westwhere | [ CLOSED ] Twisting, constricted

Anduin takes a long moment to study Wrathion's expression, at that. His eyes. He takes the moment to contemplate the confused blink that Wrathion had given him, and how he had leaned into the press of his fingers on his face.

"I do not doubt that," he reassures, lips curling in a soft smile in response to Wrathion's words. He allows his touch to linger for a moment, a soft and gentle caress, before at last he says, "But I can tell that you have something on your mind."

In truth, Anduin wonders if Wrathion ever really turns it off. Stops thinking and simply exists in the moment. Perhaps that will be a true testament of Anduin's prowess, when they do get together -- whether he is able to hold Wrathion's full attention or not?

Ah.

Yes. Well. Anduin always was uncannily good at reading him, wasn't he? Not in everything, but in enough things.

A flash of unease passes over his expression before he buries it, forces the tension to melt back out of his limbs.

"I always have something on my mind."

He's a black dragon, always scheming and planning ahead -- surely this is to be expected? Surely it is simply part of who he is?

Yet the unease still crawls under his skin, suppressed yet searching for a way back to the surface.

Despite noticing the flash of unease that passes across Wrathion's face, Anduin can't help but smile again at Wrathion's response.

"I suppose that you do," he agrees. And surely he has a great many reasons to be preoccupied, at present. Hiding in a cave from the Beastmaster's minions. Having been chased here by them. Injured, up until Anduin had healed him.

Still... Anduin can't help but wonder if it isn't something else on Wrathion's mind. He had been quite enthusiastic about kissing him earlier. Sliding his fingers up underneath Anduin's shirt. But something had changed. Anduin tries to think back on what might have been the cause of the shift in his companion, tracing his thumb back and forth across his cheek again as he does.

If I am being too... forward, tell me. And then. Wrathion asking after his experience.

He had not reciprocated the question. Because, in truth, he supposes he can already guess at the answer.

Anduin can feel the heat that had risen within him from earlier beginning to slowly dissipate, but he supposes that is just as well. If this truly is Wrathion's first experience with such things, as he suspects, he'd rather give him something better than some hurried groping in this cave, surrounded by the carcasses of the beasts which had pursued him earlier. He'd like to do things properly. Wrathion deserves at least that much normalcy, in his life.

His smile softens again and after a moment he leans in to press a kiss to the spot his thumb has been brushing, on Wrathion's cheek.

"And you are always welcome to share those thoughts with me. If you think it might help."

Wrathion sniffs in distaste, as if he disagrees, but the kiss is making it hard for him to give any kind of objection.

"It is of no consequence," he murmurs, and the arm around Anduin adjusts -- hand move to splay against the warm skin of his back again. "Forgive me if you feel my attention is... lacking. I will endeavour to focus."

There's a hint of something teasing there, but Wrathion does straighten up. He adjusts the way the blankets are hooked around them, folding them so the ends are both behind him and then leaning to pin them in place with his body. There, now he can use both hands -- and both come to rest on the small of Anduin's back.

Anduin doubts that it is really of no consequence -- but he does not press his companion for anything further. "I will do my best to keep your mind from wandering," he replies instead, with a small twist of his lips. He sits back to let Wrathion make his adjustments to the blanket, waiting until he has settled himself before leaning forward himself to tuck against Wrathion's chest once more.

He feels safe and content here, wrapped up in Wrathion's arms, swaddled against his chest. Comfortable and -- warm. Perhaps a little too warm, if he's being honest with himself. The night air may be cool, but Wrathion himself runs quite hot and the blanket is doing its best to trap that warmth quite well.

After sitting still for a moment, Wrathion's warm hands pressed against the skin of his back, his face tucked into the warmth of Wrathion's neck, Anduin can feel himself beginning to flush hot with sweat. Wriggling in place, Anduin moves to start tugging off his jacket.

"Here I was thinking I might be ill-prepared for the cool night air," he says, wryly. "I should have known, involving myself with a dragon..."

Anduin appears to be undressing.

Wrathion is distracted enough by this that he lets the blanket go loose, allows it to drop out of the way as he stares at the man pulling off his jacket. The vest underneath is equally unbuttoned, despite his struggles, and he wonders if Anduin will shed it too.

His mouth feels dry watching. The flush of colour in Anduin's pale skin is... appealing.

"You are aware my blood runs hot."

Something to say, so he isn't just sat here stupidly staring. He rips his eyes up to Anduin's face, fingers itching to reach back out and grab for him.

Anduin is somewhat aware of the fact that he is wiggling around in Wrathion's lap, although he really is only meaning to remove his jacket because he's too warm and thus hasn't given the further implications of his actions much thought. At least not until he catches Wrathion's expression, the way he's looking at him as he fights with his unruly garment from underneath the blanket.

Anduin's cheeks flush slightly pinker, this time not only from the dragon's body heat.

"Yes," he says, hesitating for the fraction of a second, flashing Wrathion a smile before continuing to wriggle out of his jacket. "It's really quite lovely, although -- I certainly don't need this, if -- I have you to keep me warm..." Anduin's words pause here and there as he struggles out of the sleeves of his jacket, one at a time, before at last he flings the whole thing off to the side with a sigh of relief.

The removal of layers floods Wrathion's senses twice as much with Anduin's scent, with the way he's beginning to sweat from the heat.

It feels a tease, makes a wild mix of possessive urges race through him. He shrugs off his own coat and half folds it before setting it aside near Anduin's, reaching for him slowly and running his fingers along the edges of his vest.

"I'm glad you approve."

Of the warmth. Of allowing him to keep him warm.

Oh!

Anduin had not expected Wrathion to remove his own jacket as well, although he certainly doesn't mind him doing so. He doesn't suppose that Wrathion must be hot himself. Perhaps he simply doesn't want to feel over-dressed, now that Anduin himself is removing a few of his own layers?

"I do," Anduin replies, cheeks flushing pinker as he knowingly implies that he also approves of Wrathion's decision to follow suit. Neither of them has really exposed any more skin, but without the heavy fabric of their outer garments, he's so much more aware of the heat of Wrathion's skin -- and the press of his body against his own, for that matter.

Eyes flicking down to where Wrathion is tracing the edge of his vest, Anduin offers his companion an inquisitive smile.

"It… would perhaps be best if that did come off as well," he agrees. So he can keep it as clean as he can. Naturally.

Wrathion doesn't need more encouragement than that. He pushes the vest up off Anduin's shoulders, sliding it down his arms and then gently setting it aside along with the rest of their discarded clothing.

His hands come back to begin carefully, but quite bravely in his own opinion, untucking Anduin's shirt the rest of the way. He's... helping Anduin cool off.

That's what it is.

Even as he then encourages the man back into his arms, face dropping to burying its way into his neck so he can absorb more of his scent.

Anduin has undressed in front of Wrathion countless times, but Wrathion has never aided him in undressing before. Even if this is still technically more of an outer layer than not, there is an intimacy to the way that Wrathion slides the vest off of his shoulders and then down off his arms that is honestly not helping Anduin cool down at all.

Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that he is still sitting in Wrathion's lap. He really should think about moving. Eventually.

As Wrathion tugs him forward, Anduin doesn't need much further encouragement to fit himself back into place. One of his hands braces itself against Wrathion's chest, where he tentatively slides it just underneath his shirt to rest, cool against his heated skin. Wrathion's breath against his neck makes him shiver slightly, despite his warmth.

"Better," he says, somewhat breathlessly himself.

Wrathion lets out a low, deep rumble of agreement.

A shiver runs down his spine, breaths coming heavy and quick as Anduin touches a hand to his chest.

"Anduin," he growls, and he can feel the need spiralling through him. Everywhere their skin touches seems to burn with heat, and his hands begin to ruck up Anduin's shirt restlessly -- seeking out more patches of skin he can trace his fingers over. His fingers grip at the priest a little roughly, as if to prevent escape -- or brace the two of them in some way.

Wrathion's grip is tight against his skin, almost too tight, only Anduin's finding he doesn't mind all that much. On the contrary, the deep rumbling growl of his voice, the way he has said his name, and the way he is touching him just now... Anduin can feel his pulse quickening in response to the lot of it, and he can safely say that he enjoys it all rather a lot, if his body's reactions are anything to go by.

Anduin tips his head forward, burying his own face in Wrathion's shoulder and breathing him in. He arches into the touch of Wrathion's fingers, before pressing a kiss to the skin of his neck and distantly considering that he should probably think about stepping things back at some point, before he loses all semblance of self-control entirely.

"Yes..." he replies, both a question -- was there more to that or were you just saying his name? -- and simple encouragement. This is good. Do not be afraid of him, or this. There's no need to get in your head, Wrathion. This is no puzzle or game to solve. It's just -- this.

Another rumbling growl escapes Wrathion as Anduin buries his face into his shoulder, as he encourages -- something, he isn't sure what. This in general, perhaps. He turns to rub his cheek against Anduin, to rake rough facial hair against his fair skin as the priest presses kisses to his neck.

"You are intoxicating," Wrathion murmurs, a confession and a concern both. He feels drugged, out of control, and he both does and doesn't like that.

Anduin turns to bury his face into Wrathion's skin, forcing himself to draw in a deep and steadying breath.

"As are you," Anduin murmurs, after a long moment. The heat of Wrathion's skin. The smell of him. That deep rumbling growl and the way that it seems to vibrate straight through him. The gentle, almost reverent way that Wrathion has been touching him...

Anduin finds himself intoxicated by Wrathion himself. And as hard as it is, he knows he needs to stop this now, before either of them makes a move they cannot retract.

Forcing himself to sit back, he reaches to cup a hand against Wrathion's cheek, lifting his own face to meet his own and stroking it gently as he offers an apologetic smile.

"Forgive me..." he says softly. "You have already given me all the reasons I should not stay... It is a long walk back to the village from here, and I should not linger much longer." With regret, he makes to slide sideways off of Wrathion's lap, making an effort to gather his thoughts once more.

"I have brought food, if you would care to have some...?"

Ah, Anduin is... letting go? Moving away. Wrathion briefly tightens his grip, as if to prevent this, then with focused effort gently eases back and permits him to move away. He watches him with a frown, as if not particularly understanding, but nods regardless -- swallows and tries to slow his breathing to something more even.

"Food will help me keep my strength."

Strategy now, suddenly, rather than... whatever that just was.

It is not easy for Anduin to let go himself, and he wants to reach out for him again and touch Wrathion, kiss him, smooth that frown away and give him something far more pleasurable in return.

He knows he will never leave if he does not peel himself away now. He feels himself on the edge of a precipice. Wrathion deserves far better than a quick tumble in this cave, though, and moreover, Anduin wants to give him something better than that as well.

He is grateful that they had not managed any further removal of clothing, as he slides away towards his pack. He does not wish to hastily re-dress, but without his shirt he would feel far too naked in front of Wrathion now.

"I have brought what I could," Anduin says, digging into his bag and unpacking the buns and dumplings he had packed. "You must tell me if you have any further requests for next time. I understand you may need to leave quickly, but that does not mean you can have nothing here with you."

Wrathion studies the way Anduin is fussing, trying to collect himself internally. To slowly pack away the chaotic muddle of feeling. Is it as Anduin says, that he believes he shouldn't linger? That he's heeding Wrathion's concerns? Or is it something Wrathion has done, perhaps moving too fast? Anduin just being polite about it?

Anduin had been the one to begin undressing, but perhaps he should have resisted reacting? He'd seemed as if he was encouraging him, but...

"Yes, of course," Wrathion says. He reaches for one of the meat buns, focusing on that to try and cool himself down. "Naturally I would prefer a more comfortable environment, but the company does make up for it."

Even if it's dangerous, he does appreciate Anduin visiting him.

Anduin passes him a meat bun, flashing a smile, however watery. They both need to cool down and focus on other things, for a moment. Something safe, anything but the press of Wrathion's hands, hot on his skin, and the warmth of his body underneath--

He takes a steadying breath and plucks up a meat bun for himself, taking a bite and chewing with purpose for a long moment. Forcing himself to think of meat buns and -- food from home. Being home, and -- ah, yes, naturally thoughts of home turn back to Genn and Jaina. Now those are thoughts to cool any wild moments of affection.

They have discussed this already. What his advisors would make of this. Of them. Anduin glances across at Wrathion, frowning slightly -- in concern as much as anything.

"Do you suppose," he says, after the briefest of pauses, "that you would not be safer, if you left this place?"

If he left... this place?

That's vague. If he left this cave? This whole area? This world?

"What would you have me do?" he prompts. Perhaps better to get Anduin talking, instead, to discern his meaning through further context. The cave was what they had agreed upon before, but since then he may have developed a better idea. If he has, Wrathion is open to hearing it of course. It isn't as if the cave is a comfortable location.

What would he have Wrathion do?

Anduin sits back and raises his hands to run across his face, trying to gather himself -- gather his thoughts. It does not really work.

"The Beastmaster's creatures are after you," he explains, voicing his thoughts aloud. "You will be in danger so long as he is near, and since he has come to Ke-Waihu after the volcano, the Huntress, it only stands to reason that... The further from this place you are, the safer you would be."

Anduin glances back up to Wrathion, searching his face for any indication of how his words are being received, as he continues, "You cannot shelter in these caves forever, Wrathion. I -- certainly will not be able to maintain this distance for that long myself."

Wrathion tilts his head slowly.

"Of course, but the plan was never to shelter here forever. Only until either the Beastmaster's power fades to a safe level that he can be challenged, or we find the beacon and manage to leave."

Which, hopefully, one of those two happens sooner rather than later -- and if he travels too far he'll have a long way to travel back when either of those things happens. He might miss the window.

Anduin shuts his eyes and takes a deep and steadying breath, trying to pull himself back together. His emotions are still running high, his blood still running hot, but they've talked about this, they've been over this, they have. As much as he fears for Wrathion, he has to trust in him. He is not totally defenseless.

Even so...

"Wrathion," Anduin says, after a long moment's thought. "I know that we have been over this already, but I. Just want you to be safe. Tell me that you will be careful. I cannot lose you. Not now."

Not after -- this.

[ CLOSED ] Twisting, constricted

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