Archive of Our Own ^beta

This fic contains a song that will set up the ambience of this fic. For more immersion please listen to the link given:

⋅ ∙ ∘ ☽ ༓ ☾ ∘ ⋅ ⋅No One Noticed⋅ ∙ ∘ ☽ ༓ ☾ ∘ ⋅ ⋅

Enjoy!

The first thing they heard when waking up was the sound of mourning doves calling for the day to begin. Quietly groaning, they used the back of their hand to cover their fluttering eyes, sensitive from the sunlights filtering through the gap between the thick vintage green curtains. They slowly sat up on the bed and took a deep breath, eyes still closed as they reveled in the morning atmosphere. 

They remember now, the mayor offered them a place to stay before they continued on their quest, something they didn’t want to think further about for now. Scavenging through the memories further, they were quick to be reminded about… About the activities done on this bed. Their face flushed with sudden warmth and suddenly the dull ache at the bottom half of their body began to make itself known. Shaking their head, they tried not to be shy about it. Hell it happened and it was amazing so no point chicken footing around the subject and making them regret it unnecessarily. Luckily for them, they finally registered the smell that was wafting through the air. Doughy, sweet. Someone was cooking breakfast.

Slinking off from Thaniyel’s comforting bed, they wrapped themselves with the blanket and drowsily made their way towards the door. They stopped dead at their tracks though, eyes landing on their neatly folded clothes on the mayor’s dresser. It sat there in a neat pile, cleaned and folded. Quirking an eyebrow, they lifted the blanket then looked at the dresser’s mirror. They chortled mirthfully, the older man had dressed them in his pajamas which admittedly was built light and cozy. The colours were horrendous though so they couldn’t help themselves but laughed even more.

‘Gosh he’s so sweet to me.’ They thought to themselves, ignoring how lovesick they sound in their mind. That’s a can of worms that they would explore in another time but for now? Their hollow stomach was leading them to the kitchen.

Entering the kitchen, there were a few things that they first caught onto. The table and floor was mopped/wiped clean from yesterday’s mess. That and the table was already filled with breakfast. A bowl of fruits in the middle, a jar of cold rose syrup at the side with the only thing missing being the pancakes.

“Morning Player. I’m glad you slept well sweetheart.”

“I did. Also uh— thanks for cleaning my clothes and dressing me in something comfy Thaniyel.”

The older man chuckled. “Don’t mention it. I would really love to make you feel comfortable, Player.”

The mayor turned the stove off and flipped the last batch of pancake onto one of the plates. Carrying it, he served them on the table. They shuffled their way towards the mayor and opened their arms, bringing the blanket with them and wrapped them around Thaniyel. The man made a surprised sound and looked down at the player who was pressing their chin against his chest, a cheeky grin spread across their face.

“Player?”

They rubbed their face on his chest, feeling awfully domestic and clingy. “This may sound stupid but can I kiss you right now?”

Upon hearing the request, Thaniyel’s eyes crinkled from smiling. Gingerly, he placed a hand on top of the Player’s hip, “Of course. Come here sweetheart.”

Hunching down slightly, Thaniyel closed his eyes and pressed his lips against theirs. This time, the kiss was different than yesterday. While yesterday’s kiss was filled with desperate passion and enrapturing lust. The kiss this time was calm, soothing and—

Home. It feels like home.

A few more shared breaths and nibbles, both of them eventually pulled away but not from each other. Their eyes landed on the mayor’s face though, catching something that made them furrow their eyebrows.

“You didn’t sleep well…?” Thaniyel froze before averting his gaze away in guilt. That would explain why he managed to do a lot of things when they were asleep, he wasn’t doing good at all.

“I didn’t get too. I had dreams… About yesterday. Woke up and decided to call the hospital to ask about Brad’s condition.”

His lips formed a thin line, somehow he now looked more his age, older even. A sign of a worried father and leader.

“He’s stable for now and even then that can fluctuate… They’re keeping him steady for the time being..” Thaniyel’s stare was faraway and his thumb nervously scratching his pointer finger. “If only I did a better job of keeping the sword away from him, my son. If only—“ 

Seeing how hurt the older man felt pained them so to distract him, they pulled the man down for another kiss. Dropping the blanket, they enveloped mayor Thaniyel into an embrace, soothing him by weaving one of their hand through his hair and scratching his scalp in a gentle constant rhythm. Mayor Thaniyel allowed this to happen, melting himself into the comfort of the player’s embrace. They were the first one to pull away this time but they didn’t stop their fingers from the slow scritches.

“We’ll check up on him later, okay? If uhm uh—“ They coughed awkwardly at the side, staring elsewhere, “If you don’t mind that is.” 

Thaniyel was stunned silent for a few seconds but eventually he gave their waist a gentle squeeze before answering, “No. I wouldn’t mind. I would…” Thaniyel took a deep breath before sighing out slowly, “I would prefer it if you do.” 

To be trusted enough to visit his son who’s in a critical condition made them feel something. What that emotion was, was not something they could yet decode. Instead, they took a step back, plucking the blanket with them and pulled a chair out, tapping the seat with their hand two times. “We’ll think about it later. You made breakfast and it’ll be a shame if it goes cold y’know?” They gave a coy smile, lightening up the mood with a little flirt as Thaniyel sat down on the chair. They took this opportunity to lightly scratch him under his jaw before sitting down on his lap, catching Thaniyel off guard.

“Oh?”

They wordlessly pulled the plates and glass closer to both of their reach on the table then turned their head around to look at him, faultless, as if unplotting (lies).

“Alright spit it out Player, what is it that you’re planning?” He quirked an eyebrow up, the corner of his lips twitching trying to resist a smile. He wasn’t going to lie to tell himself that it doesn’t feel good to have them sit on his lap like that.

“Hmn? I’on know what you’re talking about old man.” They drizzled honey on top of the pancakes then cut it into neat pieces. They stick the fork onto the fluffy piece before directing it towards the mayor. “Aaaah?”

If the mayor could roll his eyes right now he would but at the same time, he likes the gesture. The whole morning was nothing but a grounding session for him and the player. Just forgetting reality for a moment and cloaking themselves in a moment of serenity. Wrapping his arms around their middle, he leaned close to eat the pancake. After doing so, they had a piece themselves, sighing at the airy texture. 

“Yeah. Yeah, are you sure you’re not a chef Thani? Why are you a mayor again?” Stabbing a few more pieces onto the same fork, they opened their mouth wide and straight up inhaled the food, causing them to choke slightly, a problem remedied by downing a cup of rose syrup water. Drinking everything, they placed the cup back on the table with an exaggerated sigh… Then they perked their head up and gradually turned their head around to see a very red mayor.

“Really? Now?” They wiggled their hips on the man’s lap, making Thaniyel bend over and hissed against the back of their neck. 

“Well it has been years and last night was the first time in so long and— and you look so comfortable and cute wearing my clothes while your skin is decorated with marks and—“

“Shhh. You’re rambling Thani.” That nickname again, his ears went insanely warm. He watched as the Player stood up momentarily and unabashedly just took their pants off, causing Thaniyel to squawk out a weird noise. Using just one hand, they pulled his pants down to free his half hard cock from its confine. 

“A treat, for spoiling me this morning with so much.” With delicate fingers, they held the twitching mass in their hand and lined it up against their pussy. “May I…?”

Holding onto the chair to control himself, the mayor peeled his eyes away from their slowly wetting cunt and nodded at them in approval. “…Go ahead.”

They flashed him a grin before sitting down on his half erect length in an agonising pace. The mayor let out a throaty groan, digging his nails onto the chair to hold himself back from fucking them cock stupid on the table. Look, he just cleaned the mess from yesterday in an ungodly hour, he wasn’t about to undo his own hard work by doing the same thing twice in a row. “Telamon ab-bove…!” A rasp, his chest heaved from breathing heavily.

Once they fully sat down, they just sat there, unmoving and still. “Feels good?” They leaned back against his chest and tilt their head back to give his jaw feather light kisses. “G-guh… Good…” Admittedly just by that alone, his dick went full mass right inside the player’s cavern. Having to stay connected for almost an entire night yesterday, it was evident that they were still very much loose from previous activity. That aside.

His mind was also mind numbingly blank. Fuzzy and relaxed. Only warmth and the scent of home and the player's natural scent (light musky smell was what he picked up last night) seemed to accompany his foggy brain right now. And that was enough to make him melt, to enjoy this soothing heat despite its sexual nature.

“It feels good for me too.” They moved their head to the side and buried their face just below his chin while languidly moving their hips. Eventually they stopped and picked up the fork again, this time with the intention of feeding the mayor. “Come on Mr. Mayor. You need to eat breakfast too.” Groggily, Thaniyel moved his head forward to take munch on the offered food, his chewing felt slow and heavy. Taking pity, they rutted against the poor man’s cock, urging soft moans to come out of Thaniyel’s lips. 

“Player… Player faster…? Please sweetheart?” When they locked eyes, the only thing the player could see was a whimpering dog pleading for its treat and how could they deny the man. So they set the utensils down and grip onto the edge of the dining table. Bracing themselves, they started grinding a little more harder now.

“Hold onto my hips Thani. Fuck me.”

The mayor gritted his teeth and let the chair go and instead migrated his hands onto their hips. The hold was hard enough to bruise but knowing themselves, they would love to have another mark tattooed temporarily on them. The table shook lightly from their coupling. They were fairly certain it wouldn't take long for them to cream themselves especially with the way the man was bruising their g-spot with the head of his cock. Soon enough, Thaniyel slammed his hips up and painted their pink walls white.

With his mind still clouded, the mayor huffed out quiet delirious praises right beside their ear. He sloppily nibbled their nape and just continued rutting inside despite his softening cock. The next thing they knew, their eyes went cross eyed as they mewled out the mayor’s name. With a soft thud of their head against the mayor’s shoulder, they made their own sticky mess onto the man’s cock, their essence now left dripping onto the chair and the floor.

They both panted as they tried to calm down from the ecstatic high. Shuddering, the player slumped down on his body, eyes closed as they caught up their breath. 

“Let me… Let me sit here for a while.” They slurred out. Sluggishly, they clung onto the mayor and just basked in the euphoric after high. No thoughts, no burden, just a shared peace within the morning.

And that was how they spent their morning. They managed to finish their food though. This time with minimum mess unlike yesterday. It was somewhat a little funny with the way they complained about being sticky but in the end both of them did the dishes together in safe silence.

Even in the late mornings, Turitopolis’ hospital was bustling with life. Okey but they swore they heard someone get reprimanded by a nurse just because, “Why are you challenging a gorilla to a coconut head bashing competition!?” Hilarious. They weren’t sure they were allowed to laugh publicly so instead they kept the giggle disease to themselves.

Besides, they didn’t think they could laugh either way. Their gaze landed on the slouched back of the man who fucked them into oblivion last night. It was such a difference too. Within his own home, he was confident, somewhat daringly flirtatious when he had the courage. But now, the wrinkles on his face are more defined, the gait of his walk nervous and hurried. He was worried, he wanted to know how Brad was doing up close and they couldn’t fault the man for feeling this way. 

They walked further along, the hallways getting more quiet and private. The moment they reached the room though, a nurse formally greeted the mayor before opening the door to the room.

The first thing that they noticed was the room was spacious. Big enough to fit a bubonic plant inside the room. Speaking of…

Secondly, they noticed the greenery on Griefer’s plant body seemed to disintegrate ever so slowly. Fraying at the leaves and the gigantic plant attached to his body just remained subdued, wilting. Nothing nattered to Thaniyel right now. With heavy feet, he made his way towards his son and reached out with trembling arms. The doctor and nurses available gave the mayor a respectable distance, respecting that he needed to check on his son.

“Brad…? G-God Brad.” His voice warbled as he cradled his son’s face, downtrodden by the venom that gradually kills him in a slow painful death. “I’m sorry for failing you like this Brad. I promise— I promise when you get better, I will never yell at you again. I always knew—“ He choked on his own words, voice stuck as the direness of the situation began to sink in. Thaniyel’s eyes blurred with unshed tears, teeth gritting as he tried not to break down at the hollow sunken stare that Griefer was giving him.

A doctor stepped in, face perfectly masking any possible emotions on her face as she spoke, “We have done everything we could to slow down the process Mayor. But, we refuse to lie sir. If something isn’t being done soon. He might—“ be gone. Griefer might be gone. Suddenly the temperature in the room dropped lower and everyone was silent from the creeping dread.

The Venomshank felt like a useless leeching weight within their inventory. Thoughts began to swirl in their mind as they replayed the scene where Griefer stabbed his own chest before gruesomely transforming into what he is now. They were aware it must be the voices influencing him just like cruel king was but it was also—

Borderline Suicidal.

They thought if they weren’t so nonchalant about the whole circumstance, things like these could’ve been avoided. Because now, watching the way Thaniyel’s shoulders violently shake from the barely restrained sobbing was enough to claw the guilt deeper. Something… They must do something. Anything to fix. They hate this guilt.

They also hate how alone Thani felt and they didn’t know if they deserve to comfort Thaniyel aside from standing like an absolute fool. Some anchor they are.

It took a while but eventually the older man took a few steps away from his son and sucked his emotions inwards. Composing himself quickly, he turned to face the player, a smile present on his face yet none of it reached his eyes. “Sorry Player but I would need to have a private moment for the time being. I will meet you outside the room alright?”

A weird sinking pang, of course, not to say they don’t get it, they really do. But the lump on their throat was making them anxious and yet they nodded, remaining calm and passive. “I’ll be by the benches sir. Take your time.” They could now see some parts of that smile was real now, soothing that weird shame away behind a plaster and a balm.

“Thank you. I’ll be with you shortly.”

They went out of the room, closing the door quietly behind them before making their way towards the rickety hospital benches. They regret sitting down though because now the ache attacked them in full force, reminding them of what happened previously before this. Even then, that wasn’t enough to ease this anxiety they were experiencing. The wait felt long. With nothing to do, they just ended up hunched over with their elbows placed on their knees. They ended up having one of their legs bouncing while they bit on their thumbnail to cope.

Being alone meant addressing things that they were not ready to face yet. Such as—

How were they here?

Were they doing the right thing?

The king’s death that was caused by their hands.

Griefer’s critical condition

Their budding affection for the mayor— Pause.

‘Excuse me…?’

That made them sat up straight, their cheeks quickly warming up the more they thought about and none of these were intentional by the way. They just thought it was very inappropriate especially with the timing!

Now Player was no virgin both physically and figuratively in life, having lived for more than 30 years does that to a person. They have dated, they have fucked, had a few flings here and there. Some were good, some were bad but never. They have never felt this strongly about a person before in their life and it was just one night of sex! Two if you considered sex on breakfast! And it was obviously them both coping!

‘He’s a good cook though.’

‘Charming in the way he speaks.’

‘Oh but that smile? It caught you!’

‘He washed your clothes, honest in his actions and words.’

‘Dude, he’s so patient with you too.’

‘He’s undeniably gentle despite the strength that he has.’

Oh

Oh .

‘Oh Player you are terribly horrendously fucking STUPID! ’

They caught feelings. Genuine feelings that made their stomach curdle in glee, in delight.

Covering their flaming hot face, they tried to make sure they’re not freaking out because no way were they just coming to terms with this when the object of their affection was dealing a shit ton in the other room!

Their head snapped up when they heard the sound of the door being opened, revealing a tired man. But there was something present now and when they took a closer look, they could see that Thaniyel was determined now. 

Damn them, they are in deep.

“Is everything alright Thani?”

He sighed, looking away to the side and not meeting their gaze for now. 

“Frankly speaking, it’s not painting a good picture right now. However—“ he walked towards them and knelt in front of them, a pose that signifies genuine pleading.

“I’ve managed to remember a solution. One that I and Mayor Monty had done before. It’s a type of food that when eaten, it can morph someone back albeit with side effects. But at this point, I barely have any choice anymore.” 

He clasped onto their hand with both of his own and bowed his head in complete submission, stunning them into silence.

“I don’t have the complete recipe, I only have half of the recipe remembered and I can tell you. Please, on your journey as per requested by Shedletsky, I have my own that I have to burden onto you Player.”

The man squeezed the other’s hand and they could feel the tremors coming from Thaniyel’s hands. However, the next sentence coming from the man’s mouth made their blood froze.

“Find Kitchen Wizard. Say that it was a cure that Monty and I had used before and he would know what it was.”

How much more shit can fate throw itself towards them right now? If remembered correctly, it was because of their careless mistake that Kitchen Wizard is gone. 

But that look of determined desperation coming from Thaniyel made them refuse to say what was the truth. With shame yet with heart abundant with new realized affection, they placed their forehead on top of Thaniyel’s and wrestled out a masked smile.

“You got it Thani. You can put your trust in me.” They softly said, ghosting a kiss on his crown. “I can promise that to you. Or else Shedletsky wouldn’t assign me to do this task yeah?” 

Pulling away slightly, their gut squeezed at the hopeful look the man gave them. 

“T-thank you… Thank you sweetheart. If it wasn’t for my own set of responsibilities, I would’ve ventured with you but—“ once again, just like the night before, they cupped the man’s face and made him look at them in the eyes.

“No buts, I know you have duties old man. I’m willing to do this,” — for you “as my way to say thank you for taking care of me.” They said with a grin, cheeks stretched from forcing themselves. They gasped in surprise when the man pulled them up into a tight embrace, their feet lifting slightly from the floor as the man mumbled gratitudes after gratitudes towards them.

Fluttering their eyes close, they slinked their own arms up to wrap it around Thaniye’s neck. Whatever this is, the feelings, the situation, all of this?

For this man? They are willing to do anything. So starting today, they let themselves fall.