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In truth, painting Hollow’s mask did not take long. Grimm knew it wouldn’t, but he still was unprepared to be in their presence after the fact. He did not want them sitting in his tent, there was no small talk he could offer. No idle chat about the weather.
Hollow seemed to like having him in their lap regardless. They were still laying down and he was still straddling their lap. He turned his head away to close the inkwell and lay the brush aside.
He didn’t want to look at their mask with his markings.
Though they did look stunning in them. He gave them embellishments.
He felt cruel for admiring it.
Hollow looped their arm around his back when he sighed, pulling him down to lay with them.
“You worry too much.”
“You have your livelihood on the line, I get to worry.”
“And what of your life?”
“… it doesn’t need to be saved at the expense of your own. I can handle it.”
“I decide how much of myself can be expended, I’m fine handling it.”
“ Hollow — “
“ Relax , my fretting moth.”
He huffed at that.
“Relax, let us enjoy this moment. I will be fine.”
“And what can I enjoy right now?”
There was so much he could follow that up with. He was so upset at the arrangement. His insides felt like they were rolling, flames sputtering. On one hand the little gestures with Hollow tonight made him smile and curl closer. On the other, he wishes Hollow wasn’t here at all.
Not like this at least. He’d miss them otherwise.
Grimm was intent on wallowing. He couldn’t help it as he pouted. Being ripped at the literal seams wasn’t enough, they worried about Hollow’s fate within the troupe. He had a sense that he was going to keep worrying about that for a bit.
His troupe answering to him, to the Heart was fine, but if Hollow lost themselves, especially because of him—
A familiar cold hand held his face again.
“I am here with you, isn’t that a joy in your otherwise lonely dreams? You told me once you’d be upset if it stopped visiting.”
They did look good with the ink.
“… I’d like you to visit out of your own interest, not because the Heart is pulling you.”
“This is my own interest, though It doesn’t seem so irritable to me.”
“Does it now?”
“ You are the one that bites. I could handle a little pulling.”
He heard the smile in their voice.
“And you are the one who enjoys the bites.”
“Mhm.”
They nose their mask against his face with affection. He was still pouty and sulking, and they were trying to combat that with affection.
They’ve been very affectionate lately.
He could bite them again.
Their mask nuzzling against his face, their arm holding him close. If he closed his eyes, he could feel the purr they gave to soothe him. Hollow was so affectionate; Grimm could fool himself into thinking they were loving.
That they were openly loving him.
They were so affectionate, their arm rubbing up and down his back as he was tucked under their mask.
“You are affectionate tonight.”
It was a statement, a fact, and an acknowledgement.
It was about as much as Grimm would ever be willing to openly acknowledge.
“And for once, you are quiet.”
They teased but held no maliciousness in their voice.
“What of it?”
“You seem so insistent on wallowing like a grub.”
“I am not . ”
“You are.”
“ I am not! ” Grimm hissed. He was not throwing a tantrum, he was in misery because of his and Hollow’s circumstances. He’s earned a little wallowing for the grief they were intent on giving him.
They chuckled, a silent shake to their shoulders.
“If I am emotionally vulnerable, you are childish.”
“How dare you.”
He grumbled halfheartedly, half turning his head to see their mask more clearly. They were amused.
“You are, just a tad.”
“Am not.”
“Are too.”
“Am not!”
They chuckled, shoulders shaking before nuzzling against him once more. Amusement and affection washed over him.
They were so affectionate today.
“Hmph.” That was all he offered as he got comfortable, only slightly nuzzling back into their embrace.
He greatly enjoyed the embrace, but it hurt too. Hollow was so affectionate and so kind, and he drank it up like he was dying of thirst, but it stung on the way down. It stung because all Grimm could do is worry about them. The Heart has them now and he couldn’t admit just how scared he was at that development.
Not merciful. Not cruel. Not predictable either.
Not that anything about the past six months was expected, if he was being honest. The realm changing because of Dream’s collapse wasn’t a surprised per say, but he didn’t expect Nightmare to fall with it.
The two were quiet. Grimm could summon no small talk and Hollow seemed content enough with the quiet. Hollow was right, he would be a little lonely without them. They’ve been his most regular contact in the realm. He doesn’t force the child to come through and the troupe does visit now and again, but they are occupied in the living realm.
Though he did suspect he’d have a visit from an angry spider soon. He would not blame her. He’s also upset with the current situation. Hollow was so stubborn.
“I should bite you.”
“By all means, I’m not going to stop you.”
They had a smile to their words, nonchalant. It made him scowl and bury his face in their shoulder. When did they get so flirty?
He didn’t want to look at their mask.
“Nyeh.”
They laughed and their hand came up to rest on his head. He felt them rub right where the horn meets the back of his head.
“What must I do for you to stop this wallowing? It’s not like you.”
“I told you Hollow, I need time.”
“How much?”
“... I don’t know.”
There was a beat of silence.
“ I’m still here. You are in my arms.” Tired exasperation. As much as a acknowledgement they may ever make.
“I know that.”
“Then why are you still so upset?”
Their words were quiet, a whisper he barely caught.
“I worry.”
“You mustn't.”
“Why not?”
“Because I am on your side. I’m helping .”
That got a snicker out of him. And he’d happily take it as a way to dance around truly talking about it.
“So you helping will solve it all? Oh, my knight in shining armor~! Saving the damsel in this story~!”
Hollow gave a silent huff. Mostly they were amused. Grimm moved to lay a hand on his forehead to play the part.
“Whatever would I do without my big strong knight to fight on my behalf~? Oh, woe would be me! Woe! So delicate and fragile I’d just fall apart at the prospect of dealing with it myself~!”
They silently chuckled as he ran with the bit.
“Is that how you think of me my darling, such a delicate thing you must personally intervene, and it will solve everything?” He snickered, being playful did help his mood.
“Not everything. You will always bite and have an attitude.”
“I thought you could handle my bites?”
“I can. I do.”
“Mhm”
“I could also correct your attitude.”
“Oh, not this again.” He sneered with a playful grin.
“I still hold a bit of praise would sway you.”
“Uh huh.”
“It would. Now relax.”
“It would do no such thing.” Grimm said as he slumped back against their shoulder.
“Good moth.”
“Shut the fuck up.” He grumbled into their shoulder.
“Stop proving my point.”
He bristled as he growled, hiding his flushed face. He bit their shoulder.
“Good moth, keep biting.” Hollow spoke smoothly, confidently? Was that a purr or a growl?
Grimm’s mind blanked.
What.
What.
Grimm swallowed thickly but didn’t release his teeth’s hold on their shoulder. There was no way for Hollow to know his face was completely flushed and his eyes were wide. Absolutely no way. Not at all. He didn’t know what was happening and wasn’t at all salivating at the implications.
“Keep biting, work it out my fiery moth, I can take your teeth.” Why did they sound amused? What else was in the sound of their voice?
Maybe he was salivating a little, but the shudder he gave was minute and unimportant. He sunk his teeth in.
“Good moth.” They praised again.
Their hand moved from rubbing his head to his back again. Slightly dragging their claws now and again. Grimm wasn’t going to arch, wasn’t going to hiss, wasn’t going to do anything about it but keep biting.
He was biting. Sinking his teeth in with almost no care about how it could've caused them pain. The only restraint was to not break chitin. There were, however, no clear thoughts. Just a flurry of frenzied thoughts but he wasn’t that flustered—
Does he even have the strength to break chitin in such a state?
Any next coherent thought was cut off by a particular scratch of Hollow’s claw. It came up his back right in between his shoulders. Grimm shuddered and arched only a little. He was quite literally biting back any noise or verbal response.
He felt Hollow’s amusement and... affection wash over him.
“ Show me that you deserve it. ” Thoughts ring in his head. By the Heart what has he gotten himself into?
For his eyes apparently appearing dimmer than they should, it sure felt like there was plenty of fire in his face. He felt so warm. Terribly warm.
Hollow kept doing this for a bit, dragging their claws against his back as Grimm bit at their shoulder. He couldn’t focus enough to think about how long he stayed like that.
He growled.
“Whining are we~?”
“I am not!” He hissed right in their face to cut them off, moving from the shoulder all too quickly. The realm spinning be damned, what about his pride?
“Pardon me then, my damsel in distress.”
He hissed again, before thinking to wipe his mouth before getting drool all over them.
How dare they sound so pleased with themselves.
How dare he feel so hot everywhere because of this.
He was trying to wallow about the circumstances!
“Damn you. You’re such a pain in my ass.”
“I thought I was saving you?”
“Quiet.” He hissed with a drawl.
“Make me.”
He bit their neck, and they arched in a delightful way that wasn’t helping the fire in his groin. Noises from silent to easily heard exchanged as Grimm all but rutted against the terrible vessel as he bit his frustrations clear. How dare they?
How dare they interrupt his wallowing?
“Oh but you sound so good like that~”
How dare they keep making him flush like that?
He growled and snarled despite the teeth sunk into their throat. Mind buzzing and heart rushing.
“I think I like you mad like this~”
Since when did they become such a teasing bastard!?
“I want to hear more of you my fiery moth.”
What—
Before Grimm could really guess as to what that meant, he found himself on his back. He openly gawked, shock and indignation written all over his face.
“By all means, tell me how upset you are with me.”
How did their not-voice take on such a purr?
“You— Hollow— How dare you—!”
They chuckled as they made themselves comfortable against him. Their hips flushed against him— he wouldn’t rut, he would not — as they turned their head curiously and amused.
“Use your words~”
He snarled, oh so upset. He will at least be defiant if they intend to be such a pain. He will hiss and growl and snarl as he levels a glare into their void eyes. The void in his visions helps him ignore the fact his pale face feels as red as his breaking shell.
“Those are not words.”
“No shit.”
“Behave and be a good moth for me. Won’t you do as I say~?”
“ No. ”
“Tch. Naughty moths don’t impress me Grimm.”
He is going to combust because of this asshole—
“Do as I say, won’t you? Be my good moth~”
“I don’t care how thick you try to lay this on, I’ve told you time and time again you cannot put out this fire—”
“ Hush. ” Their snout presses against his throat and he gasps, enough pressure just to make it strangled. “You will make more pretty noises and say pretty things, or you will be quiet. I grow tired of your pissy attitude.”
Hhn.
He’s suddenly aware of just how pinned at every point of contact he is. Their snout impeding his breath just barely as they make their point. Their hips against his, how he felt the dig into his and how that friction was setting him off. His head was still buzzing and distantly he tried to raise his hands to do something , only to feel both pinned at the wrists above his head.
Since when was their hand big enough to hold both of his wrists at once?
“You will behave and be a good moth for me, you understand?”
Oh dear. His entire vision is Hollow’s mask. They’re still so pretty in his makeup.
“Behave.”
“And what will you do if I don’t?” He felt breathless, only slightly because of the mask pressing on his throat. If only Hollow would roll their hips.
“Grimm.”
Nnm.
“I was not kidding when I say I grow tired of your pissy attitude.” They do sound annoyed and exasperated with him. Oh pity. “Would it kill you to focus on the fact that I’m here for two minutes instead of your patchwork chitin?”
“Well. No faster than I’m already dying—”
That earned him a harsh swat over the horns.
“ Grimm! ”
“ Hollow. ” He could not apologize, even if he understood their frustrations. “You cannot blame me for a little dark humor.”
“But I can grow tired of it.” There’s that exasperation again. Oh, he wished the tone from before would come back. “These times are unprecedented and worrisome I know. I know. But I prefer when our time together... doesn’t have you wallowing so much.”
Grimm’s expression softens. He would not give Hollow pity, they would give him more stitches if he did, but he did feel his heart sing in sorrow on their behalf. It pulls at him, that Hollow has preferences in their time together, that their time together means enough that Hollow prefers him not like this. That Hollow knows his worries, no matter how cool he plays it.
He cannot undo his mind of worry so easily. He cannot undo the ripping apart of his realm.
He cannot kiss them.
But he can place a hand on their cheek, smiling a little as they lean into it, and make a conscious effort to keep his voice soft and kind. How their mask lifts off his throat to lean does make the words come easier.
“Oh darling, but you in my makeup is what has me wallowing. You know what this ordeal is doing to me.”
“But you made it as perfect as you wanted them to be.”
That got a chuckle out of him, and the two relaxed against each other.
“That’s not the point darling and you know it.”
“I know.” They rolled their hips against his, slow and gentle, it made him smile more. “But I see how you admire your handiwork.”
He hummed, content.
“Focus on that hm? On how pretty you’ve adorned me.”
He chuckled and couldn’t help rubbing his thumb against their mask as they roll their hips.
“Like the decorations, do you?”
“Of course. I see how you’ve made your claim on me as I you. Perhaps I should find decorations for you in return.”
“You don’t have to do that.” He chuckled, smiling more as Hollow nuzzled their mask against his cheek.
Affectionate. They were still so affection as fire sparked throughout him. He could handle it, but Grimm felt so many emotions spark within. He rolled his head to the side as Hollow rested their mask against his shoulder, arm coming around his head to hold him close.
Grimm wasn’t mad about the intimacy; they were still rolling their hips against him and the friction was delightful. But the... additional affection with it was new to him. Flustering even, it made his heartbeat fast despite Hollow’s intentions to calm him down.
Nngh.
It went like this for a few moments. Each moment stretching into time that Grimm couldn’t keep track of properly. On one hand he was in the moment, content and happy with how Hollow’s hips rolled as they nuzzled close. On the other hand, there were a million thoughts and emotions running through his head he couldn’t catch.
“So affectionate today...” He commented again.
“Is that a crime?”
“No, just an observation darling~”
“So you say,” Their words smile as they nuzzle against him again. “I think you like it.”
“Mm... And if I do? Would it be so wrong I’ve grown comfortable in your growing amounts of affection recently?” He could feel their void become slick where it meets his hips and it’s going to drive him wild.
They were picking up the pace, rutting a little more intently. Happy huffs as they kept him close. His own erection would come out soon enough with the stimulus.
“And do you think you can handle it?”
“What?” He looked at them.
“I’m waiting for you to use humor to dance around it again.”
“And is that a crime?”
“No.” They sigh, content. “Your humor is nice.”
“Hmm.”
“But you are avoidant at times.”
“Says the pot to the kettle.” He chuckles, earning a mask nudging against his stitches. “I’m not wrong!”
“Maybe so,” They chuckle in turn, hand coming down to turn his head towards their mask. “But you are just as flawed.”
“Tch.”
“Pouty are we~?”
“Nyeh.” He was not .
It made Hollow chuckle more.
...They seem to really like him today. Grimm didn’t want to think about what that could mean.
Every thought was cut off by a particularly long and firm roll of the hips from Hollow as they sat up. Grimm gasped quietly at the sensation and the sight of their void unfurling to show their sex.
Void tendrils writhed against him. He gasped again as Hollow gave a few pointed thrusts against him, the phallic tendril not entering but the sensation still exciting nonetheless. Their smaller tendrils writhing and grasping at his hips. A glance up and Hollow seemed... Content? Smug? Amused? As their hand trailed down his side. Arousal washed over him and he couldn’t place how much was theirs or his own. His own erection showing itself.
He was getting wet too. Mmn.
“I like this view as well~”
“I’m sure you do. How often do you have me on my back~?” He quipped just as easily.
Can’t have them knowing just infrequently Grimm is caught like this. The times where sex is this... affectionate even less so.
He’s not letting himself be too flustered by it. He refuses to believe it’s written all over his face.
“Be good and I’ll get you on your back often.”
“That sounds awfully like a promise my darling.” Why is he breathless? There is nothing on his throat.
They gave a small silent hum as they leaned over just a bit and caressed his face.
Where has his breath gone?
“And if it is? Would you like it to be?” Their voice was so quiet as they adjusted themself in between his legs, leaning over them just a bit more. “Would that be something you could handle?”
He felt their yearning wash over him.
Where was his breath?
“Careful darling, you don’t know what you’re getting yourself into.”
Grimm doesn’t either, but it’s thrilling and flustering but he’s playing it cool regardless.
“I’m getting myself into you~”
They said it with such amusement that Grimm raised his brow, confused, until he felt Hollow lining up their phallic tendril to his slit.
“Oh, that was terrible , absolutely terrible, I’m disappointed~! ” His laugh as he swatted their hand away trailed into a slight moan as Hollow pushed themself into him. “Don’t be proud of yourself for that one.”
“Not all of us have lifetimes of flirting experience to draw from Grimm.” They were equally amused as they gave their hips a roll, seemingly enjoying the view even more.
“You’ll have to learn well from listening to me then~”
“Duly noted.” They lean forward to nuzzle back into his cheek as they began to find their pace in him.
Their pace was slower, perhaps kinder, than what Grimm would do in their position. It was something between a roll of their hips and a proper thrust snapping in. He still felt their cold void fill him nonetheless, it was still firmly in him each time. It was stark. He was fire, intense heat, his inners running hot. They were void, absence of all heat and it made them cold. Surely, he must be burning against them.
Grimm was going to develop a craving for cold. Their cold.
The way cold stretched and pushed into his inner heat had him almost purring. He arched just a little, stretching his legs to get comfortable around Hollow. Their own legs kept him a bit spread.
Lazily lidded scarlet eyes watched Hollow’s mask as the two got comfortable in their movement. For a moment Grimm didn’t know what to do with his arms but eventually settled for a loop around their back and the other rested on his chest. Hollow’s arm returned to curling around Grimm to him close.
He felt their content and... joy? Dangle in the dream. They were so happy doing this with Grimm?
Impulsively, he nuzzled against their mask. He could not kiss them. They nuzzled in return, their hold growing tighter as their thrusts became more forceful.
“There’s my good moth~” They teased.
Oh he could fool himself into thinking they really do care. That they want him so genuinely and intimately. He could feel their affection and joy wash over him. Oh how intimate this was.
Hollow was being oh so intimate.
“Am all I am to you is a just a moth?” He teased, trying to ease the heat in his face. “That nickname is prevalent tonight.”
“You are no ordinary moth. You are firelight.” They nuzzle their mask against him. “You are warm. And for once, you are a being a good moth.”
“And here I was thinking you’d be annoyed with moths regardless of them behaving or not.” He chuckled.
“...Am I supposed to be upset with all moths for my experience with one? Is that not unbecoming and ignorant?” They give him a pointed look, some amusement coming off them. “Are you accusing me of passing judgement on someone just for their species?”
“Oh for fucks sake I’m not saying that—”
“Is it because I’m void?”
“ I’m not—! ” He smacked their chest with a scoffed laugh.
Hollow’s shoulder shook with great laughter. Grimm was laughing too at their antics. It’s not often he sees them so humorous, if at all. Though it is also not often he is on his back and being treated with such affection. The two were laughing. All Grimm could do is loop his arms around their neck and allow their foreheads to press together as they laughed.
“You are insufferable tonight.” He snickered.
“And what did you say earlier, ‘said the pot to the kettle?’ You are no better!”
“Oh shut up. I gave you pretty decorations.”
“Like that excuses such a claim of my character.”
“Shut the fuck up!” He laughed again.
Hollow’s shoulder shook in laughter as well, before nuzzling against his cheek. They trailed down, pressing little nuzzles to his head and throat before settling there, almost under his chin. Their hips continued to push that lovely void in and out of him.
They rested against him as they continued. Grimm could only let his arms stay looped around Hollow and try to ignore how cuddly the position was. There’s nothing wrong with intimate soft sex of course, but with Hollow right now it felt like the most intense thing ever. Like his breath was stolen away as his mind races with every emotion—
“I enjoy taking you like this; I’ve been wanting to for a minute.” He felt their purr. “I enjoy this view and yourself. You’re so good for me.”
Intimacy and praise.
“You are mine to enjoy like this. You are mine and so good~ ”
Intimacy and praise. Nnnmgh.
“So so good. You feel so good.” They were panting and purring and nuzzling. “All mine. ”
They said it with such affection. He could see it on their mask, their mask was right there—
Intimacy and praise, he could not handle it.
He squirmed. Bodily bliss and urges conflicting with the wildfire going off in his mind. It made them nuzzle against his face again.
Pinned with affection, how could he be pinned with affection? The cold felt so good, very good, too good, cold is thrilling in him but the heat in his face was starting to be too much even for him. Hollow was holding him close. Hollow’s mask was right there. Where was his breath again? All he could feel was cold filling him so beautifully within but cold creating sparks at every other point of contact.
He squirmed. It must’ve been written all over his face—
He has to move.
Pushing with his hands and kicking with his feet just a bit, mentioning something about needed a position change, he flipped himself onto his knees. The overwhelming mental load demanding his face be pressed into the ground and hidden.
Unfortunately, Hollow seemed to have different plans as they mounted him.
“You are not escaping me so easily little fire,” Their voice something between a purr and growl that had his knees feeling weak. “You’re staying close, no running off.”
Instead of planting his face into the ground, Hollow had looped their arm under and across his chest, so he was pulled flushed against them. Grimm was propped on his elbows, supporting them both. They were resting their mask on his shoulder; an illusion of words being said right into his ear.
Their thrusts were proper and firm, a little more demanding, which made him want to drool.
“You forget my claim. You forget how you are mine. You forget how I am to handle you as I please, and I will handle you well so long as you behave.”
He was in a vice grip.
“Behave for me my flame. Behave and be good and I will handle you with grace and care.”
Nnngh!
“You are mine. And you always will be. Behave. I will have you behave for me tonight.”
Grimm was pretty sure the sounds coming from him were supposed to be some sort of argument. He was also fairly certain he was not making an argument at all. He could barely be coherent in his own mind. He was having troubles arguing with himself let alone vocalizing something to—
Hollow’s words were tapering off mostly to huffs and pants. Their thrusts were demanding, just as their grip. Grimm wasn’t sure how he was able to support them both on his hands and knees.
Oh, he was on his hands and knees.
He could deny that shudder.
“Good, good, you’re being so good now.” He felt their mask press into his cheek.
Probably would have a harder time denying his noise. His knees felt weak. He was weak.
How could he handle this?
“Hollow—” He could not finish his own thought. He didn’t even know what it was. Grimm felt overwhelming heat and cold at the same time. His blazing mind was both roaring and spent. “Fuck—!”
The Nightmare King does not whine.
But he did screw his eyes shut, it’s all he could do when he felt Hollow’s affection wash over his chest. He stayed in that vice grip. He could not do much else but try to ride through the roaring in his mind right now.
Fuck, Hollow feels so good like this.
Grimm didn’t want to think about how he’d want to get used to this. Nor did he want to think about how Hollow resting their mask against his cheek could be more than just convenient to the position. He did not want to think about how he hoped it was more.
Fuck.
He arched as he came, as if it was possible to be any more flushed against them. He tensed and shuddered, with a noise that was not dignified in the slightest. But it please Hollow oh so much. They were purring so much, Grimm felt it against his entire body.
“My good flame~”
Hollow was so pleased with him. Perhaps he was smiling just a little bit about that. Surely, they couldn’t see that at their angle. Their movements became more of a roll as they seemed intent on purring with all their might. Grimm felt weak, and Hollow shifted to take more of the support.
They might’ve been praising him more; Grimm couldn’t really focus on the words, but their tone was enough. It was interspersed with their own pants and huffs, mostly babble at this point, probably.
He didn’t know how much longer they went at it, filling his heat with such cold. Soon enough, they were coming in him. It had him gasping in shock. He’d had thought about the mess Hollow was capable of.
The mess had him shuddering again as Hollow nuzzled closer. They pulled almost completely out just to snap back in.
The noise the movement made was vulgar and deliberate.
“You—!”
Amusement was written all over them. They were almost giddy as they nuzzled and held him tight.
“You... I can’t believe you sometimes.” Grimm managed between pants. He could feel the cold dribbling out. “Insufferable.”
His eyes were still closed?
He was weak and tired. With another nuzzle, Hollow pulled out and gently pulled Grimm to the side to lay with them. They did make an effort to keep them both out of most of the mess on the floor.
Grimm kept his eyes closed, curled towards them as he caught his breath. Hollow seemed happy, their pleased emotions radiating from them. He knew they were cuddling again, but this time he didn’t have the energy for his mind to race about it. Hollow got comfortable with him and seemed content to doze.
He was content too, happy even, being in their embrace. Pleased perhaps, with what has happened as well. Another mix of emotions came over him, not as loud as before but still present. How Hollow has ruined thrown him in a loop tonight.
He wishes, just a little bit, that he could handle it all better.