Far From Home

[Najira]

Blessed be the weak, would claim an Odsaar. If Najira were in Kharguid territories, his maintenance would be seen as an act of piety. But in these places? Where the shadows grow long, and desperation carves a white-hot bloody clawmark through the very souls of its inhabitants? Ideals had a way of waxing and waning. Empty stomachs had a habit of pilfering the mind.

Najira nuzzled in against Jon, as he jostled him closer. A needy little noise left his lips. It was clear that he wanted to hug one of Jon's arms, but tried his best to refrain.

"I was spliced in the womb." Najira admitted softly. The pool of stock to be spliced from was small, given his size. Most likely: Human. An uncommon choice, given the potential effects that had on the lifespan. Humans were short lived. Less hardy.

For the rest of the walk, he tried to not cling to Jon. But by the time the two entered the hostel, the poor thing was finally giving in just a bit, and hugging one of Jon's arms closer. Even transferring him to his shoulder was a little bit of a struggle: needy whines and a tightened hug, before a reluctant release.

Sinking in against the bed, now within Jon's quarters, Najira couldn't help but accidentally flash puppy-eyes up at him. All the way until he sat next to Najira and offered a canteen-- Something that seemed absolutely oversized in the spliced Kharguin's hands. He drinks, deeply. Maybe a little too fast, supporting the canteen with both hands.

As Jon settled next to him, Najira leaned in against the larger man's warmth.

[Jon]

Jon firmed up when he felt Najira lean against him. He thought the boy was already sober. Why is he being this clingy? Maybe he's tired? Did he remember to wash his clothes? All thoughts racing through Jon's head, yet his face remained in this permanent frown.

"Spliced huh..." He layed on the bed, one hand behind his head. The other dragging Najira with him, letting him rest on top of his chest. He started petting the smaller canine without thinking, as one does with a pet that lays on top. "What benefits does that have? Aside from... Fitting into places i could not." He seemed lost in thought, just petting away without thinking that maybe it was inappropriate to do this to someone who he just met.

"Well sorry, of course you didn't have any say on the matter. Just wondering why..." His hand went to Najira's ears, caressing and massaging them. Alsmost as if playing with a toy while he talked. Yet stopped abruptly when he realized what he was doing, an awkward silence followed his actions.

"Sorry... I didn't mean to..." The frown in his face was gone, a genuine expression of confusion could be seen. Confusion over his own actions, and the need to protect this one brewing inside him. Maybe that was the benefit of being human spliced, to look this cute and have someone take care of you. Pure genius.

[Najira]

"The Human sample came from a Dreamer." Not 'mother', 'father', or 'parent'. A distant kind of title, almost indifferent.

A cryogenic oracle. Pod-bound and non-verbal. Communicating through neural interfaces and command lines. Venerated by Human society. Some of them are old enough to remember the exodus from Earth. A sliver of that, embedded within the smaller Kharguin. Though, judging by his clothes... He most certainly wasn't raised human.

"Never got around to telling me why."
❚ An attempt at a waking Dreamer.

Perhaps the conversation ran the risk of becoming something darker. But, Najira enjoys being played with. Caressed and patted. It soothed him, stopping him from going too far into the deeper end of the pool. Instead, his lips slowly formed into a warm, placid smile.

And then, confused eyes looked up at Jon once the petting stopped. He even gave a tilt of the head, with one of his triangle ears flopping over. The soft jangle of his piercings and jewelry. It was an almost fatally pup-like display to the larger man. His smile turned into a confused expression.

"... But I liked it." His tail slowly wagging.

[Jon]

Jon was quick to understand the importance of Najira's ancestry, he's been around enough humans to know that he was holding what could potentially be a religious paragon. But what was he doing alone? Why was no one around to protect him? Again overthinking things.

Yet this time those thoughts were discarded, it did not matter what kind of religious importance Najira carried. In his arms there was only a lost puppy in need of physical contact. The most adorable person he's ever seen and a fragile boy in need of protection. That's what Jon saw before closing his eyes, no more awkward silence. "...I understand." Both to explenation, and the fact that he was enjoying being pet.

Jon embraced Najira with both arms as he layed on his left side, dragging along the smaller Kharguin with him. He pressed him against his chest, one arm envelping Najira's shoulders, the other his waist. Jon's heartbeat was slow. Soothing. His tail was wagging from sisde to side slowly, he was at peace. "Then just rest, don't think." Almost a whisper, his snout nuzzling against Najira's hair. The embrace tightening. His whole body rubbing against the puppy-boy.

[Najira]

Najira lets himself be pulled down into the bed. He makes little noises, almost like a pup, as he nuzzles in closer to Jon. Joined on the bed, Najira enjoys the closeness, and simply sinks in against the larger male. A smile pulling at his lips, as his smaller frame tries to hide against him. As though fully trusting Jon to provide protection against the outside world. The two's bodies tangle, as they slowly form into a puddle of affection.

It was an odd feeling, to Najira. The firm, masculine warmth that surrounded him felt like a shield. Najira's hands slowly wander across his furred musculature, and resting his face against the protective slab of Jon's chest. A little noise escapes his lips as he wiggles, getting more comfortable. Sinking in against the spongy warmth of Jon's bust. A slow, comforted breath escaped his lips, as he just settled into this new, profoundly soothing sensation.

❚ He never knew his father.

"Don't... Think?" The notion confused Najira, as his golden eyes looked up at Jon, "Okay. ... I trust you." Thoughtlessly, he pressed his lips to Jon's chest, as he flashed puppy-eyes up at him.

... It was obvious. The poor thing didn't know he was falling heads over heels. But it was clear on his face. His attraction to Jon was blatant. He had those big eyes that one gets when they're discovering a feeling for the first time.

"Can... Can I sleep under you?"

[Jon]

Jon went silent for a moment, his mind was set on making this lost puppy feel at home with him. "Come here." He said in a hushed tone as he shifted his weight over Najira, who was getting a face full of Jon's chest. With his body fully pressed against the poor Kharguin, he let gravitiy do all the work.

Yet, just like a dog who does not know how big he is, he started nuzzling against him. Tail waggin mightly as he let out all of his cuteness aggression over him. Najira was being hugged, caressed, nuzzled and snuggled up all while having this loving tower of muscles on top of him. The bed creaked at all theese aggressive movements, without context one could only imagine the most passionate love making was taking place. Not far from the truth, but there wasn't anything sexual going on. Just a touch starved man letting loose for the first time.

After an uknown lapse of time, Jon started to slow down. Until he completely stopped moving, and the snoring started. He fell asleep so relaxed, a deep slumber like never before. Not having to sleep with an eye open was something new for him. This moment of vulnerability was a rare thing, but with Najira's warmth and scent made for the best pillow. One made for him and him alone. Low growls could be heard from him, he hugged Najira tightly. Maybe a dream of someone trying to take him away. Even while sleeping, he would not let go of his safe place.

[Najira]

The man's weight wasn't a joke. As he laid atop Najira, the smaller Kharguin was squeezed from all sides. He wiggled, he squirmed, he even made little noises if there was too much weight pressed down on something fragile. But after a time? He found his safe place.

Jon's scent filled his nose. His steady heartbeat drowned out the outside traffic. It was odd. Born among shrines and rites and rituals did not lend itself to thoughtlessness. At first, Najira was almost overwhelmed... But it soon faded into a blissful sensation. Thump. Thump. Thump. The mighty wag of Jon's tail. The beating of his heart. It all finally joined together in such a sweet way, and it made Najira make a truly pathetic little whine as he finally felt himself deepening into sleep.

He softly kissed. Suckled. Nuzzled. While Jon was squeezing and rubbing against him, Najira was just as happy to be a placid little object of affection. It made him feel better. Made his heart feel light. Loved. There was a time where he accidentally started happy-crying in his sleep during the night-- But it wasn't long at all.

He was exactly where needed to be.