A/N:
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For a long time, Ravenna knows only darkness. She floats on the edge of it, her body weightless, adrift in a sea of black. Somewhere above her, a voice whispers her name. Masculine, familiar, it weaves through the darkness like a thread pulling her back. She reaches for it, fingers brushing against something warm and solid, and then, slowly, she opens her eyes.

Her vision is blurry, the world around her a soft haze. A hand moves up and down her bare spine, tracing a soothing path. She sighs against his chest, feeling a dizzy mix of exhaustion and relief, the room spinning too fast for her to focus on the fact that she is naked and he is not. The rough denim of his jeans presses against her skin, a strange contrast to the warmth of his hand. She curls her arms around his neck, her eyes slipping closed again, her head too heavy to hold up.

His fingers slide up to the side of her face, threading gently through her tangled hair. The touch is light, but it sends a shiver down her spine. She feels his breath against her ear, warm and steady. "Are you in pain?" he murmurs, his voice low and concerned.

"I'm fine," she whispers back, though her words are slurred, heavy with exhaustion. "Just... tired. Empty." The word falls from her lips like a weight, and she frowns, trying to understand the hollow ache inside her. His arms tighten around her, pulling her closer, and he presses a kiss to her forehead.

"You were not doing well," Morpheus says softly, a hint of sadness in his voice. "The cold-it took too much from you." His tone carries a strange mixture of guilt and relief, and there is something he is not saying, something he is holding back. "From now on, I forbid you to stay in the cold for too long."

The need to feel him, to press herself against him, flares up inside her, desperate and overwhelming. She moves closer until there is no space left between them, her body molding to his, fitting perfectly. He doesn't pull away; if anything, he holds her tighter, his hands tracing patterns on her back, grounding her in this moment, in his presence.

"I miss you," she whispers, her voice trembling. "I love you. God, I love you so much. I should have told you a million times... I should have..." Her heart pounds in her chest, each beat echoing with regret and longing. "I know I'm not easy. I know I'm... difficult. But you-you're the best thing that's ever happened to me. And I can't-" Her breath catches. "I can't live without you. Don't ask me to stay away. I just can't."

For a moment, there is only silence. A heartbeat passes, then another, and a third. Anxiety coils in her stomach, twisting tighter with each second of his silence.

"You love me?" he asks finally, his voice quiet, almost unsure.

Ravenna blinks, then sits up, searching his face. "Seriously?" she says, a mixture of disbelief and exasperation coloring her tone. "I'm pouring my heart out here, and that's all you heard?"

He chuckles softly, the sound a low rumble in his chest. "I forgive you. I can't stay angry at you, not for long. You're mine, as much as I'm yours." His mouth curves into a small, almost shy grin. "Say it again. Tell me you love me."

She rolls her eyes but snuggles back against him, her bare chest pressed to his. "I love you."

"Again," he murmurs, his fingers tracing the line of her jaw, his touch gentle but insistent.

"I love you," she repeats, and then she kisses the corner of his mouth, her lips brushing against his skin like a whisper. "You're my heaven, Morpheus. You make me happy in a way no one else ever has."

He closes his eyes, a soft smile playing on his lips. "Good," he says, his voice low and rough. "I want you to be happy... and naked." His hand trails lazy circles across her skin, and she giggles, the sound bright and light in the quiet room. "My heart belongs to you, Ravenna. Only you. Let's not waste any more time on things that don't matter."

"Agreed," she purrs, her fingers skimming down his chest, feeling the hard planes of muscle beneath his skin. Her hand moves lower, tracing the outline of his jeans, but he catches her wrist, stopping her.

"I'm grateful to my sister," he says, his voice quiet and serious. "Death... she granted you immortality."

Ravenna's eyes widen. "She did?"

"She did," he confirms, a small, bittersweet smile touching his lips. "But you still need rest. You're not fully recovered."

She huffs, frustrated. "I just want to feel loved."

"You are loved," he insists, his voice firm but gentle.

"Then go show," she pleads, her eyes wide and imploring. "Please."

He sighs, a sound of reluctant surrender, and gently shifts their positions, his body hovering over hers. His forehead rests against hers, and he breathes out a soft, resigned chuckle. "The things I do for you," he mutters, but his eyes are warm, his smile soft.

Their lips meet in a rush, a collision of longing and need, their bodies moving together in a rhythm only they know. Each touch is electric, each kiss a promise, and the world around them fades, leaving only the two of them, lost in each other.

When it's over, he collapses onto her, careful not to crush her under his weight. His face nestles into the curve of her neck, and he breathes in her scent, a mix of sweat and something sweet, something uniquely hers. "Happy?" he whispers against her skin.

She shivers, her body exhausted but her heart full. "Mmm-hmm," she murmurs, her arms wrapping around him, holding him close.

"Sleep now, my love," he whispers, his voice soft and soothing. "You need to rest." He pulls back slightly, looking down at her. Her eyes are closed, her breathing slow and even, a small, satisfied smile on her lips. He can't help but chuckle, a quiet sound of joy. She looks content, peaceful.

He rolls onto his side, pulling her with him, his arm wrapped around her waist. He feels her warmth against him, her body fitting perfectly against his. He closes his eyes, a smile still lingering on his lips, and for the first time in a long while, he feels truly at peace.

He falls asleep soon after, lost in the warmth of her presence, and for once, he doesn't wake from this beautiful dream.