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Chapter 19:

When Cedar awoke the next day it was to the pad of Owen's thumb rubbing the blistered skin over his right cheek.

Cedar stretched and carefully opened his eyes, smiling when he saw Owen stretched out with his chin balanced in his hand. "Good morning".

"Good afternoon more like, It's almost twelve - thirty". Owen replied with a laugh.

"Why'd you let me sleep in so late?!". Cedar scolded as he got up and started searching for his clothes, before realizing he hadn't thought to pack new ones when he had left Catalina.

"You can wear another one of my shirts". Owen suggested shyly. "I - If you're okay with that".

"Sure, thank you". Cedar replied, blushing like mad as Owen handed him a dark green button down.

Owen nodded at the thanks and turned away to get dressed into a new outfit himself, turning back with a smirk when he realized Cedar was staring at him through the mirror above the dresser. "See something you like?".

Cedar shook himself from his daze and gestured to the myriad of bruises, burns and cuts along Owen's back and chest. "What happened? I - If you don't mind me asking".

"Years of training under the Fireflies and the WLF". Owen replied with a shudder. "Most of these happened as a result of me being punished for something".

"Punished?". Cedar questioned.

"If I didn't follow a certain rule or something then I'd get whipped or beaten". Owen replied with a frown.

"I'm sorry". Cedar said quietly, nervously picking at the bed-sheets.

"It's alright, can't change the past". Owen replied easily. "How'd you get those scars on your face?".

"I tried to hotwire a car when I was fourteen". Cedar replied with an amused huff. "It was a stupid move, I know".

"What about that mark on your stomach?". Owen asked, pointing at the circular mark that had been left behind as a result of getting shot by Serena.

"I uh, got shot when I was sixteen". Cedar replied. "It's a long story".

"It's alright, you don't have to say or do anything that'll make you uncomfortable". Owen replied gently as he moved away from his backpack and sat on the bed.

Cedar blushed at this, biting his lip as he looked up at Owen. "Listen, I - I'll admit up front that I'm not an expert with relationships. You're the first person I've had genuine feelings for".

"Yeah?". Owen replied, his green eyes going wide with happiness.

"Yes". Cedar confirmed with a giggle, his blush increasing at Owen's endearingly dorky behavior.

"Well what are you gonna do about it?". Owen asked, raising a suggestive eyebrow.

Cedar gave a half hearted laugh at the comment before lowering his gaze and turning his head away from Owen.

"Are you alright?". Owen asked in concern, reaching out and placing his knuckle against Cedar's broken arm and gently caressing the bruised skin.

"I - I'm sorry". Cedar stuttered in embarrassment. " I've never done anything sexual with a guy before, at least not willingly".

Owen frowned at the admission but nodded in understanding. "I shouldn't have pushed you this quickly, I guess I'm still getting over how aggressive Abby and Mel used to be in bed".

Cedar raised a brow at the mention of the two women but managed a smile as he reached out and held Owen's hand. "If you're comfortable with it, then I do want to do this".