Fan Fiction ❯ Shielded in Broken Armours ❯ Part 2: Dance of the Dragons ( Chapter 10 )
Anime/Manga: Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Fantasy / Adventure | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 11.30.2004 | Pages: 2 | Words: 5.1K | Visits: 174 | Status: Completed
by Alice Montrose
completed July 31, 2004
Chapter Ten
The food was brought in by the young attendant, Ignis having given the day off to the rest of his staff. They began to dine, and with each bite Marzio was getting more uneasy. He could feel something was going to happen that night, and he had no idea what that was. The prince was his usual self, his every move seducing Marzio even further, hidden allusions behind his words, small gestures that compelled the general's attention. He began to actually lose awareness of what they were discussing, and focus on his host instead. He felt his blood burn in his veins, and his sight began to blur as he looked at the prince, painfully aware that nothing was probably going to happen between them that night. As usual.
He had to struggle to keep his control, hoping Ignis would not notice it, or at least not mention it. But fate was simply not with him, and the Demon was simply too used to analyze people not to notice something was different.
They finished eating, and with the third cup of wine came a pause in their discussion. The prince used it to study the Angelian intensely, his gaze grating on Marzio's already tense nerves.
"There is something wrong with you tonight," Ignis stated, his eyes narrowed, hands resting in his lap. He looked so innocent that Marzio wondered if his sight was not deceiving him. This did not look anything like the intriguing man he knew.
"Why should something be wrong with me?"
His voice was angry, and it only increased Ignis' suspicion. His eyes narrowed even more.
"You are hiding something from me. What is it? Did something upset you?"
Upset him? "Yes, someone upset me. You!"
Ignis looked at him, surprised. "I do not understand. I don't remember wronging you in any way."
That was too much to bear. "No? And where were you, these past three weeks?" he inquired on a tone that demanded an answer. "Where were you, during the trip here? Or afterwards, as a matter of fact." The Angelian did not give a damn that the prince held a higher rank than he did, or that he was not in the position to ask these questions. Besides, he knew the answers all too well.
Ignis just looked at him. "I owe you no explanation." His voice was steel, but Marzio did not care. He ignored the comment, and carried on with his own tirade.
"First, you come to me, seduce me and demand my affection. Then, you disappear somewhere without a warning, not caring one bit about how I might be feeling. No word, no letter, no nothing. And now you come out of your hiding place and expect things to be as they were?"
Ignis blinked, but did not reply.
"You hold me hostage, and refuse me the only thing that might make my captivity easier. You know damn well how I feel about you, yet you never give me a definite answer. You play with both my feelings and yours. What am I supposed to think? That I am not good enough for you?"
"Marzio, how can you say that? You know that I..."
"You what? You care for me? Then show it, by the gods, show it! Since you bloody well seem to enjoy playing with me so much, put an end to this senseless masquerade and take me to bed! Then you can play with me all you like!"
Ignis stared back at Marzio, not quite believing his ears. The Angelian swallowed and cursed himself for speaking so bluntly, and he was not very certain how things would go from there. But he could not take his words back.
The prince turned his head away, staring into the burning flames as if the fire could provide him with an answer. He looked like a marble statue in fine clothes standing in a mahogany armchair, his breathing the only sign he was actually alive. He seemed deep in thought, holding his forehead with one hand and absentmindedly unbraiding his long hair with the other one. The reddish locks resembled the flames in the fireplace as he wound them around his pale fingers, and the burgundy eyes reflected the fire's blaze.
The argument had ended as swiftly as it had begun, and now the room was so quiet that the general could hear his own heartbeat. Marzio blamed himself for being so stupid. He had been tired of waiting. What if his lack of patience had destroyed everything?
One thing he was sure of, though; there really was an attraction between the two of them. But why did Ignis deny it? Why not admit to it, and get things over with?
Finally, a deep sigh escaped the Demon's chest. He crept from his seat and came over to the couch. Such grace and elegance in his movements... How could one not be attracted to the prince? How could one ignore his inner power, and not fully abandon oneself to his will?
They were inches apart now, and Ignis was watching him through narrowed eyes, the intense scrutiny jarring Marzio's nerves. 'I want you!' the Angelian felt like shouting, but he was frozen into place.
Ignis sat down close to him, drawing one silk-clad leg underneath him so he could watch Marzio's expression. His hands reached out and cupped the other man's face, slowly bidding him to turn around and look at him. Marzio complied.
The Prince of Demonis had always seen himself as a sensualist, as far as his bed partners were concerned. He enjoyed lingering kisses and passionate embraces, and the feel of naked skin under his fingers. Seduction was a second nature to him, and had proved very useful on several occasions. But would this work on such a man as Marzio?
He decided there was only one way to find out. Firmly holding the back of Marzio's head with his left hand, he trailed the fingers of his right one down and back up the man's neck, casually resting his thumb where neck met jaw. Marzio's pulse was steady, and he did not try to pull away.
Ignis smiled slightly. He leaned forward and rested his forehead on Marzio's left temple, brushing his lips over the soft skin of his jaw and stopping inches away from the sensual mouth. All the general had to do was turn his face a little, and their lips would meet.
He did not do it. But Ignis could feel his blood rushing through his veins, his pulse quicken at the proximity of the Demon's body. Ignis looked down, his eyes half-lidded. Marzio was definitely aroused, and the prince was suddenly thankful that his long robe hid his own desire. But there was no concealing his warm skin and rapid heartbeat.
One more question left to ask, one more thing he needed to know. And he had to tread carefully.
"You really meant those words, didn't you?"
His voice was deeper, filled with an emotion that mirrored Marzio's own feelings at the moment, and his eyes were burning into Marzio's very soul. Framed by the tender light of the candles on the dinner table and the flickering flames, Ignis really looked like a creature from a different realm. So intensely beautiful... how could one hope to possess such a being? How could one hope to capture one moment of his attention?
Yet Marzio had done just that. And he was determined not to lose him, to make the best of the chance he was being offered.
He sighed. "I apologize. I should not have been so blunt. But I do want you, Ignis."
"Why?"
The question caught Marzio off guard. Reading his puzzlement, Ignis explained, "Everybody has a reason, Marzio. It's because of who I am - everybody needs a favour, a commission, influence, or merely something to gossip about at Court. I am well aware of this. My question is, what is your reason?"
So much sorrow hidden behind his words. Ignis was well aware of being used, and even admitted to it. The Angelian shook his head; he had not meant to sound so selfish. Of course he wanted something in return. Something far more valuable than any of the things Ignis had just mentioned.
"I want you, Ignis. Not the Prince, not the warrior, not the man. Just you."
He could find no other way to explain it. No words to convey the emptiness he had felt inside before meeting the Demon, or the passion that had engulfed him from that day on, the desire he felt every time he caught one brief glimpse of him. He wanted nothing, yet it was everything. No favours, but the very essence of Ignis' being.
He was presumptuous enough to want Ignis' heart. And Marzio knew that the prince would have no problem understanding perfectly what he was asking for.
"You ask a lot of me, Marzio," Ignis told him. "You ask me to offer you something only one has owned before you..."
He blushed and tried to look away, truly ashamed. But the slender hands still holding him would not allow it. Nor would the burning eyes. Ignis bent forward again, to touch his lips on Marzio's.
This kiss was different from all the others they had experienced before; it was loaded with all those things neither of them had wanted to admit to. Desire. Passion. Longing. They melted together as their lips crushed, passionately savouring what was building up between them. It was breathtaking, and utterly magnificent.
And, that moment, something strange happened. It was like the very air around them had changed, like the world had turned into something new. Marzio had the strange sensation of re-living a few moments from the past, as the prince's hand tightened its grip on the back of his head, and the other one caressed his shoulder through the soft silk of his shirt, sending ripples of pleasure through him.
A tear escaped Marzio's eye, leaving a moist trail down his cheek.
Then Ignis drew back, and asked him with a tremor that was uncharacteristic to his lovely voice, "Are you sure, absolutely sure that this is what you want? Because there is no turning back. And, if you take my soul away from me and offer nothing in return, I shall have no more reasons left to live."
Marzio knew that. And he suddenly became aware of the real meaning behind what had just been spoken.
If there was one way the Angelians would ever win the fight against Demonis, if one path could be taken without defeat eagerly expecting their arrival, this was it. He would possess a lethal weapon against everything that meant Demonis and its Prince.
And he also knew he would never make use of it. Not after all he had seen and learned. Not after all that was left for him to discover. He would not use this. Never!
"You entrust me with your life, my prince." He looked into the burning rubies, not shying away for the very first time, emerald green holding Ignis' gaze. "I will not let you down."
The Demon's features softened as he relaxed visibly. His smile returned, brilliant and innocent.
He was safe.
He squeezed Marzio's shoulder in reassurance. "Come, then. You shall have what you have asked for, this very night." He rose to his feet, and entwined the fingers of his left arm with those of Marzio's right. His right arm circled the Angelian's waist, pulling him up and prompting him into motion. He walked backwards, pulling his willing captive along towards the door that led to the bedroom.
The room was exquisite, just like the rest of the Royal Suite Marzio had seen thus far. It was smaller than the one they had been in, but the same colours were present - gold, red, brown and black, in harmonious combination - and similarly lighted by burning candles.
A large locker and bookshelves occupied the entire left wall. The right one had the same large windows, with various paintings decorating the remaining space. Turning his head, he noticed the hearth on the wall at his back, and even more bookshelves and smaller paintings.
But their destination was, of course, the huge bed. Scarlet curtains fell down from the high canopy, pulled back by golden cords. The bed itself was not very high, and looked like it could easily accommodate at least half a dozen persons; large pillows were nearly lost in the sea of cream sheets falling down the bed frame in a flood of silk.
Ignis came to a halt in front of the bed. He smiled and captured Marzio's mouth again, his hands deftly unlacing the Angelian's jacket and shirt. The passion they had shared was still in the kiss, but something else was making its presence felt, lurking in the background. Raw, animalistic lust.
Marzio lifted his hands with the intention of pushing away the prince's robe, but Ignis caught both of them in a firm hold, making him stop. He let go and trailed his index finger on Marzio's lips. "Let me do this for you, please. Just stand still."
Once Marzio complied, he began removing the blond's outer garments, carelessly throwing them on the thick carpet, and nudged him forward to sit on the bed. Marzio raised one foot to remove his boot, but he stopped his motion in mid-air as Ignis dropped on his knees at the edge of the bed.
He could not bear the sight of the prince in that position; it was unconceivable, for a man of his status. "But Ignis, you don't have to..."
"Nonsense." He was prompted to silence by calm eyes looking up at him. "In here, we are equal. There is no need to follow any rules, as long as we both agree on what will come next. We needn't dominate, as we do out there. In this room, I am not the Prince of Demonis, and you are not the High Commander of Angelia. If you submit to me, you do it of your own free will. Now please relax and let me do this. I am not going to hurt you, you know."
Ignis seemed a bit annoyed with the constant interruptions, so Marzio did as he was told. He leaned back and supported the weight of his body on his elbows as Ignis removed first one leather boot, and then the other, his touch lingering briefly on the Angelian's bare ankles. Then the slender hands made their way up his calves and knees, over the velvet that still covered them. They caressed the inside of his thighs through the soft cloth, sending a jolt of sensations through Marzio's body. He slowly began to relax, and closed his eyes, only to open them wide as the clever fingers tentatively stroked his crotch through the breeches.
He could not suppress a low whimper. It took all the control he had left to keep him from taking the Demon right then and there.
"Aren't we eager tonight!" Teasing words, reflecting his thoughts, as Ignis finally rose and pushed him further onto the soft bed, leaning over him. The hand did not stop its motions, and Marzio was getting considerably aroused.
He made one last attempt to remove the rich robe, and to his surprise this time he was actually allowed to go through with it. He pushed the velvet garment off lean shoulders, careful not to hurt the fragile ligaments of the black-feathered wings. 'This is not about domination,' he reminded himself.
He breathed heavily, and felt he was being pushed down again. "You actually enjoy tormenting me like this, don't you?" he asked the red-haired prince, spreading his wings as he lay down so they would not get caught underneath him in an awkward position.
"You have no idea how much," came the reply, seared with a kiss. Then Ignis swiftly removed his own slippers and shirt, and returned his full attentions to the man in his bed. He finally got rid of Marzio's breeches, and pulled back to admire the general's body.
"Do you even realize how handsome you truly are?" he whispered so lightly the general barely heard the words.
Marzio had never understood why others seemed to find him attractive. He thought what they were after were rank, title and fortune. But Ignis couldn't possibly care for such trivial things; he had everything a person could ask for in terms of material wealth and a whole country to rule as he pleased on top of that.
"I have never considered myself anything other than plain."
"That's exactly the answer I was expecting. You never seem to be aware of your true value," Ignis said, one hand busying itself with the centre of Marzio's desire, the other exploring his broad, hairless chest. He was placing feather-like kisses on Marzio' shoulders and collar bone, and used this as an advantage to get his point across. "You have... always... looked... incredibly... beautiful... to me..." Each word was accompanied by one skilled flickering of his tongue on the sensitive skin of Marzio's neck, and between that and the hand pleasuring him, Marzio nearly lost his control. He gripped at the sheets furiously, trying to keep his hands from pulling the prince's body down over his own.
Obviously Ignis knew how to push people over the edge, but he also knew when to stop. As he did so, that mysterious smile crossed his lips.
"What...?"
Another passionate kiss, and then, stroking his hair, the prince bent over him again and whispered in Marzio's ear, the warm breath making the general's body tremble with desire. "I want you to take me."
Thus far, the Angelian had known Ignis as a man who liked to be in control. He had never seemed submissive. And yet his words... Surely he was not suggesting that Marzio should...
He looked, really looked at Ignis, thinking he had misinterpreted the request. No irony, no humour. Just silent pleading. He had heard correctly.
"You are willing to offer me that?" Marzio asked, still not very sure what course of action he should follow.
"Is it not what you wanted? What you have asked for?" Ignis retorted, raising one elegant brow and whirling one strand of golden hair around his finger.
"Yes, but I had no hope that you would actually want to go through with it, at the time."
The Demon chuckled. "As I said, you fail to give yourself credit for your actions. You need a little reassurance. Right now, I am willing to offer you control. I suggest you accept; the occasion may not come again."
Then he pushed himself up and left the bed, and for one second Marzio thought he had ruined it all, that he had offended him. But the prince returned, taking Marzio's hand and carefully placing a glass vial in it, brushing his mouth against the general's fingers as he did so. The vial glittered in the faint light, and Marzio took off the tap, careful not to spill any of the content; the discrete smell of rose oil filled the room.
He fondly looked back at Ignis. Unlike Marzio, who still had trouble realizing this was really happening, the Demon seemed to know quite clearly what he wanted. With slow motions calculated to entice, he slowly stretched his body on the mattress, long thick hair fanning all around him. It was an open invitation only a blindman would turn down.
Marzio put the tap back on, and placed the vial within easy reach. Lying down on his side next to Ignis, he began his own exploration of the prince's body. He stole kisses as his fingers roamed across translucent flesh, trying to determine where the force Ignis possessed came from. He felt the relaxed muscles and tendons, and he even distinguished dark veins underneath the white and supple skin shining golden in the candlelight. It was flawless, with no scar marring the pale perfection. Marzio's body had several, most of them obtained in battle; but they were proof of his strength and will to survive, and he was not ashamed with them. Ignis had not seemed repulsed by them, either.
The Angelian bent his head and tentatively sucked at one erect nipple, and felt the body under him tense. He lifted his head to look at Ignis' face, and saw the young man had closed his eyes and seemed to focus entirely on the sensations Marzio's attentions offered him.
That encouraged him. He licked and sucked at the other nipple as well, nipping at the skin playfully, recalling how his body reacted to that same type of touch. "Ohh..." Ignis moaned softly, his lush voice growing even deeper with pleasure.
Marzio began a full assault on the exposed torso, using his mouth and fingers to draw small sounds of pleasure from the pliant Demon. The navel seemed to be especially responsive to his touches, and he was delighted to hear Ignis urge him on as he began to lick his way down to the prince's crotch.
Only then did he become aware that Ignis' loose silk trousers were blocking his advance. 'You little daimon! I hadn't even noticed you still had these on.' True, there had been a good reason for his distraction, but it still struck him as unfair. Yet it was nothing that could not be easily dealt with.
He unknotted the ties, touching the cloth-covered bulge in passing. Understanding what he wanted, Ignis lifted his body from the mattress for a couple of moments, allowing the general to slip the trousers off easily. Marzio whistled slowly in appreciation of the sight offered to him, and could not resist the urgent desire to touch that most intimate part of Ignis' body.
The low, throaty sound that escaped the prince's lips as Marzio closed his hand on his manhood was worth all that had passed between them. It reflected Marzio's own need, and the general knew he would not be able to hold back for much longer.
"Turn over," he prompted, gently pressing his hand on one pale thigh to let Ignis know what he wanted.
In a flash of emotion, the Demon confessed a little fearfully, "I have never gone this far with a man."
Marzio's eyes went wide in surprise and delight. And unless the people of Demonis gave a different meaning to the word 'never', there could be no mistake. Still, Marzio would not back down now - he had waited for this moment far too long to throw it all away. He was sure the prince felt the same way about it, and would not have suggested it unless he was ready.
"It is a very precious gift you are offering me tonight, Ignis. I will not forget it." He bent down and kissed him deeply, savouring that unique taste again. "Don't worry. I'll make sure it won't hurt too much," he said on a reassuring tone.
Ignis nodded, realizing it was far too late to turn back. His mind told him it was meant to be this way, but he was still a little unsure about what it would feel like. He turned on his stomach and carefully arranged his wings so they would not get in the way and be damaged. He tried not to cringe as Marzio spread his legs and knelt between them, covering the slightly-trembling body with his own and burying his face in soft black feathers and silken hair. His breath was hot and laboured as he spoke against Ignis' neck. "Relax. Trust me."
Ignis winced at the thought. He was a little hesitant to fully abandon himself to the Angelian's mercy. But Marzio was right; and, at that very moment, he felt he could trust the man with his life. He sighed, voicing the thought so it would gain substance. "I trust you."
As Marzio pulled himself up, he saw something he had not noticed before. An intricate design covered the skin of Ignis' right shoulder. It must have normally been hidden from sight by the folded wing, not to mention layers of cloth, but now it was clearly visible. He touched it lightly, afraid he might damage it, but the ink did not wear off.
"Dreak tattoo," Ignis found the power to chuckle, fighting the excitement racing through his body. None of his former bed partners had noticed it before. "Let it be," he commanded.
Marzio decided he would, for the time being. His need for release had surged back. He poured a small amount of oil from the small vial on his fingers and lowered his hand between Ignis' legs, carefully spreading the pale buttocks. He ran his fingers around the prince's opening, feeling the ring of muscle relax at the touch. Then he slowly slipped one probing finger into the tight space.
Ignis' body tensed, and the prince let out a craving moan. Marzio took it as a good sign, and inserted one more finger, stretching him, cautiously preparing him for what was to be a much more painful invasion. Ignis' moans became louder, and Marzio reached under him with his free hand to pleasure the prince even further. He created a pattern between his exploring fingers and the hand stroking the Demon's member. He was getting nearer and nearer to crossing the thin border between pleasure and ecstasy. He had to do it soon.
Considering Ignis was probably loose enough by now, he began to pull out his fingers. Ignis tried to prolong the pleasure by clenching his muscles around the retreating digits, so Marzio hurried to shush him and spread more of the oil on his erect organ. Then he used both hands to pull Ignis' body from the mattress, and spread his legs even more. He placed the tip of his organ at the entrance of the Demon's body, and began to penetrate him, pushing past the natural resistance of the prince's virgin opening.
Ignis tried his best not to cry out and ask Marzio to stop. The pain was almost unbearable; but he also knew it was an unavoidable path in reaching the glory beyond. He bit his lip and gripped at the sheets and pillows, looking for a way to alleviate the searing pain. He would not scream; he would absolutely not scream!
Sensing his lover's discomfort, Marzio ceased his advance for a moment. "Are you all right? Do you want me to stop?" he asked breathlessly.
"No!" came the desperate answer. "I really want this, Marzio. We just need to go slower, that's all."
Deep inside, the general knew he could not have stopped even if he had been asked to. Remembering what the first time had been like for him, he took a deep breath and with one long stride he buried himself into the warm space.
Ignis was impossibly tight, and a groan escaped the Angelian's lips. Gods, it felt good. It felt better than good - it was paradise. And doing it with this particular man, with the one he would hold in his heart forever, made it a unique occasion.
Ignis gasped and kept biting his lip, but no sound of pain escaped his mouth. Moreover, he pushed his body further back, and sank into Marzio's embrace, trembling.
"Does it still hurt?" the general found the voice to ask.
"A little." Then he added reassuringly, "But it's more of a pleasurable pain now. I have lived through worse. And none of that ever made me feel the way I am feeling now with you. Please... more..." he moaned, as Marzio began to move out of him, only to enter him again a few seconds later, brushing against something so sensitive it sent sparks of pleasure through his body.
They were like two souls entwined, their bodies moving in unison with the determination of the mountain rivers to reach the calm sea after meeting and swallowing the vortex of lava and eroding of rocks. Faster and faster, until not even the spirits of hell could have stopped them.
Ignis attempted his best to last longer, but the melting sensation of Marzio's hardness stroking that treacherous spot deep inside him, along with his lover's hands pumping the wet smoothness of his swollen sex made him come first, shedding pearly semen all over Marzio's hands.
"Yes... Marzio... ahhhh!" he managed to growl, before falling into a shattering orgasm.
Marzio followed him shortly, the increasing pull of Ignis' inner muscles trying to swallow his manhood and the sound of his name leaving his lover's lips while he reached his climax working together to give him that release he seemed to have been waiting for since the moment his heart had left his chest to lay at the Demon's feet.
They fell together on the soft mattress, gasping for breath, one pale hand rising to tangle itself in gilded hair, and the Demon laughed silently. Were his father still alive, he would have called his young son a very naughty boy. But Ignis had never been against a little experimenting, and this time the results had turned out to be remarkably rewarding.