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Hob stood in the shallow end of the beach, letting the waves lap at his ankles. The water was cool, cooler than some might like, but Hob didn't mind. His gaze was riveted towards the setting sun, the wind softly wafting around and making his hair flutter around his face. His hands were deep in his cardigan’s pockets as he observed the horizon. Lost in his contemplation, Hob startled at the feeling of two arms wrapping around his waist, as well as the dent of a chin resting on one of his shoulders. Hob’s hands came to rest above the arms encircling him, squeezing them lightly before settling in this new position. Hob stayed silent, still watching forward, knowing his companion would speak when he was ready and enjoying the weight and warmth of his body in the meantime. The two of them watched the sun set more fully, and it was only when the soft blues left place to the deep indigos that Hob heard his companion speak.
“The sight is gorgeous,” Morpheus whispered in Hob’s ears, his breath tickling the shell of it.
“I’m glad you think so,” Hob said just as softly, tilting his head to observe the other man’s profile.
Morpheus looked relaxed, his face lit by the rising moon and the waning sun, his eyes fixed on the horizon. However, feeling Hob move, Morpheus tilted his head in turn to look towards the immortal man.
“Thank you for bringing me here,” Morpheus thanked him.
“My pleasure, dove,” Hob smiled at his companion.
The past few weeks hadn’t been easy, as the one year anniversary of Morpheus’ humanisation came to pass and while Hob reassured his companion that he was very loved, even in his new found human state, Morpheus’ mind thought differently. After all, Morpheus had spent millenia waddling in self-doubt and hurt. They were only beginning to unravel all of these complicated threads, and a year was definitely not enough for all there was to do. Still, Hob tried to help Morpheus as much as he could, for he loved the man deeply and loathed to see him hurt that much. As such, Hob had decided to take Morpheus on a little trip so that he could not only get some air, but also see new sights. He had brought them to a small coastal village in which he had resided, a few centuries ago, and frequently came back to. Hob knew they wouldn’t be disturbed here and, hopefully, that the sea air would do wonders to Morpheus’ more subdued state. Or at the very least be different from their more metropolitan life.
“I love you,” Morpheus whispered in the wind.
Hob squeezed the man's arms before turning into his embrace, coming face to face with his companion. Hob set his hands delicately onto Morpheus’ shoulders.
“And I, you,” Hob offered in return, a tender expression on his face as he gazed down towards Morpheus’ face.
Morpheus offered Hob a small smile before diving to give him a quick kiss. Hob smiled into the kiss, bringing his companion closer, wholly encircling Morpheus’ shoulders, and elongating the kiss for a few more moments. He then put his forehead to Morpheus’, enjoying their shared embrace.
“I’ll never get enough of this, of you, ” Hob breathed in the space between them.
“I-, Hob,” Morpheus mumbled, his hands squeezing at Hob’s waist.
“You don’t have to say anything,” Hob reassured his companion, one of his hands coming to wrap around Morpheus’ jaw, his thumb caressing the cheekbone.
“My love to you is not conditional to anything, it just is,” Hob added just as tenderly.
Morpheus seemed to open his mouth to reply but closed it, preferring to hug Hob tightly instead, conveying his feelings just as much as words would have. Hob returned Morpheus’ tight embrace fiercely as the night fully settled on the small, nestled, beach they were currently in.
The moon was rising, along with the ocean’s tide, and our couple stayed there, embraced together, the waves lapping at their feet, the soft wind ruffling their clothes, their mutual love filling the air.