Pain and Pleasure

For some reason the Upload File thing doesn't work for me, so I cannot add the italics or bolds to the story (I don't know how to do it in the Input text field.) I hope this doesn't make the chapters difficult to read.

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Part 3

Sajore rose from the bed, yawning. He watched Xir’ag’s naked form, as he lay on his stomach on the silky sheets, watching him back.

“Are you trying to seduce me back into bed?” The vampire asked laughing.

Xir’ag stretched and smiled a sly smile.

“Why? Is it working?”

Sajore shook his head apologetically. He couldn’t stay, even when all he wanted was to get back into that bed. He got dressed, while Xir’ag lay pouting in the bed. When he was ready to leave, the Drow finally got up. He slipped into his robe and kissed Sajore, wishing him a good day.

Sajore appeared in his own room. It was night, but he didn’t have any understanding of time. He fell to the floor rubbing his hands on the carpet and growling. He was covered with blood. Feeding hadn't gone well that night. The woman had fought him hard and he had been forced to rip her head off. There was a lot of blood, in his jacket, his hair, on his hands, his face. He could still taste it in his mouth. He was disgusted, but still the taste of it made him feel good. He stared at his hands.

'I can't go back to him. Not like this, I’m a monster.'

He dropped his head and salty tears mixed with the blood that covered his cheeks. He threw his jacket away and ripped his pants off. He wanted to rip his hair out too, it reeked of blood. He almost threw up. Why was this so different? This had happened to him thousands of times, but before there hadn't been anyone who would touch his blood covered hands, kiss his bloody lips. He reached for the table and a water flagon there. He poured water over his face, trying to get the blood of, but there was too much. The bloody water dripped to the floor. He dropped the flagon and it broke to pieces. He collapsed onto the floor, uncontrollably yelling out his misery.

A long time after that he got up. The blood had dried on him. He walked to the washing corner and calmly washed the dried blood off. His eyes were empty. He knew what he had to do. He could not risk it. Xir’ag was a Drow. He had just fed from a Drow. The wizard would be forever in danger. No, he could not risk it, just a few nights, that’s all it was, all it would ever be. That had to be enough. He loved him far too much to risk him.

Xir’ag was preparing a spell. He was deep in thought, his eyes shut.

Sajore walked in front of him, quietly, saying nothing. He looked sadly at the wizard. He would never touch this man again, this perfect man. He looked so beautiful. His eyes closed, concentrating, so fragile and yet so full of hidden power.

Xir’ag sensed his presence and opened his eyes. A happy smile appeared to his face and he took a step closer to Sajore. His face grew serious when Sajore took a step away.

“Please, don’t come closer. I cant, we can’t.”

“What are you talking about? What has happened?” Concern laced Xir’ag's voice.

Sajore grimaced. “I happened. You don’t know me. You know nothing about me.” His voice rose with each word.

Xir’ag stared at him, his eyes furious. He walked closer to him.

Sajore couldn’t back up any further. He was cornered.

Xir'ag put his hand on the vampire's chest. “What has happened?”

Sajore lowered his head, his eyes filled with tears. 'Why? Every time we meet, all I do is cry...' Suddenly he pulled Xir’ag closer. He gripped his hair tightly in his fist and twisted his head back. “I’m a monster. You should fear me! I could kill you now!” He stared into his eyes and revealed his teeth. His fangs grew long, his eyes glowed nearly yellow. The beast inside him was loose. The vampire stared at the vein pulsing in Xir’ag’s neck.

Xir’ag stared back, his eyes wide.

“Do you fear me now?” Sajore breathed heavily.

“No." Xir’ag's voice was quiet.

“This is not the first time I have see the beast inside you. Why would I fear you?”

Sajore stared at him shocked. He saw no glimpse of fear in his lover's eyes. He was in shock. He never thought that this would be Xir’ag’s reaction. He let go of his hair, his eyes were turning back to orange. “What? When? How?”

Xir’ag smiled at him warmly. “Every time we make love, Sajore. It’s inside you all the time. It's gets loose when you get too excited.”

“But I... I never knew. I didn’t even feel like hurting you. Not once” He stepped back.

Xir’ag followed and pulled Sajore's hands around him. “Do you still see a reason why we can’t be?” He kissed him softly on the lips.

Sajore’s thoughts wandered back to his last kill. The smell of blood was still on him. He was so sure before coming here, but now, in his arms, it was all so different. The world around him didn’t seem to matter anymore. Everything disappeared from his thought. All he could feel was the Drow in front of him, in his arms, kissing him, the soft touch of his fingers in his back.

They fell to the bed, Sajore's ripping off Xir'ag's clothes.

Xir’ag put his legs around him.

That's when Sajore lifted himself up again. “You mean that every time we make love the demon takes hold of me?”

Xir’ag nodded, kissing his hand.

“I don’t want it to be on control when I’m around you!” Sajore pulled his hand away quickly. His eyes held panic.

“Are you jealous of yourself?” Xir’ag laughed softly, getting up as well.

Sajore got up from on top of him and sat on the bed. He looked ashamed. “No. I’m worried he’ll hurt you.”

"You haven’t hurt me once after the first time. Don’t worry so much.”

“But, I do worry.” Sajore got up from the bed.

Now Xir’ag looked worried. “Where are you going?”

“I can’t be here now, I can't.” Sajore backed up as Xir’ag jumped to the floor. But he was gone already.

He was alone in his own room. He stared at his bloody clothes he had left at the bedside. He fell to his knees and roared in agony. He lifted his hand and slit his wrist, thick blood ran down to the floor. The physical pain felt so good, drowning his broken hearts agony under it. He screamed, falling to the floor on his face. He never wanted to get up again.

Xir’ag was in his room alone. He stared to the ceiling with blank eyes, holding his pillow.

Sajore heard sounds behind his door, from the hallway. It was morning. He was lying in his own blood. He got up, feeling hungrier than he ever had, and more miserable. Of course he didn’t die, he couldn’t die like that. Like a puppet he got up, changed his clothes, and washed his face. His hair was still sticky with blood, but he didn’t care.

He had to be in the audience room soon. He opened the door and walked the hallways, seeing nothing, hearing nothing. He walked in, walked up to the Matron and just announced that he was leaving. Before the Matron could say anything, he was gone. He stopped outside the house and stared in front of him. He couldn’t see anything, tears fell from his face and he fell to his knees.

It had been more than thirty Narbondel turns since he left the house. He had found a new house fairly fast. A vampire was something that no Drow house wanted to refuse to take in, he was useful.

One day, when he just settled in, settled into the never ending pain and sorrow his loneliness and longing brought him, his new Matron gave him a new assignment, to go to his old house and get some important info from there.

Sajore wanted to refuse. He knew it already. He could not see Xir’ag ever again. If he did, he could never leave. He had never in his whole life, been as miserable as he had been after leaving Xir’ag. He missed him so much. A feeling he had never even thought he could have. He thought about leaving Menzoberranzan all together, but he had run away for so long and this was the first place that had ever felt like home.

His whole body, that he usually took good care of, was a mess. His clothes were dirty, full of stains of blood and dirt. He rarely ate, so he had lost a lot of weight and almost always felt dizzy. His face had narrowed and his ribs were visible. His hair was dry and he wore it in a long ponytail because it was so full of knots, he couldn’t even comb it. He was too tired to wash up. Maybe he smelled, but he really didn’t care. That was, until he was in the house Yog'e'gmin, and in front of the old Matron, who stared at him coldly. And still, all he saw was Xir’ag in the audience chamber. The huge room was full of Drow but he saw only him.

He was standing there, so sad, so tired and yet, more beautiful than ever, he glowed.

Sajore’s heart ached.

Xir’ag avoided his eyes, staring to the ground.

“What the hell happened to you? Where did you disappear to? Is that blood in your hair? You smell!” One of the priestesses stopped in front of him, the same one that was always pestering him, Xir’ag’s sister.

Sajore turned around and walked away.

“Hey, I was talking to you!” The priestess said.

He heard the whip slash and felt a pain in his back. He turned around revealing his teeth. “Do NOT touch me,” Sajore hissed with a voice that was so full of hate that the priestess lowered her whip. He walked out of the room and wandered the hallways looking around with his shallow eyes, without knowing what to do. He had to leave, but his legs would not carry him out, his mind would not let him transfer himself.

Xir’ag watched all of this happening, but couldn’t do anything. He was feeling horrible. All this time had been like torture to him after Sajore had left. He wanted to just go to his room and never to come back out. He missed him so much, still. All he had done, this whole time, was stare at the ceiling, cry, and sleep. His mind was a mess. All he wanted was the vampire and that was the one thing he could not have. He wanted to run after him, to touch him, take make him stay. He tried to calm his pounding heart and think calmly. Sajore had had blood in his hair, his clothes were messy and he looked generally ragged. What had happened? He hardly heard what had been said in the meeting. When he got his leave, he hurried to search for Sajore. He was walking down the hallway in front of the vampire’s old room, when Sajore came out of the room like any other day. Xir’ag stopped, grinding his teeth and fingering his cloak nervously.

Sajore stared at him with empty eyes, soon lowering his head.

Xir’ag took a step closer.

“No, don’t come near me. Stay away.” Sajore voice was filled with pain.

Xir’ag was getting angry. “I will not stay away, why the hell should I? What the hell have you been thinking? You left me, you son of a bitch!!! Why do you have to make everything so damn hard! You are not hurting me by staying. You’re hurting me by leaving. I love you!” He rushed to him in near panic and slapped his hand across the vampire's cheek. His worry and sorrow were rapidly turning into rage. After all, he was a Drow. He was not just going to surrender and watch as his life slipped by.

Sajore stared at him eyes wide. “What did you just say?”

Tears ran down Xir’ag’s face. “I can’t live without you, you idiot! I love you! Don’t you dare leave me again. Take a risk for Lloth’s sake, you can't run away from life forever!”

Sajore felt a stabbing pain in his heart. Never had those words been spoken to him. ‘I love you’. He wanted to hold him, to feel him in his arms. He pulled him into his arms.

Xir’ag began to cry, shaking against his chest, clinging to him.

Sajore realized that they were in the hallway where anyone could hear and see them. He took Xir’ag’s hand and pushed him into his old room.

Xir’ag stumbled in and collapsed to the bed. He was still so upset, shaking and trying to stop crying, he couldn’t face Sajore. He turned away.

Sajore stared at him helplessly. He was faced with a decision, now he had to choose. He twisted his arms behind his back and lowered his eyes to the floor. If he left now, he could never come back. But, Xir’ag would be safe. But if he once held him, he could never leave. Time seemed to stop, neither of them moved.

“If you don’t touch me now, you will break my heart. If you leave now, I will never survive. You can’t go again.” A small voice said calmly from the bed.

Sajore turned around to see Xir'ag's blood-red, sorrowful eyes staring at him, so sad, tears running down his face.

A huge turmoil inside Sajore kept him standing there, but only for a second. He dashed to the bedside, falling to his knees and putting his head on Xir’ag's lap and folding his hands around the Drow. He broke down. Tears began to run down his face, his shoulders shook as he cried out all his pain.

Xir’ag held him close, falling next to him onto the floor, putting his arms round him hugging him tightly. After a long while, Xir’ag made a portal in the back of the room and they stepped into his room. In the safety of his room they fell to the bed, both feeling completely exhausted and worn out. They soon fell asleep in the quiet of the room, holding each other close.

Hours later Sajore still heard the words in his head. “I love you.” He felt dizzy.

When Sajore woke up, it was almost morning. He was so hungry. He cursed his vampire nature, of course he felt hungry. He had not eaten in days. He didn’t want to wake Xir’ag, but he didn’t want him to worry either. He didn’t want him to think that he had left him again, because that was no longer an option. He rose slowly from the bed and walked to the desk. There was a quill and bottle of ink. He wrote the wizard a short note with his flowing handwriting and left the note next to him on the bed.

When he disappeared from the room Xir’ag slowly opened his eyes, jumped up, gathered his clothes, made a short spell, and opened a portal. Xir’ag followed him, a long way behind. He saw Sajore stalking a Drow-woman, tracing her every step, unnoticed. He was as quiet as death. He was clearly very hungry, because he never noticed his own stalker.

His poor prey had no clue that she was about to be killed. It was violent and bloody. The woman screamed and begged, then there was only deafening silence. The woman fell to the ground, dead.

Sajore wiped his mouth on his hands and sighed.

Xir’ag felt ill, not just because of the kill, but because he saw the look on Sajore's face, the self-loathing. He stepped closer.

Suddenly, sensing something Sajore looked up and saw Xir’ag’s red eyes glowing in front of him. Sajore looked so ashamed, so angry, so mortified. “NO! You saw me! No! Why did you follow me?” He turned around, too ashamed to look to into his lovers understanding, loving eyes. “I’m a damn monster. You were never supposed to see that. This is why I left. I… I’m a monster.”

Xir’ag slowly walked up to him. “I wanted to see it. You have to feed. It's a part of your life, it's your nature. I’m sorry I followed you, but I knew you wouldn’t let me come with you.”

“But, I don’t want you to see this side of me, it's ugly.”

“I love all that you are, not just the good parts.” Xir’ag raised his hand to Sajore’s cheek and smiled softly.

Sajore stared at him for a while, until Xir’ag moved the hand to his neck and made him move closer. Sajore buried his hands to his hair, smearing the white hair with blood. He was so ashamed.

Xir’ag looked up into his bloodstained face and leaned forward.

“No, don’t kiss me, the blood...”

Xir’ag tasted the fresh warm blood in his mouth.

Sajore didn’t let go of him for a long time. They stood there, covered with blood, the dead Drow woman next to them.

The bathwater was so hot. Sajore felt like he was going to boil. The big bathtub was in the middle of the living room where Xir’ag had dragged it. He had been sitting there when Sajore had walked into the room, his hair wet and dripping. Sajore had never seen him with wet hair. He looked so much more masculine, not so much like a young boy. Sajore had touched his own bloody hair and stripped off his clothes, dropping them to the floor.

“Get in already. You smell!” Xir’ag grinned and held out his hand.

Sajore took it and stepped into the tub.

Now he sat in front of Xir’ag. Sajore felt so tired, but still so happy. He relaxed while Xir’ag gently washed the blood out of his hair and off of his face, pouring hot water on him, scrubbing him clean. He followed his movements while he gently washed him.

Xir’ag felt his pinched body under him. The vampire had suffered. He looked like he was starving. Xir’ag moved his fingers along the lines of the bones jutting out under his taunt skin.

Sajore relaxed under Xir’ag’s touch, closing his eyes and listening to the Drow's soft humming breath. He was so happy he felt like crying. He felt his eyes begin to burn and soon tears started to flow down his cheeks. “All I do is cry when I’m with you…” Sajore whispered, opening his wet eyes and wiping his cheeks, smiling nervously.

Xir’ag stopped and looked at his face, saying nothing. He kissed him and hugged him tightly.

“I don’t know what this is. I am not even supposed to have a soul. But you have woken something inside of me; feelings I never was suppose to feel. I love you from the bottom of my whole being.”
Sajore closed his eyes again and fell limp, feeling Xir’ag’s hot breath on his face, the breath that suddenly came in short pants. He felt Xir'ag's fingers tighten on his shoulders.

“Please look at me. You can't just shut your eyes after confessing your love to me!” Xir’ag voice was tearful.

Sajore opened his eyes and saw him near him, tears falling from his eyes, he smiled. He was so beautiful, his face glowed. As fast as he had opened his eyes, Xir’ag kissed him, deeply. He drowned in the kiss so fully that he almost slipped under the water.

They both splashed to the surface laughing.

“I want to give you something.” Sajore rose from the now warm bath water. Xir’ag sat still as Sajore said one simple word, bringing a small pendant to his palm. It was a smooth, blood-red, fang shaped rock, hanging from a simple leather ribbon. Sajore offered the pendant to Xir’ag. “This is my life.”

Xir’ag stared at him questioning, eyes wide.

“My life force is within this stone. If I die it will turn into black dust and fade away. When that happens, my life force will be set free and I will return to my body as a human. Somewhere close to where this pendant is, close to where you will be.” Sajore knelt beside the bathtub.

Xir’ag was holding the pendant like he was afraid he would break it.

Sajore laughed. “The stone cannot be broken until I die. It will survive anything. Don’t worry. It can’t be lost either. It finds its owner... you.” He took the pendant from Xir’ag's hand and hung it around his neck. “Will you wear this under your cloak?”

Xir’ag nodded. He was so shocked by the gift that he couldn’t say a word. He got up from the tub and hugged him.

Sajore kissed his wet, white hair.

Xir’ag dried his hair with a soft towel and sat on the floor, his head spinning from happiness and joy. He pulled Sajore with him to a soft furry carpet that he had on the floor next to the bath tub. Xir’ag was still for a second, looking at the vampire, the strangely smiling vampire, and then climbed on his lap, throwing the towel to the side and kissed him passionately. “It has been too long,” he whispered in his ear.

Sajore felt the same way. He returned his kiss, exploring his mouth with his tongue.

Xir’ag lifted his head, kissing his ears and allowing Sajore to nip at his neck.

Sajore sucked his neck until a bruise appeared. He stopped before he drew blood.

Xir’ag let out a little whimper and held him tighter, but didn’t try to stop him. Xir’ag moaned softly, it hurt but it also excited him. To gave himself fully to the vampire's dangerous hands, the hands that just a few moments ago had killed someone. Xir’ag closed his eyes and nuzzled against Sajore’s hair when the vampire licked his neck and slowly moved to his ears.

Sajore kissed his pointy ears and moved his fingers along his spine. Xir’ag was soon shivering in his arms. He nibbled his now sensitive neck area.

Xir’ag moved his body closer to him, digging his nails into his skin, moaning from the mixture of pain and pleasure.

Sajore moved lower, kissing his way to the Drow's hardened nipples and sucking each one in turn.

Xir’ag slowly opened his eyes again, breathing hard. He was still practically virgin, not ever having sex with anyone else before Sajore, and this attention turned him on to no end. All he needed was the gentle caress of the man he loved and he was ready to do anything, to beg. He wanted him so much.

Sajore saw the desperate wanting look on his face when he looked up and Xir'ag blushed.

He was already hard. He shivered, desperately wanting more.

Seeing him so needy for him affected Sajore too, although it usually took a lot more to get him erect than just a pretty face and a few sighs. This was the pretty face of his lover and the warm body close to him did the trick. Sajore pushed Xir’ag to the floor and pressed his erection against his belly. “Damn Drow, you are amazing.” He sighed and slid his tongue into Xir’ag’s wet, wanting mouth. The Drow moved under him, grinding his cock against his, making little noises while he sucked at his tongue, alluringly. The Drow's hands wandered around his body, making his skin shiver as his nails crossed his waist and moved back to his buttocks. Sajore lifted his hand to Xir’ag’s face and caressed him softly.

Xir’ag hummed under him, staring up into his eyes. “Your eyes are turning yellow, my love,” Xir'ag whispered into his ear, pulling him down for another kiss.

Sajore felt it too. He was loosing control, he wanted to rush, to thrust in and spill his seed inside the Drow. He was not used to this romancing. He had never had a relationship where he would have treated anyone like this, so gently. His body began to shiver from the pain of holding back. He groaned. “I’m sorry. I’m learning, but sometimes I have to get it faster.”

Xir’ag giggled under him, but at the same time, pulled himself tighter against him, making their cocks brush against one another.

Sajore held his hand on Xir’ag’s face but slowly moved it closer to his mouth, sliding his middle finger to Xir’ag mouth. Xir’ag sucked on it, like a cock, and licked it.

Sajore started to breathe faster. He felt his long fangs in his mouth as he leaned down to kiss Xir’ag.

Xir'ag circled the sharp fangs with his tongue, kissing him passionately. He felt how the slick finger moved along his firm stomach, lower, along his hard member, touching his balls on the way, the fingers moving around them and giving them a little pull, then moving deeper between his legs, reaching his rear. His finger circled around his opening, coming closer to it, tickling him. Xir’ag relaxed himself, sighing.

Sajore pushed it into him.

Xir'ag cried out, moving closer to him as his finger explored its way deeper.

Sajore lifted himself a bit, now sitting between his legs. Slowly Sajore reached for the Drow's hard organ and fisted his hand around it, slowly drawing his hand along its length.

Xir’ag's eyes closed and he moaned softly. He felt Sajore’s hard cock pressing against his thigh as the vampire moved to the rhythm of the finger inside and his hand on his aching organ. That just aroused him more.

Sajore kneeled down and he returned Xir’ag’s kiss when he felt his lips on his, sliding his tongue deeply into his mouth and moaning against his lips. Sajore pushed another finger into Xir'ag.

Xir'ag moved against the fingers, pressing them deeper.

Sajore breathed heavily and licked his lips, revealing his fangs with a wicked grin.

Xir’ag looked dreamily into his yellow, pleasure-hazed eyes and stopped him from moving his hand on his organ.

Sajore looked at him surprised. The Drow rose a bit until Sajore had to remove his fingers from inside of him.

Xir’ag leaned forward and Sajore had to back up until he sat in front of him, the Drow pushed Sajore a bit lower still until he was resting on his elbows against the floor, and then he moved over him. His hands moved along his thin body, tracing their way from his crotch to his shoulders. He sat down on his lap, placing his legs on both sides of him. He took hold of Sajore’s shoulder for balance. Then, as Sajore still stared at him with shock, he slowly lowered himself onto Sajore’s throbbing organ. Xir’ag’s cheeks flushed, he let out a whimper, and grimaced. Sajore's throbbing organ was soon fully sheathed inside of his warmth. He breathed deeply and sat still for a while, keeping his eyes closed. Slowly he started to move, sweat glimmered on his black skin.

Sajore did not know what to do, just taking in all of the sudden pleasure, unable to speak anymore, feeling so good. He couldn’t keep his eyes away from the Drow on top of him. The look on Xir'ag's face was so full of pleasure as he moved up and down, that just the sight of him almost made Sajore come.

Xir’ag opened his eyes again to look into Sajore's, his were slightly open. The Drow leaned to kiss him, moaning into his mouth, moving on his organ, sliding up and then moving back down again, taking it all in.

Sajore grabbed his buttocks in his hands, starting to move him faster. He was so beautiful, sweat gleaming on his deep black skin, his red eyes blurry from so much pleasure, letting out little noises as he moved to his rhythm. Sajore felt like only the voices alone would have been enough, seeing him there was too much, he couldn't control himself anymore. “Please, touch yourself,” he whispered laboriously into Xir’ag’s ear and guided his hand to his throbbing erection. He wanted to see him, all of him, his pleasure. He needed this.

Xir’ag obeyed his embarrassment showing in his deep blush. He slid his hand along his erection, still moving to their rhythm. His long, slender fingers moved on his organ, teasing the top and then moving lower, he held his other hand on Sajore’s shoulder for the balance. His hand started to shake, he slid it over the top, wiping the pre-cum from the slit and moving faster down the shaft. He felt his release getting closer and started to moan out loud. He was shaking all over. Sweat dripped from his body, he felt so full of Sajore. Their movements made him see red under his closed eyelids. Then he exploded, his body shaking violently as his semen spilled onto Sajore’s chest. His muscles clasped around Sajore’s cock, making the already tight entrance even tighter.

Sajore’s head flung back and he cried out. He spilled himself deep inside of Xir’ag, filling him to the brim. He moaned over and over, letting the last of his juices flow into the Drow, gripping his buttocks in his hands as he thrust as deep as he could.

They both leaned closer to each other, breathing heavily, eyes closed, still floating in the after-pleasure’s sweet feeling.

Slowly Sajore moved a bit, sliding out of Xir’ag. The fluids inside him began to drip out and slowly ran down his thighs. Sajore moved his hands from his slick butt and laughed softly. “Another bath?”

Xir’ag grinned sheepishly. “Don’t ask yet, I can’t think that far.” He was still breathing hard, resting his arms on Sajore's cum and sweat slicked chest. “… yeah, a bath would do,” he slowly agreed, still not moving an inch.

Sajore grinned and lifted him up fast, rising to a sitting position and throwing him into the big bath tub. Xir’ag screamed but it was too late.

“Cold!!” Xir'ag yelled and tried to get up.

Sajore stopped him and sat behind him in the tub. “It’s not cold. It’s just perfect, very cooling.” He hugged Xir’ag, folding his arms to his chest and kissed his hair, smiling.

Xir’ag was shivering a bit, but suddenly, he didn’t feel like getting up in spite of the chilly water. He giggled and grabbed Sajore’s hands to his own.

Sajore woke up in the middle of the night. He realized that they were on the floor next to the bathtub. That is how far they had gotten? He picked Xir’ag up in his arms, but the Drow woke up as he started to carry him to the bed.

Xir’ag just put his arms around his neck and leaned his head on his shoulder. Sajore lowered him to the bed, pulling the sheets up over him. He wasn’t sleepy anymore. He watched the sleeping Drow for a while and walked to his desk. He grabbed the bottle of ink and a quill, and a pad of papers. He took them and returned to the bedside. He started to draw, looking at Xir’ag's sleeping form. When the morning came his drawing was finished. He was leaning against the wall and watching Xir’ag as he woke up. The drawing was next to him on the bed.

Xir’ag saw it when he opened his eyes. His mouth opened.

It looked just like him, as beautiful as Sajore saw him. He was so touched that he couldn't say a word. “You’re an amazing artist!” He eventually whispered, giving Sajore a kiss.

Sajore just smiled and kissed him back. “You’re the one who's amazing.”

Xir’ag blushed.

Sajore started laughing. He could see the blood rushing into his cheeks even when his skin was completely black.

“You are drowning me with such gifts and I have nothing to give back.” Xir’ag voice was filled with embarrassment.

Sajore smiled at him, his smile filled with happiness. “You are giving me something I never thought I could have... you.”