
Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/629778.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Underage
  Category:
      M/M
  Fandom:
      Loveless
  Relationship:
      Agatsuma_Soubi/Aoyagi_Ritsuka
  Character:
      Agatsuma_Soubi, Aoyagi_Ritsuka
  Additional Tags:
      Alternate_Universe, Dubious_Consent, Out_of_Character
  Stats:
      Published: 2013-01-08 Words: 3882
****** Winter Storm ******
by Ercasse
Summary
     A hand trembled as he dragged it through his hair. It was getting
     worse. He could remember parts of the dreams now. Imaginary hands on
     him, sometimes featherlight, sometimes cruel as they pinned him by
     the shoulders. Then there was the fire...
Notes
     This was one of my original works which features on both FictionPress
     and Y-Gallery but seeings as both accounts have been abandoned, I
     wanted a way to consolidate. I hadn't seen Loveless at the time of
     writing, and so when I saw a few eps I saw the potential for
     adaptation.
     Note: Alternate Universe. In my world, the cute little cat-boys don't
     loose their ears and tails when they become adults. Since Soubi is a
     deamon, he's never had furry appendages to start with...
It was the wind that woke Ritsuka from his exhausted slumber. It battered
against the building, and crept in through the gaps in the window, despite the
newspaper he'd scrounged and plastered up against the panes. He curled into
himself underneath the thin blanket - the tiny room had become icy overnight.
He rolled over cautiously, careful not to put any pressure on his bruised back.
He was so occupied with moving carefully it took him a minute to register the
now-familiar stickiness between his legs. He cursed tiredly. What was wrong
with him? Why did his body have to betray him like this?
He lay there a minute, ears twitching slightly, listening to the sounds of the
inn below him. It was still early enough in the morning that very few people
were moving about downstairs. If he was lucky, he'd be able to clean everything
up before anyone missed him.
The next few minutes were a flurry of motion as the boy shamefully wiped
himself using the blanket, dressed, then scooped up the blanket. Ritsuka kept
to the servant's stairs as he made his way down to the main level, past the
kitchens and laundry, (filching some soap), and out into the courtyard. He
darted around the corner and over to a large trough, partially obscured by a
wall of firewood. A quick glance around told him there was no one around.
Satisfied, Ritsuka stripped, and splashed the icy water over himself, shivering
as it hit his skin. His mind blanked as he cleaned himself, ignoring his
neither regions, and falling into a now-familiar routine. His blanket came
next. He tried not to get the whole blanket wet, seeing as it was the only one
he had. He shivered again, remembering the last time he'd had to go to bed with
his blanket still soaked. If only his body wouldn't…
He clamped down on his thoughts. It wouldn't get him anywhere. He just needed a
little more control, that was all. If Daren found out, he'd cop another
beating.
 
"Control." He repeated to himself firmly, retrieving his blanket and clothing.
 
Stupid dreams.

***

Back in his room once more, he hung the blanket from one of the exposed beams
in the roof, hoping it wouldn't drip too much. The inn had become busier
downstairs now, and it wouldn't be too long before someone came searching for
him. Hurriedly, he grabbed a cloth and tied it securely over his hair and neck,
covering them completely. He peered quickly in the broken mirror, angling his
head until he could see the top of his head properly. He looked like one of the
servant girls. Of course, the smooth, angular face and large dark eyes didn't
help any, he reflected bitterly. The second cloth he wrapped more loosely over
his hair and neck. This cloth wasn't part of the servant's uniform.
It was to hide the furry lumps that were now plastered to his skull.
They started to ache.
 
***
 
The kitchens were busy as the servants began preparing breakfast for their
guests. Quite a few of the townsfolk came down the mountain, stopping at the
inn for breakfast before continuing on to Mekal in order to work, or trade
their goods.
Serin itself was a small village, with nothing much in the way of work. The
people of Serin were known for their ability as trappers, and as sheep farmers.
They traded various animal pelts, as well as wool and meat for those items they
needed. The Serin folk were also known for their mistrust of strangers, which
was one of the reasons why the Inn itself was built at the base of the
mountain, and not in the village proper.
Rheeyt, the innkeeper's wife, scoffed, at the notion. Who in their right mind
would build a town up in the mountains, let alone an inn? Why, you'd never get
any custom that way. Especially if you made warding-signs behind the
traveller's backs! She was pleased, though, that the Serin folk had accepted
both her and Daren when they'd decided to move from Mekal and start their
business…
Shaking herself from her musings, she surveyed the kitchens with a proprietary
air. She pursed her lips. Everyone seemed to be on task.
Then she spotted him.
"I've a good mind to feed you to the wolves, useless brat!" she bellowed. This
was accompanied with a sharp slap to the boy's face. She felt a moment's
satisfaction as he winced in pain.
 
"Well? Start fetching the water! And don't you dare start pouring baths until
that water is scalding, do you hear?! I will not have my guests taking lukewarm
baths!"
 
Rheeyt lapsed into silence as the boy's stomach rumbled. Her eye twitched.
 
"What makes you think you're going to get anything to eat?" She asked, voice
deadly calm. "You work to earn your keep, boy, not lay about uselessly in bed
like your slut of a mother did." Rheeyt grabbed the boy by the collar, lowering
her voice.
 
"You should be grateful we didn't drown you at birth, you little freak." she
hissed.
 
"Be late again, and you'll be leaving this inn for good, I promise you."
 
Another sharp slap across the face.
 
"Get out."
 
***
 
Ritsuka's mind drifted as he performed chores he had been doing every day since
he could remember. He'd become better at ignoring his body since then - his
stomach had become silent.
Overhead, the sun rose weakly.
 
***
 
He sat up suddenly, wide awake, body trembling. It was getting worse. His musky
scent was thick in the air, making him feel nauseous. Outside, it was still
dark.
Ritsuka became aware of his breath, coming out of his mouth in small white
puffs. The air in the attic was frigid. He didn't need to look out the window.
It was snowing.
A hand trembled as he dragged it through his short dark hair. It was getting
worse. He could remember parts of the dreams now. They were always the same.
Imaginary hands on him, sometimes feather-light, sometimes cruel as they pinned
him by the shoulders and held him down. Then, there was the fire. It pooled in
his belly, and spread to the rest of his body until he felt he would burn to
death. It hurt, the fire. The hands helped somehow - they made the fire subside
a little, made the pain bearable. And then they went away.
Ritsuka trembled helplessly, tears running down his cheeks. What is wrong with
me?
Am I going insane?He was afraid. Afraid that the fire would consume him. Afraid
someone would notice there was something wrongwith him.
He went still suddenly, face going white as a new thought occurred to him.
The hands.
They were male.
Oh god.
 
***
 
Ritsuka lay unmoving beneath the blanket. His back was in agony. He wondered
dully if the welts were bleeding. He closed his eyes tightly, forcing his mind
to drift.
Time passed in a blur.
He woke slowly. After a few moments, the cobwebs in his head began to clear. He
shifted, wincing as his back protested. It ached, but no longer was it
excruciating. Looking around, he saw the familiar walls of his room and was
relieved. The feeling was short lived, as memory intruded.

***
 
Ritsuka stares transfixed, both horrified and curious at the scene in front of
him. One of the servants - Rilla - is in the bath with one of the guests. They
are too busy to notice him. She sits on his lap, moving awkwardly, causing the
water to slosh against the sides of the tub. He moves with her, the muscles in
his back rippling as his arms wrap around her back.
But it is not Rilla's feminine figure that has him fascinated. It is the man.
The way he moves. Ritsuka suddenly realises he is practically swaying on his
feet. He can feel the familiar heat in his belly and panics, dropping the
bucket of water and bolting for the door. He runs blindly, not sure where he is
going, until he arrives at the door to his room. He pushes the door open and
flings himself onto the bedding, tears of frustration and fear flowing down his
cheeks.
He is still lying there as Daren slams the door open, face red with rage. Their
eyes lock for a moment and Ritsuka's heart stops. He knows.
The innkeeper strides over to the bed and hauls the boy up by his shirt.
"Looks like breeding does show through, after all." he growls disgustedly.
"Sick little shit."
And the pain begins.
 
***

The moon rose, all but obscured in the sky.
Ritsuka staggered blindly across the yard, his skin stinging with cold. His
clothes clung to him, making him shiver. The wind snatched at his clothes and
the snow blinded him.
People were uneasy at the ferocity of the storm, coming out of nowhere like a
malevolent force. They said it was unnatural. Like magic. The villagers did not
venture down the mountain. They were afraid of being spirited away. Like his
mother had been. They never spoke of her, of course. But they were thinking
about it. The way she'd vanished, and reappeared a year later sick with fever -
and heavy with child.
A couple of times, Ritsuka had to stoop to pick up the wood which fell from his
numbed arms. His back ached tiredly, still not healed properly. His stomach
reminded him he hadn't eaten and he absently pushed the thought away.
Cold.
The wolves began to howl.
 
***

"About time, you little shit." Daren muttered angrily as Ritsuka stumbled into
the kitchen with the wood. He been waiting for the boy.
 
"We have a guest. Just arrived. Go prepare a bath for him." he declared,
thrusting a bucket at the boy.
 
"W-What?" Ritsuka stammered. "But I thought you said to stay away fro-" he fell
silent and back peddled as the man advanced on him.
 
"Forget what I said, boy. You'll do as your bloody told!" The innkeeper
suddenly smiled maliciously. "He's one of them.A daemon. The women folk don't
want to be anywhere near him. Afraid of what he'll do." he paused, watching the
blood drain from the boy's face, probably remembering the stories he'd heard.
 
He sneered. "You'll do anything he asks you, boy. Or I won't stop where I did
last time. I'll make sure you never wake up again."
 
The boy is trembling finely as Daren lets him go.

***
 
Ritsuka looks down resolutely as he presents himself to the inn's only guest.
What normal person would be out in this storm, after all? In his head he
imagines a ghostly white face, with flaming red eyes and shudders. He empties
last bucket into the bath stares quietly at the floor.
I wonder if they really drink blood?
Ritsuka hears clothes rustling, and he moves to pick the articles up and fold
them neatly on a chair. A soft splash of water alerts him, and the boy returns
with soap and a cloth. His hands free, he starts for the door, trying not to
hurry.
A hand snakes out and seizes his arm. Ritsuka's heart stops in terror.
 
"What's you hurry, miss?" A deep voice asks, rich with amusement. Ritsuka
blushes scarlet, at being called a girl. At the hand on his arm, which seems to
burn through his clothing.
 
He gently tries to free himself, the urge to run, overwhelming. He is drawn in
closer, until he stands next to the tub.
 
"Look at me." the voice commands. Another hand reaches out and catches his
chin, urging his head up. The daemon's hand on his skin is like an electric
shock and he gasps, looking at the man unwillingly.
 
Ocean blue eyes regard him from a finely chiselled face. Dirty blond hair
spills across his forehead, over delicately pointed ears and down his back. His
skin is a pale cream. Ritsuka stares at him. Daemons shouldn't look like that.
They should be hideous, with fangs and not…not…
This is not happening.
Then the daemon smirks, a simple twitch of his lips.
 
"Ah." the sound is full of comprehension. Of realisation. Fingers reach up and
trace a shell-shaped human ear. Ritsuka shivers as those eyes seem to pierce
through him.
 
"What is your name, little one?" he murmurs.
 
Ritsuka blinks, to shake himself out of his daze. Is he putting a spell on me?
 
"R-Ritsuka" he stutters, unnerved.
 
Lips twitch again.
 
"And whatever are you doing here,Ritsuka?" The blond daemon leans forward,
tugging the boy's chin down until only inches separate their faces.
 
"Sir?" his voice is barely audible, full of confusion. "I-I'm..I mean, I -" he
trails off as the daemon's smile widens. The look suddenly reminds him of a
wolf. The way a wolf looks at its prey before it strikes.
 
"You have no idea what I am talking about, do you little one?" the voice is
quiet, not expecting an answer. The older man deliberately moves back,
releasing him completely.
 
Outside, the storm rages.
 
***
 
The candle forms eerie shadows on the wall as Ritsuka leads the guest to his
room. But the shadows are the furthest thing from the boy's mind as he walks
along.
He wonders if it will hurt, when the man kills him. Maybe the daemon will
hypnotise him and he won't feel it…
His hand shakes as he opens the door. He moves slowly over to the small table
and sets the candle down. He hears the sound of the door being closed. A key
turning. He feels nauseous.
In the next instant Ritsuka is pinned effortlessly to the wall, one hand
capturing his arms above his head. The other hand skims over his chest nearly
making his heart stop in terror. It moves up, to curl around his neck. The
blond's fingers press at his chin again, forcing his head up, his throat
exposed. Ocean blue eyes capture his dark ones.
 
"Shh, little one. Its alright." the male murmurs. The hand leaves his chin and
Ritsuka flinches as it reappears at his hip this time. The fingerprints burn
into his skin.
 
He feelsthe older man chuckle.
 
"So flighty, little one….but never mind, you won't be shying away from me much
longer."
 
The blue eyes are almost glowing now and it takes a minute for Ritsuka to
realise the strangled sound comes from his own throat.
 
The blond frowns slightly. "You really don't have any idea, do you? I can see
it in your face." Then he smiles predatorily, his face moving closer.
 
"Let me show you…" he whispers
 
The daemon closes the distance between them and captures Ritsuka's mouth in a
demanding kiss. The boy begins to struggle weakly, trying to free himself, but
he is no match for this creature. Ritsuka opens his mouth to yell for help -
only to realise his mistake as the blond forces his tongue into the boy's
mouth. When he finally pulls away, Ritsuka is gasping for air and trembling
slightly.
 
"Please, Sir.." He begs. "Please let me go…" His voice cracks at the end.
 
A hand reaches up to stroke his cheek, and he tenses, expecting a blow.
 
"I'm afraid its already begun, pet. Don't you feel it?" the blond is watchful,
waiting for a reaction.
 
Ritsuka closes his eyes, trying to block out the words. He wants to believe he
doesn't know what the daemon's talking about…and he really doesn't….only….a
part of him doesknow. The part he has been trying to ignore for so long. He is
so preoccupied with these thoughts, he doesn't register the hands at his neck,
his hair…
 
"No!" he cries, as the cloths are unravelled and fall to the floor. Ears prick
up automatically after being pinned down all day, then flatten again in alarm.
Ritsuka tries to dodge the hands as they reach out, certain he is going to be
beaten. One hand pins him by the shoulder as the other hand feathers through
his hair. It touches one furred ear, traces it from base to tip and begins to
rub gently. His ears twitch in response.
 
"How -?" the boy whispers brokenly. Defeated.
 
The daemon turns his head to murmur into one of Ritsuka's human ears, even as
his hands caress his…non-human ones.
 
"I knew what you were the minute I touched you, kitling." He feels the words as
they ghost past his ear. He knows, somehow, that the daemon is telling the
truth.
 
"You cannot hide your nature from me. Just as I cannot hide mine from you.."
 
Ritsuka is distracted by the man's words, by his depth-less eyes, the hand
playing with his ears.
 
His hand is lightning fast as it moves from his shoulder, sliding down into his
pants, skimming his hand over the boy's naked flank and back and -
 
Ritsuka's struggles began forcefully anew as the blonde's hand clutches
possessively near the base of his tail, and strokes the furred appendage under
his hand softly.
 
His mouth is taken again roughly, even as hands pull at his pants, exposing him
to the thighs. He whimpers involuntarily as the blonde's hands move over the
length of his tail, firmly wrapped around his leg. His tail begins to loosen
its grip on his thigh and uncurls slowly in response to the petting. He needs
to escape, he realises. Now, while he is still able to….before…before -
 
He cries out softly as the older man's hand reaches between his legs and grips
his sex. His body responds immediately to the attention, and suddenly, against
all reason, he is struggling to press himself closer to the man, craving the
attention, the feeling of the man's hand sliding against his flesh. Perhaps the
daemon realises the moment of his surrender, because one arm suddenly crushes
Ritsuka to him. The boy becomes aware of the man's heart beat, like thunder to
his sensitive ears. The tautness of the man's stomach - and the man's hardness
pressing between them, digging firmly into his own belly. The blonde's hand
moves faster, and Ritsuka's hips begin to rock in time with the man's strokes.
He tries to warn the other man he's going to come, but his mouth is claimed
instead and his cries are swallowed by the blonde's mouth on his. His arms wrap
instinctively around the older man's neck, as he feels his legs weaken beneath
him. He feels the daemon chuckle as he stops the boy from collapsing to the
ground. Ritsuka suddenly finds himself lifted into the man's arms, but he can
no longer keep his eyes open.
 
***
 
At first, Ritsuka thinks he's dreaming again. The hands are back - and so is
the fire that sings in his blood. Only the hands feel too real, too solid as
they run along his side, over his chest and down his belly. He starts awake,
and finds himself lying on his side, completely naked on the man's bed. He
feels the man's warmth at his back, his arms draped almost possessively around
Ritsuka's lithe frame. His first instinct is to curl up - to protect himself
from the man's scrutiny. Where are his clothes? The arms move then, one around
his shoulders, the other moving and draping across his lower belly. He lies
quietly, thwarted.
 
"Good kit." The daemon murmurs, amused.
 
Ritsuka bristles at that, and shifts against the man, not sure what he is
trying to accomplish, knowing that fighting the other man is pointless.
 
He freezes as he hears the blond inhale sharply behind him.
 
"Careful, now pet, you don't want me to loose control." the voice is dark with
promise.
 
Then Ritsuka realises. The man's sex is pressed against the small of his back.
Instinctively, his body reacts. He rolls over and presses himself against the
daemon, face burying itself in the man's neck. The blonde's scent suddenly
intrudes into the boy's nostrils. He inhales and is hit by an overwhelming,
heady musk. Blood sings in his veins and he begins to move mindlessly, pressing
his hips into the man's, rubbing his face along the hollow of his neck and jaw
line. A hand reaches up and strokes the boy's face in response. Ritsuka nuzzles
into it, unconsciously. He opens his eyes to look at the daemon, face full of
confusion.
 
"What is wrong with me?" he whimpers. "What is happening?"
 
The hand cups his face gently, and blue eyes meet his own.
 
"Shh kitling, it's alright. Your body is waking up.." he murmurs, quietly.
 
"But it's wrong…I shouldn't want - " Ritsuka sobs, the desire playing havoc
with his emotions.
 
"Shhh." the blonde's lips brush his own softly. Ritsuka sighs in response, and
follows when they pull away, seeking the warm mouth for himself. His is purring
deep in the back of his throat, and his tail curls itself around the older
man's thigh happily.
 
The blond allows the kiss, teasing the boy's mouth open so he can slide his
tongue into the boy's mouth. The cat-boy moans in response.
 
"Let me make the fire go away, little one…" he whispers.

***
 
It hurts at first, when the older man enters him. But the pain fades quickly,
and soon Ritsuka is writhing beneath the blond in passion. His hips soon pick
up the rhythm and they are moving in concert, broken only when the man's sex
buries itself deep inside his body and spills his seed into the boy. The boy
cries out as he spills his own seed between their sweat soaked bodies. He
clings to the other man, with his hands, his legs wrapped tightly around the
man's waist. For a few minutes all Ritsuka can hear is their ragged breathing,
and their hearts pounding in their chests. And then the fire pools in his
belly, and it starts all over again.

***
 
Ritsuka blinks, stirring awake. His ears twitch for a moment, listening. No-one
is awake downstairs. He sighs and curls deeper into the blond's arms, rubbing
his cheek against the man's chest. The fire is gone now, and his body basks in
its wake, sated and content.
 
"Go to sleep, kitling." a low voice murmurs into a soft, furry ear. His ear
twitches sharply as a lick follows this pronouncement.
 
"But its nearly dawn" he mumbles, half heartedly. "I have…chores." he trails
off as the arms tighten.
 
"Not anymore. We're leaving today." the daemon's words take a moment to sink
in.
 
"Leaving!?" Ritsuka exclaims, completely awake now, his stomach beginning to
form knots.
 
Blue eyes open to regard him.
 
"Of course." the daemons frowns. "You're mine now, little one. You do not
belong with the humans any more." A hand reaches down and strokes his tale from
base to tip.
 
"You're mine" he repeats.
 
All the tension begins to leave his body at the blond's ministrations. Soon he
is drifting off again. Fuzzily, he asks the question on his mind.
 
"What is your name?"
 
Soft laughter rings in his ears. He opens his eyes reproachfully at the older
man. And he waits.
 
"Soubi."
 
Ritsuka repeats the name, testing it on his tongue. A second later he tilts his
head up to look at his new mate. Blue eyes regard him steadily, waiting.
 
"Will you do thatto me again?"
 
The eyes flash.
 
"I promise you, kitling."
 
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