Chapter Text
Ike lay curled on his bed, sweat beading on his forehead, his stomach burning from within. He moaned in discomfort, hating the feeling of overheating.
He couldn't really pinpoint what started it. Or if there was really a start to begin with. All he could remember before this health episode was waking up with strange tattoos on his body.
Now, Ike wasn't dumb. He had heard of so-called 'womb tattoos'. Some thinly-veiled excuse to get characters into terrible situations in sussy media. But those weren't real. If anything, the stupid ones now on his body must've... been put on him while he slept. Because they're temporary... Right?
A fresh wave of heat and too much feeling washed over Ike, drawing an uncomfortable groan from him.
'Th-there's no way... I m-must've eaten something...' He struggled to sit up, planning to make his way to the nearby toilet-
Knock knock
Someone was at Ike's door, and Ike strongly considered ignoring the summons. In fact, every fiber of his mind fought to stay quiet, to keep hidden, to tell his body to stay on the bed, why are you getting up, why am I answering the door-
"H-hello? Who's... Who's th-ere?" his voice broke as he opened the door, painfully aware of how sweaty and disheveled he appeared.
Shu didn't seem to mind Ike's appearance, though worry quickly clouded his pleasant demeanor, "Hey Ike, I thought I'd chat with you about the song, but... I-If you're not feeling well, I can come back later?"
"N-no, it's- augh," Ike curled in on himself, another heated wave washing over him, and as he went to ask for a drink or something, anything to get Shu to leave... He found himself pressing Shu into the wall, the novelist's face buried into the sorcerer's neck and shoulder, mouth open to bite, breathing deeply of the man's intoxicating scent-
Ike gasped, pulling himself an arm's length away, panting against these foreign, primal urges- no!
"S-Shu, I... I'm s-sorry, I don't know what's happening..." Ike could feel the heat on his face burn bright as he looked Shu in the eyes, "P-please... F-forget this ever happened..." He squeezed his eyes shut, quiet tears falling from his eyes in mortifying embarrassment. He bowed his head to hide, arms still locked at the elbows to keep from *assaulting Shu-*
A gentle hand cupped Ike's cheek, and he pressed into it, eyes fluttering open as Shu replied, "You're hurting Ike... I'm not leaving you in pain."
"S-Shu," Ike felt his resolve crumbling, his arms trembling to keep him away.
"It's a curse, isn't it?"
It's... The thought never crossed Ike's mind, that this reaction was a legitimate concern. If that were the case...
"M-Maybe?" Ike's brow furrowed in thought, trying to take note of his current physical status, but his mind was far too focused on Shu right in front of him, drawing closer to the sorcerer, entranced by his bright purple eyes, his own eyes fluttering shut as he leaned in-
"Yeah, it's definitely a curse, heheh," Shu chuckled, snapping Ike from his mental fog momentarily.
He tensed up, hovering on his elbows above Shu, "O... Kay, so... Wh-what do I do?" Ike could feel his eyes grow hooded, tilting his head so his heavy breathing didn't blow directly onto Shu's face.
In reply, Shu tilted his own head and pressed his lips to Ike's.
He surged forward, mind blanking, letting instinct take over as he kissed Shu back, skin tingling where the sorcerer traced his fingers down Ike's neck. Their chests pressed into each other as they made out, breaths heaving, Ike griping at Shu's side, tongue swiping at the sorcerer's lips, and the sound of Shu inhaling sharply cut through Ike's heated haze.
He pulled back once more, taking in Shu's flustered appearance, and rested his forehead on Shu's shoulders, "I... fail to s-see how this will... h-help me-"
"Do you trust me?" Shu asked, petting and scratching softly at Ike's nape, who shivered violently at the attention, his whole body reacting to his genmate in ways Ike never thought possible.
He sighed, resigned to this path, "I... I do, of course I do... I just-"
"So... Don't worry about it." Shu murmured, holding the crumbling novelist, "We'll get you through this first, then we can go from there, yeah?"
Ike squeezed his eyes shut again, afraid to look up at Shu, afraid of what would happen next, afraid of...
"I don't want to lose you... Don't hate me for this? Please?" Tears burned at Ike's eyes, so scared of this curse controlling his mind, his body... The idea of abandonment and powerlessness paralyzing him.
Shu's hand gripped at Ike's neck, sending another shiver down his back, a heated whimper skipping from his mouth, "Ike. We both know there's something affecting you, so of course I don't hold it against you. This changes nothing between us, it's... Friends helping each other, right?"
Ike whined, feeling his knees grow weak, pressing his weight into Shu, "Y-yeah... Uh... ungh..."
Shu gathered Ike into his arms, the latter stumbling over his feet as the sorcerer led them to Ike's bed. He collapsed back into his sheets, curling on his side as his abdomen throbbed painfully. Shu, unsure of the course of action himself, climbed on the bed to roll Ike on his back.
The cursed novelist followed Shu's wordless command, lying on his back, chest heaving and eyes clouded with unfamiliar carnal lust. Shu brushed away some of the hair that stuck to Ike's forehead, a gentle reprieve in this sudden companionship. Ike's unfocused gaze traced up the blurry shapes of Shu's arm, only now realizing his glasses had been knocked askew and hung from the chain at his neck.
"S-Shu," he murmured between shaky breaths, "Th-thank you... H-help... me?"
The sorcerer smiled, "I gotchu, don't worry," he leaned in, now supporting himself on his elbows above Ike, "Let me take care of you, and I promise I'll figure out this curse and get it broken. First things first, we need to get you thinking straight again."
Ike chuckled, "I really never really thought 'straight' anyway." He smirked slightly, glad that Shu's words cleared his mind enough to make a joke. Lighten the situation, if you will.
Shu laughed softly, "Yeah, okay, sure Ike," his own ever-present smirk clearly amused and happy at Ike's mental state, "I'll keep checking in with you, 'kay? I don't want you completely mentally gone."
"S-sure, th-that's fine," Ike consented, relaxing at Shu's commitment to keeping him grounded, sighing contentedly as Shu traced his hairline once more. Ike felt his inhibitions leaving him, pulling Shu on top of himself, kissing the sorcerer deeply and running his hands over Shu's chest and sides.
Ike breathing grew heavy, Shu's weight on top of him, between his legs, was far too enticing, and he ground into Shu as he gripped at the sorcerer's back, desire like fire driving his actions. Whimpers escaped his lips, nails dragging through Shu's shirt. In return, Shu groaned, nibbling at Ike's neck as he thrust against Ike in return.
Words left both of them, Shu drawn into Ike's lust-induced frenzy, both of them chasing their own high, Ike yelping when Shu bit down hard on the novelist's neck.
"Oh god... Sh-Shu, f-fuck-" Ike felt lightheaded, clinging to his partner as he nearly hit his climax... And fell short, "Shu, please, please touch me, I'm almost-"
The man above Ike pulled back, and he whined pathetically as Shu undid Ike's pants, hardly pulling them down before reaching in and taking Ike in his hand. Ike thrust into his grip, vision blurred further without his glasses, unfocused dawn-colored eyes catching the intense purple of Shu's darkened by lust...
Ike threw his head back, his dry orgasm hitting hard as he tensed up, hips pressing hard into Shu's hand. Ike's voice grew raspy, his breathing labored as he came down from the high... Somewhat.
"Sh-Shu... It's not enough..." Ike whispered, drawing Shu's attention through lidded eyes. The remaining shreds of his sanity panicked at what he was about to request, but his mouth moved faster than his mind, "Shu, I... I need you... P-please..."
Tears ran from his eyes, the last signs of his fear and regret exposed for his genmate to see. Ike kept his grip around Shu's back, both needing him carnally and terrified of the consequences of this decision. The larger, lust-addled part of his brain had him thrusting into Shu's hand again, noting how the sorcerer started gently jerking him off again.
"Don't worry Ike," Shu consoled him, "I... I want this... I've not done this before, b-but..."
"I'm... I'm sorry... Shu..."
"I'm not sorry, Ike, and you shouldn't be either," Shu nuzzled into Ike's neck, moving his hand away and grinding against Ike once again, "Let me take care of you."
Ike sobs, overwhelmed in several ways, but mostly gratitude toward his friend, "Yes, please, t-take care of me, f-fuck... Fuck me, Shu-"
In Shu's eyes, Ike was disheveled, eyes clouded and skin flushed a dark pink due to this... Lust curse? He'd never heard of such a thing, but the pulsing glow from Ike's new markings surely meant some kind of spell or curse on him was in effect.
And if the expression on the novelist's face was anything to go by, Shu wasn't doing that bad of a job! It emboldened the sorcerer, and he swore through his own clouded mind that he would take care of Ike, no matter what.
Ike felt the air between them shift, and the next thing he knew, Shu was pressing a finger into him. He expected there to be more resistance, but the fingers entering him slid inside without much resistance. Distantly, Ike wondered if Shu found some kind of substance to act as a lubricant, but frankly he couldn't be more thankful that Shu could be inside him sooner-
What on earth was this train of thought? He'd never considered Shu in this light before, yet with the possibility presented before him, it was the only thing on his mind-
"Shu, please, I'm ready, I need you-"
Ike knew he was begging, babbling, blubbering for Shu, but he wasn't aware of his words. His mind was full of want want want. His hands clung to the sheets beneath him, letting Shu have the space to prepare him, the stretching sensation not new, but definitely far too long since he last took care of himself-
"Ah!" he cried out, the sorcerer having found Ike's prostate, who then teased the novelist for a bit, "Sh-Shu! Please w-wait, ah, I-I'm c-" Ike's voice cut out as he hit a sudden climax, clenching on Shu's fingers inside him, the distant whimper of his friend's own desire sparkling the fire inside. Again, his orgasm is dry, seemingly held back by whatever the hell this curse is.
Ike floated as he came down from his second high, feeling more like he'd been edged again, tendrils of frustration breaking through his mental fog. Vaguely, he felt his body being shifted, legs lifted, Shu's face drawing close as the sorcerer mounted him. A distant shock hits him, knowing that they were about to do this, and he quickly clung to his friends above him.
"Sh-Shu?"
"Ike... Ike, are you still-"
"Yes, holy shit Shu, please-"
He tensed as Shu pressed against him, almost scared to move, eyes blurry without his glasses, feeling every subtle twitch of Shu above him as the sorcerer breached inside Ike. The novelist's breathing was shallow, barely noting how Shu had pressed their sweaty foreheads together, his vision speckled with black dots, feeling every centimeter, every inch of his partner inside himself. It was surreal, and a moment of being separated from his own body flashed through his awareness, before being brought back by Shu kissing him deeply.
The kiss was grounding, strangely familiar amidst this new experience, and it gave Ike the mental fortitude to encourage Shu to bottom out, pressing his heels into the sorcerer's back. Ike let out most of the air he had been holding, dizzy from the act. He took a few deep breaths, getting used to Shu's size, his heat, his presence, his heart beat that Ike could somehow feel from within.
Shu was just as quiet, using every ounce of strength to keep still, for Ike's sake, until he was ready. He absent-mindedly pets at Ike's hair, softer than he expected, head now tucked into Ike's neck, in a strange sort of mirror from their initial interaction. He drops soft kisses on Ike's neck, feeling his racing heartbeat beneath his lips.
"…Ike… I'm sorry, I need-"
"G-go, please, I need-"
His breath gets punched from his lungs as Shu snaps his hips right into his prostate, and Ike's fingers dig into Shu's back as the sorcerer begins a quick, shallow pace. Shu's breath on his neck is warm, warm, and he whimpers as Shu teases at his skin with his teeth, his canines dragging along Ike's jugular vein. Ike's own breathing comes in soft puffs, an exhale with each piston of Shu's hips, his head swimming with pleasure and dizzying awareness-
Ike groans as Shu nuzzles into his cheek, grinding deeply into the novelist for a break in pace, "Ike… Ike, 're… 're you still there?…"
His words help cut through Ike's muddled mind, and it prompts him to take a deep breath, feeling Shu twitch inside him as he inhales and tenses slightly, "… y-yeah… pl-please Shu, more, it's so good…"
Shu stays in place for a few moments too long for Ike's insatiable artificial lust, then he begins a slower, stronger pace, beginning to chase his own high, drawn into whatever haze that's come over the novelist beneath him. Ike feels his whole body shift with each thrust, Shu's aim hitting that bundle of nerves almost every time, subconsciously linking his ankles behind his partner's back. Shu responds as he clings to Ike's shoulders, holding the novelist in place so his thrusting can be more focused. Ike's voice is echoing in his room, fewer words and more soft moans, becoming more intense as Shu bites at Ike's neck.
His insides burn, Shu's length at the pinpoint of that white-hot heat, the sensation spreading from deep in his belly as Shu , and Ike moans as he feels a fresh wave building up once more, "C-close, Shu, please please pleasepleaseplease-"
Ike tenses, feeling Shu keeping his pace, and as the sorcerer presses their foreheads together once more, his awareness whites out as he finally, finally comes, gasping for air, hitting his own chin and covering their chests and quivering stomachs in his release. It lasts for what feels like an eternity, though it could have been a couple minutes, he's not sure. When he comes back down, Shu is there, pausing his movement despite his own labored breathing, deep in his ardor, but aware enough to check that Ike is okay, holding to his promise to keep Ike's well-being in check. The novelist's voice is hoarse from overuse, ragged as he draws in desperate fresh air, nails dragging lines down Shu's bare back- wait, when did that happen-
There's no time to dwell on such thoughts, feeling overwhelmed with sensation as Shu starts driving into Ike once more, his pace growing erratic, panting with the effort of chasing his climax. Running on instinct, Ike takes Shu's head in his hands, kissing him deeply as Shu releases inside of him, drinking in every whimper of his partner as he's filled with the sorcerer's cum, quenching the burning heat for the first time in… minutes? Hours? It brings a mental clarity to the novelist, and he takes a moment to take stock of his physical state.
His eyes flutter half-open, vision still blurry without his glasses, but able to note the deep blush on Shu's pale skin. His breathing is calming down, his heart rate slowing to a more normal pace, and he follows his instincts to drop soft pecks on Shu's face as his partner comes down from his own high. Shu shifts his hands from holding Ike in place to caressing Ike's cheeks with his thumbs, the petting motion seemingly absent-minded in its pacing. They stay together for several moments, far too soft for the situation that brought them together, the thought of which brings Ike's awareness crashing back down from his high.
He… he'd just slept with… with Shu… of all people he would expect this to happen with (which was next to no chance at all, truly), Shu was the last one he'd expected to-
"…feeling better yet?" Shu asks, still winded from their session.
Ike takes a few more deep breaths, noting that the all-consuming burning inside him, while far diminished, is distantly present. It's a frustrating mental note to make, "…f-for now…"
The silence in the room is suddenly deafening, punctuated by their quieting breathing and the shifting sheets of the bed. Gently, Shu lifts from Ike, pulling out from the novelist, who winces as he feels Shu's release drip from inside. The sorcerer helps Ike unlink his ankles, his legs grown a bit stiff from the continued pose. Shu notes Ike's discomfort and begins massaging at Ike's thighs to help soothe the stiffness, "How's this?"
"U-um… yeah, it's helping… thank you…" Ike feels sheepish, embarrassed at his situation. The mess on their chests is beginning to dry, and it's growing quite uncomfortable, "Uh, maybe a towel would help?"
"Once you can get your legs down, I gotchu," Shu replies, his ministrations on Ike's legs intimate, yet not sensual. It's an aiding hand, just like Shu promised, and Ike is suddenly overwhelmed with how grateful he is that Shu was the one who found him in such a state. Before he can register, tears are falling from his eyes, running back into his temples while he lays there under Shu and his firm touch.
And of course, Shu notices, "W-wait, what happened? Does something hurt?"
"N-no," Ike's voice breaks as he chokes back a hiccup of a sob, hiding behind his hands in embarrassment, "It's just… Thank you. Thank you thank you, a thousand times, thank you-"
Ike is wrapped up in a hug, spoiled slightly by the sticky mess between them as he's sat up by Shu, but the affection he feels for his friend, his partner in this moment overpowers all else, and he returns the hug with intensity, clinging to Shu as he breaks down in tears of gratitude. Shu holds him through it, a solid rock of calmness through this strange and unsettling experience for Ike, proving his willingness to assist Ike however he could.
After a couple minutes of Ike's mild breakdown and Shu rubbing comfortingly at his back, they separate slightly. Ike looks up sheepishly at Shu, eyes reddened from his tears, and doesn't need to see details to know Shu is keeping watch, is protective of Ike in his vulnerable state, and the novelist couldn't be more thankful.
"…Better?"
Ike nods, "…I think so."
"Good. Let me go get something to clean us up with. One sec."
Shu pulls away, standing gingerly as his own legs stretch from their kneeling pose. Ike curls his back, stretching out the muscles and wincing at his sore hips. Goodness, he didn't expect such a showing from Shu, considering the two of them were the least likely to find themselves in such a sexual situation. Thinking about it, it's probably fortunate that Shu found him, with how attentive he was…
His gaze catches on his own dirtied torso, noting that the… the actual fucking womb tattoo is still present. That warmth pulses faintly beneath it, and he notices the design has a singular purple point distinct from the rest of the bright pink design. Strange…
"Ike, here," Shu approached, having cleaned himself and put on his pants, leaning in, "Let me clean you up? I… feel kind of bad, heh."
Shu is sheepish, probably processing his own actions, and Ike relented easily, "N-no worries… Here," Ike laid back down, exposing himself to Shu, looking away as his... friend? companion? cleaned him off, unable to look Shu in the eyes as he was wiped down, "…and don't feel bad, it… I kind of asked for it-"
"I mean, you asked for help, and I was just the first person to find you… and like. I couldn't just leave you, you know?"
"I guess? But like, you didn't have to, I could have taken care of it-"
Shu paused to make Ike look at him, "After all that? I don't think you could. It's a powerful curse, one that even drew me in, so… So don't feel bad for your actions, 'kay? I did what any good friend would do."
Friend… why does that term hurt a little? Shu's not wrong, there's nothing here to grow into what could be a relationship, and neither of them want that sort of shift. However… "Right…" it kept Ike at a loss for words, unable to put a finger on what exactly this shift in their friendship was.
Perhaps it didn't need a name, and that was okay. More likely was the thought that these foreign feelings of attachment found their source in the cursed tattoo itself. Which… was scary, if Ike was honest.
"Shu… we're… we're still okay, yeah? You don't… uh, n-never mind!" Ike fumbled his words, floundering back and forth between his head and his heart, "I-It's stupid-"
"It's not stupid if it means your comfort." Shu states firmly, finishing his cleaning of Ike's body and climbing back on top of Ike. Balanced on his hands above him, Ike didn't feel trapped or cornered… He felt… "Ike, tell me if something's bothering you. It might be more of a clue into the source of this curse."
The thought hadn't crossed Ike's addled mind, though now that his thoughts were clearer, it was a solemn statement, "I… I need to know… Y-you don't… hate me for it… right? There's this… incessant need to be… I don't know, I need to know that I won't be… abandoned or rejected…" He felt tears spring up once more, the tendrils curling around his heart
"I won't… though I have a theory about this effect on you…" Shu runs his fingers through Ike's bedhead, "I wonder if it heightens any and all emotions for the cursed…"
Ike takes a calming breath and thinks over Shu's theory. It's plausible, knowing the possible depths of his own weaknesses and fears… the possibility of this curse heightening those fears is… something Ike doesn't want to think about right now.
Shu pets at his head a few more times, then moves to stand once more, "Can you get up?" he asks, offering a hand to Ike. He takes it, sore upon standing, yet not finding it impossible.
"Thank you again, Shu."
"Don't mention it!" he replies, moving to don his casual hoodie once more, "If you're good, I'm gonna start looking into curses like this one, see if I can find anything to help."
Ike laughs, lighter than he's felt in several hours, "Y-yeah, I'm good now. Let me know if you find anything?"
"Of course!" Shu's reply is instant, "I may need to outsource some research if it falls outside my wheelhouse, but I'll keep things hush-hush." The sorcerer fixes his hair, then turns to Ike, who's in the middle of hunting for his shirt, "And uh… if you need more… specialized help…" He looks away as he suggests this, "D-do you want me again? Or should I send someone else to check on you?"
Ike flushes deep red, not considering a relapse yet, "U-uh? I… uh, hadn't thought about it… I'd rather not have this getting out, but-" A subtle pulse from the tattoo gives him a hint of things to come, "…if it comes to it, I don't want to bother you too much… your research is going to be important for me getting rid of this, s-so…"
An awkward silence falls over the room, several beats hanging in the air before Shu replies, "…It's no bother, promise… but I think the others would be just as willing to help you out, if I'm not available…" He speaks to the side, not looking at Ike, the faintest air of… disappointment about him? No… No, Ike is imagining it, he has to be.
"…S-sure."
Shu turns back, a smile almost pasted on his face, "I know Vox is away at the moment, but trust me when I say Luca and probably Mysta can help out. They won't judge you at all. We… Our discomfort isn't as important as your safety, because…" his expression darkens, "Shoot, Ike, what if this is deadly? We can't leave you alone if this could… you know…"
It's another shock for Ike, who hadn't even considered the idea. It's… daunting, thinking that he may have to sleep with someone else… again and again, until Shu finds a cure? If one even exists?
"Then don't worry about it," Ike states, "You focus on finding a cure or a reversal. I… I'll ask someone else…"
Shu nods, "I'll talk to the others, see if we can't have someone on hand to help you at any time. Maybe we can work out a rotation…" He starts mumbling to himself, and Ike tunes it out as he finishes dressing. He notes that it's… odd that there isn't more of a… fallout from Shu's release, but he assumed Shu cleaned him out well enough. Somehow?
Nah, something is off, but Ike's too timid to mention it. It's too embarrassing! M-maybe later…
Later, when there's some distance between them…