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Aether's trust was fragile.
For how many times he had been pushed around, he had been spun around in circles and played with, for how many times he had forgiven and been betrayed as a result, trust was something he had held dear in his heart, and something he struggled to do around others.
But he was different, no matter how many times he had tried to push the ash blond away, for how cold he had attempted to act, for how disgusted and indifferent he had tried to act around him, for how many empty words he had released in his vicinity to push him away, something had dragged him closer and closer to the magician.
Aether's trust was fragile, yet, for how hurt he had felt upon learning of their background, for how hard he struggled to turn his back away, something seemingly had brought them back together.
Aether's trust was fragile, yes, but faced with Lyney, with vibrant purple eyes filled with guilt and sadness, he couldn't push him away.
He knew it was a bad idea, knew that with each passing moment, he risked once more getting hurt. Yet, he couldn't move away.
His eyes were drawn to the two flowers tied together by a familiar maroon ribbon, the magician's signature color. He stared at the flora, standing the test of time as even after a week, neither the Lumindouce Bell nor the Rainbow Rose has wilted. Two sides of the same coin, both a different perspective on separation. His words came back to haunt him, as his echoes of 'We're not going anywhere' circled his mind. Deep down, he still wasn't sure if he could trust Lyney to the fullest, yet he wanted to believe in the magician's story, want to believe he wasn't bad.
He must be dumb to think so.
With a sigh, he exited their accommodations to instead take a walk in the empty streets of Fontaine to clear his mind.
He wasn't, however, expecting a chance encounter with the very same man who has his thoughts in a flurry.
"Lyney." A forced smile, more for pleasantries, as he approached the man who had seated himself on a bench overlooking the heart of Fontaine.
"Aether! What brings you here this lovely evening?"
He shrugged as he took a seat next to the magician, thoughts racing for any excuse he could think of, nothing really coming to mind besides the obvious, so he merely sighed, leaning back. "I couldn't sleep." He sounded very unconvincing, he was sure, but the magician merely chuckled, not planing to dive deeper into his words.
"Neither could I, unfortunately."
A cold breeze blew passed them, settling into a silence neither comfortable nor uncomfortable. It was weird to Aether, seeing the magician so out of words and quiet. Normally, it would be him talking, and Aether would simply listen, but it seemed neither of them had any intentions of talking at all. Aether shivered, feeling the wind pick up as a drizzle started, making him frown. He was sure no trials should be going on right now, especially not in the dead of the night.
The magician stood, sighing. "I'm sorry to end our little session here, but I should be heading back."
Before Aether could stop himself, he stood, a hand reaching out to catch Lyney's. "Wait—" Surprised purple met amber, and Aether was at a lost as to what he wanted to do in the first place. "Can I— May I, come with?"
Lyney wasn't one to indulge in guests in his personal quarters, but it seemed Aether was different, as he without question lead the two to his personal space. "I apologize for the mess, I don't usually get visitors." He mumbled, closing the door behind them as Aether entered the room, amazement clear in his eyes as he took in every inch of the wide space.
"No need to be, it's... Magical, in here."
As if he had stepped into the backstage of their shows, his room was full of color and brightness, props used for practice littered the area, from decks of cards to spare hats to puppets, it was a wonder to Aether, who knew not a single thing about magic. His eyes wandered up, to the painted sky in the ceiling, a soft smile appearing on his lips. He wasn't sure what led him to this point in time, but he wasn't regretful in the slightest.
Before he knew it, Lyney had walked past him and sat down on the edge of his bed, maroon sheets rustling in the process and catching Aether's attention as he locked eyes with amused amethysts. "Like what you see, I take it?" Embarrassed by his amazement, he walked over, once more sitting down next to Lyney. He wasn't sure what made him want to come here in the first place, as his mind swirled with several scenarios that could play out.
"I know I shouldn't trust you."
His mouth moved faster than his mind could process, and before he could think, he had blurted the words out, regret instantly hugging him like a vice. "I didn't— mean it like that—" He was quick to amend as he saw the flitting glance of hurt in Lyney's eyes, before guilt quickly replaced the hurt.
"I understand—"
Once more before Aether could process his actions, he had pulled Lyney into a hug, though it was mostly to hide his on hurt, unable to look at those bright purple pupils that made his heart skip a beat. "I didn't mean it like that." He whispered once more, this time more sure of his words.
"Aether..." A soft voice called out, almost a whisper, as he picked his head up from where they were buried in Lyney's clothing, and a soft, ungloved hand wiped at tears that threatened to fall from his eyes. "Crying is not a good look on you."
Maybe just this once, he can indulge in his emotions.
He sniffled, pushing past their indifferences to haul himself up enough to reach his lips to the magician's, earning a gasp of surprise from the ash blond. When they pulled away, an array of emotions shown on Lyney, who wasn't quite sure how to react to this development. Aether smiled, bitter and apologetic, as he moved away. "I'm sorry, I—" Before he could finish the sentence, he was silenced by another such kiss, one filled with emotions he couldn't quite decipher.
"Take me, Lyney." He mumbled, pleading eyes meeting Lyney's unsure purple ones. Aether was quick to unclasp his scarf, dropping it to the side of the bed as he tugged at Lyney's hand, taking them to his chest tantalizingly. "Please."
"Aether, are you sure?"
'Even after everything?' Words left unspoken as his eyes trailed to where Aether had led his hand, pressing onto his stomach. The warm skin underneath making him shiver as he gently trailed up and underneath Aether's crop. A nod was all it took, as Aether was quick to be pushed down onto the bed.
Aether was a treasure to be cherished, and Lyney was doing just that.
His fingers were gentle, motions slow, as he pulled Aether's crop up and over his head, letting his eyes roam the vast expanse of exposed skin. It was untouched, unblemished, porcelain skin feeling impossibly soft between his fingers and lips as he left kisses and marks in his wake. For how unsure Lyney had seemed, his actions seemed to say otherwise, as he quick to find and play with Aether's perk nipples, making the blond release an embarrassingly loud moan. The blond in question quickly clamped his mouth shut, to which the magician was clearly unhappy about.
"Let me hear you, mon amour."
And after that, Aether didn't bother to shut in his voice, letting gasps and moans tumble out of his mouth as he felt warmth settle itself at the pit of his stomach, something burning him inside and out. He wanted to feel more of Lyney, wanted to feel loved, wanted to feel more of his warmth.
Desire.
It was a funny thing, one that Aether was fully acquainted with, one that he was willing to let himself indulge in. It was a dangerous game he was playing, yet he refused to let the tidal wave of concern bring him under the water.
He felt Lyney pull off, and he opened his eyes, unsure when he had even closed them, as he watched Lyney take off his clothes. Slowly, teasingly, and a soft whimper escaped his partially part lips, making the magician smirk. "Well, aren't you a slut?"
Aether was grateful, for one, that Lyney still found it in himself to joke around even in this situation, but Aether was too far gone in lust to really care. He wanted Lyney to wrap him in his warmth, wanted Lyney's hands back on him, wanted Lyney to trail heat further down his body.
It was intoxicating.
He wanted Lyney.
Despite everything, despite himself, he couldn't deny the single thought that circled through his head as he let Lyney pull down his pants and everything else underneath, situating himself between his legs. His eyes closed once more as he heard the pop of a cap, before fingers prodded at him, a moan escaping his lips as he felt a finger push in, experimental in it's movements.
Everything felt so hot, too hot, but Aether didn't mind, or didn't care, rather.
He groaned as he felt a second finger push into him, stretching him out. There was no pain, he felt only pleasure as lust clouded his train of thoughts, letting Lyney do whatever as he felt the building tension curling in his stomach. "Archons, you look so pretty right now." He whined at the words, feeling his cheeks warm up.
He felt so vulnerable, so exposed, yet he wanted Lyney to keep going further, to drown him in passion.
A soft whimper left his lips as Lyney pulled away.
"Tell me what you want, mon cher."
"I want to be so close to you, it hurts." The blond whined into his ear, clinging tightly onto Lyney for dear life as the magician lined himself up. "Even for just one night, hold me tight, please."
And Lyney did, holding tightly onto the blond as he slid in, earning a choked gasp from Aether as he groaned. Everything felt too much, and he felt emotions crashing into him as tears sprung at his eyes, ones that Lyney gently brushed away as a soft sob escaped his lips.
"Are you doing okay?"
He nodded, letting his body do the talking as he was sure his voice would crack if he even so much as tried to speak his mind. He rocked his body down onto Lyney, feeling himself thoroughly impaled, feeling warmth pulsing deep within him. He wanted more, wanted to feel more, as he gasped, feeling Lyney slip deeper in.
The moonlight filtered in through the window, illuminating the two as Lyney set a gentle rhythm, taking it slow despite how quickly the situation escalated, letting Aether feel each and every thrust he made, making sure the blond felt every emotion he was feeling. His name was on Aether's lips like a mantra, unable to hold back his noise, making enough for the both of them as Lyney was mostly quiet, letting Aether be as loud as he wanted.
He was sure the rest of the hotel could hear them, but he could care less, all of him was preoccupied solely on satisfying the blond beneath him, who has long been lost to the ministrations, mind solely on how hot Lyney felt and how close the two were.
Aether could feel the familiar tension building, could feel the end nearing, as all he focused on was Lyney's warmth wrapping around him, a fresh new batch of tears threatening to fall from his tightly closed eyes as he clawed at Lyney's back.
"I'm so close—" He managed to choke out, a warning, and Lyney grunted.
"I am too, go ahead Aether, come for me."
And Aether was gone.
"I love you."
Words spoken on a whim as Aether reached his peak, back arching further up into Lyney's embrace. The latter remained quiet as he climax deep within Aether, letting the blond feel him further. Their breaths coming out in short puffs of air as they came down from their high, Aether winced at the feeling of Lyney softening inside him.
A soft smile was on Lyney's lips as he gently pulled out, letting Aether slacken in his arms. The blond pulled him tight, a soft hickup escaping his lips as soft fingers carded through bright hair, his other hand wiping away more tears that had gathered up at the edge of Aether's eyes as amber pupils met warm amethyst ones.
"Thank you."
Lyney was quick to shush him with a kiss, soft and passionate, letting Aether release a sigh of content. He could feel his eyes dropping, so he let his eyes shut, exhaustion crashing into him as he let himself relax, only now realizing how tense he was. Their ragged breathing return to normal, Aether's slowing down more than Lyney's. Lyney chuckled, letting his fingers once more wander into Aether's hair as he let the blond bury his face into his chest, waiting for Aether to drift off into the embrace of sleep.
Once he was certain the traveler had fallen asleep, he pressed a kiss to his forehead, before uttering the words he wasn't able to do so in the heat of the moment.
"I love you too, mon coeur."