hollow_moon

Jag

continued from here

Val raised a brow at that, but only nodded as he led them all the way in.

The first room alone was huge, bigger than any flat in London, but there was no bed in sight- That was in a whole other room itself. The bathroom was also private and quite large, as was the walk in closet.

"The bedroom is, um, through those doors," he said, watching Jag as though he still wasn't certain the other man wouldn't panic or grow annoyed.

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"And maybe some crisps," Val added, as if that somehow made it less absurd. "Cola, perhaps?" he added, wondering if this really was as silly as Jag seemed to find it.

"The logical follow-up would've been poppers, but coke and crisps will do," Jag agreed, still grinning happily.

"Could get some beer if you'd rather," Val offered, eager to please, just a bit.

"I'll never turn down beer," Jag confirmed easily, and kissed Val's shoulder, for no real reason other than he wanted to. Talking about shit was difficult for him, but showing affection physically came easily.

"Then I'll order plenty," Val smiled, looking a bit sleepy and feeling completely sated and safe here in bed with Jag.

"Hmm." Jag settled down against him, his head on Val's shoulder, but despite the orgasm he'd just had, he was much too keyed up to sleep just yet, and after a few seconds, he told him, quietly, "Your wolf's beautiful, by the way."

"Thank you," Val smiled, stroking Jag's hair absently as he settled in. "I've never really seen him myself, though it was very nice to be alert and control while in his form. ...A small part of me wishes I could do so whenever I turned- Or any time I liked."

"Maybe you'll be able to, in time," Jag said hopefully, quietly. There was something so warm and intimate about the moment, it was if speaking any louder might break the spell. "Maybe it'll have helped. Being able to do it once."

"Perhaps," Val agreed, allowing himself to be quietly hopeful.

"And you're not - sore, or anything?" Jag asked, turning his head to look up at Val without moving it from his shoulder. "Like you were last time." Val hadn't said, and he didn't look it. Certainly didn't move like he was.

"Shoulders are a touch stiff, and my knees are feeling it... But it's not like it usually is. Not even close. Some months it's so bad I can hardly leave my bed," Val replied honestly, still petting Jag's hair as he spoke.

"How are you feeling?" he asked after a beat. "It was a jarring experience all around- Are you alright?"

Jag nosed gently at Val's jaw, then pressed a kiss there. "I'm all right." He turned his palm up on Val's chest and created a small flame. "I've got my fire back. I'm more than all right." He fed the flame until it was large enough that he could sculp a wolf's face out of it, raising it high enough that Val could feel its warmth without risking getting burned.

"Clever," Val said softly, smiling at the sight of Jag's flames. "How long did it take you to master them?" he asked curiously.

"I was thirteen," Jag answered, and brushed another kiss on Val's jaw. "But it's still a work in progress." He changed the shape, the wolf's head morphing into a bird in flight. "It took me months to pull this one off, and I couldn't make it fly, at first." As if on cue, the wings started to beat, for all that the fire bird remained stationary.

"It's remarkable," Val said softly. "You're remarkable, Jag. It must take an incredible amount of control to create those things," he murmured.

"It's like any other muscle," Jag stated with a smile, and put out the fire with another thought. "The more you flex it, the easier it becomes. It could be like that, for you," he went on, turning over so he was on his stomach, and he could look at Val. "Maybe you just haven't found the right muscle yet."

"I'm not sure how I'd even find the right one," Val confessed. "I have heard that there's a man near Mount Fuji who supposedly teaches those with the wolf inside them how to master the change, but... I don't know. Sounds too good to be true."

"Worth exploring, though, innit?" Jag prodded gently. "Just in case?" Drina's offer had been too good to be true, and it had been the best decision of his life.

"It's a long trip," Val sighed. "And his lessons take a month at the very least. ...That's a large time investment for something that might not work," he said quietly.

"A couple of months isn't that long, if there's any chance it might be real," Jag answered with a one-shouldered shrug. But it was Val's choice, obviously, and he reached out to brush fingers through his hair. "I'd understand if you decided to go, anyway."

And anyone who didn't would be an arsehole.

"I don't want to leave just as things are getting good," Val said, his voice soft and gentle. "I don't want to leave you."

For one very frightening second, Jag considered being the reason that Val wouldn't go. Then he thought better of it - Val could have gone long before now, and he hadn't, so he was just one more reason not to go, at best. Or worst.

Before his own issues could rear more of their ugly heads, he focused back on what they were actually talking about.

"Things could be so much better, though," Jag answered, thumb stroking his shoulder. "It could change your entire life. For the better."

"Maybe," Val agreed, smiling at the touch. "I don't know, Jag. ...I'll think about it."

Jag hummed softly in acknowledgement. That was all he could ask for, really. Val's life, Val's decision. He just... gave a shit. Many shits, actually. He shifted closer and drew Val into a soft, long kiss, meant to convey just that.

It had been a while since he'd been kissed so sweetly. Since he'd felt cared for- Not just wanted.

"I'm so glad I found you last night."

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