[fic] Never Be Wrong Together [2/2]
Title: Never Be Wrong Together [2/2]
Authors: alanahikarichan & silver_drake
Rating: R
Pairing: ZEX*DAX (with assumed and background ZEX*Captain)
Warnings: Horrible, filthy tentacle sex, as well as nuzzling, fluff, angst, and some of the cheesiest double intendres ever known to man. So give this a miss if you're horribly offended by any of that; we promise we won't mind.
Notes: 1/2 is right here, if you missed it the first time. Again, Alana played ZEX, and Drake DAX. This part was edited by Alana, and given a final once-over before posting by yours truly.
DAX almost turned right around and went back the way he came when he saw ZEX's door ahead of him. He had been trying not to think about this all day, because he knew -- knew a split-second after he agreed -- that he'd made a mistake. A terrible, deadly mistake that might destroy the fragile balance he'd so carefully struck and preserved over the years in his relationship with the Admiral... but he also knew, with equal certainty, that he couldn't back out now. It would disappoint the Admiral for him to back out now, and refusing his advances was already just barely within DAX's abilities. It was too late to back out now, so he might as well keep going.
Still, it gave him something of a start to have the door open automatically when he came close enough.
ZEX, on the other hand, hadn't stopped thinking, hadn't stopped rehearsing what he'd say, what he'd do, over and over in his mind.
He wasn't sure if any of it would be of use, but even the best-laid strategy didn't always stay strong in the chaotic heat of battle.
When the door opened, he didn't turn towards it, though he was quietly delighted. He had considered the possibility of DAX not keeping the appointment -- for a million reasons, he'd considered it -- and DAX being willing to come at all boded well for his position in this... unique tactical maneuver.
Hesitating for only a moment, DAX stepped inside, unsurprised when the door shut itself behind him. And he'd be prepared to believe that ZEX had locked it, too. He really had committed himself, now; but strangely enough, that made him feel a little better about this whole situation. It was out of his arms, now, and he could no longer take responsibility for what might happen.
He approached the Admiral's back, letting one armtip rest on ZEX's shoulder. "Admiral...?"
"Sub-Commander." ZEX's voice was warm, and he flicked the tip of one of his tentacles at the cushions... very close beside him. He'd already prepared a warm pot of VUX tea, soothing stuff, and was nursing a bowl of the stuff as he looked over a report with a small tentacle-held computer. "Have a seat; I'm nearly done with this. Pour yourself some tea."
He had plotted this to be as... mundane, perhaps, was the word he was looking for? as possible. Just a pair of old friends having a chat over tea, no pressure, no rush. It was the situation they had been in a thousand times before, and the familiarity was rather... comforting for DAX, as he followed the Admiral's directives.
Admittantly, he had never allowed himself to sit quite so close to the Admiral, and he couldn't quite keep the reason for his being here out of his head. But he found, almost despite himself, that it was quite impossible to remain too tense as he carefully sipped the warm tea.
ZEX took a few moments to finish reading the report, then set the little computer aside, turning his attention to DAX more visibly. (It had been fully on his friend the moment he had stepped into the room, of course, but he'd carefully tried not to seem too intent. No need to put DAX on the defensive.) "Has anything interesting happened since we last spoke?" he inquired, calmly, casually -- careful, careful, let him relax, ZEX.
"Nothing too unusual," DAX answered, trying to match ZEX's casual tone. Even though he seemed to be having trouble meeting the Admiral's gaze... "PIK threw a diskreader at FUP's head, though."
It was almost as if there were two of him. One DAX sat calmly next to his old friend and comrade, sipping tea and casually reporting on the day's events -- and the other quietly quailed inside, waiting with nervous exaltation for that first touch, look, that first departure from professional propriety that he was certain was coming.
ZEX laughed softly at that. "So absolutely nothing unusual." He took a sip of his tea, all normal, all calm.
In the same calm, gently amused voice, ZEX asked another question: "Would you like to continue our discussion from earlier?" All normal, all calm, all ordinary, they continued discussions over several days sometimes -- this was no different, and he wasn't going to treat it any differently.
Discomfited, DAX stared down into his tea, finding himself quite unable to answer. After subordinating his own desires to the Admiral for long, it was actually painful to truthfully consider his own wants, like trying to swim after a too-long period on dry land. "I am... uncertain, Admiral," he finally answered truthfully. Yet such a display of vulnerability was answer enough, coming from him.
"If you don't want to continue the discussion, we don't have to." ZEX could even unlock the door with the little computer he'd set aside.
This wasn't a decision DAX wanted to make for himself. Better to just trust the Admiral, follow his lead, as he'd always done. But, he realized, it was a decision ZEX wanted him to make. DAX had long been aware that he held the Admiral's respect, and had been nearly content to accept it as substitute for ZEX's love.
It was that respect that now kept ZEX from trying to take advantage of him; a thought that DAX found somehow comforting. Perhaps there was a small chance of this ending well after all. Still, his nerves would not allow him to meet the Admiral's eye, or give a better answer than, "I would not be opposed to continuing." An evasion if he'd ever heard one. DAX was embarrassed to hear it leave his throat.
ZEX sighed, rueful, and leaned towards DAX. "I'm not 'opposed to continuing' either, but I won't make this choice for you." He mustered up a laugh, adding, "You should never let others fight your most personal battles."
"Admiral..." It was most uncomfortable, hearing his private thoughts so faithfully confirmed. DAX had long been accustomed to concealing his innermost thoughts and feelings... until today, that is, when sheerest chance had given the Admiral a telling glimpse. Suddenly, DAX grew weary of hiding. "I think... I would like to continue," he whispered, head tendrils waivering uncertainly.
There.
ZEX kept on leaning, close enough to touch, but -- no, no, not yet, slowly, coax him out with a bait he wants. "Then so would I," he purred, "though I'm not entirely sure what aspect of strategy you had in mind for tonight's... discourse." His own tentacles were rising out of their carefully relaxed pose so much acting can he tell, curling in nerves excitement and brushing against DAX's own by pure coincidence.
That first touch made DAX tremble, blinking slowly. "Perhaps a refresher course might be in order, Admiral." His tendrils were practically tying themselves in knots with nervousness. "It has been so long since I discussed strategy." Longer than ZEX knew.
"Ah." ZEX laughed, a trace of an uncertain quaver underlying, and admitted he hadn't rehearsed this why was he saying this, "It's also been a very long time since I've fought a battle where I... had the advantage of living in the terrain." This hadn't been so difficult earlier, blasted emotions.
"But I do remember that it's very important to send out scouts, feel the... layout of the enemy lines..." Falteringly, he shifted his entire body closer to DAX's, twisting his arms around DAX's shoulders and trying to remember how to do this.
DAX realized that he still held the bowl in his trembling arms. It was tempting to keep it as a sort of impromptu shield between himself and the Admiral's advances, but that would be a foul play indeed after granting his consent. He set it aside and then, arms free, allowed himself to hesitantly touch the Admiral's sides. "And if conditions are favorable?" he asked, hating the fragile quaver in his voice.
"Then you can go on the offensive, hit the weak points, destroy any attempt the enemy has made to set up defenses..." ZEX's own voice was beginning to shake, and he cut himself off, flicking his tongue out against DAX's trunk. "I think you should try executing an attack first," he said, quietly.
Eye fluttering nearly shut, DAX leaned closer, nuzzling the Admiral's trunk with his own. "Sir..." he whispered, arms moving uncertainly along ZEX's sides. "I don't know how to do this..." Soon he would exhaust his store of knowledge completely. He needed ZEX to lead him.
The contact wasn't as electrifying as his human's light touches, of course, but it was pleasant enough, and ZEX forced himself to relax against DAX, angling his torso so he could rest their gills together. "I think we can dispense with the formalities, my friend," he murmured, trunk moving against DAX's, head-tentacles coiling in sensuous slowness against every bit of the other VUX they could reach.
Still, at DAX's admittance, ZEX let his arms fall from DAX's shoulders to his lap, one looping around his hips and the other writhing slowly against the outside of his leg. "Obviously it couldn't be too terribly difficult to learn," he chuckled, trying to find the confidence he carried around his human. "After all, most VUX are expected to carry out this sort of maneuver at some point in their lives."
DAX laughed quietly at that, his tendrils ever so slowly relaxing and beginning to twine with the Admiral's. ZEX's eye slid shut, and he sighed in enjoyment of the feeling -- something his human had never come close to, something deeply soothing. Not something he had missed, but something he could certainly appreciate, especially right now.
"There was only ever one VUX I was interesting in... maneuvering with," DAX admitted, one of his arms sliding up ZEX's back to shyly touch his neck, each point of contact feather-light. "ZEX..." How long had it been since he had addressed his friend by name, instead of rank?
"Only one...?" ZEX murmured sadly, just barely opening his eyelid. "And one you deserve far better than, too..." But his thought was derailed by the sound of his name and the touches along his back and neck -- oh, he'd forgotten that, how vulnerable the touch of another VUX could make one feel, as if they could break your neck at any moment. The idea sent a sudden thrill down his spine, the idea and the knowledge that DAX never would. "DAX," he said, a bit pleadingly, suddenly pressing even closer, the movement of his tendrils speeding from lethargic to longing, desperate. How much he had forgotten...
"Ah, Admiral..." With a soft, needy sound, DAX let his eye fall shut, clinging to ZEX's torso and inviting him to come as close he pleased. His tongue flickered gently over ZEX's face and trunk, even going so far as to wrap around one of his tendrils in a loving caress. And ZEX took the invitation, pressing up, nearly straddling DAX, arms beginning to find the gaps in the uniform and sliding in, closer to his friend's skin, and his own tongue flicking out, brushing softly against DAX's closed eyelid.
He wasn't so far gone as to miss the name DAX called him by, though, and a hushed giggle worked it way out of him. "We're far past formalities, DAX," he laughed, an arm finally finding the curve of DAX's hip under his clothing.
"Mm... forgive me, ZEX." A quick flash of a smile, then DAX redoubled his assault on his commander's tendrils, swept away in his desire for the other VUX. "Call it a force of habit..."
"No need to apologize~" ZEX hummed, nuzzling the tip of his trunk along the side of DAX's face and relishing in the attention to his tendrils.
Happy to let DAX continue that for as long as he wished, he began working at the fastenings of DAX's uniform with his free arm, other sneaking under the dark cloth, from DAX's hip to the base of his tail, stroking gently; in response, DAX moaned weakly, fanning his tail out.
"You could keep doing that," he whispered, unsure if he should be trying to provide direction or just letting the Admiral do as he willed.
ZEX hummed in delight at the whisper. Good to know he was doing something right, despite not having done this in a very long time~ and he continued the stroking, varying it a bit each time, feather-soft or a slow heavy drag...
"I've, perhaps, found a weak point in the enemy lines?" he murmured.
"Mm..." DAX stretched his tail blissfully, practically melting under ZEX's touch. "They'll be sending up the white flag any minute now," he murmured. But, he realized, this wasn't exactly the same as a battle. He couldn't just lie back and surrender, he was meant to be participating. Hesitantly, and trying to pretend that he was not hesitating over it, he drew his arms down ZEX's back, to the fasteners at his side.
Another pleased hum, and his strokes ventured farther down DAX's tail, brushing lightly at the webbing. DAX beginning to reciprocate, that was good, and very pleasant, this whole thing was more pleasant that ZEX had expected -- We'll have to do this more often, he thought to himself, when my Captain can't be here.
ZEX finally managed to get the fastenings of DAX's uniform undone, and took the opportunity to slide his other arm around to help with the light touches along DAX's tail.
Another spike of nervousness went through DAX as ZEX let his uniform fall open; DAX couldn't help the feeling of exposure. When had he ever allowed another so close, to view and touch him in such a state of disarray? It didn't matter that he welcomed, indeed hungered for ZEX's touch; DAX had always been an intensely private person, and old habits died hard. He distracted himself with undoing the last of the fasteners on ZEX's uniform, and sliding his own arms inside to at last touch the Admiral's pebbly skin.
ZEX shivered at DAX's touch, so different from the feel of his human... but pleasant, so pleasant, becoming more pleasant by the moment...
"Ahhh," he sighed, nuzzling the cloth still over DAX's shoulder aside and flicking his tongue along the skin he revealed.
"Ohh..." Momentarily relaxing his arms, DAX allowed the top half of the uniform to slip off his shoulders completely, leaving it to pool and hang around his waist. He resisted the urge to cover himself, instead wrapping his arms back around the Admiral's torso and exploring ZEX's neck and chest with his tongue.
The sudden fall of cloth away from DAX's torso brought up a low purr of approval, and ZEX leaned back for a moment, surveying the revealed skin with an interested gaze. He didn't often think of other VUX appreciatively, but DAX was certainly worthy of some appreciative thinking, from what he could see -- and he leaned back forward, leaving one arm brushing lazily around DAX's tail and bringing the other back to DAX's front, trailing it lightly over his skin in a tactile investigation of his friend's body.
DAX's chief fear, which he had tried his best to stifle, had been that ZEX would lose interest or become disinterested once they reached this stage. Long familiarity had given him quite the detailed picture of the Admiral's tastes, and he knew they didn't include him. But for some blessed reason, it seemed his fears had been for naught. ZEX seemed quite taken with DAX's body, and though it wasn't the same rapt fascination he paid other, more alien lifeforms, it more than satisfying for DAX. He purred quietly and leaned into ZEX's touch, nuzzling the Admiral's trunk in the VUX equivalent of a kiss. ZEX returned the gesture gladly, tendrils reaching out to brush against DAX's, the arm trailing in lazy swirls across DAX's chest slowly going lower, edging under the cloth bunched around DAX's waist; DAX sighed quietly in willing surrender, letting one of his arms fall to his waist and undo the first of the fasteners. "ZEX..." His voice was low, pleading.
This, ZEX knew how to do. He'd had to teach his human, after all~
He finally let DAX's tail alone, bringing both arms into his offensive strike against the clothing that was most certainly in his way, working at the fasteners alongside DAX. Still, he didn't entirely neglect his friend's body, nuzzling his neck with both trunk and tendrils. DAX returned his friend's attentions in kind, concealing his needy and fearful trembling beneath nuzzling and gentle touches, gasping quietly as the fabric of his uniform brushed against his most sensitive parts with every small tug of the Admiral's arms. His tail, left bereft, slowly swept around to brush ZEX's leg where he close-to straddled DAX, stroking and clinging to that limb through the senseless uniform and boots.
The last fastening came undone, and ZEX giggled breathily against DAX's neck as he began to peel the fabric away, down his legs, to those -- those damn boots, he'd forgotten about the damn boots -- he sat back, far enough to see every inch of DAX's exposed skin and he tugged at the damn boots.
... DAX was certainly worth looking at, for a while, at least; ZEX smiled at his friend, sparing a moment to trail a tentacle along his friend's tail.
DAX didn't bother restrain a quiet laugh at ZEX's sudden difficulties, knowing that his friend wouldn't take it the wrong way. He clung to ZEX's shoulders for balance and pushed at one boot with the other foot, trying to help. It was better than trying to examine the strange mix of warmth and exposure he'd felt in response to that frankly hungry look the Admiral had given him...
"A-ha!" ZEX said, finally getting one of the blasted things off, and tossing it carelessly aside. There was nothing particularly priceless decorating this room, after all, so nothing he would have to worry about breaking~
Before moving on to the other boot, though, he trailed the tip of his arm along the side of DAX's foot, softly -- new ground gained after a small skirmished, and well-earned at that. He laughed softly, glancing fondly up at DAX, and set to tugging at the other boot.
DAX shivered at the unexpectedly pleasant touch, watching the Admiral's movements with a hooded eye. The second boot was more easily removed, and he trembled as ZEX spared no haste in removing the remainder of his clothing.
"Hmmm~" ZEX didn't move back up DAX's body quite yet, slowly, leisurely stroking the sides and undersides of his feet, up his lower leg, occasionally brushing against his tail entirely by design. "I seem to have conquered quite a bit of territory. I really don't know where to start with it~ what do you think, DAX?"
"Ahh..." Trembling with every touch, DAX struggled to pay attention to ZEX's words. "Mm... I seem to remember you once saying something about allocating resources where they would be most effective, ZEX..." It sent such a thrill down his spine every time he said that name... He was becoming accustomed to voicing it almost frighteningly quickly. Releasing ZEX's shoulders with one arm, he gently stroking the Admiral's tendrils, running his armtip across them from root to tip.
"Most effective, hmm..." His own thoughts were in a bit of disarray from the delicate touch on his tendrils, and he sat there for a long moment, his own pleased shivers matching DAX's.
"Well, it might be useful to pay attention to this bit here," he finally said, leaning low and nuzzling the nearest bit of DAX's tail with his trunk. "Though I'm not certain if that's the most effective place to concentrate my resources," he whispered, tongue fluttering along the webbing. "What do you think, DAX?"
The repetition was intentional.
"ZEX..." His tendrils flattened for a moment in embarrassment at the faint whine in his voice, testament to the effect ZEX was having on him. Trying to steady his voice, DAX continued, "I-I think a thorough exploration of the conquered territory is in order, until the best concentration of resources can be determined..." His request, stripped of all euphemism, was clear. Touch me.
That sounded like an absolutely fine idea to ZEX, and he giggled, straightening up. "In that case~" he sang, pressing his arm against DAX's shoulder, encouraging him to lie back on the cushions. His other arm traced a wandering line across the outside of DAX's leg.
"Mm..." DAX obediently lay back, eye fixed on ZEX's movements. Each touch, no matter how small, felt wonderful, somehow soothing and exciting at the same time. Only the Admiral could have had such an effect on him.
There, DAX was lying down, ready to be... explored. ZEX was actually looking forward to it, to his surprise... "Though," he breathed, "I do expect my second-in-command to help me with the data-sifting. Tell me, DAX..." He leaned down, loosened uniform sagging around him -- hmm, he hadn't gotten undressed, how silly of him not to notice -- and nuzzled the curve of DAX's hip, arms sneaking under to fuss with the base of DAX's tail again. "... would that be a place to keep in mind?"
ZEX was making a wanton out of DAX; he found himself quite unable to keep himself from moaning and bending his knees, spreading his legs slightly further apart. "I believe it is, Ah-ZEX," he whispered, mind swimming. "The local inhabitants seem, mm... quite welcoming."
"I see!" ZEX drew back, and murmured teasingly, "I shall have to return sometime soon."
Sliding farther up DAX's body, he nuzzled his side again, this time at the indent of his waist.
"And what about this location, my dear?"
My dear... The words seemed to pierce right through DAX's sensation-fogged mind, making his eye widen and his hearts warm. It didn't even matter if the phrase was just another series of words to ZEX, muttered in the heat of the moment; in the state he was in, DAX treasured them regardless. He stretched languorously, arms, tail, his entire body straining for ZEX. "It seems amiable as well," he murmured, "But there are locations to the north that also bear exploring."
"Far be it from me to ignore your advice," ZEX laughed, regretfully pulling his arms out from under DAX; he needed them for support, now -- though the practical purpose he had in pulling them away didn't keep him from trailing them sensuously slowly out and up DAX's sides before he curled them around DAX's shoulders. "North, north..." A flick of the tongue with each repetition of the word, brushing lightly against DAX's skin in a dotted line across his chest.
"Here?" he asked, at the point of DAX's chest just below his trunk, then,
"Here?" he asked, tendrils brushing up and down the length of the trunk itself as he brushed his face just to the side of it, then,
"Or maybe here!" he whispered, nuzzling trunk-to-trunk, tail slowly sinking to brush over DAX's feet in a slow, heavy rhythm.
"Ahh, yes... yes to all three," DAX answered, tongue brushing against ZEX's as he twined the Admiral's trunk with his own. "Your, mm, thoroughness is to be commended, ZEX," he whispered, tendrils reaching for the other's own. ZEX purred, willingly letting his tendrils tangle with DAX's, and carefully slid his grip on DAX's shoulders down lower, resting some of his weight on his friend.
"I've always prided myself on it~" he murmured, slowly pressing his hips against DAX's, pinning him quite thoroughly to the cushions. "Though really, I wouldn't do half so well without your help. Hee!"
DAX moaned out loud as he was pinned, hips arching against ZEX's. "I'm, ahhh, glad to be of service." His arms swept up and down ZEX's back, now clinging, now reaching down to stroke his tail, and then slipping back up his body to touch his head and crest. He couldn't, it seemed, get enough of touching ZEX; even his tail had found contact with the Admiral at last, tangling with ZEX's.
"Mmm -- you've always known... exactly what assistance I've needed..." he replied, words broken by the warm jolts of sensation DAX's wandering touch were sending through him. "You've always been... skilled" (he punctuated the word with a sharp thrust of his hips, rubbing against DAX's most sensitive parts) "in... in that department."
He was breathing quickly in excitement, he realized. How unexpected! But he certainly wasn't going to complain about it now.
"Ah!" DAX's hips rolled against ZEX like a cresting wave; in his inexperience, the sensation was almost painfully intense. Yet he made no move to put a stop to it, instead clinging to his Admiral all the more. "Nothing makes me happier than to please you, ZEX," he breathed, spreading his legs further and wrapping them about ZEX's thighs, inviting his friend to sink further into his embrace.
Even though his uniform, ZEX felt the sudden brilliant spark of the movement, and he whimpered sharply, thrusting back into the movement, at a sudden loss for words.
"DAX," he moaned, thrusting again, tail curling tightly around DAX's -- he wanted to be closer, needed to be closer, to feel that again -- and why by all the Creator's creations hadn't he gotten out of his uniform earlier, he couldn't pull away now, but the thing was so frustrating, between him and his dearest DAX's body, touch, feel... a low whine rising in his throat, he thrust again, and again.
It took DAX several minutes to realize exactly this felt so close to painful -- but when he did put it together, he was ready to smack himself for a fool. Of course it hurt; he hadn't even given the Admiral a chance to finish undressing before pulling him down and rocking against him like some portside fliptail. What must ZEX think? Quickly, he slipped his arms between the two of them, fumbling slightly as he tried to find the remaining fasteners on ZEX's uniform. "Ah, here..." he mumbled, tongue-tied with embarrassed need. "Let me..."
Breathing sharply, trembling with delayed need, ZEX held himself still while DAX fumbled at the fastenings. As soon as they popped open, he rolled himself to the side, off the cushions, but he was able to writhe his way out of the thrice-damned cloth and pop his boots off faster than he ever had before -- and then he climbed back towards DAX, nuzzling and stroking every ink of flesh that came beneath him.
"A-are you... all right..." he gasped, arms curling tightly around DAX's shoulder, trying to call the desperate need before he did something stupid like thrust through his clothing.
"Yes... ahhn, ZEX..." DAX immediately wrapped his arms back around ZEX, burying his face in the other VUX's shoulder and nuzzling his neck with his trunk. "Please... I need you so much..."
Despite himself, ZEX whimpered at that, shivering against DAX and trying to take it slower this time, just light, gentle presses together -- and oh, so much better without clothes being in the way, and so nice, so nice, had it been this nice last time he'd been with another VUX?
Oh yes, it was so much better this way, not uncomfortable at all without clothing to interfere, just himself and the Admiral, as it was meant to be. DAX whimpered and rocked, clinging as tightly to ZEX as he dared. Their tails moved over and against each other, prompting shivers up his spine, and their hips... were pressed so close together he doubted he could get an arm between them if he tried. It was blissful.
And ZEX clung back, beginning to speed his tempo, press harder against DAX -- why hadn't he done this before -- gasping against his neck, letting the sensations sweep over him, making his tail and his tendrils and his arms curl tightly around every bit of DAX they could find.
"Ah, ZEX... ZEX..." DAX moaned, the sound coming from deep in his chest, as his body began to tense. This felt... amazing, better than he had ever imagined. He knew he wasn't going to last long, but he wanted to wait... wanted to feel, see ZEX finish, and know it was because of him...
Hearing his name like that was very nearly enough to push ZEX over the edge, but not quite, not quite yet, and his body and voice shook alike as he returned, "DAX, DAX, my dear DAX," and there and
and
and
ZEX's muscles tensed, a glorious wave of chemicals washing through his body as he thrust reflexively--weakly-- against DAX for the last few times, clinging with shaking arms to the only thing in the universe that existed at that moment.
And DAX felt it, he heard it, held the very center of his universe in his arms and stroked ZEX, nuzzled and kissed him as he felt the Admiral finish in a burst of warmth between his hips. DAX sighed and let his eye fall shut, swept away by the glorious moment, and followed seconds later in a star-white burst of love.
It took a few long, long moments before ZEX was able to do more than shudder against DAX, but when he could, all he did was laugh in shaky delight and let his tendrils hang wearily low, brushing against DAX's face.
"Ah, my dearest DAX..." he murmured, warmly.
It was all DAX could do to purr weakly, absently stroking ZEX's shoulder with the very tip of his tongue. "Mm...ZEX..." He shivered slightly with aftershocks, feeling as though he might be a cushion himself, he was so limp and content.
How blissful this was~ but it would probably become a bit uncomfortable soon.
Gently, ZEX unwound himself from around DAX, taking up his own weight, nuzzling along DAX's skin as he did so. "That was lovely," he murmured, "we should have done it years ago." And he meant it, too; DAX had been a wonderful partner, considering that ZEX had never particularly liked this sort of thing with other VUX. He'd actually enjoyed himself, with DAX, with his closest friend clinging to him....
He purred, closing his eye and sliding off DAX to lie on the cushions next to him. "Lovely~" he repeated, tail sluggishly curling over DAX's legs.
"Mm..." DAX didn't stir until he felt ZEX moving away, and then only enough to open his eye and see where the other was going, and then nuzzle into ZEX again as soon as he settled. He had no intention of releasing his friend for quite some time. "You should have listened to me," he murmured, the blissful tone of his voice taking the sting out the jab.
"Forgive me..." ZEX said, stretching the words into a sleepy sing-song. "If I had realized there had been something to hear..."
He opened his eye just enough to glance at his friend, nuzzling back. "I'll listen to you more closely, though, from now on~ if you'd like, of course."
"...I'd like that." This deserved some level of decorum in recognition of its seriousness; DAX opened his eye fully to look up at the Admiral and disentangled their tendrils, though he couldn't quite bring himself to release the rest of ZEX's body. "I don't believe I could return to the way things were between us before...I-I want to remain close to you..." Again his cursed habit of silence got in his way, preventing him from articulating how he felt. DAX felt like swearing and weeping all at once, his prior encounter with the Admiral destroying his defenses completely.
When DAX pulled away, even just so little as he did, ZEX pulled his scattered attention back together to listen to him. And the request was so small, something ZEX half-intended to do anyway, that he couldn't help but laugh as he pulled DAX closer again.
"Of course, DAX," he purred, nestling up against him, tangling tendrils and stroking his back gently, from neck to tail, long slow motions. "I've always adored having you by my side~ why should that change now?"
"Good..." DAX practically breathed the word, allowing it to be carried out of him on a sigh of relief. He shivered slightly under ZEX's so-welcome touch, pressing as close to him as possibility allowed. "I adore you, ZEX" he whispered, the last of decades-worth of tension leaving his body as he let his eye fall slowly shut.
ZEX was very pleased with himself, holding DAX close as he fell asleep. True, he hadn't exactly gotten a yes to his original proposition, but he'd found out so much about his closest friend-- and he'd spent a very pleasant interlude making said friend very happy.
He couldn't remember the last time he had seen DAX in a state that could even vaguely be described as happy.
If he wasn't so sleepy, he would be humming in pure joy at the world, but the cushions were more than comfortable and the feel of another body next to his was relaxing, and like his friend he began to drift off, eye sliding closed as he relaxed.
Authors: alanahikarichan & silver_drake
Rating: R
Pairing: ZEX*DAX (with assumed and background ZEX*Captain)
Warnings: Horrible, filthy tentacle sex, as well as nuzzling, fluff, angst, and some of the cheesiest double intendres ever known to man. So give this a miss if you're horribly offended by any of that; we promise we won't mind.
Notes: 1/2 is right here, if you missed it the first time. Again, Alana played ZEX, and Drake DAX. This part was edited by Alana, and given a final once-over before posting by yours truly.
DAX almost turned right around and went back the way he came when he saw ZEX's door ahead of him. He had been trying not to think about this all day, because he knew -- knew a split-second after he agreed -- that he'd made a mistake. A terrible, deadly mistake that might destroy the fragile balance he'd so carefully struck and preserved over the years in his relationship with the Admiral... but he also knew, with equal certainty, that he couldn't back out now. It would disappoint the Admiral for him to back out now, and refusing his advances was already just barely within DAX's abilities. It was too late to back out now, so he might as well keep going.
Still, it gave him something of a start to have the door open automatically when he came close enough.
ZEX, on the other hand, hadn't stopped thinking, hadn't stopped rehearsing what he'd say, what he'd do, over and over in his mind.
He wasn't sure if any of it would be of use, but even the best-laid strategy didn't always stay strong in the chaotic heat of battle.
When the door opened, he didn't turn towards it, though he was quietly delighted. He had considered the possibility of DAX not keeping the appointment -- for a million reasons, he'd considered it -- and DAX being willing to come at all boded well for his position in this... unique tactical maneuver.
Hesitating for only a moment, DAX stepped inside, unsurprised when the door shut itself behind him. And he'd be prepared to believe that ZEX had locked it, too. He really had committed himself, now; but strangely enough, that made him feel a little better about this whole situation. It was out of his arms, now, and he could no longer take responsibility for what might happen.
He approached the Admiral's back, letting one armtip rest on ZEX's shoulder. "Admiral...?"
"Sub-Commander." ZEX's voice was warm, and he flicked the tip of one of his tentacles at the cushions... very close beside him. He'd already prepared a warm pot of VUX tea, soothing stuff, and was nursing a bowl of the stuff as he looked over a report with a small tentacle-held computer. "Have a seat; I'm nearly done with this. Pour yourself some tea."
He had plotted this to be as... mundane, perhaps, was the word he was looking for? as possible. Just a pair of old friends having a chat over tea, no pressure, no rush. It was the situation they had been in a thousand times before, and the familiarity was rather... comforting for DAX, as he followed the Admiral's directives.
Admittantly, he had never allowed himself to sit quite so close to the Admiral, and he couldn't quite keep the reason for his being here out of his head. But he found, almost despite himself, that it was quite impossible to remain too tense as he carefully sipped the warm tea.
ZEX took a few moments to finish reading the report, then set the little computer aside, turning his attention to DAX more visibly. (It had been fully on his friend the moment he had stepped into the room, of course, but he'd carefully tried not to seem too intent. No need to put DAX on the defensive.) "Has anything interesting happened since we last spoke?" he inquired, calmly, casually -- careful, careful, let him relax, ZEX.
"Nothing too unusual," DAX answered, trying to match ZEX's casual tone. Even though he seemed to be having trouble meeting the Admiral's gaze... "PIK threw a diskreader at FUP's head, though."
It was almost as if there were two of him. One DAX sat calmly next to his old friend and comrade, sipping tea and casually reporting on the day's events -- and the other quietly quailed inside, waiting with nervous exaltation for that first touch, look, that first departure from professional propriety that he was certain was coming.
ZEX laughed softly at that. "So absolutely nothing unusual." He took a sip of his tea, all normal, all calm.
In the same calm, gently amused voice, ZEX asked another question: "Would you like to continue our discussion from earlier?" All normal, all calm, all ordinary, they continued discussions over several days sometimes -- this was no different, and he wasn't going to treat it any differently.
Discomfited, DAX stared down into his tea, finding himself quite unable to answer. After subordinating his own desires to the Admiral for long, it was actually painful to truthfully consider his own wants, like trying to swim after a too-long period on dry land. "I am... uncertain, Admiral," he finally answered truthfully. Yet such a display of vulnerability was answer enough, coming from him.
"If you don't want to continue the discussion, we don't have to." ZEX could even unlock the door with the little computer he'd set aside.
This wasn't a decision DAX wanted to make for himself. Better to just trust the Admiral, follow his lead, as he'd always done. But, he realized, it was a decision ZEX wanted him to make. DAX had long been aware that he held the Admiral's respect, and had been nearly content to accept it as substitute for ZEX's love.
It was that respect that now kept ZEX from trying to take advantage of him; a thought that DAX found somehow comforting. Perhaps there was a small chance of this ending well after all. Still, his nerves would not allow him to meet the Admiral's eye, or give a better answer than, "I would not be opposed to continuing." An evasion if he'd ever heard one. DAX was embarrassed to hear it leave his throat.
ZEX sighed, rueful, and leaned towards DAX. "I'm not 'opposed to continuing' either, but I won't make this choice for you." He mustered up a laugh, adding, "You should never let others fight your most personal battles."
"Admiral..." It was most uncomfortable, hearing his private thoughts so faithfully confirmed. DAX had long been accustomed to concealing his innermost thoughts and feelings... until today, that is, when sheerest chance had given the Admiral a telling glimpse. Suddenly, DAX grew weary of hiding. "I think... I would like to continue," he whispered, head tendrils waivering uncertainly.
There.
ZEX kept on leaning, close enough to touch, but -- no, no, not yet, slowly, coax him out with a bait he wants. "Then so would I," he purred, "though I'm not entirely sure what aspect of strategy you had in mind for tonight's... discourse." His own tentacles were rising out of their carefully relaxed pose so much acting can he tell, curling in nerves excitement and brushing against DAX's own by pure coincidence.
That first touch made DAX tremble, blinking slowly. "Perhaps a refresher course might be in order, Admiral." His tendrils were practically tying themselves in knots with nervousness. "It has been so long since I discussed strategy." Longer than ZEX knew.
"Ah." ZEX laughed, a trace of an uncertain quaver underlying, and admitted he hadn't rehearsed this why was he saying this, "It's also been a very long time since I've fought a battle where I... had the advantage of living in the terrain." This hadn't been so difficult earlier, blasted emotions.
"But I do remember that it's very important to send out scouts, feel the... layout of the enemy lines..." Falteringly, he shifted his entire body closer to DAX's, twisting his arms around DAX's shoulders and trying to remember how to do this.
DAX realized that he still held the bowl in his trembling arms. It was tempting to keep it as a sort of impromptu shield between himself and the Admiral's advances, but that would be a foul play indeed after granting his consent. He set it aside and then, arms free, allowed himself to hesitantly touch the Admiral's sides. "And if conditions are favorable?" he asked, hating the fragile quaver in his voice.
"Then you can go on the offensive, hit the weak points, destroy any attempt the enemy has made to set up defenses..." ZEX's own voice was beginning to shake, and he cut himself off, flicking his tongue out against DAX's trunk. "I think you should try executing an attack first," he said, quietly.
Eye fluttering nearly shut, DAX leaned closer, nuzzling the Admiral's trunk with his own. "Sir..." he whispered, arms moving uncertainly along ZEX's sides. "I don't know how to do this..." Soon he would exhaust his store of knowledge completely. He needed ZEX to lead him.
The contact wasn't as electrifying as his human's light touches, of course, but it was pleasant enough, and ZEX forced himself to relax against DAX, angling his torso so he could rest their gills together. "I think we can dispense with the formalities, my friend," he murmured, trunk moving against DAX's, head-tentacles coiling in sensuous slowness against every bit of the other VUX they could reach.
Still, at DAX's admittance, ZEX let his arms fall from DAX's shoulders to his lap, one looping around his hips and the other writhing slowly against the outside of his leg. "Obviously it couldn't be too terribly difficult to learn," he chuckled, trying to find the confidence he carried around his human. "After all, most VUX are expected to carry out this sort of maneuver at some point in their lives."
DAX laughed quietly at that, his tendrils ever so slowly relaxing and beginning to twine with the Admiral's. ZEX's eye slid shut, and he sighed in enjoyment of the feeling -- something his human had never come close to, something deeply soothing. Not something he had missed, but something he could certainly appreciate, especially right now.
"There was only ever one VUX I was interesting in... maneuvering with," DAX admitted, one of his arms sliding up ZEX's back to shyly touch his neck, each point of contact feather-light. "ZEX..." How long had it been since he had addressed his friend by name, instead of rank?
"Only one...?" ZEX murmured sadly, just barely opening his eyelid. "And one you deserve far better than, too..." But his thought was derailed by the sound of his name and the touches along his back and neck -- oh, he'd forgotten that, how vulnerable the touch of another VUX could make one feel, as if they could break your neck at any moment. The idea sent a sudden thrill down his spine, the idea and the knowledge that DAX never would. "DAX," he said, a bit pleadingly, suddenly pressing even closer, the movement of his tendrils speeding from lethargic to longing, desperate. How much he had forgotten...
"Ah, Admiral..." With a soft, needy sound, DAX let his eye fall shut, clinging to ZEX's torso and inviting him to come as close he pleased. His tongue flickered gently over ZEX's face and trunk, even going so far as to wrap around one of his tendrils in a loving caress. And ZEX took the invitation, pressing up, nearly straddling DAX, arms beginning to find the gaps in the uniform and sliding in, closer to his friend's skin, and his own tongue flicking out, brushing softly against DAX's closed eyelid.
He wasn't so far gone as to miss the name DAX called him by, though, and a hushed giggle worked it way out of him. "We're far past formalities, DAX," he laughed, an arm finally finding the curve of DAX's hip under his clothing.
"Mm... forgive me, ZEX." A quick flash of a smile, then DAX redoubled his assault on his commander's tendrils, swept away in his desire for the other VUX. "Call it a force of habit..."
"No need to apologize~" ZEX hummed, nuzzling the tip of his trunk along the side of DAX's face and relishing in the attention to his tendrils.
Happy to let DAX continue that for as long as he wished, he began working at the fastenings of DAX's uniform with his free arm, other sneaking under the dark cloth, from DAX's hip to the base of his tail, stroking gently; in response, DAX moaned weakly, fanning his tail out.
"You could keep doing that," he whispered, unsure if he should be trying to provide direction or just letting the Admiral do as he willed.
ZEX hummed in delight at the whisper. Good to know he was doing something right, despite not having done this in a very long time~ and he continued the stroking, varying it a bit each time, feather-soft or a slow heavy drag...
"I've, perhaps, found a weak point in the enemy lines?" he murmured.
"Mm..." DAX stretched his tail blissfully, practically melting under ZEX's touch. "They'll be sending up the white flag any minute now," he murmured. But, he realized, this wasn't exactly the same as a battle. He couldn't just lie back and surrender, he was meant to be participating. Hesitantly, and trying to pretend that he was not hesitating over it, he drew his arms down ZEX's back, to the fasteners at his side.
Another pleased hum, and his strokes ventured farther down DAX's tail, brushing lightly at the webbing. DAX beginning to reciprocate, that was good, and very pleasant, this whole thing was more pleasant that ZEX had expected -- We'll have to do this more often, he thought to himself, when my Captain can't be here.
ZEX finally managed to get the fastenings of DAX's uniform undone, and took the opportunity to slide his other arm around to help with the light touches along DAX's tail.
Another spike of nervousness went through DAX as ZEX let his uniform fall open; DAX couldn't help the feeling of exposure. When had he ever allowed another so close, to view and touch him in such a state of disarray? It didn't matter that he welcomed, indeed hungered for ZEX's touch; DAX had always been an intensely private person, and old habits died hard. He distracted himself with undoing the last of the fasteners on ZEX's uniform, and sliding his own arms inside to at last touch the Admiral's pebbly skin.
ZEX shivered at DAX's touch, so different from the feel of his human... but pleasant, so pleasant, becoming more pleasant by the moment...
"Ahhh," he sighed, nuzzling the cloth still over DAX's shoulder aside and flicking his tongue along the skin he revealed.
"Ohh..." Momentarily relaxing his arms, DAX allowed the top half of the uniform to slip off his shoulders completely, leaving it to pool and hang around his waist. He resisted the urge to cover himself, instead wrapping his arms back around the Admiral's torso and exploring ZEX's neck and chest with his tongue.
The sudden fall of cloth away from DAX's torso brought up a low purr of approval, and ZEX leaned back for a moment, surveying the revealed skin with an interested gaze. He didn't often think of other VUX appreciatively, but DAX was certainly worthy of some appreciative thinking, from what he could see -- and he leaned back forward, leaving one arm brushing lazily around DAX's tail and bringing the other back to DAX's front, trailing it lightly over his skin in a tactile investigation of his friend's body.
DAX's chief fear, which he had tried his best to stifle, had been that ZEX would lose interest or become disinterested once they reached this stage. Long familiarity had given him quite the detailed picture of the Admiral's tastes, and he knew they didn't include him. But for some blessed reason, it seemed his fears had been for naught. ZEX seemed quite taken with DAX's body, and though it wasn't the same rapt fascination he paid other, more alien lifeforms, it more than satisfying for DAX. He purred quietly and leaned into ZEX's touch, nuzzling the Admiral's trunk in the VUX equivalent of a kiss. ZEX returned the gesture gladly, tendrils reaching out to brush against DAX's, the arm trailing in lazy swirls across DAX's chest slowly going lower, edging under the cloth bunched around DAX's waist; DAX sighed quietly in willing surrender, letting one of his arms fall to his waist and undo the first of the fasteners. "ZEX..." His voice was low, pleading.
This, ZEX knew how to do. He'd had to teach his human, after all~
He finally let DAX's tail alone, bringing both arms into his offensive strike against the clothing that was most certainly in his way, working at the fasteners alongside DAX. Still, he didn't entirely neglect his friend's body, nuzzling his neck with both trunk and tendrils. DAX returned his friend's attentions in kind, concealing his needy and fearful trembling beneath nuzzling and gentle touches, gasping quietly as the fabric of his uniform brushed against his most sensitive parts with every small tug of the Admiral's arms. His tail, left bereft, slowly swept around to brush ZEX's leg where he close-to straddled DAX, stroking and clinging to that limb through the senseless uniform and boots.
The last fastening came undone, and ZEX giggled breathily against DAX's neck as he began to peel the fabric away, down his legs, to those -- those damn boots, he'd forgotten about the damn boots -- he sat back, far enough to see every inch of DAX's exposed skin and he tugged at the damn boots.
... DAX was certainly worth looking at, for a while, at least; ZEX smiled at his friend, sparing a moment to trail a tentacle along his friend's tail.
DAX didn't bother restrain a quiet laugh at ZEX's sudden difficulties, knowing that his friend wouldn't take it the wrong way. He clung to ZEX's shoulders for balance and pushed at one boot with the other foot, trying to help. It was better than trying to examine the strange mix of warmth and exposure he'd felt in response to that frankly hungry look the Admiral had given him...
"A-ha!" ZEX said, finally getting one of the blasted things off, and tossing it carelessly aside. There was nothing particularly priceless decorating this room, after all, so nothing he would have to worry about breaking~
Before moving on to the other boot, though, he trailed the tip of his arm along the side of DAX's foot, softly -- new ground gained after a small skirmished, and well-earned at that. He laughed softly, glancing fondly up at DAX, and set to tugging at the other boot.
DAX shivered at the unexpectedly pleasant touch, watching the Admiral's movements with a hooded eye. The second boot was more easily removed, and he trembled as ZEX spared no haste in removing the remainder of his clothing.
"Hmmm~" ZEX didn't move back up DAX's body quite yet, slowly, leisurely stroking the sides and undersides of his feet, up his lower leg, occasionally brushing against his tail entirely by design. "I seem to have conquered quite a bit of territory. I really don't know where to start with it~ what do you think, DAX?"
"Ahh..." Trembling with every touch, DAX struggled to pay attention to ZEX's words. "Mm... I seem to remember you once saying something about allocating resources where they would be most effective, ZEX..." It sent such a thrill down his spine every time he said that name... He was becoming accustomed to voicing it almost frighteningly quickly. Releasing ZEX's shoulders with one arm, he gently stroking the Admiral's tendrils, running his armtip across them from root to tip.
"Most effective, hmm..." His own thoughts were in a bit of disarray from the delicate touch on his tendrils, and he sat there for a long moment, his own pleased shivers matching DAX's.
"Well, it might be useful to pay attention to this bit here," he finally said, leaning low and nuzzling the nearest bit of DAX's tail with his trunk. "Though I'm not certain if that's the most effective place to concentrate my resources," he whispered, tongue fluttering along the webbing. "What do you think, DAX?"
The repetition was intentional.
"ZEX..." His tendrils flattened for a moment in embarrassment at the faint whine in his voice, testament to the effect ZEX was having on him. Trying to steady his voice, DAX continued, "I-I think a thorough exploration of the conquered territory is in order, until the best concentration of resources can be determined..." His request, stripped of all euphemism, was clear. Touch me.
That sounded like an absolutely fine idea to ZEX, and he giggled, straightening up. "In that case~" he sang, pressing his arm against DAX's shoulder, encouraging him to lie back on the cushions. His other arm traced a wandering line across the outside of DAX's leg.
"Mm..." DAX obediently lay back, eye fixed on ZEX's movements. Each touch, no matter how small, felt wonderful, somehow soothing and exciting at the same time. Only the Admiral could have had such an effect on him.
There, DAX was lying down, ready to be... explored. ZEX was actually looking forward to it, to his surprise... "Though," he breathed, "I do expect my second-in-command to help me with the data-sifting. Tell me, DAX..." He leaned down, loosened uniform sagging around him -- hmm, he hadn't gotten undressed, how silly of him not to notice -- and nuzzled the curve of DAX's hip, arms sneaking under to fuss with the base of DAX's tail again. "... would that be a place to keep in mind?"
ZEX was making a wanton out of DAX; he found himself quite unable to keep himself from moaning and bending his knees, spreading his legs slightly further apart. "I believe it is, Ah-ZEX," he whispered, mind swimming. "The local inhabitants seem, mm... quite welcoming."
"I see!" ZEX drew back, and murmured teasingly, "I shall have to return sometime soon."
Sliding farther up DAX's body, he nuzzled his side again, this time at the indent of his waist.
"And what about this location, my dear?"
My dear... The words seemed to pierce right through DAX's sensation-fogged mind, making his eye widen and his hearts warm. It didn't even matter if the phrase was just another series of words to ZEX, muttered in the heat of the moment; in the state he was in, DAX treasured them regardless. He stretched languorously, arms, tail, his entire body straining for ZEX. "It seems amiable as well," he murmured, "But there are locations to the north that also bear exploring."
"Far be it from me to ignore your advice," ZEX laughed, regretfully pulling his arms out from under DAX; he needed them for support, now -- though the practical purpose he had in pulling them away didn't keep him from trailing them sensuously slowly out and up DAX's sides before he curled them around DAX's shoulders. "North, north..." A flick of the tongue with each repetition of the word, brushing lightly against DAX's skin in a dotted line across his chest.
"Here?" he asked, at the point of DAX's chest just below his trunk, then,
"Here?" he asked, tendrils brushing up and down the length of the trunk itself as he brushed his face just to the side of it, then,
"Or maybe here!" he whispered, nuzzling trunk-to-trunk, tail slowly sinking to brush over DAX's feet in a slow, heavy rhythm.
"Ahh, yes... yes to all three," DAX answered, tongue brushing against ZEX's as he twined the Admiral's trunk with his own. "Your, mm, thoroughness is to be commended, ZEX," he whispered, tendrils reaching for the other's own. ZEX purred, willingly letting his tendrils tangle with DAX's, and carefully slid his grip on DAX's shoulders down lower, resting some of his weight on his friend.
"I've always prided myself on it~" he murmured, slowly pressing his hips against DAX's, pinning him quite thoroughly to the cushions. "Though really, I wouldn't do half so well without your help. Hee!"
DAX moaned out loud as he was pinned, hips arching against ZEX's. "I'm, ahhh, glad to be of service." His arms swept up and down ZEX's back, now clinging, now reaching down to stroke his tail, and then slipping back up his body to touch his head and crest. He couldn't, it seemed, get enough of touching ZEX; even his tail had found contact with the Admiral at last, tangling with ZEX's.
"Mmm -- you've always known... exactly what assistance I've needed..." he replied, words broken by the warm jolts of sensation DAX's wandering touch were sending through him. "You've always been... skilled" (he punctuated the word with a sharp thrust of his hips, rubbing against DAX's most sensitive parts) "in... in that department."
He was breathing quickly in excitement, he realized. How unexpected! But he certainly wasn't going to complain about it now.
"Ah!" DAX's hips rolled against ZEX like a cresting wave; in his inexperience, the sensation was almost painfully intense. Yet he made no move to put a stop to it, instead clinging to his Admiral all the more. "Nothing makes me happier than to please you, ZEX," he breathed, spreading his legs further and wrapping them about ZEX's thighs, inviting his friend to sink further into his embrace.
Even though his uniform, ZEX felt the sudden brilliant spark of the movement, and he whimpered sharply, thrusting back into the movement, at a sudden loss for words.
"DAX," he moaned, thrusting again, tail curling tightly around DAX's -- he wanted to be closer, needed to be closer, to feel that again -- and why by all the Creator's creations hadn't he gotten out of his uniform earlier, he couldn't pull away now, but the thing was so frustrating, between him and his dearest DAX's body, touch, feel... a low whine rising in his throat, he thrust again, and again.
It took DAX several minutes to realize exactly this felt so close to painful -- but when he did put it together, he was ready to smack himself for a fool. Of course it hurt; he hadn't even given the Admiral a chance to finish undressing before pulling him down and rocking against him like some portside fliptail. What must ZEX think? Quickly, he slipped his arms between the two of them, fumbling slightly as he tried to find the remaining fasteners on ZEX's uniform. "Ah, here..." he mumbled, tongue-tied with embarrassed need. "Let me..."
Breathing sharply, trembling with delayed need, ZEX held himself still while DAX fumbled at the fastenings. As soon as they popped open, he rolled himself to the side, off the cushions, but he was able to writhe his way out of the thrice-damned cloth and pop his boots off faster than he ever had before -- and then he climbed back towards DAX, nuzzling and stroking every ink of flesh that came beneath him.
"A-are you... all right..." he gasped, arms curling tightly around DAX's shoulder, trying to call the desperate need before he did something stupid like thrust through his clothing.
"Yes... ahhn, ZEX..." DAX immediately wrapped his arms back around ZEX, burying his face in the other VUX's shoulder and nuzzling his neck with his trunk. "Please... I need you so much..."
Despite himself, ZEX whimpered at that, shivering against DAX and trying to take it slower this time, just light, gentle presses together -- and oh, so much better without clothes being in the way, and so nice, so nice, had it been this nice last time he'd been with another VUX?
Oh yes, it was so much better this way, not uncomfortable at all without clothing to interfere, just himself and the Admiral, as it was meant to be. DAX whimpered and rocked, clinging as tightly to ZEX as he dared. Their tails moved over and against each other, prompting shivers up his spine, and their hips... were pressed so close together he doubted he could get an arm between them if he tried. It was blissful.
And ZEX clung back, beginning to speed his tempo, press harder against DAX -- why hadn't he done this before -- gasping against his neck, letting the sensations sweep over him, making his tail and his tendrils and his arms curl tightly around every bit of DAX they could find.
"Ah, ZEX... ZEX..." DAX moaned, the sound coming from deep in his chest, as his body began to tense. This felt... amazing, better than he had ever imagined. He knew he wasn't going to last long, but he wanted to wait... wanted to feel, see ZEX finish, and know it was because of him...
Hearing his name like that was very nearly enough to push ZEX over the edge, but not quite, not quite yet, and his body and voice shook alike as he returned, "DAX, DAX, my dear DAX," and there and
and
and
ZEX's muscles tensed, a glorious wave of chemicals washing through his body as he thrust reflexively--weakly-- against DAX for the last few times, clinging with shaking arms to the only thing in the universe that existed at that moment.
And DAX felt it, he heard it, held the very center of his universe in his arms and stroked ZEX, nuzzled and kissed him as he felt the Admiral finish in a burst of warmth between his hips. DAX sighed and let his eye fall shut, swept away by the glorious moment, and followed seconds later in a star-white burst of love.
It took a few long, long moments before ZEX was able to do more than shudder against DAX, but when he could, all he did was laugh in shaky delight and let his tendrils hang wearily low, brushing against DAX's face.
"Ah, my dearest DAX..." he murmured, warmly.
It was all DAX could do to purr weakly, absently stroking ZEX's shoulder with the very tip of his tongue. "Mm...ZEX..." He shivered slightly with aftershocks, feeling as though he might be a cushion himself, he was so limp and content.
How blissful this was~ but it would probably become a bit uncomfortable soon.
Gently, ZEX unwound himself from around DAX, taking up his own weight, nuzzling along DAX's skin as he did so. "That was lovely," he murmured, "we should have done it years ago." And he meant it, too; DAX had been a wonderful partner, considering that ZEX had never particularly liked this sort of thing with other VUX. He'd actually enjoyed himself, with DAX, with his closest friend clinging to him....
He purred, closing his eye and sliding off DAX to lie on the cushions next to him. "Lovely~" he repeated, tail sluggishly curling over DAX's legs.
"Mm..." DAX didn't stir until he felt ZEX moving away, and then only enough to open his eye and see where the other was going, and then nuzzle into ZEX again as soon as he settled. He had no intention of releasing his friend for quite some time. "You should have listened to me," he murmured, the blissful tone of his voice taking the sting out the jab.
"Forgive me..." ZEX said, stretching the words into a sleepy sing-song. "If I had realized there had been something to hear..."
He opened his eye just enough to glance at his friend, nuzzling back. "I'll listen to you more closely, though, from now on~ if you'd like, of course."
"...I'd like that." This deserved some level of decorum in recognition of its seriousness; DAX opened his eye fully to look up at the Admiral and disentangled their tendrils, though he couldn't quite bring himself to release the rest of ZEX's body. "I don't believe I could return to the way things were between us before...I-I want to remain close to you..." Again his cursed habit of silence got in his way, preventing him from articulating how he felt. DAX felt like swearing and weeping all at once, his prior encounter with the Admiral destroying his defenses completely.
When DAX pulled away, even just so little as he did, ZEX pulled his scattered attention back together to listen to him. And the request was so small, something ZEX half-intended to do anyway, that he couldn't help but laugh as he pulled DAX closer again.
"Of course, DAX," he purred, nestling up against him, tangling tendrils and stroking his back gently, from neck to tail, long slow motions. "I've always adored having you by my side~ why should that change now?"
"Good..." DAX practically breathed the word, allowing it to be carried out of him on a sigh of relief. He shivered slightly under ZEX's so-welcome touch, pressing as close to him as possibility allowed. "I adore you, ZEX" he whispered, the last of decades-worth of tension leaving his body as he let his eye fall slowly shut.
ZEX was very pleased with himself, holding DAX close as he fell asleep. True, he hadn't exactly gotten a yes to his original proposition, but he'd found out so much about his closest friend-- and he'd spent a very pleasant interlude making said friend very happy.
He couldn't remember the last time he had seen DAX in a state that could even vaguely be described as happy.
If he wasn't so sleepy, he would be humming in pure joy at the world, but the cushions were more than comfortable and the feel of another body next to his was relaxing, and like his friend he began to drift off, eye sliding closed as he relaxed.