“Yes, you’re right. This isn’t like me. Just sitting across from the man has wound me so tight- I swear to you, I could feel the guns on the back of my head. All through the appetizer I could only think of how the head hardly moves when the bullet first penetrates the skull, how the brain liquefies as the head jerks back into the vacuum created by the bullet’s entrance, how-“ Ezio was suddenly in front of him, gripping his shoulders.
“Come here.” He tried to pull Leonardo toward the couch. -twelve times around, same number of years as Jupiter’s orbit, coffee table’s not the sun though, don’t think about it, don’t think about exploding bone and cartilage liquefying, oh god he’ll kill me but I can’t do it- Digging in his heels, Leonardo resisted being led to the frayed old sofa his mother had let him take when he’d moved out. -I should call her.-
“Come. Sit. Perhaps it is better that you do not think.” Ezio insisted and pushed him down on the saggy middle cushion. -hardest to stand from, clever bastard- He made to get up, but Ezio just sat next to him and threw his right arm over Leonardo. -holding me down on my stronger side, clever bastard-
“I do not want to sit.” He protested, even as he naturally stilled under Ezio’s comforting touch.
Ezio shrugged. “Then lay down.”
“Stay with me?” He asked. -weak, vulnerable, childish-
-But if I cannot trust him than I can trust no one.-
“Of course.” Ezio lifted his arm and waited patiently for Leonardo to situate himself comfortably. Once the blonde head was resting against his thigh, the gauntlet descended gently to pick loose the solid blue noose around Leonardo’s neck.
“Ah, what you must think of me.” Leonardo threw an arm over his face to hide the blush he knew was growing. “Panicking over a job offer. Even if it is from a large, influential, morally corrupt company.”
Ezio grunted as the tie came undone. “It’s a good offer. A lot of money.” His clever fingers went to work on the cufflinks next, but not before undoing the top two buttons of Leonardo’s dress shirt.
Leonardo scoffed. “But enough to sell my soul for? I think not.” He heard the cufflinks clink one at a time as they landed in the center of the coffee table.
“And that is why I shall never think less of you Leonardo. You say you are not brave, but you do what is right despite the difficulties.” The gloved left hand that had been stroking his hair paused for a moment to press reassuringly to the crown of his head. Leonardo sighed, and stopped hiding. Their eyes met, and Ezio’s sincerity was reassurance enough.
“What should I do about Rikkin? He won’t take no for an answer unless I have a very good reason.”
Ezio pondered, casting about the small room for inspiration. Leonardo laid, his mind quiescent for the moment, and watched the clever eyes often hidden by the peaked white hood flick from one object to the next. He observed dark bangs tickle the edges of strong cheekbones as their head turned slightly. Felt the way the gloved fingers on his head dug under his hair to rub against his scalp with the perfect amount of pressure. His eyes were slipping closed in rapture when Ezio gave a little considering noise.
“What about University? Schooling is important to you.” Leonardo followed Ezio’s line of sight to the diplomas and awards he’d hung on the wall when he’d heard he’d be entertaining Rikkin in his home. He gave it a moment’s hopeful consideration, but had to shake his head.
“If I sign up for any classes now the timing will be too suspicious. Besides, I have my Doctorate in Fine Art and a Masters in Engineering. If I went back I would end up correcting the teachers in their own classes. Again.” They’d had this discussion before; Ezio thought he was languishing in his workshop without anything to do, he preferred to think of it as working on the creations he loved and the commissions he hated. Besides, he had never liked the format of Universities: too much emphasis on deadlines.
Childhood Fantasies, Part 10
“Come here.” He tried to pull Leonardo toward the couch. -twelve times around, same number of years as Jupiter’s orbit, coffee table’s not the sun though, don’t think about it, don’t think about exploding bone and cartilage liquefying, oh god he’ll kill me but I can’t do it- Digging in his heels, Leonardo resisted being led to the frayed old sofa his mother had let him take when he’d moved out. -I should call her.-
“Come. Sit. Perhaps it is better that you do not think.” Ezio insisted and pushed him down on the saggy middle cushion. -hardest to stand from, clever bastard- He made to get up, but Ezio just sat next to him and threw his right arm over Leonardo. -holding me down on my stronger side, clever bastard-
“I do not want to sit.” He protested, even as he naturally stilled under Ezio’s comforting touch.
Ezio shrugged. “Then lay down.”
“Stay with me?” He asked. -weak, vulnerable, childish-
-But if I cannot trust him than I can trust no one.-
“Of course.” Ezio lifted his arm and waited patiently for Leonardo to situate himself comfortably. Once the blonde head was resting against his thigh, the gauntlet descended gently to pick loose the solid blue noose around Leonardo’s neck.
“Ah, what you must think of me.” Leonardo threw an arm over his face to hide the blush he knew was growing. “Panicking over a job offer. Even if it is from a large, influential, morally corrupt company.”
Ezio grunted as the tie came undone. “It’s a good offer. A lot of money.” His clever fingers went to work on the cufflinks next, but not before undoing the top two buttons of Leonardo’s dress shirt.
Leonardo scoffed. “But enough to sell my soul for? I think not.” He heard the cufflinks clink one at a time as they landed in the center of the coffee table.
“And that is why I shall never think less of you Leonardo. You say you are not brave, but you do what is right despite the difficulties.” The gloved left hand that had been stroking his hair paused for a moment to press reassuringly to the crown of his head. Leonardo sighed, and stopped hiding. Their eyes met, and Ezio’s sincerity was reassurance enough.
“What should I do about Rikkin? He won’t take no for an answer unless I have a very good reason.”
Ezio pondered, casting about the small room for inspiration. Leonardo laid, his mind quiescent for the moment, and watched the clever eyes often hidden by the peaked white hood flick from one object to the next. He observed dark bangs tickle the edges of strong cheekbones as their head turned slightly. Felt the way the gloved fingers on his head dug under his hair to rub against his scalp with the perfect amount of pressure. His eyes were slipping closed in rapture when Ezio gave a little considering noise.
“What about University? Schooling is important to you.” Leonardo followed Ezio’s line of sight to the diplomas and awards he’d hung on the wall when he’d heard he’d be entertaining Rikkin in his home. He gave it a moment’s hopeful consideration, but had to shake his head.
“If I sign up for any classes now the timing will be too suspicious. Besides, I have my Doctorate in Fine Art and a Masters in Engineering. If I went back I would end up correcting the teachers in their own classes. Again.” They’d had this discussion before; Ezio thought he was languishing in his workshop without anything to do, he preferred to think of it as working on the creations he loved and the commissions he hated. Besides, he had never liked the format of Universities: too much emphasis on deadlines.