I got up from bed and made my way to the bathroom which contained a very convenient large shower and gestured Baal to get in with me. The pink head laughed heartedly and stood up to follow me. Our shower lasted ten minutes, we made sure we were clean and that Baal had a matching hickey to the dark one he placed on my neck. Hickeys weren’t a mature thing to do, but they never stopped being fun to make. Baal got out of the bathroom wearing only a towel around his waist and I got around getting my clothes back on.

“You aren’t going to take me with you because…?”

“It’s cold and I don’t want you to get sick?” I replied having gotten my pants on and while buttoning up my shirt.

“Luke, how exactly do you plan to get me clothes with the right size?”

“I just took all your measurements.” I smirked as I put on my vest and went about sitting beside Baal to put on my shoes. Baal kneeled on bed and wrapped his arms around my shoulders. Pressing his chest against my back, he also placed his head over my shoulders. “I know your curves by heart at this point.”

“Oh!”

My companion smelled nice. His real scent was a little dulled over by the shower, but the effect it had when it mingled with the vanilla scent of the soap we used was nice and soothing on my nose. It made me forget what I was doing in the first place as I allowed him to hold me.

“You sure about that?” The pink head’s voice was playful, almost daring.

“…well yes,” I replied turning my head to kiss him on his cheek. He flushed, I noticed, and he tried to hide his face against his own arms. “I’ll come back and then we’ll go eat dinner.”

Baal chuckled and let me go giving me the chance to turn around and give him another kiss.

“Hmmm,” I stared into his beautiful purple orbs and found myself smiling against his lips. “I’m happy you stuck around. Having a friend to keep me company is very gratifying.”

“Huh? You’re not going to say I’m just  your courtesan?” Baal laughed and gave me a small push before he laid back on bed.

“You’re fancier than that, you come along with defensive capabilities,” I humored while I stood up from bed. “See you later, try not to catch a cold.”

Thinking that there would be someone waiting for me when I came back was a nice change of pace after all the months I spent on the road alone. Honestly, if Baal had decided to remain in the city, I wasn’t sure how I would fare alone in the mountains. Having his warmth at nights was far too pleasing and I had grown addicted to it. Just thinking about waking up one morning without him by my side was unsettling enough to begin with at this point.

This stuff  I was feeling was out of my understanding’s reach, and I honestly hoped it wouldn’t get worst. When the time came, I’d have to leave Baal and survive the withdrawal his absence might cause.

With that in mind… what exactly will he think when I leave him?

❀ ❀ ❀

I opened my eyes sensing something was wrong with my mysterious travel companion. I wasn’t much of a sleeper to begin with, yet ever since I encountered Luke I had been able to doze off for an entire night, no problem. Despite that, tonight I found myself waking up uneasy in the middle of the night. The man was a prince most of the time despite how much of an asshole he tried  to be eighty-four percent of the time. He was utterly confusing. Sometimes I’d swear he liked liked  me and then he’d assure me he wasn’t romantically interested in me. I wasn’t really minding that, all I wanted was to befriend him and continue our rather beneficial no-sex sex sessions.

If life had taught me anything, it was to never get my hopes up when it came to situations like these. Luke seemed like a nice guy and all but… he’d probably be over me before I knew it. Sure, he’s been a gentleman up until now about doing things with me… and even asked me on a date… Augh, NO! This won’t end well for me! I just know!

I fell asleep in his arms that evening, so it was weird when it got cold enough to force me awake. Luke liked keeping me close at nights, yet now he lay on the far side of bed curled up into a ball. Whatever could be wrong for him to break character like this?

“Please don’t…” I heard him mumble.

After my eyes adjusted to the dark I noticed Luke was trembling.

“Stop, it hurts…”

“Luke?” I called him, trying to see if he’d wake up, but the man appeared to be unable to hear me.

He was sobbing. This was unnervingly different from how he was awake. Right now, he seemed to have transformed into a helpless, frightened child. A pang shook my chest. This display of weakness, this other side of him, it tugged at my heartstrings.

“Wake up, idiot… you’re having a nightmare…”

Seeing him as defenseless and in pain as he was made my chest hurt. Luke didn’t look like the type of man who had any weaknesses, if anything he seemed unbeatable. I had yet to see him fight seriously, but the air he carried with him told leagues about how he didn’t fuck around with his enemies.

Now Luke lay in bed with me, shivering in what I assumed was fear as he begged for mercy to whoever he dreamt about. I felt a pang in my chest and a knot form in my throat, somehow I needed to protect him.

I scurried close to him and hugged him. He continued trembling in my arms, cold tears falling on my skin. I could barely believe this devil of a man was crying.

“Shhh, it’s okay... Sleep my sweet child, don’t be afraid. Sleep now, darling, in my embrace. Don’t you mind the dark of night, I will keep you safe.” Not knowing what else I could do, I started singing in the Ancient Language. I thought of the song my mother would sing to me when I was little. I believed it would help him like it helped me. Stroking Luke’s hair softly, I kept my other arm under his own as I held him close to me hoping my warmth would stick to him. “Rest my prince, I’ll hold you dear. Rest now, darling, I’ll be here. Chase the stars, dream warm sweet dreams, the Dark won’t reach you here with me.”

Luke appeared to be calming down, he was still shivering and sobbing but it was far less than before. I hummed the song a few more times before he finally lay still in his sleep breathing peacefully. At some point his hand had wondered to the one I had on his chest. He held it firmly. I kissed the back of his neck and smiled against his skin. Seeing him better made me happy…

Shit, so much for learning from past mistakes.

“Geez, and here I thought you lacked in the fear department…” I spoke in a whisper and Luke stirred a little bit.

“Baal…” He mumbled and my heart skipped a beat. Oh no, no, no, you had to be KIDDING me.

“…oh Goddess… don’t tell me I like  you.”

I tightened my hug a little and did my best to keep myself together. I recognized the feeling, the warmth that flourished in my chest whenever we were this close, how my heart would beat faster just by thinking of him. I had felt this before for the wrong person.

“…please let me down easily…”

I closed my eyes and tangled my legs with Luke’s, the raven haired man made a pleased sound and continued sleeping peacefully as I did. Tomorrow I’d act like none of this happened… but I guessed that for now I could dream a little… right?