Bloom

6. Smoke

"There may be a great fire in our hearts, yet no one ever comes to warm himself at it, and the passers-by see only a wisp of smoke."

~Vincent Van Gogh~

•••

"Tired yet?" Seb asks as we climb into bed and snuggle up, limbs tangled together.

I hum as I think of an answer and then I say, "Not really, no. It's five in the morning, and my body is tired, but I don't think I can fall sleep yet."

He smiles, eyes half-closed, and says, "I feel the same, but I'm sure I'll be out like a light once I hear you snoring."

"Still can't kick it, can you?" I ask.

"Nope," he says, "And I'm surprised you remember I do that. No one else does."

"I remember because I'm the same way," I tell him. "I can't fall asleep until I know that everyone else is asleep."

"We've always been able to fall asleep relatively quickly around each other, though," he reminds me.

"Because you're safe, warm, and comforting," I smile. "Just being close to you is like being wrapped in a blanket of sunshine."

"After tonight though?" he grins. "I'm not sure we can come down from our place in the clouds quick enough to actually fall asleep before daylight starts creeping in."

    "Room-darkening curtains help," I say.

     He nods, "They certainly do."

     "I have this room for a few more days, so we don't have to rush anywhere," I tell him. "We can literally sleep for the next three days if we want."

     "That's tempting, but I think it's best if we aren't nocturnal," he says. "We're in enough trouble as is."

     "Speaking of, I wonder if our squad has attacked the internet yet," I sigh.

     He boops my nose.

     "Don't worry about it right now," he says. "I'm sure there's nothing to worry about and that they're doing just fine, babe."

"You're probably right," I smile softly as I settle completely into him, letting my body relax as he pulls me close.

I nuzzle into his neck, content with the world as it is in this very moment, wrapped up in my lover's arms.

He hums inquisitively for a moment.

Then, he says, "Thank you for running after me, and for being honest about how you feel."

"I was just going to lie in bed wondering how the hell I'd ever manage to tell you that I'm absolutely ass over teakettle crazy in love with you," I smile. "I was shocked when you showed up, and I nearly broke both our necks when I ran into you, but I'm glad that we finally had that conversation. It feels good, and it feels right, that you know that I love you."

He presses a kiss to the top of my head.

"I love you too," he tells me.

Then, he yawns, and I can't help but grin.

"Did I wear you out?" I ask.

He laughs and says, "You sure did. I might need a vacation, and I might have to take you with me."

"Hmm," I hum as I press a kiss to his neck, "Why's that?"

"So we can do this all over again," he tells me. "And, so I have an excuse to spoil you. I don't need an excuse, I'm going to spoil you rotten regardless, but having an excuse can be helpful."