How'd he end up right here, Hunt cannot say for certain. When he was settling down to rest, Eli lay on his back and Naib was roughly an arms width away, comfortably curled in his own space. They were close enough then to enjoy the warmth they each generated to battle the way the autumn chill has been nipping at them as of late, but still giving them each an acceptable space to inhabit alone. Now however, Eli finds that distance entirely gone, his left cheek rested on the parasites breast, rising and falling with every deep breath he draws.
Hunt may not see the other at present, Brooke is likely off on a hunt, but perhaps that is for the best. If he were to see his current predicament up close, Eli isn't certain how he could handle it. Especially when the warmth he feels pressed to his cheek and the heart beating somewhere beneath him, make Hunt acutely aware of how his own begins to thrum a few beats faster.
Carefully he feels for his arms to find them in his sleepy haze, mindful not to stir the other too much. One he finds tucked into his own chest and the other rests upon Naib's left arm, his bicep gently cupped in Eli's palm. Still blinking the sleep away, he can't stop the action before his thumb slowly runs over Naib's skin. The muscle is lean, certainly not as prominent as when the other transforms, but it's very present regardless, better defined than Eli's own at least.
It was but a single, innocent brush and still, the gesture leaves him frozen a moment, breathing as steady as he can manage while his thoughts wholly catch up. He does not remember moving closer nor does it seem plausible Naib would have moved him so either, the other seems to be in deep sleep even now and he himself feels well-rested. The only conclusion that makes sense is he'd crawled there in his sleep in search of more warmth, the chill in the air as clear as it is and--
It's then that his vision begins to clear with the familiar call of his feathered companion from somewhere outside. A few blinks are all it takes for the fog to lift entirely, their small haven coming into focus along with Naib whom he's been using as a headrest while he is unaware-- or is he? This entire time Eli couldn't see so there is no telling, but the parasite isn't too subtle in his reactions either. To something like this especially, he figures. Surely his heartbeat would have revealed the other being conscious, too.
Eli's gaze slowly lifts from the tufts of blue on Naib's shoulder, trailing over the expanse of muted blue to where a thick cuff of metal envelopes the other's neck. It looks uncomfortable to sleep in, but Naib must be used to it by now. It still makes Eli look upon it somberly; trying to remove it by themselves could be very risky, but perhaps they could seek help. If the wolf within could allow it.
His thoughts stir with a sudden, faster inhale from Naib, gaze immediately darting the distance from his neck to his face and luckily it seems the wolf is still fast asleep, looking every bit as peaceful as Eli himself feels. Despite how casually he's tucked into the other's side and how they've only shared this proximity in the face of need, the huntsman doesn't feel any uncertainty. It's rather nice to be this close, in all honesty..
With a deep inhale of his own and a mind lulled by the comfort, Eli observes Naib as he carefully inches his hand higher to his shoulder and where the bits of blue fur begin. Ever so gently, his fingers press into the pelt, brushing a little way in to test it. It always surprises him, on the rare occasion he has felt the fur, how soft it can be when Naib has had a chance to care for it. It's often coarse from the elements and daily wear, but now it runs easily in his fingers, the texture present but not unpleasant in the slightest. Perhaps it's too self-indulgent and would send the wolf reeling were he awake to see, but mayhaps the gentle action brings him better dreams. So Eli justifies it at least before the action slows to a halt.
Sleep doesn't even try to haunt him anymore, his heart rate is settled, but thoughts not so much. It must be nearing nightfall and soon they'll rise and head out to seek breakfast. For now, perhaps he can afford a few more moments to rest here before he'll shimmy off the other and let Naib awake unawares. Considering how easily the other's been flustering as of late, this much contact may be a little much to bear and--
Eli can't even finish the thought as another faster breath jostles him. He barely catches how Naib starts to blink above him before Eli is squeezing his own eyes back shut, falling as still as one would in their sleep, fingers still left gently curled into the wolf's warm pelt. Why'd he felt the need to conceal being awake? Was it about sparing Naib the situation or couldn't he look the other in the eye after what he'd just done? Eli can't say for certain nor does he care to think too deeply, at least not while he's being aware of every slight, waking shift in the other.
The first thing Naib becomes aware of is the warmth pressed up against him as he awakes. Through the sleepy haze he doesn’t register the unfamiliarity of the point of contact, not before he blinks the sleep from his eyes and they land on Eli’s sleeping form. Immediately the parasite freezes up, muscles tensing as his eyes dart about in confusion. Had he moved in his sleep? Hunt’s head is resting against his chest so at the very least Naib thinks it safe to assume he hadn’t simply barged into the other’s space unbidden.
Slowly the shock of tension begins to melt from his shoulders, limbs relaxing once more and his gaze settling on Eli’s peaceful expression. He takes note of the fingers gently curled into his fur, but the feeling isn’t unpleasant- Maybe Hunt had simply come closer in search of warmth: Autumn was well on it’s way and the days and nights had gradually begun to turn colder. Naib himself wasn’t bothered by the chill, but perhaps Eli was more honest in his sleep despite claiming he wasn’t cold during their time awake.
Naib knows he could slip out, letting Hunt continue his sleep. It’s true he isn’t cold and if Eli were awake, Parasite definitely couldn't keep his composure as well as he now has been able to calm his thoughts. The small mercy of the huntsman still deep in his slumber however, allows him the time to consider what to do next.
As vehemently as he has avoided human contact ever since falling victim to the curse, he has missed the closeness of another. It would be in vain to try to convince himself, that he would be content with simply anyone who did not mind his company. Naib might never know for certain if his ack of experience in relationships was genuine or if he was only robbed of the memories, but he is not a fool. The parasite isn’t oblivious to the way being in Eli’s company has started to mean more to him, the moments spent apart less a relief and more waiting to cross paths with the other again.
There was no worded agreement made between the two, but Naib is glad for how the shared meals and hunting trips have become the constant rather than the exception. And he is well aware of the racing of his heart and the warm swelling in his chest whenever Eli shows him kindness. He’d thought it impossible for another person to afford him their company and trust again- Delusion or out of simple desperation, Naib can’t bring himself to pull away.
Taking a deep breath, the parasite concentrates on the feeling of the warm hand resting across his chest, the fingers curled into the tufts of navy fur; The dear face of his companion with such serene expression, gently pressed up against his breast- And Naib indulges to his whim, brining his arm up and gently, so very carefully resting his left hand over the huntsman’s hip. The parasite tilts his head to press his nose to the top of Eli’s head -He knows it isn’t the right thing to do- He shouldn’t do something he could not with the other fully awake, but the affection that’s been slowly building up over the years speaks to him louder than the quilty conscience Naib knows will plague him later.
The angle makes moving closer without jostling the other too much a but of a struggle, but softly, Naib presses his lips to the top of Eli’s head. He pulls back slowly, almost reluctantly, but doesn’t remove his hand from where it’s resting over the other’s hip. The night fall isn’t upon them just yet and if Eli was still asleep, it must be alright for him to close his eyes for a short sweet moments longer.
