Wyatt sighed heavily and stared at the ceiling; berating himself for being a jackass and pushing Ambrose into something he may not have really wanted as the hours passed. Leaning forward slightly, he kissed him gently on the forehead as penance and slowly carded his fingers through his slowly drying hair as he slept curled against his side.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured as he slid his fingers lightly down Ambrose’s cheek in a gentle caress.

Ambrose whimpered softly in his sleep, and shifted, curling closer around Wyatt, tucking a foot around Wyatt’s own.

Wyatt smiled faintly and shifted, gathering Ambrose in his arms before drifting off to sleep.

* * *

Ambrose wrinkled his brow as the sounds of movement reached his ears; the opening and closing of a door, footsteps scraping on the stone floor, the rustle of fabric as they moved; the clang of metal as they took something from the wall and the whistle of displaced air as they practiced with it.

Ambrose whimpered softly in agitation, and worried his lip. Silence surrounded him and he sighed, nuzzling against the pillow that slowly rose and fell beneath him.

The silence was broken once more with the soft rustle of fabric and the quiet thud of a metallic object being set down on a wooden one. A moment of stillness fell once more before quiet footsteps moved closer.

“Oh,” a hushed but definitely male voice exclaimed in surprise. “Sorry,” came the whispered apology and the footsteps made a hasty retreat, taking only a moment to put back whatever metal object they’d been practicing with before quietly exiting the room.

As the door shut behind them, Wyatt groaned in his sleep, tightening his hold on Ambrose who sighed softly in response.

* * *

The thick vale of blackness surrounding him slowly began to clear, lighten as he rose from sleep, coming back to consciousness and he groaned softly, stretching muscles that had been still and unused for far too long, yawning before blinking chocolate brown eyes and looking around a moment before a slow, contented smile curled his lips, the sound of soft breathing and the thump of a resting heartbeat reaching his ears.

Shifting slowly, Ambrose raised his head and looked up; his smile broadening as he spied Wyatt’s sleeping form. He blinked as he moved and looked down to see Wyatt’s arms fall away from him with ease and wrinkled his brow before returning his gaze to Wyatt’s serene face.

Moving carefully on his hands and knees, Ambrose hovered over Wyatt and bent down, careful not to touch him as he moved the open collar of his shirt away from his neck. Swallowing thickly, he stayed still, watching and listening to Wyatt sleep for a few moments. Then, a slow smile stole over his features before he leaned down and trailed his tongue slowly up the tanned column of Wyatt’s throat, drawing back when he heard Wyatt’s breath hitch in his throat before emitting a low groan.

He smiled, rocking slightly to and fro on his hands and knees as Wyatt blinked and reached up to rub the sleep from his eyes with a groan.

“You look awfully happy,” Wyatt observed.

Ambrose leaned down, his hands on either side of Wyatt’s head and his knees slid back on the mat as he lowered himself over Wyatt with a grin.

“Mmm hmm,” he murmured and crouched down closer, giving Wyatt a soft kiss. “Thanks to you,” he whispered as he pulled back once more.

“No thanks to me,” Wyatt replied exhaling heavily and averting his gaze.

Ambrose’s smile faded and a look of concern and confusion replaced it. “What do you mean?”

Wyatt sighed once more and turned back to Ambrose. “I mean I was a jerk. I pushed you, and I’m sorry.”

Ambrose blinked in confusion his brow wrinkling and shook his head. “No,” he said at last, looking at Wyatt squarely. “If this is about earlier, then no, you didn’t, Wyatt.”

“Yes,” Wyatt said and sighed in exasperation. “I did. I didn’t know that kissing you like that would have that affect on you, and I pushed you into something you weren’t ready for.”

Ambrose exhaled heavily and leaned forward, grasping Wyatt’s jaw firmly as he met his blue gaze determinedly. “No,” he said firmly. “You didn’t.”

“But…” Wyatt began, blinking in surprise.

“No,” Ambrose said, shaking Wyatt’s head gently, his fingertips squishing his cheeks. “I may have been a little surprised and confused at first, but I did know what I was doing, and I wanted it.”

“But, Ambrose…” Wyatt tried again when Ambrose released him and pulled away, turning.

“No, Wyatt,” Ambrose said looking back over his shoulder at him before turning to face him once more. “I know what was going on, just because I was a little confused by your terms doesn’t mean I knew nothing about it; I’m a bookworm, remember? I do have books, you know? And despite what you might think, I was in full capacity of all my faculties.”

“Ambrose…” Wyatt said again and then blinked in surprise when the man pounced on him, grasping his jaw once more and pinning him to the mat.

“Wyatt Cain,” Ambrose said firmly, staring him down. “If you try to apologize one more time for something you didn’t do, I swear I’ll kick your ass. I’ve already done it once, and I can do it again!”

Wyatt swallowed dryly and nodded.

“Good,” Ambrose replied. “I’m glad we can agree on something. Now…”

Wyatt blinked, slightly alarmed as Ambrose bent down over him not letting go and he squirmed slightly.

Loosening his grip on Wyatt’s jaw only slightly, Ambrose moved over him and claimed his mouth humming softly.

Wyatt’s breath hitched and he stilled a moment before slowly bringing his arms up, wrapping them around Ambrose’s slighter frame as he returned the kiss.

Ambrose continued the kiss for a moment before drawing back with a smile and soft laugh as he panted. “There,” he murmured. “Did you push me into that?”

Wyatt swallowed, reaching up and brushing his slightly bruised lips with the back of his hand. “N-no…” he gasped softly in reply, staring at Ambrose in wonder and sitting up slowly as Ambrose sat back on his knees with a grin.

Ambrose chuckled softly at Wyatt’s expression. “Like I said Wyatt, the terms you used may have confused me, but I do have books, even if they happen to be more clinically oriented in their descriptions. I may not be ready to take my clothes off around you, but I’m perfectly capable of making my own decisions, and you didn’t push me.”

Wyatt blinked and Ambrose chuckled once more before looking around the room.

“Think we’re done here?” Ambrose asked, looking back at Wyatt.

“Y-yeah, I think so,” Wyatt replied.

“Good,” Ambrose said hopping to his feet and pushing off the mat with his hands as Wyatt slowly rose, still looking at him as though he’d grown a second head. “I think it’s almost time for dinner, don’t you?”

Wyatt nodded and blinked as Ambrose clasped his hand and led him from the room.

* * *

“So, where do you want to have dinner?” Wyatt asked keeping his tone low as they walked down the hall. He was rather relieved that Ambrose had let go of his hand shortly after leaving the training room. It wasn’t that he didn’t care for him, was embarrassed by him or anything like that, it was just that he’d seen the kid teasing her sister as well as her parents for being all ‘lovey dovey’ either with each other or when she found out that her sister had a crush on some one and that was something he was sure both he and Ambrose could do without right now, so he wasn’t in a rush to announce their involvement.

Ambrose flushed slightly and slowed his steps nervously. “Well, I um…” he began and licked his lips, his blush increasing a little. “I could use a shower first, really…but um…”

Wyatt nodded, chuckling quietly. “Yeah,” he agreed. “Could probably go for that myself.”

Ambrose shifted slightly, chewing his lip.

“Hey, are you alright?” Wyatt asked looking at him curiously.

“What?” Ambrose asked blinking as he was pulled from the thoughts he had slipped into. “Oh, y-yeah…”

Wyatt cocked his head looking at him uncertainly. “Are you sure?”

Ambrose smiled faintly and nodded. “Yeah, sure… I was just thinking…”

“Look, Ambrose,” Wyatt said. “I didn’t mean…”

Ambrose smiled and nodded, placing his hand gently on Wyatt’s arm. “I know,” he replied quietly. “It’s okay, really.”

Wyatt swallowed. “I just… I don’t want to push you into anything.”

“I know,” Ambrose murmured.

“I didn’t want you to think…” Wyatt began, falling silent when Ambrose touched his lips with gentle fingers.

“I didn’t,” Ambrose replied quietly and smiled, blushing and averting his gaze as he lowered his fingers. “Well, I – I did…” he corrected before meeting Wyatt’s gaze once more. “But it wasn’t because of what you said.”

Wyatt blinked, swallowing. “You were?” he asked in disbelief.

Ambrose flushed and nodded slightly, averting his eyes and shuffling his feet nervously.

Wyatt looked at him curiously before he narrowed his gaze speculatively. “What were you thinking?”

Ambrose nearly turned crimson and didn’t meet his gaze as he continued to shift uneasily. He cleared his throat after a moment, still feeling Wyatt’s gaze upon him. “C-can I tell you at dinner?” he asked, finally raising his eyes.

Wyatt arched a brow. “I take it that means you don’t want to have dinner with the others in the dinning room then?”

Ambrose smiled somewhat shyly and bit his lip as he twisted a little at the waist and shook his head.

“All right,” Wyatt said after a brief pause as they started down the hall once more. “Where would you like to eat?”

Ambrose cleared his throat again as they approached his rooms and stopped in front of the door before turning to Wyatt. “Here,” he murmured but blocked the door, not moving. “I – I would ask you in but…”

Wyatt smiled slightly in understanding, leaning against the door frame. “The shower…”

“Yeah,” Ambrose murmured in reply.

Wyatt nodded and pulled back from the frame. “Meet you here?” he asked.

Ambrose grinned, nibbling his lip. “Wyatt?” he asked as the blond turned to go.

“Yeah?” Wyatt asked looking back over his shoulder.

Ambrose moved closer to him sliding his hands up broad shoulders. “Don’t make me wait too long,” he murmured and leaned up, kissing him gently.