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[ragnarsson]

This is Ivar. Leave a message. Maybe I'll get back to you. Maybe I won't.

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[devilsandangels]

Alfred doesn’t know why, or doesn’t acknowledge why, his face turns red at Ivar’s comment. It’s the truth. He fully enjoys having Ivar around, close. Ivar is someone he certainly doesn’t want to lose, in part, because of that combined with their friendship already.

The young king paces, frustrated with Ivar over it all. “Why are you in such a hurry to die and leave me?” Alfred said and it’s not something he intended to say, at least not like that. The worry and sadness is clear enough in his voice even if he won’t show his face directly to Ivar. “I do not enjoy seeing you pained.”

[ragnarsson]

Ivar likewise has come to rely on Alfred's company. Now that he knows what having a friend is like, a great fear is losing him, or doing something to alienate him so far that Alfred wants nothing to do with him.

Fortunately, Alfred seems to have the patience of a saint, so even going as far as Ivar tends to do hasn't managed to push him away just yet.

He tries to read the expression on Alfred's face, but the English king has turned away from him, preventing Ivar from seeing what he's thinking. He doesn't want to hurt Alfred by worrying him more than necessary. When his pacing brings him close to Ivar again, the Viking's fingers close gently around his friend's wrist to make him stop. "I don't want to leave you, Alfred. But fighting is in my blood and I cannot deny it."

His thumb rests lightly on Alfred's pulse point. He can feel the heartbeat present there just under the skin. "Pain is something I deal with every day. A little more or less doesn't bother me anymore."

[devilsandangels]

Alfred stops short at the touch, his pulse picking up and his skin heating at the contact, the affects that Ivar has on him can be infuriating at times. It's hard to think of an argument when Ivar's points are so clear and rather difficult to argue with. He doesn't pull away, though, even if he still isn't quite looking at the Viking. The fact that there's nothing he can say to sway Ivar makes him feel a little sullen.

"It bothers me. There are always more battles, must this be one you have to fight?" Alfred's more angry responses had slipped into a more pleading tone. "I don't know what I would do if I lost you."

He does finally look at Ivar and there's a conflict on his face. It's a tormented idea when he thinks of it too long, because eventually would they not end up pitted against one another?

[ragnarsson]

The touch grounds Ivar, keeping him from that anger and insanity always so close beneath the surface. Alfred has a strange way of keeping him rational. "Would you rather I stay here with you and be unhappy, untrue to who I am?"

It's an unfair question and a manipulative one, but Ivar is intent on getting his way in this one thing. His fingers slip down from Alfred's wrist to his hand and he squeezes it reassuringly. "If at all possible, I will always return to you."

[devilsandangels]

The question is very unfair and it clearly spikes Alfred’s temper that hasn’t completely abated.

“Do not manipulate me, Ivar,” Alfred has enough of it from Judith. But he didn’t pull away from him and his rebellious heart skips a beat when Ivar squeezes his hand. He can’t think of anything to say so he squeezes his hand back and then drops down heavily beside Ivar, his head going to his shoulder.

It probably won’t be the last of the flack Ivar gets about the situation though.