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[Joshua isn't the only one laughing. Dion's shoulders tremble with barely restrained chuckles. They spill out the moment Joshua loops his arms around him, a noise that drips with the sort of delight he hasn't felt in so long.

He shifts his arms just long enough to hand over Joshua's knife. The last thing they need is him dropping that. Or accidentally stabbing Joshua in the ass. Dion already feels as if Clive is watching them warily, and knows that he's skirting on dangerous territory if that is true. The last thing he needs is to injure his brother on top of sweeping him away.]

That is on you, my dear. Have I not been sweeping you off your feet from moment one?

[Given Joshua's position, it makes it difficult for Dion's chest to puff out in pride. He still tries, though.]

Now, tea in your room, then? Or my own?

[ Ah, yes. The knife. Joshua takes it, blindly seeking the sheathe and sliding it into place. Like Dion, he knows the danger of an errant blade, particularly when both responsible parties here are otherwise occupied. And, like Dion, he knows that Clive is likely keenly aware of their current whereabouts - he'd clearly given Dion some advice, and he may be nearby, for all he knows.

But oh. My dear. Joshua's heart soars, tightness pulling at his chest, his smile pulling so wide that his cheeks ache with it. He could be content being called that for the rest of his life. ]

You have. More than you know.

[ He is, once again, stricken by the urge to lean in and kiss him. But, again, he refrains. Not just for their assured safety, but because such things feel more suited for behind closed doors.

And speaking of behind closed doors... Joshua finds himself suddenly faced with a decision. His room, or Dion's? If they go to his, Clive could come back. But Dion's, while far more private, could look a bit more salacious...

Hmm. ]

Yours. Your tea is still there, I trust?

[Dion is going to need to start a catalogue containing each and every smile in Joshua's repertoire. He loves each and every one of them equally, with each striking him in the chest with the same amount of piercing ferocity. That doesn't mean he doesn't want to commit every single joyful expression to memory, though.]

Glad that I am to hear that.

[Navigating the door is a bit of a sticking point. Doubtless, he could handle Joshua's weight one handed, if only for a moment. But it feels more playful and relaxed to instead shift so that Joshua is the one to open the door for him.]

Would you mind? [There's a teasing note in his voice.] It would get us to my quarters far quicker.

[And to his question:]

Naturally. Though I have taken to enjoying it before bed each night, there is still plenty to go around. I might yet be able to brew it myself, too.

[ Joshua doesn't doubt that Dion could hold him with one arm. He knows he weighs next to nothing, and Dion is clearly very strong in his own right. But there's something almost scandalous about Dion not wanting to take his hands off of him to open the door himself, and the thought makes Joshua feel practically giddy. ]

Oh, but of course. Anything to expedite the process.

[ His tone is equally teasing, of course, though he truly does want to get indoors with some thrilling urgency. Imagine, being able to kiss Dion in private... while holding hands, perhaps! The door is quickly opened, pressed inward so that Dion doesn't have to worry about opening it. ]

Ah, you are learning. You'll become an outlaw yet.

[Once they're inside, Dion can at least pretend there are no longer eyes upon him. He wouldn't be surprised if Clive had a way to continue watching him, but such thoughts are easily nudged aside in favor of the delight that courses through him. He's but a few steps away from being entirely alone with Joshua, doting on him however he sees fit.

A chuckle does leave him as he begins down the hall, moving at a quick and deliberate pace. He's motivated to get there, now.]

Is that all it takes to be an outlaw? Perhaps I am yet closer than I might have thought.

[He reaches his door, lamenting that he can't have Joshua swing it open this time. Instead, he cradles his partner within one arm, fishing out his key to unlock the door. He steps inside, nudging the door behind him closed with a foot, before shifting to set Joshua down upon the bed.

And just for the added effect, he kneels upon the ground and takes Joshua's hand. A kiss is placed upon the back of it, one quickly broken by a smile. It's far easier to act upon his desires when he thinks of them as playful gestures.]

Does this suit you, my beloved?

[He didn't miss the way Joshua lit up at the earlier term of endearment, by the way.]

Edited 2025-03-16 03:19 (UTC)

[ Oh, that much quicker pace is noted. It seems like he isn't the only one keen to get there quickly. Joshua affords a soft laugh, closing his eyes and leaning in to gently bump his forehead against Dion's temple. ]

Truthfully, I wouldn't know. But being able to make one's own tea is a step removed from a noble station, so it is a step in the right direction.

[ And as Dion needs to maneuver him to reach his key and unlock his door, Joshua waits patiently, making sure that he is as effortless as possible to manage. Soon enough, Dion has him in the privacy of his chambers, and Joshua finds himself seated on the bed.

With Dion kneeling before him, kissing the back of his hand. And oh, being called like that, alongside such a sweet gesture... ]

It does. So very, very much.

[ Though he longs to have Dion seated beside him, rather than on the floor below him. But that can wait. Kissing those lips once more can wait. Dion has planned out the night thus far, and they have already arranged to have tea. He wouldn't disrupt that. ]

But please, you do not have to kneel. Join me in sitting?

[Dion cracks the faintest of smiles, one that threatens to destroy his chivalric bravado. For the moment, he lays his head upon Joshua's knee, still gazing up at him. There's a heavy amount of reverence in that smoulder, but only for the man, not the Eikon he embodied.

Dion would not have it any other way.]

Ah, but that would disrupt the beautiful view. [A weary, played up sigh leaves him, before he pushes himself to his feet.] Alas, I should set our water to boil before I yet sit.

[He struts away before Joshua can protest, moving to the kitchenette with practiced purpose. Everything has been cleaned and put away from the night before. He barely has to look as he pulls everything out, laying out their cups and tucking in their tea bags, before turning to fill the kettle.

It's only once it's set to boil that Dion turns back. He returns with a near saunter, gaze never once leaving Joshua. He takes the offered seat beside him, hand once again return to its newfound home within Joshua's own.]

[ Joshua tries to remain firm in the face of Dion's reverence, but how the man is looking at him, as though he - not the Phoenix, he - hung the moon and stars in the sky, is serving to melt away any reservations he may have. Oh, Dion deserves all the love in the world. It pains him to withhold any of it because of propriety, so he won't. He will ensure that Dion knows how much he is loved. ]

I promise you, my view is just as beautiful no matter where I am.

[ He lifts a hand, gently stroking strands of hair from Dion's face for just a moment. But it doesn't last long, because indeed, water needs to begin boiling before they get too distracted with each other.

And so, as Dion moves away to set the kettle, Joshua... watches. He shouldn't, perhaps, not on the first day, but Dion moves with so much grace, so much purpose with every movement, that he can't help but look. He is a beautiful man, he truly is, and Joshua's heart feels overfull with adoration. And not just physically beautiful, either - his actions speak far louder than words ever could, and his heart is full of such kindness and love that it feels like it may eclipse his own.

And when Dion finally returns from his task, Joshua's smile could warm the coldest winter day. He gladly takes Dion's hand in his own, lacing their fingers together, half-turning as he does to look at his wonderful, beautiful partner. ]

You have me alone, Your Highness, and the water will take time to boil. What would you do?

[It's hard to say if Dion realizes what a treacherous crossroads he finds himself at. No longer did they need to hide behind the teasing excuse of decency and appearances. They were both grown men, ones who had mutually agreed to whatever such a relationship might entail. The only thing really holding them back was the threat of the kettle's steam inevitably interrupting whatever they got up to.

But such thoughts are as far from Dion's mind as they could possibly be. Right now, he thinks only of the radiance in Joshua's smile. He returns the gesture from only a scant few moments prior, pushing stray hair behind Joshua's ear. It's become such a familiar, comforting gesture, the act of reaching out and caring for him. Dion's already grown so used to it.]

I admit that I am at a lost. I find myself... terribly distracted by what's before me, and cannot form a single thought.

[It isn't a lie. He tries to think forward, but finds himself drawn back by the gravity of Joshua's gaze. In the end, it's instinct alone that wins out, his body naturally leaning forward as he's pulled into the orbit of Joshua's person. He hesitates for only a second, giving Joshua his own chance to pull back. Failing that, though, he steals a quick and chaste kiss.]

[ The feeling of Dion's fingers pushing his hair back behind his ear brings to mind the sensation that had awakened him little over a week ago, when he had fallen asleep at Dion's bedside, and the realization softens his smile considerably. Clive had been right, of course - Dion had truly cared for him even then. Just how long has he...? Joshua had seen his kind heart even back at the rememberance ceremony all those years ago, but what of Dion?

Not that it matters, not right now. He has Dion, and Dion has him. ]

Not a single one?

[ It's a soft, amused murmuring that borders on a laugh, partially because they are already close, but also because they are leaning notably closer. It's difficult to fight the pull, and so Joshua finds it's easier to just not fight it at all. Dion is kind enough to give him a moment to pull back, but he remains right where he is.

And once Dion brushes their lips together, a sweet and chaste thing, Joshua is more inclined to make it less fleeting. Chasing down Dion's lips, he presses in once more, a tiny bit more firmly, a little bit more experimental. They are in the privacy of an inn room - they have the time and the space to let themselves go, if they should so choose. ]

[This is... new.

Not in the grand scheme of things, perhaps — Dion is far from inexperienced. But Joshua himself is foreign to Dion. He's a breath of fresh air, a force of warmth and radiance, but he's still brand new. He doesn't know what might yet make the man tick, or what preferences he may have. If he's honest, he doesn't know that Joshua knows that. And for a brief moment, he finds that it breaks his brain. He's almost hesitant to move forward, to tread new ground and ruin the experience.

But if there's one thing he's confident in, it's that Joshua will tell him what he needs. After reminding himself of that much, he allows himself to reach out. One hand settles against Joshua's hip, while the other lays at the center of his chest. The reminder that Joshua is no longer marred by Ultima proves to be a pleasant reminder.

The other, meanwhile, settles at first on Joshua's hip. Dion decides better after just a moment, allowing it to slide around to the small of his back. He pulls ever so slightly, coaxing Joshua that much closer to him, before allowing his fingers to instead massage through the fabric there.]

[ Oh. Hands are new. Joshua hadn't considered what to do with his hands, only what to do with his lips. But if Dion is moving his, perhaps he should do more than keep his own on his knees. His hands lift in kind, though one of his moves to press against Dion's side, the other shifting to cup his cheek and thread fingertips into his hair.

Dion's hand briefly at his hip makes his skin break out in a wave of goosebumps for reasons Joshua only vaguely understands, but most of the response is hidden beneath clothing. When the hand moves instead to his back, urging him to shift closer, he is all too happy to indulge. He moves, just until his thigh presses flush to Dion's, sighing gently into the kiss before pulling back just enough to breathe but still staying in range enough that their lips brush as he speaks. ]

By the Founder, Dion, you are intoxicating.

[ He truly is. He cannot bring himself to part from the prince, wanting to stay as close as possible and let their breaths mingle. He huffs a soft laugh, opening his eyes to look into Dion's. ]

You make me feel like a child again. As though I could close my eyes and imagine that we were but lovestruck teenagers slipping off into a darkened alcove.

[ Perhaps they could have been, in a time that didn't happen. He thinks that he would have liked that. ]

[Even that slightest bit of increased contact threatens to drive Dion wild. Something slightly more electric courses through him, and he has to thank Greagor herself that Joshua pulls back when he does. He has a feeling Clive would have his head if things went so far, so fast.

Not that their current position is much better. He can all but taste Joshua in their air with their current position. Close as they are, he doesn't hesitate to tip his head forward and steal a second kiss the second Joshua stops talking, before meeting his eyes once more.]

As if you yourself do not possess the same quality. [Another kiss. He can barely contain himself.]

We are only a decade or so off, and there are plenty of alcoves in the grove, should you desire. [He shifts to brush their noses together. It's a sickeningly sweet gesture, and he simply can't help himself.] I would do anything that you asked of me, I hope you know.

[ Just seeing that even Dion can't fully hold off from stealing more kisses makes Joshua's heart skip a beat, his pulse firm beneath Dion's fingers. They are both under the same spell, then. Caught up so much in the other that they cannot separate themselves. The excitement is near enough to make him laugh, but he only just barely holds back.

Instead, he steals kisses of his own. When Dion is not, when Dion finishes speaking. He lets his eyes slip closed once more, smiling against his partner's lips. ]

And I, you. It seems we are in agreement.

[ His lips curl up into a smile so wide, it bares part of his teeth. His fingers stroke through Dion's hair, as if the man before him were something fragile and precious. ]

But I should very much like to keep kissing you. [ Which he does, briefly, almost breathless. ] You are a very difficult man to resist.

[Dion very obviously agrees, seeing as how he doesn't even wait for Joshua to stop speaking before he's laying kisses down again. He presses them to Joshua's cheeks, the tip of his nose, his forehead, all before returning to his lips once he's finished speaking.]

I suggest you check the mirror, my dear. I can barely keep myself contained. [A breath of a laugh escapes them, careful to avoid being so loud in their shared space.] But have tea to enjoy in just a few moments, don't we?

[He glances toward the kitchenette, but it's nowhere near done yet. They would surely hear it if it was.]

And then we must take the time to sip it properly. I imagine it would make for quite the mess if we became distracted.

[ Joshua could honestly sit like this all day, tea be damned. Tea is pleasant, particularly in good company, but now it feels as though the tea was simply a clever ruse to confine themselves in Dion's room. Not that he really thought of it otherwise, but he at least has to possess some veneer of propriety. ]

That it would.

[ Quite the mess, indeed. He returns each errant kiss with one of his own - though not before soaking in the affection - and lets his hand slip down from Dion's side to his knee. His intentions are innocent, at least - he does not want to take anything too quickly, but Founder, does he want to immerse himself in Dion's presence nonetheless. ]

And to that end, I propose a solution. Until such time as the water comes to a boil, [ because, like Dion, he knows it will still be a bit ] we shall strive to divest ourselves of our distraction. What say you, Your Highness?

[Joshua is speaking, but Dion isn't processing his words. From the moment his hand touches Dion's knee, a jolt shoots through him, forceful enough to make him twitch. He exhales sharply, swallows once, and quickly tries to tune back into the conversation.]

Divest ourselves - [A nod.] Yes, that seems wise.

[Notably, he does not shy away from Joshua's touch. He doesn't even try to shift his head away. In fact, after a glance down at Joshua's lips, he finds himself once again strongly weighing the urge to steal a kiss.

Instead, a sigh leaves him.]

It may be more difficult a task than I expected, though.

[ That twitch certainly is notable, but... Dion also isn't pulling away from him. Even so, after a moment, Joshua wonders if perhaps he's being too bold, briefly considering removing his hand entirely. But he doesn't. Not for right now.

Though, Dion sighing instead of stealing another kiss makes him pause, pulling back just a hair to look into his eyes. ]

Perhaps. But a valiant effort is better than none at all.

[ Joshua smiles, warm and inviting. The hand at Dion's cheek shifts, so that he can rub his thumb against the line of his cheekbone, a fond and loving affection. ]

Though, I do not want to overstep in my excitement. If you would truly prefer to stop for the time being, I will do as you wish.

No. [His tone is almost forceful for all its urgency. He meets Joshua's eyes, gaze intense but still warm at its core. The last thing he wants is for Joshua to pull back, not after how long he's waited. While it was true that he was hesitant to push any further forward, to draw back was a most undesirable outcome.]

I enjoy this, make no mistake. [Dion closes his eyes and lets out a faint sigh.] But I would be remiss if I rushed things any further forward. I want to savor every moment I have with you, bit by bit.

[His eyes open, but settle upon where Joshua's hand has come to rest. Even as he leans into the touch against his face, his own hand shifts to lay upon the other man's. It's a soft assurance that no matter what, he isn't upset.]

It would be a truly great injustice, were I to devour you whole. No, I will savor you bit by bit, for as long as I can.

[ Oh. The realization of exactly why Dion hesitates washes over Joshua like a pleasantly warm ray of sunlight. He hadn't been upset over the hesitation, of course, but knowing the reason now makes his affection all the stronger. ]

You are truly a chivalrous man, Dion Lesage.

[ He tilts his head once more, as if he were going to steal another kiss. Instead, he presses their foreheads together, the hand at Dion's knee lifting to match it's twin in cupping the other side of Dion's face. ]

Do know that I am content to simply kiss you. When I spoke of divesting ourselves, that is all that I meant. Like you, I should like to indulge myself slowly, so that I may enjoy every moment with you.

[Reluctant though he is to lose the pressure of Joshua's hand, he finds that it's more than welcome against his face. What little tension had formed in the process of his speech quickly settles as well, eased away by that gentleness. He glances up at the man through the fan of his lashes, still as stricken as ever by Joshua's presence.]

Part of me wishes to say that I do not deserve you. [He turns his head to kiss Joshua's palm, before offering a crooked grin.] But I know that were I to truly mean it, you would scold me for hours.

[Once more, he closes his eyes, relaxing in their embrace. His arms shift, draping instead across Joshua's shoulders. It's a loose grip, one that can easily be shifted away from, even if Dion hopes to Greagor herself that he'll stay.]

[ Joshua laughs at that gentle kiss to his palm, a soft, warm sound that bubbles from his lips and puffs over Dion's from proximity alone. ]

I would, indeed. For I cannot bear to stand by and watch someone speak cruelly about the man that I love. Not even himself.

[ There is... a dusting of pink that blooms over his cheeks as he says it. Even during Dion's confession, neither of them had said that word about the other. It is a risk, but it is one that Joshua will gladly take.

Dion shifts, and Joshua doesn't pull away. For all the times he has hugged Dion, why would he now? Rather than stay where he is, he shifts a little himself, hands dropping as his arms loop around, palms splaying across Dion's shoulder blades as he returns the embrace even more firmly than it is given.

He takes a deep breath, and tries the words on again. ]

I love you, Dion. And I will ensure that you know how much you are loved, if you will have it.

[The man that I love. Dion is not so wrapped in the moment that he misses those words. They hit him hard, a levinbolt straight to the chest. The feeling sizzles out to the very tips of his fingers and his toes, almost painful. All at once, Dion feels both wounded and winded.

He must have misheard. Or perhaps it was an accident, words not meant to be said. Dion tries to draw himself back together. He's grown adept at picking up the pieces and quickly reassembling them.

The moment he tries, though, Joshua doubles down. There was no mistake. He loves Dion. Despite his flaws, his atrocities, his misgivings, this man of resplendent warmth has chosen Dion. He shouldn't be so surprised, considering they'd only just chosen to commit themselves to one another, but courting was far less than... this.

He searches his mind, trying to remember the last time he'd heard such words. He'd fought tooth and nail to wrench them from his father's lips, but he can't recall such a time. It would have been before Olivier, perhaps even before Anabella. Or had they ever come at all?

He's been silent for far too long, and knows that it will only concern Joshua all the more. He has to assuage his doubts, to explain that everything is fine, please don't worry. But when he opens his mouth, something wedges itself in his throat. Worse still, he feels a horrific prickling within his eyes.

He doesn't understand. He presses his mouth closed once more, mirroring the way his eyes slip shut. Once again, he tries to reassemble those pieces. When he tries again, the lids of his eyes still firmly squeezed closed, he can only manage a whisper.]

Thank you.

[ For a long moment, as Dion remains silent, Joshua wonders if, perhaps, he has said a bit too much a bit too fast. They only just agreed to courting, after all. Despite Joshua's feelings that have built over time, perhaps... Perhaps Dion needed more time than this.

But just before he moves to pull back, lips already parting to apologize, Dion speaks. And the tightness in that whisper, the pain so clear in two breathed out words, stops his apology in its tracks.

Instantly, he understands. Maybe not entirely, but he does. For he knows half of the household Dion has likely lived with for the last eighteen years, because that half of it was part of his own. For all that his mother doted on him, he had been nothing but a trophy to tout around, and she never once uttered those words to him. It would have been worse for Dion, he thinks - Dion was not of her bloodline. And that is to say nothing of what Joshua still has yet to learn about him.

His heart aches for Dion, for the pain so evident in his heart, and rather than pull away, he holds the man tighter. Tucks his nose against the side of Dion's head, as though he can single-handedly smother out the shade that haunts him. ]

You are welcome. Forever and always.

[ He will say it however many times Dion needs to hear it, whenever that happens to be. ]

[Joshua isn't wrong. He does need more time. But it isn't because he feels any less for the man before him. There is simply a weighty part of Dion's own mind that doubts he truly knows what love is. Logically, he knows this can't possibly be the case. Ten years of commitment to a single man was surely evidence enough of that. Yet throughout that time, Dion had been been under the thumb of another, who leveraged that same love for ill.

The depth of that damage is still truly unknown to him. Perhaps if he ever bothered to visit the young blue boy again, and partake in his so-called "therapy," he'd be able to break through it all. But that's for future him to worry about.

Thankfully, he does not feel judged or less than within Joshua's embrace. He closes his eyes, sinking further into those arms. He lets himself be small for the space of a few breaths, allows the emotion to rock through him for a few moments longer. It hurts. He hurts. But he doesn't try to swallow it down immediately.

Progress.

Eventually, he lifts his head, meeting Joshua's eyes. His own still shimmer faintly with tears he hasn't quite been able to blink away. He's allowed himself some vulnerability, but to openly weep would be a step too far. For now, at least.]

Know that my feelings for you are vast and deep. I... may not yet have the words for it, but I do not begrudge you your own. They are... more appreciated than I may ever be able to vocalize.

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