:: The Joust of Riley's 17th Year ::

[eblouissant]

It was the first time that Riley had been on the field, he'd trained hard for this. Very hard, all around him the area of people watched from their stands and seats. His armor gleamed pristine, the visor over his head, the jousting javelin tucked firmly underneath his arm.

Riding astride on his stallion, he galloped toward the ready line as the Games Crier spoke out his name. "Sir Cyril of House Valiase and his opponent Sir Germaine Moreau, please take your positions." and then Riley was in place, his heart thundering in his ears even while all around him the stadium turned as silent save for a few coughs here and there. The horn was blown and then he dug his heels in, pressed himself forward and started.

Grounding himself into the saddle, his eyes never leaving his opponent. Pounding hoofs the only thing to break the silence. That moment of fear, the way his stomach hit his throat and made him choke, so close so close. Held Breath. And then the sound of armor where he prepared for anything. No thinking, nothing-- head empty.

A clatter behind him as he charged forth. He had expected weightlessness, pain, but nothing as he made it to the end and he turned his horse around to see the attendants on the field rushing to Sir Germaine's side to help him from where he had stopped. Already they were assisting him off his horse, medics and his page. And then the crier called out.

"The Winner, Sir Cyril of House Valiase!" and the crowd went almost wild. Somewhere in the stands, he knew that his father was smiling approvingly, but his eyes did not search for his father. But a pair of eyes that he knew quite well, sitting in the royal box. There he could see them there, clapping along with the crowds-- his father not too far away from King Etienne itself.

A polite smile at his father and his King. And then his eyes searched out his best friend Guillaume with a far more shy smile; he was handed a rose by his page and there was a moment where he tried to figure out what to do with it.. he knew what to do, give it to a young lady of the court as was the proper procedure. A look at best friend, fleeting before he cantered his horse up to one of the young ladies of the Court and he handed her the rose.

--

Parties were like this, the celebrations were massive and with no expense spared. Now Riley could have found much more useful things to spend money on than a fountain of champagne and one of matching chocolate side by side-- but he did not make the rules nor did he hold the purse strings, so he held a glass of wine and watched the dancing.

He'd already done the required dancing with the young lady he'd given the rose to, also had been grilled on his mother on if she would make a suitable 'wife' for him. He did not care either way, if they arranged it then they did, it was not uncommon for parents to arrange matches for their children though he'd heard Guillaume state that his father the King was attempting to change that, to make Olympia more accepting. Trying to bridge the gap between Sylvia and Olympia, attempting to give women more rights.. everything that most Lords balked at (including Riley's father).

It felt like a fairy tale that was told, a fairy tale where magic existed and where women could be knights, where a marriage was only dictated by love. it was such a beautiful fairy tale, but Riley heard his father speak in contempt of such things, and Riley was not sure of the country was ready for that yet.

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[eblouissant]

Riley's sleep was never easy, even now it was not because he had Liam to protect.

Vigilance had always been the key, how he interacted with a world that had betrayed him-- he trusted the people in the caravan but he knew that danger could come when you least expected it. Even now, even with the warm weight of Liam in his arms, that heavy breathing of a man who was trying to relax, he could not fall asleep for the life of him. It was because he'd promised, he did not want to go back on that word and he would not.

He believed that the common man had a right to be protected, but there was something extra gentle when it came to Liam; sleep would not come no matter what and so he just lay there. It was not his first time performing his duties without sleep.

The twitching was the first thing that came, the shallow breathing. He tried to at first wake him up, but then he decided not to-- he did not want to frighten him out of whatever was happening so he just tightened his arms around him and listened for anything, could feel the hard beat of the heart running as if something was chasing him.

"I'm here Liam.. I am here.. " his voice tried to pierce the veil, the whimpering-- he attempted to sooth it as best he could. "You are safe right here." but how true was that really? As Liam started to thrash, so did Riley try to restrain him, to hold him through the worst of it, he threw one leg over the other man's leg to help with the thrashing as if he could act as a weighted blanket.

A groan, as he promptly got kicked in the groin. But he gritted his teeth after a moment and kept holding on.

[giveanything]

The dream did not want to release its hold on him, not so easily. The voice of his master chased him the entire way out of that nightmare, and Liam's eyes snapped open with a start, a gasp for air. At first he started to struggle more, but in the next moment awareness filtered through the terror and he found himself staring up at Riley's face, even through the low light those clear gray eyes a soothing, grounding presence. It was about then that he realized that much of the dim light that was allowing him to see was the start of eldritch energy gathering at his fingers, and horror at himself added to the fear.

He was panting like he'd been running for miles, dark eyes wide and frantic. "Riley?" The name was a trembling sob as he spoke. "I'm... I'm sorry I..." Oh god. He'd hurt him, hadn't he? And he'd nearly attacked him, could've really injured him. Or killed him. Or.

Or worse. It wasn't safe to be near him. He shouldn't put Riley at risk like this. From himself. And from the thing that wouldn't stop hunting him to get him back.

[eblouissant]

"I am fine, I am fine." his voice was a whispered softness and he shifted so that he could continue to hold the other man. "This is not the first time that I have been hit in the unmentionables." oh Riley, could not even say 'balls', sweet summer child. "There was this time where a goat headbutt me." which yeah, hadn't been pleasant but he'd surveyed.

Wasn't like he was ever going to have children so the sperm count probably didn't matter, or anything.

"Right now the most important person is you.. and how you are feeling." he'd barely registered the green glow so intent was he on trying to keep his love safe.

[giveanything]

Liam, when he was less swept up in panic, would make it his mission to coax a few balls and cock and maybe even fuck from those sweet, proper lips. Right now though he only winced at the realization that he'd apparently had unfortunate aim in his sleep.

"Oh love, I'm sorry... I didn't..." He found himself surprised when Riley didn't let him go, but maybe he shouldn't have been. Riley had always thought too much of other people and not himself. He'd always thought too much of Liam in particular, and the still-shaking warlock had known that years ago and knew it was somehow still true now.

He shook his head. "I'm... it was a dream. It was just a dream." Except it wasn't just a dream at all, was it?

[eblouissant]

"Would you.." he started cautiously, "..want to talk about it with me?" about what Liam dreamed.

It had felt bad, the heartrate and the shallow breathing, the tremors and the way that the other man had started to scream and kick. A touch of his fingers to palm revealed that there was a clammy sort of sweat that beaded against skin, he reached over and grabbed one of his handkerchiefs and then he slowly wiped it against the other man's brow gently.

"You do not have to but.. I am here and I want to help in whatever way I can."

Now that he was here, he intended on doing all that he was able to support Liam. He was not afraid, perhaps he should have been-- but he'd already faced pain, he had been used to it. Right now there was something far greater in his heart and that was hope rekindled, and not just the hope born of justice.. but something else, something stronger and lasting.

[giveanything]

Liam stilled as Riley went and wiped at his brow, looking up at him with a soft wonder at the tenderness so evident in every word and every action. He didn't deserve this anymore, if he ever even had to begin with. Was he really so selfish that he could let himself put Riley in danger? But the thought of leaving his side felt impossible, as if it would be easier to carve his own heart out of his chest.

Riley should have been afraid, and Liam should have been stronger.

Instead he nodded. "I... there was fire. There's always fire. I'm used to that." If it had been only the usual nightmare, he'd have whimpered his way through it perhaps.

"But then he was there. He told me he'd find me. That he'd teach me a lesson for trying to escape." Liam wouldn't go back to him. He couldn't. He wouldn't be a weapon for his master anymore, wouldn't be a ghost again. "He won't stop looking for me, Riley. It's not safe to be with me. I shouldn't be here. I should go."

He should. He knew he should. "But I don't..." He didn't want to be alone again. He was too fucking scared to be alone again. Coward. The voice in his head this time was his own, though where the venom in it had come from he wasn't sure.

[eblouissant]

"I lost you once Liam, I could not survive it if I lost you again." he said as he brushed his fingertips against the gaunt cheekbone, he already could tell that this man had not been taken care of; shadows everywhere touching where the eye could see. Worries and cares there too, he'd seen the pain quite clearly behind those eyes, eyes that spoke to every tender part of his soul.

"I love you so dearly and I had gone so many years thinking that I had failed you but now i realize I am alive and that somehow you are alive too and we can be together, and I do not care what the danger is because there is no life for me without you. We fight together and we die together.. I will follow you wherever you may lead and we will be together no matter what the costs."

Riley would be brave for Liam.

[giveanything]

Liam could feel the surge of guilt for how relieved he was to hear those words, because even if he knew that he shouldn't stay and be a magnet for trouble for Riley, he was also certain that leaving would break him even more than he'd already been broken.

He watched Riley in silence, chest still rising and falling in shallow, quick breaths, like he was still being chased and running for his life. Word by word though, and with the touch of those fingers, his heartbeat slowed. Liam needed him, needed his steadfast knight, needed that courage until he could find his own.

There were still those shadows in his dark eyes, but tears were rising again that would wash more of them away. "I love you too. So much and I.... I'll get better. Stronger. I will. I promise." He'd find a way to deserve that love again.

Winding his arms around Riley, he leaned close and found those sweet lips with his own, kissing him with years of pent up emotion and relief and the start of a heated undercurrent of need that was starting to remember itself.

[eblouissant]

"You've always been someone that I have admired; you were the one who got us into the majority of trouble and that took courage, but I am not afraid of that because I trust us." even if the trouble was not something that was of the 'find out' variety, he would still be there at Liam's side, he really couldn't do anything but be there.

Nuzzling their noses together, he returned kiss for kiss and could sense that Liam needed this desperately-- needed that closeness though he was still a little bit mindful, but barely. And perhaps this was also a good thing about Riley, being able to take a more cautious approach when Liam grew wild. His fingers against that chin, and then he pulled away slightly and said wryly.

"I am very much interested in continuing this but ah.. Kay'dia may walk in at any moment." he spoke this in between kisses because after having access to those lips, it was impossible to deny himself them-- the contact felt warm and it assured him further that Liam was there safe and whole, more tangible than he had been when he'd woken up this morning.

[giveanything]

See, this was a very logical point for Riley to bring up. Riley had always been so good at logic and reason and Liam usually had no defense against it. Right now though, the defense he had was that his brain had checked out the minute he kissed Riley and Riley kissed him back. Yes, there'd been kissing earlier, but those were soft comforts that tasted like tears.

This was different. This was both of them embracing the realization that they were alive and together and still oh so very much in love. So even as Riley spoke his perfectly pragmatic and reasonable remark, Liam just answered the words by nipping at Riley's lower lip.

And then his hand went wandering down between them. "Mm... then we should probably be quick." His fingers skirted along the waistband of Riley's pants, lower, lower, teasing along the front of his trousers. "Besides, we should make sure I didn't do any actual damage here, shouldn't we? Or you should at least let me kiss it better."

[eblouissant]

Despite all logic, Riley found it hard to resist Liam when he was insistant. And honestly, he did not want to whatsoever; especially when Liam was biting at his lower lip like that and promising such pleasures-- he remembered those moments when they'd had to sneak a very furtive encounter, those illicit thrills because a few times they had been 'almost' caught, and that caused them both to jump apart like two recalcitrant schoolboys with their lessons interrupted.

A soft muffled groan against Liam's jaw as he felt palm press against the arousal underneath his trousers. "You make a--ah... very compelling argument.." his voice was breathless, his eyes darkening with desire. Liam was merely concerned about the state of his.. well-- and Riley honestly appreciated such care.

"You are very bad, very very bad. That has not changed."

[giveanything]

They had pushed their luck a few times when they were younger, so really, this was relatively lower risk, since consequences from what Riley said about the caravan's attitude towards two men being lovers was accepting enough. The worst that would happen was a very awkward introduction to Riley's roommate. Could be worse, right?

And Liam thought he needed this. That they both did. They needed this reminder of being alive and together. His eyes fluttered shut as he let himself bask in the sound of that soft groan, his hand molding to the shape of Riley's prick where it was still contained within his clothes. "I do, don't I?" All his points were compelling, Riley. Always.

He did not hide the way being called bad like this had him smiling. "Mmhmm. I am. But you're the angel between the two of us. I'm just playing the part I'm best at." Which yes, was being a bad boy apparently. This was about where his fingers began slowly working Riley's trousers open.

[eblouissant]

That was true, Riley knew that it was likely that if they were caught then Kay'dia would roll her eyes and then they would have a talk about something and previous-to never come up, and that was the likelihood that Riley would bring someone back to the caravan. Only embarrassment, that was what that would be.

"An angel easily tempted." he said with a wry smile that was only broken by the hitched breath as he felt his trousers being worked open by another person for the first time in years.

He had never had another lover, he'd never wanted to-- and he had not touched himself because it felt a bit wrong to touch himself to memories of a dead lover, and so it had been a long series of nocturnal emissions for himself. But now here was Liam, trying to get at him as if he was starving and okay so that was starting to carry him away with thoughts of relief. "You always did have a.. ah, silver tongue. I will let you talk us out of trouble if we get caught.. yeah?"

Yeah, Liam could do all the talking because it was likely that his brain would be rendered a mess of sparks and flames after Liam got done with him.

[giveanything]

Only embarrassment, and really, Liam wasn't sure how embarrassed he could actually manage being right now at being discovered actively showering this beautiful, shining, wonderful man -- whom he thought he'd lost forever -- with love and affection and well, horniness. That too.

Because there had been no other lover for Liam either. He'd barely existed outside what use he could be to his master, but even if he had, there couldn't have been anyone else. His heart belonged to Riley. Starving was right, yes. He'd been so long without him, without touch or comfort or pleasure or the man he loved.

"Which is the best kind of angel."

His fingers apparently had retained enough muscle memory that opening Riley's trousers went rather quickly, even as Liam peeked up at him.

"That's right, my love. You can let my tongue take care of everything." Both the cause and solution to all the trouble that might come of this. He slipped his hand inside the now undone pants so he could wrap his hand around him, draw him free, humming in something quite like relief himself at how perfect Riley's cock still felt in his hand, the heat that seemed to radiate from that length, the velvet soft skin and the eager hardness of his arousal.

He'd missed this. Missed touching him and hearing the sweet sounds Riley would make or him. He missed the taste of his skin, the bittersweet salt taste of his spend and the intoxicating smell of sweat-damp skin as they curled together in the afterglow. Memories surged from where they'd been consigned to darkness for years, demanding another be added to them here and now.

[eblouissant]

It was true that Riley missed the intimacy and closeness of Liam's body, the warmth and the press of lips that had always made him feel cherished. He had remembered the last time they had made love, before Liam had left for the country estate-- the promise that they would see each other in a few days time.

Distraught when he realized that would not be the case.

There was a big part of Riley that did not care if anyone came in on them, because he was with his heart now and they had a way forward together, but the reunion was still something that soared within in. Therefore, he placed a hand on Liam's shoulder and lifted his hips subtly to roll his prick into that palm. And Liam was taking care of him, he felt the heat of palm and he was speaking in hushed whispers and he wished he could take care of Liam too.

Except maybe.

"Liam.. turn yourself I, remember what we did when we were arguing about who got to pleasure the other first?"

In for a penny, in for a pound.

[giveanything]

"I remember you not letting me pull rank, which was extremely unfair and probably treasonous by the way." What good was being a prince, when your knight wouldn't let you have your way about getting your mouth on his dick first and foremost? No good at all, that's what.

But then again, that was what he loved about Riley, that it never mattered to him that Liam was crown prince, not really. Yes, Riley had always been perfectly proper and well within the rules of propriety and decorum. But he'd seen Liam for himself, not the title, not the public persona and the ceremony.

So while he let his touch linger longer than it strictly had to, enjoying the way Riley rolled towards his touch, he did eventually -- with such reluctance it was near palpable -- release his cock and shift to turn as Riley had bidden, glancing over his shoulder at him with eyes alight with undisguised yearning.

[eblouissant]

Riley was almost about ready to make a quip about the other man throwing him in the stocks for such disobedience, but he did not-- merely gave his Lord (and he was his Lord and Majesty) a look that was only a little bit subordinate. "It is my duty to serve you, and I take that duty very seriously."

But this had sufficed, and also it was nice to see the Prince go on his duty while attempting to keep himself for the most part controlled-- it had been a play in discipline for the both of them, and maybe a bit of good natured sport. "Sometimes it is good to have someone underneath you who is not afraid to call you out."

Once Liam was situated, he started to tug at the black trousers, the laces coming undone underneath his deft fingertips, assiduous in his task and not to be swayed by anything. Though to be fair, he was underneath Liam right now.

[giveanything]

Riley always had been incredibly dutiful, even if the words spoken just now were playful. Liam had never for a moment -- even before he'd gotten around to confessing feelings and inviting his dearest friend and most trusted confidant -- into his bed. There was a genuine goodness in Riley that shone like the sun itself. He knew that the man he loved wasn't perfect, and thank heavens for that. Perfect was a terrifying thought. He loved Riley as the incredibly human, caring man that he was.

Caring and unfairly attractive and all that Liam could imagine wanting, and wanting right now. Urgently and imminently. His fingers slid slowly along the cock he'd freed from Riley's trousers before he'd had to reorient himself.

"That is true," he admitted. And it was. It was good for him to be called out on his bullshittiest bullshit. "And I do like having you underneath me." He tried not to be entirely distracted by even the incidental touch of fingers to his arousal as Riley worked laces open. "Though I also recall enjoying you on top of me very much, too."

And he'd talked too much, and that pretty prick was weeping for his attention, and decided to give it that, starting with the slow, deliberate pass of his tongue.

[eblouissant]

So perhaps his own touch had become only a bit awkwardly grasping, because as he was starting to remove Liam's own cock, that was when he felt the very first touch of tongue which caused a hiss, he tried not to make too much noise, and instead his palm instantly wrapped around Liam and then he was stroking with a bit more fervor than he intended too initially.

Velvety soft, just as he remembered, his thumb swiping over the slit while he kissed against the clothed back thigh.

"I do not care what.. just as long as..." and then he gave Liam a stroke, a firm and insistant stroke, angled in such a way that the heel of his palm rubbed against the underside of cock; maybe he would have to shift Liam back but he would have him in his mouth as well. "I have forgotten how you taste.." but he would remedy that, even as he let out a groan.

"Fuck.. Liam.."

And it was so hard to get Riley to curse like that.

[giveanything]

Oh that was gratifying, to hear that curse in Riley's voice, because it was such a relative rarity for the other man. It made Liam feel rather accomplished, and desirable in a way that he didn't know he was capable of feeling anymore. He wanted Riley down to the core of his being, to the marrow of his bones.

His hips rocked towards the touch of that hand, and he heard himself moan softly. "Please, Love..."

With that talking became far too complicated, and instead he shifted enough so that he could take Riley's prick into his mouth properly, groaning in something that sounded a great deal like relief at the feel of him, the taste, like he'd been dying of thirst and it was finally being quenched.

[eblouissant]

Riley was not one to tease his lover unnecessarily, not when they both knew what they wanted and thus did he angle that cock and then shifted so that he could lap against the underside with his tongue, the salt of it was like an aphrodesiac and he groaned against it while he started to slowly stroke the cock held within his fingertips-- playing him like an instrument while he arched his hips upward against lips.

He would not of minded in the slightest if Liam decided he wanted to fuck downwards. Riley could take it, could handle anything that the other man choose to give him, and gratefully too-- he'd treat everything like a gift including this.

Now that he was here within this space with Liam-- yeah, if they were to get caught it would be fully worth it. All the while underneath Liam's questing tongue, he leaked considerable amounts of precome, all for Liam.

[giveanything]

That mouth found his cock and every one of Liam's senses felt like they exploded in brilliant colors, like the world had been holding back on him and muting everything for years. Oh. He voiced a trembling moan around the mouthful he had of Riley. He sucked and lapped at the head of his cock, savoring the taste of that precome, like he couldn't get enough of the taste of him. Because he couldn't. He couldn't get enough of any of him at all.

So he took that length further into his mouth, though Riley's mouth on his cock was a beautiful distraction that had his hi[s indeed rolling downward before he could stop himself.

Liam had forgotten all about the potential of being caught and having a strange introduction to Riley's roommate. He'd forgotten about nearly everything but this, but being back with Riley, and even the pain and terror of the past years felt like they faded, a beautiful sort of oblivion that he embraced for this moment, let the pleasure take spotlight in his mind, let him focus on giving the man he loved his attention, on making him feel good.

[eblouissant]

Riley remembered how much he loved to pleasure Liam, the way that the Prince groaned, twining his fingers through hair as his head arched back to reveal that slender neck. His Prince becoming a mess for him, and the heady taste of precome as it dripped against his tongue, leaked assiduously. There had always been fights over who should be able to pleasure the other first, but Riley had tried to use logic.

His mouth was alive now, tracing 'I love you's with his tongue against the underside of cock, perhaps a bit of a romantic gesture and perhaps Liam would not be able to feel it- but it was a love letter from a man who had missed his Prince, missed his presence.

Arching his hips up now-- now he was able to give himself over to this, to the touch of mouth, the perfect way that he was caught in mouth, and a chocked sob that echoed against Liam's own skin, as if Riley was without air could not breath and the only thing that could bring him back to life was the prick against his tongue.

[giveanything]

It was one of the few things they had regularly squabbled over, and it was done in all affection. But both of them had been eager to take the other apart with their own too hands. And mouth. And prick. So this particular compromise was quite a good one, where they could both lose themselves in giving and receiving pleasure simultaneously.

Liam moaned a soft and encouraging sound as those hips arched up and he bobbed his head down to take Riley further into his mouth, eager to have all of him that he could manage. Liam let himself release everything else, lose himself in this, in his lover.

Riley. Riley. His Riley.

It was the only thought on his mind was he began to bob his head, suckling noisily at him, heedless of how obscene and wet the sounds his mouth made were.

[eblouissant]

The more time that passed uninterrupted, the more comfortable that Riley was getting into all of this which was perhaps good but then he was not the first one that Kay'dia may potentially see upon coming into the caravan because it was true that Liam was right there facing the entrance with his mouth on Riley's dick.

And Kay'dia had never seen Riley's dick before.

Well that was a distant problem that Riley's head was too hazy to compute. Instead he allowed his mouth to capture the cockhead and give it a slow and languid suck, tongue diving into slit to taste precome while he hummed around it, all the while arching his body up even more wrecklessly though he did move his mouth from cock to check in for a moment, "That good?"

Because he did not want to hurt Liam whatsoever. He'd been through enough, and Riley did not want to contribute to it.