Hank rolled onto his back, panting happily. He held his hands above his face and examined their outlines. He was sorely disappointed that they weren’t glowing.
They should be glowing.
He lowered his arms.
I feel like I’m glowing.
Dave laid his head on his lover’s chest.
Hank closed his eyes and smiled. He relished every small detail.
The weight of Dave’s head.
His hair prickling Hank’s skin.
His breath ruffling Hank’s chest hair.
Then, Dave spread his hand above Hank’s heart.
Goosebumps broke out on his arms.
“I love you, babe. I really do.”
“I know, Hank. Love you too.”
Hank rubbed his hand up and down Dave’s back, loving every texture, every small detail, every single scar. “What do you think? We could just stay here and go to sleep. And hey. I have no objections. Or we could get ourselves all cleaned up and pay Isellta a visit.”
Dave popped his head up. “Oh! Oh! Can we please do the second one? Please! Please?”
Hank grinned. “I knew you wouldn’t be able to resist.”
“Haaank.” He sat up. “Are you jealous?”
“Always, babe. But, unlike before, I get it. I totally get it. Isellta is some pretty sweet stuff. And I don’t mean it like that. I mean…I don’t know. There’s just something about him.” He sat up. “Isellta’s a pretty boy, no doubt about it. But there’s something more. Some, I don’t know, vulnerability that just pulls you in.”
“Oh? Are you in love with him?”
Hank laughed. ‘When I have you? Never. Babe, I’m all yours.” He kissed him. “Come on. Let’s get ourselves all presentable.” He laughed again. “At least, as presentable as we can get this time of night.”
***
Maelin sat on the edge of the bed. “Jay? Preyuna knows that I’m here. What if she tells Caten?”
“Given how much she hates him, I can’t see her surrendering that information without a good reason. But what qualifies as a good reason for someone like her? She can’t stand you and she hates me. Maybe that would be reason enough.” He sat beside her.
She studied his expression. “What are you thinking?”
He shook his head. “I don’t know, Mae. I almost want to send you away again, but…”
“Isellta?”
He nodded. “If. If it happens. If Isellta doesn’t wake up. If he doesn’t. Doesn’t make it. I.”
“Don’t finish that thought, sweetheart. I understand.”
“Am I being selfish? Am I wrong to want you to stay just to comfort me?”
She leaned her head against his arm. “Wouldn’t I be selfish for leaving you at such a time just to protect myself? Besides, I would come back here eventually and the risk would still be there.”
“I know, but—-”
Someone knocked on the door.
“Who is it?”
“Forty-two drunk Jedis go scuba diving.” Hank said.
“And they do it stark naked.” Dave chimed in.
Jay grinned. “Door’s unlocked. Come on in.”
The door opened and Dave burst into the room. He ran full speed at the bed.
Jay and Maelin quickly got off before they could be bounced off.
Dave jumped on the bed and crawled over to the unconscious fey. “Oh, so he’s still out.”
Hank strode over to the bed. “Dave! Remember what I told you.”
“I know. I know. No inappropriate touching or licking. And absolutely no kissing.”
“Good.”
“Hey.” Jay patted Hank’s back.
“Hey. Any sign that he’s getting better?”
Jay looked down at Isellta. “I wish I could say yes. I wish I could…I wish. Hank, I’m losing him. Slowly but surely, I’m losing him and all I can do is stand here helpless. I can’t do a thing to help him.”
“What can I do, Jay?”
“I don’t know.” He focused on Isellta. “I don’t think there’s anything left. Yeah, we’re waiting for Robin to show up on Sunday and he is going to show up. But if that doesn’t work—”
“Ooo! Robin’s coming on Sunday?” Dave rubbed his hands together. “This is wonderful! I’ll finally be able to meet this mysterious scarred man of Doll Face’s. I’ll be able to judge for myself just how hot he is in real life.”
Hank sighed. “I swear you’re going to be the death of me.”
“Oh, come on! Like you aren’t aching to meet him too?”
“I don’t think ‘aching’ is the correct word choice.”
Dave waved his hand in a dismissive gesture. “Close enough.”
Hank laughed, despite himself. “Come here, you.”
Dave crawled over to him. He sat back on his feet and looked up at him.
“Yeah.” Hank said warmly. “Totally going to be the cause of my death.”
“I hope not. That would be awful. I don’t know how I’d—”
Hank kissed him. “It’s a figure of speech, babe. I didn’t mean it literally.”
“Ohhhh.” He smiled a bright and happy smile. “That makes me feel so much better. So! Robin’s coming on Sunday. He’ll give Doll Face the kiss of life and everything will be back to normal, right?”
Hank looked back at Jay. “Is he right?”
Jay shrugged. “I don’t know. I wish I could say yes, but I honestly don’t know if Robin’s coming here will accomplish anything.”
Maelin laid her hand on Jay’s back. Her magic leeched into him, stealing away some of his anxiety.
He smiled at her. “But we’ll see.”
ambroseandelsie 