sixwordstories | (no subject)

It's his favourite way to wake up--or fall asleep. There's something just entirely genuinely comforting about having Elliot's fingers tracing over his bare skin. It's starting to be a pattern, even, and the familiarity makes it even better.

Recently, he's started to wonder if the delicate patterns are something more than just random expressions. They've started to feel familiar as patterns themselves, after all.

So the return of consciousness today comes with as much stillness as he can. His breath stays slow and steady, eyes gently closed. Now is the time, groggy though he is, to try and guess the pattern.

There'll be a brief halting in the tracing as Edgar seems to rouse slightly. When the other young man's eyes stay closed, Elliot will settle back in again, his nose resting carefully against the other young man's hair.

It's mostly unconscious, at first, but after a few moments it'll be a more deliberate 'I love you' written against his skin.

For a few minutes, he's certain he's imagining it. With sleep still clinging around his brain, surely he's just starting to read meaning into what's nothing at all.

But he keeps feeling the pattern. He keeps feeling, very distinctly, the same familiar words being scribbled against his bare, lightly scarred skin.

It's impossible, once he properly realizes it, not to let out a shaky sort of sigh.

There'll be another brief halt of his fingers; a shift to briefly glance down and see if he's moving towards wakefulness. Even when he doesn't quite see the signs, his hand will settle a little more carefully against the other young man's skin.

It will take him another few moments to start up again.

He doesn't want it to stop. He doesn't want this moment of feeling quiet affirmation to ever stop, really. It's just he also doesn't want Elliot to keep freezing up every time he shifts or sighs or moves just slightly the wrong way.

He still gives a faintly more pronounced sort of stretch than he feels necessary to broadcast the return of his consciousness.

That gets his fingers stilling quite entirely, his hand resting warm against his skin. The press of his lips against Edgar's forehead is a light kiss.

"Mornin'."

It's important to squirm all the way around properly. It's important to find the spot where he fits in under Elliot's chin, where his arms can tug properly tight around the other young man.

It's important to reply, but it's more important still to have it clear what he's replying to.

"Hey." It's very soft, slightly muffled against Elliot's collar bone. "I-- love you too."

There's a slight catch in his breath in surprise at the murmured words and the fact that they're an acknowledgement. His arms settle more properly around Edgar after a moment of processing.

"'s... 's a lot, Ed."

It's just very hard to say when he isn't tracing it into the other young man's skin.

Thank goodness it's still early. Thank goodness there's still a warm haze in the air keeping everything safe.

"A lot?"

He just wants this to be safe. He just wants 'I love you' to be a truth between them, if not a spoken statement.

"Yeah, it's... I--"

He can't actually say it aloud, just yet. He'll settle for a rough kiss against his cheek and a deliberate, careful retracing of the words again.

"--That. A lot. Okay?"

He dearly hopes he understands how difficult it is for him to actually say it.

It brings his breath a little short. It's different, after all, to have even the silent affirmation when he's so clearly awake and listening--feeling.

It comes back in a pleased, shaky sigh as he curls closer, forehead pressing hard to the other young man's neck. "So much, Elliot. I-- feel it, okay?"

Even if the words never come beyond this quiet trace of fingers and fumbling half-spoken thought.

"Okay."

It's important to murmur against his cheek. Pressing his lips against the other young man's temple feels important.

"'m-- glad you do. Really."

"Absolutely do."

He feels it when he wakes up in the morning and when he goes to sleep at night. He feels it when they're alone like this and there's allowed to be a world of physical demonstration. He even feels it when they're out in the world and their eyes meet for half a second and his heart starts hammering all at once from the knowledge of it.

His lips press carefully against the pulse in Elliot's throat for a second before he feels compelled to ask, "Is... it okay that-- I say it, though?"

"Yeah, Ed," he murmurs against his hair, "'s it okay 'f I-- can't, yet?"

His sigh is soft but entirely affectionate as he shifts untangle slightly. They need to be eye to eye for this.

"Hey." His forehead bumps against Elliot's with absolute certainty. "It's okay if-- you never say it. I-- know it's true. Promise."

"Thank you," he murmurs quietly, nudging his nose against his, "I-- I want t'make sure you always know."

"I know," Edgar purrs back, lips absolutely curled up into a grin. "I always know. I really do promise. And I-- hope you know too."

"I... I do, Ed."

He can't help but smile slightly in response, his lips pressing carefully against the other young man's lovingly.

"Promise."

His hum against Elliot's lips is soft and utterly devoted. "Good. Then... it can stay like this, you know?"

And they'll both be happy.

"Awesome."

Because this is quite exactly and entirely what he wants.

"Completely."

As is one more kiss before he has to roll onto his back and stretch his arms for a few seconds.

"I love you, Elliot."

"You, too."

He can murmur that much back as he releases Edgar slightly so the other young man can stretch. He's going to keep watching him move with absolute adoration in his eyes.

It absolutely makes his heart soar to hear. It's got him grinning ridiculously bright as he rubs at his eyes and pushes all the hair back from his face.

It also makes his lips purse just a little thoughtfully.

"Promise me something?"

The tilt of his head is curious even as his eyes linger, just slightly, on Edgar's pursed lips.

"What, Ed?"

"I... would do anything, you know?"

It feels oddly important to say with this small amount of space between them. He stays comfortably settled on his back, head rolling to the side to properly study Elliot's features.

"I would-- stand in the turrets and shout t' the whole world that I love you. I would kiss you-- in front of my dad. I'd marry you."

It's moderately hyperbolic, yes, but it's about the point underlying. They're starting from one of them being unable to articulate 'I love you' out loud.

"So... promise you'll tell me, okay? What-- works for you. What's-- too much or not enough. Please?"

It takes his breath away to hear the words. It has him blinking in surprise, his fingers moving to intertwine with Edgar's lovingly.

"I... s-sure, Ed. 'f that's what you really want."

It's entirely natural, at this point, to squeeze Elliot's fingers tight in response. Alone like this is the best time to indulge in this comfortable intimacy, after all.

"It is. I want-- to be with you, y'know? Whatever that means."

He smiles to feel the squeeze. He's going to lift his other hand to curl into the young man's hair.

"I jus' want this," he murmurs softly, "This-- this is great."

"It really is."

And that feels like an 'I love you.' The fingers in his hair feel like an 'I love you' too.

"So let's-- just keep this, then."

"Yes," he murmurs, shifting down to press a careful kiss against the other young man's lips, "Please."

There's nothing in the world to keep Edgar from kissing Elliot back with genuine adoration. "Perfect. Really, Elliot, it is."

Even if this is as close to an 'I love you' as they ever get.

"It is," he murmurs, pressing his lips back against his with careful calm, "'s-- gonna stay that way."

Just as good at this, or maybe even better.

"It will. It will absolutely stay this way." Sealed with one more entirely pleased kiss. "I promise if you promise."

"I promise, Ed."

It's much easier to, when lips are pressed against lips like this.