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[heartsteals]

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[heartsteals]

[ ah. he'd been thinking about that anyway, to be honest, but he didn't want to jostle them around, and he didn't want them to start stressing about being heavy or whatever else. The words are a bit ticklish against his neck; Lupin breathes out another laugh, suppressing a small shiver in his skin. ]

Of course.

[ he holds them against him a little tighter as he shifts his position, carefully avoiding knocking over any rapidly-cooling cider and fruitcake as he brings his feet up. Cairngorm's gifted bed from home is a lot bigger than the rickety cots most of them have to use; he doesn't have to move much more than that to be able to lean back until his head's resting on their small pile of pillows and Cairngorm's resting on him. It feels so natural that Lupin can almost forget they usually weigh ten times as much as he does.

Almost. But he remembers, and that means he'd probably be better off resting next to them than under them, just in case the town suddenly decides to cut this human thing short. With a small, reluctant sigh, he unwinds his arms from around them, gently placing his hands on their shoulders to urge them up. He'd happily be their pillow if he could, but... ]

[unghost]

[ They comply as soon as he puts his hands on their shoulders - they're well aware it isn't safe to be careless about the situation... But they do let out a sigh while they move off of him to lay next to him on their side, separating from him completely, albeit reluctantly.

It feels a little dramatic to be upset over the very likely possibility they'll never get to be close like this again - but, they feel it regardless, even if they don't let it show. The comfort that being close like that had brought, the longing they feel to stay like this and to stay here, and the pain it brings them that he won't always be there - if he's restless and lovestruck, they are too. Slowly, while thinking this, their hand reaches over to cover his; this much should be okay even if they turn back, shouldn't it? They don't go far enough to lace their slender fingers with his, as they aren't greedy nor sure of themself enough to do so.

If they can't be as close as they want, they at least want to hold his hand, to do something to alleviate the deep yearning they're feeling after leaving his embrace. Their pale eyes meet his, silent, knowing that they don't have to say anything to tell him they want him to stay. ]

[heartsteals]

[ they might not dare to do so, but he does it for them without a moment's hesitation, slipping his fingers through theirs and closing his hand around their smaller one. They don't need to say a word. He wants to stay, too. Lupin is kind to most everyone he knows, and cares about everyone here in some way or another, but he doesn't look at anyone but Cairngorm the way he is now - immeasurably fond, like they're the only one in the world. Right now, his mind has given way so thoroughly to his heart that they may as well be.

(He's supposed to leave them behind? It's just unfathomable.)

And even with the potential threat of an exponential weight increase, he can't help but turn onto his side, too, and quietly fold his other arm around them, almost protectively, closing the space between them just enough to let his legs brush against theirs. As long as they're not on top of him, it should be fine. He's willing it to be fine. He doesn't care if he has a few bruises when he wakes up. ]

You know, I think I do feel a catnap coming on, [ he murmurs with a little smile. ]

[unghost]

[ Taking in his affectionate gaze at full intensity pulls them back into that pleasant fluttery feeling, somewhere between nerves and excitement. He really is the only one that would ever look at them like that. They melt under it, just slightly, their eyes softening and the last little bits of tension coming out of them entirely. It's a rare sight, for someone as uptight and high-strung as them to look so calm.

They can only take looking at his fond stare and gentle smile for a few long moments before it gets too intense, dropping their gaze down and shuffling so they can tuck their free arm close to themself as he brings himself closer. Their discomfort at being the center of attention has evolved to bashfulness, at least between the two of them, and it shows in how they soften as opposed to locking up, even if their eyes avert all the same. They're enamored with the feeling of his affections, they are; it's just that they truly don't know what to do with all the attention. ]

What happened to "twenty five years of experience"...

[ They mumble, obviously not serious at all from both their drowsy tone and in their little breathy huff... as well as in how their delicate hand squeezes his gently. They're too comfortable and too warm and too contented to do anything to disrupt this. It's so peaceful, with the muted winter sunlight streaming in, the quietness, the intimacy, how they're enveloped by him, emotionally and physically. They wish they could stay in this moment forever. ]