Chapter Text
Luchino Diruse's residence, 6:43pm. Sometime before sundown.
Aleksei had been simply enjoying himself a cup of black tea, looking on at the sunset within the confines of Mr. Diruse's apartment. The sun was just beginning to peck at the waves of the riverbank below, gracing the ripples made by gentle waves. The sky was washed over with sullen grays that highlighted its rays, marooning the clouds and sheeting then with its glow.
He would be lying if he said it wasn't a beautiful sight to see, even as it contrasted with the waves below the balcony. As he took sips from a coffee mug (surely, the professor wouldn't mind, would he?), he took time to admire how still, and yet, how serene the day seemed to be. He wished that all of his days would end just like this; calm, docile, and with a warm mug of tea in his hands...
And then the door swung open. And out went the mug... right over the railings... дерьмо.
Aleksei swung to face the door, shuddering from the knob knocking the wall hard enough to leave a dent. Mr. Diruse usually didn't come home this early. Aleksei figured he wouldn't be home for another four— or maybe five hours. Something was certainly... amiss, this time around.
Whatever it was? Aleksei had no clue. And you know what? He won't even question it. He just hopes that Mr. Diruse would blissfully excuse the broken coffee mug from 4 stories down.
Luchino had already dropped his messenger bag, slamming the door as he fervently paced about the apartment. The former scout looked on from afar, hands flat at his sides. The man had sweat at the brows and was seeming to crumble at the seams, his mahogany-tinted nails trembling against the buttons of his trenchcoat as he clawed at the fabric.
He grumbled low, almost mirroring a deathly growl as agitation and uncertainty spurred across his frame. Aleksei tried to make out any spare phrases or Italian that pierced through his lips, though all he could decipher were things about papers and deadlines.
"Uhm..." Aleksei pondered for a moment, hoping to choose his words wisely to not stoke the wrath of a pissed-off Italian.
"You.. care for tea?" He inquired, glaring out the window to the dimming outdoors.. and the clinking broken shards of porcelain. "Or, ah... coffee?... No mug required..?"
The professor shot over a glare that could slice through diamonds as he raked a hand through his dark, rust-tinted braids. Aleksei felt chill run up his spine as he retreated slightly, leaving his hands visible and grimacing softly as he conceded.
"A-Alright, not coffee! S-Sorry..."
Luchino sighed gruffly as he pinched the bridge of his nose out of Lexi's view, his shoulders slumping low as he leaned on the burgundy chair towards his desk.
His gaze softened in sympathy as he tilted his head, the gnawing in the scout's core slowly compelling him closer to Mr. Diruse without any sole forethought, his arm reaching out in an attempt to give him comfort.
"Long day?" Lexi queried as his hand brushed over his shoulder in soft circles, trying to at least ease some of his tension, though hesitant at first.
Luchino didn't pull away, though he didn't do much in response either, even as Aleksei leaned a little closer. He hummed a little softer, a spur of a though coming to mind when decided on his next moves.
"Here.. maybe..."
He rose his hand gently below the older man's chin, scratching the area in slow, cautious motions so as not to press too deep or avert from any scales.
It was like tending to a resting cat... except the cat was part lizard.
Diruse froze suddenly, blinking at him as he raised a tentative brow. For a moment, Aleksei feared he'd overstepped, recoiling slightly as the professor shuddered from his touch.
"Ah— too much? S-Sorry, I'll just—"
A somewhat scaly hand hitched at Aleksei's wrist as he began to back away. Luchino, contrary to his fears, seemed to begin to ease into his careful touch, though not wanting his pent-up frailty to scare him away. If anything... it helped. Even if it was just for a moment.
"No, no, cariño... you're fine." Diruse breathed, a weary smile rousing his face. "Go on."
And so... Aleksei obliged, letting the professor lead him back as he continued his soothing motions, noting some of the man's smaller scales shedding away as he did.
Gradually, the tensity from before slowly fell away from Luchino’s form, his eyes fluttered shut, and a quiet, rumbling sigh escaped his throat, almost like a tender purr.
"Thank you." he faintly chirped, leaning into Lexi's touch as the younger man smiled.
"Never figured you to be good at this.." Luchino noted, turning his head to his side curiously as he leaned into him. "What is your secret, mio caro?"
Aleksei chortled, deciding to lead the professor's hand towards the living room couch, cradling him as he laid his head on his stomach.
"I-I have never truly.. done... something like this before, Mr. Diruse.."
Luchino hissed lovingly in his arms, admiring him from every sapped sense he could muster, small giggles spurring from him when Lexi leered towards more sensitive spots.
The two confided by the fire as the sunlight dimmed past the horizon, their worries ebbing away through every passing hour. As the two gazed into each other's eyes, Lexi's cheeks grew more rosy in tint as Luchino melted into his touches, the pupils dilating into slits as the browns of the man's eyes lightened to vibrant ambers.
"I could admire your smile for hours, mi amore... and your hands." He crooned, smirking up at the scout as he chuckled.
"Oh, please..." Aleksei mumbled, his peached skin only getting redder as the professor snickered from below, a low rumble growling from his chest.
"You know," he murmured, his voice almost playful, "For a simple boy scout, you have quite the talent for this. Perhaps a little.. too good.."
Aleksei paused mid-scratch, tilting his head at Diruse's comment as he blushed at a more audible purr from him.
"What—scratching? It's not typically found in a Scout's manual," he muttered softly. "At least, not in any of the ones I've read..."
"Well, then if you’re this good with me," Luchino wondered. "What other critters have you been practicing on? Dogs? Cats?..." Luchino’s smirk grew wider, his fangs barely visible.
"...Lizards?~"
Aleksei grumbled slightly at the silly notion as the professor giggled below, watching his eyes roll. He pondered for a moment, before opting to take his teasing a little further.
Diruse caressed the scout's hand, admiring the myriad of lines and swirls on his fingertips. He could sense Lexi's curiosity as he did so, his grin widening as he kept him guessing.
"Or, perhaps..." He began again, dimming his gaze, before slowly lowering the nimble hand further down his body, now baring his fangs in a smirk.
"Maybe your hands would fare better.. elsewhere...~"
Aleksei gasped, his eyes widening suddenly at his rather charged tease as he pulled his hand back near his head. Luchino laughed aloud, the sound reverberating warmly through the room as he watched his face erupt.
He stretched himself a little more out on the couch, the tension visibly gone from his frame as he digressed.
"I jest, tesoro, I jest. Le mie scuse." He redirected Aleksei's hand back into position at the edge of his cheek, winking up to him as he grinned.
"No need to stop so soon, mi caro. You've spoiled me rotten tonight, after all..~"
Aleksei was still processing the innuendo through his very flustered state, stammering for words as his head was sent into overdrive, Luchino comforting him with a boop to the nose to cut through his whirling thoughts.
"Carry on now," the older man purred suggestively, his eyes smoldering as he raised a cocky brow. "Don't leave me waiting, tesoro...~"
The scout couldn't help but concede, humming as the professor's smooth talk hazed his mind. As he resumed his careful scratching, Luchino hummed contentedly, his tail— which Aleksei swore wasn’t there just a moment ago— flicking lazily over the edge of the couch.
"Hmph,” Luchino muttered, the corners of his mouth twitching upwards as they betrayed a hint of amusement. "It seems my words have quite the effect on you, don't they, mi caro?~"
He got no response out of Lexi's flustered state, as he giggled at his own smitten thoughts that his words only spurred on.
"Mmm, I see." He affirmed. "Duly noted."