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After tending to Hargitt’s leg, Jakkoa debated as to which course to follow going forward. It was evening already, waning into night, and with Hargitt unconscious but in a volatile physical state, there was little Jakkoa could do without some risk. Despite the fact that the worst of the man’s fever was over — and that he was young, healthy, fit, and as such generally ought to be suited to overcoming physical ailments quickly — his starvation method made Jak particularly concerned, and on periodic occasions still piqued with fleeting anger.

What sort of twisted and malevolent-

But, he reminded himself, it wasn’t much his business beyond the immediate situation. Hargitt’s health and well-being was his business because they were traveling partners, but no matter how offended or how many personal opinions he’d formed based on the slim amount of information he’d been given about the man’s uncle, he was still Hargitt’s family. Not his.

And family matters were private matters. Or, so Jak was taught. So despite his temptation, he resolved not to push—much—and to focus instead on seeing to it that the behavior at least didn’t continue. Whatever deeper complications might lurk beneath the surface would be there to unearth or not as the time came.

In the silence post-completion of his physician’s duties, his mind wandered and drifted, and after deciding that he wasn’t inclined to sleep just yet, he took to reading instead, leaving a small lantern lit to see by. He couldn’t have said how long his eyes skimmed the text—a medical tome with a fortunate emphasis on the medicinal qualities of plant matter rather than use of healing energy. While useful, however, it wasn’t the most lively of materials and he may have dozed off himself—or just begun to—when there was a sudden and abrupt jerk of movement.

Blinking and shaking the blur from his eyes to look up from his book, Jak observed his company.

“Good morning, sunshine.” After a glance over Hargitt’s semi-harried look, combined with the abrupt start to consciousness, he folded a ribbon into his spot and set the book aside. “You’ve missed your chance for daylight, but you should still eat before sleeping for the night.”

Jakkoa blinked, caught off guard for a moment — and then two, and then many — at Hargitt’s more relaxed, genuinely happy look. It wouldn’t have struck him to think it before, but in the moment he wondered if it truly was such an odd thing as it seemed to be, and in the back of his mind the question stirred, weaving in new inquiries about Hargitt’s overarching serious and somberness with the issues regarding his uncle.

Things for a later date.

In this moment, pity though the rareness was, Hargitt was smiling, and didn’t seem at all to be lingering on or clinging to prior arguments or moods as he might have worried. And really, the grin was a good look for him. The warmth that came to his own cheeks surprised him, but his lips curved just the same.

“Of course…you know I-” ‘-didn’t mean to be bossing you on every item of your day, you don’t need my permission.’ Yet, as he eyed the man, he found himself far more readily reminded of the moments just before Hargitt had fallen unconscious than the arguments that preceded it, and the already-present warmth in his cheeks made itself all the more known. “Of course,” he repeated, quieter and with a dip of his head and another smile that hopefully distracted from any uncharacteristic and unasked for signs of — surprise, really, surely that was all.

He rose, taking up the food and lifting the tent flap to exit, and the cool air climbed his skin like a shiver. It was full night, but not a dark one, the stars out in full overhead like glitter on an inky tapestry, and Jakkoa moved to the remains of their fire. Though it had been many hours since it had been fully lit, he was pleased to find the last remains of dying ember buried near the center, and with a little coaxing and light tinder, he soon had a small fire licking up into the brisk air.

It wouldn’t last long without more, but it would suffice perfectly for its purpose.

Jakkoa was still crouched by the fire as Hargitt passed him, pausing at the edge of their camp to draw a full breath, and Jak found his eyes wandering of their own regard, climbing up the back of the man’s frame and really taking him in. Having been traveling with him for quite some time, it wasn’t so much that he no longer appreciated the view, but rather had become accustomed to it—as well as accustomed to the ‘fact’ that it was, no matter how Hargitt’s eyes enjoyed taking him in from time to time, off limits. Their engagement was a ruse and Jakkoa of course knew that, but still enough rebuttals had a way of sinking under the skin. It didn’t help that, gradually, as he had come to know the man, he knew that there was a cooperation between them that wouldn’t be so easily replaced. A familiarity that, whether or not either of them chose to indulge in it any further than partners in travel, was beyond that of anyone Jakkoa had actually slept with.

It didn’t help that he always had found the man incredibly attractive regardless of whether or not he entertained the thought of actually acting further on that interest. Hargitt was a prude, enough so that he wouldn’t have let him even if he was also attracted—which Jakkoa knew that he was.

This evening, though, made it beyond difficult to ignore the unspoken. It was one thing if Hargitt wanted to huff and fuss gruffly, divert his gaze, grow impatient with any night company Jak brought home, and sketch renditions of him in private to ebb an otherwise containable desire so as to ignore it.

It was another thing entirely if he wanted to roll his weight onto Jakkoa and come within minutes or even seconds of toeing the line of their relationship into something else altogether before hastily withdrawing in a feverish daze and refusing to acknowledge it after. Thus, from his crouch and after watching, Jakkoa came to a silent resolution and gave a small smile as he lifted a hand, letting his fingers slip into Hargitt’s offered one as he came to a stand beside him.

“You know,” he said, “if ever the impulse to kiss me comes to you when you are not feverish and delusional, it wouldn’t be an unwelcome gesture.” He let his gaze turn out and up, to the surrounding wilderness and stars overhead. “But of course take as long as you’d like to consider that. Poor form to pressure a patient, and it is a lovely evening that oughtn’t be wasted…”

Hargitt’s hand was rough, and warm. In the length of time he let theirs linger in contact, Jakkoa noted that it was, for whatever reason, a more notable moment than ever he’d noticed before when engaged in nothing more than a clasping of hands. Then he released, and Jak’s gaze lifted.

…it won’t happen again.

The corner of Jakkoa’s lip twitched — amusement, in spite of himself, plucking up the corner of his mouth as his eyes lit with keen interest. “Well, I would certainly hope not, yes,” he admitted. “I do rather prefer it when men are in their right mind, and I should think we might manage keeping you from being bitten by an out-of-place keldari and passing into another feverish slumber only to molest me afterwards. I’d aim in the future for something more…mutually present experience.”

After eyeing the man a moment, Jakkoa’s smile softened and he turned his gaze instead toward the stars. “I know that you’re attracted to me, you don’t need to waste energy denying that. I’m more curious as to why you’re so insistent on pretending it isn’t so. I’ll respect that you don’t want to sleep with me, if you explain to me why.”

Jakkoa listened, and watched. Fortunately, Hargitt was forthright, making immediately clear the core of the problem, and by his commentary’s end, Jak hummed.

“So. You think you’d be like ‘everyone else?’” he asked. “You mention ‘my lovers’ and that you do not want to be a part of ‘it’, my sex life, and explain that you prefer intimacies with someone you love as though these are mutually exclusive approaches to life…do you think the fact that I feel free to bed whom I please when the opportunity presents itself means I have no interest in a more serious relationship? I am choosey, you know…” He pressed an emphasizing fingertip to Hargitt’s chest. “Whether you believe it or not. I don’t believe I’d want to entertain a long term engagement with most anyone I bed, but I enjoy just that portion enough that I don’t see why I should deprive myself of it simply because I hadn’t yet found someone up to my taste as far as something more permanent would be concerned…”

He eyed Hargitt, and then let his hands drop.

“I don’t know what kind of dim, single-minded thought process you imagine goes on in my mind, but I assure you, you are not like ‘everyone else’ I have bedded so I don’t quite see why you would expect to be treated the same. I am free with my lovers when I am free, but if that is your sole concern I’ll inform you now it’s misplaced. If the opportunity for a stable, dependable, attractive, intelligent and committed relationship was before me, I would happily trade the chore of seeking out pure sexual gratification for a combination of that and other emotional fulfillments on a regular basis without the seeking. But, if you need a night to think on it or some time spent courting and celibate for me to win over your faith, I am sure I could oblige you that…”

If you were, then no other would satisfy you…

Jakkoa tisked softly. So far as he was concerned it was entirely possible to have an attitude capable of being satisfied by either, or at the very least with both prospects in mind and open to trying. He simply hadn’t found anyone he’d been interested enough in previously to dedicate the kind of time and dedication a singular relationship would mandate.

Hargitt, however…

“I just told you that if you were interested, that would be reason enough for me to stop and court you…” But ‘time to think’ was promising and Jakkoa knew there was likely little to gain from pushing tonight, so instead of elaborating or challenging Hargitt’s initial presumption, he smiled. “But, for now I think you are right. Some time to rest and think would do us both well. Your body still has healing to do.”

Tomorrow would be another day, and for this night at least, Jakkoa was satisfied with the outcomes.