braveoff | [ DUPLICITY ] inbox

That's all I ask. Offer's open.

[ He finishes off the last bite of dinner and swirls the whiskey left in his glass, downing it in one last swallow. Stands up to take the dishes to the sink and put away the leftovers. ]

[ Sharkface lowers his gaze and downs the last of his glass, kicking it back. The quota is still a thing. Hanging over both of them. And maybe, maybe it wouldn't just be easier to - ?

Breathe. He twitches, and stands to help put the dishes away. ]

Food's good.

Thanks. It's nice to have access to actual meat again... you want a snack later, there's some left.

[ He's currently transferring it to a container, dishes left in the sink.

As casual and domestic as the meal felt, though, he is starting to sense that tension in the air again. The quota hanging over them, will they or won't they? Drake closes the container and sticks it in the fridge, wondering if he should do dishes now and let Sharkface paint a little more, or... it's easier to just ask, honestly. He closes the fridge door and turns to where the other man is standing at the sink. ]

What do you feel like?

[ Yeah. That. Sharkface leans against the wall, watching Drake for a long moment.

He swallows hard. ]

Do you want - ?

[ His gaze flicks to Drake's mouth briefly. ]

Only if you're comfortable with it.

[ It's interesting to him that Sharkface glances at his mouth, though. He'd seemed kind of skittish about the kissing, last time. ]

I mean. I do, but. I'm not the type to push, either, if you want to just paint all night I'd be happy to watch that, too.

[ Comfortable. Hah. Given the choice, Sharkface knows he'd rather just - paint. Maybe talk to Drake while doing it. Let things settle. Have a quiet moment for a time, let it slow down. But that's not the reality of their situation, is it? The quota's hanging over all of them and it's been made very clear what will happen if they don't play along.

Pieces of it felt good last time. Drake said he wanted it to be about more, but this -

It feels too big. Too heavy.

Sharkface twitches and looks away. He wonders if there's anymore alcohol. And he knows it would be unfair to ask.

Breathe. ]

It doesn't -

[ He rocks minutely, trying to find the words to explain it. To make the situation feel easier, somehow. ]

It doesn't have to be complicated, does it?

[ Drake leans back against the kitchen counter, giving that question the consideration it deserves. It's kind of inherently complicated being around each other at all, but the sex... doesn't have to be. He knows he's capable of focusing on just that, on letting Sharkface get it over with the way he'd prefer. And as much as he'd rather not they kind of have to, for the time being. They don't have the luxury of taking it slow.

He breathes out, then shakes his head. ]

It doesn't.

[ It doesn't sound like he's ecstatic about that, but he's not upset either. Just stating a fact. ]

Okay.

[ Sharkface swallows hard, meeting Drake's eyes. ]

It was okay last time. Wasn't it?

Yeah, of course it was.

[ He smiles faintly, taking a step forward. ]

If there's anything you'd want to be different about it you should probably tell me, though. I don't want to go too far if you let me guess.

[ Sharkface nods slowly, watching Drake. After a moment, he steps forward as well. Closing the gap. ]

I'd -

[ He hesitates. ]

I don't want to take my clothes off.

[ Not that he did last time, but. ]

That's fine. Anything else?

[ He hesitates, then clarifies. ]

Can I touch you?

[ Sharkface twitches, touching his knuckles to his mouth. This used to be easier. He liked being with other people. Making them smile, finding out what made them feel good. And now -

It feels hard. And it shouldn't. ]

If you go slow.

[ He says it quietly. ]

I can do that.

[ He reaches out, taking Sharkface's hand and rubbing his thumb over the other man's knuckles. ]

You can tell me if it's too much, okay?

[ Oh. Sharkface shivers, good eye going wide, but he doesn't flinch away from Drake. The touch is soft. It doesn't hurt.

It doesn't hurt. His throat goes very tight. He nods, suddenly unable to speak. ]

[ Sharkface doesn't pull away, doesn't even flinch this time, and Drake smiles softly. Progress. ]

Come on.

[ He uses the gentle hold to tug Sharkface forward, out of the kitchen and towards the bedroom door. It's loose enough that he can pull free if he wants, but he figures the contact is something of a warmup. ]

[ Okay. They're doing this. Sharkface takes a deep breath, then lets it go. He follows Drake and tries to pretend it feels easy, natural. And it wasn't bad last time. Pieces of it were good. Pieces of it almost felt like before, when he was Ephemera for real. Like there wasn't all this weight hanging over both of them.

They can pretend for a little while, can't they?

Sharkface swallows hard, squeezing Drake's hand. Gentle, to start. That feels like the right way. ]

[ They're doing... something. Drake knows how touch starved Sharkface is, and is hoping he can nudge things a little further without pushing for his sake. Not just his own. He leads the other man into his room just like the last time, drawing him in with the hand he's squeezing. That's promising. He smiles encouragingly as the gap between them closes and takes care to telegraph his movements.

His free hand comes up and settles on Sharkface's chest, light but there, and he leans in to touch their foreheads together. Just like before, so hopefully familiar. ]

Just breathe.

[ Breathe. Hah. Drake closes the distance between them, his hand resting against Sharkface's chest. And then -

Sharkface shivers, closing his good eye. He leans into the gesture, nuzzling against Drake. Wanting the closeness even as it scares him. The weight of it. The implications.

It could be simple, couldn't it?

Sharkface reaches out and puts his hand on Drake's arm, squeezing. He breathes out slow. ]

[ There you go, Drake thinks to himself, just relax. He nuzzles back gently, just trying to get the other man used to this. To being close again. To being able to trust someone being so close.

When he can feel Sharkface's pulse level out a bit he slides his hand up, to his shoulder and then his neck, touch soft but protective. He happens to be on the scarred side, but knows it won't hurt. Just feel a little less intense, maybe. They stand like that for another minute, going slow and easy. ]

Can I kiss you?

[ He still has sensation under the scars. Not as much, but enough to know when he's being touched. Whether it's meant to wound or not. And this is -

It's a lot. It's heavy in a way Sharkface doesn't always know how to weather and he hates how his breath hitches, how close it comes to a flinch.

But it's a comfort too, in a strange way. Tied up in too many emotions to name, but a comfort nonetheless.

He breathes out. He settles. ]

Yeah.

[ His voice comes out rough. ]

[ Drake isn't trying to make this heavy, but showing Sharkface that contact with him isn't something to fear or expect pain from is probably going to be. He knows that. But the other man seems to settle again -- breathe -- and consents to kissing, which seems like the best case scenario. Drake just hopes he isn't pushing himself.

The kiss is soft but sure, Drake keeping things light for the moment. He squeezes Sharkface's hand encouragingly, and sucks very gently on his bottom lip. Thinking that maybe, just maybe, if the other man likes it this could become something more mutual. ]

[ It's hard to focus, to know what he's supposed to be doing here. Sharkface shivers again, squeezing Drake's hand. He doesn't kiss Drake back, but he doesn't pull away either. Maybe that's enough.

Probably not, though.

He closes his good eye and presses their foreheads together, leaning against Drake. The closeness feels good, at least. Like something he'd like to keep. ]

[ It's not encouraging, but not exactly discouraging either. Sharkface doesn't pull away. That's something, but Drake does stop kissing him. He squeezes back instead, letting the forehead touch linger and taking the other man's weight easily.

It's something, he tells himself. And not a small thing, either. It's trust. Just... maybe not attraction, or a willingness to let himself feel it? Not yet. He won't let himself worry it'll never happen.

If nothing else, he's pretty sure the closeness is welcome, and that's a place to start. ]

Lie down with me? Just that.

[ Sharkface opens his good eye and watches Drake for a moment. It simpler last time. closer to transactional. This isn't.

Breathe. Just -

Breathe.

He swallows hard, then nods. ]

Okay.

[ Like before, his voice comes out rough. He leans in and kisses Drake briefly before he can think about it too much. Not hard, but enough to feel. ]

[ Drake smiles softly at that, letting his hand slip down from Sharkface's neck in something that's almost a caress.

Then he steps back towards the bed, climbing on and scooting to the far side to make room. They can lie down and relax a little, get used to being close to each other, just touching. It might help. ]

C'mere.

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