05-03-2019, 06:57 PM
Raffe chuckled as Nox recognised his own words, the tease of his grin unapologetic. He meant it all the same; if he didn’t want to talk, Raffe wouldn’t press on the sense of a wound. Though he did want to be trusted with the confession, despite every reason to maintain distance. “Ah,” was all he said in answer. The conflict writ plain over his face as it all began to spill out, aware that there was precious little he could say even had Nox wanted that comfort. His own parents never had an opinion to share; his mother because she’d died a long time ago, and his father because he’d never chosen to know his son. Growing up, Raffe had been surprisingly adept at finding his niche. Or he’d had to be.
He scrubbed a hand over his hair. Compassion leaked all over his expression even if the words never left his lips. He wished he could say something, but settled for being the listening ear.
Then Nox pulled off his shirt, and Raffe found his heart pounding in his chest as his gaze grazed the line of every muscle. Heat tinged, the words a little lost before his attention stumbled back up to Nox’s face. Casual sex was not the issue; the issue was that it might quite easily become not so meaningless on Raffe’s part. It was not even fear of getting burned that held him back, nor even professional boundary, but what Nox had said himself of life blowing up in his face time and time again. What he’d said about needing a friend.
A playful grin met the hint of Raffe’s own, slow burning. It wasn’t really a decision at all. “I guess I can muster up enough honour for the both of us. Tonight at least.” Even as he said it he stood to kick off his jeans, then clambered over to claim the side near the wall. He sprawled on his back, tucked a palm under his head while he waited for Nox, making no real disguise of the way he watched.
He scrubbed a hand over his hair. Compassion leaked all over his expression even if the words never left his lips. He wished he could say something, but settled for being the listening ear.
Then Nox pulled off his shirt, and Raffe found his heart pounding in his chest as his gaze grazed the line of every muscle. Heat tinged, the words a little lost before his attention stumbled back up to Nox’s face. Casual sex was not the issue; the issue was that it might quite easily become not so meaningless on Raffe’s part. It was not even fear of getting burned that held him back, nor even professional boundary, but what Nox had said himself of life blowing up in his face time and time again. What he’d said about needing a friend.
A playful grin met the hint of Raffe’s own, slow burning. It wasn’t really a decision at all. “I guess I can muster up enough honour for the both of us. Tonight at least.” Even as he said it he stood to kick off his jeans, then clambered over to claim the side near the wall. He sprawled on his back, tucked a palm under his head while he waited for Nox, making no real disguise of the way he watched.