[log] justin! he's punching all my blood out! [closed]

[bywolves]

Characters: Royce Melborn and Alfie Solomons
Location: House 12
Date: Day 351ish
Summary: We'll see if they both last the night, honestly.
Warnings: violence, extra stuff will be cw'd in the subject lines.

BUILDING 12: This bizarre house, while fully intact, only consists of one very large empty room and a hatch that leads to the maintenance tunnels.

Comments

[devoutish]

[Alfie's pretty glad to be able to lie down for this. He trembles when Royce pulls the needle out for the final time, closing his eyes.]

Thanks, mate.

[He murmurs, sounding a little distant and out of breath.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce makes a quiet affirmative noise before standing up to go drag his blankets over to the air mattress. He makes a nest for Alfie, covering him in blankets and pillows, and then grabs for the Tylenol. ]

Pain pills. And then I'll let you sleep. [ He's insistent. ]

[devoutish]

I'd like you to sleep, as well.

[He'll swallow the pills dry, unless Royce presses some water at him too.]

[bywolves]

[ He absolutely pushes water at Alfie, fussy. Once Alfie's taken them, though, Royce's shoulders slump, like he's used up all of his energy. He nods a bit, climbing into the nest with Alfie if only because he knows they need each other to generate warmth.

Right now, he doesn't feel like he deserves that much comfort, but this is a good way to make sure Alfie stays comfortable, so. Royce settles around Alfie, careful of Alfie's arm. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie lets him wrap around him, reaching out to settle a hand on his cheek for a second.]

I missed you.

[bywolves]

[ Royce leans into that hand, just for a moment, and then shifts to tuck Alfie's head under his chin. ]

I missed you. [ Even if he didn't know it. ] Rest.

[devoutish]

I'm resting.

[He's lying down and his eyes are almost all the way closed; that's good enough, right?]

Not gonna be up for walking today.

[bywolves]

Me either. [ Royce mumbles, closing his eyes. ] Haven't slept well.

[devoutish]

Too busy waiting for me to come slit your throat?

[bywolves]

[ He's silent for a moment. Quietly: ]

Too busy waiting for everybody to come slit my throat.

[devoutish]

Mm.

[Alfie's brows knit together.]

I'm sorry I lied to you. I wouldn't've done it under normal circumstances.

[bywolves]

I was convinced you were trying to get me to let my guard down. [ His voice is still soft. ] I just got out of Manzant. You knew so much. Last person to know that much --

[ Well. You know. ]

[devoutish]

Mm, yeah.

In the beginning, I didn't want to add on to all the people trying to convince you that you knew them. And then, well - admitting I'd lied seemed like a bad sort of plan.

[bywolves]

There wasn't really a way you could've done better. I wouldn't have trusted you even if you'd told the truth.

[ Royce breathes out slow. ]

I thought about killing you.

[devoutish]

[He pats Royce's cheek again.]

I would've won you over eventually.

[bywolves]

You did once already. [ He closes his eyes. ]

[devoutish]

Yeah.

[He tucks a lock of hair behind Royce's ear.]

Go to sleep.

[bywolves]

Okay.

[ He might. He might doze for just a while. Or until the sound of the doors closing during lockdown wakes him up, or -- something. He'll sleep, for just a while. Restlessly, shivery. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie huddles close, head buried in Royce's chest, trying to both leech warmth and provide it. He'll sleep through the doors locking, and through Royce waking. Getting the stitches had taken a lot out of him, but by now the Tylenol is kicking in, and he's a little more comfortable.]

[bywolves]

[ Past lockdown, Royce feels like it's safe. He feels like it's safe enough for him to slide out from under the blankets to grab the discarded bottle of wine, and uncork it. Safe enough to settle against the wall and just... drink. Drink half the bottle. Not slowly, either, just sip after sip after sip.

It's easy enough to get drunk. That's what he wants. He can be drunk, and he can watch over Alfie. ]

[devoutish]

{Alfie doesn't wake up just yet, but it's not long before he's shifting closer to the edge of the mattress, into the warm spot that Royce had left behind. His hand snakes out from under the blanket, searching for the other man - it's cold, and he hasn't been on his own long enough to get used to the lack of warmth that comes from sleeping alone.]

[bywolves]

[ Clumsily, Royce reaches over to rest a hand on Alfie's hand. He's not far, just leaning against the wall, bottle of wine in one hand, resting on the floor. The first time he reaches, he misses. Misjudges how far Alfie's hand is from him. The second time, he makes it. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie cracks an eye open, frowning.]

Oi.

[You're nice and warm; why did you leave?]

[bywolves]

Mm.

[ Royce hums absently. He pets Alfie's hand vaguely. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie opens the other eye, sitting up on his uninjured elbow.]

I smell wine.