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esp_dragonv2Fandom: Noblesse
Summary: Muzaka woke up to the smell of a fire.
Notes: So this was my 'Well, my current fic is getting Really Long, so how about I do this short fic so I can do it in one go and just post it!' fic.
A week later, my outline is 900 words and 6 scenes, pfft. Every. Single. Time.
Rating: G
Genre: General
Word count: 2,664
Total word count: 32,103
Status: Work in progress
Muzaka woke up to the smell of a fire. And Frankenstein was gone. He stared up at the ceiling, just orientating himself. They're arrived in the human town a few days ago and he was still getting used to being surrounded by humans, especially in an "inn". The sounds of the forest were one thing at night, but here, everything just seemed louder, everything connected to their room. Every footstep, every clatter, Muzaka could hear.
None of which explained where Frankenstein had gone. And the fire was still going. It was out when they'd gone to bed.
It smelled different from what Muzaka was used to too. Different woods had their own smell, but he already knew what the wood here smelled like. Except...
It was still familiar. Not enough that he could place it straight away, but it was definitely something he'd smelled once before.
He took in a deeper breath as he sat up. Metallic? Like iron. The blacksmiths were similar but-
Muzaka shot out of bed, dashing to the other room. Now he remembered where he'd smelled it before. Only once, and that was-
He caught the journal Frankenstein had tossed towards the fire, the smell so much stronger in this room. There were a couple of journal remains in the heart of the fire, only recognisable by their general shape than because they were made of paper. They weren't anymore. Frankenstein had been doing this for a while already, which was why the burning ink smell had come through to their room.
"Muzaka!" Frankenstein jerked back in surprise. He stared for a heartbeat before reaching for his journal, eyes darting around the room. There was a packed bag next to him. Had he packed it just now and hadn't woken Muzaka up? Was Frankenstein that quiet or had he gotten that used to Frankenstein's presence he wasn't disturbed when he moved around?
Which didn't matter right now.
He held the journal away from Frankenstein's grasping fingers, and away from the fire as well. "What's wrong?" Because the last time Frankenstein had burned his journals... Muzaka looked around. The room was a little messy, probably from Frankenstein's packing, but it didn't look destroyed or rummaged through.
"There's people outside!" Frankenstein hissed, jabbing a finger towards their door. He was tense, ready as if they were about to be attacked.
Muzaka blinked at him, then turned his head in the same direction. "Yeeeah? Those are the other people in the inn?" It should be anyway. Muzaka couldn't sense any fighting auras, and while there was the creak of floorboards happening around them and the low murmur of conversation, none of it was directly outside their room.
He leaned back as Frankenstein tried again to snatch the journal from his hands again.
"They'll be hiding now, clearly, since we're both awake." Frankenstein huffed, still focused on the journal, but not enough to transform. "We're delaying. We need to get rid of all of my journals before anyone else returns."
Okay, last time Muzaka had given his journal back, because it was clear Frankenstein's lab had been attacked, but now... "How about we wait, just to make sure?"
"And if someone does come?"
Frankenstein wasn't sure what he'd seen either. "Then we take them out and we burn them then." Easy solution, especially between the two of them.
"They'll come when we're sleeping," Frankenstein grumbled, eyes still narrowed at the journal Muzaka was holding. "We should burn them now so they can't get anything." He was swaying on his feet, leaning his weight on Muzaka. How much sleep had Frankenstein had tonight? It didn't seem like much.
"We'll take take turns then," Muzaka said, patting his shoulder. He was still tense and Muzaka rubbed there. Frankenstein twitched at the pressure, but as Muzaka continued, he relaxed bit by bit. "You sleep first."
Frankenstein narrowed his eyes at him, lips pursed. His gaze still flickered side to side, like he couldn't focus on Muzaka, which just solidified Muzaka's decision.
"Do you know what to look for?"
Muzaka nodded. "People lingering outside our door, whispers, hearing any mention of our room." He might not have heard that right now, but they'd been tracked enough times already that Muzaka could remember what was suspicious.
"Okay," Frankenstein mumbled. He swayed, but he froze again, head jerking towards the window.
Muzaka turned his attention to it, but he couldn't see or hear anything outside that was unusual. "Frankenstein...?" He rubbed circles over Frankenstein's shoulder, trying to draw Frankenstein's attention away from the window.
"I'll sleep here."
"Yeah, okay," Muzaka said, guiding Frankenstein to the floor. He should have expected Frankenstein would say that, and it was still better than Frankenstein not sleeping at all. And this way, he would know if Frankenstein was still awake and hadn't started a new fire in the bedroom.
Frankenstein took the opportunity to tug the journal out of Muzaka's hand, but instead of tossing it into the fire, Frankenstein just held it close to his chest as he watched the flames. "I should stay up," Frankenstein said. "Then I won't be groggy when we're attacked."
"Or you can sleep and be more rested if I need ta wake you," Muzaka countered.
"Hmmm." Frankenstein didn't say more, still staring at the fire, but he didn't settle, tensing at every sound. Telling him to sleep wouldn't quieten Frankenstein's thoughts, but Muzaka did know how to distract him.
He reached down, running his hand through Frankenstein's hair. Frankenstein stilled at the touch.
"I'm not going to fall asleep," Frankenstein said, making Muzaka smile. He'd heard that a lot before.
Muzaka continued running his fingers through Frankenstein's hair. Once Frankenstein had relaxed a little bit, not as twitchy, he guided Frankenstein closer so he could lay his head on Muzaka's lap.
"Won't sleep." Frankenstein's voice was already quieter.
"Sure," Muzaka said, fingers finding the usual spots where Frankenstein was the tensest, massaging there.
Frankenstein exhaled, curling up on himself, but he also wasn't reacting to the outside sounds as much, breathing starting to match Muzaka's, leaning into his touch.
Muzaka rumbled as he continued, hoping that would cover some of the other sounds as well.
He could see Frankenstein's eyes fluttering, but every once in a while, Frankenstein would inhale sharply, shaking his head, and his eyes would widen again.
"Just concentrate on my hand, Frankenstein," Muzaka murmured, using a bit more pressure.
Frankenstein looked at him from the corner of his eyes. "But..."
"Yer meant to be sleepin'," Muzaka said, moving to focus on Frankenstein's temples, which made Frankenstein squeeze his eyes shut. "Not thinkin' about what can go wrong." It was pretty easy to follow Frankenstein's line of thought, even if Muzaka couldn't understand the exact details.
"But what if..." A deeper, slower breath, Frankenstein not opening his eyes again yet. "What if it does go wrong? Need... Need to prepare..."
"We'll deal with it then." Muzaka slid his fingers towards Frankenstein's forehead. "But you ain't dealing with anything right now staying up."
"Hng..." It wasn't a long grumble, and after a few more breaths, the crease between Frankenstein's brow eased, and his breathing became deep and even.
Good. Muzaka continued massaging Frankenstein. He needed it, and if Muzaka stopped suddenly, Frankenstein might wake up again.
Muzaka listened to the crackle of the fire and he picked up the fireplace poker so he could continue to stoke the fire. Just in case.
* * *
There were still embers of the fire left, the sun starting to peek through the window, when Frankenstein stirred again. There hadn't been any attacks at night, and no-one lingering long enough at their door or window.
Muzaka kept an ear out while Frankenstein woke up. Usually Frankenstein snapped awake all at once, as if he had just closed his eyes, but this time Frankenstein was slow to rouse, showing just how much he needed the rest.
Muzaka kept still not to startle him, letting Frankenstein wake up in his own time.
He saw Frankenstein's hands grip his journal, which hadn't slipped far even while sleeping, Frankenstein's fingers following the edge. When Frankenstein opened his eyes, he stared at the remains of the fire.
"Did I really...?" Frankenstein said, tightening his hold on the journal.
"Yeah. I think it was just the two though." The pile hadn't seemed big enough for more.
Frankenstein sighed before he sat up. "Thank you for humouring my ramblings, and for even keeping the fire going.
Muzaka shrugged. "You mighta seen someone." It was hard to know with the Union.
"I did see someone," Frankenstein said, still running his fingers over the journal, "but if it was anyone involved with the Union is another matter." He pushed himself up with one arm, reaching for the other journals next to him. "Hmm," he said as he flicked through one.
"Hm?" It didn't look like Frankenstein was going to throw it into the fire.
"I suppose I needed a clearout anyway. There's no need to haul journals around with theories I've already disproven." Frankenstein continued going through the journal and Muzaka stayed quiet, letting him think.
"But if the Union were to get their hands on my journals," Frankenstein said, a finger tapping on a filled page with drawings, "it would be better if it were something they couldn't use, if they somehow deciphered my code."
"So no burning then?" Muzaka said, just to make sure.
Frankenstein nodded. "No burning then. For now. They're still easy enough to carry around."
It made Muzaka smile. Even if Frankenstein filled another hundred journals, it would be still be easy to carry himself, let alone if both of them were carrying the journals. "Time for breakfast then, yeah?" Muzaka asked as they got to their feet.
"Hm? Yes, of course." Frankenstein said, in that distracted way that said he was already thinking about something else.
Still, it was better than Frankenstein trying to set everything on fire.
* * *
Frankenstein was getting twitchy again. It had been a couple of days and a few towns over since Frankenstein had burned some of his journals, but Muzaka was starting to recognise the little sharp turns of the head towards something that wasn't there, Frankenstein pausing to look at something deep in the forest.
Maybe if Muzaka could get him to stop focusing on his own thoughts, that could help distract him before the thoughts took over again?
"Spar?" Muzaka said, clapping Frankenstein on the shoulder, leaning in so Frankenstein looked at him.
Frankenstein didn't immediately reply, eyes sliding to the side again. "...You don't hear anything, do you?"
"Birds and the wind," Muzaka said, "but I don't hear any people." He listened again, but the sounds were the same. "The only thing that's been disturbing them is us." There'd been a few times where birds had taken flight, but that had been a distance from them, and the birds had settled again afterwards.
"Hm." Frankenstein turned his head to the right before he closed his eyes, inhaling deeply. "You wanted to spar?"
Muzaka nodded. "Figured I could try distractin' ya before you started burnin' journals again."
Frankenstein grimaced and then opened his eyes, nodding. "That...may be a good idea." He quietened, looking out at the forest. "You really can't hear anything?
"Not unless you've enhanced yer ears again." Frankenstein's hearing was good, but Muzaka still heard more than him.
It made Frankenstein chuckle at least, leaning into Muzaka. "You would have noticed if I had attempted that."
"Hmm, yeah." He'd seen some of the process Frankenstein went through when Frankenstein enhanced himself - and if he'd somehow missed it, Frankenstein would have wanted to test and record changes with him.
"All right," Frankenstein said, sighing. "It would be best if I... Yes. Let's spar.
Muzaka beamed, moving his hand to rest on Frankenstein's other shoulder as they went to find a good sparing area.
* * *
Muzaka wasn't surprised when Frankenstein leaned on him after the spar - it was what they usually did while they recovered. It was when Frankenstein's head bumped into his that made him look over. Frankenstein was asleep, looking far more relaxed than he had before the spar. Thinking a lot did seem to tire Frankenstein out more, even compared to sparring.
Frankenstein had been distracted to start with, but as Muzaka landed more hits, it had focused Frankenstein's attention. He was still distracted even then, but those were a few seconds to look away and then back to Muzaka.
Frankenstein's brow furrowed, making Muzaka huff. Even while sleeping, Frankenstein was thinking too much.
Muzaka moved so he could wrap an arm around Frankenstein's shoulders. It took a bit for Frankenstein to register his presence, before leaning more into Muzaka's shoulder, his brow relaxing again.
Good.
Muzaka listened to the surrounding area and couldn't hear anything that could have been another person trying to sneak into the forest.
After making sure they were alone, Muzaka dozed off as well.
* * *
Muzaka woke up to the smell of fire. Again. The inn they were staying in was smaller than the last one, and Muzaka could see the firelight flickering against the ceiling.
It didn't have the metal smell and when Muzaka sat up, Frankenstein was sitting next to the fire, arms curled around his knees as he stared at the fire's heart. There was a pile of journals next to him, but none in hand. It didn't look as if Frankenstein had packed a bag either.
Muzaka slipped out of bed, but it was still enough that Frankenstein turned his head towards him before he walked over. "Hey."
"Did I wake you?" Frankenstein murmured.
"Nah, don't think so." He sat down next to Frankenstein, and Frankenstein leaned into him with a sigh. Though Muzaka wasn't sure what woke him up. Maybe it was just Frankenstein not being there. "What'cha doin'?"
"I thought I heard someone breaking in."
Muzaka looked around. The door and windows were in one piece, and everything seemed to be in place.
"I thought someone might have tried to only ready my journals, not steal them, but..."
"They were still where you left 'em?"
Frankenstein nodded, only glancing at the journals next to him. "There were no signs they had been disturbed."
"Doesn't look like anyone's been in the room either," Muzaka added.
"Yes."
They were quiet for a while, just listening to the crackle of the flames.
Muzaka turned his head to nuzzle Frankenstein's cheek. "Time to go back to bed?"
Frankenstein didn't answer straight away, and then nodded. "I think so. ...Thank you."
"Hng." Muzaka helped Frankenstein to his feet, and while Frankenstein tidied his journals away again, Muzaka put out the fire.
Once they were done, they climbed back into bed.
Frankenstein didn't drop off instantly, but he wasn't as twitchy or tense either.
Muzaka slid an arm around Frankenstein's stomach as he shuffled closer to bury his face into Frankenstein's neck, rumbling.
He felt Frankenstein relaxed with the touch, Frankenstein covering Muzaka's hand with his own. It didn't take Frankenstein long to drop off and Muzaka listened out for a bit longer before falling asleep himself.
* * *
Muzaka frowned at a pressure on his shoulder, shaking him awake. It wasn't urgent, more of an urgent rocking, and Muzaka squinted one eye open.
Frankenstein was propped up on one elbow, peering at him. Still not looking at urgent and it was dark out.
"No-one sneaking in?" Frankenstein whispered.
There was a patter of rain against the wood and window, but it wasn't hard enough to cover the sound of anyone close by. No squeak of floorboards or hinges. "I don't hear anythin' suspicious. You don't need to burn anythin' right now."
Frankenstein exhaled, laying back down, resting his head on Muzaka's shoulder. "Good. No fire needed."
"No fire needed," Muzaka repeated, already hearing Frankenstein's breathing easing.
Muzaka drifted off again, wrapped up in Frankensten's warmth.
Inspired by this conversation
Summary: Muzaka woke up to the smell of a fire.
Notes: So this was my 'Well, my current fic is getting Really Long, so how about I do this short fic so I can do it in one go and just post it!' fic.
A week later, my outline is 900 words and 6 scenes, pfft. Every. Single. Time.
Rating: G
Genre: General
Word count: 2,664
Total word count: 32,103
Status: Work in progress
Muzaka woke up to the smell of a fire. And Frankenstein was gone. He stared up at the ceiling, just orientating himself. They're arrived in the human town a few days ago and he was still getting used to being surrounded by humans, especially in an "inn". The sounds of the forest were one thing at night, but here, everything just seemed louder, everything connected to their room. Every footstep, every clatter, Muzaka could hear.
None of which explained where Frankenstein had gone. And the fire was still going. It was out when they'd gone to bed.
It smelled different from what Muzaka was used to too. Different woods had their own smell, but he already knew what the wood here smelled like. Except...
It was still familiar. Not enough that he could place it straight away, but it was definitely something he'd smelled once before.
He took in a deeper breath as he sat up. Metallic? Like iron. The blacksmiths were similar but-
Muzaka shot out of bed, dashing to the other room. Now he remembered where he'd smelled it before. Only once, and that was-
He caught the journal Frankenstein had tossed towards the fire, the smell so much stronger in this room. There were a couple of journal remains in the heart of the fire, only recognisable by their general shape than because they were made of paper. They weren't anymore. Frankenstein had been doing this for a while already, which was why the burning ink smell had come through to their room.
"Muzaka!" Frankenstein jerked back in surprise. He stared for a heartbeat before reaching for his journal, eyes darting around the room. There was a packed bag next to him. Had he packed it just now and hadn't woken Muzaka up? Was Frankenstein that quiet or had he gotten that used to Frankenstein's presence he wasn't disturbed when he moved around?
Which didn't matter right now.
He held the journal away from Frankenstein's grasping fingers, and away from the fire as well. "What's wrong?" Because the last time Frankenstein had burned his journals... Muzaka looked around. The room was a little messy, probably from Frankenstein's packing, but it didn't look destroyed or rummaged through.
"There's people outside!" Frankenstein hissed, jabbing a finger towards their door. He was tense, ready as if they were about to be attacked.
Muzaka blinked at him, then turned his head in the same direction. "Yeeeah? Those are the other people in the inn?" It should be anyway. Muzaka couldn't sense any fighting auras, and while there was the creak of floorboards happening around them and the low murmur of conversation, none of it was directly outside their room.
He leaned back as Frankenstein tried again to snatch the journal from his hands again.
"They'll be hiding now, clearly, since we're both awake." Frankenstein huffed, still focused on the journal, but not enough to transform. "We're delaying. We need to get rid of all of my journals before anyone else returns."
Okay, last time Muzaka had given his journal back, because it was clear Frankenstein's lab had been attacked, but now... "How about we wait, just to make sure?"
"And if someone does come?"
Frankenstein wasn't sure what he'd seen either. "Then we take them out and we burn them then." Easy solution, especially between the two of them.
"They'll come when we're sleeping," Frankenstein grumbled, eyes still narrowed at the journal Muzaka was holding. "We should burn them now so they can't get anything." He was swaying on his feet, leaning his weight on Muzaka. How much sleep had Frankenstein had tonight? It didn't seem like much.
"We'll take take turns then," Muzaka said, patting his shoulder. He was still tense and Muzaka rubbed there. Frankenstein twitched at the pressure, but as Muzaka continued, he relaxed bit by bit. "You sleep first."
Frankenstein narrowed his eyes at him, lips pursed. His gaze still flickered side to side, like he couldn't focus on Muzaka, which just solidified Muzaka's decision.
"Do you know what to look for?"
Muzaka nodded. "People lingering outside our door, whispers, hearing any mention of our room." He might not have heard that right now, but they'd been tracked enough times already that Muzaka could remember what was suspicious.
"Okay," Frankenstein mumbled. He swayed, but he froze again, head jerking towards the window.
Muzaka turned his attention to it, but he couldn't see or hear anything outside that was unusual. "Frankenstein...?" He rubbed circles over Frankenstein's shoulder, trying to draw Frankenstein's attention away from the window.
"I'll sleep here."
"Yeah, okay," Muzaka said, guiding Frankenstein to the floor. He should have expected Frankenstein would say that, and it was still better than Frankenstein not sleeping at all. And this way, he would know if Frankenstein was still awake and hadn't started a new fire in the bedroom.
Frankenstein took the opportunity to tug the journal out of Muzaka's hand, but instead of tossing it into the fire, Frankenstein just held it close to his chest as he watched the flames. "I should stay up," Frankenstein said. "Then I won't be groggy when we're attacked."
"Or you can sleep and be more rested if I need ta wake you," Muzaka countered.
"Hmmm." Frankenstein didn't say more, still staring at the fire, but he didn't settle, tensing at every sound. Telling him to sleep wouldn't quieten Frankenstein's thoughts, but Muzaka did know how to distract him.
He reached down, running his hand through Frankenstein's hair. Frankenstein stilled at the touch.
"I'm not going to fall asleep," Frankenstein said, making Muzaka smile. He'd heard that a lot before.
Muzaka continued running his fingers through Frankenstein's hair. Once Frankenstein had relaxed a little bit, not as twitchy, he guided Frankenstein closer so he could lay his head on Muzaka's lap.
"Won't sleep." Frankenstein's voice was already quieter.
"Sure," Muzaka said, fingers finding the usual spots where Frankenstein was the tensest, massaging there.
Frankenstein exhaled, curling up on himself, but he also wasn't reacting to the outside sounds as much, breathing starting to match Muzaka's, leaning into his touch.
Muzaka rumbled as he continued, hoping that would cover some of the other sounds as well.
He could see Frankenstein's eyes fluttering, but every once in a while, Frankenstein would inhale sharply, shaking his head, and his eyes would widen again.
"Just concentrate on my hand, Frankenstein," Muzaka murmured, using a bit more pressure.
Frankenstein looked at him from the corner of his eyes. "But..."
"Yer meant to be sleepin'," Muzaka said, moving to focus on Frankenstein's temples, which made Frankenstein squeeze his eyes shut. "Not thinkin' about what can go wrong." It was pretty easy to follow Frankenstein's line of thought, even if Muzaka couldn't understand the exact details.
"But what if..." A deeper, slower breath, Frankenstein not opening his eyes again yet. "What if it does go wrong? Need... Need to prepare..."
"We'll deal with it then." Muzaka slid his fingers towards Frankenstein's forehead. "But you ain't dealing with anything right now staying up."
"Hng..." It wasn't a long grumble, and after a few more breaths, the crease between Frankenstein's brow eased, and his breathing became deep and even.
Good. Muzaka continued massaging Frankenstein. He needed it, and if Muzaka stopped suddenly, Frankenstein might wake up again.
Muzaka listened to the crackle of the fire and he picked up the fireplace poker so he could continue to stoke the fire. Just in case.
There were still embers of the fire left, the sun starting to peek through the window, when Frankenstein stirred again. There hadn't been any attacks at night, and no-one lingering long enough at their door or window.
Muzaka kept an ear out while Frankenstein woke up. Usually Frankenstein snapped awake all at once, as if he had just closed his eyes, but this time Frankenstein was slow to rouse, showing just how much he needed the rest.
Muzaka kept still not to startle him, letting Frankenstein wake up in his own time.
He saw Frankenstein's hands grip his journal, which hadn't slipped far even while sleeping, Frankenstein's fingers following the edge. When Frankenstein opened his eyes, he stared at the remains of the fire.
"Did I really...?" Frankenstein said, tightening his hold on the journal.
"Yeah. I think it was just the two though." The pile hadn't seemed big enough for more.
Frankenstein sighed before he sat up. "Thank you for humouring my ramblings, and for even keeping the fire going.
Muzaka shrugged. "You mighta seen someone." It was hard to know with the Union.
"I did see someone," Frankenstein said, still running his fingers over the journal, "but if it was anyone involved with the Union is another matter." He pushed himself up with one arm, reaching for the other journals next to him. "Hmm," he said as he flicked through one.
"Hm?" It didn't look like Frankenstein was going to throw it into the fire.
"I suppose I needed a clearout anyway. There's no need to haul journals around with theories I've already disproven." Frankenstein continued going through the journal and Muzaka stayed quiet, letting him think.
"But if the Union were to get their hands on my journals," Frankenstein said, a finger tapping on a filled page with drawings, "it would be better if it were something they couldn't use, if they somehow deciphered my code."
"So no burning then?" Muzaka said, just to make sure.
Frankenstein nodded. "No burning then. For now. They're still easy enough to carry around."
It made Muzaka smile. Even if Frankenstein filled another hundred journals, it would be still be easy to carry himself, let alone if both of them were carrying the journals. "Time for breakfast then, yeah?" Muzaka asked as they got to their feet.
"Hm? Yes, of course." Frankenstein said, in that distracted way that said he was already thinking about something else.
Still, it was better than Frankenstein trying to set everything on fire.
Frankenstein was getting twitchy again. It had been a couple of days and a few towns over since Frankenstein had burned some of his journals, but Muzaka was starting to recognise the little sharp turns of the head towards something that wasn't there, Frankenstein pausing to look at something deep in the forest.
Maybe if Muzaka could get him to stop focusing on his own thoughts, that could help distract him before the thoughts took over again?
"Spar?" Muzaka said, clapping Frankenstein on the shoulder, leaning in so Frankenstein looked at him.
Frankenstein didn't immediately reply, eyes sliding to the side again. "...You don't hear anything, do you?"
"Birds and the wind," Muzaka said, "but I don't hear any people." He listened again, but the sounds were the same. "The only thing that's been disturbing them is us." There'd been a few times where birds had taken flight, but that had been a distance from them, and the birds had settled again afterwards.
"Hm." Frankenstein turned his head to the right before he closed his eyes, inhaling deeply. "You wanted to spar?"
Muzaka nodded. "Figured I could try distractin' ya before you started burnin' journals again."
Frankenstein grimaced and then opened his eyes, nodding. "That...may be a good idea." He quietened, looking out at the forest. "You really can't hear anything?
"Not unless you've enhanced yer ears again." Frankenstein's hearing was good, but Muzaka still heard more than him.
It made Frankenstein chuckle at least, leaning into Muzaka. "You would have noticed if I had attempted that."
"Hmm, yeah." He'd seen some of the process Frankenstein went through when Frankenstein enhanced himself - and if he'd somehow missed it, Frankenstein would have wanted to test and record changes with him.
"All right," Frankenstein said, sighing. "It would be best if I... Yes. Let's spar.
Muzaka beamed, moving his hand to rest on Frankenstein's other shoulder as they went to find a good sparing area.
Muzaka wasn't surprised when Frankenstein leaned on him after the spar - it was what they usually did while they recovered. It was when Frankenstein's head bumped into his that made him look over. Frankenstein was asleep, looking far more relaxed than he had before the spar. Thinking a lot did seem to tire Frankenstein out more, even compared to sparring.
Frankenstein had been distracted to start with, but as Muzaka landed more hits, it had focused Frankenstein's attention. He was still distracted even then, but those were a few seconds to look away and then back to Muzaka.
Frankenstein's brow furrowed, making Muzaka huff. Even while sleeping, Frankenstein was thinking too much.
Muzaka moved so he could wrap an arm around Frankenstein's shoulders. It took a bit for Frankenstein to register his presence, before leaning more into Muzaka's shoulder, his brow relaxing again.
Good.
Muzaka listened to the surrounding area and couldn't hear anything that could have been another person trying to sneak into the forest.
After making sure they were alone, Muzaka dozed off as well.
Muzaka woke up to the smell of fire. Again. The inn they were staying in was smaller than the last one, and Muzaka could see the firelight flickering against the ceiling.
It didn't have the metal smell and when Muzaka sat up, Frankenstein was sitting next to the fire, arms curled around his knees as he stared at the fire's heart. There was a pile of journals next to him, but none in hand. It didn't look as if Frankenstein had packed a bag either.
Muzaka slipped out of bed, but it was still enough that Frankenstein turned his head towards him before he walked over. "Hey."
"Did I wake you?" Frankenstein murmured.
"Nah, don't think so." He sat down next to Frankenstein, and Frankenstein leaned into him with a sigh. Though Muzaka wasn't sure what woke him up. Maybe it was just Frankenstein not being there. "What'cha doin'?"
"I thought I heard someone breaking in."
Muzaka looked around. The door and windows were in one piece, and everything seemed to be in place.
"I thought someone might have tried to only ready my journals, not steal them, but..."
"They were still where you left 'em?"
Frankenstein nodded, only glancing at the journals next to him. "There were no signs they had been disturbed."
"Doesn't look like anyone's been in the room either," Muzaka added.
"Yes."
They were quiet for a while, just listening to the crackle of the flames.
Muzaka turned his head to nuzzle Frankenstein's cheek. "Time to go back to bed?"
Frankenstein didn't answer straight away, and then nodded. "I think so. ...Thank you."
"Hng." Muzaka helped Frankenstein to his feet, and while Frankenstein tidied his journals away again, Muzaka put out the fire.
Once they were done, they climbed back into bed.
Frankenstein didn't drop off instantly, but he wasn't as twitchy or tense either.
Muzaka slid an arm around Frankenstein's stomach as he shuffled closer to bury his face into Frankenstein's neck, rumbling.
He felt Frankenstein relaxed with the touch, Frankenstein covering Muzaka's hand with his own. It didn't take Frankenstein long to drop off and Muzaka listened out for a bit longer before falling asleep himself.
Muzaka frowned at a pressure on his shoulder, shaking him awake. It wasn't urgent, more of an urgent rocking, and Muzaka squinted one eye open.
Frankenstein was propped up on one elbow, peering at him. Still not looking at urgent and it was dark out.
"No-one sneaking in?" Frankenstein whispered.
There was a patter of rain against the wood and window, but it wasn't hard enough to cover the sound of anyone close by. No squeak of floorboards or hinges. "I don't hear anythin' suspicious. You don't need to burn anythin' right now."
Frankenstein exhaled, laying back down, resting his head on Muzaka's shoulder. "Good. No fire needed."
"No fire needed," Muzaka repeated, already hearing Frankenstein's breathing easing.
Muzaka drifted off again, wrapped up in Frankensten's warmth.
Inspired by this conversation