Chapter 15: Bird Bath

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Zephyr woke up early the next morning. He wasn't surprised to find Caelian clinging onto him in his sleep. He certainly was warm all night with Caelian's wings around the two of them. He let out a yawn before gently prying Caelian's arms off of him and moving away. Remembering the jacket, he quickly took it off and draped it over Caelian.

He watched him for a bit as he slept. Did he realize that he liked him? He wasn't sure if he didn't mind the idea or if he just had no clue. Caelian couldn't feel love right now, could he? Maybe it'd be better if he was less forward about it for now. He didn't want to scare him off. Zephyr wasn't even entirely sure if he really liked Caelian aside from thinking he was cute, anyway. He understood that how he was right now wasn't what his real personality was like. But he was curious to see the real him.

It wasn't too long after that Damien and Evelyn woke up. They waited a while for Caelian, and just when Damien looked about ready to murder him, Zephyr decided to take it into his own hands and gently shook him awake. Caelian was dazed and confused for a few moments, but woke up quickly once Damien started going off on him for sleeping so much.

Noticing his coat draped over him, he glanced over to Zephyr, who gave him a smile. Caelian put his jacket back on, carefully pulling his wings through the holes made for them.

The group continued on for several more days, taking breaks every now and then so they didn't wear themselves out. To Zephyr's embarrassment, Caelian had ended up sleeping next to him almost every night. It made him flustered, but he didn't want to ask him to stop, either. Besides, it had its practicality. It kept him warm every night. Plus, he'd be lying if he said he didn't enjoy Caelian cozying up next to him.

Zephyr was slowly finding out that he wasn't quite as brave as he thought when it came to wooing his crush. He never had an issue with it before, but for some reason, being around Caelian just made him feel shy. It was funny, for how easy flirting came to him, how flustered he became when the object of his affections reciprocated, albeit unknowingly. Was it because Caelian couldn't feel love and he was too afraid of later being rejected? He wasn't sure. But it was a scary thought.

At one point Damien must have noticed something between Zephyr and Caelian, because they started throwing questioning looks their way every time Caelian snuggled up beside Zephyr. Zephyr would always give them a nervous smile. Should he have been telling Caelian to not do that? He really didn't want to.

Then Evelyn noticed it. But instead of giving them questioning looks, she had decided to join in and cozy up to the both of them. Zephyr didn't particularly mind, and Caelian seemed pleased at the addition. He seemed happy to just be able to cuddle others at night. Caelian had even ended up asking if Damien wanted to join them, but they had politely declined.

But at one point Caelian had decided to bring the cuddle party to them, and they ended up getting sucked into the close-knit sleepovers as well. At first they seemed annoyed, but recently Zephyr thought he saw a hint of an amused smile when Caelian and Evelyn curled up next to them. At least nobody was cold at night anymore. Caelian and Evelyn combined provided plenty of warmth for everyone.

When the group was traveling again in the afternoon, Caelian was happily munching on a granola bar given to him by Zephyr as he walked beside Damien.

Noticing the looks they kept giving him, Caelian asked, "Am I chewing too loud or something?"

"No. Well, yes," Damien said. "But the real issue is you fucking smell. Can you go walk by someone else?"

"What do you mean I smell?"

"I mean you smell," Damien snapped. "When was the last time you took a bath?"

"I mean, we were in the water when we left the Depths a few days ago," Caelian said.

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