Aaron

[alcuin]

When Alcuin had gotten a second phone, aware now that Hannibal was using his to track his location, he'd given Aaron the number. And it was on that one that Aaron had texted him to check in on him, and suggested he come to tea.

Alcuin left his other phone in his room at the brothel, and quietly slipped out one evening, and went to the chapel. He felt anxious, still. Guilty. But he did feel better than the last time he'd been here.

Comments

[quitollis]

Aaron couldn't help it, he still felt something here. He wasn't going to deny it. But the offer of tea was genuine. He enjoyed Alcuin's company and he just wanted to know if he was alright.

He was dressed in jeans and s plain shirt and opened the door. "Alcuin, hello. Good to see you," he said and let him in.

[alcuin]

Alcuin smiled at him, relaxing a little. "Thank you, Aaron," he said. "It is... it's good to see you, too."

[quitollis]

The smile was good to see, considering how they'd last met. (Though ig was still concerning that he needed a second phone to avoid detection.)

"I'm glad you accepted the invite. Come through, the tea is boiling and... I bought sweets."

[alcuin]

"I wasn't sure I'd hear from you again," Alcuin confessed as he stepped inside. "It wouldn't have been unreasonable for you to um, change your mind about how you felt about the situation once you had some time to think on it."

[quitollis]

"I've had a lot of time, yes," Aaron said. "And, I think I would rather have you in my life than not. So... tea seemed a good place to start."

[alcuin]

"I'm touched," Alcuin said softly. "Truly. Though I'm not sure if I deserve it."

[quitollis]

"Yet you came here," Aaron said gently.

[alcuin]

“I suppose I… hoped,” Alcuin said awkwardly.

[quitollis]

"We can talk about it, if you like," Aaron suggested. "Last time was perhaps not appropriate for that. I'm glad to see you in better spirits."

[alcuin]

Alcuin wasn’t entirely sure what to say and finally settled on, “I’m not working at the brothel anymore.”

[quitollis]

"Oh?" Aaron said, surprised, relieved, and wondering why. "What happened?"

[alcuin]

“Oh, I just. Um.” Alcuin looked a touch uncomfortable. “I realized I didn’t want to have sex with people that I didn’t want to have sex with, anymore.”

[quitollis]

"And Hannibal was alright with that?" Aaron asked, instantly concerned.

[alcuin]

“Well I don’t think he was thrilled with the decision but it’s not as if he was going to force me,” Alcuin said.

[quitollis]

Not overtly, probably, Aaron thought, but kept it to himself as much as he could. "I don't know him very well at all, but... I wasn't sure he would take a 'no' very lightly. I'm glad it went well."

[alcuin]

"I'm not sure I would say things are going... well," Alcuin said. "But it's fine." He looked down at his hands. "I mean. I've barely spoken to him since."

[quitollis]

"Maybe... that's not such a bad thing?" Aaron tried. "If you're looking for your own voice, then... hearing his a little less might be good."

[alcuin]

"Perhaps," said Alcuin, and sat down at the table with the tea. He almost added that he couldn't remember the last time he'd gone this long without sex, but though better of it. He also didn't add that he missed Hannibal.

[quitollis]

It was so evident that Alcuin loved Hannibal that it wasn't nessacery for him to say he missed him. "Does he not want to talk to you anymore?"

[alcuin]

“I think he’s giving me space,” Alcuin said quietly. “And I haven’t been trying to close it.”

[quitollis]

Aaron joined him and put the sweets he'd bought on the table. It didn't seem like much, but it was huge for Aaron, who was always reluctant to indulge or spend money on anything that wasn't with purpose

"Are you scared to?" He asked carefully.

[alcuin]

"Scared? I don't know that I'd use that word. I mean not... scared that he'd hurt me or anything like that. Though okay, maybe a little scared that things have changed for good, that there's no going back. Maybe I don't want to find out."

[quitollis]

"It can be scary, standing on your own two feet, but... it's better in the long run. You'll grow as an individual."

[alcuin]

"I would like to be able to disentangle my relationship with him from... work," Alcuin said. "I thought perhaps getting another job might help. I have a sort of um, lingering offer to help from someone, but I think it's a job that Hannibal would not care for."

[quitollis]

"That... would be a very good idea, I think," Aaron said. "And... perhaps it doesn't matter that Hannibal might not like it. It's your choice, after all. May I ask what it is?"