Lucanis (and Spite) grumbling whenever they feel Davrin trying to slip out of bed one morning. They try to cling to him, but he promises to be back shortly so they reluctantly let him go, especially since Lucanis was having some of the best sleep of his life up until that point. They only wake up again when Davrin returns with coffee in hand, yet Davrin can't get over how cute Lucanis is as he sits up in bed with a grumble. His hair is a mess, his body has a few marks and bruises from the night before, and his lip is poked out into a bit of a pout while he's rubbing the sleep from his eyes. Flashes of violet light emerge in his eyes and along his skin every so often, so Davrin knows Spite is close by. After he hands Lucanis his mug, Davrin kisses him on the cheek then on the lips, smirking as he brushes Lucanis's hair back behind his ear and breathes, "Good morning, beautiful."
Of course, Lucanis starts to hide his smile behind his drink, but he squints at Davrin's mischievous expression with suspicion.
Suspicion that was justified because Davrin has the audacity to say, "Oh, and good morning to you too, Lucanis."
As if Spite needs the boost to his ego, now Lucanis has to put up with his laughter and preening this soon after waking up.
Lucanis simply hums in response and takes a sip of his coffee, staring right at Davrin as he asks if it's his day to cook.
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.
Think it's funny how, personally, I don't see Davrin being the monster hunter, monsterfucker type like you could say with Wyll, for example, but in my canon after Davrin gets on better terms with Spite and all that, it gets to a point where it's along the lines of, "Well, there's an exception to every rule." 🤭
Which I don't think Dav is complaining all that much when he's being pinned to the bed by the weight of Spite's and Lucanis's more demonic form. Just a thought, though.
Note: Don't mind me, swinging in on the last day/free day of Davrin week with a rarepair one shot. Also because I love Davrin being taken care of. 👉👈
Summary: In which Spite has a crush on is fascinated by a certain Warden, and he is handling it oh so well.
Regardless of how Lucanis and Davrin felt about each other, Spite always found the latter to be quite intriguing in his own right. Some called Spite by another name, Determination, at times and those that Rook gathered for their team embodied it more than most, the Warden especially. He was the best at what he did, no matter the cost, because failure was never an option in his book.
Truth be told, it was hard for Spite not to be enthralled by him. Were it not for Davrin's blatant distrust of him in the beginning, then Spite might have tried to speak to him earlier on.
Reality, on the other hand, had other plans in mind, and the reality was that any attempt to try and connect with Davrin back then likely wouldn't have ended well for anyone involved.
Now, with Davrin and Lucanis on better terms, Spite decided it was time he pushed his luck, and that night proved to be the perfect opportunity to do so.
A ripple traveled through the air upon Davrin's arrival, making himself known the second he entered the dining hall, whether that was his intention or not. The creak of the door alerted Spite to his presence first, followed by the sound of gentle rummaging as Davrin eventually moved around the kitchen, but none of that spurred the demon into action more than the sight of his spirit.
The golden glow was blinding in its intensity, even through the walls standing between them. Davrin burned brighter than any star, the warm allure of his light dragging Spite out of the pantry.
Surely, Lucanis would not fault him for leaving.
Because while Lucanis slept, Spite was wide awake, it being his responsibility to pass the hours by without disturbing his host too much.
And what better way to pass the time than to have a chat with their resident monster hunter? A long overdue one, at that.
Even with his own violet light on display, pulsing in time with Lucanis's heartbeat, Spite made quick work of slinking through the shadows, undetected.
By the time Davrin turned around from the stove, Spite was standing right there behind him.
He jumped at the sight of him. "What the—"
"Hello, Davrin."
Spite tried for a smile, but that only caused Davrin to tense even more. When his frown started to deepen, Spite scrambled for a solution. Lucanis sometimes thought it creepy when smiles stretched too wide or showed off too much teeth, so perhaps that was part of the problem? Spite tried again, focusing this time on relaxing the muscles in his face in hopes of it ending up smaller, less threatening.
Davrin furrowed his brow at him, which wasn't an ideal response, but it wasn't the worst Spite could imagine either.
"Spite," he acknowledged gruffly, crossing his arms over his chest. "What are you doing?"
Wasn't it obvious?
"Wanted to talk."
"Is that so?" After a moment of staring at each other, neither one of them standing down, Davrin sighed. "About what, exactly?"
"You."
"Me?" Davrin raised an eyebrow at him. "Okay, this, I gotta hear. What about me?"
"Nightmares plague you," Spite stated, simple as that.
Even now, remnants of the dream still clung to him, their burden a dark and heavy weight upon Davrin's shoulders. Try as they may to snuff out his flame, though, the fire within him only raged harder at the challenge.
It made Spite quiver, his wings fluttering in delight.
The steel in Davrin's voice cut through him like a blade. "I hardly see how that is any of your business."
Fair enough, Spite supposed, but he thought through his next words carefully.
Language was a fascinating thing, always changing, always adapting. Communication among spirits in the Fade relied more on an exchange of thoughts and feelings, whereas mortals often gave these concepts meaning through writing and speech, each word with its own distinct flavor upon the tongue. Variety made it all the more complicated at times, Spite having to sift through the Antivan and Trade in Lucanis's repertoire to find what exactly he was looking for.
It was like speaking in a tongue that he wasn't native to, Spite more careful, deliberate even, when trying to convey how he viewed Davrin.
"You are a… contradiction," he decided, nodding to himself in approval. "Death resides within you, yet you are full of life. Tainted blood flows through your veins, yet your spirit is a beacon in the darkness."
And Spite was but a moth drawn to its flame.
"You bring balance where there is none. It is beautiful."
You are beautiful.
Whether or not Davrin heard the unspoken thought laced throughout the statement, Spite could not tell, which was probably for the best. Even Spite was uncertain where the sentiment came from. Maybe it originated from him, maybe from Lucanis, or maybe from both of them.
He didn't know what to make of that information either way.
"Hmph." Averting his eyes, Davrin grumbled. "Am I supposed to be flattered by that, or what?"
Spite shrugged. "I don't tell you how to feel. That is for you to decide."
Nevertheless, he raised a hand up between them, and Davrin winced, dark brown eyes flitting between Spite's hand and his face.
"You're up to something."
"Only preserving he who sates me," Spite said, as if his meaning was obvious. "You can't sleep, but you need sleep. I can help."
"I don't know if I want your help."
Despite such a claim, Davrin's gaze soon settled on the sight of light coalescing around Spite's fingertips, taking shape at his command. Within seconds, he blinked widely at the small cluster of flowers Spite presented him with, caught off guard by his creation.
"Is that jasmine?"
"It reminds you of the Dalish, of home," Spite explained, but all that observation seemed to do was tighten Davrin's lips into a scowl.
"I don't remember giving you permission to go poking around inside my head."
Of course he would assume the worst.
"Don't need to read your mind," Spite snapped, frustrated that his good intentions were being twisted around on him. "The Fade reflects. No, no, no." Thoughts started to run together as he searched for the right words. "It reacts. Echoes of past emotions sing loudest here. Those memories that left an impact. I don't need to search for them. They reach out on their own. They unveil themselves."
"Right…" Davrin trailed off into an awkward silence, teeming with skepticism.
What Davrin didn't realize was that, unlike Spite's other manifestations he had summoned in the past, this was actually a part of himself, a small extension, one less prone to fading to the passage of time.
Turned out that offering a piece of oneself, only to be met with one's refusal, made the sting of rejection hurt all the more.
Fine. If that's how he wanted to act…
"Up to you. Keep them or don't," Spite told him, setting the flowers aside onto the counter, their fragrant aroma filling the air in accordance with Davrin's memory. "They can't rid you of nightmares. Not during a Blight. But they can make them quieter. Take on the worst so you can rest easier."
That being said, Spite decided now was the perfect time to take his leave before he overstayed his welcome. Last thing he wanted was to ruin whatever progress they made.
At least Davrin wasn't threatening to kill him at the moment. That was always a good sign.
"I should go. Don't want to wake Lucanis." That seemed as good an excuse as any to leave. Spite started to back away, then paused, flashing him a final, parting grin. "Sweet dreams, Davrin."
Without waiting for a response, Spite disappeared into the shadows once more, retreating to the sanctuary of the pantry in record time. He settled in on Lucanis's cot and folded his wings around their body in a cocoon of feathers to block out the world around them. It was a rather fruitless attempt, Spite all too aware of Davrin's every breath, every movement, until he finally returned to his quarters.
Even with his eyes squeezed tightly shut, Spite could still see the radiance of Davrin's spirit branded upon the back of his eyelids.
Like staring into the sun.
…
By the time Lucanis awoke the next morning, it was evident that Spite was distracted, to say the least. Rather than remain cooped up inside the confines of Lucanis's mind, he was a fidgety mess, pacing around the pantry like a caged animal while Lucanis got ready for the day.
Stretching away any lingering stiffness, Lucanis cocked his head to the side as he watched his demon pass him by yet again.
"Did something happen last night that I need to be aware of?" Lucanis asked.
Accompanied by a pout, Spite's answer was instant yet no less petulant. "No."
"Why don't I believe you?"
Spite didn't even bother replying that time, but he remained in his sour mood on their way to the kitchen, dragging slowly after Lucanis with his wings drooping.
Interestingly enough, all it took was a single look at the countertops for Spite to perk up again.
"He took them!" he crowed in triumph, earning a curious look from Lucanis; however, any attempt at finding answers from within Spite's mind left Lucanis running into a wall, over and over again.
"Are you going to elaborate?" Lucanis said, careful to keep quiet once the others started filing in, still recovering from various states of sleep.
"Nope."
Spite watched the doors like a hawk, refusing to look away, so Lucanis dropped the subject for the moment with a shake of his head, starting on breakfast before they needed to head out.
What Lucanis didn't expect was for Spite to start tugging roughly at his sleeve.
"Ask him how he slept!"
What?!
"Ask. Him. Now!"
Unable to contain himself, the wall between them cracked and splintered, and Spite's memories flooded into Lucanis's. Lucanis winced at the sudden onslaught, but it all started to make perfect sense.
So that wasn't a dream he had last night?
"Spite," he hissed, "why did you—"
"Ah, good morning, Davrin!" Emmrich greeted, his tone pointed in a way that made it impossible to ignore. "Did you sleep well?"
Simultaneously, Lucanis's and Spite's heads snapped up in Davrin's direction, but he wasn't looking at Emmrich, as they expected.
No, he was already staring directly at Lucanis, his lips pursed and brows pulled together.
Although, as soon as their eyes locked, Davrin glanced down at the table, rubbing at the back of his neck.
"Yeah."
Lucanis's heart did a little flip inside his chest, both his and Spite's emotions feeding into each other.
Taking his seat, the beginnings of a smile started to take shape across Davrin's face.
Spite helping soothe Davrin's and Lucanis's dreams while they sleep. Doesn't take the nightmares fully away (unless they ask for that), but he's able to make them "quiet down" to a more tolerable level to let them sleep more soundly.
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's been a while since I shared anything from this WIP, so why not while I'm thinking about spitecavrin? 😌
Then, something unexpected happen.
Shadow and light started to coalesce around their body. A deep, sinister laugh rumbled through them as they took on a new shape with Lucanis acting as both their center and foundation. Multiple glowing eyes blinked open around their original two while they shifted into more of a toned, elongated appearance. Where hair once was, they were shrouded in an illusion of feathers, formed from their soft, wispy essence.
A large, clawed hand grabbed him by the jaw then slowly tilted his head back, Davrin more than willing to let them have their way. For now, at least.
Relinquishing his hold on them, he breathlessly whispered, "Well, this is new."
"Are you not afraid?" they crooned, tracing their thumb along the seam of his lips.
Finished this just on time for Lucanis Week Day 5: Coffee, Cooking, Wyverns. Three guesses as to which one this is for. Feel free to read below or show some love on ao3. 💖
Pairing: Davrin/Lucanis (and Spite, of course!); Word count: 2,746; Warning for tooth-rotting fluff; Summary: Davrin takes Lucanis on a hunt. Set post-game.
"You're up to something."
Davrin snorted at that.
"When am I ever not up to something," he countered in a whisper, "especially with the two of you around?"
Lucanis stifled his laughter, quickly reining it in as they traversed across the terrain of Arlathan Forest, diving deeper into the woods than Lucanis could ever recall.
"Fair enough," he allowed, "but even Spite is growing suspicious of you, and that's saying something. If this is a 'special hunt' like you said, then why did we leave Assan behind with the others?"
Something wasn't adding up, even more so when all Davrin could offer in response to that was an indifferent shrug.
"He deserves a break," he said, completely ignoring the skeptical look Lucanis shot his way, his brow raised. "Besides, I told you that this part of the hunt would be more about us observing our quarry and gathering information. Think of it like us tailing a target."
"Ugh." Lucanis playfully wrinkled his nose at him. "Glorified note-taking on my day off? You really know how to treat a man to a good time."
"It'll be worth it," Davrin promised. Falling back to his side, he took a second to brush his fingers along Lucanis's. A single glance from those warm, brown eyes of his left Lucanis melting on the spot. His pulse raced loudly in his ears. "Trust me, da'lath."
"With my life," Lucanis breathed, unable to look away when Davrin smiled at him, bright enough to put the sun itself to shame.
His heart skipped a beat.
"Just try to keep up," Davrin taunted as he took the lead once more, "and try to stay quiet, too."
"Hmph. Remember you are talking to a master of stealth here."
"Yeah, yeah."
Together, they forged ahead, soon submerged within the vast wilderness that Arlathan had to offer. Greenery surrounded them on all sides with golden rays of sunlight peeking through the canopy of tree branches overhead. They crossed through streams of water, scaled over stone outcroppings, and scouted along dirt paths. For a while, neither of them said much of anything, content with the forest's serene symphony of singing birds and babbling brooks as they harmonized with the rustling of grass and the snapping of twigs underfoot.
What Lucanis did not expect was for another sound to join in with nature's orchestra.
At first, when he heard it, Lucanis thought that he was just imagining things.
Then, there it was again, a low murmur of words beyond Davrin's usual hum.
Without missing a beat, Lucanis asked, "Are you singing?"
A sharp ache of regret pierced through his chest when Davrin instantly stopped, Elvish words cut short.
He paused, slowing down to a leisurely stroll as Lucanis matched his stride.
Thankfully, he didn't seem too deterred by the question, relief quick to replace Lucanis's regret.
"Yeah," Davrin answered after a thoughtful hum, "I guess that I am." Peering at Lucanis out of the corner of his eyes, he gave him a playful nudge of his elbow. "What can I say? I have a lot to be happy about these days."
When he stopped to stoop down and examine some tracks, Lucanis had eyes only for him, unable to look away.
"Flatterer," he mumbled, then louder, he said, "so you really did sing to the halla when you were younger?"
Davrin chuckled.
"It feels like a lifetime ago." Dusting his palms off onto his pants, he faced Lucanis as he got to his feet again, his hands on his hips. "You know, there is this one stubborn Crow that I enjoy having around. Maybe I was trying to test the waters, see if he liked the song as much as the halla did."
Somehow, Lucanis doubted that, but he would play along for the moment.
Although, he did wonder, "Am I supposed to feel honored about being compared to halla?"
"Hey! They are beautiful, intelligent, majestic creatures, so yes," Davrin stated. Once they started back on their walk through the woods, he continued. "You know, the song does have a version translated in Trade."
Alright, now this, Lucanis had to hear.
"Is that so?" he asked in delight. "Does this mean you'll put on a performance for me?"
"I might sing you a line or two," Davrin agreed, much to Lucanis's surprise. "Just don't set your expectations too high. It is still a song for children at the end of the day—" He narrowed his eyes at Lucanis, but his amused grin betrayed the serious tone he was trying to convey. "—and don't you dare breathe a word of this to the others."
Ha! As if Lucanis would miss out on that opportunity.
"I make no such promises," Lucanis protested.
Before Davrin could reply, a loud roar sounded in the distance. Immediately, the wildlife around them scattered in fright, and goosebumps erupted along Lucanis's skin, his hair standing on end.
He blinked owlishly in the direction the noise originated from, furrowing his brow as he sifted through his mental catalog of different animal calls Davrin taught him.
Wait. Now that he thought about it, was that—
Any speculation on his part was interrupted by the sight of Davrin's hand extended out towards him, waiting patiently for him to take it.
Lucanis met his eyes, and everything else faded away into the background.
He slid his hand into Davrin's, and then they were off.
Veins of violet light rose to the surface of Lucanis's skin, Spite's presence woven throughout the entirety of his being, when Davrin started to sing again. This time, in the common tongue.
"When all else is lost,
I will be your guiding star."
Whether or not it was Lucanis's imagination remained in question, but he swore that the forest grew quiet at the sound of Davrin's voice, listening with bated breath.
Davrin helped Lucanis up over a fallen tree, both of them jumping down onto the other side together.
"Valley lows and mountain highs,
I will lead you far."
With a reverence unlike anything Lucanis could have ever dreamed of experiencing, Davrin's fingertips stroked along the outline of his cheek in a gentle caress. And when Davrin eventually took hold of his chin, Lucanis followed after him like a lost puppy, desperate for his touch, drawn in closer through his siren's song.
Davrin brushed his thumb along his lips, and Lucanis's knees threatened to give out beneath him.
"Come now, you will see,
What the world will offer you."
Once he released Lucanis, he turned to move some of the forest's overgrowth aside, exposing a small, cramped vantage point that overlooked a large clearing below.
How they ended up there was anyone's guess, so far as Lucanis was concerned.
Hesitant, he looked towards Davrin first, who nodded at him with an encouraging smile, then he crouched low to squeeze into the hidden space before them, Davrin settling in right behind him.
His breath upon Lucanis's cheek made his head spin, his lyrics noticeably quieter than before.
"Journey on and venture forth,
There's still much to do."
After he trailed off, he scanned the area before them. He took Lucanis by the chin again. Only, this time, he angled his face in a specific direction, pointing a finger out towards the edge of the clearing. Lucanis squinted at the area where he directed his attention, taking note of the way some of the plants were bent against their natural pattern of growth, broken bits of foliage scattered all about.
"There," Davrin instructed. "Keep your eyes focused there."
For a while, Lucanis wondered how long they would have to stay in such a position, not that he didn't enjoy being so close to Davrin, but he wasn't always the best when it came to practicing patience with regards to tracking a target. Clearly, he'd do it out of necessity, but it was all too easy for boredom to take root inside his mind if he wasn't careful. Then, after the Ossuary, he had to be even more mindful, especially since Spite proved to be just as restless as he was.
A familiar, tingling sensation began to spread all over his body, all of it focused into one spot when Davrin placed his hand upon Lucanis's arm.
"Calm yourself, Spite," Davrin ordered, and there was a split second where a mixture of indecision and defiance hung in the air, Davrin quick to intervene before he could act out. "It is really important that we don't do anything to spook this quarry. Tell you what, you keep your interruptions to a minimum, and I'll cook for you again before we head back to Treviso."
Spite crooned at that.
A reservoir of energy poured out of Lucanis as Spite materialized next to Davrin, leaving a part of Lucanis feeling empty, hollow. The loss he felt when Spite separated from him was more noticeable now than ever before, but their bond remained strong nonetheless, whether they were together or apart.
Lucanis could feel Spite settling in against Davrin's side, his arms wrapped around his waist.
They savored the twitch of Davrin's ear as Spite pressed his lips against it.
"Deal," he hissed in excitement, quick to add, "but I want kisses, too!"
Snorting, Lucanis relayed the message to Davrin.
"He's demanding kisses for his cooperation as well."
"Someone drives a hard bargain," Davrin joked. "I think I can manage that, though."
Spite crowed with delight.
Lucanis shook his head at them.
"Not even blood magic could match your influence over him these days. Never saw that one coming."
"Heh." Davrin pressed a kiss to Lucanis's temple, his lips lingering. "It's all part of my charm."
"Is that what you call i—"
Another roar, similar to the one from earlier, pierced through the air again. Except, this time, it was louder, closer.
All three of their heads snapped forward at the same time, fixated on the area that Davrin indicated they keep watch of.
Bushes rustled, and trees shuddered.
That was the only warning they got before their "quarry" charged into the clearing below.
Lucanis couldn't help it.
A loud gasp slipped free from his lips, right before Davrin's hand came down over his mouth.
The wyvern's fins fanned out to make itself look bigger. Its head perked up at the sound, eyes darting around to try and locate its source.
Lucanis would never admit to it in his lifetime, but he damn near squealed against Davrin's palm when the wyvern's tongue darted out and its nostrils flared, scenting the air around it. Fortunately for them, they must have been downwind from the creature, their scent carried away by the afternoon breeze.
When the wyvern finally gave up its search for them, their position still carefully concealed, Davrin sighed in relief.
While it went to retrieve the carcass of whatever poor animal had the displeasure of being its lunch, they kept their eyes trained on its position the entire time it dragged its prey back into the clearing, Davrin speaking to Lucanis under his breath.
"I'm about to let you go," he said, "but let's try not to alert the overgrown, extremely territorial lizard to our presence, okay?"
Lucanis nodded countless times in quick succession, one after the other, his body trembling all the while.
As soon as Davrin moved his hand, Lucanis launched into a series of whispers.
"A wyvern!" He grabbed Davrin's arm, his grip increasingly tight. "Look, Davrin! Look!" Blindly, Lucanis took hold of him and his armor with both hands and shook him, refusing to look away from the sight before him for even a second. "Maker, it's a wyvern!"
"Yes, da'lath." Carefully, Davrin pried his hands away with a low laugh. "I see it."
Overwhelmed, Lucanis watched its every move, his eyes wide and pupils blown. He gave a slight wiggle in place like a cat captivated with its favorite toy, ready to pounce at the slightest hint of movement.
"I can't believe this." Feeling like a young boy again, fascinated by these creatures he only got a glimpse of through his storybooks, Lucanis clutched at his head, the beginnings of tears stinging at his eyes. "I can't believe this…"
This was the best day ever!
Black dots clouded his vision, and he felt faint.
"Breathe, Lucanis," Davrin snickered, and Lucanis followed his command, the fresh air staving off his sudden surge of dizziness a little while longer. "Take your time. We'll stay here as long as you like."
Once he regained some semblance of speech, Lucanis turned towards Davrin in the cramped space they occupied and said, "Marry me."
Caught off guard by the rather random request, Davrin gaped at him for a solid minute before he finally shook his head. At first, Lucanis's heart sank in his chest, accepting that as his answer, but that damn smirk of his made Lucanis's foolish hope return with a vengeance.
"Name the time and the place," Davrin replied without the slightest bit of hesitation.
Lucanis swallowed thickly. Was Davrin messing with him right now? Did he think that Lucanis was joking perhaps?
"I'm being serious, you know."
"Bold of you to assume that I'm not."
Allowing that to sink in, Lucanis glanced over to watch the wyvern eat for a bit, taking in the sight of its coloration and patterns before his gaze returned to Davrin.
"Davrin of Clan Revadin," he murmured, "wherever life takes you next, allow me to follow so that I may be there to annoy you to the Void and back." Both of them shared a chuckle at that, snuggling closer together. "So long as you'll have me, I'll remain at your side."
"You promise?"
"Always."
"Well, then, I can think of worse fates I could be left to. Sharing my future with you doesn't sound too bad in comparison," he teased. His shoulders lifted up, then fell into a full-body shrug. "Plus, Davrin Dellamorte of Clan Revadin has a decent enough ring to it, don't you think?"
"That, it does." More than he knew. "Now, not to ruin the moment, but I'm getting stiff here, so can we—"
In the blink of an eye, Spite —who had been uncharacteristically silent up until that point— surged forward and took control. Curious about whatever plan he had up his sleeve, Lucanis was more than happy to hand him the reins for the time being.
Because, although marriage wasn't a practice that spirits adhered to, Spite knew enough about the concept to be filled with joy, unable to contain both his and Lucanis's excitement. What he was certain of was this: Davrin agreed to be theirs, and they agreed to be Davrin's, even more so than before. How could he possibly keep quiet about it any longer?
Shifting in place, a sharp flap of his wings propelled him forward, and he tackled Davrin onto the ground, sending them both rolling into the dirt and grass.
Eventually, they slowed to a stop, and Spite hopped up to his feet with Davrin cradled in his arms.
"Hey!" Davrin exclaimed at the same time Spite shouted, "Yes! He. Said. YES!"
Spite barely had time to set him down onto his feet when they heard an enraged roar in response to all the commotion, followed by the sounds of the wyvern quickly approaching, trampling through the woods with heavy breaths. Both Spite and Davrin froze, their eyes locked.
"Oh, shit," Davrin swore, but Spite was already way ahead of him.
Spreading his wings out wide, he reached out to reel Davrin in, his body pressed flush against theirs.
Next thing Davrin knew, Spite had launched them up into the air, Davrin holding onto him for dear life.
"I swear!" he threatened in a shout, "If you two drop me—"
"Now, where would be the fun in that?" they cackled with glee, both Spite's and Lucanis's voices reverberating within one another. "Hold on tight, my Warden."
They started to spin through the air as they soared high above the trees, concerned yelps soon transforming into carefree laughter.
Wind whipped past their faces at blinding speeds, bringing tears to their eyes.
And once they found a safe enough location to land, they glided down to the area below.
As soon as their feet touched the ground again, they continued to cling to each other in their desperation to get closer, sealing their lips into passionate kisses between breathless declarations of love.
All in all, it was the perfect ending to the perfect "hunt".
