realpolitik | Leon Magnus | Stahn Aileron

[fortunately, leon doesn't really need to say it. he doesn't need to say those words, because stahn already knows it.

if leon didn't trust him, he'd never have allowed stahn to do any of the things they done up to this point. not the kisses, not the embraces, not the tender touches and certain not what stahn's done with his mouth. so he knows, he knows without a single word that leon trusts him more than anything.]

Right.

[while leon's gaze is averted, stahn can't help but to lean in, lightly pressing his lips to leon's cheek. it's... innocent, considering all else that they've done up to this point, but it's just another one of those small, earnest expressions of his feelings.

he doesn't need leon to say it.

leon doesn't need to say anything, because stahn's trust in him assures that he already knows the truth.]

...I won't lead you astray either. [it's not a phrase stahn would typically say, but it's something he thinks needs to be said.] Not here, and not with anything else either.

[...and that's the touch that makes it stahn's own. because he doesn't just mean intimately, he means it with all of his heart, about everything that connects them. ]

And... I won't let you go astray. [another touch; a quiet, and maybe slightly possessive way of saying that he'll never let leon leave, that he won't let him strike out on his own or do anything that he'll regret.]

[... Huh.

That's quite the oath Stahn's making there--because it is an oath. It's a pact, sealed in sweat and heated passion, sealed in gentle kisses and caring. It's a pact that Leon can't ignore, and one that he knows he won't be able to break. Their promises to be together, to protect each other, to not go astray and not lead the other astray.

To not let each other go astray.

It's almost more binding than a marriage would be, but Leon doesn't think of it that way. All he can think is that...this is a promise he's willing to make, and one he'll uphold with all of his being.

So he lifts his gaze to meet Stahn's properly, and seals the oath with a kiss, lingering but chaste.]

I understand.

[He promises too.]

I will hold you to that.

[And he accepts Stahn's promise as well.]

And that will be enough.

[He knows they'll be just fine from here.]

[stahn doesn't see it that way either.

marriage is something he has a pretty narrow view of; a ceremony held in front of others, longstanding traditions that are more expectations than anything else. he's already put that notion aside after the conversation they had the night before.

but this...

it's something special.

though leon doesn't use his words directly, the words he does use are ones he knows well—they're promises being made and accepted. it's leon agreeing to the vow he's making, and it's leon holding him to his own.

it's them both agreeing that they're in this for the long haul.

—this is love, isn't it? because stahn knows that he can trust that promise. he'll return that kiss, and when they pull back, his smile will be soft and full of warm love.]

Mm. I won't let you down.

[he won't break his promise.]

...Thank you.

[for loving him and being so willing to prove that he's worth all of this.]

[The kiss is warm and perfect, and Leon leans into it willingly before he settles back against the mattress. There's no denying that he's satisfied and content; the look on his face makes it more than clear enough, just as Stahn's expression does the same.

And that's enough.

They love each other. Like this, they're content. Like this... they're sworn to each other, even if in their own way.

And they're happy. Isn't that the most important part?]

There's no reason to thank me. This sort of thing... I am more than willing to do so.

[He's happy for moments like these now... even if he still can't say so.]

... Regardless, we should also consider cleaning ourselves up.

[It's getting kind of gross.]

I have every reason to thank you. Because... you're you.

[and for stahn, that's everything. leon is leon. he's serious and pragmatic, he has a hard time expressing himself, he's clinical and he doesn't mince words. he's strong and talented, he's smart to an intimidated level, and he has more potential than anyone stahn has ever met.

but leon is also caring and warm. he's thoughtful and pensive, he's careful and determined. he's daring and competitive when he wants to be, and he's always challenging stahn to better himself and grow as a person. they challenge each other, but leon makes stahn consider things in ways he never thought of.

to him, even with imperfections, leon is perfect to him.

so of course, that's every reason to thank him.

but...]

Mm... I guess we need to clean up and get ready for the day. [besides:] ...That made me pretty hungry, eheheh...

[He doesn't completely understand every nuance to that statement, admittedly. Stahn is thanking him...for being him? It's something he's never been thanked for before (for obvious reasons, he doesn't always have the most stellar of personalities), but... he's not going to argue it if that's what Stahn wants to thank him for.

But he does cover up his mild puzzlement with another kiss, pressing their lips together gently.

He doesn't see it. He doesn't see what Stahn sees, and so he doesn't understand what Stahn is so awed about. But Stahn loves him for who he is, to the point that he wants to thank him for it, and that's good enough for Leon.]

... Fine then. [He'll let Stahn win this one, because he doesn't even know where he'd begin with arguing that. Besides...they're too comfortable and content like this to consider arguing now.]

I imagine the staff has been up for some time already. [Leon's quiet for a moment, before he looks a little embarrassed, glancing away.] I imagine they are wondering what's keeping us from breakfast.

[Or they already know, but that's even worse to contemplate.]

[he knows that leon may not understand all of what he thinks, especially when stahn himself isn't exactly going out of his way to explain why he feels so strongly. maybe one day—maybe one day, he'll be able to put into words why leon is more or less his moon and his stars.

but today is not that day.

he's content with leon, and it's enough for him that leon responds with gentle kisses; they warm his heart because he knows they're sincere even without words.]

Ah... You're probably right. You're usually up and out of the room by now, huh... [he'll (grudgingly) push himself up to sit straight. much as he would like to remain so close to leon all day, he knows he can't do that.

and... well, they're still kind of a sticky mess at this point anyway.

it doesn't occur to him at all that the staff could have heard them, either. even though they weren't quiet, there weren't any knocks on the door that he noticed, so for stahn, it's easy enough to assume that nobody was bothering to wake leon up.

(he's probably wrong. he's probably so very wrong, but stahn is pure and ignorant to the notion.)]

Okay, then! We'll get cleaned up and have a nice, big breakfast then! [he brightens up, finding a bit of his more proper energy...

now that the initial tired glow is fading, stahn's going to have more energy than ever today, that's for certain.]

[when Stahn sits up, Leon follows suit, vaguely tidying his hair out of habit more than anything else. But...it's making him think now. What Stahn said.

Usually he'd be up and about by now, even on days off. Usually....

But the staff hasn't come to knock.

They've been suspiciously absent, actually, and Leon is also realizing that they were not particularly quiet. But he is less pure than Stahn, and he also knows the staff better.

...what if they heard them.

What if that's what it was.

What if that's why they haven't come knocking.

Slowly, Leon's expression shifts from the satisfied contentment to something a little more pinched.

Ah.........

And he responds only vaguely.]

Yes...of course. I am sure breakfast will be fine...

[AAAAAAH]

[uh.

it's pretty hard for stahn not to notice the shift in his expression, especially not when it's followed by such a strange response. why... wouldn't breakfast be fine?

it's breakfast.]

Emilio... [yeah, he's still in that state where he's referring to leon by his true name. but his tone is less warm and... well, much more concerned.]

Is... something wrong? [why is he making that face? why is he responding like that? what changed all of a sudden?!

stahn's still not thinking anywhere near the way leon is, so he's completely puzzled and concerned that..] Are you hurt somewhere?

[He's not surprised Stahn is concerned, but he also has no intentions of sharing his worries. In this...it's not worth it to cause Stahn embarrassment and distress. Leon can handle it just fine, so there's no need for anything else.

Mostly though, Leon just wants stahn to be able to interact with them as he usually does, without concerns like these getting in the way.

So he's taking a breath, getting prepared to brush it off, when Stahn continues, and then Leon just furrows his brows.

What????]

What? Why would I be hurt? You didn't do anything harmful.

I... mm, yeah, but—

[okay, leon has a point there. he didn't really do anything that could hurt leon, and if he'd done something, they'd probably know by now.

but it doesn't stop stahn from fumbling over his words a bit—is he worrying for nothing? well, yes, probably. but he still seems a bit flustered by it, since something was clearly bothering leon.]

You looked... like something was bothering you.

...It's nothing.

[He'll just go ahead and offer that up immediately, shaking his head and managing a calmer expression.

He'll be fine.

Probably.

He'll just try not to think about it.]

Come on. [Leon just reaches up and with an almost teasing gesture, tugs at a strand of Stahn's hair that's in front of his face.]

Let's get cleaned up.

Oh... yeah.

[he brows are still a bit knit, even with the way leon teases and encourages him not to think about it, it's hard to shake. for that moment, leon looked so bothered... what was it?

even if he's already shrugged it off, something got to leon that he's not sharing and he's not really sure what to make of it, but he'll nod his head.]

I guess we do have a mess to clean up. [of course, this is all stupid because when the staff comes in to clean the room later, they're going to be able to smell it in the air.

but whatever, it's fine. it's not like stahn would even know that anyway.]

[Yeah, there's not really going to be any hiding what happened.

Especially because then Leon's going to get up and head towards the bathroom.

They can probably take a quick bath together, he thinks, if they don't waste too much time in there--

And then he looks in the mirror.

The marks Stahn left are clear and prominent, especially on Leon's already clear skin, and for a moment, he's not actually sure what to make of them, lips parted slightly in surprise as he blinks.

Ah....?????]

[a bath together is fine; after all they've done up to this point, including the bath the night before... it would be silly to be that shy about things now. there's nothing inherently lewd about it, after all. they need to clean up, and it saves time.

so stahn will follow him into the bathroom, stopping in the doorway while leon takes note of the markings in the mirror.

...which. well, stahn doesn't quite realize what he's looking at.]

...Emilio? [wow, it's like deja vu from three minutes ago.]

[Maybe if Stahn wouldn't do things that constantly break Leon's mind!!!

Still.

Leon's just quiet for a moment, staring at the hickeys that Stahn has left (because that's 100% what they are, he can't deny it in any way), before he just looks over at Stahn.

And.

So deadpan and dry--]

I suppose I shall have to make certain to wear high-collared shirts for the foreseeable future.

Eh—

[well, first of all, leon always wears high-collared shirts, so stahn isn't entirely sure what he's supposed to mean by that.

..until he actually notices the markings, and stahn instantly flushes when he realizes what he did.]

Ah... sorry... I guess I got carried away...

You certainly did.

[Leon's not here to lessen Stahn's embarrassment in any way, that's for sure--though from the look on his face, he's more amused than anything.

Seems he's still in a good mood from...well. The blowjob. Who wouldn't be, honestly?

So he's just setting to getting the water warm and ready and the bath prepared, even as he...gently teases Stahn some more.]

I wonder how I should feel that you were so intent on leaving a mark on me--your mark, that is.

[well, stahn's still a bit embarrassed by it, but at least he'll own up to his reasons.]

I... I wasn't thinking about it like that—! [he sputters a bit. okay... maybe he wasn't consciously thinking about it like that, but it was definitely a thing.]

I just... wanted you to feel good...

Is that so.

[Leon's lips quirk into a vaguely amused smirk.

But he doesn't say anything else. He'll let Stahn dwell on it as he finishes setting up the bath.]

[wow, this is so not fair. stahn is incredibly flustered by that reaction...

he can't just let that sit?

...which is exactly why leon's going to get a hug from the back and:]

I'm soooorryyyyy.... [he didn't mean to leave marks everywhere...]

[Stahn........it's okay......... it'll be okay....

Leon's quiet for another moment, stepping into the bath and settling there--taking Stahn's previous spot and making a place for Stahn by spreading his legs, mimicking the night before. He gets to have Stahn in his arms sometimes too, he refuses to not just because he's smaller.

And then he reaches a hand up towards Stahn.]

It isn't as though I'm angry, so calm down. [It's fine. Everything's fine.]

[the fact that he's smaller doesn't mean much to stahn; he knows that leon is strong and capable.

and of course, he's willing to take that hand and use it as a guide for getting into the bath, lowering himself into the water before shimmying close so he can leon against leon.]

Mm... I thought you might get angry about it... after seeing it.

... I might have.

[He'll admit that much, even as he slides his arms lightly and loosely around Stahn's waist, resting against him as well. It's comfortable like this.]

But even so, it is true that you were... [...well, trying to make him feel good.] ...Your intentions were relatively selfless, that is.

[so he can't be mad.]

[comfortable it is, and that's why stahn takes little issue in relaxing a bit this way. he feels so comfortable like this, even with the roles reversed from the night before—stahn feels absolutely secure and at ease while they're in this position.

he can feel leon leaning against him, and it's warm and assuring, especially when leon is being so assuring in his own way.]

Still... I'll be more careful next time. [he probably won't, because he'll be too caught in the moment to tink about it. but he means well in making that offer.

...and in making the next offer.] ...You can do the same, if you want. I won't be mad.

[yeah, he sure is giving leon freedom to leave hickeys wherever he wants and whenever.]

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