Work Text:
Angert returns home from his most recent away mission in the deep hours of the morning, achy, tired, ready to strip his gear off and collapse into bed with his mates lovers.
Only to find a few brave candles spluttering in the gloom of Meghill's study as the clan chief hunches over his desk, piled with scrolls and ledgers and various items, all vying for the man's limited attention.
Angert sighs to himself, slipping into the room in plain view but it's not until he gently lays his hand across the scroll Meghill's frowning at that the silver-haired man notices his presence, startling slightly before he turns to give Angert a tired but genuine smile.
"And how many nights has this been going on, hm?"
Meghill's face immediately turns sheepish and he looks away. Angert's groan of frustration, annoyance, and worry is soft, as soft as his headbutt when he presses his forehead onto the top of Meghill's head and lets himself rest there.
Angert feels warm, calloused hands wrap around his waist, drawing him forward until Meghill can press his face into Angert's exposed stomach, his exhales soft and grounding against the other's skin. Angert reaches up to begin carding his fingers through the silky hair practically glowing in the candlelight.
"Are you really going to tell me you left our little pink jewel all by herself while you sat out here with bad posture, working on your frown lines?"
"He did, actually."
Both men whipped their heads up, draconic eyes immediately honing in on the slender figure draped in filmy, whisper-fine silk, leaning casually against the doorframe leading into Meghill's private residence. Nikki's hair hung loose and wavy, falling out of the half braid she often wore to sleep. Tired brown eyes sparkled beneath drooping lids as she smiled ruefully.
Angert let himself be moved backwards as Meghill stood, pressing a sneaky kiss to his cheek and moving away before Angert could reciprocate. Meghill strode over to Nikki, one hand holding hers as he gently tilted her face up with the other.
"Forgive me, Starsoul, I did not mean to keep you waiting."
He felt Angert come up behind him, the sinewy arms winding around him as lips nibbled playfully on one of his pointed ears. Meghill couldn't suppress a shudder, and he both felt and heard Angert's breathy chuckle behind him before the dark-haired man lightly tucked his chin against Meghill's neck and grinned down at the woman in front of them.
"You owe me ten Blings, cevher."
Meghill's brow furrowed as Nikki stuck out her tongue playfully. "Did you two bet on me?"
"She did. Said she could get you to bed at decent hours the whole time I was gone, all on her own. I bet you would get lost in your work at least once before I got back."
There was a momentary war in Meghill's mind, between exasperation that his mates lovers would actually place bets regarding his behavior, and the fact that Nikki was so sure she could manage without Angert that she was willing to bet on it - and Meghill had failed her.
And then all of it was instantly eclipsed when Nikki pulled her arm up to politely cover the yawn that unexpectedly popped her jaw. "Ow."
Both men cooed sympathetically, Angert leaning around to reach one arm up, mirroring Meghill's hold on Nikki's cheek and using his thumb to rub gently at the sore joint. Meghill naturally did the same against her other cheek, larger hand cupping her jaw. Nikki smiled, leaning into the ministrations as she let her eyes flutter closed.
"Our Starsoul is still tired, I am exhausted, and you - kocaman aptal you are - need to sleep." Angert dug his chin into Meghill's neck when the man opened his mouth to protest. "I don't care how much work you have to do, you owe it to us, both of us."
"Three of us. You owe it to yourself." Nikki reached up, wrapping her slender fingers around both of their wrists and tilting her head slightly, giving Meghill a soft, pleading pout.
The clan chief had the good sense to know when he was beat, and sighed heavily, though they could all hear the amusement beneath the resignation. "If my ruh eşi demand, so shall it be. I do owe our Starsoul an apology for making her lose that bet..."
Angert's arm tightened around Meghill's waist, creating a vice as he began walking them both through the door Nikki was backing into. "You certainly do. What do you think his punishment should be, cevher?"
The sleep vanished from Nikki's face, replaced by a raised brow and a sweet, dangerous smirk. "I can think of one or two ideas ..."
Immediate situational awareness flashed bright and clear in Meghill's veins. "Wait, now, hold on a second, I said apology, not punishment--"
"Too late to back out now, Clan Chief, you wouldn't want to break your word, would you?" The door closed on Meghill's quiet pleading, and Nikki and Angert's devious laughter.