Author's Note: Thanks for reviewing! *hugz all*
Disclaimer: Don't own, don't sue, don't ask, don't tell
Warning: Yaoi, citrus in later chapters
Later, after Erutis had left Raenef to his so-called studies, the young demon lord sprawled on his bed and stared into the violet canopy above him. He'd been thinking lately about a questionable subject: love. Eclipse had never once mentioned it…Raenef had taken it as off-limits, taboo maybe… But ever since Leeche had come and left the palace a week ago, with her kiss and demand that he wait ten years for her, the subject had been on his mind. Was he betrothed to Leeche? Just because she had said so? For some reason, this upset Raenef.
Maybe it was because he was in love with Eclipse.
Raenef sighed and rolled over, hugging his pillow to his chest. He traced idle patterns on the bedspread, picturing his mentor's beautiful face in his mind…his long, ebony black hair and garnet eyes that could flicker with warmth on the rare occasions he smiled or cut like shards of ice. He thought of the long lashes that framed those eyes, that beautiful, smooth, pale skin, and lips that had haunted his dreams since Leeche's kiss. Now that he knew (sort of) what activity two sets of lips could engage in, Raenef couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to kiss Eclipse.
A shudder racked his slender frame as he imagined the older demon's lips on his, running over his skin, body on top of his… Raenef had discovered some very enlightening reading material in the castle's library two days ago and his imagination had run wild since.
But it wasn't just the physical aspect (though Raenef was certainly interested in experiencing firsthand some of the activities described) that drew the blonde demon lord to his tutor. Eclipse always protected him, taught him with far more patience than any other demon would under the same circumstances, and was always there for him. Raenef couldn't imagine his life without Eclipse…those days in the Thieves' Guild seemed so long ago, a different world.
Raenef…Raenef was quite sure he was in love with Eclipse. And he may not be the perfect demon lord that Eclipse wanted…but, he rather thought—hoped—that the other demon was fond of him too. If only he could be certain. If only he could do something to find out…
"Anything you desire, Rae, and Eclipse has to get it because he said so right here!" Erutis's words floated across his mind, her voice excited.
An idea crept upon him, an idea that had taken root even before Erutis had left but that Raenef had been too wary to examine closely. Now he took a good look at it, studying it from all angles and aspects and my, what a darling figure it had… Ahem. Raenef brooded in a very un-Raenef-like way, but Eclipse might have approved of. (Proper demon lords seem the dark, brooding type, no?) Maybe he could…but no, could he? Well… "It never hurts to try!" he announced to himself. And following that, "And if you fail, try, try again!"
He briefly wondered where he'd heard those (oft-repeated) sayings before. Then he shrugged and pictured the great hall, where Eclipse had said he would be for the afternoon, and cried, "Go!" unaware that he was still quite tangled in his sheets with his pillow still clutched in his arms.
Eclipse was surprised to find his liege tumble suddenly into the great hall, wrapped in a mess of violet silk and blonde hair. "Master Raenef," he exclaimed, rising from his seat and starting toward the demon lord.
Raenef sat up on the floor and stuck his head out of the fabric. "Hi!" he said brightly.
Eclipse helped him up, shedding the sheets as he did so. "What—" he began to ask, but the demon lord interrupted, peering up earnestly into his eyes,
"Eclipse?"
Blinking at Raenef's earnest expression, Eclipse replied, "Yes?"
There was a pause as the black-haired demon observed an internal struggle within his lord. Finally, Raenef smiled and asked innocently, "Whatcha you doing?" He drew away from his tutor and glanced about the room curiously.
Eclipse had a feeling that hadn't been the original question. But nevertheless… He walked to a table by the window and picked up one of the many scrolls laid across it. "I've been going over our finances. We appear to have gone over budget this month, due to all the extra mouths to feed."
"You mean Erutis and Chris?" Raenef asked, looking contrite.
"Yes. But we'll be fine," he assured, watching a smile blossom across the golden-haired demon lord's face once more. Something pricked at his heart, but he dismissed it. Eclipse had grown rather used to his odd, uncertain feelings when it came to the fifth Lord Raenef. Seating himself, he returned to attending to their financial problems as Raenef drifted silently over to the window and rested his arms on the sill, gazing out into the courtyard.
A few minutes passed in relative quiet, until a shuffling of feet and a soft calling of his name caused Eclipse to look up.
Raenef was fidgeting. At his tutor's questioning look, he shifted his gaze away and then back, looking adorably unsure. "Eclipse," he said again, hesitantly. Then, before he lost his nerve again, or Eclipse lost patience with him, he blurted out, "I want a pet dragon."
-x-
A few days later, Raenef sat cross-legged on the floor of his room, peering at the baby dragon who was solemnly observing him with wide blue eyes. Raenef blinked. So did the dragon. Raenef laughed happily and clapped his hands. "Thank you Eclipse!" He beamed up at the demon standing behind him.
Eclipse returned his thanks with a slight nod, his features set in his usual implacable expression. (Secretly, he was grumbling to himself about another mouth to feed…but even more secretly, in that deep dark place where secrets were hidden, he was enjoying the look of joy on Raenef's face. But shh, it's a secret.)
The baby dragon, his scales tinted only a shade darker than Raenef's hair, stretched his wings and yawned. He clambered sleepily into his master's lap and clamped onto Raenef's robes with his sharp little claws. Gazing down at the gift Eclipse had given him, Raenef cuddled the dragon close and let his mind toy with the fact that, yes, it was true…Eclipse would give his master anything he desired.
So what do I desire, Raenef thought, a private, wicked smile spreading across his face.
Erutis, just entering the room to meet the new addition to the household, with Chris behind her, saw the expression and stopped short. She sighed. Raenef had been in front of the mirror practicing his "true demon lord" evil grins again, hadn't he? He still hadn't realized he was far too cute for that. She leaned down, pinched his cheeks, and cooed.
Raenef swatted her hands away.
"How dare you mock me?" he demanded. Then, almost as an afterthought: "Vermin!"
More notes: Review! Next chapter coming soon! And rating will go up…expect citrus in later chapters.
