If there was ever a moment that fate would wake her up from this dream this was it. They'd part and he would never come back to her, come to meet Sparrow. The dream would fade and Nazonal would awaken in their den, warm and happy but crestfallen. They held their breath a few moments, waiting to wake up but.. But it didn't happen. They felt a breeze lightly brush their face and then his voice coming through the ambient air towards her. The day after tomorrow.

They did not mind the idea of waiting that day much. Oh the anticipation would grow but it would give time for Nazonal's nerves and stupid giddy feelings to calm. To be in a state that they could talk and share, it felt like it was the best way to ensure a good day was had by all of them. Besides, after this long what was one more day? She nodded and leaned inwards, aiming to kiss him once more on his forehead. I'll see you then.

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He didn't want to leave and part of him stood there wondering quietly.. did he have to? Couldn't he just stay around with them a little bit longer and enjoy the moment? Nero wavered with uncertainty, trying his best to keep himself anchored to the ground and gauge whether or not it would be in their best interest to keep tempting fate. He had certainly learned how to keep himself in check and knew Nazonal would not simply throw away love over a few moments of pleasure, so really.. couldn't they just stick around for a little bit longer?

She stepped forward to kiss his forehead and his cheeks flushed. There was something intimate about the gesture that made him feel like a giddy kid going out on his first date and the smile that carved his muzzle showed it. "Yeah, I'll see you then. Let's just hope the world doesn't explode in the meantime." But what were the chances of that? Unlikely. There was always the potential of war, sure, but within the next day? He doubted it.

Nero sucked in a slow breath. "You're gonna have to be the one to leave here first Naz, or we're gonna stand here all night – and I'm okay with that, honestly, because you've got an awesome face to stare at, but.. y'know." The lion flicked his tail, claws digging into the ground. He didn't want to be the one to leave. Not this time.

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The world would be fine for a few days. It was being kind to them now right? It would keep itself under control surely. I like your smile by the way. They appreciated the grin that grew over his features, they catch sight of it as they pull back and find themselves looking into his face. Much like him they have trouble wanting to leave and end the moment. Maybe it would make sense to wait just a bit longer, let the sun rise a bit and make both of their journeys home safer....

Nero are you wanting me to leave first so you can look at my butt?

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Busted. Maybe. Nero hadn't really considered that thought until just then, but it was clear by the flickering in his eyes that he didn't think it was too shabby of an idea. "Noooo.." he trailed off innocently, clearing his throat as he shook himself to fluff up and try to appear regal or something. Or just not like a child that had gotten caught red-handed with his hand in the cookie jar. "You can walk sideways like this," he said, crossing his legs in a half-pass as he awkwardly crabwalked a few feet away. "Then I won't be able to look at your ass, so, there's that option. Or you could walk backwards." Nero nodded enthusiastically, clearly pleased with himself for the monumental idea.

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They narrowed their eyes with suspicious notions as his 'no' drew itself out and up into the night air. Their grin began to grow all the while and eventually the bright feeling of joy they got spread over them entirely. Oh darn I was hoping you'd watch. They feigned an immense disappointment (only so fake because they were absolutely sure he'd have looked) and dramatically sighed.

I guess I'll just scoot away on my butt like this. Playful and easy energy began to build, the very natural sort that they'd always felt around Nero since first meeting him. They dropped their butt to the ground like they were sitting and began to scoot through the grass in a circle.

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Nero flexed his toes anxiously, almost as if he was trying to decide whether or not it would have been more or less appropriate if he had just openly gawked at her badonk silently. He had been trying to be a gentleman, but if they were going to call him out for not looking.. well, he'd be happy to oblige. His ears perked up as they expressed disappointment that he wouldn't be watching, so naturally he quickly added: "I will look at your ass all day. Don't gotta tell me tw- oh my god, Naz." He snorted with laughter as she began to hide her tush in the grass. What on earth? "No, no, I insist you get up." He jumped towards them and attempted to press his head (lovingly headbutt) into their side, hoping to either coax them up or send them tumbling into the grass. "You're such a dweeb."

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She's pleased to hear he'd look, but even more happy to get that sort of reaction out of him. Pure, good, goofy joy and a solid snort laugh to boot. Very attractive in the "this person I like is happy" way. They let themselves be rolled to the ground. They're tossed a bit through the grass and end up on their back cackling. Nero kissed a dweeb. Nero kissed a dweeb. They chanted to the sky above, like kissing a dweeb was a worse thing than actually being the dweeb in the first place. Naz's voice devolved into a fit of giggles and they let their head flop back on the ground amidst it, relishing that her sides and chest began to hurt from the strength of her laughter.

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It was effortless. The way he and Nazonal clicked made it so easy to be himself around them, and he treasured that feeling more than anything. Being able to be completely and utterly himself, to not hide or disguise anything in fear of being rejected – if that wasn't love, what was? There were parts of him that others hadn't seen. Ugly parts. Nazonal had seen all of them and still chose to love him, so he tossed off the shackles of his self-imposed facade and allowed himself to breathe for the first time in a long time.

He huffed as they flopped onto their side, easily toppled. Nero grinned and attempted to pounce on her, aiming to grab her ear between his teeth and gently tug. "And the dweeb kissed a bump on a log," he teased with a proud hmph.

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His teeth gently curled around one ear and she felt the tugging, with each pull although not inherently painful Nazonal felt that extra effort it took within to not just fall into desire. They reached with one paw, claws still within, and aimed to push at the side of his neck- playful growling rumbles growing up from within their chest as they devolved into free spirited play. As much a release as the screaming earlier had felt this felt like a true escape. If only for a brief time. Their attempts to push him away were half hearted, not really wanting him to let go or get off of her. I'm officially promoting you from bump on a log to dweeb licker. Congratulations. They snickered at the childish, sort of crude, sound of 'dweeb licker'. Not even kisser. Licker.

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Although he was a man and therefore very much not immune to the concept of lust, Nero was craving another sort of contact at the moment. He hadn't wrestled with anyone in what felt like years, and now he had shifted into playful mode and wasn't going to let any kind of dumbassery ruin it. Not yet, anyway. There would always be time for that in the future.

He growled as they halfheartedly shoved at his neck. Nero was reluctant to let go of their ear but eventually did so in an effort to try and swing himself on top of them and chomp at their cheek instead. At the audacity of being called a dweeb licker, Nero ceased his attempts to chomp and instead tried to draw his tongue obnoxiously across their entire face. Like that one Stitch gif.

"Tastes like dweeb."

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