Closer

Though it was quite early, the market was bustling already. Even though the larger markets back home, when the clans gathered, could be just as big and noisy, Amath was still a bit... overwhelmed. The magic of the earring made it so he could understand what was being said around him. It was an odd feeling, for the effect, at first, had not seemed to be immediate. It had taken him a little to adjust to the way it worked on him. The whole city was strange too, and the people, and the clothes... it was just too much in too little time.

“Keep close,” Yuval said, and reached for his hand. Amath held to it like a child fearing getting lost.

When someone had first bumped into him, and Amath had snarled at them, Yuval had ended up scolding him and telling him to behave, he didn’t snarl again now when a third person bumped against him, instead glaring death at them. Back home, no one would have dared do that, and if they had, he would’ve put the person in place with words, and if that were not enough, fists. Here, he didn’t want to bring that much attention to himself, and he didn’t want to risk things, not until he understood the place better.

He must have been holding onto the wizard’s hand a little too hard, for the man stopped and looked back at him in worry. He was so easy to read, this wizard of his. His emotions were plainly written on his face most of the time.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes.” He said, but he wasn’t. There was nothing right about this, about being in that strange city, surrounded by those strangers. “Where are we going?”

“Here,” Yuval smiled and pointed ahead, to where the clothing stalls were. “We’re getting some new clothes for you, and then we’ll get some provisions for the trip.”

Amath let himself be pulled further down the crowd. There were less people once they were out of the food area, but he was pretty sure they’d have to return to it.

“Pick something you like,” Yuval said, letting go of his hand to browse through the clothes himself, trying to find a jerkin to go with the clothes he was wearing.

Hesitant at first, Amath looked around. The look of the basic clothes were not that different for males, though there were some that looked far too elaborate and nothing like what his people would have worn. He reached out to feel the fabric of one of the darker shirts. The fabrics seemed softer, less giving.

“That looks good,” Yuval said. “And some trousers, maybe these... ”

“Don’t they make them to fit?” Amath asked. It was the way back home; clothes were made to fit you, when you needed them, and not before.

“Some do, but this is faster.”

He put up with Yuval holding a few pairs of clothes to him to measure him by eye, leaving the choice of what to take mostly to him after a while. They moved on as soon as the wizard was content with their purchases, getting a new pair of cloaks as well.

“Do you use weapons? Swords, knives?” Yuval looked back at him.

“During war,” he said “Spears. Bows and arrows.”

“Perhaps we could get you something like that, just in case.”

“Hn,” Amath said, not overly interested. “I can do without.”

Yuval eyed him, then shrugged. “If you say so.”

They rounded the market to get some potions and herbs for the wizard, and by the time they reached the food area once again, the crowd had thinned enough that they didn’t need to elbow their way. Yuval bought some provisions and another bag for the demon to carry his things. With all that set, they went on to a nearby stable to purchase a horse.

“I’d rather not hire out further carriages and carts, now that it’s both of us.” Yuval had said. Amath didn’t particularly care, so long as it meant they’d be moving faster, and away from the crowd.

The horses were interesting. Amath reached to pet one, the large creature leaning to him a bit. They resembled some of the riding beasts back home, as he remarked when Yuval questioned him about it. “Ours are taller and broader, with more fur. Are you sure one will hold us both?”

They were assured the horse would.

They spent the rest of the day in the city, for after lunch Yuval received people in the tavern to make some potions and cast some simple protection spells in charms, in exchange for money. Amath had sat out of the way as instructed, watching with interest as the wizard worked, the way he smiled kindly at everyone – even though it was not a real smile. In fact, if Amath had to hazard a guess, he would say Yuval quite hated this little ‘catering to people’ part of the business. But money was important, he’d explained, or they’d be sleeping in the open, with no food on their stomachs. Amath didn’t care where they slept. In fact, sleeping in the open sounded rather nice. He could hunt just fine, so he wasn’t as worried about the food, either. Yuval seemed awfully concerned though, and so he’d not insisted.

They had ridden out with the sun the following morning, Yuval holding the reins, and Amath holding to him. They moved at a leisurely pace. It took them nearly a week to arrive to the cottage the wizard lived in, lost in the middle of the woods. The place did not look like much from the outside: a simple, worn down wood cabin that blended in with the forest, no doubt thanks to some spells. It had looked small as they neared it, but by the time they reached the door, the illusion had faded: the cabin was rather large. Two story high and made of brick and wood, it looked cleaner and newer from up close.

“Another cloaking spell,” Yuval said, “A more complex illusion. If you pay attention, you’ll see the symbols that trigger them around.”

Amath only nodded.  He dismounted and let Yuval take the horse to a little stable at the back of the house.

“Make yourself at home.”

Amath pushed the door open warily, half-expecting a spell to launch out of him. None did. He entered, the place nice and cozy; there was a fireplace with a furry animal’s skin spread out before it, a large cooking area with several bottles and pipes, a table, to the far side were the stairs leading up to the second story, and a library full of books and scrolls, as promised.

Amath approached the bottles and pipes to look at them curiously.  

“Do you like it?” Yuval asked, having entered just a moment before.

“What is it?”

“A brewing stand, to extract things and make more complicated potions.”

Amath frowned. “Priestess stuff,” he muttered, and turned to go look at the books and scrolls across the room, instead. He couldn’t read most of them. The earring helped with what he heard and what he said, but it did nothing for the written language. He could only understand a few book titles in the collection.

While he explored, Yuval put the bags and sword down, out of the way. On second thought, he took the sword back up. “I think,” he said, “We deserve a nice warm bath after all that traveling.”

Amath looked back at him with interest. They’d washed on a river on their way there, but they’d rested little along the way other than to sleep, and it had mostly been in the wild. They were dusty and muddy from the road.

“Come,” with a warm smile, Yuval led the way upstairs.

The tub, as it so happened, was found directly in the bedroom, along with a large armoire, a bed that could fit three, a big, heavy trunk, and yet another fireplace. Amath thought the wizard certainly liked his comfort, but seeing as everything could work for more than one person, he still asked.

“You live alone?”

Yuval nodded. He left the sword atop the trunk for now, and facing the tub, moved his hands around in a swift motion, accompanying them with an incantation. The tub suddenly filled with warm, clear water.

“Go on first.”

Not about to argue, Amath undressed, tossing his clothes carelessly aside and slipping in the tub. He settled comfortably, resting his arms on the sides for a moment.

Yuval busied himself picking out two robes from his closet. At length, he asked, “Do you really eat... you know... from sex?”

Amath kept silent, watching him. Yuval fidgeted with the chosen robes, set them on the bed, picked them back up, trying not to look at him.

“You know,” Yuval continued “Since you haven’t really touched me since... ”

Amath smiled a bit. “Do you miss it? Yes, I do really recover energy from it; but I haven’t expended any since, so I haven’t needed to feed again in that way.”

“Oh,” This time Yuval turned to him.

“Come join me.”

Yuval’s lips parted, closed, then he simply left the robes aside to undress.  “Here, let me wash you first.”

Amath straightened so the man could reach his back, letting him help scrub away the dirt there, and in his hair. He rather liked the feel of those soft hands on him.

“What is your world like?”

The question came out of nowhere, and though Amath would have rather not be reminded of such things when he was finally relaxed, he still answered.

“Our clan borders a desert,” he said “Our world is drying up, so there are many wars and skirmishes over fertile land.”

“What’s killing it?”

“No one knows.”

Yuval pursed his lips, but said nothing. When he was done helping Amath, he got up; a wave of his hand made the water disappear, making the demon gasp and glare as the coolness of the air hit him, but it was quickly replaced with newly warmed, clean water once again. Yuval carefully stepped in the tub with him, settling mostly on his lap. Amath made no qualms with returning the earlier favor and scrubbing his back in turn before he let him lean against his chest.

They were silent for a while, Amath resting comfortably on the tub, Yuval in turn comfortable against him.

At length, Amath said, “You’ll send me back, won’t you?”

“... Why would you want to go back?”

“Family. Duty. Wouldn’t you want to return to your world?”

Yuval did not answer that, leaving him to wonder. “I need to find a spell first.”

“We had stories of this,” Amath said softly, his hands moving from the sides of the tub to instead idly stroke Yuval’s chest. His skin was soft, unmarred by war like his was. “A couple of our kin, sometimes they would disappear, one or two would return... they’d tell fantastic tales of humans and blooming worlds. It must be doable.”

“It must be,” Yuval conceded at his words, but did not sound too excited about it. Or perhaps he was merely distracted by his touch.

Although he was not encouraged, Amath did not complain. He stroked the man’s chest gently, enjoying the smoothness.

“You didn’t answer,” Amath said, changing the subject. At Yuval’s inquiring gaze, he added, “when I asked if you missed my touch.”

“Didn’t I? Silly me,” Yuval smiled, but still did not reply, he merely leaned more against him, head tilting back over one of Amath’s shoulders.

In response, Amath brushed his fingers over a nipple, making the other sigh in pleasure. He stroked down Yuval’s chest and over well-defined abs, and moved his hands lower still, fingers brushing the hardness he found there. He couldn’t hold back a fond chuckle.

“Already?” he whispered to Yuval’s ear.

“Hm,” was all the response he had, along with a slight thrust of those hips.

He wrapped his hand around him fully, stroking painfully slow at first, then at a more acceptable pace. Yuval wriggled and rubbed against him, making his body respond in turn.

“Amath... ” a gasp.

“Yes?”

“Don’t stop... ”

“No.” Amath smiled, his free hand moving low enough to play with his sack, stroking him faster.

“Amath,” he moaned this time, thrusting wantonly to Amath’s hand, his own gripping the edges of the tub. The water sloshed, some dripped over the edges.

“Yes,” Amath’s breath shuddered against the wizard’s ear.

“Amath-”

Amath did not need to utter further encouragement. Before long the wizard’s body was arching slightly away from him, hips bucking to those hands as he spilled into the water. Amath stroked him to completion, then, mindful, retreated his hands, letting Yuval rest fully against him, not urging him to return the touch despite the obvious hardness pushing up against the wizard.  

Coming down from his high, Yuval carefully turned in the tub to face him. “Do you feed like that too?”

Amath’s hand came up to stroke the long blond hair, a bit curious as to how it’d feel to run his fingers through it; the feeling was somewhat hindered by the dampness of it.

“Yes.”

Yuval smiled, “But I shouldn’t leave you wanting now, should I?” he teased.

Amath’s lips twitched to a small smile. “No,” he agreed.

Yuval chuckled, a soft, melodious sound, and leaned in, pressing lips to lips.

Taken a bit by surprise, Amath leaned his head back.

Yuval rose a brow and pulled back again. “What is it?”

“What are you doing?” Amath asked.

“... kissing you?”

Amath watched him carefully, in silence.

Yuval rose a brow. “Don’t tell me you’ve never kissed anyone.” At the continued silence, his other brow met the first. “Really?”

They observed each other in silence for a moment. It was Yuval who reached for him first, hands resting on his cheeks.

“Just... follow my lead.”

Yuval leaned in for another kiss, and this time Amath didn’t pull back. The feeling was not completely unfamiliar, but also... different. His people were not the kind to kiss. Lips brushed over skin during intimate moments, but somehow, never made contact with their lover’s. No, their target was usually soft spots – the neck, the ears.

Yuval pulled back, and then leaned back for a second kiss. This time Amath responded by leaning into the gesture. When Yuval’s tongue pressed against his lips, silently asking for entrance, he obediently parted them. He felt the tongue reach for his, explore his mouth, and soon followed his lead. It felt surprisingly good, surprisingly intimate. It was quite enticing. He wrapped his arms around Yuval in response and pulled him closer, slowly getting more used to the kiss, soon even trying to take over, but Yuval did not allow it.

They finally pulled back from the kiss to regain their breath, panting.

It was Yuval who stood first, moving out of the tub, pulling Amath along. He didn’t argue, following the wizard to the bed without a word, gaze on him at all times, not caring that he was dripping water all over the place, but a wave of Yuval’s hand solved that problem, drying them at once.

Amath smiled and pushed him down on the bed, letting himself be pulled along by the wizard. The soft lips came up to his ear, hot air of his breath making him shudder.

“My turn,” Yuval whispered.

The prickling of hair indicated magic was at play, backing up the wizard’s own physical strength as he rolled them over. Taken by surprise by the move, Amath tried to roll them back, not having been in such position in a long time... but the wizard’s strength backed with the magic kept him firmly in place.

“You’re cheating,” Amath stated, but it was no complaint. He watched with growing curiosity, wondering what he’d be surprised with next.

“Oh, did we have rules?” Yuval taunted, smiling.

Unable to help himself, Amath chuckled. His arms lifted to wrap around this strange, fun human, but the wizard pinned them back down over his head. A finger flicked their way, and the magic bound his wrists together, keeping them in place in turn. Amath looked up but saw nothing. He struggled slightly against the invisible binds, but they would not give.

“It’s useless,” Yuval teased, “You’re all mine now.”

Yuval’s lips came to use again, kissing him deep and enticing like before, then brushed lower, teasing nipples, moving lower and lower, until he had him in his mouth. His hands were not idle- free from pinning the demon down, they stroked down along his lips, caressing down his sides, under Amath when he lifted his hips in response to that mouth.

Amath moaned. In a surprising turn, letting go of the need to always be in charge was freeing. The warm mouth around his cock felt like the promised land. He thrust once – and again when his lover accommodated to his move, letting escape pleased gasps and moans. He did not struggle against the binds again, but rather allowed himself to enjoy this feeling, eyes closing, head tilting back.

Yuval played with him, taking him deeper, slower, then faster again, his tongue playing in all the right places. And then, when he had him hard as he wanted, a finger – slicked by magic – slipped slowly deep inside him.

Amath gasped again, hips pushing away from the intrusion at first, but then lowering against it.  “Ah!”

The first finger stretched, sought, explored, and was soon joined by a second. Together they reached deep in Amath, making him tremble when they touched that soft spot deep in him. Yuval teased there, but also worked on stretching him, pulling back when he felt it’d been enough, and moving back up his lover’s body.

Amath opened his eyes to gaze at him. It was the demon himself who reached up this time and sough his lips. They were still kissing when Yuval’s slicked need pushed past the tight muscles of Amath’s entrance. Slow and deep, he pulled back and pushed back in, once, then twice, building a slow rhythm, parting from the heated kiss to catch his breath.

“Yuval,” Amath moaned, and this time struggled against the invisible binding again. “Unbind me.”

“No,” Yuval whispered, bringing his lips back to an ear, having noticed well the reaction it had brought.

“Unbind me, damn it,” Amath gasped, trembling when teeth softly grazed the edge of his ear, when the hot breath again brushed over it.

Yuval hastened the pace of his trusts, still moving in long, deep thrusts. “Do you feel it?” He whispered to that ear. “The link between us?”

Although he didn’t answer right away, Amath did feel it – deep, deep in him, beyond the pleasure of their joining, further past the feeling of the energy he took... no, the energy exchange. Through that link they shared from the summoning, still weak and hidden but growing stronger the closer they grew to each other... Amath was taking the energy he needed from him, but he was also providing the wizard with some of his own.

“Feel it,” Yuval’s thrust came shorter, faster as he reached his release anew.

“Yes,” Amath gasped, moaning and fighting the binds again, his hard member rubbing up between them.

As he thrust to his completion, Yuval’s hand came first to undo the magical bind, then down to stroke his lover in time with the short, hard thrusts. His teeth bit lightly on the elongated ear, eliciting a deep groan from his lover – and a gentle clawing, for Amath’s arms came down at once to wrap around him, nails instinctively digging on his lover’s back, leaving red marks, his muscles tensing and then spasming around him as he reached his own release.

The lovers laid panting, still entwined with each other, still deep in their joining, physically as well as emotionally.

“Are you still hungry?” Yuval whispered after a long moment of silence.

Amath smiled against his skin. “Starving.”

***

By his count, it had been six hours since they’d gone to sleep. Outside it was dark, as was the room, save for the light coming from the now lit fireplace. He remembered seeing Yuval use his magic to light it, but he couldn’t quite remember the words he’d mumbled as he did. Something about colder nights, perhaps.

His sensitive ears caught the sounds perfectly; the bugs outside, the breeze hitting against the closed blinds, the crackling of the fireplace, and the crackling of a second fireplace further away – the one downstairs, perhaps. Yuval had left his side no more than an hour ago. He’d felt him leave, but he’d not woken at the time.

Amath took a deep breath and the scent of cooking meat hit him, making his stomach grumble. He got up and headed back downstairs, not bothering with redressing.

The fire was going, meat was served. Yuval, wearing a light robe, sat at the library, one-handedly pursuing a large book as it rested on his lap. On the desk rested none other than the sword he’d brought with. His other hand rested on it.

Amath’s eyes narrowed. He would have to do something about that sword... it was starting to trouble him, the way Yuval touched it and kept it close. For now, though, he kept an eye on his lover and moved to sit by the table, reaching for a piece of meat.

“You hardly slept.”

Yuval looked up, surprised, hand sharply pulling back from the sword, like a child caught doing something wrong. “Ah, I didn’t hear you.”

“I noticed.” Amath bit into the meat.

“I feel rather energized after we join,” he admitted. “I figured I’d come down and start working on looking up a spell to send you back.”

Amath grunted in response, gaze on him as he ate.

“I could use a spell to narrow it down, but those are never quite accurate, particularly as there might be obscure references... ”

Another grunt.

Yuval tilted his head. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Amath said, but his gaze betrayed him by drifting to the sword. He heard it at once, the moment Yuval’s heart started beating faster, how his breathing caught when he noticed Amath looking at the sword.

Yuval’s hand lifted to pat the sword, an innocent smile on his face. “I figured I’d look up information about it also. It’s always good to know what magical items you own.”

The demon didn’t even acknowledge the words this time. He reached for another piece of meat, watching as the wizard, uneasy with the lack of response, decided to simply go back to his reading.