"I'm always going to be the sensible one whether you're involved, or not." It does work, whether either of them thinks on it or not – any which way you choose to put it, they seem to be two parts of a whole that have come together and fit together so seamlessly that nothing else can touch it.

He can't be bothered to put too much thought into at the moment, though, whether it's arguing the other man's point or his own; he has him right where he wants him, and he's been sufficiently distracted from the terrors of his dreams and that's all North ever wants for him. To be that anchor, to be the one that centers him and keeps him right where he needs to be.

And of course, York is all ready and raring to get things started, ready to get to the fun part and North can only chuckle lightly in the back of his throat. Patience, of course, is a virtue that this man does not know the meaning of, but he doesn't think right this very second is going to be one of the times that he sees fit to remind him.

He pulls away, sliding down the body beneath him and pressing soft, teasing lines of kisses over his sternum, nipping at the edges of ribs as he goes. "Then I guess I'm a cheater .. and I should be sorry." Pausing at the dip of his navel, his tongue flicks over warm skin as he sucks a mark to life just to the side.