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[rosebyanyother]

"Morrigan Prince. I'm afraid I'm too busy to answer at the moment, but leave a message and I promise to respond as soon as I'm able."

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[the_fairest_flower]

Utterly, [he whispers.

He hates the way he feels right now. He hates that he's falling apart like this in front of someone he knows and cares for. Jamie takes a sharp breath as the stays loosen, as the constriction ends. He's upset with himself for being so ridiculous about the clothes, too. Normally this wouldn't throw him at all. He'd quite enjoyed dressing up, but--but things changed.

As Morrigan loosens the laces, Jamie wipes at his face, trying to get some composure back.]

It-- [He hiccups, tries to slow his breathing.] They... love the person I was. Very much. But it wasn't me. And I know that's the point, I just--

[He shakes his head.]

I'm being overdramatic and ridiculous, that's all.

[rosebyanyother]

You aren't.

[The workings of Jaime's undergarment continue to be a little odd to Peter. He's used to the kind with a busk in the front. It seems the easiest to undo the ties on the little shoulder pieces, so he does that next. At least the front ones.]

It's disconcerting. Coming out of it and knowing that the emotion wasn't for you.

[He reaches out, but leaves his hand hovering just a centimeter or two away from Jaime's cheek. Letting him choose to lean into it or not.]

But you are loved too, you know.

[the_fairest_flower]

[He looks over at Morrigan, eyes a bit red.]

Am I?

[It comes out far quieter than he means it to. And he knows, when he says it, that he probably isn't being fair. But there is some part of him that can't let go of how it felt to realize--

Jamie takes a slow breath and lets it go as he lowers his gaze. As he does, though, he turns his head toward Morrigan's hovering fingers.]

It felt like a memory, [he admits quietly.]

[rosebyanyother]

[Peter's fingers stroke gently against Jaime's cheek once he's given his consent to be touched.]

Of course you are. [He pauses, and then simply...decides to forge ahead. His own feelings about Jaime have leaned in a certain direction for a while now. Nothing he plans to take farther than he already has, but still. Present. Strong.] I do, for one.

[It rolls off his tongue surprisingly easily. No great fanfare, nothing that makes it sound like a statement that's out of the ordinary. As normal as can be.]

And I can't imagine that I'm alone. That Noah boy you've talked about...?

[At the very least, Peter has picked up on the way Jaime has talked about Noah. And it's very hard to believe that someone Noah feels strongly about doesn't feel the same way for him.]

[the_fairest_flower]

[He looks at Morrigan at that confession, easy as it comes. He is, perhaps, the third person to ever say it to him.

The third person to ever say it who Jamie believes. He laughs, and it's still a bit wet.]

Noah is so terribly sweet, [he says tenderly. And he loves Noah, and he is so grateful that Noah loves him. Given the nature of his boyfriend, he thinks--he knows Noah has nothing to lose by telling the truth.]

It's--it's hard to hear, sometimes.

[And harder to believe when he has spent so much of his life being what other people need or want. He moves closer to Morrigan and bumps his head against the man's shoulder.]

I'm sorry. I don't mean to be such a fucking mess. [His fingers curl loosely in whatever top Morrigan is wearing, unwilling to be apart just yet.] You said it so easily...

[rosebyanyother]

[With Jaime moving in closer, Peter loops his free arm around him, keeping him close.]

I did, didn't I. [It's a murmur, as his fingers continue to stroke Jaime's cheek.] It felt very natural, with you.

[Perhaps it is because Peter loves but is not in love with Jaime. Not quite like that. But perhaps it is also that Peter has already shown weakness in front of him more than once and been perfectly fine. That Jaime...makes him feel safe.]

And you're entitled to be a mess now and again. I know I am, sometimes.

[the_fairest_flower]

You're terribly dashing, you know, [he murmurs as he tips his head to brush a kiss over Morrigan's lips. Mostly chaste.] And oh... that entitlement was a rare thing once upon a time. Feels hard to indulge here.

[Jamie closes his eyes and rests his head against Morrigan's shoulder, taking comfort in how familiar he is. He doesn't know when this happened, how one more person sank past his defenses to nestle in his chest. A human, at that.]

I love you, you know. [Morrigan certainly deserves to hear it after all this. Jamie breathes deep and lets it go slowly, fingers curled loosely in Morrigan's top. For a long moment, he doesn't let go, taking solace in the arm wrapped around him.]

I should get into something more comfortable. And I'm afraid you'll have to let me go for that, unless we get very creative about dressing me.

[rosebyanyother]

[Peter smiles into the kiss and continues to smile when Jaime lays his head back down. He strokes Jaime's hair lightly and makes a pleased sound when Jaime says he loves him as well. He hadn't necessarily expected a return of the sentiment (though he had his suspicions) but it is nice to hear nonetheless.]

Something more comfortable sounds like a good idea to me. [Slowly, slightly reluctantly, he lifts his arm from around Jaime and lets it drop to his side.] I'd like to stay the night, if you don't mind...?

[Just to make sure Jaime is okay.]

[the_fairest_flower]

I'd actually really like it if you did, [he admits softly. He leans to kiss Morrigan's cheek, then pulls away to head upstairs. He gestures for Morrigan to follow. He slips into one of the bedrooms and gestures at the dresser.]

If you want to change into something to sleep in I might...? Have something that'll fit you.

[Morrigan is several inches taller than him, after all. Jamie takes his time to finish undressing, slipping out of the frilly panties and pausing to untie the knee-high stockings. As he gets into a pair of silk shorts and a camisole, he pauses.]

This is your first time spending the night here, isn't it?

[rosebyanyother]

[It's such a sweet little room. Peter smiles a bit as he steps into it.

At the offer, he shrugs one shoulder a bit. He's also very aware that he's a bit taller than Jaime.]

I think just a shirt would be fine.

[If it's a bit short, that's potentially less uncomfortable than too-small or too-short pants.]

I love the decor in here.

[the_fairest_flower]

Oh, thank you. It was empty when the city gave it to me... took some time to pull it all together.

[But he likes it. For as much as he adores his Dominant, having a place of his own is important. And he won this one.]

Should take you out to see the back garden in the morning.

[Jamie digs through his dresser to find something appropriate. It's a sleep shirt that's long on him, so it might at least hit Morrigan's hips or something. The more important part is that it's wildly soft. He offers it to his rescuer, then turns his attention to finding something for himself.

His pale skin still bears some red crease-marks from the way the bodice held fabric against his skin, but those are fading now that he's free and moving around. Jamie pulls on a camisole that hugs his torso and a pair of shorts that may or may not have frogs wearing flower crowns on the fabric.

With a sigh, he drops down onto his bed and pushes his fingers through his hair.]

[rosebyanyother]

[Peter, in turn, begins to strip out of his clothes, placing them wherever he can that's out of the way. Once he's down to his panties, he slips on the shirt he's been given.

By the time Jaime has plopped down on the bed, Peter is already there. Scooting towards him, he wraps an arm around his waist and rests his chin on Jaime's shoulder.]

You're adorable, you know.

[the_fairest_flower]

Pretty sure that's one of the only reasons I'm still alive, [he says dryly as he leans against Morrigan.

Jamie closes his eyes, soaking up that familiar touch as he leans into the man wrapped around him. He turns his to brush a kiss to bump his nose against Morrigan's cheek.]

[rosebyanyother]

Oh, I highly doubt that.

[But it's an airy rebuttal, followed by a soft laugh at the way Jaime's nose bumps against him, at the feathery kiss. He turns his own head a moment later to turn it into something proper. Though still soft, more affection than desire.]

[the_fairest_flower]

[It's the affection that gets to him. Jamie closes his eyes and he feels a hot trail down one cheek. For fuck's sake... he hates being such a mess. Some part of him insists that he should turn this into something more heated, if only to stop feeling like this. But that seems unfair to Morrigan.

As the kiss breaks, Jamie nudges gently against Morrigan.]

You mean you didn't drag yourself out in the middle of the night to save me because I'm cute?

[rosebyanyother]

[As sharp-eyed as he is, Peter certainly doesn't miss that Jaime is crying. He doesn't force it in to focus, though. That seems unnecessary and cruel. They're birds of a feather and poking too much at feelings is not always helpful for people like them.]

Oh, yes, that. But also because you're kind and clever and lovely.

[Peter nudges back playfully.]

[the_fairest_flower]

I have enough of an ego without you feeding it, [he insists, though he smiles none the less. Jamie wipes at his eyes, thinking that is quite enough of that.]

I wish I'd had someone like you when I came out of the Hedge, [he admits, softer. He hadn't been alone, at least, and he's still grateful for that. Jamie doesn't know where he'd be if he hadn't managed to get out with Quick and Cade and--Sam. But maybe things would have been different if he'd had someone outside his little motley take an interest sooner.]

[rosebyanyother]

Someone like me....

[There's something about the way that Jaime says that, the praise, that makes Peter loathe to accept it without some sort of minimization.]

I wasn't...quite like this before. For Duplicity's hardships and sharp edges, I think it has...made me softer.

I'm not even sure it's a good thing, to be honest.

[the_fairest_flower]

[Jamie looks at Morrigan and a small smile appears. There's something sad in it.]

None of us are who we were, darling. And I don't know if it's up to us if that's good or not. [He leans close to brush a kiss to Morrigan's lips, just this side of chaste.] Maybe we would have cut each other to pieces if we met at any other time. But we didn't.

[rosebyanyother]

[Peter kisses back, just as chaste and just as soft. He smiles a bit too, when he pulls back.]

Yes, I think we might have. But I'm glad we didn't.

[the_fairest_flower]

[Jamie smiles and lightly brushes his thumb beneath Morrigan's bottom lip. How has he come to care so much? It's terrifying, really. In so many ways.]

You know I'm here, if you ever need me. I'm mostly useless, but I'm here.

[rosebyanyother]

I know, my dear. [The smile he gives Jaime is fond, though his eyebrow is raised.] Though we'll have to disagree on that second bit. I've found you very useful.

[the_fairest_flower]

[He gives Morrigan another kiss, then moves to pull the man down with him so they can properly snuggle. Maybe it says something that he quietly accepts that little compliment.]

Thank you for staying with me, Morrigan.