kinkfest | In vino veritas [Tytania, Jouslain/Ariabart, PG]

Title: In vino veritas
Author: Akiko
Rating: PG
Warnings: none
Word count: 420
Prompt: Tytania, Jouslain/Ariabert: coming to terms - The untold want, now revealed.
Summary: Ariabart applies a bit of liquid courage in an encounter with Jouslain

Jouslain sat in the gazebo, a bottle of wine and two glasses on the table in front of him. Ariabart watched him from the edge of the lawn. Everything he did was perfect, and he was always two steps ahead of everyone else, with the possible exception of Idris. No one could call Jouslain a coward.

Ariabart took a deep breath and walked to their meeting point. "Good afternoon. Sorry to keep you waiting."

Jouslain smiled and poured wine. "I always look forward to talking with you, my friend."

Ariabart lifted his glass and hid the downward twitch of his mouth in a sip of wine. "And I with you."

"Did you have something you wanted to discuss?" As Jouslain took a drink of wine, his head tipped back slightly, revealing a flash of pale throat above his high collar. Ariabart wanted to press his lips against it.

Ariabart drained his glass. It was inelegant, and elicited a querulous eyebrow from his companion, but he wanted the strength wine could give. In vino veritas, went the saying, though he felt that all the wine in the Empire wouldn't make him strong enough. He looked at Jouslain's wineglass, resting on the table, held in fingers he'd imagined against his skin. "Not in specific. I haven't seen you lately, since you've been traveling." He looked up. "I missed talking with you."

Jouslain's face relaxed. "An afternoon conversation between friends, where we don't talk about politics? It's been too long since I could do that."

Ariabart refilled his glass and drank more. "I have a confession. I was rather more selfish than that when I asked you to meet me."

Jouslain's only response was an inquisitive look.

"I wanted to see you. I wanted to hear your voice." He drained the second glass and walked around the table. "I want you." He pressed his lips against Jouslain's. To his surprise, Jouslain kissed him back, twining his fingers into Ariabart's hair.

"I never knew you felt this way," Jouslain said, his hand brushing Ariabart's cheek.

Ariabart looked into his eyes. He'd surprised the master tactician. He savored the moment, because he knew it would never happen again. "Would you like to retire to my chambers?"

Jouslain smirked. "That would be preferable to putting on a show for any who walk past. Idris would have a field day if he found out."

Though he suspected Jouslain was calculating his advantage, Ariabart didn't care. He had long wanted this, and he would take the opportunity, despite its potential cost.