Together with Richter

It was a while before Emil actually got what he had first intended, but the wait didn't seem so long, there were plenty of other "diversions" that made the time go by quickly. As promised, Richter had since purchased bath supplies, and the two had shared many a special, soapy interlude between adventures. And, just as they promised, they set aside a special trip to go to the Hot Springs. Neither of them really expected the outcome of that day, but it was one of those miraculous little happenstances that created beautiful memories for the both of them.



As was the custom, both of them were showering, purifying themselves before the mineral bath. The sun was just beginning to set, and Emil was looking forward to watching the colors flood the sky with Richter. The half-elf had just finished scrubbing Emil, and he rinsed the pomegranate body wash out of the luffa as Emil let the last of the orange scented shampoo wash out of his blonde hair. They were the only two guests at the Hot Springs that day, so Richter could be as intimate as he liked. He hugged the little human from behind, handing him the sponge and taking in the sweet and sour aromatics of the boy's new scent. He hummed absent-mindedly as he enjoyed the tropical perfume and asked which scents the boy had planned for him.



Emil shrugged, turning over a few different choices in his hands. Finally, he settled on a cherry and peach body wash and cinnamon apple shampoo. He poured a bit of the body wash into the sponge and handed it to Richter as he filled the palm of his hand with the sweet and spicy smelling shampoo. Richter sat on the damp wooden stool where Emil had been before as he started soaping up his upper body; Emil started on Richter's hair. He worked the viscous, aromatic shampoo into Richter's scalp, gently massaging the skin as he lathered the shampoo along the roots of the soft, crimson hair. The aroma was intoxicating, and it took all of Emil's strength to finish what he started and not succumb to the insatiable urge to curl up in Richter's lap like a kitten and let the scents mesmerize him. He treated the ends of the silky red hair with a bit of matching green apple conditioner before Richter handed him the sponge again. He finished his duties by scouring the half-elf's back, the fragrance of peach was almost overpowering. At last, Richter tilted his head back and rinsed himself; the cloudy white suds collected at the drain in the middle of the tiled shower room.



Emil gathered their belongings and stuffed them into the locker beside the one where they had left their clothes before he followed Richter out to the hot springs. The steaming pools of natural, mineral-rich water gave off plumes of vapor in the night air. Richter eased himself into the warm waters, letting out a deep sigh as he settled comfortably on a shelf of rock at the perfect depth for him to rest against the side of the spring with barely his head above the surface. Emil floundered a bit through the water, trying to find a spot at which he could touch bottom. He tiptoed along the ridge beside the half-elf, who laughed as he finally lifted the blond by the underarms and seated him in his lap.



Emil blushed and muttered a thank you as he leaned back in the half-elf's arms. They smelled like a fruit basket, sitting together with their mixed scents and Emil was suddenly made aware of how hungry that was making him. He felt Richter wrap his arms around his waist, the skin was smooth and soft now after a good scrub; it felt nice, Emil thought, to be fresh and clean after a long journey and it was just as nice to feel Richter's skin rejuvenated. He wasn't the kind to pamper himself, and his complexion suffered for it; Emil had always thought it a shame, Richter had such beautiful skin when he cared for it. Emil leaned against the half-elf's shoulder; he could still see the scar where Richter had been clawed by a monster in the caves on that journey a long time ago. The skin had reformed unusually taught and hard, as all scars do; Emil felt a bitter disappointment that he could not have healed that wound as easily as he had healed the gash from the Shadow Dragon, no scar or sign of it could be seen. He inclined his head and kissed the man's scarred shoulder, wishing it away as the man cradled him gently.



The sweet-spicy aroma wafted from the man's hair and mixed with the tangy scent of Emil's own; the smell of fruit was so strong, so decadent, Emil rather wished they had some to share… it would make for a perfect, romantic evening. His stomach growled, low and inconspicuously, but Richter felt it just as much as Emil did. He pat the blond's little tummy affectionately, laughing quietly to himself. "Sounds like someone's hungry…" He bent down and kissed the blond's forehead. "What should we have today, then? D'you want to stop by an inn? Or did you already plan for something?" Emil couldn't get the smell out of his mind… that cinnamon apple smell… the peach and orange… the pomegranate and faint hint of cherry… He didn't know what to answer; he probably couldn't if he tried. Richter smelled too good… That burning desire from before was reignited, much to Emil's dismay. Now was not the time, he thought, to ask about that again… There was no way he could tell Richter what he really wanted to eat… not now… the moment was too special. Emil wished it wasn't so, wished his stomach hadn't interrupted them, he just wanted to sit there with Richter, undisturbed and unified with the man he loved. He didn't want to switch gears to something unrefined and passionate just because his stomach brought it up, but his belly groaned anew, insistent.



He sighed, submitting to his stomach's demands, and whispered to the redhead. "I, um, a-actually… I was wondering if… _{if I could, uh, e-eat you, Richter…}" Richter blinked in surprise and Emil immediately felt silly for asking the question. Emil instinctively turned away from the half-elf, hiding his face as it flushed brightly in shame. He felt the man's smooth fingers caress his cheek as Richter tilted Emil's face toward his own.



He kissed the young blond tenderly and they parted with a smile. "Of course, Emil… I thought you'd never ask…"



Richter looked around for a moment, smile widening as he lifted his human companion, carrying him over to a shallower basin of water he had spotted nearby. It was a perfect fit; there was just enough room for the two of them to fit comfortably inside and Emil could sit up against the side at a pleasant angle, perfect for relaxing later.



"There, now," the redhead grinned, "that ought to be more comfy for you. Thank goodness no one else is around… Alright then… let's get started." Emil had already closed in for a kiss, interrupting the half-elf before he had a chance to make one little proviso. He smiled, waiting for Emil to release him before he spoke. "Don't get ahead of yourself, kid… I have one condition… I'd like you to do it feet first, if that's alright." Emil cocked his head; he didn't particularly mind, but why on earth do it feet first?



Richter blushed as he explained. "Look, I just… I'm … I'm a little nervous, too… This will be… a first for me… I'm not really sure what to expect. And this could be difficult for you too, considering my size; I want to be able to coach you through it for as long as I can… If we do it feet first, I can let you know immediately if something goes… wrong…" Emil shuddered a little, remembering the not-so-pleasant experience with the Polwigle. Richter cleared his throat, adding a little more levity to his reasoning. "Also, doing it that way will let you opt out if it gets too rough for you, just give me a sign and I'll be able to ease myself out if you have any trouble."



Emil nodded. "Alright, Richter. I understand…" His hungry belly interjected, reminding him of his motive and renewing his enthusiasm. The half-elf smiled and lay flat on his stomach, pointing his toes toward Emil and blushing over his shoulder as the blond began. It was an unusual feeling, a warm, wet sensation that kept creeping up along his feet to his ankles, but at the same time, Richter found the sensation to be invigorating and new. He sighed happily as the blond finally sucked both feet into his mouth and swallowed. He felt his toes squeeze into a narrow space, a small, tight passage and the rest of his feet followed soon after as Emil swallowed yet again, working his way up Richter's calves with relish.



Emil was amazed at just how good Richter tasted. He hadn't expected much at all, perhaps a mild saltiness like that of sweat, but was quite astounded to find that the aromatics of Richter's body wash had altered his perception of the man's flavor. The delicate scent of peach filled his nose and the subtle undertones of cherry made it all the more sweet; Emil was pleasantly surprised to find that Richter tasted exactly as he smelled. He savored the sweet, nectar-like flavor as he drew more and more of Richter's legs into his mouth. He had reached about halfway up the half-elf's calves now, and he paused a moment, glancing up at Richter to judge his progress. The redhead was smiling at him over his shoulder, giving him a thumbs up.



"You're doing great, Emil. You're about an eighth of the way… you feel okay?" Emil grinned back and made a muffled sound of affirmation. Richter nodded. "Alright, that's good. Remember, don't push yourself. If you feel even the least bit uncomfortable, you should stop… even if you're only a little bit queasy, just stop and spit me out, don't force yourself. After all, it's not any fun for either of us if you're in pain, is it?" Emil gave Richter a thumbs up as a sign that he understood (it was rather hard for him to nod with the man's legs in his mouth and halfway down his throat) and continued to pull more and more of the half-elf inside.



Richter smiled as he watched; he had never seen it from this point of view before… He was rather intrigued by his powers himself and even more intrigued to see them mimicked by someone else. Watching his legs disappear into Emil's mouth was quite the experience for him, he found he rather liked the way the blond eagerly licked his skin in gentle, loving strokes and sucked him down with that same fervor… but just as he was starting to enjoy it, Emil stopped again, making a muffled groan that sounded to be half disappointment and half discomfort (perhaps with a slight tinge of fear mingled in somewhere).



"What's the matter, Emil, are you stuck? I'm too big, aren't I…? Do you want to quit?"



"Hnh-nn" Emil mumbled, a rather muffled version of 'nuh-uh', but his intonation made it clear that he did not want to stop; this puzzled Richter.



"You don't want to? Then why'd you pause?" Richter blinked at the boy who had reached almost to his knees. Truth be told, Emil was starting to get a little nervous; he was reaching one of Richter's thickest areas, his thighs and hips, and it was already a tight fit as it was… Emil wasn't entirely sure he could finish what he started anymore… not to mention that he was feeling a rather awkward sensation around his middle… But he did want to continue, he really did… he just wasn't sure how.



Richter looked at him, puzzled expression glued to his face as the boy stalled there. Emil was breathing deeply, almost like someone preparing to vomit, and Richter expected some sort of cue to begin easing himself out as the boy delayed progression; after all, he was much bigger than a Polwigle… perhaps Emil had "bitten off a little more than he could chew", so to speak. However, after a few moments, the half-elf noticed the faint glow of the Yromem Stone shining rather conspicuously from within Emil. The glow seemed to intensify for a moment and suddenly, Emil was taking another swallow as he started to progress once more. Richter noted that the boy's pace had increased as well; the Yromem Stone must have modified his powers again, allowing the blond an easier time of swallowing him. He laughed, watching the boy's apparent eagerness as Emil seemed to be quite earnest in his technique, almost in a hurry to compensate for the brief pause. He reminded Emil that there was no need to rush and that he should only go as fast as he was comfortable with. Emil simpered, letting out something like an embarrassed laugh as he obeyed, slowing to his original pace as he savored the red-head's sweet flavor. The redhead folded his arms on the ground in front of him, resting his head upon them as he continued to watch Emil's advancement.



For some reason Emil didn't quite understand, he was suddenly relieved of the tension and stress inside of him and had started swallowing immediately after the discomfort had miraculously passed. He realized at that moment that the awkward feeling around his midsection had been Richter's feet pressing at the opening to his stomach and felt them push in with a satisfying squish. He smiled to himself as Richter wiggled his feet in their less confining chamber and Richter smiled as well at the thought of where his feet now were.



He grinned back at the teen. "Well, now… how about that… second checkpoint cleared… I'm officially in your stomach now, kid. What do you think about that?" He winked at the young human who returned the gesture with a giggle. The youth pressed onward, sucking for all he was worth and enjoying every second of it. His throat was finally getting used to the prolonged, overstretched sensation, and he could focus on the sweet aroma and flavor that grew bolder and fresher with every breath and swallow. He continued along the redhead's legs, enjoying the new texture of the man's thighs, softer and smoother than his shins; there was just a little more adipose tissue there, and the muscles were a little less defined than in other areas, but Emil could care less... they were just so good... Richter's feet were already rubbing against the opposite wall of his stomach, and he was finally beginning to stretch. It was a little painful at first, since all the force was applied to one small area, but with every swallow, the pain was changed to bliss. Emil's body was adapting to it's needs excellently, and he was no longer concerned with the increasing thickness as he continued toward Richter's hips. Another few swallows and…



"Nnnnghoooooh…" Richter moaned through clenched teeth, expression suddenly morphed from a broad smile to something like a grimace. It took a moment for Emil to realize what it meant. He blushed at the realization. He had reached Richter's secret parts, and Richter was doing his damnedest not to embarrass himself by allowing his member to come to rigidity. Emil giggled playfully, sucking the entire package into his mouth and feeling it over with his tongue. Richter squeaked, a decidedly un-Richter-like sound, as the youth fooled with his junk, rubbing it this way and that until it grew large and stiff against Richter's wishes. Emil sucked and sucked, making Richter moan louder and louder until he was all but wailing. He could feel the redhead's temperature rising and after a few moment's the man was arching his back.



"Nnngh… E-Emil… I-I think you better swallow now… Hnnngh…" Richter bit his lip as he held back the heat that was pooling between his legs. Emil obeyed, and not a moment too soon. He swallowed hard and the half-elf moaned with satisfaction as he climaxed. Emil felt the man go limp in his maw as he sighed in blissful relaxation, red hair shrouding his face as he lingered in some altered state of consciousness, that half-sentient state in which everything was perfect after a carnal release. Emil giggled in self-satisfaction at having pleased Richter. He had reached the redhead's navel and was continuing at the same pace as before. He was at the base of the ribcage by the time Richter regained his composure.



"Th-that was… amazing, Emil…" The half-elf still appeared rather buzzed from the sensual experience. Emil smiled proudly back at Richter as he took another swallow. Richter's feet had already reached the other side of his small belly and had stretched it as far in that direction as it was willing to go, and the redhead's legs were folding in after them. His middle was pleasantly distended, but he still couldn't wait to enjoy it at its fullest. Another swallow and he was brushing up against Richter's sensitive nipples. Richter shuddered with the tingle that the slight touch brought, still charged with residual sensual stimulation after his recent climax. He realized how far the blond had progressed and suggested a change in position.



"I think it'd be a little easier for you now if you sit up, Emil. Use gravity to your advantage and the last bit should be a breeze…" Emil did as he was asked, fumbling a little with the new weight and girth he now possessed, and sat upright, tilting is head back for a straighter path. Richter put his arms up over his head as Emil gulped him down up to his chin. Emil was surprised at how much easier and faster this was now; it had taken only one swallow to pull Richter in from his chest to his chin… one more and most of Richter's head would be inside him and it wouldn't take more than seven more for the rest of him to follow. Richter took this final opportunity to give Emil one last opt out.



"So, you still feel alright? Think you can finish? Remember, you don't have to force it… once my head's inside, I'm afraid it's all up to you to finish me from there or spit me back up without my help… Are you positive you're going to do this? Are you absolutely sure you feel up to it?" Emil gave a muffled confirmation. "Alright then… Go for it!" Richter smiled, though there was no way the blond could see it. "If you feel up to it, then go right ahead, I'll see you on the inside, alright?" Emil responded with a powerful swallow that propelled Richter down as far as expected; only the top of his head was visible. Another gulp, he was in up to his elbows, waistline just passed into the stomach. A third, he was in up to the forearm; Richter's chest was just slipping into Emil's engorged belly. A fourth swallow reached his wrists, pushed Richter's head deeper inside, until it was just outside his stomach, and the fifth pulled Richter's hands into his mouth. He closed his lips around the redhead's fingers, sucking on them for a short while, savoring the unexpectedly sweet flavor just a little longer. The redhead's long, slender digits explored the mouth for a moment, and Richter rather enjoyed the way Emil's tongue wormed it's way between each of his fingers, leaving a sticky coating of saliva on his hands. The sixth swallow brought the head into the stomach and the hands into the throat and the final swallow, with a gentle pull from Richter, reunited Richter with his arms and hands as his entire body finally came to rest within Emil's.



Emil released a deep breath, a contented sigh, as he flopped down onto his back in the pool of warm water. He leaned against the side of the basin, enjoying the spring's warmth again as he looked down to see the result of his endeavors. He was pleased and amazed all at once. He had seen Richter's stomach, plump and full after a big meal, had imagined how big it might be filled with his own mass, but he never imagined what his own belly might look like filled with Richter… It was huge… So large, in fact, that it protruded from the spring water, water at a level that submerged his chest… Emil rested a hand on the fleshy mound, rubbing it up and down to find to his satisfaction that it was indeed his own belly and it was very, very full.



He smirked as it rippled at his touch and began to pet it, relishing the wonderful sensation that it brought. On the inside, Richter was experiencing quite a pleasant sensation himself. It was warm and soft and comforting; he had never felt more at peace. Emil's touch made him relaxed and calm (though he had been relaxed and calm to begin with). He could have just drifted off to sleep right then and there, but then he would be denying Emil one of the best parts of his meal. Richter was careful to be gentle at first, not knowing if the sensation would be pleasant for the blond or not, as he shifted his position inside the boy, rubbing against the supple, stretchable walls of the stomach.



Emil felt it, of course, and was rather surprised at just how strongly he did feel it. It hadn't felt very significant when Richter had first entered his stomach, but that small rub, that almost undetectable shift of position, made him moan with pleasure. The sound encouraged Richter who rubbed against the slick walls of Emil's stomach once more. Emil's eyes rolled back and his mouth gaped wide, grin plastered to his face as he reveled in the amazing feelings coming from his round tummy.



Richter smiled as the boy reacted to his touch, knowing the feeling quite well himself, which motivated him to keep moving, continuing to provide what he knew was an exquisite sensation for Emil. "So, Emil… what do you think? Am I good?"



Emil let out a tiny burp in response, licking his lips as he settled down into a more comfortable position. "Mmmmm… you're amazing, Richter… I don't think I'm ever going to let you out…" Emil joked, though there was a small part of him that really wanted to keep Richter inside him forever. The half-elf laughed.



"Well, I'm glad you like having me that much, but you'll have to let me out sometime…You'll need to eat some real food, after all. Besides, it's not fair if you just keep me in here forever and never let me have another chance to eat you again, isn't it?" He rubbed against Emil's stomach affectionately.



"Yeah… I suppose you're right." Emil smiled down at his large, Richter-filled bulge and watched it shift and turn as the half-elf inside pleasured him. He hiccupped as his diaphragm sought to reclaim its original position, but even that made him feel good, jostling his insides every few seconds, giving his belly a little jerk, which made Richter move around as well… It felt so good.



For a moment, the hiccups concerned Richter - he himself found them rather unpleasant - but after asking Emil if he was alright, he discovered the boy was enjoying himself. Richter shrugged and figured whatever made Emil happy was fine by him. He lay back, enjoying the warmth as he rubbed Emil from inside, getting used to the sudden jerks caused by the hiccups. After one particularly violent jerk of the diaphragm, a smooth rounded object bounced up from somewhere beneath his folded legs and into his lap. It was the familiar glowing Yromem Stone, and it's faint light made Richter's surroundings shimmer, reflecting bright flecks of light off the slimy folds and ridges of Emil's stomach. He examined his surroundings, finding the visual appearance of Emil's insides rather welcoming, a deep rouge color, glossy surface, soft, warm, like a big wet blanket… For some reason, Richter liked that… that feeling of being totally enveloped in a protective cover, though he much preferred to provide that kind of safety for Emil.



Another hiccup disrupted his examination, knocking the Yromem Stone back out of sight as he shifted yet again. Emil burped again, his body learning to adjust and compensate for the new resident. He rubbed his Richter-bulge tenderly as he reminisced, feeling rather proud that he had provided such pleasure for Richter many times before. He suddenly wondered if Richter enjoyed being swallowed, if he enjoyed being inside him as much as Emil had enjoyed being inside Richter.



"H-hey, umm, Richter?"



"Yeah, Emil? What's up?"



"Umm… just now, when I was *hic* swallowing you… did you umm *hic*… D-did you like it?"



Richter hesitated a moment. "Being swallowed? Well, yeah, I guess… I'm, uh, not too proud of what happened halfway down, but… I mean, I did enjoy it… It felt… really nice actually… like a massage… a big, wet, full-body massage…"



Emil giggled. "A massage with a 'happy ending', huh?!"



Richter blushed. "Yeah… like I said… I'm not proud of that…"



"Oh, come on… there's nothing to be ashamed of. Seemed perfectly natural to me that you would get excited… I was kind of messing around with it on purpose, you know." Emil rubbed his belly. "I enjoy making you happy, Richter… it's ungracious of you to feel embarrassed about something I intended to be pleasurable. All this time, you've been taking care of me… making sure I was happy, making me comfortable, worrying about me… Well, now it's my turn to take care of you, Richter. I want you to enjoy this just as much as I enjoy it, alright? I want you to be comfortable…"



Richter shook his head with a smile. "Alright, alright… I'm sorry if I seemed ungrateful…" He blushed faintly at what he was about to admit. "I'm… I'm really glad you're thinking about me… and my comfort… So thanks… I really enjoyed the experience. All of it." He rubbed the soft lining of Emil's stomach as he spoke, closing his eyes. He could hear Emil's heartbeat, strong and steady; it was like a metronome that was luring him to sleep. Emil's hiccups had subsided, his breathing was slow and soft and gentle, like the sound of crashing waves on a distant shore. His eyelids grew heavy and his thoughts grew dim… He was so comfortable, he could think of nothing else except the thumping of Emil's heart, the rubs that came and stoked against his back again and again, the in and out of Emil's breath… He was just about to doze off when he heard the boy whispering his name.



"H-hey, Richter?"



"Yeah? What is it?" He yawned sleepily, stretching as he turned over inside Emil.



"Umm… I-I just thought of something… What if somebody comes and see's me like this?"



Richter laughed quietly. "What, you think I don't plan for these things? I bribed the people that run this place already… I guarantee we won't be bothered." He pat the wall of Emil's stomach comfortingly; he found it rather cute that Emil would worry about such things. Emil was just the type to worry; it didn't really matter about what… Richter found that sort of cautious nature rather endearing… it made him feel important, protective, it gave him a purpose.



Still not entirely comforted by the half-elf's answer, Emil amended his question. "F-for how long, Richter? We can't possibly stay like this forever…" The young blond shifted uneasily where he sat, debating whether or not this had been such a good idea. Richter chuckled softly, reassuring the boy once more.



"Everything is going to be alright, Emil, I promise… They've agreed to leave us to our affairs until we choose to depart, whenever that may be. I gave them quite a generous 'donation' in exchange for the privilege of using these hot springs however it suits us… Trust me, Emil; you have nothing to worry about." Emil calmed down somewhat at this assurance, but still wasn't 100% comfortable with the situation. Richter continued to rub against the teen's supple stomach, soothing the boy with the gentle massage. It took a few minutes, but eventually, he managed to put the blond in a pleasant mood once more.



Finally, Emil resigned himself to the little pool of steamy mineral water, letting it ease him into relaxation along with the steady rubs coming from within him. He looked up at the sky, the dark red hue of the sunset's finale was fading to the deep black of night, and Emil felt the night air getting slightly cooler. It was a nice contrast to the humid, hot air around him as he sat in the hot springs, and he enjoyed the breeze that passed over him every so often. He felt Richter's movements slow inside him, and he felt the half-elf stretch with a yawn. Emil himself felt rather drowsy, and for a moment, he wanted to drift off to sleep as well. However, Richter's stomach wasn't about to let it's job be neglected too, and it made a point of interjecting its opinion quite loudly. Emil stared down at his own enlarged midriff, frowning as he recognized the muffled growl within as Richter's stomach, that telltale gurgle that suggested he was quite a bit more than famished.



He heard Richter groan in response to his stomach's argument; he didn't really want to put their experience to such an abrupt end in order to satiate his own hunger. Emil, however, had a small sense of relief at the sound, it gave him an excuse to release Richter, to get himself out of that awkward situation, being so round and conspicuous in a potentially public place with that nagging urge to drift to sleep, compromising what little control he had over the situation. After one of those usual, polite arguments; Richter insisting that Emil didn't have to sacrifice his own pleasure just so he could sate his hunger, Emil countering with a similar statement, each perpetuating that duel martyring to convince the other that their comfort and pleasure was more significant than his own; Emil finally insisted that he would let Richter out, and that after a quick rinse, they would share a meal together in a private, secluded peace.



Richter reluctantly agreed, though his stomach seemed satisfied with the results. After Emil took a moment to position himself, he gave his plump belly one final, loving pat before he bowed his head and began the not so pleasant task of vomiting. It wasn't so much that it was difficult or uncomfortable for Emil; it was more like his body wasn't quite in sync with his brain. All the while he was trying to gag, his stomach had very different ideas. Though he may consciously have wanted to get Richter out as soon as possible, his stomach could care less whether its contents were a well-loved friend or a massive feast, all it knew was that it didn't want to give up that pleasant, filling bulge so easily. His first two attempts were unsuccessful, each ending with a frustrated moan and a ginger tummy rub to comfort the uncooperative muscles.



It was more than a little disconcerting to Richter, feeling that quivering of Emil's muscles and hearing the blond's groans. He had shrugged the first off as a fluke, a mere delay in the process due to lack of preparedness; but after the second failure, he began to worry that it might be more than simple inexperience. He stroked the boy's stomach comfortingly as he puzzled out what might be causing him difficulty. "Are you alright, Emil? Feels like you're having a little trouble out there… Do you need some help?"



Emil sat up, cradling his uncooperative belly in his lap. "I don't understand… I'm trying, Richter, I really am, but… I-I just can't seem to make myself throw up…"



"Maybe I'm in a bad position… let me get my bearings a moment… Are you leaning forward, or…?"



Emil comforted his aching stomach, his sore muscles still reprimanding him for attempting to empty them of their contents. "Right now? I'm sitting upright."



Richter nodded. He was definitely in the wrong position if that was true. Though he could not see, his vestibular sense told him that he was some degree of upside-down, and if that was the case, he certainly would be in an inconvenient position. He figured his lower back (if not that slightly squishier area just below his lower back… X3) was probably just around the opening of the esophagus, certainly not the easiest shape to squeeze through a narrow tube, no matter how stretchy it might be. He carefully maneuvered himself into somewhat of an upright position, though he had very little to go by in the way of landmarks and such. Finally, when he was reasonably sure that he was properly oriented, he gave Emil the go ahead to try releasing him again.



Emil knelt on all fours once more and prepared himself for what he expected would be another unpleasant ordeal. He stuck his hand into his mouth and reached toward the back of his throat, hoping that stimulating his gag reflex manually rather than relying on the Yromem Stone's power would be more effective. This third attempt brought success, and much to Emil's relief, he felt Richter begin to shift upward without any of the common unpleasantness that was associated with vomiting. The half-elf slid easily along the tight passage, and that gruesome taste of bile Emil had expected was nonexistent as Richter steadily began to emerge from his throat into his mouth.



Richter's eyes adjusted readily to the dim light as his head squished into Emil's mouth. His first instinct was to rub the slime from his eyelids and lashes, but he was quick to realize that his arms would be pinned at his sides for a long while as Emil continued to force him up. So he made the best of things, enjoying the feel of Emil's tongue against his face as he waited patiently for his arms to be free. The evening air was slightly crisp, and the steam that rose from the hot springs was more conspicuous than before, rising in great plumes that blew across the hazy surface of the water.



The process was incredibly slow-going to Emil who was still somewhat stressed by the idea that someone might walk up at any moment and see them like that, a man quite noticeably sliding out of a boy's mouth was not by any measures a common sight. It seemed to take an hour just to ease Richter out to his shoulders, and Emil wanted nothing more than to be rid of that nagging fear of being discovered. He leaned even farther down, leaning on his elbows as he gripped the redhead by the shoulders and began to speed up the process. He couldn't suppress a meek groan of discomfort as he forced his muscles to move before they were prepared, but he had achieved what he wanted; he had tugged Richter about a foot or so farther out of his mouth, it wouldn't be long until the embarrassing ordeal was over. Another firm pull, Richter's hands were free, and then, before he knew it, Richter had dragged himself the rest of the way out. His hands and feet were tingly and numb, he felt very far away, almost asleep, but his head was pounding and he was vaguely aware that Richter was calling his name.



Richter knelt over the blond, shaking him gently by the shoulders as he tried to arouse some sort of response from the youth. The boy lolled limply in his arms, moaning something incoherent, and Richter was desperately trying to determine what had managed to go wrong this time. He checked the boy's heart rate and breathing, discovering the immediate cause of the blond's delirium; hyperventilation. The half-elf's lips curled into a twisted smile, a grin that was contorted with vague frustration and even a little derision as he cradled the panicked blond. "You little idiot…", he chuckled, "I didn't tell you to go and hyperventilate… Calm down, dammit, I told you already: no one is going to come here looking for us, don't get so riled up. Come on, now, stop it." Richter sighed, knowing even as he spoke the words that Emil was too far gone to quit panicking. He drew the little human's face close to his and locked the blond's numb lips with his own. Eventually the boy's breathing slowed and he was drawn back from the hazy brink between consciousness and sleep. At last, when he felt the blond respond to his affections, Richter ended the embrace.



"Hey, you alright? You nearly passed out, what happened?" Emil blushed and hid his face in his hands.

"I-I'm sorry, Richter. I just… I got really self-conscious… I didn't want to be…" he paused, realizing that what he was about to say might sound offensive. He had wanted to say that he 'didn't want to be seen like that' in a compromising position that most people wouldn't ever understand, but he didn't want Richter to think that he didn't want to be seen because he was embarrassed… Well, alright, he was embarrassed, but not by Richter's company or anything like that… He just didn't want to feel that awkward, piercing glare from anyone…Well, really, no matter how he said it, it would sound wrong. He didn't know how to explain to Richter that he wasn't embarrassed to be seen like that per se, it was more like he'd be embarrassed to have to explain something like that. All he really wanted to say was that he didn't mind eating Richter, but he just didn't want to be confronted about it and…



Almost as if he were able to read Emil's thoughts, he gave the boy a tight hug, laughing winsomely. "Hey, that's okay. I wouldn't want to be caught like that either! Ha-ha-ha! Here, I'll tell you what, from now on, we'll only do this in complete privacy…" Emil's stomach, as though in partnership with Richter's, gave a low grumble as both hungry bellies simultaneously interrupted. "And we'll have to have some munchies, too…" Emil nodded, cuddling the redhead.



"Hey, umm, Richter…?"



"Yeah, Emil?"



"Umm… Wh-Which do you prefer? When you swallow me, or when I swallow you…?"



"Aww, damn, kid… I hate questions like these… You know I'm just going to say 'whichever you prefer, Emil' and that never gets us anywhere."



"Well, then, don't say that. Tell me how you really feel."



"Well, I…" Richter gritted his teeth, he didn't know why he still felt so insecure around Emil, why he was always so nervous to tell the boy the truth.; maybe because he was just so used to lying to Emil - so used to using deception to get what he needed because the truth had never worked - that now, he didn't expect the truth to bring the desired results. And yet, he felt compelled to tell Emil the truth; after all, he had been doing so for quite some time (despite a few minor fibs here and there), and it was much more comfortable to have an open and honest conversation… he took a deep breath and mentally braced himself for whatever might come next, hoping that his honest response would not disappoint Emil.



"I honestly prefer to eat you. Call it selfish, but I'd much rather be the one to do the eating than be the one who gets eaten. It's not that you're not good at it or that I don't enjoy it, but I really prefer…" Emil interrupted Richter's rambling with a tender kiss.



Their deep green irises met, and Emil smiled cheerfully up at his redheaded partner. "You know what? I prefer that, too…"



"R-really?! You actually prefer being eaten?!" Richter gaped wide-eyed at the blond. He couldn't imagine how being 'prey' could be more enjoyable than being the 'predator'; based on his own experiences, he had never considered being eaten could even compare to the exquisite bliss of consuming someone else, and he doubted Emil's response almost immediately, thinking it another one of Emil's modest, submissive answers and not his true preference. Emil laughed at the half-elf's obvious surprise.



"Well, of course, you dummy! I wouldn't let you eat me otherwise!" Emil reached back and splashed a decent handful of water into Richter's face. The half-elf sputtered, looking even more astonished as Emil wriggled out of his arms, giggling impishly as he trotted off toward the bigger pool of water. Richter growled playfully, lunging after the boy as Emil dove into the steamy spring. They chased and splashed each other for what seemed like hours, almost forgetting their prior hunger for the twenty minutes they spent piffling about. It wasn't long, however, before they were reminded of their plans (by their stomachs, of course), and after another quick rinse in the shower room, they dressed in their usual attire and made their way into town, arm-in-arm with smiles on their faces.



*~*~*~*



When they arrived at the inn, the dinner hour had already passed, and the dining hall was completely empty. They ordered a modest meal and spilt a dessert with coffee afterward. A piano tinkled softly in the background, lending a nice ambiance to the fire-lit room. Richter sipped the last of his coffee, waiting for the check, just as two young women walked in, smelling of liquor and obviously quite drunk. The eldest, a blonde, was around Richter's age and the youngest, a brunette, seemed just a little older than Emil was.



Richter rolled his eyes, not really thinking much about the two girls until they walked up to the table. He tried to avoid eye contact as the girls made their way across the room, but being the only two people in a large room makes it a lot easier to be noticed, even by drunkards, and the two young women stumbled directly over to the table.



"Heeeeey, there! You two lookin' for a good time?!" The older woman blurted out.



"No. Please leave us be." Richter said bluntly. The two girls were leaning over on their table, and Richter loathed the invasion of his personal space.



"Aww, you're no fun… How about you, cutie? Wanna come up to our room for a little 'party'?!" The blonde turned her attention toward Emil, leaning dangerously close to his face. The boy stuttered, speechless and more than a little terrified by the overly imposing women. Richter clenched his fists in his lap, but tried once more to convince the two nuisances to leave.



"We said 'no', thank you, ladies. Please go away." Richter made an irritated shooing motion with his hand.



"You stay outta this, we're not talkin' to you. We're talkin' with you're cute friend, and he didn't tell us 'no'. We're allowed to talk to whoever the hell we wanna, right, Liza?" The blonde nudged the brunette, who nearly stumbled over on top of Emil.



"Yeah, that's right! We can talk to whoever we wanna! C'mon, cutie, ditch this ol' buzz-kill and come party with us! Don't we look much more fun than him?!" The two girls giggled self-absorbedly as though they found some sort of inside joke hilarious. Richter scowled at the two women as Emil continued to tremble nervously in his seat. The brunette, whom the blonde had called Liza, cupped Emil's face in her hand, leaning ever closer to his beet-red cheeks. "What's your name, hon? Don'tcha wanna come with us? We'll treat ya real nice, Becky and me… We'll let'cha do whatever ya want…" she giggled suggestively.



Richter couldn't take anymore. He slammed his fist onto the table, knocking his silverware onto the floor and shattering his plate. "Look, you two! We're not interested, you got that?! We want to be left alone! If you want partners to copulate with, seek them somewhere else! Loathsome slatterns, be gone! We want nothing to do with you!" He glared menacingly at the two women who seemed more stunned than frightened. He slapped Liza's hand away from Emil's face, though he was gentle enough not to harm her. "Go, what are you waiting for?! Away with you! Go and sober up somewhere, you floozies, and think about what you're doing with your lives, why don't you?! Just get out of my sight, go!"



The two women looked at each other for a moment and shrugged. "Well, ya didn't have to yell at us. C'mon, Becky, let's find somebody who knows how to have fun." They staggered arm-in-arm out of the dining hall, all the while throwing dirty looks at Richter over their shoulders as they left. Richter remained tense for a long while after they had left, muttering to himself as the waiter came by with their check.



The redhead pulled out his wallet and began to pay. "Ugh… damn trollops… women never can take a hint, can they?" He sifted through some denominations of coins before he handed the waiter the payment, including compensation for the plate he had broken and the tip, in exact change. The waiter bowed perfunctorily and strode away, leaving a receipt.



Emil cleared his throat, looking meekly across the table at his flustered companion. "Umm… R-Richter…? Th-thank you for telling those girls off like that. I--"



"Yeah, well I wouldn't have needed to chase them off like that if you had just been more assertive! Why didn't you say anything, Emil?!" Richter glared at the blond, fists once again clenched in his lap.



"I-I'm sorry…" Emil whimpered.



"Yeah, well you ought to be! Dammit, Emil, I can't constantly be defending you from the smallest of threats; if you had just said something they would have just left! But no! You've got to sit there like a mute and make a bigger problem for me!"



"I-I'm sorry! I really am, Richter! Wh-why are you yelling at me?! I-I didn't m-mean to…!" Emil sobbed. Richter's frustrated expression quickly faded as he realized what he'd done. He went to Emil and gave him a delicate, comforting embrace.



"No, no… I'm sorry. It wasn't your fault. I'm sorry, I'm sorry… Please, don't… don't cry…" He pressed Emil close to his chest, cradling the young blond's head in his hand as he tried to stop the tears. "I'm sorry, Emil, I really am… I was just frustrated… I didn't mean to project my anger onto you like that… Please, forgive me… and please, don't cry…" Emil kept trembling in his arms, and Richter couldn't keep himself from sighing. Richter glanced around, then shook his head. Why on earth should I feel self-conscious about this? It's not as though everyone is so concerned with our problems; I need to stop this childish fear of being judged… I love Emil, and if I'm going to be embarrassed about that, I'm not fit to be with him. I'm done lying to myself and the rest of the world… Let them think whatever they want, it can't hurt me… nothing can hurt me when I'm with him… Richter wrapped one arm around Emil's back and lifted the boy from his chair with the other. Pressing his face against Emil's, side-by-side, the half-elf whispered softly into the little human's ear. "Shh… Shh… It's alright… I love you… I didn't mean to yell at you… Please, don't feel bad about what I said. I didn't mean a word of it."



Emil nodded weakly against his shoulder, salty drops still running down his cheeks. "Do you want to talk about it back at the room, Emil?" The blond shrugged, still weeping. Richter waited a moment for a more definitive response. None came. "Alright, I'll take that as a 'yes'." Richter used his foot to nudge the chairs back under the table before he began to carry the sobbing boy out of the dining hall. He passed the receptionist's desk without flinching. She asked if they needed anything, but Richter didn't really listen. He began to climb the stairs, stroking Emil's hair, step-by-step, finally reaching the landing. He pulled the room key from his pocket, unlocking and opening their door awkwardly. He slipped quickly inside their room, shutting the door with his foot as he carried the weeping youth across the room.



He set Emil down on the bed and went back to lock their door. He turned back to find Emil lying limply on the bed, crying weakly, a forlorn, lonely weeping. Richter sighed, now and then muttering another apology as he sat beside the blond, rubbing his back gently as the boy still convulsed with sobs. After a while, Richter decided there was really nothing he could do to fix it, his efforts hadn't stopped or even stilled the tears, his efforts brought no visible comfort to the human. He began pulling off his cloak and unbuttoning his camise, preparing for what he figured would be an unpleasant and lonely sleep. He told Emil that he was feeling tired, that he was thinking about going to sleep, and he asked if Emil would do the same. The boy gave no response. Richter started feeling rather frustrated at himself now, wishing that he could just undo the whole thing. He hated to see Emil like this.



He thought of undressing the boy and tucking him in alongside (they had requested only one bed), but decided against the idea, he didn't want to upset Emil any more than he already was… He instead lifted the human out of the way as he pulled back the covers, laying the teen - fully clothed - beside him as he climbed into bed. He mumbled a "good night" that he was almost sure the blond didn't hear or care about and blew out the candle on the bedside table. He didn't think he'd ever get to sleep, but eventually, Richter's eyes closed and he was able to drift into a hazy, light doze.



After a couple of hours, Emil finally stopped crying; his eyes were painfully puffy and red after all that weeping. He felt exhausted, but try as he might, he couldn't fall asleep. He tossed and turned a few times over, but it did him no good. He undressed beneath the covers and kicked his clothes onto the floor, hoping that maybe he was just too warm to fall asleep, or that he was so used to sleeping without covers that the extra fabric was making him uncomfortable. It still wasn't working. He sighed and turned toward the sleeping redhead beside him. Maybe I just need to get over this fight… maybe that's what's been keeping me awake… He thought about waking the redhead up, but decided not to. It had already been a hard day for Richter, what with the incident in the dining hall… He didn't want to disturb him. And yet, he felt lonely, very lonely, even though they were merely inches apart. Emil edged closer, leaning against the half-elf's chest.



Richter was roused from his shallow slumber by the slight touch and felt almost immediate relief, even though he hadn't yet entirely processed and recognized the touch as Emil's. His eyes fluttered open, and the dim light from the moon cast a weak bluish light into the room. Richter tilted his head to the side and, catching a glimpse of the boy's blond tufts, smiled. He ruffled the golden strands, which also alerted Emil that Richter was awake as well. He sat up and Richter eyed him with a mild uncertainty; there was still an awkwardness between them from the outburst in the diner.



"What's the matter, Emil; can't sleep?" The teen shook his head. "Yeah, me neither…" Richter stretched his arms and folded them behind his head. "You want to talk about it?" Emil shrugged and uncovered himself, sitting cross-legged as the red head followed his example. "I know you think I'm mad at you, Emil, but I'm really not… and either way, I should never have yelled at you. I know you have a hard time saying no to people… especially strangers… you had no reason to think that keeping quiet would encourage those women. I know you would have said something if you could have. I just… I got so frustrated at them… Maybe even jealous… the way they were going after you… it made me mad. And I guess for a moment, I thought maybe they interested you… and that's why you didn't say anything. So I…"



"It's alright, Richter. I understand… I… I should have been braver. I really should have said something. It would have been so much easier."



"Well, it doesn't really matter anymore… It can't be helped. I just hope I didn't upset you too much." Richter scooped the boy up in his arms and held him tightly. "I'm really sorry, Emil. You know I love you, right? I always will…"



"Yeah… I know… I love you, too, Richter… So much…" Emil hugged him back, pressing against the man's chest, listening to that familiar heartbeat. It soothed him, that closeness that he craved was slowly being fulfilled. He was too tired to be very shy or reserved in his conduct and he spoke more bluntly than usual as he addressed Richter. "I'm… very tired… and lonesome… I want to feel… close to you… Richter? Could you, no, would you mind if… Will you swallow me?"



It took Richter a few moments to completely process the request, but once he had, he didn't hesitate to proceed. Emil felt an almost immediate calm as that wonted warmth began to envelope him, creeping from the top of his head down to his shoulders, past his chest, across his legs, over his calves, until finally, that moist heat completely ensconced him, and he was wrapped once more in that supple blanket of slick flesh that he longed for. At last, he felt relaxed, peaceful, safe once more in that haven that he had the unique pleasure of calling his own. The familiar touches from beyond the pliant walls eased him into a peaceful slumber as that rhythmic beating that echoed around him gave tempo to his pleasant dreams.



Richter smiled as he felt the little human grow still, his breath and heart slowed to a steady, restful pace. He gave his engorged midriff one final pat, laying back carefully, curling up under the covers. He, too, felt at peace now. The redhead was relieved of his anxiety all at once. He had appeased Emil, made up for his blunders that evening, he knew that everything was right again, and the proof was right there beneath the sheets; that warm, pink mass just below his pectorals, that inebriating fullness, that faint saltiness that still lingered on his lips… it was all proof that he and Emil were at ease. Their fight seemed so insignificant now… and Richter was grateful for that. Looking down at the bulge, Richter realized just how important Emil was to him, how precious a friend he was… no, more than a friend, but not a boyfriend either… it was something Richter really couldn't put a name on. All he knew was that the young blond who now slept peacefully inside of him was an irreplaceable, beloved partner, one he never wanted to be without. He decided that the next day, he would reveal everything to Emil and tell the cherished human exactly how much he loved him.



Richter slept peacefully that night, neither morning sun nor cockerel's crow could tear him from his dreams, only the tender touch of his beloved, that gentle stroking from within, could rouse him from his visions; visions of himself with Emil, intimately bound by fate for as long as they should live.

To be continued...