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"How's your head?" Avery spoke softly, turning his head slightly to get a better look at the knight beside him.
"I'll be alright... How's your arm?" Derek replied swiftly as he returned the gaze.
"I'll be alright." The other mirrored his words with a small smile.
Avery slowly brought his hand to Derek's, letting their fingers interlock.
Derek gently squeezed Avery's hand. He let his eyes close just for a bit, to allow his other senses to feel this moment.
Oh, how he wanted this to last forever. Avery and him in their own home, in their own house they built with so much love.
In their warm room, together.
Derek listened to Avery's breaths. He felt Avery's hand in his own. He could still smell the jasmine tea they had before retreating to the bedroom.
"It started raining." Avery whispered with unmasked glee.
He snuggled closer to Derek, making his knight chuckle softly. Avery wrapped his arms around Derek, leaned on his shoulder and buried his face in Derek's neck.
"Comfy?" Derek asked quietly, even if he already knew the answer. Avery let out an affirming hum.
Derek nuzzled his face into Avery's hair. He took a deep, grounding breath.
It's been an eternity too long since he last felt this safe and loved.
He wondered if Avery shared the sentiment.
"You're so dear to me, Avery. I hope you know how much you mean to me. I hope you know how wonderful you are."
"I sometimes wonder what could someone as perfect as you possibly see in someone like me." Avery laughed lightly, but Derek knew better.
"I wish you could see yourself the way I see you..." Derek spoke. He found Avery's gaze and held it.
"You are the most beautiful person I've ever had the chance to meet and know. You are courageous, kind, brave and determined. You are a strong person, Avery. You have a valiant spirit and an even kinder soul. And I adore that about you. I adore every aspect of your being, Avery."
Derek then took both of Avery's hands in his own.
Avery looked like he was about to cry as he smiled, bug-eyed. He sniffled and a shy smile made its was to his face.
"Derek...Oh, my." His voice trembled slightly and he chuckled weakly.
"It's my turn now...! Gosh, just a moment-"
A few tears made their way down his face and Derek felt his heart tighten. He gently kissed them away, making Avery giggle in the process.
"Hey, that's a diversion! Der!" Derek smiled widely as he kept kissing Avery, a couple of kisses making their way down his neck.
Avery let out a surprised little squeak and Derek's heart skipped a beat.
He looked at the beautiful person in his arms.
And he couldn't believe
"Do you believe how special you are to me, Avery?" He smiled softly, cupping Avery's cheek.
Avery sighed, his cheeks a faint rosy colour.
"Shh, quit distracting me! You're doing this on purpose!" Avery gently booped Derek's nose, eliciting a laugh out of him.
"Let me do my thing now." Avery cleared his throat.
He held Derek's hands in his own, juts like the other did previously.
"Where do I even start? I'm glad I looked for you, Derek. You're so important to me When I finally met you, I didn't want any other moment in my life without you again. You're like a dream. You're so sweet. And you're brave, smart and thoughtful." Avery nodded and his eyes softened.
"But what I love most about you is how careful you are. You notice the smallest things, you care."
"It's hard not to notice when you're so cute." Derek spoke and Avery nudged him.
"Though I have to admit, I love everything about you."
They gushed about each other, trying to beat one another with sweet compliments.
At some point, they started a 'competition' in who would make the other blush quicker.
Avery won almost every time, but Derek had his way of getting back at him.
Kisses helped.
Avery laid his head against Derek's chest. Derek kept his arm wrapped around Avery, his hand resting at the back of Avery's head and his fingers buried in the other's loose hair.
"Hey, Aves?"
"Yeah?"
"I can feel my consciousness slipping."
"You tired too? We should definitely rest then."
Derek hummed in agreement at that. A small moment of silence took over the room, making the atmosphere even more intimate.
"...I love you."
"I love you too. You're really warm…"
Derek chuckled gently at Avery's words as he lazily brought the covers over them.
Avery yawned and closed his eyes.
Derek watched him relax, feeling the soft puffs of his love's breath on his skin.
Avery's heartbeat lulled him to sleep and he finally succumbed to dreamland, letting it take him...