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winniethewife · 29 days ago

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Uiscefhuaraithe (Vessel & IV)

A/n: This is for @shutterspeedserpent for the Sleep Token Tumblr Holiday Gift Exchange 2024, I’m so pleased to have a chance to write more for this event and the lovely hosts. I hope you enjoy this and that it was worth the wait! Also thank you @midgardian-witch for Beta reading!

As Always if you want to hear me shout into the void about this band (And others) Please follow me over at @lyricallymelodic

Disclaimer: All fan fic written by me for this fandom is based on a fictional depiction of the personas of the band members, no real people were perceived in the making of this fiction. Tags: Creature Feature AU, Fluff, distance makes the heart grow fonder, platonic affection

Ao3 link

Words: 1051

Vessel hadn’t been here in months. This part of the forest didn’t look that different, but the way the air felt was different. Maybe it was the winter air, maybe it's just how much time has passed. He wasn’t sure. It didn’t feel like that long ago that he had sat in this same spot and listened to Espera sing, surrounded by those he loved and adored. His long fingers trace over the bark of the tree he stood next to, his six eyes blinking in sync as he looked around the small clearing. He could picture it in his mind, II would sit over by the fire pit. His odd mix of feathers and fur were somehow never enough to keep him warm. III’s lanky form lay over the boulders, never able to sit in a normal position. IV would be hovering around, floating from place to place, hanging out in the shadows of the group staying close to them. The Espera would sing Sleep’s lullaby while enjoying the space given to them by their benevolent god. He missed them. He knew they would return when the weather was warm, but that didn’t make the longing feel any less painful.

Vessel found his space in the clearing; it was once a tree stump but centuries of sitting there had almost worn it into a throne of sorts. So many years had passed by them, so many memories. He was sure for just a moment that he could hear their voices, the shared laughter that would fill the air in this place. As he lowered his towering form into the seat he felt the odd pang from his antlers as they hit an overhanging branch. He glanced up noticing that since he had been there that past fall one of the branches from the tree above had broken off and was precariously balanced between two of its still intact friends. He let out a huff, his breath showing white in the cold. He stood up, careful not to bump into the branch again, muttering to himself as he tried to figure out the best way to move the thing alone.

“If I lift it over that’a way…but then it will be too close to II’s nest…If I move it over there…No that won’t do.” He thought aloud as he looked around the clearing. So much of his friends lingered in this space. And he didn’t want to disturb any of it. He was the one who stayed behind in the winter to protect the land they called home when the others found sanctuary in warmer climates, he was the one who had to keep Eden safe. He took his job very seriously. Maybe too seriously. Possibly so seriously that he couldn’t decide to move this branch for fear it would somehow change everything in the grove of trees. Being an immortal being, time meant very little to him, so of course he didn’t notice that it had gone from midday to twilight by the time he decided what to do with the branch.

“I can break it in half, and put half by III’s rock and the other half by the cavern. That will be fine.” He said aloud as he decided what to do, a small grin on his face, exposing his fanged canines to the cold.

“Oh Well done, it only took you most of the day.” A familiar voice said from behind him. Vessel turned on his heel to see if it was truly who he expected.

“IV!? What? How? When did you get here?” Vessel yelped looking at the incorporeal figure that loomed behind him. He was excited to see his friend but that didn’t change the fact that he wasn’t expecting to see him at all.

“That’s my name, I’m still not fully sure what I am. I kinda float, at least I’m pretty sure that’s how I travel, and um I’ve been here watching you figure out the branch situation for about an hour.” IV replied cheekily answering all his half questions, a slight smirk in his voice. Vessel rolled his eyes and shook his head.

“Well, thank you for that explanation. I thought I wouldn’t be seeing any of you for a few more weeks at least. Or have I lost track of time that badly?” Vessel asked, the branch forgotten as he walked over to stand closer to his friend. He couldn’t exactly put an arm around IV like he could the others. He knew it required an amount of focus for him to keep a solid form for long periods of time. IV however knew how much Vessel needed to touch, to feel. He reached out and took the larger creature's hand, carefully making sure that his grip was solid.

“Eh, I got bored, and the cold isn’t as much of an issue for me as it is for the others.” IV paused for a second, running his thumb over the bony knuckles of his companion. “Also, I missed you.��

“And I you…I’m glad you’re here, it’s been cold here, colder without you all.” Vessel whispered, tightening his grip ever so slightly. Vessel couldn’t find the words to express how much this simple gesture meant, but part of him was aware that IV knew nonetheless. Looking down at their intertwined fingers they noticed white fluffy snowflakes landing on their skin, at the same time their gaze turned upward at the beginning of the snowfall. IV hummed thoughtfully.

“We should probably get this branch moved before we need to head to shelter, and don’t argue about that, I don’t care how much you can tolerate the cold. No reason to stand here and risk frostbite when there’s a perfectly good place to rest till the snow passes by.” IV preemptively reprimanded Vessel knowing the other man would argue given the chance. Vessel chuckled, the low melodic sound bringing joy to IV’s heart.

“Alright, alright. Let’s get this done.” Vessel turned to the task at hand, reluctantly letting go of his hand. “You know, you could have said something before I had stood around for an hour without a clue what to do about this.”

“And missed the opportunity to see the look on your face when you figured it out? Not a chance.”

Masterlist

Taglist: @silvernight-m @my-secret-shame-but-fanfiction @stellasplendens

#st gift exchange 2024 #sleep token #sleep token fanfiction #sleep token fan fic #sleep token vessel #vessel sleep token #sleep token band #Spotify #sleep token iv #Vessel & IV #vessel x IV

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winniethewife · 2 months ago

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I will shelter you all the same (Vessel x II)

A/n: This is for The Sleep Token Gift Exchange 2024. I got @elkkiel (Meow!). This was an absolute joy to write, I hope you love it! Also thank you @midgardian-witch for Beta reading!

As Always if you want to hear me shout into the void about this band (And others) Please follow me over at @lyricallymelodic

Disclaimer: All fan fic written by me for this fandom is based on a fictional depiction of the personas of the band members, no real people were perceived in the making of this fiction.

Warnings/ Tags: Mind fuckery, Anxiety, Abandonment issues, Angst with a happy ending, Homesteader AU

Ao3 link

Words: 5023

When the sun rose that morning Vessel saw that II had already left. He even went to the window to check, seeing the tire tracks in the snow leading away from the cabin. It made sense, the snow storm had passed the day before, and he had said that he would have to go on a supply run. They had done pretty well with preparation for winter as far as food went, they still had plenty of nonperishables to get them through the rest of winter but things like kindling, firewood, fuel and the few other supplies they got from the local village ran out with time. Vessel had to remind himself that this is to be expected, that this is a normal part of life. People leave the house to go to the store, that's a completely normal thing to do.

He’s just gone for the day, he’ll be back tonight. He’s not leaving you. He thought. This was not the first time this specific thought entered his mind. He had to remind himself almost constantly whenever II had to make his way to town or to go hunting or really anytime he left the cabin that it wasn’t forever. Despite the many years living this way and knowing what he knew, Vessel was always afraid everyone would leave him in the end. Vessel tore himself from the window and tried his best to shrug off the feeling of dread that started to sink into his chest, deciding instead to focus on his writing. Sitting down in his chair next to the fireplace he grabbed his notebook and pen continuing something he had begun the night before. His journaling was something he found solace in. Putting the odd thoughts in his mind to paper helped, especially when he was waiting for II to return. If he returns.

He will, he always does, and that isn’t going to change. He loves me.

“You don’t know that.” The distorted voice of Sleep echoed in his mind. Vessel’s head snapped up as he looked around the room. No one was there, but the shadows in the room felt darker, the lights seemed wrong, and every hair on the back of his neck stood up. The lingering feeling of unease started to spread through his body again. He didn’t want to deal with this right now, he much preferred to stay in reality when he was awake, but more and more often the ancient deity had begun to seek him out even in his waking hours.

“I, I don’t need your input.” He said softly. There was no reply, but Vessel knew better than to hope that meant he had nothing to worry about. He returned his attention to the notebook in his hand but the words on the page morphed through languages he’d never seen, runes and sigils that he had no way of deciphering. He could feel his heart in his chest, the way his tongue sat in his mouth, every sensation heightened in a peculiar way, it was beyond unnerving. He hears the pen hit the floor before he realizes he’d dropped it. He is so very aware at this moment that he is alone. II isn’t here to ground him in reality, he isn’t here to tell him the voice won’t hurt him, he isn’t here to-

How long does it take to get to town? How far is the town from the edge of the forest? How many turns in the road can the truck slide off the edge of? Who else knows they’re out here in the forest? Can he live with being alone for the rest of eternity when-

The fire had gone out long before he had looked up from his notebook again. Vessel blinks slowly, trying to figure out what exactly happened. How long had he been sitting there staring at his own handwriting. He felt the cold first, then the hunger, how dry his mouth had become. He hears nothing, and the cabin is dark. It must be night. Vessel closed the book and set it aside before standing up to get some water.

“You’re still alone.” The voice said, clearer now. The night seemed to do that, making everything Sleep said clearer, closer, and yet still cryptic and cutting all the same. He flinched, but continued to focus on the task at hand: water. After getting a glass and finding where he put the water jug he took a quick look around, a shadow in the corner, a reflection in the glass, a bit of dust in the air. Sleep was both none of these things and all of them at the same time.

“You’re here, so I can’t be truly alone.” He countered, feeling brave. A sickening laugh echoed through the cabin. Vessel instinctively tensed up at the sound.

“Oh? I’m here? Are you sure?” Sleep was willing and happy to play mind games, to cause problems for him, do whatever it took to get into Vessel's head. Vessel tried to center himself, focus on things that were real and tangible. The glass of water in his hand, his feet on the ground, anything that could keep him in reality. Mutterings he can barely hear in the back of his mind are pulling his focus. Spots appear in his vision making it even harder to ignore the repetitive phrases that the deity whispers from the depths of his mind.

You are not worthy of this

You are not worthy of him

You

Are

Worthless

Standing up he blinks and the sun is rising, he’s in the bedroom and he doesn’t know when he got there, how he got here, he just knows he’s standing in their room with the heavy quilt over his shoulders and he’s clutching one of II’s shirts in his hands like it’s the only thing keeping him a float. He cursed under his breath as he felt the sting of tears in his eyes. What is wrong with him? He should be stronger, he should be better, he should be… but he isn’t.

II had to leave before dawn. He hated leaving like this but the list of things they needed from the town was getting too long to avoid. He looked at Vessel who was still sleeping, his face half covered by his pillow and blanket, looking peaceful and at ease. II briefly wondered if that meant Sleep wasn’t plaguing his mind tonight. Was it too much to hope? He gently caressed Vessel’s cheek, smiling softly at him as he slept. He knew he had to get a move on, however it was never easy to leave.

Pressing a quick kiss to the slumbering man’s forehead before he pushed himself out of bed, still tired from the night before. Pulling on his jeans over his thermal underwear, tossing the shirt he slept in to the side as he pulled on his under shirt, on goes a warm flannel and an oversized hoodie. Layering up for the cold always felt like such a chore. He felt a little like a scarecrow as he wandered into the living room, checking that the box of kindling and firewood was still full. He knew very well that Vessel could take care of himself but he liked knowing that he’d have everything he needed, in case something happened and he was delayed in town. Or possibly II was delaying the eventual need to actually leave, since the dark and cold outside wasn’t exactly the most inviting.

“Okay, c’mon. Just get it done so you can get back.” He muttered to himself looking at his winter coat, hat, scarf and gloves waiting for him in a neat little pile next to a packed lunch box. He sighed deeply and started to put on the last layer of his warm clothes and boots. The next step was clearing the snow and ice off the truck, after that he had to get in the truck and pray that it would start. Lucky for him after a couple of tries the engine roared to life and he finally could make his way down the bumpy dirt road that lead away from the cabin and through the forest to the main road.

He had tuned the radio to whatever local alternative rock station he had found years ago but it would be a while before anything actually played, so for now he drove through the woods in silence. He knew he was going to hate almost every second of this drive. The roads were never cleared up here; at some points he wondered if he was even driving on the road or just where he thought the road should be. By the time the truck had emerged from the coverage of the forest the sun was starting to rise. The trip always took longer in the winter. In the summer he sometimes was able to get someone to meet him halfway at the rest stop a couple miles out of town but in the winter most of the people he knew in town were visiting family or spending the cold months somewhere warm. There was also the chance he might have to go an extra hour down town if the Mom and Pop shops he usually preferred to shop at was out of anything they needed.

“This is Nathan Briggs, coming at you from The Void, here at 99.3. Up next is Like A Villain by Bad Omens.” The voice from the radio startled him, as much as he knew the radio was on he wasn’t expecting it to cut through the static so clearly and so quickly, nor was he expecting the voice of the radio Deejay to be so annoyingly enthusiastic for how early it is. As the song played he was tapping his thumbs against the wheel along to the beat, his focus on the road. The sun was coming up behind him, illuminating the road in front of him. The rest of the drive was relatively calm, no other cars out this way and luckily the road was mostly clear. As he finally pulled into town he felt a weight lifting from his shoulders. This was good. He could head home soon and he wouldn’t have to worry about Vessel and his state of mind.

After finding a parking spot in the mostly empty lot he put the last of his winter gear on again pulling the balaclava up over his nose and his hat down his forehead as he braced himself for the cold. Jumping out of the truck and starting his walk down the street he barely notices some of the town’s people staring at him. This was pretty typical of his visits to town. He finally made his way towards the local general store, his first stop every time he came into town, not really because they had everything he would need but because the couple who ran it were always kind to him. He glanced up at the sign, Not your dad’s Shoppe, in bright blue lettering looked back at him. He pushed open the door and the bell chimed causing the dark haired woman behind the counter to look up at him.

“Oh! Hi II! I didn’t know you would be coming to town so soon!” She smiled at him. It was nice, these brief moments of human interaction after several months without, although II wasn’t really a big fan of small talk, but Hazel was a good person. She had been one of the few people in town who didn’t think of them as outsiders. Although he hadn’t exactly tried to change that perspective, sometimes even encouraging it, it was easier than having to explain why they had decided to live in the middle of nowhere to anyone who might get close enough to them to find out. So he gave her a polite smile and a quick wave.

“Hey Hazel, no worries, Ves and I ran out of some basics a little faster than expected.” He said, his voice slightly raspy from the cold. II looked over the shelves to find the items he needed. Hazel nodded and let him do his shopping while she sorted something behind the counter.

“I can understand that. I worry about you two up there by yourselves.” She continued the conversation with a caring tone, she couldn’t have been much older than him but she had a motherly way about her. He could picture her happily surrounded by a large family someday. “Danny was concerned when Sam said you hadn’t sent word for a pickup in October. Thought maybe you’d reach out before he headed out for winter.”

“Oh, Yeah, October was a little chaotic for us. You know I couldn’t ask you guys to do a pick up after the first snow, it’s just not safe.” II remarked trying to keep the conversation light as he brought the few items he needed to the counter.

“You know damn well we would have made it work II. You might not believe me but you two are as good as family at this point.” Hazel chided him playfully as she rang up his items. He shook his head with a chuckle as he paid for his things but before he could argue with her she said something that worried him. “You should hurry back up there though, it’s supposed to snow again this afternoon.”

Well…Shit.

Vessel woke in a cold sweat. He sat up and looked around, this wasn’t his bedroom, and this wasn’t the cabin. This was something else entirely. He looked around cautiously, waiting for a confrontation with Sleep or someone else. He was in a clearing surrounded by trees, it seemed familiar but he couldn’t guess from where, perhaps another dream, perhaps the past, maybe not his memories. Vessel stood up, compelled to explore, to find his way to a destination, something pulled him through the endless clearing. At some point he was so sure that he wasn’t really going anywhere that this was some kind of hall of mirrors and yet he had no reflection. That’s when the voices started, each one eerily familiar yet impossible to place.

“You have to do better, be better or you will amount to nothing.” He took another step forward. Trying his best to not think too hard about it. Those were words of someone so far in the past.

“This is the last time I’m going to do this.” Vessel kept moving, no one ever warned him that it was the last time, it was just the last time, and then they would leave.

“I can’t stay when you’re like this.” He was tired of constantly being told he was irrational for feeling anything that he wasn’t told to feel. Having feelings inconvenienced others. His needs were never as important as theirs. His wants weren’t even considered worthy of being voiced.

“I never wanted this, I never wanted you” He already knew that. No one ever wants something so broken. No one wants to deal with everything he was trying to figure out. He kept walking; if he kept walking the answer to why he’s here would surely show itself.

“Don’t leave me! Everyone leaves, can’t you stay?” A small voice called out. That was enough to cause him to freeze. He knew that voice. He needed all the strength to turn to look, his own eyes looking back up at him filled with tears. Vessel kneeled before the child, his former self, the past personified.

“I can’t stay, but you can come with me.” Vessel spoke softly, fighting against the urge to break down, pulling the small boy closer, trying to give the care he never received but already feeling like he’d failed. His vision blurred with tears. He felt the small arms of the boy wrapped around his neck; the child leaned into the embrace.

“Why can’t you stay?” The child asked, his voice filled with confusion and despair. Vessel sighed and lifted the child into his arms.

“I have someone who needs me at home. He loves me…he loves us.” Vessel explained, somehow feeling like he was both telling the child and reminding himself.

“Why would anyone love us? No one likes broken toys.” The boy replied. The way he sounded, a child so young should not feel this way, a child should be loved and cared for. Vessel squeezed the boy gently, holding him closer.

“I’m…I’m so sorry that I made you believe you were broken.” He whispered, the rasp in his voice almost startling him. Tears streaming down his face, his hands tighten around the boy’s shirt when suddenly the child vanished. Vessel held the small shirt in his hands and something in his mind snapped. His knees hit the ground and he felt every part of his body ache. Was he not allowed to heal? Was he not allowed to be kind? What kind of cruel trick was this? His fists hit the ground as he hears an animalistic cry, realizing it was his own voice, feeling the strain on his vocal cords as he screamed for answers. As he begged for this to end.

“What’s the point of this? Who do you expect to help you? There’s no one here.” Sleeps cruel taunting echoed even louder here than back at the cabin. He looked up trying to find the source, sobbing as he silently pleaded for this torture to end. He saw nothing. He couldn’t even face the thing that was causing him this pain. Years of servitude to this deity who won’t even appear in front of him. Only a voice in his mind, only the pain that came with the dreams, only cruel taunting words and endless nights. If only he could get away. If only he could go back to how things were before.

The waking world was already so cruel, why must he suffer here too?

What did he expect?

His eyes open and he’s home again. Perhaps Sleep does show mercy on occasion. He felt that his face was wet with tears and his chest was heavy with grief. He was alone.

II thought he was never going to get home. First he had to drive all over town to find all the things they needed, even going all the way down town because the supply store was out of heat packs, which he used regularly to keep himself and Vessel warm on hunting trips and outings. That added two hours to his trip that he had planned for but what he hadn’t planned for was how quick the snow was going to start up again or that the truck was going to randomly decide to break down on his way through town. Luckily it wasn’t a major break but it did take most of the afternoon to fix, even with help from the local mechanic. The snow had started to come down hard and there was no way he could make it back home safely. Hazel and Danny had insisted that he crash at their place overnight. Not that he had gotten much sleep on their couch that night. He had stared at the ceiling worrying about Vessel. His partner’s separation anxiety was terrible and the influence of the ancient deity who seemed to only speak to Vessel wasn’t helpful at most times. Sometimes he wished that this Sleep would just show up in his mind for once so he could tear into them.

Once he finally had made it back home it had been far too long, the trip had taken nearly two days to complete. When he pulled into the drive he instantly knew something was off. The lights in the cabin were off and Vessel wasn’t waiting by the window to see him. He felt his heart in his throat as he opened the door of the cabin. It almost felt like it was colder inside than it was outside.

“Ves? Love? Where are you?” He called out as he entered, dropping the bags of shopping onto the wooden table before looking around. He needed to start the fire. He needed to find Vessel. He lit one of the lamps and looked around. What he saw didn’t bring him comfort. Vessel’s notebooks tossed around the room, papers everywhere, furniture upturned, it was a mess. But the worst part was there in the corner of the room. Hidden behind an overturned chair and under a mess of bedding was Vessel, his knees pulled up to his chest and his face hidden in his lap, his arms wrapped around himself holding himself in this small ball. II immediately went to his side, to comfort him as best he could. Placing his arm over the other man’s shoulders as he sat next to him.

“I’m sorry.” Vessel whimpered. His voice sounded strained, like he’d been crying. II pulled him in closer.

“You have nothing to be sorry for. I should be apologizing, I was gone much too long.” He replied, trying to show as much affection and caring as he could. Vessel untangled his limbs from themselves slowly, leaning into II’s warmth, resting his head on his lover's shoulder.

“I…I made a mess, I…It’s my fault.” Vessel sobbed, his words faltering, his large hands seeking II out. II takes one of his hands in his, using his free hand to gently hold Vessel's chin, turning his face to look at him.

“I don’t care about the mess. We can clean up a mess. What I care about is you. Are you okay love? Are you hurt?” II tried to keep his voice soft, but couldn’t help the slight sternness that was underneath the soothing nature of his words.

“I-I’m okay, now that you’re here.” He murmured, putting the whole weight of his head in II’s hand, like a cat seeking out a cuddle. II sighed and ran his thumb over his cheek, looking into Vessel’s eyes, his own filled with worry.

“Was it Sleep again? Did you see something?” He asked with hesitation. Sleep had always been a tough subject. The deity’s intentions were never clear, and Vessel's reactions to the actions of Sleep were unpredictable at best. Vessel nodded as tears returned to his eyes yet again. II’s chest ached as he saw how distraught Vessel was. “C’mon I’m gonna get the fire going again then we can sit together. Okay?”

“Okay. I’m Sorry.” Vessel apologized again, II knew better than to fight it.

“I know darling, I know.” He muttered as he pressed a kiss to his forehead before standing up to get the fire going. Vessel rose to his feet and followed II over to the fireplace. He didn’t want to leave his side. For almost anyone else it would be intimidating to have that tall of a man following them around their living room, but for II it was an average day. Setting the logs on the fire before grabbing a good amount of kindling, his focus was split between the building fire and the feeling of Vessel's gaze on his back. Once the fire was going and II was sufficiently pleased with it he turned back to Vessel who was standing just a little way from the fireplace and for the first time since he got home II got to really look at him. His eyes bloodshot, face stained with tears, his right hand held against his chest holding his other arm tightly. He was trying to stay grounded, focused in the moment. II closed the distance between them, gently guiding Vessel to the ground.

“I’m right here darling, you don’t have to worry anymore.” He muttered lovingly as he pulled Vessel’s head into his lap, running his fingers through his hair in a slow repetitive gesture filled with love.

“I…I know.” Vessel’s voice was soft as he adjusted his body so he was laying on his back, looking up at II. He reached up and cupped II’s face in one hand, looking up into his eyes. “I just need to see you. I need to know this is real. I need to know my mind isn’t making you up.”

“How can I help you feel more like this is real?” II asked, putting his hand over Vessel’s, a reassuring touch, gentle and kind. Vessel felt like he had forgotten what a gentle touch felt like, like he needed this feeling more than air, like he would die without it, but at the same time it almost made him feel sick. Each of these sweet touches were well meant but as much as he wanted them, as much as he needed them, they brought him pain. An ever growing ache in his stomach, like he was starving yet full, famished yet gorged. He couldn’t bring himself to pull away, couldn’t stop himself from indulging in every touch, losing himself in the feeling of II’s calloused fingers on his skin. He closes his eyes to savor the moment.

“Keep talking, about anything, I just need to hear your voice.” The request was simple, but meaningful. II knew that he needed to drown out the voice in his head, to hear something different. He thought for a minute trying to figure out what he could talk about.

“Well, Hazel and Danny say hi, the shop is doing well. That puppy they got this spring, Daisy? Well turns out that was no ordinary puppy, that puppy is like gigantic, pony sized. Biggest damn dog I’ve ever seen.” He started to tell Vessel the first thing that came to mind, the towns folk who they could at least consider friends, maybe just as good as family. “I went into their place and Daisy takes up the whole couch. By herself! But she thinks she’s still a little puppy, nearly knocked me over. She’s soft as velvet though, and sweet as sugar. I don’t think Danny got the hunting dog he was hoping for at all.” He chuckled, continuing to gently pet his head, trying to keep him calm and focused. Vessel opened his eyes and looked up at II, eyes filled with affection.

“We should get a pet, like, a cat…maybe two.” Vessel smiled as he said this, taking II’s hand and holding it against his chest as he rubbed his thumb across his knuckles. II smiled, knowing Vessel had found himself back in reality, his actions and words a clear sign that he was present with him.

“Yeah? Two cats. I like that idea. Maybe I can find out from Hazel where they got Daisy. I don’t remember if she was a shelter pup or if one of the local farms had puppies.” II started thinking aloud, and Vessel laughed melodically.

“Should we get cats from the same place? How do we know they won’t give us giant cats? If Daisy is really as big as you say.” Vessel teased, casually fidgeting with II’s hand in his. II grinned, Vessel's playful banter just confirming that he had done his job well.

“Oh, you might be right, I dunno if we want giant cats that might be too much to handle.” II replied, enjoying the feeling of Vessel's hand holding his. These were the moments he treasured the most. This soft domestic life they led so far from anything he had expected for himself. There were times they had wondered if they made the right choice, when the visions began and Vessel started to unravel, II only knew he had wanted to protect him, keep him safe from whatever was happening. This world wasn’t the kindest to those who heard voices, especially ones that belonged to forgotten gods of times long ago. So they had found the cabin and started their life over, far away from anything they once knew. It was never an easy choice, but it had turned out to be the right one. As Vessel grinned that goofy wide smile at him and his amused laugh filled the air, II felt an overwhelming sense of satisfaction. He leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead.

“What’s that for?” Vessel asked, tilting his head slightly, pleased with the affection but still curious.

“I just love you.” II replied with a smile. Vessel hummed contently and sat up, reaching to pull II closer to him, gently slotting his lips against his, placing one of his hands on the back of II’s head, using the other to support himself. II reciprocated the kiss happily, cupping Vessels cheek in one hand the other seeking to pull the larger man even closer to him, his eyelids fluttering closed as he lost himself in the way he tasted, the familiar scent of his lover, the feeling of their lips moving together as one. All of the remaining tension from the day before and all the chaos slowly faded away. Only when their lungs ached from the lack of oxygen did they pull apart again.

“I love you too, more than anything.” Vessel whispered, his breath warm against II’s lips. II sighed softly.

“Are you sure you’re not the hallucination? Cause I’m starting to wonder how someone as perfect as you exists in the real world.” II spoke with a flirtatious lilt, a smile tugging the corner of his lips up as he nuzzled his nose against Vessel’s, gently touching their foreheads together as they stayed curled up by the fireside.

“You’re hilarious, darling.” Vessel rolled his eyes resting his head on II’s shoulder, turning to look at the fire burning brightly.

“Only for you, Ves. Only for you.” He purred, putting an arm around him as they settled in.

The snow gently fell outside, seemingly tucking the world into bed as night fell, and the world outside turned to darkness again. This night belonged to them, no interruptions, no visions, no one to take this moment from them. Nothing in this world could take that from them, not if II had anything to say about it. He would shelter Vessel from the storm as best he could.

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