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nocasdatsgay · 8 months ago

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Even High Lords Need a Break:A Neapolitan Bonds Fic

Day Two of @polyacotarweek : Comfort

Summary: Eris is over working himself. You and Azriel decide to make him take the hounds for a walk.

MasterPost | Poly Week MasterPost| AO3 Link|

Pairings: Azriel/Eris/Reader | Rating: T| Word Count: 3629

Warnings: nonsexual nudity, Eris is in his head, POV Azriel and Eris

Tagging: @saltedcoffeescotch @hieragalbatorixdottir @ysmtttty @mybestfriendmademe

Az woke to his shadows hissing in his ear. He tried to ignore them. Then they started physically nudging him. With a groaning sigh he buried his face in his pillow.

Our mate will not listen.

He will not come to bed.

That got his attention.

He lifted his head, blinking as he focused in the darkness. Beside him you were sleeping, facing away from him, his wing draped over you. He glanced further and realized the other side of the bed was indeed empty.

He needs rest.

“I’m going,” he whispered.

He used them to move off the bed silently so you wouldn’t wake. He stood by the bed and rubbed his eyes before following the shadows clearly showing him where to go. A light coming from his study was obvious in the dead of night. When Az came to the door, he watched shadows flurry around Eris. Eris was hunched over papers, waving his hand half heartedly to shoo them.

“They’ll stop if you come to bed,” Az said, his voice rougher from just waking up.

Eris’s head snapped up. His eyes meet Az’s then drop down his body.

“Put some pants on. You’re indecent.”

Az glanced down at himself. He was indeed nude. He forgot he hadn’t put pants on, so focused on getting the shadows to leave him alone.

“It’s the dead of night. If anyone besides us is in these chambers at this hour, they deserve what they get.” He crossed his arms. “It’s late. Come to bed.”

Eris propped his elbow on his desk and rubbed his eye. “I’m almost done reviewing these reports. I’ll come to bed in a few minutes.”

“You said that when you sent us to bed hours ago.” His shadows agreed. Hissing that Eris was a liar. “Whatever it is can wait.”

“No, it can’t,” he snapped. He paused immediately and took a breath. “What I mean is that these reports are important to the trade agreement. I have to make sure I don’t miss anything.”

“You have advisors for that. You have me for that.” Shadows hissed at him again. “My shadows aren’t going to let you stay up. So you can come willingly or I can come over there and force you.”

Eris leaned his elbows on the desk and started rubbing his temples. The shadows told Az to just be done with it and pick him up. His chuckle had Eris sighing loudly.

“Fine. But just so you know, I used to stay up all night doing this and I was fine.”

“You’re not three hundred years old anymore, Eris.”

“Neither are you,” he grumbled.

Az watched him straighten up his desk, tucking away reports while shadows kept a sharp eye on him. Once everything was sorted and he couldn’t stall longer, Eris brushed back his hair and sighed. Az tucked his wings in and stepped back into the corridor as Eris finally came out of the study.

“Don’t trust me to follow you,” he asked Az, a tired smirk gracing his lips.

“You know I don’t.”

When they both snuck back into the bedroom, his shadows allowed him to slip back into bed with ease. They didn’t provide Eris that same courtesy after he shed his own clothes. As soon as the bed moved, Az felt you move.

“Hmm?” Your sleepy hum came out like a whisper.

“It’s just me, love. Go back to sleep,” Eris whispered back.

You didn’t listen. You sat up on your elbows and Az did his best not to laugh.

“Er? What time is it?”

“Time for you to go back to sleep. Come here.”

You mumbled something even Az couldn’t understand but moved over to Eris. Az didn’t complain. That gave him more room to spread out his wings, scooting himself over as well to drape one over you and Eris. With his shadows settled he easily went back to sleep.

Az woke in the morning and Eris was already gone from bed.

Our mate is stubborn, the shadows whispered.

He was but there wasn’t much Az could do about it at that moment. What he could do is scoot closer to you and your end of the bed. A soft grumble escaped your lips when he wrapped his arm around you and draped his leg over yours.

“Morning,” Azriel buried his face in your hair. You groaned back. That made him chuckle. “We should take the puppies for a walk today.”

That woke you up. You inhaled sharply and let out a sigh as you rolled over in his arms.

“What time is it?” You reached up and rubbed one of your eyes.

“Past time to get up,” Az grinned.

You moved out of his grasp and sat up. He tried to not let his mind wander as he watched the blanket fall, your bare chest exposed to the chill air. He focused on how your hair stuck up at odd angles instead.

“Did Eris even come to bed last night?” You frowned.

He laughed. “You don’t remember? He woke you up.”

You scrunched up your face and made a noise. “It’s a free day, is he seriously working?”

You stretched your arms to the sky and Azriel’s gaze fell right back to your breasts. You yawned again, and dropped your arms, slumping forward.

“I can smell you,” you turned your head and sharply glared at him. “Are you ever not horny?”

“With you it’s hard not to be.”

He brushed the back of his fingers against your arm. For a moment you looked as if you’d take the bait, but you sighed again and threw back the covers.

“Let’s get dressed and go drag Eris for a walk,” you said getting off the bed.

His shadows agreed with him and nudged at him to get out of bed as well. Resigned, he rolled out of bed and stretched his wings. You both dressed, Az in his normal leather pants, dark blue top, and his boots; you in flowy brown trousers and deep rust blouse under a gold stay with your own leather boots.

“Where is he?”

Az turned to you, his expression asking the question for him. The shadows knew what you meant. One curled up by his ear and whispered Eris was in the High Lord’s office with the door locked. Azriel frowned.

“Office. We have to winnow in.”

The way sadness washed over you and poured into the bond- he knew you knew the door was locked and what that meant.

“It’s getting bad again, isn’t it?” You whispered. You came up and took his hand. Your fingers rubbed along Az’s own.

“Not like last time. He’s just a little overworked.”

A little was probably an understatement. Eris went through waves; he would balance his work and personal life, and slowly start to unbalance it. Azriel was used to it when it was just him. The first time it happened with you as part of the family, however- Azriel’s free hand twitched at the memory.

It was the only fight the three of you had since you’d been together. It got very ugly. Since then it’s happened three more times but you all managed to work through it. It didn’t stop you from immediately going back to that first one, remembering how bad it was. He and Eris would regret that for the rest of their lives.

“Come on baby, we will get him to go with us. He just needs a break.”

You squeezed his hand and he shadow walked you both into Eris’s office.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Eris felt like his eyes were crossing. He’d poured over this treaty ten times noting every possible loophole and vague wording that could cause misinterpretation. He run his hand through hair, brushing back unruly red locks. He’d been working on this treaty all week and felt no closer to finishing it. His inability to focus wasn’t helped by the cloudy skies. Days like these he wanted nothing more than to say in bed.

He looked over at the stack of reports he poured over until Azriel forced him to bed. He reached over and grabbed them while frustratation welled in him. There could have been something he missed. If Az and his shadows had simply left him alone, he would be done by now. Azriel never understood the pressure he was under.

After all this time, his father’s legacy still haunted him. They were still finding old laws set by Beron, missed during the reviews in the first years of Eris’s reign. He still felt the need to ensure Autumn subjects he was just and fair. And despite both of his mates’ skills, he was not going to burden them with it. As if summoned, the room darkened in front of his desk. It took all his might to not groan in annoyance when you and Azriel appeared in front of him.

“Yes, loves?” He put on an air of indifference and shoved down the other feelings.

You walked around his desk and stopped by his chair.

“We are going for a walk. The three of us.” You put your hands on your hips.

“I’m busy, my love. Go on without me.”

You scowled at him. “No. It’s a free day; the end of the week. We are taking the puppies for a walk and you’re going with us.”

“I don’t have time-“

“You’re making time.”

He cut his eyes to you as his anger burned in his gut because you cut him off but you didn’t falter. He felt the coolness of a shadow wrapped around his wrist, urging him to calm down. He glanced to Az who was stanced as if he was ready to grab you up if Eris lost it. That alone dampened any anger in him. He sighed and ran his hand through his hair again.

“Where exactly are we taking our puppies, my stubborn fire?”

Eris hated how you and Azriel both visibly relaxed. Sometimes he felt like he didn’t deserve you both, especially when you had to weather his anger. But you smiled at him with genuine affection and he shoved those thoughts away.

“The mum field.” You held out your hand. “Let’s go.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The second that the three of you winnowed into the kennels, the puppies started to bark. The other hounds were trained by Eris himself. The puppies were still learning; training with a handler daily. It took one whistle from Eris to get them to silence and sit at attention.

His prized smoke hounds sat behind the fenced wall, their sleek gray fur gleaming under the natural light of the windows. Of course when you approached the door, the new litter began to thump their tails despite not being commanded to be at ease.

“Have you been coming out here on your own?” Eris side-eyed you.

“No.”

Your tone and the way you ducked your head and that told him everything he needed to know. Azriel of course snickered.

What was he going to do with you?

“These dogs are not house pets, Y/N.”

You sighed, unlatching the door. “They’re just puppies, Eris. You come and play with the others all the time.”

Play was a subjective term. He ran exercises with his hounds once a week. He did dote on them; he wasn’t a monster to withhold affection. New litters needed balance in order to retain training in their later years. He couldn’t stay mad, however. Not when you opened the door and he clicked twice for all of them to go at ease. The squeal of laughter you made when the puppies and other hounds ran up to you when you entered the kennel was worth it.

He and Azriel walked in, Az shutting the door behind him, as the hounds gathered around for attention. It was surprising how quickly they took to you and Az; though he was certain they could tell what you were to him. Eris in particular zoned in on Jora, mother to the current litter of pups.

“Hi, sweet girl,” he whispered. He knelt down, scratching her behind her floppy ear as she tried to lick at him. “Do you want to go for a walk with us?”

The hounds heard the word walk and immediately all of them became excited. Eris kissed Jora’s forehead and stood up, snapping his fingers. All silenced their yelping and stood still on all fours, tails still wagging. He ushered his mates out and with another signal, had the hounds follow behind them.

Leaving the kennels and walking along the trail had to be a sight to see. You jogged ahead a little ways, the litter of pups chasing after you and stumbling some on their feet. Azriel laughed each time a pup took a small tumble. Eris suppressed his own. He and Az walked side by side a bit behind you, the hounds in a formal line behind them as they were trained to do. Jora was allowed to walk beside him to keep an eye on her pups.

It was still cloudy when you reached the field.

The next few hours were spent in the meadow. Azriel eventually fell asleep lying on his stomach, wings spread out and warming under the sun once the clouds parted. Eris watched you play with the pups until you tired, shadows taking over and running all the hounds in circles using the shadows in the flowers and grass. Eris propped himself against a tree at the edge of the meadow.

You had come and sat in front of Eris, between his stretched out legs. You rested back against his chest and he wrapped his arms around you. He couldn’t remember the last time he sat with you like this. It was nice, the two of you sitting in silence together.

“Should we wake him?” You nodded your head to Az.

“Probably,” he mused and rested his chin on your shoulder. “He’s quite the baby when his wings get sunburned.”

You hummed, amusement in your tone. “Thank you,” you whispered. You put your hand over where his rested on your waist. “For coming with us.”

“Thank you for making me,” he pressed a kiss to your cheek.

“You know we can help you. We don’t mind.” You turned your head and gave him a smirk. “I was one of the best emissaries before you stole me away.”

“It’s not stealing when you're willing.”

“Thesan disagrees.”

Thesan did in fact hold a slight grudge against Eris after the bond snapped. Not that he didn’t understand. You were damn good at what you did. Also why he offered you a reprieve after the mating ceremony. In that moment, Eris could see how he was being hypocritical. He offered you a break but never took one of his own. He didn’t further examine that thought- lest he ruin the moment the two of you were sharing. Instead he watched the hounds, including the pups, wander over to your area of the field and seek shade under the trees.

“We should wake Azriel.” He said. “Even the pups are tired.”

He looked over and tugged on the bond to Az. Azriel grumbled. You must have tugged as well, as he turned his head away from you both. When he didn’t get up, you shifted in Eris’s lap and gave him a wicked grin.

“What’s the signal for a playful attack?”

Eris grinned back. He let out a long whistle, alerting the hounds. Then he snapped his fingers and pointed at Azriel. Three of the closest hounds: Lo, Thebe, and Klaus, ran over to Azriel and immediately started to lick at his face. You erupted with laughter and Az jolted awake.

“What the fuck,” Az, shooed at the hounds but the were not deterred. “Okay I’m up, call them back.”

Eris whistled again and the hounds came bounding over.

“Good boy,” he scratched at Klaus’s ear, while you gave Lo and Thebe loving pets as well.

Az sat up in the field, and stretched both his arms and wings. He let out a yawn before getting up and walking over to the shade.

“Was that necessary?” He scowled, hands on his hips.

“Yes,” you replied. “You would get burned if you didn’t get up.”

”We both know what a baby you are when that happens,” Eris added.

Az sat down and made a gesture Eris was certain was vulgar in Illyria. Now that he was in the shade, his shadows came out. Two slithered around the sunlight shining through the trees and came around you and Eris. One went to his wrist, the other in your hair and both rested contently. The three of you sat in silence, before Azriel brought up some courtier gossip. You excitedly explained what you had heard on the same topic.

Eris sat there and listened, and anuncomfortable feeling sank into his chest. When was the last time he sat and listened to his mates? Even just to hear idle gossip about a court member he didn’t recognize. His mind kept spiraling. When was the last time he had dinner with the two of you? He had no idea what you both did with your time. Last night was the first time in weeks he’d been in bed and held you. The shadow tightened on his wrist and you turned in his lap, moving back to rest on your knees between his legs.

“Eris?” You and Azriel both were staring at him. “Where did you go?”

If Eris was capable of crying he would have. You and those eyes, searching him to see what past horrors were triggered when the truth was it was he who was the horror.

“No where,” he whispered. “I simply realized what a terrible mate I am.”

Something hit him in the head. He looked down to see an acorn rolling in the grass. He looked up to see Azriel glaring.

“Did you just hit me with an acorn?” Eris was truthfully too dumbfounded to do anything but gap at his mate.

“I’d punch you if Y/N wasn’t in the way.”

At that Eris heard Jora growl but not get up from where she laid with her pups. She recognized the empty threat, the smart hound she was. But she still didn’t like Az smarting off at him.

“Az-“ you tried to interject.

“No.” He jumped to his feet, wings flaring to balance him. “I'm not going to sit and listen to Eris feel sorry for himself.” His gaze turned to Eris. “You need a break. A real one.”

Eris remained silent. You had sat back on the grass, arms around your knees. He could feel sadness in your side of the bond. He locked his side down- he didn’t want to further your discomfort.

“He’s right Ere,” you said so softly he almost didn’t hear it over the breeze. “You’re slipping away from us again.”

That hurt him more than any physical blow he had endured. Now he really could cry. Why was he cursed? He didn’t deserve you or Azriel. And he was doing it again- burying himself in work and ignoring the two of you. He was a terrible husband and mate. He was so lost in his own thoughts, he startled when you moved up to him and put your hand on his cheek.

“We cannot help you if you don’t let us.” You said softly. “I know you’re set in your ways and think you have to do everything alone. But you don’t.”

“Do what you have to do tomorrow.” Az said. He could see him cross his arms, shadows still agitated but not as much. “Then we will spend three days together. Not working.”

“That caldron damned treaty is not going to be done by tomorrow.” Eris grumbled.

“And it won’t be done by the end of next week, either.” You pulled your hand back and missed your touch already. “Your governors still have to sign it before it even goes out to the other courts.”

“I hate when you're right.” He didn’t suppress the small smile forming on his lips. “Fine. I will finish it up tomorrow and we will take three days to ourselves.” You grinned, Azriel stood there smug. “Let me guess, you two have something planned?”

Your grin became wicked. “Maybe.”

That stirred something in him but he suppressed it. He huffed and rose to his feet, dusting off his pants. The hounds watched him, knowing he would signal them to do the same in a moment. You stood as well.

“Let’s go back,” he pointed between you and Azriel. “And you two can explain to me this plan of yours.”

“Deal.” Az smirked.

Eris tried to not roll his eyes at his mate. He gave the alert and all the hounds rose to their feet. Except for the pups. Eris signaled again and two of them whined but didn’t rise.

“Poor babies,” you cooed. You picked one up and placed them on your shoulder. The pup didn’t even wake. “So sleepy.”

“You’re spoiling them.” Eris scowled.

“They’re just babies,” Azriel retorted, picking up another and placing them on his shoulder. “It won’t hurt to carry them.”

Eris realized he wasn’t winning this battle. Azriel grabbed another to put over his other shoulder and with an exaggerated sigh, Eris picked up the last one. He refused to admit it was adorable how the puppy in his arm snuggled against his neck, no doubt loving the warmth he radiated. Jora watched them, head moving between the three of them to make sure her babies were fine. Eris knelt down and scratched her ear.

“It’s okay girl,” he said. He gave another signal for the hounds to follow. “Come on. Let’s go home.”

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