Disclaimer: If you haven't read Bloodline this won't make any sense to you. Unless you're cool with reading about Mika getting laid with no context, then hey. Welcome aboard.

"I wrote this strictly for my own enjoyment" is something I say a lot. But I don't think I've ever meant it more than I do right now. The last thing I ever expected was for Renley to fill any sort of role other than a brief nuisance to Mika at one point during Bloodline, to drop a few words about Kurda and make Mika think about things he didn't necessarily want to think about. And then I had way too much fun with him. And then people started telling me they liked him (yall are nothing but enablers I s2g). And then I wrote him some more. And I had so much fun developing his dynamic with Mika that I literally had to tell myself to chill out and remember why we're here. As far as Bloodline goes, Renley and Mika have run their course at this point. And I don't consider that a spoiler because... come on. I didn't write over 200k words just to change my end goal at the last minute.

Renley is not the one great love of Mika's life, but by the time they part ways in Bloodline, Mika has grown to love him in his own way. There's a lot to explore between the two of them. And recently, during periods of writers block on Bloodline, I started digging into this to give my brain a break. This will be a collection of one-shots covering MikaRenley interactions. Some will be never-before-seen. For example, this one is about the first night they hooked up, to which I decided not to devote a whole chapter in Bloodline. (featuring my extremely noncommittal attempt at smut). Others will be re-writes of scenes directly from Bloodline, told from Renley's perspective instead of Mika's.

Also - Double Espresso Shot is a play on Dirty Chai. Kurda is the chai - take that away and you're left with the dirty. The espresso, aka Mika. And we all know the reason Mika has such mixed feelings about Renley is largely because of how much he reminds Mika of himself.

Song: What She Wants by Luke Bryan. (Note I did slightly alter the lyrics to male pronouns for this)

Enjoy!


He walks up, velvet rope unhooks

He snaps his fingers and a drink comes

He locks you down with just one look

He's got this whole club undone

There were about fifty non-staff vampires in the mountain, and almost all of them were in the Hall of Rush Flon'x tonight. It had been a long, gruelling day of meetings and strategy sessions and Paris had finally dismissed everyone from the Hall of Princes with strict orders to unwind. Mika stayed back with Paris for another hour or so before joining them.

Renley and Mika worked together on a pretty regular basis, but they hadn't spoken one-on-one since the night Mika got back from his five year stint in the field. The night Renley got a little too honest with his opinions about the infamous Kurda Smahlt - and it became immediately apparent that even after six-ish years, it was still a touchy topic for Mika.

In hindsight, Renley supposed he was lucky to still be alive after basically cornering Mika in an empty hallway and making out with him unprompted. That was grounds for arrest, at minimum. Renley didn't know if there was a punishment precedent for sexually harassing a Prince, and he didn't want to be the one to set it. Impulse control had never been Renley's forté, and there was just something about Mika that drew him in like a magnet. He couldn't help himself.

But hey, Mika kissed him back. And not without a healthy amount of lust. Sure, he'd been hammered. And sure, he'd had thrown a mug at Renley's head barely thirty seconds prior to the kiss, but Renley wasn't one to get hung up on the minor details. All things considered, it was a hell of a kiss.

The entire atmosphere of the room changed the moment Mika walked in. As if his presence alone was enough to supercharge the air itself. A great cheer went up from the crowd of revellers, and they greeted him with enthusiastic waving and shouted toasts. And like always, Mika took it all in stride. He raised one hand and gave a deft, well-practiced wave, a quick nod, and an obligatory smile. As if the gathered vampires were clamouring paparazzi, and this grimy sporting hall was a red carpet at the Oscars or someshit. And Mika was a star. The star.

Mika made his way over to a table where one of the other higher-up Generals was located, and his ass wasn't even on that seat for 3 seconds before someone brought him a fresh, cold drink. And in another 3 seconds, he was surrounded by half a dozen other vampires who hung onto his every word. Renley suspected Mika was talking about war stuff, since that's all there was to talk about these days. But then again, he could've been giving them an update on the weather, or what he had for breakfast, and they would've been equally enthralled.

On the surface of course, Mika remained the picture-perfect poster child he'd always been. As long as there were eyes on him, he looked like he'd never had a bad day in his life. Being the centre of attention came so easily to him. The legendary Mika Ver Leth commanded a room simply by existing in it, making it feel like it was a privilege just to breathe his oxygen. Even though he was easily identifiable by his consistently dark attire (because maintaining a signature look is just personal branding. Marketing 101, duh) he was every inch the golden son of Vampire Mountain.

Power and politics were the name of the game, after all. The game Mika played better than anyone. Even the toughest shark in the sea doesn't dare let the other sharks know he's bleeding, because they'll fucking eat you alive. So it took a skilled people-reader to pick up on the fleeting mannerisms that betrayed Mika's royal facade. The second he was out of the spotlight, his entire demeanour changed, as though he'd taken off some invisible mask. And once that was gone, he just looked empty. As though his body was on autopilot and his mind was just along for the ride.

If he's on the rebound, you ain't gonna know it

Coming off a heartbreak, he ain't gonna show it

He's eyes caught, red dot, locked on me, yeah

It wasn't that Renley was staring. His eyes were just in the wrong place, at the wrong time, on the wrong night. Or maybe it was right - jury's still out on that one.

There was an informal wrestling tournament happening in the sparring ring. Two vampires would go at it, and the winner would pick his next opponent. Renley was halfway through his first turn and he was doing very well for himself. His opponent was Tor Barclay, who was shorter than Renley but fast as fuck. It was difficult to stay ahead of him, but Renley was hanging tough. A few more well-placed hits, and Tor would be down.

Hand to the gods, Renley didn't mean to look at Mika. He knocked Tor to his knees, but rather than keep an eye on his opponent like anyone with a shred of common combat sense, Renley looked up, across the room. And Mika was looking back at him.

Renley didn't remember pausing, or freezing. But he must have, because next thing he knew he was face-down on the mat . Head pounding, seeing stars, as the crowd cheered for Tor. Game over. Renley got up slowly, shook Tor's hand and congratulated him before making way for the next challenger. Renley wouldn't dream of showing it, but he couldn't deny his ego was bruised. This kind of thing just didn't happen to him.

He wandered over to the corner where the bar table was located. He needed a good, stiff drink after that loss. He poured himself some ale and took a hearty sip.

"You're going to need something stronger than ale to forget how embarrassing that was." a sudden voice came behind him.

Renley whipped around sharply, immediately recognizing it. Mika was leaning lazily against the wall, seeming to have materialized out of thin air. His steely eyes wandered critically up and down Renley's body as though conducting an assessment. And yielding less-than-impressive results. Renley rolled his eyes in response.

"Right. I'm sure you've never lost a single fight in your entire life." The General replied scathingly. He crossed his arms and held Mika's gaze.

Renley was a little surprised that night in the hallway when he realized he was actually a little taller than Mika. Maybe it was because Mika was usually up on the throne platform looming over the Hall of Princes. Or maybe it was the way Mika carried himself; his fuck-around-and-find-out personality certainly heightened the intimidation factor. But in the rare moments like this, when Mika was off-duty and temporarily free from professional obligations, he didn't seem quite so imperious. He was still a fine physical specimen, but when he was at ease he seemed... smaller.

Renley stayed calm and gave Mika the same shrewd once-over Mika had just given him. Meanwhile Mika shrugged, and casually examined the fingernails on his left hand as though Renley wasn't interesting enough to keep his entire focus.

"Of course I've lost fights." Said Mika noncommittally. "I usually don't, though."

Renley arched an eyebrow and took another long drink, regarding Mika out of the corner of his eye as he did so.

"Ever think people just let you win just because they think you'll chuck them on the stakes if they beat you?" Renley remarked, after draining the last of his mug.

"Probably." Said Mika. "Gets kind of boring for me, if I'm being honest. I prefer a challenge." He then carelessly barged past Renley to pour himself a fresh drink, while glancing over reproachfully. As though he was surprised Renley hadn't gotten out of the way.

"Makes sense. I've heard you're difficult." Renley replied flatly. The word was barely past his lips when Mika's eyes locked onto him, thunderstorm grey narrowing slightly. Now it was clear Renley had his undivided attention.

"That's funny. I've heard you're easy." Mika shot back, perfectly straight-faced and without a shred of hesitation.

Renley blinked.

Ooookaaaay then.

"If you're referring to my above-average people skills-" Renley began slowly.

"I'm referring to how I know for a fact you've fucked at least two vampires in this room alone, actually." Mika interrupted.

Renley didn't know whether to laugh or bristle. Instead, he kept his face passive. Not rising to that bait today.

"And the fact that you know that, says more about you than it does about me." Said Renley smoothly.

"I didn't know that. I took a guess, and you confirmed it." Mika replied. He flashed a fleeting, brittle smile before taking another long drink.

Renley felt the blood rise into his face, but held onto his composure.

Oh, you came to play? Let's play.

"You think I'm offended?" He smirked back as Mika drained his second drink. "You're the one who was minutes away from being number three, last time we talked."

"In your dreams. I don't do third place." Mika snorted.

"You know what? I'm glad I decided not to take you to bed that night." Renley replied evenly, as though they were at a clan business meeting discussing bylaws. "Adjust your attitude, then we'll talk. Sire."

Renley knew he'd done it now. He'd gotten under Mika's skin. Mika looked incensed, but only for a split second before he returned his face to that signature mask of chilly detachment.

"You decided nothing." Said Mika icily. "You came onto me, and I put you back in your place. You're lucky I didn't have you arrested, never mind kill you myself. And I could've easily done either."

"And yet, you didn't." Renley answered with a indifferent little shrug. He turned to walk away, then paused and added over his shoulder, "But if that's how you want to remember it, fine. Whatever helps you sleep at night."

Mika arched an eyebrow, and let out a harsh laugh before turning cold again.

"I absolutely promise you don't even make the list of top hundred thousand things I think about when I'm going to sleep."

"You sure? You're the one who was staring at me while I was fighting. You're the one who followed me over here." Said Renley lightly. "If I didn't know better, I'd think you were having regrets about how we left things that night. But luckily for you, I know better."

Mika glared daggers and took a threatening step closer to Renley. But Renley recognized it for what it was - an empty threat. Most vampires would turn and run for the fucking hills if Mika Ver Leth advanced on them with that look in his eyes. But Renley wasn't most vampires. So he held his ground.

"You have no idea what you're talking about." Said Mika, dropping his voice to a growl so low Renley had to listen closely to catch the words.

"You say you prefer a challenge? Try it, then." Said Renley, lowering his voice to match Mika's, the words turning into an almost sensual purr. "You really think you're so high above me? Stop telling me, and show me. Challenge me in that ring."

Mika laughed again, brittle and humourless.

"General, you're not even worth the effort it'd take for me to walk over there."

Renley laughed too. He never intended to set this game in motion, but that was fine. Because he was about to win.

"It's fine, Mika. I get it." He replied breezily, flashing a jovial grin, knowing his casual use of Mika's first name would throw him off balance. "We both know you couldn't handle me anyway."

He wants my hands on his body

He wants to burn like he's made of fire

Said, he ain't going home 'til we

Drink every drop of kentucky dry

About twenty seconds later they were squaring off in the sparring ring. Mika was carrying himself just as calmly as he always did, but Renley could feel the intensity radiating from him.

"Just a fair warning," said Renley as they circled each other. "When I say challenge, I mean challenge. I'm not going to go easy on you just because they gave you your own special chair and a fancy title. You're on my level now."

Mika scoffed and rolled his eyes - a reflexive response to just about everything Renley said, apparently.

"Fine. Let's make this interesting." Said Mika.

"I'm listening."

"If I win, I demote you." Said Mika vindictively. "You have to retake your trials if you want to be General Azerion again."

And by his facial expression, it looked like he was expecting Renley to stand down. So Renley did the only sensible thing - he called Mika's bluff.

"Technically that'd be a suspension, not a demotion. Demotion's permanent, and has to be affirmed by at least two Princes. You really should know these things." Renley quipped, not flustered in the slightest. "And just for the record, I'm aiming for Sire Azerion. Passing my trials twice would just look that much better on me."

Mika's lips parted in a restrained snarl. He was doing a stellar job of reining in his annoyance. Renley could tell he'd been expecting much more hesitation. Renley grinned wickedly at him.

"And if I win..." Renley paused, pretended to think about it. "You let me pour your drinks for the rest of the night."

"Oh, so you can roofie me. Do you want to get dropped on the stakes? Cause that's how you get dropped on the stakes."

Renley laughed loudly.

"Would you get over yourself?" He smirked. "Believe it or not, my life does not revolve around seducing you. I took my shot ages ago, and it didn't pan out. I've moved on. Now if you want to fight me, get on with-"

Mika didn't waste another second. He lunged across the ring before the words were out of Renley's mouth, staff aimed directly at the General's face. Renley whipped out of the way at the last millisecond and launched a counterattack that Mika effortlessly blocked, smiling grimly as he did so.

Renley immediately realized he'd overestimated himself. Mika may not have been a brutish brawler like Arrow or Vancha, he still fought just as mercilessly as either of them. And nobody ever said it out loud, but Mika was smarter than the other two combined. Renley had a few inches of height and a few pounds of weight over Mika, but not enough to make a real difference. Renley's role as General allowed him to spend more time training than Mika did these days, but it didn't matter because Mika had twice as much experience on his side. And for all the hours he logged sitting in the Hall of Princes, his combat skills certainly hadn't suffered for it. He was fucking deadly, and Renley got the impression Mika was playing with him, like a cat with a mouse. Renley held his own, but for every move he made, Mika was two steps ahead of him.

Renley was backed into a corner and about to lose spectacularly when he threw all his strength into a last-ditch attempt to sway the fight in his favour. He lunged fiercely at Mika's right side, then changed track on the fly and feinted left.

It worked.

The two of them went down hard, Mika on his back and Renley on top of him, eyes locked.

The crowd began to cheer, hesitantly at first. It was an unspoken clan tradition that the Princes were expected to partake in combat challenges with their inferiors and accept losses gratefully. But being an truly exceptional warrior was a core requirement for a vampire to ascend to Princehood; so when they chose to fight they rarely lost. Especially when they're Mika Ver Leth.

Mika's facial expression remained completely neutral as he stared up at Renley, both their faces glistening in sweat as they panted in unison from the intensity of the fight.

"Enjoying the view, General?" Mika remarked.

It was then Renley realized he'd been pinning Mika to the floor probably longer than necessary. The referee had already signalled his victory. It was over.

He quickly released Mika and they both stood up. Mika glanced at the crowd, then gave Renley a diplomatic smile and a handshake that seemed demonstrative. But the crowd cheered even louder, applauding Mika's sportsmanship and Renley's victory. Just some good, clean, Vampire Mountain fun.

"Alright, get it over with." Said Mika boredly as they left the sparring ring and headed for the bar table. "Get me drunk so you can make your move, and I'll shut you down all over again and get on with my life."

"Always so humble." Said Renley with a wry smirk. "I suppose I won fair and square, didn't I?"

"It would certainly appear so." Mika replied, rather pointedly as he took a seat. Then he arched an eyebrow ever so slightly, and it didn't go unnoticed by Renley's keen eye.

Renley's jaw dropped. How had he not figured it out immediately? Mika had the upper hand since the start. No way he'd trip at the finish line.

"You let me win!"

"Hmm. That doesn't sound like something I'd do." Said Mika. He almost sounded bored, but his eyes looked anything but. There was fire in them - a steady blaze that Renley couldn't quite look away from. Not even as he filled a glass with strong whiskey and set it down hard in front of Mika. Tiny droplets of the dark liquor spilled over the sides of the glass and trickled down onto the dusty wooden table.

"Drink up." Said Renley, his voice low and soft again. Mika was still looking up at him with that mystifying, unreadable look in his eyes.

"Are you also having a drink, or are you just going to stand there and watch me like a fucking degenerate?" Mika inquired bluntly.

Renley smiled again, and poured a second whiskey.

Don't even know what he'll do when he does it

Palm of his hand, I'm his in the blink of an eye

He don't take no and I love it

He gets what he wants

And I get to be what he wants tonight

And I get to be what he wants tonight

Maybe Renley shouldn't have been so surprised at how well Mika could handle his liquor. Being a Prince came with a lot of social obligations. And a lot of social obligations came with a lot of alcohol. Renley was no stranger to any of that, but Mika had been playing this game for much longer.

"I thought you said you could drink anyone under the table." Mika snorted after he slammed back his umpteenth drink. He was slurring ever so faintly, but his coordination hadn't suffered. His every movement was just as effortlessly precise when lightly drunk as they were when he was sober.

"What I said was, I've never met anyone who could drink me under the table." Renley countered, trying to keep his voice steady. He was still fully alert, aware, and in control - but his vision was getting a little fuzzy around the edges.

"Then you haven't met that many people." Said Mika. He rolled his eyes, and then he yawned. Who does this man think he is?

"Am I keeping you up, Sire?" Renley drawled, mirroring Mika's eye-roll.

"Little bit." Said Mika, shrugging his well-muscled shoulders.

"Feel free to go to bed, then." Said Renley dismissively. "You held up your end of the deal. You let me pour your drinks - all ten of them."

"The alternative was pouring my own drinks. And it's been a long day. Besides, you mix them strong. I like strong." Mika replied noncommittally, tossing back the last of drink ten. He slammed the glass down and looked suspiciously around the room, which had cleared out considerably over the past several hours. "Where the fuck did everyone go?"

"It's obscenely late." Said Renley. "At this point you might as well just carry on up to the Hall of Princes to start your work day."

"I could." Said Mika. His eyes scanned the room one last time before landing back on Renley. "I'm still thirsty, though."

He got up to refill his glass, but Renley cleared his throat loudly.

"What?"

"We had a deal. I pour all your drinks tonight."

"Get pouring, then." Mika retorted impatiently, sitting back down and sliding his glass towards Renley.

"I think I'm tired of whiskey." Said Renley with mock thoughtfulness. "If you want to keep drinking, you'll drink what I pour you."

"Or I could just... knock your lights out and carry on my way."

Renley chuckled.

"Come on, I have a bottle of imported wine in my cell I've been dying to open. It's rare and obnoxiously overpriced - you'll love it."

"I'm going to wake up naked in the woods, aren't I?" Said Mika.

"Do you want to wake up naked in the woods? I can arrange it, but it'd be an awful lot of work for me." Renley shot back, heaving a long-suffering sigh while trying not to burst out laughing. It was no easy task. Then he paused and smiled ruefully. "You know that bet wasn't real, right? I can't force you to come back to my room with me."

Mika arched an eyebrow skeptically.

"Really? I was being dead serious about demoting you. Wouldn't have hesitated for a second if I won."

"You're right, I knew that. I was just testing you." He informed Mika.

"And you're our top General?" Said Mika snidely. "I would've been eaten alive at my first negotiation if I'd been as transparent as you."

"Fortunately, we can't all be Mika Fucking Ver Leth."

"Fortunately indeed."

"Some of us have to settle for fucking Mika Ver Leth." Renley shot back instantly. Maybe it was the alcohol, or maybe it was the magnetic intensity of Mika's gaze. But that was impulsive. Even for him.

Renley thought for sure he'd crossed an invisible line. He waited for the vicious retaliation he was sure was coming. Because nobody says something that wildly inappropriate to any of the Princes and gets away with it.

Mika tilted his head a little as he observed Renley, again reminding him of a cat observing a mouse before going in for the kill. But Mika smiled. It was a cold, calculating smile. But there was a curiosity about it, too. Whatever game they were playing, Mika was into it. And Renley was all about it.

"Like I said, I'm never going to fuck you." Said Mika with a distinct air of condescension, and Renley scoffed loudly.

"Who said anything about you fucking me? Hell of an assumption you're making."

And then he couldn't help but let out a laugh of amusement and satisfaction as he watched Mika's mental gears turn, trying to do the math on that one. A few different expressions flickered across his face. Offended. Intrigued. Disgusted. Amused. And possibly... a little impressed.

And that was the exact moment Renley knew without a shadow of a doubt he'd won the game. A devilish grin lit his face. But he played it cool.

"I'm going to bed." He told Mika, taking care to sound extra disinterested. "If you follow me, I'll make it worth the trip. If not, no hard feelings. But you won't get a third chance. Think real hard about it, Sire."

And Renley got up from the table and walked away without a backwards glance.

I get to catch all his secrets

Sequins bouncing off flashing lights

If he wants it then we're leaving

Get me home, park the truck, cut the tires

I get to be where he goes when he's lonely

The last door of the night he's closing

Oh, I know he could have anything but

Mika's self-restraint was admirable. Renley was already back in his room undressing, thinking he must've misread the situation and Mika wasn't coming after all. Then he heard the door creak open. He spun around, grinning hungrily. An electric thrill of anticipation shot down his spine. One swift motion from Mika's powerful body and suddenly Renley was pinned up against the wall, getting even drunker the remains of whiskey on Mika's breath.

"Took you long enough." Renley murmured. "Fuck, for a second I thought I was just imagining how bad you want me."

"Get over yourself." Mika growled, as he kissed his way down Renley's neck.

"I'd rather just get on top of you." Renley murmured in his ear.

"Then what the fuck are you waiting-"

Mika didn't have to ask twice. Renley was done waiting. Using the wall behind him as leverage, he turned the tables and threw his full body weight into Mika, knocking him against the desk in the corner of the room. As good a place as any to start out. Renley took his time getting Mika out of his clothes. And when Mika let out a low groan of impatience, Renley only moved slower.

Once their clothes were finally scattered around the room, Renley gripped Mika by the hips and steered him onto the thick pile of animal hides in the corner he used as a bed - he preferred that over a coffin. He pushed Mika down onto his back, holding both Mika's wrists above his head with one hand and using his other hand to drive him wild. He continued to kiss Mika with vicious intensity.

"Is this what you wanted?" Renley teased, pulling his lips back from Mika's for a second. "Why didn't you just ask?"

"Because that'd make me a slut, like you." Mika growled, their faces so close together his lips grazed Renley's as he spoke.

"Funny, you're doing a really good impression of one right now." Renley chuckled, loving the way Mika moaned at his touch, and absolutely revelling in the way he rolled his hips upwards to align with Renley's. His breath hitched with the sensation of fire in his lungs as space between them shrank to almost nothing. They were rapidly nearing the line Renley never actually expected to close in on, nevermind cross in.

He stopped moving his hips for a moment, refocusing his attention on Mika's face. Both Renley's hands cupping that artfully chiselled jawline, drawn in and held there by those mystifying, storm-grey eyes that were so moody yet so soulful at the same time. There was no doubt that the gods were showing off when they made Mika - from his legendary mind, to his fine-tuned athletic body, right down to his big demeanour. But his eyes blew all that out of the water. Renley was hooked.

Mika exhaled an almost bratty level of annoyance when Renley paused to enjoy the scenery.

"Why'd you stop?" His normally commanding voice was reduced to a whine. Which was a little bit funny, in Renley's opinion.

"Stop what? This?" Renley started to move again, but teasingly. In a way he knew wasn't nearly up to Mika's standards. "Oh yeah... that's it. You want it, don't you?" Renley goaded Mika innocently, the words issuing from his lips as a hot, breathy murmur as Mika groaned beneath him.

"Well, I didn't come here for the conversation."

"That's not an answer, Mika."

"Gods, you're such a fucking pain."

"Tell me you want it, and it's all yours."

"You already know..."

"I want to hear you say it." Said Renley, as slowly as though he had all the time in the world. Mika twitched at the way Renley's breath tickled his ear.

"Ugh... gods... fuck, I want it, okay? Want you."

Finally.

Renley could've drawn it out way longer than that, could've made him beg. Almost made Mika really work for it. But truth be told, part of him still couldn't believe that Mika had actually ended up here in his bed. So he decided not to press his luck. Because for now, this was better than he'd ever imagined. Mika was unhinged. Needy. Perfect.

"Was that so hard, baby?" Renley whispered. "Next time, just lead with that."

He wants my hands on his body

He wants to burn like he's made of fire

Said he ain't going home 'til we

Drink every drop of kentucky dry

And he gave Mika exactly what he wanted, and then some. He gave it to him in the bed, on the desk, against the wall, and finally back in the bed. It took a minute or two to truly get on the same page, though. Sure, Mika wanted what Renley was putting out there. But it soon became clear Mika also had no earthly idea what to do when faced with a personality as dominant as his own. It was obvious he was used to calling the shots at every turn in his life, including in bed. Outside the bedroom, Renley's authority didn't hold a candle to Mika's. But here? Renley wasn't backing down.

"Stop trying to drive." Renley murmured into Mika's ear at one point, hand gripping his chin to hold his head still. "My bed, my rules. You came here to let me take care of you - now lay back, relax and let me. If you can't do that, the door's right over there."

He had no idea what was in the air of Vampire Mountain that night. Electricity? Vaporized cocaine? It was anyone's guess. Mika was so sensitive to every movement of Renley's body. So ready, so responsive, so fucking hot. And Renley couldn't recall ever being so turned on by anything or anyone in his entire life. He never wanted it to end - so he did the next best thing, which was to drag it out for over an hour.

When the clothes were on, heartbeats slowing down, sweating bodies cooling, Renley was left with an unexpected but satisfying truth. Mika could act aloof and feign disinterest all he wanted, but Renley knew he'd cracked the code. Mika ended up in Renley's bed to fulfill some subconscious desire to give up control for a while. To let someone else take charge, so that he could finally have a fucking break. And Renley had risen to the task magnificently.

Don't even know what he'll do when he does it

Palm of his hand, I'm his in the blink of an eye

He don't take no and I love it

He gets what he wants

And I get to be what he wants tonight

And I get to be what he wants tonight

In the sweaty, limb-trembling aftermath, with his eyes still closed Renley reached his arm out to give Mika some sort of physical reassurance. Because isn't that what we all need after being slammed around in the name of pleasure? A back rub, maybe? A pat on the head for a job well done? But there was only dead air in the space Mika had been taking up. Renley opened his eyes and sighed in exasperation. Mika was already on his feet, and seemed to be gearing up for a quick getaway.

"Leaving so soon? Was it something I said?" Renley smirked, knowing it would earn him a dagger-filled glare and relishing it.

"The sooner I go shower, the sooner I forget this ever happened." Was Mika's clipped response.

Renley laughed.

"Yeah, til tomorrow night when you come back for more." He remarked casually as he sat up and watched Mika pull his clothes back on. But the fact that Mika looked a little dazed didn't go unnoticed - and that gave Renley a sense of smug satisfaction.

Mika narrowed his eyes.

"You're really obnoxious, you know that?"

"That's not what you said while I had my hand around your throat."

Clearly Mika's brain was firing on all cylinders once again, because he didn't even blink at that comment. He just peered down at Renley with that familiar expression of mild irritation.

"What?" Renley asked, nonplussed.

"You're welcome." Mika replied pointedly, arching an eyebrow.

"No, honey." Renley snorted. "You're welcome."

"Don't call me honey. And I didn't thank you."

"Fine. You're welcome, slut."

Mika narrowed his eyes again, but clearly decided he was over it, and headed for the door.

"Really? I finish you three times and I don't even get a kiss goodnight?" Renley called sardonically at Mika's retreating back. He couldn't resist.

"What did you expect? I'm Mika Fucking Ver Leth, remember?" Mika shot back, once again appearing completely unfazed. Like they'd just finished up a mundane council meeting.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Fucking Mika Ver Leth."

"The first time was almost funny. Now you're just trying too hard." Mika snorted. He wasn't facing Renley, but it was obvious he was rolling his eyes. And he walked out of the room without sparing Renley a second glance.

And I don't know how I got to be

The only thing he needs right now, uh

He wants my hands on his body

He wants to burn like he's made of fire

Said he ain't going home 'til we

Drink every drop of kentucky dry

All smartass comments aside, Renley didn't actually think Mika would ever come back for a second round. He figured this would be a one-and-done. (Well, technically a three-in-one-and-done, if you want to be specific). But either way, the day had been stressful and it had probably just gotten the better of Mika. And he almost certainly wouldn't let himself sink that low again.

Renley caught a few hours of sleep and then it was back at it for another day in the paradise known as Vampire Mountain. And it unfolded like every day before it. Meetings, training sessions, war gossip, more meetings. And finally, a good meal and a stiff drink to finish it off in the Hall of Khledon Lurt.

A dizzying bit of déjà-vu as Mika walked into the room. The collective greeting from the crowd. The fleeting, guarded smile and the reflexive wave Mika gave them in return. His eyes found Renley's, and immediately locked on target. He held Renley's gaze as he slowly approached his table. Renley felt last night's fire rise back up within him as Mika got closer and closer - then at the last second, he averted his eyes away from Renley and instead nodded at someone else on the other side of the room. He carried on past Renley as if he wasn't even a blip on the royal radar.

Oh, you want to play again?

Renley wasn't buying it for a second. Within minutes he felt Mika's eyes on him again. But Renley didn't turn around to give him the satisfaction of knowing he was all in, all over again.

Let's play.

Don't even know what he'll do when he does it

Palm of his hand, I'm his in the blink of an eye

He don't take no and I love it

He gets what he wants

And I get to be what he wants tonight

And I get to be what he wants tonight


Hey, thanks for reading! If you feel inclined, feel free to leave a comment :)

- Roxy