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[occultatum]

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Comments

[bragnificent]

yeah
if dorian bitches abt it u can tell him it was my idea
but most of them oughta meet his standards anyway
I know jughead kinda looks like a rat but it's not like he'd be the first wierd lookin person ever let inside

[occultatum]

i'll handle dorian

i'm surprised you're okay with jughead

[bragnificent]

thanks nick ur the best 😘

[ Then there's a bit of a delay before his next message. ]

eh I mean...
we all gotta at least TRY to have each others backs right?
& im including u in that

& sabrina

besides, hes not actually THAT bad
dfntly better then sum of the other ppl i've seen going in n out anyway.
i'll keep him outta ur hair

[occultatum]

just tell him not to punch me again

[bragnificent]

fine
but he wont
not unless he wants me kicking his ass again

[occultatum]

you beat him up?

[bragnificent]

yeah

[ Well, technically he only punched him, but same difference. ]

not badly
but enuf to make the point
it was a while ago, right b4 we made up

[occultatum]

my hero

[bragnificent]

always
what kind of bf would I be if I wasnt willing to fight 4 u
I might only be a mortal but at least that much I can do

[occultatum]

not only mortal.

it's not like I'm likely to punch anyone

[bragnificent]

& now u dont ever have to

I am tho
obviously the mortal w/ the best body, hair & athletic skills, but still

[occultatum]

and the most humble

[bragnificent]

that too
some ppl have magic some ppl r possessed by wierd entitys & some ppl are just like
idk
unmatchably awesome

[occultatum]

are you jealous?

[bragnificent]

[ There is a typing/not typing cycle that goes on for maybe a few minutes before Reggie replies. ]

why would i be jealous
I can be interesting too
I have a lot to offer

[occultatum]

come to my office

right now

[bragnificent]

uh

ok
omw
give me 10 min

[ He'd make a joke about the implied authority of the command, respond with a "yes sir" or something, but Reggie isn't totally sure he didn't just accidentally piss Nick off yet.

Reggie doesn't quite run to the Gray Room from wherever he is, but he walks over as quickly as he can, heading straight over to Nick's office. ]

Hey. Uh... you wanted to see me?

[occultatum]

[He's sitting on the desk when Reggie comes in, looking slightly darker than usual, his hair a tangled, curly mess. He's tired, it's true, because this war - whatever it is - is making all of them exhausted. But still. He has one leg up on a chair, and the other one is dangling.

He looks darker than usual because the black of his outfit is made darker by a fine line of midnight blue against his collar. It's on his sleeves, too, but those are rolled up, tightly against his forearms.]

Come here.

[He opens a hand, using his fingers to beckon.]

[bragnificent]

[ Reggie's clothes are a little worn (or even torn) and his hair is also somewhat mussed, but he's not looking nearly as ragged as he had the other day. It's hard to stay immaculate in these circumstances, especially when he goes out so often and keeps ending up in fights, but he's been playing it a little safer after the last time.

He comes over, crossing the room and moving close, hazarding a careful kiss against Nick's mouth. ]

So what's up?

[occultatum]

[His hand snakes up to Reggie's curls, and he closes his fist. It's not hard, and it's not meant to be painful. Instead it's firm, so that Reggie can't look away from him.

He lengthens that kiss.]

I give more thought to Satan's asshole than I do to the notion that you aren't good enough for me.

[He gives him a furious second kiss, and pulls him close.]

Or interesting enough for me.

[And a third.]

And without a doubt I don't think any of my lovers are nearly as attractive as you.

[Except maybe Dorian, but Dorian Gray is and will always be an outlier, and should not be counted. And Sabrina, but, you know.]

If you think I can't recognize your unique brand of Mantle insecurity, you're wrong. I chose you. I'll choose you every blessed time.

[bragnificent]

[ If Reggie were someone else, he might still feel the need to bring up what exactly is causing those feelings -- the offered contract to Martin, going to stay with Kavinsky, that some stupid contract had been a good enough reason to cut Kavinsky off but locking Reggie in his trunk hadn't been -- but that's not really his style. He doesn't particularly need or want to talk those specifics out, especially not again, nor does he think there's any point to it. He wasn't making accusations and the problem isn't a lack of trust, so there's really no need to rehash certain details.

And Nick already knows those things bothered (or continue to bother) Reggie, knew they would before he even told him, because the two of them are actually not terrible at communicating when they're unhappy about something.

Reggie certainly isn't; even when he tries to swallow down his displeasure or unease, it's still obvious enough in his expression or demeanor, and it never stays buried for long. He isn't mad (well, actually, he is somewhat mad about the Kavinsky thing, that one does hurt his feelings somewhat), but given the nuances of their relationship and his own experience with love, sometimes the reminder that it doesn't always have to be conditional is necessary.

He kisses Nick back, leaning into it and breathing out slowly, letting their foreheads press together. ] 

I know. I know, I just-- [ He kisses him again. ] Some things are just harder for me, I guess. I don't know how to explain it.

[occultatum]

I know.

[He presses his forehead against his Reggie's in return, and they're there, holding onto each other.]

I'll keep reminding you.

[He has never dated anyone like Reggie; so handsome, so generous, and so unsure of himself, so concerned that he's not good enough.]

You don't have to explain it. I'll remind you every day.

[bragnificent]

Every day? [ He laughs a little. ] How can I resist that?

[ Reggie slides his hand up the nape of Nick's neck, stroking it up into his hair as he pulls back to look at him. He's never dated anyone like Nick, either -- Veronica had been similar in a lot of ways, sure, but still very different, and even now he doesn't know if he can call what happened between them dating, anyway -- for both the obvious reason and that he hasn't had a lot of committed relationships in the first place.

And never open ones. But, in case Nick doesn't already know this: ]

It isn't everyone that bothers me, though. I can live with us sleeping with other people. So-- [ He kisses him again slowly. ] Don't worry about that.

[ Not that he thinks Nick was worried about that.

Reggie parts Nick's legs a bit, fitting himself between them to kiss him deeper. ]

[occultatum]

Good.

[That much he needs to be sure about, because other than that, he isn't really unsure about anything. He leans into Reggie's body, kisses against his mouth, and holds him close.]

Let me love you best.

[bragnificent]

You know you already do. [ His fingers dig into Nick's hair more firmly. ] Not that you have anyone to compete against, but...

[ Another kiss, softer than before, and also brief. ]

Even if you did.

[ Reggie looks at him again, quiet, chewing his lip idly like he's considering something. His fingers stroke through Nick's hair, the other hand holding him at the back. ]

Can you just promise me one thing?