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 Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2017 5:42 pm
Too busy stumbling about in his own dark thoughts, Leukos wasn’t really paying attention to what was going on in the back. Not until there was suddenly a boy exchanging pleasantries about the weather into his ear, wavering as he tried to remain standing in the moving cart. Leukos jumped a bit, not expecting Niamh to be up and moving about at all. “It is, but I’d suggest you not-“
“Niamh, wha-?”
“GODS ABOVE NIAMH DON’T-!”
It was all could do to avoid going off the road entirely, holding fast to the reigns and sputtering as Niamh tipped himself into the front. The boy’s limbs were like windmill blades, flapping about in front of his face and spilling some of the drink he held. Dividing his attention between keeping the mount on course and making sure Niamh didn’t fall right out of the cart completely set his heart pounding, a shock of adrenaline knocking him out of the melancholy stupor he’d fallen into. Did he have a death wish?! He spared a glance over at Niamh’s damaged wrist, inhaling when he saw how swollen it had gotten. This ridiculous boy was going to make it worse if he kept clamoring about the place!
But it looked like he had settled down, making himself comfortable in an almost humorous facsimile of casual grace, crossing his legs and reclining. Leukos had to admit his eye was drawn to the movement for a moment, appreciating how nice his thighs looked in pants that tight. But it was just a moment, turning his eyes back to the road and the snapptrotter he tried to again put at easy after all that commotion. “I shouldn’t drink; I’m driving. Besides, you need it more right now.”
Now, whether or not that was true was up to debate: Niamh seemed plenty inebriated at the moment, enough so that his words were slurred and he didn’t seem bothered by his wrist too much. Which was likely why he was being so playful―it was the alcohol. He was sure that after he’d sobered up completely, Niamh would still be just as angry with him. Even realizing that, it didn’t make keeping a straight face any easier: he was just such a cute young man.
But temptation aside, Leukos had already decided that what had transpired at the facility was a mistake, and so was sending Niamh that letter. He shouldn’t have gotten him involved again. Leukos bit the inside of his cheek, turning his eyes away from Niamh’s adorably drunken little grin. “I just thought you deserved to know. It didn’t seem right to leave you in the lurch. Not after…coming to your home.” He tapped the bottle with the tip of his boot, shifting in the seat. “You were fine right? Nothing…hurt? It’s just that we were rather excited…I hope I wasn’t too rough. I didn't think to ask after.”
[8/10]
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Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2017 6:25 pm
Niamh's nostrils flared as he bit back an amused grin, "A-ha... ahahaha..." Curling his lips together he did his best to contain his amusement as his face began to glow, "Did you see my face... that night? a day after... A week?" Brushing his hand through his hair he continued, "It didn't change much, and the only pain you elicited in me was our time apart."
He kept his eyes forward, but his brows furrowed, "Well, that's not what you wanted to hear... now was it~" Smiling softly he continued, "Since that is out of the bag, I'll tell you this~ I only received your letter yesterday evening." He paused a moment, "I haven't even had it a full day yet..." His voice barely a whisper. Clearing his throat, Niamh laughed nervously, "I'm sorry... this isn't what I-" Tipping his head to the sky, he blinked back a few tears and inhaled deeply, on the exhale saying, "So, How much longer to town? Something tells me I should really sleep all this off rather than laying this baggage at your feet."
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Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2017 7:14 pm
Well, despite everything he’d put him through, Leukos was glad to hear he hadn’t let Niamh down in that regard. He offered a small grin to the road as well, feeling at least a bit lighter. And it wasn’t like he’d spent forever deliberating over whether he should seek out Leukos or not: he’d only just set out today. Leukos felt both excited and shamed by the news; he’d had so little faith in Niamh, doubting him so thoroughly that he’d panicked, assumed the worst. Had tried to replace him so quickly…
Leukos glanced down at Niamh, who suddenly seemed so much smaller, so young. Like a bird that had fallen out of the nest before it was ready. It hurt to think that he might have been the cause. That he’d pushed him.
“Look...Niamh...I think it would be for the best if…”
‘You stopped seeing me.’
‘We ended this right now.’
“…we started thinking of a physician to take you to first, since the city’s not that much farther now. Then we can tackle getting you to the inn. And don’t worry...I’m quite experienced at handling lots of heavy baggage~” He bit his lip, having caught himself smiling down at Niamh, turning his face away.
What was he doing?
Niamh was better off having nothing else to do with him; going home to his house and his family. He wasn’t ready for the world. Let him be young, enjoy what he had while it lasted. The nest was the safest place for him.
So why was he slipping back into that old comfortable tone, inching closer, smiling so earnestly again? He’d just decided moments earlier that enough was enough, to cut the kid loose. Why was he trying to reel him back in?
Gods…
He was such a selfish man; he didn’t want to let him go.
[9/10]
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Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2017 9:00 pm
There was a moment where Niamh's heart skipped a beat. Where he had anticipated on Leukos to simply end it- clean cut... To his surprise, he didn't~ Maybe there was something here after all? Maybe Niamh had been so worked up earlier that he only saw what he wanted to see, remembered what fit the narrative. Perhaps, with a little work, the relationship, and the life he had envisioned wasn't entirely out of reach. Luckily, if there was one thing Niamh wasn't afraid of... It was rolling up his sleeves and doing a little work.
As the cart slowed to a halt outside the inn he had described Niamh stepped out and looked back to Leukos, "Don't worry about this..." He murmured while indicating to his mess of an arm, "If you can get my bags inside I'm fairly certain I can take handle it from there." Holding the door open, Raziyah jumped down off the back of the cart and cut off Leukos's entry into the lobby, sneering as she passed by; Niamh remained at the door as his bags were placed in the lobby. Not sure on what the protocol is for this particular situation, Niamh slipped his left hand into his pocket, shrugging his shoulders to his ears, "Well, you should probably get back to work... I believe I've gotten you in enough trouble today." He smirked, averting his gaze to avoid the awkward 'goodbye'. Giving a casual wave over his shoulder, Niamh stepped inside glancing back before the door closed, "Best of luck~" His words were genuine, though it most likely read as more of a tease... and he was absolutely fine with that. With Leukos on his way back to the Training Facility, Niamh had a new pressing mission; Find Reeves Dullaney before tomorrow morning.
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Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2017 10:22 am
There was still plenty of daylight left in the day by the time they had rolled into the city, making finding the inn an easy task. Though he attempted to dissuade him from the idea, Niamh seemed insistent on taking things from here on his own, even though he was still injured and probably drunk. Leukos didn’t have the heart to argue with him, still feeling the fallout from the incident earlier, even though Niamh appeared to be in a better mood already. Now whether or not he had forgiven him for the transgression was another matter entirely.
Once everything was unloaded, it was just the two of them, left in an uncomfortable state of limbo. What sort of farewell was it to be? Did they depart as polite acquaintances, reunited lovers? Leukos wasn’t quite sure, but then Niamh made the call, speaking first. So it was to be on good terms.
And as he departed, tossing one more clever remark over his shoulder, Leukos couldn’t help but find himself smiling, watching him as the door drifted shut.
“You too, Niamh…”
[10/10]
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