Winter

[phouka]

The Phouka was lonely. He flew about the city in his Raven-self, observing mortals to try to find something that would catch his attention. The prince was quiet and rarely came out of his room, leaving the Phouka to bring him shiny trinkets. He didn't even have Keat's companionship.

This was, in his opinion, ridiculous.

He went to the hotel, Man-shaped, and he found Finlay's room. Riding the lift he knew he wanted only to see Winter. He did not care for the troubles between the prince and his love. He did not care. He cared only for Winter and he missed the pixie's light and company. So he found himself at the door and he knocked, hoping it would be Winter who answered.

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[winter_wisp]

Winter looked shocked, genuinely and utterly shocked. He had known it was something bad, but this was nothing he would have guessed.

"He traded him? Made a bargain of..."

The pixie shuddered, and the room felt colder for it.

"I will claw his eyes out, and feed them to Keats."

[phouka]

"I fear he would let you," the creature replied, his voice softer. "I fear for them both, Winter."

He moved closer still, his arms around the pixie. It was cold and he shivered, but thought nothing of it. Winter was, after all, like his name at times.

[winter_wisp]

Winter returned the embrace, angry, but slowly relaxing into Phouka's hold.

"I just want everything to be how it was. All of us together. Fighting and happy," he confessed, his voice little more than a whisper.

[phouka]

"I want that, too. I miss our family. I miss it messy and loud and I miss our peaceful times. I miss us all together against the world. This all feels very wrong. I do not know why the prince would be so horrible. Despicable. Finlay is right to leave him- though neither of them are happy, I think," he said, his hold relaxing a little as he felt the weight of Winter against him.

[winter_wisp]

"Maybe it's time we leave them both," Winter said softly. "Maybe we should get our own flat."

[phouka]

"I think I would like that," he replied. Then he whined softly and bent his head low to bury his nose in Winter's curls. "...Perhaps we could go home. You could make me a potion and we could be small in your pixie village until the end of our days?"

[winter_wisp]

"Oh, Phouka," Winter said softly, feeling for the other creature. "I couldn't. Not now. Even if we cut ties, we are still part of Fin and Will's war. They would come for us, my village would be in danger."

[phouka]

"I am sorry. I did not think of that," he said then, and slowly pulled away so he could look Winter in the eyes.

"I do not want to be part of their war," the Phouka decided. "No one has come since Fin left. Have they? No one has come for the prince or for me."

[winter_wisp]

"No one yet," Winter replied honestly, stroking Phouka's cheek. "That doesn't mean it's over though, Phouka."

[phouka]

The Phouka's eyes were deep and dark and infinitely sad.

"Can it be over just for today?" he asked. "Can we climb into bed and pull the covers up and pretend it is all as it was?"

[winter_wisp]

"No, Phouka," Winter said softly. "But we can still go to bed. We can be close. We can face reality together, Phouka. It'll be less frightening that way."

[phouka]

"You are grown," he said quietly. He did not know what that meant or what significance it might have. The creature only knew that there had been far too much change, and all too fast.

[winter_wisp]

Cupping the other creature's face in his hands, he leaned in and kissed him softly.

"Yes," he whispered between kisses. "Grown. At least nearly, I think. There might be more to come I suppose. It don't know. ...That's exciting. Not knowing."

[phouka]

"Yes," he agreed, chasing Winter's kisses. With his eyes closed he could indulge in the peace of such a simple act. He need not worry or fear, he needed only to kiss Winter and breathe him in and pull him closer with strong hands on the curve of his waist.

[winter_wisp]

"You should take me to bed," Winter whispered. "Carry me to bed, and let's be beasts. Raw and bare beneath the covers. Let us be wicked and sinful creatures, Phouka."

[phouka]

The Phouka growled softly and smiled, then lifted Winter off the floor. He kissed him again as he walked to the bedroom. He always appreciated when Winter was willing to do more than touch or simply be close.

"I like you grown," he said as he set the pixie down at the edge of the bed. Then he began to undress himself, never taking his eyes off of Winter.

[winter_wisp]

"Good, I like being grown," Winter assured him, leaning back and admiring the Phouka as he stripped.

"You're beautiful, Phouka," he said softly. "I could look at you forever. ...Maybe I will."

[phouka]

"I would like that very much," he said warmly, then his eyes widened. "I have learned a new trick with my appearance, would you like to see?"

[winter_wisp]

"Really?" Winter asked, his brows raising. "Oh, yes, I'd love to see!"

He sat up a bit straighter, kicking off his shoes and pulling his feet up onto the bed.

[phouka]

The Phouka closed his eyes and concentrated, then he shook his head. His hair vanished, replaced instead by long black feathers. It, of course, had no practical application, but he rather liked how it looked and how the feathers ruffled.

"I have not tried to grow a tail yet, but I will."

[winter_wisp]

"Oh!" Winter gasped, getting to his feet and moving closer to inspect them.

"I don't know about a tail, tails get in the way, don't you think? The feathers are... Well, they're different. You're very handsome though Phouka, no matter what's on your head."

[phouka]

He smiled with pride and let Winter admire him for a bit, before shaking his head again and his hair returned to what it normally was.

"It may get in the way," he agreed. "But I would like to try. Just to see if I can."

[winter_wisp]

"You are so strange, Phouka," Winter laughed. "I like it very much."

[phouka]

"I am not strange!" he insisted with a laugh, returning to the business of undressing.

[winter_wisp]

"You are," Winter assured him. "That's okay though, I'm strange too Phouka."

Winter watched a moment longer, admiring the perfectly sculpted body of the Phouka before pulling his own shirt off over his head. His wardrobe was still subdued, a deep plumb shirt and dark black jeans, but a bit of the child remained in the long necklace that hung around his neck that featured a small pirate ship.