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Sunlight crept in through the cracks of the blinds, sending strips of yellow across Dylan’s bed, and as he blinked himself awake he couldn’t help but pause to take Daniel in. The morning light fell across his face, gilding his cheekbones and bringing out a gold glint in his sleep-ruffled hair. He looked ethereal, Dylan thought to himself, shifting slightly to rest on his left side to gaze across at his sleeping form. They had gone to sleep with Dylan resting an arm over Danny’s chest, and while they had both moved around during the night, Dylan noted with a slight smile that Danny had wriggled closer to curl against his side, where he lay now.He was warm and the room was still as Dylan watched his lover breathe evenly, so peaceful in sleep. He didn’t fidget, didn’t crack his joints at every opportunity, and the worried expression he always seemed to wear had faded. His eyelashes flickered lightly and Dylan felt a swell of adoration for the man laying beside him. He felt as though his heart were filling with syrup – sweet, delicate, and warm, seeping through his body at the sight of his peaceful lover. Danny had pushed the sheets down to his waist in his sleep, while Dylan’s legs were tangled in with the fabric on his side of the bed. He watched with besotted fascination as Danny stretched in his sleep, extending his arms out in front of him like a cat and letting out a quiet groan with the movement. Dylan felt himself become overwhelmed with utter devotion for this man, this – magician; for he had never believed in magic until he saw Daniel bathed in morning light – he was ethereal, angelic, something divine. On impulse, Dylan shifted his weight up onto his elbow and leaned forward, until he was hovering inches from Danny’s face, breath ghosting his cheek as he looked down at him contemplatively. He had intended to kiss him, but now, so close that he could count the faint freckles scattered across his cheekbones, he hesitated, uncertain. He didn’t have more than a few seconds to deliberate, however, because Danny’s eyelashes fluttered open and he met Dylan’s gaze.“If you won’t do it,” Danny mumbled, voice low and husky from sleep. “I will,” in one motion he pulled up to press his lips to Dylan’s, and raised his left hand to curl behind Dylan’s neck and into his hair. Caught off guard but quietly overjoyed, Dylan smiled into his mouth and pressed him back into the mattress. Danny gasped out a delighted moan and giggled when he felt Dylan shift their weights to easily pull Danny on top of him. Now slightly breathless, Danny sat up in his position on Dylan’s lap, his face turning a faint shade of pink as he took in Dylan beneath him; staring up at him with an expression barely short of reverence.“You woke me up, you know,” Danny stated, yawning. “It’s really important to get eight hours of sleep in order to properly function,” Dylan raised an eyebrow and the man in his lap bit back a smile at his own bullshitting. “You should take this seriously!” He added, “it could impact my performances! As well as-” his ramble was cut off as Dylan squeezed his thighs where they rested on either side of his hips, watching as Danny’s pupils dilated. Sitting up like this, Dylan noted to himself, the sunlight frames his whole body. Highlighting his face and neck, splaying the shadows of his eyelashes across his cheekbones – he almost glowed gold before him.
“What are you looking at?” Danny demanded, though there was no sting to his words.“You’re beautiful.” Dylan answered honestly, refusing to break eye contact as Danny shied away from the compliment, mumbling something about Dylan being old and sentimental. Flopping down gently to lay on Dylan’s chest, Danny continued to grumble as Dylan patted his head apologetically.
“I’m sorry for waking you up,” He murmured sincerely against Danny’s neck.After a moment, “I forgive you.” he could feel Danny smiling as he let the words out. Dylan shifted slightly, running a hand over Danny’s back. “However,” he added seriously, and Danny inclined his head inquisitively. “I must say that I have no concerns about your… performance…” He tilted his head back to huff out a laugh as Danny groaned, rolling off him and shoving his face into Dylan’s shoulder to nip playfully at his neck. Dylan adjusted his position to face Danny, the hand on his back slipping back up into his hair. Dylan felt him relax against him as he ran his fingers through the feathering strands; absolutely enamored by the man before him. Again overcome with affection, Dylan wrapped both arms around Danny and pulled him to hold against his chest, the warmth inside him stirring as the younger man squirmed closer to him, sighing contentedly.“...love you…” Dylan heard low and inarticulately from his arms. Smiling, he hummed curiously.
“Sorry? I didn’t quite catch that,” Danny grumbled for a moment, but it was followed by a soft, this time coherent, “I love you,”.Dylan felt as though he was holding the world in his arms. He could feel the world’s heartbeat, feel the world breathing against his throat – hell, the world had just said ‘I love you’. How could one possibly convey love on such a scale? Exhaling gently, he kissed the top of Danny’s head and angled his head to rest their foreheads together. “I love you too,” he murmured, feeling Danny settle in his arms, still sunlit. Slowly, their breaths evened out, drifting back to sleep, together.