[ He mimics the way Alucard lies down against the stone, looking up at the beautiful ceiling. It feels strange, if he's honest. The way the hot, dry air makes him sweat the protective layer of dust away from his skin. It makes him feel vulnerable in a way he doesn't really care for. But Alucard likes it here, so he tries it anyway. ]
Maybe it's the heat. [ It seems strange to him, that the heat would help with old burns. But then, he's not the doctor. And Alucard does use warm water to soak his feet. ] It doesn't matter, does it? If they feel better anyway.
[Alucard's own instinct is now to reach out for Trevor's hand. He can't, not in public, but it's still there. He's not sure how to feel about that but...well. He'll think about it later.]
You're right. The end result is the same, and sometimes we don't need to question it.
[He crosses his legs, then lets out a very happy sigh.]
[ He still doesn't understand the rules behind not being able to hold Alucard's hand when there are other people about. But he doesn't need to, really. All he needs to understand is that Alucard doesn't want to be touched in front of people.
It doesn't mean that he doesn't want to gather Alucard up in his arms and pull him close while he's being so soft and unguarded. It just means he doesn't do it. ]
Does this really make people clean? It seems like it'd just make them awfully sweaty.
Oh, there are actual baths here too. Usually you lie down, let the sweat happen, and that helps remove all the oil and dust build up from...whenever the last time you bathed was.
[Alucard's explanation of public matters had been simply it's against cultural norms. He'd love to put his head in Trevor's lap right now but it isn't a good life choice yet.]
You'll understand when we leave. You feel amazing when you leave.
[ He says that, but he doesn't make any attempt to move. He wants to be here, with Alucard while he's so content and warm. Also the answer to how long it's been since he bathed in the human sense? Probably a long time ago. ]
[ He doesn't touch Alucard but he lets his hand hover close to his shoulder. A gesture that would be pushing him softly back down if he were to make contact. ]
I won't. I'll stay as long as I can, and then wait for you outside.
[ He does leave before long, in the end, moving to a cooler adjoining room to wait for Alucard. The loss of dust isn't too bad - nothing dangerous, so long as he doesn't need to hunt within the next few hours. Less protecting him from the cold, but it's not exactly a cold place. He probably couldn't fly if he needed to right now, but then he wouldn't be doing that while disguised as a human anyway. The only real change is feeling a little more vulnerable.
And the only real effect of that is wanting to bury himself in Alucard's arms when he emerges. He doesn't, but oh, he wants to. ]
[Alucard takes less time than he might normally for this bath. When Trevor leaves he goes into the pool, washes himself properly, then comes back out. His long hair is so very wet, and the rest of him still warm and a little sweaty.]
I am.
[There's such an instinct to take Trevor's hand. But he doesn't.]
[ The bath itself might be strange and a little uncomfortable, but he thinks he likes Alucard like this. All warm and flushed and content, with water dripping down from his hair, relaxed completely.
He’s seen him happy a lot over the last few days, but it hasn’t lost its wonder. He looks around carefully, then leans in to whisper. ]
Alucard knows he's blushing. He's warm all over but warmest in his cheeks. So he's blushing.]
Yes. I'd like that.
[A lot. A lot. So they get their things, which also means clothes, and meeting the cool night air. They're far from the waters in this part of the city, but tonight the breeze has moved very well up the harbor.
Alucard's hair flutters in that breeze as he walks them both back home, as do his clothes. Sypha ought to be asleep by now, and there's no greeting when he unlocks the door. Just soft snoring.
[ The walk back is pleasant, the night air feeling cool for once after the heat of the baths. He still feels heavier than usual, weaker, but not unsafe. Just a little more open. A little more vulnerable. Less invincible, in comparison to the delicate humans here.
And so the moment the door is closed, he's close to Alucard. It feels safer that way for both of them. As Alucard trails off, he brings a hand up to his flushes cheek, smiling.
And then he leans in to kiss him. There's no taste of honey, this time, and no soft dusty texture to his skin. But it's still soft. Still careful and affectionate. ]
[There's nothing but happiness when Alucard leans in, bridging the gap between them both.
What he isn't is guarded. At least he's less guarded than he's ever been before, because one hand rests on Trevor's hip. His mouth opens just a little, coaxing. Saying that this is okay. He's ready for something just a little bit more.]
[ He's nervous about more. He's done this before, a few times, but usually with his own kind who are, as a rule- things go a lot faster, with them. It makes it altogether unclear when kissing things stop being kissing things and start being sex things, and the last thing he wants is to go too far.
But a little further, maybe a little further is fine. He leans in closer. Places a hand on Alucard's back to press them both together. Presses his lips more firmly against Alucard's, using them to push his mouth open further. ]
[Alucard knows this is his own limit for now. But it's a good limit to have, because he does press against Trevor. Grips his hip a little tighter, opens his mouth more. Angles it so that his hair brushes over the hand on his back and oh, oh he hasn't felt his heart hammer like this in years.
[ He doesn't deepen the kiss further, but when he breaks it it's to bend down and lift Alucard, holding him against his chest. He's warm. He's so warm and his hair is just slightly damp still and he smells of clean water and night air and he doesn't think he wants to let go. ]
Let me stay with you? Just- just stay. Not anything else.
[This is perfect. All of it. The way the kiss breaks. The way Trevor scoops him up, and the way Alucard's head finds itself settling against Trevor's chest. He loops one arm around Trevor's back to make himself comfortable, and the other rests on Trevor's shoulder because it can.]
I'd like that very much, I think.
[There's a kiss on Trevor's cheek for that. Just a reinforcement that this? This is wanted.]
[ This? This is all that he's wanted for a long time. For seven years. Since he stole a human from a fire and decided that he wanted to play house with it. But the wanting has changed. It had been selfish and stubborn, before, no matter how graceful he managed to be in not getting what he wanted. He'd been told that there was something he couldn't have and so, naturally, he would have done anything to have it.
Now - Alucard is not a 'something', for a start. He's brilliant and kind and when he smiles the air feels lighter, so much so that until now all of this has seemed to be second to making him smile more. It's only now that Alucard is in his arms, rested against him chest, that it becomes painfully clear that he never stopped wanting it. Just started wanting it for different reasons.
Alucard's lips touch his cheek, and he turns his head quickly to catch them with his own. Only briefly, before squeezing him tighter against his chest. ]
Should I- upstairs?
[ Very eloquent. He could just sit down on the and it wouldn't be quite so potentially-too-much, but then he'd eventually have to move to allow Alucard to go to bed. It seems more efficient to remove that middle step entirely. ]
[ It might be too small, in truth. But what is that other than an excuse to pull Alucard tighter to him, to be as small as possible? He starts up the stairs, pausing every few steps to press tiny kisses to Alucard's face. ]
[ It takes a while with all the pauses, but eventually he makes it upstairs and to the bed, perching on the edge of it to lower Alucard onto the cool sheets. He leans over him, reaching out to comb his fingers through his slightly-damp hair.
It probably is going to be something of a squeeze to get the both of them in there. Worth the effort, though. Well worth it. ]
I think I like when you say what you want. [ He doesn't do that much, and Trevor gets the feeling that he barely does it at all around anyone else. So much of the conversation around their- whatever it is - has been focused on what he can manage. What feels safe. What he wants has fallen to the side somewhat. And outside of that? Just about everything has been for some patient or another. ] You ought to do it more often.
[ There's a certain irony, isn't there, to him asking Alucard to be more selfish because he likes it? He doesn't muse on it too much, because he doesn't really feel like musing on anything right now. It would take his attention away from the present for too many precious seconds.
He hands the nightshirt over, suddenly left with a concern that he hasn't needed to think about while he's been sleeping as a swarm of moths. ]
Should I- wear anything? Are human clothes good for sleeping in? I've not been sleeping in this shape since I arrived.
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Maybe it's the heat. [ It seems strange to him, that the heat would help with old burns. But then, he's not the doctor. And Alucard does use warm water to soak his feet. ] It doesn't matter, does it? If they feel better anyway.
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You're right. The end result is the same, and sometimes we don't need to question it.
[He crosses his legs, then lets out a very happy sigh.]
Thank you for coming with me.
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[ He still doesn't understand the rules behind not being able to hold Alucard's hand when there are other people about. But he doesn't need to, really. All he needs to understand is that Alucard doesn't want to be touched in front of people.
It doesn't mean that he doesn't want to gather Alucard up in his arms and pull him close while he's being so soft and unguarded. It just means he doesn't do it. ]
Does this really make people clean? It seems like it'd just make them awfully sweaty.
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[Alucard's explanation of public matters had been simply it's against cultural norms. He'd love to put his head in Trevor's lap right now but it isn't a good life choice yet.]
You'll understand when we leave. You feel amazing when you leave.
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[ He says that, but he doesn't make any attempt to move. He wants to be here, with Alucard while he's so content and warm. Also the answer to how long it's been since he bathed in the human sense? Probably a long time ago. ]
One time can't hurt. I'll try.
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[Alucard sits up at that, mortified.]
You don't have to be in here then, I didn't realize-!
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[ He doesn't touch Alucard but he lets his hand hover close to his shoulder. A gesture that would be pushing him softly back down if he were to make contact. ]
I'll leave if it gets difficult.
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Okay. Okay. But don't stay for a minute longer if it's bad, okay?
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[ He does leave before long, in the end, moving to a cooler adjoining room to wait for Alucard. The loss of dust isn't too bad - nothing dangerous, so long as he doesn't need to hunt within the next few hours. Less protecting him from the cold, but it's not exactly a cold place. He probably couldn't fly if he needed to right now, but then he wouldn't be doing that while disguised as a human anyway. The only real change is feeling a little more vulnerable.
And the only real effect of that is wanting to bury himself in Alucard's arms when he emerges. He doesn't, but oh, he wants to. ]
You're all clean?
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I am.
[There's such an instinct to take Trevor's hand. But he doesn't.]
Let's get our things and head home?
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[ The bath itself might be strange and a little uncomfortable, but he thinks he likes Alucard like this. All warm and flushed and content, with water dripping down from his hair, relaxed completely.
He’s seen him happy a lot over the last few days, but it hasn’t lost its wonder. He looks around carefully, then leans in to whisper. ]
May I kiss you? When we’re home.
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Alucard knows he's blushing. He's warm all over but warmest in his cheeks. So he's blushing.]
Yes. I'd like that.
[A lot. A lot. So they get their things, which also means clothes, and meeting the cool night air. They're far from the waters in this part of the city, but tonight the breeze has moved very well up the harbor.
Alucard's hair flutters in that breeze as he walks them both back home, as do his clothes. Sypha ought to be asleep by now, and there's no greeting when he unlocks the door. Just soft snoring.
He looks to Trevor once he's closed the door.]
Where would you like to...?
[He can't even think the word without going red.]
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And so the moment the door is closed, he's close to Alucard. It feels safer that way for both of them. As Alucard trails off, he brings a hand up to his flushes cheek, smiling.
And then he leans in to kiss him. There's no taste of honey, this time, and no soft dusty texture to his skin. But it's still soft. Still careful and affectionate. ]
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What he isn't is guarded. At least he's less guarded than he's ever been before, because one hand rests on Trevor's hip. His mouth opens just a little, coaxing. Saying that this is okay. He's ready for something just a little bit more.]
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But a little further, maybe a little further is fine. He leans in closer. Places a hand on Alucard's back to press them both together. Presses his lips more firmly against Alucard's, using them to push his mouth open further. ]
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He's never felt it hammer for a good reason.]
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Let me stay with you? Just- just stay. Not anything else.
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I'd like that very much, I think.
[There's a kiss on Trevor's cheek for that. Just a reinforcement that this? This is wanted.]
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Now - Alucard is not a 'something', for a start. He's brilliant and kind and when he smiles the air feels lighter, so much so that until now all of this has seemed to be second to making him smile more. It's only now that Alucard is in his arms, rested against him chest, that it becomes painfully clear that he never stopped wanting it. Just started wanting it for different reasons.
Alucard's lips touch his cheek, and he turns his head quickly to catch them with his own. Only briefly, before squeezing him tighter against his chest. ]
Should I- upstairs?
[ Very eloquent. He could just sit down on the and it wouldn't be quite so potentially-too-much, but then he'd eventually have to move to allow Alucard to go to bed. It seems more efficient to remove that middle step entirely. ]
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[It's a little tight. It's a little much. It's fine. It's perfect.]
The bed won't be too small for you, will it?
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[ It might be too small, in truth. But what is that other than an excuse to pull Alucard tighter to him, to be as small as possible? He starts up the stairs, pausing every few steps to press tiny kisses to Alucard's face. ]
You'll be there, so it'll be perfect.
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He wants more though. Leans into every kiss.]
I hope so. I want that.
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It probably is going to be something of a squeeze to get the both of them in there. Worth the effort, though. Well worth it. ]
I think I like when you say what you want. [ He doesn't do that much, and Trevor gets the feeling that he barely does it at all around anyone else. So much of the conversation around their- whatever it is - has been focused on what he can manage. What feels safe. What he wants has fallen to the side somewhat. And outside of that? Just about everything has been for some patient or another. ] You ought to do it more often.
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Trevor's hands through his hair get a smile, and Alucard gently attaches to his wrist.]
I don't have to. If I want to do something, I do it.
[It is different when there's another person though. So different, and he's just starting to understand that.]
Pass me my nightshirt? It's on the stand to your left.
[If Trevor's going to be here, then Alucard's changing now.]
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[ There's a certain irony, isn't there, to him asking Alucard to be more selfish because he likes it? He doesn't muse on it too much, because he doesn't really feel like musing on anything right now. It would take his attention away from the present for too many precious seconds.
He hands the nightshirt over, suddenly left with a concern that he hasn't needed to think about while he's been sleeping as a swarm of moths. ]
Should I- wear anything? Are human clothes good for sleeping in? I've not been sleeping in this shape since I arrived.
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