Bird of a Nest (bow 3)

Chapter 4

"Tai," Ryraso demanded as Tai'ray walked out of the room with Fetmar. Tai'ray flinched and let Dyn'ad steal Fetmar from him. Dyn'ad pressed a kiss to his cheek as he did so, a hand gripping his shoulder for the briefest of moments. Tai'ray watched his mate go and looked at Ryraso tentatively,  but he was able to meet Ryraso's eyes. Dangerous eyes, that were clearly seeing through any facade he was putting up.

"Ry?" Tai'ray offered, forcing confidence to flow from his pores. Even if Ryraso could see through the facade, Yerir'o was behind him. Untested and not entirely trusted yet. He was not going to let it get out to the court that he was acting like nervous greenhorn sub during his first fallout with his partner. "You look perfect," he added, looking the man up and down slowly. 

"I should hope so. That tailor Rilshy was very determined to get the fitting right," Ryraso sniffed, rolling his eyes and shifting his hips. "I ain't no noble," he pouted. Tai'ray felt a large grin on his face and before he could stop himself, he walked over to Ryraso and gave him a big kiss. An arm around Ryraso waist, pulling the man flush against him, he could feel Ryraso's hand on his shoulder. He could also hear Nel'os telling Aw'endo off for making yucky noises which slightly ruined the feeling of being about to do it so fluidly. 

Ryraso grinned on his lips and pulled back, eyes full of mirth as he glanced over at the two. Eyeri was fluttering around his big brother and Dyn'ad, and Yerir'o was just standing there looking very out of place. "Cheeky," Ryraso murmured, pressing his own kiss to Tai'ray's lips, this one short and chaste. "Tonight is going to be painful in more ways than one," Ryraso murmured over the bond. 

Tai'ray didn't bother to even look surprised at the fact Ryraso used the link when they weren't bonded yet. The Goddess was no doubt messing about in their business again. Not that Tai'ray minded given it meant he got Ryraso in his nest where he belonged. "It is," Tai'ray acknowledged, rocking them slightly. 

"We'll get through it," Ryraso promised, leaning on Tai'ray and letting Tai'ray feel his weight against him. It felt reassuring. Tai'ray closed his eyes and kissed Ryraso on the forehead. He could feel Nel'os and Dyn'ad adding their own reassurances to it. Nel'os snuggling mentally in too, feeling a touch fragile himself. Tai'ray let it sink in for a moment before pulling away from Ryraso, Ryraso's hand following his and gripping tightly. 

"Let's go," Tai'ray said out loud, feeling stronger inside and ready to face the nightmare that was going to be. 

Ryraso forced Tai'ray to hold his hand as they walked to the hall. Forced, it but Tai'ray in ways he would never truly be able to express in words as their fingers tangled together. Ryraso's grip was solid, firm. Real. Tai'ray's grip was tenser but Ryraso didn't try to pull out of it, walking side by side until they couldn't any more. Tai'ray froze in his step, just before they entered the hall, reluctant to let go of the warm hand.  He could hear Nel'os and Dyn'ad fussing over the boys in the background, distracting them from Tai'ray's sudden stop.

The link reassured him Ryraso wasn't going anywhere. That while things weren't good, they weren't terrible either. Not if the human was going to tangle their fingers together like that. Humans were more socially aware about that sort of thing. But then again Ryraso was more k'nairi-like in habit because of how long he had lived there. 

He didn't want to let go. 

"Tai," Ryraso breathed, reaching up with his free hand to turn the Winglord's face to his. "I'm right here," he promised. "Relax," he added with a cheeky kiss on his cheek.