chapter thirty four of e/l featherstorm [working title], enemies/lovers convexian heroverse shenanigans co-authored by @varanere00 and myself
this one's got it all, talking, fighting, fucki- enjoy!
Grian wakes up to a wonderfully warm pillow under him, complemented by a heavy weight crushing him. A perfect morning. He contentedly stretches his wings, thumping them into bodies above and below him. A little stiff, like any day after a long flight. Worth it.
Vex had- He’d really pulled together something romantic, for their date. Something decadent. And then the flight home! Scar’s elation, contagious. Scar and Vex both joining him in courting flight-
Grian chomps aggressively on his pillow, anything to calm the rioting butterfly swarm filling him tip to toe.
"Good day, my courted. How are you feeling this morning?" Vex's voice rumbles underneath him.
“Hungry.” Grian bites one more time for good measure, before nuzzling his warmpillow, his Vex, his courted. His headwings fluff and bop in eager little motions that he determinedly ignores.
"Well, we can't have that. Let's see about getting you fed then, shall we?" Vex smiles at Grian, working them both free of the nest.
Grian merely flops and drapes all over Vex instead of helping with the nest escape. Not that Scar's keen on letting them go, full octopus-mode.
The entire thing ends with Vex piling both Grian and Scar into his arms, carrying them out. All the way to the couch nest, where he deposits both of them tangled together.
Where Grian can pack Scar firmly into the nest, and use the height of climbing atop him to get a good view of what Vex is doing. Scar doesn’t complain any, simply snuggling closer to Grian.
Vex bustles about the kitchen, cooking. He's got several pots out, and is making... Oatmeal?
Cooking for them? Again? Grian dives back down into Scar’s arms, before Vex can glance over to see his face. Even Scar’s sleepiness can’t fight forever against the scent of simmered fruit and spices, though.
Slowly, Scar perks up in Grian's arms, smile bright when Grian's face is the first thing he sees.
"Morning, gorgeous." Scar mumbles, still blinking sleep out of his eyes.
“Yeah, yeah, mornin’ yourself, sleepyhead.” Grian grumbles gruffly. He presses sharp kisses across Scar’s stupidly handsome face.
"I had the most wonderful dream." Scar purrs. "I dreamed we all had a courting flight together."
Grian flicks at Scar's nose with a fingernail. "That was real, you dingus. You wore Vex like a cape and dived with me."
"I did? That wasn't a dream?" Wonder lights up Scar's face, shining adoration.
"You did." Fuck, who gave Scar the right to be so breathtaking. "On our way back from star nerd dinner."
"You had star wings." Scar recalls. "And Vexy was worshiping you, and then we were flying and you groped my tits."
"If you put them in my face like that-" Grian slides his hands down to squeeze at Scar's tits again. "You had him doing loops and spins that I'm shocked didn't put you out from g-forces alone."
"Vexy does gravity magic, remember? Of course the g-forces weren't gonna knock us out, silly!" Scar giggles, ruffling Grian's hair.
"That's how wild your flight was." Grian bats his headwings at Scar's fingers until they get the memo to move on to rubbing the bases of said headwings. "I think I might be deaf in one ear, too." He bleps at Scar.
"Poor pretty bird." Scar coos. "Can't hear our beautiful voices. Whatever shall you do?"
Vex peeks over the back of the couch. "Hey? I made breakfast."
"You made us breakfast?" The wonder surges back into Scar's voice in full force, eyes sparkling with his icky gooshy emotions.
"Eat breakfast, apparently." Grian deadpans, letting Scar scoop him up to vault the couch and crash into Vex.
"I- mh!" Somehow, Vex stays standing throughout Scar's attack, catching them in a hug. "I did. It's just oatmeal, though. Nothing fancy."
"It's Vexy food! Made by our Vexy! With care and adorable obsession." Scar giggles, squishing Grian between them as he hugs Vex right back.
Grian registers his complaints as breathless squeaks.
Thankfully, Vex has mercy on him, pulling back out of the suffocating hug. "Come, let's eat. Ari, you said you were hungry." Vex ushers them to the set table. Each place has a prepared bowl of oatmeal, with add-ons sitting neatly in the middle.
"About time." Grian piles fruit into his oatmeal without hesitation, while Scar swipes the honey to sweeten his oatmeal an unreasonable amount. Alongside the rainbow sprinkles that Vex had apparently conceded to setting out for him.
"Glitter juice!" Scar cheers, following up by pouring some of the sparkliest juice Grian has ever seen into their cups. And Grian knows Lizzie!
"Neit got a little enthusiastic mixing up the juice and the shimmers for the layered rainbow drinks yesterday." Vex explains when Grian raises an eyebrow at it. "I figured it prudent to serve the rest with breakfast."
Grian steals the honey dish back while Scar is distracted with his juice disasters.
"Don't worry, I can make more when we run out." Scar assures, beaming his brightest smile.
"This should be enough for now." Vex pats Scar's hand. "Dig in, everyone!"
Grian whistles the world's quickest gratitude before stuffing his mouth full of oatmeal. Even after the feast last night, all that shapechanging on top of the flights still have him devouring his food.
Scar doesn't even whine or complain or demand anyone feed him or anything, just moaning his way through scoop after scoop of his butchered monstrosity of an oatmeal.
Good thing the bowls of oatmeal are big. Bigger than Grian originally thought. Twice, he has to pause to shovel in more fruit before falling into savaging his goop again.
When Grian comes to the bottom of his bowl, groping for a napkin to clean his lips, he catches Vex glancing at him, over Vex's barely half-eaten bowl of oatmeal. At least Vex isn't making a face, but that leaves his expression irritatingly difficult to read.
Anything could be going on behind those glowing eyes. Anything at all.
"Did you enjoy your meal, Ari?" Vex turns to him, polite as ever.
"It was- Filling." The words are almost startled out of Grian from being directly addressed while he was so sneakily and subtly studying Vex to puzzle him out.
"Good. That's good." Vex nods, turning his attention over to Scar. "Neit? How is your food?"
"Tasty! Thank you, Vexy~" Scar grins, bright and buoyant and disgustingly cheerful.
"My pleasure." Vex smiles back, revoltingly soft.
An opinion Grian quickly revisits when that smile is aimed at him next.
Grian tucks a headwing across his face before he can fully succumb to the urge to smile back. They're infectious, the bastards. When did they learn how to feel like flying?
"Did you have any plans for today Ari? Hotguy and I were gonna do some sparring." Vex goes on, making his polite conversation.
"I need to stretch my wings with a light flight after yesterday." Grian flaps one wing, air ruffling Vex's hair. He knows that if he doesn't, he'll end up way too stiff. "Though I could make some time to kick your asses." Something about what Vex said rings wrong to Grian's ear, but he can't place what.
"We were actually hoping to spar by ourselves. Though you are welcome to join us for the warmups." Vex smiles.
"What? Why?" Grian peers at Vex. What kind of stupidly dangerous thing are they trying to hide?
"Ask him." Vex nods in Scar's direction. Who blinks at Grian in headlight-frozen deer stupor, spoon still in his mouth.
“Well then. Neit?” Grian stares Scar down, fending off mental images of them just stabbing one another, over and over.
“I- Uh.” Even with the spoon removed, Scar stumbles his words, chews his lips.
"What!" Scar throws his hands up. "Can't a guy spar in peace?"
“When was the last time you passed up the opportunity to make me look at and touch your sweaty, half-naked body?” Grian rolls his eyes.
Sinking into himself, Scar mutters something under his breath.
Snapping his fingers, Grian huffs. “Speak up.” Stern words, brooking none of this nonsense.
"It's safer! He'll be fighting the Hero, and the Hero can take him alone!" After his outburst, Scar re-crumples.
“Since when has safety stopped me from having your back in a fight?” Grian’s wings rustle malcontentedly. The Hero must mean Scar putting his Hotguy gear back on, for some reason. Getting back into character. Why here, though?
"Vexy? Can you give us a moment?" Scar looks beseechingly over at Vex.
"Sure thing. Text me when you're ready." Vex wipes his mouth, presses a kiss to each of their heads, and promptly leaves to room.
"Now. Explain." Grian rounds on Scar.
“I want this to work.” Scar says, gaze fixed earnestly on Grian.
“This.” Grian’s tone matches the flat line of his mouth.
Scar gestures sweepingly to the whole room. “This. Us.” A line drawn in the air between himself and Grian, between them and the door Vex exited through. “I want it to be real. To last.”
"And that somehow means I can't spar with you." Yeah, Grian doesn't see the logic.
“Not. Not this time. That part- I can’t-" Scar hisses his breath, a keen frustration with his own words that Grian is more than familiar with. “The Hero would focus on you.”
"Why are you even changing into the mask? Into your gear? Here?" Grian doesn't get any of it.
“Because-" Another scrunched expression that Grian waits pitilessly through. “There’s this. Piece of me, that doesn’t understand how it. Fits. Into this. Because of calling Lizzie barely an acquaintance. Because of running for the rooftops.” Scar slumps onto the table.
"And to fit this piece in you need to put on your hero mask and punch the shit out of Vex?" Makes about as much sense as anything else in Scar's head. A shape almost-familiar.
“Yes!” Scar’s nods thump his head into the table. “I need to feel it with my hands. With my whole body. To work it out.”
"And he's on board with this?" Grian checks, even if he already knows the answer. Vex indulges so many of Scar's whims, why not this too?
“Vex agreed, to a no powers fight. No weapons. No tricks. Just us. Vex, and the Hero. On even ground.”
"Both of you can still do a lot of damage, even without." Grian points out, and keeps a tight lid on how he feels about the fact that he trusts Vex to honor that agreement.
Scar rolls his cheek on the table. “Vex demanded no headshots as a condition. Which is silly, of course no headshots. I like that head.”
"At least some sort of sense. Please tell me you'll be in armor or something." Grian sighs.
“I’ll at least start in my armor?” Scar offers.
"That's the best I'm getting, isn't it?" Grian takes a deep breath in. Hold for four, out for eight.
“ ‘Fraid so.” Scar turns his head enough to direct his lopsided smile properly to Grian. “And once we sort it out, then you can join us. For future spars.”
"I will be holding you to that." Grian wags a finger at Scar.
“Good. You’d better. Among other things for you to hold me against.” Reaching out to boop Grian’s finger, Scar pulls himself back upright.
"We good?" Scar asks, shaking himself out.
“You’re nonsense. But fine, do what you have to do. And bring your phone, call me if you do end up needing backup.” Grian still doesn’t exactly get it. But if Scar needs this and they aren’t going to be like. Feeding one another through woodchippers. Then maybe Grian doesn’t have to get it quite yet. He will, though. Grian will figure out this new nonsense.
"Right! I saw you got a new phone! Did you sweet talk it out of Mumbo?" Scar perks up.
“Yeah, he’s letting me test it.” Grian slips it out to flash at Scar. “Good impact resistance.” A fond grin, almost impish.
"Oooh, can I see?" Scar makes grabby hands and his best pleading eyes at Grian.
“Fine.” Grian throws his phone at Scar. “But if you change any of my ringtones, I’m eating all of your vanilla pods.”
"Boring." Scar declares. "Gotta see what kind of camera Mumby gave you. Say cheese!" A few taps later, there's a shutter sound and a flash.
Grian puffs out his wings and straightens up. “Do a better one!” He demands.
"Sure thing, my pretty bird." Scar grins, all cheeky-like. "Go ahead, strike your pose."
Grian straightens down his pajama shirt, properly fluffing and settling both sets of his wings. A roguish grin and hand splayed over his own chest finish the look.
"Magnificent! Oh, gorgeous, honey!" Scar actually gets up, trying different angles, snapping away. "Show us those wings!"
Preening under the attention and praise, Grian spreads his wings grandly, presenting every feather.
The night sky pattern he did for Vex last night still twinkles on his feathers as Scar gushes and snaps more photos.
Grian will be remembering this pattern, for future use. He’ll have to update it with the turning of the seasons, of course. Maybe even get Vex to drop the almost in almost perfect-
Maybe he can find out when Vex's birthday is, and gift him a feather with his sign's constellation on it. Ignoring how that would have to be either a cluster of feathers, or even several primaries. Not that the glow would hold up long, once separate from Grian, but the colors would stay.
Would Vex display something like that? A pretty spread on his wall?
The warm weight of Scar drapes over Grian from behind. "My most handsome birdie~"
Me! Grian trills. That's him! Scar's most handsome birdie!
Scar trills right back, covet and treasure and mine pressed into the back of Grian's neck. Every sound a pleasant glurp of the lava lamp in his chest, a reminder and a blessing.
Grian's a melted pool of content birdie in Scar's arms, all upsets forgotten. Upsets? What upsets? He's perfectly content to stay here, in his mate's arms.
Long kisses and exchanged chirps later, Scar ruffles his feathers. "Come on, let's get you in the sky before you stiffen up, alright? Then we'll meet right back up to order lunch, everyone good as new."
Blinking, Grian trills his assent. He would like to get dressed first though. Maybe get his hands on a nice Vex-scented shirt or something he can drop off at home for his nest.
He has a blurred memory of heaps of stripped off clothing from after their flight, that'd be perfect.
"You want help dressing up, or you got it?" Scar asks, pressing kisses down the side of Grian's neck.
"I got it. You go find your idiot." Grian mutters, already mentally puzzling the clothes into his nest.
"Our idiot." Scar snickers. "See you on the flipside, pretty birdie."
"Yeah, yeah." Grian waves Scar off with a kiss, collecting up his phone again, before scurrying off to the bedroom.
Just as Grian remembers, yesterday's clothes lay strewn haphazardly across the floor.
Grian doesn't even bother trying to remember who was wearing what mess of rumpled colors, simply pressing each to his face and huffing the scent until he has the right set. Sets. An extra set of Scar's clothing doesn't hurt, after all, to go with Vex's.
The set with Grian's scent gets worked into the nest here. Vex needs more Grian-scent in his life.
Grian might as well leave his pajamas in the nest as well, freeing him to pick out a new outfit. Simple tones, simple shapes. Daytime flight calls for less garish designs. A sleek black hoodie and some sweatpants with an elastic at the bottom. He likes those. Less wind getting in the bottom of his pants.
Will Vex's avian friend be one of the ones Vex introduces Scar to? He has to be getting his information somewhere.
Grian stuffs the clothing he's taking into a convenient bag hanging in the closet, re-pinks his wings, and sets off. Out to the balcony, out to the open skies. Where he can breathe.
No dramatic drop or fast rise for him this time. A gentle swoop off works just fine. Lazy flaps to gain height, until Grian's soaring, on his way home.
Preparing his med lab to be ready post-spar to do the tissue sample from Neit that they'd delayed, comes and goes without any word from Neit. As does stretching and lubricating himself. Cub sets aside the wondering if he'll have to patch up Neit before their fight, and moves on.
Cub still has wings to swap out, after all. And- Long enough has elapsed that he can contact Doc without interrupting anything vital from the storm, right? Cub misses talking to Doc more keenly than usual, with so much happening and so many things he wants to share with Doc. With the way Doc always steadies his nerves.
Texting Doc a request for a call when Doc has time, Cub makes his way to the armory.
Cub's phone rings before he's even reached the door.
"Hey, Doc." Cub answers promptly.
"Hey, little horror. Mind explaining some of those messages I got from you during the storm? Like the when you said you were going out into it?" Oops. Cub had sent those messages to Doc, hadn't he?
"Deepfrost and I stopped the storm." Cub reports, chin held high. He stands by his actions. Without that decisive choice, they could still be besieged by flooding and power outages. Even if people don't like it, Cub knows he made the right call.
"And pray tell, how did you do that?" Doc questions.
"The storm was artificial, caused by layering several highly unstable, overclocked power augmentation experimentations on a semi-willing captive participant, who proceeded to lose control of their powers." Cub slips into the armory. "Locating them, suppressing their powers, and putting an end to the experimentation cleared up the storm."
"And what did you do with said 'semi-willing individual' after you found them and suppressed their powers? Send them on their way?" Doc sighs.
"He was in no condition to go anywhere alone at the time, so Deepfrost brought him home. Skizz treated the overt injuries and has been monitoring his health since." Cub reports, checking over his wing stand even though it's in place already. A familiar task while he talks.
"I'll have to have a word with Skizz, if that is, in fact, the case." Doc may sound grumpy, but Cub knows Skizz won't be in any trouble. Not for this.
"I'm sure Skizz has any notes you might want. Tim- Jim, is significantly more responsive now. We're looking into relocating him to one of my countryside homes, where he can get the suppression cuffs off and practice controlling his new powers safely." Off with Cub's wings, a quiet moment of relief to be disconnected from the mismatch.
"Where did you even get suppression cuffs?" Doc wonders. "To my knowledge, you don't have any."
"Ari lent me his- Is it lending to hide them in my belt? I believe that was what he meant." Cub pauses to consider, then nods.
"Ari? How did your little birdy have the chance to hide them in your belt?" On the other end of the line, Doc sighs in relief. Going by the fabric fwump, flopped down in his nest.
"He crashed here, due to the storm." Cub answers simply, looking over his various sets of Vex wings, weighing which ones the Hero might like to see him in best.
"Oh dear. Avians crashing is never good. Is he alright?" Genuine concern swings in Doc's voice.
"He had hypothermia followed by a rebound fever, as well as a fractured wing." Cub rattles off, tone flat and practical. "Lizzie healed his wing."
"Lizzie and Joel did say they'd be crashing at yours once the storm broke." Doc's thoughtful nod is so clearly visible in Cub's mind's eye. "Glad she was able to help."
"They have been. Apparently Lizzie is Neit's preferred healer. Small world." Cub is near-entirely certain Doc already knows this, but saying as much aloud is important so that Doc knows that Cub knows now, too. "Ari has recovered quite well." Cub fingers the feathers in his hair.
"Small world indeed, little horror." Doc chuckles. "What are you up to now? Did you see them off and need company?"
"Ari and Neit are still here, they've also been staying here since the storm. They are having a private discussion, and I- Missed you." Cub feels almost odd saying it aloud, but he should practice vocalizing his feelings to people close to him, right? Ari and Neit have appreciated that quite a bit, thus far. "How have you been doing? No doubt your clinic has been full."
Doc laughs. That warm chuckle of his, a sound that always makes Cub feel like he's home. "I have missed you as well, little horror. As for the clinic? Slammed, I tell you. Absolutely slammed. We are just now getting back down to non-crisis operating levels. I'll need to expand the staff nap rooms. Again."
"Good to hear that operations are returning to normal." Cub nods. That Doc's on this very call with him was already a good sign of that, but confirmation never hurts. "Are you sure you're not just eager to annex more area for your nests?" Cub teases.
A playful growl. "Oh just you wait little horror, I'll show you nest annexing next time you're here."
"Threaten me with a good time." Cub chuckles. A comfortable silence follows before Cub speaks up again. "I'm going to make Ari an induction charging blanket to use in nests here."
"Oh? And what will you tell him for why the blanket needs to be plugged in or needs to lay fully flat?" Doc questions. "Going with the heated blanket story?"
"Ah, right. They know about my wings, now. So I have informed them that those need charging." Cub traces the crystalline structures. The set he was wearing when he cuffed Neit, Cub decides. How much of that had been the Hero?
Stretching on, as Cub takes the wings off the wall, settles them in place in the stand.
"I hope you know what's you're doing, Cub." Doc's voice, low with worry, breaks through the moment.
"I-" Cub thought he'd had his answer, but he pauses to consider again, to sort his words out. "I want them in my life, for real. For good. They've- Shared things with me, too." Cub treasures the knowledge of Neit's cane use, of Ariana- Proof that they're trusting him with pieces of themselves, as well. That he's not just putting himself out out here alone, unmet.
"I see. I hope for your sake it goes well, then." Doc does not sound convinced. In fact, Cub is certain that, had he been in grabbing range, he'd be stuck in Doc's nest for a good few hours, being fussed over.
"It has, thus far. We had a date, yesterday. Fully properly explicitly delineated as a date." Cub somehow feels the need to prove... something? to Doc, even though he has the sinking feeling that it might be- What did Neit call it? Throwing logic solutions at an emotions problem?
"Oh? How did that go? You never were big on date nights. Always lab time with you. Though I suppose lab time can be a sort of date." Fond amusement colors Doc's voice. Doc's not wrong. Cub did prefer to spend his evenings in the lab rather than butt in on Ren and Doc's date nights.
"We each chose an activity to share with the others. Which was very informative and pleasant. I took them out to my observatory." Cub isn't quite sure, how much of either of their activities he is or is not supposed to share. Perhaps he'll ask, later.
"That's quite the drive. Or did you fly? I didn't hear of any Vex sightings."
"We flew, I was wearing different wings and none of my costume but the mask." Should he look into a more neutral mask for going out? Mm, what they have had worked, though. "We did a courting flight maneuver on the way back." Giddiness bubbles up unexpectedly in Cub, remembering that.
"A courting flight, hm? Should I be expecting to see feathers in your hair sometime soon?" Doc's tone is back to teasing.
"Ah, about that. Just a moment." Cub pulls the phone back, flicking over to his messages with Doc. A quick pic snapped and sent, displaying the braids and flashes of pink in his hair. Was probably a good idea, anyway. He'll have to take them out eventually, and having a picture to look back on will be nice. Back over to the call. "There." Why does he have flutters, waiting for Doc's response?
"Already?" Doc chuckles heartily. "Hey, Ren, come look at this. Cubby and his little birdy are both down bad!"
"What? Oh, hot dawg! Congrats, my man!" Cub hears Ren whistle in the background.
"Thank you." Warmth overtakes the flutters entirely, to have their support. "We're officially courting, apparently." Cub's tone shades proud, both to be courting Ari and to know the word for what they are to one another.
"Congratulations." Doc sounds warm, and impossibly fond. "I hope this works out for you."
"I'm doing my best to make sure it will." Cub nods, determined. One step back, a breath in as his wings link up and begin their movements.
Three steps forward, to not knock over the stand. Let the motion run its course, then he can shift his wings out of phase, and collapse into a desk chair. His shirt Cub leaves off. He'll get dressed soon anyway.
"Well, if you've set your mind to it, ya know it's gotta be good." Ren answers. Doc must have him on speaker.
"I have." Cub is starting to feel confident that they really can work something out, together. Courting Ari, claiming Neit. Eventually turning Neit, tangling their lore together forevermore. Completing Ari's challenge, claiming him as well. Flying together, all three of them. "Thank you. This has been a learning experience."
Soft door-swish has Cub looking up. Neit, poking his seeking head into the doorway. His face lights up upon spotting Cub, scampering across the room to throw himself into Cub's lap.
"Found you!" Neit snuggles into Cub, bag dropped beside them.
"Well done." Cup runs a hand through Neit's hair. "All settled now?" Neit doesn't look upset, so hopefully the talk went well. He doesn't even appear to have any new scrapes or bruises, either.
"Ah, I hear you has company now." Doc's voice filters up from his phone. "Call me back later then, when you've the time. Bye, little horror!"
"Bye, man! See ya soon!" Ren chimes in.
"Goodbye Doc, Ren." Cub pulls the phone back, just to have Neit shove his face in between Cub and the phone.
"Mr. Fluffem-peets? Bye Mister Loafman! I'm stealing Vexy now!" Neit jabs at the phone until Cub hears the distinct sound of the call ending.
"You are one silly goober." Pocketing his phone, Cub settles both hands on Neit's waist, holding him close. "Did you get everything settled with Ari?"
"Yep! All done and dusted. Ari's headed off for his flight." Neit presses the tips of their noses together, radiating joy.
"Wonderful. Shall we get on with our spar, then?" Cub steals a quick kiss.
"No more waiting! Yes!" Neit wiggles in Cub's grip, his return kisses off-kilter.
"What did you plan on wearing? Do you need workout clothes?" Admittedly, Cub hadn't given much thought to anything beyond his wings.
"I mighta agreed to wearing some armor. It'll help with the right headspace anyway." Neit lightly kicks his bag, to the muffled clanks of plating. "So you should bring some armor too, fair's fair."
"I'll grab my basics. Nothing fancy. Will that be good by the Hero?" Cub checks. Easy enough to warm up in their underlayers, then armor each other up before they spar.
"Just enough to protect vital bits. Then we won't have to pull punches." Neit sways a little. "Basics sounds good. No tricky gadgets or anything, just a protective layer."
"That sounds wonderful. Let me gather everything, then we can head right over." Cub rises from his chair, turning to set Neit on it.
Neit steals one more kiss before allowing Cub to go. Even after, Cub can feel Neit's curious gaze following him around the room. Not that Cub has all that much to do, taking down a crate and piling in the undershirts and armor plating he'll need.
A quick process, with how organized Cub keeps everything. Just the base bits, as Neit requested. Chest and back plates, the segmented pieces of his abdomen. Codpiece. For the softer bits of underarm, neck, and inner thigh he elects to grab just the padded underlayers. Some protection, but without the hard parts of the armor.
"Ready." Crate in hand, Cub ends up standing by Neit's chair.
"Then off we go!" Neit pops up, scooping his bag back onto his shoulder. He practically skips the whole way into the gym.
Setting down his crate, Cub pulls out his phone and takes the moment to set the door to only open at his mental command. And, after a moment of consideration, Doc's. They don't intend to hurt each other, but you never know. Better safe than sorry.
Neit, meanwhile, has already managed to strip out of his clothing, and started doing warm-up stretches.
"Neit. Please put on some clothes." Cub requests, stripping out of his own pants and working his way into his Vex undersuit.
"What, not enjoying the view~?" Neit flexes, puffing out his chest.
"I am. Though for sanitary reasons, pants would be appreciated." Cub wiggles into the shirt part.
"I'm plenty sanitary, I'll have you know." Neit bounces in place, doing one more stretch before he concedes to slipping on his underclothes.
"Thank you." Cub rewards him with a kiss, before starting up his own warmup routine.
Neit trills brightly, hopping into a jog, just a couple laps around the room while Cub warms up.
"Have you- given any- thought to- how you- plan to- get out- of H- Hero mode?" Cub asks, timing his words to his breathing during his reps.
"Nope!" Neit finishes up his laps, resting against a stack of mats to just watch Cub. The whistle Neit gives is distinctly not avian. "Probably would be smart, though. You puttin' the collar back on usually works."
"Think- the Hero- will hold- still for- that?" Cub finishes up his reps, shaking out. He could do with a lap or two himself.
"Maybe. If he's tired out from fighting, or you entice him enough." Neit fingers his collar. "The relief is- Hard to describe."
"We are locked in. The only way he's getting out is if he accepts the collar. The doors respond only to my magic." Cub does decide to take the laps. "Tell me more about enticing?" He calls.
Neit muffles a moan into his hand, giving Cub a good segment of the lap before Neit manages to speak again. "I'm sure a charming villain like you knows plenty about enticing, about seducing. About spinning a pretty tale that hooks into hungers denied. About just enough force to take away the heavy, heavy burden of responsibility."
Less clear than Cub had hoped, but it gives Cub some pointers on where to start. A second lap, to mull the idea over, while Neit is being more or less discreet about palming himself.
"I'm ready. Let's get armored." Cub comes to a standstill next to Neit, barely winded.
"What was that? Tear those pants off you and take you right on the spot?" Neit asks, devilishly innocent as he pulls out his own armor plating and pads to arrange in some sort of order that must make sense to him.
"If anything, you're the one about to be ravished." Cub jokes back, working on his tight padding pieces. Once in place, they move well with his body, but getting them there? Always a struggle.
"Keep telling yourself that, buddy." Neit's hands join Cub's, settling the padding and handing off more bits for Cub to apply. Lingering touches, like keeping his hands off of Cub is unbearable.
"We'll see who's right, won't we." Cub smiles softly.
"Of course, on the field of honorable battle." Neit clacks their foreheads together.
Once Cub is armored up, he flows right into helping Neit armor up, as well. Every past hour of studying the exacting details of Hotguy's getup makes itself rather useful, in this case.
As they go, the way Neit laid out the armor begins to make a kind of sense. Though several of his choices still have Cub questioning Neit's sanity.
Well, sanity is overrated anyway. Sometimes.
Either way, they finish suiting Neit up, all except for his mask. When Cub tries to turn away, though, Neit's hand on his arm stops him.
"First, could you-" Neit fingers the lace of his collar again. Given that this one has no tech, Neit is fully capable of removing it himself.
"Of course." Cub murmurs. Even when he can, Neit has shown himself to be reluctant to put on or take off the collars himself. At least if Cub's around. And really, it's no hardship to pull Neit close, kiss him in casual affection, as Cub carefully opens the clasp on the collar, sliding it off.
"Thank you." Neit indulges in kissing for long moments, until the tight muscles of his abs unclench. "Ready for the Hero?"
"As ready as I'll ever be. Shall we go over the rules one more time?" Cub loosens his grip, but doesn't pull away. He's still got the collar dangling from loose fingers.
"No damaging this precious egg, for one." Neit cups Cub's cheeks, grinning.
"Right." Cub grins back. "No headshots. No weapons. No tricks, flying, or magic. No wings, they stay out of phase. We stay inside the sparring area while we fight. Yield is three taps. Anything to add?"
"A yield, huh?" Neit taps Cub's nose three times. "Hm, okay." The furrow of Neit's brow speaks to effort put into thinking, so Cub gives him the time. "What's the limits of the sparring area?"
"You see the blue mats over there? The dark blue square on them is the designated sparring area." Cub points over. A rather generous area, a touch larger than the average boxing ring. Importantly, all sides are more than two meters away from hard objects, and padded. So that if they do fall out, the risk of injury is minimal.
"Aw, I don't get to throw you into walls?" Neit pouts.
"No wall throwing." Cub confirms. "We can do that later."
"Mean to me." Neit pouts. "Gonna throw you into double the walls, later."
"Later." Cub promises, kissing Neit's nose. "Now. Anything to add to the rules? Want to declare a seven second pin a win?"
Neit’s head tips, lovely even in his confusion. “But I thought someone yielding is a win?”
"Would you yield if I have you in a secure pin?" Cub asks.
“Maybe? I guess that depends on which of us thinks it’s secure.”
"A fair point." Cub nods. "Hence the seven seconds to get out of it. If it's not secure, you can just. Demonstrate that."
"So break out or yield." Neit hums, tracing over Cub's different bits of padding.
"Alright. No seven second rule then." Cub can work with that. "Anything else?"
"Mm, no gagging. Not this time."
"No chokeholds then. At least not with choking. Got it." Easy enough to work with.
"That kind of stuff, yeah." Neit nods. "I think that's it?"
"Same for me. Unless things like 'try not to break bones' need to be said?" Cub checks.
"Harder to do without a good wall to leverage you against, anyway." Neit shrugs.
"Good. Then yes. I'm ready for the Hero. See you in the ring." One last kiss, then Cub pulls away, turning his back to walk to the sparring ring.
In the quiet of the room, the click of the mask's clasp being undone is impossible to miss, but Cub carefully does not break stride in the slightest.
Footsteps, behind him. The confident, sharp gait Cub's so familiar with. Cub keeps his eyes down as he takes up his position.
"Aren't you even going to look at me, Vex?" Hotguy sneers his sharp words.
"Are you ready for me to?" Cub keeps his words, his tone light.
"Yes." Hotguy taps his foot, though he keeps his arms loose instead of crossing them.
Turning to face the Hero now in his gym, Cub feels a soft smile settle on his lips. "Greetings, esteemed Hero. Might I ask you to dance?" As if he truly were at a ball, Cub gives a small bow, offering his hand.
"You sure you wouldn't rather invite your Neit?" Hotguy shifts on his feet, light and ready to move.
"Why would I? I'm all dressed up for you, my dear rival." Cub purrs, falling effortlessly into Vex's mannerisms.
"I'll just have to make sure you remember whose archrival you are." Hotguy flexes gloved fists pointedly.
"That is why we're here." Cub sinks into more of a fighting stance himself.
Cub knows all he has to do is wait. Hotguy's patience will run out, even quicker than usual today, leading to Hotguy lunging in close to test Cub with a flurry of quick, seeking blows.
Some of which Cub dodges, others he blocks. Thumps, light but many, scattershot across his arms, his shoulders.
Familiar, the flow of their fighting. Impacts, thud of flesh meeting flesh, and the warm gust of near-misses. Hotguy feels faster, today, though. Cub can't play defensive too long, because there's no escape in this fight, no way out but through.
Cub still picks and chooses his moments to throw punches, to ram his elbow into Hotguy's side between plates when they pass all-too-close. Hearing Hotguy's wheezed snarl always boosts Cub's spirits.
Just after one of those snarls, Cub finds his world spinning, abruptly halted as blue mat fills his field of vision. Struggling against Hotguy's pin is no use, Cub never learned how to break this hold. His whole fighting style is designed to be defensive, to rely on phasing. Gaps in his knowledge he'll have to remedy.
Cub struggles well beyond seven seconds before he yields, tapping the mat three times audibly.
Hotguy snorts, having sat through the entirety of Cub's bucking with immovable, patient amusement. "That's what I thought." One squeeze, then he's shoving Cub away to pick himself back up to standing. "Next time you might want to try putting up a little fight."
"Kind of missing out on using my main move and strategy here. You know, the thing my fighting style is designed for." Cub groans, picking himself up as well. Still, Cub settles back into fight-ready position. Being beat by Hotguy is a place he's very familiar with after all. "Another round?"
"So you admit that relying on your magic makes you weaker in a fight?" Hotguy stretches his arms over his head, hissing at the pull on his elbowed his side. "Of course, I'm always game to thrash you."
"I've never had the need to fight without it." Cub shrugs, then winces, his shoulder still smarting.
"Welcome to a fair fight." Hotguy circles Cub slowly, a bright hunger in his gaze.
"You're only saying that because you won." This time, Cub tries going on the offensive first.
"And I'll keep winning!" No dodging, Hotguy dives right into clashing with Cub, trading punches Cub is doing fine keeping up with-
At least, right up until a hard kick to Cub's shin staggers him.
Down he goes again, pinned ruthlessly by Hotguy. This time, Cub yields after exactly seven seconds of struggle.
"Such a good position for you." Hotguy takes his time, copping a feel of Cub's ass while holding him down.
Cub goes lax in Hotguy's grip. Of course Cub's hard, he knows he is. The adrenaline and fighting Hotguy leave no other option. His codpiece isn't only for protection.
"My archnemesis. I'm the only one who knows how to handle you right." Hotguy growls in Cub's ear.
"You do." Cub pants. He's glad for the moment he took in the med lab to slick himself up, with the good silicone-based stuff. Hotguy could just slide right on in right now, if he'd just remove the impediment of Cub's pants.
"Say it. Tell me who you belong to." Hotguy's breath heaves in his chest, slow but heavy, heated where it brushes against Cub's cheek.
"You. I'm yours." Cub can't help but squirm. Struggle just a little bit, to feel how physically trapped he is right now.
"Good. Exactly, you're mine. Every bit of your short-lived triumph and each one of your pathetic, pained cries." Hotguy holds him unrelentingly.
Cub whines, hanging on to his self control by a thread. This is- he's dreamed of this. Of Hotguy holding him down, growling possessive things in his ear.
"What a desperate little mess for me." Hotguy purrs, teeth scraping roughly over Cub's earlobe. "Can't even keep any of your evil in your too-big head like this, can you?"
"No. Nothing. Just- just you. Hotguy." Cub pants. The last bits of his self control go toward not humping the ground. Not that he'd get any friction from it, with the codpiece on.
"It'd serve you right, you know, for me to leave you hanging here. See how you like it." Hotguy pulls the weight of his upper body up off of Cub.
"We could- ha- we could go another round, if you want." Cub doesn't know if he can stand, right now, but if Hotguy wants that, Cub will try.
Hotguy chuckles, grinding- Or is it just that Cub wants him to have been grinding down into Cub before Hotguy pulled away completely? Cub can't tell anymore. All he knows is the aching void of the heat that had been pressed to his back.
"Well then, up and at 'em. Really wow me this time." Hotguy taunts.
Sprawled on the mat, Cub tries to catch his breath. Will his limbs into cooperating. All in all, very slow going.
Hotguy lounges in a casual stance, watching Cub's efforts with that supremely smug grin. "You can manage one more round, for me, can't you?"
"I can." Cub levers himself upright, breathing deeply. Steadier on his feet than he thought he'd be.
This won't be a long fight. Breathe in, hold for four, out for eight.
"Good boy." Hotguy doesn't even bother shifting to a more guarded stance, deliberately sloppy as he dances in close, feinting punches that never quite land on Cub.
Not that Cub's own genuine punches land. No, Hotguy avoids each and every one, showing off with flashier moves designed to showcase his body, his muscles. Get Cub more worked up.
So they're both surprised when Cub's fist lands a solid punch directly to Hotguy's gut.
Confusion- That choked wheeze should be coming from himself, not from Hotguy. Unfortunately, the shock freezes Cub in place just a moment too long to follow up, Hotguy laughing an awful breathlessly sharp sound as he stumbles back.
Suddenly, Cub's the breathless one, back sore, staring up at the ceiling. How did that get there?
As Cub ponders the hanging of ceilings in his daze, Hotguy presses his whole body to Cub's, pinning Cub firmly to the floor.
"Always full of surprises, my rival." Hotguy stares down at Cub with wild eyes. The idle thought that Hotguy might not wait for the cultured sample before he begins devouring Cub, crosses Cub's mind.
In a sense, that's true, because the next thing Cub registers is that he's being kissed.
This is nothing like kissing Neit, though the lips are the same. Neit doesn't kiss like this, in this domineering way where Cub has no thought but to submit. To melt into it, whining out needy noises as he fruitlessly ruts his codpiece against Hotguy.
Pain blooms over Cub's lip, Hotguy biting it bloody, eagerly sucking on the throbbing pain, dragging higher keens out of Cub. All of it, all of Cub's pain, all of the breath in his lungs, all of the desperate bid for friction, every bit he offers up to Hotguy.
"You always wanted me to take you down and make you mine." Hotguy rumbles, rolling his whole chest against Cub.
Coherent words have left Cub's brain. All he has to offer is another high whine, desperate.
"You sound so good like this, Vex. So much better than all your monologuing." Hotguy gathers Cub's hands over Cub's head, a grip he could break out of, if escape were anywhere even in the vicinity of his brain right now. "I heard you, you know. When you said you were preparing yourself for me. Like a good little slut." Hotguy's tone remains that of confidence masquerading as casualness.
Gloved knuckles caress Cub's cheek, ghosting over it briefly before slipping lower. More pressure is required for Cub to feel Hotguy's touch through the padding at his throat, but Hotguy doesn't press beyond that. Just enough to feel. Further downward, the hand wanders, to where Hotguy has his torso pinned.
"I could just take you right now." Hotguy's fingers work under Cub's plating, plucking off pieces of Cub's shell. "But I don't know if you want it enough. Speak up, won't you?"
Something that might once have been words garbles past Cub's lips. He's gonna need a moment here to get his tongue back online.
"Oh, so close." Hotguy smiles his perfect PR smile. "Try again, I believe in you." The exact chipper chirp of a perfect news soundbite. All the while, his hands are worming their way under Cub's shirt, pinching and groping.
"P- p'ease!" Cub manages, the L sound not yet agreeing with his tongue.
"What do you want so badly for me to do with you, rival mine? I couldn't possibly fathom what you need here." Hotguy drags his words out in a drawl, poisoned saccharine sweetness.
"Fuah- fuck me! Please!" Finally, Cub gets his tongue under control for long enough to speak.
"So dirty! You're lucky you're such a cute little slut." Hotguy frees one hand to pinch Cub's cheek, tugging this way and that. "But of course, it is, after all, a Hero's duty to help those in need."
"Need. Need you." Cub slurs as clever hands start to pluck apart the rest of his armor.
Quick work- Or else Cub's sense of time has gone sideways. He doesn't even manage more words before his skin is exposed to the air of the gym, and more importantly, to the direct searing heat of Hotguy's touch.
"We'll see just how good you prepared." Hotguy purrs, folding Cub's legs up. When had Hotguy lost his pants? Has he been as hard as Cub this whole time? Has-
Ngh- Cub chokes on his breath, Hotguy sliding himself right in entirely, with one singular blazing push of unyielding heat.
"Hmm." Hotguy rolls his hips a few times, considering. "It's- it's satisfactory."
Even that scant praise washes over Cub with the force of a searing benediction. He did good, and now- and now- "Pleas- Fuck, fuck. Need y'u."
Hotguy's pupils darken entirely, the silent sound of something crumbling.
First- The iron force of Hotguy, holding Cub in place.
Second? Hotguy snarling, as inarticulate as Cub feels.
Finally, Hotguy rocking his hips, the glide in and out smooth. But Hotguy doesn't stop there, no, speeding inexorably with every motion to piston his dick relentlessly into Cub's hole. The force drags against Cub's back, sliding him across the mats, pounding thrusts he can feel up through his lungs. Folded in half, Hotguy mouthing ineffectively at Cub's still covered neck.
Every part of his body is sore, bruises still forming. Waves of aching pain crash into waves of relentless, driving pleasure, their superposition shaking apart Cub's brain. All he can do is give himself over to the passion, to Hotguy, to the moment.
Cub's lips trace a small pile of letters until he can speak out the only word left in him. "Mine." Just that, just his wholehearted claim of his rival. Of his lover. Of his deity.
"Mine." Hotguy's growled response, snarled into Cub's neck. Another bite that glances off the padding, then Hotguy is back to kissing him.
Cub doesn't need air, only more Hotguy. More heat, burning him up, more.
As if reading Cub's mind's long history of fantasies, Hotguy gives it to him as hard as he could ever ask, until, quite suddenly, Hotguy shoves deep inside Cub and stills, spilling in a hoarse shout, in sharp twitches.
One of those hands finds Cub's face. "Cum for me. Cum." Hotguy orders.
Blinding climax tears all breath out of Cub, winding him to a full daze. Just a dopey grin left on his face as he stares past Hotguy into the middle distance.
Hotguy's warmth melts down onto him, no longer a pin, but a warm drape. Melting together into one, that feeling chases Cub down into sweetly fulfilled oblivion.
Panting, Hotguy melts himself down into Vex. Who will not be doing evil anytime soon. No, Hotguy saw to that. Fucked all the evil clean out of him. Out of his Vex. So perfectly slick and welcoming around Hotguy's dick, with that cozy heat hiding just beyond the cool exterior. Even now, as Hotguy softens, Vex feels exquisite around him.
His Vex needed him, so Hotguy answered that call. If Hotguy found any of his own enjoyment in the activity- That's not relevant. His city is safe, his Vex is safe, and most importantly his Vex is his. Completely.
Hotguy's side and gut ache in harmony with every breath, proof positive that Vex won't- Of course nothing has changed. Vex will still fight Hotguy with everything Vex has. It won't be enough, of course, but the trying is important. The pain.
For now though, Hotguy should clean them up. And maybe restrain Vex properly. With his body. On one of those soft mats.
Only problem is, to do that, he'd have to temporarily let go of Vex.
No, he won't let go. They can just stay dirty for now. Wallow in their forbidden filth.
Maybe, eventually he might drag Vex over to the showers with him.
This is. Fine. Hotguy isn't antsy at all.
No stickness can bother him. He's the perfect Hero, and those don't get bothered.
Granted, they also don't fuck villains into the mats in that villain's personal gym, but that's a whole other topic. Vex is his, and Hotguy will do whatever it takes to prove that.
Not to mention Vex needs him, and a Hero always aids someone in need. Especially when that someone is his, is Hotguy's responsibility and balance.
...stickiness can't bother him, but it does bother Vex. Too cruelly. Too much like iron. Hotguy has to do what's right. Has to slide himself out of Vex without the mournful sound his chest demands of him. Has to scoop Vex into his arms, bringing the remarkably unresponsive villain over to the gym showers, grabbing a towel and working efficiently to clean any stickiness off of Vex's skin.
Redress them too, because Vex gets cold, and Hotguy won't be having that. On that note, who has a closet in their gym shower? Sure, it's nothing compared to the Narnia in Vex's bedroom, but still. There's an abundance of fresh clothes here.
Simple, plain clothing for Vex, even if it feels... odd, to see him dressed down like that. At least Vex's wings are back to being right. Hotguy passes his hand idly through the untouchable appendages a few times, before he steels himself for his own speedy cleanup and re-dressing.
After all, if he has to hold Vex down, he can't be getting sticky back onto Vex, that'd be unbecoming.
Finished almost as soon as he began, Hotguy lays a couple of the largest, warmest-looking garments on Vex, before scooping Vex back up and carrying him to one of the soft mats. The extra clothing will serve as good enough blankets. While Hotguy makes sure Vex remains neutralized in a humane manner.
Curled up on the mats, Vex wastes no time snuffling into Hotguy's arms, perfectly content.
That- Hm. Hotguy is going to have to mull that over. How a villain can look so content in the restraining arms of a hero.
Unlike usual, Hotguy has the time to think, here, no split second decisions needed. Hotguy can run his hand through Vex's hair, between braids, watching the way Vex leans into his touch.
The braids are another thing. Cuteguy courting Vex. Trusting Vex enough to flee into his arms when startled.
Then again, right now even Hotguy himself is wearing the pendant Vex gifted him. The shattered shard of wing, his piece of Vex.
It does something to Hotguy, that pendant. That promise. Makes him go soft. Makes him want- Were he in the least bit sensible, he'd tear the thing off and throw it into the concrete pour down the road. Escape Vex's influence.
A growl rumbles through Hotguy's chest. This fragment of Vex is his. Anyone who wants to take it from him will have to best him on the field of battle. A task they will not find easy.
In his arms, Vex slowly comes to again. Blinking those glowing eyes up at Hotguy with a lazy smile, not a hint of fear or discomfort in sight.
"Hello there, gorgeous. You sure did a number on me." Vex rasps, voice even more alluring like this.
"I told you so." Hotguy presses his face into Vex's hair. Not that he's avoiding looking at Vex's face or anything, just. Has Vex's hair always been this soft? "I always win."
"That depends entirely on your definition of 'win'." Cheeky bugger, Vex's fucked out tone of voice not helping one bit.
"I won all three fights, put you in your place." Hotguy huffs, squeezing Vex. Vex'd had no right to look so gorgeous beneath him, utterly wanton and begging.
"Mmh, that you did. I feel very in place right now. Right where I belong." Something firm rests against Hotguy's side. Vex's wing. Slung over him casual as you please.
"Right where you belong." Hotguy echoes. He doesn't examine the trust that Vex's wing won't have sharp edges where it drapes over him. "You wanted that, real bad." He plays with Vex's hair, instead.
"Yeah. I did. Been dreaming about you holding me down and pounding me senseless for years." Vex admits freely. Not a hint of shame in his voice.
And, hm. That's something. Vex, wanting that, wanting his forcefulness, his lack of restraint- A corroding influence, making Hotguy want to give in to those urges more often- But also. So different, than how Vex has interacted with Neit.
"No doubt it was everything you dreamed and more." Hotguy chuckles. Even in his fully snapped furor, he knows how good of a lay he is.
"It was good, yeah. Amazing, even. Absolutely knocked it out of the park, my man." Satisfaction brims in Vex's voice.
"Good, good." Hotguy's whole body sings with pride. Whether or not he should have fucked Vex, Hotguy is the absolute best at everything he does, this is no exception. "Can't have you forget the important things."
"Of course not. You're way too... memorable to ever forget." Vex purrs, somehow right in Hotguy's ear. Sending shivers down his spine.
Vex has changed him, that much is uncomfortably inescapable. Even though Hotguy is still... Hotguy. Himself. A Hero.
He's also someone who holds Vex close, sparks dancing over his spine just from Vex's voice.
"Is that why you're trying to schedule a regular appointment with me?"
"In part. I certainly have no objections to seeing you more frequently. But if you would prefer someone else did your injections, that's fine by me." Vex's teasing tone fades to something more serious. "My main concern is to see you as healthy as possible. And happy."
Hotguy bites his own lip, body tense as he swallows down a moan. He can't- It wouldn't be right, to show how much the thought of Vex- Hotguy remembers, the injector. Slammed into his arm. The dizzying rush, overcoming the sting of the needle. A real memory, so much sharper and clearer than any imagining. So much more dangerous, right on the cusp of melting him.
"Why? Everything would be easier for you, if I were less me."
"Don't you see?" Vex asks. "It's about you being you."
"I don't see. You've been happy with your soft Neit." Hotguy is perfect, everyone loves him. He knows that. But Vex has been so eager to spend time with his Neit. That corrupted and yielding part of himself.
"He certainly is amazing." Hotguy can feel Vex's smile against his skin. "But he's not you. Not all of you. That would be like having a fully loaded burger, and just eating the meat."
"Which is exactly the kind of thing a criminal would do." Hotguy rubs the base of Vex's neck. "As absurd as changing your fundamental being, just for the chance to eat a burger."
"I want the whole burger though. As much as I can have." Vex counters, as Hotguy ghosts his fingers over the patch of synthskin on the back of Vex's neck. Over that trust he holds.
"Greedy." Hotguy could ruin Vex, with everything he knows. Could develop countermeasures. Could spread word of his technology, his weaknesses. Could put a true end to his villaining.
What would Hotguy do without his archnemesis, though? Who is he, without that counterbalance?
He hadn't liked who he was, without Vex.
"Always." Vex agrees. "You could stand to be greedier too. Take what you want. You've more than earned it."
"Corrupting influence." Hotguy clonks his head into Vex's. "A Hero doesn't need to want things for himself." Where did he learn that rule? It wasn't from his Sensei, he knows that much. It just... feels true. Keeps him going.
"You are the only Hero holding yourself to that standard, you know?" Vex muses. "Every other Hero has mentioned things they want. Except you."
"I have to do better. I have to be better." He has to be perfect. "I'm the Hero everyone looks to first."
"You're still human. You're allowed to be human." Vex brings one arm up, petting him with awful softness.
How does Vex make that sound so real? So tempting? Hotguy catches himself leaning into the touch. "That's not what I'm meant for." He murmurs. Is this what it feels like, for something never meant to come in from the rooftops, to be domesticated?
"Even hive insects rest." Vex leans back, to be able to look Hotguy in the eyes. "You too need to rest, Hotguy."
"Are you conscripting me into your insect hivemind?" A practiced flash of grin, the quip far easier than engaging with Vex's words.
"Will that get you to work reasonable hours?" Vex sighs.
"I am working reasonable hours." All the hours is reasonable hours. "Not enough hours, lately, really." Funny, the way Vex returning has lessened his work hours. With more time spent cooking and doing Scar things, with less villainous activity, Hotguy hasn't hardly been pushing himself at all these past few months.
"Hotguy. If you start working more hours again, I will report you to the labor board." Vex's tone is serious. Not a hint of teasing on his face.
"Say hi to Janice for me. With any luck, she's got her blood pressure thing under control." She really ought get the pulsing vein in her forehead checked out, anyway.
"Now I have to consider filing a report anyway." Another sigh.
"I'm sure they'll work through the pile to yours eventually." Sweet of people, to be concerned for him, but his system works. He's doing the work he has to do.
"Until then, I guess I'll have to take matters into my own hands." Vex declares.
"Oh yeah? What are you gonna do about it?" Hotguy challenges, grinning. Not many people can make him do something, but Vex- Vex has never hesitated to take matters into his own hands, with drastic measures if need be.
"Kidnap you, obviously. It's worked in the past." Vex says it like that's a forgone conclusion.
"Nefarious." Hotguy gets lost for a moment, in the thought of the promised collar- Of course he doesn't want a collar that would destroy his focus, that would keep him light and floaty and loose and relaxed under Vex's directions. That would be just- Awful. Awful, yeah, that's the word. To be forced to rest...
Soft touches on his face pull his attention back to Vex. To the sweet curve of lip Vex smiles at him.
"Resting time for the big Hero, yeah? Want to come back to me?" Vex's voice impossibly soft.
A tenderness that undoes Hotguy, that takes his breath away. He feels himself nod, and it doesn't even register as a betrayal. Only the siren song of being tenderly tucked in for a nap, to come back better and stronger afterward.
"Come back to me, Neit." Vex calls. Tenderly. Lovingly.
A sudden breath in- And then Neit melts into Vex's touch, gazing adoringly into those softly glowing eyes. "I'm here." He rearranges himself to be more snuggling Vex, less holding Vex down.
"Did you enjoy that?" Vex's immediate question for him, while also rearranging for better snuggles.
Did he? Feels like Neit's still getting his brain back on right. "It was wild." Words tumble from him, loose and affectionate.
"It was." Vex grins widely at him. "Up for gathering our things and maybe some snuggles? There's also the muscle sample extraction we still haven't done."
Neit gasps. "You gotta take my sample! And then give me all the cuddles, yes. I'll be very sad and wounded and need that Vexy comfort." He can think about the spar, the talking the Hero did, later. Maybe never.
"First though, let's get you your collar and your mask." Ensuring he has a good grip on Neit, Vex floats them off the mat. "Gotta get you comfortable."
"Dress me up all pretty for you. Sleepytimes for big, strong Heroes." Neit giggles. "All the more Vex for me!" Oh look, Neit's favorite blue chew toy, right in front of him. Don't mind if he does.
"Where did that thing get off to?" Vex shifts Neit to one hip as he looks around, searching. For what? Who knows! Neit's got more important things to worry about. Like leaving a nice hickey on Vex's neck. Gotta get the color of the bruising just right for the tone of Vex's skin, not to mention perfecting the shape with extra biting and sucking. A lovely bloom, just for his Vex!
"Did you eat it?" Vex mumbles, as he continues searching. "Nevermind. Here it is." Vex settles down, shuffling Neit into his lap, and rudely taking Neit away from his masterpiece of a bruise.
"Do you want your mask or your collar first?" Vex holds up both.
"Collar first, pretty please." Neit can give the Hero that much, the sweetly familiar touch of Vex's claim, before he slips under fully.
"Right away." Vex sets down the mask, lifting the collar. A kiss to Neit's eagerly presented throat, then the collar clicks shut.
Even without the thrum of Vex's magic clouding his mind, the collar brings that relaxing sense of complete freedom. Nowhere he has to be, no one he has to perform for. A belatedly welcome reprieve. Neit hums as the Hero settles, calm coming over the whole of him.
"Thank you." Catching Vex's hands before they can retreat, Neit presses kisses to each fingertip.
"Of course." Vex taps his freshly kissed fingers against Neit's lips. "How do you want to do your mask change?"
"I can do it right like this, if you can keep your eyes shut." Neit doesn't want to leave Vex's lap, doesn't want to move away at all. And hasn't Vex already proven himself worthy of that trust? Of not peeking or prying?
"Alright." Vex offers up Neit's mask in one hand, while the other arm goes over his eyes.
Neit lifts his hands. His heart pounds in his chest, in his throat. His body still caught in that reaction, no matter how much his mind trusts Vex. But he doesn't let the terror stop him, the choking fear. Steady fingers undo clasps, slipping his Hero mask off, tucking it between them safely as he plucks up his Vex mask from Vex's fingers. Anonymous safety. Bright revelry. Neit puts on his face, clicking together the clasps firmly.
"All set. Good Vexy~" Neit grins Vex's bright slash of a grin, all mischief.
Before he uncovers his eyes, Vex brings a hand up to trail over Neit's face. Confirming the mask is in place. Only then does he drop his arm, wrapping it back around Neit, where it belongs.
"Gear gathering, then tissue sample extraction?" Vex asks.
"And then infinite cuddles!" Neit adds. Very important part of the schedule.
"And then cuddles, yes." Vex gets up again, trying to put Neit on his own two feet.
Neit dangles in Vex's grip, deadweight. "Mrrpt." Slow, adoring blinks.
Sighing, Vex props Neit back onto his hip, where Neit immediately snuggles back up.
"You know this will just make everything take longer." Vex informs him, starting to collect gear off the ground.
"Oh no, I'll have more time cuddled up with you." Neit's sure he can endure this hardship. Anyway, the Hero already made a neat pile of like, half the gear, so that part will be easy to pick up.
The rest has Vexy traversing the whole room, bag and box on him to collect everything while Neit snuggles him and hums.
"Help me out here, be my tray." Vex switches Neit to a princess carry, holding him in grabbing range of both the box of Vexy armor and his bag of Hero stuff.
"Of course!" All Vexy had to do was ask, of course! Neit happily takes up the box and bag, settling them on his chest, and putting pieces in the appropriate one as they're given to him.
"That's that all collected." All stowed up, Vex carries them out of the gym, the doors gliding open readily for him.
