London, Friday Fandom time

[sharp_as_knives]

Even if Hannibal hadn't genuinely wanted a motorcycle, the sheer glee on Jono's face when he discussed it would have made it a very tempting prospect. The looks Hannibal got trying on leathers weren't discouraging, either.

So, after most of Thursday afternoon and a bit of Friday morning, they were the proud owners of a 2015 Triumph Thruxton and a Norton Commando 961 SF, and Hannibal had a new jacket, leather pants, and boots.

And when you had new bikes and leathers, you had to try them out, didn't you?


[OOC: For the other boy on the bike! NFI, NFB, OOC is love!]

Comments

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal was silent for a while, parsing everything Jono had said. It came out...mostly positive. "And her friendship is all that you're interested in? For old time's sake?"

[furnaceface]

//For old time's sake,// Jono agreed, nodding. //I've got something with you already, and it's still new, and I know we have things we still need to discuss, bits and pieces to work on here and there, but those are things I want to discuss, that I want to work on. I don't want to endanger... whatever it is we're working toward. Not for the sake of a memory forged in a different life entirely."

[sharp_as_knives]

"And once you forge new memories with her?" Hannibal asked. He kept his voice even, but he couldn't help being a bit suspicious and possessive, and had no doubt that Jono would pick up on it. "Once she learns who you are now. Even if you won't go back to her, will you be wishing that you could?"

[furnaceface]

Of course Jono caught it; he'd been rather expecting it. And he didn't blame Hannibal for that concern, either.

//It's not...// He furrowed his brow a little. //I don't think it will come to that. Like I said, she's Death, not Didi, and it's not just a matter of her learning who I am. I don't... They're the same, but they're vastly different. And they're not...//

He ran a hand through his hair.

//They're not you. I've known you for years. I've actually had more time to forge a friendship and a relationship with you than Didi and I have had together in total. You've seen me through hell, Hannibal. Several times. Didi and I were kids together for a year, and she was a very important part of my life, I won't ever deny that. But you and I, we're together now. I'm not going to throw today away for yesterday. Yesterday has rarely worked out for me, anyway.//

[sharp_as_knives]

"And yet you still carry her letter with you. When you lost it, it helped to push you into Gaunt's clutches," Hannibal pointed out. He had a sudden urge to brand Jono or carve his initials into his flesh - anything to leave him with something of his, something permanent. But then, even that wouldn't be truly permanent on Jono, would it?

[furnaceface]

Jono hesitated for a moment, and then shrugged his shoulders.

//Would it help if I had something of yours to carry around? The letter was a reminder of her, yes, but it was just as much a reminder of me. It was my one unquestionable reminder of the life I had before Weapon X. No life that was crammed into my mind had her, you know. Or the things she taught me.//

He paused in their walk, reached for Hannibal's hand and turned to face him.

//The things she taught me were a part of who I was, and I lost that person, for better or worse, years ago. The things you've taught me are a part of who I am. I'd carry a token of you around with me if I had one, but you're here and alive and well, and I'd much rather reach for your hand when I want some contact with you than reach for a token of something long gone, falling apart in my pocket.//

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal put his free hand on Jono's cheek, caressing it. "When I'm not in reach, you have memories of me. Are they enough to ground you?"

[furnaceface]

//They usually are,// Jono replied, leaning his face into that caress. //And when they aren't, something has clearly gone terribly wrong, and no piece of paper is going to do the trick, either.//

He scuffed a toe against the grass, and then shrugged his shoulders.

//But if it's gotten to that point, that's not because I'm not thinking hard enough about you or Didi or anybody else. It's because I'm still only human. I can still break, no matter what tokens I carry around wherever I go.//

He had broken before, even with that letter in his pocket, before he ever knew Hannibal. He'd just barely been coaxed back from the ledge. He was thankful, now, that he had been, and he couldn't see it getting to that point again, but then, his life had been long and full of horrors. Even he couldn't make that promise.

[sharp_as_knives]

"And yet you still carry it," Hannibal pointed out. "Comfortable habits can be difficult to break."

[furnaceface]

Jono paused for a moment, and then raised an eyebrow and lifted his chin. Head. That part of his face that resembled a chin when he was all wrapped up.

//It's in my bag. In our room. Right now.//

Which was... it was huge, actually.

[sharp_as_knives]

Voluntarily, and given Jono's paranoia about keeping his things close to the door in case of kidnapping? That was definitely huge. And went further to settle Hannibal than a verbal reassurance could have.

He nodded and leaned forward to kiss Jono's cheek. "Does she know all this?" he asked.

[furnaceface]

//She knows most of it,// Jono replied, nodding and nuzzling his face into the crook of Hannibal's neck. //The conversation she and I had wasn't quite this... frank, really. But we both agreed that whatever we had before, we've missed too much to just... leap in again. We're not even really the same people.//

Even if Hannibal hadn't been in the picture, starting from the beginning again would have been smart. Jono barely knew Death at all. Didi had missed too much of what had made Jono who he is now. Leaping in again blindly for anything longer than a weekend would have been... stupid. Definitely stupid.

[sharp_as_knives]

"Does she know you don't want to pursue a relationship with her?" Hannibal asked. "Will she respect that?" He scowled. "She is moving back to Fandom for you; it seems unlikely that she only wants your friendship."

[furnaceface]

Jono leaned back a little, his expression almost amused, there.

//She'll respect it,// he said, with some certainty. //She cares, yes. Hell, I'd be lying if I said I didn't still care for her as well. But she's not moving to the island with the expectation that we're going to start some great romance again, and she was never... pushy. She's always respected my limits. That, I trust, hasn't changed.//

He twined his fingers through Hannibal's.

//This right here, this is what I want. Do you believe that, at least?//

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal searched Jono's face, his body language, every little clue that he could get. But then, he had thought Will was genuine, too.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Took a moment to shut away his own emotions - caring and suspicion both - and another to add scent to the litany of Jono's tells.

[furnaceface]

And Jono... Jono was patient. Understood that this was a difficult position to put Hannibal in, in the first place. And worried, silently to himself, that he'd damaged something today. He was being as honest as he could, of course, but it was difficult not to worry.

There was no guilt, though. No indication that he was lying. What would a lie do but hurt them both, anyway?

So, worry, then, that he was about to lose something dear to him, here. And understanding. Patience. He could stand here all night, if that was what it took for Hannibal to come up with a verdict.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal opened his eyes again and framed Jono's head in his hands, stroking the little creases at the corners of his eyes. He nodded, just once but firmly.

[furnaceface]

And at that nod, Jono let himself let go of a figurative breath he had been holding, raising his hands to close over Hannibal's, just for a moment, before letting go to pull him into his arms, instead.

He needed to cling for a moment, okay? Some moments just desperately called for clinging. This would be one of them.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal dropped his arms to wrap around Jono in turn, a little tentatively at first, and then fiercely. Jono was his and yes, he would fight Death for him if he had to. Hannibal did not give up easily.

[furnaceface]

Jono... was still fairly convinced that fighting was not entirely necessary. But the fierce hugging was good. He could live with more of this fierce hugging thing, right here.

... It was actually one of the better hugs he'd had in a while. There was something about being claimed that just felt... yes.

Yes. Good. Hi.

[sharp_as_knives]

Fortunate, since Hannibal had no intentions of letting go, and every intention of claiming him. And he would prefer not to fight, but if it came down to that, he wasn't averse.

[furnaceface]

And Jono would probably just sort of pat Hannibal's head, if it came to that, and patiently tell him that he was being ridiculous.

Only, in a way less likely to cost him a hand or something.

//Mine.//

Someone had to say it first.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal was under no illusions that he stood much chance against Death, but that didn't mean he wouldn't try.

Hannibal smirked. He rarely said as much outright, but yes. And if Jono was willing to admit it... He murmured into Jono's ear in turn, low but vehement. "Mine."