Why did it have to be nightmares? Why couldn't his mind stick to sex dreams all the time?

Frey still woke up with the same heavy breath and sweat covered body that he would have regardless of the dream's nature. The difference came in the form of tears and disturbing memories replaying through his head even as he sat up to look around his room.

His eyes landed on Haddon, who'd shot up from his task of lighting the fireplace with a look possibly similar to Frey's.

"I'm— I'm sorry, my lord. I didn't mean to wake you." He pointed to the barely ignited pieces of wood. "I tried to be quiet, I just... Thought I'd heat up the room a little."

Frey couldn't be bothered with correcting him. If his valet wanted to think the reaction had been his fault, that was on him.

"Any letters from West Kerilia today?" he asked while trying to shake the gory, blight infested thoughts from his head, and Haddon shook his head.

"Well, not yet anyway. It's still early."

Frey stifled a groan. It was early? Was that why his valet had invaded his room to light a fire? To be considerate and have the room warm at the time Frey usually wakes up?

"Well then..." he muttered before reaching for his banyan. For some reason his room was colder than usual and he would not get dressed while his valet was still around. "... Light it and be on your way."

"Of course, sir."

Frey looked the other way, finding staring at a wall much more appealing than risking an attempted conversation from Haddon's side. He followed the floral patterns with his gaze to rid his head of other images threatening to come forward again. If only his mother and sisters would have replied with any new information regarding the West Kerilia rumours already, then he could have focused all his thoughts on that. He'd sent the letter days ago.

"Did you say something, sir?" Haddon then asked, as if defying Frey's inner wish for him to not speak, and Frey turned his head to frown at him.

"No."

"Oh, I thought..." Haddon pursed his lips with a brief nod before continuing with his task. Frey wrinkled his nose at him but returned to his own pastime as well, studying the subtle changes in hue of the flowers while suppressing any other thoughts.

Then a low hum escaped his mouth, and he suddenly realised where the misunderstanding had come from. He'd been humming something. Forcing his brain to do anything but think about the nightmare, even in the form of sounds, and Haddon had heard it. He fortunately didn't bring the new one up, and was soon enough on his way out of the room.

"I'd like to apologise once again for scaring you." He bowed his head. "I hope you can fall asleep again."

"Probably not," Frey said dryly, certain the nightmarish thoughts would consume him again, and Haddon made a face.

"I'm— I'm sor—"

"Don't apologise, just go." Frey waved him away, finally being left alone.

What silly little morning ritual was he even supposed to do? Eat breakfast? Stroll around aimlessly? Make small talk with Damien? If Damien was even awake yet.

The idea of payback by kicking down Damien's door to criticise his life choices and ask intrusive questions occurred to Frey, but he couldn't be bothered with that either. Lucius let the man hear that every day too so it would be redundant. He chose to head outside instead. Even if Marius wasn't around, he could go for a walk or perhaps say hi to Tea For Two.

He shuddered as a breeze of humid air crept under his clothes upon stepping outside. He'd already gotten used to a sunnier outside, so he sent the gloomy sky above him a look of disapproval.

As it turned out, Marius was already at the stables, as if his work started early in the morning or something. He'd just finished attaching a lunge line to Bonfire's halter as he spotted Frey, stopping in his tracks with an exaggerated gasp.

"Oh, wow. Have you been awake all night?"

"I just woke up early." Frey looked appropriately annoyed by the thought. "I see you did as well."

Marius blinked.

"When do you think my day starts?"

"... Noon?"

"That's your idea of 'day'." Marius grinned while beginning to loop the line around his hand. "So do you want to take Tea For Two out already?"

Frey shook his head.

"The poor girl. Let her sleep."

"I don't know how to tell you this, but your concept of time is skewed."

"Maybe your concept of time is—"

"Nope, it's yours." Marius gestured towards one of the round pens. "But since you're here, why don't you stay and oversee how things are going with Bon Bon? Gonna do some exercising now, and our sores are almost gone so it should be fine to be seen near each other again, right?"

Frey pondered it for a moment, indeed relieved the nightmarish blister on his lip had finally faded that much. Staying around for a while couldn't do any harm. He was supposed to check in on them now and then, so no one had any reason to find it strange.

"Why not?" He looked Marius and Bonfire up and down. They looked equipped enough with appropriate gear, but something was still missing. "Shouldn't you bring something to treat him with when he's doing well?"

"Hm?"

"Like something he likes, as motivation."

Marius grimaced.

"Ah, well... I hadn't thought about it."

"What, you don't give him treats?"

"Well, sure, sometimes." Marius shrugged. "Just not regularly."

Frey looked at the poor colt. As far as he was concerned, puppy eyes were no match against foal eyes, and young horse as Bonfire may be, foal eyes are forever.

"Why not get some carrots before we go, then?" He nodded towards the root cellar further away. "I'm sure Tea For Two could use one or two as well."

Marius followed Frey's gaze with pursed lips.

"Actually, I'm pretty sure we're out of carrots."

Frey looked back at him with raised eyebrows.

"Out?"

"Yeah, like they're gone."

"Carrots?"

Marius nodded slowly, and Frey attempted a laugh.

"It's not even spring, how can we be out? The harvest was fine."

"Apparently not for the horses." Marius shrugged before steering Bonfire along. "Anyway, we should get going. I have other things to do later."

Frey knitted his eyebrows, hesitating to follow.

"Is the kitchen out as well?"

"How should I know?" Marius' tone was short and bordering on annoyance, to Frey's great confusion. "If it's that important you should go ask them. I need to keep doing my job so I don't fall behind."

"No, I..." Frey swallowed, eyes lowering as he pointed over his shoulder. "... I'm just gonna say hi to Tea For Two first, then I'll be with you."

He watched Marius as he walked off, unease prickling his skin, but he did as he'd said and went inside to find Tea For Two.

"Oh, Lord Clausson." The stable master looked away from the stall he was inspecting as Frey reached Tea For Two. "I didn't expect to see you so early in the day. Is something wrong?"

In Frey's head, the words seemed to linger for ages as he processed them, but it only took him a second to reply.

"I was awoken quite abruptly, but it's no matter," he replied truthfully, then switching focus to his horse. "I just noticed that Tea For Two looks a little down, so I was wondering if... There are any carrots left?"

"Of course, sir." The stable master almost looked amused. "It would be strange otherwise, wouldn't it?"

Frey nodded absentmindedly as his mind flooded with confusion and frustration.

"It would."

"Should I go get some for her?" The stable master then asked, and Frey blinked as he was brought back to the conversation.

"Why you?"

The stable master raised his eyebrows, glancing around the area void of other people.

"The other grooms are busy, so it would be quicker if I—"

"Isn't that the stable boy's job?" Frey couldn't wait for a full reply. "I saw him outside, why would a stable master be tasked with something like fetching carrots?"

Something seemed to dawn on the stable master then, and he sucked air through his teeth, which was not a promising reaction.

"Oh, uh... See, I know it's not becoming of a stable boy to have reservations but... I never make Marius go down into the root cellar. So I don't mind doing it myself."

Frey stared at him, still not quite registering what he was staring at as his mind wasn't the least calmed by this.

"... Why?"

"It's nothing you need to trouble yourself with, si—"

"I asked you a question." Frey's eyes were burning in the usual, impatient way they always had when interacting with servants. "Are you going to answer it?"

The stable master wrinkled his forehead, but nodded.

"My apologies, sir." He glanced towards the stable doors. "It's because of what happened before he came here."

"I heard he worked in a mine."

"Yes." The stable master nodded gravely. "But there was a cave-in."

Frey could feel his face paling, and he hurriedly drew a calming breath before his voice could tremble.

"And he was... Trapped inside?"

"Well no, or he would have been dead." The stable master shook his head. "He and a handful others made it out, but the panic and tumult while getting out through those tunnels, and the people either crushed or trapped behind them... I imagine it left some haunting feelings, and if he doesn't want to be in cramped places underground I felt like I could make an exception."

Frey's heart wanted to beat its way through his chest, thoughts of Marius' reluctance to the shop below ground chilling his body as he tried to keep his composure.

"I... Suppose that's understandable," he said, voice still lower than intended. "He must have some disturbing memories from then, losing many fellow workers and such."

"And his father."

An emotional gut punch, and Frey's body grew numb.

"His...?"

"His father was trapped inside as well, or... Crushed. I don't know, I never thought to ask him something like that."

Frey didn't know what to do with himself. He just stood there, possibly staring into nothing, possibly staring right at the stable master, but hardly focused enough to care.

The tension had struck the stable master however, and his face scrunched up in a grimace.

"I... Realise now, too late, that it's a sensitive topic for you, and I apologise, Lord Clausson." He pinched his lips together before attempting to steer the conversation back. "But if you find Marius' behaviour unacceptable, I'll tell him to—"

"No." Frey shook his head, straightening his back to regain his usual look of confidence. "I respect your compassion in situations like this, so carry on."

"You're too kind, Lord Clausson," the stable master continued with a light bow of his head. "While I'm here, can I help you with anything?"

"Carrots, for Tea For Two."

"Ah, yes of course. Right away, sir."

As the stable master left, Frey wrapped his arms around himself. How had he not known about it? Why hadn't Marius told him? All the times they'd inevitably brought up Frey's father's demise, and not a hint from Marius about knowing that same feeling?

Perhaps they weren't close, he thought to himself as he walked outside again, but the stable master had made it sound as though they had been. Like his father's death had been the biggest tragedy that day. So what was Frey supposed to do with the information? Just forget ever hearing it? He wanted to respect Marius' choice to stay silent but his mind screamed at him that he needed to bring it up.

He chewed on his lip, hands opening and closing repeatedly as his muscles itched. What if Marius had wanted to talk about it all along but Frey had been too focused on his own issues to listen properly? What if he'd shown signs that he had missed? Frey had been called self absorbed before, not without him retaliating accordingly and making people regret it of course, but the words had been spoken.

No, he decided, despite his curiosity protesting. Marius had stayed quiet about it for a reason, and he had to respect it. It didn't matter how desperately he wanted to ask.

So he'd just have to put on a smile as if he'd heard nothing.

"So? What did she say?" Marius was back to his usual, cheerful self when Frey reached the round pen. "Or was she asleep like you'd thought?"

Frey had almost forgotten about his excuse, so he needed a second to form a reply.

"She's fine. Just a little moody about the weather."

He kept his distance to allow for Bonfire to continue his exercise, a little disgruntled he'd have to half-yell anything he wanted to say which was not preferable when trying to keep their public interactions in South Kerilia to a minimum.

"Just remember you're here to oversee Bon Bon's training, not look at other things you might be interested in." Marius gave him a flirtatious grin that he immediately dropped as Frey glared back. "That was a joke, of course, my Lord."

"You're not paid for inappropriate comments," Frey said dryly, finding little problem reassuming his old behaviour in front of any potential eavesdroppers despite the spinning thoughts in his head. He supposed it was a kind of second nature to him. "Tell me about Bonfire Dancing 'Til Dawn's progress instead."

"Out of curiosity, would it kill you to say Bon Bon?" Marius tilted his head with an amused quirk of his eyebrow. "Instead of spending all day on uttering a name?"

"It's very possible." Frey nodded solemnly. "And it's not even shorter than just saying Bonfire, so it would not be my first pick regardless."

Fortunately for Frey, his ability to switch between expressions in the blink of an eye proved handy as ever when his actual face of confusion and perhaps even pity had to transform into faked, coldhearted scorn as soon as Marius looked at him, with a brief hint of affection whenever he could be certain no one else was passing by the pen.

It made the muscles in his face ache, but he was used to it.

"What do you think, my Lord?" Marius asked after a while, folding Bonfire's line to stop his walk. "I think he's doing well."

Frey nodded in thought, trying to keep his attention where it was supposed to be.

"It would be better if he knew a command for stopping. Like a way for you to move as a signal instead of gathering up the whole line."

He would also have advised Marius once again to give the poor thing a treat after a job well done, but it seemed like a bad time.

And so his mind went off track again, moving from carrots to the stable master to Marius' father and to Frey's own father and to the nightmare from earlier until the whole West Kerilia incident began messing with his head, and before he knew it he was clenching his fists to keep them still, breathing picking up its pace without permission.

"Frey?"

Marius was closer now, having brought Bonfire along to stand next to him. Close enough to read expressions.

Frey blinked away the discomfort.

"Yes?"

"Are you tired?" Marius tried to study his expression, which Frey promptly refused for him to do with a shrug.

"A little." He sighed, allowing his genuinely tired look to show. "I... Had a nightmare earlier."

"Oh." Marius grimaced. "About your father?"

How did he manage? Not a heartbeat's worth of hesitation. He could talk about Frey's trauma without issue despite everything that had happened to him?

"Y... Yeah." Frey's gaze fell without him realising it. "So I guess I woke up too early. I wanted to fall asleep again but it just keeps returning whenever I close my eyes."

Marius nodded with a sigh through his nose.

"I'd hold you if I was allowed."

"I know." Frey sighed as well. "Maybe we'll find time later."

He felt about ready to explode as he headed back to the mansion. It was logical to talk about it. Marius should want to talk about it. To be comforted. Yet could Frey blame him? He didn't like to talk about his father either. It had just come up a lot due to surrounding issues, inevitably clawing up old wounds. Marius, who people barely knew of, didn't face that same torture. Frey would most likely not bring such a thing up either if he could help it.

So, again, no. He would leave it alone.

***

He couldn't leave it alone.

It had been hard enough to keep quiet about it while taking Tea For Two out. By the time the sun had set and the day was over, he'd had enough. No matter how much Frey wanted to give Marius the choice of whether or not to bring it up, it just didn't add up in his head why he wouldn't. Frey had forced him into a shop beneath floor level, clearly making him uncomfortable, yet Marius came along because he didn't want to tell Frey why it made him feel that way. He'd made up excuses for why he wouldn't go into the root cellar, and if Frey didn't remember wrong he'd felt awkward about going into the food cellar inside the mansion as well. Never during any of these times had he felt like explaining himself, but would it not have been easier to do so? Frey would have understood. He knew the pain. He could have helped him.

So after inhaling a deep breath, he knocked on Marius' door.

"Frey?" a surprised Marius asked, squinting at him as if they weren't an arm's length apart. He'd changed out of his work clothes into a plain attire consisting of a white shirt and dark pants, and the usual smell of horses was gone. "You're... Here?"

"And unannounced, I know," Frey agreed. "But I wanted to see you."

"I mean, of course..." Marius gestured for him to come inside. "... I'm happy to see you, I just didn't expect you to come to me."

"Because of...?" Frey trailed off, but got his point across by gesturing around the place before even looking properly.

"... Yes."

It was different from how Frey had imagined it. Perhaps the horror stories of slums like The Entrails had coloured his imagination regarding anything below upper middle class, so the quaint yet homely space he'd entered came as a pleasant revelation.

"This is nice," he said as Marius took his coat. "It's... Clean, and warm."

"Oh, my Lord is too kind." Marius booped Frey's cheek before putting the coat away. "I still don't know what you expected. Do I look like I'm starving, or never wash? Or like my clothes are falling apart?"

"I guess I haven't thought much about differences within lower classes."

"Trust me, you don't want to see The Entrails."

"Just ever hearing about it is more than I would have liked."

The surprisingly large room past the entrance hall contained more than Frey would have thought. There was a stove, a table and chair by a window, a small bed with a nightstand, and even a fairly large dresser. Pots of various herbs had been lined up on the windowsill and hanging petunias were spilling out of a basket on top of the dresser, adding extra colour to the pleasant atmosphere.

"You have all this in just one room?" Frey looked around with wide eyes. It was a little cramped compared to The BBT mansion's grand rooms, he supposed, but the fact that it worked in practice was impressive.

"Yeah, it's convenient if you ask me." Marius leaned against the doorway. "Don't need to run around a— Hey, take off your shoes first."

"Ah, right." Frey did as he was told despite the interruption, still curious about the new way of furnishing. "So what's in the rest of them?"

"The... Rest?"

Frey nodded towards a door on the wall in front of them.

"The other rooms."

Marius uttered an 'aw', stroking Frey's cheek with a pitying smile.

"That's just a small room for washing and such. Other than that, this is all there is."

Frey glanced around the room again with newfound knowledge, awe suddenly vanquished.

"Oh."

"Don't be like that." Marius jabbed his shoulder. "It's more than enough for me. There's a storage space too for various supplies, and food of course."

Frey was once again reminded why he'd come there.

"You'd think there'd be a food cellar for that."

"You would, but you'd be wrong." Marius dodged the topic with a shrug. "Want some tea? Probably not as fancy as what you got at the mansion, but I like it."

"Sounds good." Frey smiled, at first moving towards the table before recalling there was only one chair. "Should I... Stand?"

Marius looked over his shoulder from where he stood by the stove.

"No, we can sit on the bed. It's more comfortable anyway."

"Why do you only have one chair?" Frey gave the bed a sceptical look while heat rose to his cheeks. "Don't you ever have friends over?"

"We usually go out, so I'm doing fine with one chair. I'd offer you my lap but I'm a little worried that flimsy old thing would collapse."

The almost-offer didn't make things easier for Frey's composure, but he held back a sigh of defeat before sitting down on the small yet sturdy bed.

"It'll be done in a bit," Marius said as he sank down next to him. "How are you feeling now? You looked pretty out of it still when taking Tea For Two out, so I was near certain you'd just go to bed afterwards."

"I took a nap," Frey lied, wrinkling his forehead. "Who'd go to bed that early?"

"Well maybe not that early, but... Possibly? I was actually getting ready for bed when you knocked."

Frey stared in disbelief.

"You'd go to bed now?"

"I need to get up early." Marius laughed. "I told you, our days are not the same."

"Right..." Frey tried to match his laugh, though with a more nervous result. "... I forgot."

"So to what do I owe the pleasure?" Marius tilted his head. "Or did you just miss me that much?"

"I mean, I did miss you," Frey said, heartbeat picking up its pace as he tried to formulate his other reason. "But I've also been thinking... I don't know much about you. Like, your life outside of work and the time we spend with each other. I know about your friends, but that's about it."

"I believe I've also told you about my siblings, unless you forgot."

Frey saw an opportunity.

"No, I remember. Nieces and nephews and all, but... What about your parents? What do they do?"

"My mother works at a tavern. Cooks food and so on."

"And your father?"

"A mine worker, like I was."

Frey wanted to shake him. Why wasn't he opening up?

"So tell me about the mines," he pushed forward, struggling to keep his hands still as impatience tried to get the best of him. "What was it like?"

A wrinkle formed between Marius' eyebrows, but his smile wouldn't budge.

"It's not that interesting of a job, but... It was decent money."

"So why did you move?"

"I don't..." Marius shook his head slightly. "... I don't know, I guess I wanted to try something—"

Screw it.

"The stable master told me," Frey blurted out before his self control could stop him, and he cursed inwards before sucking in a breath. "He told me what happened. The cave-in, and... Your father."

Marius' expression was hard to read. Perhaps because there was no discernable expression, it was just a blank stare. Frey fought hard to keep that kind of eye contact, but in the end it was Marius who turned his gaze away.

"That's not any of his business," he mumbled, nose wrinkling as his eyes narrowed. "And not his story to tell."

"So why didn't you tell me?" Frey asked, realising too late that his tone was more accusatory than inquisitive. "I— I mean, it just... Seems like something I should know."

"Is that why you came here?" Marius' voice was emptier than usual, and Frey instantly regretted his choices. "To interrogate me? Or throw me a pity party?"

"I just... Couldn't wrap my head around it," Frey said, though it barely made it out as a whisper. "All these times when we've talked about my father— about the things I've been tormented by... You've experienced something so similar yet you haven't said a word about it."

"Because I don't want to talk about it." Marius looked tense, like he was clenching his jaw. "So there was no reason for you to know."

"Wasn't there?" Frey had to argue despite the numbing sensation in his chest, distressed by the idea that Marius couldn't confide in him. "All those excuses you made up to avoid places that made you uncomfortable? I would have understood. I wouldn't have spiralled into worries about my family when you suddenly didn't want to come with me into that shop, or gotten annoyed when you were obviously lying about carrots."

"But it would have led to follow-up questions, wouldn't it?" Marius made eye contact for a second. "Or you would have been content with the story you got from Master Reimar."

"I could have comforted you," Frey insisted, desperately trying to formulate his intentions without messing up. "I— I could have been there for you like you've been for me. I want you to feel as safe as I do when I'm with you."

Marius didn't answer at first, but he drew a deep breath to sigh.

"I know your intentions are good. Of course I do."

"So—"

"But I don't want to be comforted. I don't want to think about it at all, so insisting on bringing it up is only making things worse." Marius finally met his gaze. "You need to respect that, Frey. Me not talking about it doesn't mean I don't trust you with the information or think you'd be put off by it. It's simply that it's a part of my life I don't want to be reminded of. I'm trying to move on, so the less people near me know about it, the better."

Frey still couldn't agree with it, feeling like suppressing such a thing completely could lead to more anguish, but he knew the resentment that could grow from lack of boundaries and trust, so there was only one right answer he could give.

"Alright," he said, nodding slowly. "I won't bring it up anymore."

"I appreciate it."

"But one more—"

"Oh, come on."

"I just want to know how the rest of your family is doing," Frey hurried to finish the sentence before Marius could interrupt him. "Are they doing well? Do they need help with something?"

Marius opened his mouth, likely to reprimand him again but he seemed to change his mind.

"They're getting by just fine." His face softened a little. "I got back to work pretty soon after, actually working a lot more just to keep my mind off things, and I always send part of my earnings to my family so we're doing all right."

Frey was once again reminded of their class differences that day. He'd had no problem shutting himself inside for a year without financial difficulties, but Marius had never had that option. He'd just gotten right back to it, without much of a choice.

"You know, if there's anything you need help with, you can ask."

"So you can spend Lord Hargreaves' money on yet another person without permission?"

"Yes." Frey allowed himself to smile. "Though in my defence I am making my own money again."

Marius' lips quirked upwards as well.

"You're just not spending it until he finally decides to kick you out?"

"Pretty much."

A whistling sound pulled their attention away from each other, and Marius cursed under his breath before jumping up from the bed to remove the kettle from the stove.

"Perhaps we should bring over the chair after all," he said while preparing the teacups. "Or we'll have to share the nightstand."

"I... Suppose a chair could double as a table." Frey still found it odd. He'd never had to imagine furniture as anything else than what they were built for.

He looked at Marius' back while waiting for the tea. Guilt grew inside him, and even though he'd agreed to drop the topic he had to at least address his behaviour.

"Listen, I'm... Sorry," he said as he received a cup from Marius. "You're right. I shouldn't have come here just to corner you with insensitive questions. I should have come here to be with you."

"No worries, I accept the apology." Marius exhaled as he joined Frey on the bed again. "But I'd appreciate it if you didn't do it again."

Frey shifted in his seat, feeling another blush coming on.

"Maybe... We could do that holding thing we talked about earlier today instead?"

Marius let out a soft laugh, but obediently pulled Frey closer to lean him against his shoulder.

"That's more like what I thought you came here for."

"It's definitely a better reason," Frey said while trying to suppress a yawn, and Marius gently patted his head.

"You must be tired," he whispered into his ear. "Getting up so early, and after this conversation I reckon you lied about taking a nap since you've clearly been obsessing about it."

"And the nightmare," Frey mumbled, exhaustion weighing him down by the second after Marius had pointed it out. "Didn't get any good sleep to begin with either."

Marius stroked his hair before leaning their heads together.

"To think you still had the energy to run across town."

Frey tried to smile, but it was a sorry effort.

"Do you..." He cursed his mind. "... Have them too? Nightmares?"

"Frey..."

"I know, I'm—" He swallowed. "It just seemed... Likely, and if you want to—"

"Frey, can I kiss you to make you shut up?"

A weak laugh escaped Frey, and he turned his head to face Marius.

"How could I say no to—"

Warm lips broke his sentence, and he gratefully leaned his tired body into Marius' embrace as he returned the kiss. The tea had slipped his mind already. He just wanted to be held like that forever. The emptiness his body felt as Marius pulled away slightly was devastating.

"The tea's gonna get cold," Marius pointed out, though Frey couldn't care less. "I know you're sceptical, but it's good, I promise."

So if just to humour him, Frey agreed to drink the mood-disrupting tea. It wasn't bad, but a little bland. He wondered if it would be rude to buy an assortment of leaves as a gift.

"Do you... Want more chairs?" He gave the one chair a pitying look, on the topic of potentially backhanded gifts. "There's an old dining set at the mansion no one ever uses because one of the chairs is damaged. I'm sure Damien wouldn't notice if they disappeared."

"Ah, so now we're stealing from him too?"

Frey thought about it, taking a sip of his tea.

"Yeah."

They drank in silence for a while, but it didn't feel awkward. It was a peaceful calm that Frey didn't mind at all. Not when his body wanted so dearly to rest.

"Don't spill it." Marius reached out a hand to keep Frey's hand from dipping, and Frey tried to blink the drowsiness away. Would it be shameless to ask if he could lie down? Would Marius misinterpret his genuine exhaustion?

But the idea of getting up was unrealistic.

"I... Don't think I can go home tonight."

Marius chuckled while stroking strands of hair away from Frey's forehead.

"I'd advise against it."

Frey nodded, eyes still scanning the slight distance between them. A distance he did not enjoy.

"Marius?"

"Hm?"

"Do you think you could shut me up again?"

Marius' smile widened.

"Anytime."