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The Prince first heard of the Circus in whispers, rumours of its arrival rippling through the House. His valet, who was prone to gossip much like most of the palace staff, had heard from the scullery maid that it was coming; tonight, tomorrow, or perhaps five nights hence. The staff could speak of little else, his valet said, abuzz with excitement at the Circus’ imminent arrival. At first Prince Zagreus dismissed the rumours, uninterested. The circus was a child’s delight, with its bears and clowns and tumbling girls, and he was a man. A young man, yes, but grown enough to have no curiosity for such simple amusements.
But the rumours led to recollections, details materialising from vaguery. The Circus hadn’t been seen in the city for over twenty years, since the Prince was a babe carried by his long dead mother, and yet memories of its spectacles were still sharp and fresh. A beautiful mermaid, her tail glistening with jewelled scales as she sang sweet as a siren from a glass pool. A team of plumed horses, their coats as dark and shiny as a fresh conker, pulling a strongman holding up a chariot. A lone acrobat draped in silks and velvets, her long dark hair sparkling like the night sky as she twirled on a silver hoop.
The Prince had attended its last performance in the city, his elderly valet said. Tiny, he was, less than a year old and boisterous, but when his mother had held him in her lap at the Circus, he had quietened, his mismatched eyes wide with wonder.
Prince Zagreus gazed at his reflection in the ornate mirror in his chambers. His pale, delicate complexion bore no resemblance to his father’s bronzed skin. His tendency to blush violently and quickly, nothing like his father’s cool consideration. His wild dark hair, yes, and his eyes, perhaps, that was where he could see some parallels between them - one rich brown, like his father’s stern eyes, contrasting with one cool green. How had he looked, nestled in his mother’s lap at the Circus? Had he looked like he belonged, like he had a place in the royal family?
The door opened and a royal announcer slipped inside. Prince Zagreus turned, his back straightening unconsciously into the proper posture for a scion of the House. He barely listened as the announcer reeled off his father’s list of titles in a ringing voice.
“Yes, yes, enough of that,” His father swept through the door, his pristine crimson cloak billowing dramatically. The announcer cut short his words, bowed and melted away. “Boy, I have had word that the Circus is to return to the city. Three days from now, the tent will be pitched in the Royal Meadows by the river. I have no time for such fripperies, but your late mother was known as a patron of the arts, and in her memory, we will attend the opening night.”
Prince Zagreus wasn’t sure how to feel. On one hand, he certainly wasn’t known as a patron of the arts himself, preferring the more active pursuits of fencing, fighting, and fucking. On the other hand, he had precious few memories of his mother, and the possibility of walking in her footsteps as a grown man was alluring.
“As you wish, your Majesty,” He settled, as he often did, on a sarcastic response, veiled in apathy. “And what behaviour is expected of me at this Circus, so I know how best to avoid disappointing my honoured Father?”
“You shall behave as a young Prince should,” The well worn furrows in his father’s heavy brow deepened. “Refined, aloof, politely interested. That means you will not cheer, you will not fidget incessantly, and you will absolutely not consort with the performers, even if they offer themselves to you, am I clear?”
“Yes, Father,” Prince Zagreus responded, barely suppressing an insolent eye roll.
“You will remember your place, boy,” the King growled before turning to leave, his resplendent cloak dragging behind him. A footman hurried to the heavy mahogany door, dragging it open just in time for the King to pass through without breaking his purposeful stride.
Prince Zagreus rolled his eyes. He would abide by his father’s rules, but that didn’t mean he had to like it. Particularly not the directive about not fucking the performers; the Prince was known for his appetites and his dalliances were never sustained for longer than one night.
The bell in the clock tower chimed eleven o’clock. He snatched up his sword case and hurried down to the courtyard, his thoughts already turning to his daily lesson, the Circus drifting from his mind.
Three nights later, Prince Zagreus approached the silver and white striped tent that had materialised in the Royal Meadows. It was far larger than he had expected, the canopy draping elegantly from a central point that towered far higher than any nearby tree. The blood red carpet set out on the soft grass glowed in the twilight, creating a startling contrast with the shimmering striped silk. He walked slowly behind the King, weighed down by the paraphernalia of his station. He wore a finely tailored three piece black suit with a shimmering pinstripe, a crimson cravat tucked into his crisp white shirt, with a plush crimson cloak trimmed with dark fur pinned about his shoulders. His head was heavy with his rarely worn crown, a laurel shaped in burnished gold and copper and black.
Two attendants moved in perfect synchronisation to draw back a panel of heavy silk, revealing nothing but sultry darkness beyond. As the Prince’s eyes adjusted to the gloom, he observed an imposing ironwork staircase rising from the panelled oak floor below his feet. He frowned, considering how a travelling circus might transport such a monstrosity of curliculed iron and coming up short. The King ascended, Prince Zagreus following, and when they reached the top the Prince suppressed a gasp of amazement.
He had expected the inside of the tent to be simple, lined with rows of wooden benches on a single level. It was anything but simple: there were rows of wooden benches, crammed with people, yes; but they were cleverly tiered to ensure a good view from the very furthest of the seats. They were far from the simple planks of wood he had imagined, carved with intricate swirling patterns and embellished in places with silver and white paint. The great posts holding up the draped silk ceiling were no mere slabs of wood, but twisted iron, the dark metal gleaming gently in the low light. There were more raised, silk draped boxes, too, circling the ring at an elevation slightly lower than the royal box.
Prince Zagreus settled into the seat by his father’s side and took in the view. The stripes in the silk were difficult to discern at a distance, the silver and white blending together into a shimmering union that reminded him of the lustre of a pearl. Glowing oil lamps dangled everywhere, strung from strings above the seating and hanging from hooks on the posts. It lent the light a glowing intimacy which the Prince found quite magical, and his cynical view that circuses were only for children melted away. He found himself sitting slightly forward in his plush seat, consciously maintaining the aloof neutrality the King insisted was appropriate for a Prince.
All at once a hidden orchestra began to play, the music soft and mysterious. The ringmaster stepped forward, resplendent in a costume of blue velvet, and began to rouse the crowd, but Prince Zagreus barely heard her words. The music stirred something in him, a forgotten memory or a foreign emotion, he didn’t know. All he knew was that his heart suddenly ached with sadness so suddenly that it was all he could do to remain seated in the box. The ringmaster bowed, her braided blue hair snapping with the movement. She cracked her whip, and the tent was plunged into darkness.
Prince Zagreus started, the darkness still and absolute for mere moments before the oil lamps ignited again, illuminating a great elephant standing in the centre of the ring. The Prince squinted in the low light, realising that it wasn’t a real elephant at all, but rather a cunning life size puppet, wrought of leather and metal, operated by a team of no less than four people. The music turned sombre and majestic, and the elephant moved around the ring, looking this way and that. Slowly, the music became discordant with tension, the elephant’s movements becoming more frenetic and worried until it raised its trunk, a loud trumpeting sound echoing through the tent.
A higher trumpet answered, and a spotlight revealed a second elephant, intended to be a baby from its small size, standing unnoticed in one of the aisles. The people sitting nearby started and then laughed, delighted, as the baby elephant made its way carefully down the tiered stairs to the ring. As it passed below the royal box, the Prince could see it was puppeted by children, their faces smiling as they piloted the calf back to its mother.
The rest of the act had the form of a joyous reunion, the music light and playful. There was such sweetness in how the mother cavorted after her calf, chasing and playing and running her great trunk over the calf’s head. The puppeteers clambered the creatures into a shallow pool full of glittering blue and silver sequins, and the mother elephant rained a steady stream of them atop of the calf’s head.
When the lights dimmed, Zagreus was enthralled. Never had he seen such whimsical, magical entertainment. And this was only the first act.
What followed built and expanded upon the elephants’ performance, layers of fantastic movement woven with beautiful, swirling music. The performers were skilled, all of them, from the musicians in the orchestra to the horse trainers to the strongman. Prince Zagreus found himself wincing at the contortionist, packing herself into an ever shrinking set of boxes, and laughing at the antics of the clowns. The King cast a disapproving eye over the Prince once or twice, and Zagreus made a half-hearted attempt to rearrange his expression back into neutrality, his attention fully commanded by the Circus.
The lights disappeared, plunging the tent into darkness again, and Zagreus leaned forwards, eager for the next act. The sound of a solo harpist playing a beautiful nocturne filled the dark air, and slowly, pinpricks of light appeared around the tent, entirely distinct from the oil lamps. Butterflies, Zagreus realised, as one flared into a silvery luminescence on the edge of the royal box. Where the oil lamps cast a warm golden light across the tent, the butterflies filled it with a soft silver glow, ethereal and serene. Zagreus held his breath, waiting.
And then he stepped out from the shadows into the ring. Tall, lean and muscular with long silver hair that curled around his shoulders, he wore shimmering violet leggings that ended above strong, defined calf muscles, his chiselled chest bare and gleaming in the light. His defined biceps were tied with gauzy, fluid ribbons in violet, black and silver, trailing down over his arms and matched by the heavy, glittering makeup on his beautiful face. From his seat above the spellbound crowd, Zagreus couldn’t even guess what colour his eyes were, and suddenly he wanted nothing more than to know the answer.
The beauty stepped forward, lithe and elegant, prowling across the ring slowly with graceful movements that echoed the sweetness of the harp. A silver flying pole descended from the shadows, and he grasped it with one hand, raising one leg and stretching it outwards, delicately pointing his toes. He lifted himself effortlessly into the air, setting the pole spinning, his body acting as a perfect counterweight to widen the circles it drew in the air.
Zagreus took a deep, shaky breath, enraptured by the sight of him.
He curved one leg elegantly around the pole, both arms gripping its surface tightly and holding himself aloft as he spun, the ribbons flying and dancing in his wake. A moment later, and he was lifting himself near parallel to the ground, swinging smoothly around the pole as if it were nothing.
Zagreus was consumed. He didn’t know if he wanted to fuck him, worship him, or be him, or perhaps all three. His pulse quickened in his chest as he watched, stunned by the man’s beauty and his fluid grace.
He twisted, scissoring his legs and turning upside down even as he spun, his long silver hair moving like liquid starlight and contrasting with the glittering charcoal around his eyes. He curved both legs around the pole and stretched upwards, righting himself, before extending both legs out, gripping the pole to support himself.
Zagreus felt his mouth water and then dry out, and he swallowed, overwhelmed by the man’s exquisite poise. He was fairly certain his face betrayed how the beauty’s dexterity affected him, and he couldn’t care less.
He moved from pose to pose endlessly, the sparkling ribbons whirling and trailing with his body as he defied gravity, seeming to hover weightless in the air supported by the lightest of touches on the silvery pole. The music grew more intense and he spun again and again, arranging his shapely limbs with sublime elegance, arms and legs outstretched.
Finally, the music died away, and the beauty slid one foot to the floor, his toes daintily pointed as he made one last turn around the slowing pole, the swirling ribbons coming to a rest on his glistening skin. He let go of the pole as it disappeared back into the darkness, and he bowed, his supple body bending in half at the waist as the crowd roared their approval. Zagreus jumped to his feet, joining them in their appreciation briefly before the King tugged him back towards his seat.
“Remember your place, boy,” the King hissed, his words almost drowned out by the crowd.
Prince Zagreus let himself be dragged back to his seat. Try as he might, he couldn’t repress the smile spread across his face as the beauty bowed again before stalking lightly back into the shadows. The ringmaster stepped into the spotlight, the silvery light of the butterflies fading to be replaced by the warmth of the oil lamps once more. She welcomed each performer forward, calling out their names so that the audience might show their appreciation.
Zagreus waited, hands clasped demurely in his lap, his interest focused intently on only one performer. The ringmaster shouted his name and he stepped forwards, bowing gracefully once more.
Thanatos. The beauty’s name was Thanatos.
Zagreus whispered it to himself, enjoying the texture of it on his lips, and Thanatos glanced up, his eyes finding Zagreus’. He smiled gently, and inclined his head.
His eyes were pure, precious gold, the brightness of them contrasting with the darkness of his makeup, luminous as he gazed at Zagreus.
The tent was plunged into darkness once more, and when the lights came up, the performers were gone. The audience started filing out, chattering eagerly amongst themselves, their excitement palpable in the air.
In the royal box, the King stood, Prince Zagreus scrambling to his feet to follow him down the iron staircase. Disapproval radiated from the King in waves, and the Prince knew better than to try to offer an apology. They walked quickly down the crimson carpet and clambered into the carriage, the horses setting off quickly to take them back to the Palace. Zagreus gazed out of the window, watching the striped silk fade into the distance.
Later, Zagreus wrote a letter on his official notepaper, inviting Thanatos to an audience with the Prince. He instructed his valet to deliver it to the Circus, enclosing a pair of ruby teardrop earrings, a token of his appreciation for Thanatos’ artistry. While he waited for a response, he had a bath drawn, relaxing into the hot water and reliving Thanatos’ performance in his mind. He felt shaky and overwhelmed still, profoundly affected by his beauty and grace.
When Prince Zagreus emerged from his bathing chamber, his valet regretfully informed him that while the ringmaster would pass the note and the earrings on to Thanatos, the performers didn’t meet with their patrons, wishing to uphold the mysteries of their profession. Zagreus was surprised by the disappointment that washed over him - he so desperately wanted to meet Thanatos and express his admiration, if nothing else.
He had his valet advise the Circus that Prince Zagreus would attend the following night’s performance, sending a velvet pouch of coins as a token for the ringmaster, and retired to bed. Sleep eluded him, Thanatos spinning eternally in his mind, his golden eyes warm as he smiled at Zagreus.
The following night, Prince Zagreus climbed the staircase to the royal box, clad once more in his pinstripe suit and cape. When he reached the box, he carefully removed the cape, laying it gently over the empty gilded chair his father had occupied the previous evening. He removed his suit jacket, allowing the billowing white sleeves of his shirt to glow brightly in the low light.
Free of the King’s disdain, Zagreus slumped forward, leaning his forearms on the smooth iron railing of the box’s balcony. Almost immediately, the lights darkened, and this time Zagreus was prepared, unsurprised when the lamps rekindled to reveal the puppet elephant stood at the centre of the ring once more. The scene was slightly different this time, with two fully grown elephant puppets instead of a mother and child, the music softer and sweeter as the elephants slowly paced the ring, each seeking its partner. The blue and silver sequins were still present, this time in a steady stream dripping from the eyes of each elephant once they were poignantly reunited. Each subsequent act was altered thusly, the performance similar at its core but bent towards a new narrative. Impatient as he was, Zagreus relaxed, enjoying each scene as it unfolded.
Time marched inevitably forward, and eventually it was time for Thanatos’ act. Zagreus sat up, gripping the iron railing before him tightly as the lights dimmed once more. The butterflies slowly glowed into life, this time shades of wine red and gold, their hues shifting and fading as if by magic.
This time, Thanatos wasn’t alone. Several other performers joined him, each dressed in tight, sparkling costumes of black and gold. Thanatos himself was resplendent in wine red leggings, his chest again left bare and shimmering with golden glitter, ribbons of red, black and gold trailing from his hips.
The orchestra started to play, their instruments swirling and climbing as they played a fast paced, dizzying song that made Zagreus feel like he was falling. Thanatos and his fellow performers grasped swinging trapezes that dangled from the silken canopy, lifting them aloft using some unseen machinery to stand on cunning platforms hidden in the folds of the roof.
Thanatos dived from his platform, and Zagreus almost cried out in concern. He caught himself one handed on a trapeze, floating through the air in a graceful arc before turning a somersault in the air, ribbons flying, and landing to sit gracefully on the slim bar. He stretched, a picture of relaxed elegance as he swung, looping one of the straps around a leg to hang upside down, one hand gripping the bar.
The other performers flew and somersaulted around him, but Zagreus couldn’t bear to look away from Thanatos as he turned in the air, strong and supple, the movement of his limbs a song Zagreus desperately wanted sung for him and him alone. The trapeze drifted lower until Thanatos was close enough that Zagreus could see his beautiful smile, his golden eyes as warm as Zagreus had imagined.
Thanatos perched on the bar again, legs daintily crossed, swinging lazily back and forth in a coy, flirtatious manner. Zagreus blushed as their eyes met, and then Thanatos flipped, his strong legs curving around the trapeze to hang again. He rotated in a wide circle, flying closer and closer to the royal box, passing by on a breeze that Zagreus was certain smelled of poppies.
As he flew away again, using his strong abdominal muscles to pull himself back upright, Zagreus caught sight of a glimmer in his ear. He was wearing the ruby earrings Zagreus had sent to him, not only wearing them but performing in a costume that could only have been chosen to match them. Zagreus felt dizzy with the implications.
Alone in the box, there was no-one to prevent Zagreus from applauding and cheering at the end of the performance, and his applause was at its most heartfelt for Thanatos. Once more, he looked up to Zagreus after his name was called and he had taken his bow. Zagreus’ heart beat deafeningly loudly in his chest at the warmth in Thanatos’ smile.
When Prince Zagreus returned to the Palace, he sent another note accompanied by a bracelet of sapphires set in silver, and another pouch of coins. Once more, the ringmaster refused his request for an audience.
The next night, Thanatos performed alone, wearing silver leggings, his hair braided with blue velvet ribbons. He deftly climbed a waterfall of midnight blue silk to twist and spin and turn wrapped in its cool embrace, his face serene, the bracelet sparkling at his wrist. That night, Prince Zagreus sent a golden necklace, short enough that it wouldn’t fall from Thanatos’ elegant neck should he invert himself as he danced, and another pouch of coins. His request was denied yet again.
The following night, Thanatos writhed on a golden hoop, his lithe body barely covered by a pair of sequinned shorts and his chest crisscrossed with golden chains attached to an ornate golden pendant strapped to his sternum, which hung from the necklace Zagreus had sent. Zagreus didn’t dare stand to applaud him at the end of the performance, his arousal too obvious in his fine black suit. That night, Thanatos winked at him as he stepped back from the spotlight, and Zagreus had to claim a sudden chill to justify clasping his cloak tightly around him as he left the tent.
As much as Prince Zagreus enjoyed their little game, his patience was beginning to wear thin. He sent his valet with clear instructions, a box full of coins, and a velvet choker bearing a briolette cut black diamond. The following night, he remained at the Palace, leaving the royal box empty as the crowds enjoyed the Circus’ penultimate performance. When the city was shrouded in shadow, Zagreus crept from the Palace, dressed in clothes as casual as his wardrobe would provide.
The Circus was quiet. Zagreus walked slowly inside, using one of the general entrances this time. The tent was dark and still inside, the scent of sweat and polished wood strong in Zagreus’ nose as he moved cautiously forwards.
“Hello?” he called, praying that his request had been honoured. A private performance, the mysteries of the aerial artistry left intact, an opportunity to be close to Thanatos just once before he and the Circus left the city behind. The silence was deafening in his ears, his own breathing harsh and nervous. No answer was forthcoming.
Zagreus had almost resigned himself to fumbling his way out of the tent when the butterflies started to twinkle to a glowing silvery brightness. Before him stood Thanatos, one hand tangled in a cascade of black silk. Zagreus’ breath caught in his chest as his eyes roved over the beautiful man before him. The black choker adorned Thanatos’ neck, the briolette diamond dangling in the hollow of his throat. His torso was tied tight with fine black rope, the patterns fitting snugly over the curves of his pectoral muscles and emphasising his abs. Instead of leggings or shorts, he wore only a triangle of black fabric to preserve his modesty, and as Zagreus regarded him, he pirouetted elegantly, revealing firm buttocks almost entirely exposed.
“What do you think?” Thanatos asked, and Zagreus shivered at the sound of his voice, deep and quiet and solemn. “You seemed to like the gold costume the best, my Prince, and I wondered if you would appreciate this one as much.”
“You…” Zagreus swallowed. “You are gorgeous. Resplendent. So beautiful, I…”
“You are here to watch, are you not?” Thanatos said, cutting him off. “Come closer, Prince.”
Zagreus drifted forward as if in a dream, stopping at the edge of the ring. Thanatos beckoned him forward. He stepped over the edge of the ring, halting a few paces from the silver haired beauty. Up close, Zagreus could see precisely how snugly the black rope was tied against Thanatos’ cool toned skin, and he swallowed again, desperately trying to control his arousal.
Thanatos turned away, leaping gracefully to climb the twin lengths of black silk, leaning back and pointing his leg out prettily with each progression upwards. At this distance, Zagreus could see the muscles of his legs, arms and back working flawlessly to stabilise his body, the black silk draping over the contours of his hips as he moved. Leaning back, he glanced down at Zagreus, giving him a smile that was pure heat and confident sexuality.
High above, he swung one leg upwards, looping the silk around his foot and releasing his grip, his shining silver hair hanging in the air above Zagreus, arms outstretched as if he couldn’t help but be drawn towards him. His abdominal muscles rippled as he lifted himself back upright, spreading his legs and wrapping his hips in the fabric, swinging gently back and forth as he stretched himself horizontal, gazing down at Zagreus as his hips rocked gently back and forth.
He tried to keep his eyes on Thanatos’ face, he truly did. Zagreus relinquished all hope of remaining unaffected, gazing up at Thanatos’ body, bound by rope and by silk, suspended above him like a gift. As his mismatched eyes roved over him, he realised that Thanatos was not entirely unaffected himself. The scrap of fabric that protected his modesty was straining, taut across his groin, and Zagreus felt a bolt of excitement shoot straight to his cock at the sight.
Thanatos turned onto his side, one leg curving and one straight, revolving slowly above Zagreus. From this angle, Zagreus could see every dip and curve of his musculature, enough of his uncovered buttocks that he wanted nothing more than to bury his fingers into the toned flesh, squeezing and possessing Thanatos as he desired.
Thanatos manipulated the silks with his hands, spreading his legs outwards again and sliding slowly down, still hovering out of Zagreus’ reach. He separated the two strands of silk and looped them simultaneously over his feet, his hands gripping tight by his hips. He waited a mere moment before pushing his legs out and apart, executing a perfect aerial split, close enough that Zagreus was left in no doubt about how aroused he was by Zagreus’ attentions.
Zagreus looked up, eyes darkening with hunger, and Thanatos gazed down, his eyes mirroring Zagreus’ desire. Slowly, he unwound himself, sliding down towards Zagreus, landing elegantly beside him. He stepped forward, his stride the languid prowl of a predator who knows their prey is within biting distance, running one hand expressively from Zagreus’ jaw to his hip.
Zagreus couldn’t move. The heat of Thanatos’ body was so close, his skin gleaming with exertion such that Zagreus wanted nothing more than to lick the sweat from him. Thanatos’ hand crept from Zagreus’ hip to his lower back, and then all of a sudden Thanatos’ hand shot into the air, grabbing onto a trapeze that lifted them both slowly into the air.
“I’ve got you,” Thanatos murmured, curling a leg around Zagreus’ thigh and wrapping a muscled arm around his waist.
Zagreus was half terrified, half aroused, his arms moving of their own volition to wrap themselves around Thanatos’ neck as he lifted them into the air. Thanatos laughed, the sound so free and genuine that Zagreus couldn’t help but smile in response, his body relaxing as they flew together. His bound captor moved his hips slightly, sending them soaring through the air, bodies pressed tightly together, and it felt natural for Zagreus to move his hips on the same trajectory, speeding them up. Thanatos dipped his head, brushing his lips slowly across Zagreus’ before rocking his hips again, increasing the length of their swings. As they flew, his tongue slipped between Zagreus’ lips, kissing him as effortlessly as he propelled them through the air.
Every concern Prince Zagreus had ever had slipped away, his mind focused on the dual sensations of flying free through the air and Thanatos’ body against his own.
At the high point of their parabola, Thanatos released the trapeze, sending them soaring untethered into the darkness, his laughter soft in Zagreus’ ear. Zagreus held tight, unable to do anything but close his eyes and fervently hope that Thanatos’ actions didn’t amount to an extremely novel assassination attempt. Thanatos turned them in the air, positioning Zagreus’ body above his own, and they crashed down, their trajectory interrupted by luxuriant softness.
When Zagreus opened his eyes, he found himself straddling Thanatos, his hard cock pressing into Zagreus’ hip as he sprawled on a bed covered in violet silk, his golden eyes dark with arousal and desire.
“What… where…” Zagreus choked out, breathless with adrenaline.
“We use the boxes as bedrooms between performances. This one is mine,” Thanatos breathed, his broad hands stroking Zagreus’ hips.”My Prince, have you done aerial work before? You relaxed into it quickly, and your body helped mine with the movement so naturally.”
Zagreus laughed bitterly. “Of course not. I’m a Prince, I have no time for such things.”
“Would you like to have time for such things?” Thanatos gazed up at him, fingers still splayed on Zagreus’ body.
Prince Zagreus thought of his duty, his father’s expectations which he somehow could never fulfil. He thought of the years of work ahead of him by his father’s side, dry and boring and necessary. He thought of how trapped he felt in the Palace, how he itched to break free.
“Yes,” he replied, staring down at Thanatos beneath him. “I would like to, very much.”
“I can train you,” Thanatos’ eyes burned into his own. “It has been a while since I took on an apprentice, but I can still tell where there’s potential. I can tell that you have potential, my Prince.”
“Thank you, Thanatos,” Whatever expectations Zagreus had for tonight had not included an offer to train beside such a skilled artist. “However, I had thought we had other… matters to attend to tonight?”
Thanatos smirked, his hands holding Zagreus’ hips still as he pushed up against him. “Well, my Prince… I suspect we can do both.”
“Both?” Zagreus gasped, Thanatos’ barely contained cock grinding against his own well covered member.
“Part of the training is becoming comfortable being suspended in the air, my Prince,” Thanatos sat up, cupping Zagreus’ face in his hands. “For that, we have everything we could possibly need here.”
“Thanatos,” Zagreus said, halting the other man a mere breath away from kissing him. “Call me Zagreus. There’s no need to call me Prince.”
“Yes, my P… Zagreus,” Thanatos murmured, his lips pressing softly against Zagreus’, the kiss starting tender and gentle, soon escalating to a frenzied clash of teeth and lips and tongues.
Zagreus’ pulse quickened, his sensitivity heightened by the feeling of the ropes binding Thanatos’ chest pressing against his cotton shirt. He raised a trembling hand to trace the intricate knotted ropes, following the pattern along Thanatos’ collarbone, down his sternum, and along the curve of his pectoral muscle. Thanatos shivered beneath his fingers, his hand splaying against Zagreus’ lower back. A moment later, and his hands moved to slowly unbutton Zagreus’ shirt, dealing with each button with infinite patience and grace before tugging the garment from his body.
Zagreus pressed closer, draping his legs around Thanatos’ hips and placing his hand over the knotted ropes criss-crossing his back, drawing him closer still. The ropes felt rough and sweet against his skin, and when Thanatos moaned into his mouth, one of the knots dragged across Zagreus’ nipple, peaking the soft flesh instantly and dragging a moan from his throat.
“When you said we had everything we needed here, what did you mean?” Zagreus panted, breaking the kiss.
Thanatos merely smiled, rising graciously to his feet, leaving Zagreus to tumble back on the violet silk. Stretching, he tugged at something in the shadows of the canopy. A mass of teal knotted fabric unfurled, two separate panels of silk draping low on the cushioned bed. Zagreus gazed at them, his brow furrowed in confusion.
“It’s like this, my… Zagreus,” Thanatos smirked, climbing the trailing fabric a short distance and looping each piece around his muscular thighs. He twisted his hips, sliding down a little until he floated just above the surface of the bed, tethered and secured by the silky fabric. “Kneel, and come closer.”
Zagreus did as he was instructed, shuffling closer to where Thanatos sat suspended. The closer he drew, the more clear the scene became; he nudged Thanatos’ knees further apart and slotted his hips between them, moving forward until their bodies connected. Zagreus gasped as Thanatos thrust his hips forward, causing him to sway back and forth. Zagreus’ hands rested gently on his spread thighs, amplifying his momentum so their still covered cocks brushed together.
“Like this,” Thanatos wound his fingers into Zagreus’ hair, gasping softly. “Suspended in the air, you can move my body exactly how you want it. Do you see?”
“Yes,” Zagreus’ voice was husky with arousal. He traced a finger across Thanatos’ abs, enjoying the alternating textures of warm skin and cool rope. “Your body holds this position so naturally. Surely my own cannot without practice?”
“I will help you,” Thanatos whispered in his ear. He lifted himself on strong arms, moving his legs quickly to loosen the loops around his thighs, lowering himself back down onto the bed beside Zagreus. “If you have the upper body strength, and I’d wager that you do, you’ll easily achieve the height required. Try it.”
Zagreus shuffled into position, letting the fabric pool between his thighs. He lifted himself up easily, finding that his feet automatically sought to grip the silk, propelling him further.
“Very good. You are a natural,” Thanatos sat back on his heels. As Zagreus watched, clinging to the fabric tightly, he ran his fingers over the scrap of fabric encasing his cock.
“Take it off,” Zagreus commanded, desperate to see his body fully nude. Thanatos did as he was asked, planting one hand by his hip and lifting himself off the bed enough to slide the fabric from his body. The act was as elegant as it was arousing, and Zagreus couldn’t prevent himself from staring at Thanatos, admiring how his slick cock stood proud against his stomach.
“Are you feeling overdressed, Zagreus? May I finish undressing you?” Thanatos teased, kneeling before him to unbutton his soft trousers.
“Yes,” Zagreus breathed, still holding himself upright. Thanatos slid his trousers and underwear down his thighs until the strength of his grip on the silks hindered him. Zagreus straightened his legs out before him experimentally, holding himself off the bed purely using his upper body strength. Thanatos stripped him of his clothes efficiently, moving to his side to run a calloused hand over his hip.
“You’re beautiful,” Thanatos murmured, and Zagreus flushed, hardly believing that a man such as he could find beauty in his body. “Soften your legs. Yes, like that, but hold them more actively. Yes, good. Here, let me separate the strands for you. Hook your feet… good. Ordinarily you need to roll your legs inwards to move the loops to your thighs, I’ll help. Good. Zagreus, you’re doing very well. Now just slide down a little, and hold yourself with your core.”
Zagreus found himself floating, completely naked, above the surface of the bed, supported by the silk looped around his thighs, just as Thanatos had demonstrated. Thanatos spun him around, pulling his back to rest against the knotted ropes that decorated Thanatos’ chest, the tip of his cock brushing across Zagreus’ buttocks. His shivers intensified as Thanatos nibbled gently at his ear, humming his interest into Zagreus’ ear.
Zagreus desperately wanted to kiss him. He twisted his hips, delighting in the gentle spin that resulted, delighted further still when Thanatos took his face between his palms and kissed him, his lips moving firmly against Zagreus’. Zagreus dipped his tongue between Thanatos’ lips, deepening the kiss, and they pressed their hips together, Zagreus’ thighs spreading wide.
Thanatos produced a bottle of oil from somewhere by the side of the bed, shaking a few drops onto Zagreus’ painfully hard cock. His molten gold eyes found Zagreus’ as he wrapped his fingers around his length, stroking gently. “Good, Zagreus?” he breathed, the tip of his tongue moving gently over the shell of Zagreus’ ear. “What would you have me do?”
Zagreus moaned, swinging forward a little to thrust into Thanatos’ hand. Thanatos kissed him, swallowing his moans and stroking him harder as he swung gently back and forth.
“Fuck me,” Zagreus murmured, his lips pressed firmly against Thanatos’. “Fuck me like this.”
Thanatos coated his fingers with oil, running his fingers over Zagreus’ entrance, teasing the fluttering muscle gently. He slid a finger inside, pushing through the tightness. Zagreus hissed, kissing Thanatos hard, murmuring “more” into his mouth until Thanatos withdrew and added another finger, drawing them slowly in and out.
Zagreus’ thighs trembled, his muscles working hard to hold him aloft as Thanatos prepared him. He wrapped his arms around Thanatos’ neck, holding him close as pleasure rolled through his body with each thrust of his fingers. “I’m ready,” he moaned. “I need you inside me.”
Thanatos didn’t withdraw his fingers immediately, choosing instead to curve them inside Zagreus, caressing the sensitive tissues delicately until Zagreus insisted he stop. “I don’t want to come until you’re fucking me,” he groaned, hips pressing forward hungrily.
Thanatos draped Zagreus’ silk bound legs around his hips. “Let yourself slide just a little lower,” he growled, spreading oil over his cock. Zagreus did as he was told, and the tip of Thanatos’ cock pressed against his entrance, their bodies lined up perfectly. Thanatos pulled Zagreus’ body towards him and slid home in one hard thrust, letting the silks binding his lover draw his hips back, sliding him up back off his cock. Zagreus threw his head back, keening, the sensation of Thanatos’ body moving inside him overwhelming coupled with the gliding suspension.
Thanatos guided Zagreus’ body with his hands, keeping the gliding rhythm slow and sweet. With each smooth forward movement Thanatos thrust up, the head of his cock brushing Zagreus’ prostate before the backwards slide drew them apart, Thanatos’ cock withdrawing entirely from Zagreus’ body.
With each breach of Zagreus’ tight entrance, their groans became deeper, more wanton. Zagreus grabbed Thanatos’ hand from where it rested on his chest and wrapped his fingers around his cock. “I’m so close, Thanatos,” he moaned, his core muscles straining with the effort of holding himself aloft. “Come inside me. I want to feel you.”
Thanatos tightened his hand around Zagreus’ cock, capturing his lips and pressing his hand firmly against his lower back, halting the smooth gliding movements that brought their bodies together. He thrust upwards firmly, hips pumping as he fucked Zagreus harder. “That’s it,” he hissed. “Be still and take my cock.”
Zagreus’ body stiffened as he came, his overused core muscles tensing and then releasing suddenly to send him sliding down the silk. Thanatos caught his hips, thrusting up as Zagreus’ weight hit him, his cock slamming inside hard and sending him spiralling deeper into pleasure. Thanatos came, cock throbbing and twitching as Zagreus’ muscles gripped and fluttered around him.
They fell to the bed, coming to rest side by side on the cool silk. Thanatos untangled Zagreus’ limbs gently from the swaying fabric, sitting up briefly to tie the panels out of the way in an efficient knot. Zagreus tugged him back down, drawing him in for another kiss, sweet and tender, his body reeling from the intensity of his climax and the thrill of how Thanatos had fucked him. Beyond the physical satisfaction, he realised that he felt a rare sadness at the prospect of leaving Thanatos. The Prince lacked companions who truly believed in him, and he became aware that Thanatos’ commentary on his potential had opened a need for praise that he had buried deep.
“When you said you could train me, did you mean it?” Zagreus whispered, running a fingertip over Thanatos’ sculpted cheekbone.
“I did,” the beauty replied, drawing Zagreus’ fingertip to his lips and kissing it gently. “However, two concerns. The first; I have heard that the Prince discards his lovers as quickly as he attracts them. The second; the Circus leaves in two day’s time.”
Zagreus blushed. “You need not concern yourself about the first. I would not be so quick to discard a treasure such as yourself. As for the second… might we not make the most of the time we have left?”
Thanatos leaned forward, capturing his lips in another sweet kiss. “We may. And if I am not mistaken, the night is yet young. There is much I might teach you yet, sweet Prince.”
Zagreus could do nothing but kiss him back, humming his agreement.
Hours later, Zagreus was sweating, climbing up the silks for what felt like the hundredth time, his muscles screaming. He grunted, pushing past the discomfort to continue the climb until he reached a dizzying height. He pointed his toes and twined his leg through the fabric, commanding his hands to loosen their grip when his weight was secured.
“Good, Zagreus,” Thanatos said quietly, perched on a wide trapeze that swung gently by his side. “You’re doing so well. Make sure the silk is properly secured around your ankle, and then relax your core until you flip upside down.”
Zagreus shot the silver-haired beauty a look. He had quickly learned the movements necessary to climb the silks and hold himself aloft without his hands. Inverting himself, however, seemed a step too far, particularly given the distance to the ground.
“Try it,” Thanatos murmured, continuing to swing gently to and fro on the trapeze. He looked so relaxed, so natural in the air it took Zagreus’ breath away. “I believe in you.”
Zagreus’ heart clenched. He took a deep breath, drawing the cool night air deep into his lungs, trusting Thanatos completely. He consciously relaxed his abdominal muscles, fighting to keep them relaxed as he pitched backwards, gathering speed as he fell. The silks around his feet burned as they suddenly released him, and he plummeted headfirst towards the ground.
A mere second or two later, his body jerked, the stout rope around his waist snapping taut. Dangling clumsily in the air, he gazed upwards, noting that Thanatos sat unflustered on the trapeze despite the obvious strain of the rope tied at his own waist. The sudden tug of Zagreus’ weight in free fall hadn’t bothered the master aerialist at all. He smiled gently and began reeling Zagreus in, his long fingered hands moving with grace as he pulled the Prince towards him in unhurried increments.
When Zagreus was close enough, he reached for the trapeze, his fingers brushing Thanatos’ leggings as he grasped the bar between his thighs. Thanatos reached down, his strong hand clasping Zagreus’, drawing him upwards until he could twist his hips to perch beside the other man on the trapeze. Thanatos turned to him, capturing his lips in an affectionate kiss that made Zagreus far more dizzy than the fall.
“You are doing spectacularly well, Zagreus,” Thanatos murmured between kisses. “Do you know why you fell?”
“Yes,” Zagreus replied, daring to remove his hand from where it gripped the trapeze between them. He placed it on Thanatos’ thigh, his fingers finding the edge of his practice shorts to stroke his beautiful skin. “I relaxed my legs as well as my core, and thus there was no tension to hold me up.”
“Correct,” Thanatos removed Zagreus’ hand from his thigh, wrapping his wandering fingers around the trapeze once more. “Are you ready to try again?”
“Yes,” Zagerus gazed at Thanatos, distracted by his full lips and the glowing gold of his eyes. “However… I do wonder how much of the night remains. I dare not risk enraging my father by returning to the Palace after dawn.”
“I fear time is running short, then, my Prince,” Thanatos leaned forward to kiss him again. “Come, let us return to the ground and say our goodbyes.”
He leapt from the trapeze, effortlessly winding his limbs into the flowing silks hanging beside them. A moment later, he relaxed his upper body, inverting himself smoothly and gazing at Zagreus upside down, his arms slightly bent as they stretched out below his head.
“Jump, Zagreus. I will catch you,” Thanatos smiled, wiggling his fingers.
Zagreus inhaled deeply and leapt, his arms outstretched. He grabbed Thanatos’ forearms, his momentum slowed but not halted entirely, his hands sliding down to his wrists before their hands clasped together. They swung gently for a few moments, Thanatos bearing Zagreus’ weight without complaint or effort, and when Zagreus looked up he saw nothing but pride in Thanatos’ golden eyes.
They slid elegantly down the silks, their descent kept smooth and constant by Thanatos’ controlled movements, until Zagreus’ feet touched the floor. Thanatos released Zagreus’ hands, grasping the silks and letting his legs fall elegantly to the ground, landing with perfect grace beside the Prince.
“Will I see you again?” Zagreus murmured, unwilling to say goodbye just yet.
“Come tomorrow night,” Thanatos replied, untying the rope that bound them together. He drew Zagreus closer and brushed his lips softly over the Prince’s own with a tenderness he rarely experienced. “We will make the most of the time we have.”
Zagreus bid the aerialist goodnight, kissing him once more before he departed, hurrying through the streets and racing to the Palace against the dawn.
Prince Zagreus sat by the King’s side as he dealt with petitions from the city’s nobility. He had long since perfected the art of appearing watchful whilst his mind wandered in a daydream, and he was grateful for the skill; the petitions were of no interest under normal circumstances, and the circumstances this day were utterly abnormal.
The Prince was accustomed to slipping back into the Palace as the night skies brightened with the dawn. It had become a well practised routine; duck into the servant’s entrance, his gaze appropriately trained onto the rough wooden floors, and meander his way through the Palace to his rooms via any route which avoided his father’s personal staff. The Prince’s own staff might have been fond enough of him to turn a blind eye to his antics, but the King’s staff were another question. Once safely returned to his own chambers, the Prince would bathe and climb into his stately bed, the night’s entertainment already fading from his mind.
Rarely did he daydream about his lovers. Rarely did his mind drift back to the events of the previous evening. Sitting in the King’s throne room, however, he could not prevent his thoughts from returning to Thanatos. His golden eyes, the contours of his body, the warmth of his skin. The passion with which he had brushed his lips over Zagreus’, the sound of his moans hot in Zagreus’ ear. The patience with which he had tutored him, his gentle and earnest encouragement.
His stomach fizzed with sweetness and yearning as he remembered every moment of the night. The physical pleasure had been very enjoyable, yes, but the companionship, the sense of purpose… The Prince had few friends, and despite the brief nature of the time he had spent with Thanatos, he found himself certain that the artist would become a true friend should they be blessed with the gift of time together. However, time was running short. Tonight, the Circus performers would take to the ring for the last time in the city. And afterwards… Thanatos would be lost to him.
The Prince was surprised by just how much anguish the thought caused him.
“Your Majesty, this humble merchant begs for your indulgence. The Circus has entertained the city for less than a week, and already it is clear that revenues in the city’s shops have increased with an influx of visitors from surrounding towns. I speak on behalf of the trade guild and the innkeepers guild when I ask: let us request that the Circus remain in the Royal Meadows, so that we might enjoy the benefits in trade.”
Prince Zagreus’ eyes widened as the merchant’s words interrupted his daydreams. He hadn’t considered the impact of the Circus’ presence on the city’s many inns and shops. Prior experience indicated that the King would look favourably on any proposal that might increase the city’s prosperity, knowing as he did that an increase in riches to the businesses would result in an increase in taxes flowing into the Royal Reserve.
He glanced at his father, daring to hope that he would grant the petition. He saw no reason why the King would not grant it, unless he had been made aware of the Prince’s repeated visits, in which case he would gladly sacrifice potential financial gain to keep his son in line. The King regarded the merchant coolly, considering, and Zagreus found himself holding his breath in anticipation.
“Granted,” came the King’s reply, his voice a deep rumble of approval. “The Chancellor will accompany you to negotiate with the ringmaster.”
A thrill of excitement rippled through Zagreus’ chest. He kept his face carefully neutral, fighting the urge to grin with happiness. He barely heard the rest of the day’s petitions, his mind racing with the possibilities should the ringmaster agree.
Prince Zagreus hadn’t been planning on attending the Circus’ last performance in an official capacity, but as the afternoon dragged on, he found he could not keep away. He dressed quickly, eschewing the help of his valet as he donned his black suit once more. He stuffed a soft shirt and trousers into a bag, hiding the small bundle under the cloak he fastened at his shoulders.
He settled into his seat in the royal box, cloak and casual clothes discarded sloppily at his feet. The performance began, the ringmaster striding forward dressed in her blue velvet jacket. She began with an announcement: due to popular demand, the Circus would remain in the city for a month. The audience’s response was deafening, cheers and applause ringing out through the tent. Zagreus barely noticed as the elephants began their scene, a herd of puppets stampeding around the ring. A whole month. His heart ached with happiness.
When Thanatos emerged from the darkness, he wore a costume of shimmering green. On this evening, he floated elegantly around the flying pole once more, and when he glanced towards the royal box, his surprise at Zagreus’ attendance was evident in his face. A delighted smile bloomed on his full lips, his silver hair swirling behind him as he twirled away.
When the performance ended, Zagreus waited for the tent to empty of its patrons. When the oil lamps blazed brightly, he descended the ornate staircase, slipping through a flap of striped silk. A child hurried past clutching a broom, and Zagreus was quick to ask where he might find Thanatos. He followed the pointed finger, climbing another staircase to the box Thanatos used for his bedroom.
When Zagreus reached the top of the staircase, he found the aerialist tugging his bed down from a cleverly concealed partition, the chairs already stacked in the corner. At the other side of the small box, a velvet panel had been tied back, revealing a small dressing table and rail.
“Zagreus!” Thanatos’ beautiful face broke into a smile. He drew Zagreus into his arms and kissed him gently. “I wondered if you would return, and here you are. Looking so handsome, too.”
“It’s good to see you again, Thanatos,” Zagreus murmured, unable to resist kissing him again. “Your performance was spectacular, as always.”
“Thank you, my Prince,” Thanatos replied, releasing Zagreus from his arms. “Do you wish to train again?” He moved over to the dressing table, taking a seat and beginning the process of removing the dark makeup around his golden eyes.
Zagreus blushed. “I wish to spend time with you, Thanatos, in whatever pursuits you permit. I would appreciate the continuation of our training, and I would also appreciate… other things, if you are interested.”
Thanatos turned towards him, his face cleaned of the sparkling makeup. “I am interested, Zagreus, trust me. Let us continue your training, and perhaps you will be the one to fly us to bed tonight.”
A smile spread over Zagreus’ face. He shrugged off his suit jacket and loosened his crimson cravat before Thanatos strode over, his fingers nimbly unbuttoning his Zagreus’ shirt. Zagreus let his hands hang loosely at his sides as Thanatos stripped him down to his undergarments. They stood, bodies scarcely an inch apart, gazing at each other, their breathing already heavy.
“I would have you train like this, Prince, but I doubt I could control myself,” Thanatos whispered, his breath warm on Zagreus’ lips. “Wear these.” He walked to the rail and threw over a pair of knee length leggings in sparkling black. Zagreus tugged them on hurriedly, Thanatos’ golden gaze heated on his body as he pulled the tight fabric up his thighs.
Thanatos leapt up onto the railing at the edge of the box, holding one hand high. A trapeze swung over towards him and he caught it, holding his other hand out to Zagreus in invitation. Zagreus did not hesitate, dashing towards the aerialist and jumping up to join him on the railing. He clasped Thanatos’ hand tightly, and they jumped together. As they swung a wide arc over the ring, Thanatos lifted him upwards until their hands were curled tightly around the bar, arms overlapping.
“No safety rope?” Zagreus asked, breathless.
“You do not need it, Zagreus,” Thanatos replied. “Trust yourself.”
The trapeze continued to swing. Thanatos leaned forward, kissing Zagreus briefly before he leapt from the trapeze, landing smoothly on one of the platforms hidden in the draped silk canopy.
“Pull yourself up to sit on the trapeze, Zagreus,” he called from the platform as the trapeze swung away. Zagreus did as instructed, intuitively leaning backwards and forwards to magnify the swing. “Good. Now grip with your knees and invert.”
Zagreus hesitated, his skin clammy with concern. He leaned backwards until the tent inverted, hanging upside down from the trapeze.
“Well done!” Thanatos beamed, his smile proud and genuine even viewed upside down. “Stretch out your arms and ready your hands. I’m going to intercept you.”
He scarcely waited before he leapt from the platform, plummeting towards the swinging trapeze. Zagreus stretched his arms out, and their hands connected, gripping tight, as the trapeze swung back elegantly, its trajectory smooth and uninterrupted. Zagreus gave a shout of triumph, and Thanatos smiled up at him as they swung together in perfect balance.
Later, Zagreus found that he could propel them to Thanatos’ bedroom using the momentum of the trapeze and the weight of their bodies, and they landed on the silk bed, bouncing gently before relaxing into each other’s arms.
Zagreus brushed Thanatos’ shining silver hair back from his face, tracing the shape of his jaw with trembling fingertips. “That you could teach me so fast… you are a true master of your profession, Thanatos. How did you come to have such expertise?”
“I was born in the Circus to a mother who is herself a renowned performer. Myself and my twin brother learned at her feet as soon as we could stand.” Thanatos stroked his long, elegant fingers across Zagreus’ shoulder.
“You have a twin?” Zagreus raised an eyebrow.
“I do. He did not take to the aerial arts as I did; he cares for the performers instead. His company is very relaxing, and we are a more tranquil company than we would be without him. Do you have siblings?”
“No. My family is small, just the King and I. If you could call us a family at all.”
“You are not close?”
“No. My father is a strict man, and I fail to meet his standards with boring regularity. Neither of us is happy with the other.”
“I’m sorry,” Thanatos’ golden eyes were kind. “I cannot imagine how lonely you must be.”
Zagreus pushed Thanatos onto his back on the soft bed, leaning over him and kissing him briefly, afraid to open his heart further. “So the Circus remains in the city for a month, correct?”
“Correct,” Thanatos gazed up, a slight smile playing on his lips. “Will you continue to train with me, Prince?”
“I would like nothing more,” Zagreus breathed, lips hovering over Thanatos’.
“Nor I,” Thanatos replied, pulling Zagreus’ face down and kissing him delicately, running the tip of his tongue over Zagreus’ bottom lip until the kiss grew fervent and hungry.
The silks remained knotted above the bed that night, their training abandoned in favour of worshipping one another with hands and lips.
The Prince and the performer fell into a pattern; their days were spent apart, Zagreus in reluctant statecraft and Thanatos in rest and his own practice. Their nights were spent together, leaping and swinging and twirling together through each piece of apparatus before retiring to Thanatos’ bedroom to lose themselves in pleasure. The deficit of sleep drew dark circles beneath Zagreus’ eyes, and Thanatos begged him to remain at the Palace and rest occasionally, but Zagreus was determined. The King noted his exhaustion and looked upon him disapprovingly, but Zagreus performed his Princely duties adequately, and for once the King said nothing.
A month had seemed infinite, and yet the time passed quickly, grains of sand slipping through an hourglass. Zagreus’ skill improved until he was a worthy partner for Thanatos, nowhere near as skilled but more than capable of augmenting his brilliance. They did not discuss what might happen when the Circus inevitably moved on, choosing rather to live in the moment, flying and fucking until their bodies were as familiar to each other as their own.
Three weeks had passed when Thanatos suggested that Zagreus join him for the Circus’ finale. He presented Zagreus with a pair of matching headdresses fashioned of stiff black fabric, adorned with sequins and feathers and accompanied by matching masks, so that the two might perform together anonymously. Zagreus accepted, his heart swelling with pride and satisfaction, and they worked tirelessly together, choreographing a routine around two hanging columns of black silk.
Zagreus slipped into the tent on the night of the Circus’ final performance, clad in sparkling black leggings with the headdress and mask firmly affixed to his head. He sought Thanatos, dressed similarly and lounging behind the striped silk curtain that served as the ring’s backdrop. They embraced, and the warmth of Thanatos’ skin against his own calmed Zagreus’ heart, which thrummed with nerves and excitement.
“You are ready?” Thanatos murmured, brushing his lips softly across Zagreus’ temple.
“I am. I can scarcely believe tonight is our last night together,” Zagreus blurted, his brow furrowed.
“Let us not speak of it now. Focus on the performance.” Thanatos insisted, his golden eyes gentle on Zagreus’ face.
They waited, listening to the reactions of the audience, wishing the departing performers luck and welcoming them back with congratulations until they were alone behind the striped silk. The harpist plucked out a melody, sweet and melancholy, and Thanatos kissed Zagreus once more for luck before he slipped through the curtain into the ring.
Zagreus peeked into the ring, watching Thanatos prowl elegantly to the waterfall of silk, his movements even more expressive and soulful than usual. He grasped one column of silk, winding it around his arm and moving gracefully towards the edge of the ring, extending his free hand in invitation. A crescendo of strings built and swelled with the harp, and Zagreus emerged into the spotlight, his stomach lurching with nerves at the sight of the assembled crowds. He took a deep breath and looked towards Thanatos, moving towards him with flowing movements until the second column of dark silk was within his grasp. He bowed, Thanatos dipping to echo the movement, wrapping the silk around his arm.
The music sped up, playful and light, and Thanatos ran lightly in a broad arc around the ring towards him, Zagreus waiting for the right moment to set off in a leaping run himself. They leapt into the air, Thanatos stretching to grasp Zagreus’ ankle as they flew in a wide circle. Zagreus twisted to face him, bringing his hand to cup Thanatos’ face as the other man set them spinning, the panels of silk twisting together as they gazed at each other, twirling fluidly through the air.
As quickly as they came together, they flew apart, the silk unwinding and sending them flying through the air just out of each other’s reach as they drifted slowly towards the ground. Thanatos landed first, stepping back to give Zagreus space to alight softly before him. The music paused and Thanatos handed his silk to Zagreus, who climbed the silks quickly, winding a piece about each leg with Thanatos’ help and inverting, legs stretched outwards and arms stretched down.
Thanatos leapt upwards to a glissando of strings, bringing their hands together as the silks rose into the air, lifting them high off the ground. He stretched his legs out, cycling between poses, his limbs strong and elegant as the harp wove its way into the music. Zagreus pulled him up in one smooth movement, lifting his body so Thanatos could wind his legs back around Zagreus’ waist. They turned slowly in the air, and Zagreus couldn’t help but brush his lips over the soft skin of Thanatos’ lower back.
As their performance continued, they traded soft caresses, brushing lips and fingers over exposed skin as they moved together. The audience melted away, leaving Zagreus and Thanatos together in the twinkling light of the butterflies, moving in perfect harmony. Zagreus’ chest ached with the sweetness of it, and he found himself wishing that the performance would never end.
Inevitably, it did end, and Zagreus could have sworn that mere moments had passed when he and Thanatos embraced one last time before the momentum of the silk drew them apart. They flew in a great circle, the distance between them increasing as they turned, until they landed softly on the ground, gazing at each other across the ring. The lights dimmed to darkness, and they darted back to the curtain, Thanatos holding the fabric aside for Zagreus.
The ringmaster offered her congratulations as they passed through. Thanatos had explained that the last night of the Circus eschewed the parade of performers in favour of a more magical closing, and he led them around the outer perimeter of the ring, removing their headdresses and masks as they walked. The ringmaster’s voice rang out as they slipped up the stairs, thanking the audience for their applause on the Circus’ last performance.
The box that served as Thanatos’ bedroom was empty of customers, the bed with its violet silk covering occupying the majority of the space. Thanatos ushered Zagreus to the railing, stepping behind him and drawing his back to Thanatos’ chest. He kissed Zagreus’ cheek as the ringmaster concluded her speech, the lights dimming once more.
Zagreus’ eyes slowly adjusted to the low light, which lasted far longer than he had come to expect. Shapes emerged from the darkness, impressions of animals rendered in opalescent outlines that drifted and danced through the air to a mysterious, whimsical piano melody. A glowing pink dove beat its wings slowly, flying over the crowds on a sweet smelling breeze while a luminous orange cat prowled and pranced across the ring. With each passing breath, another incandescent animal came to life until the tent teemed with them, vivid and vivacious. The butterfly lights flickered and twinkled, and Zagreus found himself holding his breath at the sheer majestic beauty on display. The orchestra played and played, building slowly to a thrilling crescendo, until all at once the tent was plunged into darkness once more.
When the oil lamps rekindled, the ring was deserted, and it remained so even as the audience stood, clapping and stomping their appreciation.
Thanatos turned Zagreus in his arms, kissing him hard as his long fingers tangled in his dark hair. “You were magnificent,” he murmured, tilting Zagreus’ head to graze his eager lips across his throat.
“You were magnificent,” Zagreus whispered, stroking his fingers through Thanatos’ unbound hair.
Thanatos nibbled gently on his earlobe. “We are magnificent together, Zagreus.”
They staggered back to the bed, kissing hungrily, hands roving over each other’s bodies. Thanatos pushed Zagreus back onto the bed, bending to strip off his leggings, pressing soft kisses to his hardening cock as he tugged the fabric down Zagreus’ legs. Zagreus’ fingers dipped below the waistline of Thanatos’ own leggings, and Thanatos pulled them off quickly, pressing Zagreus’ body into the soft bed and tangling their legs urgently.
Zagreus rolled his hips upwards, moaning at the feeling of their bare cocks rubbing together. Thanatos reached for a bottle of oil, drizzling a thin stream over his hand and wrapping his hand around their lengths, stroking them together. Zagreus gasped, kissing Thanatos harder.
Abruptly, Thanatos released their cocks, taking Zagreus’ hand and pouring oil over his fingers. “Prepare me,” he whispered, straddling Zagreus’ hips and dragging his fingers lightly over Zagreus’ cock, spreading more oil over his length. Zagreus bit his lip, reaching between Thanatos’ thighs to tease his entrance before pushing a finger inside. Thanatos’ golden eyes heated as he pressed his hips down, and Zagreus bit his lip harder, thrusting his finger in and out for a few moments before withdrawing the digit to add another.
Soon Thanatos was sweating, his skin radiant, eyes half open and head thrown back in pleasure. Zagreus watched him, enchanted at the sight of him fucking himself on Zagreus’ fingers. He reached for Thanatos’ cock, stroking his fingers over the blushing head.
“Not yet,” Thanatos’ eyes snapped open, his pupils wide with desire as he took Zagreus’ hand, entwining their fingers. “I want you.”
“Yes,” Zagreus moaned, withdrawing his fingers gently and wrapping them around his own cock, rubbing the head over Thanatos’ entrance.
“Wait,” Thanatos mumbled, leaning forward to kiss him hard before stretching upwards to the knotted silks, untying them so they unfurled over the bed. He raised his arms above his head, wrapping the silk around his wrists and forearms, using his core to raise his body to hover above Zagreus’ cock. He relaxed his abdominal muscles, sinking down onto Zagreus’ length, his golden eyes widening as the tip pushed past the tight ring of muscle.
Zagreus panted as he slid slowly down, bringing his hands to Thanatos’ hips and squeezing, trying to ground himself through the intensity of the sensation of his cock sheathed in Thanatos’ heat. Thanatos tightened his abs again, dragging himself upwards, and they moaned together.
“Thanatos,” Zagreus gasped as the silver haired beauty slid back down, thrusting up to meet him. “Ah, Thanatos, yes.”
They settled into an intense rhythm, Thanatos’ muscles tensing and relaxing as he rode Zagreus, his movements anchored by the hanging silks. Zagreus could do little but thrust upwards and endeavour not to be overwhelmed by the feeling of Thanatos’ body. As he climbed closer to his peak, he reached for Thanatos’ cock again, running his fingers teasingly over the head before pumping him firmly. Thanatos gazed down at him, moaning as Zagreus stroked him, his hole tightening as his pleasure began to peak.
“Zagreus,” he rasped, his movements speeding up. Zagreus gripped his cock harder, his own thrusts growing ragged and desperate. Thanatos slammed down onto his cock once more and Zagreus came with a cry, Thanatos following shortly after, splashing Zagreus’ fingers with a muffled curse.
Thanatos unwound the silks from his arms, slumping onto the bed next to Zagreus, his skin flushed and glistening. He draped himself over Zagreus’ heaving chest, kissing him deeply.
“Zagreus, I swore to myself I would not ask this of you, and yet, I cannot remain silent as if I do not care that this could be our last night together,” Thanatos whispered, stroking Zagreus’ hair. “Come with me. We will perform together every night. You will be free of your father and live as you wish. I know I ask a lot of you, but I have come to realise that I… I want nothing more than to live by your side.”
Zagreus lifted his hand to cup Thanatos’ cheek. “Thanatos, you have given me so much. Your time, your body, perhaps even your heart, yes, but also purpose. Confidence. Fulfilment. I have found myself with you. So yes, I will come with you, for I want nothing more than to live by your side.”
Thanatos’ lips found Zagreus’, their kisses sweet and bright as they held each other close on the violet silk, the shimmering light of a thousand butterflies flaring to life around them.
“Thanatos, if I’m to leave the Palace and come with you… I must go back. I must face my father.” Zagreus leaned his forehead against Thanatos’.
“I understand, love,” Thanatos kissed his cheek. “Hurry back to me.”
Zagreus stood, cleaning himself quickly and pulling on his casual clothes. He leaned over Thanatos once more, brushing a soft kiss against his lips before he began his journey back to the Palace.
When Prince Zagreus returned to his chambers, he found the King waiting for him.
“I heard news of a mysterious performer at the Circus tonight, boy,” he rumbled. “I have long tolerated your escapades because you had the sense to be discreet, at least. You pushed the boundaries too far tonight.”
“Father, let us be honest with one another for once,” Zagreus took a deep breath. “I have no interest in or talent for statecraft, and I am at best a mediocre Prince. The realm does not need me.”
“The realm always needs a ruler, even if he is primarily a figurehead, boy. There will come a time when I cannot rule any longer, and you will wear the crown, you will rule.”
“I will not. I have found purpose, Father. You may not approve of the arts, but I have found a purpose and a peace in their practice that brings meaning to my life. I have found companionship that soothes my loneliness. I will not let these gifts slip between my fingers. I will leave the Palace tonight, and the realm will be no worse off for my departure.” Zagreus regarded his King steadily, his fists bunched at his hips.
"Had you made your case a month ago, I might have agreed to let you go, boy. This past month, however, your performance has been adequate, despite the dark circles beneath your eyes from burning the candle at both ends. In finding purpose, you have also proved yourself a somewhat capable Prince,” The King stared at Zagreus, appraising his only son. “I will offer you a bargain."
Zagreus flushed at the thin compliment, unused to any form of praise from the King. "What bargain do you offer, Father?"
"For six months of the year, you may travel with the Circus as it pleases you. For the remaining six months, you will reside in the Palace, serving the realm and fulfilling your duty."
"And if I refuse?"
"You will find it difficult to leave the Palace before the Circus departs, even if you try to use the servants' entrance as you have done in the past. Should you succeed in escaping, I will send the Royal Guard to bring you back. Even if your… companion were to try to protect you, I doubt the Circus would fare well against the Royal Guard."
Zagreus bristled at the thinly veiled threat despite being unsurprised by it. In truth, the King's bargain was far better than any eventuality Zagreus had imagined. If he wanted to both keep Thanatos safe and secure a place by the aerialist's side, his choice was obvious.
"I accept," Zagreus dropped to one knee, bowing his head respectfully. "For six months of the year I will serve, and for six months of the year I will be free."
"It is agreed," the King replied. "Since you leave tonight, I expect to see you return in six months, or the Royal Guard will bring you back by force."
He swept from the room, sharing no parting wishes with his only son, their bargain secured. Zagreus let loose a breath, tension escaping his body as he contemplated the bargain. He could survive spending half of his time as Prince if he could spend half of his time with Thanatos.
He stuffed clothes into a pack, adding a heavy pouch of coins so that he might sweeten the news of his residence with the ringmaster. From the box on his dressing table, he took a golden ring that bore his sigil etched into a flawless amethyst. He drew a heavy travelling cloak around his shoulders and departed, leaving the Palace behind him and hurrying back to the shimmering tent where his lover awaited him.
For eleven months of the year, the Circus travelled the land, bringing magic and whimsy to enthralled audiences packed into the tent night after night.
For five of those eleven months, Thanatos performed alone, his movements slow and languid, beautiful in his melancholy.
For one full month, the Circus occupied the Royal Meadow. Some nights Thanatos performed alone, and some nights Zagreus joined him. The King had not decreed that for his six months at the Palace, Zagreus must remain only at the Palace, and those stolen performances were all the sweeter as a result.
When they performed together, flying and twisting and moving together with beauty and grace, their bodies turned towards each other always as they swung and danced, Zagreus' smile shone as bright on his face as his ring shone on Thanatos' finger.
