Nikola had no idea what had brought him to Marcel's cave. He could only smell the smell of chocolate ice cream coming from there.
Hoping in his heart that Marcel was at home. That he was going to come out of the cave, greet him so, as if only a day had passed for Nikola, even though it was 50 years.
He had kept his youth. He was planning to go in the time room for another 50 years, and soon.
There was so much to learn and so little time to learn it. Nikola knew for a fact that if he didn't pay the fee, something the one dragon's carved scales were going to do, then he would miss out on much.
But he wanted to see Marcel before taking himself out of the world to study and grow stronger. Before everything faded away, and the books on offer in the time room's library became his only companion.
He went to the cave's opening. Knocked on the stone.
When Marcel came out, wearing only shorts and a t-shirt with the message: Clean, Dust, Seduce, Nikola knew that this was not going to be an easy meeting.
Still, he took out the bouquet of roses from behind his back and offered it to Marcel.
"Niki?" Marcel was looking him up and down.
The Lich was used to the old Nikola. That adorable, if slightly scrawny, version of him who didn't have much muscle on him.
But this Nikola was not like that at all! He was tall and muscular, and not to mention his hair was longer and in a braid.
"You… grew your hair in a day?" Marcel wanted to run his hand over that braid. To twist his fingers at the ends of it.
To become that, which Nikola would not be capable of ever letting go.
"Fifty years, actually," the brunette made a step towards the Lich. He offered him the flowers. "And I missed you every single day."
"So, you will say yes to the harem now, Niki?" Marcel's green eyes were shining. His shorts were short enough so that Nikola could imagine the behind which had ridden him, that one day, when things were simpler.
"No. But I will turn your head so, that you won't want a harem anymore," Nikola placed a finger under Marcel's chin, making the demon look him in the eyes. "Until I can be the only one, you won't be getting," Nikola leaned in, brushing his lips against Marcel's. "This."
He leaned away, smiling smugly as Marcel's gorgeous green eyes began to blink.
"You… are an adventurer now?" Marcel asked.
Nikola nodded.
"Good! I mean, if that's your thing," Marcel said as he stepped aside to let Nikola in. "I was cleaning the cave. You know, because I had a lazy day. Besides, cuddling with you fed me well enough."
Nikola resisted the urge to sigh. He should have known that Marcel wanting to cuddle would have more than one purpose.
"Would you like to come in for tea? I'll put on a robe," Marcel offered, still looking uncertain.
Nikola nodded.
"I brought cakes," he said, clearly having prepared himself for the date.
****
They were staring at one another, the tea forgotten. Marcel was in new and fresh clothes, freshly showered and in a robe which looked like a wedding suit.
Nikola was still in his normal adventuring clothes.
Grog's advice from before had not left him. If he were shiny, people would want to kill him. And he simply had no time for things like that.
Nikola smiled as he placed his hand near Marcel's.
"You know, I am working on something," he knew that he didn't have too much time. He had to start wooing Marcel before the incubus proclaimed him as a lost cause.
"Something big!"
Marcel nodded, his fingers etching towards Nikola's hand. Their auras were in the air.
The red headed Lich was filling the air with chocolaty smell. Nikola—cinnamon and honey.
If one was to bottle the scent, then the only thing they could bottle it up as would be:
Stumbling fools in love. Neither wants to stop pushing his agenda.
"I think I am on my way to become immortal," Nikola said, as he winked at Marcel. "But for that, I will need the heart of an archdemon. Currently, I am researching where I can find one."
Marcel shifted in his seat.
"Oh? An Archdemon? Good luck with that!" He giggled nervously, taking his hand away from Nikola.
"Why? Marcel, is there something you are not telling me?" The brunette tried to take hold of the Lich's hand, only for Marcel to take it away.
"There is only one Archdemon alive right now, Niki," Marcel took in a deep breath.
His soulmate wanted his heart.
But not in a good way.
"Me."
Nikola began to blink.
"But you clean your cave," he stammered. "And wear shorts!"
"Yes, well, the thing about Archdemons is, that most of the time we have to live like normal people," Marcel told him as he leaned back in his chair. "If it comes down to a fight…"
"Fight?" Nikola could not believe his ears. Marcel thought that he would kill him? "Marcel, I want eternity so I can share it with you! What am I going to do if you are gone? What will keep me warm at night but the dream of your scent? Do you think I will do something as evil as killing you? How will I ever live with something like that?"
Marcel stood up as if burned.
He knew with certainty that this man would never agree to a harem. That he would find another way to become immortal.
But an eternity with love and devotion to a single man was more than Marcel could stomach! It was against his nature! It was against everything he held dear!
"You need to leave," Marcel whispered.
Nikola stood up, only to take Marcel's teacup.
"This touched your lips. I will cherish it," he left.
Not knowing just what his last words had done to Marcel.