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 Posted: Mon May 12, 2014 7:07 pm
He took a moment to respond, his mouth still pressed against Harland's palm; but then he drew back, his face flushed and let go, the warmth slipping from Alistaire's fingers. He folded his hands into his lap and tugged on the gloves, trying not to draw attention to the fact that he was acting entirely uncharacteristically.
This man seemed to do that to him, he had noticed.
Alistaire's eyes flickered back to Harland's, watching him kiss his fingertips, and then Harland's hand was against his cheek, his fingers gentle and warm, slightly roughened against his cheek. Alistaire flinched involuntarily, not out of disgust, but of surprise; he was only just barely getting used to this.
But he didn't pull away, and after a moment, tilted his head a little, his lashes fluttering as he turned his face into Harland's hand, exhaling a long breath. His hair fell forward into his face, covering his expression, and when he spoke again, his voice was slightly muffled, his face burning.
"I might be willing to accommodate to that request."
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Posted: Mon May 12, 2014 7:27 pm
It was hard, to feel vulnerable. It was hard to set oneself up for disappointment, or to show too much of one's hand-- Harland was long practiced in the art of either giving everything away so that nothing mattered, or making it seem that way. If you were an open kind of person, it didn't matter what secrets you gave up, so long as it was enough to make everyone think you had nothing hidden.
The more time Harland spent with Alistaire, the more he saw how much of himself he'd been hiding away. On top of that, he actually found it kind of endearing that Alistaire kept brushing things off like they were no big deal. His concentration must be off, and Harland couldn't blame him for it, because it still seemed so easy to read him-- it was nice, because that at least let Harland know he wasn't the only person finding the other's presence basically intoxicating.
He was relieved when Alistaire didn't pull away, and smiled as he felt Alistaire's lashes flutter against him. Come into my parlour, Harland thought suddenly, reminded of the children's rhyme. If Alistaire was his spider, he was well and truly caught.
And he didn't mind at all.
The way that Alistaire's hair obscured his face made Harland's heart skip beats. "Then I'd be grateful," Harland said, allowing it to sound like he was the only one who needed it. Harland fished into his pocket and started to tap away at the screen, smiling to himself and then slotting the phone into his pocket.Text to My Heart When your hair falls across your face, I've never seen anyone so handsome.
He didn't normally text someone when they were right in the room with him, much less when they were within arm's reach, but here he was, kidding around with Alistaire anyway. "Gonna have to get started on our date right away, if I only have five days to surprise you," he said quietly, smiling still in his warm way.
The look that only Alistaire received.
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Posted: Mon May 12, 2014 7:42 pm
He probably could have stayed like that all day if he wanted, nestled on the floor in front of Harland, the only touch that of Harland's hand against his face, which Alistaire kept trapped by his own gloved hand rising to keep it there.
He still hadn't lifted his face, or made any effort to move the hair out of his face because it was easier not to see Harland; which was why Alistaire was allowing himself this little indulgence of letting the warmth of Harland's hand spread out over Alistaire's face, warming his already flushed cheek.
Warm warm warm.
So very warm.
Alistaire's phone buzzed in his pocket, startling him out of his inner musings. He coughed, trying to dispel the awkwardness of the fact that he'd basically just been cradling Harland's hand and let go to dig into his pocket, pulling out his phone and pressing a gloved thumb to the screen.
Alistaire's face heated up instantly. He felt dizzy as he looked up at Harland, and his expression was a mixture of embarrassment, pleasure, and confusion.
"Are you an idiot?" he asked roughly, but it wasn't an insult, merely a desire to divert the attention from himself and the tingles of pleasure in his stomach, the fact that he could hardly handle a simple compliment without falling apart, because with Harland he knew it to be genuine. This was not fake, this was not a mere facade; Harland wore everything out in the open and this was no exception. Alistaire covered his face with his hands, blocking out Harland's radiant, beautiful smile and rubbed his brow.
"You should go, then," he said, his voice muffled. "I expect nothing less than the best from you, Harland Leander Belle."
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Posted: Mon May 12, 2014 8:03 pm
Harland would have been happy, to keep his hand against Alistaire's cheek. Little could have made him happier, but it would keep the future from arriving, and Harland suspected that the future held that promise of things to make him even happier. Hopefully, make him and Alistaire happy. Even if Alistaire claimed there was no happier self for him.
"If I am, I'm your idiot now? Your business, your idiot," he said, cheerfully; he didn't mean it in a sense that it was all official, but rather using this opportunity to communicate the fact that as far as Harland was concerned, he didn't need to be with anyone else.
He liked that thought.
Harland winked at Alistaire, as if sealing that statement and the compliment with his overwhelming enthusiasm.
He looked incredibly sorry to leave, though-- the only reason he would agree, is because he wanted to put as much time into this planning as he could. Well, that and he had not eaten anything and he was starving. Also if Alistaire kept sitting there like that, cradling his hand to his soft face, Harland would need to kiss him again and the urge was only getting stronger by the second. "Mind if I ransom a kiss from your forehead, in return for going?" he asked, with a smile that looked a little more wicked than it did radiant this time around.
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Posted: Mon May 12, 2014 8:19 pm
His face flushed an even deeper red, if that was possible.
Your idiot.
My idiot. Mine.
It sounded so solid, so easily spoken from Harland, and Alistaire stared at him for several startled moments as the realization of what was happening sank slowly into him, creeping up into his mind and sending shivers of anticipation down his spine.
He was going on a date. A date with Harland Leander Belle.
It was mind boggling, and yet he couldn't stop the thrill of curiosity that settled into his stomach. Alistaire pushed himself to his feet and reached for Harland's hand, pulling him up along with him. He made his way, a little unsteadily, towards the door, though he didn't open it yet, Alistaire turning to face Harland, his gaze averted. He'd dropped Harland's hand, but the distance between them was small as it was, so he could still feel the warmth.
"Ransom away, Mr. Belle," he said quietly.
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Posted: Mon May 12, 2014 8:29 pm
No protest on Alistaire's part made Harland grin even wider, and he was pretty sure his face would go numb from joy sooner than later. Harland couldn't remember being this profoundly happy, not since he was like six years old. Six was the last time before he'd started to see things, and his mother had thought he was marked by the devil.
Sure, he'd been happy since then-- how could he not be? But that was when his life had started to unravel and Deus was the process of repairing it. The first of the good things. Now, Alistaire. Alistaire wasn't just a mark of the progress Harland had made, he was the chance for a better future.
He held onto Alistaire's hand and started to sincerely regret the fact he'd have to let go. Just when he started to believe he'd get sent away without a kiss, and his hand fell from Alistaire's, Harland got the permission he'd been hoping for. "You're good to me," he said, smiling again. Always smiling, if Alistaire was there. Harland tilted his face up, kissed Alistaire's forehead like he'd asked, and paused briefly, pressing his forehead to Alistaire's and lingering there.
He wanted to kiss Alistaire again so badly, to feel Alistaire's lips against his own-- but he hadn't asked for that. And Harland always kept his word, if he could help it. "Text me someday," he said, with a smile, lingering.
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Posted: Mon May 12, 2014 8:44 pm
Harland's lips were warm against his forehead, and Alistaire had a sudden, terrible urge to pull him closer and feel how those lips would taste against his own. They'd already shared one kiss, which was a shock in and of itself, so why couldn't he just do it now, just lean forward and close the distance between them? Their breath was so close they were sharing space, Alistaire's eyes fluttering as his gaze dropped to Harland's mouth.
With considerable effort, he pulled himself away, trying not to show how reluctant he as to do so. A small smirk tugged at the corners of his lips, Alistaire's tongue darting out to wet them, as they'd grown dry.
"We'll see about that," he said lightly, almost teasingly.
Almost.
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Posted: Mon May 12, 2014 9:00 pm
Harland bit at his own lower lip, eyes scanning up and down Alistaire as Alistaire pulled away and licked his lips. His face was flushed again.
Harland's only answer was "Mhmm", scanning Alistaire one last time before he left him through half-shut eyes, an expression that looked inebriated -- he was addicted to being close to Alistaire. He tipped his hat to him, and went to leave.
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