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1. Lips barely touching
"You're in my way," Mollymauk says. Caleb is pressed against him, front to front. The shop is small enough that they're really unable to move unless one of them squeezes past the rows of books and trinkets.
They're only in this predicament because Caleb wasn't watching where he was stepping.
Neither was Mollymauk, but he's not going to take the blame. Instead he looks at Caleb with a pout, and Caleb shifts to get away from him. This close, Molly can see the way Caleb's cheeks are flushed, and Caleb tries his best not to focus on the fact that he can see every line of the peacock feathers on Molly's face and neck.
"I'm trying to give you room," Caleb says. He turns his head just as Molly does as well, their noses brushing. There's a strange heat in the air, a bit of tension that Caleb knows Mollymauk definitely feels as well, because he's leaning closer, closer, until their lips just brush. Then he hears Jester laughing and coming closer, and Caleb squirms his way from the narrow passage and does his best to rid himself of his flushed complexion.
He doesn’t catch the way Mollymauk’s fingers brush his own lips as though wondering if that had actually happened.
2. Goodnight kisses
"I have to sleep," Mollymauk says, voice heavy with exhaustion. He feels as though he's been through all nine of the hells, battered and still so sore. Caleb catches his hand. Mollymauk makes a tiny, pained noise — the bruise on his wrist is still throbbing, and he knows he’s going to have to wait for Jester to be well enough to patch him up.
"I'll be with you in a few minutes," he assures him, and pulls Molly in for a quick, light kiss on his cheek, then his lips.
"Goodnight, Caleb. When you join me, please don't wake me up." Molly pulls away, backing toward the stairs that lead up the second floor of the inn.
"I'll try not to." Caleb watches him head upstairs, watches the way his tail frustratedly whips back and forth. He’ll join Mollymauk soon.
3. Wrist kisses
Caleb isn't used to being treated like this, like he's delicate in the way that fine pieces of glass art are; Molly's hands ever so lightly touch him as though he might break. And while he's used to being the weakest one of the Nein, that usually results in a protective barrier between him and the danger.
Not Mollymauk sliding his fingers down his bare arm, grasping at his hand. Molly never says anything about the scars on his arms, never acknowledges them the way Caleb spends time kissing along Mollymauk’s throat and chest, tracing his scars with his lips and tongue.
Molly lifts his hand to his lips.
It feels more embarrassing to see Molly kissing the inside of his wrist with such a protective devotion than to be laid out naked beneath him.
4. Smiling while kissing
"You look good in that," Caleb says. They're the last two in the room, everyone else having been excited to head out. In the hall, he can hear Jester excitedly talking her mother through the plan.
"So do you." Molly says, taking a step toward Caleb. This time, unlike so many other advances, Caleb doesn't move back. Instead he stays in place as Molly comes closer and rests a hand on his chest. His own suit is well fitted, it's comfortable, but Molly's deep green dress accentuates his tattoos and his form in a way Caleb's never seen.
"Once this is over, you'd better be willing to wear that again." Molly says, leaning in.
Caleb smiles. He gets only two words in before Molly's kissing him, lips wide in a grin.
"Of course."
They'll catch up with everyone soon. The night is going to be tedious, they're going to have to be careful — Caleb thinks he's allowed to relax beforehand.
5. Morning kisses
Lips press against Molly's shoulder in the early morning light, waking him. He'd been having the strangest dream, experiences not his own, but still so real… He can still remember the feeling of something’s claws rake against his shoulder, then the satisfying swing of a scimitar heavier than the one he’s used to into a mound of a monstrous beast. Now his eyes open to blink away sleep, the sun making him squint. The dream-haze sticks around for several more moments, making Mollymauk’s head spin.
The feeling fades as Caleb trails kisses up his shoulder, his neck, and Molly turns around to face him, pulling him into a proper kiss. It’s enough to rid his mind of whatever that dream was, and he appreciates it.
6. Slow kisses
Usually they have to rush things. It's just the nature of being on the road, of traveling with others. But they have a room to themselves tonight. The window is open to draw in the scent of the water, the light of the stars, and the setting sun. Dinner had been nice, and the Nein had all found excuses to retire before dark; Veth wanted to spend time with her family, Jester wanted to see her mother.
That left Mollymauk and Caleb alone in the quiet for the first time in weeks. At first, Molly had considered simply jumping into Caleb's arms and kissing him until he couldn't breathe, but then…
Caleb had smiled at him, brushed his hair from his face in the most tender way, and Molly melted. Leaning into his arms, Mollymauk pulls Caleb in for a kiss, at first just a brush of his lips. Then Caleb's hands slide down his sides, and Molly loses track of time. Caleb's lips are soft, his mouth is warm, and Molly doesn't need anything else but this; he feels loved and happy, tasting the sweet wine from earlier on Caleb's tongue. He knows the taste will linger for the rest of the night, but he still wants to savor it for as long as he can.
7. Kisses to distract
He doesn't expect Molly to be so fully covered in scars. Caleb assumes they'd end at his chest, perhaps further down his abdomen, where the angles to cut would begin to get far more difficult. But much to his surprise, there are scars up Molly's legs, across his thighs. Fingers running up along his skin, Caleb feels the slight bump of scars long since healed, the bumps marking his body. Molly purrs into the touch, leaning into him, tilting his head down to kiss Caleb.
"Are these recent?" Caleb asks once Molly has pulled away from the kiss, breath heavy. Mollymauk has to blink a few times, collecting his thoughts from the haze of want inside of him.
"No," Molly admits, leaning back. From his place in Caleb's lap, that gives a very good view of the entirety of him. Running his hands up Molly's thighs again, Caleb rests his palms against the dip of his hips.
"I've never seen you use your blades there." Caleb says, rubbing the pads of his thumbs against his skin, making Molly squirm.
"I don't exactly want to rip my pants when we're fighting, now do I?" Molly laughs, a little breathless. Caleb smiles up at him.
"I wouldn't want you in danger because of it…" his thumbs press more insistently against Molly's skin. "It might be a bit distracting, as well."
"Apparently me being naked isn't distracting enough, seeing as you're still rambling on." Molly teases, pulling himself forward. His tail rests against the inner part of Caleb's leg, but the tip curls to wrap around his calf.
"Yes, well. Your scars are an interesting subject."
“I think there’s a more interesting subject at hand here, Caleb.” Molly says, pushing Caleb down with a hand on his chest. He allows Molly to do so, his face turning to an expression of gentle delight.
"I think I'm going to have to agree with that, actually." He says, barely finishing his words as Mollymauk kisses him, his fingers trailing up his chest.
8. Passionate kiss
Mollymauk leans down, taking Caleb's lips in a kiss. Every motion sends another jolt of heat through him; every rock of his hips, every touch of Caleb's hands on him. He's never felt like this — not a surprise, given how short his life has been — and it's amazing to him just how much more intense a little love can make an experience as compared to all the times he’s spent with strangers.
Caleb sits up, the angle adjusts, and Molly whines, needy, and kisses him again, open-mouthed and wet. Hands cling to Caleb's shoulders, supporting Molly where he feels he might otherwise lose himself in his touch.
The kiss only gets deeper as Molly presses closer, closer, hands finding Caleb's hair to hold on. Even after he peaks, after Molly stops shivering and twitching, he holds Caleb tight and kisses him. Somewhere in the hazy fuzz of contentment and exhaustion, Mollymauk finds that Caleb's kisses taste far sweeter after he says he loves him.
9. Kiss on the cheek
“Feeling better?” Mollymauk asks. Caleb makes a short, discontent sound.
“Still not great.” Caleb says, holding his blanket a little tighter around his shoulders. Molly clicks his tongue, cooing at him.
“Poor dear. It’s what you get for your recklessness, I suppose.” He teases, and he leans in to press a kiss to Caleb’s cheek. In return, he gets a grumbled noise and Caleb clears his throat, trying to rid himself of the feeling of being so stuffed up. “Once Jester gets her rest, she’ll have you all healed up again in no time, I think.”
“I hope so.” Caleb says. “I haven’t been sick like this since I was a young child.”
“And hopefully you won’t get sick like this again anytime soon.” Mollymauk sits down beside him, then, pulling himself closer. Tugging the blankets, Caleb makes room for him and stares up at him, his face undoubtedly flushed from his newfound sickness.
“Mm.” Caleb only hums in agreement as Molly leans in once more, kissing his cheek again. Then Molly’s hand is against his cheek, then his forehead.
“You’re still so warm. I’m going to get you some water. I’ll be back, love.”
10. First kiss
Mollymauk considers the tense moment in Alfield as the first time he'd kissed Caleb — in a literal sense, he's right. But Caleb adamantly denies that being the case, as he'd barely known Molly at the time and was only partially opening up to him.
"Then what do you consider the first time we kissed?" Molly asks him. Caleb shifts against his chest, leaning back to rest his head on Molly's shoulder.
"The first time you actually kissed me," Caleb says, "That time we were separated from the party."
"In that cave? The one with the, ah, weird green rocks?" Molly prompts. Caleb nods.
"You were hurt, I was trying to get a hold of anyone outside…"
"And they said it would take a while to dig us out, so we sat on some rocks, and you put your hand on my arm,"
"I was getting more comfortable with you."
He still remembers the hesitant way Molly's hand had slid along his chin, wiping away some dirt, pulling him closer.
"I wasn't going to admit it then, but I'm pretty sure that was when I realized I loved you."
"And yet you waited so long to say it!" Molly laughs.
Caleb thinks back to the way Molly's lips felt that day, dry from their time stuck underground, but warm and gentle.
He reaches back and pulls Molly in, kissing him.
11. Goodbye kisses
“I will only be gone for perhaps a couple of hours.” Caleb assures him, and Molly looks up at him from his place lounging on one of the beds in the inn room. Everyone had been crammed into one space this time. Nott is already up and at the door, ready to be out of the place.
“And I’ll be sleeping, so long as Jester can keep it down.” Mollymauk says, and though his voice is teasing, it’s plainly obvious that he means it. He’d gotten into a rough scrape, and he needs the rest.
“I’ll be quiet!” Jester says, kicking her feet as she scribbles something in her book. Sharing a look between each other, Mollymauk and Caleb both grin.
“I’ll be back. Nott and I have your list, I’ll try to find everything.” Caleb says, and then he leans down to kiss Mollymauk, who fights the urge to pull him in.
“Miss you already,” Mollymauk grins, getting a laugh out of Caleb. Beau stands up.
“I’m coming with you, Caleb.” She says, obviously not wanting to deal with Mollymauk’s habit of acting a bit like a lonesome puppy without his wizard, and Molly sticks his tongue out at her.
12. Welcome home kisses
Molly steps over the threshold of the tower, looking up at the stained glass, the schools of magic casting multicolored light down over him. It's amazing, and the rest of the Nein are already scrambling in to see everything. Caleb lingers beside him, fingers laced through his.
"This is beautiful , Caleb." Molly says, breathless.
Caleb smiles.
"And it's home." Caleb says, and tugs Molly closer to kiss him. With everyone distracted, nobody says anything. When Caleb pulls away, he brushes his nose against Molly's. It makes his heart skip. "For all of us. For you and me."
Caleb lets go of his hand to step forward, instructing the Nein on how to go to the next floor.
Home, Molly thinks. Home.
13. Kisses on the corner of the mouth
"You missed," Molly says, watching Caleb's face turn red. In front of the party, no less. Standing straight, Caleb clears his throat and pulls his scarf tighter around himself. He looks ready to bolt.
"He should try again!" Jester shouts.
Molly shushes her, then,
"It's alright. I'll get him back later."
14. Frustrated kisses
"I was so terrified," Molly scolds, pulling Caleb's coat from him, "Now look at you. You're covered in your own blood."
"Sorry." Caleb says. It's all he can manage, what with the pain he's in.
"I thought I was going to lose you." Molly huffs, grabbing Caleb's chin. In response, Caleb winces slightly, still bruised.
There's a pause.
"I didn't want the Tombtakers to touch you." Caleb says, his choice raspy. Molly gives him a look that's torn between worry and gratefulness.
"I'm going to clean your coat. You are going to lay down and rest." Molly tells him. Then, he kisses him, nothing too rough but a press of lips on lips, then against his cheeks, his nose, his forehead. All with a frown and a furrowed brow from Mollymauk. Standing straight, Molly gets Caleb situated and turns to leave, only pausing to respond in kind when Caleb manages to get an 'I love you' out.
15. Kissing each other breathless
They’re farther downstream than the rest of the group — Caleb’s sure nobody has really taken note of it with the games Jester is making them play. The water of the river is quite cold, but that doesn’t stop Mollymauk from dunking his head under, coming up with his hair tangled in his horns. The sight of him like that makes Caleb laugh, and in turn Mollymauk grabs him by the shoulders and pushes him in, following suit quickly after. Caleb takes a breath before hitting the water. He has to admit, it’s a lot more pleasant than he’d expected, being shoved into a cold river.
When he comes back up for air, Molly has him by his arms, and they’re both slowly backing toward the riverbank. Caleb’s legs hit a large stone, jutting out into the water, large enough for him to lean against. Then Mollymauk has him pinned to it and his hands are in Caleb’s hair, holding him close while he kisses him.
He tastes like river water, but Caleb doesn’t care. Ignoring the feeling of water droplets sliding down his neck and chest, he pulls at Mollymauk until they’re flush against each other, the cold water forgotten in favor of body heat. They’re still up to their waists in water, hidden behind the bend of the river and a small overgrowth of trees. Caleb’s grateful for the privacy as Mollymauk’s tongue swipes against his, fanged teeth teasing at his bottom lip. There’s still the danger that someone might come looking for them, but Caleb finds that his priorities are a bit mixed up as Mollymauk kisses him, not letting go until he absolutely has to break away for breath.
With his hair turned nearly black with the water, Mollymauk looks as though he’s just swam a very taxing race as he pulls away, and Caleb can’t help but laugh at the thought.
16. Soothing kisses
“Burned your mouth, did you?” Mollymauk teases. Caleb glares at him from where he’s sitting, a mug sitting in front of him. He’d set it down after attempting to drink, and from the steam roiling off the top, Molly can only assume he was just a bit hasty in his excitement for a hot cup of tea. “I could drink that whole thing no problem, you know.”
“Could you?” Caleb asks. It’s not a challenge, and Molly’s not going to take his tea.
“Tieflings. Fire. Heat. I’m suited to it.” Molly says, waving a hand.
“Jester isn’t.” Caleb says.
“Her dad’s a water genasi. I’m full tiefling, through and through. And you,” Molly says, leaning over to press a kiss to the corner of his mouth. In his head, Caleb likes to think it helps the scalding heat on his lips go away. “Are but a fragile human.”
Caleb’s about to retort that humans aren’t fragile, but then he remembers he’s quite literally the weakest out of everyone here, and so he bites his tongue.
It’s fine, though. He’s got good people to cover him.
17. Nose kisses
Mollymauk has settled into the Xhorhouse particularly well, which feels like a surprise. He’s traveled his entire life, so being put into a place with solid roots — Caduceus’ tree taken into account — is a bit odd, to Caleb. But he seems so incredibly happy to be here, even if the sky is always dark and the people give Caleb and Beauregard strange looks.
Sidling up to Mollymauk, Caleb looks over his shoulder at the work he’s doing. Laid out on the table are his tarot cards and several pots of paint, and he’s holding an incredibly fine brush in one hand, pinning the mostly-blank card in front of him with his other. They’re the same paints he’d seen Mollymauk use on one of the doors to the bedroom he shared with him, painting a small moon and sun on the wood of the door. Now he’s painting what looks to be an androgynous figure vaguely reminiscent of the Bright Queen, though the features are a mixed-up bunch of attributes and Caleb isn’t sure if the figure is drow, human, or something else.
“That looks lovely,” Caleb says, and Mollymauk barely moves as he replies a quiet thank you.
Finishing a delicate line along the figure’s hair, Molly then sets his brush down and leans back, stretching his arms upward. Caleb moves out of the way to stand next to him.
“What’s this one going to represent?” Caleb asks, and Molly turns to look at him with a smile, resting his elbow on the table, chin in his hand. There’s paint smeared across his fingers, across his clawed nails.
“King and Queen, I think. A power balance, but not a terrible one. More like trying to balance an identity. It’s mainly a positive card.” Mollymauk explains, and Caleb can see the rest of the cards laid out on the table as Mollymauk’s references for his own art, and he smiles.
“Suits you.” Caleb says, and leans in to kiss Mollymauk on the nose. He pointedly ignores the bit of paint on Molly’s cheek.
18. Kisses as a promise
“After this is all wrapped up, what do you plan to do?” Mollymauk says, leaning his head against Caleb’s shoulder. His horns dig into Caleb’s skin, but he doesn’t mind.
“After all this? The war, the mysteries, all that?” Caleb says.
“Yeah. What’s your retirement plan?” Mollymauk turns slightly so he can meet Caleb’s eyes. “Because I don’t have one.”
“I figure that eventually I’d like to go back to Rexxentrum, maybe start teaching,” Caleb says, “Help weed out the corruption in the school. Help kids get a better life.”
“That’s very noble of you. And here I thought I’d just keep traveling until I got tired of it. But I like the idea of Rexxentrum.”
“Inviting yourself along?” Caleb smiles, running his hand over Mollymauk’s back. In response, Molly cuddles in closer, his tail wrapping around Caleb’s thigh.
“Can’t get rid of me. Plus there’s someone in Rexxentrum I want to find.” Mollymauk tilts his head just enough to catch Caleb’s jaw with his lips, kissing his beard.
“Maybe we should settle down together, then.” Caleb says, his own heart picking up the pace — he’s not sure exactly how far the offer extends, but Molly looks intrigued and delighted by the idea.
“I could make a home with you,” Molly says, and then, “I think I want to make a home with you. In Rexxentrum. Would that — would you like that?”
Caleb goes quiet for several moments, bringing his hand up to brush against Molly’s cheek. He traces the peacock feather on his cheekbone, scanning his face.
“I think I’d enjoy it very much.” Caleb whispers, and pulls him in for a proper kiss.
19. Short pecks
It’s sort of a habit for Caleb at this point that after they finish a fight or get out of a scrape, he pulls Mollymauk in for a quick kiss. Just a light, ‘glad you’re safe’ sort of thing, but it happens every time, now. A group of thieves try to steal from them, and Caleb turns to Mollymauk to kiss him. The Tombtakers corner them on their way north and afterward, Caleb takes Mollymauk into his arms and kisses him before they go to make camp. That giant roc had been dealt with in the most convoluted way and even then, Caleb finds it in himself to kiss Mollymauk.
It’s a good habit, Molly thinks.
20. Forehead kisses
Caleb’s getting better at facing his trauma head-on. Very few times now does he go into a bleary-eyed state after using his fire magic, which Mollymauk can’t help but feel a surge of happiness for him when he notices. As few and far-between as it happens, those isolated moments wind up the same way.
The first time, Molly had slapped him — he regrets it, now, but it was the only thing he could think of to help Caleb out of it. What had helped more was the gentleness afterward, the kiss to his forehead. Mollymauk thinks of it as Caleb needing someone to show him a bit of support, a bit of help when before he’d gotten only violence and distrust.
Now, any time Caleb looks distraught, sad, or even slightly off, Molly makes sure to repeat the important action from that discovery. He kisses Caleb’s forehead for any reason, and each time he takes in the feeling of Caleb’s warm skin, the smell of his hair, the way he always looks up at Molly with his bright blue eyes and the slight smile to his lips.
21. Kiss on the head
“Where’s Mollymauk?” Jester asks, and Caleb looks up from his book.
“Sleeping,” Caleb says, “He got a bit too drunk last night.”
“He’s going to regret that,” Beau says, “Though Caduceus might have something that’ll help.”
As his name is said, Caduceus flicks an ear, pausing in his work at the stove.
“I do. He might not like the taste, but my family has a recipe for things to clear up post-drinking headaches.”
“You don’t even drink,” Beau says, leaning back in her chair to look at Caduceus.
“No, but I know enough people that do.” He says, turning slightly to meet her eyes. “I heal people, even if sometimes those things that need healing are self-inflicted.”
“That sounds way deeper than hangover cures,” Beau says. As she speaks, Mollymauk makes his way into the kitchen, wrapped in a heavy blanket and eyes squinting. His hair is a mess, he doesn’t have half his jewelry in, and he looks ready to go back to bed.
“Sleep well?” Caleb asks. He gets a grumble in return as Molly passes by him. He pauses, looks at Caleb, and then leans over to kiss the top of his head.
“Don’t let me drink like that again.” He says, and shuffles to the empty chair beside Beau.
“Pretty sure I tried to stop you last night,” Caleb says, watching Mollymauk arch forward until his forehead is resting on the table.
22. "We'll face this together" kiss
“We’re not letting them get their hands on you,” Caleb says, holding onto Mollymauk’s upper arms. The Nein have tucked themselves into a hiding spot near the border of Xhorhas, knowing that the Tombtakers are on their trail. Their leader is a charismatic woman that, for some reason, makes Mollymauk’s blood go cold each time he sees her.
“I don’t — what if they do?” Molly says, his voice harsh but quiet, “What if—”
Caleb quiets him with a kiss. Nobody makes a sound in protest to the action.
“We’re protecting you. It’s what we’re here for.” Caleb says.
“You’re important to us,” Beau says from beside Caleb, “The Tombtakers want someone that doesn’t exist anymore.”
“And we’re not going to lose you.” Yasha adds in, coming up to his side, placing her hand on his shoulder.
“We love you dearly,” Caleb says, “And they can’t have you.”
23. Kisses in the rain
The wastes of Xhorhas offer no cover from the rain that surprises the group — and without a cart to hide under, they’re all miserable in the cold, wet environment. Except perhaps Yasha, who seems accustomed to it, but Molly still doesn’t believe she likes it very much.
The dome offers some protection, but once it goes down, the Nein are left once more in the mud and rain, grumbling to each other about the weather. Molly’s fingers feel cold all the way through, and he’s been having to keep his tail tucked into his coat, else it feels as though it might fall off.
“Hopefully we can get out of this soon.” Caleb says. He’s walking alongside Mollymauk, and he takes his hand in his.
They’re both cold. Though, Molly will admit that the contact helps warm him some.
“I thought my boots would be good for the rain,” Molly says, “But instead they’re just soaking it all in.”
“Poor thing.” Caleb teases, and Molly has no choice but to wipe the smug look on his face off with a kiss.
24. Drunk kisses
Caleb’s an odd drunk. He hovers between being lost in old memories and being happy that his friends are around. Sometimes he gets so incredibly sad that there’s no choice but to haul him off to bed so he can sleep it off and hopefully not remember his quiet ramblings in the mornings. Other times he gets giddy and giggly and tells his friends how much he enjoys their company — Molly’s been trying to figure out what triggers each version of drunk Caleb.
He’s still not sure if it’s caused by what he drinks or how much, but thankfully this time around he’s in a happier state of mind, hanging off of Fjord’s shoulder as he tells him and Jester how grateful he is that they’re around in his heavy Zemnian accent. He gets harder to understand the more drunk he gets, often slipping into Zemnian for entire sentences, leaving everyone confused.
Once he’s done rambling off his words to Fjord and Jester, Caleb unlatches himself from Fjord and makes his way to Mollymauk, putting his arms over his shoulders.
He rambles off a few things that Molly can’t understand. Something in Zemnian, something that sounds embarrassing if Molly knew what he was saying. Molly shakes his head and laughs, his hands on Caleb’s hips to hold him in place and keep him from swaying too much.
“—you.” Caleb says, and Molly recognizes one word in common, at least.
“What?” Mollymauk asks. Caleb stares at him as though he’s shocked Mollymauk can’t understand Zemnian.
“I said I am in love with you.” He says.
“Well,” Molly smiles, “I already knew that , darling.”
Caleb furrows his brow. Molly doesn’t understand why he looks frustrated, so he quiets poor Caleb with a kiss. It’s not a very good kiss, Caleb’s coordination is very off, but it seems to do the job just fine.
25. Kisses on scars
Caleb doesn’t like people looking at the scars on his arms. It’s just another reminder of his past, of who he doesn’t want to be any longer. Mollymauk is considerate of that, and he doesn’t bring any attention to his arms or the story behind the numerous bumps and lines on Caleb’s skin.
Mollymauk’s scars, however, he doesn’t mind anyone staring at. If he minded, he wouldn’t wear the things he does — flowing shirts and short sleeves, sometimes no sleeves at all, and more recently clothes that expose his sides and hips where he has long scars from cuts he’d placed there in more than a few rough fights, needing any angle he could get.
The ones on his throat are concerning to Caleb — an incorrect cut and Molly could be in deep danger, but Molly’s only ever used that spot for his shows, he tells Caleb. Only for entertainment and only with the lightest amount of pressure. The skin there just scars easily, Molly says, and Caleb tries to feel reassured. He tries to tell himself it’s fine.
But it still worries him.
Mollymauk knows this, and he knows it quite well — mainly because there have been many nights where Caleb kisses along his throat, only to pause and trace his tongue over one of the scars, taking his time with it, his body going stiff as he does so. Molly tries to distract him each time, pulling him closer for another, proper kiss, or by running his hands along Caleb’s body. But Caleb always winds up spending an extra minute on his scars.
26. Hard kisses
The moment the door closes, Caleb is pressed up against it and Mollymauk is flush against him, kissing him. He knew why Molly had been so impatient to get to a room, but still. He can't help but melt into it, letting go of the thoughts of how it was definitely obvious to everyone, about how they'd barely made it out of their last encounter alive, about everything except Molly's lips and body and the heavy breaths against his skin as the kiss breaks. Hands grab at his waist, then his scarf, pulling it off. Taking a step back, Molly pulls him by the collar of his coat.
"I was just about ready to jump on you down there," Molly says. He's grabbing at Caleb's coat, pulling it down. He tosses it to the side of the room and it lands on a chair.
"Thank you for not doing that. For waiting." Caleb laughs, already beginning to undo the buttons of his shirt. Molly grins at him, tossing his own coat to join Caleb's, then pulling his belt free. His boots come next, the straps and buckles clicking as he undoes them and sets the boots aside. How he does it so deftly, Caleb will never understand.
"Would have been embarrassing if I hadn't," Molly grins, the back of his legs hitting the bed. He's already pulling his shirt up and off, uncaring where it lands, and then he undoes the buttons of his pants, the clasp above his tail.
"I'm sure we'd have gotten our privacy." Caleb suggests, laying his shirt aside, along with the harness for his books, his belt, his boots.
"Or gotten kicked out." Molly says. "Which would have been unfortunate, because I don't want to fuck you in a tent or an alley."
"You're that desperate?" Caleb says, laughing.
"And you're not?" Molly raises a brow at him, pulling his pants off — and his underwear, apparently. Caleb smiles, feeling heat already building in his stomach at the thought of touching, feeling, hearing Molly.
"I think I have enough control in me to at least find another inn." Caleb says. "You poor thing."
"Don't you dare get condescending on me," Molly says, "Fuck, you know what that does to me."
27. Giggling while kissing
“Shh, shh!” Caleb tries to get Mollymauk to stop laughing, but his insistence at it only makes him louder. Mollymauk tries to quiet himself, he truly does, pressing his face against Caleb’s neck in an attempt to muffle himself.
“You are going to get us found,” Caleb scolds, and Molly giggles again, pressing in closer to Caleb. They’re partially undressed, hiding from the rest of the Nein — when someone wanted Caleb for something, they knew to check the studies and his room first, but unfortunately for them, Molly had found him first.
And then Mollymauk had started kissing him and they’d tucked themselves behind a bookshelf, on a large windowsill with a steady false image of a winter snowscape outside. They try to stay quiet, but Mollymauk keeps laughing at the predicament each time they hear Jester and Beau calling Caleb’s name, and Caleb finally quiets him with a kiss, feeling his laughter behind it even then. He adjusts some of the pillows and cushions in the little nook and pushes Mollymauk into them, watching his eyes go wide as he stares up at Caleb.
Finally, he stops his laughter as he takes in Caleb’s flushed cheeks and heavy breathing. They both go quiet until the voices leave the study, and then Caleb's lips are on Mollymauk's neck, pressing him into the pillows.
28. Desperate kisses
He loves seeing Caleb like this, pale skin flushed, eyes wide as he stares up at him. Mollymauk smiles, running a claw up Caleb’s chest, along his neck, to his jaw. Catching his jaw, he tilts Caleb’s head up slightly, watching as his lips part. He doesn’t need to say anything right now, he can read the way that Caleb is so needy, so wanting.
Arching himself to brush their lips together, Mollymauk is surprised when Caleb grabs him by the shoulders, bringing him in closer so he can kiss him more roughly. Molly makes no protest; in fact, he embraces it, pulling Caleb’s legs further around his waist, grinning at the way Caleb gasps into his mouth as he reaches just that little bit deeper inside of him.
Caleb kisses him like he needs Molly more than anything in the moment, clinging onto him, hands grabbing anywhere he can reach. Mollymauk enjoys it most when Caleb grabs onto his hair or his horns, pulling at him with such a desperate need that he can’t focus on anything else.
29. Neck kisses
“You should read out loud to me.” Mollymauk says. Caleb looks up from his page, resting his head against Molly’s shoulder. He’s sitting in his lap, a book open to a page about how to properly conduct teleportation magic. He’s always looking to improve himself, and teleportation is, well… Complicated.
“You won’t enjoy this,” Caleb says, “It’s complex.”
“I don’t read well anyway. It’s all complex to me.” Molly says, sliding his hand under the hem of Caleb’s shirt. Caleb pretends not to notice the fingers drawing up his side, claws resting just under his chest.
“I could teach you to read better.” Caleb suggests. Molly makes a quiet noise, not answering, and instead presses his lips to Caleb’s neck.
“If you want me to read to you,” Caleb says, “You’d better not distract me.”
“More fun this way.” Mollymauk says. “See how far you can get.”
30. Thigh kiss
Caleb watches quietly as Mollymauk lowers himself to his knees, placing a hand on his leg. Slowly, Mollymauk pulls at Caleb’s leg until he can sit between his thighs, glancing upward at him. They’re both still fully dressed, and Caleb gets the impression that Molly’s not in any sort of rush, taking his time as he runs his fingers along the fabric of Caleb’s pants, his shirt.
It’s not really often that they have time like this anymore. They’re constantly moving, always worried about what’s going to happen next — between the Assembly and the Tombtakers, it feels as though they’ll never stop running.
But right now, Mollymauk is staring up at him with a quiet affection, pressing his lips against Caleb’s thigh. He’s gentle, so gentle, and it makes Caleb simply want to stay in this position for as long as he can.
31. Gentle stroking of cheeks
Fingers rest on Molly's cheeks, cradling his face. There's a tender gentleness to the action that makes his entire body feel warm, just being able to meet Caleb's eyes. Caleb traces his fingertips along Molly's face, leaning in to kiss his forehead, then his lips.
He traces the feather of the peacock tattoo trailing up Molly's cheekbone.
"I never realized you had freckles," Caleb says, voice light. Molly laughs, nudging his cheek into Caleb's hand.
"I would have thought you'd notice by now," Molly teases, "With how often you stare at me."
"I'm usually otherwise distracted, love." Another kiss to his lips, his nose.
"Care to be distracted again?" A hand rests on Caleb's chest. He grins.
32. Jaw kisses
“You’re getting stubble,” Caleb comments, pulling his lips from Mollymauk’s jawline. Molly hums, bringing a hand up to touch his own face.
“So I am. Huh.” He runs a hand along his jaw. “I’ll shave it off later. Don’t feel like it, now.”
“Do tieflings take this long to grow facial hair?” Caleb asks, turning his kisses from Molly’s jaw to his wrist, then to his clavicle.
“No, I’m just usually better at keeping on top of it. Be glad I’m not like some other tieflings,” Mollymauk says, returning his hand to Caleb’s hair, stroking his scalp. “Some of ‘em get chin spikes.”
“Chin spikes.” Caleb repeats.
“Aye. Like horns, but smaller. On the chin, the jaw. Dad had them.” Mollymauk says.
“Now I know you’re lying.” Caleb says, “You don’t remember that.”
“I do, now. Have been remembering. Much as I don’t want to.”
“You’re remembering the past life of whoever had your body, and you reveal that by telling me your father had chin spikes instead of facial hair?” Caleb says, leaning up onto his arms. “You’re…”
“Ridiculous? Weird? Ruining the mood?” Mollymauk smiles.
“All of the above.”
33. Tummy kisses
“Hey, Caleb.” Mollymauk says, looking up at him. Caleb looks down to where Mollymauk is sprawled out on the sofa, his arms around Caleb’s waist, face pressed against his stomach. It’s comfortable, the fire is going, and there’s just enough light for Caleb to read by. Setting his book down, Caleb reaches down to pet his hair.
“What is it?”
“Thank you.” Molly says. Caleb blinks at him, confused. Then in the quiet moment of silence, Molly presses a kiss against Caleb’s stomach, taking in the soft fabric of his shirt against his lips.
“For?”
“Everything.” Molly sighs. “Saving me. Keeping me from the Tombtakers.”
“Oh, Molly.” Caleb sighs, “You don’t have to thank me for that.”
34. Impatient kisses
Caleb sits back on his ankles, looking over Molly. He wants to commit every detail to his mind, to think back on how beautiful he looks with his hair tousled and eyes dark, hands up and over his head, held up by a pair of cuffs while his tail wags excitedly.
"Come here," Molly says, tugging at the chain, "Caleb, love. Come on."
Lips quirking up into a smile, Caleb leans back further.
"If you're a good boy, then sure, I'll get as close as you like." He teases. Molly's cheeks flush. His eyes open a little wider, his mouth opens in a small 'o' as he tries to form a response.
What an interesting sight.
Caleb sits up straight, then stands up from the bed. Molly's eyes follow him as he steps toward the head of the bed where Molly's hands are bound. Tracing a hand up Molly's arm, he watches the way he squirms with a delight he tries to hide.
Years ago, manacles on one of his closest friends would have made him upset. Inconsolable, even — it would have dredged up memories of things he'd been taught and forced himself to forget. But now with Mollymauk, who brought up the very idea and warmed him up to it, the energy is completely different. There's trust in his eyes. As much as he seems impatient and needy, Caleb meets his eyes and sees underneath all of that a knowing look that should he want to stop, he'll stay something.
"Still all good?" Caleb asks, just to make sure. Molly nods.
Touching the place where the cuff sits, Caleb quietly makes sure it's not too tight while under the guise of teasing Molly's skin. Up his hand, Caleb rests his index finger against Molly's palm, then pulls his hand away. Perhaps to tease him more, perhaps to sate himself for a moment, Caleb leans down and kisses him, and Molly’s reaction is to pull at his cuffs once more, pressing their mouths together as insistently as he can. But Caleb pulls away, leaving him blushing, lips parted.
"You are so beautiful, Mollymauk." Caleb says, and watches as Molly's expression turns soft, smiling up at him.
35. Public kisses
Caleb’s not really one for public affection. Molly’s aware of this, so he keeps his hands to himself while they’re out in the city, headed to Mollymauk’s sister — he’d found her when they’d arrived in Rexxentrum and had taken the time to explain everything to her, from Lucien’s actions to the Mighty Nein. It had taken quite some time for Aldreda to come around, to accept Mollymauk as her brother, but once she had, Molly had found himself quite the family.
His niece practically begged to come stay with him and Caleb. His nephew — step-nephew, but Molly doesn’t care — was old enough to ask Aldreda to please let him go to Veth’s summer camp, to which she had reluctantly agreed. That’s where they’re headed now, in fact, to pick up Kyvir and take him to Nicodranas.
“You know,” Caleb says, “I enjoy having family like this.”
“It’s weird. I never thought I was missing out on anything.” Mollymauk says, “And yet now I feel like a part of me is filled in.”
“Wasn’t empty before.” Caleb says.
“No, wasn’t empty.” Mollymauk sighs. “I mean, the circus was family. The Mighty Nein is family. Aldreda and her kids are new family. It feels good.”
“Have you thought about us having a family?” Caleb asks, and Molly stops mid-step, eyes wide.
“You… What?” Molly says, “Us?”
“Us. Would you want to?”
“Kids?”
“Ja.”
Mollymauk thinks. He thinks incredibly long about it, enough so that Caleb gets fidgety, about to rescind his words as a joke. But Mollymauk pulls him in for a kiss, there in the street of Rexxentrum, and he grins.
“Think that’d be nice, actually.”
36. Sleepy kisses
“Mollymauk,” Caleb whispers, kissing Molly’s shoulder. “Molly, love.”
“Hm.” Mollymauk turns slightly in the sheets, looking over toward Caleb. He’s undressed, tucked under the blankets with Molly, lending his body heat.
“Your niece wants you.” Caleb says, and Molly then rubs his eyes and listens closely — sure enough, there’s a gentle rapping at the bedroom door, and then Marii’s voice calling for her uncle.
“Just a moment, little one,” Molly calls out, and he hears Marii gasp on the other side of the door before running off, and Molly grumbles as he sits up. Caleb brings himself to sit up as well, kissing Molly’s shoulder once more.
“You can head back to sleep,” Molly tells him, and Caleb nods, though his head is resting against Mollymauk’s shoulder in a way that makes it seem as though he wants to continue to use him as a pillow. After a long, tired moment, Molly adjusts and Caleb sinks back into the blankets, watching with a drowsy expression as Mollymauk gets himself dressed and ready.
37. Kiss on the hand
“No need to be so formal, Caleb.” Mollymauk says, watching as Caleb lifts himself from a slight bow. They’re heading to Beau and Yasha’s wedding, which Mollymauk should have seen coming a lot sooner — he’s happy for the both of them, but how long has it been?
“I am only acting the way I was taught,” Caleb says, smiling. He takes Mollymauk’s hand in his, and for a moment Molly thinks they’re simply heading out, but then Caleb tugs his hand closer, pressing a gentle kiss to the back of his hand.
Why does that make his stomach feel so fluttery?
Maybe it’s just Caleb in a suit, Molly thinks. He’s never been one for formality or proper behavior.
But maybe the rich folk have something right about kisses being placed on hands.
38. Back kiss
Mollymauk whines, pressing himself back against Caleb, encouraging him to get a little rougher, a little faster. Caleb takes the bait, thankfully, and grabs onto Mollymauk’s hips, leaning overtop of him. His pace picks up and Mollymauk makes sure his appreciation is loud, tilting his head back as he lets out a moan that’s punctuated by each thrust.
“Love you,” Molly gasps out, repeating the phrase over and over, until his voice turns to but an incoherent, pleased noise once more. Caleb’s response is just the same, a repetition of his affection until he can’t form words, lost in Molly’s warmth and excitement. He pushes as deep as he can get and Molly makes a delighted, high-pitched noise. In the movement, Caleb winds up practically falling over Mollymauk, and he takes the slip-up in stride and uses the proximity to kiss along the back of Mollymauk’s neck, then down his spine.
He can’t help but think for just a moment that he’s grateful to have someone like Mollymauk — and then Molly tightens around him and his thoughts go hazy once again, mind focused only on getting those delightful sounds out of Molly once again.
39. Secret kisses
"I have to be back in a few minutes," Caleb scolds. Molly laughs against his lips, kissing him again. And again. There's not much Caleb can complain about when Molly has him pulled to the side of the hallway, into an alcove where it's dark. He'd come by to bring something to Caleb, and promptly gotten distracted.
Someone opens a door down the hall. Caleb freezes, pulling away, and the two of them listen for a moment as footsteps come closer, and then —
Turn down the opposite hall. Caleb breathes a sigh of relief.
"I love you, Molly, but I have to get back." Caleb kisses him once more, long enough that it makes Molly's thoughts go blurry, forgetting to protest against Caleb's backing away.
He has a job to do, and as much as he loves kissing Mollymauk, he knows the very same experience will be waiting for him at home.
40. Last kiss
Somewhere in the distant future, Mollymauk knows his time will come to an end. What that means for his body he doesn’t know — but he’s certain that when it happens, he’ll have Caleb still at his side, ready to give him one last, lingering kiss before they part ways.
For now, he doesn’t think about that. Instead he watches Caleb carry his niece as they head for a small pastry shop, the little tiefling girl pointing at some particularly colorful desserts. It’s all he’s really wanted, now that he thinks about it. To have a home and a family and someone who loves him so dearly. It’s a far cry from his lonesome beginnings, from the travel of the circus and a lack of a voice.
“Think your sister would be mad if we let her have something before dinner?” Caleb asks, breaking Molly from his thoughts. Mollymauk smiles after a moment.
“I won’t tell.” He says, and Marii kicks her legs excitedly. Caleb leans over to kiss him, and Molly returns it, just a gentle peck, and then he places another on Marii’s forehead.
Who cares about the future, Molly thinks, I’m happy where I am now.