who would prepare for peace take up the sword

It was around the third arm jostle that Terzo's eyes peeled themselves open. Each blink felt labored, his top eyelids not cooperating in the slightest.

"Terzo?"

He could recognize that tone. Even through his waking-up haze he knew that you needed him. Immediately he's sitting up, palms coming up to rub the sleep out of his eyes once and for all.

"What is it, amore?" He's already reaching out for your form through the darkness. It couldn't have been past 3 A.M.

You're trembling, eyes puffy and tired from the nervous tears. A pair of strong hands move to pull you closer and you can't help but cling to his frame.

"Got my period."

A cramp churns inside your abdomen and before Terzo can even begin to respond, you let out a pained whimper. Then it washes over you. The anxiety almost brings you to tears again.

Already pulling away from him, you move for the ensuite bathroom.

"'M gonna be sick..."

Terzo's already getting out from under the covers, at your side in seconds. Shaky knees threaten to buckle beneath you as he wraps a protective arm around your waist.

He doesn't waste time to spring into action once you move to the floor. Gentle words of encouragement while he smooths your hair away from your face make you feel cared for. Doted on.

He's rubbing your back through it all, shushing your crying and kissing your shoulder while you ride it out. He never flinches, he never looks away. He is present with you in the moment, giving his full attention to helping you through the pain.

Once he senses that you've reached a lull, he's preparing a spare toothbrush with toothpaste for you. He knows it's what he would want, had the roles been reversed. You deserve everything he can give.

Hands that never ceased their shaking reach up for him and he's torn from his thoughts.

"Help... please." Your voice is hoarse and his heart breaks at the sound.

He's guiding you to your knees and helping you to your feet, each movement devoted to your comfort. Guilt washes over you, embarrassment over what just happened permeating every thought.

"I'm sorry, it just hurts so bad-"

"Shhh."

Gingerly, he presses the toothbrush and some pain meds into your palm. A kiss is pressed to your forehead in the dark.

"Brush, vita mia. Then come back to bed."

At this point, you're too exhausted to do anything other than what he tells you. So you do.

Terzo takes your heating pad off the shelf and leaves the bathroom, plugging it into the outlet closest to your side of the bed. He knows exactly what temperature level you prefer and sets it on the remote. At least, that's what you assume he's doing based on the sounds coming from the bedroom.

As you brush your teeth your mind wanders. And not in a good way. Every single period is a reminder of your biological sex, of what you'll never be able to truly escape. It felt like a monthly "fuck you" from the universe. Even though the major disconnect between body and mind was a constant, getting your period never fails to exacerbate the issue.

And Terzo knew this. All of the nights you've spent crying yourself to sleep in his arms will never truly leave him, he thinks. Seeing you struggle with something so all-consuming, bearing witness to your anguish... it's awful. He can't imagine how you must feel. The injustice of it all eats away at him.

He hears the toothbrush be thrown away and the bathroom faucet shut off, already peeling back the covers to invite you back inside. You emerge from the bathroom, looking like absolute hell. He swallows down the growing lump in his throat.

"Vieni qui, amore."

Crawling under the blankets and into his embrace puts more strain on your aching joints than anticipated, a distressed little groan escaping you.

"I know, I know..." he coos.

You become absolutely boneless as you lay on top of him, writhing with each cramp that twists through your gut. Getting comfortable seems impossible, even with the heating pad pressed to your pelvis. You huff through your nose in frustration.

Terzo gently massages your lower back with one hand, the other coming to gently rake his fingers through your hair, scratching and playing with the strands.

"Something on your mind?"

Tears sting at your eyes, a culmination of the exhaustion and pain you're experiencing, and your lower lip wobbles. But who are you to keep things like this from the one you treasure most?

"It just hurts so bad... I wish I didn't have to deal with this."

Your voice breaks at the end of the sentence.

"I wish I was born a boy."

The lump in his throat swells exponentially. He wishes he could find a way to put into words how much he adores you, how special you'll always be to him. How perfect you are. He makes a sympathetic sound, pulling you closer and kissing your temple.

"You're self-made instead. A lot more impressive and respectable, in my opinion."

Sobs shake your chest as you press your face into the blanket that's hiked up to your chin. His arms pull you impossibly closer.

"I love you."

Your voice is small, defeated. Done for the night. You don't even know how you have the energy left to keep crying. Terzo's heart breaks a little bit more with each heave of your shoulders.

"I love you too."

His hands are still soothing on your back and scalp as your sobs die down to sniffles. The heating pad is starting to do its job, too, offering just a sliver of relief from the onslaught. He can feel you start to relax with each steadying breath you take and your eyes are already shut when he speaks again.

"Go to sleep, bellissimo. You need it."

Even through your full-body exhaustion you still wrap your arms appreciatively around him, humming in agreement.

He always knows just how to take care of you. He'd give you everything he could twice-over just to see you content and comfortable.

"What're we here for again?" Aether's voice calls from a few rows away, echoing against the tall metal walls of the warehouse.

"Pins," Swiss answers, crouching to read an upside-down label. More paint-a-Papa kits. Of course. He sighs and stands as he hears Aether's boots thudding closer against the concrete floor. "Grucifix pins, Cirrus said. Any luck?"

"No, just shirts over this way," he says, "and, uh." Aether holds up what looks like could be a shirt - it's definitely fabric - but Swiss can't think of a single design that uses that particular shade of garish pink. It's practically blinding. "These." Aether spreads the thing between his hands and Swiss snorts so hard it hurts.

It's a pair of shorts. Short shorts. Booty shorts, even. Black with accents in that vile highlighter-esque pink. Stripes down the sides and around the legs. The grucifix is printed on the left leg and Swiss is about to comment on it when Aether flips the garment. Swiss is nearly blinded by the massive pink and white Ghost logo printed right across the ass. The two of them burst into raucous laughter, Swiss nursing a stitch in his side and Aether wiping away tears.

"What the fuck are those?" Swiss forces out between peals of laughter, grinning so hard his cheeks hurt.

"No idea, but there's two crates of 'em," Aether manages after a moment, wiggling the shorts. Swiss's giggles die down as he watches Aether stretch the waistband. "The things are stupid tiny. These ones should fit me and they look little enough for Dew." He holds them up to his waist, stretches them against his belly and Swiss's stomach falls to his feet. "These would never fit me."

"Oh, I uh -" Swiss's mouth is so dry, "I dunno about that." He gives a cartoonish tug to his collar as he watches the elastic press into Aether's stomach and thighs. Aether turns and Swiss gets the overwhelming mental image of Aether's fat ass stretching those shorts to bursting stuck in his head. "Think they'd be just your size, Aeth."

"What a bizarre choice," Aether says, but Swiss sees the pink creeping into his cheeks, into the tips of his ears. He tosses the shorts to the side and shakes his head. "Let's keep looking I guess." Swiss nods and turns to walk down the aisle, unsubtly adjusting himself on the way. The thought of Aether's ass in those shorts is burned into his retinas and has him chubbing up fast, chuckling under his breath.

They search for another hour before finding the needed pins, counting them for Cirrus's inventory sheet. It's late in the day before they return to the abbey proper, the sun low in the midwinter sky, and by the time Swiss is kicking his feet up in the common room with a glass of something strong and dark in his hand he's forgotten about the shorts entirely. Aether disappears to his chambers, but Swiss is soon joined by Mountain and Cumulus, striking up casual conversation.

An hour passes, maybe two, and Mountain is making dinner. Swiss watches him pluck a sprig of some herb from the base of his horns with a smile. The air is fragrant, thick with onion and sage from whatever he's making. Swiss is at the counter now, fiddling with a salt shaker. Cumulus pops up behind him asking about the warehouse and Swiss remembers that he left the inventory sheet with Aether. He trots down the hall to the other ghoul's chambers and opens the door as he knocks, more a habit than an announcement.

"Hey Aeth, do you - " Swiss chokes on his words as he sees Aether, the other ghoul frozen in place. "Oh."

Aether is standing in front of his full-length mirror in just a pair of those fucking shorts, and Swiss is hit with a jolt of arousal so strong he feels like his dick might explode. He scurries into the room and locks the door behind him, turning to find Aether beet red and trying to find something to cover up with. He settles on his discarded shirt, but it's too late. Swiss has already memorized the press of the elastic into the softness of his belly. The way they stretch and dimple into his thick thighs. The way - fuck - the way they're pulled so tight around that incredible ass that his cheeks poke out the leg holes.

"Shit," Aether mutters, shy, holding his shirt in front of his very obvious bulge. "I uh- Swiss - I don't -"

"I was right," Swiss rasps, dizzy, "those are just your size."

Aether frowns at Swiss as he stalks over, reaching out to pull away the shirt, moving to stand behind Aether. Looking at him it that long mirror. Aether lets him and Swiss groans, palming himself greedily. He reaches out and caresses the places squeezed by the shorts - the dip in Aether's belly, back over the softest bit of his love handles, coming to rest on the swell of his ass. Aether stares at him unblinking in the mirror, but his eyes are hooded.

"You think?"

"Oh yeah," Swiss murmurs, cupping a cheek in each hand. His fingertips sink into warm skin, the legs stretched beyond reason and exposing entirely too much ass. "Yeah, they look fantastic, don't you think?"

He squeezes firm flesh in one hand and snakes the other over Aether's hip. Swiss runs his fingers along the dent the shorts make in Aether's thigh, gliding them across the soft fabric until Swiss is cupping and groping him. Aether's head falls back onto his shoulder with a groan, eyes fixed on Swiss's hand in the mirror. Swiss can tell, despite the fact that his gaze is stuck there too.

"You see yourself from the back yet?" Swiss feels him throb in his hand as Aether huffs against hit throat, nodding.

"Yeah, yeah," he breathes, kissing Swiss's neck as that large hand starts to stroke. "But I like this view."

"I dunno," Swiss says, pulling away despite Aether's grunt of protest. He turns the other ghoul to the side, running a hand over the curve of his ass. They both watch the way the fabric shifts beneath his fingers. "I think this one is pretty fuckin' fantastic."

Swiss raises his hand and gives Aether's ass a sharp slap, groaning at the way the force makes his whole body jiggle deliciously. Aether yelps in surprise as Swiss repeats, and repeats, gripping a cheek after the last hit and giving it a shake.

"Look how fuckin' pretty you look," he breaths into Aether's ear, dragging his tongue over the shell. He can feel Aether shaking and Swiss shifts to rub his rapidly fattening dick against his hip, smiling as Aether groans at the feeling.

"Yeah," he sighs, hissing when Swiss's other hand moves back to his cock.

"This ass doesn't get enough attention," Swiss mutters, dipping his tongue into Aether's ear to hear the sweet little sound he makes in response. "Gonna fix that." Swiss moves his hand to dip into the too-tight waistband of the shorts, between his plush cheeks to rub at his twitching hole. Aether makes a choked sound in the back of his throat when Swiss presses just the tip of his finger inside, pulling back too soon to rub him again.

"Yeah?" Aether's voice is thick and low, starting to slur. His cock throbs in Swiss's grip. "How're you gonna do that?" He rocks back against Swiss's hand and the other ghoul chuckles.

"You'll see."

Swiss kisses his cheek and Aether is being moved before he knows it. Swiss bullies him to the other side of the bed with groping hands. Petting his hole and his cock in time, drawing these breathy, feminine sounds from the other ghoul that are so wonderful Swiss feels himself starting to leak. He catches Aether is a fast kiss, filthy and wet and all tongue before bending him oven the bed and gripping his hair. Swiss moves his head until Aether is staring into his own eyes in the mirror.

"Swiss, what - " Aether cuts himself off with a gasp as Swiss tugs the shorts over the meat of his ass. Swiss groans at the way the elastic digs in, as how he has to tug twice more to get them over the thickest point.

"Fuck, you're keepin' these, Aeth." Swiss rucks them down to the middles of Aether's already quivering thighs. He spreads Aether's legs, watching the fabric press into his skin. Swiss kneels and spreads him open, blowing a warm stream of air over his pretty pink rim. Aether shivers, still staring into the mirror.

"Swiss - "

"Gonna eat you out," Swiss informs him, kneeling up to meet Aether's reflection. "And you're gonna see how pretty you look while I do."

Aether's eyes roll back as Swiss reaches around and gets a grip on his fat little dick. Swiss loves Aether's size - just long enough to fill his palm, but thick enough to make his jaw ache. Aether arches into his grip with a tight moan, watching how his own eyelids flutter as Swiss gives him a slow stroke.

"Keep your eyes open, sweetheart," Swiss croons, dragging his other hand down Aether's spine. "I promise you'll love what you see." Aether groans as Swiss sinks back to his knees, spreading him again, the hand on his cock slow and steady.

Normally Swiss does this with Aether on his back, knees hitched up and open so Swiss could watch him. Could take in every eye roll, every furrow of his brow, every bit of drool that dripped from his tongue, perpetually lolling out of his mouth. Aether deserves to see this time.

Swiss drags the flat of his tongue in a wet, filthy stripe from Aether's balls, up and past his hole and Aether lets out a reedy cry. Swiss closes his eyes - he can see Aether's expression behind his eyelids as he swirls the tip around his rim. His brows would be knit, his soft lower lip caught in his fangs. There would be a heavy blush on his cheeks, spreading slowly to his chest. Swiss laps at him, twists his wrist over Aether's slick, pink head and the other ghoul cries out.

"Oh, fuck," Aether wheezes, throbbing in Swiss's hand, "fuck, oh no...Swiss, you - nngh - can't watch, gonna - ah!" Aether starts rocking his hips into Swiss's hand as Swiss presses his tongue beyond his tight rim, working him open with practiced ease. "Swiss, no, you - fuck, I'm gonna cum so quick, I -" The words stick in his throat as Swiss swirls that talented muscle, pressing as deep as he can. He draws the tip back and forth and Aether sounds close to tears.

Swiss stiffens his tongue and starts bobbing his head, fucking Aether's quivering hole with his mouth. Aether is spewing sin above him, his cock twitching and leaking pre over Swiss's skilled fingers. He tightens his grip just so, the pad of his thumb rubbing over the sensitive spot under the head, stroking in time with presses of his tongue.

In no time at all Aether's thighs are shaking against Swiss's shoulders, and Swiss quickens the pace. He relaxes his tongue and licks deep inside instead. He twists his hand over the head and Aether sobs, throbbing harder. Swiss moves immediately, unable to resist. He pulls back with a wet pop, spitting on Aether's hole for good measure.

Swiss quickly frees his own cock, sticky and flagging from lack of attention but rock hard and twitching after a handful of messy strokes. He's not lasting long either. He slots his aching length between Aether's cheeks and starts rocking his hips in time with his hand. His spit slicks each thrust and a spurt of pre drips onto Aether's back. Swiss grunts, giving Aether's ass a sideways slap and grinning at the way it shakes. He leans up and laces his fingers into Aether's thick hair, pressing a kiss to the center of his back. His other hand works in tight swirls, Aether's cock weeping all over the both of them.

"See how gorgeous you look?" Swiss pants, catching Aether's glazed eyes in the mirror. They're blown and unfocused, fucked out and empty. His mouth is hanging open, a string of saliva dripping from his chin. Of course his tongue is out, Swiss knew it would be, but the sight still makes him stroke faster, makes him rut a little more jerkily against Aether's hole. Aether's claws are biting into the mattress, and he hardens impossibly in Swiss's hand when he says, "Love you like this."

"Oh no, oh fuck, I'm - can't watch, fuck - " Aether cries out, but Swiss's grip is firm. He doesn't try to move anyway. Swiss groans, watching the way Aether's face contorts, beautifully pained. He shifts his grip on a whim, moving to stroke Aether downwards.

"Yeah, c'mon, cum for me Aeth," Swiss groans, "give it to me, it's mine." Aether chokes on a sob as Swiss thumbs over the head and then he's cumming silently, eyes fixed on his own reflection as his mouth hangs open and the veins in his forehead stick out.

Swiss misses it, staring down to watch the way Aether's blows his load in thick spurts over the stretched out shorts instead. Swiss curses between clenched teeth once Aether starts twitching from oversensitivity, bringing both hands to grip his cheeks and pressing them around his drooling cock. He makes it through another handful of uneven thrusts before he's spilling hot over Aether's lower back with a rasped cry of his name.

Swiss leans over and rests his forehead between Aether's shoulder blades while they both come back down, callused fingers rubbing up and down Aether's sides.

"Fuck," Aether slurs, "always forget how good you are at that."

"Nah," Swiss says with a chuckle, kissing the back of Aether's neck before pushing himself down, "your face does that to me too." He winks at Aether in the mirror before leaning down to run his tongue through his own mess. Aether giggles, says it's ticklish, and Swiss walks his fingers up his sides to watch Aether squirm. He stands once he's finished cleaning up, tucking himself back into his pants.

Aether stands and rolls his shoulders, making a disgusted noise at the back of his throat when he looks down and sees what Swiss did. His smile betrays him.

"You really do like the shorts, huh?" He moves to shimmy them off but Swiss catches his wrist. Aether fixes him with a raised eyebrow. "What?"

"Keep 'em on," Swiss says with a wink, leaning in to lick a bead of sweat from Aether's temple. The other ghoul snorts.

"Don't be gross, Swiss." But Swiss doesn't let him go, catching him in a deep kiss instead. Aether groans at the taste of himself and Swiss on his mingling together on his tongue, gripping the other ghoul's shirt. Swiss pulls back with a lazy smirk.

"Wanna be able to look at you and know you're filthy 'cause of me," he purrs, and Aether sputters. "Wear 'em under your pants. They're tighter than your boxers anyway." He leans to whisper in Aether's ear, low and filthy, "Maybe later I'll pull 'em down again and make you cry."

Aether sits on the bed with loose nod, staring up at Swiss with wide eyes. Swiss kisses him on the open mouth, striding for the door. Aether is bright red, but pulling up his shorts anyway and Swiss has to look away before he tackles the other ghoul and fucks him into the floor.

"See you at dinner," he says with another wink. "I want everyone to smell what I did to you."

Aether whines and Swiss laughs, heading back to the common room with a shit-eating grin plastered on his face, images of Aether's ass in those shorts swimming through his mind.