[M] Fake it till you make it

Luke hums softly, pressing into the kiss without another word. Feels warm... And against this dreary cold, he was more than willing to latch onto some of the heat the other man was radiating.

Unfortunately, he couldn't quite ignore the chill forever, and breaks the kiss, parting from Ishir with a little bite to the man's lower lip. "...You know somewhere warm we can fool around in?" He asks with a slight tilt to his head, voice low.

None of this had been calculated into his plan, but Ishir was nothing if not adaptable. And so he cornered the other without a second thought.

When the kiss was broken with a bite to his lower lip, Ishir let out a soft moan while his eyes fluttered open. "You're in luck," he grinned. "I live just a few streets away." He didn't know how he felt about living in the Upper Ring again, but right now he had something to distract him from that whirlwind of feelings.

He pushed his lips against the other's hard and quick before he grabbed the man's hand and led him down the street.

Now that's a pretty sound... He thinks idly, temporarily stifling the urge to try and pull it out of him again. Luke blinks a few times as he listens.

"Oh? Lead the way..." He was quietly relieved he didn't have to make the trip home in this weather. His house was... not nearby at all. He makes a pleased sound when their lips meet again... and follows him without another word.

The sound the other uttered almost made Ishir want to stay there. In the back of his mind, though, he knew that was a bad idea. If someone saw them like this it would start a rumour mill he’d be unable to stop and that would make his plans, if not unexecutable, at least difficult to carry out. Then there was also the cold seeping into his bones that reminded him he now had a warm house to return to and so he grabbed the other’s hand and led him down the street.

It only took a few turns until they arrived at the building. It wasn’t as big as some of the other houses in the Upper Ring since it was only him and not a whole family living there, but it definitely also wasn’t one of the smaller ones. Ishir had wanted to make a statement and so had bought the biggest one he could afford.

...Wow, I'm banging a rich kid.

Is the first thought that comes to mind as Luke blinks up at the big house that they arrive in. He mentions nothing of it, following the other inside. Least it's warm... He practically couldn't wait to peel his drenched clothes off, maybe find a towel eventually to dry himself off...

Ishir let the other inside the house first after which he entered. Luckily his butler didn’t work during the night. He’d made that decision because he needed some time to himself—the rage needed to be let out preferably when no one was around—and because it was easier to just not hire anyone during the night than to have to keep them out of the house one night a month without that being noticeable. Dead butlers shouldn’t be too hard to cover up, but he rather have no chance that someone discovered his affliction.

Inside, Ishir took off his jacket and dropped the wet fabric on his couch. His chequered shirt was also soaked, but he kept the thing on for now. The other could take that off later.

Phew, out of the rain. Luke visibly relaxes once the door is shut. He pushes his soaked hair out of his eyes then shrugs off his coat. It hadn't done him much good, unfortunately, since his shirt was steeped in water, but... It gave him a bit of extra time, and that was good enough.

His clothing was awfully simple: just a white dress shirt and a formal set of black pants. He moves to kick off his shoes and socks without much other thought.

Once Ishir had kicked off his shoes, he turned on an oil lamp. Not that they really needed to see much for what they were planning, but he’d rather not stump his toe and ruin the mood by going into a rage—though that might do the opposite if you looked at how their interaction had gone up till now.

With the light on, he turned back towards the other man. His clothing was simple, just a white shirt and black trousers. Quite the opposite of Ishir with his tailored trousers and chequered shirt. “Could use some fashion advice too,” Ishir smirked as he moved closer.

"When I find a tree that grows money, then we can talk about fashion," he murmurs sassily, reaching out to wrap his arm around the other's waist. "Also... you're shorter than me," he says, a little grin on his face.

Ishir hummed in agreement. “Would be nice a tree like that,” he smiled. Of course he had money now, but that would only last him for so long. It had taken him years to gather enough to move to the Upper Ring and afford a lifestyle like this, it would run out in only a fraction of that time.

The next words made Ishir pout. He was used to being the smallest in the room, but that didn’t mean he liked the comments that were always made. However, the expression quickly turned into a devilish smirk. “Guess I’ll need to make you bend down then,” he said as he grabbed the other by the collar to pull him down enough so he could kiss him.

He snickers at that and grins a little more when Ishir speaks. Luke doesn't resist as he's dragged down into the kiss, a pleased little sigh slipping out. He tangles his hands in the other's hair. He kisses him back with vigor. Warmer this way...

Fingers tangle into his hair as he lets his own hands slip up to cup the other’s face. They’re both still wet, but the warmth makes that easily forgotten. Ishir pushes the other to the wall, kissing him until he needs to break for air.

Luke let's out a small noise as he's pushed against the wall, tightening his grip on the other as he's kissed. He lasts a surprisingly decent amount of time before lightly tugging on the other's hair to pull him away.

"Someone's a bit eager..."

Ishir knew he’d have to breathe soon, but only gave into the feeling when he felt the other tug on his hair. He smirked at the comment. “You rather have me go back to wanting to punch you?” he asked, laughing at how differently their interaction had started out in comparison to what they were doing now.

"Nah, making out with you is way better... Speaking of which, shouldn't I know your name for things like this?" He rubs little patterns into the other man's sides, shifting a bit to press a kiss to his neck.

Ishir laughs at the comment. He loves a good fight, but this is definitely way better. "Yes, we can't have it that you have nothing to scream later," he jokes. Ishir pauses as he exposes his neck more to the other. "Ishir," he introduces himself. "And you?"

Luke snorts. "Everyone always assumes I'm a screamer," he says, playfully pouting. He gives Ishir's collarbone a little nip. "Luke."

"Well, you do like taking," he says. "Maybe you're hard to shut up in other situations as well." While Ishir had wanted to pick a fight with his fists earlier, the other hadn't stopped challenging him with words. Ishir's hands raked over the man's back while he introduced himself. "Nice to meet you Luke," he grinned. They sure had done the standard meeting someone a bit backwards.

"Talking is good for business," he says breezily, fiddling with one of the many buttons on Ishir's shirt. Luke laughs particularly loudly at the greeting, a smirk firmly settled onto his face. "Nice to meet you, too, Ishir."

He pops one of the buttons out of its slot, punctuating the statement further with a bite to the other man's ear. "And nice to bang you, too," he murmurs, voice caught between a hum and a chuckle.

So the other did something for a living that required him to talk. Not having any use for the information right away, Ishir pushed it back and greeted Luke. They were getting to know each other after all.

As Luke started working on the buttons of his shirt, Ishir did the same to the other's shirt, popping them out one by one and admiring what became visible underneath. He laughed at what the other murmured "That too," he agreed after which he pressed a kiss against the man's neck as his hands kept working on the buttons.

Luke chuckles when he agrees... and feels a bit of relief as his shirt is unbuttoned, the wet cloth pushed away from his fairly cool skin. He makes quick work of the other's top piece, gingerly sliding it off Ishir's shoulders. He takes a second to admire the man's now bare skin, lightly brushing an appreciative hand against his chest before giving him another kiss to the shoulder.

His shirt slides off his shoulders as he keeps working on the other's buttons. Ishir hadn't thought of it before, but in this moment he realises that the scars on his torso are now completely visible. Some of them caused by the hard work he's done in the Lower Ring, some he's accidentally inflicted on himself as a lycanthrope when he was locked in a cage during a full moon and wanted to escape. Hoping that the other wouldn't pay them too much attention—because how would he explain this?—, he finishes unbuttoning Luke's shirt and grabs his chin so he can kiss him again.

Luke notices... and lightly brushes his fingers against those scars... It's brief... But those extra seconds were likely easily spotted. He says nothing of it, though, tossing Ishir's shirt aside and letting himself be dragged into another kiss. He wraps his arms around him, holding him nice and tightly against his body...

And he stays close as the night continues on, peppering the man with the sort of intimacy only strangers could take from each other.

Ishir freezes for a moment when Luke brushes his fingers over some of the scars on his torso, only relaxing again when they're wrapped up in each other, kissing.

The night continues like their conversation had started, giving and taking, and ends with them sprawled over each other as Ishir slowly falls asleep.

As soon as the rush of it all slows down, the comfort of the bed and the warmth of the other quickly lull him into a steady slumber. He doesn't move much in his sleep, though he holds on tightly to Ishir throughout the night, snoring softly.

It's a bit later in the morning when he stirs, the sun and the sounds of life filling the streets pulling him out of his dreams. Mm? Luke blinks a few times, processing where exactly he was. ...Oh, that's right, I was heading home from a house call and... He glances around the room.