bsumone | ❝ Earth is strung with lovers’ pearls ❞

He could also be sure it was breathtaking by the way Su-jin sucked in a breath once the forest came into view. Though Silvio couldn't see it, he could probably hear the way Su-jin's heart stuttered and maybe even the widening of his eyes. Not only was the view absolutely amazing, but Silvio was there sharing it with him. That made it even better.

"It's gorgeous," he uttered when the words finally came to him. "No, gorgeous doesn't really capture it," he amended quietly to preserve the mood. Su-jin didn't hesitate to pull Silvio close. "Thank you for sharing this with me."

Silvio closed his eyes to just be in the moment. To not focus on how much they or his body ached and to just hear Su-jin's reaction. How much his mate loved this view. How much it meant to him that they could share in this together. Leaning into him when he felt him pull him close, he rested his head against Su-jin's and breathed in the air around him. The forest, the cleanness of it, and the wonderful unique scent that was entirely the man next to him.

"You're welcome. I'm glad you love it. I've been waiting for the right moment to show you and this was perfect."

Su-jin snorts a laugh even as he nestles closer. “The perfect time was when you’re injured and recovering from the full moon and silver chains? I suppose it’s more romantic if I have to carry you back.” Oh, they both know he wouldn’t have to do that, but it makes for an amusing mental image.

“You’re right,” he adds, more softly. “This is perfect. Because I get to share it with you.”

"The perfect moment was the day I learned that I love you so much I won't hurt you during the full moon and I can spend those nights with you rather than in fear and pain."

Silvio let the correction be a mild one but he wanted it to be clear just how much his mate had done for him. How much he was still doing and would do in the future. Su-jin had found a way to save him and he truly didn't even fully comprehend that yet. So, he'd tell him.

"It was perfect. Is perfect."

Warmth spread over Su-jin from his chest, moving throughout his body with every heartbeat. Somehow, Silvio always seemed to know exactly how to take his breath away.

"I'm so happy that I can bring you that peace." Maybe peace is a bit of an overstatement, but Su-jin's deeply moved that Silvio felt less fearful while he was present. "As long as it's in my power, I will be right here at your side when you need me most." It would take monsters far stronger than Su-jin is to keep him away when Silvio needs him.

Shifting to better face him, Su-jin smiled, drinking in those now familiar features. His friend, his mate. This wonderful wolf who brought him so much joy throughout their entire acquaintance. Someone he loves very much and freely.

"Loving you is perfect," he murmured.

Silvio smiled then beckoned that he wanted to sit down, his body tired after the bit of a hike that it took to get here. As strong as he was, silver just sapped his energy so much. As did the ongoing agony in his eyes that would last for another couple of days. But once he was sat down with his feet dangling over the edge, he encouraged Su-jin to sit next to him so he could lean against him.

"I'm glad you were in Spain that day all those years ago. And that you stopped to help me out. My life changed for the better by having you in it."

Much encouragement wasn't needed for Su-jin to join him at the cliff's edge. He reached over to take one of Silvio's hands once they were seated, a quiet, contented sigh slipping from him.

"As am I," he affirmed. "You've been such a valued friend all these years, and now a beloved partner. So many pleasant memories with you fill me, I can't imagine how life would've been had we not met. Nor is it something I care to think on," he added with a light chuckle.

That was something Silvio was good at wringing from the vampire: genuine mirth. Warm smiles. Laughter. These things all came so easily with Silvio. Yet another reason to love him. Su-jin felt he could be the softest version of himself in Silvio's presence.

Threading their fingers together, he smiled as he listened to the words and that laugh. Giving his hand a squeeze, he leaned over to rest his head on Su-jin's shoulder. Usually he was the one having him lean on him but he accepted that today he was being cared for by his mate. Something he appreciated immensely.

"I'll never get over how beautiful your laugh is."

The moment Silvio's head rested on his shoulder, Su-jin tilted his own to nuzzle his cheek against his mate's hair. He's always been a caretaker at heart, so being able to be there for Silvio in a time of need meant a great deal to him. It meant even more now that he realized he could be present with Silvio during the full moon without as much danger.

A warm smile pulled his lips and Su-jin exhaled in contentment. "I laugh so freely when I'm with you."

"Yeah? Not so much outside my woods?"

It wasn't a question of judgment though. Just curiosity. It was interesting to him that Su-jin didn't laugh as much when he wasn't with him. Then again, that relationship his mate had with his partner was very different from what he'd been told. Silvio supposed he shouldn't be so surprised by it. Maybe he just helped his mate to be a little more spontaneous without Su-jin even realizing that fact.

"What? You're not happy to be the funniest person I know?" He's teasing, of course. It's simply a fact that he laughs more freely with Silvio than with others. It's just the nature of their dynamic together.

"I do laugh, it's somehow easier here, with you."

"If I'm the funniest person you know I'm going to start worrying about the company you keep. Because I'm rusty on jokes." Still, he laughed anyway. Honestly he was utterly delighted by this news, loving so much that he could make his mate laugh that easily.

"It makes me so happy that I can make you laugh that easily though. It really does."

"I think it's all of this," Su-jin offered thoughtfully. "You, these woods, the pace of this life. It's all more relaxed than my life in the city." There was noise and there were people and a constant sense of bustling that Silvio and his home lacked. Su-jin appreciated these breaks from that part of his life very much.

"I'm glad you can find peace here." Silvio smiled at the fact. Because it meant that he was able to satisfy in other ways that Su-jin clearly needed. He was grateful for that, as grateful as he was that his mate would be able to help him through the full moon periods now. "I love you so I love when you are happy."

He needed to respond to that, but in a way that was honest and meaningful. Su-jin drew in a long, thoughtful breath through his nose and turned his focus wholly on Silvio. The wolf, this person who meant so very much to him for the better part of a century.

"I am seldom unhappy," he pointed out. A fact Silvio probably already knew from their times together. "But there is a very calm sort of happiness I feel when I'm here with you. It's like being wrapped in a pleasantly warm blanket fresh from the dryer."

"You know, I actually have no idea what that feels like? Never had a dryer or a washer before. I hear they're nice though."

But since he couldn't see to set them properly? Well that made things challenging. At the best. At the worst he could do something to break it and never be able to see what was wrong to fix it. A lot of modern technology was that way for him. He just couldn't see what was needed to fix it. Without that? He didn't stand a chance.

“It’s like being sun-kissed without having to actually wait for the sun to warm you.” It’s the best way Su-jin can conjure to describe the feeling. “It’s an immediate and fleeting warmth but it brings such comfort.”

❝ Earth is strung with lovers’ pearls ❞

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