forum Opportunistic Omnivore: Scavenging the Remains of the Divine || OxO || Closed || 18+

Started March 15, 2023 by @ElderGod-kirky group

tune

Caoimhe twisted to beg Eurion for help, the plea already on the tip of his tongue, but he tripped up and faltered when he saw the soft smile on the other's lips. It was nothing like anything the assassin had graced them with, and in that moment he realized just how much the two helped each other. Without Sláine being the one to soften the scowly Fae, they would've never got to see him give a real smile.

But, that split second distraction was fatal, as Sláine took advantage of his twin's slip-up and proceeded to do a full-body trap, twisting his legs and arms around the other to pretzel Caoimhe against the floor with Sláine on his back. The eldest groaned and moped about being truly sorry, while the youngest looked more than smug about being able to take down his big soldier brother. Sláine heard Eurion's gentle scold to get them back in line, but he ignored it in favor of holding Caoimhe down and getting his point across. "What have we learned?" he asked.

Caoimhe whined, then gave up the fight. "Don't say stupid things. I'm sorry. I didn't realize." He cast a pleading look up at Aideen, who had been watching the entire thing with a bemused smile on her face as she kept her knees tucked up to her chest to avoid getting hit. She arched a brow at him, which meant she was making this his own fight and she wasn't stepping in. The prince whined again and tried wiggling out of Sláine's grip, and only managed to do so when his brother untangled them with a huff and got to his feet. Caoimhe scurried away, pouting, but Sláine went straight for Eurion with a gentle smile on his face now that he had taken care of his brother.

The prince tipped his face up to keep his gaze on his assassin once he got close enough, his grin only growing with each step. Eurion was beautiful. He was beautiful no matter when it was, but Sláine especially thought so when his walls were down, and he allowed himself to be soft and open. Sliding into the assassin's space once again, he linked their hands together and slotted himself into the other's side. "Me first. You have to redo the paint, and Caoimhe has to lick his wounds. Then you can help them." Aideen waved her hand in a vague dismissal, which he took as her encouraging them to take their time. She had noticed the collar of bruises around the prince's neck, how happy the two looked after a week of being miserable. They deserved to have the time alone together for as long as possible.

Mostly for her friend's sake, but Eurion now came with, so she supposed he deserved it too.

Eurion's smile only grew when he had his prince back in his arms again, making sure he was settled comfortably against him before resting his chin in between Sláine's horns. Gods he had missed this, and now he got to hold and kiss in front of Caoimhe and Aideen, too. Not having to hide their growing relationship and affection was even more of a relief than he had expected. He could hold and pull Sláine against him, grab his hand or waist, tug his prince into his chest whenever he wanted, and litter his face in kisses that would make his lover smile and blush.

And that was exactly what the assassin did. He wrapped his arms around Sláine's waist to tug him flush against his chest, their hands still intertwined, and placed a soft, fleeting kiss on the top of his head. Eurion couldn't help the way his heart fluttered at the action, knowing that Caoimhe and Aideen were watching them both. If he was being honest with himself he was worried about what Aideen would think of them. He was growing to like Caoimhe, hell, maybe he would even call them friends, but Aideen? He shouldn't have been worried because he didn't care in the end, what Aideen thought, but she was basically family, and unfortunately he might need her seal of approval at the end of all things.

That was for another time, right now he had to focus on getting him and his mate ready for Skyfall, "Come on then," Eurion didn't let go of Sláine as he walked backwards a couple of steps, pulling Sláine into the bedroom with a few awkward steps before he shut the door with his foot to trap them in.

The moment that he did the assassin was once again littering Sláine with an abundance of kisses. He couldn't stay away, wouldn't be able to stay away and that was made clear in how he was refusing to let the other go. They were going to have to separate in order to get ready, but right now he just wanted one more kiss. But one turned into two, which turned into three, and then he couldn't stop.

While the two were wrapped up in one another—as Sláine was clearly preening under the soft affection given by Eurion—Aideen turned to Caoimhe and made a playful gagging motion. The prince rolled his eyes and tugged her into his lap, and she let out a tiny squeal as he did so. They had no right to judge given their relationship, and Caoimhe would make sure the two could be happy together without judgement, even if Aideen meant it playfully. He hauled her up into his arms and took them to their room to wait the other two out, knowing that they would be a while.

Sláine hadn't paid a single mind to his brother and friend, his attention focused solely on Eurion and how utterly adorable the man was being. He knew without a doubt that he would be constantly pulled into his assassin's side or chest now that their relationship was both official and known to the rest of the group, and that he'd be getting (and giving) plenty of kisses. Though, the single move of Eurion propping his chin up between his horns shouldn't have made his heart flutter the way that it did. He had done that since day one, it felt like, and Sláine loved it. He loved how he could tuck himself into Eurion's body perfectly, for once feeling smaller than his partner and enjoying it. Hell, he adored everything about them. Maybe it was all due to it being Eurion.

The prince laughed as he was dragged back into the room, tripping over his own feet but still being kept upright by his own willpower and the arms around his waist. Then there was a barrage of kisses and Eurion wasn't letting him go. He laughed some more in between kisses, smiling bright. They had to get ready, he knew that, but he was in the same boat as his mate—just one more kiss. Neither one could stop, it seemed, too consumed by each other and the blushes they both wore over their cheeks. Just one more kiss. One more. Skyfall could wait for just a little longer.

With very little thought as to what he was doing, Sláine wiggled his way out of Eurion's grasp just enough to be able to push the assassin backwards by his chest. He could feel every thump of the man's heart, and liked to think the more rapid pace was all from him. When Eurion's legs hit the bed, Sláine kept pushing, forcing the man down until he was sitting. Then the prince was moving closer, straddling Eurion's lap and pressing as close as possible, knees digging into the mattress on either side of the other's hips. Still kissing, still smiling, and so fucking happy to be like this with his mate.

Eurion couldn't help the way he smiled into the kiss. That happy, fluttery feeling just increasing the longer they kept going, especially when Sláine ended up in his lap. He kept his hands firmly on the mans hips, because if he moved them lower they were never going to get out of that room and Skyfall would be forgotten altogether. But the man in his lap was addictive and made him happy. Genuinely happy for the first time in fucking forever and he wasn't going to let that feeling go. He wanted it to stay. Logically he was aware that they were going to be around one another for the whole night, for days, but logic wasn't present when he was able to kiss and touch like he was.

It felt especially good to have the man in his lap, and Eurion moved his hands from where they had settled on Sláine's hips to wrap around his middle in a hug. After a moment, he finally pulled away enough to disconnect their lips, as much as he wanted to keep kissing they had to get ready. But for a moment, he simply looked up at his mate - his beautiful mate who was willing to spend forever with him even if their professions clashed - the man who he had been sent to kill and now had ended up being marked permanently. He was beautiful. So beautiful, and Eurion was utterly enamoured by the man. It showed in the way he couldn't look anywhere else but Sláine, how his gaze was soft and adoring and there was no hint of that cold exterior that he held majority of the time. No, it had faded until there was nothing left but admiration for his prince.

Reaching up with one hand, Eurion tucked a strand of hair behind the other's ear before his hand came to rest on his cheek. He didn't have words to describe how he was feeling, he could only look and hope it was conveyed as well as it could be, "We should get ready."

He didn't want to. The assassin wanted to stay like this forever and never have his prince leave his arms. To have him stay comfortably in his lap, kissing and touching and being soft with one another. Even though the thought of Sláine dressing up, partaking in his culture was so inviting, and Eurion was more than looking forward to it, he still wanted to just stay like that. Have his prince sitting so perfectly in his lap as if it were made for him. Touch his cheek and feel the soft skin underneath his calloused hands. Sláine was a perfect picture of beauty as he looked up at him, and he was all his.

The prince couldn't stop smiling. Eurion's smile and just the thrill at having his mate back was intoxicating, and he couldn't help but melt into the man's joy and reflect it back. They were together. They were mates. Sláine wanted to discuss that particular thing with Eurion at another time, to really understand what it meant, but he was marked by the only man he wanted to be with so much, and they were okay. They were more than okay, really. The prince was in Eurion's lap, comfortable and content and thriving from the kisses and the grip on him. Had they not had Skyfall and responsibilities to get to in the very near future, he would've stayed right there in his lover's lap.

So, when Eurion finally moved back to separate them, Sláine was reluctant and a little pouty about it. He didn't want to stop kissing his assassin, didn't want to separate. But then the other was staring up at him with an expression he had never been subject to before, and suddenly the prince was bashful and blushing; but he didn't look away. He was entranced by Eurion's stare, the indescribable adoration and affection within his dark but so expressive eyes. Nothing in that world could pull him away from a look like that, because it melted his heart on the spot and kept him rooted in place. Sláine would give anything to be looked at like that again, just once in his lifetime, by Eurion. Because, as beautiful he might be to the assassin, that look right there softened everything about the usually stone-cold man and brought out every gorgeous feature. Assassin or not, Sláine was blessed to be with this man. They were complete opposites, with Eurion being the epitome of tall, dark, and handsome with a no-nonsense personality, perfectly fit for hiding in the shadows. But Sláine got to see the hidden sides of him, the ones curtained by his protective shadows and scowls. How utterly adorable and beautiful Eurion was when he blushed, or looked down at Sláine with the most gentle of gazes. The muscle and scars that Sláine liked to touch and trace, evidence of a hard life that the prince wanted to heal with soft kisses and affection. Eurion was beautiful in his own right, and perfect for the prince. No one would be able to say otherwise.

He nuzzled into the hand on his face, sighing happily. "We should," Sláine agreed, but he also made no move to get off his mate's lap. Not yet. Except, they really should. Skyfall couldn't wait, and they had all the time in the world after the festival to get to know one another more thoroughly. After scanning Eurion's face for a moment, he leaned in and kissed him once more, slow and purposeful and greedy. He licked into Eurion's mouth, making the kiss just a little deeper, and as he did so, his canines retreated once more. One more second just because he could, with a final drag of his teeth over Eurion's bottom lip, and Sláine pulled away looking a little too pleased with himself.

It was then that his intentions became clear. Sláine the Witch prince no longer sat in Eurion's lap. Instead, a Fae version of him stared down at him. His ears were pointed, and his already pretty face and hooded eyes sharpened and refined into something otherworldly, more Fae. Even his hair seemed to give off the illusion of being silken and smooth. The blush over his darkened and more natural freckles, however, was entirely real and all because of Eurion. His mask was simple, and he was slightly worried it wasn't good enough, so he waited for the only Fae in the room to confirm its authenticity.

If Sláine had kissed him like that for a moment longer, deep and eager and greedy, Eurion would have thrown away Skyfall right then and there. The prince, his prince, in his lap, was everything he could have ever dreamed of when it came to having a mate. Understanding and caring and addictive in so many ways and the assassin was nothing more than enchanted by him. If perfect was real, it was Sláine. If perfect was a person, it was Sláine. It was the prince with auburn hair and galaxy eyes, with a blush as red as roses and freckles of constellations that was seated in his lap. How he had gone over a century without this man, had thought he didn't exist and given up all hope of finding him, Eurion didn't let himself think about. It was as if he had been walking around with a hole in his chest for the last hundred or so years, waiting to find Sláine without understanding or know what that empty feeling was. Finally, he had found it. Found him. In the most unlikely of circumstances, he had found the man that had been made for him and he wasn't going to ever let him go. Not again. Never again would they be apart unless it was utterly necessary. Never again would they go a week without one another in their arms over something that could be fixed by a conversation. Never again would Eurion feel alone.

But then Sláine was pulling away and when Eurion adjusted to the change in position, when his eyes focused back on Sláine, there wasn't a Witch in his lap but a Fae man who was too beautiful for words. With that blush only darkening and Eurion's hand on his cheek feeling the warmth, the assassin was at a loss for words for moments. Because he blinked up at Sláine as if he were seeing him for the first time and that gaze - that adoring, enchanted gaze - just increased by miles if at all possible. From the way his eyes were almost wide, how he took in every detail of his prince. Eurion couldn't look away, wouldn't let himself look away until he found the right words to express how he was feeling.

None would do it justice, and Eurion was sure that Sláine could feel every ounce of that emotion through the bond because he made no effort in trying to hide it. It showed on his face and it was felt in every bone in his body and fuck, Sláine was everything. The moon and the sun and the stars in between the man had captured Eurion's stone heart and softened it in only days and for once, he let light into his soul. But his shadows didn't balk or flee at the light that Sláine gave off no, that danced with it. Wrapped around it and urged it on and wanted more because the warmth of his light complimented the cold of his shadows and Eurion? Eurion was almost in a trance at the sensation, how good it felt.

"Sláine…" Eurion's voice was so soft and delicate, his hand moving to trace the point of his ear. His fingers were so light, barely even much of a touch but enough to cause a sensation, "You're so beautiful."

The emotions pouring from Eurion into the bond spoke for themselves, but that didn't ease the insecurities Sláine held. He was so used to masking as other peoples, but he had never really thought about looking good or doing more than just fitting in where he was at and keeping his head down. But now he was putting in the effort to look good for Eurion, wanted to be attractive while presenting Fae to make the day more special for his assassin. What better way to celebrate the biggest festival and event within his culture than by looking the part as best as he could?

Sláine buried his face into the hand on his face and his blush only darkened, though, at Eurion's praise and stare. The heat of the red undoubtedly warmed the man's skin where he held onto the prince. Head ducked and face as hidden as possible, Sláine squirmed in place and played with the fabric of Eurion's shirt, now also painfully aware that he was shirtless and even more exposed. Despite the reaction—or perhaps because of it—he was trying to hide away like he could avoid being stared at so intently. He worried it was too much, somehow, or maybe still off. Sláine wanted this night to be perfect for Eurion, and that includes being as involved with the customs as he could, and he wanted to give his assassin that little piece of his cultural that Sláine couldn't give normally—a Fae partner.

Because all the magic in the world wouldn't be able to make the Witch prince a Fae. He'd never be able to give Eurion that aspect of the mating bond that was normal, nor the promises a mark could make or even the full understanding of what it meant to be mates. This was the closest he could get, and the scrutinizing was making him bashful.

Sláine ducked his head even further, shivering a little from the feeling of Eurion's touch to his ear. "Is it alright?" he asked, his voice hushed. He wanted to fall into the assassin's chest, bury himself away into Eurion's scent and warmth and the comfort of his presence and steady body. Sitting in his lap was comforting, and he didn't want to move because of that, but the attention had him wanting to shy away. Only Eurion could evoke that shiness out of the prince, and the wants to be more vulnerable and almost childish. "I don't want to make myself look a fool. You'd be also by proxy."

Eurion brought his other hand up to rest on Sláine’s other cheek, the other that had touched his ear gently moving so his face was cupped in Eurion’s hands, “Sláine, I don’t care if you looked Fae or Witch, you’re fucking perfect. You-“ His hands moved his prince’s face closer to his own, until they were once again nose to nose and he could press his forehead against Sláine, “You’re so beautiful.” From the way his cheeks were dark red in his hands, to how the man tried to hide how shy he was in them, the man was a picture of beauty and one that Eurion couldn’t look away from.

The assassin wondered for a moment what might have happened had he not have spent the night in the man’s bed. If the Gods hadn’t visited him that evening, would they be as they were now? The bond had sparked between them in the aftermath of Eurion recovering from the intrusion, in the morning after when they had been wrapped in each others arms - on top of each other. If that hadn’t had happened, would Eurion have had Sláine in his arms as he did at that very moment? He didn’t know how long it took for the realisation of the mating bond to click between two people. It hadn’t been instantaneous for them, but he had heard it had been for others. It was a moment between them that had brought it up, when Eurion had been vulnerable and extended his trust towards a man he had never met for the sake of comfort.

If he hadn’t let his guard down, if he had been stubborn and pushed the other away when Sláine had tried to comfort him, he had a feeling they wouldn’t be like this. But, for once in his life, Eurion thanked the Gods for intruding on his mind when they had because without them, he probably wouldn’t have been able to hold his prince, maybe would have been completely unaware of the bond. If he hadn’t been sent to kill the twins, they never would have met. Never. Eurion would have gone his whole life wondering if his mate truly was out there and falling short. It was the one good thing that the Gods had done for him. No matter the pain he had been put through, without them, he wouldn’t have found his mate.

Sláine was the light to his dark, the contrast that he needed, the man to save him in so many ways in such a short amount of time. How could he not think the man was perfect? Beautiful and stunning and it all shone in his eyes no matter how dark they were, “I could never look a fool standing next to someone of such beauty.”

"Eurion," the prince whined, his face aflame as his mate lavished him with flattery and far too entranced eyes. He was too kind for Sláine. Too perfect. Even though he would never be able to live without this man from this point on, he felt as though he didn't deserve Eurion. He didn't deserve the soft words of praise, or the way he held Sláine so delicately, or even the look of pure awe. He was an assassin, someone sent to kill him under the order of powerful Gods. Sláine didn't deserve his kind touch and loving embraces, because then that meant punishment. But he couldn't find it in himself to regret their relationship. They fit together so perfectly, and Sláine could imagine them together years on down the line, happy and tangled up in one another as they wind down from a stressful day together. He didn't deserve this happiness, but he'd take it while he could, because he wanted nothing else.

Sláine held onto Eurion's wrists, as if encouraging him to keep his hands there, and gave his wonderful and flattering assassin a quick kiss. Then he was ducking his head and burying his face in the man's neck, his face burning and completely red to the point it had reached his ears. "You can't just say that," he whined. Now that he was sufficiently hidden, Sláine was a little more stable and able to talk. But he stubbornly stayed where he was, sitting in Eurion's lap and keeping his face hidden while he tried to compose himself. He hated how easily a simple praise of his beauty could make him crumble. He was a prince. Even before he had the title, both he and Caoimhe had been praised for their looks. It was something they were proud of and were aware of.

But this was Eurion. It felt different this time. More genuine, like the only opinion that suddenly mattered was him. A once stranger that had taken over the prince's bed, then ended up on top of said prince. When this was over, and if Eurion wanted to, Sláine was going to take him back to the palace with him. The assassin could have his own quarters if he wanted to, but Sláine refused to sleep alone ever again. Even that night, while he hasn't slept much, had been bliss with his assassin peacefully sleeping on top of him. Just this week alone had been torture and too cold.

Sláine closed his eyes and nuzzled into Eurion's neck. This is what he had been missing his whole life without even realizing it. This pure comfort at just the scent of Eurion, not to mention his warmth and strength. He hated how that night had gone, but he didn't want to ever change it. If he hasn't been compelled to help the suffering assassin, he wouldn't be in Eurion's lap blushing like mad. Fate had pulled at just the right strings in Sláine's heart to get them where they were.

Eurion couldn't help the chuckle that left him, and his hands moved so he had one arm wrapped around Sláine's waist while the other came up to tangle in the man's hair. Gods he was too cute for words. It was almost funny that they had gone from ignoring each other to being tangled in each other's arms within less than an hour. He guessed that was what relationships were, what mates were, but he wasn't about to have it any other way. He had his prince back and that was all that mattered, especially when Sláine was tucking himself away in his neck and trying to hide from the redness.

But the assassin could feel the heat radiating off the man and it was fucking adorable and he couldn't help but smile and chuckle in admiration, "I will say whatever I please when it comes to my mate," He said, turning his head to the side so he could press a kiss to the side of his lovers head, "Because he is perfect for me, and he is sunlight and beauty and all mine."

They were going to have to get up and get ready, but for a moment longer he let them stay as they were, with Eurion's arms around Sláine and the man hiding away in the crook of his neck. Everything felt right when they were like this. Two halves being pieced together to make a whole despite how different they were. No matter their backgrounds or magic or fuck, literally anything, Eurion had been made for this man just as Sláine had been made for him. He wasn't about to go another day without being able to kiss and touch at least once. To go to bed alone when he could have his prince in his arms or even rest his own head on the man's chest because sleeping alone wasn't going to happen anymore. Not unless he had to go away, or his prince did. Eurion could only pray that something of the sort would only happen rarely, but knowing his employers, he highly doubted it.

Even though the thought crept into his mind, Eurion wasn't about to let it sour his mood or the moment. Tonight he wouldn't have to worry about the Gods or who he worked for, the pain that they caused. Tonight was about him and Sláine and having fun for once. For the first time in a long time Eurion would be able to - hopefully - let go, if only for a few hours before reality came knocking and crashing their bubble of perfection. Right now, responsibility, time, all of it, could wait for them, and the assassin finally pulled Sláine away from his neck, shifting them so his lover was placed gently on the bed and he was free to move in order to get them ready.

While still safely hidden away into Eurion's neck, Sláine nipped at the man's skin and huffed a petulant, "Shut up." His assassin was free to compliment the prince when he wasn't feeling worried about his appearance, especially while masked as a Fae—his mate's people. But, really, Eurion could compliment him at any point in time and Sláine would still break down into a shy and red-faced mess, no matter how much he wanted to ignore that. It wasn't fair that he could reduce him to nothing more than a ball of feelings with just a few words and gentle touches. He supposed that it was returned in equal with his easily he made the assassin shy and in need of hiding not long ago by simply saying he was perfect.

Now that he knew the feeling, he understood the Fae's need to burrow and stay hidden for a while. Still, didn't mean he'd take the words back. Eurion was perfect, in every sense of the word. His profession didn't matter, the Gods that controlled him didn't matter—nothing he might've deemed not good enough mattered, because he was perfect. Handsome, beautiful, and perfect. Nothing less. And Sláine knew he'd be constantly reminded of that fact as the days went on, and the prince would constantly remind Eurion of that again and again, as often as he needed to hear it. And maybe it wouldn't hurt if he got his own dosage of praise and reassurance.

For as long as Eurion allowed them to stay like that, Sláine breathed in his mate's scent and simply… existed. Pressed against his assassin, who held him so gently but so securely, with his head comfortably resting in the crook of the other's neck, he was content with simply being there for the moment. Nothing mattered but them. It felt like finally slipping back into who he had been after meeting Eurion, finally getting back what he had been missing the entire week, and reveling in the feeling once more. It washed over him in a wave of comfort, which spilled into the bond as his breathing slowed, just on the edge of total relaxation. With Eurion, he could want nothing but this. An embrace and kisses to his temple and arms holding him secure. Nothing but Eurion.

But, all good things must come to an end. The prince sighed dramatically and made his feelings known on the matter with his huffing and complaints, but was good and didn't try to initiate any other distractions. He did, however, decide he wanted to have Eurion on top of him again. It would be much easier for the assassin to apply the paint while Sláine wasn't moving. With that in mind, the prince fell back onto the bed with his arms splayed dramatically over his head. "This is your fault," he declared, knowing damn well he was the one being dramatic for the purpose of getting his assassin on top of him, even if it was just to get the paint where it needed to be. "Got me all comfy and happy, flattered me with your damn compliments, and now you want me to actually do things like get ready."

Eurion snorted a laugh, "We've spent enough time fooling around," He said, moving to grab the pot of paint that had fallen onto the floor amidst their cuddling and kissing, "If we actually want to get to Skyfall then unfortunately, you're going to have to get ready at some point."

With that being said, considering his mate had decided to make himself comfortable on the bed, Eurion moved so he was straddling Sláine, sitting - well, squashing - him so he wouldn't be able to wriggle away. Not that he was expecting his lover to do so since he had complained about being separated, but he needed Sláine to keep still in order to fix the paint on his face, "Stay still." He instructed. Eurion dipped his fingers into the paint, letting the blue coat his fingertips before placing the pot to one side. Leaning over, Eurion used his other hand to gently clean up the paint that had been smudged during the prince's fight with his twin and their prolonged make-out session. Once the assassin was satisfied that he had cleaned his mate up, Eurion started swiping the paint once again under Sláine's eyes. Gentle, delicate movements, all placed strategically until Sláine was decorated in the blue paint.

Eurion sat up once he was finished, looking down at his mate with a smile and clearly proud of himself at his work. He could only picture how beautiful the man would look when he was dressed up in his robes and mask. It had the man smiling harder, clearly excited about the thought. The problem was once again going to be moving off Sláine, but he was more excited about getting them ready to care too much. With a final kiss, the assassin was once again moving off his prince and towards the pile of robes and jewellery. He couldn't help but feel a little nervous.

What if Sláine didn't like what he picked out for him? Eurion bit his lip as he unfolded the delicate fabrics, separating the two into his mate's pile and his own. He could only hope that it would be okay, satisfactory enough for Sláine. Even if Caoimhe had been there with him when they picked everything out, given him pointers, considering the man liked to make things difficult for the assassin he wouldn't be surprised if he 'accidentally' had Eurion pick something that Sláine wasn't going to like. But, Eurion tried not to think about that as he moved back towards the bed, the pile in hand, trying not to drop the mask and the jewels that were sat inside the robes.

Sláine hummed when Eurion straddled him and used his body to pin him to the mattress, happy with himself for getting the desired outcome. Now that he got what he wanted, he was compliant, keeping his hands safely out of reach of Eurion's body to avoid the temptation to grab and touch the man, which would then lead him into a spiral of once again messing up the paint. Later. They could do that later, he reminded himself. And that one thought is what kept him motionless while the assassin worked. The paint was cold on his face, but mesmerizing and satisfying in a way. How Eurion so carefully painted each stripe of paint onto the prince's face, the feeling of it against his skin—he tried to follow each stroke mentally, even if that wasn't exactly possible.

What really got him, though, was when Eurion was finished. The man sat back and looked down at Sláine, now painted in blue and laying prone beneath him. And he smiled. The perfect picture of a proud Fae, but Sláine was breathless from the sight still, especially when it only brightened, presumably from some sort of thought up inside his head. The prince stared up at him, eyes bright and expectant, now thrumming with an excited energy to get dressed up and get to the festival. If just the simple work of the paint is what got Eurion smiling like that, Sláine wanted to don whatever else was for him just to get that same reaction out of him. Plus, the more he focused on the festival itself, the more excited he got for it. Never in his lifetime had he been part of something so significant or important, and he was now witnessing it along with someone that made it even more special. Eurion got to experience a significant aspect of his culture with Sláine by his side, the two now together once more in a stronger union. Tonight was about Eurion, and the prince was going to make sure the night went well and that his assassin was happy the entire time.

Sláine accepted the kiss, not one to be upset over kissing Eurion, then propped himself up onto his elbows when the man moved off of him to go towards the pile of fabric he had initially walked in with while dragging him by the horns. The prince cocked his head in interest, once again curious as to what Eurion and Caoimhe had bought during their quick outing together. And—the assassin was nervous. It was subtle, hardly even there if he hadn't been paying attention, but Sláine was too focused on him to not notice the little shifts in his mood.

He sat up more, and crossed his legs, attention now fully on his assassin and the bundle of fabric. His gaze flicked between the two, but mostly focused on Eurion to try and ease his nerves some. "So, what did you get? I trust you only got the best, since, again, you seem to like seeing me all pretty for you." He pictured some sort of outfit based on the bundle of fabric, maybe some jewels given Caoimhe's sights on things. Nothing too outlandish, but flashy enough.

Eurion hummed softly as he gently laid out the selection for Sláine to have a look at.

The mask of sapphire and purple and silver was only large enough to cover the eyes so the paint could be seen where it had been gently placed on the prince's skin. It was simple by basic design, a mask that connected at the side in a soft swirl upwards to have a little more flare to the piece. The silver stood out against the dark purple of the fabric that had been used to give the mask its main block of colour as the gems had been polished to perfection, shining even and bringing the eye away from the purple backdrop. The blues that decorated the sides were smaller than the rest, just as the purple gems on Eurion's own mask were, too. Enough to match, but not enough to take away from the paint as the main indicator as to who they belonged to. The soft swirls of silver thread that held the gems in place were designed as if they were strings of starlight itself that had been used to bind the mask together.

And the jewellery that Eurion had bought to match was much of the same design. The bracelets were made of the same fine silver but decorated with more of those deep purple gems, with the assassin having one of blue to match in his own pile. It was more of a bangle than a bracelet all things considered due to the size, however, but he had grabbed a couple of deep black beaded bracelets to add some contrast and brighten up the silver that would be worn in between. The earrings and the few rings that he had collected were part of a set that continued with the theme of purple, however, one of the rings was mainly of deep sapphire, another small indicator of their status as a couple - one that had a sister of deep purple that Eurion intended to wear. There was one set of earrings that dangled and the other were studs.

Then there were the robes. The soft, silk-like fabric of deep purple that still seemed to shine no matter the colour. With a blue sash that would be worn over the top, the same fabric as Eurion's, that would wrap around Sláine's shoulder and then around his waist. The designs of intricate stars and constellations sewn into both the purple and the blue were of a subtle silver this time, giving the pieces a shimmer whenever Sláine would move in a certain light. It was a two-piece set, of the upper half and the lower pants that were less intricate in design to not take away from the upper half and the details that were there, but the hemming on the bottom of the pants was that same, deep silver. Eurion's own robes were a mirror of Sláine's only in contrasting colours, with the deep blue for the main piece and the purple sash. The constellations on his own were different, but over all, fairly the same.

And of course, then there were the body chains that Eurion had brought as an extra to be worn underneath it all.

Sláine sat forwards even more when everything was laid out, pleasantly surprised to see just how intricate and beautiful everything was. Caoimhe may be a mischievous deviant for most of his time, but he knew not to mess with something like the attire to something so important. Especially when Eurion was so worried about the two matching to make it clear they were going as a couple, and not be mistaken for anything but that. So, knowing that his twin had gone with to help with color matching and picking something out that Sláine would like, the prince wasn't surprised that everything fit well with him.

He gently reached out to pick up the mask, running his fingers over the polished gems and admiring the craftsmanship. He was breathless. Everything that Eurion laid out was beautiful, and perfect, and Sláine had no idea why the man would be nervous about anything related to these things. And the robes. He set the mask down in his lap and picked up the sash he would wear, noting the constellations and how the fabric seemed to shift in the light, shimmering and beautiful and like nothing else. His mate had picked well, and he couldn't wait to wear everything between the mask, the robes, and the glittering jewels and jewelry. All of them, he noticed, were in some way tied to the outfit he assumed would be for Eurion based on the dark blue coloring.

"Eurion, they're gorgeous," he breathed. Easy for him to be impressed by them, given his history of liking shiny things. And the robes were perfect, just the right style that he had always adored. "It had to cost a fortune; you didn't need to." He knew the assassin didn't have the money to spare on these things.

Then something else caught his attention, and anything he might've had to say dried up in his throat, and he coughed. There, off to the side, was a bundle of chains. Caoimhe. No one else could possibly be behind such things, unless Eurion had a scarily similar taste for accessories. Sláine opened his mouth, fully prepared to say something about it, then closed it because he couldn't conjure the words. What could he say to that? It wasn't like he minded that particular addition, if he was thinking correctly. "I'm positive those aren't part of the dress code," the prince finally got out. Surely, Eurion had something specific in mind to even think of buying those. For such a stickler to the traditions? No way he would've strayed on just a whim.

Having his prince at a loss for words over the chains had Eurion doubting how certain he had been when he had picked them up to begin with. Caoimhe had said that Sláine would like them, but for once he wasn't able to gauge his reaction properly. Maybe it was because he had been worried about his lover liking the selection he had brought for them both. Of course, they were just as much for the assassin as it was for his prince. Simply seeing the other in the chains would be enough to make him go crazy, and knowing they would - hopefully - be on under the robes the whole night? To be able to come back and take off every piece to reveal what would be underneath? Difficult not to be turned on by the thought, but at the moment he wasn't worried about what was going to come after, he was worried that maybe he shouldn't have brought them.

"Technically your brother bought the jewellery," He said after a moment. But the robes and the masks had been him, and they definitely hadn't been cheap, "I just want this night to be special." To be perfect and a night to be remembered for all of them. The fact that this was going to be his first Skyfall after living for so long already was a crime in its own right.

There were children out there who had experienced at least one Skyfall before him. Eurion tried not to dwell on the thoughts that came with that realisation. Just how much of his culture he had missed because the Gods had demanded or forced him elsewhere. Driven him to the point where he had believed he would have never been in this position but now? Now he was here, and he was going to have a good night whether or not Sláine wore the chains, or how long they stayed out for. He was going to let himself have a good night. Maybe he deserved it.

Eurion moved to pick up the chains, shifting them between his fingers. They were still just as beautiful in their own right, from the small gems barely hidden in the connectors to the very soft and detailed engravings on the clasps, "You don't have to wear these," The assassin continued, "But I thought, maybe for later tonight, they would be good to have." Even if no one knew that Sláine would be wearing them, they would know, and Eurion had the luxury of being able to see his prince in nothing more than them later.

Of course it had been Caoimhe to buy the jewelry. He was just as prone to liking shiny jewels and metals as his brother, and the only one between the two to know just as much he liked wearing that specific type of jewelry. Sláine watched Eurion as he picked up the chains, and it took less than a second for him to realize what he was talking about. Later. The later that Sláine had been encouraging himself with. A shot of pure excitement went down his spine, and he stood from the bed to stand in front of Eurion, grabbing his face and pulling him down before he had a chance to protest.

The kiss was all sorts of excited, encouraging, and demanding. He needed Eurion to know that he liked everything, even if he couldn't find the words. Against his lips, Sláine whispered, "It's already special, baby. We're going together." Another kiss, just for good measure. "I love it all, thank you. It's perfect." He pulled back just far enough to grin up at Eurion, eyes alight. "And I'm definitely wearing those, don't even suggest otherwise. I like them on me just as much as you will." Because Eurion liked knowing things about the prince and the things they do, while the others were either completely clueless or painfully aware. Liked the knowledge that there was something happening right under people's noses. The chains were mild, delicate little accessories that were more for making Sláine more delectable, but he knew first hand what fantasies Eurion had.

He didn't move away from Eurion as he turned to the spread on the bed, instead leaning against his assassin as he admired the things that were picked out. "We match," Sláine noted, finding all the little things that crossed over with their outfits. He looked up at Eurion, and his expression—eyes especially—danced with approval and joy. "And you bought this before the ambush."

Was this Caoimhe's doing, encouraging Eurion to get things to signify them as a couple, or was it the assassin determined to make things right? He'd honestly he more disappointed if it wasn't the latter, because he liked thinking about how rocky their relationship was at the time, but his stubborn assassin still held out hope for them. Hoped that Sláine would come to his senses and come back to him. It made him feel all the more wanted, knowing that Eurion was so confident in his ability to get the prince back, and so determined to do so.

Eurion once again felt a wave of relief at the confirmation he got from Sláine that he liked the chains, that he liked all of the outfit. It wasn’t enough to be entirely visible, but the way his smile turned into something a little lighter, a little softer, was all the confirmation his prince would need. Considering they were so close he was more than aware that it would be visible but he didn’t care. His cheeks were already turning that dusty shade of pink they went when Sláine complimented him. Saying that he loved it all? Eurion was grateful that he hadn’t been mated with someone who wasn’t willing to learn or partake in his culture. It wouldn’t have been an issue had Sláine been Fae, but that little insecurity that he held when it came to the difference in their cultures had only risen in the last week the closer Skyfall became. At least now he didn’t have to worry about whether or not Sláine was going to like the traditions or not.

The assassin shifted the chains into one hand so he could wrap at least one arm around his prince when he was leaned against. He only blushed further when it was noticed that they matched, and he nodded a little, “Couldn’t have anyone thinking either of us were available.” Eurion replied, leaning his head down so he could press his face into the top of Sláine’s head- his turn to hide away.

He could have easily only bought matching outfits for Caoimhe and Aideen considering they weren’t having any issues, but he hadn’t wanted to. He was Sláine’s no matter what the status of their relationship was. Their mating bond was far more important to him than he could convey with words and even if he could find them Eurion didn’t think he would be able to do it justice. Even if they hadn’t been talking, he still was Sláine’s. Even if they weren’t offical, he was still his prince’s and that wasn’t going to change for him. He had been determined to fix things, yes, but even if they hadn’t been able to, Eurion would have worn the outfit regardless. He didn’t want anyone else, there was no one else for him.

Eurion pulled his face away finally, “Let’s get dressed then. Considering I’m going to have to help your brother and his annoyance, we shouldn’t wait too much longer.”

Sláine's heart warmed at Eurion's declaration. Couldn't have anyone thinking either of us were available. For some reason, it made him feel all giddy thinking about it. How, even after a week of not talking to one another, and neither one of them knowing for sure just where their relationship would lead, Eurion had made sure that they were marked as unavailable. The prince wouldn't have wanted people flirting with him even if they still weren't talking, and he definitely didn't want to witness someone trying to coax Eurion into their bed. He rested his cheek against the man's shoulder just thinking about it, as if silently staking his claim to an invisible hypothetical person in a scenario that wasn't even true. Eurion, too, had his face hidden against the top of Sláine's head, but that was undoubtably to cover the blush he already knew existed.

At the reminder that they needed to get dressed, Sláine laughed and turned his face up to Eurion. "I'm your annoyance, so no judgement allowed," he teased, grinning and absolutely radiating joy and excitement. The prince tilted his head up to press an affectionate kiss to Eurion's cheek, then smiled up at him. He had such childish joy at experiencing his mate's culture, practically bouncing in place at just the idea of donning the robes and mask and jewelry, and seeing Skyfall and everything the festival had to offer. He was a man that loved to travel, loved meeting different people and immersing himself in their culture and environment to learn as much as he could. He had always been curious about the Fae and their traditions, but now that he was experiencing this with—and for—his precious assassin, it made it all the more special.

And as his eyes sparkled with that anticipation and exhilaration, there was something else within the depths of those hidden galaxies. Something more intense, but deeper, and all for Eurion. It made his stare just a little softer, the lines of his eyes just a little less sharp. He stared up through his lashes for just a few seconds to admire his lover, but it was enough to portray that hidden look that even he didn't realize he was feeling. Just that seeing Eurion always calmed his soul and put him at ease.

Then he was gone, moving away and playing with the hem of his pants with his stare set on the chain in the assassin's hands. "So what exactly did you buy me for you to stare at?" he asked, tone teasing and light, but still curious. With a single flick of his hands, his pants dropped, leaving him nearly completely bare, and Sláine got close enough to playfully tug at Eurion's shirt in a silent demand. He refused to be the only one being stared at.

The look that Eurion was being given had his blush darkening all the more. No one had looked at him so intently before, with so much admiration and care that it had his heart fluttering that he had managed to evoke such a feeling without really doing anything. It felt surreal. After all this time, all the waiting and praying and hoping he had found Sláine against all odds. The prince that had calmed him within hours or meeting after the Gods had invaded in head. The prince that had been so intent on making sure he was okay after every incident along the way to get to this point. His prince. The thought of it still wrapped around his mind and tugged on his heart as if it was the first time he had ever made the realisation.

But before the assassin could have time to calm the heat in his cheeks, Sláine was already moving away and his pants were falling and Eurion was left speechless. Because all this considered he hadn't actually properly seen his lover, since they had been half dressed at the inn and his focus and eyes had been on Sláine's face and neck, and then at his friends? He could only picture and imagine from what they had been sending down the bond. Now, even though the other wasn't undressed entirely, he was still practically naked compared to Eurion. Gods he really was beautiful. At his tone and the tug on his shirt, Eurion gently placed the chains down on the bed so he could remove his shirt just as Sláine had silently asked.

The fabric was pulled over his head and quickly discarded to one side with little care. Every breath he took had his chest rising and falling softly, those tattoos along his chest and arms moving with the motion, as did the ones on his back. But what took the focus away from the intricate tattoos along his skin was the wound that had begun to scar in the centre of his chest. The fire witches mark would be forever permanent. At least now Eurion had a scar on his chest and his back of major significance because he was balanced, in some fucked up way. The one on his back, however, was vastly different to the one on his chest, because the one that ripped through his back was jagged and slashed through in one sharp motion. A diagonal wound. But the new one? This one was far from that. It was deep in his chest at one central point but extended in what looked like crackling lighting and fire across his skin.

Eurion hadn't had a properly look at it until now because he had been clothed, but he still tried not to look at it. He was more focused on the chains. He picked them back up again and looked back to Sláine, "The chains, mostly," He finally said now that he had regained his composure, "One for your chest and neck," Because it was a singular piece, "And ones for your waist and thighs."

Sláine hadn't realized how he had been looking at his lover, just that he had felt a fluttery sort of feeling that he chalked up to the thrill of what was to come—donning everything Eurion had picked out for him, the festival itself, and what they had planned for after. So, he didn't know the exact reason why the assassin was blushing like he was, but he felt slightly smug at the speechlessness of the man when faced with a mostly naked prince after not seeing him like that at all. Sláine backed off far enough to give Eurion space to remove his shirt, still amused by how long it took for him to stop staring and actually move, and had a tease about Eurion liking what he saw on the tip of his tongue, but that fell away the moment his mate removed his shirt.

He was gorgeous as always, and Sláine relished every chance he had at seeing his mate unclothed. Cords of muscle that could manhandle the prince however he wanted, the tattoos that shifted with every breath and slightest movement, the expanse of skin that he would always want to feel against his and cuddle up to for warmth and comfort—everything about Eurion was beautiful and perfect. Sláine wanted to run his hands over the man's body every chance he could. But there was a flicker of hesitation at the reveal of the healing scar. For the briefest moment, guilt and anguish shadowed his otherwise bright expression when he caught sight of the spider-webbing scar of magical fire damage. Had it not been for the prince being targeted, Eurion wouldn't be bearing that scar. It was Sláine's fault he nearly died, and was still slightly recovering. He didn't think he'd ever forget that moment, the instant hole in his heart at watching Eurion take the fireball and hearing his screams and cries. The scar was a reminder.

Thinking that, though, wasn't something he wanted. It would sour both of their moods and ruin their night. So, his shift in mood and expression only lasted for a split second, then Sláine was back in his mate's space, running his hands up the man's torso and chest, then back down. His smile was back, and he was gazing up at Eurion, all attention on him. The kiss to his chest wasn't pointed at all—meaningless.

When Eurion explained what types of chains he had gotten, then smile dipped into confusion as Sláine looked down at the bundle in his assassin's hand. His mind churned. "But with the robes, they won't be visible. Maybe the chest one a little but—" It took a few seconds, but the second it clicked his cheeks reddened just a fraction, and he flicked a falsely flat look up at Eurion once more. "But you'll get to hear it, and then see them when you get me all to yourself after the festival. You sneaky shit."

Eurion couldn’t help the way his smile turned into a smug little smirk, “I’m an assassin, darling, being sneaky is part of the job.” Because the chains weren’t part of the program and hadn’t been part of the plan, if it hadn’t been for Caoimhe he never would have even considered buying them for his prince. But here they were, with the chains in the assassin’s hands and the man revealing in the dusty pink cheeks that he found on Sláine’s face at the realisation as to why he had bought them.

He couldn’t help the way that his free hand snaked around his prince’s waist, and then lower, his thumb dipped under the fabric of his under garments for the briefest of seconds before his hand grabbed at the man’s ass and tugged him even closer, flush once more against his body. Eurion leaned in, because now it was his turn to continue teasing, and his lips danced over Sláine’s before he spoke, “If I had found other chains these wouldn’t be the only ones you would be wearing tonight.” His lips pressed against Sláine’s in a kiss that was shallow, light and teasing, just enough as his had squeezed below before he pulled away, “These will do for now.”

And then his hand was moving away to seperate the chains into the different sections and types. He placed the waist and thigh chains down because he would do those last, would in fact be getting on his knees in order to decorate his prince in them. But the chest ones came first, and he didn’t give Sláine a chance to protest or move away if the other dared to do so as he moved his hands up to fit the circle of silver around the man’s neck.

They were slightly warm from being held in his hands for so long, which was good considering they had been freezing when Eurion had first bought them. And they already looked enchanting on his lovers skin, highlighting those beautiful bruises on Sláine’s skin and his smug smirk only increased further. Oh he was going to be fucking stunning later tonight. He could already picture how his prince was going to look, naked but those chains, with so many more bruises and flushed from head to toe. It was so exciting. Eurion couldn’t remember the last time he had been so ready to take something as he would Sláine. Usually it was just because he needed a release after a while, but this time? This was his mate and it was getting difficult to hold back. But Eurion knew that it would be even better after Skyfall.

The air in Sláine's lungs punched out of him, leaving him breathless and desperate for air. He was pressed flush against Eurion, slave to the hand on his ass that had been so close to a tease he'd fall victim to, and had the man who had bought decorative chains whispering things against his lips. An insinuation. One that Sláine very quickly picked up, and his mind happily started spinning into a multitude of scenarios that didn't help his composure at all. Except, he had lost his composure the moment Eurion had spoke. So all that was left was a prince, breathless, speechless, and burning red once more. His lips were parted around a retort that had been lost to him, but they returned the fleeting kiss on instinct, and it took Eurion stepping away for his chest to heave around a fresh dose of much-needed oxygen.

Fuck. Sláine would never survive so long as Eurion was with him, but in the best way possible. That man could do anything to him, and he'd take, and enjoy it, but he'd still be a bumbling and overwhelmed mess regardless. How had he been so lucky and unfortunate enough to be mated to someone like this? Someone with an abundance of ways he wanted to take the prince, and no sense of losing that imagination anytime soon? What had the prince done to be given to Eurion?

His throat bobbed as he tried recalibrating, swallowing down any noises that had threatened to escape when he had been squeezed and subsequently abandoned. Now that he had his breath back, it was erratic, his mind still focused on the image of what Eurion had suggested. Other chains. Not the dainty body jewelry, but a way to tie up the prince—he was sure that was what he had meant. Sláine didn't know if he wanted that or if he wanted Eurion as far away from anything like that as possible for the sake of his own sanity. Surely, he'd go comatose if Eurion pulled something like that from the sheer eroticism of it all. He jolted. Maybe he was more into being bound than he had realized.

The feeling of warmed metal against his skin drew him out of his own head, back to the reality of the situation. It didn't help, not at all, because it was just a reminder. But Sláine stayed still and let Eurion dress him in the jewelry. The delicate chains cascaded over his skin, brushing against hot bruises and reminding him painfully of the red and purple decoration his assassin had left. He noticed the increased smugness in Eurion's smirk and hastily looked down to avoid getting even more flustered. It was no secret what the man was thinking about. The chains were bought for a specific reason, and from how he was being stared at, Sláine doubted anything else was on Eurion's mind. Instead, he traced his fingers over the metal, feeling the tiny jewels within them and situating them so they rested neatly against the contours of his body. He had to admit: they were already beautiful.

A line of chains sat around Sláine's neck, much like a choker, while it extended down and spilt out across his chest, with a loop hanging lower as a necklace while the others were placed over his shoulders. They hung low, off the shoulder more than anything while they connected across the middle of his chest and back to keep the piece in place.

Once Eurion had successfully made sure that they had been secured, he picked up the other and knelt. He had knelt before so many in his life but only because he had to, had been forced to on multiple occasions but never because he wanted to. Now, he would gladly go down on his knees for Sláine in more ways than one. As he did so, he placed a line of soft, long kisses down his prince's chest, just to keep that red blush on his mate's face. He had every intention of teasing and drawing out their night as long as he could, and this was just one of those ways. Because the kisses were deliberately placed and lasted far longer than a peck.

The assassin's hands rested on Sláine's thighs and then his kisses were moving there, too. Those long, drawn-out kisses all the way down his left thigh, and then his right, before moving all the way down his leg. Worshipping in the man, really, as much as Eurion was trying to tease as much as he could, could feel Sláine tense under each kiss as they got lower and longer. Until he had practically reached the floor and then he was moving the chains through each of his thighs until they were brought up so there was a band of chain around Sláine's waist. It was similar to that around his chest but only hung low down his thighs.

Even though the chains were successfully placed on his mate, Eurion didn't move. He stayed on his knees, looking up at Sláine with that same smug expression, and mixed with one that conveyed how he thought he was entirely the most beautiful thing in the whole world, "I don't think I've ever seen you speechless." The assassin mumbled, pressing more of those kisses to his thighs and lower chest.

Sláine was speechless. He didn't have enough functioning thought to find something to say in the moment, not when he stood nearly completely bare before his lover, being taunted with the idea of being tied up at another time, and his breathtakingly stunning mate going down on his knees for him. A prince, with an assassin willingly kneeling before him, and he was blushing like mad and unable to keep his eyes on Eurion. And, of course, the awful man had to put his lips and hands on Sláine's skin and tease him with his mouth of a god.

Down, down, down, each kiss went further down Sláine's body, and he couldn't help but tense up every time he felt those lips. His inability to look inadvertently made Eurion's kisses all the more intense, since he couldn't see where they'd land and the surprise only jolted him more. His face was burning from nose to ear. He hated feeling so off kilter, because it made him putty in Eurion's hands—malleable and oh so easy to continue flustering and bring up more reactions that he otherwise wouldn't have when steady. He hardly even noticed the addition of the second set of chains, too hyperfocused on his mate and nothing else, regardless of still refusing to look. But, Sláine couldn't not touch the assassin while he was on his knees, littering those fucking kisses over his thighs.

A hand moved to sift through Eurion's hair, tenderly holding the back of his head and rubbing gentle circles. Sláine could feel the man's attention fully on him, as if demanding he make eye contact. It took all the effort in the world to do so, but the prince dragged his eyes back down to his lover, his beloved assassin, and got caught in the snare of his smugness and admiration. He only squirmed even more under the weight of Eurion's gaze, wanting to back away but rooted to the ground. It was hard not to feel beautiful and attractive when he had his assassin staring at him like that, beyond the smugness. But that only made him want to bury away even more, because he couldn't handle the onslaught of feelings throwing him around and threatening to knock him completely over. And for once, they weren't from Eurion; they were all his own, mostly caused by the amazing bastard, but still all his to own up to.

"I—" Sláine tried to say, but he still couldn't find the words. Gods, he adored those kisses to his thighs than he should've. His fingers idly played with the hair at the back of Eurion's neck, his free hand flexing and rubbing his fingers together as he didn't know what else to do with them. He had no excuse. Every retort he came up with wasn't quite right. Because you're awful. Because you're mean to me. Because you're a sneaky shit that likes to torture me. Well, that last one wasn't entirely untrue. The prince visibly struggled to conjure up words, eyes flicking away and back to Eurion's like he couldn't maintain eye contact. "You can't just—this is unfair."

Eurion couldn't help the way his smirk only grew as his prince stuttered and was unable to find the right words. He had no doubt that whatever was going through Sláine's head was churning around as fast as lightning and he was unable to stop it. Especially since the man could barely hold eye contact with him. Every reaction he got out of the man only spurred him on to keep going, to keep teasing. He was sure that it was only going to cause trouble for him later if Sláine decided to pay him back for it all, but some part of Eurion knew that wasn't going to be the case. If he was able to illicit such a response out of his mate by a few pointed touches and kisses, by just a few words, he was sure that he was going to have even more fun later.

It was why he wasn't going to tease for much longer, just a little, just enough to keep Sláine red in the face and squirming, "Unfair? Oh, none of this is unfair," The assassin purred, "This is simply a reminder of who you belong to, my darling." Eurion moved his hands until both were placed firmly on his prince's ass and he squeezed again while his mouth continued its onslaught of far too slow kisses that were drifting dangerously close to somewhere else. But he made sure they only dipped into teasingly close territory as he bit down, sucking and biting amidst the kisses before he moved them once again back up. They trailed up to the waistband of Sláine's pants, then his chest until he was no longer kneeling but standing at his full height, that smug smirk plastered on his face and not making a move to budge.

One of his hands moved so it was resting on Sláine's cheek and he hummed, tucking a strand of hair behind his lover's now-pointed ear. With or without the chains the man was handsome, quite literally beautiful that Eurion, despite how smug he looked, couldn't help the way he looked at the man with enough admiration that it was as clear as day. He would say it every fucking day if he had to, that the man was perfect and beautiful until he was blushing again and again just as he was right now. If he had to get on his knees to do it he would. Well, Eurion would get on his knees for the man if he just asked because that was how utterly enamoured by Sláine he was. Right now, the assassin moved to press their lips together.

The kiss was just as slow and wet and teasing as the others that he had pressed against his mate's body only this time to Sláine's pretty pink lips. He was so addicting. Like sunlight and fruits that were far too sweet but left you wanting more, more more. After a moment, he separated their lips, however, in favour of talking against them, "Tell me what you think of the chains."

How was it that Eurion was the one on his knees, but Sláine was the one submitting himself to the man? He couldn't even speak, and Eurion was happily making the problem worse by looking up at him like that and kissing him where he was. Saying that the prince needed a reminder of who he belonged to. He'd never forget who he belonged to, who owned his body and mind in a way that no one else would ever dare to claim. Eurion had him completely and willingly, and there was no need to be reminded of that when he wore the man's mark and couldn't breathe without him right there with him. This was no reminder; it was torture.

Then hands were on his ass and lips and teeth were drifting way too close to a place they shouldn't be at just yet. Not yet, because they had to stop themselves repeatedly from things like this because they had to leave. But Eurion held him still with his grip and Sláine had no other option but to try and control his uneven breath as he held the man's head and combed through his hair. Instinct had him wanting to encourage it, to put just the slightest pressure and encourage Eurion to keep going, but logic wrangled control just enough to keep him from making the situation worse. And thank gods, because Eurion stood not long after his struggle and he didn't have to fight it any longer. He should be getting a break now, free from his assassin's teasing and unfair treatment. But no. That man always had something up his sleeve.

Sláine leaned into the hand on his face as soon as he could, but it did nothing but hide the one cheek. The redness wouldn't go again, stark against the darkened freckles he had masked, and he was burning up from the inside out. But he couldn't look away from Eurion now that they were face to face once more. No matter how flustered he was, he couldn't look away from his eyes. So dark, but shining with every emotion that the assassin held. When he was looked at like this, he knew exactly what his mate was thinking, and it just made him all the more flustered. This all was totally and completely unfair. That didn't stop him from being greedily and accepting the kiss without hesitation, a hand clasped at the back of Eurion's neck. A soft, happy moan slipped through, but he didn't care. It was the only outlet he had to rid himself of the crashing waves tossing him around and refusing to let him get to his feet.

And it was gone too soon. Sláine wanted to complain, whine about how utterly unfair it was. But he had no words still. No words, and yet Eurion's soft order against his lips had him speaking as if on command. The prince swallowed, wanting to hide away. "I think they make me look pretty." They slid against his skin with every little movement. The ones on his thighs gently swayed when he stepped forward to press himself flush against Eurion once more, needing that stability and the feeling of his mate's body against his. They'd be covered by the robes in no time, but he'd still feel them rubbing his skin and hear them tapping against themselves. He'd know.

Gods Sláine was so sweet when he spoke. Eurion wanted to devour the man whole right then and there because he was simply just too delectable and enticing. Especially when he was doing as he was told. He hadn’t needed to even ask twice to get him to talk to his command and it was far too hot for its own good. His’s prince’s cheek was red hot against his hand, burning and red and utterly adorable. Eurion could picture what Sláine was going to be like later, flushed again from head to toe, calling his name like a prayer and at his mercy once again. He may not have killed the man back at the palace, but from the way Sláine was trying to hide his cheek against his palm Eurion was sure he had killed him in an entirely different way.

Eurion hummed as his lover stepped closer until they were flush. Their lips were still only centimetres apart from one another and they were so close but he could still see every emotion that crossed his prince’s face. How flustered and almost embarrassed he was, how Sláine looked like he was going to combust if they kept going, how the man wanted to look away but clearly couldn’t. Eurion was sure that, no matter what he did at this point, he would gain a reaction from the man. Sláine seemed so sensitive to everything and it was brilliant.

“That’s a good boy,” That purr in his voice remained, and he let his lips ghost over Sláine’s without giving him a proper kiss, “You look so pretty.” Because he did. His prince was fucking gorgeous- not just pretty. Eurion was tempted to tell him to drop the mask he had on so he could see Sláine as himself, in all his Witchy-ness, with those horns he loved and those beautiful canines. Later, he’d be able to have his prince like that later. For now, unfortunately, he was going to have to get him dressed. And looking at the way things were going, Eurion didn’t know whether it was going to be easy or not at this stage.

The assassin placed a kiss to his lovers lips finally, letting it linger, letting himself taste Sláine before he would have to pull away. He let it go on for longer than the others and then, reluctantly, he pulled himself away. His hands dropped from their positions in favour of moving to grab the pants, once again kneeling down in order to help Sláine step into the soft fabric. He didn’t stay down, however, because he moved upwards with the motion before fastening them around his waist. The chains were only slightly visible through the outline.

What was it about Eurion and the things he did that had the prince so reactive to things he had never liked before? Not once had he been keen on being so public with affections and sex, but just one thought of it from Eurion had him weak at the knees. Never had he been so compliant and submissive for someone, never wanted to belong to someone, to have someone so incredibly possessive of him. No partner had ever thought to call him a good boy, and the thought had never evoked any sort of reaction out of him.

But when Eurion purred those words against his lips, Sláine nearly combusted on the spot. He wanted to melt into the assassin's grasp, let him do whatever he wanted to do to him, and be good for him. It took no genius to note how much Eurion enjoyed Sláine doing as he was told and folding at just the smallest of commands, no matter how flustered or speechless he was. His mind was in shambles, and he had nothing going on besides thoughts of Eurion, but there was still that urge to listen and do as he was told to keep making Eurion look at him like that. Logically, they couldn't, and the prince doubted he'd survive even a minute more of this teasing in his mindset, but his body didn't like logic and wanted to just get utterly wrecked by his assassin.

Sláine looked up to the ceiling and closed his eyes, his head tilted back, when Eurion pulled away from him after an unfairly hot and addictive kiss. He refused to look at the man, even though he could feel him kneeling once more, and it was because he needed to reorient himself somehow. Eurion wasn't helping in the slightest by simply existing, so this would have to do.

"I hate you," he mumbled, opening his eyes to keep staring up, but moved his hands to brace against Eurion's shoulders as he helped with the pants. He hated how easily the man could reduce him into a burning and bumbling mess. He hated that they were so close to finally being together in the way that they both wanted, after so many instances of going just far enough to be safe, but not far enough. He hated how he could imagine so many different scenarios of him and his lover being together, could conjure up a falsehood for the sake of release, but he knew it would never amount to the real thing because Eurion was as unpredictable as an ocean and so very stubborn. He hated how much he craved him even when they were face to face, Eurion's hands on Sláine's waist, and how much the fucking chains made him think about the man as if they were his touch.

Except, when Sláine finally brought his gaze back down once Eurion stood back up, it wasn't hate that shone in his eyes.

The assassin couldn't help the chuckle that escaped him at Sláine's words, "If you hated me you wouldn't be letting me dress you." Or have his hands on Eurion's shoulders to steady himself, or be flushed so beautifully even if his touches were no longer of the teasing kind, but direct and with purpose of getting them ready for the evening. The button was fastened in the correct loop, sitting perfectly around his mate's waist. He only let his eyes linger down for a moment, simply because he needed to take in the outline of those chains, how they were a reminder for the both of them the promises that they had made in regards to how they both wanted the night to end.

Eurion was grabbing the upper half of the outfit only moments later. Now that he had gotten- most - of the teasing out of his system for the time being, it was easy for him to at least return to focusing on the task at hand. He still had to get himself ready, although that wouldn't take long, but then there was Caoimhe and Aideen and he had a hunch that the guard wasn't going to like the fact that it would be he who would be doing the paint on her face out of all people. As much as his trust for Caoimhe was starting to grow, he wasn't about to let the man fuck something like this up, not when it all had meaning in some way or another.

Placing the robs around Sláine's shoulders, the fabric helped to hide the purple bruises on his prince's neck since the colour was almost identical. The lower ones would be hidden under the collar, even the chain that doubled as a necklace would hide them a little, but the ones he had left closer to his ear still visible. Exactly what he had wanted, another surefire sign that Sláine wasn't up for grabs. He fitted the sleeves and then finally pulled the fabric over his chest to hide the rest of the chains. Due to the soft nature of the fabric they were more pronounced than the ones on his legs, but wouldn't be noticed because the sash was going to take any attention away.

He grabbed the blue piece once he was happy with the say the robes sat on his lover. Placing the piece in the correct position was going to be the hardest part since it was fiddly, but Eurion's hands were steady and controlled as he draped one end over Sláine's shoulder, brought it down across his chest before it wrapped just above his hips and was tied off in a loose knot.

Eurion took a step back once he was done and he let his eyes roam over Sláine. His smirk turned into a soft, very clearly very happy and adoring smile, "Beautiful." Was all he could breathe.