Room 144
The late afternoon sunshine (as artificial as it may be), is warm across bare skin. Námo is curled comfortably around Lee, staring at the beams of sunshine as they slowly move along the room. The quiet rhythm of Lee's breathing, the ghosting of breath on his chest, was a comfort. The man had been understanding, almost welcoming, of the Vala's simple need of holding. Though bodies were nude, they had yet to be intimate. Námo was not ... ready for that to begin once more. Instead, they slept.
Lee was very good at sleeping.
Since Námo had sobred up, and spoken to Gorlim, he hadn't left Lee's side. A late dinner shared in bed, talking of what Lee had been up to in the last week, discussion of ice skating and the old port in Montreal they had visited -- nonsense that they could fill the silence with. Each time Námo had thought he could finally speak of what had happened, of the changes in everything, he couldn't. It made everything far more real. And right now, he wanted to hold onto the illusion that everything was perfect.
Late this morning, Lee had brought a tray up from the bar, filled with sweet things and tea and his wretched coffee. After the meal, which had been eaten in comfortable silence, they bathed. A small discussion about the length of Námo's hair had taken place (the Vala mused about having it shorter, Lee had adamantly opposed, and the topic was dropped), then Lee dozed for a little while on his lover's chest, the hot water slowly cooling around their bodies. When cooling became cold, the Vala roused Lee, and they migraited from the tub to the bed, where Lee easily fell back into his dozing while his head rested on Námo's chest.
Now, in the quiet, Námo's fingers play with the ring through Lee's left ear, his mind going back to the one he himself wore. Again, he thinks to remove it, as he has the colourful acorn necklace and bird hair clip, but he cannot bring himself to do so yet. On the nightstand are the aforementioned gifts from Gorlim, where that had sat since he had come into the room following his conversation with the Man, and he had no inclination to put them back on. Not yet. Maybe in the future, when he wouldn't think of them as gifts from a lover -- as he views the feather Gorlim had carved for him and the painting he and the fox had done -- he would again wear them. But, for now, he only wore the earring and the simple silver necklace Lee had gifted him with for Christmas.
It was enough for the moment.
Lee was very good at sleeping.
Since Námo had sobred up, and spoken to Gorlim, he hadn't left Lee's side. A late dinner shared in bed, talking of what Lee had been up to in the last week, discussion of ice skating and the old port in Montreal they had visited -- nonsense that they could fill the silence with. Each time Námo had thought he could finally speak of what had happened, of the changes in everything, he couldn't. It made everything far more real. And right now, he wanted to hold onto the illusion that everything was perfect.
Late this morning, Lee had brought a tray up from the bar, filled with sweet things and tea and his wretched coffee. After the meal, which had been eaten in comfortable silence, they bathed. A small discussion about the length of Námo's hair had taken place (the Vala mused about having it shorter, Lee had adamantly opposed, and the topic was dropped), then Lee dozed for a little while on his lover's chest, the hot water slowly cooling around their bodies. When cooling became cold, the Vala roused Lee, and they migraited from the tub to the bed, where Lee easily fell back into his dozing while his head rested on Námo's chest.
Now, in the quiet, Námo's fingers play with the ring through Lee's left ear, his mind going back to the one he himself wore. Again, he thinks to remove it, as he has the colourful acorn necklace and bird hair clip, but he cannot bring himself to do so yet. On the nightstand are the aforementioned gifts from Gorlim, where that had sat since he had come into the room following his conversation with the Man, and he had no inclination to put them back on. Not yet. Maybe in the future, when he wouldn't think of them as gifts from a lover -- as he views the feather Gorlim had carved for him and the painting he and the fox had done -- he would again wear them. But, for now, he only wore the earring and the simple silver necklace Lee had gifted him with for Christmas.
It was enough for the moment.