Do I have your attention?

by TomeOfGod

Summary:

Ratio is forced to take on a personal assistant. And while he is not particularly happy about that fact, he will put up with it. So long as it gets his superiors off his back.

Aventurine is not happy about this fact either. Unlike Ratio though, he will not tolerate it.

Notes:

:3
hi guys so listen this is a 22k oneshot and i will never apologise for that. this one kinda ran away from me, i swear it wasnt supposed to be this long but here we are. Its fine.

title is from attention by kesha cause good god i could SO imagine an aventurine edit to that song and i cannot edit so i wrote this fic instead.

<3 love you guys <3

 

Aventurine has always been a little odd. A little off. A little strange.

 

Ratio likes to think that he’s gotten more used to it over the year or so that they’ve become unlikely… friends. Coworkers might be a better term, but they aren’t just coworkers anymore-- they go out for lunch semi-regularly, (well, okay not semi-regularly, very regularly, so regularly in fact that Ratio has started booking a few hours out on his schedule purely for Aventurine) and Aventurine sends Ratio far more texts than he really should be if he’s actually working.

 

Despite all of that, the Avgin’s strangeness is not the easiest thing to get used to. It was something he was warned about before he even began working with the man.

 

The Stonehearts all have reputations, bad ones, cruel ones, downright disturbing ones that Ratio really hopes are simply rumours-- but the rumours surrounding Aventurine have always seemed to be the least correct, or consistent, based on what Ratio has seen of him. Not that he’s studying Aventurine, it’s just that… it’s a little hard not to notice him.

 

The biggest rumour is probably the belief that Aventurine is only a pretty face, used in place of another Stoneheart to flirt and fuck his way into beneficial deals when the others don’t want to. Ratio dislikes this one on principle for many reasons.

 

Aventurine is a flirt, absolutely. There is no question about that. If sweet-talking and suggestive remarks will get Aventurine what he wants, he will give it his all. And yes, Ratio has no doubt in his mind that Aventurine values his body about as much as he seems to value his life (and by that, he means not at all)-- if it will secure him a good deal, his body is on the table… both figuratively and literally.

 

Ratio’s proof? Walking into an empty meeting room only to find Aventurine bent over a desk by the man they were supposed to be sweetening up for the IPC during a big, corporate event.

 

Needless to say, Aventurine avoided him for a few days after that.

 

Ratio cannot blame Aventurine for these things, and he doesn’t. It’s part of the unfortunate way he was raised-- or well, how he wasn’t raised-- and Ratio only hopes to one day be able to convince Aventurine that he’s worth more than the IPC tells him he is worth.

 

Maybe it is not an entirely achievable goal, and Ratio does not like unachievable goals, but he thinks it is a worthwhile attempt anyway. Aventurine is special to him, in a strange sort of way that Ratio would not like to explain in detail to anyone, and if he can at least make the blond realise that, then perhaps that will be enough.

 

Over the course of the past year, Ratio has learnt more about Aventurine than he thinks any else has. And it is very much a place of pride for him.

 

The oddities ha ve never bothered him. Not really.

 

But…

 

Well, to understand why it is starting to bother him, Ratio needs to start at the beginning:

 

Ratio got an assistant.

 

Not intentionally, mind you. A few scientists higher up the Intelligentsia Guild pecking order believed that Ratio needed to be a little more predictable, easier to find and contact and rope into jobs when they wanted him and apparently the best way of doing that, meant getting him an assistant who would report his schedule directly to them if they needed it.

 

Which is a little stupid in Ratio’s opinion. The Intelligentsia Guild is supposed to have some of the most intelligent people alive running it, and they can’t figure out Ratio’s very simple schedule?

 

It took Aventurine less than a week to begin figuring him out. The blond began showing up at the perfect moments-- if Ratio was free, even for the shortest of times, Aventurine was peeking his smiling face around the door of his office with a cup of coffee or the offer of lunch, a mischievous grin on his pretty face and a new piece of gossip to share.

 

And yes, this did contribute to the odd-factor, as Ratio is calling it, but learning someone’s schedule is not necessarily strange for someone like Aventurine-- it’s his job to know everything, to plan for every contingency and create backup plan after backup plan (because as much as Aventurine would like people to believe he leaves everything up to his infamous luck, he doesn’t) so while it may have been a little weird, it wasn’t enough to really raise any flags.

 

His assistant was a nice enough girl actually, smart too, more than capable of keeping up with both his schedule and his teachings, and she knew when to leave him alone.

 

And that was good enough for Ratio to begrudgingly allow her intrusion without too much of a fight.

 

Her name was Lana. She even went as far as to act as a teaching assistant in a few of his lectures. She was seemingly a fan of Ratio’s, though she never went overboard with her admiration (not to his face at least) which is why it came as a shock to Ratio when she just… stopped showing up.

 

Of course, he reported this immediately, because Ratio doesn’t like late and he doesn’t like lazy and while he didn’t think Lana was either of these things, Ratio needed the Guild to be aware that the person they hired had decided to not show up.

 

But after three days and no sign of her… the Guild took things further.

 

The missing persons case quickly became big, spreading like wildfire across the campus until everyone at the university seemed to know about it, how Doctor Ratio’s PA and teaching assistant seemed to have vanished into thin air.

 

...But then her body was found. Brutalised and bloody, floating in a small indent in the nearby dock-- discovered, actually, by another pair of students. The placement was too precise for it to have been an accidents, the currents don’t flow in any way to drag a body in like that, and it was immediately ruled as a murder.

 

But there was nobody to blame. No suspect. Nothing to indicate anyone as the perpetrator.

 

They put the time of death at four days before, late at night. It explained why she never turned up to work next morning, or the day after that, but it was such a shock that Ratio didn’t quite know what to do with himself. He might not have liked her, but she was his assistant. He had some level of responsibility in keeping her safe.

 

There was one suspect, however, Ratio himself.

 

He was briefly questioned though nothing came of it, he had an alibi of course-- Aventurine had swooped in shortly after his last lecture, the day of Lana’s death and dragged him to an impromptu dinner date, as he so aptly put it (and of course Ratio did not try and correct him at the time, Aventurine was flirtatious by nature and surely meant nothing with the term. Ratio didn’t want it to seem like he cared, that would be preposterous. But terms like these were not uncommon from Aventurine.)

 

The hubbub on campus died almost as quickly as it had appeared. When the findings of the investigation were released, and no culprit to be found, people began to take it seriously, even though it was serious before. Now there was a killer, and whether it was a one off or not was yet to be discovered. What if they struck again? The crowds whispered. What if it’s them next?

 

It was, all in all, a very unfortunate event, and Ratio sympathised with everyone’s unease. Lana was a young, attractive girl, who lived alone and walked back to her apartment in the dark most nights after classes. These things unfortunately still happen, as cruel and unfair as they are. And Ratio did give his students lee-way when they requested to leave his lectures earlier to make sure they returned home while it was still light.

 

Ratio offered the girls family whatever support he could too, even if it wasn’t much more than a sincere and thoughtful email.

 

And then he got a new assistant. Once again forced upon him.

 

The second was still young, though at least old enough to no longer be studying under Ratio while working for him.

 

He was nice enough, though there always seemed to be a bit of a… strangely flirtatious feel to his words and actions-- something Ratio did not appreciate (from anyone other than the Gambler, of course, but he tries not to think about that too hard) and something Ratio did his very best to rebuke every chance he got.

 

Ratio doesn’t actually remember his name-- because only one week after he started working for the Doctor, he suffered the same fate as Lana.

 

Of course, this time there were more questions for Ratio-- both of the victims, in what they were now considering connected murders, were his assistants. And that made Ratio the primary suspect.

 

But again, he had a solid alibi. At the time murder occurred, there was security footage from the hallway outside his office to show him entering it, on the other side of the city.

 

He remembers the night actually-- he had gone back to find a textbook he had left in his office and while there, had received a call from Aventurine. It kept him in his office for a good half an hour, as a simple phone call moved to a video call upon Aventurine’s request (and as he explained this to the investigator he remembered an interesting little detail, probably nothing, which is why he left it out-- but he remembers the sound of sea birds on Aventurine’s end. He was near the water, or a beach, or dock--)

 

The body was found, again purposefully left to be found at the dock. Floating face down in icy water, attacked so viscously, Ratio might have even considered it to be an animal attack, if not for the fact that it was all so very carefully done. Deep cuts across his face, purple bruises around his neck from being choked. The investigators at least explained that it appeared he put up a fight-- unlike Lana, who must not have had the strength to fight her attacker.

 

Again, no culprit was found.

 

At that point in the investigation, Aventurine himself was contacted. Though he was on Pier Point at the time, he happily made his way over to speak to the authorities, and gladly stated his own case-- securing Ratio’s alibi with a charming smile and a surprise that seemed… a little too planned.

 

He remembers noting that too.

 

Ratio was there when they explained what had happened to the Stoneheart, and while his reaction didn’t seem to phase the detectives, after all Aventurine didn’t know the victim-- besides occasionally running into him near Ratio’s office-- but Ratio has spent a lot of time studying Aventurine, and the reaction did phase him.

 

Because there’s this little expression Aventurine makes when he’s satisfied with something. When a deal goes his way, or someone walks right into the trap he skilfully laid out. His shoulders relax ever so slightly-- imperceptibly even, unnoticeable to most but not to him-- and he shifts his weight to his left foot, hip cocking to the side. His eyes seem to light up, already bright and hypnotic, but somehow even brighter in the moments that he knows he’s won.

 

He does all of this, in such quick succession that Ratio might have missed it and chalked it all up to coincidence if he hadn’t already been watching Aventurine. But he didn’t miss it. And it felt odd.

 

Ratio does nothing with this information. Because what is he supposed to do?

 

All it proves to him, is that Aventurine didn’t really like his assistants and found their deaths mildly amusing at best, so much so that it doesn’t bother him to hear of their passing.

 

But if he thinks about it more, he knows it doesn’t make sense-- because satisfaction runs deeper than that, and Ratio knows that. Knows that for Aventurine to feel satisfied like that, to be happy with an outcome, it must have been something he planned.

 

Which again, makes no sense-- so you see why it bothers Ratio?

 

Still, he refuses to think about it any further, because that feels disrespectful to Aventurine, he doesn’t need to be a suspect here, he has no involvement, and Ratio is simply seeing patterns where there are none.

 

And he is given another assistant.

 

But unfortunately, three is very much a pattern, a pattern he cannot ignore--

 

Three assistants.

 

Three murders.

 

Three, horrifically brutalised bodies, almost mangled beyond recognition.

 

The investigators begin labelling this as the work of a new serial killer. Someone specifically targeting Ratio’s assistants.

 

He is advised not to get another assistant.

 

Which is an obvious solution. He agrees, of course he does, he doesn’t want to put anyone else in harms way if there really is someone targeting people close to him, but that only makes him worry.

 

Why only his assistants? Surely ‘someone close to him’ would also include Aventurine? Because Aventurine is the only other person who could possibly be considered someone close to him. And while there is very little need to, because Aventurine can take care of himself quite well, he does warn the Stoneheart of the potential risk.

 

“Oh, Doctor!” Aventurine laughed, loud and bright, drawing the attention of more than one passing student as they walked. “I appreciate the thought, but I think I’ll be just fine.”

 

And with no more assistants, there were no more murders.

 

That should have been the end of it. Case closed-- no culprit, but with no more assistants to murder, there was no harm done.

 

But, of course, eventually the events were simply… not as relevant, not as front and centre and the Intelligentsia Guild decided that they were willing to risk the safety of someone else, because they wanted better access to Ratio.

 

“It’s absolutely absurd!” Ratio exclaimed, pacing his office a hand to his temple in a poor attempt to stave off a headache.

 

Aventurine sat on the edge of the Doctors desk, thoughtfully twirling a poker chip across his knuckles and between slender, gloved fingers. “It hardly seems fair,” he says with a small frown, lilting voice doing very little to calm Ratio’s fraying nerves like it might be able to on other occasions (not that he would ever tell Aventurine that). “They’re just putting whoever they hire in danger and they don’t seem to care.”

 

Ratio threw his hands in the air. Exasperation is not something he expresses often, but after their scare on Penacony, an event they had to handle almost directly after the murder of Ratio’s previous assistant (one terrible event after another, it seemed at the time) they’ve been trying a little more honesty between the two of them. Aventurine allowing his walls to drop a little more, allowing Ratio to see him under his masks on occasion, and Ratio letting himself actually feel what he feels for the damned Gambler, even if he isn’t willing to express it through anything other than attempt to help. “I told them that and they don’t seem to believe that it’ll happen again!”

 

The poker chip skilfully disappeared between Aventurine’s fingers as he ran a hand through his hair, shoving the strands out of his face. “I felt bad for your assistants before they started getting killed, Doc,” he huffs with something akin to a laugh. “It doesn’t seem like you a get a say in it though.”

 

He shrugs like it doesn’t really matter, like that’s the end of it, and as much as Ratio would have liked to say Aventurine was wrong, he wasn’t. There was nothing Ratio could do to stop it, and three days later, he was given a new assistant.

 

Which brings him to the present:

 

“My name is Emilie, it’s an honour to meet you Doctor, I’ve read about so much of your work, I’m a massive fan—”

 

Ratio sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose as he sits at his desk. She seems nice enough, but Ratio doesn’t need nor want her, and he doesn’t want an innocent girl to get hurt simply because the Guild wants to watch his every move.

 

“I believe it may be in your best interest to quit now,” he says without wasting time, catching his new assistant off guard.

 

Emilie stutters, “I’m-- I’m sorry?”

 

“I assume you have heard of what happened to my last three assistants-- I do not believe you should risk your safety for this position.”

 

“I was told I would be safe,” she stammers, “They said it would be safe now—”

 

“Ah, so the Intelligentsia Guild is lying to people now?” a honeyed voice calls around the door as it’s owner steps into the office without even a knock.

 

Of course, Ratio knows this is Aventurine, could hear the click of his heels in the hallways before he even entered the room (though he has reason to believe that Aventurine had been listening in long before he made his presence known).

 

Aventurine slinks his way across the room with his usual cat-like elegance and stops beside Emilie.

 

She squeaks as she looks at Aventurine-- jumping in shock at his sudden appearance, but tensing even further when she looks at him.

 

“Gambler,” Ratio greats him, though he is interested to note that Aventurine does not look at him, and neither does Emilie.

 

Instead, he appears to be studying Ratio’s new assistant, looking her up and down through pink, heart sunglasses. When she does not relax under such a scrupulous gaze, Aventurine tilts his head with a teasing grin, and brings a hand to the corner of his glasses.

 

“Don’t trust the Guild, hon,” he says, tilting the glasses down to look at Emilie without the tint that almost definitely hinders his vision (and no matter how many times Aventurine says they don’t, Ratio refuses to believe him). “They don’t know what they’re talking about, they’re just greedy.”

 

The quickest flash of disgust seems to creep on Emilie’s face-- but Ratio does not properly know her yet, and he can’t discern why exactly she could be making such a face at Aventurine.

 

Before she can speak, clearly trying to with an indignant look in her eyes and a mouth half-open, Aventurine interrupts her. “Now! Off you go! I have some business with the good Doctor, and I don’t think it’s something you need to be watching-- unless you’re a voyeur of course, in which case, please, stay.”

 

Aventurine’s words turn Emilie’s face beet red-- and while Ratio himself might be able to brush off his words without a second thought or a disappointed eye-roll, she does not know him as well as Ratio does. So he is forced to step in before Aventurine says anything else.

 

“Aventurine!” He scolds, finding the smallest sliver of pride in the way Aventurine’s attention snaps to him in an instant. Those vivid, cunning eyes locked onto his own. “Nothing of the sort will happen, please stop trying to embarrass my new assistant, it is her first day.”

 

He shrugs playfully. “Ruining my fun as always, Doc.”

 

Emilie clears her throat at Aventurine’s side, crossing her arms like it might make up for the fact that Aventurine’s presence simply takes up more of the room than she does (they make an interesting comparison, actually. Aventurine and his flashy peacock clothing and jewellery, and Ratio’s new assistant, in simple clothes and a brown cardigan, plain canvas bag slung over her shoulder, still taller than Aventurine despite his heeled boots). “I’m sorry,” she says, almost awkwardly, but there’s a hint of distaste in her tone that tell him that she doesn’t like Aventurine. Ratio doesn’t entirely blame her, Aventurine can take a while to get used to, but he does hope she gets over it. “But who even are you?”

 

Aventurine blinks at her slowly, smile settling into something… mean almost. It feels wrong. It doesn’t feel like Aventurine’s usual teasing mean-- he doesn’t like Emilie either, and it’s clear in the way he stands. The way he puts a hand on his hip and tries to over-exaggerate his confidence, leaning into her space so he can, once again, look at her properly over the tinted lenses he wears so often.)

 

(Ratio notes, once more the fact coming to him from nowhere, that he has never Aventurine interact with Ratio’s assistants before, he doesn’t know if this new behaviour or only specific to Emilie-- this odd sort of uncharacteristic cruelty.

 

He also finds it interesting that Aventurine appears to be showing her his eyes, a feature that he has admitted he does not like to display without reason. The glasses are meant to make it harder for people to see the colours, and yet he purposefully makes sure Emilie can see them. More than once. For the life of him, Ratio cannot figure out why.)

 

“Ah, please forgive me,” he purrs, “My name is Aventurine. Senior manager and one of the Ten Stonehearts of the IPC’s Strategic Investments Department-- that Aventurine.”

 

Emilie pales, as would anyone in this situation, because Aventurine sounds downright hostile towards her as he rattles off his extremely intimidating full title. His voice getting harsher, his lips curling into a harsher sneer. He says it to intimidate, to scare Emilie into thinking she has seriously upset someone incredibly important. Again though, Ratio is forced to ask himself why?

 

“No-- my apologies, Sir, I-- I simply wanted to know who was allowed to enter the Doctors office without permission—”

 

“And now you know.”

 

“Aventurine,” Ratio snaps. There is little reason for such hostility and honestly he is starting to find it strange, stranger than Aventurine normally is, and strange enough to question him about. “A word?”

 

But the blond simply grins at him, sweet and sickly through one of his many masks, like he might be able to convince Ratio he’s imagining it. “We’re having a word right now, Doc.”

 

“Over here-- Emilie, would you wait outside, please?”

 

His assistant nods hurriedly, and turns to leave the office.

 

And Aventurine… well it must be purposeful, because Aventurine doesn’t like physical contact if he can avoid it, if it isn’t necessary, but he walks right into Emilie’s shoulder, almost knocking the poor girl off her feet.

 

She stumbles and glares at Aventurine’s back, though she doesn’t say anything in words as she shuffles out of the office with something mumbled under her breath.

 

“Are you going to tell me what that was about?” Ratio asks with a raise of his eyebrow.

 

He doesn’t expect honesty now, though he can never really expect honesty with Aventurine, he just takes it when he’s given it.

 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Doc,” he laughs, “You wanted her to quit, right? I’m just making your job easier.”

 

“You being rude is not going to get her to quit, it will only serve to make her dislike you.”

 

And Aventurine shrugs again. “Oh well, wouldn’t be the end of the world. None of your assistants liked me Doc, this is nothing new.”

 

Ratio frowns. “Why would they have disliked you?”

 

It’s interesting to see the way Aventurine seems to pause there, like he’s realising he misspoke-- which isn’t something Ratio is used to seeing. His shifts nervously, hands shoving themselves into his pockets. “Doesn’t matter,” he grins, with a slight shake of his head. “I just came to see if you might be free for coffee-- clearly you’re not, so I’ll leave you and your lovely assistant be.”

 

Before Ratio can get another word in, to call out, to stop Aventurine from leaving and question him further, the blond is gone, a flurry of colour as he steps out of the office.

 

Emilie comes back in a moment later as Ratio rubs at his temples. Just dealing with Aventurine’s mood is enough to give him a headache sometimes, and he really does wish Aventurine would just talk to him sometimes.

 

“...Is he actually a Stoneheart?” she asks quietly as she approaches Ratio’s desk. “I always thought they’d be… bigger.”

 

Ratio sighs. “Aventurine is a Stoneheart, yes, and he is here often. I will have another word with him about his behaviour when he’s in a better mood, but you shouldn’t have to worry about him.”

 

He thinks it won’t be a difficult task, but locating Aventurine after that becomes tricky. Because Aventurine is usually the one to find Ratio, and he always seems to know when he’s being looked for. Ratio does not normally have to find him.

 

He also knows that Aventurine is not busy, or off planet. According to Topaz, Aventurine has even gone so far as to complain that he’s bored to her, more than once in the last few days.

 

Ratio can only conclude, after three days of attempting to find Aventurine when he has the chance, that he is being avoided.

 

So he takes a drastic measure, he cancels an extremely important meeting, at a time that he knows for certain that Aventurine will be at his apartment.

 

Because Aventurine can’t avoid him if he can’t predict where Ratio will be. And he certainly can’t avoid Ratio if the doctor shows up at Aventurine’s penthouse.

 

Cancelling a meeting like this is unprecedented, but Ratio considers it necessary, even if Emilie gives him a strange look when he explains where he is going.

 

Ratio has seen Aventurine’s apartment a few times, most of those times were to check in and feed the catcakes while Aventurine was unavailable (the other times were to check in on Aventurine himself, the Nihility messed him up more than he was willing to admit, and sometimes Ratio’s company was necessary to make sure he didn’t do anything stupid, but Aventurine finds it difficult to discuss those times).

 

Today, he knocks on the door, rapping his knuckles despite the fact that there is a fully functioning doorbell next to him.

 

It takes a minute before he hears Aventurine fiddling with his locks, and then the door is opened.

 

“Doc?” Aventurine is confused, rightly so, but it’s obvious he didn’t expect this visit. He is dressed in a hoodie that drowns him in teal fabric, the smallest sliver of black shorts peeking out from underneath it where it rides up at his hip. “What are you doing here?”

 

“You have been avoiding me, I have been trying to find you for a few days now.”

 

Aventurine has the nerve to look sheepish as he gives Ratio a small, rare unguarded smile. “Sorry, Ratio, I’ve been a little busy—”

 

“You have not,” Ratio cuts him off, taking in the surprise on Aventurine’s face with a small amount of his own satisfaction. “I have spoken with Topaz, she has informed me that you have actually had a very quiet few days.”

 

Bright eyes glance at something behind the door, in the apartment, nervously, and then back at Ratio. “Right… sorry… you wanna come in?”

 

Ratio nods and follows Aventurine into the apartment.

 

It is a nice place, though Ratio thinks it lacks a more personal touch. Aventurine isn’t one for decorating, and the catcakes seem to have a better space for themselves in the corner of the living room than Aventurine does for himself.

 

The blond heads into the kitchen, which is probably equally as sparse because Aventurine doesn’t like to cook for himself, and Ratio trails after.

 

“You’ve been looking for me?” he asks quietly, stopping at the counter to pick up a hot mug. There’s a small part of Ratio that thinks he sounds hopeful. “Nothing bad, I hope? Assistant not dead yet?”

 

Ratio scowls. “Emilie is still perfectly fine, though I wanted to properly speak to you about your behaviour.”

 

The wince, is enough to prove what Ratio had predicted. Aventurine doesn’t want to speak about that, and that’s why he’s being avoided. “Right,” he sighs, “Look, tell her I’m sorry, or whatever, I wasn’t in a great mood that day.”

 

“I would simply like to understand why you don’t like her,” he says. Trying to argue with Aventurine will only ever put him on the defensive, and Ratio knows better. That is not how you get Aventurine to open up. He has to be honest himself, he has to show Aventurine that he is serious.

 

Aventurine wets his lips and leans his hip against the counter. He stays silent for a minute as he drinks from his mug-- it smells like herbal tea, a specific brand that Ratio introduced him to, from his own home planet, and he very much likes that Aventurine has taken something of Ratio’s and made it his own. “You’re assistants-- they always turn me away from your office,” he shrugs in an attempt to make it seem like less of an issue, but Ratio can tell that it bothers him. “I don’t know, maybe I just don’t fit into your schedule and they were never willing to let me disturb it, but I think they just never liked me. I was the only person who was willing to try and force my way into your office when they tried to turn me away, after all…”

 

Ah, yes. Ratio does remember hearing about that actually.

 

His second assistant, the boy he doesn’t even remember the name of (and yes, that does make him feel slightly guilty) had informed Ratio that someone had attempted to get into his office when he wasn’t there.

 

He remembers the description he was given quite well, actually: ‘Some scrappy little blond, all dressed up in gold’. A somewhat accurate description, though at the time Ratio hadn’t quite believed that scrappy could be related to Aventurine.

 

“That Jeremiah tried to punch me for that, you know?” Aventurine laughs. “He really thought I was there to try and steal some of your super secret research-- I even told him I just wanted to leave a coffee and he still tried to have a go at me. Not that it mattered… I did deck him.”

 

Jeremiah-- that name rings a bell, though it strikes Ratio as ever so slightly strange that Aventurine would remember his name when it mattered so little to him, and after such a long time too.

 

“I suppose that would explain why he called you scrappy,” Ratio muses, sitting himself down on one of Aventurine’s bar stool.

 

The blond seems almost offended at the term. “Scrappy,” he scoffs. “Fucking brat—” Aventurine stops himself before he says anymore and shakes his head. “Whatever, doesn’t matter-- I just meant, it’s like a tradition now, Doc, your assistants don’t like me, and that’s fine by me.”

 

“If you hadn’t tried to provoke her, Emilie might not have.”

 

“Oh please, didn’t you hear her? She’s a huge fan of yours Ratio, I would have said something suggestive about you and she would have taken against me eventually.”

 

That seems highly unlike to him-- not the part about Aventurine being suggestive, no, that’s very likely, but about Emilie disliking Aventurine eventually. There is another reason that Aventurine is not mentioning, something that he must have picked up on as soon as he entered the room, something he can tell without even speaking to her. Maybe it was in the way she tensed when looking at him, maybe that set him on edge.

 

But he doesn’t mention it, because clearly Aventurine is done talking about Ratio’s assistants.

 

The conversation doesn’t exactly end there-- Ratio actually spends quite a while at Aventurine’s apartment. They play with the catcakes, watch a short documentary, and eat a somewhat minimal meal, made from the scraps that Aventurine keeps in his fridge. And it’s a nice evening.

 

Aventurine clearly appreciates the company, he always seems to smile more when they are out of the public eye. And even goes so far as to initiate physical contact where Ratio knows he would not with anyone else.

 

Aventurine may be a flirt, but it seems like he often prefers not to be touched, unless absolutely necessary (and maybe it does bother Ratio that Aventurine deems having sex with random people they’re suppose to be negotiating with as absolutely necessary to secure his deals, but that’s something he hopes to work on. That and self-worth).

 

Three days later, Aventurine appears at Ratio’s office, grinning with two tall takeway cups in his hands.

 

He tries to wave at Ratio from across the room. “Good morning, Doc!” he sings, swaying his way into the office, taking absolutely no notice of Emilie sat on the sofa with her laptop and textbooks.

 

“Gambler,” he replies, taking the coffee with a nod. It is at least real coffee, nothing like the sugary, creamy monstrosities Aventurine insists on drinking. More sugar and syrup than coffee. Far too unhealthy. “Why are you here?”

 

Aventurine shrugs, sipping at the straw of his bright pink and white drink, as he hauls himself up to sit carelessly on Ratio’s desk.

 

Of course, he sits himself right on some very important papers he was grading, almost definitely intentionally.

 

“Just wanted to see what the schedule looked like for the day,” he grins. “Busy?”

 

“A few lectures,” Ratio grumbles, deciding whether it’s worth it to try and move Aventurine or take the papers from underneath his thigh. Either of which will end with some very… less than savoury suggestive comments. “Why? Are you here to try and drag me away from my work again?”

 

He can see Emilie watching them from the corner of her eye as she pretends to grade papers too-- as a TA who regularly now sits in Ratio’s lecture, he did have to find jobs for her. Grading is simple enough, as long as she is as rigorous as he would be. Except she hasn’t typed anything for a few minutes now, and she can’t hide that she’s trying to listen in.

 

“Thought you might enjoy my company!” Aventurine grins. He leans back, a palm holding himself up as gold and gem-stoned rings cover his fingers. “It’s been a while since we went out for dinner, Doc, we should go somewhere nice.”

 

Ratio sighs, and gives up on getting his papers before Aventurine leaves the office. Or at the very least his desk. “I assume you’ve already booked something?”

 

The cheeky grin and sweet flutter of his lashes is enough to answer that question.

 

“Very well, when is the reservation?”

 

“Seven! I’ll come pick you up—”

 

“You better not be driving,” Ratio scowls. It’s not that he doesn’t trust Aventurine… it’s just that… he doesn’t trust his driving. Not really.

 

Aventurine waves off his concern with a hand as he slides off Ratio’s desk. “Oh, you wound me Doc, there’s nothing wrong with my driving-- but no, we can walk, if you’d prefer, it’d make it more romantic.”

 

And with that, the Stoneheart is sauntering out of the office, just as smoothly as he arrived.

 

It really does astound Ratio how much he lets that damned Gambler get away with. He knows his own feelings now, of course, they’re no secret to him. Ratio finds it pointless to try and deny that he is attracted to Aventurine, and it most definitely contributes to how much the blond can get away with when it comes to flirting and sitting on his desk and all manner of things he would not allow if it were anyone else.

 

“Why do let him talk to you like that?” Emilie asks, dragging Ratio from his thoughts-- it’s time like this where he really dislikes having an assistant. Because how does he, Doctor Veritas Ratio, explain that he lets a small, eccentric Stoneheart force his way into his schedule because he’s in love?

 

“There is very little chance of changing Aventurine’s mind when he has decided he wants something.”

 

“...Does he want you?” She asks, and wouldn’t that be a thought? Ratio does not allow himself to believe that Aventurine might actually mean all of his flirting. Ratio levels her with a stern glare that makes her flush. “Sorry, that’s an inappropriate question-- he’s just-- he seems to flirt with you a lot, Doctor—”

 

“It is rather an inappropriate question,” he agrees, looking back at the papers he had been grading before Aventurine sat on them. “He flirts with everyone. Aventurine likes the attention, that is all.”

 

It leaves a bitter taste in his mouth to describe Aventurine as such. Because it’s not the whole truth, but it is the only way he can put it into words for someone else to understand. Aventurine does appear to enjoy the attention that flirting gets him, he preens when he’s acknowledged, and happily leans into equally flirtatious responses, but Ratio knows that Aventurine’s masks rely on him being charming, it’s his job. And he has difficulty not flirting.

 

Aventurine is much more than just a flirt, or an attention seeker, but Ratio can never really explain that, because that would mean admitting how well he knows Aventurine.

 

He goes back to grading, and does not answer any more of Emilie’s questions regarding a certain Stoneheart.

 

-

 

Dinner is a very normal affair these days, though it has certainly been a while since the two of them have sat down to spend time together. Aventurine is busy, or Ratio is busy, their schedules don’t align as well as either of them would want, and before he knew it, it had been almost a month without taking their lunch together or getting a meal.

 

It reminds Ratio just how much he had missed Aventurine over the weeks, not that he can say that, of course, not unless he wanted to be mercilessly teased for days to come.

 

The food is always lovely though, no matter where they choose-- and for today Aventurine had chosen somewhere close to the University, but expensive enough to not be overrun with students (not like that mattered, Ratio unfortunately noticed more than a few heads turn to gawk at his presence as he and Aventurine followed their waitress to their table).

 

“There’ll be pictures of our little date in your fanclub forums before the end of the night, Doc,” Aventurine giggles, soft pink blush on his cheeks as he nurses his fourth gaudy, pink cocktail. Dress shoe hooking around Ratio’s ankle under the table oh so innocently.

 

“No doubt,” Ratio rolls his eyes. His own, first drink still half full on the table between them. “I’m sure you’ll update me as soon as you see those pictures?”

 

The blond smiles, licking his lips seductively (again, probably force of habit). “Of course, you know I love to frequent your fanclub, they always have some interesting things to say.”

 

“Oh, I’m sure.”

 

Aventurine does send him the articles later that night, the link immediately followed by emojis and exclamation marks about how Aventurine himself even got a mention. Which isn’t surprising considering the main talking point was about who Doctor Ratio appeared to be on a romantic date with.

 

Someone, with a name that Ratio could swear he has seen before, either open on a laptop somewhere or on an unlocked phone, replied factually: ‘That is Aventurine of Stratagems, he visits Doctor Ratio often in his office at Veritas Prime. Highly suspicious individual, I personally do not trust him. He appears to be Avgin.’

 

And yes, anyone could know that, people do see Ratios’ office door, it’s not hidden, but it sets off alarm bells in Ratio’s mind, and he finds that he would like to know who exactly is behind the account.

 

The mention of Avgin also strikes a nerve. Because Aventurine’s tribe does not play into the situation. It does not change anything and it should not affect how people view him. But that’s not how to world works unfortunately.

 

He links that particular comment to Aventurine with a question mark, allowing the Stoneheart to figure out what he means and dig a little deeper, and goes to sleep.

 

Aventurine is in Ratio’s office before even he is the next morning. Sat on the Doctor’s chair, twirling a poker chip between his fingers, legs propped up on the desk.

 

It is a highly disrespectful display, but Ratio does not chastise him beside a disappointed sigh

 

Emilie trails in behind him, having been waiting outside for Ratio to arrive.

 

“I swear, I didn’t know he was here Doctor, he must have arrived before me—”

 

“It is fine, Emilie,” Ratio says, barely slowing as he approaches his desk and a grinning, scheming Aventurine. There is a tightness to his smile though that tells Ratio that whatever it is he wants to discuss, it is serious “What do you want, Gambler?”

 

Aventurine slides his eyes from Ratio to Emilie, hovering in the doorway. Piercing gaze through rosy heart glasses. “Shoo, give us a little privacy, yeah?”

 

“Doctor?” Emilie asks, choosing not to listen to Aventurine-- Ratio makes another mental note of the way Aventurine’s eyes narrow at the disrespect, displeasure evident in the way his fingers stop moving, the poker chip held tight between gloved thumb and forefinger.

 

Ratio sends her away with a dismissive wave of his hand and he raises an eyebrow at Aventurine, waiting for an explanation (and his chair back. He would very much like his chair back).

 

“You’re little assistant was quite busy slandering me to your fanclub last night, Doc,” he purrs. “Calling me suspicious, a disgusting flirt, even a few Signonian terms I haven’t heard in years. Did you know she held such prejudice, Doc?”

 

...He did not.

 

Her presence in his fanclub should not come as a surprise, not when she introduced herself as a fan of his. But to think she would go as far as to talk about Aventurine on there? To tell all of the hungry masses about Aventurine’s visits, his place into Ratio’s schedule? And to slander him?

 

She must have been the one behind the comment he found. The only one who could possibly see them interact in Ratio’s office.

 

“I will deal with this,” Ratio tells him, gesturing for Aventurine to get out of his chair.

 

But Aventurine doesn’t move. “You better,” he says instead, smile and mask dropping for the briefest of seconds. “I don’t appreciate being called a Sigonian whore by anyone-- I don’t even really consider myself Sigonian, given everything, but it’s the principle of the thing, ya’ know? Sigonian’s don’t like me that much, and the feeling is quite mutual-- sometimes you can just tell a Sigonian from the way they look at you, it’s very obvious.”

 

“I understand,” Ratio agrees, “It is disgusting behaviour, and I will deal with it. I promise you that.”

 

Ratio tries not to focus too heavily on the way Aventurine’s gaze seems to soften on him, a natural, real smile gracing his lips, or the way it makes his heart stutter. “Thank you, Ratio,” he says.

 

Then Aventurine is out of the Doctor’s chair, mask and smile back on like it never left him.

 

Ratio takes his place behind his desk and Emilie wanders back in, checking over her shoulder as she-- presumably-- watches Aventurine leave.

 

“Have a seat,” Ratio tells her. She’s nervous, he can see that with ease. She is probably very aware of what Aventurine has told him Wringing her hands together in her lap. “Aventurine has informed me of some highly inappropriate comments you have been making online.”

 

She pales. “I don’t really have an internet presence, Doctor—”

 

“You are regularly active with the Dr Ratio Fanclub,” he sneers. Ratio is not exactly happy that there is such a dedicated fanbase for him, he would much rather they were interested in his teachings rather than himself, but he can’t stop them. “Aventurine was informed of an account that was saying something rather disgusting things about him and traced it back to you-- do you have anything to say for yourself?”

 

“I—” she stutters, swallowing nervously, trying to figure out a way she can escape the conversation. And it’s proof enough for Ratios. “I mean… he’s lying, Doctor-- I might be active there, sure, but I have never said anything about him.”

 

Ratio remains quiet, to see if she will keep speaking to fill the silence.

 

And she does. “Just because I’m from Sigonia, doesn’t mean I hate him-- I mean… I know what the Avgin were-- but I’m not-- I’m not prejudice or anything— we all get taught about what happened to them, I just didn’t’ expect to meet one—”

 

Interesting, Ratio was not aware she was from Sigonia, but with everything Aventurine was saying it would make sense. He clearly knew the first time he saw her, and it would explain why he was testing her, letting her see his eyes, trying to figure out her reaction to what Aventurine is. “You are telling me that you have not been saying derogatory things about him?”

 

She nods desperately.

 

“I am more inclined to believe Aventurine, you are aware of that?”

 

Emilie sighs quietly to herself and nods again, doubling down on her lie. “I know… but I haven’t said anything.”

 

Unfortunately, Ratio has no proof either way. Aventurine provided none, and neither has Emilie. And while innately he trusts Aventurine, he cannot take action, proper action, without any proof. “Very well-- if I find out that you have however, I will be forced to recommend that the Intelligentsia Guild fires you, unfortunately I have no control over your employment myself.”

 

Ratio really did wish that having an assistant didn’t cause problems. It’s headache after headache and Ratio did not want to deal with things like this, it’s why he never got an assistant for himself.

 

Things remain tense for the next few days with Emilie. Ratio himself acts no different, of course, except for keeping a closer eye on her to see if he might catch her out on a lie, but she is palpably awkward. She jumps, she hides her screens if he enters the room and she refuses to meet his eye and it gets on his nerves.

 

Worst of all are Aventurine’s visits.

 

While he’s his usual charming self, he gives Emilie vicious glares when he thinks Ratio isn’t looking-- he can only imagine how many he didn’t see when he really wasn’t paying attention to the two of them previously-- but he never brings it up, because what would be the point?

 

Only after an entire week and a half do thing seem to return to more or less normal.

 

It actually marks the four month mark of Emilie working for him, and she’s still safe-- which is certainly a good. Ratio feels a small amount of guilt at the fact that he wishes she would have a reason to leave, he’s tired of having an assistant, but he presses on. There is nothing he can do about the situation.

 

Ratio likes his schedule and she does keep to that, but he also likes his solitude. Too much time around people is exhausting, and Ratio’s office has always been somewhere safe, now he doesn’t even have that, because more often than not, Emilie works in there with him, on a pad or a laptop.

 

He had appreciated the privacy his office offered him with Aventurine too-- because offering to bring Aventurine back to his apartment always felt a little presumptuous. Ratio holds no belief that his feelings are reciprocated, of course not, but bringing Aventurine back to his apartment felt a lot more intimate than a simple meal or meeting in his office. Aventurine would flirt with him wherever they were, and he would prefer that not be in his apartment. Maybe a part of him thinks that would feel a bit too real, add fuel to a fantasy he doesn’t often indulge in.

 

But, alas, he cannot do anything about that.

 

The days get busier as exam crawl closer for most students-- and Ratio’s are no exception. He holds extra study sessions for them, well into the night, to allow them to ask questions and prepare for their exams. He has to cancel and pass up on Aventurine’s offers of dinner and drinks, and he has to pretend he doesn’t hear the sadness in Aventurine’s voice when he does so.

 

Emilie does not often stay for these extra lessons.

 

Today is just like any other since having to adapt his schedule to the new lectures and study sessions. Emilie leaves after his last lecture, and Ratio is allowed to retreat to his office after two extra study sessions in peace and quiet.

 

Well, it would be peace and quiet if there wasn’t a flashing notification on his phone, sitting on his desk where he left it hours ago.

 

He almost wants to ignore it entirely, but it’s voicemail from Emilie and Ratio would not be a responsible boss if he simply ignored it. No matter how much he sincerely wants to delete it.

 

He presses play as he settles into his desk chair.

 

“Doctor-- I’m so sorry to bother you, but-- I, uh, I think I’m being followed? I don’t know-- I haven’t seen who it is, but I can feel it, you know? I’m near the pier on the East Side of the city. Please call me back—”

 

Ratio’s fingers hover over his keyboard as he stares at the black screen of the monitor.

 

Emilie is being followed-- and he missed her call.

 

The room feels unnaturally cold and silent as that settles in Ratio. There is a quiet feeling of disbelief, why now? After four months, why now?

 

He checks the timestamp of the call and realises that he really missed it: over twenty minutes ago.

 

Ratio hauls himself from his chair, grabs his phone, and leaves the University in a hurry.

 

The East Side isn’t actually that far, only a short walk from the campus. It’s normally a nice walk, lots of trees and benches that line the path-- but it’s near the water. Near the docks and industrial buildings that Ratio knows have been the killers ideal location and he just wants to know why.

 

She was never safe-- Aventurine had been right, the Guild had lied to her, told her there was no reason to worry, that she was in no danger--

 

And Ratio didn’t do enough.

 

He calls her as he walks, quickly, across the campus, but it doesn’t go through. Doesn’t connect. She doesn’t pick up. So he tries again.

 

And then--

 

“Doctor! Thank you so much—” Emilie picks up, her voice is hushed, worried, wavering. “I’m sorry, I don’t know where he’s gone-- he’s still following me.”

 

“Where are you?” Ratio asks, walking along the street that should be a place for tranquil thought. The crashing of waves and distant chatter from nearby streets is all Ratio can hear-- that and the pounding of his heart. If he can protect her, he has to.

 

“I don’t know-- one of the industrial buildings?” she whispers. “I tried to get back to the crowds but… I don’t know, it was like he was herding me-- fuck, I’m so sorry Doctor—”

 

“It’s fine,” Ratio assures her. Down here the buildings look so similar, the industrial ones even more so. “Which building are you in? Where are you?”

 

“One of those IPC ones, but—” she cuts herself off with a gasp. “Oh god, I thought I heard someone, he might have found me.”

 

Thankfully, there is only one IPC owned warehouse down here. It was better for them to have one warehouse and keep it organised rather than multiple, at least that’s what Aventurine told him (but why did Aventurine know about a warehouse outside of his jurisdiction-- this isn’t somewhere he works? It did strike him as odd at the time, but again, he had brushed it off.)

 

“Stay there, stay hidden, I will find you,” Ratio tells her as he approaches the building.

 

The door shouldn’t have been open in the first place, and he doesn’t understand why it was-- was it to guide Emilie in here? It is a cruel tactic if it was, and it feels painfully suspicious as he finds the side door wide open, unlocked, no sign of a break in (whoever unlocked it had a key-- whoever unlocked it is IPC--)

 

Emilie gasps on the other end of the phone as he steps his first foot into the cold, dark warehouse. “Wait— wait, please—”

 

And the call clicks to an end

 

Ratio wants to shout out for her, to find out exactly where she is-- but that could put her in even more danger, so he’s silent, as silent as he can be as he sneaks his way into the building.

 

He holds his breath as he listens, hears the quiet click of heels in the empty space. Boxes and crates provide a small amount of cover as Ratio follows the sound-- the click, click, click of metal plated heels, made to sound louder, made to sound more impressive (where has Ratio seen heels like that before? And why does trying to think of it remind him of sly smiles and hypnotic eyes--).

 

Then the walking stops. A heavy thump hits the ground, the horrific screech of metal on concrete floor, and Ratio swears he hears Emilie-- and sure, it could be anyone, because it’s just a muffled shout and a grunt and a pained but muted scream-- but he knows it is. He has an awful, sinking feeling in his gut that tells him he knows.

 

The metal scraps across the floor again, something heavy, something with enough weight behind it to hurt-- a potential murder weapon? It sounds like a crude one, but a murder weapon nonetheless.

 

Ratio readies himself for a fight as he moves from behind the crate, as quietly as he can, though he finds himself needing to rush-- and he is fully prepared to defend the assistant he doesn’t really want, because he cannot just let her end up like the others, Ratio is not a coward and he will defend her if he has the chance-- but when he moves, when he can see, the smallest slivers of moonlight shining through high up windows, he finds--

 

“Aventurine?”

 

On the ground by Aventurine’s side is what appears to be a long, thick metal pipe. A dull, rusted red, heavy and old, but still sturdy enough to be swung.

 

And Aventurine is crouching over something. Something shrouded in darkness, shoved behind boxes, that Ratio can’t quite see-- is it the shape of tied legs, struggling to kick, or is it simply a bag? It’s dark enough, it could be either and Ratio doesn’t want to make assumptions, no matter the dizzying feeling of whiplash washes over him with such a sudden change in situation-- why is Aventurine here?

 

His head snaps up as soon as the name passes Ratio’s lips. An almost crazed look in those beautiful eyes as they stare, wide, at him.

 

“Ratio—” he gasps, surprise, real, unplanned surprise lacing his voice, making it waver and catch. “Ratio!” He tries to laugh, but something in the dark that Ratio cannot see catches the blonds attention again, and he seems to throw himself forward. Aventurine grunts, a string of curse words passing his lips as he struggles with something. “I’ll be right with you, Doc, just give me a moment!”

 

It’s wrong, so wrong. “Aventurine…? Whatever are you doing?” Ratio cannot afford this wait, if Emilie is not here, then he has to find her. But pulling himself out of Aventurine’s gravity is a difficult task, and he finds he doesn’t want to, as selfish as that might be.

 

But the blond doesn’t appear to care much for Ratio at the moment, doesn’t turn to look at him, doesn’t even try as he crawls forward on his knees, with a strained-- “Oh, you know me! Always busy!”-- and then a quieter, hissed-- “Shut up!”.

 

A gloved hand darts to his side, dragging the pipe up across the concrete with another horrible scream, before it, and Aventurine, disappear into the dark. The shadows might hide the sight but the sound of another struggle cannot go unnoticed.

 

Ratio takes a step forward, because that sinking feeling does not leave his gut and even though he knows he should leave Aventurine to whatever strange task he is up to, he feels like he has to know what’s going on. He knows he needs to be involved.

 

But Ratio is stopped, frozen in his tracks, as a dull thump, comes from behind the boxes, and a pained, muted gurgle echos in the otherwise silent warehouse.

 

Ratio can’t move, even as the gurgling turns to wheezing turns to dead silence, and metal clatters to the floor again.

 

And then Aventurine springs to his feet, stumbling out of the dark practically throwing himself at Ratio as he-- quite forcefully-- shoves him away from the uncomfortable scene.

 

“Sorry, Doc!” he gasps, sharp white teeth grinning up at him between breathy laughs. “Hey, so I’m done with inventory now! Why don’t we go out? We should grab some drinks, head back to my place?”

 

Aventurine continues to push him, his hands on Ratio’s chest, fingers curling into the muscle he finds there as he licks his lips, attempting to walk Ratio backwrds. “Come on, Doc,” he purrs, deep, low and irresistibly attractive, “Doesn’t that sound nice? A little drinking, and we can stumbled back into my hotel-- or your apartment, I would love to see your apartment-- maybe fall into bed together, finally?”

 

But Ratio has gotten used to Aventurine’s flirting-- well, maybe not used to it, but he’s gotten better at not letting it affect him as much. The touch is nice, and the heat of Aventurine in front of him, the scent of his cologne, the sight of his gorgeous eyes staring at Ratio like he hung the stars, it would all get to his head much too quickly if he hadn’t spent the last year becoming accustomed to Aventurine. He understands Aventurine; He’s rambling. His smile tight and anxious, his hands shaking uncontrollably where they press against Ratio.

 

“What?--” Ratio questions with a shake of his head, forcing himself to stand firm, to stop Aventurine pushing him away. “No, Gambler, my assistant called me-- she was followed in here? Have you seen Emilie”

 

Aventurine shakes his head, practically stepping on Ratio’s toes as they end up chest to chest, blond hair sticking to his forehead (why is he sweating? Ratio doesn’t understand it, and it’s not the only odd thing, obviously, but it’s one of the small things that nags at him. It’s not a hot night, inventory shouldn’t be a physically arduous task, and even then, inventory isn’t the job of someone as high up as Aventurine--)

 

“Well, she can’t be here, this is an IPC warehouse, Doc, why would she be here?”

 

“She—”

 

“Come on,” he purrs again, attempting seduction even if he knows his charm won’t distract Ratio from the situation. He leans impossibly closer, hands sliding up Ratio’s chest to his shoulders.

 

It is a pathetic display, especially for Aventurine. He’s incredibly good at getting what he wants, at feigning disinterest until his flirting pays off. He doesn’t get desperate or at least, he never shows it. And today he is desperate, it oozes off him and the way he tries to keep his smile steady.

 

Up close, Ratio can look deeper into the Avgin’s eyes. The light is low and he shouldn’t be able to see much, but behind tacky heart sunglasses, his pupils are blown so wide that all Ratio can see of those colourful iris’ is a small, thin ring around inky blackness.

 

He looks manic. It’s a look Ratio has never seen on Aventurine and it forces him to pause, to take a stumbling step back as Aventurine continues to push him backwards. Chest to chest, trembling hands climbing up Ratio’s neck to tangle in the hair at the back, to press his thumbs under Ratio’s jaw, trying to direct him. He wants Ratio’s full attention. And Ratio needs to know why.

 

“You don’t want that?” Aventurine whispers with the saddest of frowns. Ratio can feel his breath on his face, on his lips and he can’t deny that he does want that. He’s thought about it many times, about finally giving in to the temptations, allowing Aventurine to act on every tease and comment he’s ever made. Just to see if there was ever anything real behind it all. “Don’t you wanna do something about this insane sexual tension? You don’t want to be drunk when we first fuck? That’s fine, we don’t have to drink-- let’s discuss it on the way though, yeah?”

 

But he can’t.

 

Ratio can’t go anywhere, can’t push Aventurine off, can’t leave with him, can’t force himself to act-- even though he needs to.

 

“I have to find Emilie, if she’s in danger…” he shakes his head, now cradled between Aventurine’s warm, gloved hands.

 

Another, low pained whine splits the air between them. Loud despite how quiet it is; shocking despite how expected it really should be. Because Ratio should be able to piece it together by now. Should know exactly what’s going on.

 

Aventurine’s eyes grow wider still and he casts a quick, worried glance over his shoulder. His fingers tighten in Ratio’s hair and he leans in, against the side of his neck. “Please, Ratio-- we should go. Come on, please?”

 

“Why?”

 

And Aventurine can’t answer him. His chest rises and falls in rapid succession, panic and fear so visible in the tense set of his shoulders.

 

“Please,” he whispers, again and again, over and over until the word sounds wrong coming from Aventurine. He noses along Ratio’s jaw and it takes every ounce of strength within him not to give in, not to let himself enjoy it as much as he so desperately wants to. “Please, Ratio—” It’s a borderline moan of his name, and Ratio has to squeeze his eyes shut as the blood drains from his head in an instant-- that is a dirty trick. One Aventurine has not used on him before, and for that, Ratio is thankful. That voice could bring him to his knees if this were any other situation. That sound could melt whatever resistance he has left.

 

“Aventurine,” he warns, though warns him of what he isn’t sure. Warning him to stop? To give him space? Warning him that if he doesn’t stop, Ratio won’t be able to either?

 

“Yes—” Aventurine gasps in a way that is entirely too erotic for the situation at hand. He leans up, straining on his tip-toes as he does his damned best to pull Ratio into his space, to pull his head down until their noses brush and Aventurine’s eyelashes flutter up at him. “Ratio.”

 

“What are you doing?” Ratio finds it in himself to ask, as their noses bump again and the situation quickly spirals out of his control. He knows what Aventurine is doing-- and he knows it’s a distraction, but fuck if it isn’t a damn good distraction.

 

Aventurine giggles. “I’m trying to kiss you, Doc,” he murmurs, low and sultry, a voice Ratio has heard many, many times (both on missions together, and in his dreams). “You’re a bit too tall though-- fancy helping me out?”

 

Aventurine is so tempting-- he looks so lovely, and he wants Ratio (unless this is some horrible, backstabbing technique to get him away from whatever he was doing). The urge to lean down is so strong, his own heart telling him to do it. Screw the consequences-- to kiss him. Feel Aventurine’s waist under his hands, to taste the sweet, sticky lip gloss he wears to keep himself enticing.

 

But he forces himself, as much as it pains him, to shake his head. To pull himself out of Aventurine’s prying grasp. To step away and take hold of the blond’s wrists. To stop any more attempts at distraction.

 

He needs space, to collect his thoughts, but he doesn’t want to let go. Can’t trust that Aventurine won’t bolt or force the attempt even further by simply dropping to his knees.

 

But this time, Aventurine is the one to step back, when Ratio forces a step closer. He trips over his own feet, stumbles and whispers quiet, whining pleas that Ratio would love to listen to, but knows he can’t.

 

“What are you hiding, Aventurine?” Ratio asks him slowly, watching the creeping dread settle on Aventurine’s face.

 

He shakes his head, lip twitching into an attempt at a controlled smile, but it falls flat and empty, so fake it hurts to look at. “Nothing, why would I be hiding anything, Ratio-- you’re scaring me. Come on, let’s just go, please?”

 

But then that noise comes again, louder, more certain, again and again like someone waking up and panicking-- Ratio can’t pretend that he doesn’t understand what’s going on anymore. Can’t give Aventurine the benefit of the doubt.

 

He can’t lie to his own senses.

 

Aventurine doesn’t try to stop him as Ratio lets go of his wrists and walks past him. He doesn’t even turn to look at him as he goes, stepping into the darkened corner to find Emilie. His assistant-- his fourth assistant after three others met a horrific end-- tied and gagged and terrified.

 

Her eyes widen in relief when she sees him, shouting through the thick cloth gag slotted in her mouth, between her teeth.

 

Ratio doesn’t feel much, surprisingly, as he crouches at her side, checking her over quickly for major injuries, though he is marginally reassured to find her more or less physically fine. He can’t say for mentally of course.

 

The heavy metal pipe on the floor beside her and the quickly blooming, thick bruise across her throat is enough to tell him that her short silence was not intentional-- and is most likely what Aventurine had been trying to ensure before his little proposal of dinner and drinks. Just a means to get Ratio out before she regained consciousness.

 

He looks at Aventurine, before he does anything to remove ropes or the gag. He looks for the reaction, the sheepish, embarrassed frown on his face, the trembling hands at his side.

 

“I-- uh, I found her like this?” he tries to say, but neither of them were ever going to consider that a convincing lie, it’s just one last, terrible attempt on Aventurine’s end to fix this.

 

Ratio pinches the bridge of his nose-- by all means he should be a lot more… disturbed than he is. He should be terrified, he should never want to speak or see Aventurine again, but Ratio still finds himself craving the blond, his chest aching at the real fear he can see on Aventurine’s face. In the panicked rise and fall of his chest at the very idea that he might have lost Ratio because of this.

 

He doesn’t want to do that to Aventurine. Doesn’t want to say anything or hurt him or push him away until he knows for certain what exactly is going on.

 

“The others?” Ratio asks cautiously. “Were they your doing too?”

 

Aventurine opens his mouth, shuts it, reconsiders his words and then says, “I thought… I thought they might not get you another,” he laughs, hollow and pained. “I just… I really thought they would consider the risk too high. Didn’t think they’d just give you another assistant after the first got murdered.”

 

Ratio doesn’t find the admission shocking either. There have been signs, too many things that didn’t quite add up, things that didn’t make sense, that pointed to this. Though he never wanted to consider it, he must have done so subconsciously, to not even be phased by such a thing.

 

“And then they did send another-- but you know, after two assistants get horribly murdered, you’d think the Intelligentsia Guild would see that there was a pattern, right? They’re meant to be smart, right?” Aventurine laughs again, it isn’t controlled like it should be, and there’s none of Aventurine’s usual charm and bravado here, and in the occasional stream of moonlight through high up windows, Ratio thinks he can see glistening tears on Aventurine’s cheeks. “But no, they sent more and more-- and I’m sorry, Ratio, but what was I supposed to do!”

 

“Not murder my assistants, perhaps?” he replies, far too calm for a man in his position. “Aventurine… what were you thinking? Why?”

 

“It would have been fine-- I wouldn’t have needed to-- but then they all tried to stop me from seeing you!”

 

Ah.

 

It clicks in Ratio’s mind, the final puzzle piece, an offhanded remark made in the comfort of his own home. “They turned you away from my office, without ever letting you see me, because of my schedule,” Ratio says quietly.

 

Aventurine nods.

 

“And when you were allowed in my office, my assistant was always there, watching our every interaction.”

 

He nods again.

 

“You killed them, because you wanted to spend time with me?” It’s almost a sweet gesture, as much as the thought irks Ratio.

 

“…When you put it like that it sounds stupid…”

 

Ratio decides not to wound Aventurine with his scathing response to that.

 

In that moment, he hates Aventurine-- not for hurting his assistants, but for putting him in this situation. Because if this gets out, it’s the end to their partnership. If anyone finds out, regardless of whether they even succeed in pressing charges against a Stoneheart, Aventurine’s reputation will be soiled. And Ratio will never able to spend time with him in public again.

 

“This could have been avoided,” Ratio scolds him, “If you had simply spoken to me about this first, we could have worked something out. I could have made them aware that you were allowed in no matter what my schedule said-- this was wholly unnecessary.”

 

Aventurine, of course, doesn’t answer him.

 

With another disappointed sigh, Ratio turns back to Emilie.

 

She continues to watch him with wide, relieved eyes as he carefully removes the gag in her mouth.

 

“He’s fucking crazy—” she gasps as soon as she’s able. Her voice hoarse and rough and pained, but she forces herself to speak. “You’re fucking insane, what the fuck is wrong with you?” She glares at Aventurine, terrified, trying to shuffle herself around Ratio, because she knows he will protect her.

 

Ratio reaches for the thick rope, wrapped tightly around her wrists. “Doc,” Aventurine says, voice forcing Ratio to hold still, fingers still testing the give of the binding. “Doc, you know I can’t let her go—”

 

“Shut up!” Emilie shouts, “Shut up, shut up! You know I’m going as high as I can with this! You cannot get away with it! You just confessed to three murders—”

 

“Emilie,” Ratio says, trying to sound as stern as possible, even as her shouting annoys him. “That will not fix anything.”

 

She turns her wide eyes onto Ratio, shocked. “You… you’re just going to let him get away with this?” she gasps. “Doctor! You can’t be serious!”

 

“The IPC will sweep it under the rug,” Aventurine shrugs, and the display, however weak and uncontrolled it is, may fool Emilie, but it will not fool Ratio.

 

Neither of them know that, neither of them really believe that. The IPC may be willing to try and bury it, but with such a public case, and a victim trying to testify, Aventurine will be put in the spotlight.

 

Ratio knows what Aventurine would do to fix all of that though-- get rid of the problem before it becomes a problem. He sees Aventurine’s hand twitch at his side, where his holster sits, holding his small, last resort, handgun.

 

“I should have known there was something between you two,” Emilie grunts, trying to tug herself out of her restraints when Ratio doesn’t continue his attempt at undoing them. “But I thought you’d have higher standards than a used Sigonian sex slave—”

 

“Emilie!”

 

Aventurine’s gun is pointed at her in the blink of an eye. “Say that again,” he hisses. “I fucking dare you.”

 

The situation is quickly spiraling from bad to so much worse, and it’s clear that Emilie thinks she can call Aventurine’s bluff-- that Ratio will save her, and she’s just taunting him…

 

But… will he? Ratio feels awful thinking it, but he doesn’t think he can choose between them.

 

If he sides with Aventurine, lets him do what he thinks needs to be done, he will be directly responsible for her death. He will keep Aventurine, and their bond, their friendship, their partnership that means so much to him. If he chooses to help her though, he risks pushing Aventurine away. Making him think that Ratio doesn’t want him-- and that couldn’t be further from the truth.

 

A single piercing gunshot rings out before he even gets the chance to make that choice.

 

Ratio’s ears ring at the close shot, and his neck strains as he whips his head around.

 

Emilie slumps to the ground, body still, face slack-- the single, precision shot, straight to her forehead a bright and shocking red bleeding down her temple.

 

“Aventurine,” Ratio groans.

 

“I had to, Doc,” Aventurine tells him, voice empty and calm. “I’m sorry…”

 

“No you’re not.”

 

“…No… but I’m sorry you had to get involved.”

 

Ratio sighs again, fingers rubbing at his temple to try and dispel the headache he can feel building. Again, headaches and Aventurine, they go hand in hand.

 

Aventurine shuffles from foot-to-foot, nervous, as he puts his gun away. “I… uh, I’ll get this cleaned up,” he says, stepping backwards hesitantly as he fishes his phone from a pocket.

 

He calls someone quietly and quickly, but even after he’s done with the call, he stays out of the way. He stands there silently, waiting for Ratio to make the next move.

 

It should be comical how quickly a young IPC grunt comes running through the warehouse. She only hesitates briefly at the sight of Emilie’s body and Ratio crouched at her side, and then she moves on to Aventurine. Standing straight up, head held high as she’s quietly given orders.

 

“Doc,” Aventurine calls, the IPC worker hovering at his side, awkwardly trying to bypass Ratio so she can get to work. “Can I… still take you for drinks?”

 

He should absolutely say no. There are no logical reasons to agree, to ever spend his time with Aventurine again, but logic hasn’t played into Ratio’s feelings on Aventurine for a long time, and he finds himself nodding silently.

 

Following Aventurine out of the warehouse and down the road is a silent affair. It’s an uncomfortable walk and Ratio can feel Aventurine’s nervous energy, his whole body seemingly on high alert as he keeps a distance between them that Ratio finds uncharacteristic.

 

“The others,” Ratio says, breaking the silence, “Was the… damage done to their bodies your work?”

 

Aventurine stops walking, staring at Ratio with that eerily calm face. “Yeah,” he nods. “Does that… does that bother you?”

 

Ratio raises an eyebrow, turning to look at him a few steps behind, even though he doubts Aventurine can see that much in the dark. “That you killed them in the first place or mutilated their bodies?” he asks.

 

“...Either?”

 

Well, there’s no time like the present for honesty, is there? Aventurine has more or less confessed, although he’s gone the extra mile not to mention specifics-- he’s killed just to keep spending time with Ratio, he’s clearly gotten jealous of the assistants spending so much time with him and forcing him away-- but he’s never gone so far as to call it love or romantic feelings.

 

“I am well aware of some of your methods when it comes to work,” Ratio hums. “And while I cannot say I enjoy the murder in my name… I suppose the stupid risks from you are not new. The reveal did not shock me as much as it should have, there were many things that made me question your interactions with Emilie, at the very least.”

 

“Are you going to leave me?” The silent too at the end goes unsaid, but Ratio hears it clearly. Don’t leave me too.

 

And Ratio won’t, it’s something he’s promised in the past, to always be here for Aventurine no matter what. And granted, that promise was given on one of Aventurine’s darkest days, when the Nihility’s grasp on him was strong and Ratio had to talk him back to his side from the depths of it. But it was never a lie.

 

“I will never leave you, Aventurine,” he tells him. “I am simply… disappointed in your methods.”

 

Aventurine sniffs quietly and nods. Then he takes the steps to meet Ratio again. “...I didn’t have a bar in mind,” he whispers, refusing to meet Ratio’s eyes.

 

“That is fine, we are returning to my apartment instead.”

 

He had half expected Aventurine to refuse, but he didn’t. He followed Ratio all the way back to his apartment in peace and quiet (though it was not an appreciated peace and quiet). And it only made the walk feel further.

 

Ratio had time to think on the way, though, to study the empty frown on Aventurine’s face as he stared at the ground. He was able to piece a few more of his own feelings together as he went. To click the piece into the puzzle. Obviously, Ratio is not as concerned by the behaviour he had witnessed because of how deep his feelings for Aventurine runs. He loves him too much to truly feel upset by his actions.

 

And honestly, there is a small part of him that feels a little pride in the fact that Aventurine of all people, feels so strongly towards him that he would go to such lengths to try and keep Ratio for himself.

 

As stupid as the thought would sound spoken aloud.

 

Aventurine stands out so brightly in Ratio’s apartment. So flashy and visibly loud. But he takes off his shoes at the door, just like Ratio does, and he hangs his jacket over the back of a chair and he fits in a little bit better. Small against Ratio’s side as he follows him around like a lost duck. Ratio likes having Aventurine in his space actually-- even though he’s always considered bringing Aventurine over to be crossing some sort of invisible line, he thinks that line may have been crossed a long time ago without him ever realising it.

 

“Aventurine.” Ratio waits until the attention, his sole focus, is on him, standing in the middle of the living room where Aventurine doesn’t dare make himself comfortable. “Tell me what exactly drove you to this.”

 

He winces, nose scrunching up in such a cute way it could make Ratio forget what he was trying to accomplish-- if Aventurine won’t admit it first and take the leap, Ratio will have to do so himself, no matter how badly being wrong might mess them up.

 

“You really gonna make me say it?”

 

Ratio stands there with his arms crossed. Aventurine sighs.

 

“Right,” he clears his throat, a soft, pink creeping up his face as he tries not to look at Ratio directly. “I-- well, I like you, Doc.”

 

Ratio raises a brow.

 

“Not good enough?” Aventurine whispers with another, smaller wince.

 

Ratio shakes his head.

 

“Of course not… okay, fuck-- alright, I love you, Ratio-- is that good enough?”

 

“It is,” he hums. Aventurine fiddles with his rings, then shoves his hands in his pockets to hide that fidgeting from Ratio. “Thank you for finally telling me-- I feel much the same way.”

 

Aventurine freezes, wide eyes darting to Ratio’s face, scanning him to try and find any trace of a lie. “...you do?”

 

“I do. I have for a while, but I was unsure if your flirting was ever serious or just something you do.”

 

Ratio manages to hold in his own entertainment at the shocked expression across Aventurine’s face. He can’t seem to form a word, mouth opening and closing as he tries and fails to speak.

 

What he ends up doing instead, is making an interesting, strangled sound at the back of his throat.

 

“Are you quite alright, Gambler?” Ratio asks, well aware of how that enjoyment creeps into his tone of voice despite his best efforts. Seeing Aventurine so shell-shocked is an entirely new experience.

 

“I… guess I never expected you to… feel anything for me.”

 

It truly does astound Ratio just how little Aventurine thinks of himself. No matter how desperately he’s worked his way into Ratio’s life, he really didn’t seem to believe his attempts to become important had worked.

 

“You give yourself too little credit,” Ratio tells him, approaching Aventurine with the caution one would use to approach a wild animal. “While I may not have always been so accepting of my own feelings, Penacony put things into perspective for me. I cannot lose you, Aventurine. And while your actions and… less than legal activities towards my previous assistants is not entirely appreciated… it does not change that simple fact for me-- I cannot afford to lose you.”

 

He stops within reaching distance, unwilling to push, but willing to offer. If Aventurine is serious (and Ratio does suspect that he is, because murder is a little bit too far just to pull off a prank) he should be willing to meet him half way.

 

Aventurine continues to gawk at him.

 

“You really feel that way?” he asks quietly. “That whole ‘Do stay alive’ bit… that was-- you were serious? You gave me hope with that one Doc,” Aventurine tries to laugh, but it doesn’t hold the usual sharp confidence it should do. “I really thought you’d say something when I got back but… you never did.”

 

“I was finding it difficult to deal with my own feelings at that time, but I did meant it. I have never lied to you about that.”

 

“…I am sorry I killed your assistants…”

 

Again, Ratio doesn’t entirely believe that, just like he didn’t believe it earlier. It’s not that he thinks Aventurine is incapable of remorse or guilt, of course not, Aventurine’s emotional state may sometimes be unstable but he’s isn’t stupid. He did what he thought he needed to and he isn’t the kind of person to act and then regret it.

 

Ratio reaches forward, gently brushing the back of his knuckle across Aventurine’s cheek. He flushes as Ratio watches, red blush staining his neck and cheeks the longer Ratio looks at him, and Ratio really does find himself caught up in just how beautiful Aventurine is. He doesn’t get many opportunities to properly study him in person, to trace his eyes over ever little detail, from his soft lashes, and the smallest hint of eyeshadow strategically brushed into the corner of his eyes to make them even more enticing than they already are.

 

“I forgive you,” he says quietly, thumb tracing over Aventurine’s temple and down to his cheek bone. He carefully reaches his other hand up, taking those stupid tinted sunglasses, that Ratio hates so much for how well they seem to hide Aventurine’s eye (even though they really shouldn’t).

 

Aventurine lets him remove them, lets him place them on the counter at their side, and then blinks up at Ratio with sharp, bright eyes.

 

“Doc…” Aventurine whispers softly, “Can I kiss you?”

 

“You may.”

 

And he does.

 

Ratio, since coming to terms with his feelings, has thought long and hard about Aventurine’s lips.

 

He takes very good care of himself, aesthetically wise (though maybe not mentally or physically), and Ratio has watched him put on a generous swipe of lip gloss more than once before he begins his negotiations. He has often found himself wondering if they’re as soft as they look. If Aventurine is as soft as he looks.

 

Well, he’s certainly just as short as he’s always been, especially without his heels on, and he struggles to reach Ratio. Eventually, after enjoying Aventurine’s struggle just a little bit longer, Ratio begrudgingly leans down for Aventurine.

 

The first kiss is surprisingly tentative from Aventurine. He tilts his head, and shuts his eyes, lets their lips press together briefly, for the lightest of kisses and pulls away-- and Ratio won’t have that.

 

He cups Aventurine’s cheeks, pulling him back in and happily stealing the surprised gasp the action earns him directly from between Aventurine’s lips. The first kiss was not enough-- it only proved one simple fact to Ratio, and that is that Aventurine is serious. If this were fake, he would not be so nervous, he would not be so affected, and Ratio can only conclude that being nervous (or Ratio himself, perhaps) cause all of Aventurine’s charms and tricks to fail.

 

And while he doesn’t need an ego boost, that fact certainly provides him with one.

 

The blond trembles between his hands, chest heaving as he loops his arms around Ratio’s neck and kisses him back with real desperation.

 

He really is as soft as Ratio expected, his face between his hands, his lips as they slot against Ratio’s, careful tongue meeting his own when they finally deepen the kiss. Ratio stumble backwards, kitchen counter digging into his hip as Aventurine tries to devour him.

 

There is obvious skill and practice in the way Aventurine throws himself at Ratio, his movements and pushing feel a little too calm the longer they kiss. But Ratio can’t entirely fault Aventurine for that, things like this are apart of his job, and when nervous, it often helps to get lost in the rhythm of something you know how to do-- and this is something Aventurine knows.

 

“Ratio—” he whines, when Ratio is forced to pull back and steady himself, fingers tracing over Aventurine’s soft, tanned skin. “Please, come on you can’t leave me hanging—”

 

“We are not doing this here,” Ratio says, rolling his eyes to hide how little he truly wants to let go of Aventurine. But the first time he truly gets to touch Aventurine will not be in his kitchen.

 

Aventurine whines again when Ratio’s hands leave his face. “But we are going to fuck, right Doc? Please.”

 

Ratio leaves Aventurine in the kitchen with a scoff, listening to the hurried footsteps as he’s followed though the rest of his modest apartment to the bedroom. “Of course we are,” he says when Aventurine catches up at his side. “Why else would I have brought you here?”

 

“...To tell me you never want to see me again?”

 

They pause at the door, with Ratio’s hand on the doorknob, and he looks at Aventurine, properly looks at him, at the still nervous energy and his shaking, the way he shrinks in on himself rather than proudly appear larger than life. “Did you truly think I was going to do that?”

 

Aventurine shrugs timidly. “No… but I was still worried.”

 

“You do not need to be,” Ratio tells him. “Come.”

 

“Well I sure hope I will, Doc, but you’re going to have to be pretty good if you want that.”

 

He laughs as he takes in Ratio’s bedroom, walking past him to wander around and look at the bookshelves and storage.

 

Ratio watches him, the words sticking in his mind. “You… have trouble orgasming?” he asks as Aventurine snoops around. That certainly surprises him, though it is not necessarily an issue. Ratio had already decided long ago that the first time he got Aventurine in his bed, he was going to make sure he was thoroughly taken care of.

 

He looks up at Ratio from the book he was studying and shrugs again. “Doesn’t everyone? I mean-- not so much you guys, no offence but dicks are pretty easy to figure out, but like my anatomy is different.”

 

That makes more sense.

 

“You do not often sleep with people who care much about making it enjoyable for you, then?”

 

He looks at Ratio with a sheepish grin. “I mean, it’s never really my priority, there’s only ever been one person I’ve actually wanted to sleep with.”

 

Ratio’s voice fails him with the quiet admission, given so freely.

 

Yes, he tells himself, he is most certainly going to focus his efforts on Aventurine’s pleasure before his own.

 

He has to drag Aventurine away from his things though, because it appears Aventurine himself is more focused on delaying the experience. His nerves getting the best of him

 

“Are you alright, Aventurine?” Ratio ask as he crowds Aventurine against a nearby wall. Ratio can understand being nervous, it is only natural, but he wants this to be enjoyable.

 

Aventurine swallows with a hitch of his breath, nodding as he looks up at Ratio. There is worry in those beautiful eyes of his, swirling doubt in the pink and blue hues. Ratio is gentle once more as he kisses Aventurine again, trying to push those worries aside, a hand resting on his slim waist-- a waist that is no longer entirely slim because of malnutrition, a waist that has been filled out and toned with regular exercise and proper meals, and Ratio is filled with pride at how Aventurine has followed his guidance to become healthier.

 

Ratio can feel Aventurine smile into the kiss, a small and sweet thing that lingers even as Ratio pulls back.

 

“Shall we move to the bed?” Ratio suggests, happily following Aventurine’s lead as he is pushed backwards in lieu of a verbal answer. He walks until the backs of his knees hit the bed, and sinks to sit down, drawing Aventurine down with him.

 

Aventurine clambers onto his lap, grinning and giggling between kisses as he settles himself.

 

Of course, as soon as he does settle, he dives back onto Ratio. Crashing their lips together with renewed vigour and confidence as his hands begin to tangle and weave themselves into Ratio’s hair. Tugging and pulling and raking his fingers through the strands as their mouths slot together so perfectly. Ratio does not find it difficult to keep up, as shocking as it is might sound he does have previous experience, and it not a tricky task to take over the kiss, to sink his teeth into Aventurine’s bottom lip and draw out a lovely, high pitched moan.

 

Ratio allows his hands to wander. Holding Aventurine by the waist, squeezing him to hear the gasps and pants it draws from the blond squirming on his lap.

 

He is so much more ethereal than Ratio ever could have anticipated, and the heat and solid weight of him on his lap is enough to have his blood singing in his veins as his cock swells in his underwear.

 

“Ratio,” Aventurine murmurs, between heated kisses and gasps for air. Fingers unable to stop moving as he rakes them through his hair. “Ratio—”

 

“Veritas,” Ratio finds himself correcting. “You know my name, Aventurine, use it.”

 

Aventurine whines against his lips, heady and sensual as he barely gives himself room to breathe between every kiss, trying to stay as close to him as possible. “Veritas—”

 

It is a direct hit to Ratio’s sanity.

 

He has, of course, imagined how Aventurine might say his name, and every time, the idea has sent heat flowing like liquid fire through his veins, straight to his cock, but he never could have imagined that he would sound like this.

 

Forget the genius society, forgetting being seen by Nous-- none of that would matter to Ratio ever again if he only gets to hear Aventurine say his name for the rest of his life. For as long as Aventurine will be willing to say his name like that, in breathy pants and moaned in the throes of pleasure, Ratio thinks he can die a happy man.

 

Ratio kisses him silent, simply to protect his own mental for the time being, hands falling to Aventurine’s hips to pull him impossibly closer. It doesn’t actually silence the blond, but that’s fine. A fully silent Aventurine would be wrong, he’s loud and bright no matter what and now is certainly no exception. He gasps and whines into Ratio’s mouth and tugs at his hair, the only time he pulls away its to breath and even then he doesn’t go far, peppering Ratio’s mouth with smaller, more breathless kisses.

 

It’s perfect-- all of it. Maybe that’s just because it’s Aventurine, and Aventurine is the only one Ratio has ever found himself this attracted to, or maybe it’s just because Aventurine has began rolling his hips, grinding himself down on Ratio’s lap seemingly without even noticing.

 

Ratio can feel the exact moment Aventurine realises what he’s doing though. He tenses for a moment and then lets out a loud, drawn out moan against Ratio’s mouth. “Veritas—” Ratio really does love the sound of his name on Aventurine’s tongue. “—Fuck, you’re huge.”

 

...Not what he was expecting Aventurine to say, but it certainly doesn’t hurt the mood.

 

Ratio doesn’t respond to that, he doesn’t really need to when Aventurine pushes himself back so he can slip a hand between their bodies. He palms over the growing bulge in Ratio’s trousers, his cock thickening under the touch that he’s dreamt about for months now.

 

“Goddess, I cannot wait to finally get you inside me,” Aventurine groans. “I’ve thought about it for so long.”

 

And if that doesn’t make Ratio harder, he doesn’t know what would. Hearing Aventurine admit to being in love with him was already a memory Ratio will never let himself forget, but the admission that Aventurine has thought about him sexually, while touching himself, (while not surprising) definitely makes Ratio’s imagination race wildly.

 

What does Aventurine look like with his own hand between his thighs? How does he touch himself? What does he dream of Ratio doing to him?

 

He intends to find out, if not today, then tomorrow, or the day after. He intends to spend the rest of his life figuring Aventurine out, and making sure he never feels forgotten again.

 

“Lay down on the bed,” Ratio tells him, giving an appreciative squeeze to Aventurine’s hips once more.

 

Aventurine whines in complaint, leaning in to nuzzle against Ratio’s jaw, hand still expertly brushing itself over his bulge. “But what if I want to suck you off?” He mouths along Ratio’s jaw and the suggestion sounds wonderful-- but tonight is not about Ratio’s pleasure.

 

He shakes his head, and decides to force the issue. Ratio holds Aventurine at the waist and stands himself up from the edge of the bed.

 

The blond yelps as he’s picked up and deposited back on the bed. Staring with wide eyes up at Ratio. “I love those muscles,” he says, with a wide grin. “I’ve always known they would be useful.”

 

“Of course they’re useful,” Ratio replies with a scoff, climbing onto the bed and over Aventurine. “Exercise is very good for the body and mind-- it is why I requested that you try and exercise more.”

 

Aventurine rolls his eyes, but still happily loops his arms around Ratio’s neck once again. “And I only agreed to that because it meant I’d be able to watch you work out.”

 

“Of course you did.” Ratio had noticed that actually, Aventurine is not subtle when he checks Ratio out, though obviously he never really thought it was real, always assuming that it was just the most basic of physical attraction and nothing deeper. “But it did get you to exercise, so I would consider it a worthy trade. You look a lot healthier.”

 

Aventurine grins, but another blush blooms across his cheeks. “Are you going to fuck me now, Veritas?” he asks with an enticing flutter of his lashes.

 

“Patience,” Ratio tuts. He settles between Aventurine’s spread legs on the bed, hands smoothing down his sides to his thighs. “I will, eventually. But first you are going to let me take care of you.”

 

“Am I?” Aventurine purrs, hands sliding onto Ratio’s shoulders with a squeeze. “Well I suppose if the good doctor thinks it’s necessary, who am I to disagree?”

 

And then he lets his hands fall to the sheets underneath him, tangling his hands up in the duvet and the blanket rather than holding Ratio in place by his hair.

 

“Is there anything off limits?” Ratio asks as he wraps one of his hands around Aventurine’s thigh, the heat of his skin so evident even though his slacks.

 

He swallows, watching whatever Ratio is doing with rapt attention. “Just uh… don’t touch the brand. Or choke me.”

 

Ratio nods, he was not planning to do either of those things-- the brand was obviously going to be sore topic, and he would never choke someone without explicit permission. But he makes sure that Aventurine knows that. “If you think of anything else, do let me know.”

 

And then Ratio begins the difficult task of undressing Aventurine from his overly complicated outfit.

 

It takes a lot of shuffling and there’s a lot of laughing on Aventurine’s end every time Ratio gets stuck, but they make it work, and eventually Aventurine is left bare, in only a pair of black boxers, a wet patch already forming at his core, and brown socks.

 

Ratio had suspected that Aventurine had different anatomy, the blond had mentioned before that the Avgin only really had one sex, but the conversation was not in depth and it only left Ratio curious-- he is a scientist after all and a single-sex humanoid species sounds fascinating to study.

 

But today is not about study of that kind. Nothing he learns here will ever be published scientifically-- it is strictly for Ratio and his own, private fantasies.

 

He hooks his fingers under the waistband of Aventurine’s boxers, and waits for the blonds nod of consent to remove them. If Ratio is correct about certain aspects of Aventurine’s past-- the parts of it that have been shared with him-- then consent is going to play a much larger part in this than it may ordinarily need to. But Ratio will not hurt Aventurine, certainly not intentionally, and he will do his best to make sure he doesn’t unintentionally.

 

Aventurine gives him that shaky nod as he watches Ratio’s hands with rapt attention.

 

He removes them carefully, dragging the fabric down tense thighs, before Ratio throws them off the bed. He doesn’t care where they go, what’s more important right now is the sight in front of him.

 

Aventurine is truly breath-taking. All soft, tanned skin and pale scars, his chest rising and falling with stuttering breaths. Small freckles dot his shoulders and hips, but seem to fade elsewhere. His chest is small, probably not even a proper handful, but Ratio fondles them anyway. Dragging the pad of his thumb over the pert nipples.

 

Aventurine gasps, at the touch that he isn’t use to, and cannot seem to watch. He squirms under Ratio’s intense stare and the hands groping his chest,. “Stop looking at me like that,” he whines, kicking Ratio with his foot. “I’m not used to that look-- stop it.”

 

Ratio catches him by the ankle, forcing himself to leave the blond’s tits alone in favour of sitting back on his knees. He leans in to press a gentle, feather-light kiss to Aventurine’s knee, hand wrapped around a slim ankle still. “I don’t think I will,” he murmurs. “I will continue to look at you like this for as long as it takes for you to accept my affections.”

 

It is an educated guess on Ratio’s part that Aventurine will not be able to handle romantic advances, and the deeper flush that covers his face is confirmation of that. Aventurine looks away as his face heats up, refusing to respond or even look at Ratio again out of embarrassment or anxiety.

 

While he is distracted, trying to avoid Ratio’s gaze and keep his shaking hands busy by twisting bedsheets, Ratio dips himself lower, lips tracing light kisses along Aventurine’s thigh and all the way down to his core.

 

Ratio presses his palm over the mound of Aventurine’s cunt, feeling the heat and warmth that radiates off him. He can hear the hitch in Aventurine’s breath at the touch, see the tense lines of his stomach as he holds his breath. But Ratio simply holds him, keeping his hand cupping his cunt as he sucks and nibbles at the sensitive skin of Aventurine’s thighs.

 

They are marred with a lifetimes worth of scars, some that may have been self-inflicted, other that he knows were not. But each one of them gets to feel Ratio’s lips as he smothers Aventurine’s skin in bruises and saliva.

 

Ratio swipes his thumb between the lips of his cunt as he sinks his teeth into the junction of Aventurine’s thigh and pelvis, relishing in the strained, garbled gasp above. Besides the pure heat come off of him, more heat than Ratio has ever felt from another person, there doesn’t appear to be any visible differences between the Avgin and other humanoid species. Perhaps there are more internal differences that Ratio could only study further with actual equipment, but if that is the case he may never find out. And that’s perfectly fine with him.

 

Aventurine will know what he likes regardless of scientific study.

 

He puts the thought aside for now, focusing on the slick heat of Aventurine’s core, how the muscles in his thigh tense under Ratio’s hand and lips every time his thumb brushes over a familiar nub of sensitive nerves.

 

Ratio focuses his efforts there, circling the pad of his thumb around Aventurine’s clit, wet and frictionless with how much sticky slick Aventurine seems to make. That does appear to be a stark difference, Ratio notes. The slick feels thicker, more viscous than anything Ratio has felt or seen before. He brings his thumb to his mouth on a whim, tasting Aventurine’s slick with both scientific and incredibly horny curiosity.

 

Sweet , he thinks, but naturally sweet, with a lingering taste of honey-- it would make sense that there are actual reasons the Avgin are so associated with honey throughout Sigonian literature, besides pure prejudice. But Ratio has always enjoyed the faint, natural scent of honey that seemed to follow Aventurine around, even if he did assume it was one of his fancy perfumes.

 

Above him Aventurine’s head hits the mattress with a loud thump. A string of what Ratio assumes to be curses leaving his mouth in a language he doesn’t understand. Definitely not the universally recognised Sigonian language that Ratio can speak-- perhaps an old Avgin dialect that was never salvaged by historians?

 

“Veritas,” Aventurine moans, entire body trembling under Ratio’s hands. “That’s not fair.”

 

Ratio keeps his smile to himself as he presses a sticky kiss to Aventurine’s thigh, and then another further down, and further down until he can trace his tongue along the crease between his thigh and pelvis once more, tasting salty skin and smelling the lingering scent of expensive body washes. He laves his tongue over the intended bite mark he left moments before and finds himself overcome with the need to mark the rest of Aventurine up in hickeys and teeth marks.

 

“Oh Goddess-- Ratio, you don’t have to—”

 

“I want to,” Ratio reminds him, pressing a final kiss to the top of Aventurine’s cunt, soft skin and a pale blond hair patch of hair tickling his nose. Aventurine twitches, thighs jolting up at the sides of Ratio’s head. “Let me.”

 

Ratio waits, staring up at Aventurine from between his thighs. Waiting for the blond to actually look at him, rather than just look to the side in embarrassment.

 

But he will wait. Ratio will always wait for him, no matter how long it takes.

 

He slowly guides one of Aventurine’s thighs over his shoulder, turning his head to the side so he can continue to pepper the faded scars he finds there with slow, lethargic kisses, an apology for all of the marks he’s going to be covered in in less than an hours time.

 

Aventurine tries to calm his breathing above, taking shaky breaths in and out before he nods and finally looks down at Ratio between his thighs. “Okay,” he murmurs. “Okay, just… this is… I uh, I mean nobody’s done this before…”

 

“I will be careful with you,” Ratio promises. “You will tell me if you are uncomfortable at any point, though.”

 

“I will.”

 

This is a side to Aventurine that Ratio thinks is probably not seen by many. All of his masks have been left at the front door, most of his walls have come down for Ratio tonight, and he is being allowed to take care of Aventurine.

 

Settling his hands on Aventurine’s ass, Ratio holds him securely in place as he presses his tongue carefully between the lips of Aventurine’s cunt.

 

The gasp he receives is breathy and surprised, muscles clenching against Ratio’s ears, slick gathering under his tongue.

 

He can’t hear much with Aventurine’s thighs against his ears, but he doesn’t need to. Ratio can feel the way Aventurine reacts as his tongue flicks against his clit, as he circles it and practically gorges himself on honeyed slick.

 

Aventurine’s voice grows louder, even as muffled as it is, above Ratio. Stumbling words spoken in that same, silky language that Ratio desperately wants to understand.

 

Ratio grows bolder as it becomes increasingly clear just how much Aventurine is enjoying himself. He slides a hand back between Aventurine’s thighs, focusing his tongue around Aventurine’s clit as he brings his middle finger to Aventurine’s entrance.

 

He’s even hotter inside, when Ratio sinks his finger in to his knuckle with ease. He curls it carefully, trying to find something akin to an Avgin g-spot, if Aventurine has one, and continues his job of pleasing. Just like before, Ratio finds it, another similarity, as the pad of his finger brushes over a textured bundle of nerves and Aventurine yelps.

 

Ratio can feel his heel dig into his back. Trying desperately to drag him in even closer.

 

A trembling hand leaves the bedsheets to tangle in Ratio’s hair, tugging him closer against his cunt (not that Ratio is complaining, of course). Despite how he must be feeling, Aventurine does not pull to harshly, he seems to almost pet at Ratio’s hair-- though he thinks that may just be a technique to ground Aventurine in the moment.

 

He slips another finger inside Aventurine, carefully stretching him out with slow, methodical thrusts and curls of his fingers.

 

Ratio does his very best to focus on Aventurine only, but it’s incredibly difficult as his cock presses against his own underwear and trousers. The pressure and sounds and the taste of Aventurine on Ratio’s tongue make him so much hotter. His cock throbs in his underwear, demanding Ratio’s attention.

 

He forces himself to ignore it. To flick his tongue and hold Aventurine in place as he squirms in blissful agony. Ratio’s pleasure doesn’t matter right now.

 

What matters is the way Aventurine begins to clench down on him, his chest heaving with gasping breaths, his fingers tightening painfully in Ratio’s hair, almost pulling it from his scalp.

 

“Oh fuck,” Aventurine cries, the thigh not currently hooked over Ratio’s back falling to the side as the muscles contract and tense and relax, over and over. At least it allows Ratio to hear properly again. “Veritas-- how are you so good at this!?”

 

Ratio is much too busy to answer that question, not that he thinks Aventurine really wants the answer. Who knows, maybe if he knew the names of the few people Ratio had slept with in the past, he might very well kill them out of jealousy too.

 

...That thought does not make him harder.

 

...Regardless of that fact-- Aventurine was not wrong that he seems to need a lot of stimulation. He thrashes and tenses and squeezes around Ratio’s curling fingers, but he doesn’t seem to be able to come.

 

“What do you need,” Ratio asks, pulling his slick covered mouth off of Aventurine for a brief moment, though his fingers never slow.

 

“More—” Aventurine gasps. “Veritas, more.”

 

“I would like to make you orgasm before I fuck you,” he says, muffled against Aventurine’s cunt as he dives back in to lick and suck at his clit.

 

Aventurine throws his head back with a loud moan. “Goddess-- fuck you, that’s mean— that’s gonna take forever—”

 

Ratio does not agree.

 

He hums with his lips sealed around Aventurine’s clit and oh the response that gets him is beautiful. Aventurine’s back arches suddenly, nails clawing at Ratio’s scalp.

 

He whines more jumbled, trailing words in Avgin as he throws his head back, though Ratio does pick out his own name in there, so he assumes that means he’s doing a good thing-- and then he decides to do it again. Flattening his tongue under the nub, humming to himself as he sucks at Aventurine’s fat, throbbing clit.

 

Ratio makes sure to remember each detail here, every little tip and trick that he does to draw out a particularly loud sound or whine, every touch that seems to drive Aventurine wild beneath him. Everything is saved for next time.

 

He keeps up the pressure as Aventurine’s back arches like a bow, stunning and taut, before he appears to snap under the force of it. Entire body falling, a puppet with it’s strings cut, onto the bed. He makes a weak noise of complaint as Ratio does not let up, but he cannot let the sudden flood of honey slick go to waste, as he cleans Aventurine’s cunt with his tongue.

 

An orgasm is certainly not impossible then, he muses, sitting back onto his heels after carefully resting Aventurine’s leg back on the bed.

 

Ratio wipes his mouth and chin with the back of his hand while he lets Aventurine recover, gulping down air, an arm thrown across his eyes.

 

The issue of his own arousal remains a pressing thought. One that stays painfully at the front of Ratio’s mind as he finally lets himself palm the bulge, taking in the visage of Aventurine, splayed out and ruined, all for him-- all because of him.

 

It sends a wave of relief through him, releasing the tension in his gut for a fraction of a second before it goes straight to his head. Blood rushing to his already painfully hard cock and leaving him light-headed.

 

Aventurine’s affect on him is astounding.

 

How such a beautiful yet so distrusting person could place his trust in Ratio, is mind-melting to think about. That Aventurine wants him-- out of everyone, after everything he has been through-- will probably never cease to amaze him.

 

One lidded eye peeks out at Ratio from under Aventurine’s arm. Curious as his gaze travels from Ratio’s face to where his hands presses at the bulge of his erection.

 

“Oh, that felt so good,” he says breathlessly. Stretching his arms up and above himself with a satisfied, soft moan. “You want some help with that, Doc?”

 

Ratio drops his hands to his thighs, taking a few of his own, steadying, deep breaths. “Well, I am certainly glad to hear that.”

 

He doesn’t expect the way Aventurine’s face falls though as he pushes himself up onto his elbows, or the awkward glance away. “Look uh… sorry maybe I should have mentioned this before…” Aventurine pushes himself up further, protectively folding his legs underneath himself as he attempts to hide. “I find it… uncomfortable to have sex after I’ve come… it’s not usually a problem ‘cause I don’t normally come. I don’t know why-- I mean we can, if you still want, I just—”

 

“Aventurine,” Ratio cuts him off, beckoning him closer with an outstretched arm. Ratio doesn’t want him feeling guilty-- there’s no shame in changing his mind, and Ratio has no issues sorting himself out if it means keeping him comfortable. “You do not have to force yourself to do anything you do not want to.” He cups Aventurine’s cheek when he shuffles himself closer across the bed. “I know you asked me to fuck you, but you are allowed to change your mind, at any point.”

 

“…Are you sure?” he whispers, looking guilty as his eyes flick between Ratio’s face and the very prominent bulge in his trousers. “I could still suck you off? I like that. I think its the whole… penetration bit of sex that I don’t always enjoy… that’s what hurts.”

 

Ratio frowns. “Do not force yourself—”

 

“I’m not,” Aventurine says, crawling closer, until he can kneel in front of Ratio, their knees touching. “I like giving head, and I’m good at it, Doc-- please? You did something for me, let me do something for you.”

 

Ratio frowns again, for a different reason. “Please, I much prefer it when you call me Veritas. But… if you want to, you can.”

 

Aventurine smiles with a nod. “Sorry,” he huffs. “Force of habit… you know, you don’t have to call me Aventurine-- you know it’s not my real name…”

 

He would, once again, like to protest that Aventurine does not owe him any information he does not wish to give. That just because they have taken an extra step in their relationship tonight does not mean that Aventurine has force himself to tell Ratio every single aspect of his life. Aventurine’s name is probably special to him, as is the rest of the Avgin culture, and while Ratio knows bits and pieces (the jewels and the fine clothes and the reverence the Avgin held towards their Goddess) the more personal aspects are something that Aventurine holds close to his chest.

 

Before he can say any of that, though, Aventurine speaks again.

 

“My name is Kakavasha-- but Vasha is good too… nobody’s really called me by my real name for years. Jade tried once,” he shakes his head with a nervous smile. “She hasn’t tried since.”

 

“Kakavasha,” Ratio says slowly, testing the name on his tongue, trying to match the pronunciation. Aventurine grins happily-- so happily-- and nods when Ratio gets it right. “You have a beautiful name, thank you for sharing this with me-- but please, do not feel pressured to tell me anything.”

 

“I want to,” Aventurine says, face flushing red. “...And I’ve wanted to tell you for a while-- I’ve always thought you might be able to say it well.”

 

Ratio leans down to press his lips against Aventurine’s forehead. “Thank you, Vasha.”

 

Aventurine leans into him, turning his head to press their mouths together with a soft sigh. “I like that,” he whispers, with barely a breaths space between them. “I really like how you say it.”

 

Ratio really has to be the luckiest man in the universe.

 

He leans back in for a short, chaste kiss. “What do you want, Vasha?” Ratio asks as he feels Aventurine’s hands wander to his trousers, skilled, slim fingers teasing him with feather-light brushes over his bulge.

 

Aventurine hums sweetly, with a breathy laugh. “I want to suck you off.”

 

Well, that’s certainly good enough for Ratio.

 

He has been patient, he has waited and made sure that Aventurine enjoyed himself, but he can’t deny how hard he is from it all. He would be a fool to try.

 

Almost in the same second that he nods, Aventurine is sliding off the edge of the bed to his knees. The motion is fluid and comfortable as he shifts on his bare knees, tucking his legs underneath himself.

 

Ratio reaches for a pillow to pass to the blond before he pushes himself to the edge of the mattress. “For your knees,” he says, when Aventurine considers the pillow with a confused tilt of the head. “...So you don’t hurt yourself?”

 

“Oh!” Aventurine takes it with a smile, squishing the pillow between his hands. “I mean, I’ve knelt on worse, for longer, your carpet won’t kill me-- but thank you.”

 

He happily settles himself between Ratio’s legs, sliding his hands up the muscles of his thighs with an appreciative whistle.

 

“I’ve thought about this a lot, you know,” he murmurs, shuffling himself closer so he can slip his fingers along the waistband of Ratio’s trousers. Giving it a testing tug before he even goes for Ratio’s belt.

 

He’s choosing to tease, Ratio thinks bitterly as his cock twitches under Aventurine’s fingers. Really he should have expected no less. Perhaps he simply caught Aventurine off guard earlier, when he settled himself between the blond’s legs, and that’s why he seemed so shy, unused to having someone care about his pleasure-- but here he looks so much more confident, a confidence that comes from both years of pretending, and years of practice.

 

A pink tongue darts out to lick his lips as Aventurine finally tugs Ratio’s trousers down. With a little assistance from Ratio, they end up pooled around his ankles, but neither of them cares enough to get rid of them.

 

Aventurine stares, pupils blown wide with excitement and lust as he looks at the bulge in Ratio’s underwear-- and yes, sure he’s big, and he very much appreciates the hungry look Aventurine is giving him, but he would very much like to move on. He’s beginning to get desperate.

 

He does not have to prompt Aventurine though. For after a minute of staring, he seems to shake himself out of his shock, and quickly works to rid Ratio of his boxers. They too get dropped to his ankles, and they too are completely ignored.

 

“Fuck,” Aventurine swallows, his teeth sinking into his lower lip as his hands itch to touch Ratio’s leaking cock. “...You’re bigger than I thought you’d be…”

 

The first touch of Aventurine’s fingers around Ratio’s cock makes him hiss. His palms are so soft, such a sharp contrast to Ratio’s own hand, and it feels incredible. And somehow his hand feels hotter than Ratio’s burning flesh

 

Aventurine’s hand tightens around Ratio’s cock as his confidence returns to him. His grip flexes and he drags his hand up to the head, swiping his thumb over the slit. He smooths the precum down the shaft, presses the pad of his thumb under the head with precision and looks up at Ratio to see the reactions.

 

Ratio doesn’t bother trying to hold in the deep, guttural groan it draws out from him. Aventurine on his knees for him is a vision and he doesn’t dare look away from-- Ratio thinks he might never recover if he misses the sight of Aventurine sucking his cock.

 

The blond tucks a strand of falling hair behind his ear as he dips his head forward, hot breath washing over the leaking tip. He presses his lips to the tip with a tickling kiss, beautiful eyes fluttering shut as he places another just under the head, a wet tongue darting out to taste.

 

Ratio has to steady himself against the bed with an arm as a sudden heat engulfs him. A silky, warm, wet mouth and plush lips suckling at the head of his cock. It doesn’t surprise him that Aventurine is good at this, and maybe all of the rumours around him helped build a fantasy or two in Ratio’s head-- but none of that compares to the real thing.

 

With his eyes closed, Aventurine looks to be in total bliss. Tongue peeking out to press deliciously along the underside of Ratio’s shaft, along the veins, and with each bob of his head, Ratio’s cock slips deeper, pressing at the back of Aventurine’s throat.

 

He’s so hot-- both visually and physically, mouth almost burning Ratio as he swallows around the head, humming happily at the responding groan it forces out of him.

 

Ratio tangles his free hand in Aventurine’s hair, pushing the loose strands from his face so he can properly see him, properly take in the sight of him. His lashes are wet with pooling tears, but he doesn’t try and pull off, instead he tries to push further, to take Ratio deeper down his throat with determination.

 

And Ratio would love to be able to keep him there, he looks so perfectly at peace, and the heat of him around Ratio’s cock really is phenomenal. Perhaps he can one day, keep Aventurine under his desk for a little while, force the blond to take his time so Ratio can appreciate him more.

 

But every swallow and skilful flick of Aventurine’s tongue over the head of his cock grows the burning, desperate need in Ratio’s gut. Until it sends pulsing waves through his veins, tightening his fingers in honey blond hair, forcing him to take measured, stuttering breaths to keep his composure, just for a little longer.

 

“You look gorgeous, Vasha,” he groans, Aventurine’s melting tongue threatening to shake him apart much too quickly.

 

Thankfully, Ratio has a good grasp on his own control over Aventurine now. His words have the intended affect, soft eyelashes fluttering against his cheeks as Aventurine preens under the praise, a muffled, heady moan rumbling in his throat-- as stuffed full as it is-- and Ratio can feel everything.

 

“So lovely,” he praises again. Fingers threading in Aventurine’s hair, holding it out of his face just so Ratio can appreciate the sight of him so dedicated with his mouth full of cock, tightening his grip so he can see the way Aventurine loves it. “You’re perfect, Vasha.”

 

Now that gets him more of a reaction than he was expecting. Aventurine’s shoulders tremble as he blinks open his eyes, glossy and bright-- Ratio cannot actually tell if they are glowing, but he supposes such a discovery would not be shocking at this point-- and at this point, with so much pressure building inside him, and a look that speaks of Aventurine’s feelings louder than he ever could have in words, it does not take much for Ratio to tip over the edge of oblivion.

 

His hips buck instinctively, his hand holding Aventurine down as he feels that pressure finally snap inside him and Ratio comes down the blonds throat with a choked gasp.

 

It is, by far, the best orgasm Ratio has ever had.

 

Aventurine was not exaggerating his skills-- and he moans shamelessly as he swallows around Ratio’s cock, trying to tease out another burst of come with his tongue and throat.

 

He only pull off when Ratio begins to consider that he might actually be trying to suck his soul out through his dick (if such a thing as a soul even exists, which Ratio would love to debate on, perhaps another time though).

 

Aventurine sits back on his heels, licking his pink, slick lips with a mischievous smile. “Satisfied, Doc?” he asks with a tilt of his head-- and yes, Ratio is aware that Aventurine is trying to look sexy, but to him, Aventurine looks cute. Looking for more praise, more of Ratio’s attention.

 

Ratio will need to teach him that he doesn’t have to try and trick and manipulate his way into attention-- Ratio will give him that happily, as long as he is willing to ask directly. Something that seems to be quite difficult for Aventurine more often than not.

 

“Very,” Ratio tells him, helping Aventurine stand on unsteady legs. “You are indeed talented.”

 

The blond laughs as he clambers his way back onto Ratio’s lap, working his fingers beneath the layers of his shirt. “Of course I am. You don’t get a reputation like mine for nothing.”

 

It should come out as a light-heated joke, but it doesn’t. Maybe it’s the way Aventurine’s fingers and hands continue to tremble, even worse than before, before they made it back to Ratio’s apartment, or even before that, when he found the blond neck deep in a series of murders he did not need to commit.

 

Ratio stills his shaking by taking his hands between his own, stopping him from undressing him any further, carefully holding Aventurine until he looks up at Ratio with a timid smile. “Sorry,” he whispers, an attempt at another laugh dying on his lips. “I don’t know why I’m shaking-- it’s nothing, really, now—”

 

“You are trying to force yourself to do something,” Ratio says. Aventurine seems to want to prove himself in some way. Desperate to get as much out of this first encounter as he possibly can. “There is no need to do any more than what we have done tonight-- if fact, if it will stop you, then I do not want more.”

 

Aventurine stills, shoulders tensing up minutely, eyes widening and then darting away from Ratio’s own prying gaze. Ratio had thought that Aventurine was content with what they had done, he had even told Ratio that penetrative sex would not be comfortable for him now, and yet he still tried to claw his way into Ratio’s remaining clothes and tempt him into another round

 

“Not because you have done anything wrong,” he clarifies, clasping Aventurine’s hands together in one of his own so he can gently brush away the strands of hair blocking his view of Aventurine’s face and lovely expressive eyes. “But because you do not seem comfortable.”

 

“I want to make you happy,” Aventurine says quietly, fingers squeezing Ratio’s. “I’ve thought about this for so long—”

 

“And tomorrow we will have more time, we can wait—”

 

“But what if you don’t want me tomorrow?”

 

...Of course, Ratio thinks as the rest of his words die on his tongue. He believes he is beginning to understand now.

 

Aventurine is so used to people using him and then leaving that he still believes that was Ratio’s plan all along. He still expected to get turned away once they were done, and so he had been trying his best to get as much out of the experience as possible.

 

For someone so remarkably intelligent and cleaver, Aventurine really doesn’t have a good grasp on how people feel towards him-- well, only when those are positive emotions. Ratio is certain he will be able to sense the difference in annoyance, from hatred, from lust, but he is not used to being seen as worthy of more than that, of love. And he can’t recognise it in Ratio.

 

“I have wanted you for over a year now, Vasha,” Ratio explains, voice calm, but not cold, palm cupping Aventurine’s cheek. “I will want you tomorrow. Just like I will want you the day after that.”

 

“...And the day after that?”

 

Ratio smiles. “And the day after that. For the foreseeable future, I believe, too.”

 

Aventurine frowns, a small crease forming between his brows that Ratio is quick to smooth over with his thumb.

 

He relaxes physically though, sitting his weight down on Ratio’s thighs, hands twisting in Ratio’s so he can lace their fingers together.

 

“Sorry,” he hums quietly. “Maybe… maybe I thought you might not want anything else-- you know like, you’d sleep with me just once, to try and get me to get over you or something…”

 

Ratio shakes his head as Aventurine’s voice trails off. “I would not do that to you. Or anyone, actually-- but I have no interest in anyone else. You have made quite sure of that.”

 

“By killing the competition?” he suggests with a shy smile, the hand no longer laced with Ratio’s slipping up and over his shoulder to play with the shorter strands of hair at the base of his neck. “I know I keep saying it but—”

 

“You must stop apologising,” Ratio interrupts. “What’s done has been done-- no matter how many time you apologise, you cannot change that. Not that I think you would, however. But it will not happen again, you understands?”

 

Aventurine nods, nipping at his own bottom lip. “It won’t happen again… as long as your assistants are made aware that I’m allowed like, unlimited access to you… whenever I want…”

 

“That will not be necessary—” Aventurine frowns, a protest on the tip of his tongue. “—I will be recommending to the Guild that they do not provide me with another assistant, the risk is far too great, especially if the investigators have found no trace of a suspect.”

 

“...You’re not going to tell them?” Aventurine asks, fingers stilling in Ratio’s hair with a look of disbelief on his face-- again, he expects to be betrayed. Again, Ratio will not do so.

 

He shakes his head. “I will not. There is simply no need, as long as they believe there to be a serious threat, and as long as I continue to fight them on the decision, they will not send a new assistant.”

 

Aventurine remains silent, but he presses his cheek into Ratio’s palm with a soft, content (and isn’t that a lovely sound to hear from Aventurine of all people, contentment. He is happy here with Ratio) sound. “Hm, ‘mkay, can we go to bed now?” he asks sweetly, blinking up at Ratio with tired, weary eyes.

 

Such an emotional night has taken a toll on both of them, and Ratio can feel the tiredness behind his own eyes as well. He allows himself to nod. To guide Aventurine to the bathroom so he can clean them both up, and then back into the bedroom. It changes Ratio’s routine, to have Aventurine climb into the bed and almost immediately beg for his company-- Ratio would normally sit and read for a while longer, would usually have already planned out his next days work. But there has been no time for that, and right now he doesn’t want to make that time, he wants to crawl into bed with Aventurine.

 

So that’s exactly what he does.

 

Aventurine is warm in the sheets beside him, and despite his clear attempts to give Ratio space, it does not go unnoticed by him that Aventurine is touchy. He wants to cling to Ratio’s side, and he wants to bury his head against Ratio neck to fall asleep, and he is allowed to do all of that and more because Ratio loves him.

 

He finds Aventurine’s touch and company does not bother him as much as anothers might. He has long since considered whether he might enjoy holding Aventurine close, and he has long since decided that he would very much like it. And he does. Very much so.

 

Heat radiates off Aventurine, from the press of his cheek against Ratio’s chest, to the way he hooks a leg over Ratio’s hip. But it is an easy kind of warmth, something comforting, and Ratio finds it easier than ever to fall asleep in that embrace.

 

-

 

‘I was with Aventurine--’ has become Ratio’s alibi once again, because yes the investigators cleared him of the previous murders, but Emilie’s death is new. And yes, her death fits the pattern, but because they still do not have a culprit, they must try and find one. Therefore: Ratio is once again questioned. And once again, Aventurine is Ratio’s alibi.

 

Though answering the question of what exactly they were doing while the murder was supposedly taking place is a little tricker than before.

 

Previously it really had just been an innocent action on Ratio’s end-- a simple phone call, a spontaneous dinner, something easy enough to explain away.

 

Aventurine handle the question with as much professionalism as always-- and by that Ratio means that he gave the investigator a cheeky smirk, and responded with an equally cheeky, ‘Oh, I bet you’d like to know’. Which turned the young man’s face the brightest shade of red possible.

 

The bright side to such a tragedy, however, was the freedom-- Ratio had almost forgotten what it was like to simple be allowed to exist in his own space, his office, without an assistant hovering by, trying to keep him on track. As if Ratio can’t keep himself on track of his own damn schedule.

 

Aventurine did them both a favour, really. As much as Ratio doesn’t like to think about the situation like that-- it is the undeniable truth.

 

It is almost funny, it took Aventurine killing four assistants, and Ratio forcing his hand, for them to finally talk about their feelings. But Ratio cannot complain, no he certainly cannot. Not when both he and Aventurine now split their time between their respective homes.

 

Ratio has clothes and a copy of his bathing necessities tucked away in Aventurine’s bathroom cabinets, and Aventurine has pyjamas and soft hoodies in Ratio’s wardrobe.

 

They spend more time together. They go on dates-- real dates, dates that they both call dates and actually mean it-- and they kiss goodbye. Aventurine brings him coffee sometimes in a morning if he is nearby, and it will almost always make Ratio late to his next appointment-- but that’s not his fault. It is Aventurine’s fault, he’s too cute for his own good when he is trying so hard to be perfect for Ratio, even though it is entirely unnecessary.

 

But that’s fine. Aventurine is learning to accept Ratio’s love, however slowly. And Ratio is learning more about Aventurine than he ever could have wished to know.

 

He knows how soft his smile is when he wakes up next to him in their shared bed. He knows how happily Aventurine sighs when Ratio kisses him gently.

 

He knows a lot. And none of it will ever be enough to satiate Ratio’s curiosity and thirst for Aventurine.

 

There have been no more murders either-- not that their really should have been, and not that there has been anyone for Aventurine to be so jealous over, but baby steps are important. And for a relationship as unique as theirs, that began with a start as strange as theirs, Ratio counts ‘no murder’ as baby steps.

 

Ratio loves him, and finally, he does not have to question if that feeling is reciprocated, Aventurine will happily prove it to him every day.

 

...Just without the murder.

 

So yes-- Ratio would consider Aventurine odd. He is eccentric, he is loud and can talk circles around the smartest of men, but he is also beautiful, and soft and behind closed door, he is Ratio’s.

 

He finds that strangeness does not bother him.

 

Notes:

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if you enjoyed i would aboslutely appreciate any kudos or comments. mean comments get deleted cause i am employed and i dont care if someone else doesnt like yandere aventurine, I LIKE HIM. I LOVE HIM IN FACT. AS YOU CAN MAYBE TELL FROM THE 20K+ ONESHOT.

If you see mistakes... no you didnt :)

anyway if you want you can come check me out on twitter <3