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Olruggio and Qifrey crashed through the door to the Atelier. It was far past midnight, and they were soaking wet. They had been out gathering herbs, and while they knew there was a chance of rain, they didn't expect the immense downpour that left Olruggio in charge of a miserable Qifrey. Qifrey stumbled towards the wall, arms clutched tight around himself, unable to clear his head. The faded memories suddenly felt so clear - his eyeball plucked from its socket and replaced with a seed that spread its roots throughout his body, growing tighter around his organs any time he got too close to Olruggio. The feeling of being totally surrounded by water, unable to escape, the water filling his ears and mouth, unable to sense his surroundings. He was drowning again.
He was drowning, until he felt a warm hand on his shoulder. He managed to open his eye to see his dear Olruggio crouched in front of him, where he had sunk to the floor. His eyes were wide and aware, a silent understanding of Qifrey's past. He moved his hand up to hold Qifrey's good side.
"It's okay. It's just the phantom pain now. You're not drownin', either."
Olruggio pulled his hand away, and dug into his bag, pulling out two rings. He put them together and started drying Qifrey, being careful not to startle him. Once he had succeeded, he turned them on himself, accidentally blasting his hair straight back and eliciting a chuckle out of Qifrey.
Both had been mostly dried now, only slightly damp where the fabric was thicker. Olruggio sat looking at Qifrey, resting on one hand. In his eyes, he could see all the years of pain, thanks, patience, love, and forgiveness in the tired gaze that never left the darker blue eyes. Olruggio leaned in closer, his hand moving to the other side of Qifrey's hip, letting him be closer. Qifrey placed his hand on his shoulder. Dragging it down Olruggio's chest, and back around to rest on his shoulder blade, Qifrey watched as his eyes only grew more focused and intense, despite the exhausting quest they had just returned from. He pulled him to sit closer, slowly beginning to undo the buttons on his shirt. He let his hand roam beneath the fabric. Down at first, running through the hair covering his chest, then with both hands - around his shoulders and slowly coming down again, watching Olly twitch as he lingered on his nipples.
Qifrey ran his hands back up, shrugging the blouse off Olly's shoulders, then moving up to gently cradle his neck, pulling him down for a lingering, deep kiss. Olruggio kissed back, deeper this time, before shifting to lay more on top of him. He pulled Qifrey's top up and over his head, before leaving a trail of kisses down his chest. He returned to his lips, slipping his tongue inside Qifrey's mouth.
Olruggio leaned back and helped himself and Qifrey rise. He helped Qifrey to bed, promising to continue later. For now, both of them needed to rest.