[ He takes Alucard’s hands, letting himself be led. He’s more steady like this, at least, and his steps become more certain. ]
I’m glad about this. Really, I am. [ He doesn’t want to be ungrateful. He knows how hard and probably costly it is to come by a healer with this sort of expertise. He knows what a massive thing it is that Alucard’s done for him. He wants to be visibly happy about it, to perform the reaction that Alucard must have been hoping for. He just can’t. ] It’s just a lot.
You don't need to apologize for having feelings, Trevor.
[It's a little bit of effort to tug a goliath along. Alucard does so happily, all the way to the room that is theirs. The one with the biggest fireplace, that they still light sometimes just for the flicker of the embers.
The one whose rug now has a large mattress parked beside it, not yet moved over top.]
...the timing of this is accidental. I...wouldn't overwhelm you on purpose, not today.
[ He sees the mattress. He understands that it must be for him, both because it’s massive and because otherwise its presence means that one of them doesn’t want to sleep on top of him anymore. But he doesn’t react. Just stumbles over to his safe, familiar rug. ]
I’ll- I’ll think about that later. I’m sure it’s- got good bed qualities.
[ Local giant does not know what qualities would be positive or negative in a mattress because he’s never used one. ]
That's been all Alucard's tried to demonstrate since they got back here, isn't it? That Trevor shouldn't just be some branded traitor. That he's worthwhile. Worth hanging onto. Theirs.
He moves as invited though. Settles in his spot against Trevor, small and cool and so content.]
[ This is normal again. This is good. Missing a pair of horns digging into one shoulder, but good. He'll try out the mattress, if only because he knows it means a lot to Alucard. But later. He's had enough new and exciting things for one day.
It takes him a while to answer. By the time he does, his heartbeat has slowed to something only a little faster than usual. ]
Yeah. [ A pause. ] Same rules as always.
[ Not at the eye, he means. Not yet. The healing hasn't changed that. ]
[In the long silence, all Alucard does is run fingers through Trevor's hair. It's a lot like a comb to Treovr, he imagines, since Alucard's fingers are so damn slender and Trevor is simply so large. But it's a comforting motion, even if it sometimes feels more like petting him than something more tender.
All the same, Alucard does it. Says nothing more, insisting Trevor take all the control.]
Of course.
[They're easy rules to abide by. Neither of them touch the eye unless they have to for an emergency. That's always been the rule.
But kissing other things are just fine, and so Alucard does just that. Moves one hand to settle against Trevor's cheek (below his good eye) and then puts his lips against the Belmont's.
Scale makes even this hard. But there's no mistaking the undercurrent of adoration in gesture, soft and loving, but still wanting to offer space if it is needed.]
[ This is good. Right. A new normal, yes, but still a normal. He doesn’t return the kiss, but sighs warmly into it and lets a hand settle on Alucard’s back. The stone floor beneath the rug is solid against his shoulders, a constant and immovable certainty. Above him, Alucard is almost as constant and about as likely to go anywhere as the floor is, so long as Trevor asks him not to.
He’s safe. ]
Think- think I’m going to take it easy for the rest of the day.
[ Now there’s a phrase you don’t hear from Trevor often. He says it againt Alucard’s lips, and so the words turn into a lot of tiny kisses. ]
[Maybe that's a touch too sentimental. But it's a true statement, one Alucard has no regret in expressing. There's another kiss, just as gentle as the ones before.]
Dunno. You might run off to try to do another good deed.
[ He chuckles, opening his eyes to stare up at the ceiling. He likes this patch of ceiling, the one he stares up at on sleepless nights. He's memorised the whole damn thing. All the little cracks, the tiny discolourations from when smoke has escaped the fireplace. The slow, constant process of spiders weaving before one of them clears the webs away. Likes the temperature when he's this exact distance from a fire burning so low that it might die at any moment were it not for Sypha's presence in the castle. ]
I'm grateful. I really am. It'll be- useful, being able to go around without worrying about getting dragged to the gallows. [ A pause, and he looks from the ceiling back to Alucard. ]
But this is all I've ever wanted. More than I could have imagined I'd ever dare to want. All you ever have to do for me is be here.
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[ Walking straight is hard. He's exhausted. Dizzy. ]
Need to lie down. Close to the ground.
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[Sorry, Trevor.
Alucard sighs, and here he floats up a little, and offers his two small hands to Trevor.]
Grab onto one. I'll pull you along.
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I’m glad about this. Really, I am. [ He doesn’t want to be ungrateful. He knows how hard and probably costly it is to come by a healer with this sort of expertise. He knows what a massive thing it is that Alucard’s done for him. He wants to be visibly happy about it, to perform the reaction that Alucard must have been hoping for. He just can’t. ] It’s just a lot.
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[It's a little bit of effort to tug a goliath along. Alucard does so happily, all the way to the room that is theirs. The one with the biggest fireplace, that they still light sometimes just for the flicker of the embers.
The one whose rug now has a large mattress parked beside it, not yet moved over top.]
...the timing of this is accidental. I...wouldn't overwhelm you on purpose, not today.
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[ He sees the mattress. He understands that it must be for him, both because it’s massive and because otherwise its presence means that one of them doesn’t want to sleep on top of him anymore. But he doesn’t react. Just stumbles over to his safe, familiar rug. ]
I’ll- I’ll think about that later. I’m sure it’s- got good bed qualities.
[ Local giant does not know what qualities would be positive or negative in a mattress because he’s never used one. ]
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[Alucard follows though, the mattress left to the side. Waits for Trevor to settle on down.]
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[ He likes what he’s used to. Even outside of being spooked by memories, the slow drum of boring consistently suits him just fine.
...speaking of.
He raises one arm, inviting Alucard to settle with him. Same as always. Normal. Comfortable. ]
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That's been all Alucard's tried to demonstrate since they got back here, isn't it? That Trevor shouldn't just be some branded traitor. That he's worthwhile. Worth hanging onto. Theirs.
He moves as invited though. Settles in his spot against Trevor, small and cool and so content.]
May I kiss you?
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It takes him a while to answer. By the time he does, his heartbeat has slowed to something only a little faster than usual. ]
Yeah. [ A pause. ] Same rules as always.
[ Not at the eye, he means. Not yet. The healing hasn't changed that. ]
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All the same, Alucard does it. Says nothing more, insisting Trevor take all the control.]
Of course.
[They're easy rules to abide by. Neither of them touch the eye unless they have to for an emergency. That's always been the rule.
But kissing other things are just fine, and so Alucard does just that. Moves one hand to settle against Trevor's cheek (below his good eye) and then puts his lips against the Belmont's.
Scale makes even this hard. But there's no mistaking the undercurrent of adoration in gesture, soft and loving, but still wanting to offer space if it is needed.]
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He’s safe. ]
Think- think I’m going to take it easy for the rest of the day.
[ Now there’s a phrase you don’t hear from Trevor often. He says it againt Alucard’s lips, and so the words turn into a lot of tiny kisses. ]
Stay with me?
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[Maybe that's a touch too sentimental. But it's a true statement, one Alucard has no regret in expressing. There's another kiss, just as gentle as the ones before.]
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[ He chuckles, opening his eyes to stare up at the ceiling. He likes this patch of ceiling, the one he stares up at on sleepless nights. He's memorised the whole damn thing. All the little cracks, the tiny discolourations from when smoke has escaped the fireplace. The slow, constant process of spiders weaving before one of them clears the webs away. Likes the temperature when he's this exact distance from a fire burning so low that it might die at any moment were it not for Sypha's presence in the castle. ]
I'm grateful. I really am. It'll be- useful, being able to go around without worrying about getting dragged to the gallows. [ A pause, and he looks from the ceiling back to Alucard. ]
But this is all I've ever wanted. More than I could have imagined I'd ever dare to want. All you ever have to do for me is be here.