prohibitions | When love became an act of defiance

[Continued from here]

The concert hall is a large and lavish building; not that New York was ever lacking in such buildings. Still, there was always something particularly nice about buildings meant for the arts. Something that still always gave a certain rush of excitement and adrenaline to the musician.

For all the annoyance that his gifts brought him at times, he still found enjoyment in much of his life. Music being a huge part of it.

Cain stood outside and off to the side of the building as he took a drag from his cigarette. A breather between talking to person after person. Socially, he was already quite tired and there was still an hour or so before the actual recital. Physically, he already was quite ready to turn in the day. Mentally, his head was pounding and he was tired of all the rabble that went through his mind. Emotionally, he was elated.

He idly wonders if Jonathan ever found the ticket he had hidden in one of his jacket pockets. It was no loss to him if it was never used. He was always given a pair of tickets to give to loved ones to attend, but he found that he rarely used them. His brother's time was limited and their visits to each other had to be carefully planned, so it was always a toss up when they could attend these things. Cain didn't have particularly close acquaintances outside of his brother.

Perhaps that's a tad depressing, but he didn't care much about it. He left the ticket with the other on a whim. Whether or not they decided to attend was really no consequence to him. It was a full house outside of that and it's not like he told the other he had left the ticket on them anyways.

He continues to smoke his cigarette idly as he watches people enter the concert hall. He should head back in soon himself.

Finding the ticket to the recital was a happy sort of accident. Jonathan was checking his pockets from the suit he had worn from that night while he was getting ready for work only to find it stashed in one of them.

He spent a good portion of time just staring at it and the clock, wondering if he should go before deciding of course he should. Calling out of his shift for the night wasn't suspect after he explained getting jumped yet again the night previous, much less severe than the night Cain came to his rescue. He'd much rather relax than stress about doing his job right to the best of his current ability.

Jonathan stood out like a sore thumb in front of such a lavish building while the crowd continued inside. He'd visited beautiful buildings like this before for other events but he was either working or tagging along with his family, this was probably one the first times he was here on his own because he was invited.

He slides his hand into the inside pocket of his suit and pulls out the ticket, just to look it over again. He's not sure why he feels so nervous about being here, yeah he might see Cain after the show or before if he's lucky but maybe its mostly because he doesn't know what to do in such settings as this.

Everyone around him looked ridiculously fancy and proper while he just looked like this was the first time ever attending an event like this. He even got here with a whole lot of time to spare which may prove difficult to pass the time with.

Jonathan probably smells Cain before he sees the other. The sweet scent of vanilla sticks to the other quite a bit and he easily had smoked a cigarette or two just recently.

Cain was walking up the steps of the concert hall. He was dressed sleekly in a three piece. The jacket was more of a coat with tails and was a solid black. The man seemed to get stopped every so often and converse with the others. There's always a polite smile on Cain's face as he speaks, but the smile didn't quite reach his eyes. He was merely going through the motions and thanking people for attending and making small chat.

He can't help but run a hand through his hair after another couple greets and chats with him before they continue up the steps. Cain considers another cigarette already if only so people might stop talking to him.

The familiar scent of vanilla hits him before anything else, there was no mistaking who it belonged to. Jonathan slowed his steps as he walked up to the concert hall, glancing around to see if he can manage to find its source through the sea of people.

He pocketed the ticket back inside his suit jacket until he spotted the man of the hour, chatting with a couple. Jonathan sort of stares for a second because interrupting their conversation would be rude even if all he had to do was call out Cain's name, hoping the other would hear through all these people's thoughts.

When Cain was alone for whatever brief moment it would be, he makes his way over to the other. Shoving down nerves to make sure that the other was doing okay. Jonathan lightly puts a hand on the other's shoulder as a way to get his attention.

Hey...

He keeps his phone in his hand for appearances sake but he offers a soft smile.

Thank you for inviting me. Didn't actually think I'd get the opportunity to see you preform again.

The man turns towards the other and the smile was polite. A bit fake, but most people didn't really know the difference. His expression seems to soften just a tad when he recognizes the other. There's a tired look in his eyes, but he just waves his hand off a bit dismissively.

"I usually don't have people off the top of my head I usually would invite, so it wasn't a big deal." He has one other person he invites to these things and England is very far from the States. "I was wondering if you were actually going to find it though. Good to see you did," Cain says with a bit of a cheeky grin.

Cain's behavior is a lot more erratic than it is when he's home. It's a subtle shift, but noticeable enough to someone who's seen him away from the public. Mostly, the man seemed to be incapable of keeping his hands still. It's idle movement that Cain probably wasn't even aware he was doing. From drumming his fingers against something to digging his nails into his palm or wrist.

"Hopefully you enjoy it. I can't say the crowd is probably your type of people." Which probably may come off insulting, but he can't really imagine Jonathan wanting to mingle with upper class folks of this caliber.

I almost didn't. I hadn't checked my suit pockets since that night you came to my rescue and I just so happened to check the pockets recently. 'm just glad I found them when i did.

Jonathan would've beat himself up over having missed the other's recital if he didn't catch the tickets when he did. He knows he'll enjoy the performance as much as he had when he got to listen to Cain practice.

I know I will.

When Cain throws out a comment like that, he glances around before giving a light shake of his head with a small smile.

They're not. They're more like people I would find myself working for, honestly.

He rubs at the back of his neck, not at all offended by the comment because it was fairly true. He simply wasn't at the same level as any of these people; he didn't grow-up in or live a lavish lifestyle despite how much he made with his job so he feels out of place being in the same space as them without it being entirely business related.

In the short time he's been in the presence of the other, he's started to catch on to Cain's tells and the slight changes. Jonathan feels as though he already knows the answer to his question but he still asks anyway.

You doing okay?

"Well, it isn't as though I won't perform again. It's kind of my livelihood. Seems kind of odd if I didn't. I can't say I have any real interests in teaching. I don't think I've really got the patience for that," Cain says with a bit of a snort. Socializing was painful enough. Teaching? No way.

He offers a bit of a lopsided grin. "They don't make for great company, so you're not really missing out anyways."

Cain technically fit into the crowd. He came from a rich and sophisticated family. He knows that he holds himself in such a way that would implicate he had a posh upbringing. He definitely had always lived an upper class life of some kind.

He can't say that he really likes being among the crowd though.

The musician is fussing with the hem of his sleeve when he speaks again. "Yes, quite. Why do you ask?" He raises an eyebrow as he looks at the other curiously.

Just didn't want to disappoint by not showing up at the first invitation.

Jonathan flashes a smile. He can't picture Cain being much of a teacher but he thinks that the other sticking as a musician suited him best.

You make great company though...

He groups Cain in the same category as them, even if its not to the same extent and while he doesn't think himself at the same level or even that he'd enjoy any of their company, he can't say the same for Cain. It was the exact opposite. Granted they had only spend time together in person once before so perhaps, he's getting a little ahead of himself there but the thought still stands.

Jonathan glances down as Cain's hands mess with his sleeve before he ends up shaking his head again with a soft smile.

Simply curious is all.

Maybe it really was nothing but he doesn't press further or mention Cain's need to occupy his hands. He does tilt his head towards the building and even motion with his hand that they should start moving again.

I figure I should let you head inside a bit before someone else butts in to make conversation.

"How could I be disappointed by someone who thought I was ridiculously hot upon seeing me?" He laughs a little, obviously not letting the other quite live that one down for awhile. "Honest though, I didn't have any real expectations. It was a whim and you could have easily been busy."

Cain had learned long enough not to be hopeful of anything in his life.

Although he snorts a little. "You stayed at my place for a few hours. That's a tad of a quick judgment, don't you think?" He rolls his eyes and shakes his head a little.

He has stopped fussing with his sleeves and resorted to picking dirt out from under his nails (there wasn't actually dirt, but he obviously was doing this unconsciously). "Hmm." He doesn't say anything else on the matter and lets it drop.

"We still got a bit of time, but I suppose I should be backstage. Do enjoy the show."

Which is to say, Jonathan definitely has one of the best seats in the entire hall.

I... hey... now.

Jonathan feels his face heat up in embarrassment. Of course, he would've heard that and that was before he knew he could read his thoughts. Thank god he didn't say anything more, otherwise he's sure Cain wouldn't let that go either.

Even if I was, I'd still make time for you.

He did this time by calling out of work and he'd gladly do it again if the other invited him by surprise again. Though, he realizes what he just said and it only flushes his face more. He really is kind of a wreck at the moment.

It might be but its enough time to get some idea of how the other person is.

He gives a little bit of a shrug. Jonathan has probably judged some a little quicker with less time but he enjoys the other's presence and company. The other's transition to another tic is somewhat noticed before they both drop it.

I'll come find you afterwards?

It's a dumb question to ask as he takes the next step on the stairs. He had no idea what seat he was going to given or what sort of view it had since he didn't come to such performances often. Either way, he was rather excited to experience it.

And as much as he wanted to continue talking with Cain, he wanted the other to have some time away from everyone's attention before going on stage and being the center of it all all over again.

Well, he guesses he deserves that. The man flusters a bit. The comment of making time for him was just so genuine and so up front! This man didn't have a filter at all. Or just ridiculously forward. He clears his throat a bit. "Forward are we?"

Very forward.

"Know me that well already?" Well, to be fair. Jonathan knew more about him than anyone else minus his brother. But comparing anyone's knowledge of him with his brother's was pretty unfair.

Cain is about to leave but pauses. "You can go backstage once it's over. You'll have clearance." He says that before disappearing through the crowd.

The recital might seem rather odd. A stage so large, yet the only person on stage was Cain and his accompany pianist. Still, no one can say that the music and man wasn't completely captivating. He played previous pieces that Jonathan had heard before, but there were many pieces to add to fill the time. There's an intermission before the recital continues.

It's really no surprise when the man receives a standing ovation and he talks a little to thank everyone and a small speech before disappearing to the backstage.

Honestly, it's almost overwhelming to be surrounded by so much elated emotion. It was sweet and one could easily say they could get drunk on the euphoria. It was a pleasant taste and feeling and these nights easily made up for all the socializing and dreadful parties he has attended.

You could say that.

Jonathan was simply being honest. He would have worded that differently if Cain didn't have the ability to read his thoughts but he had no safety net to hide behind when around the other that he might as well say what he meant and just hope for the best.

I may not know you completely but its a start.

Jonathan tilts his head, there was so much he didn't know about the other and he was fine without knowing until the other was ready to reveal such things. If he ever did.

See you then.

He says as Cain walks away, leaving him to battle the crowd for a bit. Eventually, he ended up having to ask for help from one of the ushers to guide him to his seat, upon reaching it he realizes it truly was one of the best seats in the entire hall. Seeing such a grand stage wasn't so much of a surprise compared to the size of the building but to see a lone piano sitting there, it only made the stage seem larger.

Jonathan sat through the performance completely in awe and he's probably one of the first on his feet at the end of it, clapping with a huge grin on his face. At the end of Cain's speech, he retreats to finding a way to get to the backstage. While everyone else erupted into chatter as they lingered in their seats while others made the move to get up and head towards the lobby.

Of course, a member of staff stops him and explains that he was there to visit with Cain before giving his name and he's guiding back to one of the rooms backstage to which he's left alone. He gives a light knock against the door.

Cain...?

"Come in. The door is unlocked," Cain says from inside.

The room is pretty standard of what you expect. Of course, it's filled with countless bouquets of flowers and other gifts from admirers and patrons. Somewhat of a normalcy for the musician.

Said musician was laying on the couch in the room. He had discarded his jacket and vest, which was sitting on the chair and the man was looking over some letters received, although those would most likely be trashed.

He looks up at the other. He looked rather content, which was probably an after effect of all the elated emotions that he had felt through the entire building. "Waiting out all the patrons leaving. It'll be a right mess otherwise."

Jonathan gently opens the door and closes it behind him, a bit amazed by the the amount of flowers and gifts that filled the space. Now feeling a bit empty handed in comparison.

Now, I feel like I should have gotten you flowers.

He's not quite sure he's ever seen so many bouquets in one place that wasn't at a flower shop or the floral section of a store. It certainly made the room very fragrant but not entirely overpowering. Jonathan gently touches a few of the flowers as he walks past them.

The other looked more at ease compared to how he saw him before the recital, not that he probably wasn't before but there weren't any subconscious habits happening that he could see. He walks over to the couch that Cain was laying on and chose to sit on the armrest instead of choosing the chair or standing.

It might take awhile, you pretty much had a full house. Though, I'm surprised you aren't just gonna... ya'know.. teleport instead of waiting.

It made sense to wait, dodge suspicious disappearances and all that especially from those hoping to catch a peek at Cain leaving. He knows how some fans can be sometimes, no matter their status.

"Waste of money. I have no need for this many and they end up getting donated or thrown away. I simply can't make use of all of these," he replies as he waves his hand dismissively. He doesn't really need gifts in the first place. He appreciates them to some extent, but he would still prefer not receiving them.

He snorts a little as he looks up at the other.

"That's because I'm basically drunk. I wouldn't recommend using magic if you're not sober. You'll end up doing some mighty dumb shite." He wasn't worried about it, but he also didn't want to have to concentrate on doing magic when he was coming down from so many euphoric feelings. "Besides, I said you could come backstage. There would be no point in offering if I was just going to immediately head home."

Those with money could afford lavish bouquets and not bat an eye at the cost. It really was a bit overkill though when he really thought about it, though donating them was a better cause than simply throwing them away.

Jonathan looks incredibly confused at the mention of the other being drunk. There wasn't any sort of alcohol to be seen in the room and he's obvious when looks around the space again.

How exactly?

He knows he asks some pretty dumb questions but he also didn't know the extent of Cain's abilities to know how either nor had the other told him except his ability to read thoughts.

However, Cain did make an excellent point when it came to the coming back here. It made sense that he'd stay behind for a bit for whatever reason, even if it was clearly this.

Cain makes no attempt to get up on the couch. He seems terribly comfortable where he is. He would also be much more guarded about such details about himself, but he doesn't apparently seem to care at the moment.

"Psychic. Empath. It manifests in different ways for others, but I can taste emotions," Cain says as he turns onto his side a bit. "They don't really have a distinct flavor, but certain emotions are more pleasing to my palette than others."

He grins at the other a bit. "I prefer positive emotions. Strong emotions. It makes sex particularly enjoying for instance," Cain adds shamelessly. "You can imagine being in an auditorium full of it though."

Emotions. Flavors? It was strange to associate the two.

Taste emotions... huh? I mean, that makes sense.

Jonathan was rather clueless about such things revolving around magic and that particular realm of abilities, trying to piece the information together which wasn't too difficult. He can certainly see how a full house of positive emotion could get one 'drunk'.

How that must feel like.

At the mention of positive emotions making activities like sex more enjoyable, that's when he feels his face get warmer and his train of thought sputter to a complete stop.

It almost seemed like he completely blue screened but he's also desperately trying not to think anything that the other could easily read or tease him with. It was just an example to be compared with but it just felt thrown out there completely out of the blue. Whose first comparison to anything is sex? Man, does he need to get out more.

He's definitely quiet a some time, too lost in his head and some of those thoughts probably slipped. He lightly covers his face with his hand after a long while, having to pull his head out of the gutter.

Cain start to laugh and actually sits up from where he was lying with a sly little smile. "Sex has a lot of strong and positive emotions involved with it." So it just seemed like it was worth mentioning, although the other was probably a lot more clean cut. He played at enough clubs (not that he needed the money) that he was possibly just used to getting himself out there. "The taste of lust and passion just happens to be some of my favorite," he says with a bit of a grin.

He rests his arms on the same arm of the couch that Jonathan was sitting on as he looks up at the other. The other tasted rather nice right now. He also enjoyed the taste of embarrassment amongst other things the other was feeling.

"Your thoughts are a right mess, darling." He's totally messing with the other right now.

Jonathan was sure if Cain didn't have the ability of mind reading that he wouldn't be quite the mess that he was. With no real safe place to store such thoughts, they pretty much made themselves at the forefront and he's having trouble pushing them away.

He gets now that sex had a variety of strong emotions involved and how intoxicating that much feel for the other on top of physical pleasure.

Cain keeps talking and it only makes things worse. Lust and passion. What did those taste like?

He can hear the other shift closer towards him and just when he thought he might some sort of hold on his thoughts, Cain says that and sends him spiraling again.

Jonathan slides his hand down his face, feeling just how warm he'd become in a matter of minutes. Huffing out a breath in an effort to calm his nerves, he glances over at the other, a smirk curling in the corner of his mouth.

You're terrible, you know that?

His thoughts were a terrible mess still.

"They're warm. Sweet," Cain answers. Just incase the other really wanted to know. "You can say I've got a bit of a sweet tooth." It's hard to really explain it. There was a flavor, but also a feeling of course. It's not always a temperature either. Emotions were difficult to explain as they were difficult in general.

He laughs a bit at that. "I don't know what you mean. I have been nothing but a stellar host."

The man grins at the other though. "Going to do something about it?" He knows better than to play, but he's enjoying himself tonight it seems. "Me being terrible or your thoughts, that is. They aren't mutually exclusive though, I suppose."

Jonathan is just making it too easy for him.

That certainly answers that question and now, he's curious as to what other might taste like. Even the negative or heated ones.

He huffs a little laugh at that. Cain wasn't wrong though, the other has always been an exceptional host.

Jonathan wanted to act on such unexpected emotions. The only thing holding himself back was that he didn't want to ruin this odd friendship they've made. He can't even remember the last time he might've gotten laid, since he had a tendency to give his focus entirely to work to the point he gets teased by his various teams by it.

He liked Cain. As the other has teased him about it before, he did find him ridiculously attractive. And he'd be lying if he said he hasn't thought about it. But there was another hurdle in his way, he only ever mentioned his ability to heal but he doesn't remember ever telling the other what he was.

Then there was the problems that presented in the sense that he had a tendency to lose control when he wasn't fully concentrating on it to some degree, partial shifting wasn't everyone's cup of tea in the bedroom. It was something he's struggled with keeping in check since he was a kid. It was kind of unfair he got the short stick on that one compared to his siblings. And maybe this is him just over thinking everything but he just didn't want to screw something like this up.

Jonathan turns his head to look at the other proper. He swallows thickly as he hesitantly reaches out to cup the other's face.

I... Do you...want to...?

Its not much of a question but being an embarrassed heap of nerves wasn't helping him in this.

Cain wasn't the type of man to commit. Sex was just sex to the man. He enjoyed and he liked the physicality of it, but it wasn't only about the physical pleasure than anything else. One night stands or friends with benefits were fine, but he certainly wasn't interested in a committed relationship.

Feared it.

He licks his lips with a smirk before he grabs the front of Jonathan's shirt and drags him down into a heated kiss. He only parts for a moment; his breathe warm. "You're thinking too much on this. Just enjoy it," he says in a whisper before going back to kissing the other.

Maybe he was just a bit too promiscuous of a person and Jonathan wasn't that kind of person, but Jonathan also didn't say no.

Cain idly points to the dressing room door and twirls his finger. The sound of the door locking can be heard before his hand moves to get lost in Jonathan's hair. "If you don't want to. Say so now." He'll stop, even if he rather keep going.

There were very different people and what they wanted were very different things. One feared being committed while the other longed for it. He doesn't know if this would change anything between them or knock them both into a different territory but he's not about to think on possibilities.

Jonathan goes easy as Cain pulls him into the kiss, placing a hand on the back of the couch for support so he didn't totally fall on top of the other. He listens to the other. Letting himself shove the flurry of thoughts and focus purely on this. On the man in front of him and nothing else. He thinks the other's name softly like it was some sort of answer while he returns the kiss with as much want as he could muster.

Cain...

There was a certain thrill this carried as he heard the click of the lock. Knowing they were at the mercy of time since he can't imagine it would take that much longer for the patrons to leave the building and the eventual moment a member of staff comes knocking.

He finds how easy it was to sort of melt against the other's touch as he feels fingers in his hair. Like they were somehow always meant to be there. It definitely brings his nerves down a notch as he smiles.

I'm the one who asked. Kind of... but don't stop.

Maybe he gives his heart away too easily or he's reading too much into something so simple.

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