Wreaths and Laurels

Takayuki wakes up at the crack of a pale blue dawn and flips the sleeping figure nuzzled up on his chest over to face him, admiring the exquisite contours of his sculpted profile. He spends his mornings in this lazy relaxed way on a daily basis, just drinking in his beauty til his cup overflows. 20, 21, 22, 23… Minori covers his face. “You’re awake? Come on, let me finish counting them.” He turns the other way, amplifying the Alpha's persistence in having him remove his hands to resume his count.

Minori groans and gets out of the bed, cooling his side of the firm mattress. He heads over to the bathroom down the hall and stares at his reflection. He doesn’t notice Takayuki enter until he hugs him from behind and rests his head on his shoulder as he is wont to do on a normal occasion, staring hard at him through the mirror on the wall. 24, 25, 26, 27… The hands hide his insecurity again.

“I can never finish,” he weaves his fingers with Minori’s to lower his defenses, “Do you hate being