(I have power again! After four days. And I was told to expect more outages. Woot.)
(I think I should put a TW on this for suicide attempt? I mean, it's the scene from the movie so you were probably expecting it but, you know.)
Gellert puts his hand on Credence's knee under the table, squeezing possessively. Credence's stomach turns as he pushes his food around his plate with a fork. He wants to rip Gellert's hand off his leg or maybe stab him with his salad fork. He keeps his eyes trained on his plate and his posture straight as he tries not to scream.
The dinning room is full of first class guests, all clamoring away over their wine and caviar. Their table is full of the elite of the ship but he can barely remember anyone's name. Credence is not following the conversation at all, not that it matters. His job here is to sit next to Gellert, looking pretty and demure.
He bites down hard on the inside of his cheek as Gellert's hand slowly moves from his knee to his inner thigh.
Abruptly, Credence scoots his chair back and rises to his feet. Gellert whips his head around, shooting his fiance a warning glare. As he opens his mouth to make some remark, Credence interrupts him.
“I'm so sorry, darling,” He says in a rush, tone soft and submissive. “Please, excuse me. I'm feeling a bit faint and need some air.” He keeps his eyes down, avoiding the meeting anyone's eye.
“Very well,” Gellert dismisses, turning his attention back to the other men gathered at the table. Credence manages not to run from the table, but only just.
Once on the deck, Credence does start to run. He can't help it. He needs to get away, as far as he can while trapped on this damn boat.
Graves is laying out on one of the many benches covering the deck, smoking a cigarette as he watches the stars. He can feel the constant rock of the boat while he listens to loud, joyous conversations in the background.
The peace is broken by the sudden sound of crying as someone runs past. Graves lifts himself up, watching the well dressed young man running as though someone is chasing him. Instinct takes over and he pushes himself to his feet, following after the mysterious boy.
Credence hits the rail with a sob, gripping the cold metal tightly as he stares down at the waves breaking against the ship. He thinks of Gellert and the wedding night that awaits him back in America. Gellert is clearly looking forward to the event. His lingering touches have been increasing in frequency the closer the wedding gets.
“Little bird,” He said several nights before they departed on the Titanic, 'I bet you'll cry so beautifully the first time I take you.” He cooed it as though it was something Credence should be excited about. The thought has Credence climbing over the rail. He holds tightly onto the bar behind him, staring down into the dark water. He'll die either way, he thinks. At least this will be faster.
“Don't do it.”
The voice startles him so badly he nearly lets go. He looks over his shoulder to see a stranger in shabby clothes. “Stay back,” He warns, voice not holding as much authority as he would like. “Don't come any closer.”
The man continues to walk toward him slowly, holding his hand out. “Come on,” he urges gently, “Just give me your hand, I'll pull you back over.”
“No! Stay where you are. I mean it. I'll, I'll let go.” Credence's voice wavers as he looks from the stranger back to the sea.
The man holds up his cigarette, taking one last drag before edging closer to the railing and tossing it over the edge. He puts his hands in his pockets, posture casual and friendly as he glances over the edge of the boat. “No you won't,” he says finally.
“What do you mean?” Credence demands. “Don't presume to – You don't know me.”
“I can't do that,” he tells him reasonably. “I'm involved now.” He starts pulling off his jacket, letting it fall behind him. “See, if you go in, I'll have to go in after you.”
Credence gawks at the man. “Don't be ridiculous. You'll die.”
The man just shrugs as he starts to pull off his boots. “I can swim.”
Credence glances back at the water. “The fall will kill you.”
“It'll hurt,” he agrees, coming up to lean against the railing beside Credence, “I'm not denying that. Truthfully, I'm more worried about how cold that water is.”
Credence looks back down at the swirling water. “How cold?”
Graves whistles as he leans against the railing casually. “Freezing. Probably below. Water like that, when it hits you,” he shakes his head. “That's what I'd be worried about.”
Credence trembles, grip feeling loser by the second. He takes a deep, steadying breath before turning his worried eyes back to the stranger. The man reaches his hand out toward Credence. “Come on, take me hand. You don't want to do this.”
With a sigh and quick decision, Credence reaches out one hand to grab the stranger's. He turns back around slowly, holding onto the man tightly for support. He grin when Credence is fully facing him. “Percival Graves,” he introduces. “It's a pleasure to meet you.”
Credence huffs out a thin laugh. “Credence Barebone.”
Graves chuckles at that. “That's a name I think I'll remember.”
Credence flushes, ducking his head.
“Come on, let's get you off this thing.”
As Credence is stepping up to the second rail, his foot slips and he falls, armpits catching on the top rail. Graves grabs him tightly, hauling him up as Credence lets out a shocked scream. As he pulls him back over, Graves losses his footing and they both go tumbling onto the deck. Credence lands hard, his right shoulder taking most of the fall. Graves lifts himself up, leaning over the boy.
“Are you alright?” he asks, brushing Credence's hair back gently.
“I think so.”
“Hey! Hey!” Graves pulls back, heading shooting up to see two guards running toward them. Oh, great. This definitely isn't going to look good. He tries to pull away from Credence but it is too late. “Get away from him!” One of the guards demands even though Graves is already doing that.
“It's not like that,” he defends, holding his hands up. “I wasn't-”
“Shut up.”
“It's okay,” Credence says meekly as the other guard helps him to his feet. “He was-”
“Credence? There you are!”
Credence goes still and silent and the new voice, warily glancing toward Gellert rushing toward the scene. Of course he found them. Credence looks woefully toward the ocean, almost regretting his choice. Though he is still mostly thankful for the stranger pulling him back.
“What is going on here?” Gellert demands as he approaches, taking in Credence's rumpled state and the man being held back by one of the guards. He rushes to Credence, cupping his cheek. “Darling, are you alright? Have you been hurt?”
“No, no. I'm fine-”
“We found the young man, looking startled, on the ground with this man hovering him,” He guard restraining Grave's explains.
“That's not-” Credence tries to explain but Gellert is whirling toward Graves, looking furious.
“Who the hell do you think you are, laying your filthy hands on my fiance?” He demands, grabbing Grave's by the collard. The guard allows this, letting go of him and stepping back.
“Hey! I didn't do-”
“He saved me!” Credence insists loudly, stepping in from of Gellert with a surprisingly defiant look on his face. “I was trying to tell them but no one would listen to me.”
“Saved you?” Gellert asks curiously, loosening his grip but not letting go completely.
“I... Well, see, I was leaning over the railing and I slipped. If Mr. Graves hadn't been walking by, I could have on,” Credence explains, hoping that sounds like a reasonable explanation.
Gellert finally released Graves, turning back toward Credence with a long suffering sigh. “Leaning over the railing?”
Credence chews his lip, eyes downcast. “Yes, it was silly, really. I'm so sorry for making your worry,” he says demurely, looking up through his lashes.
Gellert sighs again before pulling Credence into a hug. It takes the younger man a moment to reciprocate, his down to hide his slight grimace. Graves watches this exchange with a deep frown. “Well then,” Gellert announces after releasing Credences. “It seems as though I owe you an apology and a thank you, Mr. Graves, was it?”
“A bit more than that, I should think.” Credence pips up. “For saving my life,” he adds quickly. “Don't you think, darling?”
“Oh, yes. Of course,” Gellert chuckles. “Anything to please you,” he says with a slight note of condescension. He turns his attention back to Grave's, looking him up and down. “Mr. Graves, come to dinner with us tomorrow night. You can regale us all with your tale of heroism.”
Graves regards him with a half smile, hands in his pockets and his posture generally disrpectful. “Alright,” he says after a long moment, eyes flicking briefly toward Credence. “I'm in.”
As Gellert whisks him off, arm draped possessively over his shoulders, Credence dares a glance over back at the man who helped him. Graves flashes him a small smile and a wink. Credence flushes and looks down, feeling his eyes on them as they walk away.
(End note: I always thought "Meet Cute over a suicide attempt" was a weird way to go but it also kind of really fits with these two so...)
Re: Original!Graves/Credence Titanic AU 2/?
(I think I should put a TW on this for suicide attempt? I mean, it's the scene from the movie so you were probably expecting it but, you know.)
Gellert puts his hand on Credence's knee under the table, squeezing possessively. Credence's stomach turns as he pushes his food around his plate with a fork. He wants to rip Gellert's hand off his leg or maybe stab him with his salad fork. He keeps his eyes trained on his plate and his posture straight as he tries not to scream.
The dinning room is full of first class guests, all clamoring away over their wine and caviar. Their table is full of the elite of the ship but he can barely remember anyone's name. Credence is not following the conversation at all, not that it matters. His job here is to sit next to Gellert, looking pretty and demure.
He bites down hard on the inside of his cheek as Gellert's hand slowly moves from his knee to his inner thigh.
Abruptly, Credence scoots his chair back and rises to his feet. Gellert whips his head around, shooting his fiance a warning glare. As he opens his mouth to make some remark, Credence interrupts him.
“I'm so sorry, darling,” He says in a rush, tone soft and submissive. “Please, excuse me. I'm feeling a bit faint and need some air.” He keeps his eyes down, avoiding the meeting anyone's eye.
“Very well,” Gellert dismisses, turning his attention back to the other men gathered at the table. Credence manages not to run from the table, but only just.
Once on the deck, Credence does start to run. He can't help it. He needs to get away, as far as he can while trapped on this damn boat.
Graves is laying out on one of the many benches covering the deck, smoking a cigarette as he watches the stars. He can feel the constant rock of the boat while he listens to loud, joyous conversations in the background.
The peace is broken by the sudden sound of crying as someone runs past. Graves lifts himself up, watching the well dressed young man running as though someone is chasing him. Instinct takes over and he pushes himself to his feet, following after the mysterious boy.
Credence hits the rail with a sob, gripping the cold metal tightly as he stares down at the waves breaking against the ship. He thinks of Gellert and the wedding night that awaits him back in America. Gellert is clearly looking forward to the event. His lingering touches have been increasing in frequency the closer the wedding gets.
“Little bird,” He said several nights before they departed on the Titanic, 'I bet you'll cry so beautifully the first time I take you.” He cooed it as though it was something Credence should be excited about. The thought has Credence climbing over the rail. He holds tightly onto the bar behind him, staring down into the dark water. He'll die either way, he thinks. At least this will be faster.
“Don't do it.”
The voice startles him so badly he nearly lets go. He looks over his shoulder to see a stranger in shabby clothes. “Stay back,” He warns, voice not holding as much authority as he would like. “Don't come any closer.”
The man continues to walk toward him slowly, holding his hand out. “Come on,” he urges gently, “Just give me your hand, I'll pull you back over.”
“No! Stay where you are. I mean it. I'll, I'll let go.” Credence's voice wavers as he looks from the stranger back to the sea.
The man holds up his cigarette, taking one last drag before edging closer to the railing and tossing it over the edge. He puts his hands in his pockets, posture casual and friendly as he glances over the edge of the boat. “No you won't,” he says finally.
“What do you mean?” Credence demands. “Don't presume to – You don't know me.”
“You would have done it already,” he reasons.
“You're distracting me,” Credence accuses. “Go away!”
“I can't do that,” he tells him reasonably. “I'm involved now.” He starts pulling off his jacket, letting it fall behind him. “See, if you go in, I'll have to go in after you.”
Credence gawks at the man. “Don't be ridiculous. You'll die.”
The man just shrugs as he starts to pull off his boots. “I can swim.”
Credence glances back at the water. “The fall will kill you.”
“It'll hurt,” he agrees, coming up to lean against the railing beside Credence, “I'm not denying that. Truthfully, I'm more worried about how cold that water is.”
Credence looks back down at the swirling water. “How cold?”
Graves whistles as he leans against the railing casually. “Freezing. Probably below. Water like that, when it hits you,” he shakes his head. “That's what I'd be worried about.”
Credence trembles, grip feeling loser by the second. He takes a deep, steadying breath before turning his worried eyes back to the stranger. The man reaches his hand out toward Credence. “Come on, take me hand. You don't want to do this.”
With a sigh and quick decision, Credence reaches out one hand to grab the stranger's. He turns back around slowly, holding onto the man tightly for support. He grin when Credence is fully facing him. “Percival Graves,” he introduces. “It's a pleasure to meet you.”
Credence huffs out a thin laugh. “Credence Barebone.”
Graves chuckles at that. “That's a name I think I'll remember.”
Credence flushes, ducking his head.
“Come on, let's get you off this thing.”
As Credence is stepping up to the second rail, his foot slips and he falls, armpits catching on the top rail. Graves grabs him tightly, hauling him up as Credence lets out a shocked scream. As he pulls him back over, Graves losses his footing and they both go tumbling onto the deck. Credence lands hard, his right shoulder taking most of the fall. Graves lifts himself up, leaning over the boy.
“Are you alright?” he asks, brushing Credence's hair back gently.
“I think so.”
“Hey! Hey!” Graves pulls back, heading shooting up to see two guards running toward them. Oh, great. This definitely isn't going to look good. He tries to pull away from Credence but it is too late. “Get away from him!” One of the guards demands even though Graves is already doing that.
“It's not like that,” he defends, holding his hands up. “I wasn't-”
“Shut up.”
“It's okay,” Credence says meekly as the other guard helps him to his feet. “He was-”
“Credence? There you are!”
Credence goes still and silent and the new voice, warily glancing toward Gellert rushing toward the scene. Of course he found them. Credence looks woefully toward the ocean, almost regretting his choice. Though he is still mostly thankful for the stranger pulling him back.
“What is going on here?” Gellert demands as he approaches, taking in Credence's rumpled state and the man being held back by one of the guards. He rushes to Credence, cupping his cheek. “Darling, are you alright? Have you been hurt?”
“No, no. I'm fine-”
“We found the young man, looking startled, on the ground with this man hovering him,” He guard restraining Grave's explains.
“That's not-” Credence tries to explain but Gellert is whirling toward Graves, looking furious.
“Who the hell do you think you are, laying your filthy hands on my fiance?” He demands, grabbing Grave's by the collard. The guard allows this, letting go of him and stepping back.
“Hey! I didn't do-”
“He saved me!” Credence insists loudly, stepping in from of Gellert with a surprisingly defiant look on his face. “I was trying to tell them but no one would listen to me.”
“Saved you?” Gellert asks curiously, loosening his grip but not letting go completely.
“I... Well, see, I was leaning over the railing and I slipped. If Mr. Graves hadn't been walking by, I could have on,” Credence explains, hoping that sounds like a reasonable explanation.
Gellert finally released Graves, turning back toward Credence with a long suffering sigh. “Leaning over the railing?”
Credence chews his lip, eyes downcast. “Yes, it was silly, really. I'm so sorry for making your worry,” he says demurely, looking up through his lashes.
Gellert sighs again before pulling Credence into a hug. It takes the younger man a moment to reciprocate, his down to hide his slight grimace. Graves watches this exchange with a deep frown. “Well then,” Gellert announces after releasing Credences. “It seems as though I owe you an apology and a thank you, Mr. Graves, was it?”
“A bit more than that, I should think.” Credence pips up. “For saving my life,” he adds quickly. “Don't you think, darling?”
“Oh, yes. Of course,” Gellert chuckles. “Anything to please you,” he says with a slight note of condescension. He turns his attention back to Grave's, looking him up and down. “Mr. Graves, come to dinner with us tomorrow night. You can regale us all with your tale of heroism.”
Graves regards him with a half smile, hands in his pockets and his posture generally disrpectful. “Alright,” he says after a long moment, eyes flicking briefly toward Credence. “I'm in.”
As Gellert whisks him off, arm draped possessively over his shoulders, Credence dares a glance over back at the man who helped him. Graves flashes him a small smile and a wink. Credence flushes and looks down, feeling his eyes on them as they walk away.
(End note: I always thought "Meet Cute over a suicide attempt" was a weird way to go but it also kind of really fits with these two so...)