The Sharper Edge of Love: Romance, Sex, and Fanfic

Reblob: my most treasured piece of gift fanart from the insanely talented @ladyofthelake91. Can’t wait to see what other art you come out with, my love!! 

This beautiful painting is the scene of Aloy and Nil’s first kiss in Stormbirds and Stalkers. 

Aloy ran through the jungle back towards the Spearshafts with Nil hot on her heels. She was grinning, exhilarated by the wind in her face and the freshness of new rain in the air, but above all by the man following in her wake.

Without knowing it, Nil had offered her everything she’d been missing since Rost’s death: acceptance and companionship, but also independence and confidence in her abilities.

Aloy truly believed that she didn’t need anybody else. If she had lived the rest of her life alone, she would have been just fine. But with Nil, she knew she could be better than fine. She felt stronger, more powerful, happier.

Love. It was a word Aloy had only ever known in a limited sense, from Rost’s paternal affections. Was it too early to think this word applied to her and Nil?

Who cares what it’s called? Aloy thought cheerfully. She felt wonderful, and that was what mattered.

Finally they reached the edge of the jungle, and Aloy heard the loud, slow, echoing footsteps of her quarry. She stopped at the edge of the jungle and tapped her Focus to check for nearby machines or bandits; none within close ear- or eyeshot, so she stepped out into the clearing and looked up.

Nil stepped out beside her, his silvery gaze following hers up to the Tallneck. It was about to pass in front of them, and Nil stepped back involuntarily from the Tallneck’s huge foot. Aloy held her ground and laughed at him; she knew the Tallneck’s raised foot would pass her by. She had spent a silly amount of time just following the Tallnecks around to see whether their paces ever varied, and was amazed to discover that their tracks remained completely unchanged during every cycle.

Nil smirked at her laughter. “If you don’t want me to follow you, you can just say so. No need to get your metal friends to crush me underfoot.”

Aloy laughed again, then began running after the Tallneck. “Come on, we have to get to that peak! We can jump onto it before it goes past.” She pelted off in the direction she’d indicated.

They reached the top of the peak just as the Tallneck drew level with them, and Aloy didn’t hesitate; she leapt from the peak and landed in perfect balance on one of the struts jutting from the Tallneck’s neck, then hopped to the adjacent strut so Nil would have a place to land. She turned to look at him; if he didn’t hurry, he would miss his chance during this round. “Come on, Nil, quickly!”

Nil shook his head with disbelief, then bolted towards the Tallneck and grabbed the strut… just barely. One of his hands slipped, and Aloy’s heart skipped an anxious beat. Then he swung his arm up and caught hold of the strut, hoisting himself up until he was crouched facing her.

“You must have a death wish. It’s the only explanation for this ongoing insanity,” he deadpanned, and Aloy grinned at him. “Trust me, it’s worth it. Follow!” She leapt for the next handhold and nimbly clambered up to the Tallneck’s head, then walked over to its rightmost edge.

She waited impatiently for Nil to join her, then flung her arms out as he hefted himself onto the Tallneck’s head. “The best travelling viewpoint in the southern Sundom!” she announced.

Nil slowly padded over to Aloy’s side and followed her gaze out towards the horizon. Aloy watched his face eagerly as he looked at the view. She knew it wasn’t the best view in the Sundom, but the changing nature of the view was undeniably interesting. And actually, Aloy’s favourite part of climbing these Tallnecks was watching the sky. It was close to sunrise, and the inky shadows of night were starting to be chased away by the first hesitant rays of the sun, tinting the sparse clouds with pomegranate pink.

After a moment, Nil looked down at her with that enigmatic half-smile that made her heart thump. “I always forget how mercurial these lands are. This is an interesting reminder.” He looked down toward the ground, his eyes narrowed with concentration. “I bet I could spot any number of straggling bandits from up here. Sniping them while in movement: now that’s a challenge I’d gladly accept.”

Aloy elbowed him. “Leave it to you to see a beautiful view and think only of bandits,” she chided playfully.

He looked back at her, his eyebrow raised and a tiny smirk on his lips. “I can see beauty in any number of things. Not just in the bloody work of my hands, but also in the sparks of your felled machines. Among other things.” His eyes traced over her face carefully, and in the darkness his pupils were large, making his stare more intense than usual.

Aloy blushed, glad that he wouldn’t be able to detect it in the low light. She turned back out towards the view and tilted her face up to the sky. “It’s almost sunrise,” she murmured, and Nil mirrored her, his gaze on the sky.

They stood side by side as the Tallneck roamed in its infinite circle, admiring the sky from every angle. Occasionally their relaxed hands brushed together thanks to the Tallneck’s swaying stride, and Aloy felt a tingling thrill with every brief touch.

As they continued to stare into the sky together, Aloy felt that delicious tension rise anew between them. Her heart was pounding in her throat again, and her fingertips were tingling with nervousness. The whole situation was so painfully romantic that an intense anticipation bordering on terror was rising in her chest. She could see Nil’s profile from the corner of her eye, his gaze intense on the sky, and she wanted so badly to face him, to look into his strange silver eyes, to take that first small, monumental step towards fulfilling the aching want in her body.

She just wanted to kiss him. Why was this so hard?

Then Nil dropped his gaze and slowly turned his head towards her. His silver eyes were an urgent question inexorably pulling her attention, but she kept her cowardly eyes on the sky. She swallowed hard; nerves and desire were warring in her belly, making her feel slightly sick.

The Tallneck turned slowly and started walking north, giving Aloy a perfect view of the east. At that moment, the first rays of sun broke over the horizon, and blazing orange light washed over her face, making her narrow her eyes.

Then Nil’s left hand was on her arm. “Suntress,” he said, his voice low and insistent, and finally Aloy looked at him. Slowly he pulled her to face him and took a small step closer to her, his warm breath fanning her face. Then he reached up with his right hand and tucked a braid behind her ear, just the way he’d done before he’d told her that he liked her.

Aloy swallowed hard, her eyes locked on his, her heart now pounding so hard she was surprised he couldn’t hear it. He slid his fingers along the side of her neck and cupped her neck in his palm, and Aloy’s lips parted involuntarily at the intimacy of his touch. He was so close, close enough that she could feel the heat emanating from his bare chest, close enough that she had to tilt her head back to look at him.

He slid his hand around her neck to cradle the back of her head, and suddenly Aloy didn’t need any more prompting. She followed the cues her body was screaming and closed the infinitesimal gap between their faces, and brushed her lips gently against his.

Immediately Nil cradled the back of her head more firmly, pulling her closer to his body and kissing her more firmly. He tilted his head slightly, and the velvety softness of his lips gently coaxed hers open. Then he gently licked her bottom lip with the tip of his tongue.

Aloy gave a tiny gasp and her body arched gracefully towards his, her hands instinctively rising to press against the heat of his abdomen, the rest of her body following suit until she was pressed against him from breast to thigh. Nil growled against her ear, and the animalistic sound of hunger ripped through her, making her nipples ache and that strange, exquisite sensation of pleasure flare into life between her thighs.

His left hand slid from her arm to her bare waist. Carefully he fisted his right hand in her hair and gently tugged her head back, then skimmed his lips along her cheekbone to kiss her lips before slipping his tongue into her mouth.

Aloy eagerly yielded to the exploration of his hot tongue, then slid her own tongue against his. She was breathless, weightless with desire, and delighted to find that kissing was so natural. How was it that something so easy could feel so damn good?

When Nil gently pulled away to look at her, she arched towards him again, her hands sliding insistently down to his waist. “More,” she breathed.

Nil smiled slowly at her. “How could I refuse such a demand from a Stormbird?” he whispered, then claimed her lips again. He pulled her hips against his with the hand on her waist, and Aloy felt a shock of thrill at the firmness at his groin.

There was so much more to learn, to discover. And Aloy was ready.