The Gift of the Winds...

[Zephyros Aetai]

Zeph grumbled under his breath as he grabbed his own bag and followed Jason to the room, running a hand through his hair in frustration. His mother was being ridiculous... but his father had years ago insured Zeph at least had enough money to get around the roadblocks she was going to try to put in front of them in the outside world. They reached the room and Zeph looked around with his nose wrinkled.

"I would have gotten better but if I wanted any decent amount of pocket money left... I couldn't afford the bribe," he sighed, dumping his bag on one of the beds. It was still a nice room, but from Zeph's tone and expression... he was accustomed to better. It was just an ordinary hotel room, not unlike anything you might find in a nicer hotel anywhere around the world, though it wasn't four-star, either.

[Jason Hiller]

Jason set his bags down on the other bed, glancing around the room; he couldn't help but notice Zeph's obvious disdain. He felt rather cheated, thinking of how much extra Zeph had had to pay for the room. Yes, it was nice, but it probably wasn't worth all of what they had spent on it.

Jason sat down on the bed next to his luggage, speaking aloud to Zeph. "You shouldn't have had to bribe someone to get this room. It's not fair to you."

[Zephyros Aetai]

"It's life," Zeph said, shrugging. "I've always had to bribe people to get around what my parents do. The funny part is it's mostly my parents money I'm using to do it. My own money is mostly in a trust fund and the American stock market, being very carefully invested."

He sat next to Jason, leaning against him a little. "Besides, time with you makes it worth it."

[Jason Hiller]

Jason nodded, slipping an arm around Zeph and leaning against him. "That's true... and it's not like we'll be spending much time apart, if any. So it's all good." He snuggled closer, his free hand sliding into Zeph's.

[Zephyros Aetai]

Zeph leaned his head against Jason's, holding him close. "Exactly." He nuzzled Jason's cheek a little. "And I have you all to myself. Now... what should I do with that?"

He kissed Jason's cheek, then just held him close, squeezing his hand a little. This was enough for him; just being alone without anyone caring, no one who might interrupt, or come in uninvited. He couldn't think of anything better.

[Jason Hiller]

Jason rested his head on Zeph's shoulder, closing his eyes in contentment as he spoke in a murmur. "I'd do just about anything, as long as I could do it with you. Within reason, of course." He grinned and laughed softly.

[Zephyros Aetai]

Zeph chuckled, sighing softly. His eyes closed and he sighed again, in contentment.

"Why is it every time I sit down with you I get sleepy?" he asked softly, using the hand not in Jason's to play lightly with his hair. He was fighting the urge to yawn as he looked at Jason. It was almost as bad as how immediately attracted he had been when they'd met. Which was odd enough, since both of them had reasons to be relationship-shy and they ended up throwing that out the window for the other.

[Jason Hiller]

Jason frowned. "That's a really good question, actually. We should investigate that when we get back to school. I'm pretty sure it's just you who gets like that... it hasn't happened to any of my classmates. Maybe it's something to do with my werewolf powers and your magic reacting in a weird way? I wonder if anything like that has happened to anyone else before."

[Zephyros Aetai]

Zeph nodded, "Or maybe you just make me comfortable and I haven't slept well recently... Before you came, it was because I was too excited. At school... well, there were various reasons."

He continued to play with Jason's hair, his eyes closing again. Somehow he didn't think it was a magic thing... he was pretty sure it was just a comfort thing. He could trust Jason... and he'd learned that the very hard way. Taking a deep breath, he let it out slowly, struggling not to let it turn into a yawn. Aritha would have been laughing at him. Finally, he pulled away and started pacing, trying to wake up.

[Jason Hiller]

Jason grinned. "Maybe from now on I shouldn't sit down with you unless you actually want to sleep... This could be a danger in the future."

[Zephyros Aetai]

Zeph looked at him in confusion, not understanding how getting sleepy like this could be a danger. Unless he meant like if they were driving or something… but even that seemed unlikely. Zeph didn’t know how to drive; he paid people to do that for him. Which might be an arrogant way to look at the world, but that was the world he lived in. “Um… I missed something there. How could it be dangerous?”

[Jason Hiller]

"If, for example, you ever learn to drive, and you were taking me somewhere, it would be dangerous if you fell asleep at the wheel," Jason answered. "Or if we were in a class together... though we don't share any classes, and it's unlikely that we ever would. Hm." He frowned. "Or if I sit down with you one day to talk about something incredibly serious, and you nod off n the middle of it. That would just be inconvenient and irritating."

[Valérian Mervielle-Dion]

"And hilarious later," Zeph said, kissing him. "I don't drive. Can you imagine my temper and driving mixed? Ai, that would be insane."

He sighed, moving to kneel behind Jason and rub his neck carefully. "Besides, we know how to avoid it."

[Jason Hiller]

Jason gave a soft moan of pleasure, leaning into Zeph's massage. "Good point. Mm, that feels really good..."

[Zephyros Aetai]

"I know," he said with a grin, leaving forward and kissing Jason's neck. His hands moved to Jason's shoulders as he continued kissing his boyfriend, moving slowly to his cheek. He continued massaging his shoulders, then moved back to his neck. "You're a little tense, Jason. I'm about to make you lie down so I can get your back, too."

He had a pretty good idea of why Jason's back and shoulders were so knotted, too. Stifling the urge to even mentally curse his mother, he started working on Jason's back, pushing on him. "Alright, on your stomach. I can't get your back properly with you sitting up."

[Jason Hiller]

Jason obligingly stretched out on the bed, resting his chin on his arms. He winced only a little as Zeph worked out the knots in his back, and he was able to relax more than he had since he'd been here. He closed his eyes, enjoying the feeling of Zeph's firm, gentle hands pressing into his back, urging his muscles to loosen up.

"Ever thought of becoming a massage therapist?" he asked with a grin. "You could do this for money. You're good at it. I'd pay you."

[Zephyros Aetai]

"I don't want money," Zeph said, then pulled Jason's shirt over his head to bare Jason's back. "Stupid cloth keeps getting in the way."

He wished to himself he had some massage oil... it would have really helped. A massage therapist... well, it would be a good career, and give him something to do with his time. Gently working on a particularly stubborn knot, he thought rather seriously about the idea. There was schooling he would have to do, naturally, but the idea was beginning to appeal. "Aritha taught me how to do this. Sometimes if she forgets to stretch before dancing she gets really knotted up. I'd rather use it as an excuse to get my hands on you, though."

He continued massaging Jason's back long after the last knot in his muscles was gone, then gently made Jason put his cheek on the bed and started working on his shoulders and neck again. "My mother has really been getting to you. Sounds like she and I ought to have another talk... while you're doing something else, I think. Make it a bit easier to get through to her if it's just me."

He leaned over Jason's back, kissing the cheek that wasn't pressed against Jason's hands. "I don't like the idea of you getting so tense again. How have you been able to sleep like this?"

[Jason Hiller]

Jason lay still, his whole body relaxing as Zeph massaged his back. He frowned a little when Zeph pushed his shirt up, but gave a nod, such as he could in his current position, at Zeph's explanation. He smiled again, thoroughly enjoying this whole process.

He laughed at Zeph's wry remark. "Oh, surely you don't need an excuse to get your hands on me... I know you're enjoying this just as much as I am."

Zeph's hands continued rubbing and pressing on his back long after the last knots were worked out. Jason tried to keep from falling asleep, mumbling in reply to Zeph's question. "Yes, please talk to your mum."

He grinned as Zeph kissed his cheek. "Mmm... just being with you relaxes me, I think... I'm about to fall asleep right here."

[Zephyros Aetai]

"Huh. So we do it to each other. Remind me to always have a cab drive us around," Zeph teased, getting Jason's shirt back from over his head. He laid down beside Jason, tucked very closely to his side. "You're right, I do enjoy putting my hands all over you."

He sighed softly, finding that oddly he wasn't tired. Still snuggling, he waited to see if Jason was going to doze off. If he did, then Zeph would find something else to do. Arrange for a ride to the carnival, that sort of thing. Maybe that coffee had worked better than he expected.

[Jason Hiller]

Jason snuggled close to Zeph, wrapping his arms around him. He looked into his boyfriend's eyes, reaching up with one hand to run his fingers through Zeph's hair as he so often did. He leaned close to kiss Zeph's lips, gently pulling his head closer.

[Zephyros Aetai]

Zeph twisted to look at him better, kissing him back. He moved one arm to rest under Jason's head, the other wrapping around his waist as he pressed close, his side of the kiss growing passionate. His eyes closed as he pulled Jason closer, his fingers twining in Jason's hair.

[Jason Hiller]

Jason moaned in pleasure and deepened the kiss, his tongue seeking entry into Zeph's mouth as his fingers clenched in Zeph's hair. The world contracted around him, consisting of no more than the sensations of Zeph's hands, body and mouth against his skin, and the churning emotions of Jason's heart. He panted for breath, his mouth fused with Zeph's, and the other boy's weight pressing him oh so tenderly into the mattress.

[Zephyros Aetai]

Zeph responded in kind, moaning a little as Jason's fingers pulled at his hair. Definitely need that haircut...

Finally he pulled away, turning his head a little. There was an odd ache in his chest... one he wasn't sure he could talk with Jason about. Sighing softly, he just put his head on Jason's chest, listening to Jason's heart beating almost in tandem with his own.

[Jason Hiller]

Jason sighed and relaxed as his mouth was freed, and he was able to breathe again. He smiled as Zeph laid his head down on his chest, one hand shifting to stroke Zeph's back and feel his heartbeat. He lay still, eyes closed in peace, breathing softly.

"I love you," he murmured, almost inaudibly.

[Zephyros Aetai]

Zeph nodded, closing his eyes. "I love you too."

He hated himself the moment the words left his mouth. Not because they were a lie; far from it. Rather, because he couldn't say what was bothering him. Jason didn't notice the conflicting emotions inside him... so he just focused on the heartbeat under his ear, trying to shove them away. He couldn't give voice to them, so why let them linger in his mind?

But linger they did. He did not give any indication of anything wrong, not wanting Jason to worry, but he couldn't help the pain that held his heart in its icy grip. A pain he couldn't name... or perhaps didn't want to. He had Jason... wasn't that enough? Jason was his, heart and soul, as he belonged to Jason... so why this pain? Of past relationships... or rather what had ended them.