.
- BY MICAEV -
“So-”
“So?” The man beside him drawled out, cutting himself off with a light-hearted chuff at the mage's awkward socializing.
A light breeze rattled the leaves- still green, lush. He missed this truly. Nothing will start fruiting until after he leaves but this was nice enough as it was; with enough luck maybe he can at least catch the first bloom- it must've been half a decade at this point since he saw it last. Ah- the pink blooms always looked extra magical when the mornings were foggy; how the hazy remnant of the moon often still hung in the sky, giving that sort of otherworldly glow between it and the rising sun. Everything looked so vibrant in those moments; it always seemed like those petals disappeared into the wispy sea of golden mist that hung low to the ground, dazzling pink floating along like spring snow when the wind caught them. How the-
“Xiang Bai?”
He startled back to where he was- that time might be a ways away but he was still here, the place he called home most of his life even if it was hard to feel that he belonged here anymore. But what had startled him was held out in front of him, a refilled cup, offered by a stranger's hand.
“Just Bai is fine really.” Taking the cup and immediately another sip of it. Sweet- this must be from the newer trees that started fruiting while he was gone, he remembered mother being excited for them before he left. They were supposed to be his trees weren’t they?
“Just Bai then.” The man conceded with a hum, unperturbed by the mage’s daydreaming. ”I remember rumours you'd break a person's nose ‘accidentally’ if they even tried to be that friendly. But I suppose we all change a little over the years.”
Well, not so much a stranger in a sense. This man, sitting with him on top of some fine blanket his father fetched from Central quite a few years back, was a son of his mother's friend or something of the sort. ‘Jasper’ if he remembered the introduction correctly. To be honest he was pretty sure Jasper was only here because mother invited quite a few of her friends over to parade her poor son around and the man happened to be dragged along by one of them; why though, Bai had no idea.
Once the gaggle of them had gotten bored of ogling and chattering about his magic brimming in all the ways he'd long since gotten used to, their gazes started to uncomfortably linger on the less endearing ones; the scars, the distinctly natural white hairs, that weariness that seemed to surround him now. All the things he wasn't prepared to explain even to her or father yet. It was hard to hide that he’s had a perilous time while he was away but the facts might be more heavy than any of them want to come to terms with. It’s not often your own kin dies - twice - from eldritch beasts and comes back to tell you about it among other less lethal but still dire horrors. So with either a saving grace or maybe just to further curse him; he was urged out into the nice evening air alongside this man to ‘make friends’ and ‘Jasper is here visiting from Temerate, you both have more in common than us old folk’.
“Yeah- I guess we all do change whether we like it or not.” Bai watched Jasper take a sip of his share of the wine, gaze trailing down the tanned arm flexing in the process- he must've been heavy on the combat arcanist training too. “Were there really rumours about me?”
“Of course!” He laughed. “A pretty face that you could rile up? In a fortress full of horndogs with nothing better to do than fuck, fight, or I guess study? You just never stuck around in one spot to get much more than an unfriendly spar out of you.”
“Unfriendly?!” The feigned offence was almost punctuated with a swat; the wine, teasing flattery, and loose hair that looked more blonde than not in this light almost made him forget who he was with. He couldn't help the smile that creeped onto his face regardless. “They were very fair fights conducted purely for training.”
“I said one single off-colour comment about you- I didn’t even think you were in earshot. Then you hounded me all day for a duel until I gave in just for you to shatter my ankle immediately.”
“What I- No. Did I really?” Light caught the brimming ether in the mage’s eyes as he searched for the truth on Jasper's grinning face. But sadly it wasn't really a farfetched idea, his temper had always been a weak spot; it still was if you asked the right people.
“It hurt like a bitch, I was pretty pissed too. I missed out on training for a couple weeks.” Despite his words, the other arcanist just seemed even more amused.
“Shit- I- I don't remember. I'm sorry.” He shamefully glanced to the other’s ankles, darting back up when the man shifted- surely noticing his stare. “Sometimes things went- do - go to my head. It’s a bad habit, it wouldn’t be the first time- I just-”
And some things never change.
While Bai was all flustered and riled up, the cup was taken easily from his hand- the remaining liquid threatening to spill over onto delicate embroidery in his rambling over explanation. Placing it safely off to the side, the not-quite stranger turned to face him, leaning into his space.
“Forced me to do nothing but paperwork for a week and you don't even remember me?”
“Well I- well. I didn't really talk to anyone enough to remember them. I spent most of my free time outside of the walls and-”
“You know, if you offered to kiss it better at the time, I absolutely would have forgiven you, even though I missed a month of drills.” He teased.
“If I-? I think back then I would have broken your nose too if you even tried to suggest I grovel. I don’t think that… would…’ve-” The mage's voice trickled off as a warm palm landed on knee, making a ghostly light ascent up his thigh.
“I would still accept it retroactively- doesn't have to be the ankle or stop there.”
Heat rose to those freckled cheeks; Bai gaped like a fish out of water while his leg twitched under the palm that moved dangerously higher. Ah- Jasper like the stone the mage remarked to himself as the other man leaned in closer, giving him a better look at his speckled green eyes as his gaze darted between them and the wide charming smile.
“Is this too forward? I don’t think I have the time to mend a broken ankle again.” Words uttered so quietly and close that Bai felt more than heard them.
Swallowing, he could barely manage a small croaked out “No.” with a shake of his head, letting himself get swept into the thrill. It'd been too long and maybe just for a moment, this man could fill a little bit of the hole in his chest. Light eyed, golden skin, and some form of shaggy blonde- he was so damn hopelessly predictable. It wasn't like this was permanent, both of them had to go their separate ways soon enough anyways. He wanted time in the seedy but enchanting city he fell in love with and Jasper had to return to his studies; this felt temporary- finite. Safe. He could pretend just a little.
It wasn't clear who bridged the last little bit of a gap, but Bai groaned softly into the lips pressed against his regardless. He understood now the urge to rush it; he was like a man in the desert who tasted his first drop of water in days- he felt starved.
Fingers threaded through blonde strands and the palm on his thigh slid higher to tease its way under his shirt, thumb tracing the edge where fabric ended and the soft flesh of his side started.
He sure missed this too.
“Fuck-” Bai hissed out at the knee sliding between his. “Do you have a room at an inn while you're here or-”
“No, I'm staying with family too.” The blonde paused in his descent down the mage's neck to guide him flat. “But this is a quieter spot than half the places in Temerate anyways.”
A laugh from the mage was cut short by a heady sigh; arching his back to let his shirt be pushed up his chest, Bai's vision danced out in and out of focus as heat rose to his head- what little of it that didn't already shoot south, aided heavily by the wine he was sure.
“Oh- you've been busy busy.”
With fingers tracing scars and a familiar circle on his chest, it wasn't hard for the mage to assume what he was referring to. A small grunt in affirmation was all he could muster- maybe he really did ruin his patience for taking things slow. Pressing his thigh upward, he tried to encourage the other back on topic.
“I almost missed this one under the ink, does this go all the way onto your shoulder?”
“Do you always rile someone up and then just spend forever admiring how they've banged up their body?” Lifting his head just enough, he levied the blonde with a heated glance, just long enough to catch the wide toothy grin. Fuck. He's so hopeless.
Thud- and Bai’s head met cloth covered dirt with just a little too much gusto and yet not quite enough to knock some sense into his impossibly thick skull. Cool and crisp greenery filled his nose as he took a deep breath to gather himself; hands all the while still aimlessly wandering his skin, tracing sensitive old wounds. And silently he made a sincere apology to his father's lovely, fine, beautifully unsullied blanket; a blanket he’s sure someone spent weeks- maybe months stitching- hell he was probably gifted it lovingly from a trade partner for all his hard work, it was practically a tapestry. But; this really wasn’t the time and to be honest, it was the last he wanted to think of his parents or anyone like that for the rest of the evening. The poor blanket's fate was doomed at this point so he'll just have to think of an excuse for its missing appearance another time.
“They're just really interesti- whoa!”
There were many things you learnt in hand to hand combat training- holds, disarms, trips but really; this had to be one of his favourites. In the flash of an eye the blonde landed solidly on his back, a small yelp of surprise was forced out on impact. Blinking dumbfoundedly with his jaw hung open in surprise, Jasper’s eyes fought to stay open when a firm weight settled into his lap, yielding easily to his surprise defeat.
Chest rising and falling; it wasn’t the exertion that had Bai out of breath- it was the adrenaline that had his heart pounding; this was all too fun. Looking down from his smug perch, under him was that blissed expression; a mouth hanging open stupidly, blinking confused and dumb up at him, shaggy stupid idiot blonde hair spread out like a halo around him-
“Fuck.”
Biting down on his lip to hide his own grin, he ground down on the obvious growing hardness under him, breath coming quickly. He's so damn fucking screwed.
As soon as his senses came back to him, it seemed the blonde learnt his lesson; wasting no time to lift his shoulders just enough tug his own tunic off, reaching back down to hurriedly start tugging off the mage's boots- all the while getting a solid eyeful of Bai stretching above him, his shirt finally tossed to the side as well.
Bai half expected the hands reaching for hips to start their exploration of scars again- was he also this endlessly incessant? Before he could send out another silent apology for his misdoings- instead of light touches prodding at his ticklish roughed skin- a shocked inhale pulled through his lips as he was pulled down to meet a firm grind. It didn't take much to have the mage canting forward, a confident hand leaving his hip to cup him through his increasingly tight pants. The skin under his palms where he had braced himself for the onslaught was blazing hot- the toned chest sending his head spinning. Coolness creeped in under the quite focused kneading, a steady wet patch forming from the arcanist’s efforts, his clothed cock twitching from the sensation alone.
He rutted shamelessly against Jasper's hand, the arcanist rocking his hips up in turn. It felt so good- almost good enough to continue on just like this but it'd been so long, it seemed foolish to rut in their clothes when he could finally have a proper romp.
Okay maybe ‘proper’ isn’t the right word when they were half in the woods and on his father's blanket lent to them that he's still trying really really hard not to think about but that was neither here nor there.
“Do- do you have oil or something?” Bai pushed out through his teeth.
‘No I- No.” Head tipped back and eyes closed, it was all the blonde could grunt out. It didn't seem like he had much preference for how this went, just chasing his own pleasure and taking whatever he could get. “I didn't think I'd actually get anywhere tonight.”
“Tonight?”
He'll just have to make do then.
Stifling a small laugh at the blonde’s whine- the man caught halfway between a retort and a protest, Bai tangled himself free and rose onto his knees to shimmy his pants down his hips, pausing only for a second as the taut fabric was pulled across his aching cock. A shuttering exhale came from both of them in unison as he sprung free- not wasting anymore time to shove the material the rest of the way down, pitching to the side to awkwardly kick them the rest of the way off.
Thankfully somewhere in there during his shuffling around, the arcanist had enough sense to start fumbling with the ties on his pants, in time for Bai to tug them just far enough down to free the man; giving him no further time to breathe before the mage sat back down- taking them both in hand to pump languidly.
“Fuckin’ ether- imagine the rumours if you were like this when you were in school.” The blonde looked up awestruck, jaw slack.
“Like what?” He stared right into the man's eyes with a teasing smile right as he let out a crude dribble of spit to land between them, sliding down to join the precome pooling between his fingers. The new easy glide of a wet tight fist had both men letting out a shaky sigh; Bai's toes curling. “Looking like this or do you mean doing this?”
If the arcanist had even a spec of a thought to reply, it fizzled out the moment the mage decided he had an even better solution and scooted backwards. Fingers that were once gripped loosely instead encircled him tightly at the base; the only warning he got before the head of his cock was engulfed in wet heat, plush lips wrapping around him. His hand threaded through inky tresses, discovering quickly that just a few light tugs was all it took to get sharp inhales and deep moans vibrating down his length; Bai's lashes fluttering with each throb and fresh dribble of precome across his tongue.
The blonde propped himself up on his elbow just high enough to get a good view of the mage reaching behind to slowly ease the other spit and precome covered fingers into himself, the flex of his wrist moving in unison to the tongue laving the underside of his cock- neither wet filthy sound could be drowned out by the rustle of the wind.
A couple more determined bobs of his head, a few dangerous warning twitches, and an accidental jolt from the arcanist's hips that nearly had him sputtering; Bai felt satisfied enough with the amount of fluid pooling around the tight ring of his fingers and the coarse hair below. Huffing amusingly at another low groan, Bai gave one last broad sweep of his tongue before crawling back up, settling comfortably under the warm hands that came to rest on his thighs
“Doing this-” Jasper rasped out while they paused, getting both their breaths and arousals under control, thumbs pressing impatient circles into pale skin. At Bai's dazed confused hum, he continued. “The rumours if you did this- did you ever mess around back then?”
“No I-” Bai gave him one last brisk pump before he lined them up and sunk gingerly onto the blonde, a shiver shooting through his spine at the initial breach and then the gradual filling of the first good stretch he's had in what felt like forever, the ache quickly melting into something far far better. “Not until pretty recently compared I suppose- you're the first up since I parted from the only other man enchanting enough to catch my eye really.”
“Your-? That's-” It was hard to get the words out between each rock of the mage's hips that slowly brought him deeper and deeper. “That seems wasted on me.”
“You're cute enough so it's not a waste yet.” He teased playfully through ragged breaths, sitting fully and filled. “And if this isn't enough, then I'll just have to have my turn to knock that stupid look off your face.”
“Stupid-!” If he had a retort, it died as quickly on his tongue as Bai's hips moved. The rise and fall was quick enough to zap any words left in him and with it his strength to hold himself upright, dropping to lay back flat on the ground again.
It felt good- it felt really good. A little tilt of hips and there's the angle he could never quite get on his own, not in this way this feels at least. Through his years he never quite understood the yearning for another person, what could they give that he couldn't do himself. But spending just that short little time with someone; nothing could compare to the warmth of having someone else. Letting someone else take control to not think, the connection, the comfort- he truly missed the comfort of someone else there with him more than anything.
They both gasped as the blonde pulled his feet under him and bucked up into the mage, pitching the man forward onto his chest in surprise. Despite his best efforts, the mage struggled to get his balance back; each solid thrust had him seeing stars, rocking him back and forth. His only saving grace were the hands gripped firmly on his hips.
“Ja-” Choking on his moan, he had to pinch his eyes shut to avoid looking too long at the man below him- it was all going to his head too quickly. “W-wait” Bai stuttered out but it was enough for the blonde to slow and Bai to get enough of a chance to breathe and guide him into something different.
A sharp inhale and a much slower shaky exhale followed as Bai was filled once again. Fingers twisted in fabric as his hips were hiked higher, each thrust making the delicate embroidery dig into his knees. This was newer, different- it's what he needed right now.
One of the hands that had his hip in a bruising grip glided up his back, to press down on his shoulder blades, forcing his arm to collapse under him. Well maybe having a few more decorative imprints on his skin to dwell on later would be better than the other thoughts clogging up his mind.
“Ahh-” The night might’ve been seasonally cool but they paid no heed to the outside world as they felt the heat between them rise regardless. The creep of sweat dripping off his nose to patter dully onto fabric had Bai grimacing from the tickle, joining the other fluids that have probably ended up below. And as if forced to check, a well angled thrust had him groaning loudly- head dropping between his shoulders to see a hint of dark puddle forming below them. His hazy gaze drifted further back to the sight of the arcanist's mostly clothed legs and boots still on while he was completely bare and dripping- something about it nearly sending him over the edge on its own.
A clench in warning on the cock carving out a home for itself deep inside in him was enough for the blonde to pick up the pace, changing his angle to make each and every one count.
“J-Ja-” Bai couldn't get out much more than an aborted attempt at calling out the other man's name between the frantic pounding directly on his prostate. The pressure kept building and he couldn't get a hand under him- he needed to touch himself, he needed it so badly that his cheeks burned red and his shimmering eyes glazed over with unspilt tears.
“You're good, fuck you're so good-” Jasper rambled out just as quickly and disjointed as his thrusts, he was close- there was no mistaking it. Plastering himself along the mage's back, he mouthed at the salty skin presented in front of him. “I'm– Can I-”
With his entire upper torso pressed flat and arms pinned under him, the mage didn't care- he was so close. “Touch me- whatever you want just- please-”
Bai was almost embarrassed at how loud he moaned when fingers finally wrapped tightly around his cock, doubly so when he could actually hear just how much he’s been dripping but that all came second to how ground shatteringly good the hand pumping in time to the fleshy slaps of hips meeting his ass felt.
Low muttered curses devolved into a steady stream of pitched ah's. Each and every thrust felt like it was in his throat punching out every last sound from him, until his knees were forced to spread just a little bit wider and he was filled just a little bit deeper.
And as of it was like a wave came through. It built and built until all at once it crashed into him; his whole body seizing as he breathlessly gasped and his eyes rolled shut. Not once did Jasper let up on his firm grip on him, a blur of a hand milking him dry until his twitching cock split its last rope of tarnishing cum on the fanciful designs below them- till he was nothing but a dribbling mess.
There were one or two more gentle rocks into him before the other man pulled out. Before he could remind him again that it was fine- he didn't have to stop- he heard the hurried wet sound of flesh on flesh and then hot streaks painting his back. Not too long after he felt the weight of a heavy cock rutting against him, the last few shudders of release dripping free to join the small pool cooling on his lower back.
“Uhgg.” A groan came out of the mage as he slowly sunk down, coming into contact with his own cold wet mess, hiding his face in the pillow of his arms.
“Sorry about that-” The arcanist fretted about the dark haired man, trying to wipe away the mess as best he could from his back and on to the soiled blanket- he held no care for it unlike whatever unspoken importance Bai had for it. “I got a little carried away there. You just have a nice back- with the tattoo and all.”
Sure at first it was surprising, then a sort of shame burned his cheeks, but then lastly when he gave the action just a little too much thought: heat went straight to his gut- his spent dick giving a pathetic twitch.
“It was hot.” He mumbled into his arms, more embarrassed to admit it than anything else, not stopping the man at least from trying to clean him up. “The tattoo? Oh- Is it nice? Wait- never mind, I don’t want to know.”
The arcanist paused to shoot him a confused look at what seemed to be a genuinely curious question, shaking his head with a laugh; it wasn’t the oddest thing the mage has said or shown this evening. With a soft grunt, he eased down to lounge beside Bai, reaching over to toy with his silvery hairs.
“So-”
“Mmm- So?” Turning his head, he watched Jasper beside him from the corner of his eye. He really wasn't all that similar up close, but that's okay.
“Verdict? Waste of time or am I off the hook?”
Back was that broad dumb toothy grin and for that he did get a friendly swat.
“I'm not sure... I think I need another go at it before you leave- see if you’ll keep that stupid grin. You know, just to make sure.”
“Hey-”
Out came a half-hearted shove to Bai’s side and twin pair of laughs to bounce off the trees; truly no one could claim there was a disagreement from either of them.
The mage hid his face back in his arms while the chuckles slowly left them; his shoulders deflating under a bone rattling deep sigh. Maybe a little indulgence was the right answer- before the thoughts creeped back in with their ever sharp claws. There was still quite a bit of the evening still left for them to enjoy after all and there was at least a little solace in having a warm body near to spend it with.
It wasn't better. It'll never be the way it was, but it was something a little different, a change from how he has been.