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"That you're a headache, or that you're worth it?" Balthier grins back. "Glad you're coming around to reality."

"Yes," he says with a laugh. Wow, Balthier, way to own him though. And he is very happy to accept it too.

"Stay here, I need to go write down the date and time that you agreed with me on this," he laughs, but he's kissing him again.

"Are we talking business and me scoffing at questionable decisions tonight, or are we going to leave that for after your welcome?"

Wow. Wow

"After my welcome," David answers. "Please let's leave more business until later."

"I was hoping you'd say that. In that case, do you want your cake before or after a bath? Or, dare we even indulge in the bath?"

Honestly, David being willing -- wanting, even -- to put work and the outside down and focus on them is the most wonderful housewarming gift Balthier could ask for.

"Oh, I think we dare," he laughs with delight. "I think we dare very much. I can just imagine it now. How decadent. Sinfully delightful."

Especially since he'll get to have Balthier with him.

"Indulgence looks good on you, you know that? Not going to be able to keep my hands off you when you're glowing like that. Head upstairs. I'll get this put away and come join you."

"Glowing? Hold on..."

He raises his hands and makes a circling motion with them. And yeah, he forms a glowing golden circlet of stars between them and puts that on his head.

"There we go. Glowing."

Balthier can't help kissing him, a big grin on his face. "I still remember your face above me and glowing like a god, right around the time I was falling in love with you." Another kiss. "I think the self-aggrandizing humor sealed the deal, though. Makes me feel like I have a match for mine."

"That," David chuckles, "was a migraine. But I'll take the glowing. Just for you."

Though he happens to smile and wrap an arm around Balthier's waist.

"Have you considered I try and match you?"

"I already told you that you're always worth the headache," he responds cheekily, eyes dancing.

And he looks pleased as can be at the arm around his waist, even more so at the comment. "You know what? No. I hadn't. And now I'm flattered."

"I'm glad you find it flattering. I can't always help it. It's part of the power set. Adapting unconsciously to be more like those I care about so they like me more. A lot of people do it unconsciously, but I guess I do it more?"

His powers made it so much easier to mirror people in some ways.

"We do all do that," Balthier assures him, cradling David's face. "But I like you for not being just like me. You make me grow, make me better. And I like thinking I do that for you."

He thinks in his heart he does, and that it's not because of powers. He thinks it's because of fights and patience and trust.

Make him grow? Oh the jokes he could do with that. Instead he smiles.

"You do. In so many ways. Thank you."

And he's still herding them up the stairs because he wants to cuddle in the tub so much.

For all his finesse, Balthier can still be that earnest boy who walks straight into things he's set himself up for. That boy is very happy with the person his adult self chose to guard his heart.

"Thank you for letting me. I know you don't like to listen," he teases, but it's no effort to get him to follow, even if he pauses. "I'll be there in a minute. I need to get the cake." He grins and kisses David a brief goodbye, but it doesn't take him long to get things put away and cake and wine and cold water served on a tray for the bath he hears roaring upstairs.

Well, if Balthier is taking care of the decadence, then David's clearly responsible for the bath. Which he goes up to prepare. He even goes to collect some candles he remembers storing away in case there is a power outage and lighting those in the bathroom. They deserve the extra touch of romance.

"Hey," he says when Balthier enters, perched on the edge of the tub which was already filling with warm water.

Balthier crosses to set the tray across the bath, freeing his hands so he can properly wrap his arms around David and kiss him deeply. "Why hello," he teases. "I'm not ever going to get tired of wandering around the house and finding you there." Just as a fixture of life, not as a guest, not as carved out time, although he wants plenty of that too.

The only reason he steps away is to start stripping, as cuddling in the bath is endlessly more alluring than cuddling next to the bath.

Well hello there too. David laughs into the kiss, too delighted to do anything else.

"I mean, you're going to have to get used to me being in yo- our kitchen."

David has a damn hobby and being here wasn't going to change it. He'd find a way to make Balthier's ideal kitchen his own home base as well. But he definitely starts taking his own clothes off as well so he can get into the comfort of that bath.

David's correction pulls a breathless chuckle from Balthier. "I'm looking forward to it," he assures the other. He relishes merging them, and really, seeing David happy in the kitchen was high on his priority list, one of the reasons he's been hesitant to suggest David moving in sooner.

"Besides, I benefit immensely when you're in the kitchen." Stripped, my makes sure towels are in reach and then slips into the warm water. This tub was possibly the best thing he had installed in this house.

Honestly, David's looking forward to it as well. And waking up consistently in someone else's arms.

"I mean, I benefit from it being ours too. I'm not responsible for cooking every night."

Well, beyond date nights. Now it can be a shared responsibility and still be damn good. And, with Balthier in the tub, he's happy to climb in as well.

Edited 2023-07-27 21:16 (UTC)

"Oh? Am I not going to have to fight you on that one then?" he teases, raising a brow. The idea of shared labor is lovely. Balthier has had everyday closeness with so few people. He's so excited -- if a little nervous -- to share more mundane things, get used to just living and existing together.

He slides his arms around David as the other settles, sighing contentedly as he kisses his shoulder then leans his cheek against the other's head.

"I don't think you will. I think you'll be glad to spoil me like you have tonight," he says with a smile. But then he closes his eyes and leans back against Balthier and sighs happily.

The world can just wait for them for now.

"You're making me sound like an old married man and not a fearsome world-saving, god-slaying, secret-identity holding pirate," Balthier teases, humming contentedly as David shifts more comfortably into his hold.

"Really? I think world-saving, god-slaying, secret-identity holding pirates are more than happy to spend some of their spoils on those they love," David counters with a laugh as he snuggles in.

"Shh," he laughs, just happy to be here, happy this is all happening. "You're giving away all my secrets." He nuzzles against the side of David's head, one of his hands finding the other's. "Speaking of, you should probably try your cake before I decide you can't have your hands."

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