Christmas gift for @edgeofvesuvia
The rain continued to drum against the roof of the tavern after Lucio found his way up to Edge’s room. The bags under his eyes deep and bruised from the days of rest lost to him, the contracted kill taking far more out of them than the mercenary had anticipated. He looked into the room unfocused when Edge finally opened the door, the disheveled medic’s yawn cut short at the drenched man on his doorstep. He began to speak, confusion written into the knit of his brows, but he didn’t have time to before the blond ended up in his arms. He staggered back a step under the added weight, a grunt slipping from him before he finally got his bearings.
The mercenary groaned into the soft skin against him, nosing into the crook of Edge’s neck as he sought human contact of any kind. His hands slowly moved to rest on Edge’s wrists before slowly drifting up his arms, Lucio’s calloused hands feeling the cold flesh beneath them. He breathed deeply, the other’s scent comforting him after so long without it before lifting his face sleepily to smile at his lover.
“I hope I didn’t wake you.” he mumbled with sleep, head still resting on Edge’s shoulder.
“I’m glad you did.” the medic whispered back, blinking the sleep from his eyes. He held him closer for one more minute despite the wet tunic dampening his own clothes before stepping away. He gestured quickly behind him and ushered Lucio into his room. With a furtive glance down the corridors to see if they were spotted, Edge eventually shut the door with a soft click and turned, finding Lucio already comfortable into his bed.
The comment he was about to make about the mercenary ruining his sheets died on his tongue. Lucio laid face down in his bed, wet hair and smudged makeup ruining the pillow he was currently nuzzling into. Edge sighed and slowly made his way towards his bed, falling to his knees beside it. He gently laid a hand on Lucio’s shoulder and tried to push the man to his back, “Lucio, roll over.” he whispered with more pressure.
He’s answered with a groan and resistance, the dead weight becoming less dead now that Lucio has decided to fight him on this.
“Lucio!” Edge smacked his shoulder in irritation, frowning at the now laughing man in his bed, “You’re going to get hypothermia if you don’t roll over.”
“Are you going to warm me up?” Lucio turned his face in the pillow, a smirk muddy with weariness. The expression was almost cute, though the medic would never tell him so.
“If I can get your clothes off!” He gave him a stern look, but it only seemed to make Lucio’s smile grow.
“You only needed to ask, darling.” The mercenary’s tired demeanor shifted, a mischievous smirk written in his features. He sat up and waved his arms out in an open manner, eyebrows raised in anticipation, “Have your way with me.”
The amount of strength it took for Edge not to blush immediately was commendable, but he would be lying if he said he didn't feel it creeping up his neck. He cleared his throat and looked away, gathering himself for a moment before going forward with the task at hand. His hands rose slowly to Lucio’s chest, nervous fingers gently grasping the belt holding the pauldron still strapped onto his shoulder. He waited for a sign on resistance, but when he found none, Edge slowly tugged and released the belt, pulling the piece away from the damp fabric beneath it to settle it on the ground. He then works over the pieces of armor over his knees and calves, to his shoes and pants below, removing his bits and clothing until Lucio's left in nothing but his drawers.
“There.” The blush had bested the medic, red blooming across his face since he had slowly dragged the wet tunic from the scarred torso before him. His eyes had caught on some marks of the mercenary’s violent trade: a jagged scar running across his side, kissing the edge of his rib. Another one crosses his pectoral, the edge ghosting his left collarbone down to crest a pierced nipple. Edge’d found himself reaching towards the scar like so many before, but he jerked his hand away at the last moment, eye contact not an option in his flustered state. “Now you can lay down.”
“But I thought you were going to keep me warm?”
Edge shot him a look that time, glaring at the predator lounging back in his bed. His flush dulled the ire his squinting was meant to deliver but he gifted it just the same. He had planned on sleeping tonight, and if that man got his way, he wouldn’t be doing that for a while.
“You have blankets.” He spoke matter of factly, “And a room of your own, Lucio.”
“You want me to walk out in nothing but my skivvies? So eager to share your good fortune, Edge.”
“I could always sleep there instead, get your money’s worth for it.” Edge rose from his knees beside his bed, socked feet causing the old floorboards to squeak beneath them.
Before he would get far, a hand lurched out and took his wrist, calloused fingers caressing his skin once more. “Stay.”
He turned to find Lucio staring at him, a charismatic grin still plastered on his face, though it’s softer than minutes ago. His own face melted at the longing he found in the mercenary’s eyes and the gentle words falling from his lips.
“We don’t have to do anything, just stay.” He implored, looking up at Edge intimately
Edge blinked down at him, taking in the open grey eyes, the make up left in shambles from dirt and rain, the gentle squeeze of Lucio’s hand around his wrist. After a long moment, Edge finally sighed, shoulders falling in defeat.
“Fine.” he turned, a false frown twisting his lips. Lucio perked up at his answer and the medic got the strong urge to kiss the expression off his face. He shooed Lucio on towards the wall, “Move over at least, this is my bed after all.”
Lucio eagerly wiggled towards the other side of the bed, his head falling to the other pillow as he gazed expectantly at the man following him beneath the sheets. He waggled his eyebrows when he found Edge stare lingering on his chest, the studs peeking from his nipples gaining more pros each and every day. He sighed when the medic finally settled beside him and threw his arm across his side, saddling up to him.
A quick nuzzle to his neck pulled Edge’s eyes to the corner, finding a rapidly tiring Lucio leaning against his shoulder. The scene was enough to earn the blond a kiss on the forehead, Edge’s nerves waning as the dawn approached. Lucio let out a pleased hum and leaned into the touch, his face turning up towards his bedmate.
“Can I get one of those here?” He tapped his smiling lips as his free hand began tracing nondescript patterns into the expanses of skin his fingers could find.
“You’re insufferable.” Edge fought back a yawn creeping up his throat and scrunched his nose at Lucio. That earned him a kiss to it.
“And yet you still put up with me.” The contented hum vibrating through Lucio's throat teased at Edge's skin, the vibrations light and pleasant on his shoulder.
“Gods know why.” Edge teased. He face broke into an amused grin when he noticed Lucio scowling at him.
“It’s cause I’m so pretty.” Lucio said, his left arm sweeping towards the ceiling. His pout was gone, a sleepy lopsided smile taking its place as he settled in closer into Edge’s warmth. “You’re so soft.”
“Oh, uh,” the medic blinked at the relaxed man on his arm, Lucio almost looking docile in his exhaustion, “thank you.”
Edge laid there, his gaze up towards the dusty rafters of his room, a question bubbling on his lips. Right as he gained the confidence to speak it aloud, the gentle breathing of Lucio registered in his ears. The man was already asleep, dreaming against him like a child clung to their favorite toy. The image he found caused his lips to turn upwards and another kiss fell to Lucio's temple.
He gently turned away from his partner and leaned over the bed to the lantern flickering on the side table. With a deep inhale and burst of air, the light was blown out. Edge settled back into his bed to feel Lucio's hand squeeze him hip and draw him closer with a moan. He looked down in the darkness and couldn't fight the worrisome swelling of his heart. Though that was a problem for the sun to look down upon, he decided.
