He might have been sleeping. This could all have been a dream. It would be better, he thought, if it was. Reality hurt too much. So if this was a dream, at least it was pleasant. A dream of passion, a dream of a place where safety wasn't just a relative term – it simply was, no questions asked. Where they two could exist and not be concerned with the actions of the outside world, where they were immune to its petty flaws and quarrels.
There were arms wrapped around his shoulders. Someone was hugging him from behind; someone darker, crueler in action and thought. A harsh intrusion into his dream world, forcing him just by the solidity of his presence to abandon his delusions and accept that this was indeed reality. A reality he knew all too well. Whispering in his ear that this was just one night, just one distraction, and he knew he wanted it. Just one single chance to have something totally and utterly forbidden.
Just one mistake to make, to drag him down?
He could resist this. He was strong, stronger even than the man pressed against his back, whispering in his ear that this could all just be a diversion. They needed a break, too, didn't they? After all, they were the ones that had to fight the wars. It wasn't their conflict – they were simply pawns in the game.
He could fight him again. This could devolve into another part of their convoluted war, and maybe this time one of them would win. He doubted it. They were matched, he thought – matched in will, matched in desire, matched in passion. Unmatched, perhaps, in strength, in genius, in power. But otherwise without imperfection. They were meant for this, made to fight and to kill, and yet not truly part of the pain they created. Unaffected by the suffering they wrought.
He found he didn't want to resist it. He didn't want to stop those darkly tanned hands from pulling down his mask, didn't want to stop the mouth pressed to his in an almost violent kiss. Even when sharp teeth sank into his lip – only for a second, only just enough to draw blood – he knew he couldn't stop, couldn't push the other man away.
Because, even though it was truly forbidden, this one night was all he had. And it was all he wanted.