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When Niran was sewing the dolls, he surely meant for them to be for the couples who wanted to bind their souls together. I mean, the ritual is always done by couples. To forever be together and never let go of each other. He never saw the possibility that the dolls would somehow be the only possible way to save Pete from being devoured by the demon within him. Nor did he ever think he would someday tie his own soul to another person out of desperation to save them. But at that moment, it felt like the greatest idea.
It was for the upcoming ritual. He told himself, or rather tried to convince his heart. He did it only because Pete was needed for them to defeat Qi Rong. It was for no other reasons he refused to name. It was not for the already growing attachment he had to Pete. It was nothing like that.
He just did it for that upcoming battle against Qi Rong.
Even if he was stuck with Pete for a lifetime, it was for the greater good.
"Niran...!" Pete called out breathlessly as he launched himself into Niran, unable to stop himself in time.
Niran automatically opened his arms to stop the running disaster coming his way.
"How? How did I find you? How did I know you were here?" Pete went on with his million questions.
Niran sighed as he let go of him and stepped back.
"Soul ties. Half my spiritual energy is flowing through you, so you will always know where I am, just as I will always know where you are."
He explained.
"Okay. I can get behind that. But why does everyone have your face?" Pete asked.
Because this ritual not only binds souls together, it also makes the couple see only each other.
"Side effects. Don't worry about it. It will wear off in a couple of days," Niran explained.
"Right... so... like... uhm... between me and you... I mean, the ritual is for couples, right?" Pete asked.
Niran's eyebrow flew up. Somehow, his heart started beating a little faster. He cleared his throat.
"Uh... yes?"
He answered. More like questioned himself.
"Right."
Pete nodded vigorously.
"So, like... between you and me... does that mean I'll start having feelings for you?" he asked, eyes wide open.
Yes.
"What the hell? Are you crazy? That's not going to happen," Niran replied quickly.
Pete simply raised an eyebrow.
"We just... look... it's not a love potion, just soul ties. And yes, it's mostly done by couples, but some friends do it too."
Niran quickly tried to explain.
"Mmmh, if you say so. I'm still weirded out by the fact that everyone I see has your face. It's creepy," Pete said.
Niran breathed out in relief as it seemed Pete wouldn't ask any more questions. But he really needed to come up with a plan for the other side effect that would also be happening over the next few days.
They both spent the rest of the day on the other side of the mansion. Niran tried to come up with proper ways to explain to Pete what was going to happen and make plans to keep himself scarce so the side effects wouldn't become unbearable and uncontrollable.
But that was easier in theory than it was in reality.
It was easier to fight physical needs when feelings weren't involved. But his feelings were involved. And the ritual had only intensified them.
If this had been done by a couple, they would have had a completely different experience with their intimacy.
But this was him and Pete.
Sure, his feelings were really going to be showing a whole "perverted" side of him. Especially if Pete didn't feel the same.
[....]
Niran tiptoed into the bedroom and saw that Pete was already asleep.
He breathed a sigh of relief.
He took his towel and went to take a quick shower.
He made it back to the bedroom, only to be stopped by a soft, sultry moan.
He stared toward Pete's bed.
Pete was covered by his blankets, so he couldn't see anything. However, the constant movement was very clear as to what he was doing.
"Ni... ran... unghhh..."
Pete moaned, eyes still closed.
Niran felt like his heart was about to beat out of his chest.
It had started.
His brain, the logical side of him, screamed at him to get out of there. It pulled and pulled.
But the more Niran stared at Pete's face as he made a strained expression, like he was holding his breath before he cried out again, the harder it became to listen.
Niran felt his legs move on their own.
He crossed the room toward Pete's bed and sat beside him.
"Pete..."
He called out.
He placed a hand on Pete's shoulder to shake him awake.
Pete opened his eyes wide and gasped loudly, seeming to have had another climax from nothing more than Niran's touch.
Pete breathed heavily, trying to catch his breath.
"N... Niran. What's... what's wrong with me? I feel so hot. I feel hot. And it feels like you're the only one who can help me. What's wrong with me? Unghhh... touch me. Please touch me."
Pete cried out desperately.
Niran's body was equally hot.
His feelings for Pete multiplied.
He was practically salivating despite the fact that it did not show on his face.
He was really proud of his nonchalant attitude and straight face.
"I'm sorry, Pete. I can't. I can't do that when you're under the influence of the bind. I'm sorry. I did not tell you this part. I—"
His voice was cut off by the lips that attached themselves to his.
His whole body felt like it was on fire, and Pete's lips were the water that could drown out the flames.
For how much they felt at that moment, the kiss held none of the hunger one would expect.
Surprisingly, it was deep but slow.
Nothing that reflected the physical need they both felt. Instead, it felt as though they were satisfying their now-connected souls.
The kiss truly felt like a first kiss.
A first kiss between two people who liked each other.
Niran tried his hardest to stop the kiss.
But Pete had other plans.
Pete's sleeping shorts had long since come off from the time he had been trying to quench his thirst, leaving him naked from the waist down.
While kissing Niran, he managed to slip out from under the covers and settle himself on Niran's lap.
Niran's heart nearly stopped when his roaming hands, which had only been resting on Pete's neck moments before, landed on his bare waist and one of his cheeks.
He felt like he ascended to heaven and back.
Pete let go of his lips to breath.
''Niran what's wrong with me? Please tell me what's wrong with me?''
Niran tried so hard to focus on what Pete was saying rather than the friction while Pete was grinding on top of him.
''Uhmm.. side effect. I'm sorry. For not telling you.''
Pete moaned.
''Okay. Take care of me then. Please.'' Pete said as he tried to get Niran naked too.
''I can't. We don't have the stuff. ''
Niran found himself saying. At least his logical side was still very much intact.
'' Please do something '' Pete pleaded still.