isleofavalon | September Catchall

Claude can't deny the way his heart skips a beat at that kiss, the touch to his temple, and he closes his eyes to lean into him once more. It seems Lorenz is able to get a better read on him than he thought. Certainly more than he used to be able to.

"Never is quite a tall order," he says with a small smile. It's not that he wants to doubt him -- more that in that cautious way of his, he's prone to testing the waters, even now of all times.

"But I know you're serious. I suppose... I'm just surprised, that's all."

He's not great at reading Claude, not yet, but he's spent years getting better at it and this most recent shift in their relationship clarifies a few things he would never have been able to accept before.

"You're surprised?" Lorenz huffs a soft disbelieving laugh, nuzzling against him once more before he finally lets Claude have his space back. "Isn't that my line?"

"Hah! I'd been flirting with you practically since we first met. But because of that thick head of yours," he raps on it lightly with his knuckles, "I'm pretty sure you never noticed. And given our-- ah, family history? I assumed I never stood a chance back then anyway. So..."

He shrugs. What was the point in getting emotionally invested in something that would never happen? When Lorenz spent a good deal of time spying on him and plotting his downfall, at least in those early days?

"It was only when Teach came back to us that we really became close, and so many other things were happening. So I'm surprised, because I never would have guessed that all those years, you felt that way." Maybe he has a few things to work on when it comes to reading Lorenz himself, if he never picked up the true extent of his feelings.

Lorenz just blinks at him for a moment, caught on the first part of that for an inordinately long time. "F-flirting???"

His voice pitches higher and he flinches a little because of it, cheeks coloring and eyes widening just a little. He- He was?? He'd been so caught up in refusing to let any of the nagging thoughts about Claude interfere with his day to day and what he thought he was meant to be doing.

"I... never realized. I just... thought you were making fun of me? And eventually I..." He flashes Claude a guilty sort of look. "I just wanted to be near you, to see your dreams- Goddess, it sounds so childish like that."

Shaking his head he shifts to lean into Claude, rest his cheek on his shoulder. He feels like such a fool, being so eager for his attention like that.

Claude lifts a hand to stroke Lorenz's hair, kisses the top of his head, and says nothing for a moment, simply letting Lorenz enjoy the gesture of comfort. That's what this is ultimately about, after all, isn't it? Being close, intimate, enjoying one another's company. There's no need to make matters of the heart unnecessarily complicated... Even if Claude of all people knows that ideals like that and reality won't always match up.

"I don't think it's childish," he says softly. "Even if it was, I'm probably the most childish person of all. My dreams are something I've held close to my heart ever since I was a little kid... and now they're tangible enough to move nations. Is that such a bad thing?"

He hums softly, warm and content, basking in the affectionate little gestures Claude offers him. For a moment it's almost too much, the way they can fall into each other so easily without the social restraints and petty squabbles to force a defensive sort of barrier between them. Being able to speak openly about something that still feels so foreign to him in some ways.

"That's different." Firm and fond and he lifts his head to smile at Claude once more, shaking his head as though the idea that the two could be comparable is the childish part. "Your dreams are beautiful and what you've achieved is so impressive... awe-inspiring, even. There's nothing childish about what you have managed, Khalid."

His smile becomes a touch mischievous, the only warning Claude gets this time before Lorenz kisses him again, smiling against his lips. "A great deal more worthwhile than pulling pigtails, as it were."

Lorenz will have the satisfaction of seeing Claude surprised by the kiss, but he soon melts into it with an amused smile, the hand that had been stroking Lorenz's hair coming to rest against his neck. "Pigtails? Are you saying I should grow my hair out like Hilda's?"

That's not what he was saying at all and he knows it, but he can't help but tease a little more. It's also a convenient way to dodge addressing the praise, which he still isn't used to hearing, at least not from Lorenz of all people.

A muffled breath of laughter escapes against his mouth at the impressive feat of surprising him but it swiftly shifts to something even more satisfied when Claude melts into him this time. There's a moment when he stiffens, wary of moving with Claude's hand on his neck lest he bump against the dark lines of the burn down his spine.

Lorenz lets him draw back but as soon as he realizes it's to sass him again his hand is curling into dark hair and pulling him back in against him to silence him with a more forceful kiss. That is quite enough. Claude knows precisely what he meant. Infuriating man.

Claude makes a muffled noise of protest as if to suggest he had more to say, though at the same time he's hardly refusing the kiss, just doing more to get a rise out of the other man. He does so enjoy provoking this side of him, after all.

And perhaps he's willing to provoke him a little further this time, because he parts his lips, tasting Lorenz and the lingering taste of sweet lemon on his tongue.

That small noise is certainly not enough to have Lorenz willing to back away, no, if Claude was really done with him he'd have done a good deal more than that. The subtle back and forth of their banter is familiar, even if this particular incarnation of it is new.

At least until Claude's lips part and a moment later Lorenz is jerking back, eyes wide and gasping in surprise. For one frantic moment Lorenz is caught between panic and some strange sort of thrill that makes his heart race. Oh.... is that?

"Oh."

A single, profound realization and then Lorenz presses in to kiss him once more, cautious and curious but doing his best to mimic what Claude had just done as well, shuddering out a breathless little moan when his tongue just barely touches Claude's lip.

For a moment Claude wonders if he'd moved a little too quickly, or perhaps Lorenz didn't like it, and he blinks at him, ready to ask what's wrong. He doesn't need to, though, because Lorenz is already trying again, and that little moan sends a thrill through Claude that has him parting his lips once more to deepen the kiss. Not too quickly, but craving more, as if to guide Lorenz along, both patient but insistent all at the same time.

Flames, he's a fool. To think soft sweet little kisses was all there was, to not realize what else he might be missing. It takes some time, trying to copy what Claude does in his own graceless way at first. It's clumsy and he ends up clacking their teeth together more than once. Lorenz has to gasp in quick little breaths here and there that he's almost certain Claude doesn't need to do.

It's very similar to learning a new dance, merely with lips and tongues and keeping his teeth out of the way.

There's certainly too much to keep track of for him to be terribly concerned at the soft little sounds he keeps making, not when he has so much to learn... both about kissing properly and the way Claude tastes.

Claude knew Lorenz could be... intense, at times, particularly when it came to proving himself, but this was something new entirely. Aside from the initial awkwardness of clashing teeth or awkward bumping noses, Lorenz is taking to it faster than he expected. The other man's lips are soft and pliant and so eager, and those little sounds are going to drive Claude crazy if he keeps them up.

Still, he's happy to keep leading him along on their new little dance. As they kiss, his hands run down Lorenz's chest to settle at his hips. He's being very careful about touching him, both because of the burns on his back and because Lorenz isn't used to it, but, well... Lorenz seems very unconcerned with his usual propriety right about now.

Claude's not sure how much time has passed when he has to pause for breath, but it's then he realises he's half-pulled Lorenz into his lap. There's a dull flush to his cheeks, a sly smile on his face, as he laughs. "Enjoying yourself?"

The shift from sitting beside him to crawling half into Claude's lap is slow and subtle enough that he doesn't truly realize where he is until the other man draws back and suddenly he's able to breathe again. And think, though that takes a fair bit longer. He's flushed all the way down to the tops of his shoulders and more than a little dazed. The rush that accompanies those kisses, the heat of Claude's hands on his hips, the press of him and the curl of his hair around his fingers.

There's just so much and it's all so new that he has no idea what he's feeling exactly. Too hot and light headed, though beyond that everything's a bit too delightfully hazy. At least until Claude speaks, laughter warm against his lips as he presses in against the archer, too close to really comprehend the mischief in his expression.

"Enjoying you." A surprisingly steady counter as Lorenz leans over him, kissing him once more, all that intensity brought to bear in one more kiss. Then, abruptly, he pulls back, eyes widening as though he's only just realized Claude was teasing him. Violet eyes go wide as he looks down at himself, perched on his knees over Claude's lap, on hand fisted in his shirt, the other in his hair. Claude's hands on his bare skin and he looks back to meet green eyes with a sudden uncertainty, now that his brain is gradually coming back online. "O-oh... I didn't- Oh."

"Oh, but you did," Claude counters smoothly, as if he really needs to point out the obvious given Lorenz's current state. He peppers a few light kisses along Lorenz's pale collarbone, then peeks up at him again.

"It's okay." Okay if he wants to stop, okay if he wants to keep going. No matter how much he teases him, Claude doesn't want to scare him off, merely rib him a little. "Just tell me what you want to do."

It's certainly not like he needs the magical compulsion he's under to listen to him, but maybe it'll help Lorenz feel a little more in control of the situation. In the meantime, however, Claude's kisses resume, descending from his collarbone down to his sternum.

Damn him for being so agonizingly smooth and collected when Lorenz feels so much like he might just combust. Whether from shock and embarrassment over his actions or the shivery sort of heat that rushes through him when Claude's lips trace over his skin he's not entirely sure. He almost wants to believe him when Claude says it's okay. Maybe, maybe it is. Maybe it's not the end of the world to let himself enjoy this.

But the reminder, subtle as it is, that Claude is under a magical compulsion is enough to have him beginning to shake his head. No. Oh no. It's far too much too quickly and even though it's been Claude leading this entire thing there's a nagging worry that forms in the back of his mind that it's all some sort of misunderstanding or misuse of this strange power he's been gifted. Illogical but once the thought finds a home in his mind he can't stop thinking about it.

Well, he can. He does, even. Claude's mouth trails yet more heat down his chest and Lorenz drags in a sharp, strangled sort of gasp. "N-no, oh... no, no that's... enough." For all his stammering, though, he sounds an awful lot like he's trying to convince himself.

"I just... need to- wait, Khalid." The fact that his name comes out as a needy sort of whine certainly isn't lending any credibility to his insistence.

Claude lets a last kiss linger before he huffs out a laugh, breath hot against his skin, and he looks up at Lorenz. "Ah, you poor thing. I'll have mercy, then."

And even though he's sure he didn't actually want him to stop, given that needy whine, in this case he does have to listen. He shifts to sit back, eyeing the complete mess that is currently Lorenz Hellman Gloucester, with a smile that is somehow both impish but with shades of something more genuine underneath.

"...Sorry. Are you okay?"

He feels a mess and Claude's teasing only makes that worse. Especially when the other man leans back to appraise his work and Lorenz hunches over, face in his hands, groaning miserably as he tilts forward to thunk his forehead into Claude's shoulder. Flushed and flustered, overwhelmed but quite certain he should be horrified at how little it took for Claude to undo all his careful restraints.

"No, you're not." Claude von Riegan? Sorry? For getting a rise out of him? Never.

"I'm okay..." A little gentler, hesitant almost. "I'm sorry, I hmm- got... carried away?" Breathless but apologetic all the same, not that he's even sure what he's apologizing for. A lack of self restraint, perhaps, but he's not entirely sure if that's something he should have a better grip on or simply something he thinks he should, where ever that notion might have come from.

Claude smiles, caressing the back of Lorenz's neck and pressing a kiss to his temple. "Don't apologise. It's supposed to be nice to cut loose, not embarrassing." And for all Claude's teasing, he doesn't want Lorenz to be convinced he has anything to be ashamed of.

"But if I'm going too fast, don't be afraid to tell me, too," he adds, more quiet. "Like you did just now."

The back of his neck has always been sensitive, it's part of the reason why he had an undercut when he was younger. Claude's fingers skimming over it would have been enough to make him gasp and shiver but now, so close to the angry lines of a blooming flower, his hands twist into Claude's shirt and he collapses against him with a sharp little sound caught between satisfaction and something almost pained.

It takes another moment for him to regain what composure he has left, overwhelmed beginning to edge dangerously close to a fearful sort of panic. He's worked too hard to pull his body under his control from the wheezing miserable thing he was as a boy for all of this not to be a little bit terrifying. Should or shouldn't aside.

Lorenz reaches out to grasp at Claude's wrists, pulling his hands back around to the space between them. "E-enough." Though Claude might be pleased to hear just how ragged Lorenz' voice has become. "I love you but-just let me breathe."

It feels increasingly difficult to do with Claude's hands on him.

Apparently Claude had misinterpreted Lorenz resting against his shoulder as seeking comfort, so he's taken aback when Lorenz grabs him. He doesn't resist, arms going slack as he eyes him with a concerned expression. He'd tried to be careful not to touch any of the area around the burn, so why...?

Maybe it's best not to ask for now. "Okay, okay. No more touching, I get it."

Lorenz is quiet for long moments, concentrated on getting his breathing under control, on finding some semblance of calm again. Gradually his hands move from holding Claude's wrists to sliding his fingers between Claude's, curling one hand to raise it enough to brush a kiss to his knuckles.

"I can't... think if you keep-" He shakes his head, burying his face into the crook of his neck for a moment. "Touching me."

Which feels so silly to admit somehow. That he's so tightly wound that such simple affectionate gestures are enough to drive him to such thorough distraction. In some ways it made him worry just how easy it would be to lose himself in something like this.

"As much as it pains me to point out the obvious, you're the one touching me," Claude says with a slight laugh. Or he is now, anyway, because Claude is just keeping still lest he get another tongue-lashing (not that kind) as Lorenz buries his face against his neck.

Then he hesitates, before adding, "Does it really matter if your mind goes blank for a little bit? You do trust me, right?"

Lorenz hisses out a breath, somewhere between a scolding tsk and a laugh. Yes, he's the one touching Claude but it's different, safer somehow. Just holding his hand and leaning into him doesn't make him feel so disoriented. Gradually he shifts over to one side, moving off of Claude's lap (mostly) to settle against his side.

"I do, of course I do. I-" There's no hesitation with that but it then leaves the question of.... what is he scared of?

"I think... I'm the one I don't trust." A strained, embarrassed little laugh and he finally lifts his head to look at Claude for the first time since they pulled apart.

Claude shifts to make himself more comfortable as Lorenz moves off him again, before settling once more. Then he frowns in confusion, blinking at him as if trying to understand what he means to say.

"You don't trust yourself? Why?"

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