Did I ever tell you the inspiration for animals being inexplicably afraid of and avoidant of Liam is actually me.
It has been literal years since I've pet a cat. Just tonight when I got home I was hoping to come accross a black kitty I had seen a few times around the neighborhood :D
And I saw a black kitty at the entrance of my building! Yay! (Maybe not the same one but)
The way my heart fucking shattered as it trotted after a woman that passed by. I cannot. Express my pain.
I feel cursed. I am suffering.
I can never pet the neighborhood kitties... whats the point of living.. if I cant pet the neihborhood kitties...
Summary : Life is different now... But there are still means to find warmth and comfort in each other.
Julian’s eyes lazily fluttered open. He felt the small branches of his makeshift bed-nest poke his face through the fabrics he'd gathered to try and make it more comfortable. He slowly came back to his senses, feeling his feathers, his longer, stronger limbs, his talons and-
Ouch
His wings. They were both still sore, but the left one hurt. Not as bad as when these arrows flew through it, but it was certainly bothersome. Maybe he shouldn’t have struggled against Liam and Valdemar so much. After all, they'd just wanted to help him...
He sighed and let his eyes wander around the Hanged Raven. The cursed tavern was quiet tonight, the air eerily still. Tables and chairs were knocked over, and empty Salty Bitters scattered on the floor. He felt his heart tighten with inexplicable sadness, which was something that had happened a lot in this tavern already. He curled up on himself, taking a deep breath, seeking comfort in his own embrace. He was about to try and close his eyes again when the front door opened, making him perk up. Boots thudded against the creaking floorboards, a large sword was put on one of the tables and Death sighed heavily, pulling the hood of his bloody cape back. Julian felt his heart flutter as he saw Liam’s familiar face. He sat up in the nest, despite the way the pain in his wing made him wince.
The necromancer took off his armor as quickly as he could, smiling softly as he approached the bird man. He was quick to sit in the makeshift nest and wrap his arms tightly around him, inhaling the soft, discreet scent of his feathers. Julian blushed as he also felt Liam squeeze him tighter. Hesitantly, he wrapped his own arms around the smaller man, trying not to make it too comfortable. He didn’t want to accidentally scratch him with his talons...
"Camp’s pretty boring without you around."
Liam suddenly commented, his voice tired and hoarse form yet another battle today.
"Really?" Julian replied, with a dry chuckle.
"Mh... You brighten the mood, you know?"
"..Looking like this?" He replied, skeptical.
"Yeah."
Liam looked up at the bird man’s face, a warm, tender smile stretching his lips and an adoring look in his eyes. Julian almost felt like crying again. He shook his head and chuckled.
"You're too good for me."
"Nonsense."
Liam protested, running his finger through the dark feathers of the man’s head. Julian felt a soft shiver run over his skin.
"How’s your wing?"
"It’s... Capricious, if I can say that. But it certainly isn’t as bad as yesterday." Julian replied, glancing at his still bandaged wing. Liam nodded.
"That’s good... We'll just have to check it tomorrow to make sure it’s not infected. Now hold on, I know you're not looking forward to Valdemar being near you but... They’re our only surgeon. Besides, I told you, I would never leave you alone with them, even if they’re more trustwhorthy than they were before."
Julian sighed. "You know how I feel about you two's... Arrangement, if I can call it that. Just because you 'saved' them from the Devil and his anger doesn’t mean they'll necessarily spare you... Or us."
Liam’s smile faltered a little, as his hands continued to card through the feathers. He looked aside briefly, his train of thoughts going over the events of the day. His fingers mindlessly fiddled with the feathers, gently scratching around their base, running over their length and feeling them. If Julian was honest with himself, it caused... Pleasant sensations. He felt soft shivers run down his neck, like a tingle that soothed him. He let out a hum of approval and nestles his face against Liam’s neck. The necromancer raised a curious eyebrow, but then smiled.
"You like it?"
"Mhm..."
Julian felt slightly sheepish. He tried to hide his blushing face by nuzzling further into Liam’s neck. The necromancer only smiled, and adjusted his sitting position.
"Lay back." He softly demanded. Julian’s brows furrowed in slight confusion as he sat in his nest a little straighter, careful to not press on his injured wing. He looked down at Liam, trying to guess what he had in mind...
The necromancer rolled up his sleeves znd started running the fingers of both his hands through the feathers on Julian’s head. The bird man’s eyes widened, and he felt his cheeks heat up. He cleared his throat, trying to keep himself together... But it was obvious Liam did not want him to stay composed. He gently scratched the base of the feathers, from the top of the head to the base of the nape of the neck, separating and caressing single feathers at times, as if he was cleaning them. He scooted closer, almost on his lap, making Julian almost flinch back. But a part of him wanted to give in to these gentle caresses, to...
Wait.
"Are you... Preening my feathers ?"
He suddenly asked, incredulous.
"It seems I am." Liam replied softly, with a hint of mischief. "Do you want me to stop?"
"No-" Julian paused, trying to gather his wits. "No.. I-it’s alright, I like it..." He said quietly, raising his own hand to gently caress Liam’s cheek with the back of his talon. "How do I..."
Liam quickly cut him off. "No no. I want to spoil you." He said, still smiling, as he pressed himself even closer. Julian swallowed thickly, nodding sheepishly and agreeing.
The both got comfortable in the bed-nest and enjoyed each other’s proximity. Julian slowly allowed himself to be lulled by Liam’s gentle caressing, scratching and preening of his feathers, his wild train of thoughts progressively slowing down. For the first time in a while, he found himself relaxed, not caring about what kind of monster he'd possibly turned into, while Liam’s thoughts didn’t linger on the harsh battlefields out there, as he too found himself soothed by the way his fingers felt his man’s skin and feathers. The only thing that mattered was this moment. Despite the branches of the nest, it was soft... Despite Liam’s cold hands, it was warm... Despite the hate and despair, this was love.
After what felt like hours - as if time had meaning in the realms -, they both started to drift off, and eventually, they fell asleep, wrapped up in each other’s arms.
