[ If Dice were to voice the idea of their being together for a long time, Gentaro would agree. He might be a thief, but no one has ever captured his heart like Dice has. He'll move heaven and earth to make him happy and protect him. In spite of everything, Dice is still here, still smiling, still warm and earnest.
He admires that deeply.
Gentaro kisses his hand again, then smiles. ]
If you feel up to it, yes. Though, would you like a change of clothes before we do anything?
[ He had--with some nervous fumbling--changed Dice's clothes, and dressed him in a tunic and loose pants. He couldn't treat his wounds otherwise, and he thinks his old clothes would be a terrible reminder. ]
I don't think I want to sit still anymore. I might be a little unsteady on my feet, though. We'll have to try it to find out.
[He runs a hand through his hair, a charming nervous habit he only ever showed around Gentaro.
Oh, his clothes have been changed, haven't they. Well, that's...]
My legs feel slightly like I've been trudging through sand. That said... dress me to blend in with your men, or with your closest confidant. I don't want to stand out too much.
[ He doesn't blame Dice at all for feeling restless. He would, too. Besides, he doesn't want to underestimate Dice. Despite Dice's belief that he's weak, Gentaro knows he's more than strong enough.
He nods and kisses him, soft and sweet, then stands. His closest confidant... he doesn't dare admit that it's Dice. Later, perhaps.
But the present. Gentaro fetches an outfit that should fit Dice. It's a deep green, easy to move in, and Gentaro thinks it'll easily flatter Dice... as if he needed help. He offers the outfit. ]
I'll stand watch while you change. Do let me know if it doesn't fit.
[He feels like the sorrow and fear still lingering in him is going to claw its way out if he doesn't walk it off. It's soothed a little again by Gentaro's affection, the only balm he thinks could possibly heal him at this point. Why does he have such a loyal, good friend? No. They're more than friends now. A man and his savior, in Dice's eyes, but already lovers in Dice's heart. It's only a miracle that heart didn't betray him prior to the coup.
Waiting patiently for Gentaro to return with clothes, Dice takes stock of the room he's in. It's... nice. Nicer than he imagined a thieves' hideout might be. He wonders, thinking of thieves, if Gentaro still has the bracelet he gave him when they first met, the one Gentaro had boldly tried to steal from a disguised Dice. The exchange that had launched them down this path.
Well, they'll get to walk it together now.
He smiles faintly when Gentaro returns, trying not to show the trepidation that'd begun to creep in upon registering that he was alone.]
I'll make the best of it.
[He takes the clothing and changes carefully, if a bit slowly. It's clear that he's still sore and aching, still tired from being asleep for so long, but he manages to dress without too much other trouble. It's not fashionable, to Dice, but that doesn't matter. He's comfortable, and once again that familiar smell lingers...]
[ He definitely has the bracelet. It's one of his most precious possessions, because of the meaning that it carries. That day is a fond memory. Until meeting Dice, he'd simply existed, stealing to live--and being incredibly good at it--and haunting cities and towns that would never want him.
He didn't know what it felt like to live until he'd met Dice. Gentaro isn't pleased about the reason he's here, but still. He vows to make his life as good as he can.
He returns after a few moments, because he knows the solitude, no matter how brief, had to have been difficult. And while Gentaro has seen him near-naked, he turns to give him a bit of privacy. Fleetingly, he hopes that at some point he can admire him fully instead of working quickly to make sure Dice hadn't bled out or developed an infection.
That thought is dashed away, and he turns back to him. Dice is breathtaking, even if he doesn't consider it fashionable. Seeing him in those clothes makes his heart ache, but his question piques his curiosity. He tilts his head slightly. ]
Like what? Perhaps you have a much more sensitive nose than I do.
[Dice looks away, laughing faintly. Gentaro makes him feel like a bigger mess than he ever thought possible.]
Sorry, like... like wood, and a slightly sweet flower. Plum blossoms?
[There goes his hand through his hair again.]
I always assumed it was cologne or something. It makes me think of you.
[He'd stare out of his bedroom window every morning at a nearby plum tree just waiting for it to bloom. And when it finally did, he had a few weeks of bliss.]
[ Ah. Gentaro clears his throat gently as he feels heat creep across his cheeks. Dice isn't alone in feeling like a mess. Gentaro is just much better at hiding it. Practice makes perfect, and all that. ]
I've never noticed a scent like that.
[ He suddenly feels so much younger, but-- maybe that's not a terrible thing. He needs to recover, though, so as he walks over to join him, he gives a playful smile. He adjusts the collar of Dice's tunic; unintentionally, his fingers brush lightly against his neck. ]
Hmm, perhaps I should assign you to go around sniffing everything you can.
As embarrassing as the sound he makes when Gentaro's fingers brush his skin. He takes Gentaro's hand in his own and brings it to his cheek, eyes closing.]
I've foiled poisonings with it. But I could've sworn you smelled just like the tree outside of my window.
[Turning his head, he nuzzles Gentaro's palm, breathing him in.]
Gentaro's breath catches softly, but as close as they are, it's more than audible. He gently brushes his thumb over his cheek, looking at him with something close to wonder. And that sound--
He's never going to forget that. Gentaro wraps his arm around Dice, holding him close. ]
It was as if I were there with you. [ He kisses his cheek. ] Plum blossoms... I'd never thought of myself with such a delicate scent.
[Dice turns his head toward Gentaro, his heart aching. It's frightening being held so dear, but it really is all he ever wanted out of life. He delicately rests his nose against Gentaro's, tipping his head so their foreheads meet.]
I would've done almost anything to be by your side.
[Even though he said he wanted to go look around, he wouldn't actually mind spending the rest of the day in Gentaro's arms instead. That had been an attempt at being brave, at showing that he wasn't afraid of the world. But... maybe he is. Gentaro feels so safe.]
[ Gentaro had thought he couldn't possibly fall any harder for him. He draws in a breath, one that's gently shaking. Gentaro might have brought Dice back from the brink of death, but Dice has saved him, too.
He closes his eyes, soaking in Dice's warmth and strength. It's as if the world has shrunk down to just them, and Gentaro's just fine with that. ]
And now you're here, by my side.
[ He opens his eyes, gazing at him with affection and warmth and love. His cheeks are still a bit pink, especially with Dice being so sweet, but he leans in and kisses him. ]
I wrote poetry about you. I wrote music in your honor. No one ever knew. You're the most incredible thing.
[A sigh.]
And so, so beautiful that it makes my heart ache.
[Even now, even this close. Dice kisses Gentaro after that note, softly, sweetly as he can manage, but it doesn't quite stay that way. It's a little laced with sorrow, a little desperate for the belonging he's being offered. It becomes delicately passionate, like he's trying to be polite about how much he wants to stay close and never be forgotten.]
[ Gentaro knows they were foolish to do what they did. But this-- it emphasizes that even more. Dice is truly one of a kind, gentle and sweet, and warmer than the sun.
His heart thumps in his chest, and for once, words escape him. Even if he could find the words, Dice steals the air from his lungs. He has no intention of pushing things past his comfort, but he's never been kissed like this. He's been kissed plenty of times, but this is much different. That sorrow--Gentaro doesn't miss it, nor does he miss that desperation. And Gentaro is so very weak for him.
What else can he do besides kiss him back? Gentaro matches that passion easily as he slides his hand into his hair and cradles the back of his head. He keeps his arm around Dice, firm and with no intention of letting him go. His composure is being shattered, but he doesn't care. In this moment, Dice is the only thing that matters. ]
[It may be difficult to pull the propriety from him entirely, but Dice all but folds into Gentaro's embrace. He wants to fall apart and get lost again, only this time in love and sweet adoration, rather than in mortal peril. Even if this is dangerous in its own way, and even if he fears he'll be a liability, he wants Gentaro for his own. He'd go through it all again, he realizes, knowing that this lay in wait on the other side.
There will be difficult days and harder nights, but he'll make it through them with Gentaro's help. With his love. And he'll pay him back with all the devoted affection he's been cultivating for these precious months.]
I love you.
[A murmur, a whisper as he slides an arm around Gentaro's shoulders and neck to lean into him more. He imagines he'll have to ask Gentaro to teach him to kiss the right way, the recklessly passionate way. He knows Gentaro has a lot to teach him besides that, of course, but... he wants to start with things he knows he can master quickly, right now. Let survival skills and crime be lessons for other days. Today is for the two of them.]
[ Three words-- three words, and they make his heart race faster than anything else. He had never thought of himself as someone worthy or deserving of such open, sweet, gentle love, but here he is.
Gentaro's luck is not always the best, but right now, he feels like he's the luckiest man in the world. It's thrilling and precious, this love, and he resolves to never, ever break or squander it. ]
And I love you.
[ He holds Dice close, then laughs softly. ]
Was I not going to give you a tour? Then again, I would hardly complain about spending the day with you, just like this.
[Somehow it makes Dice ache even more to hear the sentiment returned again, and he takes in a slow, shuddering breath. He's always been a believer in luck and fortune above everything else, and he clings to this, believing he's only alive because he was lucky enough to meet the right people. After all, if he'd never met Gentaro, he wouldn't be alive right now at all. He would have let the knife go right into his heart without a fight.]
Ah, right... I wouldn't mind the tour, since I asked for it. [Sheepish:] I need to start my new life off right, though, don't I?
[He sighs, though, and eases back a little, in case Gentaro wants to let go.]
I'm still tired, but my body is sick of being still, too. Yet I'd spend the rest of the month just recovering in your arms, if I could.
Gentaro is, admittedly, a little thrown by how he says things like that so easily. It makes his heart race. Spending time together, just the two of them, talking and stealing kisses-- it sounds absolutely wonderful.
He touches his cheek, and while he doesn't want to let go, he does. Somewhat. Gentaro slips his hand in Dice's, fitting his fingers through his. With a smile, he kisses the back of it. ]
It isn't necessary to do too much all at once. I will show you around, but little by little. That may help you recover your stamina, too.
[ He understands the desire to barrel onward despite one's limits, but he won't let Dice drown when he can prevent it. ]
It will be no good for anyone if you push yourself too far so soon.
[He smiles again, softly but with a little less reservation. Gentaro won't let him flounder. He'll be his lifeline even now.]
I don't even know what time it is, admittedly.
[He looks around the room again, like there will be something to tell the time. That's when he realizes there's no window. Gentaro must have him somewhere truly safe.]
...You think of everything. What are you going to do with a fool like me by your side?
[He says that, but his mind is full of nothing but gentle thoughts where Gentaro is concerned. How their hands fit together just so. How he's sure he'll get addicted to the lips he'd only dreamed of before today.]
[ It's true, he has chosen the safest place he can imagine. It's the sort of place that's tucked in the corners of a winding system of tunnels, and this place in particular--his living quarters, while he's in this corner of the world, where he wouldn't mind staying, if Dice is amenable (and he wouldn't at all blame him if he'd rather leave and never look back)--is one that no one ever goes into.
No one, aside from Dice. ]
I am sure I'll figure it out, since I plan on keeping you.
[ He's teasing, but it's the kind of soft, gentle teasing that he so often employs around Dice. ]
It should be late afternoon.
[ He squeezes Dice's hand, then leads him further into the back. Gentaro has plenty of shortcuts only he knows. He chooses to show Dice, because there's no one he trusts more, and if they're going to be together, he sees no reason to keep these passages a secret.
Gentaro's a little worried about how to get out, though, on account of Dice's condition. He stops at a ladder. Fortunately, it doesn't reach too high up, and it's wide enough to accommodate them both. ]
This is the quickest way to the surface. It involves a bit of climbing, but I will match your pace. If you feel unsteady during our ascent, tell me immediately.
[It's getting late in the day, then, for people who don't live in the luxury of a palace. Dice wonders just how much time Gentaro has wasted waiting by his side. He catches on quickly to the fact that this is Gentaro's home, his hidden-away part of an already hidden-away encampment, one Dice found only by sheer miraculous luck. No one would bother them down here, and Dice looks up at the ladder with trepidation.
Does he want to go back to the surface of the world, where he's a wanted man and hated by his family?
He shoves that aside after a lengthy silence, one hand on the ladder.]
If you're hoping I'll just fall back down into your arms... your wish might just come true. But I need to use these muscles before they get any weaker.
[He glances back, beaming.] You have to make a fighter out of me, don't you? So I'll start my training right away.
[ Gentaro's really in a great deal of trouble. He'd known Dice was charming, but this is on a completely different level. He lets out a low, amused laugh, mirroring Dice by taking hold of the ladder. ]
Oh? You underestimate me, Dice. [ He leans over and kisses his cheek, then murmurs softly, a secret between two terribly lonely people who have found a home in each other-- ] I will never give you a chance to fall.
[ He pulls back, searching Dice's face. He doesn't doubt he wants to get started right away, but he doesn't intend to throw him out of the frying pan into the fire. He prides himself on his restraint, after all, even as a thief. ]
Hmm, I'll have to create a specialized regimen just for you. But that is for later. I have something special to show you, and it should be just about time for it.
[ He'll wait until Dice starts climbing before following, of course. When it comes to him, Gentaro is more than happy to follow his lead. ]
[Oh, that gets Dice right in the heart. Gentaro has been a smooth talker from the start, but that hits Dice in a way he can't combat. The soft kiss to his cheek, the secretive voice... He's hooked. He's been hooked, but this is beyond that. It makes him wonder if he'll be in Gentaro's arms again sooner rather than later.
Carefully, he makes his way up the ladder, his progress halting and difficult at first. It's not the longest of ladders, so once he's done, he's done, but somehow getting up from that last rung to the floor above takes Gentaro's help.
Yet he's motivated. He simply must see this secret special something that Gentaro has in mind. Perhaps a bit too boldly, he reaches for Gentaro's hand, eager to hold something grounding the moment he hears other voices from afar.]
[ Gentaro notices, because he's been attuned to Dice from the beginning. He climbs up to the ground and takes his hand without hesitation. There's undeniable strength in his grip and in the way he easily pulls him up, then wraps him up in an embrace.
How proud he is, seeing Dice like this.
He doesn't miss the voices, though. Gentaro knows it must be jarring, because Dice doesn't know his men's voices. ]
They won't hurt us. Those voices belong to my men.
[ He drops a kiss to Dice's forehead, then slides a plate into place to conceal the entrance. It's pretty convincing, too; it blends in with the grass. Around the area, yellow tulips grow, inconspicuous with the rest of the flowers around. ]
You did well, Dice. If you need a rest, we can stay here for a moment or several.
[When he settles down and takes a look around, Dice notes that the area is beautiful. It's idyllic, really. It makes him feel a pang for the gardens at the palace, one of the few places he enjoyed--especially when he'd sneak Gentaro in. Maybe this will be their garden now.
Taking a deep breath, and one last look around, he finally turns his attention back to Gentaro. He can't help a slightly tense smile.]
No. I'm ready. Show me everything.
[He has no doubt that some of Gentaro's men will recognize him, and that some may even give him a hard time due to his background. He's honestly not prepared for that inevitability, but it beats being dead, so... he's fine. He's fine, and he'll try to rely on Gentaro only when he absolutely must.]
[ Luckily for Dice, Gentaro has already been very firm with his men. He understands the disdain for royalty, but Dice has never been like that. He'd issued a harsh warning: Treat Dice even the tiniest bit poorly, and there will be serious consequences.
But, anyway. Gentaro stands and helps him up, then leads him into the forest. ]
It's a place I've wanted to show you for some time. No moment ever seemed right, but now is the perfect time.
[ Late afternoon gives way to twilight. He leads him to a small clearing tucked away between a thick copse of trees. More importantly, there's a small cliff. Gentaro knows it's safe here; it's one of those areas that's largely hidden away. ]
Look there.
[ He intertwines their fingers as he looks toward the horizon. What they see is the sunset, blue shot through with pink and purple and orange. ]
I come here often to clear my head and watch. Despite how cruel the world is-- [ and he looks at Dice now] --there is beauty to be found.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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He admires that deeply.
Gentaro kisses his hand again, then smiles. ]
If you feel up to it, yes. Though, would you like a change of clothes before we do anything?
[ He had--with some nervous fumbling--changed Dice's clothes, and dressed him in a tunic and loose pants. He couldn't treat his wounds otherwise, and he thinks his old clothes would be a terrible reminder. ]
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[He runs a hand through his hair, a charming nervous habit he only ever showed around Gentaro.
Oh, his clothes have been changed, haven't they. Well, that's...]
My legs feel slightly like I've been trudging through sand. That said... dress me to blend in with your men, or with your closest confidant. I don't want to stand out too much.
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He nods and kisses him, soft and sweet, then stands. His closest confidant... he doesn't dare admit that it's Dice. Later, perhaps.
But the present. Gentaro fetches an outfit that should fit Dice. It's a deep green, easy to move in, and Gentaro thinks it'll easily flatter Dice... as if he needed help. He offers the outfit. ]
I'll stand watch while you change. Do let me know if it doesn't fit.
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Waiting patiently for Gentaro to return with clothes, Dice takes stock of the room he's in. It's... nice. Nicer than he imagined a thieves' hideout might be. He wonders, thinking of thieves, if Gentaro still has the bracelet he gave him when they first met, the one Gentaro had boldly tried to steal from a disguised Dice. The exchange that had launched them down this path.
Well, they'll get to walk it together now.
He smiles faintly when Gentaro returns, trying not to show the trepidation that'd begun to creep in upon registering that he was alone.]
I'll make the best of it.
[He takes the clothing and changes carefully, if a bit slowly. It's clear that he's still sore and aching, still tired from being asleep for so long, but he manages to dress without too much other trouble. It's not fashionable, to Dice, but that doesn't matter. He's comfortable, and once again that familiar smell lingers...]
There.
[He looks down as he adjusts the belt.]
Does everything here smell like this?
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He didn't know what it felt like to live until he'd met Dice. Gentaro isn't pleased about the reason he's here, but still. He vows to make his life as good as he can.
He returns after a few moments, because he knows the solitude, no matter how brief, had to have been difficult. And while Gentaro has seen him near-naked, he turns to give him a bit of privacy. Fleetingly, he hopes that at some point he can admire him fully instead of working quickly to make sure Dice hadn't bled out or developed an infection.
That thought is dashed away, and he turns back to him. Dice is breathtaking, even if he doesn't consider it fashionable. Seeing him in those clothes makes his heart ache, but his question piques his curiosity. He tilts his head slightly. ]
Like what? Perhaps you have a much more sensitive nose than I do.
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[Dice looks away, laughing faintly. Gentaro makes him feel like a bigger mess than he ever thought possible.]
Sorry, like... like wood, and a slightly sweet flower. Plum blossoms?
[There goes his hand through his hair again.]
I always assumed it was cologne or something. It makes me think of you.
[He'd stare out of his bedroom window every morning at a nearby plum tree just waiting for it to bloom. And when it finally did, he had a few weeks of bliss.]
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I've never noticed a scent like that.
[ He suddenly feels so much younger, but-- maybe that's not a terrible thing. He needs to recover, though, so as he walks over to join him, he gives a playful smile. He adjusts the collar of Dice's tunic; unintentionally, his fingers brush lightly against his neck. ]
Hmm, perhaps I should assign you to go around sniffing everything you can.
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As embarrassing as the sound he makes when Gentaro's fingers brush his skin. He takes Gentaro's hand in his own and brings it to his cheek, eyes closing.]
I've foiled poisonings with it. But I could've sworn you smelled just like the tree outside of my window.
[Turning his head, he nuzzles Gentaro's palm, breathing him in.]
It kept me going.
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Gentaro's breath catches softly, but as close as they are, it's more than audible. He gently brushes his thumb over his cheek, looking at him with something close to wonder. And that sound--
He's never going to forget that. Gentaro wraps his arm around Dice, holding him close. ]
It was as if I were there with you. [ He kisses his cheek. ] Plum blossoms... I'd never thought of myself with such a delicate scent.
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I would've done almost anything to be by your side.
[Even though he said he wanted to go look around, he wouldn't actually mind spending the rest of the day in Gentaro's arms instead. That had been an attempt at being brave, at showing that he wasn't afraid of the world. But... maybe he is. Gentaro feels so safe.]
They're beautiful, just like you are.
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He closes his eyes, soaking in Dice's warmth and strength. It's as if the world has shrunk down to just them, and Gentaro's just fine with that. ]
And now you're here, by my side.
[ He opens his eyes, gazing at him with affection and warmth and love. His cheeks are still a bit pink, especially with Dice being so sweet, but he leans in and kisses him. ]
Beautiful, hm...? That makes both of us, then.
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[He smiles.]
I wrote poetry about you. I wrote music in your honor. No one ever knew. You're the most incredible thing.
[A sigh.]
And so, so beautiful that it makes my heart ache.
[Even now, even this close. Dice kisses Gentaro after that note, softly, sweetly as he can manage, but it doesn't quite stay that way. It's a little laced with sorrow, a little desperate for the belonging he's being offered. It becomes delicately passionate, like he's trying to be polite about how much he wants to stay close and never be forgotten.]
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His heart thumps in his chest, and for once, words escape him. Even if he could find the words, Dice steals the air from his lungs. He has no intention of pushing things past his comfort, but he's never been kissed like this. He's been kissed plenty of times, but this is much different. That sorrow--Gentaro doesn't miss it, nor does he miss that desperation. And Gentaro is so very weak for him.
What else can he do besides kiss him back? Gentaro matches that passion easily as he slides his hand into his hair and cradles the back of his head. He keeps his arm around Dice, firm and with no intention of letting him go. His composure is being shattered, but he doesn't care. In this moment, Dice is the only thing that matters. ]
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There will be difficult days and harder nights, but he'll make it through them with Gentaro's help. With his love. And he'll pay him back with all the devoted affection he's been cultivating for these precious months.]
I love you.
[A murmur, a whisper as he slides an arm around Gentaro's shoulders and neck to lean into him more. He imagines he'll have to ask Gentaro to teach him to kiss the right way, the recklessly passionate way. He knows Gentaro has a lot to teach him besides that, of course, but... he wants to start with things he knows he can master quickly, right now. Let survival skills and crime be lessons for other days. Today is for the two of them.]
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Gentaro's luck is not always the best, but right now, he feels like he's the luckiest man in the world. It's thrilling and precious, this love, and he resolves to never, ever break or squander it. ]
And I love you.
[ He holds Dice close, then laughs softly. ]
Was I not going to give you a tour? Then again, I would hardly complain about spending the day with you, just like this.
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Ah, right... I wouldn't mind the tour, since I asked for it. [Sheepish:] I need to start my new life off right, though, don't I?
[He sighs, though, and eases back a little, in case Gentaro wants to let go.]
I'm still tired, but my body is sick of being still, too. Yet I'd spend the rest of the month just recovering in your arms, if I could.
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Gentaro is, admittedly, a little thrown by how he says things like that so easily. It makes his heart race. Spending time together, just the two of them, talking and stealing kisses-- it sounds absolutely wonderful.
He touches his cheek, and while he doesn't want to let go, he does. Somewhat. Gentaro slips his hand in Dice's, fitting his fingers through his. With a smile, he kisses the back of it. ]
It isn't necessary to do too much all at once. I will show you around, but little by little. That may help you recover your stamina, too.
[ He understands the desire to barrel onward despite one's limits, but he won't let Dice drown when he can prevent it. ]
It will be no good for anyone if you push yourself too far so soon.
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I don't even know what time it is, admittedly.
[He looks around the room again, like there will be something to tell the time. That's when he realizes there's no window. Gentaro must have him somewhere truly safe.]
...You think of everything. What are you going to do with a fool like me by your side?
[He says that, but his mind is full of nothing but gentle thoughts where Gentaro is concerned. How their hands fit together just so. How he's sure he'll get addicted to the lips he'd only dreamed of before today.]
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[ It's true, he has chosen the safest place he can imagine. It's the sort of place that's tucked in the corners of a winding system of tunnels, and this place in particular--his living quarters, while he's in this corner of the world, where he wouldn't mind staying, if Dice is amenable (and he wouldn't at all blame him if he'd rather leave and never look back)--is one that no one ever goes into.
No one, aside from Dice. ]
I am sure I'll figure it out, since I plan on keeping you.
[ He's teasing, but it's the kind of soft, gentle teasing that he so often employs around Dice. ]
It should be late afternoon.
[ He squeezes Dice's hand, then leads him further into the back. Gentaro has plenty of shortcuts only he knows. He chooses to show Dice, because there's no one he trusts more, and if they're going to be together, he sees no reason to keep these passages a secret.
Gentaro's a little worried about how to get out, though, on account of Dice's condition. He stops at a ladder. Fortunately, it doesn't reach too high up, and it's wide enough to accommodate them both. ]
This is the quickest way to the surface. It involves a bit of climbing, but I will match your pace. If you feel unsteady during our ascent, tell me immediately.
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Does he want to go back to the surface of the world, where he's a wanted man and hated by his family?
He shoves that aside after a lengthy silence, one hand on the ladder.]
If you're hoping I'll just fall back down into your arms... your wish might just come true. But I need to use these muscles before they get any weaker.
[He glances back, beaming.] You have to make a fighter out of me, don't you? So I'll start my training right away.
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Oh? You underestimate me, Dice. [ He leans over and kisses his cheek, then murmurs softly, a secret between two terribly lonely people who have found a home in each other-- ] I will never give you a chance to fall.
[ He pulls back, searching Dice's face. He doesn't doubt he wants to get started right away, but he doesn't intend to throw him out of the frying pan into the fire. He prides himself on his restraint, after all, even as a thief. ]
Hmm, I'll have to create a specialized regimen just for you. But that is for later. I have something special to show you, and it should be just about time for it.
[ He'll wait until Dice starts climbing before following, of course. When it comes to him, Gentaro is more than happy to follow his lead. ]
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Carefully, he makes his way up the ladder, his progress halting and difficult at first. It's not the longest of ladders, so once he's done, he's done, but somehow getting up from that last rung to the floor above takes Gentaro's help.
Yet he's motivated. He simply must see this secret special something that Gentaro has in mind. Perhaps a bit too boldly, he reaches for Gentaro's hand, eager to hold something grounding the moment he hears other voices from afar.]
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How proud he is, seeing Dice like this.
He doesn't miss the voices, though. Gentaro knows it must be jarring, because Dice doesn't know his men's voices. ]
They won't hurt us. Those voices belong to my men.
[ He drops a kiss to Dice's forehead, then slides a plate into place to conceal the entrance. It's pretty convincing, too; it blends in with the grass. Around the area, yellow tulips grow, inconspicuous with the rest of the flowers around. ]
You did well, Dice. If you need a rest, we can stay here for a moment or several.
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Taking a deep breath, and one last look around, he finally turns his attention back to Gentaro. He can't help a slightly tense smile.]
No. I'm ready. Show me everything.
[He has no doubt that some of Gentaro's men will recognize him, and that some may even give him a hard time due to his background. He's honestly not prepared for that inevitability, but it beats being dead, so... he's fine. He's fine, and he'll try to rely on Gentaro only when he absolutely must.]
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But, anyway. Gentaro stands and helps him up, then leads him into the forest. ]
It's a place I've wanted to show you for some time. No moment ever seemed right, but now is the perfect time.
[ Late afternoon gives way to twilight. He leads him to a small clearing tucked away between a thick copse of trees. More importantly, there's a small cliff. Gentaro knows it's safe here; it's one of those areas that's largely hidden away. ]
Look there.
[ He intertwines their fingers as he looks toward the horizon. What they see is the sunset, blue shot through with pink and purple and orange. ]
I come here often to clear my head and watch. Despite how cruel the world is-- [ and he looks at Dice now] --there is beauty to be found.
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