrete outside their apartment. Her small, loose shorts were stirred by the wind, showing her panties underneath. He notices the way the shirt she’s wearing catches between her breasts. Her long curls, a little frizzy from the day, were tossed around by the wind. He smiles and shakes his head, just in awe at her.

“Okay. I trust you. Have fun, Dani.”

He pulled her close again and kissed her lips, slow and soft and open mouthed. Their tongues touched for only a moment before she pushed him away. “Go! You’re tempting me.”

And so he went. He met up with Yumi at his apartment in Goldgrave, maybe a 30 minute walk and knocked on his door. The two went out to their favorite place, not too far from where Yumi stayed. They sat in a corner booth like they normally did and ordered food. They drank about 3 bottles between he two of them, holding it down like the veteran drinkers they are. 

A few girls approached them, how could they not? Two quiet, attractive young men sitting close together and downing expensive liquor. One in particular, thought it was going to be easy for the two of them to take her home with them. Yumi and Daniel were quick to decline. 

“No... we’re spoken for,” Yumi said unimpressed, waving her away. He took another drink, barely even looking at her. He eyed the cigarette burns on her bare thigh. Poor thing, Yumi thought. But she was nothing but trouble. 

The girl frowned, but didn’t let up. Maybe if the light, long haired one wasn’t so receptive, she’d try the roughhewn one. She took a liking to his facial hair, his bulging Adam’s apple. His scar. She circled around the booth and stood close to Daniel, who scooted away from her in abhorrence. 

“I don’t see them here?” She says, reaching out to touch his arm. She smelled like strong perfume and cigarette smoke, a smell Daniel was used to having on him when he stumbled home in the morning. Not anymore. It was just shea butter and honey and all the pretty things Salice smelled like. He made a face at this woman’s hand. To think that he’d entertain this at all was... irritating. 

He shrugged her hand away.

“What part of ‘we’re spoken for’ do you not understand?” He growled.

Daniel’s harsh tone made her recoil, and scoff. She looked the two men up and down indignantly, shifting on her too-high heels. She put her hands on her hips and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. She was pretty... but neither Yumi or Daniel thought so.

“Well, sorry. I thought you boys would’ve cracked. Most men do. Since your girls probably don’t put you like you like-”

Yumi nearly spit out his drink. The nerve, he thought.  He looked up with his slender blue eyes, glaring at the woman. He was unamused. “Listen, lady. At first we were being nice, but now you’re just insulting. If you’re too broke for a ride home, you could’ve just said so.”

Yumi’s sly tongue left her speechless... and offended. And very very humbled.

“You should go.” Daniel finished, giving her side-eye. His arms were folded on the table, his calloused hand swirling the last of his drink in the bottom of the glass. She stared at him for a moment before walking away. 

“Fine.”

So it was then the both of them were left again once more in the stuffy atmosphere of the bar. Smoke swirled around them, carrying the faint trace of sex and burnt wood. Both of them downed what was in their glasses, and looked at each other like ‘what just happened’. Yumi chuckles a bit.

“I swear, Dane. I can’t take you anywhere, can I? Too handsome for your own good.”

Daniel shook his head. He looked down at the few ashes that had gotten on the table from his cigar. He toyed with them with his finger, dropping them into the ashtray in the center of the table, hidden amounts their bottles.

“Interesting to say the least,” Yumi continued. He stretched and put his arm around his friend, his flushed nose getting close to Daniel’s ear.

“Annoying.” This came as a grunt from Daniel, before a yawn came out of his lips. He thought he was ready to go home. Everything about that situation had turned him off. He just wanted to go home to hold his baby.

~~~

When Daniel arrived home, it was dark and quiet in the house. Salice had left a light on, the hall light. He smelled cookies, the snickerdoodle ones she liked. She must’ve made them while he was gone. This made him smile as he made his way further into the house. He shrugged off his jacket and peeked into their bedroom, careful not to make too much noise. Salice was tucked in bed, the covers up to her chin. He could barely see her face, just her messy mop of hair spilling over his pillow. She had settled in on his side, just like she always did while he was gone. Her feet were peeking out from under the blanket, and he noticed her white toes. She had painted her nails while he was gone... how cute. 

She had left a candle burning, one of the ones she made. It made the house smell like roses. The man left his jacket draped on the doorknob and took off his boots at the bedroom door. The only noise in the room was the flickering flame of the candle and her soft snoring. Daniel grabbed her foot, the soft skin so squishy on his fingers. He tucked it underneath the blanket before blowing out the candle. He placed a kiss to her forehead before deciding to go wash the bar scum off of him.

“Mm, Dani?” She moaned in her sleep, looking up with sleepy eyes.

“Yeah, love. I’m gonna take a shower and I’ll come to bed.” He pet her hair once and let his hand slide down her hip as he left to go toward the bathroom. He heard her mumble some unintelligible in that sweet voice of hers. He couldn’t finish showering fast enough.

After brushing the cigar from his teeth and towel drying his hair, Daniel put on some loose pants and tiptoed back into the room. Not much had changed, but Salice had managed to take more of the covers for herself. She was a peacefully bundled lump of fluffy blanket. He threw his towel on the end of the bed and climbed in with her, on her side. The warmth of her was so comforting to him.

“Mm...” she reached for him, prompting him to scoot closer. She so gnerously let him into the covers. Daniel took her into his arms and kissed her forehead gently. His hands explored her form, every curve of her, every fold, inspecting the fabric that kept her body from him. She had changed out of her clothes from earlier, opting for one of his shirts and nothing else. He didn’t feel any underwear lines on her legs, or any straps through the shirt on her back. She smelled like she had taken a shower too. Her skin was soft, and supple. She always smelled so good.

“Did you have fun? How’s Yumi?” She murmured, burying her face into the skin of his neck. She fit one of her legs between his and placed her warm palms on his ribs. Daniel couldn’t decide if his body wanted to tense at the way she touched him, or relax.

“He’s fine. And it was a good time... but being with you would’ve been better.”

Salice purred, placing a sloppy kiss on Daniel’s lips, taking him by surprise. She was happy to have her man back at home. She missed him a bit, even though he was only gone for a few hours. She missed his heartbeat, his smell, his strong hands gripping her flesh, his lips against hers in those lazy, nasty kisses they liked to give each other.

Salice slipped her tongue into his mouth, sliding her hands around his waist and down into his the waistband of his pants. He held her close to him, that familiar softness giving him... just the opposite sensation.

“Mmf... baby...” he groaned, running his hands down to her hips. The shirt had hiked up, revealing soft and bare skin that he knew all too well. His fingers were tempted to touch her, touch her in that special way she liked. He sighed into her mouth, knowing that this could go two ways. He was tired, sleepy, and he knew she was too. He wanted to have her when she was awake, when she wasn't so sleepy. He didn't mean to disturb her rest. "You don't need to..."

“Mm... okay.... fine." She whispered. There was sweetness on her lips. She'd had a few cookies before bed, he was sure.

"At least... Shut up and let me..." She reached down, into his pants and took Daniel in her hand, stroking him gently. He was already half hard, growing stronger by the second. He sighed her name, holding her close. She worked magic on him with her hand, placing kisses on his neck and collarbone. When he was stiff, she pulled her hand out of his pants and let a glob of spit fall onto her palm. Her eyes weren't even fully open, Daniel noticed. He couldn't believe her, she was just so.... perfect.

It wasn't long before he was close, biting his lip and trying not to buck his hips. Salice was busy, jerking him with her eyes closed. Her cheek was pressed to his chest and her breaths were soft and sweet. Daniel pet her hair, pressing kisses to her head, grunting soft praises to her.

"In my mouth?" She asked.

Daniel's stomach dropped. He... he wasn't going to let her that. As wonderful as it sounded, she's already done so much.

"Ah.. no, love. It's alright. Just.. ah.. keep going."

Salice did as she was told and began squeezing his slick tip gently, her rubbing getting faster. Daniel screwed his eyes shut as he whispered to her. "I'm coming, ugh... fuck."

Salice felt the warm liquid shoot into her hand. She kept it as controlled as she could, letting it coat her palm and fingers. Daniel was breathless, reaching for the towel from his shower. He wiped Salice's hand and the few drops of him that got onto his stomach.

He looked at her. She was looking up at him smiling. When they met eyes, something in him just... melted.

"Mm.. how was that?"

Daniel couldn't help but smile a bit, throwing the towel away to the side of the bed. He pulled his love's hand to his lips and kissed the back of it, hugging her tight. His lips magnetically found hers, fitting together softly. He slipped his tongue between them, washing her mouth in all his gratitude. He spoke breathlessly between kisses.

Meanwhile, a man who looked just like her sat out in the foyer of our house. Well, I say a man just because he really behaved like one. Mature, stoic, and a little brooding. Though, he couldn’t have been too much older than me, I think. Maybe twenty? Brown eyes, dark hair, the same scar as his sister’s which was... unsettlingly coincidental. I made him a glass of water and I brought it to him. 

“Here’s some water... if you’d like it,” I say, holding the glass out to him. When he looks up to take it, I notice the dark circles set in his handsome face. Those pretty brown eyes held a little less shine that I presumed they would normally. They were... so nice to look at.

He gives me a slightly surprised look, but then takes the water gratefully. He murmurs his thank you and begins to drain it from the glass. I stand there and watch him drink it, as odd as that sounds, and when he’s finished, I take the glass from his warm hands. I was surprised at how warm the glass could get, just by touching his hand for a little.

“Oh.. and um. It’ll probably be another hour on your sister’s arm. It’s banged up pretty bad.” 

The man’s face showed some alarm and surprise and I realized that I might’ve worried him more. I quickly revised my words.

“Don’t worry. She’s really taking it well. She’s in good hands, the best hands in Vesuvia if that makes you feel any better. We’re good at what we do.”

That softens his face a little. “That’s a relief,” he says quietly. His voice was deep, and smooth, with a little rasp toward the end. It was... pleasant to hear. I clasp my hands together and rock back on my heels.

“That being said, if you wanted to rest while you waited...” He looked like he could use a rest... and it was nearly midnight. “There’s a room upstairs you could use. I would say use the sitting room, but I didn’t clean it this morning like I was supposed to,” I let out a laugh at the last part, realizing I was rambling. He was making me nervous, and I wasn’t exactly sure why. Maybe it was because he was handsome, or maybe it was because he was just looking at me intently, listening to every word I had to say. Looking into my eyes like I wouldn’t get flustered. Did he know how handsome he was?

“That would be nice,” he said. He spoke in short sentences, not a lot of lift to his voice. It wasn’t curt, but it was on the shorter side of welcoming. I took a deep breath to gather myself. 

“Oh, okay. Um. You can just follow me, if you don’t mind.”

I set the glass on the counter just inside the kitchen before turning back to see if he was following. He was standing up, his large leather jacket, peeling at the edges was hardly making any noise at all. It was old, I could tell. Old, but good quality yet  needing to be polished and cleaned. His hair fell down around his shoulders as he cracked his neck before looking at me. I got goosebumps on the back of my neck before taking a quick swallow and pretending not to watch him so closely. I could feel him approach my back and we begun walking up the few stairs, up to my bedroom.

My hand grazed the railing as I walked up the steps at a pace between leisurely and purposeful. I could hear his work boots politely stepping behind me. I got to to my room door and opened it, hoping it was as tidy as I left it. Sofós was sleeping soundly in her blanket pile, and I supposed I should warn the handsome stranger about my pet. I did so as I made my way over to my bed.

“So here’s the bed,” I fluffed my pillow a bit, hoping my hair wash didn’t rub too much on the fabric, making it smell like what I bathed with. I hoped he didn’t mind the smell. Something like honey or cocoa butter. 

“Oh, and I would try to be as quiet as possible, maybe. My pet... she scares pretty easily, so just keep her in mind. She’s not the most agreeable when awakened from a nap.”

His lips betray a smile, looking down at my good girl in her bed. Maybe he had a soft spot for animals. I wouldn’t know too much about him that night. 

I just do a precursory scan of my space, and it was honestly a little better than I had left it somehow. The only thing untidy was all my jewelry hanging from my pegs. I hoped he didn’t notice those things too closely. 

“And I can come knock when Charlie gets finished.” I say. The man shoves his hands in his pockets and looks at me as if he wanted to say something. I give him a beat or two, my eyes flitting around his form. His pants were covered in sawdust, it seemed like. His shirt underneath the jacket was form fitting and it really accentuated the way his strong form was.. intricately built. 

“Thank you.” Those were his words and they were fine ones enough. They rolled off his tongue very sweetly.. and they made me smile. 

“And what’s your name?” I ask. I realize I didn’t know it. His sister may have mentioned it, but I couldn’t remember what she said. I was too busy putting a healing hand on her arm to sooth the pain. that required some concentration. Was it-

“Daniel. And yours?”

I dipped a little, just fondling my hand on the door. The way those brown eyes held my gaze, well, I think I was ready to step out and take a few moments to be bashful all on my own. I tried to cover up my embarrassment with congeniality.