Though as he spoke, there was a telling smile on his lips.

Raising a family with @obligatorial was work, certainly, but it was more than welcomed. Jonny thanked God every day for the life and family he shared with Gavin. As quaint and far away as their homestead was from town, Jonny loved it more than anything in the world.

When he had finished stripping down to his boxers- he'd found he slept better in just them- he moved to straddle Gavin's waist from where he was in bed.

Hands cupping both sides of his face, Jonny leaned in to press a slow, tender kiss to his husband's lips, unable to keep himself from beaming against them. Every night when they shared a bed once more, all of the stress and worry from the day always melted away and nothing seemingly mattered but the love of his life.

palm, testing out megs' nipple sensitivity after giving him those new parts.

Megatron had grown accustomed to this : laid back on the bed in Gavin's homemade clinic, dressed in nothing but his shirt and socks, while his lover inspected his bare lower half. The neat scars that were the proof of their shared dream snaked across Megatron's exposed skin.

These thin blankets were strangely comfortable now. He reached up and rubbed at his eye with the heel of his palm in a desperate bid to stay awake. The texture of the fabric under him ; the familiar touch of Gavin's fingers ; the sounds of the other man's footsteps ... it was all so relaxing. Megatron kept his hand over his gaze for just a moment, enjoying the darkness.

— but then he felt it. An arc of something new, of pleasure mixed with shock, at the pressure of Gavin's fingertip tracing a circle around his clothed left nipple. Those modifications had been the most recent to heal ( and, if Gavin was satisfied with Megatron's progress, would be the last ). Megatron grunted in surprise and grasped blindly for Gavin's wrist. He was too slow, though. The blood rushing through his system at the sudden stimulation gave Megatron a pretty flush around the tops of his cheeks. His silver eye was wide.

Jonathan's home nation was at war, but he had faith in his uncle, the king. He might not have been a king that was for all of his people, but he certainly knew battle and its tactics. And, truthfully, his uncle had done a superb job keeping everyone within the confines of their country safe.

Until one day, the walls came crashing down, and not a soul was safe.

Jonathan recognized that he was likely rather lucky that he had been out in public when the nation was overtaken, but that didn't mean he wasn't concerned about or even aware of what happened to his family.

Even though he was only sixth in line for the throne, he was advised by the few of his countrymen to recognize him to keep his mouth shut and do everything he can to ensure that no one knew his true identity. So, whenever he was asked his name, he did as he was told and went by Elias.

He knew not why his fellow countrymen were so adamant about Jonathan withholding his true identity. Though, he had a sinking feeling that his place in line for the throne shot up.

The time between his capture and the moment he was guided to the chamber of his master was a blur. Moments of being washed and scrubbed until his skin was raw as well as full body inspections were vaguely remembered, as were sleeping in the cold and dark, strict "classes", and being fed what were essentially scraps.

Perhaps that was why it was the bath, tender treatments, and delectable food from that morning were so out of place.

The room he was led to was vast and filled with what appeared to be the finest fabrics and materials one could by. On a table, there was what looked to be a rather pricey bottle of wine and a platter of scrumptious fruits and cheeses laid out.

It almost reminded him of his uncle's room when he and his cousins would play armies as children, going to invade the "enemy" that dwelled within the chamber.

And, despite having no actual proof as to why he thinks this other than a memory that invokes the familiarity, he begins to realize whose chamber it is that he's been told to stand in until his new Master returns.

Jonathan's stomach tied in knots several times over, but he did well with keeping it to himself. He found it easier to not dwell on such a hunch when he focused on keeping his whole body still from where he was kneeling with his head down and hands folded in his lap.

When Gavin returned to school yesterday from his day trip with the birth control pills, Jonny had looked so flustered Gavin had to ask why. He did say that it would be no trouble at all for him to pick them up-- he thought Jonny would be less surprised than he was. It was important for their trip over the weekend, which happened far easier than Gavin anticipated. But all he had to do was forge his sibling's signature, and since Jonny's family trusted him, permission for them to leave the school premises for a "study trip" had come swiftly. They were going to a well known campsite at a beginner's level; keeping in constant contact with their cellphones was the worst of it. Though their tent was set up in a specific area, come nightfall Gavin took Jonny's hand and told him to carry the rolled up blanket. He carried a drawstring bag with him as he led him outward, heading to a clearing about ten minutes away from their tent. Here, there weren't any people: it was just wildlife, and the stars, and a blanket rolled out for them to lay on while Gavin took out the muffins and cookies he'd packed away for them to snack on as they looked at the stars. His stomach fluttered as he wondered whether Jonny took his pill, and he thought back to the plan they'd made. So far everything was going smoothly, but... "I can't believe how bright the stars are out here," Gavin said, biting off a piece of cookie. His other hand was linked with Jonny's own, fingers locked as they laid on their backs. "They're bright like this at my sibling's house too, but... "I dunno. I guess I've been at school too long."

As thoroughly as they went over the plan over the past few weeks, finding himself there in that moment with his fingers interlocked with Gavin's laying beneath the stars made his heart thump heavily in his chest. They were young and the true intent behind what inspired the trip made it important that every detail had been fleshed out. He knew what was coming. And he was ecstatic and nervous and thrilled and petrified and so many emotions all at once that he didn't know what to do with them.

But luckily, as Gavin spoke once more, he felt his heart still enough that he could at least focus and enjoy the moment.

He hadn't realized he was staring through the sky until his boyfriend had commented on how bright it was. With a soft sound, almost of surprise, he nodded in agreement. Though, at the mention of Gavin's sibling, he turned his attention towards him with a slight frown.

Whenever Gavin spoke of his sibling- or any family member, really- it was difficult to not want to pull him into his arms and attempt to give him the love he was missing from them.

But this weekend was about them and their love, so he offered a reassuring squeeze and a moment of silence in case he wanted to speak more to it. When it hadn't come, Jonny shifted just enough so their arms and shoulders were touching while their hands remained connected.

"I wish the stars looked like this at my home. There are just too many trees in one direction, and then too many lights in the other."

He grinned fondly as he looked across the heavens and looked at the brightest stars in the sky.

"You know, when I was little, I used to think that the stars were angels, and the ones that were really bright were my late grandparents when they had passed and went to Heaven. Like they were saying, hey, Jonny, we're still watching you! So eat your broccoli and no staying up too late!"

"Some people open their mouths when they kiss." The observation, in a vacuum, was relatively innocent. But considering Gavin had just crawled atop Jonny's body (right after convincing him to kiss a little despite the exams waiting for them in the morning), and was now lowering himself onto his forearms resting at either side of Jonny's head, some ulterior motive might have been present. "I know we haven't done that," he started, pressing a soft peck to Jonny's lips, "but... we can try, right? 'cause that's what couples do? "Their hands are always all over each other." Gavin's heart fluttered at the thought of that, excited. He dragged his teeth over his bottom lip, then grinned his crooked grin. "I want my hands all over you, too."

Jonny opened his mouth to tease Gavin a bit about why he'd want to do that when he already knew what he had for dinner. Of course, Jonny had already brushed his teeth for the evening- it had been for the purpose of being able to study without any distractions for morrow's exams- but the jest was about to come naturally.

It was, until Gavin kept talking.

A part of Jonny panicked, knowing it was a relatively big step in their relationship. He worried that he wouldn't be good enough for Gavin, as irrational as it may be. Though, he feared he'd use too much tongue, or not enough, or was too much or too little, or any other thing that may have worried him, he knew he also wanted to give Gavin everything he could.

Looping his arms loosely around Gavin's neck, the tips of his fingers began to toy with ends of the hairs on the nape of his neck as he leaned up into the peck.

He'd be lying if he had said any of it was even remotely unappealing. In fact, it almost seemed like the start of a few very pleasant dreams he'd had as his feelings for Gavin truly began to bubble up inside of him. But this was reality, and it made his heart slam repeatedly against his ribcage and his face warm. if it made him come across as eager, it's only because he was.

"Alright," he breathed gently, meeting Gavin's eyes once more. "We can kiss with our mouths open and you can have your hands all over me."

Jonny's left hand slid from the back of his neck and moved to attempt to slide a few strands of Gavin's hair back so he had a better view of his face.

He's bleeding.

Or, well, should be bleeding. It's different, ever since he got partially plant-ified. It's still red, yet drips like sap instead of blood.

Hector witnessed the death of several of his men as he now leans against a bunk, the safe he'd kept his old weapon open but the weapon had gotten shot out of his hand.

It's somewhere under the bunk next to him, he's debated trying to go for it with his vines or with his own body but knows it's futile as he stares at the enemy inside this small room.

He'd almost had the perfect fucking timing to go after Sanctuary. Take out the Crimson Raiders, take the Vault Key for himself and do whatever the fuck he wanted to make Pandora the paradise he'd been promised.

Now, though, he's holding his hand, breathing hard as he stares at what he supposes was the leader with his one good eye. A wounded animal ready to kill if necessary.

"Well?" He finally speaks, he didn't seem worried about the weapons pointed at him as he slowly stands up fully. Analysing his hand for a moment before focusing again at the situation at hand. That being the enemy.

Jonny's eyebrows shot up into his forehead as he heard Gavin's answer as to why he was going out into snowy weather with nothing more than his standard clothes and an extra sweatshirt that he knew Gavin primarily slept in.

"Your parents didn't make sure you packed that stuff?" Jonny's tone may have been incredulous, but he couldn't help his amazement that something as necessary as winter garments were overlooked.

Still, he knew that was Gavin's family and he shouldn't be so rude.

"Sorry, I just.. Maybe are you guys from somewhere warm and they didn't think about it?"

God, did he hope that was the case. Though, no matter the why, the what stayed the same. So, Jonny began to look at his closet and pulled out a second coat, tossing it onto Gavin's bed before moving to his drawers to pull out a thick pair of socks, a pair of gloves, and a scarf.