The blankets shifted and a rush of cold air danced across Dorian's skin. He stirred with a light shiver, a yawn on his lips as he tried to will himself awake. Awake enough to check on Vaxus, at least. He glanced about with a groggy, sleep-ridden look. His eyes finally landed on Vaxus' back on the edge of the bed. Another yawn as he sat himself up, rubbing as much sleep away from his eyes as possible.

"Amatus?" he asked, quietly. His voice still slow with just a hint of roughness. "I'm fine, Dorian," Vaxus replied. And, in spite of his best efforts, the strain in his tone was clear. Even to Dorian's sleep-addled brain.

Dorian tried to form the proper words to protest when Vaxus turned around, offering his most charming smile. The one he wore when talking to nobles, or when he was playing The Game at Halamshiral. Dorian frowned at him.

"You're not fooling me," he finally mustered.

Vaxus pursed his lips, then sighed and deflated like a burst bubble. A distant pain clouded the other man's vision and Dorian's frown deepened, his brow furrowing.

"You've been eerily quiet since we returned from the Basin."

Vaxus turned away again, sighing as he slouched further. He rubbed one cheek absently as he stared out the window.

"I can't get Ameridan out of my head," he admitted.

Dorian sat up a bit more, shifting a closer to Vaxus. He shifted enough to sit behind Vaxus, wrapping his arms comfortingly around the warrior's torso. He placed his head on his shoulder and hummed softly.

"What troubles you about him?" he asked, gently.

"I don't even know," Vaxus sighed. "Everything?" He leaned back into Dorian's supportive weight, tipping his head back and closing his eyes. "It all… I still wonder. Are we doing the right thing? Will all of this, everything, be worth it in the end?" He trailed off and sighed again. Shifting his head aside, he opened his eyes to look at Dorian. "Am I just fading away into nothing? Will I be a ghost in the end, just like him?"

Dorian lifted his head up off Vaxus' shoulder and frowned at him. He then gave the warrior a reassuring squeeze.

"Vaxus, you are not Ameridan. You are you. The man the people love, the man I love." Dorian smiled then, that small charming grin of his. "And you have me. No matter what, I will not allow the world steal any part of you." He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his forehead. "Not ever."

Vaxus chuckled, a broken and awkward sound in the silence. His eyes watered and he blinked fiercly in an attempt to banish them. Turning fully, he flung his arms around Dorian in a massive bear hug. Clinging, clutching to his love like a lifeline. His only lifeline.