Another soft laugh...followed by a fond, sweet smile.
"...I hadn't laughed in a long time, before coming here. Not really. It...feels good, to laugh again." The comment makes him think a bit, and he draws up the hand with the ring on it, kissing at Herbert's knuckles before speaking.
"I feel the same way, Engel. It's...all like a dream. I worry I'm going to wake up, sometimes, but...I know this is real. Nothing could be more real."
A glance down to the ring.
"It's funny you should mention a tree, you know. I bet you could guess where I found that."
"Our tree." He presses his hand to his mouth, feeling choked up again. "We'll go there, you and I. And we'll carve our own initials into it. Make it our tree.
Alfred..." he says gently, taking both of Alfred's hands in his. "After -- after Solin. I thought my heart was too broken to ever truly feel love again. But you mended me, like you mend so many things. You sewed my heart back together so well it feels as though it was never broken in the first place.
It's just a moment, a blink - but there is a familiar echo in the smile Alfred returns at that, a soft, patient fondness that doesn't quite belong entirely to the younger man. Somewhere in there, the part of him where Solin resides is...glad, so glad to see Herbert like this. So happy. Healing, at last.
It's with a little shake of the head that the moment passes, though, his hands clasping back at Herbert's.
"I feel the same way, Engel. I have spent my whole life trying to find...something, someone. I felt incomplete, and I was...I was miserable." He pulls the older vampire close, looking up at him with misty eyes. "We rescued each other, Herbert. And I know that, because I have no doubt that if I had fallen in that snow, before any of this at all...I know you would have saved me, anyway."
"It's... a little embarrassing but yes, I was watching you from the start. We both were, Father and I. And we saw you, lost in the snow. With your little scarf tied around your ears, you precious thing.
And you're right. If you had fallen in that snow, I would have taken you back to the castle at once and taken care of you."
"Don't be embarrassed," he reassures, rubbing at Herbert's back.
"I - the thought of that scared me a little at first, it's true, but...I love it now. It makes me feel...like someone was looking out for me, even then." A pause, and then-
"Well it was exciting. People rarely come to our little village. And to see someone so handsome, well. It was a treat."
Herbert nudges his nose against Alfred's cheek with a smile. "And I'll always be there, you know. Not that you always need to be protected, but because I will always love you enough to want to."
Herbert is always so complimentary, over and over again. It's been a year of it, and STILL it makes him blush deep.
"I know that, Engel. I know that." The nuzzle is met with a sweet little kiss. Constant little touches and affirmations. "The feeling is mutual. If - if anyone ever tried to come here to hurt you...I would gladly fight for you."
He's thought about it, before. The Professor knowing where the castle is, that there are vampires in it. Coming back prepared. It worries him, sometimes.
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"...I hadn't laughed in a long time, before coming here. Not really. It...feels good, to laugh again." The comment makes him think a bit, and he draws up the hand with the ring on it, kissing at Herbert's knuckles before speaking.
"I feel the same way, Engel. It's...all like a dream. I worry I'm going to wake up, sometimes, but...I know this is real. Nothing could be more real."
A glance down to the ring.
"It's funny you should mention a tree, you know. I bet you could guess where I found that."
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Alfred..." he says gently, taking both of Alfred's hands in his. "After -- after Solin. I thought my heart was too broken to ever truly feel love again. But you mended me, like you mend so many things. You sewed my heart back together so well it feels as though it was never broken in the first place.
I don't think you realize how you rescued me."
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It's with a little shake of the head that the moment passes, though, his hands clasping back at Herbert's.
"I feel the same way, Engel. I have spent my whole life trying to find...something, someone. I felt incomplete, and I was...I was miserable." He pulls the older vampire close, looking up at him with misty eyes. "We rescued each other, Herbert. And I know that, because I have no doubt that if I had fallen in that snow, before any of this at all...I know you would have saved me, anyway."
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And you're right. If you had fallen in that snow, I would have taken you back to the castle at once and taken care of you."
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"I - the thought of that scared me a little at first, it's true, but...I love it now. It makes me feel...like someone was looking out for me, even then." A pause, and then-
"That's why I call you Engel, you know."
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Herbert nudges his nose against Alfred's cheek with a smile. "And I'll always be there, you know. Not that you always need to be protected, but because I will always love you enough to want to."
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"I know that, Engel. I know that." The nuzzle is met with a sweet little kiss. Constant little touches and affirmations. "The feeling is mutual. If - if anyone ever tried to come here to hurt you...I would gladly fight for you."
He's thought about it, before. The Professor knowing where the castle is, that there are vampires in it. Coming back prepared. It worries him, sometimes.