(for selkiefei from vein. 100% inspired by ur art xoxo)
"don't bite." all the warning vein bothers to give before fingers press against the selkie's lips, push upwards, carefully pry open the jaw. an index finger hooks around the length of one of the upper canines as they inspect. there's no real motive for it beyond the whim of simple curiosity, the number of times those same teeth had sunk into vein's flesh during one of their many struggles warrants some investigation— though, admittedly, they're not disinterested in seeing how well xia fei can follow their simple instruction under the face of temptation.
A BARELY HUMAN NOISE, a trilling, clicky whine high up in his throat. xia fei's threat-response instincts tell him to bite the finger that has hooked under his lip and prised his mouth open. beneath, deadly-sharp fangs glint in the flickering lamplight. he presses his tongue to the floor of his mouth, though his entire face quivers with the effort it takes to remain obedient.
vein does not shy away from provoking xia fei's combative instincts while he's allowed his pelt. this is often the game they play; the siren has enough fang-scars to prove it. only a few months ago, he would have severed their finger and swallowed it for testing him like this — for expecting him to obey like he does when they take his pelt, when he fawns for them under the veil of enchantment, pliant and soft and sweet and wanting.
the memories made him sick for the longest time. now, finally allowed agency over his thoughts again, he can't seem to stop poring over them. he can't stop looking at vein and remembering the way their arms held him softly. softly.
falling for him has only managed to make their relationship — complicated.
he should be tearing into the pirate's hand. his throat. he can picture the way their blood would flow from the wound into water, were they on his turf; red, red, red.
instead, he opens his mouth just a bit wider. his eyes flick up to meet vein's. and, without protest, he waits.