#king-bito writes

[king-bito]

An Assassin in Chains:

Aaravos looked down at the human before him. The chained, male, assassin was beaten and bloodied, new and old scars generously littering his pale body beneath the torn dark clothing that once helped conceal him. Blood dripped from his ankles and wrists from where the human had clearly struggled against his own bindings, with such futility, yet such determination.

A human, imprisoned by other humans, how amusing - the star touched elf thought to himself as he inspected the body hunched over in defeat. With a graceful movement, Aaravos knelt down, his long show white hair falling past his shoulders like a curtain of silk accross a night sky, and with a single hand, reached out to touch, then caress, then raise the cheek of the man before him. He was young, mid twenties perhaps, fresh cuts, dirt, and smeared blood tainting fair and porcelain skin. Thick black hair, undercut on both sides of the humans head fell over half his face and features, shoulder length at most, and thick black lashes framed half lidded, but still vibrant amethyst eyes.

"Yes.." A voice deeper than the world's many oceans, slid smoothly from Aaravos' lips like honey. He could see that even if this humans body had ceased working, those eyes held a fierce fire behind them, orbs that burned deep in to your very soul. This human hadn't given up, despite his hopeless situation.

"Yes, you will be a valuable asset yet.~" he cooed. "...If I free you from this prison of yours, will you agree to obey me~?"

For the first time in days, the haze in the humans mind cleared, eyes coming into focus to notice.. Stars.. No, this was a person.. His eyes flickered up to meet the narrowed and intense yellow gaze of the mage's own, a thick swallow forced down his throat. Subconciously he had heard the stranger enter, and speak, but only now was he processing what was really happening. An.. Elf? Here? Weakly, the humans brow furrowed, earning nothing but a calm and collected smile from Aaravos.

"Well..~?" That thick voice again, it was almost intoxicating, had the human any strength to realise such things. What even was this offer? He was an assassin.. It couldn't possibly be that bad, considering his standards already.. So.. What did he have to lose? Die here in a cell, or be freed and be under basically a contract with a random, and yet, extremely visually stunning stranger? It perhaps seemed as if he was taking more time to think about this than necessary, but eventually, the human gave a slight, but noteable nod.

Aaravos' smile widened. He always got what he wanted, and today was no exception.

[king-bito]

The unlikely pair, assassin and mage, begin their trek back to Katolis. It would be a long journey on foot, but thankfully they at least had eachothers company.

"Did you have to be so far out in the wilderness? It wasnt easy getting to you, you know." Viren near muttered.

"Oh yes, when I was forced to flee from inhabitable lands by society, I chose the most out of the way place to be miserable just for you, my savior in lacey underwear." Haen quipped back with a confident smirk.

Viren gave an unamused huff as he rubbed salve on his scratched neck.

"Awh, did I upset you?" The assassin pressed, hoping to hit another of Viren's obvious buttons. He was granted nothing less than a sharp glare that confirmed his curiosities. "I should have left you as a beast, at least then you'd be silent."

Much to Viren's ssurprise the assassin began his reply in complete agreement.

"Yes, we could have ridden off into the sunset, probably make record time too, but you know.. " He looked down at his hands and flexed them, forming fists and opening them again to look at his palms, so pale, so hairless, the only part of the claws that remained were permenantly black nails, an aesthetic he could live with.

No tail either. 300 years with a fucking tail, he never once imagined he would miss it. Ever since he had been transformed back, he still felt strange, maybe he had truly forgotten what it was like to be human. Thats it, that had to be it.

Oh how he had missed thumbs. "..it will be nice not to be attacked by every wandering patrol. So.. Thank you." This was the first time Viren could recall Haen thanking him for turning him back into a human, he wasn't even thanked for conjuring up some clothes for his naked body.

The look of shock must have been a little too noticable as the assassin grinned at him with a mischevous chuckle.

"What." Viren sighed his query.

"Nothing~, I'm just thinking myself lucky that the mage who cured me is cute."

Viren could feel his cheeks heat, and for a moment he thought it was from anger.

But no, that heat was a betraying blush as he recalled several hours spent with the beast itself, and he couldn't help but find his eyes wander the mans new form just as greedily. "Mmf." He pulled his eyes away and strode ahead, his limp making this a little difficult.

But his pride was more determined than the pain that shot up his body like an electric current.

"Adorable." The assassin murmured, shaking his head. He owed Viren a life debt, this strange and fascinating mage who undid Avizandum's magic. Haen couldn't help but daydream about the interesting adventures that were ahead. No doubt his skills as a professional killer would be put to good use, but he didn't mind. It was a part of who he was, afterall, there's always someone who wants somebody else dead, and Viren very much came across as the kind to make many, many enemies.

The sun set on their first day of travel, the rest of the afternoon silent as they located somewhere to make up camp, and stay sheltered from the heavy clouds that threatened to soak the pair, but as it got darker and darker, Haen began to feel an unsettling tingle down his spine.

(This is a continuation from a lovely gift.)