Chapter 9: Your smile

When Felix woke next, he was still in bunny form, and he recognized this patch of the forest. They had camped there before. He looked at the gambeson under him, and noted that the hand on his head was moving. Slowly caressing his ears.

Felix turned back into a human, his body flush against Edward's. To the cat shifter's credit, he resumed his petting. His fingers moving as swiftly through fur, as they now did through soft curls.

"Did you sleep well?" Edward whispered. Felix moved his face closer to the cat shifter's, and blinked his eyes a couple of times, to chase away the sleep from them. That prompted Edward to chuckle. "You are adorable in both your forms."

"Edward, what are we to each other?" Was Felix rushing this? Was this meant for him? To have the shifter love him? How was this happening so quickly?

"I hope we can be lovers, but I don't want to pressure you," Edward didn't know why Felix didn't feel the pull, but he was not going to tell him about it. No, once Felix felt the bond tugging at him, then Edward would act.

"I feel like I have known you forever, but it hasn't even been a week," Felix whispered. He didn't understand why he was whispering. It was not like Edward was going to spook, if Felix spoke in a higher tone. Yet, something to Felix felt off. As if there were a breakable piece of a puzzle in his hand, and if he so much as breathed wrong, he was going to end up sweeping the glass shards off the floor.

Felix felt a hand on his nape, which tugged him ever down. When his breath was ghosting over Edward's lips, he decided to close the rest of the distance, and pressed his lips against Edward's. Felix felt himself being shifted, and brought to lay under Edward. When the cat shifter had him beneath him, he smiled.

"How far do you want this to go?" Edward was not about to take away the feeling of control from Felix. He didn't want for his mate to feel forced into anything. Even if Felix didn't seem to be feeling the bond, as he should be feeling it. "How old are you, Felix?"

Was the age the problem? How old was the bunny? Should he lay it all off?

"Eighteen, I turned eighteen last month," which meant that he was legal, but his soul hadn't settled yet into his inheritance. And that meant no bonds yet. "Why do you ask?"

The temptation to come clean ate away at Edward. He wanted, oh so very much, to tell Felix that he was his soulmate. His better half. But then Felix would just have his word as proof, and that just wasn't enough for Edward.

"Nothing. Just wondering. So, how far do you want to go, dear bunny?"

"I want to kiss you," Felix leaned in, and gave Edward a peck on the lips. He then deepened the kiss, wanting to feel the lovely minty taste of Edward's mouth.

Edward fought with his instincts, to not claim his mate right here and now. Felix obviously wanted him, that much was certain. And yet, did he want him for life?

"Do you remember how I told you a story, the other night?" Edward asked, breaking the kiss, and placing a finger on Felix's mouth.

"You want one in return?" Felix asked, and Edward nodded. Edward got up, and then had Felix climb into his lap. As Edward rested his chin on top of the curly mop of his bunny, he couldn't help but think that he had never been in a situation which seemed more right, than this.

"Where do I begin?" Felix began, sounding uncertain. "My mother, Ophelia, loves all twenty bunnies of us."

"I see."

"She and dad, his name is Ragnar, and yeah, I know, pretty tough name for a bunny, but he is a tough cookie, you know? Does all the hunting around the farm, together with some of my brothers. Definitely not a garden variety bunny."

"I see, go on."

"They did their best, so we can have full bellies, and mint leaves as dessert," the wistfulness in Felix's voice was clear to be heard. That made Edward pause.

"Do you want some mint? I didn't know if you liked it, so I never offered. I have plenty."

"That would be nice, but if I start chewing, I will never finish the story. And I don't want to leave you in the dark about myself," Felix told him, happy that he might get to have some mint between his teeth tonight.

Not that he didn't like taking his daily dose through kisses. He could kiss Edward until the end of time.

"They also made sure we had plenty of carrots," at Edward's chuckle, Felix puffed up his cheeks. That didn't escape Edward's notice, and he poked him on the nose. Which made Felix huff.

"Right, you were telling me about mint and carrots. I won't interrupt. It is just that… you are a proud bunny, aren't you?"

"Is there something not to be proud of? We are peaceful people, us bunny shifters," Felix said, and Edward let out another chuckle.

"So peaceful, you use necromantic mana to heal?"

"Well…"

"But do go on with the story. I will quit with my teasing," with this promise extracted out of him, Edward closed his mouth, and gave Felix his whole attention.

"Right, we never went hungry, even though most of our clothes were hand-me-downs. The same goes for the shoes. I wanted to make something of myself, and so, spent most of my time in the library. My parents supported me, morally, but not financially. They were glad that they had a Harland who wanted to study, but didn't want for the family to pay with their hunger for my way through life."

"How do you feel about that?" Edward asked. Judging by what he had already seen of Felix, he could guess, but he still wanted to be reassured that his mate was a kind and selfless person.

"It never bothered me. The library in town was free, and I got access to the wide network of different libraries, because of a scholarship I won when I was five," Edward nodded, and kissed the top of Felix's head.

"Smart when still in diapers?" Edward already liked his mate more and more.

"Hey, five is out of diapers age," Felix protested, and turned around, so he was once again facing Edward. "Let me finish the story!"

"Sorry for interrupting, dear bunny," Edward said, but his grin was telling of how little he regretted these interruptions.

"I tried to win other scholarships. To earn my way in life. My final attempt got me a letter which said that I passed with flying colors, but still needed to pay. I love my family, but want something better for them. I want to be able to make a lot of money, and send it to them. Is it too much to ask?" Felix was looking into Edward's eyes with such an earnest expression that Edward felt as if his breath was stolen.

His soulmate was altruistic. Not a single selfish bone in his entire body.

"You said you can do alchemy and runes, didn't you?" Edward asked, and Felix nodded. "But the problem is the money for the license? You have passed the exams?"

"I have. I still have ten years to pay. The same for the healing license," and that had been the only thing he had gotten, by applying for the government aid.

"Well, which is the cheapest license of the three?"

"The alchemy license. It is 1,000 gold coins," Felix could taste the bitterness on his tongue. Yes, he did make money, but he also spent many healing people. Not that his heart would ever let him just walk away from the wounded.

"You will have 1,000 gold coins by the end of the week. The only thing I ask of you, is to give them for the license. And not for ointments for people who will benefit more, if you begin to sell potions," it was a hard thing to ask of Felix, but he still nodded.

Not knowing where Edward was going to get the money from, but willing to believe in those clear blue eyes of his, with their green undertones.