Otter Creek I'll [m]ake your timber shiver

Heat touched his face beneath the layers of fur, eyes widening slightly at his implications. How he was to verbally respond to such a statement, he did not know, for many things were proving to be a first for him. Never had his mind been clouded by any emotions other than anger, and yet, so many that he could not even name seemed to come into play just by being around the other. It was not love—they'd only just met, and the fact that they knew next to nothing about one another prevented such a strong bond from coming to light—that much he was certain of, but it was something. Subconsciously, he sought guidance from the more experienced boy, someone that could teach him of things he'd never be ballsy enough to ask any other living soul about. But even as he'd observed him, seeking some sort of clue on what he should say next, he'd been unable to form a response.

Thankfully for him, the topic was changed, however the new question had resulted in his brows furrowing. "Does it matter?" he'd answered, using a question of his own rather than sharing whatever he'd originally planned. "Wouldn't I be enough? Would you really want everyone to know that you're there?" To someone who'd spent a good portion of his life avoiding others, the idea of being hidden away didn't seem like a bad one. Both would be kept safe that way, as far as Xan was concerned. He would not admit to being afraid, to worrying over what others might think or say, for doing so would only show weakness. He could not display such lowly behavior, he had to keep on a brave face, even if beneath the mask there stood a trembling child. And, perhaps, the longer he'd stared down at the other male, the more visible said side of him became.

"Just–" he'd cut himself off, a huff slipping by in the place of actual words. He'd lowered himself back down then, lessening the space between their bodies until his chest had once against found a place to rest comfortably against Adonis'. "Just come with me. I don't know anything about... this," he'd began again, brows knitting together. "Teach me. Tell me everything I need to know, and then maybe... you... we won't have to be hidden." Xan had stumbled through his words, not knowing what he was saying until the words had already been shared. The war had ended, and he'd found his desires to have prevailed over the thought of leaving.