“Then I will not describe you in such a way anymore. Though…” Arquis bit his lip and wrung his hands together again, wincing at the slight sting of pain that both actions brought. When he looked at them, his gaze was uncertain. “Was it just that first part? Or am… am I allowed to compliment you? Is gorgeous alright? Would you prefer something else?”
He was trying his best not to appear guilty. As he’d said earlier, he didn’t want Rin to feel like he had to comfort him. Especially not since he’d been the one to mess up. But he just couldn’t help it. He’d made bad memories resurface. He’d hurt them, even if he hadn’t been conscious of the effects of his words when saying them.
"It was just the…when you said you couldn't help it just because of the way I walked. Compliments are okay, I promise you, i t is only that…that when you say you can't help yourself just because of something that I do normally, it's…" he trailed off, eyebrows drawing together again. "If I am flirting with you, or teasing you purposefully, then pointing that out is fine, but when I am not…it's different."
“I understand. I did not- I-” Arquis stopped, sighed, and started over. “I understand how the phrasing I used could be manipulative. And of course, love, I did not mean it in such a way, but I will not use it again. No matter the situation.”
He looked down at his bare feet, still unable to make eye contact. It wasn’t that he was lying. He would never use that phrasing again; he really hadn’t meant to harm them. But he wasn’t sure how to proceed from there. He didn’t want to touch them again. Everything felt weirdly fragile, and the last thing he wanted to do was upset him further. He was also still ashamed for being so inconsiderate.
He cleared his throat and rubbed one of his arms anxiously. “Should- should I- go? Do I need to- you can have the room. Or our room. The bedroom. As much space as you need.”
Rin didn't want space, he wanted physical touch and comfort, not this strange pulling away that Arquis was doing. But they didn't want to force touch that Arquis did not want. "No– darling, I don't need space." He said softly, quickly. "Please don't pull away from me." He tucked his arms around himself, unsure what to say, unsure how to express to Arquis what they wanted.
Arquis finally looked at them. His eyes were sad and betrayed his guilt, but the softness of his expression showed his affection for him.
“I thought you- but I was wrong. I should not let my assumptions speak for you.” Slowly, cautiously, he placed his hand on one of their forearms. His fingers curled loosely around it, and he caressed his sleeve with the knuckle of his thumb. If they wanted to pull back, it would be very easy. The grip was like a hug, not a vice. “I am very sorry to have done you wrong, and I am even more sorry that I have not been listening as well as I should have. But I am listening now. If there is anything you want from me, my dear, then I will provide it.”
"It's alright." he said softly. "We both have our issues, Arquis, and…and we knew that going in. We're going to be alright." they gave him a faint smile. "I would like it if you would hold me again, if that's something you would be alright with as well?" their gaze flickered down to the floor again, not meeting Arquis's eyes. They weren't sure if Arquis wanted or needed space, but they knew that they would rather be close than apart. He wanted that physical touch and comfort, if his partner was willing to give it.
“Of course, love,” Arquis replied, clearly relieved. He continued to let his thumb trace the stitching of their sleeve for a second before stepping forward and pulling him into an embrace. His arms automatically fell into place. One was up around their shoulders, and the other was tucked right around his lower back. He shifted so that his chin was on top of their head.
Perhaps the position was a bit too comfortable. He blinked several times to keep himself awake. They were so wonderfully warm. He yawned silently and kissed him on the temple.
Rin leaned into him with a quiet, relieved sigh. "Thank you, darling." he said softly, taking a deep breath and wrapping their own arms around Arquis, happy to have this soft, comforting hold again. "You are wonderful." they closed their eyes, snuggling closer.
“You are wonderful-er. That… that is not a word.” His laughter was muffled by their hair. “More wonderful would have been a better choice.”
Though it was just a sleepy slip of the tongue, it got him thinking about his lessons. When he wasn’t planning extravagant parties, fixing the Palace’s many issues, reading, or painting, he was taking lessons. His favorite lessons as of late involved bookbinding. He found himself missing the steady, repetitive movements and his tutor’s rhythmic voice.
He laughed a little bit at the slip, staying close to Arquis. "Well, it works." he replied, shrugging his shoulders a little bit. He went quiet after that, just taking comfort in the embrace of Arquis's arms, in the closeness and the touch.
Arquis smiled warmly at his partner’s contentment, even though they couldn’t see him. “You really do enjoy this, do you not?”
It was endearing. He relaxed against and nuzzled him with a soft laugh. His lips grazed their temple again, but he didn’t fully kiss them. He couldn’t stop thinking about how warm and nice they felt. His own eyelids started drooping, and he fought to stay awake. The last thing Rin needed was for Arquis to fall asleep on him. He was taller and, though they’d carried him before, he didn’t want them to feel responsible for him.
"I do." They said softly. "It's…ah, probably my primary love language. If that's okay? If the touching and holding isn't something you enjoy then that's fine, we can dial it back if you need or want to." They pulled back just a little to look at Arquis, studying the nobleman's face to make sure he really was okay with this. Just because they loved touch and being touched and being close, didn't mean that Arquis would be comfortable with it too.
Arquis gave them the softest smile he could and kissed him on the cheek. That fluttery, intense feeling arose inside of him again, and he switched to the other cheek, then gave them a peck on the mouth. When he leaned away, he looked terribly happy. And, of course, pink in the face.
“That is an interesting term: love language. Love language,” he repeated, savoring the way it sounded. His blush crept down his neck as he gave them a bashful grin. “It is one that I am not sure I am familiar with, but this-” He stopped and stroked Rin’s back. “This is something that I enjoy very much.”
Rin arched just a little bit at the touch, much like a cat might at the touch of a beloved owner. "Mm…well, as long as you are alright with the touches, then…" he shrugged one shoulder, leaning close to Arquis again and pressing a soft kiss to the hollow of Arquis's throat.
Arquis let out a short gasp, which was followed by a quiet, choked sound. He instinctively tilted his neck to allow Rin further access before coming to his senses. His grip on them had tightened a smidgeon, though not enough to be painful or uncomfortable. He relaxed it, swallowed, and freed one of his hands to brush over the spot they’d kissed. The fabric of his glove almost made him startle again.
“Oh goodness,” he breathed. “Goodness, love. You must warn someone before you- before you do that.”
He snickered faintly, rubbing his nose lightly to Arquis's skin. "Why?" they asked in a soft, mischievous tone. "I enjoy taking you by surprise sometimes." they reached up, running a hand through the nobleman's hair, beaming.
“I do enjoy being taken by surprise. It is just that I seem to have a strong reaction to it,” Arquis responded, his voice higher than usual and a touch strained. He exhaled pitifully at the hand in his hair. Even after all the kissing and holding they’d been doing, he still wasn’t used to being touched with such care. He rubbed their back in circles above their hips and kissed him again, this time on the corner of his mouth. He nipped at their bottom lip before leaning away again to register any changes in his expression.
Rin let out a quiet sound at the nip, pressing forward for another kiss, chasing Arquis's mouth with their own. "You do, and I love it." he repleid softly, rubbing his thumb against Arquis's scalp, lightly catching his hair in their hand. "It's nice, to be with someone who always has such a reaction to things like that."
“You are awfully sweet, but I am not sure that what you are saying is truth.” Arquis pressed another kiss to their lips and shuddered. “It is a little embarrassing that I am so, ah, sensitive. I am old enough that I should have more experience with this sort of thing. The fact that you can make me come undone with just few simple touches…”
He let his hand drift up, following the curve of their spine, to cup the back of his neck. His thumb stroked over the sensitive spot behind their ear. He then brought it down to swipe over the slope of their shoulder. There was a bit of tension there, and he gently massaged it out with his knuckles.
Rin laughed a little bit, arching a bit at the way Arquis's hand drifted along his spine, leaning back into the hand faintly. "Mm. Well. I do not know what else to say to you." they replied, eyes drifting shut as they pressed a little closer to Arquis again.
Arquis smirked to himself and continued to knead the stress out of their shoulders. The way Rin melted against him was divine. “You do not know what to say? Or you cannot say it? You seem a bit distracted, my love.”
It was at that moment that someone knocked on the door. Arquis called for them to enter, and a different, unknown person bustled in. They were wearing a similar outfit to Serenity, though their hair was in a long, sleek ponytail.
“Hello! So sorry to bother you, but I was told to come clean this room. It turns out that we have a group of clients that booked several rooms for lunchtime, so I need to get everything tidied up.”
“Of course.” Arquis was a bit disappointed that they’d have to break apart so soon. He was just starting to enjoy himself again. He kissed Rin’s temple before grabbing his clothes. The stranger left to give them some privacy, and he quickly changed in the same manner that he had before: back turned on Rin for privacy.
Rin turned to look when the door opened, nodding faintly. They reluctantly pulled away from Arquis, seemingly quite disappointed about this. "We can go back to our room and cuddle up there." they said as they got dressed, also turning their back so that Arquis could have privacy.
Arquis hummed quietly. “Wr could also explore. Not- not, um, in that way. Explore the inn. Not explore- not explore each other. I just meant that there is probably quite a bit that we have not seen. Of, ah, The Cecilia Rouge! Not each other! I have seen plenty of- but we have barely looked around!”
Defeated, he dropped his head into his hands and groaned loudly. His shoulders shook with silent laughter, and he accidentally turned, forgetting what he was doing. He was still shirtless. When he realized that he was partially undressed, he yelped and awkwardly wrapped his arms about himself as if cold.
“I forgot!” he blurted. He fumbled to put his shirt on but dropped it, and he dropped to his knees, desperately grabbing at it. He put on the wrong sleeve first and had to yank it off to switch it around. “Sorry! Sorry, sorry- here, I- I am not looking, I promise!”
Rin started to laugh, and the laughter only got harder the more Arquis fumbled and apologized. They were nearly finished getting dressed anyways, in the midst of pulling their shirt over their head when Arquis turned around. They tugged their shirt the rest of the way down, not turning around just yet. He was still laughing though. "Darling, we can explore whatever you wish to explore." he said, a smile on his face and laughter shaking their shoulders. "And I do not really mind that you turned around; you're the more shy one, of us two. At least in terms of bodily things."
Arquis rushed to do up his buttons, realized he’d done them wrong, and hurried to slip them all out of place. His head was bowed as if he was in prayer. It took him two more tries to get it fixed, and when he was done, he blindfolded himself by clasping his hand over his eyes.
“I did not want it to feel as if I was taking advantage of you,” he said softly, slipping his necklace on with the other hand. “Or observing you without consent. All I saw was your shoulders, but still, I- I did not intend to look. Truly.”
A beat passed as he ran over their words in his head. He hadn’t sounded upset. They’d even been laughing. That comment about exploring things was also indicative of a lack of sadness or anger.
“I am dressed.” He sounded clearly distressed; the lack of sight wasn’t making anything better. It also wasn’t helping that he was still hunched on his knees on the floor.
