Viv woke up feeling warm and sore. But a good sore, a healing sore. And a fucking excellent warm. This sensation was quickly explained by his realization that the King was behind him, still laying on the bed.

"Hey," he said, voice croaky from sleep, "I didn't mean you had to literally stay here the whole day."

The bed shifted as the King did, settling closer behind him and slipping an arm around his waist. "Don't worry, I didn't," he said. "Got up for a while, came to check in on you a few times. Just... liked bein' near you."

There was a moment hanging thick with something he wasn't saying, and Viv tucked his elbow back, gently nudging the King's chest. "Tell me."

The arm around Viv's waist tightened. "Just... glad to be reminded that you're okay. Since the news came, it's been... it's been rough."

Viv ran his hand down the King's arm and laced their fingers together. "I'm here. I'm okay. I always am."

The King chuckled, nosing at Viv's hair. "Yeah, yeah, I know. You're immortal. You defeated the grip of Death Itself. Now shut up an' lemme worry about you."

"Baby, if you think I will ever shut up, you don't know me very well at all."

There was another warm chuckle from the King, and they fell into a comfortable silence, Viv lightly running his thumb over the King's where their hands linked. He felt a firm kiss pressed into the nape of his neck, and gave a soft sound of approval, tilting his head. Lips traveled to the ridge of muscle connecting neck and shoulder, and the hand held in his own flexed and moved, pressing lightly into his chest. He gave the barest shift and the King pushed against him, just enough that his intent was clear, a question that didn't need words. He gave his answer in the easy surrender of his body, melting back as best he could and silently encouraging the King's explorations, a new heat rushing through his body.

"Careful," Viv warned softly as fingertips brushed under the hem of his shirt, grazing against the skin of his belly. "I'm still really sore."

The King paused, hands stilling. "If you're not up for this--"

"I am," Viv said quickly, "trust me, just... handle with care, is all I'm saying."

"Will do," the King murmured, the words muffled by his lips pressing back against Viv's neck. His t-shirt, still dirty from the road, was growing damper with fresh sweat and felt stifling around his skin, the King's warm hand slipping under it to travel up Viv's scar-riddled stomach, his chest, resting somewhere vaguely over the spot where his heart was thudding, the King pressing against his back.

Viv pushed back, earning a soft grunt and feeling where the King was stiffening. "You gonna judge me if I just wanna lie here and let you do things to me?" he asked.

"Lord, no," the King said, voice gone low already. "That's perfect."

The King's hands stilled again, weighing heavy on him. Viv nudged him again. "You're thinking. What are you thinking about."

"Somethin' you said once."

"I say a lot of things once."

"About how you've come, before, from just... fingers."

"Mm, it's true. Of course," Viv added teasingly, "those guys really knew what they were doing."

"Oh, that so?" the King said and Viv could hear the smile in his voice, feel it in the fingertips that undid the button of his trousers.