♡:Accidentally falling asleep together
It was the first time that William had allowed Dantalion into his room past curfew, or for an extended period time at all. It had started simply enough; an evening study session in preparation for mid-year exams. Isaac had been invited as well, and the three of them stayed until the bell rung time for lights out. William, being the prodigy he was known for, steadfastly refused to call it an evening when Isaac took the hour as an excuse to turn in. That left he and Dantalion, whom for all intents and purpose had no real reason to study, but stayed for William’s sake. The duke expected to be thrown out with the underclassman, yet William made no such motions, only further burying himself into the text he was reading through for the fourth time that night.
Dantalion sat quietly for a moment, worried that any interruption to the silence would have him ejected from the boy’s quarters. But when the offer of quizzing the boy was presented, William seemed less inclined to throw him to the hall.
So the two sat in their bedclothes, worn books and scribbled notes spread around them, forming a sort of nest around the pair. The questions ranged from studies of science to current affairs to literature and back again. William, keen as usual, only had to refer to his notes every now and again. Yet seeing him ruffle through dog-eared pages and hastily written lecture notes was somewhat satisfying to the demonic duke, knowing that the boy did not know everything. He didn’t tease, just reveled in the fact that the boy’s knowledge was ever growing, expanding as the universe was.
As the night grew long, Dantalion would switch between the Queen’s English and Latin, just to make sure William was alert. It seemed that even without Dantalion’s presence, the boy was determined to get as much studying in as possible. He would blame it on the Demons’ presence, all the commotion cutting into his studies. Dantalion would take the criticism if it meant more opportunities like this; being alone with William, showering him with praising and helping him further himself. It was nothing like before… With Solomon, the man was always cryptic, ten steps ahead of the game while Dantalion was still figuring the rules for combat. With William, however, he was still growing, learning, and perhaps in this way Dantalion could have a chance to…
Dantalion was in the middle of sifting through notes for another mathematics question when he heard the tell-tale thud of a head softly hitting the wall. The duke looked up from his notes to find William asleep, book still in hand with a page half-turned in the other. Dantalion fought to withhold a snicker at the sight, the boy so undone in his attempt to hold his position at the top of the class.
Carefully, the duke scooped the sleeping student into his arms, setting him rightly among the sheets of his bed. Dantalion spent a moment simply watching, admiring the boy’s features as he rested. Calm and complacent, unlike the stern look of reproach the boy always seemed to have when others were present. He found himself longing to see that expression more, perhaps when William knew he was present.
The papers and books were shuffled away, piled haphazardly on the desk in such a way that William was sure to scold him. The lights were extinguished, leaving the two in the darkness of the small dormitory, with only the light of the moon to distinguish bed from bedmate.
Dantalion thought to leave and return to his own quarters, let the boy have his rest unabated. But… No, Dantalion could not just let well enough alone. That, and if he were to exit the room at this hour, he would surely be caught.
Instead, Dantalion latched the door and crawled into bed beside his companion, pulling the sheets over the both of them. The smile remained as Dantalion watched the boy’s slightly parted lips, the slow rise and fall of his chest, the contours of his face outlined in the moonlight.
He would remember the image always, past the time that this version of his beloved was gone, if only for the brief peace it brought him. With that, he allowed his eyes to close for a night’s rest.
William was sure to reprimand him in the morning for invading his space, but something told him it’d be worth it in the end.