Did I Drool?

I felt fingers running through my hair as my mind began to slowly rouse from drowsiness. My arms were wrapped around something and my cheek rested on something that felt hard yet soft, cold yet comforting.

I was so damn comfortable.

It was so nice that I wanted to fall back asleep, snuggling my cheek against the hard-soft surface I was laying on.

It was the sound and feeling of a deep chuckle that made my eyes open slowly.

I was on top of Marcellus, the man's back to a large tree as I was practically straddling him. My cheek was on his chest and my arms wrapped around his torso.

One of his hands was playing with the hairs on the back of my neck, the other on the small of my back, keeping me steady.

The sun had risen a fair bit, though it was clearly still early morning and the warm smile Marcellus was giving me felt brighter than the rays that were accentuating his face.

My mind was still too foggy from sleep to process our positions fast enough, finding myself staring at Marcellus for a touch too long.

We stared at each other, actually, the nobleman not saying a word as he continued to play with my hair. I barely even registered his hand on my back that was absentmindedly stroking my skin.

I blinked up at him sleepily, his touch making me drowsy again. I looked down at our positions then back at him, stupidly asking, "Did I drool?"

Marcellus laughed again, his voice husky from waking up as well and I felt each vibration of his laugh all over my body. I was sleepy, but I was still me and the action plus the hand on my back sent a shiver up my spine.

"You did. Quite a bit, actually."

"Well that's embarrassing," I muttered as I put my head back on his chest. I wanted to sleep more. It was such a nice day and this was probably my best dream so far.

Rather realistic for a dream and not the usual kind of dreams I had whenever Marcellus was present. There was usually a lot of moaning and begging, but this was nice. This was peaceful. I didn't want to sound overly romantic but…I felt kind of cared for, almost loved.

That was a new feeling for me. 

"I wouldn't have pegged you for a cuddler, Diego."

Stop speaking in that voice of yours. I'm trying to sleep and not get horny.

"Sleep's better with someone," I mumbled against his cool skin, my eyes already closed.

"It is a new experience for me. I do not hate it."

"Mmm just ask. Doubt anybody will say no to ya." Just let me sleep, dammit!

"Oh? Is that so? So if I ask you in the future, you would share a bed with me?"

I frowned slightly with my eyes still closed, not sure where dream Marcellus was going with his questions. Then I thought, what the hell. It's just a dream.

It was likely my subconscious trying to make my dream Marcy show that much interest in me. What other reasoning could I have formed?

"In a heartbeat. Now let me sleep. This dream is too long. You're talking more than usual."

"…Do you often dream of me, Diego?"

"Mmhmm." Finally. Sleep's coming back.

"…What do I do in your dreams?"

"Mmm. Dis n' dat." My words were becoming jumbled and I wasn't even sure I was speaking properly. "Ya know. Stuff."

My mind began to get foggy again and sounds became more muffled. That sweet peaceful darkness was taking over again.

I was still able to hear Marcellus' muttered words as I fell back asleep. He sounded like he was frustrated, groaning as he spoke.

"This silly little human will be the death of me."

Silly Marcy. You're human too…And I'm not little!

———

Ending my life wasn't enough, I needed to erase my existence from all humanity.

"Diego! Stop walking so fast, you know I'll catch up if I want to."

"STAY FIVE STEPS BEHIND ME OR SO HELP ME!" I yelled without looking back as I marched up the mountain.

My face was on fire and I was pretty sure the rest of my body was adorned with the redness of my blushing.

I'd finally fully woken up when the sun had properly risen and all events of the previous night and that early morning ran through my mind like a stage show. 

It didn't help that Marcellus thought it would've been funny to ask me, "So did you dream of me again?"

"I'm going to jump headfirst off this mountain once I find that boy," I muttered to myself, patting my cheeks and trying to calm them the fuck down.

We had only been traveling for a full day and I had embarrassed myself beyond return. Not only did he see such an ugly side of me the night before, but this morning had also destroyed any image of myself I'd wanted to present.

Thank goodness this damn village ain't that far. Imagine dealing with this for a week.

Yeah. I would've needed to end it all.

"A tad dramatic, no?"

He'd caught up, not a single curl out of place, and looked so very fucking amused at my expense.

"Don't talk to me."

"You're being childish, Diego~"

I'll stomp your pretty little head into the ground!

…Okay that's too much. Let's take a deep breath. He's done nothing wrong, I'm just frustrated with myself and he's just a teasing little shit. He's also kind, he helped me, let's act my fucking age for once.

I let out a sigh of relief once I could've seen the village from a distance, barely stopping myself from running towards it.

"How are you, by the way?"

I slowed my steps and glanced at the nobleman as we walked, his warm smile showing not a single hint of judgement.

It was stuff like that that made it so easy to like the man. He didn't at any point show pity or judgement towards me after witnessing my little episode the night before.

He only seemed concerned, and I really wanted to get this little mission over and done with because I knew. I knew the longer I spent with him, the more I was going to like him and that wouldn't do.

"…I'm…" I thought about how to answer that and couldn't think of a reply that was socially acceptable.

My body was sore like I'd been hit with the club of an ogre's. My head ached and the never-ending anxiousness I was feeling was making me jumpy.

It was funny how I'd only been fully calm when Marcellus was holding me. It was odd, being treated so gently. 

I wasn't exactly the kind of guy that looked like he was to be treated in such a way. I never was. Even when I was younger, I was always all big and muscular. I was the caretaker not the one in need of care.

I liked it. I really fucking liked it and I wanted to go back to the early morning when my biggest worry was drooling on Marcellus' chest.

"…I feel like shit," I ended up saying, my reward being Marcellus' airy laugh.

"I thought so. When we get to the village, we must find a place for you to rest. I can ask around to find more information about that Leon fellow."

"…You're a little too relaxed for such a dangerous quest," I said, side-eyeing him as we finally got into the village's borders. "Have you done this before?"

Marcellus looked away from me to face the eerily quiet village, a tense smile on his face.

"I have some experience with adventurers. Learned a thing or two from their stories."

Huh. He did say he liked talking to different people. What a strange noble indeed.

We'd barely taken five steps in the deserted-looking village when out of nowhere, people started rushing out of the bordered up houses.

We were surrounded by around forty people, all of which looked both terrified and relieved. Marcellus almost immediately shifted to stand closer to me, almost blocking the villagers' view of me.

"They may be hostile," Marcellus muttered, explaining his actions before I'd even asked.

"Marcy, they're just scared. They've been dealing with monsters for a while now and an adventurer went missing round their parts," I whispered back to him as I stepped forward, patting his shoulder and giving him a reassuring smile.

"But Di—"

"Are you adventurers?"

I looked down to see an elderly woman, the village head. Her wrinkled eyes looked wet with unshed tears and I immediately squatted low to be eye level with her.

Guess I'm lying to an old woman.

"…Yes, ma'am," I said softly with as much care as I could've put in my voice. "We're here to help. We're also looking for a colleague that went missing here."

She started crying then, and next thing I knew I was being hugged by the frail woman.

"Please," she whispered into my ear, her shaking arms tightening their hold over my shoulders. "Please help us. Please bring back my daughter."

I looked up at Marcellus and it seemed like we both thought the same thing.

Leon wasn't the only one the monster had taken. It had turned to a full-on hostage situation.

Oh fuck me.