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Illuga's Poor Decisions

Chapter 1/2

Rating: Explicit Words: 19,699 words out of 26,435 Relationships: Flins x Illuga Summary: Throughout his adulthood, Illuga had grown a coping mechanism for his stress that most would find... uncharacteristic. To say Flins was blindsided discovering this was an understatement. Now he intends on making his feelings on it, and his feelings for Illuga as a whole, as explicit as possible, even if it means revealing his true nature. Tags/Content Warnings: archon quest spoilers, OOC for plot, porn with plot, casual sex, one night stands, sex as a coping mechanism, unhealthy coping mechanisms, sex as self harm, drunk sex, Illuga/OC and Illuga/NPC scenes with no strings attached, one (1) scene Illuga/Varka with no strings attached, <== none of that is with Flins so let's move on, miscommunication, Illuga's thinly veiled age gap fetish, Illuga is stressed, Flins is pathetic, possessive Flins, kind of yandere Flins, light noncon, dubious consent, forced consent, eventual consent, attempted and prevented grooming (everyone say thank you to Nikita), forced drinking/babybirding (it's water), choking, fae magic, hypnotic suggestion, mind control, magic sedatives, minor sedation, threat of imprisonment, possessive sex, switching, verse, shoulder blades as erogenous zone, wings as erogenous zone, hair pulling, degradation, worship, mating bites, neck injury, blood, oral, dick biting, anal fingering, anal, slime condensate as lube, marathon sex, cumdrunk, smash and dash, getting together, <== yeah they walk away from this both reciprocating, miscommunication

[ao3 link]

Now Illuga wasn't one to sleep around.

Or at least… He didn't think he did it enough to be cause for any worry.

He'd never dated anyone, he kind of had a lot of more important things going on! and his focus should always be on protecting Nod Krai from the Wild Hunt! So his… outings were neither often nor consistent.

It started with a drink, most poor decisions did. Illuga however was not the one drunk, he only had one pint of an admittedly weak ale in his system. Rollon however was definitely tipsy. Illuga had been excited and perhaps been a bit too insistent that night. It wasn't like Rollon was that impaired anyway, he'd assured him multiple times of that. He had let Illuga take the lead and they'd gone slow. It wasn't a bad memory, though both agreed later they shouldn't have done it. Still, the two joked about it sometimes and it never felt awkward. Illuga was glad his first time was with someone he'd already known long enough to feel comfortable. It was… a learning experience, and a positive one.

He did make a hard line not to do stuff like that with any other lightkeepers in the future though. He was lucky it wasn't weird with Rollon, he didn't want to risk it being different.

But that said nothing about the other factions in Nod Krai.

There was this Fatui recruit, Mikhail. The man was a year older than Illuga, but was more nervous and unsure of himself than Illuga ever was with sex. Illuga briefly wondered if he would've been like that had his first time been with a stranger. He did not ask Mikhail if it actually was his first time, it seemed pretty obvious so he'd save the man the awkward conversation. He had to take it slow, he had to be gentle, he had to whisper praise in the guy's ear and treat him like a skittish prey animal beneath him. He even tried to coax the guy into topping just to raise some of his confidence, but he was too skittish for it. Illuga cleaned himself off and left before Mikhail could even ask him to stay a little longer. At least he got off some steam, but it wasn't enough.

There was a Knight of Favonius, Ulrike. She too was just looking for some stress relief and thought a young thing like Illuga could help. She'd twirled the strap hanging from his chest harness around her finger while they talked around they fire. She was nowhere near drunk, he watched her nurse only a single glass over an hour, but she still smelled of sweet dandelion wine. She'd pulled him by his harness into her tent when the rest of the knights and ratniki at the little party were too drunk to notice. She was far older than him, far more experienced, knew exactly what she wanted, and seemed to know every button of his to tease. He later found out she had a son, one that was even older than him, and that should have bothered him. His brain kept saying that was wrong, but it didn't faze him in the slightest. Maybe that was a problem. He didn't think about it. He's stayed in her tent until morning, leaving before anyone else woke up.

There was another Knight, Laurent. Laurent had been so insistent, so Illuga let himself relax as Laurent kissed the scars marring his back and sucked him off like a man starved.

Grandmaster Varka was on night watch when he tried sneaking off in the death of night and clapped him on the back with a laugh. He bit the inside of his cheek and tried to hide his flushed face behind his hand.

Then there was a mercenary working for a merchant caravan, Lydia if he remembered correctly. He and his team happened to be in the right place at the right time to help defend the merchants from a sudden outbreak of the Wild Hunt. As a sign of gratitude, they insisted the Nightmare Orioles joined them for a warm meal. Illuga doesn't remember how he ended up in Lydia's tent, but he remembered how big she was, how rough she was, how his voice had been hoarse the next morning… How he got teased by his team when he eventually got back to camp with a slight limp. At least Lydia had cleared his mind…

Then there was an adventurer, Aster. Illuga had been making the trip to Nasha Town and saw Aster cornered by monsters, he didn't think twice before rushing in to help. Once again Illuga was put in a position of ending up in a bed because he was being thanked. Aster was… pliable and durable, but had almost no endurance. Illuga had to do a lot of the work. Still, Aster was warm and Illuga melted into all the kisses and whispers of "thank you" into his ear. He didn't realize he looked far rougher than the night had been. Aster scratched up his back and shoulders, and there had been hickies and bite marks he didn't even feel them leave. Some marks were unfortunately not covered by his sweater and he zipped his coat up higher when he was teased the following day. He'd actually slept with Aster a second time, many months later. They had gotten better by that next time, and the marks they left were easily hidden.

These were all distractions. It was stress relief. It was for fun.

He was very stressed the past few months.

Abyssal activity was only getting worse all across Nod Krai. Wind Hunt outbreaks were more frequent, more severe. The eye looming on Kipumaki Cliff filled him with an unimaginable dread, its whispers haunted his every idle day and night.

Flins wouldn't tell him what had been going on.

The lighthouse keeper he hesitantly called his friend had been more reclusive than normal with him, only for Illuga to learn just how much Flins had been helping the Grandmaster, the Lady Moonchanter, and "the Honorary Knight," as he'd recalled the other knights calling her. Flins was off on life or death missions with people who were largely strangers to him and wouldn't tell his "young master" anything about it. How was Illuga supposed to not worry about it? He wanted to tear his hair out!

[He slipped a pouch of mora and a note to the Curatorium's runner. A letter was delivered back to him in two days from Lady Nefer saying she would tell him if something happened to Flins, but that she couldn't share anything more. The Starshyna would be the first to know if the Ratniki were needed, not some captain, no matter how much it concerned him. She had worded it far better than that, but he could read between the flowing lines of deep green ink. He crumbled the letter in his fists in frustration, but flattened it out when he'd eventually settled back down. He put it back in the envelope with Nefer's stamp still intact and shoved it in his desk drawer. He was still annoyed she'd kept the mora while giving him nothing of substance in return.]

So perhaps with this stress, he made some more ill advised decisions.

He didn't even know the names of some of the people he was sleeping with now. He didn't even know if he had been touching these people in ways they even enjoyed after a while, but he felt good so he found he stopped caring. The tension in his shoulders relaxed and his nightmares could be pushed back to other nights. He could just enjoy nights of people gasping his name from underneath him or the warmth of thighs pillowing his head. He could relish in the tingling numbness when he found someone to plow into him until his brain stopped working.

It wasn't like it was every day! It was barely once a week! Twice a week tops!

He was still focused on his job, that was always his top priority.

But his job was driving him more than a little insane at the moment, so excuse him for seeking something to cope!

He saw Aster again, he had been the one to seek them out when he heard they were back in Nod Krai for some stupid reason. Aster almost didn't agree. They saw his arm bandaged up and he had to insist it wasn't anything serious before they agreed. It genuinely wasn't serious, just some slightly too deep scrapes that were more itchy than painful. (He didn't want to think about who else had gotten injured that night, on what should have been just a normal patrol, how he walked out of there with barely any damage in comparison.)

What had really hurt was his neck from his sleeping sitting upright in short bursts over the past few days (or maybe over a week). Aster had massaged his neck and shoulders and kissed along his scars. (He'd gotten more since he'd last slept with them.) He let his mind buzz and his body melt into the mattress. Aster had no toy to use on him, but their hands were enough and he was sure to return the favor after. It was lazy and warm and he needed it. He didn't realize just how much he'd needed a less rough night until there were some tears stinging his eyes. He really shouldn't have been the one crying when Aster was the one folded tightly in half under him, but he still choked down a sob. He apologized afterwards and left the Flagship when he was clean. He didn't think he should see Aster again… Mostly because he felt bad for making it uncomfortable.

He didn't have sex again for some time after that. Not that his attitude changed, but Nod Krai somehow got even more dangerous than it already was. He had no time to sneak away.

So there were energy fields forming in Nod Krai doing who knows what to whatever was swallowed by them, so the traveler was kidnapped by a Fatui Harbinger that was going mad with power, so everyone was being told to evacuate Nod Krai!

So Flins was apparently cursed and not giving him any other information besides an agreement to come back in one piece.

Illuga was going to drop dead of a heart attack and he was only twenty four.

Nikita and Aedon both watched Illuga with worry as he paced back and forth at the dock in Snezhnaya. Aedon came out of the oath lantern at first to try settling his partner, but Illuga was too antsy and unaware of his presence for it to matter. So his familiar instead flew to sit on the Starshyna's shoulder. If it couldn't help its partner, it could at least try calming his father down a little. The old man pet it gently as it nuzzled for warmth against his neck. There was nothing either could do to settle the young captain at the moment.

Eventually after two days of waiting with bated breath, the energy fields disappeared and the weather cleared up. Illuga was perhaps too insistent on being one of the first to go back to Nod Krai. After all, Aedon could fly back and deliver the all clear faster than any ship could turn around. He was the most sensible choice.

His squad and father all looked at the bags under his eyes and wondered if there really was anything sensible about it…

Anleifr insisted on going with him in case it truly wasn't as safe as it seemed. Illuga didn't argue as long as it meant he didn't have to wait any longer. Illuga and Nikita hugged each other tight before they left, a rare kiss on the top of his son's head. The rest of the Orioles brought him and Anleifr into a group hug too. Everyone was stressed, everyone was worried, everyone was exhausted, Illuga reminded himself it wasn't just him.

He and Anleifr didn't speak much on the boat ride south. Aedon didn't stay in the lantern, he was antsy too. However, there were whales breaching the surface as they sailed, heading toward Nod Krai. That was truly the best indication that the storm had passed. If animals thought it was safe to return to familiar waters, Illuga trusted it.

They saw the dock on the eastern shore of Ashveil Peak. The was where one of the Fatui outposts had been… There was smoke coming from the remains of a broken open roof, like there was an explosion, like there was a fight.

"Anleifr, we should dock there." He pointed out off the starboard bow. The man was already steering before Illuga said anything. He gripped tight onto the railing. "Aedon, fly ahead and see if anyone needs help."

Thankfully the ride to shore wasn't much longer and Illuga felt a rush of relief fill him when he saw Flins in the distance. Flins and the Lady Moonchanter were assisting Lady Nefer stumbling out of the smoldering building.

Aedon chirped and circled the exhausted heroes. Flins smiled at it and somehow Illuga could see the smile turn his way from even this far out.

The first words out of Flins mouth when they'd made it to the dock was "Young Master Illuga, as promised, I have made it out in one piece." with a bow of his head and teasing lilt to his voice, as if it was never that serious. Illuga didn't know whether to hug or slap the man. For Lady Nefer's sake, he did neither.

"It's over?" Anleifr asked, rushing to help Nefer onto the boat. She looked relieved to have a boat back to Nasha Town and not have to be carried much longer.

"Yes. It is." A woman Illuga had never seen before spoke softly. Illuga thought she looked like the statues, but… He had too many other concerns to ask anything. She didn't say anything else, just hummed and sat between Lumine and Lady Lauma on the ride south.

Illuga finally realized that the smudges on Lady Nefer's face were from blood and not just her makeup. He rushed to grab the med kit and wordlessly offered it to Lady Lauma who thanked him softly before immediately getting to work. Everyone had looked worn out, but none looked anywhere near as roughed up as Lady Nefer.

Illuga didn't pry, it wasn't the time. Though Grandmaster Varka, the traveler, and Paimon all looked at him a few times like they were expecting questions. Anleifr didn't speak up either.

Aedon flew off once they were sailing again. He would make the flight back to Snezhnaya alone and return with Nikita later. Illuga's chest grew colder and emptier the greater the distance between them grew. Flins moved to sit at Illuga's side wordlessly and their lanterns between them brought Illuga some warmth, but hardly any comfort. He zoned out as the others talked tiredly amongst themselves.

He had so much work to do… There would be so much cleanup, so much paperwork, so much of everything. Had everyone been accounted for in the evacuations? Would everyone make it back to Nod Krai alright?

Then there was still the problems at Kipumaki Cliff and the Pillar of Embla. That eye was no doubt still a threat, it had nothing to do with that Harbinger as far as he could tell. He looked back when the island was a bit of distance away, he could see the faint purple haze returning to the cliffs already… He looked away.

He hated that he needed a drink. He hated that in these moments he should have been relieved and joining in on some celebration, but he was stressing over further looming hardships. He hated that he was thinking about finding some random drunkard in the Flagship to sleep with once everyone returned.

"I recognize that look in your eye." Grandmaster Varka elbowed him lightly when everyone got off the boat and started walking ahead.

Anleifr said he was going to find more fuel for the boat. Jahoda and Lauma fussed over Nefer who was insisting she could walk fine now on her own. (She couldn't, she couldn't even open her eyes. The other two at the very least held her hands.) The others were close behind.

"I have no idea what you mean, Grandmaster." He deadpanned. His grip on the handle of his oath lantern tightened.

"That look where you sneak away with one of my knights when you think nobody's watching." He wasn't shouting is his usual boisterous tone, that much Illuga could appreciate.

"I haven't snuck away with any knights in a while…" He spoke as if it were any defense for himself. Then he sighed, shoulders drooping. "Look, I just… I need the stress relief."

"I'll get you a drink when things settle down." He offered, his hand briefly resting at the small of Illuga's back.

Wait… Was he…?

"I don't think I should be drinking. This disaster might be resolved, but I still have a lot of work to do." Illuga hooked his lantern onto his belt properly. "So do you."

"We both know that doesn't stop either of us from a night of vice." He laughed, carefree.

Illuga let his cheeks warm and looked away so his hair would hide it from the Grandmaster. "As long as you're paying."

A silent "as long as you lead."

Varka laughed louder this time. "Of course, Captain! You won't have to spend a single mora." Illuga could hear the slight fluster in the older man's voice.

A silent "you won't have to lift a finger."

This would be a mistake. Illuga let it happen anyway.

He needed the stress relief.

Varka was gentle with him, far too gentle. Illuga almost felt bad having to insist so much that he was fine with him being rougher. In fact he thought it would be worse if he was treated too softly, if he saw any concern in the older man's eyes. It took him locking his legs around Varka's waist and flipping the man onto his back hard enough to knock the wind out of him for him to get the hint, with an incredibly shocked look on his flushed face. Finally, he grabbed Illuga's hips harshly and bounced Illuga on top of him, using him like some toy. His thumbs digging into Illuga's stomach against the bump his cock made Illuga spasm every time he buried himself deep inside. When Varka finished, he happily let Illuga fuck his throat in return. He moaned louder around his dick when Illuga gripped harshly on his hair, and he came again, dry and untouched, when Illuga's own orgasm choked him.

Illuga would wake up the next morning with bruises in the shapes of hands on his hips. Varka would wake up with a nasty bruising bite mark on the crook of his neck that he couldn't hide… Illuga hoped Varka wouldn't brag or anything about it with anyone, that man's voice traveled too far. Illuga was kind of a little ashamed over how worked up and irritated Varka had made him to lead to such a… violent act in passion. He could still faintly taste copper on his tongue.

Illuga got home in the early morning and was greeted by his worried father and familiar. Yet another reason he shouldn't have accepted Varka's offer, he only further burdened his family with his prolonged absence. Apparently Varka handed a letter to Anleifr to give to Nikita about how he'd insisted Illuga relax celebrating with the others that night, which was true, but still he wondered if Varka had revealed too much… If he had, nothing showed on his father's face. Illuga felt blessed he didn't have to explain anything though, so he mentally brushed it aside.

He wasn't going to do that with Varka ever again.

Even if it was good…

No. No. Bad. It wasn't that good.

After attending one of the guild meetings a few weeks later, Illuga noticed Mikhail in Nasha Town. He hadn't seen the man in like four or five years, so he thought it was polite to say something. Admittedly, with how much damage Fatui facilities sustained, Illuga was surprised to see him still in Nod Krai at all, let alone alive. He hadn't been worried about it, he hadn't thought about the guy in years, but he was relieved all the same.

He kept telling himself not to do repeats. It was a mistake with Aster.

But things got carried away and Mikhail was more confident now. Mikhail was the one coming onto him this time. Illuga hadn't had sex since with Varka, so maybe he was craving it more than he thought. He let Mikhail pull him into a room at the Flagship and let Mikhail milk his cock for far more rounds than he thought the guy would be capable of lasting. Illuga could have purred as he melted into the mattress at the end, brain happily blank. Mikhail looked so giddy seeing him, seeing proof that he was better than last time. Illuga gave the man the courtesy of staying the night this time.

…Illuga didn't think Mikhail left any marks. He hadn't the last time. Illuga was too tired to check closely in a mirror when he got dressed.

Of course he was wrong.

He stretched his arms up high when he boarded the elevator to Piramida, sighing happily as his spine popped and cracked. He still felt a little stiff, but somehow a little melty at the same time. It was like he'd gotten a good workout and he drifted around pleasantly. Now he was looking forward to getting home and taking a proper bath before he got back to work. He had some paperwork to finish up before he did a supply run back to Cliffwatch in the afternoon.

Oh, he should see if he has time to run supplies to Flins tomorrow! He hasn't gotten to see him in about two weeks. He missed listening to the other's stories and trying (in vain) to beat Flins in cards games. He'd make time.

"Ah, Young Master, a pleasure to see you," Speak of the devil, Flins was standing at the platform, probably waiting for the lift so he could head home himself. "Especially when you appear to be in such high spirits."

"Good morning, Sir Flins." He smiled and stepped off the lift when it docked. "I was just planning on visiting you tomorrow."

"I'll be sure to clean up the place before you arrive then." He smiled warmly and bowed with a hand over his heart. He suddenly stiffed before he rose however, eyes widening minutely. "Master Illuga, are you injured?"

"Huh? No, I was just in Nasha Town yesterday, I haven't been in any fight." He furrowed his brows looking at the other man, who suddenly loomed over him. "Why?"

"Your neck." Flins' voice had an unusual growl beneath his light voice.

Illuga's hand shot up to cover where Flins' eyes trailed. "Oh! Uh…" Illuga flushed and looked away. Gods, this was mortifying… Of all people to know this side to him, Flins would have to be one of the worst. "I'm not injured, it was just, uhh… I needed some stress relief last night. Nothing serious."

Why did he word it like that? He was only making it even more awkward!!!

"Stress relief?" Flins sounded… upset? angry?

Illuga only grew more nervous under those piercing eyes. Why was he looking at him like that?!

"Well, I really had a long night and I need to return home before resuming my duties, so-! If you'll excuse me, Sir Flins!" Illuga bowed his head before all but bolting off. "I'll see you tomorrow!"

Flins did not say anything else and he did not even attempt to follow Illuga, but that didn't make Illuga walk any slower on his way home…

What even was that about? So what if Illuga had a hickey (way too high up) on his throat? He was an adult, that wasn't a crime. Why did Flins seem to judge him so much for it? Was it really so unbelievable that the young captain indulged in something like that from time to time?

He hadn't done it in a few weeks either. He really toned it down after how excessive he'd admittedly gotten before… Of course now when barely anything else was going on, someone like Flins noticed and asked.

Aedon flew from his perch to greet him when he got home and Illuga peppered his little head in kisses. It had stayed with his dad last night, so he probably brought Aedon back not too long ago.

"I'm surprised you stayed overnight."

Ah. His old man had brought Aedon back just now. Nikita was in his kitchen.

"Mornin', pops." He shrugged his coat off and hung it up on the hood by the door. Aedon flew back into his lantern with a soft trill and Illuga set the lantern down on coffee table.

If Flins had noticed the bruise on his throat, his father definitely would. He decided to not purposefully try hiding it, as that would only draw unnecessary attention to it.

"I saw a familiar face and wanted to catch up." He ignored the look on his father's face to walk past him to the sink for a glass of water. "When I realized how much time had passed, it seemed wiser to get a room at the Flagship instead of sailing at night. The ferry doesn't run that late either, I'd have to go to the north port and pay some Fatuus to take me to Piramida. That'd be a pain."

He told the truth and more importantly, he was right. So Nikita only sighed and rubbed his temples.

"As long as you're taking care of yourself, I don't mind." Nikita patted him on the back gently. "But maybe take Aedon instead of leaving us wondering if you'll be back or not."

"Sometimes he likes to spend time with you," Illuga said, which again was true. Aedon even chirped in agreement from inside the lantern. "And we never know when Linnea is in Nasha Town." Another, albeit more annoyed, chirp resounded in agreement. It was becoming a little funny that Aedon was still scared of her so long after she tried grabbing him, but Illuga was sure not to laugh at his poor bird over it.

Also: Aedon thought the guild meetings were boring, to which Illuga agreed. Why should they both have to suffer?

"You two are too much to handle you know." Nikita scoffed, but there was a fondness so clearly written on his face.

"Love you too, pops." He smiled over the rim of his glass and took another sip. "Now, I have to shower and get back to work."

"Alright, alright, I'm going." Nikita kissed his forehead before he left. He'd been doing that more often ever since the evacuation happened… Illuga didn't know if it worried him or not, but he soaked up the affection. "Drop that paperwork off in my office before you head back to Cliffwatch."

"Yes, Starshyna, sir." He saluted, much to the old man's fond exasperation, as he left.

Illuga sighed softly and set the now empty glass by the sink. He really needed that bath…

After that, the monotony of work returned. It had been getting calmer lately actually.

With that Rerir defeated (which by the way, why was he the last to know the details about all of that?), along with the Doctor, the Wild Hunt had really been winding down these past weeks, like they'd been cut off from a power source. Not only that, but Lumine and Paimon had been an immeasurable help. He hadn't expected any outside help at the Pillar of Embla and he hadn't expected a stranger to fight alongside him so… naturally. She barely knew him and yet she tailed him into a pit tainted by the Abyss, phantoms shouting his deepest insecurities, and she stood by him with no judgment. She put a hand on his shoulder and Paimon held his hand when they all buried Bjorn… They had barely known Bjorn either.

And riding upon the breeze, they were just gone the next day, back to Mondstadt she'd said.

There was a strange gap in their absence. He told himself he would just get used to it. He could always write to them. They'd visit eventually, they were travelers after all.

He brushed thoughts of them aside as he parked the moonwagon of supplies at Cliffwatch. Though a trace of it persisted as he looked at the watchtower Lumine helped the squad build. She left a permanent mark out here. Did she do that everywhere? for anyone?

Valdis caught his attention and helped him unload the wagon, unknowingly helping Illuga's mind fully focus on the present once more.

The day was peaceful. He redid inventory of the camp with the new supplies, he looked over the squad's various reports in his absence the day before, and then he attempted doing maintenance on the light in the watchtower.

He had to meekly ask Egle for help when he electrocuted himself for the third time. She scolded him for not wearing gloves, but it was harder to hold the wires when he couldn't feel them! She also tried to scold him for not paying attention in Aino's lessons, but she shut up real quick after he pointed out how she had mysteriously been too busy to attend every single time there was a lecture… All the ratniki really had to get over that, himself included. It was important to learn, but Aino's lessons were so… advanced, they made him feel like an idiot.

Then finally he had an evening patrol with Rollon in the valley below Kipumaki. There were phantoms of the Wild Hunt to take care of, but nothing the two of them couldn't handle unscathed. As a precaution, Aedon still flew back to camp for reinforcements when three fishers arrived and attempted to circle the duo, but they were defeated just moments before Vlaicu and Anleifr slid down the hill toward them. There were no injuries, but both of their jackets were singed from the fishers firing at them. Rollon had that look on his face, like he knew Ivar would give him an earful if he heard about his brother having a close call, but Illuga wouldn't be the one to tattle. He patted the other's shoulder on the way back to camp.

Illuga slept in the moonwagon instead of setting his tent back up that night. It would be annoying to tear it back down at daybreak when he intended to head back home. As far as his shoulder was concerned, this had apparently been a horrible idea, but he massaged and stretched it as best he could before starting his day in earnest.

Valdis wanted to join him on the ride back to base, which admittedly took an hour off Illuga's intended exit, because Valdis also really wanted to eat breakfast with the others before they left. Illuga gladly joined them all though and sat at the card table with a fond smile. He enjoyed their company far too much to rush out after being asked. The coffee Vlaicu brewed was sludge, but it was hot and so were the fluffy omelettes Rollon made, so Illuga really had no complaints strong enough to voice. Rollon even reluctantly put mandragora leaves in Illuga's omelette despite him thinking it was weird, all because he knew his Captain liked them.

Valdis already knew Illuga intended on seeing Flins that day, so he offered to report to the Starshyna in his stead and Illuga (reluctantly) let the man take the task off his shoulders.

Illuga made sure to take a hot shower before he'd forget and set out to rustle together supplies in a bag for Flins. Let's see… dry rations, a couple containers of different soup and stew recipes Illuga had been testing out (surely Flins has to like at least one of them, right?), lamp oil and extra wicks, oil and new sharpening stones for his polearm, and bars of soap that Beryna made recently. Illuga hadn't tried the soap yet himself, but it smelled nice, earthy yet a little sweet. There was also hair oil, which Illuga did not remember where he got it, maybe from Linnea. He thought it might be rosemary? Flins had long pretty hair, so Illuga thought he would be more likely to use it than he ever would.

Illuga realized just how much and how many different kinds of oils were in the bag on his back and suddenly wondered how flammable he currently was… Surely all the soup would cancel that out, right? He shook it off and listened as the ferryman yapped to him about the clouds. He didn't fully listen much past the gist of "It's gonna rain later." He nodded and thanked the man for dropping him off so close the cemetery even though he knew it was a pain in the ass to stop in such shallow waters. He always paid the man extra, despite the insistence that he didn't have to.

He shifted the bag to rest a little more comfortably and made the trek to the lighthouse…

The ghosts that dwelled there were few and far between in daylight, but Illuga bowed his head whenever his eyes caught a faint light in the corner of his vision. It was all lightkeepers and their families buried here if he recalled, he wanted to show respect in the absence of flowers or new candles… Maybe he should see if he could get new candles for the graves for his next visit? He's seen the Frostmoon Scions selling fancy homemade candles in Nasha Town before, that might bring a little more life out here.

Flins wasn't anywhere to be seen on the beach or up the hill. Illuga even squinted up to see if he was up at the telescope on the far side of the light. Nope. Well, he must be inside then.

Hmm, Flins normally opened the door before Illuga even got to the patio… Odd. Was he not home?

"Sir Flins?" He knocked on the door with his knuckles. Generally Flins both had good hearing and seemed to be a light sleeper in Illuga's experience, so there wasn't much need to bang on the door when it wasn't an emergency. Besides, he told Flins yesterday to expect him, so surely he just had to be occupied by something.

Ah. Wait. The memory of that interaction came to the forefront of Illuga's mind. That had been mortifying… Maybe Flins would forget?

Regardless, Flins was usually rather gentlemanly and this didn't strike him as something he would attempt teasing Illuga about, it wasn't in his style of jests. And why would he ever bring something like that up unprompted?

It would be fine. Illuga could absolutely avoid any and all embarrassment regarding their interaction yesterday.

Flins could easily find something else to fluster him over anyway. He always did.

After a surprisingly long amount of time (just slightly over a minute), the door opened and Flins loomed over him once more. His eyes glinted in the way they got when he talked about his gem collection, before his smile turned warm. "Ah, Master Illuga, your light graces me once again."

"Nice to see you again too, Sir Flins." He huffed a soft laugh. "May I come in? I know I haven't visited in some time, so I've brought more supplies for you."

"As always you are too kind to this humble old soul." He opened the door wider and stepped aside, gesturing for Illuga to enter. "Come, I'll fetch you some water and light the fire."

"I'm actually a bit too warm today for a fire if that's alright with you, sir." Illuga set his bag and lantern on the table and hung his coat up on a rack by the door. He knelt down to untie his boots and left them near the door. It wasn't right to walk around in muddy sandy boots in someone's home.

Truth be told, the sweater Illuga blindly grabbed that morning had thick long sleeves and he wasn't as used to it. Fall in Nod Krai wasn't warm, but still, this sweater was something that should probably have been saved for the dead of winter only. He was still cozy though, it was just that a fire would be too much.

"In that case, would you prefer we sat outside?" Flins set the pitcher and two glasses on the table anyway. He looked down at Illuga's discarded boots and took that as enough of an answer. He hummed and took a seat. "Very well then. What have you brought me this time in your dauntingly large backpack?"

"Mostly the usual." He unfastened the straps and flipped it open, taking each item out with perhaps too much care and not looking to see Flins' expression as he scanned each one. He could already picture the grimace the older man made seeing more packages of cured meats.

"And this?" He held up the brown parchment wrapped box from Beryna.

"Beryna finished a batch of soap. Haven't tried it myself yet, but it smells nice. She had me bring you some." He handed him the vial of hair oil next. "Oh and this is for your hair. I think I got it from Linnea a while ago, but I thought you might find better use for it."

"You believe she wouldn't mind you giving away a gift?" Flins took it and hummed thoughtfully.

Why did that sound like a test?

"Tell you the truth, I have no idea why someone would think I'd use it. My hair gets greasy easily, I don't want to put even more oil in there. I didn't even try it, I'd probably have to rub my roots with chalk dust or charcoal or something just to fix the mess." He started stacking the containers of soup up before carrying them to the icebox in the kitchen. "I taped notes of what's in these onto the lids, alright? Report back which ones you liked the most after you go through them."

There was… a big fish head in the icebox… Under it was a small stack of cut up fish meat all packaged up neatly, but the pike's frozen head stared at him. Illuga calmly put the containers of soup inside, before closing the lid and walking away to continue what he was doing. Fish heads were a perfectly normal thing to eat or use for stock, he rationalized that he did not need to be alarmed by its wide frozen eyes. He'd seen far worse things.

"Always such great care you put into looking after me, my dear Young Master." Flins' eyes followed him as he walked back and forth putting the dry rations away in the cabinets as well. His gaze burned into his back and he could hear the pleased smile in his voice. "I'd almost think you were apologizing for something."

Illuga paused and turned to look at him. The man was twirling his finger idly around the twine on the package of Beryna's soap, his entire body and expression casual and calm— but his eyes… Illuga shuddered. His yellow eyes were almost glowing. It felt like they were seeing inside of him.

"Is there something I should be apologizing for, sir?" He tried not to squirm under that intense degree of scrutiny. He sat down at the chair opposite Flins and picked up the already poured glass of water. It felt far colder than usual. "I hadn't intended to cause any offense."

"Hmm, no…" Flins rested his arms on the table and held his chin up in his palm. "But it appears there has been a rather grave misunderstanding on your part."

Illuga blinked and tried not to gape at the man.

What? He unknowingly crossed a line so severe, yet Flins was still speaking with him so evenly.

"I should like to rectify that then." He set the glass aside. He somehow drank the whole thing already without realizing… "I never had any intention of crossing you, sir. Your friendship means a great deal to me."

"Friendship?" Flins raised an eyebrow and the corner of his lips twitched. "Well, therein lies a part of the problem."

"I… Are you saying we aren't friends?" Illuga felt his chest ache. Had he read this wrong? Surely they were at least closer than coworkers, right?

He didn't answer that. Instead he asked, "Illuga, do you remember the day we were formally introduced?"

He scrunched up his nose in confusion and his heart ached at the stark swap in topic. Surely Flins had to be going somewhere with it though, so he answered. "Of course. You scared the daylights out of me in my old man's office."

"What did I say to you then?" His smile widened, sharp. This time Illuga did squirm.

"You introduced yourself and then asked me to do the same. Then you made up some weird compliments comparing my eyes to smelted metal."

"Not exactly." He tilted his head. It would almost be an endearing motion if the show of sharp canines didn't make Illuga suddenly worry he was going to be eaten. "I asked you for your name, and you gave it."

"I…" He gulped and licked his lips. His throat suddenly felt dry despite just having a drink. The air suddenly grew frigid. The wool he wore no longer felt like it was too thick. "You're saying you took it?"

"Yes." Flins folded his hands down on the table and straightened his back. "Every day since, you have belonged to me. You have been bound to me. I even gave you that earring so others of my kind would know you were claimed without needing to mark you so soon."

The lobe the ruby earring was pierced through felt like it burned around the metal hook. The weight of it felt heavier than it ever had before. Was that why it was so warm to the touch? Was that why Linnea sometimes looked at it for too long periods, eerily silent? Actually, Aedon sometimes stared at it rather intently too, but he assumed that was just because birds liked shiny things… But Flins had given this to him when…

"I was seventeen." He lifted a hand up to hold the gem. It had been a birthday present, one that had embarrassed him in front of everyone with how expensive and fancy it looked. He had barely known Flins a year, he hadn't expected a gift at all that day. Flins had said it matched the inner ring of Illuga's forged iron eyes, that he found it a shame the piece did not have a pair. The gem burned Illuga's fingers now.

He wanted his gloves, coat, and boots back on, but he couldn't do any of that fast enough to get away. He should have agreed to sitting outside.

"Which is precisely why I used an object." He said it smoothly, like it was obvious, like that made him a gentleman.

Illuga fully realized what Flins meant by marking now.

Illuga had been marked many times by people other than Flins the past few years of his adult life and left countless marks more on others. Somehow Flins had never noticed until yesterday.

How long would Flins have held back or further delayed whatever this was if he hadn't seen the hickey on his throat?

"And how long exactly were you planning on not disclosing this information with me plainly?" He clenched his jaw to ignore the pit forming in his stomach.

"I wanted to see how long it would take you to figure things out on your own." Flins' smile turned fond, affectionate. It did not cause any warmth in Illuga's chest like it might have on another day long past. "When you'd asked me if I were human before the evacuation, I thought perhaps it was almost time, but… You'd never brought it up again."

He was stressed. Too much had been going on for him to think about things like that. He'd barely visited Flins the past few weeks and each time, he had asked for a story instead of striking up the long intended interrogation. Perhaps he should have, but it was too late.

One hickey on his neck from Mikhail was probably better for Flins to learn about than the bruising from Varka's hands that finally went away. He should count himself lucky for that. Varka should count himself even luckier.

"You gave me your name. You drink from my glass, you eat the food I offer, you accept my gifts, and you thank me for all of this." Flins pushed himself to stand. Illuga felt like he should get up, but he couldn't move, he was frozen. "You've given me open invitation into your home, you even gave me a key."

Technically it was a spare key that he gave to Flins for one single task he doesn't even remember and then kept forgetting to ask for it back, but the end result was the same. Granted, Flins never visited… He shivered suddenly. To his knowledge, Flins never visited, but that didn't mean he hadn't while Illuga was gone, or worse, while Illuga was asleep.

"In every way, you have belonged to me, and yet…" Flins ran his fingers along the cool wooden tabletop as he slowly rounded it. Illuga still could not move. "I now learn you have been giving yourself to another."

"Not every human is aware of such rules, Sir Flins." He swallowed dry and it felt like he swallowed sandpaper.

At this point he found he desperately wanted more water from the pitcher but the thought now terrified him. Was that why he always drank so much when Flins offered it? At this point, he wondered if sea water was the safer option.

"Of this I am now more than well aware." Flins fingertips touched Illuga's chin and he managed not to flinch as his head was turned and tipped up to meet Flins' glowing eyes. "I believe a more explicit approach will be necessary to clear up any future misunderstandings."

"I had no idea you'd be the possessive type, Flins." It was from his firing nerves, but the tease slipped out. He rolled with it, if only to try cutting off a little of the tension trying to choke him. "Needy maybe, but not quite so envious."

"Envy implies I want something others have. It is jealousy that makes me wish to burn whoever's mouth blemished my treasure's flesh." His fingers slipped beneath his collar and tugged it down. "Though it pleases me that you at least attempted to hide it before visiting."

He actually hadn't consciously considered that. This was just the next sweater in the rotation. His favorite which he wore most often currently had grass stains and dirt on it back home. Another stroke of luck perhaps.

"What do you intend to do, now that I know?" He glared at the older man, clenching his fists. He tried to suppress shivers as Flins' fingers ghosted along the scar on his neck, up and down.

"Mark you properly of course. Then it won't just be fae who can take the hint." His other hand now brushed aside Illuga's bangs and cupped his cheek. "I would like to show you who you belong to."

Illuga should get up and run. Forget his shoes and coat, he should grab his lantern, knock Flins' back, and make a break for the door. He should scream and fight and cry. He should do something! Instead…

He felt his cock throb uncomfortably and tried not to shift and draw unwanted attention to it.

Moons, what was wrong with him?

He knew what was wrong with himself. He spent far too much time in his adult life seeking relief in other people. He desensitized himself to it. Arousal came far too easily, because it meant the nightmares and voices in his head would leave him alone for a while.

Everything going on here already felt like the start to a nightmare, a new one in the making.

"My~" Flins almost purred, leaning further into Illuga's space. "Does that thought entice my Young Master that much?"

"Why call me your master if I'm apparently mere property?" He glared on him. He doubted it was intimidating when it was paired with flushing cheeks and a tent in his pants.

"There is nothing mere about you, my light." Flins left a chase kiss on his forehead and Illuga flinched. "By the powers that be, you belong to me, but I am of the sort to wish for reciprocation. I wish for my flames to burn within you just as much as your radiance warms my old soul."

That line would probably work on him if this were another day, like yesterday, a day he couldn't get back to.

"How would this bond be severed?" He ripped off that bandage and crossed his arms over his chest. He tried to stop his trembling by gripping his arms for stability, his knuckles turning white.

Flins' smile dropped and the fingers touching Illuga's neck moved up to harshly hold his chin. Nails far sharper than they had been mere moments earlier now dug into his skin.

Almost all light vanished from the room in a flash, all except for Aedon's lantern on the opposite end of the table and the glow of Flins' lantern hooked to his own hip. A chill ran up Illuga's back.

"The only way I'll let you out of this is in death, my light." His nails drew blood from his cheek. "You're mine."

Illuga briefly wondered if Flins even could die. He licked his dry lips again, though it still didn't help.

"Would you like another drink, Young Master?" Flins smiled, sickeningly sweet.

"Not from your glass." He tried pulling his head back and out of Flins' grip, but it was no use.

"Hmm…" Flins hummed thoughtfully and with his free hand, grabbed the second glass and took a sip. Then he leaned down in a rush and pressed his lips to Illuga's own.

Illuga jolted back and choked as his mouth was forced open and water flooded in. He spasmed as Flins' other hand put the glass down in favor of grabbing Illuga's throat. He tried hitting Flins and pushing him back, but to no avail. On any other day, Illuga had been able to easily throw Flins over his shoulder like he weighed nothing at all. Why was he suddenly so sturdy? Illuga was forced to swallow the water down as Flins' fingers massaged his throat. Flins eventually ended the "kiss" and let him go completely, stepping back and happily watching Illuga cough and gag.

"What-" Illuga hacked up some phlegm onto the floor and wiped the fresh tears irritating his eyes and the spit dripping from his lips. "What is wrong with you?!"

Flins was holding his lantern, Illuga's lantern, and walking to the door.

Illuga scrambled to stand, knocking the chair down behind him. "AEDON!"

The nightingale came out from the lantern and landed on Flins' hand, looking between him and Illuga confused. He settled as Flins pet him gently.

"Don't hurt him… Please…" Illuga gasped. He felt like his legs were lead.

"I would never." Flins pulled a tied note from his pocket and offered it to Aedon. "Would you take this to the Starshyna, dear one? It's rather time sensitive."

Aedon hesitated, looking between the two men. Then, Flins' hand he was perched on seemed to glow blue underneath him and the bird deflated a little.

"Aedon…?" Illuga took another heavy step. He felt desperate to reach them, but something was holding him back. He swallowed painfully and tears started to sting his eyes once more.

The bird perked back up and took the note in his talons. Flins opened the door and the bird immediately flew outside.

"AEDON!" Finally, finally, Illuga could move again in a quick burst to the door, like a force suddenly let him go, but he was far too late. Aedon's light was already disappearing into the heavy newly fallen fog. "Aedon! Come back!" He collapsed to his knees in the threshold. "Please…!" His throat croaked as a sob racked through him.

"He will be back, in time." Flins spoke from behind him. "Now- come, Young Master. Rise up from the floor."

"What did you do to him? That glow? and what does the note to my pops say?!" He looked back at him over his shoulder, but his vision was far too clouded to focus on his face. He glared up at him anyway. He probably looked like a child have a tantrum to Flins.

"I simply eased his mind. It was mere suggestion. Suggestion doesn't work on the truly unwilling you know." Flins bent down and pulled a handkerchief of his pocket to wipe Illuga's eyes. Illuga jolted back before he could touch him. He sighed and lowered his hand. "I told the old man I would be taking care of you for some time."

"Wha- but-!" Illuga turned to face Flins fully, though still refusing to get up. Sure, Illuga wanted his coat, gloves, lantern, bag, and boots all back, but if he remained in the doorway, Flins couldn't lock him inside. "I'm a Captain, Flins! I have so much work to do and people counting on me! I have patrols and paperwork to fill, I-!" He growled. "You can't just decide to keep me here!"

"I think I've been rather clear, dear Illuga." Flins sighed like he was disappointed in Illuga. "You belong to me and me alone. I won't let you go until you understand this."

"I get it plainly!" He pushed himself further outside and wiped more of his tears aside. "I just can't sleep around anymore, that's easy enough!"

This time he could see the way Flins jaw set tight and his brow furrowed in frustration. "I'm afraid it can't be that simple. It's not enough that you say you won't, I need to strip that desire and need from you entirely." He pushed himself to stand again. "You should only desire it of me."

"YOU AREN'T EXACTLY PLEADING YOUR CASE HERE!" Illuga scrambled back more as Flins took another step closer. "You expect me to want to fuck you after you try trapping me with you?!"

Flins paused at that. Illuga thought perhaps maybe some rationality hit the man, but then he bent back down to reach for Illuga and-

Illuga panicked and kicked him, right in the face. Sure, it definitely wasn't going to hit as hard without his boots or without enough back swing, but it was enough to knock Flins back. Illuga rolled over and pushed himself upright before jumping off the patio and breaking into a sprint. He didn't care if mud caked into his socks, he didn't care if the closest place to get help was a Fatui facility that was probably a ten minute run down the beach at best, he didn't care if his hands got cold in the damp air. He had his vision and could summon his polearm, that had to be enough.

He barely made it halfway down the hill before blue engulfed his vision, blinding him. He squeezed his eyes shut and kept running. Don't look, don't stop, don't listen, just go!

Arms snaked around his waist and he struggled and screamed and kicked, but the arms didn't loosen or slack. He didn't even know what words were coming out of his mouth and leaving his throat raw, there was only ringing in his ears.

The person just let him tire himself out. Slowly, soft whispers met his ears and he slumped against the man as fingers started to run through his hair.

"Shh… That's it…" Flins shifted him in his arms to face him, tucking his head against his chest. "You're alright…"

Nothing about this felt alright.

Flins kissed the top of his head and Illuga felt himself go even more limp.

Next thing he knew, Flins was carrying him in his arms and already walking back inside. He was too tired to struggle anymore. He was too tired to think much at all. Something about that was wrong, but he was too tired to care.

"Let me take care of you, my treasure." Flins set him down on a bed and peppered kisses along his jawline and cheek. His cheek still stung from Flins' nail digging into it. He wondered if there was blood. "Let me convince you."

He shuddered under those cold lips.

Flins moved back to start slowly disrobing him. At first Illuga's tired mind assumed he was just removing the woolen socks caked in mud and sand, until his belts were unfastened. Illuga couldn't move, couldn't protest, he tried.

It wasn't until his vision was moved too far away from him that his will was strong enough for any action to break through. His hand shot over to clamp around Flins' wrist in a vice-grip. "Leave that with me."

Flins smiled warmly despite Illuga's ability to cut off a normal person's circulation. "Of course, Master Illuga." He set the geo vision and the belt it hung from down on the bedside table atop the purple sash he normally wrapped around his waist, so Illuga let go of him. Flins stood up and began to leave the bedroom with Illuga's pants and socks (dripping with salt water and mud) in his arms. "I will quickly launder these for you and hang them by the fire before they set."

He left Illuga there in his bed, wearing only a sweater and briefs. Illuga shivered.

Aedon's absence finally set in and hit him like a truck. When he was consciously aware of the growing distance and/or when his adrenaline was too high to register it until after the nightingale had already returned, that was manageable. But right now? right after his stress suddenly unnaturally dropped? That emptiness clawed at his chest and left him even colder than winter storms. As if this wasn't stressful enough, Flins had sent away Illuga's lifeline, a being that was linked to his very heart and soul. Illuga brought his geo vision into his fist and held it over his heart, curling up tightly into a ball and screwing his eyes shut. If he focused enough, maybe he could at least feel that Aedon was alright.

The ferryman said it was going to storm today. Not that much time had passed, but the fog had rolled in and he couldn't see very far over the sea. Did the skies fair well enough for him to make the flight to pops safely? Aedon had flown through far worse, but he had never flown while impaired in such a way as whatever Flins had done.

It was faint from distance, but the line was still there, he could feel him. Relief washed over him and he pressed a kiss to the gem. Aedon wouldn't feel that of course, he wasn't a geo construct, but it comforted Illuga to imagine the feeling was sent across the sea.

He didn't know if he wanted Aedon to come back for him or if he wanted him to stay safe at Nikita's side…

A hand on Illuga's shoulder made him flinch and move to throw a punch before Flins caught his wrist.

"Ah. Careful, Young Master. I'd rather only one facial injury today if that's alright." Flins let him go the moment Illuga stopped moving. Illuga now noticed the ugly purple bruise forming on Flins' cheek. He kicked him pretty hard, huh? Good.

"I'm surprised you can bruise…" He mumbled mostly to himself and stretched to put his vision back on the table. He now resigned himself to not being able to fight his way out of this, at least not yet. He was just too tired.

"It should fade in a few hours. This body's visible injuries fade rather quickly." He said and held up a hand towel for Illuga to see before holding his cheek and leaning in to gently wipe under his eyes. It had been soaked in hot water and made Illuga relax further as his tear stains and blood were finally wiped away.

He wanted to ask more on the specification of "visible" injuries.

Instead, he said, "You scared me." and let Flins wash his face.

"I've realized that." Flins responded, but there was no apology following it. He sat back up straight when he deemed Illuga's face to be clean enough.

Flins left again quietly to discard the washcloth and returned a moment later with the pitcher of water and a glass from the table.

"…You aren't going to force me to drink again, are you?" Illuga curled up tighter.

"Not unless you ask it of me, I suppose." He smiled and set the two things down on the nightstand. "You really should still drink if you're feeling dehydrated though, Master Illuga."

Flins was now turning to fussing over him… Was this was it was like for the gems in his collection? He was just another treasure Flins collected.

He slowly reached up to take the earring out and set it beside his vision. Flins stared at him like he took great offense to this, so Illuga raised a judgemental eyebrow. "I don't sleep with that thing in. I've been stabbed by it before."

"Oh! Right, yes, that, ah-" Flins flustered uncharacteristically and cleared his throat into his fist. "That makes perfect sense, Young Master."

"And I am going to sleep." He glared at the man. "Whatever you've been doing to me this whole time has been sapping my energy."

Flins smiled innocently. "You'll have to stay up just a little while longer and then I'll let you nap as long as your heart desires."

"What do you need me awake for that can't wait?" He crossed his arms over his chest with a huff.

Flins leaned down and kissed him again, a sweet little peck. Illuga froze and Flins let out a soft laugh. "Did you forget so soon?"

"I'm tired." He willed his blush to not spread across his cheeks.

"Not an excuse." He leaned in to kiss Illuga again, lips pressed against his longer than the first and not appearing deterred in the slightest by Illuga not kissing back.

"It's a valid excuse when it's your fault." Illuga growled. Flins was making him more frustrated than flustered now.

Flins laughed and kissed him again, now fully straddling Illuga beneath him. Illuga gasped and Flins took this as an invitation to deepen it.

"Flins, wait-" Illuga grabbed onto the older man's shirt and weakly pushed him back. "Can't we put a pin in this and talk it through later?"

"I believe we're spoken more than enough about it." Flins kissed along his jaw.

"O-okay, so you can-" Illuga jumped as Flins cold fingers slid under his sweater and started pulling it up. He couldn't stop the shudder as fingers ghosted up his sides and along his ribs. "I'll let you mark me, but we stop after that."

He was really still trying to negotiate here?

"It typically hurts less while in the throws of passion." Flins pushed himself upright. He admired Illuga's toned muscles and ran his fingers along the defined ridges before pulling the sweater up higher. "The mind is too distracted to register the pain."

"H-how much is it going to hurt…?" Illuga felt sweat form on his brow. Still, he pushed himself up to pull his own sweater off in hopes that Flins would finish sooner. He shivered at the cold air, goosebumps spreading up his arms and neck.

"So it was only one recently…" Flins muttered. Illuga decided to just swallow the spit in his throat instead of commenting on that. Flins' fingers brushed the hickey at first, before following the path of the scar on his neck down his shoulder. "I must bite hard enough to bleed, hard enough to scar… Perhaps I should bite the opposite side so I don't ruin your other lovely scar."

Illuga found his cheeks burning. "W-well, I've never had someone make me bleed before-" He laughed awkwardly and pointedly looked up at the ceiling. "Or, well, I've had someone open a wound before, but that was my fault…"

Illuga didn't know why he was saying this. He probably shouldn't have. Flins already made it perfectly clear he was jealous.

…Then he remembered he had actually drawn someone else's blood now that he was actively thinking about it, but if Flins knew that Illuga tasted Varka's blood, they'd both be in trouble. He would spare the Grandmaster's life and keep it between them.

"But I mean, you'd be the first to make me bleed on purpose, right? so that's-" He covered his mouth with his hand and felt how much his fluster grew under Flins' silent stare. "I'm going to shut up now."

"Is this an attempt at making me feel better? to get some part of you first?" Flins actually sounded… pleased? He leaned back down to kiss Illuga's throat. "Mmm, I daresay it's working."

Illuga barked a laugh in surprise. "Wait- that easy?"

Flins shifted so he could meet Illuga's eyes and smiled at him hungrily. "Knowing no other has savored your blood on their tongue delights me."

Despite not wanting to let Flins do anything more that get that claim over with… Illuga felt his cock throb after seeing Flins' expression.

Unfortunately for Illuga, Flins was indeed still sitting right on top of it. The older man had the audacity to chuckle and, worse yet, he rolled his hips against Illuga's growing hard-on.

"I thought you wanted nothing further tonight?" Flins moved Illuga's hand away from his mouth so he could see him properly.

"If I had control over that thing, we wouldn't be having so many problems between us, now would we?" Illuga wanted the ground to open up and swallow him up… Flins looked like he wanted to swallow Illuga too.

Flins laughed openly, it sounded like bells. "I suppose you may have a point, dear Illuga."

Ugh… Illuga's mind felt so clouded and heavy.

"What did you do to me, really?" He tried to ignore how Flins' own cock was hardening against his own and managed to not move his hips at all, though the urge was most definitely there. He focused on breathing.

"I simply helped you relax." His canines looked sharper in his smile. The bastard rutted his hips again.

"That's- mmn, not the whole truth." He grit his teeth as a groan was forced out of him. "It feels like you- sucked energy out of me."

Flins dipped his head down to kiss him again. Illuga was so tired… He shut his eyes and just let himself be kissed breathless.

Maybe if he paid less attention and just let Flins do what he wanted, he could forget how he was a tranquilized caged bird with its beak wired shut. No one was coming to break open the cage anyway. He might as well relax and try enjoying it.

"Flins…" He could only speak in a whisper, as Flins took all the air from him.

"Mm?" Flins kissed along his jaw again, seemingly fixated on it.

"Since you've admitted you aren't human…" He tried breathing calmly and slow, despite his mind finally starting to catch up again to his body and what was happening to it. "Can I see you?"

"How bold, my treasure…" Flins just kept kissing, lower and lower, running his tongue and grazing his sharpened teeth along the scar that went down his shoulder.

Illuga thought he'd have to ask again, that Flins was just going to ignore him, maybe hoping to tease him with it and make him beg. However, this wasn't the case for once, it was just an exercise in patience.

As Flins slowly drew lower, Illuga's breath was taken again by the sight that unfolded before him. From a mere dim spark, blue wings that flickered like flames grew from his back, filling the room with their soft glow. Illuga didn't realize he'd moved, but he'd reached out a hand and touched between Flins' shoulder blade where they had sprouted. His shirt had no tear, they had just manifested outside of him. He would have asked to touch him under normal, saner circumstances, but it was just so… mesmerizing.

Flins shuttered on top of him, melting a little under his touch, under such little contact. The wings twitched and stray sparks flew from the wings, shimmering in the light before fading out into nothing.

He really is that easy, huh? Illuga thought with a soft chuckle. His other hand ran through Flins' long hair, pulling it over his shoulder, out of Illuga's way so he could dig his fingers into Flins' back to see just how sensitive he was there.

"Y-young Master…" Flins was gasping against his chest as if Illuga were actually putting in any effort. His open mouthed kisses were growing lazier and sloppier. His hips were rutting against Illuga's thigh as he'd slid down. "Please…"

"Were I not tired, still mad at you, and admittedly a little terrified, this would be a good look for you." He hummed and delicately ran a finger up a wing with intense interest. He found he could pass right through, though the flames left him cold. "The wings, I mean. They're pretty. The moaning however is kind of pathetic."

"Is that- truly how you see me now?" He looked up to reach Illuga's eyes with his own. His eyes were glowing like hot coals, with fire burning off of them just the same. The flames leaked out of him like tears.

Illuga brushed his bangs out of his face to hold his cheek and swiped a thumb under his eye to see if it would burn him. Just like that of the wings, these flames were frigid. "Yes."

Pretty and pathetic Flins.

"Now take your clothes off before you burn them in excitement." Illuga gripped a chunk of Flins' hair in his fist and tugged, shoving back how much he liked the sound of the whine that left Flins' lips. "I'm laying here in my underwear, while you've only taken off your shoes."

"I removed my jacket as well, haven't I?" Flins said and then yelped as Illuga pulled on his hair again. "Aah-! A-alright, I'll remove the rest, just… Would you be so kind as to let go of me so I might stand, Young Master?"

"You certainly don't look like you want me to let go." He tested it by pulling him back up. Flins whimpered as he was dragged and scrambled to be back above Illuga. "You've gotten far more… pliable since you brought me back inside, Sir Flins."

Flins' face was fully flushed and his eyes were wide with wonder, a sight Illuga never imagined he'd see. Illuga didn't know if it was the light of Flins' flames that made his cheeks look blue, or if that was what this body of his was actually doing. For someone who walked around cosplaying a human, Illuga was realizing just how poorly Flins was at hiding his nature, and it made him feel astronomically stupid for not being 100% sure of it sooner. The writing was on the walls, but he was too distracted by the furniture… or something. That wasn't his best metaphor. He still wasn't all there right now.

He could feel himself coming back to full awareness though. Either Flins' ability to take his energy didn't last very long or he needed focus to keep Illuga sluggish. If it was the latter, Illuga had best keep Flins this happy and empty headed so Illuga could retain his own wits.

Even if he started to enjoy himself, he was still being forced to remain here and he wouldn't let that stand. Flins couldn't be allowed to even think he could get away with this stunt.

The moment his energy fully returned and Flins was incapacitated, Illuga would sneak out, get dressed, and make a break for the Fatui port down the beach to the west. It was risky, he knew Flins was a light sleeper, if he actually slept much at all. Illuga had to do whatever he could to leave Flins so out of it that he wouldn't even be aware of Illuga's absence until long after he made it home.

He decided to go with the easiest path for executing this plan, the path that Flins himself was paving: Illuga would just have to make Flins so cum-drunk that he lost his faculties.

Illuga had bounds of stamina, sure, but… He hoped Flins' libido wasn't supernaturally high… Though such a concept was just something his brain made up, could Illuga match that? Surpass it? He'd have to try regardless.

Flins finally replying pulled him back from his thoughts. "I believe I mentioned yearning for reciprocity, hadn't I? If being pliable, as you so put it, helps convince you of my affections, then I'll gladly bend and mold as you please," Flins said and was indeed practically melting with his head on Illuga's chest, smiling up at him dumbly. "My dear Master."

So this should be easier than he thought, shouldn't it? Just follow the path of least resistance.

Illuga pushed himself back up on his elbow and yanked Flins that final short distance to meet his lips. Flins gasped in surprise, but quickly leaned into him.

But Illuga pulled him away soon after giving him that taste. He laughed seeing Flins already pouting. "Go take your clothes off, Flins." He let the man's hair go and shooed him until he stood up.

"Such cruelty…" Flins faked a sniffle as he began unfastening the ridiculous amount of belts holding his pants together.

Flins was the cruel one, threatening to lock someone away for not knowing they apparently were in a secret fae relationship contract and the crime of having sex with someone else… This absolutely ridiculous, insane man just assumed he'd be able to piece that together himself! Flins never even showed any interest in him that would possibly suggest he wanted something like this!

Sure, Illuga had a mental note not to sleep with another ratniki after the first time, but if he knew Flins wanted him this bad for this long, had owned him this long then- ugh… That was actually still kind of gross to think about. He apparently gave himself, or his name at very least, to Flins when he was sixteen, both unknowingly yet willingly. He didn't know what he was signing up for, he was just a kid who was excited to meet the mysterious ratnik with unnerving eyes that his father had called a friend.

Illuga now was positive that his energy fully returned to him as an ugly feeling filled his gut. Flins was his father's friend, for years. What would Nikita even say? Did his pops know about this? this claim he accidentally gave over? Did he know and say nothing as long as Flins didn't try anything?

His father had laughed and clapped Flins on the back when Flins gave him the earring. Illuga wondered now if Nikita's hand swung down onto Flins' back with far more force than either made it seem, if his father knew what any of it meant and said nothing. Maybe he said nothing because there was nothing he could do. Maybe they had an agreement back then, that Flins wouldn't act if Nikita didn't try to warn his son. Illuga's face paled at how much that thought felt like slotting things into place.

What was on the note Flins had Aedon take to his pops?

Fae… Fae couldn't lie, right? or at least not explicitly, if the legends were to be believed. They could omit things and twist their words so you'd think they meant something else. They could tiptoe around with flowery language that would have you forgetting what you asked. Flins did all of that very well. But if those stories held true, then he still couldn't lie, so it was true that the note would tell Nikita that Flins would take care of Illuga for some time… But what did he leave out?

"Young Master?" Flins was leaning over the bed to look into Illuga's eyes, his own filled with concern. Illuga involuntarily flinched as Flins' deathly cold hand held his cheek. "What ails you?"

"I just…" He swallowed, but his throat was painfully dry… He was already too far deep for wariness over drinking something Flins' offered, so he sat up fully to reach for the glass on the bedside table. He glanced to his vision, still safe on his folded sash, and found a different truth to tell. "It's Aedon."

Flins' face crumbled further and he sat on the edge of the bed. "I swear to you that I would never harm him."

"I guess I'll take your word for it." Illuga knocked back the water like it was a shot he was being pressured to down. Every time there was water that Flins offered, his body made him chug it, something his brain found so normal that most of the time he didn't realize it. This time at least it was a conscious choice.

Flins just watched him intently in silence. His glowing predatory eyes stayed glued to the bobbing apple of Illuga's throat as he swallowed.

"Gah…" He wiped his lips and set the glass down harshly on the wooden top. "I just… I feel it when he's gone. The further he flies, the more we both ache. Every idle moment without him is… It claws at me. Knowing he should be with my pops right now bring me comfort, but not physically."

Flins gently held his chin and tilted his head up to meet his face, a soft smile returning to his features. "If it is idleness that allows this feeling to persist and worsen, might you permit my assistance in distracting you?"

It would really be Illuga distracting Flins, but he needn't know that part.

"So far you seem to lose steam the moment I touch you back." To prove this point, Illuga reached up to grab Flins' hair on the top of his head and pull. Flins, so predictable it was getting exhausting, instantly went limp with a whine as Illuga moved him. "You're not acting near the most distracting thing in the world. Where did that aggressive possessiveness of yours go?"

"Would you like that side of me to make a return, Master?" Flins was purring, a genuine soft rumbling sounding from in his throat.

"What I would like," Illuga licked his lips. There was a chance the card he was about to pull would be too bold, and carry too many consequences, but… "Kyryll," He smiled at the other with poorly feigned innocence. "Is for you to focus on the task you set and mark me already."

Flins' eyes, wings, and hair abruptly blinded him with how his flames grew. Illuga yelped and let go of Flins' hair to cover his eyes, recoiling back flush with the headboard in surprise. While still ablaze, Flins rushed forward to capture his lips.

This time Illuga actually kissed him back and he let Flins tear his hands away from his eyes, though he kept them shut for his eyes' safety. Flins was on top of him again, rutting his bare cock against Illuga's thigh. Illuga shivered- every part of Flins was freezing, including both the precum on his thigh and the tongue in his mouth.

Illuga grabbed Flins' hips and tried to make him sit up higher so he could attempt pulling his own briefs down, but Flins wouldn't budge.

"K-hah- Kyryll-!" Illuga gasped for air and shoved the fae back, though he could only get him a few mere centimeters away. "Some of us need to breathe!" He felt lightheaded.

"I breathe," He hummed and dove down to Illuga's neck and kissed along his pulse. "Just not through my mouth."

His lips were still so cold, so freezing that each kiss and nibble burned. Despite the chill however, Illuga could feel warmth starting to rise up in his chest. It was almost painful in how all-consuming the fire blazed within, intoxicating.

Illuga shivered and gasped as his nails dug into Flins' sides. Distantly he wished his nails were longer and that the wounds would last on the fae's fake body.

Then Flins bit him harder, so hard Illuga screamed in pain and his vision blotted out. Flins' hand was over his mouth in an instant to muffle his cries. Illuga thrashed on instinct, despite knowing the whole time that this was where all those sweet kisses were leading to. No matter how much force Illuga moved with, Flins' fangs stayed embedded in the crook of his neck. In fact, he bit down even harder to keep Illuga firmly in place, making it worse and worse, but not wanting to tear and sever the flesh there… Well, not sever it all completely. Surely Flins could take just a little off the surface…

Eventually Illuga did settle down, sobbing and shaking. His drool and tears sticky on Flins' hand, which moved away to let him attempt shaky breaths. Then his fangs retracted and he lapped at the blood oozing from the wound, kissing the tender abused flesh as Illuga trembled.

"There…" Flins licked along the circle of deep fang wounds before he backed off to meet Illuga's eyes. Blood was still dripping from his lips and trailing down his chin. His smile was far too wide for any normal face, far too pleased with himself to hold his glamour to any human standard. "Was that so bad?"

Illuga hesitantly reached up to ghost a finger over the wound and he immediately recoiled with a pained hiss. "Fuck-! If this-" He curled forward and rested his head on Flins' chest, still heaving desperately from the adrenaline blaring all his senses. "Archons… If this gets infected, Ivar and Lady Lauma are gonna kill you before my pops even gets a chance."

"Ivar I understand, he would likely treat you, but my dearest Illuga, you would tattle on me to the poor Lady Moonchanter? One who has so many more important duties for her to waste time chastising insignificant old me?" Flins brought his clean hand up to rub Illuga's back. "This might be your biggest betrayal yet."

"You're more afraid of her than Ivar." He laughed and wrapped his arms fully around Flins' waist.

"Shamefully true, but unfortunately for Ivar, he has made that a rather low bar." Flins laughed along with him before leaning back down to pepper more kisses around the wound. Illuga realized with a sigh of relief that the pain numbed with the contact.

"So is this like a normal wound or can you make it heal faster?" He turned his head to look at the other, with some difficulty and strain of his muscles… Flins took more than just blood, hadn't he? "I know you aren't a healer or anything, but I really don't want to die from this of all things."

"I'll patch you up after we're done." Flins closed the short gap to kiss him again, bloody mouth and all. Illuga tried not to gag at the taste.

…Illuga wasn't going to get patched up then. He had some medical supplies in his bag and he knew where Flins kept his own, but it would have to be a rush job so he could get out of there sooner. He'd deal with the consequences once he got home and let Ivar fuss over it…

His thoughts all screeched to an abrupt halt however as Flins' free hand snuck down between them and palmed Illuga's cock over his briefs.

"K-Kyryll-" He choked on a moan when Flins pulled back to let him breathe.

Flins licked the blood from Illuga's lips. "Oh, my lovely bird… Sing for me." He slowly jerked Illuga's length through the fabric. His hand was still wet and Illuga's precum was staining the fabric, but it was still too rough; it burned.

"Pull them off before you- fuck- ruin them!" Illuga bucked his hips up into the contact with a hiss.

"Whatever you wish, Master." He regrettably had to stop touching Illuga to do as he'd asked and he got off of Illuga's lap. He hooked his thumbs under the waistband and pulled his underwear down, before blindly tossing them off the bed.

Before Illuga could speak a word, Flins was between his legs. He hooked Illuga's legs over his shoulders and yanked Illuga back until he lied flat. This would normally be fine, except the drag against his bloody shoulder made him shout in pain. Flins had the decency to look at least mildly apologetic when Illuga glared at him with tears in his eyes. He didn't let that waste any of their time though and dipped his head down to kiss Illuga's cock. Illuga's whole body twitched at the sudden chill. After the first kiss came another and another; up and down his length, underneath his balls, and across his inner thighs which threatened to crush his skull. He locked eyes with Illuga as he kissed the head before slowly licking up the dribble of precum and Illuga shuddered audibly.

"How do you normally like it, Master?" He smiled innocently, as if Illuga's dick obscuring half of his face was the most normal sight in the world. Blood was still staining his swollen lips red.

"I…" He reached down to hold back Flins' bangs out of his face and tightened his fist around a chunk of it to keep him firmly in place. His voice was failing him, but he forced it through. "I want you to choke on it."

"Do you trust anything near my mouth after what I've done to you?" His lips ghosted across the skin and Illuga felt the slightest pinprick of fangs dragging against him.

"No, not really," He admitted and harshly yanked on Flins' hair. The fangs obediently retracted without Illuga even needing to speak the order. "But this is better than what you normally use those lips for."

"Do you not enjoy the sound of my voice?" The flames of his wings and at the end of his hair were flickering brighter. "Then for what end were you always requesting I share all my stories with you?"

"You teased me less when you were focused on a story." He shoved his thumb in Flins' mouth and the man immediately closed his lips around it, humming happily as he sucked on it. "Besides, you liked having my attention wrapped around you, and you loved to leave me hanging in the end every damn time."

Though the flames made it impossible to tell where exactly Flins' was looking, Illuga could feel him staring up at him. He opened his mouth back up and held his tongue out, spit dripping onto Illuga's cock beneath him. His tongue looked… pointed? and maybe a little longer, though not to an alarming degree. He wondered how quickly that could change.

"Did you think we were flirting?" Illuga dragged his now spit soaked hand down his cock before he held it up. Flins head minutely turned back and forth to follow where Illuga moved the tip. Illuga wondered if a fae could be hypnotized; that would certainly be helpful to know in the future. "Did you really think that I had any idea?"

It looked like Flins was going to say something. Illuga slapped him with his cock before he could, leaving the man stunned.

"If you wanted me to figure you out, you could've been a little more obvious, you know." Another slap kept Flins from replying. "Maybe I would have been more agreeable then."

"Illuga-" Flins gasped out and Illuga's grip on his hair tightened. "I never intended for-"

He tugged him closer. "Suck."

Flins closed his mouth to swallow before nodding. As he took the tip in his mouth, Illuga's other hand joined the first in Flins' hair, now only intent now on keeping all that hair out of the way.

Flins hummed in what sounded like relief as he sucked, closing his eyes as if it would help him better enjoy the taste. Illuga wasn't small by any means, normal people have choked on it before, but Flins took more and more with seemingly no difficulty. Illuga's fingers twitched when Flins' audibly inhaled, with his nose flush with Illuga's bush. Somehow that was more lewd that anything preceding it, the shameless indulgence in Illuga's musk.

He probably sweat a lot after trying to run away and thrash out of Flins' arms, the smell was probably strong.

Flins loudly swallowed, his drool dripping down to Illuga's balls as he stuck his tongue out to lap at the underside of his length. Illuga had to stop his legs from squeezing shut.

Granted, Flins' probably couldn't actually be hurt that way. He was a wisp, right? Kyryll, the Azure Flame… He really should have put that together years ago… Anyway, Flins' body was mostly fake. Illuga could crush his head like a melon between his thighs and he'd probably just walk it off.

He numbly registered he was bucking up into Flins' mouth. Moans were being ripped out of him as Flins sucked him dry, as though his cum was more desirable than the most divine ambrosia. He locked eyes with Flins again and just then he felt-

Fangs-!

Whether it was pleasure, alarm, or both, Illuga refused to examine- but he threw his head back with a scream as he felt a sharp pressure clamp down on his cock. Tears welled up in his eyes and, even though he should have pulled Flins away, his grip in Flins' hair tightened and he held the fae as deep as he could keep him.

Flins moaned loudly around him, desperately sucking precum and blood as Illuga's thighs now squeezed around his head, restraint forgotten entirely.

"Fuck-! Flins, I-!" He choked on his pained sobs, but still continued to thrust up into Flins' wanting mouth. "Kyryll!"

Flins pulled back, despite Illuga's death grip in his hair and the clamp of his thighs, as if Illuga's strength meant nothing. He kept suckling and kissing just the tip, but he broke off to moan, "Master-" His nails dug into Illuga's hips. "Cum for me… Please."

Illuga couldn't hold back if he wanted to. It was only his first release of the day and it already overwhelmed him as he came all over Flins' tongue and cheeks.

It felt like Illuga had just fallen off a bridge and landed on solid rock flat on his back. He continued to sob and shake, though the pain seemed to fade as his orgasm rode out. Flins gently kissed his thighs and cock as Illuga calmed back down.

"You're beautiful." Flins kissed the tip, wide smoldering smile freezing everything it touched. "Just… perfect, my perfect gem."

"H-hah…" Illuga shivered and finally looked back down at him. His chest felt crushed, his breaths only escaped through the cracks.

"I'm so truly blessed," Flins slowly pushed Illuga's tremoring legs apart. He trailed cold sticky kisses up Illuga's stomach. "To have someone of your brilliance all to myself, my Young Master, my treasure."

Illuga wanted to voice some objections to that on reflex, but his voice refused to obey.

"You're intoxicating in ways I could never hope to feel with any other." He nibbled lightly along the ribs. Illuga noted numbly that the fangs were now dulled.

"Do you…" He finally could move his stiff hands and loosened his death grip in Flins' hair. He glared at Flins as his disgusting face drew closer. "Do you want me to not trust you?"

"Whatever do you mean?" His grin looked bordering on manic as he now loomed over Illuga. The bruise below his eye was so faded now, it really hadn't taken long at all… a pity.

"You're really not making me want to stay longer if you're just going to bite my dick off." He drops his arms to his sides and let his limbs go limp, sighing softly in relief as the muscles relaxed. "Not to mention everything else you've done today."

"My apologies, Young Master, but you had appeared to enjoy that." Flins chuckled and kissed along his collarbone. As his lips brushed the wound at his neck, Illuga hissed in pain. "Ah, not enough yet…" Flins mumbled and kissed the raw flesh until Illuga stopped reacting, until it went numb again.

Illuga had liked it, hadn't he…? Though he was a bit too far gone at that moment to have any rational aversion to it. He'd even held Flins closer to him as he sucked his blood.

"…If you hurt me too badly, I won't be able to fuck you." He said flatly and Flins pulled back to meet his eyes.

The flames obscuring his face ebbed if just so Illuga could watch him process his words. "I thought to prove my devotion, I would be servicing you."

"Mmm, I think we now have another misunderstanding between us, Flins," Illuga pushed himself up on his elbows. "And this time it's on your part."

Flins' cheeks were already flushing, like he knew exactly where this was going.

"You seem to be under the impression that I will just let you get away with doing whatever you please," He reached up to hold Flins' chin. "But I will not tolerate you making all these decisions without my consent." He dug his fingers into Flins' side with his other hand, hard enough that Flins' actually winced. Finally, a reaction! "Tell me, who is it you call Master?"

Flins purred. "You have never liked being called that, my treasure."

He hoped how his fingers tightened on Flins' jaw would bruise, he wished they would last. "Answer me, Kyryll."

"You, Young Master." He shivered in Illuga's grasp.

"You said I belong to you, but you also belong to me." He pulled Flins' face closer. "Understand?"

He nodded. "Yes, Young Master."

"So stop putting yourself in charge." He pulled Flins in for a kiss before forcing him back. The man whined getting denied more. "Besides, I'm still mad at you, I want to take it out on you."

Flins whimpered. "Promise?"

"Stop making me so tired, and I promise I'll fuck you until you're either unconscious or begging me to stop." He let Flins go again and sunk back flat on the bed.

"If I were to lose consciousness, would you keep going?" Flins ran his hands up and down Illuga's sides.

"Until I'm satisfied." He didn't even pause to think about it. He should have, considering the plan was to escape at the earliest opportunity.

Flins' flames flared, but they weren't so blinding. He rushed down to kiss Illuga again and Illuga didn't push him away this time, somehow still melting against these freezing flames.

Illuga held Flins' hips as the fae returned to rutting his cock against Illuga's own as he straddled Illuga's thigh. He guided Flins to grind slowly, patiently.

They had time, after all.

He would never stay "a few days" as Flins said he wrote to Nikita, but certainly he could waste this one… He'd feel bad missing night watch, but Nikita would most certainly have gotten someone else to cover for him long before he would be able to get back. He had to push that guilt aside for now. There was nothing he could do without Flins dragging him back in… He'd feel bad later.

For now he had to deal with the fae above him moaning into his mouth.

"Fill me, Master." His words were surprisingly soft calm, despite the frantic grind of his hips. "Please…"

"I'm not going in dry, Flins." Illuga moved Flins' hips up and the man whined. "Drool, cum, and blood are frankly not enough lube. Do you have anything I can stretch you open with?"

"I have the oils you brought me," He looked sheepish and he squirmed in Illuga's hold. "and the traveler left slime condensate in my kitchen."

…Illuga didn't want any of that touching his dick on a normal day.

"…What kind of slime?" He grimaced. At the very least, he knew this was the only option that was safe to eat, so surely it was the lesser of evils… Besides, some lubes used slime as an ingredient anyway. Surely this wouldn't be too different… right?

"Hydro, I believe."

At least it wasn't dendro or geo… Either of those two sounded like an infection waiting to happen. Pyro, cryo, or electro might hurt where Flins bit him… Really anemo and hydro sounded like the safest options, so maybe this was lucky? He didn't want to have to put lamp oil in Flins' ass… Wouldn't that catch fire…? No, that's stupid, drop it.

Illuga groaned and shut his eyes, letting Flins go. "Go get it."

"Must you continue to send me away?" He was pouting like a child.

"You chased me when I tried to leave and then sedated me with magic so I couldn't stop you from undressing me in your bed." His glare could probably melt a hole in a wall with its intensity.

…

"I will be right back." Flins pushed himself up to stand and rushed out of the room. At least he had the decency to feel some shame, even though he'd definitely do it again if he felt the need.

Illuga sat up fully to assess the damage Flins caused so far.

There was a ring of blood around his dick near the base, already dried and caked to him. The bite wasn't very deep and already seemed to be closing up on its own… So Flins could heal him? or at least speed up the process. With all the blood still rushing south, he thought it would be bleeding more… and he was already hard again.

He wondered how this magic was impacting the mark on his shoulder. Flins' lips brought a numbness to the pain, but Illuga could still feel the strain with every turn of his head, along with the stiffness of his hair caked to its edges. This would take some time to recover, even with magic… Perhaps he should visit Lauma after he leaves… Actually he should report to his pops and retrieve Aedon before going that far away. His chest was already hollow without the nightingale at this distance and it was physically painful when Aedon flew to Snezhnaya without him, he didn't want to travel to Hisii alone if he could help it. He could have Ivar give him a quick once-over before he set back out too, to make sure Illuga did a decent enough job cleaning the wound on the road back to Piramida.

His thoughts were interrupted as Flins returned. The fae seemed perfectly composed, despite his cock still being so hard it looked painful. He appeared to wipe off some of the cum from his cheeks and his flames had dissipated in the time he was gone however, like he'd calmed down some. Well, that just wouldn't do.

"Get on your elbows and knees." He moved to the end of the bed and held out a hand. Flins put the bottle in his awaiting palm and crawled on to the bed as instructed.

"Like this, my treasure?" He swayed his ass in the air teasingly.

"Stop that." Illuga laughed and slapped it. Not hard of course, Flins was far too boney for that, Illuga didn't want to hurt his own hand. "You're freezing so I'm not going to bother warming this up in my hand."

"I would prefer not to wait any longer either." Flins hummed happily and rested his head on one of the bloodstained pillows. Ew.

"You'll wait as long as I say you have to." Illuga gently kissed the spot where his hand had struck, watching as the hand-print grew blue instead of red… He supposed he'd need to get used to that now.

He open up the bottle and poured some slime out onto his hands. He grimaced at how cold and thick it was, but tried to push past the thought. It had to be squished and broken up a little bit before he could actually spread it on his fingers, but once he was sufficiently slick, he gently pressed the tip of his middle finger into Flins' awaiting hole.

Flins… didn't react at all.

"Uhh… This feel okay?" He pushed it in slowly, though he found no resistance.

"You can use more than one to start, Young Master." He pressed back a little.

"Did you prepare beforehand?" Illuga pushed his ring finger in to join the first.

"No," Flins let out a satisfied sigh. "I normally start with two."

"My fingers are thicker than yours…" He thrust them in and curled them down, finally pulling out a shudder from Flins.

"And shorter." Flins looked back at him with a cheeky grin.

Illuga slapped his other cheek, far harder this time, making Flins yelp.

"I-I was merely laying out the facts, my dear." He tried to keep teasing but Illuga could see how his ears and shoulders dusted blue with his fluster.

"Have you taken anyone else?" He thrusted his fingers faster into him and moved to lean over his back.

"I'm well over six hundred years old, Young Master. There were others long before you." He said he didn't breathe through his mouth, and yet he sounded like he was starting to struggle gasping down air. "Though I've not indulged since before I've had you, no."

"Do you touch yourself often?" He leaned down to kiss along Flins' spine, fingers never stopping their assault.

"No… But I did last night," Flins kept raising his hips and pressing back against Illuga to meet the thrusts of his hand. "Ahhh… And before you arrived today, Young Master."

"Did you get worked up thinking about someone else touching me?" Illuga cooed and reached his free hand under Flins to grasp his length. "Was that why it took you a little longer to answer the door?"

"I- hah- hadn't thought I took particularly long to compose myself." Flins' hands gripped the blankets.

"On days you're inside, you always open the door before I even have the chance to knock," He squeezed Flins' cock, thumb pressed hard against the slit. Flins bucked into him. "Always waiting for me there like a dog."

"Master…" Flins whimpered, desperately. "I'm stretched enough now, please."

"If you're sure." He let Flins' cock go and pulled his fingers out of his ass, causing Flins to involuntarily whine from the sudden absence. He moved to kneel behind Flins and stroked his own cock with his wet hand to get it ready.

Just pressing the tip inside made him shudder. Flins was already trying to buck back into him and he held Flins' hips in a death-grip to slow him down.

"You'd think… being old would make you more-" Illuga thrust in deeper. "Patient."

"O-oh?" Flins looked over his shoulder at him. His smirk said he just discovered something rarer than any gems in his collection. "Do you perhaps like that I'm older?"

Illuga's hands twitched and more heat rose to his cheeks.

Flins took his fluster as an opportunity and thrust his hips back, spearing himself fully on Illuga's cock. Though Flins said he didn't breathe through his mouth, it sure sounded like all the wind was forced out of him; Illuga surely sounded just as desperate, if not worse.

Illuga wrapped his arms around Flins' waist and leaned forward, burying his face between Flins' shoulder blades "I- hah… I need a sec…"

"Mmm, take your time." Flins hummed pleased. Yet his hips rolled, slowly grinding against Illuga. Illuga's whimper only encouraged him. "Perhaps you were still more sensitive than you thought?"

…How was Illuga suppose to outlast him again? This was pathetic.

Illuga licked the space between Flins' shoulders and noted how the man twitched. "Bring your wings back out."

"How could I ever refuse you?" He sighed in relief as Illuga peppered kisses along his back and the flames of his wings now licked Illuga's cheeks.

Illuga pulled out and harshly thrust back in, delighting in how Flins' flames flickered and sparked. He repeated the motion, watching Flins melt more and more into the mattress as Illuga fucked him in earnest. His wings fluttered with every sweet moan that left his lips, faster and faster.

"Is there- hah- a way to mark you?" Illuga let go of Flins' cock to keep both hands on his hips, to make it easier to move him, use him. "That stays?"

Flins clenched tighter around him and buried his face in the bloody pillow to muffle the ragged shuddering moan that mere question ripped out of him.

"You said earlier you want me to reciprocate, Flins." He kissed the base of his wings and tried to keep up the fast pace of his thrusts. "I can't be the only one with an open wound."

Flins whimpered like a frightened animal, his back arching and pushing himself back to meet every thrust. "Master-"

"You said visible injuries don't last." He nipped at the frozen flesh. "Give me something- fuck- permanent!"

"Bite me-!" Flins cried, flames pouring from his eyes and obscuring his face. "I can make it stay, so please-"

He didn't need to be asked twice. He bit down on Flins' shoulder as hard as he could, mirroring his own injury.

It burned.

Illuga didn't know if it counted as blood or more fire, but whatever rushed into his mouth made him feel like he was being boiled alive. Despite the sudden overwhelming sensation, he didn't let go, his jaw tightened.

"Yes!" Flins screamed, thrashing under him. His body clenched around Illuga's cock.

Illuga growled and jerked his head, feeling Flins tear under his teeth. As Flins started to spasm under him, he finally let go and lapped at the wound like he was starved for it. His mouth was tingly from the strange ichor, it felt like sparks shooting in his throat, but he still drank all that oozed from the open wound.

It was intoxicating.

He finally realized Flins wasn't moving much under him and panic flared up in his chest. "Sir Flins!?" He pushed himself upright and turned Flins' head to see his face.

"Illuga…" Flins winced but still smiled at him. Illuga sighed in relief. "I believe you promised you would keep going if I were to fall unconscious?"

Illuga's cock twitched. Right, he still hadn't cum yet… Though clearly Flins had.

"I meant from exhaustion or something, not blood loss!" He fretted. "Are you alright?"

"More than alright, my treasure." Flins nuzzled his cheek into Illuga's hand. "Please, keep going."

Illuga felt something in his chest tighten at the sight of flame tears softly kissing his palm.

Oh. Oh no. No, no, no, he can't let Flins get away with this, no matter how good a view this is.

He pulled out before thrusting all the way back in. Flins sounded like he choked.

Yes… Flins was crying flames and bleeding and moaning under him. He'd already cum once, Illuga just needed to get him to cum another… Maybe seven or so more times would do it? Perhaps more. Illuga had him right where he wanted him…

He kept an even pace as he continued to thrust into him and focused more on breathing and kissing Flins' shoulder blades than on his own pleasure. He just had to focus…

Focus on drawing out all those pretty cries out of him, he who was normally so well composed, so dignified, so effortless unphased.

Time blurred after this point. He was losing sense of how long had passed. Flins just let Illuga move him around as much as he'd wanted and slurred through praises like he was drunk on Illuga's cock. How much had he been filled by now? How much had he cum all over himself and the bed?

He really did just fall into submission now that he was getting what he wanted all along, having Illuga all to himself, with the injuries to prove it.

Honestly, Illuga probably came dry the last time, but he wasn't stopping. He couldn't stop. He wasn't done yet. He couldn't stop until Flins was no longer capable of trapping him.

Yeah… That was the only reason…

Illuga choked as Flins' tongue grew in his mouth as they kissed. His hips shuttered and Flins' heels dug into the small of his back to keep their hips flush together. Illuga squeezed on Flins' thighs hard enough to bruise as he kept him folded in half and pulled his head back to breathe raggedly. Flins whined the moment their lips parted and he strained to try kissing him again, but Illuga stayed just out of reach.

Flins hadn't said a word in a while. All he could do now was whine and whimper.

It couldn't last too much longer now. Maybe just one more…

"One more time, Kyryll…" His voice couldn't go higher than a whisper. Without him meaning or wanting to, it sounded like the most reverent of prayers leaving his bruised and bloodied lips. "You can cum one more time for me, c-can't you?"

It sounded like Flins choked on the answer he couldn't give. Illuga couldn't see his human face, only the blue flames pouring out of his mouth and crying eyes, and the shadows the light made beneath. Illuga wanted to swallow the fire and fill his lungs with the smoke.

Flins' claws dug into Illuga's back and dragged down his shoulders, not for the first time. Illuga didn't know how much blood had run and dried down his back by this point. His growing lightheadedness over these past few hours wasn't just from physical exertion and ecstasy, but surely from blood loss as well. Flins' magic kisses could only minutely speed up his body's healing process, it didn't aid in how much energy it took to close the wounds.

"Oh, come on-" Illuga winced, eyebrows furrowing deeply. His hips did not stutter, even though every other part of his body was starting to scream to slow down or stop all together. "Y-you can do it."

Luck finally smiled upon him then, as Flins tremored beneath him once again.

Please be the last… He silently pleaded.

"That's it, Kyryll…" He cooed and pressed his forehead to Flins'. He had to shut his eyes as the light of the flames grew ever brighter "Cum for me."

Flins' voice crackled like a log on a fire splitting, his sudden words shaken out of him in a language foreign and strained on Illuga's ears.

And suddenly, Illuga was falling forward.

He fumbled after falling flat on the ruined bed and pushed himself back up with a start, whipping his head around in confusion. Flins was just… gone?

"Flins?!" He shouted into empty air… It really didn't help that this room had no lit lamps or drawn window curtains… Wait… Surely it wasn't after dark already, right? The storm probably rolled in and snuffed out the sun.

As his sight strained in the darkness, a light returned. The blue light of Flins' lantern on the dresser across the room began to glow brighter than before.

"Flins…?" Illuga pushed off the bed to stand and padded over to it, raising a hand hesitantly.

"Forgive me, my dear, but it would seem I overdid it…" Flins' voice echoed out from the glass.

"Gods, you scared me…" Illuga's shoulders relaxed and he gently brushed his fingers along the soldering. "I didn't know you could do that."

"I don't think I'll be able to tend to you for a while like I'd hoped…" His flames twitched. Ah. He was embarrassed.

"That's alright, just-" He sighed and shook his head. "Please get some rest. I'm going to clean myself up."

"As you wish, Young Master." Flins hummed, before falling silent. There was a small puff of sparks then, before the flame lowered.

Was he… asleep…? Is that what this was…?

I did it… Illuga thought and tried not to let any relief show before he turned away. I actually outlasted him-!

He remained outwardly calm as he slowly picked up his sweater and briefs off the floor. Before taking his belongings from the bedside table, he looked at the state of the bed in the dim blue light.

Everything was caked with blood and tear stains. There were a few pools of cum that Illuga looked away from as soon as he registered them. There were a few slashes among the mess; Flins' sharpened nails tore up the pillows and even into the mattress itself.

There were also a clear scorch marks, though admittedly far fewer than Illuga expected. The one thing Flins seemed to keep under control the whole day was miraculously not burning Illuga anywhere. That was probably why it had felt so cold.

Note to self: never let Flins near my bedroom in Piramida… Illuga grimaced at the destruction and grabbed the rest of his things, before rushing out of the room.

He set his things down when he got to the bathroom and turned a lamp on. He immediately startled upon seeing the state of himself in the mirror above the sink.

The cuts on his face had healed and disappeared thankfully, but everything else… He reach up a hand to touch the rough bruising patch of new scar tissue rapidly forming up from his right shoulder to his jaw. It looked like Flins ripped a thin layer of flesh off of him and ate it. The spots where Flins' canines pierced were small, cauterized circles. If he wasn't actively looking, they might not be noticeable, or at least he hoped that was the case…

Regardless it looked like an apex predator mauled him. Honestly, that was not too far from the truth.

He ran a finger along the ring of tender skin and found he couldn't feel a thing. Whether that meant Flins' weird numbing spell was still working or the nerves were dead, he had no idea… He feared hearing what the truth of it was.

As for the rest of him, there were scratches all up and down his back. He watched repulsed as he saw some gashes actively sealing themselves shut. There were also small bruises and superficial bitemarks going down the front of his torso and between his thighs. That at least felt relatively normal, albeit not preferable.

His lips were also cracked and bruised. He wondered if a spot on his lower lip was split enough to need stitches… It might be fine, but he'd ask Ivar once he got home.

He grabbed a cloth from the cabinet below the sink and wet it with warm water before gently wiping himself off. His back stung so he had to take great care not to irritate the wounds too badly, but it had to be done… Honestly he should take a shower to clean this properly, but he thought that might be more trouble than it was worth. He made sure to wring out the cloth every so often and lather it up with soap for the second pass. It was around that point that he regretted not just getting in the bathtub and showering, but he had already spent too long with this method to swap now. Once he was satisfied he gently pat himself dry with another towel.

Then he grabbed the med kit and pulled out ointment to gently rub over his back and neck, as best he could. Then he carefully wrapped himself up in bandages. With a satisfied sigh, he closed the kit and tossed the towels aside before washing his hands.

As he was about to get dressed he took a good look at his briefs and grimaced. They were far too dirty to put back on… He'd just put his pants on without them and throw the underwear in his bag…

On that note, he quickly went to the fireplace in the main room and grabbed his pants and socks hanging up. They were blissfully dry and comfortably warm and he pulled them all on.

Returning to the bathroom, he pulled the sweater on over his head with a relieved sigh. He hadn't fully realized just how frigid Flins' flames left him until he was covered up again. He was immensely grateful now for the thick winter sweater.

Once he got his belts, sash, and earring on, he was a bit stunned by how… normal he looked overall. All the damage except his lips were completely covered up. There was just a tiny peek of bandages barely poking up past his sweater's turtleneck, which could genuinely be from anything considering the nature of his job.

He secured his vision back to his belt and turned the lamp off, before leaving the bathroom and closing the door behind him.

He silently crept to the front door and sat on the floor to get his boots back on. Then he tried so so very not to rush putting his jacket on.

With his empty oath lantern hooked properly to his belt once more and his bag slung over his shoulder, he held his breath and opened the door to finally leave.

---

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