Time continued to pass imperceptibly in the silence of that long night. At this moment, the two of them had just finished bathing and cleaning themselves for the second time after they were satisfied making love for up to five rounds.
Under the light of the bathroom lamp, Alvein, who was standing in front of Arvin, was putting a sleeping pajama shirt on his husband's body. He inserted and buttoned the shirt buttons one by one from the bottom up with very gentle and careful movements.
After all of his husband's pajama buttons were neatly fastened, Alvein lowered his gaze. He stared intently at the white Life and Death contract symbol that was now permanently engraved on the back of his right hand. He rubbed the symbol softly, then smiled very happily.
Seeing the behavior of his fourth spouse who was so happy, Arvin also smiled happily.
"The night is getting very late. Let's go back to the bedroom and sleep." he invited with a gentle voice, while extending his right hand forward.
Instead of welcoming the outstretched hand extended to him, Alvein looked up at his husband with a slightly hesitant facial expression.
"But, Honey..." Alvein said softly. "I have never slept during the thousands of years of my existence. As a guardian Morpher, my system was not designed to need rest like a human."
Hearing the honest answer he had just heard left Arvin quite surprised. He looked at his spouse with a furrowed brow.
"You truly have never slept at all for thousands of years?"
Alvein nodded slowly, confirming the matter.
Arvin let out a long sigh, then grasped both of Alvein's hands. His gaze turned very serious yet full of affection.
"Starting tonight, just try closing your eyes and sleeping like a normal human!" Arvin suggested with a very firm tone, not wanting his fourth spouse to continue living like a machine or robot that never rested. "You must start getting used to your new life here."
"I... I will try it, Honey." Alvein answered, although he was not sure if he could fall fast asleep.
"Even if it feels very difficult at first, you still have to try it." Arvin chimed in quickly, not wanting Alvein to feel doubtful if he wanted to change. "You are not a Morpher, but my spouse! Make sure you always instill the thought that you are someone from the fairy race who has officially become my fourth spouse."
Arvin looked into Alvein's eyes with a very serious gaze. "I truly hope you can forget your old identity as a Morpher from your mind."
The firm words laden with validation and absolute acceptance made Alvein freeze with his eyes staring deep into his husband's pair of blue eyes full of sincerity.
After staying silent for a few moments, he nodded firmly.
"I will try hard to become a normal human like you, Honey!"
Arvin smiled in relief after hearing that determined answer.
While holding hands, the two of them walked together leaving the bathroom towards the bedroom.
"This is our room, Alvein." Arvin said when they arrived in front of the bedroom door.
Click!
The bedroom door was opened very slowly, then they walked side by side into the room.
Upon arriving inside the bedroom, the two of them stopped their steps for a moment. On top of that king size bed, they saw Allen, Alrain, and Ordion who were already fast asleep. The breaths of the three youths sounded regular and peaceful under the thick blanket wrapping their bodies.
"Let's sleep on the empty side." Arvin whispered very quietly, not wanting to wake his three other spouses.
Alvein nodded in silence, then stepped soundlessly following his husband towards the side of the bed that was still empty. The two of them then climbed up and laid themselves down on that very soft mattress, pulling the blanket to cover their bodies from the cold of the night air.
Alvein stared at the room's ceiling, his body still feeling stiff because this was his first experience lying on an actual bed.
"Just close your eyes, relax your body, and try to sleep." Arvin whispered gently right into Alvein's ear. "Empty your mind of all worries so you can fall asleep soon."
Alvein obeyed his husband's instructions without arguing. He closed his eyes, forcing himself to relax, and tried to find a gap to fall asleep amidst his consciousness that had always been awake for thousands of years.
Seeing the obedient action of his spouse who seemed to still be having a little difficulty, Arvin did not stay still. He tilted his body to face Alvein. His hand raised and began to stroke that silver hair with a very gentle and soothing rhythm, hoping that his spouse could soon fall fast asleep.
Stroke after stroke filled with love flowed an extraordinary sensation of peace for Alvein.
And what happened next was truly like a miracle. The defensive line of the magic entity's eternal consciousness slowly crumbled by human warmth. His breath began to regularize, his body completely relaxed, and he finally fell asleep, entering the subconscious realm for the very first time.
Realizing from the sound of his breath that his fourth spouse was already completely fast asleep, Arvin smiled in satisfaction.
He laid his body back down, closed his eyes, preparing to enter the dream realm following his four spouses.
....
Time rolled on in peace.
....
Morning began to approach. Even though the sun had not fully shown its face on the eastern horizon and the capital's sky still radiated a tinge of dark blue color, Alvein had already slowly opened his eyes and woken up from his sleep.
He blinked a few times, gathering his consciousness.
I... I actually fell asleep? he thought in his heart, his eyes widening in disbelief at an occurrence he previously deemed highly impossible for him. For thousands of years I could never sleep even for a second. But last night, while being by his side, I was truly able to sleep very soundly just after feeling the gentle stroke of his hand on my head.
Alvein tilted his body. He stared intently at the handsome face of his husband who was currently still fast asleep with a gaze full of awe and adoration.
He is truly a very great man! Not only freeing me from that lonely, dark, and stuffy place... but he has also made me able to become a normal living being like in general in this new life of mine.
The passionate feeling of love that morning made Alvein unable to restrain himself. With very slow movements, he crawled slowly, then climbed up and sat on Arvin's crotch in a straddling position.
He lowered the upper part of his body, leaned his face forward, then gently stroked the handsome face of his husband who was still asleep on the bed with both of his thumbs.
Feeling a weight sitting on his crotch accompanied by a smooth caress on his face, Arvin's consciousness slowly returned. He opened his eyes slowly, adjusting to the dim morning light.
The first thing he saw upon opening his eyes was Alvein's cute face looking down and smiling at him.
"Good morning, Alvein." Arvin greeted gently.
"Good morning to you too, Honey." Alvein returned the greeting with an equally gentle voice. "I apologize because this behavior of mine has woken you up from your sleep."
"It is alright." Arvin said with an understanding smile, his hands moving to embrace the slim waist of Alvein who was sitting on him. "I actually thank you because you have woken me up earlier this morning. Because there is one important thing I want to discuss with you."