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Raffles’ laughter rings out through the room at the sight of Bunny walking out of his bedroom with his face covered in soot. There is pure joy in his eyes and he seems to be lit up from within. Bunny is instantly struck by the knowledge that he could die a happy man if only he could spend a lifetime making the Raffles laugh, just like this.
“I have never seen anyone look so like a criminal”, Raffles exclaims, smiling as only he could, as his laughter begins to calm.
“Yes” Bunny replies, with a shy smile as he takes a few steps towards Raffles, dropping his head in slight embarrassment.
Bunny’s heart is racing as he looks directly into Raffles’ eyes; their conversation from the night before rushing back to him. Raffles sitting on his bed assuring him he does not make fun of him; that Bunny is his tower of strength.
His partner.
How he wishes that were true.
The doubts take over Bunny once more and he is suddenly terribly afraid the dashing man will strike a direct blow to his heart; taking advantage of this moment of vulnerability. That he might see him and treat him as a fool. He certainly feels foolish.
But the blow never comes.
Instead, Raffles takes a deep breath and slowly begins to close the little distance left between them. His smile is more contained yet filled with something Bunny has never noticed before – a warmth, like fondness, but also a very different kind of heat. He’s not laughing anymore. His eyes locked on Bunny.
Bunny looks down at the floor again for fear that his companion will see right into his most intimate thoughts. He can feel the blush spreading across his face.
Raffles just keeps moving closer, stopping mere inches from Bunny’s face. He reaches up with his empty hand and places it ever so gently, just underneath Bunny’s chin, almost imperceptibly guiding it up until their gazes meet again.
“Now admit, would you have faced Mackenzie with more confidence if you’d not known about the silver?”
Each word is spoken slowly, in a low, deep voice. Bunny can feel the other man’s breath brush past his cheek as he speaks, sending a delicious shiver through his entire body. Bunny is frozen in his spot, unsure if he has understood a single word that was just spoken. It feels like an eternity before he can muster a response.
“Yes” he breathes out finally. “Of course.”
“Would you have been happier?” Raffles almost whispers, still holding Bunny’s chin and looking deep into Bunny’s eyes.
As he speaks, Raffles takes the cloth he has in his other hand, raises it slowly up to Bunny’s face and begins to gently wipe the soot from Bunny’s cheek. Their eyes locked on each other, because looking away now is sure to crack open the heavens.
“Yes” is all Bunny can think to say. Words have lost all meaning.
Raffles breaks eye contact just for a moment, only to take in the rest of Bunny’s face.
“Am I right…” he caresses the side of Bunny’s face and tucks some of Bunny’s hair behind his ear, following the movement with his eyes. Raffles’ touch leaves a trail of fire on Bunny’s skin. “...to choose what I shall tell you, and what I shall not?”
Bunny can’t breathe, and he’s certain the other man can feel his racing heart across the minuscule distance between them now. All he knows is that he needs Raffles’ eyes back on his – it’s as if they had been the very source of his oxygen and now every second without them feels like drowning.
“Yes. You’re quite right, Raffles” Bunny manages, searching for the other man’s gaze.
Hearing Bunny speak his name out loud seems to pull Raffles back to him and their eyes are locked in on each other once more; and all the air returns to Bunny’s lungs.
“Then in future…” Raffles moves in closer “I shall choose.”
The words have only just left his lips and Bunny has hardly had a chance to take them in, when Raffles drops the cloth and brings both hands up to cradle Bunny’s face. He is staring deep into Bunny’s eyes; but it feels more like he’s looking straight into his very soul. Raffles brings their lips together in a soft, tender kiss.