Work Text:
The beast prowled in the darkness, his prey close at hand. He could smell him. A mere mortal man unaware that he needed to mask his scent if he was to travel alone in the dark like this. Especially in his Kingdom. His lands. His land of claws and teeth. Silently, he stalked through the foliage, careful not to brush a single leaf, less it tip off his prey to his presence. And what delicious prey it was as well. Skin pale and milky under the moonlight. Its hair sleek and dark. What a fine creature to sink his teeth into.
What was that? A thrumming? Its heart? Its heart was beating fast. His ears could pick up the changes in his prey’s body. The pounding heart. The quickened breath. Did it know? No. It continued on in the darkness, unaware. But it was seeking something. What could that be…
Up ahead was a pool of water. Aha. He had it cornered. He could pounce while it was distracted. Maybe weak with thirst, too. The beast slid through the night, his eyes never leaving the pale little prey. He watched. It sank down to its knees and produced a container. As the prey collected its provisions and greedily drank the waters from his lands, he studied what was before him.
Pretty prey. The moon from above illuminated slender fingers, moving deftly through the air, through the water, through its hair… the slender but strong body proved a second temptation. The beast cocked an eyebrow at that. He only took willing mates, of course. But should the prey be willing… his tongue licked across his fangs. What would it taste of, he wondered. Was its skin salty from the hot day’s sweat? No, no it splashed its face with water from the pool. Then what?
He could almost feel the flesh between his teeth. Feel the thrum of its pulse in his jaws as he bit down. Tender would it tear. Tender would it rip. Warm would be the blood that filled his jaws. The prey paused. Had it heard him? Sensed him? Know its time was at an end? The beast readied himself to strike. No, no another moment of weakness. It brought out an object from its satchel. So silly. Silly prey. Pretty little thing. Enjoy your fantasies for a few moments more. Soon, soon it would be ribbons of sinew and flesh upon the forest floor.
It stood. The beast slowly rose as well. He could strike. He could end it all now. But no, no he wanted to follow it. See where the silly, pretty prey thought it was going. Where did plan to sleep? What did it plan to do at dawn? He wanted to see everything he was going to take from the sweet little prey. Both of them slipped into the night, silent as ghosts.
The prey was making camp. So loud. So bright. Did it not know the dangers the lurked just meters from its hearth? Would it lay down without scouting the area? Without setting alarms or traps to alert it to intruders? Intruders like himself. A perfume in the air. Something foreign. Delectable. It came from the fire. Pretty prey must have thrown something in. Such silly ceremonies these creatures had. The prey began to undress. The beast salivated. More flesh was revealed. The carnal desire grew within him. If he could seduce the pretty prey, could he touch it in ways that made it desire him? Could he teach it his name so it could moan it into the night as he took him? The beast purred. The prey laid down to sleep. This was it. He lunged.
Sett leapt onto the bed, tackling his pale partner. He kissed up Aphelios’ neck while his fingers danced beneath his oversized t-shirt. Aphelios laughed as loud as he dared.
“You know I'm ticklish there!” Aphelios hissed, swatting at him, but Sett was unrelenting, nuzzling deep into his hair.
“Yup,” he chuckled. “It’s an attack. I got ya.”
“I see that,” Aphelios rolled over to meet his eyes.
“I was hunting you,” Sett bragged.
“Were you, now?”
“Mhm. All through the house, from the office to the kitchen and then up here, cause you didn’t turn the lights on.”
“Aww, my little beast.”
“Hey, I’m not little! And what’s with this candle? Smells interesting.”
“Just a gift from Alune. Thought I’d give it a shot.” Aphelios kissed his cheek. “So, what did my big predator want from his hunt?”
“This.” Sett scooped him up into his arms, holding him close. He felt his partner’s pulse beat softly beneath his skin. He kissed him, feeling the thrum of his beating heart beneath his lips. So warm. Soft. Everything. “I love you.”