judgementor | [Avalon IC Inbox][un: redwine]

[He has to laugh then - a genuine laugh that reaches his eyes and warms them with humour. Yes, he can hear the way their heart is racing, and he won't deny it excites him a little. He's never pushed Bailey into something they didn't want to do, though.

Gently, he pulls them forwards to perch on his lap.]

You have a funny way of showing when you're worried about someone. [It's a tease, a tiny smirk wrapped around it.] I hope I was just a special case.

[They settle on his lap, shaking their head.]

Oh, definitely. Pretty sure if it had been anyone else, that would have never happened.

[They go back to toying with his hair, and being so pressed to Red they can appreciate all over again how warm he is now. He's alive, and they hadn't even realized how big of a change that would be.]

I guess I'm just a sucker for handsome guys with nice hair.

[A playful tug.]

[It isn't just different for Bailey. Red Wine has a whole new appreciation for just being a living, breathing person now. The way he can breathe without needing to think about it. How he can walk out in the sun - something he never liked to do before - without feeling ill. Knowing that when Bailey touches him he won't be cold to the touch at worst, or lukewarm at best.

Red Wine chuckles again, reaching up to push his hand into their hair and pull them down for a warm, lingering kiss. His smile brushes their lips lightly before he speaks again.]

I love you, Bailey.

[There's nothing that could have prepared Bailey for that. They're smiling into the kiss, and the smiling afterwards, but it quickly morphs into a look of surprise.

Should it be surprising? They're not so sure. They were well aware Red liked them, but there's a difference between like and love. When had that change happened? Does it matter that it happened at all?

They stare at him for a moment long enough to probably verge on uncomfortable, eyes wide and stinging before they stammer out.]

I- That's- You do?

[It's never as easy as it is when people write about it, but Red Wine doesn't say such things lightly. He nods, his hands resting lightly on Bailey's hips - not enough to hold them in place - in confirmation of his words.]

I do. Without demands or expectations. [That is, there's no need for it to be said back. Such things can be uttered without reciprocity, at least at first, and he doesn't need to hear it himself to still mean it.]

You have no idea of how important you've been to me. How dark a place I might have gone to without you.

[They stroke a hand down his cheek, lingering for a moment. They believe him, with the gentle hold and his gentle words, but it's still something that comes at a shock. In a million years, they would have never expected something like love. Fondness, sure, companionship? Definitely. But love was something that seemed too big, too serious, for what they have.

They know that they love him too, though, even if the words get caught in their throat. So instead they place a kiss to his brow, before pulling back to get a better look at his face.]

I'm not sure I even want to think about that. I'm...

[A deep breath.]

I'm glad we have this, Red. I feel really lucky, sometimes, that things worked out this way.

[It isn't something that has ever really come easily to Red Wine. With his long life and the short ones of the humans around him, his only other options had really been Food Souls and...

Well, it was complicated. His feelings for a certain one of them were still complicated, but... he'd also realised that in these kinds of places, such a chaotic influence isn't something that he needs. He and Steak make good partners in battle and in many other ways, but as a relationship? No. They were like oil and water set aflame - no good for each other.

What he and Bailey have feels right.]

Mm. So do I. [Red Wine smiles, letting his fingers link loosely against the base of their spine.]

I don't think I know anyone else quite like you.

[It all feels a bit too good to be true, sometimes, but... Bailey is tired of second guessing whether they deserve something like this. It's not a matter of deserving anyways, they know, and they just... Have to accept that they can be happy. That someone can love them.

So they smile back, leaning in to kiss Red softly.]

I doubt you would.

[They can at least own up to being one of a kind. They settle back into his lap, pressing their lips together for a moment.]

...Once we get enough money to get out of this place, do you want to get a place together?

[He tips his chin up slightly against the kiss and smiles into it, then looks up at them with clear admiration as they settle back on his lap.

The question is one that's easily answered.]

I wouldn't have it any other way.

[And then, because he's in an excellent position to be able to do so, he gets a better hold on Bailey and flips them expertly over so they are lying on the bed beside him, with him leaning over their chest.]

But are you sure you can deal with being around me all the time?

[They can't even bask in being pleased by that answer before they're being flipped over. They squawk, feeling awfully undignified, before they raise a hand to thump Red's shoulder.

They are trying very, very hard not to be flustered by this position and to not get any ideas.]

I think I could manage the temptation.

[...]

But could you?

[Despite the position, Red Wine doesn't make any moves to push it further than Bailey is comfortable with. Consent is a very attractive thing, after all, and the walls here are terribly thin.]

Hm, good question.

[He presses a kiss under their jaw line, just once, then smiles down at them.]

But I don't think it's going to be a problem.

[The walls are too thin, in Bailey's opinion, but once they get their own place...]

Oh, you don't?

[They smile back, reaching up to brush their fingers over his cheek.]

I guess we'll see if it is or not.

[Far too thin. Red Wine may be an exhibitionist in several respects but not in that one, though he hasn't objected to the need to muffle certain sounds to avoid disturbing any neighbours. It would be nice to not have to, however.]

We'll see? That, my cherry, sounds like a threat. Or a challenge.

[He grins a sharp-edged, roguish grin and leans in, stopping short of kissing them and with one hand splayed against their ribs.]

Which is it?

[Apartment hunting is going to be a nightmare, they think, but they also think that if Red keeps teasing them, to hell with their neighbors.]

Oh, it's definitely a threat.

[My cherry... It's really unfair, when he says things like that.]

I want to see how much you can take.

[Let it never be said that Bailey doesn't give as good as they get in conversations like this, barring the occasional flustered stumble. Red Wine looks down at them, his thumb trailing idly around the curve of one rib, and he smiles again.]

If you're looking to push my limits, you have a long way to go.

[Oh, they've seen him fall apart under their hands before now, but there's a lot more he could take.]

But I'll remember you said that. [He leans up, pressing a gentle kiss to their mouth.] The next time you blush when I ask you what you want to do to me.

[Avalon IC Inbox][un: redwine]

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