ah the towel. Hot

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Cub wakes up buried in feathers. Not the first time this has happened, and he suspects it won't be the last. An internal query turns the time up as 04:34, bright and early. Much to his surprise, Neit has already joined the ranks of the wakeful, playing gently with Cub's hair.

"G'morn." Neit's voice a low, gravelly rumble, heavy with sleep.

Cub stretches what little he can, before snuffling back into Neit's touch. Luxurious warmth fills Cub, toasty even relative to his usual bed temperatures. Spending a bit of time here before getting up sounds reasonable.

"Morning." He greets back, morning voice not quite agreeing with his voice changer, distorting his voice more than usual.

"Early-fae." Neit chuckles, pressing his face to Cub's hair. "Sleep well?"

"Wonderfully. How about you?" Is he really going to have to recalibrate the damned thing? Cub tries clearing his throat, first.

"Just the best. All super-rested. Charged right up!" Neit's whole legs wiggle from the bounce of his feet.

"Good." Another good thing, as Cub's voice changer finally stops being uppity. Smooth sailing. "How are you doing bruise and leg wise?" Cub asks. Best to check in, see where Neit's health is at.

"Deliciously sore with bruises. Legs? Hm." Neit does further wiggling, more methodical. "Might cane today just to be safe, but should be good for a few hours at least."

"Good. Please don't hesitate to ask if you need additional help." Cub stretches to be able to press a kiss to Neit's fingers.

Those calloused fingertips linger, tracing Cub's lips. "You're very eager to offer help with that."

"I want you to have everything you need. Not be struggling with an easily fixable issue." Cub presses another kiss to the petting fingers.

"Fixable is a word." Neit's fingers still, pressed to Cub's lips.

"Fixable. In the sense that when you had trouble walking, you got out your cane, and were able to walk easier. That kind of fixable. If you hadn't had a cane here, that too would have been a fixable issue." Cub explains. Hopefully Neit understands.

Neit hums. “That’s a very you way of putting it.” He rubs his thumb over Cub’s jawline.

"Possibly." Cub muses. "I mean it, though. I would have had no issue ordering you a cane, had you needed to get one. Or anything else, really."

“No, I- I’ll handle that. Those things.” Neit insists. He tucks Cub closer.

"How?" Cub asks. "How would you have handled it? Not like you could have gone home and gotten a cane if there hadn't already been one here." He sighs. "Look. I'm not trying to say you're wrong or you have to rely on me here. None of that. I am genuinely curious what you would have done. So please don't take this the wrong way."

Neit hunches under Cub’s words. “I would just have to push through until they made me rest later.” Cub gets the slight notion Neit might be taking his question in an emotional way.

"I see. Thank you for telling me." Half digging himself out from under Ari's wing, Cub sits up enough to wrap his arms around Neit.

Ari snuffles, malcontent with the movement, rather aggressively clinging onto their laps in the manner of a stubborn feathery throw blanket.

Allowing the hug, Neit sighs, sagging slightly. "It's okay, it's fine."

"Is it?" Cub asks. "Tell me something. Would you want me to do that, if we were to somehow end up bodyswapped? Would you want me to suffer that?"

"I would hope, that if we were swapped, that you would get to sleep through the whole thing." Neit speaks quietly firm words.

"Not quite the response I expected, but alright. Should it ever happen, I will do my best to sleep as much as possible." Cub presses a kiss to Neit's cheek.

"Which is a shame, because I'd love to fuck you like that, swapped. With your own hands and dick and tongue. But sleep would be better for you." Neit nuzzles his cheek to Cub's.

"We'll cross that bridge should it ever come up." Cub declares. He doesn't have any plans for bodyswapping, and while he could think of some fun schemes, he wouldn't have the first clue on how to implement the swap without extensive brain scans of everyone involved, and a lot of implants.

"Yeah." Neit nods. "Those don't come around too often, at least."

"Fortunately." Cub decides to let the topics lie, for now. They can always circle back later. "Any plans, for today?"

"Did you get the phone chatty stuff set up?" Neit takes the topic change with eager brightness.

"I did take some time last night to prep some of it, once you two were asleep, but fell asleep rather quickly myself. If you can pass me your phone, I can set up the new chats for you right now." Cub tips his head, indicating where their phones lay on the nightstand.

Blindly groping for the phones, Neit pulls in his own and Ari's. Neit's gets unlocked and passed off to Cub, while Neit plays with Ari's, exploring the clearly new model.

Focus up. Tapping into the Vexting app, Cub gets to work setting up the new chats with everyone that said they'd like to chat. Almost half the people in the groupchat have responded by now, and not a one turned down the opportunity.

"Here." Chats established, Cub passes Neit his phone back.

Neit offers up Ari's phone in exchange. "Thank you!" Bright beaming smiles break brilliantly over Neit's expression.

"Pass me mine as well?" Cub requests. Difficult to copy over the code he prepared for Ari without it, after all.

Neit scoops up Cub's phone, tossing it to Cub, before diving into tapping at his own phone.

Cub allows himself one deep breath in, one slow breath out, to tell himself that he does not recognize the model of Ari's phone in his hand. He's too busy doing the work of installing the freshly customized app, anyway, no time to focus on that at all.

A brand new cloud theme that changes accordingly to daylight. Currently, the app is still dark, stars twinkling between the clouds. Just for fun, Cub had added an option to have it mirror the local weather as well.

As he's wrapping that part up, Cub gets a text from Tango. 'why is Hotguy sending me pictures of shovels?????? what???'. When Cub glances over, Neit is bouncing in place, happy as can be in his texting.

'I have no idea' Cub texts back. 'though i did tell him you wanted to shovel talk him, so maybe that?'

'im beginning to doubt that he knows what a shovel talk is.' Tango sends back, with a little sighing Deepfrost emoji.

'im sure you two can work it out.' Cub believes in them both.

'well then, wish me luck!' Tango types.

'good luck' Cub types back obediently. Even though he's sure Tango doesn't need it. Still, Cub has chats to get back to setting up on Ari's phone.

"Vexy, do I have access to Cuteguy little pictures?" Neit peeks over at him. "For birdy talks." A hum. "Or I guess Neit-with-wings would work, too."

"Unfortunately I only made the one for the Ari voice message. Though if you want others, you are free to draw them and I can insert them for us all to use." Cub offers. He isn't exactly good with custom emojis.

“Hm, I’m gonna gotta.” Neit ponders, fingers flicking- Then his phone dings and he’s back to typing. Cub hadn’t expected him to customize his notification sounds like that. Huh. Must not have liked the laughter.

With the chats set up, Cub returns Ari’s phone to Neit. Really, it’s not even on the market- No. No, Cub pulls up minesweeper on his own phone, setting it to maximum explosion to clear his head.

The colors swirl so prettily, fully taking up his brainspace. Cranking the difficulty too, Cub fully loses himself in the game. Neit leans on Cub’s shoulder, a warm weight. Nothing but the three of them fill this quiet bubble of morning for the length of many rounds of play.

“ ‘fee.” Ari groans, eventually.

"Shall I order you your coffee? Or do you want one from the machine here?" Cub smiles, ruffling through Ari's hair.

Even the tiny thing of Ari nuzzling into his touch is a wonder to Cub. “Order. No leave.”

Ordering takes just a few taps, Ari's huge coffee already saved as a favorite. "On its way, prettiest Ari." Cub confirms.

“Good.” Ari flutters his aural wings, flicking them out in a casual presentation.

"No problem." Cub frees up one hand to pet those spread wings carefully.

Cooing, Ari melts into Cub. Not stopped any by Neit playing with Ari’s hair.

How many times in just the past several days did Cub come perilously close to losing Ari entirely? And now he gets this sweet trust?

Coffee Arrival. The message flashing up on his implants jerks Cub out of his musings. Did he really spent half an hour lost in thought, petting Ari?

Dispatching the newly modified delivery-gathering roomba, Cub leans in to press a kiss to the wing he's petting. "Coffee is here, sweetest Ari."

"Better magic it over here." Ari wraps himself around Cub, refusing to be budged. He presses the tiniest of fleeting strings of kisses to Cub's jaw, barely there at all.

Neit perks with a little curious noise as the roomba trundles on into the bedroom.

"Well, it's not magic, but I did get it over here." Cub directs Ari's attention to where the roomba has its grabbing arm extended up so the coffee in it is easily accessible. Cub is quite proud of how well he programmed that.

"You taught them a new trick!" Neit claps his hands together in delight.

"Trick? Here?" Ari suspiciously peers over, scooting to investigate the presented coffee. He pokes it and sniffs it and looks all around it before taking up the cup, allowing the roomba to retract its arm. "Criminal." A long sip. "Crimes."

"Oh you're a good little pet yes you are, thank you for the delivery!" Neit yet again coos to the roomba directly, half-hanging himself off the bed in order to pet it.

Cub lays a hand on Neit's thigh, growing familiar with setting up the grav field that keeps Neit from entirely topping over.

"I did 'teach them a new trick'. I figured you might approve." If NASA can name their rovers, Cub can name his roomba with a grabber. Issue is, he has yet to settle on a name. Perhaps...

Neit folds himself right in half, moving his bountiful petting from the roomba to Cub. "Excellent work training them! That's so super thoughtful of you, Vexy."

"Do you want to name this one? Thus far, this is the only one with delivery capabilities." Cub offers.

“Really? I can?” Neit stares hard at the roomba, examining it. “I think it’s a Thot.”

Ari goes into a coughing fit.

"So T-H-O-T, Thot?" Grabbing his phone, Cub calls up the roomba interface.

“I’m not sure? I’m not sure anyone’s sure, actually.” Neit jabs Ari in the side with his elbow, only getting more snickers.

"Well, that's what this one's named now." Cub hits accept on the name change, closing out of his roomba management.

"You're really letting him name it that?" Ari squawks, flapping his wings.

"Welcome to the world, Thot, we're so happy to meet you." Neit coos to the roomba, petting it again.

"Why wouldn't I?" Cub questions. He sees no issue with the name. Potentially he could even puzzle out a great backronym for it.

“Ugh. Smitten.” Ari hands off his coffee to Neit before flopping himself down aggressively on Cub’s lap, claiming the drink again afterward.

"Would you also like to name one?" Cub racks his brain, unable to think of why else Ari might take issue with this whole situation.

"Of course I'm going to name one." Ari waves a hand dismissively.

"Unfortunately I only have unmodified ones, aside from this one. Though I could modify one to your specifications if you want." Cub offers.

"I'll just get dibs on the next one you do freak science to." At least Ari's calmed down somewhat now, even if he is making his best effort to gnaw on Cub's arm.

"Alright. I'll let you know. By the way, I've put the Vexting app on your phone. Neit has it." Since this is looking like a breakfast in bed situation, Cub opens the ordering app to scout for something that looks good.

"Evil spyware." Before Ari can even ask, Neit presses Ari's phone into Ari's seeking hand.

"Who wanted to talk with Ari?" Neit asks.

"So far, everyone. Chats are set up." Cub has to say, he finds himself rather pleased by his friends' interest in the two.

"Everyone?" Ari flicks through his phone, pausing after opening the Vexting app. He traces fingers over one of the clouds, sending puffy wisps swirling off. "Mm, they can wait."

"Well, everyone that's replied. They are quite curious about you. Both of you." Cub watches Ari inspect the app. "Is the design to you liking?"

"Fits the brief." Ari tips his phone screen away, quieting repeated dings.

Neit giggles, coinciding with a whole slew of notifications from the groupchat Cub had pre-made for himself, Ari, and Neit. Cat gifs and sparkling confetti gifs rain down on the groupchat, sent by none other than the giggling menace himself.

"Do you want anything changed?" Cub checks, sending a singular confetti emote back.

Neit cheers, reacting with several firework and confetti emojis to Cub's message. Ari leaves a singular music note emoji reaction.

"Not for now, let me see how it plays." Ari shrugs. "Maybe a block button for him, if he keeps this up-"

"No!" Neit cries out, throwing himself across Ari's legs in a rather dramatic fashion.

"There is the option to mute chats." Cub throws Ari a grin.

Neit gasps, turning his big, watery eyes on Cub. "But I need you two."

Ari snickers.

Petting Neit absently, Cub scrolls through the listings of the few places open this early. "I'm sure you do. What are we doing for breakfast?"

"Cake!" Neit grins up at Cub, his sadness instantly evaporating.

"I could order us pancakes. That has cake in the name." Cub suggests. He can order those from the employee delivery provided by the ConCorp cafeterias. A service that started out for home office workers, and expanded from there. Quite handy, to have the option to have nutritious food delivered.

"Mm, do crepes." Ari scrolls with one hand, also petting at Neit with his other, while he leans on Cub. Occasionally Ari's finger's brush Cub's, amid the fluffy strands of Neit's hair.

"I could get both. Neit? Any further opinions? Or would you like to see the menu?" Cub peers over his phone.

"Crepes and cupcakes?" Neit comes back with, after blinking away the contented daze of their petting.

"And fruits and syrups, of course. And cream." Ari demands.

"Unfortunately they don't have cupcakes today. They have cheesecake and mandarin creme cake, or a selection of muffins, as well as brownies and blondies. Everything else they have." He puts the named items in the cart, adding scrambled eggs for protein.

"Yeah, all that stuff!" Neit cheers, snuggling back into Cub's lap. "You and your silly-many meals."

Shrugging, Cub adds one of every muffin as well as some of the cake. It is good cake. "Anything else?"

"Some kinda fancy tea drink." Neit squeezes Cub's torso, arms wrapped wide around Cub.

"They have corn tea? Or lychee-green tea?" Cub reads aloud. "Both sound good."

"Let's get both!" Neit nods, rubbing his cheek against Cub's stomach.

"Lychee for me." Ari adds, still sipping his coffee.

"Gotcha." Cub finalizes the order, sending it off. "Little less than half an hour."

"Speedy-speedy~" Neit sing-songs. "Happy lazy morning~"

"We can have Thot bring us our breakfast, if we want to stay in bed." Cub suggests. "For extra laziness."

"Yes." Neit hisses eagerly, kicking his feet.

"Okay, now you're doing that on purpose-" Ari shakes his head.

Cub shifts his hand from petting Neit head to scritching the back of his neck.

Neit melts right back down onto Cub's lap, fully discarding any pretense of phone to close his eyes and hum. His lounging form has such vibrancy in the slanting of the morning sun, utterly relaxed in his loose drape.

Cub gets to spend his morning with Hotguy, with Neit, with Neit and Ari both. Doing so little as to border on nothing but enjoying one another's presence. Despite every tracably logical step to get here, the whole thing somehow feels like magic.

Which must show on his face, because Ari nudges him and smirks about him being a 'smitten idiot'.

"Maybe I am." Cub turns his gaze on Ari, leaning in close to nuzzle their cheeks together.

The cheek pressed against Cub's warms, even against his charger-warm skin.

Neit, deciding he simply will not be left out of nuzzling times, wholesale smooshes his face into theirs.

Cub chuckles, happy to accommodate Neit joining their nuzzling. If he is reading things correctly, Ari is also pleased, given the way his nip doesn't draw Neit's blood.

"Not the worst thing in the world to be." Cub hums, content to stare at them from none inches away. He can really appreciate their details, up close. Like how he can see the faintest hint of an iris in Ari's eyes trackable as Ari rolls them, or the way Neit's nose crinkles when he smiles brightly.

"No. But you're the best thing anyway. You're mine!" Neit grins, nipping at Cub's jaw.

"That I am, that I am." Cub agrees easily. "At your service." He sneaks a smooch to Neit's nose.

"Smitten. Absolutely whipped." Ari teases.

"Hm, no, I do not believe you have whipped me this time. Would you like to change that, prettiest Ari?" Cub blinks innocently.

"Oh yes, whipping! You can do me too!" Neit throws himself on Ari's lap facedown, wiggling around until he's, generously speaking, draped over Ari's knee.

Ari smacks Neit's ass with a resounding crack of sound. "No whipping until after breakfast at the earliest." Ari commands.

"Aww boo!" Neit protests, wiggling his butt under Ari's hands in the hope of more smacks.

"Misbehave enough and you won't get any whipping at all." Ari huffs, refusing to rise to the bait, moving his hands away.

Which leaves Cub free to contently knead into that wiggling butt.

"So I get whipping if I behave?" Neit doesn't even falter, switching gears seamlessly into perfect behavior.

"If you behave all the way through breakfast, yes." Ari coos, overly sweet. "You'll be a good boy and eat your meal for me, won't you?"

"Yes! I will! I'll be the bestest, eat it all up, you'll see!" Neit bounces brightly in Ari's lap.

"I'll be watching." Ari promises, tapping Neit right on the tip of his nose.

"And I'll be good! You'll see! And then, you have to whip me. And maybe Vexy too. Or you could both whip me and then each other...." Neit's expression goes distantly dreamy.

"Very ambitious plans." Cub carries on with his kneading. "Want to hurt for us, do you?"

Ari pauses, though no immediate protests spring to his lips.

"Yes please." Neit moans, giving little happy wiggles.

"How's your back, then? All recovered?" Cub pokes at the bandages still wrapped around Neit.

“Recovered enough!” Neit grins, leaning into Cub’s poking.

“I’ll be the judge of that.” Ari’s arched eyebrow says he’s unlikely to be a lenient judge, either.

At a nod from Ari, Cub sits Neit up and begins obediently unwrapping the bandages, exposing Neit's back for Ari's judgment. The skin does look better, if a bit sticky from the creme remnants. Cub gloves up to peel the gauze squares off, tossing them straight in the trash.

Slowly, Cub cleans away the stickiness from Neit's skin, with gentle dabs and tiny rubs of wipes. Ari's fingers dance along in his wake, pulling breaths and hums from Neit.

No burns, no broken patches of skin. After consideration, Cub decides that deferring to Ari's judgment here is safe, given both Neit's agreement, and Ari's familiarity with Neit's body. A group activity.

Taking his time, Ari inspects the light bruising on Neit's shoulders, verdict clutched behind tight lips. "If you behave, you can have a small whipping. Twenty strokes from each of us. No more." A decisive nod.

"Good strokes? Full swings?" Neit perks up, eagerness in the taut lines of his back held carefully still.

"Not to the blood, but otherwise yes." Ari nods, running a hand through Neit's hair. "Full strokes."

"You'll have to bleed me next time, then." Neit lazily bumps his head into Ari's hand. "I'll be so good, you'll see. You'll all see."

"You can bleed when you don't have to parkour home within like thirty six hours of being whipped." Ari gets a good grip on Neit's hair, giving him a shake.

"So at the start of a stay!" Neit chirps brightly, his giggles wobbling with Ari's rattling.

"Exactly." Ari nods.

"You two will bleed me next time, then." Neit nods, as much as he can with Ari's grip on his hair.

"Only if you're good." Ari warns.

"Nu-uh, good is for this time. That's a different time!" Neit protests.

Cub smooths his hands down over Neit's back. Already having the future potential of touching the injuries he causes in their fights- Even the bruises from their spar spark a feeling that Cub wants more of. And now this? A new kind of mark on Neit he can claim and worship?

"Good can be for both times. I'm still gonna require you to eat a full meal beforehand." Ari stays stern.

“You negotiated good and food for this time, you’d have to make a separate deal for next time.” Neit counters. “What are you going to offer up for that?”

"If you eat one meal and are good for a small whipping, I'd say two meals and being good is fair for a bloody whipping. And you can't protest or whine about the wound care after." Ari lays out his terms.

"What if I want a little more variety in my deals, hm?" Neit huffs. "A little more excitement?"

"Variety, hm? So what would you be willing to offer, to convince me you deserve to be whipped bloody?" Ari challenges.

"Could I interest you in an I Owe You? They're all the rage, these days." Neit purrs, arching into Cub's rubbing hands.

"An I Owe You? No limits? No catches?" Ari checks, squinting suspiciously.

"A one time use I Owe You, of course. Let's say, an action for an action, doesn't that sound fair?"

"An action for an action." Ari visibly mulls it over.

"Mhm, and you know I'm good for it." Neit encourages. Cub savors the treat of getting to watch him negotiate.

"I'll take it, if you promise not to rules lawyer about what counts as an action." Ari holds out a hand.

"Then you'll promise not to rules lawyer how much blood is bloodied?" Neit hovers his hand near Ari's.

"Vex, you have treatment options for blood loss on hand, I assume?" Ari checks in with Cub.

"I do. Anything from mild to severe. In practical juicebox or energy bar formats." Cub explains.

"Then I accept." Ari clasps Neit's hand.

Neit shakes firmly, tugging Ari down into a misaligned kiss. "Deal sealed~"

"Deal sealed." Ari nods, scrambling out his phone the moment he's free to note the details of their deal down. Which reminds Cub that Neit still has one of his Questions left. He'd been rather insightful and precice about his use of the previous two, so Cub can only anticipate the third blow eagerly.

"Perfect timing on the deal. Breakfast is here." Cub dismisses the notification, dispatching Thot to fetch it.

"Breakfast!" Neit climbs his way up to drape onto Cub's front, nuzzling into his neck. "Tasty chewy good." Apparently Neit is seeking a pre-breakfast snack-gnaw, if his teeth on Cub's neck are anything to go by.

"Breakfast. Thot's bringing it over, any second now." Cub tangles a hand in Neit's hair, not to pull him away, just to cup the back of his head and loosely hold him.

"Real lazybones morning." Ari snorts. But he does move to take the food containers offered up by Thot's arm beside the bed, laying out their meal on the table, graciously granting Cub just those few moments longer to hold Neit close.

"Can you eat lazybones? Crack 'em open and slorp out the marrow?" Neit giggles.

"That sounds like too much effort." Grian quips back. "Have crepe bones instead. Slurp out the syrups."

"Ooh syrups! Hope you got lots!" Neit grabs a syrup cup, sipping it like juice.

"I chose a wide selection." Cub nods, scooting them so he can also begin arranging a plate of food.

"Good, because this is mine now." Neit peers in the cup. "Who even eats grapefruit syrup?" Despite his comment, he takes another big swallow.

"Presumably, people who like grapefruits." Cub comments mildly over Neit's wet slurping.

Ari turns to the side with a mild coughing fit for some reason, despite not even having started in on his food.

"That would make sense, yeah. Make me a crepe?" Neit flutters his lashes at Cub.

"Of course." Cub ponders the options while Ari gasps his way back to something like steady. The syrups, of course. Cub selects cherry and strawberry-rhubarb, to be joined by sliced raspberries, and- Well, given Neit's previous pancake escapades, Cub takes a risk, layering scrambled egg, then the raspberries, and drizzling the whole thing over with the syrups, before folding it all with careful motions like a breakfast taco-burrito. He's been practicing the motions.

Cub would never want to put his creation into his own mouth, but he offers it up to Neit hopefully.

Instead of hands accepting his offering, Neit leans forward to take a careful bite out of the bundle in Cub's fingers. Thoughtful hums accompany his chewing.

"Perfect! A wonderful crepe, sugarplum!" Neit praises, chomping another bite.

Cub perks up, shifting his hold so he can feed the whole crepe to Neit, one bite at a time. Soft, contented humming is all that comes to Cub, rather than words. Neit both happy and getting his nutrients is a win in Cub's book, on top of the singing-sweet praise.

"Saps." Ari halfheartedly fake-grouches from where he's piling his crepe with fruits.

Neit scoops up a cup of maple and drizzles it onto Ari's crepe, snickering.

"Hey! I wanted to eat that!" Ari fluffs his feathers. Though if Cub isn't mistaken, that's a happy fluff. Pleased.

"You asked for sap, didn't you?" Neit wiggles playfully, getting a whole wing ruffling up his hair.

"I meant you two! Now eat your food!" A few more wing baps for good measure, then Ari rolls his own crepe up, ending up with a handful of fruit held in by a thin bit of straining baked dough. Fried batter? Whatever it is, it's bursting at the seams with fruit.

Ari falls upon the fruit with slight crepe shell as if he still hadn't been fed for weeks. Cub wonders if that's a function of Ari's fruit cravings or more to do with the recent healing. Or perhaps his flights? Quite a few possibilities, if Cub stops to think about them all.

Said thinking is interrupted by the folded corner of a completed crepe tapping Cub's lip. Following it down with his eyes leads to Neit's hand, arm, and all the way to his bright eyes.

Trusting Neit to have made the crepe to his liking, Cub takes a bite. Apple cubes, creme, and yogurt. A good combo. Could do with some sugar and cinnamon, though.

"Thanks." Cub reminds himself to express his appreciation, before he lets Neit feed him the rest of the crepe.

"You're very welcome, sugarplum." Neit purrs, pleased grin lighting his face.

Feeling mildly inspired, Cub pulls together a second crepe for Neit. While Cub's meat culture isn't ready yet, a plum-themed crepe can be symbolic, can't it? Something of him that Neit can actually eat right now.

Neit gives it a curious bite, eyes going wide at the flavor profile.

"A sugar plum crepe from my sugarplum!" He swoons.

“Exactly. A little bite of me.” Cub nods, pleased that Neit immediately understood. Ari play-gags in the background while Cub finishes off feeding Neit his sugarplum crepe while petting Neit’s hair.

"Amazing. So thoughtful." Neit visibly struggles. No sooner has he snapped up the final morsel of crepe, does he grab a napkin to wipe his mouth and press kisses to every bit of Cub he can reach.

“I try.” Cub returns a few kisses, in little moments when Neit isn’t moving too quick to catch.

Ari thumps them down into the bedding of the nest with a wing.

"I'd tell you two to get a room, but we're already in it." He snarks.

"We are. And you built a nest in here, pretty birdy." Whip-sharp, Neit's attention snaps to Ari, predatory glint in his eye.

Ari pops the last of his newest fruit disaster into his mouth, staring Neit down. "Guess it's not your room then, guess it's my nest." Ari fluffs out his aural wings smugly.

"No, I'm certain this is Vexy and mine's room. That you insisted on nesting in." Neit doubles down.

"Nope, doesn't sound familiar at all. Just my nest, perfect for capturing wayward Neits and Vexes in." Neither does Ari back down, flight wings flicking out in taunting motions.

"Perfect for whipping Neits in?" Neit drawls, slowly, slyly crawling to cover what little space was between him and Ari.

"Exactly, Neits have to be kept in line with regular whippings. And there's no better place than my nest!" Ari declares, pride bursting through his voice.

Back to his phone, Cub cues up Thot's next delivery, so none of them have to get up, even for this part. "Your nest is an excellent place for whippings. But do you think he's eaten enough to earn it?" Cub asks.

"Hmm." Ari strokes his own chin, laboriously pondering the question. "No, I do not believe that he has."

"But I had a whole breakfast!" Neit cries out, tone on the verge of whimpering even though he's still shimmying eagerly.

"True. But did you have breakfast-dessert?" Ari crows.

"Dessert?" Neit perks up, expression torn.

"That poor cream cake, already forgotten and abandoned." Ari presses a hand to his cheek, cooing in over-the-top sadness.

"Cream cake?" Neit sits upright, looking around like the cake might be hiding in a shelf. "So whipping isn't dessert?"

"Whipping is dessert-dessert, not breakfast-dessert, obviously." Ari shakes his head with a sigh. "You can't do second dessert before first, it's just not the done thing."

"Then give me first dessert!" Neit demands.

"Of course, of course." Ari slides the box closer, opening it to the tune of Neit's gasped awe. Even Cub has to admit the decorative work is quite well done, and well preserved by the construction of the delivery vessel as well. Perhaps Cub will study that later.

Meanwhile, Ari is already cutting clean slices through the robe of ornate white cream frosting, to reveal brilliant orange gems of mandarin wedges. Three slices, though one considerably larger than the others.

"Here you go!" He hands Neit the plate with the significantly large slice, and Cub the plate with the marginally smaller one.

"Can't forget these." Cub places an additional brownie square on each of their plates.

“Double dessert.” Neit whispers, examining his cake and brownie from every angle, taking long enough that Ari simply stabs his own fork into Neit’s cake, so he can hold a bite right in front of Neit’s lips.

Eager lips promptly gobble up that offered bite. Close on its heels, Neit follows with a bite from his own fork. A series of bites, even.

Ari nods, though Cub finds himself the subject of that void gaze, rather than Ari’s own plate.

Quite frankly, Cub had simply resigned himself to having his brownie stolen, and having to go for a blondie instead, when Ari taps Cub’s lip with the lifted brownie, instead of spiriting it away.

Taking a bite of rich chocolate sweetness, Cub lets Ari feed him.

Ari chirrs pleased little noises as he feeds Cub the brownie, careful to catch any potential crumbs in a cupped hand under the bites, which he takes care to clean thoroughly into a wipe afterward. Odd, Cub's chest is doing its best impression of gloopy, baking brownie batter, too. Which sounds like it should be unpleasant, but it isn't, quite. Like something becoming more comfortingly familiar.

"Done!" Neit presents them with his empty plate, cream smeared around his lips.

Cub blinks, looking over. Huh. Where had the time gone?

Ari inspects the offered plate, finally taking it and setting it aside. "Clean yourself, you beast."

Trying to lick the cream off his face doesn't go very well, so Neit begrudgingly switches to wiping himself down with a wetwipe as Ari savors the last of his own brownie.

Cub might as well work through his own slice of cake, as well. Light and bouncy, with a good zing of citrus. Refreshing, perhaps. He mentally notes it down to the potential order again list.

Between them, Neit is nearly wiggling out of his skin in anticipation. But he's being good, not begging or wheedling.

Truly, a man of his word in a deal.

Cub gives a casual tap to his phone, letting Thot's waiting arm peek up barely over the edge of the nest. Just a small tease, of leather handles.

Seeing it, Neit's eyes grow wide, wiggles seizing him whole again. His every reaction, so delightful to watch.

Cub finishes up his cake, tidying himself at a sedate pace.

By now, Neit practically vibrates in place, jaw held tight. White-knuckling the blanket.

"Now, what were we going to do next?" Ari muses, dishes cleared away to the table. "Whipping Vex, was it?" He teases.

"Something like that, yeah." Cub plays along

A thin whine wobbles through Neit's pressed lips, his eyes going shiny.

"Hm, I'll have to have a nicely wicked tool for that. Ah! Let's see if these will do." Ari plucks up Thot's offered whips, laying them out on the space between them all in the nest.

"I personally prefer this one." Cub touches his favorite whip. "But if you want to get a feel for them, feel free to take a few swings my back."

Neit flops over entirely, his feet kicking into the nest wall.

"Don't mind if I do." Ari twirls his hand, so Cub shuffles himself around to expose his back, keeping his wings as low out of the way as he can. On second thought, he pulls his shirt off, letting his wings drop out of phase.

"Wings are out of phase. Don't worry about them." He informs Ari, as well. Not like Ari's hands will be near them. Still, Vex tucks them close to himself.

Ari chitters possibly irate noises, Cub's not sure. Before he can ask if that was wrong, the sweet sting of the lash lands on Cub's back. Not his favorite first, more twang than thud, but still good enough for Cub to go loose.

Another lash, with Ari humming contemplatively. Some rustling around, then a different whip bites Cub's back.

Cub lets out a huff of breath, careful not to hold it. For extra steadiness, he braces his arms against his knees. Does no blood apply to him, too, or only to Neit?

A quicker flick gets a jolted grunt from Cub, the whining behind him becoming muffled before it can grow any louder.

The next lash is from the last whip option, following with barely any pause. Cub's breath hisses out between his teeth. That was sharp. Then again, that whip's always had quite the kick. Warmth on his back makes him pretty sure Ari actually did draw blood on that hit.

One more lash pulls a noise that might have been a strangled moan from Cub's throat.

"Hm, I do believe we have a winner." Ari muses. "Do be a dear, Neit, and fetch the first aid supplies."

Whining out the most broken sound, Neit obeys, shuffling through the nest to Cub's desk.

"Third drawer on the right." Cub pants. Just to be sure. Even if he's fairly certain Neit knows where those are by now.

The sound of drawers opening and closing mildly concerns Cub, but Neit shuffles back, first aid kit in hand. Damage must not be too bad, if that will be enough.

"Now take good care of your pet, like you promised." Ari instructs. "Then you can have your treat."

Eagerly, Neit flings open the case, digging into it. Some scrabbling later, Neit warns Cub of the spray.

A familiar sting for Cub to breathe through, letting himself relax as Neit's confident hands move through what must be rather familiar steps by now. Caressing and rubbing in the ointments, gloved fingers over sensitive nerves. Soft gauze, secured in place. Being a pet doesn't sound like a half-bad gig, if it's like this.

"Done!" Neit zips the case back up, setting it on the desk.

Ari, of course, takes his time, running clawtips over Cub's back, featherlight, as he checks Neit's work. "Looks good. Now, get him in a nice comfortable position to watch, then get yourself in position." Ari commands.

Oh, right. It would be nice to get to watch, wouldn't it? Cub had forgotten moving was a thing.

Eager hands run over Cub's skin, coaxing him into Neit's arms. "Let's get you comfy, sweet Vexy." Neit coos, positioning Cub.

"Mkay." Cub nuzzles into Neit while he proximity allows, before contentedly settling into the pillows Neit arranges for him. On his side, but with good neck support, very thoughtful despite the trembling eagerness that occasionally shivers through Neit.

"Cozy-good?" Neit asks, petting Vex's hair. "Want anything?"

"M'good." Cub leans into the touch.

"Good-good." Neit lingers a few extra moments, petting Cub and brushing his hair back away nice and neat. "Enjoy the show."

With that, Neit pulls back, eagerly stripping and laying himself out facedown, propped up at a slight incline by pillows under his chest.

"Good job." Ari runs the end of the whip handle down Neit's back.

"Thank you!" Neit's head perks up, but he otherwise remains relatively still. "Lovely Ari, wicked Ari~"

"Now then. Are you ready? For your treat." Flicking the whip loosely forward, Ari trails the tail over Neit.

"Yes, yes please! Prettiest please!" Neit shivers under the loose drag of the whip's length.

"Good. I'll even count them out for you." Ari pauses to do another drag.

"One." Cracking, the whip leaps up and slashes across Neit's back, leaving an angry, raised welt.

"Ah!" Neit arches up with a cry, before flopping back down. Grateful chirps leave his lips in a pillow-squished muddle.

The next hits follow quickly, Ari counting each in the same steady voice.

Neit's chirps dissolve into deep moans, the sound swinging up into yelps with each hit. A noisy show, but a nice show as well. Skin reddening like marker bleeding across a page, varied where the color crosses his scars.

By the time Ari counts ten strokes, Neit's hips are twitching.

By fifteen, Neit's practically humping the pillows.

Ari must see the motions as clearly as Cub does, but apparently has decided the humping and accompanying whines are acceptable behavior, met only with the occasional lash to Neit's ass or thigh meat. None of which discourages Neit, of course.

"Pl- please please plea-" Neit babbles.

"And twenty." Ari lands the final stoke diagonally, spanning from one of Neit's butt cheeks to the opposite shoulder. "Your turn, Vex."

Mesmerized in the splendour of Neit's pain, Cub takes long moments to register Ari's words. "My turn?" Even while he's blinking and echoing the words, Cub's already pushing himself upright. Does he get more lashes now?

"Here." Ari presses Cub's favorite whip into his hands, and a kiss to his cheek. "You may want to count his twenty out loud for him. Silly thing's too far gone to manage himself."

“Ah.” Even the heat of the charger doesn’t explain the toastiness trailing down Cub’s neck. Ari magic.

Cub cracks the whip in air once to get a feel for the leather in his hand again. Neit jolts, his squirming, his whimpering only ramping up.

Wait, just enough time, then- “One.” A solid blow to Neit’s back, a thud crossways over several of Ari’s welts.

Neit screams into the pillow below him, still humping.

"Oh, you like that." Cub chuckles, going for his next lash already. "Two." This one lands across Neit's shoulders with a meaty smack.

Neit shrieks what Cub takes as agreement, still muffling himself.

Steady, inexorable hits. Heavy. Neit twists in place, breaking into sobs on ten, but never once tries to escape.

"Are you getting close?" Ari teases. "Gonna cum for us, just from being whipped?"

“Close, please!” Neit gasps his words, as Cub plays the tail of the whip down over Neit’s back. “Let? Please?”

"You can cum." Cub stays nonchalant. At least outwardly. "You're going to get all twenty, no matter when you cum."

"Yes! Thank you thank you th-" Neit's words break into a strangled scream.

"Eleven." Cub counts, voice as flat as can be.

"Sweet little painslut for us~" Ari sing-songs.

"Twelve."

Coherency has abandoned Neit's movements. Only instincts remain, driven by the animal need to get off, now that he's been given permission.

"Thirteen."

Neit wails a whole siren of a cry, back tautly arched up-

"Fourteen." Which, of course, presents a perfect target for Cub to continue his lashing, this pain the only comfort Neit is getting to guide him through his climax.

"Fifteen." The second 'comfort' lash Cub gets in during Neit's orgasm only serves to drag it out further, prolonging Neit's pleasure.

Even Neit has to run out of steam eventually, though, sagging down into his pillows with garbled noises. None of it stops the inevitabile. "Sixteen." Cub lands that one square on the cheek of Neit's shining-bright ass.

Neit's whole body jerks. Seventeen brings the return of his sobs, shaking and trembling.

At this point, Cub has to plan his strikes extra carefully, look for areas less done over so he doesn't risk breaking skin, look ahead several strikes down the line so he doesn't back himself into a corner. One of the most delicious problems he's had to mentally chew on in a while.

"Eighteen." And all that without any kind of pause to his strikes, nor waver to his voice. Neit blubbers openly.

"Nineteen." As Neit wails, Ari sidles up on Cub's off side, chin on his shoulder, hard dick pressed to his hip. Arms snaked around Cub as they watch Neit suffer for them.

That almost finally makes Cub waver, the surge of emotion deep in his chest from remembering all the times Ari so harshly protested even the slightest thought of Cub play-hurting Neit. And now here they are-

"Twenty." But only almost. Cub makes sure to finish out strong, a crossways shoulder-to-butt hit in the opposite direction of Ari's final hit. "You've been very good for us, Neit."

"So very good." Ari coos, grinding against Cub and nipping his neck. "So pretty for us, lovely little painslut."

Cub sets the whip aside, freeing his hands. He absolutely has to get his hands on Neit's ass, kneading extra gasped sounds out of Neit, while leaning into Ari. Cub tips his head to give Ari more neck to nibble. "Good little painslut doll, so sweet." Finally, Cub can let his voice go a little breatheless.

A wing comes forward, to brush soft feathers over the angry welts, drawing out fresh hisses. Prickly teeth bite hard at Cub's shoulder.

"Can I do you now? Will you also be a pretty painslut for me?" Ari bites Cub's shoulder extra hard, as if to underline his words.

"An insatiable sadist, are you?" Cub hums, letting himself adjust to the thought that he can get more than just the few test lashes earlier. A pleasant shift.

"Of course. Especially when I can have such a pretty thing like you under my lash." Ari purrs, dropping down a hand to grope at Cub.

Much more difficult for Cub to ignore his own arousal with Ari's hand right there, perfect for him to grind into. "I am amenable to your proposal."

"You don't have any ah... future engagements that would prevent me from bloodying you up? Or is that not a good idea because of how your back is in general?" Ari asks, dancing around the topic of Cub's wing-ports.

"If you want to really bloody me, I should take the wings off first, but other than that I should be fine. Maybe get the bandages off, if they'll need to be re-done anyway." Cub shrugs, not bothered by talking about it at all. Is this what Neit feels like?

Pressed close like this, Cub can feel the exact moment Ari stiffens at the reminder that Cub's wings come off. "If you prefer. Do I need to avoid... where they were or is that fine to whip?" Ari shakes himself out.

The pile of Neit in front of them whines pitifully.

"No need to avoid them. The material has limited self-sealing abilities, and anything beyond that can be repaired." Cub lets Ari's pause go without comment, instead considering that his only immediate future engagement aside from work is with Doc, which is very convenient for this exact kind of repair. Idly, Cub smooths his hands down the back of Neit's thighs.

"Good." Ari doesn't sound happy. He also doesn't sound upset, so Cub to counting that as a win. "Then prepare yourself, while I get this menace here comfy." Reluctantly, Ari unwinds from around Cub. "Oh, and do prep yourself. I'll be using you after." He warns.

"A bonus treat." Cub presses a kiss to the forehead of Ari's mask before allowing Ari to fully retreat. Not all that different than preparing for his spar, except that his wings are going off instead of on. The same impending exquisite pain and anticipation of being used, though.

At least the motions of his preparations are familiar enough that Cub doesn't have to put too much thought into them.

Wings can be a bit of a struggle alone, but off is easier than on, at least.

"How do you want me?" Naked, wingless, and slicked up Cub turns his attention back to Ari. So what if he instinctively falls back into the position Doc had trained into him? Back straight, sat back on his heels, legs spread at exactly thirty degrees, hands resting palm up on his thighs. The pose feels right. Natural.

"Cracked open like a melon under my whip." Ari quips, groping Cub's chest. Neit's already been cleaned up, as has whatever mess he made into the nest, leaving plenty of space for Ari to guide Cub into in the middle of the nest. Followed in every movement by Neit's languid gaze, of course. "Can you hold that upright position throughout?"

"With minimal powers help, yes." Doc, and sometimes Ren, had been very thorough in their training. Not like they didn't enlist Cub to help them train each other as well.

"What about without powers?" Ari smooths hands down Cub's sides, rubbing little circles into his outer thighs at the end.

"Depends. On how long you draw this out, and how much blood I loose." Cub explains. "Also on if you want me to orgasm. As a side note, you'll need to either give permission or command me to."

"No powers then, let's see how you manage." Ari pinches Cub's ass, which gets no more than a nod from Cub.

Mind, Cub also glances over the area he's likely to fall into if he does falter, and finds it already lined with soft pillows and free of any hard or pointy or messy objects. Not that there's generally an abundance of those in the nest anyway, but due diligence. First aid had been done recently, after all.

"I'm ready whenever you are. Feel free to hit my front too." Cub settles in, putting a temporary block on his implants. Not a power down or anything, just a quick lockout so he doesn't instinctively fall back on them.

Ari's legs do something undulating and quite incompatible with femurs or tibias, producing a fascinatingly smooth motion for Ari circling around Cub in the nest.

A line of pain courses up from the sole of Cub's foot. "Ready." Ari chuckles. "One."

"Two." This time, the zap of pain burns over Cub's shoulder, down his back. Brilliant-bright, settling Cub's mind.

"Three. Four. Five." The rapid slashes, bringing the first slip of wet warmth down Cub's back, the first hitch in his breath.

It occurs to Cub, that he forgot to ask how many lashes he's getting. Especially with Ari's counting. Too late now. Cub focuses on his breathing, on enjoying the sweet sweet pain gifted to him by his courted.

For the next blow, Ari slithers around in front of Cub, batting his eyelashes sweetly as he visibly winds up. Some part of Cub automatically notes the good form, Ari not only confident but clearly practiced. The flick of Ari's wrist almost reminds him of Li-

"Six." The lash blooms as a sharp sting down one side of his chest, clearing away Cub's thoughts wholesale.

Holding form is a struggle, as Ari rains down seven and eight close by, drawing the first blood on Cub's front. Hot dribbles down his chest as Cub's fingers flex and stiffen in his efforts to stay upright.

Neit coos soft encouragement and appreciation, bolstering Cub's resolve. He can do this. Put on a pretty show for them. Bleed for them, just how they like.

Tracing the tip of the handle down Cub's erection, Ari watches Cub's blood slip downward, before gliding back around- Nine and ten land across Cub's side, no part of his torso spared.

Eleven and twelve each land atop a shoulder, drawing lines of fire from Cub's pecs to his shoulderblades.

Cub trembles, holding himself together with stubborn resolve. He won't move, won't cum, barely even makes any sounds under the onslaught. Just as trained.

"The strong, silent type, hm?" Ari muses, one clawed hand tracing down Cub's back, snagging repeatedly in wondrously painful little tugs on open wounds. "Thirteen." A horizontal thump, across Cub's lower back.

Any explanation Cub may have had about being trained this way dies with the lash, coming out a garbled gasp.

"Eloquent." Ari snickers. "Fourteen. Fifteen. Do you think your blood will remain stained into the leather?" Conversational words as Ari peppers up Cub's back in quick, sharp hits that intersect in brilliant sparking bursts of clarifying pain.

It already is. The words don't make it over Cub's tongue. The best he can do is nod, nod and hope Ari understands.

“A lingering memento.” Ari chirrs, words warm. The next few hits blur together in Cub’s brain, a peaceful lull he’s only woken from by a sharp snap inches from his cheek. The air itself almost forms a blow, but the angle doesn’t dig even that into Cub’s flesh, instead glancing off.

"Eyes on me." Ari demands.

Even a simple 'yes' is beyond Cub's lips now, leaving him giving another nod, eyes trained unwaveringly on Ari through the whole motion. Ari's hands, never still. Ari's eyes, dark and promising. Ari's wings, bright arches of pride-puffed color.

"Good Vex." Instead of a kiss, Ari bestows another lash upon him.

Same difference, isn't it?

Cub refuses to let himself even blink through the pain, despite his eyes trying to water. Focus on Ari. The numbers don't matter, only the burning pleasure of the lash, the sweet pain of Ari's affections.

Eventually, many strikes later, warm fingers cup his jaw.

"You said you can cum from this? Pretty thing?" Ari coos.

Cub manages to rasp out a deep word, purely for the sake of not having to dislodge Ari's fingers. "Yes." He knows he can. From the lash, from Ari's eyes on him. Cub can feel his own ignored arousal simmering, plenty high enough now that a single order would do him in.

"I want to see. I'm going to give you more lashes, and you will cum from them." Ari orders.

Cub tips his head, leaning into Ari's fingers. Is he supposed to come from each lash? He can't even begin to form the words of a question, though. He'll follow orders, follow Ari's confidence to plunge headlong over any edge.

"Do you understand?" Ari asks, when Cub gives no other reaction.

Cub keens softly, not wanting- But Doc's got him trained too well, Cub shakes his head, eyes pleading. He doesn't fully understand the order, and he can't lie about that. Not like this.

"You have permission to cum while I whip you. Is that clear?" Ari reiterates.

Relief courses through Cub, sagging him into Ari's hand. He nods fully this time, no words to be had, but tucks back into Ari's touch immediately after.

"Good." Ari praises. One final pat, then he pulls back, ready to gift Cub his next lashes.

Straightening up, Cub resumes his correct and rightful position. Exacting angles, trembling spine as steady as he can make it, arms braced.

His erection bobs in time with the next lash, but it's not until Ari goes one further hit, right through Cub's areola, that Cub's climax bursts over him, supernova force blanking his vision such that he has to use sound to track keeping his eyes on Ari. Neit giggles.

A flurry of quick lashes carry Cub through his climax, each hit sparking smaller peak within.

Cub sways, barely holding to his mostly-upright posture as blood streaks more heavily down his chest, his back, a comforting blanket of warmth. "Thank." That's all he can get out, voice loose with liquid bliss coursing throughout Cub.

Ari keeps at it, lash after lash tearing at Cub's skin. He's swimming in the swirls of pain and pleasure mixing within him.

Warm fingers curl around Cub's chin, lifting his face to gaze into a pair of starry voids.

"Cum." Ari commands.

Cub's whole body seizes, mind fuzzing out.

------

Running his fingers through Vex's hair, Hotguy idly muses on his situation. Tucked up all nice and cozy in Cuteguy's nest, with a naked Cuteguy and Vex.

Vex had certainly made good on ruining Cuteguy over the kitchen table, enough so that they'd passed Vex's robotic minions entering on their way out. Hotguy doesn't have to ask if Cuteguy enjoyed his railing, contented joy is written in every line of Cuteguy's cuddling, in the relaxed banter.

Maybe startling Cuteguy had been a little fun.

But Hotguy is still left with Vex, this softly blissed out Vex who worships and obeys in such a tantalizing way.

Tempting, to let Vex warm him. Suckle him softly, just a low undercurrent of stimulation. Not that Hotguy's exactly hard right now. Sometimes, his body just doesn't want to.

Vex hadn't looked like he cared. Not a whisper of complaint, as the minutes had ticked past without Hotguy hardening further. Like Vex would have been content to kneel on that hard floor forever, sucking calm friction without hope of reward.

Is that where Hotguy’s selflessness went, after this greed infected him? Into Vex?

Him corrupting Vex with goodness, while Vex corrupts him with desires. Equally balanced. As they always are.

Except in a fair fight. Hotguy grins at this newest memory of defeating Vex. Of Vex yielding under him, eager and needy.

If Hotguy is, perhaps, a hero with occasional carnal needs, then in this too Vex matches him. They can handle that for one another. Their arrangement doesn’t have to get in the way of anything out there, these private moments.

Binding Vex ever-closer to him, until the day Vex’s magic can truly infiltrate his body. Hotguy isn’t afraid of that influence, he knows he can tame it, as he’s tamed Vex. Turn that magic to his own advantage. Get more of those fair fight victories that melt Vex into taffy-sweet adoration in Hotguy’s teeth.

His archrival, yearning for him. Everything right with the world.

Sighing contently, Hotguy nuzzles into Vex's hair, enjoying the scent. Familiar. Somehow, safe. Vex won't hurt him- Won't harm him. Sure, they beat the snot out of each other frequently, but that's just how they are. Workplace hazard, Vex called it. Comes with the territory.

"Someone sounds cozy." Cuteguy comments, from where he's smushed into Hotguy's back, a wing blanketing them.

"You do." Hotguy quips back. "Quite cozy, for shoving in on someone else archnemesis territory."

"You said you don't mind sharing him with me!" Cuteguy protests, needling at Hotguy's shoulder with sharp teeth. "Besides, he has to complete my challenge first, to be allowed to be my archnemesis."

"Someone like me might have said that, I suppose." Hotguy hums. "A challenge? What hoops do you have him hopping through for your amusement?"

"Tracking him down. You know, Mr.-" Cuteguy reaches around gesture in the hidden space beneath wings, like ringing a bell, with the same grouchiness that always crops up when this villain is mentioned creeping into Cuteguy's tone.

"Oh, you were feeling mean." Hotguy laughs. That's his Cuteguy, never an easy court. Like Cuteguy's packing in all the difficulty he put Hotguy through over the years, but into a much shorter timeframe for Vex.

Behind him, Cuteguy sputters. "I'm not mean! At the time, it was a wonder I gave him a challenge at all!"

"You're the meanest cutiepie in the sky! A right devil." Hotguy tucks Cuteguy's wing closer around them, a good blanket in smears of color. "Never gonna let that guy go, huh?"

"Hopefully, when Vex completes his challenge, I'll at least have some closure. Maybe then I'll let it go." Cuteguy muses, ruffling the feathers under Hotguy's hand.

"Out with the old, to make room for the new obsession." Hotguy sighs. "If anyone could do the impossible for us, it's him." For no reason at all Hotguy thinks that it's a good thing that Cuteguy's focus had left the scene before Vex showed up.

"He claims to have a lead already." Hopeful awe glints in Cuteguy's voice.

"Oh? Now that is impressive. He must be mightily motivated." Hotguy cards his fingers through Vex's hair. How odd, not matted in blood and dust.

"He better be. After all, the prize for completing the challenge is me!" Cuteguy fluffs up, proud.

"A motivating prize, indeed. If a bit oblivious." Hotguy catches one of Cuteguy's hands, pressing kisses to the palm.

"I am perfectly observant! Not my fault you were being cryptic as hell!" Cuteguy protests.

"Ah, yes. Cryptic, me. Mhm. Declarations of love and devotion are notoriously cryptic. As are meals and nests." Hotguy snickers.

"Exactly!" Cuteguy nods in agreement.

"You'll simply have to teach me how to be more clear." He winks.

"I will, won't I?" Cuteguy sounds very pleased with himself. "Gonna have to teach you how to be a proper mate."

"Of course. My partner deserves only the best of the best, after all. Perfection." Hotguy tucks Cuteguy's hand close to his heart.

"Yep. You better live up to my lofty standards." Cuteguy preens.

In front of him, Vex sighs contently.

"I will." There's not a fleck of doubt in Hotguy's mind. "And I'll make sure Vex does, to boot."

Cuteguy chuffs, nuzzling into Hotguy. "Vex has been. Competent. Annoyingly so."

"Quite irritating, that. How competent and appealing he is." Hotguy chuckles. "Really does his homework."

"He does! I can barely find anything to complain about!" Cuteguy grouses.

"How terrible for you, so spoiled you can't meet your complaint quota. Supping on the finest of fruits and railed within an inch of your life before getting as many cuddles as you can stand. Truly, Vex is a wicked man." Hotguy nuzzles into that wicked hair, musing on the quiet protective glow in his chest as he holds Vex close.

"Exactly! You see my point! Evil, no-good villain he is!" Hotguy can feel Cuteguy's claws messing with his hair.

"Evil, corrupting force." Hotguy hums. "Evil has no right to be this adorable."

"Absolutely horrible." Cuteguy agrees.

Vex turns his head to blink innocently up at them, before snuffling back into Hotguy's chest. Adorable. Absolute cuteness criminal.

"The worst." Hotguy nods, holding Vex close. "He is ours, though."

"He likes being the worst." Cuteguy's voice goes soft. Quiet. "And, I think, he likes being ours."

"Good thing, because there's no getting rid of us now." Hotguy nods. He could always have Cuteguy make him some feathers to decorate Vex with. His orange would look wonderful in Vex's dark curls. Might clash with Cuteguy's own pale pink though.

Vex could deal with a bit of clashing, for their mingled marks. Hotguy's fingers glide to Vex's arm, pressing the tiny scar there. In blood and bone and skin, Vex is his, theirs.

"Whatcha got there?" From behind, Cuteguy hooks his chin over Hotguy's arm to peer over him at Vex.

Briefly the urge to cover the mark, hide it away seizes him- But Hotguy breathes and chooses. He can trust Cuteguy with this. "You're not the only one marked by the taste of my arrows." He sides his fingers apart, to frame the faint scar.

"Oh?" Cuteguy croons a curious noise, leaning forward to see better. Hotguy listens to Grian's feathers rustling, puffing up around his own scar.

"He let it scar." Hotguy whispers. "He wanted it."

"Hasn't it been ages since you hit him there?" Cuteguy inquires, thoughtful.

"That was the first time I ever drew his blood." Not the last, not by a long shot. But the memory of that first is blessedly seared into his brain in colors. Red over blue. Fury in his veins. The hunt singing through him.

"And he let it scar?" Wonder swings in Cuteguy's voice. A single, clawless finger brushes over the scar. They've both seen Vex's body. Despite how beat up Vex gets on a regular basis, he carries remarkably few scars. Smoothed away, by healers' touches and salves alike.

"Yeah. Got himself a right talking-to from his doctor, how he tells it." A sentiment Hotguy can't find himself agreeing with.

"As he should." Cuteguy fusses. "But that's... so early."

"He wanted me from the very start." Hotguy sighs dreamily. To be wanted by someone who challenges him so deliciously...

Vex has more than proven himself, more than earned his place standing toe-to-toe.

"Ambitious." Cuteguy's hand covers Hotguy's. "And persistent."

"That's our Vex." Hotguy agrees.

"Our Vex..." Cuteguy echoes. "Our Vex." Firm words this time, the sound of enjoying the taste of them.

"Our Vex." Hotguy affirms. Theirs. No one else's.

Cuteguy trills out a bunch of sleepily affirming chirps, which Hotguy blames for the yawn that overtakes him. He didn't always used to get this tired just existing, did he? Lately, Hotguy always feels like he could go for a nap.

Fortunately, cuddled up in their nest with Cuteguy and Vex is an excellent place for a nap. So Hotguy figures he might as well. Gather his strength, and all that jazz. He's seen what he needs to see, said what needs saying. All aside from one chirp of sleep-safe that he sighs out fondly to Cuteguy as he beds down, letting their comfort take him.

---

Grian's woken by his own sleepdazed whines and scrables being gently redirected to snuggle him up to Scar. His warmpillow is trying to escape!

Even biting only results in Grian's jaw being massaged until he goes loose enough to lose his grip, warmpillow quickly retreating afterward. Scar takes the brunt of Grian’s malcontent gnawing while Grian works himself up to standing and tracking down his rude warmpillow.

By the time Grian's managed the sitting up step of this process, Vex returns, carrying a large tray. Absolutely intoxicating smells waft through the room, making Grian's mouth water.

Several punches and shakes later, Scar yawns his own way upright beside Grian, melty and snuggly on Grian's shoulder while sniffing. At least, Grian thinks this is Scar, though that's apparently not as certain while he's in collar as Grian thought it was.

But! Grian can't think about that nonsense on an empty stomach, so he impatiently watches Vex settle the tray on the table beside the bed before heave-hauling Vex back into the nest with all his might.

Vex goes easily, toppling in next to them.

"Dinner's here." He says unnecessarily, smiling up at them from his haphazard sprawl.

"I can see that." Grian grumps. He can. He can smell it too. His stuffed apples, his risotto, his ravioli. Dominating the scents however, is the roasted unctuousness Scar's whole, roasted rabbit.

"Dinner." Scar murmurs, scooping up Vex's arm to bite down the length.

"Good idea, how about we just eat you." Grian agrees, even though his stomach tries to lead a revolt at the idea of ignoring those tantalizing smells.

"I would suggest the meals cooked to your specifications by private chef instead. Much tastier. Seeing how the Vex flesh is still in its nutrient solution." Vex rights himself through some nonsense floating maneuvers.

"Nu-uh, Vexy is tastiest." Scar insists, though he allows Vex to gather and hand him a generous plate consisting of the whole roast rabbit atop roast parsnips with an encircling crescent of creamed spinach mushrooms. Which has Scar outright drooling to behold.

Vex even tucks a throw around Scar, so Scar can comfortably rest his plate on his lap.

"Dig in." Vex gives Scar a huge grin.

Scar falls ferally upon his food, rending flesh from bone with triumphant growls that melt into deep, rumbling moans. Grease and cream alike licked off his fingers as Scar detours into his sides, before circling back to strip more meat from his rabbit.

Watching Scar so entrancingly enthused about eating of all things leaves Grian jumping in surprise when a plate is pressed into his own hands as well.

On it, a neat arrangement of ravioli and risotto, decorated with grated cheese and a drizzle of balsamico reduction. Vex supplies him with a fork as well, correctly assuming that Grian would prefer to eat his food in a vaguely more civilized manner.

Giving a quiet gratitude chirp, Grian takes up his plate, individually nibbling at each element. Whoever Vex has hired for his private chefing knows their business, Grian can't form a single complaint, again. Bold, earthy flavors crash over him without clashing against one another in the slightest. Instead, Grian turns to Vex himself for potential complaints. Someone has to make sure Vex eats as well, after all.

Vex has a plate of food, at least. Some kind of pasta in a white sauce, with chunks of meat and veggies, plus extra veggies on the side. A spoon in his other hand dips into the pasta, fishing out a few pieces to add a carrot slice to and deposit in Vex's mouth.

Good, good. Everyone's eating, sharing flock-meal. Grian relaxes between them, letting himself go back to focusing on his own food. The risotto alone must have taken an hour of active cooking by itself, what with all the nonsense. But the creamy, rich flavor and texture from taking that time is stunning. Not to mention complemented quite well by the heartily spiced butternut filling of the ravioli dotted around the circumference of Grian's plate. Not hot, but bold in spices, velvety in texture.

All too soon the whole dish of food vanishes into Grian, filling him right up.

When Grian looks up again, he finds Vex's plate empty as well. Scar still gnaws on the bones of his rabbit, an astonishing amount of the meat eaten. His sides are completely gone, though.

Grian sets his plate aside on the table, leaning himself to tuck into Vex’s side. A perfect view to watch Scar from, all warm and soft. “ ‘Ank ‘ou for th’food.” Grian finds the words slipping from him without thinking.

"You are very welcome, my courted." Vex wraps an arm around him, plate already discarded.

Grian coos a courted-mine back, contented. Nothing to think or worry about in this moment.

“What a pretty picture.” Scar drawls st them.

"Did you enjoy your meal, Neit?" Vex asks, tucking Grian into his chest until he can rest his chin on Grian's head.

"Yes!" Neit licks his fingers clean, before going for a napkin to go over them again. "My compliments to the chef. You certainly know how to pick 'em, Vexy."

"There's wet wipes on the nightstand." Vex helpfully informs him. "And I'll pass your compliments along."

"Fine." Scar bleps at them, but takes up the wet wipes to go over his hands yet again. Which is a lot, for Scar. The same cleaning his hands, three whole times in a row, just for them. Thinking about it does something to Grian's lungs. "How about you? Are you enjoying your pretty birdie prize?" Scar snickers.

"I very much am." Vex's voice vibrates through his chest, into Grian. Comforting. Grian could doze off again right here.

"Good, good." Scar leans close, fluffing Vex's hair, then Grian's. "You've done very well by him." A confident declaration Grian feels like he should protest Scar making for him, but- Well, even Grian can occasionally recognize when protest would only make the truth more obvious. And what if Vex had one of those fits of taking him too seriously about it? No, better to nuzzle into Vex's chest and pretend he didn't hear anything at all.

"That's good to hear. Good to hear." Vex holds out his other arm, inviting Scar in to the cuddles.

Scar flows without hesitation into Vex's embrace, draping onto Vex and tucking an arm around Grian. Silly thing looks like he'd be purring, if he could. The cat that got the cream.

"Coziness criminal." Scar giggles.

"Do we want to go ahead and sleep now? Get an early start tomorrow?" Vex asks.

"Jus' wanna enjoy bein' here with you both." Scar murmurs, making no move to do anything.

"I'm sure that can be arranged." Kissing Scar's head, Vex pulls them both yet closer.

Scar trills sweet notes of joy-contentedness-affection. An avian couldn't have said it better, except maybe Grian, who contributes his own chirps to flock-song.

Even Vex chimes in, adding a few notes of joy.

Grian thumps his whole bodyweight of him into the tangle of them, shoving until they're all laid down in the nest. Flock-song and cuddles and warm-pillow and Scar safe and Grian's wing healed and everything so much. Sleep, yes.

Until sleep does claim them through, Grian will be cuddling the both of them within an inch of their lives. He's gotta. No choice but to, you see. He can't just let them get away with this! Best to blanket both wings overtop of them, so they know they won't be escaping him this time. Cozy criminals must suffer their full measure of cuddles!

"Bossy~" Scar snickers, running his fingers through the inner feathers of Grian's flight wings.

"That is our most gorgeous Ari." Vex agrees, smiling softly as he scritches the base of one of Grian's headwings. Illegal, the way Vex's fingers find all those good-good spots that need the scritches the most.

Who let these two combine their efforts to melt him? Hands on both of his sets of wings, sweeted with such glowing words. How is Grian supposed to fight this melting? A heat so much kinder than his fever.

"Our wonderfully lovely Ari~" Scar agrees.

"Prettiest bird in all the universe." Vex hums. Warm fingers are now carefully preening the headwing, settling every feather just so.

Grian shivers, breath momentarily stolen by Vex's boldness. But- He doesn't dislike it. The preening, the initiative. The way it blends with Scar's hands, familiar, preening his flight wings, as well. Nothing left but for Grian to coo out safe-contented as he melts over the both of them.

"In any universe ever!" Scar adds. "And cleverest."

"That too, yes." Vex agrees easily.

"And the best blanket." Scar trills sweetly, sugar-spun sounds that float Grian along.

"An Ari can be many things." Vex nods. He's switched to the other headwing, giving it the same attentions as the first.

"An Ari can be so sleepy for us. So sleepy and good and relaxed." And it's all true, but Scar doesn't have to say as much. Not in that purring tone.

Grian might actually drift away if he keeps that up. Float up high, where gravity can't get him, too high even for winds. Just drifting, head empty.

------

"Sleepy bird." Cub comments fondly, as Ari's peeping snores full the room.

"Yes. Comfy-cozy." Neit watches them with the most besotted smile on his face, his second falafel sandwich in hand.

“Trapped us here.” Cub also notes, amused. After all their chasing him, a simple nap is more effective than any of it. Not that he minds any.

"A trustful birdy." Neit stuffs the last bite of his sandwich in his mouth. That could have been two bites, but oh well. Cub simply averts his eyes, and grabs the smoothie so he has it on hand when Neit inevitably waves for it.

"He does look more comfortable." Cub can hardly fathom the night and day difference. The same Ari who had been too terrified to even let Neit nap while Cub was nearby, now contentedly peeping his snores across their laps. Without even being exhausted out of his mind, first.

Chugging the handed off smoothie, Neit sorts himself out. "Thanks."

"You want some chips as a treat?" Cub makes a calculated offer.

"Treat?" Neit perks up. "I have been very good." Truly astounding, how some simple framing can change Neit's entire mood about food.

"Yes, chips are a treat. Here." Cub passes over one of the bags. "And good Neits get treats."

"I get treats!" Neit snatches up the chips, tossing them in the air to gleefully catch a few times. By the time he's done with that, Neit manages to pop the seal on the bag while holding it upside down, not caring at all as he covetously crunches on his chips. "Tasty treat~"

"I oughta look into getting you more treats. Isn't that what pet owners do? Keep treats on hand for their darlings?" Cub muses, building on the earlier pet joke.

"Pocket kibble." Neit giggles. "Do I get to eat it right from your hand?"

"Why not. I'll get something that's okay to touch. How are you with fruit gummies?" Those are usually okay on his skin, and if they get eaten quick Cub doesn't need gloves. Only issue might be if Neit slobbers on him, but Cub figures he can just wash his hands after if that happens.

Neit bops his head side to side, before nodding. "Fruit gummies are good treats. But they might get stolen."

"Treats can be for both my lovely pets. Just means I have to get more. Unless you have a treat suggestion that's easy to carry around in pockets?" Cub can't think of anything off the top of his head.

"Hm, most of the easy carry stuff I know is at risk of crime anyway, so more gummies is good." Neit leans into Cub's side, despite his own motion making him hiss.

"Good. I'll get a selection. How's your back?" Cub reaches over to scritch Neit's scalp, not wanting to further aggravate his back.

"Hurts a lot. More when I move. Nothin' feels wrong, though." Neit wiggles in place, biting his lip to keep quiet.

"The salve should take care of the worst of it by tomorrow. Do you want a painkiller for now? Help take the edge off?" Cub offers. He put the ibuprofen in the medical drawer in here when straightening up, just an arm's length away.

"Nah, I want to feel it. Maybe before sleepin' if it gets worse before it gets better." Neit shrugs off the offer. "Did you have fun?"

"Every chance I get to have you is an unforgettable experience. Finish your treat, then you can have your dessert." Cub nudges, pressing a kiss to the least crumby part of Neit's face.

"Aw shucks, you're gonna go makin' me blush." Neit rubs at his own cheek. Rather than say more, though, he upends the entire rest of the bag into his mouth, somehow without spilling any.

Cub accepts the empty chip bag without a word from the still-chewing Neit, handing over the container of four rainbow sparkle cupcakes in return.

Neit gasps, rapidly swallowing so he can coo over the sparkly confections. "Dessert treats, colorful treats~" Cub could almost begin to wonder if he's going to eat them at all.

"Two of them are for you." He informs Neit. "One is for Ari, and one is for me. We need treats too."

Neit nods solemnly. "Treats are very important." He looks around, grabbing for a set of plates Ari had set aside. Neatly, he portions out the cupcakes, one onto a plate set aside, one on a plate with a fork, handed back to Cub, and the remaining two staying in the container.

"Enjoy!" Cub gives a toast with his plate, before digging his fork in for the first bite. Not only do these cupcakes glitter in the colors of the rainbow, they also hide a gelatinous raspberry filling. A rather common filling, by Cub's measure.

Neit bites right into his first cupcake, glitter and frosting smearing his cheek. Muffled delight sounds, leading to him pulling back with red-stained lips. “Bloodcake!”

Ari snuffles and twitches.

“Shh, no, shh, only good blood. No ouches, only treats.” Neit babbles to Ari.

That must settle Ari, what with him cuddling back into Cub's legs. Cub pets Ari's hair very carefully, getting contented chirps. To be allowed to touch- Cub can still hardly believe Ari allows occasional touches to his wings from Cub.

Even in a medical context, Cub had expected Ari to kick up way more fuss. Not for him to just take it because 'whatever, it's medical'.

And the two times he's actually been allowed to pet Ari's wings? Well, those had decidedly not been medical circumstances.

Cub doesn't know how Ari stands not having the night sky strewn all over his wings all the time, when that's an option. Cub could trace the stellar paths on his feathers for hours, if allowed.

He's so grateful for what time he was given.

Somehow, Neit's impossible claims of Ari warming up look more and more realistic by the day.

"Got some big thinky thoughts in there." Neit gently taps the forehead of Cub's mask with his clean finger.

"Just... ruminating on trust." Cub makes some sort of gesture down at the sleeping Ari.

"Past the winter, past the frost, to bloom. No longer nearly so fragile." Neit traces his hand down Cub's mask.

"It really is growing in." Cub agrees.

"Laying down roots, spreading branches." Neit twirls a lock of Cub's hair. "He's so curious about you."

"That goes both ways." Cub chuckles quietly, taking another bite of his cupcake.

Neit swipes one single sprinkle from Cub's cupcake, before carrying on with eating his own. "Big heads, full of questions."

"You can't tell me you're not curious." Cub counters.

"Of course I wanna know all the everything about you. I just don't have big fancy thoughts about it." Neit taps Cub's nose.

"Everything, huh?" Cub smiles at Neit. "I want to know everything about you, too."

Neit fixes Cub with a look, unreadable but not outright upset. "I think you might, actually."

"I do." Cub insists. "I don't think there's anything you could tell me that would make me like you any less." Unless maybe he's been married this whole time and had been cheating on his partner. That, perhaps. Communication is important, after all.

Doc always says that, and Cub respects his opinion.

"Don't tempt me with an anything. I'm sure there's a dealbreaker, there always is." Neit muses. "I just have to roll those dice."

"Unlikely. Unless you're secretly a genocidal maniac hellbent on destroying the city?" Cub teases.

That look, at least, Cub recognizes, the bright flash of possessiveness that scrunches Neit's eyes. "My city, no one's allowed to destroy it." He leans himself harder into Cub. "But that's my point, right? There's always unlesses."

"You may have a point. Though I estimate that the chance of hitting any 'unless' that would have me liking you less is so improbable as to be negligible. As my example proved." Cub reasons.

"A vanishingly small chance is still a chance. Wouldn't I know it?" Neit grins, lopsided in ruefulness.

"I do know that you don't have some sort of infectious disease, so I'll take those chances." Cub answers Neit's grin with a genuine smile.

"If I did, it'd sure already be all up inside you good." Neit chuckles. "Lucky for you, this doesn't spread." Neit's toes wiggle.

"I did test you the first few times I kidnapped you." Cub admits. "Just to be sure. Nothing infectious."

"Studying me in your lab. All that extra tube time." A nod.

"It was actually a blood draw, done while you were unconscious." Cub explains. "Though I do greatly enjoy having you in my lab too. My perfect specimen."

Cub never tires of watching the way the dark pupil of Neit's eyes eats up the green, moan sweet on his lips. "Yours. Your specimen." The words come out with an almost-drunk lilt to them.

"Yes. Mine." Cub pulls Neit in, giving him a quick peck on icing-stained lips. "Now finish your dessert, my specimen."

"Yes, mister smartiepants scienceman." Neit chirps his words brightly, tucking in with eager abandon to the remaining cupcake like it's a vanishing trick.

A messy one. Neit's got frosting on his cheeks, crumbs on his fingers, and filling on his lips.

If Cub were still a cat, Cub might be tempted to lick him clean.

Alas, his felinid transformation has expired, so he reaches for the box of wipes he put in the nightstand instead, setting aside his own perfectly cleaned off empty plate to have a hand free.

Neit's mrpt when Cub takes his hand could almost make Cub wonder if something of the felinid transformation lingers in Neit, if Cub hadn't seen the scan for himself. Somehow, none of the crumbs Cub cleans end up in the nest blankets at all, which he'd expected to be a much more difficult task than it actually was.

"Thank you, sir." Neit trills, lips freshly cleaned.

"Good Neit." Cub pats Neit's head, and gives his nose a quick kiss.

Which gets Cub a fresh flurry of kisses all over his face, as if Neit were starving for them. ...had Neit been holding back on those, while his lips were messied? Cub's chest does that warm thing again, pleasant and odd.

Best thing to do is that catch Neit in a slow, soft kiss. Nothing rushed, nothing heated. Just existing together, one hand tangled in the back of Neit's hair, the other petting the still-snoozing Ari in his lap.

Everything Cub could ask for in a lazy afternoon. Quiet comfort, the leisure to explore the familiar shapes of Hotguy's body. Of Ari's puffs of hair. Neit's fingers find every bruise on Cub's legs, tracing the shape of each.

Cub knows he ought put some bruise cream on those. Kickstart the breakdown of the hemoglobin. However, he finds himself reluctant. They're all in easily covered places, so why not keep them for as long as they'll stay?

He can indulge in that much, when the sore ache of each one is a gift from the Hero he's fought so hard to be worthy of being claimed by. A reminder of the memory of Hotguy pinning him to the mats and taking him with complete abandon, with driving dominance.

Cub would very much like this to be a replicable experience.

"Neit?" Cub asks between kisses. "Do you think more spars with the Hero will be possible? Or do you need more time to think?"

“Like, now?” Neit tips his head, taking advantage of the angle to press kisses to the corner of Cub’s lips.

"No. Not now. Not today. More like next time you come over." Today would be... ambitious, and tomorrow no better.

“So, before shots?” Pressing their foreheads together, Neit breathes Cub’s air.

"Possibly. Though that is likely to be more of a real fight than a spar." Not that Cub plans to do much fighting. A trap will be much more effective. Could he get Hotguy to take the elevator?

“A real fight and a spar are different things.” Neit muses agreeably. “Even after losing so soundly, you want to get your butt kicked in fair fights again?”

"Of course I want to have more fair fight spars with you. And the Hero. If I don't, how will I learn?"

"Aw, you want to spar with me, too?" Neit giggles. "I think the Hero could be persuaded to give you some practical lessons."

"Why wouldn't I spar you? I'm sure that would be fun." Cub kisses Neit again. "The Hero was rather... physical about the sparring, yes."

"Throwing you around is very fun." Neit nibbles on Cub's lips, eyes adorably crinkled. "I'll admit, I did think you were being overly optimistic, preparing yourself beforehand. Endless surprises, you are."

"If the Hero hadn't made use of me, I would have ridden you after calling you back. I was getting worked up any which way. Any which way." Cub shrugs.

"You were gorgeous in your devoted lust." Neit hums. "I might have to take you up on that ride at some point."

"That eager to fuck me?" Cub chuckles.

"Yes!" Neit declares, his grin utterly shameless. "You're delectable as you fall apart in pleasure."

"So are you." Cub drags his fingers over Neit's back with light pressure, watching him hiss and squirm.

Neit's hand comes up to the front of Cub's shoulder, digging in exactly where he'd torn Cub open. "Is it pleasure you're thinking of, or pain?" The words come breathless in Neit's strain.

"Where's the difference?" Cub asks. "Both make us fall apart in ecstasy."

"Of course you get it. What a wonder you are." Neit nuzzles his cheek against Cub's, trilling wonder and adoration.

Cub risks trilling admiration back. Neit isn't an avian, but given how he often vocalizes, he might as well be.

Neit's expression lights up, his trills shifting to delight. "We'll make a birdie of you yet~" More kisses, along Cub's jawline.

"What if I'd rather be a kitty?" Cub asks, just for the sake of it.

"My precious Vixty~ Then I'd love you and cuddle you and love you and give you so many treats." Neit wiggles, gasping at his own movements.

"You are rather enthused by the idea of your 'Vixty'." Cub hadn't necessarily been planning to take the renewed felinid transformation himself, but that thought isn't set in stone. If Neit wants Cub to try it, Cub's open to the dalliance.

"You were so cute! Illegally adorable, with your cutie patootie ears and tail and pouncing. I don't even know how you fit so much more cute in your you than normal!" Neit rambles, bright and bouncing. "And your purring, so good. If you'd rather be a kitty, I'd happily have you as my pet."

"I might be able to stand being a kitty for a little while. Sometimes. On occasion." Cub relents.

"We'll pamper you so good, you'll see. But! You can also be a birdie, too." Neit grins.

"I'll stick to fae, most of the time. Possibly bird-adjacent fae." Cub ruffles Neit's hair.

"World's first faebirdkitty. Only one in existence, one-of-a-kind. And all mine." Neit bumps his head into Cub's hand.

"All yours regardless of species." Really, technically Cub is still human. An augmented human, but human nonetheless.

"All mine in every form you take." Neit nods firmly.

From Cub's lap, a large yawn into stretching wings interrupt them, flapping all over.

"Don't you two know how to-" Ari breaks for another jaw-cracking yawn. "-shut up when someone's trying to nap?" Somehow, he's clipped both of them with his wings multiple times before he snuggles back down.

"Nope! Just like you like." Neit runs his hands down the settled wings. "All the good flock-chattery."

"Mhm. Sure." Ari cracks one eye open to blink at Neit. "I smell sugar. Who gave you sugar? What have you two scallywags been up to?"

"Treats!" Neit reaches blindly, presenting the plate with the remaining cupcake to Ari. "Tasty good bloodsparkle cake."

"You also have the second half of your sandwich and some soda left, if you prefer to eat that first." Cub offers.

"Gimme that." Ari snatches up the cupcake plate in greedy claws. Instead of digging in, though, he investigates, removing a chunk to poke his claw at the filling.

Suspicious sniffs, followed by a quick lick of his claw. Over the top noises of consideration, before Ari relents, popping the broken off chunk in his mouth and chewing.

"Mm, I guess they're okay." He mutters around his mouthful.

"You and Vexy need treats, too." Neit echoes as he runs his fingers through the feathers of Ari's wings, pulling content little chirrs out of Ari in between bites of cake.

Soon, the entire cupcake is gone, gobbled up in sharp little bites.

Cub already has the plate with the sandwich ready to hand off in exchange for the empty cupcake plate. Ari trills a small gratitude, before tearing into the sandwich as well. Similarly, Neit has Ari's soda ready to press into his fingers at the first searching grasps.

Ari must use quite a bit of energy, between flying and shapeshifting, to be so singlemindedly ravenous. That would also explain the nap, layering multiple varieties of recharging.

Neit's hand finds Cub's hair, petting and ruffling. "Excellent Ari care."

"Ari care is important." Cub agrees, leaning in.

"Super duper important." Neit trills his contentedness.

"Are you two still on about this pet stuff?" Ari rolls his eyes.

"Why wouldn't we be? With such a gorgeous pet here for us?" Neit purrs, lifting one of Ari's wings to press kisses to each feather.

"Mm, I don't see one." Ari relaxes his wing into Neit's affections.

"Dunno what you mean, I see two." Cub hands over the last of the chips.

"The only thing I see two of is huge loser dorks." Ari steals Cub's hand instead of the chips, nipping at his fingers.

"Our loser-dork!" Neit giggles into feathers.

"Mine now, you've had too much of his time." Ari drapes himself all over Cub, dishes set aside in favor of squishing and squeezing.

"No! How shall I survive?" Neit dramatically falls backward onto the nest wall, the whole effect ruined by his hiss as his back collides none to gently with the cushionery.

"Suffer." Ari batters Neit playfully with his wings, not even turning to look at the whining behind him.

"I have been abandoned! Left to perish!" Neit mock-wails through Ari's bashing.

"Man, I don't hear anything at all, do you, Vex?" Ari nuzzles into Cub's neck.

"Must- must be the wind?" Cub tries to play along.

"Mhm, rather noisy wind." He must be doing something right, given that Ari agrees readily. "A real problem, that."

"Y-yeah." Cub agrees, his words shaken by Ari's nipping along his neck.

"So inconsiderate of it. Good thing I'm well-equipped to block any wind." Ari bundles his wings forward around the two of them.

"Good- good thing, yeah. Real good." Cub can feel himself stiffening, his own wings tucking in tight to avoid accidentally brushing against Ari's lovely wings. No matter how alluring that soft warmth is.

Ari pauses, an uncertainty coming over his expression. Despite no forthcoming words, a soft chirp of confusion-concern does make itself known.

"I don't want to accidentally touch your wings, prettiest Ari." Ever so carefully, Cub lifts an arm, brushing the backs of his fingers against Ari's cheek.

Ari nuzzles into Cub's touch. "You don't have to be so..." A struggle for his words. "Uncomfortable, about it."

"How else am I meant to avoid accidental brushes?" Cub asks.

"Is that so bad? So undesirable?" Ari's dark eyes blink up at Cub, wings wilting faintly back from Cub.

"That depends. On you. If I were allowed, I'd pet and preen you all day." Cub hazards words in earnest rawness.

Ari croons something soft and- That can't be longing, can it? Before Cub can be certain, Ari looks to the side. "Make him understand." A demand of their audience, keen green eyes trained on the pair of them.

"Aw, you're gettin' there." Neit purrs, slipping a hand under Ari's wing to glide over Cub's. "Our birdy's not made of spun glass, Vex. He can handle a few accidental brushes." Neit croons.

"How much is too much?" Cub murmurs, words that make Neit's face do something complex. But, 'a few' is such an unquantified amount. Where's the line?

"Not normal accidental touches." Neit nods definitively.

"What constitutes the difference between a normal accidental touch and an abnormal accidental touch?" Cub asks, trying to wrap his head around the idea.

"Oh my god, this was a mistake." Ari mutters into Cub's shoulder.

"You overthinking it, for one." Neit flicks the forehead of Cub's mask. "Stop stressing so much over this."

"How could I not care about potentially hurting Ari with my actions?" Cub thinks he's doing a very reasonable amount of thinking for the topic at hand, actually.

"Unless you like. Fall on and yank the feathers, it's not a harm. Not even a hurt." Neit explains.

Ari shrink down with a shiver, wings twitching faintly.

"I won't- I wouldn't. I can catch myself with my powers." Cub would swear Ari pulls back further- "The flying powers." Cub quickly clarifies.

"Right, yeah. Those." Ari rubs the pads of his fingers together, tapping back and forth. Something awkward lingers in the air, giving Cub the sinking feeling that he has somehow killed the moment. A talent of his.

"Do you... want a hug?" Cub hazards, cautiously. Hugs are a proven comfort method, after all.

"Sure." Ari sighs. Where he goes inside his head when he's like this, Cub can only speculate.

What Cub does know is that Ari melts into his arms, held tight and safe and warm. Soft trills muffled beyond recognition in Cub's shoulder. Neit wraps himself around them both from the side, extra solid warmth, chirping notes of safety and comfort.

The time passes smoothly, just holding each other.

Before Cub can think of anything to break the quiet, Neit starts tugging at them both. "C'mon."

Since Ari makes no motion to get up and move, Cub holds Ari close as he makes them both light enough for Neit to pull along. They end up stuffed into the couch nest, with Neit commandeering the movie selection tablet.

The sound of spaceship swooshing and some kind of narration rises up around them. Ari's wings relax as Ari nuzzles more into Cub again. "Coldpillow." He spreads his wings more blanketlike over the two of them.

"I'll look into a couch charger, if you want." Cub murmurs.

Ari peeks up at him. "Do you want it?"

"I'm not opposed. Being on a charger is comfortable. Like a hot bath." Cub smooths a hand down Ari's flank.

"Maybe one you can turn on and off." Ari trills, pure melody without meaning.

"Worst case, it could just be unplugged." Cub shrugs. Beside them, Neit yells at the TV, where there's some sort of urban laser gun fight going on. Why vintage mobsters would have laser rifles is beyond Cub.

"Good thing." Ari runs his palms over the panes of one of Cub's wings. He pays Neit no mind, even while stretching a wing out to poke their noisy compatriot.

Bringing his own wing forward, Cub splays the panels, giving Ari better access. To explore each and every nook and cranny. Cub no longer has to concern himself that Ari might find anything obviously mechanical.

“Still hard to believe you made these.” Ari dips in close, giving a kitten lick to the flat plane of Cub’s wing.

"More than just these. I can show you the process sometime, if you want." Not the actual blueprints, but the way he handles the crystals.

“I want to see.” Ari’s hands don’t stop moving, exploring every presented bit of wing, even clacking Ari’s cherry against the surface.

"We'll find the time." Cub promises. "Though I don't currently have any Vex wings in the works."

“What wings do you have in the works? Do you make them for other people?” Ari rests his face on Cub, fingers still tracing around the jointed middle segment of Cub’s wing. Neit perks to attention, even though he doesn’t look at them.

"Just for me. I know of no one else who has artificial wings like mine. As for what wings, I'm tinkering with a new type of wing, a more... feathered look."

Ari squeaks out a jumble of sound Cub can make neither heads nor tails of, but which has Neit turning to them with a grin, attention fully off the screen now. Ari's aural wings obscure his expression before Cub can get a good read on it.

"Birdy Vexy!" Neit cheers, elbowing Ari.

Ari smacks one wing repeatedly at Neit, the other flapping and fluttering. “That’s. Nice.” Ari’s voice cracks up an octave.

"I figured you might appreciate." Cub hums. He's been experimenting with the feathered look for years now, never quite getting it to work properly. Maybe this will be the one, now that he he can directly study to take inspired reference both Skizz's and Ari's wings.

With another strangled noise, Ari hides his face in Cub’s chest.

“Aw, adorable. Good job murdering him, Vexy~” Neit snickers.

"That was not my intention. Is that... good?" Cub asks, concerned.

"It's great!" Neit cheers, pinching Cub's cheek. "Just look at him, ain't that the most precious thing you've seen?"

"He is adorable." Cub has to agree.

"If he's like this now, imagine how dead he'll be when you have your fancy, feathery wings!" Neit continues cackling, bright and eager.

"That will take a while. If this iteration actually works." Cub hums.

"You and your many projects. Never running out of stuff to do." Neit nuzzles his cheek to Cub's.

"Plenty of things. Including you." Cub nips at Neit.

"Including me!" Neit grins, sunshine that could swallow Cub whole. "And including Ari~" He adds, slyly.

"Of course. Doing both of you is very important." Cub nods.

Ari writhes and kicks his feet into the nest.

"The most important! And, I dunno about you, but this bird is looking mighty unfucked right now." Neit carries on blithely.

"I do owe him a proper breaking over the kitchen table." Cub muses. He pets Ari's flank again.

"You're already a good way to breaking, might as well finish him off." Neit nods.

Ari shivers, pressing into Cub's touch.

"Might as well." Cub agrees, slipping his fingers under Ari's shirt.

Heated skin greets Cub, flexing muscles shifting under his fingers without pulling away. "Y'll n'ver break me." Ari makes an attempt of putting some force into his voice.

"We won't know until we try, will we?" Cub poses, popping open the wing closures on Ari's shirt.

Neit pulls Ari’s wings out of the way for Cub to finish divesting Ari of his shirt.

“Is that the kind of prize you would want? Trying?” Ari’s head still sounds entirely too full of thoughts.

A contagious condition. "Prize?" Cub frowns. "Did you want me to claim you as my prize?"

Ari rubs the back of his claw over Cub's shirt, back and forth. "If you were to claim a prize, is that one you would want?" He asks, instead of answering.

"Is this theoretical prize for something?" Cub asks.

"Say, hypothetically, if you did something particularly Good." Ari's tone shifts to make the capital-G Good crystal clear.

"Hypothetically, I may have done a thing or two that at first glance can qualify as 'Good'." Cub agrees. A true statement, especially if one considers his civilian work as well.

"At first glance?" Ari quirks an eyebrow, finally looking at Cub.

"I usually do them for selfish reasons." Cub shrugs. Why would he be bothered or ashamed to admit? If his personal goals to make his city nicer to live in for himself also benefits others as well, that's a bonus.

"Does the reason matter, if you still do it? If you still save lives?" Ari rests his cheek on Cub's chest, over Cub's heart.

"Does intent matter?" Cub counters.

"The intent wasn't ill, that part matters. But the rest of it is action and effect." Ari kneads at Cub's hip.

"Sure." Cub decides to just go with it. "So I've done this hypothetical 'Good' thing. What about it?"

"It would be wrong-" Ari shakes his head, tries again. "It would be unbalanced, for that to go by without... anything. Any fanfare, or, like. Reward. Prize."

"What do you suggest, prettiest Ari?" Both hands on Ari's hips, Cub rubs calming circles into the skin.

"Do you want me, as your prize?" Ari's gaze is steeled when he looks at Cub again.

Neit's hands rub down the middle of Ari's back, over and over again.

"You are a most excellent prize, my courted." Surely this is the right moment for Cub to say that. "So the 'Good' thing I did isn't so hypothetical?"

"I didn't say that." Ari protests, aural wings fluttering between covering his face and tucking back into his hair.

"You didn't have to." Neit snorts.

"Indeed." Cub agrees. "You did not have to. Will you tell me what I did?"

"As if you've forgotten!" Ari pounds the side of a fist against Cub's chest, not hard enough to really do the kind of damage Cub knows Ari can.

"If you don't tell me what, I can't tell you whether I've forgotten." Cub reasons, pressing a kiss to Ari's cheek.

"You're just trying to make me say it." Ari protests. Which. Seems a bit redundant.

"Gonna turn into a guessing game at this rate." Neit hums lightly. Ari shoots him a glare.

"I genuinely do not know what you are referring to, my courted." The more he uses it, the more natural the trill feels on Cub's tongue. "So please, if you would be so kind as to tell me, that would really help me out."

"That's- That doesn't make any sense. You saved the whole city. You can't just. Forget about that." Ari trills courted softly, under his breath. Cub's not even sure Ari's noticed himself doing so.

"I certainly have not forgotten doing so, no." In fact, the entire ordeal, from finding Ari to collapsing in bed that night, remains etched into Cub's mind. "I was simply not aware that that was what you were referring to. Thank you for clearing that up, my courted." Cub tops the whole thing off with another lingering kiss to Ari's cheek.

"You exhausted yourself, coming back half-dead reeking of smoky destruction." Ari murmurs. "All for no gratitude, no acclaim."

"I did keep the city from being drowned. A state I very much prefer it in, on account of being one of the people that live here." Cub counters. Sure, Ari may be somewhat correct, with the exhaustion and smell, but that doesn't mean Cub didn't get anything out of the whole ordeal. His home staying livably intact is rather high on Cub's priorities.

“That’s so little.” Ari sighs.

Neit huffs a wry laugh. “It’s true. You could have angled for far more from the city for your service. Call it payment, or call it blackmail.” He shrugs. “You’d have had all the negotiating power.”

"You'd know a thing or two about that, wouldn't you?" Cub's lips twist into an amused smile. "I've seen you handle demanding villains. Though I do wonder, if you'd handle me the same, here and now."

“How I’d handle you depends on how reasonable your demands are, now doesn’t it?” Sharp eyes watch Cub. “And how well you handle poorly expressed gratitude.” Neit smirks.

"Poorly expressed gratitude?" Cub tips his head to the side.

Neit's gaze slides to Ari, before locking solidly back onto Cub. "Sounds to me like someone's using a lot of needlessly complicated bullcrap to talk you in circles without ever actually landing on the point, his gratitude. Like he's already forgotten that you need things spelled out." Confident amusement plays around Neit's lips.

"Oh?" Cub turns his attention to Ari. "So this is you trying to express your gratitude?" He purrs, sliding his hands around to get a solid grope of Ari's ass.

"Well. Someone ought to." Ari huffs, wiggling his butt into Cub's hands.

"And you want that someone to be you." Neit quips.

"If that's what you want, then offer it to me. Courted-mine." Cub challenges. The variant chirp rolls a tad clunky off his lips, but he's following his feeling here.

Faltering, hesitant, Ari sings out a sweet gratitude, lifting his wings up and out to present himself, ready for the taking. An offering, without words.

"What are you grateful for, prettiest Ari?" Cub prys, running his hands over Ari's body appreciatively.

"Well, for keeping this idiot from having the opportunity to throw himself into the heart of the deathstorm, for one." Ari kicks at Neit, who just catches Ari's ankle in a sharp grip, chuckling.

"Mmh, you're welcome." Cub presses a kiss to the corner of Ari's mouth.

Neit motion with Ari's leg leaves Ari jolting into Cub. "And! My- You weren't- Your wing care wasn't bed." Ari rushes to add, squirming between them.

"I did research. And practice. Just for you." Cub's hands continue roaming Ari's body, learning the shape of him at Cub's leisure.

Ari croons with needy desire, rustling his wings at Cub. The sound slides into a soft moan. "You can't just be good at taking care of both of us-"

"Ah, ah, ah~" Neit chides, clicking his tongue. "Gratitude, remember?"

"I want to take care of you. Both of you. To the very best of my ability." Cub affirms.

Ari forces his voice steady, quivering even as he defiantly juts his chin. "You've... done a world of good, for Neit. And you- You kept my wings safe."

"Of course. No harm shall come to you while I can prevent it." Scooping Ari up wholesale, Cub makes his way to the kitchen, getting to work divesting Ari of his clothes as they go.

Even and businesslike steps speak of Neit following along behind them.

Ari helps with shedding his own panties, revealing the soft curve of his dick. Almost human, today, not the full tentacle Cub has seen before.

"Are you my reward for my good deeds, my good care, my courted? Shall I ravish you?" Cub asks, sitting Ari on the table and taking a step back.

"A fine gift, isn't he?" Neit takes a chair, pulling it to the side so he has a clear view of Ari and Cub both.

An aurora of Cub's chosen Vex-blue ripples through the pink feathers, as Ari re-spreads them for Cub's viewing. Little pinpricks of constellations twinkle through the colors. "Take me." Ari's words hold firm, his void-dark eyes meeting Cub's.

"That would be my pleasure." Stepping between Ari's legs, Cub slides his palms up Ari's thighs.

Tiny feathers, soft as fur, ruffle into existence under Cub's fingers, lining Ari's thighs in a blush of color. Ari's dick stirs, giving a few twitches. "Hopefully, mine too."

"That's the plan." Cub drops to his knees, nosing Ari's dick.

A chirp of surprise, followed by Ari's hand settling in Cub's hair, petting. His legs slide more widely open, inviting Cub closer.

Instead of sucking Ari into his mouth, Cub noses Ari's balls aside to lick at Ari's presented hole.

Tightening of fingers in Cub’s hair, accompanied by a gasp that shivers into a moan. Ari’s feet twist around to rest on Cub’s back, tiny pinpricks of talons flexing into Cub's shoulders.

With Ari's approval, Cub digs in, set on devouring Ari's remarkably clean hole.

Ari rides out Cub’s licks and thrusts of tongue with little tugs of hair and clenches of his legs, keeping Cub close. Cub could ask no more of Ari’s auditory feedback to Cub’s performance, swoops and trills allowing Cub to refine and personalize his techniques.

Eventually, Cub gets around to adding fingers to his tonguing. Opening Ari up slowly.

He's fully aware he doesn't need to. That Ari could just have his body adapt to whatever Cub wanted to put in him.

But Cub wants to take the time to do this, to put in the effort for Ari. Preparation as its own sort of ritual, its own sort of anticipation. To let Ari know that Cub won't take shortcuts with him.

And, selfishly, for Cub to get to savor the moment. To hold this gift close, and make the most of every second of Ari willingly offering himself up.

Three fingers, worked in slowly and thoroughly should be enough stretching though. Just the right time for Cub to click open the lube bottle he'd pocketed from the couch. Changing the attentions of his mouth from Ari's hole to Ari's weeping dick as he works plenty of lube into Ari.

“There’s something so you about being a service top.” Ari’s voice wavers despite his clear attempts to hold steady. Even his hips tremble, half-aborted attempts to thrust into Cub’s mouth. Thrusts Cub encourages. He wants Ari to cum first, before even beginning to fucking Ari in earnest.

Confusion colors Ari’s trills and whimpers. “Sadistic.” A single gasped word as blunt talons curl harder into Cub’s back.

Popping off Ari's dick, Cub takes a moment to speak. "Always. Now be a good bird and cum for me." Back down he goes, swallowing Ari to the root as his fingers dig into what must be either Ari's prostate or a shifted analog. Either way, massaging the cluster of nerves pulls little whimpers and moans of pleasure out of Ari.

Exactly one minute on the dot, before the struggling thrusts of Ari's hips finally smooth out, following the beat of Cub's fingers inside Ari. Merely moments later Ari spills into Cub's mouth, oddly sweet and... Cotton candy flavored?

Swallowing, Cub works Ari through it, keeping the motions of his mouth and fingers steady.

Once Ari is past the brunt, however, Cub wraps him in a flip-ready gravity field, pulling off Ari's dick as he does.

Rotation completed smoothly, Ari's wings beat once before he settles, letting out a breath and relaxing. From there, Ari readily leans down to brace his forearms on the table. With one cheeky wiggle of his behind to Cub, of course.

Who takes Ari up on that challenge, fishing out his achingly hard dick to smear yet more lube onto it as well, before sinking himself into Ari's welcoming hole. Warm, wet bliss surrounds Cub, calling him to close his eyes and enjoy it. Roll his hips in that steady, slow tempo that drags against all of Ari's sensitive spots at once.

Faintly ragged breath to the side steals a fraction of Cub's attention, gifting him the sight of Neit, palming himself through his pants while watching them, enraptured.

As nice as that sight is, though, Cub has an Ari to focus on right now. Getting himself a grip on lightly feathered hips, Cub encourages Ari rocking back into his thrusts, until Ari's eagerly following through with high trills of pleasure.

Cub meets each rock of Ari's hips with a thrust of his own. Running Ari directly into keening overstimulation.

Ari's wings melt down to drape across the table, feathers splaying out in a messy display of twinkling blues and pinks set against the grain of the table. Cub has no space in his brain to name feather types, only to appreciate the kaleidoscope of colors and shifting shapes as he keeps up the sharp pace of his thrusting.

And really, what is working out for, if not to be able to do who and what Cub enjoys for longer? His hard-won stamina pays off, with Ari tightening to heralding incoming orgasm around him.

Cub fucks Ari right through that peak, Ari writhing and rearing up under him, wings flapping in hoarsely shouted pleasure.

The dribbling splat gets a faint 'tsk' from beside them, but Cub's too wrapped up in the flurry of wings and tiny, loose feathers to have eyes for anything but Ari in this moment.

"Rather pretty in your pleasure." Cub chuckles, more breathless than he thought he'd be, smoothing a hand up Ari's side.

"Guuuuh..." Ari moans, face smooshed into the table. Surely Cub can wring at least one more from him. Treat him to Lizzie's minimum standards. Cub did promise to fuck him until he's drooling on the table, after all.

Cub adjusts his angle, dragging the ball of his piercing all along Ari's walls. A cock ring might be nice, but Cub's confident that he's got this.

What Cub also has now, is Ari's dick in hand, giving lazy strokes that send Ari's moans and trills right back up into keens bordering on pain. Still, as long as Ari's meeting Cub's thrusts, humping eagerly into his touch, Cub files that under 'good pain', worth carrying on with.

Turns out Ari can take pain, not only dish it out.

A laugh escapes Cub. "Never thought I'd fuck Ariana." Can't say he minds this new song at all, though.

Color riots across Ari's wings in response, along with a garbled answer that doesn't try very hard to be words. With how much Ari has been shifting, he's going to need a snack after.

Good thing they're in the kitchen. That is the snackiest place in the ConCave, despite Cub's recent snack stash installations. Super convenient.

Cub blinks down at his own arm, watching the color on it shimmer and glide, a colorshow of his own rising to meet Ari's. Ari feels so warm and singing-sweet around him, but even more cherished than that is how this is one more piece of proof that Ari truly is opening up to him.

Caught up in his musings, Cub hadn't noticed Ari's grunts getting more intentional, more rhythmic. Using what little coordination he has left, Ari throws himself into Cub's thrusts, aiming for a specific spot that makes his whole body jump and twitch in too much when hit.

No reason for Cub not to indulge, pinning Ari firmly back to the table and driving into that kindly revealed spot all of his own power and volition. Faster, even, giving Ari no time to rest or come down between jolts twisting his body around in writing that only grinds more of Ari's warmth into Cub.

Still Cub manages a good number of thrusts before Ari again stiffens under him, cumming with curling fingers and silent screams in fragmented, convulsive shakes. A shattering that just keeps going and going as Cub continues to nail that spot dead on, thrusts speeding up again to chase his own release.

"Ari-" Anything else Cub might have had to say is lost in a grunt, his climax sneaking up on him all too rapidly, now that he's not pushing it down anymore. Ari's muscles working him, Ari's moans thrumming through his ears. Truly, Cub could drown in Ari, making that effect all the more prominent by plastering himself to as much of Ari's back as he can, slow grinds of hips working himself through his orgasm until he can just melt appreciate the pressed-close heat.

Both of them lay sprawled across the table, panting harshly as they bask in the proximity.

"Which one of you was it being broken, again?" Neit's huskily amused voice drifts over to them.

"Not broken." Cub pants, amused. Under him, Ari makes a kind of gurgling noise through his own drool. Good.

"Certainly melted at the least." Neit argues, lazily.

"What can I say? Our prettiest Ari here is a most excellent lay." Cub chuckles, slowly regaining his breath.

"Thus the risk of being broken rather than breaking. He's wily like that." Neit traces the shape of them with his gaze.

Another garbled jumble of sound spills out of Ari, whose wings remain entirely splayed out.

"Sometimes." Neit concedes, with a tip of his head.

"Well worth the risk. Would you like some help with that?" Cub sort of nods over at Neit, who's still only palming himself through his pants.

"For someone who's supposed to be getting spoiled, you are awfully eager to serve." Neit slides his legs wider, fully displaying his grinding.

"I can move, if you'd rather fuck Ari. Break him a little more. I don't have to suck you off." Though Ari had been right earlier. Service top sounds about right for him, occasionally.

"I wouldn't want to show you up after that chromatic display." Neit shrugs, then rolls his shoulders. "After all, how could I turn down a charming villain on his knees begging to suck me off?"

"Sure thing. Give me a moment here." Pulling out of Ari, Cub beelines for the paper towels and sink to take care of the worst of the mess, wiping himself and Ari down efficiently. Stickiness mostly removed, Cub tucks himself away again, sinking to the floor between Neit's legs.

"Now that's a good look for you." Neit peers down at Cub, brushing the curled back of his fingers through the air, barely-not-touching Cub's cheek.

"So I've been told." Cub flashes Neit a cheeky Vex grin as he pulls Neit's dick out.

"Too bad for them, you look best when kneeling for me." Neit hums, his dick not quite as hard under Cub's fingers as Cub was expecting.

No matter, some time in Cub's mouth will fix that right up. Starting out with generous laves of his lips and tongue at the head, Cub peers up at Neit.

Neit traces the contours of Cub's mask with his fingertips. Cub would almost wonder if Neit's not enjoying himself, from his continued softness despite Cub's best efforts, but for the pleasant rasp of Neit's breathing. Cub knows that sound inside out, too well to even doubt.

Shuffling around a bit to get more comfortable, Cub gets into the sucking. He'll happily stay here for as long as Neit wants him.

"You're too sweet to me." Neit muses, after a while, fingers gliding back to pet through Cub's hair.

Mouth too full to answer with words, Cub simply hums around Neit, petting his thigh. His thoughts go pleasantly soft and fuzzy at the edges, as he kneels here for Neit.

Neit groans, half-chubbed in Cub's mouth. "I was right, this is such a good look on you."

"Guh. Hug. Gimme hug." Ari groans from behind them, where he's still sprawled across the table.

"Do speak up, Cuteguy." Neit calls, amused. "I couldn't quite hear you."

"Wha- Hotguy?" Curious chirps mix with scrabbling, then Ari drapes himself over Neit, poking his cheek with a claw. "Since when do you hero with the collar on? And this mask?"

Neit nips at Ari's poking finger. "Since I was invited in. Since it was important to do reconnaissance on how someone treats you. A disguise is a vital component of those missions."

"Invited, huh? Whoever did such a silly thing." Ari chews on Neit's shoulder.

"Hm, could it possibly be this sweet, worshiping devotee?" Neit ruffles Cub's hair, words flowing through Cub's brain to belatedly parse as the faint warmth of mild praise.

"Couldn't be." Ari hums. "So you gonna jizz in his mouth anytime soon, or can we move this to a nest? I require cuddles."

"Not soon, no." Neit sighs. "Needy thing. Got one taste of luxury and it's made you spoilt."

"Like it hasn't done the same to you, Mr. Whole Roasted Rabbit." Ari nips at Neit again.

"I could always cancel the order. I think a meal shake sounds great for dinner." Neit grins, sharp and jagged.

"Don't you dare. I'll hide your bow again." Ari threatens. "Come now. Nest time. You can have your pet warm you there."

"Oh no, I'd have to have my pet supply me a bow." Neit- Hotguy? snickers.

Cub doesn't know much, other than that the hand in his hair grips him firmly, sliding him back and away.

"Take us to bed." An order, ringing clear.

Nothing to it but to obey. Hotguy and Ari are easily scooped up into his arms, carried safely off to bed. Getting them all into the nest does require a modicum of flight.

"I could get used to that." Hotguy drags Cub down into the nest, sprawled across himself and Ari both. "Such a good, obedient pet." Even better, as Cub sinks into the mingled warmth of the charger and Hotguy's words, Hotguy takes Cub's chin, kissing his own taste off Cub's lips.

------

Their next stop is the laundry room.

"All the bits of us." Neit makes sure the cloth parts are at the top as they enter the washerator room. "Sneaky Vex, adding a stop."

"We can't just carry this stuff around all day. We had to put it somewhere, and this is as good a place as any. If you could set those on the table and toss the fabric in the wash, there's a dear." Neit's lap free again, Vex shifts him back to one hip, setting about getting the laundry started.

Neit occupies himself with stealing one of Vex's wings and pressing kisses all down the edge of it. "Big head all full of planning." Neit sighs fondly.

"Someone has to do it. Speaking of planning, any plans for lunch?" Laundry set and humming, Vex whisks Neit away to the magical lands of the med lab.

"I want to order in, get all cozy in our nest with a feast." Neit has warm, blurry memories of that, and it sounds really good right now. Even more so after getting bruised up.

"We can do that. Think Ari will be back by then?" Vex sets him on the cot, giving a firm look that says 'stay'.

"He's comin' back for lunch, yeah." Neit swings his legs, but obediently sits on the cot. All nice and safe in Vexy's lab of goodness and fun!

"Works for me. Now then." Vex snaps on a pair of gloves. "Please show me the spot you want the muscle sample taken from."

If Vexy wants a moon, then a moon he'll get! Neit wiggles his pants down just enough to reveal the curve of his ass, flopping onto the cot chest-down and ass-up. Mm, a rather vulnerable position to present to Vex, who could do anything he likes with Neit exposed like this. "How's that?"

"Hmm." Vex takes his time, groping and massaging Neit's butt thoroughly. "Yeah, this'll work. Stay like that while I grab the first needle." Vex orders.

"Yessir!" Neit happily smushes his cheek into the sheet, letting his mind drift. Neit knows how to be patient after all, this nice fuzz where time isn't anything. Where he can just luxuriate in the memory of Vex's hands on his ass.

"Careful, cold." True to Vex's warning, there's a cold spritz on his butt, then a swipe of something. "And the first needle, with the drugs." Vex says, followed by the promised stab and sting in Neit's butt. Some clatters, then Vex's hands are back on him. "Now, we have to wait about ten minutes, for the drugs to take effect. Whatever shall we do in that time?" Vexy purrs, fingers petting over Neit's hole, which Neit'd removed the plug from this morning, in anticipation of the spar.

“I get drugs?” Neit slurs his words in wonder, toes wiggling gleefully. Everything in him goes to fighting the urge to rut down into the cot, his need to hold still and present to Vex stronger than his need for any satisfaction of his own. “Mm, gonna do a thorough examination?”

"I could. Or I could just play with you for my own amusement until they work." Two slick fingers slide into Neit, petting at his insides.

“Important role, your toy. For you. For you to use.” Neit babbles, in between moans that threaten to steal all of his breath. He loves Vex exploring him, inside and out.

"Yeah, I'll just play with you." Vex's fingers find Neit's prostate, unerringly driving into it. "You make such pretty noises, I should record you for white noise in my office."

Whimpers break up Neit’s moans, sweet and needy. “Noise. Office noise.” He can’t manage much more than echoing a few of Vex’s words approvingly. He’ll give Vex as many noises as Vex likes, nice sounds, good sounds. All of Neit’s body, Neit’s pleasure offered up. Let everyone hear him, a bitch in heat for Vex’s touch, Vex’s magic, Vex’s drugs.

"I thought you might enjoy the idea." Vex's fingers are relentless.

"Do. Yes, yeah." Neit rocks back into those amazing fingers, encouraging every stroke and jab. Thankfully, his fleeting fears of never feeling full again with less after the monstrous dildo had churned him up good, are proven unfounded here. Vex's fingers so nice to clench around, seeking out every bit of him that Neit had been certain were pounded into nothingness goop. "Music, for you." Deep moans keep his words short.

"Be a good patient for me now, and hold still." Vex clicks his tongue at Scar. "How am I supposed to properly enjoy you if you wiggle everywhere?"

"You fill me with disco worms." Delirious words as Neit freezes in place, locking his muscles tight. He wants to be good for Vex, he will be good. He'll be Vex's good patient and get all the drugs and procedures and Vex will enjoy him so much.

"Can you feel this?" Vex does... something behind Neit, but nothing Neit can feel.

"I- Uhm." Neit doesn't want to fail the question! Is he supposed to know what Vex did? But- He can't lie to Vex, not right now. "No?" A tiny, shrinking admission.

"Good. Then prepare for the big needle." Vex's fingers pull out of Neit, followed by the snapping of gloves being changed.

All of Neit's held breath whooshes out in relief. Good. Right answer. He did good. He's getting Vex's needle! He melts into the cot, only barely catching himself in time to not break position. "Needle. Your needle." Eager babble. "Ready." All loose and still, exactly how Vex wants him.

"Yes. Careful, this may be odd." Frustratingly, all Neit feels is a little pressure, then a thunk.

"And that's it. Let me stick some wound dressing on, and we're done."

Neit struggles to come to terms with that being it, when that was hardly anything at all. But Vex is the expert here, so Neit trusts him, continuing to wait in position. Letting himself drift, imagining Vex back there, branding him unawares. As much as Neit would love to feel the burn, he has to admit that Vex marking him without him even being aware also has a sort of appeal.

Some rustling, then Vex's fingers rest on his hole again.

"Do you want to continue, or do you want to head to the nest?" Vex asks.

Neit's head swims with foggy lust as he struggles to think. Want. He wants Vex to fingerbang him all day long, until he's a drooling mess. He wants- A flash of pink flickers through Neit's mind. "Continue in nest?" He hesitantly suggests. He doesn't want to crash Grian's good mood after flying by having Grian find them here.

"We can do that." Vex snaps his gloves off, pulls Neit's pants back up. Moments later, he's gathered up into Vex's arms, held close as Vex leaves the med lab behind.

Neit nuzzles into Vex, chirring contented noises. He tracks faint shifts in floating as they go. How lucky is he, to get this? Vex's needles and Vex's cuddles both. For Vex to want the whole set of puzzle pieces of him.

Soft blankets greet him as Vex lands them in Grian's nest. Their nest.

Blankets on his skin as Vex moves him around, undresses him.

Neit giggles, always happy to be undressed. Even better here, in a cozy nest with the world's softest blankets and a wonderfully warm Vex touching him. "Cozy Vex, chargy Vex~" Neit sing-songs.

"Want just my fingers, or something else as well?" Vex asks, petting Neit. Neit's already situated with his legs spread wide, Vex between them. Neit naked, of course. So Vex has full access.

"Fingers is nice. Intimate." Neit's not sure how much more than fingers he can take right now, without getting lost in the fucking.

"Fingers it is." Vex slides them back into him. Nothing demanding, just a comfy, cozy fingering Neit can float on.

"Thank you, Vexy~" Neit purrs his words, head tipping back to meet nest wall. Breathy little moans build in his chest as Vex works him. Slowly. Comfortably. Not like they have anywhere to be or anything to do.

When Neit eventually opens his eyes to look up, Vexy's got his phone in his other hand, tappying away at it. Still, his fingers inside Neit never pause, never waver in their motion.

"Chitty-chatty?" Neit asks, curiosity too much to keep quiet. Well, not that he's anything close to quiet right now, splayed out loose with trills and moans freely wafting from him. But still, he wants to know what's holding his Vexy's attention.

"Just responding to a few messages from friends." Vex smiles down at him, tucking his phone away. "I'd love to chat with you if you want to."

"Tellin' 'em to text me?" No, Neit's not letting that go, even if Vexy did do a good big distract from it earlier.

"I'll ask. I can do that right now if you want." Vex offers, reaching for his phone again.

"Yeah, now's good." Not that Neit's going to be able to text back for a while! But that's fine, that's like, the thing. Calibratin' expectations, and stuff.

" 'Hey guys, Neit wants to text with you on the app. Anyone interested?' " Vex narrates his typing. "And sent. Want me to wait for responses?"

"Are they fast answerers?" Nervousness tries to flutter in Neit's chest, but Vex's steady fingers leave no room for it to take root.

"Some of them are. Got the first reply already." Vex tilts his phone.

Neit needs three tries before he can manage to get an arm under himself enough to prop into an angle where he can look at Vex's screen. "Slippery." He speaks without thinking, at he sight of the slick lines of Vex's screen. That'd be hard to read at the best of times, much less when he's already swimming in distracting sensations.

"Relax, I can read then to you." Vex pats Neit's tummy with a wing. "Here, the first one is from Cyberpulse, asking 'really? Is he sure he wants that?' Then we have Dungeonmaster, I bet you can guess who chose that username, saying 'so he's lining up to be shovel talked?'"

Dungeonshovel? Neit shivers his way through a fresh bit of friction under Vex's fingers. Neit has no idea who that could be, but he nods anyway. At least he remembers Cyberguy. Colorful-bright. Rare, for him to be out in person, but Neit supposes a texty-thing is probably more his speed. "Cyber- He can't, like. Do stuff, with the app, right?"

"He knows better. Besides, there's a built in pop up if he does. Which he won't without permission." Vex promises. "Cyberpulse just said 'be realistic, Dungeonmaster. That's not why he wants to text'."

Neit nods. And nods and nods, head bobbing along. "Pop-up, good. What's he think about why?" What do Vex's friends think of him? Villains, so- Neit braces himself, as much as he can right now.

"He hasn't written anything about that yet." Vex taps at his phone again. "I'm asking if that's a yes from them. Dungeonmaster is definitely a yes. Going by the amount of exclamation points."

"That eager?" Is that good? Neit hopes that's good. He clenches on Vex's fingers.

"Yeah. He can be a bit protective though, so apologies if he actually does try to shovel talk you." Vex shrugs. "Cyberpulse is on board too, as is Angel."

"I dunno a lot about shovels." Well, maybe he'll learn something. That could be nice, right? "Lots of people."

"I'll set up your contacts with them later. When Ari gets his app." Vex promises. "Cutiefan just agreed too, though he doesn't know how much time he'll have. So that's another person for you to write."

"Sure he wouldn't rather chat Ari?" Neit snickers. He hooks a leg around Vex as much as he can, just wanting more contact.

"Oh he'd love to chat with Ari, if Ari's game." Vex joins in on the snickering, entirely unbothered by the way Neit is now wrapped around him.

"M'sure we could talk him around." Neit gives a silly string of chirps.

"What'd I miss? Whatcha chirpin' 'bout?" Ari waltzes into the room, sounding rather chipper.

"Ari!" Neit beams at him. It's both an answer and a greeting. Of course his grabby hands are up and pointed at Grian before he even thinks about it. "Talkin' 'bout talkin'." The curl of Vex's fingers draw a long moan out of Neit.

"Hello Ari." Vex greets, all proper-like.

"Of course he's got his fingers in you." Grian sighs, flopping down mostly on top of Neit. "What's the damage?"

"Damage? No damage, good fingers." Neit shimmies his hips gently, while tucking Grian close. Cuddles and fingering, what could be better?

"The sparring resulted in no more than bruising." Vex reports crisply.

"Good." Grian sets about preening Neit's hair. "What's with the phone?"

"Just asking my friends which of them would like to text with Neit. So far, Dungeonmaster, Cyberpulse, Angel, and Cutiefan have agreed."

"How much have you told them about him? Us?" Grian asks, chewing over the list of names.

"Well, they've known about my obsession for a while now. They know you've stayed here before. That we slept together. Angel is the avian that's been helping me with my research and practice?" Vex offers.

"Is it only Neit that they want to talk to?" Grian rubs at Scar's scalp, thinkingful little strokes, back and forth.

"I'm sure they'd love to talk to you as well. Shall I ask?" Vex offers.

"Sure, go ahead." Grian shrugs. Well. That was easy. Good. More birdfriends for Grian.

"While I'm on my phone. What would you like to eat?" Familiar quiet tappy sounds.

"Rabbits!" Neit blurts out. Why is that even on his mind? The only time he's really even gotten to try it is at fancy galas, but he remembers liking it. And when else will he get the chance to try it casually?

"And how would you like your rabbit prepared?" Vex asks.

"Roasty." Neit likes the sound of that. All toasty-drippy good to tear apart.

"Spoilt." Grian huffs, messing Neit's hair all back up again.

"Roasted rabbit, coming up. Ari, what would you like? Free choice, essentially. Given that I'm already custom ordering Neit's." Vex peers up at Grian.

"Roasted, stuffed apples, mushroom risotto, and butternut squash ravioli." Grian rattles off his order confidently.

"Sure thing. Neit, anything with the rabbit? You need some veggies. And maybe a dessert. Or shall I let chef choose?" Vex's fingers are still in Neit. They haven't faltered in their rhythm even once.

"Yeah, ah, surprise me." Neit nods, up and down and up and down and- yelping when Grian yanks his hair to still that motion.

"Gotcha." More tapping. "Chef says food should be here in about four hours. Though a snack will be sent earlier." Vex reports.

"Long time." Four hours might as well be forever. Not that Neit minds, he's enjoying this forever. Warm Grian, re-preening his hair. Warm Vex filling him up with those goodslow waves of pleasure. Comfortable nest, all safe and good.

"Yeah. Should we change it to dinner and get sandwiches for lunch instead? Might be easier." Vex suggests.

"Many, many meals." Neit giggles.

"He means yes." Grian declares.

"Alright. Chef will be glad to hear that. Means you can have an extra good roasted rabbit, too. What sandwiches do you want?"

"The usual." Grian dismisses.

"New ones! All spreadsheety." Neit sways in place.

"A large firecurry chicken with reaper sauce and a soda for Ari, and how do two different falafel types sound, Neit? I'll order some chips and cupcakes to go with that." Vex offers.

"Tasty-good~ Lotsa cakes." Neit chirrs contentedly. He'll eat his meals, and then Vex will do more terrible science to him, as promised.

"Then I'm putting in the order. Around an hour." Finally, Vex tucks his phone away again.

"Mmkay~" Neit flops back again, getting plenty of malcontent chirps from Grian, who twists around to follow him.

"Still got him wrapped around your finger." Grian shakes his head.

"I do believe Neit is currently around my fingers." Vex gives a sharp jab, blasting starbursts across Neit's vision. Squealing fills Neit's ears, fading off once he catches his breath. He's liquid Neit now.

"And yet, he's somehow still calling the shots, with that half a brain cell left rattling around in there." Grian snorts.

"Of course. Why wouldn't he?" Vex simply agrees.

"Sure, sure, yeah, being out of his mind with lust won't impact his judgment at all." Grian rolls his eyes, Neit can hear it.

"S'better."

"Not like I let him run wild." The motion of Vex's shrug rolls through Neit. "Since we to have an hour to kill though, any ideas on what we could do, Neit?"

"Me~" Neit giggles, riding the bubbly joy rolling through him. What else is there than skin and friction and delicious closeness?

"Slut." Grian snaps fondly, yanking Neit's head back by the hair. "Such a slut."

"For my flockety." Neit agrees, voice straining against the pain of Grian's grip. "Slut~ Sluttety slut~" Good sounds on his tongue. Fun to play with.

Half crushed between Neit's thighs, Vex contents himself to continue his fingering at the exact speed he had been, watching them fondly.

Steady sensation, almost like a machine but not quite. Eyes on him, the attention thrilling. To be a pretty plaything, for them, the most relaxing activity in all of ever. Offering every imperfect bit of himself up, and being met with that sharp and brilliantly stinging love. Over and over again. Flayed down to his bones in adoration.

Fluttering his eyelashes, Neit tries to look at Grian. "Crop?" Wouldn't that sting so lovely on the bruises Vex gave him?

"Fine. You can have a good cropping." His pretty relents. "But only because we need to beat some sense into you. Skies above know it hasn't worked any of the other times I've tried."

"Thank you~" Neit adds chirps of pretty-mate, adoringly. Not like it'll work this time, either, so they'll just have to keep giving him this stinging devotion, again and again. Forever, if Neit has anything to say about it.

"Behave." Grian gives his hair one last yank, then scampers off to the deep wonders of the Vexy-closet.

"Shall we get you flipped over? For Ari's cropping pleasure? Or do you think he wants to start on those tits?" Vex asks.

"Mm, flip." Neit decides. Wouldn't it be nice to finish off with his tits? And anyway, if Ari doesn't like the position change, maybe he'll be extra harsh with his blows right off.

Wonderful magic wraps around Neit's whole body, so Vex can lift him using just the fingers in his hole. Settle him down facedown just as Ari returns.

Neit squishes his own cheek into a pillow contentedly.

"What. Is that!" Ari's outrage filters through the slush of Neit's brain slowly. "You said there were no injuries!"

"Neit wanted a sample taken, so I could culture some Neit-meat as well. The dressing was to stop a drip of bleeding. Just a small prick, see?" Vex pulls something sticky off Neit's ass.

"What is wrong with you both?" The kiss of leather impacts Neit's side in time with that outburst.

"A lot, probably." Vex shrugs.

“I’m gonna be so tasty.” Neit grins. A shame they can’t carve the meat directly from his bones, but Vex using his magic-science is the next best thing! They can still eat his ass.

"You. No more of those thoughts." Grian brings the crop down on Neit's back repeatedly in rapid succession, peppering harsh hits across both shoulder blades.

“Ye-" The rest of Neit’s attempted answer garbles under the flurry of blows, yelps and moans fighting one another in his mouth. Thinking is overrated when he can have this sweet sting glazed overtop of Vex’s steady fingers in him. “No thoughts.” He murmurs, with the scant breath he can catch.

"That's right. No more thoughts for you, you disaster." Grian lays into him again.

“Yes, ah- Yes!” This time the word leaps from his lips, as Neit tumbles into the safest sort of freefall. Caught in Grian and Vex’s hands, he can just let his mind dissolve into prettily aching meat. Buzzing, singing along his nerves, lifting the new blows into tender rewards, cleansing away all complexities.

Grian continues venting his frustrations until the Neit's whole back throbs heated ache.

All the while, Vex’s fingers never relent.

With time stretching into a taffy blur, Neit finds nothing in him but gratitude, though he can’t tell if he speaks or chirps or expresses that feeling at all. The pillow under his cheek dampens, tears falling freely, dripping and escaping his mask. New whimpers erupt from his lips at the feeling of firm hands dragging down his back.

“Would serve you right for me to get the candles.”

"Next to the gags in the drawer." Vex helpfully supplies.

"How do you always manage to put yourself somewhere that you don't have to be the one fetching things." Grian grumbles, bed shifting as he seeks his prize. Neit's prize, hopefully. More flame to burn himself up in.

"Phoenix." Neit murmurs into the pillow, imagining the fiery throb of his back as those promised wings, fighting to burst free of his skin.

"My gorgeous firebird." Blazing fingers trail over Neit's pain-studded back as Vex pets him.

"Soaring." Neit giggles, mind ten thousand feet in the air and gliding on that satisfying burn. They'll tease the wings out of him someday soon, Neit is certain of that.

"Alright, get ready to suffer, slut." Grian's back, brandishing a whole selection of candles, already lit.

"Please!" Neit rocks toward Grian, though Vex's searingly firm grip on his back keeps him from actually going anywhere.

Grian leaves one of the burning candles set prominently on the nightstand where Neit can watch the flickering flame burn, with the rest set somewhere else, who knows. One must stay in Grian's hands, because Neit finds himself arching into the line of agony rolling up his spine.

Oh. That screaming is coming from him. Desperate to not be too loud, Neit jams a bite of pillow between his teeth, just in time for the second scorching line across his back, whiting out all thought.

Action, reaction. Pain, sobbing. Clawed fingers run through his hair, cooing words of sweet degradation that all blend together. He's their slut, their pretty pained thing, their toy to break and break and break-

The reprieve of that comfort is gone all too soon, replaced by a lake of molten lava, pooled into the small of his back. His trembling and shaking only encourages little splatters, bubbling pops of lava.

Throughout it all, pearls of pleasure from those incessant fingers string him along, string him together. Tie him up in an invisible net, holding him in place.

Burning from the inside, out, from the outside, in. Two fires that meet in the middle, inside him, tinder to his soul. Squirming, begging, drooling, wallowing in the lowest reaches of his own body, in only this exact moment, wrapped up tight in their will, in their grasp. Nothing but the ecstasy of agony, the ache of relief.

And then nothing at all, with Scar embracing oblivion at their hands.

---

Grian tests the heat of the next candle on his wrist, before adding the wax to the colorful splatters on Scar's back. Having Scar under him, under them, screaming in pain and yet begging for more thrills that sharp part of him.

Strings of wax loosely not unlike the shape of wings ripple and flex with the twisting of Scar's back. Sculpted muscles straining both to escape and to hold himself in place at the same time, pain trying to override his need to be good for them and failing, every time.

Scar's so pretty when he's hurting, blubbering into the pillow, not even enough breath to scream. Screams that had become rarer and rarer until vanishing entirely, now that Scar's reached that dreamy place.

"Ari." Vex carefully catches his attention. "Lunch has arrived."

"This mess is going to need his food fed to him." Grian sighs, unable to find it in his heart to resent that. "You'd better have him good and cleaned up when I get back with it." Not that Grian's leaving quite yet, going back to playing with Scar's hair while Scar melts into the bed, like so much wax himself.

"Sure thing." Vex promises. "I'll have him squeaky clean and snug."

"Good, see to it." Grian trails his hand through Vex's hair on his way past, slipping out of the room and padding his way to the front door. Surely just the time of retrieving the food won't be enough for Vex to finish his assigned task, even if Grian does take extra picking up proper plates and such from the kitchen before meandering his way back.

How disturbingly mundane meals here with Vex have become.

Vex isn't fully done when Grian returns, but nearly. Currently, he's spreading a salve on Scar's back, with several large gauze squares sitting off to the side, ready and waiting to be stuck on over said salve.

Clicking his tongue in playful disapproval, Grian busies himself with laying out their sandwiches and drinks on the bedside table. However, instead of anything important, Grian instead finds his curiosity taking hold of his tongue. "Does wax count as sticky to you?"

While Vex thinks about it, Grian simply peels off the top layer of his own skin along his entire inner forearm, taking any bits of wax or discoloration from testing with it. Like a sunburn, but in one snakeskin-style sheet.

"Wax is definitely not sticky. Though I do require it to be a bit cooler than usual." Vex replies, barely paying any mind to what Grian's doing. Too busy fully absorbed in covering Scar's back with the gauze squares, like a puzzle.

Grian leaves his shed skin laid out beside the food, cracking his own soda open to sip on while he watches Vex. "Even in bed? Or is that a no-charging activity?"

"The wings are the only thing that's ever been an issue while charging, and I'm trying to fix that. So wherever, really. Just don't get wax in my hair." Squares all set, Vex sits Scar up to wrap the whole thing in a bandage. Just the way Scar likes it. Dastardly.

Grian concedes to being an extra pair of hands for the bandaging, but only so they get to eating sooner, mind. No other reasons.

Even as glossy-loose as Scar is, he still hisses when leaned back against the wall of the nest. Climbing in, Grian habitually settles a wing on Scar's lap, letting Scar idly play with the feathers of it.

Once he's in, Vex takes up the job of serving everyone. Grian first, he gets one half of his sandwich on a plate with a handful of chips.

Next up Vex preps Scar's plate, cutting smaller bites from the sandwich. Interestingly, Vex elects to snap a fresh glove onto one hand.

The third plate, with Vex's sandwich that looks a suspicious amount like it has grapes on it again, is set to the side.

"You'll eat for us, won't you? Our good little toy?" Grian chirrs to Scar, waiting the long seconds until something like a nod emerges.

"Good. Now say 'ahh'." Grian coos, as Vex lifts the first piece of sandwich to Scar's lips, in his gloved fingers.

The very faintest "A." accompanies Scar's mouth falling open. His jaw wobbles, foal-like until he manages to steady it enough for Vex to feed him his piece of sandwich.

Encouraging pets to his jaw and throat help Scar remember to chew and swallow, until it's time for Vex to pry Scar's mouth open for the next bite.

"Do you think we can give him something to drink like this? Without him choking?" Vex's eyes drift over to the smoothie bottles.

"If it has a straw, yes." Just pouring liquid into his mouth when Scar's so out of it has, historically, been a rather messy and dangerous affair. But something about having to draw the liquid up himself kicks in Scar's reflexes for swallowing it properly.

"I'll go grab one then." With a quick flare of his wings, Vex hops out of the nest.

Grian considers mentioning the straws he brought, but decides to take the moment with Scar to himself instead. Time for pressing little kisses to Scar's cheek. "Most handsome and reckless boy in the whole wide world." A fond sigh.

Looks like Scar isn't entirely out of it, because he nuzzles into Grian's touch and mumbles something that might have been a 'handsome'.

"Got a straw." Vex reappears, armed with the drinking implement.

"Thanks." Grian lets himself smile at Vex. Vex's eagerness can be almost cute, really. Almost. "Time to hydrate silly fools." He pokes Scar's cheek.

"Indeed, time to hydrate." Vex cracks open a smoothie, dropping in the straw. This time though, he passes the strawed smoothie off to Grian so he can crack open his own.

Grian guides the straw in between Scar's lips. "Drink." Simple and firm, with a brush of his fingers over Scar's throat. "Nice little sips, there you go."

Following orders perfectly, Scar drinks. Grian lets him get through probably half a glass worth of smoothie before stopping him, motioning for Vex to resume feeding him.

"Very good." Grian pets Scar's hair while Vex coaxes Scar through chewing and swallowing his food.

"Good." Scar murmurs more clearly this time, smiling between bites.

Vex pauses before the next bite. "Back with us, Neit? Or not quite yet?"

Scar blinks, focusing in on Vex. "Mm, close?" His fingers wiggle under Grian's feathers.

"Take your time." Vex soothes, offering up the next bite that Scar actually plucks from his fingers without further prompting.

At least enough that Grian feels comfortable snagging his own sandwich to take a few bites. Stupid chickenkiller. Stupid good crunchy spice.

Scar's laugh breaks over Grian's chattery noises.

Vex coaxes a few more bites into an increasingly lively Scar, before Vex too takes a break to have some of his own food.

When had this become comfortable? Tucked together in their nest, bouncing flock sounds between them as they eat stupidly good food. How is this Grian's life? How is this the heart of a villain's lair?

Or is it a villain's heart?

How has a villain come so close to capturing Grian's heart?

Grian has no answers, but he does have a smoothie to noisily slurp on, which is close enough.

"Do either of you know when you want to head home? You're welcome to stay as long as you like, of course. I just ask because Lizzie and Joel have power in their building again, and are headed home today." Vex asks between bites of his own food.

Scar's fingers tighten on the meat of Grian's wing, but to the eye he looks fully relaxed still.

Grian flicks Scar's cheek. "If I say any sooner than tomorrow, he's liable to throw a fit about springing it on him too soon."

"Like I said. Stay as long as you like. I was just wondering if you had any plans yet." Fully unbothered, Vex offers Scar another bite.

"Trying to trap us here forever, in your stupidly cozy nest with your dumb luxury foods." Grian bleps at Vex.

Scar snaps up the food, though he pauses to kiss Vex's fingertips before eating the bite.

"Now there's a thought." Vex smiles softly. "Get myself two live-in pets, waiting to cuddle me and be fed when I get home."

"Dastardly scheme, spoiling your pets rotten." Grian flicks the tips of his feathers onto Vex's leg. "Making them entertain each other during the day."

"Yes, very evil of me. Getting them every toy they could want, and building dedicated areas for them to play in." Instead of offering another small, cut bite, Vex tries holding the remaining half-sandwich up to Scar.

"Just the worst!" Grian agrees, gesturing sharply. "Probably even using those awful collars of yours."

Scar chomps himself a bite out of the offered sandwich, chewing messily.

"Only if my pets wanted them." Vex makes radiant eye contact with Grian. "Do you want my collar, Ari?"

The reflexive 'no' dies on Grian's lips as he locks eyes with Vex. Do fae have mesmers? That would explain why Grian feels he can't look away. "Who- Who would want a thing like that." Really, is that his voice? Where's the confidence?

"I have one designed for you, you know." Vex continues, holding Grian's gaze. "Would look so lovely on you. Just say the word, and I'll make it for you."

"I-" Grian covers the heat of his cheeks with his headwings. "Go ahead and make it. Just so I can tell you how absurd it is." Surely. Surely it'll be some kind of a farce, something Grian can laugh at.

Warm fingers brush his headwings aside, cup his chin to make him look at Vex.

"I'll make it for you." Vex promises, in that quiet, steady tone that leaves no room for doubt.

Grian doesn't clamp down soon enough to catch a low trill of longing spilling from his lips. What will it look like? Will Vex really put in the effort to make it as pretty as Scar's?

When had Grian's hand come up to feel the cherry under his shirt?

"Do that. Yes." Grian, well- Just because Vex makes it, doesn't mean Grian has to wear it. ...right?

"Oh, someone's a needy pet. Don't worry, prettiest Ari. I'll properly claim you as mine soon. Get you all collared, so you can settle down. Be just as content as Neit is." Vex coos, petting Grian's cheek. Right, the idiot understands Grian's sounds.

Sliding his head to the side, Grian nips at Vex's fingers. "Does that mean you've found a lead?" One tiny foothold Grian can still hold firm to, before he lets Vex claim him.

"I may have a scent." Vex nods.

"That'd be a miracle." The words don't come out incredulous, not when paired with kisses to the pads of Vex's fingers.

"Rest assured, I will find you your little runaway, Ari." Vex draws in closer, fingers tangling in Grian's feathers.

Instead of the kiss Grian's breath hitched for, Vex presses their foreheads together.

Grian shivers his headwings in Vex's fingers, through Vex's hair, scattering extra downy little feathers over Vex's shoulders. "I'm starting to think you might."

"That was the point of your challenge, was it not?" Vex asks, ghosting kisses to Grian's cheek.

"Mm, probably. It is now, anyway." Close enough.

"Pet revolt!" Scar drapes himself onto Vex's shoulder. "Cute little Vixty pet, too." He snickers.

"Welcome back." Vex presses kisses to Scar's cheek. "Had a nice brain vacation?"

Grian sneaks in a few cheek kisses of his own, peppering them back and forth between Scar and Vex both.

"The best! All toasty warm-safe." Scar beams his dazzlingly sunshiney smile.

"Good to hear. And you got back just in time to finish lunch too. Which is what comes before dessert." Vex smiles back at Scar.

"Dessert! Woo!" Scar pumps his fist, to make up for the lack of volume in his cheering.

"Not if I eat up your sandwich first-" Grian reaches toward Scar's plate.

"No!" Scar dives, making an impressive grab for the sandwich, landing on his back with the sandwich clutched above him in greedy fingers.

A choice followed by instant regret, as told by the pinched expression on his face and the whine of pain as sauce drips onto Scar's bare chest.

"Well, if you feel so strongly about it." Grian walks his fingers up Scar's chest, pushing him down even more onto his back. Pausing, at the dribble of sauce, to swipe it up on his finger. Bringing that to his mouth to slowly lick off. "Just a taste, then."

"Just- a taste." Scar pants through the pain.

"Not bad." Grian hums, returning to his own food. After Scar makes no move to get up for a while, Grian gestures vaguely at Vex. "Be a dear and get him upright, won't you?"

"Of course, of course." Vex sets down his own food, carefully drawing Scar into more of a seated position. Blatantly using his magic for it too.

"Be more careful next time, mmkay?" Grian pats Scar's cheek with cheerful condescension.

His answer is a pitiful whine as Scar makes sad eyes at him.

"You were the one to ask for the crop." Vex reminds him.

"Just giving you exactly what you wanted!" Grian agrees, slurping at his drink. "Exactly what a pretty little painslut needed." One boop for Scar's nose.

Not getting any sympathy from either side, Scar makes a show of sullenly gnawing at his sandwich. Only to full body perk up from the taste, going in for a huge second bite.

Nothing keeps Scar down for long, not even Scar himself. Grian snaps up his own chips with pleased crunching.

That finished, Grian flops himself down over Scar and Vex's legs. His pillows now.

"Second half of your sandwich?" Vex offers.

"Nap first. Ten minutes." Grian declines. As if either of them will steal his food.

"See you in an hour." Scar rubs down Grian's back, between his wings. Not that this stops Grian from bopping up with a wing in Scar's general direction.

"Ten minutes." Grian corrects, draping a wing over himself. Grabbing a blanket is too much work.

------

Grian wakes up to a wonderfully warm pillow under him, complemented by a heavy weight crushing him. A perfect morning. He contentedly stretches his wings, thumping them into bodies above and below him. A little stiff, like any day after a long flight. Worth it.

Vex had- He’d really pulled together something romantic, for their date. Something decadent. And then the flight home! Scar’s elation, contagious. Scar and Vex both joining him in courting flight-

Grian chomps aggressively on his pillow, anything to calm the rioting butterfly swarm filling him tip to toe.

"Good day, my courted. How are you feeling this morning?" Vex's voice rumbles underneath him.

“Hungry.” Grian bites one more time for good measure, before nuzzling his warmpillow, his Vex, his courted. His headwings fluff and bop in eager little motions that he determinedly ignores.

"Well, we can't have that. Let's see about getting you fed then, shall we?" Vex smiles at Grian, working them both free of the nest.

Grian merely flops and drapes all over Vex instead of helping with the nest escape. Not that Scar's keen on letting them go, full octopus-mode.

The entire thing ends with Vex piling both Grian and Scar into his arms, carrying them out. All the way to the couch nest, where he deposits both of them tangled together.

Where Grian can pack Scar firmly into the nest, and use the height of climbing atop him to get a good view of what Vex is doing. Scar doesn’t complain any, simply snuggling closer to Grian.

Vex bustles about the kitchen, cooking. He's got several pots out, and is making... Oatmeal?

Cooking for them? Again? Grian dives back down into Scar’s arms, before Vex can glance over to see his face. Even Scar’s sleepiness can’t fight forever against the scent of simmered fruit and spices, though.

Slowly, Scar perks up in Grian's arms, smile bright when Grian's face is the first thing he sees.

"Morning, gorgeous." Scar mumbles, still blinking sleep out of his eyes.

“Yeah, yeah, mornin’ yourself, sleepyhead.” Grian grumbles gruffly. He presses sharp kisses across Scar’s stupidly handsome face.

"I had the most wonderful dream." Scar purrs. "I dreamed we all had a courting flight together."

Grian flicks at Scar's nose with a fingernail. "That was real, you dingus. You wore Vex like a cape and dived with me."

"I did? That wasn't a dream?" Wonder lights up Scar's face, shining adoration.

"You did." Fuck, who gave Scar the right to be so breathtaking. "On our way back from star nerd dinner."

"You had star wings." Scar recalls. "And Vexy was worshiping you, and then we were flying and you groped my tits."

"If you put them in my face like that-" Grian slides his hands down to squeeze at Scar's tits again. "You had him doing loops and spins that I'm shocked didn't put you out from g-forces alone."

"Vexy does gravity magic, remember? Of course the g-forces weren't gonna knock us out, silly!" Scar giggles, ruffling Grian's hair.

"That's how wild your flight was." Grian bats his headwings at Scar's fingers until they get the memo to move on to rubbing the bases of said headwings. "I think I might be deaf in one ear, too." He bleps at Scar.

"Poor pretty bird." Scar coos. "Can't hear our beautiful voices. Whatever shall you do?"

Vex peeks over the back of the couch. "Hey? I made breakfast."

"You made us breakfast?" The wonder surges back into Scar's voice in full force, eyes sparkling with his icky gooshy emotions.

"Eat breakfast, apparently." Grian deadpans, letting Scar scoop him up to vault the couch and crash into Vex.

"I- mh!" Somehow, Vex stays standing throughout Scar's attack, catching them in a hug. "I did. It's just oatmeal, though. Nothing fancy."

"It's Vexy food! Made by our Vexy! With care and adorable obsession." Scar giggles, squishing Grian between them as he hugs Vex right back.

Grian registers his complaints as breathless squeaks.

Thankfully, Vex has mercy on him, pulling back out of the suffocating hug. "Come, let's eat. Ari, you said you were hungry." Vex ushers them to the set table. Each place has a prepared bowl of oatmeal, with add-ons sitting neatly in the middle.

"About time." Grian piles fruit into his oatmeal without hesitation, while Scar swipes the honey to sweeten his oatmeal an unreasonable amount. Alongside the rainbow sprinkles that Vex had apparently conceded to setting out for him.

"Glitter juice!" Scar cheers, following up by pouring some of the sparkliest juice Grian has ever seen into their cups. And Grian knows Lizzie!

"Neit got a little enthusiastic mixing up the juice and the shimmers for the layered rainbow drinks yesterday." Vex explains when Grian raises an eyebrow at it. "I figured it prudent to serve the rest with breakfast."

Grian steals the honey dish back while Scar is distracted with his juice disasters.

"Don't worry, I can make more when we run out." Scar assures, beaming his brightest smile.

"This should be enough for now." Vex pats Scar's hand. "Dig in, everyone!"

Grian whistles the world's quickest gratitude before stuffing his mouth full of oatmeal. Even after the feast last night, all that shapechanging on top of the flights still have him devouring his food.

Scar doesn't even whine or complain or demand anyone feed him or anything, just moaning his way through scoop after scoop of his butchered monstrosity of an oatmeal.

Good thing the bowls of oatmeal are big. Bigger than Grian originally thought. Twice, he has to pause to shovel in more fruit before falling into savaging his goop again.

When Grian comes to the bottom of his bowl, groping for a napkin to clean his lips, he catches Vex glancing at him, over Vex's barely half-eaten bowl of oatmeal. At least Vex isn't making a face, but that leaves his expression irritatingly difficult to read.

Anything could be going on behind those glowing eyes. Anything at all.

"Did you enjoy your meal, Ari?" Vex turns to him, polite as ever.

"It was- Filling." The words are almost startled out of Grian from being directly addressed while he was so sneakily and subtly studying Vex to puzzle him out.

"Good. That's good." Vex nods, turning his attention over to Scar. "Neit? How is your food?"

"Tasty! Thank you, Vexy~" Scar grins, bright and buoyant and disgustingly cheerful.

"My pleasure." Vex smiles back, revoltingly soft.

An opinion Grian quickly revisits when that smile is aimed at him next.

Grian tucks a headwing across his face before he can fully succumb to the urge to smile back. They're infectious, the bastards. When did they learn how to feel like flying?

"Did you have any plans for today Ari? Hotguy and I were gonna do some sparring." Vex goes on, making his polite conversation.

"I need to stretch my wings with a light flight after yesterday." Grian flaps one wing, air ruffling Vex's hair. He knows that if he doesn't, he'll end up way too stiff. "Though I could make some time to kick your asses." Something about what Vex said rings wrong to Grian's ear, but he can't place what.

"We were actually hoping to spar by ourselves. Though you are welcome to join us for the warmups." Vex smiles.

"What? Why?" Grian peers at Vex. What kind of stupidly dangerous thing are they trying to hide?

"Ask him." Vex nods in Scar's direction. Who blinks at Grian in headlight-frozen deer stupor, spoon still in his mouth.

“Well then. Neit?” Grian stares Scar down, fending off mental images of them just stabbing one another, over and over.

“I- Uh.” Even with the spoon removed, Scar stumbles his words, chews his lips.

Grian squints at him.

"What!" Scar throws his hands up. "Can't a guy spar in peace?"

“When was the last time you passed up the opportunity to make me look at and touch your sweaty, half-naked body?” Grian rolls his eyes.

Sinking into himself, Scar mutters something under his breath.

Snapping his fingers, Grian huffs. “Speak up.” Stern words, brooking none of this nonsense.

"It's safer! He'll be fighting the Hero, and the Hero can take him alone!" After his outburst, Scar re-crumples.

“Since when has safety stopped me from having your back in a fight?” Grian’s wings rustle malcontentedly. The Hero must mean Scar putting his Hotguy gear back on, for some reason. Getting back into character. Why here, though?

"Vexy? Can you give us a moment?" Scar looks beseechingly over at Vex.

"Sure thing. Text me when you're ready." Vex wipes his mouth, presses a kiss to each of their heads, and promptly leaves to room.

"Now. Explain." Grian rounds on Scar.

“I want this to work.” Scar says, gaze fixed earnestly on Grian.

“This.” Grian’s tone matches the flat line of his mouth.

Scar gestures sweepingly to the whole room. “This. Us.” A line drawn in the air between himself and Grian, between them and the door Vex exited through. “I want it to be real. To last.”

"And that somehow means I can't spar with you." Yeah, Grian doesn't see the logic.

“Not. Not this time. That part- I can’t-" Scar hisses his breath, a keen frustration with his own words that Grian is more than familiar with. “The Hero would focus on you.”

"Why are you even changing into the mask? Into your gear? Here?" Grian doesn't get any of it.

“Because-" Another scrunched expression that Grian waits pitilessly through. “There’s this. Piece of me, that doesn’t understand how it. Fits. Into this. Because of calling Lizzie barely an acquaintance. Because of running for the rooftops.” Scar slumps onto the table.

"And to fit this piece in you need to put on your hero mask and punch the shit out of Vex?" Makes about as much sense as anything else in Scar's head. A shape almost-familiar.

“Yes!” Scar’s nods thump his head into the table. “I need to feel it with my hands. With my whole body. To work it out.”

"And he's on board with this?" Grian checks, even if he already knows the answer. Vex indulges so many of Scar's whims, why not this too?

“Vex agreed, to a no powers fight. No weapons. No tricks. Just us. Vex, and the Hero. On even ground.”

"Both of you can still do a lot of damage, even without." Grian points out, and keeps a tight lid on how he feels about the fact that he trusts Vex to honor that agreement.

Scar rolls his cheek on the table. “Vex demanded no headshots as a condition. Which is silly, of course no headshots. I like that head.”

"At least some sort of sense. Please tell me you'll be in armor or something." Grian sighs.

“I’ll at least start in my armor?” Scar offers.

"That's the best I'm getting, isn't it?" Grian takes a deep breath in. Hold for four, out for eight.

“ ‘Fraid so.” Scar turns his head enough to direct his lopsided smile properly to Grian. “And once we sort it out, then you can join us. For future spars.”

"I will be holding you to that." Grian wags a finger at Scar.

“Good. You’d better. Among other things for you to hold me against.” Reaching out to boop Grian’s finger, Scar pulls himself back upright.

"We good?" Scar asks, shaking himself out.

And hm. Are they good?

“You’re nonsense. But fine, do what you have to do. And bring your phone, call me if you do end up needing backup.” Grian still doesn’t exactly get it. But if Scar needs this and they aren’t going to be like. Feeding one another through woodchippers. Then maybe Grian doesn’t have to get it quite yet. He will, though. Grian will figure out this new nonsense.

"Right! I saw you got a new phone! Did you sweet talk it out of Mumbo?" Scar perks up.

“Yeah, he’s letting me test it.” Grian slips it out to flash at Scar. “Good impact resistance.” A fond grin, almost impish.

"Oooh, can I see?" Scar makes grabby hands and his best pleading eyes at Grian.

“Fine.” Grian throws his phone at Scar. “But if you change any of my ringtones, I’m eating all of your vanilla pods.”

"Boring." Scar declares. "Gotta see what kind of camera Mumby gave you. Say cheese!" A few taps later, there's a shutter sound and a flash.

Grian puffs out his wings and straightens up. “Do a better one!” He demands.

"Sure thing, my pretty bird." Scar grins, all cheeky-like. "Go ahead, strike your pose."

Grian straightens down his pajama shirt, properly fluffing and settling both sets of his wings. A roguish grin and hand splayed over his own chest finish the look.

"Magnificent! Oh, gorgeous, honey!" Scar actually gets up, trying different angles, snapping away. "Show us those wings!"

Preening under the attention and praise, Grian spreads his wings grandly, presenting every feather.

The night sky pattern he did for Vex last night still twinkles on his feathers as Scar gushes and snaps more photos.

Grian will be remembering this pattern, for future use. He’ll have to update it with the turning of the seasons, of course. Maybe even get Vex to drop the almost in almost perfect-

Maybe he can find out when Vex's birthday is, and gift him a feather with his sign's constellation on it. Ignoring how that would have to be either a cluster of feathers, or even several primaries. Not that the glow would hold up long, once separate from Grian, but the colors would stay.

Would Vex display something like that? A pretty spread on his wall?

The warm weight of Scar drapes over Grian from behind. "My most handsome birdie~"

Me! Grian trills. That's him! Scar's most handsome birdie!

Scar trills right back, covet and treasure and mine pressed into the back of Grian's neck. Every sound a pleasant glurp of the lava lamp in his chest, a reminder and a blessing.

Grian's a melted pool of content birdie in Scar's arms, all upsets forgotten. Upsets? What upsets? He's perfectly content to stay here, in his mate's arms.

Long kisses and exchanged chirps later, Scar ruffles his feathers. "Come on, let's get you in the sky before you stiffen up, alright? Then we'll meet right back up to order lunch, everyone good as new."

Blinking, Grian trills his assent. He would like to get dressed first though. Maybe get his hands on a nice Vex-scented shirt or something he can drop off at home for his nest.

He has a blurred memory of heaps of stripped off clothing from after their flight, that'd be perfect.

"You want help dressing up, or you got it?" Scar asks, pressing kisses down the side of Grian's neck.

"I got it. You go find your idiot." Grian mutters, already mentally puzzling the clothes into his nest.

"Our idiot." Scar snickers. "See you on the flipside, pretty birdie."

"Yeah, yeah." Grian waves Scar off with a kiss, collecting up his phone again, before scurrying off to the bedroom.

Just as Grian remembers, yesterday's clothes lay strewn haphazardly across the floor.

Grian doesn't even bother trying to remember who was wearing what mess of rumpled colors, simply pressing each to his face and huffing the scent until he has the right set. Sets. An extra set of Scar's clothing doesn't hurt, after all, to go with Vex's.

The set with Grian's scent gets worked into the nest here. Vex needs more Grian-scent in his life.

Grian might as well leave his pajamas in the nest as well, freeing him to pick out a new outfit. Simple tones, simple shapes. Daytime flight calls for less garish designs. A sleek black hoodie and some sweatpants with an elastic at the bottom. He likes those. Less wind getting in the bottom of his pants.

Will Vex's avian friend be one of the ones Vex introduces Scar to? He has to be getting his information somewhere.

Grian stuffs the clothing he's taking into a convenient bag hanging in the closet, re-pinks his wings, and sets off. Out to the balcony, out to the open skies. Where he can breathe.

No dramatic drop or fast rise for him this time. A gentle swoop off works just fine. Lazy flaps to gain height, until Grian's soaring, on his way home.

---

Preparing his med lab to be ready post-spar to do the tissue sample from Neit that they'd delayed, comes and goes without any word from Neit. As does stretching and lubricating himself. Cub sets aside the wondering if he'll have to patch up Neit before their fight, and moves on.

Cub still has wings to swap out, after all. And- Long enough has elapsed that he can contact Doc without interrupting anything vital from the storm, right? Cub misses talking to Doc more keenly than usual, with so much happening and so many things he wants to share with Doc. With the way Doc always steadies his nerves.

Texting Doc a request for a call when Doc has time, Cub makes his way to the armory.

Cub's phone rings before he's even reached the door.

"Hey, Doc." Cub answers promptly.

"Hey, little horror. Mind explaining some of those messages I got from you during the storm? Like the when you said you were going out into it?" Oops. Cub had sent those messages to Doc, hadn't he?

"Deepfrost and I stopped the storm." Cub reports, chin held high. He stands by his actions. Without that decisive choice, they could still be besieged by flooding and power outages. Even if people don't like it, Cub knows he made the right call.

"And pray tell, how did you do that?" Doc questions.

"The storm was artificial, caused by layering several highly unstable, overclocked power augmentation experimentations on a semi-willing captive participant, who proceeded to lose control of their powers." Cub slips into the armory. "Locating them, suppressing their powers, and putting an end to the experimentation cleared up the storm."

"And what did you do with said 'semi-willing individual' after you found them and suppressed their powers? Send them on their way?" Doc sighs.

"He was in no condition to go anywhere alone at the time, so Deepfrost brought him home. Skizz treated the overt injuries and has been monitoring his health since." Cub reports, checking over his wing stand even though it's in place already. A familiar task while he talks.

"I'll have to have a word with Skizz, if that is, in fact, the case." Doc may sound grumpy, but Cub knows Skizz won't be in any trouble. Not for this.

"I'm sure Skizz has any notes you might want. Tim- Jim, is significantly more responsive now. We're looking into relocating him to one of my countryside homes, where he can get the suppression cuffs off and practice controlling his new powers safely." Off with Cub's wings, a quiet moment of relief to be disconnected from the mismatch.

"Where did you even get suppression cuffs?" Doc wonders. "To my knowledge, you don't have any."

"Ari lent me his- Is it lending to hide them in my belt? I believe that was what he meant." Cub pauses to consider, then nods.

"Ari? How did your little birdy have the chance to hide them in your belt?" On the other end of the line, Doc sighs in relief. Going by the fabric fwump, flopped down in his nest.

"He crashed here, due to the storm." Cub answers simply, looking over his various sets of Vex wings, weighing which ones the Hero might like to see him in best.

"Oh dear. Avians crashing is never good. Is he alright?" Genuine concern swings in Doc's voice.

"He had hypothermia followed by a rebound fever, as well as a fractured wing." Cub rattles off, tone flat and practical. "Lizzie healed his wing."

"Lizzie and Joel did say they'd be crashing at yours once the storm broke." Doc's thoughtful nod is so clearly visible in Cub's mind's eye. "Glad she was able to help."

"They have been. Apparently Lizzie is Neit's preferred healer. Small world." Cub is near-entirely certain Doc already knows this, but saying as much aloud is important so that Doc knows that Cub knows now, too. "Ari has recovered quite well." Cub fingers the feathers in his hair.

"Small world indeed, little horror." Doc chuckles. "What are you up to now? Did you see them off and need company?"

"Ari and Neit are still here, they've also been staying here since the storm. They are having a private discussion, and I- Missed you." Cub feels almost odd saying it aloud, but he should practice vocalizing his feelings to people close to him, right? Ari and Neit have appreciated that quite a bit, thus far. "How have you been doing? No doubt your clinic has been full."

Doc laughs. That warm chuckle of his, a sound that always makes Cub feel like he's home. "I have missed you as well, little horror. As for the clinic? Slammed, I tell you. Absolutely slammed. We are just now getting back down to non-crisis operating levels. I'll need to expand the staff nap rooms. Again."

"Good to hear that operations are returning to normal." Cub nods. That Doc's on this very call with him was already a good sign of that, but confirmation never hurts. "Are you sure you're not just eager to annex more area for your nests?" Cub teases.

A playful growl. "Oh just you wait little horror, I'll show you nest annexing next time you're here."

"Threaten me with a good time." Cub chuckles. A comfortable silence follows before Cub speaks up again. "I'm going to make Ari an induction charging blanket to use in nests here."

"Oh? And what will you tell him for why the blanket needs to be plugged in or needs to lay fully flat?" Doc questions. "Going with the heated blanket story?"

"Ah, right. They know about my wings, now. So I have informed them that those need charging." Cub traces the crystalline structures. The set he was wearing when he cuffed Neit, Cub decides. How much of that had been the Hero?

Silence.

Stretching on, as Cub takes the wings off the wall, settles them in place in the stand.

"I hope you know what's you're doing, Cub." Doc's voice, low with worry, breaks through the moment.

"I-" Cub thought he'd had his answer, but he pauses to consider again, to sort his words out. "I want them in my life, for real. For good. They've- Shared things with me, too." Cub treasures the knowledge of Neit's cane use, of Ariana- Proof that they're trusting him with pieces of themselves, as well. That he's not just putting himself out out here alone, unmet.

"I see. I hope for your sake it goes well, then." Doc does not sound convinced. In fact, Cub is certain that, had he been in grabbing range, he'd be stuck in Doc's nest for a good few hours, being fussed over.

"It has, thus far. We had a date, yesterday. Fully properly explicitly delineated as a date." Cub somehow feels the need to prove... something? to Doc, even though he has the sinking feeling that it might be- What did Neit call it? Throwing logic solutions at an emotions problem?

"Oh? How did that go? You never were big on date nights. Always lab time with you. Though I suppose lab time can be a sort of date." Fond amusement colors Doc's voice. Doc's not wrong. Cub did prefer to spend his evenings in the lab rather than butt in on Ren and Doc's date nights.

"We each chose an activity to share with the others. Which was very informative and pleasant. I took them out to my observatory." Cub isn't quite sure, how much of either of their activities he is or is not supposed to share. Perhaps he'll ask, later.

"That's quite the drive. Or did you fly? I didn't hear of any Vex sightings."

"We flew, I was wearing different wings and none of my costume but the mask." Should he look into a more neutral mask for going out? Mm, what they have had worked, though. "We did a courting flight maneuver on the way back." Giddiness bubbles up unexpectedly in Cub, remembering that.

"A courting flight, hm? Should I be expecting to see feathers in your hair sometime soon?" Doc's tone is back to teasing.

"Ah, about that. Just a moment." Cub pulls the phone back, flicking over to his messages with Doc. A quick pic snapped and sent, displaying the braids and flashes of pink in his hair. Was probably a good idea, anyway. He'll have to take them out eventually, and having a picture to look back on will be nice. Back over to the call. "There." Why does he have flutters, waiting for Doc's response?

"Already?" Doc chuckles heartily. "Hey, Ren, come look at this. Cubby and his little birdy are both down bad!"

"What? Oh, hot dawg! Congrats, my man!" Cub hears Ren whistle in the background.

"Thank you." Warmth overtakes the flutters entirely, to have their support. "We're officially courting, apparently." Cub's tone shades proud, both to be courting Ari and to know the word for what they are to one another.

"Congratulations." Doc sounds warm, and impossibly fond. "I hope this works out for you."

"I'm doing my best to make sure it will." Cub nods, determined. One step back, a breath in as his wings link up and begin their movements.

Three steps forward, to not knock over the stand. Let the motion run its course, then he can shift his wings out of phase, and collapse into a desk chair. His shirt Cub leaves off. He'll get dressed soon anyway.

"Well, if you've set your mind to it, ya know it's gotta be good." Ren answers. Doc must have him on speaker.

"I have." Cub is starting to feel confident that they really can work something out, together. Courting Ari, claiming Neit. Eventually turning Neit, tangling their lore together forevermore. Completing Ari's challenge, claiming him as well. Flying together, all three of them. "Thank you. This has been a learning experience."

Soft door-swish has Cub looking up. Neit, poking his seeking head into the doorway. His face lights up upon spotting Cub, scampering across the room to throw himself into Cub's lap.

"Found you!" Neit snuggles into Cub, bag dropped beside them.

"Well done." Cup runs a hand through Neit's hair. "All settled now?" Neit doesn't look upset, so hopefully the talk went well. He doesn't even appear to have any new scrapes or bruises, either.

"Ah, I hear you has company now." Doc's voice filters up from his phone. "Call me back later then, when you've the time. Bye, little horror!"

"Bye, man! See ya soon!" Ren chimes in.

"Goodbye Doc, Ren." Cub pulls the phone back, just to have Neit shove his face in between Cub and the phone.

"Mr. Fluffem-peets? Bye Mister Loafman! I'm stealing Vexy now!" Neit jabs at the phone until Cub hears the distinct sound of the call ending.

"You are one silly goober." Pocketing his phone, Cub settles both hands on Neit's waist, holding him close. "Did you get everything settled with Ari?"

"Yep! All done and dusted. Ari's headed off for his flight." Neit presses the tips of their noses together, radiating joy.

"Wonderful. Shall we get on with our spar, then?" Cub steals a quick kiss.

"No more waiting! Yes!" Neit wiggles in Cub's grip, his return kisses off-kilter.

"What did you plan on wearing? Do you need workout clothes?" Admittedly, Cub hadn't given much thought to anything beyond his wings.

"I mighta agreed to wearing some armor. It'll help with the right headspace anyway." Neit lightly kicks his bag, to the muffled clanks of plating. "So you should bring some armor too, fair's fair."

"I'll grab my basics. Nothing fancy. Will that be good by the Hero?" Cub checks. Easy enough to warm up in their underlayers, then armor each other up before they spar.

"Just enough to protect vital bits. Then we won't have to pull punches." Neit sways a little. "Basics sounds good. No tricky gadgets or anything, just a protective layer."

"That sounds wonderful. Let me gather everything, then we can head right over." Cub rises from his chair, turning to set Neit on it.

Neit steals one more kiss before allowing Cub to go. Even after, Cub can feel Neit's curious gaze following him around the room. Not that Cub has all that much to do, taking down a crate and piling in the undershirts and armor plating he'll need.

A quick process, with how organized Cub keeps everything. Just the base bits, as Neit requested. Chest and back plates, the segmented pieces of his abdomen. Codpiece. For the softer bits of underarm, neck, and inner thigh he elects to grab just the padded underlayers. Some protection, but without the hard parts of the armor.

"Ready." Crate in hand, Cub ends up standing by Neit's chair.

"Then off we go!" Neit pops up, scooping his bag back onto his shoulder. He practically skips the whole way into the gym.

Setting down his crate, Cub pulls out his phone and takes the moment to set the door to only open at his mental command. And, after a moment of consideration, Doc's. They don't intend to hurt each other, but you never know. Better safe than sorry.

Neit, meanwhile, has already managed to strip out of his clothing, and started doing warm-up stretches.

"Neit. Please put on some clothes." Cub requests, stripping out of his own pants and working his way into his Vex undersuit.

"What, not enjoying the view~?" Neit flexes, puffing out his chest.

"I am. Though for sanitary reasons, pants would be appreciated." Cub wiggles into the shirt part.

"I'm plenty sanitary, I'll have you know." Neit bounces in place, doing one more stretch before he concedes to slipping on his underclothes.

"Thank you." Cub rewards him with a kiss, before starting up his own warmup routine.

Neit trills brightly, hopping into a jog, just a couple laps around the room while Cub warms up.

"Have you- given any- thought to- how you- plan to- get out- of H- Hero mode?" Cub asks, timing his words to his breathing during his reps.

"Nope!" Neit finishes up his laps, resting against a stack of mats to just watch Cub. The whistle Neit gives is distinctly not avian. "Probably would be smart, though. You puttin' the collar back on usually works."

"Think- the Hero- will hold- still for- that?" Cub finishes up his reps, shaking out. He could do with a lap or two himself.

"Maybe. If he's tired out from fighting, or you entice him enough." Neit fingers his collar. "The relief is- Hard to describe."

"We are locked in. The only way he's getting out is if he accepts the collar. The doors respond only to my magic." Cub does decide to take the laps. "Tell me more about enticing?" He calls.

Neit muffles a moan into his hand, giving Cub a good segment of the lap before Neit manages to speak again. "I'm sure a charming villain like you knows plenty about enticing, about seducing. About spinning a pretty tale that hooks into hungers denied. About just enough force to take away the heavy, heavy burden of responsibility."

Less clear than Cub had hoped, but it gives Cub some pointers on where to start. A second lap, to mull the idea over, while Neit is being more or less discreet about palming himself.

"I'm ready. Let's get armored." Cub comes to a standstill next to Neit, barely winded.

"What was that? Tear those pants off you and take you right on the spot?" Neit asks, devilishly innocent as he pulls out his own armor plating and pads to arrange in some sort of order that must make sense to him.

"If anything, you're the one about to be ravished." Cub jokes back, working on his tight padding pieces. Once in place, they move well with his body, but getting them there? Always a struggle.

"Keep telling yourself that, buddy." Neit's hands join Cub's, settling the padding and handing off more bits for Cub to apply. Lingering touches, like keeping his hands off of Cub is unbearable.

"We'll see who's right, won't we." Cub smiles softly.

"Of course, on the field of honorable battle." Neit clacks their foreheads together.

Once Cub is armored up, he flows right into helping Neit armor up, as well. Every past hour of studying the exacting details of Hotguy's getup makes itself rather useful, in this case.

As they go, the way Neit laid out the armor begins to make a kind of sense. Though several of his choices still have Cub questioning Neit's sanity.

Well, sanity is overrated anyway. Sometimes.

Either way, they finish suiting Neit up, all except for his mask. When Cub tries to turn away, though, Neit's hand on his arm stops him.

"First, could you-" Neit fingers the lace of his collar again. Given that this one has no tech, Neit is fully capable of removing it himself.

"Of course." Cub murmurs. Even when he can, Neit has shown himself to be reluctant to put on or take off the collars himself. At least if Cub's around. And really, it's no hardship to pull Neit close, kiss him in casual affection, as Cub carefully opens the clasp on the collar, sliding it off.

"Thank you." Neit indulges in kissing for long moments, until the tight muscles of his abs unclench. "Ready for the Hero?"

"As ready as I'll ever be. Shall we go over the rules one more time?" Cub loosens his grip, but doesn't pull away. He's still got the collar dangling from loose fingers.

"No damaging this precious egg, for one." Neit cups Cub's cheeks, grinning.

"Right." Cub grins back. "No headshots. No weapons. No tricks, flying, or magic. No wings, they stay out of phase. We stay inside the sparring area while we fight. Yield is three taps. Anything to add?"

"A yield, huh?" Neit taps Cub's nose three times. "Hm, okay." The furrow of Neit's brow speaks to effort put into thinking, so Cub gives him the time. "What's the limits of the sparring area?"

"You see the blue mats over there? The dark blue square on them is the designated sparring area." Cub points over. A rather generous area, a touch larger than the average boxing ring. Importantly, all sides are more than two meters away from hard objects, and padded. So that if they do fall out, the risk of injury is minimal.

"Aw, I don't get to throw you into walls?" Neit pouts.

"No wall throwing." Cub confirms. "We can do that later."

"Mean to me." Neit pouts. "Gonna throw you into double the walls, later."

"Later." Cub promises, kissing Neit's nose. "Now. Anything to add to the rules? Want to declare a seven second pin a win?"

Neit’s head tips, lovely even in his confusion. “But I thought someone yielding is a win?”

"Would you yield if I have you in a secure pin?" Cub asks.

“Maybe? I guess that depends on which of us thinks it’s secure.”

"A fair point." Cub nods. "Hence the seven seconds to get out of it. If it's not secure, you can just. Demonstrate that."

"So break out or yield." Neit hums, tracing over Cub's different bits of padding.

"Alright. No seven second rule then." Cub can work with that. "Anything else?"

"Mm, no gagging. Not this time."

"No chokeholds then. At least not with choking. Got it." Easy enough to work with.

"That kind of stuff, yeah." Neit nods. "I think that's it?"

"Same for me. Unless things like 'try not to break bones' need to be said?" Cub checks.

"Harder to do without a good wall to leverage you against, anyway." Neit shrugs.

"Good. Then yes. I'm ready for the Hero. See you in the ring." One last kiss, then Cub pulls away, turning his back to walk to the sparring ring.

In the quiet of the room, the click of the mask's clasp being undone is impossible to miss, but Cub carefully does not break stride in the slightest.

Footsteps, behind him. The confident, sharp gait Cub's so familiar with. Cub keeps his eyes down as he takes up his position.

"Aren't you even going to look at me, Vex?" Hotguy sneers his sharp words.

"Are you ready for me to?" Cub keeps his words, his tone light.

"Yes." Hotguy taps his foot, though he keeps his arms loose instead of crossing them.

Turning to face the Hero now in his gym, Cub feels a soft smile settle on his lips. "Greetings, esteemed Hero. Might I ask you to dance?" As if he truly were at a ball, Cub gives a small bow, offering his hand.

"You sure you wouldn't rather invite your Neit?" Hotguy shifts on his feet, light and ready to move.

"Why would I? I'm all dressed up for you, my dear rival." Cub purrs, falling effortlessly into Vex's mannerisms.

"I'll just have to make sure you remember whose archrival you are." Hotguy flexes gloved fists pointedly.

"That is why we're here." Cub sinks into more of a fighting stance himself.

Cub knows all he has to do is wait. Hotguy's patience will run out, even quicker than usual today, leading to Hotguy lunging in close to test Cub with a flurry of quick, seeking blows.

Some of which Cub dodges, others he blocks. Thumps, light but many, scattershot across his arms, his shoulders.

The fight is on.

Familiar, the flow of their fighting. Impacts, thud of flesh meeting flesh, and the warm gust of near-misses. Hotguy feels faster, today, though. Cub can't play defensive too long, because there's no escape in this fight, no way out but through.

Cub still picks and chooses his moments to throw punches, to ram his elbow into Hotguy's side between plates when they pass all-too-close. Hearing Hotguy's wheezed snarl always boosts Cub's spirits.

Just after one of those snarls, Cub finds his world spinning, abruptly halted as blue mat fills his field of vision. Struggling against Hotguy's pin is no use, Cub never learned how to break this hold. His whole fighting style is designed to be defensive, to rely on phasing. Gaps in his knowledge he'll have to remedy.

Cub struggles well beyond seven seconds before he yields, tapping the mat three times audibly.

Hotguy snorts, having sat through the entirety of Cub's bucking with immovable, patient amusement. "That's what I thought." One squeeze, then he's shoving Cub away to pick himself back up to standing. "Next time you might want to try putting up a little fight."

"Kind of missing out on using my main move and strategy here. You know, the thing my fighting style is designed for." Cub groans, picking himself up as well. Still, Cub settles back into fight-ready position. Being beat by Hotguy is a place he's very familiar with after all. "Another round?"

"So you admit that relying on your magic makes you weaker in a fight?" Hotguy stretches his arms over his head, hissing at the pull on his elbowed his side. "Of course, I'm always game to thrash you."

"I've never had the need to fight without it." Cub shrugs, then winces, his shoulder still smarting.

"Welcome to a fair fight." Hotguy circles Cub slowly, a bright hunger in his gaze.

"You're only saying that because you won." This time, Cub tries going on the offensive first.

"And I'll keep winning!" No dodging, Hotguy dives right into clashing with Cub, trading punches Cub is doing fine keeping up with-

At least, right up until a hard kick to Cub's shin staggers him.

Down he goes again, pinned ruthlessly by Hotguy. This time, Cub yields after exactly seven seconds of struggle.

"Such a good position for you." Hotguy takes his time, copping a feel of Cub's ass while holding him down.

Cub goes lax in Hotguy's grip. Of course Cub's hard, he knows he is. The adrenaline and fighting Hotguy leave no other option. His codpiece isn't only for protection.

"My archnemesis. I'm the only one who knows how to handle you right." Hotguy growls in Cub's ear.

"You do." Cub pants. He's glad for the moment he took in the med lab to slick himself up, with the good silicone-based stuff. Hotguy could just slide right on in right now, if he'd just remove the impediment of Cub's pants.

"Say it. Tell me who you belong to." Hotguy's breath heaves in his chest, slow but heavy, heated where it brushes against Cub's cheek.

"You. I'm yours." Cub can't help but squirm. Struggle just a little bit, to feel how physically trapped he is right now.

"Good. Exactly, you're mine. Every bit of your short-lived triumph and each one of your pathetic, pained cries." Hotguy holds him unrelentingly.

Cub whines, hanging on to his self control by a thread. This is- he's dreamed of this. Of Hotguy holding him down, growling possessive things in his ear.

"What a desperate little mess for me." Hotguy purrs, teeth scraping roughly over Cub's earlobe. "Can't even keep any of your evil in your too-big head like this, can you?"

"No. Nothing. Just- just you. Hotguy." Cub pants. The last bits of his self control go toward not humping the ground. Not that he'd get any friction from it, with the codpiece on.

"It'd serve you right, you know, for me to leave you hanging here. See how you like it." Hotguy pulls the weight of his upper body up off of Cub.

"We could- ha- we could go another round, if you want." Cub doesn't know if he can stand, right now, but if Hotguy wants that, Cub will try.

Hotguy chuckles, grinding- Or is it just that Cub wants him to have been grinding down into Cub before Hotguy pulled away completely? Cub can't tell anymore. All he knows is the aching void of the heat that had been pressed to his back.

"Well then, up and at 'em. Really wow me this time." Hotguy taunts.

Sprawled on the mat, Cub tries to catch his breath. Will his limbs into cooperating. All in all, very slow going.

Hotguy lounges in a casual stance, watching Cub's efforts with that supremely smug grin. "You can manage one more round, for me, can't you?"

"I can." Cub levers himself upright, breathing deeply. Steadier on his feet than he thought he'd be.

This won't be a long fight. Breathe in, hold for four, out for eight.

"I'm ready."

"Good boy." Hotguy doesn't even bother shifting to a more guarded stance, deliberately sloppy as he dances in close, feinting punches that never quite land on Cub.

Toying with him.

Not that Cub's own genuine punches land. No, Hotguy avoids each and every one, showing off with flashier moves designed to showcase his body, his muscles. Get Cub more worked up.

So they're both surprised when Cub's fist lands a solid punch directly to Hotguy's gut.

Confusion- That choked wheeze should be coming from himself, not from Hotguy. Unfortunately, the shock freezes Cub in place just a moment too long to follow up, Hotguy laughing an awful breathlessly sharp sound as he stumbles back.

Suddenly, Cub's the breathless one, back sore, staring up at the ceiling. How did that get there?

As Cub ponders the hanging of ceilings in his daze, Hotguy presses his whole body to Cub's, pinning Cub firmly to the floor.

"Always full of surprises, my rival." Hotguy stares down at Cub with wild eyes. The idle thought that Hotguy might not wait for the cultured sample before he begins devouring Cub, crosses Cub's mind.

In a sense, that's true, because the next thing Cub registers is that he's being kissed.

This is nothing like kissing Neit, though the lips are the same. Neit doesn't kiss like this, in this domineering way where Cub has no thought but to submit. To melt into it, whining out needy noises as he fruitlessly ruts his codpiece against Hotguy.

Pain blooms over Cub's lip, Hotguy biting it bloody, eagerly sucking on the throbbing pain, dragging higher keens out of Cub. All of it, all of Cub's pain, all of the breath in his lungs, all of the desperate bid for friction, every bit he offers up to Hotguy.

"You always wanted me to take you down and make you mine." Hotguy rumbles, rolling his whole chest against Cub.

Coherent words have left Cub's brain. All he has to offer is another high whine, desperate.

"You sound so good like this, Vex. So much better than all your monologuing." Hotguy gathers Cub's hands over Cub's head, a grip he could break out of, if escape were anywhere even in the vicinity of his brain right now. "I heard you, you know. When you said you were preparing yourself for me. Like a good little slut." Hotguy's tone remains that of confidence masquerading as casualness.

Gloved knuckles caress Cub's cheek, ghosting over it briefly before slipping lower. More pressure is required for Cub to feel Hotguy's touch through the padding at his throat, but Hotguy doesn't press beyond that. Just enough to feel. Further downward, the hand wanders, to where Hotguy has his torso pinned.

"I could just take you right now." Hotguy's fingers work under Cub's plating, plucking off pieces of Cub's shell. "But I don't know if you want it enough. Speak up, won't you?"

Something that might once have been words garbles past Cub's lips. He's gonna need a moment here to get his tongue back online.

"Oh, so close." Hotguy smiles his perfect PR smile. "Try again, I believe in you." The exact chipper chirp of a perfect news soundbite. All the while, his hands are worming their way under Cub's shirt, pinching and groping.

"P- p'ease!" Cub manages, the L sound not yet agreeing with his tongue.

"What do you want so badly for me to do with you, rival mine? I couldn't possibly fathom what you need here." Hotguy drags his words out in a drawl, poisoned saccharine sweetness.

"Fuah- fuck me! Please!" Finally, Cub gets his tongue under control for long enough to speak.

"So dirty! You're lucky you're such a cute little slut." Hotguy frees one hand to pinch Cub's cheek, tugging this way and that. "But of course, it is, after all, a Hero's duty to help those in need."

"Need. Need you." Cub slurs as clever hands start to pluck apart the rest of his armor.

Quick work- Or else Cub's sense of time has gone sideways. He doesn't even manage more words before his skin is exposed to the air of the gym, and more importantly, to the direct searing heat of Hotguy's touch.

"We'll see just how good you prepared." Hotguy purrs, folding Cub's legs up. When had Hotguy lost his pants? Has he been as hard as Cub this whole time? Has-

Ngh- Cub chokes on his breath, Hotguy sliding himself right in entirely, with one singular blazing push of unyielding heat.

"Hmm." Hotguy rolls his hips a few times, considering. "It's- it's satisfactory."

Even that scant praise washes over Cub with the force of a searing benediction. He did good, and now- and now- "Pleas- Fuck, fuck. Need y'u."

Hotguy's pupils darken entirely, the silent sound of something crumbling.

First- The iron force of Hotguy, holding Cub in place.

Second? Hotguy snarling, as inarticulate as Cub feels.

Finally, Hotguy rocking his hips, the glide in and out smooth. But Hotguy doesn't stop there, no, speeding inexorably with every motion to piston his dick relentlessly into Cub's hole. The force drags against Cub's back, sliding him across the mats, pounding thrusts he can feel up through his lungs. Folded in half, Hotguy mouthing ineffectively at Cub's still covered neck.

Every part of his body is sore, bruises still forming. Waves of aching pain crash into waves of relentless, driving pleasure, their superposition shaking apart Cub's brain. All he can do is give himself over to the passion, to Hotguy, to the moment.

Cub's lips trace a small pile of letters until he can speak out the only word left in him. "Mine." Just that, just his wholehearted claim of his rival. Of his lover. Of his deity.

"Mine." Hotguy's growled response, snarled into Cub's neck. Another bite that glances off the padding, then Hotguy is back to kissing him.

Cub doesn't need air, only more Hotguy. More heat, burning him up, more.

As if reading Cub's mind's long history of fantasies, Hotguy gives it to him as hard as he could ever ask, until, quite suddenly, Hotguy shoves deep inside Cub and stills, spilling in a hoarse shout, in sharp twitches.

One of those hands finds Cub's face. "Cum for me. Cum." Hotguy orders.

Blinding climax tears all breath out of Cub, winding him to a full daze. Just a dopey grin left on his face as he stares past Hotguy into the middle distance.

Hotguy's warmth melts down onto him, no longer a pin, but a warm drape. Melting together into one, that feeling chases Cub down into sweetly fulfilled oblivion.

---

Panting, Hotguy melts himself down into Vex. Who will not be doing evil anytime soon. No, Hotguy saw to that. Fucked all the evil clean out of him. Out of his Vex. So perfectly slick and welcoming around Hotguy's dick, with that cozy heat hiding just beyond the cool exterior. Even now, as Hotguy softens, Vex feels exquisite around him.

His Vex needed him, so Hotguy answered that call. If Hotguy found any of his own enjoyment in the activity- That's not relevant. His city is safe, his Vex is safe, and most importantly his Vex is his. Completely.

Hotguy's side and gut ache in harmony with every breath, proof positive that Vex won't- Of course nothing has changed. Vex will still fight Hotguy with everything Vex has. It won't be enough, of course, but the trying is important. The pain.

For now though, Hotguy should clean them up. And maybe restrain Vex properly. With his body. On one of those soft mats.

Only problem is, to do that, he'd have to temporarily let go of Vex.

No, he won't let go. They can just stay dirty for now. Wallow in their forbidden filth.

Maybe, eventually he might drag Vex over to the showers with him.

This is. Fine. Hotguy isn't antsy at all.

No stickness can bother him. He's the perfect Hero, and those don't get bothered.

Granted, they also don't fuck villains into the mats in that villain's personal gym, but that's a whole other topic. Vex is his, and Hotguy will do whatever it takes to prove that.

Not to mention Vex needs him, and a Hero always aids someone in need. Especially when that someone is his, is Hotguy's responsibility and balance.

...stickiness can't bother him, but it does bother Vex. Too cruelly. Too much like iron. Hotguy has to do what's right. Has to slide himself out of Vex without the mournful sound his chest demands of him. Has to scoop Vex into his arms, bringing the remarkably unresponsive villain over to the gym showers, grabbing a towel and working efficiently to clean any stickiness off of Vex's skin.

Redress them too, because Vex gets cold, and Hotguy won't be having that. On that note, who has a closet in their gym shower? Sure, it's nothing compared to the Narnia in Vex's bedroom, but still. There's an abundance of fresh clothes here.

Simple, plain clothing for Vex, even if it feels... odd, to see him dressed down like that. At least Vex's wings are back to being right. Hotguy passes his hand idly through the untouchable appendages a few times, before he steels himself for his own speedy cleanup and re-dressing.

After all, if he has to hold Vex down, he can't be getting sticky back onto Vex, that'd be unbecoming.

Finished almost as soon as he began, Hotguy lays a couple of the largest, warmest-looking garments on Vex, before scooping Vex back up and carrying him to one of the soft mats. The extra clothing will serve as good enough blankets. While Hotguy makes sure Vex remains neutralized in a humane manner.

Curled up on the mats, Vex wastes no time snuffling into Hotguy's arms, perfectly content.

That- Hm. Hotguy is going to have to mull that over. How a villain can look so content in the restraining arms of a hero.

Unlike usual, Hotguy has the time to think, here, no split second decisions needed. Hotguy can run his hand through Vex's hair, between braids, watching the way Vex leans into his touch.

So trusting.

The braids are another thing. Cuteguy courting Vex. Trusting Vex enough to flee into his arms when startled.

Then again, right now even Hotguy himself is wearing the pendant Vex gifted him. The shattered shard of wing, his piece of Vex.

It does something to Hotguy, that pendant. That promise. Makes him go soft. Makes him want- Were he in the least bit sensible, he'd tear the thing off and throw it into the concrete pour down the road. Escape Vex's influence.

A growl rumbles through Hotguy's chest. This fragment of Vex is his. Anyone who wants to take it from him will have to best him on the field of battle. A task they will not find easy.

In his arms, Vex slowly comes to again. Blinking those glowing eyes up at Hotguy with a lazy smile, not a hint of fear or discomfort in sight.

"Hello there, gorgeous. You sure did a number on me." Vex rasps, voice even more alluring like this.

"I told you so." Hotguy presses his face into Vex's hair. Not that he's avoiding looking at Vex's face or anything, just. Has Vex's hair always been this soft? "I always win."

"That depends entirely on your definition of 'win'." Cheeky bugger, Vex's fucked out tone of voice not helping one bit.

"I won all three fights, put you in your place." Hotguy huffs, squeezing Vex. Vex'd had no right to look so gorgeous beneath him, utterly wanton and begging.

"Mmh, that you did. I feel very in place right now. Right where I belong." Something firm rests against Hotguy's side. Vex's wing. Slung over him casual as you please.

"Right where you belong." Hotguy echoes. He doesn't examine the trust that Vex's wing won't have sharp edges where it drapes over him. "You wanted that, real bad." He plays with Vex's hair, instead.

"Yeah. I did. Been dreaming about you holding me down and pounding me senseless for years." Vex admits freely. Not a hint of shame in his voice.

And, hm. That's something. Vex, wanting that, wanting his forcefulness, his lack of restraint- A corroding influence, making Hotguy want to give in to those urges more often- But also. So different, than how Vex has interacted with Neit.

"No doubt it was everything you dreamed and more." Hotguy chuckles. Even in his fully snapped furor, he knows how good of a lay he is.

"It was good, yeah. Amazing, even. Absolutely knocked it out of the park, my man." Satisfaction brims in Vex's voice.

"Good, good." Hotguy's whole body sings with pride. Whether or not he should have fucked Vex, Hotguy is the absolute best at everything he does, this is no exception. "Can't have you forget the important things."

"Of course not. You're way too... memorable to ever forget." Vex purrs, somehow right in Hotguy's ear. Sending shivers down his spine.

Vex has changed him, that much is uncomfortably inescapable. Even though Hotguy is still... Hotguy. Himself. A Hero.

He's also someone who holds Vex close, sparks dancing over his spine just from Vex's voice.

"Is that why you're trying to schedule a regular appointment with me?"

"In part. I certainly have no objections to seeing you more frequently. But if you would prefer someone else did your injections, that's fine by me." Vex's teasing tone fades to something more serious. "My main concern is to see you as healthy as possible. And happy."

Hotguy bites his own lip, body tense as he swallows down a moan. He can't- It wouldn't be right, to show how much the thought of Vex- Hotguy remembers, the injector. Slammed into his arm. The dizzying rush, overcoming the sting of the needle. A real memory, so much sharper and clearer than any imagining. So much more dangerous, right on the cusp of melting him.

"Why? Everything would be easier for you, if I were less me."

"Don't you see?" Vex asks. "It's about you being you."

"I don't see. You've been happy with your soft Neit." Hotguy is perfect, everyone loves him. He knows that. But Vex has been so eager to spend time with his Neit. That corrupted and yielding part of himself.

"He certainly is amazing." Hotguy can feel Vex's smile against his skin. "But he's not you. Not all of you. That would be like having a fully loaded burger, and just eating the meat."

"Which is exactly the kind of thing a criminal would do." Hotguy rubs the base of Vex's neck. "As absurd as changing your fundamental being, just for the chance to eat a burger."

"I want the whole burger though. As much as I can have." Vex counters, as Hotguy ghosts his fingers over the patch of synthskin on the back of Vex's neck. Over that trust he holds.

"Greedy." Hotguy could ruin Vex, with everything he knows. Could develop countermeasures. Could spread word of his technology, his weaknesses. Could put a true end to his villaining.

What would Hotguy do without his archnemesis, though? Who is he, without that counterbalance?

He hadn't liked who he was, without Vex.

"Always." Vex agrees. "You could stand to be greedier too. Take what you want. You've more than earned it."

"Corrupting influence." Hotguy clonks his head into Vex's. "A Hero doesn't need to want things for himself." Where did he learn that rule? It wasn't from his Sensei, he knows that much. It just... feels true. Keeps him going.

"You are the only Hero holding yourself to that standard, you know?" Vex muses. "Every other Hero has mentioned things they want. Except you."

"I have to do better. I have to be better." He has to be perfect. "I'm the Hero everyone looks to first."

"You're still human. You're allowed to be human." Vex brings one arm up, petting him with awful softness.

How does Vex make that sound so real? So tempting? Hotguy catches himself leaning into the touch. "That's not what I'm meant for." He murmurs. Is this what it feels like, for something never meant to come in from the rooftops, to be domesticated?

"Even hive insects rest." Vex leans back, to be able to look Hotguy in the eyes. "You too need to rest, Hotguy."

"Are you conscripting me into your insect hivemind?" A practiced flash of grin, the quip far easier than engaging with Vex's words.

"Will that get you to work reasonable hours?" Vex sighs.

"A am working reasonable hours." All the hours is reasonable hours. "Not enough hours, lately, really." Funny, the way Vex returning has lessened his work hours. With more time spent cooking and doing Scar things, with less villainous activity, Hotguy hasn't hardly been pushing himself at all these past few months.

"Hotguy. If you start working more hours again, I will report you to the labor board." Vex's tone is serious. Not a hint of teasing on his face.

"Say hi to Janice for me. With any luck, she's got her blood pressure thing under control." She really ought get the pulsing vein in her forehead checked out, anyway.

"Now I have to consider filing a report anyway." Another sigh.

"I'm sure they'll work through the pile to yours eventually." Sweet of people, to be concerned for him, but his system works. He's doing the work he has to do.

"Until then, I guess I'll have to take matters into my own hands." Vex declares.

"Oh yeah? What are you gonna do about it?" Hotguy challenges, grinning. Not many people can make him do something, but Vex- Vex has never hesitated to take matters into his own hands, with drastic measures if need be.

"Kidnap you, obviously. It's worked in the past." Vex says it like that's a forgone conclusion.

"Nefarious." Hotguy gets lost for a moment, in the thought of the promised collar- Of course he doesn't want a collar that would destroy his focus, that would keep him light and floaty and loose and relaxed under Vex's directions. That would be just- Awful. Awful, yeah, that's the word. To be forced to rest...

Soft touches on his face pull his attention back to Vex. To the sweet curve of lip Vex smiles at him.

"Resting time for the big Hero, yeah? Want to come back to me?" Vex's voice impossibly soft.

A tenderness that undoes Hotguy, that takes his breath away. He feels himself nod, and it doesn't even register as a betrayal. Only the siren song of being tenderly tucked in for a nap, to come back better and stronger afterward.

"Come back to me, Neit." Vex calls. Tenderly. Lovingly.

A sudden breath in- And then Neit melts into Vex's touch, gazing adoringly into those softly glowing eyes. "I'm here." He rearranges himself to be more snuggling Vex, less holding Vex down.

"Did you enjoy that?" Vex's immediate question for him, while also rearranging for better snuggles.

Did he? Feels like Neit's still getting his brain back on right. "It was wild." Words tumble from him, loose and affectionate.

"It was." Vex grins widely at him. "Up for gathering our things and maybe some snuggles? There's also the muscle sample extraction we still haven't done."

Neit gasps. "You gotta take my sample! And then give me all the cuddles, yes. I'll be very sad and wounded and need that Vexy comfort." He can think about the spar, the talking the Hero did, later. Maybe never.

"First though, let's get you your collar and your mask." Ensuring he has a good grip on Neit, Vex floats them off the mat. "Gotta get you comfortable."

"Dress me up all pretty for you. Sleepytimes for big, strong Heroes." Neit giggles. "All the more Vex for me!" Oh look, Neit's favorite blue chew toy, right in front of him. Don't mind if he does.

"Where did that thing get off to?" Vex shifts Neit to one hip as he looks around, searching. For what? Who knows! Neit's got more important things to worry about. Like leaving a nice hickey on Vex's neck. Gotta get the color of the bruising just right for the tone of Vex's skin, not to mention perfecting the shape with extra biting and sucking. A lovely bloom, just for his Vex!

"Did you eat it?" Vex mumbles, as he continues searching. "Nevermind. Here it is." Vex settles down, shuffling Neit into his lap, and rudely taking Neit away from his masterpiece of a bruise.

"Do you want your mask or your collar first?" Vex holds up both.

"Collar first, pretty please." Neit can give the Hero that much, the sweetly familiar touch of Vex's claim, before he slips under fully.

"Right away." Vex sets down the mask, lifting the collar. A kiss to Neit's eagerly presented throat, then the collar clicks shut.

Even without the thrum of Vex's magic clouding his mind, the collar brings that relaxing sense of complete freedom. Nowhere he has to be, no one he has to perform for. A belatedly welcome reprieve. Neit hums as the Hero settles, calm coming over the whole of him.

"Thank you." Catching Vex's hands before they can retreat, Neit presses kisses to each fingertip.

"Of course." Vex taps his freshly kissed fingers against Neit's lips. "How do you want to do your mask change?"

"I can do it right like this, if you can keep your eyes shut." Neit doesn't want to leave Vex's lap, doesn't want to move away at all. And hasn't Vex already proven himself worthy of that trust? Of not peeking or prying?

"Alright." Vex offers up Neit's mask in one hand, while the other arm goes over his eyes.

Neit lifts his hands. His heart pounds in his chest, in his throat. His body still caught in that reaction, no matter how much his mind trusts Vex. But he doesn't let the terror stop him, the choking fear. Steady fingers undo clasps, slipping his Hero mask off, tucking it between them safely as he plucks up his Vex mask from Vex's fingers. Anonymous safety. Bright revelry. Neit puts on his face, clicking together the clasps firmly.

"All set. Good Vexy~" Neit grins Vex's bright slash of a grin, all mischief.

Before he uncovers his eyes, Vex brings a hand up to trail over Neit's face. Confirming the mask is in place. Only then does he drop his arm, wrapping it back around Neit, where it belongs.

"Gear gathering, then tissue sample extraction?" Vex asks.

"And then infinite cuddles!" Neit adds. Very important part of the schedule.

"And then cuddles, yes." Vex gets up again, trying to put Neit on his own two feet.

Neit dangles in Vex's grip, deadweight. "Mrrpt." Slow, adoring blinks.

Sighing, Vex props Neit back onto his hip, where Neit immediately snuggles back up.

"You know this will just make everything take longer." Vex informs him, starting to collect gear off the ground.

"Oh no, I'll have more time cuddled up with you." Neit's sure he can endure this hardship. Anyway, the Hero already made a neat pile of like, half the gear, so that part will be easy to pick up.

The rest has Vexy traversing the whole room, bag and box on him to collect everything while Neit snuggles him and hums.

"Help me out here, be my tray." Vex switches Neit to a princess carry, holding him in grabbing range of both the box of Vexy armor and his bag of Hero stuff.

"Of course!" All Vexy had to do was ask, of course! Neit happily takes up the box and bag, settling them on his chest, and putting pieces in the appropriate one as they're given to him.

------

"Aw, sleepy bird, tired himself right out." Scar plays with one of Grian's headwings fondly.

"Poor Ari." Vex agrees. "I really should have warned him it'd be an hour long flight. And the upset about me not being warm didn't help either." That adorably curious tip of head. "Why did he get so upset about that?"

"This was worth the flight." Scar pats Vex's cheek with the little wing. "And he really really wants to court you right. It's serious real, now. You put it in your courting book for him, that you had to be warm?"

"That the only way I get properly restful sleep is if I'm warm. The feeling of low batteries, it's... a bit like being hungry and tired at the same time. Not exactly pleasant. I figured it wouldn't matter that much, just relevant for bed nests." Vex sighs, petting a finger over the winglet.

"Nests is nests." Scar shrugs, stealing a few kisses to Vex's wrist. "And like. You remember how it was, being a kitty, yeah? Like, he doesn't have the same instincts as that, and he's usually good at managin' them, but when he's all tired his kinda hit him harder."

"I do." Vex hums, looking lost in thought. "I'll get something made. Another mattress topper dressed up to be a stand alone 'heated blanket'. We can't just plug me in every time." Vex wiggles his other arm, still tethered to the USB cable Scar plugged in.

"Not every time." Scar nods. "But you're a silly bean for not suggestin' it this time." Selfishly, Scar is delighted to discover a new and exciting hole on his Vexy. Perfect size for poking his fingers into- Alas, he can't do that with a plug in it, though. Later.

"What exactly makes me a 'silly bean'?" Vex asks.

"Havin' a way to get chargy-warm and needing it teased out of you sounds pretty silly to me." Scar can't entirely blame Vex, though. An upset Grian can be very distracting to thinking good, doubly so when Vex is confused by the situation.

"Ah. Yeah. Though I do try to avoid plugging in as much as possible. It's just a bit conspicuous, you know? So it didn't immediately occur to me to do it." Vex fiddles with the cable. "I also hadn't planned on charging here."

"That's okay, we got there in the end. A bit of silly is fine." Scar assures, gliding his hand up to rub little circles on the back of Vex's hand. "You had a pretty long flight, too, so topping up is good."

"Good, but not necessary. I had it all calculated so I would've made it home with power to spare. Even if I'd carried you both ways." Vex shrugs.

"I like you having more good. Whether it's necessary or not. I say it's necessary for you to have so many good." Scar grins, nipping along Vex's shoulder.

"I have you two. What more 'good' do I need?" Vex grins.

"You need comfy nests, and tasty homecooked meals, and fun movies, and lots of cuddles, and all the good things forever!" Scar declares, getting him kicked by Grian for his loud. A whine escapes Scar. Grian must've forgotten he still has his bird feet. Doesn't feel like anything's bleeding though, so good enough!

"I suppose those are nice. I could do with more of those." Vex agrees, pulling Scar in for a soft kiss.

"And many, many more kisses." Scar murmurs into Vex's lips, before returning the kiss, sweet and unrushed. They get to not just have this, but keep having this.

Which still spins Scar's head to think about! He gets to have his Vexy. And his Grian. They all get to do something with all this love between them. All this overwhelming feeling.

Scar leans his forehead against Vex's. "I love you, Vexy." Doll's said it, Neit's said it, now it's Scar's turn.

"I-" Vex flounders, mouth popping open and closed like the most preciously adorable goldfish. Bluefish. Faefish. "I care about you quite a lot." Stilted words, accompanied by a tightness, the familiar feeling of Vex bracing for a blow.

The only blows Scar has for Vex is nuzzles, trilling contentedly. "Sweet Vexy, my good Galvexy~" Scar lilts.

Vex does not relax under him. "You're- you're not mad?" Halting, cautious words.

"Mad?" Scar blinks, tipping his head. How could he have room for mad, with all the warmth and affection flooding his whole body?

"Because- I didn't... didn't say it back." Vexy mumbles, dropping his gaze down.

"But you told me about your Vexy feelings in your Vexy words." Gently, carefully, Scar cups Vex's cheek. Rubbing it, but not making Vex look up. "Why would I want anything else?"

"I- I did?" Vex blinks those pretty glowing eyes back up at Scar, all confused.

"Yeah? That's what you were feelin', right? Caring, n'stuff?" Scar chirrs, only barely not allowing himself to get lost in those lovely eyes. Gotta make sure his Vexy understands, first.

"I- yeah? I care about you? A lot? An obsessive amount?" Vexy bites his own kissable, kissable lips. Making them that much more enticing.

"Then that's what I wanna hear. Just like, whatever it is you're feeling." Scar brushes his thumb over the corner of Vex's mouth. "I want my unfiltered Vexy, hearing that makes me so happy I could burst."

"You don't care if I say it back?" Vex nips as Scar's thumb, looking genuinely surprised.

Scar meets Vex with his own confusion, a tipped head and his own blinking. "Why would I?"

"Isn't it... traditional? Expected?" Vex lays out his reasoning. "I observed more than one couple break up in college over the refusal or inability to say it. Sometimes even if the response wasn't 'properly sincere'."

"Ah yes, because we've been so traditional." Scar snickers. "Extremely traditional kidnapping, mind control, and beating the stuffing out of one another." A fond sigh. "I can't really speak to like, what fancy college people do, though. Sounds silly to me. Probably addled their brains with all the studying and didn't know how to appreciate what they had."

"Speaking of traditional kidnapping and mind control. Should I prepare to kidnap you at the usual time this year, or will you be coming by on your own?" Vex asks.

Gasping sharply, Scar squishes Vex's cheek. "Kidnapping! Of course! No other option!" Three sharp kicks from Grian, delightfully painful, but Scar still doesn't feel the warm slickness of blood, so Grian must not be actually upset by the noise.

"Do you want a new collar too? We could try something different with them, if you want." Vex offers.

"Different? Like what?" What else can be done with collars?

"Well we have a series of collars that pacify in different intensities. And the obedience one. But I could also do one that leaves you all dreamy, or one that makes you horny the whole time. Or program you in different ways." Vex runs a finger over the lace of Scar's current, dud collar.

A moan rips out of Scar's chest with enough force to wind him. "Yes." He gasps his words. "Yes, all of them. I want them." Delirious fragments of potential spin around his mind, slamming Scar with inarticulable images.

"Pick one you want first." Vex says. "We can make then all, but I gotta start somewhere."

Floating, fluffy thoughts, giggly bubbles, drifting through the time without any focus or direction- "Dreamy." Scar manages, speaking out the first option he can remember in his spinning thoughts. Not like Vex needs much help with making him horny, anyway.

"I'll get you a real nice soft one then. Make all worries go away. Can I put pain reduction in too, or would that be bad?" Vex asks.

"No worries." Scar melts into Vex, chirring. "Mm, just a little, just take the edge off, gotta still feel it if it's sharp." Too easy to push himself past bad, if he can't feel it. Too long a cost to pay, if he does.

"Just a little then. I can do just a little." Vex promises. He holds up his free arm. "Did you get to take a good look at my port? I know you have to be curious. You're curious about everything."

"I'm extra-curious about you." Scar steals Vex's arm, pressing kisses up along until he feels synth-skin. "You've got them on this side too?"

"Yeah. Both arms, and the back of my neck." Vex nods. "If you're careful, you can investigate."

"So many." Scar slides his fingers along, seeking the feeling of the slight give without bothering to look. His hands find the gap better, fingertips gently pressing in to part the skin. "Cozy Vexy hole to dip right into~"

"Not that big of a hole. Barely enough space for a USB port." Vex gently shakes his head.

"Enough for a finger, maybe two." Scar's enthusiasm is unflagged. Variety in Vexy holes! He spreads his fingers, careful, gentle, to get a good look at the inside of Vex's glistening wrunt.

"One." Vex's tone brokers no argument. "You can mess with them as much as you like when you have your own."

"But I wanna mess with yours." Scar whines. Even if the thought of having his own bubbles pleasantly inside of Scar. He's going to have wings, and ports! All kinds of exciting new things!

"You can mess with mine a little. But only one finger in at a time." Vex stays firm on that.

"Tight Vexy wrunt." Scar kisses the spread lip of the opening. One finger isn't a difficulty, though, sliding right in to wiggle around against the flesh and pokey bits.

Not that it's very deep in there, only the first joint of Scar's finger disappears in. He can feel the squishy silicone protector in the actual USB port mirroring the one he had to twist away to be able to plug Vexy in, the unyielding metal, and the smooth softness of the synthskin that makes up the rest of the wrunt.

Makes a nice little space to just dip his finger in and out of. "You feel so good around me~" He purrs to his Vexy.

"This is so weird." Vex shakes his head. "Barely feels like anything to me."

"I like how weird it is." Scar grins. "Got less feely-boppers inside of it, then?"

"The nerve density inside is lower, yes. Not by much, though." Vex sighs. "Of course you like the weirdness. If you want a small synthskin pouch of your own, without a port, just say the word. I can have that in you in about half an hour, once it's been grown. And Lizzie should be able to have it healed up in half a day."

"A pouch with lots and lots of feely-boppers in it?" Scar perks up. Oh, where would he even put it? There's so many good places that they could finger or fuck!

"Sure, you can have heightened nerve density inside. Why not?" Vex shrugs.

"Excellent! Oh, thank you!" Scar slips his hand out of Vex before he can get too excited to be careful. Instead, he crushes Vex close in a huge hug.

"Don't thank me yet. You still have to get up to a safe surgery weight." Vex warns, but the important part is that he does hug Scar back.

"All the more reason to get there. More chances to taste the kiss of your blade." Nothing to do but aggressively nuzzle his scruff into Vex's cheek.

"True. I am so looking forward to cutting into you." Vex purrs right in Scar's ear. "For now, you'll have to content yourself with my needles."

Another moan, Scar muffling himself into nips of Vex's skin. "Pump me right full of whatever you like."

"I may have a few ideas for that already. Things I want to do when I get my hands on the Hero." Vex smiles his evil fae grin. "I wonder if I could.... hmm... no, I won't spoil the surprise."

"Tease! You have to give me a hint, now." Scar wriggles in anticipation. The Hero won't let Vex have his way easily, but that only makes it all the sweeter if Vex does earn that win.

"It has to do with your tits." Vex gropes them through Scar's sweater.

Purring a moan, Scar presses his chest right into Vex's hands. "No one is immune to their allure~" What could Vex even do with them? Give him a piercing? Put them in a milking machine? Whatever he chooses, divine.

"As they shouldn't be." Vex nods. "You'll like what I have planned for them. I hope the Hero will too."

"The Hero is quite proud of them." Scar doesn't need to check to know that. The thought of that prideful squirming while Vex plays with the Hero's tits- Delicious.

"You aren't... whole different people in there, right? Just different personalities? Different mindsets of the same person?" Vex checks.

"Hm." Scar has to chew the question, along with Vex's neck. "Dunno. Does it matter?" He hasn't really put that much thought into it. Really, spending time with Vex is the most thought he's had to put into any of it, like. Ever. With like, having to talk about it and all.

"Sort of?" Vex wobbles his hand.

"Why?" Scvar blinks up at Vex, head cocked.

"Well, firstly, I'd have a few medical concerns I'd like to see checked over, if it is several people. And well, I'd want to know if it's hurt, to the Hero, or harm, if I tie him down and use him." Vex chooses his words slowly, carefully.

"Well, you're gonna be checkin' my medical stuff anyway, yeah?" That seems easy enough to just peek in on either way, if it's gonna get Vex all worried. For the rest- "You could do it in ways that'd be either, for the Hero. He likes to be a little seduced, to fight it." Scar tries, but he's not entirely sure he's even exactly answering the question.

"Neit. I don't want to harm any part of you. Including the Hero." Vex catches Scar's chin, looks him dead in the eye.

Scar melts into Vex's grip, into that stern gaze. Anyone might think Vex thundrously mad, just to look at him, but Scar knows it's care that drives these motions. Care so deep that it rushes out with harsh force. "I know you don't. I trust you won't. The Hero just needs to find his footing with you again. Change is difficult, for him." Everything is usually so crystal clear and simple for the Hero, after all. Orderly.

"So it wouldn't be harm if, on Monday, I catch him and strap him down, and fuck his mouth as I make sure you get all your shots?" Vex asks. "He just wants to have a good fight about it, and has to get used to it?"

"I need to see how the spar goes first, to know if the Hero is ready for a forced fuck this soon." Scar can't come up with a more solid reply than that. He's hesitant to give the full go-ahead, but he can't rule out that Vex might do it in a way that works out. "The strapping down and the shots is good, I know that much."

"Should we pencil in time for the spar tomorrow? Bright and early maybe?" Vex suggests.

"That might be for the best." Scar grins. Certainly, the Hero isn't going to be patient about his promised Vex time, at this point. "Well, maybe bright or early, with the late night."

"After breakfast." Vex clarifies. "We let Ari do whatever, and lock ourselves in the gym. Little warmup, then we have at each other."

"He can have a morning flight." Scar nods. "Mm, locking the doors is a good idea. Just in case. Shouldn't be a problem, though, goodness knows he wants a piece of you by now."

"He can have a piece." Vex smiles. "Do you think he'd agree to a no headshots rule? Pretty sure the last thing either of us needs is to cut the spar short and be nursing a concussion the rest of the day."

Scar chuckles. "I say he'd be offended that you think he needs one. Can't be addling the brains of his archnemesis."

"Alright then. It's a date." Vex kisses Scar's cheek.

Chirping, Scar presses his own smooch to Vex's cheek. "A date! I think I like dates, after all. Today's been amazin'."

"Speaking of dates. How long do we want to stay?" Vex asks, sitting up just a little.

Grian snuffles and squishes his wing around Vex more.

"Dunno. Do you got more star facts and views you wanna share?" Scar lays back on Vex, looking up at the splay of stars twinkling bright across deep darkness. A view he so rarely gets, even from the tippy toppiest building. Like Scar could fall up into the glimmering void forever.

"We could theoretically stay here until sun up and I wouldn't run out of things to share." Vex snuggles in next to him. "Like that there. You see that arch of stars? That's the head of Leo, the lion from the zodiac."

"Kitty stars~" Scar reaches up toward them, petting the star-kitty. "Maybe not quite that long today- We'll have to come back here later, you know. To hear more and more." Very sensible, yes.

"It is already past midnight. We really ought to head home." Vex muses.

"That's such a Leo thing to say." Scar quips, full of unearned confidence. "All tuckered out, are you?"

"Getting there. And I'm not the only one that has to fly." Vex nods at their snoozing bird.

"He's gonna tumble right into bed after another flight." Scar ruffles Grian's hair, getting adorable chirps.

"I'll join him. For all that I use magic, it's not exactly easy physically either." Vex sighs. "I'll carry you back though."

"I'll haveta make sure you two don't end up sleeping on the first surface you touch down on, huh?" Scar smooches Vex's nose. "Lookin' forward to flying with you."

"Nah. Not for me. I will fall asleep the moment I hit my charger, though." Vex waves off. "I'm looking forward to flying with you too. Especially since there's something I wanna try."

"Try?" Scar is delighted to find Vex still full of surprises tonight! Spoiling Scar so good.

"I'll share when we're ready to take off. For now, let's see if we can convince our prettiest Ari to let us out of the nest so we can clean and fly home." Vex chuckles softly.

"You pampered him so good he needed a whole nap to deal with it." Scar snickers. Still, he whistles a soft waking call to Grian.

In response, a softly curious coo.

Another waking call, not from Scar's lips this time. Vex calls quietly as well, putting his earlier lessons to good use.

Grian trills his waking back to them, doing a big stretch. "Noisy pillows." Dark eyes blink open.

"Pillows that want to head home. You up for flying, pretty thing?" Scar coos.

"Always." As if to prove it, Grian rapidly flaps his flight wings several times.

"Right then, if you could let us out of this cozy nest, so we can clean up and head home to our cozy nest that makes me all warm?" Vex asks.

"Home..." Grian's gaze goes briefly distant, before he shakes himself off, wings already folded up neatly behind him. "Anyway, up and at 'em slowpokes." Grian clambers out of their nest.

"Much obliged." Vex follows, and somehow already has his hands full of dishes he brings inside.

Speedy Vex! Not one to let himself be outdone, Scar scoops up his own share of dishes, while Grian arranges the lounges and table back to how they were.

Inside, there's a cart that Vexy is stacking the dishes on. Scar joins in, passing what he's holding to Vex piece by piece as Vex's arms empty.

When he has no more things left to pass along, Scar instead passes Vex a quick kiss. Gotta. As many kisses as he wants, after all.

Tables cleared, furniture back where it was. Scar helps Grian fold down the last of the blankets.

"Really is a cozy little spot, out here." Scar muses, looking the balconyroof over.

"It is." Vex hums, bringing the cushions inside.

“Not bad for an evil base of operations.” Grian shrugs, hopping himself up onto the railing.

"Everyone ready to go?" All cushions stowed, Vex comes up behind Scar, wrapping both arms around Scar.

Scar leans back, nuzzling into Vex’s cheek. “Good to go.”

“I’ve been ready!” Grian snaps his wings out wide in front of them, displaying a glowing map of stars scattered across his feathers, matching the sky above.

Behind Scar, Vex's appropriately awed gasp. "That's almost perfectly accurate." Vex breathes awestruck wonder.

Grian’s chin lifts in haughty pleasure. “Nothing less than the best, of course.”

Scar basks in the gloopy-warm feeling of watching them. Of Grian putting in so much effort to surprise and delight their Vex. Of actions, screaming from the rooftops.

"Can I..." Vex's voice trails off, but his hand reaches out, stopping well short of the feathers presented.

A long silence hangs in the crisp night air between them.

“Gentle touch.” Grian’s voice crunches the quiet apart. “No preening, just touch.” He even moves his wing closer to Vex’s hand.

"Just touch." Vex nods, slipping out from behind Scar. Reverently, he strokes the backs of two fingers down Grian's feathers, muttering names as he touches each star.

This too, can be a kind of worship. A celestial being, the very stars out of the sky brought to Earth for Vex to caress. Names spoken like prayer, hymnal.

Scar's fingers dance and twirl in thin air, memorizing shape and light. The strokes, to paint this onto canvas.

Moving on from those gorgeous wings, Vex takes Grian's face in both hands.

"You, Ari, are a wonder without compare. Thank you for allowing me the honor of courting you. From the bottom of my heart." Vex draws Grian in, pressing their foreheads together.

How could any specific set words hold a candle to hearing the sentiment directly from Vex's beating crystalline heart itself?

Grian bends into the touch, crooning adoringly. "My courted. A delight to share the skies with you."

"A delight and privilege, my courted." The chirp rolls smoothly off of Vex's lips. "Let us rise."

Grian's headwings flutter and fluff, crossing over his cheeks. Not enough to hide the bright color of his face, though, only making it contrast more to their darkness. "Let us rise." Softly intoned words, their lips barely a sliver away from one another- Before Grian lets himself fall backward over the railing, circling up and around on his twinkling tapestry wings.

Stepping back from the railing, Vex opens his arms for Scar. Inviting Scar to throw himself into that embrace.

Holding Scar close, Vex rises so softly Scar barely realizes they've left the ground. Up they go, until Grian is circling around them.

Rising together, into the darkness, three shadows, dancing together. Weightless floating, brushed occasionally by the feathery night sky.

Flipping them on their back, Vex glides until he's matching Grian's circling perfectly.

Then he goes up.

Higher and higher, until Scar and Grian are close enough it feels like they could kiss midair.

Grian laughs, the sound stolen away by wind, but Scar knowing the shape of it on Grian, his little shake and squint. Before Scar can ask what's so funny, there's hands on his chest, groping.

Under him, pressed against his back, Scar feels Vex chuckle as well. Their cheeky fae reaches up with one hand, to give Grian a grope, as well.

Grian gasps a perfect 'o' of a shape, immediately stealing Vex's hand to press kisses to the knuckles.

Vex's hand isn't idle, caressing every bit of Grian that he can. Petting cheeks, lips, squeezing fingers.

Trusting Vex's magic, Scar spares a hand to pet down over Grian's shoulders. Gotta make sure his pretty remembers how to keep flapping his wings.

The mighty feathered sails, carrying him safely through the night. Glowing speckles, their map and treasure at the same time.

Very efficient, that way.

Scar could stay up here all night, weightless and basking in his lovelies. But he knows they both have to get home to recharge! So as they slow their kisses and petting, Scar whistles a questioning home.

Home, Vex confirms, followed by the questioning form of freeflight.

Grian whistles his assent to not flying in formation, with a curious flick of his headwings.

"Neit?" The only reason Scar hears Vex is lips pressed right to Scar's ear. "Spread your arms and interlace your fingers with mine. Your turn to steer."

"My turn?" Scar doesn't know what that means, but he spreads his arms to match Vex's, wearing his cozy Vexy-cape on his back. Any excuse to hold Vex's hand is a good one, after all. Or a good two, in this case. Scar twists to get more comfortable, yelping in surprise at the swoop of air around them as he does.

"Your turn." Vex sounds amused as he continues to well, not whisper, on account of the wind, but Scar declares Vex to be sensually murmuring into his ear regardless. "You steer us now. Move your arms, try it out. I won't let us crash."

"Personal Vexy-kite." Scar giggles. A giddy new puzzle to explore, figuring out which motions make them fly in different ways. Up, down, tilting to the sides. Chasing after Grian's lazy flaps toward home.

It's rather obvious that Vex is still the one actually flying, and just translating Scar's motions, after even just a few movements. Scar doesn't care. This is still the closest he's ever gotten to actually flying, not just being flown, and he's going to savor it.

A few more experiments, then Scar has Vex do a full looping barrel roll around Grian, whooping the entire way.

Grian swoops and twirls around them right back, a mess of dizzying rolling scissors acrobatics that leave Scar breathless and elated. Scar's watched courting-flight displays before, but now he can participate, urging Vex through the daredevil motions.

With the firm weight of Vex pressed to his back, and the wind rushing past his front, Scar feels both breathtakingly free and utterly safe.

Grian trills at them, inviting and reckless. Vex trills right back, Scar guiding their climb right up to the moon-kissing peak, only for them to plummet in a dive to the ground in a dizzying spiral, fronts pressed together.

The rush of air stripping away all sound but the roaring of his blood, the ground looming ever-closer. Promising doom, promising to shatter them like a mug against a wall, promising to end them, one all-encompassing unknown crater out in a field. But Scar feels no fear, not facing Grian, not with Vex at his back.

Together, in the same moment, Grian and Scar, Grian and Vex, level out of the dive, skimming over speed-blurred vegetation close enough to touch.

Their courting flight, for now, complete. Grian panting heavily as he falls in formation behind Vex, as is Scar. Even Vex shares in being winded.

Let Grian rest in their slippery stream, while Scar nuzzles back into Vex. Simple, quiet flight time for them all to catch their breath.

Soon, the first twinkling lights of houses appear beneath them. Scattered, at first, but gradually more and more. Until the ground below is just as star-speckled as the sky above.

His city, their city. Full of bright little lives to protect, full of adventure to discover. All interconnected, so easy to see that from up here. Buildings growing under them as they move closer to the heart.

A blink, and suddenly, the buildings have jumped in size, tall around them. Huh? Scar goes to rub his eye, only to discover it's crusted in cruft. Is he that tired?

Good thing Vexy's got him, nice and secure. Scar gives a soft whistle of safe, stretching his body to wake it up.

Vex responds with the same low whistle back, confirming.

Pulling Scar's head in, Vex speaks directly into Scar's ear. "Five minutes."

Scar whistles his confirmation, letting himself enjoy the wash of lights from his city. Not as much as he expected there to be at night, but still plenty of bright splashes of color. Occupying himself with mapping out the shapes he knows, so as to not drift off again.

Like this, it's no time at all before they touch down on Vexy's balcony.

Grian does a few extra loops before swooping in beside them, one wing tucked up to his back, the other blocking the wind from reaching them as Scar ushers them all inside.

Where his two lovelies beeline for the bedroom with exhausted focus. Honestly, Scar could use a solid sleeping himself. So he joins them in their quest for pjs.

Hands press to bodies indiscriminately, peeling away layers from themselves and each other with no care but for what's fastest. Not even any time taken to appreciate the bounties revealed by this singeminded stripping, no, only an immediate dive into the softest fabrics to hand, Scar sliding boxers onto Vex, while Vex slips flannel jammie pants onto Scar. Both of them fall on Grian, Vex doing up the wing-slit buttons while Scar glides on shorts that leave the bottom half of Grian's legs free to cool from their flight, and to shift as Grian pleases.

Dressed, they all collapse into the nest with relieved groans. Scar pets his warming Vexy, only to have Grian steal said warm Vexy to use as a teddy and pillow.

Only fair, then, that Scar gets to sprawl his full weight across both Vex and Grian, especially now that he doesn't have to be as visibly careful with Grian's wings. A crushing is good for them both, all warm and comfy and cozy with Grian already making little snuffling chirps, and Vex all lax and warm and quiet.

------

Grian blinks his way back to awareness, smooshed between two toastysoft pillows. Teething on one gets him a chuckle.

"Oh, good, you're awake." Vex's echoey rumble.

Vex. Warmpillow. Right, nest time. The pieces of Grian's brain slowly line back up in order. He'd gone all out on his best courting display, and been met with nothing but the most eager reciprocal courting. Sweet on his tongue- Grian chirrs. "M'wake. Yes."

"That's wonderful, prettiest Ari. Especially if you would like to shower before we have to leave for my activity." A warm hand runs over one of his headwings, drawing more cozy chirrs out of him.

"Leave?" Nuzzling into Vex's hand, Grian feels like he should remember something about that, but there's just a blur with highlights where his memories should be.

"My activity is at a secondary location. Private, so we won't have to worry about being seen. But we still have to fly there." Vex explains, fingernails finding a stubborn itch between Grian's feathers and scritching it just right.

Grian garbles out the most elegant trill and he will hear no word otherwise as he faceplants back into his convenient pillow. Fuck. Who gave Vex the right to be so damn good at this. Bedamned fae fingers. He'd better not ever stop. "Flying- Yeah, uh. Shower." Good enough.

"I should join you. Given how much makeup you rubbed off onto me." Vex chuckles softly.

"Mrp? Group shower?" Scar of course chooses right then to join them in wakefulness.

"Group shower. A quick one." Vex confirms. "Either of you want an airlift over?"

Scar catches Grian's eye, and they don't even have to rock paper scissors for it. "We're good." Scar pats Vex on the head, While Grian begins prying himself out of the nest.

Successfully freed from his bowl of cozy goodness, Grian grabs Vex by the shoulders and hefts him up.

A startled yelp, before Vex chuckles as he turns featherlight in Grian's arms. "I see how it is."

Tucking Vex close to his chest, Grian strolls on over to the bathroom. "Exactly. You're not the only one who can carry around here, don't you forget it."

Scar scampers along behind them, snickering.

"I'll tape a sticky note to my forehead." Vex says nonsensically.

"Or you could stick little stickers of us to your forehead." Scar suggests, bustling around to ready the shower.

That leaves stripping to Grian, then. Which Vex's weightlessness makes rather simple for him, an easy glide of fingers over smooth, cool skin. Even if Grian has to pause for a moment, just seeing his blunt fingernail-tipped fingers against Vex's skin. Not something he ever expected to be comfortable showing around Vex. And Vex hasn't even really said anything about it!

Lizzie did say Vex knows other shifters. So this all isn't new-new to him. Still, Grian could stand to take some curiosity. A little prodding. Stupid Vex probably thinks he's being considerate and all, leaving Grian his space.

Scar's hands find their way into Grian's waistband, eager to theft away his pants, as always. "Shocking you've gone this long without goring any of us in your sleep."

"I've been blunting the tips of my talons." Grian murmurs. It's not a perfect system, not as safe as just having human toes, but it's worked thus far, in their visits to Vex.

"What foot configuration do you usually sleep in?" Vex asks, nothing but idle curiosity in his tone.

"Talons if I'm by myself, squishy feet if I'm with people prone to puncturing." Grian rubs at Vex's oddly colorful wings.

"I've told you, it's fine if y-"

"No." Grian's run the course of that conversation with Scar plenty enough times already.

"A sensible arrangement, if one has the choice." Vex nods. His wing flexes under Grian's hand like a laminated piece of paper, pressing back into the rubs.

"Works for me, anyway." Grian bundles the three of them into the shower, under that soft rainfall. Scar's already turned on the waterfall, a siren song of crashing water, but Grian has a delicate fae to wash up first.

Starting out with that woodsy soap, Grian sets about scrubbing a good half of Ariana's face off Vex's shoulder. At least the blue skin makes the makeup rather easy to see.

Scar picks through Grian's flight wings behind him, just a quick once-over to catch any feathers that didn't come in or settle properly during rapid regrowing. There's always a couple, not a huge bother, but nice to have them handled.

Leaving Grian free to focus on Vex, expanding his scrubbing to take care of large streaks of body glitter as best as he can. Vex will just have to deal with being glittery for the foreseeable future. Facts of life when deciding to snuggle someone in full drag.

Grian does at least get any of the chunky stuff off, the rest will run its course in due time.

Getting to be Ariana again- Had been thrilling. A little terrifying, but all the best thrills are. Having his two biggest fans in the crowd... Well, that had worked out, hadn't it?

A stage, of his own, to do that more often? Grian trills one of his own tunes, as he gives Vex a final once-over rinse.

"What are the chances?" Vex muses idly. "That that would turn out to be you."

"One in a few million, or something like it." It's a big city, after all. "Of all the luck in the world, for you to have ended up at my shows."

"Or something like that." Vex murmurs.

"Makes you one lucky fanboy~" Grian winks at Vex, as cheeky as can be. "Living the dream."

"If this a dream, I don't ever want to wake up." Vex catches one of Grian's hands, pressing a kiss to every knuckle.

“Sounds like a dream. Renowned pop sensation falls for a nobody schmuck of a fae.” Grian teases lightly, headwings fluttering. How does Vex keep doing this to him? Turning his insides into butterflies, the likes of which have only been rivaled by Scar.

"Maybe they'll make a movie about us." Vex teases right back.

“I’d watch that.” Scar chimes in. “As many times as the theaters would play it.”

“Ariana and the Cute Boytoy of Doom.” Grian snickers.

"Something along those lines." Vex snickers. "Do you want any help with your own washing?"

"If you want to touch me so badly, you may." Grian demurs, patting Vex's cheek.

"Just no wing touching." Vex double checks, gathering up the soap Grian prefers.

“No wings, yes. Someone already has that covered.” Grian shakes one, splattering water onto Scar, only getting a giggle for his troubles. Disaster.

Maybe Grian really can get used to this, letting them both pamper him. Vex’s lathered palms gliding smoothly over his skin, Scar’s fingers rubbing the bases of his wings.

Something so intoxicating, about being the target of that much focused attention. About those hands not his own, roaming his body. The hands of his flock, his m- Grian’s courted, and his mate. Surrounded by so much care, so much tangible affection.

Softly glowing eyes, looking up at him like they want nothing more than to be allowed this supplication. Like Grian’s hand through midnight-dark hair is a benediction of the highest order.

The power could go to Grian's head.

Instead of pondering that further, Grian grabs Scar, diving into scrubbing him down. Get washed, idiot.

Scar giggly wriggles in Grian’s hands, never pulling away. The joy is infuriating, the joy is infectious. Grian makes sure to give Scar’s dick a couple slaps for good measure, but Scar can’t even muster pretending to be whiny about that, moaning for Grian’s touch regardless of the pain.

Such a slut. Though at least Scar doesn't try to hump Grian, so that's a plus. Did Vex's machine actually managed to achieve some sort of satisfaction for Scar?

Grian will have to supervise use of the contraption next time, to see for himself. Anything that can satisfy Scar for this long must be an impressive sight.

Still, just to be sure Scar doesn't get any ideas, Grian grabs onto him and twirls them both right into the waterfall, making only minor efforts to drown his beloved mate.

Requisite amount of sputtering from Scar reached, Grian allows Vex to herd Scar out of the shower for drying off.

Leaving Grian to enjoy his waterfall a little longer, just so Vex can take the worst of Scar's whining and wetness, before Grain follows along. Hm. Vex had a nice featherdryer around here somewhere, didn't he?

"Vexy..." Grian drawls, draping his entire sodden self on the faerie. "Where's your featherdryer?"

"My... featherdryer?" Vex blinks at Grian. "Like...?" He holds up a towel.

"No." Instead of using his words, Grian simply bites Vex. He'll get the idea.

"He means this." Scar has fished something from a cabinet, holding it up. A ConCorp hairdryer, one marketed as extra gentle and extra quiet. Claims it more than lives up to.

"That's a hairdryer?" Vex blinks yet more, an unreasonable amount, really. Grian would complain about it, if Vex weren't running careful fingers through his wet hair. "I mean, yes, it also works on feathers, of course."

"Dry me, with the featherdryer." Grian demands.

"Bossy bird." Scar grins, handing the featherdryer over to Vex.

"Very bossy bird." Vex agrees, plugging in the dryer and getting to work. He starts off on Grian's head, combing his fingers through hair and feathers alike.

"Someone has to be in charge of you tw-" Grian's words dissolve into cooing under the warm air and petting. Must not have been important. Instead, he shakes out his flight wings in Scar's general direction, a much better use of his time.

Let his mate get a headstart on preening. Preened feathers dry better.

"But what about second preening, hm?" Scar chuckles, digging his fingers into Grian's wings.

Mysteriously, Grian blinks his eyes just once, and they're all in Vex's closet, looking over clothing options.

"Warmer than that, please, Neit." Vex mildly requests.

Given that Scar's holding a crop top, Grian nods his agreement. Scar needs to be dressed warmer if they're going flying. "Pick something better, or I will find three parkas to stuff you into." Grian cheerfully chirps, moving to paw through Vex's sweaters.

There're an awful lot of merch sweaters, from heroes and villains both. Grian chooses one of his own, an aggressively pink thing with wing slits. Plenty familiar with how to slide it on, Grian pokes his freshy preened wings out of the slits. Toasty.

Scar already has his crop top on, but tosses his hands up when Grian's gaze lands on him. "Layering!" He yelps, holding up a sweatshirt like a shield.

Of course the problem chose a Vex sweatshirt.

Speaking of Vex. He must have worn this Cuteguy sweater before, it smells of him. Grian can't help but snuffle his nose into the high collar, drinking in the scent of flock.

Vex should wear Grian's colors more often. Not that Grian's going to be helping with that, given that this sweater belongs to Grian now. He's not giving up his cozy flock-scent. He won't even have to explain it if he wears it out and about! Everyone who's anyone loves Cuteguy.

Scar seizes the opportunity to shimmy himself into the sweatshirt where he can spin for Grian's approval.

"Better. Now put on some pants." Grian judges.

"Aww, do I have to?" Scar whines.

Vex tosses a pair of sweatpants at Scar. "Yes. You do. Here." Violently neon pink, with black rhinestones spelling 'CUTE' across the ass. Grian nearly swallows his tongue when he sees Vex is wearing the matching hoodie.

Grian is so stunned that he reaches out and puts on the first pants his hands touch, absolutely certainly not noticing the pale blue crystalline lattice pattern on them. Nope, didn't see it at all.

"Did you miss even a single merch drop?" Grian finally manages to blurt any words out.

"Nope! And I usually got two or three of everything, if there was stock." Vex completes his outfit with the Hotguy sweatpants from the same drop. Neon orange and electric blue, with 'HOT' in black rhinestones on the ass.

"That's- Ah!" Grian flails, trying to paw a sudden smothering thing off his face- Scar cackles victoriously, springing back away. Wh- Fingers over looped planes of fabric, a familiar embroidered logo. A Hotguy scarf, wrapped around Grian's face and shoulders.

"Perfect!" Scar declares, stupidly proud of himself.

"He is." Vex agrees, wrapping a Vex scarf around Scar's neck. Neatly, and tied properly. Vex is already sporting a Cuteguy scarf himself. Grian's gonna steal the scarf too.

Grian re-wraps his own scarf properly. "Well!" Talking is better than thinking about the way his headwings try to flutter. "Now that we're all dressed up, it's time to let an evil villain lead us blindly to an unknown secondary location!"

"You don't- we don't have to go." Vex frets his shoulders down into a slump, suddenly shy. "I just- thought it might be fun."

Catching Vex's chin in his hand, Grian stares him down. "You're not getting out of your part of this date that easily, buster. You are going to get out there and take us to your sinister ominous secret evil date activity, you hear me?"

"Yessir." Vex's entire body falls in line as his eyes go soft for a moment.

Before he catches himself, shaking off that state with a firm nod, and leading them out of the closet.

"Good." Grian nods back, making sure Scar follows along. "And don't forget anything you need to bring, I'm not coming all the way back midway through flying."

"I got my phone, anything else we need Vexy?" Scar asks.

"Not that I can think of. Everything else should be there." Vex leads them right out the front door of the lair, to the waiting, open elevator.

Scar crashes into Grian, which would normally have Grian stumbling forward, but in this instance, Grian's rooted solidly in place. What's that high pitched noise? It's broken again already isn't it- It's going to hurt Vex-

Between on blink and the next, Vex is dragged back from the maw of the beast and crushed close to Grian's chest. Wrapped up in Grian's wings, tight-safe.

Words. There's words, and hands on his face. Hands petting his wings and cooing soft affections at him.

Grian shivers, barely able to pace his breathing to the hands running up and down his back. He just- He just has to keep Vex safe from that thing, that's all. He can't let Vex be left in that dark box.

Step by step, Grian is pulled back inside, until the door of Vex's lair closes, hiding the waiting beast.

"What's wrong, my pretty?" Scar's voice crystallizes out of the mess of sensations.

"Nothing!" Grian yelps out, as if anyone might believe him at this point. But he has to try, doesn't he? What else does he have but the trying.

"That sure looked like a whole lotta nothin' there, darlin. Mind explaining the nothing?" Scar coos, working his fingers into fluffed feathers.

Squeezing Vex closer, Grian shakes his head. "I won't let it have him." Grian's traitorous mouth mutters.

"Let what have our Vexy? He's right here, safe in your arms, see?" Scar guides Grian's face to press into Vex's shoulder.

"Safe. Safe. Didn't leave him." Deep breaths are easier when Grian's breathing in Vex's fresh, clean scent. Grian's arms loosen just slightly, enough to feel lungs inflate against his chest.

"Is it the elevator?" Vex asks. "It's been professionally repaired. It's not going to hurt you." Cool fingers dig into Grian's hair, scritching at his scalp.

"It's fine, I'm fine, I'm totally fine. Elevators are fine. I'm fine, I can take an elevator." Grian protests, pressing into both of their touches, no matter how he has to twist himself to do so.

"You sure?" Vex asks. "Then let's go. You can stay cuddled up to us if you want."

"Nu-uh, he's gonna flip again." Scar, the bastardous traitor pipes up. He's lucky he's out of biting range, the asshole.

"Do you have any suggestions? You've been his partner for a long time." Vex asks Scar.

"My grand suggestion is 'What if we used literally any other method than the elevator that gave you both complete meltdowns like yesterday.'. Feel free to applaud at will." Grian can feel the jazz hands rattling into his feathers.

"Ari is welcome to take the stairs if he prefers." Vex sounds baffled. "I have no problems with the elevator."

A soft hiss from Vex clues Grian in that Grian's digging his fingers into Vex's back. Fingers, not claws. Not claws, good. Just fingers.

"Shh, shh, sweetheart, it's alright." Scar rubs Grian's back again, voice steady. "Weren't you listening, sugarplum? He's scared of leaving you alone in there."

"Ah." Vex still sounds perplexed. "There's no danger, though? Even if the elevator were to unexpectedly fail again, trapping me somewhere against my will is nearly impossible?"

"Sorry to say, but settin' logic against fresh emotion ain't gonna get far. Is it important for your plans that we take the elevator?" Scar's confidence is a balm on Grian's nerves, the steady rumble of his keen negotiating tone.

"No. Just the easiest way to get to the roof, so we can take off." Vex explains. "Should we take off from the balcony instead?"

"Balcony." Grian gasps out.

"I'd say that's a yes." Scar agrees. "We can just hop on over to the balcony, and a good flight will clear everything right up."

"Balcony it is." Vex lifts Grian wholesale off the ground, carrying him deeper into the villainous lair. The further they get, the more Grian relaxes.

Really, it was nothing, just a passing moment of weakness. Grian can just tuck his face into Vex's neck, breathe, and put that embarrassment behind him.

"It really does lack something without the destroyed door." Scar muses.

"Lacks a certain chill too." Vex snorts, door sliding open for them. "Neit, who do you want to fly with?"

"Our pretty birdie will carry me." Scar doesn't hesitate. Fine. That's fine. Grian's done it before and he'll do it again.

A little surprising, that Scar doesn't want to fly with Vex, who he's never had the chance to really fly with before, but Grian doesn't care. There's fresh air in his lungs and a breeze on his feathers, and he needs to fly.

"I may call on you on our way back, though." Scar presses a smooch to Vex's cheek.

Didn't they get the memo that this isn't the time for flirting, it's the time for flying? Honestly. Grian tries to squirm his way out of Vex's arms.

He's let go right away, steadied into his talons wrapping around the balcony railing like a perching bar. Talons? Oh well. Not like Vex doesn't know, by now.

Might as well also- He shakes out his wings, color draining from them until they're dark as the falling dusk sky. The better to not be seen flying with this disaster group.

"You make such a handsome shadow in the night." Scar muses in soft rapture, gliding a hand over Grian's dark wings. He clambers his way right into Grian's arms without hesitation or care for the sheer drop over the balcony.

"You two ready?" Vex asks, spreading his wings wide and simply stepping forward through the railing. The low sun glitters in his wings, making him the prettiest shiny Grian's ever seen. Grian's fingers itch with the need to hoard Vex away.

Grian tucks Scar close, sculpting the shape of his wings, the weight of his body, to accommodate the standing start while holding Scar. Familiar, practiced motions, by now. More important is focusing in on his shiny-treasure. Grian will have to hunt it down through the skies if he wants to hoard it away, so Grian readies himself for takeoff. "Yes." Eyes on the prize, Grian could not be more ready.

"Then let's go." Slowly, Vex begins to rise up, rotating as he goes.

In contrast, Grian shoots up into the sky, powerful wings beating hard. He's got to move, he needs to be up. Wind can't quite manage to steal away Scar's whooping glee as he clings tight to Grian, up and up and up until Grian can steady out circling Vex.

Matching his speed, Vex follows, until he's hovering still at the same height that Grian's circling.

This way, Vex trills out a whistle, his body finally tipping into a more natural position for flying as he speeds off.

Grian whistles his following automatically as he breaks out of his circling to fall into formation with Vex. Good burn in his muscles, sharp wind in his face, everything so much clearer up here. Pure speed and delight, chasing Vex through the skies. Nothing on the line, no reputations, no danger.

Just his pretty, speeding into the setting sun, a fiery rainbow of wings in flight.

On and on they fly, the high rises under them giving way to lower and lower buildings with more and more green between them. Out over the suburbs, until a shape again rises in the distance.

Under them, the city eventually gives way to fields. They must've been flying for almost an hour by now, to be over city limits.

Maybe Vex really is taking them out into the middle of nowhere to bump them off- Grian only belatedly wonders if the magic-flying asshole even knows how long an avian can keep this up. Thankfully, Grian's practiced in both fast flight and long flight, so he's still got a ways he can go. But he wasn't expecting quite this long in the skies. Even the bundle in Grian's arms has quieted, lulled half to sleep by their motion.

Landing, Vex trills out as they approach a white structure, a cluster of sprawling clean buildings with little in the way of defining features aside from the main one being topped by a large dome. Aiming not for said dome, but for one of the lower buildings on the outskirts of the smattering, Vex touches down on a lovely balcony. Comfortable outdoor seating, twinkling fairylights, and a table are all Grian can catch at first glance while trying to touch down safely.

No tuck and roll, not with his cargo, so Grian has to actually slow and angle his descent properly. A few hops and skips, and he's down, immediately turning this way and that to investigate the balcony and its remarkably cozy furnishings. Hardly any visible evil at all.

"A private viewing platform. For stargazing." Vex explains. "I had dinner brought here for us."

"One last meal to entrap us in your fae wiles?" Grian deposits Scar into the seat so he can do his cool-down stretches freely.

"I- what?" Vex looks startled. "No, this is supposed to be our date! I even had them prepare wine!"

"You're gonna continue bein' really uptight about that, huh?" Grian loosely swipes a wing in Vex's direction, a little gust of air.

"I hope the flight wasn't too long for you? I probably should have warned you." Vex frets, fidgeting with his hands.

"You should've, but I'm tough. A little flight isn't gonna keep me down." More than his wings, it's Grian's arms that need the stretching. He does wish he'd known he'd be carrying Scar for an hour when choosing how to hold him. There might have been some tendrils involved partway through to give himself a break.

Stretches complete, Grian swaggers his way over into Vex's space.

"You meanwhile, pretty little treasure, you look all tuckered out." Grian teases, cupping Vex's chin and wrapping both wings around him.

The gesture gets him the most adorable squeak, and a deep lilac blush.

"Caught you." Grian chuckles, trilling a low covet-treasure-keep to Vex. Gradually, Grian allows a spider-crack web of pale blue glow spread across the inner surface of his dark wings. With dinner soon, Grian can afford burn some energy on a bioluminescent treat for his adorable little treasure.

The captivated look on Vex's face, the way his skin shimmers in renewed soap bubble aurora, is so worth the display.

"If you're not careful, we might decide to eat you instead of dinner." Grian leans in, ghosting a breath over Vex's tantalizingly close lips- Before stealing a nip of Vex's cheek.

"I- uh- if you're hungry, dinner should be inside. I can get the wine poured too, so that can breathe. Or set out the snacks?" Vex sounds so adorably squeaky. Like a chew toy.

"I'm looking at a snack right now." Grian croons, running his thumb over Vex's pulse. If this is how Vex is with Scar, it's a wonder Vex has survived this long, being this bone-crushably cute.

"Or-or that, yeah, you can also have at me." Vex stutters. Grian feels hands tap his feathers, asking entry.

Briefly, Grian considers denying those hands, coveting Vex for himself.

But the urge passes as soon as it comes, wings easily parting enough to allow entry before closing up again. Why should Grian limit himself to one treasure, when he can have two treasures?

"We can, have you." Scar purrs, slotting himself into place behind Vex.

"Time to devour you." Pulling the scarf off Vex's neck, Grian sets about biting rough hickies into one side.

"Don't mind if I do." Scar eagerly mirrors the bites on the other side of Vex's neck, the one already permanently adorned by Scar's bite.

Grian bites harder. Would Vex let him-? Not today, no, not while Vex is still his courted. Later, when Vex has completed his challenge, has brought him closure on his cold case.

Then he'll ask. Or maybe just bite. Claim Vex the same way Scar has. The same way Vex claimed Neit.

Vex. Melting between them, pliant to a fault.

Good thing they have Vex caught up close, supported by the press of their bodies. Warming him, after the long, cold flight must have sapped more of Vex's heat than usual, even. Grian does his part, pressing heated kisses into the hollow of Vex's throat. "Should we put some above the collar? Spice up your boring office job?"

Vex whines deliciously, but doesn't forbid it. Oh well, too bad, he's getting marked up! Grian busies himself sucking a violet hickey right under Vex's jaw.

"What a good treasure you are." Grian chirrs.

"Sparkly-shiny~" Scar gets his hands all over Vex's wings, with a nip to Vex's earlobe.

"I heard our treasure has offerings for us." Grian tells Scar. "Do we let him get them?"

"He makes such a fine offering himself." Scar punctuates with groping Vex's ass. "But, in the spirit of wanting everything, bring on the additional offerings!"

Grian releases Vex from the cage of his wings, watching him stumble. A quick grab presses Scar to Grian's front, so Scar doesn't pounce their hapless prey.

To his credit, Vex finds his balance quickly. Righting himself, he heads into the indoor area, which opens for him, returning laden with food. By the time Vex is finished trekking back and forth, the low table is covered in plates and bowls and glasses, a bottle of wine and several pitchers of juice, all laid out for them.

"Look at him." Grian coos in Scar's ear. "So eager to make offerings to us. So devoted to our indulgence." Grian spies gem-like fruits among the spread, along with succulent fans of meat. Entire fish cooked whole.

Hard to tell, if Scar is eyeing the food or Vex more.

"Dig in. Dinner is served." Vex gestures for them to help themselves, moreover to take their places at the decadent spread.

Grian doesn't even need to ask, he and Scar take up seats flanking Vex without question. Even though they have to move the chairs a bit to make sure they're close enough.

"A feast fit for a king." Grian muses, loading up his plate.

"Or, a pair of deities~" Scar bounces the words back, helping himself to both the table's spread and also bits off Vex's plate.

"That's the idea. A whole pantheon, just for me to worship." Vex reverently strokes both their cheeks.

“Arrogance, to claim our worship for yourself.” Grian turns his head into Vex’s touch as he speaks, though. He offers one of his ruby grapes up to Vex’s lips.

Cool lips take the glistening fruit primly from Grian's fingers, kissing each one in the process. "Arrogant it may be, but you are mine." Vex returns the gesture, holding a cherry up for Grian.

Grian scoops up the cherry with his tongue, biting without hesitation right through the lack-of-pit. Vex gets one kiss pressed to his knuckle for his pleasant worship. “You’re working toward that, anyway.” Grian grins impishly.

"My courted, are you not?" Vex holds Grian's gaze, his chirps annoyingly perfect.

“Am I? Your courted?” Grian challenges right back. He knows Vex’s spine is in there somewhere. Even with all of their melting.

"Yes. You said so yourself." Vex meets the challenge head on, calmly. Absolutely.

“I may have made such a claim. Have you?” What would it be like for Vex to challenge him? What would Vex choose?

"Is the cherry around your neck not claim enough for you, my courted?" Vex's wings spread wide. Inviting. Presenting. Showing off every last color dancing through handwrought crystals in the bloody light of the setting sun.

“Perhaps I enjoy hearing the claim from your own lips on occasion, courted-mine.” Grian coos, looping just one wing around to brush tips with Vex’s presenting wing. “My cherry is a rather fine offering, though, yes.”

"Good. I would hate to give you substandard gifts, my courted. And if you like hearing my claim so much, I'll simply have to say it more." Vex purrs, planting a kiss on Grian's cheek as he offers up another cherry.

"See that you do." Grian nibbles this cherry out of Vex's fingers, headwing tousling Vex's hair. Revealing feathers that pull proud trills from Grian. No other avian is beating him to this courting. Vex is his, in all of Vex's perplexing oddities and over-earnest effort.

Folding his wings back down, Vex turns to give Scar some attention as well. Mostly in form of feeding Scar nibbles, while Scar lounges like the overgrown housecat he wants to be.

Following suit, Grian folds his wings as well. What a damn relief, to just be able to change shapes and colors on a whim again- He stuffs a roll full with strips of lamb, unhinging his jaw to consume the bundle in a single bite. His peckishness is only a minor downside. Hardly even that, with this sort of feast provided.

Scar's managing to make feeding him more difficult by occupying his mouth with kissing Vex often between nibbles.

After all, Scar is at all times a problem. But that's nothing new. Just nice to let him be someone else's problem for a while.

Dinner and a show. Vex certainly doesn't look at all bothered by his task of wrangling Scar into eating, rippling in pleased colors just as much from kisses as he is from Scar accepting the food.

Sure, Grian had been concerned, at first, when sleep began taking up so much more of Scar's time. The naps add up. But every time Scar's awake, he's so much more energetic and vibrant than before- A subtle difference, like- Like he's not running on borrowed energy all the time, anymore.

A good change.

With all the additional, proper food Scar's eating, he may well be the healthiest he's ever been. More so every day.

There are worse things.

Scar’s never going to be healthy healthy, Grian’s tripped over that conversational land mine with Scar before. But Grian’s finding himself... surprisingly content, to see Scar getting as much quality out of his life as he can.

Well, that last part is important, to Grian. Seeing it. Being some part of Scar’s journey, even if Grian can’t be the whole of it. No matter how much Grian wants to be all of it.

But- Then Grian wouldn’t have his new treasure, his courted. A war, of different selfishnesses.

Slowly, they’re winning him over. He should have known they would, with Scar’s silver tongue and Vex’s clever hands.

Impossible idiots. Grian fights it, but he's powerless to stop the smile spreading on his face.

These idiots are his. Grian's eyes linger on them, where Vex is pointing at something in the sky, explaining it to Scar. Who's got the same smitten grin on his face that matches Grian's.

Scar's been watching the night sky more, lately, and with Vex this excited to share it- Well, it's not difficult to see why. Grian occupies himself with devouring an entire half-chicken, bones and all, while slowly rearranging the glow on his wings. From cracks, to little points of light, carefully spaced out. Or they will be, once his wings are spread. Thankfully, he has a reference right above his head, no need to memorize anything.

"The stars keep getting closer and closer to city limits." Grian muses aloud, remembering long nights at work, putting extra hours into Mr. Fan's eco-initiatives. At first, Grian had been skeptical, sure it was all lip service cleverly positioned to give ConCorp good press. But that was before seeing Cub speak so passionately about the smog choking skies, that Grian had long since grown accustomed to accounting for. That was before taking a flight around the city at peak hours and not needing to take multiple breaks to wheeze out his lungs.

Real, actual change. Tangible benefits, in only years. How could Grian not be moved?

"Ari?" The call of his name pulls Grian put of his thoughts. "Vexy is telling me all about the first visible stars this time of year. You wanna hear too?" Scar blinks up at him with eager wide eyes.

"Let's hear his tales of the skies, then." Grian rests his chin on the palm of his hand, tearing his eyes off of Scar to turn his gaze to Vex. "Wow us."

"Well, if you look over there, Venus is currently in the position of the evening star. With a magnitude of up to -4.9, it's the third brightest object in the sky, right after the sun and the moon." Vex starts.

Obligingly, Grian looks over to the pinpoint of light Vex indicates.

"Venus is a star? Neat!" Scar bounces in his seat.

"Actually, Venus is a planet, like Earth. Our closest planetary neighbor, and often called Earth's twin for the similarities in size and mass. Though the climates are very different." Vex continues.

"But you just called it a nighttime star?" Scar tips his head, disgustingly adorable. How dare he.

How dare he be comfortable enough with Vex to ask questions so freely, no less.

"Venus carries the nicknames of morning and evening star, because of its brightness and the times when it appears, even though it is, in fact, a planet. Many things we perceive as stars aren't actually stars. Sometimes it'll be two stars, a binary system, or even a whole galaxy." Vex explains.

Scar gasps in scandal, covering his mouth. "Fake stars! Sneaky liar not-stars."

Grian shifts the internals of his eyes around a little, gathering more light and focusing better on the speckled lights spilling out overhead.

"Most of the time, you won't see the difference unless you're using a powerful enough telescope, but for the planets their relatively fast and erratic movement pattern can make the difference rather clear. If you look over there, just above the horizon, there's a faint reddish dot. That's Mars. Another planet. Our neighbor on the other side. Unlike Venus, a little smaller than earth, but would be a lot easier to settle. Much more habitable temperatures, and much less toxic atmosphere. It also has the biggest volcano in the whole solar system, Olympus Mons, and the largest canyon, Valles Marineris. A canyon over four thousand kilometers long, up to two hundred wide, and up to eight kilometers deep." Vex's voice is pleasant to listen to as he talks, even and steady through his excitement.

"I like mons." Scar nods.

"Going to build an evil villain base on Mars? In that nice big canyon?" Grian teases, flicking his gaze to Vex. Far from the expected blinding, Vex has actually dimmed the light of his eyes, matching the soft lighting around them.

"I might. Would take me solving quite a few issues with interplanetary spaceflight, but I might." Vex muses.

"Not an issue at all for your big scienceful brain!" Neit declares confidently.

"You'd better remember to invite us over to your fancy new place." Grian chuckles.

"I'll make a scheme of it, kidnap you publicly. Little forced space vacation for both of you." Vex smiles fondly.

"You going to call me in kidnapped to work, too?" Grian flicks his hand.

"I actually wanted to offer you a copy of the Vexting app. Then I could give you a heads-up and you could call out. Plus, it's not like you'd actually be kidnapped, and we'd be in range of earth for a good while." Bashfully, Vex ducks his head.

How dare Vex be thoughtful in the middle of Grian’s teasing! Grian needs to slam dunk him directly off this balcony.

Instead, Grian shapes words to speak. “Might be for the best. Can’t have you giving my boss a heart attack.” Poor Cub might try to do something silly like mount a rescue, if Vex gave him a fright like that. Grian shan’t be having Mr. Fan take silly risks like that.

"So you'll take a copy?" Vex's whole body lights up. Not physically, not actually glowing more than usual, but still. His wing perk, his head perks, hope shining in every inch of him.

“If you insist.” Grian gives his most gracious nod. “I imagine you’ll even be wanting a groupchat.” Then Grian wouldn’t be left out of the loop, of Scar looking at his phone and giggling.

"Of course! A groupchat for all of us, as well as private chats. Would you also like a custom app skin? It can be pretty much anything you want. You've seen Neit's." Vex continues, helpful and chipper.

"Make mine sky themed, changing with the time." Grian demands. "Not as dull as yours, but not as hyperactive as his." If he'd going to be using it this much, it might as well be nice to look at.

"Sure thing. Any requests for your username?" Vex has his note taking face on.

"Ari is fine for the username." If he wants anything fancier later, then he'll just make Vex change it then.

"Sure thing. Only a handful of people even have the app, so that name should be free." Vex nods.

"Are we able to message other people who've got it?" Scar pops in with a question that can do no one any good.

"If you have their username and know how to set up a new chat. Is there anyone you'd like to message?" Vex asks.

"Who's my options? I wanna message them all!" Scar beams. Grian doesn't have to imagine the kind of animal and meme spam those poor people would be receiving.

"Some other villains, Doc, a few of my friends. Maybe a dozen people." Vex shrugs.

"I gotta message Doc. And also all of your friends." Scar leans in, wheedling.

"What would you even have to say to them?" Grian asks.

"Super important things!"

"Cat memes are not important things." Grian deadpans.

"I'll definitely set you up with Doc's contact." Vex agrees right away. "Do you want Lizzie's contact too?"

"Yeah! Lizzie too! And your other friends, too-too!" Neit insists, eyes a hint too bright. Jealous thing.

"I'll see if they want to." Vex nods. "Speaking of Doc, Ari. You remember I drew bloodsamples after Neit's felinid transformation ended?"

“Sure, sure, what of it?” No, Grian doesn’t have super clear memories of that, but Vex doesn’t need to know that.

"Well, the results came back, and Neit does have a few nutrient and vitamin deficiencies. Nothing super critical, but they should be seen to. His options are daily supplements or weekly injections." Vex explains.

Grian pinches the bridge of his own nose. “He’s never going to remember daily supplements.”

“Exactly!” A sentiment Scar would never so readily agree to in front of Vex, unless he already had his heart set on the other option.

“So he’ll be having appointments with Doc?” Grian tries to push the pessimism out of his voice, to little success.

"I'm more than qualified to do a few vitamin injections. No need to bother Doc." Vex holds Grian's gaze.

Grian’s headwings pin back as he forces a shiver down. Every alarm bell in his bones tries to go off at once, imagining a villain given freedom to inject Hotguy with whatever they like on a weekly basis. “We could hand them off to Joel.” Grian tries.

"Take that up with Neit. I'm not asking your permission. I'm informing you. But if you want, Lizzie or Joel could teach you how to do them. Would take like five minutes." Of course Vex has learned. Bastard.

"I will be." Grian shoots a look to Scar, who is entirely unrepentant. Grian doesn't doubt that Scar will get his way on these shots, but Grian's not letting him have it for free.

"Would you two like to hash that out now? Or should I go grab our wine, and tell you some more about the stars as they appear. There's also blankets if anyone gets cold." Vex offers.

"He and I will be having that conversation later. Not during our nice evil star date." Grian fluffs out and resettles his headwings primly.

All he gets in answer from Scar is a stuck out tongue.

"Wine." Grian barely doesn't groan the word. He's going to need it, to clear out- Well, he can get started by stuffing his mouth with several grapes to viciously chew. Close enough to wine.

"One moment." Vex rises from his seat between them, disappearing into the building.

When he returns, it's with a fancy wine decanter that he fills all three of their glasses an exacting amount from.

As much as Grian wants to simply slam back his whole glass, some shred of curiosity stops him. He's had nice wines before, but he's never had Vex's budget to shop for wines.

Scar takes up his glass, swirling it in a practiced motion, breathing in delicate sniffs. "A fruity bouquet on the nose, but not too sweet. Woody notes from the casket. The essence of November frost in a bottle." A completely confident assessment, almost in Hotguy's smooth tones.

"Impressive." Vex nods. "Though most people actually find this one too sweet. They brewed this with a small percentage of blackberry juice. From the Landgraf winery, where they co-grow the fruit organically on solar pastures."

"Such a rich bitch." Grian murmurs, sipping the wine. "Mm, people don't know what they're talking about, this is fine."

"I'll have you know the current market value of the bottle is around fifty thousand." Vex grins his best fae grin.

Scar stutters a breath, very carefully setting his glass down.

Locking eyes with Vex, Grian pulls another long sip of his wine. "I've had better." Never thought he'd be so glad to have let Mumbo talk him into sharing a private collection bottle the one time.

"Really? Do tell, which wine is up to your high standards." Vex challenges, though he spares a soothing touch for Scar. "That's the current value, I bought it for 4k, Neit. They get more expensive, like collectors items. Drink up."

"Not much, just a 1985 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti La Tache Grand Cru Monopole." Grian rattles off the words with practiced smoothness. He knew memorizing the bottle label would come in handy.

Scar runs a fingertip over the rim of his own glass. Even only four thousand dollars- Turns out price tag can get to Scar even with Vex, on occasion.

"Mh. I'll see about keeping some handy for you." Vex promises. Like he's talking about applejuice.

"You could, but if you're going to the trouble, I'd rather the fresh fruit than the fermented." Grian punctuates by tossing a cherry up and chomping it down. "Now, what was that about more stars?"

"If that's your preferred wine I'll keep it handy." Vex takes a sip from his own glass. "As well as all the fruit you want. Now, on the topic of more stars..." The fairy lights wink out into darkness as the sun disappears fully behind the horizon, leaving them blanketed in a dusky twilight as Vex speaks the ecliptic and the constellations adorning it into the sky.

No matter how he tries to tune out to think, Grian keeps getting caught up in Vex's explanations. Especially when Scar begins chiming in with questions again, prompting Vex on and on.

Despite Vex's pervasive excitement, he never gets so into his explanations that he forgets to prompt Scar to eat. Truly impressive, the amount of food Vex has coaxed into Scar.

Grian's already cleared several of the platters within arm's reach of him, but Scar's putting up a respectable showing, even next to that. And Scar's smile- His beaming brilliance, so eager to learn from Vex, to devour stories and food alike. Vex's low-lit eyes still somehow bright, his lip tipped up and his gestures grand.

Turning around on the foot of his lounger, Grian settles his head in Vex's lap, slinging his own wing over himself as a sort of blanket. Cozy. Besides, every now and then Vex's fingers drop off another morsel for him to feast on, and his other hand occasionally dips into Grian's hair.

Grian can watch Vex and Scar and the whole sky all at once like this, much better. Especially when Scar slides his way on over to occupy Vex's shoulder with a languid drape. Their pillow now, no escape.

Not that Vex tries go anywhere, looking rather cozy between them as he talks his nerd stuff.

"Should we move this over somewhere more nest-suitable? I had some nesting materials delivered." Soft words and gentle fingers on his headwings pull Grian out of his cozy doze.

“Nest?” Grian doesn’t even have to be fully aware to already be nodding and dragging himself more fully onto Vex’s lap. Grian’s turn to be carried! He sticks his tongue out at Scar.

Barely noticing Vex's magic on him, Grian's airlifted right into a pile of nesting supplies on a large pillowy surface. Good, high quality stuff. Warm stuff, too.

Nest, Grian has to build them a good nest. Grand nest. Best nest! Pillows laid out to cushion them and break the wind, blankets-

Grian stops, craning to peer at Vex. "How do I make it make you warm?" Grian demands. The courting guidelines were quite clear. The nest has to make the fae warm to be suitable for rest.

"Unfortunately, I have to modify the bed for that. It doesn't work just anywhere." Vex sits down at the edge of the under-construction nest.

"What? No, there has to be something." Grian insists, clutching a pillow in dull fingers. He has to make a proper nest for his courted. He has to.

"I'm sorry Ari. There's nothing you can do right now."

"No..." Jittering cotton stuffing his brain, Grian moves numbly through the motions of completing constructing the faulty nest. He's failing at courting, after Vex just put on such a lavish display for them.

"Shh, sweetheart." Scar drapes himself onto Grian, purring his words.

"I'll keep this in mind, and make you a blanket to put under your nests so I turn warm okay?" Vex, cold and unrestful, cuddles up to Grian's other side. "The blanket will need to be plugged in though."

Grian blinks slowly at Vex, Vex's words processing like molasses as Scar works his hands through Grian's feathers and rumbles sweetly in his ear.

"Okay- You, yes." Grian's mouth speaks clumsy words. Vex has to give him a way to make his nests make Vex warm. Grian has to make up for this courting-failure.

"I will. I promise. I didn't realize it would be such an issue for you, prettiest Ari. My courted. I apologize." Vex takes one of Grian's hands, pressing a kiss to every knuckle.

"I haveta court you right." Grian murmurs. "It was in the manual, I gotta." The words come out softer than expected, less desperate. A little like the floating feeling of Scar's and Vex's touches.

"It's okay. I never told you how. I forgive you for this nest not warming me up." Vex drops his voice. "I'll even tell you part of what the warming is, if you want."

Even without Scar's eager prompt in his ear, Grian would nod his featherlight head. "I want to know. I want to know about you."

"So you know how my wings are... prosthetic?" Grian and Scar nod together. "Well, they have to move and connect to my brain somehow. So there's wires and all that in me. Part of me warming up is literally that charging."

"You charge like a Switch?" Scar blinks while Grian can feel himself doing the same. The wires, Grian remembers something about them, but not exactly what. He pulls Vex under multiple blankets and a wing. Get at least some warmth into him.

"I mean. I can plug myself in if I want to. But yeah, usually I induction charge." Vex nods, letting Grian mother hen him.

"Do you have a plug here?" Scar prods, no doubt just excited to stick something into Vex.

"Just a standard usb port, really. Might have one inside." Vex shrugs.

"So I could get that, and you'd be like. Warm a little?" Scar asks.

"Yeah?" Vex blinks at Scar.

"Goofball." Scar maneuvers Grian's floppy body to snuggle up to Vex even more. "Be right back."

Grian's malcontent chirps chase Scar's retreating back, before Grian presses his face into Vex's shoulder.

"I got one. Where do I plug it in you?" Grian hears Scar ask.

"My wrist." Vex rumbles under him, trying to get away. No! Grian won't let him escape too!

"Ari. I just need to give Neit my hand." Vex patiently pets Grian's arms.

“Sweetheart.” Scar’s voice calls Grian to melt, but this time Grian fights, clinging tighter. “Just give me Vex’s arm, and we’ll warm him up together. We’ll make him warm.”

Grian trills, hands sliding down to Vex’s arm. Warm? They can make Vex nest-warm?

“Just like that, just hold him out. So good, sweetheart.” Scar spares a moment to pet Grian, getting stern chirps.

Petting later! Warm Vex now!

"There's a patch of synthskin on the inside of my wrist, yeah, there. Push that to your left, perfect." Grian feels Vex nod, as Scar makes a fascinated noise.

Then Scar is climbing in the nest with them, cooing over how good Grian is, what a pretty bird.

Skeptically, Grian keeps his hands on Vex, waiting for him to be nestwarm. Slowly, much slower than usual, Vex at least turns not-cold. Not his usual nestwarm, but warmish, at least. Good.

The knot around Grian’s lungs loosens, from the inside rather than the outside this time. It’s not a perfect nest, but it’s a good nest, a nest good for his courted fae to rest in. And now he’ll know how to do better next time.

Scar rearranges Grian to be squished between Scar and Vex, cozy. “Thank you for telling us about this, Vexy. And for the lovely meal under your stars. And sneaky fake-stars.” Scar practically purrs, nuzzling into them both.

"We can do more stargazing from in here." Vex reminds Scar. "Or we nap, whatever we want."

“Freedom.” Scar sighs contentedly. “Got a pair of pretty stars right here.”

Grian snickers, wiggling up to nuzzle Vex’s cheek and obstruct Scar’s view of those ‘stars’.

"Those would be sneaky fake stars." Vex smiles, pressing kisses to Grian's face.

“My favorite sneaky fake stars, thank you very much.” Scar jockeys his cheek against Grian’s, competing to nuzzle Vex, adding little smooches to Vex’s nose. “Stars and black holes.”

"They are gorgeous voids." Vex agrees.

"Prettiest voids." Scar nods, and Grian finds himself now beset from both sides by a flurry of kisses! All over his cheeks and chin and masquerade mask.

Endless chirps and trills spill out of Grian, adoring and proud. His flock! They're his, and they want him. Want to be in his good nest, all cozy and warm. Safe. Good. Grian's nests are the best. Of course they should be here, warm, and safe, and fed.

Contentedness radiates throughout Grian's whole body, sticky and sweet. His courted and his mate, both here, kissing him and each other. Everything as it should be.

------

"Since you seem to know what Ari is planning, is it the kind of thing we could bring snacks to?" Without moving from his position Cub floats them both up.

"I have a guess." Neit winks, contentedly settling into Cub. "Some small snacks or drinks shouldn't be an issue."

"So when you say drinks." Cub starts, plan already forming. "Do you mean more like water, or mocktails?"

"Oh, mocktails would be fun, we should do that!" Neit bounces in Cub's arms. "Fancy colorful ones!"

"That was the idea. Should we stop by the pool? Mix a few?" The pool would be the opposite direction from the kitchen, once down the stairs. Or in this case, his flight shaft.

"Yes, please! Let's!" Neit nods in eager sweeps. "With the sparklies again."

The door swishes open at Cub's command, and out they fly, down to the pool. He's starting to feel more confident with the older wings on.

"And we can squeeze in that pool fuck-" Neit snickers.

"No." Cub vetoes right away. "Though you can pick out the shimmers."

"Killjoy." Neit nips at Cub's neck. "I want all the shimmers."

"Layered rainbow drinks?" Cub suggests.

"Rainbows! Yes." Neit claps eagerly. "Colorful like your new wings."

"Here we are." Cub sets Neit down on the counter of the pool bar, black granite sparking under him. "I'll fetch the shimmers."

Neit spreads his hands over the smooth surface of the counter, while Cub gathers vials to line up in front of him. "Here are a few possible sets, but feel free to mix and match." One set a simple rainbow in red, yellow, green, and purple. Another covering more tones of pastels, softer pinks and powder blue and pearly white. Yet another containing orange, two blues, and a pink. Hopefully, that's enough for Neit.

Taking up every vial, Neit inspects each of them thoroughly.

"Your juices, my good sir." Neit waves his hand.

Cub obligingly presents several bottles. Vivid reds and pinks, pale oranges, shades of blue and purple, and a couple of yellows. Thankfully, he's been keeping the bar stocked for any occasion.

"Good, good." Neit peruses the selection, arranging them in a certain order. Unscrewing one lid, Neit sniffs it.

And promptly upends an entire shimmer vial over the opening.

“That is certainly a way to do that.” Cub finds himself chuckling, the poof of powder and swirls of sinking shimmering strands more amusing than they have any right to be.

Neit’s already busy screwing the lid back on and shaking, mixing the egregious amount of shimmer all the way through the juice.

"Glitter juice!" He proclaims, holding the bottle out to Cub. Once it's out of his hands, Neit sets out to do the next one. "All juice should be glitter juice."

“I see.” Cub begins preparing the glasses while Neit glitters the juices quite thoroughly. Motions somehow both methodical and eager, Neit manages to make himself yet more appealing to Cub.

Between the three of them, they probably can finish all the juice either today or tomorrow at the latest, so it going bad won't be a concern. Knowing Neit, he'd probably enjoy having his glitter juice for breakfast.

Seeing that Neit is done glittering the bottom color, Cub grabs the bottle and starts pouring.

With just a little bit of gravity trickery when pouring, and simply knowing the density of the different juices to stack them in the right order, Cub builds up the drinks with their different bands of colors.

"Oooh pretty!" Neit claps, making grabby hands. "Rainbow drinks for my rainbow Vexy!"

Instead of a blush, Cub feels a hint of aurora dance over his cheeks.

Neit’s fingertips brush over Cub’s cheeks. “So lovely, my rainbow Vexy.” He purrs, warm in every way. “Lovely and skilled both.”

"Lets go get some snacks to go with this, yeah?" Cub encourages, loading the several drinks onto a tray. "What were you thinking?"

“Hmm, simple snacks. Nuts and pretzels maybe?” Neit muses. “Haven’t got time for cheese sticks or potato skins.”

"Maybe some grape and cheese skewers? Like they always have at the galas? Those are quick, right?" Cub muses. He knows Neit knows the galas and dinners he means. Dreadful bores, the lot of them. Doc is so right to avoid them. Maybe Vex could crash one sometime...?

“A touch of elegance? Yeah, that’d work.” Neit smooches Cub’s nose. “Grape fiend.”

"We could also do some with cherries or blueberries. Make it silly." Cub suggests, handing the tray to Neit. "I'm bestowing the important role of drink carrier to you. While I will be the Neit carrier."

“Make it colorful, too!” Neit accepts the tray with carefully steady hands. “The drinks are safe with me.”

"Exactly! Another rainbow to add to the collection." Cub lifts Neit so smoothly that not a single drink wobbles, gathering Neit up snugly in his arms. Wings flaring, Cub sets out for the kitchen.

“So many tasty rainbow treats.” Neit chirps his enjoyment. Small squirming wiggles as Neit tries to snuggle into Cub’s hold, while keeping the drinks steady. “Careful, or you’ll get eaten up as one of them as well.”

"Oh no, whatever shall I do." Cub deadpans.

In the kitchen, he sits Neit down on the counter, relieving him of the tray. Tray set aside, Cub returns back to wrap Neit up in a big, firm hug.

Relief washes through Neit, who enthusiastically snugglehugs Cub back. “Aha!” Neit playfully chomps down on Cub’s neck, all of his teeth but very little force.

"Oh no, I'm being devoured by the vicious Neit-monster. Such a tragic fate." Cub continues his deadpan, squeezing Neit tighter.

“Yep! This is what you get for being a tasty rainbow treat!” Neit licks and gnaws at Cub’s neck, snickering. “All eated up.”

"Well, if you're all done, we can make more rainbow snacks. Surprise Ari with them. How does that sound. Does our prettiest Ari like rainbows?" Just for a moment, Cub recalls another rainbow. Brilliant and alive and draped around him like a tent. Soft under his careful touches, sounding of pleased trills.

"Our prettiest Ari loves rainbows!" Neit declares. "All bright and vivid and colorful. Where he doesn't have to pick just one color to like. And he's gonna need snacks after this, yeah! Good surprise." One more squeeze for Cub, before Neit spins off to begin gathering fruits and cheeses.

Smiling softly to himself, Cub digs out the toothpicks and skewers and the colorful mini plastic swords to offer to Neit.

Neit gasps at the colorful plastic swords, earning Cub a smooch on the cheek. "Slice us up some nice cheese cubes? You always make such neat cubes." He asks, setting in on washing the fruit and picking out the best specimens for skewering.

"Sure thing." A pair of gloves, then Cub can pull out a knife and cutting board, to slice the cheeses into perfect one centimeter cubes. Well, as close as he can get without calipers and a CNC laser, but some room for human error must be allowed.

“Wonderful.” Neit pauses to watch Cub work, briefly quiet. A glance shows his expression captivated, even by this simple and imperfect activity.

“Not jealous of some cheese, are you?” Cub teases.

"No!" Neit immediately answers. "Why would I be jealous of cheese? Just because it gets to be under your knife?"

“Hm, that does sound like a reason to be jealous, doesn’t it? Unless I were imagining it as you already.” Cub hadn’t been, but he indulges in the idea now. Slipping the sharp blade between Neit’s ribs, flesh soft as cheese. A little too risky to do like this, but an appealing image nonetheless.

With a whine, Neit shudders, clutching the counter. "Vexy..." He keens.

Cub spears one of the cubes on his knife tip, extending to offer it to Neit. “Soon, that’ll be you. Splayed neatly under my blade. Every bite a step closer.”

"Pweashe!" Neit begs around the mouthful of cube between his teeth as he plucks it off the knife.

Cub runs the back of the blade over Neit’s jawline, through the hints of stubble there. “In due time, my precious doll.”

"Doll." Neit mimics, expression melting loose and sweet. "Precious."

There’s complete trust in those eyes, even as Cub runs the metal of the knife over Neit’s jugular, down Neit’s neck. “Precious. So precious to me, in all of your facets.” And isn’t Neit like his gems? Like a prism? Splitting light into different colors, into Hotguy and Neit and Doll. The whole gamut of glimmering brilliance and fire of him delightful for Cub to discover.

"Precious. Yours." Neit murmurs, holding still otherwise.

"Mine." Cub leans in, stealing one luxurious kiss from Neit with the knife trapped between them. But even that must end, Cub pulling back to go wash up the knife. "Start building our rainbows?" He prompts, with mild amusement.

"Wha- yes!" Shaking his head out wildly, hair flopping everywhere, Neit throws off the last of his stupor.

The cleaning finishes up quickly, leaving Cub free to watch as Neit enthusiastically skewers berries and cheese alike, stacking them onto the colorful swords to arrange all the way around the edge of a plate. Little splatters of juice go this way and that, so Cub makes sure to keep well back with his watching.

Right in the middle of Neit's stabbing extravaganza, his phone rings. A cheerful swoop of Ariana song, sweet and clear.

Neit barely wipes off a couple of fingers to answer it, quickly pinning the phone between his shoulder and cheek so he can carry on with his fruit violence. "Ari! Missed you. Uh-huh, yes. Showtime! We'll be right there." He chatters brightly as he wraps up his work.

"That was our most gorgeous bird ever." Neit informs Cub, hanging up the phone. "He's ready for us in the gym."

"Then we'd better make our way to him." Cub checks over the drinks and skewers. They look good.

Neit briefly moves toward Cub, before pausing and heading to the sink to wash his hands. He even dries them, only then flinging himself bodily back into Cub's arms. "Of course, we can't keep him waiting!"

Some feeling, soft and warm and without name, takes up residence in Cub's chest.

Not having the time to puzzle this new development out, Cub picks up Neit, waiting a quick moment for him to grab the tray, before setting off, flying them to the gym. They have a prettiest Ari to surprise, after all.

The gym when they arrive, however, appears empty. Seats are set up in front of the area for Neit’s tucked-aside silks. A low thrum of instrumental music plays through the speakers, upbeat and familiar. Ari must have found the lighting controls, as well, given the splash of lights illuminating the ‘stage’.

In his arms, Cub can feel Neit vibrate in anticipation. Little eager noises spill from his lips as he encourages Cub toward the seats.

Cub supposes snacks can be for after Ari’s show, pausing at a nearby stack of mats to allow Neit to set the tray on them. From there, settling them in their chairs is surprisingly painless, with Neit not octopusing at all upon being set down.

Once Cub’s bottom hits seat, the music changes, perking him up. The familiarity slots into place as a figure slides down a rope from above.

Ari steps into the spotlight.

Or, should Cub say, Ariana struts into the spotlight.

Cub recognizes the mask. A masquerade mask he’d had made in the style of one of Ariana’s, for a masquerade themed gala. Hotguy had complimented him on it, the clear memory striking Cub now.

Ari looks stunning, tight dress, sculpted curves, high heels, all borne with complete confidence as he strides forward. His assuredly sultry grin sets off a flutter in Cub’s gut, like Ari owns the whole room, and is personally delighted to see them here.

From there, Ari launches directly into song. And if Cub was already distracted by the crispness of the backing track, well. That certainly can’t hold a candle to the way Ariana’s voice fills the space around him, resonating in that pleasantly familiar manner unable to be captured by speaker.

Something Cub hasn't heard, hasn't had the chance to enjoy, for years and years. To get this now, just for him? Him and his Neit? With Neit snuggled happily into him, humming along to the song? Indescribable.

Words continue to fail Cub as Ari moves to sing directly to Cub, hand splayed out seekingly. The song wraps up all too soon, Ari having hit every beat of his choreography, every note of his music, but instead of trailing off into silence, the backing track crossfades into the next- Into Cub's dawning realization that Ari is performing not a single song, but a whole set for them.

Cub barely feels like he blinks as the show pours mercurially into all his senses, but somehow Ari has stalked close, crooning his melody sweetly while his warm fingers stop just shy of caressing Cub’s cheek. Leaving Cub so breathlessly stunned that he almost misses something huge when Ari turns to slink sultry back into the light.

Ari doesn’t have wings.

They’re just. Not there. No room for him to stuff them down the low back of the dress that shows off his body so well.

Which makes sense, because Ariana doesn’t have wings, but. Ari has never been this openly blatant about it before. Cub didn't even know it was possible to just do away with wings like that. He's never seen Skizz or Pearl do it.

Ari hops back up to strutting around the stage, singing his absolute heart out. Cub can't tear his eyes away, wouldn't want to miss a single moment.

The music swells, building higher along with Ari's soaring voice. Cub's breath catching as Ari throws his arms wide-

From behind Ari, wings burst into existence, rapidly developing before Cub's very eyes. Neon bubblegum pink, banded in pale blues and vivid orange. Ari, lit perfectly in center stage, raw and open, fully presenting to them.

As the music fades out, Ari gracefully crumples to his knees, then to a sit, his... new wings, draping down around his shoulders like a cloak under which he pants for breath. Satisfaction lights his gaze.

"Bravo! Bravo!" Neit shouts, bouncing in his seat as he claps. Cub joins the clapping, adding his own bravos and a careful whistle of appreciation.

Ari's aural wings fluff their way out from hiding under his hair to flutter and spread. Once his breathing is under control, he picks himself back up, ambling over to plop himself down on Cub's lap. "Always wanted to end a show like that." Ari chuckles, a warm vibration shared between them.

"That was most impressive, prettiest Ari." Cub smiles, loose arms resting on Ari's waist.

"Still got it, baby." Ari grins right back, nuzzling his blazing-hot cheek to Cub's.

Neit rubs Ari's back, playing with the fluff of feathers between his wings.

Bringing a hand up, Cub cups Ari's other cheek, cooling it.

"We brought a small bit of a surprise along, prettiest Ari. Though nowhere near what you just presented here. Would you like to see?" Cub figures Ari could use a drink. Cub could use a drink, that's for sure.

"Surprise?" Ari's head tips without pulling away from Cub's hand, aural wings tipping into the shape of curiosity and interest.

"I'll get it!" Neit bounds up over to the tray, slowing to a careful walk on his return trip, despite the energy still clearly bound inside each step.

"A little snack platter, and a few drinks. Virgin." Cub explains, as Neit joins them again. Plucking up one of the skewers with a cherry on it, Cub offers the morsel of fruit and cheese to Ari.

"Oh thank fuck, I'm starving." Ari chomps at the offered treat, practically taking the sword along with the food. The faint echo of Skizz's words run through Cub's thoughts.

"Have at it." Cub gestures at the snack platter, full of what he had previously thought might be too much cheese and fruit. Now? After having seen Ari shift wings wholesale into existence, which he must have previously shifted away? Cub thinks it might not be enough, even with their rather generous lunch.

"What, you're not going to feed your poor, famished pop star?" Ari bats his eyelashes, showing off every bit of the makeup and contouring he'd done to change his face... Huh, that's all makeup instead of shapeshifting, isn't it? The underlying structures reveal themselves to be the same familiar ones, now that he's up close.

"I'm more than happy to feed you." Cub gathers up a few more skewers, feeding them to Ari in rainbow order, just because he can.

Ari trills eager enjoyment, not bothering to answer before getting right into chowing his way through the offered food.

When Cub runs out of his current batch, Neit's hands cut in to press a straw to Ari's lips. "Glitter juice for what ails you."

Deep, greedy sips, as Ari gulps down his drink. Deciding to use the time wisely, Cub deposits the empty skewers, and restocks. One of them, he nibbles himself before going back to feeding Ari as soon as Ari's drained the glass.

A straw taps Cub's lips as he works his way through feeding Ari, Neit's help allowing Cub to efficiently re-hydrate himself as well. Which, of course, means Cub has to work in a moment to offer up a skewer to Neit as well, in the downtime of Ari's gradually slowing chewing.

One Neit nibbles from his fingers with a wide grin, and a kiss to Cub's fingertips.

"That reminds me. Are there any snacks you two would like stashed around the place?" Cub asks. No reason to be sneaky about it now.

"Mm, nuts and dried fruits are fine." Ari shrugs.

"I want ginger!" Neit adds.

"Ginger? Just... raw, unpeeled pieces of ginger?" An odd choice for a snack.

"Nah, it's definitely peeled." Neit says, clarifying nothing at all.

Ari huffs, clipping Neit with the tip of his wing. "Candied. He means candied ginger. Crystallized."

"That's what I said!"

"Sure thing. Anything else? Cereal bars or snack packets or candy or something?" Cub checks, holding out another skewer for Ari to munch.

"Protein bars." Ari nips at the skewer this time, not simply inhaling the food. "The good ones, that understand what a flavor is when they say it tastes like something."

"Oh come on, they're not that bad-" Neit starts, before being smothered by a wing.

"Any preferred flavors?" Cub asks, snacking on a skewer himself while the two tussle.

"Preferably not strawdust, sadness, or dates." Ari speaks primly despite batting at Neit.

"Aw, the sadness is part of the experience!" Neit finally just drapes himself onto Ari wholesale, half-on Cub's lap.

"I will not be having my courted give me sadness snacks!" Ari doubles down.

“More for me, then.” Neit snickers, cuddling Ari more. “You can stick to boring chocolate or cherry or pretzel or whatever.”

"At least I won't be eating sadness with sawdust." To make his point, Ari reaches for another drink, slurping it loudly.

“Glitter juice goes excellently with dusty sadness.” Neit licks some of the glitter and sweat off Ari’s shoulders.

Well. At least Cub does have some flavors to look for now.

"Makeup is not for eating!" Ari scolds, pushing Neit away by the forehead. "Go lick Vex."

"Twist my arm." Neit, in fact, steals Vex's arm, giving his wrist little kitten licks. "Delicious~"

Cub indulges him, letting Neit lick and nibble. So what if Cub presses one of the remaining skewers against his skin next to where Neit's kissing. Not the most pleasant thing in the world, the sticky residue, but Neit does his best to lick it off after devouring the food.

Neit makes a softly concerned noise, even trying to use a bit of his own clothing to rub off the residue.

"I'll go wash up in a moment. The licking helped, thank you, Neit." If he had a hand free, Cub would ruffle his hair.

"Okay." Neit nuzzles into Cub's arm.

Before Cub can go to grab another skewer, his whole field of vision is taken up by a Surplus branded cleaning wipe.

"Here." Ari passes the wipe over, brusquely. "You said sticky is bad."

Accepting the wipe, Neit carefully and lovingly cleans Cub's skin.

That feeling, the unnamed warm one in Cub's chest, returns. Overwhelming, but- Cub likes it, he thinks. "Thank you." Soft words.

"No problem." Ari covers a cheek with an aural wing. "Now, we could stack precariously on these chairs all day, or we could get comfortable in a nest until it's time for your evening thing."

"The nest does sound more appealing. Anything we can do to help speed the cleanup along?"

"Not all that much to clean up, maybe put the chairs away, grab my phone. Get my makeup off before someone tries eating it again."

"You're so tasty right after a show." Neit whines.

"It was a very gorgeous show." Cub compliments again, just to watch the way Ari's ears redden and his aural wings flutter.

“I knew you’d enjoy it.” Ari blusters. “Ariana’s biggest fan, and all.” His flight wings ruffle, bands of blue flexing with the movement of feathers.

"I did very much enjoy your show. It was breathtaking." Leaning forward, Cub presses a gentle kiss to Ari's cheek, coming away with shimmer on his lips that leaves a reverse lip-print on Ari's face.

"Good." Ari tenderly brushes his aural wing over Cub's cheek. "I don't normally do private shows, but you two get to be an exception." Ari's voice blurs into Ariana's husky tones, so much clearer this close than through a dingy microphone and crowd.

"I'll see about getting you a proper stage, if you like. Just for us." Cub's sure he can reorganize enough to open up a room.

"That'd be real sweet of you. Get a proper lightshow going, maybe a few set pieces or props." Ari purrs his words dreamily. "Make it a recurring thing."

"I'll make it happen, then. Anything for my prettiest Ari." Cub brushes a lock of hair out of Ari's face, tentatively petting over the nearby aural wing as he does.

Ari coos, leaning into the petting. He gives slow, contented blinks of those void-dark eyes.

"Prettiest Ari." Neit echoes, draped on Ari's back.

"Shall we get cleaned up, so we can get you two into the nest?" Cub suggests mildly.

"Us two?" Ari jolts up, latching onto Cub. "You're coming too. You have to warm up the nest. Gotta. Attendance mandatory."

"Of course I'm coming. It's just that you two look like you're in need of the nest times." Since it worked so well before, Cub gives Ari a few more head and aural wing pets. To help calm him down and relax him.

"Your face looks like you need nest time." Ari quips, nipping at Cub's fingers.

Neit meanwhile peels himself up off of Ari, offering a hand to help them up once he's steady.

"Perhaps I do. Perhaps I do." Cub chuckles, offering Ari a steady arm for his other hand as he climbs up off Cub's lap.

As soon as he has his feet under him, Ari switches from leaning on Cub to pulling Cub up as well. "Hm? What's that-"

Cub finds himself spun around, curious hands running over his wings.

"Neit asked to see me in different wings." He flexes them lightly under Ari's hands.

"That's weird." Ari murmurs, though he doesn't sound upset, at least.

A shiver goes through Cub at a huge swathe of sensation- He needs long moments to resolve the tangle of sensory input as Ari rubbing a flight wing over the surface of Cub's wing.

Another lesson comes back to Cub. A gesture of affection, to be interpreted in context. Tentatively, he presses his own wing back into the touch, like he's seen Skizz and Pups do.

Ari coos soft noises, nuzzling into the nape of Cub's neck. His wing shivers against Cub's, an almost rhythmic motion.

"Don't you two make a pretty picture." Neit giggles.

Courted, Ari trills behind Cub, leaning into him. A call Cub reciprocates. Skizz spent what felt like hours practicing that one with him, until he got it right.

Practice that pays off, in Ari's delighted trills against Cub's neck.

Emboldened, Cub adds the chirp for their flock, one he's had to carefully sneak in moments of practice himself in his office, listening back to the tapes.

Ari hugs onto Cub from behind, warm and sweet trills continuing. He answers Cub back with flock, Neit joining in for that one as well.

The one for nest is less familiar to Cub, but he tries it anyway. Passable?

The chirp must be legible at the least, given the way Ari begins attempting to herd him right out of the room, presumably toward the nearest nest. Neit's snickering only increases.

"Can you grab his phone and the tray?" Cub calls to Neit. "I guess we'll be in the bedroom."

"I'll tidy up and grab the things, yeah, you two lovebirds go on ahead~" Neit assures, waving to them.

"Thank you!" Cub smiles as he lets Ari herd him to the bedroom.

"Do you want to shower before we get body glitter all over the nest?" Cub proposes, once they're in his room.

Dark eyes blink up at him from where Ari is mindlessly trying to pull him into the nest.

"Alright, alright. Just let me-" Cub sticks close to Ari as he works a sheet up from the bed, to drape over the inside of the nest. That should contain the worst of it, hopefully. "Oka-"

As soon as he's not bracing himself anymore, Ari yanks, tumbling Cub down into the nest together with him in a tangle of limbs.

Nest! His pretty trills victoriously, nuzzling into Cub. Ari's makeup smears onto the sheet and Cub alike.

How could Cub be upset with him, though? When Ari's so obviously happy, content to cuddle up on Cub's chest and curl a wing around him? They can clean up later.

Carefully, slowly, Cub lifts a hand to run through Ari's hair. "Well done."

He should see to wiggling Ari out of the dress, though.

At least Ari managed to kick off the heels before getting in the nest, revealing remarkably human toes. Which Cub supposes also makes sense, turning the thought over in his mind as he feels along the back and sides of the dress for any zippers or catches that might make the removal smoother. Talons wouldn't have exactly fit into Ariana's shoes, after all.

Zipper located, Cub sets about opening it. Ari isn't refusing the whole undressing thing, but he isn't exactly helping either. Mostly, he seems to just want to be as close to Cub as possible.

Tooth by tooth, the zipper splits apart, giving Cub space to slip his hands into to slide the rest down and away. He allows himself just one brief interlude of thinking about how much easier this would be if he could simply phase the clothing off, before focusing back on the reality of how this has to go. Carefully lifting and arranging Ari's limbs, setting aside the padding that's dislodged by Cub's efforts. Which is odd, when Cub knows now that Ari could simply shape his body like that. But it must mean something to Ari. Perhaps a remnant of a time where he had less nuanced skill with shifting?

After peeling Ari out the bra, Cub starts on the tights. Is Ari wearing three pairs over each other?

That is certainly a method. Cub can't knock the results, Ari's legs were amazing on stage. They're a different kind of amazing here, though. A new discovery for Cub to unwrap, soft flesh all the way down, without tapering or scales. Smooth, too. Did Ari shave for this? Or can he simply choose not to have hair there?

Either way, Cub elects to rub them down. Even shifters get sore, Cub knows that very well. So once the tights are off, Cub firmly digs both thumbs into one calf, kneading in.

Ari's coos slip into a moan, back arching briefly before he melts down onto Cub. Encouraging cheeps spill out of him, toes wiggling.

Cub's still at it when Neit appears, balancing the tray with his cane clamped under his arm.

The tray goes on the bedside table, but rather than empty, Neit apparently restocked it with a new plethora of snacks. "Good to see you two getting along, give me just one more sec." Ambling off with the help of his cane, Neit slips into the bathroom, quickly returning with some dampened washcloths. "Should be enough to get the worst of it off. Anything else while I'm up?"

"Grab him some pjs?" Cub requests. The massage oil is close enough that Neit should be able to grab it from in the nest.

"Of course. A shirt for you too, or do we get to keep our eye candy?" Neit is already moving as he asks.

"Set one out for me? So I can put it on later." Cub requests. He can stay shirtless for a while longer if that's what they want.

"Alrighty!" Neit vanishes into the closet, thumping around in there for a good minute or two.

Cub takes the time to make a first pass at carefully wiping off the worst of the makeup on Ari.

When Neit comes out, he's in his own set of cozy pajamas, with further fabric bundled onto his arm. A soft well-worn Hotguy nightshirt gets set on the table beside the tray, while Neit tumbles into the nest with a Vex shirt with wing clasps and a starry set of pants.

"Thanks, sweet doll. Could you grab the massage oil and drizzle some on my hands?" Cub nods at the nightstand.

"Yessir!" Neit slithers his way back to being upright enough to search the nightstand, squinting and peering at everything until he presents one to Cub. With Cub's nod, Neit pops it open, generously pouring the oil onto Cub's hands.

"Thanks. You want a turn after? Or you all rubbed out for today?" He asks Neit.

"I'm good, but thank you for the offer, my kind sir." Neit tips his head, as if there were a hat there, settling himself against the nest wall to watch them.

Compared to Neit's massages, Ari's barely takes any effort, any time, to have the muscles nice and loose. Cub still makes sure he spoils Ari properly, pampering Ari into the pjs when he's done.

Neit slides a hand in here and there during the dressing, helping with maneuvering Ari's wings especially, to smooth the dressing process.

Inevitably, as soon as they finish manhandling him, Ari takes up his place curled into Cub's chest again. Remarkable, how cuddly Ari can be. Cub would not have guessed, from previous experience with him.

Holding out an arm, Cub silently invites Neit into the cuddlepile.

Grinning, Neit crashes himself into them, tucking into Cub's side and throwing an arm over Ari. "Excellent Ari care, sugarplum. Well done."

"Glad I meet expectations." Cub presses a kiss to both of their heads. "We've got about an hour before we need to get ready for my activity."

"Good time for unwindin'." Neit smooches back on Cub's jawline, and Ari's aural wing. "Lookin' forward to your activity. Mysterious nighttime thing."

Ari meanwhile has wriggled an arm up to play with Cub's hair.

The feathers and braids still in it get inspected one by one, each investigated thoroughly to ensure all of them remain up to Ari's standards.

"We're actually gonna fly there. Leave the ConCave." Cub reveals. "Gonna have to dress warmly, cause it's mostly outside."

Neit gasps. "An outside adventure?" Delight laces his tone. "In the sky?"

"An outside adventure." Cub confirms. "Gonna get you all bundled up, then you can decide who flies you."

"Two Vexes and an Ariana, streaking through the night sky~" Neit gets squished by a feathery wing for that. "How'm I supposed to choose? I want both."

"Well, there is always the return trip." Cub points out.

"I can have both?" Neit makes the biggest, shiniest most wonder-filled eyes at Cub. How is Cub's heart supposed to handle this? Remarkably well, according to Cub's self-diagnostic, regardless of how it feels to him.

"You can have both." Cub nods, much to Ari's annoyed grumbles as he rebraids one of the braids in Cub's hair that had come undone.

"Thank you!" Said rebraiding is also not helped by Neit latching on and apparently trying to squeeze all the air out of both of them together. And here the Hero was supposed to be the dangerous one.

"Neit?" Cub wheezes. "Air?"

"Oh! Have some of mine-" Neit thankfully ceases his crushing to surge up and kiss Cub.

Kissing, Cub can do. Wrap both his arms around Neit and throw himself into the kiss as Ari chatters malcontently for him to hold still.

A request that becomes easier to accommodate as Cub settles into the give and take of the kiss, Neit's lip under his teeth, Neit's breath in his lungs. To be allowed to drown in them both, what more could Cub want from this moment?

So he lets himself float in it. Enjoy it. Revel in the wash of physical sensations, proximity, and intimacy.

Ari presses a few kisses down Cub’s neck, settling again once he’s happy with the braids. Neit kisses like he could do this forever, even if the time is realistically more like minutes before he too settles down to snuggle. Certainly, Cub doesn’t have to worry about any shirtless chill, with the both of them tucked up close.

------

"Thank you, prettiest Ari." Cub chirps a practiced fondness to Ari, after the last bite of Cub's dessert has been fed to him. Ari's final bite has already come, with them having traded off feeding bites to one another while Neit rests between them. If Cub's eyes don't betray him in the soft light of the nest, a lovely dusting of color brightens Ari's face.

"O-of course! This is- It's expected! When- when courting!" Ari stumbles his words, flustered and blushing as he turns to set the plates aside with more busyness than required.

“I am feeling very courted.” Cub agrees.

Feathery wings wrap around Cub and Neit both as Ari settles back into place beside them.

"So when are we doing your date activity?" Cub asks, once they're all snuggled in. "Mine needs to be in the evening."

“Sure, spring on a guy that he’s next.” Ari mutters, fluffing Cub’s hair.

"Do you need more ti-"

“No! I’ve got it. But Neit here needs to finish his little nap first. Tuckered himself right out. So give it an hour, before I start setting up.” Ari huffs.

"Of course. Nice little post-lunch nap." Cub agrees.

Ari squints at him for some unfathomable reason, then goes back to sorting and smoothing Cub's hair. The calm quiet between them all is nice, as is the opportunity to warm up. Despite a couple of rocky moments, Cub considers this to be a promising start to their date day.

"Ari." Cub starts, a while into their loose relaxation. "You've been Neit's partner for a while now."

Ari shifts around until he can blink dark eyes up at Cub. The dusting of warmth over Ari's cheek mixes with the slight furrow of his brow. "What about it?"

"I wanted to ask. What's the- Is there etiquette regarding his cane, and canes in general, I should know about? I've never been confronted with this in a nonprofessional context." Ari should be the best person to ask this, right?

Ari rears back, aural wings poofing up- Defensive? Cub is pretty sure that's a defensive display. "I- That was- Look, I know you don't just- I'm allowed!" Hm, yes, that tone most certainly tracks with Cub's hypothesis, even if the words are- Perplexingly incomplete, to say the least.

"I'm not saying you aren't." Cub thoroughly rotates the thought, taking his time to find the right words. "I'm asking so I don't commit any faux pas out of ignorance."

Ari's shoulders hunch, eyes warily locked to Cub. "You don't get to move or take or touch it without asking. Him. Asking him. Every time."

"Understood. No touching it without asking him." Holding Ari's gaze, Cub nods.

Gradually, Ari's feathers begin to settle again. No longer splayed for maximum size. "Exactly. And just. Don't be weird about it."

"How exactly would I do that? I'm trying my best not to alter my behavior towards him in any way." Cub prods for a tad more in the way of precise instruction.

"That's a start." Ari flops suddenly forward, across Neit and onto Cub's chest. He sighs, deeply.

"What would be a prudent continuation?" Cub asks, threading his fingers into Ari's hair.

Ari leans into Cub's touch, nuzzling his chest. "Following his lead. Like, you don't have to just ignore it, complimenting decorations and stuff is fine." Ari gestures vaguely.

"I did offer him the stickers for it." Cub hums.

"You did?" Ari twists to look up at Cub, aural wing perking.

"Yes? Should I not have done that?" Cub looks back at Ari.

"Aren't those supposed to be your obsession collectibles, or whatever?" Ari's aural wing waves and gestures.

"Stickers are meant to be used." Cub shrugs. Besides, he no longer needs to cling to every scrap he can get his hands on, as he told Neit.

"Who let you get a share of the sense?" Ari goes back to his nuzzling, this time with his aural wing bapping at Cub's petting hand.

"It had to find me at some point." Cub muses. That wing tapping is familiar, though. "Does you tapping my hand with your aural wing mean I may touch it?" He asks.

"Fine, if you really want to, you can touch." Ari concedes, wing already trying to work its way under Cub's fingers.

He welcomes the feathered appendage with some massaging rubs, filing Ari's response away for later analysis.

Ari coos pleased little sounds, relaxing into a loose drape. "Mm, yeah, there."

For a while, they just lay there like that. Neit sleeping, Cub rubbing Ari's aural wing while Ari does his best birdy purr.

Around when Cub was beginning to consider waking Neit, soft noises and movements indicate wakefulness returning on its own. Which Cub supposes does make sense, Ari of all people should have a good gauge of how long it takes his partner to recover.

"Hi." Brilliant green eyes blink up at Cub.

"Hello." Cub knows better than to stop petting Ari, so he uses his other hand to ruffle Neit's hair. Cub could fall into that lively gaze all day, if he let himself.

Neit arches into the touch, in the way of a lazy cat relishing in being petted.

Perhaps Cub could get the formula refined and tested before his next heist, to have ready for Neit and Ari's post-heist visit? Though Neit is pretty catlike, even without it.

"Rest well?" Cub asks, even though the answer is readily apparent.

"Oh, just splendidly my dear Vexy!" Neit purrs.

“Good to hear, good to hear.” Cub nods, indulging in the desire to cup Neit’s cheek in his hand.

"Which of you is going next? Now that we're all rested up?" Neit looks between the two of them.

"My activity requires evening, so Ari will be beginning to prepare for his soon." Cub catches Neit up, rubbing his thumb back and forth over Neit's cheek.

Blinking and chirps follow Ari hearing his name, followed by him shaking himself off. "Preparing? Yes! I'm going to prepare! I need a music player." Feathers settling from their shaking fluff, Ari turns to Cub.

"Many things can play music. Did you have specifications in mind?" Cub tips his head.

"Oh! How about the one in my gym?" Neit, however, plows right on ahead without waiting for Ari to answer. "You got that installed, right?"

"I did." Cub nods. "Took the liberty of putting one in the kitchen and bedroom too, while I was at it."

"Bedroom? Spicy~" Neit snickers, nuzzling into Cub's hand.

"Gym? That could work-" Ari devolves into half-muttering to himself, wings perked and hands tracing arcane shapes through the air.

"You can connect either via bluetooth or cable." Cub explains.

"The bluetooth device is now ready." Neit mimics the awkwardly stilted cadence of a machine voice, giggling.

"Out!" Ari flips back to looking at the pair of them, gestures shifted to sharp shooing.

"We're going." Cub soothes, floating his way out of the nest. "Neit, do you need a hand?" Poor thing's trapped in the softness, struggling to make any headway.

"Save me." Neit warbles, turning his watery eyes on Cub. Despite his pleading, Neit can't stop the curl of his lip into smile that reassures Cub this is play.

"And no peeking into the gym until I call you, either!" Ari commands.

"Got it, Ari." Holding out a hand, Cub grabs onto Neit. "Neit, do you want to be floated out?"

"Carry me!" Neit demands, dragging himself up Cub's arm to cling onto him.

"Spoilt brat." Ari rolls his eyes.

"Gotcha." Wrapping Neit in a gravity field is easy enough, as is pulling him into Cub's arms.

"Good Vexy." Neit presses a flurry of tiny kisses to Cub's cheeks and neck, while Cub begins floating them out of the room.

"Where do you wanna go?" Cub asks, hyperaware of where Neit's cane is pressed against his arm. Neit grabbing it had looked automatic. Habitual.

Neit putting it there has to be alright, right? Like with Ari's wings, where 'touching', and 'being touched by' are two separate categories of action, with separate rules. Given Neit's current bouncy-positive demeanor, that theory tentatively looks to hold water.

"We could do that pool fuck-" Neit grins.

"That might take a bit longer than the time we currently have."

"Boo!" Neit pulls that adorable pouty face.

"How about we get you that arrow up to the workshop, so you can start planning?" Cub suggests.

Long blank blinks, nearly long enough for Cub to speak again- Before Neit presses his thumb into the hidden scar on Cub's arm. "From piercing you, to your piercing. Let's go!" The echo of Cub's own tone in Neit's voice startles an unnamed emotion into Cub's chest.

Instead of walking, Cub flares his wings, flying them to the armory.

The awe on Neit's face at seeing the many pieces of Cub's handiwork around them never gets old.

“I’d love to see you in some of these other wings, sometime.” Neit examines a glittering pair of dragonfly wings. “So many pretty options.”

"Pick one." Cub says, stopping them in a hover. "Pick a pair and I can change into them right now. Provided they're functional, of course."

“Can I see that one?” Neit points to the most colorful set on display.

"Sure thing. Older, but should still work. I might be a bit clumsy in them. Different joints, and all." Cub flies them up to the chosen set, that's a wholly different shape than his Vex wings. Only two parts, meeting at the back. All further articulation is done via the flex of the wings themselves, which are a good bit bendier than the Vex wings. They can afford it, not needing to withstand battle.

"Manual shapeshifter." Neit giggles. Still, as soon as they're in range, Neit's already reaching for the wings, eager fingers working out how to unmount them. "Did you make 'em for any particular reason?"

Just to be safe, Cub expands the gravity field around the wings too. They are a ways in the air, don't need Neit dropping them.

"Some of the very early ones were figuring out which look I wanted to go with for Vex, and what I could use well in battle. Others... sometimes I just get an idea and that itch in my fingers, y'know, and then I end up with a new pair." Cub carefully doesn't shrug, as not to disrupt Neit's work.

"You do fight so well with them." Neit trills warmly. "Aha!" The wings come loose, with Neit hugging them close to his chest immediately. They clack against Neit's cane.

Is it any wonder Neit had such strong opinions about mobility aids? Cub can't help but get the feeling that the cane is only the tip of the iceberg.

"Want to help or do you want to see how I do it by myself?" Cub asks, touching them down next to the desks.

Rubbing his cheek on the wing, Neit ponders. A rather long time, but Cub lets him have it, swaying in place as he waits.

"I want to see you do it." Neit declares, finally.

"Alright. Where do I best set you down?" If Neit weren't using his cane right now, Cub would just stand him where he is. But like this? Better to ask, in case Neit would prefer a chair. There is one in arm's reach, after all. He just hopes the question doesn't fall under him 'being weird about it'.

"Right on your desk is fine." Neit squishes Cub's cheeks. Weirdness results of query inconclusive, but at least the instruction is clear.

As directed, Cub parks Neit on the desk. Which is in easy proximity to his wing stand. Simple then, for Cub to pull off his shirt, rest the wings in their places, and disengage them. A soft click, and Cub steps smoothly forward, feeling the ports close up behind the connectors. Take the covers from their assigned place, snap them over the connectors, and done.

Spreading his arms in a tiny 'tada' gesture, Cub turns back to Neit.

Neit applauds enthusiastically, leaning so far forward he could topple off the desk at any moment. The colorful wings he's set beside him, with his cane laid across the top of them. "Bravo!"

"Thank you, thank you." Cub gives Neit a nod, then busies himself freeing up the wing stand. After all, he'll need it to put on the other wings.

Neit settles back some, thankfully, swinging his legs side to side as he watches Cub get set up. "You make it look so natural."

"I've had years of practice, at this point." Cub hums.

Cub's got his Vex wings set aside. Stand open and clear. Shirt already off, even if he can, in theory, change wings through a shirt. It's just a tad more. Finicky. Almost everything ready. Almost.

"Uh, Neit? Could you pass me the wings?" Cub asks in uncertainty, given that Neit's cane is still atop them.

Neit hums, tipping his head slightly at the question. "Isn't this supposed to be the all-Vexy show?"

"Well yes, but uh. Your... is on them and... said not to touch." Cub mumbles half-coherently, confidence flagging even as he speaks.

"Vexy, come here." Neit's tone goes firm, but not harsh. Maybe? Cub thinks it's not harsh. Would Neit be reaching out to him like that if it was harsh?

Either way, Cub trots obligingly over to stand between Neit's knees. Head hanging, arms loose. He can't see Neit's face like this. Maybe that's for the better.

Neit takes one of Cub's hands, turning it palm-up so he can trace little circles in the palm. A long quiet follows before Neit begins speaking.

"I'm not- It's not a shameful thing, you know? I want you to be able to talk to me about it, like I can talk to you about your wings." Neit speaks with a careful slowness he rarely displays, an effort put into stringing the words together right.

"Like my wings, yeah. Yeah. I can do that." Cub nods, gathering his own thoughts. "I, uh... I took the liberty of asking Ari if there's any kind of etiquette I should observe, regarding your cane, while you were asleep. The two things he emphasized were to not 'be weird about it' and never touch it without your explicit permission." Cub rattles off, not lifting his gaze from their interlocked fingers.

"Already doing research, huh?" Neit chuckles. "Ari- He's seen the worst of people interacting with me, with my... cane." A soft sigh, one Cub can't read. Followed by more time in silence. "The closer I am with someone, the less fully strict those rules have to be. For now, you can just ask me, if you want to touch it or need to move it. Anytime. Simple as that."

"Simple as that." Cub takes a deep breath, filling his lungs all the way. Clear instructions, that he can do. "In that case. Neit, may I move your cane?" Cub asks carefully, peering up at Neit.

"Yes, you may." Neit smiles encouragingly at Cub, his expression so much warmer than Cub had feared. The hand not rubbing Cub's moves, turning up with fingers curled in readiness to receive.

Well, that answers the question of where he should put it.

Cub picks up Neit's cane like it's the most precious thing in the world, setting it onto waiting fingers with a cautious hint of smile.

"Well done." Immediately, Neit uses said cane to tuck Cub closer, stealing a kiss.

"Thank you." Cub mumbles against Neit's lips, submitting willingly to the renewed kisses.

The simplicity and pleasure in kissing Neit cannot be overstated, in Cub's opinion. The quiet reassurance that everything is still good.

"Alright." With reluctant slowness, Neit pulls back. "Go on and fancy yourself up for me." Neit gives a tap to Cub's butt with the cane handle before finally releasing him.

Released from the hold Neit has on him, Cub finds gathering up the wings and slotting them into place easy. He does have to adjust the supports on the wing holder a little, given the different shape, but that's no biggie. They were designed to accommodate most of his wings. From there, turning and docking is a simple matter.

Hooking his systems into these wings feels weird. Not uncomfortable, per se, but like slipping into rarely worn dress shoes, as opposed to a preferred broken-in pair.

"Give me a spin and flutter!" Neit eagerly demands, eyes glittering with excitement.

Letting his wing finish their motion, Cub does a slow spin in front of Neit, with a deliberate flap while his back is turned. Just to up the ante, Cub flicks on one of his work spotlights with a thought, setting it to shine on him from sort of behind Neit. Handy, that, to be able to control them with a thought, especially on occasions of needing both hands for your work. Or needing to impress a Neit.

Neit gasps, clapping his delight, punctuated by the thump of heels into desk. "Wonderful! Marvelous! Stunning!" A flash from behind Cub, barely visible over the spotlight illuminating him.

"Thank you." Turning back to face Neit, Cub shows off the flexibility of the wings by curling them forward.

"Oh! They're flexible, too!" Neit sets his phone aside, making grabby hands toward Cub.

"More so than my usual pairs. Given that they don't need to stand up to battle." Cub finds it no hardship to put his wings in Neit's hands.

Neit feels all along them, giggling and trilling when Cub flexes them under Neit's palms. "These would shatter so pretty, wouldn't they? All rainbow fragments and glitter and stained light-beams." Neit rhapsodizes.

"One moment." Drawing back from Neit's touch is hard, but Cub is sure he had some surplus crystal from these wings. Not a lot, mind, but it's not like he'll be using it for much else.

There! Just where he knew he left it, in the bin at the back.

"Here." Cub presents the crystal to Neit. About the length of a finger, and twice as wide, it should make for an excellent shatter. Cub silently calls the roombas to readiness.

"For me?" Neit's fingertip brushes the edge of the crystal, eyes wide as he drags his gaze up from it to Cub's face.

"For you. Surplus crystal from these wings. To do with as you please. I've got the roombas on standby." Cub closes Neit's fingers around the crystal, careful of the unfinished edges.

Neit pulls the crystal close, leaning in to give the flat of it a tiny lick, before scrunching his nose. "The roombas?" Neit's head tips, hair fluffing and settling again.

"Didn't you want to shatter it?" Cub asks, confused.

"I'm... allowed? You're okay with that?" Blinking, Neit's gaze flits between the crystal and Cub.

"Of course. I gave it to you under the assumption that you would. Not like I'm doing anything with it." Cub shrugs.

"Every time I think I understand you..." Neit shakes his head, wondering smile lingering in the crinkle of his eyes.

"It may take a few tries. Even though it's not reinforced crystal it's not exactly fragile." Cub cautions. "And beware the unfinished edges. We don't need you cutting up your hand."

"Nor you cutting up your foot." Niet snickers. "So I just...?" A mimed gesture of throwing the crystal to the ground.

"Pretty much, yeah." Nodding, Cub steps aside. "Do you want me to film it?"

"Aren't you filming everything here?"

"Well yeah, but I figured you wanted to control the angle and such." Not to mention his headcam footage. That Impulse fortunately knows better than to spectate while Cub's not out and about being a menace.

"I'll take your artistic vision, if you're feeling up to it." Neit hefts the crystal, eyes focusing on a point in the distance.

"Alright. Where are you aiming?" Cub fishes his phone out.

"There." Neit's voice rolls with low, firm confidence. And, yeah, actually, the area of the floor Neit has chosen looks at best guess roughly optimal for Neit's current range of throwing angles, balancing how much force he can put in to the downward throw, how much distance the shard will travel before impact, and the angle it will impact the surface.

Circling around, Cub chooses what he hopes will be a good video angle for the spray of shards. A minute to fiddle with the camera app, getting the video rolling. "Ready when you are."

With no further warning, Neit's arm shoots out, very nearly causing Cub to hop back with a brief moment's certainty that Hotguy had gotten his hands on one of Vex's smoke bombs again. But Cub holds steady, framed right on the impact zone Neit whips the crystal into with a resounding crack-crinkle, chased by the fanned skittering of colors in every direction. Neit's whooping follows only moments after, with Cub drawn to pan the camera up to Neit's unrestrained mirth. Neit's fist pumps in the air, his legs kicked out. Victory embodied.

Ending the recording a few seconds later, Cub queues it up to be sent to Neit.

"Was it what you hoped for?" Cub asks, returning to Neit's side.

"Grand, that was fun!" Neit's fervor-bright eyes captivate Cub. "You break apart even prettier than I imagined. Messy and good."

Behind Cub, the low thrum of the roomba fleet filters in.

"Any last pictures, before we let them clean up?" Sitting himself on the desk as well, Cub slings an arm around Neit as he watches the roombas line up.

"Hm, good call." Neit leans into Cub and-

Blinking blindness out of his eyes, Cub finds Neit already moved on to taking a few pictures of not just the scattered wing shrapnel, but also the lined up roombas themselves.

"Careful. We don't need a repeat of the mug. Want me to float you over?" Cub offers.

"I'm good from here." Neit assures, not standing. "My zoom will do."

"Then let me know when you're done. Or want different light." Cub leans back, content to wait.

"Mhm." Neit snaps several more pictures, constantly fiddling with all sorts of settings on his screen. Which looks even more complex than the one he'd had Cub using for pictures before. "There we go, all set." Not that Neit puts his phone away, still holding it at the ready.

"Roombas are a go?"

"Pets are a go, yes." Neit mimics with a giggle. So Cub sends them in do their thing.

Neit continues snapping pictures all through the cleaning process. "Lucky them, getting a Vexy snack."

"Yours is in the works. Five weeks most likely, at best three, depending on tissue development. Could be up to eight, if I have to start over." Cub reminds Neit. Culturing meat meant for consumption is a fun challenge, no matter the origin of the cell samples.

“That’s forever.” Neit whines. “I’m gonna need a Vexy snack way sooner than that!” He pauses, considering. “Or would that be a Vexy drink?”

"Vexy drink?" Cub asks, frowning.

"You know, my tasty Vexy treat~" Neit leans close again, running a hand up along the inside of Cub's thigh-

Before springing to his feet as the roombas regroup, cleaning completed. A single clap. "Great work everyone!" Neit weaves his way around between bots, giving each one a pat on the head. "Very bold, leading the charge." Each one gets a little statement of its own. "And you, I saw you hanging back and going over what the others had already done. Not glamorous work, but important work."

Once Neit looks satisfied with his praising of every last one of them, Cub dismisses them.

Neit has a moment of glancing almost hopefully at Cub, before the roombas go.

Fine. As a compromise, Cub waves at them.

Neit appears placated by that, returning to Cub's side. Or, more accurately, to Cub's front, slotting between his legs.

"Shall we grab you the arrow, now?" Cub asks, resting his hands on Neit's waist.

"Only if you're sure there's nothing else you want from me first~" Neit purrs, hands warm against Cub's chest.

"I could stand to take a kiss or two." Cub hums, pulling Neit in.

"My pleasure." This time Neit is the one who yields into Cub's kissing, open and eager to meet Cub's lips.

Winding a hand into his hair, Cub sets about thoroughly plundering Neit's lips. Pinning him in place against Cub with this set of wings is tricky, Cub not as used to them, but he makes it work.

Neit moans, more vibration than sound, hands trapped between them. His tongue, at least, has freedom to make eager play with Cub's, encouraging without impeding.

"I could just eat you up. Eager doll." Cub growls against Neit's lips, sending shivers through Neit.

"Please, devour me whole." Neit's words breathlessly bright.

How could Cub do anything but bite at those inviting lips? Nips and nibbles, hungry for every bit of Neit he can get.

Somewhere, between kisses, the thought rolls over for Cub that maybe, Neit too craves physical assurance that nothing between them has changed. That Cub still wants him.

On one hand, a bit of a silly thought. Cub will always want Neit, come hell or high water.

On the other, it's a simple problem with a simple fix.

Cub's hands work their way down to Neit's ass, where he can dig his fingers in to knead. "Mine." Another growl, rumbling in Cub's whole chest. How thrilling, to get to claim Neit, so much of him.

"Yours." Neit gasps between kisses. "All yours."

With barely a thought, Cub slips a hand up through Neit's torso, fingers passing through intestine, kidneys, liver, lungs- To wrap frigid around Neit's heart. "All of this, mine."

"Yes, yes, fuck yes Vexy!" Neit moans, shivering. Against his thigh Cub can feel Neit's dick in its valiant effort to harden, still wrung out from that morning. When Cub got to keep Neit under his desk as his personal cockwarmer, pounded relentlessly by a fucking machine of Cub's own design.

"Sweet Neit, my doll, my treasure." A careful squeeze of Cub's hand wrings a gasp out of Neit, more quivering shudders. "Can't get enough of you, ever." Cub lets the words spill out, instead of saving them for his spreadsheet. "Sometimes I think about surgically removing your ribs to keep for myself and replacing them with my own grown crystals." He traces along the inside curves of Neit's ribs as he speaks.

"Please!" Gasps fall from Neit's lips, pleading. "Please make me your crystal doll!"

"You are looking better." Cub hums, gliding his hand down to Neit's stomach, slipping it back out to rub the skin there. "But you still need to put on a bit more weight for operating to be safe enough." When it comes to recreational surgery, especially on someone so important to Cub, his safety standards are quite high. Rivaling Doc's, even. "Until then, until I can make you my crystal doll inside and out, you'll just have to wear my crystals and marks, instead."

"Really?" Neit lights up. "You'll cut me open and put your crystals in me? Promise?"

"I'll cut you open and get to touch all of your insides with solid hands, I'll mark your bones with my crystals so you'll always be mine, inside and out. I promise." Cub swears, words crisp and clear. His head swims with the very thought of making that a reality. Knowing that somewhere in the city, Neit will be living his life, with Cub's hand-grown crystals inside him- Cub reaches up, clacking the foreheads of their masks together. A connection transcending identity.

"Can I watch?" Neit asks. "Please don't make me sleep through it, I don't want to miss a second of your hands in me. I'll be good, I'll eat all the many, many meals and I won't even whine about it!" By the end, he's blatantly begging, misty eyes blinking at Cub.

“Of course you can watch, I’ll set you up a live camera feed, so you can see everything, every angle, and watch it back later too.” He already knows how from his own operations to become Vex, after all. “You’ve been very good about your meals, I appreciate that.” Cub nuzzles into Neit’s cheek.

"I try." Neit gasps. "I try so much to be good for you. Can you maybe- can you tell me more often? How you'll cut me open?"

“You are good, you’ve been good.” Cub assures. “You want to hear about that? More often? I think so much about getting my hands inside you. In every way.” The background radiation of Cub’s brain. Things he’s used to keeping quiet about in polite company.

"Yes! I want to hear everything! The long and wide of it, the boring. All that fancy smart people medical talk. Gosh, I could listen to you chatter about it all day." Neit sighs, sagging into Cub with a look of dreamy bliss.

“All the talk of IVs, and drainage setups? The choice of scalpel and planning the exact shape of the incision?” Cub tucks Neit comfortably close, taking his radiated warmth. “The stitching you back together again.” And, if Cub is feeling particularly bold in his imaginings, the scars left behind.

"Yes. All that." Neit hums, nuzzling in close. Perfectly lax across Cub. Trusting so much, even as they talk of flaying him open.

“The buzzing of saw through bone, making way for joining perfectly grown crystal in its place.” He’ll have to make sure the material specs match bone, and can be joined securely enough to take the hits Hotguy does. Cub will live up to this gift of trust.

Might have to talk with Lizzie as well, since he now knows she's one of Hotguy's preferred healers. Make sure they both know what they're dealing with. Get Skizz and Doc in as well, and they might as well make a night of it. Fun medical tech talk night, followed by a good fuck and snuggles. Though they have been known to carry on their jargon talk throughout the fuck and into the cuddles.

Only the absolute best planning and care both, for Neit. Maybe after they have a full plan in place, medical professionals and healers ready to be on standby, that might be the time to run the whole thing by Ari. When Cub will have concrete answers to his questions and concerns. Not for permission, the pair had made themself quite clear about that, but hopefully to ease Ari's mind about the whole thing.

Good practice, too, for Neit's eventual turning, which Cub is convinced will happen. Though Cub arguably has more to lose, he's ready to drop his mask the moment Neit does the same.

For now, though, they circle one another. Still separate stars, feeding off flares from one another. Their celestial collision inevitable, but following no one's schedule. Patience.

The end result will be worth the wait.

"Got any ideas yet? For wings of your own? For when I turn you?" Cub murmurs into Neit's hair. Even if they can't make the actual wings yet, they could do crystal tests, or make Cub a matching pair.

"So many- Sleek wings in my Hotguy colors, like a fighter jet. Void-dark wide wings, blotting out the sun. Ice-blue wings riddled through with a lattice, almost chain-link." Neit babbles eagerly into Cub's neck.

"I want to see them." Cub says, running a possessive hand over Neit's nape. "I want to see them all. And then we'll turn you and we'll make those wings real, playing out a nice story for our adoring public so Hotguy can fly."

"So Hotguy can fly." Neit echoes, voice full of wonder. "Have to fall first, to fly. Soaring over our city together."

"We'll make your fall the prettiest ever. Grand stage, all the lighting, all the props." Cub promises.

"Corruption- The fall of Hotguy- Make it the event of the century, you won't want to miss it." Neit chuckles, finally managing to work his arms out so he can squeeze Cub.

"And then the rise, a phoenix from the ashes. We could even have a fireshow, if you like. I know a guy." Tango would laugh himself sick, let Neit roast them s'mores on his hair, and then put on the most stunning show anyone's seen. Apparently, that's a 'friends' thing.

"Yes, a fireshow! Emerging from the flames, cleansed and reborn, ready to start a new chapter. Phoenix wings would be so stunning, wouldn't they? Catching the light as if the crystals themselves were full of flame." Neit sighs adoringly, snuggling Cub.

"They'd suit you." Cub agrees. He can introduce Neit to the joys of crafting his own lore later. Maybe he'll go for everchanging wings. They'd have to finally figure out actively shapeshifting wings, and could even claim Vex 'evolved' due to whatever he did to Hotguy.

A bonding experience from the turning that increases the power of both the fae involved sounds like it would work with Cub's existing lore. And isn't that a satisfying symmetry, transforming together? Equals, on the same playing field.

They have to be, to dance together. To match each other, beat for beat.

"So much to look forward to." Neit trills and chirps, mixed sounds of joy and eagerness and adoration that Cub can barely pick apart.

"Do you know what else I'm looking forward to?" Cub circles back to the reason they're here. "The piercing ball you'll make me. I can show you an example of one once Ari lets us back in the bedroom, for reference."

"Yes! So you can wear it, my arrow." Neit perks up, hand moving unerringly to squeeze the scar on Cub's arm. "In a slightly less bloody way, this time."

"Exactly." Instead of doing something silly like breaking the hug, Cub stretches his wings wide, to fly them over to the case holding the arrow.

Only to wobble, and bonk them both into the desk chair instead.

Neit snickers, hanging off Cub to bap at the chair. “Silly furniture, leaping into your way.”

"Very silly of it. Totally not me not being used to these wings." This time, Cub double-checks his settings. He had the right profile loaded. The error was just... habit, apparently. To want to deploy his fields in that certain way.

“Absolutely, all the chair’s dastardly doing, yep.” Neit grandly agrees, tucking back close to Cub with tiny licks to Cub’s neck. “But it can’t stop us!”

A slight recalibration to how his actions are processed is all it takes, then Cub has them soaring relatively smoothly. He can polish out the last few kinks in the gym, when Ari is done with his activity.

The display case unlocks under Cub’s touch, but Neit gets his hands in there before Cub can even finish opening it. Unerringly, Neit finds the correct arrow, plucking it up in confidently familiar fingers.

"This one. From me into you, to me again, and now back into you. Fitting." Neit muses fond fingers running over the arrow like an old lover.

“Even more so, that I’ll then be able to put it into you.” Cub closes up the case up, floating them along out in the direction of the workshops.

Neit snickers in Cub's arms. "Yes! Put it all over me! All over my insides! Fuck them all to squish!"

“Just as soon as your insides have recovered from their previous squishing.” Cub squeezes Neit close to himself.

"Unimportant." Neit decides, as Cub makes his way through the hallways, still flying to get more practice in.

“Important to me. I want you to feel every bit of me fucking your arrow into you.” Cub counters.

"I wonder if I could do something with the rest of it as well." Neit muses, twirling the arrow.

"If all else fails, we can cast it into a clear dildo or buttplug." Cub offers. Sure, that would make a rather long one, physically impossible for either of them to fully take, but the sentiment is nice. Or maybe a handle-

“What about a mounting shaft, for one of those fancy fucking contraptions?” Neit asks, peering up at Cub.

"With some reinforcement that might work. Is the shaft hollow?"

“Not this early. Still working out how best to make them.” Neit balances the arrow on a finger.

"You make them all yourself? That must take forever." Hotguy must go through at least a hundred fifty arrows a week, depending on villain activity. To think that they're all handmade...

"I like knowing their balance, how they move and feel. What went into them. Used to take longer to make, but now it's pretty smooth for the more standard ones. And any job has to come with a little grind, you know?" Neit tips his head with a faint grin.

"At least tell me you get paid for the time you take to make them." Cub grumbles. Any ConCorp employee trying to pull the same hours Hotguy is would be sent on a mandatory wellness retreat. And that includes a certain derp trying to live in the ConCorp server rooms. At least he mostly spends his time there gaming or making music, in the long downtimes between being called to action.

"I guess? I mean, I just get paid, you know. I guess that's for all of it? The Hotguy stuff." Neit shrugs, distressingly unconcerned.

"I have half a mind to set you up with a workplace rights lawyer." Cub continues his grumble. He probably shouldn't use ConCorp ones for that though. Even if they are the best in the business.

"What's that?" Neit settles on Cub's lap as Cub flops back into the workshop chair.

"A lawyer that specializes in making sure people are treated well at work. That they have a safe environment, and are paid a fair wage for their work." Cub explains.

"I don't think any villains will be listening to lawyers. Aside from maybe you." Neit boops Cub on the nose.

"I don't mean the villains. That's an occupational hazard. These lawyers are for making sure your employer doesn't do anything dangerous, like leave deadly chemicals out unlabeled or let other employees harass you." Though he supposes, whoever is dumb enough to try to harass Hotguy, well, they earned what they get.

"Aw, they might not have the tippy-toppest brand newest stuff, but they keep it all clean and tidy. And everyone likes Hotguy." Neit caps off his statement with a trademark Hotguy dazzling grin.

"Please tell me you at least get and take your legal minimum twenty vacation days per year. And no, being sick does not count as a vacation day." Cub prods.

"Well, I definitely take at least seven." A wink to Cub. "Mm, and Ari calls me out for a good few more. Or Lizzie. That's probably something like twenty, sure."

"Neit." Cub groans. "I will be having a chat with Ari about this. And about the best times for a second yearly kidnapping." He will make Neit relax, even if it requires mind control.

"Aw, you don't need to ruffle his feathers with this." Neit drapes his arms over Cub's shoulders, tracing the fletching of the arrow over Cub's wings. "Everything's great!"

"I actually think this would unruffle his feathers a good bit. We both worry about you." Cub shudders, wings still sensitive.

"He always gets all puffy talking about like, my work days, and stuff. You two worry way too much. I'm fine, aren't I?" Neit sticks his tongue out briefly at Cub.

"Are you? I saw your post-felinid-transformation bloodwork, and there were some concerning values in there." Cub tries to boop that cheeky tongue.

Neit eagerly sucks up Cub's finger, snickering. "Hasn't killed me yet!" He doesn't bother letting go of Cub's finger to talk.

"I see. So you'd turn down vitamin injections from me, then?" Posed as the most innocent of simple questions. Given how hot and bothered Neit got over Cub giving Ari a local anesthetic, Cub wagers chances are good of Neit pouncing on this opportunity to be under Cub's needle.

"Vitamin injections?" Neit's hand stills, even though his tone remains casual, loose. Definitely intrigued, then. "Like, orange juice and stuff?"

"I mean, you can definitely drink orange juice during, yes. But I was planning to use a needle to inject the concentrated form of the vitamins into you. Multiple times, actually, since some can't be given together." Cub grins. More bait, casually laid. "They would need to be given weekly, too."

A faint shiver, so small that Cub would have missed it if their bodies weren't pressed together. "Going under your needle- Every week?" Neit's words slightly breathless. His pupils are perceptibly larger than they were mere moments ago.

"Every week." Cub confirms. "Drop by after patrol for dinner, we toss your costume in the wash, stab you full, you can cook and spend the night and head out for patrol the next day."

Neit muffles a groan into Cub's shoulder, needing a moment to collect himself, set his grin back in place. "Trying to upgrade your dinner-date to in-person, I see. Can't sneak that past me."

"Of course not. I'd never expect to. Though we could always choose a different day, if you prefer." Cub silently rings triumph in his certainty that he has Neit hooked now. Best to pull up Neit's blood test results and pick out the appropriate supplements soon. If he can get that all in order soon enough, maybe he can get started before they leave this time.

"My schedule's more open than yours, barring any sudden incidents of villainy." Neit hums. "So we should stick to what works for you."

How viable would it be to suppress all villain activity on Monday evenings? Cub makes a mental note to check later. If not, he can shuffle his work schedule around. Plenty of air there. And his labs don't care what time it is.

"If there's sudden incidents of villainy, I'll hear about it on the news and know why you're late." Cub shrugs. "Besides, I can help patch you up after."

"Patch me up, or pump me full of unknown drugs. Either-or, really." Neit giggles.

"We can do both." Even if the drugs wouldn't be unknown to Cub.

Not fully wanting to rely on Neit's memory here, Cub also starts hashing out plans for should he need to track Neit down as Vex to slam an injector into Neit mid-fight, if Neit forgets to come get his vitamins. Which reminds Vex-

"Do you want to be strapped down for the injections, sometimes? I could take you to the dungeon lab. Our little lab rat never has to know we're there."

"Angling to get a piece of the action yourself before stripping me out of my suit~?" Neit grins with all his teeth. "I could go for being strapped. Down, doesn't even have to be in the dungeon. Plenty of fun labs up here."

"Dungeon is the only place really made for strapping down. Though if you want me to force the Hero before unwrapping Neit we can definitely have some fun first." That would be an idea. Force a ring gag into Hotguy's mouth, fuck his throat as Cub speckles his boob window with needles.

"You've got like, a whole week to figure out something for strapping up here, I'm sure you can do it." Neit traces his free hand up Cub's neck, over Cub's jawline. "That sounds so good, doesn't it? Putting the Hero in his place, forcing him to take it~ Melting him away, until just your Neit remains."

"It does. Let me plan something. Are you sure the Hero will come, knowing there's a real chance he's walking into a trap?" Cub has to check. The Hero is a facet of Neit that's Vex's archenemy after all. No guarantees Neit can actually make the Hero go if he deems it dangerous.

"The Hero is pretty confident about being able to handle you. Hope you can stand the risk of being the one held down." Neit hums, lips pursed in thought. "You could always show proof of having something that would be worth risking it for, if there was any... hesitation. After the first time or two."

"I'm sure I can make it worth the Hero's while to show up." Cub grins. "Speaking of the Hero. Do you think it'd be safe to let him out in the gym sometime? Do some hand to hand sparring?"

"Probably should get him acclimated to being here without panicking." Neit sighs, talking almost like one might about an unruly animal, doing something it ought not. "Wouldn't want another mishap."

"Yeah. Good thing Lizzie and Joel were here." That could have ended horribly otherwise. "And this time, we have the full hero getup here too. If you want to go all out."

"Yeah. Lucky, that you already knew them." Neit nuzzles into Cub's neck, draping on him. "The whole outfit does help with the mindset. And at least it'll be in private. The Hero should be less trouble, like that. Well, less of the bad kind of trouble."

"Would Ari being there help?" Cub asks. He'll take every measure to make this as stress-free for Neit as possible.

Neit's expression wrinkles. "Hard to say. Whether he'd be soothing, or if the Hero would see his comfort here as a betrayal. I don't..." Neit's eyes close, his body language gradually tensing.

Is he getting into the Hero mindset?

To avoid another runaway situation, Cub buries his face in Neit's neck, hiding his mask, and flutters his wings right where Neit's field of view should be. He's as un-Vexed as he can be. For good measure, he lets his skin marble in comfortable pink and orange hues, reflections of his wings.

The arrowtip traces featherlight circles on Cub's shoulder. "Bold. Too bold, and too strange." Neit's- Hotguy's? Voice rumbles in stern confidence.

"Would you prefer Ari- Cuteguy be there? If we spar?" Cub asks again.

Something in Hotguy loosens, barely. "No need to bother him with that. I can handle you myself."

"Don't you think he'd like to watch?" Cub has to hold back a snicker. There sure are other things Ari has greatly enjoyed watching. And participating in.

The arrowtip stills, digging into Cub's shoulder, not drawing blood by only the tiniest of margins. "Is this about what he wants, or what I want?" Hotguy challenges.

"What you want, of course." Cub soothes, running both hands down the muscular back under them.

Backing off the pressure on the arrowtip, flipping it, Hotguy uses the broad side to sweep back and forth over Cub's clavicle. "Then you have your answer. Just us. One on one."

"I'll make it happen. Just us. Hand to hand." Cub promises.

"No tricks, no powers, none of it." Hotguy asserts.

"None of it. I'll even take off my wings if you want." A shiver of excitement passes through Cub. A real test of strength, of skill, between them. Raw. So far, they've only measured up in full gear.

Hotguy hisses a breath through his teeth. "-bad enough." Hotguy shakes his head, muttering. "Whatever, at least it won't be these."

"Is there an issue? Do you want me wearing the wings for the fight?" Just because this is the Hero doesn't decrease Cub's desire for his comfort any.

"It's weird. It's wrong. You wouldn't be using them anyway so- It's fine. It's whatever. But you'd better be the right color, at least."

"You prefer me blue?" Cub lets his skin fade back to Vex blue as he asks.

Hotguy loosens up more. Never quite reaching relaxed, but at least less like his own taut bowstring. "That's the color you're supposed to be. That's you."

"I didn't want to spook you." Cub leans back, folding down his wings, settling so his masked face is visible but his wings aren't. If Hotguy prefers to have Vex here, over not being directly confronted with a villain, Cub can deliver that.

Hotguy presses Cub down into the chair, looming. Honestly? Not a problem. Not like Cub has any plans to get up or go anywhere, so if holding Cub down makes Hotguy feel better, then by all means.

"I don't spook." Hotguy growls.

"I'm sure you don't." Cub smiles at him, bright but soft. Not his Vex smile. Something gentler. He should call Neit back soon. No reason to get the Hero all worked up like this.

"And certainly not by you. Even with your underhanded disguise trickery." Hotguy's shoulders lift, but only partway, his eyes fixed on Cub's smile.

"That's me. A trickster, through and through." Cub keeps his smile soft. "Could you do me a bit of a favor, though? Just between us archrivals. Nothing bad. I'd promise, but you wouldn't believe me." Adding his best seductive wink, Cub lifts a hand to cup Hotguy's jaw.

"I'm not agreeing blind, not even for all of your wiles." Hotguy freezes in place under Cub's touch, but doesn't pull back. "What is it?"

"Just a little thing." Cub leans in, until their noses almost touch. Lips almost brush, masks almost clack.

For a breath, they stay there, gazing at each other.

Hotguy breathes in Cub's breath out, hanging silently in suspended anticipation. So still, Cub has never seem Hotguy this still, this close up before. The moment before a sniped shot.

"Let me speak with Neit again?" Cub whispers, eyes locked with Hotguy.

A fraction of something almost like hurt flickers through Hotguy's gaze, gone before Cub can even be certain of what he saw.

One hand lifts off of Cub, fingertips tracing over the lace of the collar, bringing with it Neit's warm smile. "You called?"

"I did. Didn't think you'd go full on Hero on me there." Cub pecks a small kiss onto Neit's lips. "Pass that along to the Hero, would you? He looked like he could use it."

"That makes two of us not expecting that. I was just trying to figure out how he'd think about it." Neit flops himself down onto Cub, the very antithesis of looming. "I can... try to pass it on? Maybe?"

"I'd appreciate it. Didn't want to be rude to him. But also didn't want to risk him running again." Cub too flops backwards, sinking into the chair. Both his arms wrap snugly around Neit, holding him close. "It was thrilling, though. Having him here. I very much liked it. And I'm looking forward to our spar. Once you're up for it."

"So you decided to tease him with a bait and switch, instead? I suppose, if you wanted him to be ready and raring to spar you into the floor, you've certainly got that." Neit nuzzles into Cub, squishing him close right back, arrow set aside on the table next to them.

"I did consider asking for a kiss." Cub confesses. "But no matter what he says, he is very spookable. I'll just make sure I'm properly stretched and lubed before our spar." Another wink.

“He may be. But you’re well a ways off from the right and wrong of what will, thus far. He’s troublesome like that.” Neit presses little kisses to Cub’s cheek.

"And you aren't? Troublesome?" Cub teases. Not in a bad way, but he has zero doubt Neit wouldn't get into everything available if given the chance.

“Of course not! I’m your perfect doll, remember~” Neit flutters his eyelashes in false innocence.

"Neit. The only reason I left you alone in my office was because you physically couldn't move." Cub dips in to kiss his nose.

“Technically I coulda crawled outta there with my arms, you know. If I wanted to.” Neit chirps, nuzzling their noses together.

"Technically. If you hadn't been all fucked out, my perfect doll." Cub smooths a hand down Neit's back.

“Do I need to prove it to you, next time you fuck me right out of the park?” Arching with Cub’s touch, Neit trills.

"No. I believe you could have." Determination is one thing Neit has in bounds, Cub's has no need to question. Though Cub might put sticky notes or something over his name on his diplomas on the wall next time he leaves Neit there. Can't make it too easy on him. "Speaking of determined. How much longer do you think Ari will take?" Cub asks, loosely circling back to the reason they're here.

"Good." Neit nods, firmly. "Mm, that depends. How long's it been? Like, three years?"

"More like an hour, almost." Cub corrects. He's not gonna nitpick those few minutes.

"Maybe another ten? Fifteen if he's being particularly picky." Neit sounds relatively assured about his estimate, somehow.

"Should we head back down, then? Wait somewhere closer to the gym for him to call us?" Cub asks.

"I'm game." Neit, of course, makes no effort to move off of Cub's lap.

------

Pattering back up the stairs, then through a door. From there, Scar's tracking of their movement gets harder as Vex transitions over to flying, sinking down the center gap between the stairs at a pace Scar can't determine.

"You can look again, if you want." Vex offers, moments into the floaty weightlessness.

Scar cautiously unfolds the end of his burrito, though freeing himself takes him a minute with how well he'd tucked it to avoid any whimsical issues. Not that Scar really looks around even afterward, preferring to just nuzzle into Vex's neck.

Grian is easy to locate, his grumbling thumps emanating from Scar's kitchen.

"What's taken you two so long? I've had to do nearly all of this by myself!" Their grumpy bird greets, not looking at them. Scar would bet it's because he can't keep a smile off his face, which would shatter the grumpy image he wants.

"Hello to you as well, prettiest Ari. Let me just put our Neit in your nest, then I'll be right over to help." Vex greets.

"He is? Neit?" Grian pauses briefly, before carrying on.

"The one and only!" Scar cheers, watching the line of tension drop out of Grian's wings. He's not gonna argue with getting out of putting things away time, so he snuggles down into their nest on the couch, content to listen to the cozy noise of Grian and Vex working together.

Sounds like Vex telling Grian that the cuffs worked wonderfully, thankfully leaving out the scaring Vex part. Good. Grian doesn't need to be scared. He's nervous enough about this all as it is, silly thing. Grian needs to be bossing Vex around and making him put all the things that go in high places away, yes.

For all of Grian's chiding Vex for being soft on Scar, Grian isn't making any move to make Scar come help them. Which is excellent, Scar's comfy right where he is.

Even this tiny thing, listening to the pair of them in the other room, makes Scar's heart want to overflow his chest again. He gets to have them both. He's gifted these quiet domestic moments that are as precious as they are fleeting, little stars to adorn his heart.

And it's not just this fleeting moment, not just one he has to clutch close and remember. No, this is one comes with the promise of more, of new beginnings. Of times where this can be not daily, but normal.

Laying back and letting his eyes drift shut, Scar daydreams of a time where this could be happening at his place. Or Grian's. Or in Vexy's secret upstairs civilian place with its fancy cold probably-marble counters. Or even here, but without their masks. Just them.

Where Scar can be Scar, and Grian can be his rainbow self. Where Scar can kiss any part of Vex's face, any time he wants. Run his hands freely though Vex's curls. Show Vex his plants, his ratty couch, his windows with their glorious afternoon sunlight despite the lack of view.

It's too much. Right now, it's too much. But Scar can imagine a time when it won't be. Not play-pretend imagine, but future imagine.

Simply knowing that can be in his future is enough, for now. Enough to soothe the longing in Scar's heart.

A sweetness to anticipate, to savor the longing while it lasts.

In the now, warm and cool bodies settle down pressing into Scar, pulling him out of his thoughts.

Grian's been by Mumbo's. That's the first thing Scar notices when turning his attention to his pretty. The button down and slacks are telling, whispering Grian's secret activities to Scar. Grian never presses the folds quite the same with his stolen Mumbo-pants.

"Very dapper and dashing of you." Scar catches Grian's chin, right in the middle of whatever unimportant thing Grian was saying, and pulls him into a kiss.

His charming audacity earns him a nip, and a wing thwap, but Grian goes along with the kiss.

"Delicious~" Scar murmurs, chirping contentment. All three of them together again, all squished up good. "Got that pretty head all cleared?"

"I should be asking you that, idiot." Grian clunks their foreheads together.

"I'm all perfectly dreamy." Scar smiles at Grian. "Vexy was absolutely lovely, letting me be his Doll and then letting me have den hours after smashing Doll with a hammer."

A single beat.

"whAT!?" Grian screams his question well into his middle range, but not his high range. How thoughtful of him!

Scar beams brightly, nodding.

Not that Grian pays any attention to him, whipping around to point one dire claw at Vex. "Explain." A single, hissed word.

"The constant fucking was too much for him after a couple hours, as Doll, and I'd given him an order to let me know if anything got too much. So I took off his cuffs to bring Neit back, which works wonderfully, and built a blanket fort out of my desk so he could unwind down there with a bit of a snack but still cuddle me while I completed my work. I do not know where he's getting the hammer from." Vex reports in his even, steady tone.

"There are five hammers I know of within three minutes round-trip of this couch." Scar hums to himself, routing paths to assorted workshops and rooms.

Which gets him the world's gentlest tap with a crystal wing. Is- Is that supposed to be like Grian's wing-cuffing? Adorable!

Grian meanwhile is chewing on Vex's many words.

"What did you mean by the smashing with a hammer?" Vex asks, more idle curiosity than urgent question, his wing rubbing the spot it tapped.

"Dolls are porcelain, right? So to get someone out of bein' deep-deep down in that, you shatter it! Like you did." Scar nuzzles into Vex's wing, pressing little kisses and kitten licks to it. "And hammers are the best for big shattering."

"Huh. I hadn't thought of that. Thought you wanted to put Doll away to come back to Neit?" Vex asks.

"Yeah, that's how it normally is." Scar nods.

"So no actual hammers were used?" Grian asks, cautiously. He's unfloofed quite a bit, feathers and wings settling.

"I could only wish." Scar sighs, deeply wistful. Wouldn't it be nice, Vex swinging a hammer right into his ribs, his legs? Grian could join in, Scar's got shoulders and so many more bones!

"No actual physical hammers were used, correct." Vex nods, firmly.

"And neither of you is... hurt?" Grian continues his hesitant line of questioning.

"All aches sustained are from sex, and the more egregious ones have been treated." Vex reports. "To the best of my knowledge no actual injuries were sustained."

"No harm done, I just got a little down far in bein' fucked out with that monster. It was a lot! Vexy gave me goops and rubs and a nice warm bath and I gave Vexy so many snuggles." Snuggles are the best medicine for being sad and scared, after all! Vital treatment!

"I told you so." Grian grumbles, settling and re-settling his headwings.

"No idea what you're talking about." Scar winks.

Grian works his jaw in time with his fluttering wings. "Den. You said something about den hours. Explain." Scouring over every inch of what they said with a fine comb.

"Vex made me a den!" Scar leaps to explain. He knows this one! "Draped blankets everywhere, and filled it with pillows and chocolate and fruit and cheese and crackers and juice! And then I got to snuggle up to his legs in there and make a blob!"

"The blanket fort." Grian recognizes, to which Vex nods. "Blob. How. What blob did you make? Blob...." Chewing over the word, Grian leans in to inspect Scar thoroughly. At least the parts he can see.

Scar happily provides all his limbs for inspection, twisty turning to offer each arm and leg in turn and lifting his shir- After taking the opportunity to inspect Scar's nipples, Grian tugs his shirt back down with a fond sigh.

"Uhuh, a really blobby blob, Vex even said so. Vex, show him!" Scar turns his big wide eyes on Vex.

Suffice it to say, Vex pleasantly surprises both Scar and Grian by pulling a tablet from the depths of the Scarrito, clicking on the screen to show off Scar's blob.

"My blob!" Scar cheers, kissing Vex on the cheek.

"Blob..." Grian inspects the screen with as much intent focus as he'd inspected Scar himself. "So... you designed this, while in the blanket fort?" Grian checks.

"Yes! Vexy gave me the shapes app to play with, and some Ariana music to listen to. I was even good and had a snack!" Scar beams at Grian. Maybe he'll get praise or headpats for eating. Sometimes that works.

Grian squints. "A real snack, or-?"

"There was chocolate! And juice boxes! And- and- and- crackers, I think. Vexy?" Scar looks over.

"If memory serves, you ate fourteen crackers with cheese, half a bunch of grapes, an entire apple, a whole bar of chocolate as well as seven praline balls, and drank two juice boxes." Vex recites.

"Huh. Didn't even feel like that much." Scar blinks. "Good snack."

"And your mouth was just... free, to- Do all that eating?" Grian has that head tilt like something isn't adding up.

"Of course, silly! That was den time! Why wouldn't my mouth be free?" Doll's mouth hadn't been free. But Doll hadn't needed a snack either, so it works out.

"And your hands were on the tablet?" Grian doesn't look any less confused. "Den time- Does den time have rules?"

"Of course den time has rules! Be quiet, no peeking out through the blanket-walls, wear headphones, listen to music, be comfy, tap Vexy if there's an issue!" Scar recites. He knows the rules!

“Technically some of those are Work Time rules.” Vex muses, and Scar swears he can see bullet point lists forming in those glowing eyes. He’d expect nothing less of his chartful Vexy. “If we did Den Time while I was not working, not all of them would apply.”

"I can have not-working den time?" Scar hadn't even considered the possibility!

“Yes, if that is a thing you would like. I found it enjoyable, personally. Ari may also join us, if he likes.” Vex lays out, plain and sensible-like.

"I won't be some sex pet!" Grian bristles all over again.

“What’s that got to do with the price of glass in the sea?” Scar tips his head.

“You- I.” Grian stammers hard. “You can’t bribe me into it with your off-brand nesting!”

“You do not need to join us if you do not wish to.” Vex’s wings droop as he speaks, though his voice remains level.

Eyes fixed on Vex's wings, Grian coos out an unhappy noise.

Scar reaches up, rubbing Grian's headwing in firm strokes with his thumb as he cradles it. "C'mon, talk to us, sweetheart." Soft, syrupy cadences of words.

"Upset." Grian waves vaguely in Vex's direction. "Don' wanna."

"Go ahead and relax for me, darlin'." Scar soothes, in his rumbliest voice. "What don't you want to do?"

"Like Doll. M'not ready." Grian mumbles, melting into Scar.

Scar gathers Grian close, making sure Grian is settled comfortably against his chest, right next to his heartbeat, still rubbing that headwing with firmly steady stokes. "That's all good, sweetheart, no one here wants you to do anything you ain't ready for. We're not about that."

While Scar may be quietly flooded with mental images of Grian being such a perfect, obedient, useful Doll for them- And such delicious images those are, never doubt, Grian's shifting would make him such an ideal multipurpose toy. Scar couldn't stomach doing Grian a real-real harm with it. Not to his bestie.

"Can you walk us through where you heard us ask that?" Scar tries. A small blend of the words from Grian's work, with Scar's own techniques. An experiment.

"Want me to join you for the work thin'." Grian's voice is muffled by how his face is squished into Scar's chest.

"I wouldn't mind that-" Scar catches himself, focusing up again. "We might not've been super clear, sweetheart. What we wanted to invite you to join was non-work den time. You wouldn't have to keep quiet, or that stuff." Scar soothes, rocking Grian subtly.

"But he'd want to use me!" Grian whines. "I don't wanna be his sex pet!"

"Follow my breathing, nice and deep." Scar rumbles, taking slow and steady breaths. "Deep down where you know you're safe, sweetheart."

A glance up over Grian's head, shows Vex simply watching them, quietly. Interested, and perhaps a bit puzzled, but respectfully silent.

"Nobody has to use anyone at all during den time, alright?" Smooth assurance, with all of Scar's confidence.

"I don't have to be a pet?" Grian blinks those beautiful voids up at Scar, pleading.

"You do not have to be a pet." Scar confirms, staring deeply right into Grian's eyes. Slow blinks, calm and utterly sincere. "All we want is for you to be who you are."

"There will be sex though, right?" Grian asks.

Scar pauses, considering his answer. "I hadn't planned on sex. Do you want there to be sex?" A cozy, casual fuck does sound nice, now that Grian brings it up. Maybe just a little mutual handjob, low stakes.

"No." Grian shakes his head. "Maybe? Just a little? But he can't be in charge."

"He's not. I'm in charge right now, you can feel that." Scar runs the pad of his thumb over Grian's lips before resuming rhythmically rubbing Grian's headwing. "I can be in charge then, too." Scar's not going to say no to getting to boss his darlings around, getting them all fuzzy-drifty and cozy with him in a nice den.

"Then yes. Maybe. Maybe I could join you for den time." Grian nuzzles into Scar, chirring for snuggles.

“I’d like that very much.” Scar chirps his affections right back. He does, however, lift one hand off of holding Grian, to gesture Vex closer. flock-safe, flock-hold. Calling sounds, to accentuate the invitation. “We’ll make sure you have all the grapes and cherries you could want.”

flock-safe, Vex mimics as he carefully makes his way closer. Placing one hand on Grian's hip, Vex takes care to not touch Grian's wings.

Scar briefly covers Vex’s hand with his own, an acknowledgment, a benediction. From there, he guides Grian’s wing out around Vex. Grian takes up the remaining movement, tucking Vex in close to himself with a feathery embrace. Where Scar can hold them both close.

Soft peeps, from Grian.

Cozy, this. The three of them, in their nest.

“Go ahead and rest for me, sweetheart.” Scar presses a kiss to the top of Grian’s head. But, knowing Grian won’t want quiet while he rests, Scar looks back to Vex. “How you doing?” He keeps his voice at a low rumble, but accompanies it with a softening curve of smile. With the feeling of being blessed with this cozy moment.

"Mostly good, I think." Vex nods. "Looking forward to what you two have planned for our date. How are you doing?

“Yes!” A headwing baps Scar for his exclamation. “Yes, the dates. That’s gonna be so fun.” His grin practically splits his face apart, if he were Grian, it might very well have! “I’m good. I’m ready. Well, I’m ready to start getting ready. How about you? All planned up in that big brain of yours?”

"I have completed my plan yes. I just hope it's good enough." Vex worries. "What preparations do you still need to do?"

"Whatever you pick will be good because it's from that pretty crystal heart of yours." Scar would endure writing essays together, with a smile, if that's what Vex chose for them to do. "I gotta do all the cookin', of course." And maybe some decorating, Scar had popped a few odds and ends into his order, just to up the romance factor.

"When do you need to get started on that? And do you need any help?" Slowly, Vex properly relaxes into them.

"I suppose that depends on when we want to have lunch. Should take an hour, hour and a half? For everything." Scar really wants to go all-out to treat them both. Which also means- "I dunno... Is it ruining the surprise to make you help? Or too much like a normal meal instead of a special one?" Scar can do it all by himself, but he'd have to admit a little help would be nice.

"Things can be special just because we treat them as such." Vex decides. "And we should eat soon, it's already past noon."

Scar swoons, hesitation utterly decimated by Vex’s sweet sentiments. “All the time that I get to spend with you is special.” No matter how much more of it Scar gets these days, that still holds true.

"It is." Vex gives Scar a, for him, utterly sappy look. "Shall we get cooking? Or rather, you cook and I assist?"

“I think I’d like that, sugarplum.” Scar chirrs sweetly. “Let’s just get our prettiest Ari bedded down in his nest.” Gentle movements, making sure to swaddle Ari in the blanket that smells of them both.

Content cheeps, as the bird lets himself be tucked in. Snuffles in softly, face nuzzled into the flockgoods blanket.

Indulgent, Scar allows himself to pet Grian’s hair and headwings, glutting on sweet cheeps. Only once Scar’s had his fill, does he look to Vex. “Help me up?” The simple question buzzes under Scar’s skin as he speaks it.

Standing up himself, Vex extends a hand to Scar. Steady posture. No issue at all for Scar to grasp and pull himself up by, Vex as firm as any well-fixed bar.

“Thank you, darlin’, much appreciated.” Scar presses a kiss to Vex’s cheek.

Scar could, he could just walk the rest of the way to the kitchen on his own- But he’s trying, wanting to be patient, to pace himself. He can’t burn himself up on this, when he has the whole evening to enjoy.

So Scar loops his arm in Vex’s, leaning on him for the walk to the kitchen.

Scar knows what he needs to get out first, even the idea jittering along his nerves.

"Am I doing this right?" Vex worries, doing his best to match Scar's pace.

“You’re doin' great, even if you are tense as all get-out.” Scar teases.

"I want to do this right for you." Vex frets, as they arrive in the kitchen. "What now?"

“Which is very sweet, but I don’t want you worryin’ yourself all to bits.” Scar pats Vex’s arm before slipping free. Confidence, Scar projects confidence with all his movements as he heads to the tucked away hidden gap in his cabinets, where he’d left-

Not his main cane, that’s far too Scar to bring here, but his backup standard issue medical supply cane he’d brought last time and chickened out of using.

Not this time.

Scar doesn’t dare look to Vex while settling in to survey around the kitchen for his ingredients. “First we get everything we need out.”

"Give me a list." Vex's voice, steady.

Scar closes his eyes, visualizing his cooking process and rattling off ingredients to Vex as he sees them. Once that’s done, Scar thumps his way over to begin pulling out prep dishes and knives and such.

Behind him, Vex flutters about the kitchen, lining everything up neatly on the counter. In the order Scar said them. How very thoughtful of his Vexy.

Ingredients lined up, Vex comes to stand next to Scar, hands clasped. "What now?"

Scar’s mouth hasn’t been this dry from Vex being close to him in a long, long time. He doesn’t allow himself to flinch, though. “Now- Now we begin preparing it. Chopping the carrots, de-pitting the fruit. Mixing...” Scar’s brain scrambles, completely blanking on how to make a simple tart shell.

Cool fingers on his arm.

"Hey. Neit. Breathe. With me." Vex's soft words, steady counting. Thumb rubbing those ever-present circles, round and round.

One gasp of breath, before Scar finds Vex’s pace. Steady, steady, like Vex himself. “You’re okay? With this?” Scar feels an utter fool for asking, but the words trip their way off his tongue regardless of how little he wants to draw attention to it.

Vex blinks at him. "With this? Cooking with you? Yes? Why wouldn't I be?"

“No, not that, I-" Scar’s words tangle in his mouth, leaving as a pitiful whine. Long moments before he can even begin to wrangle them again. “With me nee- With me using this.” With strangers, it’s so much easier for Scar to just say fuck ‘em and move on if they’re shitheads about his aids. Scar feels like he would die if- If Vex-

"The cane?" Vex looks a bit dumbfounded. "It's a practical solution to you having difficulties walking right now, is it not? I will admit, I was surprised to see it hidden in the kitchen, but that's about it. Why?"

Scar’s never felt so relieved at Vex’s absurdly practical way of thinking in his life. Hooking the cane handle on the lip of the counter frees Scar to throw himself at Vex, clinging tight. “Hotguy’s just. He’s not like that. He’s better. He’s perfect.” Scar babbles into Vex’s chest. Sure, Vex likes Neit now, but he fell for Hotguy initially. How different is too different? How fallible is too fallible? “You can’t. You can’t treat Hotguy any different, because of me. Because of this.” Scar’s whole chest would crumble to dust if Vex went easy on him because of this.

"I would never. Ari had quite a few things to say, about choice, last time. I think I'm beginning to understand." Vex holds Scar tight in return.

“Choice, yeah. Dignity. S’important.” Scar nuzzles into Vex. For once Scar's hands are cradled loose around his hope, room for it to stretch and move. “It’s. Part of me. I want you to know that. I want to share that with you.” Vex has shared so much of himself with them, his wings- Scar wants to share himself as well. Even the pieces too inconvenient or unideal to put into Hotguy.

"Using a cane is a regular thing for you?" Vex asks, cool as a pickle. Like he's asking Scar about the weather.

“It is. And- Some other stuff.” He’s not ready, not to share his chair with Vex, not yet. “Helps me do more.” Scar wants to be doing so many things, all the time. Of course he’s going to use every tool at his disposal for it- At least when out of the eye of his adoring public.

"Thank you." Vex pulls him close again. "Thank you for sharing this with me. I want to know every last thing about you. You fascinate me endlessly."

Sniffling sobs burst out of Scar from the sheer relief of Vex understanding. He squeezes Vex tight. “Good, good.” Scar can’t find any other words for the rush of feeling seizing him. Like he could fly, if he tried, even though that’s never been his luck.

"Do you want to go back to the nest with Ari for a few minutes? Settle down, have some cuddles?" Vex offers.

"Thanks, but no thanks" Scar kisses Vex's cheek. He needs to move, to flow out through this fresh energy pooling in him. ...just as soon as he can feel around blindly for a paper towel to blow his nose. "We've got cooking to do!" Scar perks up.

"Chop the carrots and pit the fruits, right?" Vexy smiles at him, all tiny but brilliant-bright.

"Exactly." Scar cups Vex's cheeks, just drinking in that subtle smile until he feels steady on his feet again.

Then he's off to grab the food processor for the flour and buttery bits of the tart crust!

With the new scoopy measures Vexy got him, measuring out the right amount of flour is a breeze! Drop in the butter and plug it in, then the loud can begi-!

Wait. Loud. Wasn't there something...?

Behind Scar, Vex clatters with a bowl.

Right! Vexy! Scar's gotta warn his Vexy when he's gonna be loud!

"Vexy dear." A quick thump-step over, then Scar can cozy up to Vex from behind. "I'm gonna gotta use the processor, and that's gonna be loud. Wanted to warn you."

Vex pauses his clattering, his wings lifting for a moment around Scar. "Thank you, Neit." One wing crackles into a curtain of chill that Vex pulls Scar through until Vex can press their foreheads together. "I appreciate the heads-up." A mushy warmth with a hint of surprise lingers in Vex's tone.

Pressing a quick kiss to Scar's lips, Vex promises he'll be right back. Slipping out the door, he leaves Scar with a dreamy smile on his face.

Scar did good! He did good for his Vexy!

Bright and chipper, Scar goes to press the loud button. Again and again and again. Pulsing the flour and butter together until every flour piece has its raincoat, the mixture is all pretty and golden.

Vex returns just as Scar is getting done scraping the dressed up flour into a bowl. Wandering over, Vex presses a kiss to Scar cheek as he places something next to the bowl, then heads back to his chopping without a word.

Well, Scar’s gotta investigate that. Papers? He scoops them up, turning them over.

Oh! Stickers!

“What a fancy collection.” Scar fans out the sheets, revealing Hotguy, Cuteguy, and Vex grinning up at him from each of their own themed sheets.

Scar had particularly liked this run of his stickers, with the dynamic poses and bright colors. Very close to his sketched rough ideas.

He sets them back down, carefully out of the way, not wanting to get Vex’s fancy collector items messy with his cooking.

"You don't like those? I have different ones, if you'd prefer." Vex appears behind him, holding out the chopped carrots for inspection.

“Different... carrots? These are good, nice and even, and you’re getting quicker, too.” Scar praises. When should he get the steaks on? Scar wants them just finished resting when everything else is ready-

"Different stickers." Vex clarifies, setting the carrots aside. "How do you want the apples done? Just quartered and pitted, or something else?"

“You can show me your whole sticker collection, if you like. Just, later, when my hands aren’t busy-messy.” Scar assures. Normally Vex is better about one task after another, though, which scrunches Scar’s brow a bit. “Right, yes, the apples. Quartered, then pitted, then quartered.”

"Sure thing. You can take your picks then." The knife Vex is wielding squelches into an apple. "Don't think I have much in the way of non-merch stickers though. Some glow in the dark ones."

“Hm? Are we voting favorites for you to display?” Sounds silly enough for Vex to do. “I should do a run of glow stickers.” Maybe next merch drop. Or the one after, more likely.

"I thought maybe you'd want to decorate your cane?" The knife sounds pause. "And agreed, glow stickers are always an excellent merch choice. I can point you to some reliable suppliers if you want."

“I- I guess if I’m going to use this one more, I should.” That’d at least make this one feel more like himself and less like some random stick. “I suppose I can break into my art supplies later, maybe pick up some stickers before next time.” He can figure out something nice. “Yes, please, vetting good suppliers is a pain.”

"I'll text you their contact info." Vex promises. "You can have free range of my stickers for decorating, for your cane." The knife sounds pick up again, smooth and steady.

Scar stops in his tracks. “What?” He can’t have heard that right, that’s not- That’s not what collectors do.

"What part are you not understanding?" Vex asks, all concerned. "Did I not explain it correctly? I don't think I forgot to say any part aloud."

"I can just- Use them up? Your collecty-stickers?" Scar tries to push the thought into anything like sense, but it keeps falling apart through his fingers.

"Yes? Stickers are meant to be stuck on things, are they not?" Vex sounds about as confused as Scar.

"They are!" Scar's said that forever! Stick the stickers to stuff! Paint on things! Use the nice cups! "But- Aren't you a collector?"

"Only in the sense that I was ravenous for any piece of you I could get my hands on for so long. And now, I have you. You are far more important to me than any stickers could ever be." Vex takes his time with the words, to make sure each one is correct.

"You gonna put me in a pretty little collecty display box instead of your stickers, now~?" Scar thaws enough to tease, hesitantly trying out believing that Vex might actually be alright with him using the stickers.

"Now why would I do that? I couldn't touch you if I did." Vex purrs.

"Hm, you make an excellent point. You'd have to be displayed with me, locked together in our case." Scar snickers.

"Then we'd be separated from Ari. Easier if no one is locked up." Vex counters.

"Or we could claim the whole city as our display. Plenty of room, and plenty of Ari-time." Scar bumps his hip to Vex's.

"That works. Enough space to fly and fight." Vex smiles.

"Plenty of surfaces to fuck on and foods to try making." Scar bounces in place, eagerness bubbling under his skin.

"My thoughts exactly. Will this be enough apple?" Vex presents the fruits of his work.

"Hm? Oh, that's plenty, plus enough to quality check, too." Scar scoops up a piece of apple, holding it out to Vex.

Who takes a primly proper dainty nibble from it, chewing carefully.

How does Vex survive being this adorable? Inquiring Scars would like to know-

In lieu of answers, though, Scar gets to snap up the back half of the apple piece himself, humming over the flavor.

Crispy and tart- perfect for what he's planning.

He'll get the crumble mix set up for Vex to do gloved squishies in, Vex's cold hands will be great for not melting the butter. Then they can get the baked dishes in the oven so the stove cooking can start while that's going!

"Which one of your stickers is your favorite?" Scar's mouth asks, while his hands are busy setting that up.

"Probably the large Hotguy one blowing a kiss." Vex sets the apples down and starts dumping the berries into the fancy washing bowl.

"Vexy." Scar whines. "Good choice, though." He blows a kiss right this moment to Vex, just because he can. He can! That's the life Scar is living this very second. "But no, which of your stickers?"

"Of the Vex stickers? Hmmm. Tough call, my man. Tough call." Vex hums consideringly, while dunking the berries. "Probably the glow in the dark cartoon one where I just smashed down my axe, wings wide."

"Bold! Makes a statement. I like it." Scar scoots back over to the stickers, picking them up. He locates Vex smashing, and immediately applies it right in a place of honor shortly below the handle of his cane. To one side of the Vex sticker goes Hotguy blowing Vex a kiss, to the other goes Cuteguy making a heart-shape with his hands toward Vex. A perfect little tableau, with them framed under Vex's spread wings, wrapping around the cane together! An excellent start.

Proudly, he shows his new decorations off to Vex, who sets down the washed berries to give him a polite little clap. "Very nice. The placement really gives us unit cohesion."

"Yes! Exactly, like the flock that we are." Scar bounces eagerly with Vex appreciating his vision. "I can look down and see us, together." Scar's chest can hardly contain the full force of those emotions.

"A very charming sentiment." Vex nods. "What would you like me to do next?"

Right! They're cooking! Scar places down the prepared bowl of frozen butter chunks and assorted dries in front of Vex. "I want you to squeezy-squish this until it's tiny pebbles of butter all coated up good."

Meanwhile, Scar takes up the fruit for the tart filling, getting them all syruped up and arranged properly.

Done with that, he checks back in on Vex, who is making steady headway with his squishing. Almost there!

“Good work, keep it up. You've got perfect hands for not meltin’ the butter.” Scar smooches Vex’s cheek, before busying himself arranging bottles of spices, grouping them with the recipes they go with.

While he's at it, he takes the moment to prep all the fresh ones into their little bowls. Choppy this, grind that, tiny plane that. Check in on Vexy again. Crumble looks to be done, excellent.

“Wonderful.” Scar takes up the bowl, moving into layering up the apple crumble. “Could you chop up the potatoes into roughly inch cubes? They don’t gotta be exact or pretty, we just want ‘em all to cook the same before we smash ‘em.”

"Sure thing. Where do I put the cubes? Just in a bowl or something?" Vex goes to wash the crumble dough off his gloves.

“Oh, right. You can get a pot on the stove half-full of Vexy water to drop ‘em in. But don’t turn it on until they’re all in!” Pot first, then chopping. Things in an order. Scar’s keeping on top of it.

"What's 'Vexy water'?" Vex asks, digging a medium sized pot out of the cabinet.

“You know, not like bed Vexy, normal Vexy. Water like that.” Scar gestures to Vex.

"Cold water?" Vex pauses with the pot under the faucet to look at Scar for confirmation.

“Yeah!” A big nod, enthusiastic. That’s another thing to call it! Scar checks how the steaks are de-chilling. Good progress.

For a while they work in quiet harmony, Scar busy with his fruitycakes and Vex carefully peeling and dicing the potatoes. Little splooshes, as each handful goes in.

Once Scar gets his fruity bits into the oven, he wanders over to drape himself on Vex’s shoulder, soaking in the calm as he watches Vex finish up chopping. “A little handful of salt into the water too, like pasta waters.” A soft addition to Scar’s instructions.

From his perch, Scar gets to observe as Vex pours in the salt, one single steady flow until he deems it enough. Looks right to Scar, the amount poured.

"Good Vexy." Turning his head, Scar presses a kiss to Vex's cheek.

Scar still has to marvel that he gets this. This moment, this closeness. This Vex, willing to indulge Scar in learning how to cook. Cooking together. Scar's heart so full, to be cooking for them both, for Grian to be comfortably napping nearby. Everything Scar never could have brought himself to ask for, for so long.

And now, it's his. His to clutch close and be greedy about. A new feeling, that greed, but slowly becoming comfortable. Like breaking in new boots and new bows.

The bleed of Neit into Scar, that roaring hunger that could consume him whole, if it weren’t already being met with a willing bounty, the very moment it surfaces. If he didn’t have his two anchor points, their wings steady as he holds to them, sheltering Scar in his bloom, until he can stand tall beside them.

"What setting do I turn the potatoes to?" Vex murmurs, interrupting Scar's train of thought. Instead of shaking his head wildly, he nuzzles into Vex to clear his head. Pulls himself back to the present.

"Here. Turn it up until it bubbles, then down to five-ish." His hand over Vex's, as they turn the knob. Soft humming, as the induction plate kicks on.

A quiet stretch of time, but not one that grates on Scar’s nerves. He still has the sound of Vex’s breath, the peeps of Grian’s snores. The hum of the stove, and the bubble of water.

Vex moves their hands, hesitantly at first, but with growing confidence. The dial spins down to precisely five.

“You’re right. This is special.” Scar admits, fears banished by the wonder continually filling him. “Let’s get the carrots on while those cook.”

"Also in a pot with cold water and salt?" Vex asks, already going for the pots.

"Salted, yes, but boiling for them. We don't want 'em soft-soft, so we're gonna do a quick in and out dip at high heat." Scar's getting more used to letting himself talk out his thoughts in the kitchen, to not expecting Vex to find it boring, or inconsequential. Vex likes to know whys! So, Scar tries to remind himself to give Vex whys now, when he can.

"Same water to salt ratio?" Vex has retrieved a pot, filling it with the wets.

"More salt, because they'll be in for less time to suck it up." Scar grabs a pan for making the sauce in, too. Vex's favored creamy-peppery sauce, of course.

"How much more?" Vex sets the pot on the stove.

"Like, triple? Ish?" That sounds about right. Scar hands off the spider for carrot dunkage and scoopage, once Vex has the pot all set up.

"That sounds like a lot of salt. Would you mind supervising, so I get it right?" Salt container in hand, Vex pauses.

"Of course, I'm right here." Scar bounces himself just once to focus up, zooming his attention in on the pot and salt. He's got to make sure this is perfect for Vexy.

Under his watchful eye, Vexy begins to pour the salt. And pour and pour.

"That's double." Vexy says, continuing to pour.

"That looks good." Scar nods, even though he'd rather continue listening to the whisper of salt grains into water. This isn't an exact science, but he's sure that's plenty. The sauce will balance out it going somewhat in either direction, anyway.

"Two and one half times as much." Vex declares.

"Now wait for it to bubble, then the carrots go in." Scar directs, pressing a kiss to Vex's cheek. "Pull them like, two-ish three minutes after they go in." A little more instruction to ready his Vex, while Scar gets the sauce bubbling away as well. And checks the potatoes, which still aren't quite soft enough yet. Steaks are pretty soft, though, they should be ready to go on any time now.

A quick glance at the fruitycakes using the fancy oven camera Vexy installed. Yeah, it's steak time.

Thankfully, Scar doesn't have to do anything for the ice cream to go with the fruitycakes- Though if he had more time, he'd have done it himself. Maybe next time, with the machine.

Right, steaks, yes. Get the good heavy well-seasoned cast iron pan out and get it toasty-warm. The steaks already all nice and salty peppery, and in they go for just-just two minutes, untouched! On each side. Focus. Stay focused. Scar can do this, he did it once already. Surely, he can- They'll be his steaks, for Vex and Grian and himself. Scar's. Nobody else's.

Turn them on their sides to sear those bits as well.

One quick little poke with his beepy stick, making sure the number looks good, and then out onto the cutting board for them to rest undisturbed for at least five minutes. Or was it ten? Make it ten, to be sure. Pan kept to the side for the many drippings to go into the gravy.

Scar practically stumbles his way over to Vex afterward, even with his cane, draping himself onto Vex's shoulder. That's dumb, Scar's barely done anything at all. So Vex's shoulder gets his most sullen of snuggles. "Carrots look good."

Vexy's just finishing fishing them out of the water. Into the bowl they go, waiting for their sauce.

"Hey there Neit. What now?" Carrots freed, Vex turns to wrap both arms around Scar.

Scar cuddles right into Vex's arms. Perfect recharging station, Scar's feeling his energy zapping right back up already! He squishes Vex in his arms. "Now we go for a swim and fuck in the pool." Scar mumbles, daydreaming about weightless orgasms.

"Somehow, I am not certain that is quite correct." Vex's voice carries the bend of a smile.

"Fine. We get the potatoes out and smish 'em up with cream and stuff. And I get the gravy going." Scar make zero effort to leave Vex's arms. He likes it here. Scar lives here now.

"You have to let go of me for that." Vex grins. He doesn't let go of Scar either though.

"Mm, sure, in a minute." Scar lies, leaning in to nuzzle Vex.

"The potatoes will overcook." Vex warns gently.

Scar sighs his biggest most sighingest sigh. "I know. And I want this to be perfect for you two." He has to put on his best meal, for this special day. That's at least enough to reluctantly push him to begin detangling himself.

"I believe in you." Vex bestows a kiss to Scar's nose, then goes to drain the potatoes once he's free.

And what is Scar supposed to do with that! Scar plaps his hands to his own cheeks once, twice. Come on, get it together.

Gravy. Scar makes his way back over, getting that up and reducing, before he has to face Vex again.

Who has cream in hand, patiently waiting for further instructions.

"We gotta noodle the potatoes. Quiet-like. We can do it quiet. The canoodling. Noodling. The noodling for the potatoes. Into the warm creaming." Was that words? Scar hopes it was words.

"Noodle the potatoes." Vex nods, fetching a bowl and the ricer. "Do we heat the cream first?"

"Yeah, we gently heat the cream before it comes together with the potatoes. Makes it better." Warm cream, cold butter. That's how Scar always does it.

"How warm do we want it? And how much?" Vex digs out another pot.

"A little bit more than the room. Not fully hot-hot. Like, a cup? Maybe two cups." That should be enough.

"Two cups to around thirty degrees Celsius, then." Vex concludes.

"Sounds great!" Scar stirs his gravy, before coming back to help feed potato chunks to the noodler for Vex to smash.

Between the two of them, they canoodle the potatoes rather quickly.

"Give it some gentle foldy-stirring." Scar instructs, dropping in bits of herbs and little chunks of butter as Vex does. Watching them disappear into the delicious cloud.

Beeping!

Beeping interrupts Scar's thought process.

He bustles right on over to the oven, before turning back to grab a towel. No touching the hot with hands. No screaming ouches and spilled pies, that'd be too sad this close to the goal line!

Instead, Scar gets out his toasty golden-brown lovelies, the rich scent from them wafting deliciously out into the kitchen as he sets them aside on their rack to cool. Adorn them with just a hint of gold-flake, for fanciness.

Almost done! Only the plating left. And their birdy to wake and fetch. Which sounds like a perfect job for Vexy. Scar wants to see how Vex handles the wakings, while Scar's nearby if anything happens.

"Vexy dear, could you go wake our darling bird? While I get this all plated up?"

Vex freezes in place, uncertainty scrawling all over the tense of his shoulders and scrunch of his face. "Are you certain? Is that... alright?" Vex's glowing gaze darts to the couch with the same respect he'd give a live bomb under his hands.

"Of course, of course! Have you learned waking trills yet? I can teach you the ones he prefers!" Scar chirps.

"I recall you using them before, but I have not yet practiced them myself. So I would appreciate the lesson, yes." Vex steps closer to Scar, gaze moving to Scar's mouth. How does Scar know that? Muscles always give Vex away, after this long of Vex making a hobby of staring at his lips.

"Like this." Carefully, Scar trills out Grian's favorite morning call.

Vex listens, unblinking, then pulls in a breath. ...Scar's never heard a morning call done slow enough to be a mourning dirge before.

"An interesting take, to be sure! But you might wanna speed it up a smidgen. Or a lot." Again, Scar trills out the call, at a more upbeat tempo.

Ugh, Vex is so adorable with his little brow furrow, all focused up. How dare he! And this time he even manages to get the sounds out at a reasonable speed, too!

"You're getting there! Go on, give it another go!" Scar encourages.

The middle of Vex's very cute next attempt is interrupted by a muffled flutter of sleepy questioning chirps from the direction of the couch.

"See? You're doing it! Now go to him! Little pets on his arms and cheek should do the trick!" Scar nudges Vex over.

"Okay. Okay." Vex pauses, visibly steeling himself, before gliding the rest of the way to the couch. He even manages to reach out and make contact with Grian's arm without hesitating! And only a slight flinch when Grian grabs onto his hand, trying to claim it.

Scar can see the determination on Vex's face as he trills the wakeup call he was just taught.

Grian trills imploringly right back, trying to tug Vex into the nest with him. Would that Scar could just let them cuddle and nap- If only.

"Ari." Vex trills again. "Neit made lunch for us."

"Eat you." The faintest of mumbles, accompanied by Grian's mouthing at Vex's wrist. One of his wings stretches up out of the nest, though.

"Not me." Taking another deep breath, Vex plunges his other hand in too, caressing Grian's cheek. "Food. Neit made lunch."

Nuzzling into the touch, Grian trills silly-sappy sounds, tucking his headwing over Vex's hand. "Faekiller sandwich." Grian snickers.

"I believe we're having steaks, not sandwiches." Vex looks up at Scar.

"Bread would be a bit much with mash." Scar nods. Gotta balance his special meal for his darlings!

"And I saw fruit tarts for dessert." Vex continues.

Grian's other wing perks up out of the blankets, flapping and stretching. "Y'r a fruit." He turns his head, mouth now hidden behind Vex's hand.

"No, I don't think that's the case. There is however, fruit for you to eat." Vex coaxes.

"You are!" Grian protests, surging up to grab onto Vex's torso, squeezing Vex's chest.

"Please, do tell how I am fruit." Vex wheezes.

Grian flaps his headwings insistently, groping Vex's tits. "Right here, fruit. Ripe melon." Grian even chomps down on one, to prove his point.

"Ah-!" Vex hisses. "Well, now that you're awake, let's proceed to the table, shall we?"

"Mm, fine." Grian levers himself the rest of the way up, simply wrapping his legs and wings around Vex and hanging on. He nuzzles into Vex's chest.

With his new birdy cargo, Vex trots over to the table.

"Well done." Scar gives Vex copious petting, sliding down to pet Grian's headwings as well. "Welcome to lunch, now with extra romance!" Romance is tossing a bunch of rose petals over Vex and Grian, right? Scar's already got the candles all lit up on the table between the settings and dishes. Fire is definitely romantic for sure, Scar's positive.

The petals flutter every which way.

Grian sputters, spitting out one that landed in his mouth.

"What the fuck, dude! I'm awake! No need to flowerboard me!"

"I brought extra flowerboarding!" Scar throws another handful up in the air, delighted at the new word for it. "To make today extra-extra special."

Vex precisely smothers a petal that had fallen through a candle flame, pressing it into the table.

"But yes, we've got the good steak, and mash, and carrots. And tart and crumble for dessert!" Scar spreads his arms, gesturing to the food laid out on the table.

"That looks very delicious, thank you Neit." Vex tries to sit Grian on his own chair.

“But where’s the Vex sandwich?” Grian remains wrapped around Vex, the troublemaker.

“Not for a few weeks yet.” Vex replies.

At the same time, Scar also answers. “We can do a Vex sandwich for second dessert.”

"But I want my Faekiller Sandwich now!" Grian whines, mouthing at Vex.

"Aww, is the table curse getting to you?" Scar coos.

"What? No!" Grian shoves Vex back sharply, thumping down hard onto the edge of the seat Vex had been trying to deposit him into.

"What are you standing around for? Let's eat!" Their pesky bird grouches at them.

Scar catches Vex from his stagger. Ignore Scar's hip checking the table hard as he does, that's what he plans to do. "You heard our Ari, let's feast!" With the table right there to lean on, Scar can easily guide Vex to a seat, and then sink into his own with a sigh of blessed relief.

"Yes, let's. Bon appétit!" With that, Vex digs into his meal all proper-like. Grian, too, has managed to find his manners, eating all respectfully.

Just lifting and tearing into his steak is so tempting to Scar. He grips the edge of the table and breathes steady for several breaths before he trusts himself to take up his cutlery. He can do this right. A perfect romantic date, just like if they went to a fancy restaurant.

Noises, he should keep his noises down, too. No matter how good the steak melts into his mouth, all rich and grassy. And the potatoes, all fluffy from Vex's precise handling. Not to mention the slight bite of the creamy carrots!

He really outdid himself here. Him and Vex. The quality ingredients surely also played their part, but even the best ingredients are irrelevant if handled improperly.

"Ow!" Scar jolts out of his thoughts to the tune of a foot to his shin.

Grian whistles innocently, then goes back to stuffing his face.

On Scar's next bite, he feels eyes on him. Birdy eyes. Grian's glaring at him. Not glaring-glaring. But. Glaring.

He can be quieter! He won't ruin this! Scar chews so so carefully, barely any noise at all!

Grian's fork thumps down on the table and the glare intensifies.

Scar shrinks down in his seat. He's being careful! He's being quiet! Why is Grian still upset with him?

"Is... something the matter?" Vex asks, hesitantly looking between them.

"Him!" Grian jabs a claw in Scar's direction.

"What's the matter with him?" Vex asks, when Scar doesn't say anything and just stares down at his plate.

"Don't tell me you don't feel it too!" Grian snaps at Vex. "Just look at him!"

"He looks... sad?" Vex ventures. "Neit, is something wrong?"

"I'm trying, I promise, I am." Scar finds words tumbling out of him, far too close to pleading.

"What are you trying?" Vex takes one of Scar's hands, squeezing it softly.

"I can behave. Like a real meal out, like a nice place. Quiet, and mannerly. I can, really." Scar swears it, leaning into Vex's touch.

"Who said that you need to?" Vex sounds confused. Grian just hissing and thunks his own head on the table.

"I mean, you all wanted to go to La Mer, didn't you? I can't give you that, but- I. I just want today to be as good and as special as possible." Again, the words tangle. Scar can only hope that any of it makes any sense outside his head.

"Just make your noises, you idiot!" Scar finds himself with a lapful of bird, pinching his cheeks.

"What?" Scar blinks down into resolute voids.

"How am I supposed to enjoy my meal if you're clogging up the vibe of the room stressing over here?" Grian pulls and squishes Scar's cheeks by turns.

"I gotta say, I too enjoy the ambiance of your particular brand of food enjoyment." Vex agrees.

"You... enjoy it?" Scar glances at Vex with wide eyes.

Grian claps his hands against Scar's cheeks. "Of course we do, idiot! Stupid happy little- Honestly, I swear. So just get on with it, you hear?"

"We do." Vex confirms. "No need to hold it back if it's just us. We like you happy."

Scar sets his fork down, careful and neat, so he can crush Grian close to his chest. “O- Okay.” Emotion flares in him without words, to hear both of them confirm- Scar squeezes Grian tighter. Grian can take it.

Take it Grian does. Crushes Scar right back, until he's wheezing. Only then does Scar relent, loosening his arms.

"Here." Vex presents Scar with a perfectly made bite. A ribbon-shaving of steak, a singular wheel of sauce-dunked carrot, and a tidy cap of fluffy potatoes. All speared perfectly on Vex's fork.

Leaning forward, Scar neatly envelops the bite in his mouth. Savoring the balance of flavors, rich and bright, Scar falls into a fullchested moan without reservation. Go big, right? Like all the previous sounds he held back got loosed all at once.

When he dares crack his eyes open, he finds both of them smiling at him. And infectious warmth, that burrows into the very depths of Scar's heart, curling into a bright smile of his own without his say-so.

"There he is." Vex hums, happily. "Our Neit."

"Our Neit." Grian confirms, kissing Scar's nose.

“Your Neit.” The sound of infinite joy on Scar’s tongue. The unfurling strands of belief, that they could want Neit, even when he’s strange and inconvenient. When he needs a cane, and makes a whole odd mess of noises.

What better way to celebrate the blooming of hope, than to dig back into his meal with verve and volume both!

Grian hops back to his own seat, much happier in his renewed chowing down.

They really do just want him. Just Neit, just Scar being himself. Scar can't get over those thoughts circling in his head as he munches noisily through his dinner. Almost too much, the decadent smoothness deceptively filling.

Good thing dessert is for second tummy!

Now if only Scar could wrangle his melted limbs to do thing like standing. Well, a small digestion break won't hurt.

Vex doesn't need one, by the looks of it. He's already up, clearing the table, tuppering the leftovers and putting the dishes in the wash.

That becoming-familiar sweetly homey feeling settles into Scar's chest, watching Vex. Not even bothering to try locking eyes with Grian about it, knowing he too is captivated in this glistening moment.

But the feeling gives Scar energy enough to lever himself up, snagging his cane. Sure, he has to carry the desserts one at a time, but he's going to serve them to his darlings!

For a moment, Vex hovers. Unsure.

"Please let me know if I can be of any assistance." He says, somewhat awkward but so genuinely, before turning to sit.

"That's very kind of you, darlin', but I got it." Scar assures, making one more trip for the serving implements and ice cream. He can feel Grian's eyes on him again, but without the weight. "Now, I hope you two brought your dessert stomachs, because we have got ourselves a mighty fine apple crumble and a fruit tart just begging to be devoured."

Bracing against the table leaves Scar both hands free to serve generous portions of each to all three of them, while Grian scoops up his cane from where he'd rested it against the table. If only Grian were feeling up a part of himself Scar could actually feel... Alas. Oh well, Scar trusts Grian will have it back in place before Scar needs it again. Once Grian is done appreciating the cute stickers, a task of most vital import.

Grian does have it back when Scar needs it to sit. Freshly admired.

"The desserts look wonderful, thank you Neit." Vex compliments.

"Much appreciated." Scar gives a seated bow, smile pinned bright to his face.

Grian, meanwhile, is already trying to sneak himself a forkful of Vex's crumble.

Vex, ever the softie, lets him. He also doesn't try to stop Scar from stealing some tart, either.

As a bonus, Scar briefly steals Vex's hand to press a kiss to the back of it, appreciating his Galvexy.

But the siren call of Scar's own plate of dessert is too strong for him to resist for long. Spiced crumble melding into the sharp note of slightly caramelized apples. Flaky, buttery crust holding a medley of hearty cherries and tart raspberries, oozing their blood out for Scar to lick up with the most decadent of moans. The sharp, chilled contrast of the ice cream, slowly melting and mingling into the flavors of the fruit.

His flock asked for moans, and moans they shall get! Not only because his cooking is genuinely that good, but also because he's eating it with them. His Grian, his Vex. Together! Willingly and wantingly. Courting! And just... being flock, together. Scar feels his waterworks kicking on again as his feelings hit another overwhelming peak.

"Nest time." Grian declares, gathering Scar into his arms. "Vex, grab the plates."

A convenient shoulder, for Scar to dry his eyes into, as Scar snuggles into Grian's hold. Exact bouncy steps, tracing pathways to comfort.

Vex's footsteps beside them, quiet but steady.

Scar's nestled down on the softs, only to find himself squished between the two of them, Vex slowly warming behind him.

Scar melts into the toasty comfort of their bodies. They move for a while, rearranging things in the spacious, luxurious bed nest, before a fork of bleeding tart is waved in front of Scar's nose.

Omp! Can't let such easy prey get away! Scar gobbles it all up.

Familiar claws work through Scar's hair as he chews, trilling victoriously pleased sounds. Before he can demand more, another fork drifts into view, this one containing a precise ratio of apple to caramel to crumble.

Another treat to be snapped up! Scar chews, humming contently.

Nothing to worry about, nothing to focus on. Pure relaxation, fed bite after bite of treats until Scar trills his fullness and settles in to snuggle them both.

There's some... arguing? Discussing? Happening over his head for a moment, then they snuggle in with him.

The soft clack of dishes continues, arms reaching across Scar and thoughtful munching. Don't tell Grian, but he might be right that flock-noise is kind of the best. Certainly enough to have Scar slipping toward a comfortable doze, breath slowing.

His lunch was a success, right? Ended with them all happy and snuggling, even.

Scar is declaring it a success! He gets to do that! Part one of date night, an absolute roaring success, delicious and cozy and overflowing with joy.

He should tell them that! ...maybe after a tiny itty bitty little nap, though. Being the best at cooking and romance is exhausting.

------

Doll floats.

Tucked securely under Owner's desk, between Owner's legs. All trussed up for Owner, bound and fucked.

Fucked, and fucked, and fucked. Dick long since spent, sore, and still Owner's will fucks it to the throbbing beat of the song in its ears.

Doll searches for a reason why any thought at all has entered into its free-drifting head after so long of empty perfection.

An order. Owner's order. Pain, near to damage, the limits of its flesh. It must obey. Dolls obey, without hesitation or thought.

Doll nudges its nose against Owner, against his thigh, unable to even form enough thought to fear potential consequences of interrupting Owner's work.

Owner's hand in its hair. Not petting or reassuring, just present. Long moments later, then Doll is being guided off Owner's cock, music stopping.

"What's wrong?" Owner asks, cupping Doll's jaw.

Owner's will pulls words from Doll that it could not find in itself, with it resting still and limp in Owner's grasp. "Dry. Pain. Too much." Owner's order, forcing it to not silently endure the too much that it happily would for Owner.

"Alright. Good, thank you for telling me." Behind Doll, the fucking slows, then stops.

Doll's world empty of sensation, but full of Owner's praise. It cannot process for long moments, loose glassy gaze with nothing to focus on other than the blindfold. At least it's still full. Will Owner use it now? It's so open for him, so ready. The pain would be nothing less than the sweetest gift Owner could give.

"Do you need more lube or is the fucking too much?" Owner asks.

Doll tips its head. So many words. But it has to focus, to... "Too much." It echoes Owner's last words, the prospect of choosing something far too exhausting for it to even begin to tackle.

"Too much, alright. Good job telling me." Owner's hands pet its cheeks, its neck. "Lets get you down from there." Owner's hands shift, revealing Owner is now kneeling in front of it, then start plucking away at Doll's bondage.

More of Owner's praise! Doll is truly blessed. It needs nothing more.

This gift is more then enough to tide it over past sore, tight muscles. To let it sink into limp bliss as its limbs become free to move again. Dolls don't move, though, Owners pose dolls.

Doll tries to hold still for Owner as best it can. So much untying still to do.

Tears roll down doll's face, as Owner releases its nipples, blinding pain that blots out everything else. Gasped breathing, twitching limbs, all disappearing behind the roiling wall of pain.

Doll's suffering, offered up to Owner without shame or regret. The mask and blindfold dampen, maybe that will be enough for Owner to know, to appreciate the overwhelming bounty of doll's agony.

Firmly cold hands force doll to steady, sounds in its ears not resolving to anything at all.

...

Light filtering in through doll's cracked eyelids. From there, everything else slowly crystallizes back into focus.

Cool arms, clutching it close. A body that it's pressed to. Whispered words in its ear, frantic and pleading.

Owner is upset! No, no, no-

Clumsy limbs fail doll, as it tries to hold Owner, its body's first instinct for giving Owner comfort. Words- If only it could understand the words beyond the terror jumped up into its throat.

"...ner." A bare half-croak of a word, all doll can find to sound out.

Was that a sob? Is Owner crying? Doll's eyes flutter open.

Soft, warm light surrounds it. Them. Owner, a smeared blue-black blur, and doll both.

Is doll supposed to see?

Slow, laborious concentration... So much effort, just for doll to get a single arm up, to brush a thumb over Owner's wet cheek, seeking for even one brief moment to dry it.

Any words it might have had are knocked away by a moan when doll sees the clean white lines of its cuff, Owner's gift to it. Wrapped firmly around Doll's wrist, a perfect emblem.

Owner catches its hand gently. Says something in that pleading tone.

No, that's not right. Owner shouldn't plead. Owner shouldn't be sad. Frowning, doll tries to focus, tries to work out what Owner is saying.

Apologies, that's the first sound to come together, because they sound like the inside of doll's own head. It wants to apologize, it must have done something wrong. But no, Owner is babbling apologies, making doll's skin crawl with the wrongness of it.

Calling? Owner is calling for... someone, but doll doesn't understand.

Taking up doll's hand, Owner holds it where they both can see it.

Carefully. Lovingly.

Opens the snap on the cuff.

Oh.

Doll cracks open, porcelain under sledgehammer. Something else, someone else, gushing out through the fragmented shards.

"Vex." Neit croons the name in adoration, in concern.

"Neit?" The look on Vex's face could kill Neit. The most cautious of hope, peeking out under devastated tears.

"I'm here, I'm here, that's me. Neit." Neit nods. He can still feel doll, the confusion, the bliss, but fainter now. "I've got you." He does his very best to hold Vex, anyway.

"Oh good. Oh thank goodness. I though I broke you. Lost you." Vex pulls him into a crushing hug, clinging tight.

Neit chuckles a breathless wheeze, nuzzling into Vex. "You can't get rid of me that easily. I told you, I'll always come if you call."

"You didn't, though. Come when I called your name. Only when I took the cuff off you where you could see it." Hushed words, whispered.

"I'm sorry, I-" He doesn't remember Vex calling him, does he? Well, doll doesn't remember that, anyway. "I was deep. Locked in. I didn't realize- I didn't know you were calling. I came as soon as I could."

"The cuffs worked. That's what's important." Vex holds him close, sniffling. "I got you back."

"Smartie-brain Vex and your clever cuffs idea." Neit presses kisses to damp cheeks. "I'm here, you're mine, all mine and I'm never letting you get away again. Don't you forget that."

"All yours." Vex's voice shakes as he agrees.

"Hmm, speaking of here, Vexy. Where are we?" Neit looks around. Not that there's much to see, with them being under a woven blanket of some kind. Loose enough of a weave to let some light through, so they can see each other, but not loose enough to take a peek through.

"Mh? Oh, we're under my desk. In my office." Vexy explains.

"Huh. Interesting place for a blanket fort. Very intimate." Neit grins, popping a tiny blep at Vex. Vex's eyes make such good lights in here, captivating.

"It was the only thing I could think of. The only way to remove your blindfold." Vex explains.

"I'm sorry for worrying you, Vexy." Neit works his hand up again, this time making clumsy petting motions into Vex's hair. He doesn't say that Vex could easily have taken him elsewhere, no need to rub salt into Vex's panic-thoughts.

"It's fine." Vex breathes deeply, leaning into the pets. "How do you feel? You said the fucking was too much? Too dry?"

"Kinda extra sore everywhere, now that I'm noticin' it." Neit wiggles all his limbs, before tucking back close again. "Dry... Had a lot of drys- Oh, right, I think the dildo was drying out, actually." Neit chatters. "Not bad yet, but getting there."

"Drys?" Vex's face crumples into a thinky frown.

Neit has to shut his mouth and just breathe, as doll tries to push to the surface in a brief flurry of panic that maybe they weren't supposed to be cumming at all- No, no, doll needs to sleep right now. Tuck it in, a nest in his thoughts, up on a shelf. Neit time now.

"I don't think I'll have any more jizz to give you for a good bit." Neit teases Vex with perfect lightness.

"Ah, you're referring to dry orgasms." Vex nods his understanding. "Did you enjoy it?"

Neit opens his mouth, then closes it again. Just to be sure. "Which, the it?" He asks for clarity, so he doesn't get something mixed up again.

"The entire experience, I suppose." Vex considers. "Including the orgasms."

"Yes!" Neit nods eagerly, smile blooming. "Well, aside from the scaring you part. I didn't like that. But all the rest of it!" There are good kinds of scaring Vex and that's not one of them. "My head was so empty of everything but the good-floaties, and like, it hurt, but it was good, was being good for you. Being in your power completely, being yours." Babbling, hoping any of his words can even begin to capture the feelings.

"Good. I'm glad." Vex pulls him in for another tight hug. "Do you want your rubs now? Or can you wait half an hour? I might have kinda bailed mid-meeting."

"I- huh." That somehow stops Neit in his tracks, the idea that Vex would just. Cut his business short, for Neit, to take care of him. "I can wait, if you don't mind me just leaning on your leg for a bit." Neit wouldn't trust himself back on the machine, to not slide into being doll again. And he just- He wants to be close to Vex.

"That's perfectly fine by me. I can get you a snack and some water and you can stay under the blanket and lean on me all you like." A Vexy-bright smile, all for Neit.

"You take such good care of me." Neit has to kiss that Vexy-smile, he has to, Neit's full of so so so much love and he has to share it somehow.

"I try my best. Can you be good and wait for me here? Just minute or two, then I'll be right back." Vex promises.

"You do so good." Neit trills warmly. "I can. I will." Normally, Neit would be more concerned about that, but he's pretty sure his legs plain style wouldn't hold him right now even if he wanted to misbehave with getting up to look around.

"Good, thank you." One last kiss for Neit, then Vex slips out from under the blanket. Quiet patters of feet on carpet, then a door shuts, and Neit is alone in Vex's office.

Neit pulls the blanket close around himself, letting his eyes fall closed. Every sore ache and pain throughout his body means trying to find a more comfortable position is right out, so he has to draw on Neit’s patience again, the soft fuzzy slip of time in service of Vex’s will that he stay put and not peek.

Like this, time glides by tolerably until the door opens again and Vex returns.

"I'm back. I brought you your snack, and a few more blankets to turn my desk into a proper blanket fort. Sit tight, I'll be quick." More feet thumping, some clattering, as Vex sets to work.

Neit mrewls and chirrs his joy at Vex returning, words still fuzzy-difficult as he rises back to awareness. Eyes closed, he waits. Vex is here, so everything’s okay. Air around Neit moves, cloth rustling comfortably. He sways, to the tune that still lives in his head, even with his headphones missing.

"All done." There's a gentle tug on the blanket covering Neit. "You can look."

Peeking cautiously out of his safety blanket, Neit's breath catches. He's-

Under the large wooden roof of Vexy's desk, surrounded by walls of colorful fabric and small lights, there's a small mountain of pillows, and tray full of snacks. Cheese, crackers, fruits, a whole bar of chocolate, and a bowl of the individually wrapped chocolate balls with the gooey-good fillings. Juice and water bottles too. A tablet sits next to the tray, along with a pair of sleek headphones.

“Ohmygosh, Vexy!” Neit flings himself into Vex’s arms, squeezing with all his might. “It’s perfect! Oh, I love it! My own little den!”

"Good, good. I'm glad you approve." Vex hugs him back. "Will this work for you? So I can get the rest of my work done? There's 3D modeling software on the tablet, with training videos."

"You're gonna make me want longer down here than just your work, you overachiever." Neit nuzzles his cheek right into Vex's. He wonders, if there was a moment in Vex's panic, that he forewent the mask, to-

Mm, better to think of his Vexy here and now, in his arms. Much happier Vex, much better.

"Alright. Feel free to snuggle up to me, and tap me if there's an issue. The headphones are linked to the tablet, but I still control the noise passthrough." Vex explains. "Any questions?"

"Is my music on the tablet too?" Neit looks at the setup. He's not sure he'd be able to focus on Learning right now, give him other familiar noise.

"I'll send it over." Vex promises. "Anything else?"

"Everything else looks great, more than I could need. You're so good. My amazin' Galvexy." Neit bumps and rubs their noses together.

"If everything looks good then I'll head back up now." Vex plants one more kiss on Neit's forehead, then starts wiggling his way free of the blankets.

Neit cops a feel of Vex's ass as he goes, but otherwise just watches him leave. What else to do now but revel in his newfound luxury? Nibble at a gooey ball and sip some juice until Vex's legs settle into place, for Neit to press up close to and nuzzle.

Cozy. Perfect.

...right! Headphones! Neit scrambles to get those on and get back into his snuggly place sharing warmth with Vex's leg. Like he was never even gone!

"Ready? I'm going to turn the sound passthrough off now." Vex warns.

"Ready. See you later." Neit scoops up the tablet, pawing through until he gets to the music, putting on and queuing up some of Grian's poppier songs.

The outside world goes quiet, leaving Neit in his cozy little private den, as comfortable as he can get with all of his aches. Just for something to do with his hands, once he's had his fill of snacks, Neit swipes open the shapes app, playing thoughtlessly with form and color.

...

"Neit?" Before Neit knows it, Vex is nudging him, his ears hearing things again.

"Vex!" Neit perks up, aggressively nuzzling Vex's leg. "How's work?"

"Work is completed. Has been for a good moment there. Can you scooch? So I can come down." Vex shimmies in his seat.

"Yes!" Neit scrambles back into his pillow pile, eager to invite Vex into his cozy den. "Come in, come in, please. Make yourself at home."

"Thanks." Vex slides down his chair, plopping down in front of it. "Hi." He turns to Neit, soft smile on his face.

Neit pulls Vex close, right into his arms to snuggle. Of course his own smile blooms right back at Vex, the bubbling in his chest, fizzy and sweet against his teeth. "Hello there. Fancy meeting you here." A classic, but it never gets old.

"How was it? Being down here while I work?" Vex frets adorably.

"My den was wonderful, thank you." Neit pinches Vex's cheek loosely. "Look, I made a blob!" Neit proudly turns around the tablet to display the riot of color and shape he'd ended up with after his daydreaming playing.

"Very... bloblike." Vex praises.

“Thank you!” Neit snuggles right back into Vex, setting the tablet aside. A box of juice, the hissing schlunk of the straw pressed against his thumb into the box- “A refreshment, my good sir?” Neit offers the juice to Vex.

"Thank you." Vex accepts, drinking deeply from the juicebox.

"Of course, of course." Neit has a little bite of a cheese-cracker combination he's seen Vex choose before ready to offer up when Vex lets up on the straw of his drink. "And a little nibble." Vex needs so many meals, after all. So many all the time!

"Thank you." Vex nibbles the bite right out of Neit's hand.

"There's my good Vexy, so polite." Neit settles in, alternating petting Vex while feeling his fun braids with feeding Vex little nibbles of foods, carefully curated for Vexy-tastes.

"Where would you like your rubbing done?" Vex asks in between bites.

"Hmm." Neit ponders the question, perhaps just to have more time petting his Vexy. "Thighs, mostly, I think."

"I more meant which location, but where on your body is also good to know." Vex leans into the pets, nibbling a grape.

"Oh, uh. Here's good. Or a bed? Or the floor. Or a bed of nails-" Neit could keep listing places. Vex's hands are more important to him than the where.

"Do you recall that Lizzie said they were 'upstairs'?" Vex asks, cautious words arranged with odd deliberation.

"Uh-huh, like we are." Neit nods. He'd thought before that they'd went down, but doll is very sure that they went up.

"Yeah. We're. Upstairs. It's not connected to the lair. So I can bring over civilian friends, and such." Vex explains.

"Oh. Huh." Neit chews on that for a minute, counting building floors. "Like, below your upstairs neighbors?" That doesn't sound quite right, even as Neit asks.

"Of sorts." Vex nods.

Neit frowns, but scrubs his hand up and down his face until that goes away. Don't think about it too hard. Don't. "It's nice. I like the tub." Neit offers, not sure where Vex is going with this.

"That's one of the reasons I asked." Vex gives a soft chuckle. "Do you want upstairs or downstairs rubs?"

"Do I still gotta be blindfolded for upstairsy rubs?" He tips his head.

"I'd have to do a quick check, but probably not. Just for the way there." Vex explains.

"That'd be nice. I'd like to see you. See your spaces." Neit leans into Vex, images of spending time in fancy rooms together drifting in and out of his mind.

"Shall we pack up here and head over? You can have a bath after, if you want." Vex offers.

“Gonna pack me right up and carry me?” Neit flutters his eyelashes at Vex.

"That's the plan." Vex nods. "Are you done with the food?"

“Mhm, had plenty of snacks.” Neit had done his munching while blobbing, very helpful to the creative process.

"Good." Vexy hands over a blanket. "Here. Get yourself all wrapped and cozy, I'll pack up the rest and carry you over for your rubs."

“Yessir!” Neit giggles, taking the blanket to cocoon himself up all nice and good. “Warm rubs?” Neit only now has the thought sprout up that warm Vexy hands make for the best massages.

"Yes. The rubs will be warm." Vex confirms, to the tune of clattering and rustling.

"Woo!" Neit cheers, wiggling from inside his tight cocoon of blankets. That's about all he can move. But his body's aches stand no chance against warm Vex!

"We'll have to make a pit stop in the kitchen, drop off the food." Vex mutters. "Think I might leave the fort building supplies here though, they may be handy in the future."

"Yes! I want more fort-den time, later." Who knows how much later, but sometime in the times that is later! Neit likes his warming Vex time, his doll time, but fort time is new and exciting and good in different ways! His own den!

"You can definitely have that." Vex scoops Neit up into his arms. "Can you be a good tray for me until we get to the kitchen?" Something is balanced on Neit's blanket covered tummy.

"No, but I can be the best tray instead." Neit has to hold in his giggles, a difficult proposition, but he's not gonna knock the food off his tummy! Because he's the best tray!

"Perfect." Vex's sweet pride heralds him setting off walking, the little rocking motions comfortable but unusual for being carried by him.

Neit lets his blanket-covered cheek rest on Vex's shoulder, eyes closed as he builds the apartment around them. The exact length in Vex-strides and turns from the work-office to the kitchen, a different path than the one to the bathroom that doll is familiar with.

A set of stairs, sixteen steps up in total. Flooring change, from carpet to wood to tile.

Suddenly, the food is removed from Neit's tummy as he's set upright on what must be a fancy rich stone kitchen counter, the chill of the surface seeping even through his blanket cocoon.

Neit bumps his bundled heels against the cabinet doors below him, listening to the crack and then whumph of fridge doors, the hiss and click of Vex's favored airtight containers. Busy, busy Vex, putting everything in its right place.

The press of blankets down on Neit's head, a pat or a kiss, before he's scooped home into Vex's arms.

Back down the stairs, another count of steps down what Neit suspects to be a hallway. The soft click and swish of a door opening, a soft surface rising to meet Neit's tush this time as Vex sets him down.

"Just a moment, Neit. I'll tell you when it's safe to look." Vex promises.

"Okay." Quiet patience, that soft fuzzy place. Where Neit doesn't have any urge to move or look or do anything but bask in Vex's presence. Like his body's leaden-heavy asleep, while his mind says drifty-pleasant awake.

"Done! You can look." One last clack of the closet door swinging shut, then the bed dips next to Neit as Vex helps him peel out of his blanket cocoon with warming hands.

Around them- the bed is huge. Biggest bed Neit has ever seen! He and Vexy and Ari could all spread out in it, limbs thrown wide, and not be touching. Even Grian, with his ridiculously big wings! Dark blue sheets that may be the softest thing he's ever touched, and more pillows than Neit can count. A singular bookshelf, set against the one pale blue wall. Above them, on the dark ceiling, there's a beautiful painting of the starriest night sky Neit has ever seen.

Vex squirms in place, as Neit takes in the entirety of the room around him. Of course Neit's gaze lands back on Vex, drawing Vex close into a hug, once Neit's arms are freed. "Thank you." Neit whispers the words in awe. Overflowing gratitude toward Vex, for sharing this with him, the intimacy of the space that shimmers with Vex from every surface.

Vex melts into the hug, all tension draining out of him.

"There's my sweet Vexy." Neit chirrs fondly, holding Vex close as they gently sway back and forth. "Sweet, starry Galvexy, as amazin' as the whole cosmos itself."

Looks like Vex needs a lot of cling close to Neit time right now. That's okay, Neit is more than happy to be his plushie! The ache of his thighs can wait.

Neit is used to forcibly ignoring deeply aching thighs and sore butts and creaking joints, Vex is far more important right now. As long as Neit's arms keep working, he's good, he can rub Vex's back and keep Vex nice and close. A comfort Neit. "You're so good, love you so much, all mine, my Vex, mine." Neit gets to say that, he gets to now, he's sure. Vex is his forever-ever. And doll's already said it anyway, so Neit should get to, too!

"Y-yes." Vex's voice quivers in overwhelm. Shock. "Yours." He forcibly clears his throat, resettles his shoulders. Gives Neit a kiss on the cheek. "So uh. How about those rubs?"

One more nuzzle for his Vex. "That'd be wonderful, sugarplum. Being a right bother, my legs are." A blooming-bright smile for his thoughtful Vex.

"Yes. I'm sure they are. We'd better get on it then." Turning, Vex spreads out the blanket Neit was wrapped in with a quick toss. "Can you lay on here?"

If only Vex would throw him around, instead of the blanket. Mm. "Of course!" Neit chirps, rolling himself facedown onto the blanket. At least that way, his butt gets a brief little break. And also Vex gets to look at it! Everyone wins!

"Before I start, would you like a plug and some soothing salve?" Vex offers.

Oh, right, those exist. Vexy's got all kinds of nice things. "Yes, please." Neit wiggles his butt. "Unless you want to get in there first~"

"No, I'm good. If you want, you can blow me after. Once I'm done with your rubs." A lid clicks open, squelching out some kind of goop.

"Tasty Vexy~" Neit licks his lips. "Even if I'm the one getting all marinated."

"All slathered up in oil, yes." Vex agrees, sliding the plug home into Neit. It aches something fierce going in, until finally settling into place for the goop to take effect.

"All coated in slip, ready to shape." Neit murmurs, in between breaths that edge toward sighs of relief. His toes wriggle their anticipation.

Another bottle snapping open, this time followed by the slick sounds of wet hands rubbing together. Hands that wait way too long before they get themselves all over Neit's legs, spreading the slippery everywhere.

Neit moans right into his pillow as those warm hands dig into his thigh muscles with firm, inexorable strokes. Patient grinding, twisting, digging, and smoothing. Every nerve ending flaring to life with a confusing riot of pain-pleasure, twitching and kicking even as Neit does nothing more than try to limply ride it out.

Somehow, Vex doesn't care if his legs misbehave. As good as Vex is at dodging, he's still been hit several times. Even Grian can only deal with that for so long before restraining the problem limbs.

Yet here Vexy is, patiently kneading until Neit's legs melt, until the muscles succumb to Vex's will and behave again.

Cradled comfortably in Vex's will, Scar imagines the bloom of those lovely lavender bruises over Vex's skin, more marks he's left on his Vex. Fists and feet, impacts that feel real, exchanged under adrenaline that makes anything possible-

A yelp melts back into a moan as Vex moves up Scar's legs, arching Scar's back before Scar flops down into an ooze again.

So good. His Vexy is so good to him. Rubbing him, letting him have den time in the den that Vex hand built for him, sharing these private spaces with him. Makes Scar's heart ache, so bursting-full of love.

Scar's gonna have so much love to pack into their date-lunch! Making Vex's carrots, and all their favoritest things he can remember!

In one deft motion, Scar finds himself flipped, now looking up at his Vex, at that focused determination. At those glowing eyes and clever hands. Getting to watch Vex take him apart, what could be better?

Pain ripples through Scar, and yet he moans his heart out. All of it is a gift from his Vexy, given so Scar's legs can work again. Of course he appreciates it!

His proper maintenance, a machine to be tended under Vex's focused gaze. Is this what his bow felt like, while Vex repaired it? All that care and effort, and still the hitch remains in his pull. The fault remains in his legs, they will fall apart again. And again and again.

Will Vex ever tire of putting him back together?

Scar's couldn't say. Though if he had to guess, he'd dare to think Vex is enjoying himself.

Vex's mouth pinches tight, lips pressed together flat. But his shoulders hang loose, his eyes extra bright in the way of being attentively widened. Focused, not upset. A subtlety of language Scar has learned, over time.

Intoxicating, to be the center of that laser focus. Taken apart and put back together by such skilled fingers- Scar beside himself in giddy joy.

Vex's eyes scrunch fondly, as he works his way up to kneading Scar's tits. Sure, they're not nearly as muscle-achey as the rest of him, but who is Scar to deny Vex his kneading-treat? A nice little breather for them both.

A moment for Vex to brush his fingertips over the pendant that rests there, in a place of honor upon those fine pillows.

"You wear it a lot, don't you?" Vex murmurs, as he goes to properly knead one of Scar's shoulders, the one that's a mess of scar tissue.

"I do." Scar spills eagerly. "Close to my heart, safe. A promise, a warding charm." Just a quick rub to the charm anytime, and poison whispers fade away.

"Warding charm?" Vex asks, digging both thumbs into a particularly ouchy spot.

"Mhm, warding charm, pro- All protective and stuff." Scar struggles to get his words out through the jolts of pain.

"You do realize it has no abilities, right? No inherent magic? Just a piece of crystal?" Vex pauses in his work.

Okay, okay, Scar needs his arms to cooperate here- Hm. Despite all his focus, only one of them manages to lift and coordinate plapping into Vex's cheek. A couple of pats and a little pinch. "Protects me. It does." Scar's words congeal slowly.

Vex waits in his patience, petting Scar's skin gently.

Scar flops his hand back down, but deliberately, onto his own mask, sliding further down to tap his own temple. "Protects me here." Soft words, more hesitant. "And here." A tap to his own heart. Will Vex find that silly? Meaningless?

Vex tips head to the side in that ever-curious way of his. "It protects your heart and your head? How?" Warm hands never pause their petting.

How does Scar say it right, what words will make Vex understand? Scar's tongue flicks out over too-dry lips. "When my brain gets mean, and my heart gets scared, it's real. It's solid, I can touch it, it's real." Scar catches his own breath in his throat, before he can fully begin pleading.

"It's real." Vex echoes, nodding. "This is real, I'm here and I'm real. I care. I care so much." Scar finds himself gathered into warm arms, and crushed close. "You can text me any time, or call me. Or come over." Vex promises.

"Things I have to do- I can't always come. Protects me, then." Scar reaches up again, his one arm trying to drag Vex down into a hug. He needs to hold Vex. Right this very moment. "So good to me."

"I try." Vex, bless him, helps Scar sling both arms around him, so he can hug back.

"You do, you are." Scar nuzzles into Vex, crushing as tightly as he can. Crushing and crushed, everything as it should be. Everything right in the world, their private little world. "Gonna text you lots and lots, until you get sick of hearing from me."

"I don't think that will ever happen. You could yap my ear off all day and I wouldn't be sick of you Neit." Vex whispers.

Scar wants to deny it, everyone gets sick of him- He can already feel the ghostly pinching twist of his ear, killing those words dead on his tongue. "Good luck." He says, instead.

"I won't need it, but thank you." Instead of letting Scar go, Vex simply starts kneading into Scar's back as he is right now, with them all wrapped around each other.

Scar chirrs his contentedness into as much of a purr as he can, nuzzling Vex more. Get his cheek all over Vex, as is right. "And you? You'll text me, too?"

"Of course." Vex nods, chin poking into Scar's shoulder. "I'll text you pictures of all my food, so you can criticize it. And teasers, when I'm working on my next scheme. And when I'm bored in meetings, or just want to talk to you."

"So I can compliment it!" Scar protests, nibbling at Vex's neck. It's right there, being all delicious up next to his mouth! He has to! "Good, good, I wanna hear all the Vexy thoughts."

"Even if I ordered the food, and didn't make it?" Vex chuckles.

"I can compliment your taste in choosing good places to order from. Except the not-pizza, no compliments for that." Neit licks his way up Vex's neck, snickering.

"I suppose." Vex allows, leaning forward to lay Scar out again. "Let me finish up your rubs, then we can hop in the bath, how about that?"

"Yes! Bathtime with Vexy~ Cutest rubber ducky." Scar smooches Vex right on the nose, before vaguely cooperating with being manhandled into position for the last of the rubbing.

Arm and shoulder rubbing goes smoother than the leg rubbing. Still hurts, but at least his arms behave and don't randomly smack at Vexy.

Well, they only smack at Vex once, and that's because Scar does it on purpose, for fun, right on Vex's deliciously squishy tit. With an unrepentant grin, of course.

All too soon, Vexy is done with the rubbing.

"How does that feel?" He asks, sitting back.

"Super good." Scar wiggles all his limbs, his legs, his arms, and even his neck. "All losey-goosey-warm."

"Excellent." Vexy sounds very pleased with himself. "Then let's get you in the tub. Can you stand?"

"Let's find out!" Scar eagerly peels himself upright off the luxuriously soft bed. He has to do an absurd about of scooting to reach the edge of the massive sea of a bed, but he makes it there on his own.

The next steps are more difficult to figure out, swinging around arms and legs to get his feet under him. To get upright to take those steps- Shit, okay, too ambitious.

Scar staggers hard, knee trying to flip around turnlike.

"Woah there! Careful!" Warm arms come up under his, magic singing along his skin. Vex. Vex caught him.

Scar slings an arm around Vex's shoulder. "Thank you. Help me hobble on over, while I get used to this walking thing again?" Only a few moments to orient himself in the space, eyes closed. Then Scar starts shuffling toward the bathroom.

"Sure thing. Do you prefer to be made lighter with magic for that?" Vex asks.

"Nah, better to show gravity a good what-for." Scar figures Vex is a plenty-good walking stick for that. Better practice, without the magic. Which retreats after his words.

"Would that be your normal preference? If you require assistance?" Vex asks, doing his best to let Scar dictate the pace.

"Uh... maybe? Like, if I'm not being carried-carried, and just like. Helped. Gotta keep workin' those muscles and stuff." Something tries to come together in the back of Scar's thoughts, but he can't quite grasp it yet. Tantalizing, and terrifying. At least that feeling is enough to distract him from any fear of talking about this more openly with Vex.

"Please let me know if that should ever change, even temporarily." Vex says. "And if there's anything I do wrong, or could be doing better. Or that I should cease doing."

"Business Vexy." Scar bumps his cheek into Vexy's. "Okay, but only if you're gonna tell me that stuff, too." Well, Scar will try anyway, it just sounds like sayin' what he wants, which he can do.

"What stuff?" Vex asks, opening the bathroom door for them.

"The stuff you want! Or like, or don't like, that I'm doin'. That stuff." That's basically what Vex said.

"I already do." Vex leads Scar to the edge of the gigantic tub. It even has little water jet spouty things in it! "Can you get in by yourself?"

"Good! Then just keep it up!" Scar encourages. "Hm, lemme just-" Leaning more heavily on Vex, Scar plans his approach. Shifting his weight, testing his muscles. Right, nothing left but the trying!

Carefully planting his foot on the nicely grippy tile, Scar lifts his other leg, weight flowing over the edge and landing squarely planted on the textured bath-bottom. A bit more easing and a lot more weight on Vex, and he slips his other leg in, finally letting go to sink down to a kneel. He's in!

Scar beams up at Vex. Success!

"Wonderful." Vex kisses his nose. "Want to pick the bubble bath while I undress?"

Mrp!

"On it!" Scar turns to the bottles, this time able to pluck them up without knocking them over. One feels different than last time. Popping it open to sniff, Scar doesn't remember the citrus-floral scent of it. But it's zingy, and he likes that! He doesn't need to smell the other two that he already knows, Scar wants this one.

Task complete, Scar gets to peek up over the lip of the tub to watch the tail end of Vex undressing, giving a low whistle of appreciation.

"Want me to show you how to work the water?" Vex asks, joining Scar in the tub.

"Yeah! Teach me your waterbendy ways!" Scar giggles, scooting into Vex's space. All the better to watch him closely, of course.

"So this is where you control the temperature." Vex starts, demonstrating as he explains. There's so many functions he goes over! Scar didn't know a bathtub could do half of them!

"Why don't you pick the setting?" Vex offers, at the end of his explanation. "Don't hesitate to ask if you have questions or forgot something."

"I know what I want!" Scar took extra care to remember the ones he wanted, and for once, it worked! Helps that there's pretty pictures on the buttons and dials, that make a lot of sense once you know what they are supposed to be.

Flipping switches and spinning knobs, Scar adjusts the temperature and bath settings, so that when the tub is full bubbly water jets will be blasting out of the seats, and there's also a small rainy bit. For the nice-good pitter-patter noise.

Now all Scar has to do is relax into his Vex while waiting for the tub to fill.

"Fine choices, fine choices indeed." Vex nods, looping an arm around to keep Scar close. Oh, Scar's heart could pitter-patter its way out of his chest just from that alone!

Vexy behind him may be cooling, but the nice toasty-warm water is rising, bringing with it glorious amounts of bubbles. As well as floaty lightness and a wonderful fresh smell.

Water currents swirl and bump against Scar's legs, everything combining into just about the most decadent bath experience he's ever had. Even topping when he gets to travel as Hotguy in fancy hotels! Fancy hotels don't have a cuddle-Vex, after all. Fluffy clouds pile up around them, blocking them into their own snowy cave of bubbles.

The jets under them kick on, massaging Scar's legs good even after the rubbies he already got. Shortly after, Vex leans over to turn off the water.

"Big Vexy luxury." Scar giggles. "Careful, or I'll get used to this." He kicks one leg up, sloshing the water around.

"That wouldn't be so bad. You getting used to this. Would mean I get to have you over more." Vex nuzzles into Scar's shoulder.

"I see how it is! Mm, a dark scheme to tempt me further into your clutches~" Scar snuggles closer to Vex. Whose clutches are quite comfortable.

"Maybe. Maybe." Vex chuckles. "Perhaps that was my plan all along."

"Well, it's working. You evil-" Scar turns around, peering into Vex's eyes. "Evil man." A kiss, soft and sweet.

"I am a villain. Have to be at least somewhat evil." Vex smiles into their kiss.

"A corrupting force to be reckoned with, you are." Scar presses a dozen kisses to the curve of Vex's lips. There's no such thing as having enough of Vex, not for Scar.

"Sounds like I've got you all good and corrupted then. All good and corrupted." Vex nips back at Scar's lips.

"You do!" Scar chuckles. "Got me wanting luxury baths, and cakes, and all the mind-blowin' orgasms." Scar can't even remember at this point all the times Vex has completely exploded Scar's whole brain with orgasms built up well beyond a simple quick jerk-off in the shower before a patrol. Even better- "Got me wanting you and Ari, all selfish-like."

"Good." Vex smiles that devilish fae grin at Scar, that has his dick twitching no matter how spent it is. "Selfish suits you."

"You might be one of the only people in the whole wide world to think that." Scar runs his hands down Vex's chest. Certainly, his adoring public loves him selfless, heroic, untouchable.

Neit- Scar, wants to be touched.

Wants to be held. Like Vex is right now, both arms wrapped around him.

"Good thing none of their opinions matter for anything." Vex rumbles.

A tiny puff of breath. "Only to my paycheck." Of course, Vex doesn't have to think about that sort of thing, does he?

"What people think of you should not affect your compensation for your work." Vex growls, pulling Scar in closer

Scar straddles Vex’s lap, a familiar smile playing over his lips. “The public decides where to spend their hard-earned cash. I’m lucky, that as many of them want to support me as they do.” Scar knows smaller heroes have it worse, in terms of merch sales to supplement regular pay. Even when Scar’s margins are thin, he’s still at least making sales, though sometimes only a few. Those die-hard collectors, likely.

So Scar refuses to draw a higher salary than other heroes, when he can make part of his own way on his own name, his own brand. No matter how many times the Hero Org has offered, if even one other hero is paid less- Scar won’t. He won’t abandon them like that, not when they equally pull their weight having his back protecting the city. Welsy's just the same way.

"The public could stand to put a little more tax money towards the Hero Organization, from what I've heard." Vex grumbles.

“True! Several other heroes could use raises.” Scar nods, ruffling Vex’s hair. “And the workshop apparently needs updating badly.” Scar didn’t even know there were better models, until he’d seen and tried them here.

"Until it is, you are free to use mine." Vex offers. "Can't have you fighting me with subpar gear."

"You'd love that, wouldn't you? Getting to peek at what I'm making. Criminal." Scar kisses Vex's nose. Vex is too cute, being all evil.

"I wouldn't peek. Much. Even then I'd mostly be looking at you anyway." Vex protests.

"Just dying for a peek at my sweaty, shirtless lathing?" Scar snickers.

"Always." Vex grins down at him. "I could eat you right up."

"Wish you would." Scar flutters his eyelashes. Wouldn't Vex's teeth tearing into his skin be so wonderful? The yielding of skin, the rending of muscle, the splash of blood. Like art.

"If you want, I can grow some tissue samples from you too. Neit-nuggies as well as Vex-nuggies." Vex makes the most enticing offers.

Neit moans, melting into Vex. If he can't have Vex tearing him apart, that's the next best thing, isn't it? "Neit cake after Vex nuggies." He giggles.

"We can go grab the sample before you make lunch." Vex suggests.

"Whatcha gotta take for it?" They probably should get it before Grian gets back to fret himself sick by insisting on being in the room.

"Not much, just stab a special needle in deep in the area you want the meat from." Vex explains. "Hurts like hell. But I can give you a local anesthetic first. Stab another needle into you, which would even be drugs."

Scar completely melts into Vex, a low moan escaping him. “Sounds great, sign me up.” A shot of Vex’s drugs, right to his ass? He could only be so lucky.

"So where do you want the sample taken?" Behind him, Vexy gathers stuff up, beginning carefully scrubbing Scar down.

"Where else but my butt? For an ass man~" Scar snickers, tipping his head back to wink at Vex.

"A sound decision." Vex nods, ignoring Scar's yelp as the washcloth scrubs painfully over his still-sensitive nipples.

"Cruel. Evil." Scar pouts his mightiest pout, even as he continues pressing into Vex's touch.

"I'm just trying to wash you." Vex kisses Scar's pout.

"Mean to me." Scar pushes himself up to steal another kiss, and another.

"You like it." Vex gives one more slow, deliberate scrub over Scar's nipples, before moving on.

Scar's eyelids flutter with the sweet friction of pain, his groan splitting the difference of hurt and arousal. Vex's confidence is so handsome, so alluring. "My own personal evil bastard~" That Scar gets to call Vex his never grows old, pops of excitement in his chest every time he makes that claim.

"So what you're saying is I should be mean to you more?" Vex teases, moving his scrubbing down to Scar's tummy. Blessed relief in rubbing the crusty cum off his skin and out of his tummy hair.

“Mean can be fun.” Scar grins right back. “You look so good, all confident, in your element. How could I resist?”

"I'll keep that in mind." Vex grins, closing the washcloth around Scar's dick.

Scar gasps, still sore and sensitive from who knows how many orgasms wrung out of his body. And yet, his dick makes its best effort to get hard under Vex’s touch yet again. “Y- You do that.” Scar still does his best to hold himself together, despite his own squirming.

Catching Scar's gaze, Vex locks eyes as he takes his time very thoroughly cleaning Scar's dick. Ensuring every last bit of raw skin gets to spend time with the rough fabric scouring over it.

Captivated, Scar can't bring himself to look away from those bright eyes. Even panting and shaking, Scar falls deep into their glow. Do Fae have mesmers like Mumbo does? Or maybe Vex is just that far inside Scar's head already, to play with the dials and knobs as he pleases.

The towel departing his dick leaves a void of sensation in its wake, snipping Scar's strings into a slump.

Just barely, Vex manages to catch him before he goes under the mountain of bubbles and the water underneath.

Scar's safe, in Vex's arms, moved to lean against Vex's shoulder, supported.

"You can't escape from me that easily." Vex chuckles, the sound warm and resonating in his cool chest.

"Who says I want to get away?" Scar counters.

"You were slipping toward an escape beneath the waves. Is the sea calling you that loudly?" Vex scrubs his fresh towel up and down Scar's back, soothing and steady.

"She's never called me. Only Ari."

"Playing favorites? How could she." Vex presses a kiss to the top of Scar's head. "More time for me to call you, then."

"She does text, though." Scar adds.

"Really? That's new." Vex pauses, considering that. "I suppose you can teach an old sea new tricks."

"Ooh, don't let her hear you say that. She doesn't like being called old." Scar chatters away happily.

"Well, she can't get her way all the time." Vex grins. "Just most of it."

"Just most of it. Like me!"

Strong arms wrap around Scar, and squeeze. "She can borrow you. Briefly. On occasion."

"Because I'm yours. And you're mine." Scar wishes he could purr as he sinks into Vexy's embrace.

"I'm yours." Vex echoes, tucking his face into Scar's hair. "And you're mine." Vex hardly sounds like he can believe his own words as they come out, only holding Scar closer.

"Yes. And Ari's. Can't forget about our prettiest bird." Scar reminds Vex.

"Ari..." Vex pauses in a way Scar could believe he's actually struggling with his words. "He actually wants me." Wonder shines through Vex's tone. Awe.

"He does!" Scar nods. "How could he not?"

"He sounded pretty firmly of the opinion of not for just about this whole time." Vex rubs little circles into Scar's hip with his fingerpads.

"Ari wouldn't be Ari if he didn't faff and make a fuss." Scar waves off. "That's just how he is."

“He makes himself very confusing, saying things different than what he means.” Vex catches Scar’s hand, pressing kisses to the back of it. Like worshiping Scar comes natural to him.

"Quality control. Only those who stick around and untangle him are worthy of him." Scar giggles.

“That’s. Hmm.” Vex’s brow furrows while he tries to figure out what to do with that statement. Like he’s really overthinking it.

Snickering to himself, Scar splishes about in what remains of their bubbles. The soapy bubbles, at least. There's some smaller airy-bubbles coming from the water jets in the seats. Feelin' absolutely a-may-zin in his sore legs, after the good Vexy-rubs.

Vex shakes his head, fond.

While Scar’s spinning around, a little splash hits his back, to the tune of innocent whistling from Vex.

Instead of shrieking, Scar shudders. Is the water that cold already? Did Vexy eat up all the warms?

Scar contemplates this while moving to the other end of the tub. He doesn’t feel all that cold, does he? Oh well, he can just shiver while surging toward Vex, bringing a whole wave with him!

"Alright. Time to get out." Vex catches Scar from amid his wave, holding him tight.

“As long as it’s not time for time out.” Scar happily snuggles into Vex’s chilly arms. As fun as Vexy bathtime is, Scar’s also eager to get to Grian and Vex date times.

Which means going through being lifted out of the tub and brought under warm water rinse times, which aren’t a hardship at all, really.

Neither is being swaddled in huge, soft Vexy-towels, and dropped back on the even huger Vexy-bed.

"Stay here for a moment, I'll grab us some clothes." Vex promises with a kiss to Scar's cheek, then he's off, phasing right through the closet door.

"Aye, aye." Scar snuggles himself down into the towels. What kind of wonders live in this Vexy closet? New toys? New clothes? A portal to Narnia? A Stargate? The possibilities are endless!

Scar's still pondering the likelihood and contents of another toy treasure trove, when Vexy reappears, arms full of clothes and wings under his arm.

"I figure I dress you first, then you can help me with my wings?" Vex suggests, laying out two piles of clothes on the bed.

"Very thoughtful of you." Scar pounces from his den of towels, raining down a storm of smooches onto Vex.

"Yes, I figured you would appreciate." Vex catches him, though any attempts to calm Scar enough to begin the dressing process just quite yet are thoroughly foiled. Scar will have his smooches! Vex promised him, after all! As many kisses as he wants! And Scar wants to give all of the smooches, right now!

A dozen-dozen kisses later, including a half-dozen that Vex returns, Scar finally settles in Vex's hold. "I do. I appreciate you a lot. So much, really-really." Scar nods, eagerly.

"I appreciate you as well." Vex boops their noses together. "Now, may I put your clothes on you?"

"Hm. Hmm." Scar really makes a show of pondering, head tipped and toes wiggling. "Yep! Dress me up all good." He holds out his arms, ready and willing to be adorned in the clothing chosen for him by his Vexy.

The first thing that goes on him is not a shirt, like he expected, but a cozy pair of panties. Plain Vexy-blue, with just a little lace trim for decoration at the edges. Functional. Just what he needs to keep his spent, sore dick all snug and safe. Vexy is so good to him, knowing exactly what Scar needs.

Thigh highs go on next. Not just thigh highs though, no. Fuzzy glitter thigh highs. Soft and warm and decorated with grinning cartoon Vex faces. Perfect for achey Scar legs. They even have rubber toe beans on the bottom, so he doesn't slip!

His shirt is loud, bright tiedye splashes of neon colors behind a Cuteguy print. Grian menaces extra sharply on this one.

Over the thigh highs, Scar's treated to knee length wrap pants. A novel thing. Apparently, you put them between your legs, or sit on them, and then tie the waist ties in the front and then the back, and suddenly there's pants on your body. A fascinating magic. Scar will be stealing these. They flow nice and loose too, supremely comfy and soft to the touch.

Scar practically feels like a brand new man, adorned in his fresh new clothing. He keeps twisting this way and that, to look at and feel it move on his body. And there's nothing better to do with his toasty new warmness than to pull Vex close and kiss all of his appreciation into Vex.

"You've outdone yourself." A small smile plays around Scar's lips when he finally pulls back enough to speak.

"I merely picked out clothing I thought you might appreciate." Vex demurs. "Would you like to help me with my wings and my own clothing now?"

"You're so thoughtful." Scar nuzzles their cheeks together, before perking up. "Yes! I want to dress my Vexy!" He wriggles his way out of Vex's hold, seeking Vex's wings.

"Do you remember how to help with putting them on?" Vex asks, getting up to stand beside the bed, his wingless back to Scar. Baffling, that there's holes big enough for Scar to stuff a hand in in that back. It looks so normal. Maybe a bit well trained, with solid muscle under softness. But not like he's hiding wing ports.

Scar supposes it really is amazing what synthetic skin can do these days. He's had plenty of offers, companies trying to curry favor with Hotguy arranging for him to see and touch their synthetic skin samples with offers to clear up his more 'unsightly' scars- Well, it is convenient to know who not to deal with. So Scar can't say those overtures were a total waste of his time.

He's glad Vex had never offered.

"Yep, I just gotta hold them up behind you exactly where they'd be, and let you back that thing up onto them!" Scar answers, perky as can be. He hefts the pretty rocks into place. "All set."

"Take the caps off first." Vex reminds him.

...whoops, yeah, Scar probably should. Silicone socks don't belong in Vexy's back!

A wing in each hand makes that difficult, with Scar considering resorting to his teeth- Before remembering that the bed exists literally right next to them, where he can set the wings down and get them all good and ready.

"Of course, of course, I knew that. We're good to go!" Scar gets himself back into place, with the uncapped wings, bracing himself.

Little bit of jiggling and shifting around, until both wing connecty bits are just poking into Vexy's back holes, then Vex leans back and click! Vexy's whole again, stepping forward as his wings flutter and move wide.

Scar knows well how to duck wings that are stretching and waking up, slipping himself around to Vex's front with easy dodging. A peck for Vex's nose, and then Scar's backing Vex into sitting on the bed, so Scar can begin his dressing.

Looks like Vex chose simpler things for himself. Though his socks are also Vex-blue and fluffy, with the toe beans, and the panties match. He even picked a Cuteguy shirt for himself as well, though his is pale pink, and there's a zip up hoodie to go with it. Soft grey sweatpants round out Vex's outfit nicely.

Scar moves with careful slowness, sliding each piece into place with the utmost precision. No pinching, no nail scraping, not for his Vexy. Not right now, anyway. Just good soft clothing, tucking Vex away safe from the world.

For a brief moment, Scar considers sinking to his knees and taking Vex up on that offer of a later blowjob, but he instead decides to save it. There will be time later.

Isn't that the biggest thrill of all? To know that they will have more opportunities to be intimate? To be certain of a future?

Scar smooths down Vex's hoodie, the last bit of the outfit. "Pretty in pink. Is someone missing our prettiest Ari?" He has to tease a little.

"Always. Though he did return to the lair a short while ago." Vex pulls Scar into a hug. "Will I need to blindfold you for the way down? Or can you keep your eyes closed and your head down? At least until we're in the stairwell?" He asks.

"I-" Scar wants it, he wants that trust. He wishes- "How could I say no to your blindfold, darlin'?" A perfect smile. Scar doesn't trust himself with this.

"That's still in the office." Vex considers for a moment. "Would wrapping you in a blanket again also work? We can just tuck it into the couch nest as a treat for Ari when we're done with it." He offers.

"A blanket's fine." Less fussy than a blindfold, certainly, meaning Scar can just scoop it right up and throw it over his own head, grabbing one at random from the bed to wrap in. The return of the Scarritto.

Someday he will purritto again.

A small yelp escapes Scar as Vex scoops the Scaritto right up into his arms.

"Do you want to be carried the entire way or would you like to walk some? Unfortunately, it is all stairs as the elevator is currently broken." Vex asks. Scar can feel him using the door like a normal person.

I come with more gifts for the lovely @whisperwritingstuff and @varanere00 featuring the disaster bois from their lovely Enemies to Lovers Convexian fic <333

I come with more gifts for the lovely @whisperwritingstuff and @varanere00 featuring the disaster bois from their lovely Enemies to Lovers Convexian fic <333

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Still heaving with exertion from his crazily acrobatic flight, Grian lands on his apartment's landing pad style balcony. Wings quivering, he punches in the code to the door, flopping onto the couch as soon as he's in range.