Work Text:
Licorice sighed sadly, clutching his oversized plushie with both arms and legs as he fought back tears. He knew how stupid it was for him to be upset, but he felt so alone without his partners in the house.
Clover had gone to do a month-long tour with Parfait and Mint Choco, while Velvet was utterly swamped when a pair of pregnant cake hounds was surrendered with no hope for an abortive spay. Herb was there, of course, but he seemed perfectly content to wait for the others to return by getting lost in his extensive garden.
Licorice, though, couldn’t bring himself to do anything remotely productive without them. He was rarely able to sleep at night unless he dragged himself into Herb’s bed, plagued by nightmares if he wasn’t held. Herb, of course, didn’t mind in the slightest, always opening his arms without a word of question or complaint and peppering his face with sleepy kisses before falling right back asleep. Licorice, being a night owl, often ended up whining to Herb whenever he awoke at the crack of dawn, begging him to stay just a little bit longer, which Herb always eventually caved to.
Despite all that, two and a half weeks into Clover’s tour and Velvet’s hand-raising of the runts, Licorice felt extremely lonely. He clutched the plushie, burying his face into its soft fur as he began to cry, sniffling constantly to avoid getting the poor plushie covered in snot.
“Licorice? Dear? What’s wrong?” Herb’s voice rang out quietly, almost like a whisper, as he gently rested on the bed, looking over to them.
“It’s nothing. It’s stupid.” Licorice whined, still turned away, clutching the plushie even closer to avoid having to make eye contact.
“You aren’t hurt, are you?” Herb gently placed a hand on Licorice’s side, causing a few sprouts to shoot up from the spot as his hand glowed.
“Not physically, no.” Licorice cringed slightly at his own statement as he sniffled again, finally letting go of the stuffed animal and turning to Herb.
Herb slowly reached out and placed his hand on Licorice’s cheek, trying and failing to avoid the other’s instinctive flinch. Licorice closed his eyes with the flinch, breathing a sigh of relief and leaning into Herb’s hand as the soft glow lightened the darkness behind his eyelids.
“You okay?” Herb questioned gently, unsurprised when tears welled up and spilled from Licorice’s eyes.
“No.” Licorice was clearly attempting to fight back tears, his lip quivering as he sniffled loudly.
Herb softly moved his hand back, opening his arms as Licorice looked up before clutching onto his chest and sobbing. Herb gently squeezed him before using one hand to rub his back and the other to play through his hair. Licorice calmed slightly, still sniffling into Herb’s chest.
“So, what’s wrong?” Herb asked cautiously, wary of sending Licorice into another fit of tears.
“I… I feel really lonely. I get to hold you most nights but with Velvet being so busy and Clover being gone…” He clutched onto Herb’s shirt. “I know, I know, it sounds like I’m an attention whore… I just… I don’t know.”
“You’re not being an attention whore for wanting affection, I get it. I’ve been out way too much to try and distract myself, to be honest.” Herb shrugged, patting Licorice’s head. “I wish you had told me, I would have given you affection earlier. You know how dense I can be.”
Licorice laughed tearfully, sitting up and wiping off his face.
“Yeah, Clover told me all about that.”
“Oh god, he did?” Herb went bright red in embarrassment, causing Licorice to laugh. While Herb was still rather embarrassed, the sound of Licorice’s laughter made him smile ever so slightly.
“Gay.” Licorice punched his arm softly, looking away in embarrassment as he noticed Herb’s fond stare.
“That’s true.” Herb smiled, somewhat confused, as he laid down, opening his arms for Licorice to wiggle into, which he did.
“I’ve got you now!” Herb spoke mischievously, holding Licorice in place and kissing all over his face until Licorice started to laugh and push back at him.
“Hey, stop, that tickles!” He laughed, attempting to wiggle his way out of Herb’s grip and failing until he grabbed Herb’s face with two hands and kissed him while pushing him forward, flipping him onto his back.
When they broke the kiss, Licorice leaned up to stretch, not noticing as Herb’s hands trailed down his back to his hips. Licorice suddenly made a noise akin to a squeak of surprise when he felt something poking him, causing him to look accusingly at Herb, who flushed red and stammered.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to- you’re just on top of me and- I-” Herb attempted to excuse his overly excitable boner, nervous he had accidentally offended Licorice until he laid back down on his chest and kissed him softly.
“I didn’t realize you meant that kind of affection, but I don’t mind.” Licorice smiled, causing Herb to grin nervously.
“In all honesty I didn’t, but… it does sound nice.” He carefully lifted Licorice off of him, setting him on his back before laying beside him.
“Did you let me push you? No way you couldn’t just push back with how strong you are.”
“I’ll admit, I did let you win. I usually let Clover win too. Sometimes.” Herb smiled, chuckling softly. “I never intentionally let Velvet win, that’s more like a fight to the death in a way…”
Licorice gently kissed Herb on the cheek, bringing his focus back into the moment.
“Right, right, uhm… do you want me to undress first or..?” He placed a hand on Licorice’s robe until Licorice shook his head.
“You first please, if you’re okay with that… maybe just to boxers.” Licorice spoke somewhat shakily, which Herb failed to notice as he carefully removed and folded his clothing, blushing like mad when turning back to him. Licorice removed his robe quickly, tossing it to Herb to fold it and place it to the side.
Whenever Herb turned back from folding the robe as well, he noticed that Licorice was shaking slightly, looking extremely nervous.
“Love, it’s okay, it’s just me.” Herb laid by Licorice’s side, holding him and making him look at him. “Do you want me to close my eyes? I don’t have to look if you don’t want me to.”
“It’s okay.” Licorice stammered, attempting to calm himself. “Just… give me a little time before you take off my boxers. Please.”
“Of course.” Herb smiled brightly, kissing Licorice’s cheek softly. “If you want me to stop anything, just tell me.”
Licorice nodded, still shaking slightly, watching with bated breath as Herb kissed down Licorice’s neck to his chest, his hand finding its way to hold Licorice’s as he kissed back up to his mouth, softly kissing him.
“You’re so handsome, darling. I love you.” Herb smiled as Licorice blushed, squirming slightly from the compliment.
Herb returned to the gentle kiss, softly pushing his tongue forward into Licorice’s mouth as he accepted it with a quiet whine. Herb continued for a little bit longer until he pulled away, Licorice looking to the side in embarrassment.
“You can take them off…”
Herb nodded, removing Licorice’s boxers carefully, kissing the inside of his thighs the moment they were off. Licorice shook slightly, and Herb looked up at him in worry, but Licorice nodded.
“Don’t worry, it’s just anticipation this time.” He blushed at his own words, causing Herb to smile.
“Do you mind opening just a little more?”
Licorice opened his legs slightly, allowing Herb to more comfortably position himself between them. He then gently spread Licorice with his fingers, wasting no time in beginning to lick broad strokes up and down Licorice’s clit.
Licorice whimpered at the feeling, his legs slightly closing onto Herb’s head as he sped up at the sound. Herb removed his fingers from their spot, using both of his hands to hold Licorice’s hips and pull him closer as he squirmed from the stimulation.
Herb looked up at Licorice, making eye contact with him as he looked excessively flustered, resisting the urge to grin in satisfaction. Instead, he focused on how much Licorice squirmed in his grip. The more he squirmed, the closer he held him and the faster he moved, until Licorice couldn’t speak beyond whimpering moans and Herb’s name.
Suddenly, though, Licorice’s legs opened wide before closing to hold Herb’s head tightly, his hips involuntarily thrusting up into Herb’s mouth as he continued without being so much as phased. Eventually, Licorice stopped twitching, signaling Herb to release his hips and sit up, wiping off his lips.
“You alright?”
“Never better.” Licorice sighed, panting slightly to catch his breath.
Herb moved up to his side, holding him gently as Licorice caught his breath before turning to Herb.
“Close your eyes for me for a moment, I’ll be right back.”
Herb nodded, closing his eyes and waiting patiently until Licorice returned a few moments later.
“You can open them now.”
Herb opened his eyes, immediately flushing red at the sight before him. Licorice had fastened a strap to himself and gently set the lube on his bedside table. Noticing Herb’s look of shock, he snickered.
“What, haven’t you been pegged before?”
“Actually…” Herb blushed in embarrassment, shaking his head.
“Wow, really? I’m shocked Clover hasn’t tried it… Well, don’t worry, I do this to Velvet all the time so I’m kind of an expert.” Licorice held a hand to his chest proudly, noticing Herb’s gaze fixed on the strap. “Oh, don’t worry, I have to get you ready first. No way you’ll be able to take it immediately, first time or not.”
Herb nodded, getting the silent message to remove his boxers as Licorice applied a generous amount of lube to his fingers, slowly pushing two into Herb as he whined from the feeling.
“It didn’t hurt, did it?” Licorice looked at Herb worriedly, noticing as he threw his head back when he curled his fingers into his prostate.
“No, no it didn’t.”
He answered his own question with a smirk as Herb whined, beginning to scissor his fingers gently.
“You’re adorable, you know that Herb? Adorable.” Licorice spoke teasingly, intentionally brushing past the sensitive ball of nerves with each praise he uttered, making him whimper and clutch onto Licorice.
“Good boy, Herb, good boy. You’re doing so well.” Licorice grinned, delivering a few quick curls of his fingers as he spoke, making Herb moan softly.
Suddenly, he removed his fingers, causing Herb to whine pitifully.
“Oh calm down, you big baby. Turn over and lift your hips for me, sweetheart.”
Herb did so obediently, hugging a pillow close, making Licorice chuckle.
“Man, you were born for this. I’ll have to tell Clover. Maybe Velvet… nah, we’ll work you up to that.” Licorice spoke aloud as he applied a generous amount of lube to the strap, quieting as he lined himself up.
“Tell me if you need me to stop.” Licorice carefully pushed in, pausing as Herb hissed in pain. “You alright?”
“Slower, please.” Herb managed to choke out, which Licorice obliged to.
He managed to ever so slowly push the entire strap in, praising Herb all the way.
“Can I move?” Licorice spoke softly, looking to Herb for confirmation.
Herb nodded, blinking and looking back at Licorice, making his heart skip a beat. Licorice carefully pulled back before moving in much more quickly, causing Herb to moan.
“Good boy.” Licorice grinned, repeating the action a few more times before gathering the courage to pull as far back as he could before slamming back in, hearing something he never expected to hear from Herb’s mouth.
“Fuuuck, Licorice.” Herb said in a half-moan, making Licorice pause in shock.
“Did you just swear?” Licorice spoke teasingly before beginning to move his hips again, making Herb whine and shush him. Licorice laughed softly, increasing his pace at Herb’s silence. The more Herb moaned, the faster Licorice moved until Herb could only mutter soft curses and Licorice’s name.
“Such a pretty little slut for me, aren’t you Herb? Can’t even say anything, hm?” Licorice grinned, unsure of how Herb would respond to the slight degradation, nearly breathing a sigh of relief when his words drew out another moan from him. “Just a little more, baby. Finish for me.”
Licorice’s hand drifted between Herb’s legs, beginning to gently stroke him as Herb choked on a moan, bucking his hips forward into Licorice’s hand, which Licorice barely allowed. With a cry of his partner’s name, Herb finished, hips shaking as Licorice held him in place until he was done.
“You alright, baby?” Licorice carefully pulled out, helping the still-shaking Herb to sit beside him.
Herb nodded, leaning on his shoulder with a tired sigh as Licorice smiled.
“Mind going into the bathroom? I’ll be in in a moment, I just need to change the sheets.” Licorice spoke softly, helping Herb to his feet as he looked at the sheets with simultaneous pride and embarrassment, noting that his spot from earlier was unfortunately marked with a spot. Herb stumbled into the bathroom as Licorice removed and replaced the sheets, making a note to wash them first thing.
Licorice walked into the bathroom, beginning to run a bath as he kissed Herb on the cheek, finally remembering to remove and clean the strap. When the water was sufficiently warm enough, he helped Herb in before joining him, cuddling up into his arms.
“Thank you.”
“What?” Herb was confused, looking to Licorice after the sudden statement.
“I feel a lot less lonely now… and I have something to tell Clover when he gets back!” Licorice spoke proudly, making Herb sigh in fake annoyance.
“Yeah, I guess so… I think I’ll take a nap. Wake me before it gets cold.” The words had barely left Herb’s mouth when Licorice heard soft snoring, making him chuckle.
“Sleepyhead.”