You are a weird alien. What do you think I thought you saw me as? [ They say that much bluntly, scoffing a little. ] You've been considering it long enough to talk to others about it, and to make this weirdly elaborate plan. That's enough for me to know it's been a little while...
[ Which is more than they can say for themself. No matter how attached they already knew they were to him, it never crossed their mind once to talk to him about it. No, they really would have been fine just avoiding him and keeping this all under lock and key - they're both lucky he's so persistent. ]
Not that I would be able to tell when you started thinking about it either. [ They look at his profile, and their expression softens. ] You've been doing things for me that others wouldn't from the start.
[ Their voice is quiet - not out of any fear that someone else will hear, but plainly because they're deciding to say something personal to him, something vulnerable and honest, even if their expression belies any weakness. Their house is coming up in both of their lines of sight, still a bit away, so they feel they should say... something to him, something to reciprocate all the affection and consideration he's easily handing them. ]
[ Persistent, and perceptive enough to guess that they probably felt something different for him, even if they tried their damnedest to stifle it. Lupin doesn't expect them to have answers for him. It just feels nice to be able to finally say these things to them. Most people would probably be embarrassed; he, however, delights in it, in being able to express all these thoughts directly. Cairngorm's house comes up almost too soon - but with any luck, he'll have the time to say everything on his mind in however long they have left together. Once their destination is in sight, his gait slows until it comes to a stop, still distant from their doorstep.
For a brief moment, he meets their eyes and catches that soft look, and he tucks it away into his memory. It can be hard to tell when Cairngorm is being affectionate. But that look and the shift in their voice convinces him well enough. (Wasn't that one of his wishes from the start - to be someone special to them?) ]
I've no intention of stopping that.
[ it's sad that nobody else has treated them how they deserve - but he's glad that means he's the one who can. His eyes are warm, with the heat of a promise just below: he'll keep being the only one to do those things, to make them feel that way. One of his hands slips from his pocket, and he holds it out to them palm-up, expectantly waiting for their own. ]
[ If they're being honest, they're a little surprised when he stops, looking over at him curiously. As stubborn as they act, they are actually a follower at heart, so even when they're convinced this little rendezvous must be coming to an end, they're still willing to let him change the course, even in the last moments. It'd be hard not to, anyway, when he's looking so warmly at them.
However, when he offers them his hand, they're reminded of the first time he'd done this, back at that dance. They'd been genuinely irritated by his antics and wanted out of his proximity as soon as possible. But the Lupin before them now; despite his kindness being a constant, they think of him and feel for him so differently now that it almost feels like he's an entirely different person. Maybe they are too, with how little they hesitate to rest their hand in his compared to that time. ]
...?
[ They choose not to say anything, letting their mildly confused expression do the talking - he must have something in mind that he wants to say or do, but they have no idea what. ]
If I dropped you off right at the door, I couldn't do this, right?
[ his next action is just the same as it had been at the dance, too - he takes their hand and leans down to press a kiss against their knuckles. This time, though, there's no mischievous smile or cocky teasing; his eyes are closed reverently, and the moment lingers a little longer than a simple friendly goodbye should. Because, of course, it's more than that. Reality's setting in now - not that he hadn't been aware before, but really setting in - that he's allowed to do this; he can do more than just think about touching them before chasing the idea away. He can hold them without needing an excuse. If he bends down to kiss them, they'll reach up to kiss him back. That reality. Now he has to let them go, but when tomorrow comes he can come back to them without any curse or town magic opening the path for him.
Lupin's a confident man; he wouldn't have done any of this if he didn't believe it would end as he hoped. But he's still just a man, and a young one. His heart beats faster, happier, and as cool as he tries to keep his expression, there's an excitement in his eyes when he raises them towards Cairngorm again and an eagerness in his smile he can't entirely hide. His other hand covers theirs when he lowers it, holding it gently between his own. ]
I'll come see you again tomorrow. [ despite what he'd said earlier, about disappearing, that's worded like a promise, too, with that same heat - like he'll make it happen no matter what. ] Goodnight. Sweet dreams, Cairngorm.
[ It's addictively sweet, to be treated this gently and with so much care. They feel themself falling for him a little more with each time he gets close to them - no, with each time they let him close to them. He said he'd try to make them happy, but the truth is, they're already happier than they've ever been around him. Where they'd be now if not for being brought here, if not for meeting him...
They meet his eyes, quietly, tenderly. It's only when he speaks again with such passion that they seem properly shy, only refusing to break eye contact so that they can remember this moment forever. They want to remember this feeling, and they want to remember how he's looking at them, even if it is only this once. ]
...Okay.
[ Gently, they grip his hand back, too unsure to try anything else. It'd be nice if he would kiss them again before he left, but they're not quite confident enough to do it themself. And they're pretty content already, evident by how relaxed their expression is, and how their lips are pulled into an easy line - it's not a smile, but it'll be among the most pleasant expressions he's ever seen them make. Something about them makes him feel so strongly, and he loves them. Letting both of those sentiments catch up to them in the space of a few moments - of course they would seem more content than ever. ]
Be careful going back.
[ They don't say it to nag him, but just out of a genuine desire for him to make it back safely, so they can see him again tomorrow. They care about him so much, maybe too much; but he cares about them too. They're finding it's marginally less difficult to show it now that they're more certain of the fact that they matter to him, too. ]
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[ Which is more than they can say for themself. No matter how attached they already knew they were to him, it never crossed their mind once to talk to him about it. No, they really would have been fine just avoiding him and keeping this all under lock and key - they're both lucky he's so persistent. ]
Not that I would be able to tell when you started thinking about it either. [ They look at his profile, and their expression softens. ] You've been doing things for me that others wouldn't from the start.
[ Their voice is quiet - not out of any fear that someone else will hear, but plainly because they're deciding to say something personal to him, something vulnerable and honest, even if their expression belies any weakness. Their house is coming up in both of their lines of sight, still a bit away, so they feel they should say... something to him, something to reciprocate all the affection and consideration he's easily handing them. ]
no subject
For a brief moment, he meets their eyes and catches that soft look, and he tucks it away into his memory. It can be hard to tell when Cairngorm is being affectionate. But that look and the shift in their voice convinces him well enough. (Wasn't that one of his wishes from the start - to be someone special to them?) ]
I've no intention of stopping that.
[ it's sad that nobody else has treated them how they deserve - but he's glad that means he's the one who can. His eyes are warm, with the heat of a promise just below: he'll keep being the only one to do those things, to make them feel that way. One of his hands slips from his pocket, and he holds it out to them palm-up, expectantly waiting for their own. ]
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However, when he offers them his hand, they're reminded of the first time he'd done this, back at that dance. They'd been genuinely irritated by his antics and wanted out of his proximity as soon as possible. But the Lupin before them now; despite his kindness being a constant, they think of him and feel for him so differently now that it almost feels like he's an entirely different person. Maybe they are too, with how little they hesitate to rest their hand in his compared to that time. ]
...?
[ They choose not to say anything, letting their mildly confused expression do the talking - he must have something in mind that he wants to say or do, but they have no idea what. ]
no subject
[ his next action is just the same as it had been at the dance, too - he takes their hand and leans down to press a kiss against their knuckles. This time, though, there's no mischievous smile or cocky teasing; his eyes are closed reverently, and the moment lingers a little longer than a simple friendly goodbye should. Because, of course, it's more than that. Reality's setting in now - not that he hadn't been aware before, but really setting in - that he's allowed to do this; he can do more than just think about touching them before chasing the idea away. He can hold them without needing an excuse. If he bends down to kiss them, they'll reach up to kiss him back. That reality. Now he has to let them go, but when tomorrow comes he can come back to them without any curse or town magic opening the path for him.
Lupin's a confident man; he wouldn't have done any of this if he didn't believe it would end as he hoped. But he's still just a man, and a young one. His heart beats faster, happier, and as cool as he tries to keep his expression, there's an excitement in his eyes when he raises them towards Cairngorm again and an eagerness in his smile he can't entirely hide. His other hand covers theirs when he lowers it, holding it gently between his own. ]
I'll come see you again tomorrow. [ despite what he'd said earlier, about disappearing, that's worded like a promise, too, with that same heat - like he'll make it happen no matter what. ] Goodnight. Sweet dreams, Cairngorm.
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They meet his eyes, quietly, tenderly. It's only when he speaks again with such passion that they seem properly shy, only refusing to break eye contact so that they can remember this moment forever. They want to remember this feeling, and they want to remember how he's looking at them, even if it is only this once. ]
...Okay.
[ Gently, they grip his hand back, too unsure to try anything else. It'd be nice if he would kiss them again before he left, but they're not quite confident enough to do it themself. And they're pretty content already, evident by how relaxed their expression is, and how their lips are pulled into an easy line - it's not a smile, but it'll be among the most pleasant expressions he's ever seen them make. Something about them makes him feel so strongly, and he loves them. Letting both of those sentiments catch up to them in the space of a few moments - of course they would seem more content than ever. ]
Be careful going back.
[ They don't say it to nag him, but just out of a genuine desire for him to make it back safely, so they can see him again tomorrow. They care about him so much, maybe too much; but he cares about them too. They're finding it's marginally less difficult to show it now that they're more certain of the fact that they matter to him, too. ]