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Abolish laughs.
He just died, and all he can do is laugh. Abolish just can’t help himself, he feels gleeful— he feels exhilarated.
Oh boy, it’s been so long since he’s felt this way, since he’s had a challenge like this, since Abolish lost. It’s exciting. He thought he would come out the victor, but Abolish knew to not underestimate his opponent, so he had fought his hardest, he had not held back, but he still lost— Fair and square, he had still lost.
To Scott.
By the gods, it just had to be Scott.
A sharp grin spreads out of his lips as he tosses Charon his obol and walks straight past him, his mind already focused on his next goal. He’s filled with plenty of energy, even after such an abrupt ending, and his heart is still pounding loudly in his chest.
Abolish had known that Scott hadn’t shown his full hand. As eager he’d seemed to be to use the abilities he’d been blessed with by Aeolus, Scott had never used his strongest ability, and no one ever questioned it. Not like they did with Abolish, who had been much the same, except he had made it blatantly clear to everyone he wasn’t planning on sharing much.
So different and yet so similar.
His hands itch for him to do something, anything, to fight, to create, to hold. Abolish lets out another laugh, the delighted sound echoing through the tunnel he’s making his way out of, and a thrill shoots through him.
To hold.
Oh, he’s never felt this way before.
He needs to find Scott.
And of course, Abolish does not have to look very far. As he reaches the tunnel’s exit, Abolish sees Scott right there, in the sky, the winds guiding Scott directly to him. He hears his name being called out frantically, and there’s worry etched into his face, and yet Abolish still doesn’t expect Scott to drop onto him.
Scott’s arms wrap around him in a hug, and Abolish stumbles back slightly, only just managing to catch him before they both topple to the ground, and as quickly as it started, Scott pulls away again.
“I’m soooo sorry,” Scott rushes out, words spilling past his lips without as much as a pause to breathe. “I know you wanted me to fight back, but I didn’t think it would be like this, a-and I didn’t think the hammer could be thrown back at you like that, especially not when it was enchanted by you! And then it just smashed right into your chest, and you were just laying there, motionless, and I didn’t— I didn’t want to kill you, but I had to, and it wouldn’t be fair if I hadn’t—”
By the gods, it just had to be him.
Distress pours out of Scott in gusts, and Abolish tunes out the apology to simply watch him. He does not care how sorry Scott is, because Abolish isn’t, he can’t be, not when this was the most entertaining fight he’s had in years. Not when it was fun.
How long has it been since he’s felt this way, this alive, how long has it been since he felt something new— since he wanted something new?
It’s exhilarating. Scott is exhilarating.
Scott’s still talking rapidly, his hands waving through the air with the force of the winds. Abolish can feel the power behind it, even if Scott himself doesn’t seem to be aware. If it wasn’t so damn frustrating, it would be almost cute how Scott doesn’t realise what he’s capable of.
When Abolish steps forward and cups the back of his neck to draw him in closer, Scott freezes mid-movement, his wide green eyes snapping back to meet Abolish’s gaze. The stream of words has slowed down, but his mouth is still moving, somehow still not lost for things to say. Abolish allows his eyes to wander down to look at his lips. It’s a bad idea, definitely one of, if not the worst he’s ever had, but with the adrenaline still coursing through his veins, all Abolish can do is want.
And he always works to get what he wants.
“I’m not sorry.”
Scott’s lips are soft against his own, and Abolish swallows the surprised noise he makes. It feels like everything he thought it would be, and yet so different at the same time. Scott is so sweet it makes Abolish’s chest ache, so confused and yet compliant as he melts in Abolish’s touch, but when he runs his tongue over the seam of Scott’s mouth, the wind soars around them and it lights a fire in him.
Both Scott’s arms wind around his neck to pull Abolish in close, lips parting eagerly. Sugar turns to caramel, sticky and sweet and scalding.
Abolish can’t help but groan when Scott licks into his mouth, another thrill shooting up his spine. He grins into the kiss, and he grabs hold of Scott’s hip, pulling him flush against him. Scott is pliable below his touch, but not meek, never shy, and by the gods, it feels— Abolish can’t believe he’s doing this, can’t believe how much he wants to do this, to kiss Scott, and to keep kissing him until all the air has been drawn from his lungs.
It’s breathtaking, in more than one way.
Not just that, it’s entrancing, invigorating, intoxicating, and it makes the rush of his blood pick up in a way that Abolish didn’t even know was possible. How a kiss could feel like a fight, Abolish doesn’t understand, and yet impossibly, undeniably, Scott makes it so.
He just wants more.
Scott makes a beautiful noise when Abolish lets go of the back of his neck and slides it down to his other hip, lifting him up and off the ground without warning. Both his legs wrap around Abolish’s waist instantly, and Scott’s fingers grip tightly hold of his hair as the angle changes, but at no point does Scott seem to even consider breaking the kiss. He’s just as hungry as Abolish is, impatiently so, and Abolish is a bit more rough than he could’ve been when he presses Scott up against the cliffside just to hear him stutter out a gasp.
They’re barely apart for half a second, but Abolish barely allows himself a single breath of fresh air before he leans in to claim Scott’s lips again.
It feels reckless, a slow destruction, but there’s no turning back now, not when Abolish knows what Scott tastes like— not when Scott will let him kiss him over and over, his nails scraping over Abolish’s scalp, his touch a searing temptation that demands to be answered.
Abolish is caught in the storm of him, and there’s no escape.
No, a storm he doesn’t want to escape.
Teeth dig into his lower lip and a shudder goes through Abolish, the fire raging in his chest flaring up with unfamiliar desire. He can feel Scott’s grin grow against his lips, smug and taunting, and Abolish’s hands itch to wipe that smile off his face. He presses his weight forward, trapping Scott between his body and the cliffside, then slides his hands down to Scott’s bare skin, grasping tight hold of his thighs as Abolish hoists him up further.
There’s a soft groan, a distraction from the teasing, and it’s Abolish’s turn to smirk when Scott’s legs flex around his waist. Regretfully, it makes Scott finally pull away to break the kiss, and Abolish inhales sharply to let air rush into his lungs. He’s left panting while Scott doesn’t seem like he’s out of breath at all, but Abolish doesn’t mind, not when he feels as dazed as Scott looks.
“Careful, handsome,” Scott murmurs quietly, peering down at him through half-lidded eyes. His face is flushed a pretty shade of pink, his mouth bright red and shiny; Abolish wants to kiss him again. “I do want to keep you breathing.”
Abolish lets out a breathless laugh, and his grin grows further. “Oh do you now, and here I thought you’d love to suffocate me, I mean, that tornado of yours did almost do that in the arena.”
Scott lips purse together into a cute pout, and he drops his head back against the rocks with a small groan. “Okay but to be fair, I miiight not have known it would do that— I thought it'd just keep you occupied.”
“That it did, that it definitely did.” There's only so much you can do to prepare for an ability you know very little about. Scott had surprised him, as he has a tendency to do, but Abolish was not one that would go down quite that easily. “I'm sure you thought it was funny.”
The pout turns into a smug smile, his eyes lighting up with amusement. “Oh it was absolutely hilarious,” Scott teases, and as he does, he playfully tugs on a strand of Abolish’s hair, tilting his head to look down again. “You looked veeery good caught in my wind.”
“Oh did I, now?
He hums. “You always look good, obviously,” Scott says innocently, brushing his lips against the corner of his mouth like a tease. “But I very much enjoyed making you dance, and most of all, shout.”
Abolish rolls his eyes, but the grin never leaves his face, if anything, it just grows sharper. This shouldn’t be as fun as it is, and yet it is. Over and over, Scott manages to make his heart race, and Abolish lets him. “Everything for a good show, hm?”
“I mean, I do think I put up quite the entertaining show for the most part,” Scott replies, then makes a face, “but I am still sorry for the anticlimactic ending, I know that’s not how’d have wanted it to end—” Abolish angles his head up and captures Scott’s mouth in another kiss, effectively cutting off his apology.
There’s nowhere for Scott to go, captured in Abolish’s arms, but as his eyelashes flutter and he parts his lips to deepen the kiss without a single protest, Abolish doesn’t doubt that Scott wants this as much as he does.
It’s slower this time, not gentle, no less fierce, but it’s less like a firestorm, and more like a warm summer breeze. Abolish has always known that Scott would reciprocate, Scott had told him as much, but to know about the desire is one thing, experiencing it is another— and reciprocating it himself is a whole different thing.
Exhilaration hits him again, but Abolish is the one to break the kiss off this time, reluctant, yet determined, to make Scott understand, and he meets hazy green eyes with his own stare.
“The fight was everything I wanted to be.” This is what he thought he'd see in Scott's fight with Nikos, this fire and determination and theatre, but their fight surpassed every single one of his expectations. And sure, Abolish had wanted to win—had expected to win—but as a fight itself? Scott fought beautifully, he matched the theatrics of the arena with his own jests and taunts, and while it was obvious he was outclassed in combat itself, Scott was still incredibly nimble, and there wasn’t a single moment where Abolish thought Scott made things easy.
It felt like a challenge.
And then it had ended, the final blow delivered to Abolish instead of Scott when the hammer they’d created together was turned against him. It had come to a shock, but there’s entertainment to be found in an ending such as this, and all it leaves Abolish with is the resolve to be better next time.
“Huh,” Scott says quietly, sliding his hand down to Abolish’s neck. “I suppose that explains why I was greeted with a hot make-out session.”
He snorts softly. “I suppose it does explain it.”
A smile flits over his lips. “And here I thought you didn’t do attachments.” There’s a small pause, and Scott cocks his head to the side questioningly. “Unless this is supposed to be a one-time thing, of course.” There’s a question there, and even though Scott doesn’t sound or look insecure, there’s no doubt in Abolish’s mind that Scott’s looking for an answer.
“I want to be the only one who has you,” Abolish replies firmly, bordering on fervent, and Scott’s lips part as he inhales in surprise, his nails digging crescents into his skin.
Scott tries to look away, but every time he does his eyes are drawn right back to Abolish’s unyielding gaze, the hot wind gently tussling his curls. He blows out a slow breath, and Abolish can feel how Scott relaxes in his arms, “I don’t think you have to worry there, handsome; if I have you, you have me.”
By the gods, just those few words are enough to make the fire in his veins heat up.
Abolish wants to kiss him again, and again, and again.
“Alright. Good thing you have me, then,” Abolish says matter-of-fact, releasing one of Scott’s thighs to cup his cheek instead, and his chest goes tight when that makes Scott lean in to press a kiss on Abolish’s cheek in response.
“How sweet,” he teases with a chuckle, his lips a hot brand against Abolish’s skin as he trails a few more slow kisses down to the corner of his mouth. “That leaves me to wonder, though, what changed?”
You did, he doesn’t say. Or maybe Abolish himself did.
This feeling—this desire—it’s all new to him, a foreign, confusing thing that draws the breath from his lungs and leaves him craving more. It changes everything, and yet nothing at all. Abolish will play this game as he’s supposed to, and he’ll continue to play to win no matter what, but this, whatever this is with Scott, this… attachment he has to him, Abolish refuses to be afraid of it.
No regrets.
“You were right, I might as well enjoy this while it lasts,” Abolish admits with a shrug, brushing a soft, white curl out of Scott’s wide green eyes. He looks so innocent like this, pretty and delicate like a doll, and as sweet as a grape. By the gods, Abolish would be a fool if he ever thought that lowly of Scott, he’s so much more than that, so much more than just a face—than a mask—more than what Scott makes people think he is. Seeing beyond it all, experiencing what Scott’s capable of, it’s exhilarating. “Might as well enjoy you,” he adds breathlessly.
Scott’s lips curl up in a winning grin, and his eyelashes flutter when Abolish brushes his thumb gently under his eye. “I like the sound of that, handsome,” he says in a sweet whisper.
Yeah, so does he.
Abolish will fight him again, he refuses to let anyone else take Scott from him before they can, and when they do, Abolish will be ready.
But until then, Abolish will kiss him instead.