4It was still so hot, and doing that kind of activity made it even worse.
Even so, Caleb lay between his lover and the sheets that were getting sticky. Even with sweat running down his brow, down the the bold, adamant son of Nerissa refused to have his hair cut.
"Say, do you keep your hair long because you're embarrassed?" Aldarn asked, brushing the long strands of hair from Caleb's eyes and reddened cheeks.
"What the hell, stop that!" Caleb grabbed his lover's hand and bit onto the galhot's finger.
"Owww... what is it, then?"
"Ishn't obvioush..."
"Nuh-uh, it isn't." Aldarn tried to take his hand back, in vain. "Hey, give me my hand back."
"Donnn wuhnnuh..."
"Give it back."
"Nuuuuuu!"
"You are embarrassing. Come on. Hand."
"Merk mer."
"If you don't, I'll do... something."
Caleb's face became even more flushed even than before, and he released Aldarn's finger from his teeth. Aldarn pinched his beloved's lips in return.
"Naughty."
"Bleh." Caleb stuck his tongue out.
"Very naughty."
Caleb grabbed his lover and kissed him. "You're right."
And they tumbled into the sheets, the way they would tumble into the grass as children, playing warrior. How their bodies would clash and burn with vigor, imagining themselves to be the valiant heroes of light that would save everyone from the horrors they lived through. How their hands clasped together, wrestling, fighting, trying to get on top of the other one and declare themselves a victor.
They've long moved on from that. They've changed. They were now grown men, seeking pleasure and intimacy.
"I don't cut my hair," Caleb whispered, "Because you like it."
"Hm?" Aldarn looked up, licking his lips. "You're doing it for me? You're such a fucking sap."
"Well, I am part tree after all."
"That was a horrible joke."
"You're the one who started it by describing 'it' as 'sweet, almost like nectarine'!"
With a devious smile, Aldarn imitated the way Caleb said it earlier. "You're right."
"You're just copying me!"
Aldarn stuck his tongue out. "Don't I, always?"
And it took them back, briefly, to the times when they would fight, because they had similar interests and thought similarly. It took them back, briefly, to the times they told Julian and Aketon about how the other boy was being mean to him by copying him.
"We're just a pair of idiots." Caleb traced his finger over Aldarn's lips. "Since birth."
"Til death?" Aldarn mused and nipped along Caleb's hand.
"Yeah." The memories of the battles they've trudged through and survived flashed in Caleb's mind. The moments where they could've died. The moments where it looked grim. They faced it all, swords on one hand, the other clasped with each other. "Til death..."
If it still isn't clear, this happens in a mixed cartoon/comic AU of sorts, so Caleb is part "tree"/sentient plant life.
