Work Text:
“M’Lord, pray tell, how exactly did you manage to tangle your hair into such a mess? And…”
You leaned forward on the small stool you were seated on, the wood creaking in protest as you shifted your weight. You buried your nose in wisps of Messmer’s damp red hair, the curls tickling the swell of your round cheeks as you took a deep breath.
“I can smell smoke clinging to your red locks.”
A soft noise stirred in the back of Messmer’s throat, a hum of agreement as he offered no further response. Your ears rung as the sound of dripping water hit the tiled floor below your feet, a small puddle pooling just beneath the porcelain tub from Messmer’s arm hanging over the edge. You watched small water droplets race down his pale complexion, gathering at his fingertips and dripping from the jagged edges of his sharp nails. The light fixture dangling above your head gave you ample amount of light as you threaded your fingers through Messmer’s hair, eyebrows pinched in concentration as you thought about how you were going to start detangling the unkempt locks. You think there’s dried blood matting his hair when you start to wet the wild curls and the water turns red. You try and pay it no mind, as you start to scrub Messmer’s hair with the bar of soap clutched in your hands, lathering his scalp in a floral scent that was much more pleasant to your nose.
Despite you tugging and pulling on his hair, Messmer didn’t offer any complaint as you continued to scrub the dirt and horrible stench from his red locks. In fact, he started to like the feeling of your nails scratching at his scalp as you worked meticulously, your firm touch making his head slowly roll back until the nape of his neck was resting against the rim of the tub. He stared up at you with his lone golden eye, your blotchy image fading in and out of focus as you continued to work. You felt the curious flicker of a forked tongue brush against your ear as one of Messmer’s snakes decided to use your shoulders as its perch, watching the movements of your fingers with thin, slitted eyes. You noticed the other snake also staring at you from the edge of the tub, the black wings on its serpentine body trembling in delight when you rubbed the tip of your finger against its scaly, scarlet nose.
“You seem displeased” Messmer quietly murmured in a husky tone.
You hummed softly as you shook your head, massaging your fingers through his hair as cool, red scales brushed against your warm cheeks.
“I am not displeased. I am just concentrating.”
You cringed a little when you had to tug your fingers through a tough knot and you almost ripped an entire chunk of his hair out in the process. You really had to dig your fingers into his wavy hair to even have a chance of getting to his scalp. But it was worth it in the end when you grabbed the pitcher beside the tub, filled it with water and rinsed the soap suds from his hair. The way your fingers now effortlessly slid through his locks without catching in any tangles brought you an alarming amount of satisfaction. A smile touched your lips when you were finally finished.
“Done!” you chirped, your voice echoing around the tiled walls.
You placed the pitcher down as you stood from your seat, your aching knees singing with relief when you stretched your limbs. The snake perched on your shoulders was surprisingly heavy today, content to simply rest on you even as you started to move around the tub. You went to step away for a moment but was surprised when you felt something grab your arm and halt your movements. You looked back at Messmer, blinking owlishly in surprise as his long fingers curled around your wrist, nails intimately pressing into your plump flesh and leaving behind crescent shaped marks. You stared at his face as his parched lips parted around your name.
“Join me.”
It seemed like more of a question than a statement. An open invitation for you to accept or decline. Both snakes were now staring expectantly at you as you turned the thought over in your head. With a smile you took a step back towards the tub, Messmer’s firm grip on your wrist now loose as you nodded. The back of your thick thighs hit the edge as you leaned against the tub, your smile still playing on your plush lips as the steam stemming from the hot water invited you to come closer.
“I could never refuse an invitation from you” you replied.