[ Their gaze catch one another's, steady and strangely intense. The stormlight in Alec's eyes flickers, pulsing with the very real ralization of just how much of himself he's already given to this man, and how much Henry has given in return. ]
The same thing it would do to me, probably, if the reverse were true. I told you, this goes both ways. And I'll be damned before I let you give me special treatment that you don't want for yourself.
[As always, the storm in Alec’s eyes is arresting, and in this case, it seems to underline his point. As hard as it is to parse that anyone could feel as intensely about their connection as Henry, looking at him now, it’s almost too easy to believe. This really does go both ways, not in just sentiment, but in degrees. Like they’ve exchanged the rawest parts of themselves, trusting the other not to break it in their hands.
Maybe that’s exactly what they’ve done.
He exhales, not realizing he’d been holding in a breath. It takes effort to even break away from the light in Alec’s eyes.] I'm not trying to be unfair. I just don't want anything to happen. When we're free of this place... you're all I have.
[ You're all I have. Fuck, why do those words seize him like that? Like fingers curling tight around his heart so hard it threatens to stop. Most of all, why does he let it happen? He should know better. People are traps, after all, and Alec's fallen for the biggest one there is. There's a massive, Henry-sized hole in his armor and one day that's going to get the better of him.
He supposes he'll just have to find an answer for that, too. Both of them will. ]
I know. But don't forget, I've been throwing myself headlong into danger longer than you've been alive. It hasn't killed me yet.
[ Sometimes despite his best efforts. But that was then. ]
[If there is an answer for it. Maybe this is just what it's like, sharing so much with another person: the gaping hole in one's once-impervious armor is just part of the arrangement.]
Well. I'll take what comfort I can.
[He does not doubt Alec's capabilities. This is just a theoretical, shaped like a worst-case scenario. But it's one that would shatter so much if it ever came to pass.
So where does that leave them? Glancing back at Alec, he supposes the man's right. It leaves them with trust.]
But fine, you win this one. I'll trust you to get me out of any kind of trouble, as long as you promise you'll always do the same.
[ That's all either of them can hope to do. It's a promise that might be harder to keep here, where so much is out of their hands, but once they get home? He's going to do his level best to make sure neither of them have to worry about it. ]
Besides, if nothing else, know I'm gonna fight ten times harder than I ever have, now that I've got something worth fighting for.
[Oh, Alec. Be careful of the things you say. Every day, Henry does not think he cannot possibly entwine himself around this man anymore than he already has.
And every day, Alec proves him wrong. Again, that constricting feeling grips him.]
You had better. [A small, small smile.] I'll know if you're holding back. And anyone who puts us in danger doesn't deserve that.
[ He slides off his jacket, tosses it aside to join his jeans on the floor. He'll have to wash and fix those later, he notes, but not right now.
With his arms now mostly exposed, it's an easy thing to indicate one tattoo at a time, listing off their function. ]
Lightning magic. Fire. Water. Ice. Air. Invisibility. Shield. Enhanced strength. Enhanced speed. Enhanced durability. That last one I have to thank for my lack of broken bones right now.
And then these two— [ his wrists ] —are designed to spring handcuffs.
[Eyes trail from tattoo to tattoo as Alec explains. He's doing his level best to commit it to memory, but already, this is a lot -- even if he's seen examples of almost all of them before. (At least in the dream.)
Within reason. These have all served me well enough over the years. I can't think of anything else I need to add.
But even if I wanted to, it'd have to wait until we got back home. [ "We." Funny how that just comes out naturally. ] The Elemental spells are my own design. The rest are commissioned.
[ Alec goes quiet for a minute, looking at Henry. There's something considering in his gaze, like he's not sure if he really wants to say what he wants to say or not.
[That’s… not at all what he expected. His brows raise higher, clearly showing this on his face.
Fire would be a problem if he ever regained some form of access to his old body. But even now, with this problem downgraded to “aversion”, that’s a very compelling offer.]
That would be helpful. I won’t be afraid of the stove anymore.
[He jokes, so it must be a good sign.]
How? With…
[Well. He glances at the bands of ink around Alec’s arms.]
[ In truth, Alec had been hesitant to even mention it. This kind of spellwork is a bit more in-depth than he's ever gotten with his studies, and he didn't want to gen Henry's hopes up.
Now it's out in the open, and he finds himself strangely up to the challenge more than he had been. There are stakes, now that Henry's in the know. ]
I need to finish putting together the spellwork first. It's a work in progress.
Once I get it working correctly, yeah, you'll need a tattoo. I mean for it to be something that's permanently active so you don't have to worry about it.
[Even if it didn't come to fruition, the idea that Alec even thought to put in the effort? That he considered the idea at all? That counts for something. It's more than most have given him.
He seems to realize that; or the culmination of so many gestures from this man strikes him all at once.]
Alec... If it doesn't work, that's all right, too. You've done plenty already.
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The same thing it would do to me, probably, if the reverse were true. I told you, this goes both ways. And I'll be damned before I let you give me special treatment that you don't want for yourself.
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Maybe that’s exactly what they’ve done.
He exhales, not realizing he’d been holding in a breath. It takes effort to even break away from the light in Alec’s eyes.] I'm not trying to be unfair. I just don't want anything to happen. When we're free of this place... you're all I have.
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He supposes he'll just have to find an answer for that, too. Both of them will. ]
I know. But don't forget, I've been throwing myself headlong into danger longer than you've been alive. It hasn't killed me yet.
[ Sometimes despite his best efforts. But that was then. ]
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Well. I'll take what comfort I can.
[He does not doubt Alec's capabilities. This is just a theoretical, shaped like a worst-case scenario. But it's one that would shatter so much if it ever came to pass.
So where does that leave them? Glancing back at Alec, he supposes the man's right. It leaves them with trust.]
But fine, you win this one. I'll trust you to get me out of any kind of trouble, as long as you promise you'll always do the same.
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[ That's all either of them can hope to do. It's a promise that might be harder to keep here, where so much is out of their hands, but once they get home? He's going to do his level best to make sure neither of them have to worry about it. ]
Besides, if nothing else, know I'm gonna fight ten times harder than I ever have, now that I've got something worth fighting for.
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And every day, Alec proves him wrong. Again, that constricting feeling grips him.]
You had better. [A small, small smile.] I'll know if you're holding back. And anyone who puts us in danger doesn't deserve that.
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Would you? You haven't even seen all of my tricks yet.
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[alec you really are annoying to fight, aren't you]
What else could you possibly do that I haven't already seen?
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Plenty of things. I don't have all these tattoos just for show, you know.
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Well, do you plan on sharing? It's not very fair since you know most of mine already.
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[ He slides off his jacket, tosses it aside to join his jeans on the floor. He'll have to wash and fix those later, he notes, but not right now.
With his arms now mostly exposed, it's an easy thing to indicate one tattoo at a time, listing off their function. ]
Lightning magic. Fire. Water. Ice. Air. Invisibility. Shield. Enhanced strength. Enhanced speed. Enhanced durability. That last one I have to thank for my lack of broken bones right now.
And then these two— [ his wrists ] —are designed to spring handcuffs.
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A brow arching.]
And do you find yourself in handcuffs very often?
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at least in that way]Handy.
So as long as you have room for a tattoo, you can keep adding little shortcuts to your repertoire? Am I understanding that correctly?
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But even if I wanted to, it'd have to wait until we got back home. [ "We." Funny how that just comes out naturally. ] The Elemental spells are my own design. The rest are commissioned.
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You do seem fairly prepared with what you have. And I have to admit, I'm a little envious.
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[ He arches a brow. ]
What, hoping for some sick tattoos of your own?
[ Alec your tattoos are literally just stripes. ]
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[It’s an awful one, actually. Henry is purposefully sarcastic.]
No, I mean that I’m jealous that yours have utility. They’re of value to you.
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Eventually, though. ]
About that. I've been working on a thing.
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But then Alec speaks, and Henry tilts his head a little.]
What kind of “thing”?
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[ It's not a problem so much as an aversion, but whatever. ]
I can't make you truly fireproof, that's a bit beyond me, but I think I can make you fire repellant. Can't hurt you if it can't touch you, right?
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Fire would be a problem if he ever regained some form of access to his old body. But even now, with this problem downgraded to “aversion”, that’s a very compelling offer.]
That would be helpful. I won’t be afraid of the stove anymore.
[He jokes, so it must be a good sign.]
How? With…
[Well. He glances at the bands of ink around Alec’s arms.]
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Now it's out in the open, and he finds himself strangely up to the challenge more than he had been. There are stakes, now that Henry's in the know. ]
I need to finish putting together the spellwork first. It's a work in progress.
Once I get it working correctly, yeah, you'll need a tattoo. I mean for it to be something that's permanently active so you don't have to worry about it.
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He seems to realize that; or the culmination of so many gestures from this man strikes him all at once.]
Alec... If it doesn't work, that's all right, too. You've done plenty already.
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I'll make it work. It's been a long time since I dove into my Elementalism studies. It'll be good for me.
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