withintenfeet | Open Post

"Devils really are cunning." Dry but not harsh, as he reaches up to trace that very first line again.

Far more softly, "You were marking your height."

"Yes, I'd worked out the purpose." And that breaks his speculative thought process to have him turned back and looking down at Zerxus. "What was cunning about my question?"

"Absolutely nothing." There's that interplay again, humour and heartbreak. "You don't get teased a lot, do you?"

He does not understand the heartbreak. He does at least recognize it -- and the humor.

"No. Most people aren't quite that reckless with their safety." He assumes that's the reason, anyway.

"Are you actually feeling violent right now?" Genuinely curious, a little challenging, and not nearly as apprehensive as it should be.

"No, but if you tease me wrong that can change very quickly." He's both joking and not. It's probably joking. The delivery doesn't really indicate that, though.

"Understood." What he actually means, judging by the glint in his eyes, is challenge accepted. Which is perhaps not the sentiment you ought to have, on your knees before the Prince of Hell, but we've established this man's survival instinct.

He pats Zerxus on the top of the head, then drags his fingers all the way through his hair, from forehead to back of his neck -- roughly. "I still think you're trying to die." You idiot.

He's all set to roll his eyes, and then - well, then his breath catches in his throat and they go dark and bright instead, startled and simmering.

"I think you just don't know what to do with someone who isn't afraid of you." That definitely came out more hoarsely breathless than he intended, and somehow this is what's making him anxious.

He slides his hand around from the nape of Zerxus' neck to grip his chin and pull it up, with a smirk. "I know exactly what to do with you." that is an outright, albeit dangerous, purr. "It doesn't convince me you're any less insane."

He doesn't really mind that part.

It also doesn't mean he knows what to do with someone who isn't intimidated by him, though. Just that this? Is easy. And fun. And hot.

His heart is pounding, adrenaline laced with fear but not dominated by it. No, he still doesn't look afraid, just stunned. His mouth has gone dry.

This shouldn't - he shouldn't be overwhelm this easily but he hasn't felt like this since -

"Do you." Raggedly defiant, except for how he hasn't resisted or in fact moved in any way. His hands feel leaden against the floorboards.

"Do you know what the most interesting part is." It isn't really a question, just still watching Zerxus' face with intensity that really isn't human. "I haven't given you a single order, and you've just... chosen to stay where you are."

He pulls his hand back then and very lightly, with just his index finger, tapes Zerxus on the nose.

It shouldn't be captivating, it really shouldn't, and that only adds to the cocktail of emotions churning in his chest. This is not why he's here, he should not be feeling any of this, maybe he really is insane -

Pouring wounded pride onto that ignites everything.

When he finally moves, it's to arch his head up and bite the tip of Bruce's finger.

It shouldn't be captivating, it shouldn't be interesting, and he definitely should not have a mortal trying to bite (?!?!?) him.

Not just trying, since Bruce stands there and watches it happen.

"You're going to end up in my bed, eventually. Did you want it to be now?"

It's more of a nip, really, and for just a second Zerxus seems wolfishly satisfied with himself. It makes him look downright young

Then realisation settles in and snuffs that playful passion like a candle. He immediately settles back on his heels before starting to push himself back to his feet.

"You're awfully sure of yourself."

Bruce lifts his eyebrows - both of them - in a way that's a bit unusually... human, and gestures down along his body and to the space Zerxus has only just now decided to vacate by standing.

Every ounce of his expression and body language is clearly saying, are you joking right now.

It's not even mean, just.

Come on now, man.

It's a distinct ability to blush grumpily and he has apparently mastered it.

"I'm very tired and you're very - " No, you know what, he's gonna keep that to a silent gesture too.

"I'll get over it."

He grins - sharp, sure, but the amusement is real and the threat to bite that comes with that many teeth isn't exactly a threat.

"No, you won't."

He's not going to let that happen.

His lips twitch; he is so, so clearly suppressing a return grin as he steps back and shakes his head.

"Let's go back to talking about your childhood."

"That's going to be a very short conversation; I don't remember my childhood. We can go back to finding you pajamas and a closet, though." What. It's an offer. He's also not even unwilling.

...and considers everything past Asmodeus adopting him not exactly childhood which is perhaps odd, given that he was seven.

Convenient for Asmodeus, that his heir can't remember his birth parents at all. Zerxus doubts he let Bruce find much out for himself, either - but he's got a whole year in this manor, in this city.

For now, he only nods.

"Lead the way."

He does lead the way - all the way down that hall to the back of the Manor, where there's a suit of rooms that was likely once his parents.

Meaning he's walked through the unused portions and past remnants of his human life without a second glance for... a very long time.

"I did investigate my parents," he says, casually. "There wasn't anything there to inspire any desire to know more." He sounds... disgusted.

Zerxus resists the urge to stop again, but he does his best to take mental notes so he can backtrack later. He's not Cerrit, but he's always been insightful and he's seen...so many scattered remnants of past lives, by now.

He doesn't expect to be led into an entire suite, and he expects Bruce to answer his silent question even less.

"...Investigated them how, exactly?" How sceptical does he sound? ...Very, probably, he was never good at masking that sort of thing.

It isn't, at least, a truly huge suite of rooms and is largely open in concept. A balcony off one set of double doors, walk in closet, a sitting space and bedroom that flow into one another.

...a bathroom that he absolutely does not use, that leaves him staring at the door wondering if he should bother giving Zerxus his own rooms or just put him there for the duration.

It's back to very gothic and opulent, but not quite as ostentatiously so as the more public areas. Heavy, dark, a lot of black with red and gold accents, heavy furniture, but less... gleaming features and better lighting.

He goes to the heavy dresser, and opens a top drawer. "I don't understand the nature of the question or skepticism. How does anyone investigate anything?"

Taking it all in - the details. the fact that if all goes well he'll be living here for the next year - is distracting enough that it takes him a moment to answer.

"Well. You're putting a puzzle together, and you're not going to find all the pieces so you need to make...assumptions." Shaped by how he grew up, guided by the devil. "I'm not saying they were wrong. I don't know exactly what you found. Just - "

He shrugs, a little. "None of us are perfect. If Elias happened to find evidence of my weakest moments, and only that..." Or even just - a difficult decision without the circumstances around it. He's so many people twisted into villains that way.

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