Archive of Our Own

The murmurs that had filled the packed theater erupted into a full blown cacophony as he finished his rather impromptu lecture. Debates disguised as thinly veiled arguments, accusations and denials, desperate cries for clarification or assurance. The noise hit a fever-pitch as he reached for the door, silenced as he slammed it behind him. None dared to follow, which was all for the best. They would need to figure things out for themselves, now that he'd given them the foundation and tools to do so.

Satisfied with his handiwork and knowing that prying eyes were otherwise occupied, Veritas Ratio allowed his guise to slip. The peoples of this region viewed him as another one of their gods, albeit with hesitance, and would no doubt scatter or- heaven's forbid- grovel if he were to appear in any manner identifiable as even slightly divine. Tension built behind his eyes at the thought, eased by the dissolution of the alabaster mask he wore, feathery locks freed to curl around his face and nape. The glamor fell from his shoulders, dappled wings spreading, ruffling, folding, and then from his hands, fingers lengthening and sharpening as he adjusted the hems of his robes. The guise dropped from his hips and legs last, as he stepped forward on clawed feet, tailfeathers trailing behind. The sun was just beginning to set, and with a brief stretch, he headed off to meet a different audience after a much needed bath.

… .. .

Ratio's steps echoed in the silent temple, talons clicking against worn marble. He rarely visited any of the numerous shrines dedicated to himself, finding each experience to be somewhere between troublesome to outright headache inducing . The crowds. The prayers. The endless unwanted offerings. The spectacle . He had yet to convince the world against his divinity, and those of that accursed "Genius Society", but when he at last succeeded and could watch these foul monuments be repurposed or outright destroyed, he would no doubt be at peace. 

However, he had a reason to enter this particular temple of his, one that had led him to stay anchored to this particular area for longer than usual and visit more often than he particularly preferred. 

Always after hours, of course.

"Your lecture caused quite the stir, doctor," his aforementioned reason said, voice a whisper but amplified by the dim quiet. 

"Bitter pills are always a struggle to swallow. Those in the greatest need for them are more vulnerable to the taste," he replied, eyes glinting as he scanned the dark corners for his infrequent guest. "Dramatic fools, the lot of them."

A chuckle and a flash of bright - the young man he knew as Aventurine stepped into the glow of a smoldering brazier, hypnotic dual-hued eyes striking in the low-light. Ratio was still unsure as to his origin, despite his vast research, and the man was so very secretive. But he made for interesting company, an interesting conundrum, and an interesting diversion. So Ratio suffered his teasing, his omissions and misdirections, and allowed him refuge, tucked away in his temple. It certainly wasn't like he was using the damned place. And the company was… nice , all things considered.

"From what I overheard of the aftermath, it certainly struck a nerve with the upper class," Aventurine continued, coming to sit on one of the well-worn but ornate cushions littering the area around Ratio's altar. 

"And now where would you have heard such things, hidden away here as you so often are," Ratio mused, sharp eyes appraising, wings flicking behind him. 

Aventurine simply smiled, and the game was set.

Ratio would not be getting further information, not verbally, but it was hardly necessary. Not when Aventurine left him plenty of clues to reach his own conclusions. If he were being honest, he rather enjoyed the light mental exercise.

Stepping closer, feathers fluffing with the promise of a mystery solved, Ratio raked his eyes over the young humanoid.

Aventurine was beautiful, disheveled, and his expressions mercurial. Somewhat wavy golden hair fell in front of unique eyes, split between glowing teal and fuschia pink with rhombic irises. With delicate, nimble, shaking hands a few strands were tucked behind reddening ears, but his gaze never broke. His smooth cheeks, devoid of soft fat but no longer hardened by extreme hunger were lightly flushed- not with exertion, but lingering excitement. One was darker than the other, brighter along the bone. His modest but threadbare clothes were cleaner than usual, fresh from a wash but with a new tear around the sleeve. Aventurine, despite his mysterious circumstances, cared a great deal for appearances. He was far from unkempt, but while he'd taken extra pains for this particular visit to Ratio's temple it was not his first stop.

Tail feathers fanning and wingtips fluttering, Ratio felt confident in his final assessment. 

"You must be fresh from the gambling hall," a vice his guest admitted to earlier on in their acquaintance- his luck, supposedly, unparalleled. Ratio was still testing the claim, but the results so far were fascinating and eerily improbable. However, where else would he hear word of Ratio's lectures, particularly words with especially sour notes? They were, after all, directed at certain groups, ones with similar but more numerous flaws. "Ah, but you managed to get into the finest house in the city," given how freshened he appeared, certainly compared to usual. "You won big," his cheeks belied his delight, "you were also unwelcome"- and the damage incurred. "Were you harmed when they threw you out?" Beyond the tear in clothes that could not afford more abuse.

"Sharp as always, doctor!" Aventurine laughed, cheery, despite everything. "Just my pride was damaged, don't you fret."

A lie, small as it was- Ratio's eyes narrowed as he leaned over the sitting man, who, having been caught, squirmed uselessly in his seat. The so-called god watched him, unimpressed, before reaching to firmly but gently grasp Aventurine's elbow. Mindful always of his sharp talons and the scrapes marring delicate skin through a torn sleeve. 

Ratio finished his casual inspection with a hum, "you truly are unusually lucky to be tossed out of the proudest gambling den with only superficial wounds to show for it."

"Of course," Aventurine agreed, looking smug and not at all contrite- as what would be appropriate for the situation. The damned gambler had the gall to look pleased , even with a "god" scolding him. "I won big today."

Such wording gave Ratio pause. He'd been so caught up on the man in front of him, he'd forgotten everything else. What did Aventurine win? It certainly wasn't on his person- and he doubted whatever it was could get him out of his abysmal, unfortunate, unknown circumstances. Something small, then. But meaningful, if he were to guess. Aventurine shifted nervously under the newest round of hawkish attention, and Ratio added "sentimental" to whatever it was Aventurine won and decided to hide from the appointed god whose temple he'd all but lived in for several weeks now-

"Oh," Ratio blinked, an apple blipping into existence to fall at his feet, the imaginary blurring into reality as a mental equation neatly solved itself.

He turned to the altar even as Aventurine picked up the fruit and watched on with feigned nonchalance. The barest thread of anxiety tense along thin shoulders- Ratio's next puzzle to solve.

The vast majority of worshippers of Veritas Ratio still, to this day, could not figure out what to leave at his temple. Gifts of wine that went unopened, fruits and flowers that would rot and wither from inattention, books he'd already read, trinkets of no use, slips of paper with asinine wishes scrawled across them. None of it was wanted or needed, and yet it flowed his way in an unceasing torrent. Today however, he eyed the spread with interest.

There, hidden amongst the mundane, was a glowing stone. Ratio plucked it between thumb and forefinger, holding it up to catch the shine of light. 

"Now, what is this?" He mused, turning it this way and that.

The cut was exquisite, the karat turning the gem into a delightful prism, and the material one he'd not encountered before. And the way it emitted light- truly a curiosity!

"You only care for offerings that are interesting," Aventurine said, quiet and uncharacteristically shy. "Ah, I mean- things that are unusual. I wanted something special that you hadn't seen."

And he'd weaseled his way into a high end gambling house and was injured to get it. Whatever sour note bloomed immediately wilted with an even quieter admission, "I wanted to thank you, for letting me be here." Hiding under your roof, teasing and playing with you, eating your offerings - the list was long and unspoken.

"I'll be sure to study this thoroughly, then." Ratio lowered the gem, stepped back to the young man, kneeling to catch vibrant eyes. "But seeing you here, safe and well, is thanks enough, Aventurine."

"Oh," it was the young man's turn to breathe out with surprised realization. 

Generously, Ratio let him stew on it. "Eat that apple. You are still showing signs of malnourishment." 

The look Aventurine leveled him would have shattered lesser men, reducing them to lovelorn heaps. Fortunate then, that Ratio was unlike lesser men.

And wasn't all of this just one of the many troubling facets of Aventurine? 

Ratio had encountered him a mere few weeks ago, intent on tossing out the clutter in this seaside city's temple before he left for greener pastures, only to find a haggard shape eating the edible offerings while barely chewing. And the inedible - so wracked with hunger was the young man that he'd turned to spoiled leavings, and Ratio… well Ratio certainly hadn't stood by. After a scolding lecture on the dangers of eating rotten food, he'd insisted on treating the man to a proper meal, only to find him at a point where he couldn't keep so much food down in the first place. To say Ratio took him under his wing, so to speak, was an understatement. 

Aventurine, as he called himself, took it in stride, wryly commenting, "I knew my luck would run out and you'd come see who was stealing your offerings someday."

To which Ratio snapped, "I don't care for offerings" and draped a blanket around his shoulders. "Nor do I know, or care, if they go missing."

He insisted Aventurine stay at his temple, hiding in the recesses when he needed shelter and helping himself to offerings after hours- lest he aggravate the laypeople. 

Which led them here, to the future and Aventurine, still as mysterious and charming as ever, slowly recovering his health and confidence. A flower blooming behind a crumbling brick wall. Ratio watched him intently as he chewed at an offering, cataloging every tidbit he noticed to piece apart later. Aventurine, accustomed to such treatment at this point, contented himself with delicately peeling the skin from a fruit proffered from the altar, popping each freed piece into his mouth with growing surety. No longer hampered by starvation and promised a steady meal of whatever the locals brought in, Aventurine was slowing down, taking his time, and by extension, revealing a great deal to Ratio.

Firstly, that Aventurine was not from this city . Perhaps not even this continent. He spoke the language, for the most part, with an unplaceable and somewhat thick accent, but didn't know many of the customs, was sometimes stumped by trickier idioms and phrases, and generally gave the impression of a stranger in a strange land. Granted, Aventurine hid this aspect of himself with the same care and attention as he did with his skin. His ability to act was so impressive that it was only recently that Ratio even realized his uncertainty. But Aventurine was a very fast learner, his mind clever, and his curiosity growing. Ratio hadn't needed to help and Aventurine never asked.

Which brought him to the second point, in that Aventurine simply did not ask for anything in general. Instead he shied away like a wounded animal from excessive charity, growing more wary and distrustful the more Ratio attempted niceties. A fortunate thing, then, for his natural personality to be so acerbic and straightforward that even his most pleasant attempts were still ultimately rendered somewhat un pleasant. Although, he did temper his bluntness after seeing how Aventurine would ready himself to flee if he dug too deep into emotional territory. Baby steps. 

Baby steps to find out what had, or was still, causing Aventurine so much harm, because Aventurine was deeply, terribly wounded. It carried in the way he often hid himself from others, made himself unobtrusive until he'd assessed the situation, the way he watched Ratio. The initial, unfathomable wariness had ebbed, but it was only a matter of time before it returned. Ratio desperately hoped he would not be the cause, but knew such things were inevitable. How could they not be? When Aventurine was so damned mysterious!

Understanding the man was like scrying secrets from a scratched crystal. Reading a book that was a translation of a translation of a translation. The list of components that made up the man was lengthy, and yet no matter how Ratio pieced through them, his vision of the man never became clearer. It was as maddening as it was compelling. Even more so because Aventurine, sharp and watchful, was also constantly puzzling Veritas Ratio apart in return. And Aventurine… was much better at it than he was. It had been so long since Ratio had been on the backfoot, and yet Aventurine-

"Ratio, you're always treating me to such nice things," the man purred, the tip of a pink tongue flicking out to capture the sweet fruit juices left on his fingertips. Vibrant eyes glanced up to meet his own slitted, rapidly dilating, gaze as Aventurine shifted on the cushions of what could generously be the makings of a nest. Eyelids hooded and gaze heavy, his lips shiny and sticky, everything from his posture to his expression downright sultry . The shoulder of his outer robe slid down, a calculated maneuver that drew Ratio's focus, if only because it revealed the jut of collarbones under a thin shirt collar. The promise of revealed skin. Ratio, truly as weak and mundane and average as any other, fell for it with slightly flushed cheeks. "When will you let me do something for you in return?" 

"And what would you like to do, gambler?" Ratio inwardly patted his back at how steady his voice was with such a precisely calculated show. This Aventurine!

"Why, doctor, what would you like?" As if he knew the answer already. As if Ratio would make it so easy.

Ratio hummed, let the pause linger, "for you to clean and dispose of those peels properly this time, lest you slip." Aventurine's laugh was short and startled, the moment broken. "Seven points."

"Doctor," he pouted, "out of how many?" 

Ignoring the question, Ratio reached over to ruffle Aventurine's hair. "You are very charming, indeed." 

His companion was always seeking to peek at Ratio's hand, and the best option was always to lay his cards face-up.

Aventurine's teasing pout melted into a soft smile, one of his rare warm, authentic ones that reached the creases of his eyes. Ratio had passed an unspoken test, one with Aventurine's trust on the line and his every microexpression working against him. Such an ability, to read people so thoroughly - even the shield of his alabaster masks hadn't withstood a moment under that calculating gaze. Foiled, Ratio had given up on the flimsy barrier early on. He'd watched time after time as Aventurine carefully and masterfully manipulated temple attendees and attendants alike, soft touches and precisely coy words wrapping people around his fingers, even while he shielded his eyes from view with a drawn hood and downcast gaze. A master at strategizing each move a person would make, based on the intricacies of body language alone, while hardly even looking .

"Are you certain you aren't a god?" Aventurine asked, still playing at Ratio's heart with the way he chased the lingering sweet of fruit with his tongue, but softer and vulnerable with how he glanced away shyly. "A regular man would have asked something of me by now." Or taken it - went unsaid.

"Barring our slight differences in humanoid subspecies, I remain just as similar to you as I do anyone else." 

Although, that thread of brilliance was blindingly bright in Aventurine. The promise of something spectacular under the surface. Of something wondrous. It was there in everyone, but Aventurine - 

Ratio didn't believe in divinity, but whatever Aventurine could- would - become, promised at least a fascinating crisis of faith. Not for the first time, he found himself looking at the beautiful, terrifying man before him, wondering just what are you, Aventurine ?

The thought nagged at him enough that eventually, some few days later, he had unceremoniously blurted the question. An embarrassing display, an invasive probe- but Ratio was too frustrated with his ignorance for temperance. Aventurine, for what it was worth, didn't look offended, blinking at him owlishly.

"Does it matter? I'm good enough."

Yes , he was- "yes, you are," but what kind of humanoid could he be? What gave him such vibrant eyes and honed instincts? Where did his unfathomable soft power and implausible luck come from? Ratio wished to know everything about him- and refused to contemplate if it was entirely with scholarly intentions. "I'd like to learn more about your subspecies."

Ratio's own was avian, a blend of various raptor-forms that gave him sharp edges, dusky looks, powerful wings and muscles, and a penchant for suddenly and silently appearing. Unlike other humanoids that were similarly avian-esque, Ratio's appearance was fixed and no aspect able to be hidden without the complex mechanisms of his mask and guise. Also unlike other humanoids on this planet, he had a greater number of avian traits, putting him on the higher end of the bell curve. There were others, of course. Mammalian and amphibian humanoids, even some non-terrestrial forms that lived in and amongst waterways. Ratio was terribly curious about where Aventurine sat in all this.

Aventurine, however, didn't seem to share the sentiment. "Why? It isn't very interesting."

On the contrary, it was fascinating. The differences and possibilities and potentials of humans and humanoids were astounding. Unlike his fellow so-called deities, Ratio did not chase glimpses of higher powers from beyond. He pursued the understanding of the people here, around him. He simply wanted to know more about Aventurine and his everything. 

Ratio told him as much and the look those dual-hued eyes leveled him with had his lungs constricting and his heart lurching.

"I'm the only one left, Ratio," Aventurine said. "And there isn't much of anything about me that's worth knowing."

While Ratio didn't know if Aventurine was truly the last of his kind, especially given how cagey he was on identifying himself, the latter half of his statement was completely false. What he did know of this brilliant, clever, maddening young man was already a delight, even if only superficial. This reckless gambler with a dozen masks and no real consideration for himself, who could talk circles around Ratio one moment, radiant as the sun, and slip into a distant, cold seduction that struck fear into Ratio's fluttering heart, left a frigid burn against his skin with the same ease as breathing. But Ratio, for all his intellect and wisdom, had never been able to articulate such nebulous sentiments.

He did not push.

Aventurine disappeared all the same.

… .. .

Days passed, turning to weeks. His temple offerings went untouched, the blankets and cushions remained folded and tucked out of sight. Aventurine was nowhere to be found, even when Ratio steeled himself to go look. Unnerved, worried, and just a little heartbroken, he could only assume he'd chased the young man off. To say he was surprised when his arm was grabbed while out on the streets was an understatement. Vibrant pink and blue eyes glanced up from under a worn hood.

"Aventurine," Ratio greeted, but didn't move or say anything else, not daring to spook the young man again.

"Doctor," Aventurine at least managed to look contrite about his sudden disappearance. He paused awkwardly under Ratio's attention. "I'm back." 

He was. Ratio didn't bother asking where he went, what he'd been doing in the meantime, why he'd left in the first place. Instead, he peered under that drawn hood and at the fingers gripping his robes. The admission still slipped, "I looked for you."

"I know. You'd never have had any luck finding me." Aventurine's voice was wry. Ratio didn't bother arguing that luck had little to do with it, that the city was big and Aventurine clever and so very small and thin. He knew better than to contest things when luck was involved with Aventurine. He'd indulged in enough games of chance with the man.

Aventurine glanced around, "where are you going?" 

"I was going to go to the baths," Ratio replied, watching blond eyebrows shoot up, "to read," and preen, but that went without saying.

Watching Aventurine digest this information was certainly enjoyable, the man's expression open in a rare show and his hand still wrapped around Ratio's bicep as he looked around with a confused frown. When Ratio noticed the direction, and therefore problem, he quickly clarified with a scoff, "the public baths, Aventurine, not the river." He narrowed his eyes, "have you been bathing at the river?" It was dangerous, for one, and not hygenic, for two.

"No, no, I visit the ladies when I need to wash up. The ones in the pleasure houses. They let me borrow water they get from wells. I haven't been to the river, but I tried the pools at the sea once." Ratio hoped that meant just washing and not- "but after I got sick from drinking from there I haven't gone back."

Ratio pressed a hand to his temple, "do not drink or bathe in the sea, or at the river. You must boil well-water before drinking, but bathing should be acceptable." As an afterthought, he added, "do not drink any water used for baths either-"

Aventurine blinked before breaking into laughter, bright and warm, "so many rules! I didn't even know there were so many kinds of water before I came here. But don't fret, doctor, I was just kidding about drinking seawater. Even I know that it's no good."

"Right." Aventurine didn't seem bothered by the admittedly light scolding at least, nor Ratio's overwhelmed lecturing, and didn't seem inclined to leave again, nor elaborate on what he meant or where he had been. Ratio took a tentative step and Aventurine followed, still grasping his bicep. There was a nervousness that Ratio was tempted to probe, but Aventurine looked up at him with those unfathomable eyes and Ratio reluctantly dropped it. 

"Would you like to join me?," he asked instead, adding somewhat hastily as Aventurine's grip tightened, "there are private chambers. We can enjoy them together or separately."

"Sure," Aventurine replied, his hold loosening, despite the steady thrum of anxiety. "You'll show me the ropes, right, doctor?"

"Indeed. Someone must, lest you end up washing in a tidal pool out of curiosity." Another bright laugh, Aventurine keeping step beside him, slotted against his side. Ratio nodded to himself- selfishly basking in how right it was. The man clearly lacked a sense of self preservation, taking risky gambles needlessly, uncaring for his well-being. Ratio was more than happy to assist in remedying that, of taking care of him, of puzzling out his missing pieces, of being there to pick him up. Freedom and curiosity and, dare he say it- whimsy was a good look for Aventurine.

Aventurine, meanwhile, kept a steady torrent of chatter going all the way, the contents of which were vague and inane, only settling down once an attendant at the door came to escort them to the baths. He didn't quite hide behind Ratio, but he certainly didn't call attention to himself. It occurred to him then, that this was the first time they'd met, let alone lingered outside of the temple. A significant milestone. For what he didn't know, but Aventurine had sought him out, had a glint to his eyes not unlike determination, and had followed him here, all the way to a private bathing chamber. Aventurine had come to some sort of understanding in his absence, made a decision of his own, and Ratio was eager to see what it was. 

Locking the door, Ratio let his guise slip once again, feathers ruffling and fluffing as he stretched and flapped his wings. It was stuffy, being trapped behind a disguise, but he refused to show his true face to the masses. The rotation of human busts and avian masks was sufficient cover. Aventurine watched him rouse and settle with a soft smile and patient eyes. There was another, building something in those fascinating eyes as he began to strip, although Ratio did not bother piecing apart what it could be, busy instead with his ties and smothering down a blush. Truly, he'd found such traitorous reactions to Aventurine to be the best evidence for his non-divinity to date. 

Still, the unrelenting attention was nearly suffocating in its intensity as Aventurine watched him strip. What had always been a clinically efficient task had suddenly become charged, something unexpectedly carnal, and Ratio could hardly place all the blame on Aventurine. He really should have foreseen… this , whatever it was and all the subsequent reactions it caused. When it came to Aventurine, expecting the unexpected was not only the safest course, but also the sanest . Then again, who but Aventurine would watch Veritas Ratio, man declared a god by society, undress himself without even blinking?

Ratio cleared his throat as he set his robes aside and worked on his vambraces next. "There's a partition you may use for privacy" he explained, as much for his own benefit as it was for Aventurine. Pointing out where towels and bath oils were, the different rooms in case Aventurine wanted his own, the peak times and operation hours- the routine of lecturing soothed the burn of his cheeks as layer after layer was removed. His audience was incredibly attentive and terribly attractive, a combination he'd never run across before quite like this. "There are robes you can soak in as well, should you desire it," he finished, pointedly ignoring the way Aventurine was no longer looking up at him, but down . The urge to cover the slit of his cloaca and the bulge of skin belying his sexual organs underneath was instinctive, but he valiantly resisted, refusing to give Aventurine the satisfaction… or, deprive the man his entertainment. Either of the two. Perhaps both. 

"Feel free to join me when you are ready," Ratio said with one last nod, heading to the baths armed with a towel, jar of soap, and scented feather oil, talons clicking against the marble. 

He didn't dare look back, focusing instead on calmly and normally sitting in the largest open air bath and reining in his mundane frailties. No longer plagued with images of Aventurine's expression, he began the arduous process of washing himself and his feathers, basking in the warm, scented water and elegant aesthetics. This bathhouse was one of his favorites, and the one he visited most frequently. The decor was pleasing and minimal, not too opulent but also not drab, the water was always clean and the most pleasant temperature, the oils were varied and suitable for preening, and the service staff discreet. The perfect formula for a relaxing and meditative experience. The only variable unaccounted for was Aventurine.

Would he choose the private bath off to the side, or would he share the large one with Ratio? Would he even indulge, merely dip a toe in the waters, or would he sit by the sides? Would he follow at all, or would he return to the temple, or worse, disappear yet again? All seemed just as likely to occur as the last.

Fortunately, he wasn't given much time to spend postulating, as Aventurine's soft footfalls perked his ears. The man was empty-handed and nude, save for the singular towel about his narrow waist, eyes taking in the water warily but posture stiff and determined. Truly the man did nothing in half-steps, living up to the gambler creed of 'all or nothing'. Ratio considered his companion, the message being conveyed, and the test presented to him.

It was obviously a sort of reconciliation; Aventurine would not speak about what or who he was, but he was willing to offer a trail of crumbs to follow, should Ratio still be interested. Not unlike their usual games, and yet the stakes were raised higher than ever before. A show of trust, of mutual interest, and perhaps, an invitation for something should Ratio not fail spectacularly. A good thing then that Ratio was just as determined when it came to Aventurine. 

So he looked, noted the way Aventurine watched him look, and pretended he wasn't watching for any microexpressions as Aventurine watched him look. It was all so very complicated. Ratio really wouldn't have it any other way. 

The Aventurine he had spent a few months seeing, physically, of course, had always been covered by fabric. Whether by layers of robes, a cloak and hood, or blankets in his little corner of the temple. Ratio really only saw his head and his fingers and the occasional glimpse of toes. Now that the entirety of him was on display, Ratio honestly didn't know where to begin, but settled for the most logical- his face. Meeting those unfathomable eyes was a mistake, for Ratio's heart specifically, but Aventurine softened, as if the move was correct. The suspicion that Aventurine would have shuttered and sharpened had he looked anywhere else settled heavily. But, emboldened, Ratio dropped his gaze, immediately caught by the stark symbols of a slave brand etched into the delicate column of Aventurine's neck. Ratio blinked, cataloged that tidbit, and didn't dare spare it another second of attention. The next thing he noticed were faint bumps under Aventurine's pale skin, following even fainter faded patterns, in a recognizable distribution. An aspect of whatever characteristic his subspecies possessed, most likely avian in origin. They were more prevalent on his biceps, the sides of his chest, and along his hips, no doubt concentrated more heavily on his back. Evidently, whatever Aventurine was, it was good at hiding, blending in. Enough so to not need the heavy weight of multiple layers covering every inch of skin- but the burnished pink of lash scars and discolored echoes of shackles around his limbs had Ratio reconsider. There would be no medicinal cream to soothe them here, but should Aventurine join him again, he'd be more prepared.

In the meantime, he had looked long enough, kept his gaze from even coming close to lingering on Aventurine's own small slit, and had gathered ample clues to come to a conclusion to several of his queries. Aventurine would catch a chill at this rate.

"The tiles may be somewhat slick, so take care when stepping inside," Ratio advised, holding out a hand. Aventurine's eyes widened minutely, but the tension eased. Ratio had passed with flying colors, it seemed, but he would not pat himself on the back for being civilized. "The baths are not as deep as they appear, so no need to be nervous."

Aventurine laughed brightly, taking his hand, "you'd save me if I went under, though, right?"

"Of course," he scoffed.

While Aventurine's tone and laughter was light, there was an underlying hesitancy regarding wading deeper into the baths. A fear of deep water, perhaps? He had noticed a certain trauma response regarding his companion and water, specifically centering around its scarcity. He never questioned the many canisters of water hidden away throughout his temple, just that Aventurine seemed compelled to keep as much water on hand as possible. It occurred to Ratio that such complex reactions, and Aventurine's own words, could mean the humanoid was unused to water in general, and consequently likely unable to swim, something he would happily correct. All the more reason to keep him away from the river and sea, as a bonus.

"The water is quite warm, so it may make you feel sleepy," Ratio continued, guiding Aventurine to one of the submerged seats in front of his own. "Try not to succumb, especially if you come here alone. Do you have a preference for scents?"

Aventurine, who had been dutifully listening to Ratio's lecturing, now blinked owlishly, surprised at the sudden question. He recovered quick as always, "I'll take whatever you are using, doctor. It smells good."

Ratio acquiesced with a nod, "we can look through the other soaps and oils later. Floral and citrus notes would compliment you well."

In the meantime, he could use Ratio's mix of sandalwood and jasmine soap. It was more practical than having the man extricate himself from the bath after he'd been so nervous to get in, or so Ratio rationalized while ignoring how pleased he was to have Aventurine smell like him. The mindless territorial instincts were easy to tamp down, busy as he was with watching Aventurine acclimate to the water swirling around his knees, hesitating to sit down. His grip on Ratio's hand was surprisingly tight, and he wondered, not for the first time, if this was the deepest body of water Aventurine had ever stepped in. If he had ever seen so much clean water in his life. He would wait for as long and as patiently as needed, regardless.

A desert subspecies, he surmised in the meantime. One with impressive mimicry and eye for detail. The potential options narrowed.

Eventually Aventurine sat, ramrod stiff but relaxing incrementally, the water coming up to his navel. Ratio spared a few moments to observe, but after determining the man was unlikely to flee, he returned to his prior work of dipping his wings into the water, rinsing his feathers. This seemed to catch Aventurine's attention, distracting him from the swirl of the water, as he watched the movements with rapt curiosity. 

Typically, Ratio would use such a time to work through his next lecture or latest quandary. This time, he focused solely on the logic puzzle of Aventurine. After watching the man from his peripherals for a few moments, noticing no movement or inclination towards washing himself or resuming any of his usual chatter, Ratio held out the jar of musky oil used for feather maintenance. 

"Would you like to help?" It was a gamble, not that Aventurine would know, if only to see if his speculation was correct.

The bumps under Aventurine's skin were, just as he suspected, pterylae- follicles from which feathers would grow. The fact that Aventurine was bare of even the smallest one had him hesitant and curious, but he wouldn't ask. Instead, he waited to see what Aventurine would show him, content with gathering evidence any way he could get it without scaring the man off.

His gamble paid off, as Aventurine took the jar with a nod, eyes locked on a patch of askew barbs on Ratio's largest flight feathers. He still seemed unsure with his movements, oil coated fingers twitching with a mix of uncertainty and compulsion, but it dropped almost immediately once he took hold of the pinions. Aventurine may not have any feathers of his own, currently, or previously, but he clearly had the instincts to preen. A fellow avian subspecies indeed. Ratio wondered about his coloration and plumage. No doubt it would be mesmerizing, beautiful like the bearer, and a far cry from the duller colors of Ratio's own raptor-inclined blend. 

Together they worked silently, Aventurine relaxing into the motions and warm water while Ratio contemplated between absent-minded flicks and rouses of feathers. The delicate work, that normally would take several meticulous hours, was done in half the time, the water-proof coating glossy and fragrant. As if coming out of a trance, Aventurine considered his work and the lack of more to do, frowning ever so slightly. 

Precious man , Ratio stifled the traitorous urge to chuckle, instead offering, "allow me to wash your hair, gambler."

Surprised, Aventurine blinked up at him, a slow smile curving his lips. "Are you sure, doc?" he asked, rather uselessly. "You really don't mind?"

"I'm quite sure," Ratio replied, gratified by his wayward companion's easy compliance. "Turn around for me, and keep your eyes closed. The soap may sting if it gets into them."

"Okay, doc." Even while turned away, Aventurine's smile was evident.

As Ratio lathered and scrubbed at Aventurine's scalp and ran careful claws through silky blond hair, the man in turn picked up his usual idle chatter. No clues as to where he was or what he'd gotten up to, not truly, but Ratio hardly minded. It was enough to have him here, humming and sighing and safe under Ratio's hands.

Indeed, Aventurine's return was not unlike the first breath of fresh air after so long cooped up inside. Ratio found himself eager to return to his temple, endlessly pleased to see Aventurine there waiting for him more often than not. The wariness had lessened, Aventurine helping himself more freely to the offerings of food and drink at Ratio's altar, wrapping himself in silk and whatever else given to him, no longer hesitant. He'd never shied away from talking Ratio's ears off before, and what was apparently a trickle had become a torrent. Ratio now received insight into Aventurine's day, places he'd gone and things he'd tried while the other was out, lectures and discussions he'd snuck into, thoughts on fabrics and people and politics, and a myriad of complaints and opinions. He indulged in discussion, and had thoughtful, if rather cheeky, rebuttals always at the ready. The constant attention and conversation would typically be grating, especially after a few days of it. But Ratio never found himself tiring of Aventurine, only sinking deeper into fascination and curiosity.

Truly he'd like nothing more than to learn all there was to know about Aventurine, to piece the man apart, to build him up, care for him, burrow underneath that soft, scarred skin and live like a hermit devoted entirely to puzzling the man out. 

The thought was jarring, enough to startle a soft "oh" from his lips. 

Aventurine looked up at him with fond bemusement, his prior chatter trailing off.

Ratio cleared his throat, feathers rousing and cheeks flushing. "Do not mind me, gambler. Continue telling me about that unusual creature you encountered in the market."

… .. .

The days passed in a halcyon haze. Ratio would return from his studies and lectures every day to find Aventurine lounging about, sometimes reading, or napping, practicing his scribbling handwriting, or on occasion crafting various items from the piles left to grow at Ratio's altar. Paper flowers and birds, mostly, and little charms made of intricate knotted string and beads, gifted by hand and never left on the altar. Each time, Ratio would hide them like secrets amongst the rafters interspersing the vaulted ceilings, or in the windows high out of reach but able to catch the light beaming in during the day. Aventurine always watched on shyly, eyes wide with surprise as if he hadn't expected the result, a pleased tilt to his lips at having done something Ratio liked, at seeing his gifts adorn the space above their shared quarters. Testing the waters to see if this gift will be the last one Ratio accepts, if he's grown tired of this little back and forth at last, only to find Ratio as stalwart as ever and his fears left unfounded for now.

It was after a few dozen of these little gifts, and a particularly dull stretch of cloudy days, that Aventurine grew bold once more.

"Ratio," he said instead of his usual 'doctor'. "Can I have your hand for a bit?"

Not that Aventurine ever needed to ask, or that he actually ever did, the man just as likely to grasp and cling to him unprompted at any moment. So it was a new experience, offering up his hand for the man to hold, and then promptly release in favor of winding something about his wrist instead. A bracelet, made of finely spun and terribly soft cord strung with thinly veined turquoise and richly shaded stone Ratio had never seen before, interspersed between three intricate knots. The turquoise and knotwork were familiar, adorning much of the baubles adorning his temple. The significance, however…

"Turquoise is used to wish for safe flights," Aventurine explained, glancing up at him sheepishly, despite the way he watched Ratio's every expression like a hawk. "The knots are for the mother goddess and her three blessings." He didn't seem inclined to add any additional context, but that was fine. Ratio would learn in time. "And the purple stone came from a place far in the north. It only grows there. The name was hard to pronounce." The striations were fascinating and the color appealing, the design and size of the bracelet tailored to him perfectly. It was, overall, wonderfully made. 

"It's beautiful, Aventurine. I can see you put a great deal of thought and effort into it," and he'd treasure it always- even if it didn't mean what he thought it did. He would find something exquisite to give in return. Feeling immensely pleased and equally bold, he gently cupped Aventurine's head, leaning down to press his lips against blond hair, quick but with intent. The resulting expression simultaneously confirmed his guess, that this was no ordinary bracelet, and rewarded him with a look of such unabashed reverence it left Ratio's heart throbbing. "I love it."

Aventurine's lips parted on a barely audible gasp, eyes wide and cheeks dusted pink. The awe lasted all but a second, replaced with a confidence that had something else stirring. "I must be the luckiest man, meeting such a benevolent god to indulge me like this," Ratio couldn't help but tut at the theatrics. "Are those other gods anything like you, doctor? Not that you'd have any competition, you're surely the best of them all!"

"Hm, six points for flattery," Ratio mused, thumb brushing Aventurine's ear as he pulled back. The man shivered, but chuckled at Ratio's mirrored blush. "The other 'gods' are terribly noncommittal and horribly self-absorbed. They'd sooner allow the world to rot than turn their eyes away from their work, dangerous as it is and how many lives they could improve otherwise. Hardly a worthy set of role-models for anyone."

"How unlike my gentle doctor. Why, I'd trust you with my life in a heartbeat."

"Unnecessary," Ratio chided, handing a perfectly ripe fruit over from his altar. It was nearing Aventurine's evening mealtime. "You've gotten yourself here, haven't you? Have some trust in yourself first."

" Ratio ," Aventurine whined, ducking his head, cheeks dusted pink and fingers twitching so hard he nearly dropped the fruit into his lap. "You can't just say things like that, I'll fall for you harder!"

"Nonsense. I will continue to remind you of your own strength and cunning, Aventurine." If those beautiful pink and blue eyes began to water and those thin fingers shook, Ratio wasn't inclined to mention it. Instead he took the offered first piece of peeled fruit offered to him. "You should be proud of yourself. I know that I am proud of you."

Indeed, it was not through the grace of any god, or uncanny luck, that Aventurine had made it to this point, but rather, his own merit and fortitude.

… .. .

It was too long before Ratio could offer anything of his own in return, the six days passing far too slow. But he'd been meticulous with his choices, unwilling to compromise until he'd been satisfied with the result. And said result was now burning a hole in his pocket. 

The temple was quiet in the evenings, the crowd clearing out as the sun began to set, but a growing number of devotees had begun to linger near the doors. Rumors of Ratio's increasingly frequent visits to the temple and the evidence of missing offerings had spurred the devout into believing their chosen god had begun to favor this temple. Everyone was clamoring and hopeful to catch a glimpse of him, or earn his favor by offering more food and wine (which were, coincidentally, all of Aventurine's favorites). So, Ratio had given up on using the doors and gone for windows instead. Aventurine was pleased with the uptick in offerings, at least. 

He was also, thankfully, no longer startled when Ratio came swooping down from the rafters.

"Doctor, you're back early today," Aventurine beamed, setting his book aside with just enough care to earn a frown instead of an outright scowl. Somehow it had become endearing.

"Mn, I brought something for you. May I see your hand, gambler?" An echo to Aventurine's bold request from a week ago, made bolder by the bracelet still wrapped around his wrist.

Aventurine nodded, curious and indulgent, eagerly offering his hand up. Thin, almost dainty, the bones delicate and the skin scarred pink, Ratio's fingers could easily circle his wrist. He'd suspected as much, had only been able to estimate the measurements, but was pleased his assessment was correct. He would have been embarrassed otherwise.

He'd gone to great lengths, after all, and the bracelet he was wrapping around Aventurine's wrist was specially crafted, wrought with lightweight titanium and inset with rare and radiantly cut gemstones. Aventurine wasn't the only one with keen eyes, as these gems were just as exclusive, found only in a mountain crater far to the south. The fact that they were the doctor's preferred purple-blue was irrelevant.

Smug, pleased, a little nervous, Ratio watched as Aventurine's dual-hued eyes widened, his mouth parting on a soft noise of surprise. Shocked speechless for once as he watched Ratio clasp the bracelet around his wrist, snug and secure. Aventurine wasn't silent for long though, practically vibrating in place as he babbled away, heaping praise and compliments on both Ratio and his new adornment alike. 

"Ratio, Ratio," he wheedled, grasping at Ratio's hands and a wide grin dimpling his cheeks, "will you tell me what the stones mean? Do your people have stone meanings?"

His people, unfortunately, did not, and especially not for this kind. They put more thought into the metaphysical properties of metals and trees instead, not that Ratio put too much faith in such things in the first place. But the natives who mined these stones had a meaning that the seller happily relayed. This stone is sure to enhance one's inner strength and heal the spirit!

Bold claims, but if anyone could reap the benefits, it'd be Aventurine. Also, the stone was incredibly flattering against his skin. A win-win all around.

Ratio hummed, "give me your best guess, gambler."

Aventurine, the little shit, batted his lashes, "fertility?"

"Three points. Try again."

… .. .

Like all things, it was not long before the idyllic times ended, as the sea swelled and frothed and harsh rains pelted the city and flooded the streets. Were he superstitious, he'd have considered it quite the sign and portent. But he was not, did not do so, and was thus surprised, in a distinctly negative way, upon his return to the temple, drenched and horrified at the scene awaiting him.

A gathering of devotees had surrounded Aventurine, trampling on his bedding and pillows and knotted hemp, crushing fruits and spilling wine across the marble floor. There were half a dozen of them, a tall, beady-eyed humanoid at the forefront of the rabble, clasping one of Aventurine's thin arms with a clawed hand and practically frothing at the mouth. The obvious leader of the group. 

"You mongrel ," the Rat-Bastard, as Ratio decided to name him, quite literally spat. "Did you steal this off the altar too?"

This being the bracelet around Aventurine's delicate wrist, gleaming in the torchlight and bared despite the way the rest of him remained hidden away by thick robes. Ratio didn't know how the men knew of it, but such things likely didn't matter. Given the way they loomed and circled Aventurine like vultures, they'd had their eyes on him for some time now. A monumental failure on Ratio's part.

"Does it matter?" Aventurine taunted, no doubt assuming the worst. That regardless of what he said or did, his guilt had already been assured. Oh, how Ratio feared for him, wanted to weep for him, wanted to hide him away properly this time.

"Not an ounce of shame, huh? Stealin' from a god- no wonder he hasn't looked our way! Maybe we should pluck out those eyes as a real offering-"

" Enough ," Ratio interrupted, channeling every ounce of divinity into his guise and drop of authority into his voice. It boomed throughout the temple, startling Aventurine and the interlopers, but wasn't enough for Rat-Bastard to release his hold. "You will release him, then leave."

Most of the other men surrounding Aventurine dropped to their knees in penance, quivering at the sight of him. A fair response, as Ratio's wings were outstretched and his talons wickedly curved, a falcon mask replacing his usual artistic owlish or human visage, radiating danger and disapproval. Rat-Bastard shook, but still did not drop his hold, defiant in his mistakes. 

"H-holy one," the man stuttered before gathering his confidence. How Ratio hated the epithet. How he hated to be the cause of such a predicament, no matter how tangential. The storm raged outside, as if in agreement, as if in shared heartache. "This whelp has been stealing from your altar! He's made a nest here and everything!"

"Ignorance truly is the greatest malady in the universe, to breed such thoughtless malice." Ratio stepped closer, looming tall and oppressive, all sharp angles and rumbling thunder. Distantly he realized one of the kneeling men wet himself with fear. "You think I do not know? Did you think that I did not extend any welcome or care? Did you think all of my lectures on empathy and understanding were for show? I will ask you again-

Did you even think ?"

Silence fell over the group, the men trembled under the god's admonishment, even Rat-Bastard had finally begun to look chagrined, letting go of his quarry at last. Aventurine merely stared at him, eyes wide and diamond-shaped pupils blown into circles. His expression was complicated, but Ratio would piece it apart later. Right now, all he could see was a ring of finger shaped bruises around a slender wrist. Hopefully the manhandle hadn't broken any bones, there was a potential for Aventurine to have a hollow skeletal structure, after all. Although, even a superficial bruise was unconscionable.

"You will leave," Ratio commanded, graciously but imperiously. "My temple doors are open to all who seek enlightenment," he looked at each hooligan , one after another, "but I ask that you find it outside these halls from now on."

"But this-"

"I do not care for nor do I have any interest in the rest of your no-doubt offensive and nescience chatter." The interruption clearly incensed Rat-Bastard, but he seemed unwilling to push the issue, instead nodding tightly, red in the face and glaring at Aventurine. The other men scrambled to leave, but Rat-Bastard was the last to go, giving Aventurine a pointed shove of the shoulder as he brushed past. The posturing was unnecessary and juvenile. It also knocked something out of Aventurine's hand, sending it clattering to the ground.

A knife.

Ratio spared it only a fleeting glance, turning away to instead focus on making sure the men were leaving. By the time he looked back, Aventurine had disappeared once again, leaving behind a ruined nest of pillows and scattered beads, the blade gleaming under the firelight. The rain continued to pour.

He didn't see Aventurine again until close to dawn, and even then, Ratio surmised he wasn't supposed to have seen the man. But he had stayed awake, sequestered away in a little nook he'd taken to lingering in, not so far from Aventurine's nest in the corner, reading through several books on philosophy as the rain petered out.

So engrossed in theories on ethics, he nearly missed Aventurine's soft footfalls. But he didn't dare draw attention, carefully watching from his peripherals as Aventurine stepped closer, face unreadable in the gloom. Only when Aventurine reached for him did he set his book aside, unfolding his wings and giving the man every bit of his focus. Microexpressions and body language were paramount, and Ratio wanted to be as open to scrutiny as possible. 

Aventurine took this as an invitation to crawl into his lap.

Well . 

Ratio hummed, tentatively resting a hand on Aventurine's shoulders in the beginnings of a hug. He was hardly the most qualified individual to offer comfort after something so harrowing, but he would learn. He would find a way to keep Aventurine safe, healthy, and happy. Difficult as it seemed to be at times. Perhaps, given the way Aventurine snuggled against his chest and burrowed his face into the cloth of his robes, he wasn't doing as poor a job as he feared.

"Aren't you mad?" While Aventurine's voice was muffled, it was uncharacteristically small. The fact that he was deliberately avoiding looking at Ratio was worrying.

"I am. Those men had no right to treat you in such a way."

"That's all?"

Slowly and carefully Ratio lifted a hand to cup the back of Aventurine's head, wrapping another arm around the small of his back and pulling him close. Gentle as he could be. Aventurine trembled ever so slightly.

"What is there to be mad about, aside from those men?"

A faint laugh. "I had a knife, Ratio. I planned on using it. I've used one before."

Distantly, Ratio had suspected that was the case, if only because he had one in the first place, had been skilled at hiding it until he'd been distracted and subsequently disarmed. It made sense. Whatever it was that Aventurine had gone through up until this point…

"Why would I be mad at you for that?" He carded his fingers through blond strands, gentle as he worked the day's knots free.

Aventurine hummed but didn't move or respond, not even to lift his head. He was, however, shaking with more force, the fabric under his eyes growing damp with tears. Ratio curved his wings around them both, tugging him close and cocooning him away. Aventurine fell asleep that way, Ratio following not long after.

This time, when he looked for Aventurine, he was back in his little corner, the mess of the night before cleaned away as if it never happened.

"Kakavasha," was the first thing he was greeted with. A name. A secret. A gift.

Ratio would treasure it, hold it closer than the bracelet, close to his heart like all of Aventurine's- Kakavasha's other secrets. There was a meaning behind the name, one he was eager but patient to learn. There was a reason for him to hide it away.

"You may call me Veritas." 

… .. .

Of course that wasn't the end of it, why should it be? Words of admonishment never work on the stubborn. But that was a lesson to be learned much later.

… .. .

"Are you going out to help them?" Aventurine asked, settled into Ratio's favored nook instead of his own, the book he was half-heartedly reading now ignored completely.

Ratio hummed. "I should." He wouldn't like it, though. "As ridiculous a situation as it is, a suitable rescue is unlikely to happen in the appropriate amount of time."

Aventurine chuckled lightly, grinning at him, "you won't get a better opportunity to give a lecture on maritime safety either."

"Yes, that too." Still. "I am hesitant to leave you by yourself."

"Ah, Ratio, I'm flattered, truly, but I'll be fine!" Aventurine smiled up at him and shrugged, "we can close the doors for a bit and I'll stay tucked away in your cozy little reading nook. Really now, there's no safer place for me to be, if you think about it."

Ratio was reluctant to agree, still wary of a follow-up of the night before. But… there truly was nowhere safer that he could come up with on such short notice. Aventurine stood out even while fully covered, and while he'd hidden himself away from Ratio before, hiding from who knows how many men with personal grievances towards him for an unknown amount of time was…

"You promise to remain out of sight?"

"Promise," Aventurine chirped.

The unease did not lessen, but there really wasn't much time. Ratio could only relent, rather unhappily, "I shall return as soon as I can. Stay safe, Aventurine."

… .. .

The rescue went without incident or impediment, the small group of sailors prostrating at his taloned feet the moment they reached the shore. Normally, Ratio would relish chiding a few wayward fishermen on the dangers of setting sail when a storm was on the horizon, honestly perhaps you all should find a different occupation , but he was anxious to return to Aventurine's side. The man was lucky and charming, but the hatred the devotees from yesterday had towards him was unsettling. Hadn't he just committed to doing a better job at keeping the man safe?

With that in mind and one last distracted piece of advice, Ratio took to the skies and headed back, his heart heavy with worry.

What greeted him was a mob, just outside the doors of his temple, the wooden panels flung wide and the latch in broken pieces. People murmured and loitered just outside, looking fearfully at the wreckage but not daring to enter. Dread was a foreign sensation to Ratio, but it was all he could feel at the sight. Dread and regret, sharp as a knife in the gut.

As he alighted outside the temple the crowd parted before him, fearful and hopeful in equal measure, whispering about the return of their deity. From the snippets gleaned as he passed, something had emerged in the temple, something that sent a dozen full-grown men fleeing in a mad panic, crying for forgiveness and blubbering apologies. Ratio had forgone most of his guise, save the alabaster owl mask. He didn't know whether the foresight was a boon or a curse, if recognition would make things better or worse. All he knew, as the supplicants murmured ' at last the monster will be no more ', was that ignorance truly was a blight.

There were no monsters in this world. Just cruel people.

"I will deal with this," he addressed the congregation, not bothering to turn around, staring straight into the dark gloom of his temple. "Do not come inside. Go home."

He will come up with lessons after. Whenever that was. Whatever that looked like. In whatever form it took.

For now, all of his focus was finding Aventurine.

The braziers had all been snuffed out, many tipped over to spill across the marble, the inside only lit from the stained windows and skylights high above. The shadows were deep behind each column and in each alcove of the temple, swallowing the sound of his footsteps. Even the distant crash of waves was muted. Ratio raised a quick but hardy barrier over the door and headed deeper, towards his altar and the hidden shared space where he had foolishly left Aventurine.

The soft little nest of pillows and blankets and baubles and other precious, found objects that once filled that tucked away corner was no more. It was scattered, the fabrics torn and many of the items broken, the area littered with iridescent turquoise blood feathers. Ratio picked one up, marveling at the beauty but fearing at the tacky red staining the barbs. 

"Aventurine?"

Silence, then shuffling, something soft against stone, barely audible under the distant sound of the sea and calls of gulls. 

It was too long before he heard a quiet "doctor?"

Relief, but not enough to dispel all of the worries in his heart. The man's voice was so tremulous, difficult to pinpoint- concerning, given Ratio's typically sharp senses.

"Where are you?"  

Another pause filled with shuffling. "I don't-" a shaking exhale, "you shouldn't see me like this."

Ratio couldn't help raising an eyebrow. "Are you injured?"

"No!" Suspicious . "No- it's, doctor, just… don't worry about it."

Ratio cursed his temple for being an echo chamber, looking around because Aventurine was definitely in pain. "Aventurine, let me see for myself."

"Can't you just drop it?" Aventurine snapped, an unusual amount of irritation that normally would make for quite the warning. Unfortunately, Ratio was determined. "Just leave me alone for a bit."

" Aventurine ," he admonished, "show me-"

" I said leave !"

Ratio froze, eyes wide and body suddenly unresponsive, mind whirling because the harmonics of Aventurine's voice had taken such a drastic and unsettling turn. Without a thought, he was turning on his heel, helpless to stop his own movements, to go against the command. And that was what it was, wasn't it? Aventurine, with just a tonal shift, could somehow manipulate his voice to control others. Was this what he used to send the mob scattering? Was this why he had been hunted? This was beyond his honeyed touches and words, this was something subconscious, subliminal, dangerous . Ratio had never heard or encountered anything like it. A trait unique to his subspecies-

"Wait, wait ," Aventurine came stumbling from a shadowy corner, trembling as he grabbed at Ratio's robes- "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Ratio, Veritas, don't go, I didn't mean it, don't go-"

Aventurine's breath hitched, and Ratio was torn between figuring out whatever strange hypnosis he'd been placed under and taking in the sight of Aventurine at last. The stupor could come first, he decided upon seeing pink and blue eyes grow wet with tears, focusing on overcoming the command and stopping himself after only a few steps. 

He ignored Aventurine's surprised gasp, supposing it wasn't something so easily dispelled, in favor of cataloging all the sensations and data gleaned from the experience for dissection later. 

"Fascinating," he said at last, turning to face Aventurine.

Fat tears had begun to fall in earnest, but Aventurine didn't blink, his breath barely hitching, "you aren't mad?"

"Oh, no," Ratio waved a hand, feathers ruffling. "I'm furious. Not at you, but rather at the situation. The people. Myself."

An owlish blink, the first tear dripping from soft cheeks, "why?"

"I shouldn't have left you unattended," Ratio said, "you were injured, terrorized, and your space violated."

"Injured," Aventurine echoed, startling and immediately tugging his hooded cloak tighter, useless as it was. "Oh, no, that's- it was me."

Now it was Ratio's turn for confusion. He'd found blood feathers and caught a glimpse of that beautiful iridescent turquoise plumage, and Aventurine was saying… what? That he'd plucked them out himself?

"I'd meant to have this ah, taken care of before you came back."

Oh , Aventurine had plucked those feathers out himself.

"But it won't go away, so I tried to just force it."

Calmly, certainly calmer than he felt, Ratio kneeled before Aventurine and reached out. It was uncouth, certainly not the kindest way to go about it, but he couldn't care less as he ripped open the front of Aventurine's cloak, shredding the fabric beyond repair. There would be no hiding now.

Because Aventurine had lashed out, had hid himself, had hurt himself , and Ratio needed to know exactly why.

And the answer was… not clear, even with Aventurine's newly revealed state. And what a state- if Ratio was a lesser man he would have blushed at Aventurine's lack of clothing, would have drooled over what was revealed. As it was he looked, but zeroed in on the patch of oozing follicles on the side of Aventurine's thigh. 

"Ratio, you can't just do that," Aventurine spluttered, not bothering to hide his groin but rather… his other features. 

His incredibly beautiful and distinctly avian features.

Where Ratio was dusky browns and grays, streaked in places with a deep indigo on the cusp of black and highlighted by dark violet, Aventurine's plumage was nothing short of mesmerizing. Iridescent turquoise, shimmering between the borders of seafoam and vibrant blue, tipped and dotted in what could have been gold leaf, downy and still somewhat immature feathers following that path of pterylae Ratio had traced in the baths so long ago. Entirely expected, suiting the man so very perfectly. They trailed along the outside of his arms and down the sides of his abdomen and covering most of his thighs, marred by a ragged patch that still beaded blood sluggishly down to clump in the skin-tight body feathers of his calf. However the curl of wings under his ears, poking from silky blond hair and just a size smaller than that of Halovians, were new and surprising. Same with the much larger set jutting from the sharp peaks of his hips, folded up but obviously stunted compared to Ratio's set. Not built for flight even if they were whole and healthy, meant instead for gliding, or… well, Ratio would need to inspect them himself. The cloak still hid some of Aventurine's body, specifically his back, but Ratio suspected feathers now covered the whole expanse. Beautiful and magnificent and shocking. 

Ratio ignored the urge to explore, given how little information there was regarding Aventurine's subspecies, focusing instead on inspecting the damaged patch of what were once feathers, unceremoniously grabbing Aventurine's calf and hoisting up his slender leg. The man squeaked, squirming and instinctively flaring his wings, the bottoms of which were patterned with a myriad of blue-pink eyes in clusters of three. An intimidation display!

"Ten points," Ratio praised, "but I will be docking for self-harm. Really, Aventurine, what were you thinking?"

"I didn't want you to see this!" Aventurine huffed, realizing quickly that he was unable to dislodge Ratio and turning to using his words instead, like a proper adult. "I wanted- want it gone."

Not that his words made much sense.

"Please, gambler, explain."

Aventurine looked anywhere else, wings curling in like a protective cocoon, "I don't want you to treat me differently, and looking like this… I'm bad luck, Ratio, I steal all of it for myself and leave none for anyone else. This form is a curse. Not for what I am, but for what others make me, and what I can do to others, what I can do to myself. I want to be just a human to you again, I don't need your pity and I don't want your fear or your fortune."

Ratio closed his eyes for a moment, steadying himself. It was a lot to unpack, better to tackle the biggest issue first then work down from there.

"I will admit I like your appearance, both the human guise and the one currently revealed. Both are eye-catching and at times frightening, but also unique and utterly exquisite. However, it should be quite obvious that I was rather enamored with you beforehand, finding you to be an intellectual equal. This shift in appearance will not and has not changed these feelings." Blunt honesty really was the key to putting Aventurine at ease, his muscles relaxing even as Ratio still held his leg. Emboldened, he pushed a little power into healing the damaged plumage. "I do not think you siphon luck, since I have done very well since your arrival in my temple. Purely anecdotal, same as your claim, but I'd be happy to debate regardless. As for pity: I would not do you such a disservice. I admire you, Aventurine, there's no room for anything else."

"I'm an Avgin," Aventurine insisted, as if that meant anything. As if it would change anything.

Which, admittedly it did in that he recognized the term and all its implications, however, "I do not mind." How could he?

Aventurine shook his head, "I don't get it, doctor." He at least looked less on the verge of tears or poised to flee. It did not stop his usually confident and coy voice from shaking. "Why?"

"Surely, someone so attuned to expression wouldn't be so oblivious," but the deficiency lay more with self-esteem than with messaging. "But I shall be clear, so listen closely. I am incredibly fond of you, gambler. Even though you are chaotic, self-destructive, reckless, and your choices are frequently, quite frankly, deeply concerning."

Aventurine stared at him, shocked into silence. Ratio happily released his hold in favor of taking one of Aventurine's hands, running his thumb over delicate knuckle bones. "I don't ask for anything in return. But I do care about you a great deal."

"You won't change your mind?"

"Is that really so shocking?" Ratio huffed, "I mean it. So long as it does not cause you harm, I insist on offering my assistance for whatever you need. I'd like to soothe your worries, as it were."

Aventurine seemed to settle, taking Ratio's words in, eyes flicking between the hand caressing his own and reading Ratio's expression. It felt like an eternity before he hesitantly muttered, "it's silly to ask."

"Nonsense."

"Of course," Aventurine's smile was a brief flicker of a thing. "Will you prove it? That you don't mind all this," he gestured loosely to the wings and feathers with his free hand, eyes downcast, but hooded, "help me feel less…" Vulnerable, different, less like a specter of the past and more like himself, something that wasn't pitiable and weak, but was something to be wanted and cherished instead . The words were unsaid but Ratio, terrible as he usually was with such things, could still glean the intent. Aventurine tugging his hand and wobbling his bottom lip was practically superfluous. Ratio was relieved to find him back to being his usual charming self, even if it was an obvious cover for very real insecurity. "Help me feel better?"

Ratio truly was a god in this moment. One of restraint and poise. He still raised Aventurine's hand to press a kiss to the knuckles. "I don't want to be a regret for you. I believe that would count as harm as well."

"Doctor," Aventurine scolded, despite the shake of his voice. "How could I regret you when you say such things? I trust you, more than anything or anyone else. So please..."

On second thought, he was not a divine being of restraint and temperance. He was a mundane man with an aching, desperate heart. "Alright, but on one condition." 

Aventurine nodded automatically, even as Ratio scowled. 

"You've courted me according to some of your own kinds' customs." Aventurine spluttered denials but his blush was telling. As if a dozen of those bower bird charms weren't dangling from his ceiling, a woven bracelet around his wrist. "Allow me to court you properly according to mine."

That stilled Aventurine, silenced him too. Short-lived as it was.

"You want to court me?"

"I've already started, unofficially. Although I'll admit I've done many of the steps out of order. Offering you food from my stores, engaging in preening." Ratio released Aventurine's hand in favor of scooping the man up, light as a feather and warm as sunlight. Aventurine wrapped his arms around Ratio's neck tentatively, but wasted no time snuggling close. "I should like to gift you my finest pinion, to adorn your right wing. And build you a proper nest, none of this piling of pillows on the dusty floor. And, should you have me, I should like to spiral with you."

"Spiral? What does that mean?" 

Ratio tossed the rest of the ruined cloak aside, freeing a shimmering expanse of iridescent greens and a set of long, trailing, gold spotted bronze feathers, curving out from under bony shoulder blades and framing the soft juts of Aventurine's vertebrae, not unlike a lyrebirds tail. It was difficult to pull his eyes away.

"Traditionally, a courting pair flies as high as they can, then they lock talons and go into freefall. It's a sign of trust, that they will not allow the other to go through tribulations alone, that they are there to catch the other, to steady them."

"Oh," Aventurine nuzzled even closer, pressing his nose into Ratio's throat, "that sounds so romantic." Hiding his face in the crook of Ratio's neck, he confirmed what Ratio had theorized, "I can't fly." Iridescent wings flicked, the longest feathers barely even a third the length of Ratio's shortest flight pinion.

"That's fine. I am strong enough to carry the both of us," he still twirled them once, indulgently. "But I intend to show you my sincerity in other ways."

There were only a few steps to get to the altar, and one sweep of his wing cleared it off, sending prayer slips and offerings crashing to the ground. Aventurine startled and squirmed as he was gently laid down on it.

"Ratio! The offerings- you can't use your altar like this!"

"Oh?" Ratio shifted, working on the various buckles and ties of his clothing. He would not allow Aventurine to be the only nude one in the room, even if things didn't go as far as he suspected they would. The imbalance was simply not acceptable. "Altars are designed to lay out offerings for worship, places where the devout may show their devotion. I plan to do just that, so where else would I go?"

Aventurine stared, lips parted and eyes wide, cheeks flushing pink enough to match the inner ring of his irises.

"You asked me to help you feel better," Ratio continued. "I intend to make you feel divine ."

The embarrassment of uttering something so tawdry was outweighed by the way Aventurine seemed to both melt and burn with flustered indignation. But when it came to Aventurine, any amount of humiliation was worth it, especially if it pulled him from the cliff of despondency.

"Veritas, who taught you lines like those?" Despite all the blushing and huffing, Aventurine still reached out and Ratio happily met him halfway. 

"Do you doubt me?" He asked instead.

"I'd doubt you less if you kissed me," Aventurine murmured, and Ratio was more than eager to comply.

With the first brush of Aventurine's lips against his, any lingering fears of Aventurine coming to regret him were easily dispelled. The man under him was too eager, too pliant, too at ease for anything but authenticity. He truly wanted this, wanted whatever Ratio would give him, the trust heady and unwarranted. Ratio would not disappoint.

He let Aventurine peck kisses and lick at his lips, granting entry as he leaned over the man and stretched his wings to hide them both, despite the seal on the door. Aventurine's tongue was longer than his, but his teeth blunter, less vicious than Ratio's own incisors. He was also soft and warm and still tasting somewhat of sweet fruit and tart wine. Ratio would need to give him a proper meal, afterwards. Hopefully he'd be amiable to sleeping in a real, proper bed as well.

"What are you thinking about?" Aventurine asked, breaking away to catch his breath.

"You," Ratio replied, always you, these days . "All the new things. You really do keep me on my toes, gambler. I never quite know what to expect with you around."

"Is that good or bad?" Aventurine's cocky smile never flickered, but his eyes sharpened. Ratio had gotten accustomed to the man's expressions; a product of their unspoken arms race. Aventurine was nervous, for whatever reason.

"I'll let you reach your own conclusions." And while Aventurine did so, Ratio dipped down to kiss down Aventurine's delicate neck, noticing it was somewhat elongated compared to his more human form. 

A fascinating difference, and only one of many. 

Ratio's scholarly eye couldn't help but catalog each observation as he moved, even as his love-struck heart threatened to beat right out of his chest. Aventurine gasped under him, hands grasping his shoulders, ruffling the feathers with what would have been an uncomfortably strong grip had Ratio not been completely focused on the man under him. The way the feathers shimmered and contrasted against the flush of his skin. The way they framed the brand on the side of his neck, the ruined skin and pterylae laid bare and blackened with scar tissue. The silk of blond hair and down brushing his nose and cheeks as he pressed kisses against the mark. The scent of sweet fruit and delicate flowers, heady as he buried his nose and inhaled deeply. The way the sharp tips of Aventurine's talons dug a fraction deeper as he sucked marks into soft skin.

Aventurine wiggled and arched, clearly growing impatient, but Ratio would not be rushed. His pace remained as sedate and steady as ever as he mapped out the curves and ridges of Aventurine's ribs with his fingers, nuzzled the hollow of his belly, followed the edges of where contour feathers thinned, talons barely skimming each sensitive calamus. Unlike Ratio, Aventurine still had mammalian nipples, so he lavished his attention on each in turn. Scratching the flat of his barbed tongue against them and teasing them between his fingers and fangs. By the time Ratio reached Aventurine's navel, the man was trembling like a leaf, fingers wound tight in Ratio's hair. Not pulling or pushing, as if wary of making himself unwelcome.

Even on the edge, Aventurine still hesitated to take more from Ratio than offered.

"Speak with me, Aventurine." Ratio didn't pull back, wary of dislodging such a tentative grasp. He did look up to meet hazy eyes, however, his plea earnest. "What would you like me to do?"

Aventurine huffed something too breathless to be a laugh, "whatever the good doctor does to me, I'm sure I'll enjoy!"

Noncommittal, evasive, unnecessarily flattering, Ratio only hummed, considering his options. He did not think he was the first to be in this position, and given the treatment of Avgin, it would not be presumptuous to believe prior experiences may not have been entirely pleasant. What did Aventurine expect from him? What did Aventurine desire, but couldn't bring himself to ask for? His prior wish was to feel "better", but Aventurine was not asking for sex, not by itself, at least. 

"I understand." Because truly, he did. He pressed one last tender kiss to Aventurine's navel before ducking down and licking the flat of his tongue across the seam of Aventurine's cloaca.

"What- Ratio, you don't-" Aventurine's babbles were broken off by a moan, the fingers fisted in downy hair jerking painfully as Ratio licked and nipped. "T-this is-"

Something never done to him before , Ratio surmised smugly, working his tongue passed the engorged folds and quivering muscles to lick deep. He was unsurprised, but secretly pleased to be the first, to have such an opportunity to give this to someone. Aventurine wanted to feel loved. Ratio intended to do just that. 

And so he curled his tongue against Aventurine's walls and pressed deeply, mapping him out as he massaged the swollen opening with his thumbs, mindful of the downy feathers in place of hair and the curve of his talons. Every wiggle and gasp and clench was noted, tested again and again, and when Aventurine's thin cock began to peek out, Ratio immediately swallowed it down. Aventurine, who had been moaning and chittering unceasingly up until this point, practically howled as his back arched in surprise. 

Patiently, Ratio gave it one quick suckle before gently disengaging, letting Aventurine shiver and settle down. 

"I thought you w-were gonna make me feel divine," Aventurine managed between gasps for air. Flushed and heaving, eyes wide with surprise, mischievous delight, and a shocking amount of vulnerability despite his wobbly, cocksure grin.   

Such a silly man. Ratio raised an eyebrow, "and how are you feeling?" He ran a taloned hand over Aventurine's quivering thigh. "Honesty is important, and essential. If I do not know what you enjoyed, I can't replicate it as easily."

The teasing glint in Aventurine's eyes sparked, but softened when Ratio pressed a preemptive, tender kiss to the side of his knee. Whatever coy deflection was replaced by a quiet admission, "nobody's ever used their mouth on me before."

"And you liked it?" A small nod. Ratio licked his lips, "it's mutual then."

He didn't wait for Aventurine's reply before diving back in, slipping Aventurine's pretty pink cock past his lips once again. This time when Aventurine bucked he sank deeper to match, following the movement of desperate hips and encouraging a little greed. Ratio did not want to have to tell Aventurine to fuck his face, as that would require releasing Aventurine's cock. Fortunately, the man was not so far gone as to miss his unsubtle cues, tightening his hold on Ratio's head only enough to hold him still as he gyrated his hips. Ratio hummed in approval, earning a broken moan from Aventurine and a stuttered thrust he could feel in the back of his throat. 

The more Ratio hummed and teased, the more bold Aventurine became, grinding his hips in shallow movements to rub against the barbed flat of Ratio's tongue, fingers gripping tightly as he tugged and pushed, losing himself to the sensations. Ratio happily left him to it, content to let Aventurine be as greedy as he'd like as he enjoyed the show. The view wasn't as clear from his vantage, but he could still glimpse Aventurine's heaving chest, flushed skin glistening with sweat, perked nipples swollen red. The wings tucked against his sides trembled as the feathers roused and settled with his movements, flashing green and gold. The smaller versions under his ears were curled against his pink cheeks, unable to hide his eyes and mouth the way a Halovian could. Phenotypically speaking, he theorized Avgins must be a fellow Harmony species- 

So lost in thought (and the show) he missed any warnings Aventurine gave, startled by the sudden flood of warm salt in his mouth, saved only by his reflexes as he swallowed quickly. He still coughed lightly when he pulled away, throat sore. Aventurine's eyes were hazy and wide as he watched Ratio catch a dribble of spend on his thumb, licking it away.

"Veritas," he said in a breath, tugging urgently at violet hair. "Veritas, you have to kiss me again."

"Must I? What will happen if I don't?" He teased in return. Albeit rather poorly, however, because he was still moving to meet Aventurine's lips halfway as if they were nothing more than magnets. 

Aventurine pulled him close, practically attacking Ratio's mouth as he chased the taste of himself, as he ran his velvety tongue over barbs and sharp teeth. A songbird laying claim to a bird of prey. Ratio would deny him nothing. In return, Aventurine grew ever bolder with his touch, his tugging hands, his wordless demands. Ratio encouraged him at every step, with deepened kisses and nipping teeth and wandering talons. He grabbed a handful of Aventurine's ass, sliding his thigh between thin legs, angling him so that wet cloaca and reawakening cock would slide against him. Aventurine gasped, losing focus as he was guided to absently rub against Ratio, whimpering when his mouth was released and sighing as kisses were peppered down his front. 

Satisfied with his work, Ratio dropped down between Aventurine's legs, intent on drawing another orgasm out of the man only to be tugged back upright. 

So his companion wasn't made as pliant as he thought. "Ratio, what if it's your turn now?"

"This isn't a transaction," Ratio huffed, though he didn't protest when Aventurine pulled him back into a series of languid kisses. "I can assure you," he managed between each one, "that I'm getting just as much out of this as you are."

"Oh, but Ratio, we can each get more, can't we?"

"Hm." Aventurine waggled his eyebrows unnecessarily. Ratio was just happy he was feeling safe and comfortable enough to be playful. "What are you thinking?" 

"Won't you guess? Surely you won't make me beg? Doctor, how cruel." Aventurine batted his lashes impishly, hooking a leg around Ratio's hips. 

He was loath to admit he found it equal parts endearing and unnerving. Perhaps, the man was feeling a little too playful. Hopefully his meager pride and some semblance of rationality would survive.

Knowing Aventurine, the odds were not in Ratio's favor.

"Where did my kind and gentle god go?" Aventurine continued, pouting and running a teasing hand down Ratio's chest. He was terribly persistent, Ratio would give him that, despite how unnecessary the provocations were.

Ratio shook his head, "who said I was any of those things?" He leaned over to pointedly sink his teeth into a blushing shoulder, letting up only when Aventurine's shocked gasp turned into a keening whine. Careful to not draw blood, but hard enough to get his point across. Aventurine did not need shallow validation. Not when "I love you no matter what happens."

Aventurine's eyes were hazy, wide, and growing glassy and wetter by the second. "Veritas, now you absolutely have to fuck me."

His arms slid around Ratio's neck once again, "I mean it. And no," Aventurine huffed, cutting Ratio off before he could speak, "it's not just to make me feel better about myself." Ratio did raise an eyebrow. "Fine. Not entirely."

"You're absolutely sure?"

"Ratio, you love me ," Aventurine chuckled, eyes bright and full of unabashed adoration and wonder. 

"I do." And with a sigh he closed his eyes and felt himself relent. "And I will indulge you." His pride wouldn't take too much of a hit so long as he focused on Aventurine's pleasure first and foremost. This was not about him, after all. 

"However," he grimaced, freeing his own cock, consigning himself to inevitably succumbing to his baser desires as soon as he was in Aventurine. "Do remember to breathe, gambler."

"Breathe? Ratio, you-" Aventurine's chuckles were cut off by a short gasp, eyes widening when he looked down. "Oh, doctor, you're huge ."

Ratio coughed lightly, ignoring his reddening cheeks. "Yes, well." He leaned closer, bracketing Aventurine with his arms and pushing feathered hips apart with his own. "It's not too late to back out and let me return to my previous position between your legs and you in my mouth."

"Not a chance, doctor," Aventurine purred, wrapping his limbs around Ratio's shoulders and hips.

Ratio hummed, pressing a light kiss to the curved corner of Aventurine's mouth, "I'll go slow."

A promise easily kept because the barest touch against his slick cock had Ratio nearly wincing. To think he'd get so riled up with just his mouth on Aventurine! Flustered and somewhat irritated, Ratio ducked down to nip at Aventurine's neck, both releasing his frustrations at the same time as Aventurine going boneless. The head of Ratio's cock caught on the swollen opening of his cloaca, and with shallow thrusts and a shaking hand, he slowly sank deeper.

Never before had their differences in size been so stark, and if it weren't for Aventurine's unrelenting grip, Ratio would have pulled out entirely, only managing to go about halfway before stopping. Aventurine was impossibly, nearly painfully tight, and Ratio was simply too big for comfort. His saliva and Aventurine's slick, as well as the fluid his own cock was saturated in while sheathed, was simply insufficient. But every time he pulled back, Aventurine would tighten his hold, eyes screwed shut and taloned fingers digging into Ratio's skin.

"Kakavasha," he tried, soothing but also questioning. 

Aventurine made a low croon but didn't release his grip.

"I-if you pull out," he eventually bit out, voice thick with tears, "if you pull out I'll hate you forever."

Unlikely, but Ratio would indulge him anyway. "I will not, then. However, I would like to move."

Clearly hesitant, Aventurine relaxed, and Ratio rewarded him with a tender kiss to the cheek, running taloned hands soothingly up and down heaving sides. With just the barest movements he slid back, only a few inches, but enough to start a slow rhythm, not daring to go deeper, not until Aventurine began to unwind, incrementally with each thrust, trembling and sighing and burrowing his nose into Ratio's collarbones. It was a pleasant eternity later when Ratio finally found himself flush with Aventurine's hips, so caught up in watching for the smallest signs of discomfort he hadn't even noticed the situation.

He, of course, had to immediately pause and take deep and controlled breaths- painfully aware of the tight heat wrapping around him. He'd never been so hard, so on edge, so suddenly, mind-numbingly desperate in his life. Thankfully Aventurine was in a similar state, dual-hued eyes hazy with lust and cheeks streaked with tears, his mouth open as he panted, lips shiny and bitten. It took several tries of that hidden given name to catch his attention. 

"Speak to me, Kakavasha." Ratio graciously awarded himself full points for managing to sound so composed despite feeling anything but. 

"Uh," Aventurine blinked, dazed, "s-so different." He finally met Ratio's eyes, more or less. "Why's it so different with you?"

Ratio hummed, slowly working his way back into a steady rhythm, leaning down to trail his lips along Aventurine's jaw. "Probably because I'm in love with you."

"Oh," Aventurine shuddered, melting under Ratio as the tears flowed once more.

With care, and without a stutter, Ratio reached up to brush his thumb over flushed cheeks, kissing and wiping away the tears as they fell. He wasn't concerned with Aventurine verbalizing the sentiment, or if he even returned it. Ratio's feelings would remain regardless. But… given the way Aventurine wiggled and turned to fervently try and capture Ratio's lips, he wasn't worried about his heart breaking. Rather, he feared only that it would swell to bursting.

"Veritas," Aventurine babbled against Ratio's mouth, " Veritas ."

"I've got you," Ratio soothed, thankful they were both close. 

As soon as he felt Aventurine tense, wet heat gushing between them, welling up around his buried cock, Ratio was following suit. Hips stuttering and breath catching, spots momentarily dancing in his vision. Aventurine panted beneath him, thighs quivering and every exhale ending in a low, short chirp, wings flared and grip tight. Ratio couldn't bear to pull away, so he didn't, burying his face in blond strands and nuzzling their cheeks together in the warm afterglow. Everything else could wait.

"Veritas," Aventurine mumbled, "can I stay a little longer?"

"Whatever you like," Ratio replied. Regardless if it was only for an hour more or the rest of their lives- his doors would always be open, a sanctuary, a shelter, a home just for Aventurine. "I'll support you always."