bsumone | ❝ Earth is strung with lovers’ pearls ❞

“I’ll admit a selfish pleasure in having you closer. Being able to see you more frequently and more easily makes me happy. And I worry less knowing I can get to you quickly if I need to.” There’s no need to book a flight and spend hours traveling across the ocean to be at his mate’s side.

He watches curiously when Silvio crouches to sniff at the wildflowers. The wolf is in his element in these woods even though he’s only recently come here. It makes Su-jin’s heart feel light to see him so at ease here, somewhere close to him.

Su-jin blinks as the flower’s put in its place, reaching up to lightly brush his fingers over the soft petals. “What’s this for?”

"You're beautiful and I wanted to enhance that with a beautiful flower."

Silvio grinned and leaned in to press a soft kiss to his mate's lips. It was always so cute how Su-jin could get confused by little things. It also meant a lot too because it told him this was something special between them and he wasn't just repeating actions of Su-jin's other mate.

"I'd show you what you look like in a mirror but weirdly enough I don't seem to have one." He patted his naked body in confusion as if that was so strange he'd have nothing on him in that moment.

Su-jin watched his antics with a fond smile before he finally succumbed to laughing. That’s something he adored so much about Silvio: he was so light-hearted and capable of such silliness. Su-jin always smiled and laughed easier with him. It was effortless to forget his worries with Silvio.

“I love it.” He didn’t need to see how it looked tucked in his hair. He saw it when Silvio plucked it. He smelled its pleasant fragrance. Reaching over, he traced his fingers over Silvio’s strong jaw and he sighed happily.

“Truly, I am so happy we’re so close now.” Being able to see Silvio every month was a joy. Sure, it’s not under the most ideal of circumstances, but it’s something they’re able to do now that they couldn’t before.

"Me too. I like being able to have you around a few weeks every month. I'm really grateful to your partner for letting me share you."

Not just because the full moons would be easier even if that was great. But because Su-jin meant the world to him. Knowing that he'd be able to spend this much time with him every month? Yeah, he was grateful for it.

Reaching out, he pulled Su-jin into his arms and pressed a kiss to his lips. "Even if it took some getting used to, thank you for moving me here to be with you."

Su-jin can’t help smiling. He’s also grateful that Tiras was willing to share his heart. In the past, Su-jin’s had brief flirtations with others, but they were based solely on a combination and the vampire’s sexual curiosity. After that was satisfied, he never felt the urge to seek out others. But he knew that Silvio was someone he wanted more than just friendship with. Somewhere along the way, he’d fallen for the wolf. He’s so grateful neither Silvio nor Tiras made that more difficult. Su-jin’s so prone to guilt, after all.

Wrapping his arms around Silvio’s waist, he sighed happily against his lips. “I don’t know that I could’ve tolerated being so far from you for much longer,” he admitted. Then, with a mischievous curl of his lips and a tone to match, he added, “Kidnapping was given serious consideration.”

"You would have been a terrible kidnapper. I'd have smelled you and come with you."

Silvio laughed and gave him another quick kiss. Then he tilted his head back and brought a hand up to gently stroke Su-jin's cheek. What a beautiful man. It didn't matter that he couldn't see him. He knew. But he still moved his fingers to map out that face yet again, to memorize it once more.

"But tell me how you would have done it. Even if you would have been awful."

Su-jin shrugged. “I would’ve hired someone else. I’m sure it would still be a task, but all things are possible with the right professional,” he stated with a half-smile. He’s sure there’s someone out there who makes a living that way.

A chuckle followed and Su-jin leaned in to bump his nose against Silvio’s. “I would never. I have too much respect for you to even try to force you into anything. Just asking you usually works out well enough for me. And you too, I hope.”

Silvio burst out laughing at that. "Hired someone, huh? That would have gone badly."

But thinking about it was fun since he knew that Su-jin would never do that to him. Giving him another quick kiss, he bumped his nose after then gave him a happy little grin. "I know you wouldn't have done that to me, Su-jin. You've always been really respectful of me and I appreciate that fact."

Su-jin’s expression softened and he relaxed more into Silvio’s arms.

“We both know a little something about how it feels to not have choices.” They’re monsters, after all. Under their human skin and the niceties of social norms and expectations, they’re both monsters who can and do have those moments (days, usually) when they’re not in control of themselves. For that reason, it’s important to Su-jin that he never deny Silvio his choices.

“I also think that respect is the foundation of all positive relationships.”

He closed his eyes. They still burned but he ignored it for now in favor of getting to have this moment with his mate. This connection. It felt good. To say the very least. Because words really couldn't express what it meant to him to have Su-jin in his life.

"I agree with you. Which is why I've always wanted to show you the same respect you show me. And why I hesitated when you confessed to me because I didn't want to get in the way of your other relationship."

Su-jin freed one arm from around Silvio to lay an affectionate palm against his cheek. His thumb brushed gently over Silvio’s skin and he let out the softest sigh. Su-jin truly felt like such a lucky creature: to have both his partner and also this sweet wolf. Yes, his sweet Silvio who always made him laugh and smile so easily.

Oh, he’d worried about what Tiras would think, too, when he realized his feelings for Silvio were more than friendly. But everything worked out happily. Now that he has Silvio and Tiras in his life, he couldn’t imagine continuing on without both of them.

“You’ve never been in the way of anything, Silvio.”

Leaning into the touch, his eyes opened. The whites of them were still an angry red but he smiled at his mate. Turning his head, he gently pressed a kiss to his palm, breathed in his scent.

"I love you, Su-jin."

Would those words ever grow old? Ah, Su-jin hoped not. Hearing them made his heart beat faster and warmth spread through him. They hadn’t been together for very long, but Su-jin had a feeling that hearing Silvio tell him that he loved him would always be a thrill.

“I love you, Silvio.”

Being able to return those words, those feelings? That thrilled Su-jin, too. It’s one of so very many things that made their relationship special to him. Being able to freely speak of his affection for his mate made Su-jin very happy.

“Do you want to continue walking or shall we head back?” If the answer was to continue, Su-jin would wrap an arm around Silvio’s waist just to be close to him while they walked.

"Let's walk a little longer. There's a view I think you'll like. You can tell me if that's true when we get there."

After all, he couldn't see it to be sure. However from what he'd heard and smelled it seemed like something that Su-jin would appreciate and probably hadn't found in these forests. He likely wouldn't have explored them the way Silvio did when he'd picked this home for him.

"It'll be a bit of an uphill walk. You up for that?"

Su-jin scoffed. “Am I—? Are you up for that?” Silvio’s the one recovering from the effects of the full moon, after all. He chuckled softly and tugged himself closer to Silvio’s side. This wolf always knew just what to say to make him smile.

“I’d love to see it. I’m sure it will be beautiful if only because you’ll be there with me.”

"I can handle it. I'm not the city boy." Silvio grinned at him then wrapped an arm around Su-jin, even letting him support some of his weight. It wasn't something he necessarily needed but he figured it'd make his mate feel better. Which was something that would make him happy too.

"This way," he pointed the right direction and started guiding them that way. "It's off the trail but we have me so we'll be fine."

Su-jin barked a laugh at that. “I may love my creature comforts, but I could survive out here if I had to,” he pointed out with a smirk. “Though, in these modern days with so few who have to take to the woods to hunt for food, I might be in real danger of starving if I had to…”

He glanced where Silvio pointed and followed where he led. Though Su-jin knew Silvio didn’t need his aid, it made him feel better to be glued beside him anyway. “You’ve gotten to know this terrain very well in such a short time.”

"They might not take to the woods to hunt but they take to them to camp. And get lost. A lot."

Silvio rolled his eyes even if it made him wince a bit. His eyes were aching, after all. It wasn't comfortable to do things like that. Not for a few more days. The full moon and the silver in his eyes just never got along well unfortunately. Instead of focusing on the pain though, he focused on responding to Su-jin. "Every day that you are with Tiras I go out to familiarize myself. If these are to be my woods now then I should know them better than any one else in the world. So I've made a lot of little discoveries."

“Mmm, I suppose if I’m hungry enough, anyone would do,” he mused. He meant for it to be light-hearted, but it’s a topic that’s still uncomfortable for him. Eating people didn’t sit well with him – especially when he has Tiras to sate his appetite.

“I would be just as lost here without you.” That was warmer and very grateful. “I’m so glad I can experience all this with you, Silvio. It’s so very beautiful. I would never know any of this even existed without you.”

"We haven't even gotten to the view yet." He grinned as he teased him, gently tugging him a different way now. All so he could follow his nose and go where they needed to go.

"But I'm glad to share these things with you. Getting to listen to your wonder over it? It's like getting to have eyes again."

Hearing that made Su-jin smile. Becoming cynical, jaded, and detached was something he never wanted for himself. Perhaps because of the monster he was, it was even more important to him to remain in the world, to stay among the mortals all his instincts tell him to hunt. Seeing the wonder in the world was one small way for him to do that: be it the natural or man-made wonders that thrill him.

“I would apologize, but I can’t. I enjoy sharing that with you too much to feel even remotely bad about it.”

"Good. I'd never want you to feel bad about that."

Despite his blindness, Silvio moved through the trees with ease. He sniffed the air sometimes but only to be sure they were still on the right path. And when the trees started to thin out, he led them out to a ledge that overlooked the entire forest around them. He had no idea what it actually looked like but he could be absolutely sure that it was breathtaking just based on the smells and the sounds around him.

"Here. Look."

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.”

❝ Earth is strung with lovers’ pearls ❞

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