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[dreamyproject]

Auguste always wakes up first. That’s what Perci expects as he opens his eyes, only to find that similarly curled up body huddled against a pillow. The dark circles under his eyes seemed to be growing deeper.

The soft light of dawn colors the brick walls of Auguste`s sleeping quarters in the rising stones.

Perci gently shakes him by the shoulder, only for Auguste to jolt awake. He screams out, reaching for something with a look of terror in his eyes.

The color returns to his face as he realizes exactly where he is instead of some far flung battlefield. “G-good morning, Perci…” The look of fear in his eyes fades, replaced by the usual placid smile. “Sorry, it looks like...I overslept…” He’s been better about stuttering lately, but he has to choose his words a little more carefully.

It seems to take all of his brain power to do so, as his eyes droop low once more. “Alright, time to get up…” He pulls back the sheets and swings his legs over the edge, no doubt heading off for the kitchen.

“What do you-- wha?!” Auguste makes a rather unflattering sound as an arm winds around his middle, roughly tugging him back down to bed.

“Go back to sleep,” Perci mutters into his ear, strong arms encircling Auguste so he couldn`t escape.

“But…” He can feel the way Auguste shrinks in his arms. “You...you have to go...right?” A silent as always seems to be on his lips, but he bites his tongue.

Indeed, he does have somewhere to go. Places to be, people to please, if only at face value, whatever his whims are that day.

But right now, his only whim was to stay right here.

“Not today.”

Oh. Auguste smiles, grateful that Perci can`t see the look on his face. He was selfishly glad for just one more moment he could steal from the world where they could be together, just the two of them.

People come, and people go. But for Perci, Auguste was here, in this ephemeral moment where they could embrace just like this.