I lied. There will be Magick in this story.
Siege and Subtlety II
The blonde man woke swiftly, hand reaching automatically for the knife hidden under his pillow. Instead, he found silky silver strands of hair. His eyes blinked open and took in the lithe boy in his bedding, a small smile forming unbidden across his face.
"Riku. Wake up." He murmured, shaking the boy's arm gently. Bright, curious teal eyes slowly meandered open, a question in their bright depths. He made a small noise of confusion, then curled closer to the larger, warmer body of the general.
Cloud chuckled, running a hand through the smaller boy's hair once before regretfully sitting up. "I have work to do, Riku. And unfortunately, it wouldn't be a good idea for you to be seen by the less morally correct of my men." He pressed the other down into the sheets when he tried to follow.
With a yawn, the general pulled on his clothes and a fur cloak, then swept aside the tent flap to exit. A grimace formed across his handsome features as a freezing wind slashed at any and all exposed skin, and he immediately headed for a tent died black, only a few feet from his.
He pushed in without a word, scooping a small ball of snow in one hand. "Zexion. Xing. Up, before your bedding meets the element you were supposed to be keeping from the camp." He ordered, pulling back the thick fur blanket from the gloriously nude couple.
The black haired girl cracked an eyelid, then flicked her hand, causing the snow to disperse into a mini blizzard and blow back out of the tent. "Sorry, Storm Cloud. As you can see, we were a little… busy last night. Zexy, up and at 'em." Her voice softened as she turned to the lithely muscled bluenette at her side, running an affectionate hand across his bicep.
He sighed sleepily, but sat up and raised a brow at his general. "What can we do for you this early in the morning? I doubt your… activities last night could have caused much pain for you. Your partner, however, might be feeling a little differently."
The blonde's eyes narrowed. "There was a blizzard last night. I needed Xing to clean camp." He growled dangerously, his glare one that would send lesser men running for the hills.
Stretching like a cat, the female stood. "Snow is clean, General." She murmured absently, pulling on a long-sleeved, full-length fur dress and lacing it up the front. She pulled the hood over her head, plunging her delicate, pretty features into shadows, so that all that could be seen were her crafty emerald eyes.
Zexion smiled, reaching for his own clothes before glancing over at the taller man. "Cloud, I am serious about the little one. There's still a couple pain potions left from the last battle, and that little thing didn't look like he could stand up to your… natural strength."
"I was careful, but I thank you for your concern. He is fine, and… His name is Riku." He spoke a little slower than usual, thoughts elsewhere.
The strategist gave him a once-over, noticing the slightly dreamy look in the blonde's eyes. "Me thinks, you'd better watch your heart, if you haven't lost it already." He murmured quietly before stalking after his lover.
Cloud simply frowned before following.
The black haired woman stood with her arms upraised in the middle of the camp, snow swirling eerily around her slim body. Her head was thrown back, exposing her icy pale skin and raven black hair. Her eyes were shut, lush red lips curled into a smile that beckoned men seductively.
Then she swept her arms in front of her, and the snow flowed from the camp like water down a hill. White stopped cushioning the stark, barren brown of the land, and the woman grimaced at the sight. "This place is so much prettier with the snow, though." She mused aloud, turning to the two men.
Zexion immediately went to her, wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her lips. "Well, its bad for the men, and our fearsome general would rather have healthy, strong men than a pretty landscape." He teased, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
She snorted, a decidedly unladylike motion and turned to the blonde in question. "By the way, that snow? It was Called, by a rather strong wizard, and I have a bad feeling I know who." She glanced pointedly at the general's tent with a slight frown.
Cloud froze, expression darkening quickly. "If he was such a strong wizard, why would he be caught by Roman soldiers? You don't think he did it on purpose, surely. He would have acted out the minute he was brought in camp, or while I was… Occupied."
Her laughter was pleasant, full of true mirth, and held none of the bell-like, fake laughter from the wellborn ladies at court. "He probably didn't even know it was him, Storm Cloud." She spoke affectionately, throwing him a reassuring smile. "It would have been far more devastating if he meant it."
Zexion smiled, delighted at her joy. Besotted fool… Cloud thought, but not without a certain amount of fondness and longing. He turned to his tent, where the lithe silverette still waited for him. "If you… taught him… Do you think he would try and escape?" He finally asked, turning to the couple with a hint of anxiety on his features.
Xing smiled brightly and held out her hands, clasping his much larger ones in hers. "I was hoping you'd ask. And no, not as long as you are part of the Roman Empire. Wizards and Witches are ruled by their emotions, and are extremely loyal. He won't attack anything within your protection, and that includes your people."
With a huff, the bluenette narrowed his eyes. "I think you two are missing the most important thing. He can't understand anything either of you are saying." He pointed out logically. His woman smiled mysteriously.
"There's a spell for that, sweetie. I would have given that to Cloud beforehand, but you distracted me before I could." She smirked and headed for the blonde's tent. Both men hurried after her, twin looks of exasperation on their faces.
She ducked inside, and smiled at the startled teen before placing both hand on his shoulders and letting bright Greengold light sink into his skin.
Bright teal eyes widened at the three's sudden appearance, and the boy flinched as the strange woman put her hand on him, but locked his gaze with the general's and didn't try to run from her.
Finally, she took her hands away and headed for her lover. "Smart kid, but a little too dependant on you, Cloud." She informed the blonde before taking Zexion's hand and heading outside. "If you don't mind, me and Zexy are still reacquainting our bodies."
Cloud snorted softly, then turned to Riku. "Can you understand me now, Riku?" He asked holding out his hand to the still-frightened teen.
The silverette practically leapt into his arms, a slightly confused look on his face. "Yes… Is she a witch, then? I've heard tell about them, but never seen one up close." His eyes half closed at the warmth the taller man gave off.
"She is, and she believes you to be a wizard. If you wish, she will train you. But I would have to ask you not to harm the Roman Empire with your newfound powers." He murmured, combing his fingers through the teen's hair once again.
Surprised teal eyes lifted to meet the other's gaze, surprisingly round and innocent. "You would trust me not to hurt your precious ones?" He asked softly, molding his body to that of the taller man's.
Cloud couldn't help but lean down to nip lightly at the pale skin of the boy's neck. "You are one of my precious people… But yes, I would trust you not to harm my country and countrymen."
The look the teen then gave him had both males on the floor and naked in record time, Cloud mapping the boy's mouth out once more and growling possessively. Riku simply mewled, locking his legs around the blondes' waist and gripping at the smooth muscles.
The general moved down, nipping at the boy's sensitive earlobe and pushing his fingers into the boy's mouth. The silverette gave a breathy little moan, taking the fingers and toying with them, licking each digit and sucking, nipping a little as well.
Cloud growled at the feel, moving lower, to the slight boy's collarbone. He licked a long line across the bone's structure before nipping the end. Riku sucked in his breath sharply, arching his body against the blonde, and -
The tent flap was suddenly shoved inwards. "Sorry to interrupt you, Sir, but the natives are retaliating!" With that, the soldier fled the almighty wrath of the blonde, being half way smart.
The general's blistering words could be heard across the camp, and even the savage warrior enemies paused at the acid tone of voice.