Chapter Text
It had been almost a week. The festivities were over, and it seemed the party were being permitted to return to their daily lives. No new contracts their way, no summons from Sovereign Uriel. It seemed almost peaceful.
Percy’s mind was anything but.
A week had passed since he had borne his heart to Vex’ahlia, a week since that night… and yet scarcely anything had changed. Vex was always friendly to the point of flirtatious with the rest of Vox Machina including Percy himself. However, she seemed to be carrying herself as usual.
They hadn’t kissed since that night. Percy was tearing himself to pieces.
He didn’t think it was in Vex’s nature to make empty promises, to say such things just to calm him. But it didn’t stop him from creating scenarios in his head, often leading to the same conclusion; he wasn’t worthy of the words ‘I love you’. They couldn’t have been true.
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To celebrate the end of the formalities regarding their return to Emon, the members had decided to commemorate their victory in their own way; with copious amounts of alcohol and all the dining grace that could be expected of them (so approximately none whatsoever). Their table was crammed with all manner of food fit for a royal feast, and cutlery was an afterthought.
“Alright,” Keyleth proclaimed after a few hours, standing unsteadily, “I think I’m gonna hurl if I keep going guys. I’m going to bed,” she waved at them as cheerily as she could and stumbled away from the table. Vax’s eyes seemed to clear slightly from the drunken far-off stare he’d been sporting for the last hour, and silently left the table and put one of Keyleth’s arms around his shoulders.
Percy smiled fondly, and he noticed Vex’s eyeroll out of the corner of his vision (though it was no less fond). He was happy they’d found each other.
Slowly, each of the Vox Machina members began to retire to their respective rooms. Pike tried to insist on staying to help clean up their mess, but after her drinking contest with Grog she was barely coherent. Vex shushed her kindly and walked Pike to her room.
Percy all the while stayed seated, his burning cheeks having little to do with the alcohol. He and Vex seemed to be the last ones awake and as much as he hated to admit it, he didn’t want to keep pretending that their previous encounter hadn’t happened. He wanted to… well, he wasn’t sure what he wanted. He just knew that it was more.
As soon as he heard footsteps outside the heavy door to the dining room he stood up, ramrod straight.
“Vex’ahlia, I-” Percy didn’t even know what he was trying to say.
Vex closed the door behind her and leaned against it with her arms folded and a raised eyebrow. How she managed to somehow command the conversation immediately without having said a word was beyond him.
Percy swallowed and continued, “I wanted to talk about… ah well, the um. You know,” he made some vague gestures in the air, suddenly overcome with embarrassment now that he was alone with Vex.
“I’m afraid I don’t know Percival darling, could you specify?” she said in a teasing tone.
Fucking shit fuck.
Percy felt his blush deepen, “Ah well, specifically last week when. Um. We were alone and we… you’re doing this on purpose aren’t you?”
She walked over closer to sit on the table nearby, “Whatever would give you that impression?”
Percy clenched his fists and looked at the floor and suddenly the words wouldn’t stop, “We- we kissed. And you’ve been normal since then and I’m quite confused and I don’t know if I did something wrong or said something and I just-”
He felt a finger on his lips.
He looked up and Vex had moved within his reach, smiling sweetly. “Percival, in the kindest way possible, when have you ever been someone who enjoys affection in public? From anyone?” she asked, smiling all the while.
Percy’s eyes widened in understanding.
Gods he was fucking stupid. Vex always had an intuition and respect for his personal space. Why would he have expected things to change in a situation like this?
He sighed defeatedly, “I’ve been a fool, haven’t I?”
She chuckled, “Incredibly so. If I was mistaken however please tell me.”
One of the corners of Percy’s smile lifted in a smile, “As usual, you seem to know me better than I know myself.”
“I’m glad you brought it up regardless. But now that we’ve had a chat…” she pushed Percy’s chest hard enough that he fell into the wooden chair behind him and then put her hands on his thighs, “I was wondering whether this seat was taken?”
Percy felt his brain grind to a stuttering halt. He opened and closed his mouth a few times, while Vex maintained her almost predatory smile and stayed still.
Slowly Vex’s smile dropped a little, “I’m sorry darling, was this too forward? We don’t have to do anything right now, you seem overwhelmed.” She reached a hand up to cradle his cheek.
“No no I just… fuck,” he breathed, “I’m just – oh gods– processing, I think. Overwhelmed is a good word. In a good way, I mean.” He turned his head, going redder than he had thought possible, “It’s… um… unfamiliar territory. If you understand my meaning.”
To her credit, Vex simply nodded. No shock, and not a shred of judgement in her face. “Percival, can you look at me?”
How could he say no?
“I won’t do anything unless it’s what you want. At all, ever. I love you, darling, but if this is too much that’s alright. If you tell me no right now, we can both go to bed. What would you like, Percy?” Vex’s tone wasn’t condescending, but rather patient and kind.
Percy sucked in a deep breath, “There are…certain things you’re told not to want in my family. It’s difficult.”
Vex’ahlia, beautiful and strong and fiercely intelligent as always, saw through him to his core. She leaned down to his ear and whispered, “You can want me, love. In fact, it would please me greatly if you did. I want you. I want to show you how good I can make you feel. Is that alright?”
It was barely perceptible, but Percy managed a nod.
Vex stood up looking incredibly pleased with herself, “Well in that case I’ll ask you again; is this seat taken?”
Percy managed to get out a choked, “By all means,” before Vex had straddled him and claimed his lips in a kiss.
This was nothing like their first kiss. Their first was innocent, a promise of devotion and care. Now Vex kissed him like she wanted to own him. She cradled his face in both hands, pressing harder against him. Percy could only groan when her tongue traced his bottom lip.
He tried to rein in whatever embarrassing noises he was making but Vex pulled at his lip gently with her teeth and he let out a whine from high in his throat in an octave he didn’t know was possible. She pulled away from him, the image of composure, to survey her handiwork.
Percy could only imagine how debauched he looked already after only a few moments. He was breathing heavily, lips swollen and face likely flushed.
Vex ran a hand through his hair, “You look so gorgeous for me dear. And you make such lovely noises. Do you think you could make more for me darling?” He nodded enthusiastically, barely aware of what he was agreeing to. At this point if it meant Vex would keep kissing him he’d probably agree to a lot more than he would readily admit to afterwards.
She smiled smugly at his obedience, taking his hands and placing them on her waist. He hadn’t noticed himself gripping the seat of the chair, unwilling to touch her without her permission. “You don’t need to be a gentleman here, Percival. Do you want to touch me?” she asked. He nodded again.
He captured his lips again more tenderly this time, grabbing his shoulders so she could-
Oh gods.
Percy had to break the kiss to moan into her collar as she rolled her hips against him. She chuckled and grinded against him again, harder this time. He muffled his noises into the fabric, completely lost to the sensation.
Percy’s cock had been taking an interest in events for some time now, but he’d been so distracted. Upon noticing, he froze and looked up to Vex in alarm, “Oh gods this is so impolite, I didn’t mean… you don’t have to-”
Vex kissed behind his ear and grazed his earlobe with her teeth, making Percy shiver and release a tortured exhale, “You didn’t mean to? That’s a shame then, darling. I certainly did,” she punctuated her statement with a soft scrape of teeth over his jawline and another filthy grind into the obvious tent in his trousers.
“Did you want to relocate to somewhere a little more private?” she asked into his neck between peppering kisses over every inch of available skin. She then sat up straight, looking him straight in the eyes, “I won’t have you doing anything you’re not ready for. We can leave this here for another time if that’s better.”
Percy swallowed, “I think I’d practically die if I didn’t get to see how this plays out,” his words conveying a relaxed manner that contrasted with the state of frenzy he was in at the prospect of tonight going further.
“I’m glad,” she said, pulling his tight collar aside and sucking the juncture of his neck and shoulder. Without warning she sunk her teeth into his skin, sending a wave of pain and pleasure intermingled straight to Percy’s cock. He tipped his head back and let out a high-pitched sob.
“I’ve been wanting to hear what Lord Percival de Rolo sounds like when he begs for far too long.”
This woman was going to be the death of him. But what a way to die.