The bed was firm…
That was the first and seemingly only thing Treavor could think of upon entering his new room at Kingsparrow Keep.
Honest to god, Treavor was trying his best to not think of anything else…
Everything had gone to shit so remarkably quickly that Treavor could hardly keep up with it all. And worst of all, whenever Treavor dared look back at the shit show he had not only just trudged through, but, technically, helped orchestrate...
He could see the blatantly obvious signs…
Havelock seemed to be an honest man, he was no spitting image of piousness, but he seemed to be honest with the right sort of ideals… Which was the most Treavor could ask from anyone nowadays…
And oh what a fool's errand that had turned out to be.
Treavor hadn't joined the old Admiral's cause out of the goodness of his heart, far from it, sure, he had enjoyed Havelock's headstrong nature and morals. But truth be told Treavor had seen an opportunity to get a head over his brothers and he took it.
The Admiral's heart seemed to be in the right place, and he wasn't wrong, the parliament was unbelievably corrupt and a coup was in full swing.
If Treavor pulled his strings just right, supplying Havelock the needed funding and political legs to stand on, he was quite sure he could land himself a very cushy position well high up in the world as not only a survivor of a would be failed coup, but as a victor.
So Treavor remained…
But the signs had been so obvious… So obvious…
The way Havelock spoke and acted honeyed his words well enough to slip through Treavor's radar, but not Martin's, never Martin's.
Martin was strange like that, a strange Overseer, an even stranger man, but no longer quite a stranger to Treavor.
They had met for the first time after Martin had wandered back to the Hounds Pit Pub, still rubbing his wrists after being strung up in the stocks for two whole days.
Martin could charm the oil off a snake, which was ironic considering that he was also as slimy as a viper.
He was clever and his tongue was sharp which Treavor's own quick wit found quite amusing.
Martin spent an unfortunate amount of time around Havelock upon his return however, leaving Treavor to blunder as an afterthought save for the times Havelock would request of him some finer details of the aristocracy.
Martin had seen the mounting insanity long before Treavor…
Treavor wondered briefly if Martin would have been kind enough to warn him had it not been for a few too many glasses of wine and brandy, some bemoaned comment regarding the lack of softer company at the pub, some teasing proposition and consent offered as a challenge.
And oh did Martin take that challenge to heart.
Treavor delighted in the look of surprise Martin offered him that night, apparently, the Overseer hadn't expected his teasing to spurr such a reaction from the Lord, let alone that Treavor would have been willing to lay with another man.
And Treavor did so love to surprise his partners.
Come dawn, Treavor found himself filled with a familiar forlorn melancholy as he woke to an empty bed, he did not regret the night he spent with Martin, but he would regret the timing.
It was horribly unprofessional to mix business and pleasure in such ways, and Treavor knew he was quite prone to unfortunate attachments.
Treavor didn't blame Martin for running, any sensible man, or woman, would have, it hurt, but not enough to bother Treavor.
It wasn't the first time Treavor had taken part in some scandalous rendezvous which left him cold and lonely in the morning, and he very much doubted it would be the last.
Which was why it was such a surprise when, maybe an hour or so after Treavor woke, Martin merrily waltzed through the door to Treavor's bedroom, paper bag in hand, tray holding two coffee's in the other.
Treavor chose not to question the Overseer's antics as they ate their muffins and drank their coffee, perhaps he should have, but then again, perhaps Treavor should have done a whole lot of other things too.
When Martin kissed him that morning, he tasted like coffee and cinnamon muffins and Treavor regretted not shoving him away as they fell back into the bed together.
They spent most of the morning tangled together in the sheets of Treavor's bed, surprisingly, after the initial post breakfast pleasantries, Martin seemed more inclined to kiss and cuddle Treavor than anything.
Treavor allowed himself to enjoy what he assumed to be fleeting affection, Martin was simply being a gentleman, owing Treavor back for the night before, nothing less, nothing more.
Treavor fully expected for Martin to leave come lunch and for them to return to their casual, snarky acquaintanceship, acting as though nothing had happened the night before or even that very morning…
Which would have been fine…
But no…
Martin lingered, subtly.
At first, Treavor caught the Overseer sending him varying looks throughout the rest of the day, some longing, some lustful, some amused or playful.
Treavor ignored the Overseer's silent advances, doing his best to maintain professional in the presence of others which led to Martin's lingering looks of wanting straying to looks of confusion...
Apparently, despite Martin's less than legan upbringing, the man had never learned the art of 'subtly'.
Treavor figured Martin was riding some high from the morning, he understood that the Abbey had strict rules regarding celibacy and the whole, 'avoid temptation' shtick they had going on…
And while sex had been good, great even… Treavor knew he was no catch. He wasn't exactly handsome, or even remotely note worthy, despite his status, Treavor knew he tended to blend into the background…
There were countless fish in the sea, and Treavor had become well acquainted with the fact that… Of Noble birth or not… He was very replaceable…
Yet Martin continued to linger…
The first day after their night together was filled with silent stares.
The second day, Martin managed to sneak a kiss to Treavor's cheek as they passed one another in the hall, Martin was on his way out the door, Treavor was on his way to breakfast.
The third day, Martin was gone at the Abbey.
The fourth day, upon Martin's return to the Hounds pit, Treavor found himself pinned against the entry hall wall, Martin kissing him breathless as the Overseers hands wandered shamelessly across the nobleman's ass.
Thankfully, though unfortunately, Havelock called Martin away before the Overseer could properly get his hands down Treavor's pants.
The fifth day saw Martin purposefully seeking Treavor out, not for sex, but to just… Talk… Sometimes Martin would stand too close to Treavor, try and hold his hand or just loop his arms around Treavor's waist if no one else was in the room…
Treavor dutifully rejected the Overseer's advances, offering Martin nothing more than a curt, "Not now." or "Later."
"Not now." or "Later." Proved to the the next evening as Martin approached Treavor again, asking in layman's themes if Treavor would be willing to share his bed with Martin that night.
Treavor should have said no… The entire week between the first night they shared together was filled with those longing gazes and kisses and touches Treavor couldn't ignore.
But he didn't…
He moved aside and allowed Martin to step into his room, lock the door behind him.
Treavor fell asleep the night satiated and content, wrapped in Martin's arms and warm. Fully expecting to awake alone only to find himself in… The exact same position…
"This can't keep happening." Treavor had sighed as he sat up, detangling himself from Martin as he left the bed.
"What?" Martin groaned as he rose onto his elbows to watch the nobleman stalk about his room, gathering clothing and the like.
"This." Treavor hissed as he made some general motion with his wrist to emphasize the space between them.
"Whatever's going on here." Treavor snipped.
Martin merely cocked a brow.
"What?" Martin asked, "The sex?" He guessed as he rose to sit properly, Treavor noted a… Strange glimmer in the Overseer's eyes.
"Did you not want it?" Martin asked quickly, perhaps a bit too quickly, "Look Pendleton, I'm as much of a fan of consent as the average man, if you didn't want it you could have tol-" "Stop!"
Treavor was quick to cut the Overseer off, his voice nearly cracked with how shrill his voice had become.
Thankfully, Martin's mouth slowly closed.
"N-not that." Treavor assured the Overseer calmly, approaching Martin with a few small steps to set his hands at Martin's shoulders.
"The sex is fine." Treavor stated firmly, he could feel the tension drain from Martin's shoulders as he spoke.
"It's just everything else that I have issue with." Treavor concluded… Martin blinked owlishly before looking up at the nobleman, brow cocked, confusion evident in his expression.
"Everything else." He emphasized slowly.
Treavor nodded once.
"Define, everything else, if you would." Martin asked.
Treavor sighed internally as he sat beside the Overseer on his bed.
"It's just… I feel as though our definitions of 'casual' are quite different Martin." Treavor began calmly, "That, or I feel you have no concept of what it is to be casual at all."
"Oh really?" Martin huffed, "Then tell me Lord Pendleton, what is your definition of just casual?"
Treavor offered the Overseer a halfhearted glare.
"Just. Sex." Treavor replied firmly, "No emotional or financial strings attached. We have sex on occasion and never so much as mention it outside the bedroom."
Martin frowned at that, "You Nobles are so weird." He ended up muttering as he drew Treavor back down into the bed.
"With your weird social cues and stupid secret society bullshit." The Overseer muttered against Treavor's throat as he guided Treavor back onto the bed properly.
Treavor should have shoved the Overseer away…
But it was early enough for them not to be missed for another few hours.
"W-wel now I-I'm scared to ask…" Treavor murmured against the insistent lips running along his neck, "What is y-your definition of ca-casual?"
Martin moved away from Treavor's throat to give the nobleman a very pointed look..
"Have you never been in a relationship before Pendleton?" The Overseer asked.
Treavor actually laughed at that… Before realizing that Martin was serious…
That was when he shoved the Overseer away.
"We are not in a relationship." Treavor hissed firmly as he forced the other man off of him, Martin quickly backed off, returning to his seat beside Treavor those a good bit away so they were no longer hip to hip.
"Aren't we?" Martin asked slowly, perplexion evident in his tone as he looked to the man beside him.
"No!" Treavor retorted, "Of course not! Why would you think that?"
"I thought you wanted me?" Martin replied, suddenly seeming very unsure of himself.
"For sex!" Treavor snapped.
The look Martin gave him let Treavor know in very simple terms that he had crossed a line.
"Look…" The nobleman sighed heavily, "There is a reason I want to keep this… Whatever you think this is, just sex…" He said carefully, "Neither of us are in any position to pursue a relationship, of any sorts at this point in time."
Martin frowned.
"Don't give me that look." Treavor muttered, "You know I'm right… We both have far too much on our plates to concern ourselves with tripe affairs of affection, and it's never a good idea to mix business with pleasure, that's a recipe for disaster…"
Treavor paused as a sudden thought clicked into his head, he even huffed at the absurdity of the idea.
"I pegged you for a heartbreaker you know." The nobleman mused as he drew a knee to his chest, resting his cheek against said knee as he looked over to the Overseer beside him.
"Martin the highwayman, leaving a trail of broken hearts wherever he goes…" Treavor hummed quietly, more to himself than his companion.
Martin huffed at that, a soft pink hue settling at his cheeks.
"Naw, naw…" He admitted sheepishly before pausing, "Or at least I don't think so?"
"You don't think so?" Treavor hummed sarcastically, he wasn't trying to be cruel, but the situation was just so strange. Apparently Martin didn't find their current predicament quite so entertaining as his response was curt and snappish.
"Yea Pendleton, I don't think so." He not quite hissed, "Out on the road, you learn not to take shit for granted. And pardon me for sounding like a hippy, but when you don't know when your next meal is, you learn to love each day pretty damn fast."
The two men stared at one another for a brief while.
"I never took your for a poet." Treavor finally mumbled.
"Yea well, I never took you for such a coldhearted bastard." Martin huffed.
"I'm just being reasonable…" Treavor sighed as he dropped his head into his hands.
"Now… Is an extremely bad time to forge any sort of… Relationship you ought to know that…"
"On the contrary…" Martin piped suddenly, though softly as he gently shuffled closer to Treavor's side, setting his hand on Treavor's lower back.
"We may never get another chance… And this could be our last chance to forge such relationships…"
"Don't say that…" Treavor grumbled quietly, Martin huffed.
"I'm just being reasonable."
Treavor merely pouted but allowed the Overseer to get closer.
Martin leaned down to nose as Treavor's neck, offering the nobleman some soft kisses as he looped an arm around Treavor's waist.
"Could we try? At the very least?" Martin asked softly, "We can keep this all hush hush… But I like the thought of us…"
Treavor should have said no… He should have sent Martin away and tried his damnedest to forget everything they had done…
Treavor should have done many things in his life however…
Martin was right, Treavor concluded, he wasn't getting any younger, and like it or not there was no guarantee that he would survive whatever hell laid before him…
So Treavor kissed Martin soundly…
"Are you even listening to me?" Martin hissed as he stopped his pacing to stand before Treavor, his arms were crossed, teeth gritted behind closed lips. Treavor met Martin's sharp, sharp eyes briefly before looking away… His silence spoke volumes…
Martin sighed heavily, hanging his head and dropping his arms in defeat…
"We really fucked up…" The Overseer muttered bitterly, resentfully… Treavor remained quiet, still desperately trying to fight off his thoughts with happier memories…
"Havelock's gone mad… We've kidnapped the fucking Empress, and sent our one shot at salvation down the river…"
Treavor bit his lip and grimaced, everything Martin said was true…
It was true, and it was horrible…
"I saw this coming…" Martin admitted quietly, both to himself and Treavor, "Not this of course… But something similar at least…" The Overseer sighed with a wave of his wrist.
"This whole thing was rigged from the start… But I at least thought Havelock was smart enough to not do anything so reckless…"
Treavor offered Martin a small, thoughtless sound and little more.
"You're distracted…" Martin stated quietly, his voice had lost the edge it had as he ranted to Treavor about their current predicament.
Treavor merely nodded, absentminded and robotically, not thinking of what he was really doing…
Hands, warm and firm and calloused from years on the road gently took hold of Treavor's as Martin moved to take a seat beside the nobleman on the bed…
"Talk to me darling…" Martin pressed softly as he ran his thumbs over the back of Treavor's knuckles, feeling the dips and ridges of the bones beneath the skin.
"I locked the door and Havelock is out bossing around his lackeys…" Martin assured the nobleman gently.
"It's just us… Just us…" Treavor allowed Martin to press a soft little kiss to his forehead as he snuggled close, looping an arm around Treavor's waist so they could sit hip to hip…
The mattress whined at them with every move Martin made…
"The bed is too firm…" Treavor mumbled listlessly as he leaned against Martin, resting his head against the Overseer's shoulder…
"That's all you can think about?" Martin huffed softly, his tone a strange mix between amusement and irritation.
"We're up to our tits in Havelock's shit and all you care about is the fact that your bed is a little stiff?"
"It's the only thing I want to focus on right now." Treavor hissed tightly as he tried to lean away from the Overseer, such close contact was proving to be far more suffocating than comforting at that moment, but Martin held him tight, keeping him close…
"I-I don't want to think right now." Treavor mumbled, relenting his attempts to pull away, "It's just… It's a lot… And I don't think I'm ready to unpack it all yet…"
Martin sighed heavily before he began to run his hand along Treavor's back.
"It… An awful lot has happened…" Martin said simply, acknowledging the fact without putting his opinion on the table.
"I don't know what to do…" Treavor replied, his voice strained, just a whisper as thoughts and feelings kept battering against the fragile wall he had stuffed them behind in his head.
"What do you want me to do?" Martin asked softly.
"You… Do?" Treavor repeated dully, unfocused and confused.
"Is there anything I can do to help." Martin reiterated softly as he patted Treavor's thigh.
"Let me drink?" Treavor asked quietly, guiltily…
Martin leaned away, forcing Treavor to support himself again as the Overseer gave him a very pointed look.
"Thought not…" Treavor sighed heavily, Martin had, somehow, managed to convince Treavor to cut back on the alcohol.
"I want you here, with me Treavor… Not in some drunk haze." He said one mourning after Treavor had awoken hungover and sore from a wonderful evening spent tangled in the sheets.
It was strange being sober more often than not, things felt sharper, firmer, Treavor could remember things better, the lights never seemed quite so harsh and Marin… Well Martin was wonderful…
The world seemed more clear…
But it was the last thing Treavor wanted then and there...
"It's getting late…" Martin remarked softly, his thumb soothing over the curl of Treavor's waist, "We've had a busy day."
Treavor jabbed his fingers between Martin's ribs, the Overseer managed to choke out some surprised grunt of a chuckle.
"Poor word choice?" He asked, Treavor nodded mutely.
"Sorry…" Martin sighed as he pressed a kiss to the crown of Treavor's head, "We have a lot of things to think about…" The Overseer murmured into Treavor's hair.
"But it's getting late… And I'm tired, and I know you're tired…" Treavor nodded listlessly, focusing on Martin's words as best he could as to not think of anything else...
"Lets get to bed then, yea?" Martin suggested softly with another kiss to Treavor's crown.
Treavor didn't have it in him to protest… Truthfully, he was exhausted, aching to the bone... Sleep sounded wonderful, but if Treavor slept, he was sure he would dream…
"You'll stay with me… Won't you?" Treavor asked softly from his place beside the Overseer.
"I'll be back as soon as I get a change of clothes…" Martin assured him gently , offering the back of Treavor's hands a gentle pat before he rose from the bed, leaning down to offer Treavor one last kiss before he slipped from the door…
Leaving Treavor terribly alone…
Treavor took a deep, stuttering breath before he began to follow Martin's lead, it was getting rather late… And they just had a horribly busy day…
"Wa-"
Treavor choked on the name…
There was no more Wallace, he reminded himself as a burning settled in his chest, hot in sorrow and fear, Treavor wrapped his arms around his front as he leaned forward slightly, breathing heavily as the mental wall he had set up began to crumble…
There was no more Wallace…
Wallace was dead… Dead like a dog, shot down like one too…
There was no more Wallace…
No more warm greetings, or pleasant little surprises in the form of compliments and smiles, no more gentle hands to help straighten his tie or help arrange his day wear…
There was no more Wallace…
Treavor rose from his seat, striding over to the dresser in the room quickly, his breath fluttered and hollow.
He pulled the second bottom drawer open, expecting to find his sleepwear neatly folded- but Wallace was dead…
The hand who had dealt with Treavor's belongings had placed Treavor's pants in a drawer… There would be ghastly folds and wrinkles that would have to be ironed out…
Treavor scowled and slammed the drawer shut.
This never would have happened if Wallace was alive…
And Wallace would still be alive if Treavor wasn't such a coward…
Treavor didn't realize he had begun to shake, let alone cry.
But there was no Wallace to comfort him...
And there would never be another Wallace…
Treavor tried to remember a time before Wallace… But there was nothing to remember, Wallace had always been there, for as long as Treavor could remember Wallace had been there…
And now he was gone...
Treavor was softly ripped away from his whirlwind of emotions and thoughts by gentle hands.
The noble man nearly jumped out of his skin before Martin's chin settled at his shoulder, his arms slithering around Treavor's waist… Pulling Treavor closer to the body behind him...
Treavor stole a shuddered breath as he leaned back against the Overseer behind him, his trembling hands settled at Martin's arms, desperate for purchase.
Martin kissed his neck softly before gently pulling Treavor away from the dresses, guiding them back to the bed.
Blankets were tugged down before Treavor was made to sit on the unforgiving mattress once again.
Treavor didn't look at Martin as the Overseer took to his knees before him… On any other night, Treavor would have expected Martin to offer him his mouth…
But that eve, Martin occupied himself with unbuttoning the nobleman's overcoat and then Treavor's shirt, as dutifully as any lover would…
Treavor couldn't bring himself to look…
Treavor knew Martin was worried… He always worried, because, apparently, that was what a good lover did, they worried about their partner, wanted to see their partner happy and well…
Treavor was neither of these things, he was not happy, he was not well…
"Hey…" Martin cooed softly as his hands settled at Treavor's waist once his shirts had been shed.
"It's alright…"
Treavor scoffed, bitter and cruel, the burning in his chest scorching his words.
"No it's not." He snarled beneath his breath, his hands fisting the thin mattress sheets beneath him. Martin merely hummed, not at all intimidated by Treavor's tone as he leaned close to kiss the center of Treavor's chest…
"Not right now no…" He admitted softly, his thumbs soothing over the ridge of Treavor's pelvic bone as he pressed his forehead to Treavor's chest...
"But it will be…" He assured the young Lord gently.
"You can't possibly know that…" Treavor muttered quietly as he desperately tried to focus on Martin's thumbs… Gently pressing into his skin… He knew the Overseer was only trying to help calm him down…
Tentatively, Treavor unclenched his fists to settle his hands at Martin's shoulders, leaning down to press his cheek to the top of the Overseer's head.
"You can't know that…" Treavor repeated softly as a tear began to roll down his cheek.
"No…" Martin confessed softly as he slowly pulled away from Treavor's chest, careful to not accidentally bump Treavor's cheek against his head as he leaned up to kiss the nobleman softly…
While Treavor was distracted by the kiss, Martin rose from his knees, gently toppling Treavor back onto the bed, the hands Treavor had at Martin's shoulders were quickly looped around the back of the Overseer's neck as Treavor allowed himself to be all but manhandled to the center of the bed.
Martin settled Treavor so his head rested on the pillows at the head of the bed before he pulled away…
Treavor looked up at the other man, eyes and cheeks still damp with tears, but cheeks warm and eyes wide with something other than fear or pain…
"You're right…" Martin sighed softly, "I can't know if it's all going to be alright…" He confessed gently.
"But worrying won't do much good for us right now…" He said as his thumbs slipped from Treavor's waist to the fly of his pants.
"So what I want you to do right now…" Martin hummed as he slipped his thumbs beneath the hem of Treavor's pants and undergarments, tugging the stiff fabrics off his lover's legs, "Is get comfortable, and stop worrying."
Treavor was tempted to make a stink about how Martin so carelessly tossed his clothing to the floor… But not caring, not worrying? That sounded like a damn good idea…
So Treavor laid back on the bed, bare and unashamed, watching silently as the Overseer shed his clothing in the dim light of the room.
Treavor's eyes trailed across the impressive repertoire of scars clinging to Martin's back, some knife wounds and more bullet wounds then Treavor cared to count…
When Martin returned to the bed, Treavor instinctively reached out to touch the Overseer. It had taken a brief while for Martin to drag Treavor out of his shell of insecurity, to let Treavor know it was alright to touch, to speak to Martin freely…
Treavor's palm settled on the flat of Marin's stomach slipping up his chest as Martin drew closer.
Martin kissed him sweetly as he settled onto the bed beside Treavor, rolling them over onto their sides so he could hold Treavor properly. One arm was wedged beneath the dip of Treavor's waist and the bed, the other trailed along Treavor's side, soothing over the bones below gently…
Treavor likewise clung to Martin, feeling the subtle shifts of muscle beneath the Overseer's skin, feeling the warm blood and his heartbeat beneath his palms…
Treavor sighed softly as Martin pulled away from the kiss to reach out and dim the bedside lamps, plunging the room into an inky dark, save for the glow of Dunwall seeping in through the edges of the window curtains.
Martin was a warm, shaded figure in the dark, but one that Treavor knew well.
The Overseer kissed Treavor once more before pulling him close, tucking Treavor to him soundly, looping his arms around Treavor however he could.
Treavor was warm, and safe, and protected, he found himself greedily pressing closer to Martin, desperate for the soft affections the Overseer offered him.
They had fallen asleep in such intimate positions numerous times before, curled around one another in the quiet dark of their rooms at the Hound's Pit…
"The bed is too firm…" Treavor repeated again, softer this time, thoughtless, exhaustion tugging at the edges of his words…
Martin merely huffed, his exhale tickling Treavor's ear gently.
"New beds are always firm Teacup…" He mumbled softly, Treavor hummed as he ran his palm along Martin's back, tracing the aged scars with his fingers slowly…
"I miss our bed…" He eventually whispered, "I miss… I miss the way the mattress was soft…" Treavor wished he could stop talking… "I miss those damn blankets, I miss how everything smelled like… Like us…"
Treavor hadn't realized how tight his chest had become until he gasped for a shuddered breath.
There were so many things wrong… So many, so many, too many things wrong.
"Hey, hey…" Martin cooed softly, "Calm down alright… I'm right here, with you… It's alright…"
A hand settled at the back of Treavor's head, drawing him to the crook of Martin's neck, his cheek pressed snug to the Overseer's throat, allowing him to hear the steady, if slightly quickened, heartbeat below, as Martin's lips brushed his ear.
"It's gonna be fine. We are going to be fine… We can fix this. Nothing will happen. I won't let anything happen."
Martin shifted slightly so he could kiss Treavor's cheek.
"You need to breathe Sugar Spoon… C'mon." Martin coaxed softly as he began to take deep, slow, exaggerated breaths.
Treavor did his best to copy the Overseer despite tightness of his own chest, drawing stilted gasps of air, releasing them as pitiful sobs.
"I-I can't." Treavor eventually gasped out, his voice strained and weak.
"You're gonna pass out." Martin pointed out quietly, though worry bit at the edges of his voice as he pulled halfway off Treavor, cupping the nobleman's cheeks with his hands.
"Breathe Treavor." Martin repeated.
"I can't." Treavor choked out.
"You need to."
Treavor whimpered as he drew his hands to Martin's wrists, gripping the Overseer's arms tightly as his shoulders began to tremble.
This wasn't his first panic attack, Treavor had more than enough experiences with these sorts of fits to know that while yes, he was in danger of passing out unless he could get his lungs to cooperate, he wasn't exactly at risk of dying…
The Overseer in bed beside him knew too...
But Martin was still concerned…
Treavor's chest began to burn, and he choked on the breath he had unknowingly been holding.
"Hurts…" The word was frail as it tumbled from Treavor's lips, delicate like glass but as gut wrenching as a knife in your side.
"I know Treavor, I know…" Martin soothed softly as he ran his thumbs over Treavor's dampening cheeks as the body before him heaved and convulsed.
Martin could only imagine the storm brewing inside the nobleman's mind, Treavor, despite his best efforts, was always so quick to unravel behind closed doors.
Martin recalled the night the twin Lords were… Disposed of…
Treavor had argued with Havelock over the Pendleton blockage, and while he agreed that something must be done, Treavor never once saw death as the appropriate answer for dealing with his brothers.
But Havelock didn't care, and in the end, Martin doubted Corvo did either…
Treavor fell apart as soon as Martin closed the door to his (their) room.
Martin watched as the nobleman crumbled in on himself, arms looping around his front, head bowed as he stumbled towards the bed, anguish contorting his features as his breath caught bitterly in his throat.
Martin did his best to console the distressed lord that night, just as he was doing his best now.
"Hey… Hey…" Martin cooed softly as he shifted closer to feel the nobleman against him, drawing Treavor's forehead to rest against his own.
"We're gonna be alright Treavor…" Martin whispered softly, "Everything is gonna be alright…"
Treavor parted his lips to rebuttal the Overseer, but Martin kissed him softly before the first words could escape.
"None of that now Treavor." Martin said, "None of that… Just listen to me, you can do that can't you Teacup? Just relax and listen alright?"
Martin didn't bother waiting for an answer.
"We are going to be fine…" Martin repeated firmly, "Corvo and the young Empress will be upset yes… But neither are unreasonable. The only mistake we have made is enabling a madman…"
Martin kissed Treavor again, firmer this time, to silence a stumbled objection before he continued talking.
"We had no idea Havelock was planning on taking this so far… As far as we were concerned, the night of the toast was the end of the battle and the beginning of the war."
Martin ran his thumbs over Treavor's cheeks gently…
"Havelock blindsided us too… Threatened us into compliance, and now we're here, not on our own violation." Martin tilted his head back to kiss Treavor's forehead, soft and sweet.
"We'll be fine, this wasn't our fault…" Treavor heaved a stuttered breath as he shifted forward to be closer to the Overseer.
"I-I don't l-like this…" He whispered breathlessly, Martin sighed, slipping one hand from Treavor's cheek to stroke along his back, trying to ease the tightness of Treavor's lungs as best he could.
"I know… I know…" Martin soothed gingerly. "But everything is going to be alright…"
"You can't possibly know that…" Treavor hissed weakly, his voice acquiring some edge as he looked up to Martin in the dark of the room. Martin could see the dim light of Dunwall cast through the window settle over Treavor's back and curl just over his cheek…
"What if the young Empress is not nearly as merciful as you make her out to be?" He asked curtly, biting out each word softly as to not to disturb the quiet of the room…
"What if Corvo decides that we are not worth listening to?" A shudder ran across Treavor's skin, raising gooseflesh in its wake.
"We-We're still conspirators of murder Martin… Murder and conspiracy and Treason…" The nobleman began sobbing anew, "T-they'll never let us- let us…"
"Then we leave."
The words were bold and… Unfathomably curious…
"Leave?"
"Yes…" Martin repeated softly, "Leave…"
"But… Where?" Treavor stammered softly.
"Anywhere." Martin replied, "Somewhere soft and quiet… Where no one knows our names or faces…"
Martin gingerly repositioned himself against Treavor, looping his arms around the nobleman before him to hold him tightly.
"Somewhere we can start over… Where we don't have to worry about all this… About being the High Overseer or the Prime Minister… Somewhere we can just be us, be together…"
Treavor was quiet…
"I have some friends in Morley who owe me a few favors…" Martin continued, "Rolling green pastures, orchards and mountains and crystal clear lakes… We could start there and see where we-"
"We can't just leave Martin…" Treavor sighed wistfully, his breath returning to him quietly, "We have responsibilities to maintain…" The Overseer scoffed bitterly.
"Responsibilities to people who would much rather see us rot in prison."
Treavor's fingers jabbed into Martin's side again, causing the other man to cough out a pearl of laughter.
"What happened to 'everything is gonna be alright'?" Treavor asked slyly, grinning in the dark like a fox despite the tears still clinging to his cheeks.
"You happened Lord Pessimistic." Martin snapped playfully.
Treavor hummed his own little trill of laughter before he tilted his head just so to kiss Martin…
Kissing Treavor, Martin found, was as easy as breathing or dancing, there were no words to be said, only instinct and action.
If Treavor didn't like something, he'd tell Martin in his own little way, a too hard nip at a lip, a shove at the chest, nails in Martin's shoulders. Martin would back off, always, and allow Treavor a moment to resettle.
But that eve, Treavor was in charge, guiding the kiss sweetly, demanding nothing but softness from his companion, something which Martin was all too happy to supply.
Treavor's hand settled at Martin's cheek before reaching up to curl into the Overseer's hair, not pulling, simply holding, feeling. Martin couldn't help but grin into the kisses, short as his hair was, it was always a treat to have Treavor toy with his short locks.
Somewhere in the night, a clock chimed thrice, it was late, or early, Martin didn't care.
Treavor did however as he slowly began to wind down their kisses until they shared nothing but chaste pecks.
"Are you feeling better?" Martin asked softly, straining to look at his partner in the darkness, Treavor sighed heavily before him as he nodded.
"A bit…" He replied softly, "Though… I must admit, I am still quite…" His words trail off, but Martin could guess well enough what Treavor wanted to say…
"We've had a regretfully busy day…" Martin admitted gingerly, "And it's awfully late…"
"I don't think I'll be getting much sleep tonight…" Treavor whispered timidly, "I don't want to think about… But I'm sure I'll see…"
Martin sighed and pulled Treavor closer… Tucking the nobleman's face to his throat as his arms locked around Treavor's back and middle.
"I'll be right here Treavor…" He said, "I'm not leaving anytime soon…"
"Promise?" Treavor asked quietly, his words tickling Martin's throat.
Martin kissed Treavor's brow gently.
"I promise… I'll be right here all night, I'll be right here in the morning… I'm not leaving Love…"
Treavor hummed something soft and thoughtful as he finally relaxed in Martin's arms…
"I love you Treavor…" Martin said.
It wasn't the first time Martin had ever said those words, it wasn't the first time they had carried such weight across his tongue…
But it was his first time saying them to Treavor…
"You love… Me?" Treavor asked gingerly, his voice a most timid whisper as his own arms settled around Martin, clinging to the Overseer as if afraid he would disappear…
"You love me?" Treavor repeated when Martin fell quiet in thought.
"I do…" Martin replied firmly.
"You won't leave me?" Treavor asked.
"Never." Martin assured him.
"You love me…"
"I love you…"
"I think…" Treavor began slowly, his voice sly, as if he were sharing a most mischievous secret.
"I think… I may love you too…"