Proteus shifted his hips slightly, jostling Sinbad from where he lay between them, his head resting on his stomach. Blinking, Sinbad looked up at him with bleary eyes. They had fallen asleep on the beach, but now the sun had lowered, glinting into Proteus' eyes.
Sinbad smiled up at him, eyelids drifting shut. "I told you, you should visit more often."
He scoffed, and he could feel Sinbad nestle deeper into his body as he moved. Tilting his head back, he watched the setting sun. At least now it wasn't throwing light into his eyes. "Syracuse needs me, Sinbad. The few days I have free I spend with you."
Sinbad buried his face in Proteus' stomach, his hands gripping at his waist. Blinking back tears, Proteus ran a hand through Sinbad's hair. "I told Marina once, that my heart was in Syracuse. Only I didn't know then that my heart was sailing on the next tide."
"And Syracuse than?" Sinbad asked, forlorn hope in his voice.
Proteus sighed. He hated this part. Soon, the ship would come for him, and their few days would be over until next year. "Syracuse is where I belong." His fingers tightened on the grip on Sinbad. "But my heart is here on these shores, with you."