LABYRINTHUM INBOX II

[placation]

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post-sleepr @ the windmill

[abandonhumanity]

[It's all candlelight, just like Eren remembers in his earliest, quietest memories. Maruki and he are tangled again, ever tangled, limbs and breath and souls. Eren has whispered that promise again a hundred times. He takes Maruki's lips in his, kisses sweetly, slowly.]

I love you. I've missed you. [Here, in their empty world.]

HEHEHEHE LET'S GOOOOO

[placation]

[ It feels like it's been too long since they were last here, even if it's only been a few weeks. Maruki's sure that would be the case even if the world hadn't been plunged into darkness; he's been reluctant to leave the machiya or the farm for fear of being too far from Akechi and losing sight of him once again. That anxiety persists on a low simmer in the windmill, so far from being able to keep an eye on him, but it's something he'll have to get used to. He can't hover, can't smother, as much as he might wish he could.

But those nervous thoughts are finally pushed far from his mind when Eren pulls him in close, kisses him like there's nothing else in their empty world that matters. Maruki traces his fingers lightly up and down his spine, shivers at those beautiful, honest words. ]

I've missed you, too. Even though I'm with you every day.

[ It's different, being here. ]

Thank you for taking a night off.

[abandonhumanity]

It's different. [Eren says it out loud.]

This place...

[It isn't the place, really, but the knowledge that only he and Maruki will ever enter it. No one has disturbed their peace thus far. Eren feels this Windmill is more his than that farm.

[He kisses Maruki again, sighing through his nose.]

It's different.

[placation]

It's different...

[ A soft echo of agreement as he lets words fall by the wayside to melt into the kiss. Despite the persistent cold and darkness outside these walls, all the extra candles they've brought in for fortification means the windmill is warmer than usual. The next time his hand runs down Eren's back, he slips it up beneath the hem of his shirt, squeezing appreciatively at the broad muscles that were on display in that photo. ]

[abandonhumanity]

[Eren is always thinking about Maruki's hands. He's gotten to know the feel of them in his own palm, or scratching circles on his back, soothing him to sleep. It's rare to feel them slip under his clothes while his tongue slips into Maruki's mouth, and Eren is desperately grateful, pressing his body closer up against his Other's and locking their ankles together.

[He breaks away to breathe:]

I like it when you touch me.

[placation]

[ A bright flush flares over his cheeks, the force of his smile crinkling up his eyes as he pulls his head back just enough to be able to see Eren clearly without having to cross them. ]

I couldn't help it just now. You've been on my mind...

[ That damn picture... ]

[abandonhumanity]

Have I?

[It sounds too coy to be coming from Eren. That damn picture. He runs nails lightly over Maruki's temple and ducks in to kiss him again.]

Eat it up, then.

[placation]

[ A soft, needy noise muffles in the back of Maruki's throat at that, a kneejerk reaction entirely outside his control.

Both arms wrap around Eren now, both palms searching up underneath his shirt to feel out the planes of his back, fingers exploring every dip and swell of his muscles. By contrast, his kisses stay sweet and tame, pecking gently against Eren's lips, his chin, the tip of his nose. ]

I just... I like how strong you are. I always have.

[abandonhumanity]

[Maruki couldn't choose better words, and they're all the more effective for how earnest they are. Eren feels a swell of pride inside of him, haughty and conceited.]

I am strong. [He purrs it into a kiss.] I could carry you on one arm.

[placation]

[ The noise that gets muffled by the next kiss is something between a gasp and a laugh. Maruki clutches at shoulder blade, thumb stroking along a rigid line of muscle there. ]

One arm? Could you really?

[abandonhumanity]

Yeah. [This time, it's a growl, not a purr. Eren wraps one strong arm around Maruki and squeeze tight.]

Or I could throw you over my shoulder.

[placation]

[ Oh?

Maruki rears his head back enough to make solid eye contact with Eren, brows raised, lips quirked in a coy smile. ]

I don't believe you.

[abandonhumanity]

[Eren raises his eyebrows.]

Get up.

[He's getting up. He's getting up right now-- Actually, Maruki doesn't have to get up. Eren simply wraps both arms around his middle and hauls him right over.]

[placation]

[ Just like that, he's up! He's up, and he's slung over Eren's shoulder, and as a shocked laugh jolts out of him, he remembers– ]

Wait, you've done this to me before! I think you have... we were rather drunk, though...

[abandonhumanity]

We're not drunk this time. I'm taking you down the ladder.

[He's bluffing, but he does start to go for it.]

[placation]

H-hold on!

[ Does he trust Eren with his life? Yes. Is he also now scrambling a bit, clinging to any part of him he can reach to try to make him see reason? Also yes. ]

Let's stay up here...

[abandonhumanity]

[Eren laughs from his chest, and it's so impossibly light, overjoyed by Maruki's company alone. He swings Maruki around a couple of times, then lowers him (gently) back onto the makeshift bed.

[He flops down beside him, immediately tangling their legs again.]

Keep scratching my back...

[placation]

[ By the time his back has a soft landing on their nest, he's laughing too, airy and musical, more from hearing Eren laugh than anything else. He rolls onto his side, cups his face to kiss him–

Then lets his hands drift down to tug at the hem of Eren's shirt. ]

It would be easier if you took this off...

[ His cheeks go pink, despite all that they've shared. ]

Just this.

[abandonhumanity]

[Maruki pumps the brakes, as he always does, but Eren doesn't mind. He understands. What happened in their empty world was sacred, and he doesn't expect it to happen again - not...necessarily, anyway.

[Still, he likes to be bare in front of Maruki, even in the cold. He pulls his shirt off, and he's all twitching muscle, sneaking closer, burning warm in the chilly room.]

There.

[placation]

[ All the air in his lungs exhales softly as Eren bares himself, the candlelight making shadows flicker across the planes of his chest. He knows he isn't the only one to see him like this, and–

That's why he waits. That's why he'll be patient. In that empty world, he was the only one. If Eren truly does return to Tokyo with him, he will be the only one. Until then, as desperately as he wants to, as often as he thinks of it– he won't. Can't, or his heart will shatter in his chest, even more tender now that it's been changed.

This is enough. Curling close to Eren, absorbing his warmth, hooking an arm around him to scratch gentle fingers up and down his back is enough. Maruki nuzzles in close, smiling, whispering. ]

I love you. Keep asking for what you want, please...

[abandonhumanity]

[Eren inhales through his nose, slow and easy. He envelopes Maruki, every limb. He wants it all, one day, but Maruki already knows that. He sounds pleased when he finally does come up with something, voice sighed.]

I want to kiss you. Thanks for letting me kiss you.

[placation]

[ Letting him, as if it isn't the greatest, most shocking joy of his life every time it happens...

They're so close, his lips brush Eren's when he speaks, hand coming to rest up over his nape for the moment. ]

Then kiss me.

[abandonhumanity]

[What beautiful words when spoken in that voice. It's true that others see Eren bare, and that they kiss him, but not the way Maruki sees him, not the way Maruki kisses him. He really is unique in all the world.

[Eren yearns for an eternity in that empty place.

[He kisses Maruki, slow and warm, wet, alive. His hands brush through his Other's hair, fingers tickling down his nape, a warm hand over his own. It's enough to make him shudder, that sensation, so he shudders right into another kiss, a small sound escaping his throat.]

[placation]

[ Every soft movement of Eren's lips against his own, every noise he can't bite back, every shiver of his skin beneath Maruki's gentle hands– it all blankets his mind like thick snow, quiets all the parts that can get too loud. He melts against Eren, calm and easy, lips parting to let him lick into his mouth and fingers trailing lightly over the tense muscle of his shoulders.

He really could do this, nothing but this, for hours on end. ]

NSFW-ish here down

[abandonhumanity]

[Eren could too. As much as he may dream of that empty world, wake up aching and wanting for Maruki, throbbing to be inside of him, he really would be content if all they ever did was kiss, lick into each other's mouths, breathe in tandem.

[He really would. If that's what makes Maruki happy, then he really would.

[But it's difficult. It doesn't take much to make Eren hard - not when it comes to Maruki, anyway. He grunts into their kiss, tongue twisting over Maruki's, lips wrapping around the tip and sucking. He puts a hand on the man's hip, slips warm fingers just under the hem of his shirt.]