Alcuin

[whispersoflove]

Anael had been keeping an eye out for Alcuin without noticing him - until, of course, he spotted him with Hannibal, his attention drawn by the love radiating from the alcove. They were locked in a lover's embrace, for all that only one of them felt the warm sort of love Anael knew to recognise. There had been a flicker of something else for a second, coming from Hannibal, but it was gone as soon as it had sparked. It both warmed his heart and seeped cold into his bones, and he turned away to get another glass of wine from a passing waiter.

He had found Julie again in the crowd, and she was just telling him about this other party she was off to, and that he absolutely ought to come to. It was then that he spotted a flash of white in the crowd, making his way towards the exit, and he leaned in to kiss Julie's cheek, and gave her his warmest apologies, but there was a friend here that he had yet to catch, and she should make the most of her night. He would catch up with her if he could, but otherwise, she truly ought to seize the day.

Not that she needed him to tell her that.

He caught up with Alcuin, dressed in a white suit as Hannibal had described, the better to make him look... well, angelic, Anael supposed humans would call him. "Alcuin," he greeted him warmly, assuming that the mask on his features would not stop the young man from recognising him, as it had not stopped Hannibal. "Tell me you aren't on your way out already. I've been looking for you."

Comments

[alcuin]

Alcuin first interpreted the sound of his name as a sexy one, and was moving towards Hani's neck again with his mouth, but then saw the expression on Hani's face and followed his gaze back.

The sight was Hannibal startled him immensely. He immediately scrambled off of Hani and to his feet. Though his reaction was not one of shame, or even embarrassment, just surprise.

"Hannibal! I - I didn't think you'd be here so soon."

[anamusebouche]

For a brief moment Hannibal didn't know how to react. He wasn't angry, as such, but he would snap Hani's neck and be done with it without a second's hesitation.

He didn't, though. "I'm glad I didn't come later," he said, a little wryness in his voice. Had he come here later, might have meant catching the two in a far more intimate situation.

A little sadness on his face. "Did I mistake your meaning earlier tonight?"

[whispersoflove]

Anael immediately missed the warm weight of Alcuin on top of him, but felt not even a twinge of shame for what they had been doing. He stood, adjusting his clothes and keeping his expression neutral. He had no part to play in this conversation.

[alcuin]

Alcuin pulled his shirt off of the ground and tugged in on, though didn't bother to button it. "You didn't," he said gently to Hannibal. "I mentioned to Hani that you were coming later. He saw me home, and then we were..." A little self deprecating smile touched his lips. "Reading poetry. I didn't think you'd be here for some time, so I apologize you walked in on us, that was inconsiderate of me." He turned back to Hani. "And to you as well. I'm sorry."

[anamusebouche]

"At least you weren't lonely, which I feared you might be," Hannibal said, keeping his voice kind and neutral. Only his eyes were slightly downcast and his lips were caught in a wry halfhearted smile.

"I apologize for my intrusion." He said this to Alcuin and Hani as well.

[whispersoflove]

Anael shook his head slightly, to dismiss the apology as unnecessary. "I was only keeping you company until Hannibal arrived," he told Alcuin softly, laying a hand on his back, as if the touch would assure Alcuin that it was alright, truly. And it was. "I'll go."

Much as he did not like the doctor, he would not stand between Alcuin and him, not even for one night, if he could help it.

[alcuin]

Alcuin would have been, actually. Lonely. That thought made him give Hani a fond smile. "Here," he said, and picked up the book to hand him. "You can take this if you like, and read the rest. If you promise to bring it back to me." It was quite a show of trust; there were so few copies of the book. But he wanted an excuse to see Hani again.

And it was Hani that he wanted to leave now, not Hannibal. Since he knew not both would stay.

[anamusebouche]

Hannibal was pleased that he was not asked to leave, though he hadn't expected a different outcome. He had the decency not to show this, and waited patiently for the man to leave.

[whispersoflove]

"I promise," Anael told his friend with a soft, touched smile, touching his hand in gratitude as he took the book from him. He would have to drop it off with someone else, before he returned it to Alcuin, but he could think of one or two people he would trust with it. "Enjoy the rest of your evening," he told the both of them, before heading out.

[alcuin]

Alcuin started to say something else, but he could tell at least that Hani did not seem offended or upset. Once he was gone, Alcuin looked up at Hannibal.

"I'm sorry if that was awkward for you," he said quietly.

[anamusebouche]

Awkward, yes. Not for seeing two men in an embrace, but for seeing such quiet adoration, such simple display of affection. It only confirmed that Alcuin was still his own, and was not ready yet to learn Hannibal's truth. He suddenly felt quite lonely.

"I shouldn't mind." Shouldn't, but did.

[alcuin]

"Perhaps not, but I can tell that you do," Alcuin said gently. "Do you want to talk about it?"

[anamusebouche]

"Do you?" He couldn't imagine it.

[alcuin]

"I want to hear what you want to say," Alcuin said. "As always." He put a hand lightly on Hannibal's arm, rubbed it gently. "Or not, if you don't want to say anything at all. Would you like some wine?"

[anamusebouche]

"Do I make you feel lonely?" Hannibal asked, looking at the hand on his arm.

[alcuin]

Alcuin hesitated. "I... explained to you earlier tonight exactly how I was feeling." He wondered why he was asking. Did Hannibal feel something like that too?

[anamusebouche]

"That was tonight," Hannibal said. "I mean in general." And yes, that was exactly how Alcuin made him feel.

[alcuin]

"In general? No, Hannibal. There are fleeting times, like tonight, for complicated reasons... but no, you make me feel the opposite of lonely." Alcuin bit his lip. "Have I... made you feel badly?"

[anamusebouche]

Hannibal smiled a small smile. "You could never." It was a lie, and one Hannibal meant Alcuin to see. He accepted the poured wine and took a sip.

"We've been spotted," he said, as if keen to change the subject. "On the balcony. Apparently, the curtain did nothing to hide us from view once the lights went on."

[alcuin]

Alcuin's eyes went a little wide. "Oh. Oh. I'm sorry, I hope... did someone say something to you?"

[anamusebouche]

"Don't be sorry. There's nothing to be sorry about," Hannibal assured, and even smiled a little. "Kersen saw and told me. I imagine he wasn't the only one."

A beat. "I don't mind. I do wonder how long it will take for the news to find its way back to me."

[alcuin]

Alcuin sighed softly. "I mind, if it's going to cause problems for you." But then he looked up at him. "But... I can't deny that it feels good to hear that you don't."

[anamusebouche]

"I've told you, Alcuin. I may need some time, but I'm neither ashamed nor regretful about my decision."

[alcuin]

"And you're sure you're not upset about me with Hani?" Alcuin asked. "You can tell me. What you're feeling."

[anamusebouche]

Like Alcuin had been upset in finding Kersen and Hannibal together, Hannibal found himself quite annoyed by Hani. In this case, though, it wasn't passionate desire that had caused displeasure, but the gentle tenderness with which Hani invaded a place in Alcuin's heart, that Hannibal had considered his.

"Love comes easy to him. Perhaps I'm jealous of that," He analyzed. He was fairly certain he wasn't jealous, but his words were partly true at least.