[Roue]

Having zero comprehension of what Rabbit was saying, when the slightly shorter youth addressed the elf again and then slid under his arm, the wizard at first thought that he was looking for a hug.? Remembering his social cues and training, he was just about to too, getting ready to reach around, when the other indicated towards the door of the bath and made a motion for them both to start walking together.? He felt his cheeks grow hot at the misunderstanding, instead reaching back up to scratch his cheek instead, as they left the hot, steamy room.? As they slowly made their way back, the elf now realized why Rabbit clung to him at that moment.? He wasn't sure if it was exhaustion or too much steam, but his head was spinning a bit and he was still unsteady on his feet, so that fact that Rabbit acted as his support was very welcome.

As they walked back to the room, Roue didn't pay so much attention to what Rabbit was saying but as to how he was saying it.? Lowering his head a bit, he trained his ears to listen to the inflections in his tone as his eyes focused on how his lips moved.? Though the words sounded like gibberish to him, he was still trying to wordlessly mimic the way the other man was spoke, in a weird sort of way of trying to make a connection, any connection, to the strange language he was hearing.? He didn't even realize how much he was staring until Rabbit suddenly looked up at him, his look a bit softer than he expected, immediately looking away, cheeks rising in color.? He had to stop that - staring was rude.? It's something he was taught from a very early age, but he couldn't help it.? Roue had to keep telling himself that it was nothing else...that there was nothing else except the desire to understand each other.

Once they got back inside the room, Rabbit helped the wizard to the bed, but then started motioning for something.? It wasn't until he produced some coins that Roue understood what he was asking for.? Taking the money pouch out, he unfastened the top and stretched his hands out, welcoming the other to take whatever and however much he needed.? He half expected that the lot of it would be gone but his expression changed to one of a surprise when Rabbit only took out a few medallions all of which were of a small value.? The wizard questioned why he would take so little but Rabbit simply waved him away, showing that this was enough, at least for now.? Pulling the string taught and tying them into a knot, Roue re-fastened the top and then shoved the pouch back under the pillow.? When he looked back, the other man indicated that it was now okay to undress and head to bed, so he proceed to do so as instructed.

The elf started by kicking off his shoes, using his heels to hold the soles down so he could pull out his feet.? Placing the pair of boots onto the bedside bench, he then stood up and hooked his fingers into his pant waist.? Unlike the wizarding outfit which required one to wiggle out of them almost like a worm, there was no such struggle as Roue easily slipped out of the pants and neatly folded them on top of the shoes.? The shame of having previously discarded his clothing like a ne'er-do-well floated up to the forefront of his mind so he wanted to make sure that he didn't do something so uncouth again, so when he slipped the shirt off, it too went neatly on top of the rest of the pile.? Once he was clad in nothing but his underwear, Roue promptly jumped into bed, pulling the comforter right up to his neck and then cocooning himself by piling the rest of the blankets around him.? The bedding was so soft he felt as if he was surrounded by clouds, and all the better, as at this point he was just about ready to drop into la-la land.

"<Thank you, Rabbit>," Roue said, turning his head to face him.? The young man said something back, eliciting a small chuckle as he smiled, though he knew not what was said.? Once Rabbit made sure that Roue was all set, however, he turned around and left, leaving the elf all to himself.? Now that he was along with his thoughts, Roue thought back to the entire day's events.? He had not expected this kindness nor this level of service after having been on the run for so long.? How long was this going to last, he wondered, I'm going to have to leave sooner or later.? He suddenly felt like he did not want to be alone, that he did want some kind of companionship, but it was too late to call the other back.? It would probably be super awkward anyway, he reasoned, seeing as they just met and barely even knew each other.? He pulled the covers closer to him as he laid in the dark for a little while, waiting for sleep to claim him.? It didn't take long and soon he was deeply sleeping, the exhaustion and stress finally claiming him.

(Rabbit)

Tag - Roue