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Grian had just called the session end, and Etho was reading a book.
Grian had put in the breaks between each “session” of the Life Series so that all the players had the time to recharge their brain, a full day between the bloodbath that normally ensued where they stopped playing pretend and returned to being friends. A moment of reprieve, time to do something mindless or maybe even eat an actual meal—and Etho was reading a book.
He held it in just the right position where his hand obscured the cover, and Grian couldn’t read the title. He moved closer to try and see, but he still couldn’t quite make it out. Etho didn’t move a muscle as he climbed into the bed next to him, continuing to focus all of his attention on it even as Grian crawled into his lap and put his head on his shoulder.
Grian could ask what Etho was reading, sure, but that took all of the fun out of it. He could also ask Etho to stop reading and pay attention to him, but that was equally boring. So instead, he slowly began his game.
Cleo had left to spend time with the rest of the server, leaving the two of them alone. Their shared base was quiet for all except the sound of their breathing, neither of them saying a word as Grian shoved his way into Etho’s arms until he had finally positioned himself in a way where he could comfortably see the words, Etho only letting out a slight huff when Grian finally settled. He tilted his head in confusion as he finally caught sight of the book—
A manga.
Etho had stuck a manga inside of a normal book, hiding what he was doing like a 12-year-old meant to be doing their maths homework. He looked up at Etho in confusion, trying to discern the meaning of it—it wasn’t like Grian was any less of a nerd, his Batman comics sat proudly inside his off-world suitcase to read during these breaks. He had no clue why Etho would have any reason to hide what he was doing—for goodness’ sake, Scar was on the server, and Grian was pretty certain that nobody could ever hope to be as overbearing in their interests as him.
Etho finally looked down at him, squinting at his face as though trying to make sense of something, eyebrows knitted in concentration. Grian squinted back, tilting his head and feeling his wings present behind his back without his input. He tried smoothing them back down, but he could tell that the motion was not missed by Etho’s sharp eyes.
Grian looked back down at the manga, trying to identify it when Etho suddenly closed the book, moving it out of his reach. Grian narrowed his eyes at him, trying to reach for it, but he easily placed it on the shelf behind their bed before Grian could get it. Curse tall people, with their long arms, always able to keep things right above his head.
He shifted off of Etho to try and stand and grab it, but Etho easily pulled his legs out from under him and sent him tumbling back into the mattress. He let out a shout, grumbling into the pillow, but Etho’s arms easily wrapped around his waist and kept him trapped on his lap, glaring into his face.
Etho snickered at him, and all Grian could do for a few moments was pout at him. He showed no signs of relenting, so Grian merely crossed his arms and settled back down, continuing to watch Etho’s face.
He had no clue what he could be thinking—again, he could ask, but at this point it had become a challenge. Who would speak up first? It wouldn’t be Grian, he could tell you that much.
Etho stared back, his eyes crinkled at the edges in a way that he must’ve been smiling underneath the mask. He looked lost in thought, watching Grian’s face for all of its miniscule changes, the way his wings lifted and fell behind his back. He shifted himself on the bed and his hand brushed against his wings for a moment, and in that moment Grian felt himself falling, a purr immediately rising to his throat without his input.
Etho raised an eyebrow, and Grian felt his cheeks heating up. He tried to push himself away, but Etho held him in place easily (too easily, sometimes Grian couldn’t help but hate being so small). Etho slowly raised a hand up and put it on Grian’s back, right between his wings, and Grian melted.
Etho let out a little chuckle, beginning to move his fingers deftly through the rows of feathers. Grian grumbled, burying his face in Etho’s shoulder and letting himself relax into the touch. He felt himself growing more and more tired, thoughts slowly coming and going in his mind like a river lazily flowing downstream. He let out a soft breath, deciding to content himself with the easy stream of affection.
This was how breaks were meant to be spent, he decided. Not reading some boring book—or hiding what you were doing from your friends, but instead just spent here. In the end, he got what he wanted, Etho’s attention firmly settled on just playing with his wings and watching how he reacted as he slowly drifted off to sleep.
He would have to ask about that book in the morning, though.