InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "I'm not a mocodity."

ąųdįţǫŗę (mentori) wrote in valarlogs,
@ 2017-09-07 08:37:00

Entry tags:

!complete, elijah mikaelson, ezio auditore da firenze

Who: Ezio & Elijah
What: Dinner (and dessert) and talks
When: Last Monday
Where: What's soon to be shared digs
Rating/Warnings: Warnings for vampire teeth and blood sharing
Status: Complete

Despite his intentions of spending the entire weekend practicing, things had come up that kept it from being more than a little time Saturday evening. He’d planned another session of taste testing, but then Freya had dreamt and things went pear-shaped. He couldn’t have made himself practice then because she’d needed him and it was an actual and serious situation. He didn’t know how to begin to explain things, so it was for the best that he’d said he wouldn’t talk about his family. He wanted anything else to talk about for once. His phone had been turned off even before he got to the door.

Elijah had arrived with flowers, something he hadn’t done in a while. Really, he hadn’t since the first day they met. He considered that he really ought to have. He would make more of an effort, he hoped he was at least doing somewhat better. This time they were orange and peach roses. He thought the color was bright and vibrant enough. It suited Ezio’s personality. Far more than his own. But that was the point. They had been for Ezio in the end. Appreciation and passion the girl had said regarding the flowers.

He’d decided on chicken tava. He’d even found a recipe that would only make two servings. He figured this meant if it was a tragedy, at least it wouldn’t be a terrible waste. Being that food tasted like nothing to him, it made making new food more difficult. It also kept him from really wanting to eat. He might try it, but more likely he’d stick to drinking wine. “I hope I’ve managed to make something halfway decent at least. I lost my taste tester and some time along the way. I promise to make up for any possible disappointments later. Maybe I’ll get lucky.” A pause. “I brought things to make this apricot and walnut dessert I found in case you might be interested.”

Ezio’s dining room (well, soon it would be Elijah’s too) was very cozy. The table was large and rustic, meant for a crowd sharing meals together (though he sat close to Elijah now), with a gold chandelier that sparkled, antique wall sconces, and a nineteenth-century Danish painting (Woman by the sea in Ǻsgårdstrand, a work by Munch) nearby - it would not be the home of an Art History professor if he did not have pieces of various eras decorating where he laid his head at night. The flowers were a pop of color and made for a nice centerpiece. He could tell Elijah was trying, and the effort was appreciated. And really, distinctly not talking about his family was something Ezio was more than glad to oblige.

“I am sure you’ll get lucky later,” he winked - how could Elijah say it and not expect Ezio to take it there? “Though perhaps I will pretend to have a headache, to give you a challenge.”

It wouldn’t last long. He didn’t have much self-control when it came to the carnal pleasures in life.

“And of course I am interested in dessert. I know you do not eat though, so you can have me for dessert instead,” he offered, leaning over to kiss Elijah soundly - likely tasting of wine and the spices from the chicken tava (which was very good, by the way). Ezio would probably finish all that was on his plate, and have the leftovers for lunch tomorrow.

Elijah was pleased that it seemed like he was doing well. Ezio hadn’t looked at his food and offered to get take out, so that was a relief. He was also glad to have the other man sitting close by. The possibility of being quite far from one another was only something he wanted to consider as something that might happen during a bigger dinner. But even then, he might sit close.

“I should have expected that.” Which was true. This was Ezio he was talking to and many of their conversations seemed to slant toward suggestive comments after a while. Not that he could really complain about it. “Oh, will you now? I’ve been told I am both the cause and cure for many a headache.” He really didn’t expect it would be a lasting fake excuse.

He smiled into the kiss. It was strange how little he could taste wine, could figure out the differences, but food was a big nothing. “You do make very good dessert. The wine adds a little something.” Not that blood ever seemed to be displeasing. There were a few exceptions, but he was able to avoid it most of the time. “Are you ready to enlighten more students in the upcoming semester?”

“Who told you that you cured a headache? They were lying,” Ezio teased, nudging Elijah under the table. He felt a bit odd eating while Elijah only consumed wine but it was simply a quirk of having a vampire for a lover. And true to his word, he’d let Elijah snack on him later - something that Ezio looked forward to also, since he had rather taboo tastes it seemed.

He took a few more bites, followed by a sip of wine - it was a Spanish red, one of the few times red actually did go best with chicken since the dish was tomato-based. That was the biggest test for Elijah, actually, pairing dinner with wine - because Ezio was an expert and would have launched into a diatribe if something wrong was served. “I am mostly ready for the next semester - I wanted to get ahead, so I have my lesson plans and exams written. I am teaching some classes for the first time, ones I never taught before. Like Pop Art.”

It wasn’t one of his specialties, but he liked the style - and they did say the best way to learn was to teach, so it’d be a good experience for him as well.

Elijah snorted softly. “And here I was banking on it the whole time.” But it was nice to have this back and forth banter. Really, it was nice to feel like anything in their lives was at least somewhat normal. Even if it really wasn’t. It felt odd not eating, but at the same time, it was something lost on him. He really only ate when it would look strange not to...and no one was here but them. So there was no reason to pretend.

The one thing Elijah could boast was a knowledge of wines. Perhaps he was not an expert, but alcohol was perhaps something he’d gained an even more innate understanding of. It was lucky that he couldn’t die from drinking so much. Really, he would have been in trouble otherwise. “Ah. So new subjects. Well, you are free to bounce ideas or thoughts off of me at any time. I do not know so much about Pop Art, but I’m sure you’ll do an excellent job of it.” And learning new things was always interesting. Perhaps he would look into it a little himself.

“All the new information I have learned of late is that apparently Victorians were overly invested in hiding messages within flowers. It is not very exciting. Unless, I suppose, you like hiding messages in flowers. I would tell you all about Leo Fender, but you have been to the museum, so it is likely it would be much of the same.”

“Yes,” Ezio chuckled, sloshing his remaining wine in the glass a bit. “It was during an era when being so flirtatious was frowned upon and to be anything more than subtle such a crime.” The flowers, that is. He knew about it too, and obviously Elijah had extra taken the lessons to heart since he so painstakingly picked out flowers for Ezio each time. It was endearing. “Though the Persians did it first.”

He set the glass down then, mostly finished with the chicken. Dessert (in all forms) was sounding good, and he didn’t want to stuff himself to capacity or anything. Then he would just be sluggish. But first there was something he needed to say - they promised not to talk about Elijah’s family (thank the saints) but talking about Ezio’s was probably on the list of acceptable topics.

“Bello,” he started, touching Elijah’s face, a swipe of Ezio’s thumb across his cheek along the bone. “Condividere qualcosa - I must share something.”

“I suppose I was as well, though...it’s hard to be entirely clear on that.” Because everything felt so disjointed. He remembered Mystic Falls and then Italy and England. Now New Orleans. “Well, thank you for the additional information. It’s a curious thing to consider what all the different meanings might have been.”

There were a lot of things to learn and now he had an indefinite amount of time to learn. He imagined he would know quite a lot as the years went on. He supposed that eventually he might actually end up as a historian and only end up stuffier than he already was.

But there was something that Ezio wanted to talk about, so Elijah nodded. “Of course.” He wasn’t sure what it was, but he was willing to listen. Especially when he had certainly spoken quite a lot about things that concerned him. He wanted to live up to what he’d said and be there if he had something he needed to talk about. “What is on your mind?”

The wine was drained completely then, and Ezio stood up from the table to begin bringing the dishes to the sink for a quick rinse before loading them into the washer. Elijah prepared dinner, but he didn’t need to do all the cleanup too. Even if he could likely accomplish it quickly with that insane speed of his.

“I have spoken to someone who is going to help me find who killed my brothers and father,” he said, turning the water on at the sink. “Once the culprits are found, then...I do not know. But I want to get closure from this somehow.” Honestly, it was a long time coming. The unresolved mystery of it, over the years, had been painful for the remaining Auditore family.

Elijah moved to follow him into the kitchen. Maybe he did not need to wash the dishes, but he would stand in the kitchen as Ezio did. He leaned against the counter, eyes trained on his lover. He hadn’t been sure what to expect exactly, but he hadn’t exactly expected that. Even if it made sense. Of course he would wish to learn more about it. Elijah could hardly fault him for wanting to know.

“Is there something you’d like to happen? Or is it that you just want to know who killed them?” Elijah could easily get rid of people if Ezio wanted or needed him to, but he was also capable of simply compelling them in some fashion if that was preferable. There was also the option of just being there no matter what happened. He could listen.

“I’d like to return the favor,” Ezio admitted darkly. “I want them to pay for what they did.” He had a feeling it was a hit on his father because of the situation with the economy - banks were under a lot of pressure back then, and it didn’t help that the murders happened and the police were obviously in on the coverup too. Well, he would have answers soon enough.

He closed the door to the dishwasher, all the leftovers put away as well. The dessert dishes could be added too, once they finished with that - whenever they got to actual dessert. Then he faced Elijah, fingers not hooked on his belt loops for once. Instead, Ezio’s arms slid around the vampire and he nuzzled at Elijah’s jaw with his nose. “Killing them will not bring my family back. But it will be justice for them, in a way.”

Elijah nodded at the words. He understood the feeling. Perhaps it wasn’t something to encourage, but he knew he couldn’t say anything. He would have done the same in the dreams. Probably out of them, but he was trying not to think about it too hard. “Whatever you decide, I will be here. If you need anything on my end, let me know. I have a feeling none of them have vervain flowing through their bloodstream and I have a particular skill set.” His usual feelings about compulsion did not apply in this situation. Some people deserved these things. Or that was what he was going to tell himself. He also wanted to make sure Ezio was okay during and after. But if he wanted to handle it on his own, he’d understand that as well.

“No. It will not, but…” He moved to press a kiss to Ezio’s forehead. “I hope that it will be healing in some way. If not...then it may be better to find something else. Once they are dead, there is no changing anything. Nothing done can be undone.” There was a pause as he considered what he’d just said. “But either way, I will be here for whatever you need.”

Some people did deserve what terrible things happened to them, it was true. With others, it was more a slippery slope - some people you could save, others you could not. Ezio didn’t really want the lines to be blurred too much though. He’d spent an inordinate amount of time committing political assassinations for the greater good, taking lives - part of him was afraid he’d fall down into that again if he went after his family’s killers. And that he wouldn’t be able to get back out.

“I do not want to be an Assassin, I did not choose the life in my dreams. I suppose I am afraid that by going for vengeance, I will end up the same,” Ezio admitted. “But perhaps I have already chosen it - there is a difference too. It was my choice this time.” Everything he did with Katherine and with Evie - that was all for the greater good, he thought. He could look back and say he wasn’t forced into it because of extenuating circumstances. Maybe then it wouldn’t bring him down so much, the way it had in another life.

“You may have chosen it. Just a little. We’ll keep it from going too far if that’s what you want.” It was hard to say whether they were able to fully separate themselves from the dreams. He did his best not to be entirely the man he was in the dreams. He’d once said that sometimes there was honor in revenge, but part of him wondered if that was not a way to make himself feel better about what he was going to do. Revenge was a messy business in that way. If you were emotionally affected enough, it was easy to make excuses for why whatever you were doing was right.

He studied Ezio’s face. “You are a good man. Perhaps not perfect, but no one is. Least of all me. I believe you will know the right decision when faced with it. I’ll keep both eyes open, though. Just in case.” He and Katherine kept him in line when he was being ridiculous in regards to his family. He could do the same for Ezio. “Just keep me in the loop.”

“No one is perfect,” Ezio smiled crookedly, a touch of melancholy to it. He just felt that way, whenever he talked about his family - obviously there were a lot of unresolved issues. And he was hoping that now he was at a good place where he could finally work on smoothing those over.

His hands slid down and he filled them with Elijah’s posterior, because ass-grabbing had to happen - it made Ezio purrrrr, such a big cat. Placated with wine and flowers and his lover’s ass. “Where is my dessert, bello?”

Elijah could not help but smile at the feeling of Ezio’s hands on his ass. “Demanding dessert, hm?” He didn’t immediately move, taking a moment to just stand there with his lover’s hands on his ass. “Okay. I think I can get it for you now, but you’re going to have to let go.” Not that he thought he was really going to have trouble moving...and he didn’t.

He had made the cream on Saturday, since it had to sit for 24 hours, but Freya had helped him with that. Kaymak was what they called it. He’d already prepared the apricots while he was making dinner, so they wouldn’t be terribly hot. First they’d been boiled to make them tender, then sauteed with butter, added a little sugar, satueed a little longer. He just needed to put everything together. The walnuts, the cream, the apricots were all put together. He’d added some pistachio over the cream, which he’d seen in the picture. Once he had some of it on a plate, he held it out to him, grabbing a fork to give to him as well. “I have to admit that I had a little help with the kaymak. I’ll pass on your compliments or concerns.”

Of course Ezio let go, but not without stealing kisses and groping - because he was shameless, and if Elijah couldn’t count on his partner groping him, then who could he count on? (Hopefully no one, because Ezio didn’t want him being groped by anyone else right now).

“Merda, that looks delicious,” he observed, heading into the living room to plop down onto the sofa and relax there - and when he actually tasted the concoction, his assessment was correct. “You may pass along my compliments readily, bello. If this was a person, I’d make dolce amore to it - but it’s not, so you’ll have to do instead.” Wink.

He inhaled it pretty quickly too. “Grazie,” he told Elijah, leaning in to press a kiss to his mouth - a literal sweet kiss, and he got some cream on Elijah’s upper lip which he gladly licked at with a chuckle.

No one else was groping him, so Ezio didn’t have to worry. He could evade unwanted groping easily. He was fairly content to be groped by Ezio alone.

Elijah was officially proud of himself (and Freya, she’d done her job of helping him better than he’d expected). “I will let her know. Paintings and dessert are the way to your heart, it seems. And into your pants. I am storing this information away for later, naturally.” A pause. “Though the paintings might be less often if only because they are expensive and there is only so much space.” Desserts were really more feasible. It was a jest, all the same.

“You’re welcome. I’m glad you enjoyed it.” Once he was all moved in, he figured it would be a lot easier to surprise Ezio with dinner every so often. Not that it would have been impossible before...it was just that he was thinking about it now. He gave him a kiss, nipping lightly at his lower lip. “Have I mentioned lately that I love you?” Each word was punctuated by a kiss, starting with his jaw and moving to his neck. “And not just because I get to substitute you for dessert.” Which was his way of asking if it was okay to feed from him. It was impolite to just bite into someone’s neck without even some warning.

“Not very lately, but I like when you tell me,” Ezio huffed a laugh - a vibration in his throat, something pleased. He exposed more of his neck to Elijah, helpfully, leaning back against the couch’s armrest, lying longways. If that was not an invitation to get on top of him and suck his blood, then nothing was.

He shifted to fit the man in between his legs, hugging Elijah’s sides with his thighs. “I love you too, ti amo con tutta l'anima,” he murmured, and it was a rare feat to get an Assassin on his back willingly (and with enough trust there). But he liked when Elijah was forward and a bit forceful, probably more than anything - it would have Ezio on his back in three seconds, really.

“I will try to remind you more often.” It was more than enough for Elijah to get the picture. Vampface was basically a necessary for this, but Ezio seemed particularly fond of it, so he didn’t shy away from it around him. It would have been a little difficult to suppress it. Perhaps a version of him had mastered the art, but he had not. He propped himself up with one arm, while he put a hand against one side of his neck. He pressed a quick kiss to his neck. He sunk his teeth in, eyes slipping closed. For all that he couldn’t taste food, he could taste everything in blood. Ezio, for the most part, usually tasted like whatever wine he’d been drinking. Today was no different.

He always made a point to listen to his heart rate. There was always the initial spike in heart rate, but it normalized after a while. Once it started to slow, he pulled back. If he lingered a little too long, he’d make up for it. All it took was a little bit of his blood and he’d be fine. Elijah would hate to leave him with unexplainable wounds and scars because of him. He bit his tongue and kissed Ezio.

At first Ezio’s grip was like steel - he scrunched at Elijah’s clothes out of both want and need, and a smattering of anticipation for what was to happen. But then when he was bitten and the blood flowed, he went limp and relaxed - fingers slackened, and he made a desperate kind of sound, a low moan right by Elijah’s ear. It was possible that he lingered too long, but Ezio didn’t really care - he trusted Elijah not to kill him, and always had. From the very first moment of reawakening as a vampire.

His eyes had darkened too, with lust, deeper and warmer. Heavy eyelids, heavy limbs. But he perked up slightly when Elijah kissed him - copper, that was what he tasted. And iron. Salt. It was what would help him clear his head from that fuzzy, cottony feeling so he didn’t break that kiss for awhile. Only when he needed to breathe, and only when he was sure his mouth was smeared with blood (and it dripped down his chin and onto his shirt too - merda, he should have taken that off first).

There was some color in his cheeks now, the pallor to him having faded away. “Fuck me.” He wasn’t asking nicely, either. It was a demand.

Elijah hadn’t intended to make a mess, but it was part of his nature, part of being a vampire. He’d replace the shirt if he had to. It was his mess. Not that it was much of a priority. The way Ezio looked in that moment, Elijah wasn’t sure he’d needed to say anything to make him want to fuck him, but since he’d told him to...well, of course he’d be obliging. But first, he leaned over and licked the blood off Ezio’s neck and chin, finishing with a kiss.

At least there was no need to worry about anyone walking in and surprising them. He considered just staying there, but leaned back, moving to pick him up and move them to the bedroom in the blink of an eye. Once there, he tossed him onto the bed and climbed onto the bed after him. His fingers worked quickly to unbutton Ezio’s pants and pull them down. “I am sorry about the shirt,” he murmured as he moved to pull it off. “I’ll remember to get you out of your shirt first next time.” For now, he needed to get himself out of his clothes and grab the lubricant.

There wasn’t a lot that needed to be done prepare Ezio, but it was a matter of being polite and maybe a hint of teasing. But not too much. Not when he’d made it clear that he wanted to be fucked. So he’d give him what he wanted.

“Gesù Cristo,” Ezio huffed, a little breathless from that trip over - he still got that way whenever Elijah literally blinked them somewhere. And perhaps it was considered inappropriate to bring religious blasphemy to a time and place where there would be fucking involved, but Ezio had never been all that religious to begin with.

It was warranted though, because one second he’d been reeling from having his blood drained and the next? He had a lover ready to go and witnessed a tornado of clothes. And it was obvious he was raring to go, since Elia had wasted no time with that extremely necessary lubricant either. Bless him.

In fact, Ezio even tried to get his wits about him but he didn’t think it would matter much, so he would just succumb to everything and potentially breaking this bed. They hadn’t broken one yet but, well. These things happened sometimes.