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Braun would never take advantage of his good friend. He only ever wanted what was best for Soleum. And that was clearly to return to Braun. He wouldn't even be upset if Soleum declined working on his show now. Soleum was entertaining no matter what he did. He just had to stay alive.
"Braun?" As always his good friend chose his words, and his thoughts, carefully.
[Yes, my friend?]
"How much longer do you want to stay like this?"
[Why, I could stay like this forever! Don't tell me you're getting tired of this Braun?]
"That's not it." Soleum tensed up. He seemed so much smaller when Braun wasn't trapped in that plushie.
The good friend plushie was suitable. It was cute and small enough for Soleum to carry it everywhere. That was what Braun liked about it. He could hear Soleum's heartbeat while in his shirt's pocket. Sometimes when Soleum struggled to go to bed he'd cuddle the plush. Soleum was pleasantly warm. Both during those late night cuddles and right now as he sat on Braun's lap.
Despite how concerningly thin the man was he radiated heat like a cat. Having Soleum on his lap was much better than having a cat. The way their thighs pressed together was so lovely. Soleum fidgeted a bit and Braun tightened his grip ever so slightly. Braun's hands fit so perfectly over Soleum's thighs, covering not only the front but also the sides. He always forgot how small Soleum was. Soleum took the form of a human after all.
"I mean, I'm worried about everyone, about stalling for too long." What a perfect cover!
His friend really knew exactly what to say to express that he didn't want to be here while tip toeing the line of not upsetting Braun. It was hard to hate Soleum for his self sacrificial nature. Such a dreadful trait but one that only made him appear more fragile.
Braun sometimes liked to fantasize about the idea of Soleum trying to sacrifice himself for his good friend. It reminded him of those delightful blood baths, the small sacrifices Soleum made for Braun out of friendship. Although Braun would make sure Soleum didn't go too far he still wanted to see how far Soleum would go.
[You're really too good for them, my dear friend!]
[If you're so concerned then you can leave anytime you want.]
[But the longer you put it off the more this Braun will grow lonely… Not to mention the interest will grow. Do you want your poor friend to be lonely?]
"There's interest?" Oh, right all Braun had told Soleum was that he expected the man to eventually pay him back.
[A very minuscule amount. An amount you won't even have to worry about as long as you keep your good friend in mind!]
In short Braun wanted Soleum to stay right now, that was all. Although the idea of Soleum accumulating a larger debt to the entity was tempting in its own right. Would Soleum's guilt push him to the point he'd go along with any of Braun's demands? An image of the pale man nude and tangled up in sheets flashed through his mind, breathless, red in the face. No. Bad. Friends. That's all they were. They were friends — but oh, sometimes Braun wished they were so more.
Those thoughts and fantasies were certain to bring scandal to Braun's career. So Braun forced himself to ignore them, like he always had. It wasn't the first time he'd had the urge to suddenly ruin his reputation over Soleum and it certainly wouldn't be the last. He had to focus at the situation at hand and guarantee that Soleum felt as attached to Braun as Braun did to him.
Perhaps, Soleum wasn't enjoying this as much as Braun because of the position? It did seem a bit awkward for the smaller man. Soleum was sitting up perfectly straight, a few inches away from Braun's abdomen. That didn't seem very comfortable at all.
This was something Braun could fix. He moved his hands down slightly and lifted Soleum up, rotating the man before pulling him closer. How lovely! Now Braun could see Soleum's rather pretty face. Braun was rewarded with a squeak from Soleum at the sudden movement. A noise so endearing Braun was certain it'd go viral if he had the chance to broadcast it. He was happy enough to keep the sound to himself.
"Braun?!" Soleum's voice was slightly muffled. Perhaps Braun had pulled him a bit too close, his friend's face was buried in his chest. Braun slid his hand to cup Soleum's nape and gently tugged him far enough away so his friend could breathe. Soleum's hands reached up to the larger man's shoulders to steady himself.
[You didn't seem quite comfortable earlier friend. I'm merely trying to help so both of us have an enjoyable time!]
"That isn't necessary." Now Soleum was even beginning to say the same things as Lee Jaheon. At least his words were more tentative and the tone was completely different from the logical, detached tone that bastard normally used.
[But it is! Did you think I was making you do this purely for my own enjoyment friend?]
Kim Soleum was silent. His chest touched Braun's whenever he took in a deep breath to steady himself. Braun didn't want to give him time to come up with another response which tip toed the line of what Braun found acceptable. Braun just wanted the truth — and if he didn't agree with the truth he'd help Soleum see the error in his ways.
[Do you really think so lowly of me friend?]
"No!" His response was hurried. Soleum had been acting more panicked around Braun recently. A fact which saddened the entity greatly. "I'm supposed to be repaying you. It should be something you enjoy, right?"
[And something you enjoy.]
[My, now you're making me feel foolish. I willingly took a financial loss in the hopes of strengthening our bond and making up for all the lost quality time we've had.]
[This friend knows how terribly stressed you are. And only wanted to give you a chance to relax with your friend. ]
Braun's hands dropped onto the arm rests. They were the only place he could put them without touching his beloved friend's body. He couldn't even put his hands down by his sides as Soleum's legs were there now, hanging off his lap.
Wouldn't it be lovely if the man wrapped his legs around Braun's waist? Then Braun could keep the man affixed by holding him up and the two could go everywhere together! The same as when Braun was in his good friend form. How Braun longed to bring Soleum everywhere, to keep him trapped and pressed to his chest in his shirt pocket. A world where their roles were reversed sounded absolutely delightful. Then his good friend wouldn't be allowed to leave.
[Do you really despise me that much Roe Deer?]
"That's…" The back of Soleum's neck was slightly red. He could be sick but more likely he was probably trying to get out of quality time with his friend. He was a workaholic afterall. Braun could understand. But Braun also always made time for his friends. "That's not it." Braun gave his friend plenty of time to finish his sentence.
[Then enjoy the time your friend Braun is giving you! Shall we watch some cartoons as well?]
Soleum was lucky to have such a good friend. Braun was prioritizing Soleum's comfort in every way possible. He wouldn't make the mistakes he made last time if his friend came back to his show. He would feed him excellent meals, cuddle him to sleep, and give him everything that his friend would have in a normal world. He'd let his friend pretend to be human.
"Alright," Soleum eventually agreed. Braun knew he would. He knew Braun had his best interests in mind after all! As Braun was his good friend. More likely he was agreeing to it just to pay off that debt from the Blood Broadcasting Station. Braun ignored that thought.
Despite Soleum not wrapping his legs around the host's waist, the TV host graciously picked him up. Soleum instinctively hugged Braun. He must be afraid of falling, not that Braun would ever drop him. It was easy to lift Soleum, he was light and small. Compared to the entity most humans were light and small.
Not to mention Soleum's butt fit perfectly in Braun's hands. Any part of Soleum's body fit perfectly in Braun's hands. It wasn't that the host was specifically focused on his but, that would be inappropriate — scandalous! Braun walked backstage into his private dressing room, he'd had a TV incase his friend stopped by again. Soleum could watch cartoons on Braun's face but his friend would likely feel uncomfortable with such a thing.
Braun could not afford a scandal. Maybe if Soleum accepted Braun's invitation to appear on his show then it'd be alright. Braun could help Soleum rise to stardom and once he reached a similar status to Braun they could have a wedding. The fans would be upset if someone as dazzling as Braun married a nobody!
On second thought it wasn't as if the fans had to know Braun married someone. It'd be for the better if they knew as if anyone looked at Soleum, after marriage, the same way many of his coworkers did (with such overwhelming adoration) Braun would incinerate them. Soleum wouldn't like that so the only other alternative was making it so no one could look at Soleum. Which actually sounded quite nice.
"Um… Braun?"
His friend was snug against his chest watching some cartoons. Braun should get some hot chocolate for him soon.
[Yes, my friend?]
Wouldn't this be lovely if it was their daily life? Soleum wouldn't even have to go to work. If he wanted to work at the Tuesday Night Quiz Show Braun was more than agreeable. It wasn't needed though, Braun had plenty of money for the both of them. He'd already proven himself to be a capable provider with how often Soleum took out loans from him.
"Nevermind, there was just a new expression on your face."
[One of utmost contentment I am sure! Afterall, there is no better way to spend an evening than with a good friend.]
"Yeah," Soleum's cheek was pressed against Braun's chest. They were in the type of pose lovers would be in, "Thank you. I think I may have needed something like this."
[But of course! What are good friends for?]
And if one day Braun decided to cross the line between friend and lover he'd make sure Soleum was prepared for it. To the point that the line had already been so blurred and pushed back so far Soleum would have no choice but to agree. Soleum would agree. He was the one who asked for such a good friend after all.