loficharm: (mister blackwood)
Martin Blackwood ([personal profile] loficharm) wrote2020-11-20 06:17 pm
Entry tags:

Beheld // for John

1st October, 2020

The ride home is quiet but edged with a lovely tension that has both of them sat quite close, angled toward each other as they alternate between exchanging shy smiles and ducking their glances elsewhere. Martin reaches out to curl his hand into John's, running his thumb gently over his knuckles, blushing faintly as if this sort of easy tenderness is in anyway novel. But it isn't novelty; it's eagerness. He wants far more than these little, chaste touches; he can't stop thinking about what he wants, how much and how badly. It's all he can do to contain himself.

The moment they're outside the car and moving quickly toward the building, that containment starts to crumble away. Martin lets slip a sheepish little giggle, equal parts amused at himself and excited almost to the point of nervousness, accompanied by a sort of fluttering in his stomach. Ridiculous. Like they're on a first date; like that was only their first kiss.

It had been a bloody good kiss, is the thing, and it carried intentional weight, meant to overwrite and re-imagine what was actually, technically, their 'first.' That weight was not simply imagined, nor did it vanish; they're both still carrying it and being carried by it, propelled along with a mutual, unspoken urgency. He only lets go of John's hand to fumble for his keys, hastening to let them inside, and the moment he does, the moment they're out of the brisk autumn air, he can't even make it to their flat. He pivots on his heel and presses close, pulling John in by the strap of his bag to kiss him again. The tape recorder still sits clipped on, perhaps even still running (Martin hasn't even thought to check since John switched it on in the maze), but they can deal with that shortly. Right now, it's bloody dashing, and Martin means to enjoy himself.
statement_ends: (haughty)

[personal profile] statement_ends 2020-11-26 10:47 pm (UTC)(link)
The second button proves to be a little trickier than the first, but it's not as if there's any hurry. Rather than let himself fumble with it, John just leans into the extra bit of time it takes, pulling back enough to murmur a teasing, "Patience..." before kissing Martin again. When the button does fall open a moment later, John lets his hand drift back up Martin's neck and sink into his hair, his fingertips tracing gently over his scalp as he hums softly against Martin's lips.

And then he breaks the kiss, and his fingers curl into a fist.

"Right," John muses, leaning back enough to give Martin a calm, assessing look. "Where to begin with you?"
statement_ends: (serious business)

[personal profile] statement_ends 2020-11-27 07:09 am (UTC)(link)
Martin offers no verbal response to John's question (fair enough; it was rhetorical), but his body language speaks volumes. He isn't quite still — he can never seem to restrain himself from wriggling a little — but John can tell he has his undivided attention, and Martin is all but radiating anticipation. A captive audience, in more ways than one.

"First..." John begins, his free hand lifting from Martin's waist and instead closing gently around one of Martin's wrists. Martin's hands are still braced against John's chest, and while that isn't a problem yet, John can easily imagine it becoming a distraction in a minute or two. That said, he doesn't have enough hands to both pin Martin's wrists to the wall and make good on the promise of those undone buttons. He'll just have to improvise.

To that end, he guides Martin's hand down and back until Martin's palm is pressed flat against the wall. "I'll have your hands here," he says as he repeats the move with Martin's other arm, "until I say otherwise. Understood?" He punctuates the question with an incremental tightening of his fist.
statement_ends: (mister blackwood)

[personal profile] statement_ends 2020-11-27 11:23 pm (UTC)(link)
It isn't difficult to maintain his composure, exactly — they have done this enough, now, for John to have a solid hold on the role he's playing — but he isn't so deeply sunk in it that he can't be touched by Martin's reaction to it all. Not just the alacrity with which he obeys (or promises to, a pledge that may or may not be able to withstand what John ends up doing to him), but the eagerness and the implicit trust Martin displays. That Martin is willing to put himself in John's hands without a second thought... they haven't done this often enough for John to take that for granted. So while he continues to project an aloof air, he can't quite keep his gaze from warming as he looks Martin over and considers his angle of approach.

"Good," he says, lifting his free hand to run a casual, proprietary forefinger along the line of Martin's collar bone and down the V of exposed skin he's just uncovered. He flexes his wrist slightly, just enough to coax Martin into tipping his head a little to one side, and then leans in to nuzzle against the arch of his neck. "The better you behave," he pauses to brush a kiss against Martin's pulse point, "the sooner you'll be free to... attend to yourself."

Perhaps not his best lofty euphemism, but he's learned how to compensate for weaker dialogue. He presses his lips against the soft skin of Martin's throat and begins to suck patiently, gentle enough to not leave any lasting marks. That will have to be earned.
statement_ends: (mister blackwood)

[personal profile] statement_ends 2020-11-30 03:16 am (UTC)(link)
John wasn't honestly expecting Martin to attempt an answer, and he has to pull back a fraction for a moment, biting back a grin, before he leans back in to resume his ministrations. His free hand lifts to fiddle with Martin's collar, as if in consideration, before shifting over to his shoulder. He doesn't quite push, but he applies a little more force than he otherwise would, a subtle press against the wall, a reminder to remain still.

Perhaps it's because his mind is already focused on what Martin wants that he gets a vague sense of something, or perhaps he's attuned to being watched — or some combination of the two. But the awareness of Martin's intermittent gaze and the reasoning behind it unfurls in his mind, and he hesitates again, this time because he's just... touched. That, and he understands the impulse; there are times when he can hardly believe this is still real, either.

But 'maudlin' isn't the mood they're going for, so John works his patient way up to the hinge of Martin's jaw. "Real enough for you?" he murmurs, punctuating the question with a light nip against Martin's earlobe.
statement_ends: (profile - soff)

[personal profile] statement_ends 2020-12-01 05:23 am (UTC)(link)
It was an impulse; he often chases those, in situations like this, without giving too much thought to the implications. Which isn't to say he's careless, more that his chief concern is whether it'll wind Martin up or not. Anything beyond that is secondary, and often better disregarded — the last thing either of them need is for him to start overthinking.

But some implications can't be shunted aside so casually, and it isn't until Martin responds well that John appreciates that he could have responded badly. Not that he should have, or even that it was likely — Martin has never begrudged him these little accidents before, and not every unvoiced sentiment feels like a secret — but that the press of his cheek and the ready rejoinder are not things John should take for granted. That they are the result of far more than just a willingness to play along.

He can't take them for granted, and he can't bear to show his appreciation by way of the light torments he's subjected Martin to so far. So he draws back, meeting Martin's gaze for a breathless beat. The hand that was fisted in his hair relaxes, the other lifts to frame his face, cradling him as if he is some unbearably precious object. "Martin..." he starts, his gaze darting between Martin's eyes as he struggles to translate his swell of emotions into words, to assemble a sentence that might adequately convey how loved, how safe Martin makes him feel, and how much John wants to give him.

And then he loses patience, both with himself and with the whole bloody concept of speech, and abandons it all in favor of dipping his head to kiss him, deep and almost desperate. He kisses him until he has to pull back for air, and then he grasps a little clumsily for Martin's hand and draws it up, depositing it on his own shoulder in implicit invitation, underscored with a whispered, "Please."
statement_ends: (mister blackwood)

[personal profile] statement_ends 2020-12-06 08:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Martin's arms curl around him, drawing him in, and John sighs quietly as he lets himself be drawn. Someone else might describe it as a surrender, but it doesn't feel like one to him; 'surrender' implies that something was contested, and they have worked too hard to eschew such ideas. The press of Martin's hands isn't possessive, and John does not wonder where they might wander. He doesn't offer himself while harboring any uncertainty about how much Martin will presume to take. He knows the desperate little noises Martin is making won't translate to desperate little actions. He knows he's safe.

Things slow the way they usually do, gradual and organic, until John finds himself resting his forehead against Martin's as he catches his breath. Well. Not maudlin, at least, but he can't help cracking a faint smile over just how far off-track they've managed to veer. "You," he murmurs, punctuating it with a brief, gentle kiss, "have distracted me."

Not distracted enough to forget the original trajectory, though. One hand is already in Martin's hair, and he curls his fingers deliberately, though he doesn't tighten them just yet. "Hands on the wall," he instructs, even as his thumb gently skates over Martin's cheek.
statement_ends: (haughty)

[personal profile] statement_ends 2020-12-08 03:45 am (UTC)(link)
John leans back a little, one hand dropping to toy with Martin's collar. In no apparent hurry, he draws the collar aside and then lets it settle back, his gaze cool and assessing, as if choosing just the right spot to begin working is his sole focus. It's not all for show, either. He has played things quite safe on prior occasions, making sure that any marks he leaves behind will be fully hidden by whatever shirt Martin might choose to wear. Now, he's thinking of flirting a bit more with the border where something might just get spotted, from the right angle, if Martin isn't careful. Nothing too risky — one embarrassing week at the office was enough — but something just risky enough to make life interesting.

The corners of his mouth curl upward once he's chosen a spot, and he tugs Martin's collar well out of the way, so he'll have plenty of room to work. "Right," he murmurs, before leaning in to blaze a slow trail down Martin's neck, his fingers still twisted around Martin's hair in implicit readiness. He pauses to suck gently at his pulse point, testing as much as teasing. He's not sure how well Martin will be able to keep his hands still without physical assistance, and he may as well get a sense of it now, before he really needs to focus elsewhere.
statement_ends: (mister blackwood)

[personal profile] statement_ends 2020-12-13 05:05 am (UTC)(link)
When John had whispered that word, Martin hadn't hesitated to give him what he wanted. It would be rude not to return the courtesy — and really, they've passed the point where John might've kept drawing things out just for the sake of it. So the moment John relents that teasing pressure against Martin's neck, he tightens his grip on Martin's hair, his fingers snarled close against his scalp. His wrist flexes, the tug not sharp, but still insistent, tipping Martin's head a little to one side, as if to give himself as broad a canvas as possible.

Not that he strictly needs one. He's already chosen the perfect place to begin. John dips his head lower and seals his lips around a spot just below Martin's collarbone and a bit left of his sternum, this time sucking with deliberate force and purpose. The other little marks he's made will be gone within the hour; he intends for this one to last.
statement_ends: (haughty)

[personal profile] statement_ends 2020-12-13 09:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Martin's hands stay pressed to the wall, and John relents with a grin, nuzzling against him for a moment. If he was physically holding Martin down, he might try to draw this out a bit more, keeping him pinned while he continued to tease him. But with Martin's own force of will being the only thing keeping his hands in place, it seems kinder to grant permission than set him up for failure.

"Whatever you need," John murmurs magnanimously, kissing two of Martin's freckles in slow succession. Then he drifts to another spot, a little more to the left — and more easily hidden — and clamps down again, drawing Martin's skin between his teeth.
statement_ends: (smile - fond)

[personal profile] statement_ends 2020-12-14 03:47 am (UTC)(link)
Once Martin is underway, John trades marking him for milder torments: nipping lightly at his neck and giving his hair brief, teasing tugs. Winding him up isn't the goal so much as escorting him over the proverbial finish line, and John has done so often enough, now, for it to be surprisingly comfortable territory. It doesn't hurt that even now, Martin is careful, slumping back against the wall instead of crowding close, demanding nothing. It helps, too, that he's devoid of the tension John's come to associate with him trying to draw things out on purpose. All of it conspires to leave John feeling more at ease than the John of several months ago would ever have thought such circumstances would allow, and he continues his almost idle ministrations until Martin seizes his arm and curls in on himself with a gasp.

John draws back at once, though only a little, sticking close enough to offer support. The grip he has on Martin's hair relaxes, and when Martin's head comes to rest on his shoulder, John's hand naturally curls into a fond, supportive cradle around the back of Martin's neck, his thumb rubbing a gentle arc against the base of his skull. His other hand lifts to brace against Martin's elbow, and he chuckles softly in response to Martin's wordless assessment.

"Happy to oblige," he drawls, turning his head and pressing a kiss to Martin's hair (now considerably more tousled than it was when they came in).
statement_ends: (smile - friendly)

[personal profile] statement_ends 2020-12-15 05:13 am (UTC)(link)
One slightly unfortunate result of doing things so impulsively is that it doesn't leave Martin much time to recover himself before discomfort starts to become an issue. It isn't long before he straightens with a groan, and John takes in the rumpled, rather debauched looking state of him: hair tousled, collar open and still a bit askew. His own smile is equal parts sheepish and smug, but he softens as he meets Martin's gaze, and hums quietly against his lips when Martin leans in to kiss him.

"Love you, too," he replies, before stepping back to let Martin toddle off to the bathroom. He makes his own way into the bedroom, where he changes out of his public-facing outfit and into soft pajama bottoms and one of his lighter jumpers, something far more befitting the lounging he suspects is going to make up the rest of their day. Then he settles himself on the bed to wait, leaning back against the headboard and already feeling rather cozy.

It's a faint surprise when Martin wanders in wearing just a towel, though John realizes a beat later that it was his only option: he hadn't grabbed anything before heading into the WC. John could have brought him something, and the missed opportunity gnaws at him until he sees Martin's smile, which is a little shy, but not uncomfortable.

And there's no clearly-defined reason why it should be. It isn't something they've discussed. Martin has changed in John's presence before, though it's always been quick and a little bit furtive — not unlike the way John had changed before Martin had expressed a desire to look at him. And John has never mirrored that desire, largely for the simple reason that he's never felt it. Aesthetics are less important to him, and whatever idle curiosity he might have felt about what Martin looks like had always seemed like a small thing to set against the possibility of Martin's discomfort. Once Martin turns to rummage through their drawers, John lets his gaze slide over to the wall, politely averted.

Not so averted that he doesn't note Martin's hesitation in front of the mirror, though, and his gaze flicks back over in spite of himself. He sees Martin's reflected grin, broad and so entirely unselfconscious that John feels an immediate lurch of guilt for having observed it at all. Christ, can't he just let the poor man have a moment in peace? He bullies his gaze to the relatively safer territory of Martin's back, confident (or at least hopeful) that there will be little to see there.

Except he's wrong: the freckles that he's seen poking out of Martin's collar are, as it turns out, only the straggling edge of a broad dusting that covers Martin's back and shoulders. John straightens with a blink, a charmed smile tugging at his lips and all thoughts of politely deferring to Martin's presumed modesty fleeing his head. He loves Martin's freckles, but he'd had no idea there were so many of them. They're everywhere. It's darling.

"Martin," he says, his tone soft and wondering and carrying the faint suggestion that Martin has been holding out on him, "you've got freckles."
statement_ends: (huh)

[personal profile] statement_ends 2020-12-18 02:50 am (UTC)(link)
"Wh— hang on," John objects, leaning toward Martin with one hand braced on the bedspread and the other outstretched, as if to either beckon him over or halt him via telepathy. He doesn't even think about what he must look like or how confusing any of this might be; all his focus is centered on the appalling misunderstanding that has apparently led Martin to believe that he ought to put all of those delightful freckles away. "Don't—don't do that. Just..."

And that's when reality catches up with him, and it occurs to him that Martin going for his shirt probably has far more to do with Martin's comfort zone than anything else. Before, he had presumed that his general lack of interest in the aesthetics of Martin's bare skin had coincided with Martin's own preference for remaining clothed: a little convenience that never needed to be addressed. But there’s no reason his sudden change of heart should prompt an answering one in Martin.

John lowers his hand, cheeks flushed and brows drawn in consternation. "I just... I want to see them," he explains, his voice lower and considerably more sheepish. "I-if that's okay."
Edited 2020-12-18 03:24 (UTC)
statement_ends: (sweetie)

[personal profile] statement_ends 2020-12-19 04:51 am (UTC)(link)
At first, Martin looks so taken aback that John's certain he's going to refuse. Not that it was a particularly considered request — more of an awkward, blurted objection that took too long to acknowledge the possibility (if not the outright likelihood) that Martin would rather just put on the bloody shirt than humor John's sudden interest. John draws back his hand, anchoring it around his own elbow.

When Martin puts his startled question, all John can muster in response is an uncertain, "Y-yes?" Did he not know already? Well, that wouldn't be the strangest thing; it's not easy to get a good look at your own back. Maybe no one else had commented on it before (yet another mark against his previous entanglements, Christ).

But then Martin's surprise softens a little — not fading entirely, but not calcifying into embarrassment, either — and he comes over to the bed and sits, his back angled towards John for inspection. John blinks, a faint, cautiously optimistic smile tugging at his lips as he glances between Martin's curious face and the freckles in question.

"Well, it's not—" he pauses, wondering if there's any subjective means of measuring relative freckle amounts and then deciding he doesn't care, "excessive." Whatever that means. "But there are quite a few." His eyes drift over the spray of them scattered across Martin's shoulder blades, and he releases his own arm so he can reach over and brush the back of his index finger over a little group of them. "They're lovely," he adds with quiet, thoughtless certainty.

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