It always surprised Haurchefant how few travellers could bear the Ishgardian cold. When Ishgard carefully and hopefully opened its gates once again, the Central Highlands saw adventurers who had not adequately prepared for the temperature. Although Ishgard’s peoples had garnered the reputation of being harsh and reluctant, it was thanks to one of Hydaelyn’s saviours that the reputation had softened in recent years.

He missed Aerie. The last time Haurchefant had seen him, Aerie had told him in so many words that he was being whisked away to a continent most people didn’t even believe existed. Haurchefant knew better than to doubt him; whether or not Tural existed, he knew Aerie would find something.

Haurchefant didn’t want to rush him, who was by now preparing to travel to the great unknown, but as he finished that thought, the door to Camp Dragonhead swung open. As though conjured from his dreams, Aerie stood before him—and Haurchefant couldn’t help but laugh with joy. He was more dressed for the cold than he’d expected, at least from the waist up: puffy jacket, a turtleneck sweater underneath, and thick mittens. How Aerie fit his clawlike nails in then, he had no idea, but it was the least of his problems; his bottom half, as usual, was sparsely covered, thin layers only, as if the skirt and thigh-high socks and boots would have shielded him from this biting cold.

Most of Haurchefant was concerned for him, but there was always a part that disregarded all common sense and was only interested in the easy access Aerie’s outfits provided. Aerie took a step toward him, and Haurchefant was drawn immediately to the way his thighs rubbed together. He could imagine the soft, plush skin of Aerie’s ass in his hands, the way he shuddered when Haurchefant paid special attention to his thighs.

He managed to tear his eyes away from Aerie’s legs and up to his face. Aerie looked grumpy about the cold. To the untrained eye, he always looked grumpy, but Haurchefant knew better; had he not taken the time to know this strange warrior, his life would’ve been that much duller. “Aerie,” he said, rushing to his feet. He crossed the distance between them in a few strides and wrapped his arms around Aerie’s waist, lifting him slightly. Aerie hugged back, burying his face in Haurchefant’s chest.

He loosened his grip, then let Aerie down to his feet, then moved his hands to Aerie’s ass, kissing his neck as he squeezed. Aerie hummed, and then Haurchefant backed up to look at him. He ducked his head slightly, glancing away. He was tired, and exceedingly so. “You can rest upstairs if you’d like,” Haurchefant murmured, “and when I’m done, we can make dinner.”

Aerie frowned, and Haurchefant tilted his head. “Dinner now?” Aerie pursed his lips. “Dinner... even later?” When his expression relaxed, Haurchefant knew he wanted company before food—a rarity in Aerie’s life to turn down a free meal, but maybe like Haurchefant, he wanted something else more than he wanted food. “Okay, I’ll just finish up here, and then I’ll join you.”

He was lying to himself, really; there was no way he’d finish whatever he had to do after Aerie gave him a look that transmitted all his desire for Haurchefant’s warmth. Aerie disappeared upstairs without a glance backward, and Haurchefant saw a peek of his panties under a short, short skirt. That length was funny a few moments ago when he thought about how cold Aerie would be, but now it was an issue.

In vain, he turned down to the ink on the pages beneath him, trying to make sense of what he knew were letters forming words. This effort was not valiant. He quickly abandoned the paperwork and locked the entrance to the camp before scurrying upstairs; there was no word that would describe his movement that would leave his dignity intact, and with the love of his life upstairs, he had no intent on keeping it.

Aerie had taken off his thick winter coat, and he turned around to the sound of Haurchefant’s footsteps. A slight smile on his face as he sat on the edge of the bed told him I missed you.

“I missed you too,” Haurchefant said, and he closed the distance between them, kneeling between Aerie’s legs and cupping his face in his hands. It was selfish, but he hesitated for a moment so he could see Aerie close his eyes, then frown slightly because Haurchefant wasn’t kissing him yet—he didn’t leave him for too long, but he loved to see that little scrunch in his nose.

No matter how slow they started, the heat ramped up shortly after the first touch; Aerie was needy, and Haurchefant needed him. They both knew he was going to disappear soon to Tural, and it showed in their little noises, the insistent kisses. Haurchefant was surprised, too, at how pliant Aerie seemed tonight. Usually, even when there had been no imminent danger, Aerie couldn’t get enough of him, kissing him with a fervor that sometimes made Haurchefant feel as though he was being eaten alive.

Tonight, however, when Haurchefant moved his hands down to Aerie’s soft thighs and trailed his kisses down to Aerie’s neck, tugging at the woollen sweater that must’ve been itchy now, Aerie sighed and melted into his touch, arching his back. Haurchefant pushed his sweater up, taking his time running his palms across Aerie’s chest, squeezing every time he heard Aerie’s breath hitch.

He tugged the sweater over Aerie’s head, and Aerie attached himself to Haurchefant, kissing gently at his neck and shoulders. Although Aerie was just as passionate, he seemed willing to give in to Haurchefant’s attention instead of trying to devour him.

Haurchefant was happy to give it. Aerie’s skin was so soft, and Haurchefant couldn’t resist kissing a line down from his neck, down to his chest, and then to his nipple, taking one in his mouth and running his tongue on them. Aerie’s breath hitched, and he tugged Haurchefant’s hair and pulled him closer. They had little time left together—Haurchefant would make it count, taking his time touching and kissing everywhere he loved.

“Lie down,” Haurchefant murmured, nudging him gently on his back. Aerie was in the middle of the bed now, his knees pressed together, the skirt riding up. Haurchefant crawled up to him, putting a hand on each knee again, spreading them apart. Aerie parted for him without resistance.

Aerie lay before him, tired but willing. He slowed down, rolling down Aerie’s thigh-high socks one by one, kissing the skin revealed to him. There was no place on Aerie’s body he didn’t love, but there were parts of him Haurchefant liked paying extra attention to. One of his favourites was this: Aerie’s thighs, thick and soft. He loved when he spooned Aerie and those thighs pressed against his crotch; he loved when Aerie wrapped his thighs around his waist and tugged him closer, deeper.

And he loved right now, when Aerie was open and willing for him, watching him with hunger in his eyes, his thighs in Haurchefant’s hands. Haurchefant squeezed, rubbing his thumb in a circle, and Aerie gasped, then murmured, “Mm...”

Above him, Aerie breathed so heavily he nearly made a rare vocalization again. His cock grew harder underneath the skirt, and it sent a zing of pleasure through Haurchefant. When he arched his back, Haurchefant could see his tiny bunny tail wagging, and along the wave of desire came affection, pure and simple. He unbuttoned Aerie’s skirt and let it fall away, and then his love, his light was beneath him, naked.

He looked up to Aerie’s face and found a frown—and then he laughed. “Yes, yes,” he said, scrambling to remove his shirt and trousers as well. Aerie was clearly unimpressed that he was still clothed, but he didn’t have the patience today to take Haurchefant’s clothes off himself. Aerie’s expression relaxed, and Haurchefant leaned over him again, getting onto his elbows.

At the first contact of skin on skin, of heat and desire, they both groaned. Aerie wrapped his arms around Haurchefant’s shoulders; he was already digging his long nails into Haurchefant’s skin, scratching him in his attempt to bring him closer.

With Aerie bare before him, he could wait no longer. He took a bottle of oil from their bedside table and lathered his fingers, then pressed against Aerie’s hole, heat coursing through his body at every one of Aerie’s reactions. He pressed a finger in slowly, and Aerie both relaxed and tensed, clearly screaming Finally!

“Tell me if anything hurts,” Haurchefant said, as though he was in any sort of control. He was barely holding on by a thread. He pressed another one in, and he heard the soft thumping of Aerie’s tail against the mattress. He stretched Aerie open more, growing dizzy at the thought of being inside his warm, wet heat.

Haurchefant teased him open until Aerie was panting, now at his limit. So he took the oil and stroked his length, never breaking eye contact. He nudged Aerie’s hole with the head of his cock and drank in his hiccup of a moan, then started pushing in, groaning.

He slid into Aerie, and halfway in, he shuddered. They had done this many times, but every time still undone him fully. Aerie moaned, and Haurchefant leaned down to taste him, to kiss him while pushing into his hole, inch by inch. Haurchefant deepened their kiss, and then he was fully inside Aerie, stretching him apart. He groaned through his nose as Aerie whimpered—he wrapped his legs around Haurchefant’s waist, and Haurchefant stifled a laugh. He was in for it now.

He started moving, thrusting, his hips slamming against Aerie’s ass. He moved his hands down to Aerie’s hips, pulling him toward him, thrusting deeper and deeper. He also tried not to cough into their kiss as Aerie started kicking against the small of his back; he’d be bruised and scratched at the end of this, like many other times they’d been together, but it would always be worth it because it meant Aerie was deep in the throes of pleasure.

He reached between them and started stroking Aerie’s cock, and Aerie whined and tensed around Haurchefant, still deep inside him. After a few strokes, Haurchefant kissed him, then bit his lips—and Aerie came, spilling into Haurchefant’s hand and across his chest.

Seeing Aerie like this—thoroughly debauched, soft and pliant beneath him—it wasn’t long until Haurchefant came too, spilling deep inside him. He saw white, and then when it was over, he found himself slumped over Aerie, who still had his arms around his neck and nipped gently at Haurchefant’s neck and shoulders, little fluttering kisses that faded with his energy.

He pressed a kiss to Aerie’s cheek, and he got back up on his elbows and stroked a stray strand away from his face. He opened his mouth to say something, and then the rumble of his stomach interrupted the sweet moment that had blossomed between them.

Aerie smiled too, still blissed out, and Haurchefant laughed. “So, dinner?”