(no subject)

[nathaniel_kitten]

Jason hadn't returned to the bedroom, and Nathaniel had fallen asleep in Jason's bed waiting for him through the afternoon.

His hair was loose, spread across the white sheets. He's been asleep from mid-afternoon, pleasantly dreaming, sleeping alone for the first time in quite a while.

A small step, he would say, but a step nevertheless.

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[ash-imperfect.livejournal.com]

Asher is alone when he awakes - not unheard of, but of course the first thing he does after dressing is go in search of Nathaniel. The gift he commissioned from Teja is burning a hole in his pocket, and he's eager to see Nathaniel's reaction. His intent was to wait for an occasion suitable, but Asher grows impatient - not something he had expected, but Nathaniel makes him feel closer to human than he has in centuries.

[nathaniel_kitten]

Nathaniel starts when the door to Jason's room opens and shuts. He sits up, blinking sleepily, looking around, realizing the hour as he notices Asher.

"I meant to be there when you woke up," Nathaniel says, hiding a yawn behind his hand. "I'm sorry, Asher."

[ash-imperfect.livejournal.com]

"It is not a problem, mon chat," Asher murmurs, any possible annoyance at waking alone dispelled by how utterly edible Nathaniel looks, sleepy and rumpled.

He crosses the room, sitting down at Nathaniel's hip, pale fingers diving into auburn hair, holding him still as Asher kisses him slowly.

[nathaniel_kitten]

That was a surprise.

Nathaniel wonders if he'll ever grow accustomed to having someone touch him like this. If he'll ever get used to having an actual lover.

He moans softly, opening immediately to his vampire, his hands resting against Asher's chest. It was the perfect way to wake up, he thinks, sighing with contentment into the kiss.

[ash-imperfect.livejournal.com]

Asher pulls back slowly, his fingers still tangled in Nathaniel's hair.

"Good evening, Nathaniel," he murmurs, smiling. He is sorely tempted to just climb into bed with Nathaniel, and even the thought of Jason walking in on them is not likely to stop him.

"You look better rested."

[nathaniel_kitten]

Nathaniel wouldn't mind Asher in the bed, and the sheets would be stripped and washed before Jason came back. It's not like Jason had ever told Nathaniel Asher wasn't allowed in the bed...

He smiles at Asher, leaning back into the hand. "I hadn't meant to fall asleep."

[ash-imperfect.livejournal.com]

Asher's fingertips gently massage Nathaniel's scalp, slowly edging down to the nape of his neck, scritching and petting.

"And yet you needed it." Asher smiled. "And I found you, mon chat. You do not need to be waiting for me when I awake." Nice as it is, he doesn't want to monopolise Nathaniel's time entirely. He's not pack or pard, and Nathaniel needs his friends, just as much as Asher needs him.

Caving, Asher toes off his shoes, easily shrugging off his jacket and carefully laying it on the floor next to the bed. He slides further onto the bed, feet tangling with Nathaniel's as he leans in for another kiss.

[nathaniel_kitten]

A deep, pleased purr rumbles up from Nathaniel as he wraps his arms around Asher, sinking into that kiss whole-heartedly.

"I have a feeling you'd always find me," he murmurs between kisses, quite comfortable on the bed with Asher.

[ash-imperfect.livejournal.com]

"Always," Asher promises, kissing Nathaniel's forehead. "Never doubt that."

[nathaniel_kitten]

Nathaniel smiles, the purr continuing as he nuzzles at Asher's throat.

"I think Jason went to make up with Moon. He's missing. And so is his dreamcatcher." It makes something unknot in Nathaniel's stomach to think that The Moon would no longer keep away from them. They missed her. "He says he doesn't love her, not yet, and he got awfully prickly when I told him that... sometimes people just... love other people, uncaring if they're loved back."

He's just talking, filling the quiet as he twirls a lock of Asher's hair around one of his fingers.

"Maybe everyone will be happier around here soon."

[ash-imperfect.livejournal.com]

Asher's heart clenches in his chest, the vampire dipping his head to nuzzle Nathaniel's hair, breathing him in. Whatever he feels, he is not ready to tell Nathaniel yet. But he can, at least, show him.

He twists, reaching down to his jacket, withdrawing a small leather pouch from the pocket. He lays it wordlessly in Nathaniel's hand, his fingertips caressing Nat's palm.

Inside the pouch is a silver hair clasp made of two parts; a curved shape with a hole at either end, and a slender stick that slides through, holding the hair between.

The curved part is in the shape of a leopard, legs outstretched as if caught mid-chase. The leopard has a grey stone in place of an eye, and tiny topaz the shade of Asher's eyes form a collar around the leopard's neck.

[nathaniel_kitten]

He sits up suddenly in the bed, staring down at the clasp. Nathaniel doesn't even notice the faint burning of the silver in his hand, he can't look away from the clasp. When he finally can, he lifts his eyes, lilac shining with tears.

"Did... Is this... It's a leopard," he says, looking back down at it. "With a collar the color of your eyes."

[ash-imperfect.livejournal.com]

Asher nods, unaccountably nervous.

"I was speaking with Teja, and I thought," he shrugs, ducking his head, hair falling across the right side of his face, a curtain between him and Nathaniel. "I had no reason for such a gift, save that I wanted to give you one."

[nathaniel_kitten]

Nathaniel grips it tightly in his hand as he pounces Asher, arms going around Asher's neck as he buries his face against his vampire's throat.

"Thank you," he mumbles against cool flesh. "It's wonderful, Asher, so perfect, thank you."

[ash-imperfect.livejournal.com]

Asher beams, holding Nathaniel tightly, tilting his head, his cheek resting against soft hair.

"I am glad, mon chat." He brushes Nathaniel's hair back from his shoulders, sliding his hand underneath, resting between Nathaniel's shoulderblades.

[nathaniel_kitten]

Nathaniel looks over Asher's shoulder at the leopard, smiling.

What would it be like to wear such a collar? Even if it was only when he was leopard...

"You'll spoil me," he says with a quiet laugh.

[ash-imperfect.livejournal.com]

"Only if you'll let me," Asher promises, kissing Nathaniel's cheek, just in front of his ear.

"I was afraid you would think I was trying to buy your affection," he murmurs, lips still against Nat's ear, able to avoid meeting Nathaniel's gaze as he speaks.

"But I wanted you to...to know you are mine. My dearest Nathaniel."

[nathaniel_kitten]

He pulls back enough to look into those icy blue eyes.

"You can't buy what I already gave," he breathes. "I'm yours." Nathaniel's eyes sparkle. "I'm yours," he says again with a growing smile.

[ash-imperfect.livejournal.com]

Asher beams again, eyes bright, kissing Nathaniel quickly.

"J'ai rencontré ce quelqu'un que mon coeur connaissait déjà," he whispers, feeling more at home here, looking into Nathaniel's eyes, than he has in many years.

[nathaniel_kitten]

Nathaniel pulls away and grabs his hairbrush, offering it and the clip to Asher.

"Will you brush out my hair and then use the clasp at the nape of my neck?" he asks, excited.

[ash-imperfect.livejournal.com]

Asher laughs, letting his gift loose, though it will have little effect on his Nathaniel.

"Certainly," he murmurs, settling himself more comfortably on the bed, legs splayed wide apart.

"Come, sit here," he pats the bed between his thighs, holding the hairbrush and clasp in his other hand.

[nathaniel_kitten]

Like a cat eager for grooming -- which he was -- Nathaniel settles himself between Asher's legs, his long hair pooled behind him.

"The full moon is soon," he says. He could feel it, the pull, the way his beast rolled about, stretching and clawing, wanting out. "I know Liz and I will run, but I wonder if Jason will be here to go with us."

[ash-imperfect.livejournal.com]

Asher carefully brushes out Nathaniel's hair, starting from the ends and working his way up bit by bit, soothed by the repetitive motion as much as Nathaniel is.

"Perhaps he will have returned by then," Asher murmurs, bending quickly to kiss Nathaniel's bare shoulder. He returns to his task, gathering a handful of hair, brushing it smooth until it lies like silk against his hand, and then moving on to the next section.

[nathaniel_kitten]

Nathaniel looks over his shoulder at Asher.

"I find it somewhat amusing you'll groom me," he says with a soft laugh.

[ash-imperfect.livejournal.com]

"Oh?" Asher asks, tilting his head to catch Nathaniel's eye, smiling softly. His brushstrokes never cease, working through the sleep-tangle strands until Nathaniel's hair lies flat against his back, a sheet of auburn silk, fine and soft against his hands.

He's almost reluctant to gather it together, fingers wrapping around Nathaniel's hair at the nape of his neck, holding it in a low ponytail as he places the leopard clasp over the hair, the slender stick sliding through, holding Nathaniel's hair in place.