Chapter: 3
Fandom: A Court of Thorns and Roses Series - Sarah J. Maas Rating: Explicit Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Azriel/Eris Vanserra Characters: Azriel (A Court of Thorns and Roses), Eris Vanserra, Gwyneth Berdara, Original Male Character(s), Rhysand (A Court of Thorns and Roses), Cassian (A Court of Thorns and Roses)
(Read the Tags on AO3 please)
EXCERPT:
“You wanted to talk?” Azriel finally questioned.
“Not necessarily. You looked like you might need to, though.” Eris sank back down, this time beside Azriel. His shoulder brushed Azriel’s. Eris was warm. Azriel couldn’t help but imagine his embrace, a real embrace. He could sink into the man for hours, days even.
“I’m fine. Better than fine.” Azriel shrugged and swallowed. Then, he winked and licked his lips, directing the conversation back to safer territory. “I think I’d like to help you get to my current level of fine.”
“I like you a lot.” Eris’s confession was guarded. There was something he wasn’t saying. Azriel felt the ‘but’ coming. There was always a ‘but’ saved for describing affection for people like Azriel. Always. Azriel had heard them all.
But I can’t bring you home to my family.
But I’m not willing to move to a cheaper part of the city.
But you can’t afford to live the life I like.
But I’m not comfortable with your family situation.
But you have too much baggage.
But you’re too much.
That’s what it always boiled down to really, wasn’t it? Azriel was always somehow simultaneously both too much and not enough.
“But?” Azriel hedged. There. He said it first. Maybe it would take the sting out of whatever Eris was about to say.
Eris winced. “Does there have to be a qualifier?” Yes. Azriel waited in the silence. Eris sighed, straightening and pouring himself yet another drink. “I like you a lot. I’d like to get to know you better. I haven’t stopped thinking about you for weeks, and it’s been torturing me. You have been torturing me. My every thought.”
How strong was that whiskey? Azriel leaned back, relaxing slightly. And that’s when the other shoe dropped.
“But, as much fun as I had earlier,” Eris’s fingertips grazed the underside of Azriel’s jaw, tipping his head upward slightly until their gazes met in the middle. “I was distracted.” The admission was a knife to Azriel’s heart.
Fighting to keep the sting out of his eyes, Azriel spoke. “I don’t particularly need to hear about whoever else you were thinking about while I was embarrassing myself before you.” He gathered his feet under himself, ready to stand. Only Eris’s gentle grasp held Azriel in place.
“That’s not what I meant.” Eris spoke low like he was talking to an approaching tiger, slow and worried he’d scare it. “ This ,” Eris gestured wildly, “Is more what I was referring to.”
