Gabi🚬

Attending this banquet had been a mistake.

At least, that was the conclusion Pantalone reached halfway through the evening. I wasn't because of the poor wine or because the guests were unbearable.

It was because you looked ridiculously attractive. The kind of attractive that drew eyes from every corner of the hall. And unfortunately, one particular Harbinger seemed incapable of looking elsewhere.

"You've noticed it too." Across from him, Dottore watched the crowd through his hidden eyes behind his mask.

Pantalone swirled the wine in his glass. "Tartaglia?"

"Hm."

The younger Harbinger was currently standing several tables away and looking directly at you. He has done so multiple times this evening. Pantalone had counted six times already and Dottore had stopped counting after the eighth time.

"He's been doing that for months," Dottore said.

"Mm. And now he's doing it publicly." Pantalone smiled. It's one of his dangerous expressions.

"Young people are so confident." The scientist's gaze shifted toward the glass in Tartaglia's hand. Then, towards the vial hidden between his own fingers and Pantalone immediately looked interested.

"...What are you doing?" Asked the banker and the doctor replied with a nonchalant "Conducting research."

"I do not believe you" But Dottore ignored him.

A moment later, he walked past Tartaglia and with one subtle movement, one tiny drop into Tartaglia's drink, he walked away and continued on as if nothing had happened. Pantalone stared discreetly, trying to figure out what exactly happened in the scene and Dottore made his way back into his seat.

"Now tell, dear, what have you done—"

"Perhaps," Dottore started, "Tartaglia had a stimulant slipped into his drink." And for two seconds there was silence. Then Pantalone nearly choked on his wine.

The results were immediate as far as Pantalone could tell. Tartaglia became approximately three times more energetic, which was honestly impressive and highly entertaining in his opinion. Pantalone tried to hide his amusement, but he almost laughed so hard that he nearly spilled his drink. While Dottore maintained a dignified expression for exactly twelve seconds before he started laughing, too.

The image of the second and ninth Harbingers laughing so hard they had to lean on the table would haunt witnesses forever.

But unfortunately, as the saying goes. "You can easily fall into your own trap."

And so this was also when everything went wrong. Because while they were enjoying their victory, you found Tartaglia. And instead of avoiding him, you entertained him. At first, it looked harmless. Just a light conversation with easy smiles and laughter. But then Tartaglia leaned closer and you didn't move away.

Pantalone's smile vanished and Dottore's laughter died instantly.

"...Interesting." the Regtor stated.

"This is not amusing." Dottore hissed.

"Indeed."

Then Tartaglia casually touched your arm and the younger Harbinger looked delighted when you smiled and placed a hand on his biceps and seemed to whisper something to him. He replied by leaning into your ear, whispering something seemingly intimate. You let out a giggle and Childe took that as a que to wrap one arm around your waist, pulling you closer.

Dottore looked ready to commit several crimes.

Pantalone looked ready to finance them.

Not even a minute later, both men appeared beside you like evil spirits summoned by mutual irritation.

"Tartaglia." Dottore's voice sounded pleasant. Which somehow made it worse.

"Oh. Hello there." The younger Harbinger froze.

"We require our partner."

"Do you? We were having a wonderful chat at this moment."

Pantalone smiled.

"We could tell, but it's immediate."

You looked between the two men who chimed into the conversation, still pressed against the younger man. You deliberately turned back toward Tartaglia, who brightened when you leaned on his arm. The poor man didn't know in what danger he currently was. Perhaps it was the stimulant that was slipped into his his drink, perhaps it was his own stupidity. Either way, it was a huge mistake of him to blatantly look down your exposed cleavage.

"You know," you mused thoughtfully, "perhaps I wanted a younger lover for tonight."

The silence that followed could have cut through the room. An absolute silence in which Tartaglia's expression went through several stages. Surprise, Disbelief, Delight. But when he looked at Dottore and then at Pantalone, the delight vanished away instantly. The younger Harbinger suddenly looked like a man realizing he'd wandered into a wolf den.

"Oh." And you could practically hear the panic in Childe's voice.

"Oh." He repeated again.

Pantalone's smile somehow became more dangerous, and Dottore's eye twitched, while Childe wisely began considering escape routes. At the que of a loud laughter close by, Childe went for the run. Or more like a stride so he wouldn't attract eyes onto the situation that may have looked like a simple conversation between colleagues to outsiders.

When Childe left, Dottore wasted no time to link his arm to yours and lead you outside to an empty hallway, which you all were very familiar with. All while being followed by Pantalone, of course, who smiled and nodded at people that shot the pair before him a questionable look.

By the time you were alone, both men were expecting a very different conversation. What they got instead, was you crossing your arms and glaring at them.

"You two are unbelievable." you hissed as the door to your bedroom closed.

Pantalone blinked at you, Dottore frowned and looked at Pantalone, who was standing beside him.

Dottore was ready to explode, absolutely seething. "Excuse me? We are unbelievable? Have we just lived through the same experience, or has my mind played tricks on me?"

"Are you seriously mad at us when you were the one getting all slimed up, by that-". Pantalone was cut off.

"You drugged him! And I dont think your mind has played tricks on you since you two have apparently lost them!"

"It was merely stimulant." Dottore tried to play off the facts with an eyeroll.

"You drugged him." You said again, clearly trying to control yourself.

"Technically—"

"No." You pointed directly at Dottore and firmly said,"I saw you."

Pantalone immediately turned toward him and raised his eyebrow. "Looks like you got caught." And Dottore looked offended. "That is not the point. And if i recall correctly, you couldn't contain your laughter 15 minutes ago."

"That is absolutely the point." You stared at both of them. "You're jealous." And you meant the both of them. "And almost caused a huge scandal."

"No. You were the one who entertained that simpleton, " Dottore denied quickly and crossed his arms over his chest. "And now you are standing here trying to put the whole blame on us."

"Yes. Because it was all your fault!"

"No."

"Doctor." You warned. "I'm not in the mood to play games."

"...Fine."

You looked at Pantalone. "And you were condoning this behavior!"

The banker sighed. "Unfortunately."

Your expression softened despite yourself, because for all their plotting, all their ridiculous schemes, all their overprotective tendencies, you still loved them. But you were still very angry.

They genuinely looked annoyed by the idea of losing your attention. Even for just a single night. Even if it was just an act. Still, this behavior could have been seriously led to punishment by the Tsaritsa. Even when neither of you three have stated openly the nature of your relationship, you were aware that they all knew. And as long as it's not interfering with work or public image, the tsaritsa surely has turned an blind eye on this whole romantic affair.

"You are both impossible." Suddenly, you got even angrier.

Pantalone reached for your hand. "That may be true. But angel listen-". Dottore stepped closer. "Tartaglia was staring."

"He always stares."

"Exactly."

You groaned, ran a hand over your face and your frustration was harder to control. They both don't understand your point.

Pantalone laughed, not understanding the level of desperation you were reaching. Dottore looked entirely unapologetic like his usual self. And somewhere in the palace, Tartaglia was probably still wondering whether the stimulant or the two terrifying Harbingers had been the more dangerous part of the evening.

You had enough, your patience has run out for them and you let out a frustrated scream. "You two are hopeless, so unapologetic! You can't even see how much it upsets me."

Both men tensed in response. Dottore's expression was a mix of defensiveness and anger. "Upsets you?" He couldn't help but let a scoff escape him. "As if you weren't just indulging that fool's every whim."

Pantalone, on the other hand, couldn't help but find this whole situation amusing, his eyes glimmering in dark humor. He watched the two of you argue with a small smirk, enjoying the display."Oh, Dottore is right." Pantalone chimed in, unable to resist adding fuel to the fire. "You were having a wonderful time playing along."

Dottore shot him an annoyed glare. "Shut it." He turned his gaze back to you, his irritation palpable. "We might have overstepped, but he was pawing at you the entire night. What were we supposed to do, just stand there?"Pantalone's smirk widened as he continued to contribute to the tension, his voice laced with amusement. "Exactly. We simply took matters into our own hands."

"We were protecting what's ours,"Dottore added and his gaze hardened as his possessive instincts flared up. "Okay" you just nodded, absolutely fed up. "What would you two have done if the Tsaritsa would have seen it, hm?"

At this, both of them went silent for a moment. The mention of the Tsaritsa's possible disapproval made even Dottore pause, his jaw clenching.

Pantalone, however, remained unfazed, his smirk still plastered on his face. "That... Well. We hadn't exactly considered that."

Dottore shot him a look that said 'speak for yourself' before turning back to you, his gaze still tinged with irritation. "We would've handled it," he said, attempting to brush off the concern. But even Dottore couldn't entirely hide the hint of uncertainty that flickered across his usually confident expression.

Pantalone, on the other hand, seemed almost nonchalant. He continued to smirk, his gaze fixed on you. "Oh, come on. You know us. We would have thought of something."

Dottore rolled his eyes at Pantalone's casual attitude. He was about to comment, but your continued stern glare made him bite back his words. And suddenly, you spoke up in a way that was uncharacteristic of you.

"What if she would have put an end to this relationship?" i said in a whisper. Your demeanor changes, and you wrap your arms around yourself to avoid their gaze. As soon as your words escape your lips, a palpable silence filled the room. Both Dottore and Pantalone's demeanors immediately shifted as well.

Dottore's irritation faded, replaced by a brief flicker of surprise and concern. He uncrossed his arms, his eyes narrowing. Pantalone's smirk vanished, and a hint of worry crossed his features. He took a small step forward, his voice unusually gentle. "You don't truly believe-"

But it's too late. Tears are already filling your eyes. "This is so stupid, first we lately rarely see each other, then last week i was looking forward to the planned date night, only to be sent to a last minute trip to nod-krai for some idiotic diplomatic issue and now i come back to this bullshit and us fighting and you both dont even care" i hid my face behind my hands.

Dottore's heart squeezed tightly at the sight of your tears, his frustration fading into guilt.

Pantalone's expression softened, his eyes reflecting a hint of guilt. He took another step forward, wanting to reach out to you, but he hesitated, unsure if his touch would be welcome.

They both remained silent for a moment, the weight of your words sinking in. Neither of them had considered the extent of your upset, or how their actions might have amplified your stress and loneliness during your time apart.

Pantalone was the one to break the silence first. He moved closer, finally closing the distance between you and gently pulled your hands away from your face. His voice was soft, filled with genuine regret. "Darling, I-"

But before he could finish, Dottore chimed in, a hint of desperation in his voice. "No, let me speak." Pantalone paused, surprised, and reluctantly stepped aside, giving Dottore space to say his piece. Dottore took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on you.

"I'm... I'm sorry." The words were unfamiliar to his lips, but the sincerity in his voice was unmistakable. He reached out carefully, his hand gently cupping your chin, his touch surprisingly tender.

"I never meant to... to make you cry," Dottore continued, his usual confidence faltering. Pantalone watched the scene with a mix of surprise and satisfaction. He couldn't help but appreciate the sight of Dottore, his prideful and stubborn partner, actually apologizing.

Dottore's hand on your chin was a rare display of tenderness, a side of him that only a few people had ever witnessed. Despite the anger he'd displayed earlier, his expression now spoke of a deeper regret and a desire to make amends. He continued. "We were jealous. Seeing Childe all over you... it drove me insane."

You finally look up through your eyelashes, and Dottores heart melts at the sight of your glassy look, and the small tear drops at the outer corner of your eyes. He couldn't recall the last time he had witnessed such a vulnerable sight from you.

His thumb gently wiped away the tear clinging to the corner of your eye, his touch surprisingly tender. The sternness in his gaze softened, replaced by a glimmer of concern. Pantalone, observing the scene, couldn't help but be moved by the unexpected display of vulnerability. He had witnessed Dottore's softer side before, but seldom had it been this raw and tender.

Dottore rarely is one to openly express emotions, found himself unusually affected. The sight of you in this state stirred a protective desire in him, and he couldn't help but draw closer, his hand gently cupping your cheek. "Please... don't cry." His voice, usually authoritative and unwavering, now held a hint of pleading.

"I can't help it," you whisper, shame and sadness laced your weak voice.

Dottore's expression twisted as he absorbed the pain in your voice, his own guilt intensifying. He gently wiped away another stubborn tear that ran down your cheek with his thumb.

Pantalone, equally moved, took a step forward. His usual calm demeanor was replaced with concern, and a hint of helplessness. "We never meant to cause you so much pain, darling." His voice was soft, his usual arrogance completely absent.

Pantalone stepped closer and walked towards the bed, but not before gently pulling you with him and placing you onto his lap, he sat down leaving enough space for Dottore to join you both on the edge of the bed.

Seeing Pantalone maneuver you onto his lap, Dottore followed suit without hesitation. He settled down next to Pantalone, the mattress creaking slightly under their combined weight. Dottore's gaze lingered on you as you sat between them, your delicate frame sandwiched between their lean and muscular bodies. The tension in the room had lifted, replaced by a heavy silence.

The room was still for a moment, the only sound was the soft crackle of the fireplace. Both men sat next to you, each of them lost in their own thoughts. Dottore's hand was still gently resting on your waist. Pantalone, on the other hand, had wrapped his arms around you, pulling you against his chest. He rested his chin on your head, inhaling the sweet scent of you.

The tension in the room lifted after a while despite the fact that the only sound either of us made was your light sobbing into Pantalones chest. It took a while but the tears stopped eventually and only your soft breathing could be heard over the fireplace crackling.

They remained silent, their attention entirely fixed on you as they held you protectively.

Dottore's grip on your waist tightened, his fingers gently kneading your skin, a silent gesture of affection in the quiet room. Pantalone's chin still rested on your head, and he occasionally pressed a soft kiss to your hair, his hand rubbing gentle circles on your back.

Finally, you lifted your head to look into Pantalone's eyes. Your bloodshoot eyes meet his seldom lilacs ones, and with a last deep breath to calm yourself, your plump lips from the crying reach for his. And Pantalone's breath hitched as your kiss met his. The gentleness of your touch contrasted with the passion that always lurked beneath the surface. He responded eagerly, his lips meeting yours in a tender embrace of forgiveness. You turned towards Dottore next, your reddened lips reaching out to meet his. He couldn't help but inhale sharply at the feel of your mouth on his. As you pulled away, Pantalone wasted no time in closing the distance between himself and Dottore, capturing his lips in a similar eager kiss. And Dottore returned the kiss desperately, his usual arrogance forgotten in the heat of the moment. His hand on your waist tightened, his thumb caressing your hip bone as he leaned into the kiss, matching Pantalone's fervor with his own.

Dottore's hand on your hip remained firm, the other hand found its way to Pantalone's neck, fingers burying into his dark locks as he held him in place as Pantalone responded with equal fervor, his own desires rising to the surface. He bit and nipped at Dottore's lip, his tongue exploring his mouth.

Dottore's grip on Pantalone's hair tightened reflexively, a low moan escaping his throat as the kiss deepened. Their breaths mingled, heavy and ragged with lust, the heat between the three of them growing with every second.

As the kiss between Dottore and Pantalone broke apart, both men were left breathless, their chests rising and falling rapidly as they tried to regain composure. You watched the whole scene, the arousal growing between your legs.

However, before they could catch their breath, their attention shifted back to you. Their hands began to wander over your body, it was like their touches were hungry. Pantalone's touch was more precise, knowing just where to press or squeeze, while Dottore's movements were a bit rougher, his desire for control evident in his grip.