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My shop. Strange to think that the only place I've ever known as a home was mine even before I lost my memories.
“What was my aunt like?” I asked Asra, who was cleaning our mugs in the kitchen.
He turned to look over his shoulder and softly smiled. “She was an amazing magician. Very kind. She had an energy that would brighten any room. Kind of like you, MC.”
I blushed a bit. Asra was always saying things like that. I wondered if he was in a sharing mood. Now that I had discovered how long we knew each other, that I had died, and that he had given half his heart to me to bring me back, I wondered if there were any secrets left between us. The thought that circulated my mind now was burning. I didn't think I could suppress it for very long.
“Were we in love? Before?”
I heard a clank as Asra dropped his hands and the mugs hit the sink. His eyes were wide but he wasn't facing me. I stood up, walking to him, wrapping my arms around his waist. He finally spun to face me, taking my arms in his and resting his head against mine.
“We were inseparable. I found a second home with you and your Aunt. Not that Muriel was too happy about it.” I saw smile spread across his face and his eyes went distant. I felt myself pull into one of his memories.
A younger Muriel stood in the forest, staring intently at me, Asra.
“You don't have to keep coming back here you know, to check on me. They'd let you live there.” Muriel was looking away, kicking rocks on the ground. I felt the fondness in Asra swell.
“This will always be my first home, with you, my oldest friend.” Muriel looked away, blushing slightly. Asra continued, “MC is precious to me too… just in a different way.” I felt the blush build on Asra's cheeks. Muriel looked hurt, but I could see the understanding in his eyes.
“Clearly the feeling is mutual.” Muriel observes gruffly.
“Do you think so?” Hope leaps in Asra's chest. He looks down. “I'm not so sure… and it doesn't matter anyway. I'm happy with how things are now.” I could feel Asra smiling in the memory, but deep down there was a trace of pain, a longing.
We disconnect from the memory. Asra is looking away with a pained expression. “It went on like that for years. We did everything together. We'd learn magic and explore, falling asleep side by side in the forest and cave. Sometimes we'd come close to crossing the line of friendship… but never explicitly.” Asra looked me in the eyes now. “I was so scared to lose what we had. Not even knowing that soon I'd lose everything.” His eyes welled up and he blinked away a tear. “In those weeks after you died I regretted so many things. Leaving you alone. Not making the most of our time together. And not telling you how I really felt.” He grabed my hands and placed them on his heart. “But you've felt how I really feel now.”
Again, like at the fountain, I was encompassed in Asra's feelings for me. Euphoric, I felt as if I was slipping away from consciousness. I buried my face in his chest and inhaled his scent deeply, softly sighing into his skin. He placed a hand in my hair and kissed the top of my head.
Drunk on his fond feelings I looked up and cupped his face with my hands. I pulled him closer and pressed my lips against his. Our kiss started off softly, gently. He brought his arms around my waist and pulled me closer.
Soon the switch was flipped and our kisses turned hungry. Yearning. Our tongues danced in each other's mouths and I felt Asra backing me into my bedroom.
We sat on the bed, facing each other, our mouths devouring each other in passion. When we finally parted I looked into his beautiful glossy eyes and saw his lips were turning up into a grin. His smiles always melted my heart.
“This was always your room,” he said, looking around with an air of nostalgia. “I tried not to touch anything, always hoping it would help you regain your memories…” He looked down at his hands. “We'd spend a lot of time here, practicing with the Arcana.” I saw red creep up along his cheeks, clearly remembering something specific. Something that happened between us when we were practicing with the Arcana? I greedily took his hand, hoping for a memory to spring forth. I was disappointed when nothing came forward. Asra, understanding, looked at me with a smile and began to explain. “We used to read the cards for each other,” he looked at the wall, “One time I thought you had found me out. About how I felt about you...”
As if triggered by his words, the energy in the room shifted. Both of us went alert, as the cards hummed between our hands in Asra's pocket. I pulled them out and drew the Arcana that was speaking to me, the Lovers. Asra swallowed, his red deepening. The card and Asra's blushing face triggered something inside me. I felt myself slip away.
Asra was in front of me, though now he was younger. In front of us I was a simple 3 card reading. The Magician Reversed, The Fool, and The Lovers. I could feel myself puzzle the meaning, listening to the cards.
I began, “In the past, you have gotten by with your trickery and cunning. But right now it is not getting you where you need to be. Your mind is clouded about how to handle a situation with someone close to you.” I scrunch up my nose thinking. “Someone you love.” Asra blushed, a mirror image of his older form. “Your poor handling of this situation has not helped in the past, but in the near future there will be a chance for a new beginning.” I stared at him, “Giving way to innocence and spontaneity will help you overcome your clouded feelings and will lead you to love in your future.”
As I read the cards I could feel a pit in my stomach.
“Do you love someone?” I asked him nonchalantly, my insides burning.
Asra looked away studying something in the corner. “Your reading is accurate as always.” He turned and looked me in the eye, “It's amazing how good you are at this, MC, we haven't even been practicing for long.”
Changing the subject. With flattery. I couldn't help but feel the butterflies in my stomach when he stared with his adoring eyes. I looked down at the cards, using two fingers to raise The Lovers, in an embrace.
“What do you think that feels like? Different than hugging?”
We both stared at the card. Our bodies were close, shoulders rubbing against each other.
“Want to try it out and see?” I asked innocently, knowing full well inside what I was after.
Asra was blushing again, eyes wide. He simply nodded his head and stood up, arms out.
“He's kind of like this, right?” Asra asked, a sly smile spreading on his face. I walked up to him and sunk my head into his neck, as depicted on the card. He wrapped his arms around my waist and I rested my hands along the back of his forearms. I felt my heart soar. I could feel deep inside me that I wanted to stay here forever. Those same emotions in Asra, now echoed in my own former self.
I loved him too.
We pulled away from each other, both laughing and blushing.
“That was kind of weird huh?” I covered for myself, catching a strange look in Asra's eyes. He was about to say something when my Aunt's voice called from the other room.
“Dinner is ready kids!” We looked at each other, smiled, and exited the room.
The memory fades, and Asra and I were back in my room. Years later, but almost exactly the same, as if suspended in time. I searched Asra's face to find shock and tears. I gasped, “Were you there too?” Part of me felt sheepish, having Asra read my intimate and private emotions. Another part was relieved. Another secret that separated us revealed, another missing piece of my past reclaimed. I loved Asra and he loved me.
“Yes,” he said, pressing a hand to his chest. A smile began to cross his face, “I saw and felt what you did that day. The same day I was remembering.” His eyes were dancing. He turned to face me and took my face in his hands. The smile that had begun was now a full-fledged grin. He was over flowing with happiness. The feelings were contagious. Our lips met again as we embraced each other, falling back on the bed. Asra was on top of me, sucking on my lips, my chin. I let out a hushed breath as I felt him work on my neck with his mouth. His hands traveled down to my clothing and he deftly unfastened them from my body. I felt the desire bubble up inside me to match his and started stripping off his scarf and shirt. I run my hands across his bare chest, taking in the beautiful way the light reflected off his copper skin. Asra removed my last piece of clothing as I pulled off his pants. Soon we were both naked, panting in restrained passion, eating each other alive with our eyes. His amorous gaze met mine and an adoring smile crossed his face. “Beautiful,” he whispered, lowering his face to mine. We kissed again and our hands explored each other's bodies. Moving naturally and in sync, to all the places our minds anticipated from the other. Sharing a heart made the movements seamless.
I let out a moan as Asra clamped his mouth around my nipple, his tongue swirling around the tip while his other hand pinched and twisted the other side. I let my hands rake down his back and heard him gasp in pleasure. He raised his head, locking his bleary eyes with mine. His fingers reached my most sensitive parts, rubbing in circular motions which made my head spin. My voice escaped in moans and groans, the whole time Asra lovingly staring at me. I felt myself peak and wriggled away from his grasp.
“Asra, I need you.” I begged, wrapping my fingers in his hair and pulling him towards me. He towered over me, placing his arms on either side of my shoulders so that his forehead could rest on mine.
He positioned his hard cock so that it rubbed against my opening. Still reeling from the sensitivity, another moan escaped my lips. Asra echoed the moan as he slowly sunk inside me, penetrating me fully. His breaths turned ragged and he stared at my intensely.
“I love you. I've always loved you.” His lips were mere millimeters from mine, so that I could feel his warm breath on my face as he whispered these words.
“I've always loved you too.” I whispered back, before our lips met. I could see his eyes light up, and feel his unrestrained grin as he kissed me fiercely, bucking his hips and thrusting into me. Together our hips rocked and we cried in pleasure. I could feel his hard cock pulsing inside me with each thrust. Our hips grinding into each other exicted the sensitive spots outside of my opening. I wrapped my legs and arms around him, pulling him as close to me as possible. I could feel his warmth radiating on my skin. He was always so warm, so loving, so tender. Even now. Our lips only parted so he could whisper sweet nothings in my ear and groan in pleasure. His sounds excited me, bringing me closer to the edge. Together, we sailed higer and higher until we both cascaded into a shared orgasm. We both called out, grabbing each other and shaking. Our eyes locked the whole time as we watched each other come undone.
Exhausted, we fell back on the bed with our limbs outstretched. Sweat pooled on our skin and we stared up at the ceiling. Almost immediately, Asra took my hand, as if he couldn't bear not touching me for even a second. I couldn't help but empathize. I never wanted to be apart from him again, either. I turned so that I could rest my head on his chest and felt his beating heart. He turned sideways to embrace me and I placed a hand on his chest as my legs wrapped around him. With my free hand I grabbed his wrist and moved his hand over my heart.
With each pulse I felt our energy mingle and radiate.
“We’re lucky that your heart is big enough to contain both of our love,” I said, brushing my finger over his full lips.
“I'm the lucky one. To get a second chance with you. A new beginning.” He reached out and tucked my hair behind my ear. He pulled my body closer until we were flush with each other. Together, we slowly drifted to sleep, a fool and magician tangled in the lover's embrace.