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These past few days have been so jarring for Flame. For months, he was in a never-ending goose chase with the Law, never once allowing himself a proper break. He was so focused on saving Lomedy from the Law's hands that he barely noticed how exhausted he had become.
The familiar scent of sunflowers slowly pulled Flame from his light sleep.
Lomedy’s home was warm.
Safe.
Flame had almost forgotten what that felt like.
His head was resting on what Flame guessed was someone's lap. Skin pressed against the soft, plush sofa he knew and loved. It felt calming.
The demon could faintly see a streak of sunlight seeping through the curtains beneath his blindfold.
Flame felt soft fingers run through his dreads. He already knew who it was, no one but his bestfriend. "... Lomedy...? " He called out for the other in a voice he never thought could be so vulnerable.
"Flame? Oh, you're awake. Good morning! How's your sleep?" Caring as always... Classic Lomedy. Flame's body was still sore from fighting all the time… the first proper rest he'd had in a very long time.
Every ache in Flame's muscles reminded him of all the chases, the weight of the mace, the close calls… and yet here he was, finally allowed to just… exist. “ Like a million bucks. ” he responded, trying to sound nonchalant.
Flame let out a soft, almost inaudible sigh, loosening the tension in his shoulders he didn’t realize he'd been holding. He shifted slightly, testing the comfort of Lomedy's lap, then relaxed further when he felt the steady warmth beneath him.
“ You always sleep like a rock, ” Lomedy teased, brushing a dread from Flame’s face. “ Do you even breathe properly? ”
“ I… might, ” Flame mumbled, a soft grin tugging at his lips.
" I was worried about you. Y'know, it's been hard on you and... I kinda felt bad for that mace sneak attack I did at the prison... ” Lomedy spoke in an apologetic and concerned tone. Of course his back— no, his entire body would hurt after the shit Lomedy pulled. That mace is heavy as hell!
Yet Flame still found himself forgiving Lomedy no matter what.
Flame let out a scoff. “ Bro, it's fine. It's not that bad. ” he lied so the farmer boy wouldn't hold guilt over an action that he had valid reasons to do.
A soft, relieved sigh slipped from Lomedy. “ That's good... Oh yeah- um— you probably want to get up, so- ” Lomedy was about to get up before Flame shook his head. “ Nah bro, I'm fine right over here. You can get up if you want. ”
Flame didn't want to admit it, but he liked laying on Lomedy's lap. And that statement alone will take more than a thousand players to get Flame to admit that.
“ That's fine by me then. ” He continued to run his hand fondly through Flame's dreads. It was a gesture that Flame actually enjoys more than he could ever acknowledge. He had craved for headpats, especially as a reward for defeating Law. Especially from Lomedy.
Lomedy's hand lingered through Flame's dreads, slow, almost deliberate, like he knew exactly how to soothe him. Flame closed his eyes under the blindfold, savoring the simple comfort that felt like a small miracle.
Defeating LettuceK and his lawmen was… and still is… truly worth it, just to be with his bestfriend again and get these headpats from him.
Flame could hear the faint hum of the wind brushing against the curtains, the soft creak of Lomedy shifting on the sofa. Each little sound felt grounding, a gentle reminder that he was home.
For a moment, all his worries and troubles melted away. It was just him and Lomedy. Alone. In their own little space. Peaceful. Calm.
And damn it, for the first time in what felt like forever, Flame felt like he belonged… and every chase, every bruise, every sleepless night that had led him here, to this warmth, to Lomedy's care. It was… worth it.