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There are certain mornings where G’raha wakes up earlier than his beloved. These mornings are rare, yet he cherishes every single one of those moments. He always found you to be super adorable, especially when your hair was splayed on the pillow, a few stray strands lingering over your face. Those strands would shift ever so slightly every time you breathed in and out, and it was such a steady movement, such a subtle one, yet for some reason it soothed his soul just watching you sleep peacefully.
It is a sight so rare that he cannot help but cherish these gentle and peaceful moments. He would do anything to maintain this peace, and to maintain your happiness. He finds himself gravitating towards your sleeping figure. His fingers gently brush those stray strands away from your face, and at the same time, gently caresses your cheeks. You instinctively turn towards his touch, even in your asleep state, and the soft smile on his face widens at the sight.
His touch is as light as a feather, and he gently cups your cheek and nearly has to hold himself back from purring as soon as you lean into his touch. Your eyelids flutter slightly, and if he wasn’t looking, he might have missed it.
“Good morning, my love.” G’raha’s voice was a low husky murmur laced with the usual morning roughness that you were so used to hearing. A small groan escapes your lips as you stretch out onto the bed. Your hands reaching for the bedpost behind you and your legs uncurling from their fetal position. Your eyes were shut closed before slowly, groggily blinking open.
“Good morning, my dear.”
The smile on your face was so sleepy, and so, so precious to him. He was grateful for the fact that you were laying down on the bed still, or you may have noticed that happy swishing of his tail. You leaned into his touch and gently kissed his palm before softly mumbling, “You’re up early.”
“A coincidence.”
“Is that so?”
Your hand reaches for his, and he eagerly laces his fingers with yours.
“It is a rare occasion for me to wake up before you, darling,” G’raha chuckled. His gentle yet sweet words widened the already bright smile on your face, and he couldn’t help but feel like there was nothing in the world that could ever stop him.
“It is. Were you unable to sleep?”
The concern in your voice was quite evident, and he couldn’t help but smile fondly at how your lips were slightly turned downwards in a pout, and your brow furrowed ever so slightly. He gently squeezed your hand and shook his head.
“No, my ears got cold, that’s all.” He sheepishly admitted. The laughter that escaped from your lips made his heart sing, yet at the same time, his ears flicked backwards ever so slightly out of embarrassment. The pout that was originally on your face has transferred to his. However, instead of trying to defend himself, he immediately hugged you, bringing you and your warmth even closer. It took you by surprise, and the tiny squeak was evident of that.
The small breath of content as he buried his head into you and felt your warmth wash over him led to a small giggle from above. Your hands gently found their way to his head, gently patting and occasionally giving some ear scritches. You could feel that the tips of his ears were really cold, and upon feeling your hands rest near his ears, he instinctively nuzzled his head against them.
“Oh, love,” you softly whispered. The fondness and adoration was palpable in your voice, and his purring grew louder as he held you tighter, yet not too tight as to make you uncomfortable. Your hands gently rub his ears, a circular motion that you knew he had grown fond of.
“It was that cold for you?”
He nodded and you pulled away from him slightly to look at his face. His cheeks are flushed pink and the way his ears twitched occasionally was enough for you to know that he was flustered and so very embarrassed.
“Don’t look at me so, darling,” he mumbled, “It’s a little embarrassing.”
“Is that so?” you teased. Your hands cup his face and your smile is bright. “But it’s cute.”
“ You’re cute,” G’raha retorted with a slight pout on his face. The flush on his cheeks was quite evident and you laughed, “Adorable.”
“You’re adorable.”
The two of you maintained eye contact, and after a long while, burst into laughter. It was such a blissful moment. Something that the two of you had only recently gotten to experience now that it seems like everything was finally in order - that things were finally peaceful. You slowly close your eyes and take in a deep breath. G’raha watches you with curiosity, clearly wondering why, but not willing to ask fully.
“I’m just really happy,” you softly murmured. The brightness and happiness in your eyes were undeniable and you threw your arms around his neck, pulling yourself closer to him and nuzzled your nose against his.
“L-Love?”
“I love you, Raha.”
Your sudden words of adoration take him by surprise. It’s not as though you don’t say them often, but rather it is the way you say it. There was relief, admiration, and gratefulness in your tone. It was almost as if you’ve come to terms with the reality that the weight of the world is no longer solely on your shoulders. His arms wrap around your waist, pulling you closer so that there was no space between either of you and he softly murmured, “I love you too, my dearest.”
There was a slight pause as he noticed that whatever tension was in you slowly faded away, before he continued, “And I always will.”