slipped along the way

[unmarred]

(from here)

So... up the stairs they go, mostly side by side. Mark lags by a step or two.

There is a persistent silence.



"I... didn't think you'd react the way you did," he says finally. "I mean, I thought you might—that there might be something there, but not that you'd actually."

Comments

[unmarred]

Mark hugs him.

[thisvorlunatic]

"I definitely did not expect this much of us crying on each other," Stalas mumbles.

[unmarred]

"It's okay. It's good. It's okay."

[thisvorlunatic]

"Yeah," he sighs. "Yeah."

Cuddles.

[unmarred]

Cuddles.

[thisvorlunatic]

Slightly weepy cuddles.

"I don't think I'll ever see my home again," Stalas murmurs. "I mean, never seeing my home again because I've moved to another planet is better than never seeing my home again because I was eaten by darkspawn... but..."

[unmarred]

"Yeah," Mark says softly. "I know what you mean. I don't have a home the same way, but I know what it means to you."

[thisvorlunatic]

Stalas hugs him tighter.

"It's comforting. To have someone who understands. Miles keeps saying you're not allowed in his club, but... I think you're allowed in mine."

[unmarred]

Well, now Mark is going to be crying into Stalas's chest some more.

[thisvorlunatic]

That's okay. That was pretty predictable.

[unmarred]

Yes, a bit.



"Thank you," he mumbles, eventually, when he can talk again. "Thank you, thank you... you're so good... shut the fuck up about my standards, I don't care, you're perfect, you're amazing, you're the best thing that's happened to me, I love you."

[thisvorlunatic]

"I... Ancestors, Mark, I don't know what to say. You're welcome? I like you, I care about you, I still think your standards are for shit but I understand them much better now..."

[unmarred]

Mark starts giggling helplessly. And sort of tearfully. Giggle-crying.

[thisvorlunatic]

Well. Okay. Good. Stalas will take that.

Snuggle.

[unmarred]

After a minute, the weepy giggles trail off. Mark hiccups.

[thisvorlunatic]

Stalas cracks up.

"That was just needlessly adorable."

[unmarred]

"It's not like I did it on purpose!"

[thisvorlunatic]

"Uh-huh."

The way they're curled up together, Stalas happens to be very well-placed to kiss Mark's forehead just now. It occurs to him to do, and he doesn't see any reason not to, so he does it.

[unmarred]

Mark closes his eyes and vents a sigh of deep contentment.

[thisvorlunatic]

A cozy silence ensues.

[unmarred]

Eventually, Mark murmurs, "I wanna kiss you again."

[thisvorlunatic]

"That sounds like a fine idea," says Stalas, and proceeds immediately to implementing it.

[unmarred]

Perfect. Warm cozy snuggly kisses. Not that Mark has many points of comparison here, but those are rapidly becoming one of his favourite kinds.

He sneaks a hand under the hem of Stalas's shirt.

[thisvorlunatic]

Stalas produces no objections. In fact he produces a grin.

[unmarred]

Mark grins back, heartened.

"Can I see?"