Meaningless Petals {The Arcana}

Ch. 1: Asra

The sunlight streams in through the window, the gradual warmth becoming welcoming as dawn turns to day. His snowy eyelashes flutter open when the light floods over his visage. He is greeted by the peaceful resting face of his apprentice. They're facing him, away from the incoming brightness of the outside world so that only their features are outlined by the light. He takes a moment to admire them, as he does each day he wakes up and has the chance to observe before they awake.

He studies the steady rise and fall of their chest, their long dark lashes, the smooth light brown shoulders. Simply appreciating the fact that they are there beside him, existing. The corners of his lips curl into a smile, but he must restrain himself from kissing their cheek. Oh, how he wondered what it would be like if he could... if he could pepper soft kisses over their face to rouse them, gently stroke his thumb over their cheekbone and ask them in a voice no louder than a loving whisper what they'd want for breakfast.

He shook his head. That was only wishful thinking. For now, he hummed and lightly nudged the apprentice's shoulder. His apprentice shifted, burying their face into the pillow. He chuckled and gave another nudge.

"Ravi," he spoke softly, "It's morning."

He gained only a muffled groan in response. With his smile growing wider, he began to poke Ravi's torso. He called out their name, his voice sounding sing-songy, "Raaaavi," he sang, "Raaaaaavi."

Ravi whined, barely lifting their head from the pillow to look at him through sleepy eyes.

"Good morning, Ravi."

A soft hum escaped the apprentice before they spoke, "Morning, Master."

"Still gonna keep calling me that?"

"Alright, Alright. Morning, Asra. Better?"

"Mhm."

Asra shared a fond smile with Ravi before they yawned. His heart fluttered and pink dusted his cheeks as Ravi wrapped an arm over his waist to lean into him, head resting on his chest. He prayed that they couldn't feel his heart pounding just under where their head lay.

"I don't really feel like getting up..." Ravi sighed, their breath warm on Asra's bare chest.

"Well..." he started, unable to say no to the soft and delicate pout of their lips, "It wouldn't hurt to sleep in a couple minutes...?"

He assumed his answer pleased Ravi, seeing as they smiled at him, dimples becoming prominent before they closed their eyes once more. He felt their breath sweep over his collarbone, their heartbeat soothing against his chest. Asra hummed, looking over Ravi's appearance again. They were perfect in his eyes, and they have been since before they could remember him.

He frowned as he thought about that. He thought about how Ravi didn't remember anything prior to three years ago. Matter of fact, Ravi couldn't at all. Any attempt to try to remember would give them a headache. It hurt Asra, no doubt, since their history together goes further back than those three years. He's amused that Ravi has simply come to terms with the fact they will never remember anything from before that point.

He gave a small huff. It didn't matter anyway. What did matter, above all else, is that he still had Ravi now, and he was grateful for that. His smile returned as he brought a hand up to adoringly card his fingers through their brown, fluffy hair. The butterflies in his stomach did somersaults as he felt Ravi lean into his hand, the whole action feeling too intimate to be true. He shoved down the thought of it being any more than an affectionately friendly reaction though. He knew his place with Ravi; he was only a friend, albeit a close one, but nothing more. However, that didn't stop him from wishing.