A LAWFUL WASTELAND

[counterattack]

[ it's December 8. Law turns 18 today. at this point, he's been living in Copalli for over a year. during the final relic fiasco, he achieved trance within about five seconds (because it's basically overlimit) and faced Tiamat in her castle because he had a score to settle with dragons (dragons, wyverns, same shit) and had enough taking shit from these mother fucking guardians in this mother fucking jungle. it was epic.

anyway, it's a few months later and Law lives in Tikal again, down at the bottom of the crater. they've built bridges and pulleys aboveground, as well as created a system to keep the crater from filling with water when it rains. although most of his farm was lost during Tikal's fall, he's rebuilt it bigger and better than ever and repopulated it with even more chickens, hogs, cows and even a few semi-domesticated mist monsters. there's also proper crops, probably due in part to at least one friend or another planting on the huge expanse of land he's set up there. he also rebuilt the inn that collapsed on top of him back then, and this time it's actually finished. he got a local business manager to help run the place and they export animal products and crops all over Copalli. the inn is booming. it's great.

all is well.

except now it's his birthday and Law is just trying to go about his business like he doesn't know that, strapping on his fancy wolf gauntlets and shouldering a big pack of supplies to go make some delivery trips to the other cities. nothin' to see here, not ya lil dude all growed up, a solid 5'9" (and a half) with some cool tribal tats done over his wyvern scars and something of a more mature countenance, buuuuuttt still the dweebo dorkus doofus meathead he's always been.

ANYWAY, THIS IS #LATERGRAM INCENSEDVERSE. medallion him, meet him at any of the cities, fight monsters together on the road, pretend there was a party planned that he's trying to sneak out of showing up to, WHATEVER WORKS. ]

Comments

[indeferent]

<sub>[ He's absolutely fascinated with how Law sounds. Now he knows for a fact that he'd butcher the language in an actual conversation but it doesn't stop him from repeating that 'Yeah' for himself. It's too crisp and pronounced compared to how ordinary it is for a Dahnan, but surely he gets points for making an effort of it. He lets it roll across his tongue several more times until it sounds closer, until Gladio may as well be beaming. Totally nailed it. Even knowing that he's godsawful at it, it makes him want to learn what he can that much more. But that can come later he thinks, because the way Law hauls himself up using his shoulders as leverage spurs Gladio into doing two things.

The first being to mouth at his throat again, maybe even higher so his facial hair can lightly scratch against his neck. At least it's softer near his jaw where it blends in with the fur on his ears. The second is he blindly reaches over and behind himself for the jar, fumbling with it until he's able to pick it up and balances it on his thigh.

But before he does anything else, he releases his hold on Law just long enough to make a vague time out motion with his hands and slowly enunciates a word. ]</sub>

Stop.

_{[ More of a yah-me, smoother with his own dialect as opposed to other parts of Insomnia. Repeating it again, he places his hand over Law's heart. The time out, another stop, and he returns his hands to their original place. He kneads at his ass for a moment, murmuring another word against his throat; ]}

Slow.

_{[ That one comes out in an odd amalgamation of a hiss and a hard, rolling R. Gladio keeps the kneading just how he says - slow - until he feels like it gets through. He thinks about the medallions for a moment, but he knows if they really need it they're barely two feet away. So, he presses a short kiss to the curve of Law's jaw, finally picks the jar back up, coats his fingers, and slips one down the crack of his ass. Not probing, just... Touching. ]}

I'll go slow. I promise. Last thing I wanna do is hurt you, 'specially since...

_{[ Since he's going to be his first. ]}

[counterattack]

[ Law's nose wrinkles with amusement as Gladio parrots his yeah back at him, and if it kind of gives him weird, pleasant tingles to repeat it back and forth a couple times without very much space between them, well... that's normal, right? Hey Siri, is it weird to find this hot? Because if so, too bad. It's hot that Gladio tries to speak his language, it's hot thanks to how it sounds coming out of his mouth, it's even hot that he gets all excited when he gets it right. Alright, so anyone looking at this from the outside would probably think two guys murmuring yeah at each other in rough Dahnan would be weird as hell, especially considering the compromising position, but they can all shut up about it. When Law tips his head back to let Gladio at his throat, he's smiling, too—and laughing, and that throat is decidedly flushed, and he's forgotten to care about anything. This is too hot to be weird. He's absolutely vibing.

So at first, when Gladio's imparting these safewords on him, Law thinks he's just messing around. Sounds good to me, whatever that is. His nose crinkles again, still completely taken by the strangeness of his accent. By the second time, though, he gets it. It only takes him hearing both of them twice to be able to repeat them back: stop and slow, his inflection pretty spot-on for having never heard Lucian spoken before in his life. He nods to show he gets it, although it's slow and a little unfocused. Hard to stay completely on track with Gladio's hands going where they're going and doing what they're doing. The eager-anxiousness is building up so much it's hard to keep his hips still.

He catches slow in whatever it is Gladio says next and nods again, head tilting to glimpse the expression on his face. He's saying he's gonna go easy on me. Reckless and willing as he is, that's probably for the best. All things considered, he's not exactly sure just what he's in for here, uh, sensation-wise. He'd figured out the mechanics on his own through a combination of "weird shit he just thinks about sometimes" and "weird shit he overheard other people talking about well before he was probably supposed to be hearing that kind of thing," but he's never had, y'know, the talk. Whatever shreds of alcohol-soaked logic he has left, though, make it pretty clear it's gonna be... a lot. ]

Don't worry so much, I'll be fine. And... you'll be good. You'll be really good, so I'm not worried either.

[ He's only saying that because he knows Gladio won't understand him, honestly. As bold as he's been with his words, that feels like a lot to just say, but... well, it's probably pretty obvious just based on his expression, lashes lowered and cheeks going pink, that he's saying something flirtatious. And not taking this super seriously, which can be either a good or bad thing, depending on how you look at it. ]

[indeferent]

_{[ All he manages to make out is the gentle, chiding tone Law uses means that he's prooooobably fussing at him to stop being so damned cautious and the realization makes him laugh and counter with a questioning "ja?" this time. There's a lot he could pick apart just from body language alone, but he keeps it to the verbal shit for now. The accent he picks up in Law's voice only makes his grin grow wider, and Gladio thinks he can pick out another word that reaches his ears. He said it twice so it has to mean something good which obviously means he has to repeat it back in a heavily accented, mostly butchered form of Dahnan. ]}

You'll be... good.

<sub>[ He's not even going to attempt the missing word. Not when he could press a short kiss to the edge of Law's ear and murmur everything else into it instead. Later he'll have to try repeating it until he gets it right but for now this'll do, especially when Gladio has his attention veering off to the not-so-subtle shift and rock of Law's hips. There's only so much teasing someone can take — he knows this first hand — and it'd be a cold day on Ravatogh if Gladio were the sort of guy to keep someone waiting outside of throwing himself into the face of death and a certain Blademaster, so once he feels that he's ready?

A nudge to the jaw to get his attention, an exaggerated breath, a quiet order of "breathe", more of that slickness, and finally a gentle press. Breathe. ]</sub>

Don't rush it, alright? Just breathe. I got you. You're in control here and you'll have it the entire time. Here—

_{[ With Law's hands still on him Gladio doesn't really need his own to keep him upright, so he reaches up to coax Law's face towards the crook of his neck. Into his neck even, right near his own pulse. It's the best he can do to convey his promise. I've got you. You're doing fine. Breathe. ]}

[counterattack]

[ If saying it out loud was a lot, then hearing Gladio say it back to him in his own language is a a lot-a lot. Law's eyes widen a little, taken aback and then delighted, and... yeah, it's pretty clearly something meant to make someone blush, because that's exactly what Law does. Of course Gladio doesn't have a clue what he's actually saying, but that doesn't matter. Just hearing it, the suggestion of it, gives him butterflies in his stomach. Is he going to be good? God, he sure hopes so. Reckless confidence has gotten him this far, at least.

Far be it for him to hide his face, but honestly? He might need it. Law makes a soft sound in the back of his throat at that slick press of fingers against him, tense at first if only because he isn't sure what to do with his body. Hold still? That's a tall order when he's so instantly overwhelmed with a want-verging-on-need that he doesn't quite understand in its entirety, but he does his best not to writhe. As he buries his face in the crook of Gladio's neck, he exhales hard against his skin and grazes the cord of muscle there with his teeth. The gesture speaks volumes where the words are indistinct, rough-hewn but strangely melodic, the way Dahnan probably sounded centuries ago before it got watered down to whatever the hell the Renans have done to it. One word keeps jumping out again over and over, though, and Law whispers it back: ]

Breathe.

[ Any guesses as to the meaning? Kind of. He'd probably be surprised to find out it's one of his favorite words to use, but as fate would have it, he's already doing precisely that: taking a deep breath in and sighing it back out, hot and shaky into space at Gladio's throat. His fingers curl into the backs of his shoulders and drag down. ]

Keep talking. Just say anything, I like how it sounds. Say breathe again.

[indeferent]

_{[ He's not sure if he'll ever get tired of hearing Law repeat his own language back at him. It's so damned thrilling to understand a word or two while it's mixed up with Law's own native tongue that he nearly laughs in disbelief, but he swallows it down the instant he hears that little hitch of breath and the noise coming from low in his throat. Gladio can't soothe him the way he wants, not without sprouting an extra pair of arms, but he can at least tilt his head a bit to rest his jaw against the side of Law's head and hum softly. That's it. He's got him. Even the threat of teeth doesn't deter him in the slightest. If anything it only encourages him. ]}

That's it. Breathe, just like that.

_{[ The blunt of Law's nails dig into his back and he takes that as a sign to ease up. He isn't about to rush this like his own first time, gods no. Law means more to him than he knows how to put into words and he fully means to put his gil where his mouth is. Treat him the way you wanted to be. ]}

Breathe in and count with me. One, two, three... One, two...

_{[ Slow. Careful. Gentle. His fingers don't press any deeper until he feels Law relax, and only after he really relaxes. ]}

See? Good. You're good. You're doin' great, Law.

[counterattack]

[ Law exhales hard into the crook of Gladio's neck, tense when he breathes in and limber when he breathes out. It takes a few moments for him to get the hang of staying loose, not fighting the sensation of Gladio's fingers pressing inside but opening himself up to it. He doesn't recognize the numbers as Gladio counts them, but he recognizes the cadence and realizes he's counting. Rather than up from one, he counts back from five. It sure hits different now compared to when he's trying to calm himself down. That's probably gonna be in his head every time he uses that trick now.

His shoulders jump at the sound of words he knows, good, Law. Is he? Is he good? He's not sure if he's good in the way he meant it when he said it earlier, but good in the sense that he can handle it? Law nods, his lips damp against Gladio's shoulder where he'd been mouthing at it. ]

Yeah, I'm good.

[ His hips shift, eager without that restless energy, and that makes his whole body tense up again—just for a second. Another breath in and out and he's relaxed, warbling in the back of his throat. Thankfully, you don't need language to make appreciative noises, for the sound of the soft kisses and love-bites he leaves on Gladio's neck, or the way his breaths come shuddering out as he really starts to get into this. ]

Gladio...

[ You don't need language to say someone's name, either, although it does come out deliciously rough in his heavy accent. It even sounds different to his own ear, even though he's said it at least a dozen times before. Without the medallion to make sense of it for him, that name is as unusual and attractive as the rest of his language. He whispers it again just for how it feels to say it. ]

[indeferent]

<sub>[ There's that ja sound again followed by good, a lopsided grin spreading over his face at the realization that it's something. They've got this shit on lockdown, don't they? It's enough to earn Law a short kiss to that spot just behind his ear, Gladio's voice coming out in a quiet, rumbling laugh followed by a soft good. He trusts Law to know his own limits and when he feels him shift in his lap, Gladio indulges him further. Bit by bit, until he's knuckle-deep and Law practically purrs his name into his ear.

Now that sends an almost violent shiver up Gladio's spine and he knows without a doubt that the fur on his ears stands on end. Who'd have guessed that hearing ones own name like that would be so damn effective? He quickly decides that he very much likes the sound of it, another kiss following the first to the exact same spot. It's easier to keep his voice low and intimate this close, and Gladio lets his eyes fall shut. ]</sub>

D'you have any idea how perfect you sound right now? If I didn't know any better I'd think you were savin' those noises just for me.

_{[ In a sense he was, wasn't he? Instead of putting too much thought into it, Gladio lets his free hand drift back to his tail and carefully pulls it over and around to curl around Law's waist and over a thigh so he can run his fingers through it that much easier. Once he feels like he's relaxed more, he crooks his finger. Searching. ]}

C'mon, Law.. Y'don't gotta hold back anymore so let it out... I wanna close my eyes later and hear you in my sleep. I'm gonna have to live knowing that no one else can say my name like you do, and you got no idea how much it drives me up the wall already...

_{[ So he's not the most eloquent drunk, but nobody ever said he had to be. What matters most is drawing out every little sound and reaction he can out of Law, and he'll keep murmuring his name into his hair and twisting his wrist this way and that until he does. This moment is all about him and no one else. ]}

Law.

[counterattack]

[ For a moment it's just the same, Law easing into it, murmuring soft, gratified sounds and occasionally shifting his hips, but—oh, god, when Gladio's got it, he's got it. He sucks in a breath, not quite a whole entire gasp, and his hips rock urgently, his arms tightening around Gladio's back to pull himself closer. The moan he lets out is muffled into Gladio's neck, the hairs on his tail standing on end. If that blowjob felt good, this is... something else. Good on some other level he'd also been wholly unequipped for. There's something off about it, and he's probably going to realize someday in the far-flung future that being penetrated isn't quite going to make the top five of his favorite things to do in bed (not compared to the alternative, at least), but there's absolutely no arguing with it right now. Those borderline plaintive sounds he makes certainly aren't argumentative, that much is for damn sure.

His head tilts to the side a little to catch a look at Gladio's face, trying to guess at what he's saying. It's hard to tell, but it all sounds really good, whatever it is. Low and rough, encouraging, he thinks. Satisfied. Gladio kind of sounds like how Law thinks he feels, like he's really getting something out of this and can't get enough of it. That alone is enough to make that feeling in the pit of his stomach more intense, shifting to chase the feeling every time Gladio's fingers arc up and into him. ]

Ff...fuck, that's—

[ No words, just noise. Speaking of eloquent drunks, that's twice now that he's ever dropped an f-bomb in his life, but honestly, it's astute. And it's one of those words that kind of doesn't need a translation to get the point across, either. Law presses his forehead to Gladio's shoulder, but eventually he can't keep his face hidden anymore. His back bends, head turning to catch Gladio's lips with his own between ragged, panting breaths. He has saved all this for Gladio, in a way. He's the lucky first, whether it was planned that way or not. ]

I'm— Gladio— I'm gonna lose my mind if you keep that up. How can you even look like that when you're not even... how are you so... mmgh... good at this?

[ He can't even finish a damn sentence, but good seems the universal word they can both get their drunk heads around, so it's what he goes with. ]

[indeferent]

_{[ If these are the sort of reactions he's pulling out of him now, Gladio almost can't wait to find out what he'll get later. He sounds absolutely debauched moaning into his neck like he is, the fingers in Law's tail stilling for a moment before they return to petting his fur and working through some of the small tangles he comes across. That's it, it seems to say, I still got you. And he means it, even now — Gladio has Law, and Law still has control over the entire situation. He rocks back? Gladio rocks up. He knows a curse when he hears one regardless of language and knowing that he made him say it gets the Shield to snort a short laugh. ]}

Y'know, since I get to say this without you givin' me hell for it... You're real fuckin' cute. I like it.

<sub>[ More than like he wants to say, only Gladio doesn't get the chance. Law shuts him up quick and those first few seconds gets him groaning into it, open mouthed and wanting. How many times can Gladio say someone caught him off guard like that? Less than both hands, definitely, and this was one of the better, more pleasant ways. There's another pleased rumble just like one of the ones that had slipped out of him earlier, not quite a growl or a purr but something... close.

Something almost bestial and possessive and still wholly Gladio. He doesn't feel the need or urge to stifle it anymore, not around Law. Hell, he doubts he'll ever be able to rein it back in after this so he may as well roll with it, and that's... It should be terrifying. It should scare the hell out of Gladio, but it doesn't. Law still wants him, the thought pulling another odd sound from deep within his chest. Almost pained, but a good sort rather than unpleasant. Angling his head just so, Gladio's teeth catch Law's lip and another good comes out with a second strange rumble. He lets go, ducking down for a moment to rake his teeth over the curve of Law's jaw, and back to mouth at the pulse point of his throat. He never did leave a hickey here, did he...? ]</sub>

Gods... You're doing so good, Law. So good.

_{[ But they can't go with just one — they both know that, which is why he uses the sharp nip to his throat as a distraction as he starts to work in a second. Much like the first, he takes it slow. Maybe even slower, all things considered, until he runs out of finger. ]}

You're handlin' this like a champ, you know that?

[counterattack]

[ Totally unsuspecting, Law can only hear the tone of Gladio's voice and not that absolutely heinous compliment, so when he meets his eye? His lips quirk a little, deciding that whatever that means, it sounds good to him. With their mouths close together, he murmurs back: ]

I like it.

[ Ohhh, if only he knew. But hey, it's fair. He does like it.

He likes everything Gladio says because it sounds good, he likes his hand petting through his tail, and he even likes the pleasure-ache of his second finger sinking into him. Law's lips pull back as if to hiss, but doesn't actually make the sound, tense—and then gasping, letting the breath out, relaxing with a strangled groan. That feels like a lot, and it's nowhere near the level of heat Gladio's packing. When he feels able to, he rocks his hips again, head tilting all the way back to let Gladio at his throat. And when he swallows, it's audible, but it sure ain't nervous. ]

I kinda... thought it might hurt, but it doesn't. I can, nnh, take more than that.

[ Pushing his luck, maybe, but he tries to—nod, gesture, something to indicate that he's good for it, that he thinks he's up for something more. In the end, he lets his body do the talking, shifting this way and that to chase that same feeling from before and moaning hoarsely when he finds it. ]

[indeferent]

<sub>[ Mmmmhm, yep. Gladio's doomed with a capital D, isn't he? He knows he is, but instead of thinking too hard about it now, he instead laughs and affectionately knocks their foreheads together as Law moves his head back and away. That's the sound he likes to hear and he's... Gods, he's really, really content. He'd be happy to keep doing this if he didn't make promises already, and that of course requires a third digit to join the others. No more, no less. As he ducks his head down to lick a wet stripe up the column of Law's throat, he knows it'll be enough, and once he reaches a spot just below an ear, Gladio nips at the patch of skin with his canines.

He'll have to be much, much more gentle if they ever do this under the effects of the incense but for now? They'll have their fun. ]</sub>

You're gonna be the death of me, you know that? Maybe not out in the world, but I think...

<sub>[ Gladio's words falter for a moment. His hand moves to settle under Law's ass and lifts him a bit, enough to give himself a little more room to really work on loosening him up. It inadvertently gives him another angle to mouth at his neck in the process but rather than taking advantage of it, he huffs against Law's ear instead and lets out a muffled, all-too-pleased rumble. Sometimes he laments being as big as he is — being six-foot-six means not many people can manhandle him like he can Law, and it's one thing he wishes would happen more often. But... at the same time? Gladio relishes in it. It means he can give people what they want. Plenty have asked to be manhandled all the same and he's happy to oblige, and this was no different.

Well.

Mostly. It's different because Gladio has Law in his hands versus some stranger. He knows all too well that when the tables flip, Law won't have any issue throwing him around. He'd already proved that earlier with how effortlessly he'd gone and flipped the both of them, and the thought makes him grin against his neck. ]</sub>

What'm I gonna do if you go and find someone better than me, huh? How am I supposed to go on after this? You're so six-damned perfect for me... All these sounds? The way you're movin'? No one else'll be able to top that. 'specially the way you look at me. I can't believe I never figured it out 'til today, you know? All those times I caught you staring? I had no idea.

_{[ Maybe he runs his mouth like this because he knows Law can barely understand him. Maybe he's more than a little regular-drunk. Maybe he's touch-and-love drunk. Just a little. Or maybe he's just an even bigger stupid, sucky sap when he feels like he can truly be himself. Whatever the reason? It's all because of Law and he fully means to show his appreciation for it. Getting to just be himself is a rare treat, and this time it's for Law and Law only. ]}

[counterattack]

[ There it is. Not the limit of what Law's capable of handling, by any means, but enough to get a real reaction out of him. That is, his eyes widen as Gladio works his third finger in, fingers digging into his shoulders, back going rigid for all of the few seconds it takes him to account for that much more—when he finally relaxes, it's with a hard breath out, and he tilts his head back down to press his face against Gladio's jaw, briefly held still. The noise that comes out of him... it's a mess. A little bit of a groan, a little bit of a whine, a little bit of an agonized sigh. This is a really weird sort of torture, so good it's almost bad, but then right before it can trip over the line into uncomfortable, Gladio has some trick of the wrist or something else he does that reels it back into the realm of overwhelming pleasure, instead. Law had psyched himself up for Gladio to be talented and experienced, but what he hadn't accounted for is what that would mean. What it would feel like, in practice. As it turns out, he's pretty sure nothing in any world could've prepared him for all this, though. It's just something you have to experience for yourself, and boy is he a big fan of doing exactly that. ]

I'm... I'm okay. I'm good, don't stop.

[ Just in case there was any concern that it might've been too much: not a chance. Frankly, there's a good bet that it's a bit much so quickly, but it's going to be awhile before Law understands the difference between what his body can handle when it comes to things like working out versus what it can handle in bed. Those are two completely separate sets of criteria! But here he is thinking that it isn't over until it's unbearable, and since it's never anywhere near that, that means he can keep going. No limits.

He shifts on his knees, lifting himself up with Gladio's help, and when he sort of inadvertently sinks back again, effectively fucking himself on those probing fingers? There's a real gasp, so sharp he almost chokes on his own spit. His moan is muffled into the side of Gladio's neck, and he answers that way-too-good-sounding collection of words with another one, shivering across the shoulders. At this point, he can't even guess what it is he's saying, can barely tell the syllables apart from each other. It all just sounds like an absolutely delicious bunch of purring, and the tone... filthy. Whatever it is, it makes his whole body blush. ]

I—mmmghhh.

[ Speaking of how he looks at him, when Law gathers up enough strength to pull back enough to do just that, the expression on his face is absolutely wrecked, yeah, but it also doesn't scream "no clue what's going on." He looks at Gladio like he knows exactly what he just said, flushed and open-mouthed. His thighs tremble, but he's not brave enough to try that little maneuver he just did again yet. It might actually kill him. ]

I bet you're... saying everything I always wanted you to say, right now. Kinda glad I can't be sure, 'cause if I was, I don't think I'd be able to handle that and this. I don't... it's just... people like me don't ever get to be that lucky. 'S too good to be real.

[indeferent]

_{[ Stop reaches his ears and true to his earlier word Gladio does just that until the inflection in Law's voice seems to tell him that it's fine and to keep going. He doesn't need much encouragement after that, doubly so when Law shifts up and rocks back down and lets that too-sweet crooning moan out right into Gladio's ear. The warm puff of his breath tickles his fur and makes it flick twice, and the shaky roll of an R sends another tingle up Gladio's spine. Yeah, as much as he wants to understand him so badly right now, he also doesn't want to have to lean over to untangle his medallion nor does he want to pull his fingers free. Not while he's able to pull these sorts of sounds out of him with a simple tweak of his wrist or a curl of his fingers. ]}

You're really gonna have to teach me your language. Even if I gotta beg I wanna know how, 'cause you're killin' me here...

<sub>[ That nice little "good"? That's the good shit. Gladio steals a glance at Law's face and for a good long while his mouth goes dry. That look? That's not fair at all and the bestial side of him makes it known with a low, keening whine that he has no control over. It's not really as sad as it sounds, though. It's more... needy. Both ears slant backwards upon realizing just what sort of noise he'd gone and done made, almost sheepishly so — he's learning more about behemoths like this than he ever did from those old nature documentaries and the real things themselves, and... maybe he's also learning a few new things about himself in the process.

Strangely enough? He's not as intimidated by it as he might've been in the past, and that's all probably thanks to Law being Law. He may not be able to see it himself but Gladio sure can, and under that look that may as well be begging to be ravished properly he knows there's an amazingly strong, equally stubborn and stupidly kind man. And... for this moment in time, he's Gladio's. Language barrier and all. ]</sub>

How're you feeling? Good? More? Slow? Or...?

_{[ Good keeps the same steady pace. More means he tries to press and reach deeper, and of course slow means more of "good" but with a slower pump of his fingers. Spoil the daylights out of him. ]}

[counterattack]

[ If he should think twice about those growls and purrs, he doesn't. Honestly, if anything, it just adds to the experience, and... maybe he should feel weird about that, too, but nope. Hard to say if it's just that he's already run the gauntlet of experiences dealing with monsterified people or being one himself, or if he's just a freak, but either way—Gladio lets out that animalistic noise and Law answers with a sound of his own, decidedly more human, but the sentiment is the same. Those ears pin back and Law brings his hands up to rub behind them, balancing himself in Gladio's lap with nothing but the squeeze of his knees around the outside of his thighs.

The gasp that's dragged out of him winds up muffled against Gladio's lips, and so does the warbling moan afterward. There's one particular thing on offer here that gets the biggest reaction out of him: any guesses on which one? It's the one that turns the plaintive kisses to love bites and the steady tremble of his muscles as he tries to hold still to give way to writhing. ]

Mm—that. Yeah. More.

[ That's a new word that's easy for him to learn, too. Not one he's used to using when it comes to wanting for anything, but if this is where it gets him, he could sure come around to the idea. Just fuck him up, fam. ]

[indeferent]

<sub>[ Alright, maybe he's going to have to spend some time out in the wilds where the incense is still thick. Maybe he's going to have to spend some quality time with that other side of himself and get a better handle on it because the deep, guttural snarl that slips out in kind makes his skin flush down to his shoulders. Maybe he's going to owe Zephyr a formal apology for returning his son to him with a throat full of bruises that extends down to his chest. Maybe...

Maybe Gladio shoves all of that away and chokes down a second growl into the space between their mouths. He asks for more through a thick accent and with those fingers delightfully curled around the curve of his ear and touching soft fur how could he refuse? How, he asks? The answer is simple, really:

He doesn't. ]</sub>

—Yeah.

_{[ It's easier with Law sitting up on his knees like this. It's easier for Gladio to curl an arm around the small of his back and pull him close, eyes dropping between them to admire his own handiwork. The trail of hickeys that seem to bleed from his collar to parts of his chest, all the way down to the ones littered across his hips. Not to toot his own horn(s) by any means but he thinks he's done a fantastic job leaving his mark and he almost can't wait to see how much Law has marked him up in return. For now it's only second place to easing his fingers out of Law with some reluctance and blindly patting along the mattress for that damned jar— ]}

[counterattack]

[ Gladio might flush, but Law finds some way to manage to grin, the corner of his mouth twisting at that rough snarl of his. In some ways, he understands that even better than he does the human speech, even through all the intonations and pantomime. It's true enough that he has a pretty solid grasp on not just the farm animals but beasts now, so maybe that's what makes it easy for him. He knows a good, satisfied snarl when he hears it, even though he's never... well. He's certainly never heard it like this.

Continuing the trend, Law whines as Gladio's fingers slip free, as his cock slides against Gladio's stomach when he's pulled in close. Breathless and not just a little shaky, he exhales and all the strength feels like it drains out of his muscles now that his whole body isn't completely taut. His fingers drag down from behind Gladio's ears to the back of his neck, blunt nails carding down his shoulderblades, his back. When he catches that hand fumbling for the jar, he doesn't even think twice about the thoughts frantically pinging around in his head. Drunk, worked up, eager, something else—he has no idea what it is that loosens his tongue up this way and doesn't care. He just acts, pressing himself closer, leaning up toward Gladio's ear and murmuring, hoarse: ]

You better not hold back.

[ It's slow and pointedly enunciated, like if he says it really clearly, Gladio will know exactly what it means. Honestly, in a rough purr like that? It does kind of speak for itself, what he wants, what he's asking for, what he's encouraging. Which is funny, because once again, he doesn't really know, himself. It just feels right. Speaking and acting on emotion and raw hormones, hardly able to hold still, starved for touch again the moment he isn't saturated in it. Spoiled.

And... alright, he can't take it, he leans to the side to grab that jar and press it into Gladio's hand. It's right there. How's he supposed to wait? ]

...I mean about anything. Show me everything. I'll still like it 'cause it's you. You know that, right? I couldn't feel any other way when it comes to you.

[indeferent]

<sub>[ Something about the way he says that wracks his body with a violent shudder, the fine hairs on the back of his neck standing on end. Even the fur on his ears seems to ripple right along with the rest of him, each rolled letter sinking its teeth in, and the pointed enunciation shaking his being like a ragdoll. Yeah, he gets it. Even if his mind doesn't fully understand it, instinct does. For a moment or two Gladio takes the time to relish in the feeling of Law's nails scratching against his ears, and further back to his nape and spine. The space between his shoulders itch something fierce under the assault and with it comes a quiet, pleased grumble that may as well do all the speaking for him.

That's it. Right there. Don't stop. Ple-e-e-aaaaase...

But he does stop. Law shifts and Gladio damn near follows suit, stopped only by the smooth ceramic slipping into his palm. By now he's able to pick out more words in Law's tongue like "you" and "I", and though he knows he's missing quite a lot of the middlemen it still makes sense. Gladio actually has to look up at him with how he's perched and poised over his thighs, but he doesn't mind it in the least. Like this he's able to tilt his head and press his cheek against Law's chest and were it not for the curved horns he might've even been able to tuck his head under his chin like a proper sap. Since he can't, he makes due with listening to the steady thump of his heart. The soft vibration of his words, the rough and pleasant lilt of the Dahnan language on his tongue, and the sheer warmth radiating from his body. They both run hot, don't they? That might be an issue later, but for now it's something Gladio relishes.

Eventually he has to pull away but not without taking his empty hand and grabbing one of Law's wrists. Trusting him to keep himself steady Gladio gathers a thick glob of lube and starts to slick himself up, head tilting to murmur roughly against his skin. ]</sub>

R'member...

_{[ One hand reaches back to pull at Law's cheeks, the other leaving his cock long enough to take Law by the wrist and tugs his hand down to close his fingers around Gladio's girth. His hand settles on top and as Gladio lines the head up with his rim, he does his damnest to keep his voice level. ]}

Next time I'll fuck you like we're the last two people on Copalli if that's what you want, but for now you're gonna go slow. And if you gotta say somethin' important... _{[ It takes him a moment to recall the words the locals used, but he gets it. ]} Medallion.

_{[ You know, just in case. ]}

[counterattack]

[ Law sits up a little higher, heart hammering in his chest so hard he's almost positive Gladio will be able to hear it from where he's got his face pressed. In the same vein, he's starting to recognize repetitive words and sounds—and then there's a couple that need no introduction to his ear, like Copalli, slow, and medallion. And fuck, honestly. It's not hard to fill in some of the blanks from there, even if some of the message is lost. His breath hitches, leaning back just slightly, questioning, does he want the medallion? Now? He'd reach for it, but then he realizes he's giving him the option. Slow. And if he needs something that pantomime won't help with, put it back on and say so.

In spite of how absolutely out of his mind he feels, Law shakes his head. Nah, won't need that. Anything he needs to say, he can say it with his body. He's already making a case for it, everything from his expression to the thrum of restless energy running through him speaking volumes. ]

You worry too much, man.

[ All things considered, he should be worrying a little bit more, himself. His arm bends back to curl his fingers around Gladio's cock, a fresh wave of flushed-beet-red rushing to his face and chest, the sound escapes his mouth completely strangled in his throat as the head presses against his entrance. Then he has a brief moment of sensible panic, just for a second, but just as quickly as it comes, it's gone again. His free hand on Gladio's shoulder, he eases himself back, entirely too tense until he remembers to let his breath back out. It presses in and Law makes an animal sound of his own, partly because his brain is completely and utterly wiped of any thoughts at all.

See? Medallion's useless. It can't translate the low whine he lets out. Probably could've translated his third, hoarsely whispered fuck of the night, though. ]

[indeferent]

_{[ Now where has he heard that before? Not the words — they were, as they'd say back in Lucis, Solheimian to my ears — but the tone. It's so familiar that Gladio finds himself rolling his eyes and shifting up to bump his forehead against anywhere he can reach, settling on lightly bonking into his chin like some sort of needy cat seeking attention. And isn't he technically a cat? A fucked up, gigantic, roided out nightmare version of one, but still a cat. It's plenty to get his own point across and despite his own worries, Gladio huffs out a bark of laughter. ]}

I worry exactly the right amount.

<sub>[ Astrals, if only they knew they'd hit a moment of fluency right then and there. As it is he was only able to pick out Law's tone and two words, and then Gladio's got Law helping to guide — or keep him steady, either way. While he starts to ease himself down at his own pace, Gladio wipes his hand off on the inside of Law's thigh and settles it over his waist, thumb pressing into a hickey he'd left earlier. Just to keep him steady and to slow him down himself if Gladio really has to.

And maybe to keep himself in check, too. Just a little. Even with all that prep he's still tight, pulling a quiet hiss of his own from behind his teeth. Over time his hand abandons his waist to run up and down Law's flank, fingers tracing the odd scar here and there and over his ribs. ]</sub>

Shh... Breathe. That's it. Just like before, yeah? Breathe in 'n out. I ain't goin' nowhere so take your time. S'the other thing you don't wanna rush 'cause as much as I like being a pain in your ass, I don't wanna be that kind of a pain.

[counterattack]

[ Breathe he understands. Breathe he likes to hear, too. It's how he deals with anything and everything, and it's going to get him through this. Law murmurs, wordless, each time Gladio says it, his breaths shuddering in and out in his chest, never quite able to get that breath to run all the way from the pit of his stomach. Painful? Well... it's no wyvern attack, anyway. But yeah, that's—a lot. His lips pull back and he pauses, almost impossibly balanced in spite of everything happening, held in freeze-frame with his legs alone until he can relax enough to move again.

Somehow, he's pretty sure he just caught Gladio making a stupid joke again. Somehow. Not sure what joke, but his voice just has that tone... that "dad jokes" tone. Brow furrowed, he turns his head and rasps his teeth against Gladio's jaw. ]

Seriously?

[ Once he doesn't need his hand holding things steady anymore, he's free to grasp both Gladio's shoulders, and while that's where he starts to reach, where that second hand ends up on is curled around one of his horns. He doesn't tug and pull his head around the way he had earlier, he just works with the leverage of where Gladio's head already is, a beam to keep him from feeling like he might just lose his grip and go too fast, too much, too hard. Even if he wanted to push this further than he's prepared for, his body's not about to tolerate any of that.

The discomfort's all over his face by the time he's fully seated, but on the other hand, he's finally, actually able to breathe. It's getting him settled, little by little, and sorely needed; you could otherwise cut the tension riveting off him with a knife. ]

Dunno what gives you the right to be, nngh, built like this. 's basically a lethal weapon.

[ He can only make this commentary because he knows Gladio's not going to get it, but if he figures it out... well, he's got other things to be flustered about that are a little more, ah. Pressing. At the moment. ]

[indeferent]

<sub>[ Law's hand closes around a horn and Gladio tilts his head up to offer a sturdier anchor. Somewhere down the line he was finally able to understand the appeal in the more... adventerous novels he'd picked up in the library or skimmed through while browsing a shop, and he's starting to think those authors were definitely, 100-percent onto something. If he were a more eloquent man he might even try writing himself, but... Nah. Gladio knows where his strengths lie, and he finds himself glancing down at his hands sweeping across Law's body as the thought passes despite the odd angle of his head. The path they take is automatic now — he keeps stroking his side like he's some skittish animal, while the other slides up from the curve of his ass to press into the base of Law's tail for a time. One, two... Ten seconds tops, and then he feels the back of his thighs meet his lap and Gladio thinks he might actually die.

Not really, but it feels like it. Each intake of breath assaults his senses with something that he hadn't been able to pick up before; the obvious culprits of sweat and sex were there of course, but so was something that was distinctly Law. Something that he decides he wants to keep all to himself.

Gladio reaches up to cradle the back of Law's head and coaxes a kiss out of him, one more gentle than anything he's given him up to this point. Feather-light and tender, Gladio gives it his all to pass on the surge of affection that blossoms within his chest. He really, really doesn't know what he did to "win" Law's own feelings but he must've done something right somewhere down the line. Maybe it's the Astrals' way of apologizing for all the hell they put Gladio and the others through (and the hell to come). Maybe it's just luck. ]</sub>

See? Nice 'n easy. I'm all yours, okay?

_{[ His hand abandons the spot by his tail to skirt around Law's thigh, fingertips dancing over the mess of scars running down his leg to his calf and around to the inside of his thigh where the skin is softer. For a moment Gladio contents himself with kneading the muscle, and he wonders. He keeps wondering even as he trails his hand up higher and palms Law's cock against his stomach. Maybe he should've gone for it and taken him for a ride, but... The door was open — blown straight off its hinges — so it's not as if Gladio won't get his chance in the future. Hell, he even went as far as to encourage it, didn't he? ]}

Too much? More?

[counterattack]

[ Each breath feels laborious, completely manual in its process. If he doesn't focus on controlling it, he's positive he'll be right back to panting and shaking, and there'll be plenty of time for all of that later. Once they really get going and he has a good, solid reason to completely come to pieces again. The distractions help immensely, too, and he finds himself leaning in, melting against Gladio's mouth, relinquishing his horn to cradle his jaw, the warmth of it coupled with every little movement of his own body nudging that intrusion deep inside him provoking another quiet whine. They're both hot-blooded as hell, and it's now a sweltering Copallic afternoon, but even all of that can't account for the beads of sweat that trickle from his hairline, along his neck and down his back. Coiled up in each other like this, it's something more sensual than taxing, and wipes the wince right off Law's face.

His breath comes out in a hard pant when their mouths part, but it's still measured. Head tilting, he lets the unfamiliar words wash over him, the growl and rasp of them. I something you something, warm and soothing. It makes him shudder. It makes him smile. ]

"I'm all yours."

[ It's easy to repeat back the sounds, and even though he's not completely positive about what they mean, he knows it's something... affectionate. It's almost enough to dredge up some of that good ol' bashfulness when he says it, but—not quite. He hasn't come this far to start getting shy now.

Even if he wanted to, that hand on his cock swipes that right off the table for him. His hips shift automatically, and that sets off a whole chain reaction, pleasure shooting up through him like a fucking lightning bolt. Eyes widening, he grabs onto Gladio's shoulder again for support. ]

No—I mean, yes. Yeah. That's good, keep doing that. Fff— [ He needs to remember to use the right word. It gets blurted messily out, ] More.

[ Like before, it takes him a moment to be brave enough to try that move again, but eventually, he gives his hips a slow, easy rock forward. Just to test the waters, but it hits him like a tidal wave, head bowing forward with a drawn out groan. ]

[indeferent]

<sub>[ Despite his best efforts Gladio finds himself laughing quietly between them. Not because of his words being parroted back at him in Law's heavily-accented voice, nor is it because of the way he stumbles over his words. It's because of how earnest he sounds. Gladio's ears prick up to catch all of it — the flustered no that becomes that rough yeah followed by a raspy more. He gets it, he really does, which is the biggest reason he remains completely still save for tracing his fingers down the length of Law's cock while he gathers himself. By the time he finds the nerve to move Gladio's got him in a loose fist and taking the time to get a good, proper feel for him.

Even when he rolls forward into Gladio's lap, he's statue still. No need to spook him just yet, but he makes his own satisfaction known with a slow, shaky exhale and a barely-there scrape of teeth against Law's jaw. ]</sub>

There you go... Here, try it like this—

_{[ Another slow intake of breath and Gladio smooths sweat-slicked hair back, letting his nails scratch over his scalp, down the back of his neck, and his spine all the way down to his waist. He doesn't take control away, gods no, instead he presses against his side, then "pulls" him back. A slow, easy-going roll that makes Gladio's composure slip just enough to meet Law halfway on one particular pass. Behave, he tells himself. ]}

Like riding a Spiracorn, yeah? One of the not-batshit-crazy ones, but I think if you can ride one of them... _{[ Gladio's voice drops to a rough, almost-needy rumble that he whispers into Law's ear. ]} Then I think you can handle me without any issues.

_{[ And technically he already is handling him, so... Law's pretty much golden. Gladio keeps his hand at his hip until the rhythm sticks, then he returns it up to wipe the sweat from Law's brow and cradles his face in his palm. At least like this it also means Gladio can keep looking at him too. ]}

Feels like... you're tryin' to squeeze the life outta me, you know that?

[counterattack]

[ That whisper in his ear makes Law shiver so violently he almost loses control of everything completely: mental faculties, his body, his breathing, everything. His breath stutters and he digs his fingers into Gladio's shoulder, lips pursed to try and hold back the noise he makes only for it to escape through his nose, a plaintive, animal whine. For a moment or two, he can't even tell if it feels good or bad. Eventually, he realizes it's so good it's just overwhelming, short-circuiting his senses and driving him absolutely wild in a way that he can hardly manage to react to save for open-mouthed gasps and noise, so tense it hurts, then loose and limber again when he finally remembers to breathe. And when Gladio rocks up to meet him? God, fucking forget about it. His head tips back, looking straight up to the heavens like he's praying for strength.

Eventually, though, he gets it. He's good at finding the rhythm, even better with a little help. His breaths begin to match the steady back and forth of his hips, tilting his face back down into Gladio's waiting hands. That eye contact is... fucking sending him, honestly, but he holds it together, really taking in the look of him for what feels like the first time in awhile. Seems like ever since he'd started working him over with his fingers he hadn't really been able to focus on anything with his eyes because every other sense in his body was hitting critical mass and something had to shut down.

His arms start to drape around him as he loosens up, but then his ear picks up on something it'd completely glossed over for a second there, the word lost in the purrs and growls of Gladio's funny-sounding language. ]

Spirac—no!! [ nyej!! ] Not even close!

[ Holy fuck it feels weird to laugh right now. He gets about two hahas out and then it all goes strangled, hips bucking out of rhythm for a beat. This is, categorically, the most surreal anything has ever felt in his life. ]

You better not've said what I think you said. This is nn—nnnnothing like riding one of those, trust me. In, uh. In a good way. A really good way.

[ Why would you put these kinds of thoughts in the back of his head, man. ]

[indeferent]

_{[ Now he really can't help it. Gladio wrinkles his nose and laughs into Law's skin and for the first time in a long time he actually feels like he's a twenty-four year old "kid" without the weight of the world on his shoulders. There's something in the way Law protests that pulls that side of Gladio out into the light and until he figures out what it is? He's latching onto it with all his might and both he and Behemoths have a lot of it to go around. Doubly so when Law tries to laugh himself, increasing Gladio's snickers. ]}

Mmhm. Now m'pretty glad you can't understand what I'm sayin' 'cause I think I'd be gettin' throttled right 'bout now.

<sub>[ Not like that's necessarily a bad thing. Gladio may have never let it get that far in the past but he'd be willing to try new things. With the hand still cupping his face, Gladio guides him in for another kiss; he heard both murmurs of good out of Law and frankly he's running with it. A second, a third kiss and Gladio shifts a bit further onto the bed and leans back on an elbow for a moment, taking the time to simply look at his partner. Flushed skin, pretty eyes, a perfect arch of his spine and his hand still working Law's cock over like it's the most normal, casual thing in the world... Yeah, he's got a pretty damn good view from here, doesn't he?

It's a real shame he doesn't have a camera to keep the moment forever but then again maybe that's what makes this that much better.

The only real drawback is it means Gladio has to pull his hand from his face, but that also means he can settle it back over his hip and guide him back into that steady, rolling rhythm they'd started to set up before. Once it's starting to get back on track, he reaches to take one of Law's hands and settles it on his chest, coaxing him to lean forward and into him more. ]</sub>

Forward... and back. Put— move against me like this. You'll have... better control. Don't gotta worry 'bout your balance either. Listen to what your body tells you 'n go with it.