An unspeakable exhaustion that sleeping could never quench overcomes him as the Ainu freely embraces Ganondorf from behind, burying his face into his fiery mane.
It’s late, far too late for him to be awake, but sleep was never something that ever came easily to the king. Often, he spent nights sitting hunched over a heavy book, or scratching down any and all thoughts that crossed his mind on a piece of parchment in candlelight. Maybe it was a way to avoid what he sees when he closes his eyes at night, blood-soaked sands and the flash of swords, spears, daggers. Too many times has he awoken in a cold sweat with sounds of screams ( the screams of his people ) ringing in his ears.
The bed creaks, sinks beneath his heavy weight as he settles back down on the edge. Ganondorf still isn’t sure if he could sleep now, despite having gone through nearly half of a thick novel in the span of a few hours, despite exhaustion tugging at his eyelids and making his eyes burn. He heaves a sigh, prepared to lie heavily on his side and hope that sleep comes to him, but a familiar presence makes itself known behind him.
Sauron has been there the whole time, of course, he was well aware of how he had been watching him from the shadows on the other side of the bed. Were it anyone else, Ganondorf would have nearly twisted their arm right from their socket for daring to lay a hand on him. With Sauron, he allows the Ainu to press close to his broad back, wind his arms around his waist and fold his hands in front of his abdomen. He’s warm, he’s always warm, as if a fire burns beneath his skin.
The fingers of one large hand brush over one thin wrist, then practically envelope the two hands clasped in front of him. He allows Sauron to sink into his hair, nuzzle into it as if it were some sort of wild pillow. Then he brings a hand to his lips, presses a kiss to his knuckles almost reverently. Such tenderness only allowed for one being.
“We should rest,” he suggests in a voice so gentle it clashes with his usual rough tone, almost startlingly so. “But I’d need you to move.”
He shifts then, brings his legs up onto the bed and twists at the waist, an arm winding around Sauron’s smaller frame and managing to pull him into his lap and gather him close to his chest. Ganondorf holds him as if he were something delicate, even though he is anything but. Fingers card through inky hair, and he lies back, eyes focusing on the high ceiling.
“Sleep continues to evade me,” he states, voice quiet. “Perhaps your presence will make it come easier. Stay with me like this.”