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Ajax appreciated everything he had been given, he really did.
The flowers from the traveller had been sweet, a hand-picked collection of flora spanning the lands of Liyue and Mondstadt, blooming calla lilies and thin stems of mint, tufty blue flowerheads giving off that distinct, refreshing scent. The creamy petals of cecilias from the highest cliffs of Mond, small lamp glass that glowed like lanterns when the sun drifted low on the horizon, all of the blues and whites offset by the delicate pink of silk flowers from the gardens of Wangshu Inn. It was beautiful, and thoughtful, and he had beamed when Paimon had hauled the bouquet into their arms and offered it out to him.
Then there was Zhongli, who, though he seemed to have not a single coin to his name, had managed to pick up an exquisite gift for him, a traditional leather-bound journal and fine-tipped, authentic quill, with an elegant silky blue feather and matching indigo ink. When Ajax had enquired where he got it from, the man had just smiled and said something about knowing his way around the country that had been his home for so many years. Ajax had decided not to push further, instead thanking him bountifully, and offered to take him to dinner in response. Zhongli had declined, saying it was Ajax’s birthday, and he needn’t repay him for such a gift.
He’d been pleasantly surprised to receive a letter at the Northland bank, too, a few days prior. It had been an extensive letter from his family, signed by each sibling and both his parents individually, and packed with hard candy and trinkets from his homeland. The letter now remained safely in the inside pocket of his jacket, directly over his heart.
Those had been the main ones, but Ekaterina had given him her well wishes, too, and he had found a greetings card from his coworkers on his desk at the bank, too. It was only out of politeness, but he appreciated it nonetheless.
He had taken the afternoon and following day off, and left work before noon, feeling energised at the prospect of some time to relax. And excited. He already knew exactly where he was heading.
The journey from Liyue to Mondstadt usually took a couple of days on foot, but Ajax had planned ahead, and had a horse prepared, saddled just beyond the city gates, and arrived to find a low-ranking fatui member holding the reins and patting it’s neck as they waited for him.
“Sir.” He greeted, bowing his head to Ajax and offering him the reins. “Enjoy your day off, and happy birthday.”
“Thanks!” Ajax grinned, admittedly chuffed over how many of his subordinates seemed to know of the date, before he hauled himself onto the horse with ease, readjusting his feet in the stirrups. He didn’t acknowledge the man again as he nudged his heels into his mount, guiding it to walk along the speckled-stone and grass path leading up into the middle-mountains outside of Liyue Harbour.
The journey was faster on horseback, though Ajax found it challenging to continue along the road, not stopping to fight every camp of hilichurls or wandering abyss mage in his peripheral vision. He itched with the need to take them down, and he knew that each individual fight would take him twenty seconds, if that, but he wanted to reach Stone Gate before the sun began to set, and resolutely urged his horse onwards. He was sure he would get a worthwhile fight the following day, if all went to plan.
The plan in question was simple. Head to Mondstadt, stop short of the city, and go bother a certain winery master in his very comfortable, very big, very empty manor house. Ajax knew that their collisions always ended one way or another - either he’d get a thrilling spar, bloody knuckles and a broken nose, maybe some close-calls with fire, or he’d get fucked silly.
Ajax was happy with either. (Or both, if he was really lucky).
He absently admired the passing scenery as his horse trotted over shallow streams, taking in the golden sky and distant glitter of crystal-flies in the early-evening sun, the serene call of herons echoing throughout the valleys between mountains, and the distant peaks of Jueyun Karst beyond the marshes.
The landscape morphed from rocky plains to olive grasses to reeds and horsetails, the glimmering, clear surface of the ocean staining the edge of Ajax’s vision blue as he rode the final stretch of the path through Dihuah marsh, Stone Gate finally breaching his view, towering and sturdy and signalling his closeness to the Land of Freedom. He felt his veins alight with apprehension, the soft pounding of his pulse in his ears, at the prospect of seeing blood-red hair and blood-red eyes, feeling the burn of hands on his skin, whether it be a tender touch, or one filled with fire.
Through the arching cliffs of Mondstadt, over the river that ran around Dragonspine, Ajax rode, hands loose around the reins, his horse stopping shortly for a drink once they were over the slatted bridge, and he hummed contentedly to himself as they continued onwards, cheeks dimpling from a smile as he caught his first view of the winery, its sloping tiles and carved balcony fences, stacks of barrels filled with wine and mead crowding one side of the brick walls. The crystal-flies here were not like the ones in Liyue - they glowed in the amber light, wings gleaming sky-blue, rainbows in their wake as they reflected the sun - and Ajax loved them dearly. Their pale colouration reminded him of snow, of the icy sky, of glaciers and lakes frozen over.
He dismounted before he arrived at the vineyard, preferring not to trample the winery’s cautiously curated stock, and led the horse up to the stables beyond the manor, desaddling and housing it by himself. He may be high-ranking in the fatui now, but he’d been a junior once, too, and the skills he learned in his early days did not escape him.
He stretched his arms above his head as he wandered back through the leafy trellises, heading to the door tucked away at the back of the winery, hidden behind the tables and chairs laid out for the staff during their breaks. He knocked twice, and waited.
Diluc answered in a matter of seconds, and Ajax wondered if he’d been expecting him.
“Get in here.” Diluc said gruffly, stepping aside and gesturing for Ajax to come in.
“Thank you kindly, Master Diluc.” Ajax sang as he stepped over the threshold of the manor with a lopsided smile. His smile quickly fell, replaced with wide-eyes and parted lips, as he turned to look at the space before him.
The stove was crackling with a low-burning fire, a fresh log licked by the shallow flames, casting a calm, smoky scent over the room. On the small table by the sofa was a bottle, simple but classy, the label proclaiming well-aged spiced sunsietta fruit wine, and before that was a small box, wrapped in thick brown paper and tied with a cord of thread.
“Don’t think about it too hard.” Diluc grumbled as he pushed past Ajax and went to fiddle with an open ledger on the sideboard in the room, refusing to look at the other as he flipped pages and crossed out some numbers. Ajax’s heart pounded, but he, for once, kept his mouth shut, and approached the gift curiously.
He was careful with it, using his nails to untie the double-knotted thread, letting it fall to the table, before he pulled away the taped-down paper either side of the box. It was just a little longer than his hand, but narrow, and he wondered what exactly Diluc could have bothered to purchase for him besides a bottle of wine.
Beneath the paper, the box was sleek, black and smooth to the touch. Ajax opened the lid, running his tongue over his teeth as he did so, and finally got a glimpse of the contents.
It was sharp, silver, made of metal, but far too small to be a dagger. Ajax gently put down the lid, bringing the box up to his face and examining the gift. It was a letter-opener, he realised promptly, beautifully crafted, and engraved upon it was his insignia, his signature mark of combat. But most impressive of all, he noticed with barely-contained awe, was the intricate placement of six, small identical gemstones at the top, in the familiar pattern of Monocerous Caeli.
“This is…” he said breathlessly, still staring at the gift, “... really thoughtful. I’m surprised, Master Diluc.”
“Don’t be.”
“I haven’t seen you in some time.” Ajax said then, clutching the box to his chest. “To come back to this, well, that alone says enough. Having somewhere to come back to, with you waiting for me.”
“I don’t wait for you.” Diluc said forcefully, though Ajax caught the telltale red tint to his ears. “I don’t.”
“If you say so.” Ajax chuckled, “But seriously, thank you. This means a lot more to me than you might realise.”
He was being honest, because every single detail about the gift Diluc had bestowed upon him unveiled great care and genuinity. The other things he had received had been lovely, charming and sweet, and had made him happy, but none had elicited the soft flutter of wings beneath his ribcage, the feeling of flowers entwining around his spine, the sunny glow spread under his skin.
The careful inclusion of his insignia and his constellation, the twinkle of aquamarine stones (which he would absolutely be taking to Zhongli and asking for a detailed description of, just to figure out how much Diluc had spent on this), the high-quality silver, and the practicality and sentimental value of the item for opening letters from his family. It was so much, too much.
He had expected a fight, expected hands up his shirt, maybe even expected a kiss, but he hadn’t expected this.
He returned the lid to the box, setting it down next to the bottle of wine (which, he had also noticed, was a blend he had not seen advertised before - either Diluc was using him as a free taste-testing guinea pig, or he was giving Ajax the first glimpse at at something special, which made his heart contract in his chest), and then stepped around the sofa in the centre of the room, sidling up behind Diluc, wrapping his hands around his waist.
“Don’t be all clingy with me.” Diluc said curtly, nudging Ajax’s face with his shoulder. “It was simply a customary gift.”
“Customary?” Ajax mumbled into the collar of Diluc’s shirt, pressing his forehead against the hot skin below his hairline. “Customary for what? We have no relations aside from dear friends, Master Diluc.”
“We are not friends. And we are certainly not dear .”
“Whatever you say.” Ajax said, and then pressed a kiss to Diluc’s neck, chaste and innocent. The other quickly dropped his displays of indifference, melting into the touch, going lax in Ajax’s arms, allowing him to pull him closer, flush against his chest.
Diluc sighed, resting his head back against Ajax, closing his eyes as the other kissed the crown of his head, then his forehead, then his eyelids, soft and slow and meaningful. After a moment, Diluc turned in his arms, linking his fingers behind Ajax’s neck, and kissed against his closed lips, taking the initiative as he moved down Ajax’s jaw to mouth gently over his Adam's apple, and Ajax swallowed hard, going limp at the slightest show of control from the other. Diluc pressed his tongue to Ajax’s throat, the hot, wet sensation sending a shiver through him, hairs rising on his arms, before he pulled back.
Without a word, Diluc began to unbutton Ajax’s jacket, deft with the clasps holding grey fabric together, prior practice making it easy for him to slide it from his shoulders. Ajax shuffled his arms, the material bunching around his elbows, and waited for Diluc to tug it from his arms.
He didn’t, and Ajax frowned.
“Something wrong?” He asked, before following Diluc’s line of sight, which led him to his own chest, and the leather harness beneath his pectorals. Oh . He had forgotten Diluc hadn’t seen that before. He’d added it to his uniform only recently, a subtle place to strap knives or daggers if he needed.
Diluc brought one hand up, forgetting about Ajax’s jacket entirely, and hooked his finger under the leather band, feeling along the underside of it, knuckles pressed against the thin material of Ajax’s shirt. He could feel the pressure on his skin, and swallowed again, growing twitchy as Diluc’s hand brushed over his nipple, drawing a short, harsh breath from between his lips.
“Needy.” Diluc said flatly, still fingering the harness with mild interest, ignoring Ajax’s sharp breaths and intermittent gasps as hands roamed his chest, before Diluc gave a gentle squeeze over the soft flesh of his tits, making Ajax keen under his touch. He pushed himself further into Diluc’s hold, tightening his grip around his waist.
“Touch me?” He said airily, eyelashes fluttering.
“If you’re good.”
Heat pooled in Ajax’s stomach, and he held his breath, nodding enthusiastically, waiting for Diluc’s next words.
“Jacket off, boots off, mask off.”
Ajax complied quickly, scrambling to unbuckle his boots, kicking them haphazardly behind the sofa, out of the way, before yanking his jacket from around his forearms, letting it fall to the ground with a resounding clink, his chains and charms rattling as they hit the hardwood floor. His mask was last, and he breathed out a sigh of relief as he tugged it from where it was clipped to his hair, setting it on the sideboard, relinquishing his role as a Harbinger for the time being. Diluc had left him to it, and was presently rummaging in a drawer off to the right of the room, mumbling to himself. Ajax stayed where he was, not wanting to do anything aside from what he was told to.
Eventually, Diluc turned around, and in his hand was something that made Ajax’s heart leap into his throat.
A collar. Thick leather, dyed black, with a loop of silver hanging from the front, and wrinkled from where it had clearly been worn before; Ajax wondered if Diluc had any other partners, or if perhaps it was him who had worn it previously. He itched to ask, but resolutely pressed his lips together, and waited.
“Had I foreseen this, I would have had one custom made for you.” Diluc said, crossing the space between them and reaching up to feel around Ajax’s neck, circling it with his thumbs and fingers, and Ajax began to pant shallowly at the idea of Diluc applying a little pressure, collaring him with bruises painted by his own hands. Instead, Diluc brought the real collar up to wrap around Ajax’s neck, and adjusted it, tightening it until the cold metal of the buckle pressed against his throat. “Red would have looked nice on you.”
“Does the black not suit me?” Ajax asked in a whisper.
“I never said that.” Diluc’s hand travelled up, and he cupped Ajax’s face in his rough, warm palm. He did not have his gloves on, and Ajax nuzzled into his hold with a sigh. “Red is my signature colour. That is all.”
Ajax shuddered beneath his hand, fingers twitching with the urge to reach out and touch Diluc, or to reach down and touch himself . But he wouldn’t. He didn’t want to do anything of his own accord, preferring to wait for instructions, for Diluc’s low, gravelly tone in his ears. Taking off his Harbinger mask was like lifting a weight from his shoulders, and with it went his power, at least in his mind. Like this, he wasn’t Tartaglia, nor was he Childe, but just Ajax. Just a boy from a simple fishing town.
And as a boy from a simple fishing town, being helpless at the hands of Master Diluc Ragnvindr was a spectacle. The uncrowned king, the Darknight Hero, the fabled Fatui Hunter, persona non grata from his homeland… It was thrilling, really. Or maybe he was just insane.
(Or both).
Diluc took a hold of his collar, two fingers looping through the hollow ring of silver, and tugged Ajax along beside him, moving to the couch and dropping himself to sit comfortably in the middle. He patted his lap, indicating for Ajax to lay, and watched with an unamused expression as the other instead kneeled between his legs, resting his cheek against the inside of his thigh, bowing his head. Diluc tutted, but nestled his hand in Ajax’s hair regardless, scratching his scalp and petting through auburn strands, a soothing motion, and Ajax exhaled heavily, melting into his lap, the tension present in his shoulders (which he hadn’t even noticed before that moment) dissipating.
The more Diluc ran his blunt nails over Ajax’s scalp, pulled gently on the choppy locks of hair near his crown, let his fingers brush over the shell of the ear, the more warm and gooey Ajax felt, his body becoming pliant, and he began to let low rumbles escape him, resounding from deep in his chest, feeling the way his throat moved against the hard clasp of the collar, the way it dug into his skin with each swallow. After a moment of allowing him peace, Diluc took hold of Ajax’s collar again, lifting his weight and guiding him into his lap, hands finding his waist and running up the expanse of his lean body, thumbs resting over his harness.
“This is staying on.” Diluc said without room for argument, rubbing one thumb over the harness as he began to unbutton Ajax’s shirt. Ajax sat quietly, legs spread either side of Diluc’s hips, feeling a subtle wetness in the front of his boxers, which he had absolutely no intention of dealing with himself, yet.
He remained relaxed, loosely shifting around to help Diluc open his shirt, the harness bunching the maroon fabric in the middle. Diluc sighed, undid the harness at the front, and impatiently tugged off Ajax’s shirt, before redoing the buckle and looking at him with a barely-there, but satisfied, upwards turn of his lips.
“Look at you.” He said quietly, hands smoothing up Ajax’s bare stomach, feeling the shift of his abdominal muscles, before groping around his small tits, squeezing the soft flesh for a second time and admiring the way the harness dug into Ajax’s bare, freckled skin. Ajax whined as Diluc’s calloused fingers pressed against his hard nipples, tweaking them according to his whims, nails brushing the sensitive, raised skin, making Ajax shiver again, the chill wracking him from head to toe. “Did you come all the way here hoping for this?”
“N-no.” Ajax struggled around such a simple word as Diluc played with him. Diluc must have known he was lying, because he twisted Ajax’s buds between his fingers with a sudden harshness, and he choked around a moan. “Well- This, or, or , a fight. Honest.”
Diluc hooked his fingers beneath the leather strap and brought Ajax face to face with him, kissing him roughly, pushing his mouth open with his tongue, licking into the hot expanse of his mouth.
“A fight or a fuck? You’re a masochist at heart.”
Ajax laughed weakly, but didn’t deny it, shuffling in Diluc’s lap with the hope of gaining a little friction against his leg, tempted by their close proximity, but quickly stopped when Diluc’s hand wrapped around his thigh, pressing down hard into his skin.
“Don’t.” Diluc said. “I’ll take care of you. Be good.” He scratched behind Ajax’s ear, and the other complied, silencing himself save for the purrs in his throat and occasional pleading whine.
Diluc’s hands moved, firm circles rubbed into Ajax’s thighs through the material of his clothes, and he zeroed in on the garter belt Ajax wore, too, fiddling with it and admiring the way Ajax’s thigh bulged either side of the strap, letting it come loose purposefully as he undid Ajax’s zipper, urging him to take off his trousers. He obeyed, until they were left in a crumpled pile on the floor, his bare legs, toned, muscular, but with a youthful, soft chub to them, stretching around Diluc’s hips. Diluc kneaded the flesh eagerly, smoothing the red indents left by Ajax’s thigh belt.
“You wear it tight.” He observed, finger running into the stained divot in Ajax’s skin. “The chest harness, too.”
“Feels good.” Ajax said in a short breath, and Diluc pressed a kiss to his collarbone, before his hand snaked up from Ajax’s thigh, pressing against the damp patch at the front of his boxers.
“ Wet .” Diluc commented, pressing Ajax’s underwear against his folds, and Ajax felt as the fabric soaked further, stained a humiliating dark grey, but kept his legs open wide, enjoying the sensation, and the way Diluc watched him. Diluc toyed with him through his underwear, pressing into the stain of arousal fluid, rubbing it over his clit and down towards where his hole waited, already clenching around nothing in greedy anticipation, beneath the thin fabric of his shorts. Ajax squirmed, and then bit back a groan as his harness slid up over his breast, catching his nipple with cold, rough leather.
Diluc patted his thigh.
“Turn around for me.”
Ajax did as he was told, settling with his bare back flush against Diluc’s chest.
“There’s a good boy.” Diluc muttered in his ear, and Ajax felt a thrill run up his spine. “Now…” He helped Ajax ease out of his underwear, then pried his legs apart, hand sneaking down over Ajax’s happy trail, fingertips teasing at the surface of his pussy, barely brushing over his clit, keeping him from feeling too much pleasure so soon.
Ajax pressed himself into Diluc with a whimper as the other avoided touching him where he wanted it most, instead keeping him on edge with the way he explored his folds, the way he scooped Ajax’s arousal fluid from his hole and let it string out, sticky and elasticated, between his fingers, before smudging it over his pussy to make it even wetter , but he always avoided rubbing over Ajax’s clit. He writhed, jerking his hips upwards into Diluc’s hand, searching for the contact he wanted. Diluc pulled his hand away, resting it instead on Ajax’s knee.
“I told you to let me take care of things.”
“You’re not touching me.” Ajax whined, bringing his hand down to hover over his sensitivity, only to have his wrist clasped tightly in Diluc’s strong grip, torn away from between his legs, so far back that it hurt, a dull ache blooming where his arm was strained. He yelped, eyes blurring.
“You’re so desperate.” Diluc growled. “And you look like a whore. Crying over needing your pussy stuffed, all strapped up in leather.” He pressed his lips to Ajax’s neck, and spoke into his skin. “Just wait .”
Ajax blinked away the tears threatening to spill, the telltale burn still present around his eyes, and moaned low in his throat at Diluc’s words, a fresh layer of wetness leaking from him, and he distantly worried that he might start dripping onto the couch. But then again, wouldn’t that be a sight for Diluc? A stain on his expensive furniture from when he denied Ajax his pleasure. Perhaps Ajax wouldn’t mind that, after all.
“Okay.” He said in a small voice. Silence stretched between them for a moment, before Diluc pinched his thigh, earning a sudden jolt from Ajax.
“And…?” Diluc urged.
“I’m sorry!”
“Well done. See , you can be good when you want to be.” He stroked his head again, twirling thick ginger curls between his fingers, petting down Ajax’s hair until he reached his neck once again. Stroking over Ajax’s pussy with his other hand, he fiddled with the collar, using it to pull his head back, so that he couldn’t see as Diluc’s hand worked over him.
Ajax gasped as Diluc finally touched him in earnest, as he felt rhythmic circles over his sensitive heat, and he whined and cried out from the effort of keeping himself still, from not jutting his hips upwards, ever more desperate to chase the sweet sensation of Diluc’s fingers.
Then Diluc slid his index finger inside, and Ajax bit back a squeak, heat flaring under his skin as he heard the squelch of his fluids pooling around Diluc’s skin, the noise repeating over and over as he speared his finger in and out, not aiming to pleasure Ajax in any way, just teasing him with lewd sounds and intimate touch. The feeling of his pussy opening up for Diluc’s digits made Ajax writhe, and he thrust down eagerly, trying to take more of him. Diluc didn’t stop him, but breached his hole with a second finger, unexpectedly.
“ Ah !” Ajax rasped, adapting to the feeling of two fingers inside of him, stopping his mindless fucking.
“That’s why you shouldn’t get greedy.” Diluc said, voice firm. “But it’s okay. You’re being such a good slut for me, you deserve a little leeway, at the very least.”
Good slut . Ajax keened from the words, arching his back, pushing his hips back, spreading his legs impossibly further. Diluc resumed jerking his fingers in and out of Ajax, dragging his fluid with him and forcing it back in, occasionally smearing it up over his clit, letting him taste the delicious edge of real pleasure.
“ Please .” Ajax moaned. “ Please touch me more there- touch me - Master Diluc-!”
“ Perfect ,” Diluc cooed, gently rubbing Ajax as he had begged, “that’s how you ask nicely. You’re doing so well.”
Perfect . Ajax breathed heavily, leaning into Diluc’s hold as he continued to touch him, and Ajax felt his legs tensing, the spark of heat in the pit of his stomach lighting up.
“Don’t come.” Diluc instructed, slowing down his pace and diminishing the fast rise of pleasure in Ajax’s body, much to his disappointment. “I’m not done with you, not yet.”
Done with him , like Ajax was some thing for Diluc to pick up and use at his own convenience. The very thought made his heart pound.
“I want to come.” Ajax whined, rubbing Diluc’s shoulder with the back of his head. “ Please ? I want to come on your fingers, Master Diluc.”
“No.” Diluc said flatly, running his free hand up the side of Ajax’s bare waist. “I want you on your back and under me before you finish.”
“Then let me!” Ajax said enthusiastically, rolling over and lying back in Diluc’s lap, stretching out and making a surprised sound at the way his harness slid up over his tits. He heard the wet noise of skin as he moved his legs, and finally had the decency to blush when he locked eyes with Diluc, who was looking at him with a mixture of amusement and resigned irritation.
“I didn’t tell you to lie down yet.” Diluc said, feeling up Ajax’s thighs, over his hips, up to his waist again. “But I know you’re just eager to please.” He leaned down and mouthed over Ajax’s soft nipple, bringing it back to an erect peak with his tongue, swirling it around the skin, before planting a kiss over the area and drawing back.
“Are you going to eat me out?” Ajax asked with a sly smile, opening his legs a little in invitation. “Y’know I love your tongue, Master.”
“Remember that I’m the one dictating what we do.” Diluc said. “And I’m not eating you out. Not today.”
“Aww.”
“Are you not satisfied with what I’m giving you?” He asked with narrowed eyes, and Ajax tucked his knees up, arms still stretched above his head, a chuckle escaping his lips.
“Oh, no, Master Diluc.” He batted his eyelashes. “I love everything you do.”
“I’m detecting a hint of sarcasm.”
“ Never .”
Before Ajax knew what was happening, his hands were restrained where they rested above his head, wrists pinned by Diluc’s strong hand, and his legs were trapped against his chest, shins pressed against Diluc’s torso where he leaned over Ajax, caging him in against the sofa cushions, rendering him immobile. He suddenly felt a little vulnerable, with the way his pussy throbbed, neglected between his legs, entirely out of his reach now. He could do nothing to aid himself in reaching pleasure, not in this position.
“Stop being such a bratty bitch .” Diluc said through his teeth, his hand (the one he wasn’t using to hold Ajax’s wrists down) grasping onto his collar, squeezing slightly around Ajax’s neck. Nowhere near enough to damage him, but enough to draw a gasp of surprise, and to make his stomach flip.
“What if I don’t stop?” Ajax hissed, frustrated at the lack of touch over his aching groin, at the sharp sensations ricocheting in his lower abdomen. “What are you going to do? Cast me outside in just my pretty little collar? I’ll find someone else to fuck me properly .”
“ No .” Diluc snarled, actually snarled , at him, and Ajax swallowed hard. “No, you won’t. No one else is getting a fucking glimpse of you. This -“ he hooked his finger around the collar’s charm “-shows that you are mine . You belong to me.”
Ajax felt a shudder travel up his body, the hairs rising on his arms and legs at the burning fire in Diluc’s glare, and waited with bated breath for his next move.
Diluc drew away, let him go, and refused to look at him.
Ajax gave it a second, staring expectantly, but the other didn’t let up, rather acting as if Ajax wasn’t there at all , nevermind being there naked and shivering and decorated with leather. He sat up on the couch, acutely aware how his pussy leaked onto the midtone-red fabric, but shuffled forwards anyway, trying to settle again in Diluc’s lap.
He was denied, as Diluc crossed his arms and nudged Ajax off his leg.
Ajax whimpered.
“Master Diluc?”
No response.
“I’m sorry!” He moaned, trying to force Diluc to look at him, but to no avail. “I’m so sorry, I was bad. I’m a horrible little whore for saying someone else could take me. Really, I’m so sorry, Master-“
“Bitching now won’t work.” Diluc said gruffly, giving Ajax a disdainful one-over. “If you’re so eager to finish, do it yourself, since I’m clearly not good enough for you.”
Ajax’s face fell.
“What?” He whispered. “Wait, really? You’re not going to finger me? You don’t want to stuff my tight hole, Master Diluc? It’s so tight because I save myself for you, you know? I was lying when I said someone else could fuck me. They couldn’t. I don’t let anyone else-“
“I said ,” Diluc looked at him through narrowed eyes, “if you want to come, you’d best get to work.”
Ajax’s heart pounded erratically - Diluc really wasn’t joking. Ajax knew he could just say something, break character, say he wanted Diluc to get him off now, that he’d had enough of this cat and mouse act, but something inside of him wanted to keep going. He wanted to know if he could break Diluc’s resolve.
So, he whimpered like a pathetic mutt, eased himself off the sofa and onto the floor, and clung to one of Diluc’s legs, drawing himself up against it, gasping and screwing his eyes shut as he felt his pussy rub against the fabric of Diluc’s trousers. Diluc didn’t react, but neither did he stop him, so Ajax continued.
He rut his hips up, humping against Diluc’s leg like a bitch in heat, mewling as the rough fabric caught between his folds, the friction finally beginning to build. It may not be by Diluc’s hands, but it was by his leg, and Ajax was depraved enough that thrusting against him, sopping wet on the floor at his feet, crying around his moans of ‘Master, Master Diluc! ’ was actually helping to get him off.
He felt his insides twist, a crescendo pounding in his pulse, and gripped Diluc’s leg with his nails, digging them into the fabric and anchoring himself as he began grinding harder, whimpering and moaning and letting words fall from his tongue in a garbled stream. ‘Fuck’ and ‘Oh!’ and ‘Master Diluc’ and “Mmhm!” over and over, syllables mixing together into one mass of sound, a concoction of pleading and begging for Diluc’s attention. Finally, finally , Ajax felt a hand smooth over his hair, and opened his eyes to see Diluc looking at him fondly, the bridge of his nose dusted pink with a blush.
“Pretty fox,” he said quietly, and his voice was nearly drowned out by Ajax’s persistent gasps and groans, “you did good taking care of it yourself. You can come whenever you want.”
Ajax felt himself light up at the soft praise, and pressed his forehead to Diluc’s knee, stuttering over the rhythm he had built as he reached his orgasm on command, crying out and biting into Diluc’s trouser leg as a tether. He felt hot prickling in the corners of his eyes, and a gentle hand wiping away his tears as his thrusts slowed, as he worked himself through the tremors that wracked his body, feeling the sore and sudden sensitivity between his legs. He collapsed back, thighs shaking violently and calves aching from the tension, hands dropping to his side as he slumped into himself with a sigh, still riding the waves of pleasure pulsating throughout his body.
In his hazy afterglow, he felt warm hands caress his face, kind lips smoothing over his skin, a soft voice telling him ‘good boy’ , ‘so good, Ajax’ , and he fell forwards into open arms, nuzzling into the thick red curls that spilled over Diluc’s shoulder, breathing in his scent and finding peace from it, from the fresh tang of mint, and the crisp breeze of the Land of Freedom.
-
Ajax grinned as he looked at himself in the mirror.
He was in Diluc’s ensuite, the other having carried him upstairs after he finished, running a bath for him, wrangling him out of his harness, and deftly, gently washing his hair. Diluc had presently left to let him get dry, but Ajax was too occupied with admiring the red skin around his neck where the leather collar had rubbed harshly against him, a semi-permanent tattoo of ownership etched on his body.
He’d snapped out of his lust-induced haze by now, back to his snarky, charming, slightly unnerving self, but that didn’t stop him from delighting over the sight of the raw skin.
He hummed a made-up tune as he pat himself down with the fluffy towel Diluc had provided him, before wrapping it around his waist and stepping back into the bedroom.
Diluc had changed into his night clothes, a loose, untied shirt and slack trousers, his hair down around his shoulders, and Ajax thought he looked lovely, leaning against his headboard, book in hand, face blank and relaxed. He didn’t waste time, tugging on one of Diluc’s shirts quickly and sidling up to him on the bed. As he had hoped, Diluc’s hand found the side of his head, and he pulled Ajax down to rest in the crook of his neck, stroking his hair as he turned the page with his other hand.
“So,” Ajax said, a teasing lilt to his tone, “I’m guessing you’re letting me stay the night?”
Diluc sighed at his breaking of the silence.
“Of course.” He looked to Ajax, and let a small smile find its way to his face. “Happy birthday, by the way.” And then he pressed a kiss to his forehead, before he resumed reading.
Ajax felt his face glow hot, and his heart stuttered over a beat. With a content exhale, he pulled his legs up under the covers, nestled into Diluc’s side, and closed his eyes.