Ash awoke in a sweat, breathless and pale, the screams from the nightmare still echoing in his ears. The room was unfamiliar at first, bright from the sunlight pouring through his open window, the scent of the ocean carried on the summer breeze, along with that of freshly cut grass, Alice’s flower garden, and the sound of the peach tree leaves rustling around the other side of the house.

He was at home. 

In his and Coby’s bed.

Safe.

He scrubbed his face with both hands, sliding one through his hair until he found the single braid at the back, pulling it forward over his shoulder as he played with the carefully wound pleats and the bead Coby had made at the end.

He sent a “good morning” wave down to Coby, but wasn’t surprised he didn’t get anything in return. His husband wasn’t annoyed with him any longer, nor was he blocking Ash off; he was still asleep.

Ash let out a long exhale and sat up, pulling on his tee shirt to release it from his broad, sweaty chest. His hair hung in a curtain around his face as he glanced toward the open window, a pleasant sound greeting his ears. Sliding out of his bed, he padded over and looked down into the backyard, smiling when he saw his youngest sister running around squealing with joy as she was playfully chased by Silkie, the dragon bounding after her and releasing short bursts of energy streams to tease the little girl.

Morning, princess, he said softly. She glanced up at his window and smiled, her tongue lolling out, her amber eyes bright, but it was brief. Her attention immediately went back to her friend, both of them laughing as they played.

Grabbing a fresh change of clothes, he headed out of the room and down the hall toward the bathroom, allowing the cool water to wash off the hot sweat he’d accumulated in the night. Leaning against the wall with both hands, the water pouring down his scarred and bruised back, bruises that were already fading into nothing, he thought of Coby, just as he always did.

They’d been up late talking, his mind sobering all the while. Their topics had ranged from nonsense to more serious matters, including Coby’s chastisement over Ash’s recent behavior. It wasn’t anything he hadn’t heard over the last few months, but it was something he needed to take more seriously. He was drinking too much, smoking too much, fighting too much…

Ash could give every excuse in the book, and Coby might understand them, but it didn’t matter. Ash’s actions affected Coby, as well as Silkie to some extent, and he needed to get it under control before it got any worse.

Let me see you, Ash had pleaded. Two months and all I’ve gotten are excuses for why you won’t meet me in the pocket. The last time you denied me outright…how did you think I would react to that?

Coby couldn’t deny Ash was right. Ash’s nerves, his temper, were on a razor’s edge and it was becoming harder and harder for him to deny himself the elixir that eased him, helped him sleep, had become the medication to numb himself to the reality of his life. Coby wasn’t there at his side, no matter how badly both of them wanted him to be. But they had their roles to play, roles that were hardening them. 

Ash saw things that were damaging him mentally and spiritually, forcing him to rail at the gods for allowing such atrocities to happen in the first place, demanding them to intervene, to put a stop to it all. 

His angry prayers always went unanswered.

So, in response, Ash turned to the bottle. He’d started smoking not long after bringing Silkie home, and that was only after he’d been unable to save a ship full of merpeople in time. He’d cursed himself, spending two days on a rough bender, and accepting the cigarette one of his guild members offered him. He’d not stopped since, much to Coby and Silkie’s chagrin.

What his family thought about it didn’t matter nearly as much as his husband and daughter.

And still…

We’ll get through this, iyshta. All of us together. I’ll save you…

After a long moment in which Ash was sure his husband had fallen asleep, he’d said, Touch me again, Ashley. Love me again.

Ash had to scoot back from Silkie when Coby made that request. 

I won’t ever stop loving you, sweet peach, he’d reassured him. Not for a single second. He paused, released Silkie, and rolled away, his arms wrapped tightly around himself. Put your hands on me, Coby. When you wake up, feel me…touch me…love me.

Now, in the shower, he finally felt Coby stir. His heart began to pound, his dick springing to life as Coby made his way to land, wherever it was, found a quiet place alone, and wrapped his energy around Ash, directing it into his hand while Ash did the same to Coby. Their own physical hands may be around their cocks, Coby’s fingers moving inside his own body, but their separate energies did the work.

**