realpolitik | Leon Magnus | Stahn Aileron

You are--

[... stupidly cute over some things--

Nope.

Uh.]

--Never mind it. Nothing is wrong. It was just a thought. [An embarrassing thought.]

Uh...

[stahn is definitely giving him a very puzzled look right now. leon? leon... what?]

You can tell me, you know. [he'd rather know what leon's thinking than feel like he's being left in the dark here.]

Absolutely not.

[IMMEDIATELY.

Too embarrassing.

Nope.

Not happening.]

It was nothing important. [And then, in more of a mutter:] If anything, it was ridiculous.

It bothered you though, didn't it? Even if you say it's not important...

[why is he being so snappy about this? poor stahn, he's totally confused as to what's going on. he pouts a little, giving leon a look—hadn't they gotten past this stage of things already?]

[..... No.

Stop....]

Don't...look at me like that.

[It's critically effective, even if he just crosses his arms and looks away.]

It was just...surprising. [That's...all!!!] I had not expected to find you so excited. [Over books....]

That... surprised you?

[it's not like stahn can't figure out that it's because of the books. stahn's usually excited about one thing or another, so it's not like the general demeanor would be all that shocking.

so it has to be the books, right?

it takes a moment for the surprise of that answer to pass, and stahn's face relaxes into a smile once again. he lets out a small, gentle chuckle.]

I guess it is pretty surprising, huh? Even some people in Leane were surprised when I mentioned something I read in a book. [though he probably should take that as an insult that everyone things he's so dumb and uncultured that sticking his nose in a book is surprising.

but this is stahn, so of course he doesn't.]

Not that you read--though with the air you give off, I suppose that could be surprising to people who do not know you. [He scoffs that away with a wave of his hand, huffing. He does think that Stahn's hardly the most scholastically intelligent person, but that doesn't really matter when he's good at so many other things.

Besides, it's not like Stahn's a dumbass.

Leon would never have fallen for him if he was.

But he scoffs that off so quickly because...well, the reason he was surprised was because he was excited.]

Still, not everyone is capable of being able to be so excited over reading, regardless of their intelligence levels.

[So... it's kind of special, honestly.]

Yeah but... they all know me in Leane. They always have!

[he's just saying. people were pretty good at treating him like a dumbass and they did make it seem like it was the most shocking revelation ever. it's not put-out by it, though. if anything, he looks a little more puzzled at leon's actual reasoning.]

Really? [he's so innocent about it. to stahn, there's nothing special about it, because it's just something he likes. and besides, who wouldn't get excited over something that's interesting?]

I guess I never really thought about it like that. There's so much to be excited about when there's a good story—a lot of them were even more exciting than the stories Gramps would tell me from when he was soldier. [so naturally it was EXCITING.]

[Leon knows Stahn's not getting it--he's not getting what's so startling (or pleasing) about it for Leon, which is why he scoffs faintly, frowning a bit.]

Of course.

[Of course that's why Stahn likes them. But...that's not what Leon's so taken by.]

Nonetheless, having the passion for something like this is--

[... cute.

...shit.]

[stahn is so confused right now.]

What about it? [what is leon even getting at...] I'm not sure I follow...

That is--

[He tries again, and--

No, no, he can't do it.]

--It is not important!

Leon...

[this is something between a stern call and a whine. stahn, what.]

Come on, just tell me! It seems pretty important...! [why can't he say it? leon, why are you being weirder than usual!]

I've already told you, it is not important...!

[He's embarrassed, and he doesn't want to leave this comfortable position, but he's definitely shifting uncomfortably under the blanket, pressed to Stahn's side, and he might very well go if he feels he has to.

Embarrassment is too much.]

[it still seems like it's more important, but the way leon shifts seems to put stahn on edge—he realizes he's pushing his limits here and that'll only lead to them fighting or leon leaving.

so stahn himself shifts a little, straightening bit.]

Okay... I won't ask anymore. Sorry, I didn't mean to push. [he's frowning a bit, he just wanted to know what it was, but if it's going to upset leon then he's really only upsetting himself more in the end.

he tries so hard, but sometimes stahn really just misses the mark.]

[Stahn really does try so hard, and it's how hard Stahn tries that endears Leon to him either way. He's still tense--it's less the actual thing he's hiding now (which is honestly pretty dumb and silly, if embarrassing), and now being pushed to his limits instead that really is causing him to tense up so much.

But Stahn backs off, and Leon slowly relaxes by degrees, glancing away.

And, quietly, he'll repeat:]

It is not important.

I know.

[stahn let his curiosity get the better of him and as a result, he went far enough to make leon uncomfortable. this isn't what stahn wants at all, especially when he tries so hard to respect leon's limits.

he didn't realize it was something that would bother leon so much.

so just as quietly—maybe even more so, he'll repeat the same.]

Sorry, Leon.

[... It's really nothing Stahn has to look so upset over, Leon thinks--even if he, too, was getting a little upset over it. It seems that some things are still the same, despite the leaps and bounds Leon has taken in getting better at communicating.

So he just shakes his head, simply.]

... Regardless. I didn't intend to interrupt your reading.

[He's offering...an olive branch of sorts here.]

[it's an olive branch he'll gladly take, since it's not like there's a single situation in which stahn can ever be happy when things get that way.

he doesn't like being the one to upset leon, especially not because he was being selfish and inconsiderate. but leon's words do well enough to convey that he's not holding a grudge, and that the apology was either needless or accepted.]

It's not an interruption. [he'll say after a moment, and with it comes a softer, more subdued smile.] I might have fallen asleep if I read for too much longer anyway.

[it was a long day; he probably could easily take a nap, though it's definitely too late for that.]

...I like this better, anyway. [he can be the one to say embarrassing things like that. but it's true; he'd much rather spend his time with leon when they both have that chance. the book can wait. the book can always wait, because leon is more important.]

[He is definitely the one to say embarrassing things, as ever--but it's a little settling even so, even if Leon's embarrassed to hear it. It's nice to hear that Stahn prefers this, even with their momentary tenseness.

Stahn is still happy with this even so.

So Leon just relaxes the remainder of the way, allowing the rest of the tension to fade away. This is....fine, as ever.

They're always fine.]

Mm. I have no complaints.

["I like this better too."]

[it's good. seeing the tension fade a bit means stahn can relax more too. really .... that's what he wants most.

after long days for both of them, this is what stahn's come to look forward to. his evening with leon, where they can just rest together peacefully and talk for a while. or even just sit in silence together and take in the warmth.]

I know you'd say if you did. [leon's not one to hold back his problems with stuff like that, after all.

but it's fine. he scoots back closer to leon, this time leaning into him a bit more than before. when he tilts his head to the side, it's close enough to rest it against leon's shoulder, thanks to the way he's positioned on the bed.

it's fine.

this is fine, if they can be close like this a while longer. the tension and guilt from stirring the pot while dissipate for him soon enough this way.]

[He certainly would--but Leon's complaints come fewer and fewer these days, as he becomes comfortable and open to more and more. It's an interesting change, but one that he hasn't entirely noticed himself.

Just as he won't entirely complain about Stahn's head against his shoulder, though he's still a little startled by it; aside from his breathing growing momentarily a little more shallow, he doesn't move or tense up, and after a moment his breathing settles again too.

Slowly but surely, he improves.

And slowly but surely, it becomes comfortable enough for Leon to just settle there, pressed against Stahn, in silence.]

Edited 2016-04-19 17:12 (UTC)

[it's comfortable like this. it's surprisingly comfortable, really... especially because there was once a time when they couldn't do this so easily.]

How was your mission today? [it was only a matter of time before stahn broke the silence, and naturally... it's to see how leon's day was. it seems like it couldn't have been too bad, given his mood, but stahn like to ask anyway. he likes to be involved and engaged and know what's going on with leon's work.

he's interested in what leon has to say about it, but it's also his inherent interest with the seinegald military that hasn't faded that drives it. he's curious all the time about so many things...]

[Incredibly comfortable... Leon's honestly pretty content with this, and it shows in how his head slowly sinks to rest against Stahn's as well as he speaks.

Mm...]

Satisfactory.

[Which means that he was able to complete it all well without any major flaws, because Leon--but he's also a perfectionist, so he can't say it went perfectly when it didn't.]

Granted, it was not a particularly complex mission.

[Not that many are, compared to their world saving quests.]

That's good... I'm glad.

[naturally, stahn always prefers the days he comes home and things go smoothly. he has a lot of faith in leon's capabilities, so it's not exactly like he has to worry about things going that poorly on his end. usually, when he's in a foul mood, it's because of something well beyond his control.]

Do you have any long missions coming up soon? [stahn always likes to know about those especially, given that it's usually the longest periods of time they don't get to see one another. as stahn says it, though, he reaches for leon's hand gently, taking it into his and lacing their fingers together.

...okay, maybe he's a little starved for affection after a long day, but this is fine, right?]

[It's... incredibly affectionate and sweet, but Leon's hardly going to fight it. Instead, he just allows Stahn to do so, and while he doesn't make any moves to be any further affectionate, he doesn't exactly pull away or tense up either. No, he's perfectly content like this, with Stahn holding his hand.

It works out this way, for the both of them.]

Not for some time.

[Naturally it won't last forever, but for now...]

It would appear I am more needed close by than on longer travels, for now.

[For now, that's fine by Leon. There's something really pleasant about being able to return to Stahn like this.]

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