An Intimate World

When Cael finished washing and got dressed, he stepped out of the bathroom to find the living room dark. The only light was a dim, flickering one that glowed from beneath the bedroom door.

That likely meant Val was in there, but just to be sure, he knocked softly on her door.

“Val? I’m done. You can wash now.”

A muffled response came through the wood. “...Okay. I’m going now.”

“Alright.” He turned toward the couch, ready to settle in for the night—but froze mid-step when he heard the door open.

From the corner of his eye, he saw Val pop outside wearing... nothing.

His entire body went rigid.

Nope. Not looking. Not acknowledging. Not dealing with this.

He immediately made a beeline for the couch before flopping onto it with a dramatic sigh.

Right. She’d done this on the first day too, hadn’t she? He had to be very careful around her.

A soft, puzzled noise came from behind him, followed by the bathroom door shutting. When he heard the water start running, he let out a long, shaky breath.

"God give me strength," he muttered, pressing his face into the couch cushions. His heart was still hammering. It wasn’t like he hadn’t seen a woman before—he was basically an adult, for goodness' sake—but still…

The next half hour crawled by at a painfully slow pace as he chased Val's image away from his mind. He tossed and turned, trying to find a comfortable position, but the couch wasn’t exactly sleep-friendly, and his mind refused to quiet down.

Then, the bathroom door creaked open, and soft footsteps padded toward him.

Cael shut his eyes, feigning sleep. Maybe if he stayed still, she’d leave him alone.

That hope shattered the moment he felt warmth press against his back—then arms wrapping around his waist.

His eyes snapped wide open.

“Cael,” Val murmured, her voice right next to his ear. “The couch is not good to sleep on. A bed is better.”

He gulped. “I know. But there’s no bed for me. That’s why I use the couch.”

"…I have a bed."

"Yes, and you need to sleep in it."

“But… two can use my bed,” she said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “I tried to tell you the first night, but you slept here instead.” There was a hint of accusation in her tone.

"Val, I'm not sleeping in your bed."

"Why? Do you not trust me? I won’t do anything to you. I promise."

Cael turned over in disbelief—only to find her face mere centimeters from his.

Her golden eyes gleamed in the moonlight, unblinking, entirely serious.

“Val,” he said slowly, “do you understand what you’re saying?”

"Yes, of course," she answered matter-of-factly. "Why wouldn’t I? We can both sleep in the bed. It will be warm and comfy. And you won’t have to sleep here anymore. It’s a good idea."

"It's not a good idea."

Her face dropped, and she pouted at him like a wounded puppy. "Why not? I don't understand. Do you not trust me still?"

"N-no! Val, I trust you, but… two people sleeping in a bed means something in my world." He stumbled over his words, trying to phrase it delicately.

"What does it mean?" Her brow furrowed as she tilted her head.

"It means… that they're… together? Close? Um, 'intimate'?" He tried his best to convey the meaning of the words he couldn't directly translate.

"…We are not close?"

Her voice sounded small, hurt even, and her grip on him lightened slightly.

"No, no, we are close! Just… not 'intimate,'" he quickly clarified. "And before you ask, 'intimate’ means when two people are, um, very close. Together. Like parents.”

Parents. Right. He prayed she wouldn’t ask him to explain further. He might actually die of embarrassment.

Val bit her lip, looking deep in thought. After a while, she nodded. "I think I understand."

Cael exhaled in relief. "Thank goodness you—"

"Then, let's be 'intimate'."

"…"

Caelum's heart stopped, and his brain short-circuited.

"…What?"

"Cael, I don't mind being… intimate with you."

His chest immediately seized up again, and he felt blood rushing everywhere all at once. He was suddenly even more aware of how close she was.

"Val, please do not say things that you don't understand."

"But I do understand, Cael. I do." She leaned in, resting her forehead against his. Her breath was hot against his cheek as she repeated it. "I don’t mind being intimate with you."

"Val…" he was trying to keep his voice steady. She was so close. Too close. He couldn't think straight.

Her lips brushed against his jawline as she spoke. "Cael saved me. Cael protected me. Cael cares for me. Cael is kind to me. Cael made me not lonely."

With each word, he felt his resolve crumbling. But he had to be strong. They were still worlds apart. They barely spoke the same language. And no matter how sure she sounded, she likely didn’t understand the full implications of what she was saying.

"Val, we're still learning about each other," he said slowly. His breathing was getting more rapid, and his pulse was racing now.

"Yes," she murmured, her hands sliding under his shirt. "We are."

"We've barely known each other for a week."

"Does that matter?"

"Val, we are practically strangers," he said.

"Not strangers." Her hand pressed against his chest, right above his pounding heart. "We are… companions. And I like you."

"…" Cael's eyes widened, and his throat went dry. He opened and closed his mouth several times, trying to find something, anything to say. But all that came out was a weak, strangled sound.

"I like you," she repeated, watching him struggle. "You are kind. You are smart. You are strong. And you are warm. You are nice. I like being near you. I don’t want to leave you, and I was happy when you said you would stay."

"A-are you really certain of that? You know, I could be a bad person—"

"Cael, I am not stupid." Her voice hardened. "My parents told me stories of bad people. They taught me how not to be one. You are not a bad person." Her eyes narrowed. "You are a liar sometimes. But you are not a thief. You are not a bully. You are not cruel. And you are not bad. So please… don't say that."

"…I'm sorry."

Her expression softened. She leaned back slightly but pulled him with her. "Don’t be. Now, can we sleep together in a bed? I am tired."

He hesitated before letting out a defeated sigh. He knew that even if he did somehow manage to explain to her why he still had reservations, she likely wouldn't understand, nor would she concede.

"Alright, Val, you win."

"Good." A satisfied smile crossed her features, and she hugged him tightly. "If you said no again, I would remind you what you said earlier. Before we ate." Her eyes twinkled mischievously.

"What did I say?" he asked, trying to remember.

"Um, let me see…" She tapped her chin thoughtfully before grinning. "You said: ‘We can do anything you want after.’"

"…"

He had said that, hadn’t he? Well. Not like it mattered anymore. He had already lost.

Val beamed, hopping to her feet and offering her hand. "Now then, let’s go."

He took it, her warmth seeping into his fingers, and stood. "Lead the way," he said, resigning himself to his fate with a faint smile of his own.

The two walked down the hall, and the floorboards creaked softly beneath their feet. The door to the bedroom was still ajar from her earlier exit.

Inside, the only light came from a dim magical glow on the bedside table. Val guided him toward one side before plopping down onto the other. The mattress sank as he lay beside her.

"See? This is better than the couch, right?" she murmured in his ear, snuggling closer to him.

He didn't respond. Instead, he closed his eyes and turned on his side away from her, trying to will away the rapid heartbeat in his chest.

It wasn't working.

"Good night, Cael." She sleepily wrapped her arm around his waist, pulling herself against him.

"…Good night, Val," he finally replied, ignoring any improper thoughts to the best of his ability as he forced his eyes closed.

This was just sleeping, nothing more. Val probably just saw him as a human pillow or a stuffed animal of sorts.

He internally nodded to himself, agreeing with his own totally sound logic.

Right. There was no need to make a big deal out of this. It was just… cuddling. Yes, that was all it was. Two friends cuddling together for the night.

"…"

Ugh.

It would've been more convincing if he actually believed it, but, well, he had always been a terrible liar.