alignmyheart | au of an au

"Indeed. I would be glad for a bath tub at this very moment," Essek agrees wryly. "But for a few days, I can make do." Making himself comfortable and clean is quite literally the least of his capabilities.

He insinuates himself a little further against Percival's side, as though the press of his body might help them both miss the feeling of his arms around him just a little less. "As do I," he agrees. The fur against his back is nice, though, and no matter his shape, his alpha's scent is everywhere, mingled with his. He feels secure, loved, and cherished. "Soon, dearest. I am going to keep you in bed for days more." That is a promise.

For now, he feels the need for rest more than anything else, the first time since his heat began that anything has seemed more pressing than finding or fucking Percival.

"How shall we arrange ourselves for sleep, do you think?" he asks. He certainly won't be trancing tonight.

We can stay like this, or however you're comfortable. I'm going to curl around you, however you are.

The fire will go out at some point and Percival has no intention of letting Essek get cold. Between his thick fur and a few blankets, he thinks he can keep his omega warm and safe through the night while they both sleep.

You should eat before you fall asleep. Just a little. They brought food and water up from the cabin and Percy knows there should be enough to last Essek until they can go back. He doubts his mate would appreciate having any carcasses brought in here, so it's better if Percy only hunts for himself.

"I suppose that is sensible," Essek grumbles. Though he wants nothing more than to curl up and sleep, he forces himself up onto his knees again to reach for the bag packed with food. Hardly the most extravagant meal he's ever eaten, but it's sustenance, and currently that is all he needs.

He sits back against Percy's side as he eats, leaning against his flank and occasionally offering him bits of meat, which he lets him lick from his fingers. Despite all of the exertion, he can't stomach too much at the moment, but suspects he'll likely be very hungry in the morning.

Before long his eyelids become too heavy to consider doing anything but closing them, and he arranges himself against the wolf much as they had been previously. Once Percival curls around him, he's enveloped in warmth and white fur. The rise and fall of the great wolf's chest against his back as he breathes is incredibly comforting.

"I love you," he murmurs, soft with drowsiness. "Thank you for sharing this with me." A first for both of them.

The next two days pass in a similar fashion. Whenever they are awake and Essek is needy or willing, Percival breeds him until they're both too tired to move. He's somewhat impressed with his own stamina, given that he isn't in full rut. Maybe it's being a wolf or maybe it's just that Essek is so--potent right now. He suspects he will miss the heaviness of his mate's scent once his heat passes.

Between that is napping or just resting together. Percy leaves to hunt or to show Essek where the nearby spring is, but other than that, he has no need or desire to leave his husband's side. And it makes him cranky to think of Essek going anywhere at all, but he blames that on overblown instinct.

There is something very satisfying in the fact that Essek sleeps more than he trances in this time, and Percy finds himself wondering if that habit will keep through the rest of his heat back in Whitestone. They'll find out soon enough.

On the first day of the waning moon, Percy wakes to a familiar twinge of pain. He's been told that the transformation is smoother than it is for others, but that doesn't mean it isn't uncomfortable. He gets up, reluctantly leaving Essek so that he isn't doing this right next to the sleeping drow. He tries to keep quiet, but he cannot help the occasional whimper or heavy breath. At least it doesn't take long. And when it is through, a very human, very naked Percival de Rolo stumbles back to the nest of blankets.

Essek stirs, of course, when the large, warm body he's spent the last several days acquainting himself very well with moves away from him. He's gotten used to this, falling into a deep, restorative slumber when his body becomes too worn out to fuck any more. The sex has been the most satisfying of his life, but the constant need is exhausting. His mate has been very sweet and attentive, and a good match for his appetites. Between his husband's impressive stamina and his absolutely miraculous tongue, there hasn't been a moment where he was left wanting. The scent of sex and heat and the two of them intermingled is heavy in the air, and that too contributes to Essek's contentment.

Confident that Percival will return to him quickly, as he always does, Essek sinks back down into sleep. He isn't sure how much later it is that he feels the blankets by him move, but he shifts to reach for soft white fur and curl into it, seeking that warmth and safety and familiarity, and finds instead a much smaller form than he expected, and smooth skin instead of fur. His eyes blink open, able to see clearly even though the fire has burned down to embers, and he is met with Percival's very human face.

He looks a bit dazed, unsteady as he becomes used to his body again. Essek loves him immensely.

"Oh. It is over," he murmurs, rolling over fully and reaching to cup Percival's jaw with soft, gentle hands. It's amusing, honestly, to find that the stubble on his face has grown a little. "How are you feeling, dear one?"

"I hope you aren't disappointed," he says with a tired smile. Percy sighs softly as Essek's hands slide over his jaw and before he answers, he leans close to kiss his husband the way he has been wanting to for days. He leans into it, gently pushing Essek onto his back. He has missed this, even if the wizard has been here the whole time.

Percy rests his brow against Essek's when they part and his smile reappears.

"Sore, tired. No worse than you, I imagine." He kisses Essek again, filled with quiet joy that he can. Percival drags a blanket over himself before he lays down next to Essek.

"I always feel a bit hung over without the fun of drinking," he admits. "Everything dull and intense somehow at the same time."

Essek manages a soft huff of laughter before his husband kisses him. Days without this simple expression of affection, one that he has grown to love, have made him miss it keenly. His arms loop over his shoulders as he tips onto his back.

"Mm. Similar, yes." He welcomes him into another kiss, grabbing for the edge of the blanket so it can cover both of them. He presses close, seeking the touch of skin to his. That feeling, laying together like this, is almost novel again--or it would be if it did not also feel like coming home.

"What you are describing also sounds very much like a third day of heat," Essek observes wryly. "Though I have had fun, at least."

His fingers brush over Essek's dark cheek, admiring him in the low light. The past few days have made Percival love him more, if that's possible. It has certainly shown him that Essek is prepared to love him whether he's cursed or not.

"We can go back to the castle whenever you like." He's tired and could use the rest, but if Essek wanted to go now, Percy would get up. "I don't suppose you brought my clothes, did you?"

Because it occurs to him that Essek could just teleport them back to the castle - back to a bedroom, even - and all that Percy would want to make sure he has is his wedding ring. The rest can stay until he comes out here again, the cabin is safe and well-insulated so he isn't worried about anything getting into his clothes if they were left behind.

"I brought everything," Essek confirms, "anticipating a more expeditious return home via teleportation."

As he speaks, fingertips trail delicately along the length of platinum chain still hanging around Percival's neck--much larger on a human than a massive wolf. He touches the charm dangling from it that had first allowed for limited speech, and beside it, his husband's wedding ring, which he's been using as a focus for Telepathy these last few days, allowing their much more nuanced communication. He has everything he needs already.

"But I would be glad for a little more rest before then."

He doesn't notice the chain until Essek draws his attention to it. He looks down and a smile flickers to life. That's right. Essek used his ring to cast that spell. Percy lifts a hand and closes it around the ring as he gives his husband a soft, adoring look. He knows that spell can't be a low-level one, and even if Essek has been safe with him, he knows what it takes to put out high-level magic.

Percival leans close to kiss Essek again and he lets go of the ring and the charm in favor of getting his arm around his lover, pulling the smaller body closer to him.

"Thank you," he whispers, voice a bit tight. "For everything you've done. Including charging out here to find me."

His fingers slide into Essek's pale hair, gently combing it back from his face.

"We'll nap a little, then go whenever you're ready."

Edited 2022-01-17 07:06 (UTC)

Essek tangles their legs together as he's drawn against his husband, hands sliding up his chest to cup his face again. He relishes every one of these kisses, and his thumb strokes a stubbled cheek as Percival thanks him. Light, this sweet man. How does he deserve someone like this?

Leaning into his touch, he whispers back, "I am not sure what I have done that is so worthy of praise. But I am glad that you appreciate my rashness."

He kisses Percy this time, fingers trailing up to brush over his adorably rounded ears.

"A few more hours, then." He'll need a little more rest before he can cast teleport, anyway.

Percy wraps around Essek and falls asleep again just as they are. He sleeps soundly for a few hours, content with his husband pressed against him and the warmth shared beneath blankets. At some point, he nuzzles into Essek's hair.

He still feels a bit groggy when he wakes again, but no longer quite so worn out. His lips brush Essek's cheek before he slips out from beneath the blankets. Percy rinses his mouth out with water and finds his clothes so he can get dressed. He isn't overly concerned, especially if Essek can get them back into one of their bedrooms. He feels through the bag the clothes were in and a small smile appears when he feels his glasses. Percy sits as he puts them on, blinking a few times before he focuses on Essek.

"There you are."

Essek wakes again when Percy does. Even after several days of it, he's still becoming accustomed to sleep, especially all of the time he loses, and the drowsiness that comes after. But coming to beside his husband is nice, and watching him as he gets up and dresses is nice too. He lays on his stomach, head pillowed on his folded arms, and smiles when Percival puts his glasses on and turns to him. There's a boyish charm about him sometimes, and Essek is far from immune to it.

"It's good to see you too," he says. With Percival dressed and preparing to go already, Essek makes himself sit up, and the blanket slides off him as he does. He's as disheveled as he's ever been, pale hair a mess, entirely without jewelry apart from his own wedding ring. His dark skin almost seems to glow with the constant flush of heat. That he's spent much of his time over the last several days having sex is apparent even visually.

The hours he's spent resting have brought a return of that need, but he's determined to return to the castle rather than jump his husband now. He'd really like a proper bath.

"Is there anything else you must prepare here before we go?" He begins to collect his own clothing, applying prestidigitation where necessary to at least make himself presentable.

"No. We'll take the bags back with us, but everything else stays."

The scent of a very large wolf tends to keep other animals out of the cave, save small rodents. And they tend to clear out when he returns. Percy admires Essek as his husband puts himself together, and he can feel warmth curling low in his belly when he realizes - again - that Essek came out here wearing nothing but one of his robes and a cloak. He takes a soft, sharp breath as the rich blue fabric slides over beautiful dark skin.

He gets up and slings the bags over his shoulder and steps close to his husband.

"Ready when you are, darling."

The deep blue robe is soft against his heated skin. Essek has worn it a few times over the last few days, whenever he's gotten particularly cold. He's considering keeping it for himself, and the way Percival is looking at him now as he ties it around his bare body is a point in favor.

But needs must, and he covers it quickly with his own heavy cloak after pulling his stockings and boots on. They're both ready. All he has left to do is cast.

"To your room, then," he says, and reaches out to take one of Percival's hands in his. It isn't strictly necessary for the spell, but he's always found that physical connection helps him focus on those he is bringing along with him. Closing his eyes, he speaks the words in Undercommon and then the world folds around them.

Essek is well acquainted with his husband's bedchamber, and as what he is currently wearing came from that very room, the chances of his teleport being off target are incredibly slim. They arrive in less than a second exactly where he predicated, standing together at the foot of the stately bed--the spot he is most familiar with. The warmth of the space hits him immediately, and there is a sense of relief at simply being indoors again. This is where he wants to spend the second half of his heat.

"Well," he says primly, "that was an adventure."

Even if Percival has teleported many times, he still holds Essek's hand a little tighter as his husband casts the spell. He has the habit of closing his eyes, even if it takes just a second to move between places. It helps, even if it is all in his head. His shoulders relax now that they are in his bedroom and he lifts Essek's hand to kiss his knuckles before letting go.

"It was. You know, there's something to be said for the hike back," he says with a dry smile, knowing damn well that Essek might have just left him there if he'd insisted on walking ab "But teleporting does have it's advantages."

Percy slides the chain off over his head and takes his wedding band off so that he can put it back where it belongs on his hand.

"I'll send for.. lunch?" He glances at the elegant clock in his room - one that he's made - to sort out what time it actually is. "Yes, lunch."

If Essek made arrangements before his impulsive trip to the woods, Percy will make sure they are honored now with his room as the point of delivery for meals and anything else. He looks at Essek and reaches to cup his chin.

"Or you can do that, and I'll see to a bath."

Edited 2022-01-18 04:41 (UTC)

Essek does arch a brow as Percival drops his hand, praising the hike that Essek knows very well takes him the better part of a day. He has a quip ready about advising Lord de Rolo as Whitestone's Conservator of Arcane Interests to utilize magical advantages when they are presented, but thankfully his husband redeems himself quickly enough. His expression surely conveys enough, anyway.

The time is right for lunch, but what he would appreciate even more is a bath. A smirk flickers over his lips as Percival suggests it, and Essek reaches up to catch his chin between his fingers, leaning up as he tugs him down for a brief kiss as a reward.

"Clever boy," he purrs. "You know my mind too well."

Considering that agreed upon, he releases his husband and turns toward the door to summon a servant. Though they are indoors, he keeps his heavy cloak on as he speaks to the chamberlain who answers him about having meals delivered here. Though the extra layer does little to conceal his scent, it at the very least conserves his modesty. He wouldn't be seen by anyone but Percival in the robe he is wearing beneath it.

It really is unfair just how hearing Essek say the words clever boy in that Kryn purr gets to him, especially when he has such a delicate but firm hold on his chin. The praise sends heat prickling through him and Percy resists the urge to chase another kiss.

He watches Essek drift to the door, then shakes his head and heads into the large bathroom attached to the bedroom. Not all of Whitestone's castle has indoor plumbing - not yet - but the suites belonging to the noble spouses do. Percy gets the water running and leaves the tub to do a bit more grooming. At the very least, he brushes his teeth and rinses his mouth again, clearing any odd lingering tastes there. Whoever prepares their meal will likely send up tea and Percy is looking forward to the mint tea that will inevitably accompany Essek's preference. He finds it particularly soothing after the full moon and so it has become part of his recovery routine.

Percival looks at himself in the mirror and runs a considering hand over his stubble. He should probably wait until after the bath to shave, if he does at all.

Leaving the mirror, he starts undressing on his way back to the tub to check the water level and to add an oil he likes.

Arrangements for food made, Essek is glad to be alone again. Appearing collected while mostly preoccupied by thoughts of where and how he would like to have sex today is trying. He removes his cloak and boots at last and follows the sound of running water into the washroom wearing only Percival's robe again, bare feet on the ground.

He pauses a moment in the doorway to watch his husband pull his shirt over his head, feeling a distinct throb between his thighs. It's a difficult sight to turn away from, especially now, but Essek is a strong-willed man, and he makes himself find the things he needs to freshen himself up instead. While the majority of his things remain in his own suite, he keeps many essentials in his spouse's washroom now as well--plenty enough to clean his teeth and nails before he bathes.

That Percival clearly intends to bathe with him is both wonderful and incredibly distracting. But there is no harm in a little distraction. After the last several days, it's practically expected. Yet there is something different about approaching this now that Percival is human again, as if his beastly shape and their nest in the forest had given Essek implicit permission to indulge in his own needs and instincts without shame. Though he's sure it must only be himself imposing it, he feels pressure now to practice more restraint, even if that is the last thing his body wants.

But if he's learned anything about his husband during his experience, it's that man and wolf are very much the same person. Percival must surely still desire the same things, and desire him in the same way.

Percival is nervous in his own way. Even if he isn't so different as a wolf, his instincts seemed sharper and less complicated. Maybe his propensity to overthink does him no favors here.

He looks at Essek the moment he appears. While his sense of smell his vastly superior as a wolf, he can still catch the alluring scent of his husband, made more so by the influence of his heat. He thinks of the way Essek talked about breeding and heirs and he can't ignore the sudden rush of arousal. That is utterly compounded by the possessive pride he feels as Essek continues to wear his robe, effectively mingling their scents.

The very least he can do is let them both clean up first.

Percival finishes undressing and makes sure the water temperature is right. He adds just a bit more oil and swirls it through the water with his hand, deciding that it's very reasonable to pamper Essek after three nights in the woods.

Given that Essek fully expects to be pampered, the soft floral scent of the oil diffusing in hot water comes as no surprise to him, but it is very welcome. Finished with his pre-bath maintenance, he turns to find Percival already undressed, an especially compelling sight beside a steaming tub. Essek unties the robe's belt and lets it slip from his body, approaching the bath from the opposite side to test the temperature with his fingertips.

"Thank you, k'allis. This is what I need exactly." He glances up to catch his husband's eye briefly before stepping into the tub and sinking down into the water up to his shoulders. With his currently elevated body temperature, it doesn't feel quite as hot as it might otherwise, but it is still incredibly soothing where he is sore, and it is especially cleansing after the last few days. At last, he can wash properly.

The bath is such a size that Percy can join him without much shuffling. With a relieved sigh, Essek leans back, letting his head rest against the tub's lip.

Essek is... beautiful. Something soft and warm blossoms in Percival's chest when he sees his husband bare and pleased and able to relax. He waits for Essek to settle in the tub before slipping in to join him, deciding to sit facing each other rather than making Essek shuffle to accommodate him otherwise. It also means he can watch Essek as much as he pleases and he can feel the drow's legs brush against his own.

He closes his eyes for a second as he sinks up to his shoulders. When he opens his eyes again, he lolls his head to look at Essek, admiring him again as the wizard rests his head against the tub. A hand moves beneath the water to slide over Essek's calf, down to his ankle.

"Better?" he asks, even knowing the answer. Percival realizes that he still has his glasses on but decides not to do anything about that just yet. If he sets them down now, he'll forget where he left them. He has other pairs, but he would still rather not lose these.

Percival isn't the only one admiring. Essek watches him with a keen gaze and stretches his legs out when a hand caresses down his calf. The tips of his toes nudge at the inside of a pale thigh before sliding up over his hip, and a quietly bemused smile unfurls slowly across Essek's lips.

"Much. We must do something about the conditions in that hideaway of yours before the next full moon. I will need a tub and a bed at the very least."

Casually, he expresses his continued interest in joining Percy for future transformations, with the assumption that he will be permitted to. Why should his husband have to spend that time alone when Essek has seen all now and is still perfectly willing to be with him? Even as a wolf, Percival has proved to be kind, conscientious, and witty as ever--not to mention a generous lover.

Percy gives Essek a keen look when he so casually suggests the cave he uses could use improvements. His thumb strokes over the delicate ankle beneath his hand.

"Oh? It's served me well enough," he answers, eyes bright behind his glasses. "Are you intending to move in, darling?"

He wants to hear it. There's a shiver of excitement at the thought that Essek wants to spend time with him, regardless of his shape. Percival has to imagine his husband will not be moved to spend every full moon with him, or that he will stay every night when he does, but... the possibility that Essek will be with him at all is enough.

And he's already considering what might be done to improve his home-away-from-home.

"And I recall you sleeping on me most of the time. Was I not a good bed?"

A smile threatens. He's allowed to tease, isn't he?

Essek answers as though it should be obvious. "Certainly. So long as some improvements are made." His foot flexes under Percy's hand, and the other trails up his side just to touch his skin beneath the water. "It is a perfectly suitable place for a wolf, but less so for a drow."

For this drow, anyway. Historically, there are many drow who would be perfectly at home in a cave long term, but Essek is not one of them.

His smile grows more with a twitch of his lips. "Very good, actually. So I should like something that allows us to lay together still." He can think of a few ways to accomplish this, but he isn't lingering on the hows at the moment. "You were good for other things as well."

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