I am for you // [ Embryze ]

for what it's worth, I have a slow disease that sucked me dry... I always aim to please
but I nearly died

It was one of those slow, pastel sunrises that painted the horizon line by line. They never had colorful sunrises in Ten. Sunsets, yes, of copper and gold and blood red. But the mornings flipped from darkness to pale light with no transitions. It was one of the things he loved most about Two, the quiet, beautiful dawn.

I can't buy your love, don't even wanna try.
Sometimes the truth won't make you happy, still I'm not gonna lie.
But don't ever question if my heart beats only for you,
it beats only for you

He turned over, face half-buried in the downy pillows of Julian’s victor mansion. He stretched, yawned, grateful that both Juliet and Mason had slept through the night. It was becoming a more common occurrence, blissfully. Neither Mace nor Julian functioned well on little rest, despite their training, despite their time in the arena. He’d gone a week without sleep, just to watch his friends die. Surely he could go a year with partial rest to raise two children. But it was hard to keep the perspective, especially when he realized he was comparing a death trap to parenting.

Mace punched the pillow into submission, grappling with it until the feathers bunched in the center to support his heavy head. He reached, wrapping one massive arm around Julian’s stomach, bringing his lover close. He breathed deeply of Julian’s hair, letting the scent calm him. He was so familiar, so safe. In the pinks and purples of sunrise, Julian was the only thing Mace wanted to see.

I know I'm far from perfect, nothin' like your entourage
I can't grant you any wishes, I won't promise you the stars.
But don't ever question if my heart beats only for you,
it beats only for you.

“Good morning,” he murmured, nuzzling along the side of Julian’s face, kissing down his neck. “Marry me,” he whispered, pushing his luck on this quiet morning. He pulled back just enough to see his lover’s eyes, to gage his reaction. Some days he thought he inched closer, and some days he was eighteen again and greeting Julian for the very first time. It was the mercurial part of Julian that made him interesting, that made Mace want to chase him every single day. But like all good things, it came with a high price.

Mace pulled back just enough to draw Julian’s hand over his own chest. He cupped both palms over Julian’s, trapping him close as he could to his heart. “I’m yours. Forever. I don’t want to get married for some certificate, or to have a big wedding. I just want to show everyone that we don’t belong to them. We belong to each other.” His adam’s apple bobbed as he ran out of words. His steel grey eyes softened and he released the other victor’s hand.