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Every night was one of habit for everyone in the camp; arrive back at camp nearly dead, eat, sleep until day break. A series of motions that were easy to become weary of. Since the night spent beneath the stars at the Druid sanctuary, it felt like everything had only gone downhill from there.
It wasn’t only Wyll who believed this either. As much as Tav didn’t want to admit, their exhaustion was far more visible than they preferred. The party was willing to voice their qualms, but Tav wanted to be their strength. They refused to mention anything that would distract from their common goal. There was a lot to complain about, sure, but Tav’s reluctance to speak up showed some sense of strength and willpower. Two things Wyll added to their list of traits he admired about them.
Wyll happily sat aside in his tent, wondering if he were truly the only one to notice the exhaustion of the group's leader over the course of these many nights. He shied with the idea of such concern, but he worried nevertheless.
His eyes wandered over to their space, watching the way their shoulders fell and the bags spread beneath their eyes. Alone, beside the fire, and trying their best to maintain composure during one of the team's most trying times. While every hope of the parasites removed slowly dwindled into nothing, so did the hopes of those who happened to be coming and giving with frequency.
Everything was exhausting. Existing was too much to bear these days.
Yet Wyll found himself extra willing to maneuver through it all, drawing enough strength for them both. He waited until Tav had finally been alone to approach and sit beside them. Even as he did so, they didn’t budge, not even a drop of acknowledgement towards Wyll which left him far more worried than before.
“Fall asleep sitting up?” He bumped his shoulder into theirs to catch their attention but all he received in return was a weak laugh. He stretched an arm around their lower back, feeling their tense muscles soften against him.
“Hard night again?” Wyll asked, his soft voice almost unable to be heard.
“Isn’t every night this way lately? I’m losing the ability to be surprised any longer.” Tav leaned back, looking to Wyll with such apathy, that he found himself wanting to fix everything with a flurry of intensity that frightened even himself.
“Is there anything I can do for you, make tonight easier?”
“Yeah, let the damn worm finally put me out of my misery.” Their comment met with worried silence and raised even more concern.
“I prefer you alive.” A look of surprise sprawled across his face once he realized what he said. They looked at him, wide eyed at his statement. “Sorry.” He muttered.
“Don’t be. I enjoyed that a little too much of anything. Maybe I’m tired.” They turned back to look at the flames, hoping their words fell to deaf ears once again.
Wyll felt his cheeks flare with heat. He certainly didn’t expect to hear that tonight, but was far from objective. He peered over to the half asleep Tav beside him, the longing stare becoming more obvious. There was no hiding his feelings while he sat so close to his weary friend.
The night air wasn’t enough to bring down his body temperature. Whether it was his devilish features or the warmth pooling in his chest, he was unsure. He shifted, inching closer until his side had brushed up against them. When they didn’t move away, he took it as a sign to keep his momentum.
“Wyll, do you think any of this is worth it?”
“If it means waking up by your side, I would take my chances any day of the week.”
“I’d hope your will to live would be better than this.”
“My will to live is perfectly fine.”
“Not if you flirt in order to convince yourself to go to battle.”
“Perhaps I flirt because I enjoy the one it's directed towards,” he leaned close to their ear and whispered. “Maybe they make all this fighting worth it, even in the face of death. Is that so awful?” His warm breath danced on their neck, capturing their attention.
Wyll felt Tav shift back against his outstretched arm, his hand touching their side. He held them carefully, willing his heart to slow down in the silence settling between them. They leaned into him and sighed so heavily, Wyll felt conflicted on the timing of his words.
“Do you want me to leave?”
“Never. I enjoy your presence too much like I said before.” They watched him carefully with a devilish grin. He giggled, sharing the same look.
“How much is too much then?” Wyll leaned in, feeling far more bold than before. He left a kiss to the side of their neck, lingering along their collarbone. On a whim, he pressed his lips against their skin, leaving light kisses down their neck. When no words of discouragement left them, Wyll pulled Tav into his arms, feeling them gently settle onto his lap. The idea of being alone with one another was far too rare, and he couldn't let the moment slip away.
“If I'm too much, tell me and I'll stop.” Wyll felt his heart pound away just as they turned to face him, heat emanating off them both.
“Maybe I didn't want you to stop yet.”
“A request I can certainly oblige to. If you will have me.” He drew closer to their embarrassed face and tilted their chin up so the two were eye level. “Unless you meant something else by that.”
“Perhaps I did.”
“One night at a time, dear.” Wyll smiled, his lips gently grazing the surface of theirs. Their first kiss together being one of the far more tender moments on their journey.
Wyll started out slow and sweet, the two of them taking the moment to be alone with one another. He playfully pulled on their waist, placing his hands against the soft flesh of their lower back. In turn, Tav beckoned closer, sliding their hands around his neck. No kiss had ever tasted so sweet.
Wyll shifted as close as could be, finding himself craving far more than a simple kiss. He wanted to explore the furthest crevices of their mouth and the warmth of their skin. He tasted the wine they shared earlier, holding back the groans that grew feverish in his chest. His yearning grew just as much, showing itself once they brushed up against his thigh. His hands traveled further up the back of their shirt, tracing every dip he could feel. The subtle roll of their hips was all it took to leave him gripping the edge of their shirt, ready to tear it out of the way.
Tav couldn't help but feel the same way, urging Wyll to remove his top with playful tugs at the edge of his shirt. In seconds, he removed it and threw it to the side, balancing them on his thighs before he tossed theirs alongside his own.
The feeling of their warm flesh against him rendered him mindless and moving on instinct. His hand traveled up the back of their head, weaving his fingertips into strands of their hair. His heart pounded against his chest, echoing the same beat coming from the form pressed up against him. Whatever discipline he had remaining, Wyll fought heavily to maintain, yearning to stay in control of the temptation rising within him.
The needy flow of their lips shifted to a far sweeter demeanor, slowing before inevitably backing away from Wyll. The look in his eyes depicted a disappointment like none other.
“Do…Do you want to stop?” Wyll's cheeky grin was far more hopeful they could keep going instead, causing Tav to giggle in return. His hand laid flat on their bare back, maintaining their weight while they sat on his lap.
“Far from it, actually.”
“Whatever can I do for you then?” He picked up their hand and brought it to his lips, kissing his way down their exposed wrist. He looked to them, waiting with bated breath before inevitably finding his way to their lips yet again. Before Wyll could bring himself to kiss them again, he watched as the excitement in their eyes dissolve and give way to worry.
“What is wrong, my dear?”
“I might be thinking too much,” Tav's hands slid down to Wyll's shoulders before reaching the toned muscles above his pectorals. “Truly just overthinking.” They enjoyed the warmth of his skin, loving every moment enveloped in his arms.
“We can simply enjoy one another's company tonight, just like this, and leave the rest for another time. Would that be better?” Wyll leaned in, pressing his forehead against theirs, seemingly comfortable existing in each other's presence. Their collective nod and shy smile were all the confirmation Wyll needed. The gesture may have seemed small, but left them flustered and content.
Tav leaned in to press a kiss to his lips, Wyll glad to simply exist together on this night.