Off with his Head

You want to know what the issue is with this world? Everyone wants a magical solution for their problems, and everyone refuses to believe in magic.

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The Needle || {TWS AU}

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Rumple’s breath caught as he looked at the damage. He crossed the room and knelt down on the bed, looking over the basket of ointments and oils he carried. “Ah, this will help the fresh wounds.” He dipped his fingers into a pot of sticky green salve and gently covered the open lacerations.

For the bruises he used a translucent paste to encourage the blood vessels to heal. The scars were a little more difficult, but a bit of special butter would help them fade.

“I know, it’s ugly,” he breathed, glancing back at him again. He bowed his head and let him work, sighing as he was slowly soothed and treated. He shivered a little as the pain abated, closing his eyes  and sighing in relief. 

He swallowed when it was done, licking his lips and looking back at him. “I feel much better, thank you,” he said softly. 

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Sin and Silk || Rentboy AU

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“You are, dearie,” Robert replied. “I do care for you. You deserve to feel treasured, to feel adored, to feel safe.”

“I’m glad I drew your attention that night. Glad I met you,” he whispered, trailing fingers in his hair. “I’d still be in that godforsaken apartment if not for you. WIth no company like you either.” He giggled and kissed his cheek, starting to put a little braid in his hair. 

“And you deserve to feel the same way, you know that?” He said, looking at him through his lashes. 

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Sin and Silk || Rentboy AU

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Oh. Jefferson stole his breath with one skilled kiss. It chased away Robert’s fears and insecurities - he was there, warm and willfully in Robert’s arms, and it wouldn’t change. Not yet, at least.

He smiled and held Jefferson close, running his hands along his back. He’d do anything to protect him. Anything to keep him safe, for as long as he could.

He nuzzled his nose, smiling at him. “I love your hands,” he breathed, looking at him. “And I adore the way you hold me. I feel so cared for with you.” He turned his face into his neck, sighing gently and pressed soft kisses there. “Mmn....”

[madasahatterami-blog]

The Needle || {TWS AU}

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Rumple disappeared into the cellar, where he kept his most potent tinctures. It didn’t take him long to retrieve the healing ingredients Jefferson needed to soothe his pain and his scars. He reappeared outside the door, knocking before he entered - he didn’t want to startle Jefferson again.

“Where should we begin?”

He turned when Rumple came back, looking over his shoulder toward the door.At his question he let the linen slide off his shoulders, baring himself to Rumple and the rest of the room. “My back,” he whispered. 

It was shining with fresh scars and bruises, and still decorated with old ones, deep in his flesh, gnarled and aching in his bones. “It, it hurts the most.” 

[madasahatterami-blog]

Sin and Silk || Rentboy AU

[quietwhenimdead]

madasahatterami:

He pressed into his hair, nearly purring at the touch. He smiled gently at him. “Mmm, so never? I’ll never be done with you, Robert. I like you too much.”

Jefferson’s beauty was astounding. In his heart Robert knew he’d find someone else; someone younger, someone more wealthy, someone not involved in Storybrooke’s seedy underbelly… “Of course, my dear. I believe you.”

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Jefferson sat up, holding his jaw and pressed a warm, deep, slow kiss into Robert’s lips, wrapping firm arms around him and holding him tight. He waited until he knew the older man was breathless to break away. “Good,” he smiled, stroking his cheek with the backs of his fingers. “I’m glad.”

[madasahatterami-blog]

The Needle || {TWS AU}

[quietwhenimdead]

madasahatterami:

A soft sigh issued from his lips and he smiled a little at him. “I love you too,”he breathed, then nodded. “Thank you.” He got up shakily, groping for a towel.

“I know you do; you said it first,” Rumple teased, fetching a soft linen and wrapping it around Jefferson’s body. “Will you wait in the bedroom for me? I need to stop in cellar to retrieve my ingredients.”

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He sighed when the cloth wrapped around his body, shutting his eyes a moment just to relish its sweetness, to savor this precise moment of kindness to replace countless years of torment. He opened his eyes again at his question and nodded, obeying him and going to the bedroom immediately without question. Just a force of habit.

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Sin and Silk || Rentboy AU

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“I do. I mean that, Jefferson, I will never lie to you. I am yours until you’re done with me.” Robert smiled at him, gently stroking his hair. He would. Jefferson would move on to someone better at some point, but it didn’t matter.

He pressed into his hair, nearly purring at the touch. He smiled gently at him. “Mmm, so never? I’ll never be done with you, Robert. I like you too much.”

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The Needle || {TWS AU}

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“And I love you, Jefferson. I will always love you.” Rumple held him until the water started cooling, still and safe. “Come on, let’s get you dried and then I’ll work on easing the pain.”

A soft sigh issued from his lips and he smiled a little at him. “I love you too,”he breathed, then nodded. “Thank you.” He got up shakily, groping for a towel.

[madasahatterami-blog]

The Needle || {TWS AU}

[quietwhenimdead]

madasahatterami:

Jefferson smiled and kissed his shoulder. “We’ll have light again,” he whispered. “Or at least we’ll try very hard to. And, and everything will be better for it.” He curled against him, not wanting to think about the horrible circumstances. He just wanted to be there with him, in the warmth of the water and his arms.

“Aye, we will. No matter what it takes, we will.” Rumple kissed his wet hair, cradling Jefferson close.

[madasahatterami-blog]

He gave a weak nod and  rested his head on his chest, shutting his eyes with the kiss. “I love you,” he whispered. 

[madasahatterami-blog]

Sin and Silk || Rentboy AU

[quietwhenimdead]

madasahatterami:

Jefferson giggled, staring up at him. “Honey, I’ll be anything you want,” he grinned, kissing his cheek. “But mostly? I’m all yours.” 

All Robert wanted Jefferson to be was himself, but he held his tongue. He didn’t see Jefferson as a slate to project his desires upon. “And I’m yours, dear.”

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He grinned. “You mean that?” He said softly, staring at him. This impeccably charming, stunning, ambiguously threatening and delightfully sweet man wanted him, and was willing to give himself to him. 

[madasahatterami-blog]

Sin and Silk || Rentboy AU

[quietwhenimdead]

madasahatterami:

Jefferson smiled. “Mmhm. I’ve a feeling you would just adore seeing me in the teeniest little black lacy thing you could find. Maybe some garters and stockings too? Nice gag in my pretty mouth?” He smiled, nipping his jaw. “Of course, I’m just guessing.”

“Well, that’s certainly… that’s certainly something I’d like,” Robert breathed, closing his eyes. “Such a naughty little boy, aren’t you, Jefferson? I love it.”

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Jefferson giggled, staring up at him. “Honey, I’ll be anything you want,” he grinned, kissing his cheek. “But mostly? I’m all yours.” 

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The Needle || {TWS AU}

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Rumple waved his hand dismissively. “I’ve had good, my dear. I’ve had time with you. A brief flicker of light amidst an ocean of darkness… And now you’re back. Under… Under horrible circumstances, of course, but I’ll take care of you.” 

And he’d take care of Regina.

Jefferson smiled and kissed his shoulder. “We’ll have light again,” he whispered. “Or at least we’ll try very hard to. And, and everything will be better for it.” He curled against him, not wanting to think about the horrible circumstances. He just wanted to be there with him, in the warmth of the water and his arms.

[madasahatterami-blog]

Sin and Silk || Rentboy AU

[quietwhenimdead]

madasahatterami:

He smiled shyly at him, batting his lashes. “I’ll wear anything you’d like to see me in, darling,” he swore, beaming up at him. 

“Anything?” Robert asked, trying to ignore the effects Jefferson’s little act had on him.

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Jefferson smiled. “Mmhm. I’ve a feeling you would just adore seeing me in the teeniest little black lacy thing you could find. Maybe some garters and stockings too? Nice gag in my pretty mouth?” He smiled, nipping his jaw. “Of course, I’m just guessing.”

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The Needle || {TWS AU}

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Rumple held him in the steaming water, letting Jefferson hide against him. Some day he’d show him; some day, he’d help the sweet hatter find his strength once more. He pressed a gentle kiss to Jefferson’s forehead. “Now now, dearie! None of that talk! Have you ever known me to be wrong? Hmm? The answer is no, because I! Am never wrong! And I’m right about you, oh yes, I am! Such beauty, such strength… You’re funny, you’re clever, you’re kind and you’re perfect to me.”

The way he talked made him grin and he looked up at him, eyes bright. “You’re absolutely right. I’m terribly sorry to insinuate that the mighty Dark One could ever be wrong about anything ever.” He kissed Rumple’s nose. “I’m...I’m glad you think that about me. It means a lot that you do,” he said softly, smiling at him. “And you deserve some goodness, Rumple. You’ve been through enough.” 

[madasahatterami-blog]

Sin and Silk || Rentboy AU

[quietwhenimdead]

madasahatterami:

“Shopping?” He asked, still playing with his hair, so glad to be pressed against him and warm and safe and…human. 

“Oh, yes… I’d love to buy you a suit, and new clothes… Some for clients, and some just for us…” Robert could picture him in soft silks, spread across his sheets. Lace, mesh, dark net crossing his fair skin…

[madasahatterami-blog]

He smiled shyly at him, batting his lashes. “I’ll wear anything you’d like to see me in, darling,” he swore, beaming up at him. 

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The Needle || {TWS AU}

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Before he hid, Rumple brushed fingers along his jaw. He was battered from their fight and Regina’s cruelty, but his blue eyes still glimmered like the sea behind his long lashes. His lips were still full and pink. His bones were strong and defines beneath his pale skin. Jefferson was beautiful, and nothing in the world or any other could change Rumple’s mind about that.

“… Let me pamper you tonight,” Rumple whispered. “No magic. I can ease the physical pain you feel with herbs and ointments, and heal your various cuts and bruises. Lotion for your dry skin, proper meals, hot mean, bandages and oils and ointment… Or I could use magic if you wanted instant relief, but the gentle touches sometimes do more than the actual medicines.

“You’re still the best, Jefferson. Strong, beautiful, brave…”

Jefferson looked up at him when he touched him, blinking up at Rumple. He was so gorgeous, even if he couldn’t see it himself. He nearly forgot, being locked away. His big marbled green eyes, the beautiful gold of his skin, the sharp features of his hawkish face. He was breathtaking. He touched his hair on instinct, just looking at him. 

Tears welled in his eyes at his offer and he nodded. “No magic,” he agreed, seeking more of him. “I...I’d really, really like that. Please.” How he missed tenderness. How he longed for sweet touches and soft whispers of care and want. He loved Rumple so much... 

He shook his head a little, sadly, at the last. “I’m not. I’m none of those things, Rumple, and you deserve so much better.” 

[madasahatterami-blog]

Sin and Silk || Rentboy AU

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It was so easy to give in to Jefferson. Robert’s arms wrapped around him, their bodies slotting together as they closed the faint space between them. “Mmn… Tomorrow, we go shopping.”

“Shopping?” He asked, still playing with his hair, so glad to be pressed against him and warm and safe and...human.