Work Text:
Waking up in a new place was always strange for Dorian. Sleeping rough was one thing, but an unknown interior with unfamiliar surfaces and no sense of the air outside gave him a sense of vertigo.
The body pressed against his chest was a whole different kind of new. Orym had stayed tucked close to him, the lithe lines of his limbs pressing him down like the sweetest gravity. Their hands were still loosely tangled together. Orym’s head was nestled under Dorian’s chin.
Maybe if I stay perfectly still, Dorian thought, he won’t know I’m awake, and I can feel his eyelashes on my neck forever.
Dorian should’ve known that his friend was too observant for that. Orym’s eyes fluttered open, and Dorian felt a warm puff of breath against his skin.
Orym stirred to look up at him. “You’re awake.”
Dorian nodded. “I usually get up to watch the sun rise. I don’t think I can do that from the tower, though.”
Orym smiled, his face just visible in the hazy twilight of the room. “Probably not. But you might just see a sunrise on the moon before we’re done.”
Dorian brightened. “I hadn’t thought of that!”
“It’s a whole new world out there, Dorian.”
“It certainly is.”
They lay in the quiet stillness for a moment. Orym was still curled up against him.
“I meant what I said last night, you know.”
“Oh?” Dorian hoped his voice hadn’t squeaked. He cleared his throat. “Which part?”
“All of it, really. I should’ve told you all of this a long time ago. I just,” Orym sighed. “Everything has always been so heavy. I didn’t want to burden you with this, on top of everything else.”
“Orym,” Dorian held Orym’s chin in his hand, tilting his face up to meet his gaze. “If that’s a burden, it’s one I would gladly carry, to the end of my days.”
Orym flushed scarlet. It was a good color on him.
Dorian was sure he was no better, his face warm from the attention of Orym’s wide eyes. He brushed a pink cheek with a blue thumb. “Does that settle your mind?”
Orym buried his face in Dorian’s chest and groaned. “How are you real?” His voice was slightly muffled. “You just. You just say stuff like that.”
Dorian laughed. “You’re one to talk. You really stole my thunder last night.”
Orym lifted his head. “What?”
“You did! Here I am, knocking on your door, ready to finally tell you how I feel, and you confess before I even get a chance.”
Orym frowned. “I really was working up the nerve to go to your room.” He sighed, rolling onto his back. “It took me a long time to even get that far, though. You’re a lot braver than I am, Dorian Storm.”
“That can’t possibly be true.”
“It is, though.” Orym flushed again. “I spent so much time telling myself I could just look out for you. I would watch you sleep, when we were on the road together. I liked to think it was to keep you safe, but. Maybe I just like to look at you.”
“Oh.”
Orym winced, looking away. “I hope that’s not too weird.”
“I don’t think so. Hey,” Dorian rubbed lightly along Orym’s back. “You don’t have to stop. You can watch me. And I’ll watch you. Otherwise, when are you supposed to rest?”
Orym blinked at him. Slowly, giving him plenty of chances to stop, he leaned into him. Dorian tilted his head to meet him and, at last, they were kissing.
As they kissed, Orym rolled them over until he was lying on Dorian’s chest. The kiss deepened with the new angle, Orym’s small tongue dipping in to trace against Dorian’s. Dorian made a soft, needy noise in the back of his throat.
Orym froze, and pulled away from him. Dorian panicked.
“Oh no. I’m sorry. I ruined it. I didn’t–I mean, that–”
“Shh,” Orym leaned up and kissed Dorian’s forehead. “You didn’t ruin anything.”
Dorian blushed violet. “Oh. That’s, uh. Good?”
“I just,” Orym ran a hand along his shoulder. “I don’t want to rush you.”
Dorian’s face broke into a soft smile. “I appreciate that. Really, I do. It’s tricky, when we don’t know how much time we have.”
“Yeah,” Orym’s fingers traced Dorian’s cheek.
Dorian ran a hand through Orym’s hair, marveling at how much it had grown since they met. “You know I haven’t seen much of the world. You’ve been there for most of it. And love is something that I may not ever fully understand.”
Orym was brushing a hand through Dorian’s hair now, the long strands slipping between his fingers. “Few do.”
Dorian took Orym’s hand in his and kissed his knuckles. “I just wish I had time to love you the way you deserve to be loved.”
Orym gave him a quizzical look. “You’re sure you’ve never done this before?”
“Oh, I am extremely sure.” Dorian smiled, sheepish. “I have so much to learn. I hope you can teach me.”
Orym chuckled, and Dorian could feel it rumble through his own chest. “I’d say you’re doing plenty without my help.”
“Are you kidding? You’re my inspiration.”
“Sweet-talker,” Orym murmured, and kissed him again.
Just a day ago, Dorian had felt a true lack of air for the first time in his life. Now he knew that there was a better way to be made breathless.