Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Lyney very decidedly couldn't stand Wriothesley on the best of days.

This animosity between them had nothing to do with how Wriothesley had dangled the lives of his siblings over his head a year ago, and everything with how he kept continuously riling him up during the year that followed.

It had started out with pointed teasing remarks, then unfunny jokes that made Lyney want to claw his eyes out, too many comments about his height and once they’d firmly settled in the realm of “somewhat comfortable around each other”, way too many flirtatious remarks and pet names.

Wriothesley made it very hard for him to ignore it all and be the bigger person. Even just figuratively.

Mind you, Lyney would still take Wriothesley's company over that of the aristocrats the two of them were often stuck with. They had to work with too many of those nobles during the rebuilding effort of the city, and sometimes the only thing that brightened those meetings for him was seeing Wriothesley's equally suffering expression or hearing how he sarcastically questioned yet another stupid idea from one of those pompous fools.

How that simple realization had turned to Lyney sometimes sparring with the older man in the Ring late at night, or seeking him out and talking over a cup of tea, was beyond him.

He still couldn't stand him, though. That’s all that mattered.

(Lynette called it denial and Freminet said his trust issues were to blame and Lyney happily ignored both.)

Lyney was especially reminded of that fact when he finally showed up for a meeting just between the two of them and Wriothesley wasn't to be found. It wasn't the first time that Lyney arrived to the Duke’s empty office - the man was busy after all, especially these days, and his guards often called him away unexpectedly even when he was supposed to be done with work for the day. But all those times it had happened before, he’d shown up within five or ten minutes and with an apology ready on his lips for making Lyney wait.

Now he’d been lounging on his usual seat on the small sofa for twenty minutes and no sign of the other man. Lyney let out an impatient sigh and refused the urge to drum his fingers. Or to take a peek at the box sitting on Wriothesley's desk.

Surely the box and its contents had merely been confiscated and Wriothesley hadn't had the time yet to look through it. It did show a modicum of trust from the other man towards him, if he thought he could leave it unattended in the presence of a tentative ally, or whatever they were these days. And Lyney would have easily honored that trust, if Wriothesley hadn't kept him waiting for twenty– Sorry, close to thirty minutes now.

Lyney gave up around the half an hour mark. He got up with a sigh, pettiness and annoyance guiding him, as he walked over to Wriothesley's desk and unceremoniously opened the box.

He found a mishmash of curios inside. Pills and booze very clearly, then- Knitting needles and yarn, he noted with a raised brow. A light novel from Inazuma, some other random items that didn't pique his interest. He did find a bar of chocolate at the very bottom though, still wrapped nicely, not even cracked during the trip, he realized when he opened the wrapping tentatively.

Huh. He shouldn't… Lyney hummed as he raised the bar to his nose and took a tentative sniff. Even his slightly heightened sense of smell could detect nothing but the simple scent of nice, dark chocolate.

Fuck it. He was feeling petty and Wriothesley still hadn't shown his face. Lyney broke off the first piece and popped it into his mouth. His shoulders relaxed at the slightly bitter taste when he let the chocolate melt on his tongue. Lyney broke off the second piece as he plopped into Wriothesley’s chair and put his legs onto his desk.

Unfortunately for him, not even a minute later he heard the door open a floor down. Lyney gave the bar of chocolate he’d been decimating piece by delicious piece a sad look when he heard the familiar sound of Wriothesley's heavy boots coming up the stairwell.

“Sorry for making you wait. I had to help Sigewinne with something and it took much longer than expected, or I would have left a– What are you doing?” 

Wriothesley had sounded genuinely apologetic, if a bit tired, up until the point he reached the top of the stairwell and saw the contents of the confiscated box spread out on his desk. And then his glacial eyes settled on Lyney, sitting in his chair, eating chocolate that he clearly hadn't owned before.

“Are you insane?”, Wriothesley said incredulously as he hurried over to him. “That could have been drugged! Give it to me.” Lyney hissed when the older man suddenly stood in front of him and tried to take the chocolate. He leaned away in the chair, turning his body so he could keep Wriothesley away with one foot pressed against his stomach.

“Absolutely not. It tastes fine, thank you very much”, Lyney huffed. “Besides, I wouldn't have gotten bored and started rifling around those things if you didn't keep me waiting for half an hour. Time is precious, you know?”

Wriothesley gave him an unimpressed look, but at least he finally stepped back a little. Only enough to lean against the table unfortunately, but it would do. Lyney popped another piece of chocolate into his mouth, a smug look on his face.

“Yes, time is oh so precious. That’s why you always deign to meet with me in the evening or at night”, Wriothesley said dryly. “I’m sure you’d do the same for so many other people too.”

Lyney scowled at Wriothesley, because he had nothing to say to that except lies. He’d shown up at 6pm on the dot after all. He couldn't say he’d done that for somebody else in the past year. “This here”, he still said and waved between them, “doesn't make you special, just so you know.” Wriothesley gave him a satisfied smirk. “Do tell yourself that, kitten.”

They kept bickering and bantering for a while longer, as always needing five or ten minutes until they could finally ease their talk into business. Lyney turned down Wriothesley's usual offer of tea. Maybe it was the change of weather, but he was for once feeling a little warm even here in the Fortress, and the idea of drinking something hot made him cringe.

He didn't think too much of it at first, even when he went ahead and took off his coat. It was Wriothesley actually that snorted a laugh when Lyney took off his sleeves after - how long? Ten minutes? Fifteen?

“Damn, didn't think you’d ever feel warm down here”, he said in obvious amusement. “You always just end up complaining about the temperature.” Lyney glared at Wriothesley but said nothing to it. He pushed the topic away, at least until a minute or two later, when the heat truly hit him.

There was a little fact he would only realize later on, which is that Lyney had been making it worse for himself this whole time. He’d casually kept eating the chocolate while they’d been talking, and the only good thing about the situation was that he had taken his time with it. He’d only started on the fourth row when he finally started feeling truly uncomfortably hot.

Lyney shifted in his seat slightly. He kept from grimacing, or waving at his face, or showing the discomfort he was feeling in any other obvious way. But he wasn't just simply feeling a little warm any longer. And in any case, Lyney was used to warmth and heat. Thanks to his vision he could easily deal with it, at least if it came from outside.

This heat, though, was coming from within, like a fever, slowly making him start to sweat. And he didn't know how to deal with it, because it was quickly starting to get worse now.

“Hey!” Lyney startled when Wriothesley snapped his fingers in front of his face. “Are you even listening, kitten?”

Lyney opened his mouth to snap at the older man, but instead, for the very first time, a shiver ran down his spine at that pet name and he quickly shut his mouth again.

Oh. Oh no. Oh gods, this couldn't be happening.

Wriothesley was still waiting for an answer, but he mostly looked confused now because of Lyney’s reaction and he couldn't even blame him. “I- I just realized that… I should get going actually”, Lyney pressed out. He put his legs back on the ground and stood hastily, only to belatedly realize just how weak his legs were. His knees buckled pathetically and Lyney had to hold onto the desk so he wouldn't fall.

“Woah, hold up. Are you alright?” The absolute last thing Lyney needed right now was for Wriothesley to show concern, but he did, because the dumbass cared about him on some level. And while that would have been a sweet realization on any other day, it made Lyney want to die from shame now when the other man put his hand on his elbow to support him and all he wanted to do was groan at the touch.

His body reacted viscerally to it, firm as it was, an easy show of strength and care. Lyney felt hot all over, that simple touch sent the blood rushing downwards, and he grew lightheaded from how quickly he got hard from absolutely nothing at all. At least Wriothesley hadn't noticed yet.

“I- I’m fine, let go. I need to- To go home”, he muttered weakly, though it was an obvious lie. He pulled away, but nearly stumbled as he did so. It was Wriothesley's arms that wrapped around him and caught him before he could fall. Lyney truly did groan now at the touch, and Wriothesley luckily misinterpreted the sound. “Yeah, that’s obviously wrong”, the Duke muttered, but he sounded distinctly worried. “What you need is a doctor. Something must have been in that chocolate. Come on, can you walk?”

“No!” Lyney felt horrified at the idea of Wriothesley dragging him all the way up to Sigewinne and her infirmary. At this hour, everyone would be done with their work and most of them would be spending their free time before bed around the Administrative Zone. Countless people would witness his sorry state. Lyney couldn't even keep those pathetic sounds in from one simple touch. “Absolutely not, Wriothesley.”

Lyney attempted to pull away again, but Wriothesley’s hold on him was firm. His brows were furrowed and the worry in his eyes was as clear as day. “Lyney, you're burning up”, he said firmly. “Whatever drug that was is making you overheat. What if it affected your vision? Turning its powers on you or whatever? Sigewinne needs to take a look at you.”

“I-It’s not that”, Lyney said pathetically. He didn't want to explain, but he was feeling worse by the second at this rate. “Fuck, Lyney”, Wriothesley cursed and grabbed his chin with one hand. “Tell me what–” What he thought was happening, or what he needed Wriothesley to do, was what he wanted to say. Except Lyney let out an absolutely whorish moan when he grabbed him so suddenly.

He made a flustered sound just a moment later, but at the same time he suddenly pressed up close against the Duke, and Wriothesley could finally feel just how hard Lyney had gotten when he grinded his hips against his thigh.

Wriothesley opened his mouth to say something, but he was too dumbstruck at first for words to form.

“What’s that thing called that - ah - turns you on?”, Lyney asked softly, his tone a flustered kind of resignation.

“... An aphrodisiac?”

“Yeah, that. Fuck.”

Wriothesley swallowed thickly. Suddenly he could understand why Lyney absolutely didn't seem to want him to bring him to the infirmary. But fuck, he clearly needed help. How much had he eaten of that damn chocolate?

They needed to deal with this. And if Lyney didn’t want to go to Sigewinne, he at the very least had to give him the space to take care of himself in private.

“Fuck, okay. Okay”, Wriothesley finally said. He let out a loaded sigh and ignored the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose, considering the only thing keeping Lyney standing right now was his arms. “You can take care of it in my rooms. Will that do? I won't bother you.”

“That would be… most helpful”, Lyney pressed out, but his voice had nothing of his usual cutting edge. He truly looked weak in that moment, and a little helpless, and Wriothesley could only guess what him witnessing this would do to the other man once he could think clearly again.

“Alright then. Come on, hold on.” Wriothesley carefully picked Lyney up in a bridal carry, and he desperately tried to ignore how the younger man moaned again at the easy show of strength.

Lyney was beyond embarrassment at this point. He couldn't keep the sounds in if he wanted to. He was burning up, his whole body seemed overly sensitive to every single touch, however fleeting. And Wriothesley was here, Wriothesley was carrying him so easily, coaxing a deep groan out of him by simply putting his hand a little too high up his thigh. And Lyney would have never admitted it to himself, let alone to the other man, but Wriothesley happened to be exactly his type and that didn't quite help his situation.

Need and desire cursed through him. It accompanied the heat, and made pleasure verge on the edge of pain the longer Lyney didn't deal with this problem. Wriothesley could have carried him anywhere in this state and Lyney would have been none the wiser. He was too busy clutching at Wriothesley’s coat to keep his hands from palming the aching bulge in his pants.

“Do you want me to leave you here or do you think a shower might help?” Wriothesley's voice sounded distant and muffled and Lyney needed a few seconds before he fully processed the words. “Maybe… a shower… Ah, I feel hot all over. So warm…”

He whimpered when Wriothesley held him a little tighter and kept walking. Lyney blinked his bleary eyes open and briefly took in the bedroom they headed through before they were already in the bathroom.

“Alright, I’m gonna put you down. Can you stand?” The question answered itself when Lyney's legs gave way beneath him as soon as they touched the ground. Wriothesley huffed softly as he watched him clumsily sit down, but Lyney didn't have the energy to glare at him, or to even feel embarrassed. He fumbled with the buckles at his gloves with shaky fingers until he could pull them off.

A moment later he felt Wriothesley's fingers brush over the back of his neck and a violent shiver ran through him. Just like that his concentration had broken again. “I’m gonna help you undress and then I’ll leave you be”, Wriothesley said, having knelt next to him to bring him to the same height. But did Lyney imagine it or was his voice audibly strained? A little deeper than just a moment ago too.

“Okay. Alright”, Lyney whispered because he didn't trust himself enough to speak up. Wriothesley found the zipper at his neck and finally opened his overall, and Lyney moaned when he could finally feel the cool air against his heated skin. He only really managed to take his gloves off on his own, everything else Wriothesley had to help him with.

Lyney would feel embarrassed about that as soon as he was feeling better. But right now he was going crazy as Wriothesley so meticulously and quickly undressed him. The poor man really did his best to not let his touches linger, to be quick and professional about it, but it still made his mind spin. And Lyney might have moaned Wriothesley's name a few times to boot.

The Duke put him into the shower with all the care in the world, and then retreated hastily and finally left Lyney in peace. He could only sit there for a long moment, the cold tiles and the cool water calming him for a few brief seconds. And then the heat took over again.

As soon as Lyney closed his hand around his dick, he cried out again. His hips bucked at that one touch, back arching, his dick so sensitive that it could hardly endure even just a fleeting touch.

Lyney came within a minute of just ghosting his hand across his length in a featherlight touch, because that was all he could handle. The quick climax brought no relief, though. His dick still stood hard and aching, flushed red, twitching even after he’d finished shooting an impressive load that the water at least quickly washed away. Lyney truly was starting to feel worried now, because if anything, he almost felt worse than before.

Maybe he needed something else. Maybe this wasn't enough.

Lyney leaned forward, until he was on his knees, ass in the air, his face pressed against the tiles. He didn't care in that moment that he had no lube to help him as he immediately pushed two fingers into his asshole. He cried out, shaking like a leaf all over for a long moment before he properly started fingering himself.

He felt pathetic, moaning helplessly as he plunged his fingers as deep as he could. His free hand wrapped around his length again, a little more firmly this time, and he worked his dick at the same time as he fingered himself.

It wasn't enough. Even when he added a third finger, even as he found his prostate and started massaging it, making his dick weep pathetically. Lyney came again, just as hard as before, but it washed over him just as quickly and left him just as desperate, if not more so.

Lyney’s mind inadvertently wandered and he thought of Wriothesley. His fingers would fill him so much better. Two of them would probably be enough to make his eyes roll back in his head from the pleasure, three would make him cry out at the stretch. He’d find his prostate with much more ease, would so quickly hook his fingers into it and work it until Lyney’s tired and limp dick could do nothing but dribble a sad release.

He imagined how big his cock would be. Massive probably. It would split him open, Wriothesley would have to carve a space inside of Lyney for himself. He’d mold his walls for his shape alone, would ruin Lyney for sex with anybody else.

His imagination was running wild, and the thought alone was making him salivate. Lyney wished the four fingers he was working himself raw with were enough to replicate what he was yearning for in that moment.

He wondered what kind of lover Wriothesley would be. Careful and considerate, fucking him slow and leisurely but with enough force that he had to hold Lyney in place with a bruising grip? Or would he fuck him mindlessly, quick, sharp thrusts that threatened to rearrange his insides from the force of it, that would leave his hole raw and gaping and maybe bleeding slightly? But fuck, the pain would be worth it.

While Lyney’s mind kept spinning increasingly horny and deranged scenarios, Wriothesley was struggling hard to keep it together. He’d left his bedroom as soon as he heard the first unrestrained moan from Lyney and pointedly closed the door between the bedroom and the living room. But even through two closed doors he could hear the younger man as he slowly came undone just two rooms over.

Wriothesley didn't want to leave fully. It felt wrong to leave the other man completely in such a vulnerable state. What if he passed out in the shower in the end? What if there was another emergency? He had no idea how much the recommended dose of that aphrodisiac chocolate was - what if he’d taken in too much and Lyney was just as likely to have the orgasms of his lifetime as a heart attack?

No, he couldn't leave. But fuck if that decision didn't come biting him in the ass.

Lyney was just about the prettiest man he’d ever seen in his life. He was cute. The sharp tongue just added to how attractive he was to him. Wriothesley loved the whole package, and he wouldn't want to have Lyney any differently. He was glad that their relationship was on the mend, at long last.

He wasn't sure when that attraction had fully blossomed during the past year, he just knew that right now, Wriothesley was painfully hard and aching in his pants as he could hear Lyney making the most exquisite sounds in his bathroom.

Fuck’s sake, he’d seen him naked. He had to help undress him. Lyney had been panting like a dog in heat and moaning his, Wriothesley's name, when he’d pulled off the skintight overall along with his underwear.

Nobody could blame him for how his body reacted to it all.

Most importantly, the last Wriothesley wanted to do was take advantage of Lyney’s vulnerable state. The younger man might not hate him any longer, and he’d certainly warmed up to him in the past year, but he made it clear often enough that he still couldn't stand him. He’d probably refuse to show his face for a month to come out of embarrassment alone once he was back to his senses.

Wriothesley let out a loaded sigh and leaned further back into the pillows on his couch. He pressed his hand against the bulge in his pants, where his dick was straining against the too tight fabric. It didn't bring nearly enough relief, but he refused to touch himself to Lyney’s sounds. Fuck, it was tempting though.

A moment later Lyney screamed his name.

Wriothesley sat up straight immediately. Then he realized that– Oh fuck, Lyney might just be imagining him while he was jerking off and if that didn't make even more blood rush down to his crotch. But then Lyney screamed again, clear as day, “Wriothesley!! Ah, please, please! Help me.”

He got up immediately with a curse and rushed over to the bathroom. The scene that greeted him there made him stop short for a long moment and his dick twitched appreciatively at the sight. Lyney bent over on the shower floor, on his knees, ass facing him, four fingers knuckle deep in his ass.

“P-Please, please, I need help”, Lyney sobbed, and finally Wriothesley realized that the younger man truly sounded distressed now. “Nothing’s helping. I only feel worse, please. Fuck, it- it hurts, Wrio. I feel like I’m dying.”

If he hadn't been hard before, he would have been now. Not that he was enjoying seeing Lyney frantic like this, but… Fuck. His mouth felt dry when Wriothesley finally answered. “Okay. Fuck, okay, I got you, Lyney”, he said and reached over to turn off the water. It had only been lukewarm, but when he finally bent down to gently pick Lyney up, he saw that it had done nothing to cool him down. If anything, the smaller man felt even hotter to the touch than before. He was nearly scalding in his arms when he held him tight, and he sounded even more desperate than before as he walked back over to his bedroom, only briefly stopping to grab a towel. Lyney didn't even have the decency or enough shame left to stop from jerking himself off as he carried him.

Wriothesley didn't bother wasting any time with drying Lyney and merely haphazardly spread the towel on the sheets before he put him down. Lyney spread his legs immediately for him and his free hand snuck down again to go back to fingering himself. He swallowed thickly as he watched it happen and then hastily started undressing himself.

“You’re going to hate me for this tomorrow”, he muttered as he threw his shirt aside and started pulling off his shoes.

“I- I’m going to hate you even more if you waste any more time”, Lyney pressed out. “It actually hurts, Wriothesley. I already - hah - came four times. It didn't help. Nothing’s helping, I’m only making it worse.”

“I’d say I told you so but I think that can wait”, Wriothesley said when he finally pulled his pants and underwear down in one smooth movement. Lyney didn't even manage a weak glare at him. His eyes zeroed in on his dick, already hard and with precum smeared all over the tip. “Fuck, that’s big”, Lyney muttered with wide eyes, clear arousal obvious in them, and his cheeks turned impossibly darker.

Wriothesley huffed a laugh as he quickly grabbed the bottle of lube from deep within the drawer on his nightstand and finally, at long last, settled with Lyney on the bed. He settled between his legs and he groaned when Lyney pulled his hands away from himself and put them on his dick instead. Wriothesley slapped his hands away when Lyney tried to guide his length to his waiting hole though.

“Patience, I’m gonna fill you soon enough”, he muttered as he put a generous amount of lube directly onto his dick and quickly spread it. “I don't care, I need you now”, Lyney sobbed. “Fuck you. Fuck, it hurts. Please, please Wriothesley…”

Wriothesley dick twitched in his hands from the begging alone. He promptly raised his free hand and shut Lyney up by shoving two fingers into his mouth. It worked like a charm. Lyney immediately moaned around them before sucking on them and fuck, if that just wasn't the hottest thing possible. “Hush now, kitten”, Wriothesley mumbled. “I’m gonna push in now, okay? Relax for me.”

Lyney’s pupils were blown so wide in arousal that Wriothesley could hardly make out the sweet lavender of his eyes. Fuck, he looked pretty like this. Lyney nodded in understanding, even if he hardly lost any of the tension that held his body in a tight grip. Wriothesley would just have to make it work.

He guided his dick to Lyney’s asshole, and despite how the younger man had fingered himself before, he knew from the start that it would be a tight fit. It took some effort for the rim to give away, until the tip finally managed to push inside. Lyney’s eyes rolled back immediately and he cried out around his fingers. “Cold”, was all he managed to say, voice muffled, as he arched his back violently off of the bed, clenching down so hard on him that Wriothesley thought he was about to break his dick. Lyney came with an ear splitting moan a moment later, from nothing at all.

Wriothesley groaned deeply as he pulled his hands back to hold Lyney in place at his waist. There was pain lacing the pleasure he felt from how hard Lyney clenched down on him, and how scalding he felt on his dick. He couldn't pull out, couldn't push in further as the orgasm wrecked the other man. And despite the intensity of it, Lyney’s dick was still flushed and rockhard, even if he had nothing more to give after his previous orgasms.

“Still not any better?”, he asked between gritted teeth. Lyney shook his head desperately, but he couldn't get any words out just yet. He’d squeezed his eyes shut, a tear or two attempting to slide down his cheeks, though they immediately dried up on his hot skin. The tension suddenly left Lyney’s body and he went slack beneath him. It allowed Wriothesley to slowly, tentatively push further into him, now that he didn’t seem to hold his dick hostage any longer.

Wriothesley started to sweat, both from the effort it took to hold himself back and keep from snapping his hips into the younger man, and because of the sheer heat that engulfed his length. He felt like he was about to melt, or as if Lyney was very intent on setting them both on fire. It made him wonder whether they should have stayed in the shower after all.

Lyney moaned pathetically when Wriothesley finally bottomed out and stopped in that position. For a long moment they were both just panting, silent otherwise. Lyney was incredibly tight on him, and he wondered whether he always was like this, or whether it was on account of all the tension in him right now.

Wriothesley carefully watched his expression, verging somewhere between pained and blissed out. Lyney looked up at him through heavily lidded, dazed eyes, his mouth slightly agape. He looked perfect. A dream come true.

Ah, what a dangerous thought.

“How do you feel?”, Wriothesley asked hoarsely. “A little better?” He’d been quieter, not shaking any longer, but Lyney still shook his head. “You’re so cold… inside of me”, he mumbled, and then added as if it was just an afterthought. “... Big too. You should need a license to use that thing.”

Wriothesley snorted a laugh and dropped his head to press it against Lyney’s shoulders. Only briefly, while he was still calming down, but surprisingly Lyney wrapped his arms around him a moment later. Loosely, as if he was aware of how hot his body was to the touch and didn't want to risk hurting him even more. Which was hard considering he was balls deep trapped inside of that heat, but it was the thought that mattered.

“Mm. You’re tiny. Didn't think I’d fit”, Wriothesley said quietly. He straightened a little again and finally looked down Lyney’s body. He'd been focused on his face before, to make sure he wasn't hurting him unnecessarily as he pushed in, so he hadn't seen the evidence of their size difference yet.

Wriothesley hummed when he spotted the bulge at Lyney’s lower abdomen. He put one hand over it, let it gently rub over the spot where he could see himself and how deep he sat in the other’s body.

“O-Oh”, Lyney said shakily. His eyes had followed what he was doing, still as dazed before, but aware enough that he clenched down hard on his dick at the sight. They moaned in unison at the pleasure this alone brought and Wriothesley couldn't help but buck into Lyney.

That easily whatever calm had settled over Lyney after his orgasm was gone. It had lasted for barely a minute and now he was babbling and cursing again, fresh tears lining his eyes. “Please, please, finally move, please”, he begged desperately, his fingers digging into Wriothesley's back and pulling him close again.

Wriothesley grunted and he let himself fall forward, let himself cover Lyney’s smaller body completely. He wrapped his arms around him and held him tight, using his vision to make sure that Lyney didn't actually burn him. Or the bed.

“Hush, kitten. I’ll take care of you, I promise”, he whispered into Lyney’s ears, and his dick twitched when the younger man shivered below him at the words. He started tentatively rocking into him, but even that seemed to undo him already. “Relax now, okay? I’ll help you.”

Most of all he wanted to make Lyney feel good, but that wasn't a hard feat. It seemed more like a problem, actually.

Lyney was overly sensitive. He couldn't be certain how the aphrodisiac was working exactly, but one thing was clear - it didn't just turn Lyney on and made him horny, it also seemed to enhance any and all pleasure he was feeling.

Wriothesley was forced to hold back, merely gently thrusting into Lyney in a slow, leisurely pace because anything else sent him screaming. A part of that was surely due to the overstimulation too. He'd come five times already after all, and that didn't help his situation.

Too often he’d fantasized about the pretty magician. What it might be like if they ever progressed their relationship far enough for Lyney to trust him with this. He hadn't expected their first time to go like this, though. And sure, right now it was Wriothesley's name that fell from Lyney’s lips, but come morning he’d regret it.

Maybe that’s why Wriothesley made an effort to reassure him now, to make this good for him even through the pain from all those sensations because of the aphrodisiac. He was making love to him, it was as simple as that. And that's exactly how they ended up coming together - Lyney from his gentle, careful grinding right into his prostate, and Wriothesley because of how tightly Lyney was clenching down on him and how nicely he was massaging his dick with every wave of pleasure that hit him.

As Wriothesley groaned his pleasure, his face buried against Lyney’s neck while his dick spurted his seed, the younger man clung to him almost painfully. The sex had been entirely too gentle for this intense of a reaction from him - he sounded like he was close to sobbing - but at long last, he was finally cooling down beneath him, and his body finally lost most of its tension once they’d both calmed down.

“You okay now?”, Wriothesley asked. That was just about the most gentle sex he’s ever had. He didn't even sound breathless. He propped himself up only enough to look down at the smaller man. It took a moment but Lyney nodded in the end. “Yeah. Fuck. For now at least”, he panted softly and closed his eyes. His face had returned to its usual color at long last. “Coherent thought. How I missed it.”

Wriothesley huffed a laugh and finally slowly pulled out. Lyney winced as he did so, but he didn't try to stop him. “For now, you say? You think it's not over yet?” Lyney seemed to think that over for a moment before he sighed. He opened his eyes again to watch him when Wriothesley settled next to him. “No, it feels… I can't explain it. It feels temporary in a way. I can still…” He sat up carefully and then put his hand on his abdomen and winced again, shook his head at himself. “Archons, I shouldn't have eaten that damned chocolate.”

He valiantly managed to hold back a smirk at that. He wasn't entirely sure Lyney wouldn't cuss him out for it now that he was feeling a little better again.

“Don't worry about it. I’ll help you out.”

Lyney shot him an assessing look. “How selfless of you.”

The sarcasm dripped off of his voice, and Wriothesley couldn't help feeling… perhaps a little annoyed, perhaps a little hurt by it. He knew that Lyney had had no intention of sleeping with him. He knew that Lyney barely wanted to admit to liking him, in a pure friendly, platonic manner. Wriothesley also knew how embarrassed he must feel, with all his defenses down, naked and vulnerable, and it made him put his own hurt aside as he looked at it from that angle.

“That’s what friends do, isn't it? Helping each other out?”, he ventured carefully. “Well, I guess most friends don't have to help deal with the consequences of accidentally consuming a large amount of an aphrodisiac, but you know what I mean.”

Lyney’s shoulders relaxed slightly and his features softened a fraction. “I suppose so. … Thanks.” That last word was said so softly that Wriothesley barely heard it. Soft and tentative, like this thing between them. “Are you usually this gentle in bed?”, Lyney asked curiously after a moment. “You don't seem like the type.”

Wriothesley grinned at that. He couldn't help it. “Oh? Spent some time imagining it, kitten?”

Lyney huffed softly and gave him an unimpressed look. “Let’s just say my mind was going a little wild with the fantasies before I called for your help.”

Said that bluntly, Wriothesley couldn't help but blush. “Fuck, Lyney”, he muttered, a surprised laugh escaping him as he carded his hand through his hair. The magician just smiled at him and nudged his shoulder. “That wasn't an answer.”

Wriothesley just shook his head at it and then sighed. “No, I’m not. Not usually, anyway. I figured if I fucked you any harder than that, the whole Fortress would know what was going on. You were already quite loud.”

Lyney’s cheeks flushed and it was him now that looked away. “Yeah. Yeah, you might be right about that.”

What a weird situation they’d found themself in. Wriothesley didn't mind, not at all. Lyney’s earlier sarcasm had been justified: sleeping with him hardly felt like a chore when he’d been dreaming about it for a while now. But he could tell that Lyney felt awkward. His eyes never lingered on him whenever he did look at him, and he’d pulled up his legs as if to cover up a little.

Wriothesley hummed and sat up after a moment. “Want me to get you some water?”, he asked. Lyney’s eyes darted to him, as if he was surprised that he might show enough care to ask. “Yeah, I… That would be nice”, he stammered briefly. Definitely feeling awkward, that was for sure.

He made no big deal out of it. Wriothesley got up and fetched a glass of water, as well as a wet washcloth for Lyney to clean up a little, though he doubted it would be worth it should he really start feeling worse again. They quietly talked for a little, sitting next to each other on the bed, their legs brushing occasionally. It was almost peaceful. Lyney even relaxed a little again, at least until he started suddenly growing hot again after a few minutes.

He hissed softly and squeezed his eyes shut, the heat enveloping him once more immediately making him uncomfortable again. Lyney rubbed over his face and Wriothesley watched it happen before moving closer.

One moment Lyney had been talking almost casually with Wriothesley, then he’d felt the encroaching heat and the slow burn of his arousal coming back to life, and then he felt cool lips against his own.

He opened his eyes wide, a strangled sound leaving him as he put his hands on Wriothesley's shoulders. He didn't push him away, though. Didn't pull him close either for that matter. But Wriothesley kept kissing him tenderly, the slow press off his surprisingly plump, cool lips against his own pleasant in a way Lyney hadn't expected. And when he teasingly nipped at Lyney's lower lip and a slight shiver ran down his spine, he finally kissed him back.

The kiss was slow and sensual in a way they probably shouldn't be with each other. Wriothesley was a good kisser, knowing how to turn Lyney on with nothing more than his lips and his clever tongue. He was long hard by the time Wriothesley gently pushed him back into the mattress again, and he let it happen without a fight.

Lyney could tell that the effects of the aphrodisiac didn't grip him as tightly as they had before. He was definitely more sensitive still, way too horny considering all those orgasms he already had under his belt - Five? Six? He’d lost count - but he was more clear headed now. The arousal didn't leave him aching and distressed and desperate for a way to deal with it.

It meant that Lyney was actually more receptive to what Wriothesley was doing to him this time around. How he kept kissing him, ever more urgently, how his hands moved all over his body and finally explored him properly. His cool touch was a pleasant relief from the heat. He moaned heartily when Wriothesley worked his chest, arching his back when he tightly gripped his waist, legs shaking slightly when he moved his hands down to his crotch.

Wriothesley pulled away from his lips as he wrapped one hand around his dick. He stayed close, though, right pressed up against him. He put his free arm around him and held him close as he started slowly jerking him off, watching him intently the whole while as the pleasure made Lyney see stars.

He doubted he would have managed to get hard again under normal circumstances. Lyney wanted to blame it on the aphrodisiac, rather than Wriothesley's doing. Though the way Wriothesley's hand nearly fully covered his dick and how he stroked him expertly with a tight grip didn't really give many other options.

It felt perfect, the way he held him tight. Lyney felt safe and wanted in a way that was utterly foreign. Wriothesley held him, watching his pleasure stricken face as if he needed nothing else to get off, and he might not if the way he pressed his crotch against Lyney’s thigh was any indication. He was hard again, but he didn't hump against him for his own pleasure. 

Lyney groaned, throwing his head back when Wriothesley gave a particularly delightful twist of his hand to his sensitive tip. It sent electricity running up his spine and made him clench his hands, one tightly holding on to the towel he laid on and the other burying into the hair at the back of Wriothesley's neck.

“Wrio. Feels good”, he mumbled softly between small moans. “But… Ah, I need more.” Wriothesley hummed right next to his ear and pressed a kiss to the shell of it. It made Lyney’s eyes flutter shut and he tensed all over in pleasure. “You feel fine?”, Wriothesley asked quietly. “You sound like you're doing better than before.”

Lyney nodded after a moment. “Yeah. Yeah, a bit better”, he said softly. He opened his eyes again to find Wriothesley watching him. He leaned in after a moment to kiss him, and a moment later pulled his hand away from his dick.

He wanted to whine at the loss of contact, but Wriothesley shifted next to him, gently nudged his legs apart before settling between them again. It made Lyney spread them wide immediately and eagerly, and Wriothesley laughed quietly at whatever expression he saw on his face when he pulled away from his lips.

Instead of pushing back in like Lyney had expected, Wriothesley leaned down and pressed a kiss onto his neck. Then onto his throat. Lyney moaned helplessly when he felt the teasing grace of Wriothesley's teeth against the sensitive skin.

“You like that?”, Wriothesley asked lowly, and the deep rumble of his voice made his dick twitch. Lyney made a small sound of affirmation, and a moment later Wriothesley moved on to the other side of his neck and tentatively bit down right there, at the crook of his neck. Lyney jerked beneath him, the moan he let out loud and shaky and full of pleasure even to his own ears.

Later on, once he was at home and feeling sane again, he’d stand naked in front of the floor length mirror in his room and frown at every single hickey and bitemark Wriothesley left behind after that first test. All of them had been placed with care, easily hidden behind his clothes, even the more revealing ones. Wriothesley had marked him as his, but only for the two of them to see, if he so desired. It would make him huff in irritation, mixed with a fondness he shouldn't be feeling.

Right now, he just enjoyed the possessive way Wriothesley was claiming him. His back arched slightly every time the older man bit him and marked him as he slowly made his way down his body. The whole journey left him almost more on edge than the previous handjob had, and when Wriothesley finally laid fully down between his legs and pressed a few open-mouthed kisses to his dick, he thought he was going to come from that alone.

Lyney’s breath hitched when Wriothesley properly wrapped his mouth around his tip and slowly slid down the length of his dick. He took him fully into his mouth with the same ease with which he’d nearly completely wrapped his hand around it before, and it made his head spin.

“Fuck”, Lyney breathed. He buried shaky hands in Wriothesley's hair, holding him close but not restricting his movement. He wondered whether Wriothesley's mouth always felt this cool, or whether it was the aphrodisiac that made him run too hot in comparison. It was a weird sensation, but one he clearly didn't mind considering how easily his hips bucked up into the Duke’s mouth.

Wriothesley gazed up at him through lidded eyes, even if his nose was brushing against Lyney’s abdomen. He pressed his tongue up against the bottom of his dick, he sucked in his cheeks and then slowly pulled off, and it all felt so fucking good that all he could do was arch his back into it.

Wriothesley started slowly, steadily moving his head, as if he knew that Lyney was still incredibly sensitive all over. But it was so good, it felt so amazing, that Lyney felt close yet again. Just from this gentle blowjob, within a handful of minutes. How embarrassing.

“Wriothesley, I- If you keep going…” Lyney shook his head, as if to try and clear his mind, but all the pleasure he was feeling made it incredibly hard. “Please, I… I want you, please–”

Had Lyney been paying attention, hadn’t he been so focused on holding on, he would have seen how Wriothesley's eyes widened. He slowly pulled off of his length with a slick pop and gazed up at the younger man for a moment.

“Do you now?”, Wriothesley asked darkly. Lyney realized a moment too late just what he’d said - but did it matter? Right now he wanted the other man more than anything, and that simply was something he had to forget again come morning.

So Lyney nodded quickly, and a moment later Wriothesley's lips crashed against his own. The Duke swallowed the surprised moan he let out, he licked into his mouth and sucked at his tongue as if he wanted to claim it for himself too. The kiss was short, but so intense, and it left Lyney reeling when Wriothesley suddenly pulled away again and flipped him onto his stomach.

He couldn't find the energy to complain about the other man moving him as he pleased. It felt too good, the way Wriothesley pressed him down hard with one hand at his back. Lyney shivered before reaching back and spreading his cheeks for him, and a moment later he already felt his dick nudging against his rim again.

When Wriothesley pushed into him this time, it was anything but slow like before. He was still careful, made sure not to hurt him, but he bottomed out in one smooth, quick slide of his hips. At least he only felt cool inside of him now, rather than icy cold like before. Lyney still cried out at being filled so quickly again. He needed to hold onto something, anything , because he realized that Wriothesley was done holding back. He didn't get the chance, not when Wriothesley grabbed his hands and held them together at the wrists with one hand, the other still keeping him in place and pinning him down.

Lyney could do nothing but cry out and take it when Wriothesley pulled at his arms, as if wanting to pull him further back on his dick like this, making him take even more. He felt so ridiculously full in this position, and he knew that the pressure against his prostate made his dick weep into the towel below him.

“You feel so fucking good”, Wriothesley groaned deeply, and the low rumble of his voice made Lyney gasp. Wriothesley cursed behind him, stopping the way he’d been grinding into him ever so slightly as if to simply enjoy how Lyney was clenching down on him.

Suddenly he leaned forward, pressing down even harder on him, and a moment later Lyney felt his lips press against the back of his neck. “Fuck, such a good boy. Does my kitten like that? Does he like it when I praise him?” Lyney whimpered softly, shivering all over, especially when Wriothesley bit down on his neck a moment later. He managed no answer, at least not a verbal one. Perhaps the way he whimpered softly before he went lax, the way all resistance left him at once as Wriothesley kept biting him by the scruff was answer enough. Being bitten there, mixed with the instinctive knowledge that he was safe and in good hands made Lyney truly relax for the first time that night.

Wriothesley started moving like this. Still biting him, showing himself to be more like the wolf than the man, and Lyney was his willing victim. Wriothesley's movements were slow and deliberate at first - slowly pulling out and pushing back in to the hilt, grinding deeper into him, threatening to rearrange his guts with it. Lyney was dizzy thinking about how full he was, how deeply he felt Wriothesley filling him, knowing nobody else had ever done the same, and knowing that nobody would ever come close to it again.

Lyney moaned softly when Wriothesley let go of his neck and pressed a soft kiss onto the spot instead. He was sure there would be a prominent bitemark now. He didn't truly mind.

“Say, do you like it rough?”, Wriothesley asked, and huffed a small laugh at how quickly and eagerly Lyney nodded in response. “Good. Hold on tight, kitten.”

Now, that was mean, considering Wriothesley was still holding his arms in place. Nothing much to hold onto like this. And he really would have loved to hold onto something, anything at all, when Wriothesley slowly pulled out of him, and then suddenly snapped his hips forward, forcing his dick back into him.

Lyney cried out, back arching however much it could, but there was no use. No amount of scrambling could prepare him or even make him evade what Wriothesley was unleashing on him now. He felt himself grow hot again, and he didn't know if it was burning arousal in his veins or the aphrodisiac, but the sudden heat made Wriothesley groan behind him as he moved.

“Wrio, please!!”, he cried out desperately, though Lyney wasn't sure what he was even pleading for. For Wriothesley to slow down? To pick up the pace? To go a little easier on him, or to just finally make him come again? Maybe a bit of all of that.

“I got you. You're taking me so well, sweetheart”, Wriothesley pressed out between his own harsh panting. He finally let go of his hands, but only to move them into a different position. He pressed them down to either side of his head, palming them in his own hands. Wriothesley still kept them where they were, but he interlaced their fingers now, and that simple gesture had tears springing into his eyes.

Lyney pushed back against Wriothesley's incessant thrusting. He tried to meet every push, groaning when it made the sound of their skin slapping against each other even louder. His nerve ends felt like they were on fire with how deep Wriothesley managed to push into him.

It was then, when Lyney angled his hips just right, that Wriothesley hit his prostate head on. He hadn't been trying to aim for it before, as if he knew that Lyney might very well just die from it considering how sensitive he was and how harshly Wriothesley was fucking into him. It certainly felt that way now. Lyney screamed, jerking forward, away, trying to escape the intensity of it. Wriothesley just laughed darkly behind him and did it again, thrusting into him the same way, deliberately searching for his prostate now.

He’d been bent over him before, but he laid down more fully on top of him again, as if to keep Lyney from trying to escape the pleasure. “Please”, Lyney sobbed again. “You’re gonna - ah! - make me come like this.”

Wriothesley laughed again at that, but this time it didn't sound dark like before. Now he sounded like he was laughing about a joke that Lyney hadn't quite understood.

“Sweetheart, do you think I could keep going for long when you're this hot and feel this good?”

If Lyney’s mind hadn't been spinning, if Wriothesley didn't make him feel this fucking good, he might have teased him for it. Lyney couldn't quite help it if he came early - Wriothesley didn't give him much of a choice in that matter with how he was ruthlessly pounding into him. But the notion of Wriothesley barely keeping it together himself because Lyney was supposedly this hot was funny. And he'd definitely push that thought far, far away even once he was feeling better again.

Lyney didn't hold on much longer in the end. Even with his prostate slowly growing numb after Wriothesley kept working it so thoroughly, the pleasure still kept building. He could barely feel his legs, his thighs and ass were tingling from the constant impact of Wriothesley pounding against him, his whole body was tense all over as he clenched and unclenched and clenched again on Wriothesley's dick. It was too good, and utterly too much, and he couldn't have held on longer even if he wanted to. He came with a guttural cry, nearly choking on the sound he let out as Wriothesley kept pounding past his protesting walls for just a moment longer.

For a few long seconds all Lyney could see was white, even with his eyes squeezed shut as his orgasm washed over him. All he could hear was the blood rushing in his ears. He felt Wriothesley give a few stuttering thrusts that sent white-hot overstimulation shooting up his spine, before he stopped moving, balls deep, and came too.

Lyney barely heard the delicious groan Wriothesley let out when he came over the ringing of his ears, but he heard enough. And in any case, the way Wriothesley tightly held his hand and how he nearly collapsed on top of him showed well enough that his climax was quite strong too.

For the first time since he’d eaten that damn chocolate, Lyney felt mostly fine again. No more heat, no more raging need that demanded to be addressed. If he felt exhausted now, that was just because of the sex itself, and he couldn't begin to feel cold like at the start of this from Wriothesley being inside and close to him, when he’d warmed up plenty and built up a sweat by now as well.

Gradually Lyney’s ears stopped ringing and his vision turned back to normal. Wriothesley rested right there on top of him, burying him beneath him, and it didn't bother him as much as it should.

“How do you feel? Finally over?”, Wriothesley asked after a while. Lyney hummed and nodded. “Yeah. I just feel… thoroughly fucked.” Wriothesley laughed softly and pressed an apologetic kiss to the back of his neck, that had goosebumps forming on Lyney's arms.

“I’m sorry. The first round was a lot easier on you, wasn't it?”

“Yeah, but I don't mind. I like rough sex.”

And Lyney shouldn't be telling Wriothesley this at all, but here they were. The lines between them had blurred badly, and he didn't quite know yet how to deal with it. All of it was his own fault to boot.

“You’ll never let me live this down, will you?”, Lyney asked with a soft sigh. He turned his head to one side, and there Wriothesley was, watching him from up close. It was kind of funny how easily he covered his whole body - how it was easier for him to rest his head on the blankets and the towel rather than his shoulder or the like.

“Probably not”, Wriothesley said in a chipper tone that Lyney decided didn't suit him at all. “You’ll never be looking at chocolate the same way again I’m afraid.”

Lyney groaned and turned his head to the other side again and he pointedly ignored Wriothesley's laugh. “Finally pull out, you big oaf. Archons above.” Wriothesley didn't pull out. Wriothesley wrapped his arms tightly around him and then suddenly sat up on his knees, pulling Lyney right alone with the movement.

He gasped in surprise and pleasure both when he came to sit in Wriothesley's lap and he pressed snuggly up into him and against his already abused prostate. “And what is this for?”, he asked, but his voice didn't sound nearly as unaffected as he wanted it to.

“I wanted to see it one last time.” See what? , Lyney wanted to ask in annoyance, but a moment later he felt Wriothesley's hand cover his stomach and gently rub over it.

He blushed when he looked down, when Wriothesley braced his head on his shoulder too and did the same. The older man made a satisfied little sound when he saw the bulge he produced, right there, for both of them to see. Lyney raised a shaky hand and Wriothesley let him cover the spot, the unfamiliar swell below his navel. He shivered when Wriothesley's hand covered his own and pressed down.

Arousal filled his veins again, and this time it had nothing to do with the aphrodisiac and everything to do with Wriothesley and Lyney and this. It wasn't a raging inferno like before, more like a smoldering flame, steadily growing again. Lyney was only glad that his soft dick didn't stir at the sight. And now that he thought about it, Wriothesley hadn't gone fully soft this whole time. He remained half hard inside of him, even twitching occasionally, though Lyney had chalked it up to the intense orgasm before.

“How does it feel?”, Wriothesley asked softly, a near whisper directly into his ear. He still seemed fascinated by the sight of his stomach. “Full”, Lyney said a little shakily. “I feel… so… full.”

A shiver ran down his spine when Wriothesley’s dick twitched again. Fuck. Fuck, they shouldn't be doing this, though. He could make excuses left and right for what had happened before. But he couldn't make excuses for this. He couldn't justify fucking Wriothesley again now that he was feeling better. And in all honesty, he was so tired. The only thing keeping him seated right now was Wriothesley's arm around his waist.

“I also feel sore all over so if you could kindly stop groping me and finally pull out again, that would be great.”

Lyney had meant his voice to be cutting, but he didn't quite manage. He heard it immediately, and so did Wriothesley, and fuck, fuck that. He couldn't deal with it. He made a frustrated sound as he finally hastily pulled his hand away and he moved onto his knees with some difficulty.

Wriothesley slipped out with the movement as he moved away, the seed he’d kept bottled up inside with his dick steadily rushing out now, and Lyney felt ridiculously empty immediately. He was right about his assessment of nothing but Wriothesley holding him up at least. Lyney managed to put some weight on his arms for a few seconds before they gave way beneath him. He crashed into the mattress with a soft grunt.

Lyney truly considered throttling Wriothesley when he barely managed to conceal a laugh as a cough. “Okay, okay, I get it. How about I help you into the shower and then you can sleep here? Clearly you have no strength left to head back home today, unless you want me to carry you. I’ll take the couch.”

He watched the older man suspiciously when he helped him sit up again. Wriothesley was grinning at him, but it didn't fully reach his eyes in a way that Lyney couldn't interpret. It seemed ridiculous of the man to offer not staying in the bed together. He’d expected some taunts and teasing along the lines of “Oh kitten, afraid of cuddling a little during the night after the sex we had?” or “What, you won't be able to keep your hands to yourself?” It only made Lyney scowl harder now.

Wriothesley saw it and his expression sobered, no longer bothering with the grin. “You feel uncomfortable and I get it. Not gonna push myself on you just because we had sex once. Or twice, I guess.”

There was some hidden meaning to those words that Lyney couldn't read. Wriothesley was hinting at something, drawing on memories or maybe the fact he expected Lyney to be familiar enough with the notion of being used like that.

Now Lyney just felt shitty for expecting the worst of him when he’d helped him. He sighed and wiped over his face once. “Yeah, I… sorry”, he mumbled. “I might need your help with showering, though.”

Wriothesley huffed, but at least the hint of a smile was tugging at his lips again. “Anything else I should help you with today since we’re clearly on a roll already?” Lyney gave the other man the driest look he could manage and said nothing to that. Wriothesley still laughed. He wrapped his arms tightly around him to pick him up as he got out of bed and then headed over to the bathroom.

Useless as his legs were, Lyney didn't protest when Wriothesley joined him in the shower. Wriothesley held him up while he did his best to quickly wash himself. And to ignore the Duke’s hot gaze on him.

“Pervert”, Lyney finally snapped, sounding truly like he’d had just about enough with him after ensuring it for a few minutes. “Stop ogling me.”

“Oh, but what you’re doing is truly fascinating. Even if it looks like a futile effort.”

Wriothesley couldn't help sounding just a little smug. Lyney’s cheeks were flushed a beautiful red as he scowled up at him. It had been admittedly cute to see him try to get his seed out, hissing softly as he pushed his fingers into himself to do the job. Lyney had been facing away from him before, but for this he’d turned around again, as if it would actually keep him from seeing what he was doing. Wriothesley didn't feel remotely bad about filling him up when he'd been asking for it.

“You’re insufferable”, Lyney grumbled and looked away. He tried to pull away, too, but Wriothesley refused to let go of his slim waist where he was holding him up. With how his knees had been buckling ever so slightly the whole time as they stood under the hot spray of the shower, Lyney would probably fall down as soon as he let go of him.

“Look at me”, Wriothesley said softly. Lyney’s eyes darted back to him, as if surprised by the tender tone of his voice, or those words in particular. He heard Lyney’s breath hitch audibly when he leaned down and brushed their noses together slightly. “Can I kiss you?”, he asked quietly.

Lyney’s eyes widened. He looked at him with something akin to shock, and Wriothesley understood. He truly did. The sex they’d had ultimately didn't mean anything.

They’d grown closer in the past year, following the prophecy. Slowly making up for all the shit that had happened even before that. But this thing between them, whatever it was, had been so fucking sensitive for the longest time. One wrong word, one mistimed push forward for more and it felt like they immediately took ten steps back again. Lyney in particular was always ready to think the worst of him again whenever that happened, any positive experience together quickly sullied again.

So Wriothesley knew that Lyney hadn't called out his name in the throes of pleasure because he wanted him, but because it had been a sheer necessity. Whatever the aphrodisiac had been doing to him hadn't been something he could deal with on his own, and Wriothesley had been the only one around. Of course he'd called out for him.

Wriothesley accepted and lived with the animosity and the distrust, because he had plenty of experience with that last one in particular. He understood. And yet he wanted Lyney, and asking to kiss him now was just making it more obvious than he ever had before, and maybe Lyney finally understood. Because he looked up at him with those pretty lavender eyes, all wide as he finally saw shock turn to a tentative understanding.

He didn't answer, though. Lyney watched him from up close for a few too long seconds. And then he raised his arms and tentatively wrapped them around his waist. He stretched a little upwards, to meet Wriothesley halfway and finally connect their lips.

Wriothesley wasn't sure why it surprised him. A curious warmth spread in his chest and he let his eyes flutter shut. He pulled Lyney close up against him as he properly kissed him back, lazily moving his lips against Lyney’s. Knowing that the younger man was fully coherent now, no aphrodisiac tainting what they were doing, made it ten times better.

Neither of them tried to turn this into something more heated again. They kissed, they held each other, skin against skin, and that alone was amazing enough. They were both out of breath when they finally parted again, and Wriothesley wasn't sure he could fully keep the surprise and sense of wonder out of his eyes as he looked down at the magician.

“So you can put your mouth to some good use after all”, Lyney said lightly, a mischievous look in his eyes. “Aside from teasing and flirting.” Wriothesley figured those words were part of some kind of mask - or he at least hoped that was the case. To take the significance out of the kiss, or to hide his vulnerabilities or something like that, and that wasn't at all what Wriothesley wanted.

He hummed and grinned down at Lyney. “Oh, I can do a great many things with my mouth if that’s what you desire. In case my earlier demonstrations weren't enough.”

Lyney’s cheeks darkened slightly, but he didn't look away. Didn't bite his lip, or shifted, or showed any kind of hesitation. He looked up at him and softly said, “Maybe you should.”

Wriothesley’s grin softened when a tentative kind of hope filled him at those words. “Maybe I will.”

And it wasn't a big promise or a show of affection, it wasn't sweet words of love or anything of the sorts. But when Wriothesley leaned down and carefully kissed Lyney again, Lyney pulled him close and didn't let him pull away again anytime soon. And maybe that’s all that mattered.