AN: I have a question, for those who are interested.
Between Daiki and Xanxus, who would hold the leash, and who would hold the dial for the shock collar?
It's just been something that's been on my mind for a while...hm.
Word Count: 4,097
Daiki was ignoring everyone.
The rogue Sun sat at the cluttered desk of the Sky in a slight slouch, papers rising into thick wads of work as he prepared for the incoming exam with vigour. It made Xanxus unsteady, the amount of stress that he could feel bubbling just under the copper surface, made him antsy.
The Sky chewed on his lip irritably from his bed, the book on his lap forgotten for watching Daiki scrawl arguments and discussions, one after another on a seemingly endless supply of lined paper. The smell of ink made him nauseous and the continuous pen scratching scraped at the inner workings of his cranium, fingers tapping an unsteady rhythm into the rough surface of the back of his hand.
The night was a nocturnal inferno. Summer was bathing the country in a heavy warmth that made days tiring and nights restless. It left people scrambling for the shade and for the cool, stripping themselves of their clothes and inhibitions as the dark came alive. Daiki was no exception for this rule, his nightshirts foregone for loose little things that might have passed had he been in seclusion, but the sight of the loose hanging 'crop top's sent Xanxus into overdrive every other night, the thin straps that held it up often slipping from everyday activities.
Such as now, as the clock turned on nine-twenty-five, the black material fell from the left when Daiki slumped and growled, and the shine of perspiration that dripped slowly down the curve of the baker's brass shoulder blade at nine-thirty, being the straw that snapped the Sky's spine and resistance.
"When is this due?" He asked, gritting his teeth as the Sun tossed a crumpled piece of paper into the nearby rubbish bin.
"Two days." Daiki hissed out, hand coming to tug his own hair as an ink blot formed from lack of creativity. "Fuck."
Xanxus narrowed his eyes at the back of cobalt blue, before he sat up and slapped the free pillow, the sound drawing only the slightest of the distracted baker's attention.
"Come here."
"I'm busy."
"Do as I say."
"I'm working."
Xanxus grit his teeth at the dismissal, before tossing aside his book and standing, sweat gleaming on his bare shoulders as he crossed the room, bare feet soft against the floor. Reaching out, he let his hands slide across the broad frame of the Sun, feeling a solar warmth beneath his fingers as he pulled the form back against his front, bowing to bring his lips next to sharp ears.
"I need to get this done." Daiki grunted, feeling the breath of the Sky brush his cheek. "Annoy me later."
"You're stressing." Xanxus muttered low.
"Of course I am," He uttered, making no move against the Sky when hands slipped down his shoulders to curl around him in an almost hug, trapping him to the feral aristocrat. "I am human, if the load is heavy enough, I will become anxious."
"Mm," The Wrath hummed, feeling the Sun wanning, muscles tense and tired under his fingers. "Come to bed."
"Then I'll only have one day left." Daiki gritted out, glancing at the being out of the corner of his eye.
"And you'll spend it refreshing you're already packed mind." Xanxus huffed, finding the nervousness a distasteful spice in Daiki's aura.
"Are you worried about me?" Daiki scoffed, an almost playful lilt coming to his voice as he leant back into the infernal warmth.
"Your stress," The Sky started turning until they were nose to nose. "Is unbearably permeating."
"Then I apologise for disturbing your beauty sleep, from the looks of it, you need it still."
Xanxus bared his teeth at the jab, teeth flashing as he made to bite the Sun in an act of revenge, only to be stopped by a hand sealing over his mouth, the smell of ink and paper filling his nose as melted down amber boiled with the Summer night. Daiki's lip twitched and demanded attention, a flash of a tongue coming as he absently wet them, leaning close, volcanic ruby widening in anticipation, before he was pushed away and Daiki made to stand.
"I guess you're right," He sighed, stretching out his back and letting out a bassed moan as his spine cracked and clicked. "Sleep would do more good than harm at this point."
Xanxus lunged and gripped the Sun by his throat, pushing him back until sweat-damp flesh was pressed against the window and the glass became foggy with condensation. Molten gold watched him with a cocktail of amusement and shock, the sight an intoxicating one he drank down even as he gagged on frustration and desire. His breath caught as Daiki's hand came up and latched onto the Sky's pillar of breath, thumb digging dangerously into his windpipe.
"And what is wrong now?" Daiki asked, just barely containing his sharp grin of cut pearl.
"Do not-" He snarled, getting a laugh.
"'Do not' what?" Daiki hummed, lips curling at the edges. "Tease you?"
Xanxus growled before lurching forwards, vermillion flesh coming close to lotus petal soft, only to halt just a breath away, craving crimson never losing humoured honey.
"You won't force yourself on me," The Sun breathed to his Icarus, watching as the Sky pulled back, less than an inch. "You're kind like that."
"Even the Devil needs consent." Wrath hissed, "So I will ask instead."
The vermillion Sky stepped forwards until they pressed flush from their chests downwards, bare cores warming each other in the heated night as ruby and gold gained an interested shine, hands still wrapped around throats in an almost protective manner, the others hanging at their side.
"Hey Daiki," Xanxus stared, leaning closer. "Kiss me."
Flashes of a morning lit room dashed through their minds, a young Sky in a child's formals, a young Sun explaining it not to be a suit. The smell of the bakery coming through an open door and the warm bed of a familiar time.
Daiki gazed down upon the steadfast Wrath, his grip never wavering as his lips parted and slow, careful words slipped between them as bloodied ruby paid close attention.
"One every hour."
Xanxus furrowed his brow in confusion.
"Only one kiss, every hour. That is the rule we will follow." Daiki stated, no room for complaint from either of them.
Honey dribbled gold shifted to the grand clock at the end of the room, its hands moving in a steady, confident, rhythm. Time would not change, it would not speed up, nor slow down. Yes, it can be shifted, but its constance remaines. There is no debating time.
Volcanic vermillion boiled at the idea of a limiter, but were quelled by cold gold, knowing that he would be able to push no further without being forced back to nothing yet again.
"Fine." He snipped, opposedly obedient.
"We will begin," Daiki started, before looking again to the clock which ticked away time, nine-fifty-five. "At ten o'clock post meridiem."
Ten.
It was always Ten.
Born on the tenth day of the tenth month. Be dubbed with the Roman numeral for ten. Be the most promising candidate for the position of Vongola Tenth.
Nine-fifty-six…
It had been ten in the morning when he had led a ten-minute chase with the baker's son. It had been ten loaves of bread that he had been allowed to 'steal'. It had been ten in the morning when he had been taken from the slums. It had been ten in the morning when he had severed himself from Daiki's side.
It had been ten in the morning when he had Squalo find Daiki again.
Ten. Ten days of Daiki in the Varia. Ten nights of Daiki's warmth around him. Ten cycles of Daiki's breath in his ear and skin on skin.
Nine-fifty-seven…
Ten commandments spoken in ten Lotus voices. Crawl ten kilometres to grasp ten copper fingers in ten broken phalanges, each broken into ten pieces. Ten slabs of sapphire with gold inlay, each polished piece proclaiming his sacrament and demanding his blood to be splattered across them as crimson varnish. Ten snakes with ten eyes and ten forks slithering to bind and constrict him as he is laid bare before ten identical spectators of cobalt and copper. Ten church bells ring out in tandem, but can only be heard by ten of the whores' sons. Ten tongues lapping at the wooden frame of a ten-hour clock, ten different voices panting as bloodied streaks colour the shifting cogs. Ten little feet tread in ten different directions in ten centimetres of snow sludge. Ten men lay themselves out to the ten sapphire slabs and press the heavy weight upon themselves until ten skeletons are crushed beneath. Ten eyes, cast from the very riches of the earth and man, gaze down at him with ten shades of judgement and acceptance. Ten lapis lazuli Lotus hang ten metres out into a pond of a ten-metre radius.
Nine-fifty-eight…
Ten men and women stand in a decagon of ten lotuses, the golden water rippling ten different ways as it glimmered under ten labradorite suns. Ten forms cast in copper and brass watch him as he wades towards them, weighed down by his clothes and their imperial topaz gaze. He gapes as he looks up at the celestial beings, waist deep in the liquid sun on which they tread above easily, their stares both curious and uncaring, welcoming and ostracising, calm and erratic, three and seven.
He could form not ten words here, not allowed, not worthy as the ten whispered to each other in ten hushed tones, eyeing him out of the corner of their eyes, suspicious of their invader, the Tenth Eden waters rippling ten times again.
Then, one steps forwards, copper skin gleaming under the agate sunshine. They crouched before him, azurite hair falling from Their shoulder in an everflowing curtain of shifting, living water and starlight. He counted ten. Ten breaths of their air he did breathe in that moment, ten tastes of Their exhalant that was nectar sweet on his tongue and in his blood.
A ten petaled lotus floated up to them, ten dots of light dancing around it under the water's surface, before fleeing upon the being of copper and cobalt reaching for it. They scooped it up in a gentle motion, easily rising it up between him and Them, gold dribbling from Their ten fingers and creating ten patterns down Their arms, allowing him to see the amber liquid that was pooled within the pearly, glass petals. The liquid shifted with his breath, before his eyes looked up at the being before him, imploringly, begging to be given permission as the sweet, ambrosia scent wafted up to his nose.
They gazed at him for a moment more, imperial topaz taking in his devotion, the nine other forms watching, appearing as if they were each carved by the hands of the Greek and the Roman, a war waged with bronze sculptures, trying to outdo one another's beautiful creations.
The one before him extended Their arms in a slow stretch, biceps shifting as They presented him with the nectar filled, glass lotus, gold water dripping from the bottom and the lapis lazuli suns shining from above. His hands reached out in a rushed, clumsy manner, grasping the lotus as it was placed in his palms.
He gave a grunt. The ten, glass petaled lotus was beyond heavy, but he refused to release it, no matter how his limbs screeched and his fingers grew white and buzzing. He held it, and held it still as They touched their bottom lip, the vermillion flesh soft and yielding beneath Their touch as They held his gaze, before reaching across. Their fingers pressed to his lips in a gentle touch, the caress making him dizzy as They watched him, the nine figures behind reaching for their own lips as if trying to imagine what his would feel like.
They shifted again, gently hooking Their fingers into his mouth and forcing his jaw open before retracting them, a bridge of saliva breaking after a distance of ten centimetres. Frozen in an obedient, awed and reverent stillness, he only complied as they cupped Their hands over his and helped to bring the petals to his lips and pour the nectar narcotic into his mouth.
Ten trails of ambrosia dripped down the skin of his throat as he swallowed mouthful after mouthful, feeling the quenching slide and refreshing cool, as if just now remembering the desert he had crossed to get to the Tenth Eden.
And then he found himself bare, the lotus having fallen from his hands and splashed into the golden water, liquid gold flying up to beat droplets across his chest and join the rivets of sweet nectar that dribbled from his lips, chin and down his collarbone. They joined the first, ten figures coming to stand before him, before ten hands were offered down. He grasped as many as he could, and those he could not, wrapped around his arms as they pulled him from the water and onto their plain.
Nine-fifty-nine…
He danced with them under the darkness of ten sapphire suns, laughter high and narcotics free as he felt warmth and heat, never cold with ten other bodies writhing with him, never sad with ten voices giggling at his mischief, never lonely with ten hearts to weigh against his. They danced and drank and ate for nine nights and ten days, lavishing their new guest with flashes of attention and moments of affection.
And on the tenth hour of the tenth night...
Ten. Ten. Ten. Ten. Ten. Ten!
Ten o'clock post meridiem…
With hands still around each other's throats, the two leant in and all but bit their way into the other's mouth, too much teeth and too much tongue involved to be anything near gentle or elegant. But they didn't care, their savagery was a spice that made their tongues tingle with the feral kiss and made their mouth water in expectancy.
Xanxus growled and snapped his teeth angrily as Daiki pulled away, disgusting strings of saliva connecting their lips as they panted, bodies warmer than the Summer's effect.
"One every hour." Daiki repeated, and the Sky swore to burn every time counter in the world until the concept of time bent to his will.
Daiki sighed, as if he were able to hear the obtuse claim of the Sky, before he lost the grip he held on the other's neck, a huff leaving him when he saw an already forming patch of bruises where his thumb had assaulted. Xanxus reluctantly took the cue and released the elder's throat, his hands still holding contact for as long as possible before he let it drop to his side.
"It's late." The Sun sighed, glancing to the lightly laid four-poster. "Take me to bed, Xanxus."
His name.
Daiki hadn't said his name for...a while. It made him swallow audibly, ears burning to hear it more.
Xanxus gazed up at him, before grasping his hand and tugging the other along, the two of them making their way to their sheets, ruby never straying from the copper cast being. The Sky crawled into the centre of the bed and watched as the other followed, movements careful, as if not used to this.
Daiki looked at him for a moment, amber gold and luxurious ruby reflecting off each other as seconds ticked by, before he exhaled, and laid himself down, resting his head on the sweat glistening chest.
They stayed until the clock rung for eleven post meridiem. A soft, sleepy kiss stolen from the Sun, making him growl lowly in his slumber.
Xanxus watched his Lotus sleep, watched the rapid movement of eyes behind their skin covering. He was mesmerised by the rise and fall of an unbound chest, the jump of a pulse underneath copper skin, the gleam of sweat taking hold in dim, honey lamp light.
He could take another. He could press his lips to the petals of his Lotus before the next chime of the clock. The creature of cobalt was sleeping peacefully, if he was careful enough, he could attempt to satisfy his Gluttony for the narcotic.
He gazed at Daiki for longer, before settling down, and fixing his eyes on the features of his face, listening to his breath and counting the ticks of the clock, waiting for the next chime which allowed him a moment of euphoria.
Tick…
Tick…
Tick…
The grand, old clock rattled with midnight, and Xanxus bowed his head to the Sun, laying lips upon lips for the first chime of the new day. He rolled his tongue against the soft skin of Daiki's lips as the second chime came, tasting ambrosia breath.
As the third chime came, he slowly parted from his Lotus, watching how the man of Sun had remained undisturbed, still peaceful in his embrace.
The fourth chime let him lay his head beside Daiki's, arms still coiled around each other loosely.
The fifth chime saw him tracing the lines the shadows created upon Daiki's face, the sixth doing much the same.
The seventh found him lightly fingering the lower lip of the other, remembering the softness of it all, the tingling sensation that had spread from his lips to his head to his heart.
The eighth brought him to closing his eyes, the inhalation of sunshine warmth, bread and metal reaching his nose, dashes of ink and parchment new in the scent.
The ninth let him relax and curl around his Lotus, cradling it and keeping him close, breath beating against his chest and making him shiver.
And on the tenth chime of midnight, the two Flames melded into each other, restful and sublime in their contentment with their company.
Lussuria looked up from the frying pan and grinned, waving at the newly awaken Daiki with his spatula as he cooed a good morning to his fellow Sun.
"Morning, Sis." Daiki yawned, coming to drop down at the Varia's breakfast table.
"Ottone! Shishishishshi, you're in for a hell of a day! The prince has much planned." Belphegor snickered, flicking pieces of bacon at the growling Lightning.
"Sorry, Bel, I have an exam today." The Sun apologised with another yawn, muttering a thanks as Lussuria piled his plate with bacon and eggs.
"You spent the whole of yesterday and the day before locked away in Boss' room, you're going to ace this." The flamboyant man assured, restocking his pan as the familiar shouts and roars of the morning kicked off from down the hall.
"I can see why you always rise before Boss." Mammon scoffed, slurping the yolk from their eggs.
Daiki made an amused noise of agreement before offering the Arcobaleno the apple juice from his side of the table, pouring some for them and Leviathan, Belphegor chugging his milk as if trying to spare it from a stealing.
"VOOOIII! Get up you lazy son of a bitch!"
"Trash, get lost."
"Up! Up! Up! VOOOIIII!"
Daiki hummed as he sipped at his juice, eyes moving over to the nearby clock and quickly tracing the time. Eight-fifteen.
"Good morning Boss~!" Lussuria greeted, getting a grunt as his response.
"Boss! Good morning, I hope you slept well!" Leviathan declared, standing up and pulling out the Sky's chair for him to sit down with minimal labour.
Mammon paused his chewing and Belphegor stopped conducting an imaginary orchestra with his knife and for as they regarded their Harmoniser, an interested hush coming over them as the Wrath came to a stop beside the rogue Sun.
Squalo bowled into the room with fire in his eyes, pieces of vase clinging to his hair as he snarled at the cackling Lussuria.
"Boss, leave the pretty boy alone!" He snapped, seeing the look the Sky was sending the baker. "He's not going to move and you fucking know it."
Daiki looked ahead of him at the grand seat on the very far end of their table, remembering how Xanxus had raged when he had found the Sun so far from him. This time, however, he didn't think that was the reason he had the Sky looming over him, the slight clench of fists and parting of lips telling amber eyes everything he needed to know. Daiki glanced to the clock again.
"He doesn't need to move. He just needs to give me what I'm due." Xanxus stated, making the room shift in confusion.
"Due?" Mammon repeated, looking between the two Flames.
Daiki sighed and put down his knife and fork, looking up to the Sky in a manner that, could have, been defined as almost fond.
"What time did you go to sleep, then?"
"Nine o'clock." Xanxus declared, boasting the number like he was proud.
"And it's eight-seventeen now, so that makes-"
"Eleven." He interjected, rushing the moment to go by faster. "I am due eleven."
The Varia glanced to each other as Daiki took another drink, humming into his cup with acceptance, before getting to his feet and stepping out of between his chair and the table. The two Flames stood across from each other, situating themselves as if a dual were about to take place, vermillion never straying from honey.
Then Daiki grasped the Sky's face and bowed himself press the first kiss.
Xanxus dragged each one for as long as he could, knowing that each would remain so long as their lips were pressed flush. He hummed and grasped at the Sun's collar, flawless school uniform gaining wrinkles under the merciless grip of the Varia Sky. Wrath indulged himself in the sensation of warm solar lips and the eyes of spectators on them, feeling the shock, amusement and recognition that Daiki was Xanxus', a public announcement and display.
"One left." Daiki breathed, pulling back and licking the shine on his lips. "What shall it be?"
Daiki was going to the city. Daiki was going to be surrounded by horney, suppressed, academically overwhelmed, stressed out teens. Daiki was going to be in a room full of mediocre filth, be watched by the lessor and perhaps even need to touch and interact with scum.
"Loosen your collar." Xanxus demanded, getting a slight twitch of the lips.
His Lotus huffed but did as ordered, slowly and carefully lowering the knot of his tie and opening the firmed collar of his shirt, undoing three buttons to show a copper-brass neck, collarbone and the top of his black binder. He felt hands come to his back as he leant forward and took the pillar of breath between his teeth, sucking and nibbling at the pulse point, before simply sinking his teeth in.
A shout slipped from the baker when the pain registered, and he snapped at the Sky's ear in aggravation, a bloodied curse getting thrown at him as he gently weaned his teeth from the marks they had created. The sight was so satisfying to his inner Flame that the Sky didn't even feel the least bothered when he was pushed away roughly, Daiki's skin blooming a beautiful red as beads of ruby bubbled to the surface of brass.
"Shit! Damn it, that hurt!" He snapped, covering the stinging wound as he hissed, trying to protect the white shirt from the lotus nectar.
"Daiki, come here!" Lussuria yelped, pressing a dish towel to the bite mark, wincing when he saw the bruising of blunt punctures. "Ah, looks like it will hurt."
"I have an exam today, I don't have time for distractions." Daiki grit out, growling as one of Lussuria's men were called for.
Breakfast was a stiff ordeal as the Varia watched a man bandage up the Sun's neck, gause visible above the collar, and the faint ebbing of red flesh peeking from around the bandages.
Xanxus didn't even try to hide his satisfaction, smirking as he consumed his plate, looking on as Daiki absently touched his throat, frustration in his expression and boiling molten gold. The Sky stood from his chair as someone came to clear his plate and crossed the room to the side of the Sun, a cruel smile on his face as he gazed at the glare that was sent back at him.
The Wrath bent down and nuzzled his nose into the rough surface of the gauze, contentment buzzing in his blood as he scented iron from within the bindings. There was a sigh of irritation, before an arm came around his waist and pulled him closer.
"Fuck you, Xanxus."
