Retrace bxbxb

Uncertainty

"Little Harper, it's time to get up." 

Fifty more minutes, please, sir. 

"Harper." Rule's voice purred. 

Groaning, Harper ducked under the covers, only to feel them slowly pulled back and another purr sounding, this one far too close to his ear as he felt a weight dip the bed in two places to his his left and right. "Little Harper, I can wake you up another way, if you'd like."

Stretching beneath the blankets, Harper felt his leg brush against a solid surface that hadn't been there before. He turned onto his side, but during the action, his leg nudged something on the other side of him. 

What on Earth? 

Resigned to curiosity, Harper finally let his eyes slowly open as he returned to his original position on his back. He blinked a few times to clear the sleep from his vision, then yawned and rubbed his eyes before focusing his attention on what was hovering over him. 

Wait. Not a what... Rule? 

The lord smirked, the grin nudging his lips to the right, drawing Harper's attention to them and the stubble of a mustache just barely beginning beneath his nose. 

"Good morning, Harper. Nice of you join me this fine day." He whispered, his breath brushing faintly against Harper's face, bringing with it the scent of cinnamon and honey, likely from the lord's morning tea. 

He does tend to like his things sweeter. At least, compared to Arthur. 

He wasn't sure why he was even thinking such a thing with the lord leaning over him like a man admiring a wo-"S-sir, I apologize for sleeping too long. I will get up right away." He hastily replied, his voice a whisper when he had honestly meant for it to sound normal. His throat was still sore, but he felt much better, so he was unsure why he sounded so strange. 

 "Harper." 

Licking his dry lips, Harper swallowed, then looked up to meet Rule's eyes. "Yes, my lord?" 

Rule's head ticked slightly to the side before he leaned down, bringing their faces far too close to each other. "How did you get such a mark on your lip?" He asked as his eyes dropped to the mostly-healed bite Arthur had given him. 

Suddenly, Harper wished that it was still dark in the room like the last time he'd been awoken. Unfortunately, several candles flickered within the bed chamber and one of the curtains were pulled back, allowing light in from the overcast day outside. 

Glancing away, he licked his lips again, then mumbled, "I mistakenly bit myself while eating too quickly. It was clumsy of me." 

Rule tilted his head the opposite way, then lifted his right hand, which had been pressed into the blankets to the left of Harper's head. When Rule's finger moved to gently press against his lip, Harper caught his breath and held it. 

"You see..." Rule said quietly as his thumb pressed in gently, his nail faintly running along Harper's tooth as the pad of the digit massaged the healing tissue from Arthur's bite. "This doesn't quite look like a wound that would be cause by such a reason as the one you are giving me." 

The faint patter of rain against the window pane took over the silence that stretched within the room. Harper was forced to release his breath or risk passing out, leaving him panting quietly, his breath brushing against Rule's finger until the lord finally removed his hand to run it through his hair. A moment later, he climbed off the bed, grumbling something Harper was unable to understand. 

When he disappeared into the sitting room, Harper finally gave a huge sigh. His eyes closed for a minute before he opened them again and hurried to the edge of the bed, not willing to be caught in such an odd situation again.