“Not really.I wasn’t subscribing to the paper for the gossip, only for news about the Council.Besides, what did I care about the goings on of strangers in another city?”
Sage stared at him for a long moment.“Go on.”
Conrad let his free hand drop down to Sage’s thigh.“It wasn’t until I read that a number of the councilmembers were stepping down that I formed any plans at all.And then when the Council invited fae-humans to come and work on the newest rubric, my plans began to take shape a little more.It seemed to me that the Council was changing.They were getting to know the people more, getting to understand everyday magic a little better.
“With such changes as the Barnes-Wrenwhistle rubric, and the research on fae-human magic, it felt like…I don’t know…a new age, in a way.One that I could be a part of building.I thought about my family, full of informally educated people with moderate magical abilities, barely managing to scrape together enough to live.And I thought of how many other people were like us, all over the country.Whatever the new rubric was going to be, I wanted to make sure it was something that would help people like me.The surest way to ensure that was to be a part of the group making those decisions.So I sold off whatever I could, bought myself enough to travel post, and…” He shrugged.“I imagine you know the rest.”
Sage was quiet in response.Conrad didn’t mind.He didn’t require any sort of commentary on his story.He rubbed his palm over Sage’s thigh.
“Thank you for telling me,” Sage said at last.
Conrad smiled.“I’ll tell you anything you like.”
Sage huffed a laugh and looked away again.“I wish I was so trusting.”
Conrad cupped his cheek and leaned closer.“I don’t blame you for being slow to trust, nor do I take whatever trust you give me lightly.”He rubbed his thumb over Sage’s cheekbone.“There are some things that are rare, but all the more precious because of it.Trust and friendship being amongst them.”
Sage swallowed and met his gaze.“You seem to make friends wherever you go.”
“I am friendly with most everyone I meet, because I happen to like most of the people I meet.”
“Such a strange creature,” Sage murmured.
Conrad grinned.“But I would be a fool indeed to handle a friendship such as yours as carelessly as others have.”
Sage peered over Conrad’s shoulder, to where Wyndham and Roger were sitting.Conrad cupped his chin and redirected his face back towards him.He leaned a little closer and heard Sage’s breath catch.“You need never give me anything more than what you are comfortable offering,” he said, his voice soft enough to only be heard by his companion.“And I will never demand anything that isn’t given freely.Everyone deserves that much.You especially.”
Sage closed the distance between them with a kiss, one hand coming to the side of Conrad’s waist.Conrad smiled against his lips, keeping his hold on his chin as he kissed Sage back lightly, allowing the other man to dictate the pace.The kiss started out with a gasp of breath and the heated press of lips, but swiftly turned leisurely and indulgent, Conrad’s favorite kind.
After they broke apart, Sage leaned his forehead against Conrad’s.“I’m not sure how much I have to give anymore,” he whispered.
Conrad moved his hand back to Sage’s cheek.“Whatever it is, it’s enough.”Someone behind them whistled and Sage stiffened.Conrad rubbed his thumb over Sage’s cheek.“You tell me if you need us to stop.”
“No,” Sage said quietly, his breath ghosting over Conrad’s lips.“I don’t want us to stop.”
Conrad pressed a kiss to the corner of Sage’s mouth and turned to face their hecklers.Unsurprisingly, it was Emrys, gawking at them openly with a cheeky grin.
“Are we bothering you?”Conrad asked.
“Oh, not at all,” Emrys responded blithely.“I’m all for having entertainment provided for me.”
Torquil rolled their eyes.“Don’t mind him.Everyone else he knows is married now.”
Conrad chuckled.“Speaking of which, how were the strawberries?”
Torquil smiled.“Delectable, thank you.I keep telling Emrys I can feed myself, but he insists on spoiling me.”
“Can you blame me?”
Torquil placed a hand on Emrys’ chest.“I’m not really used to being looked after, you see,” they explained to Conrad.“I spent several years decidedly on my own.I worked myself into collapse, trying to run theTribuneand work on the Council.”
“Not to mention all of the social gatherings my grandmother was foisting on you,” Wyndham added, not looking away from his book.
“And that,” Torquil agreed.“Ever since, I’ve had to constantly remind myself that sometimes the best way to take care of someone you’re fond of is to let them take care of you.”
“I like that,” Roger mused.
“They’re always saying things like this.So wise,” Emrys said, his tone smug, before he pulled Torquil in for a kiss.
