Abrose looked up in surprise when he was pulled close to Easton's form. He fell silent as Easton spoke about his mom and then him, biting his lip to keep it from wobbling. A strangle sob escaped him as he looked away and let his head drop to Easton's chest, hand clamped over his mouth to muffle his crying. For the longest time he had kept hua grief to himself, having never had anyone close enough to cry with, other than Mel.
His knees buckled beneath him , only catching himself by holding onto Easton. He burried his face in Easton's chest and finally let himself cry for his list family, something he hadn't done in years.
"It's alright. I've got you." Easton embraced Abrose with love. He wasn't much of a crier but he knew how to comfort people. That much he knew. Easton stroked Abrose's hair, sometimes kissing the top of his head. "Let's go say hi to your Mother and Sister. We can stay as long as you need to. I'm not going anywhere." Easton lifted Abrose's chin and wiped away the tears staining his cheeks. "I bet they would love to hear how far you've come, yeah?" He looked into his eyes, almost tearing up himself just gazing at Abrose.
Abrose weeped into Easton's shirt for what seemed to him like a few minutes. He eventually quieted his crying to muffled sobs, his eyes and cheeks now red and splotchy from salty tears. He nodded slightly, a whispery "okay," escaping him as he clung to Easton, only breaking away far enough to look up at his live. He leaned into his hand, a shakey laugh managed to leave him as he finally looked up at Easton, comforted to know there was someone who was with him going to see his family instead of just him alone. He wiped away his tears with his blouse sleeve and nodded a bit more enthusiastically. "I'm sure they'll be happy to hear the one being I've avoided my whole life is now the the person I'm in love with." He shook his head and took a deep breath, leaning back into Easton's embrace for one more moment. "Thank you. This means a lot to me, Easton."
"I'm sure they will, my love." He kissed his cheek before tugging Abrose along the road. "Of course, darling. I'll come with you whenever or wherever you need me." Easton looked down on his shirt that had a puddle of salty tears stain his shirt. "It'll dry, most likely. However, I don't think they'll be too happy about me hunting you, falling in love with you, getting you arrested, baling you out of execution, and bringing you someplace deep in the woods that no one had heard about. Not to mention, we've never had a good first date together because it always ended up in someone getting hurt physically or emotionally. Well, the dinner was nice, but I did lie to you a lot that night…anyway! Let's move on from that." He chuckled.
Abrose gave an apologetic smile as he tried to dab away at the stain with his cloak. "Well, maybe not about the hunting or arresting part. But I'm sure they'd be reasonable about the rest." He laughed again, more calm.now than before as he wiped away the rest of his tears. He followed Easton towards the forest, a hopeful smile on his features. "Oh really? What did you lie about, hm? I hope it wasn't about my food." He teased, pressing a gentle kiss to their intertwined hands as he lead them deeper into the woods. "They're not that far from here, we should be there soon."
"Alright, I'm following you, my love." He stuffed his hands into his pockets as he thought about the question. "When you asked me how I was, I said fine. When you asked me if anything happened that say I said no, and when you asked me why I went into the castle I lied about why I was there. I really hated lying to you. For no reason to. I fessed up in the end, but…I still don't feel right about lying to you about it." Easton squeezed his hand.
Abrose nodded and gently squeezed Easton's hand as he led him through the trees and brush. "Well, I can't really hold that against you. I honestly would have done the same. We were on a date and you wanted to keep things carefree for once." He replied as he looked on ahead to an approaching rockface in front of them. He followed it towards the north, eventually finding small, naturally carved out rock face with two grave next to each other. One was smaller than the other but both were surrounded by orange flowers as well as herbs. Abfose smiled softly and knelt down in the wind grass. "Hey mama. Hey Lilly." He whispered softly, gently pulling Easton down next to him.
Easton kneeled down, but couldn't help but smile at the grave. "Hi, Abrose's mom and Lily." He took a deep breath in, releasing it slowly. "I know I'm not the most welcoming and I've been a jackass to Abrose, but I love him. A lot. He's given me some sass, but only when I was the one being rude. Very understandable." Easton nudged Abrose's shoulder, kissing him a temple. "He's made me happy. Considering everything he's taught me and done to help others, you would be very proud of him Mrs. Nightingale." Easton rested his hand on Abrose's shoulder so he could balance easier.
Abrise let Easton speak first, finding it difficult to talk considering it was the last time he'd see the grave. A smile flicked acrose his features at the mention of him being sassy. He lightly leaned into the kiss andet what was left if his tear slide down his cheeks. "Easton's been good to me mama, you don't have to worry. I love him very much. I bet you both would have loved him." He said softly. He slowly stood so that Easton wouldn't gobble over and walked behind the grave stones where a small shovel was hidden among the plants. He took a steading breath as he continued on speaking, finding it easier to talk now with Easton with him. "You should have seen him all dressed up for our first few dates. Maybe one day if we come back we'll have a dinner here with you two." He missed, starting to dig a shallow hole beside the grave.
Easton watched Abrose closely, nodding at his words. "We will come back and have dinner with you guys. I didn't get that dressed up. For our first one, I was so excited I didn't bother to change out my uniform. As for the second one, are we counting the drunk night we had together or the one where I had to do manual labor for the first time? Which by the way, Lily, those plants showed me no mercy." Easton tilted his head in confusion as he watched Abrose dig a hole. "What are you doing, my love?"
"all of them are dates, no matter how badly they went and for all of them you looked great." He replied with a smile, finding it sweet that Easton included his sister in the conversation. "They're not even the worst ones, you should be grateful I only have you shiori weeds to pull. He teased, digging with his shovel a little more until he hit something solid. "Getting out a box I want to bring with us. It has some of Mama's and Lily's stuff from when they were still alive. I don't want to leave this behind." He explained, dusting off the dirt and settling beside Easton. He opened the lid and found a few articles of clothing and jewelry, as well as photos, charms and nicnaks. "These belonged to them."
Easton nodded in agreement. "I don't think that any of our dates were bad either." He looked in the box. "Wow, they're really pretty. Maybe when we get back to the estate you can show me the stuff that's in there? If you want not saying that you have to, but you know if you ever want to." Easton took out a necklace that caught his eyes. "This seems like a locket. It has a clasp on the side as well. I think you should open it. Only seems right."
Ambrose nodded "sure, I'd love to show you them. I think they're are a few photos in here if them." He rummaged through the box a bit, just to make sure everything was in it before they went back home. He glanced up when Easton asked about the locket he was holding up. "This was Mama's. I don't think I ever saw her without it, even when we were really young. It wasn't until after they died that I found out my dad gave it to her before he disappeared." He said softly, taking the locker and undoing the tiny clasp to show what inside. On the left was a small picture of Lily when she was a baby. A cute ittle flower cries in her head. On the other side of locker was a picture of Abrose when he was maybe around six years of age, also with a matching flower crown.
Easton peaked at the picture and gasped. "You look so cute as a baby. Not that you aren't still cute. You know what I mean. That must be Lily, right?" Easton stood up offering a hand to Abrose. "I'm definitely taking you back here every year. After we get settled down." Easton could help but look at the scenery. Even though they were by graves even so it all looked so beautiful. The light would shine in and how the weather was just perfect. "Let's get back before we get caught or worse…"
"mhm! Feisty little thing when she was a baby but very cute." He smiled softly and set the locker back into the box. He closed the box and gratefully took Easton's hand to pull himself up. "Yeah, let's go." Abrose pulled in the hood back over his head and tucked the box safely benearh his cloak to hide it. "We'll hopefully be back soon to visit. I'll try and bring Mel too so he can see you." He promised, lightly touching the tops of each grave before taking a step back. "I love you both, so much. I wish you could have been here with me longer." He huffed a small laugh, trying to choke down the sob building in a his chest. "But I'm glad we got the life together that we had. I will forever miss and love you." He gave a bow and turned back to Easton with a small box of his head.
"I can only imagine how feisty she would be." Easton nodded and took Abrose's hand and started walking back towards the estate. "We'll see them again soon." Easton pulled the hood over his head. "It feels weird not having work to do. Every morning I would get up, look at reports and make notes and read…a lot. Now I don't. I really don't have to wear my glasses anymore either. Unless my eyesight gets worse." Easton sighed. "I don't really know what to do with myself." he scoffed to himself. Easton looked at Abrose, and couldn't help but grin.
Abrose nodded his head in agreement and heaced their hands together. "It really does feel weird. Usually i'm tending to the garden or helping out a customer. I've never really went without day not doing at least some sort of work." He looked up at Easton with a small pout. "But I like your glasses, they make you look so handsome. Not that you don't look handsome with out them on but still…" He smiled back and reached up to press a kiss to Easton's cheek. "We'll find something for us to do once we move. In the meantime well consider this downtime we suddenly have as a break."
Easton scoffed. "Oh yeah, you like my glasses?" Easton smirked while closing his eyes bracing himself for the impact of Abrose's lips before it hit his cheek. "Thank you, my love. I promise you whatever we end up doing. You are so taking the weekend off. So I can wake up to you and kiss you all over like I did this morning and maybe later today…" Easton followed Abrose through the woods reaching the estate sooner than expected. "You think Mel is back yet?"
"yes I do, you pull them off very well." He couldn't help but smile as they continued on back towards Nel's estate. "I would absolutely love that. To wake up to you and your kisses every morning then to fall asleep beside you each night would be absolutely amazing." He glanced up as they approached the estate, scanning the front of estate for the stallion he had taken. "It doesnt seem like it." He replied, biting his lip nervously. "He's probably just being extra careful."
"I'm sure he's fine. Mel can handle himself. I mean Nick is into that sorta thing." Easton raised an eyebrow pausing at the doors of the estate. "Did you say I take my glasses off well?" He smirked, huffing out a laugh. "You really know how to give a man ideas." He shook his head pushing the doors open, tugging Abrose in. He closed the door and locked it behind him. "Can I go check on Nick really quick? I'll meet you back in the room."
"I know. Mel's been through worse." He muttered with a sigh as they entered the estate. Abrose tugged off his cloak and draped it over his arm as he followed Easton. "Good to know he's into Mel. Poor thing would have his heart broken if he found out his very obvious pining is one sided. He laughed and shook his head. "No but you're more than welcome to. What ideas am I giving you, dear?" He teased stopping at a cross section of the halls, one leading towards their room while the other led to where Nick was. "Yes of course. Tell him I said hello and if he wants any more of the tea. I'd be glad to make more." He offered, gently squeezing Easton's hand before breaking away back towards their room.
"I know. Mel's been through worse." He muttered with a sigh as they entered the estate. Abrose tugged off his cloak and draped it over his arm as he followed Easton. "Good to know he's into Mel. Poor thing would have his heart broken if he found out his very obvious pining is one sided. He laughed and shook his head. "No but you're more than welcome to. What ideas am I giving you, dear?" He teased stopping at a cross section of the halls, one leading towards their room while the other led to where Nick was. "Yes of course. Tell him I said hello and if he wants any more of the tea. I'd be glad to make more." He offered, gently squeezing Easton's hand before breaking away back towards their room.
"I'm not too sure about it being one-sided, my love." He entered the room look at Nick. He waved to Abrose before giving a heavy sigh. "I can't believe you."
Nick turned his head and smiled ever so slightly. "Hey…sorry I fainted again. I must have worried you."
Easton kneeled to the side of the bed. "Yeah, you did you, idiot. Get some rest; I don't want you up until you're at 100%. If you need to, you can head over with Mel. He's leaving after Abrose and I."
Nick nodded. "Yeah, yeah, I get it, loverboy."
Easton rolled his eyes before standing up. "I just came to check on you. I'll be leaving now. Don't cause any trouble either. You tend to do that. If you do, I can promise you that wound is going to hurt even worse than before."
Abrose waved back, watching as Easton disappeared into Nick's room before going into their own bedroom. Once inside, he inside his corset, finding it much easier to take off than to out on. He set it aside in the closet and climbed into bed with his box of treasures. He curled up beneath the heavy omcovers and started to go through the things inside. He scattered the jewelry and photos over the bed, lightly touching each one of them as they all sparked a memeorybofbthe family Abrose had tragically lost. He breathed in the faint scent of his mother's perfume and brushed a hand along one of the velvet ribbons his sister was so find of putting in her fiery red hair to keep it away from her face. He reread over the notes on the back of photos, recounting the day's events or the birthday they had been celebrating. Abrise let the tears run down his cheeks once again, but this time with a sad smile instead. He would cherish these items just as he cherished the memories he kept so close his heart, no matter how far away he went
Easton waved goodbye to Nick and headed off to the room. He knocked before pushing the door open slowly. "Knock knock." He joked. He closed the door after he came in. "Nick is doing okay. I told him not to get into any trouble being the fact that he can even in his state. I think he's getting better, but I'm no doctor. I told him to rest and not to get up for anything if he needs something he can just reach my mind." He looked out upon the bedsheets. "So this is what was in that box correct?" He looked at the pictures of his mother. "Wow, she was beatiful." He looked up to Abrose and gave a soft smile. He sat on the edge of the bed next to Abrose. He wiped the tears off of Abrose cheek kissing his forehead.
Abrose snapped his head up ans have a small smile, attempting to wipe away his tears. "I'm glad he's doing better. At this rate, he'll be ready to travel with Mel, maybe even with us if his recovery continues to do this well." Abrose nodded and scooted over on the bed to make room for Easton. "Yeah, she was. You wouldn't have believed how many people tried seduce her. Honestly it was painful for them more than for her. And a great form of entertainment." He laughed and leaned into Easton's hand. "Tell me about your family." He murmured, placing the box's content back to make room in the bed.
Easton took a deep breath and pulled Abrose closer to him. "My family isn't as kind as yours. My mother, father, and brother are somehow all homophobic. They bought me a mansion to live in by myself. At the time I was young maybe 8-10 years of age. They skipped town and left me alone in the mansion. For 13 years I was always alone. They only stopped by to see where their money was going and how well the maids were doing to keep this place clean. However, the maids there were kind and they were like mothers to me and the butlers were like fathers. Maybe it was because they were being paid to it or just put of pity, but for me it was real. I was content with that. At the time the reason why I needed the money was if I brought you we wouldn't be bankrupt. If I didn't I wouldn't have a place to live nor anywhere to go. I was scared and selfish."
Raz curled up comfortably beside Easton, burying his face in the Fae's shoulder as he recounted his childhood. He remembered back to their drunken night spent together. While he didn't remember much about the house while he had been inebriated, Raz did remember the morning after and how beautiful yet oddly empty Easton's home had seemed. It wasn't anything like Mel's estate, where people were around all the time but in a way that felt comforting and familiar. He couldn't imagine not having Mel or the others in his life, especially not after his Mother's and sister's death when he needed them the most. To be so alone for a such a long time, Abrise could understand why Easton had been so standoffish and snarky when they had first met. "It makes sense, to not want to be alone and without a home. I think that's a natural for anyone." He murmured softly, looking up at Easton. "Is that why you were nervous when you asked if I would go away with you back in the dungeons?" He asked, tilting his head and lightly nuzzling his liver's cheek.
Easton fake coughed and looked away with a blush. "W-Well yeah. I was scared that you say no and then the worst comes to worst, I'm all alone in another country." Easton frowned. "No matter what I could do I would still be thinking about you. All the time. You're like a marking on my brain. I don't how you did it, but you did. Do we get to sleep again and cuddle and kiss now that we're back from our trip. What was that thing that you implied early with your snarky comment?" Easton tried to wipe away the bad and focus on the fact that he was here with Abrose. "It was something about you would have something for me later…" he trailed off as he began to play Abrose's beautiful red hair.
Abrose leaned into each and every one of Easton's touches, eyes fluttering shut as a content sigh left his lips. "I meant that for when we moved dearest. I've never been in a serious relationship before. I want to enjoy this to the fullest without needing to be scared someone's going to tear us apart." He shifted so that he was settled in Easton's lap, facing him. He lightly thunked their heads together and smiled softly "you're not alone Easton." He glanced away for a moment and swallowed thickly. "I know what I said back at the picnic made it seem as if I didn't want to be with you but I never meant that. It hurt me so much to say those things to you." He huffed a small laugh and shook his head. "Yet you came coming back." He returned Easton's gaze, his soft smile returning. "You've stuck with me just as much as I with you, even when I thought I'd ruined things so badly that you'd surely never come back." He brushed a whisper if a kiss to Easton's lips. "I'm staying with you, whether you like it or not." He teased, nodding his head. "And Yes my lovely creature, we can cuddle and kiss and do what ever you'd like."
