Silver Platter

[Existentially Odd]

By the time Harm was wheeling his bicycle through the door of his apartment that Wednesday night, it was almost ten thirty. His shift had finished at ten but he hadn't managed to get away exactly on time, as often happened. He'd hustled through the city as fast as his tired legs would carry him after a ten hour shift, knowing Trick would be at his place to greet him, only stopping to pick himself up a late-night snack of hotcakes and bacon and egg muffins. He would share with Trick if he wanted some but Harm doubted he would.

His gorgeous boyfriend had only worked til noon and then had a gym session today, so he wouldn't want to spoil all his hard work with sweets. He was likely a lot fresher from having had so much free time while Harm worked, too. He would be working the same shift as Harm on Thursday so they could sleep in and have the morning together before work. Ideally, that meant a lazy brunch but, in reality, Harm doubted they'd even get out of bed. He was good with that (though he knew he'd be really hungry again by then).

Of course, Trick's mood all depended on how he took the news Harm had to share with him. Ben was offering them the world on a silver platter but Harm wasn't convinced Trick would allow them to take it. He'd pep-talked himself into accepting whatever Trick's decision was by the time he'd hung his keys on the fridge and rolled his bike through the door, smoothly hoisting it onto its storage rack on the wall. He pushed the hood of his grey hoodie back and unclipped his helmet as he playfully sang out, "Honey, I'm hoooome!".

Clipping the helmet to the crossbar that was now level with his head, he shrugged his backpack off onto the kitchen bench before yanking his sweatshirt over his head. Riding through the windy streets was chilling but his home was always too warm for his liking so he usually wore very few layers of clothing. Like, none at all, if possible. Trick was getting used to his instantaneous stripping (he hoped). "Are you hungry?" he called, unsure whether Trick was in the living room, bathroom or his bedroom and not looking up as he pulled the bag of food out and shoved his hoodie in to his bag. He hooked it onto his pedal where it would stay until tomorrow and grabbed the collar of his white undershirt and teal scrub shirt at the back of his neck.

"I have bacon, eggs and pancakes," he sang enticingly, pulling his shirts off and reflexively running fingers through his hair to fix it as he finally looked around for his boyfriend. Balling his shirts together in both hands, he stood in the kitchen wearing just his pants, skin flushed from his rapid ride home. Blue-green eyes dancing with his unspoken delightful news, he toed off his shoes and waited to see if Trick would bring his lips to him or whether he'd have to seek them out.

[Pocky]

Trick jolted awake when Harm called out his first greeting. He peeled his face off the magazine he'd inadvertently used as a pillow, hearing the glossy page tear away from skin with the same kind of sound as duct tape coming off its roll. His mouth downturned at the unfresh taste within it; old coffee. He stumbled off the bed and into the bathroom at Harm's continued chatter about hunger.

Trick finished brushing his teeth after the announcement of bacon, eggs and pancakes. He squinted at himself in the bathroom mirror, where it was still dark because he didn't want to burn his retinas out with white light when they were still getting used to being open. It had been a token brushing before he spat out minty toothpaste and put his toothbrush (a spare) into the cup alongside Harm's. With some water manipulation he turned the tap into a drinking fountain and slurped a brief drink before shutting it off and towelling his face dry quickly with a pat down before heading out to welcome Harm home.

He glanced at the darkened windows before grinning at Harm as he made his way over to his shirtless boyfriend. Trick wore a few more clothes than him, but only just, in his basketball singlet and tan knee-length surf shorts.

"None for me thanks, Mr Breakfast," he greeted, wrapping an arm around Harm's waist and a hand into his hair to hold his head in place as he kissed him.

[Existentially Odd]

Harm looked up from where he'd laid the food on the bench, putting the remainder of his muffin down on its wrapper as Trick entered the room. He hastily wiped his greasy hands on his pants, swallowing through his grin as he was embraced. "Well, dinner really but-oh, dessert, even better," he mumbled against Trick's lips, chuckling into the kiss as he wrapped his arms about Trick's waist, fingers sliding beneath the hem of his singlet so that he could press his hands to his back. His skin was so soft and he'd never get tired of the feel of Trick's muscles working beneath his touch.

When the kiss deepened, Harm knew he had to make a decision. He was loathe to break it off - after his phone call with Ben, he was extra horny for Trick - but if he didn't and Trick became upset with him, choosing to delay the conversation with sex wouldn't work in his favour. Nor would being extra horny once he said Ben's name, he didn't doubt. It would be safer to abstain... but if things went south and he sacrificed sex for an argument, he'd be fucking pissed. Chastising himself for thinking with his dick, he broke the kiss with little nibbling pecks, gradually pulling back to smile up at Trick. Eye contact shot straight through him, stirring his lust despite his best intentions and he sighed shakily.

"Hey. I have something to tell you. Wanna sit?" he asked as casually as he could, his heart racing with fear more than desire now. He moved farther back, disliking the empty space between their bodies but grasping Trick's hand to maintain their connection. His appetite had abandoned him so if Trick was amenable to making his way over to the couch, he'd go with him and return to his food afterwards (once nervousness wasn't constricting his throat, making it impossible to swallow anyway).

[Pocky]

Trick pulled back and gave Harm a suspicious look coupled with a guarded smile. "Gotta be serious when you're delaying food or sex or both," he said with a forced laugh. It died after a few chuckles.

Trick took Harm's hand and they both moved to the couch. Trick sat sideways on the cushion with his bent knee before him and offered Harm the most minimal of space that he pulled his boyfriend down into that slot. Harm was caught between the couch's arm and Trick's leg. Trick's hands held his ankle in place but his fingertips also rubbed Harm's leg where they touched.

"Let me have it." His smile returned full force.

[Existentially Odd]

Harm laughed along with Trick, though he thought he heard nerves that cut his boyfriend's sounds of amusement short. What he said wasn't wrong. They hadn't even been together an official week and already Trick knew his two great passions. "Damn, I feel so exposed right now," he chuckled, throwing a playful pout over his shoulder as they approached and then snuggled beside one another on the couch. Harm sat cross-legged, facing Trick. His hands flitted between his leg, Trick's leg and stroking the smooth, warm flesh of his boyfriend's muscular arm.

When Trick encouraged him to reveal his surprise and smiled at him like that, he found himself gulping. Partly it was trepidation about saying the vampire's name and partly it was the light striking Trick's astounding eyes. Their ice water blueness never failed to look through him and into him at the same time and he was drawn forward for another quick kiss, helpless to resist Trick's magnetism. As he pulled away, he sucked in a large breath, hoping it would be followed by another, more celebratory kiss soon.

"I called Ben Samson tonight. I told him two weekends ago that I'd let him know how things worked out with you. I'm pretty sure he didn't really care how upset I was over you leaving that night, he was just hoping that we'd hook up again but he wasn't fazed when I said you and I were together. I told him we were going away and, uh," Harm faltered, colour rising on his cheeks and his hand lifting to scratch at his nose. He didn't know why he was embarrassed. Maybe because it felt like he was being offered something exorbitant in exchange for nothing at all and it made him feel vaguely like a whore? He hoped to fuck Trick didn't see it that way, he'd be mortified.

"Well... he offered to fly us to Europe on his husband's jet and said we could stay in any of his homes over there for as long as we liked. Without charge. If we wanted. He has places all through Europe - including a castle, apparently - so I guess they're pretty fancy places and we wouldn't have to pay anything for accommodation at all, if we didn't want to. I-I said I'd talk to you about it and, uh, let him know," Harm finished quietly, forcing his hand away from his face and fluttering his eyelashes at Trick like he was calmly waiting for his verdict on what television show he wanted to watch after he ate, rather than what he thought about taking advantage of an unknown vampire's generosity.

He also knew very well that Kerr wasn't technically Ben's 'husband' but the title implied a level of devotion that suited the narrative he wanted Trick to hear. The more they seemed like a solidly-committed, altruistic couple of humane and generous vampire millionaires, the less inclined Trick would be to discuss the glaringly hideous elephant in the room (which was what Harm had done to prompt such a generous offer in the first place... and what might he be required to do in the future?). Harm nibbled on the inside of his lip while he watched nervously for Trick's reaction.

[Pocky]

Ben's name earned a flicker of a blink from him but he didn't react beyond it. As the story unfolded to Europe and being offered a private jet, Trick leant forward and interrupted.

"Wait, wait," he said, holding up a hand but Harm didn't wait, he pushed on. Trick huffed and lowered his hand to listen as it all came out. There was a long pause after Harm's final sentence as they stared at one another.

"Sooo," Trick drawled before his next question. "Ben and his partner are coming with us?"

[Existentially Odd]

Harm's eyes widened. The thought of the two vampires sharing the residences they owned with them was scary as fuck. He wouldn't do that to Trick... although, he supposed he'd technically have no choice if Ben and Kerr decided they wanted to go. It wouldn't happen, though.

"No! They'll be here. Ben'll be running Central District... probably. They're just letting us use whatever we want."

[Pocky]

Trick was quiet as his hand absently lifted to toy with a wayward strand of his hair as it fell upon his brow. After a moment he swept it back, his fingers moving through his hair several times like he was trying to get it to sit just right though there was no mirror he could check with. Once he was done he wiped his palms together and started rubbing his fingers with his other hand to get the product off them because they were feeling a little sticky.

"It's funny," he said with a slight smile upon his face, "that when I sleep with a bunch of vampires I end up starring in non-consensual porn but you fuck one of them and you get a trip to Europe. Hardly fair," he said, rolling his eyes and gesturing up at the ceiling like he was appealing to a greater power.

He scoffed a light chuckle as he stared at Harm.

[Existentially Odd]

Harm tried to maintain eye contact with Trick but shame washed through him, squeezing his heart until his chest ached. Trick was right. It wasn't fair.

Justifications floated through his mind - it wasn't his fault, it was dumb luck, he hadn't meant for this to happen - but he couldn't give any of them a voice. Trick knew that but he could still resent him anyway. It was kind of all he had and Harm didn't begrudge him that bitterness. Neither could he argue it.

He was afraid it would spread between them like a cancer but he felt helpless to stop it. Only Trick could do that. "We don't have to. Take him up on it, I mean," he whispered hoarsely, lowering his gaze to watch his fingers fret at his scrubs.

[Pocky]

The surprise on Trick's face could've been accused of theatrical. His breath caught in his throat and this time the scoff didn't hide behind laughter. "What? No!" he said, his voice high and unrestrained. A hand reached out to tip Harm's face up by the chin to make eye contact once more. "Man, why shouldn't we get something out of it? You said yourself he couldn't give a shit what we get up to and he was only looking to get laid again. It costs him nothing for us to live the high life while he's cleaning up vampire messes here. Let's fucking go!"

Trick's eyes danced merrily as his hand brushed past Harm's chin to his jaw, down his neck and resting on his shoulder. Because of his earlier position, Trick leaning forward had him sitting up on one knee and now he loomed over his boyfriend, his smile forceful and nostrils flaring. Harm knew that look by now, one that he should associate with sex.

[Existentially Odd]

Harm's gaze returned to Trick's face swiftly when he gasped and then laughed. Really laughed, not in a fake way. It left Harm reeling, to see him so happy and the moment of dissonance likely showed in his own expression. He'd thought maybe there was resentment buried inside Trick but it definitely didn't sound like it now.

Feeling a bit like he was on a time delay, Harm was pliant in Trick's hold, gazing at his face as he processed his words too slowly. "But... so... you're not mad at me or anything?" he asked dazedly. He frowned and shook his head, realising belatedly that that was a stupid question. It was obvious Trick wasn't upset. Harm had asked the wrong question. "I mean... he said it's because we're 'friends'. I dunno... should I trust him? This is something rich guys do, right? Give away their stuff like it's nothing?"

He leant back against the cushioned arm of the couch, automatically uncurling his legs and spreading them to accommodate Trick in between, his hands falling to Trick's hips. Even if his head was elsewhere, his body knew exactly how to read Trick's signals and responded without hesitation.  He didn't lean up to kiss him because he wanted to watch Trick's expression as he answered but saliva was pooling in his mouth anyway. It was ignored for the time being.

[Pocky]

At the question that Harm admonished himself for, Trick shook his head, answering without pause. "Not mad, no," he said, tone belying his curiosity at the question posed to him. Then he laughed when Harm barraged him with multiple questions about trust and behaviour and gifts.

"How would I know what rich guys do?" he said through his grin, obviously quoting Harm's phrasing. He pushed his shoulder against the back of the couch and reached down to adjust the crotch of his shorts, making himself more comfortable while he grew there. "I don't know anybody with money. Hell, you're the richest person I know and you haven't showered me with anything except your cum." Trick laughed again.

[Existentially Odd]

Harm's intent expression - meant to convey just how much he valued Trick's viewpoint and answers - faltered and became a look of delight as he burst out laughing at Trick's final statement.

It was funny, Trick had not been this forward when they'd first met. Hell, the guy had walked out on him when he took his shirt off, worried about being played. He'd been sweet and coy and subtle - everything Harm was not. Harm wasn't sure whether the change was brought about because he was a terrible influence on his boyfriend or simply because Trick was relaxed enough now to say whatever was on his mind. Either way, he was charmed and delighted, his blue green eyes dancing with mirth.

"Such a crass Prince," Harm chuckled in mock reprimand, his purring voice and smile making it obvious that he approved. His feet hooking behind Trick's knees and his hands working their way over his abs beneath his tank top were also dead giveaways. "It's true, though. I need to up my game. How shall I spoil thee? Let me count the ways," he hummed, his hands turning so that his fingers were now marching across Trick's body. One hand headed upwards, towards a nipple while the other went downwards.

His mind wandered to the way Ben had spoilt him and he wondered if he could con the vampire into giving him and Trick a free night and comped room service in his fancy hotel... just because. Because they'd need to meet up with Ben and Kerr and get keys to their London apartment before they went, right? Did he dare ask for something like that when Ben lived right upstairs? It seemed like it'd be too easy for the vampire to worm his way in between he and Trick, though. He didn't like the idea of Ben getting Trick's scent and figuring out he was a nymph. He didn't trust the vampire not to start demanding repayment then.

Yeah, bad idea. He dismissed the notion as quickly as it had occurred.

[Pocky]

He sniggered when accused of being crass before showing his curling tongue to Harm. When entreated about being spoiled, Trick didn't expect nor provide an answer. He plunged his mouth into Harm's for kissing and they spent some time writhing and grinding on the sofa before he remembered he'd interrupted Harm's meal. He broke their sporadic, messy kissing pattern to look over the couch arm towards the kitchen.

"You should eat your breakfast dinner," he murmured, voice low and words spoken on panting breaths. "Get your energy up so we can celebrate properly." Looking back down at Harm beneath him, he thrust his hips once more against him, teasing them both with how uncomfortable yet so very good that restrained friction was.

[Existentially Odd]

Harm groaned, the noise throaty and rolling and purposely closer to a noise he made during sex than an exclamation of dissatisfaction. Food was the farthest thing from his mind with Trick's hard, muscular body grinding him into the couch - to the point where all he could think about was getting off.

Right then, he'd happily just cum in his scrubs, though the sensation of his hot, flushed torso pushed against Trick's while his body sang with lust and ached with the build rising in him also made him deliriously happy. He didn't think he'd ever been this happy and comfortable with anyone and there was something to be said for dragging out the joy just so he could wallow in it and savour it at far less fun times (like at work).

He hissed in breath and arched helplessly beneath Trick when he ground into him that last time, talking about scandalous things like stopping just to eat food. Sacrilegious, that was what that was. "Honestly, eating is just such a waste of time when I could have you inside me and be eating your face instead," he sighed dramatically, squeezing Trick's ass and pulling him close to rub their clothed erections together again. He then released him with a begrudging groan.

"I guess I could eat, though," he sighed, pouting and pecking Trick's lips before he conceded to his growling stomach's wishes and wriggled out from under his boyfriend (with a lots of handsy gropes and fondles). "Energy," he snickered to himself as he flounced forward a couple of steps and toed his shoes off. "Convincing argument," he commended, shoving his scrubs down and walking out of them next. He headed into the kitchen in just his grey boxer briefs and socks.

After jabbing a finger into all of his food and determining that they'd been making out a lot longer than he'd believed - because it was all cool now - Harm put the food he intended to eat in the microwave. He got the juice out of the fridge and a glass from the cupboard and turned so that he was looking over at Trick while he poured. Sighing, his gaze trailed over Trick's length hungrily.

"You know what's not fair? How fucking gorgeous you are. It's ridiculous that someone that hot is allowed to walk around in public unleashed," he declared, pointing at Trick for emphasis. A smirk lifted half his mouth as he got an idea. He capped the orange juice and set it down on the counter, lifting his glass to take a sip instead. "D'you want me to call Ben and tell him while I eat? On speaker phone?" he prompted, wondering if Trick wanted to have anything to do with Ben now that they were going to take advantage of his ludicrous offer.