Thank You so much @mothiepixie for requesting/commissioning this story!
I had a lot of fun writing this piece. I love my Mafia Naga/lamia boys, and Black is always one of my favorites~ I hope you enjoy! Tw: suggestive content at the end. Read after: The Cat's in the Bag
Mafia Master Grand Master
NagaMafiaTale: To See Through Black
Black's Pov
“DO YOU INVADE ALL OF MY COUSIN’S SPACE NOW THAT YOU ARE MORE AQUAINTED, OR AM I THE ONLY UNFORTUNATE SOUL YOU HAVE ENOUGH COURAGE TO PESTER?”
Ferns and exotic plants hung and filled the space around my personal sunroom, lavish cushions and upholstery strategically placed for optimal comfort. The human, the little determined Mouse, lay seemingly unaware of the building tension below and around them as they idly read. They had made themselves comfortable draped over a good portion of my lower extremity, the heat of their body seeping into me through the fabric of their clothes almost as well as the patches of sunlight through the great expanse of glass walls and windows.
“Do you really want to know the answer?”
Flipping to a new page, the warm fingers of their free hand ghosted trails over some of the more sensitive scales of my tail, teasing back and forth with the occasional scritch of nails. I was hyper aware of every movement. From every slow pass of their fingers to the minute shifting of fabric over my warming scales. Their unique scent drifted around the two of us, its subtle but pleasant note filling not only my nasal passageways but condensed on the magic of my tongue.
It was… good. Exquisite to my touch-starved nerves, but also dangerous. Whether for them or for myself, I was having a hard time discerning. It made my claws itch and my muscles twitch. But the biggest problem was the pulsing and pounding within my soul.
Resisting the building shudder, I forced my eyelights to stay planted on the pages of the book I was supposed to be reading, the words seemingly blurring together. None of them were registered as my mind and body reeled under the metaphorical pressure.
“PERHAPS NOT. I’D RATHER NOT HAVE THE MENTAL PICTURE OF ANY OF THE OTHERS CANOODLING YOU, OR WHATEVER THAT MAY ENTAIL.”
Their hand paused as they giggled, an increasingly less rare smile pulling at their lips as they briefly glanced my way.
“Indeed. I would hate to make you or the others jealous by divulging my secrets.”
…
They were doing this on purpose. They had to be. Nothing else made any sense for them to have invaded my space and my person so nonchalantly. They had to know I was not one prone to allowing such things. It was not the type of thing I participated in, unlike some of my more… affectionate cousins. Touch was something that did not come so easily. And for them to throw such bold displays my way…
I had to stamp down, yet again, the overbearing urge to coil and wrap around them, unwilling to move but also unwilling to break poise.
But it was becoming increasingly more difficult.
Recently, there had been some sort of shift between me and the human. Ever since I had brought them back from their latest escape, they had become… softer. Closer. Yet impressively infuriatingly less willing to conform. Their level of content was as confusing as it was suspicious.
It was ridiculous. Absurd.
I didn’t know what to think. Couldn’t think through all the mixed emotions and instincts coursing through my mind and soul. What began as a leisure lounge, much to my shame, was quickly turning into a battle of self-control and will.
It was a gift and a curse from the angel that Rus chose to find us when he did, a pause followed by the raising of a socket, breaking whatever spell I had been put under enough for me to focus. I could already see his mind making nonexistent connections, his eyelights flicking dangerously between the human and I. Then he slouched, using his coils to purposefully block the door and my potential escape.
Flashing my eyelights in warning, I silently cursed myself for not being more careful. But of course, he ignored it, his mischievous grin ticking higher.
“Well~, ain’t this interestin. Didn’t think anyone else was allowed—"
“RUS.” I had to will myself not to growl in irritation. “WHAT IS THE NATURE OF YOUR VISIT? I HARDLY THINK YOU WOULD INTERRUPT MY PERSONAL TIME OVER SUCH TRIVIAL SHINANIGANS.”
“Yer, personal, time?”
Much to my mortification, the little Mouse giggled again, hiding their absolutely sinful smile behind the cover of their book. I let my scowl hide my embarrassment, cautiously sitting up to be more proper so as not to disturb them.
“CAREFUL NOW. TELL ME WHAT IT IS THAT YOU HAVE COME HERE FOR, OR LEAVE. THERE IS ONLY SO MUCH SUN LEFT IN THE DAY.”
“There’s a situation.”
My scowl deepened, Mouse lowering their book onto my scales. “GO ON.”
“Seems big boss Classic’s found a Rats nest. Somethin about a mole and Monster traffickin’. Apparently, The Slinkers didn’t think anyone would notice ‘em taken’ what don’t belong to ‘em if they made legit deals along the way. Plans are bein’ made to infiltrate with the next demands exchange.” His amber eyelights pointedly glanced Mouse’s direction. “Seems he wants Darlin as a show of trust ta keep ‘em off our plans.”
My claws nearly tore through my book as anger bubbled in the depths of my soul. I knew The Slinkers. Knew how those Rats operated. Rus and I both. If they had gone as far as to send a mole, it was only a matter of time before they did something far bolder to try and force our hand. Not even knowing their motives, I knew sending Mouse would only end in disaster.
“NO. YOU TELL THAT OVERGROWN WORM—” The human didn’t let me finish, sitting up themselves to address us.
“I can do it. If I know what’s going on and where, I can do it.”
I could feel my entire body begin to puff and shift, my back straightening even further as I turned to them. “ABSOLUTELY NOT. DO YOU NOT REMEMBER THE LAST TIME YOU WERE SENT OUT? YOU WERE LUCKY THE MONGOOSE HAD DECIDED TO TAKE YOU AND NOT MURDER YOU ON THE SPOT. AND NOW YOU WANT TO GO INTO THE BELLY OF THOSE DAMMED RATS?”
I tossed my book aside, moving my hands behind my back to keep them from further shredding it and contain my growing agitation. Mouse moved to stand, the way their brows furrowed and the corners of their mouth dipped, making my teeth involuntarily clench.
“That time and this are two very different scenarios. If I had been told what the plan was the first time, I wouldn’t have allowed them to catch me to begin with.”
“THE ANSWER IS STILL NO.”
It was almost cute how they balled their fists, face turning even more downward in what I could only deduce to be disgust, the act showing more emotion than they had ever allowed since their initial kidnapping.
“No, I’m going to do it, Black. I can, and will, be doing this. As long as I—”
“YOU WILL NOT. I WILL NOT STAND BY AND WATCH YOU MAKE A FOOL OF YOURSELF. THIS IS UTTER NONSENSE. IF YOU KNEW—”
“If I knew what was at stake, what the environment was going to be, and what I should expect, then why can’t I choose to do it? Why can’t I make my own decisions!? I am tired of being played with like a doll! I am tired of sitting around and waiting to be told what I can and cannot do! So, with all due respect, I don’t think this decision is up to you. If I want to do it, I should have every right to. Especially if Don Sans is the one asking or telling or whatever else he’s doing.”
For a moment, all I could do was stare. My soul pulsed far too loudly within my chest at the glare the human sent me as pulses of electricity sparked down my spine. But the moment was as fleeting as the turn of their head when they began to walk away.
Their next words were aimed, no doubt, at Rus, judging by the way he shifted back and out of the way of the door. But it was lost to me. All I could hear was the pounding of my soul at Mouse’s retreating back.
The pulse of electricity hit again.
In a blink, I found myself launching forward, cutting off their trajectory and sliding around to wrap them in a loose coil. I didn’t need my entire tail to stop them, just enough to stall their legs and grab them from behind, skull pushed into the crook of their neck.
“What are you—!" “Milord!”
I ignored them both, snarling as I inhaled the human’s scent and the taste of their skin. I could feel my lack of eyelights, the feeling grounding as I desperately tried to control my building emotions. It was all I could do to speak, allowing a hand, blessedly free from the confines of my gloves, to reach around and gently grip the soft skin of their throat.
“YOU KNOW NOTHING OF THE HORRORS THESE BEASTS ARE CAPABLE OF. NOTHING OF THE HELLS MY BROTHER AND I NAVIGATE WHEN WE HUNT. YOU MAY BE QUICK, YOU MAY BE CUNNING, AND YOU MAY HAVE THE DETERMINATION, BUT YOU FAIL TO UNDERSTAND THE STAKES. IT ONLY TAKES ONE MOMENT TO END IT ALL.” My grip tightened with another inhale. “I CANNOT, AND WILL NOT, ALLOW YOU TO TAKE THAT RISK.”
The room fell into silence, the only noise my heavy breaths. Rus stayed motionless as he watched, the intensity of his amber orbs entirely focused on me and my hold on Mouse. The human, to their credit, remained calm and collected, if not angry at my outburst. When they finally did break the silence, their voice was low and soft, but with an edge that set every remaining nerve I had on fire.
“Fine. If that’s what you want. But I am not staying here, in this house, any longer. Not now.”
They didn’t have to push or pull that hard to get me to let them go, slipping through my grip like water to pass through the threshold of the door. It was pathetic how easy it was for them. My soul still pounded, but their warmth slipped away, leaving behind the burn of riled magic and Level as the rest of me went lax.
“Milord?... Black—”
“DON’T. TAKE THEM WHEREVER THEY WISH. THEY DESERVE AT LEAST THAT MUCH.”
“Ya sure? They might be angry now, but… Ya never know. I could talk to ‘em.”
“JUST DO IT. IT IS, WHAT IT IS. WE ALL MAKE SACRIFICES. THIS IS MINE.”
Turning, I left no room for further discussion, moving to stare out the glass into the garden. I could feel Rus’s orbs on my back as I remained at parade rest. If I hadn’t been listening for it, I never would have heard the retreating scrape of his scales.
“As you wish, Milord.”
* * *
True to their word, Mouse left. It wasn’t the first time, nor would it be the last. There were a lot of us, and all of us liked to take our time. A part of me, though I would never admit it to anyone, felt as though it would be easier if all our factions returned to The Den so sharing wouldn’t feel so…
It didn’t matter. They made their decision. It was what it was.
True to my word, I made sure Mouse would have nothing to do with our problems. It made it possible to focus on the tasks at hand. For those few days, the Snakes planned and waited, preparing their retaliation against the Slinkers and their Rats. Blue and his brother had acquired the necessary goods for the transfer. Red and his prepared for the inevitable war, posting the Horror brothers out on standby for a clean sweep. Sans organized and planned everything down to the letter. Rus and I hunted the mole, keeping a socket on them to catch and collect any information they may have had while simultaneously sending false information back to the Rats. Naturally, everything was then set up to converge on the same night as the exchange. We had thought it was, and would, all come together.
We were wrong.
…
In the bowels of one of the off-site basements, the air felt like fire to my huffing, sputtering lungs. The air was suffocatingly musty with an overlay of fresh blood. With each passing moment, my growing sneer painfully contorted and stretched the bones of my face as my teeth clenched and ground together. I no doubt had lost my eyelights as a video played out on the phone I had previously confiscated from my victim.
The mole, the damned Rat, had the audacity to laugh through his broken and bloody teeth.
“All this… time, you were so, focused, on finding me… that you didn’t notice… there was more than one.”
The human, shone through the screen in some far-off room. They were bound and on their knees, familiar packages shredded and spread around the concrete floor around them. A male voice behind the camera taunted me, speaking insults, demands, and words of warning. I memorized it all, every aspect of what I was seeing, searing into my mind and soul. Every word, every other face that appeared, every person involved in toying with and beating, M y M o u s e…
…
Three weeks passed. Three weeks and five days. If I put my mind to it, I would be able to calculate the exact hours down to the minute, but I was trying not to be that obsessive.
I could not remember what exactly the mole said after that disgusting video ended, or what exactly occurred in the moments directly after his unfortunate outburst. But I could still hear Rus’s voice screaming my name and feel the grip of his claws on my back and arms when all my inhibitions were lost. Could still smell the overpowering stench of the basement and feel the filth under my claws and upon my scales. Still taste the poison and blood in my mouth…
I had to force yet another purposeful breath in an attempt to relax. I didn’t need to spiral further and lose myself again at this time. I had already destroyed Don Sans’ office and my own during the confrontation upon learning of his and the Slinker’s offence. I had already hunted down every, last, person, on the video with Rus. The Snakes and our factions had already gutted, burned, and destroyed every part of the Slinkers we could get our hands on. We had all gone above and beyond to find and bring back our human. There was no longer a need for such a lack of self-control. It would only jeopardize my current mission.
Against all other orders, I simply had to see them.
They were safe, of course, taking refuge further and deeper up the Ebbotian mountain within the Horror brother’s territory. But I needed to see them again.
It was fortunate that Crooks, arguably the less hostile of the Horror brothers, was willing to permit me access, especially at such a late hour. He did not question my need, nor bothered to sugarcoat any form of pleasantries like many of the others most assuredly would have. At my arrival, he simply nodded, invited me for a late-night meal, then showed me out to the hidden pathway of their coveted natural hot spring. Though a little awkward, it had been… appreciated.
I ignored the involuntary shiver down my spine at the glow of his watchful stare when he stayed back, even more internally thankful for any semblance of privacy I could get from the possessive pair. Slipping down the worn gravel path through trees and rocky ledges, I soon found myself entering beneath a wooden archway onto concrete. The area opened from there to my destination.
A lovely, almost oriental, building proudly stood against the mountain, marking a lounge and dressing area. Around it, several large pools stretched out and down large stone and concrete steppes. Some of the pools cascaded down waterfalls into the other areas, steam and mist spiraling up into the cool night air. It was remarkable against the backdrop of the mountainous surroundings, strings of bulb lights reflecting off the water’s surface helping it take on an even more ethereal glow.
I paused, hands tightening behind my back.
I could see my human in the middle of one of the lower pools, turned to look over the rest of the mountain and valley below. It was clear they had not noticed my presence over the sound of trickling water. I, however, could hear them perfectly, their sniffles and stifled cries quietly bubbling up to echo off stone and wood.
With each whimper, my soul sank further.
It… was my fault, amongst other factors, that caused them such pain. If I had been less demanding and more willing to listen, if I had followed instructions to stay at the Den on the day of the exchange, If I had found the second mole and discovered the trap sooner…
It was almost enough to have me turn tail and run. But I persisted, eventually taking a deep, deliberate breath before moving forward and down. Every movement was measured. Every thought calculated. It was… hard to know what I should do, so I simply refused to do anything different, even if talking suddenly felt like a weight all its own.
I dared not pass the pool’s edge.
“I THOUGHT YOU WERE DONE GETTING UPSET OVER THINGS YOU COULDN’T CONTROL.” I prayed they didn’t see my grimace as they flinched and turned to meet me, red puffy eyes meeting mine.
The magic in my sockets dimmed. Though Mouse had been healed, they still looked haggard, a few patches of discolored skin still visible. They took their time to speak, their sudden look of defeat making my teeth clench and the bones of my hand grind together even more painfully.
Then they turned away.
“Are you here to gloat? Here to tell me you were right and that I was stupid for,” They took a shuddering breath, looking up to the sky, “for thinking I could—"
“NO.” I couldn’t keep my eyes on them. Guilt swirled within my aching soul. Everything felt tense and tight. “NO PART OF YOU IS STUPID, OR EVER HAS BEEN. MISGUIDED, MAYBE. FRUSTRATED AND ANGRY, WELL DESERVED. BUT YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN, STUPID.”
I could hear the water shift, even as my focus was elsewhere. “You don’t mean that. You called me foolish the day I…”
The day I had practically chased them off. The day my obsession and need for control scared them away.
I could feel myself deflate, my voice losing some of its strength. “IT WAS MISPLACED. A TERRIBLE EXPRESSION TO HIDE…” The rise of buried emotions caught in the back of my throat as I subconsciously cleared it. “IT MATTERS NOT. IT IS… IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU ALIVE AND WELL.”
“Black, you’re. I, I just.” The choked sound that came out of them when they said my name again finally had me looking back. It was broken and weak, far more vulnerable than I had ever heard from them before. But the look I was then faced with made everything fall away around me.
“Please. I… I need you…”
The way their eyes begged for me. Longed for me in their broken state. The way their voice turned into nothing more than a needy, breathy whisper…
It shook my soul to the core, something deep igniting as if the very fires of hell began to consume me.
It wasn’t supposed to be like this. I didn’t do things like this. Not now. Not after everything that had happened. I wasn’t supposed to break, certainly not again. I prided myself on my self-control despite any and all hardship that may pass. But the human… When it came to My Mouse...
I never anticipated just how much them being taken would truly rile my soul. And I certainly didn’t anticipate the way they would look at me from the water, steam swirling around their face and shoulders as they desperately called my name.
Each moment that passed had my soul thrumming within my chest, bones heating with an excess of magic. The quip I had begun to prepare faded on parted teeth as the edges of my eyelights stuttered and blurred. Every other attempt at speech ended in nonsense and half-spoken queries until eventually, they cut through the haze and called for me again.
Their final plea, falling from their lips like a desperate call for help, was the final straw to snap any and all of my remaining frayed threads.
“Please.”
I could feel the tremble in my hands as I slowly brought them up to my collar, painstakingly undoing each and every button after removing my tie. Unlike before, now I couldn’t look away, something in the way they cautiously moved to the water’s edge making it impossible.
I had never felt so bare, nor so willingly open.
Their arms were open and soft when I slipped into the hot water of the pool. I could feel every scrape and glide of them over my ribs as they came to grip behind my back and dangerously close to my spine. Somewhere in the recesses of my mind, I appreciated the texture of the natural sandy bottom as my coils tried to dig down into it to prevent myself from smothering Mouse. The more aware part of me couldn't keep from memorizing every aspect of the encounter, uncertainty forcing me to whisper against the top of their head.
“Do You Have Any Idea What You Do To Me? What You Are, Doing To Me?” My hand slid up their back, pulling them more firmly against my chest as my teeth gently moved to graze the skin of their neck and ear. “I Respect You. Admire You. Desire And Hunger For You. I Would Devour Every Part Of You If You So Let Me…” They gasped, trembling against me, causing the urge to coil and trap to flare along with the burning in my soul. “I Could Give You Anything Your Soul Desired.”
For a brief moment, it seemed as if they were pushing away, only for their hands to come up and cup my face. I could no sooner process their look of utmost joy before their lips were then crashing against my teeth. The force of it caused me to jolt backwards with a surprised grunt. But it wasn’t long before my mind was able to catch up enough to push my magic back into a kiss of my own.
Every part of it was desperate and needy as we pressed against each other, their hands gripping the sensitive vertebrae of my neck and skull as my free hand traveled to the back of theirs. A swipe of their tongue against my sensitive teeth had me groaning, the purple magic of my tongue instinctively darting out to tangle with it.
It was over for me as soon as I felt the tell-tale signs of their teeth gently nip at the sensitive organ.
For a second, I broke free, a snarl ripping from my throat as I toppled over the edge. The heat of the water and the squirming of their body clouded my mind as I found myself breathing in their scent within the crook of their neck. I could hear the pounding of their blood. Feel their pulse through my parted teeth as I nipped and grazed the delicate, flushed flesh. My tail curled and thrashed around them, wrapping anywhere I could get a hold as their legs spread and squeezed around me.
They moaned, breathy and open into the side of my skull as their head tilted back. I wanted to bite. The inexplicable need to mark and claim writhed and swelled, barely contained beneath my rising magic with each surge of electricity that pulsed on time with my soul. I could feel the building strain against my cloaca with each movement and noise they made.
The heat was unbearable.
As my jaws widened to act upon my wants and my coils pressed them more firmly against my core, it was unfortunate, then, that I was interrupted with the splash of icy water, Mouse screeching as my head jolted up with a snarl.
Horror himself took up almost the entirety of the pool’s edge, no doubt smashing my haphazardly discarded suit beneath his weight. A low warning growl was enough to vibrate the bones of my chest and dampen my raised spirits.
His singular red orb was small and sharp as he held the now-empty bucket. “Crooks is wait’n for ya. Food is ready back inside.”
My magic lashed out involuntarily from the hidden threat and my annoyance at being interrupted, a low growl slipping through with my reply. “WE’RE BUSY.”
Our host was not impressed, his already strained grin quickly turning feral. “I ain't askin.”
I wanted to bite back despite knowing full well it would be a losing battle, but Mouse put a quick stop to it with a sigh and a pat to my scarred, exposed chest. “It’s alright. I feel much better now, and I would hate to disappoint Crooks.” Their tired eyes turned to meet Horror’s as I willed my claws not to tighten. “Tell him thank you and that we will be there shortly. It’s much appreciated.”
There was a pause as Horror’s sockets narrowed down at me. Then he too sighed with the shifting of his scales.
“Fine. Just make sure ya both rinse off. Don’t want ya smellin like that the rest of the evnin’.”
I just about choked at the accusation, fully prepared to yell obscenities back, but was once again stopped short by Mouse. As Horror retreated, I couldn’t help but stare in awe at the loudest and sweetest laugh mouse had ever given. I could feel within my chest and hands.
…
I could no longer deny it or myself. Would, no longer deny myself. I would give Mouse heaven and hell just to have and to hold them like this.
Thank you @mothiepixieMothie for participating in the Kofi Writing event! I hope you enjoy!
~~~
In which you find yourself having a rare peaceful moment with one of the SF Brother's. (black X reader : Nagamob/NagaMafiaTale) Continuation of, Cat and Mouse, read after, Feathers and Claws.
"I FEEL AS IF YOU DIDN'T BOTHER TRYING THIS TIME, MOUSE. IT WAS RATHER DISAPPOINTING."
You were sat outside in the back of a cute rustic little cafe, sipping a drink while you looked over a wooden railing to view the Ebbot River below. Vines swayed above as they dangled from the patio's beams, matching the lush growth around the river's edge. Shimmering ledges of cascading water gave you a sense of calm.
At the familiar voice, you simply took a deep inhale of breath. Your chair was cushioned and the view favorable, so you opted not to reply as you took another sip of your drink and waited for your pastry to arrive. At this point, you knew none of the Snakes would hurt you anyway. They simply enjoyed the game.
Black, to his credit, seemed just as nonchalant as you felt, the purple of his scales gliding smoothly up and around your area as he settled next to you. You knew if he decided to lounge, he would be closer to your height while you sat, but the Naga remained fully upright. Then, with hands naturally at parade rest behind him, he pretended to peer down at the water below.
It was quiet between the two of you as you waited, time dragging on with each chirp of a bird. The longer you sat, the more patches of light peeked through the foliage above to glint off the deep colors of Black's scales. You couldn't help but watch as they sparkled with each minor expanse of his breath. It was vexingly pretty…
With a great put upon sigh, you tilted your head back and turned to look up at your looming companion. For as beautiful as the day was, it was hard to relax when he radiated such stiff tension.
"You can't possibly be comfortable like that."
He didn't move, but the flash of his eyelight glanced your way. "I AM COMFORTABLE ENOUGH, CONSIDERING."
"Considering I walked off again, or that you are not acquainted with this establishment?"
There was a huff, the edges of Black's shark-like teeth ticking upward. "DOES IT MATTER?"
"It does if you're going to ruin the mood."
Glancing at the cafe doors, a brief flicker of annoyance passed with the realization you probably wouldn't be getting your pastry either, so long as Black remained on guard. Black used that moment to finally move, arms coming around to cross at his front as he turned and bent just enough to hit you with a raised socket.
"I'M SORRY. IS MY PRESENCE AN INCONVENIENCE FOR YOU?"
You were tired. Tired of being afraid and smart enough to have realized you didn't have to be. You didn't know why these monsters were so obsessed with making your life harder, but it was time to return the favor.
With the best teasing grin you could muster, you leaned up to match his gaze. You could feel the skin crinkle at the edges of your eyes.
"You? Never. But your looming has scared away all the staff, and it would have been nice to have shared my pastry with you." Lowering yourself, you deliberately faced forward with an overly dramatic sigh. "A shame. I heard they were some of the best."
Chancing a sideways peak, you happened to catch a glimpse of glowing purple before Black righted himself to fidget with his cuffs and tie. It gave you great pleasure to note that he couldn't seem to look at you, but your lingering smile soon fell as you let another real sigh pass your lips.
"It's the little things, you know? We should all be able to relax and enjoy the sun..."
Pain pulled at your soul. The water was truly a peaceful sight to behold, and it was only a matter of time until your little bout of freedom would be over.
You had thought this would be the end of it. Sit a few more minutes in peace, then willingly follow Black back into the chaos. But surprisingly, the coils near and around you twitched, slowly spreading to almost deflate next to you. It was even more surprising when Black lowered himself carefully down into them. You couldn't tell if he was relaxing or if the way he draped was more in defeat. It was the first time you had seen his face show anything other than a tight grin or smirk. Many things passed over him before he settled with a slight frown.
"YOU… INTRIGUE ME. DESPITE EVERYTHING, YOU…" He ran a hand down his face, sinking lower into his coils. "IT'S NO WONDER THAT ARROGANT FOOL FROM SWAP PLAYED SO DIRTY."
You stared, moving to lean on the arm of your chair as the river was fully forgotten. For some reason, you were having a hard time keeping the smile off your face. From what little you knew of him, Black didn't seem the type to be so open.
"Oh~"
He grimaced, lulling his skull to look you over. "DON'T GET SO COCKY, I'M NOT GOING TO EXPLAIN. I'M ONLY ALLOWING THIS," he waved a clawed hand, "BECAUSE RUS IS NO DOUBT HANDLING THINGS NEARBY."
You giggled. It was cute seeing a normally stoic person pout. You wanted to say something more, but didn't know quite what. Instead, you let the quiet peace resume so you could contemplate. There was a lot to unpack from such few words.
Eventually, however, you decided to risk rubbing a hand delicately down the smooth scales of a coil, giving it a gentle pat, then slowly bringing it back to rest upon the warm surface.
"You know… Sometimes I wonder how differently things would have gone if I had taken your offer back then."
Something danced at the edges of Black’s eyelights, the volume and harshness of his voice becoming oddly soft. "I WOULDN'T ADMIRE NOR RESPECT YOU NEARLY AS MUCH IF YOU HAD."
…
The sun was shining, birds were singing, and for the first time in a long time, things felt like they would be okay.
Ooo, I'm SO obsessed with your nagamob au!! I keep re-reading them!! I wanna know what happens after 'Caged Bird'. Is there a possibility you could continue it?
Happy year of the Snake and thank you for the wait Anons!!! I hope this finds you lovely and well!
Feathers and Claws
~~~
The Fell’s home was not quite as lavish as the SF brothers or the Den, but the dining room was still nothing to scoff at. In the center of the room, a chandelier accented with gold shimmered with large crystalline shards. A few expensive paintings lined the walls and large ornate vases accented the windows. The table itself was about as high as a counter to accommodate the size of your hosts, the wood dark and sturdy.
Edge had once again cooked for you, or at least, graciously forced invited you down for dinner. You couldn’t tell if he actually wanted to feed you or brag about how good of a cook he was. Either way, he had ensured you were at the table every evening at exactly five.
Tonight was no different.
Despite the lingering ache behind your eyes and the brain fog from your concussion, you sat at the table on your slightly too short chair. Edge had removed his jacket and hat for the day, preferring rolled sleeves and a clear face when he cooked. It had been baffling how much less intimidating removing just those two articles made him look. He was still sharp and loud, but the lethal “edge” softened in their absence and made him seem smaller.
It was intriguing.
You had just about summoned enough energy and courage to comment on it when you nearly choked at the door slamming into the wall. It was no surprise that the culprit was a skeleton naga. What was surprising, however, was that it was a vaguely familiar blue and yellow, the white of his suit standing out against the darker colors of the room.
They wasted little time on pleasantries, slithering in and next to your side of the table with a pleasant grin.
“HELLO EDGE. IT’S BEEN A WHILE.”
Edge hissed, throwing his now bent fork onto the table. “BLUE. I WOULD SAY IT’S A PLEASURE, BUT I DON’T REMEMBER INVITING YOU.”
You cautiously watched as Blue’s grin ticked higher, the tip of his tail twitching.
“YOU DIDN’T. NOT THAT THAT MATTERS.” His eyelights flicked to you. “RUMOR HAD IT YOU HAD A LITTLE BIRD STAYING WITH YOU. I SIMPLY CAME TO COLLECT ON OUR DEAL.”
Your heart sank. You had almost forgotten your encounter with the snake back at the den. After everything, you honestly didn’t think any of it still applied. Luckily Edge seemed to share your thoughts, standing to sneer down at the other.
“YOU SO RUDELY INTERRUPTED OUR MEAL FOR THAT? WHATEVER DEAL YOU MAY HAVE MADE HAS NO MERIT HERE. THEY ARE UNDER FELL PROTECTION. LEAVE.”
The end of Blue’s tail twitched again. Outwardly, he didn’t seem too bothered by what was said, but the gleam in his eyelights and the pull at his grin unsettled you. Cocking his head, he spoke just a tad more slowly.
“I DON’T THINK YOU UNDERSTAND. DO YOU EVEN WANT TO KNOW WHAT IT WAS?”
“NO”
It went silent as the two held each other's gaze. You could almost feel the animosity growing between them. It was extremely uncomfortable to sit there and watch and you really didn't want to stick around and find out if it turned into anything else.
Unfortunately, as you attempted to excuse yourself, Blue cut you off with a flick of his wrist. Leaning forward and looking down, he gave a great put-upon sigh before straightening.
“SUCH A SHAME. I GUESS WHAT HAPPENS NEXT WON’T MATTER THEN… PAPPY!"
Edge's sockets widened, but before you could blink, 'Pappy' appeared directly behind him. Hooking his arms under your host's armpits, he Lifted, dragging Edge back from the table to secure his hold and wind around his already thrashing coils. In turn, Edge reared and pushed back as much as he could against the slightly bigger naga. It was all you could do to jump from your chair away from the thrashing monsters.
"STRETCH! THE HELL DO YOU THINK—"
“Sorry Edge. Can’t have ya gettin' in the way.”
The lazy smirk Stretch gave was anything but apologetic. In a flash, he sank his fangs into the crook of Edge's neck. There were no words for the hissed and roared shriek that left Edge's gnashing jaws from the motion as their struggle began in earnest. Wood splintered from furious clawed hands and the scraping of scales. Black and red shifted and whipped dangerously beneath honeyed yellow, puffing to grow larger.
In his rage, Edge managed to grab and lift the table, flipping it over and almost on top of you with an explosion of food and dishes. Fortunately, Blue launched from his position at the last second, smirk falling as he slammed into it hard enough to shove it back and over to pin both Edge and Stretch. Then, using his momentum, he piled on top.
Standing, he looked his struggling victim eyelight to eyelight from above.
“YOU’RE ALWAYS GETTING IN THE WAY. IT’S ONLY FAIR I RETURN THE FAVOR, EDGE. YOU SHOULD HAVE LEFT WELL ENOUGH ALONE.”
Edge struggled and choked within Stretch's tightening hold, eyelights flaring like the fires of hell. “IDIOTS… I’M GOING… TO TEAR YOU BOTH APART…”
Chills ran down your spine at the strange giggle Blue released. The face he made along with it didn't seem to match. It was like that of an innocent child standing over you in the night with a knife. Blue and yellow matched that of fire in a macabre show of enjoyment, causing even Edge to still in anticipation. It made it feel as if everything stopped just for this moment as the smallest snake leaned further down into the space between them.
"I'D HARDLY THINK SO FRIEND. YOU'RE ALREADY SLIPPING~"
You had been trying to maneuver out of the room during the whole fight, but their thrashings tales and the table had been in the way. Now, you were able to use the disturbing distraction to flee. You didn't hear whatever choked reply Edge made, choosing to ignore everything but escape.
Skirting around the mass of colorful coils, you went for the door. You ran faster at the sound of an exceptionally loud his and your name frantically being called. You only had one goal in mind.
If the stars aligned, there was a chance you could get to Don Red's study before the dumpster fire behind you caught up. It was so close, only three doors down from the dining room at the end of the hall. Even if you didn't make it all the way, you were sure your screams would alert him of the danger.
It was foolproof…
If you were just a little faster.
You had made it all the way to the door, fingertips close enough to brush the fancy black engraved knob. But before you could fully grip it, a skeletal hand clamped around your mouth, pulling you back to press your front into the opposite wall.
You could feel the quickened rise and fall of your captor's chest from how firm they leaned into you; their breath warm and huffed against your ear.
"NOW… NOW. I'VE WAITED LONG ENOUGH FOR MY TURN, PRETTY BIRD. A DEAL IS A DEAL." Another hand snuck around your front to keep you close. "NO MORE GAMES… IT'S TIME TO COME HOME."
…
You wonder if Red ever heard you outside his door, or if he was even aware of anything at all...
Ooo, I'm SO obsessed with your nagamob au!! I keep re-reading them!! I wanna know what happens after 'Caged Bird'. Is there a possibility you could continue it?
I think you remember 'Caged Bird', so I was wondering if you could continue that?
I do see and keep all my other asks and requests as well. I haven't forgotten about any of them. They are still here and waiting for their stories to be finished! But for now, have a raw sneak peek at what is to come!
Feathers and Claws
~~~
Your heart sank. You had almost forgotten your encounter with the snake back at the Den. After everything, you honestly didn’t think any of it still applied. Edge seemed to share your thoughts, if the blood-curdling sneer was any indication.
“WHATEVER DEAL YOU MAY HAVE MADE HAS NO MERRIT HERE. THEY ARE UNDER FELL PROTECTION. LEAVE.”
Blue outwardly didn’t seem too bothered by what was said, but the gleam in his eyelights unsettled you. If you hadn’t been around so many naga skeleton monsters, you probably wouldn’t have noticed it…
