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Rituals always took a lot out of Vessel. He opened himself up entirely to Sleep, letting her feed on the energy from the crowd through his body. The bigger they got, the more energy that there was, the longer it took for Sleep to feed, and the bigger toll it took on Vessel’s body. It was nothing he couldn’t recover from, Sleep had made sure of that of course. But it left him curled up on the green room couch after the shows, waiting for the others to bundle him back onto the bus and into his bunk to sleep it off.
Vessel hadn’t thought tonight would be any different. He’d gone straight to their green room after leaving the stage, stripping out of his ritual wear on auto pilot. Gently sitting his mask on the table, the pauldron next to it. His cloak and cape of feathers carefully hung up, shaking hands smoothing down black feathers so they wouldn’t get crumpled during travel. Then he settled onto the couch, curling his long legs up and tucking a thin pillow under his head as he scrunched himself up to fit on a couch that was barely built to accommodate two adults.
He tried to regulate his breathing next (Breathing in, holding it for five seconds, breathing out) as he stared at II’s practice pad, left on the wobbly coffee table. He remembered II grinning brightly as he warmed up earlier in the evening, laughing at some stupid joke III had told them as Vessel paced on the other side of the room. He’d had one pair of eyes on his Second, the other two firmly on the ground as he tried to walk his anxiety out. Watching II helped. His husband was so grounded. Steady. Calm. Everything that Vessel wasn’t.
The click of the door closing dragged Vessel out of his head and he looked up, seeing II frowning down at him in concern. “Time to go?” Vessel asked quietly, shifting as he started to push himself upright. Had he been lost in his head that long? It normally took them a couple hours to tear down, and he knew his boys always wanted to pack their own things away.
II shook his head, giving Vessel a soft smile “Not quiet. Got another hour probably.” He said quietly, crossing the small room and settling into the floor in front of the couch. Reaching out, he ran his fingers gently through Vessel’s hair, his smile growing as Vessel melted under the touch. “Tonight took a lot out of you, huh?” He murmured. “We’ve got the next couple days off, and a hotel. Just have to make it a few more hours.”
Vessel sighed and closed his eyes “I know.” He mumbled, tipping his head into II’s touch. “Just the two of us?” He asked hopefully. He loved III and IV, he really did. But III was a lot, and if they roomed with IV, III was sure to follow. Vessel knew his Third meant well, but III’s energy was too much for him sometimes.
“Of course. I made the reservations myself. Me and you, and III and IV.” II chuckled, scratching gently at Vessel’s scalp as he kept up the gentle petting. “We can push the beds together and order room service. Never have to leave the room until we load out if you don’t want to.”
A happy noise left Vessel at that, and he reached out, finding II’s other hand and bringing it to his lips. He pressed a kiss to the back, eyes trailing over the colorful ink that covered pale skin. “You always know what I need.” He murmured.
II smiled fondly, turning his hand in Vessel’s grip to cup his face. “That’s why Sleep made me your Second, someone had to make sure you’re taken care of.” He said, leaning in and kissing Vessel gently. “And there’s nothing else I’d rather be doing.” He murmured against Vessel’s lips. Pulling back, he glanced at the time, then tugged Vessel up enough that he could settle down on the couch as well, arranging them until his husband’s long for was stretched out on top of him. At least as much as a six foot tall man could stretch out on a small couch.
“Solstice is coming up soon.” II said after a moment, running his hand up and down Vessel’s back gently. “Five years, can you believe it?” He laughed softly. “Doesn’t feel like it.”
Vessel smiled and turned his head to press a kiss to II’s neck, nosing against his skin as he got comfortable. “I can’t believe you’ve kept me around for nearly half a decade.” He chuckled. They’d gotten married on the Solstice. When the night was the longest and Sleep was at her strongest, able to manifest herself in their world long enough to officiate their handfasting. They certainly hadn’t wanted a traditional marriage after all, and it was only right that Sleep be the one to bind her First and Second together. Tomb had only been released for a little over two months, they’d barely managed to bring their goddess enough power to show herself, and she had used the energy for them. Vessel would never be able to thank her enough.
“I’ll keep you around for the rest of time.” II said, hand coming up to tip Vessel’s head enough that he could kiss him gently. “You remember it? How nervous we were?” He asked fondly.
Oh did Vessel remember it.
Vessel was starting to regret his decision to remain barefoot even in late December. The ground was cold under his feet as he shuffled in place, standing in front of the stone altar that he and II had constructed for Sleep barely six months ago when they’d first moved into the run down manor with III. But at least the cold was distracting him from the nerves and anxiety trying to eat him alive as he waited for II. What if he changed his mind? Realized that marrying Vessel was a bad decision? What if Sleep wasn’t able to manifest? What if they hadn’t done enough, brought her enough power?
“Dude. You’re gonna worry your paint off.” III’s amused words cut through Vessel’s whirlwind of thoughts and he looked down at his hands, flushing under black paint as he realized that he had been twisting his rings anxiously.
“He messaged me a couple minutes ago, he’d just left the manor.” III assured him, giving Vessel a crooked smile.
Vessel sighed out and nodded “Right. Yeah. I still look okay?” He asked, giving himself a once over. His cloak had been ironed, and Sleep had left him with a few extra pieces of ritual wear, a gift, she’d said. For her beloved First. A pauldron with soft grey fur that fastened over his shoulder and a new mask, with delicate red filigree around the mouth to match Sleep’s symbol that was carved into it, though he wasn’t wearing it tonight. Her symbol was painted on his face instead. And new paint. Black and white. Black to cover his skin like normal, thick and dark. And white to paint her runes onto his body. Ones that would bless him and II. Happiness, love, steadiness, longevity. All things that she would bless their union with.
“You look like a proper cult leader. Hot.” III said, grinning at Vessel and making a show of eyeing him up.
Vessel just rolled his eyes at his Third.
The sound of footsteps in the brush drew Vessel’s attention though, and his breath caught in his chest as he saw II. Unlike Vessel, he wasn’t in his normal ritual wear. Instead Sleep had provided him with a suit. Form fitting and showing off the muscles II had gained from drumming. He could see the same runes dotting the backs of II’s hands, all except love. And he knew it was likely placed over II’s heart just like his was.
II came to stand in front of Vessel and smiled softly up at him, reaching out to take his hands. “Look at you. Done up like a proper leader.” He said quietly. “You look amazing.”
Vessel couldn’t help the soft laugh that left him “Amazing? No, that’s you. Gods, II…” he trailed off. Words were what he’d made a living off of, but now he couldn’t find any to describe just how good II looked right now, how amazed Vessel was that II wanted to marry him.
Sleep laughed softly as she stepped out of shadows, six gold eyes that matched his own glowing happily as she looked at her First and Second. “My dear vessels, I’m so very honored that you chose me to officiate your bonding.” She said as they both turned to her, hands still tangled with each other. She held a length of cord in her hands, one she had made herself. Had sank her blessings and love for them both into the threads, weaved it with shadow and divinity.
They could have had a normal human wedding, Vessel’s glamour would have made it possible. But neither of them were interested in that. Sleep was the reason they were here today. Without her, they never would have been able to marry at all. Vessel would have been dead, lost his trauma. So they’d simply filed the paperwork and bought rings before asking Sleep to officiate a ceremony for them.
Vessel was knocked out of the memory by II shifting them enough that he could kiss him gently and he smiled against his husband’s lips. “I could never forget it.” He murmured. He was more relaxed now, the stress melting from his body as II rubbed his back, able to feel his heartbeat as he settled back down, his head resting on II’s chest.
It wasn’t much longer before he was roused by a knock on the door and IV poked his head in, smiling fondly when he saw them tangled on the couch together. “Ready to go when you two are.” He said quietly, hating to interrupt the moment. But he knew Vessel was all too ready to be out of the venue and curled into bed with II. He could practically feel it radiating down the bond.
Vessel groaned but sat up, stretching out and wincing as his back cracked. “Thank god.” He mumbled, standing up. Before he could move to grab his things from the table though, II was there. Both of their bags in hand, Vessel’s backpack slung over his shoulder. “My hands do work, love.” He said with a chuckle, wiggling his fingers at his husband.
II just shook his head, holding his free hand out for Vessel to take. “I’ve got it, don’t worry.” He said, lacing their fingers together and squeezing gently. “Let me take care of you tonight. Even down to carrying you bags.” He murmured.
Huffing fondly, Vessel gave in. It was useless to try to fight II on this, his little husband was far too stubborn, he’d fight Sleep herself if he didn’t agree with her on something. And it made Vessel feel so warm and happy, knowing how much he was loved.
As they headed out of the green room, Vessel trailing along after II, laughing softly as II threatened to put III and IV both on leashes if they tried to wander off between here and the bus. He’d happily deal with the stress and mental and physical exhaustion that being Sleep’s vessel came with for the rest of his unnaturally long life when it meant he got to have this.
Have II in all his stubborn and loving glory.