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Pantalone pulls Dottore’s face onto his lap while the other man soundly sleeps. He has to do it gently because he remembers Zandik, from the few times he slept over as a light sleeper. But 35 or Omega is not his Zandik, not quite, not really. Regardless he traces those familiar facial features slowly, softly and with a tenderness that he is certain the other man rarely...if ever has experienced prior. Mainly due to the walls the man had built, a labyrinth painstakingly built from survival and pride.
Maybe Pantalone would be the first person to see his way out of its cumbersome winding paths. He is holding on by a thread for a way out, trying to find the heart of both monster and man. If Zandik ever let Pantalone, he would protect the softness he can sense in him from time to time with great reverence. That never happens, so he stands abruptly at the gateway of the maze of the great Dottore's heart.
No matter.
Pantalone continues to stroke Dottore's face gliding his hand into the other man’s silken hair. Somewhere between the scalp massage and a thumb on his cushioned upper lip, Dottore wakes up. He wants to jolt up to tell Pantalone to stop prodding on him while he’s trying to sleep but restrains himself due to curiosity.
The adoration in Pantalone's hands reminds him of the times he’d wake to the dark haired man cuddling into him. Sometimes nuzzling into his neck despite being the taller one. Dottore doesn’t fully understand why Pantalone feels the need to do this. But he’s sure that he can humor him. After all, he doesn’t mind it with how soothing it is and he appreciates the seemingly rapt attention he’s getting despite pretending to still be sleep. He also knows Pantalone humors him and his other selves with many of the things they do to him.
Begrudgingly Dottore accepts just wants to spend more time with him in every incarnation. It must be quite the ordeal for Pantalone but he takes it in stride. 35 doesn’t understand how Pantalone is so patient with him, especially 8 and 18. 8 is 8, and 18 is haughty and insufferable. Pantalone almost always engaged with them with a soft smile. So Dottore will graciously allow Pantalone's rough slender fingers exploring. Allowing himself to fully lean into rugged elegance of his partner.
It stops almost as soon as he acknowledges it. A gentle exhale escapes Pantalone as he gracefully eases back into the bed. He kisses Dottore on both of his eyelids, nuzzles his face into Dottore’s neck, and wraps his arms around the shorter man's waist. This all happened with a routine ease that made Dottore assume this might be an ordinary experience for the dark haired man.
The other man seemingly goes back into a peaceful slumber. However, 35 is left awake for awhile. Gentle touches in the dead of night, with no real gain to Pantalone. What would even be the point? He finally opens his eyes and watches the easy breathing of his partner. He lets that soothe him to sleep though not as restful as before with the questions rushing through his mind. It was enough, for now.