#12 – Respect
Learn to respect your lover. They are unique individuals with their own quirks and less than common habits. That is what makes them special. That is what makes you love them.
Leon always woke up early. Sadly, that did not mean he was, as some would call it, a "morning person" in any way. He had no trouble opening his eyes in the morning and facing the sunlight head-on, or being greeted by a furious downpour or having the falling snow advise him to dress a little warmer. Even if the air hadn't been warmed a bit by the sun yet, that did not deter the man from going about his day. No, Leon did not mind the morning. People were the problem.
People tend to yearn for their dreams to stretch into their waking hours, always mentioning when they had a particularly pleasing or frightening experience while unconscious. The man did not care for that in the least – dreams were whispers of the mind, hinting at what is bothering you. He wasn't interested in knowing what was whispered into someone's mind during the night.
Leon was even less interested in being told over and over how breakfast was such an important meal. Coffee was enough stimuli for him in the first hours of his day.
Cloud knew this and he never spoke a word about his latest dream while handing his lover his favourite red mug filled with black coffee, no sugar, no cream, simple and to the point, as he liked it. For Leon, the sensations one had during sleep were hints, but to him they were much more – dreams were comfort and pleasure, they were need and want, Leon's kiss and Leon's touch. They were endless "yes" and stuttering "more", "I love you" and "Lee".
It was a pity Leon would never know Cloud would only ever dream of him. It was a pity, but Cloud respected the man's quirks.
