A S T E R I O N
in sunshine and in shadow*
The tide is coming in, now, slow murmurs over the sand. Asterion can hear it as well as he can hear the way Ossian’s breathing begin to settle; he matches his own to that whisper of water, and wonders if he always has.
When the boy stiffens against his touch he eases away, his shoulder an offer but not a demand. It is too dark to see the smile that blooms on the boy’s black mouth, but not too dark to see the way his shoulder ease, the line of his neck softens beneath his pale cloud of starlight hair.
He says nothing at the soft words, heavy with sleep; only smiles as the hush of the waves and the echoing reply of their breathing become the only sounds. When he closes his own eyes, the familiar noises carry him back, back, to his own colthood on a faraway shore. To safety and to love.
In the morning they would make their way to a new understanding of home.
ugh poop post but wanted to wrap it. Ossian is a dreamboat and I look forward to their next meeting!
