victory_road | Arrival; [Video]

Felix braces himself as though he's expecting an enemy attack, feeling his hackles rise to protect him from the fear of rejection. But even before Sylvain says a word, he's taking Felix's hand, and that has to be a good sign, right? He's not leaving, that's the important part, and he doesn't look disgusted or offended.

Now that Sylvain's getting a closer look, he can see that the ring isn't just a plain band. It's made not of gold, but of a strong, black metal, and it's embedded with small gems; some of their meanings are more obvious, like the ones that are the color of Sylvain's hair and the ones that are Gautier red. The others are some kind of purple stone that Sylvain wouldn't recognize as fragments of a Dusk Stone.

I don't need a ring, Sylvain says, and Felix would be lying if he said he wasn't disappointed, but he can understand that. He can deal with it, for Sylvain's sake. It...does hurt to feel like they're stepping backwards in their relationship, that Sylvain might not want to commit to so much anymore, but he'll get over it. The important thing is being with him.

...but Sylvain keeps talking, and he says 'yet.' Felix looks up at him, eyes slightly wide, hoping he doesn't look like some silly urchin waiting for Santa to arrive on Christmas night or something. And then Sylvain says, 'it's not that I don't love you, and from his perspective they've only been together for a few hours but he's already using that word, and Felix can tell that this is sincere. Sylvain isn't humoring him, or trying to spare his feelings. He means it.

Felix keeps listening, and when Sylvain is finished, he leans forward to pull the other man into a tight hug again. "It's not horrible. It's sensible. You need time to think it over. I've thrown a lot of curveballs at you." Whoops - he's forgotten that none of the others from Fodlan have any idea what a 'curveball' is. Ah well. It doesn't occur to him that the Felix of a year ago probably wouldn't have accepted this so easily or had the words to express why he doesn't need to give Sylvain 'a chance,' because he will always have endless chances.

"I just want to be 'us,' too." He pulls back again, just enough to look Sylvain in the eye so he can show him the absolute certainty behind what he says next: "I love you, Sylvain. Ring or not."

So he doesn't know what a curveball is precisely. But the name and context clues give him enough not to question it beyond a soft snort of amusement. Which melds into a pleased sigh. His arms curl tightly around Felix in turn.

What he's most grateful for is that Felix doesn't fight him on this. It's probably the benefit of understanding exactly why Sylvain is apprehensive of marriage in general. Also the fact that apparently the Sylvain from before worked past it. In truth, it puts Sylvain himself at ease. Maybe he can't handle it now, or even fathom how, but somewhere down the line, maybe it won't make him flinch. If it makes Felix happy, Sylvain thinks it'll be worth it in the end.

Reluctant to let go, Sylvain is happy to linger close when Felix says he loves him. He hadn't exactly meant to use that word earlier, but it had slipped so naturally. Really, he's always loved Felix. He's loved him so long it feels strange to consider a time when he didn't. It just took a while to understand his feelings ran deeper and differently than only 'best friend.' Admitting it aloud to Felix himself was far easier than Sylvain imagined. Having the sentiment returned so sincerely, Felix holding his gaze and all, leaves a blooming warmth in his chest.

"Thank you," he gusts out, the relief plain in his tone and expression. He should probably say more, but he thinks Felix will understand how much it truly means to him on just that.

Sylvain brings a hand up, brushing along the line of Felix's jaw. An affectionate touch meant to coax Felix to tilt his head just so.

"I'd still like that kiss if you're offering."

Felix does understand; Sylvain didn't have to say anything at all to ensure that. He smiles and leans into Sylvain's hand. "Hmph. I'm not offering, I'm demanding."

He straightens up on his knees so he can lean down, arms still wrapped around Sylvain's neck, and kiss him. Usually, Felix kisses like he does anything else - hard and fast, almost aggressive, like a challenge. Now, though, he takes his time. It's still firm and sure, still passionate, but slow and indulgent, too. It's for both their sakes, really - this is the first time he's been able to kiss Sylvain in months and he wants it to last, dammit.

It doesn't take long for him to coax Sylvain into parting his lips so they can deepen it. If the other man doesn't care about taking it slow, then hell if Felix is going to bother. He also doesn't bother to hold back with his intimate knowledge of exactly what Sylvain likes in a kiss.

Sylvain finally finds some boldness with his hands, and settles on Felix's hips. He squeezes gently against the curve of them, thumbs rolling over the crest of bone. That's nice. Feels like he's wanted to do that for ages, even when he tried not to let himself consider it.

Speaking of things he's always wanted: Felix kissing him actually shorts out any worrying thought. Lidded eyes flutter shut, a soft sound accompanying their kiss. The exhaustion of the day melds into the slow, lazy way he just enjoys the taste and feel of him. It leaves him warm and buzzing for more, so he's eager to explore Felix's mouth with greedy intent. While his mouth is occupied, he hands tug Felix by the hips to be flush up against him. Anything to keep as little space between them as possible.

Felix doesn't need much encouragement to press close to Sylvain, and gladly. There's a part of him that wants to just forgo any more conversation and do nothing but this for the rest of the night, but there is one important question he hasn't asked yet.

So eventually, and reluctantly, he breaks the kiss with a quiet sigh, running his fingers idly through Sylvain's hair and staying pressed up against him. "I have a question. Do you want to know about the things you don't remember? I could tell you about the first time we did this, or the first time we did more than this, or how we...got engaged...but I understand if you would rather make a fresh start without feeling as though you're following in your own footsteps."

Sylvain makes a low whine in the back of his throat when Felix pulls back. His breathing comes quicker, and his hands paw at Felix's sides in question. Why stop- Oh.

Laying his head against Felix's shoulder, Sylvain has to mull it over. There's an uncomfortable option here in the fact he doesn't really want to know. At all. But those memories will always be with Felix. And they probably meant the world to him; still do. It's hard to consider anything else, and eventually he decides it's probably better not to keep torturing Felix over his silence.

"Maybe," he offers unhelpfully at first. "Just later." When he doesn't feel like an imposter that has crawled into someone's life, masquerading as their loved one.

They will, and they do, and there's unfortunately no way Sylvain will be able to avoid them completely, because both houses are littered with photos and joint possessions. And sooner or later, he has to introduce Inda, and that's going to be a whole can of worms all by itself.

But 'later' is fine. They'll have a long journey back to Olivine before Sylvain has to deal with any of that, and they can talk again about it in the air. If Sylvain were to voice his concerns more specifically, Felix would tell him that his worry makes no sense - Sylvain is Sylvain, regardless of what he remembers or doesn't, and Felix has loved him since before he really understood what this sort of love was, so it couldn't possibly ever matter.

As it is, he just nods. "All right." He runs his hands up to Sylvain's shoulders and then down his chest, where they push the man back to lie in the grass. Felix takes in the sight of him like that for a moment before he leans down to follow, claiming Sylvain's lips again.

Going down willingly, Sylvain stretches out more comfortably beneath Felix. The time the other takes to look him over, Sylvain is doing just the same. The beat of his pulse picks up, watching what remains of the light of the day catch like a halo behind Felix. He's stunning like this, isn't he?

And then Felix is kissing him again, and how can he resist after such a sight? Or at all for that matter. One hand comes up to dig into the fabric of Felix's top. Just enough to get his fingers under the hem, and setting a warm palm on the small of his back. The other cups the nape of his neck and gently squeezes. Maybe there's a possessive note there, hungry for him after years of pining. Can he really be blamed though? After such an emotional reunion that Sylvain never could have anticipated, and still feels the shadow of doubt cling to, he just wants this part to never end. No emotional baggage, no self-loathing, just how warm and right Felix feels.

"There's only one thing I have to know right now," he gusts out when he pauses to breathe. "Did I teach you how to kiss like this?"

Sylvain may call it 'possessive,' but if it is, Felix doesn't mind in the least. To him, it's grounding, comfortable, familiar. Sylvain's touch feels like home.

Panting quietly, he smirks. "No. Dorothea did. But you taught me how to kiss you." There's a pause, as his smirk softens into something pleased and warm. "And you were the first one I ever slept with."

"Dorothea?" Oh, that makes him brighten up. He's practically beaming, and claps Felix's back firmly like the proud wingman he is. "Atta boy, Fe! I always knew you could land a real catch!"

As pleased as he is, he does feel his heart pick up a beat. So, he got to be Felix's first after all; something he'd quietly resigned to be without a long time ago. Just like most of what he'd imagined he could ever have with Felix. But that in particular. That means more to him than most things.

"Mm, good. I'm glad it got to be with someone who cares a lot about you." It's too strange to say 'with me.' Not with something like that.

Felix makes a face that wants to be a scowl, except he's not actually anywhere close to angry, so it doesn't quite get there. "I didn't 'land' anything. She convinced me to go out with her a few times back at the academy. I didn't hate it, I suppose."

And no, he never told Sylvain about that, because he knew exactly what kind of reaction he'd get and avoided it at all costs.

"So am I." He starts to say more, but stops himself; Sylvain doesn't want to hear about these things yet. Instead, he gives the man a wicked little grin. "And now I'll have all kinds of things to show you." A pause, then, as his enthusiasm is tempered with a realization: "If...if you want that."

"I think you're the only man to put 'I didn't hate it' in conjunction with 'I went out with Dorothea.'" Sylvain has to laugh. Only Felix. Truly only Felix.

That smirk catches him though, and Sylvain's eyes go a little wider. Oh. Oh.

He licks his lips. As if he could ever refuse such temptation. C'mon, it's Sylvain.

"Well, you can't just tease me with something like that and not make good on it. Of course I would." No, he's not admiting the amount of times he's thought of doing just that. Or how many times it's ruined his night in the best kind of way.

The hand on the back of Felix's neck curls into the soft hair at the base of Felix's skull. He gently scritches at his scalp, though does make a mess of his hair. He really just wants to run his fingers through all of it.

Whatever last small bit of remaining nervousness Felix might have had about this melts away at that response. Sylvain may not be admitting those things, but Felix already knows. He was just concerned that Sylvain might have some reservations about jumping straight from where they started the day to sex so quickly.

Then again, sex and marriage are two very different things.

"Oh, can't I?" There's a certain smugness to his smirk now, the sort of thing he only ever used to show on the training grounds when he defeated a worthy opponent. "We'll see."

Of course, he has no intention of withholding a damn thing.

Ah, and despite Sylvain saying nothing about what he really wants right now, Felix knows what that little gesture means. He straightens up to look down at Sylvain again and reaches back to pull his hair free from its tie, letting it fall over his shoulders. It's longer than when Sylvain would have seen it last, and when he lowers himself again for another kiss, it spills over to brush Sylvain's face.

They're remarkably different things. One he's fantasized about for far too long. Shameless certainly, but it's not for lack of love. In fact, Sylvain might actually consider it an act of love not to want to force someone he cares about into marriage.

That smug air Felix puts on distracts him. The way his gaze is so sharp and sure, somehow in his element when Sylvain has never known him to be quite so bold in matters like this. It's new and exciting, enough to color his cheeks, and work a crooked smirk onto his expression. It's almost a game.

"C'mon, when have you ever held back," Sylvain teases. His fingers card back through Felix's long hair, admiring what he absolutely considers a prize. Not since they were kids has Sylvain gotten the chance to play with Felix's hair. Back then he used to love to messily braid it. Now he just wants to unravel every strand, feeling it flow between his fingers.

"Mm, damn- you're gorgeous," he gusts out with a gentle reverence in his voice. Almost like he hasn't realized he's said it aloud. But he's taken in another kiss so he can't be bothered to think about it. Far more important to memorize the feel of the other against his lips. His fingers lace tightly against Felix's scalp, guiding their kiss deeper with unbridled want so plain in his motions.

Felix will never get tired of making Sylvain of all people blush. The thought occurs to him that he'll get to dance for Sylvain for the first time all over again, and he suddenly can't wait to get back to Olivine...

...well, maybe he can after all, if it means he gets to have Sylvain's hands in his hair again, hear him say things like that again.

"I know." His tone is a bit softer than the words might suggest - Sylvain, after all, is the reason he knows. It used to make him feel self-conscious even when it was just the two of them, when Sylvain would give him compliments on his looks like that. He thought for a while it was just flattery, just something people were expected to say to their lovers, but eventually Sylvain convinced him that he really meant every word.

And then those fingers are gripping his hair tighter and Sylvain so clearly wants him, and this perhaps is how the man learns for the second time that Felix likes having his hair pulled, because a low sound escapes him that he can't hold back and his breathing picks up its pace. Forgetting, or possibly not caring, where they are right now, and without breaking the kiss, he grabs Sylvain and rolls until their positions have reversed - Felix on his back in the grass, instead.

It's a pleasant surprise when Felix doesn't deny or brush off his compliment. Even the genuine ones he's used to seeing roll off Felix by either dismissal or sheer obliviousness. So this is good. He deserves to know Sylvain's always found him unfairly gorgeous. It's always been a persistent thought he could never chase away.

Ah, but that pretty sound has him so distracted he doesn't even have a chance to react until he's got Felix under him. A hand braces beside Felix's head, his broad body looming over the other, and suddenly his pulse picks up in tempo to an uneven and roused pace. It's something straight out of a dream, Felix beneath him, that beautiful raven-dark hair framing his handsome face. Sylvain can even feel the way his breathing his quickened while astride him. He swallows hard.

"Damn," he gusts out, eyes darkening with a kind of old hunger as it all comes washing over him. He's wanted this for too long. Shit- he has to be more charming than that. He can't just let this go so simply while his heart is practically soaring. But it's all choked up in his throat. There should be something suave there. Some pretty words. Some heated flattery. Something-

"You're everything I've wanted my whole life," he finally just says what he's thinking. Because he can't remember a time before Felix. And he refuses to consider a time without him.

Felix never used to give much thought to his appearance. It never mattered - he didn't need to look good to fight well and he had no interest in pandering to anyone else's idea of what he should look like. And he used to be annoyed with himself for the amount of thought he did give to Sylvain's appearance; the older they got, the more attractive he was, and often when Felix snapped at Sylvain or walked away in the middle of a conversation, it wasn't because he was actually angry - it was because Sylvain smiled at him a certain way or took his shirt off after training, or the wind tousled his hair just so, and Felix hated it because it felt like torturing himself with something he could never have.

Except then they got here to Johto and he suddenly could. It changed everything, even if it took a while for that change to really happen. Felix learned to see himself the way other people saw him, and learned that it was okay for him to want someone. To want his best friend. And that it was okay to be wanted, too.

His heart races as he watches the way those eyes devour him. Goddess, he's missed this so much. He's missed Sylvain so much. His face flushes to hear that admission, almost feeling like this is all happening for the first time again because for Sylvain, it is.

"Then what are you waiting for?" It's a challenge and an invitation, and his body language seems to echo it as he lets his hands rest on the ground above his head and tilts his chin up.

He could beat himself up for how startlingly unbecoming it was to just blurt out his whole heart like that. It's not like him at all. To just be honest on his feelings. But Felix deserves to know. Well, he already did, but that just means he should hear it again. Because he'd know if Sylvain was lying by brushing it off or trying to play it cool.

So he takes a steadying breath. No, it's okay. This is okay. They're okay.

He has to meet Felix's challenge because that's what they do. A familiar game will do him some good.

"Guess for my heart to stop racing, but you're not gonna let that happen are you, handsome?" Sylvain leans in, fingers curling just under Felix's jaw before taking him in a hungry kiss. Not quite hurriedly desperate, but starving for it certainly. Felix can probably feel it too- it's not fair that he's got the upper hand on their (to Sylvain) suddenly evolving relationship. Maybe Sylvain can wrest it back a little bit- to win Felix's challenge of course. Not because he's daydreamed this scenario a dozen times over. No- no, of course not.

He lowers himself down on his forearm, chest to chest with Felix as he kisses him. His free hand seeks out one of Felix's, and presses to his palm. He twines their fingers, giving his hand a gentle squeeze.

Sylvain should know by now that if he did try to beat himself up for saying such a thing, Felix would have to beat him up first for thinking it. It is okay. It's better than okay. And Felix is realizing that he's going to have to brace himself to do the same thing himself all over again, because he can't let Sylvain think those feelings are anything but wholly, completely mutual.

...except first he apparently has to endure the pet names. Of course. At least this one's descriptive?

All that flies out of his mind, though, as Sylvain takes the reins in exactly the way Felix was hoping he would. He closes his eyes and arches with a low hum to meet Sylvain's body as he descends, fingers squeezing back in kind.

When they pause for breath, Felix's eyes blink open so he can deliberately look Sylvain in the eye when he says, "You're everything I've wanted, too."

The petnames stay, that's just how it is.

Also he'd rather be beaten up by Felix, truth be told. No one is quite as awful to Sylvain has Sylvain himself. But that's beside the point. He doesn't want to hesitate here. Not when something he's wanted for so long is just saying these kinds of things to him. And Felix deserves to know Sylvain's not going to squander something that precious despite the fact he's asked for time and patience.

Sylvain knows eye-contact isn't Felix's favorite, so he appreciates the sentiment. Not that he doesn't always appreciate those beautiful, fallow-gold eyes. Getting them focused on him does wonders for Sylvain, makes him damn near melt. It's no different now, and he brings their twined hands to his lips to press a kiss to the ring on Felix's finger.

Usually, he's got a silver tongue for every situation. This feels like one of those times maybe he doesn't necessarily need it. The kiss is a promise and reassurance that while he's apprehensive, he's not unwilling, he doesn't even hate it (to his own surprise, still). For Felix, he'd do anything.

"You've really gotten to be such a sap, huh?" he just has to tease though, and moves his attention to something a little less nerve-wracking: like pressing a collar of kisses across Felix's throat.

Felix's eyes widen and his pulse speeds up at this ridiculously romantic gesture - not because it's romantic, he's used to that by now (mostly), but because of what it means. Sylvain's right: he doesn't need words to convey this message. Felix hears it loud and clear, and it's his turn to feel like he's melting right into the ground.

Which is why he's almost grateful for the teasing. Almost. His face scrunches up and he whaps Sylvain on the arm with his free hand. "Shut up. I take it all back, you're a menace."

Who knows whether he might have said more or not, because Sylvain puts his lips to work and Felix tips his head back with a satisfied little noise. Sylvain is, for better or worse, right; Felix has gotten softer here in this world, and sometimes he's still not sure he likes it. Right now, though, he's glad for it. The Felix of a year ago would never in a million years have been able to just tell Sylvain a thing like that, and as he's learned in his time here, some people need to hear things in words.

Ah, still the same old Felix. Sylvain's laughing when he gets thumped on the arm, tittering like an idiot when his crush pays him attention.

"Yeah, but you like it. Admit it, Fe; I'm your favorite menace." C'mon, he has to be, right? Who else could take his place as obligatory troublemaker in their pair?

He breathes out another sure laugh against Felix's throat, lips lingering on his pulse. An experimental nibble is placed there, Sylvain teething at the delicate skin. Not enough to hurt, but between that and the rough kisses, he fixates on a leaving a noticeable mark. His mark. Just one (or two, or three, maybe... he's enthusiastic is all) for now. Wanting to see Felix's reaction to it first before he aims for a bigger, more obvious prize.

Oh, it has been far too long since Felix has heard Sylvain laugh, and it's all he can do not to ruin his vaguely grumpy act with a smile.

"Hmph. I admit nothing." But of course, he's full of shit, and he's sure Sylvain knows that. Sylvain has always been his favorite menace.

He closes his eyes, a little shiver going down his spine at the breath and soft lips against the sensitive flesh of his neck. A quiet hum of approval is all he provides as a reaction for now, though his free hand moves to thread his fingers into Sylvain's hair.

Felix doesn't have to admit a damn thing. Sylvain's already found him guilty, and is grinning like an idiot against his neck.

Ah, but that's a sweet sound, isn't it? It's certainly not a request to stop either. Sylvain presses kisses along the line of his pulse, tracing it down to his collar, and nosing into the crux of his neck and shoulder.

"How long do you think we have until Dimitri shows up?" No- no, reason, he's just asking of course.

The first thing that comes to mind to say is 'who cares,' but the answer is that Felix cares, and he doesn't want to ~~worry Dimitri~~ deal with Dimitri's gross puppy dog act, so he actually gives the question some thought. You know, just because Sylvain was just asking, obviously. No reason.

"With all that food he insisted on sending ahead and all the people he probably checked in with before he left? At least fifteen, twenty more minutes. Knowing Dimitri, he'll call when he gets close."

Yes, Felix is well aware that there is no inn in New Bark Town. No, that's not going to stop him.

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