Late that night, Fifolet slipped into Claude's room, shadowed in the darkness. He had done this a few times before; his intangibility made it easy to come and go without being noticed. But he always made sure he never lied to Claude either. Claude knew he visited him and didn't seem to be concerned about it.
Fifolet wasn't entirely sure why he liked doing it. Claude was always asleep when he went, so it wasn't for the conversation. He just found he liked watching Claude sleep. The thief seemed innocent and peaceful in slumber, and watching him put Fifolet's mind and soul at ease, especially after a particularly tiring or troublesome day. The night after Candra's death was no exception. Watching Claude calmed Fifolet down as it always did.
"I wonder what he dreams 'bout?" Fifolet thought. He made a mental note to ask Claude sometime. Fifolet thought dreams were fascinating. His own were never that appealing to him until recently, when Claude started showing up in his dreams. He wondered if he was a key figure in Claude's dreams as well. It was a curious thought.
Unlike every other night when he visited Claude's room, Fifolet decided to be different that night. He watched Claude for awhile and then made his decision. He silently walked over and sat on the bed, smiling lovingly at the sleeping thief. Then he leaned over and kissed Claude's lips tenderly. Claude woke up part way through the kiss and returned it sleepily but willingly, his body becoming more alive with each passing second. As with most of their kisses lately, this one became deeper and more intense as the moments went by and when they finally broke it, neither of them could breathe properly.
"If I remember correctly, mon amour, you don' usually wake me up..." Claude commented.
"True. But tonight's diff'rent. After what happened today, I...well..."
Claude nodded. "Yeah....I know. You wan' stay?"
"You want me to?" Fifolet asked.
"Not like dere ain' enough room."
"Okay. Dat'd be...nice."
It wasn't an invitation for anything other than what it sounded like. They weren't ready for that yet, and they knew it. They just wanted to spend the night together, taking comfort in each other's presence and cherishing the fact that they'd come out on top against a force that could have killed them in a heartbeat had she been so inclined.
Fifolet joined Claude in the bed. It was the first time they had shared a bed, but they weren't uncomfortable with the idea. It was too late at night and they were too tired to be uncomfortable. After one more tender, loving kiss, they curled up together, Fifolet with his arms wrapped protectively around Claude, and fell asleep, peaceful and happy. They stayed like that until morning, when Tante Mattie, who had looked in Fifolet's room and found it empty, came to check on Claude.
Finding them there together, and instinctively knowing nothing more had happened, she let them sleep, closing door gently on her way out and smiling over their contentment. Finally someone in the Guild was happy.