Gabriel's knees are always (skinned) wrote in rooms,
Re: Magical Narnia: Ben/Ronan
Between the two of them, they had been through too much of the hotel's magical consequences to feel like they could afford complacency after the granting of Ben's wish. Not that it wasn't the great kind of headfuck this time; Ronan had realized a few months ago that his chances of getting to meet Ben's family were probably slim to none while they were in Marvel, with no way to get back to the version of the world that they'd known in Vegas. To have it happening now, even in the form of a small-scale invasion - okay, so Ronan was caught a little off balance, and Ben's dad kind of made him a little nervous, but he'd never seen Ben this happy and also he'd fallen a little in love with his siblings and his mum.
It was understandable that they were both a bit giddy during their escape to dinner, and that came from a good place, but the constant engagement of their fingers served as an unspoken security blanket. Because neither of them were quite fools enough for love and holiday magic to believe the hotel incapable of repercussions. So the way that their two hands stayed wound together through each course of the meal, that was as much a gesture of affection as it was an attempt at prevention. Like Ronan was that kite from so long ago, and Ben the string. Only this time without the hotel's invisible hand to sever the ties that kept them from floating free into oblivion, if either had anything to do with the matter.
In the moment that they'd passed through the wish's door and Ronan was still here, not traded for a family, still tethered to Ben's hand - then they knew that it was alright. Ben's fingers made the walk down to tuck inside Ronan's pockets and the splash of that cool, burbling current started to creep up from their ankles. This magic was safe. Ronan's face was split with a grin and he leaned his hips up against the taller frame of this man that he loved with so much ferocity, holding on with both arms around his waist for a moment.
Good. The thought rang out clear in the air between them, passed from his mind into Ben's like a sweet-scented sigh. He took a moment to toe out of his fancy leather shoes, then bent at the waist in order to reach down and peel off his wet socks, holding onto Ben's elbow for balance.
"I can't believe you lived here." Ronan's cheek dimpled as he just grinned wider, glancing over his shoulder towards the severe slope of the mountain behind them. "Was it somewhere up there? The monastery? I didn't get a good look when you showed me. There were significant distractions out of my control, you know?"