Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ The Charade ❯ Under the Weather ( Chapter 7 )

Lime warnings: parts two and five.

 

Chapter Seven: Under the Weather

 

*****

1

*****

 

“I think he hates me, Sidereus,” Cerasus whispered, forlorn. It was the morning after his and Calcifex's ride through the woods, and he had just barely mustered up the pluck to come see the wizard, hoping to set things straight. However, upon arrival, he found that Cal was not even in his rooms, and now he and the light spirit sat - and hovered - side by side on the parlor couch, depressed and exasperated, respectively.

 

“For the last time, kid, he doesn't hate you. I doubt he ever will.”

 

“But… he… I think he's disgusted by me… Why else would he have…” Cerasus bit his lip and looked at his knees, blushing ruddily. “Why else would he have stopped?” he mumbled.

 

Sid closed his eyes and sighed, something he was doing a lot of lately. “You two are impossible, you know that? Each one of you is on the edge all the time, thinking the worst is going to happen. And you're both wrong!”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“I mean that Cal thinks you were disgusted by him. That's why he stopped. If you both just said what you're thinking whenever the hell you're thinking it, we wouldn't have this problem. And I wouldn't have to play mediator.”

 

“What?” Cerasus' blue eyes got wide. “Why would he think that?”

 

Sidereus left the couch to float around the room, unable to stay still any longer. “I don't know. Something about you getting scared.”

 

The prince's brow furrowed as he tried to recall what could have happened to give the wizard the impression that he was anything less than intoxicated by his actions. He groaned, remembering how he had been surprised by Calcifex's arousal pressing into his back. That had probably been it.

 

“Oh, no… Sidereus, what should I do? How can I tell him the truth of it without…” He blushed again, deep pink, looking anxiously at the spirit.

 

Sid stopped flitting around, stopping in front of the prince's worried face. He leveled a serious look at the boy. “Just be honest with him, kid. Even if it's embarrassing or improper. Just say what you have to, because otherwise something like this will happen again.”

 

“But I can't do that! I can't just tell him that… That I…”

 

“That you, what? That you want to,” Sidereus paused, the phrase he knew he had to say feeling unfamiliar in his thoughts and his mouth. “Make love to him?”

 

If it was possible for Cerasus' skin to darken a few more shades, that's what happened. He nodded almost imperceptibly, but Sidereus caught the movement with his sharp gaze.

 

“Well, too bad. Suck it up. Being shy isn't going to get you anywhere. Remember this, Cerasus. Calcifex is a man of the world. He knows everything about almost anything. But there is one subject that you can trump him in every time. There's something he has no experience with, that he needs help understanding.”

 

The prince asked, curious, “What is it?”

 

The light spirit looked him squarely in the eye. “Love.”

 

*****

2

*****

 

Calcifex was woken up by what was perhaps the most arguably wonderful sensation known to any man. Something hot, soft, and moist was wrapped deliciously around his straining cock, and for a moment he thought he might be dreaming. Then a decidedly pleasurable suck left him reeling, and he knew whatever was happening was most certainly real. That left several questions unanswered.

 

Where was he? Whose wicked hands and mouth were wrapped around him, and why were they doing what they were doing?

 

In his groggy head, it finally registered that all these things could be answered simply by opening his eyes, which he did. Green irises adjusted to the morning light streaming through the windows and focused on a black-haired head bent over the spot between his legs. It was Flamma-regi, and her visage brought back the previous night in a painful flood of memory. He gasped and leaned up onto his elbows. The action was not unnoticed by the queen, who lifted her gaze to stare lustfully at him. She dragged her teeth over him, making his body shudder. He wanted to push her away, wanted to run as far as he could from the woman, but if he did, she would surely have him tracked down. And regretfully, his penis seemed to have forgotten that this was not what his heart wanted.

 

Her Grace swirled her luscious pink tongue over the head of him, eliciting a ragged, broken groan. He was so close, so close-

 

-And all he wanted was for it to be over and done with so he could escape with whatever sense of morality he had left. Flamma-regi worked her own magic over his flesh, and he could feel his climax coming from the tips of his hair to the ends of his toes.

 

He squeezed his eyes shut as the feeling grew to its breaking point, not wanting to watch himself brought to completion by someone who was not the prince, not the one he cared for. Luckily - or was it the opposite? - he never reached his pinnacle, because just as the dam inside him was about to overflow, the queen stopped and pulled away.

 

Calcifex looked at her. Spite was writ clear in all her features. Gone was the passion present in her only moments before. Now she looked angry, and oddly satisfied.

 

“Payment for how you left me last night, wizard,” she snapped, climbing out of bed and pulling on a black silk robe. “Now get out of my sight.”

 

Cal jumped up from the mattress, ignoring his throbbing erection in favor of scrambling into his clothes - his pants were uncomfortably tight - and leaving the queen's quarters as fast as he could.

 

He scampered down the halls, putting both hands in front of his crotch every time he saw a maid or butler. As usual, they gave him odd, sometimes distasteful, looks. He ignored them, however, wanting nothing more than to get to his rooms and lock the door behind him. Then he remembered that he would probably not be warmly welcomed by Sidereus if he walked into his parlor in his current state, so he made a quick swerve into the nearest latrine and latched it tightly, making sure no one would disturb him while he took care of the problem himself. During his stay in Laedel he had become very good at the act, and he was wiping himself off and pulling his trousers back up in minutes.

 

By the time he had made it to his floor, he was tired, emotionally and physically. He didn't want the events of the past evening to replay in his mind's eye repeatedly, like they were doing at that very moment. From Cerasus' frightened reaction to his shameful pairing with Her Majesty, they were all just things he wanted to leave where they belonged: behind him.

 

But remorse and its friends, depression, self-loathing, and nausea, were unfailingly persistent. Even after he had pulled open the door to his rooms at last, they would not leave him be.

 

“Sidereus,” he called out the moment his foot crossed the threshold, “I need a drink so badly, you have no-“

 

The wizard stopped short at the sight of the light spirit and the prince, side by side on his furniture.

 

“Oh, hey, Cal, you're back from the gardens,” Sid said casually. He was slowly licking the flame of a candle that Cerasus had set on a plate in front of him. The blonde haired boy just flushed red and looked nervously at Calcifex.

 

Bewildered, Cal just blinked stupidly and shook his head. “Wha…?”

 

Sidereus glared at him and buzzed over. “What did you do, fall asleep outside or something? You look kind of ruffled.”

 

`Oh.'

 

“Um, yes, I did… I, uh… fell asleep. Against a tree.”

 

“Well wake yourself up. The prince is here to see you.” With that, the light spirit whizzed off into the bedroom, leaving the men alone.

 

“So…” Calcifex said, drawing the word out like he was searching for something more meaningful to say. Suddenly, both of them launched into conversation at the same time.

 

“Cera, about what happened yesterday-“

 

“-Cali, I didn't mean to make you think I was scared the other day-“

 

“-I didn't mean to frighten you-“

 

“-The truth is that-“

 

“-Really, all I meant by it was-“

 

“-I really liked what you were doing-“

 

“-That I think you're absolutely amazing.”

 

All at once, both males felt extremely silly and especially relieved. Both of them smiled slightly, and Calcifex even had a rosy tinge to his face.

 

“I guess we're both a little ridiculous, aren't we?” Cerasus asked, gazing out the window at the blue afternoon sky.

 

“I would have to say that you're right, love.” Calcifex crossed the carpet, placed Sid's candle on the table, and sat next to the prince, who turned his head to look at the older man.

 

“I'm glad,” the wizard said, sounding sincere, “That you weren't afraid. I was rather upset with myself.”

 

“So was I,” Cerasus added. Cal looked at him questioningly, and he explained, “With myself, I mean. I thought you were disgusted with my… inexperience.”

 

“Oh, absolutely not. Everyone is naïve at one time, Cera. I was, too. My first time was horrible.”

 

The blond boy looked surprised, like he would never have thought Calcifex would be bad at anything. “Really?”

 

“Oh, yes. The girl was a beauty, indeed…”

 

Cerasus didn't often spend time in the company of jealousy, but he knew it when it reared its ugly green head.

 

“…I won't make you suffer with the details,” Cal continued, “But suffice to say that I think we both went away displeased.”

 

That knowledge calmed the unpleasant feeling in the prince's belly a little, like it was happy that whoever had stolen his beloved's first sexual encounter had not gotten anything good from it.

 

“But… now… You know all about it, right?”

 

The wizard nodded. “I suppose, although it's hard to say. People are creative, Cera, and you never know when someone will teach you something new.”

 

All of a sudden, the urgent desire to make up for Calcifex's terrible first time, to outdo the nameless, faceless woman who had taken his virginity, was strong in the young prince, and he spoke with a boldness that came from somewhere not within his own body.

 

“Will you teach me new things?” he asked brazenly, contradicting the color in his skin. “Right now?”

 

Calcifex's mouth formed a tiny little `o' as his mind registered what the boy had requested of him. “Now?”

 

Nodding, Cerasus reached out and grabbed Cal's hand before he could talk himself out of the idea. He brought the limb up to his mouth and slowly placed a gentle kiss in the middle of his palm. “Please?” he whispered, hoping his proposition would be accepted and rejected all at once. The wizard swallowed hard; his throat had abruptly become too dry. His heart sped up to a racing speed, and even though he'd spent himself not even an hour ago, he could feel desire surge in him, caused by his own precious little prince. The offer was so tempting it made his fingers shake. But the boy probably didn't realize just what he was asking, and it was clear in his blue eyes: he was scared. Even so… Calcifex couldn't completely put down the proposal.

 

He nodded. “There are some things… That I would like to show you… But not now, and not everything all at once. You're not ready for that, Cera.”

 

Once again, conflicting emotions waged war in Cerasus' heart. He was mildly disappointed that he would not be receiving any kind of lesson from the wizard now… But also fairly relieved for the same reason. He pouted.

 

“Tonight,” Calcifex said, leaning forward to press his lips against the younger man's forehead. “Come to the back door at midnight, and we'll begin.”

 

“All right.”

 

“You two got all your chickens lined up yet?” Sidereus asked from his spot in the bedroom doorway, eyeing the two of them impatiently. “I'm still hungry, you know.” He nodded at the candle on the table. Its flame was almost out.

 

Calcifex smiled and chuckled, pulling back from Cerasus. “Our deepest apologies, my friend. Please, don't let us keep you from eating.”

 

“Yeah, you had better be sorry.” The spirit floated over and wasted no time in swallowing the miniscule fire in one gulp. He burped loudly, making the prince scrunch up his nose. “Damn. That wasn't nearly enough… Hey, Cal, you want to spare a pal some magic over here?”

 

“Can't, Siddy. I'm saving it up.”

 

“What? What the hell for?”

 

“Oh, just things.” Cal cast an affectionate grin at Cerasus, who looked sheepishly down at his legs.

 

“Hmmph. Starved for your stupid flirting. I swear, I never get any respect.”

 

“Oh, hush. You won't starve. Go play in the fireplace.”

 

“Fuck you. It's not even lit.”

 

“So light it.”

 

“You want to get blinded? Fine, be my guest!” Sidereus made to fly over to the hearth and set it aflame, but Calcifex hopped off the couch, pulling the prince with him, and headed for the bedroom.

 

“Don't you dare do that to us, Sidereus!” he said.

 

“Then get out,” the spirit responded.

 

They did, shutting the door tight behind them.

 

“Ugh,” Calcifex huffed. “Insensitive idiot.”

 

Seconds later, what appeared to be a rather impressive flash of light went off in the parlor, its rays shining through the cracks between the floor and the door above it. It lasted for several moments, then went out.

 

“What was that?” Cerasus asked, worried. Had something just exploded in there?

 

“Oh, it was just Sidereus,” Cal waved his hand dismissively and walked over to his bed. He sat down on the edge of it. “He's not always so dim, you know. He can get awfully bright when he wants to. Most of the time he doesn't, because we wouldn't be able to look at him if he did. He just increased his aurora enough to create the heat needed to start a fire.”

 

He acted like it was no big deal, but the prince was quite amazed by it. Even being in the spirit's presence for a couple weeks had not gotten him fully accustomed to all the surprises that came with knowing a supernatural entity. He suspected he would never stop being stunned by every new trick that Sidereus revealed.

 

“So while he's out there making a glutton of himself, what should we do in here, do you think?”

 

Cerasus looked at the wizard, who was leaning back, supporting his slim upper body with his long arms. In his head, he grinned. Outwardly, he took a few steps forward and sat carefully next to the dark haired man. “I'm not really sure,” he said.

 

“Oh, I have an idea!” Calcifex exclaimed, hopping out of his seat. He dropped down to his stomach and wiggled under the bed. He came back out seconds later with a brown bag in his hand. It was tied at the top with a length of black leather cord, and looked as though it had seen better days.

 

“Here we are,” the wizard said, pulling the pack open. He reached in and rummaged around for a bit. After a minute his smile widened and he retracted his hand. Dropping the bag on the bed, Calcifex scuttled over to Cerasus and held out his fist. The prince looked at him funny, and Cal turned his hand over and opened it. On the middle of his palm was a large, egg-shaped ball of embossed silver. Shooting stars, with swirling tails following behind them, decorated the metal's surface. Two of them, chasing each other end to end, encircled the most beautiful stone Cerasus had ever seen. It was deep blue, flecked throughout with silver spots. It resembled the evening sky, bedecked with shining stars.

 

“Oh, my… What is it?” the boy asked, transfixed.

 

“That, my love, is called Fatalis. It can tell your fate.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Well, no, not anymore. In ancient times, I'm sure it could. But people now have lost the ability to read the future. Just like they've lost track of so many other things.” Calcifex looked disappointedly at the thing.

 

“What about the gem...? What is that? I've never seen anything like it before.”

 

“Ah. I'm not surprised. It's rather rare, and I'm very lucky to have one, especially a specimen of this size. It's called a lapis lazuli. A beautiful stone, isn't it?”

 

Cerasus nodded. “It's spectacular…” He glanced at the wizard. “If it doesn't work, what do you use it for?”

 

The older man smiled. “It makes an excellent game. Here, let me show you.”

 

With extreme care, Calcifex set the Fatalis down on the floor, settling himself beside it, cross-legged. He gestured for the prince to do the same. Once Cerasus was seated, the wizard reached out and spun the thing. They looked on as it rotated quickly, its colors blurring into one silvery-blue mass. Finally, it slowed down and stopped. The narrow tip of it was pointing at Calcifex.

 

“Looks like I'll start first,” he said, and laid the first two fingers on his right hand on the center of the lapis lazuli. “Now, first thing you do is close your eyes and concentrate. Think very hard, and come up with a question you'd like to ask the Fatalis. It has to be a yes or no question, but it can be about anything. Future things, of course. Don't ask it about anything that's already happened.”

 

The prince nodded in understanding.

 

“Right, so here I go.” Calcifex shut his eyes and scrunched up his face in concentration. After a short while, he said, “Oh, Great Fatalis, answer me this: Will I have anything good for breakfast tomorrow?”

 

Cerasus started to giggle, but Cal, grinning, opened his eyes and put a finger over his lips, signaling for quiet. Then he looked down at the stone, and it surprised them both by letting off a shower of shimmering sparks. They erupted from the lapis and shot upward in a straight jet of light. A moment later, the explosion died down.

 

“Well, that's no good,” said the wizard. “That means breakfast is going to be bad.”

 

Still a little startled, Cerasus didn't quite understand what Calcifex meant. “What?”

 

“What just happened, that's the Fatalis' way of saying `no.' Asking it a question invokes the ancient magic held within the stone, but it's just guessing. Without a real fortune teller to ask it, there isn't really much it can get right.”

 

“How does it say `yes'?” the boy asked, eyes wide.

 

Calcifex smiled. “Why don't you find out?” he suggested.

 

Hesitantly, Cerasus placed his fingers on the Fatalis. Squeezing his lids closed, he thought, `Will Cali and I be together for a long time…?'

 

Once again, a geyser of white sparks was spewed out of the thing, and the prince drew his hand away quickly.

 

“Oh, my. What did you ask it?” Calcifex wanted to know.

 

Despite the fact that he knew it was just a game, not real, Cerasus couldn't help but feel profoundly disappointed with the response the Fatalis had given him. And somehow, he just couldn't bring himself to tell that to Cal, who was eyeing him curiously.

 

Instead, he told the man, “I asked if lunch would be any better.”

 

The wizard threw his head back and laughed, but Cerasus just sat there, pretending to smile.

 

*****

3

*****

 

Flamma-regi, still offended by what had transpired with Calcifex the night before, did not, as the man had predicted she wouldn't, invite him to her rooms that night. Her anger had been what he was counting on when he asked Cerasus to meet him at midnight, and he took a moment to revel in how nice it was to be right.

 

“So where are you bringing him?” Sidereus asked, hovering comfortably on a pillow in one of the parlor chairs.

 

“Do you remember, the second week we were here, when I went on that walk after dark?”

 

“Uh… Oh, that one! Yeah. I do.”

 

“Well that night I found someplace in the gardens that caught my fancy. A relatively secluded place. Cera might have been there before, since it is his yard, but I doubt he's ever seen it like this.”

 

“Like what, exactly? Did you spray it with fairy dust or something?”

 

“Funny, Siddy. And no, I didn't. But it's rather lovely at nighttime, and tonight is going to be clear, so there'll be enough stars to fill the entire city. I think he'll love it.”

 

“I see. Well,” Sidereus closed his eyes and settled back into the cushion beneath him, “Enjoy yourself. I'll be up here, sleeping, for once. Please feel free to not wake me up. Ever.”

 

Calcifex laughed and finished straightening his chosen attire for the evening: a tight fitting black suit with green stitching. The sentry outside the palace trumpeted the midnight hour, and the wizard left the room, closing the door gently behind him so as not to disturb the dozing light spirit inside.

 

He was feeling particularly giddy, and couldn't help but wave happily at anyone he crossed paths with on his way downstairs. Maids gave him bewildered looks, and some kindly butlers waved back a little falteringly, but Cal didn't notice the difference. In his head he was humming some bubbly, improvised tune that had no specific words.

 

Standing by the back door as Calcifex reached it was the prince, dressed in a white suit and cloak that leant him an almost ethereal glow, like an angelic beacon in the dark shadows that came with the night. Calcifex grinned wide.

 

“You're stunning, as usual,” he told the boy, stepping up to him.

 

Cerasus blushed. “You look good, too.”

 

The wizard held his arm out to the prince, who took it in his own. “Come on, love,” Cal directed, leading him to the door. “Let's go.”

 

The only source of illumination outside of the castle was the moon, which was nearing its fullest stage. It lit up the earth enough so that the two of them could see where they were stepping in the cold, dew-covered grass, and discern trees out of the landscape enough to avoid walking into them.

 

Calcifex brought them to a place on the east side of the Laedel palace, where, if one looked up high enough, it was possible to see the prince's bedroom window. Around them was a part of the grounds that had been paid special attention by the gardeners; it was enclosed in tall wooden fences, each one entangled within the vines of dozens of pristine white moonflowers. In the center of the place was an ivory sheet, on top of which had been placed a single red rose, shockingly bright against the pale background: blood on skin.

 

“Oh, gods… It's beautiful,” Cerasus gasped. His heart was racing. “When did you do this?”

 

“After you left,” Calcifex replied. “I rushed down here to set it up while you were getting ready.”

 

The prince surprised his companion by turning to bestow him with a tight hug. “Thank you,” the boy whispered, then let go and moved to sit down on the blanket. Calcifex, growing more delighted by the minute, followed suit.

 

The night atmosphere was cool, quiet, and blessedly serene. Even so, Cerasus began to feel anxious, remembering just what they were there for. He was blushing again, and hoped that Calcifex wouldn't be able to tell in such dim light.

 

“I think, Cera, that we should start out slow.”

 

The younger man looked over at Cal, who was gazing up at the almost-spherical moon. “Okay…”

 

Slowly, the wizard pivoted his head, stopping when his emerald gaze met the nervous blue one. “First,” he began, “We need to do this.”

 

It only took seconds for Calcifex to bend his head down and kiss the prince, but for Cerasus it felt like a lifetime. He watched in slow motion as his lover - they were lovers, right? They would be soon, in any case - leaned over, closed his eyes, and drew closer, inch by agonizing inch. Then, after an eternity of waiting, their lips met, and there was warmth and fire and-

 

`Oh, gods.'

 

Calcifex's mouth was soft and gentle, moving tenderly over Cerasus'. Unsure about what he should do, Cerasus decided imitation was the best course, and he repeated the wizard's actions as best as he could. His tentative efforts earned him a low moan, and more pressure was applied to his lips. Encouraged, the boy continued, glad to be doing something right, even if said act was making him flush redder than the rose by his legs.

 

There wasn't much time for thinking on embarrassment, though, or performance, because the kiss was such a nice one. Cerasus wondered if it was common among kissing people to lose the ability to put a coherent thought together. His mind was gathering fog, and all he could concentrate on was the body in front of him. Calcifex's lips on his own, his hand on his knee, and the other one on his face. Everywhere the wizard touched he burned, and for a split second before his thoughts went black, he believed he knew what it was to be Sidereus, made completely of fire and light.

 

`Wet,' his head mumbled, just as his mouth registered the presence of something squishy and moist prodding at the seam of his lips: Calcifex's tongue. Cerasus gasped in surprise and wonder, and Cal took the opportunity to sweep the appendage over the boy's teeth, procuring a second noise of alarm.

 

Somewhere between when the kiss had started and where it had progressed to now, with Cerasus whimpering at the wizard's ministrations, Calcifex had managed to wiggle across the sheet until his thigh was rubbing intimately against the younger man's. Trim muscles, toned from years of horseback riding, quivered uncontrollably under Calcifex's questing hand. He slid it up and down the boy's upper leg, boldly brushing over the sensitive spot where the limb met the hip.

 

Cerasus was the first one to pick up on the need for oxygen, and he pulled away from the kiss to suck in quick, panting breaths. His cheeks were pink, his lips swollen, and his eyes bright. He looked, Calcifex noted proudly, wonderfully ravished.

 

“Wow,” was all the boy could manage to say. Cal agreed. He was hard pressed not to grab Cerasus by the neck and kiss him again; he refrained only because his body was protesting the lack of air as well.

 

“So,” he said. “That was how we begin.”

 

The prince nodded, then glanced down. The wizard's hand was still on his thigh. “Um…” he observed.

 

“Ah, yes.” Calcifex withdrew. “I'm sorry.”

 

“It's all right…”

 

Cal studied the rose on the blanket, suddenly, unreasonably worried.

 

“… Where do we pick up from there?”

 

The older man blinked in surprise. “What?”

 

Cerasus looked down at his knees. “What do we do next?”

 

“Ah… well… Nothing, tonight. Like I said, we should go slow.”

 

“Oh… So… Can we do… that… again?”

 

“… I don't see why not.”

 

“Okay.”

 

“But… remember… Slow.”

 

“Right. Slow.”

 

And they kissed again and again, slow, slow, slow.

 

*****

4

*****

 

It was well past four in the morning when Calcifex and Cerasus finally returned to their rooms. They parted ways at the back door, with one final, chaste meeting of their lips.

 

Sidereus was awake when Cal slipped into his parlor.

 

“How did it go?”

 

“Don't ask me that, Sid, unless you want me to tell you a bunch of mushy, disgusting human things.”

 

“That well, huh?”

 

“I thought I would go out of my mind. He's exquisite.”

 

The light spirit smiled in spite of himself. “Good for you, witchy.”

 

Calcifex fell back onto the couch, smiling from ear to ear. “We're meeting again tomorrow night, er… What time is it? I mean, tonight, because Flamma-regi will be out. It's the last two weeks of the Faire, and she has to oversee the start of the final celebration.”

 

“Oh, yeah?”

 

“That's right. And guess what else is going to be happening soon?”

 

Sidereus floated over to the wizard and settled down on his outstretched legs. “What would that be?”

 

“Cerasus is turning seventeen on the second to last day of the Faire. He's going to be crowned king. Cerasus-regna… Can you imagine?”

 

“Hardly. He's timid as a deer. How will he rule over all of Laedel?”

 

“I'm wondering the same thing. But I have faith in him, and I think he'll be a great monarch… Once he gets used to the position.”

 

Scowling thoughtfully, Sidereus said, “Hey, Cal… When the Faire is over, we have to leave here, don't we? That's what Flamma-regi said. What will you tell the kid?”

 

“That's easy. I'll get him to let us stay here. He'll be in charge then, not Her Atrociousness.”

 

“Okay… Problem. The king has to marry a queen. Hate to break it to you, pal, but you're not exactly a queen.”

 

Calcifex sat up and leaned on the back of the couch. “Cera wouldn't pick a woman over me.”

 

“You're missing the point. It's the law,” the light spirit stressed. “If he refuses to be wed because of you, what do you think Flamma will do? Sit around? No. She'll tell him what you two have been doing! Which you still haven't taken care of-“

 

“Okay, Sidereus, I get it! But how can I tell him something like that? Do you have any idea what that would do to him?” Calcifex sighed heavily, feeling exasperated and much less happy than he had been a short while ago.

 

“Yes, Cal, I do know. But it's either tell him and hope he forgives you, or get the hell out of here and never see him again. There are no other options. You can't stay here forever without letting him know.”

 

The wizard jumped out of his seat, sending Sidereus soaring up into the air to hover at eye level. Calcifex paced back and forth through the parlor, running his hands through his pitch black hair. “All right. I'll tell him. But not yet.” He stopped moving and looked at his friend. “Give me some time to think of the perfect way, and I'll do it.”

 

Sidereus nodded, his mouth set in a grim line. “Fine. I'll be hoping for you, Cal. I may keep pressing this… but you know I do want things to go all right.”

 

Calcifex allowed a small smile. “I know, my friend. I know.”

 

*****

5

*****

 

Both Calcifex and Cerasus spent the rest of that day sleeping. When the dinner call was sounded, they finally climbed out of bed and got dressed. Their plan was to take dinner in the prince's room, with him using the excuse that he was not feeling well to avoid having to eat supper with his mother in the great hall, like he did every other time he ate his meal with the wizard. Calcifex retrieved their food from the kitchens and went back upstairs with it, bringing it to Cerasus' quarters.

 

In his parlor, painted light green and white, the prince had lit a few candles, hoping to give the room a little romantic ambiance. He sat nervously on the edge of a chair, butterflies flittering in his stomach even after all the intimacy they had shared earlier. Part of the feeling, however, seemed to be excitement. Calcifex's lips had been whispering into his dreams all day long.

 

When the man finally knocked on his door - he bade him to enter - and came in with their dinner, he couldn't help but press a hand to his belly.

 

“This smells delicious, love,” Calcifex said. “I hope it tastes as good.”

 

“I'm sure it will,” Cerasus agreed, taking his plate from the other man and setting it down on the table.

 

Leaning down a bit, Cal added, “You're probably right,” and placed a quick kiss on the boy's lips.

 

Blushing, the prince sat down just as Calcifex did the same. “I'm starving,” the wizard gushed, immediately setting about diving into his food. Cerasus looked down at his own meal, and even though it looked delectable, and probably had an exquisite flavor, he found that there was nothing he wanted to do less than eat. He was too jumpy. Too… eager.

 

Steeling himself anyway, he took a small bite of his biscuit, but it tasted like paper in his mouth, and stuck like cement in his throat. He quickly washed it down with wine, making a face. Calcifex was shoveling down a pile of baked potatoes, oblivious to the prince's plight.

 

Cerasus said, “Cali… I'm not hungry. Can we skip the food?”

 

The wizard stopped, glass of wine halfway to his lips, and looked at the boy. Into his eyes filtered an odd, hungry light that was different from the one held there when he had been looking at his food. He set his goblet down on the table and turned so he was facing Cerasus. His left hand rose into the air, and the index finger beckoned the young man forward.

 

Nervous, curious, and unwilling to disobey Calcifex, the prince got up and took a step toward him. The finger moved again. Closer. Another step. Even closer than that. One more step. His legs brushed Cal's knees. The finger pointed down. In my lap.

 

Slowly, Cerasus sat down on the wizard's upper legs, torso facing sideways. Calcifex shook his head, swirling his finger around in a circle. Turn towards me.

 

“But-“

 

The dark-haired man held up his other hand and repeated the circular motion with his other. Trembling slightly, Cerasus shifted until he was straddling Calcifex, but only sitting back on his knees. As though he had suddenly grown impatient, the wizard's arms shot out and wrapped around the prince's waist in one quick motion. In another second, they had dragged the boy forward. The result: they were pelvis to pelvis, and Cerasus could feel just how heavy things had become, pressing hotly into his inner thigh.

 

“Okay,” Calcifex said, voice husky and deeper than normal. “Step number two.”

 

His mouth was fire and moisture all at once, pressed to the soft place on Cerasus' collarbone. Conflicting forces, the earth and sky and everything they contained, collided and spun outward wherever bare skin met. Eager hands traced paths of light over quickly moving ribs, quaking legs, burning cheeks. Calcifex pulled Cerasus down for a hungry kiss, infusing as much passion into the action as possible. The prince moaned loudly in response, the vibrations from the sound sending shivers down the older man's spine. On the table, their dinner got cold.

 

The clothes were a problem.

 

Calcifex's fingers were deft and agile, sliding easily under Cerasus' shirt and pulling the fabric up by the hem. Panicking, the boy broke free from their kiss and tried to force the tunic back down, but Cal resisted.

 

“No, Cera. Let me see you.”

 

After that, the offending garment came off quickly, but Cerasus turned red and hid his face behind his hands, afraid of what Calcifex would think of his small, pale frame. He needn't have worried. If the pulsing hardness on his leg was any testament to the truth, the wizard was enjoying the view.

 

“Gods… You're perfect,” the man gasped. In another second, he was sucking one pink nipple into his mouth, while his fingers danced over the other one, making it pucker up to his touch. The sensations were so sudden, unexpected, new, and so amazing that Cerasus threw his head back and wailed brokenly. His back arched into Cal's touch, instinctively inviting more of the attention.

 

“Please,” the prince breathed out, feeling dizzy as all his blood rushed south, unsure what it was he was asking for, but knowing that Calcifex would be able to tell.

 

Cerasus might not have noticed it, but Calcifex couldn't ignore the pressure against his stomach. Silently, he rejoiced and congratulated himself for bringing the boy to this point: arousal. But the feeling also brought him back from the sky, where his head had been floating around. They were going too fast again, and even if Cerasus looked like he wanted to go on, Calcifex knew he had to stop.

 

He leaned back into the chair and relaxed his hands onto Cerasus' hips. Foggy blue eyes searched his face, confused. “C-Cali…?”

 

“We need to slow down, my love,” the wizard confessed, ignoring his protesting erection.

 

The prince's gaze focused, and he became all too aware of his current state. He gasped and tried to get up, but Calcifex held him down gently. “Don't worry; it's fine. Just calm down, and think of… Well… unpleasant things.” Already he had soothed his own blood with images of dead people in his mind.

 

It took a little longer for Cerasus to do the same, as sitting in Cal's lap was rather distracting, but after several minutes he was relatively composed.

 

“There. Now why don't you get dressed, and we'll finish up this wine, all right?”

 

Some of their food - the bread and the fish - had gone bad, but the rest they found to be still edible, and the two of them enjoyed their remaining meals and drinks for the rest of the night. Sometime around eleven, Cerasus fell asleep in his chair, and Calcifex carried him to his bed, laid him down gently, and tucked him in.

 

“Good night, my prince,” the wizard whispered, kissing the boy's forehead. He picked up the residual evidence of their dinners and left, closing the door quietly behind him.

 

Sidereus was dozing lightly on Cal's pillow, but he woke up when the man came in the room and started undressing for bed.

 

“Back so soon?” the spirit asked, moving over to rest on the night stand.

 

“He fell asleep,” Calcifex explained, crawling under the covers.

 

“Have a good time?”

 

“An excellent time.”

 

“Good. Care to light me a midnight snack? Just a small one?”

 

Cal chuckled. “All right.”

 

A tiny flame erupted next to Sidereus, who ate it up. “Thanks a bunch,” he said after it was gone.

 

“Not a problem.”

 

“… Hey, Cal?”

 

“Yes, Sid?”

 

“Did you ever think we would end up here?”

 

“In Laedel?”

 

“No… Just… In our situation. You, falling for someone… Living like royalty…”

 

“I can't say that ever crossed my mind.”

 

“Well… I'm glad we're here, for the record.”

 

“So am I.”

 

“… And, Cal?”

 

“… Yes, Sidereus?”

 

“I know this is going to sound weird, but if you hadn't come along that day, you know, when we met, I'd probably still be miserable and lonely, like I was back then. So… thanks for finding me… And… for capturing me…”

 

It was hard to see in the dark, but Calcifex smiled, and the light spirit could feel it in the air.

 

“You're welcome.”

 

“I mean, it's not like I enjoy being cooped up in that damn watch, if that's what you're thinking. I hate that thing. That's one reason I like being here, since I can stay out of it all day. But… I'm just… thankful. That… you know…”

 

There was a pause, like Sidereus was trying to pull the right words out of the air. He must have grasped them, because he continued, “It's nice, having a real friend... Even if he is an arrogant, bastard of a human.”

 

Cal laughed. “All right, Sid. Good night, now.”

 

“Good night.”

 

The silence only lasted for a minute.

 

“… Calcifex?”

 

The wizard sighed, but he hadn't stopped grinning. “What is it, Sidereus?”

 

“I… Uh… I love you.”

 

“I love you, too.”

 

The full moon shined through the window, illuminating their identical, content expressions. The night wore on. They slept.

 

*******

 

Disclaimer: This story consists purely of fiction and is a product of the author's imagination. Any person/place/thing/event contained within that has any similarities to something or someone in real life is completely coincidental.

 

Constructive criticism is welcome.