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Cider picked debris out from the small spaces of their prosthetic leg. Their fingers were nimble as they poked and prodded at the loose pebbles and other junk that was hindering their performance. They grumbled to themself as they worked, annoyed at their most recent failure.
Admittedly, they were really just trying to kill time. Bored, Cider was looking for anything to pass the time while their favorite ranger was out on their expedition. They had wasted a fair amount of time letting Karl regale them with stories from his many years alive and Cider thoroughly enjoyed what he had to say. They were still young. They knew they had some growing up to do and speaking with Karl always reminded them of that fact.
But Cider's attention was drawn by a flash of light in the adjacent room. They knew what that meant; Rook was back. A jolt of excitement rippled through Cider's form. With haste, they slipped their prosthetic leg back on and buckled it in place. They stood, taking a moment to test and see just how well they were moving. Crouching, jumping, and walking were no obstacle now. Everyone around the fire watched as Cider bounded excitedly to Uchawi's chamber.
The first thing Cider saw was Rook's form, collapsed on the ground. It took them a minute before they finally pushed themself upright, sitting up on their knees. They looked up at Uchawi, who imparted some gentle encouragement upon them, before getting to their feet. When they turned, they saw Cider entering the room.
“How'd it go?” Cider asked as they closed the space between themself and Rook. The latter shook their head in disappointment.
Cider sighed, mostly to convey their sympathies for Rook's incomplete mission. The rogue knew that persistence was key and they were no stranger to giving the expeditions a shot.
“It's alright,” Cider smiled behind their mask despite Rook not seeing it. They didn't care if Rook could see their expressions, the ranger made Cider happy and they could tell Rook already knew.
Rook reached out for the rogue. Cider responded by moving closer and holding their hands out. Rook took them, reveling in the warmth Cider's touch brought. At least, warmth in one hand. The other was cold, a replica of what should naturally be there. Rook didn't mind.
No words were exchanged. Rook had nothing to say and neither did Cider. They just stood, quiet, hand-in-hand. A small moment of intimacy between the two before Rook let Cider have their hands back. Rook was smiling as they motioned to Cider that they were leaving the room. They started out, Cider close behind.
*~*
Rook had been gone for quite some time. They made it known that they would be going into the library below, the place they spent most of their time. They were a loner, Cider had learned that pretty early on. But even so, they eventually came back after an hour or two. Three had passed and there was no sign of the ranger.
Curious, Cider decided to investigate. They left their spot by the fire and made their way to where they could drop into the museum. They did so, landing softly in the room below.
To the average observer, Rook was nowhere to be seen. But Cider was far from the average observer, especially when it came to looking for Rook. The two were very similar in that they had a knack for disappearing. However, it takes one to know one. Cider got to work searching.
Surprisingly, it wasn't hard to find Rook. They were curled up on one of the small couches that adorned the library. Cider saw the dark red and brown fabrics of Rook's clothing in the dim light and approached, expecting a reaction. There was none.
When Cider drew near, they could see Rook's shoulder faintly rising and falling. Rook's back was to Cider, so they couldn't tell what exactly the ranger was doing.
“Rook?” Cider asked quietly, worried about scaring their friend. When there was no reaction, they got closer, stopping at the edge of the couch. Cider was looking down at Rook, watching the gentle rise and fall of their shoulders. Were they asleep?
The rogue reached out and put a hand on Rook's arm, over the thick fabric of their cloak. Cider heard them make a faint noise in response but that was all. Curiosity was getting the better of Cider. Without disturbing Rook, they managed to turn their body just enough to see their face.
Cider was taken aback at first. They had never seen Rook's face. At least, nothing above the nose. Their hood and the shadow it created usually blocked Cider's view, but now, there was nothing hiding Rook's face.
They were soft, the features of Rook's tanned face. Their black hair was tousled, presumably from moving in their sleep. From behind and between their obsidian strands, Cider could see their closed eyes. The first thing Cider noted was that Rook had long eyelashes.
“Oh…” Cider mumbled. They stared down at the sleeping ranger, taking in the scene. They had to admit, Rook was cute. Especially in such a vulnerable state. Cider compared the sight to a kitten napping.
Rook stirred before their eyes cracked open. They gazed around the room in a daze before their eyes focused on Cider.
“Oh…hey.” Rook mumbled, rubbing their eyes. It seemed that Rook wasn't particularly distraught about Cider seeing their face.
Cider nodded, still staring at Rook. They watched the ranger sit up before reaching up and stretching, their body shaking a little from the effort. They yawned.
“Did I fall asleep..?” Rook asked, running a hand back through their already messy hair in an attempt to move it out from their vision. They succeeded and Cider was met with Rook's brown eyes. The light caught them at the perfect angle, the shade turning to that of amber. Cider's eyes widened behind their mask. Rook was beautiful.
“Uh, yeah,” Cider stammered, smitten. They felt like they were doing a bad thing, looking at Rook unmasked, but they didn't want to look away. They were afraid that if they did, they would forget what Rook looked like. They debated whether or not to tell the ranger about the lack of anonymity.
Before Cider could even say anything, Rook was already reading their mind. “I know.”
“Oh. Okay.” Cider nodded.
Rook donned their cloak again, transforming it from blanket back to clothing. However, they left the hood down. Cider forced themself to look away and stop staring. Even though Rook didn't seem to mind, Cider felt rude. Normally, they wouldn't care as much as they did, but Rook was special to them. They didn't want to accidentally offend them.
Eventually, Cider found their voice, and they used it to compliment Rook. “You're, uh, very pretty. Handsome. Fuck.”
Rook laughed. Normally, their smile would lighten Cider's spirits, but now, it left them struggling to find the right words to say. It was insane how such a simple gesture could make the rogue stumble over their words. And the laugh…that riled up something within Cider.
“Thank you…” Rook's face was red, presumably from the attention. They twiddled their thumbs and looked down to watch, avoiding eye contact. It had been a long time since anyone had seen Rook's face. They favored their anonymity but they trusted Cider. More than that, they were unabashedly in love with the rogue but they didn't know how to put it into words without sounding desperate. They hoped their actions were speaking for them.
And they were, to an extent. Cider was piecing together the puzzle, they had an idea that Rook took some kind of interest in them, but they were trying to decipher friendliness from attraction. Cider knew how they felt, though, they just hoped Rook shared the sentiment. However, Cider hadn't said anything. They were too busy second guessing Rook's intentions.
“Uhm…” Rook looked up at their friend. “Cider?”
“Yeah?”
Rook swallowed around a lump in their throat. They instinctively went to pull their hood over their head, to hide, but they resisted the urge. “I think I need to tell you something.”
Cider's heart skipped a beat and their stomach dropped to the floor. They had no doubt that Rook only had good things to share, but the moment was getting too intense for their liking. Cider wanted to flee but they forced themself to stay put. “What is it?”
Rook pursed their lips for a moment before speaking. “So…I know we've been spending a lot of time together…a-a-and I don't have a problem with that!” Rook added quickly. “But…I think there might be an ulterior motive here.”
“What do you mean?” Cider questioned. Rook's wording made it sound like there was something more sinister at play.
Rook stared at Cider. “I just…” The ranger wrung their hands together. “I…I really like you, Cider. I want to be more than just a friend to you.”
Cider's eyes widened a little, Rook being none the wiser. To the ranger, Cider's face was stoic as always. They were grateful for the mask at this moment. Cider had an idea this was where the conversation was headed because they had played this scenario over in their mind repeatedly except, in this reality, it was Rook confessing to them. Cider felt a few emotions. The first one was happiness. Something within them felt giddy and light-hearted, not unlike a child. The second was akin to longing. The two had danced around the prospect of a relationship for a while now, Cider just wanted Rook. The final was what Cider assumed was love. They couldn't precisely name the emotion, but it made butterflies sprout in their stomach. They hadn't felt this way for a very long time.
“Really?” That was all Cider could think to say.
Rook nodded. They reached out for the rogue, aching for a physical distraction from the intensity of the conversation. Cider stepped closer and took Rook's hands in theirs like they had been doing. It was apparent that neither was very good with their emotional regulation, both feeling incredibly stressed by the confrontation. They took a moment of silence to let the dust settle and to just enjoy the other's company. It felt like nothing had changed but, in reality, the two's relationship had just been flipped upside down. But not in a negative way.
After a few seconds had passed, Cider moved even closer, taking a seat beside Rook. They stacked Rook's hands on top of one another and placed them on their thigh. Rook stared at the placement of their hands in shock before disguising the emotion. Cider noticed it in the brief interim, though.
“Don't act so surprised.” The rogue joked with their flustered friend.
Rook scoffed. “I'm not..!”
“Yeah, you are.”
Another scoff. Rook pulled their hands away defiantly and, immediately, both of them missed the touch. Rook put a hand back on Cider's thigh. The warmth was welcome on both ends.
A comfortable silence fell over the two. Rook stole glances at Cider when they thought they wouldn't be noticed, but Cider was keenly aware of what Rook was doing. They turned to face Rook but said nothing.
Hesitantly, Rook reached up with the hand not pressed to Cider's thigh and brushed their fingertips against the cool material of their mask. They followed the crack that crossed over Cider's right eye before they traced down the side of the mask. Cider's eyes were intensely watching Rook's hand, anxiety starting to swell within them. They hadn't shown their face to anyone at the Hearth.
“May I?” Rook asked, fingers poised to curl around the edge of Cider's mask.
Cider sat silently for a moment longer, contemplating. The mask gave them a sense of security since their near-death experience but they trusted Rook. Surely it would be okay?
Cider nodded.
Rook was taken aback momentarily. They hadn't expected Cider to actually agree. Slowly, Rook pulled Cider's mask up just enough to reveal their lips. Cider's vision was blocked but they expected to see again once Rook removed the mask. But that never came. Instead, Cider sat as Rook stared. They could make out a faint scar that crossed across both of the rogue's lips. The ranger inhaled deeply before letting the air out. They leaned in and pressed their lips against Cider's.
Surprised, Cider's body went rigid. This was the last thing they expected but they couldn't say that they were disappointed. Rook kissed Cider and, eventually, Cider kissed back.
Rook's lips were soft. Cider could pick up on a sweetness they didn't expect; it was probably from the last thing Rook ate. It wasn't unwelcome. Cider's, meanwhile, were warm. Hot, even. The blood that had rushed to their face was the culprit but Rook liked the feeling. It reminded them that this wasn't just a dream.
Rook was the first to pull away. They smiled to themself and gently lowered Cider's mask back into place. “That's all I wanted. Thank you.”
Cider, with their sight back, stared directly at Rook, manners be damned. They couldn't believe it. Most people, given the opportunity, would've probably torn that mask from Cider's face. But not Rook.
“You didn't take it off..?” Cider asked quietly, their gaze softening as Rook reached over to brush some of their orangey hair away.
“No. I know that you'll show me when you're ready.” Rook responded. “I won't rush that.”
Cider couldn't find the words to say. They were used to putting up a strong front, especially with the crowd they used to hang around. But here was Rook, breaking down every single defense they had built.
“Thanks…” Cider mumbled. They adjusted where their mask sat before huffing and reaching out, taking Rook by the face. They quickly lifted the mask again and pulled Rook in, their lips connecting once again.
There was more passion in the kiss this time. Cider led and their enthusiasm was evident. Rook blinked in surprise but was quick to reciprocate, matching Cider's energy. They continued to keep a hand on Cider's thigh while the other fell to rest on the rogue's lower back. Rook felt one of Cider's hands relocate to their chest and push. The kiss broke as Rook followed Cider's lead and lied back on the couch. Cider slowly crawled over them, settling with their legs spread around their body, one by each hip.
Rook pulled Cider back in for another kiss, the rogue's body lowering and coming to rest lying against Rook's. The ranger's arms wrapped around Cider's thin waist and held them close while Cider idly twirled Rook's hair around their fingers. It was soft and slipped between Cider's digits easily.
When the two pulled their lips away from the other, they were both in a daze. Rook breathed quietly as they examined their current predicament. This was the closest Rook had ever been to Cider and they were enjoying every second of it. Feeling the rogue's weight and warmth held against them was comforting. Meanwhile, Cider slipped their mask back into place and watched Rook carefully, gauging their reactions. It seemed that they were currently at ease, which was good. The last thing they wanted was for Rook to be uncomfortable.
“This is nice,” Rook commented, letting their head fall back against the couch.
Cider nodded in agreement and lowered their head to Rook's chest. They listened to the beating of Rook's heart, the sound of it almost like a lullaby lulling Cider to sleep. They blinked slowly, trying to fight off the sleepiness. Rook looked down at the rogue once they placed their head on the ranger's chest. They smiled.
“Are you tired?” Rook asked, moving an arm from around Cider's waist and running their hand back through Cider's short hair. Cider leaned into the touch.
“A little bit.” They answered honestly, not lifting their head to address Rook. They simply continued to drink in the sound of Rook's heart and the feeling of their chest rising and falling with each breath.
“Sleep.” Rook continued to run their hand through Cider's hair comfortingly as they spoke.
Cider nodded faintly. They didn't respond, just closed their eyes and took a deep breath in before exhaling heavily. They could smell the forest on Rook's clothing, the wet dirt and earthy scent of the trees. It helped to bring Cider a little closer to sleep.
Still smiling, Rook let their head fall back a second time. They closed their eyes and let the sound of Cider's soft breathing soothe them, leading them gently back to sleep.