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Dewdrop is stressed.
It’s not a new thing, really, it’s his default state of being. Between ever turbulent emotions and the threat of the upcoming tour, he’s tenser than usual. He has too many new songs to learn and too many chores and too many people to talk to and it’s a lot.
He’s spending the little amount of alone time he has still practicing, because this solo just isn’t fucking clicking. It’s one of his favorite songs from the new album, too, which sucks. He knows he can play it, he’s skilled enough, but his fingers are stiff, his arms are sore, he’s tired, and it all culminates in a tense feeling of stress in his very bones. He nailed it exactly once for the studio recording, but that was ages ago and he hasn’t picked up his guitar in a while.
Groaning, he turns off the amp and throws the thing on its stand to be picked up later when he’s less exhausted. Dew turns his doorknob, stomping down the dormitory hallway towards the kitchen, he can’t tell if he hopes someone is there or not.
Someone is— well, a good few of them, really. Even Papa.
They’re all spread out between the kitchen and common room; Papa and Aether cuddled up on the couch, Sunshine and Mountain in the chair opposite of them, and Rain in the kitchen.
Dew gravitates to him, because he can’t help it. He jumps to sit on the counter and nudges the water ghoul with his toe to catch his attention.
“Hey, Dew,” he says, not quite turning around. The water on the stove is near boiling, Dew can feel it with his element.
“Hi,” he mumbles, “you making tea?”
Rain finally turns to see him, and the smile on his face falters as he’s hit with a wave of uneasiness, Dew knows that he smells like something burning. “Yeah,” he replies cautiously, “are you okay?”
Immediately, Dew surrenders. “Stressed.”
“Oh, baby,” Rain’s arms are around him before he knows it and he melts into them easily, “once this is done, do you wanna go to my room? Have some alone time?”
He nods. He’s so tired and all he wants is Rain. He’s a salve on Dew’s ever-burning wounds, a solution for everything. “Is there enough for me?”
“‘Course there is, sweetheart. What do you want?” Rain cradles his face lovingly, thumbing along his cheekbone.
Dewdrop hums in thought, “Black tea? With—”
“With sugar.” Rain pecks his nose and turns to rummage around in the cabinet, “You want your mug?”
He already feels the stress float away as he smiles, “Yeah,” he says, watching Rain pull out his old mug, gifted to him by Zephyr ages ago, and drops the tea bag in. “Water’s almost done.”
“I know, love,” Rain rolls his eyes.
Dew keeps his gaze firmly on Rain’s hands, taking in how elegantly he moves as he pours out the steaming water into each mug. He’s beautiful, Dew thinks distantly, until Rain nudges his knee gently and he hops from the counter, taking his mug with him as he goes. Rain’s arm drapes around his shoulders as they walk off to the hallway, Rain gives Aether a small wave goodbye.
They’re in Rain’s room and in an instant he feels a little better.
Dew slides his mug onto Rain’s bedside table and opens his arms with a painfully vulnerable noise. He trills when Rain scoops him up in his own, “What’s wrong, baby? What do you need?”
He buries his face in Rain’s chest. Dew knows what he needs, but saying it… that’s the hard part. He whimpers again, “I just need you.”
Somehow, despite the lack of really anything concrete to work with, Rain understands. “Can you kneel for me?” He requests, but Dew already knows he’s going to listen, sinking to his knees at the edge of the bed between Rain’s legs. “We aren’t doing anything, not unless you want to, honeydew. I just want you to let go, okay?”
Dew nods, resting his head on Rain’s thigh with a soft sigh of relief. The water ghoul’s fingers card through his hair, he pulls in all the right spots, practically forcing Dew into a more malleable state of mind. He notices, vaguely, Rain’s hand disappearing from his field of view and returning with Dew’s mug, “Drink, hm?” He says, nudging Dew’s hand with it until he grabs it.
It’s perfectly sweetened and just the right temperature, Dew purrs as he sips on it. He catches Rain smiling down at him, drinking his own tea, still petting Dew’s head. “Look at you,” Rain coos, “so pretty, so good for me. My perfect boy.”
Dew whines, a pleasant fog overtaking his mind— Rain is all that matters right now. He’s all Dew needs to care about, and he finally dips into that headspace that Rain wrangles him into effortlessly, vulnerable, soft, pliant, all for him.
“Finish your tea, okay?” Rain murmurs, placing his own mug back on the table and keeping one hand in Dew’s hair, keeping that point of contact he values so greatly right now. Dew obeys. It’s best to finish it while it’s still warm anyway, he thinks, and before he knows it his mug is drained.
“Done,” he whispers. Before he can put it up on the table with Rain’s, the water ghoul takes it and does it for him instead.
He purrs, rubbing his face on the soft clothing on Rain’s thigh. “Do you wanna talk about what’s bothering you, baby?”
His reaction is immediate. Dew recoils and stares up at Rain through those long lashes and the water ghoul simply melts. “You don’t have to. Just checking, okay?” He hooks a finger under Dew’s chin, shoving his worries to the side and pulling him back into the scene.
“You’re so wonderful, huh? You’re doing so well, I’m proud of you, honeydew.”
Dewdrop whines, trying to hide his face the best he can, but Rain’s cupping his cheek now and he’s not giving that up. It’s easy to let go for Rain, his Rain. The water ghoul grins, his thumb brushing along Dew’s cheekbone, “Stand up for me?”
He obeys, lifting himself from the floor, waiting for Rain’s next order.
“Come here,” Rain coos and opens his arms, which Dew falls into effortlessly. Rain manhandles him until he’s sitting up against the headboard with Dew straddling his lap, chin resting on Rain’s shoulder. “You’re so cute,” he giggles when Dew purrs louder at that, “are you tired, angel?”
“A little,” Dew admits. His hands still ache and he’s been so damn busy all day, “I wanna spend time with you, though.”
He doesn’t want to sleep yet. Even if his eyelids feel heavy and his body begs him to lay down, he wants to be with Rain, and be awake for it. “I know, but I’ll still be here when you wake up. You deserve a good rest, my love.”
“Rainy,” Dew whines. It’s a high and reedy sound, a surefire signal that he’s right in the state of mind Rain was looking for.
“Don’t argue with me, honeydew, I want you to sleep. You wanna be good, right?” Rain murmurs, soft against his ear and gentle in his tone, and Dew sags against him with an affirmative hum. “I promise, I’ll be here when you wake up. Lay down, head on my thighs, okay?”
“Give me a kiss first,” Dew growls, pulling back to narrow his eyes at Rain. He obliges, obviously, and Dew purrs into it until Rain pulls away.
He takes himself off Rain’s lap without another complaint, curling up by his side and using Rain’s legs as a pillow. The water ghoul smiles down at him and pulls the thick blanket over Dew’s little body, “Sleep well, little flame.”
He’s out like a light within five minutes.
—
When Dew stirs, several hours later, Rain has already dozed off and woken back up. The fire ghoul’s eyes flutter open and he stares up at Rain, still sleepy and yet so very in love. “Hi,” he murmurs, trying to sit up.
Rain smiles and pulls Dew to his chest, “Hi, sleepyhead.”
Dew makes a discontented noise at the teasing, though the way he’s melting into Rain’s gentle grip is more telling. “How long was I asleep?”
“Uh—” Rain checks his phone, “Six hours— and I napped too, so don’t you worry your pretty little head about me, okay?”
He growls, but surrenders the words that sat on his tongue. Rain’s cool under his touch, it’s nice against his too-hot skin. He still feels floaty, like nothing matters aside from him, Rain, and this moment. “Can you tell me what was bothering you? Please, let me help you.”
Dew tenses up, just a bit, but Rain is right there to wash it over with a wave of calming pheromones that makes him calm again. It’s something he used to hate— he felt like it was manipulative, until they sat down and talked and Rain told him all he wants is to help, that using their ghoulish abilities wasn’t a bad thing. So, he embraces it, and nods.
“I think… I have too much going on. The tasks Imperator throws at us, practice,” he swallows the lump in his throat, “It doesn’t sound like enough to be this stressed over.
“I can’t get a hold of one of the solos either and I feel like I’m going crazy.” Dew whispers, nuzzling Rain’s chest and lacing their fingers together.
Rain kisses his head. “You’ve been practicing too much. Your hands are sore,” he murmurs into Dew’s hair. His hands untangle from Dew’s and he takes one of Dew’s little hands into both of his own, palm up, and starts rubbing it gently, soothingly. “You have to stop overdoing it, otherwise you’ll burn out and never get it down.”
He purrs at Rain, who’s massaging his hands so damn well that his worries drift away again. The difference in their warmth is staggering, but to Dew, it’s grounding, comforting. “I guess,” Dew sags against him, “I just kind of wish Sister Imperator didn’t view us as… tools.”
“I know. But we have Papa, and when hasn’t he had our backs?” Rain says against his ear, gentle. His voice sounds, to Dew, like a steady stream in a quiet forest. It’s so damn nice. “I’ll help you practice, whenever you want.
“And I know Imperator is extra hard on you… for whatever dumb reason she has. All you have to do is ask for help, honeydew.”
Dew chirps, nuzzling into Rain’s cheek and pressing soft kisses to his skin. It’s sweet, vulnerable, and all the other things Dew hates being, but he can’t even be mad. With Rain holding him tight, massaging the soreness from his muscles, he’s happy.
“I love you.”
“Yeah, I love you more,” Rain grins when Dew turns to glare at him, playful.
He almost wants to get sappy and spill his heart out to Rain. Dew knows he’ll accept the affection, even appreciate it, but he’s no poet when it comes to love. He just can’t get the words out of his mouth, it feels wrong to say. Actions are easier.
So, he makes use of them. His hands feel better now, he clasps them over the top of Rain’s and draws them over his chest, tight, safe, and throws his head back on Rain’s shoulder. They’re both purring in sync; hot and cold.
The perfect dichotomy.