Tal (patchofblue) wrote in birthrightrpg, @ 2020-12-20 16:38:00 |
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Entry tags: | tal rainey, ~roman skye |
Recovering and Conversing
Who: Roman Skye and Tal Rainey
What: Lying around, talking, recovering
Where: Tal's motel room, El Rey, Searchlight
When: A day and a half after the vampire attack
Ratings/Warnings: Mild - for a bit of sexiness and mention of past violence
Tal felt calmer as he sat there on one of the beds in his motel room. It had been a day and a half since he naively tried to help a vampire and was attacked. The mechanic wore some pajama bottoms, tank top, and socks since he had been sleeping a good bit. The wound at his left shoulder was healing up well due to James’ tending and the natural agent Tal had taken under the tongue.
Fear still rippled underneath the surface - now of the fangs and blood loss. He wasn’t afraid of his telekinetic abilities. Breathing, he laid back down and smoothed Roman’s hair.
That usually perfect hair bounced a bit beneath Tal’s large fingers. He breathed softly. Eyes fluttered open and Roman shifted toward Tal. Lately he had been sacrificing the luxury and comfort usually expected. While someone else may have been irritated about it, he was the type that knew what it took to get to the end result. A bit of an exchange was necessary.
An arm would catch Tal by the waist and he shifted to draw the man close.
He was a man without shame and so he was clad in very little. Mostly a blanket, a bit of a sheet.
“How are you feeling?” Roman murmured, sleepily.
Tal had a feeling that Roman would want a more substantial bed and better surroundings. He was considering buying a small place in Searchlight. It would be better than staying at the El Rey when he didn’t want to make the drive to LV.
Letting out a soft groan, he draped an arm over Roman’s hip and eased close. Gentle touches were just as refreshing as the bruising kind when it came from the other man.
“Better. But also happy and warm,” Tal whispered. He leaned in and lightly pressed a kiss to Roman’s lips.
That groan elicited a delicate laugh and the lawyer offered a perfect smile. “It makes me happy to hear that you’re happy, dear.” Words would be kept soft as if they shared a secret between them. He leaned into the kiss, savoring the texture and softness.
Roman’s hand drew up, fingers dancing across Tal’s tank top to come to rest upon the side of his face. A playful scratch at the beard, “It makes me sick that anyone decided to pick you to harm, I wish I could’ve been there to help you. You must have been so afraid, so lonely in that moment.” And he still felt mild irritation that Tal hadn’t called him first, but that could be fussed about later.
“I’m okay now. Better you not be there. I wouldn’t want you hurt, Roman,” Tal spoke as he leaned into the lawyer’s hand. “I was afraid. It’s okay.” He echoed as he brushed his forehead against Roman’s. There were bits of logic in his thoughts and calling James instead of Roman was better. It would have taken Roman longer to get there and Tal knew James had abilities that could help.
“I will be more careful next time.”
Roman nodded slowly. “I know you don’t, but I’d rather be able to protect you. Or try. I know I’m a regular human like anyone else, but I care about you. I feel helpless knowing I wasn’t there to resolve your problem or at least get you situated.” Then he waved a hand in a dismissive manner, “What matters is you’re here and now I can start helping you forget about what happened.”
Overall, it made more sense to call someone else and had those facts been uttered he would’ve concurred.
As it was, he remained silent on the issue at hand. “I know you will. Maybe there’s a way to ward those hungrier types away. I’ll ask around and see.”
“You’re here now, Roman,” Tal whispered and pressed a kiss to his friend’s lips. “Yes, you can help me forget. Help us think about better things. Like how kind you are.”
He inched up against Roman and combed his fingers through his hair. “Maybe there is a way. I hope it’s not eating garlic all the time.” Tal joked softly.
Leaning forward, he brushed the ends of their noses together casually. “You’re right about that. As long as you need me, I will be.” Work and dog excluded.
Then he laughed softly. “I think you’ve seen too many films, darling.” Vampires these days weren’t deterred by much. How brash and exciting? He made a mental note to connect with Mo about warding away vampires who want to cause trouble.
“I need you here, want you...here.” He softly laughed. All Tal had aside from work and Roman was his warehouse nest in LV and the tiny circle of friends.
“Well, can’t help that. I only know about a few of the people who can do things.” Tal smiled. If he were to use his telekinesis more, he would be less of a target for some.
“That sounds as if you’re proposing a serious commitment there, Tal,” Roman teased, purring softly into Tal’s skin. He pressed a tender, chaste peck to the warm skin and drew back slowly. “I want to be here, too.” It was nice to feel needed.
There was a bit of stirring that he’d never experienced before. It was dismissed as soon as it crept up and made itself known.
“I have a few connections,” Roman offered. “I work with a vampire, actually. Moira. She’s...well, interesting. You would like her. Not all of them are of the inconsiderate ilk.”
Wrinkling his nose, Tal smiled. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to trust someone like this,” he replied and then closed his eyes at Roman’s lips pressing against his skin. It was an honor to be this close to the muscular man for so long and for so many days. Anything similar was usually brief and only a night.
Then he blinked his eyes open at Roman’s mentioning another vampire. “...she doesn’t drive a ‘77 Ford Granada does she?” There was a flicker of fear in his eyes, but it faded as he curled his arm a little more securely around his lover.
They were on similar wavelengths just then; he didn’t give himself wholly to everyone and he knew the reason why. Yet being here with Tal in his time of need felt different, odd, but not in the usual way he might experience.
“Me too, dear. I consider myself highly to even be considered good enough to be close to you.”
Roman drifted back a bit, eyebrows lifting a bit. Then he shook his head. “I don’t think so.” But he didn’t know for sure. Not that it would’ve mattered if the vampire who had attacked Tal had been Mo, Roman didn’t really care.
He felt Tal sense. Roman let his hand fall to the curve of his partners back, moving up and down the spine in a soothing way.
But Tal never gave himself completely anymore. There was a sliver of caution, ticking like his telekinesis - ready to be set off. But deep down, he really wanted to. Sometimes it would be easier to relax and just give in.
“Taking words out of my mouth.”
“Oh,” the mechanic breathed and nodded. “Okay.” If it had been, Tal would have started to withdraw his trust.
He closed his eyes and held Roman close, soon breathing in time with the movement of the lawyer’s hand. “Sometimes I feel I don’t deserve your attention.”
“Why do you think that?” Roman mused. He took his time with the motion, letting his hand brush up and down slowly.
He wanted the conversation to shift from the attack and to focus more on the now. Any sleep that had lingered had crept away, and now he was sharped, focused.
“Because you’re so much more...put together, hotter than someone I’d think would be interested in me.” Tal confessed. It was the truth.
He gently gripped Roman’s side, not wanting to let go as he felt those gentle brushings of Roman’s hand at his back. Tal could see just how alert his friend had become. That strength and wit.
“You think I’m hot?” He grinned like a fool. Preening. Maybe he was preening, regardless it was proud. “Thank you. I think you’re hot, too, Tal. And you should really give yourself more credit.” Whether or not it was the truth, what mattered was that Tal believed Roman was interested and invested in him.
“What else do you like about me?” He inquired, voice soft and playful. He liked being indulged like this akin to a black cat eager for fingers to scratch behind its ears.
Color flushed Tal’s cheeks even though he could be flattered, embarrassed by far more than words. “Yeah. You’re welcome.” The smile was big on his face though he shook his head a little. The trust, the openness Tal displayed would be mind blowing for those who knew him.
Tal sighed and stroked Roman’s side with his thumb. “Your hair,” he began and ran his fingers through the soft locks. “Your eyes, face, kindness, mmm,” Tal continued and then stopped as brushed his hips against Roman’s.
Roman knew he could be intimidating, it was one of his best features, but he was glad Tal played along. Indulged him. That brush of hips had his nerves firing and his frame responding immediately.
“It’s funny,” he began softly, looking at Tal. “I adore all of those things about you. Looking into your eyes is like seeing the brightest part of the day when the sun is at the highest point in the sky. I’ve never seen any other color like that before.”
“But the best part,” he added softly, “is how big your heart is. You are exceptional.”
Sometimes Tal wanted to be as intimidating as Roman, that sleek and sharp sophistication. He wanted to play along. Then he bit his lower lip at Roman’s response of brushing against him in return.
“Hmm?” He blinked slowly. “Mmm, you’re too kind, Roman.” Tal leaned in and kissed his lover softly, “I hope I haven’t been too soft hearted with my not wanting to be alone and asking you to travel here a few weeks ago.”
A leg would shift, curl around one of Tal’s clothed ones. “You’re rubbing off on me, I think,” he murmured, amused. A bit of kindness in exchange for loyalty - it seemed a fair trade. His eyes closed and he eased into the kiss. A soft murmur of delight. “Not at all,” came the reply.
Those blue eyes would flutter open. “Tal, you matter to me. I care about you, you are never a burden. It’s okay to need the comfort of someone else. If I didn’t have to work or have to care for Froufrou, I would be here more.”
A ripple of muscles tensed lightly at Roman’s leg curling around of his. “Good.” Tal hummed in the kiss.
Then he gazed into those eyes. “I’ve been independent for so long. But sometimes that need comes along.” Tal nodded slowly and leaned against Roman, his body reacting to how close they were. He let go of his lover’s side and ran his hand down to Roman’s ass.
“It’s funny how the right person comes along and changes everything. Your whole outlook on life.” His hand continued to slip across Tal’s back, though he hooked his thumb beneath the fabric at the hem of Tal’s shirt and drew it up toward the shoulder.
He leaned in for another kiss. This time he savored it, taking his time to connect.
Blushing again at the admiration, Tal leaned into the kiss. His hand left Roman’s sheet-shrouded ass to come between them to grip his tank top and pull it upward in response to the other man’s silent insistence.
He only broke the kiss to pull the garment over his head and slip his arms out of it. The shirt was tossed over his head before Tal kissed Roman again - taking his time too.
Roman drifted backward. He licked his lips, looking up at the man hovering over him. There was no shame at all in the way he looked the other man over - he drank in those shadowed lines and craved much more. As skin became exposed, hands would find purchase and offer silent worship.
“I never get tired of this,” he laughed, leaning back into the kiss.