---- Nox ----
A healer met Dae and Nox the moment they stepped through the doors. Nox asked if Dae sent for them. Dae pretended not to hear as Nox was dragged to the clinic. The medic was the same healing Esper that cared for Nox after Esper Taylor's meltdown. He was a polite man in his forties. He had a stocky build and salt and pepper hair. His vibe reminded Nox of his own father.
"When Esper Kane sent an emergency request I was expecting to see him being wheeled in on a stretcher," The healer, Esper Stiles, chuckled to himself as his hands lit up with healing energy. Nox flinched at the contact on his raw skin. The energy's cooling sensation couldn't fully drown out the sting.
"Does Esper Kane get hurt often?"
Esper Stiles barked out a bitter laugh, his dark eyes flitted to Nox's.
"Esper Kane is well known for over exerting himself. We- the support team -never hear from him until he's on death's door. When I got the message I honestly assumed it was sent by Esper Song or Esper Scott."
The healing light from Esper Stiles's hands faded and Nox rolled his shoulder experimentally. It was still a little sore but the raw stinging was gone. Nox thanked Esper Stiles softly then reached forward expectantly
Esper Stiles furrowed his brows in confusion at Nox's outstretched hand, "You're a little old for candy from the doctor don't you think."
Nox chuckled and shook his head, "Guiding. You used your ability, so I was offering."
"You came from an EGC didn't you?" Esper Stiles spoke slowly as if trying not to provoke Nox.
"People keep asking me that…" Nox paused and dropped his hand, "With that same sad look."
Esper Stiles smiled at Nox but it didn't quite reach his eyes. He turned away from Nox and typed a few things in on his tablet.
"I see why Esper Kane was so worried about you. He's got his hands full."
Nox stood and was inspecting the site of his wound as Esper Stiles spoke. He turned to the Esper and frowned.
"I don't know what you've heard, but I am not Esper Kane's responsibility. We're just… childhood acquaintances."
Esper Stiles paused and glanced over his shoulder at Nox. He shook his head and scoffed. Nox bristled with annoyance but years of work at the centers kept his face and posture neutral. He remained silent and waited for Esper Stiles to speak again.
"609?"
Nox's mouth fell open but no sound came out. His eyes twitched in confusion. He nodded suspiciously as Esper Stiles turned back to face him.
"Of course it's not my place to comment on the relationship between another Esper and a guide. All I'll say is that Esper Kane may have mentioned you during his treatment."
Though Nox managed to keep this expression neutral, he could feel heat rising in his cheeks. It must have been as obvious as it felt because Esper Stiles laughed again. In an attempt to retain some dignity, Nox excused himself from the clinic after a final, stilted, thank you.
Dae was waiting for Nox as he left the clinic. His soft, worried, expression did nothing to ease the burning in Nox's cheeks. Dae's distress intensified and he stepped forward, attempting to put a hand on Nox's face.
"Are you sure they did eno-"
Nox ducked away from Dae's hand. Dae pulled both of his hands against his chest anxiously. Regret swam in Nox's chest. But it was easy to bury under the unresolved frustration from Dae's refusal of exclusivity.
"You didn't need to wait for me, or call a healer for that matter," Dae looked like he wanted to argue but Nox's annoyance must have shown on his face. Dae deflated and looked away apologetically.
"I just want- I'm sorry. I didn't mean to overstep," Nox huffed out an annoyed breath as Dae continued his hot-and-cold act, "I guess I'll see you tomorrow at the gate."
Dae started to walk past Nox and Nox caught his arm. If Dae wanted to play professional, Nox could too. Nox refused to be beaten at his own game. He looked down at his watch and pulled up Dae's stats. He kept one arm looped through Dae's so the Esper couldn't flee.
"You're at 40% corruption. You didn't receive guiding yesterday and you've used your abilities at least twice since then."
"Oh," Dae swallowed dryly and averted his gaze, "I promise to get that settled before the mission. You don't have to-"
"You plan to overwork several unfit guides instead of taking up an offer from your best match." Dae flinched at the words 'best match' and Nox had to stop himself from reacting violently. It was clear that Dae understood his situation. He didn't seem to dislike Nox on a personal level, so why was he so hellbent on avoiding Nox's guiding?
"I'll get a transfusion."
"I have access to your files." Nox grabbed Dae's shoulder and forced Dae towards him, "Low compatibility transfusions leave you weak. You're the linchpin of tomorrow's mission. You can either take guiding directly or get a transfusion from me. I don't donate regularly so the transfusion would need to be direct. Which could leave me weak tomorrow from blood loss. I'll leave the decision in your hands Esper Kane."
Normally Nox wouldn't push so hard, especially with an S-class like Dae. Chasing a scared wolf was the best way to get bitten. But something about Dae made Nox feel like he could push as much as he wanted. Even knowing Dae left other guides with severe side effects. Something between them thrummed. That unspoken connection tethering them together and strangling Nox's heart.
Knowing you were special was as much a blessing as it was a curse. Nox's uniqueness had gotten him scarred and perpetually drained, always teetering on the brink. As Nox laid down his ultimatum he could feel the knotted scars lining his arms pulse with pain, warning him he was testing his luck.
If Dae would just take, take from Nox like everyone else, accept the support Nox offered. Maybe that would be enough to ease Nox's growing anxiety. Enough to stop Nox from dreaming of arcs of light hanging over Elenore's dead body like the mobile that once hung above her crib.
"How long will light contact take?"
Nox blinked slowly and took a steadying breath. Dae seemed adept at finding the perfect thing to say to get under Nox's skin. Esper Stiles's words about Dae's visits to the medical unit came to mind. Nox could understand the support team's aversion to Dae.
Deciding the best way out was through, Nox laced his finger with Dae's. He focused on Dae's vessel, the energy and corruption remained as intimidating as always. Like wandering an abandoned palace. Nox felt himself walking through a sculpted marble room. He tried to see the walls but was met with endless darkness.
"At least I can touch the ground now," Nox muttered to himself, thinking of that suspended in space feeling, "I can't even assess you right now. It'd probably take six hours with light contact. Make it four with full body or an hour and a half with deep sexual contact."
Nox watched Dae with tired eyes and waited for the Esper to do something else too annoying. Shockingly, Dae returned his gaze, something hard and determined in his eyes.
"Do we need to get a private room or can you just come back to my place?"
Nox's brows rose in a silent 'are you sure?' and when Dae didn't falter Nox huffed out a laugh and dropped Dae's arm.
"How well can you control yourself?" The question was protocol. But Nox already knew the answer. Dae was regularly waiting for high corruption to seek guiding. He would be more than capable of managing himself under 50%. And yet, the question shook Dae's resolve. Nox watched as Dae's fingers clenched and unclenched anxiously.
He remained silent as self doubt flitted across Dae's face. Normally Nox would offer comfort. Take the lead if the Esper seemed uneasy or unsure of themselves. But it felt good to see Dae squirm after all the bulshit he'd been putting Nox through. Petty? Certainly, but wasn't Nox owed a little pettiness after uprooting his life for an Esper who kept pretending he wasn't needed.
"If we go to my place I can give you an all plastic watch." Dae finally settled on a solution. One that had Nox biting back tears of laughter. Dae stared at Nox with nervous eyes under eyebrows so scrunched they almost met in the middle. Nox averted his gaze to prevent himself laughing in Dae's face.
"Not necessary," Dae started to argue but Nox continued, "You forget I signed with the intention of being your exclusive guide. My watch doesn't have any metal in it."
Dae grasped Nox's arm with the watch on it. He carefully traced his fingers over the device while muttering to himself, "How did I miss…"
Nox finally took pity on Dae. He pulled his hand away and started down the hall, "You have one of the penthouses right?"
Dae sputtered over some bashful admission of his own wealth and fell into step with Nox, "Yeah, the one in your building. Jin-Won and Neil share the one in the other complex."
"Why don't you have to share?" Nox asked, amused.
"Neil's in love with Jin-Won." Dae said it as if commenting on the color of the sky. Nox stopped and turned to Dae with poorly concealed interest.
"What?"
"Oh- I assumed you'd picked up on that already. They're a team. They do everything together." Dae continued to speak casually. Unfitting as he revealed the guild's juiciest gossip.
"You made it sound like it's not reciprocated. Why would they live together if it isn't?"
They reached the elevator and stepped on, joining a few other Espers. The Esper nearest to the panel pressed the button for the penthouse as soon as they saw Dae. They asked for Nox's floor then stared in shock as Nox told them there was no need. Their eyes sought Dae, standing huddled behind Nox despite being a good head taller than him.
Dae's hand shot to his throat and Nox saw him anxiously tracing the scar there. The reminder of Nox's failure planted a seed of guilt over the little powerplay Nox had pulled earlier. Nox needed to ask if tracing his neck had been a nervous habit before the attack or if it was newly acquired. Nox feared the answer.
As soon as the doors closed Dae startled Nox as he continued their previous conversation, "Jin-Won was in love with her guide. They were together for years. They were fated for each other. It hit her really hard when he died."
It shocked Nox, hearing Dae speak of fated pairings. The belief was more common among Esper's than guides. But Dae's history and aversion to guides led Nox to believe he was different.
"I think she does care about him, more than she lets on anyways. But it would feel like a betrayal to her guide." There was a solemn understanding in Dae's eyes that unnerved Nox. He wondered if Dae also lost his so-called fated pair.
That interview from all those years ago came to mind. What was it Dae said? A guide that felt like wood-smoke and warmth? Nox tore himself away from that line of thought. He'd guided plenty of Esper's who had fixations on other guides. It didn't change much. Just increased the chance of them calling someone else's name. \
Discomfort stung at Nox's heart. He pushed it aside and tried to shift the conversation to a lighter topic, "You said your preferred position was wrong."
Dae jumped and turned to face Nox slowly, face tinted an adorable shade of pink.
"Feel like telling me the right answer?"
Dae stared down at his feet and his blush spread down his neck and up his ears. He muttered something Nox couldn't hear. Before Nox could ask him to speak up he darted further into the apartment declaring that he was going to take a shower.
Nox took Dae's flight as an invitation to explore Dae's home. The first thing Nox noticed was the lack of furniture. An area against the windowed walls that should have been used for greeting guests or lounging hosted only a U shaped desk. The desk was covered in wires and circuitry. It reminded Nox of the pictures Dae had shared of his childhood creations. It must have been an at home workspace.
From Nox's conversations with Tessa he'd discovered that Dae was always working. She said Dae spent more time in his workshop than at home.The thick layer of dust coating Nox's finger as he ran it across the kitchen counter affirmed her statement.
So Dae, an S-class, who spent too much time working, and brought his work home with him also consistently avoided guiding. It didn't make sense. From what Nox had seen, Dae was considerate to a fault. Surely he understood what it did to his guides when corruption built up like this.
Nox looked up to the second floor balcony where Dae had disappeared. Dae's shower should take some time, time Nox could use to explore and find the missing piece that would give Nox insight into Dae's contradictory behavior.
Nox's sympathy for Espers only went so deep. It was tragic that their lives, privacy, and autonomy lay in other's hands. But as the man holding the leash, Nox would arm himself with any scrap of information he could find. Privacy was waved for a reason. The large main room held the lonely desk and kitchen. A hallway led past the kitchen to a door. The door opened to a barren bedroom.
Not shocking. All S-classes were allotted three bedrooms. One for themself, one for a designated guide, and a third, reinforced to withstand incidents during guiding. Since Nox could see no signs of emergency systems or reinforcement, he concluded that this was the room that would hold a designated guide if Dae had one.
"My room." A voice whispered. Nox felt a foreign ache in his chest.
If Dae accepted his contract they would be roommates. What would Dae be like early in the morning? He seemed the type that overslept after working himself to collapse. Nox imagined finding Dae snoring at his work desk. He might get a blanket to drape over Dae's shoulders, or try to pick him up to carry to bed.
Nox doubted he could manage getting Dae up the stairs so he'd have to bring Dae into this room, his room. Could they sleep next to each other comfortably? Despite the nature of his profession, Nox hadn't slept next to anyone since his sister's passing.
Elenore was an affectionate child. She had nightmares. As her abilities grew they manifested shadows to act out those nightmares. She would crawl into bed with Nox and Nox would cradle her and sing to her. His guiding energy couldn't soothe her constantly shifting corruption but he could spread it out, still the shadows until Nell was asleep.
There was a night, after Nell fell asleep, where Nox remembered gently shifting her head off of his chest and standing to face one of her shadow apparitions. Something about it was hauntingly familiar. Nox held it still with his ability and circled it, trying to identify its shape. He found himself standing opposite the bed. His eyes snapped to Nell's sleeping frame in the bed. That glance was what made him realize. The monster Nell was so afraid of, it was herself.
The way Nox's stomach dropped at the realization forced him to his knees. The change in perspective brought Nox face to face with the figure standing under the boot of shadow-nell. His stress loosened his grip on his ability. The scene began to play out. Shadows coalesced in false-Nell's hand. The impostor closed her fist and directed shadows towards the figure at her feet.
The figure lifted its arms. Nox could see gaps in the shadow of the prone figure's arms. Tooth marks, mirroring Nox's most recently acquired scar. Nox seized the scene. Stopped it before the shadow Nell could strike down his shadow self. Nell stirred in her sleep, whining with her face twisted in distress. Nox had pushed his way through the dark tableau and took his sister into his arms again.
A hand, damp and cold against Nox's exposed shoulder pulled him out of his reverie. He turned to see Dae, looking at him with concern, hair still dripping from his shower. The rectangular glasses that served as a buffer for Dae's complex gaze were gone. It made the ache in Dae's eyes so much more prominent.
Nox's stomach twisted and he was reminded of Nell yet again. A terrible thing to be reminded of while looking at someone you're about to have sex with. There was just something about the way Dae looked at Nox. A sense of trust and reliance that Nox had never earned, that he'd never be able to live up to.
"Your glasses." It wasn't what Nox meant to say. He didn't know what he actually wanted to say. But it certainly wasn't a throw away comment about Dae's choice in accessories. Dae's eyes remained locked on Nox's. Searching as if he'd be able to peer into Nox's mind if he just looked hard enough.
"I'm farsighted, I only need them when I'm reading or working with things up close."
Nox smiled with what he hoped read as amusement, not anxiety, "I'm going to be quite close to you. Are you saying you don't want to see me?"
Dae went red and opened and closed his mouth like a fish on dry land. Nox laughed and pushed past him back into the main living space. Dae followed, staring at his feet anxiously.
"Which room's for guiding?" Nox stood at the base of the stairs, leaning against the railing and waiting for Dae to take the lead.
"Second on the right."
Nox raised a brow and chuckled to himself, "I would hope it's on the right, if I went left I'd be jumping off the balcony." Dae was too easy to tease. The tips of his ears burned pink as he walked past Nox, leading the way to the guiding room. Nox glanced into Dae's bedroom as they passed.
The walls were glass. Allowing ample natural light from the wall to ceiling windows in the main living area. The bed had a matching grey comforter and sheet set, it was unmade. There was yet another desk. It was much less crowded with material, instead holding a computer. Book shelves surrounded it. Nox felt the urge to go examine what S-class Esper Daedalus Kane was reading.
Unfortunately, Nox wasted his opportunity to investigate by spacing out in the unused bedroom.
They reached the guiding room which Nox could have identified even without Dae's unnecessarily detailed instructions. The door was made of concrete. Nox was used to metal shuttered doors for guiding rooms but it made sense that a metal manipulator wouldn't benefit from that. If Nox had to guess, he'd assume that all the furniture in the room was either plastic, wood, or stone.
This room was just as sparse as the bedroom downstairs. A sheet set sat folded on top of the mattress. Dae rushed forward and started fussing over making the bed. Nox stood on the opposite side of the bed and reached out for one side of the fitted sheet.
"Do you get most of your guiding at the clinic?" Nox already knew the answer.
"Uh…Yeah,"
Lying by omission.
Nox looked down at the sheet he was tucking in the bed to keep from sighing aloud. Dae received guiding roughly once every four months. He excused himself from all but the mandatory field work. He only built corruption through the passage of time and occasional use in the workshop.
Forty percent wasn't outrageous. But with Dae's large vessel, it would be time consuming. A higher ranked guide with even 50% compatibility could manage Dae's condition more efficiently than Nox. But Dae flat out refused or tapped out with every available S-class. Including Titan's with whom he had a 75% match. Nox put it on his schedule to check in with that guide. Unfortunately, they were out on field duty so he wouldn't have a chance until after the mission.
When the sheets were settled Nox sat down and began to unlace his choker. Dae had already seen the bruise. There was no point in wearing something that might constrict breathing during a guiding session.
Nox felt the dip in the mattress behind him. Dae's gentle hands joined Nox's, quietly unlacing the choker. Dae hummed with distress as the dark bruising came back into view. It seemed to bother Dae more than Nox. In some ways, the Esper was exceedingly naive. Then again, everyone in Titan reacted dramatically to the idea of violence during guiding.
Sure Titan had more resources than governmental EGCs but they still must see their fair share of emergency sessions. Dae mentioned in passing that Esper Song's guide passed.
Dae also implied the pair were bonded. Since bonding lowered compatibility with all other guides/espers, Esper Song's compatibility with other guides would be mediocre at best. Not unmanageable by any means, but with how much Esper Song worked, it wouldn't be shocking to have incidents every few years.
Yet everyone Nox interacted with yesterday treated Esper Taylor's little outburst as an inconceivable transgression. Nox was assured multiple times that Taylor would be removed from the guild and forced to wear a suppression collar for at least six months.
At first, Nox wanted to argue that these measures were too drastic. Until he received multiple messages from other guides sharing regret that they hadn't reported Taylor when he attacked them. There were too many incidents to ignore. Of course there were, it had been bad enough that both the security team and Dae had thought to warn Nox.
Nox felt silly for letting his emotions get the best of him and ignoring Dae's warning. Dae's evasiveness was already feeding Nox's self doubt enough. So the warning felt more like a condemnation of Nox's guiding abilities.
The collar slid from Nox's neck and he let himself press lightly on the bruised skin. Behind him he felt Dae's calloused fingers doing the same. Nox looked back and Dae yanked his hand away. Nox was faster however, he caught Dae's wrist and pulled the other man towards him. Dae lost his balance and toppled towards Nox who caught him with ease.
"Finally gonna tell me about your favorite position?" Dae tried to look away but Nox caught his chin and held him in place, "Or are you gonna make me find out through trial and error?"
---- Dae ----
Nox's touch was every bit as intoxicating as the kiss before the rescue mission. Dae's robe had fallen open when Nox pulled him into his arms. Their bare chests were pressed together. Nox's hands, one on Dae's waist and the other gripping his chin, felt like fire on Dae's damp skin.
Dae didn't know where to look. Meeting Nox's teasing gaze felt dangerous. Scissors poised to snip the single thread that remained of Dae's sanity. Looking at Nox's body wasn't much better. Nox's body was the origin of Dae's type. Seeing it now, matured and covered in even more scars, was intoxicating to a degree Dae hadn't anticipated. The scars were another thing. Each bite mark rattled the cage Dae had so meticulously built around the animal sleeping in his chest.
Logically Dae knew he had no claim. When Nox requested an exclusive contract Dae didn't hesitate to decline. A desperate effort to avoid feeding his misplaced jealousy and possessiveness even more. It felt like this creature was ready to consume Nox. The sense of unwarranted entitlement Dae held for Nox, not just his guiding but his entire being, was nauseating.
And here Nox was, arms wrapped around Dae and offering himself up freely. Dae hadn't wanted to accept Nox's offer. Between Nox's mini guilt trip and Dae's own burning desire, rationality stood no chance.
Smoke was already beginning to pour into Dae from every point they came into contact. Nox's ability was so powerful that it seeped through fabric. Still, the points where skin met skin were infinitely more intense.
Dae's eyes settled on Nox's mouth. Which was quirked up in a subtle grin. The beast inside of Dae hissed and raged. This was how Nox treated all of his Espers. The practiced softness merely an expression of bedside manner. When Dae cautiously glanced at the rest of Nox's face he found it open and calm. Which made Dae painfully aware of the way his heart was beating out of his chest.
If Nox noticed he didn't voice it. Instead ducking down to press a chaste kiss against Dae's lips. Dae found himself chasing after Nox as he pulled away. Nox breathed out a silent laugh. Still looking so unphased it hurt.
"Were you sick that day?" Dae tried to cover his discomfort with a question he'd had on his mind since their fateful encounter.
Nox's face scrunched as he worked to recall the answer.
"Ah-" Nox said, voice steeped in humorless laughter, "I believe my lip was split from an overly aggressive beast-shifter Esper."
Dae's brows furrowed in distress. Nox clearly saw where Dae's mind was going and beat him there, "It's fine, you didn't make it worse. The blood probably helped boost your stats, if we go by how effective it was when you drank it after that little girl got to you."
"I drank your blood!" Dae shot up. He promptly lost his balance and fell back, now only propped up on his arms. Nox swung a leg over Dae and bracketed Dae with his arms. Dae fell flat as Nox moved in closer.
"Drank is a strong word. There was blood in my mouth when I kissed you so I made use of it." Dae shrank back even more at the thought of Nox providing Sanguineous Guiding to two Espers simultaneously. It was already bad enough that Dae's actions forced Nox to undergo Total Drain, even worse that he'd also lost blood over it.
"Do you get iron deficiency often?" The negligible distance between them caused Dae's lips to brush against Nox's as he spoke. Nox laughed and ducked down to nip along Dae's neck, drawing a full body shiver from Dae.
Nox hummed against Dae's skin in amusement, "Are you worried about me Esper Kane?" Nox took Dae's earlobe between his teeth and applied gentle pressure that shot arousal through Dae. He hadn't known his ears were an erogenous zone. Then again, anything Nox did could probably elicit a positive response from Dae.
"Obv~ah~obviously." Dae responded shakily. Nox paused his biting as Dae struggled to speak, "Why do you keep your hair long here?"
Dae's hand brushed against Nox's clavicle as he stroked the long tufts of hair growing in front of Nox's ears and down the sides of his neck.
"I used to keep my hair long. I like the way it frames my neck. But Espers see long hair as an invitation for pulling."
Dae frowned but before he could speak again Nox lifted himself up, causing his full weight to press against Dae's pelvis. The bathrobe had long since fallen open, exposing Dae's cock to the rough sensation of Nox's jeans. Dae bit down on his lip, hard.
With a gentle press of his thumb, Nox pulled Dae's lip from between his teeth. He considered Dae with a curious expression much more genuine than any he'd made since they started.
"It'll help me more if you just take what I offer."
Dae could do that.
Dae wanted to do that.
Be good for Nox.
When Nox bit down on his own lip, drawing blood as he bent down to reconnect with Dae, Dae accepted it. He let himself melt into the kiss, swiping his tongue along the broken flesh and reveling in the rush of serenity that came from ingesting this gift from his guide.
My guide
Mine
Mine
Mine
The word swirled in Dae's head as his fingers traced along the myriad scars on Nox's arms. He brushed past them to cup the back of Nox's neck. Ignoring the reminders of others in favor of savoring his moment with Nox. The precious moment Nox was allowing him.
He didn't notice Nox disrobing until his naked skin pressed down against Dae's. Dae let out a strangled gasp as Nox's ass and thighs pressed against his aching cock. Nox grinned at him as he pulled away. He pulled a small bottle from his discarded jeans. When did he have time to get that? Had he taken it in preparation for the meeting with Cas?
Sensing his question Nox laughed while dousing his fingers in lubricant, "I always have it on hand, you understand my job right?"
Dae's cheeks went pink, then shifted to crimson and Nox reached behind himself to start stretching himself open. Dae sat up quickly, pressing his chest against Nox.
"Please," Dae let the word hang in the air, afraid his voice would shake if he dared say more. He traced his hands up Nox's thighs and gently kneaded Nox's ass.
Nox looked up, lips pressed together as he considered the request.
"I normally do it myself, nothing against you, just preference. What's your orientation outside of guiding?"
"Gay," Dae spoke, keeping his head down and pressing kisses on Nox's chest.
"Top or bottom?"
Dae looked up with one eyebrow raised in mild confusion, "Vers I guess. I don't get around much." He looked back down at the admission.
"I'm asking if you have experience stretching yourself."
Dae nodded against Nox' chest, his ears turning dark with his embarrassment.
"What's my full name?"
"Nox Levi," Dae whispered against Nox's skin, too drunk on guiding to wonder Nox was asking.
"Who is the current guildmaster at Titan?"
"Golden…Dragon,"
"No, her name."
Nox's voice was stern. Dae frowned against his skin while trying to remember the answer to Nox's question. He knew that he should know but he couldn't dredge it up from his foggy mind.
"That's what I thought," Dae whined as Nox pushed his hands away, "Maybe next time Esper Kane."
Dae hummed happily at the suggestion of a next time. The promise soothed the hurt of Nox rejection. Since Dae was barred from prepping Nox he took it upon himself to find other ways to please his partner. He bit down on Nox's soft skin. It filled his mouth with swirling smoke. Nox's energy took up residence inside him like an old friend finally returning home.
Nox was a quiet partner. If Dae hadn't been so impaired he might have worried about it. But Nox's guiding created a sharp clarity in his mind. Pushing away things like doubt and fear. Maybe this effect had been what aided him during his test. This sense of calm and understanding.
Of course Nox was quiet, he was focusing on opening himself up for Dae and providing a steady stream of guiding. That understanding didn't stop Dae's desire to draw noises from Nox. He kissed, sucked and bit every inch of skin he could reach. He had the presence of mind to take care not to bite hard enough to break flesh.
Even if the unblemished skin over Nox's heart called out to Dae like a siren song. Even if that possessive monster shook the bars of its cage and growled each time Dae pulled away without leaving a permanent reminder of his time with his guide.
Mine
Mine
Mine
Mine
A prayer echoing over and over again as Dae worshiped at the altar of his divine light.
At some point Nox had finished preparing himself. Nox's fingers wrapped around Dae's cock and positioned it against his entrance. Nox's head fell to the crook of Dae's neck as he lowered himself slowly.
Dae went completely still, worried that any movement would result in him rolling his hips up into Nox's tantalizing heat. Dae's restraint paid off when Nox fully seated himself on Dae's cock and moaned softly.
Nox pressed kisses along Dae's shoulder as he adjusted. Dae began mentally spelling his name in binary code. When Nox decided he was ready he lifted himself up, his thighs shook against Dae's hips. Dae wanted nothing more than to provide Nox relief by flipping them and pressing Nox down into the bed.
But if this was what Nox wanted then Dae would comply. At this point Dae suspected that Nox could rip Dae's throat out and Dae would thank him in sign language. That tight discomfort that bound Dae's heart each time he walked away from Nox returned. This time the sensation was pleasant, Dae could only assume this was because he could see the other end of the tether resting in Nox's hands.
Dae would give himself to this man gladly. If that meant sitting back and staying still while Nox took what he needed from Dae then so be it. Even suffering coated his tongue in sweetness as he sucked on Nox's skin.
The flushed expanse of Nox's chest was covered in bruises. Dae did his best to ignore the ones clearly in later stages of healing, marks that hadn't come from him. Dae took one of Nox's nipples between his teeth and looked up at his partner's face, gauging his reaction.
Nox yelped and just as Dae was about to pull away in fear he saw Nox's eyes roll back in his head. A pleased growl rumbled in Nox's throat and Dae eagerly chased it. He ran the flat of his tongue against Nox's chest and reveled in the stutter in Nox's hips.
Before Dae could move to the other side Nox's hand gripped Dae's face and forced him up into a kiss. The tang of iron filled Dae's mouth. It should have felt disgusting, not only was Dae taking Nox's energy but he was even sucking out his blood. Instead of that hesitance he should have had, Dae sucked Nox's lip into his mouth and coaxed out more of the energy rich ambrosia.
Nox pulled away and Dae's eyes fluttered open. He was met with Nox's striking crimson gaze. Nox was clearly enjoying himself too. His normally neutral expression was replaced with one of suppressed lust. His cheeks were dusted pink.
One of Dae's hands cupped Nox's face and he ran a thumb over the guide's cheeks.
"I don't think I've ever seen you blush," His voice was gravely but shockingly steady considering how far gone he felt.
"Ngh~ don-- agh --don't do it a lot," Nox sounded even more affected than he looked. Dae's head fell down against Nox's chest and tensed his jaw to keep himself finishing from the breathy sighs alone.
Dangerously perceptive as always, Nox lifted Dae's head up and forced their eyes to meet, "Let go 's ok," As he spoke, Nox's head tilted up slightly and he looked down at Dae through his fluttering lashes.
Nox's request would have been more than enough on its own to tip Dae over the edge but the way he looked down at Dae made everything so much more overwhelming. Dae's eyes fluttered closed and he felt Nox's walls contracted around him. He made a pathetic whimpering sound that would probably be embarrassing later. But in the moment, shame went the wayside in favor of the intense pleasure of being connected to Nox in both body and energy.
When he regained his senses, Nox had dismounted and gently laid him down to the bed. Dae frowned as he took in Nox's evident arousal. He reached out, eager to please, but Nox pinned his hand to the bed.
Nox sat up while showing Dae his watch.
"0% corruption Esper Kane, this concludes your guiding session."
"But-" Nox was already slipping off the bed. He paused at the door and turned back to Dae.
"I should have asked earlier, where's your bathroom?"
Dae pointed to the door nestled between two bookshelves. Nox thanked him as he curled in on himself, utterly miserable at his failure.
Guiding had never been pleasant before. Full contact was just for efficiency. In any other guiding session Dae wouldn't even blink if no one finished. Sure bodily fluids increase guiding efficiency, but when both parties are in pain there's only so much you can do. Finishing wasn't necessary, just contact with mucosal membranes.
Nox's touch and energy filled Dae with ecstasy. He could understand people blurring the line between guiding and sex. During Dae's rare hook-ups he'd always considered himself adept at pleasing his partners. The sinking feeling of failing to fulfill a partner outshadowed the satisfaction of being properly guided.
"It should be enough that the guiding was successful." Dae muttered to himself as he buried his face in the sheets, "I didn't get side effects and Nox di-"
Tears pricked at Dae's eyes as the possibility that it'd been as painful to Nox as it'd been to all the other guides. Sure Nox said he didn't experience side effects before but that was just kissing. Maybe full contact was different. Maybe Nox was hurting and that's why he wanted to get away from Dae as fast as possible.
A gentle hand grabbed his shoulder and turned him up. His eyes sought out Nox. The guide smiled at him gently, taking in his watery eyes. In his other hand he held a damp washcloth. He held it up in a silent question. Dae nodded while trying his best not to cry. He was almost thirty damn it.
The washcloth was cool and soothing against Dae's burning skin. He hadn't realized how hot he'd been feeling. Nox cleaned Dae with the practiced ease of a professional.
"You're a really good guide."
Nox froze and he looked at Dae out of the corner of his eye, head still pointed down at his hands. He continued his ministrations after a second and spoke, "I better be, I've been doing this for nearly a decade."
Dae propped himself up on his elbows as Nox pulled away. He watched with an inappropriate level of focus as Nox slid off the bed and began slipping his underwear and jeans back on.
"Do they teach you to do all of this too?" Dae gestured to the washcloth and the bed.
"You mean aftercare?" Nox chuckled, Dae was too busy enjoying the sound to feel embarrassed. Dae nodded, "Yeah. Taking care of out-of-commission Esper's is part of the job. That includes aftercare. Some people can get emotional after an orgasm, add in the high from guiding and some superpowers and you get a mess."
Nox looked back at Dae as he mentioned getting emotional. Dae wanted to argue but he felt deflated, exhausted, and like he could cry again at any second. He just pouted which earned him another laugh from Nox.
To Dae's immense shock, Nox crawled back into the bed. He leaned back against the headboard and reached out for Dae. Without a second thought Dae fell into Nox's arms and nuzzled against his chest. Nox accepted him easily.
All physical contact seemed to come easily to Nox. Maybe being a guide made it more natural, or maybe it was something he'd learned in his years of experience.
"You smell good," Dae couldn't think. His body was melting into Nox. Everything was fuzzy and soft and warm and everything Dae had been longing for.
"What do I smell like?" Nox soft chuckle felt like raindrops on dry soil.
"Woodsmoke," Dae hardly got the words out, already losing the battle against sleep. Nox made a strangled noise above him. Nox's steady heartbeat a lullaby against his cheek.
---- Nox ----
"It'll help more if you just take what I offer." Nox hoped his voice sounded gentle and teasing. Hoped it didn't betray the way touching Dae felt like drowning. Nox bit down on his lip. He reasoned that he'd need Sanguineous Guiding to manage Dae. But in truth, he needed the pain to ground himself.
Luckily, Dae seemed too distracted to notice the crease between Nox's brows or the way Nox's breathing shook. But Nox could tell he wasn't fully gone by the way his fingers stuttered as they slid across Nox's many scars. He didn't say anything, but he didn't need to.
Every time Nox pulled back, disconnected their lips to adjust or disrobe further, Dae looked up at Nox with absolute reverence. It was unsettling. Nox was used to hunger, to desire. Dae did desire, Nox could see it but it was buried under something else.
A layer of worship defined by the devotee's self hatred more than the subject's divinity. The prayer Dae's lips traced on Nox's skin was meant to degrade Dae, not elevate Nox. That tether Nox associated with Dae no longer strangled Nox's heart. Instead it rested in his hand and with each shift and pull he could see it choking Dae.
The moment their bodies connected, Nox felt himself falling. He fell and fell, tumbling through a dark empty space until he came crashing onto marble floors. The sound of the impact echoed in the endless chamber.
Unlike the last time Nox had been in this space, he was able to get his bearings relatively quickly. There were large stone pillars all around him, he couldn't see the walls but he could feel them. When his energy reached out it was able to show Nox the shape of the space around him.
Guiding wasn't telepathy. Nox wasn't reaching into Dae's mind and examining his thoughts. But this vessel, the fount of Dae's powers, rested somewhere near his soul. It was shaped by it, and as such it reflected who Dae was.
As Nox's bare feet carefully plodded along the cool floor he scanned around. Aside from the pillars there wasn't much to see. It was only a vague approximation of a reflection of a reflection. Fuzzy around the edges and more metaphor than a direct experience.
Nox had seen some vessels that clearly resembled places the Espers were fond of. Nox had also seen just as many that were nothing more than a drinking glass. The most common manifestation was an hourglass. Those were easy to cleanse. You just flipped them over and ran your hand through the sand as it trickled through.
Nox could sense the wall before he hit it. His own energy bounced back at him like spiritual echolocating. It could never have prepared him for that wall's appearance. It wasn't made of simple stone like the floor and pillars. Even more shocking, Nox could see clearly. Every detail had sharp edges and clearly defined details.
A stained glass window.
A window depicting Nox.
Nox's instinct was to look away. But something held him in place. He looked down and saw chains slithering up his legs. They locked onto his arms and bound him in place. They hummed against his skin, singing a song with only one word.
Mine.
Mine.
Mine.
Mine.
Fire lit up the empty chamber. Something like candles flickering to life all around Nox. The ground around Nox lifted and suddenly he was chained atop an altar. Nox kept himself calm, accustomed to corruption filled vessels being hostile towards guiding energy. He breathed steadily and focused on the rhythm his body was finding with Dae's. As they fell into sync the chains loosened, slightly. More comfortable but still restrictive.
Unbidden, Nox's eyes drifted back to the window. The version of him in the glass still had black hair. It must have been there since their first encounter years ago. That would explain the clarity as well. It didn't, however, explain the almost angelic appearance of the Nox in the stained glass. His eyes were closed and his hands cupped his heart. He seemed to be sitting, legs crooked and pointed off to one side.
"I don't think I've ever seen you blush," Dae was ginning. Eager to please.
"Ngh~ don-- agh --don't do it a lot," Nox was more sensitive than usual. He reacted to Dae's touch more than he'd anticipated. But the truth behind the pink in his cheeks lay solely with the shrine to Nox, burned into Dae's soul.
This accidental invasion of privacy had distracted Nox so much he hadn't even realized Dae's corruption had been at zero for some time now. Nox had lost himself in Dae's touch and worship so thoroughly that he'd forgotten to maintain the distance between them. Distance Dae had put there.
Nox took Dae's face in his hand and tilted his head up. He looked into Dae's eyes and tried to find an answer for all of Dae's contradictory actions. The only man who'd never asked anything of Nox. The man who'd always needed Nox more than anyone else in the world.
All of Nox's anger and confusion had his grip on Dae's chin tightening. Nox's knuckles turned white and Dae just stared up as if Nox were the sun itself. Nox could feel his lip quivering and his eyes growing watery. He didn't know if it was anger, fear, or affection but he knew it was overwhelming.
"Let go, s' ok," Nox blinked rapidly, trying to disperse the tears welling up in his eyes. The moment Dae was finished Nox pulled away. He needed space, distance, professionalism, something cold and detached. He looked down at his watch just to stop his gaze lingering on Dae.
"0% corruption Esper Kane, this concludes your guiding session."
He half ran out of the room. Didn't even bother to grab a blanket to cover himself with. The bathroom mirror showed Nox a disaster. Nox's eyes were wild, his hair clung to his sweat slicked skin and cum dripped down his thighs. Even worse, he was still fucking hard.
Arousal was natural with sexual contact guiding. But Nox had always been good at compartmentalizing. It was almost mechanical, the way he could gain and lose arousal at will. Yet here he was, achingly hard in the bathroom of an Esper who had a shrine to Nox in his soul.
The rational, self preserving part of Nox told him to be afraid. To treat Dae's unhealthy interest with cautious avoidance. But there was something deeper in Nox, a whisper tickling the back of his neck. It told him the truth, Nox's truth. Reminded him of the long neglected part of his soul that was dedicated to Dae.
It was a door he always kept locked, heavy, chained, and padlocked. But the chains were rattling, the lock fell away, the doors swept open and Nox was forced to bear witness to what he'd been so happy to ignore for the past decade.
Every rejection. Every regular Esper who ended up asking another guide for an exclusive contract. Every guide who'd abandoned him for an Esper that would throw them away the moment a better match appeared. Every disappointment. Nox had always gotten through it with his secret desire. Something he'd weaved with the threads Dae had left behind. A hope that someday, Dae would return to Nox. That eventually someone, that Esper Daedalus Kane would want, would need, would beg for Nox.
He never could have imagined this. He'd come to terms with a reality where Dae forgot their moments together after coldly rejecting his guiding. Suddenly he was discovering that he'd been wrong. Dae had always wanted him.
Dae had always needed him.
Dae needed him.
The cold shower Nox took helped him regain his composure enough to regret leaving as quickly as he did. When Nox returned he could see Dae's shoulders shaking. He internally cursed himself for his lapse in professionalism. But he couldn't fully regret it. If he'd stayed they might have gone for round two, without guiding. Nox didn't think he could come back from that.
Whatever beast was growing between them was unstable at best. Nox didn't know if he could be what Dae wanted. He didn't even know what he wanted from Dae. All he could do was force them to stay inside the confines of their professional relationship until he had a better grasp of both his and Dae's desires.
"You're a really good guide." Nox froze. He willed himself not to face Dae, though he couldn't stop his eyes from flicking towards the Esper. He took a deep breath and focused on cleaning Dae off. Cum and lube had dried against his skin, creating a flaky, sticky mess that couldn't have been comfortable. Another failure on Nox's part.
"I better be, I've been doing this for nearly a decade."
Dae sat up and Nox retreated. He fought the urge to flee the penthouse completely and settled for putting his clothes back on. It gave him a little extra time to compose himself, not that he actually managed to.
"Do they teach you to do all of this too?" Nox laughed, happy that at least Dae wasn't acting any differently. Tension drained from his shoulders. Nothing had changed, they were still just Nox and Dae. Two guildmates who happened to attend the same training center. Just an Esper and a guide.
Nox could guide anyone at the guild, not just Dae.
Dae could receive guiding from anyone, not just Nox.
Why did the second statement sting? Nox didn't want to know. Didn't want to admit he already knew.
Dae's pouting face was cute. It created a swell of affection in Nox that gave him the courage to crawl back into the bed. Much to Nox's surprise, Dae fell into his arms instantly. Dae buried his face in Nox's chest and wrapped his arms around Nox's waist. It was comfortable, it was easy.
"You smell good."
Nox laughed as he carded his fingers through Dae's wavy, damp hair, "What do I smell like?"
Dae hummed happily, "Woodsmoke."
The moment he fell asleep Nox gave in to his desire to run. He didn't even stop to lace up his boots, instead carrying them into the elevator and all the way to his front door.