Blu as the Night

Even after everything from last night, he seems bashful, tugging at the blankets to wrap around his waist before he leaves the bed. But that doesn’t mean he wont take a look at Celian before that pale skin is covered up with clothing. Diethelm takes note of the scars and wonders how they’d all gotten there and what had happened before.  That was for another time, however, and soon Diethelm is raising and gathering a pile of clothing with him.  Not wearing it, mind, but gathering it into his arms. 

“We should get dressed later.  When we’re washed and cleaned.”  He says, gazing at Celian while putting one hand over the other’s when he tries to dress. “Just throw it on and I’ll have the maids bring you a set of clean clothes from your room, okay?~”  And he tips his head towards the door and starts for it. 

~

Meantime, they start for the bath houses.  Diethelm was unaware that Friedrich had already shown the other to them, but it was of little consequence. They are mostly light tiling, white and mint aquas, with shimmering mosaics in deep blues and greens.  Fountains and porcelain decorate the area.  There are a few other supernaturals here, relaxing.  Some are drinking wine and have some foods.  Other are spending time with their human companions or other immortal cohorts.  

~

The rooms are as beautiful as he remembers. Ornate, and reminiscent of the master bath August had owned. Lavish mansions must be a vampire thing, a joke he chooses to keep to himself. Unsure whether or not his company- or others in their vicinity- would appreciate the generalization.

“It’s beautiful,” he says softly. “Reminds me of something August would’ve appreciated.”

Seeing the private room also brought back to light his last memory with Friedrich, the last time he saw the young vampire here so long ago. Somehow he expected him to be here, relaxing in the warm water. And in looking over to Diethelm, he knows he must miss the other a great deal too. How many times they must’ve come here together. There’s an irony in that Celian should end up here again, this time with the vampire’s sire. He keeps the thought to himself.

Having put minimal effort into dressing upstairs his clothes are easily removed, a few buttons needing undone at most. As he works on the front of his shirt, he glances at Diethelm watching the blanket he’d covered himself with fall to the floor. For that moment he stares. And with as much as he saw of the younger vampire last night, there’s a different appreciation of him now. 

We may seem close from a distance,

but in reality we couldn’t be more far apart.”

“No.  I don’t want you to go.”  He gazes at him softly.  “I’m not a one night stand… Neither was that.”  He tips his head to the bed and gives a gentle smile, then turns his attention back to Celian.  “I don’t want you to leave… I don’t… Want you to look at anyone else the way you looked at me last night…”  He closes his eyes now and ghosts over Celian’s lips with his own.  

“I-…” He starts and slowly pulls back, just enough to gaze down at him. “I don’t know… what this feeling is.  I’ve locked away a piece of me… For so long…”  His gazes slowly flitters to the floor and his eye brows furrow upwards.  “But… I know I want you to stay with me… By my side for a long time.”  He turns his gaze back to Celian’s, hand having never left him.  His thumb starts to rub Celian’s cheek now and he softly lets out a low breath.  

"I..." His eyes open back up now, looking up to him with a softness. Nearly startling himself as he breaks the quiet. "I won't...ask anything from you..." That-no-that didn't sound right. Closing his eyes again he tries to focus. Why is it now it seems he can't find the right words. "What I mean to say is, this- whatever this is- doesn't have to be...defined. I would like to..." Those blue eyes open back up now. "-I will stay by your side, as long as you should want me."

He wraps his arms around the other's waist then. Loosely holding them together for a moment, "I care very much about you too, Diethelm." and he presses a small kiss to his nose.

i like to think the teams really care for each other and see each other as brothers

thanks to my friend charlie for the help on the text!