bakerstreet | like it's hard?

If I talk like poetry feels, I'll apply it right now to help you know better than to call yourself an idiot.

You're not an idiot for not knowing something I deliberately didn't told you. Or did I miss that serum making you psychic? You should probably be a part of the X-men then, you think?

[ He stops walking and just takes the opportunity to lean on him, looking him right in the eye from up close. ]

I'm 23. It's weird to think about. I lost my sisters at 19 and everything went to hell since - but I got to meet and keep you, so I'm not changing shit.

Sure, I'd love it if Beth was here and Hannah wasn't whatever the fuck she is now. But you make taking another few breaths worth it.

[He laughs softly.] No- I'm not psychic. Not like that- though... I guess you could classify the Void Rooms as a sort of subset under psychic stuff?

[He will never get tired of the way Josh is so... tactile. Always finding ways, reasons, excuses to touch him, to lean against him, to just forever be in his space. Bob is pretty sure, at least in part, it is little more than heat-seeking behavior sometimes, but whatever it is? He likes it, and he hopes it never stops.]

So much has happened since then... [And so little still has changed, really, too] ...Does that mean I met you right after you lost the twins?

I kind of want to see those rooms but I also know I definitely couldn't handle it. I'm not doing that to either of us.

[ It's definitely heat-seeking, the way he's forgetting they were actually headed somewhere. He's just going to tuck himself under his chin, scoot in close and enjoy the warmth Bob is putting off. ]

Yeah. Maybe a few months at the most?

I don't want to take you in there, milashko. [He really does like the way that one feels in his mouth; he's glad Yelena had given him that one.

He nods a little; he thought as much. That just means he's never known a Josh who hadn't already lost the most important parts of his life. It's a little sad to think there's a whole other version of him that never suffered that, but Bob will never know him now.

He doesn't know what to say, so he doesn't bother trying. Instead, he simply circles his arms around him as Josh shifts closer. He tips his head forward and presses a kiss into the younger man's hair and just lingers there like that. He lets out a soft, slow breath and lets one hand slide across his back in a slow, soothing manner.]

Yeah, you're not going to take me in there. Feel free to take me anywhere else, though. Might be hot, depending on what you're capable of handling.

[ The one thing that hasn't changed is Josh cannot stop running his mouth. But the translation is he appreciates his presence and he shows it by curling into him and finally falling quiet, just taking a moment to breath.

This kind of affectionate touch? It literally makes him purr from somewhere deep inside, now that he's some kind of possessed creature. But he always filters it out, doesn't notice it for himself.

Doesn't change the steady, fond commentary of that engine no pure human has, though. ]

Shut up. [He chuckles lightly and cinches his arms a little tighter around him, a nice little squeeze accompanying this time.

Bob doesn't actually notice it much at first- there are at least, like, three cats roaming around this place, purring isn't abnormal to hear--

Wait.

He hides a smile by rolling his lips together and shifting to press his cheek against the top of Josh's head. Listening harder now, he can tell the sound is, in fact, coming from Josh.

Oh, no.
Evidence of his inhumanity probably shouldn't be thought of as cute, huh?
Whoops...]

...babe? I think you're purring...

...what?

[ He looks absolutely indignant at his own body for daring to do such a thing. What the hell? He tries to put effort into making it stop but unfortunately for him, purring can happen because of annoyance, too.

So it's just stronger than ever. ]

Take me out back and shoot me.

[ Just casually wishing for death, typical Josh things. ]

[He still has his lips pressed together in hopes of hiding the smile that hasn't left his face since he realized what the sound was, and where it was coming from.]

Abso-fucking-lutely not. [He laughs softly, circling his fingers around Josh's wrist and pulling him in again.] It's kinda... sweet, you know?

No way. What's next, you're going to have to buy me treats? Provide enrichment so I don't go nuts?

[ Wait, all of that is happening anyway, isn't it? Especially if he gets convinced to feed off him again. He covers his eyes with his free hand and groans. ]

What the hell am I becoming... It's embarrassing.

Aww, come on. [He laughs softly, trying to tug that hand down away from his face.] It's not embarrassing. You're fine. [He tries to pull him in again, too.] You're still my scary dog privilege, okay? I promise.

Why does that actually make me feel better?

[ Not enough to stop pouting, but don't point that out, unless you want him begging to be shot again.

He allows his hand to be pulled away, settling in closer to him again. If he listens, that whole purr thing seems to have slowed down? So he's mollified for a moment and just relaxes, enjoying being close to him.

Until that makes the motor start again. He definitely doesn't miss it this time and pulls away with a groan. ]

Come on, man. Really?

I dunno, but I'll take it. [He grins a little. He's cute when he's pouty, but Bob will keep that fact to himself for the time being.

He sighs softly as Josh settles back against him again and it kind of... feels like all is right in the world again for a second.

Bob can't help the laugh that escapes at his reaction to hearing the purring gain volume again.]

No, no, nope- [He grabs his wrist and yanks him back against him once more.] C'mere. You're not taking cuddles away from me because you're embarrassed by a little noise.

[ Josh very deliberately crosses his eyes at him in annoyance, but it's all negative feelings for his own body, none for Bob. He settles against him once more but he's definitely back to pouting. It's blatant as hell. ]

Make it worth my while to be embarrassed, at least.

Oh, but aren't you the one who told me once- just being in my presence is worth all the gold in the world or something over-the-top like that? [He's teasing mostly, but he also thinks the only way Josh gets used to it is to... get used to it, and desensitize himself to that cozy rumble in his chest.

Bob is personally never going to stop absolutely fawning over the whole concept, even if he has to keep it contained in his own mind to keep from embarrassing Josh over it.]

... sounds like me. And I would know, since I can pretty much get a lot of gold if I want.

[ He glances left, glances right, tries to judge how alone they are. ]

Okay, at least, let's go somewhere more private. Like I dunno, we could watch something in the cinema room. Then I can get distracted by some bullshit movie while you enjoy the hell out of this.

It does, doesn't it? [He grins and watches the way his gaze darts around- he's feeling so conspiratorial already.]

Sounds perfect. [He grins again and threads their fingers together as they move through the hallways and head to the, thankfully, otherwise empty cinema room. Even better.

He lets Josh fuss with all the movie choosing and set up. What they throw on, Bob cares much less about than curling up with his boyfriend in an overstuffed, oversized comfy chair. A chair he's already chosen in the sea of choices in the room, socked feet already tucked under him while he waits to be joined.]

[ Josh is a hyperfixating kinda guy, which means the movie he puts on is the same exact one he demanded from Yelena on his birthday. The movie he's loved all his life, because it has everything - The Princess Bride. Once it's on, he comes at Bob in his chair and doesn't hesitate for even a second before just wholesale plopping down right in his lap.

He makes a show of adjusting and getting comfortable. ]

Sorry, I'm so, so heavy. It's got to be a problem for you, even with your new onset of super strength.

[ ... He's lost more weight. It's really not that funny. But it's a way to avoid being awkward. ]

[A classic, and a pick that Bob will be delighted about once it starts.

He doesn’t have a single complaint about Josh dropping into his lap. His arms snake around him and he hooks his chin in Josh’s shoulder.]

Shut up.

[He worries about the weight loss, when does it become untenable? How long can he last the way he’s been going? What happens when he can’t go further?

All things he doesn’t want to think about right now. So, instead, he buries his face against Josh’s shoulder.]

You gonna make me?

[ He was really just joking around and trying to continue it, but he's getting more serious vibes off the way Bob is hiding his face. So he quickly changes his tune and drops it, putting a hand in his hair and petting gently. ]

Hey. What's up? You doing good?

Maybe.

[The quip comes so quick, he doesn’t even register the topic switch for a second or two.

He bites his lip. He considers waving it off, claiming everything is fine and… then he’s just feels bad about almost lying to him so: ]

You’re still losing weight, it’s- I’m just worried…

I'm trying, man. I can't eat anything processed. It's a fucking disaster that makes me look like I need an exorcism.

[ Okay, maybe not that bad, but. He sighs, hyper aware of his own body. He wants to cuddle into him, but he doesn't want to remind Bob of what he's worried about. Should he get up? He doesn't want to at all. ]

Pretty much the only success I've had is you. I can't just put you through that.

I know, babe… I’m just- you know me, I’m gonna worry even if I don’t need to.

[He tightens his hold on him at the sound of that sigh and presses his forehead against the back of Josh’s neck. He drops a soft kiss there while he’s at it.]

I’ll do anything for you, you know? And I heal so much quicker now…

I'm not going to say you don't need to worry about this, that wouldn't be very self aware of me. [ It's not like he doesn't see himself when he looks in the mirror - he's far from blind, especially now, especially at night. ]

I don't want you to get hurt for me. It doesn't matter if you're gonna heal fast, it's the fact its happening at all.

You'll do anything for me but I'm the same for you. That shouldn't include starving but the alternative feels worse.

[ Causing him pain was such a damn non option that it wasn't even funny. He simply makes a face and pushes the whole thing away from his conscience mind - or at least as much as he can manage. Which isn't very far, in the end. He might not be entirely human but he was like anyone else - far too concerned with the person he loves most to bother with himself much at all. ]

No, it wouldn’t be. Plus, it wouldn’t make me stop worrying, anyway.

[He sighs softly, frustrated at how little he can actually help, no matter how much he wants to. He mumbles: ] I knew you’d say that.

[He nuzzles some more at Josh’s neck.] I just don’t know what else to do, but we’ve got to find something that works… [His voice goes small and quiet: ] I don’t want to lose you…

[ Yeah, so that last declaration hits him a bit like a freight train and he's left thinking about the consequences of his own actions. With how uncomfortable this makes him, he mentally recoils right into trying to think of a solution. ]

So there is something that kinda works. At least I think it does? I've been keeping Hannah alive by feeding her raw deer. Shit I just killed for her.

I just don't eat any of it myself. It feels like combining hunting something and eating it would be the nail in the coffin of my humanity.

But maybe there's a way around it?

like it's hard?

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This guy needs to deal with his intrusive thoughts in a way that doesn't ruin beautiful moments

bold of you to think a purring boyfriend doesn't ADD TO the cute of the moment

Bob has NO NOTES, he is HERE for it

1000%

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I'm just assuming the tower has a cinema room, it might as well

it def tracks lbr

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