For the prompt game, if you're still doing it: Sethlen + "Macarons" because Sethy likes small, colourful desserts. :P
“Slowly…” Varlen breathed, utterly still, his voice unwavering and as focused as his gaze. Brow furrowed, he focused on his breathing. On keeping it calm. Slow. Flat. He had to maintain composure. If he didn’t… well, he didn’t want to think about that.
“Are you sure, kadan?” Seth’s voice was laced with nervousness. If his hands were free, he would have likely wrung them, given the fact that they were alone together and no one else would see. Varlen almost nodded, but stopped himself as Seth’s breath caught in his throat; a brief moment of pure terror.
“Yes. Sure.” the words leaked between his clenched teeth like air from a balloon. Gently. Carefully. This was not amateur hour. They were professionals. This was important.
Sethras reached up, his large arms not shaking even the slightest bit. The steadiest hands in Thedas; Varlen could attest to that. That’s why he was the one doing the delicate work, and Varlen was simply the model. The slow breathing, perfectly frozen model. It was teamwork at its finest.
“Is it…?”
Sethras’s brow dipped for a moment, his pink tongue just poking past his lips as he concentrated with all the force of a thousand chess players, staring at a single board, trying to out-think all their opponents simultaneously. Then, his face cracked into a rare grin, and he sat back, lowering his arms. Smug. Satisfied. Varlen also grinned, his white teeth flashing.
“How many this time?!”
“Eight!”
“Eight?!— w-whoahhhh…!” In his excitement, Varlen nearly moved too much. He caught himself just in time, as Seth’s golden eyes widened slightly, then relaxed again. “Don’t worry vhenan, I’ve got it!”
Seth chuckled warmly, his expression softening. “Yes. Good.”
For a moment, they were both silent. Just appreciating their handiwork. Seth inhaled deeply, then let out the breath calmly. Varlen fought the desire to fidget.
“… What now?” Seth asked finally, also clearly confused about what to do once victory had been achieved. Varlen frowned. That was a good question.
“You can try to eat them?”
“How?” Seth’s gaze drifted upwards a little. “They fall.”
“Try to not make them fall!”
“Too hard.”
“No it’s…” Varlen’s voice wavered. His eyes were… watering. There was a strange sensation at the back of his nose; a tightness. A tingling.
Oh no.
“S-Seth….” Varlen managed, his voice sounding thick. Foggy. NO NO NO NO! NOT NOW!
“Kadan?” concern laced Seth’s voice but Varlen couldn’t move! Not without…! But the pressure was building. Mounting. Too much to ignore. He couldn’t will it away! It was… it was…
Suddenly, Varlen sneezed, and all around him rained eight rainbow coloured macarons. They landed on the sheets. On the floor. A pink one landed between Varlen’s crossed legs, hiding in the hollow.
“FENEDHIS!” Varlen cried, wiping his nose angrily with the back of his hand, eyes still bleary from trying and failing to fend off the traitorous sneeze. “THAT’S SO UNFAIR!”
“It’s okay.” Seth tried to calm Varlen down, but the elven man was livid. He folded his arms, jutting out his lower lip. It was, all in all, a rather petulant display of disappointment, coming from a man in his early twenties.
“No, it isn’t! You love these! Now most of them are dirty, or smooshed.” Varlen sighed, gazing up at Seth apologetically. He was surprised to see a glimmer of amusement in the Vashoth’s golden eyes. They flicked down, pointedly, before back up to meet Varlen’s gaze.
“Not all, kadan…”
At first, Varlen frowned, confused. Then, he yelped in surprise as Seth leaned down, placing his head between Varlen’s crossed legs. He stayed down there for a moment, and Varlen’s amused giggles became a touch more breathy. Then, Seth emerged, a pink macaroon clutched victoriously between his teeth. Varlen applauded grandiosely, a look of approval on his slightly flushed face.
“Well done! Great job, Sethy!”
Seth, biting the macaroon in half and taking the remainder in his fingertips, brought it gently to Varlen’s mouth, brushing it across the elf’s lower lip.
“Not done yet.”
Varlen smiled, and snatched the desert from Seth’s teasing fingertips, swallowing it swiftly, his lips curling into a mischievous smile.
“Good.”