Title: Shadow
Author/Artist:
tsutsuji
Rating: PG13
Warnings: implied kink,
implied incest?
Word count: ~500
Summary:
These little rituals are necessary; appearances are meant to
be deceiving.
A/N: Written for the springkink prompt:
Saralegui/Beries: Feet!kink - Taking off boots.
Saralegui looks down at Beries kneeling in front of his chair - his devoted retainer, his sensual shadow, whose touch is always so careful; he watches Beries's intent expression, watches narrow, dark eyes entirely focused on his task. Beries's devotion is almost as tangible as the touch of his deft fingers, and evident in every movement; he slips the boot down over Sara's calf and off his foot so slowly, so carefully, that Sara barely feels it.
Sara suppresses the shudder that runs up his leg, up his spine, when the calloused pads of the swordsman's fingers press gently to loosen tight calf muscles and soothe their way down to his ankle, the beginning of a ritualistic massage. Sara only suspects that Beries gets as much pleasure from caressing his feet like this as he does from the act of service itself. From the way dark eyes eyes close, the way Beries lowers his face over Sara's outstretched foot as if he would, if given permission, press his lips to it, Sara suspects that Beries is already becoming aroused. He doesn't know for certain, and doesn't intend to find out just yet. Someday he will clarify the meaning of this ritual, find out if it is really as sensual, as suggestive, as erotic for Beries as it is for him. He is not yet ready to reveal that he is aroused by every touch and motion, even by the mere sight of Beries, so slowly pulling the boot from his foot, setting it aside almost reverently and beginning this gentle massage.
When he beckons Beries to his bed later, neither of them will give a sign that this was their foreplay. If it was, in fact, the beginning of arousal for Beries, he knows better than to show it now.
Saralegui forces his breath to stay even, allows only the smallest sigh of calm satisfaction, without a hint of the desire that would tremble his breath, hovering and growing as it is just below his chest.
Beries knows him better than anyone, but Sara intends that even his most devoted follower should not see anything but his indulgent approval, the casual appreciation of a servant's care for his master's comfort.
Appearance is everything. Hiding every pain and fear, all of his true desires, is a necessity of life as the youngest king of a warrior country. Along with his mystical power to influence others, Sara knows that deception is the greatest strength he has. And if he can control his response to Beries like this, now, when desire rises in greater waves with every touch of his guardian shadow's hands, if he can hide the rising heat and the aching want even when Beries is so close and touching him, and if he can almost deceive even himself away from acknowledging a desire so strong that it hurts - then surely he can fool the fools around him, both his own ministers and the kings of other countries, into seeing only what he wants them to see.