OOM -- for Athelstan

[capture_eternity]

Dorian's room still looks much the same like the first time when Athelstan came up to have a bath.

It looks a little more lived in now -- some books lying around in a half-read state, and some electronic devices, which Dorian seems quite fascinated by. There's another one on his tray with the tea, the paradoxes and the little bowl of awesomesauce, after all.

"Here we are," he says, putting the tray down while kicking the door shut.

He slings an arm around Athelstan's shoulder again.

"Bath now?" he murmurs against the soft, fuzzy dark beard on the ex-monk's face.

Comments

[athelstanthescribe]

"You have magic in your hands", Athelstan tells him, mostly joking. "I haven't felt this well in days."

[capture_eternity]

"That's rather the point," Dorian murmurs. He scoops up some of the creamy foam, and spreads it over Athelstan's chest.

[athelstanthescribe]

Finally, he opens his eyes, peering down at his chest.

"What are you doing?"

[capture_eternity]

"Make you smell like a forest even more," Dorian says. He leans over Athelstan, smoothly sliding up with the slippery foam.

[athelstanthescribe]

"I'll have to go hunting", he says seriously, leaning back against Dorian's supporting arm. "Come back from the real forest so they can see me."

[capture_eternity]

"We'll have to re-dirty you before you leave, too," Dorian says. "Because you're squeaky clean now."

He gently pulls on Athelstan's soggy beard.

[athelstanthescribe]

"The forest might take care of that, too", Athelstan returns mock-thoughtfully, catching Dorian's hand and pulling it away from his beard. "Why do people keep doing that?"

[capture_eternity]

"Because it's a nice little beard?" Dorian says, leaning in for a slightly apologetic kiss.

[athelstanthescribe]

He returns it, accepting the apology with only a small mock-sulk.

"It will be a better beard one day."

[capture_eternity]

"It's quite a good beard already!" Dorian declares.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan gives him a sidelong look.

"You were at Uppsala. You know it can hardly compare."

[capture_eternity]

"I wouldn't want to compare an elegant grove to a dense, impregnable jungle," Dorian says, smiling.

[athelstanthescribe]

"Elegant? It looks like a rat's tail. But I can't give up and shave it."

If he did that, he'd have nowhere to keep Gyda's bead.

[capture_eternity]

"It does not look like a rat's tail," Dorian says, quite aware that simply negating Athelstan's claim isn't a very convincing argument, so he leans in and kisses him again.

"I like it."

[athelstanthescribe]

"...well." He smiles slightly against Dorian's lips. "Perhaps I might keep it as it is, if I can get the braid just a little wider."

[capture_eternity]

Dorian gently teases the little tuft on the end. "It's wide enough for the bead to stay put," he says.

[athelstanthescribe]

"Gyda did it", he says simply, and manages - mostly, he thinks - not to let the stab of grief show on his face. "Delicate little fingers."

[capture_eternity]

"Oh, Athelstan!" Dorian says, his voice full of sympathy at that very visible stab of grief. "You'll always have something of hers with you, carrying her memory into the future."

He leans in to kiss Athelstan again, and reaches out to open the faucet again -- the bath could use a bit more hot water. They've been here for a bit.

[athelstanthescribe]

"I'll carry this bead on me all my life", Athelstan agrees softly. He reaches for Dorian's free hand, the one not operating the faucet, threading his fingers between Dorian's for the sake of contact.

[capture_eternity]

While the water runs, Dorian cradles Athelstan's cheek in his now-free hand, and leans his forehead and nose-tip against his, just providing closeness and contact.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan closes his eyes for a long moment, leaning into Dorian's touch and just focusing on the feel of skin against skin, letting it force out the thoughts and memories and pain.

When he opens them, blue eyes gazing into brown, he closes the small gap between them for another kiss - a little deeper, this time, but still slow and soft.

[capture_eternity]

The water is still running loudly, fragrant steam raising; Dorian tilts his head for the kiss, just slightly, so it can deepen and heat up a little, lips open and softly wet on the inside.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan reaches past him without looking or breaking the kiss to twist the faucet back the other way, because the last thing they want is to be interrupted by the bath overflowing.

Then he gives his undivided attention to Dorian, lightly stroking the back of his neck with the unentangled hand.

[capture_eternity]

"How sensible of you," Dorian murmurs, deepening their kisses while holding Athelstan close, sliding skin on skin now all along their upper bodies, intimate and promising.

[athelstanthescribe]

"I do try", he murmurs back between kisses, and lets his mouth stray from Dorian's for a few minutes, marking a trail up his jaw to the spot behind his ear. "Now help me forget about sensible."

Help me forget about home, he doesn't say. Help me forget about other people's pain, and my own.