A/N and Summary: Commission fic for tumblr, the writing gods managed to have me write about 3000 words in two hours and yet I procrastinate on writing a 1000 word essay for class. Writing is weird like that ya know? Anyways...This is wholesome if slightly steamy fluff, Talvas and Teldryn are such an underrated pairing thank you to the commissioner for letting me write this!! This fic had the working title of "Give this boy a hug and a vacation" a work up from "NELOTH WHAT DID YOU DO LOOK AT HIM HE'S GOT ANXIETY" enjoy and happy valentines day :)
Neloth has finally gone to sleep, and in his own bed for once rather than sleeping with his eyes open in a chair. Slowly, carefully, climbing out of my bedroll I get dressed and silently pad across the lab to get my shoes before slipping out the door, closing it behind me. Once outside I tie my hair back and pull up the hood of my jacket, and begin my way toward the little town of Raven Rock that can be seen only by the lights in the distance.
For all the less than ideal treatment I get from Master Neloth, he did at least teach me how to levitate, which is technically illegal, but useful. It allows me to cross the Ashland’s much easier than on foot, though I don’t go to high, too many stories of mages falling to their deaths, instead I stay just out of range of the ash spawn and other monsters that roam the wastelands during night and day, until I reach the bulwark, the entrance to Raven Rock.
The town is quiet, as it nearly always is, it’s late after all. The townspeople have mostly all gone to bed, with only a few Redoran guard on patrol who pass me by, likely recognizing me by the clothes alone even if my face is obscured by the hood, they’ve seen me here enough helping Neloth with his research on the mysterious standing stones, but that is not my point of interest tonight. Turning right, I head toward the inn.
The entryway of The Retching Netch is almost entirely empty, only the helper of the innkeeper sits by the fire. “Evening, Drovas.” I say, quietly, taking off my hood. “Hello, Talvas. Sneaking out again, eh?” He asks, taking a sip of his drink. “No comment.” I reply, which draws a quiet chuckle from him that I overhear as I head downstairs to the inn itself.
By this time of night there are very few patrons left, mostly just those who rent rooms here and the chronic insomniacs who haven’t gotten tired enough to leave. I find who I was looking for sitting at the first table across from where the innkeeper stands at the counter cleaning some tankards. “Thought you’d be asleep by now.” I say, coming up to the table. Teldryn looks up at me from what he was doing “You know I’m a night owl.” I go to pull over a chair to sit down, but instead Teldryn grabs me and pulls me into his lap. Oh. Cautiously, I look around, nobody else seems to think anything of it. “Is this really…necessary?” I ask, still glancing around. “Well, you did just trudge through the Ashland’s and it’s cold outside, so I think yes. However, say the word and I’ll let you go.” As much as I am slightly uncomfortable, I don’t want him to let go.
Teldryn shifts slightly “Have you ever been to Balmora, Talvas?” He asks, and I shake my head. “Well, then I’ll tell you this, it’s much more common than you’d think. Walk into almost any corner club, especially in the Hlaalu district, and you’ll find any number of patrons with someone sitting in their lap.” He explains, and my heart sinks a little. “But…but I’m not a whore?” Teldryn sighs “Did I ever say you were?” I shake my head. “Did I ever mention whores?” Another shake of the head. “Exactly, so don’t make assumptions. I’m sure some of the said people are whores, but most are likely partners, lovers, maybe a friend who had a bit too much to drink that they don’t want to go too far.” The last part draws a very small smirk out of me. I stop and think for a moment. “How would you know that?” I ask him “Know what?” I make a gesture “Is there a brothel in Balmora?” He nods, sees the look on my face and laughs “Talvas the only reason I know that is because the fighters guild sent Valan to pick up the rent once or twice because everyone kept getting distracted not because I’ve been there myself. It’s all women and really since when have I ever liked women?” I sit there silently for a moment. “Never.” I mumble, and with a noise I make known I’m satisfied with the explanation
Teldryn brings a hand up to my face, gently stroking it “Have you eaten yet? I’m guessing no.” He is in fact correct with that guess. “Hey Geldis!” Teldryn calls and the innkeeper looks up “What’s on the menu?” The innkeeper pulls out a sheet of paper and reads from it. “What do you want?” Teldryn asks me, and I decide on something simple with a bowl of stew. “Coming right up.” The innkeeper remarks putting away the paper and going to cook. The two of us sit there while waiting, chatting, catching up. Still, I glance every now and then around the room, and truly it seems that people couldn't care less that here I was sitting in another man's lap at one in the morning talking with him. The thought is oddly comforting. Geldis eventually returns with the bowl of stew “How are you Talvas? Sneaking out from old Neloth again, did the old man finally fall asleep?” He asks and with a mouthful of stew I nod “He tends to sleep with his eyes open upright in a chair while doing lab work, if you can believe it, but for once he actually went to sleep in his own bed.” I explain having swallowed. Geldis laughs “Telvanni wizards, always an interesting bunch. Especially Neloth. Well, let me know if you need anything, I’m not far.” And on that note he leaves us going back to continue cleaning up and allowing me to eat.
By the time I’ve finished and we’ve talked for over an hour the place is practically empty. Drovas had gone to bed already, and it just leaves Teldryn and I and Geldis still up. “I’m going to guess you didn’t come all the way here just for dinner am I right?” Teldryn whispers and I feel my face go slightly hot. Luckily, the way I’m seated is away from Geldis, but that doesn’t stop Teldryn from noticing. Just then Geldis gets our attention, saying he’s going to bed, and that we can still sit for as long as we like, Teldryn does live here after all, but he’s going to sleep. He bids us goodnight and heads to his own room.
As soon as the door is closed I’m picked up, much to my surprise and Teldryn walks toward his own room, setting me back down on my own two feet once inside and closes the door behind him, locking it. “I hope you have a good excuse for Neloth when he finds you gone in the morning.” I grin as he walks over “Already left a note saying I went to get supplies.” And it isn’t entirely wrong, I do have to pick up supplies in the morning on my way back, even if it was not the main reason for my visit. This really was the reason, and I practically melt as the space between us is finally closed and I’m pulled into a kiss, I really had missed this.
Pulling back Teldryn takes my hair out of the little ponytail it had been in and then goes to remove his armor. An advantage of chitin over bonemold or standard metal armor, not only is it lighter, but is much easier to and faster to take off. Watching it is always an interesting process, as mages don’t often wear armor, and if we do it’s conjured. “Bath time?” He asks, turning back and looking at me as he finishes removing and putting away each piece of armor. I make a noise in agreement and head over to the door in the right back corner of the room that leads to the washroom attached to the room, one of the few stone constructions in the inn.
As I begin the also somewhat complicated process of undoing my robes Teldryn comes in and takes a seat, now dressed down to just a loose shirt and trousers and stares at me. “I could use some help if you’re just going to stand there and watch.” I mutter struggling with a clasp. On the offer he gets up almost immediately and begins to skillfully undo piece after piece until I too am left similar to him. However, after a short pause my shirt is taken off as well and one hand goes to undo my pants but I bat it away “I can do that myself thank you very much.” First I check to make sure the water is warm, and after heating it a tiny bit more, finish undressing and sink into the warm water. This is highly superior to a quick cold shower at five or six in the morning. Teldryn follows shortly after, there is room enough for two after all.
Relaxing against the side I let my eyes close, this really is very nice. I’m drawn out of my little moment of serenity as I hear water sloshing and find Teldryn sitting wrapped in a towel having gotten out. “Sooner you’re done the sooner you can be out and we can move on.” He makes a gesture toward the tub, that says there is cleaning and there is cleaning and now it’s time to move to the latter version.
However utilitarian it is, Teldryn stays where he is until I’m finished and get out myself. Having finished that we return to the main little room of his and I’m promptly lightly pushed over, falling onto the bed. Sitting up on my elbows I watch as Teldryn looks through a drawer for something, finds it, and comes back over to me looking down at me as I try my best to keep my senses about me. He leans down and kisses me, one hand in my hair, the other wandering down and down until-oh. Things move along slowly, sometimes torturously slowly, but at the same time it is exactly what I needed.
He seems to find the muffled noises that escape from me amusing, I believe he even called them “cute” at one point, and if anything encourages them, doing whatever he can to hear them more until I’m brought to the very edge and thrown off it, trembling. Luckily, Teldryn follows soon after, and lays down next to me so as not to accidentally hurt me by falling on top of me. We lay there for awhile, panting, trying to calm down. “I’m going to need another bath.” I mutter, which only causes Teldryn to smirk, the bastard. With a kiss against my forehead he gets out of bed and goes to draw another bath, joining me again if only to hold and kiss me and help to actually clean me up, before letting me borrow a pair of trousers even if they are a little big, picking me up, and depositing me back into the bed, which now has clean sheets.
“Was that what you needed?” Teldryn asks, climbing into bed and pulling me against him.
I shake my head, which seems to surprise him. “Just needed you.” I mumble through half lidded eyes squirming to get closer. That seems to only shock him more.
Morning comes slowly, being below ground there’s no annoying sunlight to wake you before you want to wake up. Rolling over I land against Teldryn, who idly runs a hand through my hair and must have woken up fairly recently. “Good morning.” He whispers fondly. “I don’t like mornings.” I reply, still half asleep, “Mornings mean leaving.” In response to that, he holds me closer. “You have to get supplies today don’t you? I’ll come with you, draw things out a little.” That idea makes me feel a little better, I don’t like leaving, even if I do like magic.
After some time I’m coaxed out of bed, and now that the clothes I’d worn yesterday have been washed, I get dressed. Teldryn persuades, or more accurately, bribes, me into eating breakfast. The inn seems to be busiest in the morning and in the early evenings, when people are just starting and finishing their work day.
Having finished breakfast I pull out the list of supplies needed, and Teldryn and I go from one person to another, picking up the needed materials, food, and other supplies. By early afternoon, we’ve finished each thing on my list. Teldryn walks with me to the bulwark, and we stop for a moment. “I don’t like leaving.” I mutter again. “It’s only temporary, Talvas. I’ll see you soon.” Trying to force back tears, like always, never works and I begin to cry, to which Teldryn responds by wrapping me up in a tight hug and whispering in my ear until I calm down. Wiping the tears from my face he looks at me with a fond smile. “I heard from Valan that Neloth has to visit Fyr for a few weeks soon, we can spend as much time as you want then…and I can always stop by Tel Mithryn to annoy Neloth any other time, as he said himself…I’m allowed there so long as I’m not a distraction while you’re doing lab work.” With one last kiss and another hug Teldryn heads back into town, and picking up the bag of what I need to bring back, I head out into the ash back to Tel Mithryn.
“Oh good you’re back earlier than I expected. Did you get the supplies?” Neloth asks as I return and I hold up the bag before putting it on one of the clear tables not covered with books and papers. “Everything’s here, and I got that book you had been looking for last time, master.” Neloth makes a hum of approval. “What are we up to today?” I ask, walking over to where he stands looking at some things. “Correction: What are you doing today? I’m paying a visit to Master Fyr in about a week, and should be gone for a month or so, and thus will be busy with Valan packing, you however, can work on fixing that staff that was broken.” Teldryn, who of course got the information for Valan, was right after all. My heart flutters just a little bit. While Neloth is a good teacher, he’s not always the most pleasant to be around, and Fyr I find to be odd, so if Neloth gets to visit his friend and I get the place mostly to myself it seems to be morally beneficial. “Right away master.” I say, going to find the staff. Between a very much needed late night and a bit of news to lift my spirits today seems like it won’t be too bad as I set to work on the broken staff.
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