Work Text:
"Stanley. Is your back hurting or something?"
Stanley snapped to attention as he sat in his office chair.
[What? Why?]
"Well, I noticed that you have a tendency to slouch during my introduction. A lot. I'm aware that slouching can cause muscle pain in the neck and upper back, yes?"
Huh. Stanley had never really considered that before, but now the Narrator had mentioned it, his back really did ache. Like, badly.
He nodded.
"Hmm. Give me just a moment, then, dear…"
[What are you planning?]
“Nothing…” The Narrator practically purred. This should be interesting.
Within a moment, Stanley’s surroundings had changed. Rather than his office, he was met with a television, a sofa, a kitchenette, a small table. The fancy apartment. He heard a door open, then close again. The Narrator’s upper hands were suddenly resting on his shoulders.
Stanley turned around, raising an eyebrow.
[Fancy seeing you here, handsome.]
The Narrator rolled his eyes fondly, chuckling.
"Alright, alright. Let's sit down, hm?"
Stanley moved over to the bedroom and sat on the bed, the Narrator following closely behind.
"Now, dear, would you take off your button-up? You can keep your t-shirt on if it makes you more comfortable."
Curious, Stanley did as he was asked. The Narrator sat behind him and, as the office worker set aside his shirt, placed his upper hands back onto Stanley’s shoulders. He then moved them closer to the man’s neck, pressing his fingers in rolling motions.
Oh, that felt nice.
Stanley sighed, and the Narrator hummed.
"See, I've read somewhere that massages can ease tension. And so, they can ease back pain."
The Narrator paused, and Stanley opened his eyes - which he never even realised had fluttered shut.
"Are you alright with me doing this? I want to help you relax, but you have to want that as well. If not, we can just stay here for a bit, hm?"
[Please do continue. It feels lovely. Thank you, though. For checking.]
"Not at all, my darling."
Stanley shifted so that he was laying down on the bed, face-down and resting his head on his folded arms.
The Narrator resumed, and Stanley felt himself melt. The being's touch was light, yet firm, and he seemed incredibly sure of what he was doing. He reached a particularly achey spot at Stanley’s neck, working at it gently as he heard the man hum and exhale shakily. He smiled.
"Enjoying yourself?"
A soft 'mhm' spurred him on.
As his upper hands kneaded Stanley’s shoulders and near to his neck, his lower hands began to massage the office worker's back. God, this was heavenly. And all this just because Stanley had been slouching? He made a mental note to do that a little more from now on.
The Narrator kept moving his hands at the same pace, moving between lighter and firmer touches. Every now and again, he’d reach a particularly tense spot, and Stanley would hum or groan (the latter noise making the Narrator laugh quietly) as the tension was released.
Stanley could’ve sworn his muscles felt like jelly. He had never - in all his God-only-knew-how-many years of living - felt quite so relaxed. The sensation felt exposing, yet not uncomfortably so, and he could only describe the feeling as pure bliss.
He felt hands work at another sore spot, and groaned lowly. As the ache in his shoulders dissipated, Stanley reached behind him to take one of the Narrator’s hands in his own. The being shifted so that he was knelt over Stanley, legs ghosting the office worker’s hips.
Stanley kissed the Narrator’s open palm again and again, encouraged by the giggle that escaped the being.
Eventually, the Narrator ceased his touching, opting to lean forward and wrap his upper arms under Stanley and around his chest. The two shifted to lay more comfortably on their sides, back to chest. After a few minutes, Stanley wriggled about so that he was facing the Narrator.
[Thank you.]
“Any time, my darling.”
[One of these days, I’ll pay you back for this. Is it even possible for you to get backache?]
“Annoyingly, yes, it is. Either way, that sounds lovely.”
The Narrator kissed the man’s head.
Stanley’s eyes lit up.
“Oho? What are you thinking, my darling protagonist?”
[You know, hot water is nice for easing tension…]
“Another bath? Well, I certainly wouldn’t say no to that…”
[Later?]
“Later. I just want to lay here with you, for now.”
Stanley smiled.
[I can do that, love.]