Work Text:
The moon hung high by the time Wriothesley was able to escape the chaos of the Fortress of Meropide and make his way to the Palais. He was the only passenger on the aquabus and passed the time making small talk with Elphane before tipping her with a handful of old screws when he disembarked.
Hands shoved in his pockets, he whistled softly as he made his way down recently rain-slicked streets, listening to the distant barking of dogs and the occasional cry of someone enjoying their night maybe a little too much.
The garde let him in without issue, and he entered the Palais’ vast, dimly lit halls to find Sedene packing up for the night.
“I’m glad you’re here, Your Grace,” she said to him briskly. “He’s been in there since five o’clock this morning.” She gestured to the tall doors that led to Neuvillette’s office. “No trials today, but he’s hardly said a word to anyone.”
Wriothesley nodded thoughtfully. “Thanks for the tip. I’ll speak with him, don’t worry.”
Her rhinophores bopped happily at that. “I appreciate it, Your Grace. Have a good night.”
“You too, Sedene.”
He watched as she took her things and skipped off, then turned towards those great double doors and let out a quiet sigh.
When Neuvillette got like this, he could be difficult to deal with. Luckily for Sedene and probably everyone else in Fontaine, Wriothesley knew just how to handle a grumpy, overworked dragon.
He pushed the door open carefully, not wanting to make too sudden of an entrance this time. Neuvillette was there at his desk, working by the light of one lamp and the gentle blue glow of his rhinophores.
His glasses were perched on his nose, his brow furrowed, and Wriothesley’s breath caught in his throat for just a moment. Even though he only wore them when he was hard at work, Neuvillette looked devastatingly handsome in those round frames, the thin chain that dangled from them brushing his robes and circling around the back of his neck.
Eventually, maybe he’d finally managed to coax him into wearing those on their dates, just so he could stare at him longingly over a hot pot of tea.
“Good evening,” Neuvillette said brusquely as Wriothesley stepped into the room. No smile. No ’beloved’. He didn’t even look up, just continued writing, quill pen scratching on paper. “I know why you’re here.”
“Oh?” Wriothesley raised one eyebrow. “Do you now?”
“Yes,” Neuvillette said, still writing even as Wriothesley paced carefully into the room, like he was approaching a particularly rowdy inmate. “You’re going to try to carry me off to bed. But I regret to inform you that I must finish writing out the details of this budget by my meeting at ten in the morning tomorrow.”
“Surely you can take a little break.” He doubted that would get him far, but it was worth a shot.
“Unfortunately, I fear even a short break with you would turn into quite a longer one, beloved.”
Neuvillette looked up at him. Pointedly.
“What?” Wriothesley laughed as he approached the desk. “I’m not going to try anything.”
“I’m sure you aren’t,” Neuvillette said, eyeing him carefully now.
“Sweetheart...” He leaned against the desk on one hand, giving Neuvillette a coy little smile, very aware of just how effective a puppy-dog stare from his big blue eyes could be. “Just five minutes.”
“I cannot,” Neuvillette insisted, but he was squeezing the quill in his fingers, his gaze drifting down over Wriothesley’s neck and the skin revealed by his open shirt. It hung just slightly off his frame and Wriothesley leaned forward, revealing just a little more.
Neuvillette did so love to press his face right there, where Wriothesley’s scent was strongest. Already, his nostrils flared and Wriothesley’s smile grew just a little wider.
“Too bad, then. I guess I came all this way for nothing.” He let out a dramatic little sigh, leaning further over the table towards Neuvillette but staring down at his paperwork as though he was ’just looking’.
Neuvillette continued to eye him suspiciously but said nothing.
“So, the budget, huh? You know, I seem to recall that the Fortress of Meropide gets a pretty big chunk of that budget.”
“Indeed,” Neuvillette agreed, clearly attempting to return to his work and not quite succeeding.
“Have you written that part out already?”
Neuvillette paused, narrowing his eyes. “No. I have not.”
Wriothesley leaned over just a little further, giving Neuvillette a good eyeful of his collarbones and the top of his chest before gently taking the end of the quill in his fingers and tugging.
Neuvillette held fast, a little warning growl slipping out between his lips, but Wriothesley only grinned.
“So don’t,” he said.
“Pardon?” Neuvillette blinked.
“Don’t do it. Not tonight. I don’t need the budget until next week. It can wait.”
Neuvillette’s grip loosened and Wriothesley tugged the quill free, setting it aside
“Get some rest. You’ll run the numbers faster in your head if you take a break. Trust me, I know.”
Neuvillette let out a slow sigh through his nose, gaze flicking to the side, and Wriothesley knew he had him.
Before Neuvillette could change his mind, Wriothesley made his way around to the other side of the desk and carefully inserted himself between Neuvillette and his paperwork.
“Besides.” He gently took Neuvillette’s chin in hand, tilting it up to look at him. “You look so hot in your glasses, I don’t think I can handle simply staring at you for too much longer.”
“Wriothesley,” Neuvillette whispered, but there was a smile tugging at his lips. “Really...”
“Come on,” he coaxed. “Up we go.”
“Incorrigible,” Neuvillette sighed, but his smile grew just a little wider.
Wriothesley laughed and took Neuvillette’s hand in his, gently tugging him out of his chair and against his chest. Their lips met in a sweet, gentle kiss, and Neuvillette let out a shaky breath, slumping against Wriothesley’s body.
“Perhaps five minutes,” he agreed with some reluctance. “But truly, I am not as tired as you might think.”
“I know,” Wriothesley said, resisting the urge to roll his eyes because he’d heard it all before. Neuvillette would insist dragons didn’t need to sleep as much as humans. And while that was certainly true, and he often stayed up late into the night with no issue, he was still in a human body and that body did need some sleep, as much as Neuvillette hated to admit it. “Just humor me.”
Neuvillette’s brow furrowed in thought, and he brought Wriothesley’s hand to his lips, kissing his fingers, drawing his lip back to scent over Wriothesley’s knuckles.
Wriothesley smiled at that, rather pleased with himself. He’d managed to extract Neuvillette from his work fairly quickly tonight, all things considered.
“Very well. You may humor me.”
“Yeah, that’s the spirit,” Wriothesley laughed. “Come here.”
He led Neuvillette to one of the settees, tugging at his robes.
“Take these off,” he whispered, shedding his own coat to encourage Neuvillette to do the same. “For comfort.”
Neuvillette paused, then nodded, slipping out of his robes and folding them over the arm of the settee. Wriothesley motioned for him to take a seat.
As soon as he did, Wriothesley followed him down, sliding right onto his lap with his knees bracketing Neuvillette’s hips.
“Oh,” Neuvillette said, a little surprised, and Wriothesley grinned down at him.
“Nothing untoward,” he promised. “Not tonight, anyway.” He pressed a sweet little kiss to Neuvillette’s lips, lingering there as Neuvillette sighed against him, just beginning to relax. Then he slid forward further, tugging Neuvillette’s head against his chest.
“There,” he whispered. He cradled him gently, pressing Neuvillette’s face right where his shirt parted to reveal his skin, carding his fingers through the soft white hair between his rhinophores. “How’s that?”
Neuvillette closed his eyes, nuzzling against Wriothesley’s chest as he began to purr. “Good,” he muttered. “Very good, Wriothesley.”
Wriothesley smiled and pressed a kiss into his hair, breathing in his sweet, seaside scent.
“Thank you,” Neuvillette whispered, his arms loosely circling Wriothesley’s hips. “Perhaps... I did need this after all.”
“I know you too well,” Wriothesley agreed, kissing his head again. “Just relax, sweetheart. I’m here.”
Neuvillette let out a soft sound of acknowledgement, and Wriothesley could feel Neuvillette slumping further and further against him as his content little purrs grew louder and louder.
After a while, his own eyelids started to feel heavy, and he noticed the glow of Neuvillette’s rhinophores pulsing more softly, his breath growing even. Wriothesley slid his hand down Neuvillette’s back along his spine, over the soft cloth of his waistcoat. Neuvillette didn’t even stir.
“Just sleep,” he whispered. Neuvillette needed it.
And Wriothesley? Yeah, maybe he needed it right now, too.
--
Two weeks later, it had also been two weeks since Wriothesley had last seen Neuvillette. Two weeks of sudden, almost nonstop issues in the Fortress after a mechanical error injured several inmates working in the production zone.
Part of it had to be shut down as a result, and it had caused numerous issues with inmates being unable to work and additional issues with their schedule and production numbers, even with the error getting fixed as quickly as possible and the injuries treated.
During their increased downtime, the inmates grew rowdy, and Pankration matches were at a high not seen in years. He heavily suspected some of the upcoming matches were being planned against one of the unauthorized faulty Meks that had been damaged by the conveyor belt error, but he had no time to deal with it.
He’d exchanged several letters with Neuvillette, but all of them were related to business. He’d had to explain what was going on, why he didn’t have time to meet, and how badly the production numbers would be impacted.
Neuvillette responded with the same courtesy he always did, and tried to assure Wriothesley that they would manage to deal with any temporary Mek shortages, but that didn’t leave him any less stressed about the situation.
Crouched over his desk, one hand pressed to his forehead, he ground his teeth as he went through the numbers again. The soft music from the gramophone felt like it was the only thing keeping him sane anymore. Sigewinne had brought him lunch and dinner, but he’d barely touched either, he hadn’t even had the time or energy to make himself his third cup of tea and that just frustrated him even more.
He should take a break, he knew he should, but it was so hard to pull himself away from his work that he just kept going and going, trying to get it all done so he could finally rest.
Fuck, he wanted to get through this and have some of his free time back. He missed long tea breaks. Missed sleeping in a bed instead of passing out at his desk like he had been the past few days, if he didn’t manage to pull an all-nighter. Missed Neuvillette.
He nearly startled out of his skin when there was a sudden knock at the door. He looked up, brow furrowed, and pinched the bridge of his nose. It was getting late. Normally no one bothered him at this hour, but he just couldn’t win anymore.
“Come in,” he called.
The door down the steps creaked as it opened, and one of the guards poked his head in.
“Your Grace?” he called hesitantly. “You have a visitor.”
Wriothesley sighed. A visitor? Seriously? At this hour?
“Tell them to make an appointment,” he snapped back.
“Your Grace...it’s the Chief Justice. He’s demanding to see you, sir. He’s said he won’t leave until he gets to speak with you face to face.”
Chief Justice...
Wriothesley sucked in a breath. “Let him in.”
The door clicked shut as the guard left, then opened again. The sound of the lock echoed across the room, and the gentle click of heel and cane traveled up the steps.
Wriothesley kept his eyes on his work. Why was Neuvillette there? He was busy. So busy, and he needed to finish crunching these numbers so he could turn his full attention to production zone repairs in the morning. Besides, Neuvillette must be busy, too. Wriothesley figured he barely even deserved to see him.
“Wriothesley,” Neuvillette said softly, and Wriothesley looked up. He’d come around to Wriothesley’s side already, leaning his cane against the desk. “Sigewinne wrote to me.”
“Oh? Yeah, you two are always exchanging letters, aren’t you?” He scribbled a few notes on the page, jotting down some numbers.
“She told me you haven’t been doing well.”
Wriothesley frowned at that and looked up at him. “What? I’m fine...” Then he sighed and sat back, figuring he’d nip this whole situation in the bud. “Look, I appreciate you coming here, but I’ve got work to do and so do you.”
Neuvillette hummed softly, reaching out one hand to brush his fingertips through Wriothesley’s hair. It was almost impossible to resist leaning into that sweet touch, his eyelids suddenly feeling remarkably heavy at the sensation of that warm tenderness.
“On the contrary,” Neuvillette muttered, carding his fingers through Wriothesley’s hair again, clearly realizing the effect it had on him. “I came directly here after the last trial, and I have no other urgent work this evening. Sigewinne told me you weren’t taking proper care of yourself, so I thought I might come here and tend to you myself.”
Wriothesley frowned at that. “I’m taking care of myself just fine,” he muttered, though he knew that wasn’t true. “I’m doing okay. Really. You can go.”
“Beloved,” Neuvillette said, his voice suddenly cold. “You know I can smell when you lie.”
Wriothesley sucked in a breath.
He knew. He knew, and he sighed as he finally set his pen down.
“Look,” he said, turning his cheek into Neuvillette’s cool palm, “as much as I’d love to spend time with you, I have to get this work done tonight. I have no choice.”
Neuvillette raised an eyebrow at that. “And who has told you this work requires such urgency? Certainly not I. And these numbers you’re running are for the sake of the Palais Mermonia, are they not?”
“Well...” He glanced down at the page. Neuvillette was staring at it too. “If I can get this done tonight, I won’t have to worry about it tomorrow.”
“Wriothesley,” Neuvillette said gently, taking his chin and turning Wriothesley’s face to look at him. “You are the Administrator of the Fortress of Meropide. You largely make your own rules. You do not need to finish this work tonight.” Wriothesley winced and Neuvillette sighed, brushing his thumb over Wriothesley’s cheek. “Look at you. You’re exhausted. And while I might be able to extend my energy to a certain extent, you are only human.”
Wriothesley frowned at that, not meeting his eyes. “I know but... I told you, I’m doing okay Neuvillette, I—”
He broke off in a little gasp as Neuvillette leaned down and kissed him. Their mouths moved together, the kiss slow and sweet, and Wriothesley sighed and closed his eyes.
“Sweet boy,” Neuvillette whispered, knowing full well all the words that could make Wriothesley melt. “Come to bed with me.”
“But...”
“No excuses,” Neuvillette whispered against his lips.
Long fingers unhooked his coat from his shoulders, letting it fall away behind him as they kissed again and again. They tugged at Wriothesley’s tie, undoing the knot and pulling it away.
Wriothesley dropped his pen to his desk, fingers reaching for Neuvillette’s robes instead.
“Come here,” Neuvillette whispered to him, and Wriothesley found that he couldn’t resist. He gravitated towards Neuvillette like a magnet and Neuvillette lifted him like a bride into his arms.
It was always remarkable to him that Neuvillette could lift him so easily, but he would never complain. This time, he barely even made a sound of surprise. He just gasped and threw his arms around Neuvillette’s neck, parting his lips and coaxing him into another kiss.
“Missed you,” he whispered against that soft mouth, Neuvillette’s fangs nipping gently at his lips.
“I missed you as well, my beloved.”
He tucked his face against the side of Neuvillette’s neck, breathing in the scent of the sea that always surrounded his mate. It relaxed him like nothing else ever could, and as Neuvillette carried him to his room, his entire body started to feel heavy and exhausted.
When they reached Wriothesley’s chambers, Neuvillette set him gently on the edge of the bed, kneeling to undo Wriothesley’s boots.
Wriothesley laughed softly under its breath. “Usually it’s me doing that for you.”
“Then consider this a fair trade,” Neuvillette told him simply, undoing buckles and gently coaxing each boot from his foot. He did it with such tender care that Wriothesley blushed, leaning back on his hands.
Neuvillette pulled his socks off too, then leaned in and kissed his knee. “Give me your hand,” he said, but Wriothesley hesitated.
“You don’t have to do this,” he said, trying to conjure up his teasing tone, but it just came out embarrassed.
“I want to,” Neuvillette assured him, holding out his hand for Wriothesley’s. “Please. Allow me.”
Wriothesley gave him his hand. Neuvillette’s fingers worked at his wraps, gently unwinding them and removing rings and chains. As more and more skin was revealed, Neuvillette’s gentle fingers brushed along little scars and hairy knuckles.
“So hard-working,” Neuvillette muttered. Lifting his hand, he drew Wriothesley’s fingers to his lips and kissed them, meeting Wriothesley’s eyes as he did.
“Fuck, Neuvillette,” Wriothesley whispered, leaning towards him and whining softly for a kiss to his lips.
Neuvillette gave it to him and started on his other hand, undoing those wraps as well. Next were the wraps around his neck, then the buttons of his waistcoat, then his shirt. Neuvillette’s lips and fangs drifted along his scarred neck, his crooked collarbone and his bare shoulder, scenting him gently.
“Take your trousers off,” Neuvillette told him, “and get into bed.”
Wriothesley nodded. It would have been impossible to deny him by then.
He shucked his trousers with ease while Neuvillette stripped down to only his trousers and shirt. When Wriothesley got into bed, Neuvillette followed.
Rather than slide under the covers though, Neuvillette pulled the blankets up around Wriothesley, rolling him onto his side and wrapping him up in them like a cocoon, purring softly as he bundled him up.
“Neuvillette,” Wriothesley laughed, and Neuvillette just bundled him tighter.
“You may consider this revenge for taking such good care of me a few weeks ago,” he told him, curling up behind him with one arm tight around Wriothesley’s waist. He kissed his cheek and his ear. “I know very well that you need to feel safe to get proper sleep.”
“And this is supposed to help?” Wriothesley joked. But...he did feel safe. Safe and cared for. “I was going to make tea.”
“Then I will make you some when you wake,” Neuvillette said simply.
Wriothesley made a quiet sound of acceptance. If he was going to sleep, maybe that was for the best anyway.
“I will scent you now,” Neuvillette muttered, peeling the blankets back just enough to get to Wriothesley’s bare neck and shoulders.
The space between them filled with the sound of Neuvillette’s soft purrs as he dragged his lips, fangs, and tongue over Wriothesley’s scarred skin, leaving behind a thin Hydro residue visible only to him, the Melusines, and other Hydro creatures. A mark of his possession.
“You are my greatest treasure,” he whispered as he nipped at the joint of Wriothesley’s jaw, and Wriothesley shuddered and pushed back against him, eyes fluttering closed. “You must rest.”
“I don’t know if I’ll fall asleep,” he muttered, even as his body began to feel heavier and heavier, weighed down by exhaustion.
Neuvillette’s purrs sounded even louder as he started to slip away, his mate’s grip on him growing stronger, protective. Neuvillette never failed to make him feel safer than he’d ever been in his life.
“Neuvillette,” he muttered, slurred, “don’t leave.”
“Of course not,” Neuvillette whispered back, breath hot against the shell of his ear. “I’ll be right here when you wake up, and I’ll make you the finest cup of tea you could possibly dream of. For now, just sleep.”
Wriothesley let out a quiet sound of contentment. And to the sensation of Neuvillette scenting the nape of his neck over and over, and one clawed hand shoving beneath the blankets to grab onto his chest and squeeze him tight, Wriothesley finally slipped into a wonderful, peaceful sleep.