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Veritas felt it coming but he didn’t have time to do anything. One moment, he was on his ship, returning to Intelligentsia Guild’s headquarters, the next he found himself in a dark room in front of a huge stained glass window (an awfully tacky design choice, if he was being honest). He was sitting in a chair, wrists bound to the armrests. Next to him, a Phase Flame flickered happily.
So it was a trap and he was foolish enough to fall for it.
One point to you, Annihilation Gang.
There were footsteps behind him. Heels. It made sense he wasn’t here alone. The Gang wouldn’t simply leave him without supervision, even when he was tied to a chair. It was the right decision. He already figured out at least three different ways to free himself from the rope, teeth being a rather unpleasant but the most obvious choice.
“Well, well, well! The good doctor fell for our trap. Guess you ain’t as smart as you think you are, huh?”, a red-haired woman in a revealing leather outfit came into his field of vision. With a cocky smile on her face, she clearly was convinced she had the upper hand in this situation.
“I suppose you’ve caught me”, Veritas said, leaning against the back of the chair with a bored expression. “I hope you won’t waste my time. Where is your master? Clearly, I am not here to talk to lackeys.”
The woman frowned.
“Aren’t you scared, doc? You have been kidnapped, you know?”, she said, crossing her arms on her chest.
“Not particularly. If you wanted me dead, I’d be dead already. If you went through all the trouble of taking me to your hideout, it means you want something from me and therefore the only thing standing between me and freedom is my ability to negotiate - something that I consider myself rather proficient in”, Veritas shrugged. The woman’s frown deepened.
“You sure talk a lot-”, she started but at that moment the door opened.
“Caterina. Has our guest arrived?”
Veritas looked over Caterina’s shoulder. He hadn’t seen Duke Inferno before, not in its full glory. The black, flame-consumed ram skull was decorated with a fancy monocle. They wore an elegant outfit worthy of a wealthy noble and snow-white gloves that made them look like a proper gentleman. The way they carried themself and their inhuman features would probably frighten an ordinary person.
“Is that how you treat your guests, Duke Inferno?”, Veritas - who was not an ordinary person - asked. “Such manners leave a lot to desire.”
The Duke stood in front of him. The light peeking through the stained glass behind him left a colorful mosaic on his clothes. His skull moved as if he was eyeing him. When he was done, he turned to Caterina.
“He is correct, Caterina. That is no way to treat a guest”, he scolded and the woman’s eyes widened.
“I thought- Damn, alright, old man”, she moved as if she wanted to free Veritas from his constraints but the Duke was faster. He snapped his fingers and a flame sparked around Veritas’ wrists, burning away the bounds but leaving the skin untouched. He barely resisted the urge to rub the part where they dug into his skin.
“That’s better. Now, since we’re over this terrible hospitality of yours, we may get to the negotiations”, he said, getting up. Only now he could see how much bigger the Duke was. Even Caterina was taller than him in those ridiculous heels.
“Negotiations? No, that is not why you are here, Mr. Ratio”, the Duke sounded amused, although it was hard to tell when the burning skull didn’t show much emotion. “I simply want to extend an invitation.”
Veritas furrowed his eyebrows. It was easy to deduce what kind of invitation the Duke had in mind and the idea didn’t sit well with him. The Annihilation Gang was a group of brute bullies who were so pathetic even the Aeon they worshiped didn’t bother with them. Their way of doing things was simply not Ratio’s style. He didn’t have to think twice to know what his answer would be.
Still, his interest was piqued.
“Let’s hear it”, he allowed.
“Not here. I want you to feel welcome first”, the Duke said, offering him his arm. “Let me invite you to dinner, Mr. Ratio.”
Veritas watched the skull for a moment, searching for any hint of deception. He still didn’t think the Gang wanted to harm him. Not when he was of interest. However, once he refuses, his situation may change dramatically. Would they allow him to return or would he have to fight his way out? He knew the coordinates of Fetora. All he’d have to do was to find a working ship and reach the closest IPC station. That was unless they didn’t shoot him down first. He was good at many (and then some) things but piloting a ship was not one of them.
Oh well. He was a fast learner.
“Very well then. Let’s hope your food is better than your hospitality”, he considered ignoring the offered arm but curiosity got the better of him. What would it feel to touch a fire demon? Was he hot to the touch under those clothes? Solid like a human? The Space Station investigation had proven that their species was barely researched and documented. He had a chance to change that.
He touched the Duke’s arm, his fingers sliding against the expensive material of his jacket. Solid. He felt like a normal human underneath the clothes. Was all of his body like this or was he making this specific place solid for Veritas’ sake?
They left the room and walked down a hall lit with candles on the walls. It was old-fashioned but somehow Veritas felt like the terrible choice in decor had a purpose. He wondered how far did the Duke’s power over flames go.
The Duke led him to a dining room. It was better lit than the hall with a fancy candelabra hanging from the ceiling. The round table was full of food - roasted meat, salads, fruits and fancy desserts. They smelled amazing.
“I did not know what you like so I settled for a bit of everything”, the Duke said. “Sit now. Let’s eat.”
Veritas pulled out a chair and sat down in front of the mountain of food. It was… Impressive, he had to admit. He wasn’t a man that could be bought with a fancy meal but the fact that he hadn’t eaten anything since leaving the space station was working against him.
The Duke sat on the opposite side of the table, taking a knife and a fork as if he was going to eat too. How did flame demons feed? This was a perfect chance to find out.
“You’re watching me instead of eating”, the Duke said and Veritas scoffed. He needed to be more discreet with his observations - it wasn’t like him to get distracted. If only the Gang had the decency to kidnap him along with his alabaster head.
“Of course. It would be reckless of me to try something from an enemy’s plate”, he said.
“Is that what we are? Enemies? I would like to think otherwise”, the Duke cut a piece of the roasted duck and moved it to his plate.
“You are yet to change my opinion. Nothing you have done so far has convinced me otherwise. Kidnapping is hardly a good tactic for making allies”, Ratio said, doing the same. He cut off a piece of the duck and brought it closer to his face. He could spot basic poison from the looks and the smell - as far as he could tell there was nothing wrong with the food.
“That’s understandable. I will speak plainly then - you are an impressive man. Your knowledge surely is wasted on the Intelligentsia Guild. We could offer you opportunities”, Duke Inferno said, moving the fork with the duck toward his skull. Veritas couldn’t keep his eyes away as the skull moved up slightly and the flames underneath consumed the meat.
Fascinating.
“I refuse”, he said, looking straight into the Duke’s eye. “I’m not interested in leaving the Intelligentsia Guild and frankly, your methods are far too brutal to my liking. I don’t find any value in destruction.”
“That’s a shame”, the Duke said. Veritas furrowed his eyebrows. That was where things would get dangerous. His refusal rid him of the value he held for the Gang. He was an obstacle now rather than an object of interest. He had to play it smart.
“That to be said, I will not lie - you have piqued my interest”, Veritas poured himself some wine and smelled it discreetly. That didn’t seem poisoned either. Guess there would be no point in negotiations if he dropped dead in the middle of them. “Why ask me? You must have done your research. Our methods and morals are not the same.”
The Duke was silent for a moment. It was slightly unnerving to not know what they were looking at. Veritas could only assume they were watching him.
“You are correct. I did not assume you would agree. But I wanted to try in case I was wrong. You piqued my interest too, Veritas Ratio”, their voice was smooth but throaty, almost like a purr. “A man capable of ruining our plans without much effort doesn’t come along often. I wanted to meet you face to face.”
“And what is your impression?”, Veritas asked, taking a bite of a piece of bread.
“I can see why Nous doesn’t see you as fit for their follower.”
Veritas froze. The fact that he had never been invited to join The Genius Society was a personal failure of his that he didn’t like to talk about much. Sure, there was gossip but then again, ignorant masses always chose to entertain themselves with the misery of others. He simply ignored it and continued with his work, day by day. If he spoke of it, it would only fuel more talk.
It was bold of the Duke to bring it up.
“Hit the nerve, I see”, they didn’t seem bothered, tilting their skull with amusement. Veritas gathered himself, pouring more wine into his goblet.
“Enlighten me then. Why is that? Is it for the same reason Nanook has no interest in your little group?”, he looked the Duke straight in the eye, taking a sip. The flames around their skull flickered brighter for a second but quickly went back to normal.
“Touche”, they answered. “But I doubt that’s the case.”
Veritas scoffed. Riling the Duke up was probably not doing his situation any good but he wasn’t going to let himself be insulted by a walking pile of flame and charcoal.
“What is then, pray tell”, he said, crossing his arms on his chest.
“Your morals. The members of the Genius Society vary in every way possible but one thing connects them - their research is done for their own purposes. They often experiment just because they can, with no consideration for whether their work benefits anyone other than them. Some of them pay no mind to the harm it may cause. They are all, to some extent, selfish”, the Duke explained. Veritas looked away, examining the contents of his goblet. He could see that, of course. The Genius Society members were at best, only focused on their interests and at worst downright villainous. The benefits of their work for the overall population were more of a side effect than the goal. And while Veritas didn’t waste time on verbal pleasantries, he always ensured no one was harmed for the sake of his research.
He hated that two people pointed that out to his face in the last 24 hours.
“Interesting theory. I suppose brute force is not all your Gang has going for itself”, he said, leaning his chin against his hand.
“I hoped you’d see my offer as an opportunity to become someone Nous may consider worthy of their Faction”, the Duke finished. Although Veritas would never say it out loud, he had to say he was impressed. It was quite an in-depth attempt at manipulation. Bringing out his failure and pointing out where he fell short only to offer him a chance to change his ways and fulfill his lifelong ambition… A smart move, indeed. He felt almost bad to let all this effort go to waste.
Almost.
“While I admire your dedication to psychological games, I stand by what I said - I am not interested in joining you.”
The Duke moved forward, clearly starting to say something. Veritas raised his hand to stop him.
“But, looking how we are both… Interested in each other, I have an alternate offer.”
***
There were probably easier ways of getting out of that situation. Ones that didn’t require stripping down and standing naked in front of an enemy. However, Veritas was aware of how little was known about the flame demons’ biology and anatomy. Passing by such an opportunity would be a huge disservice to the scientific community. Not when he could explore a body of one himself.
His offer must have surprised Ifrit (he could as well use their name if he was going to fuck them). They were silent for a moment but then they agreed, curiosity lacing their voice. They took him to a spacious room with a wide bed and soft carpet that muffled their footsteps. In the dim light, their fire was the brightest thing.
“I am here to satisfy my scientific curiosity.”, Veritas said, slowly taking off his clothes. “Don’t be offended if I get distracted.”
Ifrit hummed, sitting on the bed and crossing their arms on their chest. They were watching, skull a little tilted, their blazing sockets fixed on Veritas. He couldn’t hold back the amused smirk. He removed the belt and the pin holding his robe together and let it fall to the ground, staying only in his pants and the skinsuit underneath. Then, he took a few steps toward Ifrit. He wasn’t going to take off more than that unless it was something as quick as pulling down his trousers.
“Are you going to burn me when I touch you?”, he asked and Ifrit let out a dark chuckle.
“Only if you want me to. I am in full control of my flames”, they answered.
“How convenient”, Veritas said, reaching out. He’d removed his gloves before so now nothing was standing between him and Ifrit’s skull. He brushed his fingers against it, feeling the uneven but smooth surface. It was more like obsidian than bone. How interesting.
Then, without thinking much, he slid his hand into the fire around Ifrit’s neck.
Despite knowing that it wouldn’t burn, his nervous system sent a flash of panic to his muscles and he had to fight with all his willpower to not move away. It took a second to get used to the idea that it didn’t hurt to hold his hand in a flame. He could still feel it, shifting against his skin like a pleasantly warm steam.
“Enjoying yourself?”, Ifrit asked. Veritas moved his hands towards their tie, untangling it swiftly.
“I always enjoy the pursuit of knowledge”, he said, eager to see what was underneath their shirt. What kind of a body was connected to the skeletal neck? Did they have any organs or was it all just a voracious flame ready to swallow anyone brave enough to get close?
Before he managed to do so, Ifrit grabbed his wrist, stopping his hand before it reached the buttons.
“Undress first. It goes both ways, doesn’t it?”, they said. Veritas’ brow twitched in annoyance. He was hoping keeping most clothes on would make his escape later on easier but this would make it harder. He freed himself from Ifrit’s grip and took a few steps back.
“Very well”, he said and unzipped his skinsuit and then his trousers, letting them both drop on the pile with his robe. Then, he slowly took down his shoes, very aware of the blazing eyes following his every move. He was not ashamed of his body and welcomed the attention. When he was done with most of it, he moved his hand down his stomach and slowly pulled down his underwear as well.
“There. Happy?”, he said, coming closer and resting his hands on Ifrit’s shoulders. They felt bony underneath the suit but there were too many layers to examine it properly.
“Quite”, Ifrit watched him impatiently fight the buttons of their shirt. They placed their hands on Veritas’ hips, slowly exploring. They were still wearing gloves and Veritas couldn’t help but get distracted. The sight of the fully clothed hands against his completely bare body made a shiver go down his spine. When Ifrit found a way to one of his thighs, his breath hitched.
“Is this what you enjoy, Mr. Ratio?”, Ifrit asked, lazily stroking the skin on his thigh with his thumb. For a second, Veritas’ fingers lost grip on the buttons. “Tell me… This set of genitals is not common in the individuals of your gender, am I right?”
Veritas let out a breath, trying to gather his thoughts.
“More common than you’d think. But yes, I suppose it is a minority”, he said. “Does that bother you?”
“Hardly”, Ifrit said. “My kind does not perceive gender the same way yours does. We are fire, sexless in nature. The only reason I can partake in those activities is because I chose a form that allows me to do so. While I do not seek physical pleasure, it is a surprisingly sufficient negotiation tactic.”
“So you have done this before”, Veritas said. Ifrit’s fingers dug into his skin when they squeezed his thigh. He should probably be taking notes but all his tools stayed on the ship.
“I have”, they purred, the skull nuzzling against the skin on his neck.
Finally, Veritas unbuttoned the shirt enough for the body underneath to show. Just as he suspected, it was similar to the visible parts. The skeletal neck was connected to a rib cage filled with fire. There was no skin or muscles - the fire must have been what kept the skeleton moving. He had a few explanations in mind on how that could be possible. He’d have to write them down and analyze them later.
“Fascinating”, he said.
“I think you’ve had enough looking for now.”
Before Veritas could react, Ifrit put their hand on his shoulder and pushed him down to his knees. He was between their legs now, in front of the edge of the bed, hands drowning in the soft carpet. How rude, he thought, but Ifrit was opening up their slacks. Veritas noticed a shape similar to a pelvic bone underneath but then the flames darkened, moving wildly and bundling together, creating a shape. Soon enough, Veritas had a cock in front of his face. It looked similar to the bones of Ifrit’s skull, black and made out of scale-like formations. The only sign it was created from the actual fire was the bright orange lines between them. Veritas took a note for later just how far the shapeshifting abilities went.
Ifrit’s gloved hand found its way into Veritas’ hair, pulling him closer between their legs. The cock was big but nothing he couldn’t take. Veritas looked up and opened his mouth, wrapping his lips around the head, his tongue moving against it. It was smooth and almost as soft as human flesh. That surprised him - after touching Ifrit’s skull, he expected something firmer.
“Hm. I thought you’d touch it with your hands first. You seem awfully eager”, Ifrit said, clearly amused. Veritas glared at him, moving away. The only downside of sucking someone off was that he couldn’t speak with his mouth full.
“The tongue has far more nerve endings than fingers”, he said and then took them into his mouth again, curious of the sensation. His tongue moved against the tip. Now he could feel how warm the cock felt in his mouth. If they were an ordinary person, he’d assume they had a fever. Here, however, the sensation was only expected. There was fire underneath the obsidian-like skin after all and he wondered if it’d burn his mouth if he pushed Ifrit too far.
“You sure are taking your time”, Ifrit’s fingers in his hair tightened, pulling him forward. Ratio felt his focus dissolve immediately, heat pooling between his legs. He opened his mouth more, taking in the length obediently. He moved his head, letting his mouth slide forward and back. The warmth on his tongue felt so foreign but only built up the tension in his stomach. Kneeling on all fours on the ground with his mouth full of an enemy’s cock shouldn’t be getting him that hot. It was hardly a viable way of doing research.
He moved away, focusing more on their tip. He sucked on it, putting his hand on the base and moving it slowly. Too slow apparently, because before he realized what was happening, Ifrit pulled him in by his hair, letting their cock hit the back of his throat. He let out a choked moan, unbecoming of a famous scholar, feeling the drool drip down his chin. He glared at Ifrit, annoyed at such rough treatment, even though his body begged to be touched. He barely stopped himself from pushing his hand between his legs.
If Ifrit wanted to play dirty, Veritas could do that too.
With one smooth move, he took the cock in as far as he could. The length almost choked him again but he knew he could take it. He moved his head, letting it slide in and out. He could hear the surprised noise Ifrit made and completely broke his self-restraint. He slid his hand between his thighs, finding his clit. The first touch made him gasp around the cock.
“I see you are quite enjoying this research”, Ifrit commented, their voice strained. It was taking a toll on them too. The formidable and terrifying leader of the Annihilation Gang coming apart in the mouth of a mere scholar. Veritas liked that thought.
Instead of answering, he continued, feeling how warm Ifrit’s cock was growing in his mouth. He almost could feel the fire buzzing underneath the skin. He moved away, licking along the whole length, and then sucked on the tip.
“Stop”, Ifrit growled, moving their hand to his shoulder. Veritas moved away obediently, panting, his hand still between his legs. “That’s enough.”
“Why? Would you burn me if you came in my mouth?”, Veritas asked. His voice was hoarse, his body hot and begging for release but he was good at keeping it together.
“No. I have told you - I control my flames. But I am not done with you yet, Mr. Ratio. As welcoming as your mouth was, I want to explore the rest of you.”
Veritas got up from the carpet. He took a step towards Ifrit and pushed them back on the covers before climbing on top of them. With one hand, he took a hold of their cock and stroked it lazily.
“How does your kind procreate?”, he asked, tilting his head. Ifrit let out a sigh. They seemed to be watching Veritas’ fingers pumping their cock.
“Not like mortals. This is merely to adjust my body to your preferences. We are born from unholy fire and our bodies only become material when we age. We don’t use them for creating offspring”, they said after a moment.
“And yet you seem to be enjoying yourself”, Veritas raised his eyebrows. “How curious.”
“You speak a lot, Mr. Ratio.”
Then they moved so quickly Veritas had no time to react before he was trapped underneath their body, pressed to the bed on his stomach. He gasped in surprise, feeling himself get wetter at that. Ifrit’s hand settled on his thigh, moving along it almost lazily and Veritas had to bite his lip to hold back a moan.
“Let me show you the meaning of destruction”, they purred into his ear as their hand moved between his legs, gloved fingers circling his clit. The material was silky and easily slid against him.
“You are getting my gloves dirty, Mr. Ratio… What am I supposed to do with you?”, Ifrit’s voice sounded right next to his ear. He could feel the material of his suit against his bare back. They didn’t even bother to take off their gloves to touch him, all dressed up when he was completely naked.
“I know you can do better than this, Mr. Ratio. Let me hear your voice”, they said, curling their fingers against him. He couldn’t help the moan that escaped him. He could feel Ifrit’s hard cock press against his thigh. He didn’t want to come just from their fingers, he needed to feel them inside but he couldn’t form a coherent sentence while he was dominated like this.
“How about this? You seemed to enjoy this in your mouth”, Ifrit spoke again and for a moment Veritas wasn't sure what they meant. Then they felt the warmth radiating from their hand. His eyes widened, hips moving to rub against them. The heat felt so good, spreading to his thighs and stomach. The difference in the temperature between the place where Ifrit was touching and the rest of his body made his clit even more sensitive.
“You have soaked through my gloves, Mr. Ratio. You really can’t keep some decorum, can you?”, Ifrit sounded amused. “I’m starting to think your research is really just an excuse to fuck me.”
“Wouldn’t that stroke your ego- nh!”, Veritas gasped when the heat between his legs increased, edging closer to almost burning but not quite there just yet. Aeons, was he going to cum just from that? He could feel the tension building up and at this point, he didn’t care if Ifrit put it in anymore. He rubbed against their hand shamelessly, the heat pleasantly pulsing in his groin. It felt so good he was going to-
Ifrit moved their hand away and Veritas moaned helplessly, the warmth and pressure suddenly gone. A few more moves and he’d come. What the hell were they thinking?
“Now, Mr. Ratio. I think you got ahead of yourself”, Ifrit said.
“I think…”, Veritas groaned, trying to regain his composure. “That it was uncalled for.”
Ifrit let out a deep, almost thundering sound and it took a moment for Veritas to realize they were laughing.
“Don’t worry”, they said. “I am still not done with you.”
They shifted over him, and he felt their cock press against his entrance. At the same time, something wrapped around his thigh, squeezing it slightly. It had hard segments and felt similar to Ifrit’s skull but more agile. It was almost like a tail.
“Come on”, Veritas said, looking over his shoulder. “Don’t keep me waiting more.”
Ifrit laughed. Then their cock slid inside Veritas and he wasn’t able to hold back a scream. The way they kept him pressed to the bed with their body, filling him up perfectly was driving him crazy. For a sexless demon, they were better at sex than many men Veritas had slept with before.
Ifrit’s tail let go of his thigh, slipping between his legs and moving against his clit. Veritas gasped, the pleasure from being filled up suddenly increasing with the amount of sensation he was receiving. Still pressing him down, Ifrit started fucking him slowly, their movements rough but not painful. Veritas could feel every bit of friction, the tension building in his stomach. Some research he was doing, when there was no coherent thought in his brain. He closed his eyes, allowing the sensation to overwhelm him, and bring him to the edge. Ifrit’s moves gained speed, getting more frantic and desperate, their body hot above him even though the clothes.
He felt it build up and wasn’t ready for the moment when the tension released, filling him with mind-numbing pleasure. He hid his face in the pillow, moaning with every move, digging his fingers into the covers, letting Ifrit fuck the orgasm out of him.
“I’m not done with you yet, Mr. Ratio”, Ifrit said, their voice crackling like a burning fire. Veritas’ eyes flew open as they wrapped their arm around his waist, pulling him even closer and still fucking him. His every move made Veritas’ senses overload, his teeth clenching, thighs twitching with strain. Veritas heard himself curse and beg, voice breaking with every thrust. It was ridiculous how much he enjoyed this.
Then Ifrit groaned, their tail once again squeezing on Veritas’s thigh. They moved their hips a few more times, their body hot against Veritas’ back until they sighed and stopped moving. Veritas lay there, panting for a moment, until Ifrit moved away, their cock slipping out of him. Veritas frowned at the wetness spilling out of him and dripping down his thigh.
“That was an enlightening experience”, Ifrit said, sitting up next to him. Their cock was pulled back into their body and they quickly fixed their clothes, soon enough looking perfectly put together.
“You sure took your time”, Veritas glared at them over his shoulder. He probably didn’t look intimidating naked with his face flushed and hair completely messy. Ifrit laughed.
“The bathroom is over there, Mr. Ratio. Feel free to freshen yourself up”, they gestured towards the door at the other end of the room. Veritas got up from the bed, feeling his legs tremble slightly after such strain. He picked up his clothes and disappeared into the bathroom.
He had his fun. Now it was time to think of an escape plan.
***
“Father. Ratio has escaped. Should we send ships to follow him?”, Akash stood next to Ifrit in their office. The Duke was in front of a huge window, overlooking the fiery glory of their planet. They laughed, which earned them Akash’ surprised glance.
“There is no need”, they said. “After all, we will be reunited soon.”
Akash frowned but didn’t say anything. He just nodded and left the room as quietly as he came. Ifrit didn’t even look after him, too busy watching the little spot that was the ship Veritas had stolen slowly disappear in the distance.
“I wonder what will you do when Penacony falls to its knees in front of the glory of the Destruction, Mr. Ratio”, they said. “I can’t wait to see your next move.”