[sandbox]

[bringspeopletogether]

No Orlesian nobles pounded down their door to demand their hound back, so when Alistair and Cullen left Halamshiral, the newly-dubbed Gruyere happily trotted alongside their horses.

A few weeks after -- which included some quiet conversation, a few orders placed with a few merchants, and almost an entire extra pack of gifts slung over one of their mounts -- Gru just as happily trotted along as they turned for South Reach.

Years of correspondence led Alistair to build an elaborate image of Cullen's family in his mind; Mia, perhaps, more fully realized than the others, but everyone with a name and a voice to match their letters. They're...not wholly inaccurate? But Mia's definitely shorter than he expected, and one or two of the children a little louder.

(Mia's voice, however, adopts exactly the pitch he imagined it would when Alistair brings up the whole I'm-your-brother-in-law-now thing.)

It's a nice place. Just the right kind of rambunctious, with all the kids running around; just the right kind of homey.

If only Cullen weren't -- well, reacting more or less precisely how Alistair worried he'd react to the reunion.

Comments

[howtoactfereldan]

His lips curl in a small smile, gaze lingering on their hands.

"You're a marvel," he says again.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair huffs a tiny laugh. He leans to kiss Cullen again; it's easier than tossing off a glib deflection that might get him in trouble.

(I've a big enough ego already, perhaps. Or a simple no; you.)

As the kiss deepens, he slips his hand free to run it along Cullen's side, delving beneath his shirt.

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen hums, soft, and breaks it just long enough to comfortably straddle Alistair's lap.

That, and pull his own shirt over his head, with something approaching a smirk.

[bringspeopletogether]

Much better.

Both hands explore Cullen's bare skin now, as slow and deliberate as if Alistair were learning him for the first time. Whenever they have to break apart, Alistair picks up with another long kiss the instant he's caught his breath.

For the longest time, their intimacy felt like a collection of stolen moments: quick respites between the next battle, the next interruption, the next time something more important came along. But -- this can be the most important thing now. There's nothing Alistair has to worry about except how Cullen feels under his hands, and the warm weight of him on his lap, and the soft hum of desire rising like the tide.

[howtoactfereldan]

To be clear: Cullen isn't thinking about his sister.

But in that brief conversation -- it's as though she granted him permission to stop worrying about how they regard him. And now that he and Alistair don't have to worry about interruptions --

(And he's doing a fair job at not thinking about the impending certainty of Alistair's death.)

-- he's free to feel every part of what's going on, with no straying thought to give him pause. Cullen runs his hands over Alistair's back and shoulders as though to study the topography of his musculature, lingering on the small ridges and hollows that his scars create.

It's closer to prayer than anything Cullen's done in weeks. It brings peace.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair shivers. Time seems to stretch, marked out by Cullen's touch rather than the path of the sun. It hardly matters what might come next; it's pleasure without anticipation, Alistair so fully present that even his breath, each slow rise and fall pressing him into Cullen's hands, sends a thrill through him.

He wraps his arms around Cullen's waist, listing backward without breaking the latest kiss.

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen is the one being pulled; he notices, and breaks it just in time to prevent clashing teeth or worse as they land on the bed.

And before he resumes, he takes just a moment, propping himself on his elbows, to look at Alistair under him. Really look.

Cullen's smile broadens for just a moment. Then he kisses Alistair again.

[bringspeopletogether]

An appreciative mmm, as Alistair tangles his fingers in Cullen's hair.

When the kiss breaks: "Enjoying the view?" he asks with a soft laugh.

[howtoactfereldan]

"Always." Low, and a little rough -- but still smiling. Not looking away. "Always."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair's answering smile is sweet, and deeply fond.

It's -- been a while since Cullen was this present, too. Just the way Cullen looks at him makes Alistair's whole chest ache, like he's stretching to his full height after a long time hunched low. He combs his fingers through Cullen's hair again; rests his palm against his cheek as he watches him.

On the next kiss, his free hand drifts lower to settle on Cullen's backside.

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen laughs, low. Into the corner of Alistair's mouth: "And you like that, I'm guessing?"

[bringspeopletogether]

Serenely: "Oh yes."

He squeezes.

"It's one of my many favorites."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen hums and -- just once -- rolls his hips forward.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair lets out a shaky sigh, head tipping back of its own accord.

More leverage seems like a good idea: his other hand joins the first, gripping firm to urge Cullen closer.

[howtoactfereldan]

Instead of doing it again, he buries his face against Alistair's neck, breathing in deeply. On the exhale, Cullen bites him, sharp.

"Mine," he mumbles.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair yelps -- half in surprise, half in pleasure -- and dissolves into a trembling laugh. He digs his fingernails against Cullen.

"Yes," he breathes. "Always yours. Always."

[howtoactfereldan]

Not always.

For just a moment Cullen freezes. Then he lets out another breath against Alistair's neck -- as though he's giving in.

He kisses the underside of Alistair's jaw, slipping his tongue over the skin.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair isn't so lost that he fails to notice the hitch to Cullen's movements. Even as he exhales another small gasp, leaning his head to give Cullen all the space he'd like, he runs his palms along Cullen's back -- less delving, more soothing.

"It's all right," he whispers. "Yes."

[howtoactfereldan]

It isn't.

But under Alistair's hands, it's not worth mentioning.

A moment passes. Cullen lets out a heavy sigh, and then lowers himself onto Alistair as though laying down to rest. He tucks his head in the crook of Alistair's neck, fingers curling lightly against Alistair's shoulder.

[bringspeopletogether]

Slow, he promised.

With one hand, Alistair continues smoothing gentle circles along Cullen's back. He cradles the back of Cullen's head with the other; after a moment, he kisses his brow.

Soft: "I've got you, love."

[howtoactfereldan]

"I know." Faintly. "I'm sorry. At least -- we have time."

[bringspeopletogether]

"We do." A small smile. "So no need to apologize."

Still rubbing Cullen's back.

"Is there more I can do for you?"

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen huffs a breath that's nearly amused.

"You know I hate it when you ask me that."

[bringspeopletogether]

"I know." Rueful, but still smiling. "Someday I'll learn better."

[howtoactfereldan]

"Doubtful," Cullen grumbles, settling more comfortably.