Sable was finishing up a thorough scrub down by the time Wren stepped into the business side of the manor's 'water room'. Wren didn't have much attention span to admire the impressive handiwork of his living manifestation, however. Sable managed to draw nearly all of it to himself. After so many iterations milling around the Delvers, he was still awed and envious over their total lack of self-consciousness.

Admittedly, the combination of devotion to 'practical living' and a magical device that eliminated diseases of various nature for several generations, left little to be self-conscious about... Sable sure the hell doesn't. Knocking off that extra decade may have been a mistake. I remember him being a whole lot less, um, distracting.

Stepping out of the waterfall shower, Sable looked at Wren in uncomfortable silence for a moment before he said, “Surely a servant doesn't need to prompt the master of a house to take advantage of his own amenities. Enjoying the fruits of your labor is just as important as the effort expended to obtain them.”

Wren stayed locked in indecision until Sable's affected congenial smile started looking a little forced before walking to the shower like a man to the executioner's block. As he unsuited gracelessly, Wren internally swore to reproduce a few knock-offs of his father's symbiot suits. After wetting his hair, Wren reached for the bottle of shampoo only to bump into Sable's arm. A sudden hypersensitive state thrummed through Wren at the realization that Sable was close enough behind him, in that moment, to feel a trace of heat against his back before it disappeared.

As Sable worked a lather into Wren's hair with gentle but impersonal attention he said, “Please relax as much as you are able, Wren. The only person who's virtue is possibly in danger, at the current moment, is mine and I'm not shameless enough to claim I have any left to threaten,” ending the statement with a short but throaty chuckle.

Trying to head off the inevitably embarrassing next step, Wren groped for the body-wash while Sable rinsed off his head only to once again be blocked by an arm. The brief, feather-light touch of skin against shoulder and arm let Wren know that Sable meant business and things would only get more awkward if Wren started getting fidgety. Despite not really being alright with being washed like some spoiled noble, Wren couldn't quite get himself to directly demand Sable to stop.

What a blatant misuse of celerity... I will deny like a career criminal if anyone ever asks me if something like this happened.

Dignity wrestled with ramping tension as Wren dryly swallowed and began taking deep but slightly ragged breaths while Sable applied soapy palms to his back and chest. An uncontrollable squeak of protest and sharp intake of breath escaped as calloused hands worked over places that Wren himself hadn't touched more than necessity demanded. For Sable's part, he ignored Wren's flushed face and other involuntary body reactions as he finished lathering up Wren's legs and feet.

Sable walked over and plunked himself into the soaking pool, letting Wren rinse himself off, while he said, “When I was actually the age that I now appear to be, thanks to your efforts, I had no such enjoyment of small pleasures as these. I was far too desperate to earn the esteem of my superiors and master. By the time that I had discovered them, soaking in heated water was more a necessity to alleviate an aching body. Leisure time became precious recovery from accumulated wounds and mental fatigue.

“Though I find my body young, healthy and filled with renewed vigor, my mind cannot leave behind the passage of time and old wounds as easily. I see the same discord within you, an aged mind in a young man's form. Whatever it is you're silently enduring, lay it down for a time and catch your breath. I may not have known you for long but I have seen the strain you are under break many of my peers and students.”

As Wren somewhat shyly sat down into the warmth of the soaking pool where Sable patted, he mulled over Sable's words, unable to find anything to disagree with. Despite being all too familiar with the 'shake them up then shake them loose' strategy, he saw the good intentions behind it and was touched that Sable cared enough to try. The old assassin and spy was demonstrating, through oath and action, that he was doing more than honoring some sense of duty, he had genuinely threw his lot in with Wren.

Now that I understand what's going on, I might be a bit relieved but I'd be lying if I didn't admit to some disappointment too. If he wasn't doing it for all the right reasons, I'd be pissed at him for running game on me.

In the companionable silence, Wren took a deep breath and let it out slowly before he said, “Alright... If we're really going to do this, before you start laying the heavy on me, I'd like to at least be a little mentally lubricated.”

Wren blinked in a cask of spirit wine and conjured up a couple glasses as Sable said, “That's a relief. Who wants to bare their innards without a little anesthetic?” After knocking back the first glass as Wren lazily sipped his, Sable looked at the glass in his hand with a little surprise and continued, “This is more than I was expecting for a... to relieve some tension.”

Wren laughed and said, “Consider it a minor penalty for riling me up or a reward for actually giving a shit. Take your pick.”

Sable shook his head bemusedly and rejoined, “I'm becoming increasingly numb to surprises when it involves you. If this is what I think it is, Eldest Grimshadow would have bent for a brown sash to lick the dregs from the cask.”

Silence drew out before Wren said barely over a whisper, “If Glaucous didn't have dibs on that son of a bitch, I'd force him to bend for Chanda while the guys junk was the size of that cask.”

Sable refilled his glass and lifted it as he said, “Salute to that.”

Wren clinked the glass with his own, causing a few drops to spill into the pool, and said, “Cheers.” Seeing Sable stare forlornly at the spreading spots in the water, Wren continued, “And if you pop off about that, I'll chill the whole damn cask and see how much you can drink before it has the chance to warm up and go sour.”

Sable clutched at the cask comically and loudly exclaimed, “Don't you dare!”

After a half-hearted lunge by Wren initiated a small round of horseplay, he moved the the session to the swimming pool, wanting to clear his dizzy head of more than one kind of overheating. Nearly another glass later, and a lazy lap around the pool, they chatted for a bit as Sable nibbled around the edge of Wren's issues.

Once Wren felt ready to take on whatever Sable was building up to, he finally relented with the right body language hints and Sable said, “I have an admission. Once I returned from claiming my personal belongings, I didn't immediately return to you. Wanting to know what I was getting myself into, I visited your friends, Troy and Lilly. I'll give you credit for choosing your friends well. Lilly sealed up tighter than a vault lid at the first sign of snooping. Troy wasn't nearly as skillful at keeping secrets but it still took nearly all of my craft to get a clear idea of what he knew about you and quite a bit of desperate sincerity to get anything substantial. Does this anger you?”

Wren sighed heavily and replied, “Not really. Maybe I would have once but I've done little to deserve unquestioning loyalty, nor shown the wisdom worthy of it, in this life and especially not in the ones that came before.”

Sable shook his head, kindly arguing, “No, Wren. It's not a matter of what you deserve and no one has the wisdom to make the best choices for all, always. A leader must be ready to accept inevitable mistakes and loss of life. That kind of responsibility is not for the weak of heart but there are far too many that become hard of heart. For all the mistakes it seems you have made, the only two I couldn't personally forgive, you have not. You have not as a leader, more importantly to me, not as the one who loves my son and grandson.

“I saw enough to understand. You made them safe, care and still provide for them, even though my son has moved on. If the way you looked at him had not made it clear, the small signs of a lover's marks on and around him would have. It may pain you still but I felt it needed to be said so that you would accept that I do understand.”

Sable paused to take a few sips and after seeing that Wren had nothing he wanted to share on the matter, said, “I had difficulty believing all of what Troy shared, at first, but I've laid that to rest already... You know my greatest wish?”

Wren shook himself out of the building self-pity to answer, “You want a family right? You want a kid and a wife, all that jazz.”

Sable nodded slowly, “I want a life, a whole one. A child of my own to dote upon and provide for, a loving wife to cherish, those are a part of the life I envision. Am I mistaken in thinking that you would do what you could to help me obtain that?”

Wren said, “I hope that you know I would.”

Sable squeezed Wren's shoulder reassuringly and refilled their glasses before he said, “I do and you have, many times. It doesn't matter that they were short lives or that it was other selves that I have no recollection of. I've seen the evidence and heard an accounting. Whatever it was that you have done for all of us that accompanied you in the Abyss, it has given me a wider scope of things, a broader view.

“For now, I don't think I'll pursue those so frantically. There's more to a whole life than that, though I believe them to be the best parts. There's also friends, meaningful and fulfilling endeavor, even personal growth. So aside from asking you for the favor of aiding me in seeing if any of the seeds I have planted bore fruit, I'd like to focus on those other parts for a time... Wren, why have you not sought out any to bond or seek comfort?”

Wren froze in mid sip and set his glass down. For the latter, Wren didn't give much consideration. He'd had a full plate this whole time and though he could have found time for a little funny business, there wasn't any pressing need to either. For the former, aside from taking the time to choose appropriately, the earlier bonded were chosen the better. He had no satisfactory answer, especially now that his bonded wouldn't automatically be affected by a Lustitia flavored connection.

Not having a logical reply nor wanting to let the settling quiet continue to grow, Wren said, “You volunteering?”

As if it were what he was expecting to hear, Sable immediately replied, “Yes. One or both, whatever you want.”

Sable swung himself around to face Wren, partially pinning the slender man against the pool's edge, and placed Wren's hand onto his broad chest as he said, “This greedy heart of mine wants too many things for me to give it all to you but there's room in it to warm yourself for as long as you like.” Sable moved Wren's hand lower and continued, “As for the rest, for now, it all belongs to you.”

Sable released Wren's hand and levered himself out of the pool. After grabbing his glass, he took a knee to fill it.

Looking behind him at Wren's stunned face and restless eyes, Sable said, “I do mean all.”

Wren blinked out of the pool ahead of Sable to hide his face, clutching the battle suit to himself, as he said hoarsely, “Grab the cask.”

***

Arriving in Wren's room, Sable set down the cask and took the battle suit out of Wren's subtly trembling fingers. After stepping back to take in the view, he draped the suit over a chair and took a large drink out of the glass before setting it down as well. Stepping forward faster than Wren's eyes could follow, Sable drew Wren into his arms before laying a wet, wine sharing kiss.

As Sable ran a calloused hand down to the small of Wren's back, he said, “It's time for a small admission. This may be the first time I've been curious about the attentions of another man. You offer such careful respect despite my submission. I see your absolute trust despite holding a subtle fear of me. At my most vulnerable, within that moment, I would have welcomed your attention and despite your obvious interest, you turned away. I hope that what I've said doesn't ruin this moment.”

Wren slowly shook his head, far too absorbed in the sensation of a soft weight resting on his hardness as Sable's twitched between them, to take offense at a few minor uncomfortable truths.

Sable said, “Your secret glances and shy admiration are a soothing elixir. Would you think me vain if I where to ask what you find so fascinating about me?” Sable backed away from Wren and took an unassuming pose. There was a sense of vulnerability in Sable's eyes that kept Wren from teasing him. It reminded Wren that the man in front of him had spent a lifetime as a tool to be discarded once he was used up. Of all the people that Wren had become close to on his strange and painful journey, Sable was the only one Wren never wanted to get into a 'pity me' pissing contest with.

With that understanding, Wren decided to give an honest accounting, embarrassing as it was, as he said, “I-gawd, alright. Y-your ears, they're a lot smaller than a lot of other Delvers. It makes the sharper point and the gentle 's' curve... attractive.”

I'm not going to tell a full grown man his ears are 'cute' and I'm sure as hell not going to tell him that it was the first feature of his son's I grew fixated on.

Wren's constant battle to keep his eyes from sliding to the floor almost made him miss Sable's momentary lapse of composure as Sable said in a slightly cynical and challenging tone, “If you like them, then come and touch them.”

Oh, fuck me. How could I forget that to other Delvers, those ears are considered a sign of 'shallow breeding'. I don't give a damn. Those things are criminally nibble worthy.

Wren stepped over and reached out to run a finger over the top edge of Sable's ear. Ignoring the flinch at his light touch, Wren continued to trace over the pointed tip and down the back, relishing the sound of a hitched breath and additional heated glow under his finger and on Sable's face. Hit with a sudden impulse, Wren rose up on the balls of his feet to lick the sensitive inward curve and gently bit Sable's ear tip. As he felt goosebumps form on the arm he was holding, Wren took a step back to search Sable's face, making sure he hadn't just done something unwanted.

After a slightly ragged breath to steady himself, Sable said thickly, “Is there anything else?”

Oh, so you liked that? File away and revisit later, gladly.

Wren, feeling a bit more confident, resumed, “Your eyes. When you're serious they gleam like the edge of one of your black throwing blades. When you're happy, they have a wet glow like the surface of a lake at sunset.”

Under Sable's sudden predatory gaze, Wren's confidence disappeared as Sable asked, “What do they look like right now?”

Wren swallowed and replied shakily, “Hungry, dangerous.”

Sable leaned in and took a deep breath in through his nose and whispered in Wren's ear, “There it is. So many kinds of fear and desire I have seen but none paired with such trust. It's as intoxicating as strong wine.” Backing up again, Sable asked, “Any other?”

Wren took a steadying breath and said, “I- the soft contrast of your lips within the sharp and hard lines and angles of your face, d-draws my eyes to them.”

Once again, Sable grabbed Wren's hand and pressed fingers against his lips as he spoke through them, “Continue.”

With erratic pulse, Wren complied while Sable drew his fingers across every feature mentioned until Wren ended with, “Your skin makes the whole of you appear to be a lovingly crafted statue of some dark god, lightly sprinkled with the ashes of his own offerings and brought to vivid life by the power of faith.”

Sable stood still, hand over Wren's, before he said in a voice thick with more than one emotion, “If I could see myself as you do, what kind of insufferable person would I become?”

Desperate to escape the unbearable tension and roasting embarrassment, Wren flippantly said, “Troy... I kid, he's not that bad.”

Sable physically shook himself a bit, still not releasing Wren's hand, and said, “That was rich fare, Wren. I readily admit, this is the second most viscerally pleasing moment of my life.”

Wren looked up at Sable and with visible curiosity, asked, “What was the first?”

Sable dragged Wren's finger's down the ridges and plains of his torso to rest above the small but dense patch of lower body hair and said, “The day you healed me. I can still feel the occasional echo of that experience from time to time. Pleasure always feels most keen within the sudden absence of pain.”

Sable's muscles jumped as one particularly responded by slapping the underside of Wren's arm at the subconscious discharge of residual LE into Sable. Wren absentmindedly lifted his suddenly freed arm and licked off a clear dab of fluid from it.

Sable sat on the edge of the bed, eyes focused on Wren's mouth, and said, “If you find the taste appealing, the source would greatly appreciate the same attention your arm just received. Besides, the parts of me you seem to be the most fascinated with at the moment, wish to demand apology from you for leaving them out earlier.”

With a bit more eagerness than Wren would ever admit to, he walked up to bed and knelt between Sable's legs.

Before he could begin, Sable cradled Wren's jaw and lifted the kneeling man's head then said softly, “Would you bond me, Wren?”

Wren saw no reason to deny the request but as he moved to speak that agreement, he was suddenly hit with a strong, irrational feeling of fear. It was fear for Sable, fear of pain and loss. As Wren crouched back on his heels, Sable joined Wren on the floor and held him. He started slowly rocking Wren side to side in his arms as Wren shook uncontrollably, occasionally Sable wiped away tears from unseeing eyes.

Once Wren had calmed down enough, Sable fetched a glass of wine and had Wren drink it then said, “Have you ever had an attack of shades before?”

Wren shook his head and after Sable urged him to summon up some fruit or sweet food, which Wren did, Sable said, “I suspected it but did not know for sure. Explain it to me. What did you see or feel?”

Wren explained the fears and still frames of his worst memories as best as he was able, confused over the sudden turn of events.

Sable said, “This is not something that can be ignored. From what I'm given to understand, bonding is important to you. The best course would be time, reflection and counseling but you are no mere man as I. Perhaps you should speak with your father but not right now. If it is still within you to want it, let me comfort you tonight.”

Wren stood on a knife's edge of indecision for a moment before weakly laughing and picking up a chocolate powdered doughnut.

After taking a bite out of it, he lightly shook it on Sable's chest and said, “Twins,” then finished it.

Sable looked over the fare for an item of retaliation until he saw a bowl of whipped cream sitting beside small gold cakes and sliced strawberries. After confirming it to be what he thought it was with a quick taste, he scooped up a dollop on a strawberry slice and plastered it over one of Wren's nipples.

With mock appreciation over the act, Sable declared, “No change.”

Not knowing whether to laugh or cry, Wren said, “Come on, how are they similar?”

As the strawberry slice began slipping, Sable lunged for it with his mouth and continued the motion, wrapping Wren up. Once Sable was done moving, Wren was facing him, seated on Sable's lap at the edge of the bed.

After lapping up the remaining cream and biting Wren's nipple, Sable said, “Tastes the same. Feels the same between my teeth... Close enough for me.”

Wren pushed Sable onto his back and attacked the powdered sugar with his tongue and replied, “Point taken.” Slowly backing off Sable, Wren continued lashing Sable's skin with his tongue till he had reached below the navel then asked, “ Did I get it all? It's so hard to tell.”

Propping his head up with a pillow, with renewed ardor, Sable replied, “Best to be thorough.”

Wren looked at Sable's unsheathed and twitching 'hidden weapon' and said, “Oh, I think I may have found another of your twins.”

Wren blinked a cordial cherry into his hand and nibbled off one half of the chocolate shell, letting a small bit of the filling spill down his chin. After briefly displaying the comparison, Wren popped the mutilated chocolate into Sables mouth before bending down and taking Sable's 'cordial cherry' into his mouth. Wren licked and slurped around it as he occasionally swallowed sweets stimulated saliva that carried a faint additional saltiness. He raised to display a sticky strand attached to his lip.

Wren conceded, “ Not the same. This tastes much better. The subtle saltiness compliments the sweet much better.”

Sable dumbly nodded with pleasure blurred eyes and wide smile. It was a compliment far more flattering to Wren than anything Sable could have said. Not wanting to see that content face falter, Wren bent back to task and started plying himself open with his free hand. A sudden gasp behind him made Wren stop to look around.

A handsome, deeply tanned youth in Ancient Egypt noble garb and ibis decorated headdress, quickly looked to the side and stammered out, “I-i'm s-so sorry. I'll come back some other time.”

As the youth began to fade away, Wren called out, “Don't go if you don't want to, Hooty... Sable, the one who let me hitch a ride in the Abyss is here.” As Sable shot to sitting position, staring deeply into the direction Wren faced, Wren leaned in and whispered, “It's better if you try not to see. If you manage to without the proper ability, it can harm your mind. Expanding on what I said before, Djehuty is a being that is forced to live in the in-between due to an inheritance. He's a terribly lonely person and in all honesty, all too human for his own good, most of the time.”

Sable nodded and said, “I find enjoyment at being watched during acts of pleasure... if you're certain it is safe.”

Wren said, “The only person here he could touch would be me and only if I let him...”

A particularly dirty thought crossed Wren's mind as he looked towards Djehuty and said, “You can stay if you want, no pressure. I would be flattered if you did... I'd be even more flattered if you were moved to...enjoy... what you were seeing.”

A horrendously stammered agreement paired with flushed face and escalating breathing was Djehuty's response.

Looking down to see that the second interruption had put Sable back to square one, Wren gently pushed against Sable's chest, laying the slightly tense Sable back down. Staying bent to give Djehuty a nice view.

Wren said, “Better check to make sure I got all the powdered sugar earlier.”

Working his way back down with faintly essence laden licks and nips, Sable softly groaned as Wren reclaimed the still slightly sweetened 'fruit' back into his mouth.

Sable smilingly complained breathlessly, “One more of whatever amazing thing that was you just did and I hope you are ready direct the rest of our tryst, because I don't think my limbs will listen to me.”

A shiver wracked Sable's frame as Wren muttered around his ministrations, “Aren't you afraid I'll mistake you for one of the sweets and gobble you up?”

Sable replied with disturbing seriousness, “If I continue to enjoy it as much as I am now, I'd walk to the Shadowlands with a smile on my face.”

Wren resumed preparing himself as he took Sable in entirely, forcing his throat into repetitive swallowing.

Knowing that Djehuty was psionically gifted, as nearly every entity of his persuasion were, he sent, “If I look behind me and you're still just standing there unmoving and fully clothed, Hooty, I'm going to be disappointed.”

A surprised intake of breath and the sudden rustling of fabric greeted Wrens ears moments before Sable grabbed the sheets tightly and said through gritted teeth, “Shades, I can't hold back much longer.”

Wren grabbed Sable's base and sent a small bit of healing through his throat before replying, “Just a little longer... May I enter you, Sable?”

With agony laced desperation, Sable moaned, “If it means I'll finally be allowed fulfillment, then shadow and shade, I wish you would.” Sable drifted off into mumbling, finishing with, “I had more than one shade blessed arrow in my quiver before I was healed, for the Shadowland's sake.”

Wren pushed Sable a measured distance up the bed, blinked a pillow into his hands and levered it under the grumbling man. Levering Sables legs up, Wren sent a bit of precautionary void power ahead of himself before experimentally running an essence laced tongue over Sable's exposed vivid pinkness to the underside of Sables tightly drawn jigglies. With Sable's grumbles pleasantly silenced, Wren turned to the task of working the scandalously pink bud open, first with questing tongue then softly probing fingers. All the while, Wren applied every trick he knew to keep the man pliant and on the edge.

Lost in the moment and eager anticipation, Wren sent to Djehuty, “Feeling up to lending me a helping hand with my own preparation?”

Looking back, Wren saw the far from disappointing view of a fully nude Djehuty standing like a frozen temple relief, aside from a twitching and leaking but sadly neglected joystick. Noticing Wren's eyes on him, Djehuty's adam's apple visibly bobbed a couple times before he slowly nodded. After a quick request for Sable to 'close his eyes and focus on sensation', Wren partially moved himself partway into the adjacent dimensional space that Djehuty's presence illuminated.

Under Wren's guidance, Djehuty's trembling and hesitating hand was effectively employed as Wren finished exploring and teasing Sable.

Wren smiled and held in a chuckle as Djehuty exclaimed quietly, “It's so soft and warm.”

A faint shot of sympathy ran through Wren at the choked whine of sad protest when Wren moved forward and up on to the bed, positioning himself to claim Sable's waiting heat. Wren watched with fascination, capturing every passing second, as the innocent blush colored entrance reluctantly opened to his intrusion. In sync with Sable's measured breaths, Wren would let a bit more of himself disappear into the clenching pink entrance.

When Wren was locked flush against Sable he said raggedly, “If you keep squeezing and pulling against me like that, I'm not going to last very long.”

Sable grinned garishly, baring clinched teeth, as he growled, “Good. That's the point.”

Wren grinned, “Would it be so bad to relax and enjoy me like this?”

Sable grunted out through forcefully tightened and released abdominal muscles, “I prefer to be the plow over being the field. You're the one who needs to relax and focus on your own pleasure.”

Wren retaliated with a jolt of essence and through Sable's self-restraining hiss said, “I'm enjoying myself pretty good already. I'd like it to last a little longer.”

Sable relented, “Have it your way but once I've recovered, at least let me claim a little of my dignity back. I feel like an oversensitive virgin right now. I'd like to show off some of my skills to you as well. You're bruising my pride in an area I have some confidence in, you know.”

Wren said, “I am an oversensitive virgin right now, physically at any rate.”

Djehuty's embarrassed voice said barely above a whisper, “I am in all ways. Hundreds of years, thousands if you count the deep dreaming, I have waited for one who could touch me that did not repulse me, much less move me as you do, Wren. Will you let me quench my longing within you as you are about to with your friend?”

That would be very flattering if my competition wasn't Lovecraft monsters and raving lunatics.

Wren leaned back and gave rapid, shallow thrusts against Sable's sweet spot, causing Sable to moan in involuntary enjoyment, as he thought it over.

The combination of empathy and the fragile beauty of Djehuty in that moment compelled Wren to say mentally, “Most of the force of your presence is insulated by your state of existence but I need to ask. Can you do this without hurting me with the strength of your Tier?”

Djehuty responded quickly and with abundant eagerness, “My Tier should be of no consequence save for the potency of essence within, well, within that. Surely that would only be helpful.”

Wren placed a summoned blindfold on Sable and bridged the gap between himself and Djehuty. Hesitant at first, Djehuty's caresses and kisses became more insistent as he fumbled to gain entrance. Wren stilled for a moment, leaning down to lay a few essence laden kisses on Sable's chest as he reached behind him to grasp Djehuty's modest but generously girthed manhood. Careful not to overstimulate the sensitive man, Wren slicked the probing length before guiding it in with a slightly pain filled grunt. Wren felt his insides stretch uncomfortably to accommodate the intruder.

Wren placed a staying hand on Djehuty's hip and bid him to wait for a moment before instructing the overly tense man to let Wren set the pace. Starting easy and slow, Wren began rocking into Sable and pushing back against Djehuty. Before he could build up any further, Djehuty suddenly fell on Wren's back, grasping him tightly, shuddering and sobbing into the back of Wren's neck while pumping into him erratically. The powerful shots filling him triggered Wren's own premature release within Sable. The sudden overwhelming uncoiling of unsullied essence made Wren's mind blank.

The angel and demon manifestation ceased their relentless affections to enact Wren's unspoken wants and needs, allowing the flood of strong essence to be used to best effect. Without Wren's subconscious fear to block it, the living manifestation constructed a bond with Sable and sent strands out to other suitable and willing targets. Djehuty, unknowing but curious, allowed the questing line access and with pleasure addled mind, merely felt happy to have a connection with this wondrous mortal.

In a frozen wasteland, Knight lifted his head after feeling a plea for connection. For a split second that stretched infinitely long within the conflicted mind and spirit of the man, he relented and accepted, hoping desperately that he would not regret it. Suppressing a subconscious thrill at the rush of coiling essence, he returned to his meditation.

Some were unable to feel the request, others unwilling but back within Wren's domain, Rozchereck sniffed the air and reached with power to grab one of the strands. After sensing it's source, with a half affectionate and half mischievous smile, he drew it into himself and returned to the task of administering painful pleasure to the more than willing Pomegranate. Sensing the sincerity that lay deeply within Rozchereck's action, the demon promoted it while the angel wavered before relenting.

As the blankness faded, Wren found himself bent over the bed with Sable nearly mindless in frustrated need for release.

Trembling with barely checked impulse, Sable pleaded, “Say that I may take you, Wren. I'm mad with the want of it.”

Still mentally foggy, Wren said, “Yes bu-”

With the little control he had left, Sable took care not to cause any real harm as he impaled Wren in slowmotion. Buried to the root, Sable ground against Wren, stirring Wren's insides with wild gyrations till he finally found his own violent release. The pressure of coiling essence released back into Wren.

Sable swung them around with Wren seated on his lap, labored and erratic hot breaths splayed from the face pressed against Wren's back as Sable said, “Stay with me, like this.”

Both half spirit drunk, Sable and Wren rocked in tandem to one another as Djehuty softly whispered entreaty till Wren relented, allowing the fascinated man to present his back-side to Wren. As Sable rocked himself back to ridged attention within Wren, Wren opened the sandy ring hidden within the clefts of a tight and shapely dusky tanned bottom.

Embarrassed but renewing in passion, Djehuty said, “Could you join with me in a way that allows us to be closer? I-I want to feel as much of you against me as can be done. More than what this is, though it is a miracle of sensation, I crave touch. I crave warmth and the weight of embrace.”

With a quickly whispered request to Sable and a caution against the momentary pain, Wren guided Djehuty face down upon the bed. After working himself into Djehuty's unbearably pleasant, spasming entrance, Wren framed the deeply tanned legs with his own as he wrapped as much of Djehuty within his embrace as he could. Taking Djehuty like this felt good, to hold so much of another so completely. Slicking a hand, Wren worked it down to grasp Djehuty's swelling appreciation and began stroking it slowly as he worked more slickness into the whimpering man until every small movement elicited wet, sticky squelching.

Sable, who had been patiently waiting to join in, said, “I have done many types of sensory training but this is a first. What an interesting auditory torture. The sounds of joining flesh and sighs of satisfaction is bringing me to aching need again.”

Wren stopped mentally speaking words of affection and enjoyment to Djehuty to respond, “Then come and lay it on me big man. No need to nice about it, just don't try to switch positions with me.” Wren laid a tender kiss on the back of Djehuty's neck and finished, “I'm exactly where I want to be.”

Djehuty crooned and tightened his grip on Wren's fingers as Sable's added weight pressed Wren deeper into him. Sable spread Wren's springy buttocks apart and watched his generous portions sink into Wren's inviting body. For a moment, Sable was lost to the fantasy birthed illusion of his shadowy darkness invading and melting into warm, soothing light. Possessed by a sudden impulse to mark the unblemished globes, Sable nearly fully withdrew before landing a meaty slap to one then the other, slamming back into Wren with the force of a burying blade.

Wren partially raised up, issuing a wordless cry of surprise and weak protest. Djehuty echoed Wren's surprise but laced with far more appreciation. As two large, red hand prints rose to stark view, Sable smiled and slipped the blindfold back into place. Laying over Wren, bracing himself on both sides, Sable built momentum with rippling back and straining thighs. The harder and faster Sable drove into Wren with violent precision, the more translated to Djehuty and within moments, Djehuty released another jet of wet heat into Wren's waiting hand. Djehuty's writhing and squirming in oversensitive coupled with the agonizing stimulation of Sable's relentless pounding above drove Wren over the edge moments later.

Switching gear, Sable moved to a steady, hard driving long stroke that had Wren and Djehuty being deeply pressed into the mattress even as they were rocked back and forth. Twice more Djehuty gave in to the unrelenting torrent of sensation, taking one more shuddering delivery from Wren before fading away with a cry of defeat and a promise to return during more 'peaceful' times. With the sudden disappearance of support, Wren and Sable suffered a short but momentarily stunning drop.

Taking the opportunity, Wren squeezed Sable's angry tool out with a wet pop and struggled to turn around as he said, “Hooty's gone. You can take the blindfold off now.”

Wren sent a touch of healing inside as Sable said, “I wondered who would break first between you. Is it wrong that I wanted to have you to myself in the end?”

Wren sent another touch of healing through Sable's abused muscles and heavily bit lip before licking off an escaped drop of blood then said, “I prefer one on one myself but I've always had a soft spot for the lonely. If I'm completely honest, Hooty's pretty tempting too. There are certain...comparisons that could be made that I don't feel like mentioning just right this moment.”

A small flash of pain raced across Sable's eyes as Wren said, “Hey, stay with me. There's things I want to freak out about too but before that I'm going to lose myself to this moment first. I'm resolving to enjoy every good moment as if it were the last I might have.”

Sable smiled, heat returning to his gaze as he responded, “It seems you might have a little Delver in you now.”

Wren returned a wicked smile and said, “As I recall I had a 'big' Delver in me just a moment ago and I'm starting to miss him already.”

As if answering a call, a hot weight between them twitched in response.

Sable's blazing eye's looked around the room before he returned to kissing Wren for a time before leaning in and whispering, “One small favor... Could you remove the smell of that other and give me a little more of your own.” Wren silently complied as Sable continued, “How do you want me?”

Wren said, “Take me as I took you. I want to see you enjoying me.”

Sable sat up and braced Wren's legs in his arms as he slid back into Wren's suddenly tighter heat, earning a bittersweet moment for both of them. After they caught a slow, steady tempo, Wren reached up to caress Sable's abs. Sable pushed Wren's legs as far back and out as they could comfortably go, discovering that they could go much farther than he could push without issue. A quick knife flash later and Sable's feet were fixed into mattress holes as he laid on Wren, rubbing his hard stomach against the underside of Wren's suddenly much more enthusiastic lower half.

The unexpected intense intimacy took Wren by surprise as Sable sealed his mouth with continuous deep kisses. Sable's increasingly more slicked abdominal ridges glided across Wren while Sable rhythmically drove himself as grinding deep as he could get. As soon as Wren's brows crunched together, Sable's rhythm fell apart into a wild thrusting rut as Sable strove for and reached climax with Wren. As they cried and roared their release into each other's hungry mouth, Sable emptied himself into spasming, bucking heat while Wren released himself between them.

A couple more glasses of spirit wine later, saw another wild session in Wren's private bath. An hour or so of rest while Sable held Wren tenderly, took a heated turn and after a quick void cleaning they fell asleep in each other's arms only to spur a weary but enjoyable grinding session another hour or two later before passing out in their own messiness. Another half of a day later, Rozchereck finally came in and broke them apart so they could eat and take a proper rest, both weakly protesting, both secretly glad for the excuse. As need overcame want the two finally had a good rest but still couldn't resist a long leisurely love-making session after waking before Wren was ready to face reality and Sable had temporarily had his fill.

***

Wren enjoyed a sumptuous private breakfast in his apartments with Sable after summoning a feast in the main hall. In respect to Sable's comfort, they ate in silence till satisfied. Wren and Sable basked in the comfortable silence as Wren drained the last two glasses of spirit wine and toasted Sable before they mutually drained them.

Wren sighed and said, “The cask is empty. The glasses are empty and the food grows stale. Guess it's time to get this crap over with.”

Sable said, “How did you bond me through your... pain?”

Wren said, “I didn't. My personal angel and demon did. You've seen them. Believe it or not, the angel's the mean one, the demon's a big softy.”

Looking at Wren concerned, he said, “Are you going to be alright with it?”

Wren slowly nodded and said, “Unless one of you die. Then I'm probably going to lose my shit... Oh yeah, Petre got taken back in by Knight and for some unfathomable reason, he accepted the invitation. Djehuty took one without really knowing what it was but doesn't seem to really care. The real kicker is that Roz managed to steal an invitation and somehow managed to barely pass the angel's bottom line.

With mock seriousness that still managed to sound somewhat genuine, Sable quipped, “And here I was thinking I was special.”

In bare honesty tinged with sadness Wren said, “You are. I pushed everyone else away that I was close to before because I was afraid of hurting them or getting them killed but I just didn't think I could manage without you. You were my rock, Sable. Perhaps I took advantage of your fearless acceptance of death but I couldn't let you go. Don't misunderstand, though. This was the first time in all our iterations where we were...like this with each other.”

Sable looked at Wren inscrutably for a moment before the stony face melted into an affectionate smile and said, “Their loss. You have to be the hottest coal I've ever blew to flame... Don't be concerned Wren. I'm not going to become strange over you. I kindled a care for you before I offered you comfort. It was merely a pleasant surprise to find the fuels to our fire are so pleasantly suited to one another.

“Until you find the happiness you seek, my arms are open to you, eager enough to grab you up if I see you looking at me with those hungry eyes of yours again. Though I will say, if the one I believe will one day hasten to your side, does not or tarries overly long... I suppose the future wife of my dreams will find herself with two husbands... Just as a passing curiosity, how would you feel about sharing your chosen with a woman?”

Passing curiosity my ass... Whatever, as a hypothetical, Sable beats the hell out of most of my past choices. Awkward future reunions be damned.

Wren said, “As long as I didn't get the vibe they'd start neglecting me, I'd probably help them find one we both could love. If it was just about kids, assuming they really had my heart in their back pocket, I'd swallow my genuine enjoyment of being a man for a time to give them one myself but if they wanted another after that, it would be their turn.”

Sable grew quite for a few seconds then said a little thickly, “Best to not think about it too much. Those who dwell on uncertain pleasures miss present opportunities. Speaking of potential future offspring, care to help me see if I've already managed the deed? Though they would not truly be mine, I would like to leave some legacy to them as blood gift.”

Wren nodded and said, “I might even be moved to insane levels of generosity on their oath your blood shall know your name and that name spoken of with reverence.”

Sable shook his head, smiling as he said, “That is an honor reserved for purple sashes.”

Wren looked at Sable in disbelief and said heatedly, “Sable, you're my right hand. You are the right hand of the son and heir of a Tier VIII existence. Plus I'm pretty sure as long as Malkanthor didn't hide in the gloaming like a devil spined...sorry, not in the Abyss now...like a broken speared coward, you could probably kick his ass or at least hold your own. I think that makes you pretty fucking superior in prestige to a wine stained, ass rag wearing, latrine pit of a person... Umberdown and Deepwise as the exceptions. Sorry, Grimshadow has left a lingering hate in me that won't die easily.”

Sable got up from his chair, walked over to Wren and knelt on a knee, fist on heart, and said, “Wren, you didn't just bring me back from the dead, you gave me life again. First and foremost I'm your servant, your friend because you wish it, your lover if and when you wish it. Words easily spoken in times of joy, I know but I will mean them with equally willing heart in trying and sorrowful times.”

Wren patted Sable's shoulder with a faintly trembling hand before standing and smoothing imaginary wrinkles from his battle suit. Battling a sudden surge of fear in his heart, Wren stood and faced the door.

I've got to be smarter this time, stronger. I know you won't let me down, Sable. The one I'm worried about is me.