for catwithhammer;

[looktothesun]

[U'rajul is maddeningly close to being ready to go back to work. Most of the bruises have faded. The ankle is coming along. He can walk now. He just can't do anything complicated...like dancing.

Worse. Sneaking out is not an option. Not only does he see Allont's disapproving face every time he considers it, but in the absence of his mother, there are at least a dozen Keeper women who scold him every time he tries to leave the building. The same women who eye Rejeh'li with great suspicion when he comes asking after U'rajul, and only after giving him the third degree, reluctantly, point him in the right direction.

It's half past noon when the knock at the door startles the dancer awake. With nothing better to do, he had been napping. He sits, confused for moment, but after the second series of knocks, he finally mumbles some acknowledgment, picks himself up, and limps his way to the door to open it.

It's pretty obvious what he's been up to. He's got bedhead, he hasn't bothered to put a shirt on, and the bed where he'd been curled up just moments before is clearly visible behind him. His sleepy expression gives way to surprise when he sees who it is.]

Rejeh'li? What are you doing here...?

[He's going to let him in regardless. It's not an admonishment. He's just honestly at a loss as he steps aside to let the other man in. Clients don't usually come to him.

It's a nice room. Not lavish, but it's clean, comfortable, and there's a cute little balcony that's more of a ledge with lattice doors that he can open to the cool night air and watch the city lights. He's decorated with various colorful fabrics, pillows, and cushions. The building itself may not be in the best part of town, but U'rajul clearly does well enough for himself.]

Comments

[catwithhammer]

[ Rejeh'li watches him, unmoving, a smirk slow to creep across his face. This is just a form of deflection on U'rajul's part, he's reasonably sure, but it's not like he's in a position to throw stones.

He can figure out more later, anyway.

One of his hands circles around the small of U'rajul's back while the other trails down his thigh, both slow. ]

Which ankle, so I know what to be careful with?

[looktothesun]

[ Rejeh'li is absolutely right. He is definitely deflecting, but there are purely selfish reasons for his behavior too. He's been starved for attention and company for weeks. There's no way he wouldn't take the other man up on his offer. ]

I don't usually see people in my rooms you know. [ He leans forward so he breathes against Rejeh'li's ear. ] I think that makes you special.

[catwithhammer]

[ It's such an obvious brush-off that U'rajul might as well have asked him, point-blank, to change the subject. It makes Rejeh'li narrow his eyes, but it also works. U'rajul is, if nothing else, very good at what he does. ]

Oh? [ His fingers trail beneath U'rajul's waistband, teasing. ] How many others have been in that bed?

[looktothesun]

[ Turnabout is fair play, my friend. U'rajul smirks back at him, and slips a hand under the hem of Rejeh'li's tunic, splaying his palm against his abdomen. ]

I don't know. If you want it to be none, then a few. If you're looking for the opposite, then dozens, clearly.

[ He laughs and traces the line of Rejeh'li's jaw with his fingertips. ]

Does it look like a bed built for more than one person?

[ It does not, and the honest answer to the Keeper's question is, not many. ]

[catwithhammer]

[ Rejeh'li gives the bed a contemplative look, fingers dipping almost absently to stroke along the base of U'rajul's cock. ]

Both fine answers.

[ He looks back at U'rajul, sliding his hand back out. It's the truth, though it took him a little internal arguing to arrive at. ]

You're right, at any rate. My bed's better suited.

[ ...Which is an idea worth pursuing, but later, when U'rajul's sated and maybe more receptive. He leans forward, tilting his head to nip at U'rajul's throat. ]

[looktothesun]

[ U'rajul shivers, and removes his hand long enough to shift and straddle the other man's lap. ]

Well, that's too bad, isn't it? You're going to have to make do.

[ He inhales sharply at the sensation of teeth against sensitive skin, slides fingers through Rejeh'li's hair, and arches his neck in a shameless display of submission. His free hand tugs impatiently at the hem of the other man's tunic. ]

I think you're overdressed.

[catwithhammer]

Get off me, then.

[ He starts to slide off the chair before U'rajul can get up, giving both his ankle and his natural grace the benefit of the doubt, and peels off his tunic as he goes. After he's left it somewhere, he turns back to reach for U'rajul's waist, and leans in to touch their foreheads together.

It'd be hard to call it anything other than affectionate, so he tempers it with a hungry grin. ]

Better?

[looktothesun]

[ U'rajul lands on his feet, without a single stumble, dropping to a crouch as slides off Rejeh'li's lap. He's standing when the other turns back to him, looking amused. ]

Much.

[ He doesn't waste time, running his hands all over Rejeh'li's chest, and then up, to grip his shoulders. ]

You're so tense. [ There a tiny hint of concern in that statement, but his smile remains playful. ]

[catwithhammer]

[ It can’t be for any U’rajul-related reasons, of course. He rolls his shoulders, a little self-conscious now, but covers for it by leaning in to nuzzle at U’rajul’s neck. ]

I had to deal with an army to get here.

[ Keeper women are terrifying. ]

Fix it for me. You must have something for that, yeah?

[ He may or may not be hoping for a collection of oil to be impressed by. ]

[looktothesun]

I’m sure you did. I grew up with some of those “soldiers”. I’m surprised they let you pass.

[ That’s more than he’s ever let slip about his past before. Again, not a secret. Just not something paying customers are usually interested in. ]

Still so bossy. I assume you mean, more than just my own two talented hands.

[ He gives the other’s shoulders a squeeze before reluctantly pulling away and leading him towards the bed. There’s an alcove built into the wall nearby and a respectable collection of scented oils within. Not so many as Rejeh’li might have hoped for perhaps, but U’rajul has good taste. ]

Would you like to choose or should I surprise you?

[catwithhammer]

[ Rejeh'li skins off his trousers and flops face-first on U'rajul's bed, naked, and stretches luxuriously, tail twitching. ]

Surprise me. I need a little time to decide what I'm going to do to you.

[ He lays his head on the pillow and fixes U'rajul with a sly grin. ]

Unless you have requests.

[looktothesun]

Hmm. I'll think about it.

[ The sight of Rejeh'li stretched out on his bed is a very nice one, and he has to tear his eyes away to peruse his collection. He selects a nice sandalwood jasmine scented oil, one of his more expensive glass vials, pauses to push his pants down over his hips, stepping out them gracefully (because he knows he has an audience), and moves to straddle Rejeh'li's waist again. If the weight of his cock against the other's back is distracting, then good. It's meant to be. He likes the idea of making Rejeh'li squirm a little.

Pouring the oil and spreading the stuff between his palms, he leans forward, rubbing it onto his partner's bare skin, and over tense muscles. ]

What in the world have you been doing? You're all tied up in knots.

[catwithhammer]

[ It seems inadvisable to admit that U'rajul's become his main source of stress relief. He got frustrated one night after not finding him, and strolled through the usual streets, but looking at other dancers just made him more annoyed, and he was finally forced to admit to himself that no one else was going to have much effect on him, at present. ]

Nothing but work. [ He pulls his hair off the back of his neck, twists it, and sets it out of U'rajul's way. ]

What have you been doing, trapped here?

[looktothesun]

Look in the far corner. [ He's referring to what appears to be a pile of costumes, in various states of disrepair. None of them are his, and it's obvious that most are meant for women. ]

Nothing interesting, but I've managed to keep myself busy. There's no shortage of work around here for someone skilled with a needle and thread. [ Skilled enough to mend rips and tears anyway. He's had plenty of practice over the years.

He pauses, dropping a kiss to the skin beneath his hairline, then presses his thumbs against the back of Rejeh'li's neck, tracing the line of his spine. His hands are soft, but strong. ]

[catwithhammer]

[ He's relaxing well under U'rajul's hands, so it's fine with him that he has only to lift his head to see the pile, and then he lays it back down, satisfied — both with the answer (no one was here except dancers wanting costumes mended, good) and with the knowledge that U'rajul was able to do something to keep himself fed and under a roof.

He would've preferred it to be his own roof, but this is better than nothing. ]

I made something for you.

[ His tail rises, bumping against U'rajul's back, since he can't touch him otherwise, at the monent. He'd meant for it to be a surprise, but he's never been good at impulse control. ]

The stone reminded me of you, and I didn't know what else to use it for.

[looktothesun]

Did you?

[ U’rajul can’t hide the surprise in his voice, and his hands falter for just a moment before they resume their work.

Yes, he’d teased Rejeh’li about it. Refused to take anything from his work table, and coyly told him to make him something. To surprise him.

But he’d never actually expected Rejeh’li to do just that. Clients have given him gifts in the past, but this is above and beyond, and it gives him pause. He likes Rejeh’li very much. The man had fast become one of his favorites, and then as the Keeper bought more and more of his nights, very nearly his only favorite, being almost his only customer. Arrangements like these aren’t unusual, but it’s much more than he’s ever had with a client. ]

Are you sure you want to spoil me so much? Be careful. I’ll start to expect it from you.

[ He’s teasing again, but his tone is warm, and there’s an edge of truth to his words. ]

[catwithhammer]

Can't think of a fate worse.

[ Rejeh'li turns over, making a staying gesture at U'rajul — get up, yes, but only just enough — and settles onto his back.

He makes himself comfortable again, reaching for U'rajul's thighs, giving his bare skin an intense once-over. Not that it'll matter if he can find any lingering marks, from what happened, but he wants to catalog them if they exist, burn them into his mind, for when he finds out who did it. ]

[looktothesun]

[ U’rajul lifts himself up onto his knees and moves to stand, but pauses as Rejeh’li reaches for him. Still straddling one of his thighs, he looks down at Rejeh’li, head tilted slightly, wondering what he’s up to. ]

Is something wrong? [ He’s nowhere near as bruised as he was weeks ago. Most have faded away to nothing, but there are still traces of the beating he took on his hips and legs as well as his back. It’s clear that someone had tried to hold him down. ]

[catwithhammer]

[ Rejeh'li's hands smooth over the faint marks on U'rajul's hips, as if he might divine by touch where they came from, his bright eyes shadowed with intent. ]

Aye. [ His thumb traces the faded, mottledd edge of one of the bruises, like watercolor on U'rajul's skin. ]

When I find him I'll carve beads from his teeth, and gild his skull for a mantelpiece.

YOU'RE MAKING HIM FEEL FEELS AND IT'S CONFUSING.

[looktothesun]

[ U'rajul doesn't know what he was expecting, but it wasn't that. He stares at Rejeh'li and something in his heart stirs. That's a red flag. He should run.

But he doesn't run, instead lowering himself over the man, and nipping lightly at his bottom lip, affectionate, a lovebite more than any attempt to entice. It's also a gentle rebuff. ]

It's over. I'm fine. Don't trouble yourself with things that are in the past.

[ He's trying not to. It's easier to forget than to face what might have happened had he been less guarded or not nimble enough to escape his attackers. ]

Beside that, it would be an ugly mantelpiece.

[catwithhammer]

It isn't over, because the bastard still lives.

[ His voice is low, calmer than his words. He can read between the lines, regardless, and it reads like U'rajul would really like to change the subject. Rejeh'li looks up at him, his thumb sliding down to the inside of his thigh, and affects a wicked grin. ]

I'll forget about it if you tell me what you want me to do.

[looktothesun]

[ U’rajul doesn’t believe it for a second and the look he gives Rejeh’li reflects that, but he won’t pursue it any farther. Not now when they’re both naked and there are so many other things they could be doing.

He pretends to give Rejeh'li's offer serious thought, then smiles, and in an incongruously sweet voice, answers: ]

Show me what you made for me, and I’ll wear it while you fuck me

[catwithhammer]

[ Heat glimmers in Rejeh'li's eyes, and he looks back at U'rajul for a long moment before leaning over the edge of the bed to dig in his tunic.

The collar is thin and delicate, flattened on the inside curve to sit against the neck without pressing into it. The colors have been chosen with U'rajul's coloring in mind: gold for most of it, then moving seamlessly into dark forest malachite, and then squared-off ends carved out of milky jade, spaced apart, to sit above the hollows of his collarbone.

Rejeh'li sits up wordlessly, brushing U'rajul's hair away from his neck to put it on. ]

[looktothesun]

[ He looks appreciatively at the piece. Everything that Rejeh'li has offered thus far has been beautiful. His lover has a real gift. What's different is that this time he doesn't move away when Rejeh'li moves to put it round his neck.

The significance of the act isn't lost on him. The metal is cool around his neck, and his lips curl into an amused smile. His ears twitch. ]

Did you just collar me?

[catwithhammer]

[ Rejeh'li stares at him, eyes widening a little.

He didn't mean it that way, but now that he's looking at it — a slow grin spreads over his face. He reaches for the space between the ends of the collar, fingertip brushing over U'rajul's throat. ]

Wouldn't a collar normally have something here? Something to grab?

[ ...And yet it'd be easy to tie something, a cord or a ribbon, between the two hooked ends, and those hooked ends are just about the right size for his fingers. He slips two of them in the gaps now, experimenting, and purrs: ]

Oh. It looks like I did.