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Against the pale glow of the vault’s screens, Ricky found himself once again in the metaphorical talons of Professor Pericles. The pair had spent so long apart, not just from each other, but the world, with Pericles behind bars and Ricky thrown so deeply into his work that he scarcely felt he had lived the past twenty years at all. To be returned to such closeness… undeniably, it was strange. And yet, Ricky could hardly believe he had managed to stay away from Pericles for so long.
The betrayal had burned — it still burned — but, truthfully, Ricky never had any desire to see Pericles locked away for the rest of his natural (however long that may be) lifespan. There was some sort of relief, then, when Pericles had escaped, even as he posed a direct threat to Ricky’s carefully wrought plans. For years, he’d imagined that would be enough, and it was, for a time. But when Pericles extended his wing in prospective reinstated camaraderie, a wound had reopened. Of course, none of the others had accepted; Ricky hardly wanted to accept the offer himself. His former friends had never known Pericles the way he did, and that wasn’t to say he knew the bird to be trustworthy, or well-intentioned, or anything but ultimately self-serving. What he knew was that, despite everything, he’d missed him.
If Pericles had been bitter about Ricky’s initial rejection, he had seemingly forgiven him by the time it was rebuked. At the very least, he did not speak a word of it when they were together, which was quite often now. Ricky liked to imagine Pericles was as desperate for their reunion as he had been, that he wasn’t just a pawn in whatever scheme the parrot’s brilliant mind had concocted. To savor the low hum of his feathered friend’s voice as if it were for him alone.
“You have grown much since we were separated.”
Ricky snorted softly.
“And what's that supposed to mean?”
Professor Pericles was perched on Ricky's shoulder, close enough to speak directly into his ear.
“There is no need to play coy with me. In the time since we were separated, you have become a man.” He fluttered down to rest instead on Ricky's lap. “Why don’t you show me, Ricky?”
From his sultry tone, it was obvious what Pericles wanted. It was a game they had played often throughout Ricky’s youth; always, it started like this. Pericles would instruct him to strip, and then… well, a number of different things could happen then. That Pericles was attracted to men, human men, never struck Ricky at the time. It seemed only that Pericles was attracted to him, loved him. Then, there was nothing strange at all about the things they did together.
Ricky knew better than that. Pericles was right, he was a man now, a man who had spent half his life re-contextualizing their relationship, who understood that what Pericles had done to him in his teens was wrong. But then, wasn’t he now a man who could make his own decisions about what he wanted? And if he wanted to submit to Pericles, that was his own business, wasn’t it? That is, if that really was what he wanted. He wasn’t quite sure. He really hadn’t expected to have to make this decision himself; there had been no modicum of hope in his heart that Pericles would want him that way anymore. Even now, he thought it might me some cruel joke at his expense. Surely, Pericles didn’t think Ricky was unaware of himself, clueless that he had grown pudgy and unkempt in their time apart. He was more aware of it now, perhaps, than he had ever been; he was acutely embarrassed, and quite frankly terrified of what Pericles thought of his body now.
Pericles made a small sound of impatience. Ricky couldn’t afford to deliberate any longer, lest Pericles change his mind. Slowly, he lifted the hem of his shirt, revealing first the pale expanse of his belly, then the soft raised mounds of his chest, all of which was dusted with dark hair. Pericles traced a delicate circle around Ricky’s deep navel, sending a shiver down his spine.
“Oh, Ricky,” Pericles said, apparently pleased. “Just as lovely as the day we met.”
He directed his attention lower, hooking a claw into the waistband of Ricky’s pants. Ricky stiffened, suddenly apprehensive again.
“I really don’t think we should be doing this,” he sputtered, though he made no further attempt to escape the situation. Pericles quirked an eyebrow at him, apparently amused.
“Ah, liebling — and still just as shy.”
Deft talons worked to unfasten Ricky's pants, then to free his rapidly hardening cock from his boxers. He felt his breath hitch as Pericles gave it a single agonizing lick.
“You remember this, don't you, Ricky?” Pericles grinned darkly. “We had such fun together, just the two of us.”
Pericles ran the leading edge of his wing up the length of Ricky's erection, which was already leaking pre-come. He silently cursed himself for being so eager, for the ease with which Pericles could reduce him to a desperate schoolboy again. His attempt to buck upwards was swiftly interrupted by the sharp pain of Pericles's claws digging into his thigh.
“Be still,” said Pericles. “And I will take care of this for you.”
Pericles tucked Ricky's cock beneath his wing, pressed close against the heat of his chest, where Ricky knew he was sensitive too. Letting out a soft sigh, he began to move against Ricky's manhood, creating delectable friction between them. The feeling of feathers against Ricky’s tip was unlike anything else he had ever experienced, something his body had craved every day since Pericles had chosen that damned treasure over him. It didn’t matter anymore. They were on the same side, and he was willing to do whatever it took to keep it that way.
“I hope you are not thinking of someone else,” Pericles said between heavy breaths. “Who else could make you feel this way, hm?”
He thought briefly of Cassidy, but no — she hadn’t, and she wouldn’t. Certainly not now, anyway.
“N-no one,” Ricky breathed. “No one but you, Professor Pericles.”
Apparently satisfied, Pericles lifted himself off Ricky’s aching cock and returned to his place on his shoulder. Ricky could smell himself on his feathers.
“You may finish now.”
At his word, Ricky allowed himself release, shooting thick ropes of semen onto his exposed belly. As he came down from his orgasm, he was surprised by just how little he regretted. Pericles was by his side again, playing with Ricky’s hair and beard like nothing had changed between them. He wished they could stay this way forever.
“Clean yourself, Ricky. We have work to do.”