Only one bed

[madmeemey]

there's only one bed!

Two characters have to share a room for the night. Every room is occupied, but fortunately there is one last room available.

There's just one problem — there's only one bed, and the characters aren't comfortable sharing it.

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[alivian]

[Alivian stiffens when he's touched along his back, but feeling that it's not a brief touch allows him to relax and let out a low, grumbly growl.]

Won't. My body feels like I'm stepping on knives.

[He lets his eyes drift closed again as he sighs.]

Whatever that was interfered with the medicine. Like I've missed a dose. I'll be better once this kicks in.

...I'm gonna cry if I have to move more than I already have.

[educated_wish]

You don't have to move. I'll protect you from anything that might come.

[ His voice is gruff but promising. He ot him into this, he'll get him out, is the basic message. ]

Sleep awhile.

[alivian]

No. I'm awake.

[He tries not to squirm, and sighs.]

I'm usually up before sunrise back home. I feel like I've overslept...

[educated_wish]

Well.

[ He knows the feeling, he can't say anything about it. He sighs, and pats him a few times on the back, but very carefully in an attempt not to worsen the pain. Not everyone is into it like he is, and there's also bad kind, he's well aware. ]

Do what you can to recover.

[alivian]

Lie here and wait for my brain to forget my whole body is failing.

[But oh, that patting is nice. He mumbles and tries to shift a little to push up into it, only to hiss slightly. Ow.]

Touch feels nice.

[He moved enough for some of the blanket to shift and expose part of his upper back, including most of his scars, and a small amount of the fur lining the upper part of his spine. It doesn't reach up past his shoulders, but the fainter trail of it gets dense in a short distance.]

[educated_wish]

[ He considers the picture he presents and tries not to be too drawn to it. It's a losing battle, but he still tries. ]

Would it help if I pet your fur?

[ It occurs to him almost randomly, and yet, it's all he's thought of doing on and off since he saw it. ]

[alivian]

Don't remember. If you want?

[He tilts his head a little away, every muscle briefly tightening up at the movement before relaxing slowly again. His whole body feels so stiff, like he can't relax. (That is, in fact, what his body is doing right now.)]

[educated_wish]

[ He raises a hand and places it on his back, going for the fur very gently. He's careful with his fingers, stroking lightly. ]

Help? Hurt?

[alivian]

[As with the rest of him, his fur is thick and soft. The skin beneath it warmer than the rest of him. Even the guard hairs over it are mostly soft. Beneath, he has a thin layer of padding between it and his spine.

[For now, the wolf lets out a low hum at the direct pressure. At feeling the hairs shift with his touch. Gooseflesh springs up along his back, heartbeat skipping at the contact, and then starting to race.]

Good... More?

[educated_wish]

[ He takes this as a cue to press more firmly, pet more thoroughly. He's enjoying the feel of the fur and since hours have passed since he was last flustered, he's able to handle direct touch again. Or at least, he thinks he can - the way Alivian is reacting is just too attractive and will probably be too much before long.

But for now, he'll enjoy allowing himself to do this. ]

Like that?

[alivian]

Mmmn, yeah, that's... really good.

[The rubbing eventually gets some of his muscles to finally relax a bit. His tail would wag if it didn't hurt so much right now.

[He's pliant for this, not moving. With the repeated contact, his body starts to settle down into something softer and-- almost borderline sleepy. Almost.]

You didn't have to. I appreciate it....

[educated_wish]

I didn't have to. I wanted to.

[ He keeps an eye on him, watching over him, willing him to actually give into the almost borderline sleepy and sleep. He thinks he needs it. ]

There's a difference.

[alivian]

[He registers that distinction, and lets out a soft, sleepy hum.]

Wanted to, huh...

[It's like he can't quite believe it.]

That's definitely something I would say, too.

[Wanting to talk with him. Wanting to eat with him. Wanting touch and kiss and cuddle, and have sex with him (which gets another brief jump in his heart rate.)]

...I never thought being attracted to anyone could be so damned frustrating....

[In so many ways, it's like he's colliding with himself from another universe.]

[educated_wish]

Frustrating? What part of me is frustrating?

[ As if he has to ask? He's aware he is. But he's almost amused to find out the answer in this case, and it shows.

He always likes finding out thew ways he's frustrated people. ]

cw: mental health, abandonment

[alivian]

I feel like we're really alike. That's frustrating.

You give a shit that I'm self-destructing, and... I remember a little of how you took that damned drink.

[Which he... tried to emulate. Right.]

I give a shit about you and feel so fucking annoyed that you feel the same about me.

[In as much as his tone has started escalating, it drops abruptly in resignation.]

And at the same time, I just want to cry and wonder why I'm worth it to someone I've barely known for a day, when those who originally liked or loved me threw me away and haven't looked back for ten years.

[educated_wish]

Those people are barely work speaking about.

[ This is what Logan does - he throws away the people who throw him away. So he will reasonably do the same to those who throw away someone he cares about. ]

If they didn't treasure you, what are they worth? They wasted their chances.

[ He knows it's not easy to say this. He knows. But it's the way he tends to be. ]

They didn't know what they were missing. I would feel bad for them if they didn't do it to themselves.

[alivian]

They have worth even if they don't see it in me.

[Alivian's retort, though tired, is steadfast.

[He moves to try to adjust his position in the bed, but quickly gives up when his body firmly protests. Nope, still not time to get up.]

Ugh. I'm not in a good condition to argue in earnest....

[He's just going to... lie there. Like a silver lump on a log. Or, well, a wolf in a blanket nest.

[It's a really good blanket nest, shitty mattress aside.]

[educated_wish]

Just enjoy the blanket nest, dammit.

[ He starts petting his back again, trying to encourage him to relax and stop arguing with him. ]

I understand wanting to fight for your people. [ Oh, how he understands that, from so many times with the X-men. ] But they didn't fight for you.

[alivian]

How do you know--

[That he likes the damned nest??

[The rest of that, though? Gets a quiet grunt.]

Fine. I hear you.

[He lets out an annoyed little huff, but nothing more, trying to relax again.]

[educated_wish]

Of course you like the blanket nest. Why wouldn't you?

[ He laughs with a clear sound, it's obvious he's proud of it. It's because it's his territory and he made it. ]

I put effort into it. I collected this shit from all over the Void. It's perfect. Anyone would enjoy it.

[ Basically: he assumed. ]

[alivian]

...When I can move without feeling like I'm getting stabbed a hundred times, I'm going to find a soft pillow to smack you with. And then mess up your hair.

[It's quiet and petulant.]

It's comfy and it smells like you. It's good.

[educated_wish]

You can't mess up this hair. It stays perfect.

[ This isn't a - it's not saying he's not allowed, just that he simply can't. Logan is just being arrogant again. He has no idea that eventually, he will be cursing it for white strands, but that's in the future and not now at all. ]

...you like my smell?

[ Wait, the arrogance has dissipated? He's surprised now. ]

[alivian]

Yeah. I like it. But it's also really good.

[Just a casual affirmation. No ifs or buts.]

You've proven yourself to be safe. So... it's a safe smell.

...I need a lot of that right now.

[Given that he can't easily move. He'll need to rely on Logan to move around.]

I can even look at you without the mask. It's.. really incredible.

[He's. Definitely falling back asleep, his voice and accent getting thicker.]

You're really... incredible.

[educated_wish]

You'll never need the mask. Not with me.

[ That makes him incredible? He doesn't see it. He just thinks it's reasonable. ]

I'll keep you safe, I swear.

[ He decides not to encourage him verbally to fall asleep or say anything about it, in case Alivian decides to fight it if it's pointed out. Instead, he just moves a little closer to give his warmth and encourage feeling safe. ]

[alivian]

...Don't promise me that, too...

[It's less of a protest and more of a lament, but, fortunately, he doesn't fuss beyond that, falling slowly back into a shallow sleep. A life without the mask? What is that even like?

[...Is it anything like before? Seeing him, able to really see him...

[He can't really think too hard at the moment. A proper sleep drags him back under before long.

[He's a still sleeper, only his back rising and falling with steady breaths.]