Matchstick

The brief flare of the match as he lit a nightly candle before bed eased the crawling tension that sat in the pit of his stomach. Gefen did not like the dark. Once he would have scoffed at the notion. What did the dark hold that he was not already dabbling in?

The dark held those who gave themselves to power in a way he never could. He had learned that lesson well. He would rather be stripped of it all than ever find himself in their position. So the nightly candle would always be lit. Cradling the wick with a hand until he knew the small flame had caught. The familiar scent of a flicked out match, soothing.

It threw a soft light as he turned, padding back to the edge of the bed. Worry creasing the jovial lines of his features. Pulling the edges of his smile. Arms out Mr. Vaughan. It has been a very long while since I have seen such defined musculature. Moving them to reach for the small honey pot repurposed to hold the thick salve of elf root and aloe vera. He was decidedly not a fan of how it felt on his fingers. That could wait, right now he sat in front of his husband gently unwinding the light cotton bandaging that hid his burns.

Well look at that! A marked improvement.

Did he really know if there was improvement? No. He could at least try to keep spirits up. For his own sake if nothing else.

Anders had rode Fred home, half asleep and out of it. Being in Kirkwall had drained him, he hadn’t slept the entire time, unable to find peace in a city where so many ghosts of his own making still walked. He was pretty sure the elven god inside of him hadn’t taken any rest either. Anders was exhausted and hurting. Wounds he’d tried to heal himself with magic, burns snaking down his arms to his hands, throbbed in pain with every beat of his griffin’s wings. Combined with that his head was aching and his tired soul was getting used to this aching hunger now gnawing at him.

It had been one hell of a vacation.

Anders had all but collapsed into Gefen’s arms on his return, clinging to his husband, holding him tightly. They had both been taken over by their perspective residents before but Elgar’nan had never taken him somewhere else. He’d never held sway over him for so long. But he was gone. Justice, Vengeance, whatever he was or had been or could have been was not his problem anymore. Hunger, Ammit as he seemed to be called, was now living in him. He’d not had time to adjust but right now it had only had him attempting to eat Merrill out of house and home.

”You’re full of it Goose,” Anders said as he held his arms out, wincing a little as the cotton wrappings were pulled from the tender skin, ”They look like shit. I’m going to scar. You’re going to leave me for a more handsome man.”

What? dropping the old dressings in a neat little heap. No, they look rugged. Another man.. softly laughing at the notion. I think not. Anyone else calling me Goose would be fed to Fred. We can't have that. Not only does it make me look bad but it's to much work to cart someone to where Fred rests. It's just not my thing. Too much blood and viscera.

Shifting then. His hands light resting on Anders knees, careful of his arms. Rising just enough to kiss him. A small delighted sound coming from him as he turned his attention to the honey pot. Hiding his disdain for the feel of it by keeping up the chatter. The salve cooling the sensitive skin. Besides, everyone else lacks the stubbornness I crave. Who else is going to keep me on my toes? I would be very bored. No one wants me bored.

A smile played on his face as he commented on the ruggedness of his scars. ”You have a way with words, my love.” Anders reaches to touch his husband’s face with the hand least marred by burns and sighing watching as he starts to rub the balm on his skin, schooling his face for a moment to keep the pain he was in from showing. He didn’t want to risky that creasing frown of worry that mhe often saw between his husband’s eyebrows when Anders was hurt.

”You do get quite creative when you’re bored though. It’s one of my favorite things about you.” He grit his teeth a little tighter as the ooze drips onto the red and raw skin. He sighs a little and looks up at the ceiling for a moment, ”I thought all of this was over, Gefen. That night with the Avvar… I would have never asked you to be tied to me if I knew…”

I would have. Asked, that is. pausing in his application of the salve to give both of them a little breather. As it was I only a little put out that you beat me to it. I was daydreaming about how I would go about things and here you were breaking your neck to hear me say, yes.

Finishing up one arm to rewrap. Mumbling to himself, fussing over how to best anchor the wrappings so that everything remained flat. Regardless even if you hadn't asked, you made me enjoy cuddling so you would have been stuck with me anyway. There is also the little detail of you being an utter ass to me at Kinloch that I have to seek payback for. So…I'm your stubborn gander.

”I love you. And knowing that you would have asked…” he smiles and offers his other arm as the dutiful patient he is, letting his husband work at the bandages without complaint. He watched the way his hands moved around his arms to wrap the bandages and his search for perfection on getting them to lay flat. He shakes his head at that and looks over at him.

Once the wrapping was done Anders reached to pull his husband down next to him on the bed, giving one of those cuddles Gefen loves so much, ”I’m glad I was an ass. I don’t think you’d love me as much as you do if I wasn’t an absolute shitheel to you.”

Anders rests his chin on Gefen’s head and takes a breath, ”I don’t ever want to go back there again. It… I’m surprised I wasn’t murdered on sight. Not that I wouldn’t have deserved another knife in the back in that place…”

There's laughter from him being pulled into an embrace. Happily folding himself into Ander's arms. Smug that his husband is as tall as he is. He can take shelter here. In recent years Anders was his only safe harbor. To be fair he never had one to begin with.

For a long moment there's nothing in response. A gentle quiet as he watches the flicker flame of the candle. Then we won't, neither of us. Kirkwall is off limits for the rest of time. You can bring Merrill back here and party. That would likely end with Merrill drinking his husband under the table, but that was a problem for future him. If it ever happened at all. I'm glad Lana found you. I was…I was scared for you and worried. I…I couldn't have stepped foot in Kirkwall. You would have been with Niefion the whole time. I'm glad you're home. I missed you.

Anders chucked and nodded at the thought of Merrill surrounded by griffin’s drunk off her ass making a little bit of light in his eyes springing back after the shadows of Kirkwall welled up in them after bringing the conversation there. He reached to pull Gefen right to him as he spoke.

”No, no, I’m glad you two didn’t come… I wouldn’t have wished you back in that Maker-forsaken city for any money or power. I would have found my way home if Lana hadn’t dragged me back. I think Rowan might have come searching for me eventually soon if she hadn’t and you know how stubborn she is,” he smiles and leans back to lay more comfortably on the bed and closes his eyes as he plays with his hair, ”I missed you. After I stopped freaking out, I missed you. All I wanted was to have my arms around you.”

His hair had been brushed out but not braided back for the night as it usually was. So it was easy for Anders to play with. He wasn't sure how he felt about Anders not wanting him to come get him. A small part of him hurt even if he understood that he only wanted to keep him from the place of his nightmares. Nightmares or no that didn't mean that he wouldn't have gone to get him. That little hurt he let go. It was not something he wanted to dwell on. Ander's was safe. Burned and a little worse for wear, but here. That's all he wanted.

Yes, your arms practically engulf me. playfully poking at his bicep. Aren't we mages supposed to be wiry little things? No one gave you the memo. It's alright though I will bear this utter travesty against the common thought of our ilk.

Kissing him just along his jawline as if to soften the blow that never was. Anders was well aware how much he enjoyed being held like this. His shield from the world when it became too much in the moment.

Anders clung to Gefen a little tighter than usual, his face pressed into his hair to inhale his scent. He loved his husband more than life itself and would risk anything for his happiness and wellbeing. He had risked everything for his happiness and wellbeing, even if it meant hurting him a little. Anders had no doubt that his husband would have figured out how to get him home from Kirkwall. He had no doubt that Gefen would have braved anything for him. Anders felt like it was his job to keep the other man from going through the trauma and horror of returning to that Maker-forsaken city he would, even if admitting that he would do that hurt Gefen a little.

Anders protected Gefen and in turn Gefen returned the favor. They had, in the decades they had known each other, had learned how to perfect their give and take, first as rivals, then friends, then lovers, and now mates for the rest of their lives.

The kisses along his jaw had Anders smiling and the demon within him purring bit. Anders was still getting used to the insatiable gnawing hunger within him. It wasn’t in his stomach where would one would expect but rather deeper, clinging to the very core of his soul.

Ammit. The Devourer. He’d been waiting on the other side of the veil for when Anders was finally rid of Elgar’nan.

”You know flattery gets you everywhere, Mr. Vaughn,” Anders hummed and pulled him that much tighter against him, fingers threading through his husband’s dark, perfect hair, there was no where he’d rather be, no one he’d rather be with, injured and as tired as he was. Still something nagged and tugged at the back of his mind, ”Do you think I did the right thing? Releasing Justice or Elgar’nan or whatever the fuck his name really is the bastard.”

I know darling, I like getting what I want, and I enjoy flattery...in all forms to get that. Fingers trailing along the path he had left behind with his kisses to snag his chin. His expression soft, if firm with it's serious edge. You struggled, I watched you struggle, agonize over things. Yes, I do. Back to the fade where he belongs and decidedly not tormenting my husband. We can figure out the rest. We have time enough for that.

Healing and rest came first. They would figure out the details of everything else has they came, but there was no reason to needlessly throw themselves into a breakneck pace trying to out maneuver what might be. He couldn't say in the grand scheme of things that it was a great thing to release Elgar'nan but when it came to Anders he was unmoved that it was.

"You don't have to flatter me to get that, you know? I would give you that with no questions asked whatsoever." It was Anders's turn to kiss along Gefen's jaw, nuzzling right where his chin met his ear and closing his eyes. He inhaled deeply and relaxed into the hold he had on his husband. There was a weight that was gone from him the moment Elgar'nan was ripped from him. It felt like a red-hot fire dragged from the center of him and out of his body. Hot and blinding and frightening. He felt like he'd been at the center of an explosion. Anders guessed it was some sort of retribution or reminder for what had happened, what they had caused together, what they had done together. The searing pain and heat made sense. It was part of him... part of them.

Ammit might have been a demon but Anders had no fear of what might happen if Ammit took over. The worst he could imagine the demon as he knew him now doing was emptying the larder at Soldier's Peak and he hoped that would be what it would be like for him for the rest of his life.

If he had to share his body with some strange entity a somewhat harmless one would be best.

"The thing is I don't think I sent him back to the fade. I'm worried..." he sighed, reaching up to run his hands through his own tawny curls, "If he's in me I have... some sort of hold on him. Like you do with Squiggles. I knew at least when I was aware and here that he was here and he wasn't able to do what he wanted, whatever it was he wanted to do, he's untethered now... if someone gets hurt because of him... because I let him loose on the world... I don't know if I could..."

I can ask, and tease Anders. They go hand in hand don't you know. Amusement in his voice. Approving of the way the mage relaxed against him. only for mild frustration to chase the feeling. Frustration that was not his at hearing his pet name for neifion.His attention spilt in soothing the pride demon. The last thing he wanted was for Niefion to feel the need to make himself known. The pride demon was one to get into an endless debate with his husband and it could be exhausting on a good day. I am not Squiggles. No, he reminded him he was not he was the endless vast expanse of knowledge and hedonism set to consume whatever he desired.
 
we can not do anything about it right now. Right now you need to heal. You need to rest. I will look in to it, yes? Otherwise your face is going to get stuck with that worried crease of your's and your body is going to get tense. I can't have that.

”You do like to tease me, Mr. Vaughn,” he said, pressing his forehead against Gefen’s. Anders knew the pride demon didn’t like the little nickname he’d given him when he occupied a cat deep in the bowels of the Circle. He could see the frustration pass by his husband’s face. He’d know Gefen and Niefion enough now to know who’s frustration that really was. ”Now don’t pout Niefion, you know I only tease you because I like you so much. Ask anyone. If I’m not teasing someone it means I don’t respect them.” he winked at his husband and settled in a bit more completely on the bed.

”Oh? You can’t have that huh? And what would you do if I just tensed all up. Hmm?” he grinned and moved to go kiss him more fully, hovering over top of him, ”How did I luck out? My husband is the most handsome man int all of Thedas and the most intelligent, and the most charming…” he punctuated each compliment with a kiss along his jaw and neck.

I do. He saw no reason to deny he loved driving his husband to distraction. The whispering in his ear and seemingly innocent touches. Words the weaved and twisted. He was by far taken with his mind. The sharp thing that it was, racing ahead as it did to out strip his mouth. Although his mouth always caught up. Hence all the trouble his husband got into.

His easy smile sharpened of the briefest of moment as neifion saw fit to respond to him. He sniffed in disdain and was gone just as fast when Anders picked up with questioning Gefen. I could do any number of things-   His thought cut off by the kiss he found himself ensnared in.  Delighted with that.  For  moment he thought about flipping the tables. It would be as simple as hooking his leg over his hip and a quick motion. Instead he let himself relax. His eyes closed. You grew on me. Like a lichen or a very grumbly marbari. Hm, no an incessant yowling tomcat. Right in my ear alll the time.

There was no heat to any of what he was saying. at somepoint I had to pick you up to quiet you my dear.