Light

complaininginthedark:

– (after the reunion, JamesThomas appreciation week day 1) –

In the morning, everything is different. There are birds chirping outside, the ceiling is high and wooden, the shuffling of nesting creatures the only other sound besides his breath. James feels tired down to his bones even as his mind is relaxed and calm.

Turning onto his side as his body wakes is hard but worth it for the sight that greets him.

Thomas.

Thomas, his hair golden in the light pouring through the gap in the shutters, flecked with grey that gleams like molten steel. His face is slack in sleep, relaxed, lips parted ever so slightly, and James is powerless to resist the surge of love and grief that fills him.

God, he loves Thomas. With everything he is and everything he will ever be, he loves Thomas. Silently he promises to be the man Thomas deserves, to cast aside his past fears and be better. For Thomas he can do anything, even let go.

He takes Thomas’ hand and brings it to his lips. Thomas stirs, confusion passing over his face as he opens his eyes.

“You’re still here,” he murmurs. “I thought it was a dream. But… you’re here.”

His voice is so small that James almost weeps. Instead he smiles, moving closer to draw Thomas to his breast. “And so are you.”

Thomas laughs under his breath and breathes in. James does the same, smelling the straw and sweat of the room and feeling himself become grounded.

The light played across the now tanned skin of Thomas’ shoulder and James traced his fingers over it, wonder filling him at the way Thomas has changed and how he is still so familiar…

“You’re beautiful,” he whispers. “Like some earthy god come to tempt me from the world…”

Thomas chuckles and kisses his neck. “Am I to be Persephone and you the lord of the dead?”

“Nothing so obvious,” James tilts Thomas’ face up and looks at him, taking in the shift of light over his blue-grey eyes. “But either way, you’re stuck with me now.”

Thomas smiles and kisses him, holding him close and smiling into the kiss. “Good. I’ll hold you to that.”