Mark’s eyes opened when the sun shone right on his face through the window, the blinds open as if he’d forgotten to shut them the evening prior. Squinting, he assumed that it was probably the case – he’d been busy with other things. His eyes drifted down to Val curled up in his arms, his face still streaked with the salt lines the tears had left. Silently, softly, Mark stroked his cheek, knowing the other wouldn’t stir from so gentle a touch. He seemed peaceful, in sleep, and it was so easy to admire him, the curve of his jaw, the chiseled nose that still seemed carved for a perfect statue, and his brown, wavy hair that shone like fire where the sun was hitting.

He was safe, they both were, and yet a faint worry remained nestled in Mark’s chest, the very same one he knew Val had been grappling with ever since he’d killed Dawn.

Gently, Mark pushed a curtain of waves away from the other’s face, and pressed a kiss to his forehead, a silent hope that they could get quiet mornings together, that the bloodthirst would not rise again. When his lips left the other’s skin, Val had opened his eyes, looking half-asleep still, but the hint of a smile was floating on his face and curiosity was gleaming in his eyes.

– What gives ? he whispered, voice still raw.

– Nothing much, Mark responded. Besides that I could.

And with that, he pressed another kiss right where the last one had been, and he felt Val’s arms wrap around him and pull him ever so slightly closer.

– Careful with that, he chuckled, else I’ll start thinking that I can as well.

Mark looked down, surprised, but Val had closed his eyes again and just seemed content to listen to his heartbeat, holding him. With a slight frown, Mark silently caressed down his cheek, before pressing two fingers under his chin to lift his head up, asking the other to look at him. Said other only half-opened one eye with a curious mumble, and Mark felt his cheeks flush, his heart beating a little faster.

– You know you can, right ? he whispered.

There was a pause, where his heart kept beating harder and faster than it even had back then, and he watched Val’s eyes widen in shock. Doubt washed over Mark almost instantly. Maybe he was wrong. Maybe he shouldn’t have said anything, maybe it was better not to know how the other felt about kissing him.

Val blinked, as if he was trying to dispel a peculiar dream, and his hands trembled on Mark’s back, and Mark was seriously considering the possibility of retreating with a joke until one of the other’s hands hesitantly reached for his cheek. Val’s eyes were seeking approval, slowly pulled him in, giving him every second in the world to reject him. Mark leaned into his touch, shivering as their lips brushed against each other before truly, blindly crashing in one another.

Val’s lips were softer and warmer than he’d imagined, he’d still been thinking about the harshness of the cold marble that had haunted him. Soon they were melting into each other, prolonging the kiss as if they’d waited for it their entire lives, only pulling away when they were both out of breath and blushing and embarrassed.

Mark was smiling, out of words or biting remarks for once, his cheeks a deep red, and as soon as the other one had recovered his breath a little, he initiated another kiss, wanting him again, to prove to himself, to them both that this was fine, that they could.

Val’s soft little grunt as he held him closer was divine.