Gifts
Christmas ficlet for the yaoi_holidays community
Original, NC-17
Spellchecked but not really edited much. And a bit late for Christmas it seems, but since they don't celebrate our holiday but rather the turn of a year, I hope this will be an appropriate time anyway. ^_^;
~*~
Zsien raised his eyes from the little wood carving he was working on when the door blew open on a gust of chilled wind to let in a frozen figure. Noah. Zsien eyed him for a minute, wondering idly why the young man had wandered out in the night in this weather, and then noticed the bundle of firewood he carried in his arms. Ah.
Noah stomped his feet to get rid of some of the clinging snow and then stomped over to the hearth, unceremoniously dropping the wood in the bin before shivering and rubbing his hands together.
Zsien arched an eyebrow, letting his gaze roam up and down Noah's shaking frame. "Cold?" he wondered. Noah pushed back the hood of his cloak and gave Zsien a glare. Uh-oh.
"No. Not particularly. Why do you ask?" he replied in not a particularly friendly tone. The young man's temper had a tendency to flare when you least expected it. This seemed to be one such moment.
Zsien shrugged noncommittally, hoping to avoid the brunt of the rant, and turned back to the work at hand. Carefully he carved off yet another chip of wood from the small figurine to add to the pile between his feet.
Noah went on anyway. "It's not like you care, is it? I mean, snow, cold and dark is not your kind of weather, is it? But if one of us doesn't do something about the rapidly diminishing supply of firewood – and we both know it isn't going to be you! – we're soon going to have it both cold and dark, and it wouldn't surprise me if the snow didn't find its way in here sooner or later too!" Noah gestured harshly towards the ceiling and then stomped back out the door. Zsien thought he heard some not so kind words about his person, but decided he didn't want to know.
But he couldn't concentrate on the carving any longer, suddenly experiencing a troubling feeling in his chest. Like concern. He knew Noah didn't really mind doing some honest work; he often scolded Zsien for not lending a hand, but in the end it was always Noah who took care of most things around the house. Zsien snorted. As if a god – however exiled and cursed – would ever stoop to do such menial tasks.
Snow, cold and dark. No, he truly didn't like the current weather. Well, besides the very ample reason for staying indoors, or preferably in bed, doing much more pleasant things. There weren't much one could do out there anyway. Besides catch an unpleasant cold.
Cold. Noah had been cold, he remembered. Zsien frowned as he thought about it. Well, it wasn't surprising, what with the insufficient cloak and cloves the young man had, worn and patched several times. The cloak didn't even have a lining warm enough for this kind of weather.
A slow smile crept over Zsien's lips as he suddenly knew how to make Noah's life that much easier.
~*~
Something was bothering him, something small, trivial but rather stubborn in nature. Noah grumbled as he slowly eased out of deep sleep and rubbed his eyes free of grit. He sighed, trying to make his sleep muddled mind tell him why he had woken up. He shifted slightly and his bare side rubbed against a solid chest, his hip moving against a strong thigh.
Zsien wrinkled his nose in dislike at being disturbed in his slumber and tightened the hold he had around Noah's body. Noah sighed again, edging closer to the warmth, and attempted to go back to sleep. Only his body wouldn't let him.
He needed to relieve his bladder. Badly. He grumbled under his breath about bad ale and stale water and the hideous mix they made, as he carefully extracted his limbs from the rather possessive hold Zsien had on him. Zsien growled under his breath when cool air slipped in under the blankets in Noah's stead, and Noah froze in the process of swinging his legs over the edge of the bed. Zsien also disliked to be woken up in the middle of the night, at least unless it was for a bout of healthy, passionate sex.
Noah let out a small breath when nothing more happened. He made sure the blankets were securely tucked around Zsien's shoulders and then, in the dim light from the still glowing embers in the hearth and the silver light from the moon through the window, he tiptoed over to where his boots and his cloak were near the door.
The cloak. He shook his head, still rather amazed and surprised at the gift Zsien had unceremoniously given him the day before. They had been wrapped in a length of oily paper and Zsien had pulled them out of his pack when he got back from Threetown on one of his regular trips and dumped the package in Noah's lap, saying no more than: "Here, I thought you'd need this," before he went back outside to tend to his horse.
Noah thought his eyes would pop out of his scull then; it had certainly felt like they would. And even more so when he had opened the package. The cloak was made of the finest, thickest wool one could find, colored a deep green and lined with silverfox fur so soft, so exquisite Noah just knew that if he sold the cloak he could buy a horse for the money. And a more than half decent one too.
He stroked his fingers down the fur now, it tickled his skin and he couldn't help smiling. The gloves were just as good. Made of supple leather, double layers over the knuckles and fingertips but not clumsy in the least. They were lined with fur as well and reached halfway up his forearm where small stitchings of leather thongs drew a pattern of feathers. Zsien rather liked patterns, Noah knew. Just look at the man's own wardrobe.
He wondered if the gift had been coincidental, a spur of the moment, or deliberate. Zsien had given it to him on the eve of the winter solstice, a day Noah had usually celebrated with his father and brother. He wondered if Zsien even knew it was a time for celebration here.
His bladder interrupted his musing and he pulled on his boots. Not bothering with any other clothes than the cloak – it would keep him warm enough for the few minutes he was out there – he slid back the bolt on the door and slipped out into the night. Nature was calling.
~*~
His eyes opened slowly at the sound of the door closing and he automatically reached out with a hand, feeling for Noah's body but only finding empty yet still warm beddings.
Zsien muttered something cranky under his breath, not appreciating in the least to be woken up at this hour, and alone in bed too. He grumbled under his breath about rude lovers and rubbed his face with a hand.
But he didn't get any further than that. He leaned up on an elbow and peered through the bed hangings when the door opened a second time. Noah, clad in boots and cloak with the hood up, stepped quietly inside and bolted the door behind him, making hardly a sound, as if he consciously tried not to disturb Zsien. Considerate of him but a moot point now since Zsien was already awake.
Noah bent down to pull off his boots and Zsien leaned forward, shifting aside the bed hangings with a hand to better see. There was a light sprinkling of snowflakes across the shoulders and hood of Noah's cloak and it was clinging to the lower hem as well. It must have started snowing again, Zsien thought and wondered why Noah always had to go outside when it did.
Noah straightened again and when he reached up to push back the hood Zsien caught a glimpse of bare chest and abdomen framed by deep green wool. Sudden, potent lust shot through his body, along his spine, down to his groin. Noah was naked beneath the cloak.
"Stop," Zsien commanded when Noah reached to open the clasp. Even though his voice was low, albeit rough with sleep and lust, Noah jerked where he stood and looked up sharply at Zsien as he silently slid out of bed and came towards him on bare feet.
"I didn't mean to wake you," Noah said quietly, a wary, somewhat suspicious look in his eyes. He got that sometimes when Zsien invaded his personal space, and especially when he did so naked.
"Well, you did," Zsien murmured. Not that he was particularly annoyed by that, not any more. Noah watched as Zsien reached out, tracing a finger down the hem of the cloak from the still closed clasp to where Noah was gripping both halves to keep them together. Zsien let his fingertips tickle Noah's knuckles while he locked gazes with him.
"You like the cloak, I presume?"
"Yes," Noah murmured quietly. "Thank you for your gift." He couldn't look away from Zsien's eyes changing color.
A wide smile spread over Zsien's lips as he stepped closer. "Don't you think it's time I got my gift?"
Noah's eyebrows rose in confusion. "Your gift?"
"Yes. My gift." He licked his lips and leaned down until he could feel Noah's breath against his skin. "And I intend to open it now."
He saw the moment when Noah realized what he meant; the blue-grey eyes widened, his lips parted and then his lashes fluttered as Zsien snaked a hand inside the cloak to tease the bare skin around Noah's bellybutton.
Noah tilted his head invitingly, the tip of his tongue flicking out to wet his lips, as Zsien leaned in closer. But with a wide smile he ignored the parted, moist lips and fastened his mouth to Noah's neck instead. He felt rather than heard the moan that vibrated up through the young man's chest and he bit down lightly before he began to nibble and suck his way up towards an earlobe.
Noah's hands came about Zsien's waist, sliding over warm skin and solid muscles, searching purchase in the dip of his spine. Zsien began to tug Noah with him back to the bed and murmured encouragingly when he followed. Not that he had much choice; Zsien's own hands were securely wrapped around Noah, teasing, caressing and driving the young man to give voice to his pleasure.
He urged Noah to stand next to the bed, bent at the waist and his hands braced against the blankets. Zsien leaned over Noah, sliding his hand up his legs to catch the cloak and slide it up over his back. The green wool gathered above Noah's waist and Zsien grinned at the bared legs and buttocks. What an enticing sight; the wiry muscles of thighs and back stretched by the position and the firm buttocks rounded. Noah turned his head and gave him a heavy lidded look over a shoulder.
"Is look all you are going to do with your gift?" he asked, his voice low and expectant.
Zsien grinned and stroked his hands over Noah's flanks. "Don't worry, I intend to do much more than that."
Zsien once again leaned over and molded his body to Noah's, slowly rubbing his groin against Noah's backside as he reached around to find his nipples. Noah jerked at the dual touches, his hips pressing back against Zsien. A shiver traveled down the body under him and Zsien decided to hurry this along, he suddenly didn't want to wait, especially when Noah whimpered so prettily at the teasing touch down his front.
He found the grease and slowly began to circle his fingers around Noah's opening, eliciting more moans and shivers.
"So responsive," he murmured appreciatively. He slid his other hand down to wrap around Noah's erection as he slowly began to push a finger inside. Noah gasped and dropped his head.
"Yes," he whispered and pushed his hips back to take the digit deeper.
Zsien couldn't help but groan when muscles tightened around his finger and he started to stroke Noah's cock. He added a second finger, then a third and flicked them in a way he knew would make Noah crave to be filled with something more.
"Please," Noah gasped and pushed back again. "Please, more."
Zsien grinned and quickly prepared himself. Noah widened his stance when he felt the first nudge of Zsien's cock to his opening and Zsien had to remind him to breathe as he pushed inside in one long thrust. Noah trembled, his breath coming in short pants, and turned his head to look at Zsien when he was firmly seated inside.
Zsien looked at the body before him, where his flesh joined with Noah's, his hands stroking over the trembling back and thighs, and then he began to move. He circled his hips, making Noah gasp and his internal muscles tighten around him.
Zsien groaned at the strength and heat, and then gripped Noah's hips to pull him back as he pushed forward. Noah cried out when Zsien found his prostate and then he kept stroking over it until Noah was all but screaming.
And suddenly it wasn't enough. Zsien growled and pulled out, Noah complaining about the emptiness inside him and then yelping in surprise when Zsien spun him around and pushed him back down on the bed. Zsien grabbed hold of Noah's hips, lifting him far enough up the bed to kneel on the mattress and then pushed back inside him. Noah arched his back and his legs wrapped tightly around Zsien's waist.
Zsien groaned and tossed his head back, his hair flying in a silver and blood arc over his shoulder. So good. Noah braced his hands against the wall above his head and rocked his hips up to meet his every thrust now. Zsien slitted his eyes open to look at the young man splayed out before him. Deep green wool and silky silver fur surrounded Noah, cradled his body, caressed his limbs. Like Zsien was cradling his hips against his groin, caressing his skin and stroking his cock.
He grinned with pride at the sight of Noah writhing under him, enfolded in such fine fur, his gift. His and his and his.
Noah gasped and his fingers clenched in the blankets under him when Zsien hit his prostate again. Noah was nearing release, Zsien could tell; a blush was spreading over his cheeks and his chest glistened with a sheen of sweat.
"Oh, goddess," he whimpered, his thighs tightening around Zsien's waist.
Zsien growled low in his throat. Goddess? Goddess! He angered at the thought that another deity was called upon in his own bed, praised for the fruits of his efforts. He leaned down, changing the angle of his hips, and murmured close to Noah's ear, Noah's breath coming in short, hot, erratic puffs against his cheek.
"No, Noah. Not goddess. God!" he growled and thrust deep inside to drive home his point.
Noah gasped and his eyes widened. And then he was coming, his cock spurting hot and wet between their bodies, his insides clamping down around Zsien. He arched his neck and cried out harshly and Zsien moaned when he followed Noah over the edge into bliss.
~*~
Zsien looked up from his tasting of the stew in the cauldron hanging over the fire in the hearth, a ladle in his hand, when Noah shouldered open the door, one arm wrapped around a bundle of wood and a bucket of melting snow in the other hand. Zsien stepped out of his way when he stomped over and dropped his burden by the hearth. He was little prepared for the sharp glare he got before Noah headed back towards the door.
"What?" Zsien wondered, eyeing his companion with arched eyebrows.
Noah shot him another glare. "If you bothered to help with the firewood we could have supper this side of midnight." Noah stabbed a finger in Zsien's direction.
"Why? It looks to me you are doing just fine. And I don't particularly like the weather we've got right now." He shuddered at the thought of all that snow getting places it shouldn't be.
"You better get used to it, we'll be having snow for the next three months and spring will be nothing but rain."
Zsien frowned, not liking that forecast in the least. Noah tugged at one of his gloves and rolled his shoulders, settling the cloak more comfortably around his frame. Zsien looked him up and down, taking in the sight of the young man properly clothed for the weather. A wide smile spread across his face as he walked closer to Noah.
"But you are doing so well without my help, Noah," he murmured, ignoring the suspicious look he got. "And you are warm enough, aren't you?" he reached out and ran a finger down the wool. "Yes, a good and proper gift for someone who enjoys being outside as much as you do, I think."
Noah stared at him, rather incredulous, Zsien realized. And then Noah threw up his hands with a huff and stomped back out the door, muttering not so nice things under his breath. Zsien grinned, yes, at least Noah was warm enough it seemed.
And then a thought hit him. If Noah was warm enough that would mean he could be out there as long as he pleased, leaving Zsien alone inside. And that in turn meant Zsien wouldn't have company later on when he needed a body to sate his needs. He frowned and headed for the door, snatching his fur lined coat in passing and throwing it on. If going outside was the only way to get Noah back inside, then he would. And maybe putting snow where it shouldn't be would have Noah taking his clothes off too. Zsien grinned again. Yes, that sounded like a good plan.
~*~
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