Work Text:
The door leisurely opened, a faint creak bouncing off the wall. Martyn lazily turned his head toward the door, his eyes still kept closed.
“Martyn?”
He blinked open his eyes, his attention moving over to the familiar voice. A light grin pulling at the edge of his lips.
“Ayup Ren.” He responded, his voice low and breathy.
Ren returned the smile, his eyes scanning over Martyn for a moment before he stepped toward the cot. Martyn silently watched as Ren approached, his tail delicately swaying behind him as he walked. It had been one of his first oddities that Martyn noticed.
Ren exhaled, the bed shifting under his weight as he sat down. Martyn turned his head away, his attention facing up toward the ceiling. A comfortable silence rested throughout the room, everything completely still.
A shiver was sent down Martyn’s back, Ren’s attention darting over to him for a moment.
“You alright…?” Ren whispered, an affectionate smile plastered on his face.
Martyn snickered in response. “Yeah, I'm good.” Martyn turned over onto his side, his face inches away from Ren’s side. Ren glanced over, gently wrapping his arm around Martyn’s shoulders. Martyn looked up toward him, his eyes locking onto the jagged scar around his neck.
Ren readjusted, his fingertips lightly brushing against the back of Martyn’s neck. His shoulders tensed slightly. Ren used his strength to inch Martyn closer to him, at least enough for their shoulders to touch. Martyn followed the motion, moving his head to a resting position against his collarbone.
“Are you sure you are alright?” Ren murmured, his words muffled by Martyn’s hair.
At some point Martyn had reached up and began cautiously tracing the scar placed on Ren’s neck. Martyn swiftly pulled his hand back, a shock sent through his body.
“I’m sorry.” Martyn blurted out, moving his hand back down to his side ashamedly.
Ren sympathetically smiled, his hand moving up from Martyn’s shoulders to his cheek, cupping it tenderly.
“Martyn. You can continue, you just seemed… out of it so I was concerned.”
Martyn returned the smile, refusing to let himself continue and instead lying his head back against the other's chest.
Silence laid still in the room, nothing but the sound of the two’s soft breaths. After what feels like hours pass, Martyn speaks up.
“Ren?”
“Hm?”
“What was death like…?”
The words bounce through the room, no one daring to speak.
“I… I don't know how to describe it.” Ren responds, his voice substantially low. Inaudible if he wasn't right next to Martyn’s ear.
“Oh great, that helps a lot. Thanks.” Martyn jokes, awkwardly laughing to try and break the tension filling the room.
Ren responds with a small chuckle, leaning his head back the slightest bit. Ren’s eyelids grow heavy as he tries to savor this small moment of peace he gets to share with Martyn.
“Why are you asking anyway?” Ren asks curiously, looking down at Martyn.
Martyn's demeanor shifts, his muscles stiffening as the words come out of Ren’s mouth. Ren carefully ran his fingers through his blonde locks, gently scratching his scalp. His hair smells of pine and faintly of blood, faint stains of it in his ends.
“I’m just…” Martyn pauses, his body tight. “Scared…?” Martyn continues, his voice almost one of a light sob.
“Martyn, It’s gonna happen to everyone here eventually.” Ren attempts to comfort him, wrapping both his arms tightly around his torso.
Martyn altered his position, his face pressing into the crook of Ren’s neck. Everything began to meld around him, slowly losing the ability to think straight.
Ren panically held him, unsure of how to comfort him at this moment.
“Just let it out… you’re safe.” He reassuringly spoke, his voice barely above a whisper.
As time passed, Martyn melted into Ren’s arms and fell asleep. Ren stayed awake a little longer, watching intently over Martyn just in case. Ren grazed his shirt, the fabric moving with the motion of his hand. Soon, he couldn't hold his eyes open any longer and fell asleep holding the other.
The moonlight peeked through the windows, casting a faint glow over the two. Martyn stirred throughout the night, never quite fully waking up until early morning. As everyone else awoke and began rustling around and starting their duties, Ren rose to a conscious state.
As Ren opened his eyes, Martyn began waking up as well. Martyn let out a groggy groan, his muscles sore from the position he slept in.
Ren planted a gentle kiss against his hair, rubbing his hand up and down along his back in a short, fluid motion.
“Morning, It’s time to get to work.” Ren teased, his voice rough from slumber. Martyn let out an annoyed sigh, smiling.
“C’mon… Can’t we relax a little longer?” He joked back, wrapping his arms around Ren’s neck playfully. The brunette curls brushed against his hands as he tangled his arms behind Ren’s neck.
“I wish, but we have duties laddie.” Ren replied, returning to his terrible and forced pirate-like accent.
Martyn chuckled, putting on his fake accent in return. “I guess you’re right m’lord…”
The two’s accents fell as they laughed, Martyn buried his face in Ren’s chest as he giggled. The two sat in a peaceful moment of bliss before they actually got to work.
“Alright enough of this, we actually have stuff to do!” Ren tried to sound serious, his voice still flooded with a hint of liveliness. Martyn nodded before the two got up, beginning to get ready for another day of defense and preparation.