For Alyosha

[john_ofdarkness]

Shhhh, anti-OTP weekend isn't over until we say it is.

When Alyosha gets back to the room that he shares, he'll find John still in bed, sheets wrapped around him like a cocoon. He's awake--but he can't be bothered to move from his nest more than necessary, only raising his eyes a little and grinning at the entrance. "Hello, duck. Almost late for your prayers."

Comments

[tinylittleonion.livejournal.com]

He smiles, a silly little smile that is nonetheless gentle. "You say that as though God keeps a schedule, and isn't everywhere at every hour, and always listening ... and as though you haven't tried to make me late for prayers, yourself." Sitting on the side of the bed, he bends down to kiss him. "How are you? Are you cold? You look cold, bundled like that."

[john-ofdarkness.livejournal.com]

"I'm used to a bit more warmth at night," he says, gently chiding, freeing a hand to cup the back of Alyosha's neck and keep him in the kiss. This close, John can hardly mistake the scent of him--the little traces of dishevelment that he knows quite well--and he leans back to look Alyosha over. "Well, well."

[tinylittleonion.livejournal.com]

Blushing, to know he's being looked at, but it's slow to dawn on him why -- so he laughs and waits to be told. "Well?"

[john-ofdarkness.livejournal.com]

He smirks, not angry, but rather amused at how utterly bad Alyosha is at deception. "You didn't have to tell me you were 'visiting your brother' if you wanted a roll in the hay."

[tinylittleonion.livejournal.com]

It's like he isn't isn't even trying! Or at least doesn't know how to. "I did visit my brother," he says, still blushing and rather badly, "but I don't mean to keep anything from you ... I also ..."

[john-ofdarkness.livejournal.com]

"Was he any good?" He sits upright, against the headboard, knees drawn up so that he can rest his arms on them.

[tinylittleonion.livejournal.com]

-- ! Wait, he can blush more than this. "I can't believe you asked that -- !"

[john-ofdarkness.livejournal.com]

"Call it compensation for finding out after the fact." He pats the bed beside him, suggesting by it that Alyosha should sit close. "Well, was he?"

[tinylittleonion.livejournal.com]

"I can believe you asked that." He takes off his shoes so he can draw his legs on to the bed, and settle next to him, a little childish-shy. "But you don't seem to be angry or unhappy with me ... it's a good thing, that you aren't unhappy. And if it will make you happier to know, then" eep "yes, he was."

[john-ofdarkness.livejournal.com]

John reaches out, running his hand through Alyosha's hair. "Is this going to be a regular thing? Should I expect you in someone else's bed more often?"

[tinylittleonion.livejournal.com]

He leans into it, letting it ease him justslightly. "Not so often that I'd let you become used to being cold."

[john-ofdarkness.livejournal.com]

"It's very sweet that you're imagining me pining for you, alone in bed." He chuckles. "You have too much faith in me, Alyoshka. I'll just find someone else to shag."

[tinylittleonion.livejournal.com]

Sheepish, "I don't mean to say you couldn't -- I would be glad, if you weren't alone ..."

[john-ofdarkness.livejournal.com]

"You don't sound entirely convinced of that."

[tinylittleonion.livejournal.com]

"No, because it's something I've never thought about until recently ... I can't put into words very well. But I think I would be glad, if it made you glad."

[john-ofdarkness.livejournal.com]

"Still interested in me, then?" He asks it casually, but in the way that he draws Alyosha close, there is a fear of insufficiency.

[tinylittleonion.livejournal.com]

"I am," he answers, kissing him softly on the lips. "Never doubt that."

[john-ofdarkness.livejournal.com]

"You did ask him whether he's got any diseases, didn't you?" He doesn't actually wait for Alyosha to answer. "You're going to have to start asking, duck. I wouldn't want to get AIDS--or syphilis, or whatever the disease is in your time--I wouldn't want to get that because you thought it would be awkward to bring the matter up."

[tinylittleonion.livejournal.com]

Aghembarrassed. "Of course I don't want you to, either ... I'm certain that he hasn't, that he would detest himself if he did and didn't tell me ... but if you think it would better if I asked him outright, then of course I'll ask ... I won't let any harm come to you through me ... !"

[john-ofdarkness.livejournal.com]

"So it's someone you trust--perhaps even someone you love, hm?" Griiiiiin. "Or someone who you think loves you, which I suppose amounts to the same thing."

[tinylittleonion.livejournal.com]

"It is someone I trust -- but it would have to be someone I trusted. Did you suspect that it wasn't?"

[john-ofdarkness.livejournal.com]

He shrugs. "You're not really capable of distrusting, so I suppose I'm not capable of suspecting it."

[tinylittleonion.livejournal.com]

"You make me sound naive," with a smile, though.

[john-ofdarkness.livejournal.com]

"You are naive. It's endearing." And for that, he'll have to give Alyosha a kiss. "What was it, then? Amateur fumbling, or something more sophisticated?"

[tinylittleonion.livejournal.com]

Then Alyosha will have to snuggle him unabashedly -- even if the question does make him color and duck his head, almost from habit. "I didn't know there was a hierarchy," he laughs.