#vitusz avelka

[bitterfates]

TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS: DAY 8

[bitterfates]

FFXIV WRITE 2023; PROMPT 5: BARBAROUS

As he often did for his own amusement, her friend had managed to test her nerves again.

This time, he chose to push her buttons right after their regular sparring time. As per usual during their matches, she drew from her large wellpool of aether to hurl spell after devastating spell, forcing her partner to dodge or counter with automatic, pinpoint precision. They fought well past the bell they normally used as a mark for a midday meal; when they both came to a standstill, they were breathing heavily, stamina all but spent, clothes ruffled and not damaged beyond repair.

That would have been the end of their training for the day, had her friend acted with some sense. Instead of signaling to call off the spar, the “big cat” Emegen affectionately called Vitty stayed in a loose fighting stance, a wide and toothy grin seared on his face. She had told him about how her countrymen from the Steppe would challenge her in the past relentlessly, so she knew he knew that she would take this as a provocation to continue fighting. Normally, she wouldn’t take the bait and would easily brush him off, but today felt different, and so she was different as well.

Emegen stepped one pace closer to him, testing his resolve. He did not budge, so she took another step; same result. When it was clear that Vitty would not be running from her, she strolled towards him, intently focused on the prey in front of her. To his credit, he met the predator in her unflinchingly, never once backing away or shrinking from her gaze.

With only a handful of strides, the distance between the two lessened and became close to nonexistent; though she had to crane her head back a fair bit to look at his face, it would be clear to any knowing passerby who had control of the situation.

“Yield now, or I will make you.”

A bark of a laugh met the command. “You know my answer, princess. Try and prove your words.”

What happened next could only be described as a whirlwind of movement, primal and artless and entirely physical. Blows were traded and blocked as fast as acted on; hair and fur yanked and pulled on by claws and hardened nails; shouts and pained grunts filled the air around them. 

Their struggle for dominance ended swiftly, with the proud Auri mage digging the heel of a boot firmly into the robust Hrothgar’s thin chest piece. Slitted silver eyes narrowed and met taunting teal. Neither let up for what seemed like an eternity, still wrapped up in the high of battle, until they simultaneously smiled and began laughing with each other.

When she was more settled and less likely to want to keep attacking him, Emegen tossed him a heated look and teased, “Do you yield now? Or will I need to teach you this lesson again later on? I could use another chance to rest my feet.”

In his typically brazen way, Vitty flirtatiously moistened his lips with his long tongue and retorted, “Why wait when we have the time now? I need the reinforcement for a lesson to really stick. The sooner the better, preferably in a soft bed, for the rest of the day.”

The words were crude and obvious, and made Emegen roll her eyes…but she moved her leg all the same to allow him up to make their way back to their shared home to begin the “supporting exercise”.