I get a little bit Genghis Khan

[vacabdication]

[ There have been continents and decades passed between when Ajay and Pagan knew each other. Happily, Ajay’s time in Kyrat to date has made Pagan very aware of at least one thing they still share; a flair for the dramatic. Such a flair is probably at least partly to blame for why it’s been night on impossible for Pagan to get a message to Ajay about meeting without Ajay dramatically disposing of the messenger. There’s the radio, of course, but Pagan doesn’t quite trust that nobody is listening in, and it wouldn’t do to have any of those delightful little monkeys decide to try and off Ajay for fraternizing with the enemy. So he lays the groundwork, plants the idea – ends one of his rambling calls with I’ll have to have you to dinner, sometime, and leaves it at that.

Then it’s terribly easy to have Ajay scooped up after those awful little tourists send him out on a jaunt on one of their experimental substances – god, a look at the two of them and it’s easy to remember why, accent aside, he is far more likely to present himself as of Hong Kong than of England – and brought back to the palace. Of course, he’s high as a bloody kite, and Pagan is rather proud of the delicacies he’s acquired for their little soiree a deux, so he has Ajay sequestered in a private room to recover. There is a fully stocked ensuite attached, which Pagan prays Ajay will use, and his clothes are filthy so Pagan has them ferreted away to be washed (and in some cases, mended) and a selection more suited to dinner with a King left for Ajay to choose from – a classic black tuxedo, a rather dashing and elaborately embroidered kurta set, several beautiful suits in an array of colours, even a selection of wonderful blazers and (please no) designer jeans, should that prove more within Ajay’s comfort zone. And, most importantly, a gilt invitation to dinner on thick, creamy-coloured card waiting for him on the bedside table when he wakes.

It might be sensible to have Ajay’s weapons removed, too. For maintenance, he could say. It would be a terrible, tragic loss if Ajay Ghale, son of Mohan and great hope of the Golden Path, were to suffer a sticky trigger while facing down a tiger, after all. But Pagan Min is not a sensible man, and so he chooses to give preference to the semi he gets thinking about an immaculately dressed Ajay vaulting the table to hold a pistol to Pagan’s temple rather than common sense.

After all, for Pagan Min to host a dull dinner would be unthinkable. ]

Comments

[vacabdication]

[ Pagan's suite isn't far, but the walk is excruciating. Every step is one in which Ajay has time to realize how messed up the whole scenario is, to turn around and leave. It's also a step closer to what Pagan suspects is already undoable - he's letting himself fall again. And yet none of that concern stop his from wanting to stop as they walk, to press Ajay up against the nearest wall and kiss him breathless all over again. He's sure he must say something along the way - he's almost pathologically incapable of silence, even when it's what's called for - but it's a blur until he pushes the door open. It's a little more restrained than the rest of the palace - still luxurious, of course, designed for comfort in those times when he feels the need to lock himself away even more than usual - but here the carved wood of his bed and furniture isn't inlaid with gold, the silks are soft rather than stiff with intricate embroidery. ]

Bathroom is through there. Bed, obviously, is right here. Make yourself at home.

[vaaris]

[ honestly, ajay is just relieved that they don't run into anyone else during their little trip through the halls. not that he cares about his reputation amongst pagan's staff and security -- okay, maybe he cares a little. it's just, a guy has to have some level of pride, and he's not sure he's ready to throw all of that away and be known as pagan min's late-night booty call.

but no, they get to pagan's bedroom without encountering any other sets of prying eyes, and...

... fuck, now what?

maybe they should just jump right back into making out? at least that was remarkably easy, and ajay's brain seemed content enough to shut the fuck up and just go with the flow. but somehow, he can't come up with something confident and suave enough to just drive things back in that direction, so... well. he clears his throat, barely restrains the urge to fidget with the cuffs of his blazer, and: ]

Guess I should, uh. Wash up a little.

[ getting off the blood smeared everywhere has go to be an improvement, right? so he slides past pagan and into the bathroom, taking just a few moments to goggle at the biggest bathtub he's ever seen and a shower with (count 'em) six separate shower heads before he finally remembers his purpose here. then he shrugs the blazer off his shoulder and ditches it in a heap on the floor, using one of the sinks to scrub the blood drying on his hands and arms.

the sound of the water doesn't entirely drown out the mantra of what the fuck are you doing here ajay that's starting to pick up at the back of his head, but it helps a little. ]

[vacabdication]

[ Ajay goes straight through to the bathroom, and for a long moment Pagan just stands where he is, a flurry of horny turmoil. Should he wait? Should he move to the bed? Pagan may have just recently said that he doesn't know Ajay anymore, but he gets the distinct feeling that Ajay is unlikely to be impressed by Pagan shedding his clothes and waiting nude on the bed for him - and Pagan Min is vain, but there's something about that move that does seem a little like presenting one's paint-by-numbers garden scene to Claude Monet.

In the end, he just follows Ajay through to the bathroom. It's terrible - just tasteless, really - but there's something very sexy about the way Ajay is washing off. Just... standing in a palace bathroom, bespoke blazer puddled on the floor, scrubbing off as casually as if he's just fixed a car. And yes, for once the blood is his own and not the result of a path of destruction carved through people trying to kill him, but the connection is there and it's very appealing.

Well, Pagan got everything he has by being brazen. Why not this too? He grabs a washcloth, passes it under the flow of water, uses it to swipe (mostly ineffectually) at Ajay's cheek, and then leans in for another kiss. Will Ajay immediately see through the fact that Pagan would have kissed him with blood on his face anyway? Probably. He'll worry about whether he's going to get away with this before he starts nitpicking. ]

[vaaris]

[ in truth, there is a not-so-small part of ajay that is wondering whether he should try clambering out one of the windows in here. the terrible thing about making horny decisions is that you have to deal with them afterwards -- and it's just starting to hit him, the idea that he's, what, supposed to wake up next to this guy in bed tomorrow? chat about how pagan used to be with ajay's mom over breakfast, then go back to trying to kill him by lunch? or no, maybe he's just supposed to move into the palace now and play domestic with a dictator, letting everyone else sort out their own fucking war?

shit. shit.

and then, almost like pagan heard his thoughts from outside the door and has decided its in his best interest to derail them, the man waltzes in, makes a half-hearted swipe at the blood on ajay's face, and then proceeds to kiss him again.

really, it's fucking stupid how easy that makes everything seem again. pagan's mouth on his promptly wipes out the part of ajay's brain that's trying to think rationally about any of this, and he's more than happy to let tomorrow-ajay sort out how fucking messy all of this is. he reaches up to grab a fistful of one of pagan's jacket lapels, making a low noise in his throat as he deepens the kiss. ]

[vacabdication]

[ Oh, thank fuck for that. There was still a part of Pagan that was convinced this would be the point at which Ajay dodged the kiss and said said actually, no, but here he is, kissing back, apparently still just as much in stupid and boner-driven mode as Pagan likes to tell himself he is. Better yet, he makes a little noise in his throat that's almost a growl and if Pagan was having doubts about his recovery time before they are certainly soothed now.

He takes a moment just to properly enjoy the kiss, the heat of their mouths together and the way it seems to spill down through his whole body, before he nips at Ajay's lip and pulls back just far enough to speak. ]

You're as clean as I need you to be. If that's not up to your own standards, my shower is certainly big enough to accommodate two. I'd offer you a bath, only I'm not sure I could wait long enough for it to fill.

[vaaris]

[ pagan pulls back from the kiss, and there's a moment where ajay almost forgets himself long enough to chase after it, but -- ]

I kinda get the feeling that you like me better dirty.

[ ... which is the kind of line he's probably going to wake up mortified about tomorrow, but that's another problem for future-ajay. present-ajay shifts so that he's able to sit himself on the edge of the bathroom counter, then tugs pagan into him again for another one of those kisses. it's hungry and demanding -- trying to coax the same out of pagan, wanting everything that isn't this to burn away in the wake of the fire between them. ]

[vacabdication]

Oh, fuck.

[ Pagan didn't actually intend to say that out loud, laced with the kind of warm laughter that gives away his kid-at-christmas excitement over the whole situation. There's room for him to hope Ajay missed it pulling him into that kiss, and he does his damndest to make sure that's true - hard, hot, hungry, even as he has to go hands-free for a moment to tug his blazer off and let it fall to the floor behind him. It's wonderful to be able to place his hands back on Ajay and feel him without his blazer, his body warm and firm under Pagan's touch - but that only prompts him to further greed and he starts popping buttons, intent on getting his hands on bare flesh. ]

[vaaris]

[ honestly, pagan gets away with it only because ajay isn’t sure which one of them says the words out loud. the way pagan kisses him is enough to make his blood molten in his veins, and he’s helpless to stop the low, pleased sound that rumbles out of him in response.

but pagan’s fingers plucking at his buttons is a pretty good source of inspiration, and ajay is quick to do the same. then, once he’s gotten the shirt off, he shoves it roughly off the older man’s shoulders — sliding his hands appreciatively down a chest and torso that’s surprisingly trim, given that he assumed pagan didn’t do much other than lay around the palace and call him up on the radio. ]

[vacabdication]

[ Pagan hums into the kiss as Ajay touches him, the way his hands move over Pagan's skin so good it almost feels as if it's tingling in their wake. He repays it in kind, mapping out the taut planes of Ajay's muscle with a near-reverent hunger. It makes him bolder, and he grabs Ajay's hips to pull him in closer, pressing them flush against each other. ]

I see all that running around you're doing is paying off. What a treat you are.

[vaaris]

[ he sucks in a sharp breath as pagan presses their hips flush together, but it melts back out of them as a low laugh at the comment that follows. ]

Careful. [ scraping his teeth along the older man's jaw with a low hum. ] I'm going to start wondering about your ulterior motives.

[vacabdication]

[ Cheeky. But he likes that. It's another part of Ajay he didn't know about, and it delights him. ]

Would you believe me if I said the most I was hoping for is an inappropriate erection if you showed up in the tux?

[ But the burr of his teeth there is wonderful, wonderful, and inspiring - he tips his head, offering up the stretch of his neck, wanting to feel it there. Less risky for Pagan than is was for Ajay, certainly, but suddenly he wants it very badly. ]

[vaaris]

Yeah, right. Who did you think you kidnapped, James Bond?

[ it was the blazer and jeans or waltz in there naked, and the blazer only barely won out.

but the way pagan tips his head back is a clear enough invitation, and ajay makes a low sound as he kisses his way down the line of the older man's throat. nips teasingly at the hollow there, but it's just an unsatisfying scrape of teeth. ] Almost like you want something.

[vacabdication]

I think it's safe to say I got the inappropriate erection anyway.

[ But then Ajay teases him, and...

holy shit.

How long has it been since he actually had to ask something? How long has it been since what he wanted wasn't immediately his, by virtue of his position and power? Too long. It's strange and unfamiliar and exhilirating. ]

I do. Want something.

[ He could just say it. Or he could lean in, let himself have this experience he hasn't had in so long, and see if he likes it as much as he's starting to suspect he might. ]

I want you to bite down. I want you leave your mark on my skin. Deep enough that I have it days from now. Will you?

[ Come on, Pagan. All in. ]

Please?

[vaaris]

[ okay, well. ajay had mostly been expecting to ruffle pagan's feathers by making him ask for it out loud, so that (and his own reaction to it) catch him more than a little off-guard. but the plume of heat it sends through him is a demanding and immediate thing -- pagan's hair is too short to do much with, but it's just long enough for ajay to be able to get a fistful of it and pull his head back to expose his throat even further. and then he sinks his teeth into that tender spot with a low growl of want; not enough to break the skin, but enough so that the ring of his teeth will be stamped clearly there for anyone to see. and then, just for good measure, he lingers over the spot and sucks, drawing blood to the surface of the skin and making sure the area is flushed and bruised. ]

[vacabdication]

Fuck!

[ Pagan has never let anyone do this to him, so it's something of a shock. Ajay bites down and it fucking hurts, but not for long - almost immediately there's a wave of something else that kicks in, pumping through him and embarrassingly making him melt in Ajay's grip until he's almost limp but for the way his hands are clutching at the younger man. He has just enough presence of mind to keep himself standing, and when it's done he laughs softly, buries his face against Ajay's shoulder as he sucks in a breath. ]

Well. I see what all the fuss is about.

[ Too tender? He turns his face, licks a line up the side of Ajay's throat to try and mask it. ]

[vaaris]

[ if ajay is entirely honest, he's never done that to anyone else. never really had the urge to have anyone do it to him, either, so...

... okay, when it comes to hooking up with dictactors, maybe that's a small entry on his list of firsts.

still. he gets the reaction. and he presses an open-mouthed kiss against the bite mark, feeling a flush of pride despite himself at the sight of it blooming on pagan's skin. he kind of gets the idea that pagan would do one of those televised press conferences with it visible if ajay asked him to -- fuck, he'd probably tell the whole country who gave it to him -- and the idea is... weirdly, kind of a turn on? ]

Maybe we should, uh. Relocate? [ which does not come out remotely suave, but he can't pull off take me to bed with a straight face, and perching on his counter is making his ass go numb. ]

[vacabdication]

Yes. Yes, of course.

[ It's quiet, vaguely stunned, because for a moment Pagan just pauses to press his fingers to the mark where Ajay's mouth was - he can still feel it, like it's pulsing - before he gathers himself properly, takes a step back, and gives Ajay a sharp and lascivious smile. ]

Come to bed with me.

[ He wants to lead Ajay there by the hand. Instead, he just walks there, leaving their clothes discarded on the bathroom floor, removing and dropping his belt along the way. There isn't room for worry about what the fuck he thinks he's playing at any more - just desire, hot and urgent and eliminating any concern about looking silly when he crawls onto the bed and turns to hungrily watch Ajay do the same. ]

[vaaris]

[ that smile makes something flutter at the pit of ajay's stomach -- it's the expression of a predator, all sharp and hungry, and the spike of adrenaline that follows has become a learned response. but it doesn't entirely prevent the little flutter of nerves that crawl back into focus when pagan steps away and turns to head towards the bedroom; with space between them, there's room to doubt himself for what he's doing.

it doesn't help that he's never been one of those people who just ooze sex appeal; there's a not-so-small part of himself that's worried he's going to think of something stupid and start snort-laughing. ugh, fuck.

okay, no. he's ajay ghale. he's taken down entire compounds with nothing but a bow and arrow, he can get laid without screwing it up. so he's trying to exude confidence when he follows pagan back into the bedroom, but the way pagan crawls onto the bed with all the slinky grace of a leopard and then turns like he's expecting a similar performance out of ajay --

fuck. fuck, fuck, fuck. have his palms always been this sweaty? can he wipe them on these stupid expensive jeans without pagan noticing?

... sitting down on the edge of the bed, and using his Very Cool voice when he says: ] Uh. Hey.

[ please just kiss him so he can shut the fuck up already ]

[vacabdication]

Hello.

[ Still warm, still wanting, but it's cautious now. Because of course. Really, it was only a matter of time until Ajay came to his senses, and thought Pagan might have been hopeful that he'd get a few more new and exciting experiences out of it having received the best blowjob of his life is hardly leaving empty-handed. And if he's lucky, and he's careful, Ajay will stay in touch and not vanish out of Pagan's life again in a puff of regret. ]

What do you need?

[vaaris]

[ see, that’s the thing about reality versus expectation. there’s so much care in the question that it knocks ajay a little off-balance all over again; it’s as if what ajay ghale needs is so important to pagan that he’d burn the whole country down twice-over to see it met, and. wow.

it’s be easy, he thinks, to get a little addicted to being at the center of that kind of focus. ]

I — [ he can’t say what he really needs, which is don’t let me think about it, can’t put into words that he wants pagan’s hands and his mouth on him until every other thought is scoured away by fire. what he manages instead is: ] … can you kiss me again?

[vacabdication]

With pleasure.

[ And he does. Perhaps too much; it's just as wanting as before, yes, but this time it's all threaded through with relief that Ajay apparently wasn't on the verge of letting him down gently, with the care he feels. He bites at Ajay's lip, yes, but he cups his face in both hands, and when he slips a hand into Ajay's hair this time it's to stroke softly through it rather than to tug.

Of course, it doesn't take long for need to bubble up again, and this time when he moves back it's to pull Ajay back with him, until he's on the bed properly. ]

At risk of souring the mood, I feel I should be clear. I want you. Very much. But this isn't a transaction. If you change your mind and walk out of here, everything we've spoken about is still yours. Somewhere to stay, meals when you need them, the information you seek. [ Eventually, the throne. ] You owe me nothing.

[vaaris]

[ it’s the kind of kiss that you can’t help but melt into, and it’s exactly what ajay needs. he makes a low sound as he lets himself fall into it — reaches up so that he can curl a hand at the nape of pagan’s neck, the nervous tension in his shoulders unspooling into heat all over again.

so by the time pagan moves to pull him onto the bed, ajay is more than happy to follow along. he even lets himself sink down into the sheets, tugging until pagan is on top of him, and —

oh. blinking like an owl at that little monologue.

does… does pagan think he’s trying to whore himself out for intel? the idea of clearing that with sabal is almost enough to trigger one of those snort-laugh fits he was worried about, and he has to bite down on the inside of his cheek to stifle it.

fuck. but no, it probably requires some kind of an attempt at an explanation, so. ]

No, it’s — [ breaking eye contact, because the ceiling over pagan’s head is less intimidating to say this to. ] I’m not usually — I don’t really —

… I’m kind of not a one night stand person. I mean, I wasn’t. Back home. [ he’s actually not sure what kind of person overall he is in kyrat half the time, so. ] And I know this is… complicated. [ understatement of the year. ]

But I want you. [ and his voice softens, almost shyly, over the words — eyes flicking back to pagan’s. ] And I just want —

[ … okay, he can’t force himself to say fuck me until i can’t remember why this is a terrible idea, so instead? he grabs one of pagan’s hands by the wrist so that he can press it between his legs, and drags him back down for another hungry kiss. ]

[vacabdication]

[ Oh, the sweet boy. It's obviously hard for him to say - hard enough that Pagan suspects there may have been a chance of Ajay fleeing anyway, boner and all - but thankfully he doesn't, and progresses things in a way that decisively derails Pagan's urge to thank him for indulging him. When his hand goes there Pagan hums into the kiss, pleased, and unfortunately immediately breaks it in order to start trying to wrestle Ajay out of those jeans. ]

You know, I think you may have made the right call. These jeans do look very good on you. Now let's see how they look off you.

[ Yes, the temptation to make the "on my bedroom floor" joke was there. He's a little too proud of himself for resisting. ]

[vaaris]

[ okay, they’re clearly back on the right track! kissing! pagan trying to wrestle him out of his clothes!

— and then pagan hits him with that line, and the mortifying snort-laugh ajay has been fighting all along finally makes it’s escape. dammit.

hopefully, the way he hooks his thumbs in the waistband of his jeans and underwear and wriggles them off his hips counts as enough of a distraction. and then he kicks them the rest of the way off even as he drags pagan down for another kiss, nipping sharply at the older man’s lower lip before he deepens it. ]

[vacabdication]

[ Pagan does pause for a moment at that snort-laugh, but fortunately the rapid reveal of a completely nude Ajay distracts him from announcing that he finds it utterly charming. And then there's that kiss, heated and deep, and all Pagan can think to do is moan into it and run his hands down over as much of Ajay's newly-bared flesh as he can reach. God, but he's beautiful. Really just a work of art, and Pagan can't help struggling out of that kiss again briefly. ]

Wait, wait. Let me - just let me look at you.

[ Of course, he doesn't just look. He sits back on his heels for a moment, taking in the sight of Ajay, eyes raking hungrily over him before he even realizes that his hands have followed, coasting over all that warm, bare skin. Just gorgeous. He hums low in his throat and then there's nothing but to get right back to it, planting a kiss on Ajay's chest and working his way up to suckle at his throat again. ]