-WARNING- There is going to be a fair bit of NSFW content in this fic. It's not humanstuck, so that means bulges, nooks, and other troll anatomy. If you're okay with that, read on~

"I suppose it is comfortable, but other than that I don't really see the point." Kankri said, tentatively lying further back on Cronus' large human bed. "I don't mean this as any sort of insult to your fascination with human culture, and in fact I've began to develop a bit of an interest in it myself." He added apologetically. "Also,-"

"that is the point, cheif. i'm telling you, these humans havwe some pretty good ideas." Cronus said, interrupting the ramble he could tell Kankri was about to launch. He reached up and casually draped and arm around Kankri's shoulders, and, to his surprise, the smaller troll leaned into him, resting his head on Cronus' shoulder.

It couldn't last though. This was as close, physically and emotionally, as Cronus had ever gotten to any troll, and he knew that Kankri wouldn't allow it to go any farther in either respect. Kankri's apologetic sigh came a little later than Cronus had expected, but it still came. Cronus ignored it, encircling his arms around the small, candy-red blooded toll. Kankri, or course, was having none of that. He pushed himself, gently but purposefully, out of Cronus' grip and stood, glancing back at Cronus with a slightly disapproving smile.

"Goodbye Cronus. I enjoyed our time together, and as usual, I found your extensive knowledge and willingness to discuss human culture quite stimulating." Kankri said sincerely.

Cronus bit his lip, trying, if only for a moment, to hold back the suggestive retort that had entered his mind, but he didn't try very hard. It was only Kankri, after all. And he expected this sort of thing from Cronus. Everyone did. "i bet i could show you one or two other things i'vwe learned about human culture that you'd find stimulating." He said, punctuating the suggestion with a wink.

Being dead, neither troll had pupils, but Cronus was pretty sure that even Kankri would have rolled his eyes at that one. He shook his head back and forth before disappearing out the door. Cronus sighed, laying back on his bed and staring at the ceiling. Here he was, alone again. Even his dancestor didn't want anything to do with him. But if Cronus was going to be alone, with out a single quadrant filled or even a friend, it wasn't going to be for lack of trying. Cronus wasn't too optimistic about his chances, but he still believed it could happen. He was the Bard of Hope, after all. If filling his quadrants was truly a lost cause, he would know.

After another couple of minutes, Cronus got up. He re-styled his hair, which had gotten a little tousled from laying around in bed all day, gave the mirror an experimental wink, grabbed his guitar, and headed out. He generally liked to lurk near the lawn rings of the higher or mid blooded trolls, where he often bumped into Aranea or Latula, but today he headed straight for the lower rings. A part of him was hoping to run into Kankri again, if only to have someone to talk to. But he clung to Kankri too much as it was, and he didn't want to end up driving away the only troll who would tolerate his company for more than a couple minutes at the time.

Cronus picked a fairly populated sport, right in the middle of a couple of busy, small lawnrings, where he was sure plenty of other trolls would see his. He sat, strumming his guitar and looking at those who passed by. No one stopped, and most, knowing him because he had made a move on them before or simply by reputation, threw him a disgusted look as they passed by. Most of these he returned with a slow suggestive wink or by licking his lip, which never got him more of a reaction than a slight recoil or perhaps a middle finger or fist shaken in his direction. Cronus wasn't too bothered by any of this. He was used to rejection, and little ones like this kept his mind off of the ones that really stung.

Needless to say, Cronus was a little surprised when someone actually approached him. He looked up to see the winged, red-and-back clad figure of Rufioh, wearing the same shy, slightly nervous grin he always did. Of course, Cronus wasn't about to read too much into it. Rufioh was probably here to tell him off for leering at him. Cronus took a hasty, anxious glance around, making sure that Rufioh's sweaty, intimidatingly muscular matesprit was nowhere in sight. Sure he wanted to talk to Rufioh, but it wasn't worth getting every bone in his body broken for a little conversation with a guy who wasn't even really a potential pail.

"So you play, huh?" Rufioh asked, sounding thoroughly uncomfortable. "I mean, of course you do. That's, uh- that's really cool man. " He said. He was fiddling anxiously with the hem of his vest, but his tone was growing steadily less nervous-sounding. "My dancestor, Tavros, plays. I always wanted to learn back when were were still alive, but I guess I just never got around to it." He said with a shrug.

"I could teach you a thing or two if you like." Cronus offered, not really expecting anything to come of it. Rufioh was going to say he really appreciated the offer but it really wasn't a big deal, or something like that. He'd backpedal and worm his way out of the conversation in the most non-confrontational manner possible. Because even if Rufioh wanted to take him up on this completely innocent offer, Horuss would never allow it.

"Yeah? Man, that's be great! I'm free whenever, if you really want to." Rufioh said, beaming. It took Cronus a minute to register what he had said. His shoulders had already slumped in anticipation of the rejection that he knew was coming. But then the words finally set it. Rufioh had said yes. Cronus' mouth hung open, his unlit cigarette falling to the ground. He realized that Rufioh was still rambling on. "Well, I mean, not whenever. Horuss is a little clingy -not that I mind of course!- but, uh, I'm sure we could work something out."

Cronus blinked, shaking his head back and forth. Why was Rufioh of all people talking to him? It didn't make sense. Still, Cronus figured he'd better try and make the best of the opportunity. "You got it, kittten. I'm not doing anything now."

"Bangarang! Do you want to go to my hive or what?" Rufioh asked enthusiastically.

"Mind going to mine? I know it's a little far, but I figured that would be better." Cronus said. He regretted the words as soon as they left his mouth. Now Rufioh was just going to think he was trying to get in his pants. Of course, Cronus did want to get in Rufioh's pants, but he'd ruled him out as a potential concupiscent quadrant sweeps ago. Making a flushed advance was a fine way to get beat to a pulp by Horuss, and even if Cronus could bring himself to hate the easy going, upbeat rustblood, he doubted Rufioh had the capacity to hate anyone.

"Oh! Yeah, I'm cool with that." Rufioh said, giving Cronus a bashful grin, and giving him a once over looking at him with something hungry and intense that Cronus was unfamiliar with being the subject of. Was it desire? No, that couldn't be it. And even if it was, it wasn't like it was a big deal. Rufioh flirted with everyone.

I'll go get my guitar and meet you at your hive, okay?" Rufioh said, pulling Cronus out of his reverie. Cronus' was sure his face was flushed a deep violet at he searched for an answer.

"Sounds good, chief." Cronus said at last, waving to Rufioh before collecting his guitar and heading hurriedly back in the direction of his hive.

When Cronus arrived back at his hive, he collapsed just inside the door. He knew he should clean up; dirty clothing and dishes were strewn all over the place, but he was too preoccupied to do so at the moment. He couldn't get the memory of Rufioh's gaze. Cronus took a couple of deep breaths to calm himself down. He tried to preoccupy himself with tidying his hive, and he was progressively less agitated when Rufioh showed up twenty minutes later.

"Hey," Rufioh said, giving a Cronus his usual timid grin. Cronus tried to not to stare, still hardly believing that there was another troll- aside from Kankri, and Porrim, that is- willingly standing on his doorstep.

"Come on in, chief." He offered, beckoning Rufioh into the main room of his hive.

Rufioh glanced around as he went, but didn't seem to be bothered by the clutter. Cronus gestured to the couch and Rufioh took a seat. Cronus had been avoiding Rufioh's gaze since the bronze blood had arrived, but now he forced their blank white gazes to meet.

Rufioh looked at Cronus with the same hungry look he had before- if anything it had grown more intense. He set his guitar aside and beckoned for Cronus to join him. His bulge was already beginning to come unsheathed, and he panicked- What if he had misunderstood Rufioh?

Any questions Cronus might have had about Rufioh's intentions disappeared as Rufioh slid himself into his' lap. His face wash a deep, flushed bronze and his breath had grown heavy. He leaned in, placing a firm, urgent kiss on the seadewllers' lips. His kisses grew faster and more urgent, and soon Cronus felt the entirely welcome presence of Rufioh's tongue in his mouth.

At fist Cronus had been too stunned to act, but he took control now, wrapping his arms around Rufioh and slowly grinding their hips together. His bulge was now fully unsheathed and he moved his hands to fee it from the confines of his tight jeans, but Rufioh stopped him, wrapping his hands around Cronus' wrists and raising them up above is head. Cronus let out a whimper of protest but Rufioh silenced it with another lingering kiss.

Rufioh pulled Cronus' shirt off before removing his own. Cronus smirked a little, as Rufioh struggled to get it over his cumbersome horns, before taking in the bronze blood, his eyes raking over the bare skin of the troll in front of him. Rufioh began to kiss his jawline, then his neck, then his collarbone. Rufioh pulled Cronus tighter, and the seadweller marveled at the warmth of the bronze blood's skin. He had resumed the steady rocking of his hips, his bulge squirming around in his jeans.

And then Rufioh did was Cronus had feared he would. He pulled away with a heavy sigh.

"Look Cronus, I'm really enjoying myself, but..." He trailed off uncomfortably. "I'm not flushed for you, and I don't think you're flushed for me. And I'm pretty sure this isn't black either. Even if one of us did have red feeling for the other, um, even then this wouldn't be right. I already have a matesprit." Rufioh said with a touch of reluctance.

Cronus wasn't going to pretend he wasn't disappointed, but it's not like he would force himself on Rufioh. He hadn't even been thinking about quadrants, and he kicked himself for thinking that this could really happen, especially with someone like Rufioh.

"Sorry about that, chief." Cronus muttered, trying not to feel resentful of Rufioh. Still, even he didn't deserve to be lead on like that. Rufioh had been right, of course, but he should have thought of that before he decided to grind his damn bulge all over Cronus.

"Yeah, me too." Rufioh said, getting up without meeting Cronus' eyes. His entire face was still flushed bronze, but weather is was from shame, arousal, or a combination of both, was unclear. He picked up his shirt, carefully pulling in on around his horns, and left without another word.

AN: This chapter was mostly Crofioh, but there will be more Cronkri soon I promise! Thanks for reading.