Chapter 55 55

Chapter 55 55
Azxel woke up first.

The room was still dim, the morning light fighting to get through the blinds in thin stripes. Everything from last night crashed back into his head all at once, the rough kisses, the hands pulling clothes off, and their bodies moving too fast and too close, the sounds he made that he couldn’t take back.

His face burned just thinking about it. His hair stood in every direction, fluffy and wild like he had been electrocuted. He turned his head slow, his eyes landing on Jaelen right beside him.

Jaelen was still deep in sleep, he slept soundly, his chest rising and falling steadily and one arm thrown across the pillow. His face looked soft in a way Azxel hasn’t noticed before.

His lashes were long against his cheeks and his mouth slightly open.

Azxel’s stomach twisted hard.
“What the hell…?” he whispered, mostly to himself. Then panic hit different. He kicked out with both legs, shoving Jaelen hard toward the edge of the bed.

Jaelen flew off the bed with a thud, landing on the floor on his back.
“What was that?” Jaelen groaned, his voice thick and sleepy. He rubbed his eyes with the heel of his hand, blinking up at the ceiling before pushing himself up to sit on the floor. His hair was a mess, his shirt twisted around his torso from last night.

Azxel sat up fast, and clutched the sheet to his chest like shield. The room spun small.
“What are you doing on my bed?” Azxel’s voice came out sharper than he meant.

Jaelen looked at him for a second, then let out a low chuckle. He glanced away first, toward the wall, smile tugging at his lips. Then he turned back, his eyes meeting Azxel’s properly.
“Look around, young master,” he said, his voice still rough from sleep but amused. “You’re on my bed.”

Azxel’s eyes darted around quickly towards the neat desk, the folded clothes in the basket and the small black towel still hanging over the chair.

His pajama shirt crumpled on the floor next to Jaelen’s. The bed under him too big, and even looked made up now after they wrecked it last night.

That was enough to tell, he wasn’t in his room.
Heat flooded his face again, neck to ears. He pulled the sheet higher, covering his bare shoulders.

Jaelen watched him, his smile fading into something softer. He didn’t move closer. Just stayed sitting on the floor with his elbows on knees, giving Azxel space.

“You kicked me pretty hard,” Jaelen said after a beat. “I think I deserve something for that.”

Azxel glared down at him. “This isn’t funny.”

“It’s a little funny.” Jaelen rubbed the back of his neck where he hit the floor. “You looked terrified for a second like you thought I snuck in here.”

Azxel’s jaw tightened. “I didn’t… I just—” He stopped. The words stuck on his lips. Last night felt too real now in daylight. “I don’t know what I’m doing.”

Jaelen’s expression changed. The amusement left, he pushed up slowly, careful and sat on the very edge of the bed far enough not to crowd.
“Hey,” he said quiet. “Look at me.”

Azxel didn’t want to, but he did.

Jaelen’s eyes were steady without judgment and no anger.
“You don’t have to know what you’re doing,” Jaelen said. “Not right now and not all at once.”

Azxel swallowed. His fingers twisted the sheet tighter. Jaelen reached out slow enough Azxel could pull away if he wanted but Azxel didn’t. 

Jaelen’s hand found his, brushing his thumb over Azxel’s knuckles once.
“We can figure it out slowly,” Jaelen added. “Or fast or not at all. Whatever you need.”

Jaelen smiled. He knew what he was saying, he knew Azxel was clinging to him because Sky wasn’t around, he knew Azxel was using his feelings but… Jaelen was ready to be a second option. A second option just for Azxel.

Azxel stared at their hands. His breathing slowed small. “I don’t want to talk about it yet,” he muttered.

“Okay.” Jaelen squeezed his hand lightly, once. “Then we don’t.”

Silence settled again. Jaelen stood up after a minute. Stretched small, back popping. He looked down at Azxel still buried in the sheet.
“Shower?” he asked. “You look like you fought a storm.”

Azxel huffed small. “It’s your fault.”

Jaelen’s smile came back, small and crooked. “Guilty as charged.”He held out a hand offering them to Azxel.

Azxel looked at it long, then he took it.
Jaelen pulled him up gently. Azxel stood, the sheet falling away, standing in just his boxers now. He felt exposed but didn’t cover up.

Jaelen didn’t stare, he didn’t want to make Azxel uncomfortable even if he knew Azxel wouldn’t be uncomfortable. He turned toward the door.
“Come on,” he said. “Before mum gets back and starts asking why we both look like we didn’t sleep.”

Azxel followed him to the bathroom door.
Jaelen paused and looked back.
“No pressure,” he said quiet. “We can shower separate if you want.”

Azxel shook his head in a small movement.
“Together.” He whispered.

Jaelen’s eyes softened more. He opened the door and they stepped inside.

The water started running, steam filling the small space slow. Azxel stepped under first and Jaelen followed.

It was quiet for a while. Azxel leaned his forehead against the tiles, locking his eyes closed. Jaelen stood behind him, wrapping his hands on his waist lightly.

Azxel turned slowly and then their eyes met through the steam. Jaelen leaned in first this time slowly, he raised gis eyes dreamily to stare at Azxel, his expression asking if he could…

Azxel met him halfway and then leaned in to the kiss. The kiss was soft and wet from the shower. When they pulled back, Jaelen rested his forehead on Azxel’s. This was the only chance he had since Sky wasn’t around, so he got to use it.

“Better?” he asked.

Azxel nodded against him. “Yeah.”

They stayed under the water until it started to cool, then they stepped out of the bathroom with towels wrapped around them.

Jaelen took dry clothes from his drawer and passed it to Azxel. Azxel put it on after applying Jaelen’s body lotion. The clothes were too big on Azxel but at least, he felt comfortable putting them on.

Back in the room, Jaelen made the bed quick while Azxel sat on the edge watching everything.

Jaelen finished, and took a sit beside him, sitting not too close.
“Food?” he asked and Azxel nodded.

Jaelen stood, offered his hand again and Azxel took it after some seconds of stalling.

Jaelen smiled, as far as Azxel took it he was ok. He didn’t care if he was just an option.