[ it's funny. graves had said, that first time, that he was a difficult man to love. for credence it's not the loving that's difficult - he has that in spades - but the worry. credence knows that though, and what kind of man would he be if he couldn't weather it? one that didn't deserve this in the first place. still, this doesn't mean he can't remind his older lover of things, necessary things like points of contact.
credence leans into graves' touch easily, head tipping toward his hand as he looks at him. ] That's a very good deal. [ he wraps his arms around graves' neck slowly, leaning into him and pressing their foreheads together. ] I'll gladly accept it. [ honestly, now that he's back there's so much relief flooding his system that he can't think of much else. there's a flicker of what he used to be, scared and timid and trying to exist as small as possible.
finally he lifts his head again, tucking a strand of the older man's hair back into place. it's a habitual movement, something he likes to use as a gentle affection. ] I don't know what I'd do without you.
[ graves says dryly, amusement flickering in his eyes as he watches him lean into his touch, loosening up and presumably mollified. credence is affectionate when he wants to be, tactile and gentle, and graves responds by sliding an arm around his waist, obedient under his lover's attentions when he tucks his hair back.
he recognises the flicker of fear, buried deep -- the old credence who had been skittish as a foal, wary and always looking to make himself smaller, as if consciously finding ways to apologise for his existence. he's different now, better; even if the ghost of what he was lingers. he nuzzles against his cheek, angling for a slow, searching kiss. ] You've come a long way.
I threw it at the floor, not at you. There's a difference.
[ sulkily. finally he sighs, kissing him softly and just lingering that way as long as he can, barely touching. he looks at graves after that, searching his face and memorizing it yet again. there's a brief second where he reaches up to brush his thumb over the worry lines on his brow, more than a little charmed by them.
when graves compliments him it draws him quiet and still; he tips toward him and kisses him soundly, lovingly, hands cupping his face to keep him there. when he finally looks at him his eyes are a little too bright but he's smiling. ] It's your fault. You know that, don't you? That I've been able to do this.
[ spell it out for him, darling. graves has an idea of what he's talking about, and personally, he's quite proud of it. but he likes it when credence tells him about these things specifically. he's taking him in, equally smitten despite himself, warmed by his affection before he kisses him right back again, stealing another kiss from his lovely mouth.
then another, and another, because having him smile is something magical, something special. credence smile more and more these days, and his thumb brushes over the curve of his mouth lightly, as if trying to make it stay just a little longer. ]
I want to see what it is that I should make up for, tonight.
[ and that's the crux of it, isn't it? he's not scared like he used to be. he still is at times but he's able to push through it, to manage himself properly and do what needs doing. he doesn't make himself smaller, doesn't let himself be steamrolled.
the kisses practically take his breath away and he's practically coiled around him like a clinging vine by the time graves speaks again, pressing their foreheads together - he nips playfully at the pad of graves' thumb, then settles. ] I want to forget I was ever worried.
[ he murmurs, a ghost of a smile tugging at his mouth. that's the crux of it, how credence is not afraid the way he used to be; how he's blossoming into someone graves comes to love more and more by the day. theirs is not a conventional relationship, but it works, and graves has never been happier with him.
credence is clinging, affectionate and warm, and graves keeps him close, thumb slipping between his lips briefly to brush over his tongue. it's an intimate gesture between lovers, and he follows after it with another brief kiss, his hand coming down to twine his fingers with his. ]
[ he sounds so pleased like this, it must really be so relieving to see him after worrying so much. his heart hurts but in a good way this time.
he can focus on other things too: when graves' thumb is in his mouth credence sucks on it once, brief and lazy while looking at him. but then credence returns the kiss, leaning into it as he threads their fingers and noses against his cheek. ]
No. Have you? [ credence pauses, tipping back a little to eye him. ] Have you eaten at all today?
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credence leans into graves' touch easily, head tipping toward his hand as he looks at him. ] That's a very good deal. [ he wraps his arms around graves' neck slowly, leaning into him and pressing their foreheads together. ] I'll gladly accept it. [ honestly, now that he's back there's so much relief flooding his system that he can't think of much else. there's a flicker of what he used to be, scared and timid and trying to exist as small as possible.
finally he lifts his head again, tucking a strand of the older man's hair back into place. it's a habitual movement, something he likes to use as a gentle affection. ] I don't know what I'd do without you.
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[ graves says dryly, amusement flickering in his eyes as he watches him lean into his touch, loosening up and presumably mollified. credence is affectionate when he wants to be, tactile and gentle, and graves responds by sliding an arm around his waist, obedient under his lover's attentions when he tucks his hair back.
he recognises the flicker of fear, buried deep -- the old credence who had been skittish as a foal, wary and always looking to make himself smaller, as if consciously finding ways to apologise for his existence. he's different now, better; even if the ghost of what he was lingers. he nuzzles against his cheek, angling for a slow, searching kiss. ] You've come a long way.
no subject
[ sulkily. finally he sighs, kissing him softly and just lingering that way as long as he can, barely touching. he looks at graves after that, searching his face and memorizing it yet again. there's a brief second where he reaches up to brush his thumb over the worry lines on his brow, more than a little charmed by them.
when graves compliments him it draws him quiet and still; he tips toward him and kisses him soundly, lovingly, hands cupping his face to keep him there. when he finally looks at him his eyes are a little too bright but he's smiling. ] It's your fault. You know that, don't you? That I've been able to do this.
no subject
[ spell it out for him, darling. graves has an idea of what he's talking about, and personally, he's quite proud of it. but he likes it when credence tells him about these things specifically. he's taking him in, equally smitten despite himself, warmed by his affection before he kisses him right back again, stealing another kiss from his lovely mouth.
then another, and another, because having him smile is something magical, something special. credence smile more and more these days, and his thumb brushes over the curve of his mouth lightly, as if trying to make it stay just a little longer. ]
I want to see what it is that I should make up for, tonight.
no subject
[ and that's the crux of it, isn't it? he's not scared like he used to be. he still is at times but he's able to push through it, to manage himself properly and do what needs doing. he doesn't make himself smaller, doesn't let himself be steamrolled.
the kisses practically take his breath away and he's practically coiled around him like a clinging vine by the time graves speaks again, pressing their foreheads together - he nips playfully at the pad of graves' thumb, then settles. ] I want to forget I was ever worried.
no subject
[ he murmurs, a ghost of a smile tugging at his mouth. that's the crux of it, how credence is not afraid the way he used to be; how he's blossoming into someone graves comes to love more and more by the day. theirs is not a conventional relationship, but it works, and graves has never been happier with him.
credence is clinging, affectionate and warm, and graves keeps him close, thumb slipping between his lips briefly to brush over his tongue. it's an intimate gesture between lovers, and he follows after it with another brief kiss, his hand coming down to twine his fingers with his. ]
Have you had dinner yet?
no subject
[ he sounds so pleased like this, it must really be so relieving to see him after worrying so much. his heart hurts but in a good way this time.
he can focus on other things too: when graves' thumb is in his mouth credence sucks on it once, brief and lazy while looking at him. but then credence returns the kiss, leaning into it as he threads their fingers and noses against his cheek. ]
No. Have you? [ credence pauses, tipping back a little to eye him. ] Have you eaten at all today?