So it was with excitement that he hurried down from Darian's back when they got to the creek, they were evidently at a different section of the creek and he hurried forward just to dip his hands in the water for no reason.
"Don't fall in." Darian called over to him, setting up the blanket while keeping a sharp eye out for him.
Jaxon squawked at this, turning around with his hands on his waist. "I'm not that clumsy."
"Sure." Darian replied dryly. "Why don't you eat before you splash around in the creek." He suggested.
Jaxon got up from where he had splashed water on his face at this, food meant pumpkin pie. "Alright." He agreed, making his way over.
"This all looks so good." He complimented, helping Darian set out the food.
Darian's chest puffed up at this, immensely pleased. "Thanks, I'll hold you to that."
The hike was enough to make him hungry enough, not to talk about the delicious food all laid out in front of them.
"I… don't think you should start from the pie…" Darian trailed off, watching Jaxon stuff his face.
"Hmm?" Jaxon glanced up with wide eyes, his cheeks puffed up.
"Nevermind." He replied with amusement dancing in his eyes. "Go right ahead, I made it for you anyway."
Jaxon managed a happy smile although his mouth was full with the delicious pie.
Darian watched with slight surprise which slowly turned into an overwhelming feeling he couldn't quite place as Jaxon enthusiastically tucked away the food.
"Don't tell Agnes but your pumpkin pie is my favourite." Jaxon whispered playfully, licking his fingers as he directed his hungry gaze to the sandwiches.
"I won't." Darian said with a fond smile, mostly picking at the food, content with watching Jaxon eat what he cooked.
The strange feeling spreading slowly through him finally made sense now, it was a deep seated satisfaction for being able to provide for Jaxon. Yeah, he was fucked.
"Why aren't you eating?" Jaxon clicked his tongue unhappily, offering Darian his half eaten sandwich.
"I am." He insisted, reaching out a hand to wipe food crumbs from his bottom lip.
"Then eat." Jaxon pushed the piece closer to Darian's face.
Holding his gaze, Darian leaned forward and let himself be fed, his stare intense.
Jaxon only managed the intensity of his stare for a few moments, breaking away first, cheeks hot.
"See, now keep eating." He encouraged him, pushing a hand through his pitch black hair, dark blue eyes still on Jaxon.
Jaxon didn't need any further encouragement, returning back to the meal. His hair had started to fall out of his bun, making him push away locks of his hair with his wrist and elbows as his hands were occupied.
Darian didn't think a grown up man could manage to be this cute without even trying. "Let me help you." He offered, already moving.
Jaxon stiffened slightly when he felt Darian move behind him, his bigger body easily covering his, he relaxed afterwards when Darian took out the scrunchie from his bun that was falling apart.
This felt familiar and different at the same time, Leon always did up his ponytails and he did so with a dexterity that came from practice which wasn't a surprise, Leon always liked to keep his own hair on the longer side, it was just recently that Jaxon had stopped cutting his.
Darian however was extra careful, going through each step with care like he was scared it would hurt Jaxon.
It was almost funny the way he gently gathered up the bun like Jaxon was a little girl, it was also very relaxing, he didn't think he would mind Darian brushing or washing his hair.
"Thanks." He murmured when Darian was all done, missing his warmth when he moved away.
Darian was already packing up the basket, the picnic was almost over with, Jaxon tucking away most of the food much to Darian's pleasure.
Jaxon sipped on lemonade as he watched the creek flow by, Darian had declined his help with cleaning up so there was little else left to do.
The soothing burbling of the flowing water made him feel lethargic and his lack of proper sleep hit him hard.
He was exhausted, both from not sleeping and walking more than a couple miles and all it took was being full for his body to be impacted by the full extent of his exhaustion.
"...axon? Jaxon?"
"Huh?" He turned to the side in surprise.
"Are you good? I've been calling your name for a while." Darian said, looking concerned, the furrows in his brows deepening when he saw how out of it Jaxon had become, his tired eyes revealing eyebags that his earlier excitement had managed to conceal.
"Yeah." Jaxon trailed off, looking at the creek one more time.
Darian reached forward to cup Jaxon's face so that his attention would remain on him. "Tell me, did you sleep well?"
Without thinking Jaxon leaned on Darian's palm, closing his eyes with a sigh. "Not really."
"Think you can sleep here?" He worried at his lip, wishing he had thought to bring some of Jaxon's sleeping potions along.
Jaxon's eyes opened languidly, his green flecked hazel eyes staring directly at Darian. "You know what, I think I can." He drawled, startling Darian by crawling onto his legs to snuggle against him.
Darian could swear his heart stopped beating for a couple moments, a lump forming in his throat when Jaxon got comfortable on him.
Thankfully, he had laid the blankets close to a tree so there was support that they could both be comfortable but even with a sturdy pine tree behind him, with Jaxon in his arms, he felt like he might go over.
"Jaxie."
His name slipped past his lips without any prompting, sun streaked red hair in his vision.
Jaxon looked up at this, a small tired smile forming on his lips. Darian never called him that.
He was sitting on him with both legs on either side of his, he had been propped up against Darian's chest but now he sat up.
He was going to blame his tiredness on not melting away when Darian stared down at him like that, like his favourite food, ravenously and reverently.
He really liked it when Darian called him that. "Say my name again?" He invited, placing both of his hands on Darian's face, his head tilted to the left.
"Jaxie." He repeated, his voice dropping a couple octaves lower, dark blue eyes settling on his lips.
In the next moment, Jaxon moved forward, placing his lips on Darian's, his eyes slipping shut.
Darian's eyes widened briefly, this was the second time he was getting kissed in twenty-four hours, was there something about getting the first time out of the way that brought more coming along?
Surging forward, he slipped a hand around the nape of Jaxie's neck, his other hand going around his waist as he deepened the kiss, taking Jaxie's breath away.
"Sleep now." He ordered in a soft voice, sneaking one last bite of Jaxie's kiss-slicked lips.
Jaxon got comfortable, his face hidden in his chest, cheeks flushing when he felt Darian's hands on his thighs.
The feeling didn't stay for long though, sleep knocking him out the fastest ever. It was like one moment he was cuddling up against Darian who was like a big bear even with how lethal he looked and the next, he was fast asleep.
Darian felt that same deep satisfaction again when Jaxon fell asleep on him, it didn't matter how long Jaxie would sleep for, Darian would gladly watch over him while he slept.