Anti-OTP (late): Tom and Richard

[jarndyceheir]

Richard is flipping through a book without much relish. His meeting with Tom has left him confused and out of sorts, and the temporary lull seems to have been shattered. It doesn't, of course, help that Ada slept with him once, only to protest that it wasn't her wish to continue. But Richard is a gentleman, and would never dream of mentioning

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[notallworthy]

Tom isn't exactly flipping so much as dripping. His clothes are wet after quite a long walk in the snow and he walks back to his room, looking utterly miserable.

Drip, drip, drip.

[jarndyceheir]

"...Tom?" he says, without thinking.

[notallworthy]

Tom looked up after a moment and made an involuntary face. "Oh. Hello, Richard."

[jarndyceheir]

"...sorry. I didn't mean to - sorry."

[notallworthy]

"No. It's all right. I... Sorry."

[jarndyceheir]

He laughs shakily. "It's alright. Lord."

[notallworthy]

Tom looked at him for a moment, shook his head, then turned to go.

[jarndyceheir]

"Tom." He stands, and moves after him. "Do we really have to leave things this way?"

[notallworthy]

He bit his lip, pained. "But there really isn't anything else to be done, is there?"

[jarndyceheir]

He rubbed his arm a bit. "I... I just hate the thought of you so unhappy."

[notallworthy]

"I... I manage. I'm fine."

[jarndyceheir]

"I know. But I don't want you to be fine. I want you to be happy."

[notallworthy]

Tom looked down. "I will be."

[jarndyceheir]

"Tom..." He was close enough to touch his arm... but he hesitates.

[notallworthy]

And Tom really couldn't help that he was holding his breath at that.

[jarndyceheir]

He did, after a moment. "I want very badly for you to be happy, Tom," quietly.