slipped along the way | Glowfic Constellation

unmarred

He giggles.

first-and-final

"Dwarves don't dream," he feels the need to explain, after a moment. "Well, I dream, but I'm a pretty fucked-up dwarf."

unmarred

"Aha."

Snuggle.

"I like how you're fucked up. Don't kill me for this one, but the bruises are hot."

first-and-final

Stalas pauses in neck rubs.

"...Dare I ask why...?"

unmarred

"Hmm... mostly because I'm imagining myself with them, I think," he says. "But also, it means you hurt all the time. And I don't want you to, I wish it was me and not just because I like pain, but watching you handle it like it's nothing... yeah, I like that."

first-and-final

"...I can kind of see your point," Stalas admits. "I hadn't thought about it that way. It's just life, for me. Things are going to hurt."

unmarred

"Now that's familiar," Mark says wryly.

first-and-final

Stalas rests his hand on the back of Mark's neck and lapses into a thoughtful silence.

unmarred

It's still nice. He doesn't complain about the lack of neck rubs.

first-and-final

"...How much of me quietly thinking to myself is coming across, here?"

unmarred

"Some. You were definitely thinking about me liking pain for a little while there. I'm not telepathic, though, I just have a well-trained intuition for people who are you."

first-and-final

"I... was thinking about that, yes."

unmarred

"Any thoughts you'd like to share?"

first-and-final

"I'm. Curious in ways I'm not sure I actually want to indulge," he says.

unmarred

"Well that sounds promising."

first-and-final

"You are an intensely self-destructive person."

unmarred

"It's been said."

first-and-final

"No, but really," says Stalas. "I kind of want to hurt you but I don't want to hurt you. It's a conundrum."

unmarred

"It's a nice conundrum."

first-and-final

"...I like that I can say things to you and you can tell what I mean," says Stalas. "The benefits are starting to seriously outweigh the drawbacks."

unmarred

"That makes me happy."

first-and-final

"Well, good. I guess."

unmarred

Mark shifts so he can look at Stalas's face.

After a medium-sized silence, he declares cheerfully, "You're thinking about hurting me again."

first-and-final

"I'm wondering... how fragile humans actually are," Stalas admits. "No Stone in you. I'm used to fighting dwarves; I know how to win without killing anybody. I don't know if the same knowledge applies to you... you don't bruise as easily as I do, but that's not saying much. You're probably still easier to injure."

unmarred