Morning light crept through the curtains like soft golden threads, weaving warmth across the room. It landed gently on Levi's skin, kissed the edge of his jaw, and made his dark lashes shimmer like stardust. He stirred slowly, blinking sleep from his eyes, his body still tangled in the sheets and tangled with another—Jaceon's arm was draped over him like a shield.
For a moment, Levi thought he was dreaming.
The warmth. The quiet. The steady thud of Jaceon's heartbeat behind him.
But then, he turned—and met the gaze of the man lying beside him.
Dark. Sharp. Eyes heavy with more than just love—burden, fear, determination… and something ancient.
"You're up early," Levi mumbled, his voice husky with sleep as he reached up and brushed his fingers against Jaceon's cheek.
Jaceon offered a tired, crooked smile. "I didn't sleep."
Levi's brows furrowed. "Still worried?"
Jaceon said nothing at first. He sat up slowly, the sheets falling to his waist, exposing the scars across his chest—some fresh, some centuries old. His gaze drifted out the window. The sky was clear, but he knew better than to trust the calm.
"I need you to live today like nothing happened," he said, voice soft but firm. "Go to work. Laugh. Smile. Pretend the world isn't after your soul."
Levi turned to him, confused. "What are you talking about?"
"I mean it," Jaceon said again, his tone sharp now. "The fight that's coming—it's not for mortals, Levi. It's not your burden to carry."
Levi scoffed and sat up too, grabbing his wrist. "But it is my burden. This deal… this curse… it's all because of me. Because you—"
"Yes," Jaceon interrupted, finally looking at him. "But protecting you? That part… that's mine. And I won't let you carry it. I was the one who walked into your life ready to take it. I chose this. Not you."
Levi's heart clenched. "But I don't want to lose you."
Jaceon reached out and cupped his face, thumbs brushing beneath Levi's eyes as if ready to wipe away tears before they fell.
"You won't," he whispered. "But I need your help in one way only—stay human. Stay hopeful. That's the only thing keeping me from becoming what they want me to be again."
A long silence passed between them.
Then Levi smirked faintly, trying to lighten the moment. "You know, that's a lot to ask of a guy who hasn't had coffee yet."
Jaceon laughed—genuine, soft, broken around the edges. "Come on," he said, tugging him gently out of bed. "Let's eat before you faint and I have to explain to the EMTs why my boyfriend keeps passing out from hunger."
---
Later, in the kitchen…
The air was filled with the smell of eggs, toast, and something sweet—probably the cinnamon Jaceon insisted on using despite Levi's teasing. The table was simple, two mugs of steaming coffee, two plates stacked high, and sunlight cutting in through the blinds like heaven itself wanted a taste.
Jaceon sat across from Levi, one eyebrow raised. "Aren't you going to say a prayer first?" he asked, smirking over the rim of his coffee mug.
Levi blinked, toast halfway to his mouth. "Seriously?"
Jaceon shrugged. "I mean, it's your thing, isn't it? All 'thank you, Lord, for this meal we're about to receive'? You skipped it."
Levi grinned mischievously, then dramatically put down his toast. "Fine," he said, folding his hands with a mock solemn face. "Dear God, thank you for this food… and for not letting me cast the demons out of my boyfriend before breakfast."
Jaceon choked on his coffee, laughing so hard he nearly spilled it. "Wow. That's how it is now?"
Levi winked. "If I prayed too hard, you might start levitating or turning into smoke or whatever hellspawn do when they're rebuked."
They both burst into laughter, the kind that filled the room and pushed away every ghost lingering in the corners. For a little while, it wasn't about hell or sacrifices or looming doom. It was just two people, sharing breakfast, teasing each other like they had all the time in the world.
But the moment passed too quickly.
The laughter faded, and Levi looked at him, quieter now. "What are you really going to do?"
Jaceon sighed, fingers drumming against the mug. "Find another way. Visit the deity again… search the in-between realms. Maybe even confront the devil one more time." He met Levi's gaze, eyes fierce. "If I have to burn all of hell down to rewrite your fate, I will."
Levi swallowed hard, his throat tight. He could feel it—Jaceon's desperation. His love. The war he was preparing to walk into, alone.
"I love you," Levi said, barely above a whisper.
Jaceon froze.
Then slowly, his lips curved into a soft, heart-wrenching smile. "I know," he murmured, reaching across the table to take Levi's hand. "That's why I'm still fighting."
And as their fingers intertwined over coffee-stained wood and sunlight, the storm they both feared felt just a little bit farther away.
---