#tfbradley

[claudefitzgerald-blog]

Lay My Hands on Heaven ✝ Claude & Bradley

When the two of them stepped into The Willow Grove at 6:24PM on February 14th, even Claude had to admit that they made a pretty picture. Bradley had cleaned up nicely, fitted with a well-tailored suit that made him look even more handsome than he usually did, the formality of his garments matching him to Claude for once. Claude was nearly jealous, but he was mostly proud to be accompanied by such a sight on a day that many people seemed to find important. As they entered the establishment, the lighting was dim and warm, the atmosphere specifically designed to be romantic. Claude felt a bit out of place, with his constantly dour appearance, his presence like an uninvited storm cloud on an otherwise pleasant evening. When he turned to his companion, he wondered if he saw him that way, like something that he had to put up with for some grander reason. Pushing such thoughts from his mind, he turned forward again and approached the hostess. "Good evening sir, welcome to The Willow Grove," the young woman greeted cheerily, causing Claude to give her a small, forced smile and a curt 'good evening'. "Did you have a reservation?" she asked, looking from him to his companion. The smile that she gave Bradley was sweet and inviting, and Claude furrowed his brow at her. He did not like that look.

"Yes, Fitzgerald," he replied, watching the woman carefully. She nodded, and set to the task of finding his name on the list.

"Party of two?" she asked.

"Yes," Claude confirmed curtly. Crossing off something on the paper in front of her, she smiled back up at them before grabbing two menus.

"Right this way," she said, and began leading them through the busy restaurant, away from the other tables to a private booth. Setting down their menus, she informed them that their waitress would be over shortly. Claude nodded, and then turned back to Bradley, gesturing that he should sit. As he did so, Claude himself took a seat across from him, unbuttoning the bottom button of his suit coat as he did so. He glanced briefly down at the menu before looking back up at his companion.

"So," he began, speaking to The Boy for the first time since they had entered the restaurant. "What do you think so far? You've never been here, yes?" Smiling slightly, he clasped his hands together under the table. "I hope that it wasn't too forward of me to assume that you would be spending the evening with me. Mr. Kress did not have other plans for you, I hope." 

[claudefitzgerald-blog]

Well Suited ✝ Claude & Bradley

As the work day wound down and the sun lowered in the sky, Claude found himself staring absently at his computer screen, hand hovering over his cell phone. He did not typically take part in holidays - especially ones that seemed vapid and pointless - or go on dates, or make large romantic gestures, but that impulse had changed rather suddenly. He had the strangest urge to pamper Bradley, to make it clear that he was wanted, and so he was anxious for The Boy's arrival. They had become quite close after the events that had led to intimacy between them, but still Claude felt that he could do more to solidify Bradley's dependence. When his phone suddenly came alive with the news that his companion had arrived, stirring him out of his thoughts, he packed up so quickly and with such enthusiasm that he was sure that someone would have laughed at him, had there been anyone else around. After closing up his office and locking it behind him, he made his way down the hallway towards the lobby, briefcase in hand. As he nodded to the guard at the door, the guard unlocked the door, and Claude opened it, seeing his target as he entered the lobby. He looked so out of place, seated on a bench like some kind of misfit. The man gave him a small, kindly smile, a strange gesture that felt unnatural on his face. "Bradley," he greeted, watching as the boy rose from his seat at his approach. When he reached him, Claude reached out and placed a hand on his arm before he leaned down to place a brief kiss on his cheek. Pulling back, he squeezed his arm slightly before gesturing towards the door. "Shall we?"

[claudefitzgerald-blog]

Text ✉️ Claude & Bradley

Claude: I'm taking you out on Saturday. Dress nicely.

Claude: If you don't have anything nice, we can go out and get you something.

[claudefitzgerald-blog]

To Convalesce ✝ Claude, Bradley, & Jennifer

Heaving a sigh, Claude leaned back in his chair, rubbing his hand over his face. His throat was raw and his eyes were weary, and his bones seemed to ache from the effort of keeping himself together. It had only been a few hours since the attack, and he knew that he still had days of work ahead of him, but he was already exhausted. He had tucked himself away in his office once the calls started coming in, not wanting to involve his guests, but that had meant leaving them to their own devices in his home, and he suddenly found himself nervous at that thought. Looking at the clock in the corner of his laptop's screen, he was startled to see that it was half-past ten. Realizing that he was starving and that this guests likely were as well, he decided that now was as good a time as any to feed them. Getting out of his chair with some effort, he stretched briefly before he made his way out of the room. He was about to turn and head down the hall, before he noticed one of the guest bedroom doors ajar. Furrowing his brow, he cautiously walked towards the room, wishing that he had remembered to bring his gun. As he reached the room and slowly looked around the corner, he couldn't help but roll his eyes briefly before standing upright in the doorway. Looking down at Bradley and Jennifer, seeing how they were peering into the closet and looking rather like two naughty children, he tried to ignore the swell of panic as he saw the box on the floor, within arms reach of either of them. "I thought I would make some dinner," he stated, looking back up at them. "Come. Help me in the kitchen - if you're not too busy snooping, of course." With that, he turned and strode back down the hall, towards the kitchen.

[claudefitzgerald-blog]

ＶＥＸＩＬＬＡ  ＲＥＧＩＳ  ＰＲＯＤＥＵＮＴ  ＩＮＦＥＲＮＩ

the family + caravaggio

[claudefitzgerald-blog]

Chaos Reigns ✝ Claude, Jennifer, & Bradley

The sound of screaming. The smell of gunpowder. The sight of blood on the pavement.

Holding Jennifer's hand, he looked at the chaos around him with a disturbingly neutral expression. The danger of the moment seemed to have passed, but he was on guard still, his hand wrapped around the grip of his gun. He had seen it before many times over the years, but there was something chilling about it regardless. He had known that Regium would prove to be a challenge, but he had not expected to be in the field when violence erupted. Gripping the girl's hand tighter, he looked down at her. "Are you alright?" he asked, running his thumb over her fingers. "You can look away if you need to," he said, before he pulled her out of the way of two paramedics going past with an empty stretcher, towards Triton's Palace. He watched as they went, narrowing his eyes.

[coltonxlasseter-blog]

Mass Text

Colton: Text me to tell me you're okay. Please.

[claudefitzgerald-blog]

Text: Bradley Hirschal

Claude: Are you alive?