Look, love, what envious streaks do lace the severing clouds in yonder east

[plaguedrat]

The seventh day has come and gone. Despite others' reassurances that these things end, Rat's starting to despair he'll ever look his own age again. He'd gone to bed that night, still in the shape of his five-year-old self. The burns had still ached and sleep had been hard.

Drifting out of uneasy dreams, the first thing he notices is the lack of pain. Blinking his eyes open, Rat sees the hand that's half under the pillow. It's not a pudgy toddler's hand but that of an eighteen-year-old man. His own hands, his real body.

Rat sits up quickly, pleased that he doesn't have to stand gingerly. He swings long legs over the edge and stands up, hurrying to dress.

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[plaguedrat]

Rat curses, hips stuttering as he jerks forward, giving in to himself and release. He groans, falling back into the mattress, hands over his face as he breathes raggedly.

[silenttrainbaby]

The taste coats Grey's tongue and he rests his cheek against Rat's thigh, peering up at him. He feels a peace he hasn't yet felt here in this place. A place where he might fit.

[plaguedrat]

Panting, Rat looks over at Grey, tracing him mouth with his thumb. There's something deep in his face that Rat can't quite read that stirs something in him beyond lust.

[silenttrainbaby]

Leaning up on his elbows, Grey kisses Rat's mouth, lingering there for a moment before settling on his side, bandaged hand on Rat's belly.

[plaguedrat]

Automatically, Rat turns into his side and drapes an arm over Grey. "Thank you."

[silenttrainbaby]

He keeps saying thank you and Grey isn't sure why; he furrows his brow again. If this was because he took care of Rat? That's a very elaborate thank you.

[plaguedrat]

Because Grey is kind, because there are people who wouldn't reciprocate such acts. Because Grey's here. Rat leans forward, touching Grey's face.

[silenttrainbaby]

The touch has Grey closing his eyes, leaning into it. If they could just stay here, touching, he will be content. He won't leave, not right away.

[plaguedrat]

He can stay as long as he wants. Rat is realizing now that he wants Grey, beyond their friendship and beyond the physical. He wants to him to stay and read books and okay with his ridiculous cat and...he likes Grey.

That, he realizes, is why he's saying thank you.

[silenttrainbaby]

The cat is no more ridiculous than they are, really. The cat is one of them.

Holding Rat's hand to his cheek, Grey cants his chin just that little bit, to kiss him again, to linger there, breathing him in, tasting him.

[plaguedrat]

Rat leans in, returning the kiss and reveling in the warmth of it. It's simple and gratifying in a way that's real, that goes beyond playing house. "Do you want to stay here...?" He gestures to the bed as he asks.

[silenttrainbaby]

A nod: yes. Grey does. This - just this simple thing of staying in a soft, comfortable bed with no need to rush, no worry of anyone walking in - it's all beyond even what Grey would've known to dream of. It is entirely new.

Could he have more kisses, just little tastes of kisses, pressed along Rat's mouth, his jaw, his cheeks.

[plaguedrat]

Yes, as many as he wants. Rat watches his face, perceptive of Grey's expressions and communications.

[silenttrainbaby]

There's a freedom now that comes with what they've done, isn't there? Grey can touch Rat as he pleases, Rat can touch him. It loosens the set of Grey's shoulders as he lies back, cast hugged to his chest. He takes a deep breath, lets it out.

[plaguedrat]

Distantly again and again, his mind reminds him that contentment leads to complacency. To him such things are poisonous and dangerous and yet the idea of pushing Grey off just seems painful.

Trying not to think deeply on those implications mean, he draws Grey closer and tucks under his chin.

[silenttrainbaby]

Grey's bandaged hand traces circles on Rat's shoulder; he puts his nose in his hair. When his cast is off, they can do so much more. Now, he feels Rat's body against his and he likes it. So much.

[plaguedrat]

It feels safer than he wants to admit and Rat exhales quietly before fumbling for his blanket, drawing it over them.

[silenttrainbaby]

Even the blanket is soft and Grey is still getting used to soft. He's comfortable like this. For once, even his cast doesn't itch.

His stomach growls, though, and Rat can feel Grey smile.

[plaguedrat]

Right. Rat had been getting food before they got caught up in themselves. Reluctantly, he sits up and moves out from the blanket to see what food he has.

[silenttrainbaby]

Wait. Grey can't catch him in time and he follows, not bothering with clothes, padding in naked after Rat.

[plaguedrat]

Picking his shorts off the floor, Rat steps into them while he peers into the fridge. Its contents are worse than ever after his week as a child. Mostly, it's a few leftovers from caretakers like Daphne and Aurora.

[silenttrainbaby]

It doesn't matter. Grey's stomach always growls. He comes up behind Rat, trailing a finger down the knobs of his spine.

[plaguedrat]

It distracts him from his pursuit of food and Rat rocks back from where he's crouched in front of the fridge, eyes closed. He forgets to be protective, to flinch away to protect the scars, just lets Grey touch him.

"Take whatever you want," he says, gesturing at the food.

[silenttrainbaby]

Leaning over Rat, casted hand still on his back, Grey pulls out a random box and sets it on the counter to open it. What is that?

[plaguedrat]

"Potato salad...whatever that is," Rat says, thinking he's not sure he's encountered anything that looks like a salad.