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It was nice here, in the dark and the quiet. Not that it was anything other than dark or quiet in the construct, but still, it could feel different depending on who you were with. A different energy in the air. Contrarian brought a certain electricity, Paranoid made it cold and looming, Skeptic made it mysterious… and with Smitten, he made it soft and warm.
At the very least, it was how Hunted felt as he lay curled against his side.
It was strange, the effect Smitten could have on the construct. He was so… heedless, so trusting of everything and everyone. It was a little frustrating, yet also endearing, like a puppy that didn’t know when to stop playing. And like a puppy, Hunted always knew what Smitten would do next—he’d never acted cruel or violent for no reason, never making sudden movements, always announcing what he would do before he did it. It was reassuring for a creature of Hunted’s nature. True, all of his flockmates made him feel safe, but Smitten was… different.
He was sweet, tender, baring his heart on his sleeve. A little like Hero in a way, except Hero at least had some self-preservation. Smitten did not. At all.
It was why Hunted had started following him around. Someone had to protect him, and who would Hunted be to leave a member of his flock alone? Even if some of the others had less than favorable thoughts about Smitten (they all knew, though only Hero, Opportunist, and Skeptic had memories of a familiar shadow stretched across a wall), it’d be wrong to let him fend for himself—emotionally, that is. So Hunted had elected to protect his heart for him.
But at some point things changed, and somehow Hunted had not noticed. They’d gotten closer as a result of Hunted’s constant tailing, more familiar in ways different from how Hunted was with the rest of their flock. He’d grown accustomed to the affectionate touches Smitten would give him from time to time, grown used to hearing his voice go on and on about something for hours at a time, become familiar with his dark, adoring eyes fluttering over him.
Suddenly, yet somehow inevitably, Smitten’s heart had gone from just being a thing to guard to being his. And then Hunted had blinked, and suddenly, his own heart was Smitten’s. He didn’t know exactly when his feelings had changed, but they had somewhere along the way, and… well, he didn’t mind. To be held, safe and loved, was a nice feeling after all. Better than remaining eternally on edge, ready to bolt should someone set their foot down a bit too hard.
Hunted’s ear perked as there was a loud thump from somewhere outside Smitten’s room. He instinctually stiffened, prying open an eye to catch the scant amount of light that came from beneath the door. His rising feathers were only smoothed over by Smitten’s delicate talon.
“It’s simply our friends having fun with each other, my love,” his voice was warm and fuzzy, a deep soothing rumble thick with half-sleep, “nothing more.”
Still, though, Hunted listened. There were no further loud noises, only Contrarian giggling paired with Cheated hissing about something and Opportunist’s backpedaling. Familiar sounds. Hunted relaxed, helped in part by when Smitten’s claws began to scratch behind one of his plumicorns.
Hunted cooed, beginning to softly purr, closing his eye, and reburying his face into Smitten’s plumage. His claws gently kneaded into Smitten’s side, working a loud and rhythmic purr out of his larger partner.
Yes, it was very nice, laying in the dark and quiet with Smitten.