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[helpdesk_hero]

This is David Alleyne, I'm not available at the moment.
Please leave your name, contact information, and what this is regarding after the beep.

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[portolan]

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."

[helpdesk_hero]

"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?"

[portolan]

"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."

[helpdesk_hero]

"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.

[portolan]

"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.

[helpdesk_hero]

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.

[portolan]

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.

[helpdesk_hero]

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.

[portolan]

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.

[helpdesk_hero]

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.

[portolan]

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.

[helpdesk_hero]

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.

[portolan]

"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.

[helpdesk_hero]

"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.

[portolan]

"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.

[helpdesk_hero]

"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.

[portolan]

"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."

[helpdesk_hero]

"Are they given away, or am I helping you hold them safe?"

Though he sighs sadly at the idea of moving away enough for the cake.

"I suppose I should have it and eat it too."

[portolan]

"A terrible predicament," Balthier agrees, loosening his hold so David can sit forward, one of his hands coming to skim the other's back lightly, just wanting to be close.

"What are you going to do with yourself when I've already cleaned the house and done the laundry and made dinner? Start sleeping properly?"

[helpdesk_hero]

"Be horrified and chew my nails," he teases. But damn, he's trying to fathom that. He's never had a housemate who did those things.

"No chore wheel?"

[portolan]

"Alright, so task one, find you a less destructive nervous habit," he laughs.

Still, he gathers from that comment that he has misunderstood David's co-housing experience. "I presume that's a way of assigning chores? We certainly can talk division of labor. I've had that on ships, but it usually rotates on a wider crew. When it's just Fran and I, we fall into a rhythm of tasks each of us don't mind, and step in if the other is overburdened or something needs doing. I suppose I assumed we'd land on something closer to that."

[helpdesk_hero]

"I don't actually do that," he grins. Though now he definitely has to explain something.

"Yeah, it is. Was the only way to get Josh and the others to do something. And even then they didn't do it."

But he likes the idea of just working with someone, building that easy rapport.

"I think we will too."

[portolan]

"Yes your nails are usually lovely," Balthier agrees. "Mmm now you can paint mine more often."

But his grip inadvertently tightens as David explains his former roommate situations. Balthier still has opinions on some of David's friends and their tendency to take David for granted, but he also knows David's tendency to give and give.

It's a moot point, because it doesn't need to be that here.

"We're already quite good at it when we have dinner parties or stay over for a longer stretch," he points out. "Mmm try your cake and then give me a bite."

[helpdesk_hero]

Yes they are. And he smiles at getting to do Balthier's.

"You're going to have things in such beautiful metallics," he says before getting his forkful and popping it into his mouth.

"Divine," he moans."

[portolan]

"You always do a beautiful job," Balthier agrees, and he likes that this is something he'd never done before David. He's already humming appreciatively when David tries the cake, and now he's just beaming.

"Good," he says smugly. "Welcome home, love."