It wasn't every day one's ex was partnered with their —wait, what did Taash call it again? Ah, right— with their "situationship" on a job. Any time Davrin and Neve teamed up, it almost always spelled trouble.
For Lucanis, at least.
Already, he could feel a headache coming on. Fucking undercover jobs. It was hard enough being out in the field at times, knowing that things could go sideways even with him there, but now two of the most important people in his life were walking willingly into a den of wolves.
Best part, he couldn't even join them.
For the millionth time that day, he felt obligated to protest. "Rook, surely I can—"
Oh, if looks could kill. The glare they leveled Lucanis with was enough to silence him, but he didn't let the matter go without grumbling under his breath.
"Lucanis," they warned, patient as could be, which wasn't saying much at that point, "we've been over this. They're best suited for the job. Davrin was a bodyguard in the past. After you, Neve has the most experience with Thedas' criminal underworld. They'll play their parts. The Venatori won't suspect a thing."
Lucanis couldn't tell who they were trying to convince more, him or themself.
"I should be going with them," he insisted.
"And you are," Neve called out as she and Davrin descended down the base's staircase. "Last I checked, you're our lookout and our getaway, are you not?"
Lucanis scowled.
"You know that's not what I meant. There's still time to change up the plan. Rook and I could trade out. How hard could it be to play the part of Bodyguard Number Two?"
"You mean, after the Venatori spread that footage of you around from the Wigmaker's estate?" Davrin snorted, interrupting Lucanis the second he opened his mouth again. "Da'lath, don't make this any harder than it has to be. We can't risk anyone recognizing you."
"The beard might be new, but it's not really hiding that much," Neve teased in agreement. "Don't worry. I'll bring him back to you in one piece." She patted Davrin on the shoulder, eyeing him up and down with an appreciative smirk. "Maybe."
Lucanis rolled his eyes at them, Davrin unable to hide his growing grin.
"How about all three of you get back to me in one piece," Lucanis told them, "and drinks are on me tonight."
Lucanis praying to the Maker for strength because his boyfriend gives him shit any time he tries to dress him up in anything other than his usual armor.
Sharing this excerpt because I could read it a million times over. <3
"Tell me." Over the pounding of his heart, Davrin swallowed past the lump in his throat, forcing the words out before he could lose his nerve. "Was last night real?"
Yeah, I decided my lucavrin as of late hasn't been angsty enough apparently, so I needed to rectify that. My first playthrough forever haunting my days with Lucanis's line about sharing a vintage with Davrin with Assan at their feet. It's fine, though.
I might not be the best at articulating it right now because it's getting late for me, but there is something to be admired about the lucavrin potential in the sense that these men are both super loyal in that unending devotion kind of way. Mr. "Wherever you are, there I am" and Mr. "If I have to kill every blighted creature in Thedas to keep you safe, I will." Add in a splash of competitiveness and the humor these two develop once they're on better terms, and it just writes itself.
I'm so sorry, I didn't plan on sharing anything right now because my ass should honestly keep on writing while I got a good flow going, but this part came out so well I had to. Peak lucavrin dynamic. 🤣
"We only have a few days before I head out again."
"Don't remind me," Lucanis huffed. Restlessly, Spite stirred within him in agreement, his disdain at the idea making it impossible for Lucanis to hold back his pout. His next words still managed to startle him, no matter how long it's been since they've gotten together, words that neither of them would have ever expected from each other when they first met. "I'm... going to miss you."
His tone strained, the confession was a bit of an awkward one, as if forced out of him at knifepoint.
Davrin's chuckle was low and rich, sending a shiver shooting through them.
"All the more reason to enjoy the time we have now, don't you think?"
It was their first holiday since they defeated the elven gods.
"I'm still surprised you wanted to spend Satinalia here, of all places."
With me.
Parting from the shadows, Lucanis stepped forward to stand at his side on the balcony, overlooking the flood of people pouring into the streets of Treviso. A sweet symphony of singing, music, dancing, and laughter filled the night air.
In the aftermath of the occupation and the Blight, things had been hectic as the entirety of Thedas scrambled to rebuild.
Happiness felt as if it was in short supply most days, but not when Davrin was around.
Never when he was around.
After taking a hit from his pipe, Davrin exhaled slowly through his nose, and Lucanis watched, utterly captivated, as smoke streamed forth from flared nostrils.
"Why wouldn't I?" Sparing Lucanis a knowing glance, Davrin smirked, then leaned in so that they didn't need to shout as much over the growing noise. "If anyone knows a thing or two about how to throw a party, it's you Antivans!"
Lucanis snorted, unable to hide his responding grin.
Without thinking, he leaned in as well, their elbows bumping while they relaxed against the railing.
Flutters of longing settled deep in Lucanis's chest —a light, airy feeling growing heavier, more deliciously suffocating by the second.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but that almost sounds like the voice of experience," he observed, brows raised in curiosity. "Celebrated some holidays in Antiva before?"
"Something like that," Davrin mumbled. Then, louder, he told him, "A story for another time, perhaps. For now, I'm simply enjoying the festivities."
Lucanis cocked his head to the side, eyeing him up and down.
"In that case—" He waved a hand out in front of them. "—shouldn't you be down there in the streets with everyone else?"
Davrin answered without missing a beat.
"I have all the company I need right here."
Desire seized Lucanis by the neck with a tight squeeze. His voice escaped him, and his knees buckled.
Before he could second-guess himself, he brushed his pinky along Davrin's, his gaze focused on where their skin made contact.
Clearing his throat, Lucanis hoarsely whispered, "That sounds like the elfroot talking."
"Or the fancy whiskey," Davrin allowed, hooking his pinky around Lucanis's with a fond smile to himself. "Thanks for that, by the way."
"No need to thank me," Lucanis laughed, "when I had my fair share of it, too."
"Well, then..." He held the pipe up between them in offering. "Care to indulge some more, First Talon?"
Whatever composure Lucanis had left must have disappeared into thin air. Even now, Davrin's feelings about his position among the Crows remained... complicated to say the least, yet the way he called Lucanis by his title just then was nothing short of a tease. The greatest temptation, crafted especially for him.
"During Satinalia, overindulgence is the name of the game, is it not?" he remarked. His head spun, but Lucanis maintained enough awareness to wait for Davrin to draw in another puff of smoke before he acted. "So don't mind if I do."
Resting a hand upon the back of his neck, Davrin submitted to his touch when Lucanis dragged him closer. Their lips crashed together into a heated kiss, and that sharp, powerful tang of elfroot rolled off of Davrin's lips and onto Lucanis's tongue with every breath he took. A pleasant tickle scratched at the back of his throat, which in turn became a low burn of embers nestled in the cradle of his lungs, only to pour out through his nose in a lighter stream, same as Davrin.
They moaned into each other's mouths as their tongues explored to their hearts' content, deepening the kiss, longing to be impossibly closer with every beat of their heart.
The pipe long forgotten, they stumbled their way from the balcony back into the bedroom, grasping, tugging desperately at each other's clothes.
Lucanis pulled away with a gasp, sinking his teeth into his bottom lip to stifle a low hiss when Davrin didn't so much as hesitate to start covering his throat in open-mouthed kisses.
Violet light raced through Lucanis's veins. Spite pressed against the veil of his consciousness, illuminating the room in their shared splendor.
"Davrin, where's Assan?" Lucanis panted, Spite's voice reverberating through his in perfect unison.
It took Davrin a moment to respond, his words warm in the crook of his neck.
"Downstairs. Distracted. Playing with the, uh— with the innkeeper's daughter."
"Good."
That was precisely the answer Lucanis was looking for. In a show of otherworldly strength, he shoved Davrin back onto the bed, reveling in his wide-eyed, awestruck stare, right before an amused grin stretched across both their faces.
"Someone's feeling a bit bold tonight," Davrin noted, drinking in the sight of him as Lucanis rid himself of his shirt first, then his pants.
Once the fabric pooled at his feet, he stepped free of his clothes, wasting no time in grabbing Davrin by the ankle and dragging him towards the edge of the bed.
"What can I say? I've missed you these past few weeks, mi amor." Spite damn near bit their tongue in his rush to correct Lucanis. "We have missed you."
"Well, aren't you sweet?"
Chuckling, Lucanis and Spite took Davrin carefully by the chin and angled his head to the side just right. They flicked the tip of their tongue against his earlobe, teased their teeth against it in the way they knew he liked, savoring how he trembled beneath them.
"Do you want us to stop?" they purred, to which Davrin shook his head, humming in delight.
