04-30-2019, 10:44 PM
His eyes widened a little at the admission, and he almost laughed at the absurdity -- despite that he believed it for the truth. How Nox ended up tangled in such shit he didn’t want to know. His hand massaged the scar tissue as the other man mentioned the old wound, but Raffe only shrugged. “Still healing, maybe. Oriena called in a favour.” Though he’d probably be dead if she hadn’t, and vanities aside the scar was more an irritation than a constant pain. The concern flickered a small smile though.
Nox leaned back against the wall, and Raffe mirrored the motion, hands loose in his lap. He watched the shadows in the corner of the room as he listened. The confession sent a pleasant shiver against his skin, but it was the rest that made him quiet. Something else stirred, like all those nights he’d once sat soothing the scared little kids in their dorm; listening to their fears and spinning stories until sun up.
It was probably foolish. Nox had already laid out all his cards. But Raffe had always had a thing for misfits.
“I won’t use it against you,” he said. “And I won’t walk out. My childhood wasn’t exactly a bed of roses. I promise I don’t spook easy.” He shifted round on the bed, until he was facing Nox. “It would,” he agreed. A crooked grin lifted his lips, playful at the edges. Mischief lit his gaze, though he didn’t move any closer than he already was. “And Kallisti will offer you plenty of opportunity for that. Unofficially, of course.” Discretion might be in the contracts, but it didn’t prevent the offer. Nox had said he was new at this before, and Raffe hadn’t paused to consider it, but he wondered briefly then.
“So try me, and I’ll listen.” The grin broke wider. He winked. “Or you can think about it. Tell me to fuck off with a clear head.”
Nox leaned back against the wall, and Raffe mirrored the motion, hands loose in his lap. He watched the shadows in the corner of the room as he listened. The confession sent a pleasant shiver against his skin, but it was the rest that made him quiet. Something else stirred, like all those nights he’d once sat soothing the scared little kids in their dorm; listening to their fears and spinning stories until sun up.
It was probably foolish. Nox had already laid out all his cards. But Raffe had always had a thing for misfits.
“I won’t use it against you,” he said. “And I won’t walk out. My childhood wasn’t exactly a bed of roses. I promise I don’t spook easy.” He shifted round on the bed, until he was facing Nox. “It would,” he agreed. A crooked grin lifted his lips, playful at the edges. Mischief lit his gaze, though he didn’t move any closer than he already was. “And Kallisti will offer you plenty of opportunity for that. Unofficially, of course.” Discretion might be in the contracts, but it didn’t prevent the offer. Nox had said he was new at this before, and Raffe hadn’t paused to consider it, but he wondered briefly then.
“So try me, and I’ll listen.” The grin broke wider. He winked. “Or you can think about it. Tell me to fuck off with a clear head.”