Final Fantasy IV, Edge/Rydia, not afraid of fire
In the Summoned Land they have their rituals, whispered low in to the ground in a world without sky. Enosh hu shinnujim vekammah tebhaoth haj-- feathers bent back to bone, circles drawn on stone and skin. Queen Ashura takes her place on the high bramble parapet, calls out to inhuman gods with inhuman tongues. There are prayers that fill their sacred spaces, the darkness blinking red, gold, black. Rydia told him once of her time there, always looking down on him from below.
This, Edge thought, is one kinky chick.
***
"And that's when I threw the spoon," Edge says, addressing the High Duchess So-And-So with his traditional bravado. "Creepy moon-mess got right to exploding after that." He adjusts the ribbons on his ceremonial coatsleeves and quirks his left eybrow.
"Oh, His Highness is sooo brave," coos the Duchess, and all of her friends nod their pretty heads and agreement.
"Not to mention handsome, skilled, and suspiciously well-toned," a familiar voice calls out from across the room. Rydia's here, all of a sudden, and damn if Edge isn't surrounded women who aren't her. He tries to offer an explanation, but the words get stuck behind his mask. Edge never knows what to say around Rydia—it's one of the things he likes about her best.
He excuses himself for a minute, takes a quick glass of water from off one of the servant's trays. When he asks her to dance he uses all of his formality, and his hands never travel any lower than her back.
***
Rydia surprises him by coming to his room that night. She doesn't knock, she's never even heard of knocking, just sits down next to him and pulls off his mask.
"Wow," he says. "Wow."
They've done this once before, his back pressed against the airship engines, surrounded by the hum of machines and the airless threat of death hanging all around them. This time, it's different—Rydia's hands glow white with ice, she spikes her teeth with thunder as her mouth travels up and down his body. This, Edge thinks as he fumbles through her clasps and buttons, is one kinky chick.
"You know," he breathes, full stop. "I really like you. I mean, really."
"I know."
"I mean, we don't have to do this if you don't want."
She laughs. "Stop pretending that you're the only one who enjoys this." And then she's doing unspeakable things with her tongue, and he can't talk anymore.
***
Morning comes brightly to their tower in Baron, and Edge wakes up to find her standing in the shadow of his doorway. She lets him kiss her once before she goes.
"Edge?" she asks. "Are you afraid of fire?"
He's had a few hours to gain his composure, so he can be the sort of person he is whenever she's not around. "Of course not, baby." Smiling, he makes a quick gesture with his fingers, and they come alive with heat and magic and his own whispered traditions.
"No," she replies, shaking her head. "Not like that. Burning. Are you afraid of burning?"
Edge takes one step closer and looks her in the eye. "No."