Aaron made a face at the bitter taste of the Potion he had taken a swig from and then yanked up his shirt to reveal a nasty gash. As soon as the medicine had slid down his throat the flesh began to heal and knit, leaving only flakes of dead skin and clotted blood on the surface to show there had been any wound at all. That was the magic of Potions: they sped up the healing process so fast it was as if there had been no wound at all.
Lucian watched with interest, head propped up on one hand. No matter how many times he saw that happen, he'd never get used to it.
Bold and curious as always, he reached out to stroke the unblemished skin where the laceration had been moments before, making Aaron's breath catch. Lucian ignored it and, licking his thumb, rubbed furiously at the dirt, a vague frown of concentration drifting onto his face. When he had gotten it clean, the frown dissipated and was replaced by his normal face, an interested but blank sort of look.
His companion prepared to ask a question. "Um, Lucian…"
He looked up.
"Why… why do you do that?"
Lucian cocked his head to the side silently, not understanding what Aaron meant.
"Y-you're always touching me… I don't get it…"
"Because I want to." Aaron looked up suddenly in surprise. "It's fun to watch you squirm. Plus, your skin feels nice." Aaron's already pronounced blush got worse, and Lucian smirked.
"But that's so mean," cried Aaron, halfway between laughing and crying.
"Is it?" Lucian sat up from his lazy sprawl. "Is it really?" The brunette looked confused, so he continued. "I know you dream about me. "
His smirk got bigger as a look of shock and terror flitted across Aaron's face. "Don't think I don't hear you at night, when you're asleep and dreaming. Stoppit, Lucian,"he moaned in imitation, closing his eyes, "leggo. You're not supposed to do that! Lucian…"
Lucian cracked open one eye to see Aaron's look of surprise and horror. "I…" Aaron's voice cracked. "I talk in my sleep?"
"I should think that's the least of your worries at the moment."
Nodding, Aaron squeezed his eyes shut, obviously trying not to cry.
Lucian sat back slightly and waited.
"I'm sorry," said Aaron, covering his face with his hands. "Oh god, I'm so sorry…"
Lucian grinned inwardly. He had won! Outwardly, he crept a little closer to the younger boy, speaking in a voice so low it was almost a whisper. "You poor thing," he cooed, "you must be so scared." Aaron curled into himself more at the sound of his voice. "You're not supposed to like it this much when he touches you…. It's not supposed to feel that good, the feeling of his fingers…" Lucian trailed the tips of said fingers across his exposed shoulder- "…on your skin, your bare skin…"
A sob wrenched its way free from Aaron's throat, making Lucian grin uncontrollably. He loved feeling powerful like this, like he was the line between happy and sad and there was nothing the other person could do to change it. He nearly started laughing with sadistic glee when Aaron started shaking from the effort of not crying. "He probably hates you now," he whispered in Aaron's ear. "He probably thinks you're disgusting."
That was it. Aaron could control himself no longer, and broke down crying, still trying to cover his face. Lucian shook his head and grabbed a fistful of Aaron's brown hair, pulling his face up, away from his hands, forcing Aaron to look at him. Aaron tried to look away and Lucian yanked his hair around so he couldn't. "Bad Aaron," Lucian muttered, looking him straight in the eyes.
A tear slipped down Aaron's cheek and Lucian leaned forward, catching it with the tip of his tongue. Aaron made a sound halfway between a sob and a moan, but didn't turn away. The elder of the two smiled, lips mere inches from Aaron's face, before ducking to the side to tell him something. "What would happen if I did hate you, hmm?" he asked, speaking in first person again. "What would you do then?"
"I don't know," rasped Aaron helplessly. "I don't know anymore…"
"Good answer." Lucian leaned forward the last few inches to capture his lips, making Aaron squeak in surprise and confusion, and when he pulled away, Aaron's eyes were closed, two more tears trailing down his face. Lucian surveyed his prize.