Work Text:
Recently, mornings have been a thoroughly different ordeal. Thane wakes up with an ache in his neck, his back- he’s getting too old for this- though today, it isn’t as bad as it usually is. He’s greeted with the cool feeling of morning dew gathering on his face, the smell of trees in the air, birdsong chirping through the trees. It’s nice- would be a lot nicer if he wasn’t so cold.
All of that is strange, but the strangest is the fact that someone is underneath him, the steady rise and fall of their chest a comfort. Thane shifts and presses his face deeper into the crook of Baden’s neck, chasing off the morning for just a few more seconds.
His conscience can’t allow him too much rest. After much debate, he sighs and lifts his head, propping himself up on the stump of his arm as he peers over the edge of the thorny bushes that have surrounded them.
To his relief, it seems like the only one awake is Brutus, who is gently prodding at the dying firepit with a stick. The sky is still a little too dark- they probably have another half hour before they need to get up. Thane sighs, and pulls back a little to stretch- only for a sharp pain to pierce his scalp. He winces; his hair is caught on something, and he has to awkwardly twist his neck to find the culprit without tugging at it.
Ah. It had gotten thoroughly tangled at some point in the night, entwined throughout the branches on Baden’s shoulder. Thane sighs, and tugs his head back again. Nope, no way that was coming out on its own. Begrudgingly, he shifts his weight and begins to pick at the tangled strands of hair.
It only takes a few minutes for Baden to stir, their eyes lazily blinking open. He yawns, mouth opening about an inch wider than it should, and shifts his arms to stretch, undoing some of Thane’s work.
“Stay still,” he hisses, wincing as the movement tugs on his scalp. Baden frowns at him, rubbing the sleep from his eye, and cranes his neck to see what’s wrong.
“Hm? What- oh.” They relax their arms, one hand moving to rest on Thane’s lower back. “Sorry about that.”
“It’s my fault for not tying it back,” Thane hums, watching as the roots quickly recede back into skin, freeing him from wooden captivity. He runs his fingers through his hair- or at least tries to, wincing as his fingers get caught and tug at knots. Thane sighs and sits up properly, trying to brush out his hair in vain.
”Do you think Belinda will let me use her hairbrush?”
“I doubt it.” Baden props himself up on his hands, and rolls his neck back until it pops. “Good morning, by the way.”
“Morning,” Thane responds, only half listening as he pulls at a stubborn knot. “We’re up a little early. It looks like everyone else is still asleep.”
Baden hums in response, watching Thane struggle for a few more seconds. Finally, he huffs, a small smile playing at his lips.
”Turn around, Thane. I can do it.”
Thane sighs, tossing his hair back over his shoulder. “Alright. Be careful.”
“I always am.”
He chuckles as he turns and settles into a cross-legged position, listening as Baden shuffles until he’s kneeling behind Thane, then gently takes his hair in his hands.
They’re true to their word- careful as they section a piece off and work their fingers through it, barely tugging at all. Thane closes his eyes and lets himself enjoy it; the gentle scrape of claws against the back of his neck, never sharp enough to hurt. He can hear the inhale and exhale, the sound of air through teeth as Baden breathes. He moves on to another section, hands passing against Thane’s scalp. He sighs contentedly.
For so long, he staved off of this- human touch, physical nearness. Not like he had anyone to share his space with. But even Estrilda; he’d stiffen under her hugs, keep them short. Pull back whenever a hand brushed his shoulder, keep himself closed off and guarded. Because being near him was dangerous , deadly, and he was really keeping everyone safe. He’d forgotten how nice it was until Baden was thrust into his life, and saved him all over again. Even in life, they had no concept of physical space, and would sling their arm around anyone near enough to fall victim. Thane had hated it for the first month or so. Now, as Baden pauses to part his hair and press a soft kiss to the back of his neck, Thane grins, and wonders how he ever lived without it.
Miraculously, it doesn't take all that long for Baden to sort through the tangles, and he draws his hands through Thane’s hair with a satisfied hum when he doesn't meet resistance. Thane smiles, gratitude on the tip of his tongue- but Baden doesn’t end there. He pulls a strand of hair from Thane’s temple, and begins to fiddle with it.
”What are you-”
”Just stay still for a second.”
Thane frowns, but complies with the request, sitting up a little straighter to give Baden better vantage. It isn’t long before the soft smell of flowers begins to fill the air, as Thane feels something growing against his scalp. He grins.
“At least tell me what flowers they are.”
”Fine. Orchid, Lily of the Valley, Heliotrope, maybe some Wisteria…”
“All white,” Thane picks up.
”Yes, that goes best with your hair.”
Thane chuckles as he feels the brush of petals against his cheek. “You’re getting good at this, you know.”
“Solise is a wonderful teacher.”
All things considered, it doesn’t take too long. And Thane will never complain about the proximity, about how Baden’s fingers gently brush against his scalp as he picks up more hair. After a while, Baden settles. They observe their work for a few seconds, and then they wrap their arms around Thane’s chest and pull him close.
Thane laughs as he leans back to rest his head on Baden’s shoulder, enjoying the feeling of his chest humming as Baden chuckles too.
”I’m so glad we get to do this,” They mutter, lips against Thane’s temple, “I’m so glad you’re still here, with me.”
“I always have been,” Thane whispers back, “I never left.”
Baden smiles against his skin, then brings his hand up to cup Thane’s chin. Their lips press together perfectly, like they always have, like they always will. Thane sighs, and lets himself have this, this little bubble of safety where they can pretend that the world isn’t falling apart at the seams. And for a little while, everything is perfect.
“Hey, are you guys- ooh!”
Thane starts a little and sits back up, just in time to see Solise carefully leaning over the wall of brambles, staring at him with a sparkle in her eye.
”Thane! Your hair! Oh my gosh, Baden, did you do that? It looks so cute!”
“I did indeed,” Baden confirms, carefully adjusting one of the blossoms in his hair.
”Good to know it doesn't look horrible,” Thane teases, earning a playful slap to his shoulder.
”Not at all! Baden, I had no idea you could do hair! Oh, you need to do mine some time.”
“Maybe later,” Baden laughs, “I think it’s time to get going.”
“Oh, yes. Talene told me to tell you to stop kissing and start getting ready. But she was much more mean about it.”
“I can imagine,” Thane hums, smiling as Baden turns three shades darker. “We’ll be there soon, Solise.”
“Okay, but if you take too long and she gets mad, don’t say I didn't warn you.”
Solise leaves with a flourish of her tails, and Thane slumps back down. “Guess we should get going, then.”
“If we must.”
Thane takes Baden by the back of the neck and pulls him into one last kiss, long and sweet, before he stands up and offers them a hand. Baden accepts it, pulling himself up and then releasing Thane to stretch, yawning again, in that way that shows off rows of jagged teeth. The brambles that surround them curl back, somehow seeming reluctant to leave. Thane finds his sword and armor resting against a tree stump, his long cloak draped over it.
Their morning routine starts again. Maetria is flipping through her book, Belinda and Brutus are going over their plan for today. Talene has taken off, doing a preliminary scope of the path ahead, and Solise is stirring something over the roused fire, humming as she goes. Baden rolls his shoulders and makes his way to Belinda, leaning over her shoulder to try and read the map that they’re pouring over. Thane tosses his cloak over her shoulders and goes to kneel down next to Solise at the fire pit; and she immediately strikes up a conversation, musing about how the birds have been acting lately. And the world is still falling apart at the seams, and their lives are still in pieces, but Thane can still smell the flowers in his hair, and for now, everything is okay.