Work Text:
“I am very sorry, sirs, but we have only one room left for the night. Take it or leave it.” The innkeeper stares expectantly at them.
Dion glances at Joshua who is shifting from one foot to another next to him. He knows the man is tired, he can see the tightness around his mouth and the slight frown on his brow. They’ll need a place to rest and sharing a room is not a problem. He’s used to all sorts of discomfort when on a battlefield, this will be minor. “We’ll take it.”
Joshua glances at him, startled, but doesn’t say anything. Dion pays for the room and accepts the key. This hunt has paid well enough that they could have afforded better, but it is getting dark and the next town is too far away.
They make their way upstairs to the rooms. Joshua trails behind him, and Dion has to peer over his shoulder to make sure he’s still with him. He needs to get Joshua to rest or Tarja will have his head when they return to the Hideaway. He’s fought great many things in his life but she scares him. He pushes the door open and stops on his tracks. The room is tiny but clean, there's a clothes rack, a small table with a lit oil lamp, a wash basin and a pitcher of water, and there’s only one bed pushed under the window.
Joshua bumps into his back and makes a surprised grunt. “Is something the matter?” He asks and Dion can feel his hands on his back as he seeks to balance himself.
“You can take the bed. I will sleep on the floor,” Dion says and lets Joshua pass him into the room.
There’s awkward shuffling in the small space as they divest themselves of their boots and the top layers of armor. Joshua pulls out a vial of medicine from the pouch Jote shoved at him upon their departure and stares at it with a grimace before uncapping it and drinking the contents with a wince. He sits on the bed, shifting uncomfortably for a moment before he lays down.
Dion rolls up his coat for a pillow and smothers the lamp before he settles on the small carpet next to the bed. It’s not the worst place he’s spent the night on the road, he might not get the best sleep but there’s no risk of being rained on here.
“Good night,” he hopes Joshua will sleep better than him so he’ll be well rested when they continue onwards tomorrow.
“Good night.” Joshua sounds hesitant. Dion can hear him roll on his side on the bed.
Dion stares at the ceiling, willing sleep to come, listening to Joshua’s breathing. It doesn’t slow down to signify he’s fallen asleep. The carpet doesn’t do much to soften the floor, and he knows his muscles will ache in the morning.
“Dion?” Joshua’s voice is low, almost a whisper.
“What is it?” Dion sits up and looks at Joshua. Moonlight is shining on him through the window, the threadbare curtains doing little to block it.
“We can both fit in the bed. There is no need for you to suffer on the floor,” Joshua is looking everywhere but at Dion, a blush dusting his cheeks, visible even in the dim light. He has never struck Dion as someone shy, but right now, he seems like it. He scoots to the side on the bed, leaving room for Dion to join him.
Dion stares at the offered space, and back at Joshua who is still pointedly not looking at him. He isn’t certain if Joshua is truly comfortable with this, even though he’s the one who’s offering, but he doesn’t want to offend either. He scrambles up from the floor.
“If you are certain… Thank you.” The mattress has seen better days, but it’s not as hard as the floor. Joshua offers him half of the worn blanket. The bed is too narrow to make space between the two of them, their shoulders are touching even without trying to fit under the covers. He can feel the tension in Joshua slowly dissipate and his breathing even out as he finally slips to a slumber. Dion turns to look at him, his face slack and lips slightly parted. He’s beautiful, and Dion watches him sleep until he can’t keep his eyes open. He drifts off to sleep with Joshua’s sleeping face burned into his mind.
The hustle and bustle of the morning sounding from the street outside wakes Dion with the sunrise. He’s slept better than in a long time, even though his body feels heavy. He blinks sleep from his eyes, and gasps when he sees he’s weighed down by Joshua Rosfield spread over him like a blanket, his head resting on Dion’s chest. He’s sound asleep, his arm draped over Dion. It feels nice, and for a moment he can indulge in the feelings he’s keeping hidden. But he knows this moment will not last for long.
Dion weighs his options. Either he will try to slip from the grasp without waking Joshua, which is easier said than done, or he’ll just wait for Joshua to wake up. He’s still mulling over what to do when Joshua stirs, wrapping his arm tighter around Dion and snuggling closer to his side.
“Good morning, Joshua,” he greets, resolving to just face the consequences.
“Morning…” Joshua mumbles and rubs his face against his chest until his brain catches up with the situation and he jolts away from Dion. “Oh, I am so sorry, I did not mean to…” The blush is back on his face, this time more out of embarrassment than shyness. Dion finds himself wishing he would have stayed there, resting against him.
“I do not mind,” Dion smiles. “You slept well, I hope?”
“I… Yes, thank you, I did.” Joshua opens and closes his mouth a few times, like there’s more he wants to say.
“There is no hurry to continue on our way, we can rest a while longer if you would like that,” Dion offers, opening his arms for Joshua to settle there. For a moment it looks like he might bolt to his feet, but then he rests his head on Dion’s shoulder.
Maybe in the next inn on their way, they can just ask for a single room.