Leo

[petty_dabbler]

[From HERE]

John abandoned his buttons and caught Leo's face in a soft hand to kiss him deeply. He tasted of ash, though his tongue was oddly sweet.

"Good enough plan," he whispered, stepping in close as he could before capturing his lips again.

Comments

[leo_rooks]

Leo leaned into the touch, closing his eyes.

"For all you know I'm as bad as them. Maybe I just hide it better."

It was bullshit, but part of Leo wanted people to fear him. Part of him wanted to keep them all at arms length.

[petty_dabbler]

"If you want to think that, I'll let you," John said, then kissed his shoulder. Then his jaw,

Then his lips, softly, just in case Leo had genuinely lost interest.

[leo_rooks]

Leo couldn't help but return the kiss, enjoying the soft press of lips and the taste of John.

"If I was, would you still want me tonight?" he asked.

[petty_dabbler]

"I think I would, yeah," he said.

John moved back enough to get out of his shirt, revealing several occult tattoos- some protection, some angelic, and some the darkest magic...

[leo_rooks]

Leo recognized many of them, his fingers reaching out and tracing over a particularly nasty one. His own body had no marks, not even a tiny scar. No ink, no signs of anything but a pampered life.

"Lot of ink," he noted without judgement.

[petty_dabbler]

John nodded.

"They help with the job," he said. His skin lit up with every light brush of a fingertip. Unable to resist, he kissed him again. If the tattoo's didn't drive him away, John found a bit more confidence.

[leo_rooks]

Leo returned the kiss softly, but he seemed less sure of himself now. Some of that confidence had faded.

"Is this going to be weird later?" he asked between kisses.

[petty_dabbler]

"It doesn't need to be," he replied as he paused and searched for Leo's eyes.

"It won't be for me," he promised.

[leo_rooks]

"You've done this before then? Affairs with students? ...And, what? No awkward moment in the classroom after? No discomfort if it turns sour?" Leo asked.

[petty_dabbler]

John was quiet a moment, weighing the truth.

"Usually it's brilliant, then the students move on. No hard feelings," he said, even though he knew he was lying. It broke his heart a little every single time.

[leo_rooks]

Leo seemed doubtful, but let it be. He had as little reason to doubt the man as he did to take his word.

"Would it be really embarrassing if I suggested we just lay together?" he asked after a moment, suddenly painfully aware of the fact that as much as he'd missed intimacy, he wasn't ready to fall back into bed right away.

[petty_dabbler]

John moved in and slipped his arm around Leo's waist. He looked at him a moment, then smiled softly.

"I wouldn't mind," he said and pulled him into a gentle hug.

No one wanted to lay with him. Just touch and chat and maybe nap. They knew John was good to go and he could get laid any time he wanted. Maybe there were no hard feelings because there were no feelings...

Maybe he should run, but the temptation of something...special...had him catching Leo's hand to bringhim to the edge of the bed.

[leo_rooks]

Leo followed, eventually sitting with him.

"I've never been good at this," he admitted.

[petty_dabbler]

"It's not easy if you've never had it, love," John said, pulling him down. Bare chest to chest, John settled his head on the pillow.

"It took me a long time to learn how to let people get close."

[leo_rooks]

"And was it worth it?" Leo asked, settling in close as he dared. "I mean, from what I've noticed, you seem to be alone."

[petty_dabbler]

"It's worth it every single time," John said. "And it hurts when it ends, but it's worth it. Love, however brief, is worth it, Leo," he assured him.

[leo_rooks]

"My father used to say that anyone who tries to get near you is after something," Leo replied. "Either sex or money."

[petty_dabbler]

"Your father was wrong," he said. "Well, maybe the sex bit, but not always."

He chuckled softly.

"Sometimes people just enjoy each other."

[leo_rooks]

Leo nearly explained that his father had meant him, specifically- But that wasn't a trauma he felt like facing right now. So instead he just shrugged.

[petty_dabbler]

John shifted a little so he could hold Leo with both arms, loose yet secure.

"I enjoy you," he said. "You're clever. You're witty..."

[leo_rooks]

"You barely know me," Leo said quietly, one hand resting on John's hip.

[petty_dabbler]

"I know you enough to want to get to know you better," he replied softly. "And for me, that's reason enough. If that's a bit weird, I'll leave you be. Just tell me."

[leo_rooks]

Leo was quiet for a long moment, then shook his head.

"I want you to stay," he admitted softly.

[petty_dabbler]

"Then let's pull up the blankets. I'm freezing," he said, slowly letting him go to pull them up and settle in. He laid back and opened his arms.

"Come here," he said, coaxing Leo to his chest.

[leo_rooks]

Leo helped tug up the blankets as he settled in. It was nice to just be held and to hold someone in return, but part of him would always feel undeserving of such things. Always.