Valerian followed closely behind, watching his feet to make sure he didn't step on any of the bottles or random pieces of fabric (articles of clothing?), and generic trash that had been thrown about. He looked up at Art again, who was looking off to the side, and Valerian's gaze followed his, pausing on the man who was being undressed. He felt his chest tighten at the look on his face, already able to identify the feeling but not sure what to do about it. He pulled his gaze away and back towards the stairs, but the image lingered in his mind, as as he made the trek upwards he was becoming aware that his belt was feeling a little tighter than it had a moment ago. Bugger.
He tried to shake the thoughts from his head as they reached the top of the stairs, all too aware that this was the cousin of his that he had, probably on more than one occasion, tried to impress while at school. He didn't want to be the weird one—not here, too. Valerian fell into step with Arthur as he slowed down, and his eyes began to dart around, looking for the room in question.
"Don't worry," he said, thinking of all the hours he'd spent in filthy greenhouses and grimy potion benches working to get as much experience as he could before graduation. Art's room couldn't be nearly as bad. "I'm not afraid of a little mess," he said, smiling at Art, trying to be reassuring.
He tried to shake the thoughts from his head as they reached the top of the stairs, all too aware that this was the cousin of his that he had, probably on more than one occasion, tried to impress while at school. He didn't want to be the weird one—not here, too. Valerian fell into step with Arthur as he slowed down, and his eyes began to dart around, looking for the room in question.
"Don't worry," he said, thinking of all the hours he'd spent in filthy greenhouses and grimy potion benches working to get as much experience as he could before graduation. Art's room couldn't be nearly as bad. "I'm not afraid of a little mess," he said, smiling at Art, trying to be reassuring.
