No matter how many years went by, Elden still felt the same thrill of wonder, affection, and pure joy every time he woke in Dorian's arms. He was fairly certain he would never truly get used to it. This morning Dorian's face was partially pressed into the pillow like he never planned to lift his head again and Elden wished he could spend the rest of his life studying the sight.
Dorian's mustache and hair were tousled and he looked so peaceful, stress finally relaxing its grip in sleep. Elden ran his fingers gently through the grey at Dorian's temple, smiling at the crinkle in the corner of Dorian's eye as he smiled in return. The lines there had deepened with time, his crow's feet growing more pronounced and Elden never grew tired of seeing them.
Even after all these years, after the weight of time, Dorian was still, and would always be, more beautiful than any of the wonders they had seen. Dorian was kind and good and brave and so many other things that Elden was sure he could never truly put into words. He had never been very good with them. He was honored to know this man and was constantly amazed that he of all people had been allowed to wake up like this, to see him like this, to love him and be loved like this.
Elden leaned in and placed a gentle kiss to Dorian's cheek. He watched as Dorian slowly opened an eye and even half buried in the pillow as he was Elden could still see the way his face lit up as soon as his gaze fell upon him and as they exchanged smiles Elden was so overwhelmed with happiness that he thought he might cry. It was silly, of course, but sometimes it was just so overwhelming and he didn't know what else to do with all of it except to pull closer to Dorian, closing his eyes tightly as he let his lover engulf him in his arms. Elden placed gentle kisses against Dorian's neck, feeling the deep chuckle he won in response against his lips and in his chest as Dorian breathed, "amatus."
He could feel Dorian's hand brushing through the gray in Elden's hair as well. Dorian would be beautiful no matter the years but there had been a moment when Elden feared– well, he wasn't exactly sure what he feared. He always seemed to find something to worry about. None of it mattered though. Dorian still tried to kiss Elden's laugh lines at every opportunity and at the end of the day they still held each other like they were the only ones that existed, giggling like they still had youth on their side.
Of course the days brought hardships but they were each other's' constants. Through it all they would still have this and perhaps that was enough to get them through.