twoforsurprise | One Short Day In Antiva City

One Short Day In Antiva City

Davrin might have forgotten Lucanis' offer about the tailor, but he had not. Not all of their excursions were for fighting demons or cultists or darkspawn, and eventually Rook was going treasure hunting on the Rivani coast with Taash and Harding. And just them. Quite adamant that only Taash and Harding were needed, in fact.

Andraste preserve them, Rook was apparently becoming interested in matchmaking.

It worked out, though. The timing. Lucanis ever so casually mentions that Davrin promised to assist him in some errands in Antiva and Rook is just so happy they're not at each other's throats that they're told to not take however long they need. Lucanis makes a mental note to pick up something nice for Rook when they're in Antiva City.

Ah, Antiva City. A less beautiful Treviso, Lucanis used to say. That was before the Ossuary, before the occupation, before the blight. Now it's hard to not see everything that's been lost. He doesn't insult Davrin by assuming the man can't keep up with the Crow routes along the rooftops and across ziplines, so much faster than the weaving crowded streets up the hill the city is built on overlooking the harbor the few times they need to duck down to street level.

"Should be right around - ah, there it is," Lucanis declares once they're half way up the hill, the financial district of the city settled between the Palace at the top and the harbor and all the wealth the shipping industry brings. This time when he drops down to the street level it is where they'll stay for the time being, heading to an understated store front with a simple hanging sign that looks like an embroidered rose carved into the wood of it.

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Thinking along the same lines, Lucanis let out a faint snort of a laugh.

"Somehow I don't think that would work as well if I tried it."

This was an old argument Lucanis had many times, though. With Illario, who felt they were treated unfairly. He wanted to fight. Lucanis had been the one to bend.

And this was how it had turned out.

"Have you ever tried reaching out to them again? Your family?"

"Not since I left the forest. They made it clear I'd rejected them when I left the clan."

He didn't agree with the sentiment. He'd wanted to see more of the world not less of the clan. But it was the same to them, black or white, in or out. So he was out. It used to bother him more, but he's made a kind of peace with it and it showed in his voice. A different part of his life, well in the past.

"Besides, Wardens aren't supposed to keep up with those kinds of connections. Distracts us from the job."

He said, as he softly ran his fingers along Lucanis' bare back, stroked the back of his neck, smelled his hair. Clearly, he was taking that part very seriously right now.

Lucanis couldn't imagine just accepting that kind of separation, but he had never been able to walk away in the first place. He nuzzled against Davrin's throat, sighing. Wondered how much effort it would take to mark Davrin's darker skin with a bite, too.

"I think 'risen blighted gods' is cause for exception to such rules. Especially given who is in charge now."

Not that Lucanis spoke much to either Antone or Evka, but the few times he was around for the interactions they seemed very down to earth and understanding, not the type that had been too long holding to ancient tradition as the first Warden had.

"They told you to come out here after all."

Something Lucanis was certainly grateful for.

"Those two are romantics. Not many wardens get in relationships at all, never mind married. But you're right. All signs point to the Wardens changing something about themselves."

There were too few left and the Blight itself was different. Not just changed by the gods, but the knowledge of what it was changed things. He sighed softly, not wanting to sink into the kind of reflection he was eventually going to have to face just then. Instead he smiled, a little mischievously, and leaned fully backwards to lay on his back on the blanket, doing his best to drag Lucanis with him so the Crow was sprawled on Davrin's chest, nestled between his legs. The opposite of their arrangement only a few minutes ago.

"Not sure I know how to change like that."

Lucanis let out a surprised sound as Davrin tipped back, neatly switching their positions from earlier so Lucanis was sprawled on top of him. He let out a short laugh then, shifting to lean up on one of his arms to better mirror Davrin's initial position, ducking down for a quick kiss.

"Mmm. Well. This is new and a change for me. Not all of us are mighty hunters."

Another kiss, slower, softer.

"You're a quick study."

He went lax against the blanket, the only muscles in motion those needed for the soft kisses and lightly stroking his back. Quiet and easy, the soft sounds of the forest around him. The entire atmosphere did make him wonder, just a bit, what life would have been, had he just accepted the future his parents had in mind for him. But no matter the peace such a life might have brought, it certainly wouldn't be Lucanis here with him in this moment, would have no griffon soaring over head. A quiet life. But incomplete.

By contrast, it was following the path laid out for him that got Lucanis here, in this magical place, with Davrin relaxed under him, kisses sweeter than he'd ever dreamed of shared between them. It had to have been the right choice then, didn't it? This alone made it all worth it.

"Come home with me?"

The words slipped out between one kiss and the next, unbidden. Davrin was terrible for his self control that way.

"Treviso? Of course."

They had darkspawn to kill and Crow politics to...something. Davrin was intentionally putting aside that the striking man in his arms, sharing soft, intimate moments with him, was the heir apparent of an entire assassin empire. One close to being the true governing body of Antiva, given how their politics worked. A position he'd actually be helping the man secure- for justice, not power, but it didn't change the ending- in the not too distant future. He tilted his head up just a touch, putting his mouth slightly out of reach so he could look at Lucanis.

"Or for more than the business we've already got lined up?"

Damn Davrin for putting that all too tempting mouth of his just out of reach, making Lucanis need to explain himself. He let out a slightly annoyed huff of breath, shifting again to sit up better and look down at Davrin, free hand coming up to trace the strong line of his jaw. He couldn't get enough of touching him.

"... Whatever happens with Illario, I'll need to at least spend one night in Treviso after. Probably at the Estate. I would... feel better about it, if you were there too."

Whether they would be reinstating Caterina to her rightful place as First Talon or burying her for real this time. It was not lost on him that his avoiding going home for so long had been how Illario had gotten away with this for as long as he did.

Like an already familiar habit, he tilted towards the caress, not caring for a moment that he may be turning more and more like Assan in seeking and appreciating Lucanis' petting.

"Your grandmother won't have words about that?"

He was going to assume the best outcome, at least from Lucanis' perspective, that she was alive and would remain so. Given the man had spent his life living up to that particular (probably terrifying) woman's expectations, it seemed only fair to consider if he'd still want to make Davrin that offer if she refused hospitality.

"An elven Warden in her favorite grandson's suite?"

His swallowed in slight surprise after that, eyes flickering between Lucanis'. He hadn't quite meant- had just spoke without thinking-

"Or somewhere else. In the Estate."

Assuming they'd be sharing a bed because of an afternoon date. Maybe the tea wasn't fully worn off.

Lucanis honestly wasn't sure what she would think of Davrin. He had never displayed interest in anyone before, as far as she was aware. He was fairly certain she did not know about his little crush on Viago years ago. Lucanis could not exactly continue the Dellamorte family line with Davrin, but ... that was going to be a complication regardless of whatever partner he picked. For all he would defend how he was raised, he had a visceral reaction against bringing another child into that life.

Lucanis startled just as much when Davrin did, at the assumption of them sharing his room ... it had been what he'd meant. What'd he'd been envisioning, even if the specifics were hazy. He felt the heat bloom inside him again, ears a little pink even as he managed to keep the rest of his face under control.

"If you would be more comfortable with it, we have a guest house, of course."

Of course. A whole fucking separate house for guests. Said like it was obvious.

"...But. Yes. I was ... hoping you would stay with me in my room. You are good at making Spite listen, after all. Should something happen, it would be better for you to be nearby."

An absolutely paper thin justification, but it was one he was already preparing in the event he would have to justify it to Caterina. He wanted Davrin there because no matter the outcome, he knew he would be feeling vulnerable, and for once there was someone who's company was preferable in that state to being alone.

"Of course," he had to echo at the guest house, a smile twisting on his lips. He'd grown up in aravel and then in barracks with the Wardens. The Lighthouse was, by far, the largest space he had ever had to call his own and the slightly over the top lengths he'd gone to decorate it (with the Fade's help) was probably a reflection of that. It was different, in a good way, to be able to pick up bits and pieces and have a place to store them. To know they wouldn't be a waste of space and weight allocation, or risk the danger of being stolen or damaged while he was away. The idea of not just a spare bed, but house...it was so out of his experience to be amusing.

"Ah. Guard duty. So I'll stand watch by the door all night. Grandmother can rest easy, I've been a bodyguard before."

He was teasing, clearly so, all self-satisfied smirks as he raised his hand to affectionately tuck Lucanis' hair behind one ear.

"Oh, Spite can be so sneaky though-" no he couldn't. "-You should really stay much closer than that. In the bed, even. Just to be certain."

There was not just a spare house, either. The estate encompassed the main house, the gardens, the guest house, the opera house, and the bath house. That said... he didn't know how much the blight in the city had effected the Estate. It was still up and running, he knew, but whether some buildings were damaged or otherwise compromised...

There were other reasons to want the Warden there, too, perhaps. More sensible ones. Not just that the idea of a soft bed with feather pillows was more tolerable with someone else there with him, now.

Hm, perhaps he would bring some back with them to the Lighthouse after. Davrin's pillows were straw, it seemed. He deserved nice things.

"But you are a Warden. Noble hero. My virtue is clearly in no danger."

The last words spoken against Davrin's lips as he had to kiss that self-satisfied smirk off the other man's face.

"I'll make sure," he managed in bits and pieces around that kiss- that very effective at wiping just about everything else mind kiss, "to let her know. About your safe virtue."

His teeth accidentally clicked against Lucanis' as he grinned into the kiss, the whole idea too amusing, the knowledge Lucanis had the same ideas he did regarding sharing a room too blood warming- all of it, more than enough to make him grin a little too wide for comfortable kissing after the first few (wonderful) moments. Gods, he hadn't done that in ages, either. A blush formed at the awkwardness of the motion. The Crow truly was turning him back to a puppy eyed teen. In an effort to save some pride, he pressed the teasing a little further.

"Should probably inform your lieutenants while I'm at it."

Lucanis' own grin couldn't really be controlled either. When was the last time he was this happy? Had he ever been? Even with all the what-ifs that threatened to weigh him down, knowing Davrin would be there with him made them feel... lighter. More manageable.

Was Davrin blushing?

Another marvelous impossible thing.

"Teia will be heartbroken, I think she was already planning a wedding."

He was mildly worried that was a tease too far- but Teia seemed to really like Davrin, had assumed him and Lucanis were a thing before they truly were, and had turned Viago's opinion around. Caterina adored Teia - surely if Lucanis' feelings weren't enough to convince her, Teia could.

"Ah. We'd have to pick a religion for that. And my Gods are trying to destroy the world."

And the Chantry might be a lie as well, but that was far too serious for the moment. They were both men ready to die on any given mission, and they were on by far the most dangerous mission of either of their lives. There was nothing wrong with teasing about a future, indulging in the idea there would be one. If they actually survived, they could get into the harder conversations.

"I may have to reconsider how safe virtue can be around me."

Lucanis was not much for religion, himself, which seemed only helpful these days. When your response to the Chantry was simply paying lip service, whether or not any of it was real mattered distinctly less. While Bellara had been open about her faith and how this was shaking her, it occured to Lucanis only then that aside from the Dalish face tattoos he bore, Davrin talked little of his past and almost none about his own beliefs. A question for another time - when Davrin wasn't so tempting beneath him, especially that neck of his.

"Your self control is not absolute, noble hunter?"

Lucanis' voice was a warm tease, letting his hand trail down Davrin's neck, skating along his collarbone and his chest, lips following shortly after along cheek, jaw, neck - pausing there as he brought teeth into the kiss. Not so hard, not right away, waiting to see if Davrin enjoyed it as much as Lucanis did.

Davrin very much did, hand coming up around the back of his neck to hold him there for a moment, encouraging. It only seemed fair.

"I've got my weak points."

Which the other man was coming close to topping the list of, it seemed. He wouldn't push, not now, but the idea of a welcoming bed at the end of it all made the upcoming trip to Treviso, and what had to be done during it, take on a different flavor. Assuming Lucanis' brother hadn't killed their grandmother, that was. There would be no amount of skillful seduction that could salvage that night, even if Davrin were the kind of callous rake to focus on implied intimacy in the face of such devastation.

"Mmm, I'd love to hear more about those."

The words were half muffled against Davrin's neck, breath hot against skin. The hand not holding him up continued to trail down Davrin's chest, slipping to the side to caress his hip, only to grasp his thigh to bring up around Lucanis' hips right as he bit down harder on Davrin's neck with the next kiss.

There would be no hearing about anything as Davrin moaned at that, hips trying to press even closer as his back arched. Inexperienced Lucanis might be, sweet innocent virgin with a virtue to protect? Like hell. Not that he'd had any illusions about that, but this certainly banished even the most remote possibility.

"Who's-" he could breathe, he could, "virtue needs defending now?"

"I think yours might be in danger."

Lucanis prided himself on being a fast learner when he cared about a skill. He had worried a little bit that his surprise earlier had ruined the mood entirely, but how quickly the heat could be rekindled was a pleasing discovery. So was how Davrin sounded when he moaned. Lucanis shifted his grip on Davrin's thigh to move their hips together again with the next biting kiss. The salt sweat taste of Davrin's skin was better than anything else.

"Now that is a threat."

The breathless way that comes out completely undercuts any point he may have been trying to make, the elf more than willing to simply move in synch with Lucanis, following his lead. Like fighting on the field, two individuals moving towards one common goal. While Davrin undeniably enjoyed when roles were reversed (waking from memories of a bound and half-stripped Lucanis in his bed a not infrequent night time event), this...gods, this was good, too. Unexpected and perfect.

"Have mercy."

He had had some conviction their first time should be in a soft bed and warm blankets, not out in the woods like he was a fumbling, impatient teen back with his clan. But Lucanis was making remembering all the reasons for that somewhat foggy.

Lucanis was not immune to the memories of being tied up half-naked on Davrin's bed, either. Davrin's wonderful comfortable bed that smelled like him, that felt like safety. Probably a better spot than a blanket in the middle of the forest, but - Lucanis had no such memories of this kind of act to grasp at or feel self-conscious about. It was only this, it was only with Davrin. He could not get enough.

Still, the 'have mercy' had him slowing, one more sucking kiss to Davrin's throat. Hopefully one of those left a mark, and it only added to the fire in Lucanis remembering how open the other man wore his shirts, how it would be shown off.

"Truly?"

He could slow, he could behave, but Maker Davrin was addictive.

"I..."

He swallowed, trying to give full consideration to the question. Did he truly want to stop? No, no of course no. But giving him even a moment to think was enough to bring all his previous convictions back. He wasn't a true knight in shining armor, but he couldn't help having some of the romantic notions that came with it.

He gave a heavy sigh, reaching to cup Lucanis' face between both his hands and pull him in for a lingering kiss before holding him several inches away, enough to be able to focus on his eyes.

"Truly. I'll show off all your love bites at the Lighthouse, but this is a hunt, not an ambush. Let's take some time."

And not risk Assan landing on them in the middle of. A different kind of stress than worrying about his parents looking for him had been the last time he'd stolen time in the forest, but one probably no less embarrassing if it happened.

It didn't feel like rejection, Davrin was careful enough about it that. Lucanis was also willing to trust his experience enough to set the pace, even if all Lucanis really wanted right then was to run against Davrin until they were both panting and desperate and-

He ducked down to press another quick kiss to Davrin'a throat, this one soft, tender.

"Of course, amore mio."

He relaxed his grip on Davrin's thigh, pulling back a bit until he could lay next to the other man rather than on top of him. Slightly less temptation. Slightly.

"... even though I would have won had we continued, of course."

What was there to win? Didn't matter.

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