Silence | Book 2

4-4: Slow [M-G]

Hibiki woke up what felt like hours later, pressed up against Tristan's chest while Maki laid over his legs. A bit of pale white light crept through the gaps in between the blanket that covered most of his head and their bodies. It illuminated the rise and fall of Tristan's chest, mesmerising him. His own breaths matched the pace, spilling against bare skin.

Not wanting the moment to pass, he traced the smooth and soft skin with his fingertips. Although he was tempted to run his hands down, it didn't feel right to do so while Tristan was asleep. Instead his hands found their way up past his shoulders, before finally resting right underneath his jaw. He used both his thumbs to caress him, and the sensation of stubble against his fingers was pleasant.

Tristan's good hand moved up the back of his shoulder and held him lightly. Glancing up, he saw him look at him and smile. He smiled back.

"Are you feeling better?"

He nodded and let out a heavy sigh, pressing his forehead against his chest for a short moment to say it was good. When he pulled back, he gave a slight push against Tristan's chest with two fingers, and drew a question mark.

"I am doing quite okay, my hand just aches."

Concerned, Hibiki took his bad hand and gently ran his thumb over the back. The skin felt warm, and he could see the redness that spread beyond the bandages.

"Can you help me with it? Killian gave me a topical antibiotic and a burn cream. And er... other stuff." A bright blush flared on Tristan's cheeks as he referred to what was in the bag. Hibiki smirked slightly, and gave him a small kiss on his lips. The embarrassment about sex simultaneously endeared yet concerned him; being inexperienced was understandable, but he didn't want him to be ignorant about something so human, yet alone ashamed or disgusted.

Taking up his phone, he wrote out the one question burning on his mind.

'Do you know how it works?'

"Er... you put the antibiotic on first, and then put the burn cream on after about five minutes."

Hibiki smiled and then shook his head, which caused Tristan to blush even brighter as he wrote out his full question.

'Do you know how sex works? Have you had sex ed?'

Tristan nodded sheepishly, but didn't seem very certain.

"I went to a catholic grammar school, so I didn't get the full version but I have been told about the basics? Just not you know... between men? But I know about condoms and STDs."

Hibiki smiled and nodded that he understood, running his hand over Tristan's cheek to calm his nerves slightly.

"I'm sorry, I probably should look it up. I didn't think we'd do it soon, and I don't think I'm ready for something like that, especially not right now,-"

He put a finger against his lips to shush him, giving a slow and understanding nod to tell him he wasn't going to. With a soft kiss he reassured him that he would be nice, and that seemed to help.

"Does it hurt?" He blurted out, as if the question would get stuck halfway through if he didn't say it in one go.

For a second he looked down at Tristan's chest instead, not sure how to answer that question. But then he came to his senses again and wrote out his intent.

'It shouldn't hurt. It might be uncomfortable, and I don't know how well I'll do since it would be my first too, but I'll try to make you feel good'

"Can it feel good?"

He bit his lip and nodded, conflicted at that question as it told him just how little Tristan knew about it. Maybe he knew about the theoretics, but not the feelings and the emotions – definitely not the ones he had been taught about and dealt with. Their differences worried him, and he wasn't sure how open and honest he should be. But he'd promised, and a part of him wanted Tristan to know everything so he would be able to judge things fairly as well.