A soft noise slips out from him at the suddenness of the hug but he's not against it. rather instead James is more than willing to let himself relax in Liam's arms and let go of the final dregs of doubt lingering in his mind. He nuzzles into the dullahan's shoulder with a gentle hrm, agreeing with him.
"Not everything," he murmurs, "but she actually likes you now. So don't see why she wouldn't give you a leg up on making things easier. We're going to make it work."
"Pretty much everything," he teases back as he presses a soft kiss into James' temple, "and the hell she does. She's got a way of showing it if she does like me. I'm still a little sore over all that, y'know."
But he softens and hums under his breath as he rocks the two of them together, "but for you? For you I'll risk my head being stolen any day."
"Not going to let her do that again. Besides there's a difference now between weird unseelie dude waltzing vs dorky dumbass that is head over heels for a reaper." He nuzzles into Liam's shoulder. Val had given her fair approval of the dullahan especially after he had explained their history. Really she was more than thrilled to see him happy.
He sighs softly with a smile, "Love you too, dork."
James had been very right: Val had been more than happy to help once she'd been clued in on what was going to be going on. She'd set Liam up with a handful of paper charms to help the both of them stay out of sight, while not rendering them technically invisible to each other. That way they didn't have to worry, and James wouldn't have to deal with the trauma of feeling alone.
Liam is antsy when the day comes, bounding around the apartment like an overly-excited dog as he waits for his reaper to finish packaging. His things are stuffed in a backpack haphazardly, but it's enough for him. It's enough to make sure he at least could pretend to pass for a normal human when they would stop for the night.
"'m all ready," he calls down the hall, a dumb grin plastered across his face.
Gods he holds tight to the sink while he takes in a deep breath. Things were going to work out fine but ever since he woke up that morning, he's been internally fussing over anything and everything. The reaper scrubs his face with a hand before pulling out a charm from his bag. He puts it on before shoving his sleeve back down.
"I know, I know," James sighs, shouldering his bag and heading out of the bedroom. A small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
He nods. "You look more than ready. Like a kid told they're going to Disney. Or a dog and a car ride. Don't think I've ever seen you this excitable."
Even with the freneticness that's buzzing about, he still takes his time to check up on James all the more. This is a big day, a day he's been excited about for a very long time, but it's also one that's going to be very trying on the both of them, if he's being honest. It's the first time he's ever ridden with someone else tagging along, and it's certainly the first time James has ever been so close to a blacklister while they do their work. At least...at least he thinks that's the case. He hasn't pried into that aspect of his boyfriend's life because it always feels like such a private thing that he doesn't want to dredge up, lest it bring up any bad memories.
But his entire face lights up when James emerges from the bathroom, and there's a dopey sort of grin on his face as he bounds over and leans in to steal a quick kiss. "Look it's just- this is what I used to do all the time and it's been a while and-"
He stops himself before he starts rambling too much. "It builds up over time, yeah? And I'm really excited to share it all with you."
He's escorted plenty in his moderate time as a reaper. Nothing in the vein of tagging along with a dullahan during their ride though. That was considered breaching on something intimate. At the very least that's what Matthieu had pressed when going over what was right and wrong when it came to the tense relationship between the Order and those on the blacklist.
The kiss is nice though and soothes the last of his remaining nerves. "No I get it. It's ok," he assures. "I'm really honored that you want me along for this."
"Besides," he steals away another soft kiss, "I'm glad to see you so happy."
"Of course I want you along," he hums, brushing his nose against James', "I wanna share this part of me with you. I want you to know about what I do, about who I am."
He's never trusted anyone else with this knowledge, but with James? With James he feels safe, knows that his reaper would never judge him based on the horrific appearance he wore or the things that he did.
"Ready to get a leg on?" He wrinkles his nose and sticks out his tongue playfully, "I won't go too fast this time."
"Yea I guess it's about time we head out. Before you vibrate through the floor or something," he muses, smirking at Liam's ridiculousness. A gentle kiss pressed to the dullahan's nose before he steps away to gather up keys and other last minute things. "Know you won't. Been saying that a lot. Besides trust you so relax, I'll be fine."
When everything is said and done, the start of their journey goes off without a hitch. True to his word, Liam does his best to contain himself to a normal, reasonable speed for James' sake. He's headless now, glamour completely forgone, and the reaper is nestled up behind him with his arms around his waist. It's perfect. Nothing has been as perfect as this, he's entirely certain of that.
They ride long into the night, but eventually it does come time to stop for his reaper's sake. Liam pulls over when he finds a run-down motel that will have to do for the night, hastily reattaching his head and letting the glamor wash over him. It's not the best, if anyone looks too hard they'll probably see through it, but it's the best he can do right now when his blood is still singing for the open road.
"C'mon. Let's get you in," he grins, showing too many sharp teeth, "we're good for tonight."
Honestly it wasn't as terrible as he thought it would. If anything, it was relatively boring. He mostly kept to himself the whole time with a helmet he had snagged letting him listen to music while he kept a hold of Liam. There's once or twice where he catches himself relaxing too much in his boredom that he has to remind himself that he's on a speeding motorcycle and he didn't want to go through a reset this trip.
They come to a stop outside of some town he's never really heard of. That and a motel that has seen better days long ago if ever. He can deal with this...yup. Swallowing his pride and standards, he gets them a room.
He doesn't touch anything in said room save for a chair that thankfully isn't made of matchsticks. Phone taken out as he looks over anything that was sent to him over the long hours.
Rest is unnecessary when he's in this sort of fervour, but with someone tagging along Liam understands the need to take a break. Immortal or not, normal people couldn't keep up with a frenzied dullahan and he doesn't want to run James down. He feels a little bad that he couldn't find somewhere better for them, but makes a mental note that he'll make it up to his boyfriend the next time they have to stop.
"Anything interesting?" He flops on the bed, frowning a bit at the lack of give on the mattress, "the city blow up or anything?"
"Nothing really. Mostly the usual chatter and all that. You know how it goes."
Gods the chair squeaks far too much. He finds a happy medium where it doesn't make noise and him leaning over the desk. It's not the first time that he hasn't gotten sleep though. Reapers didn't necessarily need it but it sure was nice.
He simply doesn't trust anything in here. Especially when the dullahan hits the bed and there's almost no bounce or anything. Maybe it was secretly a rock.
"Big important reaper stuff, got it," he jokes, smiling crookedly over at James as he rolls onto his back. The bed isn't the greatest, he'll be the first to admit that, but-
Well, but nothing, he probably should have looked for somewhere a little bit better for his boyfriend to rest. There's a sharp pang of guilt, and his grin shifts to something a bit more apologetic. With his brows furrowed, he shifts his gaze up to the ceiling, crossing his arms over his stomach as he tries to think. "Y'know. I think we're only an hour away from somewhere with a little bit more uh. Civilization."
It would still require riding through the night, but- but he could definitely do that, he's sure of it. He'd do anything for James.
"I think I can survive one night here." He pushes away from the desk and gets up. It's not too long before he's settled in beside Liam on the bed. Definitely not the greatest but he'll live. "Honestly I've slept on far worse before. Trust me. This is a couple steps above the ground at least."
He rests his head against his shoulder with a soft noise. "All that matters is you and a small break from the road."
"Definitely wouldn't let you sleep on the ground. I mean, unless that was something you really, really wanted." Liam's arms wind around his reaper, pulling him close as he snags the comforter and pulls it up around the both of them. It definitely isn't the most luxurious place, but they're together and that's what's important to the dullahan. Well, that and making sure James is safe and happy.
"But I can definitely promise you a break from the road and that I'll always be here." He grins shyly, pressing a soft kiss to his reaper's cheek, "I'm really glad to have you along.
“No I’m pretty good where my head is resting right now. The ground can remain jealous for all I care,” he grumbles, shifting to get even a hair more comfortable. “Really want you to relax because everything is going to work out. It’s one night here.”
James pushes up enough to steal a proper kiss. The dullahan’s jaw gently tipped down before he knocks his forehead against his. “Always will be at your side. No matter where.”
"Oh good. It'll just have to deal then, because it's not getting in between the both of us right now. Or ever. Definitely ever."
The sentence trails off, muffled by the press of James' lips against his own, and Liam does relax, sagging into his boyfriend and gently pressing their foreheads together, "get some rest, okay? I promise I'll do my best, and we won't leave until later in the morning even."
“You don’t need to have some war with the ground, dork,” he teases, laughing under his breath. His arms wrapping better around Liam to tug him down and closer. A hand creeping up enough to gently card through the dullahan’s hair while they relax.
James hums contently as Liam relaxes against him, nosing his temple. He closes his eyes but he’s not going to pass out at the drop of a hat. “You spoil me so much,” he jokes.
"I mean, I'm ready to throw down and fight the entire ground," he jokes back. There are fingers weaving through his hair, however, and that takes far more precedence than any sort of MMA-style cage fight with gravity and the Earth itself; Liam's eyes slip shut and he arches into the touch with a soft, pleased noise. Even with the thrill of the ride thrumming through his veins, there's something about James that always steadies him, lets him have these moments of peace and clarity that he wouldn't get to enjoy otherwise.
"See, but also you don't quite get it." There's the beginning of an impish grin that tugs at the corner of his mouth, "it's not spoiling if you deserve it. Check and mate."
Fight the ground? He snorts, nosing against the dullahan's shoulder. That would mean possibly either a ridiculous display of Liam punching the ground and rolling around like a dork or the worse option of duking it out with a nature god or something like that. One of those was infinitely more endearing and less painful sounding than the other.
His touch slowly finds itself coming to the man's neck. Fingers gently brushing along the separation scar. "Fine, fine. I know I'm not going to win that argument."
Fingers softly toy along the seam in his neck, and Liam lets out a small, breathy noise of contentment. There's an intimacy in this that goes far beyond anything that he would have ever thought possible; letting someone touch such a vital part of him shows a level of trust that he'd never allow from anyone else. James is safe, James is love.
He catches the reaper's hand with his own, bringing it to his lips so he can place gentle kisses to the tips of his fingers. "Get some rest, 'm not going anywhere."
A yawn slips free from his careful attempts to not show his exhaustion. He was a reaper, someone who shouldn't need rest. At the same time he spent a lot of energy on the invisibility for the both of them among other things.
He stretches out against the dullahan with a low grumble. "Don;t want to though. Didn't do much beyond stare at your back and now I get to appreciate your face," he sighs. "Can't blame a guy for wanting to enjoy the view."
A pink tinge graces Liam's cheeks, even as he smiles softly at the compliment. With gentle movements, he pulls the reaper in to him, tucking him against his side and pressing a kiss to his temple.
"I know, it's not very exciting out there if you're not the one driving. Next time I take you out, it'll be for a proper trip, okay? Promise. Wanna take you out on the town proper."
“Mm I’d like that,” he murmurs against his shoulder. Another tired nuzzle given to the dullahan as he finally closes his eyes. He can’t exactly keep fighting sleep between Liam’s insistence and the energy drained from himself.
“Surprise me next stop.”
Then James is out like a light. His breathing goes soft and steady as he sleeps beside the man.
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chiming
no subject
Date: 2019-10-09 12:11 am (UTC)From:"Not everything," he murmurs, "but she actually likes you now. So don't see why she wouldn't give you a leg up on making things easier. We're going to make it work."
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Date: 2019-10-16 06:46 pm (UTC)From:But he softens and hums under his breath as he rocks the two of them together, "but for you? For you I'll risk my head being stolen any day."
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Date: 2019-10-17 10:32 pm (UTC)From:He sighs softly with a smile, "Love you too, dork."
TIMESKIP
Date: 2019-10-24 12:15 am (UTC)From:Liam is antsy when the day comes, bounding around the apartment like an overly-excited dog as he waits for his reaper to finish packaging. His things are stuffed in a backpack haphazardly, but it's enough for him. It's enough to make sure he at least could pretend to pass for a normal human when they would stop for the night.
"'m all ready," he calls down the hall, a dumb grin plastered across his face.
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Date: 2019-10-24 11:03 pm (UTC)From:"I know, I know," James sighs, shouldering his bag and heading out of the bedroom. A small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
He nods. "You look more than ready. Like a kid told they're going to Disney. Or a dog and a car ride. Don't think I've ever seen you this excitable."
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Date: 2019-10-29 01:34 am (UTC)From:But his entire face lights up when James emerges from the bathroom, and there's a dopey sort of grin on his face as he bounds over and leans in to steal a quick kiss. "Look it's just- this is what I used to do all the time and it's been a while and-"
He stops himself before he starts rambling too much. "It builds up over time, yeah? And I'm really excited to share it all with you."
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Date: 2019-11-07 11:21 pm (UTC)From:The kiss is nice though and soothes the last of his remaining nerves. "No I get it. It's ok," he assures. "I'm really honored that you want me along for this."
"Besides," he steals away another soft kiss, "I'm glad to see you so happy."
no subject
Date: 2019-11-10 11:07 pm (UTC)From:He's never trusted anyone else with this knowledge, but with James? With James he feels safe, knows that his reaper would never judge him based on the horrific appearance he wore or the things that he did.
"Ready to get a leg on?" He wrinkles his nose and sticks out his tongue playfully, "I won't go too fast this time."
no subject
Date: 2019-11-11 07:00 pm (UTC)From:TIMESKIP
Date: 2019-11-20 05:47 am (UTC)From:They ride long into the night, but eventually it does come time to stop for his reaper's sake. Liam pulls over when he finds a run-down motel that will have to do for the night, hastily reattaching his head and letting the glamor wash over him. It's not the best, if anyone looks too hard they'll probably see through it, but it's the best he can do right now when his blood is still singing for the open road.
"C'mon. Let's get you in," he grins, showing too many sharp teeth, "we're good for tonight."
no subject
Date: 2019-11-25 11:51 pm (UTC)From:They come to a stop outside of some town he's never really heard of. That and a motel that has seen better days long ago if ever. He can deal with this...yup. Swallowing his pride and standards, he gets them a room.
He doesn't touch anything in said room save for a chair that thankfully isn't made of matchsticks. Phone taken out as he looks over anything that was sent to him over the long hours.
no subject
Date: 2019-12-05 03:21 am (UTC)From:"Anything interesting?" He flops on the bed, frowning a bit at the lack of give on the mattress, "the city blow up or anything?"
no subject
Date: 2019-12-12 11:26 pm (UTC)From:Gods the chair squeaks far too much. He finds a happy medium where it doesn't make noise and him leaning over the desk. It's not the first time that he hasn't gotten sleep though. Reapers didn't necessarily need it but it sure was nice.
He simply doesn't trust anything in here. Especially when the dullahan hits the bed and there's almost no bounce or anything. Maybe it was secretly a rock.
no subject
Date: 2019-12-21 10:33 pm (UTC)From:Well, but nothing, he probably should have looked for somewhere a little bit better for his boyfriend to rest. There's a sharp pang of guilt, and his grin shifts to something a bit more apologetic. With his brows furrowed, he shifts his gaze up to the ceiling, crossing his arms over his stomach as he tries to think. "Y'know. I think we're only an hour away from somewhere with a little bit more uh. Civilization."
It would still require riding through the night, but- but he could definitely do that, he's sure of it. He'd do anything for James.
no subject
Date: 2019-12-26 09:29 am (UTC)From:He rests his head against his shoulder with a soft noise. "All that matters is you and a small break from the road."
no subject
Date: 2020-01-10 04:14 am (UTC)From:"But I can definitely promise you a break from the road and that I'll always be here." He grins shyly, pressing a soft kiss to his reaper's cheek, "I'm really glad to have you along.
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Date: 2020-01-20 05:46 am (UTC)From:James pushes up enough to steal a proper kiss. The dullahan’s jaw gently tipped down before he knocks his forehead against his. “Always will be at your side. No matter where.”
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Date: 2020-01-25 06:38 am (UTC)From:The sentence trails off, muffled by the press of James' lips against his own, and Liam does relax, sagging into his boyfriend and gently pressing their foreheads together, "get some rest, okay? I promise I'll do my best, and we won't leave until later in the morning even."
no subject
Date: 2020-02-05 04:36 pm (UTC)From:James hums contently as Liam relaxes against him, nosing his temple. He closes his eyes but he’s not going to pass out at the drop of a hat. “You spoil me so much,” he jokes.
no subject
Date: 2020-02-23 10:27 am (UTC)From:"See, but also you don't quite get it." There's the beginning of an impish grin that tugs at the corner of his mouth, "it's not spoiling if you deserve it. Check and mate."
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Date: 2020-02-29 08:20 am (UTC)From:His touch slowly finds itself coming to the man's neck. Fingers gently brushing along the separation scar. "Fine, fine. I know I'm not going to win that argument."
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Date: 2020-03-30 09:54 am (UTC)From:He catches the reaper's hand with his own, bringing it to his lips so he can place gentle kisses to the tips of his fingers. "Get some rest, 'm not going anywhere."
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Date: 2020-04-28 07:11 am (UTC)From:He stretches out against the dullahan with a low grumble. "Don;t want to though. Didn't do much beyond stare at your back and now I get to appreciate your face," he sighs. "Can't blame a guy for wanting to enjoy the view."
no subject
Date: 2020-05-01 04:46 am (UTC)From:"I know, it's not very exciting out there if you're not the one driving. Next time I take you out, it'll be for a proper trip, okay? Promise. Wanna take you out on the town proper."
no subject
Date: 2020-06-25 08:34 am (UTC)From:“Surprise me next stop.”
Then James is out like a light. His breathing goes soft and steady as he sleeps beside the man.
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