A/N: Also NSFW.
"Elias! You're a blonde!" Chise was delighted with this new variation, reaching up to run her hands through it. As lanky as it looked, it was also baby-fine and soft. "I always sort of pictured you with dark hair," she murmured, half to herself, before grinning up at him and adding, "You realize I'm going to have to braid this at some point, right?"
"Okay?" he replied, sitting back a bit so as to meet her eyes more easily. "If you like. Why dark hair?"
"Oh, you know..." she waved a hand vaguely. "I mean, your fur is black, and so are your feathers, and your vines, and you're always wearing black... I guess I just assumed that if you had hair, it would be black, too."
"But my glamour is a blonde."
"Yes; but I guess I always just thought that was because Simon's hair is blonde, too. Your real hair is a different shade, though." She leaned back, tilting her head a bit and squinting critically at him. "I like it," she said finally. "It suits you somehow. Why haven't I seen it before?" She looked him over; this was definitely a new variation, his bared arms more muscular than she was used to seeing with his external ribs, closer to his usual look, albeit much larger, and still clawed.
Elias looked vaguely embarrassed. "This only happens if I am extremely emotional," he muttered. "It's not very usual for me."
"No, it's not," she agreed. She stepped forward again, reaching up to stroke his hair and feathers. "How are you?" she asked. "Are you all right?"
"Mm. Yes. Very much so." He nuzzled her hair affectionately. "Thank you, Chise. You're right; your experiment has been very enjoyable indeed."
"I'm glad," she replied, returning his nuzzle with a kiss. "Me, too."
"Do you—do you want—can I—?" He trailed off.
"Is it your turn?" She smiled, her stomach doing delightful flip-flops. "If you like, yes, absolutely!"
"Or your turn," he corrected, huffing a small laugh. He paused, looking concerned. "Is—is there anywhere you don't want me to touch you? Or anything you don't want me to do?"
"Um... I don't know?" said Chise, after a moment's thought. "If anything makes me feel weird I'll say so, though."
"Okay, good." Elias took a deep breath, hesitating for a moment. Tentatively he reached out, lightly, barely even touching her, to run the pad of his finger down the pale column of her neck, tracing along her collar bone, the sharp tip of his talon carefully held just shy of her skin. He seemed entranced, his eyes following the motion with hawk-like intensity. "Such a small thing..." he murmured, almost too low for her to hear, as he gently brushed the collar of her shirt aside to continue over her shoulder.
Chise shivered, the sensation, even as light as it was, being almost too intense to bear. "Everyone's small compared to you," she gasped with the flash of a smile.
"That too," he agreed absently. "But I meant just touching you, like this, with my bare hand, only for the sake of touching you. Only because it pleases me, and you. It seems such a small thing to do, and yet..." He trailed off as his fingers traced back beneath her clavicle. Chise moaned, her head falling back, and he paused, but did not remove his hand. "Is this still okay?" he inquired, sounding more curious than concerned. Some distant part of Chise happily registered his growing confidence; but most of her was lost in his agonizingly slow exploration of her upper breast.
Finally realizing he had stopped, she came back to herself enough to hum agreement, meeting his gaze with a smile. "That is definitely okay," she assured him.
He considered a moment, before reaching for her top button. "Can we take this off?"
Chise blushed, feeling slightly exposed. There still didn't seem to be anyone—or anything—around, she assured herself with a quick glance, and they were hardly out in public; but the idea still felt surprisingly scandalous. Strange that the idea of taking her shirt off out here should feel naughtier than sucking his cock had. She supposed it might be because putting her shirt on (what remained of it; her back felt distinctly drafty) would take longer and be more obvious to anyone stumbling upon them than her simply leaning back a little.
Still... I mean, if anyone from the village does end up all the way out here and sees us, sees me here with Elias like this, they aren't even going to notice me. And it is nice and private; that's why I picked this spot!
Elias still sat motionless, watching her, patiently waiting for her response. She was glad he hadn't instantly and automatically assumed it would be a no; his fingers still hovered above her chest. Does—does he finally believe that I'm not afraid of him?
A surge of relief, of love, of pure joy swept over her, leaving her almost dizzy. Impulsively, she threw herself into his arms, squeezing him as tightly as she could.
"Chise?" Elias sounded confused; but happily returned her embrace.
"I love you so much, Elias!" She felt filled with light, with air; she felt as though she might float away entirely were it not for their embrace, anchoring her inexorably to him. "You aren't—you aren't afraid that I'm afraid of you anymore, are you?" She leaned back in his arms, secure, absolutely confident in the knowledge that he would not drop her, would not let her fall. Would not let her go.
Elias lowered his head to hers, his hair falling unheeded into his eyes. His pupils dimmed as he seemed to consider her words, before brightening. "No. You are not afraid of me. You are not afraid!" He hoisted her into the air, hands firm on her ribs, mouth agape. "Chise—you are not afraid!"
Chise thought her own answering smile might split her face in two. "I'm not afraid," she confirmed, and realized something with a start. She wasn't afraid of him, of his forms, however monstrous, it was true—had always been true—but... he wasn't going to abandon her, was he? He wasn't going to let her go. Even if she lived out a full, normal human life-span and died an old lady, his own lifespan had already been so incomparably longer, that even a hundred years or more must be the blink of an eye to him.
He wasn't going to let her go. She wasn't going to lose his interest; he wasn't going to get tired of her and throw her away. She very likely could not possibly live long enough to outlive his interest in her.
Nevin had pointed it out to her; Angelica and Lindel had reassured her; she had sifted and weighed all the evidence herself; but her own experiences had left her unconvinced. And she was sure she would have moments of doubts in the future, probably for years, possibly for ever. But here, now, in this moment, she finally, fully believed it. He wanted her with him. He needed her presence. He would not discard her.
She didn't need to be afraid, either.
And she wasn't. She wasn't afraid. She wasn't afraid!
Laughing, she flung her arms around his face, peppering him with kisses. "I'm not. I'm not afraid!" She felt like she could fly to the moon and back.
"Neither am I! Chise—" He lowered her to the ground again, still holding her firmly. "Chise, I want you." His voice was a growl, sending a thrill through her, his eyes brighter, more intense than she had ever seen them. He stared at her, bent to meet her eyes, his face barely a foot from hers, and she felt wetness, saliva, begin to drip down her fingers as she cradled his jaw. A shiver wracked her entire body, and she felt her own passion leap to meet his.
"I want you too, Elias," she said, her eyes intense. "What do you want to do?"
"Everything," he growled. The strange harmonics, which had mostly left his voice with his new form, were returning.
"Okay," she breathed; "But—but not too quickly, okay? You're really big."
"And you're really small," he replied. "I won't forget. Chise..." He tugged at her shirt.
She felt tatters flap across her back. Well, if it was ruined anyways... "Do you want me to unbutton it?" she asked with a devilish grin. "Or do you want to just tear it off?"
She barely had time to finish her sentence before the remains were sliding off her arms, half of the front danging from a canine as he dropped the rest of the shredded remains to the sides. "Bra?" He urged, hooking a claw over the centre.
"Go for it," she gasped, and with a tug and a jolt as the hooks let go, it, too, was forcibly removed.
He all but pounced upon her, deliberately crawling forward over her, forcing her back upon the ground, his gaze intense upon her. "Mine," he growled, licking a trail from her navel to her ear. "Only mine."
"Only yours," she gasped in agreement.
"No one else has the right to touch you, to be with you."
"No one!" He dragged his teeth across her neck, and bit her shoulder as he had in his shadow cave, so long before, his mouth firm, possessive against her. She moaned as his tongue snaked over her before he pulled away, leaving her shoulder glistening. "Delicious. Always so delicious..." He nosed his way back down her torso, nipping, nuzzling, tasting her, as she twitched and trembled beneath him, hands desperately grabbing his horns, his cheeks, seeking anchorage.
He nuzzled back up her side, exploring the landscape of her body, each hill, each valley, as his fingers traced each rib, trailing down her arm, the touch so light and yet so intense it was almost beyond ticklish as he passed over her inner elbow and down to linger over the pulse of her wrist, before moving down each finger in turn, seeking out each knuckle, the delicate bones of her wrist, tracing back up her arm, curling his hand into the warmth of her armpit—"So soft,"—down her side again to her hip, running beneath her thigh to lift her leg over his arm as he explored the ticklish hollow behind her knee, making her gasp and giggle, before smoothing his hand down her calf to her ankle, exploring the flex and bend of each toe.
"Elias, that tickles," she gasped, her foot jerking violently.
"Should I stop?" His glowing pupils swivelled to meet her gaze, his fingers stilling, but not letting go.
"I might kick you! I don't want to hurt you!"
He chuckled, his voice rich and warm. "I think I'll take that chance." He trailed his claws lightly up her instep and she twitched and squealed.
"Elias! Stop it!"
"Not if you keep making such delightful noises." Sounding amused, he ran his claws back down to her toes.
"This—this isn't fair," she giggled, wriggling but unable to escape, firmly pinned beneath him.
"No, it isn't," he agreed equitably, wiggling his fingers behind her knee. She shrieked as he continued up to the especially ticklish spot at the back of her thigh, and pushed ineffectually at him. "Elias!" she cried, giggling helplessly. "Stop it—no—"
"Do you mean that?" He tilted his head and ran his fingers under her skirt and up the inside of her thigh.
"No," she gasped, as her insides fluttered. His knuckles brushed against her crotch and she inhaled sharply, moaning at the intensity of it.
"Oh, now that is a particularly enchanting sound." He brought his face closer to hers, regarding her intently as he brushed his knuckles over her mound once more, making her shiver and sigh. "Should I stop?" he asked again, his voice rumbling through her.
"God, no! Elias!" She reached for him, instinctively spreading her knees to grant him further access, pushing against him as she sought to pull him closer. "Please..."
Elias nuzzled his way between her legs, flipping her skirt up over her belly before rubbing his muzzle across the crotch of her panties. "You smell so good, Chise," he growled. "So delicious." He nosed against her, lightly nipping at her. "Do you have any idea how maddening it has been to smell your arousal? To know you wanted me, when I was so sure that taking you would—" He stopped, looking up at her again. "Chise. Are you sure you want this?"
Chise could barely remember how to form words, her thoughts jumbled in a lust-filled haze. "Please, Elias!" she begged. "Don't—don't stop now!"
Her words seemed to release a floodgate inside him. So quickly it made her addled head spin, the shreds of her underwear were joining the remains of her shirt, and he'd grasped her hips, raising her to his open maw, his tongue curving over every nook and cranny before plunging into her, filling her depths. His incisors bumped and rubbed her clit as he tasted her, exploring every inch of her, her entrance burning as she stretched around the width of his tongue. Dizzy, her head whirling, she grabbed blindly for his horns, for some anchor, as she hung, shoulders pushed against the grass, legs draped over his shoulders as her toes curled and her back arched as she cried out, wave after wave spasming through her.
Grass tickled her back as he gently lowered her back to the ground, her head spinning. Crouching over her, arms braced on either side of her head, she managed to focus enough to meet his gaze as he lowered his head to nuzzle her cheek. "Chise," he murmured, "That was good?"
"So good," she panted, smiling wide, entwining her arms about his neck.
"Good." He paused. "I don't want to stop yet."
"Neither do I," she whispered.
He sat back a little, his head tilting, his eyes considering as they roamed across her.
"What are you thinking?"
"Angles," he muttered. "My regular form would be more suited to this, but even then I'm still so much larger than you. And I'm not sure I could hold to it..."
Chise struggled to her elbows. "Can you lie on your back in this form?" she asked, eyeing his horns, remembering the spikes down his back.
"No."
"Can you sit back again? Maybe, um, maybe lean back on your elbows like this?"
"Only if you don't want me to be able to move."
Chise chewed her lip. "What if you lay on your side?" she asked finally.
"Mm. Maybe." He leaned away from her and stretched his legs out, reclining on one elbow. "This could work. Come here." He reached for her with his free hand.
Chise rose and slipped her skirt off, setting it aside before taking his hand, her own dwarfed within his grasp. Stepping forward, she placed a gentle, lingering kiss to his snout. "I love you, Elias," she smiled, caressing his face.
"I—I love you, too," he replied softly, nuzzling her cheek as his thumb stroked her hand. She bent her forehead to his, content with the moment, the warm breeze ruffling his feathers to brush her thighs as her hair mingled with his. She sighed deeply, feeling happier than she could ever remember.
Finally she stepped away, squeezing his hand as she released it to stroke his chest. "Go slow, okay?" she whispered. "I haven't done this before."
"I will," he promised, brushing the hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear as she nestled into his palm.
"Thank you." She smiled up at him, and braced her hands against him. She swung her leg over his waist to straddle his hip, and paused. "I'm actually kind of nervous," she confessed. "Silly, huh."
"Not silly. I am, too." His free hand caressed her hip, his thumb stroking her side. "We don't have to do this if you don't want to."
"No, I do," she assured him. "Do you?" She searched his eyes.
"I do." His hand left her hip, trailed upwards to stroke the curve of her breast. "We can go as slowly as you like."
Chise closed her eyes." That feels nice," she whispered.
"Good." His fingers traced over her breast before he cupped it in his hand, squeezing it gently. "How are you so warm and so soft everywhere?" he marvelled.
Chise laughed softly and inhaled sharply as he ran his thumb over her nipple. He moaned in reply and pinched it, tugging it gently before leaning forwards to run his tongue over it. Chise pulled him to her, running her fingers through his hair, through the feathers at the back of his skull. "I was just thinking the same thing," she smiled.
"Ah, yes, the Thorn Mage is famous for his softness and warmth," he chuckled, turning his attention to her other breast as his hand wandered back to her hip, his thumb drifting downward to lightly rub her clit.
Chise whimpered, rubbing back against him in turn, feeling herself grow wet again. Her eyes drifted closed as she lost herself in his touch, his tongue warm against her breast as he lapped at her. His fingers drifted lower, finding her wetness, spreading it over her folds. "Chise, are you ready?"
She moaned and nodded, rising away from him and stroking her palm down his belly, finding him hard and moist again behind her. He took himself in hand, slicking himself against her entrance, spreading her wetness over himself as she lined herself up with him. Slowly, carefully, her knees trembling at the sensation, she lowered herself onto him.
He was big, so big. He stretched her, even wider than his tongue had, as he sank deeper and deeper into her. He seemed to go on forever. She wasn't sure she could even take him all; but somehow she found herself firm against his thighs. She sat still for a moment, adjusting to the feeling of him inside her. It was so strange to be filled in such a way, by someone else. To be joined to him like this. She hurt, a little; but it felt good, too. So much more intimate than she ever could have imagined. She opened her eyes, meeting his, feeling his quick, warm breaths waft over her, and, as strange as he was, could not imagine ever being together like this with anyone else. She had never even considered the possibility of making love to anyone as she was growing up, not seriously; she wondered if that was because she had not yet met him.
His gaze was steady upon her, his hand gentle upon her waist, his breathing harsh. The pain was passing, lost in the feeling of him inside her, and she involuntarily clenched around him, feeling him twitch within her in response. She moaned at the sensation, grinding herself against him, and he pushed his hips harder against hers with a gasp.
She leaned forward, nuzzling his chest, allowing him to slide partway out of her, before pushing herself back down upon him. Oh, that felt so good. He was reaching parts of her her fingers never had. More confident now that she could take him, she began to move more vigorously, Elias clasping her waist tighter as he thrust up to meet her.
"Chise," he gasped, panting, "I—I can't hold back. Are you—are—"
"I'm okay," she whimpered; "Don't stop!" Her fingers clenched in his fur as he moved faster, harder, pulling her down to meet his thrusts as her toes curled again and that wonderful, wonderful sensation coiled through her stomach again. She cried out, her back arching, as her orgasm washed over her, feeling him pulse over and over as her muscles clamped down upon him, triggering his own climax as he roared out, pulling her against him, holding her tight to his chest in a grip like iron.
His heartbeat was steady beneath her ear as she idly traced circles on Elias's chest, his plum skin smooth beneath her fingertips. His arms were warm around her, cradling her close. Keeping her safe.
She wondered if he had fallen asleep. She traced a little lower, feeling the firm planes of his abdomen, and his breathing hitched. Awake, then. Smiling, she glanced up and met his eyes. "Hi," she whispered, suddenly feeling unaccountably shy.
"Hi." His voice was warm with affection as he stroked a thumb over her shoulder.
"Are you still okay?"
"Better than okay," he assured her with a squeeze.
Chise rolled over onto her tummy, resting her chin on her hands as she looked up at him, her eyes roving over the familiar nooks and crannies of his face. Idly she wondered if one might determine his age by counting the growth rings of his horns, like a tree. Was there any tree as old as him? How long had he lived? Centuries, at least. "Elias," she asked, "How old are you?"
"Mm, I'm not sure. I remember at least five hundred years, I think—but a lot of that was with Lindel in the North. It could be less than that, or more. I don't know."
"Were your horns ever smaller than they are now?"
"All of me was smaller when I was with him."
"Yes, but you shrank then, right? So you could get into Rahab's house? I mean, did they ever used to be littler? Compared to the rest of you? Have they grown as you've aged?"
"Hm... I'm not sure I have aged. But as time has passed, no."
"Ah."
"Why?" His head tilted.
"Oh, I was just wondering..." At his inquisitive look she continued, "If they showed how old you are."
"I see. No. They have not changed." He paused, then added, "Not more than the rest of me does."
Chise laughed softly. "Maybe even less than the rest of you. I mean," she reached out a gentle hand to stroke down the bridge of his nose, "No matter your form, your face essentially stays the same. You have the same eyes looking at me, even if your pupils change a bit sometimes." She paused. "I wonder if that's why your glamour seems so fake to me?" she mused. "I mean, it's still a little weird to me now because you look so much like Simon; but I hadn't met him yet when we went to London that first time. But it's not your eyes."
Elias snorted. "That's the point, to not look like me. To not have glowing red eyes in a skull face."
"I know," Chise replied softly, caressing his jaw. "But then, you see, you don't look like you."
"Mm." He reached out and traced a gentle finger along her cheek in return. "I suppose." His eyes roamed over her face. "You always look like you, though."
"Even when I'm a fox?" she teased.
"Maybe especially when you're a fox," he replied, his voice considering. "Something in the eyes still stays Chise. Your wildness just comes out."
"I forget who I am, though."
"No." He leaned in for a nuzzle. "You forget who you aren't." Chise returned the nuzzle and pressed a kiss to the side of his face as he continued, "You forget your fears and your doubts. All that remains is your desire to explore, to know."
"I suppose."
"Your desire for knowledge is what will drive you to become a great mage some day," he added softly.
Blushing, Chise hid her face in his chest. "If I am ever a great mage, it will be because you set my feet on that path," she murmured.
"We will walk it together, then." Gently, Elias raised her chin to meet his eyes again, looking into hers for a long moment, before once again giving her a small nuzzle and a quick lick. "Meanwhile, though," he added, his voice brisk as he glanced at the lengthening shadows, "We had better return home before you are a late mage. Silky will be angry with us if we miss dinner."
Alarmed, Chise sprang to her feet, casting about for the remains of her clothes. "Oh! Yes! Where's my skirt..." She found it half-hidden behind a large clump of grass and shook it out. "Um. I don't think the rest of it is wearable anymore..." Slightly embarrassed, she gathered up what she could find of her shirt and underthings, holding them to her chest.
Elias was just twitching his robe into place; he considered her. "Does it matter?"
"Yes! What if we run into someone?"
"What if we don't?"
"But what if we do? And you know we will. The neighbours are everywhere."
"The neighbours won't care."
Chise sighed, and gripped the torn scraps of cloth a little tighter. "But I will." She blew a lock of hair out of her eyes and added, "You're going to have to teach me how to do that someday. Make my clothes come and go at will."
"Sure. If I can. Meanwhile..." He shrugged out of his robe, wrapping it snugly around her, and scooped her into his arms. "Does this work?"
"I suppose." She snuggled into it, and him, enjoying the weight and warmth and scent of it. The evening breeze was cooling against her bare skin, and the woollen robe was welcome for more than just reasons of modesty.
A familiar touch ghosted across her mind, lightly questioning. "We should go," Chise said. "Ruth says Silky is just serving dinner. And clattering the dishes louder than necessary."
Chuckling, Elias shifted her into the crook of one arm and produced his wand. "Let's go home, then."
A/N: If you've seen the fantastic art by Twitter's jo_mono_ of Chise braiding Elias's hair, know that yes, I was absolutely influenced by it. :D
. (because I can't find jo's original post of it)
