[SE] black shades, white gloves

my, my, those eyes like fire, i'm a winged insect, you're a funeral pyre
come now, bite through these wires,

“I have only ever been bad at hiding once.” The butcher drawls haughtily, a touch playfully, but Danta’s right. It would be difficult to do a decent job at hiding in their room even if Asta utilized some portions of his haunt. The Maverick would know it was him either way because he certainly doesn’t have the energy to get up the mezzanine.

His tail swishes behind him in a languid but pleased pace to feel Danta’s hands smooth down his back, sparking little shivers to race up and down his spine. “I—” Aptly silenced from the playful outrage, the butcher’s arms tighten around his lover’s middle to squeeze him in temporarily while he indulges in the kiss, only releasing him when Danta parts so he can finish stripping off his clothes.

Asta, meanwhile, steps out of the rest of his completely – bending to snag them and fold them and set them aside in a neat little pile before he’s drifting over toward their den. “Is that a challenge, darling?” He asks, shooting a shark-toothed grin over his shoulder before he sits on the edge of their bed, the ashen spaded tip of his tail flicking with his amusement.

Astaroth

i'm a waking hell and the gods grow tired

I wanna run against the world that's turning

"Is that so?" Danta raises his eyebrows, imagining that once might be something to do with how he had gotten caught and dragged to The Climb to end up joining their merry band of Ancients. He's still smiling wickedly as Asta releases him, and he wastes little time unbuckling his belt and kicking his pants aside, as if protesting the way the other man folds his garments so neatly each and every time.

Scoffing at the jagged little grin Asta flashes at him over his shoulder, Danta pads after him on bare feet, tail flicking at his heels. "No, of course not," he says with a catlike smile. "It's a promise." Beaming at the continued outrage he's sure this will inspire, hopefully he can earn the butcher's forgiveness by the way he crawls into his lap to sit astride him on the bed, fingers plunging into the soft darkness of his hair.

"Especially if you think playing it right now is a good idea, last minute energy or no."

Dantalion

I'd move so fast that I'd outpace the dawn, I wanna be gone

my, my, those eyes like fire, i'm a winged insect, you're a funeral pyre
come now, bite through these wires,

“It is so.” And Danta would guess correct in that it was the time he was caught and dragged to the Climb. Needless to say, the butcher has never made that mistake again. And he will continue to not be caught as he had once been. (Unless it’s Danta, he supposes.)

Either way, as Danta steps over to the den where Asta is already settled in, his reply sparks enough additional outrage that the butcher can’t hide the bark of a warm laugh from escaping him, easily melting into the way he sinks into his lap and the fingers thread through his hair. “Well now it is a must.” He sighs, the weariness entirely for dramatic effect because somehow this idea of a challenge has woken him up even more despite being in the comfort of their bed, with Danta’s fingers threading through the dark raven strands of his hair.

His hands sweep along Danta’s hips to his lower back, drawing idle designs into his smooth skin as he closes his eyes and tilts his head into each of his lover’s attentive touches. "You go first, darling."

Astaroth

i'm a waking hell and the gods grow tired

I wanna run against the world that's turning

Laughing at that, Danta is clearly delighted by this sudden turn of events, settling further into Asta's lap and pressing indulgent fingers through his hair against his scalp. "A must, you say?" he repeats with a playful lash of his tail, the Maverick considering for a moment before inclining his head yes. "Alright, we can play," he concedes, one hand smoothing down the nape of the butcher's neck.

He ought to have expected that he would go first, his back arching in response to the clever fingers stroking whorls and swirls and other designs against his flesh. "Fine." he purrs, brushing his nose across his lover's and offering him a dark little grin. "Truth or dare, Asta?"

Dantalion

I'd move so fast that I'd outpace the dawn, I wanna be gone

my, my, those eyes like fire, i'm a winged insect, you're a funeral pyre
come now, bite through these wires,

“A must.” The butcher repeats in a quiet and easy purr, one that has him a touch distracted while Danta continues to thread those wicked fingers through his hair, smoothing back the dark strands out of his face in feather light waves that spool around his neck and the tops of his shoulders. The shiver continues down his spine when Danta’s hand smooths down the nape of his neck, only opening his eyes by the time his lover’s nose brushes against his own.

His fingers continue their idle designs in the small of his back, and to Danta’s dark little grin, Asta’s own is sharp and amused. “Mm..” He trails off, debating whether to be predictable or not. In the end, however, he had done this to prove a point hadn’t he? And with the little roguishly sharp grin, the butcher sits back a touch, pulling Danta a bit more into his lap as his tail wraps around his lover’s leg. “Dare, darling.”

Astaroth

i'm a waking hell and the gods grow tired

I wanna run against the world that's turning

His breath catches a little as Asta tugs him unexpectedly closer, Danta's laughter soft and almost intimate as the other man takes a sharp left turn from what he'd anticipated. "Dare?" He raises his eyebrows, before inclining his head to accept his choice. "Alright," he purrs, twirling a lock of his hair around one finger as he thinks. "I dare you..."

Pursing his lips, Danta glances around the room for inspiration. He supposes he could also go the obvious route and suggest something filthy - and it would be easy to do here in Asta's lap - but perhaps the other man isn't the only one who can be surprising. Eyes lighting up with familiar chaos as he settles on something, Danta is already grinning as he sits back enough to properly address the butcher.

"The next time we're working in the Dusklight, I dare you to swap jobs with me." He bounces his eyebrows at Asta. "And that goes for role and attitude. I get to stand all gentlemanly and intimidating as the bouncer, and you get to do whatever I'd be up to that day."

Dantalion

I'd move so fast that I'd outpace the dawn, I wanna be gone

my, my, those eyes like fire, i'm a winged insect, you're a funeral pyre
come now, bite through these wires,

He’d known it would take Danta by surprise, so it’s with a touch of a smug smirk on his face that the butcher continues to draw little designs into his lover’s skin while he waits for him to come up with a dare. He’s silent while he waits, taking in the glances around everywhere in their room as if it might be something within it that would be the immediate answer.

Ah, but he sees the way Danta’s eyes light up, loosening his hold on him to lean back and properly announce the dare for what it was. And honestly? It’s a good fucking dare. So much so that the butcher laughs warmly, silently grateful it isn’t something he’s forced to do right now lest he fall asleep making a drink for someone. “Mm, alright. Attire as well, I assume? Not that I will complain seeing you in my bodyguard outfit.” His thumbs smooth out against Danta’s lower back as if for emphasis for the open back portion of his uniform.

“Truth or dare, my love?” He asks, silently expecting it to be a dare as well but wondering if Danta would surprise him just as he had done.

Astaroth

i'm a waking hell and the gods grow tired

I wanna run against the world that's turning

"Of course attire as well. You can't possibly be me unless you look like me. I'll even loan you some of my favourite pieces of jewellery - presuming, of course, that I'll be wearing yours as well." Granted, Asta's jewellery when it comes to his Dusklight work is a fucking muzzle, but you know, Danta can really get behind that change of pace.

Pleased, not only that Asta has accepted his dare, but also that they'd settled on something guaranteed to cause entertainment all day, he leans into the continued affection from warm fingers and relaxes back into the butcher's lap, absently tucking a lock of hair back behind his ear. "Hm..." He considers the choice for only a second before shrugging his shoulders, flashing a fanged smile down at his lover.

"Dealer's choice," Danta announces. "Give me your worst truth or dare. I'm confident."

Dantalion

I'd move so fast that I'd outpace the dawn, I wanna be gone

my, my, those eyes like fire, i'm a winged insect, you're a funeral pyre
come now, bite through these wires,

Letting his shark toothed grin bloom across his face, the butcher inclines his head ever so slightly (so as to not bother the way he tucks the piece of raven dark hair behind his ear). “Yes, very good. I will ensure you have a straw to enjoy your drinks with.” Just as Danta always did for him because the muzzle made it next to impossible to drink the Dusklight’s lovely cocktails without one.

He's never seen Danta wear the muzzle, though, and a part of him wonders what kind of feelings it may inspire – which perhaps is what delves into the thoughts of what kind of truth or dare he could offer Danta. Instead, however, it’s his choice, and the butcher huffs a soft laugh as though it was an easy gimme. “Hmm.” Well, now that he isn’t immediately aiming for the dare portion, the butcher’s fingertips slow against the Maverick’s back as he considers, tilting his horned head slightly as he scans Danta’s face, his eyes a warm and bright honey hue in the flickering, dimmed firelight.

“Truth..” He offers the precursor before he grows a touch self indulgent. “When did you first realize you were in love with me?” He asks, nosing in to press a brief kiss to his jaw before he withdraws to hear the answer.

Astaroth

i'm a waking hell and the gods grow tired

I wanna run against the world that's turning

"So kind," Danta purrs, inclining his head gratefully for the offer of a straw. In truth he's surprisingly looking forward to the dare himself, not only to be able to see Asta parade around in whatever excuse of an outfit he'd pick for the day, but also to try out being the Dusklight's security for himself. It's with those thoughts still in mind that he finishes fussing over the butcher's hair, and he only realises Asta has come up with a response as he feels his fingers slow in their affections.

Raising a brow to hear truth, his tail flicking curiously, Danta thinks he's prepared for anything the butcher might ask - and he's real fucking wrong. Blinking his sudden surprise, he feels heat immediately in his cheeks, the Maverick pointedly glancing away and letting out a huff of laughter. "You bastard," he says playfully. What might surprise Asta, though, is that he doesn't have to think long at all for an answer.

"I think it was the first time I heard you call me love," he says softly, gaze flicking back to Asta, a sheepish smile curling at the corner of his mouth. "It was Longnight, after you'd had that argument with Maea. I don't think I was smart enough back then - emotionally, I mean - to realise that's what it was I felt. But... yeah. It's pretty obvious now, looking back."

Dantalion

I'd move so fast that I'd outpace the dawn, I wanna be gone

my, my, those eyes like fire, i'm a winged insect, you're a funeral pyre
come now, bite through these wires,

He realizes very quickly that Danta is not prepared for his question. From the way the heat rises in his cheeks, the huff of laughter, the avoidance in his gaze. He’d known it was the only kind of worst truth he could think of – something emotional, that is. They’d gotten a lot better ever since the admission of their feelings and opening up, but there were some old habits that were difficult to bury. Ones that would cause the gut reaction of a pause or hesitation before the answer came.

“I know.” He hums a touch confident when he calls him a bastard, but the sharp smile softens immediately to realize he doesn’t have to think hard about it at all. And it’s charming in a way he hadn’t expected, his smile brightening a touch as he nods – recalling the day. “I am almost glad you did not fully realize it then. It sat in repeat in my mind night after night wondering if you’d picked it up and how I would have to try to explain my way out of it if it were… too close?” He admits softly, ducking in to press a kiss of gratitude to Danta’s lips, brief and chaste but no less sweet before he pulls back, lifting a hand up to run through the golden strands of his lover’s hair.

Astaroth

i'm a waking hell and the gods grow tired

I wanna run against the world that's turning

"Oh, it did?" Danta tilts his head, evidently surprised to hear it. "I thought it had slipped out and you hadn't noticed. Still, you're right - it was probably for the best that I was too stubborn or stupid to realise what was really obvious to everyone else at that point, I think." He can laugh about it now, the sound cut off by Asta's kiss, the Maverick slipping an arm around his shoulders.

"Mm, well I did spectacularly freak out at the Sparkbird's Nest not long after that, so your wariness was warranted," he reminds them both with a self-deprecating smile. "Thank fuck for Flora, hm?" Another quick kiss and Danta finally seems to have mastered the flush to his cheeks, and he quietly clears his throat. "Alright, one more - truth or dare?"

Dantalion

I'd move so fast that I'd outpace the dawn, I wanna be gone

my, my, those eyes like fire, i'm a winged insect, you're a funeral pyre
come now, bite through these wires,

“It was… Essentially the precursor to the Sparkbird’s Nest.” The butcher admits when he withdraws from the kiss, his fingers dancing along the golden threads of his hair as it brushes against his neck. It’s a warm smile that meets the self deprecating smile as Danta conveys gratitude for Flora before snatching another kiss – which the butcher sighs into a touch relieved. “Yes. Honestly.” The butcher hums softly, wondering if it was too much to send her yet another gift of gratitude for allowing them both to have this.

As for the next truth or dare, the butcher concedes for Danta’s original plan – not having to think about it in the slightest. “Truth.” He hums, settling in and letting his fingers trail along his lover’s shoulder and arm that’s wound around his own, light little playful tip-tapping to see what might have been locked behind his lips from the previous round.

Astaroth

i'm a waking hell and the gods grow tired

I wanna run against the world that's turning

Shivering lightly at Asta's wandering hands, despite the room having warmed to something close to sweltering since they first stepped inside, Danta leans in and smirks as the butcher chooses the more predictable option this time. Still, his original truth dies on his tongue thanks to the strangely intimate turn the game has taken, and he leans in to brush his lips against the scruff on Asta's cheek instead.

"Have you ever thought about marrying me?" he asks, the words almost whispered against the curve of his jaw, his smile barely hidden in them. He doesn't know what makes him say it - revenge, perhaps, for the other man's previous question, or even the memory of the wedding they'd attended not two seasons before. Either way, it's with a scoff of laughter that Danta sits back, scrunching his nose at Asta suddenly.

"You don't have to answer that," he backtracks. "I can think of a better one."

Dantalion

I'd move so fast that I'd outpace the dawn, I wanna be gone