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“It's too warm!” Eiden exclaims, as he throws the blanket off his body.
The temperatures in the night drop a bit, but it's still far too warm for his taste in the Fire Territory.
Outside, the starry sky spans over his head and far out of his view. The small lanterns lighting the paths along Dante's palace are like yellow little drops against the stars above him.
“Maybe I should ask him what to do, or maybe sneak into his bed?” Eiden thinks to himself and smiles cheekily. Usually Dante refuses him, because “he can't be seen sleeping with a commoner, even if they are Clan Members”.
Asking Aster would also work, but he would miss the chance to tease Dante a bit, and get his usual “in denial” attitude.
Slipping into his shoes, he makes his way outside. The floor is empty, at this time even the servants are asleep. Sneaking upstairs, passing by the pompous wall decorations and the closed doors, he arrives in front of a certain door.
“Looks like the guards are not doing their job properly…” Eiden comments, as he passes the guards sleeping with their arms crossed in front of Dante's door.
He doesn't bother to knock, but slowly pushes open the door enough to slip through.
Inside, the big round windows let the small lamps light up the room. The pompous bed is empty, but to his right, on one of the window ledges, he spots the broad build man.
The soft red hair shimmers, as it flows along his shoulders and back. Is he wearing sleep clothing? Because if he does, he still looks very elegant. They cover his tattoos just a bit, decorated with golden stitches and royal patterns.
“What are you doing here?” He turns around slowly, his blue eyes look like sapphires in the dark.
“I can't sleep when it is too warm outside like that. I'm not used to temperatures like that.” Eiden replies, and makes his way over to Dante. He doesn't seem too bothered by the sudden appearance, but still keeps his guard up.
For a moment, he doesn't replay, but then moves away his legs to make space for Eiden on the ledge.
Together they look outside, the sky sparkling and further away in the distance, he can spot a red shimmer.
“Are these the Elemental Spirits you told me about?”
“Yes, I didn't think you would remember that.”
“I'm not stupid, you know.” Eiden replies jokingly.
“Indeed, the Elemental Spirits are much calmer since you dealt with the altar. They now make beautiful sights like this.”
It is almost as if the red sparks dance along the sky, leaving a trail of colors until they vanish into the night.
“That is beautiful.” Eiden sighs, feeling a bit melancholic. “You get to see this every day.”
Dante shrugs. “I tend to forget how good I have it, if you see beauty like this day by day.”
“Well, back to topic, do you have by chance any idea how I can cool off a bit? Lying in bed in this heat is absolute torture!”
Dante's cheeks flush slightly as he points towards his own bed.
“My room is pretty open, if you want to borrow the space there, you can.” he exclaims, folding his arms as if he tries to downplay his friendly suggestion.
Eiden quickly jumps on the chance, throwing himself onto the bed. It's soft, and the sheets are a light fabric spread over the bed.
The faint smell of Dante lingers in the long fluffy pillows.
“Do you really don't mind?” Eiden turns around and lies on his back, as he looks back at the window.
“W-well, you are here now, so just go to bed already.”
“Don't you want to join me? I mean, it's your bed.” Dante reluctantly gets up. His robes shimmer with every move, and his overall elegant posture, combined with his nice body, take Eiden in.
He pats the spot next to him, and watches Dante reluctantly drop next to him. This is probably just an act, he just can't allow himself to be open towards Eiden.
“If we sleep this close, aren't we going to make it worse? Like, our shared body heat is not going to solve your problem.”
“Well, I never said we have to sleep this close to each other, where is your mind wandering already?” The young man teases Dante and tries to pull him in still. His red long hairbrushes his forehead, and falls down onto the sheets below. It just wants to be touched. Full of awe, Eiden lies next to Dante, and is being watched as he slowly brushes through his hair.
“What are you doing?”
“Sorry, I just can't stop myself, your hair is so beautiful and long, I keep finding myself wanting to touch it.”
“Do what you can't stop.” Dante mumbles and lets Eiden do, until he reaches the top of his head, leisurely exploring his face next. First his forehead, down to the eyes and the cheekbones.
Dante grabs his hand and looks very serious, but proceeds to let go.
“We should go to sleep, and you should stop touching me all over the place.”
“Alright, sorry. Do you mind extending your arm?” Eiden squeezes in between the arm and Dante's big torso, admiring his tattoo up close.
There is no more nagging from Dante, so he is probably fine with Eiden staying this close. It is warm, but sharing the body heat is something else than the warm air outside.
“Your room is much nicer than mine. Can I come over more often?”
Dante scoffs, and doesn't reply. All Eiden can feel is Dante's hand slowly coming closer, until he reached the back of his head. Laying next to each other, arms entangled, feels strangely fulfilling. Just them cuddling, while they lie on the comfortable fabrics on his bed.
“Good Night, Dante.” As Eiden reaches out and presses a kiss on his cheek, Dante At that moment turns around, and it misses it target, and instead lands full middle score on his mouth.
“That is fine too.” Eiden smiles and leans in closer to Dante's chest. His warm smell, the desert air and the sensation of them being close to each other, comfort him deeply. Dante slowly pats his head and brushes over it, and little by little sleep catches up with both of them.
It's a night where he slept so well, that not even the servants coming to wake them up the next day, tried to separate them as early as usual, but let them sleep a while longer on Aster's request.