[The look Faolan shoots the younger man accurately expresses just what he thinks of that. Groping him in the middle of class?]
Jesus, Laurent. I do know a thing or two about discretion.
[He runs his hands over his face again and only just keeps himself from rising and pacing across the room.] When I'm on the clock, I can't let my affections for you get in the way of that. When I'm on the clock, I'm your bodyguard. I can't allow myself anything more than that. But on days like today, or while we are here, alone...? I need to know where we stand, alright? I need you to tell me what you want from me in return. Besides rid of me, should I prove to be more than you can handle.
[Yes, that probably was supposed to be a joke from Laurent. Yes, it had stung a little more than it should have nonetheless.]
[ It was definitely a joke, and this has definitely become needlessly dramatic.
Laurent takes a slow sip of his tea, letting Faolan stew for a long moment in the silence. He deserves to feel a little uncomfortable for a moment, in Laurent's opinion, after that last remark. ]
I don't ask people to stay with me after romantic declarations and let them sleep in my bed if I want or expect them to keep their hands to themselves. That would be cruel. Despite what you might think, I don't aim to be cruel.
[Faolan hardly feels as though he deserves it himself, on the other hand. He's been uncomfortable enough leading up to this moment, never mind sitting there watching Laurent sip his tea at him like that.]
Damn it Laurent, you know I never accused you of being so. Must you make me feel like an idiot for asking after your comfort?
[ He turns slightly, drawing his legs up a little more as he makes to face Faolan. ]
I haven't given you any boundaries, Faolan. Have I ever told you not to touch me? Not to kiss me? I asked you think about this, that was all. I don't wish for you not to touch me. I just wish you not to regret it.
[Faolan turns to look at Laurent as well. Searching his face for a long moment before he forces himself to add:]
So long as you wish for it in return, then there is nothing I regret.
[He sucks his lower lip between his teeth, worrying at it for a moment before forcing his gaze back to the other man.] Do you wish for it, Laurent? From me?
[Faolan supposes that it's true. He supposes that he might never have led him on if he didn't want the attentions. Yet at the same time... It's something that he needs to hear, personally. Whether that's ridiculous to the younger man or not. He takes a deep breath in, letting it out slowly before he nods in response to Laurent's words.]
You know, I might not have taken half as long to come to my decision if you'd made that clearer to me from the start.
[He flashes Laurent something of a self-deprecating smile before he turns his gaze down to his hands.] I'm sorry. That I needed to ask in the first place. I suppose you might say that I'm... Out of practice, in such things, I guess.
[ Faolan might claim he doesn't think Laurent cruel, but he's acting like a child who has been told his dog is being given up to a re-homing centre. Hardly like someone being reassured they aren't being rejected. ]
Can I? I'm glad you told me. I was thinking I'd be awaiting instructions.
[ This is not a particularly attractive self-pity routine, especially for a man who has been brought a keyboard and cake and told he's allowed to touch as much as he'd like, but Laurent supposes since he is responsible he should attempt to dig Faolan out of it. He studies him quizzically. ]
[Faolan glances up at the younger man, frowning at him for a moment before Laurent offers him cake and he's caught off guard. Wondering how long it's been since they've eaten lunch but then again, he wouldn't mind the cake just now...]
I... Think I might, yeah. Are you hungry?
[Look, he's trying, he's trying. He'd really like to move past his awkward moment of conversation as well, if he can. He just has to find a way to dig himself out of it, first.]
[Faolan nods again. It really hasn't been that long but he appreciates the out he's been given, and he'll take what he can get, truth be told. He glances up at Laurent, taking his hand as he offers it to help him up but keeping it once he's stood in front of him.]
Listen... Let's. Leave the cake until we can both really appreciate it, yeah? I've only barely digested lunch. I won't. Make you go for that run I threatened or anything but. A walk, perhaps? Would you like to go out again with me? Or... Something else? I just.
[He laces his fingers together with Laurent's, pressing his lips together tightly for a moment before continuing, with his best attempt at the curl of a smile:] I don't know if I've the concentration for reading just now, myself.
[ He's really not in the mood to go back out again. He was just getting comfortable and warming back up and getting into his book. He barely read a page. ]
You can play something, if you like? I mean with your guitar, not the sound-system. Or I can just take off my clothes. I was planning to save that for later but we can move it forward.
["Or I can just take off my clothes." It takes Faolan a moment to process that offer and he stands blinking at Laurent before he lets out the bark of a laugh at the absurdity of the statement.]
Well that's. Certainly one way of distracting me.
[He reaches to cup Laurent's face in his hand, offering him a tentative smile before asking. very softly and very simply:]
[He flicks half a smile at Laurent's response, offering him a slight nod as he steps forward to close the rest of the distance between them.]
I promise.
[Brushing his fingers along the line of Laurent's jaw, he leans in to close in the rest of the space between them and press his lips against the younger man's. The warmth of the press of Laurent's body a soothing balm on his fraying nerves as he pulls back just enough to rest his forehead against Laurent's.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Jesus, Laurent. I do know a thing or two about discretion.
[He runs his hands over his face again and only just keeps himself from rising and pacing across the room.] When I'm on the clock, I can't let my affections for you get in the way of that. When I'm on the clock, I'm your bodyguard. I can't allow myself anything more than that. But on days like today, or while we are here, alone...? I need to know where we stand, alright? I need you to tell me what you want from me in return. Besides rid of me, should I prove to be more than you can handle.
[Yes, that probably was supposed to be a joke from Laurent. Yes, it had stung a little more than it should have nonetheless.]
no subject
Laurent takes a slow sip of his tea, letting Faolan stew for a long moment in the silence. He deserves to feel a little uncomfortable for a moment, in Laurent's opinion, after that last remark. ]
I don't ask people to stay with me after romantic declarations and let them sleep in my bed if I want or expect them to keep their hands to themselves. That would be cruel. Despite what you might think, I don't aim to be cruel.
no subject
Damn it Laurent, you know I never accused you of being so. Must you make me feel like an idiot for asking after your comfort?
no subject
[ He turns slightly, drawing his legs up a little more as he makes to face Faolan. ]
I haven't given you any boundaries, Faolan. Have I ever told you not to touch me? Not to kiss me? I asked you think about this, that was all. I don't wish for you not to touch me. I just wish you not to regret it.
no subject
[Faolan turns to look at Laurent as well. Searching his face for a long moment before he forces himself to add:]
So long as you wish for it in return, then there is nothing I regret.
[He sucks his lower lip between his teeth, worrying at it for a moment before forcing his gaze back to the other man.] Do you wish for it, Laurent? From me?
no subject
Of course. I'm capable of saying no, Faolan. If I didn't want want your attention I wouldn't have bothered asking you to think about it.
no subject
You know, I might not have taken half as long to come to my decision if you'd made that clearer to me from the start.
[He flashes Laurent something of a self-deprecating smile before he turns his gaze down to his hands.] I'm sorry. That I needed to ask in the first place. I suppose you might say that I'm... Out of practice, in such things, I guess.
no subject
[ Don't put this entirely on him, Faolan. Communication runs both ways.
Still, he holds up his box -- gestures with it absently. ]
Shall I continue reading this? Or do you want to practice touching me to be sure I won't flinch away and fire you.
no subject
He holds back a wince in response to Laurent's words, though he can't help the way that his eyes fall to his hands in his lap again as he responds.]
I don't--... It's fine. You can do as you like.
no subject
Can I? I'm glad you told me. I was thinking I'd be awaiting instructions.
[ This is not a particularly attractive self-pity routine, especially for a man who has been brought a keyboard and cake and told he's allowed to touch as much as he'd like, but Laurent supposes since he is responsible he should attempt to dig Faolan out of it. He studies him quizzically. ]
Do you want to cut the cake?
[ Do you need to eat your feelings. ]
no subject
I... Think I might, yeah. Are you hungry?
[Look, he's trying, he's trying. He'd really like to move past his awkward moment of conversation as well, if he can. He just has to find a way to dig himself out of it, first.]
no subject
I could eat a small piece.
[ For the sake of saving this situation. He pushes to his feet and leans to set his book on the coffee table, then offers Faolan a hand up.]
no subject
Listen... Let's. Leave the cake until we can both really appreciate it, yeah? I've only barely digested lunch. I won't. Make you go for that run I threatened or anything but. A walk, perhaps? Would you like to go out again with me? Or... Something else? I just.
[He laces his fingers together with Laurent's, pressing his lips together tightly for a moment before continuing, with his best attempt at the curl of a smile:] I don't know if I've the concentration for reading just now, myself.
no subject
Laurent sighs, lofts an eyebrow at Faolan. ]
We only just came back inside.
[ He's really not in the mood to go back out again. He was just getting comfortable and warming back up and getting into his book. He barely read a page. ]
You can play something, if you like? I mean with your guitar, not the sound-system. Or I can just take off my clothes. I was planning to save that for later but we can move it forward.
no subject
Well that's. Certainly one way of distracting me.
[He reaches to cup Laurent's face in his hand, offering him a tentative smile before asking. very softly and very simply:]
May I kiss you?
no subject
If you let me read more than a page of my book later.
[ So, yes. ]
no subject
I promise.
[Brushing his fingers along the line of Laurent's jaw, he leans in to close in the rest of the space between them and press his lips against the younger man's. The warmth of the press of Laurent's body a soothing balm on his fraying nerves as he pulls back just enough to rest his forehead against Laurent's.]
Research, didn't you say it was?
no subject
[ Whereas he does now, he seems quite interested in fact. Laurent rests a hand on Faolan's waist, leans to nuzzle his cheek teasingly. ]
no subject
[Faolan shifts to step closer, moving to tangle his fingers into Laurent's curls and turn his face against the press of Laurent's against his.]
A misunderstanding on my part. You'll just have to help me come to my senses.
no subject
[ Laurent's hand slips from resting on his waist around to the small of Faolan's back, and he leans his weight into the other man. ]
It is still your birthday after all. Come on.
[ With that, Laurent draws back and catches Faolan's fingers -- begins to lead him away through the apartment. ]