A Drink Before Battle [MxM] ✅

46: If You Can Stay A Little Longer (NSFW)

Sevei woke to the touch of soft, warm lips on the back of his shoulder and fingertips tracing light circles over his bare hip. He hummed dreamily while blinking his eyes clear in the dim light, his body rapidly stirring under those lips and fingers.

"Still restless?" he whispered huskily over his shoulder.

"Mm," Yeresym's deep voice reverberated over Sevei's ear. His hand spread over Sevei's hip, the fingers kneading at the side of his buttock. "How could I sleep with all of this here beside me?"

Sevei hmph'ed affectionately. "You certainly are learning to talk nicely," he chuckled.

Something in Yeresym's tone worried him, though. He eased himself onto his back, then raised a hand to caress Yeresym's shadowy face.

"Now, what are you really thinking about?" he said lowly.

Yeresym went quiet. He shifted his arm to wrap Sevei's waist, hand grasping at his side.

"How badly this could go," he finally whispered.

"And here I thought you were done with pessimism," Sevei sighed. He pushed himself up the pillows and pulled Yeresym's head down to his shoulder, wrapping an arm around him and stroking his hair. "I promise I'll keep your reputation safe. I can keep quiet..."

"Must I remind you of Lieutenant Thelan," Yeresym said irritably, "and Constable Yanek... it wouldn't surprise me if Nal knows everything..."

"Kat, those are all our closest, most trusted people," Sevei assured him. "You don't have to worry about them. We'll just have to be careful who else we let in."

"Mm," Yeresym grunted. He went quiet again until Sevei shook him in his embrace.

"What else?"

"We have to stay focused," Yeresym reminded him. "Ghed's death won't end the war."

"No, but it'll give Loranar something to think about. Things should be nice and peaceful around here for a good while. The main front is still up north."

"Our units could be reassigned – separately."

"Would you miss me?"

He heard Yeresym swallow hard. "I would," he said quietly.

"If only one of us could travel vast distances in the blink of an eye," Sevei teased, smiling as he got a chuckle.

"There is that," Yeresym admitted.

"And in that case, we'd be no different than the rest of the army," Sevei said. "They leave their families to go into the field. You think they don't miss them? Whatever happens, we'll figure it out, just like they do. Trust me."

"I do," Yeresym answered. Then he mumbled, "I suppose you do... have more experience in these matters."

Sevei snapped to attention, frowning. "Is that what's bothering you?" he asked. "That I've had other..."

"No," Yeresym answered, a bit too quickly. Then he seemed to reconsider his answer. "Do you... still think of them?"

Sevei shrugged. "Sometimes," he said honestly. "It's not like memories can be erased... unless there's some Alchemist thing..."

"I don't recommend it," Yeresym said dryly.

Sevei chuckled at that. "But I don't dwell on them," he continued. "There are good reasons we didn't work out. I've put them all behind me."

"Could that be me one day, then... if we don't work out?"

"Shh!" Sevei hissed. "Are you trying to curse me? That's not something I have any intention of finding out."