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He's such a loving man. A loving, wonderful man who Vex'ahlia cannot begin to comprehend what she did to deserve. He was kind and understanding to her, even during the times when she wouldn't blame him for never speaking to her again. And yet, he was hers.
Percival, the lovely man that he is, belongs to her. Vex’ahlia. The Grand Mistress of the Grey Hunt, Baroness of the Third House of Whitestone, and dear-heart to Percival de Rolo.
It still felt like a dream. She had fantasized about living a life like this for ages, yet now she had it. She had almost everything she could ever need and yet she still wanted more. It sickened her, but her greed was one of her worst qualities. Yet somehow, in some way, Percival managed to love that part of her as well. He managed to cherish and accept the worst parts of her before she could even dream to face those demons.
Percival welcomed her gladly and she still wanted more from him?
Vex'ahlia was well aware of the irony of the situation. She spent ages trying to help Percival move on from his guilt and stop fretting, and yet she still clings to hers? She hadn't even done anything yet the thought of facing him again made her sick, like the mere thought of possibly hurting him was a betrayal in her own mind.
He's such a lovely man. He really is, and yet Vex’ahlia wants to ruin that? She wants to pin him down and take what she needs from him? He'd be absolutely ruined. Vex’ahlia didn't even want to think about what that would do to him, how it would unwind all that absolutely wonderful progress he's made and leave him worse than he was before. All for what?
Vex'ahlia couldn't rationalize the thought. She loved him so dearly so why did her mind twist all those lovely moments into something sinister? She cherished him so deeply, so why did she need to think that?
She couldn't settle. It was late in the night and she was alone in bed. Percival was elsewhere, presumably in his workshop tinkering away at whatever project had stolen his attention. It was a terrible habit of his but Vex'ahlia was growing to understand it was far too late to curb. Vex'ahlia imagined having several siblings left Percival a lot of time to lock himself away from everything, and after that, he had nothing to come back out to. But now he did. He had Vex'ahlia. And Vex’ahlia wanted him to come to bed.
Percival is down in his workshop now, just as expected. It's late in the evening and Vex’ahlia would rather not return to an empty bed tonight so here she was, standing in the door to his workshop. He had hardly noticed the door opening, too engrossed in his work to spare a glance. She smiled gently at him. Once upon a time, Percival had been hyper-vigilant, nearly to the point of paranoia. But now? Now he seemed… comfortable.
"Percy, dear?" She finally called.
That captured his attention.
"Hm?" He hummed while turning his head to look at her.
She noticed the spark of recognition in his eyes and he straightened slightly, "Vex," he smiled.
"Come for a visit?" He asked as she approached, offering his hand to her as she did.
She laid her hand in his, smiling as he pressed a swift kiss to her knuckles. "I'm actually here to take you to bed, darling," she corrected.
"What? it's not that late, is it?" He denied as he looked up at her.
"I'm almost finished anyway, I won't be much longer," he said, brushing it off as he tried to turn his attention back to the mechanism laying in pieces before him, letting go of her hand in the process.
She sighed, standing behind him with her hand on the back of his chair. Vex kept her gaze locked on the back of his head for a long moment, tonguing her cheek as she does.
"Percival," she said a little firmer.
Vex’ahlia reached up, combing her fingers through his hair and letting them rake against his scalp. Percival went still under her touch, letting out a pleased little sigh as she dragged her nails down the back of his head. "Mgh… perhaps I do need a break," he shivered.
She studied him closely, taking note of the way his shoulders staggered slightly with the shiver. Touch was a delightfully easy way to rile him up.
Her hand settled around the nape of his neck, resting comfortably with a gentle, but unremitting grip. Her thumb gently caressed the side of his throat as she spoke.
"You need more than a break, dear," she enticed.
She had to hold her tongue. She had to let go of him now. Touching his hair was dangerous enough, his neck was a whole other deal. Vex'ahlia wouldn't actually hurt him, but her mind wouldn't let her forget just how easy it would be to yank that pretty hair of his and force her lips over his own. God, she could imagine the noises he'd make. He'd be shocked at first. He'd make a cute, confused little grunt before he'd inevitably give in and kiss back. He'd give himself entirely and even more so, but that wasn't good enough for her. She wanted more. She wanted to take more.
Vex'ahlia wanted him to fight, to squirm, to plead. She wanted to hear him whine and beg her to stop. She could imagine it so clearly. He would stand, trying to back away. Percival was taller than her, so he could easily break the kiss by standing up straight. She'd only need to keep her grip on his neck, however. She could drag him back down, making him meet her half way before kissing him again. She'd crowd him against his workbench, his back pressed into the sharp edge as he tried to fight the kiss. Eventually, he managed to do just that. He turned his head, gasping softly for air while pushing against her shoulders. She would divert her attention in response, her mouth instead pressing against the little sliver of skin exposed by his collar.
He'd let out a startled gasp, finally mustering the strength to push her back and create some distance between them. She'd whine, trying to pull him back in by the belt-
"-Now that I think about it, I don't actually know what time it is," Percival said honestly, his words startling her back to reality.
Vex'ahlia snapped her attention back to him, purging herself of those thoughts in favour of actually giving thought to anything he had been saying. "It's late," she forced herself to say, her tone matching the effort and sounding slightly strained.
That drew Percival's attention. He glanced back over his shoulder at her. "Is something wrong?" he asked gently.
She shook her head gently, "no."
He didn't look convinced.
"Just wish you'd come to bed," she lied, partially.
It was only half a lie.
He's fast asleep beside her now.
He looks peaceful as he lies there.
She stares at him silently, her eyes fixed on his unconscious expression. He looks so calm, so at peace. His glasses were sat on the nightstand, leaving his face bare for her to study. Vex'ahlia could remember when a peaceful night's rest would elude Percy at every turn, but now he's laying here, next to her. He still has his nightmares and his bad days, of course, but those were growing fewer and farther between, much to Vex’ahlia's pleasure. Vex'ahlia felt her days growing lighter as well.
She missed her brother absolutely, with her heart aching at every reminder of him, but she found things to fill her day. The distance grew… tolerable. Especially so with the guarantee he had Keyleth to protect him out there. It made her feel a little better.
Still, one more problem remained.
The one currently laying beside her on the bed. The one currently sleeping peacefully and unaware of the monster beside him. It felt wrong to lie there. Yet, she couldn't will herself to move. She felt so comfortable, so safe, she never wanted to leave. Yet, she couldn't quell the twisting guilt in her gut. To think she dared be so close to him after… thinking of that.
Despite it all, she reached up to gently push a few strands of Percival's hair behind his ear. She could see his face entirely now, no longer impeded by the few strands blocking his eyes. She tried to not dwell on those thoughts, but she failed spectacularly.
Vex has him pinned to the wall, having just caught Percy after a meeting and right before another with Cassandra. They're in the hall, open and exposed to anyone who has the misfortune of merely turning the corner. The kiss they share is hungry but Percy is still keen on not being late.
"Vex-" he gasped against her mouth, "please, I-' he was cut off by another kiss.
"-I need to go," he forced himself to say despite the fact that his hands were quite comfortable on Vex'ahlia's waist.
"Gimme another minute," she demanded breathlessly.
Percival laughed into her mouth and its exactly what she wanted. The noise is sweet and light, and it makes her heart throb with need. She tucked her face into the crook of his neck, pulling him down by the collar as she kissed along his jaw. The moan he let out was even sweeter and she could feel it against her mouth. Percival tilted his head slightly, gently cradling the back of her neck as she sucked a bruise into that spot below his jaw.
He would then let a reluctant groan leave his lips as he gently grabbed her by the shoulders. "I really do need to go," he said while brushing his hands up and down her shoulders.
"I know," she agreed as she let go of his shirt, letting him stand up straight as she pulled away from his neck.
She took a step back, fixing his collar for him as she did.
"I won't be long," he promised, catching her hand and kissing the back of it apologetically.
"I'll hold you to that," she teased.
She caught him by the arm just as he tried to walk past, "wait-" she said while pulling him back.
He turned to face her. "Vex…" he sighed as she reached up to fix his hair, running her fingers through it to push the loose strands back in place.
"There, perfect," she said with a smile before finally letting him go.
"All done?" He asked with a light smile, taking a single step back.
"Done," she nodded, crossing her arms over her chest while watching him leave.
She'd finally gotten him alone again later that evening.
They were in the den, the room lit by a fireplace to chase away the Whitestone chill. She had him laying back against the sofa, his shoulders pressed against the arm with her face tucked into his neck.
He moaned as she kissed up the side of his neck, her mouth gentle and sweet as it kissed upwards. He tilted his head back, shivering as her warm tongue caressed his throat. He could feel her hands on his collar, pulling the buttons undone with a sharp tug to the fabric. Percival cringed, hearing the threads stretch with complaints. His shirt was open now, exposing more of that pale, marred skin Vex'ahlia couldn't get enough of. "U-uh, I-… am going to run out of shirts if you keep doing that," he chided, laughing softly as his complaint went unheard.
She was too focused elsewhere, getting lost in the ability to touch.
Before it was just fantasy, she could keep her distance and her hands to herself. But now? Now she had him beneath her. Now she could touch him, now he would give in to her every whim. She knew he would give in because he was simply too good for her. Not like the Percival in her dreams. It was sickening to think, but he's… fragile there. But not so fragile he won't beg.
He has the strength to plead, “No- please, don't-!”
But she just rocks her hips harder, making him whine desperately with great reluctance. He's twitching beneath her, his eyes clenching shut as he tries not to moan – tries not to enjoy it. He's tearing up now, his head tilting back ever so slightly as he lets out a breathy moan. It's a soft, fearful little noise that has Vex aching.
Percy lets out a needy little noise when he comes. It's a mix between a sob and a moan, painful in a way that would make Vex'ahlia's heart absolutely shatter in any other moment. Still, she kisses him on the forehead, then on the bridge of his nose, then on the curve of his cheekbone before she stole his lips yet again. He'd let out another one of those needy little noises before relenting and kissing her back.
But Percival is too giving, even in her mind. He wanted her too much and it made her heart ache to crave otherwise. So, he took her to bed, where they laid hours later.
It was warm. She was under the covers, wrapped up in a familiar pair of arms, with her shoulders pulled close to Percival's chest. She could even feel the gentle rise and fall of his chest against her back. And, if she listened close enough, she could hear him breathe.
Good.
That was good. Steady and slow as always, but Vex'ahlia found herself needing to check in her more restless moments. Vex'ahlia couldn't rationalize it. During the early days with Percival, she would often need to fall asleep to the thrumming of his heart. She'd do so to know he was safe, to know he was alive and out of the clutches of any who meant to harm him. Yet, she fantasized about being one of those same monsters in private?
Vex’ahlia swallowed down the bile creeping up the back of her throat. Only in her darkest, quietest moments does she consider spilling the truth. But then she sees that peaceful expression on his face and decides better.
Maybe another day.