"Well, if you're feeling up to it, we can set up the cauldron out here." Ilya nodded towards an untouched patch of grass. "You'd need to carry everything, though. Most of its iron so I can't really help you."
"Is it possible to drag it?" Nathaniel asked. "I'm not sure I can fully support something that heavy at the moment."
Ilya took a moment to think about it. "That'll work! It'll be loud going down the stairs, but it won't hurt anything."
"Alrighty… let's get going, then." Nathaniel went upstairs with Ilya and started dragging the cauldron down.
Ilya followed him, grabbing a few wooden supports from the attic and setting them up outside while Nathaniel dragged out the cauldron. "Set it on these hooks, would you?" Ilya gestured to the metal hooks, careful not to touch them.
Nathaniel managed to get the cauldron downstairs. He struggled to get it on the hooks, his body quaking as he tried, but he got it up eventually.
Ilya reached out to help him but jolted to a stop, remembering the few unlucky times he'd touched iron as a kid. As soon as the cauldron was hung up, he pulled Nathaniel into a hug. "Was that too much? Are you okay?"
Nathaniel was breathing a bit heavier than normal, but he didn't seem to be too bad. "No… n-no, I'm okay."
Ilya brushed some hair out of Nathaniel's eyes, pressing a kiss to his forehead. "Good! Everything's set up out here, so as soon as we get mermaid hair we can start brewing."
Nathaniel nodded and leaned against Ilya. Honestly, he was a bit lightheaded, but he didn't think he'd actually pass out.
Ilya smiled, leading him back inside and plopping down on the bed. "Y'know, I think I've used this bed more times in the last few days than I ever did before you were here."
"I'm a tired boy… I need rest." Nathaniel looked up at Ilya from where he was sitting on the bed.
"Yeah, I figured." Ilya made grabby hands at Nathaniel, wanting to cuddle. "The first time you took a nap, I knew."
"What did you know?" Nathaniel let Ilya pull him close, cuddling with the fairy.
Ilya nuzzled him happily, pressing kisses to whatever was closest. "I knew you were going to sleep all the time."
"I promise I don't normally sleep this much…" Nathaniel's face grew gradually redder as Ilya kissed him.
"I don't mind, really. You're cute when you're sleepy." Ilya leaned up to kiss him on the lips.
Nathaniel blushed harder, but relaxed into the kiss. He closed his eyes, sighing contentedly.
Ilya smiled into the kiss, reaching up to pet his wings carefully. "Why're you blushing so hard, Baby?"
"I-I just blush easy…" Cas gently kissed Irene again.
Ilya laughed with delight, deepening the kiss. "I like it! It lets me know I'm doing a good job."
"Mm…" Nathaniel let Ilya control the kiss, relaxing even more.
Ilya pulled away after a few minutes, tugging on Nathaniel's shirt. "Can I take this off?"
"If you want to, I guess?" Nathaniel seemed a bit confused, but allowed Ilya to remove his shirt anyway.
Ilya ran his hands over the unbandaged part of Nathaniel's chest, smiling appreciatively. "What's got you confused, Honey?"
"Why do you want it?" Nathaniel asked curiously as he looked up at Ilya, his face still quite red.
"I like the way you look and I like being able to touch you." Ilya leaned in to kiss him, running his hands over Nathaniel's shoulders.
Nathaniel's wings quivered a bit and he moved himself closer to Ilya. He had to tilt his head up quite a bit to reach Ilya.
Ilya ran his hands over Nathaniel's wings, pulling him into his lap so the other could reach him more easily.
Nathaniel trembled more when his wings were touched, but he didn't stop kissing Ilya. He wrapped his arms around Ilya's neck.
