Groaning, Zye hates that he finds himself waking. If only due to the fact that he didn’t want to sleep. Not to mention, Hax was strangely absent. The truly worst part about it all is the fact that Jace is gone and is replaced with Daichi.
Zye stares up at the hole in the ceiling above the bed. It’s a good way to distract from the man curled up against his chest with arms wrapped around him. He still has the jacket on as well and it proceeds to make him even more uncomfortable.
He begins to slowly try and peel away from Daichi. Except the second he does, the man is smiling up at him.
“You want to get up?”
“Yeah. Tired of laying around.”
Zye attempts to roll over only for Daichi to grab onto his side the second he does. The coat is pushed away so that he can caress the scarred skin.
“But it’s been so long. How about we spend today together. You don’t even have to do anything, I’ll take care of it all.”
“Don’t really feel like it.”
The words are worse than trying to move. It has nails biting hard into his skin to the point Zye winces. He reaches back to shoo Daichi’s hand away just before he’s forced onto his back.
“Why?”
Daichi leans over him, anger boiling in those eyes he once thought were so beautiful. Now they’re pools of poison trying to kill him.
“Just don’t feel like it. That’s all.”
Zye presses a hand to Daichi’s shoulder, intending to push him away. Normally, he’d be able to if he wasn’t surprised by the hand coming down to his face. At first, he thinks Daichi is about to grab for his throat. Instead, his wrist is held to the bed while Daichi’s hand cups at his cheek.
“That’s not what you should be saying. You always felt like it.”
“Sorry, I don’t. Now move, Daichi.”
He can’t get his other hand up to shove Daichi away fast enough. The hand on his cheek dips down so that thin fingers can wrap around his throat. The hard press of a thumb into his skin has him stilling— his mind short-circuiting on what to do next.
The instincts just aren’t kicking in.
Zye grabs at Daichi’s wrist, a silent urging to go with his words. “Our reunion should be somewhere nicer than this dump.”
“Hmm…” Daichi slowly smiles and begins to let go. “You always did like the fancier hotels I booked for you.”
“That’s in the past. I just don’t want to screw in a place that smells like mothballs.”
“Hah! Too true. The past is what I saved you from so you didn’t have to sleep with everyone to get by. Besides, we do deserve better than this. I already have my eye on the perfect place where we can live together forever.”
Daichi is leaning back down, flush up to Zye as he nuzzles against his neck. The only thing Zye can think to do is send Jace a message. He needs an out and soon.
“Tell this idiot there are Nether or something so he’ll leave.”
There’s no reply and since there’s not, Zye takes matters into his own hands. He grabs Daichi’s hips and flips them over. Straddling Daichi has the man grinning wide.
“That’s more like—” His face immediately falls and turns into anger. “—dammit. We’ll have to continue this later babe.” He pats Zye’s thigh with a smile. “Up and off.”
Zye happily crawls off of Daichi and fixes his outfit. As he does, he glances over at the man standing as well. “What was that about?”
“Livi says she has an inkling that an area is active again. So, we start scouting runs.”
“Is that all? Even I could manage that.”
Daichi’s sneakers touch the toes of Zye’s boots. He reaches around so that his hands slip beneath the coat and into Zye’s back pockets. “Hm…I don’t have to do anything. I was going to check out our new home if you wanted to do that. In fact, if you like it you could go ahead and stay there!”
“I, uh, I don’t know. Traveling still makes me sick. I don’t think I’m used to it.”
“Then I’ll check it first and come back to get you tonight, how’s that? Better to make sure it’s move-in ready, right? Gotta get all those stupid mortals out first.”
Zye tries not to cringe at the thought of what he’d do. That and the fact that Daichi’s tail is slipping between his legs and going around his thigh. If he could cut it off, he would.
“Anyways, let’s get this taken care of first. Do you want to come with me, babe?”
“Yeah.”
Daichi reluctantly removes himself from Zye’s side and begins for the door. The second he’s out in the hallway with Zye next to him, his hand finds Zye’s. Hand-in-hand, they make their way down the corridor and to the left versus straight ahead or to the right like normal.
Doing so leads them to the remainder of the backstage area that’s been lightly picked up. The clutter isn’t cleaned, it’s merely pushed to the sides of the room where it won’t get in the way. It allows them to have a couple of folding tables set up. One looks better than the other, the amount of rust deems it nearly unusable.
At the nicer one, sits Jace and Livi playing cards. Daichi takes Zye straight to that one so that the game has to end. They both look up to see what he wants.
“So, Jace. I was wondering if you could help out. Livi says we need to run the area again.”
Livi nods to verify the claim. Her eyes remain locked on Daichi while Jace is trying to keep his gaze on the table. He certainly is finding it hard to ignore the tail brushing up and down the back of Zye’s legs.
“Point me in the direction you need me in.”
“I’ll have Livi give you the location. It’s a bit south of here, not as worn down as this part. It usually is what spikes back up.”
Zye squeezes Daichi’s hand. “Let me go on patrols, too.”
“It’s dangerous, you don’t want to do that. You can wait here instead.”
“It’s safer if I’m with a Keeper, right? It should be fine to let me go.”
“I don’t know. I’d rather have you—”
“Let me stretch my legs, man. I don’t want to be dead weight that they think they have to carry around.”
Daichi stares up at him, eyes hard and unrelenting. At least, until Zye bends over and whispers in his ear.
“If I can go shake off the rust I’d be more than happy to do whatever you want when I get back.”
“Anything?”
“Anything.”
Daichi lights up like a million bulbs turning on at once. He lets go of Zye’s hand to slam his palms onto the table. “Livi, go with them. Take them there and back.” He glances between them. “If he gets a scratch on him, it’s both your heads.”
Livi stands and shoves her cards onto the table. “Got it. Let’s go.”
Jace follows her lead. She’s already proceeding out of the room with Jace behind her when Daichi grabs at Zye’s wrist. He tugs him back, practically gluing himself to Zye’s back.
“And babe, we’ll go when you get back to test out the new place. Gotta make sure it’s sound-proof.”
“Y-yeah. I look forward to it.” In hopes of selling it, Zye takes a deep breath through his nose. He turns on his heel, pecks Daichi on the cheek, and rushes to catch up with the others. “See you soon!”
Zye finds them nearing the entrance where Caz stands guard with someone he hasn’t met. Then again, they’re rather stunning as well with pale blue skin and a shock of white hair going to their shoulders.
His attention is immediately taken from them to the way Livi places a hand on Caz’s shoulder as she walks by. Caz pats the fingers squeezing at their shoulder before Livi finally pulls away and opens the door.
Out into the morning of this dead city, Zye is happy that it’s only overcast. While there may be no sun, it’s at least not raining. What’s left of the storm last night are long stretches of puddles in the road they begin to walk along.
Livi stays in the front with Jace and Zye following close behind her. “I hope you don’t mind the scenic route. I try not to take the same way twice.”
“Take all the time you need,” replies Jace.
They’re only about a block or two away from the theater now. A safe distance for her shoulders to slack ever-so-slightly. “Good. I’d rather only have to fight once today if things are going as planned.”
Jace nods at the glance she shoots back at him. Zye, however, completely misses it. Instead, he’s shoved his hands into his coat pockets. Staring about at this poor world has his full attention before giving it to Livi.
“Do you not like fighting Nether?”
Livi laughs coldly in response with a shake of her head. “You assume that’s what we’re going after. Soren hasn’t taken our “betrayal” lightly. Now and then one of his pets catches our scent like it’s a test for them. If we’re not together it’ll take us out one or two at a time.”
“That’s terrible. Why not go back to Noctis or Solis then?”
“As if that’s any safer. You don’t know who is really on Soren’s side or not. They’re just as ruthless as the ones getting turned into Nether. Besides, safer in numbers.”
Jace watches as Livi slows her pace to walk beside him instead. He smiles encouragingly at her. “He’s with me, you can be honest.”
Livi stops walking altogether at that. “Seriously? He’s probably got that idiot under him at night, I’m not—”
“I sure as hell don’t.” Seeing as Jace trusts her, Zye grabs Jace’s hand and holds it up. “This is the only man I’m under.”
That has Livi bursting out into laughter. She bends over, one hand clasped to her knee while the other covers her mouth. Slowly, she composes herself as the giggles run out.
“Goddess, you’re a riot.” She motions with her chin to Zye while keeping her eyes locked on Jace. “This idiot is yours?”
“I’m his.”
“Gross.” She shakes her head and claps her hands together. “Alright, fine. Talk and walk then. You’re lucky that dumbass trusts me more than he should.”
Even as they begin to walk, all three in a line together down the street, Zye holds Jace’s hand. He’s happy that Jace allows it until he doesn’t. Fingers pull away and Zye huffs. No sense in letting it bother him.
“I’ve gotten all of us ready to move. Caz knows to begin funneling people to the room where we can slip out. By the time we get back, we should be ready. You sure we don’t have to fight?”
“Positive. Get out, you’ll know Gray when you see him. Should be behind the building once I give the signal.”
“Ah, and even with the new recruits I’d say we’re up to an even twenty.”
“That’s a lot more than expected.”
Livi shrugs. “Like I said, we only followed this bumbling fool so we didn’t have to stay with Soren. It was the only out where he didn’t kill us and he’s still trying that when he’s bored.”
“I’m sorry. I let him get away when I had the chance.”
“Don’t be. If what you’re saying is true, then tell that Infernal of yours to listen to us more.”
“I will.”
Livi stops, looks around Jace, and locks eyes with the man who was previously silent. Realizing what he’s done, Zye coughs and looks away.
“I mean, uh, he will.”
Jace isn’t in the least bit concerned. It’s not something that needs to be kept secret for much longer anyway. He gestures to Zye with one hand. “Zye, this is Livi. Livi, this is your new Infernal.”
She steps around Jace and stares hard at Zye. “Just one question. What are you? Daichi was always chatting about a human he wanted to pull into our fold. This guy he loved so much. But Infernals aren’t…mortal.”
“I am. Was. Jay, help?”
Jace smiles and strides over to the front of the building they’ve stopped before. The glass windows have all been shattered as well as the doors. Even still, it’s relatively untouched. He’s both looking inside and yet not at the same time. He can feel the energy around them.
“It’s complicated,” he begins, “We’ll be speaking about it when we can get to Solis. When things aren’t as strained.”
“Right. I take it the rest of the higher-ups are messing around again. Gives us hope thought if things are changing.”
Zye glances over at her. “Why’s that?”
“The only reason a lot of us followed Soren in the first place is because of the split. Stars couldn’t visit Dark Stars and vice versa. We weren’t technically allowed to work together. Whatever the fallout was about, we got screwed. Suddenly the rules were enforced more. And new ones added.
“If you were seen in a world not doing your job and pretending to be human again? Or even just interacting? Probation if not sent on. I heard it wasn’t as bad in Noctis. Then again, Charm always had a heavy hand when it came to us.”
Jace turns back to them at that. He can feel something in the vicinity drawing closer to them. As he does he doesn’t notice the flicker of blue from inside the building.
“Hax was the only one that would let me get off without punishment if someone reported me. The jerks. See, Caz is a Star, but we’ve always been a team. Well, us and the others. They were smart and didn’t join the Surge.”
Zye huffs, “Yeah I could see Hax doing that.”
She chuckles at that. “I mean, the don’t go back home for so long I get. You don’t want to be recognized. But that’s our issue. We just want things to go back to normal. With the Nether getting tougher suddenly, numbers are safer. Even the lower leveled ones are hard to take out.”
“I think you’re right. You shouldn’t be told who you can’t team up with or that you can’t go back. As long as you’re not breaking anything or hurting anyone, it should be fine.”
Livi grinds wide as she reaches down into the inner pouch of her skirt. “Okay. I like you enough at least. But it feels like we have company incoming.”
Jace nods at that. “Ten targets. A Rank One and some small fry. We’ll clean this up and head back. I’ll have a team ready to come in the second we get them out safely.”
Livi turns around as the pressure gets closer, enough to finally show itself. Zye, on the other hand, is unsure of it. Especially with the fact that there’s a Rank One coming into view as he glances down the road.
This shouldn’t be a challenge if he remembers Aster’s words. The only person they’re missing is Callua to heal them. However, if no one gets hurt it won’t be a problem. Not when they have Jace moving to face off against the Rank One and its, larger than normal, humanoid body.
Jace glances back at them, “I’ll try to take it out quick. With it gone, the others should calm down a bit.”
Zye stares at the fire Jace slings in a wide arc at the Nether. It’s only for a moment. He spins back around and summons his sword, happy that it responds to his call. He can do this. They’re nothing special. Except he counts all of them but one and it’s not the Nether Jace is fighting.
Ignoring that fact for a moment, he surges forward toward three mist-like Nether of varying size. These try to shrink and sway to avoid his slashes. He keeps stealing glances over at Livi to make sure she’s handling the vines that are surging around her.
She’s efficient, to say the least. A burst of wind is kicked at the two mists floating over to her. As she does, she slings a needle down at one of the vines creeping toward her feet. Enhanced by a sharp breeze, it stabs through it hard enough to nail it to the ground.
Livi spins in a tight circle and generates a large gust that blows all of the mists in the area into one group. Taking a chance, Zye slips backward into a portal and comes out on the other side of them. In one horizontal strike, he’s able to cut through the remaining five.
Zye can see the vines trying to snake toward him as well. Knowing it’s between them, he pinches his eyes shut and when he opens them he can see it. The black vines slithering across the ground all lead to a spot in the asphalt that’s cracked.
A spot of softly glowing cerulean.
Dismissing the sensation, Zye runs over to it and stabs his sword into the spot. It’s as he looks up, that his eyes go wide.
“Livi!”
Neither of them noticed the dark tree with blue veins crackling through it inside the building they were in front of. From its depth are roots crawling out in every direction. Three in particular are arcing up off the ground to stab at her.
His warning has her sidestepping and dodging one of the “roots”. It slices through the air and the skirt tied to her waist. The other two are slower and seemingly change direction.
At the last second, Zye steps through a rift to be by her side. He’s able to dig the side of his blade into one thick root but not the other. The smaller one that slips by him stabs into her side.
“Agh! Cut it off!”
Her wind is useless if she can’t hone it to a sharp edge. A feat that requires a longer windup. Zye kicks at the one his blade is wedged into and yet it doesn’t budge. Allowing the blade to dissolve, he recalls it back into his hand and strikes down through the one piercing her side.
The Nether’s shadowy appendages begin to dissipate into dust. As they do, Zye is already following the trail back into the building.
“Jay, hurry up!”
Jace doesn’t have to be told twice. He’s already burned through the tentacles trying to grab for him, leaving the Nether with nothing but its arms and legs. Jace takes a deep breath, grabs a hand reaching for him, and kicks at its torso with fire bracing against the bottom of his boot.
The Nether explodes into sparkling dust that’s already vanishing by the time Jace is turning on his heel. He sprints for where he sees Zye running to. A quick glance at Livi is all he needs.
She’s not in danger. Hurt, but fine.
Zye’s already slashing through the thin branches and searching for the core. The very thing he nods toward as Jace stomps into the room. “Bottom, trying to keep these back. They’re growing really fast.”
Immediately, Jace is generating fire around one of his fists. Taking this one out is a piece of cake compared to the other. A good thing, too. Generating a thick shield over his body while fighting that Nether was far too extraneous.
Jace punches into the base of the tree. His senses, honed as they are, help guide his attack to where the core is. The release of energy around his fist tells him he’s gotten the right spot. Even better when the Nether begins to crumble as Zye swats away the remaining branches.
He stands up with a smile, “You did well.”
“Thanks.”
Ambling to the doorway, Livi leans against the frame that’s left. “Ready to keep moving?”
Jace turns to her. “This wasn’t the location?”
“Eh, not really. But it says a lot if they were this close.”
Zye shakes his head while dismissing his sword. “No, you go back. You need to get healed. Jay, tell Callua to be there so she can help Livi.”
“What?” Livi interjects. She’s heard Callua’s name from Daichi before. Although, never in good terms.
“She can heal you. Not as well as cleansing, so I’m told. But it should hold you over.”
“He’s right. You should head back.”
Livi huffs as she pushes away from the frame. She’s not arguing about it considering she’s calling up a portal. However, she stalls. “And what will I say when I show up without you two?”
“Shit,” curses Zye. “I never linked with him.”
“Good. I’ll take care of it. Livi, once you’re healed, get moving. We’ll be behind you shortly. I just need a breath first.”
Livi nods and slips through the portal. Meanwhile, Jace waits a moment and then turns to Zye.
“If he asks, Livi got hurt protecting you so I sent her back. I don’t need a liability if I have to keep an eye on you, alright?”
“You think he’ll ask?”
“Probably. We’ll need a couple of minutes before things start. The second I make sure they’re all out, I’ll come get you. I promise.”
“So…we have a second before we have to head back?”
“I’d like one. Ilista is right, they are getting stronger. Tougher to penetrate even with my strength.”
Zye’s listening, he truly is. It’s just that he has other things on his mind as well. He grabs at Jace’s wrist and tugs him further inside the building. One that, if he had to guess, was a bank of some sort from how nice the interior is.
Dragging Jace over to the side, he shoves the man up against the wall. Jace is prepared to scold him until Zye’s arms wrap tightly around his waist. Zye hugs him tight as he nuzzles against the coat’s fluff around the hood.
“What…are you doing?”
“I figured you wouldn’t let me do this unless it was private.”
“You’d be right. We shouldn’t be seen like this.”
“Really. Mr. I’ll show up in the room? No one is here. Please? Two more seconds?”
Zye lifts his head, preparing to kiss the other man, when Jace grabs his face with both hands. Palms to Zye’s cheeks, he shakes his head.
“What’s wrong, Zye? There’s no sense in saying otherwise. I know you.”
“I just…miss you? I miss what we had. It was so easy and simple. This isn’t. And being near Daichi is a pretty big reminder of that. I know this won’t go tits up, but…I just don’t want either of you hurt.”
“See? Was that so hard?”
Zye gazes at him from where warm palms keep him in place. “I like you so much that I think I’ll go crazy sometimes. You’re too nice and always doing everything you can. You really could have done better than whatever hot mess I am.”
“That’s reassuring to know. But I don’t want anything other than what I got.”
Jace slowly leans forward to press a small, chaste kiss to Zye’s lips. He barely pulls away. Only enough to press their foreheads together instead. Even if he has to stand up a bit straighter while pulling Zye down.
“It’ll be fine. We have each other’s backs and Aster is on standby already.”
“Then…can I have another one?”
“Another what?”
“A kiss, you idiot.”
Jace smiles at that. “You know you have a hard time stopping.”
Sulking, Zye’s shoulders slump. He drags his hands up to hold onto the sides of Jace’s coat. Retreating from Jace’s hands, he instead steps back only to lean forward. His head on Jace’s chest, he huffs. “You’re so mean.”
“And you don’t like doing it where people can see.”
“There’s no one here!”
“I’m sorry,” chuckles Jace, “I don’t mean to tease you.”
Zye looks up at him, a soft glare settling on his countenance. “You do, too.”
“Maybe a little.”
His fingers brush along the fluff stitched along the sides of the coat. He’s debating doing it anyway. “You know, Shae was a terrible influence on you.”
“It’s more because you’re cute when I tease you.”
For a moment, Zye stares at him. He’s flustered and frustrated with such a perfect response that gets a response out of him. Zye grabs the lapels of Jace’s shirt instead and steals a kiss.
Sudden, messy, and rough.
He doesn’t expect a hand to cling to the back of his neck. Jace drags him in for a second kiss the instant the first ends. Zye simply can’t help himself. He clings to the man’s shirt while getting all he can.
It feels like it’s been forever. It has a fever in his veins and a greediness to his lips. His tongue flicks across Jace’s bottom lip and is quickly allowed inside the warm mouth.
Inch by inch he moves forward until his body is flush with Jace’s. Not a spec of space remains between them as he tangles his tongue against his lover’s. The languid motions have Zye moaning into the lip-lock. A noise that has Jace finally retreating from the seemingly endless kisses.
The smile Zye’s given has him wishing he could freeze time. All of these problems be damned, he doesn’t want to do anything but stay right here. Before this, he felt like such a mess. Now, it feels a little bit better to have Jace back at his side.
At least, until Jace drags his hands down Zye’s arms. Those strong fingers squeeze at the material bunching around his elbows.
“Are you going to calm down so we can leave?”
It takes a moment for him to realize just what Jace means. So distracted he didn’t even notice just what was happening in his pants.
“Fuck you, I definitely can.”
“Or would you want some help with it instead?”
Zye stares at him. He can’t believe the words that just came out of Jace’s mouth. Nothing about it makes sense.
“Excuse me? Can you, uh, repeat that?”
There’s a toothy grin. One that slowly thins out into a smirk where the barest of teeth can be seen. “I asked if you wanted me to help.”
If he wasn’t turned on already, he definitely is now.
“I…uh…yes?”
“Good answer.”
Jace leaves a peck on Zye’s lips before sliding down the wall. Down on one knee, Jace slowly gets to work with shooing away the sides of Zye’s jacket. He’s glad he doesn’t have to worry about the shirt if nothing else.
Zye watches, staring down with a rough gulp to try and not lose his mind. None of the dreams or memories compare to actually having Jace tugging his pants and underwear down. It’s only just enough to give Jace access to the erection he needs to satiate.
The second warm breath and lips touch the tip of his dick, Zye’s pinching his eyes shut. He can’t handle this— it’s been too long. He’s over the moon and all he can do is lean forward and brace his hands against the wall.
Jace takes the small noises as encouragement to continue. Gently lapping at the head, he knows just what to do to have Zye as putty in his hands. The man is already trembling from the way he sucks him into his mouth little by little.
A lick along the underside of the glands. A kiss to the tip with its bead of misty liquid. All without daring to use his hands. They’re far too busy gliding over Zye’s body. One moves around to squeeze at the back of Zye’s thigh. Doing so allows him to feel how Zye tenses depending on what he does.
The other drags up over the stomach that sucks in as Zye tries to remember he doesn’t need to breathe through this. Jace dips his fingertips beneath the bottom of Zye’s shirt, enjoying the reaction he gets from it. The gentle tremble and a shaky exhale from above.
Zye is crumbling. There’s no way to last much longer. His vision is blurring and his knees are slowly giving out. He lets out a long, low breath that melds into a hushed moan.
“Jay…almost there.”
Jace smiles up at the eyes finally open and looking down at him. He spares but a moment to say, “Go ahead.”
Zye nearly chokes as he watches Jace take his shaft back into his mouth. It’s not all the way. Just enough to sit on the wet tongue floundering beneath the throbbing heat.
The sight is all he needs to send him tumbling over the edge. Jace makes sure he takes it all so that they don’t make a mess. Once he’s sure Zye is done, Jace is quick to make work of putting things back where they were.
He tucks Zye back into his pants, drags them up quivering thighs, and situates the band around slender hips. The second he does so, he holds onto Zye’s waist and gently eases him down.
Zye settles onto his knees and leans forward, wrapping his arms around Jace’s shoulders. Jace easily takes the weight leaning against him with a smile.
“Feel better?”
“Are you kidding? You almost killed me with that.”
“Was it that bad? I know I haven’t done it in a—”
“Bad!? It was amazing, shut up.” Zye leans his forehead against the broad shoulder. “Please tell me we can get some privacy later so I can pay back the favor.”
Jace can’t help but laugh. A soft, deep sound that has Zye’s body relaxing further. He’s beyond happy to be able to hear such a noise again. Especially with how serious everything has been. It eases some of the worries from his mind.
Cupping a hand to the side of Zye’s face, Jace coaxes Zye back up. It’s the simple motion that takes Zye’s breath away. He can’t help himself. He has to lean into the touch he craves so much.
“One more kiss before we go?”
Jace dips forward, lips brushing against Zye’s. “For you, anything.”
They kiss and for a second, Jace’s senses tingle. Something feels wrong and it has him gently pushing Zye away. Slowly, he stands and glances around. The sensation of a presence he thought he felt isn’t there any longer.
It concerns him.
Zye follows his lead and rises to his feet. “Is something wrong?”
“No…I don’t think so. Let’s head back and start the end of this. Shall we?”
ns 15.158.61.42da2
