(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]

"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.

[nathaniel_kitten]

The light burn of the silver against his skin causes him to shiver a little.

"I think Jason and Liz are the only two who do it other than you. Anita thinks it's a pain in the ass to deal with, and Micah's too new to the pard for me to even ask him to."

[ash-imperfect.livejournal.com]

Asher smiles at that soft shiver, running his hand down Nathaniel's back, to the side of his ponytail.

"Would you like me to braid it, too?" He asks, nuzzling Nathaniel's bare shoulder, sliding his arms around Nathaniel's waist. "I like touching you, mon chat. I may not need an excuse to, but I enjoy playing with your hair."

[nathaniel_kitten]

"I like leaving it loose for you," he says, turning his head to look at Asher. "I like pleasing you however I can. If you want to braid it, I won't object. If you want to leave it as it is, that's also fine."

It was so important to him to please Asher, to keep the vampire happy.

[ash-imperfect.livejournal.com]

Asher kisses Nathaniel's cheek, closing his eyes a moment.

"Loose, for now, then." He murmurs, his fingertips caressing Nathaniel's stomach. He won't push Nathaniel to choose, not now. "If it gets in the way, braid it."

[nathaniel_kitten]

Nathaniel draws his knees up to his chest and hugs them, laying his cheek atop.

"Do I disappoint you?" he asks softly. "I know Anita keeps trying to push me out of the nest, have me find a proper girlfriend, manage my finances, be an adult who thinks for himself... Is that what you want me to be, too? Am I supposed to learn how to not want to please you?"

It's asked with such plaintive desperation, wondering if his absolute trust and submission were not what Asher wants from him.

[ash-imperfect.livejournal.com]

"No, mon chat, you have not disappointed me." Asher murmurs soothingly, shifting so that he can pull Nathaniel into his lap, running his fingers through Nat's hair, fingertips brushing his back underneath.

"I want to please you, as much as you wish to please me," Asher continues, trying to explain in a way which will make sense to Nathaniel. "But I do not need your submission every hour of the day. If that is what you wish, if you are happy, then I will gladly accept it." He pauses.

"I would like you to try deciding things for yourself, cher. Because you want them for you, not because you think it will please me. How you wear your hair is your decision, mon chat. I like it loose, because I can run my fingers through it. But bound..." he kisses Nathaniel's throat, caresses turning a little less soothing, a little more arousing. "I could wrap it around your throat, or use it to bind your hands."

[nathaniel_kitten]

Nathaniel gasps softly, his eyes growing heavy at the touches.

"Around my throat?" he murmurs.

Oh, that had possibilities with Asher.

"I will... try to want things for myself. I'll try, Asher," he whispers, touching Asher's hair. It was all he could do, promise to try, and with some gentle poking, he's sure he can do it.

Because, of course, Asher wants him to.

[ash-imperfect.livejournal.com]

"What are your plans tonight, cher?" He murmurs, tilting his head towards Nathaniel's fingers, his eyes sliding shut. Only two have ever touched his hair thus, other than Nathaniel. One of them is dead, and the other...well, Anita has seen to it that a caress of his hair is the most he can expect.