#runaari

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"Caught you with your hand in the cookie jar, hmmm?" Runaan's voice slipped past Ethari's ear like cool silk. The assassin's hand gently grasped Ethari's wrist in the deep darkness of the midnight kitchen.

Ethari froze for a moment, but then he chuckled. "Only literally."

Runaan slid his hand up to Ethari's shoulder and squeezed it warmly. "Ethari. You're sneaking cookies in the middle of the night. Literally is the point here."

Ethari stepped back from the counter and lifted an empty cloth with his other hand. "I am sneaking cookies, love. But not the way you think."

Runaan's pale brows lowered in confusion. "...For Rayla? She shouldn't have too many sweets, my heart. Her training is-"

"Not for Rayla. Runaan, I love you, but you're as dense as a brownie sometimes. They're for you!" Ethari reached back into the jar and fetched out a moonberry cookie. He waggled it invitingly and raised an eyebrow before holding it against his husband's lips.

Runaan obediently took a bite and then held onto the cookie, wearing a puzzled expression. "But... you don't bring me cookies... How are they for me?"

Ethari couldn't help himself. He burst into chuckles and hugged his poor confused assassin softly. "I know you've been stressed lately, love. So I've been baking extra cookies for you, because I know you love them. And anytime I see that you've nearly reached the bottom of the cookie jar, I just... sneak downstairs... and put more in for you."

Runaan's eyes widened, darting from the cookie jar to Ethari's face and back.

"...Love?" Ethari prompted, when Runaan couldn't speak.

Runaan launched himself into his husband's arms and hugged him fiercely. "I'm a fool, Ethari, and I don't deserve you."

"So dramatic," Ethari murmured, as he slowly spun with Runaan in his arms. "Do you want a cookie?"

When he was 15 he finally plucked up the courage and entered a bookstore to purchase one. He scans the covers, picks them up to read the blurb on the back before placing them back on the shelves, unsure of what to pick. Then he sees it "An Assassin Unbound" by Elyas of the Winterwood. Intrigued, he picks it up to take a closer look. On the cover is the Moonshadow assassin in question in the arms of a big, muscular Moonshadow elf. Intrigued,he turns it over and begins to read. The story, he learns, is about an assassin who finds himself drawn to the new baker in town while the baker, trying to make fresh start finds himself unable to think of anyone but the assassin. Runaan doesn't want to put it down and so he doesn't, leaving the shop 3 minutes later, book clutched in his hands as he rushes home to read.

The years pass and "An Assassin Unbound" has long been joined by others, tales of romance, seduction and love by writers of various talent and interests. Runaan has amassed quite the collection and has become quite the connoisseur of the genre, knowing the tropes and plots as well as he knows his blades. He no longer walks into the local bookshop cautiously and discreetly, no, he now strides in, head held high as he makes his way to the romance section. Over the years he has explored and tried a great number of tales, plots and scenarios and has found his likes and dislikes. His favourite novels always include a large, muscular character who either is seduced or seduces the main character. He likes to imagine what it would be like to be held by such an elf, to lay his head on their broad chest, to kiss him, to be undressed by him, to love him. He knows it will never happen, knows that it is just a fantasy, a nice little reprieve from his duty to take a life, nothing more, nothing less. Just a little bit of fun, that's all.

It's not until he and Ethari have been together for a few weeks that Runaan finally realises. It's the first time that Ethari has come to his home since they became a couple and Runaan is busy making tea. He turns and sees Ethari examing his collection. He sets the tea down on the coffee table and walks over to Ethari, telling him that he can borrow some if he likes. Ethari pulls out a book, turns to him and smiles and Runaan stops, the revelation hitting him like a boulder.

In Ethari's hand is "An Assassin Unbound" and as he looks at the cover he realises the truth. Ethari is everything he ever wanted, every character he ever loved and wished to be loved by. Every character he imagined kissing, seducing or being seduced by, holding, touching. He here right in front of him.

He was Ethari.

Runaan was living his own romance novel.

Upon learning this Runaan takes the day off from training and rushes over to see his boyfriend. However, when he gets to Ethari's house he discovers a perfectly healthy Ethari who appears to be setting up for a day of relaxation.

Confused he asks him what he's doing and Ethari tells him that he created this illusion of illness so that the pair of them could spend the day together uninterrupted. He mentions that he came up with this idea after they both complained about the limited time they have to spend together because if their jobs and responsibilities.

He also mentions that this also gives them a second day to spend together as Runaan, the loving and dedicated boyfriend ended up catching Ethari's illness a few days later and would need Ethari to nurse him back to full health.