Kiss of Fate

Questions

grian pov

I wasn't actually asleep, though I probably could've fooled him. I'm a great actor when it comes to that kind of thing. I just didn't want him to get up—he felt so warm, so comfortable, and having him so close was more comforting than I realized. The soft rhythm of his breathing, the way his heartbeat matched mine—it was soothing.

And honestly, there was something else, something more subtle, that kept me there: the connection through the string. It was quiet, calm, the pull between us felt steady, grounding. I didn’t want to let it go, not when everything felt this... peaceful. When I was this content.

The way he shifted slightly, adjusting to make sure I was comfortable, made my heart beat a little faster, and I couldn’t help but smile. He was being so careful, so gentle. It made me feel like maybe, just maybe, I wasn’t as alone as I’d once thought.

But I couldn’t let him know just how much I was enjoying this—no, better to pretend I was still asleep. Let him stay close a little longer. Besides, if I was being honest, I didn’t want him to leave, not just yet. Not when everything was perfect.

But eventually, I did end up waking up, stretching slightly as the morning light filtered through the room. I could feel the slight tension in the air, the unspoken words hanging between us. His gaze, though subtle, told me everything I needed to know—he was full of questions, his mind racing with thoughts I knew he’d try to push through sooner or later.

I could feel the slight shift in his body as he adjusted, clearly trying not to disturb me, but there was no way to hide the curiosity in his eyes. I didn’t want to answer them, though. Not yet.

Instead, I leaned back slightly, pretending to gather myself, letting the moment linger before breaking the silence. I wasn’t sure what I was going to say when I finally did. It wasn’t that I didn’t trust him—I just wasn’t ready to dive into the messy parts of my thoughts. Not when everything felt so... perfect.

"Morning," I murmured, my voice soft, a little groggy, but genuine. It was a simple greeting, but it held more weight than it should have. It was an invitation to stay here a little longer, even if just in silence.

He helped me sit up, his touch gentle but steady, and honestly, I didn’t mind it at all. It was like a quiet, unspoken comfort, something I didn’t even know I needed until it happened.

"I suppose we should get up for breakfast, huh?" I said with a stretch, feeling the weight of the morning settling in.

He mimicked my stretch, his body going taut for a moment before he relaxed. I could tell he was still half-asleep, but there was a playful edge to his voice when he spoke next.

"Why did you trap me here?"

I didn’t even hesitate. "Because, I wanted to."

The words hung in the air for a moment, simple, yet carrying more meaning than I intended. I wasn’t sure if I should’ve said it, but his smile told me everything I needed to know. It was a small, teasing smile, one that I couldn’t help but mirror in return.

It wasn’t about breakfast or getting up—it was about being here, together, and somehow, that made everything feel like it was exactly where it should be.

I had expected a million questions to spill out of his mouth as soon as we got up, but instead, he made a beeline straight for the bathroom. I guess I’d kept him down for too long, and I couldn’t help but snicker quietly at his sudden urgency. He was always so full of energy, and now it seemed like I’d just turned him into a sleepy mess—mission accomplished, I suppose.

With a small chuckle, before heading to the kitchen. As soon as I stepped through the doorway, Maui and Pearl were there, meowing at me impatiently. Their eyes were wide and hopeful, tails flicking with excitement as I made my way over to them. I couldn’t help but smile as I crouched down to give them both a quick scratch behind their ears.