Written Wonderland

There were that many more eyes on Evan as he left the commander's tent, that many more soldiers out and about as the morning truly got underway. And, if he didn't know any better, he'd say that some had been specifically hoping to see him, eyeing him curiously if not excitedly as he strode by. He was uncomfortable being paid this much attention--usually, this much attention meant something bad--but, as far as he could tell, many soldiers held something like awe in their gaze, and Evan did his best to hold onto that. To remember that he was wearing armor crafted by a goddess, by his lover, crafted to very intentionally show off his body's own strengths. It was right and good that people took in the sight of him.

And then, as Evan made the final turn toward his tent, he saw Xavier standing in front of it, and warmth and happiness splashed through him, showing plainly on his face. Gods, even tired as he was, getting to see Xavier before crashing out was definitely a perk of having come back so late. Xavier gestured at his own chest with a wide smile, then pointed at Evan, and finally raised both his thumbs in front of him. Evan let out a loud laugh, then spread his arms wide, and made a slow, deliberate twirl as he kept walking toward Xaiver, giving the boy a good look at him. Gods, that felt good to do.

After that, he wanted to run right up to Xavier and sweep him into a kiss, caress his hands all over the lieutenant's body. Not only was he not quite ready to disregard that level of decorum, though, but guilt also bloomed as he thought of the goddess' loneliness without him. Still, would it really do her any good to refrain from embracing what he had here?

Evan's smile was a little more muted by the time he reached Xavier, admitting to how tired her felt but steadfast in his pleasure at seeing the Lieutenant. He gave Xavier a bit of a sly sidelong grin as he stepped right past him into his tent, pausing inside just long enough to keep holding the tent flap open and toss one more inviting grin over his shoulder, downright sultry even if heavy with exhaustion.

Before Evan even arrived at his tent, he twirled in a circle while still walking, making it possible for Xavier to see all the armor's grandeur. It certainly did accentuate the curve of Evan's backside, didn't it? Xavier couldn't fault the goddess for having good taste.

When Evan reached Xavier, he had a smile on his face, though he also looked unfathomably tired. Maybe it was in the set of his jaw or his low eyebrows.

For a moment, Xavier thought Evan might hug him then and there, to hell with whoever was watching, but Evan ducked into his tent, and Xavier looked openly for any sign of invitation. Evan held the flap open just long enough to toss Xavier one more grin and raise an eyebrow slightly in an expression that was somehow downright lude and called to mind how tangled they had been together the day before.

Xavier suppressed the urge to look around to see who was watching. That would make this look even more suspicious. This was just a captain and his lieutenant debriefing after a meeting with the goddess of desire. Nothing to see here.

Xavier did as best he could to keep a neutral expression on while he bravely entered Evan's tent, but he broke into a grin again once he was safely inside, staring at this gorgeous, ragged man who somehow always looked even more appetizing when he was disheveled and exhausted.

Xavier stepped into the tent and continued to behold Evan with a wide grin. Evan basked in it for a moment, though apparently he felt a tad more sheepish one-on-one. One hand reached up to rub at his hair, though his other did open a bit to the side, his hips askew in a subtle but lovely pose as he eyed Xavier a little bit crookedly. Then he finally recollected his resolve and stepped forward to pull Xavier's hips against him, lips diving in for a kiss.

As Evan opened one palm at his side and rubbed at his hair as though he were embarrassed, Xavier giggled. He couldn't help it. It was all so amazing, and he was elated. But, he didn't exactly know what was supposed to happen now. Should he let Evan sleep or ask about his evening or...?

But Evan made those questions entirely irrelevant as he looped an arm around Xavier's hips and pulled Xavier to him. Placing his hands on Evan's jacket, Xavier marveled at the scale-like texture under his fingertips. Was it... dragonhide of some kind? But again, all thought left Xavier's mind as Evan leaned forward into a kiss. Xavier melted, letting his lips mold around Evan's and even taking a moment to nibble at Evan's lower lip. Xavier's hands grew bold then, exploring the spiny shoulders of the jacket gently and then traveling over the thick fabric covering Evan's back until he found where the short jacket ended. There, the fabric was decidedly softer and thinner. Xavier gasped and giggled excitedly against Evan's mouth as he massaged one half of Evan's backside.

Gods, Evan relished the way that Xavier moved easily toward him, trusting Evan's gesture and resting his hands on Evan's chest. Xavier melted into Evan's kiss, then grew bold and nibbled on Evan's lip, pulling a soft, satisfied groan from Evan's throat. Anxiety started ot stir in his chest, though -- their walk yesterday had been wonderful, but also a bit sloppy in places, and as ever, Evan hadn't really been able to say goodbye the way he might have liked to before disappearing to the goddess' realm for the night. Gods, was Xavier really okay with... sharing him, for lack of a better word? Was it crazy to be doing this in the middle of a war?

Xavier's hands roamed down Evan's back, pulling Evan's attention back to the present as his touch caressed from thick jacket onto thinner, more supple pants, fingers pressing into muscle at the curve of Evan's backside. Gods, it felt good. Xavier gasped and giggled without pulling away from the kiss, which was adorable and absurd and inspired a light, breathy giggle from Evan, too. He pulled back from the kiss to look at Xavier, sleepy smile beaming--but still so very sleepy.

"It's good to see you," he said, his eyebrows starting to curve up and together in gentle apology. "I'm afraid about to fall asleep standing, though."

Evan's breathy chuckle in response warmed Xavier all the way down to his toes, and Xavier had to fight the impulse to squeal more loudly. Even if it felt like they were a little above the rules given that Evan was playing emissary to the goddess, he knew he should try to keep it under control.

"It's good to see you," Evan said, and Xavier pulled away, drawing his hand back from around Evan to look at the man properly, happy to see a sleepy but satisfied smile on his captain's face. "I'm afraid I'm about to fall asleep standing, though."

Xavier blushed and looked down, embarrassed and wondering if he should have known better. But... Evan had invited him into his tent in the first place, so... Maybe he had just wanted a quick kiss goodnight? Or...

The lieutenant bit his lip, trying to keep his smile under control. It wasn't working.

"Is there something you'd like me to get done while you sleep? Anything I should relay?" It was a bit of a dodge, reverting to captain-lieutenant stuff, but Xavier wanted to be sensitive that they both still had responsibilities, and if Evan had only mere moments, then that had to take priority.

Xavier bit his lip, trying and failing to hide an adorable smile. Gods, Evan wanted to just hug him and not let go.

"Is there something you'd like me to get done while you sleep?" Xavier asked, "Anything I should relay?" Evan felt his posture straightening almost against his will, weariness nearly blanketing him as he subtly rolled his shoulders back and let his smile fade.

What should he fill Xavier in on? He felt the impulse to tell him about Ponderance, but that ball seemed in the commander's court. The question was really, what did Captain Rutliff's lieutenant need to do or know today?

"Well, Raccoon is fine, or at least was last I saw them," he said with a shrug. "The goddess is definitely looking forward to receiving more volunteers tonight." Evan thought about Moretti, thought about asking Xavier about Moretti, but he was too tired for that level of personal investment this morning. His heart sank a little, suddenly heavy with the weight of the goodbyes they'd be making that night. He swayed a little, his eyes blinking heavily, lingering shut for a moment before he caught himself.

"I think the best thing to do is to help out with preparations for the ceremony as best you can." He offered a light smile, hopeful that ceremony preparations might be enjoyable, at least. In fact, a brief pang of jealousy struck him that he'd sleep through most of that bit, though he knew it was a tad absurd, standing here in this armor the goddess had made for him, sleepy precisely because he'd been with her all night. Still, it wasn't lost on him that he'd been missing out on a lot in camp the past few days. Here was hoping he wasn't growing too out of sync.

"Well, Raccoon is fine, or at least was last I saw them," Evan said, shrugging. A breath of relief exited Xavier, though his smile did well and truly fade. He was a bit chagrined that changing directions had worked so well. "The goddess is definitely looking forward to receiving more volunteers tonight."

Oh, but, gods, Evan closed his eyes a little too long and genuinely started wavering on his feet. Xavier tried to steady him with hands around Evan's upper arms--taking care to avoid the... dragon spines--but Evan seemed to snap out of it himself.

"I think the best thing to do is to help out with preparations for the ceremony as best you can," Evan said, and Xavier's mouth, ever more expressive than he intended, fell into an actual pout of a frown. Evan wanted him to leave. Go help. Be elsewhere. That was... reasonable. But... Xavier remembered asking Evan if they could just... hold each other after everything they had done yesterday and how warm those moments felt. He wanted that again.

But, staying here, both of them being unavailable for hours on a day that might be one of the most momentous occasions their little rebel army could have imagined? It seemed selfish. Small potatoes in comparison to the gravity of what Xavier and Evan would be doing outside of... going for walks.

And yet.

"Any injuries from last night?" Xavier asked tentatively, very aware that they were running out of time.

Well, Xavier wasn't smiling anymore. Crap.

"Any injuries from last night?" Xavier asked, and Evan shifted his weight, half double-checking with his body before he answered.

"Scrapes and bruises," he replied with another shrug, this one accompanied by a bit of a playful grin. "No healer needed this time."

Xavier let go of Evan while the captain shifted from one foot and then the other.

"Scrapes and bruises," Evan replied, shrugging again, though his grin returned. "No healer needed this time."

Xavier tried very hard not to think about the types of things Evan and the goddess might have gotten up to in order to make those scrapes, but that didn't work either. The lieutenant pursed his lips to one side sheepishly as his blush deepened.

"Would it... could I..." Oh, gods, this was probably a terrible idea, right? Silly, even? Okay, fine, blurt it out, then. "If you wanted I could stay here until you fell asleep?"