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 Posted: Sun Dec 10, 2017 7:29 am
It was late, and for once, Almandine was late.
He'd arranged to meet Arachne close to midnight at the edge of the park, but the lighting job he'd picked up had run late, and now it was forty minutes past twelve. Almandine had no way of reaching Arachne outside of their prearranged times; and most importantly, he didn't want Arachne to think that he'd stood him up.
His heart felt a little unsteady as Almandine made his way across the snowy ground, the bells of his uniform chiming gently, his breath visible in the chill night air. He slowed his steps, looking around, face flushed from the cold and his jog to get here in time, Almandine trying to catch his breath.
"Arachne..?"
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Posted: Sun Dec 10, 2017 9:48 am
Arachne wasn't used to Almandine being late but when the clock rolled past midnight he had to wonder if he'd been stood up. He didn't have a way to contact the other senshi though so he couldn't find out if he was late for a reason or if he just wasn't coming. As the time ticked by he started to wonder more but he'd sat down on a bench just outside the small Christmas Village that had been set up trying not to look at the time on his phone. Alma wouldn't have stood him up right? Just as he was wondering if he should give up and try something else he heard the other man's voice. "Alma!" hopping up he smiled, weight lifting off his shoulders as he saw the senshi. "Are you alright? Did something happen?" No one found out and tried to hurt you, right? He didn't voice the last thought not wanting to give it any sort of power.
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Posted: Sun Dec 10, 2017 5:40 pm
It was with a surge of relief that Almandine finally felt Arachne's power signature flare into existence near him, the other's voice wafting towards him. He found him standing beside the bench they'd agreed to wait at, and Almandine didn't stop moving until he was right in front of him, hands reaching up to grasp the front of his uniform. He stretched up to press cold lips to Arachne's in a kiss, Almandine breathless and breathing heavily, cheeks flushed from the cold.
"You're still here," he said, sounding utterly relieved at this fact as Almandine pulled back. "I'm sorry, work ran over, and I was worried that I might not get here in time."
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Posted: Sun Dec 10, 2017 7:41 pm
"You're lips are cold." He laughed softly, reaching up to cup his hands around Almandine's cheeks figuring his gloves were at least a little warmer than the air. "Did you run here though all this cold?" He should have probably been more concerned that Alma was late but he was just glad that the other senshi wasn't hurt. As the time had ticked by he'd worried more and more that something had happened to Alma so he was just glad that wasn't the case. The thought had been a bit scarier than he'd admit out loud. "Don't like not being able to contact you but I'm glad you made it even if you are a bit late. I'll forgive you since it was for work." His smile was teasing as he brushed their noses together.
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Posted: Sun Dec 10, 2017 8:44 pm
The rest of him was cold as well; it was a chilly, brisk night, and in spite of the fact that he'd been hurrying to their rendezvous place, Almandine could still feel the coldness in his bones, the sort of permeating iciness that seeped through clothing.
He was also shivering a little, but Arachne's hands were warm over his own, holding them gently. "Yes," said Almandine truthfully, voice a little hoarse. "I was afraid that you might - that you'd have left already. I didn't want you to think that I had left you behind."
Or that he had changed his mind. Almandine stepped a little closer, allowing himself the relief and the warm, fluttering delight of Arachne nuzzling their faces together. It felt like a breath of fresh air to stand here with him; a place he could be, a place he felt safe.
"I'm sorry," he said again, Almandine exhaling a breath, feeling his pulse finally start to slow again. "I wish there was another way to contact you. But I...I'm glad you're...still here," he added, very quietly. "I was...afraid you'd think I..."
Almandine trailed off, biting his lower lip.
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Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2017 5:03 am
"I was trying really hard not to think that, didn't seem like something you'd do." He smiled softly as he shifted to wrap his arms around Almandine. He rubbed his hands gently along the other man's back hoping to help warm him up a bit. His powers should have kept the worst of the cold from getting to him but, maybe, the Negaverse couldn't do that as well? "Next time we'll just have to do this on a night you're not working, yea? No worries about something running over then." He rubbed his hands down along Alma's arms to warm him up before leaning back just a bit. "Think you'll warm up a bit if we go walking? Should be warmer in the little village since the buildings will block the wind." Now that Almandine was here he wanted to actually start their date. He'd been looking forward to sharing the experience with the other senshi and without all the crowds it would be even better.
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Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2017 12:40 pm
His lashes fluttered as Arachne's arms came around him, warming him, hands smoothing up his back first, then his own arms as Arachne tried to warm him up. "I would have called, if I could," he said, closing his eyes briefly just to let himself bask in this gentle need of Arachne's presence. "But yes, next time, it seems a better idea to do it on a day when I don't have to be at work."
And maybe, soon, he would be able to actually be himself around Arachne - to learn his civilian identity, and for Arachne to learn his and then they wouldn't have to worry about being on the wrong side of things or anyone interfering. They would be safe to be together.
The wanting of that was a physical thing. Almandine slid his hand down and laced his fingers through Arachne's, smiling shyly up at him.
"Yes," he said. "Yes, I'd like that very much."
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Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2017 1:47 pm
"Lets go then." He lifted Almandine's hands enough so he could press a kiss to his fingers before tugging him along into the village. It wasn't quite the same as it would have been during the day, no music playing or fake snow falling, but it was still a nice atmosphere. The town was wonderfully decorated and since it was cold there were piles of the fake snow still littered between the buildings. It was some place he wished he could have taken Almandine to during the day when they could really enjoy it. Next year. "At least we don't have too much longer where that sort of thing will happen? We'll be able to have eachother's phone numbers so if you get stuck at work I'll know."
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Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2017 4:17 pm
The kiss to his fingertips had him blushing irrationally, though the look on Almandine's face as he glanced shyly up at Arachne was, if he'd looked in a mirror, pure and complete affection. He wasn't aware of this, as usual, but it was there nonetheless.
The village was lovely, even without all the special lights and the music; and there was something soft and quite beautiful about seeing it at night, without the throngs of people around. Almandine's fingers curled more securely in Arachne's hand.
"How much longer do you think it'll be?" he asked. "I don't know how this works."
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Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2017 7:57 pm
"Hopefully not too much longer." Arachne didn't know how much longer he was going to be able to stand all the distance that was still between them. He wanted Almandine to meet his friends, on both sides of his life, and he wanted to be able to spend time with him without worrying constantly. "We'll have to get who can purify your starseed sorted and assuming you don't forget all this and forget your civilian life we can maybe get a head start on getting you a new identity..." Outside of that he didn't know how long it would take. That wasn't something hd'e asked Mag Mell but maybe that was a conversation they needed to have. "Either way we'll make it happen as fast as we can. I want to actually be able to be with you, no sneaking around involved." He gave the other man's hand a squeeze, smiling as he looked over at him.
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Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2017 8:03 pm
The chasm that still lay between them felt endless. Almandine didn't like it, didn't like the fact that they had to carefully arrange their meetings beforehand so that they would be able to find each other again; that he had to be careful not to miss them, because if he did, there was no way to find Arachne once more.
They passed a small house the size of a doghouse, decorated with strands of bright lights and twinkling golden beads. Almandine felt his chest tighten a little. "Where will I...where will I go?" he asked, feeling suddenly uncertain. "I don't - I won't be able to return to my apartment, would I? And I can't return to my parents, I don't - have anywhere else to go."
He felt Arachne's hand give his own a squeeze, and leaned into him, slowing his steps enough so that Almandine could press his face into Arachne's shoulder momentarily, breathing him in. He lifted his head after a moment, eyes searching Arachne's.
"I want to be with you, too," he said simply. "I don't want to keep saying goodbye to you."
It was said like a fact, like a quiet, simple fact that was just simply - there.
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Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2017 8:15 pm
When Almandine leaned against him he reached up to run his fingers though the other man's hair. He at least understood how Alma felt on some level. He wasn't used to wanting to contact someone on the other side after the first meeting. It felt strange not being able to contact Alma outside of their meetings. And nights like this one? What if he had left? If he'd assumed Almandine stood him up he would have had no way to really know. Not unless he just happened to run across the other senshi again. Nights sitting on 'their' rooftop hoping that Alma showed up? It wasn't a good thought. "You'll stay with one of us until we can get you settled. Someone will have a spare room or ... I've got room at my loft." If Alma still wanted his own space he could make another 'room' downstairs if he did some rearranging. "No going back, Mag Mell had to fake his own death and there's not really any going back from that."
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Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2017 9:14 am
He wished, not for the first time but still strangely unfamiliar to him,that things were done already. That he was on the other side, that he could be with Arachne freely, without having to think about the possible consequences, or the concerns, or the peculiar and disconcerting sensation of missing seeing him if he missed an appointment.
Almandine wasn't used to relying on anyone, let alone being attached as much as he watch to Arachne. It felt...disquieting. Unsettling. Anxious.
Right. Wonderful.
His cheeks were a little red from the cold already, but grew steadily redder still from his own mess of thoughts. Almandine's gaze flickered over Arachne's face again, expression simultaneously tender and needy all at the same time. His fingers tightened around Arachne's.
"Then...you," he said softly. "I want to stay with you. Is that..." He swallowed. "I mean...can...I..?"
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Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2017 2:39 pm
"Wouldn't have offered if you couldn't." He smiled, reaching up to brush his thumb along the other senshi's cheek. It was still strange, and a little odd, how simple kindnesses seemed so new to Almandine. He wasn't sure who he should blame for that; Alma's family or his friends, but he wanted to blame someone. "You said you weren't very well connected in the Negaverse so the odds that someone will come hunting for you are slim." Plus he was an Eternal. Unless some General decided they wanted Almandine back he could keep him safe. And if someone more powerful did come he had people to call. "I'll make sure there's space for you so when everything's all said and done you can just come home with me."
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Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2017 4:03 pm
He tilted his head into the touch, eyes closing momentarily as Almandine let himself bask in the feel of it. It felt warm and right and perfect; Arachne's gentleness, his fierce loyalty, his promises, low words of sweetness and reassurance that seemed to go straight to Almandine's heart in a way he had never felt before.
The smile on his face was rare and happy. Almandine pressed his face into Arachne's shoulder again, free hand rising to curl in the front of his uniform.
"I'd like that," he said quietly. "Coming home with you."
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