[Belthazar isn't dumb. He can tell when there are Preparations going on, and he's good at deciphering hints, and Hiro isn't really that subtle anyway. Belth shows up in the afternoon-- hoping not to interfere with Hiro's beauty sleep-- and knocks on the door to his quarters. There's something in a glittery red box, particularly large, but the elf seems to have no trouble juggling it.]
[Belthazar lets himself inside and maneuvers his way to the nearest flat table-like surface. He expertly unboxes the cake. It appears to be some kind of red velvet, by the look of things. There are six tiers as he said. It's covered in expertly-rolled red fondant with black and white accents; Belthazar tried for something vaguely resembling a cityscape on the bottom-most cakes. There are chocolate bridges connecting the tiers, and skyscrapers made out of sugar glass and fondant on the tops of them. The topmost one has a little rocket and spaceship on it because SPACE.
And of course it's been dusted with edible gold glitter, just enough to add a little sparkle.]
I hope you like red velvet. Unlike those plebian bakers you are used to, there is real cocoa powder in the batter.
[hiro is just staring, dumbfounded, at this fucking cake. are you seeing this, belth? are you seeing this cake? look at this cake. look at what you did. how did you do that? you have stunned your boyfriend.]
[It's not often that Hiro is dumbfounded. Belth blinks, and then he starts to get embarrassed. His cheeks and nose slowly turn pink as his ears flatten against his head.]
I-it isn't that amazing. I mean, it is amazing, but it is fairly standard coming from me. What I mean is-- look, I have a real present--
[He reaches into his black robes and pulls out a journal. It doesn't look that special. It's simple and leather-bound with some softly-glowing blue runes etched into the front.
[Belth tries to gather himself. As Hiro brushes his fingers across the book, he whispers a spell.]
Ban'dinor medivh, anar'orah Hiro baise.
[The runes glow red briefly, then go back to blue.]
That journal will only open when you touch it. That way no one else can see your thoughts or your ideas unless you want them to. [He tucks a bit of hair behind his ear.] It is important to have your own space for privacy, but that is difficult on a very small ship.
[hiro's expression turns to soft surprise as belthazar explains the present. having a private place to record his thoughts has been incredibly important to him; but the electronic lock he has on his current journal is the best he can do here, and it's nothing that couldn't be hacked or broken. this is much more secure.
[and to hiro, it's incredibly special.
[the smile that blooms on his face shows just how special it is, and without warning, he's throwing an arm around belthazar and dragging him in for a hug.]
[His blush turns damn-near flourescent at Hiro's smile and then the hug. He freezes up for a moment, not expecting it, but then he lets out a breath and calms down... mostly. His heart is still trying to thump right out of his chest, but at least he's breathing again.
He wraps his arms around Hiro's middle and loses his fingers in the back of his shirt. He can't help but cling a bit; his knuckles whiten against the folds.]
[hiro notices, though, that he's being clung to. usually, like this, belth would pull away after a second and keep being embarrassed. hiro guesses he hugged him at just the right time.]
[It should be freaky, but he's already basically kind of ageless so that's less important. The analytical side of his brain really, really wants to know how. It has to be some kind of magic or-- or maybe technology that's keeping people from aging. What about hair? He hasn't really noticed a difference in his hair growth, but--
-- and then the rest of it sinks in, and hearing that phrase really cements it. I'm not leaving you behind. Like everyone else does, eventually.
He wants to believe it so desperately. He really does. But he's scared and not really thinking straight. He sucks in a breath through his teeth and pulls his arms in, only to scrabble at the front of Hiro's shoulders to steady himself. He stares Hiro in the face, his green eyes blazing, hair framing his pale cheeks like a dark halo.]
You can't say that. You can't say that, because as soon as you do you'll leave and I can't deal with that I won't I won't—
[It's only a short distance but he's there a bit sooner than he realizes, with his forehead against Hiro's and their noses touching. That is about as close to a kiss as he can bring himself, and it's certainly intimate by elf standards.
[hiro wasn't planning for this. it's his birthday, things were happy, and belth was okay. so when he starts to raise his voice, moves the way he does... hiro has to freeze up.
[selfishly, the first thing he thinks about is how close belth is. sure, they've hugged plenty, they tend to be pretty physical, but hiro never even let this side of things cross his mind. in this moment, it becomes a possibility. in this moment, he starts to recognize what's been slowly growing with him. he can't bring himself to do anything but hold still, but he sees what he could do, what belth almost just did, and his mind is speeding through the meanings and the implications.
[it takes him a moment to catch up with the fact that he was spoken to again, and another for the words to register. then the importance strikes him, and without hesitation or even much coherent thought, he blurts it out:]
[His emotions are volatile and he's still kind of adolescent. Sorry, Hiro. On the other hand, Belth doesn't seem unhappy with Hiro's answer or his reaction, so that's... good. He probably isn't going to set Hiro on fire then.
His dark lashes flutter and close. He lets out a little huff that's almost like a laugh.]
Okay.
[It's not that he's unaware of what his heart is doing, but he has no idea how to go from here. It might be too much to... show any kind of affection beyond this. Hiro might not even be interested and Belth isn't self-aware enough to gauge his own interest in pursuing something. So he works on little things, like getting his fingernails out of Hiro's poor worried shirt and retreating beneath his sleeves.]
I'm-- I'm sorry for getting upset. I'm still unsettled about going back home and... not having anyone.
[hiro lifts a hand to hook at the back of his head, keeping that eye contact belth started.]
Hey. I'm not leaving you or anybody else. I'm not even considering wanting to go home without a way to get to the people I've met here. I don't want to lose you, I don't want to lose Ino, and I haven't figured out a way to get Tadashi somewhere safe. I have too much here to just disappear.
[it's not up to him, he knows it's not, and it's still hard to swallow. but he's going to make this promise, and he's going to keep it.]
[Belthazar has to gather his courage again before he can look Hiro in the eyes, but when he does, his expression is much softer. There's none of that desperation from a minute earlier, only a poignant resignation to something yet unnamed.]
I haven't been important to someone in a very long time, [he murmurs. He looks down and decides to straighten Hiro's clothes since Belth sorta tousled them earlier.]
That's a big promise. You can't do anything small, can you?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
everydayhero) wrote2015-03-10 04:41 pm
backdated to hiro's birthday; action;
Hiro? Are you awake yet?
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Belth? Hey, what's...[
up] that.no subject
Now let me in or I will drop all six tiers of this dessert on your head.
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[COME ON IN, MAN.]
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And of course it's been dusted with edible gold glitter, just enough to add a little sparkle.]
I hope you like red velvet. Unlike those plebian bakers you are used to, there is real cocoa powder in the batter.
... Also, happy birthday.
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[hiro is just staring, dumbfounded, at this fucking cake. are you seeing this, belth? are you seeing this cake? look at this cake. look at what you did. how did you do that? you have stunned your
boyfriend.]no subject
I-it isn't that amazing. I mean, it is amazing, but it is fairly standard coming from me. What I mean is-- look, I have a real present--
[He reaches into his black robes and pulls out a journal. It doesn't look that special. It's simple and leather-bound with some softly-glowing blue runes etched into the front.
He holds it out and doesn't make eye contact.]
Take it!
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[holy shit he's trying to get his brain to work. he takes the journal, and runs his fingers over the runes. this looks so cool...]
Whoa... This is sick.
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Ban'dinor medivh, anar'orah Hiro baise.
[The runes glow red briefly, then go back to blue.]
That journal will only open when you touch it. That way no one else can see your thoughts or your ideas unless you want them to. [He tucks a bit of hair behind his ear.] It is important to have your own space for privacy, but that is difficult on a very small ship.
I... hope this helps.
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[and to hiro, it's incredibly special.
[the smile that blooms on his face shows just how special it is, and without warning, he's throwing an arm around belthazar and dragging him in for a hug.]
Thank you. Seriously, this is perfect.
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He wraps his arms around Hiro's middle and loses his fingers in the back of his shirt. He can't help but cling a bit; his knuckles whiten against the folds.]
Doesn't it bother you?
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[what could possibly bother me right now?
[hiro notices, though, that he's being clung to. usually, like this, belth would pull away after a second and keep being embarrassed. hiro guesses he hugged him at just the right time.]
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You will get older and older... but when I am grown, I will look the same as I always have.
[His voice is very quiet and still, like a forest holding its breath.]
And then, one day, you'll leave. It's only natural.
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[hiro leans his head against belthazar's.]
And more importantly, I'm not going anywhere. I'm not leaving you behind.
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We... don't age?
[It should be freaky, but he's already basically kind of ageless so that's less important. The analytical side of his brain really, really wants to know how. It has to be some kind of magic or-- or maybe technology that's keeping people from aging. What about hair? He hasn't really noticed a difference in his hair growth, but--
-- and then the rest of it sinks in, and hearing that phrase really cements it. I'm not leaving you behind. Like everyone else does, eventually.
He wants to believe it so desperately. He really does. But he's scared and not really thinking straight. He sucks in a breath through his teeth and pulls his arms in, only to scrabble at the front of Hiro's shoulders to steady himself. He stares Hiro in the face, his green eyes blazing, hair framing his pale cheeks like a dark halo.]
You can't say that. You can't say that, because as soon as you do you'll leave and I can't deal with that I won't I won't—
[It's only a short distance but he's there a bit sooner than he realizes, with his forehead against Hiro's and their noses touching. That is about as close to a kiss as he can bring himself, and it's certainly intimate by elf standards.
He takes in another breath.]
Promise me.
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[selfishly, the first thing he thinks about is how close belth is. sure, they've hugged plenty, they tend to be pretty physical, but hiro never even let this side of things cross his mind. in this moment, it becomes a possibility. in this moment, he starts to recognize what's been slowly growing with him. he can't bring himself to do anything but hold still, but he sees what he could do, what belth almost just did, and his mind is speeding through the meanings and the implications.
[it takes him a moment to catch up with the fact that he was spoken to again, and another for the words to register. then the importance strikes him, and without hesitation or even much coherent thought, he blurts it out:]
I promise. I'm not going anywhere.
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His dark lashes flutter and close. He lets out a little huff that's almost like a laugh.]
Okay.
[It's not that he's unaware of what his heart is doing, but he has no idea how to go from here. It might be too much to... show any kind of affection beyond this. Hiro might not even be interested and Belth isn't self-aware enough to gauge his own interest in pursuing something. So he works on little things, like getting his fingernails out of Hiro's poor worried shirt and retreating beneath his sleeves.]
I'm-- I'm sorry for getting upset. I'm still unsettled about going back home and... not having anyone.
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Hey. I'm not leaving you or anybody else. I'm not even considering wanting to go home without a way to get to the people I've met here. I don't want to lose you, I don't want to lose Ino, and I haven't figured out a way to get Tadashi somewhere safe. I have too much here to just disappear.
[it's not up to him, he knows it's not, and it's still hard to swallow. but he's going to make this promise, and he's going to keep it.]
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I haven't been important to someone in a very long time, [he murmurs. He looks down and decides to straighten Hiro's clothes since Belth sorta tousled them earlier.]
That's a big promise. You can't do anything small, can you?
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[he's laughing a little, as some strange and powerful rush of relief hits his system. why does he feel like he was just running laps?]
You're important to me. So you're stuck with me, okay? Even if you set me on fire.
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I'm not going to set you on fire. [He presses his lips together in a bit of a pout.] I promised someone I wouldn't.
... But I can turn you into a cat if you annoy me.
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If you did that, I'd just go tear up your stuff.
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Then I'd make Celsius bathe you.
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