Living Words
"All right, all right," Macati said, climbing to his feet slowly. He took his time in walking around the table,  but he stopped behind Guylian's chair instead of approaching Tlory. "Hey."

"Hi?" Guylian said, tilting his head up to look at him curiously.

"Good work," Macati said, leaning down and kissing Guylian gently. Tlory grumbled something  halfheartedly, but Macati ignored him, focusing on Guylian.

"Tlory earned it," Guylian said when Macati pulled away, but he was smiling.

"I know," Macati said, smiling cheerfully. "But I don't like to let him get too cocky. It's not healthy."

"Hey," Tlory objected, kicking his ankle again. Guylian laughed, smiling mischievously. He didn't say  anything, but Macati was pretty sure that particular smile was reserved for when Guylian was thinking  something naughty. Resisting the urge to kiss him again, Macati heaved a sigh and turned to regard Tlory.

"I suppose—"

"I've changed my mind," Tlory said contrarily, crossing his arms and giving Macati a stubborn look. "I  don't want your reward."

"Too bad," Macati said, and before Tlory could protest any further, Macati leaned down and kissed him  hard. Tlory grumbled something into his mouth, his teeth sinking into Macati's lip briefly before he pulled
Macati closer and almost into his lap. Macati barely braced himself on the arm of Tlory's chair in time to  keep himself from falling. Then he pulled away, smiling slowly at the dazed look on Tlory's face.

"Good work," Macati said, and Tlory scoffed half-heartedly before shoving him away.

"We're going downstairs," Tlory said, climbing to his feet. Guylian predictably flushed, but Macati had  figured that they'd be taking a break from the work room and the first law of their relationship as soon as
Tlory had started making noises about getting his reward.

"For half an hour," Macati said, knowing even as he said it that they probably wouldn't be getting back to  work until after dinner. If then.

"Sure, half an hour," Tlory said, pulling Guylian out of his chair and obviously believing that as much as
Macati did.

Macati rolled his eyes—at the rate they took breaks, Guylian wouldn't be earning his license for another  year and a half, and Tlory for nearly four years. Not that Macati particularly minded the thought of keeping  them for that long, and hopefully for even longer.  






Fin
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