The moon was full, hanging high in the winter sky, and Eduard couldn’t help but feel like his fellow classmate looked ephemeral in the cold light gently flowing through the window. From the first time they met, he had found Ludwig to be beautiful, one of the most stunning young men he’d ever seen. He hadn’t quite understood his personality back then, and he still found him puzzling at times, but now it was something he was fond of. To the point where he had decided to actively pursue the other in romance.

He silently watched the other from his seat at the table, a smile playing on his lips as he watched him read. He watched the way the moonlight bounced off his skin, how it made his hair shine, the length of it obscured by his body where it trailed down his back. He wanted to lean across the table and run his fingers through hair so long and thick it could make even Rapunzel jealous. He knew Ludwig took exceptionally good care of it. He’d seen the braids he kept his hair in when he was going to bed on several occasions now, and had found it utterly adorable.

“Hey Lui,” he started, waiting til he had the other man’s attention. “Can I braid your hair tonight?”

He felt Ludwig’s eyes on him, seeing him contemplate his answer, before placing a bookmark between the pages, shutting the book and laying it on the table. “You may.”

In one graceful motion he stood up, walking over to the cabinet near the bed. Eduard followed, watching him pick up a hairbrush and ribbons. The hairbrush looked expensive and the ribbons were soft against Eduard’s fingers as he accepted them into his hand, silky smooth like the fur of a kitten.

Eduard followed Ludwig back to the table, moving to stand behind him. He hadn’t brushed anyone else’s hair in a long time, not since before him and his younger sister were separated. It felt like a very intimate thing now, here all alone with Ludwig. He moved the brush through the ends, slowly working his way upward. His hair was soft, and he smiled when he felt Ludwig relax under the feeling of the brush going through his hair. With care and patience, since Ludwig had more hair than any other person he’d ever met, he brushed out every inch of thick purple hair, until he reached his scalp. Once satisfied, he put the brush down next to them on the table, finally getting his opportunity to run his hands through the long locks of hair. His smile grew as he felt Ludwig lean into the touch, almost imperceptively.

They stayed like that for a while, until he was reminded that the hair still needed to be braided, at which point he ran his fingers through the purple tresses one final time before splitting Ludwig’s hair into two large sections, then splitting one of the two additionally to braid. Braiding hair that long was trickier than he had anticipated, but Ludwig was patient with his occasional fumbling, the atmosphere light.

Soon enough, Eduard was finished, looking over his handiwork. He draped one of the braids over Ludwig’s shoulder, following the length of it to the tips of his hair, down onto his arm, the cool material of his nightshirt soft against his fingertips.

There was something soft in Ludwig’s eyes when he met his gaze, and the younger man picked the brush up again, standing up and motioning for Eduard to take his place. Eduard blinked, surprised. “I was just gonna brush it in the morning,” he admitted, but still took the offered seat.

Ludwig’s ungloved hands were gentle in his hair, the brush feeling good against his scalp. “There is no reason for you to not take good care of your hair,” Ludwig spoke as he took great care to brush out any knots in Eduard’s hair. The darkskinned man lived a very active life, on horseback as often as he could, on top of their frequent fencing classes, which lent itself well for hair that could use a little bit of extra attention. “I see you take care of the horses, you ought to take care of yourself just as well.”

Eduard glanced up, catching Ludwig’s eyes with a grin. “Even though you do it so well for me?”

The tiniest fond smile snuck its way onto Ludwig’s face, and he ran his fingers through Eduard’s hair, nails gently scraping against his scalp, the hairbrush finally left to its own devices. “Very well.” Cool fingers cupped Eduard’s cheek, and Eduard turned around in his seat, resting his own hand on to of Ludwig’s. “I can indulge you occasionally.”

His other hand moved up to the nape of Ludwig’s neck, pulling him down until their lips met.

The kiss was chaste and sweet, the taste of Naoji’s tea lingering on Ludwig’s lips. It only lasted a second, but it made Eduard’s heart flutter with excitement to think that he got to share something so intimate with the man he cared for so deeply.

Ludwig sat down in the chair Eduard had occupied less than an hour earlier, though it was now standing just a bit closer together to the one he was now sitting in. It made Eduard hide a knowing smile behind his hand, and he scooted himself even closer.

In a silent offer, he placed his hand palm up on the table between them.

When Ludwig wordlessly slipped his fingers between his, the smile on Eduard’s face was dazzling.

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