Work Text:
Lately, whenever Sylus came home at night, he would often find Xavier in his bed, already sleeping. The difference in their circadian rhythm and the life they led made it difficult for Sylus to see Xavier in full consciousness at times. He slept at night like any normal person would (Sylus always slept at sunrise) and left his place first thing in the morning without a little care of leaving a note or text.
But it wasn't a pressing matter worth discussing because Xavier would always come here to sleep on his own volition. A consideration on his part for their out-of-left-field relationship. Sylus could settle for that. Hell, he would even settle for less than that.
So, Xavier was a sleepyhead. Aside from how easily he submerged in the realm of dreams, he also spent a lot of time there. No matter what he did, Xavier wouldn't wake up. Sylus would pepper his face with kisses, poke his sides, or when he felt bold and impish, he would dove inside his shirt to kiss and nibble on his pale skin—yet he would remain as unmoving as a rock.
The last one would always make his chest end up being punctured by Xavier's blade when Xavier woke up with red marks all over his torso. It was not a nice way to wake up after just shutting his eyes for a while. But Sylus got to see Xavier in the morning, so, he was always tempted to repeat it at least twice a week. Losing a few hours of sleep (or being stabbed) was never a concern for someone like him.
Sylus was out since morning that day. He hadn't the time to rest, leaving Xavier when he was still sound asleep. When he returned that evening, Luke and Kieran were whispering among themselves, unaware of his presence. They were standing in front of his room as if deciding whether to enter. He emerged from behind them, towering in silence.
Luke was the first to realize his presence from the shadow on the wall. "Boss!" He cawed with a hint of a titter. Kieran turned around after with a little hand-waving.
"What is it?" He asked. His eyebrows raised in a silent accusatory, thinking the twins had done mischief—or planning to—when he wasn't looking.
"Xavier hasn't come out of your room, Boss. Not even once after you left him. So, me and Luke are betting whether he is dead or not!" Kieran was the one who answered this time. He turned his head to Luke and giggled together.
Sylus scoffed. He was used to their unceremonious remarks. "What about work?"
"So, we texted her and she said that he had taken a day off," Luke answered as he showed the exchanged texts between him and the girl.
Sylus skimmed over the messages in silence before his gaze shifted to the door of his room. Thoughts and speculation filled his head as his eyes bore at the thick wooden door. The twins noticed his long gaze and chuckled.
"Worried, Boss?"
"Can you tell us whether he is alive once you're inside?"
His eyebrows twitched. One of these days he would have to teach them manners. With a roll of his eyes and raised eyebrows, he hinted at them to leave. The twins exchanged looks at the silent order before they started walking away, elbowing each other's side while arguing in a low voice about who between them made the boss pissed.
Sylus didn't wait for their voices to become indistinct behind the wall. He immediately turned around and strode into his room. After closing the door behind him gently, he was greeted with the familiar sight. It seemed that Xavier didn't even toss and turn in his sleep since he was exactly where Sylus left him this morning. He slept on the right side of the bed, sleeping so mindfully; leaving enough space for him and not hogging the blanket and pillow.
He sat on the right edge of the mattress after he hung his coat on the rack by the corner next to the door. His eyes gazed at his peaceful face, slightly tensed. A part of him didn't quite like seeing the lack of expression on his face. Personally, Sylus loved it better to find crinkles or frowns whenever he riled him up. He looked more alive.
"Hey, little star." Sylus stroked his cheek with his fingers. "I'm home."
Xavier once told him that there were days like this. There were days when he could spend the whole day sleeping. He hadn't told him why, but Sylus had concluded on his own. He was recuperating.
"As slow as ever," He mused as his fingers trailed down before he splayed them on his chest, feeling the ebb and flow of his heart.
They were the complete opposite of each other, down to the rhythm of their heartbeats. The first time Sylus discovered how slow Xavier's heart rate was, he thought he was a dying star. It sparked a curiosity within him if the sudden surge of beat would make Xavier collapse into twinkling dust.
On the opposite hand, Xavier had always got this look of concern every time his head was pressed against Sylus' chest. It was as if there were construction workers doing overtime inside of him, he said, and Sylus had never laughed harder.
Sylus loved to press his hand on the other's chest whenever he sunk himself into him—plunging deep, incessant thrusts against the tight ring of muscle that clamped around him like a vice. It was the time where Sylus could feel the gentle throb turned into the hammering pound against Xavier's ribcage. His frantic heartbeat started to match his in that heated moment and it pleased him to no end. The tightness around Sylus incited a thrill and the desire to watch the star explode, pulsating white dwarfs on the expanse of Xavier's celestial body.
He was also fond of seeing both pleasure and fear filled his face whenever they crossed over the edge. The hunter would press his hand harder on Sylus' chest as if trying to slow down the erratic pulse. Because Sylus' heart rate would flare up even more and Xavier had always dreaded, every time, that his veins might pop and burst.
It didn't sound as bad when one's gotta die at the height of pleasure with the one they love. Sylus always heard how everyone dreamed of reaching heaven when they died. He would be able to that way, though dying was perhaps an intricate matter for an undead like him. It was endearing, nonetheless. Strangely, it felt somewhat intimate how they cared for each other's hearts like that.
"You're supposed to be strong, no? It's the Wanderers, after all. You're familiar with their flow. They got nothing on you." He muttered softly.
His hand went back to Xavier's face, seizing his chin between his thumb and index finger. Sylus grimly assessed every inch of his face, turning it from one side to the other. Aside from wanting to kiss the faint constellation spread across his cheeks (always—he adored his freckles), Sylus wanted to know if the Wanderers landed a blow on his exquisite features. His face is alright. Pretty, as usual.
Xavier, on the other hand, snored quietly. The slow rise and fall of his chest told Sylus that his sleep was undisturbed. If it wasn't for the beating heart, this was quite a familiar sensation of when Sylus had to deal with a fresh carcass. Unmoving, but warm.
"Or is it fatigue?" Sylus continued. His hand moved down to his neck. The soft caress on the column of Xavier's neck managed to get a faint puff out of him. His red eyes flickered ever so slightly seeing the reaction, hand flexed against the hunter's throat.
It would be great if he woke up by then.
He was slightly hovering over Xavier with his hand on the side of Xavier's head. His other hand moved down to the hem of his shirt and lifted it. Sylus tilted his head, regarding the other's skin that looked even paler with his hand flattened on the other's stomach.
His palm traced along Xavier's figure, moving down. His eyes followed his own movement. Sylus continued to examine him for any sign of injuries, hidden purple or red hues. He would press a little to feel if he dislocated joints or broken his bones.
His arms are fine. Muscles were a bit stiff but it was possibly due to the exertion of swinging his light blade many times.
His chest is fine. The ribcage was not harmed or fractured in any way, too.
His stomach is fine, but his waist is lightly bruised. Sylus glowered at the sight. It wasn't life-threatening, but his vexation bubbled up regardless. He suspected Xavier went to the No Hunt Zone and was being paired with someone with a questionable set of skills that wasn't helpful and instead hindered him.
Sylus sighed deeply. He dipped his head down his stomach, planting soft kisses to the waist. A part of him longed for Xavier to wake up and yank on his hair. It rarely happened. One time that Xavier did, he accused Sylus of somnophilia. Xavier wouldn't let him live it down for days.
But it was better. If it happened again right now, it would be so much better. A reaction. A retaliation. Anything.
"Are you getting weaker, little star?" He whispered against his belly, placing a few more kisses. A hint of shakiness in his breathing rendered him vulnerable.
Then he moved down again, checking the rest of his body. His hips, then thighs—thankfully, he wore shorts—his knees, then calves. They were all fine. So, it was just one blow on the waist. And yet, he skipped work and slept through the day.
"Are you dying on me, little star?" He looked up from between the other's raised legs, his lips brushed against his ankle. The hunter still answered with his constant and steady breathing. Sylus thought he was so fearless to be able to sleep with such ease, knowing his heart might stop at any day, any time from such a lethargic pulse.
The inspection was over with lingering kisses on Xavier's toes and heels. No serious damage was inflicted upon him. He should be waking up the first thing in the morning. And yet, the examiner hadn't the patience to wait for sunrise.
Xavier would go back to Linkon City, embracing his duty. His selfless nature would lead him to wander into danger again at the other side of the world he couldn't probe freely. And Sylus had to wait until the evening to see him.
Sylus did say he would settle for less. And he admitted he could be quite a hypocrite for wanting.
"Xavier, I missed you."
Sylus didn't plan to sleep. Heck, he was fighting demons to stay awake last night. He planned to have Xavier confirm his speculation about the light bruise on his waist when the guy woke up. But, when Sylus opened his eyes—he thought he was only blinking—he was lying down on the left side of the bed, his arm stretched into the empty side where Xavier had gone.
Irritation settled on his mouth as he clicked his tongue. He reached for his phone that was still in his pocket. Two in the afternoon. How great.
Groggily, he pushed himself out of bed. He could wait for the moon to settle in a few hours. He could. He should. What choice did he have anyway?
He could settle for less. He said he would.
Sylus went out of his bedroom and sauntered into the kitchen. A cold beer sounded good right now.
As he got closer, his ears picked up the boisterous voice of the twins. But instead of talking to themselves, it sounded like they were speaking to someone whose voice was muffled by their lively and, more often than not, senseless back and forth. He wondered if they were bothering the chef.
"…I'm still weak, that's why."
The voice stopped Sylus on his track immediately. His heart almost dropped to his stomach by the unexpected yet familiar cadence, bordering between soft and languid. He reached for his pocket again and checked the day. It was still Friday. He should be at work by now.
"Ask your boss, he can vouch for my injury."
It was like a cue for him to show up. He felt like a domesticated dog that would appear at every call even without the leash. He cleared his throat as he stepped into the kitchen, maintaining a neutral face. The twins perched at the counter while Xavier was sitting on a stool in between them. The position made Xavier look like he was being ganged up, made him look small despite probably having the same height.
"What?" He raised one eyebrow, demanding an explanation of what they were talking about.
"Boss!" The twins turned their heads. Even with the masks staying on, Sylus could easily picture excited faces behind them.
Kieran pointed a finger at Xavier who looked up at Sylus with an unreadable gaze. "He is slacking off but he won't admit it!"
Luke nodded and supported him, "You might adore him so much but you can't lie to us. There's no way Xavier can get injured. He just wanted to ditch work."
What is this. This was just a childish squabble. Sylus had to hold back from rolling his eyes. He didn't want to engage in such a trivial matter, but seeing the wide, expectant blue eyes like the ocean on summer—invoking a playful sense to roll on the wet sand—he decided to play along.
"He is injured and he needs more time to heal, hence, ditching the work." Sylus sounded like he was reprimanding the twins for not taking the hunter's words seriously. Xavier nodded quietly, pleased by his answer.
"Well, where is the evidence?" Luke asked while crossing his hands over his chest.
"A small injury doesn't count," Kieran said, almost petulantly. "One time I broke my rib and Boss still asks me to go on missions!"
There was a low rumble of laughter in his chest. Sylus leaned his side against the wall, crossing his hands. "Am I being called out for favoritism?"
"I assume it's jealousy," Xavier added. The hint of a playful cadence in his voice made Sylus' lips curl in an amused smirk.
"Xavier doesn't work for me."
Sylus pushed himself off the wall and walked over to him. He ruffled Xavier's hair from behind, a small punishment for making him go through this petty argument. Xavier quietly pinched his thigh and Sylus had to fight a wince that threatened to emerge on his face.
"Didn't change the fact that he was slacking off for two days." The twins insisted, emphasizing the duration.
"I see." Sylus grinned. "This isn't about him. You're criticizing my leniency."
The statement silenced them. Sylus had hit the right spot. He let out a snort and waved his hands dismissively. "Take a day off now before I change my mind."
The twins cheered as they slid down from the counter and bounced away from the kitchen, rambling loudly about their plan to spend the free labor day.
Sylus spun Xavier so he was facing him. He was familiar whenever the other was playing coy. His eyes gleamed with amusement as he cradled his face. "I wish you wouldn't try planting ideas into my subordinate's heads, sweetie."
Xavier smiled, squeezing his wrists with enough strength to make him pull back. "That's quite an accusation."
"Is it that bad?"
Xavier looked up, slightly clueless. Sylus then repeated, "The injury. Is it that bad?"
"You've seen it. What do you think?"
Sylus frowned. "You noticed?"
"Not when I sleep. I woke up with my shirt riding up my neck. The rest is easy to guess since you're not leaving any mark on me."
He scoffed while looking away. "Fair."
As if he hadn't got a satisfactory answer, he was still hung up on the question. "Is it that bad?"
"Why are you asking?"
"There are things I can't see with my eyes."
Xavier chuckled. "You're worried."
Sylus huffed as he leaned in. He kissed the hunter's forehead. "It's hard not to. Not even an earthquake will jolt you."
"Of course an earthquake will shake me." Xavier rolled his eyes at the exaggeration. "You, on the other hand, are like a small breeze playing with my hair."
His lips twitched. "Oh, sweetie. Am I not significant enough for your attention? Should I start acting like an earthquake for you to open your eyes?"
"I would open my eyes to see your massive height jumping on the bed like a little kid," Xavier said cheekily.
He couldn't help himself. Sylus pinched his cheek for that cheeky remark. "Sweetie…" There was a hint of desperation in his voice. He felt and acknowledged that he shouldn't demand anything more than they could settle with. Yet, a part of him felt a gnawing hunger for something more, a ground more solid for his root to grow.
"What makes you so restless? This isn't like you."
Sylus knew he was losing a bit of his composure. And he hated letting his emotions all over the place. Maybe he was never meant for anything casual. Not now. Not ever. Not when it was him he had to hold on to. The surge of emotions made everything he believed in himself crumble.
For months he was convinced that even if Xavier chose to stop whatever was going on between them, he would accept it. He would gladly let him go and never go near him.
Maybe it was something to do with fear—of time that was ticking away without a pause—of the possibility that Xavier might leave him behind. It could turn you into the person you never thought you would become.
The sudden feeling of Xavier's breath on his face startled him, and his thoughts dispersed when he caught the sight of the other's face so close to his. Since when did he close the distance? He was tempted to lean into him too. He wondered if he was allowed to do that.
"It's only sleep. Nothing more." He whispered into his lips. The attempt to ease his worry was clear.
His voice caught in his throat. And it felt like swallowing an annoying lump that stuck in it. For a moment, Sylus was at a loss for words.
"I'm not dying." He added with more clarity.
His lips tentatively brushed against his, as if testing the water. The shuddering breath that escaped Sylus' lips was enough confirmation that it was okay for Xavier to dive in. Their lips tangled, moving like soft, undulating waves. Momentarily, Sylus forgot about everything else but him. At this moment, he thought it was okay to let his feelings spill over.
His fingers found purchase in his hips as he lifted Xavier onto the countertops, slamming his back against the slab of dark marble. He poured his frustration and longing into the exchange of heat and saliva, on the feeling of the other's flesh under his teeth and nails.
"Sylus, wait…" Xavier gasped. His fingers squeezed the silver hair in an attempt to take back control.
"What is it?" Sylus let out an impatient gruff. He bit down on his neck, causing the hunter to groan and squirm.
"I'm not… taking another day off to be ravished."
"You've slept long enough." Sylus looked up from where he was. His eyes seemed to gleam in a darker shade of red. "More than that, you'll make a pathetic man out of me."
"You are more than what you feel towards me." Xavier brushed a few stray strands from his face. Sylus sighed and leaned into his fingers, savoring the fleeting touch with eyes closed.
"I've been what I am for a long time, for what I was meant to be seen. It's getting hard to control the direction of what I should've become with the leeway you're granting me." Sylus licked the teeth mark on his neck. His fingers slipped under his shirt and stroked his sides. "And you're belittling my honesty."
"I'm not."
"Then, what?"
Xavier took a moment before he answered. "I, too, have my own fear."
Sylus stopped what he was doing. He threw him a curious look. "About?"
Xavier rolled his eyes. Seemingly impatient with him being clueless. "What do you think? Does this look like a conversation about my fear in general? Are you expecting me to tell you I fear the claw machine?"
He couldn't help the snort that escaped his nose. "Now, chill on the sass. But, is that right? Are you scared of the claw machine?"
Xavier huffed. "It's frustrating."
Sylus shook his head. That was actually cute. Enough to distract him about what he planned to do to him in his own kitchen earlier.
Sylus held his hands and pulled him to sit back down at the edge of the slab. He stood between the hunter's legs and leaned forward to kiss his cheek, he was gentle this time.
"Am I going to have to be patient or is today the right time to be vulnerable, totally unfiltered?"
"I think that'll be too much for now."
Sylus conceded with a light rumble escaping his lips. He wouldn't pry further. "Noted."
Xavier, somewhat still insisted on reassuring him, squeezed his hands. "At the very least, both of us knew the direction we were going to with… this—between us."
Sylus would lie if it didn't get his hopes up. "Slowly, then?"
A small smile of relief graced his lips. Xavier nodded. "Slowly."
It was rather anticlimactic. But he could settle for that. He could be patient, again, knowing that this was what Xavier wanted as well. That there was hope he could look forward to.
"Now, what? Are you really going to be spending the rest of the day sleeping again?"
"I wonder what makes you draw that conclusion." Xavier pursed his lips. He took out his phone and made a quick move with his thumb on the screen before he pushed his phone to Sylus' chest.
Sylus took the phone with furrowed eyebrows. He threw a glance at him before looking down at the screen.
It was a poster of a food festival that was being held at the square of Linkon City. He couldn't help the small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Are you asking me out on a date, little star?"
Xavier nodded. "And I could use a bit of support to help my tummy happy."
"Ah." A part of him wanted to bite his cheek, leaving his teeth mark for everyone to see. "It's my wallet you wanna go on a date with."
"Stop it. You're not appreciating me for trying." Xavier sulked. Sylus began to feel bad—almost—for teasing him when he was being genuine (without directly admitting it).
Sylus just couldn't stop himself from teasing him. He was too adorable not to be poked fun of. "So, are you taking a day off for this? Are you sure you won't be scorned at if someone from the workplace finds you?"
"I haven't taken any break this month. Things have finally calmed down. The fluctuations in the No Hunt Zone are receding to what it's supposed to be. Even if someone would scorn me, I deserve my days off."
"Oh, isn't that great? Good work, my admirable hunter." Sylus played with the hunter's bangs. An amused smile plastered on his lips, though his gaze softened.
"It's right. You deserve it. Even with all the threats looming over the city and without having you exhaust every drop of energy, Linkon is going to be able to survive," He continued, more as an afterthought.
Xavier narrowed his eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Sylus smiled. He pulled him closer with his hands wrapped around the waist. His lips grazed on his ear as he whispered, "You need to cherish yourself more with days off like this. Even the star would burn up at your rate."
Xavier linked his arms behind his neck, fingertips were gently scraping on his scalp, earning a soft purr from Sylus. "You're still worried? Like I said, even if it's not normal, I'm just sleeping. Sometimes, it's just longer than usual."
"The second you sleep is a timeless torment for me."
"Hmph." Xavier tightened his arms around his neck. He rubbed their noses together. "Clingy is unbecoming. And it's so corny."
"Oh, please." Sylus kissed the tip of his nose. His smirk grew wider. "There's more to come if you let me."
A smile cracked on Xavier's usual stolid face. Becoming more honest, he kissed Sylus' lips again, planting a few pecks at the heart-shaped, chapped flesh, admiring the taste. "I missed you."
The words stunned Sylus for a few second. He blinked as his eyes fell on Xavier's soft gaze that he knew by heart how that kind of look belonged only to him. Naturally, Sylus' face mellowed out with a smile that was a bit more sincere and less about being charming or playful like he used to wear.
"Now I know."