LOREN
The other man had a nice smile, the Launceleyn decided. However, he didn't have long to enjoy it, because at Abasi’s question, Loren couldn’t help himself. He laughed at the absurdity of the words and of the situation, the sound breathless and bright and joyful and kind. Indeed, there was nothing in it that should give the other man any reason to think that the summoner might be laughing at Abasi instead of with him. Except for the fact that it was laughter, that was. However, the other man’s question was so ridiculous and sweet in its own way and there’d been so much tension in Loren for so long that his emotions needed an outlet.When it subsided, the Launceleyn smiled gently and maybe a little apologetically, their bodies still pressed together. He returned his hand to his own lap, figuring he should keep it to himself until he’d gotten confirmation that it would be okay. Obviously he only wanted to do this, assuming the other man was willing as well. Something had given him pause, though, so they should make sure they were on the same page. While Loren wasn’t that skilled at seduction or love, maybe even he had more experience than Abasi did. Perhaps that was all this was. Gods let that be all this was, a momentary bout of uncertainty, a request for clarity.
Because that Loren could provide. ”I was hoping that, yes.” Rather than sultry or sensual, the summoner’s voice came out softly, but with a great deal of hopeful innocence in it. In this arena, in this moment, he wasn’t the powerful Launceleyn or the broken human: he was just a man asking another man if it was okay. If the other man liked Loren, at least a little. If they could share something together that the Launceleyn had shared with very few people, while darkness and monsters lurked outside. Live a little, while they still had the chance. Maybe that lack of confidence would kill the mood, but the summoner didn’t know any other way to be.
Still, Abasi had been nothing but honest since Loren had met the other man, sometimes even bluntly so. And Loren was speaking the honest truth. That had to count for something. ”But only if you want that too. And it doesn't have to be sexual. We can just lay here if you'd prefer, whatever you're comfortable with.” All Abasi had to do was say no and the summoner would walk away, and probably never speak of this again.
However, he was very much hoping the other man said yes.
A beggar's book
outworths
a noble's blood
