(no subject)
The touch of Thom's fingers is almost as light as his soft, even breath; there's something strange, something soothing about the delicate ghost of pure skin over scar tissue.
(If Xas shivers, or if his eyes slip shut, well -- Thom doesn't notice.)
He doesn't speak until afterwards, when he crawls back and tucks his hair loosely behind his ears, not quite smiling, and he bites his lip in a way that's somehow reassuring.
Then, unprompted, as if it were quite natural, he talks about himself and it isn't lying to make light of things, to admit truth only as if by accident, so that it doesn't seem true at all, is it? (It might be.) His hands move as he speaks, the half-excited gestures of youth; that same smile flares in tandem at the corners of his lips, and from time to time even reaches his eyes. As he speaks he explains little things, tiny scars, the metal chain he sometimes wears, the mark of teeth he also sometimes wears.
Behind these details (Xas might notice) is the real story, which has much less to do with flippancy and everything to do with scars and sacrifice which always (Thom knows) come in twos.
When all's said and done, Xas leaves; and Thom has hardly touched him, has he?
(If Xas shivers, or if his eyes slip shut, well -- Thom doesn't notice.)
He doesn't speak until afterwards, when he crawls back and tucks his hair loosely behind his ears, not quite smiling, and he bites his lip in a way that's somehow reassuring.
Then, unprompted, as if it were quite natural, he talks about himself and it isn't lying to make light of things, to admit truth only as if by accident, so that it doesn't seem true at all, is it? (It might be.) His hands move as he speaks, the half-excited gestures of youth; that same smile flares in tandem at the corners of his lips, and from time to time even reaches his eyes. As he speaks he explains little things, tiny scars, the metal chain he sometimes wears, the mark of teeth he also sometimes wears.
Behind these details (Xas might notice) is the real story, which has much less to do with flippancy and everything to do with scars and sacrifice which always (Thom knows) come in twos.
When all's said and done, Xas leaves; and Thom has hardly touched him, has he?