you could have my heart (and i would break it for you)

-or-

be gay do crime

By: Aviantei

Moriarty Manor Daily Life, Act Three:

"and everybody's headin' out (back into the night)"

Louis did not go to help his brothers, instead choosing to navigate their carriage into one of the many agreed upon locations that would make it easier for William and Albert to reach them once they were done with their work. After all, even in a situation such as the one they found themselves in, it seemed that nothing less than a perfect execution would be acceptable. They would eliminate the abductors, leave no evidence behind, and take no credit for their actions. Given that all Jameson had wanted was to erase the threat to his childhood home and everyone in it, he was fine with that outcome.

He would express disappointment for the fact that Louis didn't seem to trust him to be alone just yet, even after the understanding that they now shared. He held no resentment for the fact—no matter how similar they were, that didn't make Jameson any less suspicious. It just would have been nice for them to become close friends after such a revelation, to change the antagonism to a bond of trust.

Still, I think there's a chance that…

There was the sound of a soft groan, pulling Jameson out of his thoughts. The carriage was still moving along at a casual pace, taking a rotation that would help them cross paths with the others when the time came, but it seemed that had been enough to awaken the child they'd rescued from the abductors. The motion was slow at first, then, in a sudden jolt, they sat up from where they'd been laid down on the opposite cushion. There was a flash, and it took Jameson several belated moments to recognize the kid was now brandishing a short-bladed knife in their shaking hands.

It sure would be a stroke of irony to die by someone he'd wanted to save, but Jameson had faith that, if it came down to it, he could shout and Louis would save him, even with their relationship still rocky—for William's sake, if nothing else. Of course, it would be best if it didn't come to that, and it was his past experience with being forced to act like everything was alright even when it wasn't that allowed Jameson to face the situation with that detached sense of calm.

"It's alright," he said. "I know this might be hard to believe, but I promise you're safe." Which, of course, was what someone might also say if one wasn't safe. A conundrum. Hm. "By all means, if it makes you feel better, then you can keep the knife out."

The kid's body language didn't relax in the slightest, nor did they put their weapon down; that said, they didn't move to attack right away, either. No, instead their eyes were wide open, looking at Jameson the same way a small animal might attempt to perceive a threat before them. It was a look Jameson was all too familiar with, the same way that—

No, I don't quite care to think about that tonight.

In any event, Jameson could understand that sort of fear without issue, so he made sure not to exacerbate it, instead keeping still. There were several more beats that passed before the child spoke, their voice soft and uncertain, "You're not…one of the people who kidnapped me."

"No, I'm not." The child still looked apprehensive, and Jameson attempted to make his smile reassuring as he added, "I'm not someone that bought you, either. My companions were the ones that saved you; I'm just looking after you until we can get you back home."

Even as he said it, Jameson had suspected there wasn't a home to take the child back to, and the way they looked down all but confirmed that. After all, if they'd had a home, they wouldn't have been sleeping on the street to be abducted in the first place, but Jameson had wanted to at least try, just in case the child had been at the wrong place at the wrong time. With the way the silence dragged on, Jameson wondered if he should go and change the subject, but the child at last said, "…Anywhere…is fine."

Anywhere didn't feel like it was fine, but Jameson couldn't argue with that. He'd already imposed on the Moriartys enough by asking them to take on the abduction case in the first place, not to mention that he was staying in their home. Besides, no matter how Jameson wished to help, what was he to do? Adopt every single orphan he could to the point that he couldn't even take care of them well? No, doing the work to improve the country was a much better use of his time.

And yet, he couldn't help but think of all the children he'd known on the streets. If the world could be fixed by throwing money at it, Jameson would have in a heartbeat.

But it couldn't, so there was nothing he could do other than nod. "Alright. At the moment, we're waiting to pick some other people up, but once that's done, we can take you closer to someplace safe." Dropping him off near the docks where the abductors had set up shop wouldn't do at all. Whether they understood that or not, the kid nodded. If nothing else, it was good that they weren't going to put up a fight, which made the whole process easier. "Well, until then, you can do whatever you like. But we'll be spending some time together, so I suppose introductions are in order. My name is Jameson Liam Verity. It's nice to meet you."

There was that long stretch of silence again, in which the child stared at him again, as if thinking hard about the name they'd been provided. But after a while, they relented, tucking their knife back inside their clothes and pulling their collar closer to his face, as if to ward off the cold.

Well, perhaps hoping for a name in return was a little optimistic all things considered—

"…Fred."

It had been small, and there wasn't any follow up. But it was still a name, and Jameson couldn't help but give a little smile. After all, if he was able to establish a little bit of trust with someone, even if it wouldn't last much longer than the few moments they'd have together, he would take it. "Alright, Fred. If you need anything, let me know."

All he received as a response was a nod, and then nothing. Well, no complaints were better than many, Jameson supposed. Not to mention that the adrenaline of the night was starting to wear off, and exhaustion was creeping up on him. Sleep sounded wonderful, even though he was somewhat worried about William and Albert's safety; the growing pain in his shoulder was making it difficult to think about much else. Hoping to ease some of his exhaustion, Jameson shut his eyes to attempt to relax for at least a little while.

There was a faint rustling of Fred moving, and Jameson opened his eyes the slightest amount to make sure there wasn't any impending sense of danger—but all Fred had done was adjust in their seat, those eyes staring at Jameson, as if studying him. Jameson thought to ask if something was on the child's mind, but he also didn't want to make them clam up. That turned out to be a smart move, as soon Fred's lips parted to ask, "Why? Why did you decide to…"

And then there was the rattle of the carriage door opening, and Fred dashed into motion. The child had flung themself out of the carriage in the next second, and by the time Jameson recognised what was happening enough to follow, Fred had dashed deep into the fog and out of sight. Albert stood by the door, William behind him, both brothers looking just as stunned as Jameson felt.

It was the elder of the two that managed to speak first. "Was that…?"

"Fred, the child we rescued," Jameson said, already feeling worried for them. "When we talked, they said they didn't have a home." The recognition made his stomach twist further. He hadn't had it easy when he was younger, but at least he'd had a roof over his head to keep him safe. The weather was still cold, and the nights were long.

Just how many times was Jameson going to have someone before him that he could help, and then they slipped right through his fingers?

"Well, they've already run off," William said, trying to sound factual, but Jameson thought there had been a hint of resignation in his words. "We can at least take pride in the fact that the operation was a success and that the streets will be safer for the time being." Yes, that would have to be enough. "Staying out in the cold won't do anyone any good. We should all get home, warm up, and wash that wound of yours before it becomes infected."

And with William to be the one to say it, Jameson knew that there wasn't a point in doing anything else but settling back into the carriage and letting the rattling of the wheels lull him closer to sleep.

If Albert were to put an assessment on the mission they'd undertaken, he would call it a success.

Fortunate for him and William, his approximation of the enemy faction was a little bit of an overestimate, and they were able to handle all of their number with little issue. The abduction victims that were still present in the headquarters were—while a little malnourished even for the standards of the slums—overall unharmed. The one downside was that the people they did find didn't quite all match up with those that they'd learned were missing during their investigations, but it did seem that they'd been able to recover most of them.

Most concerning is that the ones there were able to tell us that the abductors were selling them off, though they didn't have any more clues than that. Albert and William had even questioned one of the remaining members about who they were selling to, but the buyers were smart. The whole system was set up as an intermediary, and they didn't even see anyone's faces while doing it. Any and all missives were typed, as well as delivered without the help of the postal system, leaving no immediate clues to follow the trail.

The unfortunate fact of the matter was that, without eliminating the source, such an operation would crop up again. It was such things that had driven their family to change the world in the first place, after all. If Albert had his way, he would rip out the source at the roots then and there, but it was something he would have to wait to accomplish. For the moment, he would be satisfied that they'd succeeded in rescuing as many people as they had and strive to do better in the future.

That being said, things could have gone better overall…

"There's no need to look so serious, Lo—ahem, Albert," Jameson said, wearing that pristine smile of his. After the conversation he'd had with Miss Penny, Albert was starting to recognize more and more how Jameson had learned to smile through discomfort, though that was more so from recognising the timing of said smiles rather than the fact that they looked any different from the (very few) moments when he lit up in pure delight. But now, sitting at the couch in the parlour, it was clear he was not going to discuss the matter too much. "This injury doesn't even hinder my movement that much. It's a much better outcome than William being stabbed in the back."

Albert was not one to debate that issue in the slightest, but that didn't mean he had to like the alternative, either. "Be that as that may, I believe this happens to violate the terms that Miss Penny put us under. Allowing such an injury to befall you, regardless of the alternatives, is a situation I didn't wish to face in any form." Even more so, he didn't say, after everything else that Jameson had already had to endure in his lifetime. If Jameson hadn't volunteered himself to their cause, Albert would have striven to put the other man in a position where he'd never have to face such hardship again.

As it were, with Jameson's apparent reckless streak, the possibility of keeping him safe at all seemed to be much more difficult than at first glance.

"Well, Albert, that issue has a simple solution to it," Jameson said, "all we need to do is not tell Miss Penny about what happened, and we'll both be in the clear."

The utmost sincerity of those words was enough to make Albert smile, despite the circumstances. He leaned upon the armrest of his seat. "Now correct me if I'm wrong, but I feel that lying to your former guardian's face wouldn't be a wise move to keep myself in her good graces." And all the more so since she had already seen through him once. "I don't wish to cause a rift between you, either. Living with such deception towards those you trust is a heavy burden to carry."

Jameson opened his mouth, then closed it. His smile was still there, but there was a sadder tinge to it now. "At this point, I feel being honest with her will be much more harmful than telling the truth. At least when it comes to the past. But perhaps you're right, and I should be more open with her going into the future."

"So then?"

"So then I'll let her know about this. Though I do believe you all are acting as if this injury is more serious than it is. It doesn't hurt all that much, and I don't feel as if my movement is hindered, either. William seems to think that it should heal within a couple of weeks, so please don't let it bother you. My own choices were what got me in this situation, after all, so I'm the one who will take the blame. If by chance Miss Penny finds out about this, I'll be sure to make that clear to her." Whether or not that would solve the issue was another matter altogether, but Albert supposed it wasn't going to get better than that. "That said, I…asked you to talk with me so I could tell you something."

Jameson's nervousness did double duty of piquing Albert's curiosity and raising his concern. Based on what they had just been talking about beforehand, Jameson didn't seem to be asking to retract his previous offer to help with their plans, but Albert wasn't sure what else he would want to say.

Still, he wanted to know, and he didn't want to make what seemed to already be an already worrisome situation all the more anxiety-inducing. "Whenever you're ready, I'll be more than glad to listen."

Jameson nodded, his hands gripping onto his pantlegs. Albert waited, even as a swallow chased its way down Jameson's throat. "I…I'm telling you because Louis said you'd understand, but…" He inhaled once more, then looked back up with the same determination in his expression as the time he'd declared his desire to kill the Earl Charleville. "In terms of my body, most people would say I'm not a man."

Ah. Albert hadn't expected to be told so in that conversation, but it was happening. Given the courage it could take to admit such a thing, the best that Albert could do was show his support. "Thank you for trusting me with that," he said, and Jameson all but collapsed back into his chair. He seemed that he was about to cry, but he'd already covered his face with his hands before Albert could see for certain. "To be honest, I'd already guessed as much." Jameson made a distressed sound, and Albert rushed to add, "It was nothing about your appearance or the way you acted. It was more of how you talked about your former patron and the fact that William reached out to Burnett the other week. She was the same doctor that completed Louis's surgeries, so I thought it might be something similar." Jameson peeked out from between his fingers, and Albert offered him a smile. "Your saying so will change nothing about this. You're always going to be Jameson, no matter what. So if there's anything I can do to help you feel comfortable, let me know right away."

The surprise didn't fade from Jameson's face; in fact, it was fair to say that he looked downright stunned. "I…" he said, the words coming slow and stilted as he thought them through, "…didn't expect it to be that easy."

"Oh?" Albert asked, to which Jameson shook his head. "I assumed you told William before me. He must've said something similar, did he not?" After all, William had even more experience in dealing with such matters than Albert did after all.

"I've…never told anyone like that before." It was Albert's turn to feel stunned, and Jameson dipped his head again. The blush forming on his face was enough to provide the answer to one of Albert's inquiries, but Jameson continued without being asked, "William saw when we first met, and Louis figured it out whenever he was treating my wounds. You're the first person I ever told without a reason like that, so I didn't know what to expect."

It was an act of trust that Albert wasn't sure that he deserved. Even with the reassurance of his brothers, Jameson had every right to be apprehensive about sharing something that so many people didn't understand, let alone accept. But if he were to admit it to himself, Albert would say that he was happy that he'd received such a wilful admission without any additional pressure to do so.

"In which case, I'm honoured that you thought me worth of saying such a thing." He meant it, too, even without considering the approach he'd chosen to take with Jameson. "I'll admit that William was the one that handled a lot of the paperwork to add you to our family records. But if you ever want to change anything, we'd be happy to provide that for you." After all, if anyone were to look up Louis, they'd find the youngest brother of the Moriarty family with nothing to indicate otherwise. Regardless of if Jameson ended up parting ways with them or not, he deserved that much. Everyone deserved to be treated with respect in regard to who they were and what they preferred.

"I…I'd like to think about that." Albert might have protested, but he also knew it wasn't any of his business what Jameson chose to change; that was a choice that Albert didn't have any business interfering in. "Everything that's happened so far is a bit overwhelming sometimes. I'll admit it still doesn't feel real."

Right, this is what I thought it was. The way Jameson handled everything, as if he would lose it all in an instant. Even the life that the Moriartys had given him seemed like a fragile, temporary peace, and there was no point in becoming so invested whenever it could disappear. Pushing him further on the matter wouldn't end well, but Albert could keep it in mind moving forward. "Well, there's plenty of time for things to settle in. The offer is always on the table. I meant what I said: whatever you need, you just need to ask."

"Right. I'll be sure to keep that in mind, Lord Albert." And with that smile on his face, Albert didn't even have the heart to correct the referral.

"Ah, I thought I'd find you here." Albert and Jameson both turned, finding William in the door to the parlour. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything important, but I was hoping to borrow you for a bit, Jameson. Dr Burnett is here, and I thought you'd want to see her sooner rather than later."

There were a few moments for the name to sink in for Jameson, and then he straightened up in his seat. "Oh! Yes, I'd like to do that. Ah, Lo—Albert, if you don't mind—"

"Of course not. If there's anything more you'd like to talk about with me, I'm always here to listen." He waved, but Jameson had already rushed off. William flashed Albert an apologetic smile before following, and then it was just the eldest Moriarty left in the room with his thoughts. If Jameson had opened up about such a thing, then he had to be trusting them more and more, didn't he? For certain, if he were planning anything else, he would've let it slip before he opened up about his body?

Not to mention that he got himself hurt to protect William… Perhaps it was cruel, but Albert had been relieved to see that Jameson had done such a thing, since it meant that William was safe. Of course, such an act would be easy to replicate to win trust, so it wasn't as if Jameson was out of the woods in full just yet, but he was getting closer.

I do hope we can trust you, Jameson. For all our sakes.

And because there was no sense in worrying about such issues just yet, Albert stood up and went to see if he could help Louis with preparations for lunch.

"Are you nervous?" William asked, because he thought that was what Jameson was feeling, but it wouldn't do any good to assume in the moment. From everything they'd discussed before, it was clear that Jameson was looking forward to what was to come, but that didn't mean that there couldn't be apprehension involved.

Big changes, even when they were ones you anticipated, were still major shifts to your norm, and that could become cause for trepidation.

Walking at William's side, Jameson's stride was quick, but there was still a tension in his shoulders that couldn't be erased. The almost guilty look on Jameson's face only added further to William's working theory on the matter. "I am, but I feel like I shouldn't be," he said, the admittance quiet. "This is something that I've dreamed about, and I asked for it, so what right do I have to feel nervous?"

"Feelings aren't something you have to have a right to, Jameson. You feel what you feel. Besides, you're still pushing forward, aren't you? No one should fault you for that." If there was one thing that William was certain of about the situation, it was that Jameson didn't seem to recognize just how much courage he had inside of him, how much of it he could wield already. But courage wasn't something you could give to someone else, so helping Jameson see that virtue in himself would have to do. "It's not as if you've changed your mind on what you want to do, now is it?"

Of course, even if Jameson had changed his mind, William wouldn't fault him for it, but that wasn't the point to the question. It would be a bit inconvenient to have Dr Burnett be upset that she'd been called out for nothing, but that was fine.

Not that I believe that will be an issue.

That confidence coming through in Jameson's expression made that clear enough, but he still said, "I haven't." Perhaps William's prior reminder that speaking the words served as a form of power had stuck. "I do want to do this. I just suppose…I'm still uneasy admitting this mismatch between who I am and who others would see me as." Jameson held a hand to his chest, where William knew his bindings rested underneath.

"I hope you know that I wouldn't ever introduce you to someone I didn't trust with the utmost confidence on this matter," William said, the best assurance he could offer. "Dr Burnett helped Louis in much the same way, as well as many others with similar concerns. I'm also certain you've already thought through all these things before. But know if you have any discomfort, I'll be there with you—should you so want me to be." There was also every possibility that Jameson wouldn't want William around for such a conversation, and he could accept that should it be the case.

But Jameson shook his head. "I'll…feel better if you're there." There was something in his gaze that suggested he was concerned about something deeper—perhaps a distaste for doctors, if William were to guess—but Jameson chose not to voice it for the time being. Instead, he took a deep breath, gazing at the door to the room that they were approaching. "I'm also certain I'll be less concerned once we get started. Shall we?"

"Of course." With both of them donning polite expressions, William opened the door. "Thank you for your patience. Dr Burnett, this is Jameson Liam Verity. Jameson, this is Dr Alexis Burnett."

It had been some time since they had seen each other in person, but those few years had done nothing to change the striking impression Dr Burnett made upon first look. While her dress and manner of carrying herself suggested a wellborn lady, she'd opted to cut her brown hair short, the locks not even reaching the tip of her chin. Her gaze was sharp, making her eyes' soft blue seem much harsher than it was in reality. Her dress was also tight fitting—nothing to a scandalous degree, but enough to show that she didn't care much what other people thought of her with any conservative values, as if her extensive education and choice of profession didn't already make that clear.

With all of that in mind, it would've been no wonder if Jameson were intimidated by her presence—but instead he seemed to be in a bit of awe. He did, however, soon catch himself, offering the polite, "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." Louis had already been kind enough to bring up the tea tray during the time William had gone to pick up Jameson, so William prepared their cups while Jameson took a seat across from Dr Burnett. "Thank you for being willing to do this for me."

"It's not an issue," she said, accepting her cup with a nod of acknowledgement. "While it's not uncommon for these sorts of surgeries to come up, not many practitioners out there are willing to do it with secrecy in mind. Besides, it's a good way to make a living when it comes down to it." Which was the story that she tended to tell, but the flick of her gaze always gave away that that wasn't the full reason. Out of respect for the help she'd provided to Louis, William had abstained from digging further into the matter. Seeing Jameson's nervous expression, Dr Burnett sighed. "You don't need to worry. As someone who has inclinations that society frowns upon, I don't see a problem with helping others in a similar boat, and all the more so when their problems are a lot easier to solve." Yes, there was that, too, and it seemed to be enough for Jameson, but there was no point in making the conversation about something other than the goal, so William sat down and left it be. "Now," Dr Burnett said, leaning forward in her seat, "I have a rough idea of what you're looking for thanks to Moriarty here, but I'd feel a lot better hearing it from you."

That prompt was enough to make Jameson open up, though he hesitated a bit at first. As they continued to talk, though, with Dr Burnett asking several clarifying questions, Jameson's words came easier, and William didn't have much to do at all aside from observe and provide moral support with his presence, along with the occasional refill of tea. Within less than an hour, Dr Burnett had completed her initial consultation, her serious expression not betraying anything other than her intent to see the procedure through.

"That should cover most of the essentials, then," she said, glancing at the grandfather clock for the time. "In any other case, I'd ask to perform a physical, but I slipped you in between some house calls that I had today, so we don't have much time for that. That said, if I can see you in my office in a few days' time and there aren't any complications, we could take care of the procedure as soon as next week."

"Can you?" Jameson asked, the most animated he'd been since the conversation had started. Not wanting to attract any undue looks, William tucked his smile behind his teacup as Jameson cleared his throat. "Apologies. I…I assumed it wouldn't take too long, but for it to be so soon is…" Well, even if he didn't finish his sentence, Jameson was smiling, which made his feelings on the matter plenty clear.

Dr Burnett's expression seemed a little less severe in that moment. "There's no point in waiting for something like this when there's no need to. Though I can't guarantee you'll be as energetic during the recovery process." That, William was certain, was something Jameson was more than willing to endure. Regardless, Dr Burnett pulled out a pocketbook. "Let's see, my available dates and times are…"

The scheduling took little to no time at all, seeing that Jameson didn't have much of a schedule to speak of, and William was more than willing to be his escort on the day. With those details hashed out and not wanting to make the doctor late for her next appointment, William and Jameson saw her out, the smile upon the latter's face a delight in itself to witness. Though William had done very little to bring the situation about, he still felt satisfied, nonetheless.

Helping people whenever they needed it did not need to result in bloodshed.

"Do forgive me for calling you away on such short notice," William at last said once Dr Burnett was out the door, leaving the two men behind in the entryway. Their conversation had turned to other matters beforehand, so he hadn't had the opportunity to apologise then. "I asked the doctor to stop by whenever she had a moment, yes, but I hadn't expected it to be so soon."

"I don't mind. Thank you for arranging such a thing in the first place. Besides, it's not as if I were in the middle of attending to a pressing matter." Considering that Jameson had been spending his days without anything more pressing than assisting Louis with tending to the house, William supposed he didn't have much to worry about. "Even if I had been, this…this is important, so I would've welcomed the invitation regardless."

William was unable to contain the smile he had at the words, though he supposed there wasn't a need to. "I'm glad to hear it, then. It won't be long until you get what you've been hoping for." Jameson nodded, and it was the most relaxed William had seen him, even counting his excitement following the Earl Charleville's death. "That being said, if you already had plans in mind for your afternoon, I wouldn't want to interrupt further…"

"Wait." Jameson's voice was small, but the way he caught onto William's sleeve spoke volumes. "About what you said before…that me propositioning you would never be inopportune." Jameson swallowed. "Did you mean that?"

"Of course I did, dear." With that look on Jameson's face, it was impossible to answer any other way. Taking such words as an invitation, William reached up and brushed his thumb over Jameson's cheek, and the other man nuzzled into the touch. "I hold true to that even now, but I'll admit that I'm a bit confused as to what brought this on." Even after completing his cycle and discussing matters, Jameson hadn't taken the initiative in pursuing anything more than casual touches. William had respected that boundary, but he could admit he'd been looking for any possible signs of more—though the current timing was a little bit suspect. "Jameson, this isn't because you feel you need to thank me, is it?"

William may have wanted, but he never wished for Jameson to feel as if he had an obligation.

He felt thankful that the pace at which Jameson shook his head indicated that was a genuine answer. "I mean, yes, I appreciate this. So much. And I want to thank you, too, but it's not just that. I was just thinking it through, and if I do this surgery soon…doesn't that mean I'd have to avoid intercourse for a while after that?"

The pieces clicked into place, both from Jameson's perspective and for William's own needs. From a logical standpoint, William had already known that such rest would be necessary, but he hadn't considered how much the end result would affect him.

If I recall, the recovery time for such things is several weeks long. Which would be well worth it for Jameson to feel much more comfortable in his own skin, but the short-term results were much more upsetting than William had expected them to be. He'd abstained for much longer before, but the prospect of repeating such a thing was enough to draw a frown to his lips. It seemed had much more desire pent up inside him than he'd expected, though perhaps that was a side effect of not indulging in Jameson since the successful murder of Charleville?

There was no time to analyse it in such depth, not whenever Jameson was still looking at him, a mix of apprehension and interest mixed together in his expression. How could he be distracted by anything else whenever there was such a clear temptation before him, a beyond delightful feast waiting for him to answer?

"That is my understanding of the procedure, yes," William said, still being careful not to assume far too much. "Like I said before, waiting doesn't bother me. If you're not up to such things, I don't mind waiting a bit more." No matter the conflicting feelings inside him, William would not make them Jameson's problem; he was more than capable of managing his own desire.

But if I were to have a choice—

"But what if I don't want to wait?" Jameson asked, his tone leaving no room for argument. Yes, there was still some hesitation in his face, but the clear look in his eyes indicated that he was speaking in sound mind. "Of course, I wouldn't suggest something as risky as indulging until I'm healed. But, William, I'm in more than sound body now, and I'd like to take advantage of that."

Jameson stepped towards him, pulling William's hand closer to him in the process. William's palm met Jameson's waist, and those jade green eyes locked onto his without so much as flinch. It was a serious proposition, just as his request for contact on the piano bench had been. No matter how cautious William was of pushing too far, it would do no good to treat Jameson as if he were made of glass. To deny him what he was asking for would be an insult to the other man's autonomy. And if such a thing just so happened to also appeal to William's own desires?

William's lips curved into a smile as he dipped his head down, close to Jameson's face but nothing touching, save for the free-falling strands of William's bangs, pale blonde and sunset orange blending together. "Far be it for me to disappoint, then," he murmured, his free hand reaching up to brush over Jameson's cheek. "You may have me to fulfil every possible desire you wish for. After all, I did mention that having you dictate my every last move would be an enjoyable process indeed. Such a time seems a perfect occasion to do as much."

Jameson released a long breath, squeezing William's hand in his own. "If we were to do that, then I wouldn't let you go within any reasonable amount of time." Meaning that their tryst would doubtless last until dinner and all the way through it. It wasn't all that uncommon for one of the Moriartys to become so preoccupied that they went missing for some time—while working on his thesis, William had locked himself up in his study for a few days for one—but having both him and Jameson alike absent would draw an obvious conclusion. "Afterwards, though, I'd like to request your company, if I may, your lordship?"

Those two words were nothing more than a usual form of address in noble circles—but they were also a reminder of that first meeting, and that was almost enough to make William pull Jameson flush against his body, eliminating the space between them. "You may have my company and more for as long as you like, my lord." A smile slipped onto Jameson's face, small, but no less full of anticipation and desire. William pressed his palm in full to Jameson's cheek, their foreheads resting together. "Whatever you have in store for me, I'll be looking forward to it."

Jameson's eyes fell shut, the man relaxing into the touch in full. It was the most at ease William had ever seen him, and he didn't wish to ruin the moment whatsoever—a rather difficult task given how much William would have liked to claim a kiss in that moment. But he'd resolved not to do anything in that regard unless Jameson asked him to, and Jameson had already made his request on that matter clear, so restraining himself for the time being it was, and William waited, not wanting to disturb Jameson any further.

And, while he hadn't expected it to, William found that, by the time Jameson took a step back, William felt a little more relaxed as well.

It was evening, and Jameson was feeling far too many things at once to be anywhere close to relaxed.

Setting aside what his first month at Moriarty Manor had been like, the past few weeks had been their own chaotic blur. Between avoiding Louis's birthday party, reconnecting with Miss Penny, stopping the abductions in Whitechapel, and the fact that he was to soon receive surgery to ease his dysphoria, it was almost too much to handle, even when the last few points were positive additions, almost dreamlike in comparison to the life he'd been living not even a full two months ago.

But, at the moment, Jameson was far too caught up in his growing desire to worry about any of that.

The concept of feeling open desire for intercourse was a strange one. Yes, Jameson's body had its natural urges, just like others, but the past years had been enough to squelch most of that from him. Gone was his initial fascination with the feeling, with the new sensations that had made him drunk on the experience and ready for more. No, sex had become a route responsibility, one that he couldn't avoid. It was either pleasing the regulars or finding some new target to seduce, the experience much tamer but also soured by the fact that Jameson's actions in conjunction with his patron's extortion would be the other party's ruin.

William was an outlier, though, with the way he took care of Jameson's needs almost as if they were more important than his own. Even with that, Jameson was incapable of denying that he hadn't just pursued William more so to prove to himself that he could, to ensure that he couldn't be consumed by any other feelings. That made it much easier than anything he'd experienced in recent memory.

That afternoon, however. That afternoon the possibility had presented itself that Jameson would be in a position where intercourse would be inadvisable—which was a novel concept in itself—and, then, on top of that he'd also found himself regretting such a thing. His proposition hadn't been born from trying to ignore his sorrow or from attempting to prove his autonomy.

No, Jameson wanted, and it was as simple as that.

Or it could be simple if I had the slightest idea of what to do now!

Propositioning William had been easy enough. After all, Jameson had been approaching others with such intentions for so long that it was second nature. But William had mentioned allowing Jameson the right to take the lead, which, given how he'd previously reacted, was a good idea. William was respectful of Jameson's limits, even if Jameson didn't have much he could think of that he needed restraints on. Still, he wasn't complaining, as such consideration felt nice.

The challenge was then that Jameson hadn't the slightest idea how to take initiative in such matters.

He said I'm free to ask for whatever I want, but what do I want? I want him, for certain. Having him touch me, having him drive me to satisfaction… Remembering just their last few encounters was enough to make Jameson shudder, and he bit his lip. But asking for that doesn't seem like enough. William said I could direct his every last move, and I want to try it, but having that much freedom… If he had to put a word to it, overwhelming would be the first one to come to mind.

This whole concept of freedom is much harder than I expected it to be.

And yet he wouldn't go back. Both in the larger concept of things, because nothing could ever make him wish to go back to living under his patron's grasp, and in the immediate moment, because dinner was done and it wouldn't be long at all before he and William would reunite in bed, and it wouldn't just be for the sake of falling asleep at each other's sides again.

Feeling far more impatient than he should have, Jameson glanced at the clock in his bedroom again. It had been his idea to not immediately head off after dinner together; it might be silly to worry, considering that everyone in the household was already aware of how Jameson and William had made their acquaintance, but Jameson still cared if it were obvious they were about to have a tryst. Such concern was amplified given that it seemed that Louis might be more open to a more amicable relationship given the common ground they shared.

Seducing William once more seemed a rather quick way to destroy that common ground. But since Jameson wasn't willing to completely cede his desire, the least he could do was keep any such interactions from the public eye of the household.

It should be safe to head down now, right? And even if it weren't, there were plenty of excuses as to why he was visiting William in the evening. Already starting to come up with a feasible option should he be asked, Jameson pumped himself up and left his room. Lucky for him, both Louis and Albert seemed to be occupied, so it was an uninterrupted journey to William's rooms. Jameson knocked on the door, feeling the heat already building in his body at the anticipation as to what was to come.

"Welcome in," William said as he opened the door, waving Jameson inside. Jameson let William's hand brush against his arm, already craving the contact he could get. Even if it wasn't a sexual feeling, William's touch was gentle and warm and everything that was safe about the world. "Already comfortable at that level, then?"

"I wouldn't have requested this if I wasn't." If William had asked, that might have been a different story, but he hadn't, instead letting Jameson's desire be the deciding factor. Jameson reached up to William's hand, pressing the other man's palm deeper into his bicep, the faintest of warmths starting to sink in through his jacket. "It would be rather foolish of me not to allow such a thing whenever the thought of your touch has had me anticipating the evening." William's gorgeous smile was reward enough, and Jameson had to focus so as not to stumble as they stepped inside to allow the door to shut behind them. "Um, William…?"

"Yes, Jameson?"

"I'm…not sure what I should be doing." Admitting that he was at a loss felt shameful in some way, considering how much experience Jameson had in such matters, but waffling wouldn't help either of them enjoy themselves, which was to be the whole point of the evening. The shadow of surprise flittering over William's face made him look adorable for a second, but Jameson was too apprehensive to appreciate it. "I mean, I know how to proceed. But I've just never been in a position to take the lead, and I'm not sure where to start."

It wasn't like he could use his many different encounters as a point of reference, either, since as most of them involved Jameson getting pushed or pulled around where to go. Even those he seduced for the purpose of future blackmailing material tended to involve the other party taking the lead while Jameson allowed them to do as they pleased. The exception was his first encounter of William, but even that had William taking the initiative in all stages.

It would've been easy for William to tease him for such a matter, but instead his expression became thoughtful as he rubbed Jameson's bicep. "I see. Well, we have all the time in the world for you to figure it out. The benefit of your freedom is that you can do whatever you like, and I shan't have an issue with it. So long as you're enjoying yourself, I shan't have any reason to complain."

It was generous. So very generous. The patience was so beautiful that it felt as if it might break. Surely there was some sort of limit to such a thing? If there were, Jameson would do everything within his power to not press that limit, and so he took a step closer to press himself into William's chest, tilting his head back to look at him. "Everything I do with your company is enough for me to enjoy myself, though."

William's hand slipped between Jameson's shoulders, resting on his spine. "Then that should make it easy." It should have, and yet Jameson still felt himself paralyzed by the choice. "You don't have to make a long-term plan, dear. Just make your choices moment to moment, and that will be more than enough. So—what can I help you with, Jameson?"

Perhaps it was because permission to take it piece-wise made it easier, or perhaps it was because the tone of William's voice was so alluring, but Jameson chose to answer with his mouth upon William's rather than words. He had intended to take it slow, but tasting that kiss again was too delectable to resist, and Jameson pushed his tongue into William's mouth. The both of them let out satisfied moans, the sensation vibrating between their chests. Seeking the warmth, Jameson hooked his arms around William's shoulders, tugging them closer together as William's tongue swirled around Jameson's, adding to the compelling effect. But what could make it even better—

"Hold me," Jameson breathed out in the space of the few seconds he could bring himself to part his lips from William's. He snuck in another kiss, though he knew he should at least finish his thought first. "I—I don't want you to let me go." Because in William's arms he felt safe, and, next to the pleasure that would be to come, that was what Jameson wanted to feel the most.

I want every time to feel as comfortable as this—

Given that his mouth was occupied, William couldn't do more than hum his understanding, but he still acquiesced, and the sensation of his embrace shot a wave of happiness through Jameson's heart and mind. One arm had finished slipping around Jameson's shoulders, and the other had found purchase around his waist. He didn't push or pull, but Jameson was already so close that it didn't even matter in the long run. "Is this—" William asked, his question getting cut off by Jameson's next kiss "—to your satisfaction?"

"Yes." Except, even as he said it, Jameson couldn't deny that he wished to be even closer. But short of melding into one body, that much would be impossible, so he settled for kissing the skin beneath William's ear. William released a soft breath—their first tryst had made it clear he wasn't one to be overtly vocal until he was close to climax, but it was a sound of pleasure, nonetheless. Emboldened, Jameson pressed his mouth there again, the sole difference being that he'd parted his lips that time, adding more heat to the movement.

And then, when Jameson took the chance to add his tongue to the equation as well, William's breath caught as he tugged Jameson a bit closer.

Jameson was no stranger to causing others' pleasure—but it was a rare occasion if said pleasure was because of an action he'd chosen to take with no instruction. Of course, Jameson had every intention of satiating himself, but that he could make William also respond as such was exhilarating, the excitement sending a thrill through his body. If he could do that again, make William want him even just a fraction of how much Jameson wanted him—

He continued kissing down William's neck, savouring the taste as he went. However, it wasn't too long before his mouth encountered Jameson's collar, which was very much in the way. Lucky for him, having permission to do as he pleased meant there was no issue in reaching up to tug open William's tie. He didn't even bother to remove it in full, instead taking apart the now exposed buttons in a haste, kissing against William's Adam's apple in the process as Jameson ran a hand up the back of William's hair to enjoy the soft feel of those flaxen strands as well.

"Touch me," Jameson murmured. "I want to go slow, but I still want you to touch me like you did before." Every gentle caress had been enough to disarm Jameson in full before, but he'd loved every second of it. If he could relive that experience, whyever wouldn't he want to?

"I'd be happy to." William hadn't even finished the sentence before his palms began to slide over Jameson's back, the sensation stoking a further heat inside him. "If you'll permit me to say so, you do feel wonderful in my grasp, my dear."

Jameson was left catching his breath as William's touch slipped over the curve of his backside and took a gentle yet firm grip upon his thigh. Good, William hadn't forgotten the way Jameson preferred to receive praise or the pure enjoyment he received from the term of endearment, as if he were someone worth caring for. Even if it wouldn't be more than a kind lie of indulgence, Jameson wanted to hear it.

And if I'm being permitted to fantasize that much, can't I pretend for a moment that he's no one else's but mine?

Jameson would never be worthy of such a thing, not with someone as wonderful and beautiful as William. But William had still said he could do what he pleased, so was there any reason whatsoever to not press his mouth to where the curve of the neck met shoulder and suck upon that skin? William's hand twitched upon Jameson's thigh, but he didn't call for it to stop, instead letting out a hum. Already feeling lightheaded, Jameson pulled back, observing the faint impression of purple forming across William's pale skin, brought into being by none other than Jameson himself.

It was beautiful.

It would also not be the last.

Wanting nothing more than to do so again, Jameson got back to work, his mouth dipping lower. They were all small marks, not the intense bruises that William had left upon his own skin that first night, but it didn't matter. Jameson may not have had much experience in taking the lead, but he had plenty in undressing others, and he set to work on pushing off William's jacket to let it fall to the floor, his fingers soon after occupied with undoing each and every button of his vest and button down, revealing more of that skin. Faint marks were added atop William's shoulders, along the lines of his collarbone, and Jameson wanted to kiss every last stretch of muscle upon that torso and beyond, to see if he could pull more than just a faint groan from those lips.

"I want you to lie down for me," Jameson said upon realizing such a task would be much easier to accomplish upon a bed than whilst still standing.

"Very well," William said, stepping back to acquiesce—though not without one last slide of his hands along Jameson's sides. Jameson followed in close pace, watching as William sat upon the edge of his bed, taking the time to remove his shoes before lying back, his arms extended out in the invitation of an embrace. "Is this to your liking, your lordship?"

It felt unfair, the way just the slightest inflection of his words was enough to make Jameson want to abandon all reason. Still, he took a careful pace across the carpet, his own shoes left behind as well as he pressed his hands in the mattress to leave him propped above William. It was a complete reversal of their positions on that first night, and the way William's fine hair slipped back towards the mattress combined with the way he gave an inviting smile in the lamplight was so incredible that it made Jameson's heart feel as if it were about to burst.

He swallowed down the stutter that threatened to derail his words. "Very much so." Jameson caressed William's face with the backs of his fingers, and William had slid his hands between the layers of Jameson's jacket and vest to feel from side to back. Even so, the touch wasn't invasive, and it would be easy to pull away should Jameson wish, unlike the so many pairs of hands that had grabbed on tight enough to bruise, that had pulled and jerked Jameson wherever they so pleased. The combination of being on top in such an affair with full control of the situation was far too surreal to even seem real. "William, tell me… Is it okay for me to be here like this?"

Is it okay to let me have this much power?

"Of course it is." The answer had come without any trace of hesitation, and William's tone was the epitome of seriousness. He changed his hold to cup Jameson's face, ensuring that jade green met scarlet red and leaving no room for doubt. "Jameson, do you want to be here right now?"

"I do." He wanted it so much—and yet the world had never cared for what he wanted before.

"Then there's no reason that you shouldn't be able to do as you please. After all," William said, his thumb tracing a tantalizing line across Jameson's skin from chin to collar, "I also wish to be here, to see what you will decide to do to me." Jameson nodded, trying to convince himself to believe it. After all, what was there to desire out of someone like him, whenever William with all his beauty and brilliance could doubtless have whoever he desired? But if Jameson were allowed the opportunity, he wouldn't let it go to waste. "Did you have another request in mind, or shall I continue as I have been?"

Jameson adjusted, shrugging off his own jacket and discarding it to the side. "You can undress me, but not any farther than I've done to you." That would be a simple way for Jameson to keep the pace under his control, while still saving him the effort of dictating the removal of each and every piece of clothing—after all, Jameson had plenty of other things he wished to use his mouth for.

"Of course, dear," William said, and it wasn't long before his hands were making short work of Jameson's buttons. He even managed to keep it up as Jameson adjusted to kiss his way across William's chest, adding further marks as he continued to feel over the expanse of muscle there. Jameson had thought it beforehand, but it was just another reminder of how attractive William was overall. The effect was just heightened as William's palms at last slid over Jameson's skin, those fingers warm to the touch and enchanting to feel. The comfortable temperature made it easier to ignore the chilled in comparison air around them, and Jameson solved that problem by pressing their bodies closer together as he kissed lower, drawing the occasional soft moan from those beautiful lips that just made Jameson all the more satisfied as he could feel the evidence of William's arousal press against his stomach.

I did that, he realized, and it shouldn't have been a novel experience, and yet it was. By doing what I chose to do, I made him react in such a way. His own desire did not need to exclude the pleasure of his partner, and vice versa.

Wanting a better angle to continue, Jameson sat up. During his ministrations, William had managed to finish loosening Jameson's chest wrap, and the gauze slipped down his torso, revealing his skin piece by piece. Having already cupped William's erection in his hand, Jameson could feel William's satisfaction at the sight, and Jameson built up a slow and steady rub, dragging a much louder groan that felt like ambrosia slipping through his ears.

"You're making it very hard to decide if I want to keep going slow or if I want to take you know," Jameson said.

William's touch drew a gentle line up Jameson's stomach to his collarbone without so much as grazing his breasts. "You can do whatever you like," William said, a shiver racing through Jameson' in response. "Tease me as long as you like, or give in and fulfil both our desires now… Whichever option you choose, I'll be more than satisfied either way." His tone was genuine, and the reaction of his body left no room for doubt. William's hand came up to caress Jameson's cheek, encouraging him onward. "Remember, you can do whatever you like in the moment. That's what this night is all about, after all: your enjoying yourself to the fullest."

"And you, too." Jameson might've been chasing his own pleasure, but he also wanted to derive the same from William—not because it was expected, but because knowing that he was able to cause that much was keeping Jameson aroused as well, especially with how divine William's voice sounded.

"Trust me, I am very much enjoying myself. Seeing you try something new is more than delectable." He leaned up to drop a short kiss to Jameson's lips. "Now, what will you have me do next, Jameson?"

"Let's get off the edge of the bed, shall we?" Resting there had been enjoyable enough, but Jameson was starting to get a different image of his longer-term plans, so movement would be necessary. It was also the perfect opportunity to get William's pants off while he adjusted, though Jameson left the undershorts as they were for the time being. William reached out as if to return the favour, but Jameson was already positioned between the other man's legs, just a bit too far out of reach as he began to trace his fingertips over William's thighs.

He'd seen them before, yes, but he hadn't taken the opportunity to indulge in such a careful study. Just like the rest of them, William's legs were slender, but the muscle packed into them betrayed their full strength. Even the hair along them was fine, almost blending into the tone of his skin in the candlelight. Pressing his mouth against the skin there drew another soft exhale from William, as did the additional kisses as Jameson pushed up the loose fabric of his undershorts to reveal more of his thighs, stopping just short of William's erection before heading back down.

Jameson flashed a quick smile up at William, then continued his exploration of those legs with lips and fingertips alike. Perhaps, in the future, he'd pay more attention to just which spots made William react the most, but seeing those scarlet eyes lidded in his direction made it rather clear that what he was doing was plenty without needing to try too hard. And then—enjoying the power of his position—he pressed a single kiss to William's erection through his underwear, pulling the first sound close to an unrestrained groan he'd made all evening:

"Jameson."

It was unfair how that single utterance could make it feel like molten lava itself was coursing through his veins, but it did, and before Jameson could think better of it, he was ordering, "S-say that again."

William didn't hesitate, repeating Jameson's name with at least as much vigour as before—if not even more. Jameson's thighs rubbed together on pure instinct, and he was very much aware of how wet he'd been getting throughout his foreplay. Jameson's patience was running thin, and perhaps William knew that, perhaps he'd called at that exact moment to urge Jameson onward, but it didn't matter, not whenever there was one crystal clear thought racing through Jameson's mind:

I want him.

Not even bothering to wait for William to do so, Jameson undid his own belt and tugged off his pants and undershorts with equal haste. Moving to straddle William was but second nature, and he undid the tie of William's own undershorts, not even bothering to pull off the garment in its entirety. Free of any restraints, William's penis managed to tease against Jameson's entrance, and within the next moment Jameson had taken him in, gravity aiding him in sinking all the way down to the hilt.

"God, William," Jameson called, and William's own gentle moan was a sound of pleasure all its own. It was unfair how good such a simple act of penetration could feel, and Jameson propped himself up, his hands sinking into the mattress upon each side of William's head. Still wanting the ability to see William's face in absolute clarity, Jameson didn't bring their torsos together, though William's hands did come up to cup his face, the other man's expression one of pure satisfaction.

"Jameson," he whispered, "my dear, dear Jameson." It was also unfair at how that made his insides tighten, made Jameson aware of every single ounce of William inside him. William was unfair, from his beautiful looks to his seductive manner, to his inviting voice—how could anyone even stand a chance in his presence? Making matters all the worse, William smiled that smile up at him while letting out a hum of delight. "Would you like me to move?"

"N-no." It took almost all his willpower to say that word, and the memory of William's hands on his hips, pulling him into deeper and deeper thrusts and dragging release both physical and emotional from him, made it even harder to do so. But Jameson had another design in mind, and that won out over the other temptation—and it helped to know that William wasn't sick of him yet, that there would still be time to indulge in fantasy upon fantasy. "I want to do it. I…" Patient as ever, William waited for him to chance upon the right words. "I've never been allowed to take the lead like this before. To set the pace as I choose." Even if he had been responsible for moving, that didn't mean he'd gotten to control any of the particulars.

Jameson did not care to let that fingers go to waste.

"Ah. In that case," William said, letting his hand caress Jameson's cheek, "lead away then, dear."

If Jameson hadn't already intended to, that invitation alone would have been enough to set his hips to motion. Still adjusting to making the right movements without getting dragged around, he set off slow, but that didn't make it feel any less pleasurable. William fit snug inside him, the one thing better than the sensation of being filled in full the sensation of the slick friction of their bodies moving together. Jameson was already moaning from the feel of it all, and William added to it by sliding one hand down the curve of his back, the other nesting into Jameson's hair, his fingers leaving soft and satisfying scratches against his scalp.

It was beyond enjoyable, but not to the point of being distracting. Which was good, because Jameson needed to adjust. It felt good, yes—but William had already shown him that it was possible to feel so much more than that. Why settle when he had the opportunity to do so much more? There was no reason for restraining himself whatsoever, and Jameson took each pulse of movement to tweak the angle he was moving at, searching out where the pressure would strike just right. It took enough time that Jameson couldn't help but think he'd imagined that pleasure before—but then he found it, William pressing deep and delicious inside him.

"There," he said, half the word getting lost in his breath, and William's fingers twitched, as if he wanted to do nothing more than to take the lead and give Jameson just what he'd asked for. He resisted the urge, though, instead guiding Jameson down into a kiss that he was more than happy to accept. Satisfied with his angle and the flow of his movements, Jameson began to add a bit more speed, wanting to go faster but also not confident in his performance if he were to overdo it. The compromise still pulled that hum from William's lips, and hadn't he wanted to hear that just as much as every other thing he was feeling? "H-how does…it feel?" Jameson knew that he was feeling good enough to already start to tremble, but William?

"You feel amazing."

Jameson swallowed, the praise electrifying but still unable to quell the doubt in his mind. "Are you just saying that?" He wouldn't blame William if he were, but it would be nice to know so that he could curb his expectations sooner rather than later.

That furrow appeared in William's brow—subtle but impossible to miss from up close, though he did smooth it out soon enough. "Of course not," he said, an answer so beautiful that Jameson wanted to believe it. "You're wonderful, Jameson, and I'd like nothing more than for you to keep going as you like."

It was too good to be true, but, god, did Jameson want to believe it.

So he threw himself into the endeavour with even more gusto, the pleasure of it all making it difficult for any of his more pessimistic thoughts to take hold. No, all there was was the moment and William, and he was going to enjoy it. The natural result was that his pace picked up as he got more into the rhythm, as he felt himself wanting as much as possible, and he were to achieve that outcome, then he wouldn't be able to achieve it alone.

"M-move with me," he half-said, half-moaned.

And that delicious purr slipped into William's words, filling every syllable to the brim with an undeniable delight: "Oh, my dear, I thought you'd never ask."

It shouldn't have been any surprise that William matched Jameson's pace with no hesitation, their movements crashing together. But that was the thing—that William could still take Jameson's breath away with how incredible he could make him feel. It was such a shock that Jameson almost lost his pace, but William kept up with his movements, not overstepping the boundary that Jameson had placed. Somewhere inside his mind, Jameson was somewhat aware of the stinging in his recovering shoulder, the muscles of his arm struggling to keep him upright, but William was there to keep him steady, even as Jameson began to sink down, as Jameson kissed William as if his life depended on it.

Then William's other hand slid over Jameson's stomach before slipping through his pubic hair and between his folds, and Jameson almost collapsed then and there.

"Not yet, not yet!" William's touch stilled, and Jameson struggled to form a coherent explanation of his thoughts while still riding William in earnest. "I-I want you to finish first." Not because he thought it needed to be that way, but because he wanted to watch William's face while it happened, and he knew he wouldn't be in any sound state of mind to enjoy the results of his hard work if he were overwhelmed by his own orgasm. William still looked concerned for a moment, but Jameson didn't have the ability to say any more than, "Please."

"If that's what you want, Jameson," he said, and Jameson nodded with vigour. William slid his hand to a gentle presence against Jameson's hip, and their movements synched up once more, the tightening of Jameson's walls around him pulling a louder moan from William. "Trust me, you're well on the way to accomplishing that, dear."

Jameson didn't think he'd ever been so ecstatic to be the cause of someone else's pleasure, and that was enough to warm him up all the way to the core as a smile slipped onto his face without his even needing to try. "If that's the case," he said, not even bothering to hide the way his voice broke into yelps as William pressed even deeper into him, "then what will it take to make that happen?" William had taken the time to ask him what preferences he had; it would be best to return the favour, to know how he could make William come for him and no one else in the world.

"Nn. Keep going."

"Will that be enough?" It was a simple enough request, but it almost felt too simple.

"It will be more than enough." William brushed some of Jameson's (very much tousled) hair out of his eyes, making it easier to see the pure sincerity in William's expression. "I told you, didn't I, Jameson? You're wonderful. What more could I need but to see and feel your enjoyment?"

With the seductive edge to his voice and the gentle caress of those fingers, Jameson couldn't contain the shiver that coursed through him, and he at last sank down so that their chests were flush against each other. He was so overwhelmed that the movement of his hips became much more erratic, but he pressed forward, not wanting to stop. William didn't seem to mind the whole of Jameson's weight being dropped upon him—and he seemed to mind the way that Jameson kissed and sucked upon his neck even less. He even tested a bite to the shoulder, and Jameson recognized the way William's breath caught his throat from whenever he'd used his hands to pull release from him.

"Make—" His own breath was in shambles, too, what with every other exhale turning into a moan halfway through. "Make sure—you tell me when you—" He wanted to know, wanted to feel that rush that he was responsible, that William was thinking of no one else but him.

"I'll be—" A groan interrupted his sentence as Jameson gripped hard enough to dig his nails into William's shoulders "—certain to—mn—do so."

With each second that ticked by, Jameson was certain he wouldn't last long enough, and he begged, "William, please!"

That appeal seemed to be enough, and William's own grip tightened to the point that Jameson was certain he'd find bruises upon his skin by morning. "Jameson, I—"

"Ca-call for me. Call for me and don't stop!"

"Jameson."

And with that, Jameson's fragile patience shattered. "God, yes, touch me." It took a moment for Jameson to lift himself up enough to drag William's hand to his clitoris, and it was just a few movements of their connected hands later that Jameson's own orgasm met him. He fell back on William, the movements of their hips out of synch, but Jameson was already spiralling down into pure ecstasy that he couldn't care about anything else. There was nothing but the two of them, nothing but Jameson calling for William and William calling for Jameson in return, all the way until they were both out of breath and left staring at each other in the lamplight and Jameson was left with such an intense feeling of happiness that he didn't think he could even remember experiencing before.

"It…felt good," Jameson said, sheer disbelief coursing through him.

"I'd be concerned if it didn't, seeing as I aimed to fulfil every request you had for me." William's tone was light, but there was that furrow in his brow again. "I can understand if your previous circumstances were unfavourable, but did I not make you feel good before?"

Realizing how his words could be misinterpreted, Jameson snapped out of his daze. "No, no, of course you did!" No one—ever—had made Jameson feel as good as William. "This was just… Beyond the physical, I... I felt good about it." He hadn't felt as if he were forced into the matter, hadn't felt pressured to do anything, and the freedom to do as he chose every step of the way had been an experience just as or even more euphoric than the moment where his body sang in pure, unrestrained pleasure. "I didn't…realize I could still feel this way." The emotions surging in him weren't enough to make him burst into sobs again, but he could still feel the sting in his eyes—but even that was a pleasant sort of sensation, and Jameson for once didn't feel ashamed about it. "I'm okay," he said to William, not wanting to see that concern on his face whenever the current moment was such a wonderful one, whenever Jameson wanted nothing but to share the unbridled joy inside of him. "I just…want to stay here for a while."

Jameson hugged William close, tucking his face into the other man's neck and savouring every comforting feeling of being held onto and wanted and safe.

And William let out a soft breath, his hand carding through Jameson's hair as he spoke with nothing but kindness: "Of course, Jameson. You can stay as long as you like."

[Author's Notes]

A much more introspective chapter this time around, but one with a lot of important internal moments. I mean, the larger plot aside, this is a slow burn romance, so we gotta get that good supportive relationship foundation laid down.

Also Fred! I love Fred so much, my son. Using they/them in this sequence bc Jamie isn't assuming and also my headcanon is demiboy Fred. I have a good handful of plans for Fred; sure can't wait for Takeuchi and Misyoshi to drop his actual backstory and contradict everything I'm gonna be doing in this fic lol.

I did my best to research gender-affirming surgeries, but it's a little complicated whenever we're in Victorian Era. So we'll say Burnett is just ahead of her time and anything that I do that is inaccurate is in service of the larger story/plot, whoops. Also no one asked, but Dr Burnett is also a giant lesbian, because I am incapable of making a cishet character anymore lol. We'll be seeing more of her as the story goes on, too.

I also drew more Jameson and William art, because I can't be stopped! You can see them on my deviantArt (Aviantei) and my Instagram (aviplotbunny).

Title of the chapter is from Oh Wonder's "You Me."

Next time: Moriarty Manor Daily Life, Act Four. Please look forward to it!

-Avi

[04.29.2023]