Private Tales Read between the lines

[Talus]

Talus glanced down at the Wolf, smiling slightly and shaking his head.

There had only been a brief moment of time where Grey had disliked him, and that had lasted all but ten minutes after he had first entered the Townhouse. He wondered briefly why that was. Instinct perhaps? Or maybe he had picked up some of his mistresses future sight.

"I'm sure he'll be a real hit with the ladies." Talus said as he shook his head again and returned his attention to Zana.

"Really?" He said with amusement. "I had the exact same dream."

It was hard to tell if he was joking.

 

[Zana]

A momentary look of shock crossed her face and then her brows drew down together as she tried to figure out if he was joking or not.

"You were just dreaming of spaghetti weren't you?" Zana announced after a few moments of staring at him, leaning back in the chair with a look of amusement before she let go of his hand and stood up to clear away the plates. She didn't straight away move over to the sofas though and instead returned a moment or two later back to the table with a slice of chocolate cake which she set down in front of him before settling down with her own slice. There was a dollop of thick clotted cream on the side.

"I get another week off in six weeks, it's apparently the rota for Second Levels," her public promotion had been a recent thing and then she had been sent on her mission to the Empire, this was the first time she had found herself being given the responsibilities that came with her new rank but also the benefits. "I guess I'll need to get a new swimming suit for those hot springs."

 

[Talus]

"No no. Same dream I assure you my love." He smiled at her as he took another bite, the air of smugness still clinging to him.

"We were in Karak, you in the Kitchen, baking, cooking." He tapped his chin with his off hand. "There was a chain around your ankle and I-"

Talus shook his head. "Well, maybe not the exact same dream."

He smirked at her, though the expression practically turned into a beaming smile as she mentioned having another week off soon. Six weeks was a long time to wait, near a month and a half...but, well a good chunk of that time they would spend together anyway.

That was what he told himself.

What he had to tell himself.

"Maybe we can go together." He said with a smile. "You can model them for me."

 

[Zana]

Zana shot him what was barely passable as a dark look as he expanded on his dream and then put a pieces of chocolate cake in her mouth, eyes half closing. It had been a while since she had managed to get chocolate from the market but her favourite seller had been there when she had passed through. It had taken all of her restraint not to buy his entire stall. His excitement rolled through her when she mentioned her time off, though she could feel the touch of disappointment too.

Zana ran her foot up his leg under the table.

"I would value your opinion," her smile was a sinful one as she popped another bit of chocolate cake in her mouth. "It was red you liked wasn't it?" she licked up the fork slowly to get the icing off. "I'm sure I will get a few days off here and there before then, but I didn't think that would truly be enough for another... holiday. I guess it depends how demanding your Generals are of my time."

 

[Talus]

He smiled at her from across the table, enjoying the sensation of her legs stroking slowly over his. "Good. I've been working on my disguise magic so I could even follow you into the shop."

Talus smirked at her for a few seconds, as if teasing some sort of hidden gem he had tucked into his back pocket.

Finally he picked up his fork and waggled it at her for a few seconds. He tooka piece of the cake on it, silently noting that it was the consistency of a very sense sort of bread. He frowned for a second, but just glanced at her with a smile as she mentioned the Generals.

"Actually, I'm the one whose in charge of you-" Talus suddenly himself off the moment the piece of cake hit his tongue.

His eyes lit up like he'd just been hit by a lightning bolt.

An intense explosion of sweet and yet bitter ran through his taste-buds, and almost involuntarily Talus seemed to wiggle in his chair as he quickly chewed the piece of cake. "Oh dear fucking gods of the nine hells woman."

Talus bit off the words in between practically shoving the cake into his face. An Inquisitor likely would have dragged him in just for uttering the old expression.

"What is this and why have you kept it from me." The accusation was not serious of course, but Talus could hardly keep himself contained. He'd never had chocolate before, never had cake before. The mixture together all at once?

He practically had to change his pants. "I love you. So so so much."

Talus said as he melted.

 

[Zana]

Zana nearly choked on her own cake as she began laughing at his reaction. It was like having a small puppy at her table who had tasted a good steak for the first time, unsure of what to do with himself in his excitement. Her own movements slowed as she watched him, brows rising and rising until they almost disappeared into her bangs in astonishment at just how fast he demolished the piece of cake.

"It's... it's chocolate cake - have you never had it before?" her head canted to the side. Luana fed and treated their Dreadlords incredibly well. A lot of Houses, Virak mainly, saw them as little more than pampered pawns because of that but if it meant Zana hadn't had to eat just gruel for her whole life she was more than fine with having the spoilt Dreadlord image. When she had lived in the Luana Barracks there had even be themed food nights.

When he was finished she stood and leaned over the table, cupping his cheek and gently coaxing him into a kiss.

"I love you too. I'll pack the rest of it up for you to take home."

 

[Talus]

Oh so this was chocolate.

Talus had heard of the treat of course, he hadn't lived his whole life in a box, he'd just never had the opportunity to actually try it. His lips brushed over hers as she coaxed him forward, free hand coming up to gently rest on her hip. "Ive never had chocolate."

He told her softly.

"Or cake for that matter." Talus had gone straight from the Academy into working with Fen and then into the Guard. There had never really been time for luxuries or any of that sort of thing. The Proctor's had never been kind, and Fen...well Fen hadn't cared to show him that side of things.

No one lately had ever denied Talus any of this, but without someone to show him the young Dreadlord had simply never thought to do it on his own.

Before she could get away from him Talus wrapped his arms around Zana, pulling her into his lap.

"Every time I'm with you." He kissed her softly. "You show me something new."

Another kiss, another spark of joy. "I can't help but wonder if you'll ever stop amazing me."

 

[Zana]

Plates went clattering to the floor as Talus tugged her across the table. A husky laugh escaped her lips but she couldn't deny him and soon she had climbed the gap between them and slid into his lap. Her arms wrapped around his neck loosely as her legs slid to either side of his lap. She pressed her nose against his for a brief moment then played his hair through her fingers.

"Chocolate cake is my favourite so I am afraid it will be in our house quite often," she sighed dramatically as if that were some terrible chore for him to bare and she was upset she had to burden him in such a way. Her eyes had been tracing the locks of his blonde hair but now they slid back to his face and she gave him a coy smile.

"You'll get bored of me soon, trade me in for some younger model," she nipped at his bottom lip playfully. Of course there was no doubt in her mind such a thing would ever happen. Death would be the only thing to separate them now. "You've shown me a whole new world, the least I can do is introduce you to decent food."

 

[Talus]

Cake? All the time? Oh yes he could very much get behind that.

"Never in a million years." He said as he traced a kiss down the side of her jaw.

They both knew it, the truth, but that didn't meant Talus wouldn't say it out loud. He was in love with her to the point of madness. She was his world, the only thing that really mattered. With him at her side he felt complete, whole.

"I'm excited for the day I get to see you try something new." He mused. "I read once that in Cortos they eat a strange creature with Tentacles."

It honestly sounded disgusting to him, but he would enjoy watching Zana try something that even she hadn't know about. "Or maybe one of those giant water lizards that they sometimes eat in Alliria. Though I heard those just taste like chicken."

His lips pressed against her neck as his hands slowly played up and down her outer thighs.

 

[Zana]

Another soft laugh as he littered her neck with kisses, working in between and around the choker. Still, his words warmed her and her arms tightened a little about his neck so she could bury her face in the crook of his neck for a brief moment in a tight embrace. Gods she had missed him.

"It's called calamari," Zana mumbled into his neck then leaned back a little so she could see his face, a smile playing about her lips. "I haven't had it but I have heard about it. The lizard," she scrunched up her nose, "does not sound as appealing," but she would try it, she would try it all. "There is a restaurant on the Fire Giant Isles I was reading about and you just sit around a large hot plate and they smoke different foods - whatever you want - right in front of you," her mouth watered merely at the idea.

"At the ball I attended with Ashur a few months back I got to try lobster for the first time, now that was," she groaned, her whole body melting into him at the memory.

 

[Talus]

Talus had never really cared much for food before he'd met Zana.

It was a luxury he hadn't ever thought about and one, if not for her, he never would have even discovered. Now that he had, it was a difficult prospect to ever go back to eating gruel. He wasn't even sure what he would do on his next mission.

"My love." He told her softly as his hands slipped beneath her shirt. His thumbs brushed over her skin. "You can lead me around the world, and I'll eat whatever you put in front me."

He trusted her in that regard.

She'd already made so many amazing things for him, he figured by now that If Zana said it was good, well then it probably was. His arms tightened around her, a breath filling him as he softly took on her scent. "I missed you."

Had he said it already? Talus couldn't remember, but he would say it a thousand times more.

 

[Zana]

"Mmm... you might regret that," Zana claimed his lips as her hands trailed down his chest and stomach, his shirt still hanging open from where she had undone it earlier. It had been quite the lovely view whilst she ate but now she was definitely growing hungry in an entirely different way. Her lips brushed across his cheek after breaking their kiss, then trailed down his jaw and neck, over his collarbone... Something slowly uncurled in the pits of her abdomen and spread a warm fire through her veins.

"I've missed you too," a gentle nip against the muscled pecs before his arms tightened about her and pulled her closer until not even a breath could get between their bodies. Her eyes flicked between his as she studied him quietly, drank him in. Love was a calm but sure river that ran through the bond. "This is going to be really hard," Zana spoke her worry quietly but it was one she needed him to know for he had asked her not to keep anything else from him. "Pretending I barely even know you."

 

[Talus]

His hands slowly flowed over her body in small soothing touches.

The peppering of her kisses sent goosebumps flowing over his skin. He couldn't help but close his eyes for a moment, savouring the moment of her touch. When she spoke he looked at her, hands catching on her side as he took in a breath.

"I know." He told her softly. "It was almost too tempting to keep you in that closet."

That had been the worst of it. He'd wanted to touch her, hold her, take her. The pain had been so bad after their fight, and it had only been made worse by having to pretend she was nothing but a stranger. All he'd had wanted was to hold her just like he was no.

"But we'll make it." Was it a lie? Could he hold it together just long enough to find ends of the day like this?

Talus didn't want to say, for it he did it would spell their death.

"Small moments." He told her quietly. "A code, between just you and I."

It seemed silly, but he remembered the days at the Academy. Inventing languages, shifting the meaning of words around so that they could communicate without the Proctor's knowing the truth. "Something that we can say even when all ears are on us."

It was childish, stupid, but Talus knew it might help.

 

[Zana]

Her hand came up to cup his cheek when he mentioned the closet. An apology and her guilt shot down the bond like an arrow striking true. She didn't want to sour the mood by bringing up why she shared his sentiment about staying in that closet but she couldn't not try and apologise again. Zana had never meant to hurt him so and it had lingered with her throughout the day no matter what she had done, no matter the forgiveness he had given her.

"We will," Zana nodded in agreement. She would destroy anything that got in the way of that. "Dreadlord matches are not... uncommon...." a small frown. Perhaps now they worked together if it did become public knowledge it wouldn't be too big of a... Zana could barely complete the thought it was so much of a stretch. If it was public they would be watched like hawks.

"A code?" she looked amused at the idea but keen. It was never something she had done. Zana had kept herself apart from most other students and her long stints from a young age with older Dreadlords had made many resent her. She wriggled on his lap in mild excitement. "I like that idea."

 

[Talus]

The wriggling of her rear against his lap made him bit his lips, fingers tightening on her skin for just a brief moment as he took in a sharp breath.

"A code." Talus repeated, trying to draw his mind back towards the moment and away from what was most assuredly going to happen as soon as he got up from this chair. He swallowed hard, then continued.

"Instead of saying I love you..." He trailed off in thought for a moment, this wasn't exactly his forte. "We say something like..."

His face scrunched a moment and then smiled. "Pasta."

It was childish, but...well that's what all this was In a way, a code was silly but...maybe that was what they needed.

"Somehow we work it in to what were saying." He smiled liked a goof. "And then the other person will know."

 

[Zana]

Zana's face softened at his suggestion and both hands came up to cup his cheeks.

"I've asked you before to please stop being so adorable."

Pasta. What an incredibly cute and innocent word that meant something to the pair of them. It worked. An overwhelming sense of love filled her for the man before her. She thought it might consume her entirely. It seemed superfluous really; Zana could feel his love every moment of the day through the bond but she had missed saying the words out loud today. She had hated the mask she had had to wear.

"Pasta," her eyes lingered on his then dipped to his lips just before she kissed him.

 

[Talus]

His lips rushed to meet hers, a desperation clinging to him as they embraced in a throw of passion.

The day had been hard, the days coming would be even harder. Maybe the little code would help, or maybe he would look at Zana hear her say the word and fall into little pieces. It was hard to tell what would happen...well, at least for him. "Pasta."

His said in agreement as their lips parted.

"Now you come up with one." Talus told her with a smirk, placing a kiss on her jaw, then her neck. "I don't want to seem the only love drunk fool here."

His nose nuzzled softly into her neck.

 

[Zana]

Such a silly, sweet little game.

As his face came to rest in the crook of her neck she combed her hands through his hair and held him close, her cheek coming to rest on top of his head. What else was there to say but I love you? Her mind twirled through all the things she had wanted to say to him today but hadn't been able to. The gentle caresses she had wanted to give him when he had gripped her chair so hard in the middle of that meeting.

"You are most definitely not the only love drunk fool here," Zana trailed her fingers down his back then up into his hair once more. Sloan would definitely call her a fool for risking her life in this fashion.

"Wolf is... I definitely want to bite that perfect butt of yours right now," she smirked.

 

[Talus]

He smirked. "Wolf."

The word passed his lips as he planted a quick peck on her lips.

"Wolf wolf wolf." He said the word so much and so fast that Grey actually lifted his head up off the ground as though he may have found another of his kin somewhere in the kitchen.

Talus hands slipped around Zana's back and then suddenly swept under her rear. Fingers spread there, and suddenly the young Dreadlord scooped her up and off his lap, standing in one smooth motion while still holding her against himself.

"I'll prove it too." He said with a barked laugh as he spun around and began to carry her up the stairs.

 

[Zana]

Her laughed echoed in the kitchen even after they had left it. As he had stood she had wrapped her legs about his waist and pressed herself close to him, her arms about his neck. With her head resting upon his shoulder and her face turned towards him she breathed him in. For the first time since she left the Cabin she allowed herself to relax. Here in his arms she felt safe no matter where they were and she realised, with a start, that they could live anywhere in the world. As long as he was with her, that would be home.

"Stay, Grey," Zana pointed towards the wolf as he went to follow them up the stairs. He hesitated a moment, head tilting this way and that and then trotted off no doubt back to his spot in front of the fire.

"Is the amount of times you say wolf indicative of how many bites I can expect?" she laughed softly.

 

[Talus]

He smirked at her as he carried her out of the kitchen and towards the stairs.

"That entirely depends on how good you are." He told her with a smirk, his hands offering a small squeeze as he began to ascend the steps.

He'd only been to the townhouse once before, but memories of that night were seated into his mind more than all his time at the Academy. Their first night together...their first day had been filled with embarrassement for him, but had ended in a passion greater than any he'd ever felt.

"If you're bad..." He kissed her cheek. "There'll be a few more."

He reached the top of the steps, turning once again to head towards her bedroom. "You understand."

 

[Zana]

Zana pressed her face into the crook of his neck and smiled as he carried her. Every now and then a giggle would escape her at some comment he made or other but for the most part she just luxuriated in the moment of having him this close, listening to the sound of his heart beat picking up in tempo, especially when he squeeze her arse. Her lips twisted into a smirk. There was an odd sense of pride in being able to arouse him so easily.

"Perfectly, Sir," she tightened her arms a little around him and smiled once more in absolute bliss. The door had been shut but it swung open before them in a whispered hush. Her needy lips found his a second later and her eyes swept shut. He tasted even better with the lingering chocolate on his lips and a soft groan escaped her lips as she bit down on his lower lip.

 

[Zana]

With reluctance, once she had caught her breath, Zana managed to roll herself off of him and into the soft mattress beside him. Her eyes fluttered shut and lazily she flicked a hand towards the window to send it creaking outwards. In drifted a cool and refreshing breeze that made her shiver when it touched her feverish skin. Lazily she reached down and pulled the sheets up to pool about her waist.

She gave a small happy noise.

"You can do what you want to me, I've already won," Zana stretched slowly, back arching as she did so, and threw him a smile that was smug in every which way.

 

[Talus]

Talus lay tangled in Zana's arms, his hand softly caressing over her skin as he drew in deep and ragged breaths. Damned if she wasn't right. "We'll see about that."

Talus grumbled.

He had no idea what time it was, no idea what day it even was. Everything had been lost the moment their lips met, everything forgotten about. The troubles of the day, the pieces that were missing, all of it gone in the snap of a finger.

Slowly the young Dreadlord let his breath wash out of his lungs.

"Time to sleep I think." Talus said softly. "I think for the next week or so."

Exhaustion clung to every muscle in his body, a pleasant ache running through to his toes. "I'm sure the Guard won't mind. I'll just tell them we're on an...inspection tour."

He gently kissed her forehead.

 

[Zana]

A soft laugh escaped her and then she slowly rolled onto her side to press her body against his once more. Even a few seconds away was too much when these moments together were so few and far between. It was like she needed to store the feeling up so that she had something to keep her going until they next met. His words were tempting but she knew they couldn't be and despite her laughter there was a soft pang of sadness in her. She pushed it away.

There was a soft whining from the door then claws on wood and Zana let the door click open. The wolf only needed a small gap before he barged his way in and promptly leapt up onto the bed. She reached down and gently ruffled the wolfs ears as he yawned and rested his head across their joined legs.

"Aldwaith will not believe that," it still unnerved her to think he suspected what lay between them. It was only Talus' trust that kept her from removing him entirely from the picture.