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Lucanis wasn't sure he believed in soulmates. Sure, everyone is given one. A lot of people even end up learning about them really early on when mysterious lines start appearing on their skin. Sometimes, they're permanent, from the other getting tattoos or particularly nasty scars; other times, they're temporary, formed by a scratch or a child writing on their skin. Everyone he knew had the marks at one point or another. Hell, Illario has a tattoo from his soul mate across his back.
That's not to mention that the marks sometimes bring with them a side effect. Illario shares emotions with his; Caterina once said she could always feel when her husband was in danger. Viago's poison resistance transferred to Teia. He heard tales of mages that had their power boosted by their partners. Not everyone gets a side effect like that, but they only appear after the soulmates meet and agree to a relationship.
Lucanis, however, has gone his whole eighteen years without a single mark. There are only three reasons he can think of. Either he's Soulless and will never have a soulmate, or his soulmate is super careful about hurting themselves. He supposes they could also be super young, but Lucanis isn't sure he'd want a soulmate more than half his age. Maybe if he does have one, he'll get lucky and meet them once they're an adult.
All of this to say, when Lucanis woke up one Tuesday morning to find himself covered in tattoo like marks, he was more than a little surprised. He'd run to his bathroom immediately, staring into his mirror at the marks that not only took up his entire body but splayed happily across his face and neck, too. They're such a light blue they may as well be white, and dwarven in design. Who gets this many tattoos overnight?
A mix of emotions floods him in an instant. He has a soul mate. His soul mate has easily identifiable tattoos. These same tattoos are now on display across Lucanis' body. His soul mate can be used against him.
"Illario!" Lucanis calls, knowing his cousin will hear him.
It's only a moment before Illario stumbles into the room, still groggy from sleep. "What could you-"His cousin freezes, taking in the menagerie across his skin. "Oh." It takes him another moment to formulate a plan. "I can help you cover up the ones on your face and neck with makeup, but it'll be easier to cover the rest with clothes." Right. Right, that makes sense. "You know you'll have to tell Caterina, right? She'll go harder on you if she finds out before you tell her."
"So she can track them down and either kill, imprison, or marry them to me?" Lucanis hadn't thought about marriage before, but he thinks he'd like to get to know whoever it is before he marries them. Maybe go on a few coffee dates or a gondola ride.
"It's not so bad being engaged." Illario tries.
"You've known yours since you were both kids. I'm just now learning mine exists." Illario has the balls to look smug about it.
Lucanis turns so he can face his cousin fully, only to spy Caterina standing in the doorway, looking him over with a discerning gaze. For the first time that morning, Lucanis feels awkward being ass naked in his own space. "We'll talk about this over breakfast." She states before moving off. Shit.
"Now, you don't have to worry about telling her." Illario smirks. Lucanis would smack him if it would do anything more than make his cousin leave and force Lucanis to conquer makeup on his own. His cousin is getting way too much pleasure from this.
"Just help me with the makeup..." Lucanis grunts, moving to find his pants while Illario gathers his extensive collection of products.
A full year passes before Lucanis has to think about his soulmate again. It's not even anything special when it happens. He's just strolling through the Treviso market one day when he sees Viago with some random elven kid in tow. Lucanis freezes. That boy has the same tattoos that make up his marks. There's not even any denying it since the kid is completely naked. Lucanis' hand moves to one of the marks on his wrist, thumb tracing the pattern even as his eyes find it's mate on the boy.
"Who're you?" The boy states, appearing in front of Lucanis when he blinks. There's no emotion in the tone, and all he sees in those mismatched eyes are curiosity and boredom.
"Kal. I thought I told you not to bother anyone." The boy blinks up at Viago.
"Why?" The way he asks gives Lucanis a weird feeling.
"Because we have places to be, and most people feel weird having a naked person talking to them on the streets."
"But he hasn't answered the question yet."
"Lucanis." Lucanis states. Kal nods, then follows Viago through the streets once more. He's going to have to ask Viago about Kal, isn't he?
It barely takes Lucanis three days before he cracks and makes his way to the de Riva villa. He's not at all surprised to find Teia there, the two were married the moment they found out about each other.
"Oh? Lucanis. What are you doing here? I didn't think you were interested in any de Rivas anymore."
"I... Viago, can we talk about Kal?"
Viago glares at him, then turns to Teia. "Keep an eye on him. I'll be back shortly." Viago shoots him a pointed glance and demands he follow. They end up in a locked chamber with a level of soundproofing Lucanis doesn't even have at home. "Why are you asking?"
Lucanis flinches, hesitating for a moment before rolling up his sleeve and looking away.
"... I see." Viago doesn't seem happy about that. "What do you want to know?"
"How'd he end up with those tattoos? I know they weren't there that long ago."
Viago blinks at him, finding a place to start. "Found him while on a contract about a year ago. I was sent to assassinate the entire convoy of dwarves he was staying with. The night I spent planning, they decided to burn lyrium into his skin to 'increase his magical abilities.' In the morning, he woke up with no memories and no one else to take him, so I brought him with me."
"... I see." Just knowing that makes something turn uneasily in Lucanis' stomach. "I don't think Caterina knows about him yet. I don't want to force him into anything, so..."
"Understood." Viago agrees. Lucanis doesn't like this, but it's probably better for Kal than being forced from the only connection he has just because Lucanis exists.
The next time Lucanis sees Kal, he's twenty-eight and at a ball thrown for newly promoted Crows. It's the stunning, long white hair that catches his attention from across the room to begin with. A moment later, it's the way the man wears nothing but a dark purple skirt with blue or black tartan. He's not even wearing shoes. And yet Lucanis can't look away from Kal, the man looking more handsome than Lucanis had ever imagined. His face heats, and he can feel the way his mouth goes dry.
"What's wrong, cousin? Find someone that suits your fancy?" Illario teases.
"N-no."
"Seems like you do." A distinctly feminine voice states, appearing at Illario's other side.
Illario smirks at the curvy, elven woman. "Allona, mia bella ragazza, don't tease my cousin so. Not everyone can be as experienced as you and I." She grins, standing on her tip-toes to give him a kiss. Since he's not going to stay around to see how that develops, Lucanis moves into the crowd.
He barely gets three steps until he feels eyes following him. Sinking deeper into the crowd, he searches for the source. Finally, he finds his target. It's Kal, staring at him with a dumbfounded look and a pretty pink blush spreading across his cheeks and ears. Oh. Grand. He thinks Kal is hot. This isn't going to plan.
Lucanis blinks, and Kal is in front of him. "You're hot." He knows his cheeks are red just by the heat coming off them. "Wanna talk?" He really, really does. This might be a bad idea, but Lucanis wants to form a connection with Kal, even if he's ten years his junior. Is it the soulmate thing? Is it just because he finds Kal hot? He's not sure, and he can't really remember why he was trying so hard to avoid it.
"Yeah..." Kal drags him to a quiet corner. Lucanis admits to himself that he's not really sure what he should be doing now.
"Why do I feel drawn to you?" Kal asks. "I've found men hot before, but never like this. There's something different about you."
Lucanis isn't sure where his mouth got permission from before he spoke, but it's not like he could stop himself. "We're soulmates." He blurts out. Kal has a curious look in his eyes. Lucanis pushes up his sleeves to show him. "These appeared elven, maybe twelve years ago?"
"Which is when mine were forced on me," Kal confirms, getting closer, placing a hand beside Lucanis' head, and whispering in Lucanis' ear. "So. Now that we've got that out of the way, what are we going to do about it?" Lucanis shivers at the way Kal's warm breath whispers against his ear.
"I... I um..." Stupid idiot. He should be better than this. "I don't want to force you into anything."
Kal purrs against his skin. "Do I look like someone you can force into something?"
"No--" Lucanis chokes out. Mierda. Kal's going to be the death of him before the night is over; he just knows it.
"Then, believe me when I say I think I like you." Kal growls. Mierda, what has he gotten himself into? "We just met, but that doesn't bother me. Care to see how compatible we really are?" Lucanis only just manages a nod, causing something unknown to shift. Kal hits him with that look and Lucanis is done for. He's tongue deep in a kiss before he has a moment to process, and then his head spins as he takes everything in. He might not know much about Kal, but he knows he wants to savor every touch, every moment of contact for the rest of his life.
"Hey, Kal," Lucanis asks one afternoon as they eat a small lunch at Cafe Pietra. "Why do you only wear a kilt?" Lucanis may hate the tea Kal's drinking, but it only makes Kal hotter.
"Hm? Oh, that." Kal takes a sip of the hated beverage. "Clothes rub annoyingly against my tattoos. Honestly, I'd prefer to go nude, but Viago won't let me."
Lucanis smirks. "I thought you said you can't be forced into anything."
"Normally, no. But do you know what Viago does when I try? He makes me wear more clothes. And they have this stupid clasp that I can't get off. Stone's balls, I hate it." There's another one of Kal's unique curses. Lucanis loves them all.
"Terrible. Absolutely horrible of him."
"I know, right?!" Lucanis watches like a lovesick puppy as Kal goes off on a tirade about clothes and nudity for the better part of half an hour.
"Lucanis," Caterina states, interrupting the nice nap he and Kal were having on the roof of some building. She knows now. What is she going to do? Does he need to protect his boyfriend and soulmate? Does he need to run? He's not sure, but his hackles are raised, and he's ready to fight if he needs.
"Caterina."
"I see you've found your soulmate. It's interesting that Viago's hidden him from me all this time."
"Yeah, weird." Or it would be if Viago wasn't a paranoid prick who willingly poisons himself to build up immunity. "What do you want?"
She blinks at him slowly. "I have a mission for you. You're going to a prison to assassinate the jailor." Oh? "When you return, we'll discuss the future." And that's what he was afraid of.
"I'll leave in the morning," Lucanis promises. He needs time to prepare, anyway, and Kal deserves to know. Caterina nods and leaves them alone.
"Mmm." Kal mumbles, coming out of his nap. "Luca?" Lucanis moves back to Kal, pushing some of the hair out of his face with a smile.
"Caterina just came by to give me a new contract." Kal blinks, waking up more fully. "I'll be leaving tomorrow."
Those captivating eyes hold a sadness to them. "When will you be back?"
"It shouldn't be too long. A few months at most."
"Promise you'll come back to me?"
Lucanis gives his love a warm smile. "Always. Even if I have to fight the Maker, I'll find my way back to you." He presses a kiss to Kal's forehead. "There's nothing in this world that can keep me from you."
Kal smiles. "I'll hold you to that." Kal returns the kiss. Lucanis lets them bask in the moment for a few minutes more before he has to get up. They both know it takes a while to prepare for a contract like this, and he's not going to run behind and risk Caterina doing something to Kal.
"Luca?" Kal starts. "Be careful, yeah? Allona says your cousin's been feeling off recently."
"I will."
Lucanis was a fool. He's been betrayed. Sold out. Played in all the wrong ways. He's been captured on what would normally be an easier mission, and now he's paying the consequences.
How is he supposed to face Kal after this? Will he even be able to? He doesn't know, and that hurts more than the binds or the whips cutting into his skin. His skin... He's going to be the reason Kal's covered in marks, isn't he? His soulmate doesn't deserve to have all of Lucanis' pain spread across his body.
A cold blade comes up, effortlessly slicing through his armor and leaving him naked. "You have rather obvious marks, don't you? It shouldn't be hard to track down yours." He won't let them have Kal, no matter how much he has to endure.
"You will not touch him." Why can Lucanis feel a buzzing within him? It's foreign and awkward and doesn't feel like it's his.
"And how do you plan to stop me? You couldn't even keep yourself from being captured." Lucanis grits his teeth, jaw locking as he's dragged deeper into the prison and thrown into a dark cell.
First things first, he needs to understand his surroundings. The floor's sand and his cell seems to be made out of cold, unforgiving metal. He's only just got enough space to lay down, and only if he's at an angle. Moving his hands across the walls and door, he finds nothing that he can use to make an escape.
Should he try to warn Kal somehow? They'll probably want to go after him, and he's got at least a little headstart. It's really all Lucanis can do right now, even if he doesn't want to force Kal into carrying Lucanis' marks. From experience, he knows that anything that irritates Lucanis' skin can make a mark on Kal.
Pressing his nails as hard as he dared into the skin on the inside of his forearm, Lucanis hopes his simple message gets through. Kal can keep himself alive in the most unlikely scenarios. With just a little warning, he can do a lot. And he'll have a reason to so long as he knows Lucanis is still alive. Lucanis will heal from his ordeal. Kal can't heal from death or worse.
Lucanis has long since lost track of time when they come for him the first time. He's dragged out into the blinding light, stiff limbs aching with the act. Something slices into his wrist, precious blood dripping down into something metallic or glass below. He's not sure.
"Now. What type of demon should we make you into, my dear Demon of Vyrantium?" Lucanis glares silently at her as someone staunches his bleeding. They want him alive, for now, at least. He's got a bad feeling about the whole demon thing, but that's hardly important right now.
"You could get your goons off me and let me show you." Granted, he's currently unarmed, but he's fairly confident he can grab one off one of these guards. Or he could if his hands weren't bound.
“You pretty, pretty boy. I’ll enjoy making you into a demon.” She grabs his face, handling him roughly. A vial is pressed to his lips. He can’t close his mouth because of the way she’s got her death grip. “Swallow.” She demands. He doesn’t want to, not when he can feel the magic in it with every bone in his body.
Lucanis knows the moment that vile liquid goes down his throat, he won’t be able to go back to how things were.
Zara doesn’t care, though. She clamps his mouth and nose shut, whispering that he’ll be allowed to breathe again once he does as she commands. She’s trying to force his hand. He refuses to pass out in front of these assholes, but he’s not going to swallow the mystery potion that’s probably going to get him possessed or something.
“You. Get his throat.” Hands fine his neck, looking for the pressure points. Lucanis would rather pass out and choke on whatever this is than give them the satisfaction.
That foreign sense of magic buzzes in his body again, more familiar but still unusual. He knows it’s Kal. It feels too much like his boyfriend not to be. He… He doesn’t want to hurt Kal like that. He has to survive, no matter what they do to him.
Lucanis swallows the potion, feeling every moment of it sliding down and dispersing through his body. “Good boy.” He’s released to heave heavy breaths into his lungs. Lucanis ignores her. Instead, he only hopes that Kal will still accept him, no matter what he turns into once he gets out of there.
Lucanis sits in his dark cell, unable to sleep due to the feeling of something moving and shifting inside him. It’s been days, but he refuses to show weakness. He may not know what it is that’s making a home inside of him like the parasite it is, but he’s not going to let it win. That would be letting Zara win, and he’ll be dead and buried long before he lets that happen.
“Who?” A voice not his own asks. Great. Now he’s hallucinating. “No!” The voice argues. The movement in his soul has settled down. “Who. You.” It demands. Lucanis doesn’t bother answering. “Want. Out.”
The room shifts, glowing purple. Something appears in front of him. “Want. Out.” It demands. “Let. Out.” That purple gets closer to his sleep-heavy eyes. It just gives him a headache.
“You. Respond.” The purple demands. “Now!” A trickle of something Lucanis is pretty sure is blood dribbles down his nose and into the growing hair of his mustache and beard. No matter how tired he is, he’s not going to respond to a figment of his imagination. That would just mean Zara’s winning.
“You. Lucanis.” The purple states, appearing in front of him once more. Oh, look. It’s got more of a shape this time and it kind of looks like him.
“Zara will not break me,” Lucanis mutters to himself, ignoring the purple. “I’m going to get out of here, then I’m going to track that bitch down and kill her.”
“Lucanis. Escape?” The purple asks. “Yes! We. Escape!”
“I’m going to kill her and find Kal again.”
”Kal? Who. Kal?” Great. Now, the figment of his imagination is taking an interest in him.
“No! Not. Imagination! Real!” The purple shifts, fully forming into a purple and grey mirror of himself. “I… Spite! Live. Inside!” The purple taps his chest right where he most often feels the shifting. “Yes! Me!”
Well, isn’t that just great? He’s possessed. Just fucking perfect. Mierda.
“Who. Kal!” It demands again. Lucanis rubs his face harshly, pulling at cuts new and old. Sure. Why not? Why shouldn’t he talk to the demon he apparently shares a body with now? Kal will still love him after this, right?
“Why marks?” Spite asks, sitting on the other side of their cramped cell. “What for?” Spite runs his hands over the marks on his legs.
“They’re soulmate marks,” Lucanis explains. “They match the tattoos my soulmate has.”
“Kal?” Spite blinks.
Lucanis chokes up, missing the man more and more every day. “Yeah.”
“And these?” Spite touches a pair of spots on his back, between his shoulder blades and spine. “Who from?” What? None of Kal’s tattoos reach that part of his back. If he has new marks, that means he has a new soulmate, but… Lucanis stares at Spite.
“Turn around.” He demands, swallowing harshly even though his mouth has been dry for longer than he cares to remember. Spite cocks his head but does as asked. Right there, in the same place Spite pointed out, are the tiny hints of Spite wings, just ready to pop out whenever Spite demands it.
Lucanis rubs his face, laughing bitterly. “I’m soulmates… With the demon sharing my body. The Maker has a sense of humor.”
“Soulmates? With Lucanis?” Spite mumbles before smiling an actual, genuine, happy smile.
“Yes!” If the demon can be happy, then maybe he’s not just a demon?
“Let’s discuss that once we get out of here.” They will get out. They’ll see Kal again; then they’ll figure out how Spite factors into all of this.
Lucanis knows something’s off about the day when he feels that buzz inside him that comes from Kal, not Spite, and hears orders being shouted from outside his cell. There’s a strange feeling of strength returning to his weakened body as crashes get louder and louder. A curious sensation he hasn’t felt in years wells within him.
“Kal,” Lucanis whispers, knowing his boyfriend is on his way. Spite perks up at that, eager to meet the man for the first time. Does he really want to see Kal like this? His wonderful Kal doesn’t deserve to have to deal with the mess Lucanis has become. He’s nothing but skin and bones; he hasn’t gotten to walk more than five feet in who knows how long, and his hair and beard are unkempt, long, and dirty. Kal’s not going to want him like this.
The door to his cell slams open, assaulting Lucanis with light far brighter than he’s used to. “Luca!” He’s surrounded by warm, loving arms before he’s even recovered from the shock and able to see again. He melts into those big, strong arms. “I finally found you. I wasn’t sure we’d ever see each other again.”
Lucanis hugs back, wondering why he was ever worried in the first place. “I’m here. You found me.” Tears prick at his eyes.
“I’m sorry it took me so long.” Kal apologizes, capturing Lucanis’ attention immediately. “So much has happened.”
”You still came for me.” Lucanis reassures. “That’s all I could have asked for.” Kal picks him up, dragging him out of the cell. Lucanis gets the chance to stretch his legs for the first time in a long time. He’s stiff and sore, but it feels good.
“Here.” There’s shuffling beside him before Kal wraps his own kilt around Lucanis. “I know how much you hate showing off like that.” That’s… not exactly true, but he is thankful to be wearing something after so long. He’d bring up Kal’s newfound nudity, but he knows his soulmate doesn’t care. “Oh! Do you want my boots, too?” He’s already kicking them off before Lucanis can answer and on Lucanis before he’s fully registered the act. It makes him blush just a bit.
Kal reaches into one of his magic pockets, pulling out a water skin and a block of cheese. “Here. Eat what you can while we get out of here.”
Lucanis doesn’t disagree, it’s just… “Calivan.” He states. “I came here for Calivan. We’ll leave once he’s dead.” He takes a swig of water, relishing the first real drink he’s had since coming here. “And they have a vial of my blood.”
Kal smiles at him. “Let’s get going, then.” Kal leads the way. “On our way, why don’t you tell me about the spirit with you?” He can see Spite? Lucanis smiles. Of course, he can see Spite. Kal’s always doing the impossible.
“Yeah.”
“Hey Luca?” Kal asks as they gather some of Lucanis’ things
“Hm?”
“Are you sure you’re up for this? I don’t want you to over-exert yourself because you tried to do something before you’ve recovered.”
“I’m fine.” He assures as he puts on a proper outfit. It doesn’t fit as well as it should. “I promise… I’ve… Felt weirdly fine since you found me.”
Kal cocks his head in that curious way only he ever managed. “What do ya mean?”
Ah. How to explain it? “Being around you quite literally gives strength to my weakened, wasted limbs.” That hurts more than it should to admit. “I think you would have had to carry me out if it didn’t.”
“I wouldn’t have minded.” He smiles. “Do you want help trimming your hair and beard?” Right. He probably looks like a hot mess.
Lucanis huffs. “I’m going to have to shave, aren’t I?” He grumbles. “I’d forgotten.”
“You don’t have to.” He whips around, finding Kal with a cute blush across his cheeks and ears. “It’s hot.” Well, maybe he can keep the beard for a while… He should still trim it, though; it’s a bit unruly.
“You can help once we’ve settled in.” Lucanis smiles. “Now, where are we going?” Kal grins, going off on a spiel about the Lighthouse and all that. It’s adorable and soothes something deep in his soul.
“So,” Kal states, pulling him closer in their bed. “These are new.” Kal’s fingers run over the marks he got from Spite, uncaring that he can almost certainly feel every one of Lucanis’ bones. It makes him just a little self-conscious.
“Mine!” Spite states from somewhere behind him.
“Mm? That so?” Kal purrs. There’s something exciting about it. Lucanis missed hearing his boyfriend like that.
“Yes!”
Kal hums warmly. “You know, I hadn’t expected you to have company when I finally found you again.”
Lucanis flips over so he can look at his boyfriend. “That’s not a problem, I hope?” He doesn’t think Kal would dump him over that, but now that the thought’s there he can’t help thinking it.
“Why would it be?” Kal doesn’t mind? No. Of course, he wouldn’t. It’s just… Is Kal turned on by the thought? “It’s hot.” Oh. Yeah. Okay. That’s not what Lucanis was expecting.
“Kal. Likes us.” Spite mutters, tracing something on Kal’s back. Lucanis watches as familiar patterns come out of nowhere to cross Spite’s skin. He’s never seen someone get their marks in real time before. “Kal has the marks!” Spite cheers. “Just like Lucan—“ Spite vanishes just like that, leaving Lucanis with a headache.
“Where’d he go?” Kal pouts, turning to see that Spite is, in fact, gone.
“To give me a pounding headache.” Lucanis winces. “Mierda. Whatever he got from that is too much for me.”
Kal kisses his forehead with a smile. “Would you like me to ask Viago for some painkillers? It’ll only take a moment.”
“Please?” Lucanis gets another quick kiss before Kal scurries off to complete his task. Lucanis barely has the time to feel like a moment has passed before Kal’s in front of him with a vial of swirling blue and silver.
“Here,” Kal helps him sit, bringing the vial to his lips. “This should help.” Lucanis takes the assistance, downing the weirdly sweet concoction in a matter of moments. “Rest. We don’t have anything to do for a while.” Kal sits on the edge of their bed, running his fingers through Lucanis’ hair. It’s soothing.
Lucanis falls asleep in a matter of minutes.
Kal smiles, looking down at the sleeping man on his bed. Luca might be forced to wear the signs of his imprisonment like a badge of shame, but all Kal cares about is that he’s safe and alive and able to be in his arms once more.
They can deal with the severe malnutrition and muscle loss in time. All that matters is Luca being back. Kal even gets a whole second soulmate out of the deal, so he can’t exactly complain. He brushes a strand of hair from Luca’s face. How much of his suffering could Kal have prevented if only the Talons had let him go after Luca before a whole year had passed?
“Kal?” He blinks, finding Spite kneeling on the bed in front of him. “What’s wrong?”
He thinks for a moment. “I think the Talons made a stupid decision and that we should go get some tea.” Spite nods eagerly, following Kal out of the room and all the way over to the kitchen.
“Shouldn’t you be bound to Luca?” He’s curious what changed.
“Before, yes. Not now! Now I can stay with Kal, too!” Kal smiles at that. Spite deserves a little freedom.
“So if you get some freedom to move around, what do I get from our connection?” Kal teases, putting on some water for tea.
Spite blinks at him, humming as he considers it. That purple gaze seems to dig into his soul. “Wings. Like Lucanis! But different!” He hadn’t actually expected an answer. “Lucanis can use mine. But Kal… Kal’s magic provides his. The marks only shape it.” Oh? Kal wants to try it out. Now.
“Come on,” Kal grins. “We have an experiment to do.” Spite follows him out to the courtyard, where Kal stands for a moment, focusing his magic toward the new marks on his back. It takes easier than expected, and in a moment, Kal has a pair of massive wings formed with lightning sparking and crackling at his back.
Spite grins at him, pulling out his own and showing Kal the ropes. It takes a minute for Kal to figure out how to move them, but once that happens, he takes to the air with a massive grin and no cares in the world for this one moment.
Spite joins him, flying by his side as they circle the Lighthouse. The only way this could be better is if Luca was with them.
“So, First Talon, huh?” Kal smirks, pressing Luca up against a wall. Spite cheers while a delicious pink spreads across those cheeks. He’s going to have to do something about that soon.
“You can have me all you want later,” Luca grumbles into his ear. “For now, I believe I’m owed a date of my own?”
Kal captures those lips in a hungry kiss. “That so?” He smirks. “And what would the illustrious new First Talon want to do on such a date?”
“I think you’ll just have to follow me and find out.” Luca teases, taking his hand. Kal follows him without a word. They may go through half of Treviso and end up flying to the top of the chantry building, but the picnic Luca has set up definitely has the best view. Kal’s rewarded with a kiss before Luca pulls him to the blanket.
Spite joins them as the three of them partake in a light snack with tea or coffee, far too many kisses between the three of them, and a night of pleasure only his partners could ever provide.
Lucanis falls to his knees, the weight of failure hanging over him as a wail drags itself from his throat. Spite’s cries join his own as he sobs into the ground. How could they lose Kal like that? They… They have to get him back. There’s no way they just lost him to a disturbance in the veil, right?
His heart aches in a way he’s never felt before. Is he dying? It feels like he might be dying. This must be what dying feels like because there’s no way he’s been left in this world without his wonderful, loving Kal when so many others still have their partners.
Spite wails into the silence surrounding them as someone drags Lucanis away from the site. No! He can’t go! They have to find Kal! They have to. How is he supposed to live without him?
Someone drags him back to the boat they came in on while Spite returns to release his emotions in Lucanis’ head. What are they supposed to do? They’re being forced to leave Kal behind. Why would they do that to them? Do they not know how much Kal means to the two of them?
Spite appears in Lucanis’ lap, child-sized and demanding to be held. Lucanis does just that, crying out his frustrations into Spite’s hair as the rest of their companions look on.
Lucanis knows they’re close to finding Kal. They have to be. Lucanis can’t handle his lover and soulmate being gone any longer, or he might just fall apart. He knows his pacing isn’t helping, but at this point, there’s no possible way Lucanis or Spite can sit still.
“We’ve got something!” Emmrich calls. Lucanis wastes no time rushing over, ready to drag Kal out if he has to. The Necromancer rips upon a hole in the Fade, opening a window to something that looks suspiciously like the shadow of his lover.
“KAL!” They’re not sure which one of them yelled it, but both he and Spite are in sync as they reach in to pull their Kal to them. It’s a matter of moments before Kal’s in their arms, alive and safe.
“Never leave us like that again.” He’s not ashamed of the tears that fall as they hold him nor of the confused squeak he makes when Kal peppers him and Spite with kisses. He’s back. He’s safe. There’s nothing more he could ask for.
“Hey, Luca?” Kal asks as Lucanis works on tending to the rather deep gash in Kal’s arm. It’s going to leave a scar. “Since this is all over, do you think we’ll stay together?”
Lucanis levels a frown at him as Spite pouts. “Are you planning on leaving me now that we’ve saved the world?”
“No.” Kal begins again. “It just… Would you marry me?”
Lucanis freezes, his needle missing its target. “You want us to get married?” He knows his face is heating.
“Yes!” Spite declares. “Will marry Kal!” Kal smiles, then turns to Lucanis once more.
“You in?” Kal asks innocently.
Regaining his balance, Lucanis manages a smile as he returns to his task. “Yes.” He gets a kiss from both of them. Sadly, he has to shoo them away for a few minutes while he finishes stitching up Kal’s arm.