#mhinvere

[vermilionsun]

veremhin please.. i’m starving 😞

And I shall deliver~~

Word count: 1. 5k Relationships: Mhin & Vere, Mhin/Vere Tags: Gore (somewhat), Blood and injury, forced proximity, inspired by "Hunter" by Paris Paloma, Warning: Vere

They meet at the edge of the ash-grey, crumbling wastelands outside Eridia. The air is heavy with rot and dust. The sun is weak, just a pale disk through clouds.

Mhin had crouched behind a jagged outcropping, watching, waiting for the thing—the abomination stitched from nightmares and worse—to show itself properly. Praying for the other problem to get infected and succumb to a deadly disease, too. 

Vere stood casually amidst the ruins, hand playing with his harness, like he owns the damn earth. The Senobium's pet Monster, sent probably under the threat of "Clean this mess up, or we'll find something worse for you to do."

Mhin almost spits.

They, meanwhile, were quietly contracted by someone outside the system; a shadowy tie to Leander’s network, because the Senobium can’t be trusted with anything important. (And of course Mhin didn’t know Vere would be there, or they would’ve made other plans.)

They had agreed to stay out of each other's way, but, you know, Vere is Vere.

Mhin keeps low, breathing shallow, eyes never leaving the beast stalking the wreckage nearby. It’s even worse up close: Hunched like a broken mule, skin stretched thin over ropy muscles, patches of mange revealing sagging grey flesh. Its eyes—gods, its eyes—a dozen bulging, oozing orbs embedded in its sides, rolling wildly, leaking pus. A snout split too wide, stuffed with jagged shark teeth. Two curling horns, serrated and dripping black filth.

It sniffs the air, turns around, spotting Vere, and charges. The ground shakes. A scream tears itself from the beast’s ruined throat; an awful, human noise that doesn't belong in its chest.

Vere moves, claws sharp on his fingers, grinning like a lunatic. He ducks the first swing of the beast’s massive horn, then laughs as it slashes again, catching him across the ribs. Blood arcs into the air.

Mhin doesn’t move, not yet. They watch, calculating, as Vere stumbles, blood blooming bright against his veiled shirt. The Soulless looms over him, thick clawed hands swinging down to crush him. Vere rolls away at the last second, but he’s slower now, bleeding harder, breathing ragged.

Good.

Mhin moves, silent and surgical.

While the beast’s back is turned, distracted by Vere’s faltering, they sprint forward. One dagger slams into the creature’s hock—a deep tendon just above the hoof. It howls, twisting, and Mhin yanks the blade sideways. The tendon snaps with a wet, stringy sound.

The beast collapses onto one side, legs kicking spasmodically. Its teeth gnash, its many eyes bulging in agony. Mhin doesn't stop; They scramble up its twisted flank, boots finding purchase in torn flesh. Their blade punches into a seam between two rolling eyes, jamming deep into what might have been a skull once.

Black blood erupts, hissing against their hands and arms. The Soulless thrashes, almost throws Mhin, but they cling tight, driving the dagger deeper, twisting it with all the strength they have left.

Below, Vere staggers to his feet, grinning wide and bloody despite the gash leaking from his ribs. "Missed a spot," he croaks, voice rough.

Mhin ignores him. Another shove, another twist, and finally, with a sickening, rattling gasp, the beast goes still.

The silence after is almost worse than the fight. Mhin yanks their blade free, black slime dripping from it. They drop down from the carcass, landing hard enough to rattle their knees.

Vere leans against a shattered wall, leaving a crimson smear behind him.

"You're welcome," Mhin mutters, crouching to carve a chunk of twisted bone and core from the beast's remains—proof enough for payment.

Both of them are breathing hard, bloodied and tired. The wind shifts—a sour, electric tang of rain in the air.

"Storm," Vere mutters. Mhin doesn’t reply.

Both of them spot the cabin at the same time: a crumbling relic barely standing against the wasteland winds. Mhin doesn't look at Vere, doesn’t offer help, doesn’t care if he bleeds out in the dust. They just start walking. If Vere wants to survive, he can follow.

The cabin door slams behind them, the storm raging outside like the dying breath of a god. The inside stinks of mold and old blood, but it’s enough of a shelter. Mhin strikes a sad fire together from stubborn, half-rotted wood. It flickers enough for them to see the exhaustion carved into both their faces.

Mhin crouches by the fire, cleaning blood from their knife in short, savage strokes. Vere paces the edges of the room, restless like a caged animal.

It should end there. It doesn’t. It never does.

"You should’ve stayed gone," Mhin mutters, not looking at him. Thunder rumbles—low and angry. The first drops of acidic rain sizzle where they hit the ground.

Vere laughs. "And miss you tripping over your own feet? Not a chance."

Mhin stiffens,their fingers flexing on the knife handle. They’re already so tired, and now this thing that refuses to leave them alone.

"You’re nothing but a coward," Mhin snaps, finally looking up. "You think survival makes you strong. It just makes you pathetic."

Vere's grin sharpens like a blade honed on hatred. "And what does that make you, little hunter?" he drawls. "Clinging to scraps. Pretending you’re better. Pretending you’re still..." He trails off, watching them with glittering, predatory eyes. "...human." The word lands heavy; an accusation and a mockery all the same.

Mhin stands slowly, every movement controlled. Their knife glints in the firelight. "I'm not the one rotting from the inside out," Mhin says, voice razor-thin. "You gave up everything for power. Even your humanity. You're not a hunter. You're a fucking parasite."

Vere's face shifts. Not hurt—no, he doesn't feel things that clearly—but something darker, colder. "Humanity," Vere repeats, almost tasting the word like it’s something foul. He steps closer, slow and deliberate, boots crunching on the dusty floorboards. "You think I was human?" Vere asks, voice like a knife twisting into soft flesh. "I wasn't. I’m not. I never will be. And you—" He lunges, hand flashing out faster than a blink.

Mhin barely dodges, stumbling back, but Vere grabs them, slamming them against the rotting wall hard enough to make the whole cabin shudder.

Mhin grits their teeth, knife at Vere’s ribs, but not stabbing. Vere leans in close enough that Mhin can feel his breath, hot and ragged. "I could kill you right now," Vere whispers, feral. One hand clamps around Mhin’s wrist. "I could rip you apart," he breathes.

But then, he staggers. Vere’s knees hit the floor with a thud, hand pressed hard against his side where blood leaks between his fingers.Mhin stands over him, dagger drawn, breathing hard.

This is it. All the hatred, all the chances, all the reasons. Vere looks up at them, defiant even now, like he’s daring them to do it. Mhin raises the blade—

The dagger slips from their fingers and clatters to the floor. They exhale. A loud, broken sound.

Their hand closes into a fist around nothing. Shaking. "If I was easy to kill," Mhin says, voice barely above a whisper, "you would have done it already." It slices cleaner than any blade, gutting the space between them.

The fire pops, loud in the silence that falls between them. Vere watches them, smirk gone, expression unreadable. Something cracks across his face—not guilt, not mercy, but something close.

They tear some old cloth from the cabin’s once curtains and kneel down with stiff, jerky movements. Mhin tilts their head, inspecting the wound and wrapping the cloth around Vere, patching him up, hands rough, breath coming in shallow bursts. They tie a makeshift bandage around his ribs, pressing too hard, maybe on purpose, maybe not. Vere grunts but doesn't push them away.

When it’s done, Mhin slumps back against the wall. Fumbling with a dented metal cup, they scoop up some of the grimy water left in an old barrel. They try to drink—

But their hands won’t stop shaking. The cup wobbles, sloshing water down their chin.

Vere watches. Amusement flickers across his face; sharp, fond, cruel all at once. Then he leans over and with two fingers, shoves the bottom of the cup up, forcing it to their lips.

Mhin jerks away instinctively— but Vere is stronger. Not rough, not tender; just insistent. "Drink," he says, voice still dangerous. "You're no good to anyone dead."

Mhin glares at him over the rim, water slipping from the corners of their mouth. But they drink. Because they’re both exhausted, and for one moment they're not enemies, not monsters, not prey and hunter. Because neither could find the strength to kill the other.

Not tonight.

B̴̢̛͔̣̬͎̹̙̪͙̣̩̃̒̀̈̈́̏̂̀̾͐̈́̍̈́̃͜e̵͙̟̖̟̜̺̙̬̖̙͈̤͚͌̾̃̈̋́͌̌̋̏̚c̷̙̭̥̤̠̝͎͇̖̙͔͚̟͛̀͜ͅà̴̢̢̧͉̫͇̙̫̊̌̓̏͑͐u̵̧̨̲͕̞̼͈͍̪͉̟͚̩͓̐̈́̅͗́̌͊̍̀̍̌̾̚ͅs̷̛͍̺̉͋ė̷̡̢̖̖͈̯̤̹̆̀͗̀̂̑̄̂̄̓ͅ ̴̛̺͍͈̬̹̥̯͙̲̙͚̲̥͂̆̈́͗̈̀̆̇͂̄̀͐͜š̴̨̡̢̗̼̬͎͚͍͚̲̹̠̅̋͂ǫ̵̧̢̬̟͛͋̎́͐̀̂̉̃̄̃̏́̊͘m̶̜̼̆́̾͐́́̎̑̿̀͛̇ȇ̴̩͕̖̬̃ ̵̧̛̦̺̠̼̙̹͍̥̹̳́̈́͑͂̎̒̚͝s̸̛͎͇͈̞̘̼̦̳͈̝̙̫̹̻͛̔̈́ͅt̴̛͖͖͙͔̳̼̘̭̮̘̀̇̌̈́͊̿͛̊̏̚̚̚̚ų̵̜̘̞̋p̷̧̲̥̱̻͎͔̊̈̉̾̀͘ͅi̵̬̱̇̇̀d̸̳̗̲͙̬̻̏͐́̑̽̂,̸̨̠̥̮̃̔͐̉̈́͆͛̃͘͜ ̸̩̰̊̈̒̈́̿̆̿́̊͑̊͝b̵̟̟̥̫͕̦͕̿̀r̵͎͕̣͂̅́̉̑̄͋̊̈̏̊͜͝ơ̴̻̱̺̲̟̎͋͌̂̒͒̃̆̽́̉k̸̢̧̥̯͚͕̫̠͉̠̫͂͑̐́̒̏̍̋͑̈́̚͘͜͝͝ê̴̢̞͚͕̙̳̦̇̿̐̎̂́̑͒̕͠ͅn̴̘̹̜̟̬̒̂̓́̈́́͌̈́̄̀̔̓̈́̍̽ ̶͙̦̦͉̥͎͂͒̑̀̏̐̏͌ͅp̸̖̬͙̞̳̈̓͊͗̃̈́͝ȁ̵̹̩̘̥̘̭̠͍̣͚̪́̓̾̓̈͋̂̍̕̕͘͝ͅr̶͙͉̞͎̙͇̞͉̞̙̩͋̄̔̓͛ẗ̷̛̛͎́̎̈̉̈́́͝ ̷̢͎͚̦͚͚̯̆̓͌̽̀o̷̼͍͔̮͓̲͓͌͆f̶̛͚͉̮̩̱̩ ̵͓̟̖͍͎̼̔̈́͘̚M̸̢̘͙̗͕͍̥̔̐̅̾̾̂͋̄̚̕ḩ̵̫̖̩̙̣͇̫̟̱̑͐̅i̷̢̥̟̭̗̫̾̓͊̅͗̄n̶͓̩̯̻̙̪̽ ̴̧͖̥͎̹͈̜͉̦̦̈͑̒̃̾̈͆̊̃̐̕͝͝ͅt̵̺̀̓̋̽̈́͑̊̉̒̔̚̚̕͝ṛ̷̓̆͌̾̍̆̂̊̆̀͘͠͝ù̷̺̲̝̙̌͊̎̈͒̆̊͘̚̚͝ș̸͙̗̖͔͔̝̠̖̝̤͖͍́̀͆́ͅt̶̨͖̗̻͑̒̉͐͐̎̀̚̚͘͝s̴̨̧͉͖͓͍̹̮̬̮̆̾͆̒̚͜͜ ̶̡̺͕̱̖͈͇̙̝̂̃͌̎̄̑͊̾͐͗͛̓͘ḩ̵̨̣̦̼̝̙̜͍̱̦͚̥̋̒̓̓͛͐͗̒͝͠͠ͅį̷̡̧̝͓͔̥̎̾̊̕ͅm̷̡̱̥͈̗͇̾̐̈́͜.̸̡̙̬̻̗̂͐̐̏͗͒̋ͅ

[luckyarchivist]

The Hot Possibilities of MhinVere

Was going through my drafts of TS screenshots and I had these two in here:

And the note: "wait a minute, doesn't vere LIKE having enemies? aren't you kinda playing right into his enemies to fuckbuddies hands?"

I then took a look at Vere's relationships with the other LIs, and lo and behold, although Vere dislikes them as a person, he "loves angering Mhin," to the point of "constantly [provoking] them in hopes of making them lose control."

While I don't think they would actually become enemies-with-benefits, I do think the idea of it is very funny. One of the reasons for this is because I myself have been Vere. I have started off really disliking people, involved myself in provoking them at any given opportunity because of that, and then somehow looped around to wanting to kiss those people the more aggravated they got with me (and it actually worked once?).

I think it's the charm of being able to draw a strong reaction out of someone? Or it just feeds my inherent need for conflict. I don't know, and I don't pretend to understand it, either.

All of this to say, I think it would be pretty funny if Vere kept prodding at Mhin, predictably kept getting reactions out of them, and continued to spend time around them because they're so entertaining to fuck with. Then one day, he realizes that he's looking at Mhin for purposes other than insulting how they look. And that's fine, that's not a huge deal, because Vere's not blind and he can appreciate people who are attractive even if they're unbearable. But some late night, locked up in his room, Vere starts drawing and doesn't realize until halfway through that Mhin's tied up and crying on the page.

Mhin doesn't realize anything's different, obviously. Even if Vere's acting even more lascivious with them, it's not like that's out of the norm, and it's disgusting anyway. And really, nothing is different! Vere still hates Mhin. It's just that now he hates them and also wouldn't totally be opposed to cruelly dominating them, breaking them down completely, and making them beg for mercy (sexually).

[6okuto]

mhinverereader poly anon here .. these hcs r everything to me can i Please eat them /pos

do u perhaps take comms/money i want 50 more and i am willing to drop a bag for more

thisishebwbJDBSJDBF I Guess u can eat them (hcs + mhinvere)... I'll allow it this time 🙄🙄 /silly

Yes I think everyone should drop 100s on ko-fi.com/wifeiy /JOKE oh my goodness i will simply write more for free my friend 😭😭 !!! and if i did do comms i don't think they'd be writing.. especially nawt fanfic oh my goodness.. scawy. want to comm me for (mhinvereoc) art and then we can talk ✍️🚬

[leannlyre]

blood & gut cw

mhinvere

inspired from a screencap… i think its from scream movie?

inspired from prev post too

[vermilionsun]

As promised, here is the Mhin/Vere Hate Sex Oneshot, well-cooked and served on a silver platter. Enjoy <3

Word count: 3.5k Rating: Explicit Fandom: Touchstarved (Red Spring Studio) Categories: Other Relationships: Mhin/Vere, Mhin & Vere, Vere & Leander, Mhin & Leander Tags: Hate Sex, Smut, PWOP, Rough sex, Fingering, Biting, Dirty Talk, Against the wall, Jumbled dynamics, Top Vere, Power Bottom Mhin, Forced Proximity (kinda), Poor Leander

The night was young as patrons made their way down to the Amaryllis district, crowding the streets and specifically, once again, the Wet Wick. The sound of laughter and music filled the air, creating a lively atmosphere that drew people from all corners of Lowtown.

Mhin arrived at the bar just as the sunlight disappeared behind the horizon. They looked over the pub with disdain; it was already bustling with people.

Mhin slid into the establishment, immediately assaulted by the pungent blend of cheap alcohol, sweat, and overpowering cologne that permeated the air.

Leander had switched with the bartender, and on the counter was Vere, nonchalantly sitting cross-legged, blabbering about his latest escapades in the city to anyone who would listen while sipping on a glass of wine.

Mhin pinched the bridge of their nose and let out a soft groan before reluctantly approaching the counter. They begrudgingly took a seat on an empty stool on the other side of the bar, trying to make themselves as small as possible.

Vere's eyes narrowed as he spotted Mhin, a sly smirk playing at the corner of his lips as he observed their deliberate attempt to place some distance between themselves and him.

With a feigned casualness, Vere spun around so that he was facing Mhin directly. "Look at what the cat dragged in," he said with a playful tone. He leaned against the counter, his eyes locking with theirs for a breath.

As he finished serving a customer, Leander glanced toward the newcomer. A slight smirk tugged at his mouth as he saw their slumped physique. "Rough day?" He asked in a low voice.

Mhin rolled their eyes before looking up at Leander with a mix of annoyance and exhaustion. "When is it not? I came for the payment, nothing more." They spoke in a clipped tone, their gaze drifting over to Vere briefly, then back to Leander.

Vere leaned back against the countertop, his arms crossed over his chest, as he watched the exchange between Mhin and Leander with a thinly veiled curiosity. He called out to the pair with a jocularity that was almost mocking. "Oh, don't mind me; I'm just enjoying the show."

Mhin shot a glare at Vere before turning back to Leander, clearly irritated by the interruption. "Let's get this over with," they muttered. "I have places to be." 

Leander raised an eyebrow, noting the faint shadows under their eyes and the tension in their posture. "Ah, right to business as usual. Always one for small talk, aren't you?" He teased.

"I've got it all ready at the back for you—don't go anywhere." Leander pushed himself away from the counter, making his way towards the back of the bar. "Though, I doubt you were planning to," he added with a hint of humor in his voice.

He rummaged around for a moment but was stopped when a panicked acquaintance of his ran up to him, breathless and frantic. "Leander, you have to come quick! There's trouble on the main street," they exclaimed, their eyes wide with fear.

Leander's smile slipped from his face, replaced by a look of intense focus. His eyes hardened, and he turned to face them fully. "Trouble, you say?" he asked seriously. "What kind of trouble?" Simultaneously, faint echoes of shouting and crashing could be heard from outside the bar. 

Mhin didn't even bother to pretend to be disinterested. Trouble in Lowtown was nothing new, but the unexpected interruption left a sour taste in their mouth.

Leander straightened up, cursing under his breath as he grabbed his coat and gave his acquaintance a nod.

The door burst open, and a horde of frantic individuals flooded in, unleashing a cacophony of chaos as the street's turmoil spilled into the tavern. People were knocking over tables and screaming in panic, sending drinks and debris flying through the air. Leander sprang into action, pushing his way through the panicked crowd to assess the situation.

Meanwhile, Mhin found themselves being pushed around in the mayhem, struggling to keep their balance as they tried to make their way towards the nearest exit. They lunged towards the nearest door, propelled into a small storage room by the relentless force of the crowd, the door slamming shut and locking behind them.

Mhin stumbled inside, landing less than gracefully against a pile of crates. They let out a soft grunt of annoyance as they dusted themselves off and tried to open the door handle with no particular luck. 

"Fantastic," they muttered sarcastically under their breath to no one in particular, their irritation growing by the second. 

They whirled around, frantically scouring their cramped surroundings for any possible exit, their eyes darting in a wild search for a way out. The tiny room was cramped and dimly lit, filled with bottles and miscellaneous supplies.

When their eyes landed in the left corner, they were met with large pink glowing pupils and a fluffy red tail lodging in the shadows—Vere.

"And of course, it had to be you." They took a deep breath, trying to maintain their composure.

"Well, fate has a curious way of bringing people together, doesn't it? Even those of us who would prefer to stay far apart." The man purred lowly, his eyes narrowing in amusement as he slowly emerged from the shadows.

Mhin's eyes followed Vere's movements as they leaned against the wall, creating as much distance between themselves and Vere as the small room allowed, crossing their arms defensively. "I don't believe in fate," they retorted dryly, their gaze never leaving Vere. "Just bad luck."

Vere chuckled darkly, advancing with deliberate steps towards Mhin; narrowing the gap between them, arms loosely draped at his side, exuding an air of calculated confidence. "Bad luck, fate, coincidence—call it whatever you want. Either way, we're stuck in here together, whether we like it or not."

Mhin tensed as Vere drew closer and fixed him with a scowling glare, their voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, it's an absolute pleasure. Trapped in a tiny room with a pompous smartass. Just what I always dreamed of."

Vere feigned a look of mock offense, placing his hand over his heart as if wounded by their words. "Oh, I'm hurt. You really know how to flatter me. But don't worry, I won't let your scathing wit get to me." He leaned against the wall directly beside Mhin, his proximity causing him to brush against them slightly.

Mhin tensed, the brief contact sending a shiver down their spine. They tried to hide their discomfort and keep their cool, but the close confines of the storage room made it increasingly difficult. They shot Vere a glare, their voice dripping with annoyance. "Do you always invade people's personal space like this, or am I just lucky?"

Vere relished in the fact that he was getting under their skin, even if it was just a little bit. "Oh, don't flatter yourself, darling. I'm this close to you because there's nowhere else to go. Unless you'd prefer, we stand back-to-back in this glorified shoebox."

Mhin clenched their teeth, their annoyance growing with every word that left Vere's mouth. They couldn't decide what bothered them more—his close proximity or his infuriatingly casual use of the term 'darling.'

"I'd prefer you just shut your mouth. And don't call me 'darling' ever again."

Vere could practically see the steam coming off of them, and it only fueled his desire to rile them up further. He feigned innocence, his smirk faltering for a moment before returning full force. "Oh, why? Does it make you uncomfortable, darling?" He said the word again intentionally, his voice dripping with a mock show of affection. He leaned in closer, closing the remaining space between them; their bodies almost pressed together.

Mhin's breath caught in their throat, their heart rate quickening despite their best efforts to stay calm. They could feel the heat radiating from Vere's body against theirs, a mix of irritation and nervousness coursing through them.

"Back. Off." They warned through clenched teeth; the tension between them nearly palpable.

He ignored their warning and instead moved even closer, his body now fully pressed against theirs. He leaned in until his face was mere inches from Mhin's, their breaths mingling together in the confined space. "Make me, darling."

Mhin's pulse was racing now, their breath coming in short bursts. Their mind was a tangle of emotions—frustration, irritation—but, to their horror, a hint of something else they refused to acknowledge.

They scowled at him, their voice shaking slightly. "Don't test me."

But Vere only chuckled in response, the sound sending a shiver down Mhin's spine. His eyes bore into theirs, a mix of challenge and something darker lurking beneath the surface. As much as they wanted to push him away, a part of them was inexplicably drawn to his intensity. It was a dangerous game they were playing, one that could have consequences they weren't prepared for.

"Oh, but where's the fun in that? You're so amusing when you're all worked up like this, darling." The foxian deliberately placed his hands on Mhin's waist.

In a swift motion, Mhin retracted their dagger, pushing it against Vere's pulse point, right above his collar, heart pounding in their chest as they tried to steady their hands, their jaw clenched tight.

"I warned you. Don't... touch me." They seethed, the words punctuated by ragged breaths.

Vere didn't flinch, didn't show a hint of fear or intimidation, and held Mhin's gaze, his voice calm and steady. "Is that supposed to scare me? Do you know how easily—" Vere's hands that rested on Mhin's side now squeeze them threateningly, "—I could snap you in half?"

"You wouldn't dare." They finally breathed out, their voice betraying a hint of uncertainty.

"Oh, but I would. You have no idea what I'm capable of." He leaned in closer, the tip of his nose practically grazing their cheek.

"Are you really going to risk confrontation with Kuras?"

Vere paused, his ears giving an angry twitch at their words. A flicker of uncertainty crossed his face for a brief moment before being masked by his usual cocky smirk. He leaned back slightly, though his grip on Mhin stayed firm, still pinning them against the wall. His tone lost its playful edge, his voice took on a more serious tone. "Risk? Please. Kuras doesn't frighten me."

"Even without the collar, you're no match for him," Mhin continued, their tone shifting to a more confident one. They pressed their dagger a little harder against his skin, a small bead of blood forming where the blade made contact. "And you know it."

Vere's expression hardened at their words, his smirk faltering. He bit back a wince and swallowed visibly, his Adam's apple bobbing. "You insolent little killjoy—"

Mhin leaned in a little closer, their warm breath tickling his ear. "Oh, am I getting under your skin, darling?" They mocked, using his own phrase against him.

He parted his lips to retaliate, yet the subtle nuances in their expression, the mirroring of his earlier jeering, caused a momentary hesitation to creep into his response. He clenched his jaw, his hands reflexively tightening around Mhin's sides again. "You're asking for it, you little brat."

"Oh, am I? And what are you going to do about it? You're all bark, no bite."

Vere's fingers dug deeper into their sides, his grip nearing bruising. "You haven't seen just how much bite I have."

A faint gasp of surprise escaped Mhin as they tried to keep up their bravado, albeit breathlessly.  "Is that so? Go ahead, then. Show me." They challenged, their voice barely above a whisper.

Fuck it.

Mhin felt the air leave their lungs in a shaky gasp as their lips crashed into Vere's, their free hand grabbing his collar to pull him closer, pressing their body against his in a desperate bid for more. The other let out a low, guttural moan, one hand leaving Mhin's side to tangle in their hair, his fingers fisting in the strands as he deepened the kiss.

Vere released their sides, instead wrapping his arms around Mhin's waist and pulling them flush against him. Mhin dropped their dagger with a clatter on the floor, both hands gripping his shirt now as they pressed themselves fully against him, their body molding against his in a desperate attempt to merge into one being. Vere tilted their head back, his tongue slipping between their lips, demanding and insistent, tasting them with a fervor and desire he had never even considered possible before.

Vere's hands shamelessly roamed underneath Mhin's shirt, feeling the smooth skin of their back beneath his fingertips. Mhin bit back a whimper as Vere's kisses trailed down their neck, sending shivers down their spine. Mhin's jaw tightened as they tried to suppress the moans building in their throat, their body arching into Vere's touch. 

Vere nipped and nibbled at the sensitive flesh of Mhin's neck, the urgency of his actions only growing more pronounced. A soft gasp escaped their lips as he found a particularly sensitive spot, their head falling back to give him more room to explore. The taste of their skin, mingling with the faint, lingering smell of lavender, was intoxicating. Vere wanted more, needed more. And he wasn't going to hold back any longer.

His hands slid lower, the tips of his fingers tracing the curve of their spine as he continued his assault on their neck and collarbone, leaving a trail of hot, open-mouthed kisses in his wake. “God above, you’re going to kill me,” he breathes, his lips brushing against their jawline. "You're so damn responsive, darling," he growled against their neck, his voice low and hoarse.

"Shut. Up." They managed to gasp out, their voice laced with a mixture of irritation and raw need. They tried to maintain some semblance of control, but it was slipping through their fingers with each kiss and touch.

Vere chuckled against their skin; his lips curled into a smug smirk. "You make it so easy for me," he nibbled gently at their earlobe, his hips rolling into theirs.

Mhin bit down on their lip to stifle more sounds threatening to come out, their hands clenched into fists against his shoulders as they tried to keep themselves grounded.

They wanted to come up with a witty comeback, to say something to wipe that smug expression off his face, but the words died on their tongue. "Bastard..." They whined in a futile attempt.

Vere let out a low, dark chuckle, his smug smile widening. "That's right, darling. I am a bastard. A cocky, self-assured, devilishly handsome bastard."

"Arrogant. Self-centered. Insufferable." They managed to gasp out, their voice trembling. They hated how their body reacted to his touch—they hated how much they wanted him, and how desperately they craved more.

"You forgot charming. And talented. All things I've been called before. And yet, you still want me, don't you, darling?" Vere's hands moved lower, tracing the curves of their hips as he slowly started getting rid of the fabrics that restricted his access.

They closed their eyes, biting back another moan. They wanted to deny it, but the way their body reacted to his touch betrayed them. "I... hate you." They managed to gasp out, their voice barely above a whisper, filled with a mix of desire and frustration. 

One of his hands slowly wandered down their side, his fingers tracing a lazy path along their ribs, roaming lower and gripping their thighs. "The feeling's mutual." 

Mhin trembled under his touch, their entire body hyper-aware of every point of contact. "You're a menace… a smug, arrogant, insatiable..." They tried to speak, but their words trailed off into a gasp as Vere's fingers entered them.

Vere's fingers started moving in a slow, deliberate rhythm. He leaned in to whisper in their ear. "Go on, darling. Finish the sentence. Say it."

Mhin's breath hitched as he leaned in, his breath ghosting over their ear, sending goosebumps down their spine. "You're... arrogant, infuriating, and completely and utterly..." They trailed off, biting their lip to hold back a moan, chest rising and falling rapidly. "Utterly… fucking irresistible."

Vere chuckled darkly, a satisfied smirk on his face, as he heard the words leave their lips. He continued his ministrations, his fingers moving and working within them with increasing insistence and pace. "That's right, darling. Say it again. Let me hear you say it." He purred.

Mhin's breathing grew ragged as his fingers continued to move with increasing speed, their body arching against his hand.  They could feel the heat pooling in their lower belly. "Fuck you."

"You'd like that, wouldn't you, darling?" He teased, his fingers curling slightly as he continued his ministrations, driving them closer and closer to the edge.

"Damn you."

"Oh, you're just making this more fun for me, darling. Keep cursing at me. Tell me how much you hate me while you writhe and moan in my arms."

Mhin let out a strangled gasp as Vere's hand suddenly withdrew, their body clenching around the sudden absence, unfulfilled and frustrated. They were so close—so close to the release that they desperately craved.

"Ah, ah, ah. Not so fast, darling."

"I hate you… I hate you so much…" They heaved, their chest rising and falling rapidly as they tried to catch their breath.

"Mmm," Vere murmured against their skin, tracing leisurely patterns on their skin. "I can feel just how much you hate me, darling."

Mhin felt their last shred of restraint snap, their body taking control. They grabbed his collar, pulling him closer, their lips crashing into his in a ferocious kiss. "Damn you." They gasped out, their voice trembling. "Damn you for making me want you like this." Their fingers dug into his flesh as they pushed him against the wall, reversing their positions. "Just shut up," they growled, their voice thick with longing, "and fuck me, or I swear to the gods above, you won't live another fucking day."

Vere's eyes widened momentarily at the sudden shift in power, a gasp escaping him as his back hit the wall with a thud.

A beat.

With a swift, fluid movement, Vere flipped them back around, pinning Mhin against the wall, their bodies pressed tightly together. He held them firmly, one of his hands gripping their wrists and holding them above their head. "You don't have to tell me twice, darling."

Vere didn't waste any more time, his free hand working to position his dick at Mhin's entrance, pushing inside without warning, causing the latter to leave a loud, drawn out moan as pleasure shot through their body, their head falling back against the wall.. "That's it," Vere whispered, his voice low and husky, "just like that."

Mhin's hands gripped onto Vere's shoulders, nails digging into his skin as they moved together in a rhythm that was both frantic and primal. The air was filled with the sound of their heavy breathing and the slick, wet noise of their bodies moving against each other. Vere's hands roamed Mhin's body, tracing every curve and dip with a hunger that bordered on despair. Mhin's nails dug into Vere's back, leaving red marks in their wake as they clung to each other. Vere lifted his head just enough to watch Mhin's face contort with pleasure, their lips parted in a silent scream. Every thrust sent a shock of ecstasy through both of them, pushing them closer and closer to the edge.

As they reached their peak, Vere's name fell from Mhin's lips in hoarse whispers like a mantra, a prayer to a fallen god that neither of them believed in, even if one's name was whispered in return.

Many hours later, Leander had finally settled the matter and restored order to the tavern, but the unexpected interruption had certainly left its mark on the evening. As he sat back down at his table, Leander couldn't help but feel a sense of unease lingering in the air. He had forgotten something, he was sure of it.

He shooed away the thought, opting to replace some of the broken bottles in the bar. As he walked to the storage closet near the bar, he made a mental note to double-check the basement inventory later, just to be safe.

He fumbled with the doorknob, only to realize it was jammed. With a sigh, he used a magic spell to unlock the door. The moment it flung open, a familiar, hooded figure darted past him and out into the early morning. He stood there, stunned for a moment, when lighter footsteps approached from behind him.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Most people would treat me to something after a night like that," Vere stretched as he walked past the bewildered man, a mischievous grin on his face. "But I suppose I'll let it slide this time," he added with a wink before disappearing into the early light outside.