Torvald caught it, his eyes crinkling. “It’s gettin’ late now,” he said, stretching his arms with a groan that seemed to shake the air. “Time we sleep. You can stay here, Elias. Plenty o’ room, and it’s safer than wanderin’ out there in the dark.”
Elias nodded, gratitude warming him more than the fire. “Thank you, Torvald,” he said softly, settling onto the ledge as the giant tossed another log into the flames, the glow wrapping them both in a quiet, comforting hush.
Elias murmured a quiet “goodnight,” his voice barely above a whisper, and curled up on the ledge, trying to drift into sleep. But as the firelight danced across the cave, his gaze lingered on Torvald’s broad silhouette, the giant’s steady breathing a low rumble in the stillness. A restless pull stirred in Elias’s chest, something unspoken and heavy, urging him closer.
Heart pounding, Elias slipped from the ledge and padded over to Torvald, who lay sprawled on a pile of furs. Hesitating only a moment, Elias reached out, his fingers brushing Torvald’s weathered cheek, a gentle tap against the giant’s face. Torvald’s eyes fluttered open, soft and unguarded in the firelight. “Elias?” he rumbled, voice low but warm.
Before Elias could falter, Torvald’s large hand cupped his face, a quiet “It’s okay” passing between them. Then, with a tenderness that belied his size, Torvald leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to Elias’s lips. The world seemed to still, the crackle of the fire fading to nothing. Torvald pulled Elias closer, tucking him against the warmth of his broad, hairy chest, the steady thump of his heart a grounding rhythm. Elias melted into the embrace, the weight of the night lifting as they held each other in the flickering glow.
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