Work Text:
This is the Sun, or at least the demon world’s equivalent to it. The second anyone dares lay their unfit eyes on him, they know. This is the Sun. He glows brighter than any other light, and his hair looks to be made of flame and burning starlight. And yet the face of such unnatural light and beauty is cruel- his eyes are dark and unwavering, watchful, judgmental and his features sharp and heavy as if they mean to cut and bludgeon. His thick, strong hands are scarred and wrinkled with his age. His orange skin and horns gleam under the low lantern light; this is the General Atilla, in all of his glory.
His attendant and lieutenant, Eris, steps into his tent, the other man’s midnight blue skin glistens with sweat as he sets down his spear. He’s a tall glass of water, with a strong jawline and long pale lashes framing his watery grey eyes, which focus themselves onto the general before he grinned as if in on a joke.
Atilla immediately glares at him from his seat, his eyes trailing over him with slight disdain. “You look tired, Lieutenant.” He states in an icy, sharp tone, leaning back and crossing his arms over his chest.
“Sorry, General.”
Eris says, rolling his eyes with a smile as he saunters over to where the general sat at his desk.
“Sorry isn’t enough.”
He sneers, standing up and crossing over to him. He examines every bit of him, every drop of sweat, every bruise and cut. Atilla reaches out, grasping Eris’ chin and tilting it up towards himself. “I expect my Lieutenant to be better than that.” He grumbles, looking at him severely.
“But of course, sir.”
Atilla studies him for a moment, seeming satisfied with that answer. He lets go of his chin and returns to his chair, sitting down with a slight sigh.
“And what exactly were you doing to end up this way? Are the rest of the men this way?”
“No, general.”
“No? Then why are you the only one who looks ready to collapse?” Atilla grumbles. He looks his Lieutenant up and down, clearly annoyed with his current state.
“I held off the enemy, sir, while the rest of my men scoured the area. We were caught off guard- I did not mean to fight alone, sir.” The added sir sounded somehow more disrespectful than if he was to have left it off. Eris stretched and looked at his nails, waiting for his general to continue.
Atilla’s face darkens at that, and he gives a slight grunt of annoyance. He studies Eris, a look of irritation in his eyes, before standing up and crossing over to him once again. “Never fight alone again.” he demands, his irritation showing in his voice, though it’s more out of concern rather than anger at this point. Atilla stays where he is as Eris settles down on one of the cots in the tent, looming over his Lieutenant as he moves. He takes a closer look at the various injuries on the other’s body, his own hands twitching slightly with the strong urge to reach out and touch him.
“General, are you alright?” Eris asks, laying down with his eyes closed.
Atilla huffs at the question, the concern in it annoying him. He crosses his arms over his chest, trying to look stern and indifferent. “Of course I’m fine. You’re the one who got injured, Lieutenant, not me.”
“…Atilla, I will be okay.” Eris muttered, rolling over and sitting up, looking up at Atilla. “I will not fall apart the moment you look away.”
Atilla doesn’t meet his gaze, keeping his arms crossed and focusing on a spot on the floor.
“That’s not the issue here, Lieutenant. You fought recklessly and unnecessarily.”
“We were caught off guard- it wasn’t like I did this for fun.”
“Still. Is it so bad that I… worry for you?” Atilla muttered, pointedly not looking at Eris.
“…Atilla, you can look at me.” Eris says softly, whispering it into the tent like a secret. Avoiding the question.
Atilla tenses at that, keeping his gaze fixed on the floor. He mutters under his breath. “I have no reason to look at you. You’re no different from any other soldier.”
Eris chuckled, a soft smile on his face.
“So bashful, darling.”
Atilla’s face darkens at that, his cheeks flushing red. He sputters at the pet name, struggling to think of a response, and finally snaps out.
“Eris-! We can not-“
Eris nods along as he stretches but then winced, and then with a quick glance to Eris’s back, Atilla saw shallow wounds littering his back like someone was keeping score on it.
Atilla’s eyes widen at the sight, and he instinctively takes a step forward, before forcing himself to stop. “You’re still in pain, aren’t you? Foolish man…” he says, his tone becoming softer, less biting.
“I’ll take a break from the battlefield tomorrow if it lessens your anxiety, my dear General.”
Atilla looks satisfied at his answer, letting a small sigh of relief at it.
“Good. You need to rest. You’re not invincible, much as you act like it, Lieutenant.”
“Don’t I know it…”
Atilla huffs, studying the other as he shifts slightly on the bed. He stays standing across from him, debating on sitting down on the bed next to him, before giving in.
“You are far too valuable for us to lose you to something like exhaustion, you reckless fool.”
Eris leans on Atilla, settling his head on his shoulder like it belonged there.
“Your reckless fool, general.”
Atilla tenses at that, though he doesn’t push the other away. He glances across at him, searching for people who might be spying in on this before relaxing, allowing himself this moment.
“Perhaps. At least you’re mine.”
“I’m yours?” Eris asks teasingly, his eyes sparkling like stars as he cups Atilla’s face.
Atilla huffs at the touch, a blush on his cheeks. He grumbles, grasping one of Erus’ hands.
“Shut up… a man is allowed to be a bit possessive, Lieutenant.”
“Of course he is.” Eris whispered, wrapping his tail around Atilla’s waist.
Atilla makes a slight noise of annoyance at that, before sighing and giving in. He moves his arm around him, pulling him closer.
“Be quiet. You’re not allowed to tease me.”
“Is that an order?”
Eris raised an eyebrow, as if considering making a dirty comment to his own words. He shook his head, laughing to himself.
Atilla gives Eris a sideways glance, catching the look on his Lieutenant's face.
“Keep those dirty thoughts to yourself.”
Atilla rolled onto his side so he could face Eris, an arm wrapping lazily around his Lieutenant's waist. He gives a small huff, resting his head on his other arm.
"Remind me why I put up with you again?"
“Because I’m… pretty? Younger? More flexible? Tell me when I’m getting close, general, I simply must know.”
Atilla gives another scoff, a small grin playing at his lips.
"Besides the fact that you look like a painting, Lieutenant. We both know that's not the only reason."
Eris’s cheeks went a dark purple at the compliment. “My battle skills, sir?”
The general laughed, tightening his arm around the Lieutenant's waist.
"That's one reason."
He leans in a bit closer, his breath warm against Eris' ear as he continues talking.
"I can list some of the other reasons, if you want me to."
“Someone’s in a good mood…”
All the same, Eris looked away, his blush growing deeper.
Atilla laughed slightly at the Lieutenant's reaction, leaning even closer so his chest was pressed up against his side. He spoke quietly, his hand tracing constellations on the other's hip as he did so.
"You're a damn good soldier, for one. Smart, strong, skilled. And of course, you're attractive. You know how many soldiers would love to be in my position right now?”
“How many, sir?”
“Hundreds, Eris.”
Atilla grins, enjoying the effect his words have on the Lieutenant. He trails light kisses down the other's neck as he continues.
"There's plenty more. You're loyal to me. You're strong and dependable. You look absolutely gorgeous in your armor. Do you want me to keep going, or are you feeling good about yourself yet?"
“You’re going to give me an ego, general.”
Eris muttered, brushing a hand through Atilla’s hair.
"As if you don't already have an ego, Lieutenant. I'm simply reminding you of all the reasons why you do and should. Because as much as you love being praised by others, there's one person whose opinion you seek out above all, is there not?"
As Atilla spoke, he held Eris’s chin gently to look into his lover’s eyes. Eris leaned into the touch with a blissful sigh, a soft smile on his face.
“Don’t you know it, sir.”
The general grins, taking delight in the other's reaction. He moves closer again and starts to trailing kisses from the other's jaw and down his neck, enjoying the way the Lieutenant melts beneath him.
"Of course I do, but I like hearing you say it. Say it for me, Lieutenant."
“Say what?”
Atilla laughs slightly against the Lieutenant's neck, continuing his trail of kisses down towards his jaw.
“Remind me, Lieutenant.. who do you belong to?"
“Nobody, sir, but I offer up my soul to you. You have my loyalty, my heart-“
Atilla presses one last kiss on the back of Eris' neck to silence him before he pulls back. He stares down at the Lieutenant sprawled beneath him for a few moments before continuing.
"Now that I'm sure you're feeling confident enough to ramble my praises, I have one final question for you."
Eris smiled up at him, rubbing his shoulder from where he lay.
“Go on.”
“Do I love you?”
“Not as much as I love you, sir.”