The title's meaning is a bit hard to understand, sorry about that, it just seemed to fit. *sweatdrops*
Happy Birthday Alice! *cackles and ties a big red bow on Marzio* ^.^
-Delilah
Shielded in Broken Armours
Free
by Delilah deSora
He'd always considered the bed to be excessively large for one person. Now he was desperately trying to find even the smallest piece of open bed and failing miserably. It was surprising, he mused, that one man could take up so much space. In fact not only did Marzio manage to take up the whole bed, sprawled as he was, his wingtips even dangled over the edge, the carefully embroidered coverlets hidden beneath the equally carefully crafted Angelian.
A firm poke to the outer edge of a wing resulted in only a grunt and a languid, sorry attempt at a shooing flap that ended in the long outer feathers being tucked under the wing and freeing up a very small sliver of bed.
Figuring that it was at least some progress he pushed at the heavy quilt of feathers until he encountered a broad shoulder that refused to be budged.
Still he pushed anyway until a cloak of feathers draped over his head and he blinked in the sudden darkness. Sighing in mock frustration Ignis leaned forward and bit down on his lover's warm flesh.
That got a reaction and he laughed as his lover lumbered over a bit with all the dignity of a put out feline forced to interrupt his nap to make room. However, before he could claim victory an arm caught him about the neck and he cursed as he tipped over the edge and fell face first onto the bed. Marzio practically flopped down on top of him and, as far as Ignis could tell, went back to sleep.
"Get off me, you oaf!" He hissed, struggling under the weight of muscles, bones, and a very wide pair of wings.
Marzio said nothing but a lullaby vibrated in his chest as he hummed it ostentatiously to himself.
Grinning evilly Ignis managed to free his left arm and grabbed for the soft downy feathers at the base of his lover's wing. There was a muffled grunt and the wing twitched. A few fingers digging into the joint where wing joined back rewarded him with laughter until Marzio's left arm folded under him, trapping his arms to his side as he flopped back down.
Growling Ignis bucked and twisted, trying to free himself but Marzio outweighed him and he couldn't find enough purchase to break free. There was a sound, muffled by Marzio's body that stilled him momentarily. Stifled though it was it was still clear enough for him to recognize a horrified apology and the sound of somebody wearing hard-heeled military boots fleeing the room.
Pressing his forehead into the soft cover Ignis closed his eyes. "Great. Now I won't be able to look him in the eye without remembering this."
Marzio laughed. "Oh I think Owen's going to have the harder time with it. After all, you didn't have to recognize him by his butt while his legs were flailing off the floor while he was under another man trapped on his bed."
Ignis' eyes narrowed. "You're dead meat." He renewed his efforts but, to his chagrin, Marzio refused to budge.
"No, no, keep it up!" Marzio murmured when he took a moment to regain his breath and strength, "You squirming around like that makes certain parts of me very happy."
Rolling his eyes Ignis managed to jab his shoulder up into Marzio's chest, earning a grunt. "Me walking down the hall makes certain parts of you happy."
Marzio shrugged. "It's that cute sashay your hips do when you walk. I can't help it if it's sexy."
Ignis felt his face heat as he flushed. "I do not sashay!" He protested, giving his lover a few more jabs for good measure. "Now get off me. I have a birthday party to implement and attend."
He was released and Ignis rolled over and sat up, but, before he could he could stand, Marzio caught him by the collar and dragged him down onto his back, pinning him once more. Burgundy eyes glared as Marzio lounged over him, picking at the ties of his shirt.
"What are you doing?" He demanded as the knot came free and Marzio began pulling them loose.
"Well it's your birthday... so why aren't you in your birthday suit?"
"Birthday... suit... stop!" He yelped, blinded momentarily by his own shirt as Marzio pushed it up. Lips touched his navel and he shuddered as large hands caught his hips and held him still.
Tracing the quivering muscles with a fingertip Marzio skimmed his teeth over a delicately arched collarbone. When Ignis managed to dredge up enough indignation to make a token attempt to escape he pounced on a dusky nipple, earning a shuddering sigh as Ignis relaxed. Smiling against his lover's pale skin he amused himself with the hardening flesh.
"So, what do you want for your birthday?" he asked conversationally, as though his hands weren't tormenting him cruelly.
Ignis snorted, black wings twitching on the soft thin summer covers. "Isn't it a bit late to be asking that?"
Marzio grinned and returned to ravaging the prince's taunt stomach. "Mmm depends."
"On?"
A palm pressed against the juncture between his legs, making him grit his teeth and his wings spread wide, feathers trembling as he gasped. When he regained his wits he glared balefully at his lover. "It is not a present if you get it every night," he teased with mock seriousness.
Marzio shrugged and sat up. "If you don't want what I have to give..." He turned and took a single step before strong arms wrapped about him and made him stumble back onto the bed.
"You started it and now it is for you to finish." Ignis hissed into his ear, making him shiver as sharp teeth nipped at the shell of his ear.
"If you insist." He replied, turning in Ignis' arms and catching his lips with his own.
There were times for soft touches and sweet words and times for a more desperate form of love. As Marzio buried his fingers in the silken red strands of the man who met his dominance with his own, he knew immediately which form would be most gratifying for both of them.
He nearly missed the blow his lover sent his way but a part of him had been expecting it and he just barely managed to catch the Dreak's wrist and use his momentum to pin it to the other. Shifting his weight he rode the struggling man down, grinning from where he straddled the scowling Demon's hips.
"Next time don't give in so easily, that always makes me suspicious," he chided, grinning at Ignis' annoyed snort.
"I can't spend all morning playing in bed with you. I have things to do." Ignis protested.
Marzio just smiled. "That's nice." As Ignis growled he bent and nipped at his throat. "While you finish making the proper excuses I'll just amuse myself until the selfish part of you manages to tell the prince part to take a flying leap off a crumbling cliff."
"Damn it, Marzio," Ignis hissed, trying to ignore the interesting things his lover was doing to his neck. He shuddered and it send a zing of pure lust right to the parts of him that needed the incentive the least, "Stop this," he growled but when Marzio's free hand pressed against the junction between his legs he arched into the touch, panting.
Marzio pulled back, white teeth flashing as he grinned. "Not long to wait now, I think."
Ignis surged up, easily breaking his lover's hold upon him. His hands caught the waist of Marzio's pants, pulling their bodies together tightly. "Alright, we'll do what you want. But it's going to be fast."
Marzio's smile turned sly. "I can live with that."
Lunging forward Ignis captured his lover's lips with his own, pushing against him so hard teeth clashed against lip, making them ache and throb as the two men devoured each other. Absently Ignis clawed at his lover's pants, leaving scratches upon Marzio's flesh as he struggled to remove them. Neither were willing to part for even the briefest moment as they fought against their cloth bindings but finally they were free of them and Ignis dragged Marzio down atop him on the cool covers.
His feathers scrapped across the embroidery, the minute drag on his wings as he spread them wide in pleasure drawing his lust drenched consciousness back to the present. He ran his hands over his lover's body, thrilling at the soft skin hiding hard muscles that flowed beneath his hands. Marzio's wings mantled over him, blocking the light and the room from his vision so that, for a time, there was only his desires and his lover to fulfil them.
And then, with a sliver of pain that was quickly drowned out in pleasure they were one.
Gasping, Ignis threw back his head, his back arching off the bed as he cried out in triumph. Marzio's guttural growl met his cry and he met his lover's eyes. They clung to each other, hands and teeth marking pale skin as they came together time and again. For a precious moment Ignis thought nothing of his responsibilities or of what fate demanded of him. For a time he was nothing more than a creature of the earth as his spirit spread its wings and soared higher.
They came to the zenith of their pleasure and soft feathers folded about their vulnerable bodies as they peaked and crashed down together where they held each other in the soothing nadir of desire.
With a wide yawn Ignis cracked open his eyes, momentarily confused when all remained dark. For a horrible moment he thought he'd slept through the entire day, through the celebration for his own birthday and he shot up. There was a strange cracking sound followed by a yelp and the darkness slid away to reveal the room. At his side Marzio nursed his wing, struggling to stroke the joint where the wing joined back and where the crack had come from.
Abashed at his abruptness Ignis stroked it for him, an apology fast upon his lips.
Marzio groaned and made a show of leaning into the stroking, making Ignis laugh.
"I need to go now," he stated, sliding from the bed.
Marzio made no move to stop him, only watching as he hunted for the remains of his clothing. Pulling on the rumpled fabric Ignis noticed the self-satisfied grin on his lover's face. Rolling his eyes he fished his boots from under the bed. "You know, you don't have to be so obvious at your pleasure over making me late." He scolded teasingly.
His lover grinned and stretched, showing off his body and forcing Ignis to turn away from the view lest he be even later. "I shall try to keep my feelings at bay during the ceremony," he replied furtively.
Ignis heard him rise but before he could turn a pair of wings wrapped about him, herding him back against his lover's body. Lips touched his neck and he shivered. "Just remember," Marzio murmured as his fingers traced the circular tattoo on the prince's back, "to keep your feelings at bay today too even though you know every moment I'll be remembering you decked out properly for your birthday."
Flushing Ignis pulled away from him, shivering at the lascivious look he received. "And your people call my people evil," he hissed.
Marzio's wings flapped languidly, framing his naked form as he grinned. "Happy birthday, your majesty," he teased.
Ignis fled but not before Marzio gave him a lewd wink and an eloquent bow. He sighed when he realized that he would be reminded of it when every one of his guests did the same while presenting him his gift. However he found he couldn't keep the grin that betrayed his happiness from curving across his lips.
"Happy birthday, indeed," he murmured, imagining the gift he knew would be waiting for him upon his return.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I had to be free
Had to be free
From feelings that haunted
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The above lyrics are from a song by Sarah Brightman. Basically what they mean (and the title of the fic) comes from my personal feeling that Ignis (like most good rulers) occasionally feels trapped in what he's doing and loses himself in the role as "Prince". I could be totally wrong but this is my own person view. Basically what Marzio (and other characters that Ignis considers close friends) give him is a chance to be himself, not a figurehead and politician. I think this is the best birthday present (well that and Marzio's naked body ain't too shabby either ~.^).
Characters copyright Alice Montrose