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Chapter Text

Alfred brushed a sigh kiss against Sarah’s closed eye. Sleep always came so easily to her, whereas he still struggled bringing himself to do it at this time, even after spending the whole night awake. He let out a sigh, then turned around to adjust the pillows so he could comfortably sit up, before he pulled Sarah’s still body up to his chest. She was so warm from embracing him, that he could almost pretend she was still alive, only breathing very, very softly.
But he shouldnt. Alfred tightened his arms around her, pressing a gentle kiss to her head.

It was very rare for the count to sleep in a bed. But when he did, it was always with Alfred. Their bedroom was beneath the castle, small and windowless, haunted by dust and grime despite the attempts to make it inviting. Still he had come to appreciate it, both for the way it tricked him into thinking it was night, and for the count’s rituals which made their time here quite pleasant. His slow undressing, follwed by his redressing.
Sometimes he offered him wine over some quiet conversation. And sometimes he kissed him breathless, finishing with a thrilling bite.

Chapter Text

Herbert didn't sleep well in beds - he needed the tight embrace of a coffin to feel at-ease enough for a restful sleep. But of course, he didn't want to miss out on a kind of intimacy he could share with Alfred, so he did his best to do so anyway. After a few attempts, they managed to find a way to make it comfortable - for both of them.
Alfred would hold Herbert, who would take one end of the blanket into his hand, and then they would roll on the bed until they had wrapped themselves in a wonderfully soft fabric-cocoon, their bodies pressed flush against one another. Despite this, and the fact that they would both wear nothing but their thin sleep-clothes, Herbert always acted innocently, doing nothing but tightening their embrace and burying his head in Alfred's chest - a stark contrast to their usual time spent together. Sometimes he asked him to kiss him in a voice that was so soft - whether it was from sleep or shyness Alfred couldn't say - and after a moment of hesitation, he would press his lips to the pale crown of his head, eliciting a sigh he couldn't help but find lovely.