a rough town

[ofanotherera]

London is trouble on every corner. Tommy has been shown this, time and again, but all the same, Sabini's men manage to find him on the wrong side of the Camden road, and from there it's all blood and bad fortune, for everyone involved in the little dustup.

Comments

[ofanotherera]

Alfie looks up at him, and nods his approval.

"There we are. Big, deep breaths."

[bleak_midwinter]

He listens and does so, curls his toes and then relaxes them-- all still while looking at Alfie.

[ofanotherera]

"Yeah."

He agrees with the silence, rubbing the cloth in soothing circles over his skin.

"You're a good lad."

[bleak_midwinter]

That makes him shiver in a burst of confused emotions- part of him needing it still, part of him unsure if he should, if that doesn't make him weak. It takes him thinking of the door separating them from their normal, business selves to be able to bite his lip and meet Alfie's eyes again.

"Do you like that? When I'm good for you? Or--?" Should he push back?

[ofanotherera]

Alfie considers this, with a smile, that even shows behind his beard.

"Yeah."

Resting his arm on the edge of the tub.

"'course, you won't get far if you're bad."

[bleak_midwinter]

Tommy raises one rose, scratched up hand and trails his fingers over Alfie's lower arm.

"Don't need to get far, do I? Just where you want me to be. But-" he smiles, soft and brittle, "I'll be good, then."

[ofanotherera]

"What I mean, Mister Shelby, is on those days where you don't have a good bone in you, I will put you where I need you. You need the fight, I have the fight."

Promising, lightly.

[bleak_midwinter]

He leans up, all the stains gone and the bruises left behind on his pale skin all the clearer for it, and if Alfie will let him he'll suck his lower lip into his mouth.

"Had enough fights for today," he says, implicitly expressing his gratitude for the future possibility of one.

[ofanotherera]

Alfie leans in, to keep that kiss going, messy and wet and eager.

"Yeah."

Agreeing, with a little sigh of satisfaction.

"Tonight's gonna be filth- all of it, back to front. Careful, easy filth."

[bleak_midwinter]

It makes him laugh against Alfie's mouth, low and pleased, before continuing that kiss. He hangs both arms over the edge of the tub, caresses Alfie's sides.

"Take me to bed, then, eh? I'm going all wrinkly, here in this tub."

[ofanotherera]

"Bit more to get at, Mister Shelby," he says, and then rears up a little onto his knees, hand, and the cloth, slipping down into the water, between his legs.

[bleak_midwinter]

He shudders and spreads them as much as he can in the small tub, hand scrabbling for Alfie's shirt, surprised.

[ofanotherera]

He growls, and presses further back between his legs, leaning in so that Tommy can grab on for balance, but pushing, like he might finger him, rag and all, right there in the hot water.

Gentle doesn't come easy to him, and never seems to last.

[bleak_midwinter]

His shocked laugh has disappeared right from his features, and he grabs Alfie's elbow, rocks into him- it all seems like a mighty good idea right now.

[ofanotherera]

"This is London, Tommy. Debauchery. We do things here you Birmingham boys wouldn't dream of."

Reaching out to cup the nape of his neck with the other hand, holding him.

[bleak_midwinter]

He runs his tongue along his bottom lip, clearly with purpose.

"Well, I've already sucked your cock, Alfie. Is that what you mean?" As if that's the extent of his sexual dreams.

[ofanotherera]

"Up. Bed."

He decides, pulling his hand away, and moving to gather him up, instead, to help him up and out of the water.

[bleak_midwinter]

He has to loop his arms around Alfie's shoulder to get out, and he limps when he starts walking, leaning heavily on Alfie. He'll keep his cheek in check until he's not trying to keep from falling over.

[ofanotherera]

Alfie puts him into the kitchen chair, and puts a towel in his hands, since it's a cool walk through the house up to the bedroom, and he has no intention of seeing him clothed for it.

"Dry up now, Mister Shelby."

[bleak_midwinter]

He starts rubbing himself dry, vigorously, because he's a little impatient now and in no mood to really tease Alfie for it. It's economical and thorough, and soon enough he's pushing himself up, heavily.

"Time for a tour of the house?"

[ofanotherera]

"You'll see absolutely everything between here and the bed."

He promises, taking over with his hair, much more gently, on account of that cut.

[bleak_midwinter]

He laughs softly, reaches forward and briefly, very briefly, runs his hand through Alfie's beard, feeling the prickle of it against his palm.

"All I need to see, isn't it?"

[ofanotherera]

"Yeah," he agrees, grabbing an arm about his waist and giving him a greedy kiss on the throat, lifting him to arch up, to come with him.

"Now."

[bleak_midwinter]

He arches without thinking about it, thinking instead of getting up and coming with Alfie. He holds onto him tight while he walks, the bath having settled his muscles but not the swelling, the bruising.

[ofanotherera]

Alfie smiles, and marches him up the stairs like that, so close they nearly trip one another, chewing idly on his ear.

"Fucking lovely."