For withallofmyself

[so_far_fallen]

Aria had woken early and left Basil slumbering in his bed. He planned to make him up a tea tray and some breakfast to take up, it was something they often did for one another if they didn't have to be anywhere urgently in the mornings.

As he padded downstairs to the hall Aria noticed an envelope had been put through their letterbox so he went to collect it. He didn't recognise the swirling handwriting the address was written in, and it was very rarely that they received letters from anyone who wasn't Lord Henry, but he gave a shrug and took the letter to put it on the side of the tray with Basil's toast, deciding it couldn't be anything more sinister than a commission from a fan of Basil's art or perhaps a cheque for outstanding payment for a piece.

Once the breakfast was ready Aria took it up and put it on the stand beside the bed, then leaned down to press the softest of kisses to Basil's cheek.
"Good morning."

Comments

[so-far-fallen.livejournal.com]

"If he what?" Aria asks. He goes to Basil and kisses his lips softly, taking his face between his hands. "What can he do? Nothing."

[withallofmyself.livejournal.com]

"He could t-tell someone we're here...he could s-start the most dreadful rumors." He says, beginning to cry in frightened earnest.

[so-far-fallen.livejournal.com]

"Not without risking rumours about himself being spilled," he says. He strokes Basil's hair to calm him. "Mr. Gray is far from spotless himself. If there are rumours we will survive them, we have survived so much else already."

[withallofmyself.livejournal.com]

Basil looks down at his little lover, pressing a trembling kiss to Aria's forehead.

"You are so much stronger, braver than your old Basil..." He admits, embarrassed.

[so-far-fallen.livejournal.com]

"That's not true. Don't you remember how I was when I first came to you? Frightened of my own shadow... And you reassured me, looked after me, and gave me such strength, Mr. Hallward. "

[withallofmyself.livejournal.com]

He nods, slowly, taking Aria's hands in his own.

"You have bloomed into such a wonderful young man. Strong and sweet and beautiful. I love you so, dearest Aria."

[so-far-fallen.livejournal.com]

"I couldn't have done that without you. You've done so much for me, given me so much."

He squeezes his hands and smiles.

"You are my strength and I am yours. "

[withallofmyself.livejournal.com]

"Yes." Basil says, to convince himself as much as anything.

[so-far-fallen.livejournal.com]

Aria kisses him again, gently but certainly.

"There. Now will you come and sit down and not let that horrible man bother your mind a second longer?"

[withallofmyself.livejournal.com]

He sighs and goes to sink down on the sofa.

"Come and sit on my lap and let's finish our tea." He says, softly.

[so-far-fallen.livejournal.com]

Aria does so, he perches across Basil's knees and rests his head in the crook of his neck.

"We got through it, we survived. You mustn't worry yourself any more."