Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

it starts with a night of heavy drinking. they were all celebrating the success of the new album, and upcoming tour. they all worked themselves to the bone, writing and playing and recording, until now. it was the night before the record release, and they all had too much nervous energy. iii suggested a bar, or club, thriving under the bright lights and loud noise, but vessel had simply laughed it off.

“we have enough liquor in this house to get a small army drunk. no need to go out when we can get wasted and play drinking games here.” vessel was right, of course. iv had a habit of buying fancy alcohol, making a few cocktails for the group, and leaving it shoved in the back of the freezer somewhere. all told, they had about six mostly full bottles, as well as a few cases of beer that ii had brought. vessel immediately went for the whiskey, an expensive bottle imported from the states, while the rest started on beer. iv had the genius idea to order takeout, and they all started to loosen up once the alcohol began to flow. at some point, iv had begun concocting some sort of mixed drink with whatever they had in the fridge. by the time they all made it into the living room, iii was pleasantly buzzed. he brought up vessel’s earlier suggestion of a drinking game, and was met with an adorable little giggle. they tossed around ideas, eventually landing on a slightly tipsy game of never have i ever.

“okay, okay. drink for everything you’ve done, loser chugs his.” iii lays out the rules, already on his third beer. he could feel his cheeks becoming a bit pink, but he was still mostly clear headed. they were all in the living room, sprawled across couches and chairs. “who wants to go first?”

iv and vessel exchange a look, before their eyes drift to ii, trying to ignore their attention. he was seated on the floor, leaning against the small loveseat opposite of them. iii was sat on the couch behind ii, occasionally bumping his long legs against ii’s shoulders. “well?” iii questions again.

iv sighs, clearly more intoxicated than the rest of them. “i guess i’ll go. hmm,” he pauses to think, over dramatically stroking the short stubble on his chin. “never have i ever… been arrested.” vessel blushes and sheepishly takes a sip of his drink. iii drinks as well, laughing at vessel’s red face. iv sputters and turns to face him.

“no way! vess, what the hell did you do? did you, like, kill somebody or something?”

vessel chokes down the rest of his swallow and laughs. “no! no, it’s so stupid. i was 14 and i stole a bag of chips. i had to wait at the police station for three hours until my mum picked me up.”

“aww, our little criminal.” he reaches over to pink at vessel’s pink cheeks and vessel swats him away, giggling. “don’t think i’m forgetting you, iii. you are way too casual over there.”

iii barely hides his smirk behind another sip. his beer is warm, and gross, so he stands to get himself another drink. “i’m heading to the kitchen, anyone want anything?” he dodges iv’s questions and takes ii’s request for a redbull vodka, extra strong. when he returns, he’s pretty sure vessel and iv have scooted closer. and ii is staring at iii when he walks in the room. the look in his eyes is hungry, and iii feels a chill run through him when ii’s eyes rake over his body. he passes him his drink and tries not to think about it too much.

“okay, my turn,” he announces, settling down on the floor next to ii. “never have i ever taken it up the ass.” iv laughs, throwing his head back with the force of it. he drinks, sending iii a middle finger as he does. vessel chokes on air beside him, waiting to catch his breath before drinking as well. ii just glares at him, but doesn’t say a word as he drinks.

“not fair, iii. we’re all gay!” vessel exclaims between giggles.

“um, speak for yourself, i’m bi.” ii finally speaks.

“wait, iii, why didn’t you drink?” iv pipes up, noticing how iii only laughed at their reactions.

ii side-eyes him as he waits for an answer. “i prefer to give.” he definitely does not notice the sharp intake of breath from ii.

“are you serious? you’ve really never been fucked?” iv’s tone is incredulous, tinged with disbelief.

“nope,” he says, popping the ‘p’. he drinks again, despite the game. he traded his beer for a mixed drink earlier, and was better for it. he’d never been a lightweight, and beer was never enough to get him drunk. now, he could feel the vodka started to affect him, fuzzing his senses. it pushes him from tipsy to drunk after a few more drinks. the game goes on, statements getting wilder the more inebriated the group became. the bantering was mostly between iii and iv, with vessel chiming in occasionally. ii was eerily quiet, only speaking when it was his turn or someone asked him a question. iii could feel his eyes on him the whole night. they were sitting close, thighs pressed together. even sitting down, iii was still a solid head taller than ii. he tried to ignore the thrill it sent through him.

over the course of the band’s history, they had all hooked up at some point. something had shifted between all of them. it was definitely more than casual, but none of them wanted to acknowledge the simmering heat just beneath the surface.

somewhere around midnight, vessel and iv headed off to bed, stumbling and giggling down the hallway. neither of the others pointed out how both of them went to iv’s room, or how the door didn’t really muffle any sound.

iii stood from his position on the floor, entirely too steady for how much he had been drinking. “well, now that the two lightweights are gone. do you want to have some real fun?”

the hungry look was back on ii’s face, and he raised an eyebrow at iii’s question. “what do you have in mind?” his voice was rough, and iii tried to ignore the spike of arousal at the harsh tone.

“meet me in the kitchen, i’ll surprise you.” he winked, running off to his room. he dug through drawers until he found what he was looking for. he laughs, almost involuntarily. he’s giddy and a little drunk, and ii is waiting for him.

when he returns, ii is drinking a bottle of water and picking at the leftovers from dinner. he tucks his hands behind his back, hiding. “what’s this surprise you’re so eager about?” ii asks, barely looking up from his food.

“how do you feel about getting a little crossed?” he says, revealing the small pre rolls he had hidden from view. he often smoked when none of the others where home, usually in the back garden. their secluded home was ideal for this. no nosy neighbors to tell him what to do. he enjoyed the feeling of being high much more than being drunk. ii laughs, and grabs the bag from iii’s outstretched hand. he pulls one out and places it between his lips. “got a light?” iii points to the gas stove, probably older than both of them. ii laughs again, but clicks on the flame and leans in close to light the joint. iii watches it catch on the flammable material, burning a deep cherry red. the soft glow of the fire on ii’s face makes him look damn near angelic. ii leans away from the heat, taking a deep lung full of the smoke. he pulls it away from his lips and passes it to iii, who tries to act like he wasn’t staring at him the whole time. ii blows out the smoke, leaning against the counter and tilting his head back. iii wants to mark the long column of his throat with bruises, wrap his hands around it. he shakes off the thoughts, and takes a hit of the joint when ii passes it to him. he leans against the counter opposite of ii, crossing his long legs in front of him. a few more hits, and he’s looser than he’s been all night. it gives him the confidence to ask ii the burning question.

“why the hell have you been so quiet all night? is everything okay? i mean, is it the album? are you… nervous, or something?”

ii shakes his head, taking another hit. this doesn’t help iii’s train of thought, because it draws all of his attention back to his lips. “no, no. i’m okay. i’m just… i’m a bit of a touchy drunk.” he explains, but iii doesn’t believe him. if anything, vessel is a touchy drunk, he was completely wrapped around iv most of the night, always keeping some point of contact.

the weed and alcohol are mixing in his brain, making his already poor decision making even worse. “bullshit,” he says. ii snaps his head up to look at him, a deep red creeping across his already flushed cheeks. iii stalks toward him, closing the already short distance between them and pushing him against the counter. “you barely said a word all night. you know i don’t care if you get touchy. what is it? what’s really going on in that pretty little head of yours?” this close, he can see ii’s breathing pick up, and the flush starting to spread down his neck.

iii eyes dart to ii’s lips when his tongue sticks out to wet them. “c’mon, baby. tell me what you’re thinking.” there’s barely an inch between them now, iii bending down slightly to get a better look at ii’s face. he doesn’t even have a second to regret his statement because ii surges up and kisses him roughly. he pulls back, nipping at iii’s lips.

“you. that’s what i was thinking about. all damn night, your cocky attitude, acting like you own the damn place. i was thinking about how your hands would feel inside me. i was thinking about you throwing me against a wall and fucking me until i can’t walk. so, please. give me a fucking break for being so quiet.” he leans back up to reach iii’s lips, but he stops him.

“are you serious? you were just… horny?” he tries, and fails, to suppress his amusement at ii’s admission.

“yes. please just fuck me or something before i actually die.” iii laughs, diving back in to kiss hungrily into ii’s mouth. he tastes like weed and vodka and chinese food and it’s the best thing iii’s ever had. ii’s hands are fisted in his hoodie, tugging him closer. iii presses him against the counter, towering over his small frame. his growing erection is pressed against ii’s stomach. ii’s breath is coming in heavy pants as he tries to strip iii. his hands are shaking, clumsy from the intoxication. “c’mon, help me out a little.” he doesn’t beg, but it’s damn close. his fingers are fumbling with iii’s belt, and iii pushes his hands away, pinning them to the counter. ii whines at the denial.

“shh, baby. just let me take care of you.” iii punctuates his words with kisses down the side of ii’s neck. he runs his hands down ii’s body, watching him writhe under the attention. he reaches the hem of ii’s sweatpants and looks at him in question. “okay?” he teases his fingers below the waistband, feeling the heated skin beneath.

“are you serious right now? yes, yes, god please, just…,” ii tilts his head up, begging for another kiss. “need you. please.” he says into his mouth. iii nods, slipping his hands into ii’s boxers. he feels ii’s breath hitch against his mouth as he begins to run his fingers over his dick. he can feel how wet he is already, practically dripping down iii’s fingers.

“you’re soaked, baby. you really been thinking about me all night?” he swallows the gasp that ii lets out when he slips a finger inside him. he works it in and out, feeling out hot he is inside. he presses another in next to it, eased by the amount of slick. he crooks his fingers, searching for ii’s sweet spot. he know he’s found it when ii drops his head onto iii’s shoulder, crying out and panting. ii grinds down on his fingers, brushing his hard cock against the palm of iii’s hand. his wetness is spreading onto his boxers and over the tops of his thighs.

he whines loudly when iii works another long finger inside him. iii crooks his fingers, working over ii’s sweet spot and dragging his cock across the palm of his hand. iii can feel the resistance when he works his fingers inside him. even his nimble fingers are a stretch for the smaller man, and he groans thinking about sinking his cock into the tight, wet heat. he uses his free hand to push down ii’s sweatpants. uncovered, the noises from ii’s cunt are obscene. the wet slide of iii’s fingers echoes through the quiet house. he tries to muffle the whines and keens coming out of his mouth to no avail. “iii, please. ‘m so close, please.” he rocks his hips against iii’s fingers, cunt twitching around him.

“just let go, baby. i got you, i got you,” he soothes, working his fingers faster inside him. ii’s legs begin to shake, the only thing keeping him upright is iii. his moans and gasps grow louder until he throws his head back in a silent scream. his face is flushed and screwed up in pleasure. iii can feel him clench down on his fingers. there’s a rush of fluid and his hand is soaked. he’s mesmerized by the sight for a moment. ii is normally so reserved, in control. seeing him lose his composure shouldn’t have been as hot as it was. iii works his fingers slowly, watching ii come down. when he starts to whimper and push at iii’s hand, he pulls away. ii looks down, shocked and embarrassed at the wetness soaking his thighs and sweatpants.

“fuck. ‘m sorry. i’ve never… this has never happened.” he curses again, trying to pull his wet pants up with shaking hands. iii comes out of his shock at the words.

“woah, woah. don’t apologize, baby.” he grabs him by the shoulders, pushing him gently back against the counter. he kisses him again, grinding his still hard cock against ii’s bare hip. “that was so fucking hot. think you can do it again?” he pulls back to watch ii’s flush deepen even more. he nods, eyes shining a bit even in the low light. “still want me to fuck you, baby?” he rubs soothing circles on ii’s hip, noting his hesitation.

he nods again, pulling iii down for a bruising kiss. he leans down to wrap his long arms around ii’s strong thighs, lifting him easily and placing him on the counter. ii lets out an undignified yelp at being manhandled so easily. the marble is cold against his heated skin and he winces as he adjusts to the feeling. iii’s hands quickly strip off the rest of his clothes, leaving him on display. iii is still fully clothed, looming over him. he leans back to rake his eyes appreciatively over ii’s naked body. ii looks away, shy under his scrutiny. the intoxication is making him concede to the other’s whims easily. normally, ii isn’t so permissive. he prefers to be the one in control, commanding and leading his partners around. there’s just something about iii; it brings out a side of him that he prefers to bury.

once iii has drunk his fill of ii’s wrecked appearance, he leans back in to trail gentle kisses across his neck. he’s careful not to mark him, knowing that sober ii would be pissed at him. he fumbles with his own belt for a moment as he claims ii’s mouth. finally, he manages to free his aching cock from the confines of his boxers. he shoves his jeans down just enough to get them out of the way. he pushes forward, sliding his cock against ii’s wet folds. ii whimpers, rocking his hips towards iii. usually, iii would tease him more, bring him off a few times just with his mouth before he fucks him. but right now? he’s drunk and stoned and horny and ii is sitting in front of him like a gift.

he grips his cock, pushing forward into ii’s hole. he quickly sheaths himself inside him, groaning as he bottoms out. he’s shocked for a moment. he’s never been able to bottom out completely in ii, always an inch or two remaining. “fuck, baby. you took all of me.” he moans shakily as ii clenches weakly around his cock. he resists the urge to thrust into him, to take all that ii can give. he grinds deep inside ii, enjoying the breathy noises he makes. he catches ii’s hand as it snakes down to rub at his aching cock.

ii groans as he’s pinned again. he ruts forward, wordlessly begging iii to fuck him. he whines loudly when iii doesn’t comply, just keeps grinding and shallowly thrusting into him. “please, iii. please. wanna feel you.” his voice sounds foreign to his own ears, whiny and breathless. if he weren’t so far gone already, he’d be embarrassed by just how easy he was

“how can i say no when you beg so pretty?” he says as he pulls out nearly all the way and slams back into ii. both of them cry out at the sensation after the long minutes of teasing. ii wraps his small body around iii as much as he can, koala hugging the larger man. he works his hands under iii’s hoodie, clawing at the bare skin. he can only hold on as iii fucks him roughly. there’s just a tinge of pain under all the pleasure and it pushes him close to the edge once again. 

he tries to warn iii, but his voice won’t cooperate. all he can do is moan as his second orgasm wracks through him. when he cums again, he gets so tight that iii winces. there’s another small splash of liquid and it soaks the top of iii’s jeans. 

“fuck, you feel so good. do you even know what you do to me, baby?” he starts thrusting again and ii cries out in overstimulation. iii’s thrusts are getting erratic, his voice rough. ii clenches around him just to hear the punched out sound he makes. “god, the way you– when you’re drumming and you think no one is watching so you play dumb shit. or when you and vessel – hnn – when you two compose and you talk in that stupid code.” 

ii is enthralled by the word vomit iii is spewing right now. he’s pretty sure his brain started melting out of his ears as soon as iii put his hands on him. iii is close, just babbling words to have something to do with his mouth. he moves to pull out and ii whines, dragging him closer. 

iii’s breath hitches as he’s dragged back inside ii’s tight heat. “baby, stop. ‘m gonna cum, lemme—”

“inside, please. wanna feel you,” he cuts himself off with a moan as iii’s hips twitch involuntarily. 

“ii, no. i’m not wearing a condom, i can’t,” he tries to articulate his thoughts without saying the dreaded words. 

luckily ii seems to understand his meaning, and starts laughing. he laughs hard enough that iii is a little worried. he pulls back enough to reveal his stomach, muscles moving and jumping under the skin. he grabs iii’s wrist, bringing his hand to trace over a small, barely there scar on his lower abdomen. “you can’t get me pregnant, dumbass.” the insult is tinged with affection. 

iii groans as he starts moving again. they pick right up where they left off, both chasing release. iii presses down where his hand still lays on ii’s stomach. ii nearly screams as he cums for a third time, soaking iii’s in his release. 

iii moans at the feeling of ii cumming around his cock again. the wet slap of skin pushes him towards his own release. he buries his face in ii’s shoulder when he cums, murmuring gentle praises into the sensitive skin. 

they stay there for a long moment, until ii’s hip starts to cramp from the harsh angle. they untangle from each other, iii pulling out with a wince. when ii notices the not insignificant puddle gathered between them, he goes tomato red. he tries to stand on shaking legs, already apologizing, but iii stops him.

“let me clean you up, baby.” he scoops ii up like he weighs nothing and brings him to the bathroom. luckily, the bath tub was big enough to fit the two of them semi-comfortably. he sat ii down on the counter while he ran the water. he managed to find an old bottle of bubble bath from god knows when, and some epsom salts. he dumped them into the bath a little carelessly, and that’s when he realized that the alcohol may have been catching up with him. iii finally undressed, then helped an unsteady ii into the tub. iii’s legs were squeezed up just a little, but ii fit so perfectly in his arms that he wouldn’t dare complain. 

iii washed ii quickly and then laid back to enjoy the warm water. he felt so… floaty. the whole evening felt damn near domestic. or maybe it was just the weed. 

he’s pulled out of his thoughts by ii’s sleepy voice. “if we stay any longer, we’ll fall asleep.” 

iii just shrugs and makes a noncommittal noise. ii laughs, pushing at the hold iii’s arms have on him. “unless you want your dick to turn into a prune, we should get out.” 

iii groans but concedes. he stands, rising the bubbles off of the both of them before wrapping ii in a fluffy towel. both of them are much more steady now, but ii still clings onto him. he half-carries them back to ii’s room, collapsing onto the bed. they don’t bother with clothes, just huddling up under the blankets. they both drift off in each other’s arms. 

the next morning, ii is woken up with a splitting headache. he definitely drank more than he thought. there are small slivers of light peeking through his blackout curtains, but they might as well be laser beams with how bright they seem. he wiggles around in iii’s grip, pausing when he feels his hard length grind against his ass. he sighs, nudging iii with a not-so-gentle elbow. he groans and jolts away from the pain. “you are an insatiable bastard.” ii grumbles. 

a sleepy smile spreads across iii’s face, half covered by his hair. “can’t help it, you’re irresistible.” 

the peaceful moment is interrupted by yelling from the kitchen. “you two better clean up your damn mess, fucking sex fiends!” 

Chapter Text

it’s a few days after the record release that ii brings it up again. the two of them are hanging at ii’s flat in london, the one he insists on not selling despite never being there. (“it’s practical.” he argues. “besides, if i had to deal with you lot any more than i already do, i’d need to be locked up.”) ii invited him over for dinner because vessel and iv were out of town and he knew how much iii hated being alone in the house. despite how much they’ve tried to make it a home, there’s always been a cold atmosphere there. iv insists that it’s haunted, which ii is inclined to believe. iii adamantly denies that, but still gets the creeps whenever it’s too quiet. 

vessel and iv were at vessel’s cousin’s wedding (or was it his aunt? nephew?). iii wasn’t really paying attention, just listening to vessel complain about it. vessel loved his family, but social events tended to put a strain on their relationships. it’s a bit hard to explain their career choices, especially when you’re a masked singer who worships a fictional deity. iv overheard and jokingly offered to be vessel’s plus one, to which he readily agreed. iii wasn’t offended that he wasn’t asked, he hated weddings. stiff dress code, old people he didn’t know prying into his life, and generally sitting still were all things he loathed. ii outright said no when vessel asked. they both hated crowds, and ii apparently had some vendetta against vessel’s brother. ii had seemed angry enough that vessel had even asked so iii decided not to pry for once. 

so now, here they were, drinking wine and eating takeaway on ii’s couch while another episode of the walking dead played. it was their go-to binge show, just enough drama and gore to keep them hooked. and to have an excuse to do terrible southern accents. they’re halfway into a new season when ii suddenly pauses the show. iii turns to him with a raised eyebrow. ii’s expression is pensive, eyebrows knitted tightly together, bottom lip warring between his teeth. 

“hey, what is it?” iii is worried now. he doesn’t see that look on ii’s face very often, usually only when he had really bad news. 

“so, um…” he starts. iii heart rate is ticking up. “y’know that thing you said the other day, when we were all drunk and playing that stupid game?” 

iii pauses, thinks back. he said a lot of things that night. he tends to blabber when he’s intoxicated. he remembers that him and ii hooked up that night, maybe he said something that made ii upset?

“i’m sorry, did i offend you? i know i was drunk, which isn’t an excuse, but i didn’t mean–.” ok, maybe he also tends to blabber when he’s sober, too. 

“no, no! you didn’t, don’t apologize. no, it was, um, that thing you said… about not having been fucked?” ii’s blushing, iii can tell even in the soft glow of the television. 

he thinks again, and realizes, yeah, he definitely said that. why did he say that? he cringes internally before nodding. “yeah, so i was thinking about it and… do you want to? get fucked, i mean?” 

iii just stares for a moment while his brain processes the question. ii is (technically) offering to take his virginity, and that thought sends him into a whirlwind of anxiety and horniness. ii is quick to backtrack when he sees iii’s expression. “no pressure, obviously! i just thought, i dunno, better someone you actually like instead of some weirdo off grindr.” when iii still doesn’t answer, ii starts to ramble. “i mean, i was thinking about it a lot and i know we hook up sometimes and i think we’re pretty good friends, and i think it would be kinda hot to be your first so if you want then—”

“yeah,” iii interrupts. “yeah, i want that.” 

ii smiles and visibly tries to contain his excitement. “ok, cool, cool. when are you free next? i don’t have anything going on besides rehearsal, so we can plan around your schedule.” 

“um, can’t we just do it now? you have lube, right?” 

ii laughs, not unkindly. “no, you have to, um, prep for this. can’t exactly jump in the deep end here.” iii is confused, but nods. ii can probably see it written on his face and proceeds to (awkwardly) explain what he means by that. by the end of the conversation, iii had googled things he never wanted to know the answers to. 

“so you’ve, um, done all that?” it was iii’s turn to blush now. he’d never inquired on the other’s sex lives before, too focused on the here and now. 

“yeah, an ex of mine was really into anal, and testosterone can generate prostate tissue if you’re on it long enough.” he says it so casually that iii almost doesn’t register it. 

“no way, are you serious?” 

“yeah, all kinds of crazy effects. i grew about an inch, went up a shoe size, packed on muscle. lucky i didn’t lose my hair, one thing to thank my otherwise shitty genetics for. oh, and i have a dick now, so there’s that.” maybe ii had drunk a bit more than he should have if he’s saying all of this. iii tells him as much, and ii grumbles in agreement. “can we pretend i didn’t just say that? wine tends to get to my head.” 

“so long as you make good on your promise to fuck me into the mattress.” 

“okay, i never said—,”

“yeah, but you know you want to.” ii doesn’t deny it that time. iii nudges him. “c’mon, i want to finish this season. i really hope no one i actually like dies in this one.” 

ii scoffs but picks up the remote to unpause the episode. “i think that’s a bit optimistic.” 

they end up falling asleep on the couch, curled around each other while the tv casts a soft glow on them. 

the next morning, iii stays and helps ii clean his already clean apartment. ii sends him back to the house with specific instructions and a shopping list. after a very awkward interaction with a cashier and a long bus ride, he finally arrives back at the house. it’s still empty — vessel and iv won’t be back for another two days — but not nearly as unsettling in the daylight. 

he unpacks his shopping bag, and tries not to blush at the contents. he’s a grown ass man, he can handle a bit of embarrassment. he still feels his face heat up when he remembers what ii’s going to do to him after. 

they had talked more in the morning, both sober for once, and agreed to do it tonight. iii keeps himself busy for the rest of the day, tidying the house despite how much he hates cleaning. he keeps his phone on him, waiting (im)patiently for ii to text him. he runs through their usual list of chores and makes up some new ones to kill time. he tries not to pace around the house, feeling every bit like a caged animal. 

he sits on the couch, knee bouncing anxiously as he waits for ii’s text. he’d followed ii’s instructions and let the methodical process calm his nerves. he still couldn’t escape the twisting ball of anxiety in his stomach, rolling around and making him nauseous. no point in trying to keep it down, his stomach was empty aside from water. the sun was starting to set, casting long shadows over the house. that only made iii’s nerves worse. another few agonizing minutes and iii’s phone finally buzzed from its position on the coffee table. 

I’m ready. Come over whenever you are. 

he waited a minute to reply, hoping not to sound too desperate. 

k otw 

the drive to london could not have taken any longer. the usual city traffic, combined with a car accident that iii was stuck behind, left him taking back roads into the city. when he finally arrived at ii’s flat, it was completely dark outside, roads only lit up by dimming street lights. he could see the soft glow of ii’s apartment and rushed out of the car. his long legs carried him up the stairs two at a time. ii probably heard his car pull up because he was waiting for him before iii even got a chance to knock. he was leaning against the door frame, baby blues staring up at him. he was wearing a tight compression shirt that hugged his muscles and a pair of baggy sweatpants. iii somehow still felt underdressed in his ratty band tee and ripped jeans. he didn’t really think much about his outfit considering he wouldn’t be wearing it for very long.

ii greets him with a soft smile, stepping aside to allow iii in. he closes the door behind him and iii lets himself bask in the scent of ii. sandalwood, and lavender, and eucalyptus and something earthy. he loved it. he might just ask ii to bottle it up for him, keep it to himself for whenever he misses his small lover. 

he kicks off his shoes next to the neat stack at the door and makes his way over to the couch. he can feel ii’s eyes on him as he goes. he flops down, scrubbing his hands over his face. his nerves had abated some once he saw ii standing in from of him, flesh and bone and tangible, but his fingers still itch for a cigarette. he had quit a few months ago at the others requests, but still kept a steady supply of vapes. he knows that ii hates the smell and wouldn’t dare infecting the serene environment of the other’s home with ‘triple berry ice.’ 

ii watches as he bounces his leg and picks at his cuticles. there’s a loose thread on ii’s rug that is apparently way more interesting than the man in front of him. 

“we don’t have to do this, y’know. we don’t have to do anything,” he reassures. 

iii is quick to dismiss this. “no, no. i’m okay. i want to do this, i’m just—” he cuts himself off with a groan, burying his face in his hands. his hair covers the rest of his face, concealing him from ii’s prying eyes. “i’m nervous.” he says, still muffled by his hands. “which is so dumb because i’m a grown man! who sleeps with other men! i shouldn’t be scared but i am and it’s stupid.” 

he doesn’t realize ii has moved until he feels a strong hand on his shoulder. he looks up from his hands. ii’s face is the picture of confidence. 

“what are you nervous about? maybe if we talk about it then you can feel a bit better.” he offers, thumb rubbing soothing circles on tense muscle. 

iii tries to gather his thoughts, put his feelings into words. “what if… what if it hurts, or i don’t like it? what if i can’t take it? what if it’s not good for you?” he sighs and leans against ii’s stomach, nuzzling into the slight softness. ii’s hand shifts to comb through his hair, untangling small knots along the way. 

ii hums as he considers his concerns. “if it hurts, then we’ll go slower. if you don’t like it, we stop and figure out what you do like. i picked a small toy for this, but if you’re worried we can just do fingers. and, seriously? i can’t even feel it, how would it be bad for me?” the last bit is tinged with good natured humor. 

iii smiles despite himself. “i dunno, what if i’m not tight enough for you?” he jokes back and ii huffs a laugh above him. he tugs gently on iii’s hair to catch his attention. 

“i know you like it when i’m rough with you, but that’s not happening tonight. i’ll take the reins but that’s because i know what i’m doing.” iii agrees easily. he probably would have asked him to be gentle regardless due to his own reservations. “same boundaries as usual, though?” iii nods, leaning forward again to place a soft kiss on ii’s stomach, a promise of what’s next. he looks up at ii through long lashes. 

this seems to break ii’s careful control. he ducks down to seal their lips together. it starts off slow and passionate, but turns more lustful as iii begins to lose his reservations. he reaches around ii’s waist to pull him into his lap, but ii presses him down with a firm hand on his shoulder. he goes easily, readily submitting to ii’s gentle dominance. ii takes control of the kiss, deepening it. he steadily grinds their hips together, iii’s cock starting to fill out, still confined in his tight jeans. he bucks up into ii’s hips, chasing friction. he lets out a small whine when ii pulls back from his body. 

“bedroom. i’m not taking your virginity on the couch.” ii grabs his hand and pulls him away, ignoring his pout at being called a virgin. 

luckily, ii flat is small and his bedroom is right next to the living room. they make it to ii’s bed in a whole 30 seconds, which is still too long in iii’s opinion. when ii pushes him back onto the bed, he spots a towel laid out with lube. he glances anxiously around for ii’s strap. he’s seen it once before when ii dug around in his closet for lube. the soft black leather, adorned with rivets and held together with silver d-rings. attached to it was a dildo that was about the same size as his own dick, matching ii’s skin tone. when he asked about it, all ii said was, “iv was curious.” 

now, he didn’t see it anywhere on the bed or table. he looked back to ii, confused. ii seemed to realize his question and pulled back to rifle through his closer. he pulled out his toy box, carefully hidden by clothes and old drum equipment. he watched the muscles in ii’s back move under the thin fabric of his shirt. he was deceptively strong from all of his drumming, toned upper body tapering down to his slight waist. 

he pulled the harness free from the box, slightly tangled. he rummaged around a bit more before finding his chosen toy for the evening. he turned back to iii, who was waiting eagerly. he walked back over, showing him the toy he had planed to use on him. 

“is this ok? like i said, we can just use fingers if you’d be more comfortable.” the toy is small in ii’s hand and even smaller in iii’s. he takes it, rolling it between his palms. it's simple, just a slight curve upward with a smooth silicone surface. it’s hot pink and fits comfortably in the palm of his hand. 

he laughs a bit, feeling embarrassed that he was scared of five inches of neon silicone. “what’s so funny? not big enough for you?” ii jokes. “i think you might actually faint if you saw my biggest one.” 

this piques iii’s curiosity. “what is your biggest one?” he asks, despite his better judgment. 

ii gets an evil grin on his face, turning back to the open closet. he pulls out a concerningly large box and tosses it onto the bed next to iii. he catches sight of a dragon logo on the front of the box. when ii actually pulls it out, iii can’t help but gawk. 

“no way.” is all he can think to say. 

“oh, yes way,” ii laughs. the toy is a swirling mass of red and black, as thick as ii’s forearm and half as long. it’s textured with thick veins and ridges. iii reaches for it, and is barely able to wrap his hand around the base of it. 

“you haven’t used it, right? i mean, is that even possible?” 

“once, on vessel. and anything is possible with enough lube,” he says sagely as he packs the horrifying toy away again. “but we’re not going anywhere near that tonight.” 

iii turns his attention back to the small dildo in his hand. he contemplates it for a moment before handing it off to ii, who sets it next to the lube. ii slowly pushes him back down onto the bed, straddling him again. iii is tempted to continue their heated makeout session, but ii has other plans. he tugs off his tight shirt, revealing pale, tattooed skin and hardened muscle. iii reaches up to reverently trace the twin scars along ii’s pecs, making him shiver. it’s been so long that they’ve faded to white under the colorful ink adoring his skin. iii never misses a chance to trace the delicate linework, especially in moments like these. ii bats his hand away and leans down to strip iii of his shirt. they both manage to steal kisses in between stripping each other. 

eventually, iii ends up naked and ii in just his boxers. iii is only half hard, cock resting in the crease of his hip. ii gives him a few strokes before pulling back to grab the lube. 

“i’m going to work you open with my fingers first. let me know if you want to stop or it’s uncomfortable.” 

iii nods, spreading his legs slightly to give ii room between them. ii gently guides them up until his knees are nearly pressed to his chest. iii squirms, not accustomed to being exposed like this. he hears the crack of the lube opening and watches ii spread it across his fingers. ii presses one gently against his hole, rubbing to get him used to the sensation. his other hand rubs soothing circles against iii’s thigh, like he’s calming a spooked horse. iii tries not to laugh when he thinks about how accurate the comparison is. 

when the tip of ii’s finger finally breaches his rim, he clenches around it involuntarily. ii stops, letting him adjust to the intrusion. “just relax, it’ll make it easier.” iii nods, trying to release some of the tension in his muscles. 

ii starts to move again once iii relaxes. it’s an unfamiliar sensation, but not unpleasant. ii waits until he’s open enough to add another finger. it’s a stretch, and iii leans into the tiny but of pain. 

“doing okay?” 

“yeah, it just… feels weird. not bad-weird.” he clarifies. 

“give me a minute and i’ll make it better.” ii says with a sly grin on his face. he leans down to mouth at iii’s cock, slowly going soft against his stomach. it perks up again at ii’s attention. he moans softly as ii’s tongue circles the head while his fingers start to scissor inside him. when ii actually finds his prostate, iii cries out, bucking his hips into ii’s mouth. the sensation was new and so, so good. ii starts to fingerfuck him, aiming for that spot everytime. iii pants, whining for more as ii works him over. he can feel his cock leaking pre against his stomach. his hands grip the sheets to find purchase as he chases the feeling. 

ii slows his fingers, pulling them out to add a third. the stretch is more intense this time and it makes his cock twitch. iii whimpers, burying his face into the pillow. it smells like ii. it’s all he can focus on. ii’s scent, the heat of his body pressed against him, his fingers inside him. he’s consumed by ii, ii, ii. 

he makes a hurt noise when ii removes his fingers. ii laughs at his eagerness. he slides off the bed to pull on the harness, carefully tightening the straps. the pink dildo sticks out from the black leather, contrasting with ii’s inked skin. the sight makes him gasp softly. 

ii notices his staring. “what?” 

i love you. he wants to say. i love you like i need to breathe. what he says is, “you’re so hot.” 

close enough. 

ii laughs, climbing back on the bed. he grabs a pillow, wraps it in the towel and guides iii’s hips up to slide it under him. the sight of ii between his legs sends another wave of emotion through him. 

i trust you. 

i want it to be you. 

“please fuck me.” he says before he realizes the words are out of his mouth. 

“yeah, you need it bad. don’t you, baby?” he teases. iii nods, rocking back against ii. he feels cool silicone poke him in the thigh. “i’ll take care of you, don’t worry.” 

i’m not worried, not with you. 

please take care of me. 

ii slicks up the toy, wet noises filling the room. he grabs iii’s hip, hand firm and warm. the other guides the toy to iii’s hole, slowly pressing inside. ii watches his face for any sign of pain as he bottoms out. iii just looks blissed out, eyes heavy lidded, blush spreading across his chest. he grips the sheets harshly at the first thrust. 

“you okay?” 

iii nods, throwing up a thumbs up. 

ii laughs, patting his hip. “cute. now, use your words.” 

“i’m okay, f-feels good.” he grinds back on ii, moaning loudly when the toy brushes his prostate. “please move.” 

and ii is a weak man, because his next thrust is much less gentle. even though he couldn’t feel it, the sight of iii falling apart beneath him makes a ragged moan escape him. 

ii keeps hitting his prostate dead on with every thrust. iii’s thighs begin to shake where they’re wrapped around the other man. his cock is steadily leaking, bobbing against his stomach with the force of their movements. it aches from neglect but iii doesn’t want to touch himself. he doesn’t want to cum yet, but he can feel it building. ii grips his hips, pulling him back on every thrust. he knows he’s making noise, moaning and panting in ii’s strong grip, but he can’t bring himself to care. there will be bruises in the shape of ii’s fingerprints, and he moans at the thought. 

“look at you, falling apart on my cock. taking it so well. my good boy.” 

i’m yours. i’m yours. 

ii whines, high and feminine. ii takes pity on him, wrapping a hand around his aching cock. he strokes him in time with his thrusts, pushing iii closer to the edge. 

“ii, i’m close. i’m so close, pl-please don’t stop.” he pants, grabbing for ii’s free hand. he laces their fingers together and squeezes hard. ii groans and fucks him harder. iii comes with a shout as ii works him through it. he keep fucking him until iii shakes from overstimulation. ii runs his clean head up and down iii’s side as he catches his breath. 

as soon as iii has his wits about him, he’s tugging at ii’s hips, headless of the fact that he’s still inside him. 

“c’mere. sit on my face.” 

ii laughs, pulling out slowly. iii tries to bite back his whine at the loss. “lemme clean you up first.” 

“no, please. wanna make you feel good.” he says, petulant. 

ii grumbles something about being gross but concedes. he wipes the cum off his hand with the towel, and works the harness down his hips. he’s still in his boxers, but iii can see the wet spot from ii’s slick. he pulls them off and iii moans at the sight of his cunt. his dick pokes through the slick folds, glistening in the low light. he grabs for ii, too fucked out to move. 

ii climbs up his body, hovering over his face. iii drools when ii’s cunt reaches his mouth. ii leans forward and grips his hair to get his attention. 

“i don’t want anything inside me right now. sorry.” he looks worried, like iii might get mad at him. 

“don’t apologize for having boundaries. you could tell me you never want anything inside you ever again, and i would respect that.” his tone is serious, leaving no room for argument. 

ii nods, relaxing his grip on iii’s hair. iii’s devious grin is hidden by ii’s cunt as he buries himself in it. 

ii tastes so good, and iii can never get enough. his favorite thing to do is make his lovers cum with his mouth, and ii always reacts so beautifully. he moans at the first contact of iii’s tongue, leaning against the headboard. iii sucks ii’s short length into his mouth and ii closes his thighs around his head, cursing. ii’s thighs start to shake, struggling to hold himself up. iii tugs on his hips to encourage him down further. when ii doesn’t comply, he pulls away. ii definitely doesn’t whine when he does. 

“ii. when i say sit on my face, i mean. sit. on. my. face.” he tugs at his hips again to illustrate his point. 

“dude, you won’t be able to breathe. i’m heavier than i look,” he pants. despite his words, ii want to. he wants to grind himself against iii’s face until he cums. 

“first of all, don’t ‘dude’ me during sex. second, you are not heavy, like, at all. i pick you up all the time.” he tilts his head to place a wet kiss on the inside of ii’s thigh. “ii, i am literally begging you to suffocate me with your cunt. please.” iii turns on the puppy dog eyes for good measure. 

“fine. tap me when you need up.” he gingerly lowers himself onto iii’s waiting mouth, yelping when iii yanks him down the rest of the way. iii always eats him out like a man starved, but something about this makes him a special kind of feral. 

ii starts to fall apart immediately on iii’s skilled tongue. he’s true to his word and doesn’t try to put anything inside him, and ii is grateful. “fuck, ‘m not gonna last.” fucking iii had gotten him so worked up, he was practically on a hair trigger. iii sucks his cock into his mouth again, licking up the underside. “good boy, just like that. ah!” ii feels more than hears the noise iii makes at the praise, and the vibrations are enough to send him over the edge. 

iii’s tongue continues working his dick, licking and sucking on his chubby length. it’s clear he wants ii to cum again, but the man pulls away from his eager mouth. iii whines, looking up at ii with heavy lidded eyes. the bottom half of his face is covered in ii’s cum. “round two?” he asks, voice hopeful. ii huffs an incredulous laugh. he rolls off of him to lean up against the headboard. iii is stretched out beside him, cock half hard despite himself. 

“you horny bastard. we need to get you spayed.” 

iii chuckles, curling around ii’s waist. he nuzzles his face into the crease of ii’s hip, breathing deep. he lies, content, for a few moments until the cum and lube start to dry into a sticky mess on his skin. he groans and rolls away from ii reluctantly to clean himself up. 

“where are you going?” ii asks as he moves to stand. “wait, you might not want to—” his warning is drowned out by iii crumpling to the ground under weak legs. he scrambles over the side to see iii, sprawled out and cursing in pain. “you okay?” 

iii groans, covering his eyes. “my ego is more bruised than the rest of me.” he sits up, eye level with ii still on the bed. he leans forward, giving ii a peck on his nose. “now, help me up. since this is all your fault. 

ii mumbles something about him begging for it, but helps him to his feet anyway. he goes to the bathroom and returns quickly with a damp washcloth. he takes care wiping iii down, taking care around sensitive areas. iii has never felt so… cared for. ii’s hands are so gentle, never applying to much pressure. iii doesn’t know what to do with his hands so he settles for fisting them in the sheets. he wants to grab ii and hold him close to his chest. close to his heart. 

when ii deems him clean enough, iii gives himself permission to climb back into ii’s waiting arms. “so, about that round two?” 

ii groans, playfully rolling his eyes. like indulging iii is any kind of hardship. “give me, like, an hour and a snack break and i’ll think about it.” 

iii pumps his fist, like he won some grand prize, and ii laughs at his ridiculousness. they lay in silence for a long while, simply basking in on another’s presence. ii thought iii might have been asleep, watching the even rise and fall of his chest, until he is the one to break the silence. 

“ii, can i tell you something?” he says nervously. 

“‘course. anything.” 

“i think… i think the reason i didn’t do this before is because i never trusted anybody else enough. i—,”  i love you. he swallows thickly. 

“thanks for trusting me, love. i don’t take that lightly.” ii runs his hand through iii’s hair, braiding and twisting the long strands. 

love. 

love, love, love. 

iii latches onto it as he drifts into sleep.