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Post by Adrian Veidt on Aug 19, 2009 21:13:55 GMT -5
"Adrien, there's no need for that-"
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Post by Adrien Baillon on Aug 19, 2009 21:22:22 GMT -5
Adrien sniffed, glanced up with a red-rimmed eye at Veidt on the bed, and considered - even the voice in his head very small - climbing back up and crawling into his arms. But he couldn't do it.
He looked away, wiped his eyes on the back of his hand. After a moment, he said quietly, "By the time I was 15 I wanted it to stop, but I couldn't... I... I left as soon as I could."
Which was, of course, when he was 16.
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Post by Adrian Veidt on Aug 19, 2009 21:23:14 GMT -5
"Adrien, it makes absolutely no difference to me."
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Post by Adrien Baillon on Aug 19, 2009 21:24:11 GMT -5
"But - but - to me it's such a - "
He pushed his face into his arms and sobbed haltingly, overwhelmed again.
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Post by Adrian Veidt on Aug 19, 2009 21:25:54 GMT -5
"Try to control yourself."
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Post by Adrien Baillon on Aug 19, 2009 21:27:25 GMT -5
He stopped abruptly, took a deep breath, and tried.
There was another very long pause.
And then, in possibly the tiniest voice yet, he said, "...I... I can read, actually, you know. A little." And then, in a rush, he added - "but I'm not very good."
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Post by Adrian Veidt on Aug 19, 2009 21:29:30 GMT -5
"I assumed as much."
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Post by Adrien Baillon on Aug 19, 2009 21:31:06 GMT -5
It felt sort of like a rebuke, which it more or less was, and Adrien shrank a little.
After another long moment, he stood, a little shakily, and bent to pick up his vest as though his plan had been to leave, as it was. But he put it onto the bed instead, and sat down heavily.
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Post by Adrian Veidt on Aug 20, 2009 13:45:09 GMT -5
He put a hand on Adrien's knee in a small gesture of comfort.
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Post by Adrien Baillon on Aug 20, 2009 14:10:18 GMT -5
Adrien turned back towards him again, slipping his arms around his shoulders and kissing him.
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Post by Adrian Veidt on Aug 20, 2009 14:19:24 GMT -5
Adrian held him loosely, one hand moving gently up and down along the line of the younger man's spine, and sighed.
"My God, what has the world done to you."
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Post by Adrien Baillon on Aug 20, 2009 14:26:52 GMT -5
Adrien thought that was an overstatement, and felt badly, as though he'd dramatically exaggerated the whole thing and wished he could now take it back. "Nothing so bad," he whispered, pulling back just far enough to look Adrian in the eyes pleadingly. "It's all right, really."
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Post by Adrian Veidt on Aug 20, 2009 14:36:49 GMT -5
"It isn't," Adrian muttered, glancing away. "It isn't all right at all. It isn't fair, or just, or-"
He stopped himself. He'd been on the verge of a rant.
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Post by Adrien Baillon on Aug 20, 2009 14:38:52 GMT -5
"No," said Adrien softly, quickly, "but that's the point, isn't it, it isn't fair. I mean, look at how easy I've gotten it..." He kissed him again and then looked at him meaningfully. "It could be worse."
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Post by Adrian Veidt on Aug 20, 2009 14:40:00 GMT -5
"It shouldn't have to be."
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