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Post by Lee Chaolan on Jul 11, 2008 2:59:56 GMT -5
There, in the corner of his eye, was a tiny wrinkle, uncovered from the fading makeup. When Lee smiled at the compliment, the tiny wrinkles deepened more, but did not make him look as old as he feared appearing.
"Then I will stay with those shades," was his reply, and Lee shuffled back near Jason again, smirking as he reached up to rub a bit of the pale pink wax off of the inspector's mouth with his thumb. "But this shade does not suit you in the least."
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Post by Inspector Jason Cluont on Jul 11, 2008 3:04:18 GMT -5
He made a rather indignant face and quickly wiped his mouth on the back of his sleeve before clearing his throat.
"I wouldn't limit what you choose to wear, the jade was lovely as well."
Jason studied the man's face again, pulling him close, gently, to his side so that Lee could rest against him.
"Why...do you wear it? Do you prefer to look feminine?"
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Post by Lee Chaolan on Jul 11, 2008 3:21:12 GMT -5
Resting his head against Cluont's shoulder, Lee sighed heavily. How to explain his need to cover up?
"Something like that..." he murmured, resting a hand on Jason's chest, tapping a finger against the muscle he felt underneath. "I prefer to be seen as beautiful... and it's not so effete in Asia, if you remember."
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Post by Inspector Jason Cluont on Jul 11, 2008 3:24:53 GMT -5
"You are beautiful regardless. And I do remember, but we are not in China, and you really must be careful here."
That didn't mean he wanted Lee to stop painting his face, of course. Lee was...so beautiful, it almost didn't seem a crime to desire him, for all his feminine grace and smooth, pale skin...the lean curves of his body... Jason shivered a bit.
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Post by Lee Chaolan on Jul 11, 2008 3:38:06 GMT -5
Lee felt the shiver and looked up, a brow raised. When he shifted a bit to see Jason better, his hand flattened on the man's chest - briefly - and he felt warm, drawn muscle... he blushed a lovely pink under all his makeup.
"J-Jason, are you all right?" he asked, drawing a leg under himself to get just a bit higher on the sofa. He forgot all about the inspector's cautioning, wriggling his trapped hand up under Jason's strong arm. Arms that made him feel safe... and small... Lee's breathing picked up a little bit.
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Post by Inspector Jason Cluont on Jul 11, 2008 3:41:50 GMT -5
"I'm fine."
He loosened his grip a bit to let Lee move freely.
"Are you tired?"
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Post by Lee Chaolan on Jul 11, 2008 3:45:35 GMT -5
"I do think I'd like to lay down," he said quickly, still blushing.
"You're not going to sleep on this couch again, are you? It must be terrible on you..."
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Post by Inspector Jason Cluont on Jul 11, 2008 3:49:31 GMT -5
"No."
He stood and waffled for a moment, then picked up his cudgel and gave Lee a slight nod of his head to follow him, going out into the hall and up the stairs to his room.
Jason paused in the doorway, surveying the side of the room that had remained untouched--piles of books and papers, the uniform hanging from that side of the bed, one of Justin's shirts laid out on the desk on that wall next to the bottle containing the tiny remainder of the cologne the man used to wear...he wasn't sure he wanted someone else in that space.
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Post by Lee Chaolan on Jul 11, 2008 3:54:05 GMT -5
Lee had followed Jason up the stairs, and almost walked into the broader man's back when he came to a sudden stop. Peering over Jason's shoulder, the silver haired man rested his hands on Cluont's back, sensing something was wrong.
"If you're not ready, I can sleep downstairs," he offered quietly, trying to avoid sounding hurt. They had only just shared one kiss - it was probably far too early to assume he could also share a bed.
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Post by Inspector Jason Cluont on Jul 11, 2008 4:02:25 GMT -5
"It's just...it still smells like him, in here. The pillows and the quilt, his clothes. I'm not ready to give that up."
He sighed and leaned in, pulling the door closed.
"We'll sleep in my uncle's room--your room--downstairs." He'd be closer to the study and his needle that way as well.
He headed back downstairs and into the room Lee had borrowed--the bed was just barely large enough for the two of them, and he sat on one side, leaning his cudgel against the cluttered nightstand there, still for a few moments with his hands in his lap before casting a glance up to Lee momentarily and leaning down to remove his boots.
He pulled his shirt off and undid the braces from his trousers, and then, still saying nothing, he folded down the stiff, hidden flap in the leg of his pants and unsnapped the lower part of the material, revealing the old, worn structure of iron, wood and leather underneath.
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Post by Lee Chaolan on Jul 11, 2008 4:16:00 GMT -5
Lee could understand, at least, the difficulty of moving on - just because he had made no family - it did not mean his leaving China was any easier. Agreeing to stay downstairs, Lee had brought with him a dampened wash cloth with the intent of cleansing his face before bed.
When Jason started to undress, Lee had kept his back to him, making use of a small mirror to wash his face, frowning at the "old man" who looked back up at him from the polished glass. Setting the mirror aside, Lee had turned back just in time to watch Jason open the hidden flap, looking at the old structure underneath.
It took a couple moments to realize what it was, but when the reality sank in, Lee drew in his breath slowly. It also made sense as to why Jason was in such pain - not only the missing leg, but the replacement was in terrible shape. He found it hard to not stare, but it was difficult.
Crossing to the inspector's side, Lee leaned down and placed a kiss on Jason's forehead.
"You are a stronger man than I thought, Jason."
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Post by Inspector Jason Cluont on Jul 11, 2008 4:22:34 GMT -5
"I had to fight to remain in my position on the force. The man who made this for me left the country."
He worked the fastenings, buckles, and the device came away, no longer a leg, just a broken and clanking thing. Jason laid it out on the floor and swung up into the bed, not caring to talk about it any longer.
"I would have preferred you had not seen it, of course."
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Post by Lee Chaolan on Jul 11, 2008 4:30:07 GMT -5
Letting Jason have his end of it, Lee changed into his night shirt, moving around to the other side of the bed when he was ready. Sitting on the bed, Lee hesitated on turning around, for his own reasons. For one thing, the insult he had paid the Frenchman upon their first meeting - just made him feel all the more guilty for it. Reaching to douse the oil lamp, Lee waited until it was dark to move into the comfort of the bed.
He was considering his own secret, wondering if Jason had guessed the truth by now anyway.
Snuggling up to the bigger man, Lee rested his head on Jason's shoulder, a hand rested on his chest again.
"There are things I have not wanted you to know either, Jason. I can understand your desire to hide..."
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Post by Inspector Jason Cluont on Jul 11, 2008 22:42:16 GMT -5
"What have you to hide?"
Certainly, Lee didn't have any physical deficiencies..unless those men...
"Did they...hurt you? Very badly, I mean...there?"
Strong, dark hands rested one on Lee's shoulder, the other on the slender hand upon his chest.
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Post by Lee Chaolan on Jul 11, 2008 23:08:07 GMT -5
Clearing his throat, Lee blushed in the darkness. "Yes, they have..." They had been very rough with his body, and though he was sure it was all healing well, it was just embarrassing to have someone else know about what had happened... what he experienced.
"I wear makeup for personal reasons as well," he murmured, willing to share with Jason that much. "I'm not as young as I may seem..."
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