The slowest burn is the most painful

[reversesock]

Arranged Marriage Turned More To have and to hold, you said, till death do us part, all while the sharp, swinging pendulum of obligation hung overhead. But how could you have truly meant those words? This union has been tainted from the start, forever bearing the chains of an arranged marriage. It would be understandable if you couldn't bear to look at your new life partner, eternal reminder of your stolen future that they are, much less like them. Much less love them... Still, things can change. You could realize that they are in the same boat as you or, that when compared to others around you, they are the lesser of evils. Perhaps you even open up to the idea of a friendship; at the very least, an alliance may be in order to become a power couple in a perilous world. From that innocent decision or sense of self-preservation, a new feelings sparks. Something like affection. Something, you realize in the wake of speeding heartbeats, like love. Will you acknowledge this? Can the two of you have a happily ever after - happier than if you'd met in another fashion - or will you hold firm in your distaste? how to play. - Everybody loves "couples forged by less-than-ideal circumstances" tropes! - Comment with your character, prefs, all that good stuff. - Reply to others. - IDEC where you set your threads, it's wide open. Fantasy world with hairy hobbits, old-timey lands, future AUs, do a space marriage for all I care. I'm sure they're still getting married in Star Wars or whatever.

Comments

[tenebrarius]

It still seems too impossibly fortunate that Adam's husband cares about him and wants to protect him. Wants to love him.

The blush is cute, and Ronan's words are moving, so Adam can't resist pressing a soft kiss to Ronan's cheek, tucking himself closer against Ronan's chest and curling a hand around the side of Ronan's neck to keep him close. "You're also fucking hot," he murmurs.

[the_greywaren]

"You okay if I put my arms around you. Or you gonna keep torturing me by being this less and not being able to really feel you?" Not that he hated it. Actually he found it kind of sexy the way Adam touched him but he never touched back.

[tenebrarius]

"Go ahead," Adam murmured. A nervous tremor went through him, tensing up a little in anticipation of touch, but he kept himself pressed close against Ronan, wanting the love and care he offered.

[the_greywaren]

He was careful, sensing Adam's nervousness. His arm was laid lazily over his hips, hand resting lightly on the small of his back. One day he could only hope Adam would trust that he would never hurt him. A firm believer in sin, he knew that hurting this boy was definitely sinful. Shifting just a little bit closer his nose was close enough to bump against Adam's, just barely. His eyes were bright in the darkness of the room but happy and alive. "You smell really good."

[tenebrarius]

"You gonna let me sleep now?" Adam asks, bumping his nose just barely against Ronan's in return. His breath is still quickened, nerves fluttering in his belly, and he shifts his hips a little to hide the instinctive reaction his body has to the warmth and pleasure of being held by an attractive boy his age. His husband.

[the_greywaren]

"Fuck no." His voice husky and raw. Ronan wants him. Wants anything he can have from him. His arm hugs him and he sighs softly. "Fuck, I want to kiss you."

[tenebrarius]

"So greedy," Adam teases, smiling. He tempts himself with the thought of it, imagining what it would be like to kiss Ronan, to feel those arms shift around him, hands sneaking up his shirt. He aches with wanting it, but the nerves are there, too, and this is already a lot for him. Nestling close and tucking his face against Ronan's shoulder, Adam closes his eyes and pretends to be asleep.

[the_greywaren]

Ronan lays there still and quiet. For a minute. Then he snorts out a laugh. "Are you fucking fake sleeping to avoid kissing me!?"

[tenebrarius]

"Correlation is not causation," Adam replies sleepily. "It's the middle of the night and I'm not kissing you."

Shifting just a little, Adam playfully pinches Ronan's side. "Go to sleep."

[the_greywaren]

"Best time of day is the middle of the night." Ronan catches his hand and brings his fingers to his lips. "Make me."

[tenebrarius]

"Sleeping pills?" Adam asks blithely. "I'll invest in some." Ronan's flirtations make his heart flutter, but Adam feels overwhelmed by it. It's too much too suddenly, and Ronan keeps pressing for more. "Are you always so bad at taking no for an answer?"

He squirms in Ronan's grip, feeling nervous with the way that Ronan keeps pushing, and tries to tug his hand back.

[the_greywaren]

"Not as bad as you are at taking a joke." Ronan muttered. He dropped Adam's hand, letting it go the second he felt him tug. Taking a deep breath he flopped over in the bed facing away.

Sleeping pills. Good idea. He tugged open the drawer of his end table and finds a couple of pills that he swallows dry. It doesn't take long and he's out cold.

[tenebrarius]

Watching Ronan's back, Adam finds himself smiling. He sympathizes with Ronan's wounded pride, and finds it endearing, and he's glad that Ronan backed off so that he has a little more space. Nestling against Ronan's back again, Adam drifts off to sleep, feeling safe and warm in his husband's company.

[the_greywaren]

Thanks to the pills Ronan sleeps like the dead. After the exhaustion from the last two days he sleeps until his body naturally wakes. When he does finally rise he is up and out of the bed, not pausing to check on Adam. Wounded pride still aching in his chest. He showers and changes the bandage on his forehead, which has now blossomed a dark bruise that spreads from his eyebrow to his eye. His fingers don't throb like they did when it happened so he unwraps them and flexes his fingers. Swollen but not bad. Stripping down he jumps in the shower and stands with his eyes closed under the rainfall showerhead in the middle of the shower.

[tenebrarius]

Ronan leaves the bed like he's fleeing from him, which Adam supposes is only fair. He did try to tell Ronan that he was unlovable, and now it's been proven.

Adam's fingers stray briefly over the warm spot on the bed where Ronan had been, and then he gets up and gets dressed, heading down to the kitchen to find breakfast.

[the_greywaren]

Ronan stays in the shower until the water starts to cool. Dressed in dark jeans and a black tank top he leaves the bathroom in search of food. Seeing Adam in the kitchen he stops in his tracks at the door. Ronan watches him for a moment before clearing his throat to announce his arrival. He wishes he could have snuck up behind him, slipped an arm around his waist and kissed him behind the ear. After every rejected attempt he isn't sure how to approach Adam. He's never had a relationship much less a husband.

"Is there coffee on?"

[tenebrarius]

Adam nods. He's standing near the coffee pot as he waits for his toast, so he reaches for another cup, pours, and sets it down on the counter for Ronan. "How's your hand?" he asks carefully, eyes lingering on Ronan. He wants so badly for this to be easy, but he's skittish as a wild horse, and as much as Adam wants to reach out for Ronan, he wants even more to shy away and hide.

[the_greywaren]

He takes the cup, breathes in the aroma and then takes a sip. "Not bad. Knuckles are a little swollen. Think I've done more damage against Declan's jaw." After another sip of coffee he sets it down. Ronan grabs a pan and a few eggs.

Quietly he sets to work on making eggs. "Heading out to the barn to check on the calf after I eat."

[tenebrarius]

"I've got work this afternoon," Adam tells him. He feels spooked and terrified of rejection, and it's hard to get over the conviction that he's unwanted, even despite what Ronan had said to the contrary. Surely even if Ronan had wanted him before, he doesn't want Adam now. "I'll be back after."

[the_greywaren]

"Work?" It seemed a ridiculous idea to Ronan. He was his husband now and Ronan was a very rich young man. Ronan sighs, disappointed. When he mentioned going out to the barn he thought maybe Adam would ask to go with him.

"Guess I'll just see you for dinner. Like usual." Where they would sit in silence ignoring the fact that they were married.

[tenebrarius]

"We could do something together this evening," Adam suggests, fidgeting with his coffee mug because he's not sure what to suggest or why Ronan would want to spend time with him. It makes him feel all the more determined to keep his job, especially given the way Ronan questions it. Work is something Adam's good at.

[the_greywaren]

"You don't have to work." Ronan says when Adam ignores his question.

The eggs slide from the pan to a plate. He takes another drink of coffee. "Or you could help me around the farm today."

[tenebrarius]

Adam bristles, hands tightening around his cup. "I already quit one of my jobs. I'll help you when I get back. I'll do better to contribute to chores around here. I don't need to quit my jobs for that."

[the_greywaren]

"I wasn't suggesting that you need to do chores as a contribution." His voice is gruff, irritated. "You don't have to earn your place here." He drops his plate of half eaten eggs into the sink.

"Just thought you might want to spend time together. Get to know me or something." And Ronan liked to work the farm. He loved to care for the animals. "Guess not. Have a great fucking day at work."

On his way to the door he looked back at Adam. "We have money. I don't want you working two jobs."

[tenebrarius]

Adam returns the look with a glare. "If my only option to get to know you is to quit my job, then no. I guess not. I'll see you tonight." Turning away from him, Adam starts washing out his coffee cup, then dries it and puts it away. He ignores Ronan's plate in the sink, but tidies away every crumb of his own presence, not wanting to leave more work for the servants.