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It came gently, softly.
In the stillness and pale light, caught somewhere between sleep and waking.
Awake, but only just, his body heavy and relaxed, laying on his side with eyes remaining shut, perchance to catch the quickly retreating dream. So close, just out of reach, it slipped away.
The thick blankets draped over him were a comforting weight. They contained the warmth, and the mattress, softer than any mattress he’d ever called his own, cradled him in a gentle embrace.
He could hear birdsong filtering through the log walls. There were no windows in the small room, better to keep out the chill of long mountain winters, but still he could pick out the tanager, the robin, and a rather boisterous crow. All calling for wakefulness in a beautiful composition, the sound as normal and reassuring to him as his own heartbeat.
The heavy quilt, the cozy cocoon of blankets, the soothing birdsong, he felt himself lulling, echoes of memories caressing his mind, light as a feather, as he drifted back towards dreams.
A shuffling came from the bedspace beside him.
He felt weight on his back, a warm pressure at the base of his neck, a soft kiss just below. A hand snaked its way over his waist and came up to palm his chest, pulling him into the warmth behind.
He smiled.
Reached a hand up to clasp the one on his breast.
Brought it to his lips for a simple peck, before returning it to its resting spot.
The weight behind him shifted and moved away, and he heard a sigh.
“Are you awake?” a groggy voice whispered.
Arthur Morgan smiled and finally opened his eyes, then rotated onto his other side.
Albert Mason squinted back at him, a dreamy smile upon his lips.
Arthur whispered, his voice cracking with morning gravel, “Only just.” He cleared his throat, then continued, “Sorry, didn’t mean to wake you.”
With a twinkle in his eye, Albert muttered, “I fear that responsibility lies with our resident morning choir outside. Though as lovely as they are, I must say that crow adds an interesting tenor to the whole ensemble.”
Arthur grinned and let his eyes roam the other man's face. The wrinkled indentations from the pillow, the half-lidded eyes crusted with sleep, the mussed hair sticking up in every direction. The soft smile and gaze that was aimed at only him.
He'd never seen a more beautiful sight.
"What are you thinking about right now?" Albert asked.
Arthur blinked and rested his gaze back on the hazel eyes of his partner. "Was jus' thinkin' ‘bout how I woke up into a dream."
Albert’s smile warmed as he commented, "Waxing poetic this morning, eh? What's brought that about?"
Arthur shrugged. "Nothing in particular, darlin', nothin' at all."
"Mmhmm," Albert chuckled. He reached up to brush a piece of hair out of Arthur's eyes and let his hand rest on that scarred face, stroking his cheek gently with a thumb. "Did you sleep well?" Albert asked after a moment.
"Sure," Arthur responded, "you?"
Albert nodded. "Quite well.” He yawned, and around it he asked, ”Any plans today?"
Arthur shrugged and glanced around the room. "Might see about working on the siding a little more, get this place better insulated before it starts gettin' real cold."
The men had bought their small cabin by Cattail Pond only six months prior. To say the place was a fixer-upper was an understatement, but the two had worked on it through the months to make it a cozy enough place to call home.
"Though I really need to get a better shelter going for the horses first,” Arthur continued, "l don't think that run-in is gonna do it when the snow starts flying." He let his eyes return to Albert’s. "What about you? Plans?"
Albert grinned and moved the hand on Arthur’s cheek to gesture outwards, "I thought I might ride to Wallace Station, see if any mail’s come in. I expect an assignment from the Geographical Society will be coming soon, and I ordered a copy of the latest issue, with my photos of that lynx, remember? It'll be so wonderful to see them in a real publication."
Arthur chuffed, "It's about damn time, I say. Took ‘em long enough to hire you on. Just don't you go forgetting your little ole wilderness guide when you get all rich and famous, you hear?"
Albert leaned in and planted a kiss on Arthur’s lips, smiling against them. He pulled away a moment later and caressed Arthur's face once more, looking into his eyes. "Now how could I ever forget such a handsome man, and such a beautiful soul."
"Well, questioning your mental state already with those words, fall from a cliff and get some brain damage, I imagine."
Albert gasped in mock insult and playfully slapped Arthur’s arm, "How dare you. Me? Fall from a cliff? I would never. Well, except for that one time."
“Two times.”
Albert furrowed his brow and squinted his eyes in thought. “Oh? That time in New Hanover, yes, but when else?”
Arthur smirked. “Your hat.”
A look of revelation lit up Albert's face. “Ah, yes, how could I forget. I do miss that lovely boater, but, ah well, I suppose I couldn't have asked for it to have a better burial.”
Arthur arched an eyebrow, “Laying somewhere at the bottom of the Grand Canyon?”
Albert’s eyes lit up and he gestured outward with exuberance, “Yes! To fly with the wind, swept off of the head of your master to be free, skirting over that mighty masterpiece of natural beauty, and finally laid to rest somewhere at its feet. I can only hope my exit from this mortal realm is that glorious.”
“You almost did ‘exit this mortal realm’. And I don’t think you goin’ splat at the bottom would be quite as dignified.”
Albert tilted his head in concession. “No, I suppose it wouldn’t. Another tally on that long list of you saving my hide.”
Arthur huffed a laugh. “It’s kind of our thing, I guess.”
“Damsel in distress, knight in shining armor?”
Arthur gave him a fond smile. “Sure,” he said affectionately.
The two chuckled. Arthur wrapped an arm around Albert’s waist and pulled him closer, to rest their foreheads together. "Reckon we better get on up then, get the day going," he muttered quietly, staring into Albert’s eyes.
Albert stroked a hand through Arthur's hair and gazed right back, then let his head sink deeper into the pillow. "Maybe," he replied after a minute, his eyelids beginning to grow heavy, "or maybe we can do all that later, hmm? This bed is just so comfortable, wouldn't you say?"
Arthur smiled and nuzzled into his own pillow. "I reckon I can agree with that."