#ossoderiva

The lights were dim as bodies spilled across the large open space, chatter filling the air as Dahlia found herself tucked away in a corner, drink in hand. She let her fingers curl around the delicate glass tumbler as the Antivan brandy she had come to enjoy warmed her throat - she let her gaze flit across the room before it settled on the tall form of her dear necromancer.

Emmrich was currently surrounded by a flock of young Crows as they peppered him with questions about necromancy and Manfred, who had been left at the Lighthouse that evening - she could see his amused but tolerant expression as he did his best to keep up with their questions, his hands clasped in front of him. He stood a head above most in the room, her lover elegantly dressed as always, and she was not at all surprised by the gazes that followed his movements.

She lifted the tumbler, smirking when he had to bend down to hear a question whispered by a particularly young fledgling - her lips pressed together as she let the brandy slide down her throat, content to just watch until a hand settled heavily on her shoulder.

“Sitting here all alone and drinking like some tragic Nevarran widow? I would have expected better from you, sorellina,”

Dahlia twisted in her seat, lips curling into a smile as Osso stepped in front of her, his hands propped on his hips as he eyed her with mock disappointment.

“We both know I’ve done the widow thing already, Osso. And we’re the same age - stop calling me little, you thick headed crow.” Dahlia huffed as she dropped her glass onto the low table, though her gaze was warm as it settled on the man that had been her best friend for too many years.

“We both know that you should be up here enjoying the celebrations,” his grin was lazy, not at all bothered by her scowl, as he reached for her hand, pulling her sharply to her feet. “Not sitting in the shadows moping over your necromancer.”

“I was not moping- Osso, no-”

But Osso just laughed as he pulled her towards the floor, the sound loud and bright, before he spun her through the dancing bodies. She didn’t even try to hide her groan as his arms settled around her waist, joining in his laughter as they danced.

Emmrich, meanwhile, had finally freed himself from his flock of fans and made his way smoothly back to their table though he stilled when he realised Dahlia was no longer there. A flicker of irritation flashed across his face as he turned to scan the room, searching for her amongst the black and purple clad assassins that filled the floor. It was the sound of her laughter that caught his attention, warm and familiar, and it did not take him long to spot her - her breathless smile wide as she spun, Osso’s hand guiding her. She looked relaxed, at peace even, and for a moment he was happy to let them be, turning to sit as he reached for the glass Dahlia had abandoned until he saw Osso’s gaze flicker to him.

The crow’s gaze sharpened a little, a flash of mischief bright in his green eyes, when he saw Emmrich stand straight again. Emmrich frowned when the younger man’s expression shifted and he pulled Rook closer, his hands splaying across her back as they continued to dance.

Dahlia was oblivious to the challenge heavy in the air as she let Osso guide her, her hips shifting in time with his as he unknowingly kept her faced away from Emmrich.

It was the quiet mutter of conversation at a nearby table that caught Emmrich’s attention.

“They were always such a strange pair, you know”. An older Crow sat back in his seat, glass held thoughtfully in hand. “Even when they were younger and driving Viago mad.”

“They would have made a striking couple though.” The other person at the table shifted, their lips curling. “There were plenty of us that were sure they would end up together - you should have seen them fight, bickering like an old married couple.”

The first Crow laughed, his gaze amused as the pair continued to dance. “Well they certainly look as if they fucked as much as they fought - not that I’ve ever heard any rumours of the sort.”

“Perhaps they did and were just never caught - Armand is a Crow after all.”

The pair laughed, their attention moving on as Emmrich bristled - his fingers flexed at his side as his irritation quickly shifted into something heavier.

His mouth tightened then, when Osso dipped Dahlia low, her lips parting as she laughed, her hands reaching for his shoulders. Emmrich glared when Osso let her hang there, for just a second longer than necessary, his lips curling before he pulled her upright, hands settling on her hips.

His spine stiffened when Osso leaned down to press his lips gently to the curve of her neck, his gaze fixed on Emmrich’s. He didn’t linger and there was no heat to it as his mouth brushed softly against her skin, just a whisper of a kiss - to anyone else it would have looked innocent enough if not for the smirk across the young man’s mouth.

He attempted to school his features into something impassive though his jaw clenched - he exhaled slowly, patience thinning when he saw Osso turn the pair slowly, deliberately blocking Dahlia’s view of Emmrich as he let his fingers splay across her hips.

Something in him snapped.

His feet carried him through the crowd smoothly, his tall form cutting a path straight across the dance floor as the last of his patience disappeared.

Dahlia was breathless when Osso spun her again, teeth flashing as she smiled, and didn’t have a chance to register Emmrich’s presence until his hands settled heavily on her shoulders, bringing the pair sharply to a halt.

Osso smirked, though he tried to hide it when Dahlia tipped her chin up, her confusion at Emmrich’s cold gaze obvious.

“Buonasera, Professore Volkarin.” His voice was low, unfazed. “I hope you don’t mind that I kept Dahlia entertained whilst you were… otherwise occupied.”

Emmrich’s gaze remained impassive, his fingers flexing against her shoulders as he stared down at the younger man. “How very generous of you, Armand.”

“Please, call me Osso - you know I hate it when you use my birth name” His smirk widening as Emmrich’s eyes darkened. “It is never a bother to dance with someone so willing.”

Emmrich did not respond, feeling no need to feed Osso’s obvious enjoyment and instead reached for Dahlia’s hand, lacing their fingers together before he led her away.

Dahlia twisted, her hand held firmly in Emmrich’s as she threw a confused glance back at Osso - though he merely laughed when Emmrich tugged her closer, his hand raised in a mock salute.

The corridors of the Diamond were quiet as Emmrich led her away from the celebrations, the music fading behind them.

“Emmrich, what is-“

She inhaled sharply when the fingers in her hair tightened, his gaze heavy as it bore down on her.

“Do you have any idea of what it is like to see another man's hands touch something that is mine?”

“You’re overreacting Emmrich.”

The laugh that slipped from his lips was dry, humourless. “I think not.”

His hands moved then, spinning her so that he could press her flush against the wall, her palms flattening against the cool stone as he settled himself against her back. She shuddered when a hand traced along her waist, following the curve with a possessive touch that had her breath catching in her throat - his other hand lifted, fingers lacing through her as he held her hand against the wall. His mouth settled against the shell of her ear.

“I will not share you with anyone, my dear.”

The hand on her waist shifted, slipping under her blouse so that he could slide his fingers beneath the waistband of her trousers. She gasped at the cool press of his rings when he found the edge of her underwear, fingers drifting underneath so that he could cup her fully.

“There can never be anyone else,” his words whispered over her ear. “You are mine. Only mine.”

She moaned, a quiet sound, when his fingers slid through her folds, parting her so that he could drag through the slick there. Her neck arched when he hummed against her ear.

“This is mine,” his fingers stroked slowly, teasing her. “No other will ever touch you again.”

Dahlia could do little but whimper as he continued to tease her until his mouth moved, tracing down her ear to mouth at her neck when he pushed a finger in, curling as he sank into his knuckle. She shuddered when his palm settled against her clit, the friction curling her toes.

“You are such a delight like this, my love,” his teeth nipped at her throat, hard enough to have her shuddering against the wall. “Utterly mine. It’s like your body knows it was made to be mine.”

She wanted to bite back, say something sharp in argument but as he continued to fuck her, a second finger joining the other all she could was moan, the sound of it wrecked and breathless. With each thrust she could feel her stomach coiling, the heat building as he dragged her closer to the edge.

“Say it,” he growled the words against her throat, fingers curling again. “Say you’re mine.”

Her eyes were squeezed shut as she pressed her cheek into the wall, lips brushing at the fingers laced through hers. “I’m- I’m yours Emmrich. Only- only yours.”

“Good girl.”

The air grew loud with the sound of her whimpers, and the slick slide of his fingers inside her - that was until the sound of footsteps echoed down the corridor.

Her eyes flew open, her body tightening in panic when she tried to move but Emmrich held her still. His hand unlaced from hers and clamped over her mouth as his fingers continued to fuck her.

"Shh," he murmured the words against her jaw. “We wouldn’t want to be found like this, would we?”

She moaned into his palm as her thighs shook, his fingers still moving as her release started to burn low in her belly. The footsteps lingered for a moment, pausing as he pressed her deeper into the wall, before they retreated, shuffling back towards the sounds of the celebrations.

Emmrich exhaled slowly, his hand lowering from her mouth to wrap around her jaw. “You are being so good.” His fingers quickened. “But we’re not done quite yet.”

He was relentless. Her nails scrambled against the walls, desperate for some kind of stability as her back arched against his chest - she could feel the wet slick dripping down her thighs as he continued to pump his fingers into her, completely lost under him.

“There we go.” The hand on her jaw turned her face towards him as he leaned down to brush his lips against her. “Come for me.”

He swallowed her cry, his tongue pushing past the strangled moan as he drank her in - his body flush to hers as she shuddered though his fingers didn’t stop. He stroked her through each wave, working her until she was limp against him. Emmrich hummed when she whimpered, his fingers sliding out from her slowly so that he could turn her to face him.

“Open.” He brushed his fingers, still wet, over her lips, smearing the slick there before she parted her lips - with a small smile he slid them in, pressing down against her tongue. He watched her eyes widen at the pressure but she sealed her lips around his fingers when he tapped his thumb against her jaw. Her tongue curled around them, sucking the slick clean as she breathed through her nose.

His gaze narrowed slightly at the hollow of her cheeks as he pulled his fingers free and he leaned down to press his mouth to hers, his tongue chasing the taste of her as he groaned into her.

“Mine.”

Dahlia let her fingers curl weakly against his wrists as she pushed up onto her toes, chasing his kiss when he pulled back. “Your’s.”

Emmrich smiled softly, his thumb brushing softly over the swell of her lip before he reached down to fasten the buttons of her vest. With a small nod he took her hand, lacing the fingers together tightly as he steered her back towards the celebration.

***

Osso huffed, arms crossing tightly over his chest as Lucanis watched him in amusement, the young crow’s scowl heavy as he continued to glare at the door Emmrich had led Dahlia from. He didn’t look up when Lucanis laughed, his cup held lightly between his hands. “Don’t”

Lucanis lifted a brow. “Don’t what, amor mío?”

He threw up a hand, waving vaguely at nothing. “Whatever it is that you want to say right now. Just don’t.”

The assassin sighed, though his eyes were still warm as he watched Osso sink lower into his seat. “But you make it so easy, Osso. You pushed him and now you sulk like a fledgling that has had its first dagger taken away.”

Osso let his arms fall loose, dropping down to rest on the arms of his seat as his fingers tapped anxiously. “Il Creatore mi aiuti… I was just trying to tease him. I only wanted to rile him up a little.” He frowned, head falling back against his seat. “Not… whatever that was.”

The pair were quiet for a moment, the buzz of the celebration loud around them before Lucanis spoke again, pausing only to sip at his coffee. “Emmrich is a very… proud man, amor mío. It would not be wise to test one with such control.”

Osso tipped his head, scowling as he watched Lucanis take another sip. “I still don’t understand what Dahlia see’s in that… mago della morte.”

“It is Mortalitasi, Osso. Not death mage - and even a blind man can see that he loves her.”

Osso muttered quietly under his breath as he flicked a hand towards Lucanis, refusing to meet his gaze until he felt fingers lace through his. He sighed. “He’s obsessed is what he is.”

Lucanis dipped his head in acknowledgment. “Maybe. But he loves her regardless and you would be wise to not antagonise him.” His eyes moved towards the entrance when bodies shifted, Osso turning to follow his gaze.

Emmrich moved into the room, his fingers still laced through Dahlia’s as he guided her through the crowd towards their table - even from across the room Osso could see the way her hair was mussed, lips red and swollen in a way that had him twisting uncomfortably in his seat.

Lucanis snorted into his coffee. “That certainly explains why they were gone for so long.”

Osso tugged his hand free as he scowled at Lucanis, hunching over in his seat as he crossed his arms again. “Bastardo.”

“Don’t be bitter, amor mío. You got your reaction.”

It didn’t take Emmrich long to reach their table. He settled himself into his seat and pulled Dahlia down onto his lap, smiling softly when she curled her fingers around the tumbler he pressed into her hands. Osso could only stare as Emmrich wrapped a long arm around her waist, settling her against him as he pressed a soft kiss to the curve of her neck.

Then. Emmrich looked up.

His gaze was cool as he met Osso’s, a brow raised slightly in what could only be a silent challenge.

Osso sat up straighter in his seat as he ground his teeth together only to grumble when he had to look away, Emmrich unblinking, and instead swiped the coffee from Lucanis’ hands.

“Don’t be a child.”

Osso tipped his head back as he gulped down the last of the coffee before he handed the empty cup back with a scowl. “He’s unbelievable.”

“You started this.”

“La prossima volta che verrà a Treviso, gli avvelenerò il tè.”

Lucanis hummed, leaning down to place the empty cup on their table. “What was that?”

“Next time he comes to Treviso, I will poison his tea.”

The assassin laughed quietly as he reached for a twitching hand. “It’s not Emmrich you should be worried about, amor mío.” He laced their fingers tightly and motioned for Osso to look back at the pair - they saw Dahlia lean back into Emmrich’s chest as he smoothed a hand down her back. “She would kill you first.”

The younger man groaned, eyes squeezing shut when Emmrich tipped her chin down to face him so that he could kiss her softly.

Lucanis lifted the hand he held and pressed a kiss to the knuckles. “I think you’ve lost this one.”

Osso let his head fall back. “I hate him.”