Short update. Just a correction to the previous AN - I have actually only read part of the previous edition of this book. Still, I'm hopefully not going too far wrong. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: Nothing referenced herein is mine, not even the lifestyle. And yes, I know that makes this risky.
Vlad read the title again in disbelief.
The Ethical Slut: A Guide to Infinite Sexual Possibilities, by Dossie Easton and Catherine A. Liszt.
"Robin, I… we've never even – Infinite Sexual – where did you get this?"
"Ian and Paul were chucking it out. It wasn't what they thought it was. I thought I might as well read it, and… yeah, it kind of makes sense. It's not about sex though, not really, it's about… well, love and stuff." Vlad relaxed slightly; love was confusing enough at the moment, the last thing he needed was for Robin to get ideas about sex.
"Why are you telling me to read a book about love, then?" Robin reached out for his free hand, and Vlad let him take it as they settled back down on the floor.
"It's about how you can love more than just one person at a time. It's alright, it doesn't mean you fancy me any less, just 'cos you fancy him too. Have a read, see what you think." And with that, Robin scooped his comic up and picked up where he'd left off, as Vlad began to turn the pages of the book he'd been handed.
Almost an hour passed before either of them spoke again – Robin was on his second read-through of Vlad's entire comic collection – and it was Vlad who broke the silence.
"So… you're saying I can… I… what are you saying, Robin?"
"You want Bertrand, right? Go and get him."
"You want me to cheat-?"
"No." Robin's voice was firm. "No, if you ever cheat on me it's over. But you can see Bertrand, it'll make you feel better if nothing else. No more wistful looks and guilty training sessions. I've seen you, Vlad. Go for it. Just don't cheat."
The Chosen One thought he'd actually rather try to decipher one of Bertrand's books than what Robin was saying, because it didn't make much sense to him.
"So… I can look but not touch, or…?"
"Look, touch, anything – well. Stick to snogging for now, yeah, we'll talk about everything else later. But it's not cheating as long as we all know where we stand. No sneaking around, just… as long as we're honest it'll be OK." Vlad blinked at him.
Robin sighed – Vlad wasn't going to understand this until Robin proved he was OK with it, was he?
"You've read the book, at least the first bit. Do you want Bertrand or not? Honestly." The vampire hesitated.
"Yeah, I do. I'm really sorry, Robin, it's not that I don't-" Robin didn't let him get any further, picking up the book and dragging his boyfriend along behind him until he found himself in the training room for the first time ever.
"What are you doing in here?" Bertrand appeared from nowhere, in full-on intimidation mode, but Robin just squeezed Vlad's hand reassuringly. This was the scary bit; he was pretty sure Bertrand returned Vlad's feelings, but if he wouldn't admit to that Vlad would be humiliated. Still, faint heart…
"Vlad thinks you're really hot and he won't ask you out 'cos he thinks I'd have a problem with it." Bertrand raised an eyebrow, eyes sweeping over the battered book in Robin's other hand.
"The Ethical Slut? It's been a while since I read it. What are you suggesting, Branagh?" He didn't bother trying to conceal his surprise that Bertrand had come across the book before, but he didn't waste time questioning it either.
"I don't think Vlad should have to choose. And I don't have a problem with it if you two don't." Bertrand swept a calculating look over the pair of them before nodding slightly, as if to himself.
Vlad's eyes hadn't left his shoes through the whole conversation, but Bertrand, with a glance at Robin that couldn't possibly be a request for permission, tucked a finger under his chin and lifted it gently until the Chosen One was staring into his eyes.
"What do you think, Vlad?"