forum The Only One // One on One // CLOSED

Started August 23, 2019 by @ElderGod-Icefire

tune

"Of course darling." Nolan shut the door behind them once he reached his room. He sat on the bed and pulled Ayce into his lap

Ayce cuddled close to him. He had calmed down a little, and wasn't shaking anymore, though it was obvious he was still afraid.

Nolan pulled him close amd rubbed his side's, trying to soothe him. "Ive got you. You're safe." He murmured

Ayce closed his eyes, letting out a soft sound. "I don't want to be here…" he mumbled.

Nolan fell back on the bed, caressing his lover. "I know darling. I've got you. The sooner we finish this the sooner we can go away together."

Ayce curled up beside him, snuggling close to him. "Okay." He said quietly, putting out his arms and putting them around Nolan.

Nolan kissed the top of his head. "Do you want to try and get some sleep? Or do you want me to tell you another story? Or just lay here together?"

Ayce shrugged a little, looking up at him. His blue eyes were unfocused and distant, his mind still not completely there. "I don't know…"

Nolan just nodded. He cupoed tha back of his head gebtly, pressung a small kiss to his lips. "We can just lie here then."

Ayce clung to him, kissing back. "Okay." he said quietly, snuggling closer and leaning his head on Nolan's shoulder.

Nolan smiled softly. He ram his fingers over Ayce's skin. He leamed their foreheads together

Ayce leaned forward a little, and kissed him softly. He squirmed a little, cuddling as close as possible to Nolan.

Nolan smiled wider amd returned the kiss. He tightened his grip on Ayce slightly

Ayce broke the kiss after a moment, closing his eyes and nuzzling Nolan's neck a little. "Can you tell a story?" He asked softly. "Another happy one?"

Nolan pressed his lips to his temple. "Of course I can." He hugged Ayce close. He slipped his hand up the back of his shirt, caressing his skin. "War was something Edmund had never experienced. He lived in a village far away from the other kingdoms and their conflicts, or so they thought. It was an uneventful evening when suddenly, strangers fighting emerged from the wounds and into their village. Everyone was in a panic. Innocent people were killed, having been thought to be enemies, houses were burned. Edmund managed to escape into the woods. He traveled for days, going nowhere. He had all but given up. On his fourth day of walking, no food or water, he collapsed the ground. There he lay, expecting to die. He had given in, given up. He closed his eyes and let death take him, only, death didn't. He woke up, time unknown to him, in a cottage unfamiliar to him. It took him a few moments to register what had happened. The memories came back and the tears started falling. And then there was a man, entering the room, carrying what looked to be a bowl of soup."

Ayce listened quietly, eyes still closed as he stayed pressed up against Nolan. He relaxed more as Nolan talked, the fear and anxiety starting to go away, at least for now.

Nolan brushed his lips against his forehead as he spoke. "Edmund shrieked and cried and tried to get away from the man, only to find that he was to weak to do anything but flop off the bed, which he did. The other man was patient and picked up his screaming body. He tucked Edmund back in the bed, reassuring him that he was safe. He tried to feed him but Edmund just smacked the bowl away. This happened for days. And the days rolled into weeks. Edmund refused to eat, refused to do anything really. One day, the man wouldn't take no for an answer and shoved the soup down his throat, making sure he swallowed. 'Listen here boy,' the man started, 'You are not giving up. Life is hard. Bad things happen, but you can't give up. You have to keep trying, keep surviving. You can't let the hard things beat you. You have to win, every day. I am not giving up on you. And I won't let you give up on yourself.' For the next week or so, the man had force-feed, Edmund. Until one day, he took the food given to him and ate it himself. Slowly, he went on walks, the man by his side. together, they built his strength up and formed an unlikely friendship. A friendship that seemed to turn into an attraction as the weeks continued. Edmund didn't believe that it was reciprocated. He was proved one night when they were walking in the garden. He had leaned in and kissed the man. He tried to run away but the man pulled him back into the kiss. Another month passed and Edmund's strength had returned. The man was taking him back to his village, to see what remained and who. It was a three-day journey and Edmund was dreading every day. He didn't want to leave the cottage. He wanted to stay with his lover and pretend nothing had happened. However, upon reaching the village, he found that it was flourishing. The homes had been rebuilt, the children was dancing in the streets and the people going about their day. His family…his family was there, embracing him in tight hugs. His lover looked out of place, obvious he wanted to go back home. At the end of the day, as they were eating dinner, Edmund announced that he would not being be staying in the village. He loved the other too much to leave him behind. He would stay with him, and they could visit his fmaily whenever they wished. And that's what they did. And they lived happily ever after."

Ayce snuggled closer, opening his eyes as Nolan finished the story. "I liked that one." He said softly. "Thank you." He pressed a kiss to Nolan's jaw, arms tightening around him a little.

Nolan smiled and leaned into him more. "Is it your favorite one so far?" He chuckled softly. He kissed his eyelids and then his cheeks.

Ayce nodded a little, winding his legs with Nolan's. "Yeah." He replied with a slight shrug. He sighed softly, looking up at Nolan with studying blue eyes, that for once weren't clouded with fear and confusion and memories. He was recovering, though it was doubtful that he would ever be the same as he once was.

Nolan tightened his grip. He kissed the top of his head. He brought a hand uo stroke his cheek gently. He stared at his eyes, love and care filled in them. "You're beautiful." He murmured

Ayce curled closer to him. "Thank you." He replied quietly. "You're handsome." He mumbled, blushing a little.

Nolan chuckled quietly and kissed his cheek. "Thank you darling." He stoked his cheek. "All mine."

Ayce gave a tiny, flickering smile. "No, I'm my own." he mumbled, looking up at Nolan.

"No no no, not like that. You're mine to hold, mine to kiss. You're mine to protect and no one else." He said

Ayce nodded. "Okay." he said quietly, kissing Nolan's jaw softly. He was feeling a little braver now, a little more…more in control of who he was. Even if his mind still wasn't all there.

Nolan grinned at the kiss and leaned into it. "I'm always going to be here for you, no matter what." He murmured.

Ayce nodded a little. "Okay." he replied again, snuggling closer to Nolan contentedly.

"Do you want to try and get some sleep now?" Nolan asked. "Or do you want to just stay like this?"

"Stay like this." Ayce replied, looking up at him. "Nolan…thank you." he said quietly. "For everything."