Sequel. For Gerbil.

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"So. Are you still mad with me?"

Soren turned to look at the flame-haired sniper standing in the entranceway to the tent. His eyes narrowed automatically, but he didn't mean it. Ever since he had woken up entwined in Shinon's arms, he didn't know how to act around the sniper.

Thankfully, Ike and Stefan had managed to calm the stampede that had happened when they all found out his secret, but he still occasionally was the victim of casual cruelty from prejudiced members like Lethe. He was just glad it hadn't gone too far.

"I don't know, Shinon. To be honest, you aren't very frequently in my thoughts. I have other things to think about." Soren quipped in return.

"Don't talk crap. I know you've thought about it often enough since then."

"Have you?"

"Yes."

"..." Soren didn't know what to say. Should he be angry or upset? Or...happy, that Shinon was thinking about him? Wait. Why...?

"I know how you feel about me. Why else would you have overreacted the way you did?"

"...I don't know what you're talking about, but you're making an idiot of yourself."

"Hypocrite."

"..." What was Shinon getting at? Soren wasn't even sure if he wanted to know.

Shinon came closer, his eyes fixed on Soren's. The mage couldn't look away. He automatically backed away, and bumped into the rough wooden crates behind him. Soren knew there was only one way out of the supply tent, and that was the exit behind Shinon.

Suddenly Shinon was right in front of him, had him up against the crates. The archer calmly placed a hand either side of the smaller mage, to clamp down on the crates behind Soren.

Trapped.

"I want the truth from you, Soren" murmured Shinon softly. He was so close...

Soren swallowed hard as the man leaned closer, turning his head. The taller of the two had closed the distance between them, and Soren could feel Shinon's body against his.

Soren's breath caught in his throat when Shinon kissed him. He was scared, too scared to do anything. Paralysed, even. Shinon's hand stroking his side broke his spell, and he fumbled a tome out of his robes.

He couldn't use it, though. His hands were shaking and he dropped the heavy book clumsily when Shinon deepened the kiss, running his tongue over Soren's bottom lip. Shinon's lips were incredibly soft, his tongue warm and moist.

Soren pulled away then, his head jerking back sharply. He looked away, breathing heavily. He was aware that Shinon was staring at him, and he wanted so much to run from the tent but Shinon had his arms wrapped around the mage's skinny waist.

"Tell me the truth, Soren. You liked that, didn't you? You enjoyed it. I know you did."

Soren didn't want to look at the sniper, but a slender hand took him by the chin and made him look. The hand, however, was not brutal, it was gentle.

"Tell me, Soren" Shinon's voice had dropped again, to a murmur.

Soren swallowed hard, and answered.

"Yes." he whispered, only just audibly.

"And...? Do you love me? Answer that one, too."

Soren's heart was thudding hard against his ribcage, shaking his body. His head was somewhere in the clouds, and he was dizzy. He was trembling, though not from fear, as he had previously thought.

"...Yes."

Shinon smiled. Not widely, he didn't grin, it was more like a soft smirk, yet not a sinister smirk. Soren's eyes slid shut. He didn't want to look anymore. He tried to calm his thundering heart, his ragged, quiet breaths.

"Good." Shinon leaned in again, and those lips were back against Soren's.

This time, he wasn't nervous. He returned the kiss, shyly.

His heart was still thudding gently, but finally he knew that it wasn't out of fear.

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