Work Text:
The thrum of the stereo and low lighting made Eskel feel like he could lose himself in the hazy room. Lambert was off telling stories and Geralt was probably hiding in his room. That left Eskel by himself on the couch, slowing fading into a comfortable numb after a few beers. Years ago all of the people around him would have made him nervous and jumpy, he would have been afraid people would have judged him for his scars, but here with the friends he had made over the last 10 years in the business he felt free to let himself go, which likely explained why he didn’t remember starting a conversation with Jaskier, or why he had suggested that he needed more practice for his portfolio.
Lambert would never let him live that down, especially as the party had half been to celebrate his latest magazine cover for BME. If Eskel needed anything for his career it was more hours in the day and to raise his prices a little bit. But buzzed Eskel really wanted to impress Jaskier and when he heard that he wanted to get a tattoo but didn’t know what to do, he couldn’t help but offer him a backpiece. Which also went to show that buzzed Eskel couldn’t be trusted as he would now be alone with a semi-naked Jaskier for at least 20 hours of time, something that sober Eskel would never have suggested.
Lambert was well aware of the crush Eskel had on Jaskier, of the way he watched him from across the room. The clueless musician who didn’t pay much attention to the body mod world but loved a good party and was best friends with Geralt had been around far too long to think of Eskel as impressive. He wasn’t surprised that Jaskier bought the flimsy excuse, he was surprised that his partner had actually acted on his feelings, opening himself up to someone else in a way that had long been allowed by never explored by the shy artist.
That didn’t mean that Lambert didn’t tease him for hours after everyone had left. Pinning the larger man down and whispering filthy nothings in his ear as he traced the outline of tattoos he had helped plan when Eskel was just getting started with his craft. Only Lambert knew the meaning of every piece of ink that Eskel wore, of the tapestry that he was slowly weaving across his own canvas, and only Lambert knew the paths across said canvas that brought it to life.
“Didn’t think you actually had it in you big boy,” Lambert whispered in his ear after a particularly hard bite on the wolf tattoo hidden behind his left ear.
“Thought you would just keep staring and I would have to get Aiden involved to help you get over your little crush.”
Lambert wasn’t disappointed by Eskel’s silence, the way his body struggled against Lambert and dilation of his pupils as he gave himself over to his lover told him everything he needed to know. Lambert had long ago known that Jaskier would become part of their family one day, he just hadn’t expected Eskel to be the one to make the first move.
-------------------------------------------------------
A week later Eskel was at his wits end, trying to come up with a design worthy of Jaskier, a time slot he could devote every 2 weeks to work on the piece, and the courage to call up the musician when his phone rang.
“Morhen Tattoo and Piercing, where your body is a temple, how can I help you?” even though he was answering his private phone, Eskel always led with his spiel as many of his clients had this number.
“Oh hey uhm, it’s Jask, I just wanted to throw around some ideas with you for the tattoo we talked about? Are you free tonight?” Eskel could swear that the other man sounded nervous on the phone, but he didn’t have time to dwell on his thoughts.
“Oh yeah, I’m free, you could come over and have pizza? Lambert’s out tonight so it’s a good night to get some of the details ironed out. Does 7 o clock work for you, or do you have a gig?”
“Nah, I’m off tonight, taking a few days to rest my fingers, I kind of burned them trying to bake a cake the other day. 7 sounds great, I’ll bring over some soda and we can iron out some details?”
After Eskel hung up the phone he rushed to finish the rough sketch he had been working on, a huge sprawling piece filled with rose buds, hibiscus, poppies, and moon flowers. In the middle a rough sketch of a moth with its wings spread seemed to dominate the piece. Half wild and free and half grounded and deep, the piece felt like Jaskier to him. The design he had in mind would actually extend onto the left shoulder and arm of the smaller man, utilizing the asymmetrical nature of the piece to offset the precise and clean lines.
At precisely 7 that night, Jaskier showed up at the door, a bottle of vodka in one hand and a 12 pack of soda in the other. His black skinny jeans contrasting well with his deep blue button-up shirt. The ever present rings on his fingers clacking against the bottle as he talked and motioned around. Eskel caught himself staring for a few minutes before he welcomed him in, his eyes fixated on the lithe fingers that always seemed fancier than they actually were.
The alcohol was a nice icebreaker, but Eskel made sure to limit them both to a single shot before they talked business. Sipping lightly on his own soda while Jaskier told him all about his baking misadventure the week before and showed off his slightly pink fingertips.
“So I had an idea for your piece, but I couldn’t quite make up my mind on one piece,” he finally said as he rolled out the large pieces of paper he had composed the design upon. His mouth quirking up in a dangerous looking smile as Jaskier took in his art for the first time.
“Wow Esk, you are good, like REALLY good,” the smaller man babbled excitedly as he caressed the paper and lightly drew his fingers over the thick black design. “It’s the moth you are having trouble with?”
“Uhm, yeah. I was going to do a Madagascar moth, but it seemed too frilly and then I was going to do something a bit plainer but it just didn’t seem right. I really want the moth to anchor the design, give it depth, so it’s not just another floral piece.” He nervously rubbed his hand along the back of his neck, trying to calm his nerves as he looked disappointedly at the roughed in but obviously unfinished middle of the sketch.”
“What about a Hawk Moth?” Jaskier’s question caught him off guard. His confusion must have shown because the musician was quickly bringing up a google page and showing him the plain but somehow artful moths that seemed to come in many different combinations.”
“That’s actually not a bad idea, it looks like that would leave some room for personal expression too, lemme find a pen and we can finish this together?” He didn’t give Jaskier a chance to respond as he darted over to his desk to sift through papers and supplies, coming back up after a few seconds with his favorite pen held high in the air.
Handing the pen to Jaskier after he finished blocking in the shape, he let the younger man choose the patterns for the wings, smiling when they seemed to contrast with each of the flowers on the outside, emphasizing the thick black lines, but also creating delicate patterns that made the wings come to life. Jaskier was a good artist, almost as good as Eskel himself.
“That looks great, I think I can get this made into a stencil in the next couple of days, are you free Tuesday nights? I can do 8pm to 12 or 1am if you are free? I know you stay up kind of late and it works better for me if we can work on this in the evenings?” Eskel was kicking himself for suggesting such a late session, all but ensuring that he would be alone with Jaskier for the entire session.
“Sounds good to me, we going to start next week?”
“Yeah, let’s do that. So you wanna drink now?”
Instead of responding the smaller man poured them both a shot and quickly downed his, raising his eyebrow and expecting Eskel to follow his lead.
They didn’t talk much more that night, choosing instead to watch a cheesy mockumentary, drink, eat pizza, and then give Lambert a hard time when he actually came home from his date with Aiden as the professor had an early class the next morning and wanted his own space that night.
------------------------------------------
Jaskier showed up at the shop early, practically vibrating with energy the same way he always did. Eskel was still with a client but Lambert was available and always enjoyed teasing Jaskier.
“Hey little bird, you finally ready to get some ink? Maybe you’ll let me poke a few holes in you next.” Lambert smirked as he leaned across the piercing counter and teased the very nervous man before him.
“Maybe, I would look fantastic with a little more edge.” Jaskier winked at him, clinging to the conversation as a great way to get rid of some of his anxiety. Plus, Lambert was pretty easy on the eyes too. It was unfair what a pretty couple he and Eskel made.
“When you are ready let me know. Bet I could find you something you would love.” Lambert laid it on thick, hoping to clue the singer in to his flirting, but didn’t expect much with the way his eyes were darting around the shop, half taking in his surroundings and half panicking.
Eskel only took a few minutes to finish up with his last client and came out to talk with Jaskier about the design while Lambert went and sterilized the room. Discussing scale and making sure everything looked perfect before he printed the stencil, he made sure to set Jaskier at ease.
“So we are doing this in black and white right? Lots of heavy lines and deep shadows?”
“Yeah, color just doesn’t feel right in my head.”
“Sometimes the best choice is no color.” Eskel querked a smile at Jaskier, his scar tugging at the side of his lips which Jaskier thought just made him look more rugged. He looked happy and relaxed in a muscle-tee and blue jeans with his hair slightly shaggy.
“Come on back and we’ll get you set up.”
Jaskier sat on the chair backwards, straddling it like Eskel wanted him to do to his lap, pulling off his shirt and causing the larger man to swallow. Jaskier was confident in his body, he might not be a Greek God like Eskel and the rest of his buddies, but he knew he was fit and took good care of himself. Eskel couldn’t help sneaking a quick peek at his pert bottom, wondering if this tattoo was a good idea now that he was faced with a half naked Jaskier for the next few Tuesday nights. At least he wouldn’t be facing him so he wouldn’t see how Eskel was being affected.
“This might be a little cold.” Eskel gave Jaskier a quick warning before smoothing the transfer onto his skin and smoothing it out. When he was sure it had stayed in place he let the smaller man look in the mirror, ensuring that the piece went exactly where he wanted. While it was mostly on his upper back, small bits of it went over his left shoulder, wrapping him in a floral motif that was dominated by the moth that Jaskier had drawn and sent to Eskel a few days beforehand.
Getting the go ahead from Jaskier, Eskel went ahead and set up his machine and inks before changing his gloves, settling in for the 4 hour session they had discussed to block in the lines. He hissed in sympathy as Jaskier tensed up at the first few strokes, the tattoo gun creating a strange sensation on his virgin skin. The back would be a bit uncomfortable but it wouldn’t hurt as much as a lot of other places and Jaskier soon managed to relax.
About 20 minutes into the session Jaskier spoke up; “So, do we stay silent, or can we talk?” His tone sounded both worried and amused. The idea of Jaskier staying silent for 4 hours just seemed wrong and Eskel wasn’t surprised he would worry about doing so.
“Oh, we can talk, I usually let the client guide the conversation. I’m not the best at starting topics.” Eskel wished he weren’t gloved up so he could rub the back of his neck and soothe the sudden nervousness that he felt.
“Dearest, I can talk enough for both of us!” Jaskier managed to keep his back mostly still while motioning wide with his arms and proceeding to talk about his day and the new music that he was working on. Eskel focused on his work, responding where he felt it necessary and drinking in the sound of Jaskier’s voice. Even as distracted as he was he made sure to commit everything the smaller man said to memory. He might not be good at starting conversations, but he was good at listening.
About an hour in he was about to offer a break when Jaskier asked him a question that caught him off guard. “So how do you know it’s love? I mean, I sing about it a lot, but you know my relationship history isn’t the best, and I thought I was in love with Geralt for way too long before realizing he’s just my platonic soulmate. You seem to have it all figured out.”
Oh if only you knew, thought Eskel. The fact that he and Lambert had an open relationship wasn’t exactly a secret, but he knew that people saw the love that he and Lamb had for each other and thought that everything else was somewhat casual. Which it usually was, but that didn’t mean he hadn’t fallen deeply in love with Jaskier.
“Well, when they speak you want to listen, even if you’ve had a bad day. You want to know the little things about them that don’t even matter. You want to make them happy and you feel better when you are near them. Sometimes you get stupid around them, make mistake and offer to do silly things because you want them to be happy with you. It’s not really one size fits all, but you want them to be happy and you want to be around them. Sorry I’m not really good at this.” Eskel really wished he could rub his neck now and wished he hadn’t started the next section before taking a break. He had to keep going now or he would make a mistake.
“I guess that makes sense. I guess I do love Geralt in a way, but I’m not in love with him. But I guess they aren’t so different, are they? Like you go out of your way to make Lamb happy and I do the same for Geralt, and they would both do anything for us. But with Lamb it just seems like you have this connection deep down, something that gets underneath his prickles and makes him a little less manic.”
“I guess it is a little like that, we just know deep down that we want to be together. We don’t want to own each other or tie each other down, but we want to promote each other’s welfare, make the world a better place for each other. At the end of the day we make a choice to love and care for each other.”
“So love is both a feeling and a choice, it’s not just magic?”
“Oh god no, every couple has to choose each other, to put their partner before themselves sometimes, to love each other deeply. Love is so much more than just a passing feeling. I want to be with Lamb until the day we die, but I want to be someone he wants to be with like that even more. I want my partners to feel like I create good in their life rather than bogging them down.”
Eskel would have been relieved that Jaskier got quiet after that question if he didn’t seem so down. Finishing up the section he was working on he called for a break and brought Jaskier some water while he stretched and drank some himself.
The second half of the session was much quieter than the first. Jaskier seemed a bit reluctant to talk and instead was humming to himself.
“Is that a new one?” Eskel didn’t want to admit how religiously he followed Jaskier’s music online, but he didn’t recognize the melody.
“Yeah, just something I’m working on.” Jaskier kept humming and changing up bars, his voice sounding far away and a little lost. Eskel recognized when he was in his creative mode and just let the music wash over him for the rest of the session.
Once they were finished and Jaskier headed home with his care instructions Eskel sought out Lambert and pulled him into a giant hug.
“Hey, you know I choose you, right?”
“Yeah, and I choose you too, you big sap.”
“I’m your sap at least you asshole, let's get out of here.”
Closing up the shop that night felt like closing the door on a secret world that Eskel didn’t quite understand, but it was kind of a good feeling as well.
------------------------------------------
Before Jaskier was set to arrive 2 weeks later, Eskel was deep in a panic attack. Everything he did that day seemed a little too messed up, like he was making mistakes left and right. His day had started with a rip in his socks, his coffee spilling everywhere, Lambert having that haunted look he always had after a bad night, and a client cancelling on him.
From there it has spiraled into spilling ink all over a transparency, too small gloves being delivered that meant someone had to take time out to run to the store, a transmission that was acting weird in the car during said errand, and Geralt not being able to squeeze the vehicle in until the next week at the earliest.
It wasn’t until he was getting ready to close up a little early that Eskel remembered Jaskier was coming for the second part of his tattoo, thus the complete panic attack.
Lambert found him curled up in a corner behind his tattoo chair, trying to breathe easy but just making high pitched sounds and wringing his hands.
“How you gonna woo the little flower if yer like this muscle boy?” Lambert slid in beside him on the floor, taking one of his hands and tracing a pattern that Eskel would have known in his sleep across the knuckles. The extra sensory input helped calm him a bit and he was finally able to take a few deep breaths.
“I’m having the worst day, so fucking bad, and I have to face him. This was all a bad idea. I can’t do this.” Eskel was gasping in breath now, spiraling downward again and almost crushing Lambert’s hand.
“‘Skel, you already put this in motion, and I bet him being here will go a lot better than you think. Might even make a bad day better? Besides, I plan for us to have a nice night in once you are done, already put in an order for Thai to be delivered around 10 so it’s still hot when you get home and we can pick up a case of that beer you like.”
“He’s only ever seen me in control though. I can’t hold it together today Lamb, I can’t make it through a simple clean-up today, yet alone 3 hours with his sinful little ass in front of me and the knowledge that if I fuck this up he will hate me forever.” Eskel sounded completely miserable as he buried his hands in his face, trying to pretend he wasn’t hiding from reality and was instead just blacking out the light.
“Listen hill boy, you ain’t gonna fuck this up. He wants to climb you like the mountain you are, you have been tattooing for longer than you’ve done anything else in your life, you lose yourself in the ink, and you are good at this. You wouldn’t be booked months out if you weren’t. Additionally, if you want this to work he has to see you at less than your best at some point. Remember when we got together and I panicked the first time we fucked? You didn’t think less of me now did you?” Lambert wrenched his head around to meet his eyes, making Eskel open his own and peering deeply in them.
“No I didn’t you asshole, and you know it.” Eskel lightly pushed at Lambert, feeling uncomfortable with his sudden attention and realizing that he was overreacting.
“ S’long as I’m your asshole.” Lamber kissed him and walked off to start cleaning up the rest of the shop.
“I can do this, I can get through this.” Eskel stood up and hurried to set up the work station the same way it had been when Jaskier was here last, hoping that he was right and this would be just another day like any other.
------------------------------------------
Jaskier arrived surprisingly on time. Eskel was glad that Lambert had pulled him out of his own head with plenty of time to get ready. The smaller man was wearing a wild floral patterned shirt that buttoned up the front and a pair of black jeans that hugged his ass. It wasn’t quite a hawaiian shirt, but a button-up with a black base and an explosion of tropical plants across it in different geometric patterns. Looking at it from different angles seemed to reveal different patterns. Eskel could feel his brain trying to dissect the different perspectives and figure out a way to apply them to his own art.
Not as shy this time, he flirted with Lambert for a few minutes before heading back into Eskel’s room without an invitation. He threw himself into the chair and stripped off his shirt, less shy about his body than he had been the time before.
“Hello dearest, how has your day been? Mine’s been a RIDE. I would blame it on some astrological something, but taking the time to figure out what is in mercury or whatever else would take brainpower that I just don’t have right now. At least I get to see your pretty face.” Jaskier seemed almost boneless in the chair, flashing an alluring smile over his back at Eskel who had to fight with his own anatomy to remain professional.
“It’s been a long day for me too, but I can’t complain.” Eskel couldn’t help being self conscious that he was wearing the same worn jeans and black muscle shirt he always wore. Maybe Jaskier would like it if he got a bit more variety in his wardrobe. “Good to see you are ready today, I think we might do some work on the moth if that’s okay?”
“Sounds good to me, mind if I sing a bit? I’ve got a song in my head that just won’t go away.”
“I don’t mind, it’s all good.” Secretly Eskel was extremely happy. Singing meant that he didn’t have to carry a conversation, and he loved Jaskier’s voice. How he wasn’t famous by now and living in some city far away with a record contract and legions of fans he would never understand. He never passed up a chance to see him perform and sometimes he even let himself think that some of the love songs he sang were about him.
Eskel set to work on the moth, blocking out the darkest parts while Jaskier was fresh, saving the detail work for when skipping around would give his nerves a nice break. Jaskier was lost in his own world composing a song about dirt and love of all things. Still, it had a nice tune and it would sound even nicer with a stringed instrument. They kept a companionable silence with Eskel settling into a slow rhythm and Jaskier singing that lasted until the halfway point.
“We should stop, hand’s starting to cramp. I’ll get you some coffee?”
“Sugar and cream, please! I need to get my sweetness from somewhere.” Eskel thought the wink that Jaskier gave him should have been illegal clothed, let alone half naked and laid out in his parlor.
Stumbling out into the hallway towards the coffee machine he shot a dirty look towards a snickering Lambert who was dusting all of the pictures around the shop, seemingly committed to finding something to do if he was going to stay late. A small part of Eskel felt guilty that he was staying, but he knew that Lambert would just tell him to fuck off if he tried to convince him to go home.
Bringing the coffee back and waiting for Jaskier to finish, he washed his hands and put on new gloves, wiping down the tattoo area before starting again. It only took a few minutes into his detail work for Jaskier to start shifting with nervous energy and finally ask him a question.
“Do you think if you want something you should go for it?” Eskel almost wasn’t sure if the question was for him, Jaskier’s focus seemed to be off in the distance, like he was thinking about a specific scenario rather than asking for feedback.
“Uhm, I think usually, yeah. I mean, unless you think you could get hurt?” Eskel couldn’t quite bring himself to tell Jaskier to go ahead with whatever it was he was thinking about, he had partaken in some pretty worrisome activities with Geralt before and Eskel didn’t want to get the blame for any of them.
“Like, in love. Do you think the risk is worth it? I suppose you could always get hurt, but is it worth it to have love?” That question caught Eskel off guard and he couldn’t help but think of Lambert.
“Yeah, I do. Without trying or asking you don’t know what the answer is going to be, and you don’t know how the other person feels. Plus if you don’t speak if you end up feeling like you should have and having regrets. I hate regrets.” Eskel wished he could rub the back of his neck or hide his face, but the gloves meant that he had to focus.
“Hmmm, maybe.” Jaskier went back to humming, not really talking and spaced out for the rest of the session. Eskel knew he shouldn’t feel jealous, that the idea of Jaskier falling for someone shouldn’t make his heart hurt, but it did. Still, Jaskier was his friend and he would do anything to keep him happy.
When the session finished he locked up behind Jaskier and turned tired and sad to Lambert, letting the bulk of his body drape over him, drawing strength from his loving partner.
“Oi, asshole, get off of me.” Lambert pushed hard at him, trying to dislodge the mountain of a man from his smaller frame, before he was enveloped in a tight hug. “It’ll be okay, let's go home.”
------------------------------------------
Jaskier arrived early to the next session, meaning to talk to Eskel, but instead seeing something he hadn’t realized he wanted to see until now. Eskel’s back was pressed to the jewelry case, his neck and head thrown back as Lambert moved enthusiastically against him, kissing, biting, licking, and snarling into his throat and neck. Small sounds coming from Eskel as he seemingly lost himself in the sensation of his partner. Suddenly, something in him snapped and he hauled the smaller man up by his shirt for a searing kiss, one that Jaskier could tell was full of teeth and tongue.
He backed out of the shop, face red and body more than a little interested. It was one thing to know that they were together, another to see them in action. He had always assumed that Eskel was just as gentle in bed as he was in person, but it seemed like he was a more dominant force than Jaskier had accounted for. While he was happy to switch, this knowledge went straight to his groin and made it clear he was more than a little interested in being thrown around by the big strong man.
He waited a few minutes to compose himself and give them some time, walking back in confidently and being sure to trigger the bell. All traces of their earlier intimacy were gone other than rumpled shirts on both of them and a slightly stiffness to the way Lambert walked. Jaskier couldn’t help but think that he was a lucky man.
Settling himself in the chair he let his thoughts wander, not really making conversation. When Eskel asked if he was okay he waived it off, telling him there was a deadline coming up and he hadn’t slept well. The third session only lasted about 2 hours, Eskel blocking out some of the flowers shading that he wanted done for the next time, but not wanting to get into details or the leaves.
He seemed in a hurry to leave as Jaskier hurried out the door with lots to think of. Both of them missed the conversation, but the kiss from earlier had distracted them both in different ways.
------------------------------------------
Stumbling through the door to their shared apartment, Eskel barely made it to the couch before Lambert was all over him. Hands that manipulated flesh and pointed needles just so all day found his softest spots, ran over sensitive grooves and traced the outline of muscles before tearing down his back. Before he knew what was happening he was bucking his hips, grabbing for anything nearby to ground him. Sex with Lambert was a whirlwind of energy and emotion, the smaller man’s need to constantly be moving transferring to his bedside manner as well.
After a particularly vicious bite to his now un-clothed pec, Eskel finally caught his breath. Grabbing the smaller man by his hips he flipped their positions. Grabbing both of Lambert’s hands in one of his own he ran the other up and down his sides before peeling his shirt up and sliding it along his arms. Holding him there he began his own assault on his body, kissing and licking every inch of skin he could reach while using his thighs to hold down Lambert’s legs. A high pitched wail rose from him as Eskel’s hand dipped below his waist band, teasing the inch of skin he could reach before rising higher to tweak a nipple.
Years of experience let him hold Lambert down as he unbuckled his pants and pulled them along with his boxers down his hips, letting them bunch up right in front of his thighs. Pulling on his hands he searched off to the side for one of the many hidden bottles of lube they had, Lambert's unwillingness to wait until they were in the bedroom one of the only predictable things about him.
Without warning he swallowed down his cock, holding Lambert’s hands above him still. The legs he had finally moved off of working furiously to kick off his pants before wrapping themselves around his head. He used the new position to drizzle lube over his hole, smirking as Lambert thrashed and got it everywhere. Circling the hole with one of his fingers he teased it and hummed as Lambert cursed him and tried to impale himself right away.
He backed up slightly, keeping the head of Lambert’s penis in his mouth as he slowly let the first finger slide in. Moving the hand holding Lambert's hands off to the side, he used his forearm to hold down his hips, preventing him from bucking. Looking up he was met with a furious gaze that spoke of retribution that would never come. Ever so slowly he started to move his finger in and out, taking care not to hit the spot Lambert wanted stimulated the most. Instead he focused on stretching the rim before adding another finger. He continued this pattern, lightly sucking and licking while adding fingers until he had all four inside Lambert, keeping their eyes locked until he finally brushed a single finger against his prostate. Lambert’s eyes rolling back in his head and his bit off swear proof that he was doing a good job.
Swallowing him down to the root again he gently worked him until he was loose and pliant, all the fight gone from his body. Only then did Eskel release his hips and hands, pulling back and leaning on his own ankles as he watched Lambert sprawl before him.
He didn’t bother getting undressed, pulling his pants slightly down and pulling out his own cock. Slicking it down with lube he pulled his fingers out of Lambert and pulled the now complaining man over to the edge of the couch, placing him so he was at just the right height.
“Lamb,” one word was all he needed to make his lover look at him, locking eyes as he pushed in slightly, enjoying the “O” shape his mouth made as Eskel pushed steadily into his body. When fully seated he rubbed himself against Lambert, feeling him shudder as the fact that Eskel was still clothed registered in his mind. For all that Lambert loved his body, he enjoyed being vulnerable and irresistible even more.
Together they moved for a while, hearts speeding up until the only sound in the room was the slapping of flesh and small choked off screams coming from Lambert. When he felt Lambert squeeze around him like a vice he angled himself slightly, taking the other man’s cock in his hand and jerking it in time with his thrusts, reaching his peak at the same time as Lambert.
After a minute he found his shirt and threw it at Lambert, pulling out and kissing his lover. “It’s your turn to clean up, I’m taking a shower.” He smirked at the stream of swears that followed him as Lambert realized just how big of a mess they had made. Lambert wasn’t an after sex cuddler, he would want to cuddle later, once they had showered and he felt a little more put together. For now, he would want alone time.
------------------------------------------
The fourth session went much like the first. Jaskier humming and singing to himself, asking random questions about love, and generally being oblivious. He asked about the different pictures on the walls, finding out more about Eskel’s life and about the people who were important to him. Normally he would have felt uncomfortable with these questions, but it was Jaskier, somehow telling him felt right.
At the end, when his shirt was back on, Jaskier kept fidgeting and not meeting his eye. When he was just about to leave Jaskier finally spoke up. “You know how you said I should speak up the other day?”
“Yeah, did it go bad?” He couldn’t help but wince at how hopeful he sounded, feeling horrible about the kind of person he was if he could find happiness in that.
“No… No. I hadn’t yet, I uhm. Oh fuck.” Jaskier threw his hands up, looking worried and stressed. Eskel couldn’t help but move closer, trying to calm whatever was upsetting him.
“It’s okay, anyone would be lucky to have you, I’m sure they will be happy.”
“Fuck this,” Jaskier muttered under his breath before pulling Eskel close and kissing him soundly. Pulling away from the speechless man he said “It’s you, you big lug, it’s you. I think I love you.”
With that Jaskier fled the tattoo shop, leaving a confused Eskel and a cackling Lambert behind.
------------------------------------------
Jaskier didn’t pick up his phone for the next two weeks, answering texts that Eskel would send but not trusting himself over voice. When Eskel didn’t chase him and didn’t try and push things he figured that it was better off just to leave it alone.
He was surprised when he got the text message asking him if he was coming to his appointment. He figured that Eskel must just really need the work for his portfolio, and decided to be a good friend anyways. He arrived right on time and avoided making eye contact.
When Lambert came to watch, leaning by the doorway, he didn’t say anything. Maybe Lambert was trying to stake his claim on Eskel? That must be it, right? So Jaskier did the only thing he knew how to do. He hummed, he sang, he cracked jokes, and he avoided everything. If he was going to give one good performance in his life this would be it.
Finally, when the piece was done, Eskel spoke. “We need to talk.”
“We do dearest? What about?” Try as he might, Jaskier couldn’t keep the worry out of his voice. “Don’t worry, I won’t let the way I feel ruin things, I quite like you as a friend, as you can see I can deal with this just fine, just give me a few weeks and I can promise it’ll be like nothing ever happened.”
Jaskier had expected anything but the hurt in Eskel’s eyes. “And what if that’s not what I want, what if that’s the last thing I want?”
“What do you mean dearest, do you mean that you…” Jaskier couldn’t bring himself to say the words.
“I, uhm… I… You are pretty special… I….” Now that his gloves were off Eskel was able to rub his neck and his scars, happy he had gotten through the important parts of the day before having this conversation.
“What he’s saying is he feels the same way.” Jaskier jumped as Lambert's amused voice came through the doorway. He had forgotten he was even there. “I swear, both of you have one braincell and it’s entirely focused on running away. He likes you, you like him, hell I like you. Whatever you want to do with that is up to you.” With that, Lambert walked away, leaving a starting Jaskier to try and process what he just heard.
Looking around for anything else to do he noticed for the first time a wall of magazine covers behind the chair where he normally sat. Before he had dismissed them in the cacophony of the room, assuming they were just something Eskel kept because he liked them, but looking closer he saw a familiar face staring out at him from each one.
Shocked, he turned to Eskel who now seemed like he was trying to rub his scars off of his face with how often he was touching them. “Those are all you?”
“Uh yeah, I hung the first few…”
“The first few, so there are more?” He couldn’t help how panicked he felt.
“Yeah, I uh, I kind of lost count.” Eskel looked like he wanted to fall into a hole.
“So you didn’t need my help, you didn’t need anything for your portfolio? You are FAMOUS?” Jaskier couldn’t help but shout out the last word.
Eskel winced before answering. “Yeah, I just wanted to spend time with you and you wanted a tattoo and you didn’t seem to know so I figured I would just offer you one but then you wanted to pay and I didn’t want that, I’m sorry!”
“Sorry? Sorry! Why are you sorry? I’ve got the work of a world famous artist on my body and you are sorry? This is great dearheart. Amazing, better than I could have ever imagined.”
Shocked, Eskel couldn’t help himself from blurting out; “I think I love you too.”
Their lips met briefly in a chaste kiss, lips soft against each other before resting their heads together and breathing deeply.
“Yeah, yeah, everyone loves everyone. I’m late for my date, hurry the fuck up.” Lambert’s annoyed voice cut into their moment, reminding Eskel that he needed to lock up.
“I uh, the apartment is empty tonight, if you uh, if you wanna stop by.” He made sure to look up at the ceiling and not at Jaskier as he re-dressed, trying not to think about the fact that he had just seen the man half naked.
“I would love that.”
------------------------------------------
An hour later saw them in Eskel’s bedroom, thoroughly kissed out Jaskier on top of his thighs in nothing but boxers as he peeled off Eskel’s almost too tight shirt.
“Abs like this should be criminal to keep covered, and those pecs!” That was all the warning Eskel got before Jaskier was biting his pec, apparently a common theme with his lovers. Still, he couldn’t complain as Jaskier’s lips met his again.
His fingers found the top of Jaskier’s boxers and pulled them down as Jaskier did the same to him, tracing the lines of his body before eagerly grasping his cock. Bucking his hips he made contact with Jaskier’s enjoying the way they slid against each other for a moment before he found the lube nearby and lifted Jaskier up onto his chest. The little squeak he gave out was adorable.
Sucking the head of his cock into his mouth he proceeded to tease him with a single lubed finger, rubbing around his entrance before pushing in to the first knuckle. Jaskier pushing himself down, seeking more friction. He built up slowly, pushing first one, then two, and finally three fingers in before Jaskier declared he couldn’t take it anymore.
“You sure, I’m kind of big.” Eskel never wanted to hurt his partners, he might be big, but he was a softie through and through.
“It’s fine, I’m on top anyways.” With that Jaskier grabbed the lube and slicked Eskel up, making him moan at the nimble fingers curling around him. Then he put more lube on himself before eagerly scampering back to lower himself onto the giant cock. He was swearing after an inch and his eyes had rolled back in his head before he was even halfway down. Balancing himself on his knees with his hands on Eskel’s thighs he lowered himself slowly, taking in the amazing sensation of being completely full.
When he was finally fully seated he gave his hips an experimental roll, drooling on himself as he felt Eskel’s cockhead drag against his prostate. The sound he made finally making Eskel spring into action. Mindful of the tattoo he had just given Jaskier he moved to be partially sitting up, wrapping one arm around his lower back. The other he used to bring Jaskier’s face closer to his before holding his hops down hard and starting to jackhammer into him.
Jaskier screamed at the new sensation before starting to babble and even do something that sounded suspiciously like composing a song about Eskel’s dick. Rubbing himself down as hard as he could with each thrust he whined and eventually lost the ability to even think. Nothing mattered but the connection between himself and his new lover.
It felt like hours when he felt Eskel starting to reach his peak, the thrusts coming from his less coordinated, his member swelling slightly and his balls drawing up tight against Jaskier’s flesh. He reached down between his own legs and palmed his erection, using the leaking precum to slick his hand before rubbing just right, taking himself over the edge as he heard Eskel roar out his own orgasm.
He lay on top of Eskel for a few moments before sliding off and snuggling into his arms. “You know dearest, I’m glad you told that lie about your portfolio. I could get used to this.
Eskel propped himself up quickly, looking deep into his eyes as if he couldn’t believe what he was saying.
“You, you could, really?”
“Yes you silly man, now cuddle me before I declare myself unloved!”
Eskel was powerless to say now, and as he lay there he couldn’t help but be thankful that everything had worked out in the end.