[Closed Post] ..shining through the hollow..

[lanselos_du_lac]

Once Lancelot has left Magnus and Galahad in the greenhouse, he goes looking for Laertes. He can admit he has had the urge to check in on everyone, in the wake of Magnus' incident, but he has realized that it's been some days and he misses Laertes' company.

So he goes seeking, checking in on the places he thinks Laertes might be, and eventually finding him in that same parlor they'd sat together in before. Lancelot pauses in the doorway, and then clears his throat and says, "I do hope I'm not interrupting."

Despite the clear fact that he intends to interrupt. He is grinning.

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[timebethine]

"I will not hold thee apart from me, waiting to love thee until thou art perfect," says Laertes softly. His lips find the pad of Lancelot's thumb, the soft crease under his knuckle. "I know that kind of testing love too well. It would drive me mad, never to be sure of where I stand. Always to be proving myself, and never to have proof." In some ways, it has.

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Aye," with a sudden certainty, a kind of relief that Laertes understands him, "aye, that is what I mean."

[timebethine]

Then Laertes works his arms under Lancelot until he can hold him as closely as he longs to, and he lays his cheek against Lancelot's chest. "I love thee," he says. "I've chosen thee. I will not harm thee, in play or in truth--and if I do, I've wronged thee, and thou deservest redress."

[lanselos_du_lac]

It cracks something open in him; this is something he hadn't quite known that he needed.

He thinks, briefly, of Arthur admitting that he had failed him; he thinks, too, that he would never have expected or felt he deserved redress from either Guinever or Arthur.

But these feelings don't distract from what is here and now, from Laertes. From Laertes giving him what he needs, happy to do so, sincere in his words. Lancelot lets out a careful, fragile sigh and wraps both arms around him, burying his face in Laertes' hair, breathing him in.

[timebethine]

And for a long moment, Laertes just lies like that, held and holding, listening to the thunder of Lancelot's heart.

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Thou'rt good to me," he murmurs, not moving. "I am not saying I do not deserve it, but I am grateful for thy care."

[timebethine]

"It's gladly given."

[lanselos_du_lac]

There's the smallest pause. Then, "We should... to bed. This couch does not suit us any longer."

[timebethine]

"Nay--I want to see thee entire." As he pushes himself reluctantly up from Lancelot's chest, his lips quirk, and he adds, "And, perhaps, kiss thee entire."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Hast offered to do so," with a little grin.

[timebethine]

"That offer remains open." He offers a hand to help Lancelot up.

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot takes his hand and gets to his feet, "I should like that. Please do."