The chance that becomes an inevitability

One foot in front of the other, Rufus took slow steps, careful to keep the floor boards from creaking. He was conscious of the late hour, aware of the people sleeping behind the locked doors of the inn, not wanting to wake them. Though he envied them their sleep, he bore no malice against them. After all, it was not their fault he was unable to sleep.

Rufus sighed, right hand raising to rub tiredly at his eyes. It had become a pattern of late, this not sleeping, forcing the archer to spend countless hours alone with the thoughts in his head. It was easier when they were on the road, he was too consumed with surviving their battles, and standing on guard against monsters in the night to spend time worrying. But when they were safely behind doors, a time when he should have been able to relax, that was when Rufus was most consumed with his thoughts.

There was a lot to think about. Most recently they had been betrayed, their dear friend Leone turning out to be no other than the Dark Valkyrie Hrist. As though her deception had not been bad enough, she had claimed the Dragon Orb for her master, and slain their companion, the beserker Arngrim. Sometimes when Rufus closed his eyes, he could still see in vivid detail the moment when Hrist struck down Arngrim with her spear.

But it wasn't nightmares that kept him from sleeping, not entirely. It was dreams of the past, of the happier times he had spent on the road with Arngrim and Leone. Flashes of memory teased him, seeing Leone's smiling at Alicia, recalling the awe Arngrim had expressed at learning Dylan was one of the fabled einherjar. Those happy memories pained him, made him all the angrier at Hrist's deception.

He often thought about all his companions, the people he had grown close enough to, to call his friends. The princess, with her sweet smile and golden haired beauty, the muscular einherjar with his solemn expression. And most of all, the mysterious mage whose purple eyes gleamed behind gold tinted spectacles. Rufus would be displeased to know a blush colored his cheeks whenever Lezard came to mind, the half elf trying desperately to keep from recalling what had happened between them. But try as he might, flashes of it sprang to mind, and his body often reacted to those thoughts.

Rufus often woke up to sticky sheets, or a wet stain decorating the inside of his pants. It shamed him that the memory of Lezard's hand on his dick could arouse him so. Not since he had been a teenager had he experienced a wet dream so intensely. It left Rufus confused and angry, the man wanting to lash out at random. He hadn't spoken to Lezard alone since their encounter at the Crawsus Forest Ruins, had barely even looked at the mage. He found himself lowering his eyes to the floor whenever the mage glanced at him, fighting back a blush.

Lezard didn't try to approach him, didn't even seem to acknowledge what had happened between them. Often when they made camp for the night, Rufus found himself standing over the man's sleeping form, gazing down with a scowl on his face as he noted the ease in which Lezard slept. And yet there was something there besides shame and anger, something almost like longing when he looked at the sleeping mage.

He blamed it on the touching. It had proven his downfall, Rufus having never known a gentle touch in his life before this quest had began. And though Lezard had not touched him out of love, he had done him a kindness, relieving him of his great need. He found himself wanting to be touched again, looking for any and every excuse to experience human contact. It manifested in his touching the princess, subtly taking hold of her hand to help her up a step, or holding her in his arms when she cried out her pain over Leone's betrayal. But those chaste touches weren't enough! Rufus wanted more, wanted to be touched in the manner Lezard had shown him.

It was starting to drive him mad! Rufus had even gone so far as to steal one of Lezard's gloves, placing the too tight leather on his right hand. He jerked himself off, pretending it was the mage touching him, and that thought was enough to get him to cum. But it was all fantasy, and it left him worried about the state of his sanity. Rufus knew he had to confront Lezard, had to at the very least talk about what had happened between them.

It was no coincidence his pacing led him to the hall where Lezard's room lay. He found himself padding barefoot back and forth before his door, Rufus trying to get up his courage to actually knock on the door. A better part of an hour went by before he paused, raising his hand to the wood. He was aware of his heart fluttering, a rapid beating of nervousness and he fought with himself. It was almost by accident when his fist connected with the wood, loud rapid knocking on the door. The sound was almost too loud, Rufus wincing, hoping no one else would hear.

He shifted from foot to foot, waiting impatiently for an answer. He was almost about to turn away from the door when it opened, a disheveled Lezard looking at him with that maddening calm expression of his. Rufus was quiet, slowly looking the mage over. The man had removed his jacket, his white shirt unbuttoned down to the navel. He still wore his pants, though they were hanging down low on his hips, laces untied. It would appear Rufus had caught him getting ready for bed.

"Sir Rufus?" Lezard spoke quietly, forcing Rufus to strain his ears to make out the words. "Is there a problem? Is the princess all right?"

"What? Oh yes....Alicia is fine." Rufus answered, tearing his eyes away from the glimpse of Lezard's chest. "I...may I talk with you?"

"Of course." Lezard stepped to the side, ushering Rufus into his room. The half elf spared little attention to the details of bedroom, quick to note it looked identical to the one he shared with Dylan. Lezard walked past him, going to sit down in an overstuffed chair, and Rufus noticed an open book lying on the stool next to it.

"Doing a little late night reading?" Rufus asked, wondering how Lezard did not ruin what was left of his eyesight, reading by candlelight.

"One must be ever diligent in their studies if one hopes to be the best." Lezard answered, voice matter of fact.

"Er right..."

"What is it you wish to talk about Sir Rufus?" Lezard asked, gazing at him curiously.

"Um..." Nervous, Rufus put a hand behind his head, scratching at his scalp as he tried to think. "Nothing in particular. Can't sleep....how about you?"

If it bothered Lezard that Rufus would come to him with something so trivial so late at night, Lezard did not show it. Instead he offered a tired smile, and said, "These are troubling times. It's no wonder you can't sleep with all that has gone on. But you must try Sir Rufus, for the princess' sake. She needs you."

"Ah yeah...." Rufus set his hand down. "Alicia needs all of us."

"But she looks to you the most for support." pointed out Lezard. "You are close to her in a way I myself, and Dylan are not."

"Do you really think so?" Rufus frowned, and Lezard nodded. "Hmm....funny. I don't feel that close to her....to anyone." A sigh then, Lezard watching him, not saying anything. Rufus shifted, uncomfortable with his stare, and found himself blurting out words to fill the silence. "I've always been an outsider, a person standing on the sidelines, watching but never participating." A wry smile then. "You probably can't relate."

Lezard cocked his head slightly, but didn't say anything in reply. "Right..." Rufus sighed again. "It's a strange feeling having friends. If that is what you three are to me. I...I never had friends you see...never had the chance to get to know anyone. It's nice. But..."

"But?" Lezard prodded when Rufus fell silent.

"But it's still not enough." Rufus whispered, so quiet he feared Lezard couldn't hear him. "I want more....need more than just friendship."

A slow blink of Lezard's eyes, and then a small smile that lacked any warmth to it. "Perhaps you should be telling this to the princess."

"What? No!!" protested Rufus. "I..." He exhaled, conscious of Lezard's eyes on him. "I still think about it you know." A snort then, a shaking of his shoulders. "Even though it's been a week since we visited the Crawsus Forest Ruins."

"Ah..." Lezard adjusted his glasses, polite smile frozen on his face. "Has it really only been a week? So much has happened since then, it feels like a lifetime has passed."

Rufus wondered if Lezard had heard the first part of what he had said, or if he had chosen to ignore it. Perhaps he too should just let it drop, but a protesting pang in his heart urged him forward. "Lezard....why did you....help me back there?"

"It was my duty to see to your well being." Lezard started to say, but Rufus reacted with an angry shout.

"Don't give me that! You could have left me alone....you could have waited for it to pass!"

"But you would have been in pain." Lezard answered, expression mild in the face of the half elf's anger. "It's not a pleasant feeling to remain in such a state for too long. Already you were suffering, and only a few minutes had gone by."

"Is that all it was?" whispered Rufus. "A way to stop my suffering?!" He choked on his laugh, feeling bitter that the encounter had meant more to him than to Lezard.

"What else could it be?" Lezard asked.

"I....I don't know. I thought...."

"You thought what?" prodded Lezard.

"I thought it might mean something...." Rufus admitted.

"Sir Rufus..." Lezard appeared to be choosing his words carefully. "Could it be you want it to mean more than it was?"

"I...I don't know!" Rufus blushed. "It felt good, and I..."

"You want more." stated Lezard, and Rufus realized with a start he was right. "And you want it from me?" Rufus hesitated a full minute, but at last nodded his head. He was surprised to see the smile return to Lezard's face, slight though it was. "Do you even know what it is you want?"

"You..." Rufus licked his lips nervously. "Touching me."

"Just touching you?" Lezard maintained eye contact with the blushing half elf. "But...if I was to do that....you would have to do some things for me in return."

"What kind of things?" Rufus asked, suspicion in his tone.

"I would expect a great deal more than just touching!" A light laugh from Lezard, the tone of it airy and carefree.

"Like....what kind of things?" Rufus needed him to explain, not sure where this was going.

"Come here and I'll show you." Lezard said, holding out a hand in invitation to Rufus. He stared at it, just weighing the pros and cons of taking Lezard's hand. But the thought of not being touched by him spurred him forward, Rufus ready to do anything to feel the mage's hands on him. Lezard's fingers closed around the half elf's, the man realizing the mage had discarded his gloves for the night. His skin was surprisingly soft, holding a more feminine quality to it, than the coarse roughness of the leather he normally wore.

A slight pull on his arm, Rufus eagerly going forward to stand before Lezard. The mage tilted his head back to gaze upwards at the half elf, still wearing that strange smile on his face. Again the mage tugged, harder this time, catching Rufus off balance. The archer fell forward, and Lezard caught him, resting his large body against Lezard's smaller, seated frame.

"Where do you want me to touch you?" Lezard said, voice in Rufus' exposed ears. Rufus twitched to feel his lips brushing against his ears, felt his face grow heated as he thought over the answer to Lezard's question. "Here?" A hand landed on the back of Rufus' head, fingers stroking down the length of his emerald green hair. It felt good, Rufus enjoying the petting motion of Lezard's hand. "Or how about here..."

A hand on his cheek, thumb strecthed out to brush against Rufus' lips. The half elf sighed, but said nothing, still trying to think on what to answer "or what about..." Rufus gasped. "Here...." Lezard's hand dipped into the waistband of the only clothing Rufus' wore, fingers nudging into his pants. He got an immediate reaction, the archer's cock twitching with interest to feel the delicate fingers of the mage touching him.

"Everywhere..." Rufus managed to get out. "I want you to touch me everywhere..."

"Well, aren't you greedy." Lezard laughed, and leaned in to graze his lips against Rufus' throat. Feather soft kisses were placed on the front of it, even as Lezard's hand continued to play with Rufus' cock teasing it to rise. Timidly, Rufus placed his hands on Lezard's shoulders, holding onto the man as he bent over the mage. His eyes closed in bliss, a low moan escaping his lips as fingers and lips worked him over.

At some point Rufus touched Lezard's face, turning him towards his. Lezard watched him, but did not protest, letting Rufus explore the contours of his face with his fingers. It was when the archer leaned in to try and claim Lezard's lips for his own, that Lezard attempted to jerk free of his grip.

"If you kiss me..." Lezard said, voice cold, breath warm as it brushed against Rufus' open mouth. "I will send you back to your room."

That stopped Rufus cold in his tracks, the half elf staring into Lezard's eyes. "Right..." He nodded. "No kissing. I understand." He felt frustrated, wanting to know why Lezard denied him this, but fear of being sent away kept him from asking. He settled for burying his face in the crook of Lezard's shoulder, sighing into the silk of his shirt. Lezard resumed his actions, and now his hands touched the side of Rufus' waist, a tickling, teasing touch as he smoothed his hands across the archer's skin.

Rufus let out a low moan, the sound muffled against Lezard, enjoying the feel of hands exploring his body. Soft and warm, that was how he would describe Lezard's hands, feeling them press firmly against his chest. The mage caressed circles over the half elf's nipples, causing them to tingle, thumb and forefinger reaching to catch at the hardened bits of flesh, pinching them harshly. It was pain, but a good kind, that left Rufus hissing out in pleasure. Lezard chuckled in reply, then guided his hands to Rufus' back.

Fingers grazed his shoulders blades, moving under the mane of his hair. Rufus felt Lezard tracing down the ridges of his spine, hands sliding downwards to grip hold of his ass. He squeezed, and Rufus shifted, almost trying to escape those squeezing hands. One last squeeze, and then the material of his pants were being bunched up under Lezard's fingers, the mage tugging the cotton trousers downwards. They pooled at Rufus' feet, the half elf now standing naked before the man.

Lezard wasn't done touching him, hands exploring his thighs, tickling the back of his knees. When Lezard reached up to take gentle hold of his ball sac, Rufus' knees buckled, and he hit the floor hard. Again that low laughter came from Lezard, the man not letting go of Rufus. He curved his hand around his balls, rolling the delicate skin in his hand.

Rufus cried out, and leaned forward to bite at Lezard's shoulder. The mage did not protest this, one hand gripping the half elf's balls, the other touching his shaft, stroking it even harder yet. A finger prodded the tip of it, spreading the leaking fluid over his head. Rufus moaned into Lezard's shoulder, and began touching his chest, sliding open the shirt to reveal more of the mage's skin.

As Lezard stroked him, Rufus began placing kisses on Lezard's chest, noting the mage did not mind kisses as long as he didn't try for his mouth. Rufus kisses his chest passionately, tongue laving attention on a nipple in much the manner he wished to do to Lezard's mouth.

A sound escaped Lezard, Rufus smiling to hear the mage react to him. "Can I undress you?" Rufus asked, glancing at Lezard's eyes. The mage nodded, and Rufus smiled happily, beginning to slide the shirt down Lezard's arms. He stared at the thin frame of the mage, noting how pale he was. a stark contrast to Rufus' sun kissed skin. He touched Lezard's arms, feeling out the differences, noting the mage lacked the mass of muscles that Rufus had from years of practicing archery.

Rufus left the shirt pushed down to Lezard's wrists, the half elf not wanting to stop Lezard's stroking of him even for an instant. His hands went to Lezard's waist, and he touched him there, noting a hint of brown hair starting down right at the border of where his pants began. He touched that coarse hair, surprised. It would seem humans, unlike elves, had hair on their genitals, a trait Rufus found fascinating. He simply had to see more, and he began pulling open the flap of Lezard's pants, revealing his half erect state.

Rufus stared, hesitation in his eyes. "Can I...?"

"Yes..." Lezard breathed out. "Oooooooh yes!" That last yes was more enthusiastic for Rufus' hand timidly touched Lezard's dick. He mimicked the mage's earlier actions, fingers tracing a prominent vein. As he caressed him, he watched as Lezard began to grow before his eyes, hardening with arousal.

"Sir Rufus...." A breathless quality to Lezard's voice. "There is more that one can do...we need not be limited to just our hands." Rufus looked at him curiously, and Lezard's smile widened. "Your mouth Sir Rufus. Use your mouth."

Rufus frowned, staring at Lezard's cock. "My mouth...?"

"Yes." Lezard nodded. "Go on...lick the tip of it."

Unsure, but willing to try anything once, Rufus brought his face closer to Lezard's dick. His tongue came out, and he licked the side of it, hearing Lezard let out a tiny gasp. "Yes....like that..."

Encouraged by Lezard's words, Rufus licked him harder, tongue trailing teasingly to the tip of his cock. When he lapped at the oozing head, he found Lezard winding his fingers into his hair, trying to hold him in place. Not that Rufus had any intention of going anywhere, the half elf reaching with his hand to hold Lezard's twitching dick steady.

"Ah.....now your mouth....open your lips.." Lezard said, and appeared to be fighting against Rufus' hand. The hands in his hair guided him forward, shoving his face a tad roughly against Lezard's dick. Rufus found himself opening his mouth to ask a question, but it went unvoiced for suddenly Lezard was inside his mouth. Lezard let out a self satisfied moan. "I've forgotten how good this feels...now...move your head....yes like this..." The hands on his head began bobbing Rufus' head up and down, the half elf letting go of Lezard to grab at his thighs, to try and push free of Lezard's grip.

Lezard easily held onto him, and his hips began moving, thrusting hard into his mouth. Rufus all but choked on the hard flesh that hit the back of his throat, shocked to find Lezard groaning as his fingers dug into his scalp. In and out plunged Lezard's dick, Rufus rolling his eyes upwards to see Lezard had his head tossed back, lips parted as he moaned. His eyes were closed, Lezard lost to the feel of Rufus' mouth on his cock.

Rufus made a muffled sound, a desperate plea and Lezard's eyes snapped open. He locked his gaze with the half elf, but continued to thrust into his mouth, face starting to look flushed as beads of sweat trailed down his skin. "I'm going to come now Sir Rufus." Lezard announced, and Rufus' eyes widened even further. "Do try to take it all."

With a garbled cry Lezard came. Rufus squealed to feel something salty and bitter shoot into his mouth. It was warm, and sticky, and made Rufus want to gag. Lezard's dick was still in his mouth, leaving Rufus with no choice but to swallow the fluid down.