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[Norton. Of course it's Norton. He knew it was and yet hearing it still prompts a flash of anger that sits uncomfortably in the centre of his chest. Dropping the name like that is sure as hell something that could have been done more delicately and the misstep is probably clear in the way he visibly grows tense.]

I'm--

[He closes his eyes for a moment. Breathes in, then out.]

... If you could be a little less like a verbal wrecking-ball about this, I'd appreciate it.

[Because he's not okay with it, not really. He's still not okay with it, and having it laid out so conversationally is hard to take.]

[He can see it, and is a little frustrated himself because he isn't sure what he's doing wrong.]

I don't think I know what you mean by that... I'm telling you what I was offered, which we've already said was okay, that I wasn't looking for anything and tried to stop it when I recognized what was happening.

What am I doing wrong?

[Alexei just looks tired for a moment.]

You said you were going to tell me what you expected to happen when you told him.

[And he did that. He did that, and while he's expecting rejection, Alexei knows he's going to have to brace himself for the possibility that that expected rejection won't happen.]

I don't-- I don't need to know about what happened between you and him. Not the details, when it's already gonna be hard enough for me to look him in the face when I see him next.

[Which is... a pity, really, because he likes Norton.]

It changes things when you tell me that you want more from him. Don't you get that?

But I- [He shuts his mouth, knows he's interrupting. But he did that.

Without thinking much about it he squeezes their linked hands and closes his eyes so he can just listen.]

If it were me, I'd want to details. But, you're not me. I'm sorry I'll...I can pair it down.

[It just feels like he's not being completely honest if he purposefully leaves bits out.]

The only thing I'm planning to ask for is some open conversation. I...I understand this is hard for you, but sometimes I don't even know if he would say we were friends, given the right situation.

That's the more, Alexei. I'm not planning on running away with him, or...I don't know, expect he's going to confess his undying love for me. I just want to say something meaningful and not worry that it's too much.

You're really trying to understand, I can see that, but... I don't think you do.

[Not really, because if he understood then he wouldn't be fumbling it so much. Alexei is trying to be patient, though, to an extent that he rarely is with anybody and certainly not when complicated emotions are involved.

He's already walked away from Abel once so he won't do it again... even if the urge to walk out and take ten minutes to get his thoughts level again is definitely there.]

You need to realise that I don't like the idea of sharing you with someone else like that. It—... it doesn't make me feel great. [And he won't pretend that it does.]

I'm gonna need to get used to it, if... you're determined that it's what you want.

[Abel sits a moment, letting what he's said roll around in his head. He isn't sure it will help, but...he's been so honest already, the more uncomfortable parts of himself might need some light shed on it for the both of them .]

You know, I'd love to say that if you asked me to, I would walk two doors over and tell him I have to stop, promise you I'm going to work on getting over this but...

Even if I did that I- [He sucks in a breath, trying to fight the discomfort, the way he can already feel it start to crawl over his skin.]

When you showed up here, I promised myself I wouldn't immediately fall back in bed with you, and it was practically the first thing I did. It was wrong that I did that, but I didn't even think about it when it was happening, how fucked up that was to do that to you. Not until you reminded me how for you it had been less than a day for you, even if it has been months for me.

A-and when I first got here, I promised myself I was going to relearn how to be by myself, prove that I was capable of saying no and I couldn't do that either.

Three days, Alexei.

That's how long my self control lasted, and I was so angry at myself but I... I want things, and I can't stop myself from giving into that any more. Not since I met you, and that terrifies me, but... I don't want to make a promise to you I don't know I can keep, and that isnt your fault, its mine.

[He finally glances up, feeling a little sick to have said it out loud, but he's been trying so hard to fix that part of himself and nothing has changed. It's important that he at least knows before he decides this is what he wants too.]

I'm sorry that you're having to pay for that when you shouldn't have to.

Edited 2025-01-09 03:17 (UTC)

[Again he listens quietly, takes it all in, exhales softly through his nose at the parts that sting more than they should. He remembers what Florian said, about how Abel was desperately seeking something he'd been denied his whole life and giving everything into that seeking, and... maybe he was more right than he could have realised.

Was it his fault? Or would this have inevitably happened to Abel anyway, here, with someone who wasn't him flicking that switch on and then slamming their fist straight into it to keep it that way.]

Give me a minute.

[He mutters the words out and stands up, but doesn't leave the room. Instead he walks back and forth a few times with his hands linked behind his neck, pacing in careful, measured steps. A minute or so passes and he sits back down, close enough to slide his arm around Abel again and pull him up against his side.]

Come here.

[Then he sighs.]

I'm not gonna be mad at you because you want things, especially when I'm part of that... problem. [... Huff.] And if someone you've been with here is making you feel... safe, and loved, and you want to love them back, then... I'm not gonna try to take that from you. Even if I don't really want to share.

[He nudges his nose against Abel's temple and kisses it.]

I just--... [Taking hold of the man's hand, he runs his thumb across the backs of his knuckles.] I don't want you to get hurt.

[When he gets up Abel pulls his legs up onto the couch, knees tight to his chest, cheek resting on top of them. It feels better that way, curling in while Cain paces, trying to keep his own breathing level.

It's good that he comes back so quickly, it gives his mind barely any time to start catastrophizing every possible outcome, what he might say when he sits down again.

Pulled to his side, he legs one of his legs fall, resting his head on his shoulder]

You're not the problem, you just...kicked down the door housing the problem. [He wants to make sure there is a distinction seeing as he feels it's important.

Even though what he's saying makes him feel lighter, it's a muted sort of happy in that once they're finished with this conversation, the one that has taken them two separate days and a lot of hurt feelings to have, he has to have another one after. He sucks in a deep breath and pushes it aside, finding a smile easily as he turns his head just so, giving Alexei a very soft, lingering kiss, their noses touching still as he pulls back just enough to look him in the eyes.]

Every potential reward has its risks, I just...got lucky when I took them with you. But I swear, Alexei, if I find out you're threatening to kill anyone if they hurt me, Norton included, I'm going to be very disappointed in you.

[He smiles, pressing it to his lips before adding softly.] But I think I can turn a blind eye to a little mild threatening...I think you've earned it.

[He hums softly into the kiss, not entirely soothed but... mostly. Then he lets out a low little chuckle.]

I might just have to take your disappointment.

[Because he would definitely threaten to kill anyone, Norton included, if they hurt him. Right now he manages to keep a faintly humorous edge to his tone, though.]

Does 'if you hurt him your Death Toll will make you wish you were still dead' count as 'mild threatening'?

[Knowing that it absolutely does not, he smirks in amusement and lightly nudges their foreheads together again. It's difficult to tell just how serious he might be with that kind of threat even knowing how he would measure up against some of the people on the Barge.]

I think it's pretty fucking generous.

And I'll be far more than disappointed if you follow through with it, Alexei. [And while he's being entirely serious, the threat he comes up with has him balking, unsure whether to laugh or be mildly horrified.]

Alexei Ulovich Solovyov! That really shouldn't come to you so easily...god...

[He gives him a look, but there is the hint of a smile in his eyes. He's trying so hard not to encourage that, but it's hard to hide that he does kind of find it a little funny.]

Pick something else, please. That's too much.

Edited 2025-01-10 00:48 (UTC)

Wow. The whole name. And you didn't even butcher it that badly.

[He teases, squeezing Abel in against his side. Things like that do come to him all too easily, and the worst of it is that he'd actually follow through. That feral criminal isn't gone, just placated.]

Hmf. I'll have to think, then.

[Alexei looks up, making a show of thought.]

Something something to do with a shovel. I'll work on it. [Gently, he digs his fingers against Abel's ribs.] You okay?

I know how to say your name... [And he's been working on his pronunciation thank you, Alexei.] I'm going to write you a strongly worded letter in Russian, and then you won't be able to say anything snooty about it. [This is what happens when your partner is smart in very specific ways, Alexei. Some how they get used against you in petty little arguments.]

Something, something, throw you into next Tuesday and create a time paradox, destroying the barge and everyone on it... [Is his helpful suggestion before he has to pause and look at him, opening his mouth to say something but has to try again after he realizes he doesn't actually know.]

I...I feel lighter, and I'm- [a breath out, soft and frustrated.] I felt like...I should have split this up, had two separate conversations...asking where we were, and then asking about being open, and in what way? But the more I thought about it, the more I felt like if I didn't have both of them at once, you might feel like I tricked you...and I didn't know how to fix that...so all together won out.

I know I've already said I'm sorry, but I feel like I missed the mark, that some how I could have done this, found different words, and I wouldn't have hurt you.

Hmm, a time paradox...

[He hadn't thought of that but it does sound like he's actually giving it some consideration.

Then Abel keeps talking and he tilts his head to look at him. Maybe he's right. Maybe he would have felt tricked. Though, it wasn't as if he felt much better about the way things actually went.]

Ethan... don't take this the wrong way, but... [A sigh. He closes his eyes for a moment.] There's no way you could have done this and not hurt me. I just...

[Pausing, he toys with the dog tags hanging around his neck for a moment.]

How would you feel if it was me, telling you I was falling for someone else.

[He is trying very hard not to, but he can't say it doesn't bother him. At the very least his mind is calm, and the distressing hum he sometimes can hear isn't buzzing there like it had started to when he looked so distressed the day before.]

I'm...not sure it would be fair, trying to compare our reactions. I know what that feels like, and it would probably make me feel sympathetic, rather than jealous or angry. You and I don't think about things the same way, but there was a lot of guilt, and fear.

I'm not sure how I would react if I hadn't...it's hard to say.

None of this is about what's fair. Not really.

[He smiles, a little dim around the edges, because he thinks Abel might be downplaying what his actual reaction would be by just a bit.

No way to know unless it happened, though, and it's not something that he's looking for.]

What do you wanna do now? Not got much here by way of entertainment.

[Despite receiving some gifts for Christmas the place is still noticeably bare.]

[He smiles back, not quite a teasing look but close.] I suppose if it happened now, I guess I would get a little frustrated, but I'd be a hypocrit if It was close to yours.

[He glances around the room, thinking it might be nice to drag him to the wardrobe, but currently there is a witch in a rampage in there so perhaps not. Instead he'll try to keep his face straight while he puts his hand on his chest.]

Well, I could always make out with my new boyfriend.

Mm.

[He tilts his head a little, looking offside, and chuckles softly. Why is he somehow not surprised that Abel's mind jumped to that?

Though, he does like actually being referred to as his boyfriend. In spite of everything else around it, that is very nice.]

You could do that. So why don't you?

[Because even in a crisis, he'd still have time to think about sex somehow and he would love to blame Cain for that, but that is entirely on him.

Shifting to face Alexei more his other hand comes to his chest, pressing gently to try and get him to lay back on the couch.]

Does my new boyfriend want to make out with me? Or is he not in the mood?

[Which is why he doesn't just pounce, he has a little more awareness than that thank you. Not everyone wants to go right from having a serious, emotionally draining conversation to a tongue down their throat.]

[It would be very easy, at this point, to just lay back and use what's being offered and more as a distraction from what he's trying not to turn over and over in his head. Accepting things as they are doesn't mean he's happy about it and maybe not thinking about it would be good, for a while.

But...

He resists the push, staying sat upright as he closes his hand around Abel's wrist and gently moves it back from his chest.]

I'm—... I'm not in the mood, right now. I'm just tired.

[He's not sure if he's ever refused the other man like this before. It's not a great feeling to do it, but he thinks he might feel worse if he lets things continue.]

[Abel tries his best to be an adult about the fact that he is saying no, because that's why he asked. He doesn't want to just use him for sex or a distraction.

They've graduated from saying you don't have to ask, because he gets now why that isn't right, even if it felt nice when he'd said it to him. He squeezes Alexei's hands, still facing him and let's them fall into his lap.]

Well, I could take a nap with you, or I could let you take one by yourself.

You decide.

[He does think about it, because despite the fact he invited Abel over to at least reassure him he wasn't going to dump him and he didn't hate him, he's still not happy with what's going on and doesn't see why he should be.]

If you're tired, yeah, you can stay.

[Because he's not really feeling like being watched while he's sleeping right now.]

Think I just need to not have to think about anything for a bit.

[He isn't really tired himself, but it feels odd to just leave after their conversation.]

Well... I'll let you sleep then, I'm not tired. But, text me later? We could watch something, I'll see if I can make you dinner? [He might have to ask John for the ingredients, but he doesn't feel that bad about it since it's for Cain.]

Mm. Sure thing.

[Non-committal, he knows, but he's feeling all kinds of Ways and can't be sure where his head is going to be at later.

He pushes himself up to his feet and hooks his thumbs into his pockets, his chin tilted up just a little as he looks at Abel.]

I'll see you, then.

[He almost says something, asks another question, but no. He's processing, and he's allowed to do that. It just doesn't feel right still and Abel pushes himself up off the couch.

Any sort of relief he'd been feeling is starting to fade into uncertainty. He doesn't ask if he can give him a kiss before he leaves because he's afraid of the answer, squeezing his arm instead.]

Bye.

[And with one last lingering look at Alexei, he leaves.]

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