[ credence knows exactly what he's asking of graves. there's a point to it, a neediness over it, the way his heart clenches when graves answers him. his lips pull into a delicate frown and he shakes his head, looking at the older man for a long moment before granting him a kiss, slow and sweet and affectionate. ]
You're far more than that. [ it's soft, murmured against his mouth, before he settles against him and rests his head on his shoulder. ] You've never been only a bodyguard. That's important, but the rest is important too.
[ he sighs, pressing a kiss to his jaw just below his ear. ] If you wanted to go I would let you. As much as I care for you and want you, it's not worth anything if I'm so cruel as to try and keep you here when you don't want to. You can walk away if you like, whenever you like. I just hope you'll stay.
[ graves says nothing for a few moments, cupping his face in his hand and curving his palm against it, shifting to accommodate him when he feels his affectionate charge cuddle close, pressing against his jaw. he is in love, he knows -- but this is a dangerous place to be. credence is still young, and he could outgrow this crush of his, and graves cannot afford to be compromised.
he would give his life for his in a heartbeat, his loyalty all but assured -- credence is precious to him, clever and spirited and so full of life that he cannot help but be drawn to him, but credence, too, needs his freedom however he can get it. he nuzzles against him a hand coming to curve at the back of his neck to hold him in place as he registers those words. ]
You'll find someone new when you get older, you know. Someone closer to your age. What will you do, then?
[ credence laughs, kind and fond, and bumps their foreheads together before kissing him again. it's youthful, affectionate, loving. then he's shifting to be as close as possible, barely audible even right up against his ear. ]
If I so much as look at someone else I don't deserve you. But really, no one could hope to compare.
[ a sigh before he continues: ] I can't trust anyone else. But more than that, you're the only person to treat me like a fellow person. To you I'm not a toy, a plaything, something inhuman and precious to watch over like an art piece in a museum. I'm a person to protect.
[ a kiss below his ear. ] You're it. There's not someone else.
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You're far more than that. [ it's soft, murmured against his mouth, before he settles against him and rests his head on his shoulder. ] You've never been only a bodyguard. That's important, but the rest is important too.
[ he sighs, pressing a kiss to his jaw just below his ear. ] If you wanted to go I would let you. As much as I care for you and want you, it's not worth anything if I'm so cruel as to try and keep you here when you don't want to. You can walk away if you like, whenever you like. I just hope you'll stay.
no subject
he would give his life for his in a heartbeat, his loyalty all but assured -- credence is precious to him, clever and spirited and so full of life that he cannot help but be drawn to him, but credence, too, needs his freedom however he can get it. he nuzzles against him a hand coming to curve at the back of his neck to hold him in place as he registers those words. ]
You'll find someone new when you get older, you know. Someone closer to your age. What will you do, then?
no subject
If I so much as look at someone else I don't deserve you. But really, no one could hope to compare.
[ a sigh before he continues: ] I can't trust anyone else. But more than that, you're the only person to treat me like a fellow person. To you I'm not a toy, a plaything, something inhuman and precious to watch over like an art piece in a museum. I'm a person to protect.
[ a kiss below his ear. ] You're it. There's not someone else.