Of Love and War (Goblin) -M-

[Zero]

Senji's tantrum was over quickly, his body practically melting against Maverick's as his lover pulled him into a tight embrace. His arms wrapped fiercely around the other's torso, his head fell to the chiseled chest, relishing the closeness of the moment. This tender affection was what he really needed and craved from his beloved student. 

Crimson eyes had closed, tears still trickled down his cheeks, but they were slowing as he clung to his lover desperately. Maverick didn't understand what this all meant for Senji, how could he? Still, this was better than he could have asked for. He'd almost expected scorn for his show of weakness, but this comforting gesture was more precious to him than any words could describe.

His breathing was raw and ragged as he was pulled up; bright red eyes remained shuttered as those soft kisses touched his flushed, hot skin. His hands moved from Maverick's back, sliding up and around to his chest in a sensual touch. His voice came out in a husky whisper. "Make the pain go away."

[GoblinFae]

The older demon rolled them both over slowly, making sure to continue his kisses and caresses without end. Yet even with Senji sprawled and willing beneath him, Maverick found that he could not claim this victory over his lover. He refused to take advantage of the vulnerability being shown to him. It disgusted him to think that he could not live with himself if he did.

Instead, he used his body as a shield from the world and chose to distract the demon prince with every ounce of love he could pour into him. Maverick kissed and embarrassed every bit of skin he could touch, making sure that no part of his lover was forgotten. Like a hummingbird he flitted from place to place with a gentle grace that he secretly hoped would not be questioned later. For now all that mattered was that Senji forgot his pain and drowned in a sea of pleasure meant for him alone.

[Zero]

It wasn't long before Senji's mind was awash in a gentle tide of pleasure and sensation. The tender, loving care that he was being shown caused every nerve-ending in his body and mind to tingle warmly. Thoughts of Ari, Kanji, pain, or anger were swept away in gentle waves of passion. He still longed for his pet, somewhere deep inside him, but he couldn't focus on anything but his wonderful lover, and it killed him to know that this wasn't real. For now, he let himself pretend, though.

By the time Maverick was done, Senji lay sprawled comfortably across the bed, muscles too weak to even move, he felt soft, weak, vulnerable. What was surprising was that he felt okay with that, if only for the moment. His lover was by his side again, and with his beautiful demon, he was invincible. Crimson eyes were hidden behind heavy lids as he drifted to sleep with a sigh.

[GoblinFae]

Even once Senji was spent, Maverick continued to selflessly ignore his own desires in the face of his lover's comfort. To see the demon before him so relaxed in the throes of passion followed by slumber was amazing for him to behold. It was the first time that Maverick could truly admit to himself that his sleeping dark prince was beautiful to behold. Shielded were the flashing eyes and silenced was the biting tongue, leaving only a peaceful moment in their wake.

Slowly, he lowered himself back onto the bed, careful not to smother his lover even as he continued to protectively drape over the younger demon. He would gain no rest while the other slept, instead choosing to lay still and watch over Senji for as long as necessary. And should the demon awake once more in a pained rage then once more Maverick would comfort him back into peace as many times as necessary, providing the only comfort for his lover that he knew how to give.

[Zero]

Sleep, deep and restful, had taken hold of Senji. The pain had numbed and his body and mind relaxed more completely than they had in decades. Hours passed with the demon prince laying warm and content under the protective watch of his favorite and most beloved companion. Not that he'd ever said as much, but it was true nonetheless.

When crimson eyes slowly opened once more, the prince looked around almost in a daze. When his eyes fell on Maverick, they softened and he pressed his body closer, snuggling up to his lover. His head rested against his over's chest and he nuzzled to warm skin there. His tongue even flicked out to lightly tease the warm flesh. His arms wrapped about the other demon and for once he didn't say anything at all.

[GoblinFae]

Maverick knew the moment his lover awakened. His eyes had not left Senji's face since the demon prince has first fallen asleep. Tensely he waited to see what his lover would do, whether he would rage and reject him or do something else entirely.

He certainly was not expecting the display of affection though and therefore was unprepared for the sensual caress of a warm tongue upon his skin. Involuntarily he inhaled sharply and shuddered in pleasure. His own needs had not dimmed and instead were further kindled by the reminder of their presence.

"Tease," he exhaled barely above a whisper.

[Zero]

His arms remained wrapped around the other's torso, but his hands moved slowly over the skin of the demon's back, savoring the feel of the other in his embrace. Grey hair fell into his face, but he ignored it as he let his teeth softly graze the warm flesh teasingly.

The involuntary reaction that he was able to tease from his lover gave him a little rush of pleasure. His beloved had catered very selflessly to his needs to the point that he'd been unable to even remain awake. Perhaps he should show a little...appreciation. Senji let his eyes fall closed, a faint smile crossing his lips as he continues to kiss and tease the warm skin of Maverick's chest.

His breath ghosted across his lover's skin as he whispered breathlessly, "You love it."

[GoblinFae]

"I do," he breathed back, meaning something entirely different than Senji. His prince could not see how his eyes gazed at him with such adoration and dare he think it, love. Maverick was a fool in love and the object of his affections was blessedly too blind to see it.

He tried to enjoy the sensations setting wildfires of pleasure across his skin but was finding himself distracted by whom was delivering those caresses. It was not fair how good at this his lover was or just how beautiful Senji was when he was acting so gentle. It forced Maverick in needing to guard his heart better as it was already beating far too hard as it cried out to its other half in hopes of being heard.

Wordlessly, the older demon snaked a hand behind his lover's head and gave a gentle tug of the hair he found there. His own lips lowered to kiss the strong jaw he found there, allowing him to savor the feel of sharp edges colliding with his. How he had missed this. Now if he could only keep himself from unraveling completely before Senji, then all would be well.

[Zero]

'I love you.' His heart screamed those words with each beat of his heart those words roared in his ears in a rush of blood and heat. Senji was in a state of bliss as his lips and tongue softly teased the flesh of his lover's chest. The sensual, loving way they were holding each other was almost too much for his heart to stand.

He felt the hand slither behind his head and through his hair like a serpent through grass, a soft sound of desire escaped his lips as he felt the kiss to his jaw. Senji found his nails softly scraping across the skin of Maverick's back, holding to his over in an intimate embrace.

Tilting his head he caught Maverick's lips with his own. The kiss was soft, sensual, and needy. Surely the other could feel his desperate but silent(and very rare) invitation.

[GoblinFae]

'I love you,' Maverick's own heart screamed back, deaf to his lover's beating a tattoo against both their chests. He was overwhelmed with fluttering sensations that caressed and teased his willing flesh. The kiss took his breath away in a gush of air that escaped him and left him gasping for more.

It scared him just how quickly Senji could set his blood on fire and leave him hungry for more. The submissiveness coming from his generally dominant partner was intoxicating. While some animal part of Maverick screamed to control and brutally take possession of what was his now, a softer voice encouraged him to be just as slow and sweet.

Maverick was sinking fast into the sea of his emotions, drowning in unrequited love, yet reveling in every second of it. He kissed back hungrily and slowly as if trying to savor and drink Senji in like a fine wine. His hands like moths around a flame, danced too and fro never stopping at one place yet managing to brush against every inch of his lover's body.

There were no words he could speak now for fear of destroying the thin fabric keeping the moment together. How he desired though to tell his demon prince how much he wanted him, how much he needed him, how much he died inside when they were apart. Instead, he told his pain and desire through every kiss, every gasp, every touch, every beat of his heart, praying it was heard in the ways that ears could not.

[Zero]

Senji found himself mingling soft sounds of pleasure with his gasps of desire as his lover kissed him with such gentle passion. Their coming together was usually forceful, even violent, but this was something else entirely and the red-eyed devil found himself overwhelmed with emotions. Feelings like this frightened him, but he ached for it at the same time. Was it a crime for a demon, a prince, an assassin to love and be loved?

Every place Maverick's fingers touched set his flesh on fire, until Senji was certain he was being consumed by flame. Never did anyone else make the demon prince burn with such passion, no one else could make him long for them the way he longed for Maverick. His mind, body, and heart ached for his lover, the years they spent apart tore at him like the torments of the damned. Why couldn't he just muster the courage to tell him that even as his own heart screamed in his chest.

Part of him struggled with the situation. To submit to his emotions felt like weakness, and there was the desire to dominate, to win. Another part of him silently begged for it to never stop. He didn't want to be the strong one now. He wanted to be weak, to be vulnerable, to show Maverick just how deeply he trusted and cared for him. Even if he couldn't choke out the words, he wanted his actions to say what he could not.

[GoblinFae]

His kisses became hungry, desperate and pleading for his lover's attention. Maverick wanted to drown out every last thought of Ari until there was nothing left for Senji to remember or think about except the present moment. He was admittedly the jealous possessive type. What was his belonged to him and damn anyone that got in his ways, even dead demon lovers.

He wanted to control his demon prince, make him dance under Maverick's ministrations with pleasure, make him beg for more and and cry for it to stop all in the same breath. In all but name he was Senji's slave and willing at that.

Maverick rolled atop his lover, cradling his lover's head in his hands as he lavished affections upon the face held there and writhed against his form. Throwing caution to the wind, he whispered his need and desire, nearly waxing poetic as he did so. He told Senji with complete honesty how much he had missed him, not caring whether he was believed or not. All he could think about as he drowned in his lover's embrace was soothing the burning flame of love within him.

[Zero]

Every time their lips met, Senji felt his breath being stolen away. Each touch, each whispered word set his body afire. How could he possibly survive this demon? How could he possibly survive without him? Their was no doubt in his mind or heart that he loved and needed this seductive, irresistible demon.

All the carefully constructed walls he had built around his heart seemed to crack and splinter as those whispers washed over him in a tide of absolute destruction and chaos. His most precious of lovers had not said that he loved him, but what he did say was so close that it almost didn't matter.

The demon prince did cry out, begging for more and begging for it to end all in the same breath. Maverick's attentions were his greatest joy and his deepest agony, all at once. And he loved it.

[GoblinFae]

At last Maverick worked at claiming that which he secretly called his. He was uncharacteristically slow and gentle when most of their unions were akin to wildfire, this was more like a warm hearth after a cold day. He burned yet he was never warm enough. With every passing second he desired more and even as he finally claimed Senji as his own, Maverick realized he would never be able to recover from this.

In this moment of true love-making, his heart had been lost. He was the demon prince's slave forevermore. Mind, body, and soul was forever bewitched by a creature that would never return his longing and affection in the way it was offered.

Yet, in the end Maverick realized he did not give a damn. He teased and played his lover as much as he had earlier while divining his own pleasure in the man beneath him. 'Mine,' his mind screamed possessively. 'Forever mine,' was all he could think of as stars danced across his vision and he sealed his fate with a soul-wrenching kiss.

[Zero]

The sweet, gentle way that Maverick lavished his affection on the demon prince was something unlike anything Senji had ever experienced before - with anyone. There was a level of tenderness and love that he had never even dreamed of receiving, least of all from his silver-eyed lover. How he had longed for some sign that maybe, just maybe, his love was reciprocated.

Every soft gasp and moan threatened to carry Senji's deepest thoughts with it. 'I love you. I need you. I want more.' The words started at a scream in his mind and heart, but were soon melted into soft, broken whispers as his mind swam in a fog of pleasure. Being made love to like this - the crimson eyed prince could certainly get used to it.

Even after everything else, the intensity of the kiss rocked him, as did the earth-shattering climax that came with it. His body felt consumed in fire. His nerve endings tingled with overwhelming stimulation that was as much psychological as physical.

The raging inferno that threatened to burn every nerve ending melted into a warm, soft glow. His arms were wrapped about Maverick's torso, clinging to him almost fiercely. Everything seemed clouded and murky. His heart beat rapidly, not only from their love-making, but from the emotions that only raged harder with this experience.

"You really do love me, don't you?" The words were a soft murmur, there was none of the teasing or snark that might be expected from the demon prince.

[GoblinFae]

His moment of bliss was short-lived though as he heard the dreaded "L-word" pass his lover's lips and damn him to the deepest circle of hell. Maverick's eyes widened as he flinched away, revealing his complete terror at being found out before he could slam the doors of his soul and lock away his heart behind a mask of cold indifference.

How dare Senji do this him! How dare he strip him of his one security and leave him vulnerable and open! How dare he destroy Maverick and reveal all of his fears! The older demon almost wanted to sob out his pain at being discovered but he could not break down before his prince. No he needed to be strong, he needed to save face, he needed to pull away and flee and never return.

Yet, he could not do that either. He could not leave, he never could before and there was no way he could now. "Do not confuse pity for love," he tried to scoff, feeling like he was going to be sick for saying such hateful words. He turned his face away from Senji hoping the other demon would not see the lie for what it was.

[Zero]

There had obviously been a risk in bringing up that word. Senji couldn't help himself. With how beautifully, how perfectly, they had just made love, his heart had dared to hope, perhaps too much. When those gorgeous silver eyes widened, when he saw the way his lover flinched, he knew right away that he had made a mistake. This was why it was too dangerous to open his heart to anyone, even Maverick.

After the flinch the crimson-eyed prince had prepared himself for rejection, as much as he could, but those words were like a knife to the chest, wrenching his beating heart and cutting it into little pieces. Pity? Of all the hurtful things Maverick could have said, that had to be near the top of the list.

Senji closed his eyes and shook his head slightly, it was all he could do not to completely break down into tears and, heaven forbid, sobs. Not in front of Maverick. He wouldn't give the bastard the satisfaction. He could imagine the smirk that would be on his lover's face, the taunting of his weakness, no, that would have killed him.

Pushing the other off him he jerked himself out of bed. His limbs felt numb and leaden, but he forced himself to begin dressing, keeping his back to Maverick. A few soft tremors shook him, but he forced them down. He didn't even want to look at the other man right now he was so disgusted. Though with himself or Maverick he wasn't entirely sure.

[GoblinFae]

Maverick did not resist as he was cast aside like a useless ragdoll. His head fell into his hands as he chocked on a strangled sob. Anger quickly replaced his despair as his hand flung out, grabbing the first thing he could reach from the side table and hurled it across the room.

He surged to his feet and stormed over to where his lover was preparing himself for another departure out of his room and his life for an undetermined amount of time, except this time, Maverick was not going to let him leave so easily. He was not going to let the cycle begin, not this time, not after so soon returning to his heart.

His body slammed into Senji's with tremendous force as he shoved the other demon forward into the wall. "You don't get to start this again. You don't get to leave until I'm done with you," he hissed angrily, gripping his lover brutally as he pressed his lips against the other man's ear. "I'm not going to let you pull that shit and then just leave after you toss around those words so flippantly."

'You don't get to lay my soul bare before you. You don't get to see me for who I am and leave me alone to wonder. I won't let you!'

[Zero]

That sound was impossible, so Senji ignored the fleeting sob. Though he heard the sound of something being thrown. It didn't so much as slow him down. Let Maverick throw a fit over who-the-fuck-knew what. What right did that bastard have to be mad? He was the one that had said those words. The ones that had cut him so deep he felt as if he was dying inside.

The demon prince did not expect to be tackled against a wall, and he gave a soft grunt of pain as he was pressed against the hard surface. Crimson eyes flashed angrily when he heard his lover speak against his ear. His instinctive reaction would have been to rage and fight back. Instead he closed his eyes, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill at any moment.

"What right do you have to even speak to me right now? If I'm so pitiful then it shouldn't matter if I go. Get your fucking hands off me."

[GoblinFae]

"It does matter!" he growled back, roughly spinning Senji around to face him before slamming him back against the wall. "Don't you get it?" Maverick shouted, shaking his lover. "It does matter. I have every right and don't you dare tell me otherwise. I'm not going to let you go. You are not leaving me this time!"

The demon was incensed. Why could Senji not see? Why did Senji have to see at all for that matter? Why had his prince seen straight through him and found that cold heart buried within the mountain of walls he had hidden it in? 'Damn him for all of this!'

Yet, it was eyes that told a different story of that anger within. There was anguish and love and the strongest emotion of all, fear. Maverick was afraid of losing Senji. He was terrified of having the walls he had constructed crash down all around him. Then, with just one word Senji had down all that and more. While the demon's heart screamed for him to tell the truth, his own self-preservation instincts warred against him, demanding he take control of the situation and put an end to all the pain he felt inside.