12:01am

I finally read 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' and wooowwwwwwww, yeah some parts were boring but that ending!? Those last few chapters!? Fucking WORTH it holy crap

Also why don't I ship the sides with Deceit more often?

~ Another story set in old-ish times ~

Au
—

"And his name?"

"Logan Atlas"

At the mention of the name Deceit stiffened a bit, then relaxed back into the plush seat. His eyes were focused on the word blurring through the windows of the carriage called for by his friend, Roman Kingsley, who was sitting opposite with his two arms wrapped around his younger partners - Virgil and Patton.

Their relationship was certainly not common, not only was it very gay but a poly one too,  however due to Roman's status and wealth he is rarely ever insulted or called out for it. People whisper, offend, spread gossip, of course they do - but as soon as Roman enters a room people hush up real quick and run to his side, practically ready to kneel down and kiss his feet. Deceit finds it pathetic.

The most commonly talked thing about their relationship however was Virgil and Patton's lower class and poor families. To Roman it was nothing, to his class it was everything. But he never let those sorts of things get in the way of love, if he were to like someone and potentially fall in love he'd do it no matter the wealth, class, gender, race, as long as they loved him back. Both Virgil and Patton were very happy to be with him, not only did they grow up together and already have feelings for each other but now they get to love the other man they had fallen for as well.

They never really spoke much in the presence of other higher classes, such as Deceit, they were quite submissive to Roman but that was the sort of relationship they had. During alone times between himself and Roman he often went on about the nights they'd all talk and cuddle for hours without ever thinking about anything else other than each other. Deceit was one hundred percent sure their relationship was loving and stable - but how they were raised, Patton and Virgil are just more comfortable staying quiet, especially when going to parties such as these.

Full of important, wealthy, high class.

And the host of the party? The most important of them all. Logan Atlas. Known across the country for his wealth, his family, his infinite knowledge - he was the person men wished to be and women wished to be with. It still shocked the country he wasn't married but it just made him available which women weren't complaining about.

He was raised in a mansion with servants doing his every bidding, he was sent to the best private school in the land and got the highest grades - the record is still there, even years later. Unfortunately at the young age of nineteen he lost both his parents in an accident with a carriage, the worst of all was his mother was childbearing. For a few months Logan shut himself away, but thankfully he came out alright in the end.

After receiving sympathies from friends, acquaintances and people he didn't even know he started to get tired of it and tried to push it away - even now he sometimes gets the odd consolation but other than that it's almost completely forgotten.

Roman was one of Logan's only friends, the man didn't indulge himself with people often, only for business purposes really. He has known Roman for awhile, however, and Roman certainly wouldn't let up their friendship. Which was why he was invited to this party, it's always a given he'd bring his partners so his plus one was usually his plus three, he often didn't bring anyone else though today was different, he met Deceit at a different party only a few months ago - they bonded from how terribly boring the party was and left early.

After sending Patton and Virgil to get some rest (they were both quite tired, only exactly three years younger than Roman but they get tuckered out quite easily) himself and Deceit sat in the front room with a fire, glasses of champagne and conversations to keep them entertained. Roman bid his servant goodnight and they carried on until two am in the morning where Roman insisted he stayed over, it was very late and the chances of Deceit finding a carriage were out of the question - but Deceit didn't do sleepovers and the walk home, he realised, wasn't too far away.

Throughout the months they met up a few times and Roman thought it be polite if he invited him, especially because Roman realised Deceit was wonderful company during these parties. Deceit himself wasn't a guy that was fawned over, in fact he was quite feared. He seemingly knew everything about everyone, could tell them their secrets before they knew it themselves - and any lie, no matter what, Deceit could see through. He had the power of wealth and status like many others, but his power went further, to blackmail, secrets, and lies.

The fear, he found, could be quite exhilarating at times.

People who come close with Deceit are shunned, but not Roman. If he could get away with having two boyfriends as a man himself he could get away with murdering the monarchy.

When the invite came Deceit obliged almost instantly, being invited to parties wasn't so common for him, people usually did it to get on his good side - and oh how fun he found parties, being in a crowded area with people not-so-subtly sparing glances his way, avoiding his stare, stuttering and fumbling when he greeted them with a simple 'hello'. He could make anyone crumble and he loved it.

Unfortunately he couldn't do the same to Roman, the man was smart and did things his way - which was quite obvious - he couldn't be bothered with Deceit, because Deceit strived on the fear that he could ruin someone - and nothing could ruin Roman. He had no secrets, and an open book was Deceit's one true weakness. Which was why Roman was his only friend. He may include Patton and Virgil but quite frankly he hasn't spoken a word to them or vise versa, maybe one day, they seemed like such sweet boys.

"Deceit!"

Finally his mismatched eyes snapped over to his friend who had amusement floating in his amber orbs. "I've been trying to get your attention for the last five minutes!" Roman exclaimed but Deceit knew he was bemused by the whole thing. "What's on your mind, Deceit? Do tell" leaning back Roman's hands squeezed his boyfriend's waists, reassuring them everything was fine. Instinctively they both leaned closer to him, across his lap they held each other's hand, infatuated by each other and Roman.

"Nothing at all" he responded, a smirk playing on his lips. Roman's eyes sparkled. "Deceit, a man such as yourself one would think you could come up with better lies" at this Deceit let out a low chuckle, it rumbled in his throat and made Roman grin.

"I'll certainly be more careful around you" he responded and as Roman carried on Deceit triumphed once again - maybe if Roman knew the truth he couldn't be lied to, but he could certainly be distracted until the truth didn't matter anymore.

The carriage horses trotted to a stop outside of the mansion belonging to Mr. Atlas. Roman thanked and paid the driver once everyone was off, taking his partner's hands and walking to the house with Deceit beside Patton. His eyes trailed across the building and he couldn't help but feel trickles of nostalgia seeping through his veins.

The door was opened by a servant dressed cleanly in a crisp suit, recognising Roman and his posse immediately. "Mr. Kingsleys, do come in" he stepped to the side and Roman, Patton and Virgil did as they were told. It may be illegal for all of them to marry but that didn't mean they couldn't change their names and get married anyway. Deceit followed in afterwards, dismissing the man who tried to take his cape and hat. He wouldn't conform to such standards of taking off certain garments inside houses. Rude or not, who would tell him otherwise?

They all entered the front room where the party seemed to be held, men and woman alike all mingling with glasses of wine or champagne dangling from their grasp. It seemed the less fingers one used the more fancier one was.

People turned their head in Roman's direction, all straightening up when they saw him, obviously readying themselves to go over and talk but they all faltered when noticing Deceit standing by, hands gloved by yellow fixing the cape around his shoulders, a smirk etching his features, the burn scars on the left of his face prominent under the lights from above.

Conversation continued but at a lower tone, people were talking and Deceit loved it.

The host of the party himself, Logan Atlas, was across the room deep in conversation with a man seemingly a few years older than he. Once spotting him Roman walked over with his partners beside him, Logan breaking away from the man to talk to his friend.

Deceit avoided Logan, he didn't talk to him through the partly, never stepped to close, always slithered his way around the room when Logan would move from person to person.

The night lasted a few hours, through the mingling then the grand dinner, the afterwards and the inevitable end. People were putting on their coats, scarves and hats, stepping onto their carriage once it arrived. They all thanked Logan for the lovely evening, complimenting the house, food, the party itself - never goes a party in which Logan's guests are unsatisfied.

Roman was sitting on the couch with Patton and Virgil, quietly talking to them as they stared up at him with heavy eyelids. Poor things were tired, Deceit thought, feeling an odd sense of content wash over him when he saw how compassionate Roman was, how lovingly he treated his boyfriends. To Deceit, even if a man dating a man was shunned and spat on, it felt...normal. He couldn't see any of those boys with a girl, especially Roman.

"You said you have called a carriage?" Roman asked once the servant came through, informing Roman of his carriage's arrival. Deceit nodded, "he should arrive soon, go now before your partners exhaust themselves" Roman nodded and they left the house, Deceit watched through the window as the horses trotted away, pulling the carriage down the road and out of sight.

Now the mansion was quiet - it was only the servants, Deceit and Logan. Just how Deceit wanted.

"You're still here"

Deceit smirked and turned around, facing Logan who stood across the room from him, arms crossed over his chest. "Great observation, Logan" he drawled, gracefully moving across the room, stealthy and quiet, like a panther ready to pounce on their prey.

"You know" he began, trailing his finger across a discarded glass of champagne on the coffee table beside his legs. It was dark wood, like most of the house, filled with dark aesthetics. Logan was never for light or colour. "I was quite hurt when I realised you...cut off all connections with me" his voice was slow and sultry but with an underlying tone of mischief. Logan could detect it a mile away.

"When one becomes tarnishable to one's reputation it isn't long before they are removed" Logan responded, arms slowly migrating to rest behind him, hands clasped at the bottom of his back. A low laugh escaped from the man with the bowler hat, his movements were careful and calculated, slow and almost unnoticeable.

"You put your reputation over our friendship, my dear Logan I would do the same, but..." he drifted, head tilting to the side. "We had more than a friendship, did we not?"

Logan's eyes shifted ever so slightly, other than that his composure was neutral. "Our friendship was lost the day you left that morning" Logan responded, voice hardened with tainted memories.

"You're still worked up over that?" Deceit sighed woefully, "if only you'd let it go" at this Logan's jaw clenched, his eyes narrowed around the edges just slightly. He never gave away too much in his outward movements, one simply had to look for them, or to know him so closely they were as obvious as red on white.

"A promise, Deceit. A promise was made - you broke it. I knew where your feelings lied and I wanted nothing more to do with you" Deceit was close now, only five feet away. Logan wanted to move back but he couldn't, he knew Deceit would jump upon it, but he also knew Deceit wouldn't stop.

"Oh, how naïve you are Logan" Deceit murmured, "maybe if you listened, simply opened a letter, you would understand the cause of my actions" Logan's glare became apparent now, for anyone with eyes.

"Your actions are inexcusable" he replied, tone edging on frustration and malice.

"I did what was needed of me"

"When other's matter before me there is no point in carrying on"

"It was for us, my dear"

"If you were not known for lies I might have believe you"

"But you must, you must" Deceit was only a few inches away and Logan couldn't help it anymore, he took a step back which was a mistake, Deceit places his foot where Logan's once was, moving closer once again, it continued, where Logan once stood Deceit would stand, back and back, further and further, faster and faster until Logan let out a gasp, back hitting the wall with Deceit before him, trapping him, but he knew he could move away whenever he wanted. Hands clenched, Logan pressed every inch of himself back, ready, waiting.

"My actions weren't planned with ill intentions for you, my love"

And the soft material of his yellow glove glided down Logan's cheek and the man knew he was a goner. Eyes fluttering, he let out a soft sigh. "That night, tell me what I told you, repeat to me every word"

Deceit's knuckles lingered on the side of Logan's face, his eyes averted for a moment but his feet took him a step closer. Logan was still tense. "You said; 'if you are gone by morning I know where we stand and I shall never speak to you again, if I awake to find you I will never let you go'..." for a moment Deceit's eyes closed, then he met Logan's gaze that wasn't fierce anymore, only tired.

"This mustn't continue" but Logan didn't lean away from his touch, "I cannot let it. People were asking questions before, now they will interrogate. No matter if Roman is my closest friend, I am not Roman, I may be more powerful but that doesn't mean anything. He can date a man, or two, or three, or more without a hair being plucked from his head - me? Us? Deceit..." his shoulders deflated, tense muscles relaxing with sorrow.

"I fear we will be hurt"

Deceit stared at him for quite some time, then his hand trailed down his cheek, swooping through the air and landing on his waist. Logan straightened when he realised what Deceit was about to do. Gently, his thumb hooked under his shirt, untucking that certain area he lifted it up to reach exactly where he wanted. And Logan was melting into putty, eyes fluttering closed, lips parting to let out breathy air.

If Deceit knew anything about Logan it was what made him react, what made his jaw clench in anger, eyes soften with purity, body relax in content - all he had to do was trail his hand, up and down, softly against the bare skin on his side. Logan couldn't get enough when Deceit first discovered it and he believed he'd never get enough of the sensation his body loved so much.

"Logan?" His voice was a gentle whisper.

Hazy eyes cracked open and stared up at the man who was inches apart.

"I would be quicker to die at my own hands than a stranger if it meant I couldn't be with you"

Inside his chest Logan felt his heart clench, throat clogging with emotions he never thought he'd feel again.

"I will apologise to my grave for your forgiveness, never able to truly pardon myself of the sadness that I have caused you. I wish to make amends, please..." Deceit rested his other hand on Logan's cheek, thumb tracing his cheek bone. "Let me make this right"

Logan was quiet for some time, standing with his head leaning into Deceit's palm. For awhile Deceit didn't know what to think, in fact he didn't think at all, barely breathed, waiting, waiting, for Logan to say anything. Either break his heart or make it whole again.

"Tell me" Logan whispered, eyes finally meeting Deceit's gaze. "Tell me the truth"

And with no hesitation Deceit responded.

"I love you"

And the space around them went quiet as Logan's arms swept through the air and curled around his neck, standing up further and pressing his lips against Deceit's. How beautiful the moment was, two men in love, kissing each other in a close, private moment of intimacy. They touched, bodies flush against the other, truth hanging in the air around them, untarnished with a facade.

They were the epitome of love, in that moment all confirmation was garnered, questions were answered, both knew what they wanted and now what they had.

The next morning Logan woke up with his face resting in the crook of his lover's neck. With a smile he cuddled closer, held him tighter, truth from the heart tumbling from his lips.

"I love you"

—
Aha proud of this one-

1:54am