Work Text:
It was something the King certainly couldn't expect.
15 hours, 3 searching, 12 working. Nobody would expect for anything wild to happen in that amount of time, not even an entire day to night cycle, there was no possible thing that could happen that was so large, and terrifying. Surely not even a world ending scenario, only stopped by two people.
And yet it did, starting as a simple search, an exploration in a strange world that called for the former Skywars champion to go deeper into the waters of a king that did not exist, for a knight that called to him from a video. A rescue mission for a knight that did not want to be found.
Avery was a stubborn man, that much was known, he'd go to the ends of the earth to prove a point if he had to. He'd fight a god to complete a goal, he would fight the king if it meant he could keep Derek Hutchins close, and safe with him forever. And that's what he did.
735 hours now, 30 days and 15 hours. Already an entire month after the incident that brought these two together.
It came to a shock to the avian and the slime, but they were allowed to stay. Under the pretense that they would stay permanently as guests for the King, it seemed like he, the King, didn't mind being trapped in that server for a few years longer than he'd initially planned. The two had earned their right to live, so they shall live.
They clung to each other, Derek a tad more hesitant than the other, but Avery didn't mind it. He'd spend eternity waiting for Derek to open up if he needed to, he was satisfied with the soft touches, the quiet words, the nights of sleeplessness and the migraines that plagued this almost vessel. It seemed like the two just couldn't get away from each other, after everything that had happened they had a right to be there for each other.
They'd made a home for themselves, Derek too tired from the events so he did what he could. He'd cook, set their beds, tell Avery how to build and chop wood without hurting himself, Derek tried to be useful, be a good man for his new.. roommate? No, not a roommate, not a partner, but not a friend. There wasn't a label for these two, dragged in by fate and destined to be with each other until the universe fell apart at the seams, their relationship was like a veil between lovers, and friends, and more.
They simply were. Together until it was the end of their time, whenever that would be.
"Hey, Der! You finished? The siding of the house should be fixed now." The slime stepped through the door, kicking off his shoes at the entrance before closing the door behind himself. His body glistened from the 'sweat' that dripped from him, it wasn't really sweat, just a mimicry that he had a habit of doing. "Yes, Avery. Come and eat, I'm sure you must be tired." Derek spoke as he placed down plates at their little table Avery had built.
"Thanks, what'd you make today?" He'd step over to the table, Derek already at a chair and pulling it out for the slime, gently taking his hand and pressing it to his lips before guiding him to sit on the chair, a habit he'd developed about a week ago. "Steak and carrots.. it isn't much, I used a few herbs that were growing nearby. We need to start planting more." He'd begin cutting up his food, watching Avery do the same.
"Well, it's good either way! How did you get the recipe for this?-" Derek paused at the question, seeing the words die in Avery's throat just as he finished the sentence, it seems the answer was obvious. "Right," he cleared his throat, "almost forgot about the whole 'knowing everything,' thing.. Guess that was a dumb question." Avery pushed out a breathy chuckle, shoving his first bite into his mouth. It wasn't a surprise, the steak was juicy, the carrots were soft enough to bite through without much effort and the taste was divine, it hit him nonetheless, though.
"Nonsense, nothing is a dumb question from you. You simply forgot, that isn't something that you should be punished for." Derek shook his head, picking at his food. "It's okay to not remember, you have me to pick up the pieces for you."
"What are you, a poet?" Avery snickered, speaking with his mouth full in-between large bites. "No.. but I suppose all of the poets I know of has influenced my vocabulary just a bit." He'd shrug, eating much slower than Avery. "Sure, sure.. only a bit." Picking up the plate, he'd shovel the rest of the food and get up, putting the plate away to be cleaned later. "So, about tonight, I was thinking we could preen your wings again.. I forgot to yesterday after we went out exploring, I think we should."
"Are you sure? You're tired enough as it is, I wouldn't want you overworking yourself for me." Derek glanced back over at Avery as he walked behind Derek, leaning over. "Me? Overwork myself? Never. I just don't want you sleeping bad.. and besides, I'm the only one who can get the hard spots, and I like playing with your feathers. It's a win win, tired or not." He'd press his cheek against the avian's, arms wrapping around Derek's shoulders. Almost on instinct, he'd open his mouth for a fork that was already on its way, he always ate Derek's leftovers.
Just a habit.
"If you insist, then I suppose it couldn't.. hurt." Derek nodded, using the same fork to feed himself, then Avery, one after the other. With Avery's large bites, it didn't take long until the plate was empty, the slime taking it with the fork and placing it back with the other.
"Alright then, let's get you to the bedroom then." And like always, Avery took Derek's hand, ushering the avian towards the bedroom upstairs. He was careful not to trip him, Derek's legs were still weak, but they worked. "You should probably take off your shirt.." He'd mention passively, moving Derek to sit down on the edge of the bed, him removing his shirt while Avery climbed onto the bed behind him.
"Of course, and you remember what feathers to grab and how?" Derek looked back at the slime once his shirt was off, wings slowly unfolding and pushing out to full wingspan. His wings were massive, enough to carry him and Avery up into the sky, he was sure of it. "Of course I do! I won't disappoint, promise." Avery nodded, pushing up his usual smile towards Derek.
Avery was careful, he always was. Habits are hard to get rid of, of course.
He would gently press at the muscles, run his hands through the feathers, gently pinching and twisting at the pin feathers he'd find, pulling the casing off and removing the dirt created inside it. He was so meticulous, like Derek was a sculpture of glass, only for Avery's eyes to truly admire and touch.
Only for Avery.
Only his.
Derek would let loose, his muscles gradually relaxing into Avery's touch, letting out soft coos and trills every other touch. "You're so pretty like this, you know." He spoke, with a few chuckles in between his words.
"..Am I?" The bird perked up, looking to Avery with a flush of red on his face. The slime simply smiling as he carefully went through all of Derek's feathers, making sure to pick out the small piece of debris that might be in between the avian's feathers.
"Yeah, all your funny little bird noises that you make while I'm doing this.. they're super cute." He'd nod, smiling. "Oh, well.. thank you." Derek looked back, only to feel the slime's body press against his back, Avery's hand going underneath his chin to gently guide his head back to look at Avery. "Of course, Der."
Always so affectionate with each other, Avery would press his forehead to Derek's and simply stayed there, sharing their breaths and enjoying each other's presence.
A nightly ritual, a habit.
Derek would eventually turn in Avery's hold, moving to face him. He'd nestle his face into the slime's shoulder, pressing soft kisses on the slimy, malleable skin. "You, yourself are quite sweet.. did you know that? So kind to me. I don't deserve it." He'd mumble, his feathered ears perking up at every soft giggle at the ticklish kisses. "You do, though.. you really do. You're the reason I'm alive, Derek.. you deserve all of this. And more." Avery carefully moved his arms, a hand in Derek's hair with his other hand running up and down the avian's back.
"And so do you, Avery." Derek would hum, spreading the soft kisses all over the available skin. Careful to cover every inch he'd missed the last time him and Avery had done this.
Similarly to the slime's hands earlier, he'd plant them at their sides, gently massaging out their "muscles."
"You deserve the world.. every world I can access in this server, you deserve to be pampered, you deserve love. I will give you it." He paused his smothering for a moment, leaning back to see the flushed face of the slime just below him. "You're the reason I held myself together, you are the reason I continue to."
"Oh, Derek.." Avery smiled, his cheeks turning to a brighter green. "You sweetheart.." He smiled, combing Derek's hair back. "I.. don't think I could live without you now, Avery." He'd return to the kisses, going up from his collarbone to the jaw, then the cheek, forehead, his nose.
"Oh, I'm sure you could, Der.. you're stronger than you give yourself credit for, you know..?" Avery at some point had begun to return these kisses. "If it weren't for you, I'd be a vessel.. and I don't think I could've survived that." He would shake his head, chuckling. "I guess we saved each other.. didn't we?"
"We did." Derek would nod, gradually finishing his smothering to let his head rest on Avery's shoulder. "I may be selfish for it, but I am glad you came back for me."
"Well, I'm glad I came back for you too, Der." He would move, laying down in a more comfortable position for him and Derek. "If I didn't come back, I might've never gotten to experience being like this with you.. I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't have this." He'd chuckle.
"We're even then, I suppose." Derek nodded, his wings slowly folding back behind himself as he nestled himself into Avery. Despite not being the slime here, he quickly melted right into his hold. "I guess we are.." Avery chuckled, placing a small kiss to the avian's head, laughing a bit at the tweet he got in return.
"Well, good night Der.." He hums, holding Derek firmly against his chest. He'd gently rub Derek's back up and down, the other hand still combing through his hair. "Good night, Avery.. Rest well."
It was always just a habit, to fall asleep in each other's arms every night, to be so affectionate like lovers who'd been long since married. They didn't need a label, there was nobody to label them except for each other now.
All they'd need was each other, in these small, gentle moments where the world faded away and the only important thing was what word to speak next, to give thanks and appreciation for the other's presence. It was a perfect, beautiful cycle every day, with something new sprinkled in ever so often.
Maybe one day it'd be a surprise dish, another, a massage. But no matter what, it'd be together, it'd be sweet, and it'd be a habit to last both of their lifetimes.
These two loved each other like nobody could, something the king couldn't take from them.
No matter where they were, who they'd become or who they met, they would always be with each other this time, in this timeline, in this server. And no matter what the king had in store, he would never be able to sever their connection.
Not this time. Perhaps in another lifetime, they'd have been separated, perhaps they'd have never met and the king would find a different vessel entirely, perhaps he'd had succeeded in making either one a vessel. Perhaps in another lifetime Derek had died to save Avery.
But here it was okay.
It was safe.
It was theirs. Forever.