A Very Riviera Christmas
DISCLAIMER: If I did own Riviera, I would've had trouble keeping mature content out of it... which is why it may be a good thing that I don't, when you come to think of it :3
Warning: This chapter contains lemon! Read at your own risk!
"Ein..."
Shifting his grip slightly, the wingless angel turned his teasing nibble at the side of Ledah's throat into a playful nip, then a long and passionate kiss.
Shivering with the intensity of the moment, Ledah arched his back inwards, his long pale fingers digging into Ein's hips as he cried out feverishly. "Ah... Ein..."
It was nearly midnight, and the two of them were sitting up in bed, their room lit by the dusky cast of a low, wan-flamed oil lamp. In the middle of preparing to sleep, Ein had impulsively ambushed Ledah with a kiss; the two of them were now entangled although still mostly clothed in the middle of the bedsheets, with Ein practically sitting in the other angel's lap and Ledah completely helpless in his lover's arms. It wasn't something either of them had planned--as he'd seen Ledah slip off his cloak, Ein had been hit hard with the inexorable force of desire, and he'd just let it carry him as it willed--but if Ein let himself think about it, he'd been waiting for an opportunity like this for a while now. To be totally honest, his love for the blonde seraph had become so strong that it had evolved into a nearly painful physical wanting... which, if not satisfied, would surely break out in whatever way it could.
"Gods... Ein... Ein...!"
Only half-aware of the action, Ein let his hands drift up to the fastenings of Ledah's vest and began to pull it open, tie by tie.
Once that was off, with Ledah apparently none the wiser, Ein's right hand slid slowly from the other angel's ribs to his hip, and from there, it went lazily of its own accord towards his groin.
In that moment, Ledah apparently came to his senses, his hands suddenly at Ein's chest, gently propelling the two of them apart.
"Ledah..." Ein began, eyes pleading, hands shaking.
"No, Ein," was the response, given between shallow bursts of breath. "Please... stop. We have to talk about this."
"I need you, Ledah..."
"Ein, please." Ledah's eyes were shadowed as he tugged the front of his vest back together, pained and vulnerable. "The gods only know how much I need you, too. But before we do... anything... we have to talk. Okay?"
Ein sighed. He couldn't say no to the look on Ledah's face. "Alright. But what is there to talk about? We love each other. This is right, I know it is."
"I never said it wasn't. But, if I may be honest with you, Ein... you barely know what you're doing. At your level of experience, it's too easy to make mistakes. We need to be careful. I don't want to hurt you, or make you feel any pain your first time." As Ein opened his mouth to protest, looking confused, Ledah gently laid a finger to his parted lips to hush him. "I know that it will probably be you that takes me. But if something goes wrong and I'm hurt, I know how that will make you feel. And I don't want any bad memories associated with... us."
"I... could hurt you...?" Ein repeated, suddenly feeling very stupid and aware that he was revealing the depth of his naïveté at the same time. But with something like this... he didn't really care. If Ledah's well-being was at stake, then...
"Yes, and badly, if you aren't gentle enough." Seeing the stricken look on Ein's face, Ledah shook his head. "If you let me, I could probably talk you through it. It wouldn't be so severe--this is not going to be my first time--but I'm sure you're aware of the great number of people who wield sex as a weapon. An intent for cruelty or brutality--or just inexperience in someone well-meaning--can make it very painful." Resting his hand on Ein's head, Ledah smiled at his young lover. "Don't give me that look... I know that you would never consciously decide to harm me."
Still trying to process everything he'd been told, Ein realized what Ledah had just confessed, and looked at the other angel, his brow furrowing. "So, wait... that means... you've...?"
With a sigh, Ledah removed the hand, wrapping his arms around his own chest as he stared into the distance. "You didn't know him," he said quietly. "It was... some time ago, before I became a Grim Angel. I was being used, but I didn't realize it until it was too late... I was merely a plaything to him, and when it became clear to him that I wasn't going to satisfy his needs, he cast me aside. That night, I... I went into things not fully understanding, and once I knew what he wanted, I was too afraid to refuse. I was young... naïve. He was... rough with me, and it was..." Ledah just shook his head, unable to find a word. "I felt no pleasure. I was unable... in the midst of so much pain..." He shivered, and continued in a softer voice. "My virginity wasn't sacrificed, it was destroyed. I don't want it to be like that for you. If I ever... I won't let you hurt, won't let you bleed. I don't want you to be in too much pain to move when it's over. I want the night we make love to be nothing but good memories, for both of us. So..."
"Ledah..." There was both horror and anguish in Ein's voice.
The blonde shook his head. "You needn't worry... it was a long time ago."
"That's not it," Ein said angrily, sweeping Ledah into his arms and hugging him tightly. "How could he do that to you? That's just horrible! I would never, ever hurt you like that--I swear, forever!"
"I know... but thank you, Ein..."
After a moment, the wingless angel felt compelled to ask, speaking in a low and gentle voice. "So... what happened...?"
"He was angry with me, for being so weak... and things were ruined between us, anyway. He left me, and I did my best to avoid him. But the worst part... was that even after that, I still wanted him to love me. As I told you, I was young, and very foolish. He... almost broke my heart."
"I'm so sorry, Ledah," Ein murmured. "You deserved so much better."
"I have it now." And for some time, there was silence as the two of them held each other.
Eventually, though, Ein cleared his throat and began again, shy but obviously trying. "So... so is there anything else I should know...? About... about sex, I mean..."
Ledah, not budging from his position in Ein's arms, sighed before responding. "To keep something like that from happening, we need to be properly prepared... and having some kind of lubricant would most likely be helpful in your case. As for me... it's been almost ten years, so I expect that the scar tissue will have healed, or nearly. But as I'm not a virgin, it still won't be quite so painful. Also, I know what to expect. And I trust you, Ein. I know that with you... I won't have anything to be afraid of..." He shook his head slightly. "I'll give you a better explanation some other time. I'm tired... my heart hurts... and I don't want to move much. I... I feel safe, with you."
"I'll try to live up to that," Ein told him, rubbing Ledah's lower back supportively. "Okay. I won't push you. You're right, we should sleep. So rest, dearest..."
There was no response--Ledah, it seemed, had already taken Ein's advice.
---
Since the day Ein, Rose, and Ledah had returned to Elendia, Lina had put up with a lot, but this was one thing she would not stand for.
After getting into her favorite tunic-shirt and skirt, she marched up the stairs, her face set into a fierce scowl that would've set any of the other girls in the house into fits of hysterical laughter if they'd seen it. Stomping as she went, she blasted open the door to the upstairs room.
As she'd suspected, Ein and Ledah were still curled up in the bedsheets, with the blonde's head on the brunet's chest. They were still wearing their clothes, for the sake of almighty Banango trees! And at a time like this!
Getting a running start, she launched herself into the air, letting out a shriek as she did: "E-iiiiiinnn! Le-daaaaaahh! Wake up RIGHT NOW!"
Both of them jolted awake right as she landed, bouncing the mattress hard enough to afford them the leverage to get on their feet. While Ein just jumped to the floor with a look of complete and utter confusion on his face, Ledah caught Lorelei's hilt in one successful grab, landing in a perfect battle stance with his wings flared warily. At about the same time, both angels realized what was going on, and sagged into more relaxed postures.
"Ye gods," Ein managed, clutching his chest. "Lina, don't do that!"
Ledah sighed deeply. "Believe me, Ein, it could've been much worse than her--don't complain..."
"Lina can't believe the nerve of you two!" the girl scolded, shaking both fists in front of her chest. "Tomorrow is Christmas! How can you sleep in at a time like this! How?"
"It isn't Christmas yet, Lina. That's how." Ein groaned and scrubbed a hand across his eyes. "Ugh. What time is it, anyway?"
Staring out the window with his brow furrowed, Ledah shook his head. "About... eleven, I'd say. Regardless of Lina's motives, we should be rather glad she came up here... any longer, and people would've started to wonder."
"So come on then!" Lina yelled, off the bed now and bouncing up and down.
"Someday you really need to teach me how you can tell time just by looking at the sky," Ein said, sighing. "Well... I guess we'd better go, then."
"You go. I am going to get a change of clothes."
"As long as somebody comes down!" Lina cried, waving her fists again. "Come on come on come onnnnn!"
As she grabbed his wrist, Ein turned and smiled back at Ledah, who was already beginning to remove his vest. "We'll talk later, then?"
"Don't worry. ...And stop staring. I'm not undressing for you."
"...Yet," Ein said pointedly, adding a wicked grin.
"Stop being such a pervert, Ein," Lina scolded, yanking on his hand. "Come on, Fia's making pancakes!"
Both boys perked up visibly at the mention of Fia's pancakes, which (like any pastry she made) were prized throughout Elendia.
"You had better save me some, or there is going to be a lot of pain and suffering this morning," Ledah warned.
"Of course I will, but the way this one is likely to scarf 'em, we may have to share."
"Hey!" Lina protested.
"I wouldn't mind." Miraculously, Ledah managed to keep a mostly straight face, although there was a mischievous glint in his eyes and the corner of his mouth twitched just slightly.
"I bet. Well, let's go then, shall we?" Ein told Lina.
"Finally! It's not like you won't see each other in fifteen minutes anyway! Come on!"
And with that, she hauled Ein down the stairs.
---
However, as soon as the wingless angel made it to the table, all thoughts of saving food for Ledah went clear out the window.
Fia had outdone herself, as usual. There were already a few heaping stacks of pancakes on the table, being fought over by Serene and Rose. Lina dashed to the table and began demanding her fair share as Ein looked around; Cierra and Fia were still at the stove, with the scarlet witch monitoring a pan of sausages and the fencer carefully flipping over another pancake in the making.
"That looks soooo good," Ein groaned. "Hey, come on, scoot over... I want some, too!"
Mass pandemonium ensued.
Finally, Fia held a plate stacked with exactly four pancakes above her head. "This is the very last batch," she warned them all. "I will not make any more until tomorrow."
"No thanks," Cierra demurred. "I'm still waiting for the sausages to finish, anyway, and I want to save some room for them."
"Me neither. Hmmmbleeeh, I feel like I'm gonna be sick," Rose agreed.
"Mine!" Lina squealed.
"Oh no you don't, you little squirt," Serene growled. "Those pancakes are for me!"
"Rock-paper-scissors!" Ein yelled. Frantically, the three of them chose a hand sign.
While both Lina and Serene came up scissors, Ein had chosen rock.
"Damn..."
"Ein, you big meanie!"
"There's no contesting the awesome skill of a Grim Angel," Ein gloated, removing the pancakes from Fia's hold with a wicked grin.
With the girls fuming, Ein triumphantly sat, lifted his fork, and prepared to dig in.
"Hey Ein, scoot back a little."
It was Ledah's voice. Looking up, Ein realized that the seraph had changed into another set of priest's clothes identical to yesterday's but for the fact that they were black instead of that dark crimson he usually wore.
"Um... okay." Slightly confused, Ein backed his chair up a few inches.
"Thank you." And with no more warning than that, Ledah planted himself firmly in Ein's lap, sitting sideways to give his wings room, and removed fork and plate from the stunned angel's hands.
"What--what--what--what are you--!" Ein demanded, his entire face aflame with blush.
"I'm glad you saved me these, as I requested."
Ein realized that he was caught, but refused to give up so easily. "But... but... my pancakes! I won those fair and square!"
"It's your own fault for not remembering." Looking over the plate, Ledah nodded, a mildly satisfied expression on his face. "Thank the gods... I got here before you had the opportunity to slaughter these with butter. Would someone pass the syrup, please?"
It took a moment for the girls to react--they'd all been stupefied into blank-staring shock at the completely blatant, nonchalant, candid way Ledah had claimed his perch.
"Ummm... okay," Rose finally said, shoving the half-full pitcher of glutinous liquid across the table to him.
"Thank you." With that, the seraph casually drizzled a trail of syrup over the pancake stack, still acting as though nothing was out of the ordinary.
"But... but..." Ein whimpered, still torn between the loss of the pancakes and Ledah's unusually intimate actions.
Ledah, one eyebrow arched, held up a forkful of pancake and looked down at Ein, amused. "What now? I do recall that we'd agreed to share... do you want me to feed you?"
Ein's blush, if possible, deepened. "N..no, that's alright."
"Oh, good. I'm rather enjoying these." Even now completely calm, Ledah continued eating.
Getting a sly look on his face, Ein smirked. "But, Ledah..."
Reaching for Ein's glass of water, the seraph gave him a questioning look.
"Are you sure you don't want a... sausage?"
Immediately, Ledah spat the water he'd been drinking back into the glass, dropped it like a hot brick, and hunched over, coughing.
Maybe I've gone a little too far... Steadying Ledah's still-shaking body with both hands, Ein gave him a look of concern. "Are you okay?"
As the coughing subsided, however, Ledah remained in his bent-double position. It took Ein a moment to realize why, and once he had, he couldn't stop staring for sheer shock. The blonde seraph, out of his choking paroxysm, was now in a seizing fit of laughter.
Cierra and Rose, having understood the joke, were also giggling madly; Serene was looking at Ein with a vaguely disturbed expression, and Fia and Lina just seemed confused (apparently, Ein's perverse humor had gone straight over their heads).
"Ein!" Ledah managed between laughing and gasps for air.
"Okay, I will admit that maybe Ledah got what he deserved for acting like such a vixen all of a sudden, but still..." Serene shook her head. "Ein, you pervert..."
Finally getting himself under control, Ledah seized the nearest water glass (which happened to be Lina's) and poured its contents over Ein's head. "I'd say you need a lot more cold water where that came from, too! Don't do that to me while I'm trying to drink, you idiot!"
Rather than making some kind of catty remark or protesting the unrequested bath, Ein threw his arms around Ledah's waist, smiling.
"The weirdest things turn you on," Rose commented, getting up to retrieve the pieces of the glass Ledah had dropped.
"It's not that," Ein protested, shifting so that his head rested against Ledah's chest. "This is... this is just the first time Ledah's laughed in... it has to be six or seven years, now! I... I'm just so happy, and so relieved... this means that you really are getting back to normal again!"
Also sporting a small smile, Fia walked forward and put her arms around the two of them. "Is... that so? I... I'm very happy for you both."
"Six or seven years?" Serene asked, sobered. "But that's... that's awful... and unbelievable, too. How could even the good Magi do that to someone?"
"The only one you've met is Hector, so you wouldn't know," Rose said wryly, "but even the nicest ones are wholly consumed with the desire to protect Asgard. Even Hector was, to a point. I think the gods might've put a geas on them before they died... the point is, though, that they will do anything to preserve the land the gods sacrificed themselves to defend, even if it came to laying down their own lives."
"And that's what all of us were taught to believe, too," Ein put in. "That Asgard took priority over every individual life in the world. That's part of the reason why I was a social outcast there... I laid too much importance on people's lives against the greater picture. But I refuse to believe that it's okay for those who fight so hard, with so much conviction, to be treated as though their lives don't matter..."
"Well, that difference in you is contagious," Ledah commented, leaning down to kiss his lover and makeshift chair. "I've spent enough time with you that it's begun to rub off."
"Note, however, that with all his high-minded ideals about the importance of the individual, Ein is still obscenely self-sacrificing..." Rose commented. "Anyway, what he said is true. I was assigned to Ein a few months after he became a Grim Angel, and the Magi had already run their virtual wrecking ball through Ledah's emotions by the time I met him. And that was two years ago... he'd been made a Grim Angel some time before Ein, too."
Lina stared up at the boys with big, sad amber-brown eyes. "That's so sad..."
"Which is why I'm so happy that he's finally back to normal," Ein said pointedly, hugging Ledah all the more closely.
"Stop that, you're getting my clothes all wet," the seraph protested, although his scarlet cheeks told a quite different story.
---
After the aftereffects of the fiasco were finally all cleared away, Ein and Ledah slipped out of the house to head into the Grove of Repose, where they would hopefully be able to salvage a little solitude.
"I'm proud of you, you know?" Ein murmured, tightly squeezing the other angel's hand.
"I can't see why." All the same, Ledah was still wearing that soft, somewhat lopsided smile, cheeks flushed with both embarrassment and pleasure at the praise.
"Oh, you know exactly why," Ein insisted. "This is a big step for you. The further out of the closet we can get you, the better. I don't want to see you bottling your emotions up ever again, unless you absolutely have to. I like seeing you break out laughing. It's good for you."
"You like seeing me embarrass myself?" Ledah asked, his smile becoming equal parts shy and coy. "It would be your perverse humor that finally destroys my control, too."
"Of course I like seeing you embarrass yourself. You're cute when you're flustered. And you love my perverse humor. I can tell, no matter how hard you try to hide it."
"C..cute...? I am...?"
"Adorable," Ein confirmed, grinning and then leaning over for another soft, precious, tumultuous press of lips to lips. "Well, it looks like the coast is clear. It seems as though I need to catch up on my education, so would you mind doing the honors?"
"Hmmmmmnn." With a peaceable sigh, Ledah steered Ein over to a nearby bench and gently sat him down. "Well, what do you want to know?"
"How would I end up hurting you, and how can I prevent that?" the wingless angel asked, more serious now.
"Make the size comparisons in your mind," Ledah told him with one upraised eyebrow. "As I told you last night, without proper preparation, the ring muscle and sphincters especially can be easily torn, especially if one has never had any prior sexual contact. It causes substantial bleeding and can be very painful. With time, the risk lessens."
"Preparation..." Ein prompted with an upraised eyebrow.
"A slower stretch. Usually facilitated with one or more fingers."
"So... in other words, hand service."
"To put it in layman's terms, I suppose. And for a virgin, it's still better to have something to use as a lubricant. The less chances taken, the better."
Ein gave Ledah a sidelong look. "So... where'd you learn all this, anyway?"
"That's for me to know and you to find out," the blonde said, retaining the completely straight face he'd maintained throughout the conversation.
Ein sighed exaggeratedly. "You know, sometimes I think you enjoy torturing me."
"I do," Ledah said, a note of satisfaction creeping into his voice, although none of it showed on his face. "You happen to be cute when you squirm."
"Lucky me."
"Anything else?" Although Ledah was barely smiling, his eyes were dancing.
Ein sighed exaggeratedly. "You are enjoying this way too much." Shaking his head, he continued. "Well, if it's not too much trouble... I'd like to know..."
---
After about half an hour's discussion, with Ein growing increasingly uncomfortable and Ledah's patience undented, the seraph gently put a hand on his lover's shoulder to silence him.
"I think you know enough by now. And besides, I doubt you want to continue this discussion with Lina coming our way..."
Ein looked up and sweatdropped. "Oh... she is? I didn't even notice..."
Indeed, the ponytailed carrot-top was bouncing down the snowy way towards them.
"Hiiii!" the girl beamed, energetic as ever.
"Uhm... hi. Is there something you need, Lina?"
In response, she only bounced more rapidly, glowing with excitement. "Oooooh, Christmas is just tomorrow... I can't wait, I can't wait!" Giving the boys a furtive smile, she toyed with the end of one ponytail. "And you two are just going to love your presents. I wonder what mine are..."
Ein frowned. Presents... why does that give me a bad feeling? I did my shopping when we got back here... Rose, Fia, Lina, Serene, and Cierra. So...
Oh, crap.
He'd completely forgotten to get Ledah anything.
"Uh, guys..." The angel and the archer looked at him curiously. "I just remembered something really important that I've got to take care of. I'm sorry, but it's something that needs doing right now, so..."
Ledah smiled and shook his head. "It's alright. I think Lina and I can keep ourselves occupied for however long you need." He gave the little girl a sidelong look and a smile; she giggled.
Smiling back at the two of them, Ein bobbed his head gratefully. "Thanks..." With that, he stood and headed off, sparing only a single look back. By the time he did, Lina had already hopped up on the bench behind Ledah, and was telling him something, her hands on his shoulders and the ends of her ponytails drifting onto his wings.
Gods, he just keeps pulling things like that on me every day, Ein thought to himself, smiling wryly. Who would ever have thought that he and Lina would get along so well together? They're almost polar opposites, yet he's even more indulgent of her than I am, and he's always so gentle with her. Ledah, there are so many sides to you that I still don't really know... and I can't help but love that about us, that we'll have the time to continue to grow...
With those fleeting tender thoughts aside, Ein started wondering what he was going to do about the problem of Ledah's gift. He'd be able to dredge something up if he thought about it enough, but he wanted this to be something really special, something really memorable... it was, after all, their first Christmas as a real couple.
Ein had been wandering aimlessly for several minutes when he almost walked into Fia, who was also outside, seemingly just enjoying the clear skies and the crispness of the midwinter air.
"Ah... E-Ein...? What are you...?" she asked helplessly as the wingless angel stepped back quickly to avoid tripping either himself or her.
"Fia, I need your help," Ein said earnestly, taking hold of her arms just above her elbows.
"U..um, what is it that you want...?" she asked shyly.
Ein explained as quickly as he could without omitting any details. "I feel like such an idiot, too, because I remember thinking to myself that I had to be sure to get him something special the day after I did my gift-finding for everyone else. You're really good at this kind of thing, Fia--what should I do?"
The young fencer was silent for a moment, her expression unreadable. "Maybe..." she said softly, digging in a pocket of her skirts.
Ein was silent, waiting.
"You... can give him this," she said in a dry whisper, holding out a small flat box.
Ein took it and opened it. Resting in the folds of a tiny plush cushion was a thin gold band, with one small, smooth red stone in the shape of a heart resting between delicate silver wings at its highest point.
"Whoa, Fia..." The wingless angel stared at her out of wide eyes. "This is perfect! But how did you... how could you have had...?"
"It's your gift..." Fia told him in a small voice, offering a tiny shrug. "I... want you to be happy, Ein. And if that means you need to be with Ledah, then you have my blessing."
Although Ein was really beginning to feel as though he shouldn't be accepting the ring, he decided not to pursue Fia's reasoning any further; the girl was beginning to look both flustered and depressed. Instead, he carefully closed the box and put his arms around her.
"Thank you... thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Fia... I'm so glad I have you here as my friend. You're just so thoughtful... I have no idea what I would do without you."
She only smiled and rested her head on his shoulder in return.
---
Night had fallen softly, and almost all of Elendia was asleep.
The girls were all downstairs, having reorganized their sleeping arrangements so that Ein and Ledah would continue to have the upstairs bedroom to themselves for the rest of the winter. Even now, Ein wasn't completely sure whether they just did it out of respect or so that they wouldn't have to hear it if anything happened between the two young men.
The room was lit by one single candle, which provided only enough light to see the world in a soft, rosy cast that made everything seem even more beautiful and perfect than it really was. Even though the snow still piled up to the bottom of the windowsill, the curtains were drawn so that none of the moon's white reflected light would shatter the mood.
And in the near-silence and half-light, Ein and Ledah stood clasped together beside the bed.
Between kisses, short breaths for air, and soft sighs of yearning, they had slowly destroyed their last inhibitions; with their hearts and minds in agreement at last, they began to take the first steps towards the oneness they both needed so desperately.
Instead of drawing back when Ein's still-hesitant fingers went to the ties of his vest and undid them slowly, Ledah simply folded his wings around the two of them in a shielding black curtain, and shucked the dark garment when his lover was finished, allowing in a brief glimpse of the low light as he carefully allowed his wings passage through the delicate slits in the back of the fabric. Gently, deftly, he unfastened the strip of cloth Ein used as a belt, then slipped off the long jacket that the younger angel wore.
"Ledah--" the brunet began, but the fair-haired seraph cut him off with a kiss. The time for words was over. The speech of their hearts held sway now.
Emboldened by Ledah's quiet insistence, Ein gathered up the soft fabric of the blonde's robes in both hands at his waist, kilting the garment's voluminous skirts higher and higher by handspans as Ledah himself undid his white ruff. The room was silent but for their soft and ragged breathing, and now the gentle swish of fabric as the two angels at last maneuvered Ledah out of his robes completely. Drawing back for the space of a second, Ein ran both hands over his lover's ivory skin, adding a little pressure as he trailed his fingers down Ledah's sides and slipped a forefinger to the side to tease the delicate slit of the blonde's navel. At Ledah's soft hiss of surprise, Ein smiled to himself. Inexperienced didn't always mean incompetent.
Letting his own touch linger, Ledah gently slipped off Ein's undershirt, experimentally tracing the tip of one finger over one of the wingless angel's branching scars as he brought the cream-colored garment over his lover's head. Ein flinched, then shuddered. When his wings had been literally ripped out of his body, the process had been messy and the wounds had healed sloppily, with soft pinkish-brown scars wherever a thin thread of his flesh, or a vein, or a strand of muscle had yanked further than the wing itself. Even after two years, the deep, ugly reminders of his Grim Angel trial hadn't even begun to fade. The skin had always been slightly sensitive there; now, heat had seemed to flare briefly along the faint lines Ledah had touched. Letting out a tiny, whimpering moan, Ein shivered again, feeling heat sear through him a second time as Ledah gently probed the branchlike scars once more. The sensation was far more pleasurable than disturbing, and he was beginning to wish that the quiet blonde would never stop.
"They're beautiful, Ecthel," he heard Ledah murmur into his ear. "As beautiful as you are."
Oddly, he didn't feel irritated at the use of his true-name this time. Perhaps it was just because of the reverence it held in Ledah's whisper.
Turning, he caught the seraph's lips once more, pressing their bodies together as Ledah's hands drifted to the waistband of his winter pants. As soon as he felt the blonde yield, he slipped his tongue into the other angel's mouth, confident after a week's worth of stolen kisses.
Desire was a clenched fist in Ein's gut as Ledah stripped the last of his clothes away. Hands fumbling as he sought the elusive snap that lay somewhere below the blonde seraph's navel, the wingless angel realized in a vague way that he was already hard. When had that happened? He didn't know, and come to think of it, he didn't really care. There were other, much more pressing things on his mind at the moment...
Dear gods, to hell with foreplay, I think I'll just have him here and now, Ein thought giddily, pressing the now-naked Ledah against the edge of the bed.
"Ecthel..." the blonde whispered--a warning, a promise, a taunt more playful than Ein would've thought his lover capable of.
Reluctantly, Ein pulled back, giving the both of them a chance to breathe as he let his wondering gaze roam freely.
Now that Ledah was out of the frustratingly wholesome acolyte's clothing that usually muffled him head to foot, Ein could see that the pale body still pressed against his was more toned than openly muscular, although there were faint, taut suggestions of strength along the lines of Ledah's abdomen with the slight arch of his back as he leaned against the edge of the mattress. He still wore his rosary; the silver cross on its string of rose-colored, marbled beads lay right below the dip in his collarbones, the tiger's-eye stone at its center glinting in the low light as his ribcage rose and fell with the rhythm of his breath. Obscured by but still visible beneath the sole piece of jewelry was the scar where, as Ein had pieced together, the magus Hector had reached into Ledah's chest cavity to rip out a large part of his spiritual heart. It was a wide, jagged circle shifted a little off-center from the middle of the angel's breast, with a long diagonal line that stretched from his shoulder to his lower ribs running through it. It, too, had the faded, brownish quality of Ein's scars... it would probably never completely fade, either.
Ledah's skin was that perfect near-white all over, his face and hands unmarred by what little time he spent in the daylight. To his amusement, Ein caught sight of what looked like a faint pink mark on the side of his lover's throat--perhaps they hadn't really been as careful with their increasingly adventurous kisses as they'd initially thought. Oh, well. No one seemed to care, although it probably would embarrass Ledah a great deal if anyone noticed it. (Ein made a mental note to allow Serene or Rose to catch a glimpse of it the next day.) Letting his line of sight drift lower, Ein examined the rest of his lover's body. Whereas the short coarse hair between his own legs was a near-black version of the soft tumble of blue-brown that was getting in his eyes, Ledah's was more of a warm fawn color, and not quite as thick. Raising an eyebrow, Ein noted that the old saying in Asgard that angels were about as long than their feathers might have some truth to it after all, if Ledah was any example. And the black pinions at the tips of his wings were all somewhere between six and seven inches.
"You're staring," the blonde commented softly, sounding far from displeased.
"Of course I'm staring," Ein replied, closing the distance between them again to nip the side of Ledah's throat. "You're beautiful, and I like to look at beautiful things."
"Ein," the blonde protested, sounding somewhere between scandalized and tickled, his voice accompanied by the rustling of feathers as he shifted his wings embarrassedly. Ein took no heed, and continued to kiss at his lover's throat and shoulder. Shifting his left arm to fit supportively behind Ledah's lower back, he slipped them up and onto the mattress at last, lips now grazing the seraph's collarbone as a vague memory of their earlier conversation surfaced in his mind.
"I'll try to support myself as best I can, but I may not be able to for very long. You'll have to hold me... if I fall under the weight of both of us, most of the bones in my wings will be crushed."
He would have to remember that. As Ledah'd said the previous night, this should be a time of good memories, not pain.
Ein let his lips drift a few more inches down, spreading little kisses and love bites all the way, but then stopped abruptly.
"What...?" Ledah asked hoarsely.
Shifting and edging back a little, Ein pointed to Ledah's rosary. "That," he said flatly. "It's getting in the way. Take it off."
"No."
Ein's eyebrows shot up. "What? But it's gonna get really uncomfortable later..."
"I don't care. This stays on."
Playfully, Ein tapped the tip of his lover's nose. "You listen to what your seme tells you. Off with it, I say!"
Just as playfully, Ledah pushed Ein's intrusive hand away. "I said, no. Don't forget, without me, you'd be nothing." Despite the light overtone, the wingless angel could tell that Ledah meant what he was saying.
"Well, if you're going to be that way, then--" Ein pressed back in, kissing along the line of Ledah's shoulder, rising on his knees and edging forward so that he was virtually straddling his lover where the two of them sat, his reach extended to the nape of the other angel's neck.
"Ein! Wh-what are you...?" Ledah managed, shivering, a strained laugh escaping him as Ein's lips brushed his back.
As his answer, Ein nipped open the clasp of Ledah's rosary. The string of beads, freed from their position, slipped down the blonde seraph's body, tearing a husky moan from his throat as the delicate chain and pendant trailed down to his hips. Realizing that Ledah evidently wasn't going to do anything about it, Ein rescued the jewelry and cast it in the direction of the bedside table.
"That was dirty," the blonde mumbled.
"Well, when seme says 'off', seme means 'off'," Ein reasoned, and went back to kissing.
It took him some minutes to get from Ledah's chest to the softer and far more vulnerable flesh of the seraph's belly, and he was very aware of the way that his lover was shaking beneath him, his breath hitching every time he exhaled, almost flinching whenever Ein's lips touched his skin. Realizing that this must be another of those sensitive spots that Ledah would probably be very touchy about if they weren't in bed together, Ein came gently, teeth and tongue soft rather than harsh but leaving their mark nonetheless. With a steadying hand on Ledah's hip, he tenderly licked the rim of the blonde's navel, just roughly enough to suggest a thrust.
With a choked moan, Ledah beat the air with his wings, stretching them to their fullest extent. Loose feathers scattered across the sheets, and Ein, coming back up to capture his lover's lips, became aware of a heat and intensity not his own pressed against his body.
His fingers brushed one long black feather, and with a slow smile, he picked it up.
"What are... you doing...?" Ledah managed, leaning heavily against Ein's supporting arm, not taking the initiative to look up himself.
Very slowly, Ein drew the tip of the feather up and down Ledah's side.
The blonde's reaction was instantaneous and dramatic. Wings straining, flesh twitching spasmodically, he cried out, eyes shut tightly, cheeks flushed.
Ein's smile grew. In slow, torturous movements, he continued to trace patterns on Ledah's skin with the feather, roaming from his right to his left, dipping the tip into his navel, even going so far as to flick it along his lover's thighs, between his legs, along the burning shaft, before covering his entire trail in reverse.
"Ein..." The pleading tone to Ledah's voice said quite plainly that he couldn't take much more.
Heart pounding in his throat, Ein set the feather aside and pressed their bodies together. No more waiting. The feeling was mutual.
"Ein, wait," Ledah whispered, urgency in his voice.
"...Oh." Cheeks flaming, Ein pulled back temporarily, his breath coming quickly. Preparation. Duh. "How should I...?"
Resting his complete weight on the arm Ein had cinched around his waist, Ledah guided his lover's free hand between his legs with both of his own.
"Like this," he said softly, and closed his eyes.
---
Sighing in relief, Rose set down her quill and shook out her aching right hand.
She'd cut it close--altogether too close--but she was done, finished at last. The history of Asgard and Riviera that she'd compiled over the years she'd traveled with Ein and Ledah was complete.
Easing back in her chair, she was about to close her eyes when a faint sound from somewhere above caught her attention.
Sitting up and pricking both ears forward, Rose confirmed her guess--it was a cry, sounding almost pained but to her hearing, unmistakably pleased.
A slow, almost wicked smile spread across her face.
It was about time, after all.
Not bothering to listen--she'd pick up the loudest of their calls anyway, whether she wanted to or not--Rose curled up in her chair again.
For this, boys, you're going to get the first look at my book tomorrow... Smiling, she closed her eyes, resting her head on her left arm. I suppose things will work out between you two after all...
---
"Now," Ledah half-sobbed, and it was all Ein could do to comply.
Pressing hips to hips, bracing both their bodies with his hands on Ledah's waist, Ein finally, finally penetrated his lover.
Ledah's cry was sharp and heartrending, but brief, collapsing into a moan of pleasure before Ein could even begin to wonder if he'd felt any pain. Shuddering with exertion, the dark-haired angel thrust, long and slow.
Wings stretching out again, Ledah let out a second cry, his voice already broken: "Oh gods... Ecthel... Ecthel... Ecthel...!"
That did it. Ein couldn't hold back anymore.
As their bodies rocked to the rhythm within the both of them, the wingless angel let his free hand trace sharp lines down Ledah's back, tracing up to stroke the delicate tracery of feathers along the inside of his right wing. His vision was starting to haze, and he could barely even think straight anymore, but that didn't matter much anyway. He loved Ledah so much--and he'd never thought that being inside him would feel so good...
The sharp and sudden set of Ledah's nails on his back, along his scars, made him cry out in shock; the euphoric scratch down his back as the blonde struggled to hold evoked a sharp, aching shiver of melded pleasure and pain.
"Ecthel... Ecthel... oh, Ecthel..."
Ein would never object to Ledah's calling him by that name again. It sounded almost like the clarion bells of Asgard now, the promise within the word eclipsed entirely by fevered, helpless prayer.
Feeling hot lances of agony shoot through his body, Ein trembled, swore, and came.
As he sensed the hot rush into him, Ledah let out a low, exhausted moan and let go, the hot coil tightly wound in his lower belly unraveling at long last.
After a few moments of blank, mindless, climactic release, Ein withdrew, feeling ready to lie down and sleep for hours, or at least until the somnolent effects of resolution let him alone.
However, Ledah was still in his arms, trembling slightly but otherwise unmoving.
"Ein..." he whispered, voice barely audible. "I... I can't... please..."
Understanding what the seraph meant, Ein gently laid his lover down in the wreckage of the bedclothes, carefully placing him on his side, with his wings outstretched behind him.
"I love you," he murmured, stroking Ledah's ragged hair. "Oh, gods, I love you."
Lying down at his lover's side, Ein closed his eyes, and the blackness of exhaustion claimed him.
---
NEXT TIME: Christmas day is here at last. A time of beginnings and of endings, of endless gifts between friends and lovers. And Ledah is ready to lay the past to rest with a very special memorial service to those lost two years ago.
Next chapter'll be the last one. Then there's just the epilogue/author's notes to deal with... hehehe, I had so much fun writing this last scene XD