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All was quiet.
Or so Aesop wished it was.
Instead he was sitting by the fireplace, hearing the muffled noise from the group celebrating the holidays outside the very room he was secluded in.
He wished it could be quieter.
It wasn’t that he hated the holidays, oh no !
In reality it was just something they never really got to. . . Celebrate. What with his life with Jerry; every winter holiday was spent in silence, usually surrounded by the smell of chemicals. If he was lucky, maybe Jerry would make him a pastry for the occasion.
They didn’t even wanna risk making a pastry themself and run into the group; and even if the group already made their own, Aesop still wouldn’t be caught dead outside this room tonight.
Rest assured they were not bored. No, of course not.
No, no, he was just unsure.
Pondering, mostly. But also unsure.
Ever since he saw the light leave that wretched old man’s eyes he pondered what in the hell was even happening. What he’d do now. What to do. It came and went in waves, and dear, was this a big wave.
Gray eyes swam with confusion and pain as they tugged at their gloves, curling in on themself. The sounds seemed to get louder, feeling like screaming in their ears, as they gripped down on their mask, distress clear in their movements as they tried to push away the thoughts about their passed caretaker.
Closed eyes.
Regulating his breath.
Surely that’d help, yeah. . . ?
. . .
The hand on his shoulder then caused him to nearly jump out of his skin as he stared up at the newcomer- silver eyes met gray, before Aesop quickly flicked his gaze to the other’s nose, unable to hold the eye contact long.
“Luca. . . why aren’t you out with the others. . .?” A tentative question.
“Well I noticed y’weren’ with the others, ‘n I thought ‘Hey, maybe I should check in on Aesop’ y’know ? I realize now I probably shouldn’ave done that, huh. . . I jus’ wanted to make sure ya were okay ‘n all ‘cus lately you’ve been minglin’ more, so the sudden lapse is makin’ me a bit worried is all, dear.”
Aesop sighed then, placing a hand over Luca’s, before leaning into it. They shivered, closing their eyes, and held down on the other’s hand.
“‘Sop, dear, is something th' matter ? Is everythin' too loud for ya ? I know they can be a bi' overstimulatin', an I wanna make sure ya're alrigh', mi rosa preciosa. . ."
The embalmer didn't reply, insead just blinking slowly and gazing up at Luca.
"Hmm. . ." Moving gently, the inventor embraced Aesop, taking the ponytail out of their hair and running a hand through.
And the duo sat there, Luca gently running his hands through Aesop’s hair, the embalmer slowly nestling into the other as time passed. In fact, he didn’t even notice when the pale maid stepped in, her blue dress flowing in behind her.
“Balsa ? I got the cocoa. . .” Her voice was airy and soft, as she whispered, in order to keep from startling Aesop more than he clearly already was by the words- though it wasn’t very clear in his actions, as he opted to stare her down with no expression. In fact, it took her a moment for her to notice what the problem was.
“Oh, Carl. . . I am deeply sorry if I startled you.” She whispered gently, as she placed the tray onto the table nearest them. Judging by the look she gave, she hoped for some sort of reply from the embalmer, but she quickly gave up, nodding to them both and turning out the room.
Aesop turned away from the lady then, curling in against Luca and wrapping his arms around the other. Blinking as they stared up, they sighed, giving a gentle chin kiss to him. “I. . . love you, Luca.”
The inventor chuckled, giving them a chaste kiss on the head, and wrapping his arms back around them. “I love ya too, ‘Sop . . . ya’re so . . . Ah, I cannot put it int’ words, mi rosa preciosa. . .” He cups their cheeks then, sighing. “Ya’re so good . . .”
With a sudden thought interrupting him while the two are cuddling together, Aesop playing with Luca’s hair, the inventor rises up, a soft smile on his face as he looks up at his lover. “Would you care for a dance. . . ?”
The embalmer paused, staring at the other once again, before taking his hand, smiling under the mask.
“Of course, darling.”