Finally, a glance up from the book he isn't reading. There's not as much tension in his face as there could be. His worry is all for Quentin, very little for himself. ]
He cares about you. I know you know that, but he was angriest about what I did to you.
[ He considers not saying the rest. Trust breached under duress is one thing, but out of it? Then he considers the nature of their conversation, and decides trust needs to exist to be broken. It's probably fair game. ]
He threatened me with unnamed consequences for a repeat offense. And I do not doubt for a second that he would come at me with whatever he had if I broke that agreement.
[ It wouldn't end well for anybody involved. The look on Stephen's face is subtle as his gaze drops back down to the page, but there's an undeniable fondness in there. A deep respect, in spite of Stephen's fear for his recklessness. ]
You might want to find the ways he can help you, to offset the ways you won't let him try.
[ Before Quentin bursts. Or runs himself into a battle with a sorcerer he can't possibly hope to win. ]
[There's no surprise for Quentin having done that, because of course Quentin would. It being done over Takeshi, though, is almost bizarre enough to make him laugh. It's contained to a twist of a smile, instead, journal set aside as he shifts to stand.]
Shovel, pot and kettle all in one chat. Hell of a hat trick.
[Stephen was here because he'd let others help him, but it hadn't been without a fight. Wasn't still slow-going, a couple of days in and Takeshi still concerned he might disappear again, or something might push him. He crosses the room, lifting the unread book out of Stephen's hands, setting it down open. Cocks an eyebrow.]
Letting him help me isn't going to stop him coming for you. You'll just have to not break the agreement.
[ A long breath in as Takeshi steals the book from his hands, letting it out on a sigh. But when he lifts his face to look at him, it's open. No real evidence of a will to bolt.
If anything, having been told where to go has reinvigorated him. Settled him. Quentin's rage on Takeshi's behalf a strange kind of balm in the face of so much stoic, vigilant care that it leaves little room for him to caretake in return. ]
That's the goal. But it wasn't exactly on my to do list the first time.
[ There's no guarantee that circumstances won't make an enemy of him again. Anyway - lighter notes. ]
For once in my life, this wasn't supposed to be about me. You're bad for ego management.
[ He could talk now, instead of sending messages while making direct eye contact, but he doesn't. ]
[They could absolutely swap to verbal speech, could've done so a while ago. But it might as well be a game now, sticking with the pared down communication of just words while doing something as intimate as cupping Stephen's face, tipping his chin up to kiss him.]
I'm taking advantage of you thinking about me. Seeing as I'm not on your to do list.
[ Oh. Somehow he never sees him coming, even when he's staring right at him. A little thrill sinks down along his spine and he cranes up into that kiss in spite of himself. His answer takes a second. Already losing the game. ]
[Takeshi lets him crane for it, for a moment. Hand sliding down to the column of his neck, feeling the strain, this physical representation of desire for contact.]
I'm open to corrections.
[Mercy given by sinking lower, further, keeping Stephen with him in the kiss until the last moment. Until he's on his knees, coaxing Stephen's legs apart to settle between them.]
I'm not going to hurt you again. If it's in my power.
[ Takeshi's distracting, wildly distracting, but not enough to keep him from making that point - the most important point. All too soon mouths part, along with the cover the kiss had bought him to be earnest, and Stephen's breath hitches, unsteady, no resistance when Takeshi nudges his legs apart to make space for himself. Watching him through unflinching blue. ]
And you've missed plenty of advantageous opportunities. I'm thinking about you half my waking hours.
[ It's easy, this close, this safe and obviously wanted, to say such purposefully dangerous things. There's flourish and exaggeration to it, Stephen's parry, but it's not so far from true. It's also a tease for the obvious omission of that to do list and how high he may or may not be ranking on it now, even as Stephen's hands remain carefully resting in the sheets at his sides, some odd echo of the first time they'd touched one another, when he'd felt drawn taut and cautious for entirely different reasons. ]
[Here, Takeshi breaks the game. A moment, deliberate, isolated in the way he pushes back up into Stephen's space, cups his face in one hand and looks at him steady. Says, out loud,]
I know.
[Doesn't need to be told, to be reassured, to have promises made over threats of retaliation from other people. The certainty is settled. The forgiveness has already been granted.
His hand and attention drops again, the moment signed as over by him returning to the task of working Stephen's pants open.]
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no subject
[ Yeah.
Finally, a glance up from the book he isn't reading. There's not as much tension in his face as there could be. His worry is all for Quentin, very little for himself. ]
He cares about you. I know you know that, but he was angriest about what I did to you.
no subject
Some of that's going to be about how I wouldn't let him help me.
[In case Stephen's really thinking about making this about what he did to Takeshi.]
no subject
[ He considers not saying the rest. Trust breached under duress is one thing, but out of it? Then he considers the nature of their conversation, and decides trust needs to exist to be broken. It's probably fair game. ]
He threatened me with unnamed consequences for a repeat offense. And I do not doubt for a second that he would come at me with whatever he had if I broke that agreement.
[ It wouldn't end well for anybody involved. The look on Stephen's face is subtle as his gaze drops back down to the page, but there's an undeniable fondness in there. A deep respect, in spite of Stephen's fear for his recklessness. ]
You might want to find the ways he can help you, to offset the ways you won't let him try.
[ Before Quentin bursts. Or runs himself into a battle with a sorcerer he can't possibly hope to win. ]
no subject
Shovel, pot and kettle all in one chat. Hell of a hat trick.
[Stephen was here because he'd let others help him, but it hadn't been without a fight. Wasn't still slow-going, a couple of days in and Takeshi still concerned he might disappear again, or something might push him. He crosses the room, lifting the unread book out of Stephen's hands, setting it down open. Cocks an eyebrow.]
Letting him help me isn't going to stop him coming for you. You'll just have to not break the agreement.
no subject
If anything, having been told where to go has reinvigorated him. Settled him. Quentin's rage on Takeshi's behalf a strange kind of balm in the face of so much stoic, vigilant care that it leaves little room for him to caretake in return. ]
That's the goal. But it wasn't exactly on my to do list the first time.
[ There's no guarantee that circumstances won't make an enemy of him again. Anyway - lighter notes. ]
For once in my life, this wasn't supposed to be about me. You're bad for ego management.
[ He could talk now, instead of sending messages while making direct eye contact, but he doesn't. ]
no subject
[They could absolutely swap to verbal speech, could've done so a while ago. But it might as well be a game now, sticking with the pared down communication of just words while doing something as intimate as cupping Stephen's face, tipping his chin up to kiss him.]
I'm taking advantage of you thinking about me. Seeing as I'm not on your to do list.
no subject
That is a gross misrepresentation of the facts.
no subject
I'm open to corrections.
[Mercy given by sinking lower, further, keeping Stephen with him in the kiss until the last moment. Until he's on his knees, coaxing Stephen's legs apart to settle between them.]
no subject
[ Takeshi's distracting, wildly distracting, but not enough to keep him from making that point - the most important point. All too soon mouths part, along with the cover the kiss had bought him to be earnest, and Stephen's breath hitches, unsteady, no resistance when Takeshi nudges his legs apart to make space for himself. Watching him through unflinching blue. ]
And you've missed plenty of advantageous opportunities. I'm thinking about you half my waking hours.
[ It's easy, this close, this safe and obviously wanted, to say such purposefully dangerous things. There's flourish and exaggeration to it, Stephen's parry, but it's not so far from true. It's also a tease for the obvious omission of that to do list and how high he may or may not be ranking on it now, even as Stephen's hands remain carefully resting in the sheets at his sides, some odd echo of the first time they'd touched one another, when he'd felt drawn taut and cautious for entirely different reasons. ]
no subject
I know.
[Doesn't need to be told, to be reassured, to have promises made over threats of retaliation from other people. The certainty is settled. The forgiveness has already been granted.
His hand and attention drops again, the moment signed as over by him returning to the task of working Stephen's pants open.]
Then it seems I've got some making up to do.