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Dannyl lay in bed staring at the ceiling, unable to fall asleep. The climb down from the ruins back to Dem Ladeiri's home had been exhausting, made worse by his inability to heal their aching muscles. The concentration required to traverse the canyons safely had meant there'd been little opportunity for discussion. On arrival, they'd retired straight to their rooms and Dannyl had slept as deeply as he ever had, not waking until late the following day.
When they'd eaten dinner with the elderly Dem, Dannyl had been unsure how much to reveal of what they had discovered. Thankfully Tayend cut in and explained that between the trek and the time spent exploring it had gotten dark and they'd decided it would be safer to wait until it was light again to attempt the descent. Plus an invented mishap with a fire and some dry grass almost plausibly explained his ruined robes and boots.
Tayend. They'd both retired early again, intending to leave at dawn to make up for lost time on the Ambassadorial tour. Dannyl could not get the man out of his thoughts. Finally telling someone had lifted a great weight from his shoulders, but there was still one thing he needed to know.
He sighed, sat up, and ran a hand over his hair. Was this a good idea? Creating a small globe light, he exited his room into the darkened corridor. Furniture and assorted curiosities cast deep shadows which shifted as he passed, only increasing his nerves. He reached what he thought was the correct door, and, checking that there was no one around, knocked quietly. His breathing was a little shallow and his heart was beating hard and quick. He took a deep breath to steady himself. The door opened a crack.
"Dannyl..? What are you doing? What time is it?" Tayend stifled a yawn.
"Can I come in?"
Tayend looked at him with a confused frown, then opened the door fully. Dannyl smiled grimly as he noticed him too look both ways up and down the corridor to check for watching eyes.
In the room a lamp burned and chair was pulled out in front of a writing desk covered in papers. He turned at the sound of the door closing and saw that the Scholar was wearing a fitted silk dressing gown, dark blue and embroidered with silver stars, and matching slippers. Dannyl couldn't help but smile, even in sleep Elynes felt the need to be fashionable. Tayend caught his eye then looked down with surprise.
"What is it?" Dannyl asked.
"Nothing," Tayend smiled. "It's just, I've never seen you in anything but robes before."
Dannyl felt suddenly self conscious of his nightshirt and bare feet. He gestured towards the lamp and desk. "Couldn't sleep?"
Tayend shook his head. "I thought translating a few more lines would tire me. Though clearly I am not the only one struggling." He looked at Dannyl expectantly.
"No." Dannyl's heart hammered so hard he was surprised the Scholar couldn't hear it. Before he could think better he blurted out the question that had been eating away inside of him for so long. "Who is it?"
"Who is what?"
"The person, the one you said you admire?"
Tayend let out a small laugh. "Dannyl it's the middle of the night!"
Dannyl took a small step closer. "Who is he?"
Tayend's cheeks flushed. "Dannyl..."
Unable to bear it a second longer Dannyl closed the space between them. He felt Tayend inhale and turn his face to look up at the taller man, eyes sparkling in the low light.
The closeness forced him to a whisper. "Is it me?"
The air seemed to still and time seemed to slow. Tayend opened his mouth as if to say something, then appeared to decide against it. His eyes darted from Dannyl's to somewhere else and for a moment he thought he'd made some terrible error. Mayrie must have been mistaken!
Then Tayend leaned in and kissed him. Dannyl's eyes instinctively fluttered shut. It was gentle, light, soft.
As suddenly as it started the lips pulled away and Dannyl blinked his eyes back open. Tayend gazed up at him. For a moment they were quiet and still. The Scholar's cheeks looked as warm as Dannyl's felt, and he cracked a small smile. Tayend let out a quiet laugh and smiled too, then lifted a fine, soft hand and brushed Dannyl's cheek. Then he kissed him again.
They stayed like that for a while, slow at first. Dannyl found his hands on a slim waist. And his breath hitched when he felt a tongue against his lips, his back against a cold wall.
Finally, Tayend pulled away again. They were both breathing heavily. The smaller man relaxed down off his tiptoes and leaned his head back, though his arms stayed wound around Dannyl's neck. A look of slight discomfort crossed his face.
Dannyl felt a slight flutter of panic. "Are you alright? Was that... was I...?"
Tayend laughed and laid a hand on the Magician's chest. "No, no, it's not that. You're too tall! I'm getting a crick in my neck!"
Dannyl laughed too, his heart fluttering. He felt light. "We'll have to get you a stool."
"Or you could levitate me?" Tayend joked, stifling a yawn.
Dannyl found himself yawning too. "I should go. We have an early start." He made for the door.
Tayend took his hand, that felt nice, right. Turning, Dannyl smiled and lent in for one more lingering kiss. "Goodnight Tayend."
"Goodnight, Dannyl." The Scholar squeezed his hand once before dropping it.
Dannyl returned to his room, still smiling, and fell into a sleep filled with red-blonde curls and soft lips.
