Another evening whittled away at the bar. This was starting to get terribly stale...he could only drink so much, fuck so much, and pester the hell out of Yuudai so much before it all became old. And considering he'd been stuck in this horrid wretch-pool known as 'retirement' for a few years already, his list of options had gotten quite overused.
He grumbled into his drink before finishing it off in a single swig. Honestly, it was somewhat ridiculous for all the taverns in the area to know you by name, and even have your favorite alcoholic concoctions memorized.
For fucks sake he needed SOMETHING different to do! He was about ready to crawl out of his own skin!
Dammit, he should have invited Yuudai out tonight, that fucking homebody. He scratched at his chest, blunt nails relieving the itch on his almost totally bare chest - he was wearing his usual dark blue robe-style top, and as always, it was just barely tied shut and thus shared most of his tanned chest with the world. He was just too lazy and couldn't be assed to properly tie it. Besides, he worked fucking hard for these muscles, why shouldn't he show them off??
Bellied up to the bar as he was, he was leaning haphazardly on just one leg, the other tapping the ground mildly with a booted foot. His hand kept reaching up to run through his white-and-lavender hair, tugging at it with a decidedly irritable air. Shit, he should have just gone to the Randy Peach. At least it was easier to work off aggravation there - nothing like some good hard exercise for his back and hips!
With nowhere else to go, Niaaki liked to visit the local tavern. Just like in the old days traveling with Yuuki, he'd always had a lot of luck there--provided he was careful. With a few furtive glances, carefully chosen words, and a little flirting, he could score free drinks and other such handouts. It was all about knowing where the line was and toeing it carefully, because cross it and you could wind up in a dangerous situation.
And he no longer had Yuuki or Nathaniel to watch his back.
So it was all about picking someone who didn't look like a total sleazeball or scream "I'm going to murder and rape you, in that order." Of course not everyone wore that information on their sleeve (obviously), but he liked to think he could at least rule out some of them that way.
Entering the tavern, his raggedy, button-eyed doll, "Butch", clutched under his arm, he scanned the room for any likely victims. As usual, he was dressed in loose traveling clothes that obscured his slight figure, but even with more form-fitting ones people often mistook him as a flat-chested girl rather than an androgynous man. While he hated that, over the years he had come to slowly accept it and, finally, own it. It was who he was and people weren't going to magically start realizing he was a man on sight, so fine. He wouldn't bother to correct them. He was quite secure in his own masculinity so let them assume what they would.
Besides, he could use it to his advantage. It wasn't lying if he never said he was a girl; it was simply not bothering to correct them, omitting information.
There weren't too many people inside the tavern, and many seemed occupied with each other or with a wench or two. Hrm. Maybe this wouldn't be a lucky day--ah!
That was when he saw him, a bored-looking man standing alone at the bar. Not fully Adelan from the looks of him, either, and strong-looking to boot. Well, that was as good a place to start as any, he supposed! Straightening up and shifting his doll under his arm to try to hide it as best as he could (the thing always drew the oddest looks, and he couldn't blame them) he sidled up to the bar, took a seat, and began his well-practiced spiel.
"Excuse me, ah, sir?" he said, reaching out to tap the man's arm with slender fingers. "I apologize for my forwardness, and I don't mean to bother me, but I was wondering if you could help me? I'm afraid I am a little lost and, well...have run into a little trouble..."
He was oblivious to the new comer to the bar, more interested in staring at the bottles of booze on the wall. He could name them all these days - and he'd tried them all, too. The things you did when bored, eh? His good eye flicked down to the empty glass in his hand, which he still swirled as if there were amber liquid inside it. So fucking bored it was ridiculous...he definitely needed to hit the Randy Peach, like, now. At least then he'd have something (or rather, someone) to do!
The glass was set down with a solid thunk upon the wooden bar, and he was just about ready to push out of his lounging stand and leave...but a soft voice spoke up beside him, and someone's delicate fingers brushed his arm.
He rolled his head lazily to the side, allowing him to get a good look at the lovely little thing talking to him. His one visible eyebrow arched, and with his chin propped in his hand he gave Niaaki a mild smirk.
"Please tell me you need me to kill somebody."
That took Niaaki aback. He blinked, the helpless facade broken for a moment by wide-eyed surprise. For a second, he thought maybe he'd just made a horrendous mistake and chosen the wrong man, a murderer or crook or something! Oh dear...
"What? Kill? Ah...no..." Niaaki said, brain floundering for words for a second. How did you respond to that? 'Yes! Yes, I would like you to kill someone! Here's his name and directions to his home'? Oh goodness.
"No, not...kill, sir. I was actually just--well, you see, my money was stolen, and I'm not from around here. I was wondering if you could spare a little coin for a meal or a bed?"
With that response, Qadir let out a long, pained sigh. Damn. A potential opportunity for something to end this boredom, gone. Well then again, it was probably a false hope anyway...how many people came up and solicited random men for a hit?
Bah, it was likely for the best, all things considered. He couldn't even fathom how angry Yuudai would have gotten if he'd caught wind of that.
'Oh yeah, by the way, I murdered somebody last night. Yeah, some kid came up and asked me to do it, and I figured, what the hell? Got nothing else going on.'
That would go over like a sack of bricks.
"Hmmm?" If possible, his white eyebrows arched even higher than before, that single teal eye roaming over Niaaki as if they were the only interesting thing around - it was a lazy circuit, giving away nothing but a mild interest.
"Oh, so you're running a scam. Should have just said so. Getting my hopes up like that..."
Straightening, he made a half turn so that he could lean back against the bar, elbows propped up on it's surface. His gaze did not leave Niaaki for even a breath of a moment.
"I have money to spare, sure, but I'm not in the habit of giving handouts. At least offer something if you're going to make a request like that kid. Well, unless relying on gullible fools usually works...if that's the case, you can ignore my advice."
The way this man was looking at him was a little unsettling in its intensity. Niaaki shifted a little where he sat and adjusted Butch on his lap, hugging the doll to his middle. The thing was his security blanket--but was more than just a mental one. It was a literal lifeline and as long as he had it, he was fine. He may not have looked like much, but he was a powerful mage in his own right, if not without consequences.
"Ah...something to offer?" Niaaki met the man's eye, refusing to look away, then gave a light laugh and a shrug.
"I am afraid I already told you, sir. I don't have anything," he said, and rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Erm. I mean, you may be right and it may not have been stolen, exactly, but..." He sighed and lowered his eyes, then peered up at the man through thick lashes. Fine. Fine. Time to turn up the coy charm and see where that got him. It was alright to flirt, even flirt heavily, and he had done that plenty before.
It was just a little riskier when there was no one around to bail him out if things got too heavy.
"Perhaps..." He let his words falter, as though terribly shy, and let a practiced blush color his cheeks as he looked away again. "A kiss? I don't have much else, I'm afraid."
Yuudai would be berating him right about now for running a shakedown on a kid. Although, he wasn't entirely sure he believed this one to actually be that young, despite the delicate features and that odd doll. There were enough non-humans floating about, and he himself had a fair dousing of fae blood in him - he well knew not everything was what it seemed.
That unflinching gaze remained on the boy, catching every nervous movement, though he himself remained mostly unreadable.
"You want money, basically. Regardless of the reasons, that's the goal. Tis all I really need to know."
He shrugged off Niaaki's weak attempt to backtrack what he'd said earlier, having been caught in the lie. Honestly Qadir couldn't really care less - the scam hadn't actually worked on him, so he had no reason to feel slighted or angry, right? If nothing else, this interesting interchange was helping to stave off boredom - that itself was worth paying for, but this little one didn't need to know that.
...and this one really was full of surprises.
Abruptly Qadir laughed, finally breaking Niaaki of that intense stare. It was a surprisingly warm sound, from someone usually so snarky. Ending on a chuckle, the ex-yewman easily slid closer to Niaaki, though he still didn't bother to actually sit - that was too far if you were expecting a kiss, wasn't it?
"You really are milking this ploy, aren't you?"
He was grinning more readily now, but it still held a heavy dose of 'smirk' to be sure.
"Alright, since you offered. A kiss will get you a coin. Not a big one, mind you, but then a kiss is a rather small thing. Especially when coming from someone as well practiced as you."
Relief flooded Niaaki when the man broke eye contact and laughed. Gods, that was nerve-wracking. He could handle rejection and its ilk, but he never knew what to do with silent staring; it made him nervous when he couldn't read someone, and self-conscious as well, as though he had a giant pimple or food plastered on his chin.
But the man's laugh was warm and he even slid closer to Niaaki, and Niaaki met him by scooting closer until he was perched on the edge of his stool. Alright. So this wouldn't fetch him much, but his reaction was promising and that was enough to spike his confidence.
A small coin was better than no coin.
He tilted his head and smiled. "Well practiced?" he repeated, and reached out to boldly grab the front of the man's shirt, tugging him down until he was more on his level. "Whatever do you mean?"
Leaning up, he pressed a quick, chaste kiss to the man's cheek. "You wouldn't be insinuating that I kiss strangers often, now would you?"
Unsurprisingly, the young man also scooted closer. Despite all the seeming embarrassment, the kid was clearly not so nervous as to try and keep his distance. The bold move got a bit of a chortle, the smirk still wide on Qadir's face, but he allowed himself to be tugged down.
Bringing their faces close, the 'boy' gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, earning a quirked eyebrow from the one eyed retiree.
He stayed close, just a breath away from Niaaki's face. His hand snaked out and found his young friend's other wrist. He didn't try and wrench it away from the doll, but his fingers wrapped around the slender arm firmly.
"That may be exactly what I am insinuating. However, I don't know how often you try and stab strangers, so I'll be keeping track of your little hands if you don't mind."
Even as he spoke, his free hand took hold of the one on the front of his shirt, just cupping it - he didn't have any real intentions other than keeping track of where those hands were and what they were doing.
"Also, I'll have you know I'm not a gentleman. Don't hold back on my account, as I surely won't on yours."
When the man wrapped his hands around Niaaki's, cupping one hand and gripping one wrist, an unexpected rush of heat flooded his cheeks. Erk. Clearly, he wouldn't be getting away with just a cheek-kiss here...
And yet as much as that shocked him, initially, he found that he didn't actually care that much--it was more that he felt he was supposed to care, tried to care, tried to muster up some flustered outrage and embarrassment, and found that he had none to give. After years spent under someone else's wing, being babysat and supervised and treated as someone too weak and delicate to fend for himself, he was finding the freedom fun, the seduction empowering, even while something at the back of his brain told him it was wrong. Wrong because...well, because that was how he had been raised.
But after his romp with a Adelan knight, that first real time he'd thrown caution to the wind--and had fun with it, too!--he was starting to care less and less about that other stuff.
It wasn't like he had an image to preserve or anything.
He stared at the man for a moment, that kneejerk embarrassment and outrage warring with a forbidden thrill of excitement. The excitement won.
Niaaki smiled and tugged lightly at his hands, less actual struggle and more just for show. "I don't know what kind of people you associate with, but I assure you, stabbing would be highly counterproductive to gaining coin and dallying with attractive men, don't you think? These hands are less interested in violence and more interested in more pleasant endeavors, if you catch my meaning," he said, batting his eyelashes playfully.
Then he leaned in and just went for it, pressing his mouth full against the other man's.
Ah, yet another sloppy makeout session in a low-bred tavern. His ancestors were probably rolling in their graves, right about now.
The blush was satisfying as it was real, and just grinned mildly like a contented cat amused with its quarry. He could have easily forced the young man into something at pretty much any time, but it was rather more interesting to sit back and watch. After all, though things seemed pretty tame right now, either of them could easily flip to violence in a heartbeat.
A messy kiss or a messy fight...both sounded equally appealing right then.
Another heavily quirked eyebrow at those words, his grin growing lopsided by the second.
"Attractive am I?"
He mused aloud, before the boy was going for it.
Gamble had paid off. Waiting rather than forcing had turned out far more entertaining. As he quickly outstripped his inexperienced kissing partner in all the ways to tangle tongues and taste teeth, he mused on what the little guy had said. Batting eyelashes and dolling out compliments was the fare of most wenches, and he was used to that. Anybody not looking to get into his pants for a coin or two generally had nothing pleasant to say about him, so he was certainly not disillusioned as to his own 'charm'.
He was confident, and that was likely the only thing he had going for him. Frankly, he found his own appearance to be many bars below 'attractive' - too much fae had come through. His colors were all wrong across the board, he was not of particular brawn, and his face was in some awkward place between 'lovely' and 'handsome' and yet nowhere near either of them.
He realized he had towered over his captive audience in such a way that the poor boy's head was tilted so far as to turn his face toward the ceiling - so much so that had he wanted, Qadir was fairly certain he could have tickled the kid's innards with tongue tip. Hmm, probably let the poor mouse come up for air then.
Without flourish he ceased the mouth ravishing, standing up a bit to give Niaaki room to catch a breath.
"I suppose you could have a coin for letting me taste your last meal."
Dear gods, the man wasn't kidding when he said he wouldn't hold back!
Niaaki made a muffled, surprised sound at first, body going rigid, eyes going wide, and hands clutching the man's shoulders. Tongues touched, and for one embarrassing moment his throat tightened and he thought he might gag--not because it was unpleasant, exactly, but because he wasn't prepared! He hadn't done much of this sort of kissing and the sensation did take some getting used to, especially with the man bending him over backwards and aggressively ravishing the hell out of his mouth!
Once the initial shock wore off, Niaaki relaxed, closed his eyes, and slid his hands up from the man's shoulders and into his hair. Right! He might actually want to participate here, otherwise the man may as well have been kissing Butch, and while the ferocity was alarming at first, there was actually something pretty exciting about it, about being taken so hard right then and there. About being wanted. Even if, maybe, it was just a fantasy, because he'd flirted for coin and the man was calling his bluff. His fingers tightened in his hair and he made a small sound against his lips, shivering.
Gods, how far had he fallen.
By the time it ended, Niaaki was flushed, breathless, and panting--and his neck was sore from craning backwards at an awkward angle. He stared up at the soldier, blinking, and licked his lips. Well. Damn...
The man filled in the silence for him while his brain still struggled to think.
"W-what?" The blush flooded back full force and Niaaki's eyes widened in horror. Oh gods! That was disgusting! He clapped a hand to his mouth. "My, uh, my apologies."
Qadir let out another short laugh, genuinely amused by that reaction. He apologized? Haha, what an amusing thing to say. But then, it seemed this poor little one really wasn't all that experienced, despite that daring approach.
"It was a figure of speech mouse. You taste fine."
He chuckled softly again, while scrounging around for a few coins. He did agree to these terms after all. He held them out to Niaaki, one eyebrow arched once again.
"You're pretty amusing kid."
He pushed away from the bar, flicking a few more coins to the bartender. Slinking his hands behind his head, he calmly began making his way toward the exit.
"You need more coins, you can always follow after me."
He offered mildly over his shoulder. Hey, he'd paid for the warmth of others plenty of times before, this was hardly different.
And now he was laughing at him! Oh, goodness, he really had gone and made a fool of himself, hadn't he? How utterly attractive that all must be!
Niaaki did relax a little, though, when he assured him that he tasted fine. Still, it was a little embarrassing, becoming so suddenly aware of your own...flavor.
Still blushing furiously, he reached out to accept the coins, and sighed as he totaled them up in his head. It would be enough for either food or a bed, but not both. His shoulders slumped as he rolled them through his fingers and chewed his lip in thought. Freeze outside and worry about unscrupulous vagrants, or starve. What a choice.
But perhaps not the only choice.
The man turned to leave, and Niaaki grabbed pounced upon those parting words.
"Done," he said, sliding from his seat and starting after him, coming up beside him. It was perhaps a risky, stupid decision--he didn't know this man or his intentions, he could be an axe murderer for all he knew! Wait.
A thought occurred to him and he paused. "What is your price, exactly...?"
While his young tag along might have finally had the brains to pause and think about this, Qadir continued with his lazy pace down the chilly street back toward his not quite so modest home. Being retired had a few perks, after all.
"Depends on you mouse. I'll pay based on what you do."
The nip in the air hardly seemed to bother him. Honestly, this was nothing compared to some of the extremes he'd endured as a fighter. A nighttime stroll on the shy side of winter was nothing in comparison. Nothing but refreshing, perhaps.
Still, to the little mouse following the great big cat, his home probably looked warm and inviting. The few servants willing to put up with Qadir's brazen attitude had already lit the main fireplaces, and so as Qadir swung open the door, a wall of warmth spilled out.
He left it open for his guest without a word, stretching once he entered the threshold.
"I'll at least let you have a meal and a bath, in exchange for those coins I gave you."
Turning on his heel, he grinned mildly at Niaaki, one hand extended for 'payment'. Hey, it wasn't a bad deal, and he was sure the kid would be willing to earn them back later, if his hunch was right.
Answer given, Niaaki let that digest for a few seconds, and then picked up his pace and caught up with the man. Alright. So a flexible rate. He could work with that, if it was all his choice, and--wow.
He was actually thinking about doing it. He was actually thinking like a common whore.
And yet, there were worse things one could do for money, and his time with Nathaniel had been liberating. He hadn't thought he'd make a habit of that, but circumstance had pushed him onto the street again--as it turned out, striking out on his own and living life to the fullest and all that wasn't all that glamorous after all--and, well...
Something about it all was kind of exciting.
Perhaps because it was so forbidden, and something he thought he'd never do. Ever.
And that's how he wound up in Qadir's home, marveling at the rich interior and servants. Gods, but if he was to be a paramour, at least he was doing it right!
He gaped openly at the place until Qadir spoke up and offered an exchange, and Niaaki stared at him a moment as though asking "are you serious?" before, finally, he snorted a laugh and fished out his coins.
"You strike a hard bargain, sir," he said with a shake of his head and a smile. "But I accept."
And gods was he starving, and oh, did a bath sound amazing right then...
Qadir, of course, had no qualms about this sort of thing. He'd lived a soldier's life until recently, and even well mannered Yuudai had his fair share of 'one night lovers'. When you had down time, few other things sounded better than a partner to warm your bed. And of course now, he had the money to shell out on expensive brothel women.
But sometimes the unusual was far more fun. And this was certainly anything but normal, given the situation leading up to now.
Still grinning - more of a smirk really - he took back his coins and pocketed them again. Turning slightly, he pointed at the nearest maid.
"Hey. Go grab some food for the kid, and get a bath ready."
Surprisingly, his tone didn't change at all. Then again, Qadir wasn't the type to mince words or put on facades. He basically talked to, and treated, everyone exactly the same - from noble to servant to cute little street mouse.
"I'll be waiting you know where. If you want to back out after you've got your money's worth, I won't blame you."
With a wave over his shoulder, Qadir disappeared down one of the hallways, toward his bedroom.
A short time later, and a quick meal had been laid out for Niaaki - fruits, cheeses, bread, a side of smoked meat. Nothing terribly extravagant, but it'd been done on short notice. And then of course there was the hot bath already pouring and waiting in the big copper tub.
Well. That was blunt.
Straight and to the point. Niaaki watched him stride down the hall and vanish inside a room, presumably his quarters. Didn't even stick around to keep him company while he ate. Awkwardly, he stood there and waited for the servant to bring him his meal, and while he ate he weighed the pros and cons of his options. He had to admit, the way Qadir just left him made him wonder what kind of lover he was--or if he was even much of one at all, like maybe he didn't care about his partners and was just...wham, bam. Or overly rough. Or something. It was a little unnerving--and yet, what did he expect? They were strangers, he would be paid to do this, so it wasn't like he should expect candlelight and sweetness!
But if he went through with this, he would be only his second partner, so it wasn't like he really knew what to expect.
Meal finished, the servant lead him to his bath, and he took his sweet time enjoying that. He took full advantage of the scented oils at his disposal and soaked in the steamy water until it grew lukewarm. It was the temperature that eventually forced him out, and he realized that part of the reason he had taken so long was that his nerves were catching up with him and he was stalling, debating.
Well. He was officially broke.
And you only lived once, right?
And it wasn't like the man was forcing him.
That cinched it.
He wasn't sure if there was much point in getting dressed again, so once he was dried off, except for his wet hair, he wrapped the towel around himself (it was rather large, covering him from chest to mid-thigh) and stepped out of the room. He left Butch wrapped up in his clothes. Bringing him would just be awkward.
Looking right and left to make sure the servant wasn't around (as though they didn't know what was up), he padded down the hallway and knocked on Qadir's door.
"Qadir?"
After that sort of a wait, Qadir figured his guest had either high tailed it or found another bed in the house to sleep in. He was only marginally disappointed, if not surprised. He was tinkering around with some of his 'projects' at a large oak desk that at one time had been polished and beautiful, but was now covered in scratches and scuffs since the rough ex-soldier now used it as a work bench. It was also covered in a grand array of jewelry in various states of completion.
The knock, and somewhat unfamiliar voice behind it, pulled him away from the table with a bemused grin.
Well well, the kid didn't run away after all.
Striding over, he yanked open the unlocked door without flourish, and then leaned against it mildly. He'd already stripped down to his loose fitting pants, including the faded red eye patch that had hidden what was now visible as a rather nasty scar across his eye. His bare chest and arms, apart from being very well toned, also sported their fair share of scars. He'd lived a rough life, after all.
"I'm surprised you didn't chicken out."
Heh, just a towel eh? He was grinning again, and reached out to tug gently at it.
"Not a half bad choice in 'clothes' either. Come on in then."
Qadir's room was comfortably warm thanks to the fireplace. The floor was wood, but there were a number of animal pelts laid out - all creatures he himself had killed and skinned, though of course Niaaki wouldn't know that. Most of the décor was dark woods and dark fabrics, including a bed that might have had the deepest shade of blue imaginable for its linens. It was technically a four poster, but Qadir never bothered dicking around with the drapery, it was always open. The bed was also mussed and unmade - what was the point in making it look pretty if he was just going to lay in it and tussle it up again?
Even thoroughly covered in a towel, Niaaki felt rather naked next to Qadir. If it was even possible, the man looked even more rugged and intimidating nearly bare than he did fully clothed, and Niaaki found himself tracing those scars with his eyes, and lingering on the one covering the man's eye. And, with an odd thrill, he was reminded that he liked intimidating to some degree. It was kind of strange how that worked, how the hint of danger was kind of exciting, but there it was.
He swallowed and clutched tighter at his towel, face coloring when Qadir tugged on his towel.
This was going to be interesting.
Tugging free of Qadir, Niaaki stepped into the room and took a look around, taking in the desk and jewellery, the animal skins, and of course the mussed bed.
"Well, I figured there was not much sense in overdressing for the occasion," Niaaki said, returning his attention back to Qadir, his eyes roaming his chest. He looked back up to his face. "I wouldn't chicken out, though. I'm braver than I look, and I am not a coward."
Kicking the door closed behind him, Qadir laughed at that announcement.
"I'll take your word for it then mouse. I've yet to decide if it's brave, or foolhardy, but it's amusing nonetheless."
And without further adieu, the larger man calmly scooped up tonight's prize, princess style, and carried him to the bed. Though usually gruff, Qadir at least knew how to be relatively gentle - he set Niaaki onto the bed with a surprising amount of care. Sitting on the bed himself, facing Niaaki, he plucked up one of the young man's hands, as if gently inspecting his slender fingers with his own calloused ones.
"You take the lead. I suppose I have you at something of a disadvantage, so I don't mind moving at your pace."
He still hadn't quite decided if his lovely guest was actually experienced or not. Either way, it was bound to be interesting and a surprise however it turned out. Sometimes the not knowing was the greatest thrill. Lifting those delicate fingers to his lips, he kissed the very tips of them.
"So what's on the menu, hm?"
That was a surprising tender. After being ignored, Niaaki hadn't really known what to expect, but that gesture was oddly...well...maybe it was the wrong word to use, considering, but it was oddly romantic.
Scooped into the man's arms like he weighed nothing at all, Niaaki started to throw his arms around his shoulders to hold on--but grabbed onto the towel instead lest he lose it. Not that that really mattered, he guessed, but some odd sense of modesty had him clinging to it.
Once set down on the bed--again with surprising care despite the man's gruffness--he felt a little shiver go through him when he took up his hand and kissed his fingertips.
Such a gentle, intimate gesture.
And one that he absolutely loved.
It was right then, in that moment, that the man had him. The fear left him, replaced instead with a heart-thumping sort of excitement. His hand was trembling slightly in Qadir's, some of it nerves. Take the lead, huh? Oh goodness. As much as he appreciated it, was this a good time to admit Qadir was his second?
He scooted closer to Qadir and boldly reached out with his free hand to trace one of the scars on his chest. "Ah...well..." Oh boy. Did he actually want him to name certain acts and suggest they go down the list? "I suppose everything? Er...that is...we can just..."
He was red, face burning up, and finally he shook his head and looked up at Qadir. "How about we start with kissing, and go from there."
A lot could be said about Qadir, most of it none too pleasant. He was well aware of this, even relished some of it, but generally he simply didn't give a damn. He was an excellent Yeoman, one of the best, and that was really all it boiled down to - everything else was either icing or bullshit.
Still, anybody who'd ever been bedded by him likely had a far amount more positive things to say. It wasn't that he put any undue amount of effort into being a good lover. He simply really enjoyed sex. And it was generally more fun if your partner(s) were enjoying it too.
Real easy logic, actually.
He could tell that, with this one, he'd have to be gentle. How slow was to be determined...the kid certainly seemed eager enough right now. He toyed softly with Niaaki's trembling hand, slowly entwining their fingers even as his guest scooted closer. Qadir was apt to ask about the boy's lack of reaction to the wound that left him a 'cyclops', but fingertips were soon tracing over the scars on his chest and he essentially had his answer. That was probably a good thing, considering how many scars he had, ha.
Though a burst of somewhat roguish laughter left him, his free hand wandered up the boy's arm, to his neck, and into his hair easily enough, with an almost lazy grace.
"You may not want to say 'everything' to someone who's done as much as me. There aren't enough hours in the night, I'm afraid."
Though he was smirking in open amusement, luckily his little bedmate decided that perhaps kissing was the best first course of action. He nodded somewhat, before leaning in.
"Good choice."
But he dipped in to kiss rather at Niaaki's neck, sweeping up to his ear to give it a nibble, and then back down again, layering kisses to his collarbone. He smothered the boy's pale skin in gentle kisses, at least so far as he could go with the towel in the way. After satisfying his apparent desire to put lips to his entire neck and shoulders, Qadir came up to press yet another to Niaaki's lips.
Still close, he gave a lopsided grin of amusement.
"You going to take off the towel, or do I need to unwrap you?"
It was when Qadir gave that roguish laugh that Niaaki realized "everything" might have been a dangerous thing to say. But then again, his scope of what was possible was rather limited, having only experienced, well, a couple of things. He gave a light laugh and ducked his head sheepishly.
"Fair point," he conceded, and shivered as the man's hand traveled lazily up his body and into his hair, skin tingling under his fingers. "But you know what I--ah...oh..."
Anything that he had been planning to say or do was knocked clear out of his head when Qadir's lips met his skin--and that was fine by him! Fingers still laced with Qadir's other hand, Niaaki's hand squeezed his tightly, while his other searched for something to hold onto and finally settled on gripping Qadir's forearm, his short nails leaving half-moon indentations in his skin. Gods, how was it that a total stranger like him was sussing out all his weaknesses already? Just like that? When he hardly knew all of his own sweet spots? It wasn't long at all before he was squirming, and laughing here and there when some kisses tickled.
His eyes fluttered closed and he tilted his head back to give him more room, and by the time Qadir's lips met his own, he was shaky and breathless. He kissed him back hungrily, the hand on Qadir's arm sliding up to the back of his neck to pull him in for another almost as soon as he'd finished his question, and he leaned in to press their bodies together so he could return his affections and give him a needy nibble on the jaw.
"That's a silly question," he breathed, for he had decided right then and there that he liked this man's style and wanted more of it. "The answer to both is yes."
And with that said, he undid the knot in his towel and let it drop, falling from around his chest and gathering into his lap. That part was always a little scary, baring yourself, or part of yourself, to someone for the first time; the strange markings on his arms extended down his back and buttocks, and down one leg. And besides that, he knew he wasn't the most athletic person. And so for a moment he held his breath and waited, bold in his actions and yet insecure, but he had made a promise to not let fear rule him anymore so, well...here he was.
Unfortunately, Niaaki had completely forgotten that he had been playing at being female.
Well well. Qadir was more than happy to let his younger new lover pull him immediately back for another kiss, amusement still very evident in his dark teal eye as he gave the younger a light nip on his bottom lip as they drew apart. He considered it a good sign that Niaaki was mimicking him, and none too badly either. The answer to his question finally came, and Qadir sat back to watch his pale companion finally disrobe. For a moment his eye flicked to those odd markings - he'd have to remember to ask about those - before calmly flicking back to the flat chest bared to him.
"Hm."
He mused curiously, before reaching down with the hand not gripped by the fae boy in order to tug at the towel and bare his hips and all that lay below.
Well, that answered that, didn't it?
"Well you're no girl. I had my suspicions before but I think you played it off rather admirably."
Leaning now against his free hand beside Niaaki's hip, he kept the boy's other hand firmly entwined with his, as if making sure he wouldn't abruptly try and bolt.
"That'll make you the first lad I've bedded. There's a first for everything I suppose. I believe I know enough not to muck it up too badly."
Leaning down, he boldly ran his tongue over one of the young man's poor exposed nipples. Breathing against his chest, he looked up with that same roguish smile again.
"I hope you don't mind my 'inexperience'."
It was a curious look that came over Qadir's face, and Niaaki blinked up at him, worrying that he maybe didn't like what he saw. Then Qadir yanked the towel from his hips, and the issue didn't sink in until Qadir mentioned him not being a girl.
Wait. What? Not a girl? Of course he wasn't a--oh.
Oh.
Oh crap, he had been playing at being a girl, hadn't he? He'd just sort of gotten into things and had forgotten he didn't know he was a man and...
His face went red, and for a moment he tensed, thinking Qadir would be upset, and yet what he said next, all with calm, cool acceptance, threw that worry right out the window and left him staring in wide-eyed wonder.
"Whoa, what? You...are really okay with--?"
He cut off with a sharp gasp, wrapping his free arm about Qadir's shoulders to draw him closer when he attacked his chest, nails lightly scraping at his back. Oh gods. Oh gods was that a nice affirmation.
He arched against him, his breathing going ragged, a low moan in his throat. "Ahn...you...you are doing quite well," he said, and tugged his other hand free so he could slide it down his bicep and over his chest, tracing scars and caressing his nipple. "But if you get lost, I can teach you."
This little one certainly had a great deal of fire in him, didn't he? When it came to the bedroom, one could never know what to expect...all part of the fun, really. Since he was being clung to so earnestly, Qadir decided to oblige his young friend with a series more of licks, kisses, and gentle nips over that smooth chest. He shivered at those raking nails, quite enjoying the sensation.
Leaning in with ease, he gently lead Niaaki onto his back beneath his bigger frame. Kissing the dip of the lovely lad's throat, he pressed a chuckle into his skin.
"I'll remember that then."
Not that Qadir was the sort to get lost.
He took his sweet time covering all that pale skin with kisses and faint pink love-marks. He paid special close attention to those nipples, noting how they got just as pert and happy as any woman's when he sucked on them. Idly, he wondered just how much teasing his young lover could take, and that smirk tilted one side of his mouth at the thought.
Lazily he ran his tongue down the center of Niaaki's body, stopping to play at his naval with what was proving to be a frighteningly experienced mouth. Calloused hands ran down the back of him, arching the young man's body into his mouth. It was apparent he was in no great hurry, singular eye staring back up his slow-blossoming handiwork to watch Niaaki's face for reactions.
It wasn't long at all before Qadir had Niaaki writhing beneath him, hands scrabbling at the man's back and shoulders as that wonderful, wonderful mouth of his worked its magic. Needless to say, his nipples were not the only things that hardened.
Needy, shivery sounds escaped him, growing louder and more desperate, and his stomach sucked in with a shudder when Qadir toyed with his navel. "Oh gods...oh gods, Qadir...!" His hands tangled in the man's hair and pulled at it, more roughly than intended, but this sweet torture was becoming too much. Especially as he took his sweet time--which was always fun at first, but now there were other parts of him aching to be touched.
He could tell he was going to be a mess in the morning--he had to be leaving marks there--but he was beyond caring. He arched his body against Qadir when prompted, loving how rough his hands felt against his soft skin, how large and powerful he felt to him as he covered him with his body. "You are magnificent," he panted, scratching at his shoulders. "Horrible, but magnificent and oh gods...please..."
This was getting to a point where Qadir was actively fighting down the shaking of laughter. Already he had this young man melting into a puddle of pleasure, and they hadn't even gotten to any of the particularly delicious parts yet.
All the scratches made him tremble now and then, and the pulling of hair simply reminded him with a thrill of what was to come. If he did this right, the boy ought to be doing a lot more pulling and scratching, heh.
But for now, his torturous game continued.
"Please...? Ah forgive me, I suppose I should move on."
He purred out calmly as he shifted his hands down to narrow hips, and boldly onto Niaaki's rump. His mouth soon followed, tracing along the soft place just inside of that hip bone, but he easily skirted the most important part quivering as it was for need of attention.
Instead his lips traveled down the inside of the boy's thigh, a rough hand sliding up to help lift his knee slightly. Unabashed, he took his time leaving more marks and a multitude of kisses all along those thighs, sometimes coming so close to what Niaaki really wanted that his hair brushed him but not his mouth.
It seemed he wasn't content with his wicked teasing just yet.
Niaaki jerked at those words, eyes flying open. "What? No, that's not what I--nnh, ohhh, you amazing bastard..."
He squirmed helplessly, torn somewhere between loving everything this man was doing to him, and hating him for drawing it out so, for making him writhe and beg like a harlot. He had never been played so thoroughly, and mercilessly, before--the man was doing magical things to places he didn't even know were capable of such pleasure. And then when he lifted his knee and went between his legs, kissing and marking his thigh and brushing, feather-light, against his cock--gods, he was beyond gone.
It hurt how much he needed him.
Back arching and legs trembling, shamelessly spread, he yanked at Qadir's hair with one hand, and bit the fingers of his other hand to muffle his frustrated cries. And then, finally, he couldn't take it anymore.
"I swear to gods, Qadir!" he got out, voice too breathless and moaning to be a threat. "If you don't--if you don't...mmn..." Gods be damned. He couldn't even formulate a proper threat.
"I do live for recognition."
He responded with a growl of amusement. Amazing bastard was it? He could definitely get used to that. The yanking on his hair was, as always, a very nice touch and greatly appreciated. He let Niaaki know by lavishing more attention on those sensitive thighs, teal eye alight with amusement.
Finally the boy reverted to threatening him...or trying to, anyway. Finally he sat up, giving the poor thing a bit of a rest, but only so that Qadir could grin devilishly down at him.
"Don't what? If you can't tell me what you want, then all I can do is keep doing as I please."
He was being cruel and he was very well aware of it. But it was the sweetest form of cruelty, and it already had Niaaki trembling and gasping and all but begging for lewd things. He wasn't exactly wanting to humiliate the boy, of course, so it was a fine line he walked. How far as too far? How much was too much? It was hard to say with a brand new lover like this.
Even though it seemed, with that smirk of his, that Qadir was about to torment the poor boy some more, he decided the game was at an end. He idly slid one rough fingertip up the full length of that poor, neglected erection. This was something he'd never played with on another person. And of course there was going to be the matter of putting it in as well, which from rumors he knew to take a fair bit more preparation than any woman might need.
Still, he was more than willing to give it a shot. He was far from bored right now, after all!
Niaaki flopped back against the sheets, chest rising and falling with his frantic breaths. It was a small mercy that he took some pity on him, and also horribly exasperating because he'd stopped. Which was the last thing he wanted.
He took a deep breath and ran both hands through his hair. "You are truly terrible," he mumbled, doing his best to glower up at him, though the effect was lost with him all naked and partially ravished. Well. Now he knew the answer to his "what kind of lover is he?" question: a devilish one. A gentle one, and a damned good one thus far, but he was also pure and unfiltered evil.
Which became all the more clear when he finally did touch him, single finger and with the barest of caresses.
Niaaki let out a groan and reached out, grabbing onto Qadir's wrist in a surprisingly firm grip. "Not like that," he said, frustration clear in his voice and the lines of his body as he rolled his hips up and tried to urge him to wrap his hand around him.
At that, Qadir finally let out a quiet burst of laughter, even as the young man arched into his calloused hand. Rather than obliging the boy, he instead took him by the hips and eased him back onto the bed.
"Despite all your quivering, you are quite demanding."
But by the way he spoke, that was anything but a complaint, dark eye glittering with amusement and desire. Somewhere in his head he was a bit surprised at his own ability to enjoy laying with another man so much, but then again...given his propensity toward pleasure, maybe it wasn't all that odd after all. Either way, he wasn't the sort to give it any heavy thinking - he was much more content to follow their bodies. It had yet to lead him into any real trouble in all his twenty seven years.
Thus Niaaki finally got what he wanted, a large hand sliding from his thigh and over to stiff flesh. He stroked him gently, knowing quite well how to pleasure him, if only by virtue of knowing how to do it to himself. While his hand was occupied bringing the lovely fae beneath him to a fever pitch, he leaned down to give a bit more attention to those perky nipples of his.
As this went on, with his one free hand, he somehow managed to deftly remove his own remaining garments.
Then, without warning, he scooped Niaaki close, front to front, before abruptly rolling over so that the young man found himself seated on top of Qadir's naked hips.
"Heh, have some fun up there would you? I need to find something."
He'd rolled them closer to the edge of the bed with that little maneuver, and he took the opportunity to reach over and rifle around in a bedside table for something, his other resting idly on Niaaki's side.
No sooner had he finally gotten what he wanted when Qadir rolled them both over, leaving him straddling Qadir's hips and more than a little flustered and frustrated. And still Qadir seemed so amused and pleased with himself, the bastard--though perhaps he was just impatient and used to getting what he wanted when he wanted it. Alas, he was still a noble's brat at heart.
But he was also fae. And fae were known to be capricious for a reason.
For a moment Niaaki stared down at Qadir, flushed, panting, shaky, and more than a little perturbed.
But then Qadir said some damning words: have some fun up there, hm?
Very well.
He didn't know how Qadir managed to get his breeches off; he hadn't been aware of that happening, but he hadn't been aware of much at all. No matter, though! It made his job easier. While Qadir rummaged about for something and generally ignored him, Niaaki slid off his hips until he was straddling the man's legs.
He paused for a moment, considering what he was about to do and silently hoping that he didn't make a fool of himself, since someone as experienced as Qadir would surely be able to tell the difference between "good" and "pathetically inept". Then, grasping his cock, he lowered his lips to him, tasting salty skin.
While he had no experience in this area, he'd had it done to him enough that he figured he had an idea as to how to go about it; he did quickly learn how far he could go before he gagged, at least, and it wasn't far at all. Perhaps he wasn't perfect at it, having no real skill or finesse yet, but practice makes perfect, as they said, and he was making an effort at it with lips and tongue alike, remembering what had been done to him and trying to replicate it to the best of his ability. One hand stroking what his mouth didn't cover, he used his other hand to rake his nails lightly down Qadir's inner thigh.
If Qadir was going to torment him, it was only fair he got his turn.
...hahaha. What a delightfully surprising turn of events. That was bold of the little mouse...but then, he had told him to have fun. Still, it had startled him enough that he'd jerked involuntarily, and whatever random assortment of stuff was in the side table had rattled with the force of it.
"Aren't you a daring mouse. Once you get the hang of it, don't bother being gentle on my account."
He growled out softly, but the amusement was all over his face. His nimble fingers had found what he'd been searching for, but he calmly rested both of them (and what he held) behind his head and out of sight.
This could wait - it was far more interesting to watch Niaaki learn how to suck a cock properly.
He could tell the boy had never really done this before, but it was rather intriguing to see him learn on the fly. After all, everybody had to start somewhere right? This was certainly NOT a skill one was born adept at.
...hm, at least he hoped not.
"Suck a little harder there. Hmn. You don't have to mind your teeth so much, it doesn't much bother me."
It was an interesting experience, to be sure, and strangely thrilling, and from this position he had a good view of Qadir's face: ruggedly handsome, intimidating in a way that sent chills down his spine, large, strong...and completely in control, even now. Then, abruptly, his eyes met Qadir's and he realized he was watching him as surely as he was watching Qadir, and his face burned with an odd combination of embarrassment and lust.
It was incredibly erotic.
And gods, he hoped he was doing this right!
He hummed in acknowledgment and adjusted his technique at Qadir's instruction. He took to sucking harder along the head, and even lightly grazed his teeth along him, not hard, but enough so he knew they were there. Experimenting a little as he recalled something he'd liked, he released Qadir with a slight pop, licked slowly up along his length, and huffed a warm breath against him before pressing his lips to the head and taking him in slowly, teasingly, and moaning against him as he sucked and tasted. A few times he even nibbled at him, carefully, because even though Qadir said not to be gentle, he wasn't so sure about being rough around such a delicate area! That...could certainly be a mood ruiner!
And as he watched Qadir, he certainly understood the appeal of this from this angle, and shivered at the thought that this was just the first act. Qadir was hiding something, and gods but he wanted to know what.
"Mmm, quite the fast learner aren't you?" He chuckled in a rough tone, still watching his little protégé with a great deal of amusement. Naturally, it wasn't the best head he'd ever gotten, but it was still surprisingly pleasurable for what seemed to be a first timer. Maybe he had some experience on the receiving end? Heheh.
Reaching out with his free hand, he idly brushed long fingers through Niaaki's hair, grazing his scalp. Feeling the boy'd had enough of a taste of him, he grabbed a handful and tugged gently.
"Alright kitten, that's enough licking for now. After all, I'm sure you're eager to try the next step eh?"
As he spoke, he shifted a leg up to nudge at Niaaki's obvious erection. He then had a thought, and his smirk grew slowly.
"Although, if you really want to continue, that's fine with me. But you gotta turn that little ass around to face me first."
Niaaki would have smiled at the praise if his mouth wasn't full, but instead he hummed in acknowledgment, liking how rough Qadir's voice was, and went right back at it--at least, until Qadir tugged his hair. That elicited a gasp and he pulled away from Qadir with a look of confusion, worrying at first that he'd done something wrong.
But it seemed, instead, that Qadir was just eager for the next act.
He licked his lips and brushed his hair back from his face, and was about to answer when Qadir nudged his erection, painfully reminding him of his own need, which had thus far been teased but otherwise neglected. He sucked in a breath and, for a moment, was too distracted by what he was feeling below to focus on what he was hearing above.
"Mm...hmm?"
Gods, why was the man giving him choices?! Sure, that was an excellent and polite thing to do, but how was he supposed to decide when, at the moment, he just wanted it all? But just as he had been curious as to what Qadir was hiding, he was curious as to what he had in mind here, so after a brief moment's indecision, he turned around, swung a leg over Qadir so he was straddling his chest and facing his feet, and bent down to grip his cock again.
"You are quite the tease, giving me all these options," he said, giving his cock a teasing lick. "But I am interested in what you have in mind..."
Qadir was finding himself having to hold back chuckles quite often during this little romp. He could sit back and watch as lust literally glazed over the young man's eyes. It was highly entertaining, and it was difficult not to keep teasing when your partner had such amusing reactions.
Lips tugged into a crooked smirk, he soon found himself with a very generous view of Niaaki's rump.
"Oh, I'm sure you are."
He mused on a growl, before lightly pinching the vulnerable white skin facing him now. Momentarily, Qadir was distracted with thoughts of making said white skin turn pink with a little spanking, but he bit back a snort. Somehow he doubted his new lover would appreciate it. At least, not this time around.
Besides, he'd be slapping him soon enough, just not with his hands.
Leaving the fae to tend to his stiffened flesh, Qadir finally withdrew what he'd previously retrieved from the side table. Honestly, if Yuudai ever had the misfortune of sneaking a peek in there, he'd likely be horrified. You don't have as much sex as Qadir and not pick up some goodies along the way. While he was not at all well versed in how two men have a good romp, he was experienced in such 'back door' entry.
And for that, you needed something to keep things slick and happy. The small jar he was currently dipping into just so happened to do a wonderful job of keeping things slick and happy. Cupping the salve in his palm until it warmed somewhat, he finally prodded a few fingers gently against the boy's one available opening.
"I'd relax if I were you."
[I still fucking lose it every time I read that post, I am so mature. |: ]
It helped that Niaaki had done this before and thus was plenty prepared and relaxed for what was to come. Still, he sucked in a sharp breath when Qadir pressed his fingers to his ass and spread his legs a bit wider, heart pounding with excitement and need. It felt like ages since he'd done this, yet again with a stranger--but he supposed after this they wouldn't be strangers much longer, and though he would never have predicted enjoying such random encounters, he found it thrilling now.
Strange how your own assumptions about yourself could be proven false when you wound up doing something you never saw yourself doing.
"I have done this before, you know," Niaaki said before pressing a light kiss to the head of Qadir's cock. "You needn't be so careful."
Which was just a more polite way of saying, "STOP TEASING AND GET ON WITH IT ALREADY!"
But Niaaki said no more, for soon his mouth was full as he took Qadir's cock between his lips and lowered down onto him, lightly scraping his teeth along his shaft before sucking and swirling his tongue around him. He stroked what didn't fit in his mouth with his hand, moving his hand in time to the bob of his head, and he thought this wasn't so difficult after all and that he was really getting the hang of this! But, of course, it helped he also had a cock and knew what it liked, so he happily applied his favorite techniques to Qadir--and hoped he liked them as much as he did.
[I can't even with this whole thread lmfao XD Is there a particular part of that post that you find funniest? My favorite is the spanking bit. And the 'slick and happy' pff.]
Qadir's eyebrows arched sharply at that bold statement, and it was probably a good thing Niaaki couldn't currently see the huge smirk he was sporting.
"Oh ho, pardon me then little mouse. I'll gladly hold you to that."
He was more than happy to switch gears and rev it up a bit. Still, he teased the entrance to Niaaki's ass just a little more for good measure, before finally pressing in a finger with earnest. The lube and his lover's own effort at relaxation helped considerably. Thus he began the task of loosening him up, stroking him carefully with those calloused fingers. Once he felt certain he was not about to harm the lad, he grinned to himself.
All that attention on his own cock was starting to get to him, shivers running up his spine now and then and the occasional squirming of his hips in reply to particularly nice affections. Niaaki was a quick study indeed.
"Well, I think you've had more than enough fun down there."
Not much of a warning, but it was all the poor boy was going to get out of him. For with that, he began to pump his fingers quite a bit more fervently, as though to make Niaaki arch with pleasure with just that alone.
He was quite curious to see his reaction to that, eheheheh.
@Rhi-Rhi
[|: Yup. It was "slick and happy". Pffffft!]
It was soon very difficult to focus on Qadir as the man went from teasing to action. Niaaki sucked in a sharp breath through his nose when Qadir slipped a finger inside, his moan muffled around Qadir's cock, and that alone was enough to make him squirm--at first with that initial, odd feeling of discomfort, and then with pleasure.
It was a second before he realized he'd gone stock still aside from his small shivers of enjoyment, and when he realized it, he quickly went back to work, not about to give up the progress he'd made in finally getting a response from the guy! Seriously, how did he do that? Niaaki was having a difficult enough time finding his rhythm again while his body was distracted by Qadir's fingers, choking out a moan when Qadir added more, and then--
Well, then he just had to give up and cry uncle.
Because that was when Qadir went for it, and indeed he arched, releasing Qadir's cock with a gasp that quickly turned to a whimper, try as he might to bite it back. But he wasn't like Qadir; he couldn't do the stoic thing! And squirm he did, dropping down onto one elbow with his other hand still gripping Qadir, hi toes digging into the sheets and body tensing with enjoyment.
"G-gods!"