Silver Linings (Mikasi and Dart)

[Kender Bard]

Mikasi left with Dart, waiting until they'd gotten near to the heart of Sanctuary. ~I actually have a little place of my own~ he said and led Dart to the small house. As soon as they were within and he'd shut the door, he stepped close to Dart and tried to draw him into a tight hug. ~I think it's worth repeating that I'm very, very glad you didn't put yourself forward. I don't know what I'd do without you, Dart.~

[Darastrix]

Dart went into the embrace easily, wrapping his own arms around the other man.  He almost couldn't believe he--well, they--had let things go unresolved for so long.  Sure, there had been the recent events, but this predated the demon problem by an uncomfortably large margin.  He'd said once that he didn't want to rush into things, since that was what had happened with him and Kris, but this had kind of gone beyond taking things slow.

"I don't know what I'd do without you," he murmured, resting his forehead against Mikasi's.  Aside from crying an being generally inconsolable.  "I feel like...maybe we've both been going on as though we have all the time in the world to do things, to say things, but we don't." 

Ray's death ought to have hammered that lesson home, but somehow it hadn't; call it denial or resilience.  But the thought that all that needed to happen was for Mikasi to step forward and he could be gone the next day....  Yeah, that would do it.

[Kender Bard]

~You're right~ Mikasi said. ~Absolutely right.~ His arms tightened around Dart and he felt his heart pounding like a drum in his chest. For a moment, his mouth went dry. Funny that; not like he needed it.

He took a deep breath and moved back, moving his hands to rest on Dart's shoulders instead as he looked the other man steadily, his face furrowed into a serious frown. He... Was hopeful. Signs were pointing to things going the way he dared hope. But he still didn't want to be wrapped up in the other man's arms in case he was grossly misreading Dart.

~A while ago I made my feelings for you clear~ he said. ~You are, and will always be, no matter what, my best friend. But what I said in the past still remains. I still feel more than just friendship for you.~ He blushed, unable to stop the reaction and feeling a little foolish for it. But he still bravely plowed on. ~I love you, Dart.~

[Darastrix]

Dart blinked and bit the inside of his lip nervously at Mikasi's expression.  He couldn't tell whether the frown was a good thing or not. On the one hand, it was a serious conversation.  On the other hand, shouldn't it be more happy-serious?  He wanted things to go that way, but what if he'd waited too long?  He almost wished he were an empath so he might be able to pick up some clue, but with Mikasi's skill, it was unlikely anything would be slipping past his shields for him to pick up.

Then Mikasi began to speak, and Dart felt a tension he hadn't noticed before beginning to drain from his shoulders  Best friend...more than a friend.  It was happy-serious, and he couldn't have stopped the smile splitting his face if he'd tried.  Love.  Mikasi loved him.  And if it hadn't changed while they'd been going about and not addressing it, he doubted it would.  "Mikasi," he breathed, raising a hand to cup his cheek.  "I feel the same way; I'm in love with my best friend."

~And I would really like it if you'd move your hands so I can close the gap and kiss you.~

[Kender Bard]

Mikasi's frown immediately transformed into a bright grin that filled his face with a fierce joy. He moved his hands down and around the other man again and leaned in to kiss him. And not a chaste kiss either--it was the urgent, passionate kiss of a man who'd been holding back what he longed to do for a very, very long time.

[Darastrix]

Dart was taken by surprise at the passion in the other man's response. Between Mikasi's general manner and his job, he'd expected something softer, more gentle. He was far from complaining, though, and met the kiss with equal ardor as he fairly melted against him. He wished they hadn't taken so long to get to that point, but the important thing was that they had.

~We are going to have to make up for lost time with lots of this,~ he informed the other Mind.

[Kender Bard]

Mikasi interrupted the kiss with a soundless, breathy chuckle, shivering with it in Dart's arm. ~Yes, you're right.~ His arms tightened and brushed his lips lightly against Dart's neck. ~And with more than just a few kisses as well.~

A small part of him was conflicted. This wasn't terribly a happy day for most people. But it was easy to brush that thought away. All that mattered, this moment, was that he and Dart were happy. Though his kisses had been passionate, he moved his fingertips to brush back the other man's bangs in a very tender, very affectionate touch. Mikasi wanted it all. He wanted the passion and heat of lust, and he wanted the tenderness and love that would come with far more gentle moments. He wanted it all and all at the same time.

~I don't know what to do with you first~ he remarked with an impish grin. ~I want you. ALL of you. In all the ways I can.~

[Darastrix]

At the sensation of lips on his neck, Dart’s own lips parted with a quiet exclamation that was more breath than sound, and he tipped his head to the side in invitation. For his part, he was more than happy to push the day’s events aside. He didn’t want to dwell on what his task would be tomorrow; he wanted to enjoy himself now, with someone he loved, and this was a good start.

His eyes fluttered partly closed when his bangs were brushed back and he gave Mikasi a gentle smile that widened as he spoke. There was a reason he was a sensory specialist; he loved sensations, new and familiar, and he enjoyed sharing what felt good. And if Mikasi meant what he thought, it sounded as though there might be plenty of new sensation to be had soon.

“Then let’s start slow and work our way up,” Dart murmured, leaning in to trace the curve of Mikasi’s ear with his tongue. “I, ah, am not nearly as experienced with this sort of thing as one might think,” he added, flushing faintly at the admission. He’d flirted. He’d flirted a lot. He’d kissed and teased. But until this point, his lovers had all been women, despite being almost equally attracted to men. Bestiamens hadn’t been the best place for that sort of thing. Neither had Sensatia, though there were more chances for it those days.

[Kender Bard]

Mikasi shuddered at the sensation on his ear. ~That works for me. I think it'll be a VERY fun way to pass the time getting know you all over again.~ He cocked a brow and smirked at his little double entendre. ~And I think you'll find me very receptive.~

He put his eagerness in check and kissed Dart full on the lips again, this time a little less fiercely. One hand hand moved to the back of his head, stroking down his hair and neck slowly with his fingertips. His mind softly brushed against Dart's as well, more affectionate than anything. He'd wait before delving into the secondary world of pleasure that their signs could permit.

[Darastrix]

Dart sighed into the kiss with a little shiver, sliding his hands up Mikasi's back to toy with the hair at the nape of his neck.  At the touch against his mind, he closed his eyes and lowered his shields a little, reaching for Mikasi's mind in return to caress.  ~Receptive, mmm?  I can share anything you do if you want,~ he murmured, giving a little taste of the almost-ticklish feeling of Mikasi's fingers on his neck.

[Kender Bard]

Mikasi's shoulders raised and he tried to rub the back of his neck abruptly, trembling with amusement. ~That's fun though a little unexpected.~ Grinning, he hugged Dart close and kissed his the side of his head, near his eye. ~I won't turn it down, though. Keep doing that.~ He moved his mouth closer to Dart's ear and nibbled on his earlobe.

[Darastrix]

"Sensory mind, remember?" Dart said with a light laugh.  "The only downside is it--mmm...."  He tried to pull Mikasi closer as he shared how it felt to have his ear nibbled on while he traced a finger around Mikasi's to double the sensation.  "It gets harder to concentrate the better something feels."  Some Minds might be able to consciously share sensation even after things got intense, but it tended to blow his concentration, though accidental sharing was occasionally a side-effect.

[Kender Bard]

Mikasi shivered again. ~Cheat~ he told Dart with amusement. ~Of course, I do have this...~ As his lips moved to Dart's neck, sucking a little with each kiss, his own mind did more than brush Dart's. This time it was as if the other man had taken his hand and trailed his fingertips through something within Dart that no physical hand could touch.

[Darastrix]

That completely derailed Dart's concentration.  The other Mind seemed to freeze in Mikasi's arms, his breath catching in his throat.  He'd done his fair share of mental play with lovers--sensation, sharing emotion, mutual mental caresses--but nobody had ever pulled that trick on him before.  Even his surface thoughts had fizzled out for a moment, replaced with wordless pleasure and the desire for more.

After the kneejerk reaction of nghyes, Dart drew back a little, looking at Mikasi with wide eyes and an almost disbelieving smile.  "H-how did you--  What did you--  And you called me a cheat?"

[Kender Bard]

Mikasi couldn't help but laugh again... And with a look of satisfied smugness. ~We're both cheats~ he admitted, and drew out of his arms, holding his hand and trying to coax him to another room. With a slight raising of his brows, added, ~I think we should take the time to compare notes.~