Chapter Text
"Good evening, Consul."
Clotted Cream nearly jumped out of his skin. In hindsight, of course, he really shouldn't be so surprised. It had been nearly a month of this, enduring meeting after meeting to rebuild the Republic following the war, and retiring to his home office to find that chimera of deceit waiting for him.
"I'd like to finish that paperwork you're sitting on, Black Sapphire Cookie." Clotted Cream forced himself to keep his tone level.
"And I'd like to see what you'll do if I stay put~" Black Sapphire cooed, blowing him a kiss.
Clotted Cream couldn't do much more than glare at him, really. If only he had thought things through that first night— but he had let the chimera's heartbroken tone overtake his sense of logic, and let him stay. Now, it seems, he was stuck with him, the consequences growing greater and greater each time he neglected to report his presence.
Instead, Clotted Cream searches the room for another task to busy himself with; tidying the coffee table, reorganizing the bookshelf, polishing the displays, something to bide his time, since Black Sapphire seemed to prefer only to move when the Consul's back was turned.
He felt Black Sapphire before he saw him, sharp claws tilting his chin upwards. He had appeared sitting on the mantle of the fireplace, one of his heels already coming to rest on his shoulder.
"Cat got your tongue, Consul?~" Black Sapphire purred, and for a split second, Clotted Cream could have sworn he saw a tail swishing behind him.
Clotted Cream caught a breath he didn't realize he had lost. "Are you here because you're bored, or do you want my help again?"
Black Sapphire raised his brows, pursing his lips— though it was hard to tell whether he was actually surprised, or just feigning it out of amusement. "My, Consul! Offering to assist little old me now, are we?~ How scandalous! Somebody call the press!"
Clotted Cream tensed at the teasing, and tightened his frown at Black Sapphire's laugh. "Are you going to answer my question?"
"Hm~" Black Sapphire tapped his chin mockingly. "I will… But I'll be taking my time." His lips curled into a wicked grin, razor sharp teeth glinting in the dimly lit office, changing in number every time Clotted Cream blinked.
"Then I suppose I'll wait until you're ready." Finally finding it in him to pull away, Clotted Cream turned and sat down at his desk, sorting through the mess of documents strewn across the table.
He was only working for a few minutes at most before a sharp finger tapped the page. "That's wrong." Black Sapphire told him, pressing himself against Clotted Cream's back. "So is that one, that one, and that one."
Clotted Cream furrowed his brow, focusing on his breath to steel his temper. Black Sapphire wasn't cold, but he wasn't warm either, soaking up the Consul's own body heat like a reptile, pressing his chest into the delicate fabrics of his shirt— Clotted Cream forced himself to cringe at the thought, if not to avoid melting into his body instead.
"Are you going to stare at the page, or are you going to fix it?" Black Sapphire huffed, an uncharacteristic frustration to his tone.
"I'd like to work in peace. These budget reports aren't due until the end of the week. As long as I get numbers on the paper now, I can proofread them in the morning." Clotted Cream hissed back.
"Then just sleep now and do the report in the morning. All you're doing is making more work for yourself."
That finally got Clotted Cream to look at him. "It's not like I can go to bed yet, anyway. I'm not going to leave you alone in my office."
Black Sapphire frowned. "You're too charitable, Consul. Someone ought to take advantage of it."
Clotted Cream forced a laugh, turning back to the page. "I'm really not."
Black Sapphire growled slightly— not quite a warning, just a soft snarl of determination— and spun the office chair in a single swift motion, climbing halfway onto it to keep him in place.
"Allow me to rephrase, then." Black Sapphire stared down at him, and leaned in to hiss sweetly in his ear. "You're so easy, Consul. Someone really should take advantage of that."
Clotted Cream wished he could say his heart wasn't pounding, shuddering at the cold breath ghosting over his ear. "Y-You-"
Black Sapphire shushed him, nipping at his cheek as he ran a hand through his hair, using the other to pin his shoulder firmly against the back of the chair, delighting at how quickly Clotted Cream's body betrayed him, relaxing into the touch.
"Look at you~" Black Sapphire chirped, his webbed wings fluttering contentedly. "So exhausted, you'd take any excuse to relax, right?~ My, Consul, I knew you were easy, but this is just pathetic!"
Clotted Cream opened his mouth to protest, but only managed a strangled gasp when Black Sapphire cupped his cheek, pressing their foreheads together.
"I had no idea you were so starved for affection, you know. To think you'd even accept it from something like me, a monster that could ruin you with a single word…? Isn't that something, Consul?"
"… You're holding me hostage, here."
"You could get up at any time. I wouldn't stop you."
Clotted Cream bit his lips, searching for a protest, but the only thing coming to mind was how badly he wanted Black Sapphire to run his fingers through his hair again.
Black Sapphire's expression shifted, and he settled himself comfortably in the Consul's lap. "This is why I keep coming back, you know. You keep letting me in. The proud Consul of the Créme Republic, so desperate to be held that he's trembling in my hands." He was holding Clotted Cream's face in both hands now, running his thumb over his cheekbone in a surprisingly loving manner. "You're like a puppy. All you want is someone to love, someone to adore. You have too much affection in your heart to waste on someone like me."
Clotted Cream finally dropped any pretense he still held, wordlessly sinking into Black Sapphire's hands.
"Maybe that's why I want to take it for myself anyway." Black Sapphire pressed himself closer, tipping the plush leather chair slightly against the desk. "Such a selfish, despicable being, stealing all the love in your heart that could be used for someone more worthy. Aren't you ashamed, Consul? It's not too late to push me away, you know. You can still throw me out."
How was Clotted Cream meant to answer that? His heart was racing, unable to look away from where he had gotten lost in the chimera's eyes. There was pain beneath his teasing sneer, putting more truth to his words than he surely intended. The only way the Consul could think to respond was to return the affection in kind, brushing his knuckles affectionately against that pale lavender complexion, offering a warm, tired smile.
"You don't have to do this." Black Sapphire's tone came out more anxious than he would have ever allowed. "You can still make me leave. You don't have to fall for me."
"Black Sapphire Cookie." Clotted Cream finally managed. "My needs have been attended to all my life, so I would never be allowed to want something of my own. If I could… If I could be allowed to…"
"You're pathetic, Consul." Black Sapphire spat, no malice in his expression. "You're a pathetic, weak man, and you're only bringing ruin upon yourself because of your inadequacy."
Clotted Cream's smile softened. "When you're flustered, you spout the most hurtful thing you can think of, but it just comes across as endearingly childish. Have you ever noticed that?"
Black Sapphire shoved his head forward, biting harshly at his ear. "You're such a pathetic- such a mongrel- you're like a dog, Consul, nothing but a dog-!"
Clotted Cream was sure he'd rethink his words in the morning, turn them over in his head a million times and torture himself with regret, but right now he was exhausted, and Black Sapphire was a pleasant weight pressed against him, so he happily entertained this game— the same one they play every night— and brushed his hand through Black Sapphire's hair.
"You're so-"
"I want you. If I can have anything for myself, it's you I want."
Black Sapphire froze in place.
"… Why do you pretend to hate me?"
"Why do you pretend that I'm a toy to you? You want this just as much as I do."
"You don't know what I want."
"If you didn't, you'd have slapped me by now." Clotted Cream drummed his fingers softly where they rested on Black Sapphire's waist.
"If you're caught, you'll lose everything."
"Then I won't get caught. I've spent my life following instructions, and nothing more. Surely you of all people won't discourage me from being selfish for once?"
Black Sapphire didn't answer him, burying his face in his shoulder.
"I adore you, Black Sapphire Cookie."
"… Pathetic animal."
Clotted Cream smiled despite the insult, finally moving to lift Black Sapphire into his arms, a stir of pride in his chest when the chimera remained still against him this time.
Thankfully, the Consul's bedroom was adjacent to his office, and he slipped in easily. He had no intention of stopping to change if he could help it, and simply made himself comfortable in bed, Black Sapphire still nestled in his arms.
"You won't kick me out in the morning?"
"Not if you're still here. I'll bring you breakfast."
"You're an idiot. What if I wake up first, and go bother the maids while you're sleeping?"
"If you do that, we won't see each other again."
"Why should I care about that?"
"Because," Clotted Cream pressed his lips to Black Sapphire's forehead, "you like how I adore you."
Black Sapphire hid his face again, growling against his chest. "You're a pathetic, lovesick fool is what you are."
"Mm, of course I am." Clotted Cream answered sleepily, running his fingers through Black Sapphire's hair again. "So, so lovesick, mhm…"
"You barely heard me."
"Mmm…" Clotted Cream didn't answer fully, mumbling something inaudible as he drifted off to sleep.
Black Sapphire didn't fight him. He didn't even move. Why would he? He didn't have anywhere else to sleep tonight, and Clotted Cream was warm, his steady heartbeat acting as a pleasant metronome to fall asleep to.
He could put his doubts off until later. In the morning, he would disappear again, slipping out the window before Clotted Cream woke up, and do the same song and dance the following evening as well.
Tonight, though, he'd allow someone to adore him. Who wouldn't?