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[loyalrebel]

Malik's personal section of liminal space is bigger than last time, and more home feeling as well. Especially past the back of the counter of Jerusalem and through a curtain to what is obviously meant to be the Assassin's private quarters. There's a simple straightforwardness to the room, stone walls and wood latticed windows. The furniture is well made, if simple, consisting mostly of shelves and a work desk with the bed is cleverly built in to an alcove.

It's back here that he's invited Tick-Tock, wanting the casual intimacy and easiness that the older man brings. Someone he doesn't have to hide half of himself from because they don't know about the Assassin's. He's one of the few people that Malik knows his feelings towards are his own and not some leftovers from being someone else.

"I hope I didn't ask you away from someone else." He says by way of greeting.

Comments

[set_your_watches_for_fun]

The Englishman chuckles. "If you had, it would only mean I was prioritizing you, wouldn't it?" He teases, looking around the more personalized room curiously. "That's not so terrible."

[loyalrebel]

"Terrible, no." He half smiled, "That does not mean it is not something I am used to in personal matters."

There are a few things besides the clutter of someone who does more work than sleep; throwing knives hung in their holsters on the wall, a sword in the corner, an array of colored inks and pens he'd picked up in Nova Venezia.

"I... Wanted to apologize. For what happened."

[set_your_watches_for_fun]

"For killing me, you mean?" Tick-Tock asks, his voice bright and cheerful as ever.

[loyalrebel]

"Yes. Though more for... the rest." Malik sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I acted poorly towards you, even with the situation as it was. I got caught up in situations and did not always think before acting. I acted as if I had nobody to rely on I could trust when you were only a thought away."

[set_your_watches_for_fun]

"Yes, you rather did," Nigel agreed. He wasn't really the sort for sugar coating things. On the other hand, he also wasn't the sort to take them personally, and his wry smile shows it. "You do that quite a bit. I take it you've decided to trust me and perhaps remember I'm about next time?"

[loyalrebel]

"That depends on the situation." Malik replied evenly, an eyebrow raising. "I will not promise something I cannot guarantee."

It was why he didn't promise things lightly, and held others to theirs just as tightly as he did.

"I am far used to operating alone, and it is a hard thing to break the habits of."

[set_your_watches_for_fun]

"Hence the 'perhaps', darling," Tick-Tock says, still smiling. "I'm not expecting miracles, or promises. I know myself how difficult those can be to keep."

[loyalrebel]

"If I ever need someone to charm someone in to, or out of something you will be my first thought." Malik half grinned back, "Unless you rub on me so much I pick up that talent."

[set_your_watches_for_fun]

Tick-Tock raises an eyebrow archly, reaching up to stroke his mustache. "Is that why you really invited me? You were looking to have me rub on you until you ... picked something up?"

[loyalrebel]

Malik barely resisting the urge to splutter in response, "I- I am not opposed to it. I thought you would... rather not, considering."

It hadn't been the first thing on his mind to say the least, but the memory of the last time sent a faint thrill down his spine.

"I do have a bed this time around."

[set_your_watches_for_fun]

"I don't take things personally, darling, I told you," Tick-Tock commented lightly, smiling. It wasn't not quite true, he had taken it rather personally when he'd been stabbed in the back, even if he'd understood the reasoning behind it. But that was days ago, and he was a man who recovered from slights relatively quickly, not prone to holding grudges.

"And we've managed quite well without bed before," he added, grinning wickedly as he closed the distance between them. "I suppose it might be a laugh to find out what it's like on a more conventional surface."

[loyalrebel]

"Pushing you down and riding you is decidedly more feasible on a bed, and there is little risk of someone stumbling across us here." Malik hummed, hands moving to the other man's hips. "That and we have until we get dumped on some new mission to enjoy each other."

[set_your_watches_for_fun]

Tick-Tock played his fingers lightly up one of Malik's arms, ruffling the loose cloth up to his shoulder, then sliding down to the front of his robes, over his breastbone. His breath had distinctly if subtly quickened at the assassin's declaration of intent.

"Rather," he agreed, leaning in to ghost a slow kiss along Malik's jaw, then up a few inches to just below his ear. "Just time enough, I think."

[loyalrebel]

Malik sighed, a hum of pleasure on the tail of it as Tick-Tock's lips brush below his ear that has him pulling the other man closer against him. "You are the expert on time here." He commented, flesh hand pulling at the back of the colonel's shirt to get under it and drag greedy fingers down bare skin.

[set_your_watches_for_fun]

"That I am, darling," Tick-Tock murmurs, right before his tongue teases along the lobe of Malik's ear, tracing the shell, his breath warm and loud, betraying to very soft groan behind the words as the assassin gets to his bare back. "That I am."

One hand drops down to slowly start undoing the mass of cloth that makes up Malik's usual outfit, starting with the belt. His movements are unhurried, but he would definitely like to get at a little bare skin himself.