#fortuniis.

intimacy.

he buries his face within the crook of brant's neck. the friction between their bodies pressed together has him feeling needy and wanting more. his hands slide upwards along his backside before fingers curl in the fabric, trying to ground himself.

jingran isn't normally so pathetic underneath someone's gaze. but it's the way that he's being treated right now that effectively drives him insane. there's a tenderness there that he can't quite wrap his head around. after all, does someone as corrupted as he is deserve to witness the beauty of life itself in such a up close and intimate manner ?

send 👐 to cradle ghost's face.

his entrance had gone unnoticed by most. or maybe, he was simply overlooked. they're either preparing for a performance, or busying themselves with something else entirely. he'd been too exhausted to ask. as this isn't the first time he's been here, maybe they've simply gotten used to his sudden appearances. he's never made much of a habit out of providing ample warning beforehand, here, or with anyone else.

eyelids suddenly flutter open. how much time had passed since he fell into slumber ? jingran had felt someone's gaze upon him. a living someone, one who possessed a familiar scent. he focuses for a moment. and then sighs. of course, it's the captain.

the assassin doesn't verbalize a response right away, even though he should explain himself. instead, he leisurely enters back into the waking world. it's rare for him to be able to sleep so soundly. anywhere else, he probably would have awakened from a night terror. here, though. he finds comfort. a sort of freeing feeling is in the air.

" oh, you're here. finally. "

once satisfied, he sits up. his hand lifts to try and fix his messy hair. he squints his eyes, examining the man who stands nearby. he's trying to figure out if he's upset. he doesn't look upset, but that doesn't always mean that's the truth. people are often known for hiding their true feelings.

" wait. "

gui reaches for his bag, pulling it closer to him. the bag is then turned upside down. with a couple of shakes, various treats from huanglong come falling out.

" i brought these. "

he really shouldn't have pushed himself in the way that he has been. he should have stayed behind, but elio detests standing around when there is a chance that he could be useful. he isn't entirely worthless in a fight; he trains, he knows how to fight if he needs to, but the combination of little sleep in recent days paired with an inconvenient flash of visions occurring at the wrong time resulted in the seer being downed. who knows what would have happened if gepard hadn't been there ? for the sake of the galaxy, he is glad he didn't have to find out.

white lashes flutter open as he slowly regains awareness to his surroundings. he's in the captain's arms, being carried around like some frail side character in a romance novel. when he thinks about how pathetic he must look from afar, embarrassment takes over, and he attempts to put some distance between himself and gepard, albeit shakily and clearly still unstable with his movements.

" i can walk on my own. " the approaching gates of the city caused much panic within as there's a high chance that he would be stared at the whole way through. he no longer feels comfortable being in the spotlight with all eyes upon him. isee may have been meant for adoration and attention, but elio feels safer when he is hidden from sight.

oh, he's been caught. a gentle smile forms, one that he can't fight off. rather than answer gepard, he reaches out to grab hold of his hand. then, he leads him towards the bathroom, utilizing his free hand as a cautionary tool to make sure that he doesn't run into anything. he has also become rather used to the layout of the captain's home, which invokes confidence in his strides.

once they are in front of the closed door, he turns around to face his companion. " you've been working hard. since it's cold outside, warming up in a nice bath sounds like a good way to relax, doesn't it ? "

he steps aside to allow gepard entry into the elegantly decorated room ; he borrowed the eyes of his feline friend to help position the decorations ( such as the soft rug that'd cushion his feet, the plush bathrobe hanging on the wall, a variety of balloons in the corner ) and prepare a bathtub caddy laid out with a couple of luxury items, like a beautiful, comforting scented candle, all meant to enhance the experience.

and of course, the bath has been carefully heated to what elio has deemed to be the perfect temperature. in comparison to his ship, it took a bit more fiddling to get the water just right, but he managed in the end.

pressed against the mattress, clothes strewn, body only half covered at this point - and he's already a mess underneath the captain. the corners of his lips twitch upwards at how endearing he sounds. he closes his eyes for a moment, breathing in, and then exhaling, his breath shaky from nerves and arousal.

" maybe not, but .. " he reaches out to feel for gepard's body, slipping his hands underneath his top to run along his defined abdomen, wanting to encourage him. " i selfishly want to keep going. " he craves his touch ; his body needs him. he's been on his mind since their last meeting, the distance only making his desire for him all the more pressing.