Warp Token Update

3k words

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He delved his fingers into her coat, starting at her neck. Her fur was so fine, the strands indiscernible from another at a touch, almost making it feel like soft velvet. Her tension seemed to have melted away along with her tangled fur, Skyseeker slowly relaxing with each stroke of his fingers, her head lolling forward as he worked the suds in deep.

As he trailed down to her pinched waistline, she twitched, her tail batting against his arms as he rid her of the clinging muck. Like a dog wagging its tail, it must mean she was excited, though it was starting to get in the way of his work…

Skyseeker let slip a squeak as he grabbed her appendage, holding it aside as he traced the dimple of her spine, the Skaven shuddering as he ran his hands down her lithe figure.

“Sorry, did that hurt?” he asked, watching as the tip of her tail coiled around his wrist.

“N-No,” Skyseeker sighed. “Don’t pull tail, makes Skaven feel… strange.”

She didn’t elaborate on what that exactly meant, and Roderick didn’t ask, his hands trailing closer towards her flared hips, her tail releasing him after a moment. He skirted the spot where her tail joined to her lower back, noting that her dark coat trailed up the appendage a few inches before transitioning into pink, scaley flesh.

Cupping a hand in the water, he washed the suds from her back, Skyseeker shivering as the filth trailed away. It was a bit of an effort using just his hands, but soon her fur was shiny and clean.

“Poosham smells funny,” she mumbled, twisting her neck round to give her shoulder a sniff.

“Shampoo,” he corrected. “I don’t know how you can pronounce so many words wrong, lass.”

“Man-thing tongue has stupid way of speaking,” she snapped. “Do front now!”

She displayed remarkable flexibility as she flipped her head between her shoulderblades, somehow able to bend herself backwards over the lip of the bathtub, her body conforming into a smooth arch. The movement inadvertently pushed out her bust, giving Roderick a view right down her cleavage.

“If you insist,” he replied, averting his eyes. He skirted round to her left, squeezing out another glob of shampoo into his palms. Her abdominal muscles flexed as she presented her flat stomach to him, Roderick reaching over to rub the lather into her belly. Hopefully, she did not mean for him to wash her whole front…

He could feel the channels of a burgeoning six-pack, hidden beneath her silky coat, feeling tough muscles fight back against his questing digits. The Skaven flinched with every minute movement, apparently quite ticklish, her upper torso twisting while her waist remained still. She was so sinewy, her abs shifting in such a way that he was mesmerized by their flowing movements, the way her wet fur clung to her skin only accentuating her form.

He perked an eyebrow, noting that she had a belly button, tracing the navel with a finger, Skyseeker giggling as he let his curiosity get the better of him. The lines between exploring her and washing her were starting to blur now, Roderick skirting her mound and making small circles with his thumbs. So many parts of her was similar to a human, and he wondered where else she might be similiar…

Trying to refocus, he ran his hands over her flared hips, pushing the lather into her sternum next. Her bust was still contained in that dirty sling she always wore, but the fabric was soaked through thanks to her earlier cannonball, Roderick just able to see through the cloth. Like the rest of her, her breasts looked to be wholly covered in her luscious fur, the pair of mounds rising and falling as Skyseeker took in deep breaths.

“Uhm, all done here,” he stammered, Skyseeker watching him through lidded eyes as he pulled away, the thin lines of red tracking him as he inched moved behind her again. Was that disappointment he saw in her gaze? He wasn’t sure…

He cupped the back of her head, Skyseeker so relaxed he had to lift her head back above her shoulders of his own accord, Roderick kneading his soapy palms into her hair next – the fur on top of her head, to be precise. Roderick gave her scalp a light massage, the Skaven smiling as she sunk deeper into the water. It looked like she was melting into a puddle. She was always so on edge, always convinced her enemies were just around the next corner, and it was amusing to see her so relaxed, so trusting to let him touch her.

Her ears flicked as his fingers brushed them, Roderick taking one into his palm, the fur covering the little dish-shaped protrusion giving it a thin, pleasant texture. He rubbed it between his thumb and forefinger, and Skyseeker’s eyes blazed open, her tail sitting up as straight as an arrow.

“Apologies, I was just…” he trailed off, not sure how to explain himself. In response, the Skaven cocked her head, encouraging him to keep going, Roderick all too happy to oblige. He took care not to put too much pressure on them, as they were very sensitive, judging by her reaction just now.

He moved to her other ear, using his free hand to run the suds down her long skull, his digits passing between her large eyes. He paused when he heard a strange noise fill the room, Skyseeker slowly opening her eyes to give him a questioning look.

“Are you… purring?” he asked, Skyseeker glancing away from him.

“Yes… I mean no! No…”

He gave her a knowing look, one she pretended to ignore, Roderick resuming his washing with a grin. A few strokes down her forehead later, and the noise returned, Skyseeker’s eyelids fluttering, its source unmistakable. He could see her lips pursing over her buck teeth, the little sounds she made suggesting she was grinding them together. What was the equivalent of a rat purring called?

Bruxing, that was it.

Feeling bold, he rested her muzzle in his palms, using his thumbs to stroke the suds into her cheeks. He could feel the dense muscles surrounding her jawbone, much more powerful than those on a human. She could probably chomp straight through bone with those wicked teeth of hers.

He moved further down her long face, the whiskers bridging the end of her snout brushing his hands. Wetting his palm, he wiped the lather across her button nose, Skyseeker giving him a strange look.

“That tickles!” she giggled, batting his hand away. It was such an odd noise coming from the rodent assassin, but one that he found pleasant to listen to.

“That about does it, rinse yourself off,” he said. He expected her to move herself below the tap, but instead of doing that, Skyseeker dunked her head below the water again, spraying droplets towards Roderick’s face when she resurfaced.

There was a folded towel placed beside the tub, and Roderick passed it over, Skyseeker stroking the fabric as she stepped out of the bath. After he explained that it was not for petting, but for drying off her fur, she got the picture, wiping herself down, drips of water pattering against the wooden floor.

Once she was dry, she turned to face him, Roderick unable to help but admire her new look. The bath had done wonders for her fur, her coat so fine and silky, seeming to shine as the strands caught on the candlelight. With all the dirt and knotted clumps gone, her body was almost flawless, Roderick finding himself wishing he could touch that fur now that it was fluffy and dry.

Damn it, what was wrong with him? He should know better than to think of Skyseeker that way. She was a Skaven, for Sigmar’s sake. A fine companion, yes, but a spawn of Chaos nonetheless…

“Roderick’s turn!” she chimed, bringing him back to the present.

“For what?”

“For bath, stupid! Man-thing reeks more than Skaven do.”

“Oh, of course.” Not wanting to wash in Skyseeker’s filthy water, he reached into the tub and pulled the plug, the grime gurgling away into the drain. As he refilled the tub with clean, steaming water, Roderick began stripping off his armour, Skyseeker giving him a curious look as he fiddled with his sabatons. He worked one leg free, then the other, giving his toes a wiggle as he planted them on the cool floor. She seemed to find his feet especially strange, cocking her head towards them, though she didn’t voice any observations.

He set his leg armour aside, then pulled off his mail skirt, exposing the leather pants he wore beneath. Last came the cuirass, Roderick feeling a sense of liberation at finally getting out of the tin suit for a small while

As he began to unbutton his tunic, he realised Skyseeer wasn’t affording him the same privacy as he had for her, her crimson eyes examing him from feet to face, then back again.

“Well?” he asked. “Turn around, lass.”

“What-What? How can Skaven wash man-thing if turned about?”

They both shared a collective moment of confusion. “You… want to wash me?” he asked. “That’s not necessary.”

“Roderick cleaned Skaven, only courteous to return gesture.”

“You don’t have to feel indebted to me,” he replied, shifting from foot to foot. “I can wash myself well enough.”

“I want to do it!” she exclaimed, stamping down with a paw-shaped foot. “Man-thing always doing kindness things, Skaven wants to give back. Need to learn secrets to kindness, and practice makes perfect! Yes-Yes!”

“I… very well. But turn around while I get in. Don’t ask me why, just do it.”

Skyseeker rolled her eyes dramatically, then looked away, her tail waving behind her. While she wasn’t so bothered about wearing waterlogged clothes, Roderick only had the one set of undergarments, and he’d rather not chafe his privates when they got moving tomorrow.

He slipped out of his tunic and hose, then fumbled with his underwear, checking to make sure Skyseeker was still facing away from him. He kicked off his briefs, completely nude as he stepped into the bath. When he glanced back at the Skaven, he saw that she had produced one of her knifes, using its reflective surface to peer at him, a conniving smile on her face.

“I told you not to look!”

“You said turn around, and as you can see, Skaven is turned around. Roderick should have chosen words better.”

His cheeks flushing, he covered up his privates, lowering himself into the hot water. He picked up the discarded bar of soap bobbing on the surface, scrubbing it under his arms and ribs.

He heard the pitter-patter of Skyseeker’s feet as she moved closer, Roderick covering his junk with his thigh, hoping the water would give him enough privacy from her prying eyes. Was it just curiosity that was driving her, or was there some ulterior motive behind her actions?

“Tables have turned, it seems!” Skyseeker chittered, taking up the shampoo bottle. Copying his example, she squirted a generous amount onto her paws, rubbing them together as she approached him from behind.

“You don’t have to do my whole body,” he said, flinching as her paws slapped loudly onto his shoulders. “Unlike you, I’m not covered head to toe in fur.”

“Beg to differ,” she replied. He felt her warm breath on his neck as she leaned closer, her paws making circles on his back. “Man-thing covered in small-tiny furs. Fascination…”

“Just worry about this bit,” he continued, gesturing to the top of his head. His hair was a dusky shade like coffee beans, its length level with his shoulders, Roderick bracing himself as her fingers delved into it. Her claws were no joke, one wrong move and she would slice him up, the fact she was a clumsy drunk making him unsure about all this.

His worries were for nothing, Skyseeker taking great care to be gentle with her claws, putting only the faintest amount of pressure on them, their sharp points scratching his scalp with all the lightness of a feather. Just as he had done with the comb, she raked her paws with the grain of his hair, a tingling sensation rolling through his scalp as she spread the shampoo over his head.

Roderick caught himself leaning back, her furry paws so soft and silky. It felt like she was massaging him with a pair of satin gloves. He was so relaxed that it took him a moment to realise it wasn’t the lip of the tub he was leaning against, but Skyseeker’s belly, her flesh providing as much cushion as a down pillow. He stammered out an apology when he realised her breasts were touching his upper neck, Roderick able to feel their firmness through the sling she wore, but all Skyseeker did in response was smile down at him, continuing to wash his hair as she switched the subject.

“Roderick, you remember breed… wench, on street?” she asked, poking his ears just as he had to hers.

He was too out of it to voice a reply. Her claws felt like a comb in their own right, and the fact someone else was washing his hair was just a nice sensation. He elected to prompt her on with a wave of his hand.

“Remember how you said then you like breeders who are… not old? Have any other preferences?”

“Why the sudden interest?” he murmured, shivering as those tingles started spreading down his spine.

“Man-thing breeder’s… confusing,” she replied. “Skaven Warlords kill for breeding rights, but Roderick has picky needs. Want to understand.”

“Don’t call me picky,” he grumbled. “I’m simply beyond the point of bedding wenches in exchange for coin.”

“So you don’t want to breed?”

“I-I never said that,” he said, the insinuation making him stammer. Women of his kind hardly ever broached the subject of sex, it took months of courting just to be abel to even mention it. Skyseeker may be a naïve Skaven, but she was a woman, and discussing it so openly was a little off-putting.

“I’m simply on the lookout for a more… stable relationship,” he finished. “A decent woman, one with a kind heart, those kinds of traits are what I prefer.”

“What about more physical preferences?” Skyseeker pressed. “To take a completely random example: you like shorter breeders, or tall ones? This hypothetical example, of course.”

“I’ve honestly not thought much about it. Haven’t had the time to, what with all that’s happening lately.”

“Then take guess! Say I had pistol to your head, what would Roderick pick?”

“By Sigmar, a pistol? This is quite the hypothetical! I suppose I’d pick someone shorter if I had to. Satisfied?”

“Yes-Yes… Good…” Skyseeker muttered, resuming her washing of his hair. When it was thoroughly lathered, she cupped a paw into the water, rinsing the suds away, Roderick still able to feel her claws stroking his hair, despite the fact she’d stopped.

“Gimme,” she chimed, Roderick opening his eyes to see her plucking the soap from his hand. She began washing down the rest of him, spreading the soap over his back, Roderick feeling the spongy pads of her paws as she slid them over his skin.

The combination of her teasing claws and her tickling wet fur was filling his mind with white noise, Roderick too deep in a haze to tell her he was perfectly capable of washing himself. When she finished his back, she walked her fingers across his ribs, focusing on his chest next, pressing the pads of her fingers into his pectorals, as though testing his firm muscles. Though he had lost some weight during his time in the dungeons, his recent endeavours had left him fitter than he had ever been, Skyseeker peering over his shoulder to run her eyes over his strange anatomy. Strange to her, of course, she’d never seen a human as exposed as he was before.

“Roderick is stronger than most Skaven,” she whispered, her red eye filling the side of his peripheral as she leaned on his shoulder, her fluffy neck tickling him. She lowered her hands to his stomach next, her fingers prodding at the channels of his washboard abs. “Hard strength concealed behind soft flesh, intriguing! Another of Roderick’s schemes Skaven missed…”

Her tone implied she was impressed, Roderick tensing as she drew a lazy line across his stomach with her index claw. He had been washed by other people before, as a General he had been allotted many perks, one of which being a group of consorts who bathed him regularly between battlefronts. He’d shared many a bath with those of the fairer gender, so why was all this tension building up inside him? Why did being touched by this rat woman make him feel so light headed?

She brushed his groin area, the conspicuous bulge he was sporting barely hidden beneath the dirtying water. He needed to put a stop to this, this wasn’t right.

“Hey!” Skyseeker complained, Roderick lifting her arms by her wrists. “What Roderick doing?”

“I’m as washed as I’ll ever be,” he replied. “Fetch me the towel, will you?”

“Oh. I-I knew that! Was just making sure you were… clean, yes-yes…” She scurried behind him and out of view, Roderick’s world blotting out as she threw the towel over his face. He scrubbed down his wet hair, giving Skyseeker a turn around gesture with his hand as he dried his shoulders.

Rolling her eyes once more, she looked away, picking over the leftovers on the platter to occupy herself. This time he made doubly sure she wasn’t peeking, quickly stepping out of the tub and fetching his briefs once he was dry.

As he buttoned up his tunic, there was a loud thunk, Roderick blinking in surprise as he turned around.

There was no sign of the noise’s source, or Skyseeker for that matter, Roderick glancing about the empty room warily. The solitary window was shut, the curtains drawn over it, and the door handle was still in the locked position. Scratching his head, he moved to check under the bed, then the table, not really expecting to see her there but looking anyway. Where had she gone?

“Skyseeker?” he asked, waiting for a reply. He heard a soft grumble behind him, then the short squeaking noises he’d come to associate with the Skaven’s snoring. His eyes fell to the floorboards, the one she’d pried open slightly out of line with the rest of them. Leaning down on his knees, he lifted it away, a pair of crimson eyes staring up at him from between the dark gap.

“Skyseeker? Why are you in the floor again? Get out of there.”

“Napping!” she chittered, waving a dismissive paw. “Leave Skaven alone.”

“We’ve got a perfectly good room here, and you choose to sleep with the insects?”

“Floor like burrow in some ways,” she replied. “And Roderick won competition, room your reward.”

“Competition? Oh, right, the drinking game. I was only joking about that, lass, you can have the bed, I’ll make do on the floor.”

“Nonsensical! Man-thing won, Skaven lost, is only fair Skaven gets burrow.”

“You’re not sleeping in that tick-infested floor on my account,” he chided. “Especially not after we just cleaned you.”

“Well where will YOU sleep? Roderick can’t fit in floor!”

He pinched the bridge of his nose, sensing this was getting neither of them anywhere. Perhaps he should have bitten the bullet and bought a room for two after all. He considered their situation for a second, a compromise soon coming to mind.

“We could… share the bed, lass.”