P.ᴇʀғᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ

It wasn’t a bad thing, of course, but the shock showed readily on his face. Redily, even… he was already growing pink. Was this Reiji’s intention? With words like desire and demands… favors and rewards—ah, that hand on his leg. Sospetto. This had to be what he meant. But how could he even reply to such a thing like that, such a vague offer? As always, Reiji was an ambiguous sort. A mystery, an active phantom, his quiet shadow… and he certainly prided himself on that. Pride. Orgoglio. …Ah, was he…?

Caesar sat up, then, running a hand through his hair. He had definitely considered this once or twice — perhaps more if he was forced to admit it — but to actually be posed with this question? A rare opportunity indeed. He struggled with what to say, the pink in his cheeks spreading even to his ears. Everything that had to do with Reiji, whether it be acts of love or sexual desire… it was all foreign to him. Uncomfortably so. Commitment itself, like this; hah, what a concept. 

Nevertheless, he attempted to reply, "… …B-bene… …I mean… …ah…” Strike one. Why was this so frustratingly difficult? His boyishness was showing once more as he sighed heavily.

His words now a breathy whisper tickling Caesar's senses, Reiji states his terms. "Now, you are not to move your hands without my guidance. You shall not move without my permission." Both palms press down on the other's chest, both bodies forced down on the bed-- Caesar on his back and Reiji straddling above. Knees positioned on either side of Caesar's waist, Reiji straightens completely. He works at his own tie, sanguines not once leaving his partner's presence.

Egoista. Yes… could it really be considered bad?

Like many things here, he wondered, he wondered. Even now, revived of a week long perish, he did not actually hate this place. It would perhaps surprise people to know that, and he too had felt initial shock. A place that advertised despair, an inescapable amount of terror and fear… He had died twice now, this time a much longer span, a much greater burden and pain… but he had come back, once more. Living, breathing. Alive. His reality would not be so kind. Returning to Italy, traveling to reassume the fight with Jojo, Lisa Lisa… he would already be gone. Forever.

And this time, he would not have the comfort of those eyes. Sanguine eyes…

In his afterlife, this realization had become clear. He would choose this trying process over and over again if it meant that they would be experiencing it together. Long removed from his previous fight… this was what he wanted. Yes. This was really it. He still wanted to be happy… to experience life. It hurt to see Reiji this way, the risk of dying continually and causing this once more… but he would come back, again and again… right? He would fight for the opportunity. A fight he never knew he was capable of. He would remain in tact, his arms encircling like this. A protector, a provider. Again and again, this lover would. Ripetizione. Ripetizione. Ripetizione.

He could say many more things. Words and words… ahh, no. Words were never enough. This had been discovered long ago with Reiji. "… …Wasn’t it… you… who told me how little words mattered?" His voice was soft but his intentions ever strong. Confident and assured. He shifted them so he could look down and meet his gaze. "… I could apologize forever… but the value in actions, fantasma… their sincerity…”

A lean forward; a kiss, weak and light, was pressed to his forehead.

And in turn, Reiji himself... he listens, as well. He gives the same respect to Caesar, as Caesar gave to him.

Respect. Respect.

Ah, he must really be tired, isn't he?

Despite his ensnaring in the other male's arms, Reiji felt too exhausted to move. Too exhausted to allow previously established habits take hold of his behavior. Exhausted, and comfortable. Safe. Comfortable. All of the above. A slow exhale escapes his lips. 

"Idiot." His words soft, tired from an emotional outburst he had kept locked away for so long. "I know. I am well aware of my own past words." Half-true. 

A bout of silence, his form lax in the other's arms. "It's rare... ... ... to be in the presence of someone who listens and adheres to sound advice..." If he could, he would simply slip into slumber right here, yet... how embarrassing would that be? How unsightly for a proud vampire to fall asleep in the arms of an equally worn down human?

No, these days were mostly clear skies. The Sun was bright and proud.

The other had a softness to his voice. Beckoning, dolce… Caesar rose and did as was requested of him, sitting beside his partner. Ah, he certainly felt relaxed, especially as he regarded his body language. There was a recline in his posture — still elegant, still refined — that seemed to match the calm timbre in his words. He too couldn’t help but allow himself the luxury of relaxation; he sat forward, propping his elbows on his knees, his chin on his hands. Boyishly, he smiled.

Now, how on Earth was he to commence this return of a favor? My, he did not expect such an activity to be so difficult to carry out. It is said to be a natural act between two individuals in love. Love, he felt, was far too strong of a word however. Love, an emotion even now he finds difficult to swallow and accept. Although, he does indeed acknowledge such exist within him, the acceptance thereof... a difficult task, indeed.

At last, the vampire makes his move, gloved hand resting on the other's unoccupied leg. Sanguines cast their gaze upon the boyish Italian, greens meeting his own reds.

And yet, here he stood, tall and proud against the silent ocean, embracing and kissing a man his heart would pledge the utmost loyalty to before his lips could form the proper words. Impegno, indeed. His own bleeding heart a constant surprise.

Ahh, but could words even do it? Time and time again he came to the same realization: actions had always mattered more between them. He had come to favor actions, knowing what they had meant to Reiji who could hardly grasp the abstraction of words themselves. To make things abundantly clear had become a quiet goal. It was easier and better to simply… do. For Caesar it was a lesson in being thoughtless. Surrendering to natural emotions he didn’t believe he possessed until he felt them in their entirety. They took his breath away, made him dizzy and lovesick. It felt… so good. Criminally good, which in itself was perhaps hilarious given the relationship. A vampire and a man whose goal was once to eradicate all vampires… when did that happen separate of storybook fantasy?

And maybe that’s what it was. To some degree, this was already unlike any reality he could have ever experienced at home. Reiji, himself, was supernatural, as well. A creature of the night, paired with a man of the daytime… fantasma. Perhaps too good to be true. 

His ghost… one he feared would disappear one day.

Which made the time between them more important than anything he could have felt back at home. An underlying fear easily masked in the warmth of love… The taste of his lips; the kiss itself lasted only a few sweet moments but even that was enough to intoxicate him. He wanted to immerse himself in Reiji like this, in what he could call the sleepless dream they inhabited together presently. Separated from the rest of the world… no, the world was in front of him. A universe of Moon and stars. The peace of night, forever. He would never tire of the comparison.

Perfection, bathing him in moonlight. Perfetto. Lover’s light.

Not with Caesar, at least. Never with Caesar.

Bathed in the Moon and stars, he receives and reciprocates the Italian's love. No interruptions loomed in the background, ambiance only belying in distant waves colliding with a shallow shoreline just yards away from their supernatural standing. A world of ambiance, an oceanic environs where not a self-conscious soul existed besides them. Them, them, only them.

It is them who would share this moment together. A kiss laced with heat and light, a spark Reiji felt clearly on his lips. Controlled, yet potent, he felt it conduct between a connection of tongues as well, a brief encounter before they both had pulled away, where Reiji had been left breathless in response. Those toxic kisses craving an ethereal form, craving to leave their impressions on Reiji's body. An everlasting, repetitious reminder to him that this moment too good to be true is in fact reality all along. Repeated shocks entice the skin, some spots more susceptible than others. Some more sensitive. A sharp exhale, although controlled, he allows himself to melt under the other's conductive lips.

It was only until a thin layer of skin had been marked did a hiccup in Reiji's aerial stability make itself known. A minor drop in elevation induced by a Lichtenberg sunlight singeing the flesh of his neck. A sharp inhale, its intentions possibly to express arousal, possibly shock. Possibly both. Nevertheless, the sudden shock elicited a peculiar reaction both on his anatomy and in his actions. The vampire nudges away, cautious, regaining his composure and aerial stability. Beneath the mask of an early night's sky, a lingering mark would be left upon the vampire's collar; a branching figure that would prove difficult to hide, and yet... Reiji is completely unaware of those lasting effects...

That Caesar truly is something else.