#raither

Chokehold - Aether to/abt Dew and their simultaneous Summoning, how Dew was the only "lust at first sight" his demi self has experienced (fic on AO3)

Look to Windward - Dew's Summoning experience and thoughts of himself

Jericho - Dew about Aether, his inner monologuing bc he doesn't express feelings well at all

Emergence - Dew post-transition, new thoughts of himself, with Aether offering support...and more

Dangerous - Dew realizing/admitting he is deeply in love with Aether

Sugar - Dew's desire to be a Dom, an unpleasant experience btwn them where Aether's boundaries get pushed

Higher - Dew's thoughts abt Aether leading up to their break-up. Again, feelings he doesn't express outloud/outwardly. Reacting to Aether's pushback after the events of Sugar, offended that Aether could be frightened, he didn't mean it that way, it was one time, reactionary toxicity in many ways

The Love You Want/TLYW: (Heat Death of a Star trim) - Their relationship breaks down. "Freak show talk" refers to Dew wanting Aether as his sub, but Aether resisting/rejecting. "A different harbor to lay my anchor in" foreshadows Rain. It only plays through the instrumental part (fic)

Blood Sport - Aether post-breakup. He is utterly destroyed. He blames Dew at first but pivots to blaming himself

Even In Arcadia - Rain is Summoned and there is a noticeable, palatable shift

High Water - Dew's conflicting thoughts and feelings about both Aether and Rain

Hypnosis - Rain offering himself to Dew in exactly the way Dew craves (fic on AO3)

Drag Me Under - Dew falls hard for the newest Water Ghoul, lets himself feel it deeply and wholly. He may have wanted Aether, but he needs Rain

Past Self - Finally having accepted himself as Fire now, Dew steps into himself and who he needs to be, who he wants to ne with and for Rain, a self he couldn't have been before.

Provider - Dew expressing everything he wants from his relationship with Rain

Rain - Dew accepting Rain as his sub, fulfilling his need to be a Dom, expressing all it's done for him

Caramel - Dew going on performing without Aether, how he thought it might distract and heal but does no such thing

Gethsemene - Aether reflecting on his pain and grief and the struggle of moving forward

Damocles - Dew realizes all Aether still means to him, because of what he now has with Rain and the healing that has brought

Dark Signs - Dew convinced he still isn't (never was) worthy, even if he wants Aether back, self-deprecation

Euclid - Aether yearning for Dew to return to him/take him back, but seeing him and Rain together makes that seem impossible

DYWTYLM - Aether and Dew processing their emotions. "Roll with the waves/duck into deep blue safety" is Aeth's bitter criticism of Dew's relationship with Rain, accusing him of rebounding. "Pull at the chains/push into constant aching" is Dew retorting that Aether is jealous and could have been in Rain's place. The whole song is a back and forth between them. By the end they're both so raw and realize they seek reunion

I have a brain movie that plays whenever I hear DYWTYLM. Two microphone stands in spotlights, Aether at one, Dew and Rain at the other. They're holding each other close and slowly turning. Dew and Aether trade off singing lines, at first glaring at each other but by the end they're in tears and reaching their hands out towards each other, Dew still holding Rain tightly with his other arm

Fall for the Love You Want - a customized track including Fall for Me and The Love You Want. FFM illustrates the Dewther reunion, "I am yours till the end" reinforced by the repeated "I'm still full of the love you want." The repetition of the song's first two lines is Dew's desire to have Aether and Rain be partners as well

Infinite Baths - Dew being able to express what his reunion with Aether means for him

Aqua Regia - Aether accepting Rain both as Dew's sub, a role he couldn't fulfill himself, and also as his own partner

Dew was staring again. After he came out and started to transition, a new Water Ghoul had been Summoned, and from first sight he was enthralled. But Rain was quiet and painfully shy. Papa would give him direction during practice and he'd always look like a deer in the headlights. He was a brilliant musician, everyone agreed, but outside of practice he kept to himself. It put a little strain on their polyamorous dynamic; eventually, he'd have to join them, but someone would have to get him to open up to it. The Ghoulettes in specific had insisted he join them this particular evening in the common room for movie night, and Æther thought that, perhaps, Dew's obvious attraction could be the catalyst for more. He chanced interrupting Dew's fixation, since neither of them were paying attention to the movie anyway.

"Do you want him, Dewdrop?" He purred out in a whisper, already fully knowing the answer.

Dew scoffed. "Doesn't really matter, he'll barely look at me." He kept the pout off his face, but couldn't out of his voice.

"He's shy, you know that. Maybe you need to approach him first?"

"No, he has to want me." Æther was sure part of that statement was due to the transition and surrounding insecurities, but his tone hinted at something else, too.

"You mean, he has want to belong to you, don't you? You want him to offer himself, to submit."

"Yes," Dew breathed the word, his chest rising and falling much more noticeably.

"Hmm." Æther smirked. Dew pulled his eyes off Rain to look at his lover.

"What does that mean?"

"Never you mind, love. Just trust me."

Dew gave Æther the side-eye as he turned his head back in Rain's direction, but simply said, "Don't I always?"

After the movie ended, before they left for their rooms, everyone seemed to take a extra moment to say good night to Rain. Part of it was to make him feel included, but especially to Æther's Quintempathy, another motive was obvious. To put it bluntly, everyone wanted him. And it was no wonder, his dark eyes, fluffy hair, shy smile and sweet voice all worked in harmony to make him unbelievably attractive. And that was even aside from the general desire to bring the newcomer into the fold of their relationships. Rain had an almost permanent blush throughout it all. Dew and Æther hung back to be the last to leave.

"You go on ahead," Æther rumbled in Dew's ear again. "Find someone to snuggle if you want, but I think, don't wait up."

"...I'll be with Swiss, probably."

"Alright. Hey." Æther grabbed his wrist and pulled him close before he could walk away, catching both his chin and his eyes. "I love you. No matter what. Forever."

Dew's face softened just the slightest bit. "I know, Æth. I'll see you later." He stretched up to give a good night kiss, before walking over to stand directly in front of Rain. With his hands behind his back, he paused there. Then with a very feline tilt of his head, purred out, "Good night, Rain," before turning to leave.

"Dew!" Æther called out once more. "Binder off." Dew rolled his eyes but shot a thumbs-up as he turned his back.

As Dew walked away, Æther saw that Rain's blush had deepened, and watched him take a hard swallow. His brown eyes were wide and shining, and it looked like his breath had shallowed. Dew will love that when I tell him, he thought as he strode closer.

"Well, just you and I left then, eh? I'm not the least bit tired meself. How 'bout you, Rain? Fancy something to drink?"

"oh, i, um...sssure..." Rain fought back a stutter. "got any red?"

Æther grinned at him. "Malbec okay?"

"yeah, great actually, thanks."

Æther poured two glasses and after handing one off, sat just an arm's length away from Rain. Rain had curled his long legs up nearly to his chest and crossed his arms, crooking one hand to his mouth whenever he took a sip of wine. In contrast, Æther was leaned back, arms resting spread on the back of the couch, an ankle perched on the opposite knee, the picture of relaxation. He needed to make sure Rain felt safe, or this wouldn't work.

"So, how's it been so far, joining our little group here?"

"everyone's been very nice, encouraging, supportive. it's...yeah, it's nice. except um..."

"Except?"

"except...Dew. he um. that is, i think...i think he stares at me."

"He does."

"oh. okay. um. why?"

"Why any of us would. You're pretty, and we like you." It wasn't the whole of the truth, but Æther knew it was best to ease Rain into this. As if on cue, he blushed again.

"oh. that's...that's, nice. i think.

"We certainly don't mean to be rude. Dew isn't always the best with words, see. More a man of action. He responds well to words, though." Æther winked and grinned again. "But yeah, he fancies you like you fancy that wine."

Rain nearly giggled. "so he wants to drink me?"

"A tall glass of Water Ghoul like yourself? Most definitely." Rain rolled his eyes at the joke.

"But I am serious," Æther continued. "You have to understand Dew, though. Yes, he's been staring, and yes, he wants you to notice. And respond."

Rain swallowed hard again. "and you're his wingman, i suppose?"

"I'm his partner and I want him to be happy. I mean we all are, partners that is, to one degree or another, and we all want him to be happy. Especially now that he's come out and started his transition. He and I are a bit more to each other, true, but I don't mean to muddle things." Æther softened his voice and moved just a little closer. "The point is, he wants you, and we've all come to realize how shy you are. So I'm thinking, even if you do reciprocate, it's not easy to say so, is it, Rainy?"

The way Rain's pupils and nostrils both flared at the sudden use of a nickname, Æther knew he'd touched something. Rain shook his head in response to the question and took another sip of wine, his hand trembling. Æther put his glass down, and took Rain's before taking his hand. He looked in his eyes, using the pool of his Quintempathy to soften the atmosphere in the room. He spoke gently.

"It's your choice from here. But if you do want him, I'm here to help you get him." Rain seemed to be thinking as he lowered his feet to the floor, searching Æther's eyes for anything untoward. Æther read the body language as Rain opening up to him, to the potentiality he offered.

"It's alright," Æther whispered. "You can trust me. I swear to the Depths and back." Whether it was the wine or the way he'd been treated so far, Rain believed Æther's words. He nodded and took a deep breath.

"what do i need to do?"

Æther smirked. "I think it's better if I show you. Stand up."

Rain stood, somehow both graceful and awkward all at once. Æther took a moment to just admire him, selflessness slipping briefly from his mind. He dared to hope that if he was to be Dew's, Rain could also be his. But that was another thought for another night. Tonight, he had an objective.

Sliding from the couch, Æther knelt, rocking back on his haunches and bringing his hands to rest on his thighs, just behind his bent knees. "Like this, you see? And then..." Æther bent his head, then looked up with just his eyes. "If he's dressed, which he will be at first anyway, you can look. Once he starts to take clothes off though--" Æther dropped his eyes to the floor. "--keep 'em down till he says different."

He could hear Rain swallow this time. "is that um...is that what you do too?"

Æther fully looked up. "Except for not looking, no. I keep my eyes on his face until he gives the okay, but we have a different dynamic. But I know what he wants from you."

"oh," Rain squeaked out, blushing deeply again. "he wants me to um--"

"Submit, Rainy. Surrender. Agree to belong to him, regardless of how many of the rest of us are involved over time. He wants to have you and know you're well and truly his."

Rain blinked rapidly. "h-how do you know that?"

"Because I know him. Because he's given a good portion of that to me and I recognize the desire. But also... I suspect it's another way to both express and cope with his transition. He used to be Water, like you. He's now Fire. Mix the two, Water usually wins, yeah? He needs the win now."

"that is...actually really beautiful." Rain felt himself well up just the smallest bit, knowing Dew saw him as a kind of prize, or reward.

"Glad to hear you think so. Now. I said he responds well to words. How do you feel talking about sex?"

"i...you said it, i'm shy. i don't know if i--"

"You're gonna have to learn. So we're gonna practice. A good Dom learns by subbing. So I'm gonna say, in your case, the underconfident sub is gonna need to be a little bit Dom to find his voice. A Dom only has the power their sub grants them, so you have to learn to give it. Make sense?"

"i, i think so. but Æther..."

Æther stood, and stepped directly into Rain's personal space. Rain's breath audibly caught, and Æther brought a hand to the side of his face. His voice sounded intimate. "It's gonna be okay, Rainy. You can do this." He leaned forward, letting only his breath kiss Rain's lips. "Don't think. Just speak. Or you'll get nothing."

Rain shuddered, and didn't quite manage to stifle a moan. He panted a few times before the words came. "back on your knees."

Æther gasped a little. "Anything you say, Rain." And he sank back to the floor. "Oh, I almost forgot. Make sure you say please."

"s-say please?"

"Let him know what you want, but beg a little. Or a lot. Listen." Æther exhaled. "Rain, Rainy please, let me pleasure you? Please Rain?"

"o-oh Æther i--" Rain stumbled back a step, caught off guard by the reaction the Quintessence Ghoul's ability was fostering in him. Æther's hands shot up, grabbing Rain by the hips to not only steady him but keep him close. He over estimated the momentum, though, and ended up with Rain's groin right in his face. Even through denim, he saw Rain's cock twitch. He looked up, with only his eyes again, but sincerely this time. He was breathless.

"Tell me what you want right now. Tell me what you want me to do."

"i want...Æther i want you to..." Rain was flustered, and frowned at it, frustrated by it. "oh, Damnation..."

Æther leaned forward, pressing his face to the front of Rain's jeans. He felt it move this time, and in doing so got a sense of the size. "Oh...oh my..." He tilted his head up to fully face Rain. "Is that why you're so nervous?"

Rain gave a small nod, a tremble at his lips. "it's a bit...unweildy. i-i sort of understood the expectation, you all don't exactly hide what you have going on here. i just... i didn't want to intimidate anybody..."

"Oh Rainy," Æther all but moaned. "Did it occur to you that we might like it?"

"no..." Rain admitted sheepishly.

Æther groaned and leaned in again, forgetting any pretense of propriety. He nuzzled and kissed at the bulge that kept growing harder, his hands now reaching around to kneed at Rain's ass. The whimpering sounds the Water Ghoul made spurred him on, but anyone could whimper. He needed words. Dew would want words.

"Rainy, say it, please. Tell me what you want. Tell me everything. Every dirty thought, every Lustful fantasy, every inappropriate detail. I want to know what to do with all this cock, Rainy, please."

"Æther...Æther t-take it out." Very lightly, he caressed Æther's horn, barely a touch.

"Mhmm, and then what?" Æther continued to purse his lips against the strained fabric, pressing Rain's hips forward, tighter against his face.

"and then...and then...givemeyourmouth." The words tumbled out in an anxious rush.

Æther couldn't help the way his eyes rolled back. "Oh that's a good boy, Rain. You want me to suck your big cock, you pretty thing?"

"oh-- oh yes. Æther please." Rain put his hands on Æther's shoulders, gripping them to steady himself.

"Say it, Rainy-boy. Say the words. C'mon now, tell me what you want."

"...Æther, please suck my cock."

Æther closed his eyes and took in a deep, shuddering breath. He stood, and the confusion in Rain's deep eyes was echoed in the way he whined. Æther took Rain's jaw in his hand again, stepped close again. His other hand found the small of Rain's back, and his lips feathered against Rain's as he spoke.

"I know you'll understand how difficult this is to do right now. But we should stop. I don't want to take anything away from Dew, and I know he wants you first. But maybe another night, Rainy. Maybe you can ask me again." He pushed his hips forward, letting Rain feel that he wasn't unaffected.

Rain's eyes pleaded and his lip trembled as Æther pulled away. "Æther you...you've made me want you...and i'm, i'm so hard..."

Æther's resolve almost faltered, hearing how successful the lesson had been. He inhaled again, able to scent out how aroused Rain truly was. And a thought occured to him. "I know, Rainy. Believe me. But I have an idea. May or may not work, but we can try it. Let me walk you to your room."

And Æther escorted him, the way a gentleman should, one of Rain's arms draped over his so they interlocked. He explained what he'd come up with, and Rain agreed to try. Though when they reached his door, Rain pleaded again. "you sure you won't...come inside?"

The innuendo wasn't lost on Æther, and it took every ounce of his self control to refuse. He shuddered and his voice went husky. "Go get comfortable. Even if this doesn't work, you can still take care of yourself, yeah?"

"of course i can. i would just rather you do it."

"You're a fast learner, Rainy. Scoot." Æther gave him a slap on the ass, a cheeky grin, and a wink. Rain blushed but smiled, holding their shared gaze until his bedroom door was shut.

Æther hurried down the hall to the suite he normally shared with Dew, which was of course empty. He'd barely closed the door behind him when he started stripping, his erection springing free and bobbing when those clothes came off. He climbed onto the bed, on top of the covers, and laid flat on his back. He closed his eyes and started to concentrate.

It wasn't at all difficult to recall what had just happened, kneeling in front of Rain, knowing he was hard, feeling the arousal pour off him like a waterfall. His own cock kicked with the thoughts, a bead of pre-cum running down the shaft. But he waited to touch, as the tendrils of his Quintempathy reached out to the other room he'd nearly entered.

His eyes and jaw flew open as a torrent of further arousal crashed against his consciousness, arching his back off the bed. He didn't think his cock could have gotten any harder, but he'd been wrong. It felt as though the arousal itself was trying to burst through his flesh, as though his heretofore-praised, thick eight inches wasn't enough to hold all the erotic energy now coursing through him. He craved being sheathed somewhere warm and wet, but knew his hand would have to suffice.

Squeezing the base, he hissed, the pressure intensifying the sensations. He started moving his hand, and his entire body shook, rattling the bedframe. With each stroke, pleasure grew exponentially, the sounds coming from his throat degrading into animalistic growls. It wasn't taking much for that pooled heat sensation to grow, his hand now flying over his cock and his legs tensing with anticipation. He called out the only name he had in his mind, the only person he wanted now, "Oh, Rain!"

And then it happened. With the force of a geyser he started to cum, stronger than he ever remembered. It was as though a current pulled his fluids from him, a Greedy force extracting every ounce of pleasure and ecstasy. A sheen of sweat formed over his entire body, as his hand, stomach, thighs, even his chest were additionally sprayed. He moaned loudly, repeating the name, not caring who might hear him.

As it settled and he came down off the high, from within his Quintempathy's influence he heard a breathless, overwhelmed whisper of his own name. He was surprised that it stirred him again, since he hadn't even gone soft yet. "Alright, Rainy," he muttered, and, sensing he'd been heard, "You want another? Here we go."

Rain dedicatedly peered into his cereal bowl when Æther entered the kitchen and poured himself a steaming cup of coffee. The mood this morning was jovial, everyone laughing and joking, but with an added buzz that none of them could name. As a group the Ghouls were always complimentary and affectionate, but today their flirtations had more bite. Papa would have his work cut out for him, getting them to concentrate at practice.

Æther rested his forearms on the counter next to Rain, just barely brushing their shoulders together. He brought the mug to his lips as he muttered, "We did this, you know. We're the reason everyone's so keyed up this morning."

"how do you mean?" Rain whispered back as Æther took another swallow.

"Being that we're all partners, linked and synced as it were, and in no small part because I'm Quintessence, they can feel it. They might not know why, or the details, but at least subconsciously they know something's happened." There was so much laughter in the kitchen, so much casual touching that resulted in gasps and giggles, no one else could hear their conversation. They were both glad of that, because then what they had, for the moment, could stay special.

"And I used my magic differently than I ever have before," Æther continued after another drink. "That probably adds a little something extra. Sure did for me, and I'd venture, for you too."

Rain chuckled in response, sneaking a glance at Æther from behind his hair. "that was the best i've ever had, Æther." The confession was punctuated with a tiny squeak of a moan, and Æther's cock twitched as he straightened up to finish his cup and make his way to practice.

It was early. Rain didn't expect Dew to be awake. But as he cracked open the door to their suite, he saw Dew sitting up in bed. He had a hoodie on, which wasn't as normal as it once had been. After his top surgery he'd felt less need to hide. Of course Rain knew there'd been trouble, they all did, and besides he'd been the one to clean up the bathroom the day before.

"hey," he whispered as he gently closed the door.

"Hey." Dew whispered back without looking up. He was rapidly tapping the fingertips of his left hand against his thumb. Practicing fingering patterns without his guitar, Rain realized when he got closer. It seemed almost unconscious.

"are you okay?" Rain asked, perching on the edge of the bed. Æther was on his side, facing Dew, eyes closed and breathing soft and slow. He had a hand on Dew's thigh, keeping tabs even in his sleep.

Dew shrugged and still didn't look up. "Been better. Slept for shit."

"do you need to talk?"

Dew turned to look at the sleeping Ghoul beside him, panic in his throat. "Should wait for Æth to wake up."

That sounded serious. "alright. what do you need from me right now?"

The words stung Dew's eyes. Even after all this time having Rain as his claimed sub, the way he always knew the right thing to say, the right way to ask. Anyone caring for him, Dew struggled with. But Rain was special. He'd known it immediately. That's why he'd chosen him.

"Jus' hold me," he grumbled out, raising the blankets and laying down. Rain climbed in, laying on his side to mirror Æther and sliding an arm under the pillow to cradle Dew's neck. Instead of staying on his back, Dew turned to face Rain and clung to him, burying his face between Rain's neck and the bed.

"shhh, i'm here Dew. i'm right here." He gently ran his hand over Dew's back, letting the Soothing qualities of his Element flow from him and over his Dom. Before long Dew's breathing slowed and softened and he was asleep. Rain didn't move, didn't want to. Dew needed the rest.

Æther stirred after a bit, slitting open his eyes and moving close to Dew again, his arm going around Dew's waist, his legs curving themselves to fit behind Dew's. He peered at Rain through his sleep haze.

"Hey Rainy-boy."

"hey, Æther-my-love," Rain whispered back. "Dew's asleep."

"Good. He needs it." Despite that, Æther nuzzled Dew's hair softly.

"we were waiting for you to wake up, but now we need to wait for him."

Æther sighed. "He won't be ready regardless. Doesn't matter how long we wait..."

"is it that bad?"

"He thinks so. And his feelings are most important right now."

"poor Dew..." Rain held him tighter, and in his sleep Dew snuggled into his chest. Behind Dew, Æther pressed closer still, holding onto Rain's upper arm across him. With the Fire Ghoul between them, everything felt warm and cozy, and both Rain and Æther drifted in and out of sleep.

When Rain finally woke again, Æther's hand had slid down and rested on Dew's abdomen, protectively. Dew sniffled softly, and Æther whispered comforts to him, "Everything'll be alright, love. I'm here. Always. I swear on both your lives."

"both?" Rain mumbled, still half asleep. "me too?"

A silence that dragged on a little too long caused Rain to open his eyes. Dew had turned his head to look at Æther, and their shared eye contact spoke depths of things Rain couldn't parse.

"I...suppose, three, then." Æther paused between each word, darting his eyes to Rain, looking sheepish but not without a hint of Pride. Dew turned his gaze much more slowly, covering Æther's hand with his. His bottom lip trembled and his eyes welled up with trepidation and what could have been terror. He couldn't muster more than a whisper, and even so his voice cracked as he spoke.

"I'm pregnant."

Rain's dark eyes flooded as his arms wound around Dew's neck. The conflict of emotion silenced him; Æther's joy was restrained but evident, but he'd as much as told Rain that Dew was not happy, if that hadn't been clear from his demeanor. Rain locked eyes with Æther over Dew's head, mouthing, "yours?" Æther nodded his confirmation, and Rain felt another conflict, a mixture of relief and disappointment. But as before, Rain let his Calming influence run over his Dom, who trembled in his embrace.

"Æther and i will take care of the both of you. every step of the way. for the rest of our lives and yours." As he spoke, Rain lightly kissed between Dew's horns, petting Dew's hair even as his tears fell into it. "Dew we love you. i love you. it's going to be alright."

Dew nearly choked on a sob and pressed closer into Rain's arms. As earlier, Æther was right behind him, his strong, secure arm draping across both the smaller Ghouls. He mused to himself that he now held his three dearest loves.

"No one else knows yet," Æther said softly. "He was barely ready to tell you."

"i understand. it's...heavy. but we'll help you carry this, Dew, as much as we can."

Dew's tear-streaked face turned up towards his sub, his voice still a whisper. "I'm a man, Rain. I didn't want this. I'm sorry."

"shh, Dew, no, no apologies. of course you're a man. you're my man. and i have a feeling you're going to be a great dad too."

Dew buried his face back into Rain's chest, taking deep yet unsteady breaths. Æther squeezed Rain's arm again.

"Ifrit we should talk." Æther cut right to the chase as he stalked into the common room, where Ifrit and Swiss were chatting.

"Should I go?" Swiss asked, eyes sparkling with the hope that they needn't bother. Æther swiveled his head to address them.

"Actually, Dew would prefer there be an audience. Though I'm going to ask you to be tight-lipped about what you hear, please, love."

"Of course, love," Swiss parroted Æther's tone, not to make fun of him, but because often their Multi Ghoul nature translated to mimicry. They laced their fingers together and tucked their hands between their thighs and settled in to observe.

Æther turned back to Ifrit. "I might have said it's good to see you, but the last time I did, you'd broken my heart."

Ifrit's Damnable smile never faltered. "Oh, darling, you're not still on about that, are you? You've clearly moved on so what's the trouble?"

Æther narrowed his eyes. "The last time we spoke before today, I'd opened up to you, told you I loved you. And you basically said I was fun for you to fuck and needed to get over it because it was never going to happen. You practically laughed in my face, you condescending bastard."

Finally, the smile left Ifrit's lips. "And then you told me to get out, and I did. I fucked right off back to the Pit, didn't I? I gave you space to get over your little crush. Was it not enough? Why are you still obsessed with me? I know we were good together but that's precisely why I can't be tied down, darling. Deprive everyone else of this? I don't think so."

Æther was seething, hands clenched into fists at his sides. "You're just as fucking arrogant as ever. And when have any of us been fucking exclusive? You sure that obsession wasn't the other way around? Because I seem to remember having you in my bed, and my bunk on the road, every. Single. Fucking. Night. So fucking excuse me for thinking we had something more than sex."

"Why in the fuck did we need more than that? We had such a good thing, Æther. We didn't need to complicate it. It was so perfect." Ifrit locked his intoxicating blue eyes to Æther's and stepped closer every few words until their chests nearly touched. A smirk made its way onto his lips and his voice went low. "Remember how I used to make you feel, darling? How I'd to get you so close with my mouth before I filled you up? Remember how hard you'd cum for me? Does your little guitarist do that? Does your pretty bassist satisfy you? Does anybody fuck you like I can?"

"You're an asshole," Æther growled.

Ifrit ignored him and continued, stepping away from Æther and gesturing broadly. "Or maybe we should ask them? Since nobody’s exclusive maybe I should fuck them and get their opinion. And then I can find out for myself in the process if they're any goo--"

Swiss' fist interrupted.

Ifrit stumbled, groaning, holding his jaw.

"You listen here, jack," Swiss menaced at him. "You and Æther, whatever bullshit happened before, not really my business. But Rain and Dew are my partners too and I'm gonna need you to stay the fuck away from them if this is how you treat people you sleep with. If we didn't need you for the tour, I'd launch you back into the Pit myself."

Æther tried to suppress a smile. "Swiss, love, as much as I appreciate you, I don't think Papa wants us at his throat." His voice had devolved into a growl by the final word. "We have to work and travel with him. Something has to give."

Ifrit smirked through the pain, testing his jaw. "It'll bruise, but the mask'll hide it." He spit blood and grinned. Æther forced his fists to relax.

"But it won't hide who you really are. Swiss is right, unfortunately we need you to play guitar." Æther moved close again, the growl returning and intensifying. "What we don't need, is you."

Confusion clouded the bright blue eyes as Ifrit scowled. "How the fuck do you plan to pull that off?"

"Swiss, love. Get out."

"But you said Dew--"

"Out." Swiss didn't need to be told again.

Æther continued his advance, invading Ifrit's personal space. He knew Ifrit wouldn't retreat or shrink away. He was counting on it. Ifrit smirked again, despite the puzzlement lingering in his eyes.

"You won't intimidate me, darling. I don't respond well to threats or blackmail either. And you don't have it in you to fight. Tell me what you're really playing at so we can get to the part where you break, I fuck whomever I please including your little boyfriends, and then I fuck you, and we put the whole mess... behind you." His emphasis was obscene, much like the way he gripped his crotch. He whispered next, "Don't you miss it?"

Æther shook his head slowly, leaning to speak directly in Ifrit's ear. "Not even a little bit. And soon, you won't miss me either."

Ifrit barked out a laugh. "What the fuck makes you think I miss--" He was cut off by Æther's broad hands clamping on to either side of his head, his grimacing face just inches away. Æther growled low, his dark eyes changing, growing even darker, deeper, until they were as the void of space. Ifrit felt as though he was suddenly flying through a star field, complete with cold terror and the struggle to breathe. A violet haze roiled at the edge of his perception, and Æther's voice echoed from everywhere at once, droning into his mind.

"You don't want me, Ifrit. You never have. And you've never had me. Our relationship, our friendship, has always been completely platonic. There's been no tension, no arguments between us, either since your return from the Pit or before you left. Your jaw doesn't hurt and will heal before you realize it was injured. You are kind. You are respectful. You won't cause any problems on the tour, you'll be good. And I never loved you."

That final sentence almost put a waver into Æther's voice, but the Quintosis held. He loosened his grip and allowed his eyes to close, severing the tie. He felt Ifrit tremble under his hands and lowered them as he opened his eyes. Ifrit looked a little dazed and shook his head quickly to try and clear it, bringing a hand to his temple. He lifted his gaze to Æther.

"Oh, hello, old friend. Didn't realize you'd come 'round. I was about to watch a movie, perhaps a spot of tea. Care to join me?" He smiled genuinely, no ulterior motive behind the words aside from casual companionship. Æther's own smile was tight.

"No thank you, Ifrit. I believe I'll go check in with Dew and Rain. Maybe another time."

"Very well then, Æther. I'll see you at practice later?"

"Of course." Ifrit waved cheerfully as Æther turned to leave.

The entire way back up to his suite, Æther felt wrong. Quintosis wasn't something he wanted to use, ever, but he'd felt trapped. Ifrit had seemed unhinged, borderline dangerous, and something had had to be done. He told himself this was one time, a dire situation, and the ends justified the means. No one would know or suspect a thing, except maybe Swiss, but they were clearly loyal and couldn't prove anything besides.

He hated these thoughts. He felt like a criminal. He felt dirty. Guilty. Weak. He knew he needed a replenishment, a cleansing, and the idea of water and steam was a comforting one. He locked the door of his suite behind him and undressed.

Dew barely got a word out before Æther was under the covers and on top of him, silencing Dew's lips with his own. He heard Rain beside them let out a breathy, "oh," and the soft scrape of his clothes against the bed's as he slid to lie down.

There was reluctance in the way Dew pushed Æther back. "Why?" was all he asked, concern in his eyes as they searched Æther's face.

"I need you." Æther's hushed response was nearly a plea. "I need you surrounding me. Like the first time."

Dew felt the dysphoria twinge, like a wary prey that sensed a predator. But the soft embrace of subspace made it melt away, Æther's tone and the need in his eyes conveying the depth of his words. Dew's fingers traced along Æther's face, his voice as quiet. "Yes, lover."

Æther groaned and dropped his hand immediately between their bodies, between Dew's legs. Expertly, he found Dew's clit, and without hesitation circled it quickly with the pad of his finger, burying his face in Dew's neck as the Fire Ghoul gasped and arched under him. He planted his lips against Dew's skin and sucked, eliciting a hiss punctuated with a moan.

Dew's arms went around Æther's broad shoulders. "I wanna get wet for you, keep going." With the encouragement, Æther slid his fingers lower, caressing Dew's lips and teasing at his entrance. He growled again, pulling his mouth away just enough to speak.

"You're already there, Dewdrop." Æther had almost forgotten how easy it was when Dew wasn't on the hormones. He was always responsive, but this particular signal had sometimes languished as of late. Not anymore. Æther plunged his thick middle finger into Dew's hole, all the way, and Dew arched higher.

Next to them, Rain had started to whimper. "Dew, can i please..." He wasn't even sure what he wanted. Just something. And Æther's demeanor had Dew's brain already flooded, words were even less forthcoming than normal.

"Do whatever you want Rain just do it naked," he said hurriedly as Æther began sliding in another finger, using his thumb on Dew's clit. "Oh, fuck!"

Rain hopped off the bed, disrobed, and climbed right back in, under the blankets this time. He laid on his side, facing his partners, and took his erection into his hand, moaning at the sensation. He stroked himself as he listened to them pant, watched Æther teasingly hover his lips over Dew's, scented just how turned on Dew had become in such a short time.

The movement of Æther's arm, along with Dew's moans, steadily increased. Æther whispered into Dew's open mouth, "C'mon baby, please, almost there aren't you? Dewdrop please..."

"Æther, Æther yes, I'm gonna...fuuuck!" Dew shook as orgasm took him, and tried to raise his head to close the gap to Æther's mouth and finally kiss him again.

"No no, Dewdrop. You don't get to stifle yourself." He turned his head to the side, his eyes locked on their other partner. "Not with Rainy here. He gets to hear you too."

Rain's already shallow breath caught at the attention. He dragged his fingers up along his shaft to spread the pre-cum that had gathered, and tilted his head in thought.

"What is it?" Dew panted, also having looked over to him.

Rain pulled his hand out from under the blankets, rolling the wetness between his thumb and forefinger. "anyone want this?" he asked, an almost delicate smirk on his lips. He had his answer in the way Dew's pupils blew. As he brought his hand to Dew's mouth, a rumble escaped Æther's chest.

"Then you'll take this, Rainy-boy." His hand then emerged as well, shining with Dew's juices. Rain eagerly parted his lips and stuck out his tongue, which Æther shoved back in, his fingers pressed against it. Rain Greedily sucked them clean, moaning and shivering. He loved Dew's taste and got it so rarely. And to feel Dew's voice on his own fingers at the same time only made it that much sweeter.

As Æther took his hand back, he watched Dew, still suckling at Rain's finger. He loved these two above all others, and would do anything for them. Had done anything. The guilt he felt earlier crept back, and he pressed himself to Dew's body, again burying his face. He listened to the familiar sound of their kissing, the snap of Dew's teeth when Rain pulled away and giggled.

"oh, i almost forgot. what idea did you have earlier that you said i had to wait for?"

"Mm," Dew hesitated. "That was before Æth came back upset. So it depends now." He shrugged his shoulder in an effort to get Æther to raise his head again. "Hey. You doin' better?"

Æther didn't raise his head, only shook it. Dew turned his to kiss into Æther's hair. "What do you need?"

"More of you," came Æther's husky reply as he shifted his hips and slid into Dew right to the hilt. Dew's legs immediately went up, his knees clamping Æther's ribs, and it was Æther's turn to shake as the new position pulled him deeper. They each held the other tightly as Æther began to move, hooking the end of each stroke, driving himself in as far as his cock could reach.

He'd said Rain would get to hear Dew, and that he did. Dew couldn't manage more than staccato moans as Æther's pelvis collided with his over and over, driving so deep. He sounded so good that Rain couldn't help but rut against Æther's powerful thighs in time with the thrusts of his hips, moaning at the friction.

Dew was his focus, but Rain wouldn't be forgotten. Æther reached a hand over and found Rain's throat, at first caressing it gently. He felt Rain's swallow under his palm, his voice when he whimpered, and started to squeeze. It was true that Dew's hand was much more familiar here, including on stage. But knowing it had the same effect on the Water Ghoul regardless, Æther couldn't resist. Rain might not have been his sub the same as he was to Dew, but he was ever pliant and agreeable to any exertion of control. It was a delicious satisfaction to have him so responsive.

"Rainy he feels so good. He's so wet and so tight. He's taking me so deep." Rain's strangled moan at Æther's words made both the other two groan. And in fact Dew started reaching for his sub. No matter his need, Æther couldn't deny his own sub anything. He slowed his hips and looked to Dew's face, flushed in pleasure.

"Tell me your idea, Dewdrop. What did you promise him?"

Dew cleared his throat. "Didn't tell him yet. Also didn't know you'd want...the front. But I thought maybe...you behind me, and then the two of us, outercourse."

Rain moaned, louder now without Æther's broad hand at his throat. "oh Dew...Æther-my-love, please, can we do that?" By the end his deep voice was a pleading whine.

Æther's hips had all but stopped. The tour would start soon. Dew would stay behind. There would be nothing wrong with making a memory together they could all enjoy. He locked his gaze with Dew's.

"Just give me one like this." Æther's voice was unsteady as he picked up his thrusting again, face back in Dew's neck. Dew's legs stayed high, keeping Æther deep. He felt Dew's hands comb into his hair, clawing at the back of his head. It wasn't just from pleasure, he knew. It was Dew's way of acknowledging Æther's need for this comfort, even if he didn't know the reason.

As Æther continued to drive himself into Dew, he began grunting in time. Rain watched as Dew's eyes half-closed and his jaw started to go slack. He moaned, over and over, just a beat off from Æther's vocalizations. Rain stroked himself, just enough to keep away from the edge, wanting to save as much as he could for Dew. But watching and listening to his partners tested his limits.

Dew was close, his moans getting higher and louder. "Æther, Æther don't stop, please, right there, I'm gonna-" The moan the sounded from his throat was echoed by both Æther and Rain, and all three Ghouls shuddered with Dew's pleasure.

Breathless, Æther spoke through Dew's aftershocks. "If you want the rest of this plan, Dewdrop, you better hurry." He pulled out and sat back. "Rainy, lube please."

Dew groaned with the effort as he sat and turned his back to Æther. Rain did as Æther requested, but asked, "do you need it? he sounded plenty wet from here..." Dew blushed more as Rain's eyes sparkled up at him.

"Just in case," Æther replied with a wink. He lifted Dew's torso so he was kneeling up, leaving room for Rain to slide beneath them. Both of them took a moment to admire him, still in awe of his size.

"Isn't he beautiful?" Æther purred in Dew's ear, sliding his hand between Dew's thighs and causing Rain to blush now. "You sure you don't want him inside too? Wasn't that incredible last time?"

Dew whined, grinding on Æther's hand. "You are both leaving me," his voice cracked with emotion, "And I'll be too big for this when you get back." He looked down at Rain, a smirk climbing to his lips. "What do you think, Rain?"

Rain squirmed and whimpered, his cock jumping at the thought. "oh Dew yes please!" He pawed pleadingly at Dew's hips as Dew leaned over him, placing hands on either side of Rain's head. He looked over his shoulder at Æther.

"Help him in, lover?" Æther growled lightly in response, rocking back on his haunches to grab a hold of Rain's erection, and was thanked with a moan for his trouble. He slid Rain's head along Dew's slit as Dew rocked his hips to get the right position and angle. Again, the three of them reacted as Rain entered, moaning at the feel and, for Æther, the sight. He moved up to cover his partners and rumble in Dew's ear.

"He opens you so wide. You're stretched, love. It looks so good. I love how you take him, like a good boy." He could tell how hard Dew clenched by the way Rain hissed. The Water Ghoul started moving, long slow and gentle strokes, and Dew rested his weight on Rain's chest. "Stay right there, Dewdrop. Let me fill you up."

Dew moaned again as Æther's fingers teased at his other opening, testing to see how ready he was. The lube had been the right call, and after applying it to both Dew and himself, Æther pressed forward with gentle pressure, moving back and forth in a slow rhythm, waiting for Dew to accept him.

Rain seemed to have less patience, gradually moving faster yet savoring every sound and sensation from the Fire Ghoul on top of him. He dedicatedly watched Dew's face, eyes shut and lips pursed, brow furrowed as he worked to take Æther in. Rain had a firm grip on Dew's hips, kicking inside him as they moved together. He was glad he'd been watching, because he could commit the expression on Dew's face to memory, the way he almost literally melted into the pleasure.

Dew trembled as he was filled, Æther and Rain now moving together inside him. He could only vaguely remember the last time, how he'd bottomed out and gone away down that current of ecstasy. He resolved to stay present this time, to keep this with him after they left. He opened his eyes to Rain's flushed cheeks and shining dark eyes.

"F-feels so good," he stuttered. "You. So big. And Æth. M'so full. I love it. More. Gimme more."

"yes Dew, all you want." Rain moved faster then, thrusting up into his Dom, feeling Æther through Dew's body and the resistance from how full Dew truly was.

Looking over his shoulder again, Dew met Æther's intense gaze. He swallowed hard and focused his words. "Lover. Give it to me. Make me yours."

"You are mine," a growl in Æther's statement. "And you're carrying my kit." His hips moved faster. "You're ALL mine!" By the time the words left his lips, he was pounding Dew, hips crashing against his ass. Rain yelped beneath them both, the friction from Æther's movements so much more intense now. Dew clung to Rain, head on his chest, panting and moaning through the pleasure.

"Dew," Rain spoke through labored breaths, "will you cum for us? please? give us your pleasure to remember you by?"

How does he always know what to say?? Dew thought to himself as he groaned. "Only if you both cum with me." He looked over his should again. "Do that for me Æth?"

Emotion unexpectedly flooded Æther, and all he could do was nod as he bent down to kiss at Dew's shoulder. After what he'd done, combined with the knowledge he had to leave Dew behind, he couldn't help his tears. It caused a dissonance with the intensity of the physical pleasure. He needed to refocus. His mouth near Dew's ear was serendipitous.

"I love you," he whispered. "I love our kit. I love how you feel around me right now. I love your sounds. I love when you cum. Let Rainy and I get you there, Dewdrop. Cum for us, beautiful."

Dew shivered at Æther's breath in his ear and the words carried on them. The realization of his partners working together for his pleasure before leaving on tour had begun healing that dark place inside him, and the emotional surge paired so well with being filled like this. He moaned loud, calling their names, "Rain, Æther, fuck I'm gonna cum!"

His partners called out in response, four hands on his hips, each pair moving him around them, not in competition but cooperation. As his orgasm hit strong he pushed down against both of them, the spasms pulling them both deep and drawing out their simultaneous climax. Dew was filled again, even more, and the physical was only one aspect. He let himself press down into Rain, peppering kisses onto his flesh. Æther did much the same against Dew's back, but also rolled them all to their sides, so poor Rainy wouldn't be so crushed.

For a time they lay still, catching their breaths and sharing it in their kisses. Æther found himself clinging hard to Dew, pulling him back against him. Eventually, Dew spun to face him, Rain scooting closer behind. Dew combed through Æther's hair again as he spoke softly.

"What got you so upset? It can't just be leaving."

Æther swallowed hard and looked down, the tears returning. "Ifrit... He insulted both of you, implied neither of you could satisfy me. And he basically threatened to... just take you both. I couldn't let that lie. I couldn't be on tour with him after he said those things. So I... I..." He wrestled with the confession. Would this frighten his partners? Would they be angry with him? Majesty, what have I done?? 

Rain came to his rescue. "Æther-my-love, i'm sure you did what you felt you had to, to keep us safe. the details don't matter. thank you for defending our honor." He took Æther's hand and brought it to his lips. "i love you."

Dew pressed his hand to Æther's face to catch his eyes again. His voice was hushed but full of emotion and sincerity. "What Rain said. I love you."

Æther's dam broke and he started to sob, pulling both of them close and responding in kind. He knew someday he would tell them everything, but for now, he'd let this be enough.