If I could turn back time...

[cynicfelixity]

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[cynicfelixity]

[The way Dimitri pauses to consider Felix's question is telling, and he's totally not buying what Dimitri is saying there.]

Doesn't sound like it, [he says with a raise of his brow.]

[boarprince]

I can say without a doubt I would not have slept properly if you were doing poorly.

[Felix isn't the only thing on his mind, though. He's not that far gone! Granted, he is at the forefront currently, even if he shouldn't be now that he's on the mend. Dimitri knows he should be focusing on laying the dead to rest, but it's difficult for him to get his head back on straight after such a big scare.

He chews on the inside of his cheek, hoping that answer is good enough.]

[cynicfelixity]

[There's something strangely final about the way Dimitri says that--of further answers being dangerous waters at this point. And while Felix is tempted to press, he isn't too eager to ruin this delicate friendship he has going with Dimitri again.]

...It's cold.

[So he casts his gaze absently to the side, worrying lightly at his lower lip as he balls his fingers into his blanket.]

[boarprince]

[Dimitri's halfway out of the chair before he realizes why Felix is saying that. Nibbling at his lip, clutching his blankets... he wants Dimitri to stay, doesn't he? The realization has his stomach doing a giddy little flip. Smiling to himself, he goes ahead and stands up, heading over to toss another log on the fire before returning to his bedside.]

May I stay again?

[He should be asking if Felix wants him to stay, but he thinks that question might not garner a favorable response.]

[cynicfelixity]

[The additional log thrown into the fire is welcome, but what's even better is Dimitri's question. Something that has butterflies dancing in his stomach as red threatens to overtake his expression again.]

That would be welcome.

[He shouldn't be encouraging this. Yet here he is, giving in to sweet temptation brought about by a selfish desire to indulge in the presence of the one he cares the most about. As much as he wishes to rationalize that he only wants to make sure that Dimitri is going to sleep well as he insists, he knows, reluctantly so, that isn't the only thing at play here.]

[boarprince]

[Dimitri takes off his jacket, cloak, shoes, and belt without hesitation, but he pauses with his fingers at the hem of his undershirt, feeling strangely shy. He doesn't want to soak his shirt with sweat again, but getting in bed with Felix while topless? Yeah, he's anxious.]

...do you mind? I would prefer to not make a mess of my shirt...

[cynicfelixity]

Not at all.

[Well, Felix does mind, but not in the classic sense. Or perhaps he does. After all, one only gets worked up about the idea of sleeping next to someone topless if the said someone is a person they're attracted to, isn't it...?

Goddess, why is he so smitten when he shouldn't be? He has no right to feel this way at all, yet here he is, red in the face as if he were some bride waiting for her groom to slip into bed next to her...

Mentally stamping away those thoughts--or trying his best to--Felix angles his head away from Dimitri.]

Could you help me with my hair later?

[boarprince]

[That settles it, then. Dimitri gratefully strips his shirt off as well, neatly hanging it with his jacket. He goes about pushing two beds together again, all too happy to climb up beside Felix.]

Your hair? Would you like me to take it down...?

[Though he can manage a simple braid, he can't do a nice french braid that pulls everything back like Sylvain did. Dimitri reaches out, smoothing the tiny hairs near his face that have since wriggled free.]

[cynicfelixity]

[Even with his head turned away, Felix is unfortunately hyperaware of how Dimitri pushes the beds together and climbs in next to him, his warmth fanning across his back, not at all helped by those fingers that start to smooth his hair down.]

Yes, [Felix says, a little tight as he suppresses the shiver that comes along with Dimitri's touch.] I'm not sleeping with that on.

[boarprince]

Of course. I suppose it might give you a headache to have it pulled back all night...

[Having Felix look away should make him less anxious, but with Felix telling him to take his hair down, his eye is drawn to the elegant curve of his neck. The urge to nuzzle his face in the crook strikes him, and Dimitri takes a deep, slow breath to keep himself calm.]

Are you allowed to sleep on your side yet, or will you need to lie on your stomach again? [he asks just to have something to say as he pulls that braid around and unties the end. His fingers work at the plaits, gently loosening them from the bottom up.]

[cynicfelixity]

Manuela told me to lie on my stomach again.

[Felix hisses softly iin relief at the release of tension around his head, shoulders relaxing as Dimitri works through his hair. The sensation is familiar enough at least--enough for Felix to focus on how ordinary it is over the fact that it's Dimitri doing the untying.]

Once I'm cleared to hold a book, I should be able to try and lie on my side again.

[He flexes his fingers, looking down at them. It still feels a little heavy and slightly disjoint with the rest of his body, but perhaps tomorrow will bring with it more sensation.]

[boarprince]

[Eventually, he has Felix's braid completely undone. Noting where the braid was tugging (even if only a bit since Sylvain was careful), Dimitri gently rubs at his scalp, humming to acknowledge that he's listening.]

[cynicfelixity]

[Sighing blissfully, Felix leans back into Dimitri's touch, more than happy with that massage he's thought to give at this time. Who knew that could feel so good? Is it because his head is in the process of building up to a killer headache, or is it because Dimitri is the one doing it...?

The heat rushing to his face seems to suggest the latter, if anything. Hopefully Dimitri doesn't catch sight of it...]

[boarprince]

You must have a headache coming, [he murmurs, smiling to himself. Of course he does, sleeping on his stomach... Dimitri continues with the light massage, eventually making his way to Felix's neck. Since Felix seems to have no objections, Dimitri parts his long, silky hair and drapes it over his shoulders, exposing the back of his neck so that he can better work on it.]

[cynicfelixity]

I guess.

[He's been nothing but bedridden, sleeping in positions uncomfortable to him... This massage is more than welcome, and he groans particularly suggestively when Dimitri finds a knot that he wasn't aware was there. Realizing how that sounds, color reaches his ears as he starts to find the warmth around the room rather stifling...]

[boarprince]

[In hindsight, he should have predicted this. But the happy little hums he heard out of Felix before puberty are a far cry from this. Dimitri inhales sharply, but he doesn't stop, just letting that air out in a nervous laugh.] I get tight there, too. I'm... glad to be able to help.

[cynicfelixity]

[Dimitri picks up on it, but that's not all he does. He reacts to it, and that further confirmation of being able to affect Dimitri in such a manner has Felix mirroring that intake of breath. Has... Dimitri always been this way, and Felix just failed to notice? Or is this yet another change brought about the ripples cast by Felix...?

It's a useless thought, but it consumes him anyway--a feverish mixture of guilt and undue excitement that uncomfortably warms his stomach.

Not trusting his voice, Felix simply hums in response, tilting his head slightly to allow Dimitri better access when he urges him to bend slightly so he could work on his neck better.]

[boarprince]

[Eventually, Dimitri gets that knot to loosen up as much as it's going to. Not wanting to make him sore on top of everything else, he stops there, pulling Felix's hair back over his shoulders and running his hands through it a few times to make it lay properly.]

Are you tired? [he asks in a breathy voice, far too throaty for his tastes. Getting worked up while Felix is injured so badly that he can't even take down his own hair is despicable, but here he is all the same, struggling against the warmth that coalesces in his core upon being given license to touch Felix.]

[cynicfelixity]

[Trying not to think of it as Dimitri performing the actual massage calms Felix's nerves a bit, especially when he concentrates on how relieving the procedure is. But Dimitri speaking up draws attention to his state, reminding Felix that it isn't only him that has some untoward reactions regarding this supposedly innocent interaction.]

A little, [Felix says under his breath, still not trusting himself to speak at a regular volume.] I might... need your help getting myself to lie down.

[Damn, this is humiliating. But if he's to make certain of a proper recovery, it's a necessary evil.]

[boarprince]

All right.

[Dimitri looks to the pillow pile Felix is propped against, then at the way the bandages are wound around his torso. He isn't supposed to put his back muscles to work, is he? How can he get him situated? Seconds tick by as he thinks it over, ultimately deciding to scoot in close, facing Felix.]

Just lean on me. I'll move the extra pillows away and turn you over.

[cynicfelixity]

Alright.

[It's just leaning on Dimitri for support, yet Felix's cheeks warm anew at the contact as he leans over and rests his cheek against Dimitri's bared shoulder. How inconvenient of him to forget that Dimitri has decided to do away with his shirt for the occasion, but here he is, reaping the consequences of his actions and firing up like he's trapped in a Bolganone-powered furnace.

Except there's nothing painful about it, considering how his skin tingles pleasantly against Dimitri's. Completely wrong in this context, yet here he is, shamefully indulging as he settles for closing his eyes, not at all trusting them to keep Felix's feelings to himself should Dimitri seem them.]

[boarprince]

[Dimitri indulges as well, allowing himself to briefly place his hands on Felix's shoulders and squeeze in a sort of embrace. He longs to hold him properly, but he knows that doing so might exacerbate his injuries. So he reaches behind him after a few seconds, moving the pillows away as promised, leaving only one behind to help Felix keep his neck at a more comfortable angle. He takes hold of Felix again then, helping him turn over without disturbing his wounds. Once he has him settled on his stomach, he takes the discarded pillows and uses them to prop up Felix's feet like Manuela did before.]

Does that feel all right?

[cynicfelixity]

Yes.

[Felix opens his eyes once Dimitri has him settled on his stomach, sighing as he watches his bent arm before him, moving his fingers in a tentative motion.]

Thanks.

[For helping and not calling him out on his unseemly reactions.]

[boarprince]

[How can he possibly not smile when Felix is openly thanking him? Dimitri grins as he drapes the covers over Felix, careful to tuck them around his feet to keep cold air from getting in. He climbs on the bed again after that, curled on his side so that he's face to face with him.]

Would you like wrapped bricks anywhere?

[cynicfelixity]

[Bricks? Well, those certainly would be welcome, but yesterday, there was one notable spot absent of them, warmed instead by hands now larger than his as of this time.]

Just do it like you did before.

[Is what Felix settles for, hiding a portion of his face in his pillow in an attempt to cover up his blush. So much for resisting the urge to indulge. If Dimitri picks up on what he really wants, he wouldn't deny that'd be nice, but otherwise, so be it.]