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"You're doing worse than usual, dude!" iTrapped playfully elbows Ellernate in the ribs, laughing at him.
The three are over at Caleb's house, playing video games and having fun. It's become a regular occurrence at this point. Just… meeting up and enjoying each other's company.
"Haha, yeah right." Ellernate tries to bite back, but his voice is a little more subdued than normal. Doesn't have the strength it usually does.
iTrapped and Caleb share a worried glance. (They aren't really supposed to care. That's vulnerable. Only weak men do that. And yet…)
The round ends quickly.
Ellernate lets out a quiet groan, putting down his controller. "I think I'm done. I'll just watch you two play."
"What, sore loser?"
"Nah, I…" Ellernate growls under his breath. He leans back into the couch, trying to think of a way to save face while also not being vulnerable. "My head just hurts a lil', that's all." He fails.
Caleb fluffs up his wings subconsciously. "You could, uh.. You could rest in my bed if you want? I could turn off the lights and make it all nice and dark." He really hopes Ellernate doesn't know how special that offer is. (He doesn't want to think about why he made that offer in the first place.)
Ellernate's tail twitches against the cushions. "It's chill. I still wanna hang out."
"…Alright."
.
.
.
Ellernate is on their laps.
I repeat, Ellernate is on their laps.
At some point, it went from him leaning back into the couch to leaning on them to laying on them. His head in Caleb's lap, his legs over iTrapped.
The game had been paused long ago. They hadn't even changed the channel - just waited there with baited breath, as if any noise could break the spell, taking in the moment.
"Holy shit," iTrapped whispers after a while, eyes glued to Ellernate's face. The demon almost looks asleep. (It'd explain… this.) "I can't believe this is happening."
Caleb gulps, hand resting on Ellernate's shoulder. "I can't believe it either." His wings twitch in a mix of nerves and awe.
It's not… they're not usually this… affectionate. Usually they'd only touch each other when cramped together in a crowded train or subway - only doing so out of necessity.
Not because they didn't want to… but-
Caleb and iTrapped share a glance. They're both blushing a lot. Maybe if Caleb wasn't so focused on the feeling of Ellernate on his legs, he'd take a moment to appreciate iTrapped's face.
Maybe if they lived in a better world, one where they could be honest with themselves, one where they could be honest with each other - maybe Caleb could get iTrapped to blush like that whenever she wanted. She could push her around, make her laugh and yelp and scream. Maybe they could all cuddle like this daily. They could all be in her nest, warm and soft and part of her territory. Maybe they could even do more.
As it stands now, though, Ellernate is in their laps.
As much as it breaks Caleb's heart, he can't just sit there in good conscience and let this keep happening. This is still unusual. Maybe Ellernate doesn't even want this.
Caleb's grip on his shoulder tightens, very slowly shaking him. "'Nate, are you… sure?"
"Mm.." The demon's closed eyes squeeze, looking displeased.
"You can still go in my nest," Caleb offers, the feathers on his back fluffing up at the idea.
Some weird sort of rolling sound emanates from Ellernate's throat. "pl'se lemme have this…" He mumbles, voice sounding like he's almost on the verge of tears.
Caleb's shocked into silence. Did she hear that right?
He looks at iTrapped's face. He has the same expression as Caleb does, so.
"Did I hallucinate that?" iTrapped asks under his breath, almost on the cusp of a laugh.
Caleb can't stop smiling. "No. No, you didn't."
Caleb's grip stays tight. Anything to keep this moment, this memory, this feeling. His heart beats wildly in his chest, and he has a sneaking suspicion iTrapped's is too.
It's silent.
They stay silent, to not break the illusion.
It's so silent, except…
"Wait," iTrapped breathes, going to tug at Caleb's arm. "Do you hear that?"
It's that same rhythmic sound that Ellernate was making. So soft and sweet, making a weird tight feeling pulse in his chest.
"Is he purring?"
He is.
If they could blush any harder, they would. Not only does Ellernate feel safe enough to sleep around them, he purrs too?
(Yes, of course, that would make sense. That's the only reason he avoids getting too comfortable. Nothing else. There are no other feelings there. None at all.)
"I think this is the best day of my life."
"I…" Caleb can't believe he's about to say this. "…shit, man. Me too."
Ellernate's face looks so cute like this. A wavering smile, flushed cheeks, rumbling so sweet. It's perfect. He's perfect. After a moment, he nuzzles in closer.
Caleb breathes. Very carefully, he evens out his breathing, trying to force down his smile. He needs to keep his composure. That beautiful sound is going to make him do something stupid. Something like dragging iTrapped closer, something like wrapping his wings around them, something like finally giving in and leaning forward for that kiss. Something like saying I love you.
Even still, they both bask in the moment.
That sound. Fuck, that sound.
Ellernate's never been so vulnerable with them before.
It's driving him crazy, Caleb feels almost dizzy from it. And he can tell iTrapped's feeling the same way - their faces mirror each other, both wide eyed and warm all over.
iTrapped looks at him. "Holy shit. Right?"
Holy shit indeed.