PSL 03: tact from me is like blood from a stone

[theansweris]

Riddler takes them out to try and calm Ed down.

Away from the house and temptation and messy emotions, Ed does start to settle again, until he's quieted down and able to function again. Riddler's relieved and lets Ed pick the lock on the framing shop, letting himself in and acquiring what he needs and letting himself back out again with no sign of robbery. It's possible it might take them months to realise it ever happened.

Ed, being the sentimental one, is satisfied with this.

Riddler is not.

He spends a while acquiring his present. It's not as valuable as it could be, but he's satisfied. And that's enough for them to go home and get changed into more casual clothes and settle on the bedclothes with a book. He might sleep. He might not. Either way, he could be quiet until morning.

Comments

[hobblepot]

[Though he gets no answer, he's reassured by Ed exposing more of himself for the taking, that gratifying little hitch in his breath putting a smile on Oswald's lips. It fills him with an electrifying sense of power different than what he has felt every time he rebuilt his empire on the bones of those who stood in his way; a power he doesn't mind sharing, submitting to, just to feel Ed's mouth on him again, sweet and indulgent. Wearing him down.]

Hold me... [He sighs into his neck, too soft and strained to come off as a demand.]

[theansweris]

It takes a moment of rearranging and this would probably be easier and more comfortable on a bigger piece of furniture, but they're here now and it will do. He shifts closer, not leaning on his hand and arm but sliding it under Oswald so they're virtually chest to chest against each other. "Better?" His voice doesn't make it much above a whisper.

[hobblepot]

[He tenses slightly, on instinct, as they press into each other, his cock filling. And to think, there was a time when getting this close would've been an offense worthy of knee-jerk throat-slitting. Now he only reddens and goes a little blank-faced, a knee-jerk apology on his lips. He huffs a nervous laugh instead.]

I suppose it'll do.

[theansweris]

By keeping his attention completely on Oswald, on his blush, on his almost stammer and almost laugh, Ed's keeping himself out of his own head. He almost apologises and slips back, but Oswald wanted to be held, and this is how he can do it.

"Is it too much?" He doesn't want to pressure him. There was once or twice when he sort of wished someone had asked him that.

[hobblepot]

No, I -- [Huffing again, hopelessly, he shakes his head.] --I'm fine.

[He frowns, his mouth opening, closing, then opening again.]

While most of me is overwhelmed and half-convinced I'm still asleep in my bed and you're just a figment of my imagination, I admit that the rest would not object to getting to know you a little better. Whatever that may entail. [He shifts unconsciously.] So... I guess that's more like a 'yes with an if and no with a but'?

[He chuckles off his own attempt at levity, his smile falling away. It's a while before he continues.]

...This isn't easy for me. [He chews the inside of his cheek.] And yet, this is everything I ever wanted; you have done everything right.

[theansweris]

Ed waits and listens. He doesn't want Oswald to regret anything, or feel like it wasn't right, or any of the things that could happen.

When Oswald pauses, Ed doesn't but in, because it looks like there's more he wants to say. He strokes his cheek softly, paying attention as much as possible without just staring, because that freaks people out. "I-

"I have? We have?" Because it's both of them skimming the surface, brushing their mouth softly on the other cheek. And both of them soaking up that praise, stealing another kiss from Oswald's mouth, then another.

[hobblepot]

[He doesn't expect Ed to understand what he doesn't, either, about himself. Kissing is blissfully uncomplicated in comparison, and when he slides into Ed's, mouths slotting together, it's as though his entire life has built up to this one moment.]

I trust you, Ed... [He says again, a whisper against slickened lips. He lifts a hand to drape Ed's.] And I respect you. Which is why... I feel I can safely leave it to you to decide how we shall make the most of our time together. However... [he sucks in a quiet, shuddering breath] I... may need to step away in just a moment. For a little while.

[theansweris]

Ed nods, listening. He won't decide for them. He'll just make offers and let Oswald pick what he's comfortable with, but he knows no one can make decisions for Oswald.

"Whatever you want. Or need." He promises it with another soft kiss to Oswald's chin.

[hobblepot]

Ed...

[He whines, breaking off with a sigh.]

I don't even know what I like... outside of what you've already been doing.

[Most other men, he imagines, would have no qualms persuading Ed to put his hand to good use. But the mere thought of floating the idea past someone, never mind actually turning a private act he doesn't much care for into a group activity, makes something twist sharply in his guts.

His cheeks grow hot.]

I'm not the one who has actually had any partners, remember?

[theansweris]

Oswald, who totally embraced some aspects of his own physicality, in the taste of good food and wine, in rich, plush clothing and quality bedding, had completely shunned another aspect of it.

He shifted his weight a little and nosed Oswald's cheek. "Technically, neither have I," Riddler murmured. "And more importantly, we don't have to do anything else right now. There's no rush. If you need time to just think about what you want to try later, you can have it. If you want to just keep making out, we can." He noses again and comes in for a light kiss. "And stop worrying about the fact that Ed has had sex. He's been jumped a few times by women who didn't really like him, it's hardly a milestone to aim for, okay?"

[hobblepot]

[Jumped?

It's a word that has Oswald staring at him for a long beat, lips slightly parted, before he looks away, too distracted when Ed steals a kiss to answer in kind. Of course, he wants nothing more than for Ed to convince him he wouldn't run off someday in search of someone else, and that keeping him wouldn't at all hinge on how often - or how well - he delivered. But he's still left with a vague unease and uncertainty, supposing that this is what others might feel like when their perceptions of themselves and their bodies are challenged. There's only so much headway Ed could hope to make in one day; but it's something, that he feels willing and deserving enough to stay and bask in the pleasures Ed is gently introducing him to.

Sparing a quick glance at his lap, he decides he wants his erection out of the way before anything else; it's hard to fully appreciate and focus on the sensations lighting his live-wire nerves when he can't think much past the urgent, sharpening throb in his cock. He carefully disentangles himself from Ed, holding up his finger as he pushes to his feet.]

Hold that thought, would you? I'll be returning shortly -- there's just some bothersome business that needs tending to. [Whirling around:] Excuse me.

[theansweris]

Riddler has his own opinion on Ed's disastrous previous love life. It's not a kind one. He tries to steal another kiss, but Oswald's moving and they won't make him feel trapped or pressured, so they back off immediately, let him have his space to move.

Of course, it doesn't stop the immediate recriminations between them. Ed accusing Riddler of scaring Oswald off, mentioning those women, Riddler accusing Ed of being easy and intimidating Oswald with the way he'd put himself around.

But they nod and smile at Oswald, understanding and low pressure. Whatever Oswald wants.

[hobblepot]

[Spending all his teenhood and much of adulthood in a cramped apartment with paper-thin walls and a mom who didn't always take closed doors too seriously taught him to be quick and efficient and quiet. In five minutes, he has come into a tissue and cleaned up, though he lingers in the bathroom a while to wind down and cool off, leaning over the sink while re-arranging his sleek leather eye patch and pleased to note that his eyeliner remains unsmudged.

He hobbles back in smelling of hand soap, dropping into the cushions beside Ed with a contented sigh. He looks around a moment, taking in his inheritance.]

You know, I rather liked sharing the bed with you. [Pausing thoughtfully.] I found it... peaceful. Which I really can't say of many things these days. [Catching Ed's eyes, he invites him to weigh in.]

[theansweris]

Ed and Riddler spat at one another for a moment, lose their interest in it and instead lose the jacket and tie entirely, shirt collar remaining undone and vest opened. Mostly comfortable, though he's aware of the conflicting firing of nerves, of anxiety and lust and frustration at each other and a frisson of something he can't quite pinpoint yet.

He still has colour high on his cheeks when Oswald gets back, but he's at least comfortably draped on the lounge, studying a painting on the opposite wall with an intensity it possibly doesn't deserve. He glances as the door opens again and extends an arm to let Oswald tuck in against him.

"This morning? It was- nice." Nice is an understatement. It was the first time his sleep has felt at all restful in a very long time. "Are you inviting me to come and stay with you tonight?"

[hobblepot]

Well, yes - I'd even go so far as to ask, why stop at tonight? [He snorts softly.

If his eye wanders to the slice of skin at Ed's throat after all the fussing and fiddling with his collar (which it inevitably does, lingering,) it's not his fault. He seldom sees Ed when he isn't in full, whip-smart suit, all slick and neat, and can't help reaching out to sweep some invisible fluff from his vest. It's a shameless excuse to touch him and he couldn't care less.]

Space isn't a problem. And there are plenty of pillows and blankets to go around.

[No tug of wars in the small hours of the morning.]

[theansweris]

Clothing is an armour for both of them, in different ways. The collar is open because Oswald opened it and liked it and Riddler wants Oswald's eyes trapped on him.

"I don't sleep well. Or a lot." It's a warning, not disagreement. "But I'd feel better knowing you were there. That I'm not going to wake up and think I'm in Arkham. And you're allowed to just touch," Riddler adds with a smile. "To know I'm really here."

[hobblepot]

[Though he relishes the quality of life and the luxuries he now enjoys, he misses the comfort he found living with mom, falling asleep to the warm press of her back against his on those colder nights when running a space heater for hours wasn't an option. It matters, having someone to come home to, and loneliness and loss have taught him that it's having a loved one that turns a house into a home.]

Well, if you insist... [He teases, with a twinge of embarrassment. Then goes quiet watching the path his hand takes lazily sliding up Ed's body, shifting over his vest and the curve of his ribs to his back.] Yup! You're feeling pretty real to me!

[theansweris]

Whereas for Ed... it's not familiar. At all. But he likes what little he's experienced.

Riddler tweaks Oswald's ear, not too hard, not to cause pain. "You're being ridiculous." He shifts to press a kiss to his temple, eyes closing and just resting there. "Fighting for me is like having sex for chastity," he murmurs.

[hobblepot]

Ow! [It slips out, instinctively. The eye-watering sting he expects to feel isn't there, though, not that it stops him from huffing and managing to sound a tinge offended.] What are you talking about?

[theansweris]

"It's a riddle." Duh. "And that didn't hurt."

[hobblepot]

[He's quick to open his mouth, wanting to point out that riddles aren't very conducive to fostering a romantic mood, but he gets the feeling he'd be told he's objectively wrong and saves himself the effort.] Well -- don't do that again!

[At least it doesn't take much effort discovering what Oswald doesn't enjoy.]

[theansweris]

Riddler doesn't apologise, it's not really a thing he understands, but he nuzzles again and wriggles in close, kissing the corner of Oswald's mouth. "Peace. Fight for peace is like having sex for chastity. Lying with you, here, we feel something like, peace."

[hobblepot]

...oh. [It takes some of the fight out of him, but it's Ed's kisses that he's weakest to, helpless as they tear down his defenses, brick by brick. He hums and leans into him, his heat and his touch.] ...You certainly have a curious way of showing it.

[theansweris]

Riddler hums and steals another kiss from the corner of Oswald's mouth. "You're the only thing in the world that makes us feel peaceful with each other. We'd never been as integrated as the time we spent here with you."

[hobblepot]

[While he can't fully grasp the enormity of the impact he has when he doesn't suffer in the same way Ed and Riddler do, he will always appreciate feeling important, irreplaceable.]

Happy to help. [He strokes Ed's side, flushed with pleasure.] Is there any way I could make things that much more pleasant for you both?