A twinge of guilt in Louis, remembering. Remembering that sliver of guilt in Daniel, the performance they had put on the exacerbate it. Not all things are excused by how combative they'd been then. A little restless shift of his fingers along Daniel's neck.
It's late, for an apology. Maybe a smaller harm when set alongside the many other ways Louis has failed Daniel.
Maybe an apology, when Daniel will let him give one. Later.
In the moment, Louis' eyes move over Daniel's face. Watches him. Takes in all these things he's saying.
"Daniel," Louis murmurs, voice low into the space between them. "I've been thinking of you for fifty years."
Every book. Every article. Interviews. TV appearances. The only threads of connection Louis could maintain, keeping his distance because he'd thought he'd almost killed him. Daniel. The fascinating boy. Louis had wanted him from the start, sitting at the bar with his clunky tape recorder and eager fumbling. Had wanted him in Dubai, with his sleek laptop and needling questions.
Daniel, honing the thing that made him different all those years ago. Daniel looks at a person, and he sees the truth. Has learned how to dig it out, arguing all the while. As appealing now as it had been then.
Voice edging raw as he admits, "I still remember what you taste like."
Are these things enough? Louis, hyperaware of all the places Daniel is touching him. Of his fingers on Daniel's skin. Louis says these things and they're only half, because the rest is overwhelming. Too much to say.
no subject
It's late, for an apology. Maybe a smaller harm when set alongside the many other ways Louis has failed Daniel.
Maybe an apology, when Daniel will let him give one. Later.
In the moment, Louis' eyes move over Daniel's face. Watches him. Takes in all these things he's saying.
"Daniel," Louis murmurs, voice low into the space between them. "I've been thinking of you for fifty years."
Every book. Every article. Interviews. TV appearances. The only threads of connection Louis could maintain, keeping his distance because he'd thought he'd almost killed him. Daniel. The fascinating boy. Louis had wanted him from the start, sitting at the bar with his clunky tape recorder and eager fumbling. Had wanted him in Dubai, with his sleek laptop and needling questions.
Daniel, honing the thing that made him different all those years ago. Daniel looks at a person, and he sees the truth. Has learned how to dig it out, arguing all the while. As appealing now as it had been then.
Voice edging raw as he admits, "I still remember what you taste like."
Are these things enough? Louis, hyperaware of all the places Daniel is touching him. Of his fingers on Daniel's skin. Louis says these things and they're only half, because the rest is overwhelming. Too much to say.