Tiefling Boyfriend: Mercutio 6 (complete)

I don’t know exactly who Lena is or where they came from, and it’s a mystery I enjoy not solving. But there are times when they get a look in their eyes that makes me believe they’re the messenger of the fates, come to judge whether someone is deserving of their destiny. That’s the looking Lena is giving me now.

“You fucking proposed?” They strike me freely with the broom.

“Ow! Fuck! What are brooms made of?” I try to block the attacks, but Lena is more skilled with a broom than I ever was with a weapon.

“Lynk Gaiseric! You proposed to Lynk Gaiseric!” Lena continues to yell at me. “You stupid! Miserable! Boy!”

I grab hold of the filthy bristles and yank the boom, pulling Lena towards me. “What’s so wrong with that?”

“Your mother is going to lose it!”

“My mother is dead!” I bark at them.

Lena’s expression goes soft, and the tension on the broom laxes. “Fierna is going to hate this. You’re not supposed to do shit like this. You’re supposed to be a tool for her and King Charles. And why Lynk, of all people?” She  throws her hands up into the air, relinquishing the broom for me to chuck aside.

“Lynk and I understand one another. We’re both tools for our parents. And you have yet to tell me how you know Lynx so well.” I reach for a drink, but find my glass unfortunately empty.

Lena crosses their arms. “I worked in House Gaiseric for a little while.”

“Same as you’re working here?” I point to the floor. “Spying? Annoying? Being creepy?” 

I walk across the room to pour myself a new drink. Lena’s disapproving scowl does not falter. “The Gaiseric family plays the game better than most. Lynk and his father know they have Fierna and possibly more in the palm of their hands. Even suggesting a marriage to Lynk plays right into that!”

“Why do you care?” I scoff. “Don’t you want to see me fail? Isn’t your ‘real job’ supposed to be stopping me?”

Lena drops their arms back down to their sides. “I also don’t want to see you get hurt. I can do both things, you idiot.”

I lower my glass at Lena’s surprisingly kind words. “Why would you?”

“Because I see more than a pawn when I look at you. You’re not what Fierna thinks you are. And if there is any possible way I can influence you further away from her, then so be it.” They give a definitive nod. “Besides...” They start to chuckle. “You don’t seem like the marrying type.”

I grimace and look away. Lena’s laughter stops immediately. “What’s that look, Mercutio?”

I can’t believe it still hurts after all of this - after meeting August, even after finding a kindred spirit with Lynk. This anger, it still gnaws away at me, even though I have tried to keep it dead and buried since I came here.

Lena approaches, placing their hand on my arm. “What’s wrong?”

“I know how I come off,” I say calmly. “But I am certainly the marrying type, Lena.”

Lena’s look is apologetic. “I never would have assumed.”

“No, you wouldn’t.” I take her hand off me and hold it as I turn. “I was married once before, and I was quite happy, too.”

Their eyes go wide. “What happened?”

“My mother was murdered,” I state simply. I let go of Lena’s hand and turn back to my drink. “My mother is dead, and everything is worse now.”

Lena’s palm rests at the center of my back, a strangely comforting gesture. I look back at them and give them a small smile. “As much as you annoy me, I genuinely enjoy your company.” I offer them my drink.

Lena shakes her head. “You’re okay.”

I grin and start to laugh. I’ve never had a true friend like Lena, even if they are supposedly working against me.

Since I came here, I’ve never told anyone about my husband Tyrone. It was something inside of me I tried to kill. I didn’t want to think about him, or the circumstances that led to me living with Fierna. I know everything played right into Fierna’s hands, and perhaps it had even been set up that way. But the death of my husband was something I couldn’t ignore. I tried. I tried with the blacksmith. I tried with August. And now I am trying with Lynk. I try to live my life as if it doesn’t matter at all, but it doesn’t stop mattering.

I take solace in August’s diary more and more these days. His thoughts are of perversion, but to me they are a comfort. He’s innocent in a way, and the idea of having him idly daydreaming about how he wishes to take me brings such a smile to my face. I worry how he will take the news of my potential alliance. I don’t know his feelings for Lynk, but I can assume his feelings for me run deeper than he wants to let on. My marriage plans could upset him, which is why I am hesitant to say anything.

I invite him to my chambers for dinner, hoping to tell him, but knowing there is a chance I won’t. He looks nice tonight, with his hair combed back and away from his face. There is ginger stubble along his jaw, as though he’s attempting to grow a beard.

“You’re being very quiet tonight,” he says. I look up from my meal and into his lovely eyes. “Is something the matter?”

I try to swallow the nervous lump in my throat, but it’s lodged in tight. “Just admiring you. You look very handsome tonight.”

August’s pale cheeks turn bright pink, and his smile is quite proud. “I wanted to try something new.”

“It suits you.” 

“Is that all?” August asks. “I got the feeling there was something you wanted to talk to me about. You were quite serious when you invited me.”

Damn him for being so perceptive. “Yes, well.” I clear my throat. “August, I’ve told you before you’re my right-hand man in everything. I want you by my side always, no matter where I go and what I do. You’re what keeps me grounded. So I feel it is only right to tell you everything, including my plans for the future.” My gut is churning. I don’t want to upset him, but I know this will. “Lynk Gaiseric and I are considering getting married.”

August’s expression is blank at first, slowly morphing into confusion, hostility, and finally into pain. I can’t stand to look at him, but I know if I look away from him it will be worse. “I see.” August wipes his mouth and pushes away from the table. “That is...” He stops and looks down, his brow pinched tight.

“I thought it would be best. He’s from a noble family, and if I ever have any hopes of legitimizing myself, this is the best course. We all know my father would never sign off on me being his...”

August slams his hands down hard on the table. “I get it! Stop… stop talking.” He grips the edge of the table, his arms tense, breathing hard and shaking his head back and forth slowly.

I’m practically chewing on my bottom lip. “It’s all just part of the plan. It’s not really going to be a real marriage except on paper.” 

“Stop explaining it! I get it!” August sits back in his chair, rubbing his chin. He looks so angry, and yet near tears. “Let me just ask you a question, Mercutio.”

I remain silent and look away from him.

“Why Lynk Gariseric? Why him, of all the nobles you come across daily?”

I start to open my mouth, but August slams his hand down on the table.

“I know my family isn’t as affluent or connected as the Gaiseric family, but it’s still noble!” August snaps. “Why not me?” There are tears in his eyes. “I may not have a lot to offer like Lynk does, but at least if you married me it wouldn’t be a complete lie!”

I timidly look back at him.

“I would love you and only you,” August whimpers in anger. 

With those words I break. I moan in despair as I begin to cry, shaking all over.

“Mercutio,” August says gently.

“I’m sorry,” I sob. “I can’t...”

August stands from his seat and approaches me as I blubber onto the table. His hand rests on the top of my head and strokes down my back. I lift my head and reach for him, throwing myself into his arms. He holds me tight, leading me to the bed. I lie in his lap while he rubs my back, remaining silent. After the tears stop, I stay still for a long time, breathing, thinking, trying to tell August what I don’t even want to admit to myself. I finally sat up and gave him a soft kiss.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper. “And I can’t tell you how much it means to me that you’d be willing to love me, even as a friend.”

August wipes my cheek. “What’s going on, then?”

I sniffle and try to steady my breathing. “I was married once before,” I say quietly. “I loved him so much...” My voice breaks off, and I can barely stand to say it.

August squeezes my hand. “But?”

The tightness in my chest burrows down into my gut and sinks like a stone, heavy and painful. “He never loved me.” It escapes me like a ghost. I look into August’s eyes who looks hurt as well. “He only married me because of what I could offer. Money, sex, comfort.” I tremble all over. “After my mother had been murdered, he acted like he cared, but as the money dried up, so did he.” 

I squeeze August’s hand for support, and he returns the gesture willingly. 

“I begged him to come with me. I needed him more than anything. I was in pain. Every breath I took was fire...” The tears come again, and August quickly wraps his arms around me. “He told me I was a monster.” I say those words as quietly as possible. I believed them for so long. 

August’s strong hands rub my back. “You’re not, though.”

I bury my face against his shoulder. “I don’t want you to end up thinking so.”

He lifts my head, holding it between his soft palms. Tears begin falling down his cheeks as he looks at me. “Only a real monster would ever think such a thing, especially about someone who loves them.”

My hands tremble as I place them over his. “I don’t want to risk it.”

August leans in, placing a tender and loving kiss on my lips. I try to return it as best I can, but I am afraid I have forgotten how. As August pulls back, I try to chase him, wanting to feel that warmth and comfort again. 

“I don’t want you to hurt over him,” August whispers. “He isn’t worth it, no matter how much you may have loved him.” His smile fills my heart to the brim. “You are not a monster, Mercutio. You may be wicked and calculating, but you are capable of kindness. It may not be the way people categorize it, but it’s at least there.”

I chuckle through my tears. “What makes you think that?”

“The way you looked at me when we first met. The way you singled me out and took me under your wing. You could have anyone in the entire world, and instead, you saw me and that was...” He loses his breath for a moment. “That meant more to me than anything.”

I kiss him, trying to pass to him what he had given me.

“You made me feel safe.” I sniffle and use my shirt to wipe away the snot from under my nose. “When you were near me your presence was warm and welcoming. I knew I needed you.”

August presses his forehead to mine. “I know I’m not much to look at, but I would be yours always. Until my final breath, I would be yours, imperfect and ugly, but yours.”

“Don’t you get it? You are perfect.” The tears flow again. “Perfect and beautiful. I’ve always thought so.”

We kiss again, and this time there is an edge to it, a desperation. August and I cannot get close enough. We clumsily rip away each other’s clothes, gripping one another for dear life. The way we fall down together is so different from before - gentle and slow, and yet I have never felt something so breathtaking in my entire life. I feel August inside me more than ever before, and I want even more of him. 

We kiss achingly slowly, moaning to one another. August moves slowly, enjoying me more than the pleasure of being inside me. We lock eyes and breathe in unison. I’ve never had a moment like this before.

I lie with August afterwards, still swimming in achingly slow bliss. He nuzzles  my neck, kissing and breathing me in. I meet his lips, touching him all over as that slow fall begins again.

“I love you,” August whispers to me. “Please, marry me. Not as a plot, not in a malicious intent, but because I love you, and I hope you love me.”

“I don’t know if I can marry someone I love again,” I whisper. “But I would like to. I would hope to.” I touch his cheek, and he kisses my palm. “I don’t want to hurt you, August. I don’t want you pulled into my curse.”

“I want you, all of you.” His palm rests on my chest, over my heart. “Good or bad, I will stand beside you in it.”

I smile despite my anxious tears. “How are you so sexy right now?” I nuzzle his stubble. “It’s not fair.”

August turns me to face him again. “Mercutio, will you marry me?”

My chest aches again. “I want to. More than anything.”

His smile becomes sad. “I know, but you can’t. But for me, would you say yes?”

I smile. “Say it again?”

“Mercutio, would you honor me by becoming my husband, from now until forever?” He says in a voice laced with joy and sadness.

I lock my fingers with his and kiss him deeply. “Yes. Please.”

We make breathless love again, and I am overwhelmed by it. I never want this night to end. But when I open my eyes in the morning, I find that August is gone. I look around, saddened but not surprised. Then I find his dairy laid open on the pillow beside me.

“Mercutio, my love: I am sorry I had to leave you, but it will not be forever. I am going home to my family in hopes of finding a way to elevate our name so that I might equal or even surpass Lynk Gaiseric. When that day comes - and trust me, it will - I will return to you and be worthy of the ‘yes’ you gave me last night. I will write to you often, sending you my love as much as possible. When we next meet, you will never be heartbroken again. This is my last fantasy, and for the time being, my only fantasy. I want to save you and protect you as your friend, your lover, and your husband. You are my light, my life, my angel. I love you, and I always will.”

As I begin to cry again, Lena is beside me. They place their arms around me and remain quiet to comfort me. 

I receive word from August that he has made it home. Already he is working on obtaining a vineyard in hopes of making a wine to impress Fierna’s palate. “It could take years,” Lena says gently to me. 

“It will be worth it. Until then, I can find ways to better myself as well.” I smirk at her. “I need you to take his place.”

Lena arches their brows. “I’m not fucking you.”

I grimace with them. “Oh god, no, that’s what I have Lynk for. I need you to be my right hand. Even if you are against me, I trust you more than anyone. Are you willing to work with me?”

“What do you think I have been doing all this time?” Lena takes my hand. “I told you I want what’s best for you, and if that means keeping you safe until August comes back, then I’m up to the task.”

I smile down at them. “Then I am going to need you to tell me something.”

“I have a ledger of all the families I have ever worked for, even the Gaiserics. I will give it to you, but you are going to have to earn it.”

I feel quite proud of Lena. “Of course. Now, come along. There is work to be done.”

Lena smirks and walks beside me. “Yes, Master Mercutio.”