BETRAYER

        it takes him a moment to process the hand holding onto his arm, tugging gently. the betrayer cants his head to one side, the tips of his long ears twitching in response to relian’s words. perhaps he should rest. illidan has a habit of pushing himself too hard, and also has a habit of not sleeping for days on end. this body does not need sleep every night like many others do.

        his steps seem uncharacteristically clumsy as he moves with relian. they lack the grace left over from his kaldorei genetics. he doubts he could even fly in a straight line, too.

the experience was remarkable. it was fascinating, exhilarating, passionate, intense, and so much more that he could hardly comprehend at this point in time. a single bead of sweat rolled down his cheek, ears drooping in exhaustion. with any other man, he could have easily continued if they should desire afterwards — but not with illidan. no, he could barely imagine himself doing this again a night from now ( but if the betrayer asked, perhaps relian would comply, just for him. ) fingers twirled within long black locks, and the warmth between them had risen to a point that would prove uncomfortable or unbearable for a mortal to withstand. he cooed softly, breath slowly beginning to stabilize, resting his head against the other’s shoulder. he shouldn’t have felt so at peace, naked and utterly vulnerable in the arms of this relentlessly powerful man, but he was, and the answer why was unbeknownst to him. head raised, and the dragon placed a kiss to the corner of illidan’s lips. “ did you enjoy that? ” he asked, voice merely above a whisper, eyes lit with a consistent emerald glow. 

        lips twitch. the slightest hint of a smile tugs at them. wings curl around the other again, keeping him hidden from the outside. a low chuckle sounds from deep within his chest, and illidan hums pleasantly before kissing relian, long and slow, then replies against his lips, “you should not have to ask.” it feels odd to be so tender, so gentle, after his hands have done nothing but destroy. he’s curious to know what marks he’s left on relian, and somewhat wishes he could see.

@blindedhubris.

        ❛  get to the point, you elephant.  ❜

the dragon panted, keeping close to the other despite the separation of their mouths. his stomach flexed as he gave a weak laugh, unable to help the broad grin which pulled at his visage, sharp fangs baring. 

“ you don’t even have to ask. ” he murmured, toes encased within fine leather and cloth curling, for just then a most vulgar phrase crossed his mind, causing his thighs to pulsate with a fiery lust. relian did not say what he had thought — at least, not yet. teeth the color of pearls dragged across his lower lip, once precisely painted lacquer now smudged at the edges, eyes trailing downwards with a false shyness. hands pulled from illidan’s hair, only to begin lifting onyx robes up and over his legs and torso, removing his arms from the rich fabric, eventually tossing the garment to the side. claws slipped between his feet and shoes, not paying to much attention where they were placed. all that was left to be exposed were his legs, which were concealed beneath tightly fitted black linen. the serpent moved to grab illidan’s wrists, guiding the much larger hands to press against his waist. shaking ebony tresses, relian let his hair settle before leaning in, back arched, heart racing at the very notion of speaking his next words. “ i want you inside of me. ” he whispered into the betrayer’s ear, words coated with a dragon’s insatiable seduction, lips and fangs grazing along his neck.

        sparks are going off in his head. heat spikes in his gut, traveling lower. the words serve to make him groan quietly. illidan feels along the other’s soft skin, callused palms teasing his waist and long fingers squeezing here and there. head turns, he captures relian’s lips with his own and kisses him with vigor. he enjoys the sensation. with arms around the dragon, he shifts himself onto his knees before he presses relian to the floor of the cave. the betrayer hovers over him, before tilting his head just enough to kiss the other’s neck without his horns getting in the way.

        the sound of thunder and rain and howling winds seems to fade into a faint murmur. the next while he’s far too focused in the sounds relian makes for him, in the feeling of him so close. this isn’t something to temporarily chase away the loneliness. this won’t end in him casting relian away from shame and guilt. illidan has always been clumsy with things such as romance, but perhaps he can try...

as slow and gentle as the other may have been, everything seemed to happen so quickly — though relian would not complain. his mind lost it’s grip, and all linear thoughts faded, leaving him to revel within the moment. chest and stomach fluttered, ears folding downwards in the first inklings of submission. he gave into the kiss with passion that’d been gradually rising, yet still managed to compel himself to not release it all so suddenly. with emerald orbs closed, he could only feel and listen as the betrayer did, making the situation all the more sensual. however, a single eye fluttered apart halfway, only to give a peek at the placement of his hands, quickly discovering just where the hybrid’s sensitive areas lied, and continued to deliberately trail his fingers across the glowing markings.  such an odd gentleness they shared — gentle to the point of driving him feverish. why did illidan wait? he had the physical prowess to take what he desired then and there, so why did he draw out the intimacy? anytime relian sought out an evening to share in one’s bed, there was no such hesitance that took place. but then the answer came to him; and that was if he sat upon the lap of anyone but illidan, this ancient and unimaginably powerful figure of legend, it would have certainly played out the same as any other night he spent with a lonely elven man. ( besides, this was bliss. he didn’t dare try to rush things in order to satisfy himself, as he so often did. ) the kiss had deepened by now, and relian’s fingers were entangled tightly within the other’s long hair. he made no further attempts to silence the gasps and hushed moans which now sounded increasingly closer together. his mouth subtly parted to let his tongue glide across the betrayer’s bottom lip, teeth softly tugging at the same spot afterwards.

        dryly does he swallow, returning the kiss heatedly afterwards. his throat feels like sandpaper, and he blames it on nerves. illidan rubs along the skin of his thighs, shivering at the touch to his markings which glow intensely in response to both magic and touch. arms finally envelope relian completely, tugging his slender mortal frame closer and throwing all caution to the wind as he kisses with fervor. mouth parts, allowing their tongues to press and prod. nostrils flare, fingers curling into the other’s robes and nearly tearing into the fabric with his nails.

        control. he needs control. yet all he wants is to hear relian breathe his name, touch him, cry out for him. long ears twitch. illidan inhales sharply. his body aches, needs, craves. the betrayer feels some odd starvation, something only relian can quell. the fire warms them, but so does the proximity of their bodies.

        the noises the dragon makes causes gooseflesh to rise. a shuddering groan slips past his lips into relian’s mouth. he has to break the kiss, breathing hard. fel pits burn brightly, his grip still firm. “i...” he tries to think of what to say, but his thoughts spinning around rapidly in his head, “... relian, this is ---” a mistake? no, far from it. he chuckles breathlessly.

many have mistaken the black flight for nothing more than feral beasts — and while that was true in some cases, those who have undergone discipline and forced themselves into becoming something more than a monstrosity are not much different than any other creature who feels. he comprehends emotions, whether they be sadness, love, anger, fear, euphoria, or anything in between, and craves something all living things will come to crave at one point in their lives. relian shifted his hips, legs spread and still bent at the knee, loose robes stretching to give him a comfortable amount of room. ( they were crafted in such a manner so riding mounts would be made easier, and to give a stylish flow when he walked, but he couldn’t deny it proved useful for situations like these as well. ) silently, he rejoiced in the comfort of being concealed and protected from the outside world. he wanted to remain quiet and simply let the sound of fire overtake the cave, yet couldn’t resist the urge to release the faintest moan beneath his breath — the nerves along his spine had always been the most sensitive. hands trailed upwards to linger upon the crook of illidan’s neck, claws softly scraping along his skin.

        it is times like these where illidan wishes he could see. he would like to relish in the look of relian’s face, in the arch of his spine. yet he cannot. all he can do is touch, feel, and while that is satisfying on its own it is not the same as being able to take it in with his eyes. so he will listen, he will explore with his hands, surprisingly gentle for a man with such a brutal reputation. there are claws brushing along his violet flesh, lightly touching the tattoos there and making him shudder. always have those tattoos been exceedingly sensitive, burning with bright energy that reacts to the touches.

        admittedly, this situation is odd for him. there is confusion addling his brain, mixed with a craving for closeness and some strange tenderness. many times, when he was with anyone like this, his thoughts would drift to her. tyrande, tyrande, tyrande. he would feel guilty, as if betraying his love for her. yet he does not think of her once this time, only in passing before he focuses again on the dragon in his lap.

although being a creature of desire, relian never anticipates such affection to be shown towards himself — but especially did not expect it from the betrayer. while he didn’t retaliate or pull away, his body nonetheless moved slowly, cautiously, allowing his everlasting warmth to caress the other. lashes batted in a haze of disbelief, eyes wandering upwards to meet a burning fel green gaze. he did not take illidan for a man who showed this kind of sentiment towards those he deemed as friends, yet was unaware if his preferences lied within men or women. in fact, that was a thought which never seemed to cross his mind. ( relian could assume one as old and powerful as he had experimented in the past, even if only briefly. ) despite an underlying sense of discretion, temptation had sealed his fate, and the elf placed a hand across illidan’s broad chest, inching closer, teeth softly dragging over his painted bottom lip. 

        the tattoos across his shoulders, arms, chest, his back burn brightly in response to the power that relian exudes. they also burn in response to something else, an emotion that confuses yet excites him. illidan keeps himself casual, relaxed, hand smoothing out across the small of relian’s back and pulling him closer. it’s then he practically pulls relian into his lap, wings curled around him to block them off from the world that shuns them both. claw-like nails run over the other’s spine lightly, not pressing too hard for fear of ripping his robes.

relian kept silent for a moment. was it truly? in his mind it was not, and as the hybrid beckoned him closer, all uncertainties he held to whether illidan loathed the situation or not slowly dissipated. he sat again in the same position as before — gracefully, with his legs tucked beneath him, his consistent upright posture never seeming forced. “ you needn’t harness that flame any longer. ” the elf said, pressing a palm to the grit and dirt. though it was not grass or wood, it was earth, the very element which he was once sworn to harness and protect, and therefor could bend it to his whim. a spark ignited beneath his hand, and soon, the once lifeless ground glowed like embers, expanding in the shape of a crude circle no bigger than twice his hand, a small flame flickering in the center. stone walls were alight with shades of red and orange, and the reflection of fire danced within his ebony hair and blackened eyes. 

        with a wave of his hand, the orb of flame in the air disappears. illidan is warmed by the other’s magic. his own fire burns deep within his belly, but it does not chase away the natural chill of the air. while they are deep within the cave where it remains dry, the wind still blows in occasionally over them both. he cannot see the other’s magic, but he can feel it. it shakes him to his very core, incites something within him. illidan hungers for power, still, and that hunger arises when the other performs his magic. yet he manages to keep himself reined in.

relian embraced the cool wind with a gentle sigh, eyes closing to enjoy the brief feeling of his hair lifting from his shoulders. long ears twitched and emerald orbs slowly began to shine yet again, and the elf slipped a graceful hand within the betrayer’s, rising to his feet with inhuman delicacy. “ do you not like the rain, illidan? ” he asked with a hint of playful mockery in his voice, but as his sentence came to an end, a stroke of lightning touched the earth, and a deafening crack of thunder followed. to this he gasped, ears perked and alert, only to quickly after release a defeated laugh. he was not exactly surprised by the world’s ironic tendencies. 

“ it appears this is to be more than just pleasant rainfall. ” relian uttered, silver embroidery of his robes glimmering in glimpses of moonlight between dark clouds, pace quickening until his feet met with the stone floor of the cave once more. 

        they time their escape from the outside well, as the moment they duck back into the cave rain pounds violently against the ground. a chill runs through the cave, making the skin of his arms rise in gooseflesh and the hair prickle. the wind howls, thunder rumbling and lightning crackling through the sky. it does not frighten illidan, but the sound is otherwise very unpleasant to his sensitive ears. he settles down by the smooth cave wall, lips quirking into something of... a smile?

        “it seems you are stuck with me until this storm relents,” he says, “how unfortunate for you.”

claws dragged across marble-esque skin, hands remained folded over another as his eyes lingered to the horizon. “ yes, i suppose so. ” relian said, brows furrowing as his mind began to drift to memories and hushed whispers. greatness once sat in the very palm of his hand. behind him was a deathly loyal people, and above him a godly, magnificent leader who he served without question. yet as all things must come to an end, whether peacefully during one’s nightly slumber or bloody and thrashing in the heart of battle, that society came to a destructive finale. all he believed, all he loved, scattered to the wind without any hope of salvation. he forbid himself from ever becoming attached to any soul again — but deep within his blackened heart, he desperately longed for someone at his side, and the betrayer, one who has known such loss and pain, could hopefully understand. as the howl of a feral wolf echoed through the sky, the sin’dorei blinked and long brows perked, snapping himself from the vicious train of thought. 

        blind eyes turn towards relian. they lock onto him as though he could see the dragon perfectly. in a way, he could. illidan could see and feel the magic and power than brewed within him. the betrayer does have to wonder if such companionship is possible with the other. it has been a long time since he opened himself up, even if only a little, to anyone. already he feels some sort of comfort around the other. while he is not outwardly friendly, he does not hate relian. quite the contrary, actually.

        “hm,” he muses out loud. legs shift in front of him, and a strong gust of wind blows past, whipping his hair back and ruffling his wings. the deer around them decide that perhaps it is time to move on into the forest where the trees will block the violent gales.

relian did not immediately follow him further into the grassland — the hooved creatures would undoubtedly flee at his presence, for they would smell his corrupted blood and grow tentative, perhaps even fearful. a true shame that was, as he often enjoyed the company of animals more so than people. only one could stand to be near him, and that was his beloved steed whom he had raised from a foal. he stood from afar and watched illidan interact amongst the gentle creatures, quite surprised at the tenderness he exposed ( however fabricated it may have been ). soon, relian took his chances and stepped forward, as a once peaceful silence became plagued with creeping whispers. to his curiosity, the deer did not flee, only perked their heads and flicked their ears, a buck emitting a low groan. perhaps the night elf’s connection with the beasts overrode his tainted nature. slowly, he lowered to the grass, sitting atop folded legs, hands placed within his lap. “ i have come to understand you are not entirely what others say. ” he said softly, lifting a sylphlike hand to a doe’s nose. “ and you do not treat me with contempt as the world does. why is that? ”

        not entirely what others say. mouth twists into a humorless, joyless smile. wings twitch along his back, torn webbing rustled by the night breeze. the fur of the doe he strokes is soft, and it reminds him of a time when he was surrounded by nature, when animals would approach him freely and gladly, when they were not cautious of his presence. a faun lets out a little hungry cry for its mother somewhere nearby. tapered ears twitch.

        “in a world that shuns us both, i suppose it is best to take what one can get,” after all, illidan is no stranger to betrayal. not only from his own people, but to those he called allies as well. he finds himself wishing for companionship, yet fearing it at the same time. after his own brother, after tyrande, after kael’thas and so many more.