096 » ever since the start i saw the end

[ironwind]

[By now, the Qixing have surely reclaimed the Golden House — but oddly enough, they still haven't done anything with it. Normal activities have yet to resume, perhaps because they can't continue to produce coins without the power of the Geo Archon. The mint stands empty and abandoned, its golden riches untouched; as such, it's the perfect place for Aether and Childe to rendezvous for their weekly rematches, given that no one notices the sheer amount of destruction going on inside its depths.

(After hearing that Aether was going to meet Childe at the Golden House, Paimon had sighed and rolled her eyes, flitting off towards the nearest rooftop. "Oh, you two are going to do some kind of weird mountain man training in there, aren't you?" she'd asked. "Paimon doesn't really like dodging explosions, so Paimon will just stay in Liyue and ask people about a route to Inazuma. Think of it as re... recon... reconnaiss.. research! Come back and find Paimon later!")

In any case, by the time the dust settles and Childe's Foul Legacy Transformation has melted away, the Harbinger is lying on his side and Aether is still standing. Shaken, of course, and not without injuries of his own, but he's still standing.

Breathing heavily, the traveler walks over to Childe as he lies on the floor, using his foot to push Childe a little roughly onto his back. Still standing over the Harbinger — nothing like haughtiness or smug satisfaction on his face, just an infinite, calculated calm — Aether then plants his heel into Childe's chest, gold eyes burning as he holds the tip of his sword against Childe's neck.]

...You've gotten faster. [The remark is half-whispered as Aether struggles to catch his breath.] But I've gotten stronger.

[His eyes lid just slightly as he looks coldly down at Childe.]

How does it feel?

Comments

[ironwind]

[The sort of fantasy that Childe is describing must not be entirely unappealing — Aether's cheeks are warm while they kiss, and when they pull apart, he's pink-cheeked in a way that he wasn't when he had the Harbinger's cock in his mouth. He hates this side of Childe, though, he really does!]

...You wouldn't do that sort of thing anyway.

[Not a denial, then?

He feels those fingers toying with the hem of his pants, but Aether's so annoyed that he's not willing to give Childe the satisfaction of taking them off. Never mind, he thinks; telling him something like this was pointless from the start, and now he's not going to feel victorious until he has Childe speechless and moaning and begging underneath him again. It was stupid to even say it —

Pulling himself out of Childe's reach, Aether fishes a small bottle of Pyro-attuned oil out of his pockets and sets it down near Childe's shoulder (he'd made it for legitimate adventuring purposes, but the alchemist at the crafting station had given him a look and said something like some people become more... passionate when they use that, you know, and then he'd had to reconsider giving it to Diluc); then, rising to his feet, he stands, kicking himself out of his boots at last, pulling the voluminous fabric of his pants from his legs. His pants are so loose-fitting that it wasn't quite possible to see that he was hard before; now, clad in just his black underwear, Aether can't exactly hide that he's more than a little interested in what's going to follow after.

Sighing, he falls to his knees again, gathering his pants into something of a ball — the fabric is soft and thick enough that it isn't terribly difficult to conceal the hard bits and belts — that will make a makeshift cushion for Childe, as long as they're just going to do this... on the floor of the Golden House. Hm. He suddenly hopes that Ningguang doesn't know about this, but she probably does.]

Here, lift your head.

[Never let it be said that he doesn't care for the comfort of the man he's planning to turn into a sex-drunk mess.]

[foul_legacy]

[He can tell the shift in Aether and he isn't sure what to make of it, that maybe he was being vulnerable before, said something that he shouldn't, and Childe went and ruined it. It doesn't bother him - he doesn't really feel guilty about it, but it is curious. This is what Childe wants: the bruises and blood from their fight still searing into his skin as they ravage one another like animals on the floor of their battlefield.

He'd never entertained the thought of the other kind of romance, something more boring and slow, something sweet and gentle, like what they write about in fairy tales. Childe has spent a lifetime hardened by snow and ice, singed by fire from the battlefield, haunted by the Abyss - there's no room for anything gentle anymore.

Except... except maybe there is, because Aether is delicately sliding his folded-up pants under his head and the gesture takes him by surprise. Childe blinks for a moment before allowing it, resting back and offering his companion a small nod of thanks.]

You're the sweet one, [he observes, reaching downward to slide his pants off of his knees from where Aether had only briefly undone them to get at his cock earlier.]

Too sweet for me. I don't deserve that sort of thing from you.

[He doesn't say it out of self pity and his tone never changes from lighthearted and teasing. It's just a statement of fact. He's done nothing to earn Aether's trust after betraying him and he knows just the kind of person that makes him - and yet, Aether is still here, offering him pillows, kissing him so sweetly... a man could fall in love, if he wasn't careful.]

[ironwind]

Shut up.

[Is he... angry? There's certainly something dark and sulky in Aether's voice as he climbs on top of Childe again, straddling his newly bared thighs, though he doesn't seem mad so much as just irritated. The strands of hair that have come loose from his braid are bothering him; without much conscious thought about it, the traveler pulls his hair tie loose, shaking out his golden halo of long blond hair so that he looks resplendent as a god as he looks down at Childe.]

I don't want to hear another word out of you unless you're begging me to let you come.

[And on that note... seeing as Childe was more than happy to nibble and nip earlier, Aether doesn't see any reason he should feel bad about the way he abruptly puts two fingers inside of Childe's teasing mouth, rubbing them suggestively against the Harbinger's wet tongue to get them slick and wet.]

Suck.

[foul_legacy]

[As ways to shut up Childe go, this is a pretty good one.

He gags for a moment, eyes wide and caught by surprise by the sudden intrusion of fingers in his mouth, hooking over his teeth as if he were a prize dog for breeding. He doesn't bite - he's too good for that, but he thinks about it, just to prove to Aether that he's still sharp, even with all of the soft parts of him exposed like this.

But he doesn't. Aether won, this was their agreement. Besides, it isn't like he dislikes it. Aether's fingers taste like dust and sweat, folded into his hands from the hilt of his sword. Childe opens his mouth to them and as he relaxes, he lifts his eyes up toward the other man's again, his tongue working instinctively over the skin.

Aether says suck, but what Childe really thinks he means is get my fingers wet, and he does just that. His tongue lolls out, sliding between the digits as he takes them further into his mouth, closing his lips around the base of his fingers. Like this, he can feel Aether in the back of his throat and his eyes flutter for a moment as he adjusts, sucking delicately so as not to overwhelm himself.

Never let it be said that Childe does not put everything he has into the task at hand - with this, he gives it as good as he's got and then some. He listens, he obeys, and if his fingers slide around Aether's wrist to feel his pulse and hold his hand right there... well, who can blame him?]

[ironwind]

[Doing this was only supposed to be a means to an end, but the inside of Childe's mouth is hot and wet as the maw of a beast, and Aether can't help but find a perverse joy in the slick writhing warmth of the Harbinger's tongue against his fingers. Slipping and sliding between his sensitive fingers, making him think increasingly filthy thoughts... next time — will there be a next time?]

...You're good at this. Next time, I should make you suck something else.

[Leaning forward just slightly, Aether presses a kiss to the fingers Childe has wrapped around his wrist, then pulls his hand back. His fingertips glisten with Childe's saliva, glossy and promising.

When did he grab the bottle of oil he left lying on the floor? With his clean hand, Aether casually undoes the stopper and pours some of the warm liquid onto his wet fingers. Cutting some of the thick oil with Childe's saliva makes it slightly less viscous, and with a sigh he tips his hips backward once more, such that his hard cock is pressed against Childe's once again. He leans forward, catches the Harbinger's lips with his own, his arm reaches backwards, slides inward, fingering himself loose, kisses Childe harder —

Oh, could it be that he just doesn't want Childe to see?]

[foul_legacy]

[He lets out a small murmur of acknowledgement at that - not inherently opposed to the idea. After all, Aether had done it to him, why not reciprocate? Childe has no qualms about putting his mouth on him, not after they've done this, not when Aether is pulling his fingers back and looking at him like that.

The kiss is welcome and Childe returns it with teeth, biting at Aether's mouth, pressing his tongue insistently against Aether's own. He rises up from the ground there, eager for more touch, more connection. The knowledge of just what Aether is doing licks through him like a flame and Childe slides a hand between them both to wrap his fingers around their cocks, keep them pressed together.

Despite his youth, he hadn't really considered the possibility of getting off twice in such a short span of time - and yet here he is, firming underneath his fingers as he strokes them both off with a rigid grip. It's the kissing, the touch pressed against him, it's Aether shifting just slightly when he adds another finger and Childe finds himself hard again just at the thought of it.]

You're really gonna be the death of me, you know.

[It's lighthearted between kisses but Childe is already breathless with it, squirming under Aether's hips.]

[ironwind]

[Oh, Aether likes this — Childe breathless and squirming underneath him, biting and tonguing all over, impatient and eager for more. Why didn't they do this sooner? Their battles are always like foreplay, the way Childe always promises to be gentle, taunts Aether with things like Something else catch your eye? as if he knows full well that despite his stoic face the traveler's been guilty once or twice of staring at the exposed slip of skin beneath Childe's jacket, the firm curve of his ass in his Foul Legacy transformation, the strangely attractive heels of his armored boots —

Patience, he chides himself. He'll have everything he's wanted soon enough. Humming faintly, he lets Childe's tongue slide against his own, parting for breath in due time.]

Mmm... Why? Can't keep up?

[Maybe Aether is being just the tiniest bit manipulative, given that he knows full well that nothing excites Childe like throwing an element of competition into the proceedings... but he's desperately hoping that the Harbinger doesn't notice that he's dangerously on the edge of losing control of the situation.

He's worked two fingers into his tight hole and he's steadily working himself loose, but his movements falter every time Childe strokes him just right and he has to hold back the moan threatening to spill over his lips. The fact that he can feel Childe's cock pressed against his own makes everything just that much better, and the warm oil seeping into his skin seems to feed a fire in his core, a burning desire to be filled and sated and pleased.]

I thought you liked pushing your body to its limits.

[foul_legacy]

[It's probably bad, how easily Aether gets under his skin. Childe should probably be concerned - he should understand that he's being manipulated and flip the two of them over and just take what he wants... but he can't. He knows, somehow, that if he gets too impatient, if he pushes too hard and forces Aether back down against him, it'll be another sign of his desperation, and while he hasn't exactly done a great job of seeming aloof so far, he doesn't want to throw their game entirely.

Maybe it's an odd thing to fixate on, but Childe is competitive to the last and there's no reason he can't treat sex the same as he treats a battlefield. He groans, his fingers tightening around them both for a short stroke before rubbing his palm over the tips of their cocks, slicking his hand with their excitement to ease further strokes.]

Mm. I could fuck you all day, [he says, barely managing to keep his tone even, teasing to the last.]

Don't think that I wouldn't. Another day, when I'm at my best...

[He has to stop and gasp, his breath letting out in a shaky moan, which kind of ruins the effect, but he wants, gods, he wants -]

...I'd eat you alive.

[It's a promise, breathless and with every bit of the desperation that he'd been trying to keep under wraps. Childe growls and reaches up his free hand, fisting it in Aether's beautiful hair so that he can yank his head to the side and latch his teeth over his throat, as if demonstrating just how he'd do it.]

[ironwind]

[Aether can't go on playing it cool, himself — he doesn't manage to suppress a strained moan of his own as his consciousness sinks gratefully into the bite, into the heat and the pain and the pleasure of it. Now they've both marked each other, and Aether isn't entirely sure what he's going to do about it; it won't be hard for him to wear his scarf wrapped around his neck for a while, but then there's the thought, the tantalizing fantasy. What if he lets everyone know what the hero of Mondstadt and the savior of Liyue really gets up to in his spare time...?

...It's best that he doesn't, of course, but still — what a tempting thing to do. In another world, perhaps...]

Is that a promise?

[Murmuring darkly into Childe's ear, Aether's fingers caress the Harbinger's rusty red locks for a moment before they seize tight and the traveler grinds his hips against Childe's, growing slowly more unhinged with desire. The memory of the Harbinger's palm gliding over his cock is making him weak in the knees — he could have come from that alone if he weren't so desperately holding out — and Childe's growl seems to echo in Aether's ears as he sinks even deeper into the need that is driving them both to fuck like animals on the floor of Liyue's national mint.]

Because I could take you up on it, Tartaglia...

[He stretches it out a little, half-whispered and gently sing-song: Tar-ta-gli-a — but then he pulls back, straightens as much as he can with Childe's hand still tangled in his hair. He's worked himself up long enough: his whole body seems to be aching for Childe's cock, not that he'll admit it out loud.]

Let go. I'm ready.

[foul_legacy]

[Childe arches from the ground when Aether grinds down against him and god, there - he might have ended the whole thing early if Aether hadn't gripped hard fingers into his hair, the pain keeping him grounded, reminding him of their sweet battle just before this.

He lets go when ordered, fingers sliding through Aether's long hair and falling back beside him, though he itches to grasp at him again, to get his hands on his hips and force the shorter man to move - but he's patient. He has to be, even when it feels like he's crawling out of his own skin with need.]

I need you. [It's soft, softer than most everything else he's said so far. Like this, Childe almost sounds human, almost sounds like the inexperienced young man that he is, rather than this creature that he's forged himself into.

But it doesn't matter. This is just for them, and when Aether finally lifts his hips, Childe reaches down to hold himself steady, biting at his lower lip as he's encased in the unfamiliar heat of him.]

Oh - oh, you feel...

[He feels good, hot and tight around him, so much so that Childe forgets everything else for a moment: their battle, their location, Aether's needling, it all just becomes background noise to this.]

- good, that's good.

[ironwind]

Is that so...?

[Aether can't hide that even he needs a moment — not to adjust, but just to appreciate the thick, pleasurable heat of Childe's cock inside of him, hilted at just the angle he's been craving ever since he first stepped on the Harbinger's chest and found the man hard and wanting underneath all his bruises. Oh, so good. Good is the only word to describe it. If Childe were anyone else, perhaps Aether would just surrender to it, just let him flip their positions and give in to pure instinct...

He hasn't forgotten that he has some pride at stake, however. Aether thinks about pinning Childe's wrists above his head while riding him, but their size difference makes it too difficult — it's a thought for another time, maybe, if there is another time, and he can get the Harbinger in a bed to tie his wrists to the headboard. As things are right now, with the both of them still aching from their fight, it's easier for the traveler to simply take Childe's wrists once he's sheathed in to the hilt, guiding the Harbinger's hands to the slim line of his waist where they can rest — or where Childe can hold Aether down against his cock with a bruising grip if that's what he'd rather.]

Such a pretty face — [he starts to move, punctuating every remark with the slow up-and-down movement of his body] — and a great body, and a perfect cock —

I should be the one saying that I feel good, right?

[Aether's praising Childe again, although this has a much different ring to it than before; where the earlier remark had the tone of a confession, these compliments are just hungry, admiring of the prize he's won. There's nothing like tenderness in them, except — except when he coyly lowers his voice to a whisper that could almost be loving, and says:]

Especially when I get to be your first...

[foul_legacy]

Oh -

[Aether seems to know just how to move, just how to hold him and Childe can barely stand it, even after he's already found his completion once. The shorter man is just too perfect against him and all Childe can do is hold on, his fingertips digging into his hips, clutching at his slender waist like it's some kind of life raft.

It's true - Aether is his first. It's not something that Childe particularly feels shame about. He's reasonably confident that if he had been interested in sex prior to this, he could have found it somewhere - but it never really seemed to be a worthwhile pursuit when there were battles to be won.

Now, he knows better. Now, he realizes that sex is like a battle in itself, a kind of war between two people who know one another as intimately as if they had been fighting all their lives. He feels that way for Aether now and it bites something cold in his heart. He doesn't know what to do with that feeling and so he tucks it away, a task that isn't particularly difficult to do when he feels like this.]

H-happy to be of service, [he manages to bite out, as if he's just another tool for Aether use to get off. He's not sure if he minds that really, but for now he seeks his own completion, his heels scraping at the marble floor of the mint for some sort of traction so that he can lift his hips, meet Aether's movements, thrust up against him when he rocks downward. Gods, he feels so incredible.]

Aether - Aether, come on. [Childe urges him, rolling his hips up with the movement as he feels the sweet tension rising back up, low in his gut.] Just like this, come on -

welcome back and happy holidays!!

[ironwind]

[Really, Aether meant for this to be more like a battle. He was going to taunt and tease and torment; he was going to make Childe beg for his release, make him whimper and gasp and plead. He even thought, briefly, about choking the Harbinger a little, letting him come in the space between life and death and utmost pleasure, just to ensure that no one ever pleases him quite like this again — because who else would the almost-undefeated Tartaglia trust with his life but the traveler with eyes like the stars?

But when the redhead's voice is this strained and he's trying to thrust upward so desperately — it's impossible to resist him, impossible to resist how good it all feels. Moaning in pleasure, Aether throws all of his plans away in favor of moving faster and faster, relishing the slick wetness of Childe's cock gliding on the lube inside of him, the desperate press of Childe's hands upon his waist. Oh, when he thrusts in deep and hilts just right —]

...You really — nngh, make this so rewarding —

[Nothing else seems to matter now — not their battle, not his pride, nothing but how beautiful Tartaglia looks as he's trying oh-so-sweetly to get more friction between them. Shuddering, his loose golden hair swaying with every movement, Aether snaps his hips at a frantic pace, hovering on the edge of his own release, no longer aware now whether he's conquering or being conquered.]

So — so close, just — just a little more —

<3!

[foul_legacy]

[His nails bite angry red crescents into Aether's skin as he keeps working at him, and Childe's breath comes out in short, abortive pants. He doesn't know if he can say anything, doesn't know what he would say in this moment, only that the traveler is beautiful like this, only that he'll think about this moment for ages when he touches himself, only that Aether could slit his throat at the end of this and a half-crazed part of himself thinks that he'd still consider it worthwhile.

Like this, he almost sees a prince above him, like the entity of the stars that the traveler is. Timeless, ageless, and he's his - insomuch that he could be anyone's, he's his. How could Childe do anything but give him exactly what he asks for? How could Childe do anything but give him just what he needs?

For all that he's inexperienced, he tries. He doesn't know what makes it good from Aether's perspective, but he rocks up harder, seeking his own release, and one of his hands slips down toward the other man's neglected cock, running his fingers over it almost curiously.

He wonders what he tastes like. Aether did it to him earlier - he wants to know what it would be like to do the same. He wants to know how it would feel to wrap his hands around his cock and jerk him off against a wall, wants to know how it would feel to have him pressed up against him, inside of him, how the two of them could seek their pleasure again and again.

He wants to know. He wants to experience that with an intensity that almost frightens him, but is undiminished by his growing need to come.]

Do it.

[He whispers, wrapping his fingers around Aether's cock more definitively, stroking him in time with their thrusts. It will make a mess over his hand, but in that moment he could do nothing but try to pleasure Aether the best he can.]

I'm close too, please, please -

[ironwind]

[A few loving strokes are all Aether needs before he's sliding over the edge, trying so hard to suppress the moan at the back of his throat that it comes out almost like a sob. He throws his head back as he comes, his release hot and thick between Childe's fingers; he takes Childe as deep as he can, his body greedy and demanding and giving all at once. Collapsing bonelessly over his lover's body when he's done, Aether presses a kiss to the Harbinger's mouth before he's even caught his breath, his chest heaving, cheeks and lips reddened from exertion.

So good. So good, so satisfied, and yet he still wants more. He's not sure he could actually demand it of his body at the moment, but another time, maybe, he can take Childe up on that offer of fucking him all day. Another time, maybe, he'll enjoy the Harbinger's lovely mouth, take still more of his firsts. Another time, even though he has so many other things to think of, and so many promises to keep...

For now, at least, he can't think of anything he'd like more than to lie here and enjoy a moment of post-orgasmic bliss. He's made a mess over Childe's hand, but it's fine — Childe's made a mess inside of him, too.

Aether doesn't say anything, not immediately — just shivers and sighs with utmost satisfaction, enjoying himself as he closes his eyes and rests his cheek atop Childe's shoulder. He allows himself one vulnerability: a softly hummed note, almost like a contented purr.]

[foul_legacy]

[Childe lets out a soft cry when Aether comes, his hips stuttering at the way it makes the traveler's body go tense and tight around him. And then he keeps moving, takes him completely, and Childe loses control for the second time this fight.

He gasps as he comes deep inside of the other man, his mouth moving soundlessly into the haphazard kiss - it's so sweet and tight and perfect that he's almost disappointed it's over, but there will be more times. There have to be more times like this, with Aether above him or beneath him or any way he can have him. Now that he's tasted this, he's ruined forever, and every time he sees the other man, he'll know exactly what the two of them could be doing with their time.

When Aether sags over him, Childe finds the strength in his limp body to lift an arm, pet his fingers over his spine, and simply lay there in a post-orgasmic bliss that pushes everything else from his mind.]

...now I wanna fight you twice a week.

[It's - a joke and Childe chuckles when he says it, but it's kind of serious too. His hips shift a little as he tenderly slides himself out of Aether's hole, biting at his swollen lip at the sensation on his overly-sensitive skin.

But otherwise, he just lays there. Pants for breath. Tries to come down a little from the high of what they've just done.]

[ironwind]

You'll run yourself ragged if you do that. Can't we just have sex normally?

[For a guy like Childe, though, it probably doesn't count unless there's the fight beforehand... Which is exasperating to think about, but, well, Aether's in a good enough mood that he'll let the worst aspects of the Harbinger's personality slide without comment for the time being.

Aether shivers a little when Childe pulls out, somewhat sensitive himself, but he doesn't really move, either. He's content to rest on Childe's chest, nose pressed into his neck, savoring the ache in his body and the sweat on his skin. Mmm, doing this twice a week really wouldn't be so bad, though...

...Coming down from the high is, as always, less pleasant than achieving it. It's cold, and the stone tiles are hard. There's nowhere to clean up, and they'll have to put their clothes on if they're planning to leave the mint...

Well, unless Childe intends to sneak back to the city in the nude. Aether wouldn't put it past him, honestly.]

How tired are you feeling?

[Oh, right, he'd mentioned something like...]

I think I said that I was going to carry you back to Liyue.

[foul_legacy]

[He can't help it - he chuckles at that, his arm wrapping around Aether's back to keep the two of them pressed together. The heat from their exertion is leaving him just as quickly as it came, and without clothing, the open air of the mint is quite chilly. No one could blame him from using the shorter man as a blanket now of all times, right?]

I don't think either of us is cut out for carrying anything right now.

[He's exhausted and out of breath and definitely starting to feel the aches and pains from his loss in their battle - pains which had been ignored and overridden during their tryst, but are now making themselves known with a vengeance. Childe winces as he tries to move and decides quickly against it, resigning himself to laying on that floor until he starves to death.

Well. Maybe he's being a little dramatic.]

Ah, don't worry about me, [he tries to reassure, his fingers slipping up Aether's spine to curl protectively - or threateningly? - around the back of his neck,] I'll slink off to the shadows and be right as rain next week.

[ironwind]

[Aether gets the sense that Childe is only squeezing him close because it's cold on the floor of the Golden House, but he decides, after a moment, that he doesn't mind This is the sort of thing that he enjoys and doesn't often get after sex, so he allows himself to ignore the implicit threat in Childe's hand resting atop his neck. FOr the time being, it's just another touch. For the time being, Aether is content to allow himself to nuzzle, rubbing his nose affectionately against Childe's neck before an ache in his shoulders prompts him to stop.]

You don't have to slink off to the shadows. I...

[It sounds like the sort of sentence that would have a follow-up, but the truth is that Aether doesn't have one. What would he say afterward? You could stay with me? I would take care of you? He's not in a position to promise that, and Childe isn't in a position to accept it, either.

Technically speaking, they are still enemies.

Aether shifts, hesitates a moment, and then says:]

...I'd at least bring you something to eat.

[Sex and breakfast in bed. He could at least promise that much. If they weren't... currently lying on the floor, too drained to move.]