A medical emergency

[fadingworld]

A deep navy cloak hides his features and the more ornate tunic the courtesan usually wears to greet his clients. Mal hunches his shoulders and slides through the crowds hoping to avoid notice. He keeps his head down until he reaches the home of the doctor and wraps smartly on the door. "Open up," he calls in a voice that expects to be listened to.

How much time did he have? He could not have a client bleeding out. Not this one. Not one who had come to him for help, to be treated privately.

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[fadingworld]

Mal looks up, his heart thudding as he looks at the lustful gaze. He should do that again. Regis had enjoyed it. Mal's head dips down again, not knowing how else to proceed.

[mandragoraspiritus]

It's there again, like a shadow over Mal's expression, a tension in him. This time Regis does stop him, fingers under his chin tiling his head up and away. Regis sits up and with gentle movements coaxes Mal to do the same. Regis keeps him between his legs, sliding in closer until he can get his arms around the other man and kiss him tenderly. "Only is you yourself want it," he whispers against his lips.

[fadingworld]

There is a flicker of apprehension and then embarrassment in Mal's face as he is drawn up. This would count as a failure back in the Rose Thorn. He glances into Regis' eyes.


"I...don't know what I want," he whispers. "I only know that I want you."

[mandragoraspiritus]

There is no scorn in Regis' expression. To him, this was no failure. It is but a pause, a valuable pause, in which they interact and learn about each other.

He kisses him again, the fingers of one hand trailing lightly down the length of Mal's spine even as Regis shifts to move himself right up onto Mal's lap. "Would you permit me?" He asks, and there's a slow roll of his hips to indicate what he means.

[fadingworld]

Like this? Mal head shakes slightly from side to side. There is an edge of panic there. He can't! Carefully he puts a hand on Regis' chest.

"Perhaps," he says softly. "Perhaps...I should just finish you off today."

[mandragoraspiritus]

Regis gives a slow shake of his head but there is no rejection in him and there is no pushing. He stays where he is, now with a hand gently cupping Mal's cheek.

"There is no such thing as should here," he says softly. "I wish for your pleasure as well as my own, certainly not only for my own. The form that pleasure may take is of less consequence to me." He smiles at him. "If we stop here, I would feel no less honored and pleased about the evening. But if you would permit me, I would give us both more pleasure, in any way you would allow me."

[fadingworld]

Mal shuts his eyes. "For so long I have followed commands." He pauses and tries to put what he feels into words. "I don't know how to work it out without....direction."

He shakes his head. "Please," he says softly, "I know that is not your nature and I would no more have you do something to please me than you would me to please you. Let me step away and think through..and try to work it through in my mind so I can come with clearer mind the next time."

[mandragoraspiritus]

Regis doesn't move away right at once but he nods. "Certainly." He claims one more kiss from Mal's lips, lighter now, not as intense.

Then he does slide down from Mal's lap, sitting on the bed before him. He shows no sign of disappointment. There is none to show. "And Mal? Thank you for your honesty. It isn't easy but it is deeply appreciated."

[fadingworld]

Mal starts to soften as he looks at a spot on the bed. "I am sorry," he whispers softly, touching Regis' hand. "Let me bring you some pleasure, please."

[mandragoraspiritus]

Again Regis shakes his head, then takes Mal's hand and brings it up to press a kiss into his palm. "You have nothing to apologize for. Nothing at all."

[fadingworld]

It is the first time that Mal has ever really refused and it be accepted. It is more shocking moment than he realises. "Excuse me," he mumurs getting up to pick up his trousers and make a hasty exit before the tears come.

It's shocking and freeing all at once. It will make him stronger, when he accepts he really is in control and it is okay. Okay to feel, to want, and to figure out his own desires.

[mandragoraspiritus]

Regis hears Mal's sobs when they start. How can he not? Though it creates an ache in his chest and a deep wish to go to him and comfort him, he knows that for now he must let Mal be, to let him think and feel on his own, in his own pace.

He leaves the bed as well, pulling on his trousers and finding a new shirt from his closet, but he doesn't bother with any footwear. He isn't going anywhere. No, he will only wait.

[fadingworld]

Tears flow, Mal cannot check them but when the storm passes he feels calmer. He rises from the corner of his room and washes his face and straighten his hair back out. For the moment he shies away from how he's feeling to avoid feeling that edge of panic.

Quietly he pads back out to where their lesson had started and tidies up the bandanges, leaving the room neat and orderly before he reaches for the book to read. He can't ....he can't go back in there just yet.

[mandragoraspiritus]

There is one thing to be left alone to think and another to be left alone to brood. When it has been long enough for Regis to suspect that the later will start taking place he decides that it's time he sought Mal out.

He exits the bedroom and enters the study as smoke, coming flowing from under the door to drift through the room, gathering behind Mal. As he solidifies again first comes the scent fo petrichor and herbs before a pair of arms settle around Mal from behind.

[fadingworld]

Mal barely jumps. He turns the book over in his lap and rests his hands on Regis' arms. "Hello," he says softly, leaning back against him.

"I am truly sorry, I had no idea I would react like that. Are you okay?"

[mandragoraspiritus]

"You have nothing to apologize for, Mal," Regis tries to softly assure him, staying embracing Mal from behind like this. "If anything I am glad you were truthful. And, rather I wish to apologize, for moving too quickly."

[fadingworld]

"You didn't do anything more than I was asking for," Mal points out softly. "And with my history, well...it didn't seem like it should be complicated."

[mandragoraspiritus]

"Perhaps that is exactly why it would be," Regis muses softly. "I did not take it into consideration as I perhaps should have and for that I am sorry."

HE presses a light kiss to the side of Mal's neck before he moves around form behind him, so that they can better be face to face. "But there is both time and will, I dare say, to overcome any obstacles."

[fadingworld]

"There is nothing to forgive," Mal rises and immediately folds Regis into a large warm hug. He will not let the man feel downhearted or worried. Not when he had and continued to show such understanding.

"I do trust you completely... I just don't quite trust myself."

[mandragoraspiritus]

"You will find that in yourself, of that I have no doubt," Regis says, having folded his arms around the other man to return that hug. "I do feel both trust and pride in you."

[fadingworld]

Mal tilts his head up and presses a quick, soft kiss to Regis' lips. "Kissing," he murmurs, "I have no problem with." And there is pride in his eyes that Regis accepts and likes him.

"Could you...could you help me to work out the rest? Please?"

[mandragoraspiritus]

"I would be glad to," Regis truthfully assures. There will be some stumbling on the way, of that he's sure, but they will overcome it.

"As for tonight, would you let me stay beside you while you sleep?"

[fadingworld]

Mal's eyes regain a great deal of their happy glow at that idea. This is something he can agree to without reservation "I would love that a great deal," he says contentedly. "It is very comfortable when you are there."

[mandragoraspiritus]

The light in Mal's eyes draws a wider smile onto Regis' face. "Then that is what we will do." Regis may not need that much sleep, but he does think he will stay with Mal regardless.

[fadingworld]

Mal gives his positive emotions freely to Regis, wrapping his with warmth mentally and physically. "May I rest my head in your lap again? I know was drunk when I did that, but it was such a lovely position to wake up in. Especially when I looked straight up into your face."