Damian gave the shirt a single look- it was white and worn thin from use and looked softer than anything he'd ever owned- before he pushed it away and decided he'd just make do with the pants. He changed into them quickly, fumbling on the couch as he struggled to retain some sliver of modesty. "Um… I'm done. Thank you."
juniper had been averting his eyes, but looked over with a light smile still remaining. "no problem." he smoothed out his own shirt, purely from habit of wearing button ups all the time, and approached the couch to stand in front of damian. he was wearing a black muscle shirt, and charcoal gray shorts that showed the scars of the aforementioned ceramic plates.
"what's our sleeping position here? i figured i'd harass you into taking the bed and i'd sleep on the couch, unless you want to do something else that doesn't involve you anywhere that's not good for your back."
Damian found his attention drawn to several things at once, head a mish mash of how good Juniper looked in a muscle shirt and how bad he wanted to run his hands over those scars and how totally fucked he would be if he acted on anything he wanted to do other than pat the couch cushions beside him and convince Juniper to sit down again. "I think that ship sailed a while ago, Juniper. I'm gonna hurt no matter where I sleep, so I'd rather stay out here and let you take your bed."
"that's a fair point. we could also both take my bed, if that floats your boat." he sat down next to damian, but was careful not to get too comfortable so he could move to his bedroom if damian decided to.
Damian took a moment to consider before he nodded, slowly pushing himself to his feet. The wounds on his back prickled angrily, but none of them split open again so he didn't show the pain anywhere except his eyes. "I think it does. Can you help me over to your room?"
((their house is one story, i'll get an example for you when i get home))
"yeah, c'mere." he stood up as well, taking damian by the hand to throw his arm around his shoulders, and wrapped a loose arm around his waist.
"i would offer to carry you, but it's a short distance." he slowly and carefully walked damian the few feet to his door.
(oof, thanks)
Damian leaned on him heavily, steps slow and shuffling to keep the pressure off his back. He laughed at Juniper's not quite offer. "I think that's probably for the best babe. You'd just tear me open again if you tried to scoop me up." He leaned forward to open the door for them both.
juniper nodded his thanks, and shuffled forward to let damian down onto his bed. he let him down slowly and carefully, eventually standing back up after it was done.
"you good?"
Damian clung to Juniper as he was set down, letting go once he was splayed comfortably on the bed. It took him a few seconds to get comfortable but eventually, he was propped up on his left side, half covered by the sheet. "Yeah. Come lay with me?"
"of course."
juniper sat down on the edge of the bed and carefully laid out, pulling the sheet and comforter up over both of them once he had laid down, and opening his arms for damian to get closer.
Damian did so happily, curling up against Juniper's chest as fast as he possibly could. His arms found their home around his neck, hands fisted into the fabric of his shirt. It was warm here. Quiet. Safe. He'd never really understood why people liked this when he was younger, but he did now. "You can hold me a little tighter," he murmured. "I'm not gonna break."
"you keep saying that, mi amor. i'm rather inclined to give a sassy response. i'll hold back, though." juniper retorted, lips brushing against damian's neck. he did hold him closer though, pulling his arms to firmly encircle damian's waist below the bandages.
Damian rolled his eyes, letting out a soft gasp at the feeling of lips on his neck. He blushed slightly at the reaction and wiggled closer to Juniper's chest so he could hide his face. He pressed his smile into the skin of his collarbone when he was held tighter. "I'm glad, I'd just be devastated if you hit me with one of those snappy one-liners."
"mmhmm."
juni's voice had dropped a few notes, sleep already threatening to take him. his skin was… abnormally cool, but not uncomfortable or worrying. "wouldn't want to devastate you now."
Damian had always run hot but now, when his body was working overtime to knit his back together again, he was almost feverish. Juniper felt nice and cold against his overheated body, so he tucked his face into his shoulder and hummed drowsily in agreement. "Sure you wouldn't sleepyhead."
"sure i wouldn't."
((timeskip to morning?))
(Sure, could you start? I'm gonna be gone for 15 ish minutes n' I don't wanna hold us up too much)
(yep)
juniper cracked an eye open, vaguely aware that there was something different about this morning. namely, the warm presence cuddled up against his chest like they belonged there.
it took him a good few minutes to fully recall the events of yesterday.
Damian let out a soft murmur and pressed his face into Juniper's shoulder more aggressively to avoid the sunlight streaming into the room. His arms were loose around the other's neck, breath puffing in and out in gentle gusts as he squirmed slowly into consciousness.
the equivalent of a windows startup sound played in his mind as the events of yesterday clicked into place.
fuuuuuckkk… i don't want to get up and change his bandages. i'm sure he doesn't either. is he even awake?
The answer was a resounding kind of. Damian was moving and making little sounds of annoyance and pushing himself closer to Juniper, so he was definitely conscious, but he was smashing his face into Juniper's shoulder in a way that suggested he was still too tired to worry about breaking his nose if it meant he got out of the sun.
damn.
juniper slowly reached over, pulling the covers so they blocked sunlight by basically just covering damian's entire head. problem solved, i guess.
He relaxed with a happy little sigh, limp and content in Juniper's arms where he was slowly waking up. His eyes fluttered open slowly, lashes soft and ticklish against Juniper's neck. The place he was sleeping was unfamiliar, but he was warm and someone was holding him so he couldn't be too worried. "Where… where am I?" He sounded soft, not worried or nervous.
"the saint-mora household." juniper answered quietly, voice low.
Damian humed, turning the answer over in his mind as he slowly started coming back to reality. "Oh. You're… Juniper."
"correct. thanks for remembering my name, love. are you hungry?" juniper appeared to be suffering from chronic 'morning voice', causing his voice to be lower and croakier than usual, but he managed.
kinda funny how he barely remembers me. an eventful day can pull that shit on you.
A pleasant chill ran down Damian's spine at the huskiness of Juniper's voice and he nodded without thinking. He'd probably agree to anything Juniper said, to be honest. His brain was fogged up with sleep and he was doing very little to clear it. "Yeah."
"alright, i'll make us something. anything in particular you like?" he started the process of getting up slowly, starting by unwrapping himself from damian, but not moving his body yet.
Damian shook his head, clinging closer to Juniper for a few seconds before he reluctantly let himself be unwound and set to the side. "I'm not picky."
"any allergies i should know about?" he sat up, throwing his arms above his head to stretch.
