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Blinking awake, Sara can tell that it is 5:05am without even needing to search out the clock. She takes a deep breath, breathing in the crisp morning air and slowly counting to five while letting her eyes adjust to the dim light that just barely peeks through the windows. Her mind is already running through everything that needs to be done and Sara prepares to slip out of bed when something out of the ordinary catches her attention.
The room is the same as always, everything set in its proper place, but as Sara tries to sit up she becomes conscious of the weight around her waist that keeps her firmly in place. Memories of the previous night return and Sara inhales sharply, cheeks turning red as she recalls that she isn’t alone. Cautiously, Sara glances behind her, face flushing even more as she takes in the sight of Ei curled up behind her.
Sara cannot help but stare, certain that this must be a dream even as all of her senses prove that she is indeed awake. A slight furrow wrinkles Ei’s brow and her grip around Sara’s waist tightens, the action leaving Sara nearly breathless. She falls back to the bed, pulled even closer as Ei presses against her back with a soft hum. The action leaves Sara frozen in place, all too aware of the curves that are suddenly impossible to ignore.
Swallowing against the sudden lump in her throat, Sara attempts to count to five once more, struggling to center her thoughts. If she can just take a moment to breathe, to think clearly, she can certainly manage to slip free. Her hand hesitantly comes to rest on Ei’s arm, intending to gently disentangle herself when Ei murmurs something against her neck, warm breath tickling against Sara’s skin and making her shiver.
Slowly, Sara threads their fingers together, wondering if she can possibly ease Ei’s grip even the slightest. But even this proves futile and eventually Sara is forced to accept that she will not be able to stick to her usual routine in the slightest. Her heart thunders in her ears but the warmth that surrounds her gently envelops her and Sara begins to relax bit by bit.
Sara has never given a second thought to sleeping in, always rising with the sun, but as she settles within Ei’s hold, the hint of a smile appears on her face. Perhaps such indulgences can be quite enjoyable under the right circumstances.
Things become quite busy and Sara easily falls back into her usual routine of rising with the sun. She goes through the paces, training and patrolling and doing her best to keep things running smoothly. It goes well and Sara is pleased by the results, eagerly looking forward to the summons that arrives in the following days.
Spending the evening with Ei makes her heart sing and though there are still some less than perfect moments, the sight of Ei’s smile and the gentle touch of her hand are more than enough to smooth things over. And when Ei catches her arm before she can leave, Sara cannot even find it within her to refuse the unspoken question.
Waking to unfamiliar surroundings is nothing new, but the sight of Ei’s room still manages to catch Sara off guard when she first opens her eyes. She quietly counts, the numbers easing the erratic beat of her heart until she can breathe fairly normally again. Despite the early morning hours and the mental clock that is urging her to move, Sara stays exactly where she is. In the pale light of morning, her eyes adjust and she can take in all the details that she missed the night before, her lips curving in a small smile at what she finds.
The room is far messier than her own, but it is more lived in rather than untidy. Various trinkets and knick knacks are set around the space, showing proof of Ei venturing throughout the city more and more. It fills Sara with a sense of peace, nearly making her forget about the nervous flutter within her stomach as Ei sleepily curls against her.
Sara shifts, quietly preparing to leave the bed but Ei seems to sense her intentions. Though the hold around her waist is far looser, Ei reaches for Sara’s wrist instead, her thumb lightly tracing over the thin skin.
“Sara… stay here…” Ei’s words are rough with sleep, the sound stilling Sara’s movement.
The rush of nervousness makes itself well known once more but Sara lays back down without a second thought, brushing it aside and settling against Ei instead. Her face heats as Ei moves closer, but she hesitantly takes hold of Ei’s hand, content to stay right where she is for now.
They manage to find stolen moments together whenever time allows, but Sara is still growing used to these little changes. The casual touches and secret smiles still manage to leave her breathless each time and at times her mind still struggles to believe it’s all real. And though Sara does her best to stick to a normal schedule and keep her mind clear, it is becoming far harder to do so.
Especially when Ei is spending more and more evenings with her.
Sara finds it almost impossible to keep track of time when Ei is near. Distracted by the graceful way she moves and the easy way she settles herself beside Sara with a sweet smile playing along her lips.
Mornings are becoming especially difficult. Sara’s body continues to wake at exactly 5:05am and yet Ei only seems to grow craftier when it comes to keeping her from starting her day so early.
The first hints of sunlight begin to light up the room and Sara sighs quietly, blinking until her eyes adjust. The moment they do, she lets out a gasp when she finds herself looking up into Ei’s bleary gaze.
“It’s far too early.”
With those words, Ei promptly settles down on top of Sara with a tired huff, her weight pinning Sara in place.
It all happens so fast that it takes a few seconds for Sara to even comprehend what has happened. When it does, a small laugh escapes and Sara carefully wraps her eyes around Ei, holding her close and letting her eyes fall shut.
Though it may still take some time to adjust, she is beginning to appreciate the idea of sleeping in.
Sara wakes to Ei’s hands teasingly running over the plane of her stomach and lets out a breathless gasp. In an instant, Ei’s knee is pressing to the back of her thigh and Sara is too distracted to wonder just how Ei managed to wake before her.
Rough fingertips move slightly lower, teasing just above the band of her shorts and Sara shudders as Ei curls around her, nuzzling against her shoulder and leaving a lazy kiss behind. Her words are a low rumble against the shell of Sara’s ear, “Perhaps I could convince you to stay for just a little longer?”
“I should… I should really....” Sara’s voice trails off with a whine as nails lightly scrape over her hip.
“Surely you don’t have any plans this early?” Ei presses another kiss to the top of Sara’s shoulder, her lips curving into a smile at the shiver that runs through Sara.
Sara struggles to think of anything that she must do for the day but her mind is blissfully blank as she revels in Ei’s touch. It takes a fair number of attempts to even form words until she finally breathes out, “No…”
Ei sits up, eyes bright and Sara can only watch as she slowly leans forward, gaze far too sharp for the early hour. “Ah, I’m glad. We can take all the time we need this morning.”
It takes quite some time before Sara finally manages to go about her normal routine that day.
A yawn breaks the silence of the room and Sara carefully stretches, lingering in the warmth of Ei’s embrace. She waits for a beat, certain that her attempt to slip from bed and start her day will eventually be thwarted but Ei has yet to act. Still, Sara takes her time, not in quite as much of a hurry as usual.
Sitting up is easier than expected, Ei’s arm falling to rest against her hip. Lingering on the edge of the bed, Sara glances over her shoulder, a fond smile stretching along her face as she takes in Ei’s mussed hair.
Muffling another yawn, Sara stretches her arms over her head and lets her wings loose, allowing them to spread out. She blinks the last bit of sleep from her eyes and prepares to stand when she hears the sheets rustle behind her.
Ei’s hand moves from her hip, trailing lightly up her side to brush against the underside of soft feathers. Sara goes completely still, a flush trailing over her cheeks as Ei slumps forward and places a sleepy kiss to the center of her back, right between her wings.
“Sara…” Ei’s lips ticklishly brush over her skin, her arms moving to wrap loosely around Sara’s waist. “You’re not leaving, are you?”
Clearing her throat, Sara shakes her head in amusement. She lets one hand fall on top of Ei’s, squeezing softly. “I’m not going anywhere just yet.”
Ei lets out a content hum, her cheek pressing against the base of Sara’s wing. “Good.”
Even after all this time, Sara cannot quite break the habit of waking at 5:05am. Usually she can fall right back asleep after a few minutes, but other days she lets herself indulge. As long as her duties get done in a timely manner, there is no harm in lingering right where she is.
Carefully, she turns to face Ei. A fond smile spreads across her face and Sara gently reaches out, brushing back stray strands of hair until she has a proper view of Ei, fast asleep. The sight never quite fails to make her heart race and Sara cannot help but close the distance between them, pressing a feather light kiss to Ei’s forehead.
The soft pressure makes Ei wrinkle her nose, but she shows no sign of waking. Sara takes a moment to commit this sight to memory before shifting closer and gathering Ei close. Ei easily moves into the hold, curling beneath her chin and murmuring nonsense words against Sara’s neck.
For now there are no pressing matters to attend to and Sara fully intends to enjoy the time they have together before she must attend to the world around them.